Jul 30, 2004  |  By: LOU CHIBBARO JR.  | COMMENTS     

BOSTON — Gay delegates at the Democratic National Convention said they believe Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry sent a clear message of support for gay civil rights in his July 29 convention speech, even though he did not mention the word gay.

Kerry’s was the first Democratic convention speech since 1988 from the party’s presidential nominee that did not mention gays or gay rights legislation. President Clinton mentioned gay Americans in his 1992 and 1996 convention speeches.

Vice President Al Gore mentioned the Employment Non-discrimination Act, a gay civil rights bill, and his support for a hate crimes bill, which he said was inspired by the murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, in his 2000 convention speech.

Several gay delegates said they were pleased that Kerry alluded in his convention speech to his opposition to a constitutional amendment seeking to ban gay marriage, saying it was tantamount to mentioning an important gay issue of the day.

"Let’s honor this nation’s diversity," Kerry said in his speech. "Let’s respect one another, and let’s never misuse for political purposes the most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States."

In an hour-long address that electrified the thousands attending the convention, Kerry called on the nation to reject politics "calculated to divide race from race, group from group, region from region."

Kerry also discussed the issue of "family values" in a way that debunked claims by Republicans that support by Democrats of gay rights and same-sex marriage is contrary to the principles of family values, gay delegates said.

"For four years, we’ve heard a lot of talk about values," Kerry said in his speech. "But values spoken without actions taken are just slogans. Values are not just words. They’re what we live by. They’re about the causes we champion and the people we fight for. … We believe in the value of doing what’s right for everyone in the American family."

Gay-friendly convention
Gay delegates said Kerry’s record of support on gay issues, a record-breaking contingent of gay delegates, and convention speeches by three lesbians and two gay men made the convention gay-friendly and gay supportive. They noted that a parade of Democratic senators, U.S. House members and governors that spoke at the caucus meetings of the gay delegates this week also highlighted the party’s treatment of gay citizens as full partners in party affairs.

Veteran gay Democratic activist Phil Pannell, a delegate from D.C., said he believes Kerry chose not to specifically mention gays in his speech because doing so could bring into play more attacks by Republicans on the gay marriage issue.

"The times are different now from what they were when Clinton and Gore gave their speeches," Pannell said.

Although he would like to have seen Kerry speak "a little more forcefully" on gay issues, Pannell said he and other gay delegates remain strongly supportive of Kerry.

"People who typically would be mad about certain policies or certain omissions in speeches are so determined to defeat Bush that they are willing to not let that bother them," he said.

Gay Democratic activist Todd Dickenson, who served as head of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office during the Clinton administration, called the Kerry speech a "home run." Dickenson said it helped to define Kerry in the eyes of the voters as a highly principled and highly qualified leader capable of taking the country to "new heights."

Asked if he thought Kerry’s omission of the word gay from his speech was a transgression, Dickenson said, "I’m too hungry to win this election. I can’t worry about transgressions like this when I’m too hungry to win."

Gay delegate Danny O’Donnell, a New York State Assemblyman from Manhattan and the brother of lesbian television star Rosie O’Donnell, said he viewed Kerry’s criticism in his convention speech of Republican efforts to amend the Constitution as a "strong statement" on gay issues.

"For him to stand there and attack the Republican Party for trying to amend the Constitution for exclusionary reasons is a defense of gays and lesbians and our right to marry," he said. "I view this as a very positive message."

"I thought it was a great speech," said Keith Boykin, a White House special assistant in the Clinton administration and the former head of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians & Gays. "He talked about a broad number of issues that represent all Americans. I was really inspired by what he had to say."

Added Boykin, "I came into the convention more anti-Bush than ...