Gay Today: World

President to Campaign in California
for Lesbian Candidate

Compiled By GayToday

Washington, D.C.-- President Clinton will campaign for House candidate Gerrie Schipske, the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund announced yesterday. Schipske, a nurse practitioner and health care policy consultant, is the Democratic nominee running for Congress in California's Long Beach-based 38th District.

Openly-lesbian House candidate Gerrie Schipske

Clinton will be the special guest at a luncheon for Schipske on Monday, October 16, in Long Beach. By prevailing in the November 7 general election against GOP Rep. Steve Horn, Schipske would become the first openly lesbian or gay congressional hopeful to defeat an incumbent. She would also be California's first openly gay or lesbian member of Congress.

"President Clinton's decision to campaign for Gerrie Schipske is but the latest sign that her race has become very competitive," said Brian K. Bond, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which endorsed Schipske as part of its efforts to end discrimination by increasing the gay and lesbian community's open representation in public office.

"The president has the whole country to look after; he doesn't go out and campaign for just anyone. His participation indicates that this race is very much in play. This campaign will likely come down to the wire, but I'm hopeful that if we all pull together Gerrie Schipske will prevail and become a wonderful member of Congress working hard for all the people of her district."

Schipske's platform includes passing a strong "Patient Bill of Rights," advancing health care reform and tax fairness, protecting Social Security and Medicare, strengthening labor laws and investing in education. She is a champion of non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation, as well as sound public health policies on HIV/AIDS and women's reproductive choice.

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"Gerrie Schipske's longtime commitment to health care is really resonating with the voters," added Bond. "Congress can be an unhealthy place; the voters may be ready to send in a good nurse."

In addition to the upcoming presidential visit, Bond pointed to other signs that Schipske's is a race to watch. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee counts the race among its targets in its bid to retake control of the House this year, and the 38th District leans Democratic. Recent polling also indicates that her opponent is vulnerable to defeat in November.

"The fact that the president of the United States will be on the campaign trail for an outstanding candidate who happens to be openly lesbian is noteworthy in itself," said Bond. "There have not been many opportunities for this to occur in the past, so President Clinton's involvement in the Schipske campaign will be among the first times a sitting U.S. president has stumped for an openly gay or lesbian candidate. It points to the seriousness of her candidacy."