For the first time in recent memory, every candidate endorsed by L.I.D. was victorious in the September 10th Democratic primary. The euphoria was marred only by the frustration of thousands of voters who were essentially disenfranchised by the late arrival of voting booths at hundreds of polling places throughout the borough.
The late openings around the city have landed many races in court, so outcomes may change but here the highlights:
In other races of interest where L..I.D. made no endorsements, the most significant results were in two state senate races. In Bay Ridge, incumbent Republican Sen. Robert DiCarlo was beaten by 200 votes. Should the result stand it is being challenged in court it sets up a three way race in November between the primary winner John Gengemi , DiCarlo and Democrat Vincent Gentile. Though Gentile did not seek L.I.D. support, ridding the Senate of the homophobic DiCarlo now seems like a possibility. Hallelujah!
In a Canarsie/East New York/ Flatbush/ Brownsville, incumbent Sen. Howard Babbush, a longtime primary target because he represents a largely minority district, was beaten by John Sampson. Babbush has been a supporter of lesbian and gay issues in Albany, and we have every hope that Sampson will follow suit.
The general election is Tuesday, November 5th and the deadline to
register is midnight, Friday, October 11th. For up-to-the-minute
election information, don't forget to check the L.I.D. website
(http://www.nycnet.com/LID).
Possible Endorsement Meeting for November
Stay tuned for a possible announcement of an endorsement meeting before the November election. It is very likely that we will consider endorsing in several local races, one involving John Sampson, who defeated incumbent State Senator Howard Babbush in the Democratic Primary, another to consider Democratic candidates in Frank Barbaro's Assembly District. Barbaro has announced he will retire from his longheld Assembly seat.
Lesbian Coffee House to Open
A new lesbian owned and operated business has hit Park Slope. Rising Cafe, on the corner of 5th Avenue and Sackett Street, was scheduled for opening in late September. Owners Rena Blake and Christine Marinoni, who gave up their full time jobs to open the space, have envisioned the cafe as a space for the community.
"We want Rising to be a place for people to hear or even make poetry
and music, meet friends for coffee or beer, or hang out after a softball
or soccer game," they said. The cafe will offer espresso, coffee, beer
and wine and a light menu of soup, sandwiches and desserts.
Next General Meeting: Term Limits
The next general LID meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd at 7:30pm at the Park Slope Methodist Church on 6th Avenue at 8th Street. The topic will be term limits, pro or con.
A Vote for Clinton is a Vote for Brooklyn Lesbian
If you think back to your high school social studies classes, you'll remember that when we go to the polls to elect our next President on November 5th, we're not really voting for the presidential candidates. In fact we are casting ballots for a slate of electors, essentially pledged to one of the presidential contenders.
We're pleased to announce that longtime L.I.D. board member Kay Mackey will be one of the electors pledged to Bill Clinton. Should the President carry New York state and current polls put him as much as 30 points ahead of Bob Dole Mackey will sit in Albany as a member of the Electoral College in early December and cast the vote that constitutionally elects the President of the United States.
While largely symbolic, it is still a tremendous honor and privilege
to be a presidential elector and we are proud that this longtime
lesbian and Democratic activist has been recognized in this way.
What's New at the LID Web Site
The LID web site (http://www.nycnet.com/LID) launched in April is now averaging over 125 hits per month., with visitors from as far away as New Zealand!
The site changes almost daily, and a dramatic face lift is in the works. For now, though, you'll notice a faster loading home page, a comprehensive listing of Brooklyn lesbian and gay events, an ever growing list of fascinating links, up-to-the minute Action Alerts. And don't think it's all serious there is plenty of fun including an amusing array of Bob Dole web sites.
Visit us soon and tell your friends. We think you'll be hooked.
LID/CBID Meet With Chuck Schumer
Join LID as we co-sponsor a meeting with the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats
featuring Congressman Chuck Schumer. The meeting will be held at 8:30pm on
Wednesday, October 30th at the CBID headquarters at 1300 8th Avenue in Park Slope
(corner of 13th Street). Schumer will discuss his recent vote on the federal Defense
of Marriage Act (DOMA) as well as the upcoming national election
and his plans for the future. For more information, call CBID at 499-7494.
Save the Date For Coming Out Day
Save the date Friday, October 11th for State Senator Marty Markowitz's second annual
National Coming Out Day concert in the Prospect Park bandshell. A reception at Carrie
Nation Bar on 5th Avenue will follow the early evening concert. For more information,
contact Sen. Markowitz's office at 284-4700.
LID Joins AVP for Town Hall Meeting
LID will co-sponsor a town hall meeting with the NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project on
Thursday, October 10th at 7pm at the downtown Brooklyn YWCA. The meeting has been called
to discuss the lesbian and gay community's response to Brooklyn District Attorney Joe Hynes'
announcement that he will prosecute and seek the death penalty (the first in New York City,)
in a case involving a young gay man from Kentucky who murdered his male lover in a domestic dispute. For more information see the enclosed flyer or call AVP at 212-807-6761.
DOMA is Law; ENDA is Not
Acting in the dead of night on September 21st, President Clinton banned the federal government from recognizing a marriage between members of the same sex by signing into law the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act."
In a written statement issued during a campaign stop in South Dakota, the president said he was signing the legislation because he has "long opposed governmental recognition of same-gender marriages and this legislation is consistent with that position.''
The White House claims that the legislation is an attempt by Republicans to make gay rights an election-year issue. Clinton said his signing of the law "should not, despite the fierce and at times divisive rhetoric surrounding it, be understood to provide an excuse for discrimination, violence or intimidation against any person on the basis of sexual orientation.''
The bill was approved earlier this month by the Republican-led Senate by a vote of 85-14. New York Senator D'Amato voted in favor of the bill while Moynihan voted against. The House of Representatives passed the bill in July. All seem guided by the fear that a pending court case in Hawaii would set a precedent for legalizing gay and lesbian marriage even though no state currently recognizes them.
In a related story, the Senate also voted against the Employment Non Discrimination Act
by a vote of 49-50. ENDA would have banned employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Currently, it is legal in 41 states to fire employees merely for being gay or lesbian.
New Life for Room of Our Own?
The dream of a new life for A Room of Our Own bookstore is a step closer to reality. Elizabeth Shipley, who managed the store, has acquired a location at 5th Avenue and Union Street and is about to submit her Small Business Administration Loan application.
But in order to make this dream come true, Shipley's limited liability company -- named Beyond Words -- needs additional investors to secure the loan. Shipley and others have worked tirelessly since the original Room of Our Own closed in December 1995 following the death of owner Clinton Morris.
Partnerships can be purchased for investment starting at $1,000. If
you have any questions or are interested in a lengthier proposal,
Shipley invites your inquiries at: 212-388-7992.
Beyond our Borders
With the presidential race an apparent runaway, and the recent primary
elections deciding most local races you might ask yourself, are there
any elections this November that make a difference for lesbians and gay
men? The answer is a decided yes. Here are a few races from around the
country where your support financial or moral -- can make a big
difference:
Vermont
It might come as somewhat of a surprise, but the nation's only openly gay statewide elected official is Vermont's Ed Flanagan, who is running for re-election as the Green Mountain State's Auditor. Flanagan was elected in 1994, and came out by marching in the state's lesbian and gay pride parade in June 1995.
While his Republican opponent has vowed not to raise the "gay issue,"
Dennis Vacco made the same pledge in our own Attorney General race two
years ago and look what happened. A check to Flanagan would be a great
help. And remember, $50 buys a heck of a lot more TV time in Vermont
than it does in New York City!
Ed Flanagan for Auditor,
P.O. Box 209,
Burlington, VT 05402-0209
North Carolina
Beating Jesse Helms is at the top of everyone's wish list this year, but the campaign has taken a bizarre twist a kinder and gentler Helms. Instead of race baiting and gay baiting, Helms has soft pedaled his venomous image and is running as a soft spoken grandfather in his rematch against former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt.
Gantt is being outspent and could use a financial boost in the final
weeks of the campaign. He's still within striking distance of Helms in
the polls and, well, miracles do happen.
Harvey Gantt for Senate Campaign Committee,
P.O. Box 35225,
Charlotte, NC 28254-3572
California
With the retirement of Rep. Gerry Studds this year, Congressman Barney Frank may be the only openly gay Democrat in the House of Representatives next year. But Rick Zbur, running in a Long Beach, California district has a fighting chance of winning his race against incumbent Steve Horn, a loyal supporter of the Gingrich agenda.
His seat is the most Democratic of any held by a Republican in California, and Zbur's record as an environmentalist sits well with this coastal district. If you weren't able to send a check to the Zbur fundraiser L.I.D. co-sponsored in New York recently, give it another thought. Rick Zbur for Congress, c/o David Cloyce Smith, 230 E. 30th St., #5A, New York, NY 10016