Lesbian wins historic race in Alabama

[Syrinx]

Washington DC – July 18, 2006 – Patricia Todd made history today when voters in Alabama’s 54th legislative district voted to send the Democrat to the State House, marking the first time ever that legislature will include an openly gay Representative. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political action committee, endorsed Todd and helped raise tens of thousands of dollars from its national network of donors to help fund her campaign. Todd has no Republican opponent in the general election in November.

“The road to equality in Alabama is a mile shorter today,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund. “Gays and lesbians in Alabama will now have what all Americans deserve--a voice and a vote. Alabama knows well what a single voice can accomplish. We applaud Patricia’s courage in stepping up to be heard,” Wolfe said.

http://www.victoryfund.org/index.php?src=news&prid=122&category=News%20Releases

[xchrom]

1. bwahahahahahaha! couldn't have happened in nicer place!

congrats ms todd!:woohoo:

[Syrinx]

2. I love it too!

I'm a straight "redneck" dude, but I love it! Ms. Todd is awesome! She's on the forefront of aids-prevention, for example! :)

[xchrom]

6. it just tickles in all the right places, doesn't it?

[dipsydoodle]

3. As far as I'm aware

we have a fair to middling number in the UK Houses of Parliament so I'm never quite sure what the big deal is here. Of what significance is there in an individual's personal preferences with regard to how well they represent those voted who for that person ?

Regardless of my being puzzled - good luck to the Lady and I wish her well.

[Prophet 451]

4. We're puzzled because it's no big deal here

In the States, with anti-gay feeling running high (witness that bloody Ammendment) and so few gay people in Congress, it's a huge deal that teh people did look past her sexuality to judge what kind of representative she would make.

[JackNewtown]

5. Religion

The US has far more religious conservatives than the UK. This is especially the case in states such as Alabama (google: Judge Roy Moore).

This is great news and I hope the wave of progress for GLBT equality continues. :)

[Peace Patriot]

9. DOES the U.S. have far more religious conservatives than the U.K., or is

that just the IMPRESSION we are given by the U.S. war profiteering corporate news monopolies?

I'd like to see some hard data on it. I think we're being played.

One way that we are being played is our unquestioning adoption of the word "conservative" to describe radical fascist extremists. The war profiteering corporate news monopolies control our use of the language, as well as our perception of what other Americans are thinking.

[dsc]

10. We do

Our country is the only industrialized country with a massive evangelical movement. In most European countries athiests outnumber evnagelicals with most people officially belonging to a mainline protestant or catholic church.

[JackNewtown]

13. I agree

Americans are far more likely to attend church, attend church regularly, and have religion play a big role in their lives than people in the UK.

[dsc]

14. Go to a southern laudramat on a Sunday and you will sure

know there are a ton of churches here. Laudromats are deserted from about 10 till 12 on Sunday.

[Jamastiene]

23. Also, grocery stores are deserted during that time too.

God help you if you don't beat the rush to go grocery shopping 'til noon on a Sunday, but if you get there between 10 and noon on a Sunday morning, you are in and out of there in a flash (no competition.)

[Jamastiene]

22. Don't know for sure, but

I sure do love the Brits, in general. There are plenty of other countries who have had female presidents way ahead of America too. And do you think it's possible to have a female president in America? Seriously? So, in a way, whatever the reason, we are quite a bit behind the rest of the civilized world when it comes to who we elect.

[dsc]

8. Go to Alabama

hold hands with another guy and then come back and ask what the big deal is. Until 2003 Alabama had a sodomy law on its books which is only removed due to a US Supreme Court decision. Chief Justice Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court wrote some of the most anti gay decisions one could ever see. I am amazed that she won her race and will be even more amazed if there isn't a write in candidate of some sort.

[GodlessBiker]

11. I agree. But if she does win, it is a good sign of shifting attitudes.

[Syrinx]

16. I wish things were more like that here

But you live in a teeny tiny little country. Things are different here. And we were founded by Puritans.

[dipsydoodle]

18. And where do think

those Puritans came from ? :) In fairness they were not any old Puritans. They were Separatists which I guess means that most of them were Dutch ultra's - not allowed to listen to Elvis on the radio whatever.

The only hangover we've got, of which I'm aware , are the Exclusive Bretheren. I guess they're what you'd call ultra evangelicals. That crowd are still into shunning those who leave the sect.

[DarkTirade]

20. Yes, but the puritans were so uptight

that even the british kicked them out. What does THAT tell you? :)

[Jamastiene]

24. I always say that the conservative fundamentalist extremists in

America make the Puritans look like party animals by comparison.

[Ian David]

7. I predict there will be a write-in candidate during the general election.

[Syrinx]

15. fair enough

What do you base your prediction on?

Do you know anything about the electorate of the 54th district?

[Ian David]

17. Even here in Liberal Massachusetts, the bigots ran write-in campaigns...

specifically to defeat gay or pro-gay candidates.

I don't imagine the 54th District is completely without any right-wing hate-mongers.

Fortunately, the anti-gay write-in candidate, Rinaldo del Gallo (3rd Berkshire) lost.

Howver, the gay write-in candidate in Somerville won!


See:

<snip>

The only anti-gay marriage and civil union candidate was a write-in candidate, Rinaldo Del Gallo III, and he received approximately 190 votes.
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Y4Eg5tT3EjsJ:www.polstate.com/archives/006764.html+Rinaldo+del+Gallo+write-in&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10


Also See:
http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/04538495.asp

[omenapoint]

12. Good job!

!!!!!!!!!

[cinemaactivist]

19. Yay

thats way cool

[Jamastiene]

21. Bravo, Alabama, in that case.

I never thought I'd hear myself say that, but this shows some real progress in an area I'd least expect it. When I first read the headline I went :wow:.

Again, bravo, Alabama voters. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? It is such an unusual sentence. :wow: