New Mexico governor & presidential contender Bill Richardson’s record on LGBT rights is worth a look

[bigtree]

2/22/2007

What about Bill?

Laura Kiritsy
[e-mail]



Concord, N.H. — “He’s actually been wonderful. He’s kept every promise he’s ever made to the community.” Anyone remember the last time you heard an LGBT political activist say that about a candidate for the White House? It certainly can’t be said about Bill Clinton, whose 1992 campaign pledge to let gays serve openly in the military resulted in the disastrous “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Ditto for John Kerry, whose reputation for being a longstanding champion of gay civil rights went bust when he came out for anti-gay marriage amendments in Massachusetts and Missouri in the heat of the 2004 campaign. But that’s how Alexis Blizman, the executive director of Equality New Mexico, sums up Democrat Bill Richardson’s record on LGBT issues as governor of her home state.

{snip}

The governor appears to be gearing up to make his support for LGBT rights more widely known on the presidential campaign trail. Though he didn’t mention it on the stump in Concord, at the Democratic National Committee’s annual winter meeting earlier this month Richardson was the only speaker on the roster — which included other presidential contenders Sen. Joe Biden, Clinton, Sen. Christopher Dodd, Edwards, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Obama, and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack — to raise the issue. “I want to tell you, too, in New Mexico, our fight for equality extends to sexual orientation,” he told attendees, touting the state’s LGBT-inclusive civil rights laws and its domestic partner benefits for state workers. “Some call New Mexico the land of enchantment. I now like to think that we live in a state of enlightenment.” On top of that, he’s scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles on March 24.

He certainly has a few things to talk about. In 2003, Richardson followed through on campaign pledges to sign into law LGBT-inclusive hate crimes and non-discrimination bills, making New Mexico one of just a handful of states to include transgender people in state’s civil rights laws. Not only did he sign the legislation, said Blizman, “he actively helped work the legislators to make sure it passed.” Richardson also issued a 2003 executive order providing domestic partner benefits to gay state employees. In 2005 he came out in opposition to proposed state DOMA legislation, unless it contained a civil unions or domestic partnership provision (the bill eventually died); he has also spoken out against a federal anti-gay marriage amendment. Blizman, who is supporting Richardson in his quest for the White House, says that Richardson is behind Equality New Mexico’s push to pass a comprehensive domestic partnership bill that would provide two “non-familial” adults with all of the state-level rights afforded to married couples.

Richardson’s support for LGBT rights extends back to his years in Congress, where he represented New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District for 14 years until 1997. He opposed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and supported a range of other gay-friendly legislation.

Now, for the downside: In 1996, Richardson voted in favor of the federal DOMA; he continues to oppose same-sex marriage. Asked if he stood by his DOMA vote in a brief interview after the Concord event, Richardson replied, “Yeah. I do.” He went on to add that, “I think that New Mexico has the most pro-gay rights legislation because of me and I’m going to continue that. We have domestic partnerships, we have a hate crimes law, we’re the first state to recognize transgender and as president I would continue that.” But on the issue of gay marriage, said Richardson, “I’m just not there. I want to be honest.”

Will Richardson’s DOMA vote hurt him with LGBT voters? After all, with the exception of Kucinich, who is on record in support of marriage equality, his position doesn’t differ from any of the other Democratic candidates, all of whom oppose civil marriage but support either civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. That’s why Blizman doesn’t think it will. “I think he’s got the experience on foreign policy, I think he’s good on the issues I care about,” she says. “Obviously, with the DOMA he’s not perfect, but he’s better than the other candidates. At least he’s willing to be there and take a stand.”

Not so fast, says Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) . . .

http://baywindows.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=008EC9FBCFF24AD18614290016BE1303&nm=Current+Issue&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&AudID=0813BC739F2044E5A03DCF2DE3FDF7C9&tier=4&id=DE28FE4B33E043EF97576A4A91448621



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[HockeyMom]

1. The Democrats have so many good candidates

It's going to be a very hard choice for me.

[bigtree]

3. here's a Richardson page which reviews his campaign with daily updates

and links to the latest articles covering the guv, pro and con:

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/57402.html

[shadowknows69]

32. Watching the news you wouldn't even know he's a candidate

I'm sooo sick of Hilary and Obama being shoved down our throats. Good choices? Sure. The best choices? Not IMO, but all anyone will see.

[bigtree]

2. Bill Richardson has a record of accomplishments to buttress his rhetoric

Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force says that, "in terms of actual accomplishments for LGBT people Bill Richardson stands above the other current candidates because he’s actually pushed forward and implemented laws that have helped our (LGBT) community.”

[burrowowl]

30. Right ON!

Ask Equality New Mexico!

[bigtree]

33. from the Blue Mass Group

Surprise! Bill Richardson has charisma

Sun Feb 04, 2007

The Democratic National Committee has just wrapped up its winter meeting. The highlight, at least as far as the rest of the world is concerned, is the ten speeches by announced Democratic presidential candidates. They're all available at this link, and they're an excellent way to get a sense of how each candidate's basic stump speech is going to go.
http://www.democrats.org/wintermeetingvideo.html

And here's some big news: one of the bits of conventional wisdom on Bill Richardson appears to be wrong. The guy's got plenty of charisma. His speech was funny, charming, plain-spoken, bold, passionate, and had the crowd on its feet cheering numerous times (watch it here): http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/02/bill_richardson_1.php

And this was interesting -- few if any of the other candidates talked about this issue, and he got huge applause for doing so. http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/address_to_the_dnc_winter_meeting

In New Mexico, our fight for equality extends to sexual orientation. For the first time in state history we have a hate crimes law. We've extended civil rights protections to include sexual orientation. And we're providing state health insurance for domestic partnerships.

Some call New Mexico the land of enchantment. I now like to think that we live in a state of enlightenment.

Did he come out swinging for equal marriage? No. But no one else even bothered to talk about gay rights.

http://www.bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6199

[burrowowl]

38. You should post this in the GLBT forum!

and he has also gotten more funds and help for the Iraq Vets!

[skipos]

4. I like Richardson

I think he is being realistic here. Full rights for gays is going to take some time, and he seems to be taking decent steps forward.

[bigtree]

24. and he's been up front and honest about where he draws the line

I believe he still has an open mind

[Ignacio Upton]

5. Richardson is worth a look

But he needs to explain his involvement in Los Alamos before I consider him.

[Czolgosz]

6. Richardson is a favorite of the DLC. He is pro-NAFTA/anti-Fair Trade, pro-faith-based social

services, pro-school vouchers, pro-medical savings accounts, pro-death penalty/anti-death-penalty-appeals/pro-enhanced sentencing for nonviolent drug crimes/pro-replacing judicial discretion with mandatory jail time, pro-tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, and he has been a hawk on "homeland security" and military base issues.

Among the Democratic candidates and potential candidates he is about as progressive as Hillary or Biden, probably just a bit to the left of Vilsack, but certainly to the right of Edwards, Clark, Kucinich, Dodd, or Obama.

Sources:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Bill_Richardson.htm
http://www.whereistand.com/BillRichardson/16327
http://vote-smart.org/npat.php?old=true&can_id=H2505103&npatform_id=11

[bigtree]

7. but this thread is about his stance on LGBT issues, not an invitation for spam

got anything to add . . . on subject?

[Czolgosz]

8. I didn't know people need an invitation to post in GD. Perhaps you posted it in the wrong forum.

[bigtree]

9. you're spamming the same message on every Richardson thread

there's got to be some reg against this. Cut-and-paste, isn't it?

You're off topic, Czolgosz. How about contributing to the discussion about Richardson and LGBT issues?

[Czolgosz]

10. I think Richardson threads are the best place to post comments about Richardson's DLC record.

[bigtree]

13. Duplicate Topics and Spamming

Duplicate Topics and Spamming

please

"Do not spam the message board by posting the same message repeatedly . . . "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detailed.html

[Czolgosz]

16. I assume that you will stop posting one after another pro-Richardson thread?

[sniffa]

12. aww, you noticed that too?

[Czolgosz]

15. Richardson's stand on GLBT issues? He supported DOMA. Otherwise, he is indistinguishable from the

other nominees except Kucinich.

His record on GLBT issues is one that doesn't stand out among the other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. Perhaps that's good for Richardson because he does stick out as more conservative on so many other issues.

Here's nice interview with Richardson on FauxNoise where Richardson had lots of praise for Bush:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151631,00.html

Is that better?

[bigtree]

20. here's another account from January

Another Bill Upstages Hillary

With all the excitement about Hillary Clinton’s run for president, there’s a Bill more worthy of gay support.

By CHRIS CRAIN
Friday, January 26, 2007

{snip}

THE OTHER BILL — Richardson from New Mexico—is as much a do-er as Hillary is a talker. He has 15 years in Congress under his belt, followed by a stint as energy secretary and then U.N. ambassador, earning a reputation as a top-notch international negotiator, a skill set desperately needed and so sorely lacking in the current White House occupant.

That negotiation savvy shouldn’t be underestimated. Look what it did for Richardson on the same issue that tripped Hillary: marriage equality. Both oppose gay marriage, but when the New Mexico legislature pushed a “Defense of Marriage Act” in 2005, Richardson said he would veto it unless it was enacted alongside civil unions. His position wasn’t just expedient; it was principled and would satisfy any but those with a marriage litmus test. The DOMA effort failed.

What’s more, in Richardson’s first term as governor of a red state that went twice for George W., he signed a virtual panoply of gay rights protections, that includes:

* Expanding civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity (only three other states had done so at the time);
* A hate crimes law that protects both actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity; and
* An executive order extending health insurance and other benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of state employees.

LIKE HILLARY, BILL is on record backing full-fledged civil unions, and unlike John Kerry, the Democratic nominee in 2004, Richardson opposes state-level constitutional amendments that ban gays from marrying.

While in Congress in the early ’90s, Richardson backed military service for out gay men and lesbians. That means, unlike Hillary and the rest, Richardson was anti-Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell when it was very uncool to be.

Richardson’s record isn’t unblemished. He voted for the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 and hasn’t recanted his support. He will need to explain his position on DOMA and, at the very least, back repeal of the portion of DOMA that bans federal recognition of marriage licenses issued to gay couples. He also backs federal recognition of state-issued civil unions. Given his support for civil unions, that seems likely.

http://www.newyorkblade.com/2007/1-26/viewpoint/opinion/bill.cfm

[k_jerome]

18. of course, your concern is not civil rights....

just DLC obsession.

[Czolgosz]

37. Of course I care about civil rights. Richardson has a LOUSY civil rights record!

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s support for mandatory jail time, even for non-violent offenders – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s support for the death penalty – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s vote to abolish habeas corpus in death penalty appeals – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s opposition to offering the option of life-without-parole as an alternative to the death penalty – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s support for prosecuting minors as adults – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s support for eliminating automatic citizenship for all children born in the USA – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s support for limiting access to our court system for people hurt by negligent hospitals – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.

When I express my disagreement with Richardson’s vote in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act against gay marriage – THAT’S A CONCERN ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS.


Sources:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Bill_Richardson.htm
http://vote-smart.org/npat.php?old=true&can_id=H2505103&npatform_id=11

[Pawel K]

11. I'm from New Mexico, he is an awesome governor

I am in a toss up if I should support him or Obama (unless of course Clark runs then all my support goes to him). Richardson's record on the Iraq war is also a good one, he is a strong critic of this war and wants to send our troops home.

[FreeState]

14. He isnt pro gay enough for me

He isnt pro gay enough for me, look a his website - were is the word gay? (Hint as of yesterday it was not there - not on the site at all, not once, real supportive eh?)

Also he is not pro-gay marriage - so he wont be getting my vote in the primaries. I do have some litmus tests in the primaries and that is one of them. I refuse to vote for someone who treats me as second class.

[bigtree]

17. thanks, FreeState

[bigtree]

19. from The Bill Richardson Blog:

Gay Rights: Richardson’s Way Ahead
Posted on Sunday 28 January 2007

The Richardson blogosphere (and Richardson himself) should do more to emphasize one of his best issues: equality for gay and lesbian Americans. I was started thinking about this by an editorial in the New York Blade, comparing Bill’s record on this to Hillary’s.

In Richardson’s first term as Governor, he threatened to veto a New Mexico DOMA-type law, unless it was enacted alongside civil unions. (It was never necessary.) He is also for letting gay and lesbian servicemembers serve openly in our Armed Forces, and said so during the “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” debates in the 90’s. He extended civil rights laws to homosexuals and transgendered people while Governor of New Mexico. And so on.

It helps give lie, I think, to the idea that the Governor is somehow a split-the-difference “moderate.” He isn’t. He’s a principled Westerner who can compromise to get things done, but will always stand strong for our Democratic values when those values are under attack. Human equality, and the dignity of every single person, is a core Democratic value. More people should be asking where all of the major candidates stand on this issue.

1 Comment for 'Gay Rights: Richardson’s Way Ahead'

Louis Rand
February 2, 2007 | 5:05 pm


Bill Richardson has actively respected the integrity of the LGBT voters in New Mexico and has courted our votes. He enthusiastically supported an LGBT gubernatorial reelection campaign fundraiser by attending the event which took place at the Rainbow Vision community here in Santa Fe. He has permitted Equality New Mexico PAC, a state political action committee, to conduct a fundraiser in the Governor’s mansion coming up in February. He is committed to recognizing civil unions and is opposed to amending the state constitution to discriminate against same gender couples in New Mexico. He talks the talk AND walks the walk.

http://billrichardsonblog.com/?p=214

[FreeState]

25. Thanks for cementing it for me

Thanks for cementing it for me.

His blog has says gay in it... great. I love being hidden away in the blog thats not part of his official website domain - cause everyone would think to read his blog and not his issues pages /sarcasm.

IMO I see this as him shoving us to back of the bus and hiding us.

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/

[bigtree]

26. I don't see any group highlighted

I'm African American, but I don't assume he doesn't recognize me because he hasn't yet developed a section devoted to African American concerns on his presidential exploratory site.

[FreeState]

27. Yeah but this post is about how "gay friendly"

Yeah but this thread is about how "gay friendly" he claims to be. Im saying he is not as gay friendly as I would like in a candidate. I also can't believe he does not have any segment on his site dealing with civil rights - which is a HUGE issue right now.

[bigtree]

28. which candidates have a segment on their site which highlights gays?

or civil rights in the context of GLBT rights?

Have you found any?

[FreeState]

29. Heres a list (being updated)

http://kucinich.us/issues/gayrights.php


(is there a current Clark site??)
http://clark04.com/glbt/

(not a section but at least its on the site)
http://www.barackobama.com/2006/12/01/world_aids_day.php


--- Ill ad more as I find them (Im t work right now so it may be a while)

[bigtree]

31. I'm going to quibble here

I can pull up speeches from the governor like the floor speech provided as a 'LGBTQ Rights' page on the Kucinich site. The other reference link on the page was from a blog. Same with Obama.

Perhaps the governor hasn't yet transferred his speeches into the database of his new site, but he certainly has a record which undoubtably includes numerous statements and speeches addressing the subject of gays and the issues that affect gays.

Besides, as Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force says, "in terms of actual accomplishments for LGBT people Bill Richardson stands above the other current candidates because he’s actually pushed forward and implemented laws that have helped our community,” says Foreman. Clinton, Obama, Edwards — and even Kucinich — “don’t have that kind of tangible record for our community,”

[Jai4WKC08]

41. No Clark campaign site... yet

But I have never heard Clark speak, even since his 04 campaign, when he hasn't talked to the importance of equal rights for GLBT folks. He considers it a fundamental Democratic value, so if he runs this time around (and I believe he will announce very soon), y'all will continue to be an important constituency.

Funny you should mention Clark, actually, since the following article about "dark horse" candidates and gay issues ran in the Washington Blade, dated just yesterday. You might find it interesting. Here's what they wrote about Clark, but they also mention Richardson as well as Vilsack, Dodd and some others.

“The problem with most of these dark horses is there’s simply no name recognition on the national stage,” he said. “They’re known within their state, but after they get out of their state, they’re unknowns.”

One exception is military veteran and gay rights supporter Wesley Clark.

A presidential hopeful from 2004, Clark is widely expected to enter the 2008 race. Wilcox said if that happens, Clark’s reputation would give added heft to his arguments against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“If he’s standing on stage and saying that as someone who’s been in the military,” Wilcox said, “he’s a very powerful advocate in that case.”

But even that message might get lost in the commotion. Political experts said Clark, like most dark horse contenders, must poll in the double digits before their voices are truly heard.

“And I think it’s getting harder and harder for them to surge,” Wilcox said. “Still, it’s not out of the question that a candidate could surge.”

http://www.washblade.com/2007/2-23/news/national/10074.cfm

[w4rma]

21. I won't support a "free"-traitor?/trader. (nt)

[Bluebear]

22. 'In 1996, Richardson voted in favor of the federal DOMA'

That's enough for me unfortunately :(

[bigtree]

23. sorry, Bluebear.

[David Zephyr]

34. A postivie thread. I like that.

Thanks.

[eridani]

35. What about LGBT folk who are also election integrity activists?

It's going to be a cold day in hell before we forgive him for approving of the voting irregularities that threw NM to Bush in 2004.

[bigtree]

36. that's a different issue.

for a different thread.

[Bluebear]

39. reading on where you left off though:

“I think that any candidate’s failure to express regret over a vote for DOMA is going to be a serious problem,” says Foreman, whose organization is currently in the process of preparing an in-depth report on the positions of all of the candidates on LGBT issues that Foreman expects will be complete within the next month. “My point is the world has changed around marriage equality and relationship recognition since 1996,” says Foreman, and candidates whose positions evolve toward marriage equality should be congratulated. “But it’s extremely difficult I believe, to say on the one hand that you support state’s rights, that you think marriage is a state’s issue, that you think LGBT couples should get equal benefits under the law and then say I supported DOMA or I will support DOMA,” he adds. “Those two positions are inherently contradictory.”

[bigtree]

40. and further . . .

That said, Foreman also notes that there’s never a perfect candidate and voters perform a balancing act when making their choices. “And in terms of actual accomplishments for LGBT people Bill Richardson stands above the other current candidates because he’s actually pushed forward and implemented laws that have helped our community,” says Foreman. Clinton, Obama, Edwards — and even Kucinich — “don’t have that kind of tangible record for our community,” says Foreman.