Mixed Reactions To Crist’s Gay Rights Support!
There seems to be a very mixed reception from gay rights groups and politicians over the Florida Governor Charlie Crist’s new fresh endorsement to a bunch of gay rights bills. He’s was republican and now apparently going for the US senate as an independent. Now, this chap, whose not always been in favour of gay rights and equality, released a vast document on Monday, giving his support and endorsement to a raft of gay rights bills – although rather crucially not gay marriage. Yet, he does believe that the US Govt should recognize same sex couples with unions unions.
In the document, Crist says he supports an end to Florida’s ban on gay adoption – this is a stance he only previously hinted at, because the law puts politics before the best interest of the child. For me, personally, the best interests of the child should always be the first and only priority.
Immigration Equality, a Washington D.C.-based group that lobbies for the rights of gay immigrants, said it was pleased to see the governor supporting passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a controversial bill that Congress has previously attempted to attach to immigration reform measures with little luck. The UAFA would allow gay Americans to sponsor a spouse for citizenship over the objections of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the 1996 law that forbids federal agencies from recognizing the legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples. This is something close to my heart, the unequal and discriminatory policies of the US immigration authorities placed my own relationship with an American citizen under immense pressure, to which the distance of living two side or the Atlantic to great to deal with.
“Florida is home to nearly 3,000 LGBT bi-national families, and the governor’s position is welcome news to those who struggle every day simply to keep their families together, and be with the person they love,” Steve Ralls, spokesman for Immigration Equality, told On Top Magazine in an email. “Each time an elected leader chooses to stand with those families, we move one step closer to passing UAFA. There is, indeed, no more pro-family position than one supporting the right of all families to be safe, protected and equal under the law.”
Crist’s document also confirms his backing for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which is a good thing, although looking at it from an outsiders point of view, DADT’s days are numbered anyway. There is a growing sense of pressure building in the world outside American shores for bill to be abolished as soon as possible.
Some groups think this is just a ploy to win more votes, and suggest Crist is lying. “Crist is obviously trying to win an election, which is easier for him with three candidates than with two,” Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, told us OnTopMagazine. “Over the years, I have tried to give Charlie Crist the benefit of the doubt, but I can no longer do that. There have just been too many times he could have supported our community and either chose not to do so or actively came out against our interests,” Hoch added, referring to Crist’s support for placing a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Florida’s Constitution.
Kendrick Meek, Crist’s Democratic rival and a strong supporter of gay rights, also suggested the governor was telling more than a few little white lies, lying – “Can anyone believe anything Charlie Crist says anymore?” Meek said in a statement. “It’s obvious Charlie Crist is willing to say anything. The only thing Charlie Crist says today that you can believe tomorrow is that he wants to be elected. The only thing we know about Charlie Crist’s track record is that he is a lifelong conservative Republican who has fought against every Democratic value. The governor’s charade trying to hide his lifelong conservative record just to get elected is an insult to every Floridian.”
Crist’s Republican rival in the three-man race, Marco Rubio, opposes gay rights and equalities completely, which is what you’d expect from a staunch Republican I suppose.
I guess it remains to be seen what Crist’s real motives are, maybe he has changed, become more honest with himself and the people of Florida in his support of equal rights for all, maybe he just wants to be a senator at all costs, but, wouldn’t there be easier ways? I’ve giving the man the benefit of the doubt, any support for gay rights and equality is welcome support, even if it is only a publicity smoke screen, at the very least it raise the public profile of the fight for gay rights, for equality, and as they say, all publicity is good publicity, which cuts both ways!!
Jason Shaw
GayAgenda.com’s UK Correspondent
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