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| By Liz Tracey GLAAD Publications Manager An election race between an incumbent lesbian state representative and a Pentecostal preacher who is seeking to unseat her in Connecticut has taken a turn for the ugly.
This can be translated as either "Don't Screw up the 4th District" or, "Don't stick the dyke in the 4th District." A demonstration was held recently to protest Carrera's tactics, organized by a coalition of Latino/a and lesbian and gay rights leaders. Latino/a Lesbian & Gay Organization (LLEGO) Executive Director Martin Ornelas-Quintero stated at the rally, "We stand together as these attacks on the Latino community must immediately cease, as they are a hateful, unfounded, bigoted and homophobic-laced plea to intimidate, scare and fuel hatred towards lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender people. For more information-- contact: Benjamin Sheppard LLEGO (202) 466-8240. 'Going to the Polls and We're Going to Get Married?'
 Two of the most hotly
watched referenda this year are in the youngest of our states: both Alaska
and Hawaii will consider whether to amend their state Constitutions in the
ongoing struggle for lesbian and gay marriage.
Where Alaska's initiative would define marriage as valid only between one man and one woman, Hawaii would be voting on whether to hold a Constitutional Convention, which would allow opponents of equal marriage rights to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman. The referenda have garnered not only significant press coverage, but also large out-of-state contributions to those working to deny civil marriage to lesbian and gay Americans from religious political extremists, as well as the Mormon Church. In response to the initiatives, regardless of the outcome, actions will be conducted at the national, state and local levels to reassert the need for lesbians and gay men to have fair and equal access to this civil institution, are slated for Friday, November 6, 1998,. For more information about the referenda, the outcome or Friday's events, contact Peg Byron (Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund) at (212) 809.8585. GLAAD will provide national and regional media with access to those who will be directly affected by this vote (clergy, couples, children, parents and friends of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals) and who can put this issue into a universal context via their poignant, determined and courageous stories. For more information-- contact Wonbo Woo E-mail: woo@glaad.org. |
Homophobic Rev. Gabriel Carrera 