Miers Stand On Gay Issues

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush's decision to pick White House counsel Harriet Miers to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy left by the retiring justice Sandra Day O'Conner is causing uncertainty and friction among both Democrats and Republicans.

The nomination of the 60-year-old attorney has been greeted with disappointment by some ultra-conservative Republicans, while some Democrats have been cautiously optimistic about the President's choice. However, all parties emphasize the importance of the Senate Judiciary Committee doing a thorough investigation into the candidate's views.

Miers once filled out a questionnaire for the Lesbian/Gay Coalition of Dallas in which she went on record favoring equal civil rights for gays. However, she also stated that she did not support the repeal of the Texas sodomy law. Miers answered a total of five questions on the coalition's form dealing with gay rights and HIV/AIDS

When asked: "Do you believe that gay men and lesbians should have the same civil rights as non-gay men and women?" Miers wrote, "Yes." But on the question: "Do you, as an individual citizen, support the repeal of section 21.06 of the Texas Penal code, which criminalizes the private sexual behavior of consenting adult lesbians and gay men?" Miers wrote, "No."

Asked if qualified candidates should be denied city employment because they are gay or lesbian, she said, "I believe that employers should be able to pick the best qualified person for any position to be filled considering all relevant factors."

She answered "No" when asked if criminalization of the private sexual behavior of consenting adult lesbians and gays should be taken out of the Texas criminal code.

Miers said she did support city funding for AIDS services to the level that was needed to combat that "serious total community problem." When asked if she supported a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination against people with AIDS, Miers said she preferred a "legislative solution" but would be "willing to discuss the need and make an appropriate decision when fully advised."

Louise Young, a founding member of the coalition, remembered when Miers came to the organization's screening screening session of council candidates at the First Unitarian Church in Dallas.

"We weren't really pleased with her responses, although they weren't all bad," Young said. "I just wondered why she was here, because she didn't seem to be the typical officeholder who was supportive of our equal rights."

"Her campaign manager at the time had brought many candidates before our community screening process, and she wanted Miers to come before us," Young said. At the end of the questionnaire, Miers said she was "not seeking the endorsement of LGPC."