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Gays Throw Parties For Arch Enemy Santorum


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Gays Throw Parties For Arch Enemy Santorum

by Doreen Brandt 365Gay.com Washington Bureau

Posted: November 2, 2005 7:00 pm ET

(Washington) He's a sponsor of the proposed amendment that would ban same-sex marriage and has spent much of his political career fighting LGBT civil rights legislation but Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn) is the guest of honor at parties being thrown across the country.

The 'retirement parties' are the brainchild of National Stonewall Democrats hoping to cash in on Santorum's record to energize its base in advance of the 2006 mid term election.

As GOP conference chairman He is the Senate's third-ranking Republican.

So far, the NSD and its local chapters have signed up hosts for about 40 parties in more than a dozen states, including six in Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania and some as far away as California.

Most of the parties will be held this month. The organization will follow that up with its national convention in June in Pittsburgh - Santorum's home turf.

Santorum has been one of the most outspoken supporters of the federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage. His anti-gay positions weres frequently argued in the media by his chief spokesperson, Robert Traynham. In June it emerged that Trynham is gay. (story)

Santorum has a long history of homophobia. In 2003 following the Supreme Court ruling striking down sodomy laws Santorum compared homosexuality with incest, polygamy and adultery (story).

Democrats believe Santorum can be defeated next November. In addition to the support the initiative is receiving from gay Democrats, the LGBT Log Cabin Republicans have refused to endorse Santorum.

An independent poll conducted by Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University last month showed Santorum trailing state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., 52 percent to 34 percent.

Casey, the son of the late Pennsylvania governor, was hand-picked by national Democratic leaders as the party's best hope of unseating Santorum. But two lesser-known Philadelphia Democrats - college professor Chuck Pennacchio and pension lawyer Alan Sandals - have said they plan to challenge Casey for the nomination.

©365Gay.com 2005

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