Roland Burris Pro-Gay Record, Promises Support to "My Black Gay and Lesbian Brothers and Sisters"

On the same day an Illinois legislative panel drafts recommendations that the state's House of Representatives vote on whether to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, it appears extremely likely  the governor's choice to fill President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat will be seated.

The messy situation for the Democrats could be a win-win for the gay and lesbian community. Burris, the first black elected to statewide office in Chicago, has been a strong proponent of LGBT rights. The Windy City Times profiles the would-be senator's equality record:

Rick Garcia, political director of LGBT-rights group Equality Illinois, praised Burris, saying that Burris has been supportive of gay rights throughout his political career and even sought out LGBT support for his possible nomination to the Senate seat as early as Nov. 4, the night of Obama's election. According to Garcia, Burris approached him during the Grant Park celebrations, asking for the community's support.

Garcia described Blagojevich's appointment as “bittersweet,” going on to say that while “Roland Burris is highly competent and has an excellent record on lesbian and gay issues, anyone that this governor would appoint is tainted. Gov. Blagojevich could have appointed Mother Teresa and she would have been tainted.”

Garcia pointed out Burris's record on LGBT issues: “Burris has had a long relationship with the Illinois LGBT community. Even way back, when he was first appointed attorney general, he had openly gay staff, including Lisa Cohen, and his lobbying team lobbied the [bill designed to included sexual orientation in the statewide human-rights ordinance].

WCT publishes a 10-year-old interview with Burris from his failed gubernatorial attempt in 1998. Burris comes across as extremely strong on anti-gay violence and hate crimes, fully supportive of a bill outlawing discrimination against gays and lesbians, and, very good on HIV funding and privacy issues.

Amazingly, in the subsection on same-sex marriage, Burris goes into detail on why he doesn't/didn't support marriage equality, discusses racism in the LGBT community and talks about his support for black gays and lesbians. "To my Black gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, they're dealing with my inner beliefs." he tells the paper. "And my belief is that I will protect every right that you have and I will go to death with you. But I don't think that we can take it to that level of marriage."

Ten years ago he wasn't there yet. But that was a helluva statement to recognize the black LGBT community which is often ignored in high-profile political elections.

Gays Tackle Burris Pick [WCT]
Draft Report Recs Blago Impeachment Vote [ABC]

Comments

[libhomo]

I think Bloggie's revenge was to pick an excellent Senator and to watch the Democrats rip that choice to shreds, making the party he feels abandoned him look like crap.

[alicia banks]

u rock rod!

very cool of rb

now let's hope he will tell bo to axe/apologize for his new pal warren

peace
ab

[Daniel]

This is a great story thanks for the heads up. If Roland Burris is confirmed I am looking forward to him.

Oh and Alicia Banks I am a great fan of your writing! You rock and so does Rod!

[ToddyEnglish]

This is so fabulous.
It is great that he acknowledged the seemingly invisible black LGBT community.

[kevjack]

I think the IL Gov decided to put people between a rock and a hard place. I really want to support this guy, and hopefully everything will work out and he (or someone who is close to him in terms of politics) takes that seat. As of now, I think this is still poison, not impossible, but it makes Senate Dems look like fools to one time say "We won't seat him" and for Obama to say "Don't complain because they told you they will not seat you." to now saying "Well, we will probably seat you" because Obama says "We should probably seat him"

It looks like, sounds like, and feels like a flip-flop. At first, anything coming from the Gov was viewed as fruit of a poisonous tree. Now that he made a decent pick, all is forgiven (and, hey, it's not technicaly illegal). That is not principled, but it is politically expedient-- we had 16 years of this and I would hope we could do better. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come.

[devereaux]

Has anyone noticed how quiet the Republicans are?

The Democrats have effed this up bigtime. Blago is obviously tainted and they took a principled decision. If Burris joins the senate ... and he seems like a principled man ... it opens the Dems to massive fingerpointing by the Republicans.

But I agree, I am so heartened to hear and see this from Burris about black LGBTs.

Oh and Rod ... I am new here from Montreal Canada. I adore this blog.

[Viktor]

It's almost bittersweet, still Burris should wait until the drama is over

[alicai banks]

daniel:

thanks!

you are my inspiration...

peace
ab

[the Gay Numbers]

Well- there seems now be a political way out of this. good for Burris and good for us.

[Kevin]

I just hope Burris didn't ruin his chances of being seated as a result of testimony yesterday that seemed to contradict previous claims that he'd not previously lobbied to get the Senate appointment. Nice to read of his LBGT support but almost every time I hear him say something on TV, I just fear he may not be the "sharpest knife in the drawer."

[the Gay Numbers]

I will take a dull knife of a liberal over a brilliant triangulating Democrat. Some times smarts is not everything.