11/30/2009
Runoff Atlanta Mayoral Candidates Vie 'to Prove Who's Gayer'
The L.A. Times reports on the runoff election (taking place tomorrow) between former senator Kasim Reed and Councilwoman Mary Norwood. Both candidates have turned their attention to the 12.8% of Atlanta voters who are LGBT.
"...the wooing of LGBT voters here has become particularly intense since the Nov. 3 general election, when Councilwoman Mary Norwood and former state Sen. Kasim Reed earned spots in the mayoral runoff. 'I cannot recall a mayor's race when there's been so much attention placed on the gay and lesbian vote,'said Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, the state's largest gay rights group.' All of a sudden, overnight, it's like an unbelievable push [to prove] who's gayer,' added Glen Paul Freedman, chief of staff for City Council President Lisa Borders. Eleven days after the November vote, Norwood -- who would be the first white mayor of Atlanta since the 1970s -- was outside the state Capitol for a rally protesting Proposition 8, California's anti-gay-marriage measure. She told the crowd she had sent a donation to the forces fighting Prop. 8, and called herself 'the only mayoral candidate who supports full marriage equality.'A rainbow flag icon is now featured prominently on Norwood's campaign website; it links to a page reminding viewers that "each person in a couple" can contribute $1,200 to a candidate in the runoff. Her rival, Reed -- a favorite of Atlanta's civil rights establishment who favors gay civil unions, not marriage -- has touted his pro-gay-rights record in the Legislature, where he sponsored a hate crimes bill that extended protections to gays. Reed, in a recent televised debate, attacked Norwood for missing a City Council vote on a measure to extend pension benefits to domestic partners of city employees."
Reed talks about his endorsement from the General Assembly's only openly gay member Karla Drenner, and Mary Norwood speaks at a marriage equality rally at the state capitol on the anniversary of Proposition 8 - AFTER THE JUMP...
Atlanta mayoral candidates appeal to gay vote [la times]
Mary Norwood:
Posted 7:56 AM EST by Andy Towle in Atlanta, Georgia, News | Permalink
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As someone living in Georgia and watching this race since the beginning, I think it's great that the GLBTQ voting group is being sought after - especially in a state that needs all the media attention it can get surrounding these issues. Georgia is very much so behind the times.
That being said, though Reed is supportive, Mary Norwood has been without question the most upfront and supportive of gay rights. She has been, since the beginning I might add, the ONLY candidate supporting full MARRIAGE equality. She has my vote.
Posted by: Martin | Nov 30, 2009 8:22:47 AM
>>She has been, since the beginning I might add, the ONLY candidate supporting full MARRIAGE equality<<
As an Atlanta resident, I will be voting for Mary (no pun intended)because I agree with Martin, that she has consistently been upfront and supportive of equal rights for the LGBT community. Just keep in mind, she's running for mayor, not President or Governor. Her stance on Marriage Equality, can do nothing to affect change in that arena short of vocalizing her support.
GO MARY!
Posted by: Keith | Nov 30, 2009 8:37:05 AM
while I cant vote for either...I dont live there....amazes me that the black gentleman - wants to have a "seperate but equal" status for LGBT people...hmmmmmmmm - GO MARY!
Posted by: Disgusted American | Nov 30, 2009 9:18:14 AM
How is this even a close question? One supports equality and the other doesn't. Vie a little harder, Reed.
Posted by: Pender | Nov 30, 2009 9:51:15 AM
Living in Atlanta and watching this unfold, there is only one, and has been only one candidate that fully supports LGBT rights and that is Mary Norwood! We have had the likes of Reed before, remember Campbell and that is just my opinion, and Norwood is by far the most qualified to be mayor! And that is before you take into account her stance on gay rights. Love her! And yes GA has a long way to go on this issue and the mayoral race is bringing light to that subject. Reed has only provided lip service. GO MARY!!!!!!!
Posted by: RB | Nov 30, 2009 11:03:37 AM
I love it! Hats off to both of them for being supportive of the gay community. I guess, in the end, the people need to vote for the candidate who they believe will actually make good on their promises.
Posted by: KFLO | Nov 30, 2009 11:13:54 AM
"...amazes me that the black gentleman - wants to have a "seperate but equal" status for LGBT people"
Why? If American Gays get "Separate but Equal" it'll be good compared to American Blacks getting "Separate but Unequal" for 160 years now.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Nov 30, 2009 12:27:13 PM
The problem is, Mary Norwood is awful in every other aspect. We all know the mayor of Atlanta will have no impact on gay marriage anyway (it's constitutionally illegal in Georgia). I will be voting for Kasim Reed because of his positions and past accomplishments in transportation and public safety. I wish he was pro-equality, but we can't afford to be single issue voters.
Posted by: shivtim | Nov 30, 2009 9:18:18 PM
It won't even matter. It's going to take all the gays in Atlanta to defeat Kasim. And it' not happening Kasim had a fund raised last weekend and there were walks from all life there supporting him.
Nice try Mary, But I believe Kasim has this one!
Posted by: Bisou | Dec 1, 2009 4:39:01 AM
Go Mary!!
Posted by: Drewboo | Dec 1, 2009 7:05:35 PM