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Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles or photography by Ward Morrison advertising in Metro Weekly is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person or organization. © 2015 Jansi LLC. 78 LAST WORD 4 MARCH 26, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM METROWEEKLY.COM MARCH 26, 2015 5 Now online at MetroWeekly.com James Franco comes out... sort of NewsLGBT Jeb Bush: “People have a right” to discriminate against gays Making It Official Sen. Ted Cruz declares his candidacy as 2016’s culture warrior by Justin Snow HE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAM- paign officially began Monday morning in Lynchburg, Virginia, where Sen. Ted TCruz announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. “I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America,” Cruz told a crowd at Liberty University. “And that is why today I am announcing that I am running for president of the United States.” The announcement was not unex- pected, not least because Cruz broke the news of his campaign on Twitter just after midnight, Monday. The Texas Republican has been flirting with a run GAGE SKIDMORE for president since being elected to the Cruz U.S. Senate in 2012. But his decision to our values, imagine a federal govern- legislating from the bench.” According to formally announce his candidacy before ment that works to defend the sanctity of The Des Moines Register, Cruz described any other Republican or Democrat allows human life and to uphold the sacrament the embrace of marriage equality as an Cruz to garner headlines and, at least for of marriage,” Cruz said. “unrelenting assault on traditional mar- the time being, exert power over the tone Cruz has been positioning himself as riage.” Cruz argued before the Supreme and conversation of the campaign until 2016’s social warrior for months. Citing Court nine times as solicitor general of other candidates jump into the ring. the “real danger to our liberty” posed by Texas, more times than any other mem- During his 30-minute speech at court rulings legalizing same-sex mar- ber of Congress. Liberty University, which was founded by riage, Cruz vowed earlier this month to Cruz first vowed to introduce such an Jerry Falwell, Cruz indicated what that introduce a constitutional amendment amendment last October, when he lashed tone will be. He will not seek to appeal to later this year that would only allow state out at the Supreme Court for “abdicating moderates as some previous Republican legislatures to define marriage. its duty to uphold the Constitution” by candidates have, but will double-down on “If the courts were following the allowing rulings striking down same-sex his conservative bonafides in an attempt Constitution, we shouldn’t need a new marriage bans in five states to stand, thus to appeal to grassroots conservatives who amendment,” Cruz told Iowa talk radio legalizing marriage equality in all states have become disengaged with the politi- host Jan Mickelson on Monday, accord- covered by the 4th Circuit, 7th Circuit cal process. Evangelicals are staying at ing to audio posted by Right Wing Watch. and 10th Circuit Courts of Appeals. home and not voting, Cruz said. “Imagine “But they are … making it up right now, He has also reintroduced in Congress instead millions of people of faith across and it’s a real danger to our liberty.” the State Marriage Defense Act, which America coming out to the polls and vot- The Texas Republican’s remarks came would require the federal government ing our values,” he continued. the same day he told a crowd of about to defer to the marriage laws of the state As has been the case in previous 200 evangelical Christians in Iowa that where a couple resides to determine if speeches, Cruz dismissed shifting public the overwhelming number of state and the couple is eligible for federal benefits, opinion and reinforced his opposition to federal judges who have struck down in effect invalidating for federal purposes same-sex marriage. “Instead of a federal bans on same-sex marriage are “ignoring the marriages of same-sex families liv- government that works to undermine their oaths, ignoring the Constitution and ing in the remaining 13 states that do 6 MARCH 26, 2015 METROWEEKLY.COM Making It Official GAGE SKIDMORE METROWEEKLY.COM MARCH 26, 2015 7 LGBTNews not recognize same-sex marriage. He has of those men have scored primary victo- debate by striking down the remaining also introduced a resolution to overturn ries before, with Santorum winning the state bans — a move some Republicans a D.C. law requiring religiously-affiliat- Iowa Republican caucuses in 2012 and would no doubt appreciate — candidates ed educational institutions to prohibit Huckabee winning the same caucuses in like Cruz do not seem inclined to let the LGBT discrimination. 2008. By declaring early, Cruz no doubt issue go quietly. That too could prove Cruz faces long odds at securing the hopes to shore up support before the first detrimental to wooing the general elec- Republican presidential nomination. He primary elections early next year. torate. According to a recent YouGov/ does not have the support of party elders “I think the biggest takeaway is that Huffington Post poll, supporting same- and is disliked by many in his party. between the venue, strident opposition sex marriage is more likely to help than There have been countless stories writ- to marriage equality, and his first-out-of- hurt a presidential candidate. Thirty-two ten about his tense relationship with the-gate strategy, Senator Cruz is trying percent of respondents said they would fellow Senate Republicans, with perhaps to stake out a space in the 2016 race as the be more inclined to vote for a candidate the most famous incident being when social issues warrior in a GOP field that who supports same-sex marriage, with 33 Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called Cruz could well be crowded with social issues percent responding a candidates views on a “wacko bird.” warriors,” Gregory T. Angelo, executive the issue do not matter. Only 24 percent That doesn’t mean his insurgent can- director of Log Cabin Republicans, said were more likely to support a presidential didacy won’t make for tense moments in an email. “Anyone who’s going to win candidate opposed to same-sex marriage. during the GOP primary debates as targeting that voter demo is going to have According to Angelo, it is doubtful Republicans like former Florida Gov. Jeb their work cut out for them shoring up a Cruz will get much support from his Bush, who has softened his tone on mar- fractured sub-electorate that puts social organization. “For someone who holds riage equality, is confronted with Cruz’s issues first and foremost.” himself up as a champion of the constitu- brash style. With the U.S. Supreme Court set to tion, Senator Cruz should know better And it seems likely Cruz will face com- rule on nationwide marriage equality than to conflate civil marriage with the petition from other social conservatives later this year, Republican presidential sacrament of Holy Matrimony,” he said. who may jump into the race, including candidates are unlikely to have much “The incorrect intertwining the two is former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, choice in addressing same-sex marriage. the primary reason we continue to have Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former And even should the nation’s highest battles over marriage equality at all in Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Two court remove marriage equality from the this country.” l adoption — and for same-sex couples, marriage and adoption — which would render the bill unnecessary so long as a Maryland’s Equality Measures non-biological parent married the parent Birth certificate bill successfully avoids unfavorable amendments, but of the child and sought to adopt the chil- de facto parent law is dead dren they were raising together.