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.
If given a second chance as Georgia’s governor, Roy Barnes will back a gay-inclusive hate crimes law and oppose discrimination on any basis, including sexual orientation.
“The way that I have always stated these issues is that there shouldn’t be discrimination against anyone. I believe that was shown while I was governor. I did not ask anyone whether they were gay or straight, I chose the best person and some of those happened to be gay. So I intend to do the same thing,” Barnes said during an interview Oct. 25 at a fundraiser organized by the Democratic Party of Georgia’s new LGBT caucus.
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, Georgia Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond and airline pilot Chuck Donovan participated in a debate Sunday sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club. All three are running for Isakson's U.S. Senate seat.
The debate, the first and only scheduled debate where all three candidates will appear, largely focused on health care and government spending but did address the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy after panelist Meredith Anderson, from Augusta news WRWD-TV, read a question submitted from one of her viewers regarding the policy.