EDGE Providence

In spite of desperate pleas from several LGBT and progressive groups, Rhode Island State Treasurer Gina Raimondo has declined to return an award from a conservative think tank that some say promotes homophobia.

Earlier this month, Raimondo accepted the Manhattan Institute’s Urban Innovator Award. Raimondo, a Democrat, was recognized for her efforts to reform the state’s public pension plans. A December profile in Time magazine called her "a rookie politician who never got the memo about dodging tough issues."

"The Urban Innovator Award is largely about inspiring leadership-leadership that offers a policy model and a political example for others to follow," noted Michael Allegretti, director of the Manhattan Institute’s Center for State and Local Leadership "That is exactly the type of leadership that this year’s honoree, Gina Raimondo, has provided."

Prior to being elected treasurer, Raimondo worked for a decade as general partner of Point Judith Capital, Rhode Island’s only venture capital firm that she co-founded. Raimondo also led an effort to open the state’s first women’s homeless shelter in Providence.

She is a graduate of LaSalle Academy, Harvard University and Yale Law School and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University.

Clean Water Action Rhode Island, Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island, Hope United, Marriage Equality Rhode Island, the National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island Chapter, Ocean State Action and the Sierra Club - Rhode Island Chapter sent Raimondo a letter condemning the Manhattan Institute as "an extremist right wing group that promotes offensive, ignorant and hurtful positions towards the LGBTQI community, women, minorities and our environment."

The letter cites an article titled "Gay Marriage vs. American Marriage," noting the Manhattan Institute "comes alarmingly close to some of the more common anti-equality rants espoused by the so-called National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council by claiming that marriage equality (same-gender marriage) is not the same as "American marriage." Furthermore, "Redefining Marriage Away" by David Tubbs and Robert George claims that the reason to fear marriage equality is that gay and lesbian couples do not value fidelity, that their asserted lack of monogamy is immoral and dangerous."

The Manhattan Institute also publishes and references articles and books written by former NOM President Maggie Gallagher. These include "Why Marriage is Good for You".

The letter mentions another article titled "Women Prefer the Mommy Track," which purports widespread rape on college campuses is a myth. It also claims that feminism as a whole is "not so much dead as obsolete."

The Manhattan Institute has called claims of racial profiling by police "ACLU [the American Civil Liberties Union] misinformation," "promoting racial paranoia," and "ivory-tower posturing" and compared being charged with racism to being charged as a witch: to be without any conceivable defense.

The organization has also attacked President Barack Obama’s green jobs initiative, stands in opposition to wind power, and sees fracking as an alternative energy solution.

"Principles are worth more than political awards, and we are disappointed that the general treasurer has sided with a right wing organization that promotes an anti-equality agenda and holds many other offensive positions," MERI’s Ray Sullivan told EDGE.

For her part, Raimondo responded to the controversy in a statement she released on Jan. 17.

"Accepting an award from any organization is never an across the board endorsement of its leanings, agendas, or goals," she said. "There is no room in any thoughtful debate for messages of hate or inequity, especially regarding LGTQI and women’s issues. I took this opportunity to emphasize that government can work to efficiently serve the people."

Ocean State Action’s Kate Brock expressed disappointment over Raimondo’s response.

"While we are disappointed that the treasurer does not deem it necessary to return the Urban Innovator award from the right wing think tank the Manhattan Institute and remain concerned about her positions on the anti-environment and anti-minority writings on their website; we are encouraged to hear that she does not share the bigoted and ignorant positions directed at women and the LGTBQI community," she said. "We look forward to hearing from the general treasurer, preferably in her next public appearance, how she will engage in the upcoming fights important to the LGBTQI and women’s communities including repealing the Corvese Amendment, ending gender discrimination in health care and expanding access to birth control for low income women."

Sullivan agreed.

"Actions speak louder than words, and so we eagerly look forward to the day when the treasurer will join the fight to make Rhode Island a state where all its citizens are respected and treated equally," he said.