Date: Wed, 4 Nov 98 01:10:16 -0500 From: NGLTF Subject: NGLTF: Baldwin Wins; Mixed Results on Initiatives *********************************************** NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Tracey Conaty, Communications Director 202-332-6483 ext. 3303 800-757-6476 pager tconaty@ngltf.org http://www.ngltf.org 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 *********************************************** BALDWIN WINS; MIXED RESULTS ON CIVIL RIGHTS INITIATIVES Washington, DC---November 4, 1998---Tonight, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) became the first non-incumbent, out gay or lesbian candidate ever elected to Congress. In addition, openly gay representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) were reelected. "We have lived through one of the most vitriolic and hostile years in recent memory for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. With the first-ever election of an out lesbian non-incumbent to Congress, it's clear that we're moving forward, even in a time of great backlash from the right wing," stated Kerry Lobel, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Tammy Baldwin ran a terrific campaign and will bring vision, integrity and energy to our issues. With the reelection of Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Jim Kolbe, we are better represented than ever before," she added. Three other gay and lesbian candidates will apparently not fare as well. Paul Barby (D-OK), Grethe Cammemeyer (D-WA) and Christine Kehoe (D-CA) will, according to early results, lose their bids to win House office. Voters in South Portland, Maine passed a local ordinances banning sexual orientation discrimination. Two other cities, Fayetteville, Arkansas and Fort Collins, Colorado defeated anti-discrimination initiatives. (Result of a civil rights initiative in Ogunquit, Maine was not in as of 12:30am.) "We recognize that the struggle for full equality is a long-term one. The victory in Maine is a reminder of the importance of perseverance. And win or lose in Hawaii and Alaska, we will continue to fight for full equality, including the freedom to marry, until we succeed," said Lobel. Results of anti-gay marriage initiatives in Hawaii and Alaska have not yet been reported, though polling numbers suggest they may pass. In other races closely watched by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, Representative Chuck Schumer will become the new junior senator from New York. He defeated Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) in one of the most contentious campaigns in the country. While D'Amato recently made overtures to the GLBT community, his staunch anti-choice votes alienated many in the GLBT, feminist, and other progressive communities. In California, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) beat challenger Matt Fong, who angered many in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community when it was revealed that he gave Lou Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition $50,000. And in the race for California, former Representative and vociferous homophobe Robert Dornan lost to incumbent Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) after a heated campaign. "The defeat of Dornan, D'Amato, and Fong -a rabid right wing politician, a staunch anti-choice politician who ran a very hostile campaign, and a supporter of the Traditional Values Coalition- may take some of the wind out of the sails of the right wing," said Kerry Lobel. "This year the right wing launched a vicious media campaign against the GLBT community to galvanize its voter base. The overall election results for the right, show this strategy to have failed," she added. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Elections Report is a summary of some of the races especially important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. These include the congressional races of non-incumbent, out gay and lesbian candidates Tammy Baldwin, Paul Barby, Grethe Cammermeyer, and Christine Kehoe; key House and Senate races; and gay-related ballot initiatives in Alaska, Hawaii, Fort Collins, Colorado, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and South Portland and Ogunquit, Maine. Gay and Lesbian Congressional Candidates (Non-Incumbent) Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. Josephine Musser (R) - Wisconsin 2nd Congressional District Baldwin wins (57% to 43% - not all precincts reporting) Baldwin, an out lesbian, is a three-term state legislator. Paul Barby (D) vs. Rep. Frank Lucas (R) - Oklahoma 6th Congressional District Lucas wins (66% to 33% - not all precincts reporting) Barby ran unsuccessfully for this seat in 1996, though he garnered nearly 40 percent of the vote and carried Oklahoma Country. Christine Kehoe (D) vs. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) - California 49th Congressional District Kehoe wins (54% to 44% - not all precincts reporting) Kehoe was the first out elected official in San Diego. She has served on the San Diego City Council since 1993. Grethe Cammermeyer (D) vs. Rep. Jack Metcalf (R) - Washington 2nd Congressional District Metcalf wins (54% to 46% - not all precincts reporting) Cammermeyer is a retired army colonel who successfully challenged her dismal from the military after having truthfully answered a questions pertaining to her sexual orientation. Gay Congressional Candidates (Incumbent) Rep. Barney Frank (D) vs. N/A - Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District Frank is an openly gay, progressive incumbent. He is a consistent voice and vote on issues of concern to the GLBT community. Frank ran unopposed. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) vs. Thomas John Volgy (D) - Arizona 5th Congressional District Kolbe wins (52% to 46% - not all precincts reporting) Kolbe is an Employment Non-Discrimination Act co-sponsor. He also fought the Hefley Amendment, which would have overturned the Executive Order protecting federal employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Marriage Ballot Initiatives Hawaii - Results pending The Hawaii ballot initiative likely will lead to a ban on same-sex marriage. Voters cast ballots on two initiatives. The first would amend the state's constitution to empower the legislature to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples. The second would call for a constitutional convention to be convened - where an explicit anti-gay marriage ban could be mandated. In a 1996 ruling, a Hawaii court ruled that there is no valid reason for denying same-sex couples the freedom to marry. The government appealed that decision to the Hawaii Supreme Court, and a final decision is expected any time. This vote will essentially nullify the expected positive court decision. Campaign Contact Information: Protect Our Constitution Steve Okino, Communications Director (808) 739-6263 -- Campaign office Alaska - Results pending In Alaska, voters elected to amend the state Constitution to limit the definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman. The initiative was in reaction to a ruling by the state's Superior Court (Brause v. Alaska) this past February in Alaska determining that the denial of same-sex marriage violates privacy and equal protection under the state's constitution. Campaign Contact Information: No on 2 Allison Mendel, Co-Chair (907) 561-3767 -- Campaign office (907) 441-7854 -- Cell phone Ballot Initiatives (non-marriage) South Portland, Maine: Anti-discrimination ordinance passed (54% to 46%) Ogunquit, Maine: Anti-discrimination ordinance - results not in Fayetteville, Arkansas: Anti-discrimination ordinance failed (60% to 40%) Fort Collins, Colorado: Anti-discrimination ordinance failed (63% to 37% - not all precincts reporting) South Portland, Maine - passed This ordinance prohibits acts of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, or the extension of credit. In February, Mainers voted 51 percent to 49 percent to repeal a state law (passed in 1997) banning anti-gay discrimination. In South Portland, 60 percent of the voters favored keeping the state law. This year the South Portland City Council decided to put the issue directly to the voters rather than having the council vote on the ordinance. Campaign Contact Information: Larry Bliss, South Portland Citizens for Justice (207) 831-2471 -- phone Ogunquit, Maine - pending Referendum question 4 amends the Ogunquit Municipal Code to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and the extension of credit. In response to the repeal of Maine's statewide civil rights law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, activists with Concerned Citizens of Ogunquit gathered enough signatures to have a human rights ordinance modeled after the statewide non-discrimination bill placed on the November 3rd ballot. Campaign Contact Information: Hal Feldberg, Concerned Citizens of Ogunquit (954) 561-0032 Temporary Contact # in Florida Fayetteville, Arkansas - failed Resolution 51-98,the Fayetteville Human Dignity Resolution, would have added the categories of sexual orientation and familial status to the City of Fayetteville's non-discrimination policy for public employees. Last spring, the city council passed this non-discrimination resolution. The mayor vetoed it, and in a rare move the council overrode the mayor's veto, effectively enacting the resolution as law. A local group affiliated with the Christian Coalition gathered enough petition signatures to put the measure up for a vote. Campaign Contact Information: Anne Shelley, Campaign for Human Dignity Campaign Manager (501) 571-4825 -- phone Fort Collins, Colorado - failed Ordinance 22 would have added sexual orientation to the city's non-discrimination law covering employment, housing, and public accommodations. The city council and mayor enacted the ordinance into law last spring. Shortly thereafter right-wing opposition groups gathered enough signatures to have the measure referred to the ballot in the hopes of defeating them in November. Campaign Contact Information: Chris Morris, Ft. Collins Citizens for Human Rights Campaign Coordinator (970) 221-3247 -- phone CLOSELY WATCHED SENATE RACES Senator Al D'Amato (R) vs. Charles Schumer (D) Schumer wins (55% to 45% - not all precincts reporting) Chuck Schumer will become the new junior senator from New York. He defeated Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) in one of the most contentious campaigns in the country. While D'Amato recently made overtures to the GLBT community, his staunch anti-choice votes have angered many in the GLBT, feminist, and other progressive communities. Senator Barbara Boxer (D) vs. Matt Fong (R) Boxer wins Boxer is a staunch advocate of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights and reproductive choice. Fong has stated that he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. He has also stated that he does "not support the [gay] lifestyle" and that that he does not support "homosexual behavior." Fong believes "Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided," and he opposes public funding and late-term abortions, and supports a parental consent requirement. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) vs. Robert Dornan (R) - California 46th Congressional District Sanchez wins (56% to 41% - not all precincts reporting) For the second time in a row, Representative Sanchez defeated former Congressman Dornan. Dornan spearheaded many anti-gay bills and amendments while in Congress. -30- _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact 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 . You may also unsubscribe by visiting http://www.ngltf.org.