Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Paul Kirk was sworn in Sept. 25 to the seat vacated last month when U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., died of brain cancer.
Kirk was a close friend of Kennedy and served as his special assistant in the Senate in the 1970s.
But few LGBT leaders know much about Kirk regarding LGBT-rights measures. Some remember that, in 1985, as chairman of the Democratic Party, Kirk declared that he didn't think gay-rights matters should become a priority for the partycharacterizing them as "frivolous" issues. That remark, naturally, drew protests of anger from the community.
Longtime gay Democratic activist David Mixner says he does not think the remark counts for much, given the time. Kirk's remark came as Democrats were analyzing their loss in the presidential campaign of Walter Mondale versus incumbent President Ronald Reagan of every state but Minnesota and the District of Columbia. Under Kirk's chairmanship, from 1985 to 1989, the Democratic Party's platform language in support of gay rights shrank considerably.
Mixner says Kirk was "instrumental, along with Kennedy, in fighting many of the" hostile amendments proffered by then-Sen. Jesse Helms." And, Mixner said, Kirk was "fantastic" on efforts to pass a federal non-discrimination bill for gays.
Hilary Rosen, another longtime gay Democratic activist, said her experience with Kirk has been "very good."
"I think he takes his Kennedy legacy responsibilities really seriously," said Rosen. "I know he cares about our issues and I know he would vote just like Senator Kennedy did, would have."
Kirk has big shoes to fill now, given that Kennedy was widely seen as the Senate's strongest champion on LGBT rights and HIV matters. Kirk's appointment came by way of another gay-rights supporterMassachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
But Kirk has pledged to hold the seat only until Massachusetts voters elect a new senator, during a special election in January. His appointment helps the Democrats hold onto an important filibuster-proof majority of 60 party members in the Senate.
©2009 Keen News Service