Some of us are a tad upset that LGBT issues have not risen to the level of scrutiny, let alone conversation, in this year’s presidential debates. After all, despite major favorable federal court rulings, DOMA is still the law and marriage is on the ballot in Washington, Maryland, Maine and Minnesota, four LGBT people are more directly impacted by the economy and the job situation without ENDA, and as attorney and former Marine Captain Tom Carpenter argues – the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal did not fix issues such as the right of trans servicemembers to serve openly.
Superseding our specific issues – which Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart is grateful are not being discussed as the usual wedge issues - – a CNN Poll of Polls shows that the presidential race is a dead heat before tonight’s final debate on foreign policy. Stonewall Democratic Club is holding a debate-watch party at Micky’s at 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood 90069. The party starts at 5:30pm, the debate starts at 6:00pm. Please RSVP on Facebook .
Big topics will be Libya, Iran, Israel and nuclear weapons – and who will come off as the better commander-in-chief. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell expert National Frank thinks that’s one reason DADT should be part of the final foreign policy debate tonight:
“The candidates’ opposing positions on this issue [DADT] has an important bearing on presidential leadership and character, as it speaks to how willing a leader is to press a fact-based national security policy instead of politicizing the facts to serve the interests of a narrow group or ideology.
In the years leading up to the final debate over DADT, a wealth of research, including extensive study by the Pentagon itself, showed that ending the gay ban would help, not harm, national security. Then, a year after repeal of DADT was implemented, a major study (that I co-authored) released by UCLA and a team of military professors found that ending the gay ban “had no negative impact on overall military readiness,” a finding echoed by other research. The evidence also mounted over the years that the assertion that openly gay service threatened military readiness was not grounded in any evidence but was, instead, a moral concern wrapped up in the banner of national security.
But the GOP dug in its heels, opposing equality at every turn in an obvious sop to the religious right. Indeed, for years, conservatives have been more than happy to play politics with this issue.
On another note: Stonewall is also recruiting volunteer to go to Nevada for one week before Election Day for a crucial Get Out The Vote effort!
Stonewall says: “We will meet Friday, Oct. 26, at 3pm: Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood and spend the weekend canvassing. Nights are for phone banking …or…well…it is Vegas! We’ll head back to L.A. Sunday, Oct. 28th @5pm. Transportation and lodging provided for you.
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