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We take a look at where candidates stand on LGBT issues, including marriage, employment non-discrimination and hate crimes. Profiled are candidates running for Georgia Governor, one of Georgia's two U.S. Senate seats and candidates for Lieutenant Governor.
GA. GOVERNOR
DEMOCRAT
Roy E. Barnes
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Marietta, GA
Website: www.roy2010.com
• Became first sitting Georgia governor to address a gay rights group when he was keynote speaker for an Atlanta Executive Network meeting.
• Appointed openly gay citizens to state boards and signed Georgia’s first hate crimes law.
• Met with gay donors at an LGBT Democratic Party fundraiser on Oct. 25, 2010
• Would support a new hate crimes law for Georgia
• Pledges non-discrimination on sexual orientation in his hiring
• Says he would have supported 2004 state amendment to ban gay marriage
REPUBLICAN
Nathan Deal
Occupation: Former Congressman
Residence: Gainesville, GA
Website: www.dealforgovernor.com
• As a member of the U.S. House, consistently received scores of zero on HRC’s Congressional report card for LGBT issues and voted for a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
• In current campaign, ran anti-gay ads during GOP primary that included an attack on YouthPride, which provides support to LGBT young people.
LIBERTARIAN
John H. Monds
Occupation: Home Maker
Residence: Cairo, GA
Website: www.votemonds.com
• Includes support for “protecting an individual’s right to marry” on his website, noting that “As governor, I will not let my religious conviction (or that of others), get in the way of advocating civil rights for all Georgians, homosexual and heterosexual alike.”
• Participated in the Atlanta Pride parade
• Platform of Libertarian Party of Georgia includes advocating for repeal of all laws regarding sex between consenting adults; opposes all laws that “attempt to classify people” on the basis of categories including sexual orientation, meaning they oppose hate crimes and employment non-discrimination laws; opposes government attempts to regulate private discrimination; and notes that “we hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex or sexual preference.” According to the platform, “we call for repeal of all legislation and state policies intended to condemn, affirm, encourage or discourage sexual lifestyles or any set of attitudes about such lifestyles.”
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
DEMOCRAT
Carol Porter
Occupation: Gen. manager, Courier Herald Publishing
Residence: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.carolporter4ga.com
• Met with gay donors at an LGBT Democratic Party fundraiser on Oct. 25.
• Says she will have an “open door” to discuss hate crimes laws and employment discrimination
REPUBLICAN
L.S. Casey Cagle
Occupation: Lt. governor and businessman
Residence: Gainesville, GA
Website: www.caseycagle.com
• In 2006 interview, reiterated opposition to gay marriage and said he would oppose any legislation to give “civil union” type rights to gay couples.
LIBERTARIAN
Dan Barber
Occupation: Self Employed
Residence: Buford, GA
Website: www.votedanbarber.com
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
U.S. SENATE
DEMOCRAT
Michael “Mike” Thurmond
Occupation: Commissioner of Labor
Residence: Decatur, GA
Website: www.mikethurmondforussenate.com
• Supports Employment Non-Discrimination Act, civil unions and repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
• Opposes amending U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage
• Met with gay donors at an LGBT Democratic Party fundraiser on Oct. 25.
REPUBLICAN
Johnny Isakson
Occupation: United States senator
Residence: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.johnnyisakson.com
• Voted against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and against adding sexual orientation to federal hate crimes law
• Received a score of 20 out of 100 on the most recent HRC scorecard on LGBT and HIV issues.
LIBERTARIAN
Chuck Donovan
Occupation: Aviator
Website: www.donovanforsenate.com
• Opposes “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
SECRETARY OF STATE
DEMOCRAT
Georganna Sinkfield
Occupation: Real Estate Sales
Residence: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.sinkfield2010.com
• Endorsed by the Atlanta Stonewall Democrats
• As a member of the Georgia House, voted against the state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and against a bill to prevent cities from requiring private businesses to offer domestic partner benefits to be eligible for city contracts.
REPUBLICAN
Brian Kemp
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Residence: Athens, GA
Website: www.KempMeansBusiness.com
• As a member of Georgia Senate, voted for state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
LIBERTARIAN
David Chastain
Occupation: Logistics Management analyst
Residence: Marietta, GA
Website: www.Chastain2010.com
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
DEMOCRAT
Ken Hodges
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.kenhodges.com
• Did not apply for the Atlanta Stonewall Democrats endorsement in the primary, and did not respond to a GA Voice candidate survey.
REPUBLICAN
Sam Olens
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Marietta, GA
Website: www.olensforag.com
• Did not respond to the GA Voice candidate survey.
• Generally perceived as having brought a more moderate, business-focused tone to Cobb County when he became head of the Cobb County Commission, which had previously made international headlines with a 1993 resolution calling homosexuality “incompatible with community standards.”
LIBERTARIAN
Don Smart
Occupation: Attorney
Residence: Savannah, GA
Website: www.smartforattorneygeneral.com
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
DEMOCRAT
Mary Squires
Occupation: Consultant
Residence: Atlanta
Website: www.marysquires.com
• As a member of the Georgia Senate, spoke out and voted against the 2004 state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage
• Endorsements include openly gay State Rep. Karla Drenner
REPUBLICAN
Ralph T. Hudgens
Occupation: Investor
Residence: Hull, GA
Website: www.ralphhudgens.com
• Website touts that he “100 percent pro-life and a champion of various pro-family causes.”
LIBERTARIAN
Shane Bruce
Occupation: Installer
Residence: Atlanta, GA
• Attended Atlanta Pride Parade with the Libertarian Party
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
DEMOCRAT
Joe Martin
Occupation: Education and Business
Residence: Atlanta, GA
Website: www.joemartin.org
• Asked in Georgia Voice survey about a possible statewide non-discrimination law covering private businesses, states, “Sexual orientation and gender identity should not be a factor in the hiring and promotion of all employees, but I do not favor a state law in this regard beyond the federal laws on non-discrimination.”
• Supports civil unions, but notes: “All of the legal rights that are available to straight couples should be available to gay couples, who have entered into a legally binding civil union, but the most constructive direction at this time would be to seek to improve mutual understanding among all citizens instead of pressing for legal changes to re-define the definition of marriage.”
REPUBLICAN
John Barge
Occupation: Education Administrator
Residence: Rome, GA
Website: www.electjohnbarge.com
• Did not respond to a GA Voice candidate survey.
LIBERTARIAN
Kira Griffiths Willis
Occupation: Teacher
Residence: Roswell, GA
Website: www.willisforstatesuper.com
• See note about Libertarian Party platform listed under Governor / John Monds.
FULTON CO. COMMISSION CHAIR
DEMOCRAT
John Eaves
Occupation: County Commission chair
• Endorsed by Georgia Equality and Atlanta Stonewall Democrats
• Supports marriage rights for gay couples
REPUBLICAN
Steve Broadbent
Occupation: Retired Navy Commander and businessman
• Endorsed by Log Cabin Republicans
• Told GA Voice he will not change Fulton County’s domestic partner benefits, but did not give a direct answer when asked where he stands on gay marriage. “The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has nothing to do with marriage rights for gay couples in the State of Georgia. Voicing an opinion on this issue only diverts attention away from the critical issues facing Fulton County,” he said. 
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