Date:         Thu, 13 Oct 1994 13:24:43 -0700

>Date: Wed, 12 Oct 1994 13:10:57 -0600 (MDT)
>From: Maria Lasaga <LASAGA@UWYO.EDU>
>Subject: WYOMING CANDIDATE APOLOGIZES TO GAY COMMUNITY
>Sender: gaynet-owner@queernet.org

Kathy Karpan, Wyoming Democratic gubernatorial
candidate, has publicly apologized for the manner
in which she addressed the rumors that she was
a lesbian.  We are very pleased that she has
turned the situation around and stood up to
the homophobia behind the rumors.

Below is an article from today's Casper
Star Tribune--Wyoming's only newspaper with
statewide circulation.

If you wish to call Karpan's campaign and
commend her for publicly speaking against
discrimination and prejudice, you can call:

    Karpan For Governor Campaign
    phone number:  (307) 638-0188

============================
The following is from the Casper Star Tribune,
October 12, 1994, p. B1:


  Karpan apologizes to homosexual group

LARAMIE--Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Kathy Karpan Tuesday apologized to a gay and
lesbian organization for a comment she made during
a recent newspaper interview.

Karpan told a Cody newspaper last month that she
is not a lesbian when the publisher asked her about
rumors that she was.  She said some Republicans had used
the rumors to try to scare her out of running for
governor and added:  "Now I have to prove I'm a
normal human being...and I am...I know I'm a decent,
normal, moral person."

United Gays and Lesbians of Wyoming said Monday that
such comments suggest homosexuals are abnormal, immoral
and indecent.  Karpan said Tuesday in an interview
with Wyoming Public Radio that she made a mistake
when making the comment.

"I was trying to be ironic and sarcastic, but it
doesn't always come across in newspapers," she
said.  "I said now they're saying I'm not normal...
and I think I even used quotation marks as I said
it."

Karpan added that she respects people in the gay
community and believes they should be treated with
every fairness.
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