McCain’s Opposition to the GLBT Community

Obviously, different people can have different views on the priority to give to gay civil rights and anti-discrimination protection. To a gay couple, who want to get married and have or adopt children, these things are more of a priority than someone who’s OK with the status quo.

However, what’s strange is how little the folk supporting McCain know about the truth of his anti-gay record. He’s a sophisticated man and I suspect, as some people have pointed out, that he probably really doesn’t care enough about gays to have an interest one way or the other. But that doesn’t stop him repeatedly taking anti-gay positions for political advantage.

This Human Right Campaign Report provides a good summary:

The highlights:

* McCain opposes equality for same-sex couples:
o He’s left the door open to supporting a Federal Constitutional Amendment bannning gay marriage.
o He’s actively supported State bans on same-sex marriage and civil unions.
o He supported the Defense of Marriage Act, which, among other things, discriminates against same-sex couples getting Federal employee benefits.
o He opposes adoption by same-sex couples.
* McCain opposes the protection of GLBT Americans in the workplace.
* He also opposes protecting GLBT Americans from hate crimes.
* He’s against repealing the military’s discriminatory Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell policy.
* He’s supported discriminatory HIV/AIDS policies.
* McCain also advocates the nomination of ultra-conservative anti-gay judges.
* He’s out of touch with gays and lesbians:
o He’s said he can spot them by the way the act.
o Doesn’t know whether condoms can help prevent infection.
o Doesn’t know what GLBT stands for.
* McCain gets his endorsements from anti-gay activists for a reason.

Read the report at http://www.hrc.org/documents/McCain%20report_final_rev.pdf