Gays Against Gary Glenn

By AJ Trager

DETROIT – Sixty-eight days from now, registered Michigan voters will choose whom they would like to see as Michigan's next elected officials. In the 98th Michigan House district, which includes part of Midland and Bay County, the race for the open seat is hot, especially for LGBT voters.
American Family Association's President for the Michigan chapter since 1999, Gary Glenn, won the Republican primary in August and is set to run against Democratic candidate and former Director of Worship at her local parish, Joan Brausch. The LGBT&A Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party has come out in strong support of Brausch and has launched the Gays Against Gary Glenn (GAGG) campaign.
Glenn is nationally known for his legacy of fighting against the LGBT community, continually coming out with anti-gay positions and using the legislature to support them.
Glenn co-authored the 2004 Marriage Protection amendment to Michigan's Constitution, which bans marriage equality, and has warned that companies should be wary of hiring LGBT people (said in a 2011 interview with Linda Harvey from Mission America).
BTL featured Gary Glenn as Creep of the Week back in 2006 after he sent out an email responding to a Lansing ordinance, seeking to include the LGBT among a list of protected classifications that would protect from discrimination. Glenn called the ordinance "discriminatory and dangerous."
His talking points in the email included a claim that the ordinance isn't needed because, "Individuals who engage in homosexual behavior and cross-dressing already have all the same rights provided to all Americans by the Constitution and federal, state, and local law," and outwardly stated that the transgender community, specifically transwomen, are "men who are so mentally or emotionally disturbed that they've had themselves surgically altered to be officially recognized by the state as a 'female.'" Glenn asks if parents are comfortable subjecting their children to being "forced" to share public restrooms and shower facilities with such "mentally disturbed" people.
The Republican candidate describes his platform on the campaign site as being "conservative but not radical." He wants to "create new, better and high paying jobs; push for the best and safest schools to meet the education needs of all students; protect Michigan from ObamaCare and restore the freedom to control personal healthcare decisions without government interference; and support values that encourage strong marriages, families, neighborhoods and communities."
Brausch's platform paints a brighter picture, focusing on what the state can do to improve, instead of maintaining outdated legislation.
Brausch is running on a platform of jobs, education and roads. She wants to work towards public education, restore funding to Pre-K through High School, increase funds for higher education, continue to build up STEM programs, pay fair wages to public education teachers, secure good jobs in the area, get more regional cooperation among the tri-counties, raise the minimum wage to $10.10/hr, preserve the Great Lakes resources, create oversight of Michigan's fracking industry and create more solar and green energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
LGBT contributions are approaching the $10,000 mark for Brausch's campaign, but a lot more is needed to ensure that Brausch wins the seat over Glenn.
Other contributors to Brausch's campaign include the UAW PAC which has donated a significant amount of money, the League of Conservation Voters, the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, the Michigan Education Association and the Gill Action fund, which has donated to nationally known candidates such as Charlie Crist, a Democratic candidate running for Governor in Florida, and Democratic candidate Felecia Rotellini running for Arizona Attorney General.
With the national spotlight paying attention to Michigan's 98th House District race, the heat is up for Michigan voters to pitch in and support their preferred House candidate. Recent poll results show that, despite being a typically safe Republican district, the race looks to be a virtual tie.
"She is getting national attention and the House Caucus is realizing that this is about beating Gary Glenn and winning in that district," said Mark LaChey, chair of the LGBT&A Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party.
The LGBT&A Caucus launched the GAGG campaign in efforts to keep what LaChey describes as a "homophobic" candidate out of the Michigan House of Representatives.
"Joan Brausch is a seasoned campaigner with a pro-equality stance on issues of importance to Michigan's LGBT community. She is fighting every day on the campaign trail to become the next state rep from the 98th House District. By contrast, her homophobic opponent Gary Glenn has a proven track record over decades of having opinions and taking actions, which are directly counter to our community. He must not be allowed to gain a seat in the MI House," LaChey said.

To donate to Brausch's campaign, get involved or learn more about her, go to http://www.brauschforhouse.com/.

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