10th February 2012
TODAY'S BEST BET
White vs. Perry: Comparing the candidates on LGBT issues
Incumbent Republican faces former Democratic Houston mayor in race for Texas governor’s office
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer taffet@dallasvoice.com
- IN THIS CORNER … | Democrats say LGBT voters should back former Houston Mayor Bill White, left, who has said he supports same-sex civil unions and opposed Texas’ anti-gay-marriage constitutional amendment. Republicans say that LGBT people who care about the economy should vote for incumbent Gov. Rick Perry, even though he pushed for passage of the marriage amendment.
Labor Day is the traditional kick-off of election season. This weekend, campaigning goes into high gear as voters begin paying more attention to the candidates competing in the November races.
The governor’s race pitting incumbent Rick Perry against former Houston Mayor Bill White is the Texas’ most high profile contest and an important one for the state’s LGBT community.
Perry came into office in January 2001 when George W. Bush resigned to become president. He has been elected twice since then and is seeking his third full term. He already is the longest-serving governor in Texas history and is currently the longest serving governor in the United States.
In May 2001, Perry signed the James L. Byrd Hate Crimes bill into law after years of opposition to the law by Gov. Bush. Since then, Perry’s record of LGBT issues has swung to opposite direction.
Under his tenure and with his support, an anti-same-sex-marriage amendment was added to the state constitution in 2005. But bills restricting adoption by gays and lesbians have not passed and Perry generally stayed out of that legislative debate.
White supports anti-bullying legislation that will be the top priority for Equality Texas in the upcoming legislature. That measure, first introduced in the legislature by Rep. Harryette Ehrhardt in the 1990s, has not come to the floor for a vote in past sessions.
Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Jonathan Neerman said that education is at the top of Perry’s priorities. He said that a good public education system is important to everyone, including the LGBT community, because it benefits the entire state.
Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Darlene Ewing agrees and points out how low Texas’ public education system ranks nationally. She said Texas has the highest dropout rate in the country.
“If they can’t have vouchers for their private schools, they’ll just destroy the public school system,” she said. “[Perry] sees it as a property tax burden.”
She said she believes White would be good for Texas and good for the LGBT community.
“I think he could do a lot,” said Ewing. “He believes in equality for everyone. Republicans use gay equality as a wedge issue.”
Ewing said that she believes that as governor, White would disregard sexual orientation in appointments, for example.
“I’ve heard him say that every citizen is entitled to protection,” she said. “He has a track record of working with all people in Houston.”
This week, the Texas Tribune reported Perry scored points by deriding the LGBT community.
“There is still a land of opportunity, friends — it’s called Texas,” Perry said. “We’re creating more jobs than any other state in the nation. … Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?”
He didn’t explain what one thing had to do with the other or address studies that show that same-sex marriage actually creates jobs.
Ewing dismissed the statement as nothing more than a “Let’s get the crazies all riled up” attempt.
But in this race, Dallas Log Cabin Republicans President Rob Schlein is focusing on Texas’ pro-business climate, with low taxes that have kept the state strong.
“I think the proof is in the economy,” said Schlein. “We have the best economy in the country and I think it has to do with conservative governance.”
Neerman said the election would hinge on the economy. He said LGBT voters would look for the same thing as straight voters.
“Who is the best man to lead the state in job creation, getting the economy moving and keeping spending under control,” he said. “This election will be about pocketbook issues.”
He pointed out that Perry angered many people in his base by not supporting an Arizona-type immigration law. Soon after that bill was signed into law, Perry said that a similar law wouldn’t work in Texas.
“He’s an ambassador for the state and he does a great job at that,” Neerman said.
- Jonathan Neerman and Jennifer Allen
But while White has attended Stonewall Democrats events across the state, Perry has not courted support of that group’s Republican counterparts.
“I’d like to see [Perry] do what another Republican governor did in Utah and host a reception for Log Cabin,” Dallas Log Cabin Republicans President Rob Schlein said. “Include us in the conversation.”
Bill White has said he supports civil unions rather than marriage. In 2005, he opposed the marriage ban proposition that became law. On his website, he has no official statements about equality for the LGBT community.
Under issues, the Perry campaign simply lists “Protecting Traditional Marriage,” without explanation, under a heading “social conservative.” The 2005 marriage ban remains in place. That is the only reference to anything gay.
The Texas Republican platform, however, goes into more detail. It calls for outlawing child custody by gay parents and only allowing supervised visitation if called for by court order.
The platform advocates outlawing adoption by gays and lesbians, disqualifying gays and lesbians from military service and excluding gays and lesbians and persons with infectious disease from the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Since being gay or lesbian isn’t a disability, this implies that any gay or lesbian person who is disabled would be disqualified from the law. Infectious disease refers directly to persons with HIV who are covered by the act.
Stonewall Democrats of Dallas President Erin Moore called the Republican Party platform reprehensible.
“As head of the Texas Republican Party, Perry had to have signed off on it,” she said. “Bill White has been a friend of the LGBT community as mayor of Houston and will be as governor.”
Schlein said, “As a practical matter, politicians do not govern by the platform.”
He noted that at their recent meeting, Texas Young Republicans unanimously called for removing the anti-gay planks from the platform.
Neerman agreed and thought this was the direction many social conservatives were moving. He cited Ted Olsen, who fought California’s Proposition 8 in court recently and won, as an example.
Dallas Stonewall Young Democrats Political Director Jennifer Allen gave a different example of why she is supporting White. She said she was impressed by White’s response after Hurricane Katrina.
“When the national government wasn’t doing anything about it, Bill White as mayor of Houston organized the city to provide housing, food and medical care when people were fleeing New Orleans,” she said.
Neerman and Schlein argue that Texas has not been affected by the recession as badly as other parts of the country and both credit Perry for that. They think Perry deserves LGBT support because economic issues are what this community is focused on.
Ewing argued that White would be great for Texas business and warned about four more years of Perry.
“Perry’s full of crap,” she said.
“He claims to have balanced the budget, but he took money from the feds to plug up the hole. When he panders to the secession nuts and then wants to sell the roads off to foreign companies, follow the money.”
A current Rasmussen poll has Perry at 49 percent and White at 41 percent.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 3, 2010.
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Please, they keep talking about fiscal responsibility, a term that Perry certainly doesn’t live by. Look at his bills we’re paying now while his mansion is being rebuilt. I’m sure LCR will fully support him even though Perry pretends we don’t exist and would like us all to leave Texas. As a matter of fact he said that during the marriage amendment fight. Bill White is more fiscally responsible than Perry would ever dream of being.
Texas economy may be better the jobs keep coming here because they can get away with paying less and not offering decent benefits to employees. It’s the “outsourcing” mecca of the country. There certainly aren’t any workers rights in this state but plenty of protection is the company wants to screw it’s employees.
The Dallas Voice, Jon Neerman, Jennifer Allen, and many who blindly throw out “vote for Bill White” clearly don’t grasp what Gov. Perry is saying when he says, ““There is still a land of opportunity, friends — it’s called Texas,” Perry said. “We’re creating more jobs than any other state in the nation. … Would you rather live in a state like this, or in a state where a man can marry a man?” EVEN THE SPOKES PERSON FOR THE GAY REPUBLICANS- JON NEERMAN MISSED IT AND IS CLUELESS!
I and other former Californians who fled to Texas caught it right away. I found it funny as heck and so true! I didn’t miss his point because-I LIVED IT. I know exactly what Perry is saying, and it’s a blatant “whack” at California and nothing more. For the first time in this nation’s history, Texas is charging forward well AHEAD OF CALIFORNIA. Texas is drawing more people and business, the heart of California’s tax base, into Texas. More so in the last 10 years than any time in its recent history of either state. My partner and I are two such examples.
If you want to know “why” this is taking place these are JUST 3 articles which will be of value to you. Maybe the writer of this article in the Dallas voice should study up on them as well. We could have moved to any state in the Union we wanted-WE CHOOSE TEXAS FOR THESE VERY REASONS IN THE BELOW ARTICALS!
http://seekingalpha.com/article/148488-california-vs-texas-which-model-is-best
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/11/024850.php
This is by far more shocking and is a “side by side” comparison between Texas and California
http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2010/03/california-vs-texas-cheat-sheet.html
If you want to base your vote on GLBT issues- then you might as well stay home. Neither are good choices- in case you missed it, “Bill White has said he supports civil unions rather than marriage. In 2005, he opposed the marriage ban proposition that became law. On his website, he has no official statements about equality for the LGBT community.” I have not seen one item where White would call for any change in the Texas laws banning same-sex marriage. As for Perry, yea he has not been the pinnacle of support for our community but his economic results are hard to ignore. My partner and I are proof of that why else would we move over 1900 miles away to “red state” Texas!
I am a California native-born, raised, and educated in the state. I moved to LA in 1984, where I lived until last June. I met my partner, now of 16 years in LA when he moved from Mexico to Los Angeles. We lived “The California life” in Blue California- until it got so expensive and the “crazies” took over and the state began to fiscally collapse. So, what would cause two gay guys to pack up, sell everything and move to “RED” Texas- simple “economics”. Low property tax, low sales tax, low DMV fees, low energy costs, NO STATE INCOME TAX-THOSE ARE JUST FOR STARTERS! The day we set foot in Texas my “out of pocket costs” for my monthly medications went from 375.00 PER MONTH-down to 125.00 per month! I really do consider my healthcare better in Texas and it ever was in California. My property tax dropped 5,000 per month-AND I GOT A BIGGER HOME! So, putting aside the whole GLBT political nonsense aside, when Perry says, ““There is still a land of opportunity, friends — it’s called Texas,” I have to say, “No kidding!!! My life partner and I are proof of that and that is why we LOVE TEXAS! That’s why we have thrived in Texas over the last 13 months-while our friends in California have lost their homes, take pay cuts, and pay over 3.00 per gallon for gas, along with a massive state income tax! No, we are sold proof is in our home finances!
When you look at the mere numbers of those coming to Texas from California-the numbers are staggering. This statement is so true, “This election will be about pocketbook issues.” Bill White from all I have seen has no clue and is stumping on the same old “hope and change” message with NO CLEARLY COMMUNICATED PLAN on how is going to accomplish anything.
John,
It has been many years since Texas was a red state despite the stereotypical belief presented on FOX and CNN. Most analysts continue to classify Texas as a state roughly in the middle between red and blue. You’ll see Texas called a red state most often in online reader comment sections, in the letters to the editor section of newspapers, and in ultra-conservative commentaries..
Common descriptions are grey, light blue, purple, independent and competitive. In 2008 Gallop described Texas as light blue. In 2009 they described it as competitive.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125450/party-affiliation-despite-gop-gains-states-remain-blue.aspx
I’ve found that although there are many vocal ultra-conservative Texans there are just as many ultra-liberal Texans. Most of all I’ve found independents and moderates who lean fiscally conservative and socially liberal. One quality of a Texan is their protection of independent thinking and keeping the lone star state culture alive.
That culture may have an influence of the success of Texas. A moderate, competitive, independent way of thinking may be a way to survive, succeed and flourish.
Well, when you come from a place like California where they “talk about” their death penalty to a state like Texas that actually USES IT- it is not to hard to see Texas as a RED state. Before we moved from CA to TX, nearly all our friends tried to talk us out of it.
These were people who brand themselves as “progressives”, “moderates”, and so on who asked things like “so is Texas as ‘racist’ as the rest of the south”, “why to you wanna go there-it’s controlled by southern babtist”, or “they have by hate gays in Texas it is a ‘redneck’ state”. That was from the CA crazies who probably have never been to this state and very much think it is their job to pay “a little more becuase this is California and we need to pay to live here.”
I live in a “dry county” right now and find that utterly amazing. I have more churches than beer joints in my town-and NO BARS (I am a drinker). I see very low propoerty tax all over Texas-even in Austin, and see a MAJOR divide between how things are done in Texas, as apposed to California. Even when we bought this home the paper work was easy and simple-unlike CA.
While some of what you are saying appears to be true, when you stack them up to CA-this is a RED-RED-NEON RED state! I think the words of a “good ol boy farmer” who lives near us are a classic of Texans and why we love it in this state. HE SIAD, “so ye-alls from California huh?” to which we both said “yea” and he then said, “well some on other places think we are a bunch of dumb ‘hicks” who just got flush toliets-we aint. We are conservatitve not primative or ignorant- welcome to Texas boys”. I was floored!
We have been told by many we know, “when you they find out you have moved to Texas from California they assume two things- 1ST, you are rich and 2nd, your probably ‘gay’. Well one is true and we don’t run around in the closet and we sure don’t have problems.
In fact, what we have seen and learned in the last 18 months is the EXACT OPPOSIT of what our friends in CALIF told us and tried to make us belive. FOX NEWS and others have little effect on what we think- like all media they have ajendas’s and those are set by their editors-JUST LIKE THE DALLAS VOICE HAS. The “spin” on the story depends on what values they wanna push to their readers-nothing more.
“That culture may have an influence of the success of Texas. A moderate, competitive, independent way of thinking may be a way to survive, succeed and flourish.” I think you are right- BUT, after living under Democrat control for 47 years and voting that way I am not about to go back down that road ever again. It seems to me what Texans have been doing in this state, and what brought us and those like us here has been working. Houston, where Bill White was Mayor mayor was “scratched” right at the start of our search-WHAT A NASTY CITY! EVEN OUR GAY TEXAN FRIENDS TOLD US TO AVOID IT! We looked at Austin and was told “we love people from Calfornia ye-all help keep it wierd”-Austin was another urban community with no identity or culture. We selected a community which had values utterly opposit of what we came from and we have loved it. Hell, we have BIBLE VERSUES on our gym walls-in California that would have set those folks decades back in their thearpy! I know much of this is off topic but is all comes into play when I set into that voter booth and punch the card-I am looking at where I am, where I came from, and what I want in the future.
neither of them will help any of the lgbt issues!
What exactly did Bill White do for LGBT people in Houston? What would he do as governor, and what is the evidence for this? We need more than just “Bill White is a friend to the LGBT community” or “[the Republicans might] include us in the conversation.” We need results.