Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Election outcome makes gays happy Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Election outcome makes gays happy \SH Wins, losses seen on related issues \BY Carol Ness \CR SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER \DT SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO - It's been four days since Bill Clinton's election as president, and America's homosexual commmunity still hasn't wiped the smile off its collective face. "It means we have a friend in the White House instead of an enemy," said San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg, just back from Clinton's campaign-transition office in Little Rock, Ark. For the first time in history, it means White House support for homosexual civil rights and for "a meaningful war" on AIDS, Miss Achtenberg said. "It means there is someone in a very high position who can be of some assistance to us in trying to change the hearts and minds of the nation" about accepting homosexuals, said Miss Achtenberg, a lesbian, co-chairwoman of the Clinton campaign and senior adviser to the president-elect. "This election marks a rite of passage for gay and civil rights movement," said Robert Bray of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It's a passage from the political margin to the political center, from social pariah to a political partner." "The next step is to hold Bill Clinton accountable to his promises to the gay community," Mr. Bray said. His organization gave Mr. Clinton's transition team its list of priorities Wednesday morning. Homosexual leaders want Mr. Clinton early on to make good on his promise to overturn the military ban on homosexuals and to actively support a federal homosexual rights law. "I don't see any reason why it shouldn't happen," said Miss Achtenberg. The appointment of a "czar" to coordinate federal AIDS policy for the first time is another priority - and another Clinton pledge to the homosexual community. Homosexual political groups have already come together to identify and promote open homosexuals for jobs in the Clinton administration. While the presidential election went their way, state and local returns brought mixed results for homosexuals. Oregon voters rejected a ballot measure labeling homosexuality abnormal and immoral. Portland, Maine, upheld its anti-bias law. Voters in Colorado passed the nation's first state law prohibiting cities from enacting homosexual-rights ordinances. In Tampa, Fla., voters overturned their city's homosexual anti-discrimination law. Open homosexuals won 27 of 52 elections they entered, raising to 75 the number of open homosexuals holding political office at all levels, said William Waybourn of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a political action committee. * Distributed by Scripps Howard. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM