We found it, well, queer, that gay marriage - even the word "gay" - didn't come up in the presidential debates. Civil rights of any stripe were barely mentioned. On this week's Out in the Bay, politicos from both sides of the aisle delved into this and much more. Host Eric Jansen’s guests: Democratic philanthropist and former ambassador James Hormel;Log Cabin (Republicans) Club of San Francisco vice president Jason Clark; and Darlene Huntress, former same-sex marriage campaign field director in Maine. With the presidential debates behind us and the election just days away, listen in on a lively discussion about the national election, marriage measures in several states, and matters affecting LGBT rights here in California.
Maine voters passed Question 1, outlawing same-sex marriage, in Nov. 2009. A pro-gay marriage measure is on Maine's ballot this year; voters in three other states will also consider marriage rights. Darlene Huntress was field director for Maine's No on 1 campaign, and is featured in the documentary film Question One, playing in San Francisco's Vogue Theatre for one week starting Friday, Oct. 26. On opening night, Out in the Bay host Eric Jansen will moderate a post-film discussion with Huntress, film director Joe Fox and plaintiffs in same-sex marriage legal cases.
James Hormel was Ambassador to Luxembourg under President Bill Clinton, a co-founder of the Human Rights Campaign, and is a long-time Democratic activist, fundraiser and philanthropist. He wrote the book "Fit to Serve" about his years-long battle to become the first openly gay U.S. ambassador and was on Out in the Bay in December 2011 discussing the book and his life.
Jason P. Clark is vice president of the Log Cabin Club of San Francisco, the local chapter of the national gay political group Log Cabin Republicans. He is running for California's Assembly against incumbent Democrat Tom Ammiano in a strongly Democratic district. (His appearance on Out in the Bay without Assemblyman Ammiano does not constitute an endorsement by Out in the Bay nor by KALW.)