OCTOBER 11, 1996 GAY PEOPle's ChroNICLE 25

BOOKS

A look at what, and who, the 'gay vote' really is

The gay and lesbian vote figures to be very important in the outcome of this year's elections. The Lavender Vote, a new book by Mark Hertzog, aptly illustrates this point

AVENDER VOTE

with charts, graphs, and polling data.

The book

attempts to answer the questions: "Is there really a 'gay vote' in America? "Just how many lesbian, gay and bisexual vot-

ers are there?" "What are they concerned about?" "Are the Democrats making a mistake by taking gay, lesbian and bisexual voters for granted?" and "Are the Republi-

cans making a far worse mistake by actively alienating them?”

Events like Bob Dole's run-in with the Log Cabin Republicans and Bill Clinton's fumbled attempt to sanction gays in the military show that politicians are finally confronting, for better or for worse, the power of gay and lesbian voters. The Lavender Vote is the first full-length examination of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals as a factor in American elections.

Hertzog describes the differences in demographics, attitudes and behavior between self-identified gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, and the rest of the voting population. He shows that Americans who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual comprise a distinctive voting bloc equal in number to Latino voters, more liberal across the board on domestic social issues through not necessarily on economic or national security issues-than nongay voters, and extremely unified in highly visible elections. Further, "lavender voters," contrary to popular belief, are up for grabs between the two major parties.

John D'Emilio, director of the policy institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called the book "an important, timely, and groundbreaking book, the first of its kind. Candidates, journalists and political analysts should pay attention to what Hertzog has demonstrated that there is a gay and lesbian vote, and that gays and lesbians pay keen attention to what politicians have to say about their issues."

Offering a clear and thorough explanation of lesbian, gay and bisexual voting tendencies, this volume will be must-reading for elected officials, candidates for office, policy makers and reporters, as well as for all those interested in learning about lesbian, gay and

COME OUT, COME OUT

bisexual voters-who they are, how many they are, where they stand and how they vote.

Hertzog holds a Ph.D. in government from the University of Virginia, and is the senior lecturer in political science and international affairs at Mary Washington College in Virginia. He is also the founder of the Heartland Project, a nonprofit organization to provide training in community-building skill to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered groups in small-town and rural America. He and his life partner, Christopher Lihou, live in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Lavender Vote, published by New York University Press, is $18.95 in book-

stores.

Come out for yourself

Come out for your friends

Come out for justice!

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Monday, November 4

at The Cleveland Play House

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Featuring Hostess Denise Dufala

CBS 19 News

Honorary Chairpersons

Peggy Zone Fisher Lee Fisher

Stephanie Tubbs-Jones

Call 621-0766 for reservations

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