LCR activists, who also assist key members of their party to understand same-sex love, persistently emphasize the importance of the gay and lesbian vote to Republican politicians everywhere.

A majority of these gay voters, says LCR, gave their support to the first Republican mayor re-elected in New York in 60 years. Thus they have helped provide the margin of victory for New Jersey's centrist Republican governor who has been under attack from the far right because of her strong support of the gay and lesbian community.

In the race for New Jersey's governorship, incumbent Governor Christie Whitman (R) won re-election by only one percentage point against three challengers, two of whom sought Christian right support to defeat her for her stands on social issues. Whitman carried approximately one-third of the gay vote in1993 when she won by a similarly narrow margin of just under 30,000 votes.

On Election Day, a pro-life Libertarian candidate and an anti-gay Conservative Party candidate drew over 100,000 votes against Whitman. But early indications are that Whitman greatly increased her margins among gay and lesbian voters this year, contributing to her victory.

"Neither Christian Coalition voter guides or Big Labor money could stop Christie Whitman," said Richard Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "The forces of big government from the left and the right tried to bring her down, but she stuck to her guns, stayed with her principles and won. We're proud that gay voters went for Whitman and helped her win."

In New York City, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 5 to 1, initial election results reported in Wednesday's New York Times show Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) winning 57% of the vote in three Manhattan precincts where gay and lesbian voters are heavily concentrated. Giuliani is the first Republican in history who may have won the support of a majority of New York City's gay and lesbian voters. Complete exit polling on the gay vote is expected in a few days.

"Rudy Giuliani won New York on core Republican economic and quality-of-life issues, and these are the issues that unite Americans from all parts of the country behind the GOP," Tafel said. "He is attacked by the far right for his support of the gay community, but the fact remains that Giuliani's inclusive Republican message united the largest city in the country behind him."

"The lesson from these two victories is clear," Tafel said. "Gay voters are listening. They have proven again that they are not bound to the Democratic Party, and will even vote in huge numbers for Republicans who reach out to them."

"This election also sent a message to the national leadership of the Republican Party, which has been drifting toward a southern-based, Christian Coalition strategy for 1998," Tafel said. "People like Christie Whitman and Rudy Giuliani run away from the Christian Coalition for a reason -- they can't win otherwise. Even Jim Gilmore in Virginia ran away from the Christian Coalition. The national party must get back to a mainstream and inclusive message that bolsters us in the Northeast and in swing states like New Jersey. If not, we will lose the House of Representatives in 1998."

Log Cabin Republicans made the re-election of Giuliani and Whitman two of its top priorities for 1997. With strong, active grass-roots chapters in New Jersey and New York City working full-steam on fundraising, media, public events and get-out-the-vote, Log Cabin was integrated as a full partner in both campaigns.