Solmonese: Election results a blow to federal LGBT agenda

The head of the country's largest LGBT rights organization stressed the results of the mid-term elections could seriously hinder movement on LGBT-specific issues on Capitol Hill over the next two years.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, told EDGE on Thursday, Nov. 4, presumptive new House Speaker John Boehner [R-Ohio] and other GOP leaders will certainly make progress on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and other "landmark legislation" more difficult.

"We had a mid-term election that was a reaction to that sort of change we haven't seen since passage of Social Security," said Solmonese, alluding to health care reform and other controversial legislation the Democrat-controlled Congress has passed over the last two years. "The series of events contributed to the kind of anger voters expressed on Tuesday, setting the Democratic Party back for some time in terms of representation in Congress. Unfortunately, the LGBT community and the issues we had been fighting for in Congress suffered as a result."

He stressed activists should focus more on building support and sponsorship of domestic partner benefits for federal employees and other more "individualized benefits" during the next Congress.

"Moving forward in the new Congress, we're going to have to be much more creative on how to make advances on the legislative front," he said.

The upcoming lame duck session could very well prove the last opportunity to repeal the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemembers until after the 2012 presidential election. President Obama reiterated his support of the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" during a post-election press conference at the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 3. And former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani told CNN's Wolf Blitzer a few hours later the Pentagon should end the policy.

"We're going to do everything we can," said Solmonese. "The president is going to do the same thing. We're going to have to figure out a way to end this policy."

Diamonds in the rough
In spite of congressional setbacks, pro-LGBT candidates around the country won their campaigns.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-Nev.] defeated Tea Party-backed Sharron Angle. United States Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-Calif.], whom Solmonese described as a "hero to the community" and "a tenacious campaigner," beat former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. And Chris Coons defeated Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware Senate race.

Providence [R.I.] Mayor David Cicilline will become the fourth gay or lesbian member of Congress, but the economy-and not LGBT or other traditionally hot bed social issues-was the dominant issue going into Nov. 2.

"What you're hearing is voters demanding a conversation and debate around issues that are singularly important to them," he said. "If you strayed into any other area... you did so at your own peril."

NOM wins big in Iowa
Iowa voters approved a National Organization for Marriage-backed measure that sought to remove state Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and two other state Supreme Court judges who ruled in favor of marriage equality in the Hawkeye State in 2009. NOM has pledged to work with socially conservative Republicans in New Hampshire to repeal the state's marriage law that took effect in January.

Nuptials for gays and lesbians could become a reality in New York, Rhode Island and Maryland in 2011. Solmonese stressed, however, Iowa sent a powerful message. "The fight for our rights and the fight for marriage equality in particular doesn't end when we put a state in the marriage column," he said. "We've got to be vigilant in being engaged-ensuring the resources are there. As we think about a New York or a Maryland and pushing marriage equality there, we've got to be in it for the long haul. Once we get marriage... we've all got to be vigilant in being engaged in those states."

In the end, he hopes LGBT activists around the country will put aside their differences and work together over the next two years.

"There's always a path forward to advancing our issues," said Solmonese. "I hope there's a degree of unity and cohesion charting a path forward. It's critical for people out there in the country who count on us."