Philadelphia Gay News Vol. 34 No. 45
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Nov. 5 - 11, 2010
LGBT supporters suffer midterm massacre Dems hang on to U.S. Senate, lose House
Pro-LGBT casualties not losing hope
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer
In a decisive commentary on the current Democratic leadership, Americans on Tuesday cast vote after vote for Republican candidates, who swept races from coast to coast. The GOP gained a majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, although Democrats managed to hang on to control of the U.S. Senate. Republicans only needed to pick up 39 House seats but ended up with at least 60. In the Senate, the GOP was looking to unseat 10 Democrats but succeeded with just six. Although, at press time, several races were headed for recounts, the current balance in Congress now stands at a 239184 Republican-led House and 51-46 Democratic-led Senate. Pennsylvania Senate hopeful Joe Sestak and incumbent Congressman Patrick Murphy, strong allies of the LGBT community, were among those who lost their bids on Tuesday. Elsewhere in the nation, after a strong campaign from the antigay National Organization for Marriage, voters in Iowa ousted State Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices David Baker and Michael Streit, who voted to legalize same-sex marriage there in 2009. While that vote was unanimous, the three justices were the only ones on the panel up for retention. Pro-LGBT candidates weren’t completely shut out on Tuesday, however. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (DNev.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), both of whom have voted with the LGBT community, fended off challenges from Tea Party candidates Sharon Angle and Carly Fiorina, respectively. Steve Pougnet, the openly gay mayor of Palm Springs, Calif., lost his bid for Congress Tuesday against Republican incumbent Mary Bono Mack, but Congress did gain one more out member: Providence, R.I., mayor David Cicilline. Cicilline’s election brings the total number of LGBT members of the U.S. House
Whether it was financial or ideological fear that motivated a majority of American voters to go Republican in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the nation’s LGBT citizens are left holding their collective breath over the legislative implications. With the GOP taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives and, in Pennsylvania, the state House, the future is less promising for a slew of pro-LGBT bills. Among the community’s biggest political losses is U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, prime sponsor of the bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and credited with garnering House approval for the measure this year. Murphy lost his bid for reelection to Republican Mike Fitzpatrick, whom he defeated four years ago. “Losing Patrick Murphy sent a very damaging signal to our allies who have already been resistant to taking on a leadership role in regards to LGBT issues in Congress,” said Steve Glassman, chair of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. “Patrick stuck his neck out for us and was an extraordinary champion for LGBT rights, and became the face and voice of the repeal for ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ And, while I don’t
See NATIONAL, Page 18
LAST CALL: Gov. Ed Rendell (left) started his final Philadelphia gay bar crawl Oct. 30 at Q Lounge, stomping for Democrats across the state before the midterm elections on Nov. 2. A longtime supporter of LGBT issues, Rendell also spoke passionately at five other bars in the Gayborhood about voting to retain current LGBT rights in Pennsylvania and keeping the movement going forward. Photo: Scott A. Drake
The new face of the PA Legislature and U.S. Congress Fern Kaufman reacts to another election loss State Senate leadership and LGBT rights
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See LOCAL, Page 19
Numbers at a glance:
THE DOORS AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW: The entrance of the William Way LGBT Community Center swung open only 61 times for voters on Tuesday, despite that about 8,300 are registered to vote at this location. The center became the newest Center City polling place after crowds at St. Luke’s around the corner on 13th Street had to wait hours to vote in 2008. Photo: Scott A. Drake
354,117
Number of votes Onorato lost by
78,455
Number of votes Sestak lost by
17,247
Number of votes Murphy lost by
1.2 million
Number of registered Democrats over Republicans in Pennsylvania