Tucker’s spin on opposing gay rights
Carolyn Baldwin Tucker, current Metro Council member and candidate to be Nashville’s next vice-mayor, is known for breaking into song at public events and singing, “If you want honesty, integrity, vote for Carolyn B.” It appears to me that she is trying to conceal the motivations for her position against domestic partner benefits for city employees, which strikes me as neither honest nor acting with integrity:
Tucker was criticized for voting in 2003 against a bill that would have protected Metro’s gay and lesbian employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. She said Thursday that her vote reflected the beliefs of a majority of county residents. “The vote was not against the gay and homosexual community,” she said. “It was against codification of special rights for persons … who are falling into the gay and lesbian and homosexual community.”
I feel confident that Tucker’s opposition to this bill is grounded in her constituents’ opinions, but it is also influenced by her view that homosexuality is morally wrong, which she neglected to mention in The Tennessean’s story quoted above. I respect Tucker’s right to believe whatever she chooses to believe, but I think she is misrepresenting her views here by trying to claim that her vote was not “against the gay and homosexual community.” In my opinion, if you believe that homosexuality is morally wrong, say so and state that as one of your reasons for opposing the benefits bill. Don’t pretend that you are merely opposing “codification of special rights” or that your position is not contrary (or against) the wishes of the homosexual community.
Chris Wage commented on similar remarks from Tucker in 2003, if you are interested in reading more.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
[...] Rob Robinson takes issue Councilwoman Carol Baldwin Tucker’s explanation of why she opposes domestic partner benefits for gay city employees. 2Rob doesn’t believe the spin and asserts that Tucker is concealing her real motivation. [...]
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 pm
I was present at a city council meeting where the first ant-discrimination ordinance was being discussed and was to be vote on. Councilwoman Tucker made it clear that her views were based on her understanding of the Bible. She quoted Scripture and denounced homosexuality in the strongest terms. She did not reference any conviction that she was voting as her constituents wanted her to vote.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Thanks, Michael. Even though I disagree with her, I am glad that Tucker was open about the reasons for her opposition to the bill in 2003. We do not have the benefit of knowing the full content of her interview with The Tennessean this year, but based upon what was quoted in the story Sunday, I believe Tucker tried to soften her reasons for opposing domestic partner benefits. I think she should be equally candid during election season and during regular council business.