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Below is a tribute to: To Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Individuals from the Libertarians.

http://chelm.freeyellow.com/gay_index.html

The libertarian movement has promoted equal rights for the GLBT community since its inception. What's taking everyone else so long? The Libertarian Party was the first major party to endorse rights for the GLBT community, including the right to marry individuals of choice regardless of gender. Libertarians maintain that every non-violent individual has the absolute right to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Basic human rights don't only extend to those who are in relationships with people of the opposite gender.

Libertarians believe that every human being is entitled to equality before the law and fair treatment as an individual responsible for his or her own actions. They oppose racism, sexism, and sexual-preference bigotry, whether perpetrated by private individuals or by governments. In accordance with libertarian principles, the Libertarian PArty maintains a staunch pro-privacy and pro-individual rights stance without excuse or exception. In fact, the LP has called for the repeal of laws against voluntary homosexual and heterosexual behavior since its very first platform in 1974. The current platform states, "We believe that adults have the right to private choice in consensual sexual activity. We oppose any government attempt to dictate, prohibit, control, or encourage any private lifestyle, living arrangement or contractual relationship. We support repeal of existing laws and policies which are intended to condemn, affirm, encourage, or deny sexual lifestyles or any set of attitudes about such lifestyles." Libertarians also condemn restraints on adult sexual entertainment, including broadcasting and the Internet.

Libertarians were at the forefront of the movement to repeal the sodomy laws that were present in sixteen states until 2003. Such laws were discriminatory and often left GLBT community members more likely to avoid HIV testing. Additionally, libertarians believe that privatizing marriage would solve the "benefits" question that still persists in the debate over gay marriage. Libertarians also believe that GLBT community members should be given the opportunity to serve their country in the military.

That being said, the key phrase with regards to libertarians and the GLBT community is equal rights. We recognize that there will always be bigotry and hatred in the world, just as there will always be fear and stupidity, but one cannot use laws to force understanding any more than one can use laws to force courage or intelligence. The only fair laws are those that never mention the words "black" or "white", "man" or "woman" or "gay" or "straight." When people use bigotry as an excuse to commit force or fraud, it's the act itself which is the crime and deserves punishment, not the motive behind the act.

If you are a GLBT community member who recognizes that the rights you deserve are equal to those outside of the GLBT community, you are an excellent candidate to join the libertarian movement.

Notable Historical GLBT Libertarians

* David Brudnoy, 1940-2004 (former talk radio host; former columnist)
* Roy Childs, Jr., 1949-1992 (author; editor; co-founder, the libertarian movement)
* Harry Hay, 1912-2002 (gay pioneer; Chairman, Southern California Gay Libertarian Front)
* Peter McWilliams, 1950-2000 (author; medical marijuana activist)
* David Morris, 1963-2002 (co-founder, Edge Magazine; former President, Gays & Lesbians for Individual Liberty)

Notable GLBT Libertarians

* Dr. Nigel Ashford (Senior Program Officer, Institute for Humane Studies)
* Dr. Niclas Berggren (economist; author)
* Sandra Bernhard (actress)
* John W. Berresford, J.D. (attorney; Professor of Law, George Mason University)
* B. Daniel Blatt, J.D. (attorney; screenplay writer)
* David Boaz (Executive Vice President, The Cato Institute)
* Steve Boone (former Chairman, Libertarian Party of Maryland)
* Tammy Bruce (author)
* Lisa Bullion (former Chairman, Libertarian Party of Florida)
* Dale Carpenter, J.D. (Professor of Law, University of Minnesota)
* Richard Cowan (founder, Young Americans for Freedom; former President, NORML)
* Chris Crain, J.D. (columnist; Managing Editor, Window Media, LLC)
* Dave Edmondson (former editor, The Quill)
* Hugh Emerson (Professor of Science, University of Missouri-Columbia)
* Arthur J. Finkelstein (Republican political consultant)
* Dr. Mark N. Hertzendorf (Bureau of Economics, Federal Trade Commission)
* Dr. John Hospers (former Professor of Philosophy; 1972 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate)
* James Kirchick (columnist, Yale Daily News)
* Doug Krick (founder, Pink Pistols)
* Michael W. Lynch (National Correspondent, Reason Magazine)
* Willy Star Marshall (Big Water, Utah Mayor)
* Dr. Deirdre McCloskey (Professor of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois-Chicago)
* Dr. Peter McKnight, J.D. (author; attorney; former Professor)
* Stephen H. Miller (author; columnist)
* Timothy J. Moir (former Chairman, Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania)
* Rosalie Nichols (individualist feminist; objectivist; author; former Editor, Lesbian Voices)
* Sue O'Connell (Associate Publisher, Bay Windows; radio host, One in Ten)
* Bob Odden (Vice-Chairman, Libertarian Party of Minnesota)
* Walter Olson (author; columnist, Reason Magazine)
* Tom G. Palmer (Senior Fellow, Cato Institute)
* Lindsay Perigo (founder, Sense of Life Objectivists of New Zealand)
* Jim Peron (Executive Director, Institute for Liberal Values of New Zealand)
* Jim C. Perry (talk radio host, A-B Free Radio - Boston, MA)
* Dr. Mark E. Pietrzyk (former Professor of Political Science, DePaul University)
* Justin Raimondo (Senior Fellow, Center for Libertarian Studies; editor, AntiWar.com)
* Theresa "Darklady" Reed (writer; editor)
* Jonathan Rowe, J.D. (attorney; College Professor)
* Bob Roehr (author; journalist)
* Richard J. Rosendall (former President, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance)
* Lloyd Russell (attorney; 1996 GA Libertarian Party Lt. Gubernatorial candidate)
* Stephen S. Sanders, J.D. (attorney)
* Eric Scheie, J.D. (attorney)
* Dr. Chris Matthew Sciabarra (author; Professor of Political Science, New York University)
* Serena Sharp (talk radio host, KUCI - Irvine, CA and KLSX - Irvine, CA)
* Richard E. Sincere, Jr. (President, Gays & Lesbians for Individual Liberty; first openly gay candidate for public office in Virginia)
* Andrew Sullivan (syndicated columnist)
* Rich Tafel (author; former Executive Director, Log Cabin Republicans)
* Tim Turner (founder, Oklahoma Diversity)
* Jennifer Vanasco (columnist, Chicago Free Press)
* Paul Varnell (columnist, Chicago Free Press)
* Norah Vincent (syndicated columnist)
* Rufus Wainwright (singer)
* Guido Westerwelle (Leader, German Free Democratic Party)
* Nick Wiltgen (meteorologist, The Weather Channel)
* Hastings Wyman (former political columnist, The Washington Blade)
* Steve Yuhas (columnist; talk show host, KOGO - San Diego, CA)

Related Books

- Ayn Rand, Homosexuality, and Human Liberation by Chris Matthew Sciabarra
- Beyond Queer: Challenging the Gay Left Orthodoxy by Bruce Bawer (ed.)
- The Death of Right and Wrong by Tammy Bruce
- Do Ask, Do Tell by Bill Boushka
- Healing Our World by Dr. Mary Ruwart

Related Articles

Can landlords "discriminate" against unwed couples? (October, 1999)
Dextrophobia by Julian Sanchez
Equal Rights, Not Gay Rights (1995)
Gay.Com: Harry Browne on the Issues (2000)
Gay Victimology and the Liberal Kulturkampf (May 19, 2001)
Gay libertarian activist McWilliams dies at hands of U.S. gov. (June, 2000)
Gay Rights on the Right (October, 1999)
Gays sticking to their guns (September 25, 2002)
Is it moral to be a homosexual?
Marriage Alternatives in a Free Society (May 14, 2002)
Political Correctness and the Closed Society (June, 1992)
Privatize Marriage: A solution to the Gay Marriage Debate (April, 1999)

Related Links

Do Ask, Do Tell
GayLiberty.org
Gays & Lesbians for Individual Liberty (GLIL)
Libertarians for Gay & Lesbian Concerns
Liberty Educational Network
National Network for LGBTA Student Leaders (LGLC)
Outright Libertarians
Rattigan Society for GLBT Objectivists