CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The sole Democratic challenger for Elizabeth Dole's U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina came out over the weekend in an online forum.
Jim Neal, the head of a Chapel Hill, N.C., corporate financial advisory firm, announced October 4 that he would seek the Democratic nomination, but he did not mention his sexual orientation at that time. Neal, 50, was previously married and has two sons.
On the progressive political blog BlueNC.com, Neal responded to a participant who said he heard that Neal is gay.
"I am indeed," Neal answered. "No secret and no big deal to me -- I wouldn't be running if I didn't think otherwise."
If successful in his bid to unseat first-term senator Elizabeth Dole, Neal would be the first openly gay person in the U.S. Senate, though he would not be the only out officeholder from North Carolina. Lesbian state senator Julia Boseman was elected to the general assembly in 2004.
Democratic insiders contend that Dole is vulnerable, due to her unwavering support of President Bush's policies and a poor showing by Republicans when she led the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 2006 elections. On gay issues, Dole is consistently conservative: She has supported a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage and has expressed opposition to ENDA, the federal bill to extend workplace protections to gays and lesbians. A Elon University poll recently put Dole's job approval rating at 50%.
Unlike Dole, Neal appeared to affirm support for same-sex marriage, framing it as an issue of discrimination.
"It's OK if churches want to unite same-sex couples," he said in the online conference. "It's OK if they don't. That's their constitutional right, which I support 100%. But when it comes to the government, I'm not in favor of any laws that discriminate against anyone for any reason."
Despite Dole's vulnerability, prominent North Carolina Democrats have declined to challenge her. Gov. Mike Easley, Atty. Gen. Roy Cooper, and U.S. representative Brad Miller have all declined to throw their hats in the ring.
Neal asserted his confidence that a gay man could win in the South. "I'm not running this race to lose. I'm not running to make some social statement," he said in the forum. "I'm running to lead in the Senate for the voters in North Carolina -- something Senator Dole has not done. When people meet me, they'll see beyond the labels and into my character."
Neal's success may depend on whether the Republicans intend to make his sexuality an issue, says Pam Spaulding, a North Carolina resident and editor of the political LGBT-oriented blog Pam's House Blend.
"The rural areas of this state are quite conservative, and a negative campaign based on his sexuality will play well there," she told Gay.com. "The urban areas are more progressive and are likely to vote on the issues. It also depends on what kind of support he receives from the Democratic Party."
The North Carolina Democratic Party, for its part, will not say how much it expects Neal's sexual orientation to become a campaign issue, but it has stated there is a potential for other candidates to get into the race.
"We are an open and inclusive party. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds," state party spokeswoman Kerra Bolton told Gay.com on Monday. "We trust voters to make informed decisions based on Elizabeth Dole's record of failing North Carolina."
Though Neal has never held elected office, he worked as national fund-raiser for Erskine Bowles's 2004 Senate campaign and full-time fundraiser for the presidential campaigns of retired Army general Wesley Clark and U.S. senator John Kerry in 2004.
In response to one forum participant's warning that the right wing would be after him, Neal replied, "I'm a big boy. I can take it and I can dish it." (Larry Buhl, Gay.com)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Maine signs trans and abortion sanctuary bill into law, despite violent threats
April 25 2024 11:39 AM
Terrorist threat stops Nashville disc golf tournament with transgender player
April 25 2024 10:40 AM
Harvey Weinstein's sex crime conviction overturned in New York, new trial ordered
April 25 2024 10:27 AM
Alleged Minneapolis mass shooters charged after killing one at LGBTQ+ punk rock show
April 25 2024 10:21 AM
Gay Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic primary for auditor general
April 25 2024 7:30 AM
Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia
April 25 2024 6:30 AM
How a lesbian's triumph on the Portland Timbers billboard broke barriers
April 24 2024 4:52 PM
‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit unveiled at inaugural survivors’ summit
April 24 2024 4:46 PM
Trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos beaten to death in Miami Beach; arrest made
April 24 2024 4:36 PM
TikTok may be banned in the U.S. after Biden signs new law — Why?
April 24 2024 3:43 PM
Serial killer of gay men in New Orleans released after 46 years in prison
April 24 2024 2:16 PM