A Tale of Two Governors on Marriage Equality
Two New England states. Two New England Governors. Two different fundraisers.
Too bad one governor is standing up for equal rights, while the other one is standing up for discrimination.
The first governor, John Baldacci of Maine, is taking a bold step by helping promote marriage equality in the state. Earlier this year, Gov. Baldacci signed legislation making Maine the sixth state to recognize marriage equality in the United States. It was an historic victory, but one that has been thrown into limbo, so to speak, as anti-LGBT activists in the state work to pass a ballot measure that would repeal the marriage equality law.
Gov. Baldacci, at least, isn't standing by without helping the fight to protect same-sex marriage. He'll be joining a fundraiser in Portland, ME this week to help organizers with the "No on 1" campaign -- the statewide group working to keep marriage equality the law in Maine.
Meanwhile, three states south, another New England governor has made the decision to hate on LGBT rights. It's Rhode Island's Governor, Don Carcieri, and he'll be fronting a fundraiser for the virulently anti-LGBT group, the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI). MFI has sponsored ex-gay therapy events, has fought tooth and nail (albet in a losing battle) to stop marriage equality in Massachusetts, and has regularly tried to paint LGBT people as a threat to children. Looks like Rhode Island's Gov. Carcieri shares similar beliefs.
Gov. Carcieri's decision to fundraise for an anti-LGBT group isn't terribly surprising. He's appeared at press conferences with the group National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which openly advocates for discrimination against LGBT people. Queer Action of Rhode Island isn't letting the Governor off the hook, though. They're rightfully giving him hell for propping up such bigoted organizations.
"We find it appalling that you, the governor to all the people of [Rhode Island], would support the fundraising efforts of an organization that advocates against the lives of some Rhode Island citizens," said Queer Action of Rhode Island in a letter to the Providence Journal. "By making this fundraising speech, the negative message you will send to R.I.’s gay community — especially its younger members — is extremely harmful."
Thus sums up a tale of two governors: one governor in Maine who sees his state's LGBT citizens as valued members of the state worthy of equal rights, and another governor in Rhode Island who sees his state's LGBT people as degenerates. The good news for LGBT folks and allies? Gov. Carcieri is term-limited in Rhode Island, which means that whether he likes it or not, he's getting booted out of office next year. And his soapbox for championing anti-LGBT causes while collecting a paycheck from the citizens of Rhode Island will end.
It should also say something about Carcieri that during the same week he's had to announce that the government of Rhode Island will have to shut down for several days this year in order to meet state budget figures, he's finding time to fundraise for an out-of-state anti-gay organization. Way to put the people of Rhode Island first, Governor.
Michael Jones
is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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