Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 6, 1999)
! i'ii\ w h 'T i\ n n e w s S tand by W hich M an ? Queer registered voter seeks dependable Democrat for president, appearance less important than politics by Gip Plaster Editor’s note: The following is the first in a two-part series. Although the presidential primaries are months away, the articles offer an early glimpse at the candidates. This story looks at the two candi dates for the Democratic presidential nomination. The next piece, to run in Just Out’s Aug. 20 issue, will look at the Republicans. candidates support passage of the B oth Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Asked whether the policy would be rescind ed under a Bradley administration, Hauser indi cates “there is a possibility of reviewing the pol icy.” A few years back, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D- Calif., introduced an amendment to an appro priations bill that sought to remove the codifi cation of the ban on gay men and lesbians in the military. The amendment failed, but Bradley voted in favor of removing the ban. Pending legislation co-authored by openly gay Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., would partial ly repeal 1996 restrictions that require the with holding of federal funding—including some financial aid for students—from institutions with anti-discrimination policies that prohibit military recruiting. Neither candidate currently has a position on the proposal. which would provide employment protections based on sexual orientation. Romash says EN DA “affords, to all, basic employment nondiscrimination” and that “the vice president supports protections against workplacé discrimination on the basis of sexual ice President A1 Gore, arguably orientation.” the front-runner for the Democra During a Human Rights Campaign dinner tic presidential nomination, visit last year, Gore said: “So I say to Congress: Let’s ed a gay and lesbian community give everyone who is willing to work for it a fair oth candidates have made clear their opin center in Los Angeles in June. and equal chance to succeed. Pass the Employ ions on legalizing same-sex marriage. Bill Bradley, a former senator from New Jer ment Non-Discrimination Act into law.” While Gore supports legal recognition of sey and Gores only announced competition On a recent trip to California, Gore reaf same-sex domestic partnerships, he supported thus far, visited the center a week earlier. firmed his position, expressing support for the President Bill Clinton’s signature on the Spokespeople for each candidate claim they newer version of ENDA introduced in June. Defense of Marriage Act, a largely symbolic had the idea first. Bradley has not spoken much publicly piece of legislation that put the federal gov “The vice presidents visit had been long ernment on record against same-sex mar scheduled and had riage despite the fact that no state allows it. been planned for Gore says he opposes “a change in the some time,” says institution of marriage as we now know it Marla Romash, between men and women.” deputy chair of Gore Bradley was serving in the Senate 2000, the campaign when DOMA came up for a vote. He to elect Gore as pres backed it. Bradley left the 104th Congress ident. with a 78 percent HRC rating on gay and “That’s complete lesbian issues. ly untrue,” counters “That’s a complicated one for him," Eric Hauser, Bradleys Hauser says of Bradley’s position on press secretary. same-sex marriage. Whoever had the Bradley is aware, he says, that many idea first, both candi people oppose same-sex marriage on dates are courting gay | religious grounds. and lesbian voters. “He has respect for that view, but he Both Al Gore and Bill With very few differ also has said he feels very strongly about ore courting gay and no real rights between gay partners," Hauser ences on most issues— adds. and no real differences With very few r e f i d not surprising In a 1996 Detroit News article, on gay and lesbian Bradley said: “In trying to balance the issues—it's not surpris religious and historical idea of mar ing to see the two pop riage with the need for extending ping up at the same rights, I say that rights should extend up to but places. about gay and lesbian issues, but he was not include recognition of same-sex marriage." While both are look ing for gay and lesbian votes, both fall short on a co-sponsor of ENDA in 1994 and 1995, and ore has received criticism on AIDS issues at least one issue of concern to some gay and les voted in favor of the measure in 1996. Gore has been supportive of federal hate X of late. bian voters: marriage. The candidates’ positions He is blamed for giving new life to the AIDS on allowing gay men and lesbians to serve open crimes legislation and believes that hate crimes Growth and Opportunity Act, a piece of legisla should be punished with “the full force of the ly in the military are not strong either. tion that would, among other things, attempt to First, a little background: Both Gore and law,” Romash says. “If we allow even a small number of Ameri prohibit African nations from developing less- Bradley hail from the South, and both were sen cans to harbor and act upon malice and intoler expensive generic forms of AIDS drugs and ators who had other careers before stepping into ance, then every American feels the sting of therefore force them to pay higher prices for the chamber. U.S.-patented versions of the drugs. Gore, bom March 31, 1948, is the son of a injustice,” Gore has said. A handful of Gore campaign appearances In the 101st Congress, Sen. Jesse Helms, a senator. He was raised in Carthage, Tenn., and Washington, D.C. He graduated with honors highly conservative Republican from North have been disrupted by activists concerned from Harvard University in 1969 with a degree Carolina, proposed an amendment to the Hate about the issue. “The vice president has always worked hard in government. Gore later became an investiga Crimes Statistics Act that said “the homosexual tive reporter for The Tennessean in Nashville movement threatens the strength and survival to get drugs into Africa,” Romash says. “And he and also attended divinity school and law of the American family” and that state sodomy has always supported funding for AIDS.” Bradley demonstrated support for AIDS school. His home church is New Salem Mis laws should be enforced. Gore voted against the proposal, and earned a 90 percent rating that funding as early as 1983, according to Hauser. sionary Baptist Church in Carthage. Even back then, Bradley called AIDS the most Gore served in the U.S. House of Represen session from HRC. significant disease since polio. In 1985, he co Gore garnered a 100 percent rating during tatives from 1977 to 1985, then served in the sponsored the Ryan White Act. Senate from 1985 until 1993, when he was inau the 102nd Congress. “He has always fought hard for AIDS issues,” Hauser says Bradley supports tough hate gurated as vice president. Hauser says. Bradley, bom July 28, 1943, in Crystal City, crimes legislation. Neither candidate has yet been endorsed by Mo., is the son of a banker and a schoolteacher. oth candidates have a murky stance on the any major gay and lesbian groups. While He attended Princeton University and graduat military issue and the future of the "don’t endorsements can make or break a campaign, ed with honors with a degree in U.S. history. He Hauser suggests gay and lesbian voters should became a professional basketball player, retiring ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” policy. Romash says Gore believes the policy has think for themselves. from the sport in 1977. not been implemented well. When pressed “Gay and lesbian Americans, like other In 1979, at age 35, Bradley was sworn into the U.S. Senate as its youngest member. He left about whether the vice president believes the Americans, need to make individual judgments the Senate in 1996 and has since been writing, policy itself is a good one, she would not com about who they believe should be president," he says. ment further. lecturing and consulting. j B , rs A smart financial plan begins with just 7 numbers. 238-6036 WADDELL S r REED The people with a plan for you. Eric Brown District Manager 500 NE Multnomah Portland, OR 97232 503/238-6036