16
news
2000
VICTORY IN VERMONT
n an election widely viewed as a referendum
on same-sex relationships, Vermonters re­
elected Howard Dean, the longtime Democrat­
ic governor who put his political career on the
line by supporting state-sanctioned same-gender
relationships similar to marriage. His Republi­
can opponent had promised to overturn civil
unions for same-sex couples.
Ruth Dwyer, whose forces had marshaled
behind the evocative slogan “Take Back Ver­
mont,” appeared stunned by the margin of her
defeat. She won less support than she did in
1998, when she garnered 41 percent of the vote
in her first bid to unseat Dean.
Surviving some hotly contested and
extremely close races, pro-civil union candi­
dates retained control of the Vermont Senate.
Going into the elections, the chamber had a 19-
11 majority on the issue, with the support of all
17 Democrats and two Republicans.
After Nov. 7, the Senate has a 17-13 pro-
civil union majority, and the Democrats hold a
16-14 majority. Pro-civil union Lt. Gov. Doug
Racine will cast any tiebreaking votes.
Meanwhile, the pro-civil union forces, and
the Democrats, lost their majontv in the House.
A significant number of pro-civil union incum­
bents lost their seats, many solely as a result of
their votes on the issue.
Although Vermonters statewide are closely
divided, and slightly pro-civil union, the issue
clearly had a heavy influence on House races in
isolated but significant districts. Its too soon to
tell whether any legislative activity concerning
civil unions will arise during the next session of
the Legislature. Although the voting suggests
people are ready to move on, a significant num­
ber of representatives ran on an anti-civil union
I
platform and might be anxious to pursue revi­
sions or repeal of the law.
Associated Press exit polls showed a slim
majority of Vermonters favor civil unions. In
particular, the AP reported that 27 percent of
respondents were “enthusiastic” about the law,
and another 25 percent described themselves as
“supportive."
O n the other side, 32 percent of Vermon­
ters described themselves as “opposed” to the
law, and 14 percent described themselves as
“angry.” In total, 52 percent are in favor of
the civil union law and 46 percent are ■
opposed.
OUT OF THE CLOSET AND INTO
THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
O
penly gay and lesbian candidates scored
several historic successes at the polls
Nov. 7.
The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund— a
political action committee
working to increase the num­
ber of openly gay and lesbian
public officials at the local,
state and national level—
found state legislative victo­
ries in Georgia, Michigan
and California particularly
noteworthy. W ith Karla
Drenner’s victory in the
Peach State, for example, the
Deep South is about to see its
first openly gay or lesbian
state law-maker.
“Despite continuing in­
stances of gay-baiting, this
year has brought some his­
Karla Drenner
toric victories for openly
gay and lesbian candidates
for state legislatures— and
state legislatures are in ­
creasingly key to securing
equal rights for all Am eri­
cans regardless of sexual ori­
en ta tio n ,” said Brian K.
Bond, Gay and Lesbian V ic­
tory Fund executive direc­
tor. “W e’ve seen a doubling
o f our community’s open
representation in the Cali-
fomia state Legislature.
“W e’ve seen the election of the first openly
gay or lesbian state lawmakers in the Deep
South as well as Michigan. The triumphs in
Michigan and Georgia are especially important
because these states are among the 39 that do
not yet protect their citizens from discrimina­
tion based on sexual orientation.”
O f the 39 Victory Fund-endorsed candi­
dates from 17 states who
faced elections, 23 office
seekers from 13 states pre­
vailed, and two will enter
runoff elections. They in­
cluded Republicans, Demo­
crats and independents.
Bond underscored the
importance of state legisla­
tive victories. He pointed
to a Sept. 15 Washington
Blade analysis indicating
four out of the five states
that passed pro-equal rights
laws this year had openly
gay, lesbian or bisexual
state legislators who were
key to those successes. But
three o f the four states that passed anti­
gay laws this year had no openly gay,
lesbian or bisexual state legislators to
speak up for equality.
“Clearly, open representation at the
state level helps
overcom e discrim­
ination and deliv­
ers positive results
for
gay
and
straight
A m eri­
cans alike,” Bond
said. “S o our state
legislative
v ic­
tories are vital.
“Also notewor­
thy in this elec­
tion is th at— as
Tammy Baldwin
with the agoniz­
ingly close presi­
dential campaign— many o f our races have
been decided by narrow' margins. T h e 2000
elections remind us that every vote truly does
count and that we each have an opportunity
and a responsibility to make our votes count
and our voices heard.”
At the federal level, Victory Fund incum­
bent candidates did well, as U .S . Reps.
Tammy Baldwin, D-W is., and Jim Kolbe,
R-Ariz., both were re-elected. Victory Fund
challengers at the federal level, however, had
a harder time.
House candidate Gerrie Schipske of Califor­
nia and U .S. Senate hopeful Ed Hanagan of
Vermont both fell short, although Schipske
came within 1 percent of victory. Flanagan
made history in his primary by becoming the
first openly gay U .S. Senate nominee of a major
political party.
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