Date: Thu, 05 Jun 97 20:50:40 EST From: "NGLTF" Subject: Bowers Admits to Adulterous Affair Contact: Mark F. Johnson, Media Director mfjohnson@ngltf.org 202/332-6483 x3314 pager 1-800/757-6476 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ============================================================= FORMER GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL BOWERS ADMITS TO ADULTEROUS AFFAIR Washington, DC---June 5, 1997---Former Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers today admitted to a ten-year adulterous affair while he held the office. Bowers, a candidate for next year's gubernatorial race, called himself a "hypocrite" after admitting to the affair. Bowers has been associated with some controversial cases involving consensual relations between adults during his tenure as Attorney General. In 1986, he defended the state's anti-sodomy law before the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving a man who was arrested for having sex with another man. The court upheld the Georgia law. Five years later, Bowers rescinded an offer for a position of staff attorney to a lesbian because she was planning to have a religious "marriage" ceremony with her partner. In connection with that case, a week ago, the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Bowers had the authority to fire Robin Shahar on the grounds that her employment could jeopardize the department's ability to uphold the law. Adultery is considered a misdemeanor under Georgia law. When he was asked this morning in an interview with the Associated Press if it was hypocritical for him to take back the job offer to Shahar he responded that morally it was but that legally he saw no alternative. "Michael Bowers sets the double standard. He is the perfect example of a government official who interprets laws one way for himself and differently for the people he is elected to serve" said Kerry Lobel, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force executive director. "Could Bowers himself have stood up to the scrutiny that he imposed on Hardwick and Shahar?" Lobel asked. -30- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national gay and lesbian group and is a progressive organization that has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national advocacy since 1973. Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the forefront of virtually every major initiative for lesbian and gay rights. In all its efforts, NGLTF helps to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at the state level while connecting these activities to a national vision for change. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .