However, by now most gays have felt the chill Palin receives from all gay groups and gay rights supporters. So why is it that Sarah Palin is so hated by the gay community?

Here's what the Human Rights Campaign says about Palin's record on gay and lesbian rights issues:

During her 2006 run for Governor, Sarah Palin filled out an Alaska Eagle Forum questionnaire that reveals even more about her stance and view on equality for LGBT equality.

Palin was asked what her top three priorities would be while Governor.

Palin answered, "#2 - Preserving the definition of 'marriage' as defined in our constitution."

"I'd say we have a pretty definitive understanding of where Sarah Palin stands on issue of equality for our community. Sarah Palin is against recognizing our relationships, against domestic partner benefits, and against hate crimes laws. She championed that her second top priority in office would be preserving an anti-gay definition of marriage. The more we find out about her record, the more frightening her record becomes," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

She was also asked about her views on expanding hate crimes laws. The question reads, "Will you support an effort to expand hate crimes laws?"

Palin answered, "No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate."

Another question from the same survey asked, "Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court's ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples? Why or why not?"

Palin answered, "No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution."

When asked about the right-wing's reaction to the choice of Gov Palin, the New York Times quoted Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition as saying, "They're beyond ecstatic."

Highlights of Governor Palin's Anti-Equality Record
Prior to being elected governor, Palin supported the 1998 constitutional amendment barring marriage for same-sex couples and has said she would support a ballot measure overturning a state supreme court decision mandating benefits for domestic partners of state employees.

She is close to "traditional values" groups, like Family Research Council, because she is strongly anti-choice.

Marriage and Relationship Recognition
Palin told the Anchorage Daily News that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment on marriage.

In addition, she told the Daily News that she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to the domestic partners of public employees, which were ordered by an October 2005 decision of the Alaska Supreme Court, because, she said "honoring the family structure is that important."

While she followed the Court's decision, her first legislative act as Governor of Alaska was to put the issue on the April 2007 ballot for a nonbinding advisory vote. This was the only issue on the ballot and that election cost the state taxpayers $1.2 million. This measure passed, but the legislature did not follow the public's advice and it chose not to take any further action to overturn the court's decision.

Ties to Anti-LGBT Groups
Palin will be honored alongside anti-gay representative Michelle Bachman (R-MN) at an event at the 2008 Republican Convention, the "Life of the Party," sponsored in part by long-time opponent of GLBT rights, Phyllis Schlafly.

The fact is that Palin as vice president is VERY likely to actually become the president of the United States because of 72-year-old John McCain's cancer history.

So would Barack Obama do any better for gay and lesbian rights? There is nothing to prove this at this point but there is definitely plenty to suggest it would happen. Why? Well, just take the Democrat's records on GLBT rights.

Former president Bill Clinton has been repeatedly criticized on his GLBT rights records with his introduction of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA,) but few people understand the kind of environment Clinton was working in. There is no question that those policies are less than ideal for GLBT people, but the fact is that they were both fought through as "lesser-evils."

The alternatives at the time was a complete ban on gays in the military, and a constitutional ban - that would have been approved - on gay marriage.

So it's easy to look back today and criticize Bill Clinton for not having done more on GLBT issues, but the simple fact is that he would never have been elected president if he had done so, and that the outcome with a republican president would have been FAR worse.

Last update: 01-29-2009 17:11

Posted by frostwhite, on 09-22-2008 11:35, 1. mrs of course sarah is no substitute for old hill, sarah is a lady not a big old dike,   » Report this comment to administrator