News :: GLBT
Transgender Rights Hearing a First for Congressby Kilian MelloyFriday Jun 27, 2008 A congressman from NJ took the lead this week in a subcommittee hearing on extending anti-discrimination protections to an overlooked group of Americans.
A GOP candidate from Rep. Rob Andrews’ district immediately took the congressman to task, reported NJ newspaper The Courier Post in a June 27 story.
The hearing, cited as looking into "transgender rights in the workplace," took place in the nation’s capital on June 26. The hearing was reported to be the first Congressional hearing on transgender issues, and was hailed as "historic" by equality advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign.
The hearing also provided an easy target for Congressman Andrews’ political opposition.
The Courier Post quoted Republican candidate Dale Glading as saying, "While the families of the 1st District are struggling to make ends meet, with gas prices reaching $4 a gallon, Rob Andrews has demonstrated once and for all how out of touch he is with the people he has failed to represent."
Glading’s campaign sought to leaven the candidate’s critique, with the GOP candidate’s campaign manager, Tim Saler, commenting that, "We’re not making a statement one way or another about transgender rights."
Said Saler, "We’re just saying that if you had a list of things that need addressing right now, transgender rights would not be at the top."
Andrews responded by noting, "Congress has a responsibility to protect all Americans from unfair discrimination," the Courier Post reported.
The Courier Post story said that Andrews cited a number of other matters that Congress has looked into this legislative session, including the ongoing mortgage crisis and health care for U.S. veterans.
But Andrews was not attempting to guard his chances for a re-election bid; indeed, "I have made it clear that I am not seeking re-election," Andrews stated.
Instead, Andrews will be running for the U.S. Senate, looking to unseat incumbent Frank Lautenberg.
At the moment, Andrews’ wife, Camille, is the official Democratic candidate for the 1st District seat in the House, though she had said that she would drop out of the race if asked to do so by Democratic party leaders.
At the moment, no alternative Democratic contender has definitively emerged for the seat, though Andrews was cited as saying that he would "support the Democratic candidate with great enthusiasm."
Andrews lost to the incumbent senator in the primary, and NJ party leaders are murmuring that Rep. Andrews might want to think twice before leaving his seat in the House in a bid for the Senate.
The newspaper’s article quoted Rick Perr, chairman of the Burlington County Democratic party, as saying, "Everyone’s giving him his space."
Added Perr, "We’re telling him "You need time to cool off and think about [it] because we need you.’"
Perr continued, "There’s no one who has the experience and skill that Rob brings to that job."
Glading has not limited himself to speaking out against Rep. Andrews as the Nov. election approaches. He has also thrown down the gauntlet by asking Camille Andrews to engage him in a six-debate series.
Ms. Andrews has not accepted, and could not be reached for comment, the article said.
Glading resided in Barrington, NJ, and runs a prison ministry.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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