FAQs

Outright Libertarians of Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions...

- I'm a gay (GLBT) libertarian, what does Outright have for me?

As lone LP Activists, most of us had to be satisfied with being the lone libertarian voice in gay community meetings, in letters to the editor, and sometimes the lone gay voice in LP meetings where subjects that affect us were discussed. Outright provides a way to identify GLBT and straight LP allies, it provides systems of help when dealing with the political powers that be in our community, and it provides encouragement and camaraderie that can help keep burn-out at bay.

- I'm a straight libertarian, what does Outright have for me?

At least 10% of all adults are homosexual, bisexual, transgendered or are straight but their sexual activities place them outside of what is considered "normal". Chances are very good that if you don't fall into one of these categories yourself, that you have friends and family who do. Outright is here as a resource to you, to help you identify the issues important to people in these communities and to help you reach out to them as a libertarian. If reaching out beyond family and friends in the cause of liberty to people who love differently is something you want to do, you too have a home at Outright.

- I'm a Libertarian Party candidate, what can Outright do for me and my campaign?

We can advise you on how libertarian principles apply to issues of importance to the GLBT communities and how best to present the libertarian message to our community. We can advise you on how to interact with the liberal Gay Press and if we have a chapter or member/activists near you, we may even be able to set up interviews for you.

- I agree with the LP on all but two issues, am I a Libertarian?

It would depend on what the two issues are and how important they each are to you. If one of the two issues is the "Non-Initiation of Force" principle (i.e. you prefer the US to strike its enemies down BEFORE they actually do something against us) then you are probably not a libertarian. If you disagree with us about some lesser issue but that issue happens to be a pivotal issue for you, then you probably won't want to vote for very many libertarian candidates. But consider this; if you only disagreed with the Democratic Party on two issues, would you hesitate to call yourself a Democrat?

- I like LP candidates but I don't want to waste my vote. Why should I vote Libertarian?

Exercising your right to vote is NEVER a waste, regardless of who you cast your ballot for. Many of us got tired of voting for evil by voting for the lesser evil and started voting our conscience. We agreed with the libertarians most often, so we started voting for their candidates. And because it takes fewer libertarian votes to make an impression on a winning major party candidate, it could be said that a libertarian vote counts for more.

- Is Outright part of the Libertarian Party?

Many of our members are also members of the Libertarian Party and we require our Officers to maintain LP membership, but other than this we have no direct link with the party. We are an activists' organization that promotes the party and its candidates, but we are a separate organization.

Join our Group

To keep up with what's happening in Tennessee

Join out Yahoo Group OutrightTN

To keep up with going on in the National Outright org.

Join this Yahoo Group: OutrightLibertarians

- Does Outright's positions on "gay issues" differ from the Libertarian Party?

In substance, no. Currently, every one of our positions are consistent with libertarian principle and the Libertarian Party Platform (Neither Log Cabin Republicans nor even Stonewall Democrats can say this). However, we and the LP do sometimes disagree on the approach.

For example: The LP takes a hard line on Hate Crimes Legislation, as legalized discrimination against the victims of some violent crimes in favor of others. Outright opposes Hate Crimes Legislation but understands, sometimes first hand, why it is so popular and seeks to show GLBT people that the legislation is not only discriminatory but flawed even when it actually includes us! The LP's approach is often hard hitting and direct to the central issue. Outright's approach is more understanding, we are more willing to explain the failings of government solutions and to show how some things that look good for us on the surface may actually work against us. But one thing to keep in mind: the national LP has never taken a negative stance on the inclusion of GLBT individuals in any legislation that secures equal rights; whether marriage, military service, taxation, etc.

- How can you claim that the LP is a good party for gay people when it is against Affirmative Action and Hate Crimes Legislation?

The Libertarian Party's problem with both of these issues, is the fact that both seek to cure discrimination among the citizens of the US with government discrimination backed by the force and might of government employees with guns. Libertarians agree with the goals of both Affirmative Action and Hate Crimes Legislation, but their implementation causes more problems than they solve.

There is no question that both of these issues carry with it an overabundance of emotions on all sides. But the attitudes and emotionalism behind the push for Hate Crimes Legislation and Affirmative Action only serves to degrade Anti-Bigotry to the point of becoming its own kind of Bigotry (a "I'm bigoted against bigoted people" mentality). Political opportunists in and out of our community are quick to take advantage of this form of Bigotry. As intelligent, rational people, we should not fall for such tricks.

- Why is the LP and Outright against government funding of AIDS research and service agencies?

The answer to this is very closely tied to the fact of government over-taxation and of government bureaucratic waste.
FACT: Any time middle-men are added into any transaction, prices go up. The more middle-men involved the higher prices go.
FACT: According to the government's own GAO reports between 60% and 80% of every dollar given to ANY department or agency of the federal government goes to pay for its overhead, salaries, and all the other expenses of its existence. Only an average of about 30% of each dollar actually gets used for the purpose stated.
FACT: We are a generous community. It has been proven time and time again that we give to projects and causes we are concerned about.

Think about this:
If you want to give one dollar to AIDS research, which way is better? OR, which way benefits the research more?
1 - through taxation -- only 20 or 40 cents goes to fund research after the government takes its cut.
2 - through United Way -- about 60 cents goes to fund research after UW and the middleman charity takes their cuts.
3 - through a charity funding research -- about 80 cents goes to the research.
4 - directly to the research institution -- close to 100 percent goes to fund research.
No One Wastes More than the federal government!