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Gerald Ford And Gays: The Unknown Story

Posted by GayPatriot at 8:27 am - December 31, 2006.
Filed under: American History, Gay America, Gay Politics, Great Americans, Great Men, Heroes, Post 9-11 America

Hat tip to GayOrbit for highlighting this article.

Ford Praised For Backing Gay Equality - Washington Blade

Although Ford did not take a public stand on gay issues during his presidency, gay activists have credited him with using his enormous stature as a past president and elder statesman to speak out for gay civil rights.

In a widely read interview in October 2001 with lesbian columnist Deb Price of the Detroit News, Ford called on his fellow Republicans to join him in supporting equal treatment for gay people.

“I have always believed in an inclusive policy, in welcoming gays and others into the party,” Ford said. “I think the party has to have an umbrella philosophy if it expects to win elections.”

When asked by Price if gay couples should receive the same economic benefits as married couples, such as Social Security and tax deductions, Ford said, “I don’t see why they shouldn’t. I think that’s a proper goal…I think they ought to be treated equally. Period.”

Ford’s gay-supportive comments in the Price interview prompted the Republican Unity Coalition, a gay-straight alliance that advocated support for gay issues within the Republican Party, to invite Ford to join its advisory board.

****

Ford later expressed support for legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.

In September 1975, shortly after Ford became president and years before he spoke out on gay issues, a gay man in San Francisco saved his life by grabbing the arm of a deranged woman as she pointed a revolver at Ford’s head. The incident occurred as Ford emerged from the Saint Francis Hotel, with more than 2000 people waiting to greet the new president. 

This piece was great to read because I wasn’t aware of President Ford’s presence on the board of the Republican Unity Coalition (to which I have donated in the past), or his position on gay issues.  That being said, I have always shared the same fondness for President Ford that Dan expressed earlier.

Although the media has been characterizing Ford as being somewhat of a transition figure from Rockefeller Republicans to Reagan Republicans, I believe history will show that in only two short years, Gerald Ford helped this nation ten times more than the man who defeated him in 1976.

Certainly Ford’s vocal support for gay equality completes my admiration of our 38th President.  Rest in peace, Mr. President.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

10 Comments »

  1. I have always admired Pres. Ford. And now that I hear that he is very progressive on gay rights, gives me more reason to like him. Good post, GP.

    Comment by Pat — December 31, 2006 @ 8:52 am - December 31, 2006

  2. [...] Gay Patriot: In Memoriam Gerald R. Ford, Gerald Ford And Gays: The Unknown Story Captain’s Quarters: Don’t call Hitchens for my Euolgy Atlas Shrugs: Gerald Ford, RIP: If Only he beat Carter [...]

    Pingback by The Thomas Chronicles » Whitewater rapid events — December 31, 2006 @ 11:59 am - December 31, 2006

  3. The story of former Marine Oliver Stipple, the man that saved President Ford, is rather sad.

    (from http://www.365gay.com)

    …Seventeen days later in San Francisco Sara Jane Moore, a 45-year-old political activist, was arrested after she fired a gun at the president.

    The shot missed, and before she could get off a second shot Oliver Sipple who had been in the crowd beside Moore grabbed her arm.

    Ford again was unhurt but the event and the media flurry that followed changed Sipple’s life forever.

    Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1941 Sipple had served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, where was wounded twice. Following his discharge in 1970 he moved to San Francisco, living on a veteran’s disability pension.

    With the media clamoring for information on the man who saved the presidents life openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk told a reporter that Sipple was gay and had worked on the campaign that made Milk the first gay local politician in the US.

    But while Milk and Sipple’s friends in San Francisco knew he was gay his family did not. Following the press report his mother disowned him.

    Sipple, shocked by the outing issued a statement: “My sexual orientation has nothing at all to do with saving the President’s life, just as the color of my eyes or my race has nothing to do with what happened in front of the St. Francis Hotel.”

    He then sued the San Francisco Chronicle and six other papers for damages, and the mental stress he suffered as a result of his mother’s action. The lawsuit dragged on until it finally was dismissed in court five years later.

    The distress that Sipple was going through led him to drink. He was found dead on February 2, 1989 in his apartment. Police at the time said they believed he had been dead for two weeks.

    On the wall, not far from where his body lay slumped in a chair, hung a framed letter of gratitude from President Ford.

    “I want you to know how much I appreciated your selfless actions last Monday. The events were a shock to us all, but you acted quickly and without fear for your own safety. By doing so, you helped to avert danger to me and to others in the crowd. You have my heartfelt appreciation,” it read.

    Only 30 people attended Sipple’s funeral.

    Comment by Patrick (gryph) — December 31, 2006 @ 1:54 pm - December 31, 2006

  4. Err. don’t know what the deal is with posting, it seems to be hit and miss as to whether it takes or not.

    [GP Ed. Note - .... Or, I've decided to put all of your comments into moderation and decide one-by-one whether to approve them or not.]

    Comment by Patrick (gryph) — December 31, 2006 @ 1:56 pm - December 31, 2006

  5. And the point you are trying to make, Gryphon? That a man can’t be a hero unless he lets others define his sexuality? Please clarify.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

    Comment by Peter Hughes — December 31, 2006 @ 2:17 pm - December 31, 2006

  6. Bruce, GP, thank you for your kind words about President Ford. I commend you with the same kudos I previously gave Dan (GPW).

    Your words mean a lot today. I have been upset since this morning, when someone from the Washington Times — his first name is Charlie — appeared on Fox News and ridiculed President Ford. He said he could cite only one important accomplishment during Ford’s presidency: all the “great” Chevy Chase movies that might not have been made had a “bumbling” President Ford not made a “star” out of Chase.

    Comment by Jack L. Allen — December 31, 2006 @ 3:23 pm - December 31, 2006

  7. The Blade, and other gay media outlets, as well as mainstream media outlets, publish this story, but it remains “unknown” because you don’t know about it? Even gay.com published pieces on this! I’m glad you learned about Ford’s positions on gay issues. Now compare them with your hero in the White House now. Anything different?

    [GP Ed. Note - Sean... take a chill pill and get off the Angry Truck, okay?]

    Comment by sean — December 31, 2006 @ 5:19 pm - December 31, 2006

  8. How interesting that in #0, Bruce is praising an accomplishment of Ford’s AFTER his Presidency. In the current decade, to be exact.

    Everyone sane, I believe, must agree that Ford has been a terrific ex-President. And much better than Carter - both as President, and as ex-President.

    Having said that: was Ford as good as, say, Reagan? I’d have to say no. He made a few good moves and any number of lame efforts. He was in bed with the Rockefeller liberals. He had one broad category of accomplishment, that we could call “cleaning up Nixon’s messes” - and, like the Bush Presidents, had problems with “the vision thing” beyond that. I don’t think Ford could have done the job Reagan did in the 1980s.

    Again, I quite agree Ford was a good man and better than the alternatives (Carter and Nixon).

    Comment by Calarato — December 31, 2006 @ 6:02 pm - December 31, 2006

  9. I heard an interesting commentary on the radio this morning that Ford may be best remembered for bringing back America’s trust in the Presidency in only a couple of short years. I’m too young to remember Ford (as I was only a toddler when he was President) but from the things I have read, it sounded about right. There is also an interesting article on Time.com today about Ford’s very private faith. Quite a good read (even in liberal Time ;-)) that shed some light on a side of President Ford that I was not aware of.

    Comment by Mike — January 2, 2007 @ 11:53 am - January 2, 2007

  10. Finally, a sensible post from the Gay Patriot. Move this post to the top GP. It beats the heck out of everything you’ve written since.

    Comment by Rheadher — January 6, 2007 @ 12:28 pm - January 6, 2007

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