NEWS/POLITICS

 

Gays and Lesbians Boast Political Victories

WASHINGTON, DC - The Gay
and Lesbian Victory Fund, the
nation's largest gay and lesbian
political action committee, an-
nounced in June that nine of its
endorsed candidates won their
elections or won enough votes
to move on to a nmoff. Many
of the Victory Fund-endorsed
candidates overcame vicious
attacks by well-funded, anti-gay
challengers. These wins from
last month’s races come on the

heels of 11 wins earlier this-

year, three of which are outright

wins.

One of the goals of the Victo-
ry Fund has been adding openly

gay or lesbian elected officials

in state legislatures where there

are currently none - an effort the

group refers to as the “Legisla-
tive Horizon States” Campaign.
Three candidates have advanced

to help the organization move

closer to that goal:

legislature seat in a Birming-
ham district.

- Matt McCoy won his primary

in Iowa to defend his legisla-
tive seat in November even
after repeated attacks from a

“family values” opponent. This
is McCoy's first race as an
openly gay candidate.

0 Kathy Webb won her Demo-

cratic primary in May for a
seat in the Arkansas state
legislature. She is poised to
become the first openly LGBT
legislator in the state's history.

“Increasingly, fairness trumps
fear. Our candidates are winning
because voters understand they
care about issues that matter
to them - the economy, schools,
crime and health care. A can-
didate‘s sexual orientation is
a nonissue among fair-minded
Americans,” said Chuck Wolfe,
President and CEO of the Vic-

tory Fund. “Our successful can-
didates provide a compelling vi-
sion for advancing public policy
on a wide range of issues vot-
ers care about. - and, ultimately,

I In Alabama, Patricia Todd
fended off a last-minute smear
- campaign,i,n.order._to make it
to a July 13 runoff for a state

. 
DEATHS
Dr. Fritz Klein Dies at 73

Founder of American Institute of Bisexuality Mourned

SAN DIEGO — Fritz Klein, chair and founder of the American Insti-
tute of Bisexuality, died in May following a cardiac arrest, according
to the institute’s website. '

He was known for his pioneering sex research and development
of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, which “measures the com-
plexity and fluidity of sexual orientation.” Klein deduced from his
studies that “sexual orientations are too complex to be broken into
simple, well-defined categories.” _ - '

Born in Vienna in 1932, Klein and his family fled to New York
City to escape anti-Semitism and the War. He was a psychiatrist
for 30 years in San Diego and New York and published several
books including Life, Sex and the Pursuit of Happiness in 2005.Y
(From wvvw.lo'isexua|.org)

Rev. Canon Clinton R. Jones Dies at 89
Episcopal Priest Worked for Gays, Poor, Sex Offenders

HARTFORD, CT — The Rev. Canon Clinton R. Jones, who worked
on behalf of many on the margins of society, died here in June. He
had been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to a
report in the Hartford Courant.

Jones was a “legend” known for his outreach to many. He was es-
Decially known for his research in homosexuality and transsexuality,
the Courant said. Jones counseled many people struggling with their
sexual orientation as well as those undergoing sex change opera-
tions. He published three books a.r1d numerous articles‘regarding
gender identification, the Courant said. , '

Jones served with the Christ Church Cathedral for 40 years, the
newspaper said.V (From wvvw.courant.com)

that’s what resonates with the
voter. Not whether or not the
candidate is gay or lesbian."
Wolfe also noted that key
wins in states whose legislatures
have no openly LGBT represen-
tation present an opportunity
for dialogue on issues important
to all types of families. '
“Other legislators respond to
the courage and commitment
demonstrated by their openly
‘gay ‘and lesbian colleagues.- It’s
harder to be intolerant towards
those you lmow and work with
every day, ” he said. ’
A recent Zogby poll conduct-
ed for the Gay and Lesbian Lead-
ership Institute found that more
than 70% of respondents would
vote for an openly gay or lesbian
candidate for state legislature if

the candidate shared their views I

on the issues.
The following are.significant
Wins as of midJune:

0 Patricia Todd - Alabama State
House, moves on to a runoff
on July 13.

0 Ken Yeager -- California, Santa
Clara County Board of Supervi-
sors, won his seat outright with
more than 50% of the vote in a
field of three candidates.

- Kevin Dowling - California,
Hayward City Council, incum-
bent who was re-elected to his
seat.

0 David Rubin - California, San
Diego Superior Court Judge,
who was elected to his seat.

0 Richard Gordon - California,
San Mateo County Board of
Supervisors, incumbent who
retains his seat.

0 John‘ Laird - California State
Assembly, incumbent with no
general election opposition.

0 Mark Leno - California State
Assembly, incumbent advanc-
es to general election.

0 Matt McCoy - Iowa State Sen-
ate, Incumbent - advances to
general election Nov. 7.

0 Christine Kaufmann, Montana
State House, incumbent with no
general election opposition.V

From Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund press release.
The Fund provides strate-
gic, technical and financial
support to openly LGBT
candidates and officials. In
14 years, Victory has helped
the number of openly LGBT
(officials grow from 49 to over ,
350. For more information,
visit www.victoryfund.org

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