NEWS 1990 1 L5 (fl
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ELECTION 1990 WRAP-UP
from GLSO News staff
Election Night 1990 brought a huge defeat, Boston University, opposed the inclusion of
the re-eIection of Senator Jesse Helms of North sexual orientation in the school's
Carolina over Harve Gantt, by a margin of six anti—discrimination clause and made statements
percent. Ralei h [Jews and Observer polls com ring homosexuality to bestialitly.
showed that 1? percent of those who voted in gallifornia voters choose Repubican Senator
the race made up their minds about how to Pete Wilson over former San Francisco mayor
vote in the last week of the campai n. Helms' Democrat Dianne Feinstein. Gay Re ublican
campaign ran ads with a racidTIy divisive clubs supported Wilson, but most otfier ay
message that Gantt supported "racial quotas" in groups in the state supported Feinstein. WiPson
employment hiring practices. Of those 15 is ex cted to be a moderate in social issues
percent, 60 percent said they decided to vote and his not decided whether to support a state
or Helms, enough to provi e Helms with his gay rights bill.
victory margin. In Connecticut, former Senator Lowell
There were numerous victories, however, Weicker, running as an independent, was
across the country. The Human Rights elected governor over two challengers. Weicker
Campaign Fund (HRCF), which contributed over was a consistent supporter of gay issues during
$516,0 O to 129 candidates, reported that his Senate years. Weicker's election may
113 of their supported candidates were elected. improve chances for passage of the statewide
The 113 victors included 19 new members of gay ri hts bill in the state, which was just
Congress, 15 of whom have already indicated narrowa defeated last year and in 1988.
they will sign on as cosponsors of the federal In local referenda, voters in San Francisco
gay rights bill. and Seattle 0 proved limited domestic
Somewhat offsetting the North Carolina loss, artnership Iegisfiltion. Voters in Tacoma,
Minnesota Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz €Vashington and Wooster, Ohio, however,
was defeated by his more liberal Democratic overturned anti-discrimination ordinances for
challen er Paul Wellstone. "The gay community lesbians and go 5.
feels dipressed over Helms' re-eIection," said In individual, races, all five openly gay
HRCF Executive Director Tim McFeeley, "but we elected officials who were seekin re-eIection
counterbalanced our loss in North Carolina with won. U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds EfD-MA) won
a gain in Minnesota." re-eIection to a ninth term with 53 percent of
On the state level, Texans celebrated a the vote; and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank ID-MA)
come-from-behind win of Democrat Ann Richards won his re—eIection with 66 percent of the vote.
over Clayton Williams. Richards had been In state-level races two state house members
attacked requently for her support of repealin were re-elected as was one state senator.
the state's sodomy Iaw. Richards never alterea In San Francisco two lesbians won seats to
her position on the sodomy issue during the the Board of Supervisors joining openly gay
campaign and would take the time to explain Board President Harry Britt in the eleven
why the law was a discriminatory measure. member council. Lesbians were also elected to
In the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, the New York Assembly and the Maine Senate.
Republican William Weld defeated Democrat In analyzing the results, McFeeIey stated,
John Silber. In an unusual turn-of-events all the "we saw some very solid gains, and, overall,
state’s maior go and lesbian groups sup orted the election was a very good one for the gay
Weld, the Republican. Silber, the president of and lesbian community."