Charles Koehler 0:00 I'm Charles Koehler, and this is Lambda Reports, a weekly program by and for the St. Louis area lesbian and gay community here on Jukebox 96. Well, it's Sunday morning, just two days away from an election day that can change the course of history for lesbians and gays, both nationally and locally. Today, we'll be taking an in depth look at how the people and issues you will be voting on will shape the daily lives of millions of lesbians and gays, issues that can affect our job security, housing, freedom from hate crimes and civil liberties, all issues that hundreds of millions of other Americans take for granted. Joining us are Leah Edelman, administrative coordinator of St. Louis based Privacy Rights Education Project, Dave Bianco of the Federally focused Human Rights Campaign Fund, and on working assignment in Oregon, we bring you St. Louis and Lambda Reports co-host, Debbie Law. Good morning to everyone and welcome to Lambda Reports. Unassigned 1:05 Good morning. Charles Koehler 1:07 Let's start with the presidential candidates. For the first time in history, the bipartisan human rights campaign fund has endorsed a presidential candidate, Bill Clinton. What's different about Bill Clinton? Dave Bianco 1:21 Well, Clinton is really the first major candidate of a major party in this country who's been nominated to embrace the issues important of importance to lesbian and gay Americans. Last time around in 1988 Michael Dukakis sort of took the gay vote for granted, and he didn't speak about our issues, and he didn't include us in his coalition. And we think that probably 35 to 40% of the gay vote last time around went to George Bush. This time, Clinton has really included gay people in his coalition. He's promised to a point, appoint them in his in his administration, and he's endorsed issues like the National Gay and Lesbian civil rights bill and ending the military's ban on gays and lesbians that we really were looking for. Charles Koehler 1:59 Just the other night, I was at a Human Rights Campaign Fund meeting and saw a videotape that was made of a speech that Clinton gave in, I believe it was May or June of this year in Los Angeles, and he very clearly and with no equivocation showed support and of lesbians and gays and the issues that are a concern of him without equivocating. I mean, it was, it was very clear that he, he got it. He understood, in very real terms what some of the issues are that are facing lesbians and gays and, of course, millions of other people too. For me personally, that was an indication and cleared up any possible doubts in my mind at all. Dave Bianco 2:47 Yeah, we have a real opportunity here. It's not that he's just going through the motions and reading speeches that other people have written for him. He really feels it, and you can tell when you when you see him speak abou t gay issues, and when he said them the gays in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. If we had gotten any of the other Democrats that were running this year, we wouldn't have had that same feeling, even if they would be with us on the issues, and not all of them would have been. He's a different kind of Democrat, and we're very lucky to have him nominated and to have him looking like he's got a good chance at this election. We just have to get him elected. Charles Koehler 3:16 This is actually a historic moment for us in American history, I mean, the first time that a presidential candidate has come out so clearly on issues that are of vital importance to at least 10% of the population, not including their friends and their families and everyone else. What would you say to a lesbian or gay person who's planning to vote for Bush or Perot? Leah Edelman 3:43 Yeah, I'd like to respond to that. I've heard that, in fact, from a variety of people who say that they, for various reasons, don't want to vote for Clinton. And I guess what I would say to those people is that if you're looking at voting for Bush or Perot, you're looking at limiting your own options. People have told me, Well, I don't know if we can afford to have I can afford to have a Democratic candidate in the office, and I have to say that you can't afford to have the Republicans or P erot in the office, because we've got things like Debbie will talk about going on in Oregon where they're trying to systematically take rights, civil rights, away from gays and lesbians. So it's hard, because gays and lesbians have are all over the place on other issues, but in this one case, you've got to vote for your life and your own civil rights, and look at the candidate who's going to support that. Dave Bianco 4:29 Yeah, if you're a gay person, your life will immediately be better Wednesday morning if Clinton is elected. And I'll tell you why, what's going to happen is the victory of a presidential candidate who embraced the gay rights agenda. What that's going to do? It's going to give permission to Democrats who want to be with us that are nervous about losing if they if they admit that they're they're in favor of what we feel is important. They're going to feel permission to come out and join hands with the community, and that's really important. We'll see as soon as he's elected, he's promised to sign an. Executive Order overturning the military's ban on gays and lesbians in the military, and that's going to be really important for a lot of people. He'll overturn the gag rule, which is, which is of importance to lots of women in this country. He's really, immediately the country will be have a better atmosphere for gays and lesbians. Charles Koehler 5:18 Some of the other issues that I'm looking at some of the literature for Clinton, mentioning that signing the federal gay and lesbian civil rights bill, ending discrimination in federal employment,` and in terms of the issue of AIDS, by fully funding research and care, by naming an AIDS policy chief to streamline research for treatment and cure, and reforming health care to cover everyone and control cost, and, of course, supporting Roe v Wade and supporting the Freedom of Choice Act. So those are all very clear issues that I think on each one of these issues that the Republican Party at least does not support well. Deborah Law 5:59 And if I could jump in here too. I'd have to say I don't think we can afford more than 12 years of the Reagan Bush policies. What we have seen in the last 12 years has been a systematic destruction of the infrastructure of this country. And if we, that impacts all of us as citizens of this country, and it really impacts all of us who are lesbian and gay or any other disenfranchised groups in terms of the building and promoting of hatred that's happened over the last 12 years. I think we really have to be looking at this from the big picture, and the very specific issues that people have just mentioned are extremely important, and we can't afford any more time in terms of a continuation of what we've seen over the last 12 years. Charles Koehler 6:37 Well, Debbie, you're in Oregon right now taking a first hand look on being on the front battle lines of another issue of national importance. Can you give us an overview of exactly what's happening in Oregon, and why is it important to lesbians and gays everywhere? Deborah Law 6:56 I'm here working with a No On Nine campaign, and Nine is a ballot initiative that, in fact, set, would set up a constitutional an amendment to the Constitution of the, State of Oregon. Charles Koehler 7:08 That's a that's a that's a constitutional amendment. It is built into the constitution of the state. It is a constant constitutional amendment. And what does it say? Deborah Law 7:19 Pardon me? Charles Koehler 7:20 What does it say? Deborah Law 7:20 That not only would take away any existing civil rights, it would also clearly state that there can be no civil rights for lesbians and gays. There can be no promoting of homosexuality, and by that, we know from their narrow definition, means discussion of homosexuality, but in fact, also mandates discrimination by saying that within public schools and public institutions, homosexuality would have to be taught as immoral and perverse. So it's a very interesting and insidious twist in the sense of it cannot be promoted, as in discussed. But in fact, they are also laying out a mandate where Oregon's tax dollars would be spent to teach that homosexuality is perverse and immoral. The campaign has been initiated by a group called the Oregon Citizens Alliance, and they are taking on what they call the homosexual agenda and essentially saying that by the fact that we are stating that we in fact say that the very civil rights that we expect, job protection, freedom from hate crimes, freedom from violence, are special rights that they in fact, will be eradicating, not only any rights that there may be in the state of Oregon, and what we're talking about is a hate crimes bill in Oregon that does include sexual orientation as A protected category, and there is a civil rights ordinance in the City of Portland and in the city of Corvallis, not only takes those away, but then essentially says, as part of the Constitution that there can be no civil rights for homosexuals, essentially creating a second class, a group of second class citizens in the State of Oregon. Oregon has already seen this in the city of Springfield. Initiative 2008 was passed this spring, which is a version, a local version, of Amendment Nine, or the ballot initiative Nine. What's already happening in the city of Springfield is there has been an escalation of violence against people who are lesbian, gay, or perceived to be lesbian or gay, or supportive of lesbian or gay issues. People were talking last night that there is almost gang style violence happening in junior high schools, where junior high school students who want to show their support for No On Nine are afraid to do so, and in fact, if they have been vocal about it at all, have been beat up, a lot more verbal assaults and people who are afraid to go to Springfield. Springfield is losing from an economic standpoint, because many corporations and businesses are no longer dealing with Springfield or working in Springfield, and people are afraid. People. Are moving away. There was a woman who gave a very poignant story last night where she said, Not only is she fearful for her children, because this is not what she wants her children to be taught, but she lived in a neighborhood with many lesbian neighbors, and said, I never went to the store for a cup of sugar. You know, for sugar, I would go to my neighbors or send my kids for a cup of sugar. And she said, My neighbors are moving away because my neighbors are afraid. Charles Koehler 10:22 This really has a chilling effect, and it's, I just have to stop and remind myself that this is really happening as we speak in the United States in 1992. We're seeing a resurgence of some of the things that precluded Nazi Germany. I mean, Deborah Law 10:43 And we have a lot of conditions that mirror that, in terms of a serious economic recession, and people are building on people's fears and hatreds by misinformation and distortion and lies and really terrorizing communities. So there's a lot that parallels that, and it is happening in 92 and it's not just happening in Oregon. There's also an initiative that's happening in Colorado that is not as far reaching as what is happening in Oregon, but as you can see, what's happening in Oregon is being supported by the far right, by extremists, and they are dumping a tremendous amount of money into Oregon and Colorado. Pat Robertson and his organization, Pat Buchanan and his organization, have put tremendous dollars into this, and they're using both Oregon and Colorado, which I said, is not as far reaching. It doesn't mandate the discrimination that the Oregon amendment does, but as part of a national strategy, in terms of test cases, they're looking at what they can be doing, and while they're targeting lesbians and gay men at this point, and it's it's a very serious target, it what we're really talking about is not only legalizing but elevating discrimination, and we have the high moral road here, because we're really talking about justice versus discrimination. And that's why it's extremely important that Nine is defeated in Oregon. It is extremely important that the initiative is defeated in Colorado, and that we begin to formulate a national strategy so that we're not spending our energy and dollars in various communities and cities and states around the country—and this is also happening in Portland Maine—to be putting this out, but that we're looking at effective strategy, and that's another exciting thing that I think is offered to us by a Clinton presidency. And I have to admit, I didn't, wouldn't, didn't think I'd be saying this nine or 10 months ago, but he has come forth very solidly on some issues, and I think we may only have four years. I don't know what's going to happen four years from now, but it's a window of opportunity that all progressive people have to move on and move on very quickly, because we're at a very, very serious time in our country. Charles Koehler 12:47 Basically all people that are concerned with human rights, civil rights for everyone. That's what we're talking about. Some specifics of what has already happened in Portland. I'm just reading this from an article on the St. Louis Post Dispatch, October the 18th, it says a Portland hospital's chaplain lost his job after speaking out in favor of the measure. Initiative opponents, meanwhile, blame the climate created by measure Nine for an increase in gay bashing incidents, including a homosexual man and woman killed September 26 in a fire started by Molotov cocktail. This has already cost people their lives. Deborah Law 13:21 Right. Very, very true, and what it has done, it is created by this very debate and this very divisiveness and the distortions in line has created a climate that promotes violence and hatred. Charles Koehler 13:34 One other quote from the article. It says, this is very, very terrifying, said Suzanne Pharr, a spokeswoman for the Portland-based no online campaign, and incidentally, she was recently in St. Louis at a Dignity conference. Excellent, excellent speech. She continues. This is the first time in history that a constitution would be amended to take away rights rather than extend rights. It's chilling. It really is. Really is. Dave Bianco 14:02 Yeah, you know what? Debbie mentioned, the need for a national strategy, and that's really what the Human Rights Campaign Fund is focusing on now. Our number one legislative priority is to pass a national gay and lesbian civil rights bill, hopefully in the next two years. And we have about 25 of our staff members, including myself, out on the road trying to elect candidates to Congress and the Senate that will, that will vote for a national gay and lesbian civil rights vote, because for the first time, we know that we are we've got a good shot of getting a president who will sign it, and we don't have to worry about overriding a veto. Charles Koehler 14:32 Great. And I might mention right now St. Louisans wants to, want to do more to help out the folks in Oregon, they can contact the the PREP office, and their number, which we'll mention again later on, is 862-4900. That's 862-4900. We've taken a look now at the very briefly, at the presidential candidates. We've taken a look at what some of the impact that homophobia has on people as we speak in Oregon on a national level, let's take a little bit more look now at some of the local folks and issues that are supportive of issues that are important to lesbians and gays. Let's look first at the Senate race in Illinois with Carol Moseley Braun and her opponent, Richard Williamson, Dave Bianco 15:21 Yeah. Well, Carol Moseley Braun is definitely a friend of our community. The Human Rights Campaign fund endorsed her early, actually, before the primary, when nobody thought she had a chance of winning, the Human Rights Campaign Fund endorsed her and encouraged her her primary race, and when she won, we were very pleased that she had included us in her coalition, and she spoke out on issues of importance to gays and lesbians. Charles Koehler 15:41 I might mention that a couple months ago, the Advocate had an in depth article on Carol Moseley Braun, and it pointed out very clearly that she's been supportive of lesbian and gay issues years. I mean, for years from the jump when she first started, she's not a latecomer. She has a firm, clear understanding of the importance of civil rights, equal civil rights for all people, for all people. Great. What about are the some other persons that are being supported? Dave Bianco 16:11 Well, I would say the Missouri Senate races is also a top priority, not only because we want to get get more supportive senators, but but in Gero Rothmann-Sarat, the gay and lesbian community has a good friend, somebody who has already stood up for our our community, and who we know will support us when she gets to to the Senate. She's as a St. Louis County Councilwoman. She insisted that sexual orientation be included in the hate crimes legislation that she authored and sponsored, and when people said to her, well, we'll vote for it if you take out the stuff about sexual orientation, she essentially said, look, it's not right for people to get beaten up because because they're gay or lesbian or straight, and that's not fair, and I'm not going to take this out. And so she stood up for us, and we know that she'll do that in the Senate. And so the Human Rights Campaign fund has endorsed her, and I, I know a lot of of gays and lesbians in Missouri are looking forward to voting for her. Charles Koehler 17:02 I can remember about six or nine months ago when she was on this radio program in this studio, talking about this right when it was being proposed. And I know firsthand that she is definitely in favor of fairness for people you know, and lesbian and gay issues are certainly a part of that. How about some of the other other candidates? Leah Edelman 17:26 Well, we can take a look at the governor's race, where we have another, I think, extremely clear choice between Bill Webster and Mel Carnahan. I don't think that there's any question that Mel Carnahan has been supportive of our issues. He's responded well to issues that we think are of utmost importance, issues around hate crimes and repeal of the Missouri sexual misconduct law that outlaws gay and lesbian sex. So I think that it's just critical that we get out and vote for Mel Carnahan as well. Consider the importance on the state level, especially keeping in mind what's going on in Oregon of having a friendly governor, that's something that many of us can't remember in Missouri, so it's something that I'm very excited about. We have a variety of candidates on the state level that are being endorsed because of their positions on gay and lesbian issues and pro-choice issues, and I can go through some of those, I want to say that part of the way that we made our suggestions and have indicated our support. Charles Koehler 18:25 We're talking here about PrEP, Privacy Rights Education Project, Leah Edelman 18:29 Right, the way that PrEP has been working with a coalition called Provo which is a coalition of progressive organizations, gay and lesbian organizations, pro choice organizations, environmental organizations and labor organizations who have are basically trying to elect a people-friendly government for Missouri this year. And so what we have worked with are people who, perhaps traditionally, would not have been supportive or knowledgeable about gay and lesbian issues, but because gays and lesbians have been active in this campaign—they've been out making phone calls, they've been knocking on doors, they've been handing out leaflets—our candidates know the community, and they're going to be supportive. So we've got a couple of candidates in St. Charles, Jerry Gwynn and Bob Kesser, and a woman who's running for State Senate in St. Charles named Rita Voorhees, who have all responded well and are willing to support very critical issues. So it's very important that anybody in St. Charles gets out and votes for those folks in the St. Louis County area. There's Jan Pulizzi, who's running. She's an RN who's running against Clarence Woolwind, who is an incumbent and has been there forever. He's somebody who actually has been on record saying that he thought that women who had abortions should be imprisoned for life or executed. So he's a very scary man, and his views on homosexuality are equally scary. So it's very important that people vote for Jan May Sheavey, who's a woman running in Afton, Irene Ordour. For all these women are running in the in the St. Louis County. So they're folks that we're supporting and that we would really encourage people to get out and vote for. And then, of course, there's a variety of people that have been supportive of our issues that are in uncontested races as well, that we would like to see supported. Charles Koehler 19:07 And I might mention, just for for clarification, that the issues that these people support are not supportive of special rights for lesbians and gays. They are not special rights that are given to lesbians and gays that that no one else has. All they're doing is saying and wanting to affirm that lesbians and gays would have the same rights as all other Americans have a right to expect the same rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution of the State, by the Constitution of the United States, with liberty and justice for all, they want to make sure that the for all clause on there really does mean for all and not have a little asterisk in saying except if you happen to be lesbian or gay or some other other groups of people. Dave Bianco 21:07 Yeah, I wanted to talk a little bit about Congress too, because that's really important this upcoming year, that we get a support of Congress. And a lot of the names that you've heard mentioned are Democrats. I do need to say that the Human Rights Campaign Fund proudly supports several Republicans that have been really good on our issues, for example, Connie Morella in Maryland, Bill Green, Congressman Bill Green in New York, Congressman Tom Campbell, who's retiring this year in California, good friend of the community, John Miller in Washington. We have Republican friends in Missouri, the three St. Louis area congress people that that that are friends of the community all happen to be Democrats, and that's Bill Clay and Dick Gephardt and and especially, I want to mention Joan Kelly Horn in the Second District. She's in a tough race, and she's running against somebody who wants to enforce the sexual misconduct law of Missouri. That means that if you're gay or lesbian, he wants to lock you up. And I didn't Charles Koehler 21:56 I don't think I understood that. Dave Bianco 21:58 Yeah, Charles Koehler 21:58 Would you mind repeating that? Dave Bianco 21:59 Ok. He thinks that the sexual misconduct law that says you know that that that private, consensual sex between consenting adults of the same gender is illegal. He wants to enforce that law. Charles Koehler 22:12 That would put a lot of people in jeopardy, and if for no other reason. Yeah, that's scary. That's very scary. Dave Bianco 22:19 You're right on for no other reason. But there are 100 other reasons to vote for Joan Kelly Horn. She's She has 100% voting record with the Human Rights Campaign Fund. She has never opposed the needs of the gay and lesbian community. When, since she's been in Washington. Charles Koehler 22:31 Great, great, yes, Debbie, Deborah Law 22:36 I'm losing some of what you all are saying. And I don't know if Dee Joyce Hayes has been mentioned? Charles Koehler 22:42 No, she hasn't been. Please tell us about it. Deborah Law 22:44 It's a very important race in terms of the City of St.Louis. This is the woman who is the Democratic nominee for the Circuit Attorney. And for any of us who've lived in St. Louis for any length of time, the opportunity to have a new circuit attorney is clearly the rightful, and the opportunity to have somebody like Dee Joyce Hayes in that position is remarkable. She too is very good on the issues that we have discussed with her, women's issues, lesbian and gay issues, she would be a friend in terms of justice to our community. And there's also the opportunity, for the first time in the City of St. Louis, to have a woman in a City wide position. Again, we're talking 99, 1992 fairly remarkable, but an opportunity, and this is an extremely important vote, and as people are voting, don't forget Dee Joyce Hayes Charles Koehler 23:30 Great. As, as we've been mentioning all these candidates, I mean, for for probably the first time in our nation's history, we have, we had this, this grouping of persons that are capable of creating so much positive change for equality, for and, yeah. Leah, Leah Edelman 23:50 I think that's absolutely right. I do fear a little bit that there's been so much discussion about all of the positive aspects of this campaign, that people need to remember that it's a very tight race. All of these races where people are supportive of our issues are close races, and people need to remember that every single vote counts, and we must not only get out and vote ourselves, but make sure that our friends are getting out to vote so that these changes can take place. Because I think that the country becomes more conservative when they walk into the voting booth, and we need to remember that even though things look very good and we have a wonderful opportunity, as Debbie said, a window of opportunity that probably has never existed, at least it hasn't in my adult life, and we have to take advantage of it by pushing people to get out and vote and making sure that this happens, and it's not going to happen unless We get out and do the work to make sure that it happens. Dave Bianco 24:43 I think that's a really good point. When you hear people say, Well, what does my one vote matter? Well, if you're a gay person, your vote is a part of a block. And if, for example, Geri Rothmann-Sarat is rewarded for her forthrightness on gay and lesbian issues, then next time somebody runs for Senate, they'll know that if they support our issues, they've automatically got 10% of the vote, and that's fabulous. Charles Koehler 25:03 And conversely, though, the downside of that is that if these candidates are soundly defeated, that sends a very clear and chilling message to, for years, and it has that ripple effect for years. Dave Bianco 25:19 People who want to be our friends may not be willing to say that in public. Charles Koehler 25:22 Might not be able to, might not be willing or able to put themselves on a limb. Leah Edelman 25:26 Yeah, I hope, and I think I truly believe that that's not going to happen, but I do think we need to take the responsibility to support our friends so that they will stay our friends and vote the way that we want them to. These are matters that are critical to our lives, and we have to be able to get that message out to the candidates and to the bigger community as well. Dave Bianco 25:45 It's 48 hours. 48 hours from now, people are going to start voting, or start getting in line to vote, and that's not a lot of time. And it's time for everybody to get out there and call their friends, and not just people who are gay and lesbian, tell your parents that, hey, you know, if you are not voting for Clinton, you're hurting me. You are hurting me/ Charles Koehler 26:01 Your son, your daughter, your your friend, whatever, your your nephew, Leah Edelman 26:06 if you're interested in getting involved. And there is still time and there are still things to do, you can call the PrEP office at 862-4900, we'll put you in touch with the with the Human Rights Campaign Fund activities or the things that we're doing, there's still time, and we can still make a tremendous difference in this election. Charles Koehler 26:25 Great. We have about one minute left. Any closing thoughts from anyone? First. Debbie, 15 seconds. Deborah Law 26:31 Charles, I would like to announce that on November 9 at 7:30 there's going to be a meeting at the Sunshine Inn for people who are interested in hearing about the work in Oregon and continuing the dialog that was maintained with Suzanne's visit to St. Louis, in terms of what happened in Oregon, some information about what happened in Colorado, and what we're seeing in the State of Missouri, and what we're seeing nationwide. So again, it's a sunshine in November 9 at 7:30 and I hope all who are interested will be there. Charles Koehler 26:57 Great. Dave Bianco 26:58 I want to mention, from the national perspective, that this election is just the beginning, and especially if Clinton is elected, there's going to be a lot to do in this area to make sure that our representatives vote with Clinton on the issues of concern to gays and lesbians. So just get ready, as soon as the election is over, to start working again on the next one. Charles Koehler 27:16 Much work to done. Leah Edelman 27:17 Yeah, this is the beginning, and it's a great beginning. We have an opportunity to do more than we've ever had the opportunity to do before. So let's celebrate this victory, but get ready to work on the rest of it, and let's hope and work to make sure it is a victory. Charles Koehler 27:30 We need more, more than hope. We need everyone to get out and vote and to encourage everyone to get out and vote. We've been talking with Leah Edelman of the Privacy Rights Education Project. Dave Bianco of the Human Rights Campaign fund and Lambda Reports, co-host and Oregon No O Nine worker. Debbie Law. There's still a lot more work to do out there. There's only a few days left. There's about 48 hours left. Thanks everyone for being with us in the best of luck and may the best person and issues win. Great. For more information, once again, on becoming involved in the Human Rights Campaign Fund. Call 993-2399, that's 993-2399, and for more information on involvement with the Privacy Rights Education Project, or the Oregon initiative, No On Nine. Call 862-49100. That's 862-4900. And finally, for information on all the candidates, call this wonderful organization, League of Women Voters at 727-8683, that's 727-8683. Until next week, this has been Charles Koehler for Lambda Reports. Tune us in again next week. Same time, same station, and by the way, get out and vote. Thanks. Transcribed by https://otter.ai