Out in the Mountains

Activists Gearing Up for Presidential Election l

Terje Anderson

As the long primary and caucus season
comes to a close, lesbian, gay and AIDS
activists and organizations around the
country are preparing strategies for the
party conventions and fall election cam-
paign. While many express ambivalence
about the candidates and direction of the
campaign so far, in some ways lesbian,
gay and AIDS issues have been more
prominent in 1992 than in any election
previous year.

In 1988 Jesse Jackson excited and gal-
vanized many people with his progressive
message and direct appeals to the com-
munity. While no candidate this year has
provided such excitement among lesbians
and gay men around the country, a num-
ber of key developments should be en-
couraging to those looking for signs of
electoral progress.

The Democrats

In the Democratic primaries, Paul Tson-
gas talked more frequently about his
strong support for civil rights legislation
than any candidate (including Jackson)
ever has, at one point even making it the
first item he mentioned when asked by
the press what separated him from
George Bush. Other candidates learned to
ignore gay and lesbian issues at their per-
il. Senator Bob Kerrey was roundly crit-
icized from all circles for making a joke
about lesbians when he thought the mi-
crophone was turned off. Progressive
Senator Tom Harkin was clearly sur-
prised by the heat he took over his lack of
responsiveness to lesbian and gay issues,
and ultimately signed onto the most pro-
gressive pro-gay position statement any
major candidate has ever issued.

But as these candidates dropped from the
race and the choices narrowed to Bill
Clinton and Jerry Brown, discussion of
lesbian/gay issues virtually disappeared

from the race (except during the New
York primary, when both candidates fre-

quently raised the AIDS issue in an ap-

parent attempt to attract votes.) Many ac-
tivists have sided with Brown, based on
his long history of support for civil rights
measures, appointment of open lesbians
and gay men to judgeships and other of-
fices while serving as Califomia’s gov-
ernor and his wearing of a symbolic red
AIDS ribbon throughout the campaign.

As Clinton has moved closer to be-
coming the party’s nominee, most les-
bian/gay party leaders seem resigned to
accepting him as a far better choice than
Bush. Clinton has endorsed, with mod-
ifications, the federal anti-discrimination
bill, and pledged presidential leadership
on AIDS.

Arkansas lesbians and gay men give
Clinton mixed reviews, with the general
consensus summed up by one AIDS
worker from Pine Bluff that “he hasn’t
been bad considering the environment
he’s working in. Arkansas still has a state
legislature which passes bills banning
teaching evolution in the schools, so we
hardly expect a pro-gay governor.” Some
report that he has provided a certain de-
gree of support and access, while others
decry his silence on efforts to repeal sod-
omy laws and lack of executive support
for AIDS funding. Others report that
Clinton has been deeply touched by the
AIDS deaths of several close associates,
and believe that as a national leader he
will be able to do far more than he could
as governor.

The next significant event for lesbians
and gay men will be the party’s platform
deliberations in June. It is expected that
Brown and Tsongas supporters on the
Platform Committee will try to include
strong civil rights and AIDS language in

the document, while the Clinton carn-
paign is likely to push for more general
statements on these issues.

During the Democratic Convention in 5
July in New York, lesbian and gay del- I
egates will caucus daily and work for j
visability and press attention on the con- ‘
vention floor. It is anticipated that the
caucus of out convention delegates will
equal the 80 achieved at the 1984 and
1988 conventions. Plans include openly
lesbian and gay speakers at the conven-
tion, floor demonstrations, press confer-
ences, and efforts to ensure a convention
address by a person with AIDS. (As Ver-
monts’ Democratic National Committee-
man, I go to the convention as an auto-
matic “super delegate,” guaranteeing at
least one openly gay Vermont delegate,
while other gay men and lesbians could
be chosen as delegates, alternates or
committee members during the May
state convention.)

I

I
Outside the Hall I
The efforts of lesbians and gays inside I
the Madison Square Garden convention
hall are likely to receive much less atten-
tion than the activities on the street.

Already a broad coalition of AIDS or-
ganizations is planning a New York I
march during the convention, hoping to
attract 50,000 or more people to focus ,
political attention on the epidemic. Or- 7
ganizers hope celebrities like Madonna, »
Magic Johnson, Whoopi Goldberg and 1
Jesse Jackson will help produce an im-
pressive tum-out for the march. Other
groups are planning civil disobedience
and disruptions during the convention.

A convention held in New York, the hot-
bed of ACT UP, Queer Nation and other
street activist groups, seems destined to

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