2020 AL Senatorial race: on Civil Rights


John Merrill: Being gay is a "decision," but would not take away rights

Merrill said, "A gay person can be gay, a straight person can be straight, that's a decision for each individual to make." Asked if there is a message he would deliver to gay Republicans in Alabama who might be offended by his remarks about "homosexual activities," Merrill said he would never be supportive of an effort to take away gay Alabamans' right to be openly gay.
Source: NBC News on 2020 Alabama Senate race Jul 17, 2019

John Merrill: America too interested in homosexual activities on TV

Merrill said that America is losing its moral core due to its preoccupation with "homosexual activities" and TV shows that focus on "how people are trying to date on TV." "There are no more good TV shows on like 'Gunsmoke,' 'Bonanza,' 'Andy Griffith,' 'I Love Lucy,'" Merrill said. "We don't have those shows anymore. We're too interested in homosexual activities." He said that America is obsessed with TV shows that lack biblical foundations and fail to promote a nuclear family.
Source: USA Today on 2020 Alabama Senate race Jul 16, 2019

John Merrill: We're too interested in homosexual activities in pop culture

Merrill fielded a question about the shift in the culture and noted that some of that shift could be attributed to the changes in pop culture, including what was being shown on television. "That's what we've allowed to happen," Merrill said. "How have we allowed it to happen? There are no more good TV shows on like 'Gunsmoke,' 'Bonanza,' 'The Virginian,' 'Andy Griffith,' 'I Love Lucy.' We don't have those shows anymore. We're too interested in homosexual activities. We're too interested in seeing how this family's finding a way to mess on this family or to see how people are trying to date on TV, or having wife-swapping on TV. That's what we watch. When we push back against that, and we quit allowing it to be in our homes--that's how those changes have occurred because we've allowed them to slowly but surely come into our lives."
Source: YellowHammerNews.com on 2020 Alabama Senate race Jul 12, 2019

Doug Jones: Protecting voting rights shouldn't be partisan issue

Jones is calling for an overhaul of U.S. voting laws and campaign finance laws. The measure includes same-day voter registration, new paper ballot standards for states, money for election systems and would target voter suppression tactics. Jones said it's not a partisan issue. "Voting is not just a right and a privilege, it is one of those things that everybody has a duty to do," he said. "And if they've got a duty we need to make that easier for people to exercise that duty."
Source: WHNT-19 News on 2020 Alabama Senate race Mar 11, 2019

Doug Jones: Co-sponsored civil rights protections for LGBTQ people

Jones is a political outlier, a Deep South advocate in the Senate for gay and lesbian people. On the federal level, Jones has followed through on his support during the campaign for gay and transgender rights. He became the 46th Senate co-sponsor of a bill to codify protections for gay and transgender people into civil rights laws, including the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Source: RollCall.com on 2020 Alabama Senate race Apr 13, 2018

Doug Jones: Endorsed of Human Rights Campaign

Jones has the endorsement of Human Rights Campaign for his views on LGBT issues. He's also voiced support for protecting the rights of transgender people in the military and in public schools.
Source: NBC News on 2020 Alabama Senate race Dec 12, 2017

John Merrill: Just because you're 18 doesn't give you the right to vote

Automatic voter registration has recently emerged a key tool in increasing the United States' anemic voter turnout. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, a Republican, has joined the opposition. Asked a question about automatic voter registration, Merrill declared that the practice "cheapen[s] the work" of civil rights heroes and that "just because you turned 18 doesn't give you the right" to vote.
Source: Slate.com on 2020 Alabama Senate race Nov 2, 2016

Bradley Byrne: States should be free to decide on gay marriage

States should be free to set their own marriage policies even if it means some choose to sanction gay unions, Byrne said. "I don't think the federal government should be involved in family issues--period," he said. Byrne said neither the federal government nor the courts should force same-sex unions on states like Alabama that hold true to traditional marriage. "That's why we have a federal system," he said.
Source: Birmingham News on 2020 Alabama Senate race Feb 18, 2014

Doug Jones: Gay son celebrates Jones' swearing in as senator

Jones took the oath of office from Vice President Pence. Looking on were Jones' wife, Louise, his son Christopher and his son, Carson, a-22-year-old zookeeper who confirmed he was gay.

Carson was "thrilled" with his dad's victory. "We have been overwhelmed by the support of so many people that made this happen. Alabama made a really big statement that unity wins out. I couldn't be prouder of him or my home state," he said.

Source: Birmingham News on 2020 Alabama Senate race Feb 18, 2014

Bradley Byrne: Marriage is defined as one man and one woman

Marriage is defined as one man and one woman. If more people in America understood that, a lot of problems we're facing, I don't think we would be facing them. Marriage should be between one man and one woman. We have established in our state constitution that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Source: Birmingham News on 2020 Alabama Senate debate Oct 21, 2013

Bradley Byrne: Supreme Court should not define marriage for states

Byrne said in a statement that he didn't believe the Supreme Court was the proper forum for deciding whether same-sex marriage should be legal. "I have always believed that marriage should be defined as the union between one man and one woman," he said. "I believe today's decision [legalizing same-sex marriage] threatens what should be exclusive state jurisdiction over matters pertaining to marriage."
Source: Birmingham News on 2020 Alabama Senate debate Oct 21, 2013

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Alabama Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Alabama on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for more quotes by Doug Jones on Civil Rights.
Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Jul 26, 2020