Wednesday, November 25, 2009
News Reed, Norwood continue to battle for gay votes
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Kasim Reed made his strongest bid for gay votes yet today with a press conference in the parking lot shared by Outwrite Books and Blakes — essentially the epicenter of gay Atlanta.
As you've probably now heard, Reed has been put on the defensive regarding this issue, largely because of an interview he gave to now-defunct SoVo, in which he said his religious faith allows him to embrace civil unions for gay couples, but stops short of gay marriage.
And he brought along a few friends:
Larry Pellegrini, a lobbyist for progressive and LGBT causes, pointed out that Reed was one of only 14 state senators who voted against the notorious gay marriage amendment in 2004. Pelligrini said "one-issue voters" often end up disappointed.
Sen. Nan Orrock, another big Reed supporter, touted his perfect legislative record on LGBT issues, adding, "Go by the record, not the rhetoric."
And, most interestingly, Council President Lisa Borders disparaged Mary Norwood's commitment to gay causes, saying the councilwoman had never shown must interest in gay-related issues.
Again, Norwood was criticized for not voting on a proposal to increase domestic partner benefits for city employees, with Borders calling it a "landmark vote."
OK, I think it's clear CL isn't backing Norwood, but this is a little unfair. The item was on the consent agenda, which is where the Council puts no-brainer legislation. I understand this is Reed's only weapon here, but it's a stretch to hammer a councilperson for missing a consent vote. On the other hand, let this be a lesson for politicians who take votes lightly — you never know which one may come back to bite you.
Reed apparently called today's event in response to an e-mail that's making the rounds titled, "Kasim Reed Would Not Protect The Brooks-Wolf Family." Here's the first paragraph:
Please imagine the following actual encounter: Doug Brooks and Rusty Wolf, a couple together for 11 years who were married in 2005 in Massachusetts, took the opportunity to ask Kasim Reed about his position on marriage equality. On November 8, Doug, Rusty and their two young children were in Morningside’s Sidney Marcus Park. With their children in arms, Doug and Rusty politely asked Senator Reed why he did not believe their children were entitled to the benefits of having two married parents. Kasim Reed looked this family in the eye and said that his religious views did not allow him to recognize a civil marriage. This was a tough conversation to have in our own neighborhood with someone who might lead our City and its large gay and lesbian population.
The lengthy open letter goes on to explain that electing Reed as mayor would "represent a step backwards" for gay residents of Atlanta and urges voters to support Norwood, the "marriage equality candidate."
The letter is co-signed by Brooks, Wolf and about two dozen others, although its exact authorship is unknown, at least by me. And while it's exceedingly well-written and persuasive, it's clearly aimed at the "one-issue voters" Pellegrini referenced.
This'll be an interesting next six days.
Comments (5)
Showing 1-5 of 5
Scott: Thanks for injecting some sanity into coverage of this non-event. As you note, the Norwood "vote" which was the focus of this press conference was part of a Council consent agenda. All of the items included on a consent agenda have made their way smoothly through Council committee review. They are expected to pass without challenge. Actual voting on the consent agenda often comes up with little notice, and often after a tedious hour or two of proclamations and public comment. If a councilmember has been pulled to the side to speak with a constituent, he or she can easily miss the consent agenda vote. Hey: As long as you're noting Lisa Borders' "disparaging" comments at today's news conference, have you noted how much pleasure Borders seems to be taking these days in spanking her soon-to-be-former Council colleagues lately? Recently, she labelled as "irresponsible" Kwanza Hall's resolution for a study to extend last call. And, at today's news conference, the AJC's Ernie Suggs reports that she scolded Norwood for missing the consent agenda vote without asking her "permission" to leave Council Chambers: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/reed-tries-to-clarify-213851.html Please tell us that Creative Loafing will soon create a feature entitled "I Want to Be Spanked By Lisa Borders." Presumably, only folks who can garner greater than 14% in a mayoral race would qualify for the full Lisa "Mommy Dearest" Borders treatment.
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Scott Henry, you can be on the caboose or the engine on gay equality. But just realize few would dare say Negroes basing their vote on equality from 1955 on should be considered "single-issue" voters. Your making light of civil rights for gays will be in the microfiche banks for posterity, alongside the apologist columns for Dixiecrats.
Single-issue hysterics who post here proved unrepresentative when only about 45 other people voted with them for Kyle Keyser last round. They will vote for Mary in the runoff, but their numbers will have mercifully little impact. I'm more worried about dumb-ass fellow whites who will vote their prejudice rather than make a reasoned comparison of the candidates.
Tell you what "Wary of Mary"... when you have your rights curtailed and are told by someone who wants your votes that those rights don't matter to them because of their religious views, how would you feel for being called "hysterical?" I deduce from your comments that you feel gay Atlantans should continue being happy classified as second class citizens. You make me ill.
I am the chief writer of the open letter referenced in this post, and I appreciate the compliment on how well it was written. We did make, in my opinion only, a small error in describing marriage equality; it is NOT a single issue. Marriage for straight folks carries with it 1138 benefits at the Federal level and hundreds more at the state level, including rights to survivor benefits; the right to have a adopt children with your spouse; the right to hospital visitation; and literally hundreds more. Marriage equality is not an issue; it is a movement, much like the progressive movement. Marriage equality is about obtaining these hundreds of benefits for an identifiable group of the populace. It is simplistic and naive to call it "one issue." Perhaps we should have described it better the first time.
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