018-033 3117.qxd
12/6/12
3:47 PM
Page 30
NEWS
LGBT Leaders Excited by Progress and Historic Baldwin Victory
“We made our campaign for U.S. Senate about the voters. So many people talked about the race as ‘Tammy versus Tommy’ [Thompson, her Republican opponent] as though it were a personality contest, as though the candidates were the most important thing. They all got it wrong. We won because we were responding to the very real struggles that people in Wisconsin have, and talking about how we would help to respond to those challenges as a member of the U.S. Senate. That’s why I won. It doesn’t hurt to be right on the issues, also.” I also noted how openly gay California Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, a former labor leader, talks about how labor contracts often offer job protection and domestic partner benefits for LGBT workers when state and local laws or companies do not. With all the talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs,” why is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the executive order regarding federal contractors not being discussed more—though Rep. Jared Polis is apparently taking over the lead from retiring Rep. Barney Frank on ENDA? “Because the election just happened, and people are convening in Washington, the new members aren’t yet sworn in. But obviously we have a new freshman class coming into the House that’s really exciting. I expect the larger strategic conversations to probably begin in January,” Baldwin said. “And you know, I’m the founder of the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House—of course, I’ll be departing and hopefully organizing similar efforts in my new job. But that said, I think there’s a real opportunity at the beginning of any legislative session—and regardless of who controls the House of Representatives— to get folks together and talk about how you can strategically advance the issue. See whether there might be—because Democrats still control the Senate—see where there’s an opportunity to perhaps move first there. Perhaps use the LGBT Equality Caucus to shine a greater spotlight. “But I will tell you that since the election, the LGBT Equality Caucus in the House has already had a briefing on Capitol Hill on the future of ENDA,” Baldwin continued. “Now, this is outside experts—including some of the organizations represented here today—talking about the prospects and the need, including the executive order campaign. So those conversations are underway. But I think involving the incoming members who will be able to play real critical roles will be important.” Including transgender people? “Absolutely. The briefing that I just referred to did include a representative from Mara Keisling’s group, the National Center for Transgender Equality.” Asked how it feels to make history, Baldwin said, “I have to quote my election
30
FRONTIERSLA.COM
U.S. Ambassador David Huebner (left) and Masen Davis, Executive Director of the Transgender Law Center
night speech, which I will quote later today: ‘I didn’t run to make history. I ran to make a difference.’ But what’s historic is that, on all the challenges I was running to face, the voters of Wisconsin chose me to help be the champion in the Senate. And that’s historic. And it’s pretty cool.” Political consultant and lobbyist Steve Elmendorf, who was a senior advisor and then chief of staff to House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt for many years and served as deputy campaign manager for U.S. Senator John Kerry during his 2004 run for president, said he’s pleased with how far and how fast the LGBT movement has come. “I think we’re doing great. I think the glass is more than half full. The fact that we won an election in four states—which we’ve never done before—we elected a lesbian Senator where it really wasn’t an issue in the election at all; that we’ve elected six members of the House, not to mention all the down-ballot stuff—to me, it’s just stunning,” Elmendorf said. “I think it’s a sign that things have changed very quickly and they’re going to keep changing, because it’s all demographic, and younger people don’t care, don’t want to be told what to do in both parties—so I think it’s only inevitable. We’ve got to keep working, but the fact of the matter is in 2004, when I worked for John Kerry, we had a big debate about whether we could be for civil unions, and we
ended up being for civil unions. The next time we have a presidential candidate in 2016, you won’t be able to be a viable Democratic candidate for president and not be for marriage,” he said. “[To achieve ENDA], we have to get a Democratic House. As long as you have a Republican leadership in the House that is unwilling to even allow it up for a vote, it’s not possible. Now, one of the things we all have to do is build up our Republican base. But I think we’re a way’s away.” Elmendorf also said Obama needs to sign the executive order banning discrimination in federal contracts. “I think it is a big deal, and he needs to do it in the first six months of the year. I think it’s a very significant issue, because it sends a signal—not just a signal—but most businesses do some business with the federal government, so it sets a standard that people have to meet,” Elmendorf said. “I think we need to continue the dialogue with him we’ve had that has given us all the good things we’ve gotten. I think he’s very positive. I don’t really think he needs pressure. I think he’s going to do the right thing. I don’t think it’s a big debate, frankly. I’m not really worried about whether or not they’re going to do it. If it hasn’t happened in six months, then I think you can talk about what else you need to do. But I think people who are talking to them need to keep talking to them—and it’s going to happen.” To see photos from the conference, go to tinyurl.com/cmn2t5x.