Marriage Equality: March 2008 Archives

The media has recently focused more attention on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Florida, which are playing an increasingly important role in the state’s contradictory political climate. Florida has one of the most vibrant LGBT communities in the country, while also continuing to have some of the most restrictive laws; Florida is one of a few states that still explicitly bans adoption by gay and lesbian couples.

An article published in Sunday’s Miami Herald talks about growing LGBT political clout in Florida and its importance in a presidential election year. The piece highlights the campaign responding to Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle’s anti-gay remarks, the increasing number of openly gay candidates currently vying for office, and recent legislative victories for the LGBT community – including protections for transgender residents of Gainesville. Also drawing a lot of attention is Florida’s upcoming ballot initiative on marriage, which could take away domestic partner benefits for any unmarried couple, straight or gay.

It is heartening to see that the media is focusing on more openly gay people running for office in a fair, accurate and inclusive way by depicting them in terms of their commitment to a broad range of policy issues. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently featured an article on Bryan Caletka, who is running for Broward County Commissioner. The piece quotes Caletka as saying it wasn’t just his work around LGBT issues that motivated him to run for office, but also his desire to lower crime in his district.

Caletka’s story is just one example of the many ways that media outlets in Florida are talking about the role of LGBT people and politicians during this significant election year.  The complexity of Florida’s political climate, in addition to its position as a swing state in the presidential election, creates an opportunity for media to analyze the unique role of the LGBT community in both statewide and national politics throughout the country.

 Paul Karr is the Director of Media Field Strategy

Several high profile South Florida newspapers have already come out against the state’s upcoming ballot initiative defining marriage as "the legal union of only one man and one woman." In a Florida Today editorial published on February 6, the paper says: "…the gay-marriage ban attempts to slip bigotry into the state constitution under the guise of Christian values. But its intent is to harm and punish, solely on the basis of whom an individual chooses to love or live with." A Palm Beach Post editorial stated the amendment "could make things tougher for Florida companies trying to recruit employees." South Florida Sun-Sentinel columnist Michael May wrote last month that the amendment is “pretty needless, when you consider gay marriage is already illegal in Florida."  

It appears that media might be taking a more critical look at the intent of amendments like the one in Florida. The repercussions of ballot initiatives around so-called political "wedge issues" – like marriage for gay and lesbian couples – merit rigorous examination by media, especially since this particular amendment would affect businesses, seniors with domestic partner benefits and, of course, committed gay and lesbian couples throughout the state. In contrast to earlier elections, many high profile politicians are not coming out in favor of this initiative. Florida’s popular Republican Governor Charlie Crist has tried to distance himself from the initiative by saying it is unnecessary.  The media response by journalists and politicians highlight how these issues transcend the simplistic red vs. blue divide the media all too often relies on in its coverage of LBGT issues.

On Feb. 29, former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appeared on The Tyra Banks Show to discuss his run for the White House. During the interview, Banks laudably asked Huckabee several questions on his views about equality for LGBT people. Banks asked Huckabee, "What if [gay voters] say, I want to vote for you Governor Huckabee, but I'm a gay man and I want to marry my man. What do you say to that?"
 
Banks went on to press Huckabee about whether or not he was comfortable with marriage for gay and lesbian couples, and instead answered that he was opposed to marriage equality. Banks then explained, "I'm asking you so many questions about this because I love the gays and the gays love me. And I know I cannot walk down the street here in New York City if I didn't press that issue and truly ask you that."
 
Huckabee is not the first candidate to appear on Banks’ show. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John Edwards have all appeared on the show during the campaign season.
 
There is no question that pop culture has a huge influence on politics, now more than ever before. During this election cycle, candidates have taken bigger steps to reach out to potential voters by appearing on daytime or late night talk shows, or by writing articles and giving interviews to celebrity magazines.  In these venues, the candidates often tailor their stances in a way that is more relatable and authentic for the audience, and LGBT issues are no exception. Instead of discussing specific policy goals, they talk about their broad approach to the issues that resonate most strongly with the audiences that they are speaking to.
 
As election coverage continues, we will be encouraging viewers to look at the different ways political candidates answer questions about LGBT issues, whether they’re doing an interview on a 24-hour news channel or in a celebrity magazine.

Though Huckabee is no longer in the race, his appearance on The Tyra Banks Show gave voters another opportunity to gain insight into his stance on LGBT issues – and ongoing election coverage in all types of media outlets will hopefully continue to do the same.

Cindi Creager is the Director of National News