Date: Thu, 29 Sep 94 17:32:59 EDT From: VictoryF@aol.com Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 707 Washington, DC 20005 202-842-8679 (phone) 202-289-3863 (fax) email: victoryf@aol.com News Release *********************************************** Victory Fund Candidates Subjected to Anti-Gay Campaigning ------------ National Group Reports Rise in Political Gay-Baiting WASHINGTON, DC - 29 September 1994 - The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund reports that openly gay and lesbian candidates face an increasing amount of anti-gay campaigning even from opponents who claim to be "gay-friendly." The national organization today released examples of gay-baiting against its own candidates [attached] compiled from recent campaigns around the nation. One explanation for the increase is the rise in power of the Radical Right and its demonization of the gay and lesbian community as a fundraising gimmick. "The Radical Right has stepped up its attacks on openly gay political figures as part of its overall strategy to undermine the strength of our community and to raise money," says Victory Fund Executive Director William Waybourn. "They know that qualified gay and lesbian officials dispel anti-gay stereotypes and increase our community's visibility in an extremely positive way something they don't want to see happen." Seventeen of the Victory Fund's twenty-six recommended candidates this year are in states that were targeted by the right for anti-gay ballot initiatives. Anti-gay candidates have no qualms about using standard Radical Right rhetoric like: the homosexual movement, special rights, gay agenda, and traditional family values. Candidates trying to win over moderate voters are more subtle, however, and encode their homophobic messages. They may claim, for example, that their gay opponent is part of a 'fringe movement' supported by an unnamed 'special interest group with a non-traditional agenda.' "There are many ways to exploit homophobia in a campaign," says political activist David Mixner. "A straight candidate gay-baits when he calls himself 'The Pro-Family Candidate' implying that the gay opponent is anti-family." As more openly gay candidates run for office against "gay- friendly" opponents, the gay and lesbian community is discovering that friendship has its limits. An increasing number of Victory Fund candidates are running against candidates who market themselves to the gay and lesbian community as "gay-friendly" but turn to gay- baiting when the going gets rough. "I believe that as the gay and lesbian community matures politically, more of us will understand the difference between qualified openly gay and lesbian candidates and "gay-friendly" straight candidates," says Mixner. "The question that gay voters must ask themselves is, 'How can a straight candidate who engages in gay-baiting represent our best interests?'" For Victory Fund candidates, the increase in gay-baiting has meant an escalation in the cost of campaigning. Openly gay candidates must be more qualified and better-prepared than their straight counterparts, they need to raise more money early in the race so they can define themselves before the other side does, and they need to raise surplus funds to refute anti-gay attacks. "We've made great strides in electing our own these past few years," says Waybourn, "and this backlash against Victory Fund candidates only reinforces the importance of our mission." [For more information, please contact Kathleen DeBold at (202) 842-8679 or via email, victoryf@aol.com] Examples of Gay-Baiting Against Victory Fund Candidates -- The extremely reactionary Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) has beefed up its attacks on openly gay and lesbian candidates. After openly gay Secretary of State candidate Tony Miller won the California Democratic primary, TVC head Lou Sheldon said, "if the press puffs up Tony, we will crucify him." Sheldon has also targeted openly lesbian California Assembly candidate Sheila Kuehl and took a special trip to Wisconsin to campaign against openly lesbian State Assemblymember Tammy Baldwin, who is up for re-election this year. -- In the primary election for Oregon House of Representatives, Oregon Citizen's Alliance (O.C.A.) leader Lon Mabon wrote a letter urging district residents to vote against openly gay candidate Chuck Carpenter. The letter began "Dear Pro-Family Voter" and warned readers that "Chuck Carpenter is an open homosexual who endorses the full political agenda of the homosexual lobby." The O.C.A. is also supporting the opposition efforts against the re-election campaigns of openly gay State Representatives George Eighmey, Gail Shibley, and Cynthia Wooten. -- Openly gay Rhode Island State Senator Will Fitzpatrick has long been the targeted by right-wing groups. A recent letter from the Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee reminded voters how Fitzpatrick had "proclaimed his sexual orientation" and warned that "several seats in the legislature are being sought by practicing homosexuals, whose agenda gives high-priority to pro-abortion, pro 'gay rights' legislation." Fitzpatrick's opponent's campaign ads announced "Finally, Someone Who Will Be Our Voice at the State House" and he repeatedly made statements such as "Elected officials must never forget that they represent their constituents, not a particular special interest group." The Providence Phoenix wrote that Fitzpatrick's opponent is "trying his best to exploit homophobia without being caught." -- One of Sheila Kuehl's opponents in the Democratic primary race for California State Assembly sent out a mailer stating that "one candidate is receiving out-of-state money through a PARTICULAR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP" and vowing to "fight against those who want to FOIST THEIR OWN AGENDA on this community." Her Republican opponent in the general election has said that he plans to "make Kuehl's sexual orientation an issue." -- When Christine Kehoe's self-declared "gay-friendly" opponent Evonne Schultz fell behind in the race for San Diego City Council race, she sent out a mailer asking "Who is the real OUTSIDER for City Council?" and used Victory Fund contributions to show Kehoe's support from "a single- interest group." Schultz also produced a comparison chart that listed her two sons under the category of "Family," and left a big blank space in the "Family" box on Kehoe's side of the chart even though she was well-aware of Kehoe's long- term committed relationship. -- In Tim Van Zandt's race for the Missouri State Representative his opponent Carl Wilson used the campaign motto "Straight Talk," but denied that it referred to his gay opponent. As the campaign progressed, however, Wilson's gay-baiting became more blatant. In a letter to community leaders, Wilson stated that Van Zandt received the support of progressive groups because his "sexual persuation [sic]" is "politically correct" and the result of "deals with special interest groups." Later in the race, Wilson sent out a letter calling Van Zandt "a single-issue candidate" and stating that his "sole purpose for running is to promote the gay rights agenda." In a final mailer timed to hit on election day, Wilson inaccurately claimed that Van Zandt had been involved in a disruptive ACT-UP demonstration at City Hall. -- In Bonnie Dumanis' race for San Diego Municipal Court Judge, her opponents tried to make her sexual orientation an issue in the race. In one extremely absurd example, one opponent claimed that even though Bonnie resigned from the Boy Scouts of America program because of their discriminatory policies towards gay people, her references to her prior involvement in the Boy Scouts "...decoyed people...giving them a loud and clear message that [she's] straight." -- When openly lesbian Dade County Court candidate Victoria Sigler was hospitalized with pneumonia, supporters of her opponent started the rumor that Victoria had AIDS. -- Ken Wolf came in first in the primary race for Fort Lauderdale City Council, his "pro-gay" opponent financed a mailing that read "Wolf has received substantial financial support from gay-lesbian PAC's outside the state. ...[T]his support comes from these groups because they have an agenda they wish to promote." Wolf's opponent claimed the letter had been sent by a well-meaning supporter without his knowledge. -- The Freedom Heritage Foundation in Louisville Kentucky, distributed more than 100,000 handouts exhorting voters to "Vote for candidates who oppose special rights for homosexual behavior!" The homophobic handouts included a sample ballot and articles entitled "Homosexual Behavior Should Government protect THIS? "Good News Gays Can Change!" and "Gay Rights Destroys Basic Freedoms." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For general unmoderated discussion, mail to "la-motss@flash.usc.edu". Announcements ONLY should be mailed to "la-motss-announce@flash.usc.edu." To be added or removed, mail to la-motss-request@flash.usc.edu. If adding, indicate whether you wish to receive all discussions or announcements only.