The Madison political sphere provides a unique environment for openly gay politicians unlike anywhere else in the country, a panel of local politicians said Saturday.
The “Out in Politics” panel met Saturday to discuss the special challenges of being openly gay in politics, but also discussed Dane County’s acceptance of gays in politics.
While some members of the panel discussed difficulties they experienced in coming out to their political coworkers, the resounding opinion was the Madison community is very special and progressive. Few places, besides San Francisco, can match Dane County’s acceptance of gays in politics, the panel concluded.
“In Madison, being an open official is a no-brainer,” said event moderator and Madison Equal Opportunities Commission member John Quinlan. “But things haven’t always been that way and they aren’t that way in all parts of the state.”
Even with the acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in politics that Dane County holds, each member did discuss their initial fears in coming out. Almost all of the panel members feared they would be seen as a political liability or feared they would be accused of having a gay agenda.
“It wasn’t until I saw how involved my boss was with LGBT events that I realized coming out would be OK,” said Matt Dulak, policy director for Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton.
Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, a panel member and openly gay Madison alderperson, said she believes people should not focus on a politician’s sexuality, but what they stand for politically.
She said she focuses mainly on environmental issues and politics instead.
“Public transportation and an open government are more important issues than me being gay,” Rhodes-Conway said.
According to Rhodes-Conway, she did not run as an openly gay candidate in her campaign. She said she did not explicitly come out during her campaign, but did not hide it either.
“I didn’t see it as a liability or asset,” Rhodes-Conway said. “But if there were questions, I was in the gay pride parade, holding my campaign signs.”
The panel also encouraged more members of the LGBT community to run for office and urged those who are already in office to make their sexuality known.
University of Wisconsin alumnus and former Madison alderperson Eli Judge reiterated this sentiment while sharing his story of campaigning as an openly gay candidate on campus. Before running for his seat in District 8, Judge served as the chair of Students for a Fair Wisconsin on the UW-Madison campus.
“The biggest lesson I learned from the 2006 election was that LGBT people, especially those in the public eye, no longer need to fear and no longer can afford to not be bold about what they do,” Judge said.
Members of the crowd were encouraged by the messages panel members gave and expressed how fortunate they were live in such an accepting city.
Jenn Wennlund, a UW-Whitewater student who came to hear the panel discussed its importance to her.
“Wisconsin has a lot of out politicians, so it’s important for the community to see a person who identifies as LGBT be in office and be effective,” Wennlund said.
The panel said they foresee an end to discrimination in the workplace against gays within the next 20 years and believes the county’s first transgendered politician will be elected in Madison.
