Politics

Few in the GOP field could rival President Obama with their records on LGBT issues, and yet, the outcome of the Republican presidential race riveted the attention of LGBT people in 2011. Many of the contenders were notoriously anti-gay. They were often asked about, or were inclined to share, their positions on gay-related issues.

Bob Vander Plaats’ endorsement of Rick Santorum has produced a backlash among conservatives in Iowa, some of whom are accusing the “Family Leader”president of engaging in “pay for play” schemes and selling his coveted support to the highest bidder.

Would a President Hillary Clinton have made more progress on LGBT issues over the course of her first term as opposed to what we’ve seen under President Obama? The secretary of state certainly stole the spotlight on LGBT issues when she gave a high-profile speech in Geneva earlier this month calling for an end to […]

Thrice-married Newt Gingrich has secured the endorsement of Don Wildmon, the founder of the vehemently anti-gay American Family Association. One of the cogs in Gingrich’s vast network of business enterprises and front groups, ReAL Action, has provided $125,000 to the AFA’s sister organization, American Family Association Action.

OSKALOOSA, Iowa — At a campaign stop in Oskaloosa, Iowa on Tuesday, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich told a longtime resident of Oskaloosa that he should vote for President Obama rather than expect his support of gay Americans.

CLARION, Iowa — Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann, stumping in Iowa with her husband Marcus on Sunday, dismissed a self-described “gay-friendly Iowan,” telling her that the Kinsey Report has “been a myth for several years.”

DECORAH, Iowa — At a campaign stop in Iowa on Sunday, Texas Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry found himself explaining to a 14-year-old girl — who later told reporters she was bisexual — why he opposed gays serving openly in the military.

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT — Mark Ojakian, the openly gay Deputy Budget Director for the state of Connecticut, has been named to the position of Chief of Staff for Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich has affirmed his support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, but stopped short of signing a controversial marriage pledge that calls for “vigorous” opposition to same-sex marriage rights.

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill unveiled on Monday an agreement on major defense budget legislation that omits anti-gay provisions found in the House version of the legislation — including language that would have prohibited military chaplains and facilities from being involved in same-sex marriage ceremonies.

MANCHESTER, N.H. — During a campaign meet and greet at a local diner Monday morning, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney found himself in an awkward position defending his stance on same-sex marriage.

AMES, Iowa — Texas Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry was met by hecklers during a campaign stop in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, continuing to catch heat for an anti-gay campaign ad released last week in which he said that gays serving openly in the military is a sign of what’s wrong with America.

WASHINGTON — The controversial anti-gay television ad that began airing in Iowa Wednesday from the campaign of Texas Governor Rick Perry — in which Perry takes direct aim criticizing the Obama administration’s repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — has sharply divided his advisers, and caused in fighting between conservative gay GOP political groups.

GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry is not good with the United States standing up for universal human rights. To Rick Perry, using U.S. foreign aid to prevent persecution and even execution of LGBT people amounts to “promoting special rights for gays.”

WASHINGTON — The longest serving openly gay member of Congress won’t seek re-election to the U.S. House in 2012, according to a statement from his office.

DES MOINES — Texas Governor Rick Perry, looking to jump start his floundering presidential campaign, has signed the extreme anti-gay pledge that requires GOP candidates to be faithful to their spouses, appoint bigoted judges to the federal bench if elected, and “vigorously oppose” same-sex unions.

DENVER — Democrats in the Colorado House of Representatives on Friday selected Rep. Mark Ferrandino of Denver to be their new minority leader, making him the first openly gay man in the state’s history to hold such a high leadership position in the legislature.

The National Organization for Marriage is finally commenting on its embarrassing loss Tuesday night in the Iowa state senatorial election. From NOM Cultural Director Thomas Peters comes a tweet which should be remembered.

CONCORD, N.H. — Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry, campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday, told a conservative advocacy group he applauds the GOP legislators in the state for their efforts to to repeal the state’s same-sex marriage law.

The national Log Cabin Republicans organization this week dissolved its Dallas, Texas chapter after a series of issues and missteps by the Dallas chapter’s president, Robert Schlein.