California gays, lesbians hold rally for Clinton
[reprint of an article from the Boston Globe, May 19, 1992]
by Chris Black

        HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- In an event one organizer described
as the largest presidential rally ever held by the gay and lesbian*
community, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas said last night that he
would give up his national ambitions if it would eradicate the
virus that causes AIDS.
        In remarks at a fund-raiser-rally attended by 400 people
in the Palace Theatre, Clinton's voice filled with emotion when he
said he wished he could eliminate AIDS.
        "If I could wave my arm for those of you who are HIV
positive and make it go away tomorrow, I would do it, so help me
God I would.  If I gave up my race for the White House and
everything else, I would do that," he said from a stage hung with
glittery red, white and blue curtains.
        Clinton endorsed a broad spectrum of civil rights proposals
aimed at eliminating discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation.  He described the gay and lesbian* community as a
gifted and talented one that has been "squandered" in the
United States.
        He promised that if elected president he would appoint
an "AIDS czar" to oversee a massive federal research effort
aimed at finding a cure for the deadly disease.

[Also Clinton has said that if elected he would issue an
executive order banning discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation in the U.S. armed forces.  -- dave]

[*And bisexual, dammit!  -- dave]


-  dave
____
\bi/ dill@world.std.com
 \/ dkaufman@crd.lotus.com