Gay candidates' sexuality elicits shrugs from voters

Republican congressional candidate Richard Tisei campaigns in Gloucester, Massachusetts in July. / http://tiseiforcongress.com

Congressional candidate Richard Tisei is both gay and a Republican. In his battle to unseat Democratic Rep. John Tierney in Massachusetts' sixth district, he says the latter has been the bigger issue.

"Being gay in Massachusetts isn't a problem," Tisei said. "Being Republican is much more of a hurdle."

Tisei, who is vying to become the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress, isn't the only gay candidate who could make history. In Wisconsin, Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin could become the first openly gay person elected to the Senate. In Arizona, Democrat Krysten Sinema is vying to become the first openly bisexual person elected to Congress.

The candidates say that that, for the most part, their sexuality has not been an issue in their campaigns. Tisei, who supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage, said it has actually been somewhat helpful, since it's helped him combat Tierney's characterization of him as a right-wing extremist. "In a way it helps differentiate myself form the caricature that they're trying to paint," he said.

Fred Sainz of The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights group, said that he views the relative lack of discussion of LGBT candidates' sexuality as "a measure of progress."

"In the past, definitely in 2004 when George Bush ran his entire reelection campaign using the gay issue as a wedge issue, it would have been more of a problem," he said. "We've come a long way in a relatively short period of time."

Added Sainz: "It speaks to the fact that LGBT people are now part of the mainstream of American society, and their sexuality should really not be a factor in whether they should be a member of Congress."

There are now four openly gay members of Congress, all Democrats: David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, Jared Polis of Colorado and Baldwin. Polis and Cicilline are expected to be reelected, while Baldwin, who represents liberal Madison, will likely be replaced by another openly gay politician, Mark Pocan. (Frank, who is retiring, will be most likely be replaced by Joseph Kennedy III, who is straight). There are also two other openly gay candidates seeking House seats: Mark Takano of California and Sean Patrick Maloney of New York.

In Wisconsin, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor David Canon, Baldwin's sexuality "certainly has not been an issue in the campaign in any big way."

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[audemus]

The voters are not electing a heterosexual or a homosexual, they are electing someone to represent them.

[Lucas4440]

At this rate with homosexuals trying to infiltrate the GOP, Pedophiles and Pervs who molect their own childrebn will become accepted in DemonCrat party. Where does it end?
Unfortunately it doesn't.
Here we go sloutching towards Gomorrah if we allow it.

[Jiveinthe415]

Tisei would not be the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress. Wisconsin's Steve Gunderson was the first openly gay Republican elected to a full term.

To the bigoted individuals revealing their fear and ignorance, stay rooted in your 19th century beliefs and values. The world will wave to you as we pass you by.

[MaxyRaddy]

It's character and values that candidates should be measured against. Compromise and justification are only an indicator of how they may do the job if elected. It's sad that so more americans seem to be willing to settle for so little. Apathy is the disturbing part of the story here.

[krotec54]

Again, let us give credit to the American Psychiatrist Association for allowing these mentally unstable individuals to run among the citizens, we despise those that assaults the innocent in the Boy Scouts and in our Churches, Now, they want us to elect them to run our cities just to give favors to their supporters while shunning the rest. Do we really need the drama and the terrible decisions when they get in office? Of course the media would love to report the silliness of these officials for everyone's amusement.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

Pfft - PEDOPHILES are in your Church, not gays.

Those priests go after whatever they can get.

[Ulgnud]

One the "gay" lifestyle choice is entrenched, the inc@st and Pedoph@lia will be next.

[Ulgnud]

As long as they do not push their lifesyle choice on us, nobody really cares.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

What "choice"?

Did you choose to be straight?

I was born straight, and I couldn't change that if I tried. You??

[Ulgnud]

Repubs, It is a simple and basic observation. Stand in front of a full length mirror in your birthday suit. It becomes immediately apparent how you were born. There are those who choose to practice the gay lifestyle. Once they get enough fools to fall for the "Born that way" nonsense, Inc@st and Pedoph@lia will also be pushed as "Born that way". All three are mental abberations that need the kindness and care of a qualified mental health professional to sort themselves out. No matter how they push it, it is deviant behavior.

[ArmedForces]

Many Christians and limited Government Conservatives support marriage equality; it's just the fundamentalist &
reactionaries who cannot handle it.....

While I agree, the Republicans are Not there yet. I do believe progress is being made and will continue.

Now as a voting block and a buying public, politicians and business owners alike see the changing tide of the growing LGBT and individual liberty demographic over the dying breed of the fringe fundamentalists.

For the long-term success of the party, it must be able to reach gay and lesbian Americans and the millions of Americans who are related to and respect them.

It's an issue of freedom for many!

[ArmedForces]

Many Christians and limited Government Conservatives support marriage equality; it's just the fundamentalist &
reactionaries who cannot handle it.....

While I agree, the Republicans are Not there yet. I do believe progress is being made and will continue.

Now as a voting block and a buying public, politicians and business owners alike see the changing tide of the growing LGBT and individual liberty demographic over the dying breed of the fringe fundamentalists.

For the long-term success of the party, it must be able to reach gay and lesbian Americans and the millions of Americans who are related to and respect them.

It's an issue of freedom for many!

[rebotchi]

I find it really interesting that he is Republican, yet he supports abortion and (obviously) same sex marriage! I personally don't agree with Republicans on MANY issues, but Tisei seems to be socially liberal, which I enjoy. It would be a little victory for him to be voted, but it would really show people that America is very slowly becoming more accepting.

[cntrygirl3]

So how does Mr. Boehner square the vitriolic anti-gay rhetoric of the republican convention with his support. Once more republicans don't do as they say when it comes to winning elections. But what happens after the election when they are not running for election. At least the electorate doesn't seem to care which is a definite sign of progress.