Representative Hodes Paul Hodes and Team Hodes marching in 4th of July parade.
The under-appreciated midterm race that offers a real opportunity for the LGBT community to advance nationally is New Hampshire Democratic Representative Paul Hodes' candidacy for the US Senate.
There's an old adage in politics "the US Senate is where good legislation goes to die." For no one is that more true than the LGBT community. Our true allies in the Senate are few and far between, certainly well below the 60 vote threshold needed to move bills forward. An example being, in 2007, our community celebrated the long-fought victory of House passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, only to watch it the victory fade in the Senate.
Shoring up pro-equality Senators is an essential task gay Americans and allies face at every election cycle. Representative Hodes' candidacy offers a unique opportunity for equality-minded voters.
In his House career, Paul Hodes has proven himself an unsung hero for LGBT community every step of the way. Since arriving in 2006, he's lent his name and support as:
- Cosponsor of the inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, barring employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
- Cosponsor of--and ultimately voting for--the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, which expanded Federal hate crimes law to include those base on sexual orientation, gender identity or disability
- Cosponsor of--and ultimately voting for--the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, which will allow repeal of the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
- Cosponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, a vital step toward full Federal marriage equality
All legislation in the Senate lives or dies by the power of the coalition behind it.
At a recent fundraiser New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand--another strong advocate for the LGBT community--spoke at length and detail at her efforts to find allies in the Senate to assist her in moving repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy forward in 2009.
Senator Gillibrand talked about her frustration at her fellow Senators' resistance to helping LGB servicemembers. But she also discussed allies she found, like Michigan Senator Carl Levin who, as Senate Armed Services Chair, at her urging agreed to hold the wildly successful Senate hearings in February. There, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen delivered his compelling testimony as the nation watched.
To move repeal forward, Gillibrand took the steps that need to be taken: sponsored and advocated for the bill; sought alliances; used her position to make the case on a national stage; pushed the issue to the forefront, not to the side.
The LGBT community needs to send more allies like this to the Senate.
Paul Hodes is such a ally.
Upon Federal Judge Walker's ruling that Proposition 8 barring marriage in equality California was unconstitutional, Representative Hodes' office released this statement highlighting his commitment to delivering full equality to all Americans:
"The U.S. District Court of Northern California's decision to strike down Proposition 8 is a huge win in our ongoing fight for equality.
There is much work still to be done, and many more battles to face - but the march toward universal marriage equality continues. It's time that the Defense of Marriage Act was repealed once and for all. When I get to the US Senate, I will lead the charge to repeal DOMA and ensure equal rights and protections for every citizen in this country.
I am thrilled with today's ruling, and more determined than ever to repeal DOMA and help achieve universal marriage equality for all Americans."
Chairman, New Hampshire State Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley has said:
"I have known Paul Hodes for decades. I have seen his passion for equality firsthand. Whether I was in the state legislature or now as state party chair, I have always known that I, and all of the NH LGBT community, could count on Paul to be a powerful advocate for LGBT equality."
The LGBT community will need Paul Hodes' help, we will need his vote for ENDA, Uniting American Families Act, DOMA repeal, Student Non-Discrimination Act and countless other bills that must pass the Senate before full equality will be realized for LGBT Americans.
Taking New Hampshire's LGBT Equality To The US Senate
The opening of this particular Senate seat this cycle provides chance to flip it from historically LGBT-hostile seat, to one supporting full equality. Retiring Republican Senator Judd Gregg has a very bad record on LGBT equality. He even failed to support the Matthew Shepard Hates Crime Act. This, despite as New Hampshire Governor, having signed a similar state-level measure.
Why? The Gregg's allegiance to his party, the Republicans, trumped his obligation to represent the views of New Hampshire voters, who have opted to support hate crimes legislation, specifically, and full equality, in general. If the Republican candidate captures this seat, we can expect more of the same. Even Republican Senator Scott Brown, from famously liberal Massachusetts, recently voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Hodes' likely Republican opponent, Kelly Ayotte, speaking a June 5th Senatorial debate, not only expressed her support for DOMA, but her desire to see NH's state-level marriage equality revoked. She said:
"I absolutely support and believe in marriage as between a man and a woman, and I do think it's unfortunate that our state has made a different decision on that... So I would vote against any repeal of DOMA... I would love to help with any effort to get our law back in the right place on this."
New Hampshire, and the nation, has the opportunity to send to the Senate a strong ally in the fight for LGBT equality. And the LGBT community cannot let this opportunity pass. For too long New Hampshire citizens who believe in equality have been under-served by their representation in the US Senate. This can be changed.
Just as we need Hodes' vote, come November, he will need ours. The race is tight. Just as he's demonstrated his support for our community in the House, we need to support for his candidacy and work to promote him to the Senate.
Representative Hodes and wife Peggo celebrate the one-year anniversary of New Hampshire's marriage equality with New Hampshire Stonewall Democrats club, June 1, 2010.
New Hampshire LGBT Resources for Paul Hodes for Senate: