Doug Jones beats Roy Moore who has said he believes that homosexual activity should be illegal
Democrat Jones has beaten the President Trump-backed Roy Moore, becoming the first democrat elected in the state of Alabama in decades in the most recent shake up of US politics.
Jones won with 49.9% of the vote, to Mr Moore’s 48.4%. The Democrat’s victory is a huge blow to President Trump, narrowing the Republican majority in the US Senate to 51-49.
“I have always believed that the people of Alabama have more in common than divides us.
We have shown the country the way forward.”
Doug Jones, election night victory.
— Doug Jones (@DougJones) December 13, 2017
It had looked as though Moore, a 70-year-old former judge, would win the seat, until two women came forward to claim that Moore had assaulted them when they were teenagers. Other women have also come forward since then. Moore has denied all allegations.
Moore: Homosexual conduct “a crime against nature”
In a 2005 interview on C-SPAN2’s After Words about his book So Help Me God, Moore said:
“Homosexual conduct is and has been considered abhorrent, immoral, detestable, a crime against nature and a violation of the laws of nature.
Asked to clarify his beliefs, press questioned Moore: “Do you think that homosexuality or homosexual conduct should be illegal today, that’s a yes or no question.”
“Homosexual conduct should be illegal, yes.” Moore then responded.
Victory
President and CEO of LGBT organisation GLAAD Sarah Kate Ellis said of the victory:
“The people of Alabama have spoken and made it known that Roy Moore’s personal values around sexual assaults, racism, and anti-LGBTQ hate do not align with American values.”
She also tweeted: “Tonight’s results are a victory in the ongoing fight to uplift and support survivors of sexual assault, LGBTQ people, people of color, and other marginalized communities who are sick of seeing their humanity debated.”
The people of Alabama have spoken and made it known that Roy Moore’s personal values around sexual assaults, racism, and anti-LGBTQ hate do not align with American values.
— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) December 13, 2017
Moore has not yet conceded, saying “it’s not over”.
