LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Capital Letters |
by Hastings Wyman |
Watch Out for Buchanan's Gay-Bashing If Pat Buchanan's wing of the Reform Party ends up with the $12.5 million in federal funds, the nation may be treated to a spate of anti-gay television commercials that could encourage an increase in homophobia. At a recent news conference, Buchanan denounced "rampant homosexuality" in the United States, which he said was "a sign of cultural decadence and moral decline." Buchanan's homophobic diatribe, not at odds with the views he has always expressed, suggests that he has decided to use his anti-gay views as a "wedge issue" to distinguish himself from the Bush-Cheney campaign. The idea of such a homophobic strategy is reinforced by Buchanan's choice of Ezola Foster, a California school teacher with a history of anti-gay activism, as his running mate. Although the Republican Party endorsed nothing from "the gay agenda, " such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, hate crimes legislation, or a new gays-in-the-military policy, Buchanan may use the absence of anti-gay rhetoric from the podium of the GOP's national convention, gay Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe's speech, and lesbian Mary Cheney's presence in the party's Second Family to provide him an opening to woo homophobes from Bush. Indeed, a Newsweek poll, taken immediately following the GOP convention in Philadelphia, provides evidence that the party's relatively more open attitude toward gays and lesbians had a downside. While 14 percent of respondents said the increased role at the convention given to gays and lesbians made them more likely to vote Republican, a significantly higher 21 percent said it made them less likely to support the Bush-Cheney ticket. (In addition, 42 percent said it made no difference, 14 percent didn't notice and 9 percent answered "Don't know.") Slightly Mixed Reviews for Lieberman The nation's two largest gay political groups have somewhat different slants on the choice of Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate. Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign, said that "Senator Lieberman is a solid choice to serve as Al Gore's running mate," and issued a compilation of Lieberman's voting record on gay issues. While Lieberman had some anti-gay votes in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Stachelberg noted that in recent years he's rated perfect or near-perfect scores on the gay organization's legislative scorecard. Stachelberg also pointed out that Lieberman's record "is far superior to that of Secretary Cheney and Governor Bush." But the more broadly liberal National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) took a more cautious view. While NGLTF Executive Director Elizabeth Toledo noted Lieberman "has a generally good record" on gay issues, she added that Lieberman "like Clinton and like Gore, has not always proven to be a friend of the progressive community when we needed him." The group, the second largest gay political organization, cited Lieberman's votes for welfare reform and school vouchers as particularly worrisome. Update on State Rep. Steve May Openly gay Arizona state Representative Steve May (R) is all but guaranteed another term. Social conservatives in his very Republican district decided not to run a candidate against May in the Sept. 12 primary. The reason? "The money scared them away," says May, who amassed a war chest of $120,000, a major amount for a legislative race in The Grand Canyon State. Much of May's campaign kitty was raised at Log Cabin Republican and Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund fundraisers all across the country. While he has Democratic and independent opposition, the GOP always wins in May's silk-stocking district. May recently completed two weeks of annual training in the Army Reserves. Because the captain was out of town, First Lieutenant May was appointed Commander for the training sessionat the same time the Army is trying to kick May out for being open about his homosexuality. As for the troops under May's command? "They all know [I'm gay]," he said. "They ask about my partner. They're very supportive." May's discharge hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16 in Los Angeles. Queer and There Atlanta City Council Member Cathy Woolard, the firstly openly gay elected official in Georgia, is gearing up to run for City Council president in 2001, a citywide position. Her feisty style may appeal to voters who want to fight city hall and the unpopular regime of Mayor Bill Campbell. Woolard is a former lobbyist and organizer for the Human Rights Campaign. Democrat Robert Raben, the Clinton Administration's Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, was a surprise guest at the Log Cabin Republican reception in Philadelphia for gay GOP Congressman Jim Kolbe. "I'm here to pay my respects to the chairman," said Raben. Kolbe chairs a House Appropriations subcommittee. Bob Kabel, Washington, D.C., gay GOP activist and fundraiser, may have lost his bid last spring to serve on the Republican National Committee (he got 38 percent to winner Jim Lowe's 45 percent), but the party has rewarded him nonetheless. He was recently elected vice-chairman of the D.C. Republican Executive Committee and will be in charge of organizing the city's wardsmostly Democraticfor the GOP. Despite being small fish in a big Democratic pond, the capital's Republicans have two members on the city council and a surprising degree of influence. The value of local gay officeholders to our community was demonstrated at the recent Republican Convention when some of the Texas delegates complained to the media about gay Congressman Kolbe's podium appearance. Just a few feet away, Washington, D.C., gay City Council Member David Catania, also a GOP delegate, gave television interviews praising Kolbe and denouncing his foes. Hastings Wyman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan biweekly political newsletter. He can be reached at HWymanSPR@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 12, Aug. 25, 2000. |