Former Michigan state Representative Lorence Wenke announced this week that he’d be leaving the Republican party, citing the GOP’s fiercely antigay agenda as being “on the wrong side of history” and something he could no longer be a part of.
As one of just two Republican legislators who voted against the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2004, the newly self-identified Libertarian called the systematic discrimination of LGBTs by any member of government “taxpayer abuse.”
“I was the only legislator to call it what it is — discrimination against our gay brothers and sisters,” he wrote in a statement earlier this week. He went on to call out three other Republican legislators who voted in favor of the constitutional ban, despite having gay brothers. Wenke wrote, “I challenge them with this question: ‘If You will not stand up for your own family members, who will you stand up for?'”
Wenke also calls out Gov. Rick Snyder for refusing to take a position on gay rights. Last month, Snyder refused to acknowledge same-sex marriages performed in Michigan during the short-lived full day that the state had marriage equality. “I can only assume it is because they fear the political consequences,” Wenke wrote.
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“I support the constitutional right of our gay family members to enjoy the same rights as our heterosexual family members,” he continued. On the subject of the GOP encouraging churches to discriminate against same-sex couples, he added “These same people often ignore the clear teachings of Jesus and Paul stating that remarriage after divorce is committing adultery.”
Now, as a more vocal supporter of LGBT rights, Wenke plans to run for Michigan Senate in November, against his former GOP colleagues.
1EqualityUSA
Thanks for having the courage to speak on your convictions and recognize discrimination, Mr. Wenke. I wish more would do the same. Republicans will not be forgotten for their stance against our community. Thank you for speaking out.
Stache99
“Republican legislators who voted in favor of the constitutional ban, despite having gay brothers. Wenke wrote, “I challenge them with this question: ‘If You will not stand up for your own family members, who will you stand up for?”
Wow. What kind of sociopaths are they and why am I not even surprised. Good point that people should be asking.
Very refreshing to hear from a member of the GOP. Excuse me Libertarian now.
Kieran
I have to laugh when homophobic Republicans pretend that they are taking a “moral stand” by opposing gay marriage. There was a time in recent history when Divorce was universally considered “morally wrong”. But society evolved and now divorce is rarely ever considered “immoral” anymore.
If Republicans really wanted to “protect marriage” they would be adamantly opposed to laws allowing divorce. But let’s face it, they aren’t “moral” they’re just hypocrites.
Scribe38
Wow. Actually happy to claim Michigan as my home state after reading that. Good job Sir!
kevininbuffalo
Good for you Mr. Wenke! Good luck in November.
BBellairs
I always vote straight ticket Democrat, but come November I just might be voting a split ticket and vote for Mr. Wenke! Good for him.
Icebloo
This is all or his own gain. He knows he can get mre peole to vote for him if he positions himself less as an extremist and more as someone who is in the middle ground.
Libertarian is the same as Republican – they want to scrap Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps and the Affordable Care Act. They just call themselves by a different name so the weak, stupid people who pay no attention are fooled into thinking they are different.
Ron Paul is a Libertarian. He signed a pledge to introduce a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage if he won the election. Ron Paul also took money from the KKK and one of the most senior members of his campaign team is a senior member of the KKK. Ron Paul admitted this.
Libertarians try to steal votes from Democrats by pretending to stand for gay marriage and legalized marijuana but it is just a big hoax to steal Democratic votes.
WAKE up and PAY ATTENTION people ! ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS !
Icebloo
@Icebloo: I apologize for all my silly spelling mistakes in my previous post. I typed too fast and my autocorrect did not highlight them. I need to make sure I proof-read from now on !
It was supposed to read “This is all for his own gain. He knows he can get more people to vote for him if he positions himself less as an extremist and more as someone who is in the middle ground”.
Mikah
Welcome to the team.
james_in_cambridge
@Icebloo: You are a 100% correct. I admire this man’s stance on my rights; it’s mighty white of him to think I’m a human being when most Republicans don’t, but I could never vote for a Libertarian: they’re even more extreme than the modern day Republican Party on economic issues. If they had their way, we’d just hand the entire country over to the likes of the Koch Bros. Libertarians want to eliminate all safety nets. Medicaid, Social Security, federal parks, you name it, they want it all gone. Libertarians are fantastic on social issues because they’re live and let live when it comes to people’s personal lives, which is as it should be. But on economic issues, they are terrifying in a way even Republicans aren’t.
Cam
Anybody have a link to send him a campaign donation?
Billysees
@Kieran:
Best comment.
” But society evolved and now divorce is rarely ever considered “immoral” anymore. ”
We all must make common sense decisions about our lives and to remarry after divorce is simple better for most everyone, especially if children are involved.
In my opinion, the Bible and its commentary is not good enough, alone. It’s truth, but not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Paul, the major NT contributor, put it this way —
1. …All that I now know is partial and incomplete…
2. Now we see things imperfectly…
Therefore, all of his writings, and reasonably those of the others, can be described similarly.
Our hope then must always be that we make good decisions about how we should live our lives.
BJ McFrisky
Might as well have resigned as changed party to Libertarian—they never get elected, and I know this, because I vote Libertarian.
Mezaien
NO! he won`t get any Liberal, vote. He can change his name, but the label still the same; F..U..C..K..E..D up white Christian republican who support “Puking” oops Putin.
mike1988
@Icebloo: No matter how many times they say it, neither Ron Paul nor Rand Paul is a libertarian
Observant
@james_in_cambridge: “mighty white . . .”? Really?
james_in_cambridge
@Observant: Isn’t that still a thing?