GOVERNOR DEAN’S COMMENTS REFLECT SERIOUS LACK OF LEADERSHIP

The Human Rights Campaign released the following article yesterday:

‘Governor Dean’s comments weren’t a mere slip of the tongue but a glaring reminder of the governor’s lack of leadership on this issue,’ said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON — Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese made the following statement regarding Gov. Howard Dean’s recent comments on the Christian Broadcasting Network.

“Governor Dean’s comments weren’t a mere slip of the tongue but a glaring reminder of the governor’s lack of leadership on this issue,” said Solmonese. “As we face a Senate vote in June that threatens to put discrimination in our Constitution, Governor Dean should not only have known better but he should have used the opportunity to speak out about the lack of values involved in the current constitutional debate.”

Solmonese continued, “While Governor Dean’s clarification of the Democratic platform’s inclusive message is a step in the right direction, it’s imperative that the Democratic National Committee and Governor Dean himself continue on that path in a clear and unequivocal way. We join fellow gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender leaders in concern over a troubling series of missteps that fail to convey Governor Dean’s and the DNC’s commitment to equality.”

On a May 10 Christian Broadcasting Network piece, Dean described the 2004 Democratic Party platform by saying, “[The platform says] marriage is between a man and a woman. That's what it says.” In fact, the 2004 platform reads:

“We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibility, benefits and protections for these families. In our country marriage has been defined at the state level for 200 years and we believe it should continue to be defined there. We repudiate President Bush's divisive effort to politicize the Constitution by pursuing a ‘Federal Marriage Amendment.’”

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.