As the LGBT community goes to the polls Nov. 19 to vote for our new mayor, it is important to consider a host of issues. Personally, I always look at a candidate’s record on an issue that is near and dear to my heart: LGBT equality.
Leadership is all about leading. It is not about being on the sidelines when it comes to civil rights for LGBT people. Of course, most politicians “evolve” when it comes to civil rights, but many simply wait until the voters make it clear that they are supportive.
So as I look at the mayor’s race, I look at a variety of issues. For example, I don’t think that any of the candidates have shown the fiscal discipline to run a $2.7 billion city budget. From that standpoint all of the candidates do not cross the qualification threshold.
What candidates did during our recent progress in pursuit of total equality is important to me. That’s why I supported former Mayor Jerry Sanders. His incredible reversal on marriage equality will always be credited with moving the ball down the field for LGBT Californians and beyond.
The San Diego Democrats for Equality (SDDE) gave David Alvarez and Nathan Fletcher 100 percent on their candidate questionnaire. Ultimately, the 64 people who attended their endorsement meeting chose Alvarez. There were those who suggested a non-endorsement given the similarity of Alvarez and Fletcher’s positions on LGBT equality. They were voted down. Interesting.
Isn’t the SDDE an LGBT rights organization or am I confused? The last time that SDDE had a similar decision was when Interim Mayor Todd Gloria ran for office against Stephen Whitburn. Whitburn was endorsed, Gloria won. We all know the saying, history often repeats itself.
Let’s look at the major candidates for mayor and their advocacy for LGBT rights. When the city council voted to support same-sex marriage in 2007, Kevin Faulconer voted the wrong way. To Faulconer’s credit, he changed his position a year later and opposed Proposition 8, the initiative that ultimately took away marriage rights for same-sex couples in California. Faulconer evolved.
Unfortunately, Faulconer’s explanation about why he did not initially support same-sex marriage concerns me. He said, “For me personally, it wasn’t an issue that impacted, wasn’t one that I had focused on a great deal.” When you want to be mayor of America’s Finest City, you need to understand what impacts all its citizens, particularly around civil rights.
Alvarez and Faulconer have supported LGBT Pride proclamations each year, as well as the acknowledgement of LGBT citizens who have contributed to the success of San Diego. But what I look for is leadership. When have they sponsored anything at city council that was supportive of our community? Couldn’t Alvarez or Faulconer have been the major advocate of the LGBT Pride proclamation? Couldn’t either one of them have presented the proclamation to the Pride organization? Did it always have to be an LGBT city councilmember?
Nathan Fletcher, like Faulconer, has evolved. In 2010 he was against same-sex marriage due to his faith, but changed to support marriage equality by the time he was running for mayor in 2012. He also had a spotty record on other LGBT issues when he was a California assemblyman. However, Fletcher took a major risk when he came out in support of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). He gave an impassioned speech in the California Assembly where he said, “In the Marine Corps … core values are defined as: honor, courage and commitment – that is what it takes. Having those three plus a willingness to risk your own life for your country – for your fellow Marine – takes a special person. It is not an obligation to be entered into lightly. I believe that any American who has these core values – honor, courage and commitment, and who is willing to give their life for their country should be allowed to serve openly and honorably.”
The repeal of DADT was an important milestone that helped further escalate the dramatic change in attitudes toward the LGBT community and marriage equality. Fletcher’s speech was reminiscent of the support we got from Mayor Sanders on marriage equality.
Each one of you is a smart person. You may choose to support a candidate for a variety of reasons. As an African American, my decision is always imbued with history; who advocates for me. Those who advocated for my equality in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s is why I am able to write this message.
So as you go to the polls, I hope you seriously consider who has most vigorously advocated for LGBT equality. Who has taken a political risk to move LGBT rights forward? In the end, you decide. That’s what is great about democracy and America.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
Editor’s Note: Our publisher only discusses candidates that are viable. Viability is determined by any poll that shows a candidate with at least 10 percent support of the electorate.
