In a story that surfaced earlier this year, the headline read, "
Some Gay Couples Adopt to Molest, State Rep Says." The subject of that story -- the blatantly homophobic, repug incumbent,
Debra Maggart -- has a Democratic challenger:
Patrick Gardner.
Patrick NEEDS our help.
In the spring, Tennessee State Rep. Debra Maggart voiced her homophobic opinion on gay adoption,
exchanged emails with a master's student at Vanderbilt on the issue, and voted for a bill that would have banned homosexual couples from adopting. When the headlines first made the local news, I thought
surely this would be the tipping point for this blatant homophobe.
Surely, people would recognize her statements as a signal of how unfit she was to serve.
Surely, the state Democratic Party would beat the bushes to find someone to challenge her.
Surely, if any Democrat stood up to the challenge, that Democrat would be given the financial support of the TNDP.
Could I have been more wrong? Um, no.
The sad truth is that here in TN, while the larger, urban areas such as Nashville/Davidson County trend blue, the donut counties -- heavily megachurch-influenced -- trend red. Maggart reigns in one of those donut counties: Sumner.
Here in Sumner County, Patrick Gardner has stepped up to challenge Debra "Gays-Adopt-to-Molest" Maggart in the November election. Patrick is likely to be outspent by Maggart, unless we help him raise the money he needs to make his a viable challenge. Patrick is getting some help from the Sumner County Democratic Party, but Sumner County's coffers are, well, not overflowing. You'd hope that the Tennessee Democratic Party would step up and support any Democrat brave enough to challenge Maggart, but the TNDP seems to believe that Maggart is undefeatable -- so, no help from that quarter.
That is why I have pledged to raise $250 for Patrick Gardner - and I'm here asking for DK help. If I can get 25 people to donate $10 each, I can reach my goal. If you will donate, please go to his secure, online donation page and make a donatation. Even a $5.00 contribution can make a difference. Then please post your contribution here, so I can keep track. Thanks!
Stay strong!