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2008 Presidential Election

The 2008 Presidential Election is very important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans who want to achieve equal rights. Check the differences between the candidates... 

 

UPDATE: On an historic election, Barack Obama wins the presidency by 365 electoral votes to 173 for John McCain.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE POSITIONS ON EQUALITY GOALS

Click on a candidate's name to view quotes by the candidate of interest to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and queers. Click on a goal to learn more details about it. 

 

EQUALITY GOAL

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (DEMOCRAT)

VP
JOE BIDEN (DEMOCRAT)
VP REPUBLICAN
NOMINEE
SARAH PALIN

eQualityGiving RATING HEARTBREAKER HEARTBREAKER
ANTI EQUALITY
ANTI EQUALITY

Hate Crimes Protections

FOR FOR  AGAINST  AGAINST
Non-Discrimination FOR

Supports ENDA. No public statements  about including gender identity or expression

 AGAINST No public statements
Gays in the Military
FOR FOR  AGAINST  No public statements
Marriage Equality
 Supports letting States define marriage  Supports letting States define marriage  AGAINST  AGAINST
   - Federal Protections for Couples
FOR FOR  AGAINST  AGAINST
   - Civil Unions, DPs FOR FOR  AGAINST  AGAINST
   - Repeal Federal DOMA FOR

Voted for DOMA. Current position is unknown

 AGAINST  No public statements

Freedom of Gender

Partial
 Partial No public statements  No public statements
Protecting Youth
FOR  No public statements
 No public statements
 No public statements
Same Sex Parenting Rights
FOR FOR  AGAINST  No public statements

 


THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS CRITICAL FOR LGBT AMERICANS...

  • The next President needs to sign into law, instead of veto, Hate Crimes Legislation and Employment Non Discrimination legislation.
  • The next President, as Commander in Chief, needs to take the leadership to ensure that all Americans can protect our country, independently of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
  • The next President needs to enforce a long-standing executive order forbidding workplace discrimination in the Federal Government against LGBT Americans.
  • The next President needs to lead Congress into repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and ensure that the federal government treats equally all married couples.
  • The next president is likely to chose one or more Supreme Court Justices. The Supreme Court may eventually revisit the right to privacy, which is the basis of Roe v Wade as well as Lawrence v Texas, the landmark 2003 decision that decriminalized private sexual acts between consenting adults. Also, eventually the Supreme Court may be called to decide on whether other states need to recognize valid marriages performed in other states, such as Massachusetts.
  • The next President needs to be a leader for equality. Showing by example that discrimination is wrong. And finally making LGBTQ Americans equal under the law.

 

FAQ ABOUT OBAMA'S POSITIONS ON LGBT ISSUES

Professor Tobias B. Wolff, co-chair of the Obama National LGBT Policy Committe answers questions about Senator Obama positions on LGBT issues.

 

CHECK THE FACTS

There is an active campaign to smear Senator Obama. Check the facts on this site and refute the lies. 

 

FUTURE FIRST LADIES

What do they say about LGBT equality? Check actual speeches:

 

POSITIONS ON EQUALITY BY ALL THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 

As a reference, here are the positions of the 16 candidates who were in the race from the start (January 3, 2008, the day of the Iowa vote): 

   Republicans  Democrats
Pro-Equality   0 2
Heartbreakers  0 6
 Anti-Equality  8 0

Check the summary of candidate positions on equality for the 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates at the start of the race in Iowa, as well as the 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidates at the start of the race in Iowa.

Of the 16 total candidates for president in early 2008, only two were pro-equality: Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Democratic Senator Mike Gravel, who has now switched to the Libertarian Party.  Anti-equality Republican Alan Keyes switched to the Constitution Party in April 2008.

 

HISTORY OF THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

  • After Iowa caucus (January 3, 2008): Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) withdraw from the race
  • After New Hamphire primary (January 8, 2008): Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) withdraw from the race
  • After Nevada caucus (January 19, 2008): Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) withdraw from the race
  • After South Carolina Republican primary (January 19, 2008): Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) withdraw from the race
  • January 24, 2008: Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) withdraw from the race
  • After Florida primary (January 29, 2008): Senator John Edwards (D-NC), Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) withdraw from the race
  • After Super Tuesday (February 5, 2008): Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) withdraw from the race
  • After Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont (March 4, 2008): Governor Mike Huckabee (AR) withdraw from the race
  • March 4, 2008: Senator McCain wins enough delegates to get the nomination of the Republican Party (which officially will occur during the convention in September 2008).
     
  • June 3, 2008: Senator Obama wins enough delegates to get the nomination of the Democratic Party (which officially will occur during the convention in August 2008).
  • November 4, 2008: Senator Obama wins the presidency against John McCain.

 

 

 
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Last Modified 2009-01-19