State of Nevada Archives: on Civil Rights
Adam Laxalt:
1996: opposed same-sex marriage; 2018: supports equality
A 1996 "political courage test" published by VoteSmart.org shows Sisolak, then running for a Henderson-area state Senate seat, did not support the legalization of same-sex marriages.Sisolak directed his response toward progressive primary voters,
stressing his support for women and minority groups without denying that his stances had shifted on some issues. "This was a survey from 22 years ago," Sisolak wrote in a statement to the Reno Gazette Journal. "Like many people, you learn and grow as
times change. And I think that's important."
The VoteSmart questionnaire shows Sisolak did not support same sex marriages in Nevada. Today, he says he couldn't be happier that marriage equality is the law of the land.
Sisolak's campaign cited those same remarks as evidence of his support for the LGBT community, adding in a statement that there was still more to be done to protect that and other minority groups.
Source: Reno Gazette-Journal on 2018 Nevada governor race
Jan 29, 2018
Adam Laxalt:
Religious right of no business with gay couples
Q: Support gay marriage and related issues?Adam Laxalt (R): In 2014 said would have defended Nevada gay marriage ban. Joined suit defending religious right of florist to not create arrangement for gay couple.
Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. Strong gay rights supporter, endorsed by major gay rights groups.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Brian Sandoval:
Nevada gave women the right to vote in 1914, ahead of USA
As Nevada prepares to celebrate 150 years of statehood, we must consider how far we have come and prepare for what lies ahead. 2014 is not just the anniversary of Nevada's statehood.
It also marks the centennial year of the approval of women's suffrage in our state.Nevada gave women the right to vote in 1914, five years before the rest of the nation adopted the 19th Amendment in 1919.
It is my hope that the celebration of women's suffrage and the commemoration of Nevada's 150th birthday will provide a joint platform for examining who we are--and who we can be.
Nevadans are rightfully proud of their history.
We are also cognizant of the world around us. And we are ever mindful of those students whose faces inspire us to plan big for a bright future. Tonight, we can take pride in our progress.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Nevada Legislature
Jan 16, 2013
Brian Sandoval:
Following court rulings, dropped defense of gay marriage ban
In a trailblazing opinion, a Judge held that allowing jury strikes based on "preconceived notions of the identities, preferences, and biases" of gay people would perpetuate the "history of exclusion of gays and lesbians from democratic institutions."
Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto filed a motion with the 9th Circuit conceding that, following the gay juror ruling, "the state has determined that its arguments grounded upon equal protection and due process are no longer sustainable."
Brian Sandoval, the state's Republican governor, agrees, admitting that "it has become clear that this case is no longer defensible in court."
And just like that, the rationale for banning gay marriage fell away.
Source: Slate e-zine on 2014 Nevada Gubernatorial race
Feb 11, 2014
Catherine Cortez Masto:
Let Nevada ban same-sex marriage; it's will of the people
In a 55-page brief, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto urges the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the basis that it reflects the will of the people: "The interest of the State
in defining marriage in this manner is motivated by the state's desire to protect and perpetuate traditional marriage," Masto writes. "In establishing this criterion and others--e.g., age, consanguinity, unmarried status, etc.--the state exercises its
prerogative as a State, and that exercise is entitled to respect."Notably, Masto argues at length that the Ninth Circuit shouldn't apply heightened scrutiny to the ban: "Under an objective application of due process and equal protection analyses,
there is no basis for heightened review of the State's purpose in defining marriage by its traditional meaning," Masto writes. "There exists neither fundamental right, nor suspect or quasi- suspect class, justifying a different standard of review."
Source: Washington Blade on 2016 Nevada Senate race
Jan 23, 2014
Catherine Cortez Masto:
States ban bigamy & incest, so why not same-sex marriage?
Ask the attorney general of Nevada about the definition of marriage, and she'll tell you it doesn't include the union of a same-sex couple. But in the same breath, she'll tell you it also doesn't include incest or bigamy either. In a 55-page brief,
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, in a section titled "Marriage Defined," explains "what marriage is" and "what marriage is not." Masto reminds the court that in addition to not being for same-sex couples under Nevada law, marriage is also
not for those engaging in bigamy or incest. The invocation of bigamy and incest in Nevada's brief before the Ninth Circuit recalls the first legal brief the Obama administration filed in support of the Defense of Marriage Act when it was still
defending the law in court. That brief invoked bigamy and pedophilia to assert the constitutionality of the ban on federal recognition of same-sex marriage, which riled LGBT advocates.
Source: Washington Blade on 2016 Nevada Senate race
Jan 23, 2014
Catherine Cortez Masto:
Following court rulings, dropped defense of gay marriage ban
In a trailblazing opinion, a Judge held that allowing jury strikes based on "preconceived notions of the identities, preferences, and biases" of gay people would perpetuate the "history of exclusion of gays and lesbians from democratic institutions."
Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto filed a motion with the 9th Circuit conceding that, following the gay juror ruling, "the state has determined that its arguments grounded upon equal protection and due process are no longer sustainable."
Brian Sandoval, the state's Republican governor, agrees, admitting that "it has become clear that this case is no longer defensible in court."
And just like that, the rationale for banning gay marriage fell away.
Source: Slate e-zine on 2022 Nevada Senate race
Feb 11, 2014
Dan Schwartz:
Support women by seeking a female running mate
He's also on the lookout for a running mate--he wants it to be a woman. While Nevada governor and lieutenant governor candidates don't run on formal tickets, the Republican lieutenant governor candidate, [a male State Senator], has publicly clashed with
Schwartz [on this issue]."I'm not into identity politics but I think we've got a lot of capable women in this state and one of them should be Lt. governor," said Schwartz, who's married and has two adult daughters, ages 28 and 31.
Source: The Nevada Independent on 2018 Nevada Gubernatorial race
Sep 5, 2017
Elizabeth Warren:
Focus on environment justice for people of color
I want to make sure that the question of environmental justice gets more than a glancing blow because for generations, toxic waste dumps, polluting factories have been located in or near communities of color. The consequences are felt in the health of
African-American babies, in the health of seniors, people with compromised immune systems. It's felt economically. I have a commitment of a trillion dollars to repair the damage that this nation has permitted to inflict on communities of color.
Source: 9th Democrat 2020 primary debate, in Las Vegas Nevada
Feb 19, 2020
Jacky Rosen:
Endorsed by Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed Rosen in her bid for U.S. Senate. Rosen is a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, which would prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, and public
accommodations domestically, and of the Global Respect Act, which would strengthen U.S. foreign policy by preventing individuals who have engaged in anti-LGBTQ discrimination, violence or torture from entering the United States.
Source: Metro Weekly on 2018 Nevada Senatorial race
Dec 6, 2017
Jared Fisher:
Treat LGBTQ like others; and some gender-neutral bathrooms
In my business, I am an Equal Opportunity Employer and will be in all capacities. I do not treat LGBTQ or anyone differently. I hire the best person for the job. We are all of the same human race. Every law-abiding citizen deserves equal respect
regardless of ethnicity, gender, lifestyle, background and religion, which includes the freedom to worship how, where, or what they may, so long as the worship does not infringe on anyone else's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
In regards to the bathroom issue, I believe that there should be a men's restroom, a women's restroom, and a family/gender-neutral restroom wherever possible. Replacing all men's restrooms and women's restrooms with gender-neutral rooms is unnecessary
and confusing. Privacy is important; especially for children. In the case of schools, the school office restroom should be designated as available for anyone not comfortable using the boys' or girls' rooms.
Source: 2018 Nevada Governor campaign website FisherForNevada.com
Mar 21, 2018
Joe Heck:
Accepts Supreme Court ruling on transgendered bathrooms
Q: On Gay Rights: Should transgender individuals have the right to use public bathrooms of their choice?
Heck: No, but accepts court's decision.
Cortez Masto: Yes
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Nevada Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Joe Lombardo:
For Nevadan variation of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law
Lombardo won against a true cavalry-charge of a field that included former U.S. Senator Dean Heller. Lombardo was attacked by several opponents on purely Trumpian grounds but managed to score the former president's endorsement largely by
flip-flopping to his right. Most notably, he endorsed a Nevadan variation of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, and that was enough. You run as a Trumpian variation, or you don't run at all.
Source: Esquire magazine on 2022 Nevada Gubernatorial race
Jun 15, 2022
John Jay Lee:
Approved legislative majority-minority redistricting
AB566: Revises the state legislative districts and revises the districts from which Representatives of Congress are elected.Analysis by Ballotpedia.org: Both parties have claimed to have the best interests of minority voters at heart in
their map. Republicans accuse Democrats of diluting reliably Democratic Hispanic votes to maximize the party's chances without giving equal consideration to what Hispanics specifically want. Democrats shoot back that the GOP is, far from creating
majority-minority district to benefit Hispanics, actually packing them in order to weaken their power overall.
Gov. Sandoval's veto message: The plan reflected in the bill did not provide for the fair representation of the people of the
state of Nevada, nor did it comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Legislative Outcome: Passed Assembly 26-16-0 on May/18/11; Passed Senate 11-10-0 on May/25/11; Senator John Lee voted YES; Vetoed by Gov. Sandoval on May/31/11.
Source: Ballotpedia analysis: Nevada legislative voting record AB566
May 25, 2011
Kenny Guinn:
Affirmative action in state contracts and colleges
Q: Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on: Q: College and university admissions
A: Yes.
Q: Public employment
A: Yes.
Q: State contracting
A: Yes.
Source: 1998 Nevada Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Kenny Guinn:
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws
Q: Do you believe that the Nevada government should include sexual orientation in Nevada's anti-discrimination laws? A: Yes.
Source: 1998 Nevada Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Kenny Guinn:
Opposes recognizing same-sex marriages
Q: Do you believe that the Nevada government should recognize same-sex marriages? A: No.
Source: 1998 Nevada Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Mark Amodei:
No same-sex marriage; no civil unions
Q: Should Nevada recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? A: No.
Q: Should Nevada restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman? A: Yes.
Source: Nevada Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Mark Amodei:
Support affirmative action in schools & workplaces
Affirmative Action:Q: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:
College and university admissions?
A: Yes.
Q: Public employment?
A: Yes.
Q: State contracting?
A: Yes.
Source: Nevada Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2002
Steve Sisolak:
Don't recognize same-sex marriage
Q: Do you believe that the Nevada government should recognize same-sex marriages?
A: No.
Source: 1996 Nevada National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Steve Sisolak:
Prosecute against discrimination
Sisolak supports the following principles regarding affirmative action in Nevada.
- The Nevada government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public and private sectors.
- Support the concept of equally applied punishment for the same crime for all persons regardless of age, gender, or race.
Source: 1996 Nevada National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1996
Steve Sisolak:
Strong gay rights supporter
Q: Support gay marriage and related issues?Adam Laxalt (R): In 2014 said would have defended Nevada gay marriage ban. Joined suit defending religious right of florist to not create arrangement for gay couple.
Steve Sisolak (D): Yes. Strong gay rights supporter, endorsed by major gay rights groups.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Nevada Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Steve Sisolak:
Make voting a fundamental right: automatic registration
This past November, Nevada made clear that they support Automatic Voter Registration.--and now, it's on us to get it done. Voting is a fundamental right, and we should be looking for even more ways to make sure eligible Nevadans can exercise it.
which is why I am committed to working with the legislature and local election officials to expand early voting--and to implement same-day voter registration.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Nevada legislature
Jan 16, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023