Family Research Council Scores 10 House Votes, Two Relating to DOMA
The Family Research Council’s political arm, FRC Action, today released its “Vote Scorecard” for the first session of the 112th Congress.
Of the 10 House votes scored, half relate to abortion, two to the Obama health care legislation, two to LGBT issues and one to school vouchers. In the Senate, no LGBT votes were scored.
FRC has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The group is one of 13 groups designated as such because of what SPLC calls “propagation of known falsehoods — claims about [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities — and repeated.”
The two LGBT-related House votes scored are, per the FRC Action Scorecard:
9. Protecting the Defense of Marriage Act within the Military: Offered by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), this amendment (H.AMDT. 546) to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2219) would prohibit Pentagon funds from being used in a way that is inconsistent with the Defense of Marriage Act. (Passed 7/7/2011, 248 yeas to 175 nays, Roll Call No. 516) FRC Action and CitizenLink Supported this Amendment.
10. Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage on Navy Bases: Offered by Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), this amendment (H.AMDT. 573) to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012 (H.R. 2219) would prohibit funding for the Navy directive allowing chaplains to perform or facilitate same-sex marriages on Navy bases, which would be in violation of the Defense of Marriage Act. (Passed 7/8/2011, 236 yeas to 184 nays, Roll Call No. 528) FRC Action and CitizenLink Supported this Amendment.
Human Rights Campaign spokesman Michael Cole-Schwartz told Metro Weekly of the scorecard, “It’s certainly not unexpected that FRC would score members on these anti-LGBT amendments. Even with DADT a thing of the past, FRC is so desperate to stop equality from moving forward that they are rewarding members for nibbling at the edges of open service.”
A news release from FRC Action notes that eight senators and 54 representatives had 100 percent voting records in the scorecard.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
