Senate Campaigns Announce Backers
Openly gay state Rep. Larry McKeon and openly gay Ald. Tom Tunney last week announced their support of State Comptroller Dan Hynes in his bid for U.S. Senate. Political activist Rick Garcia has already announced his support for candidate Gery Chico, and businessman Blair Hull is also rounding up GLBT support as he donates thousands to community organizations.
This week, backers of state Sen. Barak Obama are expected to host a press conference Oct. 30 downtown. AIDS activist Jim Pickett sent out an e-mail asking for Obama supporters to attend the GLBT event, with backers including Sam Bezanis, Lora Branch, John Chester, Charles Clifton, Tom Chaderjian, Paul Drugan, Martha Fourt, Jackie Kaplan & Ann Perkins, Charles Katzenmeyer, Miranda Miller, David Munar, Alicia Obando, Renae Ogletree, and Phil Palmer.
Judicial Race Heats Up
At least four gays and lesbians will be among a large field of candidates seeking election as judge from the North Lakefront's 8th Subcircuit next year.
Jay Paul Deratany, John Ehrlich, Jon Erickson and Sherry Pethers are all running as openly gay or lesbian candidates in the race.
Erickson recently hosted an event with more than 300 people at Cocktail to officially kick off his campaign.
Hillary Clinton in Town for Senate Event
The Women's Senate Network of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee hosts 'A Conversation on Public Policy' Monday, Nov. 17 with U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., at the Chicago Hilton and Towers from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $150 for breakfast or luncheon events, $1,000 for entire program, including forums on economic policy and international affairs. Call (312) 527-3667 for information or tickets.
Mixner Named by Gephardt as Campaign Co-Chair
Rep. Dick Gephardt has named long-time gay Democratic activist and fundraiser David Mixner as co-chair of his presidential campaign. 'I am honored and proud to have David's support and friendship and know that his political and fundraising skills will be invaluable to our efforts,' said Gephardt.
Emanuel Backing Clark
U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, from the heavily gay North Side of Chicago, is backing Gen. Wesley Clark in his race for U.S. President. Emanuel, when working for President Bill Clinton, helped craft the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' gay ban, and Clark has not said equivocally whether he would eliminate the ban, which has caused the 'firing' of almost 10,000 servicemembers in 10 years.
Rep. Condemned for Anti-Gay Comments
The Human Rights Campaign condemned remarks made by Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who called homosexuality a 'sickness,' an 'aberration' and a 'sin' that needs to be 'controlled.' Published in an Associated Press article Oct. 20, Wamp also announced his support for an anti-gay constitutional amendment which would deny same-sex couples any of the more than 1,000 federal benefits and protections that come with a civil marriage license and wipe out the limited protections that currently exist for some same-sex couples and their families in the United States.
'Rep. Wamp's comments are deeply hurtful, inaccurate and should be retracted. He owes an apology to all Americans who believe in fairness and equal rights for everyone in this country,' said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg. 'Not only has Wamp vilified and marginalized millions of Americans, he is advocating amending our nation's most cherished document—the U.S. Constitution—to permanently deny rights to gay and lesbian families.'
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said Wamp's comments were 'offensive, unenlightened and uninformed. ... Wamp's comments echo earlier statements made by President Bush where he seemed to equate homosexuality with sin. Such inflammatory statements add fuel to the fire of bigotry and put in real danger our neighbors, friends and constituents.'
