Sexual Orientation as an Issue in a Political Race

A candidate's sexual orientation does not determine whether he or she will make an effective council member. Nor does a candidate's political party affiliation.



It always good to see that in a major newspaper, but especially good to find it in the Fort-Worth (TX) Star-Telegram. Since Texas is not known as a particularly progressive state (after all, it gave us President George W. Bush and I, for one, can hardly wait to give him back), it speaks to the fact that even in the so-called "Bible Belt" of the south and southwest, attitudes are changing and acceptance of GLBT people is growing.



The quote was in an editorial that slammed Fort Worth City Councilman Chuck Silcox, who made an issue out of the fact that one of his opponents in an upcoming election is gay. From the Star-Telegram:



"We have two people of opposite partisan politics, opposite philosophical persuasions and opposite sexual orientations."


"I didn't tell you which one was homosexual," Silcox said as the crowd laughed. Pointing to Turner, Silcox continued: "He's married to a female, and the other's married to a male. You make your own mind up."



Silcox later said he raised the issue because he believes that the Star-Telegram's coverage of the race has not mentioned that Burns is gay.


"The Star-Telegram doesn't talk about it. They don't put the negative out there," he said.



"Every damn article that was written about Louis McBee mentioned that he was gay. I'm just [angry] about the way that the Star-Telegram has treated this."


McBee has been quoted or featured in 21 articles, according to Star-Telegram archives. One report in May 2006, when McBee was running for the City Council District 4 seat, mentioned his sexual orientation. Danny Scarth won the election.



Do all Texas republicans so blatantly ignore facts and make up their own? I hope it's just the President and this guy.



Kudos to the Star-Telegram for bringing forward facts and for slapping Councilman Silcox down for trying to make his opponent's homosexuality into a liability.