Sen Evan Bayh’s Surprise Resignation Could Have Negative Consequences For LGBT Community

The surprise resignation of the Indiana Senator Evan Bayh has left many in the LGBT community worried about what the future holds, especially with the focus that is being put on Democrat Brad Ellsworth as a leading contender. Known for his social conservatism, Ellsworth may do well with the white evangelical Christians in his state, but definitely doesn’t have the same support from the LGBT community with the Human Rights Campaign naming him as one of the ten worst Democratic Congress members concerning LGBT issues.

Gaining a poor score for his frankly confusing voting record on LGBT issues, Ellsworth in 2007 voted against the hate crimes bill, later admitting he did so because he knew it would pass and he couldn’t be seen to be voting for pro-gay issues, but then voted for the Employment Non Discrimination Act (before then voting in favor of an attempt to kill it).

Senator Evan Bayh, however, whilst not being one of the biggest names in US politics concerning LGBT issues, within his own state has received praise for his LGBT work from the Indiana Stonewall Democrats group who responded to the announcement of his resignation with the statement:

“While the departure of such a formidable figure is a loss to the entire Democratic family, we look forward to assisting in the selection of a U.S. Senate candidate who subscribes to core Democratic principles while continuing Senator Bayh’s efforts to end discrimination against all Americans by helping ensure passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the Defense of Marriage Act,”

The timing of Bayh’s resignation means that the party’s candidate for the general election will not be picked until November, with the Indiana Democratic Party chair Dan Parker saying they would look for someone with wide appeal stating:

“I think that the candidate needs to be mainstream for the Indiana Democratic Party. That’s a combination. One label or another isn’t going to work…. We’ve got all kinds. When you talk about ‘the base’ in Indiana that’s a very diverse base. It’s got to be a candidate than can motivate all parts of our party to come out and vote.”

The Indiana Stonewall Democrats have made it clear that they won’t support a candidate who would not continue Bayh’s pro-gay voting record but will the rest of the State Central Committee, who will vote for the candidate, agree?