LORIE BURCH | Chairwoman, North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce
As chairwoman of the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce, I am disappointed with Mayor Tom Leppert’s recent statements denouncing the Obama Administration’s statement that it will no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the federal government and certain states from honoring same-sex marriages in other states and jurisdictions.
Mr. Leppert has purported to be an advocate of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community through his tenure as Dallas mayor. He’s been an honored guest at many of our community’s most prestigious events like the North Texas Chamber’s Anniversary Dinner and the Black Tie Dinner. He has been part of the International GLBT Press Tour, and helped to sell Dallas as a preferred destination for important GLBT conferences.
In light of his recent resignation as mayor, presumably to pursue Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s Senate seat, such a reversal is politicking at its worst and is a slap in the face to the North Texas GLBT community who have shown him its support.
It is time to expect more from our leaders. No longer should we tolerate this “back of the bus” argument that the GLBT community can have some rights, but not all rights. You cannot qualify equality and we deserve leaders who will stand up for us and be our voice and not cow-tow to their political base. Equality is not a political platform; it is the foundation of our country. Civil rights are not a matter of public opinion; they are a guarantee to us under our Constitution. It is, simply, our way of life.
Marriage equality is fundamental to the social and economic viability of North Texas and the nation. There are currently approximately 1,200 rights just at the federal level that same-sex couples do not enjoy because of DOMA. By supporting DOMA, Mr. Leppert, you are telling our community that our relationships, that our families, are not as legitimate or as deserving of protection and equal treatment as your own. You are telling the children of same-sex parents that their families are inferior to yours.
Without marriage equality, same-sex partners are not entitled to Social Security or inheritance, a partner cannot be covered on his or her partner’s employment benefits unless their company allows for domestic partnership and even at that, those benefits are taxed whereas benefits covering a spouse are not. These couples can’t cover families on health plans without paying taxes on coverage, not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. Children are denied medical coverage because their parents do not have the freedom to choose the best insurance benefits. Many companies do not cover domestic partners or their children. Same-sex partners are not covered by laws and policies permitting people to take medical leave to care for sick spouse or kids. These couples are excluded from special rules permitting married couples to buy and own property together. Same-sex partners are denied withdrawal rights and protective tax treatment give to spouses with regard to IRAs and retirement plans. They cannot file joint tax returns and are excluded from tax benefits and claims specific to marriage. Additionally, they are denied right to transfer property to each other and pool family resources without tax consequences.
Lack of marriage equality prevents economic growth as corporations choose not to do business or locate headquarters in our area because they cannot provide employees with same rights and benefits as other states.
In his resignation speech the mayor said, “When I ran for mayor, I promised I would be the mayor for everyone, the mayor for all of Dallas, not just those that shared my opinions and views.” In one of his final acts in office he’s proved this not to be true. I encourage anyone in our community or who is an ally of our community to think long and hard about giving their support to another leader who has failed to live up to the promises he made to his constituents.
At the same time, I’d like to applaud the Obama administration’s declaration that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and will no longer dedicate federal resources to upholding the discriminatory law.
Right now, we need to decide what side of history we want to be on. If you could transport yourself back to the ’50s and ’60s in the time of racial integration, or back to 1920 when women won the right to vote, or any other major social justice victory … what side would you be on? I would dare say that the great majority of us would be on the side of justice, equality, and civil rights. It is very easy for us all to come down on that side. Yet, at that time, the “truth,” what was moral, what fell in line with tradition and religion was just as uncertain as it is now in the fight for gay equal rights. That is the benefit of hindsight. All of us have the choice to be on the right side of history.
Mr. Leppert, we will achieve fair treatment, we will achieve equal opportunity in employment, we will achieve safer schools, and, yes, we will achieve marriage equality, with or without your support. We can no longer be silent. I call on everyone in our community and those who support us to speak out about what we know in our hearts and minds is right. We know where we are going, and I am disappointed, Mr. Leppert, that you are on the wrong side of history.
I just wrote Mr. Leppert a strongly worded comment on his Facebook page. I had friended him several years ago when he was showing signs of working with the LGBT community. I noted that I have 236 Facebook friends who are also friends with the soon to be ex-mayor (most of whom are gay). I suggest that all LGBT folks and our allies immediately leave a terse comment on his Facebook page and also unfriend him.
Politicians are constantly slapping people in the face, why should Leppert be any different? This action applies to both political parties, not just one or the other.
@ John…..Oh yeah, losing a few Facebook friends ought to teach him a lesson huh?
Are you Surprised, you are absolutely correct. Politicians in both parties are bought by the highest bidder. Our country is in for very bad times until lobbyist and corporate money is kept out of elections. Lobbyists play an important role in educating elected officials. It is their financial clout the dooms the system. Trust me there are plenty of Democrats I tangle with.
HUH, by no means is unfriending Leppert the only thing we should do but it is an easy step and one that can be publicized. One thing HUH?, how about using your real name instead of hiding behind HUH? and taking pot shots at others. I respect diversity in opinion but I don’t respect closets! You lose all credibility in my book. Sorry!
Nothing surprises me anymore. It’s politics. I mean really. Let’s look at all the things politicians say to get support, and what is the real percentage that it happens? Don’t get me wrong, I like Obama, but didn’t he say that the first… thing he was going to do was bring the troops home and that just started. Maybe this is a way for the Dallas LGBT community to learn from these types of things. If someone wants our support, maybe they should show a little of what they will do for us before we just stand behind them. It’s about learning from our mistakes.
Ever since I moved here, the one thing I know for sure is life isn’t fair. We want to be ONE community, yet we all treat each other like crap. If your not “pretty, rich, muscular, or popular”, then you don’t fit in around here. I’d stand behind the community alot more if we learned to accept each other. Heck it might even make us a stronger community. And I know i will get slack for this, but I also know that I am not the only person that feels this way. If WE WANT CHANGE, WE HAVE TO BE CHANGE!!!!
This typo is interesting: “It is time to expect more from out leaders.”
Like, I wonder what Mr. Leppert will think when he learns that he’s OUT.
Donn, in the rush to print that one slipped through! It is corrected in the final version. Perhaps a Freudian slip – we should expect more from out leaders too!
Thanks Donn, it’s fixed.
The Dallas Voice (and I’m sure lots of others) have photographic and video footage of Leppert in our parades. There’s some good ammo for when he runs. No? 🙂
His comments really broke my heart. Although, I guess this is proof you should never trust a politician…even if he does smile at you, he’s twisting the knife as soon as you turn around! I hope his senate run is a BUST!
I’m not surprised. Leppert has been planning for this run for a long time. First by joining the richest bigoted anti-gay First Baptist Church of Dallas. This way he can fund his campaign with gay hating big bucks so he can move into Washington and continue the anti-gay bigoted duties of Kay Bailey. He was only on the side of LGBT when it involved bringing money in to the city. Let’s face it, he cares so much about Dallas that he’s running from his duties that he was elected to perform just like Sarah Palin. I wonder if he can see Mexico from his front porch. Bye b ye Leppert and here’s to hoping he loses his Senate run too.
Leppert was a slap in the face, period.
“If your not “pretty, rich, muscular, or popular”, then you don’t fit in around here. I’d stand behind the community alot more if we learned to accept each other.”
I respectfully suggest you move beyond the group of people you’ve surrounded yourself and discover the rest of us around here. The community is much larger than the group you are complaining about.
I know I’m dating myself, but all this reminds me of the bumper stickers that donned the chrome car bumpers during my childhood after the Watergate scandal broke: “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted For McGovern”. Well don’t blame me, I voted for Oakley.
Do you really expect anything less from a man who has such an uneasy relationship with the truth? He lied about the Trinity River flooding problem, he lied to get voters to approve the Convention Center Hotel, and he lied to gullible gays and lesbians, many of whom are like the author of this viewpoint, Ms. Burch, who are perfectly willing to be used by a politician and will overlook his faults but then act shocked when the politician turns on them. I think it’s telling that Leppert is jettisoning his chief of staff the openly gay socialite Chris Heinbaugh (who is probably kicking himself for leaving WFAA). As my daddy always said, if you lay down with pigs you’re going to be wallowing in shit.
I won’t pretend to be gay or anti-christian, and I’m not a Leppert fan because he’s dishonest. As a Straight Christian Male I do think that gay couples should be given federal rights along with straight couples. Call it “civil union” call it “marriage,” or call it “togetherness” it really doesn’t matter. You could call my wife and I the “bigoted couple down the street union” it doesn’t matter, as long as we’re treated fairly in regard to finances. I think you should be able to leave your inheritance to whomever you want.
I do think that Obama was wrong in declaring this unconstitutional. While this is a win for gay rights, it sets a precedent that is one slippery slope. If I’m not mistaken the Judicial branch determines whether or not law is constitutional.
If we give that right to the president we effectively destroyed the “check and balance” system.
What happens when the supreme court rules in favor of something the whole country believes in, and then a future president declares it unconstitutional. That puts a lot of power in one man’s hands. And as we are discussing with the ex mayor, you really don’t know what one individual might do.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like Obama, but didn’t he say that the first… thing he was going to do was bring the troops home and that just started”
Sigh. A lot of folks project on candidates the positions they wish the candidates would take, which often aren’t the actual positions of said candidates. This is an example of that. Obama never said he would pull out the troops as his first act as President. He also never promised to end the war in Afghanistan, another common complaint leveled at the President.