Locke: "I Will Be Very Visible In Advocating for Gay Rights"

I've got rock solid proof in my hands that mayoral candidate Gene Locke told a gay endorsing group what they wanted to hear in order to secure their endorsement, before he sought the endorsement of anti-gay social conservatives Steven Hotze, David Welch and the Houston Area Pastor Council.

Houston Young Stonewall Democrats, a group of progressives aged 14 to 40, who fight for GLBT civil rights and get out the vote for fair-minded Democrats, had a questionnaire and screening process earlier this year for consideration of their endorsement in the Houston municipal elections. I am looking at Gene Locke's completed HYSD questionnaire right now.

His answers are ardent in his support for equality for gays. He points out that as City Attorney (1995-1998), he wrote the policy that prohibited discrimination based on sexual preferences. He talks specifically about the need to ensure the City does not discriminate on the bases of sexual preference or gender identity.

There are two questions HYSD asks that take the candidate's temperature on how visible they will be as an officeholder in advocating for gay rights and how significant LGBT rights will be as an issue in their campaign, and Locke checked the boxes indicating the highest level of support. As a contrast, Annise Parker, checked boxes indicating a mid to low level of visibility and issue advocacy. Yes, I'm looking at her questionnaire as well, and she makes it clear - in bold print - that she is asking HYSD to endorse her only if they believe she is the most qualified candidate to be mayor of Houston in these tough economic times, and that she is not running to be the first lesbian mayor of Houston, but instead to focus on the priorities of the city as a whole.

Many other questions were asked by HYSD about LGBT issues, including laws protecting LGBT employees, the right to adopt children, same sex couple marriage benefits, and same sex couple rights for tax benefits, inheritance, death benefits and wrongful death claims. Locke answered yes to all of those questions.

So, when Locke sought out Hotze's endorsement, what did he know that endorsement would mean? He knew it would be the endorsement of a man who believes the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for homosexuality. When Locke appeared at the Houston Area Pastor Council gala, who was he consorting with? Pastors with an agenda and political plan to mobilize church goers to vote against Annise Parker because she is gay:

“The bottom line is that we didn't pick the battle, she did, when she made her agenda and sexual preference a central part of her campaign,” said Dave Welch, executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, numbering more than 200 senior pastors in the Greater Houston area. “National gay and lesbian activists see this as a historic opportunity. The reality is that's because they're promoting an agenda which we believe to be contrary to the concerns of the community and destructive to the family.”

Welch said he had “no doubt” there would be numerous independent advocacy efforts urging voters not to choose Parker, most of which would involve mail.

Locke knew that seeking these endorsements would mean those groups would work against the issues and members of the HGLT groups whose endorsements he sought previously. It's obvious Locke will talk out of both sides of his mouth for political gain. It's been four days since the Chronicle revealed he sought Hotze's endorsement, and we haven't heard a denial from Locke, or a promise he will repudiate an anti-gay smear campaign by Hotze or the Pastor Council that endorses Locke for mayor.

Come clean Gene: Do you stand with the gay community, or do you stand with those who believe gays are immoral and destructive? I know the gay community wants to know why you courted them, then slept with the enemy.

UPDATE: Sticking to the issue of gay rights, someone asked me how Annise answered the yes/no questions. She answered all of them the same way Gene answered them - all the "right" answers for someone who is pro-equality. Where she had narrative answers, she was clear her first priority would be leading all Houstonians through the tough economic times ahead. For Team Lockers who want to keep pounding the "Gene is gayer than Annise" meme, I say, go right ahead. It worked so well for Peter Brown to say, "I'm blacker than Locke," so hey, go for it. Plus, I think the social conservative voters need to hear that over and over again.