Republican Senate Candidate for Missouri and current Republican Congressman, Todd Akin has made national headlines for his controversial statements at the Missouri KTVI-TV station Sunday about women’s rights.Akin made a completely ignorant statement about rape:
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said. “But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
But Akin has made uneducated and asinine regarding LGBT rights as well. This is what he had to say about the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell as repealing the archaic measure was an attempt from Democrats to pus a “social agenda”
“The president has repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and he’s now using the military as campaign props to advance the gay agenda. My sons and our sons and daughters didn’t volunteer to be part of some political agenda; they volunteered to protect our freedom in America.”
Oh wait, there’s more. Akin also has made negative comments about gay marriage:
“From a practical point of view, to preserve our civilization and society, it’s important for us to preserve marriage–Anybody who knows something about the history of the human race knows that there is no civilization which has condoned homosexual marriage widely and openly that has long survived.”
Akin has also voted for DOMA (Defensive of Marraaige Act) including a measure he attempted to push last year that would prevent military chaplins and other religious officials from marrying same-sex couples as well as prohibiting same-sex marriages of any kind from being performed on military bases and facilities. Akin also voted twice for the Federal Marriage Amendment that wanted to define marriage while voting against EDNA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) .
President for the Human Rights Campaign Chad Griffin released a statement on Akin’s view about LGBT rights:
“He’s against any kind of relationship recognition for same-sex couples; he’s made remarks that are demeaning to LGBT families; he voted against the historic repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and he refuses to support workplace protections. Todd Akin is no friend to anyone who has experienced discrimination and is looking to their elected officials to protect their rights under the law.”
Many politicians have publicly spoken out and denounced Akin’s response on rape from both party lines. Jerame Davis of the Stonewall Democrats said that Akin should “resign from office with all due haste.” Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas even commented that Akin’s statement is “wrong, offensive and indefensible”. Even the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has withdraewn the 5 million dollars set aside to help Akin’s campaign for election.