Jim Neal: “I am indeed” gay.
U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal, the only Democrat running against Republican incumbent Liddy Dole so far, confirmed over the weekend that he is gay — openly, proudly so. He said it in a live-blogging session on BlueNC, portions of which are now posted on Neal’s campaign website. More below.
Update: There’s a summary up at Pam’s House Blend.
Highlights from the BlueNC session — questions are paraphrased, answers are not:
Q. I heard you’re gay?
Neal: I am indeed. No secret and no big deal to me — I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think otherwise….
Q. Think NC’s ready to elect a gay candidate?
Neal: I’m not running this race to lose. I’m not running to make some social statement. I’m running to lead in the Senate for the voters in NC — something Senator Dole has not done. When people meet me, they’ll see beyond the labels and into my character.
Q. How about gay marriage?
Neal: It’s okay if churches want to unite same-sex couples; it’s okay if they don’t. That’s their Constitutional right which I support 100%. But when it comes to the Government, I’m not in favor of any laws that discriminate against anyone for any reason.
Q. (Well, it wasn’t really a question.) Wow. This makes me want to support you even more. But make no mistake, the right-wing zealots will be coming after you hook, line and sinker. They’d rather have a Bushbot extremist destroying our military and undermining the health of our families than a gay man in Congress. I guess we’ll find out where North Carolina stands on what matters most. Are you up for that?
Neal: Bre’r Rabbit here — please don’t throw me in the briar patch! I’m a big boy. I can take it and I can dish it.
Q. (From Pam Spaulding, Durham’s famous gay-rights activist and blogger): Mr. Neal, as someone working for LGBT equality both at a national level and here at home in North Carolina, thank you for answering the question and deciding to run openly and honestly. I hope that The Victory Fund will have your back; it would also be wonderful if you could stop by the first Equality Conference & Gala on November 3 at the Duke University School of Law, and the Nasher Museum. [I’m on the committee, and we’re proud to have Alabama’s first openly out legislator, State Rep. Patricia Todd as one of our speakers]
The Republicans will make an issue of your orientation whether you were publicly out or not, given the political grapevine and the gutter tactics of fear and smear. It’s time to make the issue about doing work for the citizens of North Carolina. Mrs. Dole’s heterosexuality clearly gave her no advantage in this vein — she has done zero for the state as she rubber-stamped the destructive policies of this president, so clearly one’s orientation has no bearing on the ability to serve the people. If the GOP wants to go there, fine — they are going to have a dickens of a time defending Liddy’s record and its impact on this state.
Thank you again. This is a great day in NC.
October 22nd, 2007 09:02
Interesting development. Thought I’d comment for purposes of popping it up to the top here. Others have thoughts?
October 23rd, 2007 17:06
According to G. Pearce’s blog today, NC Dems and Sen. Schumer are courting Kay Hagan again, and were “before Jim Neal outed himself….”
Anything to this?
October 23rd, 2007 17:38
Let’s look at Neal’s candid discussion of the REAL issues. I like what I’m learning and want to hear more from him.
His matter of fact handling of this other issue is how we should - but won’t, I fear.