Ford, Who Voted To Ban Gay Marriage, Answers To NYC’s Gay Voters

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Harold Ford Jr., a former congressman who’s considering a challenge to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), spoke tonight before the Stonewall Democrats’ New York City chapter, one of the largest gay political organizations in the state. For Ford, who in 2004 voted for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, it was a test of his mettle in the face of those who may be his most fervent opponents.

Ford now says he supports marriage equality and tonight — despite boos, chants and signs reading “Snake Oil Harry” — he defended his change of mind.

“I freely admit there are issues I’ve evolved on,” he said.

“The position I hold now is the right one,” he said later, and pointed out that over the last 10 years, public support for gay marriage has increased.

“The reason the numbers and the support continues to go up is because of people like me, who change their minds,” he said.

Ford promised, if elected, to fight for marriage equality and support it publicly on a national level.

Ford, who has not officially declared his candidacy, expects to make an announcement early next week.

But to win the gay vote, Ford has a lot of work ahead of him. Several protesters, organized by The Power, screamed throughout Ford’s answers, chanting, “No more lies!” Other attendees yelled at them to quiet down. (One even cried, “Stop acting like tea party people!”)

Some defended Ford for changing his mind.

“He has a right to change his view,” said Charles Bayor, Stonewall’s secretary. “I give him credit for coming here … It’s not fair to treat him with disrespect.”

Lt. Dan Choi, the National Guardsman who has become a vocal opponent of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, was at the meeting and questioned Ford on the policy.

Ford said he fully supports repeal. But for Choi and others, that may not be enough — especially since Gillibrand has become a public opponent of the policy, which bans openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

“You’d be punishing our only advocate in the Senate,” Choi said.

“You can count on me to do the same thing” as Gillibrand, Ford responded.

Before the Q&A, Choi told TPM that Ford has much to answer for.

“He has a lot of explaining to do,” he said. “Our community isn’t something that can be taken for granted. We aren’t satisfied or seduced by people just because they come to events.”

Jon Winkleman, who helped organized the protesters, agreed.

“How many times can you let someone stand you up on a date?” Winkleman told TPM. He added that he had trusted Ford as a congressman, until he voted for the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Winkleman accused Ford of telling gay advocates, including Stonewall’s Tennessee chapter, in 2004 that he would not support the amendment just days before voting for it.

Latest News
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: