Date:         Mon, 25 Mar 1996 16:50:37 -0500
From: PRCenter@AOL.COM
Subject:      Openly-lesbian CA Assembly Candidate Under Attack

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NEWS From the:
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center
1625 N. Schrader Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
EMail: PRCenter@AOL.COM
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CONTACT:  Jim Key or Mike Ausiello, 213-860-7357

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Long Beach Democratic Candidate for Assembly Attacks
Democratic Opponent with Homophobic Campaign Mailer

--City Attorney Calls Mailer a 'Message of Hate' and Withdraws Support,
Gay & Lesbian Center Urges Others to Withdraw Their Support --

     LOS ANGELES, Mar. 25, 1996 -- Laura Ann Richardson,
Democratic candidate for California State Assembly in District 54 (Long
Beach), attacked her Democratic opponent in the primary election for
being an "openly lesbian candidate" and a supporter of "radical" gay
rights in an outrageously homophobic, last-minute mailer received by
angry residents on Friday.
     Richardson, who considers herself a progressive candidate, attacks
her opponent, Gerrie Schipske, on the basis of Schipske's sexual
orientation and because she has the support of Assemblymember
Sheila Kuehl, also a lesbian.  She falsely charges that Schipske's
sexual orientation will result in the candidate supporting a "radical" gay
rights agenda in the Assembly.
     The mailer has resulted in Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn's
withdrawal of his support for Richardson.  In a letter to her, he said "I was
deeply
disappointed when I saw your campaign mailer attacking your opponent.
Democrats are the party of inclusion; your blatantly anti-gay mailer has
no place in a democratic primary.  I therefore have no choice but to
withdraw my endorsement for your candidacy and repudiate your
message of hate.  Gerrie Schipske deserves my vote."
     "This is clearly a last-ditch effort by a desperate candidate," said
Sky Johnson, Director of Public Policy for the Los Angeles Gay &
Lesbian Community Services Center.  "We're urging Richardson's other
supporters, including teachers associations and Democratic clubs to
withdraw their support.  She has foolishly misjudged the intelligence of
Long Beach residents, and this last-ditch effort will backfire."
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