Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 08:51:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rex Wockner <rwockner@netcom.com>
Subject: WOCKNER/Kolbe reaction sidebar story 


                        KOLBE SIDEBAR
       Politicians: Kolbe's Gayness Doesn't Matter To Us

	Here is reaction to the Aug. 1 announcement by U.S. Rep. Jim
Kolbe, R-Ariz., that he is gay.

	* Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain: "I don't think it's caused
much of a ripple around here. I think Jim Kolbe has the respect
and appreciation of most Arizonans. I believe if he ran for
re-election, he wouldn't have much difficulty."

	* Arizona Gov. Fife Symington: "Jim Kolbe is a personal
friend. I have the utmost respect for him. I never even bothered
to read the story. I think it is of no consequence whatsoever. I
wish him the best."

	* Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.: "I would not have
outed him. ... In general, Kolbe has voted against bigotry and
discrimination, so his overall record is intellectually honest on
this issue."

	* Gay U.S. Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Wis.: "I don't believe in
outing, yet I believe everybody ought to be out. The fact that
Jim and I are both out continues to break down stereotypes and
the Republican Party is going to have to deal with that."

	* U.S. Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz.: "It doesn't matter a damned
bit to me. What he does in his private life is his business. I
can just tell you that as far as I'm concerned, as the dean of
the [Arizona Congressional] delegation, he is probably the most
hard-working member of all the delegation. I mean, there is no
one more diligent about what he does than Jim."

	* Log Cabin Republicans gay group: "Log Cabin Republicans
remains opposed to the practice of forcible outing. We do not
believe that ends justify means or that the right to personal
privacy is less important than any particular group's agenda. We
believe that the decision by gays and lesbians to come out is
extremely personal, and should be respected. Outing ... is often
nothing more than the same old Washington attempt to break a
story or score partisan political points. ... The gay community
will move ahead when our people come out, not if they are forced
out."

	* Gay Arizona state legislator Ken Cheuvront: "I don't think
it will be a problem for him. My orientation has never really
been a problem in terms of dealing with any of my colleagues or
constituents."

	* Syndicated gay columnist Deb Price: "What's most
unfortunate is that Kolbe's Republican Party fails to see that
when it attacks gay people, decent everyday Americans end up
getting hurt. And some of them are Republican."

                          -end-