Clinton’s Speech to Gays, Lesbians Will Be a First

President Clinton will rekindle a divisive debate tonight when he becomes the first sitting president to make a public address to a gay and lesbian organization.

To many in the gay and lesbian community, Clinton’s keynote speech at a fund-raising event sponsored by the nation’s largest gay and lesbian political organization is a symbolic milestone reflecting their continued assimilation into American society.

“The president of the United States--the leader of the most powerful and prestigious nation in the world--has taken that prestige and power and said to the gay and lesbian community that you’re part of the country as a whole,” said David Mixner, a gay political activist. “It is a powerfully strong message of acceptance.”

Conservative critics argued that Clinton’s speech is an unprecedented endorsement of a fringe community that threatens to corrupt American children. One group plans a rally outside the dinner to protest what they call the “pro-gay agenda” of the Clinton administration.

“It is a tragedy that he is using his bully pulpit to endorse homosexuality, which is destructive and unhealthy to families and communities,” said Kristin Hansen, spokeswoman of the Family Research Counsel, a conservative political group. “We feel his speech will lead more young people into homosexuality.”

Although many Americans likely will view Clinton’s speech as something less earth-shattering, the president is hoping that his appeal for inclusiveness will resonate broadly with the public.

“This may be a moment when, through leadership, he can remind Americans that gays and lesbians are part of our American family,” White House spokesman Mike McCurry said. “Sometimes you can help break down barriers by effectively using the bully pulpit.”

The black-tie fund-raising gala also will honor comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who earlier this year “came out” as a lesbian on her television show, “Ellen.”

Vice President Al Gore was criticized by political and religious conservatives recently for praising Hollywood because of the show, which he said prompted Americans to “look at sexual orientation in a more open light.”

Clinton “concurs” with Gore’s view, McCurry said. He is not planning to directly comment on the television show during the address, although he plans to acknowledge DeGeneres, McCurry said.

The public seems to have mixed feelings about whether pop culture should include openly gay characters. Princeton Survey Research Associates, in a poll this summer for Newsweek, asked whether respondents thought that the coming-out episode on “Ellen” was a “good thing because it promoted a positive image for gay people” or a “bad thing because it seemed to promote gay lifestyles.” The response: 35% answered “good thing” and 40% “bad thing.”

In his speech, Clinton will “try to take this whole conversation up a notch,” focusing on the theme of uprooting discrimination--particularly in the workplace--and more effectively enforcing civil rights laws, McCurry said.

The president also will speak in support of Bill Lann Lee, his nominee for assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights division of the Justice Department. The Los Angeles lawyer’s confirmation process has been delayed as Senate Democrats try to find a way around an attempt by Republicans to kill his appointment.

Tonight’s dinner is seen by many as the high point of a roller-coaster relationship Clinton has had with the gay community.

Before his 1992 election, he won praise from gay and lesbian groups for staging a large fund-raising event with a gay audience and promising to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military as one of his first acts as president. He then came under intense criticism from many of these same groups by backtracking on that pledge and adopting the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuals in the military.

His standing further dropped among many gays and lesbians when he signed a measure that defined marriage as a heterosexual union only.

Perhaps more than anything, the homosexual community has applauded Clinton for appointing more than 100 open gays and lesbians to positions in his administration. Before Clinton, there had been no openly gay senior administration officials, according to Richard Sacarides, who works in the White House public liaison office.

Most recently, Clinton has been praised for appointing Virginia Apuzzo as assistant to the president for management and administration, Fred Hochberg as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration and James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg. All three are openly homosexual.

“Some great progress has been made--more than any other administration in history,” said Mixner, an old friend of Clinton’s who harshly criticized him on the gays-in-the-military issue.

Mixner called Clinton’s decision to speak at tonight’s $250-per-person event, “an historic, courageous act on his part.” The dinner is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, a Washington-based lobbying group for gay rights.

But some conservatives complained that with his appearance, Clinton is endorsing the group’s political agenda, including rights for same-sex marriages and barring employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“It’s using the presidency to promote their agenda,” said Andrea Sheldon, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, a Washington lobbying group that represents conservative churches. “What is so sad is that Clinton has reduced the prestige and importance of the presidency.”

The White House has been working the last few years with the Human Rights Campaign on legislation to bar employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Some foes have argued that the bill is not needed. Others contend that it would set up a quota system for homosexuals in the workplace.

A similar measure was voted down by the narrowest margin, 50 to 49, in the Senate last year, but proponents hope to push for another vote next year.

The legislation was being considered at the same time as a bill restricting rights for same-sex marriages, which the Senate approved by a lopsided 85-14 vote.

In a reflection of the complex nature of public attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, polls have found that while nearly three-fourths of Americans oppose the extension of marriage rights to same-sex marriages, 85% approve of laws that would shield homosexuals from employment discrimination.