Here, Queer ... Not Used to It
Weekly
Alibi, September 17-23, 1997
2118 Central Ave SE, Suite 151
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505-268-3456 Fax: 505-256-9651)
letters@alibi.com
by Michael Henningsen
Twelve years ago, then and current mayoral candidate Jim Baca
won the endorsement of Albuquerque's Lesbians for Change organization only weeks before
losing the election to Ken Schultz, who supporters then allegedely distributed
anti-gay/anti-Baca fliers in local church parking lots. Some things have changed since
1985, but not much. Baca was among three candidates (of seven) who attended the Gay and
Lesbian Mayoral Forum held this past Thursday at Lovelace Medical Center, sponsored once
again by Lesbians for Change.
For about 90 minutes, Baca, Sam Bregman, and David Cargo
answered questions ranging from health benefits for same-sex partners and same-sex
marriage to the controversal road through the Petroglyph National Monument and the safety
of gay and lesbian students in Albuquerque's public school system. About 75 percent of
their questions were prepared; the remaining 25 percent came from the audience.
Baca, who once again won and accepted the endorsement of the
gay community following the forum, was not particularly well spoken, but presented his
answers with unquestionable sincerity. Bregman, aside from isolated incidents of issue
dodging, answered questions honestly even though some of his responses were less than
popular among the audience. Cargo responded over and over again, "I don't care if
you're gay, I judge people for who they are."
[Lesbians for Change did not endorse Baca in 1985. LFC was
formed in 1992. The 1985 endorsement was from the New Mexico Lesbian and Gay Political
Alliance, which endorsed Baca again this year under their new name: Lesbian and Gay
Political Alliance. -- Bob]
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