WASHINGTON BLADE www.washingtonblade.com JANUARY 11, 2008 15 national news For gay N.H. lawmaker, Obama was clear choice Iowa caucuses and three days street to another potential sup- the top three polling Democrats, Voters finally get their say before the nation’s first presiden- porter. But at that next door, the plus long-shot Dennis Kucinich. after long slog in the snow tial primary of 2008. Obama had man says he’s for Clinton. In the local sports bar-deli market, won Iowa, taking 38 percent of the But for Butler, Obama is the an undecided voter said she wasn’t By LISA KEEN delegates at the caucuses. The polls right candidate. He’s seen Edwards comfortable yet with Obama’s spouse were showing a close race between on the campaign trail and thought Michelle. Clinton’s spouse, former HART’S LOCATION, N.H. — Obama and Hillary Clinton. he was insincere and playing only President Bill Clinton, and Edwards’ When Ed Butler recently invited Going door to door, Butler to the cameras. He doesn’t like spouse, Elizabeth Edwards, seemed several neighbors to “the Met,” he found only one neighbor who said Clinton, Butler said, because he like clear assets, she said. was not playing into a gay male she was undecided. Everybody doesn’t like monarchies. He met “But “I’m not sure about his stereotype. He was campaigning else had taken sides — for Clinton, Obama last May and was struck by wife, with two little girls,” said for Barack Obama. Obama and John Edwards. A list his sense that Obama was seemed the woman. Butler, a New Hampshire state of registered voters showed the trustworthy and sincere. And, as a Butler urged the voter to representative, is gay. And he’s undecided woman had registered former nurse who worked with attend an event with Michelle one of those newcomers to poli- with no party affiliation. Butler people with AIDS in New York City Obama Monday at the Met, tics who surfed into office on the talked up all the Democrats, but in the 1980s, he thinks Obama has a adding, “Obama is somebody I Democratic tidal wave of emphasized Obama, then asked good health plan. can respect and trust.” November 2006. He’s also a 58- the woman how she thought she But gay issues were also critical. And that’s why, on an icy cold year-old innkeeper in the north might vote Tuesday. And Obama, he noted, was willing gray Saturday in New Hampshire, country of New Hampshire with “I kinda like Rudy,” she said. to repeal the entire Defense of ‘Obama is somebody I can respect and Butler was going door to door to his life partner. And together they “And Mitt Romney.” Marriage Act (DOMA), not just one trust,’ said Ed Butler, a gay New encourage voters to support are two of the 29 registered voters This is heavily Republican ter- section of it, like Clinton. Plus, said Hampshire state representative. Sen. Obama. At three minutes past mid- in the state’s smallest town. ritory, Butler acknowledged as he Butler, Obama has an “intimate Barack Obama lost to Sen. Hillary night on Tuesday, when voters of The Met is a coffeehouse in the continued down a long road. understanding” of discrimination. Rodham Clinton in a close primary race Hart’s Location joined voters in center of nearby North Conway “Can I talk to you about Butler acknowledged that the this week. (Photo by Lisa Keen) another small town, Dixville, as Village, where Michelle Obama, Obama?” he asks a man shoveling Obama campaign’s inclusion of the first to finish casting their the wife of the candidate, was to snow from a driveway where it anti-gay gospel singer Donnie Hampshire agrees, of course. The votes in the state’s primary, Hart’s appear in just a couple of days. has piled more than five feet high. McClurkin in a concert tour in state’s Freedom to Marry group location gave nine votes to Obama, On Saturday, just hours after “No,” says the man, “but he’s a South Carolina was a “mistake,” endorsed Edwards. State Rep. Jim six to John McCain, five to Mike having to take his 9-year-old great candidate.” but he felt Obama did a good job Splaine, who led last year’s suc- Huckabee, four to Ron Paul, three Bernese Mountain Dog, Abby, to As Butler walks on, a woman in responding and trying to help cessful legislative push for civil to Clinton and one each to Mitt the vet to have her euthanized, at the house runs out, calling both the gay and the black com- unions, is backing Clinton. In Romney and John Edwards. Butler hit the campaign trail for “You can talk to me!” Butler does, munity work through it. making phone calls Saturday, “It was an exciting vote,” said Obama. It was two days past the and she directs him across the Not every gay person in New Butler found gay voters for each of Butler, “and a great outcome.” Army sergeant comes out on CBS’ ‘60 Minutes’ video of himself in which he was uation can be considered by his in this Congress,” he said. No reaction from military shown kissing his boyfriend. chain of command.” “Unfortunately, I think that is in nearly one month later Manzella also said he has been Aubrey Sarvis, executive direc- large part due to resistance from open about his sexual orientation tor of Servicemembers Legal the administration.” By CHRIS JOHNSON with his fellow soldiers. About Defense Network, an organization Sarvis said SLDN is focused on a 12,000 service members have been working to repeal the ban, said he new administration and new The U.S. Army has taken no expelled from the military since doesn’t know why Manzella has not Congress, building a legislative action against Sgt. Darren 1993 as a result of the policy. heard from the Army since the record and making a case against Manzella despite a Dec. 16 appear- Manzella said he notified his piece aired. However, he argued “Don’t Ask” to the American public. ance on CBS’ “60 Minutes” in superior officers through e-mail that Manzella should be able to con- Manzella joined the Army in which he said he was gay. that he would be appearing on “60 tinue his duties and that his story 2002 and was assigned to Ft. Hood Manzella figured the appear- Minutes.” Manzella said when he demonstrates that some command- in Texas where he worked as lead ance would lead to his being dis- told the officer in charge of his ers are looking the other way and instructor for the Combat charged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t section, the officer said, “‘Wow, allowing good soldiers to serve. Lifesaver program, which trains Tell,” the military’s policy that pre- you can’t go back now.’” SLDN is supporting legislation non-medical soldiers in first-aid vents gays from serving openly. “He stood up and he shook my in Congress that would repeal the procedures to assist medical per- He’d been out publicly before, hand and he said ‘I wish you the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. A sonnel. In 2004, he deployed to though. Last July, he was profiled best of luck and it’s unfortunate bill is pending before the House Iraq and earned the Combat in the Advocate. that policies like this are in that has 140 co-sponsors. Sarvis Medical Badge for providing med- While on a short leave from his place,’” Manzella said. said he expects hearings in the ical support for soldiers. duties, Manzella appeared Manzella said the reaction House Armed Services subcom- Following his leave, Manzella Tuesday at the National Press Club from his comrades was particu- mittees this year. In the Senate, a is slated to resume his duties in in Washington to describe his larly sympathetic. bill is slated to be introduced by early January at Ft. Hood. experience in the military since Sgt. Darren Manzella expected his Army Army spokesperson Lt. Col. the end of the first or the second “I’m actually anxious to get the “60 Minutes” piece aired. days were numbered when he came out George Wright said the service quarter of this session, he said. back there and see everyone that On the show, he stated that he on national TV in December. (Blade photo would not discuss personnel mat- Sarvis said while SLDN sup- I’ve been working with and find told his commanding officer he by Henry Linser) ters for individual soldiers. ports these measures, he does not out my duties,” he said. was gay late in 2006. The Army However, he said Manzella had expect the committees to report Manzella received orders to then launched an investigation and took no action against him. only recently returned from his out the legislation for a floor vote. report to Ft. Drum in New York in into his sexual orientation, but During the investigation, Manzella duties overseas and so “it’s pre- “It’s unlikely that legislation May. He plans to continue to serve later told him, despite Manzella’s said he stated he was gay on a mature to speculate on any future will move out of the committee or in the military until his enlistment previous statement, he was not gay questionnaire and submitted a actions until the young man’s sit- to either floor for consideration ends in March 2011.