If You Care About LGBTQ+ Equality, Look Closely at Who Endorsed Republican Philip Tummescheit
West Hartford is a diverse community, including an LGBTQ community whose families deserve to be treated with dignity and full equality under the law. That’s why voters should ask a straightforward question about Philip Tummescheit: who he’s willing to accept endorsement support from on LGBTQ issues—and what that organization’s record shows.
Philip Tummescheit accepted the Family Institute of Connecticut's endorsement. FIC has a documented history of working to restrict LGBTQ rights in Connecticut, especially around marriage equality, and has repeatedly attacked the legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
The Family Institute’s Record: Led Opposition to Gay Marriage in Connecticut
FIC is not a neutral “family values” group when it comes to LGBTQ rights. Its record shows sustained opposition to marriage equality in Connecticut:
It opposed the Connecticut movement toward marriage equality, including efforts to recognize same-sex couples through legal marriage protections.
It criticized and denounced court decisions connected to marriage equality—treating LGBTQ marriage rights as unacceptable rather than as settled civil rights.
It pushed for legislative approaches that would define marriage narrowly and block equal recognition for same-sex couples.
It treated steps toward legal recognition (including civil unions) as essentially the same as gay marriage—and worked against them.
In short: it was an organization actively working to prevent LGBTQ people from receiving full marriage protections.
The Organization’s Rhetoric Shows Its Hostility Toward LGBTQ Families
FIC’s opposition wasn’t only about policy; it also included rhetoric that disparaged LGBTQ equality.
For example, FIC has equated marriage equality with polygamy, arguing that marriage “cannot be a salad bar that you make up as you go along.” That framing portrays marriage equality as something irrational and illegitimate rather than a matter of equal treatment for same-sex couples.
It also used analogies and messaging that reduced LGBTQ people to something that should not be treated equally under the law, reinforcing a worldview where LGBTQ relationships are not entitled to the same recognition.
Opposition to Major Legal Steps for LGBTQ Rights
FIC’s positions also included strong opposition to federal and national court outcomes that affected LGBTQ rights:
It called Connecticut Supreme Court marriage equality rulings “outrageous.”
It denounced U.S. Supreme Court rulings connected to anti-gay-marriage efforts, including DOMA-related coverage.
It expressed relief and support for outcomes that did not affirm the broad recognition of same-sex marriage, while criticizing decisions as insufficient.
This reflects a consistent throughline: FIC opposed legal expansions of LGBTQ marriage equality and reacted negatively to court decisions that moved toward recognition.
Support for Other Restrictive Policies, Including Reproductive Rights
FIC’s approach has also extended beyond marriage equality into related political battles involving personal rights. For instance, FIC has supported policies aligned with opposing contraception coverage and has endorsed positions tied to the Hobby Lobby decision: arguing for religious or corporate exemptions that can limit access to contraception.
That broader record matters to West Hartford voters because it signals how FIC frames rights generally: restricting equality and limiting personal autonomy.
Why This Matters to West Hartford Voters
Endorsements are not just ceremonial. They reveal alliances.
In a town like West Hartford, where LGBTQ neighbors are part of the community’s daily life, voters should consider what it means when a candidate accepts endorsement support from an organization that has:
fought against gay marriage and marriage equality
condemned court decisions that advanced LGBTQ equal rights
used rhetoric portraying LGBTQ relationships as unacceptable (including polygamy and “salad bar” claims)
supported broader campaigns restricting rights, including around contraception
The question voters should ask is not whether Republican Philip Tummescheit agrees with every detail of every advocacy group. The question is whether he is comfortable aligning himself with an organization that has worked to deny LGBTQ equal marriage rights and whether that alignment matches West Hartford’s values of inclusion and equality.
Bottom Line
Philip Tummescheit accepted endorsement support from the Family Institute of Connecticut. FIC has a documented history of opposing LGBTQ marriage equality in Connecticut, criticizing major court rulings related to LGBTQ rights, and promoting rhetoric that disparages same-sex marriage while also backing broader restrictive positions on personal rights.
West Hartford deserves leadership that affirms equality, not alliances with organizations that fought to restrict it.
