In an eye-raising move, the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans, an organization of gay Republicans, tossed their support behind Brian Kemp in the Georgia Governor’s race.
Kemp is opposed to gay rights, and has recently signed a pledge to support “religious freedom” bills, also known as RFRAs. These bills are viewed as a “license to discriminate” against LGBTQ people using religious beliefs as an excuse.
Speaking to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kemp made his position clear, “My position on RFRA is not going to change. I’m not going to change.”
RFRA legislation has been in motion in the Georgia state capital for some time. Current Governor, Nathan Deal, vetoed a bill in 2016, a move that Kemp has no intention of repeating.
“It’s the commonsense thing to do, and I will do that as governor,” said Kemp.
Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for the Governor’s seat, strongly opposes RFRA legislation.
In spite of Kemp’s stand against LGBTQ rights, the Log Cabin Republicans chose to endorse Kemp over Abrams. In a press release, they offered Kemp their congratulations in winning the runoff against Georgia’s State Lieutenant Governor, Casey Cagle, and painting Abrams as a “radical liberal.”
Kemp’s ads were viewed as controversial, including an ad of Kemp cleaning his shotgun while quizzing a suitor of his daughter about his political talking points. Another included him “blowing up” government spending while standing in front of an explosion and saying he would use his pickup to “round up some criminal illegals and take ’em home myself.”
Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, has led a much less controversial campaign. If elected, she would become the first black female governor in the United States.
Abrams’ policy proposals are more centrist in form, rather than radical. Unlike Kemp, however, she is a supporter of LGBTQ rights.
“From supporting marriage equality and comprehensive workplace protections to opposing any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Stacey Abrams is ready to build a stronger, brighter state where the gates of opportunity are open to every Georgian,” read part of Abrams’ statement on LGBTQ policy.
Current polling shows the race is mixed, with Abrams up by three in the Mason-Dixon poll, and Kemp up by two in a poll conducted by WXIA-TV and SurveyUSA.
Image by Thomas Cizauskas via Flickr and a CC license