|
|
Detroit, Michigan- The hottest issue that defined the most-watched Michigan primary races was support for gay and lesbian rights. Candidates that waged the most ferocious attack on gay-friendly candidates, lost most of their races yesterday.
"2004 has been filled with more anti-gay rhetoric and campaigning than any year in history," said Sean Kososky, Director of Policy for Triangle Foundation, Michigan's leading civil rights organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people.
"Anti-gay candidates for office said some of the most hurtful, divisive and discriminatory things about
GLBT people.
They attacked good policy-makers for no other reason than because they supported fairness for gays and lesbians. Those anti-gay campaigns failed because Michigan voters are tired of the distractions and tired of the divisiveness.
In the 7th Congresssional Republican Primary several candidates waged an all out war on Joe Schwarz, a moderate Republican who had opposed banning marriages for gays and lesbians in the Constitution. Schwarz was also recommended by Pride PAC, a statewide GLBT political action committee.
|
 Republican State Rep. Lorrence Wenke had to fight a primary because he voted not to ban gay and lesbian family health benefits in the Michigan Constitution. He won his primary contest. |
Republican State Representatives Lorrence Wenke (Kalamazoo County) and Leon Drolet (Macomb County) had to fight a primary SOLELY because they voted not to ban gay and lesbian family health benefits in the Michigan Constitution. Both Wenke and Drolet won their primaries yesterday. Drolet won by a wide margin.
Tom McMillen, the most visible anti-gay office-holder in Michigan lost his bid for Oakland County Treasurer by a wide margin. His platform was almost entirely based on anti-gay positions on issues that had nothing to do with being treasurer.
County Commissioners Susan Doherty (Warren) and Dave Coulter (Hazel Park) both faced attacks because of their opposition to the above mention bans. They won their elections in landslides.
Every incumbent legislative candidate that voted against House Joint Resolution U won their primary challenges handily. HJR U was the resolution that would have placed the issue of banning domestic partner benefits, civil unions and marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
"This is an important victory. We have been saying for years that supporting equality for GLBT people will not be a candidate's Achilles heel," continued Kosofsky. "Michigan is a welcoming place that believes in fairness. We are also confident that Michigan voters will reject a poorely written constitutional amendment this November 2nd that would ban civil unions, domestic partner benefits for all unmarried couples, not just gay and lesbian couples."
|
|
|
