Georgia Democrats lag behind national party on gay issues

Link: Southern Voice Atlanta

Excerpt:

Jane Kidd, chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, pledged the party would fight back if Republicans try to ban gay adoption in the state.
(Photo courtesy electjanekidd.com)

 

The two candidates vying to top the national Democratic ticket, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, support civil unions for gay couples. The last person to top the state Democratic ticket, 2006 gubernatorial nominee Mark Taylor, opposed banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

While Democrats at the national level have grown increasingly supportive of gay civil rights issues, the state party has remained largely silent, not even fighting back against the 2004 gay marriage amendment that helped solidify Republican control over state government. But at a pair of fundraisers April 18, Democratic Party of Georgia Chairperson Jane Kidd told gay donors that would change.

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“There is a difference between what may be possible in the nation and what may be possible in the South,” she said. “Our goals would be in line with the national, but we have a very practical and realistic view on how much time it will take.”

While the 2008 Democratic platform will be drafted in August at the national convention in Denver, the 2004 platform included language calling for “full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families.” Georgia’s 2004 Democratic platform made no mention of gay men and lesbians.

The national Democratic platform also decried the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment to ban same-sex marriage, but added that the definition of marriage should be a decision left to the states. In Georgia that meant a constitutional ban on marriage went to voters in 2004 and was approved by nearly 80 percent of voters, even though same-sex marriage was already illegal in the state.

Democrats enjoyed a 35-seat majority in the state House in 2004, but still passed the bill that put the measure on the ballot.

“I don’t think that was a true indication because it was really a Republican ploy to divide Democrats and to get Republicans out to the polls for an issue,” Kidd said in an interview before the fundraiser. “It was more a political ploy than it was a philosophical read of the state of Georgia, I think.”

Gay Georgians criticized the state party for not blocking the measure before it got to the ballot. Kidd said the party was aware of an oncoming Republican tide, and many thought the vote would be a way to appease voters.

Kidd insisted the Democratic Party of Georgia has learned from its mistakes. If, as some pundits speculate, legislators may place a state constitutional amendment on the ballot to ban gay adoption, she vows a stronger fight.

“We’re always concerned about that, and we think that might happen,” Kidd said. “We’re on the lookout for [an adoption ballet initiative] and we would do our best to make sure that never gets out of committee, to make sure that our legislators don’t have to face that kind of intense ideological pressure from both sides.”

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One of the labels Republicans have successfully applied to Democrats is being gay friendly, something Kidd is unwilling to drop to gain more votes.

“We’re not going to walk away from ‘pro-gay.’ I would say that we’re pro-equality. If they criticize us for that I think they’ll be the ones who suffer from popular opinion,” Kidd said.

Harkins said he believes Kidd has altered the state party’s course.

“I haven’t given any money to the state party as yet, I’m not opposed to it, but there is only so much money to go around,” he said. “I think that the state party has changed under the new leadership. She clearly singled out that the state party hasn’t been supportive in the past and that is changing under her leadership.”

Kidd’s plans are encouraging, but some gay donors, like Don George, want more than talk before opening their wallets.

“I want to see some action from the state party before I donate to them. I haven’t in many years,” said George, who attended the fundraisers, where donations went to the national party. “Before I give money I want to see action, and when they act, I will reward.”

[jw]