by Eric Rader
The voters certainly decided they wanted a change last Tuesday. In Michigan and around the country, Republicans swept to big victories in the midterm elections, putting the GOP in charge of the U.S. House and sweeping all of the statewide offices here in our state, while also winning control of both chambers of the Michigan Legislature. Beginning in January, John Boehner (R-OH) will be the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Rick Snyder will be Michigan's new governor. Just two years after Barack Obama's historic election as president, the voters have put his adversaries into political power across the country.
Despite the Republican tidal wave, there were some bright spots for the Democrats in last week's elections. At the national level, the Democrats kept control of the U.S. Senate, denying the Republicans their hopes of having full control of the legislative branch. In Michigan, first-term representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) won a narrow victory in his race against Republican Rocky Raczkowski, though Rep. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) lost his bid for a second term to former Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton).
What does all of this mean for the LGBT community in Michigan and around the country? Unfortunately, history does not offer reassuring answers. The last time the Republicans controlled the U.S. House, they attempted to pass a Constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage in the United States. Republican leaders opposed hate crimes legislation in previous sessions of Congress, though thankfully, President Obama signed a hate crimes law last year. Republicans at the national level have frequently used the LGBT community as a political wedge in their efforts to divide the nation and win elections.
In Michigan, it's too early to tell what Gov.-elect Snyder's victory means for the LGBT community. Social issues were nowhere on the political radar screens of either Snyder or Democratic candidate Virg Bernero in their campaigns; they obviously focused on the state's difficult economy. Snyder has stated that while he does not support gay marriage, he favors the right of same-sex couples to have some legal rights. Given the hard-right positions of others in the Republican Party, Snyder's stance sounds tame, though Michigan's anti-gay marriage amendment limits the ability of any governor to expand rights in this area. However, governors can set an inclusive tone in their political appointments, something Governor Granholm has done during her eight years in office by selecting several qualified lesbian and gay people for positions within her administration. We should strongly urge Gov.-elect Snyder to do the same, while also protecting the employment rights of LGBT state workers.
Snyder has styled himself as a moderate Republican. The new governor will be under great pressure from social conservatives in his party who are salivating at the prospect of pushing radical social policies after Governor Granholm's two terms of progressive leadership. It is particularly important for members of the LGBT community who voted for Snyder to remind him of his moderate principles and help the new governor to stand up to the reactionary elements within his party.
Much attention will now shift to the upcoming "lame duck" sessions of Congress and the Michigan Legislature, when the current legislators meet before their terms end in early January. At the federal level, it is extremely important for Congress to finish the work of repealing the military's "Don't ask, Don't tell" DADT policy. At his post-election news conference last week, President Obama once again announced his support for ending this policy through the legislative process; the U.S. Senate needs to act quickly so the president can sign the repeal into law. In Michigan, the state Senate must approve the House-passed anti-bullying legislation, Matt's Safe School Act, and send it to Gov. Granholm for her approval.
Next year will bring big changes to our state and nation and the LGBT community must not shrink from the fight for equal rights. The Republicans won this year's elections because people are still suffering from the effects of the brutal recession. The two parties will continue to debate what policies should be enacted to end the economic suffering in Michigan and around the country. However, the Republicans have not earned a mandate to discriminate against any group of citizens, including the LGBT community. All of us need to stay engaged in the political debates over the next few years and remain vigilant in our struggle for true equality.
Contact Michigan's two senators and urge them to pass DADT during the lame duck session:
Senator Carl Levin: http://levin.senate.gov/contact/
Senator Debbie Stabenow: http://stabenow.senate.gov/email.cfm
Contact your Michigan State Senator in Lansing and urge him or her to quickly pass Matt's Safe School Act:
Michigan Senate: http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm
