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Out Candidates Win Big in Primaries


STEVE POUGNET AND FAMILY X390 (ROBERT BENSON) | ADVOCATE.COM

Openly LGBT candidates made gains in primary elections across the country Tuesday, with wins in states including California, Montana, and Maine.

According to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which supports out candidates, “Openly LGBT candidates won political races literally from coast to coast last night, with key wins in California, Montana and Maine. At least 16 of the Victory Fund’s 21 endorsed candidates on the ballot yesterday either won their races outright or advanced to general elections.”

Winners include gay Palm Springs mayor Steve Pougnet (pictured, right), a Democrat, who will face Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, the widow of the late congressman Sonny Bono.

Also in California, the Victory Fund reports, “the State Assembly is likely to welcome three new openly gay and lesbian lawmakers after key primary wins last night put them on the road to victory this November. Toni Atkins (Dist 76), Rich Gordon (Dist 21) and Ricardo Lara (Dist 50) won their Democratic primaries in overwhelmingly Democratic Assembly districts. With one gay lawmaker leaving the California Senate due to term limits, the state is now likely to have a total of seven openly gay and lesbian state legislators in the next term, up from five currently.”

An influx of viable LGBT candidates in California could be crucial for several pro-gay bills currently pending in the state legislature, including one that would allow gay youths to access mental health services without parental permission. Legislation calling for the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity information on government forms is also being considered.

LGBT judicial candidates also fared well in California, including Victoria Kolakowski, a transgender administrative law judge who won her race for Alameda County superior court judge. Kolakowski faces a runoff in November.

"We're really thilled to see [Kolakowski] come in first by the large margin one of our highest-priority races," said Equality California executive director Geoff Kors. "Her strong finish really sets stage for what will be a national historic election. People everywhere, not just in the Bay Area, need to pay attention to this."

Looking ahead to November, Kors said his organization has focused on defeating Andy Pugno, an attorney for the pro-Proposition 8 group Protect Marriage who won his primary election in the state's fifth district. Kors said Californians can expect a "slew of anti-LGBT bills" if Pugno is elected. 

Meanwhile, out lesbian Jill Barkley won her primary for the Maine state house and is favored to win in the general election. And in Montana, Bryce Bennett and Aaron Kampfe advanced in their Democratic primaries for state house seats.

Read the full report from the Victory Fund here.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Tod
    Date posted: 6/10/2010 3:20:43 AM
    Hometown: West Hollywood

    Comment:

    It's good to be positive and hopeful, but not overly so. It's still a fight. For example, Steve Pougnet (18,154 votes) did not have a Democrat challenger. On the Republican side is Mary Bono Mack (21,692 votes) and she had one challenger Clayton Thibodeau (9,696 votes). The voter turn out for Riverside County was 16.5%, but everyone expect more in November. So, while Steve does have support he still needs to make gains to win. He needs to get the Democrats out and pick up Republicans. It's not a time to rest. Don't forget to open your wallets and spread it around for Mr Pougnet and anyone else who supports us.

  • Name: Michael-Bruce
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 5:09:06 PM
    Hometown: Riegelsville, PA

    Comment:

    I think the term openly gay is necessary until there are no more closet gays to distinguish between the two levels of integrity . An openly gay candidate is open to public scrutiny, is displaying pride, not shame, and is providing a leadership model for others, youths included. I'd prefer to see it as a badge of honor rather than a limiting label or a qualifier.

  • Name: Me
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 1:33:05 PM
    Hometown: USA

    Comment:

    Good for them. I hope they'll do more to help our community than the many current moronic "gay leaders" here and abroad who seemed to be hell bent on letting illegals cut in line (so there are more of them to vote our rights away) or keeping Jews off pride parades ('cause Hamas must be more kindred to us than Jews) !!! When they are finally elected, of course!

  • Name: Gerry
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 1:17:42 PM
    Hometown: Boston

    Comment:

    It's great to see us running and winning, hopefully it will encourage more people to seek elective office. I have a general complaint about the term "openly gay" why must we as gay people put openly gay in front of every gay person? Shouldn't the assumption be if you are being highlighted in a gay publication that you would be gay? Perhaps using the term gay friendly or supportive could be used for our straight allies. To me it just seems to remove us more from the mainstream if we can't just be john smith who is gay not openly gay john smith as if it were part of our names.

  • Name: the lone ranger
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 12:41:01 PM
    Hometown: Tucson AZ

    Comment:

    @Mark: there are undoubtedly other GLBT congressmen and senators too, totaling maybe even closer to our 10%, but they're deeply closeted Republicans (and likely some Democrats too) whom we only discover when they get caught in some sex scandal in the Minneapolis airport, or when their old Navy days "massage" antics get exposed. Granted, those aren't the ones who are any help with GLBT causes at the national level.

  • Name: MMike
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 12:00:33 PM
    Hometown: Albany

    Comment:

    For those in NYS: there's currently also an openly gay candidate running for NYS Senate. Luke Martland ( www.lukemartlandsenate.com ) is his name, - we sure could use a bunch more openly LGBT NYS Senators!!! So far, we have only (Tom Duane) - which is simply not enough to win important lgbt legislation (as we could see yesterday, and painfully, in December...).

  • Name: WF In SF
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 11:48:56 AM
    Hometown: SF

    Comment:

    Mark, Steve Pougnet is running for the US Congress.

  • Name: Mark
    Date posted: 6/9/2010 11:26:51 AM
    Hometown: WF

    Comment:

    Since civil marriage equality is unfortunately being fought state by state, these state offices are vitally important, and everyone should financially support our candidates and vote for them if possible. I am dismayed that there are no openly gay/lesbian candidates mentioned running for federal office. If we make up 10% of the population, we should have at least that much representation in all houses of government. We have only one US Constitution, and we need to ensure that it applies to us too as taxpayers and citizens. The Republicans call them "Barney Fag" and "Tammy Bald." Two people can't do it all. They need company in Congress.



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