The US election has been called in favour of Democrat incumbent Barack Obama, who is an extremely strong supporter of GLBT rights compared to his Republican contender Mitt Romney. Major American news network CNN says Obama will be re-elected President of the United States, and Fox News has followed with the same result. There are stark differences in the gay rights stances of both men polls before the election shows support for Obama was growing amongst GLBT people. In May, Obama became the first US president to back same-sex marriage. He also backs gay couples being able to adopt and has expanded federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Obama also supports the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. During his first term in office he also overturned Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, abandoned the federal approval of the Defence of Marriage Act, extending hospital visitation and care rights to gay spouses, and appointed a record number of gay officials. Romney is firmly against marriage being for anyone other than “one man and one woman” and does not support civil unions either. He has made noises against gay couples being able to adopt and said individual states should decide. In 2003 Romney vetoed a bill funding hate-crimes prevention in Massachusetts. His stance on ending discrimination in employment has been changeable. The Human Rights Campaign had said Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, represented a “devastating leap backwards for LGBT Americans seeking full equality”. Both men had made pledges to fund HIV/AIDS research and prevention. Another area of importance as to who won the election is the fact the upcoming US Supreme Court session faces a record number of legal cases involving gay and lesbian issues – and with four of the nine sitting members now in their 70s, the President may have an opportunity to name new Justices and impact future decisions.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 7th November 2012 - 5:26pm