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| Jared Polis |
Polis was one of several LGBT candidates who ran for governor this cycle, along with Brown in Oregon, Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist and Texas Democrat Lupe Valdez. Voters across the country sent a record number of LGBT candidates to Congress. This comes 40 years after the assassination of the first openly gay elected official in California, Harvey Milk.
Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. In 1978, under his urging, the city council passed a gay rights ordinance that protected gay people from being fired from their jobs.
On Nov. 27, 1978, Supervisor Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, a former police officer and former city supervisor who had clashed with Milk over LGBTQ issues. After shooting the mayor, White entered Milk's office and shot him five times at his desk.
Many thought the murder meant the end of the gay rights movement. That night there was a candle-lit march from the Castro District up Market Street.
Question:
What does electing more LGBTQ politicians into offices say about voters?
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/27/670657965/40-years-after-the-assassination-of-harvey-milk-lgbt-candidates-find-success
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/06/politics/jared-polis-colorado-gay-governor/index.html
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ReplyDeleteI think this can bring in more diverse and different opinions in the Congress because now we have the minorities stepping up to claim your power and voice over the country's matter. I also think this is very empowering how these candidate can claim your sexuality, it maybe a tactic but these people will influence how the laws will be review and publish so I' excited to see what gonna hapen
ReplyDeleteBy having more LGBTQ+ politicians in office it shows the possibility one can have and shows that voters are starting to be more progressive and accepting of the many kinds of people there are. It's good to have this kind of representation as well from underrepresented groups.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that LGBTQ candidates are finding more success in mainstream American public affairs, but I think we have to be careful not to equate "progress" with "acceptance." Especially with our current administration, LGBTQ people (especially trans people) still face an enormous amount of persecution in many areas of the country. However, it's good to see that the Trump administration's anti-queer rhetoric has not prevented queer people from finding success in American politics.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a good thing that we are electing more LGBTQ people. By doing so, we are able to have more representation in our government.
ReplyDeleteThe election of Polis shows drastic improvements in the variety of voters. Only 40 years ago was a man killed over what he was fighting for and now we have multiple elected LGBTQ officials. It is a strong push toward human rights.
ReplyDeleteI think that voters, or people in America in general, are becoming more and more accepting of the LGBTQ community. This is a really big step and improvement from the negative treatments they've received in the past. The LGBTQ is gradually getting more and more representation, and will serve towards a better represented government.
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ReplyDeleteI don't see anything wrong with gay government leaders. Politics should have nothing to deal with one's private interests.
The rise in elections of LGBTQ politicians may say a number of things. Possibly that more people support LGBTQ representation or that some voters have just decided that sexual orientation shouldn't or doesn't matter in the political scene. Whatever the case may be, it is proving successful for the LGBTQ community.
ReplyDeleteI believe this indicates a more accepting and approachable view of LGBTQ politicians, especially after the SCOTUS ruled that states must accept same-sex marriage in 2015. In the wake of the 2016 Presidential elections, politics has started to involve more than those exclusively interested in it and I would think the pushback from the rhetoric of the Trump Administration contributed to the greater numbers of diversity within this midterm election. Overall this signifies a strong resilience and belief within voters to view LGBTQ politicians as equals.
ReplyDeleteSteven Gong
It says something about the voters being more open to change. I feel like since the assassination of Harvey Milk, people have gradually been more open about their sexuality. I also believe that when they see others supporting The LGBTQ community, they aren't so afraid to stand up. One of the many reasons why people may be afraid to stand up or stand out is because they fear being alone.
ReplyDeleteWe are seeing more LGBTQ politicians being elected because most voters have are or have become accepting towards the sexuality of other individuals. I think this is good since we aren't being quick to judge someone's abilities.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad we finally live in a time where people can be open about their sexuality and elected into offices. Having a member of the LGBTQ community as the peer of conservative, possibly homophobic representatives allows for discussions of LGBTQ rights on a more level ground, where people against LGBTQ rights will have to directly argue against them to an actual member of the community. I hope this also means that the recently renewed definition of gender will be switched back to it's less narrow version.
ReplyDelete-Elise
DeleteI agree with those above about how it's good that more diversity is coming into the government. This year alone we saw an increase of women in political positions and now we have officials like Polis being openly gay and representing the LGBT community. Politics is really changing and it's interesting how these groups and their voters are making it change.
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