- Rob Schlein and Debra Medina last August
Before she became a household name, Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina spoke at a meeting of Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas last August. Medina is the only one of the three GOP candidates to visit the gay Republican group.
Medina didn’t talk much about LGBT issues, answering only one question related to anti-gay language in the Texas Republican Party platform. But LCR President Rob Schlein told me this week he thinks Medina would be good on gay rights given her Libertarian leanings. Schlein also said he likes Medina’s proposal to get rid of property taxes in Texas. Once firmly behind Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, he now says he’s undecided between Hutchison and Medina. The Dallas chapter of Log Cabin won’t be making an official endorsement in the race.
“I think Debra’s got a fair amount of support within the club, but I haven’t taken an official poll,” Schlein told me this week. “I’m still on the fence between those two. … She [Medina] doesn’t want government sticking her nose into business where it doesn’t belong, and I think that would apply to LGBT issues.”
Medina’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for an interview about LGBT issues this week, but after talking with Schlein, I came across some video of Medina’s appearance in August. Here’s a transcript of the lone gay-related question and her response, which you can find at about the 5:50 mark of the clip below.
Question from audience member: “The Texas Republican Party platform has contained some very offensive language to gays and lesbians, for example equating us to child molesters and rapists. saying that we are against God and our founding fathers, very nonsensical language, how do you feel about that?”
Medina: “I think that one of the things I’ve had to do as a Southern Baptist, right-wing Christian conservative is try to remove myself a little bit from that place, and back up to the proper role of government. It is easy for all of us to find that emotion and to react emotionally to things and I think the challenge to our leadership is to look at the challenges that face us, and try to ask some questions about where do we need to be, what’s the role of government and family and community. Rob [Schlein] and I had a little bit of a conversation about that yesterday, and I haven’t been involved in that particular debate. I understand what he was saying, and I look forward to looking into that further, and I think using the party not as a moral club but as a place to talk about public policy and the proper role of government. I’m a Bible-believing Christian. I’m not going to waver on my view of homosexuality. That’s where I am, and I’d be less than honest to tell you anything different than that. But I also don’t believe it’s the government’s job to get in there and do anything about that. And if it’s not the government’s job, then the party probably needs to stay away from it as well.”
If she were a real Libertarian, she would support gay marriage. Ya know, the kind of thing where gov’t should stay out of people’s business. She does not, as stated by her campaign when I inquired:
“While Debra has not specifically addressed gay marriage on the website, she has spoken about her strong Christian faith – personally she supports marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Further, she speaks frequently about the proper role of government being that of justly enforcing our laws. In Texas, voters overwhelmingly supported the Texas Marriage Amendment, defining marriage as the “union of one man and one woman” in November 2005.”
about the texas republican platform- make sure that yall go to your precinct convention and bring a “plank” which says exactly what you want it to say to take the place of the plank you speak of above. that plank must be entered into the records at the precinct convention and then it moves forward to your county platform committee. have someone who agrees with this plank in that county platform committee. the plank is then in your county’s republican platform and now is able to be moved forward to the texas state platform committee- make sure you have some guys in that committee on your side for it to be changed. know the mechanics- get involved in your county republican party!! figure it out!! see you at the state republican convention in dallas!!
and ps- medina will do all she can do for individuals rights
but it takes us also working at the county levels changing that TXGOP leadership at the top also.
next we need to have a candidate who is viable against cornyn….. yank out all globalist i say and fill those seats with liberty loving folk!
We could all be homeless and eating out of dumpsters and some Einstein will look up from the dumpster meal and ask questions about abortion and gay marriage. Hot buttons are for politicians with nothing in their bag and a resume to match. We need to eliminate property taxes and get the govt back where it belongs, which is basically out of our lives. Let Degra Take care of the things that need fixing now. We’ll discuss abortion and gay marriage after we’ve avoided becoming a third world communist cess pool.
John, homosexuals can get married. They just can’t get married under the states’ contract. Which I would not recommend to anyone! Everyone can make legal contracts between themselves on just about everything, it’s just when you want benefits from the state (i.e. tax refunds, etc…) that you need to sacrifice the religious act of ‘marriage’ and turn it into a 3-way contract from hell. I do agree, government should stay out of peoples business!!!!
RightToTravel, you’re a moron
Debra is BY FAR the most gay friendly candidate on the Republican side of the race. Does everyone know that ANYONE can vote in the TX Republican primary – even if you intend to vote for a Dem in the general election??? Please spread the word within our community to support Debra. We can’t stand for Rick Perry, who campaign on the Texas marriage amendment, to win the primary. Dems, please go out and vote for Debra in the primary!!
Medina is our only chance for reform of any kind. She will be the best Governor for all of us, gay, straight, or confused.