Houston GLBT Community Split Down The Middle
By Mehgan Sellers and Emily Kim
Across the country, dinner tables are split over this year's Democratic nomination. The divide runs through race, religion and even party lines.
The Houston GLBTs are no different. Their two major groups in the city are split, as is the general community. The Houston GLBT Political Caucus endorsed Obama last week, while the Houston Area Stonewall Democrats endorsed Clinton.
Determined and loyal Clinton supporters campaigning in the area are countered by the many passionate Obama supporters, canvassing the streets of Houston.
After meeting up Saturday night at the Starbucks on Montrose Blvd., more than a dozen Obama volunteers headed out for what they referred to as the "Gayborhood," a section of town just off of Montrose lined with gay and lesbian clubs, bars, restaurants and of course voters.
They were there to inform and get out the vote.
A few stood on street corners asking passers-by the same questions: Are you voting for Obama? Are you going to caucus? Have you told your friends?
Other surveyed the bars, initiating one-on-one discussions about the election. Rebekah Lee, a volunteer from Bellingham, WA, would pull up a copy of Obama's recent open-letter to the GLBT community on her cell phone to show on-the-fence-voters a reason to consider Obama.
"I really believe in Barack for our time," said Lee. "He's not afraid to answer a question with an 'I don't know' or give you the tough answer. I can tell Barack wants the office to be able to serve people."
Randall Ellis, Chair of the Texans for Obama Steering Committee, organized Saturday's canvassing.
"I've been really making sure we talk to people at forums and community events to convey Sen. Obama's stance on the issues that are important to this community," said Ellis.
Republican Noel Freeman joined the effort Saturday, explaining to voters why he's making the party jump to support Barack Obama.
"I'm not a single issue voter, but because of what's happened to [the GLBT community] over the last eight years with the Federal Marriage Amendment," he said, "...and because the country has been so divisive and our community has been used as a part of that, it's important for me at this point in my life to support a candidate who is good on our issues."
The next day, on another side of town, the Clinton GLBT organizers showed up with their heavy hitter.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, well know for his controversial endorsement of same-sex marriages, spoke to the gathering at Guava Lamp, a predominantly gay bar in Houston.
"I was very disappointed when Barack Obama said he didn't see any difference between civil union and marriage," the mayor told us before going on stage. "To me it was very hurtful; particularly coming from someone in the African American community who understands separate is not equal."
Obama supporters, however, found equal fault with some of Clinton's GLBT policies, particularly in regards to transgender individuals. Newsom addressed this complaint by stating his frustration in general in regards to this topic.
"I was very disappointed with a lot of Democrats, including Barack, who hasn't talked much about the transgender community either," he said.
The GLBT community in Houston as a whole has shown extensive political awareness.
Sitting at a local coffee shop, Damon Constantine and Noah Ball discussed the pros and cons of various candidates.
"Hillary solidified the gay community log ago. Bill Clinton was very pro-gay, and she marched in the New York Pride Parade," said Ball.
"People have different opinions about that though," Constantine responded, "Bill signed into law Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and somewhat betrayed the people he worked so hard to support."
At the Obama canvassing event Saturday, volunteers handled questions raised by undecided voters with educated responses.
Even on general election issues, volunteers such as Vanessa Edwards-Foster provided answers.
Edwards-Foster explained to several voters how the delegate system works, and the national quota the Democratic Party has for various demographics.
"On the national level they are looking for 27 trans delegates," she explained to one group, "I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but we only had 5 last time."
Teresa Herrin, President of Houston Area Stonewall Democrats, hosted the Hillary event yesterday where similar discussion took place. She told us about the phone call she and other executive board members had with Sen. Clinton on Friday evening, prior to their group's endorsement.
"Specifically we wanted to know how soon she would look at the issues important to us," Herrin said.
"Moving forth we also spoke to [Clinton] about her health care plan," she continued, "which is very important to my community because so many of us are unable to have the spousal insurance benefits that most Americans are able to have."
In both candidate camps, these same issues of health care, representation and voter turnout are central issues.
Talking with individuals from many GLBT households scattered around Houston, it's clear that in many cases, the line between Clinton and Obama supporters runs right down the middle of the dining room table.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
The audacity to misLead...
http://pol
Dear Senator Obama I hope their is enough Change...
http://pol
I wish he'd ditch the civil union nonsense as well, but that being said, Obama is clearly the better candidate for the LGBT community. He constantly includes better treatment of gays in his rhetoric, and not only to receptive audiences. He's also for the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, not just partial like Hillary, and has no ties to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," like she does, since she takes credit for everything during her husband's administration. Where's the decision here?
And showing up at a gay pride event is not support, its showing up at an event. Real support is speaking out against the norm, as Obama has on this subject. Policies, issues, whatever happens in Washington happens for whatever reason, but Obama will fight for the LGBT community, I have already seen it.
Real support is standing up in the Senate and condemning the homophobic gay bashing by the bush administration. Real support is calling for a full and equal right to marry, recognizing that anything less is "separate but equal." Real support is calling for an end to workplace discrimination and working to make it illegal.
Obama on many occasions has spoke out in support of the LGBT community. Just last week he was speaking to a group of 3,000 BLACK CHRISTIANS outside of Austin and was sharing with them how "unchristian" they have been to the LGBT community. Obama has courage, there were no cameras there, he didn't have to bring that up. Does anyone think that Hillary would do anything on her own if it wasn't for the cameras? She's Americas #1 phony. Don't let this happen people. Obama truly supports every American and he should get the credit he deserves. This is his entire point when he mentions change, to bring everyone into the process, not just white, Christian straight people.
No one represents the LGBTQ community. Hillary or Obama - nothing will change except the rhetoric will be lowered - which is worth something. But, 4 years from now, there will be no ENDA, and the question of marriage, civil union, or nothing will still reside with the states, and we will still have "Don't ask, don' t tell." Really, if Hillary or Obama were serious about LGBTQ rights, they would have been working on ENDA while active in the Senate (before they went AWOL to start running for president). How often have they stood up in the last 5-6 years or so and denounced bush for his bigotry toward LGBTQ? They are courting LGBTQ just as they are courting other groups - once in office, it will be "don't call us, we'll call you."
Not true, Obama will not, he has already to proven to me he won't. Hillary, absolutely, because she has a history of doing and saying anything to win. Obama does not have this reputation.
How has he proven it?
And you reporting that not one gay person thought it was hypocritical of Senator Obama to try and act like he was a friend to the gay community after he hired and refused to fire a long time anti-gay bigot named Donnie McClurkin? Please. Your bias is showing.
Fire? Um, dude, your ignorance is showing. McClurkin was one of a number of pastors, preachers, and religious leaders who endorsed Obama on a weeklong tour of southern churches this summer. Among the same people who shared the stage was an openly gay pastor, and people from Obama's church, which proudly welcomes gays and performs committment ceremonies.
I wish he HADN'T had McClurkin involved at all, but then I also wish Hillary hadn't been silent in her husband's administration on DOMA and DADT, and I wish she hadn't praised the anti-gay preachers like Bell who have endoresed HER!
The fact is, policy-wise, they've both proven themselves to be pretty progressive on gay issues. You can make a reasoned case for either of them as being the "stronger" or "more vocal" supporter of gay rights.
But to sink to badmouthing, lying, and distorting the record of a friend of the LGBT community just to try to win -- that doesn't do us any favors. What reason would someone have to support LGBT rights, if they'll just get painted as a homophobe by rabid Hillary supporters if they dare stand in her way?
As a lefty, on the left coast near San Francisco, I noticed that Obama refused to have his picture taken with Gavin when Obama came here to raise some money. For those unfamiliar
Obama quietly asked not to be placed near Gavin for pictures !
He didn't want to stand beside our mayor for political reasons. That stinks. It is hypocritical and it stinks.
Now, Hillary, she welcomes Gavin as part of her circle of progressives who are on the right side of this issue and Gavin has endorsed Hillary.
Hillary is the only TRUE friend to GLBT
What exactly has she DONE for the glbt community other than raise money from us?
A darling? If he would have taken that picture I could just see the headlines "Obama Supports Adultery"
And Gavin would LOVE a job my friend. Don't think that your man isn't thinking about the future.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
