As the first contests in the Republican presidential primary come to fruition, I would like to speak directly to my Republican LGBT brothers and sisters. You know I completely disagree with your ability to go into a voting booth and pull the lever for any of the people in the Republican field. But I offer your leaders the ability to respond to this simple question, “Why should a member of the LGBT community vote for a Republican presidential candidate in 2016”?
Is it the Republican presidential candidates’ ardent support of marriage equality? No. The remaining candidate who has the best record on the issue this campaign season is Gov. John Kasich. Kasich said he would support the Supreme Court ruling for marriage equality but remains opposed to same-sex marriage. Transgender rights and the Republican Party, forget about it. What a choice for the LGBT community.
How about the Republican presidential candidates support for immigration reform? Republican presidential candidates veer from ship ‘em all back to their countries of origin and build a wall, to honor the U.S. Constitution and allow children born to undocumented workers full U.S. citizenship. None of these solutions respect the family, which is the harbinger of the Republican Party. At best their policies would separate families at worst it deports all undocumented workers. The Republican Party does not know what to do with respect to immigration which is personified by Marco Rubio. Rubio was for immigration reform before he was against it.
Needless to say, I have a difference of opinion with the Republican Party with respect to immigration reform. I don’t want to punish those who have been here for years, dare I say I have a more Reaganesque approach; modified amnesty. That’s right I said it, amnesty. The people are already here but they did not enter the country correctly. Let them stay and become legal through work visas, but they cannot apply for federal benefits like welfare unless they can qualify for political asylum. Post amnesty we should have severe penalties for those who employ undocumented workers. This will ensure that everyone applies legally to enter the U.S. No opportunity for a job will stem the tide of undocumented workers.
What do the Republican presidential candidates think about women’s reproductive rights? The simple answer; defund Planned Parenthood and eliminate a women’s right to choose. Planned Parenthood provides mission critical services to women who do not have other alternative healthcare options; often the socio-economically challenged among us. If the Republicans are successful in November, the only women who will be denied their reproductive rights are many poor and minority women. The dirty little secret is that wealthy women terminate more pregnancies than poor or minority women on a percentage basis according to a recent study by the Brookings Institute.
What do the Republicans think about Obamacare, the law that is attempting to provide healthcare coverage to all Americans? Repeal, repeal, repeal. For the life of me, I don’t understand why people do not want everyone to get healthcare. Do LGBT Republicans really believe that you should die because you don’t have healthcare coverage? Yes, indigents can go to emergency rooms but by that time they have ignored all preventative measures due to cost. What about medications they cannot afford. Everyone should have the right to live? Right?
Should I vote for a Republican because of potential management of the economy? No. it has been proven that the deficit and economic indicators and measurements have been worse under Republican administrations for the last 50 years.
So why should an LGBT person vote Republican? I can’t find a reason that trumps the above. Pun intended. Explain to me why all the Republican presidential candidates believe that the majority of the electorate of this country is made up of conservative right-wing Christians. Our country was built on religious and cultural diversity. Good luck to your Republican presidential candidates, they won’t win women, they won’t win minorities, they won’t win LGBT people; they simply won’t win.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
Again, you might want to ask yourself why you supported a presidential candidate who was AGAINST your sainted “marriage equality” back in 2008. You remember, Obama was on the same page as Sarah Palin when it came to that issue but you supported him anyway. I couldn’t get through but two paragraphs of your “editorial” as you seem to contradict yourself or misinform at every turn.
With people like you and Nicole as the self appointed “leaders” of this neighborhood, it’s no wonder why “the community” is going down the toilet and why every once in a while activists feel the need to commit suicide.