Refudiating “Does Sarah Palin Support Gay Rights?”

There’s a dangerous meme making its way across the Internets: “Does Sarah Palin support gay rights?” thanks to her almost-Libertarian response to gay GOP group GOProud’s attendance at this weekend’s CPAC. The Alaska Dispatch, writing at Huffington Post, reports Palin “told the Christian Broadcasting Network that it was a ‘scheduling conflict’ that prevented her appearance, not GOProud’s presence at the convention. And she went one step further, telling CBN that conference attendees should not so quickly dismiss the opportunity to provide a full spectrum of conservatism. News website POLITICO reports Palin alluded to the controversy that GOProud’s inclusion at the conference had caused for conservatives.”

“‘Should the GOP, should conservatives not reach out to others, not participate in events and forums that… maybe we don’t personally agree with? And I say no… I look at participation in an event like CPAC or any other event in that same vein as the more information that people have the better,’ Palin told CBN.”

But then they write, “Palin has mostly left her support or opposition to gay rights ‘open to interpretation.’ Last month, Palin re-tweeted a gay conservative’s post that was critical of the GOP’s ardent opposition to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ calling it ‘hypocrisy.'”

And so let’s stop right here and “refudiate” yet another example of journalistic malpractice.

It’s called “Google,” people, and you can use it to do something many journalists evidently have forgotten is in their job description: research.

(Or, you can just spend all your time here at The New Civil Rights Movement, where we do the research so you don’t have to.)

After the whole Palin retweet of Tammy Bruce’s DADT comment fiasco, I did a fair amount of research and wrote, “So, Where DOES Sarah Palin Stand On Gay Rights?” Here are a few highlights:

So, here you go. Sarah Palin’s positions on gay rights:

Sarah Palin is against same-sex marriage:

• Palin has said, “I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.” (Campaign website, www.palinforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006)
• “Ms. Palin said she supported Alaska’s decision to amend its Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. But she used her first veto as governor to block a bill that would have prohibited the state from granting health benefits to same-sex partners of public employees.” (New York Times)
• “Here’s what Sarah Palin has to say about same-sex marriage. Palin said she’s not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay, but that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment.” “Elected officials can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied, she said, but she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples. “I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin said. She said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.” (Anchorage Daily News, viaOnTheIssues)

Sarah Palin is against spousal benefits for same-sex couples:

Q: Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples?

A: No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.

Q: In relationship to families, what are your top three priorities if elected governor?

A: 1. Creating an atmosphere where parents feel welcome to choose the venues of education for their children.
2. Preserving the definition of “marriage” as defined in our constitution.
3. Cracking down on the things that harm family life: gangs, drug use, and infringement of our liberties including attacks on our 2nd Amendment rights. (Eagle Forum 2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire Jul 31, 2006)

Sarah Palin is on the record against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal:

For the record, Palin came out last year against repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although she suggested her first concern about repeal was the timing — “I don’t think so right now… And I say that because there are other things to be worried about right now with the military. I think that kind of on the back burner, is sufficient for now.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Palin is not on the record as for or against ENDA, but given all her other positions, I would bet she’s against that, too.

Bottom line, Sarah Palin is not the blank slate the media assumes. She’s made her positions very clear. She is anti-gay, and is on the record as being so.