Oct 20, 2006  |  By: JOSHUA LYNSEN  | COMMENTS     

Gay political activists and Democratic leaders are already planning post-election strategies and priorities for an expectedly bluer and more progressive House of Representatives.

The preliminary plans, which could change wildly based on the outcome of next month’s elections, put a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act atop the wish list of gay rights supporters. 

“I think that everyone believes that an inclusive ENDA is our top priority,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.

A federal hate crimes bill that covers crimes motivated by hatred of gays and transgender people is also a priority, along with a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the military’s ban on openly gay service members.

“Given the climate involving the need for people to serve in the Army, and the literal scandal over expelling gay translators,” Foreman said, “I think that also has a lot of force behind it.”

Some gay rights activists, like Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen, praised the early focus on those issues.

“We’re accused of having a gay agenda,” he said, “but this is the time when we really need one.”

But others, like Democratic National Committee GLBT Caucus Chair Rick Stafford, said the discussions are only preliminary. Stafford cautioned gay voters against becoming overconfident.

“There’s been some conversations,” he said, “but we don’t want to count our chickens before they’re hatched.”

Allison Herwitt, legislative director for the Human Rights Campaign, said the organization also is focusing on the elections.

“We’re not interested in speculating on how things would change under a new leadership team,” she said, “because we have to help the new leadership team win.”

With the election little more than two weeks away, though, Republican campaign officials are reportedly bracing for a loss of seven to 30 House seats.

The Washington Post reported last week that a small but significant number of conservatives are frustrated with Republican governance, and independent swing voters are turning against GOP candidates.

Democrats need to pick up 15 seats in the election to regain control of the House.

Hastings Wyman, a political analyst and editor of the Southern Political Report, said Democrats are all but guaranteed to win the House.

“I think they’ll win, and I don’t think it will be a narrow win,” he said. “I think they’ll get 20 or more seats.”


A return to
civil discourse?

John Marble, spokesperson for the National Stonewall Democrats, said a Democratic House is key to advancing gay priorities.

“Traditionally, the House has been more difficult to pass pro-LGBT legislation in because of its structure,” he said. “If we’re able to pass something in the House, we’re much more likely to be able to pass it in the Senate, regardless of which party is in control.”

Marble said Democratic operatives are pushing for a Senate win, but a loss wouldn’t doom gay bills.

 “If the Republicans are in control, it’s going to take much more work,” he said, “but we’re still going to have a chance of passing any pro-LGBT legislation that we pass in the House.”

Beyond the legislative potential, Marble noted that House control is important for another reason.

“A key thing is if the Democrats regain a majority in one or both chambers, the Republicans will be stripped of the pulpit they use to spew their anti-gay rhetoric,” he said. “And I think we’ll see a return to more civil discourse on LGBT issues.”

Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) agreed. He said a Democratic House would snub “anti-gay initiatives” like the Marriage Protection Amendment, and give lawmakers new ability to concentrate on passing ENDA and overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“Those are probably the two that we would be thinking about,” he said. “There would be a very good chance of movement there.”

If the Democrats retake the House, Frank could emerge as chair of the powerful and prestigious Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over leading financial institutions, including banks. Frank is currently the ranking Democrat on the committee.

A spokesperson for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi told the Blade that the expanded hate crimes law would also do well in a Democratic-controlled House.

“There is strong bipartisan support for all of these issues,” said Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy press secretary.

He noted Pelosi’s “commitment to non-discrimination and other protections for the ...