Less than a week
after becoming the 170th member of Congress to affirm
that his office does not discriminate in its employment
practices based on an individual's "sexual
orientation or gender identity and expression," U.S.
senator Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania
Republican, on Wednesday rescinded his signature on a
diversity statement. "Every person deserves the
opportunity to pursue their career and succeed,
regardless of whether they are gay, transgender, or
fit expectations for masculinity or femininity," said Riki
Wilchins, executive director of the Gender Public
Advocacy Coalition. "We were surprised but pleased
when Senator Santorum affirmed that his office does
not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender
identity or expression. We are disappointed by the
senator's new decision and hope he will reconsider in
the future."
The diversity
statement is a joint project initiated in 2003 by GenderPAC
and the Human Rights Campaign that has received bipartisan
support on Capitol Hill from members of the House and
Senate. Santorum's signature came after a meeting
during the week of July 24 between the senator and
GenderPac volunteers. After the meeting, Santorum posed
for a picture with them. A copy of the senator's
statement was faxed to GenderPAC on August 1, and the
signature was confirmed the following morning by
Santorum's openly gay senior aide, Robert Traynham.
On Wednesday,
Santorum faxed GenderPAC a new statement that read in part,
"To be clear, my office has not adopted the proposed
'diversity statement' nor the agenda of your
organization.... My name should no longer be reported
as having adopted the 'diversity statement.'"
"I am very
frustrated with my senator's flip-flopped message to his
constituents," said GenderPac volunteer Adrian Shanker.
"Pennsylvanians deserve representatives that have a strong
record in supporting equality for all. This latest
move doesn't come close."
Currently 24 U.S.
senators and 145 U.S. representatives--19 Republicans
and 148 Democrats--have endorsed the diversity
statement. (The Advocate)
