Gov. Bill Richardson courts gay vote in WeHo Monday...
I don't know how, but I made it to a 7:30 a.m. breakfast this morning at the Hyatt on Sunset Boulevard for a breakfast where the featured speaker was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson who is running for President. My good friend Trevor Daley was one of the organizers for this event sponsored by A.N.G.L.E.(Access Now for Gay and Lesbian Equality) which has been an institution on the local state, and national political scene for well over a dozen years. The A.N.G.L.E. breakfasts have become a highly anticipated event where the community can interact with the leaders of our time over breakfast. I wanted to support Trevor and also hear more of what Richardson had to say. My table was super. In addition to my pal Ted Johnson, who arrived with his hair still wet, there as portrait painter Louis Briel as well as Patrick Owen, deputy director of development for the Center Theatre Group, LA's Theatre Company which is currently staging "Jersey Boys" and The Ahmanson and was first to stage "Curtains" which won the Tony for David Hyde Pierce last night. Patrick and I gabbed about the Tonys and I ribbed Ted for eating carbs. Then it was time for Gov. Richardson to speak.
I'm going to provide a few things that I wrote down but Ted, managing editor at Variety, will likely do a better job of it in his blog Washington & Wilshire so check that out later today!
Richardson said he was a little late "because you have a traffic problem here" and went on say that even though he isn't one of the "rock star" candidates like Clinton, Obama or Edwards, he is a candidate who is bringing up LGBT issues in his campaign.
"You need to find ways to help those of us in the second tier that are moving up," he said. "Don't get overwhelmed by press releases and glitz."
Richardson said he "believes strongly" in LGBT issues and has "always respected same-sex relationships." He vowed to put the AIDS commission under the vice president if he is elected and said: "I will get rid of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' I believe it's a law that has outlasted its usefulness." He paid tribute to the gay and lesbians who serve in the military and said "the last thing they need is a lecture about their sexual orientation."
During the Q&A, journalist Karen Ocamb of IN Magazine, wanted specifics of how Richardson would repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and deal with other LGBT issues with a polarized congress that can't seem to agree on anything.
I wasn't too impressed with his answers because they were so general. Stuff like: "I'm a negotiator...you've got to be able to deal with issues." "You fight, you set a strategy." "I'm a fighter."
When asked about same-sex partner immigration issues, he was clueless. When a guest informed him of the problem, he simply said: "I'm totally with you on that." He said the same thing when the same guest asked about U.S. policy which excludes HIV-positive people getting visas, he said: "I'm with you on that. I didn't know about that."
So, I'm not sold on Richardson but I am happy to see a major candidate reach out to gays. I'd like more specifics and a little more homework on some of our issues before I put a campaign sign on my lawn.
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.