Press Release - December 21st, 2011

For Immediate Release

December 21, 2011

Contact: Jerame Davis
202-625-1382
jdavis@stonewalldemocrats.org

Republican Spin Machine Hangs LGBT Voters Out to Dry

The Republican spin machine is in full force trying to deflect attention from Newt Gingrich's rejection of a gay voter in Iowa. Gingrich told the man he should vote for President Obama.

Statement by National Stonewall Democrats Interim Executive Director Jerame Davis:

"Yesterday, Newt Gingrich told a gay voter in Iowa he'd be better off voting for Obama if same-sex marriage is an important issue to him. Today, conservative gay groups are trying to spin away the truth. The problem they have is that this fits perfectly with Gingrich's past statements regarding LGBT Americans. Earlier this year, Gingrich called same-sex marriage 'a temporary aberration' and in 2008 he referred to LGBT equality efforts as 'secular fascism.' 

"Perhaps these groups would be better served by recruiting and grooming better candidates than making excuses and spinning fairy tales."

Statement by National Stonewall Democrats PAC Co-Chair Stephen Handwerk:

"Finally, Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud can agree on something. Sadly, that something is a desperate attempt to explain away Newt Gingrich's distaste for gay people. Both groups are trying their best to blame those dastardly liberals for Newt Gingrich's bigotry, but it's Newt himself that is to blame. Giving  cover to Gingrich for his regressive and dangerous positions on LGBT equality only serves to further entrench outdated ideas in an already out of touch Republican Party - but it sure makes our job easier when Republican presidential candidates literally tell us to vote for President Obama."

The video can be found on the CBS News website.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the national voice of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. Stonewall Democrats works to elect more pro-equality Democrats regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity - and to improve the Democratic Party on issues important to LGBT Democrats.