Women and Politics

This post was submitted by Rebecca Freedholm, WCF Communications Fellow

While I was initially excited to see WCF endorsed candidate Brittany Novotny appear in The New York Times, I was disappointed by Hailey R. Branson’s portrayal of the Oklahoma State House race in her article, “A Gay Campaign? Both Sides Demur.” The title of the article tells everything—this race should not be about Novotny’s sexuality or gender identity, and yet this is what many, including Branson, are going to focus on nonetheless.

From the beginning of her candidacy, Novotny has maintained that she does not want her transgender identity to be at the forefront of her campaign. In fact, she doesn’t think it should be an issue at all: “I want to be a representative, and I don’t want to let the fact that I went through that part of my life affect that I am right for the job.”

Although Novotny is not running on a LGBT rights platform, her opposition, led by Republican incumbent Sally Kern, continues to suggest that Novotny has an explicit “homosexual agenda” funded by a “homosexual lobby.” Not only are these allegations utterly untrue, but they are also intensely hypocritical; Kern is the candidate forcing sexuality into the spotlight of this race and conducting an anti-LGBT campaign.

In 2008, OK State Rep. Sally Kern made national headlines when she voiced her extreme views on homosexuality. Kern insisted that homosexuality is “the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism and Islam” and continued by contending that “this stuff is deadly and it spreads and it will destroy our young people and it will destroy this nation.”

She has since garnered support from radical groups like Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, which actively and publicly condemns homosexuality as well as Brittany Novotny’s candidacy. Kern may deem herself the “pro-family” representative, but she seems more aptly to be the anti-LGBT, anti-woman representative. Novotny expressed her concerns about her opponent to Greg Horton from The Oklahoma Gazette:

“[Sally Kern] said in her bio in The Oklahoman that she entered politics to fight a culture war. Her agenda is a social one, not one to build a better community by focusing on economic development, jobs, small businesses, education and other issues that impact all Oklahomans.”

Novotny places these essential issues—jobs, education, economic development, and transportation—on the front line of her platform. That’s why Branson’s depiction of Novotny was so unfortunate; Novotny was described simply as Kern’s transgender opponent rather than as the strong, multifaceted candidate she truly is.

“Honestly, I don’t feel that this version is a fair representation of the time the reporter spent with me on the campaign trail. There are no quotes about me knocking doors or from my supporters, while there is a quote from a Sally supporter (who doesn’t live in the district). I feel that the piece presented me as a candidate fighting for LGBT rights, when in fact I’m a candidate fighting for Oklahoma’s future through Jobs, Education, and Transportation (issues that affect ALL Oklahomans).”

At WCF, we believe that Brittany Novotny is an intelligent, motivated, and dedicated candidate who will make significant changes once elected to Oklahoma’s State House. While we think that her unique life experiences may provide much needed diversity in government, above all we admire her commitment to improving the lives of Oklahoma citizens and believe that she is the right candidate to “build a brighter future for Oklahoma.”

This post was submitted by Sophie Shulman, WCF Communications Fellow

Terri Sewell, WCF-Endorsed Candidate for Alabama’s 7th District, just announced new fundraising numbers that show her with a steady lead over her opponent Shelia Smoot. The numbers suggest that in May and June, Sewell raised at least $250,000 more than Smoot—confirming our opinion that Sewell is the strongest candidate to represent Alabama.

Indeed, Sewell’s story is one that reflects her deep roots in the district— growing up in Selma, Alabama, she is the daughter of a high school basketball coach and librarian. Although Sewell’s talents gave her the opportunity to attend some of the most prestigious universities in the world, she ultimately chose to return home to share her talents with the people of Alabama. As she says herself:

“I have exactly the skill set in Washington that this District needs, and the passion and desire to make sure that other have the same opportunities that I had.”

Sewell’s candidacy is so exciting because she also applies that same passion and desire to women’s rights. Her record as an Attorney shows that she is genuinely interested in the well-being and girls and women—she has worked to prevent domestic violence and has mentored young girls of color from disadvantaged backgrounds. Sewell also recognizes the importance of having women in leadership positions:

“I know that when women are at the table, issues of families and children really get decided and discussed… Just watching the health care debate, and the fact that the Stupak amendment got defeated is a very good example of how having effective women legislators in Congress makes a difference.”

And in Alabama, electing a woman to office is especially significant. Alabama is ranked 48th in the nation for the number of women in public office, and if elected, Sewell would be the first woman ever elected to Congress from the state. Shelia Smoot, Sewell’s opponent in the Democratic runoff, is also a talented African American woman who supports women’s rights, and its reassuring to know that, either way, Alabama voters are likely to make history this November. However, Sewell has proven throughout her campaign—and professional career—that she has the knowledge, skills, and courage to stand up for her constituents and her ideals.

Let’s wish Sewell the best of luck in her runoff on Tuesday, July 13, and celebrate the shattering of another glass ceiling in Alabama!