Courting the gay vote: some say Bill Richardson is on the Democrats' short list of candidates for vice president in 2008. But the governor of New Mexico insists he's running for the top spot or nothing--and he wants our vote.

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson may be low in the polls compared to other 2008 Democratic presidential candidates, but the former member of the U.S. House, secretary of energy, and ambassador to the United Nations says that leaves him only one direction to go: up.

Although he has yet to formally announce his candidacy, Richardson, who was elected to a second term as governor in 2006, spoke on March 24 at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles, where he laid out his plan to expand LGBT rights if elected-something he's already been doing in New Mexico.

In his first term as governor he signed an expanded civil rights law and a hatecrimes law that included crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity; he also signed an executive order to give heath insurance and other benefits to same-sex domestic partners of state employees. This term he's pushing state legislators to pass a domestic-partnership bill and even called the state legislature back for a special session in an effort to win approval. However, like his fellow Democratic contenders, Richardson does not support same-sex marriage. The Advocate spoke to him before his speech at the HRC dinner.

Why are you running for president?

Because I believe I can bring the country together. I believe the country is bitterly divided over issues like the war, immigration, and sexual orientation issues. And I believe with my experience, my record, my background as a diplomat, as a governor, a civil rights advocate, that I can bring this country together.

Are you running for vice president?

No! I'm not running for vice president. Everybody asks me that. If I don't win the nomination, I would return to the best job in the world, governor of New Mexico. I have four years to go.

How do you compete with one-name wonders like Hillary and Obama in terms of media oxygen and money?

We had a debate this morning in Las Vegas, Nevada, on health care. I believe I won that debate. This race is 10 months away. They can have all the money and the oxygen; I'll get the votes. And I feel very confident about that. I'm moving up slowly. Look at previous nominees--Bill Clinton and others who became our nominees they were way down right now. I don't want to be way up now.

What was your reaction to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace's comment about homosexuality being immoral?

I immediately put out a statement saying I believe it was wrong, he should apologize, and the White House should retract his statement. And if I'm elected president, I would get rid of "don't ask, don't tell." As a congressman I voted against it. I felt that men and women who serve in the military should not be stigmatized. We've got over 1 million gay and lesbian members of the armed forces who are veterans, and they should be shown the ultimate respect. I believe very strongly that "don't ask, don't tell" is a bad policy and should be scrapped.

In 2004, Republicans used antigay rhetoric effectively during statewide races and in the national campaign. Do you see the same dynamic happening in 2008?

No. I believe America is becoming more tolerant. There are three viable candidates who are minorities: African-American, Hispanic, and a woman. But still there are right-wing wedge elements that are going to try and exploit the issue. Let me just say to you--I've always been for gay rights, and I'm from a very red state, and I got 69% of the vote in the last election. And I've got a special session in New Mexico right now precisely to deal with domestic partnership and other issues. I'm standing firm, and I believe the public is behind me--because it is a matter of civil rights.

In 1996, when you were in Congress, you voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. Do you stand by that vote?

Yes, I do. I'm for civil unions, and I've got the strongest record of any governor in protecting gay rights, in nondiscrimination, in transgender [issues].

A lot of LGBT people would say that domestic partnerships create a "separate but equal" situation, which is inherently unfair.

I believe we have to work on the language because I would like to see an America that becomes more tolerant on that issue. I'm not somebody that has different positions. My gay rights record for 15 years in the Congress was 96%, 95%. [Editor's note: HRC's Congressional Scorecard gave Richardson scores of 78, 86, 89, and 100 in four House sessions it assessed.]

Is there a reason from a public policy standpoint why marriage shouldn't be the same for gay and straight couples?

It's important that we look at a stronger way to progress. I believe that what we're doing now in pursuing civil unions, in pursuing domestic partnership rights, in pursuing transgender rights, and covering the whole gamut of health care and insurance protections--that is the way to pursue it now. I just see it that way.

Do you see "don't ask, don't tell" changing in the next administration, Democratic or Republican, or do you think only a Democratic White House can make it happen?

I strongly believe it's important that issues relating to gay rights be bipartisan. There are Republicans that are progressive on this issue; Democrats more so. But my hope would be that whoever is the next president gets rid of this policy. My major objectives as president would be a domestic partnership act, a nondiscrimination act, and the elimination of "don't ask, don't tell."

One of the Republican candidates, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, also supports gay rights. Do you think that will influence whom gay people vote for?

I think gay voters should look at the record over a long time. If I'm the nominee, believe I deserve the vote of the gay community. But I do this because these are deeply felt views that I have. I've been doing this for years. I didn't accept this invite [to speak at the HRC dinner] because I'm running for president but because I believe very strongly on this issue. Look, in New Mexico I'm getting thousands of e-mails against my position calling a special session that includes domestic partnerships. I'm going to pursue it, and I'm going to get it done.

Lisotta is a frequent contributor to The Advocate.