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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2008)
OCTOBER 17, 2008 ★ ★ ★ ★ TOP BOTTOM 2008 ELECTION GUIDE SMITH WHO'S ON TOP NOW? Mu ★ ★ ★ oiling tells us that this is one of the most closely contested and heavily watched U.S. Senate races on the national radar. It’s one hell of a nail-baiter. Two-term incumbent Republican Gordon Smith has such a checkered history on equality issues for the sexual mi- norities community that it might make your head spin. He variously has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign; has lent his voice in support of 2004’s discriminatory Measure 36; has been supported on the trail and in TV ads by gay martyr Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy; and was very early in his career endorsed by the anti-gay Oregon Citizens Alliance (an endorsement he later rejected, only to be challenged in 1996 and 2002 by OCA chief Lon Mabon, who lost both times). That bizarre record has tended to invoke anger among queer leaders, and this year it’s been especially blustery. “Gordon Smith is not a friend to this community” was how Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini bluntly put it in a recent statement regarding Smith’s release of a television advertisement touting his pro-gay work in the U.S. Senate. “We know the kind of leadership this community needs, and it’s not Gordon Smith.” Not everyone in the sexual minorities community agrees with Frazzini and BRO. Smith has enjoyed previous support from the likes of legendary Oregon gay philanthropist Terry Bean and national groups like the Human Rights Campaign and Log Cabin Republicans. But he faces fierce competition from state Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, a longtime legislator and, most recently, Oregon’s House speaker. Although Merkley’s record on trans-inclusive discrimination protections and his commitment to same-sex mar riage equality is laudable, his record beyond that is thin. Merkley sat down with Just Out earlier this month to discuss his work on equality and his legislative priorities were he to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Smith was much more cagey. After an initial brief connection with the Smith campaign, spokes benefits for federally employed domesti woman Lindsay Gilbride did not respond to all further requests for interview or comment. Smith’s silence to Just Out, in the cally partnered couples, most recently the midst of a re-election campaign no less, gives us pause. Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obliga We’re guessing that’s one signal of Smith’s lack of interest in shoring up gay support this election year. It may come back to haunt him. But we’re presenting, in the report below, Smith and Merkley’s records on a panoply of queer issues, side by side. We tions Act of 2007, with openly lesbian Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. ✓ On HIV/AIDS education and think the records, to some extent, speak for themselves. prevention: Smith has authored or co- GORDON SMITH Incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith has been supported by Judy Shepard, Log Cabin Republicans and, in the past, gay philanthropist Terry Bean. preserve.” Smith lent his legislative mus sponsored more than a half-dozen laws on ✓ On workplace discrimination protec cle—and blurb-age for campaign marketing HIV/AIDS education and funding during his tions: According to The Washington Blade, materials—to 2OO4’s Measure 36 campaign two terms in the Senate, including the Early Smith spoke favorably in a June public forum in Oregon, which was among the narrowest Treatment for HIV Act (with Sen. Hillary of the current trans-exclusive Employment wins (57 percent to 43 percent) of any state Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.) and HIV Nondis Non-Discrimination Act. The Blade reported wide constitutional amendment banning crimination in Travel and Immigration Act that, in the forum, Smith asserted the current (with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.). version of ENDA would pass “whether the same-sex marriage. ✓ On “don’t ask, don’t tell”: Smith has new chief executive is Obama or Republican not provided any known public comment on co-sponsoring, with Democratic party lion candidate Sen. John McCain.” the military’s discriminatory practices toward Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, the Mat */ On same-sex marriage: Voted “yes” sexual minorities, although he is close with thew Shepard Hate Crimes Act in 2005. on the 2006 Federal Marriage Amendment legislators who support the law’s repeal (like and told Just Out in a 2007 interview: “I U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.). believe that marriage is defined tradition */ On domestic partner tax equity: Smith ally as an ideal that has many societal ben has been the sole or leading co-sponsor on a efits. 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