THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Equality Illinois is the largest GLBT political organization in the state. Their primary mission is to pass the state gay-rights bill, and as part of this, EI's political action committee evaluates and endorses candidates for county and state offices.

Three of the leaders of Equality Illinois are longtime political activists whose interests and influence go beyond state politics. EI Political Director Rick Garcia, EI Board President Ellen Meyers, and EI founder and board member Art Johnston sat down with Windy City Times last week to discuss their strategies in the Nov. 5 elections.

Meyers also works for Secretary of State Jesse White, and Johnston is the co-owner of Sidetrack bar.

WCT: Let's start with the U.S. Senate race featuring incumbent pro-gay Democrat Dick Durbin vs. Republican Jim Durkin.

Rick: This is one of the most clear-cut races we have. We have Jim Durkin who has consistently voted against us [on the state gay bill] even though there is no political reason for him to do so. Politically he has always been able to vote for this issue. His district is partially Oak Park so it's a liberal district. He's also viewed as a moderate because he is pro-choice. And so he certainly could do it with no problem whatsoever, but he never has.

Art: And we have been a part of enough constituent meetings with him organized by us in coordination with the gay groups OPALGA and BUNGALO. This has gone on over a long period of time. He would never present any reasons why he wasn't going to vote for it, and in the end would vote no.

Rick: When there was the deal made on Mayor Stephens' Casino in Rosemont, Durkin was one of the representatives that we believed was going to be a yes vote on the gay bill because of that deal, and he didn't follow through.

Art: Everyone was counting him as a yes vote because he was one of the people who was committed to vote yes and in the end did not.

Rick: Let's talk about the positive: and then again, you have Dick Durbin. Durbin has had an extremely long and solid history with this community. He's south-central Illinois, and has been a supporter of this community long before it was fashionable and from a district that may not be the most comfortable for him to do it. And as a senator he has been stellar.

Art: He's always been good but he's continued to improve and he's embraced a lot of issues that he originally was not as strong on. As we continue to refine and define our issues in our community--as we all know many years ago if somebody had said domestic partnership we would have all been scratching our heads--he's continued to grow as our issues have continued to become refined.

Ellen: He also championed the fight against John Ashcroft for U.S. Attorney General and spoke up against him. And one of the big reasons for him was Ashcroft's anti-gay record, not just as a peer in the Senate--which was difficult for Durbin to do because peers do not go against each other. And I think he became very nationally known in the gay community because of that.

WCT: Are there U.S. House races you are looking at?

Rick: I'll tell you a race that I am very interested in, and I know that individually we have done everything we can for, is the 10th Congressional District with Hank Perritt. And I don't always see eye-to-eye with Congressmen Barney Frank, but the Congressman makes a very compelling argument that we have not only a gay person who is running but one who is exceedingly qualified. He's also running in a district (North Suburban) that frankly could go Democratic. It is one of those marginal districts and while Rep. Kirk is no Jesse Helms, when push comes to shove he hasn't been there for us--with a 60 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Ellen: Yes. Very Tepid.

Rick: And as [gay activist] Edward Abdalla beautifully states, we have a choice between someone who did get an 'A' from us and someone who is going to get, if we are being extremely gracious, a 'D' from us. So I know that Art has done a fundraiser or two for Hank Perritt, I've written letters personally to people in the district urging them to vote for Perritt. That is a race that does two things: one is that we desperately need our own community's voice in Congress from Illinois, and he could be it. Number two is that again, as we see in the Illinois Senate, who controls that [like Pate Philip here] is important. So who controls the U.S. Congress is important. While Kirk is not a Jesse Helms, he certainly isn't a Nancy Pelosi or a Hank Perritt or a Jan Schakowsky. I would rather have any of those.

Art: We pride ourselves with the progress that has been made in our bi-partisan approach, and as you know folks in our community have sometimes questioned this. But I want to clarify that bi-partisanship, within the state of Illinois, is very different from the Perritt/Kirk race because it is very easy for Congressman Kirk to say positive things when he knows that ENDA will never come up--because he votes for his party bosses who prevent it from ever coming up. It is very easy to take those kinds of positions when they don't mean anything and they are purely for the political goal of trying to make himself appear more moderate than he really is, in a moderate district. Supporting Kirk is not an example of wise bi-partisanship. In fact it is an example of trying to use bi-partisanship as an excuse to support somebody who really is not a champion for our community.

WCT: This brings up that this has obviously been an HRC policy, where they have backed incumbents that aren't even moderately

or strongly pro-gay versus a challenger even if they are gay. Is that something Equality Illinois has done on a state level?

Rick: I had this discussion with [an HRC rep] and he said the two organizations in the country that they have the most problem with are Equality Illinois and the Empire State Pride Agenda. 'But you two are so much like us' he said. And I was offended by that. We are not like you in any way, shape or form. We have always prided ourselves and we may make mistakes and do the wrong thing but we are going to look at a candidate and in a sense be completely blind in a sense to whether they have an 'R' or a 'D' next to their name. And HRC has not done that. What they are doing is they are trying to catch up because, let's look at the history and let's look at who they have been. For the last eight years, they have been nothing more than the mouthpiece for the Clinton administration. I remember one time writing to [HRC Director] Elizabeth Birch and suggesting 'why don't you save rent on your office, why don't you just move your office into the Clinton White House.' I remember when the Defense of Marriage Act was signed by President Clinton in the dark of the night, what did you receive that very next morning at 5 o' clock, a poll done by HRC saying that 60 percent of gays and lesbians they had polled didn't care about the issue of gay marriage. They were nothing but a mouthpiece for the Clinton administration and they lost and now they have nothing going on but the rent. They have no influence. They fucked up our community's relationship--so now what are they going to do, because they know that there is gay Republican money out there and that's all they care about. Now, they want to be non-partisan, bi-partisan. Bullshit. So they go for [New York Sen. Alfonse] D'Amato and now they are going up here for Kirk. And the only reason they are going for Kirk is because they want to prove they are non-partisan. And the second issue is: when has HRC ever consulted with anybody in the states? And as I told them another reason they are not thrilled about us, Illinoisans will make decisions for Illinoisans, New Yorkers will make decisions for New Yorkers.

WCT: Would you really characterize this as like D'Amato … ?

Rick: I don't think it is necessarily as bad because I think Kirk has a little better voting record, but that is what it's born out of.

WCT: What about the issue of backing an incumbent?

Rick: That isn't one of our things because when we get to our state Houses you are going to see that, out of the box, we have endorsed any incumbent who has voted for HB 101 or, as with the Senate, if they are potential co-sponsors or are on record as supporting it.

WCT: Have you endorsed both sides now when there is a case when they both support it?

Rick: No. Well, so far, we have only gone with the incumbent.

WCT: Even if it isn't necessarily a really strong pro-gay opponent?

Ellen: We always go with someone who has a track record, no matter what.

WCT: Let's say when [former state Rep.] Ellis Levin was running, would that have been a case where you went with the incumbent? [He lost to Sara Feigenholtz.]

Art: We did. Right. And of course the person running is always the hardest to understand that. And Sara was a good friend of ours and we said 'Sara we are really sorry.' She said, 'But you have known me forever.' And I said, 'I know but the incumbent has always supported the bill and once you win you are going to be very happy [with that policy].' Because we have a situation right now where she has an openly gay Republican running against her [Michael Weiler].

Rick: The thing for that race is that I frankly think that we would give an openly GLBT person, we would give them a little boost if they were running against an incumbent. So when we look at Sara Feigenholtz the question of viability [of the opponent, Weiler] comes in.

Ellen: And not just that Hank Perritt can stand on his own and he has a wonderful platform and track record. He's astute. He's more than well-qualified to hold that office. His grip and breadth on world affairs and international issues is tremendous. He doesn't just come from being a staffer on a Congressional staff and then serving in the army or into the National Guard. This guy has done international legal issues and so he is somebody who could stand on his own whether or not he is gay in this race. In this particular race, he's by far the more qualified candidate. And in my mind it helps he is a Democrat and that he is also an openly gay person running.

WCT: Are there other Congressional races you are watching?

Art: The way the re-map was drawn to protect incumbents, there really isn't a lot to look at. There are a little bit of issues going on downstate in the 19th District with David Phelps [D] and John Shimkus [R]. Phelps became much more openly anti-gay than he has ever been, with his sponsorship of a Constitutional Amendment to forbid gay marriages, and it was a ploy on his part.

WCT: Let's move to governor--Rod Blagojevich and Jim Ryan. I know the primary was really hotly contested on the Democratic side and everybody was all over the place. All three candidates had strong gay support, so what is happening with EI in terms of support for Blagojevich and what's going on with Ryan?

Rick: We endorsed Blagojevich. Rod as a state rep was not only a good vote on this issue, he was also a leader on this issue. He worked extremely well with downstate representatives. He brought votes to House Bill 101 when it was the Gay Rights Bill in '93.

Art: He brought other votes that were surprise people to us.

Rick: And he has a very good record on a wide variety of issues. Now, having said that, I am a little concerned that in this election cycle and frankly in the primary, and this is one of the reasons EI supported Paul Vallas, was that there doesn't seem to be a lot of outreach to the gay and lesbian community. He does a photo op and maybe a cocktail party. He blew, contrary to what anybody says, an opportunity to come to a forum sponsored by Stonewall Democrats and EI. I like Rod. I support Rod. I want Rod to win. But I will not turn a blind eye to what I consider disrespect of lesbian and gay voters, not only in the primary but in the general election. My point is that we have not seen him. He does the perfunctory kinds of things. I can understand that he maybe is a little fearful considering that he is running against this conservative Republican, that any support or any outward nod to this community will be used against him.

WCT: Like the TV ads that ran downstate that were using his gay support …

Rick: I was disturbed that when Jim Ryan ran what people perceived as anti-gay ads, Rod Blagojevich responded in kind. There was no reason for him to respond in kind. I think that he has an excellent, excellent record. It is just that when you are a Liberal Democrat from the 5th Congressional district, I expect more from you. As the Scripture says, those who have been given much, much will be expected from. People could say, well here you were four years ago sucking up to George Ryan who wouldn't even look at you all, but he's a conservative Republican from Kankakee. We have people like Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Lane Evans is another one. Lane, who is in an ultra-conservative district, never shies away from us. Whatever we ask of him he is there in a heartbeat. Jan, please, she is not going to shy away from anything. A large part of that is her district. You have people who are a little less cautious than Congressman Blagojevich.

WCT: They don't worry about what their advisors think they should do on the issue?

Ellen: Let me say in Rod's defense that he has been Congressman during this time of uncertain international things. He was Congressman during 9/11, he was Congressman throughout this time, now we are debating on whether or not to go to war with Iraq, you know, and the guy is trying to run a campaign. [Blagojevich voted in favor of giving President Bush extended war powers; Schakowsky and Sen. Durbin voted against it.] However, I would think it would be very difficult to balance when you are going to be here and when you are going to be in D.C. representing your district. Nonetheless, I do agree that we do expect more from a Congressman in the 5th Congressional District. But I do feel confident from his track record in the House that we will get fair and equitable treatment from him.

WCT: How does the endorsement from EI translate to EI members downstate and in this race? Is there an impact EI will have?

Rick: You know better than anyone that when we started out we were a lot of smoke and mirrors--let's hope we can do something at City Council and then we go to Springfield. Right now, we have a mailing list of over 10,000 people and they get our endorsements, and we work with a number of these campaigns--those that want it--to make statements and do things with downstate media.

WCT: Are you able to do targeted mailings?

Rick: We do. Let me give you an example of this, and this is going to go from the statewide. EI and Personal PAC: Terry Cosgrove called and said we have two candidates, a House and Senate race in Champaign-Urbana. So we did a targeted mailing to our folks there asking them to go door to door to do voter registration. And then those same folks were asked to volunteer to get out the vote on election day for Naomi Jakobsson for the House 𖏟rd District] and Dan McCullum for the Senate ⎩th District]. We are doing that also in some other races. We are doing it in Beth Coulson's race in Glenview ⎝th House District]. We have targeted people and they get a letter from EI saying Beth Coulson is a great candidate and she has been supportive. When we make an endorsement, what candidates can expect, if they want it, we will send out a palm card. In the past we have sent out up to 35,000 that are distributed basically in Andersonville, Lakeview, Decatur, Springfield, and Bloomington.

Art: In addition to the statewide mailing.

WCT: They get the palm card, the statewide mailing, and media work?

Rick: Right. Here's the thing. It is one thing to endorse, but you have got to deliver the vote on election day. We work to build up our mailing list and our contacts. Frankly, there are some races and some candidates that don't want us. To this day, in downstate, I'll call up and say we are endorsing you and they'll say 'Thanks, but don't tell anyone.'

Art: We are not interested in putting our name out there. We work with them, we talk with them and make sure we do whatever the best thing is to help them get re-elected. We've had people say 'Well, you know what, I appreciate the fact that you are going to do this, this and this for me, but can you do it after the election.'

Rick: Lisa Madigan for Attorney General. There was really no debate about Lisa Madigan. Dan Hynes for Comptroller, no debate. With him, he has an excellent record and has always been solid. We love Jesse White for Secretary of State because in 1974 we had 19 yes votes on our primary bill, and he was one of them. In Springfield, when we need to have a big room for a strategy meeting, it is usually Jesse's private office. We also went with Judy Baar Topinka for State Treasurer. We like Tom Dart, her Democratic challenger ... .

Art: Tom Dart is one of the most low-maintenance reps in Springfield. He's jumped in and saved some things for our community. He's a good guy and there's not a person in the universe that could run against him if he was running for re-election that we would support over him.

Rick: We also supported him running for attorney general, and we are sorry he was forced out. I think it was really unfortunate because he would be an excellent attorney general.

WCT: Did Topinka's support come from when she was a legislator?

Rick: I came across a letter from 1993 that Sen. Topinka sent to the head to the Illinois Republican Party requesting that he meet with us. She wrote and said, "It is my understanding that Equality Illinois has been asking for a meeting with you and I am sure you are very busy and can't do it, but I want you to know that Equality Illinois has been very helpful to me." And then she ticked off some of the other Republican legislators, saying 'I know these people and I want you to meet with them.' Frankly, she did have some not-good votes in the early '80s in committee, but everyone had bad votes then. In 1991, we had 16 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives, so we can't go back to the '80s. But we met with her as a Senator and it was interesting because she said 'you have got five minutes.' I liked her no-nonsense, get right to the point. And we said this is what we are here for and this is what we need. She said, 'I want to know that there are victims of discrimination, show me somebody that the Illinois Human Rights Department isn't doing anything about.' And we did. She still mentions that to this day about one of her constituents who wasn't helped by the Human Rights Department. She got on board.

It was interesting because at first she said 'I'll vote yes. Don't tell anyone.' Then, I see her in the hall and she said, 'If you want me to talk to any other Republicans, have them come and see me.' And then, for treasurer, she was in far, far rural downstate Illinois--this was 1995 and in some farming community somebody said, 'We understand that you support homosexual rights. Is that true?' And she said, 'I believe everybody should be treated fairly and equitably. Yes.' And the guy said, 'If you support that, then I am not going to be able to support you. I won't vote for you.' And she said, 'Sorry I won't have your vote. Next question.' No nonsense. In 1996, EI was the only gay and lesbian organization in the country who were officially invited guests of a Republican delegation of the Republican National Convention. Remember, we had some other gay delegates elected and the Illinois Republican Party invited us, or we asked to be invited, and that was in large part due to Topinka. Our state is one of the few states that doesn't have anti-gay planks in the Republican platform, and that was due a lot to George Ryan, but also Topinka. She has gone above and beyond what one would expect from a Republican from North Riverside, Illinois. And she also has a lot of openly gay and lesbian staff, which always gives me a comfort level, knowing that our folks are inside.

WCT: Is this a hard one because someone like Dart had such a strong record for gay rights, or is it pretty clear?

Rick: I think it was clear to us and our PAC board voted unanimously and quickly, even though we have really strong partisan Democrats on our PAC board. It just seemed the right thing to do. We like Tom. In a sense, this is what it should always be. Frankly, we'd be out of business if we had two really solid candidates. I really hope that if Tom doesn't win, he'll run for another statewide office and he's a damn good legislator now, and he's going to be very good in the future. Judy has seriously courted the gay and lesbian vote. When she won treasurer, by a very small margin, and that night here she is, she's with all the Republicans from Riverside, and she stands up and in her acceptance speech she thanks the Czechoslovakian vote, the Polish vote, and gays and lesbians. She's the future of the party. She merits our support.

WCT: Let's move on to the State Senate. I am interested in the hotly contested ones that EI is targeting.

Rick: I will tell you that up here they are almost all no-brainers. The main one we are looking at is in the 52nd Senate district, that's Dan McCullum, a Democrat running against Rick Winkel. Anti-gay, forget about him. McCullum, former mayor of Champaign. Great guy. Good on our issues. And that would be a very important win. That is key for us. There is another guy we endorsed out in Oak Park, Don Harmon, really great guy and that's the 39th Senate District, and the Republican dropped out of that. One of the things that is important for us, and this is the Barney Frank school of thought, is the only reason that the civil-rights bill has not passed is because Pate Philip is the Senate president. So the most important thing for our community is that the Illinois Senate be Democratic. But the thing is, when we look at all of these races, when we look at what's happening out there politically, I think that a Democratic Senate is critical. That is not just a partisan opinion, it is a strategy that we need, by almost everyone's analysis.

The other day Corinne Wood is talking at our women's brunch … no longer do we hear people talking about 'if' the gay-rights bill passes, they talk about 'when' will it pass.

WCT: If Ryan were to get in, how much power is there to get it through despite him?

Rick: We're not worried about Mr. Ryan.

Art: There's a lot of others that are of slightly lower rank. For example, you have incumbent Sen. Frank Watson [R] who is in a neck-and-neck race with former state Democratic Rep. John Dunn ⎿st District]. I spent part of this afternoon looking into this race and John Dunn is very close. And Watson, who is pretty moderate for a downstate Republican, well that would be a yes vote for us. John Dunn would be a yes vote. Dunn was a state rep in the '80s that got redistricted out after 1990 redistricting so he's actually never been to Springfield except as a lobbyist. And he's a good government kind of guy who will vote with us.

Rick: The real point is: if these Republicans win, our bill won't get to the House or it won't get to the Senate floor. Whereas, with Dunn and some downstate Democrats--they may not be yes votes , but at least the leadership will get those to the floor and we can make it up with Republicans to take us over the edge. So that's the real key--even I would say to folks downstate, vote Democrat for Senate, I don't care who it is. We need a Democratic Senate. It's just a matter of strategy.

WCT: How many Republican yes votes are there?

Rick: Most of our yes votes are suburban Cook.

Art: And Elgin.

Rick: Cook and DuPage.

WCT: What about the state House?

Rick: It's complicated. Around here everybody's fine. Most of the yes votes in the city are fine. One race that we are interested in is in the 20th House district which is Republican Michael McAuliffe who voted yes on HB 101 last time around and representative Bob Bugielski who voted no. The Democrat voted no in the 20th Democratic District.