Positive news from the election on gay rights

[racaulk]

There is no question about it, last night sucked to be a Democrat. It especially sucked to be a GLBTQI Democrat. With the loss of the Supreme Court justices in Iowa, a possible upcoming marriage equality amendment in North Carolina (as dsc predicted here, and I think he's right), the loss of some of our advocates in Congress, and the even bleaker outlook for repealing DADT in the Senate thanks to Mark Kirk's victory in Illinois, there is much to be worried, anxious, and depressed about in terms of gay rights.

However, we did have a number of victories last night that have been scantly reported by the M$M and that can easily get lost in the noise here at DU. To counter all of the negativity that surrounds us today, I would like to take a moment to list and celebrate those victories.

Rhode Island: David Cicilline (D) was victorious in his bid to win the House seat for Rhode Island's first district. He will now join Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, and Jared Polis (who all won their reelection bids) as the fourth openly gay member of Congress.

California: Meg Whitman (R) was defeated in her bid for Governor. If elected, Whitman had vowed that she would attempt to intervene on behalf of the state in the appeal of Perry v. Schwarzenegger and would work to see Prop 8 continue to be enforced indefinitely.

New Hampshire: John Lynch (D), the Governor that signed that state's marriage equality bill (after forcing a compromise bill out of the state legislature), won his bid for reelection.

Rhode Island, Maryland, and New York: All three states elected pro-gay Governors (Lincoln Chafee, Martin O'Malley, and Andrew Cuomo, respectively) last night, and all have promised to sign a marriage equality bill should one reach their desk. Given the partisan makeup of their respective state legislatures, it looks promising for Rhode Island and Maryland to adopt marriage equality bills in the near future. New York, as we all know, will require a bit of work in the state Senate.

Lexington, Kentucky: Jim Gray defeated incumbent Jim Newberry to become that city's first openly gay Mayor.

U.S. Senate: A number of virulently anti-gay candidates were defeated in their bids for the Senate last night, including Sharron Angle, Carly Fiorina, and Christine O'Donnell.

Governorships: Likewise, a number of anti-gay candidates were defeated in their bids for Governor, including Meg Whitman, Carl Paladino and Tom Tancredo.

Marriage Amendments: 2010 was the first election year in a long time (I'm not even sure how long) in which no state had a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on its ballot. While not a victory per se, it sure was a nice change. :)

Am I missing anything? Any other news you would like to share?

Please feel free to add to this list, but please keep this thread positive.

:hi:

[Ian David]

1. Transgendered Kolakowski wins race for Alameda County Superior Court judge

Transgendered Kolakowski wins race for Alameda County Superior Court judge
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9461559

[racaulk]

3. Wow, I hadn't heard of that!

Very cool! :thumbsup:

[Ian David]

2. Republican "The Marine vs The Queen" Bielat concedes to Barney Frank

Republican "The Marine vs The Queen" Bielat concedes to Barney Frank
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9452156

[racaulk]

4. Yes, that certainly was good news.

While Barney Frank has been a bit of a disappointment for me, Sean Bielat is an absolute piece of crap. I'm very glad that Frank won his reelection bid.

It also pleases me that the quislings at GOProud wasted a lot of their money supporting Bielat. :)

[Ian David]

5. LGBT Wins and Losses on Election Day

LGBT Wins and Losses on Election Day
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=168523&mesg_id=168523

[Unvanguard]

6. Kamala Harris probably won the AG race in California.

Unlike her opponent, Steve Cooley, she has pledged not to defend Prop. 8 in court.

[racaulk]

7. California: Andrew Pugno, Prop 8 Lawyer, loses bid for State Assembly

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/11/california-prop-8-attorney-andy-pugno.html

:woohoo:

[racaulk]

8. Hawaii: Gay-friendly Neil Abercrombie (D) wins Gubernatorial race

Earlier this year, the Hawaii state legislature narrowly passed a bill providing for civil unions for unmarried partners (gay and straight) in that state, despite a loud and concerted effort from right-wing groups to try to defeat the bill. After the bill reached the desk of Gov. Linda Lingle (R-Obviously), she allowed the bill to sit on her desk prompting an extended, anxiety-inducing, and unnecessary "will she sign the bill, or won't she?" period. Lingle decided to veto the bill in the 11th hour, and since the bill did not pass with veto-proof majorities in the legislature, it was officially dead by her hands.

I suppose the twice-married, twice-divorced Lingle, through preventing teh gays from entering into legal, secular, non-marriage, non-religious civil unions, saw herself as something of a "protector of marriage." Or something.

:eyes:

Abercrombie has a 100% rating with the HRC and a 93% rating with the ACLU (source). If the state legislature decides to again pass legislation to approve civil unions in Hawaii, this means that Abercrombie would be likely to sign the bill. However, I'm not sure how the balance of the state legislature changed with the election, and what that means for the chances of a similar bill in the next Congress.

[racaulk]

9. Towleroad has an excellent recap here

http://www.towleroad.com/2010/11/2010-election-wrap-gop-seizes-control-of-house-dems-keep-senate.html

This link includes the items listed in this thread, and includes some others. Definitely worth a look. :hi: