More Than Just One Issue: By Mark R. Kerr

On Monday, August 18, the Obama for President campaign held a telephone conference call to highlight the differences between Senator Obama and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain on the issue of hate crimes.

According to Matt Nosanchuk, Convener, Obama for America National LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Steering and Policy Committee, there is a stark contrast between McCain and Obama. Senator Obama has been supportive of expanding current federal hate crimes statutes to include sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, perceived or otherwise.

Nosanchuk went on to point out Obama's consistent support for federal hate crimes legislation and his work in the Illinois senate joining Jewish lawmakers to pass legislation with criminal enhancements for hate groups. McCain has never cast an affirmative vote for such a measure in Congress, missing a vote (one of many) on such a bill in 2007.

One issue does not a campaign make and for LGBT voters, there more than just one where Barack Obama and John McCain differ which makes the choice of whom to vote for quite easy.

Obama has expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage but has expressed his support for civil unions with the full federal rights and benefits, totalling 1,138, which he has stated can be done through the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits federal recognition of Gay and Lesbian couples.

According to Obama, Gays and Lesbians would have the same rights, in regard to adoption, as heterosexuals do.

Legislation to allow bi-national Gay and Lesbian couples to be together in the United States was introduced, known as the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). Obama has expressed reservations over the potential of fraud about UAFA but is supportive of allowing loving, committed, same-sex binational couples the same immigration rights as opposite sex couples have.

Obama co-sponsored legislation, known as the Early Treatment for HIV/AIDS Act (ETHA) to provide Medicare coverage to low income, HIV positive Americans and has expressed support for increased funding for HIV/AIDS research and programs.

Gays and Lesbians would be able to serve openly in the military if Obama had his way, since he has expressed opposition to the federal law, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which prohibits openly Gay and Lesbian Americans from serving openly in the armed services.

Protecting the rights of worker from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, known as the Employment Non Discrimination Act, is something Obama supports.

On the other hand, when Iowa was in the headlines when Judge Robert B. Hanson (August 30, 2007) ruled that the state's Defense of Marriage Act violates the Iowa state constitution, "Straight Talk" McCain, said the ruling was "a loss for the traditional family," adding that "I have always supported the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman," he said. "The ruling of the court only reinforces my belief that we must have a president who is committed to appointing strict constructionists to the bench." Senator McCain is a two-time tripper down the aisle, marrying Carol Shepp, his first wife, in 1965. He adopted her two children from a previous marriage, and they have a daughter, born in 1966. According to an article from the Washington Monthly (June 2006), McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof, "aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich." McCain divorced his wife, who had raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam, then launched his political career with his new wife's family money.

McCain opposes governmental and legal recognition of same-sex marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships, when he expressed his unconditional support for Arizona's Proposition 107 in 2006.

McCain opposes the lifting of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the federal law prohibiting open Lesbians and Gays from serving in the military.

On the proposed, federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Senator McCain opposes the measure.

When it comes to expanding current federal statutes on hate crimes to cover sexual orientation and gender identity, McCain is not in favor of this premise, through legislation entitled "the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act."

Arizona's Senator has expressed his opposition to the proposed federal legislation (ETHA) that if passed and signed into law, would will help eliminate barriers to early drug therapy and comprehensive care for people living with HIV by giving states the option to allow HIV positive people with low incomes to qualify for Medicaid coverage earlier in the course of their infection.

It is not a “stark contrast,” for the presidential election for LGBT voters, the choice is clear, Barack Obama of Illinois, the soon to be Democratic nominee is the one who was earned our support with his support of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities through his work as an elected official.