| WASHINGTON -
November 4 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Elections Report is a summary of some of the races especially important to the gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. These include the congressional races of
non-incumbent, out gay and lesbian candidates Tammy Baldwin, Paul Barby, Grethe
Cammermeyer, and Christine Kehoe; key House and Senate races; and gay-related ballot
initiatives in Alaska, Hawaii, Fort Collins, Colorado, Fayetteville, Arkansas, and South
Portland and Ogunquit, Maine.
In the first election update, the Task Force reported that
Christine Kehoe was trailing in her bid to win a House seat. The race at this point has
not been officially called. Most recent reports show her trailing 47 percent to 49 percent
with 72 percent of the precincts reporting.
Initial reports are in for Hawaii and Alaska, suggesting
that both balLot initiatives will pass by wide margins. With 63% reporting in Hawaii, the
margin is 68% for; 29% against. In Alaska, 60% of the precincts are counted, with a margin
of 68% for; 32% against.
Gay and Lesbian Congressional Candidates (Non-Incumbent)
Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. Josephine Musser (R)
Wisconsin 2nd Congressional District Baldwin wins (54% to 46%) Baldwin, an out lesbian, is
a three-term state legislator.
Paul Barby (D) vs. Rep. Frank Lucas (R)
Oklahoma 6th Congressional District Lucas wins (65% to 34%) Barby ran unsuccessfully for
this seat in 1996, though he garnered nearly 40 percent of the vote and carried Oklahoma
Country.
Christine Kehoe (D) vs. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R)
California 49th Congressional District Kehoe defeated, Bilbray leading (49% to 47% - 72%
of precincts reported) Kehoe was the first out elected official in San Diego. She has
served on the San Diego City Council since 1993.
Grethe Cammermeyer (D) vs. Rep. Jack Metcalf (R)
Washington 2nd Congressional District Metcalf wins (55% to 46%) Cammermeyer is a retired
army colonel who successfully challenged her dismal from the military after having
truthfully answered a questions pertaining to her sexual orientation.
Gay Congressional Candidates (Incumbent)
Rep. Barney Frank (D) vs. N/A
Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District Frank is an openly gay, progressive incumbent.
He is a consistent voice and vote on issues of concern to the GLBT community. Frank ran
unopposed.
Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) vs. Thomas John Volgy (D)
Arizona 5th Congressional District Kolbe wins (52% to 46%) Kolbe is an Employment
Non-Discrimination Act co-sponsor. He also fought the Hefley Amendment, which would have
overturned the Executive Order protecting federal employees from discrimination based on
sexual orientation.
Marriage Ballot Initiatives
Hawaii
(68% for, 29% against; 63% reporting)
The Hawaii ballot initiative likely will lead to a ban on
same-sex marriage. Voters cast ballots on two initiatives. The first would amend the
state's constitution to empower the legislature to reserve marriage to opposite sex
couples. The second would call for a constitutional convention to be convened - where an
explicit anti-gay marriage ban could be mandated. In a 1996 ruling, a Hawaii court ruled
that there is no valid reason for denying same-sex couples the freedom to marry. The
government appealed that decision to the Hawaii Supreme Court, and a final decision is
expected any time. This vote will essentially nullify the expected positive court
decision.
Campaign Contact Information:
Protect Our Constitution - Steve Okino, Communications Director
(808) 739-6263 -- Campaign office
Alaska
(68% for, 32% against; 60% reporting)
In Alaska, voters elected to amend the state Constitution
to limit the definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman. The initiative
was in reaction to a ruling by the state's Superior Court (Brause v. Alaska) this past
February in Alaska determining that the denial of same-sex marriage violates privacy and
equal protection under the state's constitution.
Campaign Contact Information:
No on 2 - Allison Mendel, Co-Chair
(907) 561-3767 -- Campaign office (907) 441-7854 -- Cell phone
Friday, November 6 - National Day of Action for the Freedom
to Marry
Get more information at: National Day of
Action - FREEDOM TO MARRY
Ballot Initiatives (non-marriage)
South Portland, Maine: Anti-discrimination ordinance passed
(54% to 46%) Ogunquit, Maine: Anti-discrimination ordinance results not in
Fayetteville, Arkansas: Anti-discrimination ordinance failed (60% to 40%) Fort Collins,
Colorado: Anti-discrimination ordinance failed (63% to 37% - not all precincts reporting)
South Portland, Maine - passed
This ordinance prohibits acts of discrimination in
employment, housing, public accommodations, or the extension of credit. In February,
Mainers voted 51 percent to 49 percent to repeal a state law (passed in 1997) banning
anti-gay discrimination. In South Portland, 60 percent of the voters favored keeping the
state law. This year the South Portland City Council decided to put the issue directly to
the voters rather than having the council vote on the ordinance.
Campaign Contact Information:
Larry Bliss, South Portland Citizens for Justice
(207) 831-2471 -- phone
Ogunquit, Maine - pending
Referendum question 4 amends the Ogunquit Municipal Code to
ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing,
public accommodations, and the extension of credit. In response to the repeal of Maine's
statewide civil rights law banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,
activists with Concerned Citizens of Ogunquit gathered enough signatures to have a human
rights ordinance modeled after the statewide non-discrimination bill placed on the
November 3rd ballot.
Campaign Contact Information:
Hal Feldberg, Concerned Citizens of Ogunquit
(954) 561-0032 Temporary Contact # in Florida
Fayetteville, Arkansas - failed
Resolution 51-98,the Fayetteville Human Dignity Resolution,
would have added the categories of sexual orientation and familial status to the City of
Fayetteville's non-discrimination policy for public employees. Last spring, the city
council passed this non-discrimination resolution. The mayor vetoed it, and in a rare move
the council overrode the mayor's veto, effectively enacting the resolution as law. A local
group affiliated with the Christian Coalition gathered enough petition signatures to put
the measure up for a vote.
Campaign Contact Information:
Anne Shelley, Campaign for Human Dignity Campaign Manager
(501) 571-4825 -- phone
Fort Collins, Colorado - failed
Ordinance 22 would have added sexual orientation to the
city's non-discrimination law covering employment, housing, and public accommodations. The
city council and mayor enacted the ordinance into law last spring. Shortly thereafter
right-wing opposition groups gathered enough signatures to have the measure referred to
the ballot in the hopes of defeating them in November.
Campaign Contact Information:
Chris Morris, Ft. Collins Citizens for Human Rights Campaign Coordinator
(970) 221-3247 -- phone
CLOSELY WATCHED SENATE RACES
Senator Al D'Amato (R) vs. Charles Schumer (D)
Schumer wins (55% to 45%)
Chuck Schumer will become the new junior senator from New
York. He defeated Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) in one of the most contentious campaigns
in the country. While D'Amato recently made overtures to the GLBT community, his staunch
anti-choice votes have angered many in the GLBT, feminist, and other progressive
communities.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D) vs. Matt Fong (R)
Boxer wins (53% to 44%)
Boxer is a staunch advocate of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender civil rights and reproductive choice. Fong has stated that he believes
marriage should be between a man and a woman. He has also stated that he does "not
support the [gay] lifestyle" and that that he does not support "homosexual
behavior." Fong believes "Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided," and he opposes
public funding and late-term abortions, and supports a parental consent requirement.
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) vs. Robert Dornan (R)
California 46th Congressional District
Sanchez wins (57% to 39%)
For the second time in a row, Representative Sanchez
defeated former Congressman Dornan. Dornan spearheaded many anti-gay bills and amendments
while in Congress
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