Politics Archives

Midterm Elections Called “Rainbow Wave” as LGBTQ+ Candidates Break Records

10Nov

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

Midterm Elections Called “Rainbow Wave” as LGBTQ+ Candidates Break Records

In what’s being called a “rainbow wave,” a record breaking amount of out LGBTQ+ candidates won their races in the U.S. midterm elections this year. While many races still haven’t been called yet, at least 400 openly LGBTQ+ candidates had won their elections as of Thursday afternoon. Meaning that this “rainbow wave” breaks the previous record from 2020, when 244 out LGBTQ+ candidates were elected. 678 openly gay, transgender, bisexual, lesbian & queer candidates ran for office in the U.S. midterms this year. With at least 400 of them winning, LGBTQ+ candidates will have a midterm success rate of 58% thus far. Out of the out LGBTQ+ candidates that ran for office in these midterms, the vast majority were democrat. This coincides with voter trends as 84% of LGBT...

LGBTQ+ Highlights from the US Midterm Elections

8Nov

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

LGBTQ+ Highlights from the US Midterm Elections

The highly anticipated midterm elections are taking place today in the United States. As polls are beginning to close we’ve compiled some of the most important races featuring LGBTQ+ candidates that the community should be on the lookout for. 678 openly LGBTQ+ candidates made it onto the ballots and for the first time ever, there’s LGBTQ+ candidates running in every state. Although there’s never been an out lesbian governor in the U.S., both Oregon & Massachusetts are expected to break that tradition by electing Tina Kotek & Maura Healey for their respective governorships in today's elections. In California, Long Beach mayor Robert Garcia is expected to become the country’s first openly gay immigrant to be elected to congress. Texas legislator, Vento...

Gay Marriage Bill Gets Stuck in US Senate

16Sep

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

Gay Marriage Bill Gets Stuck in US Senate

The U.S. Senate postponed yesterday's vote on legislation that would codify same-sex marriage after negotiators were unable to secure enough republican support for the bill. A vote on the bill will take place after the Nov. 8 congressional elections. The news comes as a disappointment to those who hoped that the Biden administration would be able to protect marriage equality through legislative action. This as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke on dismantling the same-sex marriage protections that have been established by the court, after the same was done to abortion rights. The decision to postpone the bill indicates that democratic lawmakers are optimistic as to their chances to win big this November and secure enough democratic representation in the senate to pass the bill. ...

Marriage Equality Bill Still “Incredibly Important” to Biden

26Aug

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

Marriage Equality Bill Still “Incredibly Important” to Biden

The Respect of Marriage Act which seeks to codify same-sex marriage, still “incredibly important” to Biden said White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre yesterday. The bill was left as unfinished business by the senate before leaving for August recess. The White House Press Secretary was asked if Biden has reached out to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to ensure that he schedules a vote on the bill. She responded that she had no private conversations to read out but reiterated Biden’s support for the bill and for the LGBTQ+ community. “This is incredibly important to the president. We heard from him back in 2012 when he was one of the first voices to talk about how important marriage equality was being ahead of many others. He has been an advocate for the community. He...

7 Openly LGBTQ+ Candidates Win Their Primaries in Florida

25Aug

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

7 Openly LGBTQ+ Candidates Win Their Primaries in Florida

In the aftermath of Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill, seven candidates that are openly LGBTQ+ won their primaries Tuesday night. LGBTQ+ representation in the Florida legislature will triple if they are able to beat their republican rivals in November. The candidates are running for state House or Senate seats in Florida and have advanced to the general election in November. Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis, who’s responsible for signing the “don’t say gay” bill into law, also won his primary last night. The bill bans “instruction” about gender identity or sexual orientation for students in kindergarden through the third grade “or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The law also requires educators to...

Republican Politician Extorted Over Gay Sex Tape

24Aug

By Sara BanksNo Comments

Politics

Republican Politician Extorted Over Gay Sex Tape

Republican candidate for Wisconsin state assembly, Peter Schmidt was blackmailed for $50,000 by a man that claimed to have a video of the politician performing oral sex on another man. The self-proclaimed “strong conservative and christian” won the republican primary earlier this month by 64 votes before reports of the allegations were made public. Schmidt made the criminal complaint in 2019 when an employee on his family farm threatened to send a video of Schmidt performing oral sex on another man to his family unless he received $50,000. Schmidt was able to negotiate with the alleged blackmailer, getting the price down to $5000 before contacting authorities and telling his family himself. “I’m a strong conservative and Christian, but there was a brief moment I struggled wit...

Poll: Florida’s LGBTQ and Ally Voters Aren’t Feeling Gov. Ron DeSantis

15Aug

By str8darNo Comments

Politics

Poll: Florida’s LGBTQ and Ally Voters Aren’t Feeling Gov. Ron DeSantis

As students in Florida return to class, school officials are figuring out how the implementation of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill will affect students and their ability to do their job. The new laws are banning LGBTQ-related conversation in class, books are removed from shelves and state leaders are targeting gender-affirming healthcare, despite the fact that every major medical association supports it as safe and lifesaving for transgender youth. While targeting LGBTQ youth might make Gov. DeSantis popular in certain circles, the LGBTQ community and its allies are undoubtedly an integral part of the Florida electorate. GLAAD conducted a poll among LGBTQ and ally voters in Florida and found that 71% believe the laws' intent is to attack LGBTQ people; 70% say the laws are emotionally damagin...

Record-Breaking Number of LGBTQ+ Candidates Running for Office in 2022

24Jul

By str8darNo Comments

Politics

Record-Breaking Number of LGBTQ+ Candidates Running for Office in 2022

Data published this week by the LGBTQ Victory Fund shows that there are more than 1,000 candidates running for office this year who are out as LGBTQ+. There has never been as many openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for office in the U.S. Analysts believe that these record-breaking numbers indicate a shift in America's political landscape. This could be a result of the general population's increased acceptance of LGBTQ+ people or a reaction to the growing legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. More than 40% of these candidates are running for state legislative seats. There are at least 1,008 openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for office in 2022, from school boards to congress. This breaks the previous record set in 2020, when 1,006 out LGBTQ+ candidates ran. 138 of this year's openly LGBTQ+...

Freedom Caucus Comes Out Against Marriage Equality

22Jul

By str8darNo Comments

Politics, US

Freedom Caucus Comes Out Against Marriage Equality

The farthest right-leaning Republicans are openly returning to their anti-LGBTQ+ platform as the overturning of Roe v. Wade has opened the door for the dismantlement of other human rights. The House Freedom Caucus came out against the “Respect for Marriage Act” on Friday, a bill that passed earlier this week that seeks to codify same-sex and interracial marriage into law. In a statement, the House Freedom Caucus said that "the radical left has launched an all-out campaign on America's traditional values and sacred institutions." Adding that they believe that marriage equality "has weakened the nuclear family, attacked the norms of masculinity and femininity, and now it wants to further erode the sacred institutions of marriage." While the House Freedom Caucus opposes same-sex...

House Passes Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage

19Jul

By str8darNo Comments

Politics, US

House Passes Bill to Protect Same-Sex Marriage

The House passed a bill today that protects marriage equality as members of the Supreme Court have indicated that they might take aim at Obergefell, the Supreme Court case that federally legalized same-sex marriage. 47 republicans joined the democrats in passing the bill while 157 opposed it. Seven republicans abstained from voting, no democratic representatives voted against the bill. In a concurring opinion to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas revealed that he believes that the court should reconsider the Obergefell case. Other justices also warned that the more conservative leaning members of the court might want to dismantle Obergefell next. The “Respect of Marriage Act” would ensure that all marriages are valid across states as long as ...