LGBT
Caucus Calls for Sanctions of Santorum
Santorum Comments were Deeply Offensive
The California Legislative Lesbian Gay
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus, April 24, 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Miiller, 916-319-2076
SACRAMENTO—The California
Legislative Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus today called on
United States Senate leaders to take immediate action to discipline and/or
sanction Senator Rick Santorum for remarks he made this week.
“Senator Santorum’s comments were not only deeply
offensive to all LGBT Americans,” said Assembly Speaker pro Tempore and LGBT
Caucus Chair Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), “His comments offended all
Americans who cherish civil rights.”
In a letter to United States Senate leaders Bill Frist
and Tom Daschle, the LGBT Caucus highlighted Senator Santorum’s comments
over the last few days and concluded the following,
“These comments lack sensitivity and respect. Senator
Santorum fails to understand basic human rights including the right to
privacy. His comments are ignorant, insulting, and inflammatory to a nation
that values our freedom. While we respect his right to free speech, it seems
to us that given his position of authority and leadership, his comments
deserve immediate discipline and/or sanction.”
The letter was faxed to the offices of Senators Bill
Frist and Tom Daschle and was also forwarded to California Senators Barbara
Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.
The Legislative LGBT Caucus was originally formed in June
2002. The caucus’ role is to present a forum for the California Legislature
to discuss issues that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all
Californians. The LGBT Caucus’ formation made California the first state in
the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators.
LETTER ATTACHED
California Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, &
Transgender (LGBT) Caucus
April 24, 2003
United States Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist
Suite 461, Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax: 202-228-1264
United States Senate
Minority Leader Tom Daschle
Suite 509, Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Fax: 202-224-6603
Dear Senators:
This letter is to request that the United States Senate
seriously examine the recent comments of Senator Rick Santorum to determine
whether these comments are befitting of his office or instead deserve
discipline and/or sanction.
On Monday April 21, 2003 the Associated Press quoted
Senator Santorum as follows:
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to
consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you
have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right
to adultery. You have the right to anything.”
Senator Santorum has not denied or apologized for these
comments. Instead he has defended then and tried to explain them. On Tuesday
April 22, 2003, Senator Santorum issued a news release, which stated the
following:
“My discussion with the Associated Press was about the
Supreme Court privacy case, the constitutional right to privacy in general,
and in context of the impact on the family. I am a firm believer that all are
equal under the Constitution. My comments should not be misconstrued in any
way as a statement on individual lifestyles.”
This morning’s edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer
goes on further and quotes Senator Santorum as follows:
“To suggest that my comments, which are the law of the
land and were the reason the Supreme Court decided the case in 1986, are
somehow intolerant, I would just argue that it is not.”
We could not disagree more with Senator Santorum’s
comments over the last few days and call for immediate action by the United
States Senate.
Senator Santorum’s remarks do not reflect the law of
the land. We assure you, in California, the law does not allow law enforcement
to enter into the home of a private citizen and arrest her/him for being gay.
If the law did allow for this, the California Legislature would no doubt take
immediate action to correct it.
Senator Santorum’s comments equate being gay with
bigamy, polygamy, incest, and adultery. This antiquated thinking is bigoted,
biased, dogmatic, and based on prejudice. Senator Santorum’s comments are
deeply offensive to gay and lesbian Americans. These comments are entirely
inappropriate for any official who has taken an oath to hold public office and
represent all people.
Furthermore, these comments lack sensitivity and respect.
Senator Santorum fails to understand basic human rights including the right to
privacy. His comments are ignorant, insulting, and inflammatory to a nation
that values our freedom. While we respect his right to free speech, it seems
to us that given his position of authority and leadership, his comments
deserve immediate discipline and/or sanction.
When Trent Lott made racist remarks late last year, there
was a quick and decisive response and corrective action. Senator Santorum’s
remarks deserve at least the same level of response and action. To allow
Senator Santorum’s remarks to go without consequence is to send a terribly
wrong message to every gay man and woman and every person of conscience in
America.
We ask that you look favorably upon this request and act
immediately.
Sincerely,
CHRISTINE KEHOE
Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
SHEILA JAMES KUEHL
Senator, 23rd District
JACKIE GOLDBERG
Assemblymember, 45th District
JOHN LAIRD
Assemblymember, 27th District
MARK LENO
Assemblymember, 13th District
cc:
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
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