Howard Dean

Running for the Democratic Nomination for President

Howard Dean has a large section on his official site dedicated to his positions  and record on behalf of equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Positions:

• Work to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• Strengthen federal protections against anti-gay violence.
• Give federal employees the right to name same-sex partners as beneficiaries.
• End bias in the immigration laws.
• End the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
• Ensure access to affordable health care, including AIDS/HIV Services.
• Believes DOMA is unconstitutional and will support legal challenges

As Governor of Vermont he signed Vermont’s civil unions legislation into law which included provisions granting gay and lesbian couples the same legal rights as married heterosexual couples, including inheritance, custody, and decision making powers.  Dean also signed a law adding sexual orientation and gender identity to Vermont's pre-existing hate crimes statutes.

His summary: "As President, I will fight for the civil rights for all Americans, and that includes lesbian and gay Americans ...  I believe in equal rights under the law, period. And that means equal rights for everybody under the law, including those who are gay and lesbian."

More:

Official Dean for America Website

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