Five Reasons Why Senator Al Franken is a Good Thing for LGBT Rights

by Michael A. Jones

categories: Defense of Marriage Act, Election 2008, Hate Crimes, LGBT Rights and Politics, LGBT Rights and the Military, Marriage Equality, State LGBT News

Published June 30, 2009 @ 12:19PM PT

Well, after months and months of litigation, it looks like the Minnesota Senate race between Norm Coleman and Al Franken is nearing its end.  And the victor?  Well, if the Minnesota Supreme Court has anything to do about it (and they should, since they're literally the last straw unless the State's Governor intervenes), Al Franken will be taking the reigns as the Junior Senator from Minnesota.

This is very good news for LGBT rights, the least of which is that Norm Coleman was a staunch ally of conservative Bush administration politics that continued to side-step LGBT policies like employment non-discrimination, hate crimes, and more.  Below are our five reasons why Al Franken is good for LGBT rights, and why his election as the next U.S. Senator from the land of 10,000 lakes bodes well for equal rights.

5. The Wellstone Legacy. Up until November 2008, Norm Coleman held the Senate seat that legendary progressive (and LGBT ally) Paul Wellstone held before his tragic death in a plane crash in 2002.  Now, I have to admit to being a bit impartial here (I worked for the Wellstone campaign that year).  But Wellstone's seat deserves a progressive who believes that politics can be about empowering all people, especially the rights of the minority.  While Franken will need to prove himself on this, he seems a hell of a lot more likely to vote like Wellstone did, instead of following the beck and call of Mitch McConnell.

4.  One More Marriage Equality Supporter. Adding Al Franken to the Senate club ensures that one more supporter of marriage equality takes office.  Franken is on record as saying that his marriage to his wife is so special, he could not understand wanting to take that right away from same-sex couples.  Amen to that.  A politician who gets that marriage (at least to the right person) can be a blessing everyone deserves to have a right to obtain.

3.  A Friend to LGBT organizations. Al Franken has a history of supporting LGBT organizations, both within Minnesota, as well as nationally.  The Human Rights Campaign endorsed him during the 2008 election, saying this about him: "Al Franken is a longtime friend to the Human Rights Campaign and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. His unflinching support for equality is an inspiration, and we at HRC are honored to endorse his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Al will not only be a tireless advocate for the people of Minnesota, but an outspoken advocate for the ideals that make our country great---fairness, justice and opportunity."

2. A Vote for Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," for Hate Crimes Legislation, and for Employment Non-Discrimination. Al Franken's campaign told the Washington Blade last year that as a Senator, Franken would support a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and would vote for hate crimes legislation that includes protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as for a federal employment non-discrimination act that prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  As these three issues kick it up in the Senate in the months to come, having Franken's voice in the Senate is going to be crucial.

1. Closer to 60. With Franken as a Senator, this means that the Democrats will have 60 members of the U.S. Senate caucusing with their party.  And while the Democratic party is not lockstep on the issue of LGBT rights, this certainly bodes well for any attempt by hardline conservatives to filibuster LGBT-friendly legislation.  This won't stop every inside the Beltway delay, of course.  But it certainly pushes the country one step further to having a Congress that works to enhance LGBT rights, not one that impedes their progress.