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