VOLUME FIVE, NO. 19—September 17, 1992—September 30, 1992 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. The Wisconsin Light Baldwin Wins Big Victory In United Way Will Fund Groups Which Assembly Race [Madison]- Dane County Supervisor Discriminate Against Blacks & Gays Tammy Baldwin won a decisive victory in the September 8th Democratic primary for [Milwaukee)- In a tape recorded, hour- the Wisconsin State Assembly, 78th long meeting held on September 10, 1992, District. Baldwin becomes the first openly 0 between three members of Queer Scouts Lesbian or Gay candidate to win an and six top officials of United Way of election for a state-level office in t, Greater Milwaukee, United Way defended Wisconsin. its funding of the Boy Scouts of America If victorious in the November 3 general (BSA). The press was excluded from the • election, Baldwin will fill the seat vacated meeting. by long-term Rep. David Clarenbach, United Way had neglected to inform which includes downtown Madison and Queer Scouts that United Way's Board most of the east and south sides of the had already voted to continue funding city. Clarenbach left the Assembly to run BSA on September 9, just one day earlier. for Congress. Clarenbach was defeated in All participants at the meeting were the Primary by Ada Deer who will now fully aware, as the tape shows, that the face the Republican incumbent in meeting was being recorded. The meeting November. had been initiated by Queer Scouts and Proclaiming "We made history was held at United Way Milwaukee's tonight," Baldwin addressed a packed headquarters. crowd of campaign volunteers, supporters A United Way spokesperson initiated and media at Cafe Europa on the Capitol the discussion by saying that United Way Square Tuesday night. Milwaukee saw itself as "independent, In a speech interrupted often by progressive and thoughtful." Then, over applause and cheers, she repeated her and over again defended the BSA's message of putting people first. "It's discrimination against Gays as perfectly time the Gay and Lesbian community has MAPFEST CELEBRITY— Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) (second from left) and his partner, "legal" because the issue had not been a proud voice in the State Legislature," former Milwaukeean Herb Goodman visited the Wisconsin Light game booth at Milwaukee's decided by the courts and ultimately, the she said. "As a woman and a Lesbian I MAPfest on Sept. 6. Alan Eslinger, Terry Boughner, Light editor and Brendt Prebe are also pictured. U.S. Supreme Court. will never be an insider, but I will be United Way Would inside. And I will redefine what it means Support Anti-Black Rule to have power and use it." Primary Shows That Voters Want Dan Fons, a member of Queer Scouts, Baldwin's Victory, a Landslide asked hypothetically whether the United Baldwin's victory was even more To See Change in Government Way would continue to fund the BSA if impressive in light of the strength and [Madison] - Democratic primary voters American woman ever elected to the U.S. they adopted an identical ban against popularity of her three opponents. As throughout the state sent a clear message African Americans. recently as the week before the election, Congress. Along with Fond du Lac on September 8th: they want to see a Democrat Peg Lautenschlager (whose Bill Lawrence, Director of United former Alderman and long-time change in the face of their government. Way's Private Industry Council, neighborhood leader, Billy Feitlinger, was candidacy is also being supported by U.S. Senatorial candidate Russ men), she has the answered "Yes." seen as the favorite. But Baldwin topped many Lesbians and Gay Feingold, Congressional candidate Ada first Wisconsin Lawrence quickly qualified his answer him by more than 10 percentage points. chance to be part of the Deer, and state assembly candidate Congressional delegation to include saying that discrimination vs. non- In her victory speech, she credited her Tammy Baldwin won resounding discrimination as may be practiced by a success in part to "not watering down victories women in the state's history. — despite the fact that many in the funded agency is "not a decision that this our message simply to gain votes. We Baldwin's Sweet Victory political establishment had earlier written Board is empowered to make." said what we meant. I spoke out with For Wisconsin's Lesbian and Gay off their candidacies as long shots. "We have traditionally tried to stay pride about being the first openly Lesbian community, however, the sweetest victory away from the issue of discussing the candidate for state office in Wisconsin, Feingold Phenomenon was that of openly Lesbian candidate for legal and moral issues of an agency," he knowing full well that some in our district For years to come, political analysts the state assembly Tammy Baldwin. In a said, "and delt with its service to the would never vote for me." will be studying the "Feingold highly competitive four-way race for the community." Baldwin also was outspoken in her phenomenon." Only a month ago, Democratic nomination, Baldwin pulled Lawrence added that he was a former opposition to a controversial convention Feingold was a distant third in the polls, ahead of the pack, winning by a margin of Scout and believed personally that the center to be built on Lake Monona. hovering around 10 percent while his two 43 to 33 percent over her closest BSA "is making a mistake" in Feitlinger waffled on the issue for as long highly-financed opponents weighed in at opponent. discriminating against Gays. However, he as possible before stating his support for about 40 percent each. A diverse crowd of supporters filled a added, the Board could not make a the costly and environmentally It was not only the fact of Feingold's packed Cafe Europa as Baldwin delivered judgment on the matter. questionable project. The convention victory, but his overwhelming margin that an emotional and inspirational acceptance "Does the BSA still provide quality center is supported by the mayor and truly stunned the pundits. Feingold out speech. Members of Madison's political service?" Lawrence asked. "We think other powerful interests in Madison. distanced both of his opponents combined establishment — all of them extremely the answer is yes. Would they be a better Baldwin's Support, Wide-Based by a margin of more than two to one impressed by the margin of her victory — agency if they opened their doors to statewide; in his native Dane County, the passed through to offer her their Madison everyone? I think so. Others do not In her seven years as a margin was closer to six to one. congratulations. County Board agree," he said. Alderwoman and Dane Feingold's experience mirrors that of Like Seattle council woman Sherry known for her Lawrence went on to say that he had member, Baldwin has been Illinois Democrat Carol Moseley Braun, Harris, Baldwin transcended the notion hard work as a lived in "8 places" and that Milwaukee intelligence, insight and who came from behind to beat out two that her openly Lesbian candidacy had a not was "a Neanderthal, racist, homophobic champion for those whose voices are established politicians with huge one-dimensional focus. Harris, the when government decisions community compared to other places usually heard campaign warchests. Like Feingold's country's first openly Lesbian African serves on the County where I've lived." are made. She opponents, their financial advantage American politician, told a Minnesota and Personnel Committee, Donor Choice Finance evaporated when voters became turned audience last month that the press had chaired the Health and Human formerly off by their mudslinging. (Braun is tried to stereotype her, but, as it turned A United Way spokesperson cited Services Board and founded and chaired leading in the current polls and is likely to out, the voters took a long look at her United Way Milwaukee's Donor Choice County Task Force on AIDS. the Dane become the U.S.'s first African American extensive record of community program as evidence of their being on the campaign reflected these values Her woman in the Senate.) involvement and used that as a basis of "cutting edge." commitment. "I stressed the and Democratic presidential candidate Bill their choice. "It is not anything like any other and hear the necessity to meet the needs Clinton phoned in his congratulations just Baldwin, a four-term county supervisor United Way in the country. We have the most under-represented voices of before Feingold gave his acceptance and civil rights attorney, was able to attempted to open the doors, to be community," she segments of our speech to a jubilant crowd of supporters project herself as a caring, qualified inclusive. It is the most open of donor explained, "realizing that as people choice programs. Donors can make in a Middleton bowling alley. In keeping TURN TO PRIMARY, PAGE 11 long-ignored by the politicians they were with the tongue-in-cheek style displayed choices on their own and money is flowing also the least likely to vote. And we in his TV ads, supporters played the to Gay organizations (like the Cream City learned what the people expect of their theme from the "Underdog" cartoon as , cc.11 4T1•N •f 01 Foundation and the Milwaukee AIDS leader." he arrived at the podium. Project (MAP)." Baldwin also stressed that her According to United Way, MAP is Deer: "Me, Nominee" campaign has been "an amazing grass being considered as a United Way roots coalition effort. I believe we have Native American activist Ada Deer's agency, meaning that MAP will receive brought together one of the largest and victory in the Second Congressional regular funding from United Way.