Outright Libertarians
Encyclopedia
Outright Libertarians is an association in the United States
of lesbian
, gay
, bisexual, transgendered, and other self-identified "queer
" (LGBTQ) people who are active in the Libertarian Party
. The group's motto is "From Liberty Springs Equality."
, lesbian
, bisexual and transgender
persons that wanted to persuade their fellow LGBTQ persons to support a libertarian perspective on gay rights
issues, and to support the United States Libertarian Party.
It is the third LGBT organization of the Libertarian Party, with the defunct "Libertarians for Gay and Lesbians Concerns" being the first, and the "Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty" being largely inactive since 2001.
Due to its philosophical basis in libertarianism
, the organization is often in the position of having to oppose civil rights
legislation for involving what it contends are intrusive and unnecessary government regulations into private affairs. This opposition often places it at odds with proponents of so-called expanded protections for sexual minorities.
, issues press releases and statements of position, and surveys Libertarian candidates about their positions related to gay rights concerns.
The organization also conducts active outreach through sponsorship of booths at major US gay pride
events; they have appeared at pride events in Boston, Atlanta, and San Francisco in recent years.
, Democratic
, and Libertarian parties. Of the 23 candidates who responded, five said they support gay marriage – two Democrats (Dennis Kucinich
and Mike Gravel
) and three Libertarians (Christine Smith, George Phillies, and Steve Kubby
). All of the Republican candidates and the Democratic front-runners (Barack Obama
, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards
) said they do not support gay marriage. Democrats Edwards, Clinton, and Obama said they support civil unions, as well as Libertarian candidate Wayne Allyn Root
.
Outright Libertarians endorsed George Phillies for President.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, bisexual, transgendered, and other self-identified "queer
Queer
Queer is an umbrella term for sexual minorities that are not heterosexual, heteronormative, or gender-binary. In the context of Western identity politics the term also acts as a label setting queer-identifying people apart from discourse, ideologies, and lifestyles that typify mainstream LGBT ...
" (LGBTQ) people who are active in the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
. The group's motto is "From Liberty Springs Equality."
History
Outright Libertarians was created in 1998 by a group of libertarian gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
persons that wanted to persuade their fellow LGBTQ persons to support a libertarian perspective on gay rights
Libertarian perspectives on gay rights
The libertarian perspective on LGBT rights illustrates how libertarian individuals and Libertarian Parties have applied the libertarian philosophy to the subject of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual – collectively LGBT – rights....
issues, and to support the United States Libertarian Party.
It is the third LGBT organization of the Libertarian Party, with the defunct "Libertarians for Gay and Lesbians Concerns" being the first, and the "Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty" being largely inactive since 2001.
Position on LGBT rights
The group supports the Libertarian Party's positions (which have remained the same since the party's first platform in 1972) on including equal marriage and adoption, equal military service, and the end of sodomy laws.Due to its philosophical basis in libertarianism
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, the organization is often in the position of having to oppose civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
legislation for involving what it contends are intrusive and unnecessary government regulations into private affairs. This opposition often places it at odds with proponents of so-called expanded protections for sexual minorities.
- Sodomy lawSodomy lawA sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as crimes. The precise sexual acts meant by the term sodomy are rarely spelled out in the law, but are typically understood by courts to include any sexual act deemed unnatural. It also has a range of similar euphemisms...
s – opposes sodomy laws as "unwarranted intrusion into the private bedrooms of all consenting adults." Even though the United States Supreme Court has ruled that sodomy laws are unconstitutional (see Lawrence v. TexasLawrence v. TexasLawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 , is a landmark United States Supreme Court case. In the 6-3 ruling, the Court struck down the sodomy law in Texas and, by proxy, invalidated sodomy laws in the thirteen other states where they remained in existence, thereby making same-sex sexual activity legal in...
), Outright Libertarians seeks to have states repeal the laws from the books, such as the one in Utah.
- Marriage – The government has no role to play in the relationships of people, other than possibly as a record keeper. While there may be privately-provided benefits to registering a new relationship with the government (lower insurance rates, for example), there should be no law saying you must do so or who cannot register. There ought to be no government-provided benefits to such registration (such as Social Security survivor benefits), but if such government benefits do exist (and there are currently over 1100 of them), then distribution of those benefits should not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity (since LGBT individuals aren't exempted from paying the taxes that fund these benefits). They support the Libertarian Party's eventual goal of treating marriage and other personal relationships as private contracts, and repealing current laws and opposing future laws defining marriage or assigning special benefits on any basis, both at the state and federal level.
- Adoption – The government shouldn’t have any role in the adoption of children except as a record keeper; unless the government itself has custody of the child or children involved. Adoption, custody and legal guardianship are private issues to be dealt with between the custodial parent(s) or agency and the person or people who wish to enter into these types of commitments. Neither the government nor the police should become involved unless there is evidence of fraud, coercion or abuse.
- Civil rights – usually opposes both the expansion of civil rightsCivil rightsCivil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
laws to include sexual orientationSexual orientationSexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
or gender identityGender identityA gender identity is the way in which an individual self-identifies with a gender category, for example, as being either a man or a woman, or in some cases being neither, which can be distinct from biological sex. Basic gender identity is usually formed by age three and is extremely difficult to...
when they apply to private entities. They feel that equal opportunity legislation violates associative rights, and that hate crime laws promotes legalized discrimination against the victims of some violent crimes in favor of others.
- AIDS funding – opposes any usage of taxpayers' money to help fund, treat or fight the AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-HIVHIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
pandemic. All AIDS research, prevention, education, and treatment should be private and voluntary because they believe the government's ConstitutionalUnited States ConstitutionThe Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
responsibilities are defense, maintaining law and order, maintaining basic government infrastructure, and record keeping only. Outright Libertarians state that according to the government's own GAOGaoGao is a town in eastern Mali on the River Niger lying ESE of Timbuktu. Situated on the left bank of the river at the junction with the Tilemsi valley, it is the capital of the Gao Region and had a population of 86,663 in 2009....
reports between 60% and 80% of every dollar given to any department or agency of the federal government goes to pay for its overhead, salaries, and all the other expenses of its existence and that only an average of about 30% of each dollar actually gets used for the purpose stated. Since so much money is spent for other uses, Outright Libertarians believe giving to a research or charity organization that has little overhead costs would provide more money for fighting AIDS and helping those with AIDS than the government is likely to provide.
- Taxation – opposes most forms of taxation and supports libertarian free marketFree marketA free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economics.
- Gays in the militarySexual orientation and military serviceThe military forces of the world have differing approaches to the enlistment of homosexual and bisexual individuals. The armed forces of most developed countries have now removed policies excluding non-heterosexual individuals...
– opposes Don't ask, don't tellDon't ask, don't tell"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policies. Supports allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the armed forces.
- Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America membership controversiesThe Boy Scouts of America , one of the largest private youth organizations in the United States, has policies which prohibit atheists and agnostics from membership in its Scouting program, and prohibit "avowed" homosexual people from leadership roles in its Scouting program as directly violating...
– supports the right of private clubs and organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, to absolute "freedom of association," but is opposed to any form of government subsidy, even for non-discriminatory clubs.
Activities
As a grassroots organization, Outright Libertarians frequently hosts forums, participates in debates on LGBTQ issues, encourages debate and discussion on its blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, issues press releases and statements of position, and surveys Libertarian candidates about their positions related to gay rights concerns.
The organization also conducts active outreach through sponsorship of booths at major US gay pride
Gay pride
LGBT pride or gay pride is the concept that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity...
events; they have appeared at pride events in Boston, Atlanta, and San Francisco in recent years.
2008 election
Outright Libertarians sent out questionnaires to every candidate running for President from the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and Libertarian parties. Of the 23 candidates who responded, five said they support gay marriage – two Democrats (Dennis Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
and Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel
Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981, and a former candidate in the 2008 presidential election....
) and three Libertarians (Christine Smith, George Phillies, and Steve Kubby
Steve Kubby
Steven "Steve" Wynn Kubby is a Libertarian Party activist who played a key role in the drafting and passage of California Proposition 215. The proposition was a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana which was approved by voters in 1996. Kubby himself is well-known as a cancer patient who...
). All of the Republican candidates and the Democratic front-runners (Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
) said they do not support gay marriage. Democrats Edwards, Clinton, and Obama said they support civil unions, as well as Libertarian candidate Wayne Allyn Root
Wayne Allyn Root
Wayne Allyn Root is an American politician, entrepreneur, television and radio personality, author and political commentator. He was the 2008 Libertarian Party vice-presidential nominee. In June 2009 Richard Winger wrote he was the front runner for the 2012 Libertarian Presidential nomination...
.
Outright Libertarians endorsed George Phillies for President.
See also
- Lavender GreensLavender GreensThe National Lavender Greens Caucus is the United States Green Party's advocacy group on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer issues and is an officially accredited Identity Caucus of the Green Party...
- Log Cabin RepublicansLog Cabin RepublicansThe Log Cabin Republicans is an organization that works within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians in the United States with state chapters and a national office in Washington, D.C...
- Stonewall DemocratsStonewall DemocratsThe National Stonewall Democrats is an LGBT-rights group based in Washington, D.C. with a political affiliation to the Democratic Party. The word "Stonewall" in its name refers to the 1969 Stonewall riots, a pivotal event in the history of gay rights....