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Texas Gov. Candidate Declares Gay Policies

Hank Gilbert, a Democratic candidate for governor in Texas, will unveil a far-reaching plan tonight to introduce several pieces of gay rights legislation for his state, Advocate.com has learned.


Hank Gilbert X390 (FLICKR) | ADVOCATE.COM

Hank Gilbert, a Democratic candidate for governor in Texas, will unveil a far-reaching plan tonight to introduce several pieces of gay rights legislation for his state, Advocate.com has learned.

Gilbert's campaign will release a 10-point policy proposal, which includes an LGBT antidiscrimination law in housing and employment, an end to discriminatory insurance practices, especially for transgender people, and repeal of the state's "defense of marriage" act.

"I was raised in a home where discrimination had no place," he said Wednesday. "I was raised to treat all people equally. For me, knowing that discrimination exists in Texas and doing nothing about it goes against everything I stand for. It also makes all those who remain silent passive participants in discrimination."

Other proposed policies include starting an anti-bullying campaign for LGBT students. In a policy proposal, Gilbert mentions Eric Mohat, a 17-year-old who was harassed so much in high school that he committed suicide.

Gilbert added that he wants Texas to be at the forefront of LGBT rights because his state "came to sit at the table of equality very late" when it came to civil rights for African-Americans and Latinos.

The announcement is scheduled to come Wednesday evening during a meeting of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus.

Gilbert is currently up against four other candidates -- Kinky Friedman, Farouk Shami, Tom Schieffer, and Felix Alvarado -- in the 2010 primary election in March.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jim
    Date posted: 11/5/2009 3:04:37 PM
    Hometown: San Marcos, TX

    Comment:

    Great! I hope other candidates will also release their position on gay civil rights issues. Texas isn't really as bigoted as all that. Look at how Houston is probably going to elect Annise Parker as mayor. A majority of Texans polled in a Lyceum Poll last year believed that there should either be civil unions or same-sex marriage (mostly civil unions, but that's Hank Gilbert's position anyway), rather than no recognition of same-sex couples at all. Hank Gilbert does have a chance, especially if Rick Perry ends up being nominated by the Republicans, and I plan to vote for him!

  • Name: JR
    Date posted: 11/5/2009 8:59:00 AM
    Hometown: Dallas, TX

    Comment:

    While I find it refreshing to see a candidate who believes in the way he does for equality for all, he's a Democract in favor of GLBTQ rights in a state full of homophobes, boigots, and the fanacital "christians" who oppose anything that even remotley smells of equality for the GLBTQ community. I do wish him lots of luck, but he's got a snowball's chance in hell of being elected.

  • Name: Larry Rape
    Date posted: 11/5/2009 6:21:14 AM
    Hometown: Astoria, NY

    Comment:

    Unless he has changed, Kinky Friedman is for gay rights including marriage, so this man isn't the first!

  • Name: Allen
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 11:37:20 PM
    Hometown: San Antonio

    Comment:

    After having lived in this bigoted state for the past three decades, a democrat does not have a prayer of getting elected to a statewide office. This screwed up state is so red, it drips blood. It is no surprise that Roe vs Wade and the Lawrence decisions came out of Texas. They still adore Bozo and his circus (aka Bush the lesser). Good for him. To the inevitable Texas bigoted response of move to another state, I say, I am a citizen of this country and have the right to live in any of the 50 states I so choose. I choose Texas in the hopes of making your life a living hell.

  • Name: Jon A
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 11:24:55 PM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    It's easy to put out a courageous gay-friendly agenda when there is nothing to lose. He is acknowledging that there is no hope in h*ll that he'll win, but at least he's planting the first seed by bringing up LBGT issues.

  • Name: Jay
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 7:14:32 PM
    Hometown: Santa Monica

    Comment:

    Given what I know about Texas, I doubt that this man has a snowball's chance in hell. But we should all appreciate his forthright stance in favor of equal rights. Good luck to him. He is clearly a better choice than the slime-ball Perry or the constipated Hutchinson.

  • Name: Trey
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 7:09:23 PM
    Hometown: Dallas

    Comment:

    I understand your skepticism in a place like DC, but in TX where so few politicians even acknowledge gay issues (and when they do, they only use them against us), I think it takes huge courage to speak out on our issues. I definitely will plan on supporting him and/or any other candidates who speak out for our causes.

  • Name: Alex Held
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 6:07:33 PM
    Hometown: Wichita, KS

    Comment:

    I wish I lived in Texas just so I could vote for this gentleman. LGBTQ rights in Texas seems a little like a mirage to me, but I hope he can pull it off.

  • Name: Basil
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 5:31:19 PM
    Hometown: Washington DC

    Comment:

    I hate to say this, but I really don't trust any politicians (Democratic or Republican) unless they have a proven track record of working on LGBT civil rights issues. I don't think we should support untested politicians who makes promises that they never intend to keep, in exchange for our community's campaign contributions. Let's be brutally honest -- a genuinely LGBT friendly politician, with a track record, has a 0% percent chance of victory for statewide office in Texas. We are not, contrary to popular belief, infinitely rich. Let's invest those resources instead, into worthwhile organizations within our own community.

  • Name: Tricia
    Date posted: 11/4/2009 5:26:40 PM
    Hometown: San Antonio

    Comment:

    He has my vote so far



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