Schwartz Rejects Support of Anti-Gay Voters
Indpendent mayoral candidate says Catania's sexual orientation shouldn't play a role in vote-getting
“I’ve had some people that have said those kinds of things to me during this election. and I actually have said that if you’re going to be that intolerant of people, I don’t want your vote.”
— Former Councilmember and independent mayoral candidate Carol Schwartz, in a debate sponsored by The Washington Post and NBC4, on whether she would accept or reject the support of people with anti-gay attitudes who won’t vote for rival David Catania because of his sexual orientation. While all the candidates said they disagreed with statements like those made by 75-year-old Hester Campbell, one of several voters profiled in a recent Post article, only Schwartz specifically said she would reject the votes of those with anti-gay sentiment, characterizing the use of sexual orientation to disqualify someone as “off-limits.” When pressed by moderator Colbert King as whether she would not want someone like Campbelll to vote for her, Democratic nominee Muriel Bowser did not directly reject the idea, instead saying, “I would want Ms. Campbell to think differently, and as a leader, I would be the leader that said, ‘Ms. Campbell, we are all Washingtonians, we all have a perspective, we all deserve to be heard and treated fairly.'”
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!
You must be logged in to post a comment.