Out with the Old: Anti-Gay Congress Members Lose Re-Election Battles

Gay rights activists are taking to the streets in California, Utah, Washington, Illinois and elsewhere to protest the passage of Proposition 8. But while Proposition 8, Amendment 2, Proposition 102 and Arkansas’ ban on gay adoption gathered most of the LGBT political attention this week, there’s certainly some good news coming out of the U.S. House of Representatives. Some of the most anti-gay politicians in our country were ousted, ushering in new leadership that stands to not only benefit the gay rights movement, but civil rights as a whole. Below is a list of our top ten anti-gay Congress members sent packing after this Election.

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave

Musgrave made her name in 2002 by championing a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. That’s a move so conservative, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain and Vice President Dick Cheney wouldn’t even support it. But that still didn’t stop Musgrave from labeling gay marriage “the most important issue that we face toady,” and that the “future is grim” if gay marriage is not banned. With priorities like those, despite such urgent issues as the tanking economy, two wars, and a broken health care system, it’s no wonder Musgrave was sent home this Election year.

Rep. Virgil Goode

This race still isn’t officially over, but all signs are pointing to an upset here as attorney Tom Perriello seems to have pulled off the unthinkable – toppling 10-year Virginia incumbent Virgil Goode. Despite the fact that Goode actually funneled federal money to filmmakers who produced gay films, Rep. Goode himself was a virulent opponent of gay rights, championing the Marriage Amendment Act to ban gay marriage, and alleging that Barack Obama was dangerously supportive of gay rights. Goode has also made derogatory comments about Muslims, and has called opponents of the Iraq War Jihadists.

Rep. Steve Chabot

Chabot is the proud owner of a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, and it’s no wonder why. Chabot voted for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, voted to ban gay adoptions in the District of Columbia, and voted no on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Of all of those issues, it is Chabot’s work to ban gay marriage that makes his record on gay rights most repulsive. In 2004, Chabot chaired the House Judiciary Committee’s Sub-Committee on the Constitution, which held at least five days worth of hearings about the need to ban gay marriage. With Chabot being sent back to Ohio, it’s good to know that his hands won’t be rewriting anyone’s Constitution in the near future.

Rep. Robin Hayes

He was almost ousted in 2006, but in 2008 North Carolina voters finally sent Robin Hayes packing. Hayes became famous for putting his foot in his mouth, when he accused liberals of hating Americans and hating God. But Hayes was equally as offensive when it came to gay rights, telling public rallies that gay marriage undermines healthy families. It’s no surprise that he supported a Constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, that he voted to ban gay adoptions, and that he voted against anti-discrimination efforts aimed at addressing prejudice in hiring toward LGBT persons.

Rep. Jon Porter

Nevada voters sent a loud and clear message to Jon Porter that a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign isn’t something to brag about. Porter, like many of the others on this list, voted yes on a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage, and voted to block implementation of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Rep. Tim Walberg

Walberg was elected in 2006 in large part because he championed conservative positions on social issues like abortion and gay marriage. It’s nice to see that Michigan voters rejected this same schtick the second time around. Walberg was vehemently against gay marriage, gay adoption, and expansion of anti-discrimination efforts addressing sexual orientation. Walberg even went so far as to say that “It’s a sin to be gay.” Looks like Michigan voters are a little more tolerant than Walberg.

Rep. Randy Kuhl

Kuhl has been voting against gay rights legislation dating back to 1993, and his position hasn’t changed over time. Kuhl consistently received a 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign, and once said that he “doesn’t support” the homosexual lifestyle. So while Kuhl was once labeled “one of the best golfers” in the U.S. Congress, his record on gay rights was quite dismal. Looks like he’ll have more time to practice his golf game now that New York voters refused to reward him with another term in Congress.

Rep. Bill Sali

It’s hard to single-out Sali on gay rights issues, as the man was crazy on a number of fronts. When Sali was a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, his offensive comments about breast cancer caused a fellow representative (and survivor of breast cancer) to walk out of the chambers in tears. And he was once labeled my members of his own party as being a person without “one ounce of empathy in his whole fricking body.” But Sali’s record on gay rights was abysmal. He once voted against a domestic violence bill because he thought its passage would lead to same-sex marriage. He’s also on record as wanting to reinstitute sodomy laws. Yikes.

Rep. Ric Keller

Despite the passage of Amendment 2 in Florida voters sent packing Congressman Ric Keller, another person on this list with a whopping 0% rating from the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to being against gay marriage and gay adoption, Keller was against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Sound familiar?

Rep. Tom Feeney

Sticking with Florida, the neighboring Congressional district to Ric Keller also sent an anti-gay politician home – Tom Feeney. In the wake of California’s Supreme Court ruling in May 2008 legalizing same-sex marriage, Feeney actually issued a press release chastising “San Francisco values.” Maybe if Feeney spent more time worrying about Florida instead of San Francisco, he’d still be in Congress today.

Have another politician to add to our list? Send an email to mjones@change.org, or leave it in the comments section.