LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Capital Letters |
by Hastings Wyman |
Bush Cabinet Mixed Bag for Pride Events
When President Bush declined to issue a proclamation declaring June Gay Pride Month, the White House said it was up to cabinet departments to decide whether to endorse Pride Month activities in their bailiwicks. Most cabinet secretaries have taken a hands-off-attitudeallowing Gay and Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees (GLOBE) chapters to sponsor events, but declining to officially endorse them. In the Commerce Department, Secretary Donald Evans allowed GLOBE to put up Pride Month flyers, but took down the official-looking posters on easels that the department's Office of Civil Rights had displayed at department entrances. In addition, some flyers were torn down, presumably by unsympathetic employees"but that was similar to previous years," noted a GLOBE spokesman. At the Justice Department, Attorney General John Ashcroft's bailiwick, large posters in the lobby touted Pride events. At Agriculture, Assistant Secretary Lou Gallegos spoke to a gathering of gay employees. Even at the Office of Personnel Management, headed by Christian conservative Kay Coles James, the GLOBE chapter hosted Pride Month events. The only cabinet head to officially endorse Pride Month was Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, the only Democrat in the cabinet. At this writing, Christie Todd Whitman, director of the Environmental Protection Agency, hasn't decided whether she'll endorse or not. Illinois Gay Politicos Ponder Prospects State Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago), Illinois' only gay state legislator, is considering a bid for the State Senate. If he runs, that would create an open House seat in his district, which could elect a gay replacement. The State Senate seat that McKeon covets is currently held by Illinois state Sen. Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago). Madigan, the daughter of State House Speaker Michael Madigan (D), is planning to run for the Land of Lincoln's attorney general in 2002. That would open up a senate district that McKeon might be able to win. Two openly gay politicosboth Democratshave announced they will run for McKeon's seat if he takes the Senate plunge. This would pave the way for a primary contest between a gay man and a lesbian. One of the likely House candidates is Mike McHale, 37, a Cook County assistant state's attorney whose experience includes prosecuting capital cases. He is also a member of the board of Equality Illinois, the state's premier gay rights group, and has been active in gay sports. In addition, McHale has been active in politicsas a precinct captain for 48th Wardand in a number of community organizations. The other potential candidate is lesbian Mel Ferrand, 35, a labor union organizer and a carpenter. She is a past president of Illinois NOW PAC, a past co-chair of the Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance and has been active with the Women's Action Coalition. She has also served as an abortion clinic escort. McKeon, who as an incumbent is already well-known, is not in a rush to make up his mind. That is creating problems for some gay insiders, who believe that McHale and Ferrandwho are less well-knownneed more lead-time to crank up a successful campaign. "By sitting and waiting," says one leading Illinois gay organizer, "people can't do things they need to be doing...Money needs to be raised." Here's hoping all things happen in a timely fashionif McKeon runs and wins, and his successor is gay, that would put one openly gay lawmaker in the Illinois State Senate and another in the House of Representatives. That would double the number and triple the clout of gay lawmakers here. Woolard's Bid for Atlanta Council President Out lesbian Cathy Woolard, an Atlanta City Council member, is in a good position to win her bid for president of the Council. When financial reports are released, she's likely to have some $200,000 on hand, probably more than any of her three opponents. In the March 30 report, she led with $140,000. Woolard is a former National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign and served a stint as general manager of Southern Voice, one of Atlanta's gay newspapers. She is a former member of the Peace Corps. In 1997, she became the first openly gay elected official in Georgia when she won election to Atlanta's City Council. Six other gay candidates have won office in Georgia since then. She chairs the Transportation Committee, which has oversight responsibility for Atlanta's immense airport. She's smarta Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Georgia. Her campaign biography notes that Woolard "resides in Candler Park with her partner Karen." Woolard faces three opponents in the November 6 electionJulia Emmons, Mabel Thomas and Michael Bond (son of civil rights activist Julian Bond). If Woolard wins, she'll be in line to run for mayor. If Paris and Berlin can have gay mayors, why not Atlanta? Hastings Wyman publishes Southern Political Report, a nonpartisan biweekly political newsletter. He may be reached in care of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth or at HWymanSPR@aol.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 8, June 29, 2001. |