A Facebook page created by Georgia Equality, the state's largest LGBT political group, asks Georgians to pledge to vote against Republican candidate Nathan Deal in the governor's race.
A Facebook page created by Georgia Equality, the state's largest LGBT political group, asks Georgians to pledge to vote against Republican candidate Nathan Deal in the governor's race.
Georgia politicians resorting to gay-baiting in their campaigns sometimes seems as seasonal as the Dogwood blossom, and after being in full bloom during the Republican primary for governor, anti-gay tactics may not return for this fall’s general election.
“I don’t perceive [gay issues] as being an issue in this race, moving forward,” said Brian Robinson, spokesperson for former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, who won the Aug. 10 Republican runoff after running weeks of television commercials attacking former Secretary of State Karen Handel for supporting gay rights when she ran for Fulton County Commission in 2002 and 2003.
“We were in a very hard-fought campaign [against Handel], and we just, we had to fight,” Robinson told the Georgia Voice. “We were focused on talking to Republican voters in the Republican primary, and we were focused on communicating a message that Nathan Deal is the true conservative, and he has been unwavering in his principles.”
Re: Election discussions at facebook.com/thegavoice (Aug. 11)
Editor’s note: GA Voice readers had plenty to say about Nathan Deal’s victory over Karen Handel in the Aug. 10 GOP gubernatorial primary runoff. Deal, who attacked Karen Handel on gay issues, now faces Democrat and former Gov. Roy Barnes and Libertarian John Monds on the November ballot.
GOP candidates pushed anti-gay rhetoric during the primary, but will it continue through November?
Last night’s "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" highlighted the Republican gubernatorial runoff between Karen Handel and eventual winner Nathan Deal.
The segment highlighted the endorsements Deal and Handel received in the run-up to Tuesday’s vote. Deal was endorsed by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Handel received the backing of “Momma Grizzly” Sarah Palin.
The GOP gubernatorial primary was one of the most anti-gay races in recent Georgia history, and that didn't change as Nathan Deal and Karen Handel battled it out in the runoff.
Handel concedes in anti-gay GOP governor's contest; Sinkfield wins Dem nomination for Secretary of State
The General Primary Runoff will determine the winner out of the top two finishers in contests where no candidate received the majority of votes in the July 10 primary election.
In addition to the contest between lesbian candidates Keisha Waites and Joan Garner in Fulton County, here are two of the top races of LGBT interest on the primary ballot.
While few candidates for the state’s top offices have openly campaigned for LGBT votes, many have long records — some positive, more negative — on issues that impact our community.
Former Gov. Roy Barnes cruised to an easy victory in the July 20 Democratic gubernatorial primary, easily meeting the 50 percent plus one vote margin required to win without a runoff.
Barnes, who served one term before being beaten by Sonny Perdue, took 65.8 percent of the vote in a crowded field.
During his previous tenure, Barnes became the first sitting Georgia governor to address a gay rights group when he spoke to the Atlanta Executive Network in July 2000.
Barnes did not back specific gay-related legislation but expressed strong support for principles of non-discrimination, including sexual orientation. Barnes also signed Georgia’s first hate crimes law, although the measure was eventually struck down as “too vague.”
Nathan Deal released another commercial today citing Karen Handel’s alleged past support of gay issues. Deal, a former congressman, and Handel, former Secretary of State, face off Aug. 10 in the runoff to see who will be the Republican nominee for Georgia governor.
The commercial, a 30-second spot entitled “Straw,” hit YouTube this morning. Its release coincides with the announcement that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will speak at a Handel campaign rally on Aug. 9 – one day before the runoff.