Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clinton Urged To Skip Visit To San Francisco

Associated Press

Mayor Willie Brown says President Clinton shouldn’t count on getting a warm reception in San Francisco this weekend.

The president’s recent rejection of same-sex marriages has angered many in the city’s large gay community, and Brown is urging Clinton to cancel a visit Sunday to avoid large-scale demonstrations.

“Don’t come,” was Brown’s simple advice when White House planners asked him what kind of public event they should schedule.

Brown said he hoped to avoid potential confrontations between police and gay protesters, suggesting Clinton schedule any public event in some other nearby city.

The mayor was traveling in New York Thursday and was unavailable for additional comment on the remark, which he made to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

But others said his advice to Clinton was sound.

“This may be the weekend that Clinton learns the consequences of offering cookies to the (gay) community, and delivering crumbs,” said Allen White, a writer and frequent coordinator of gay and lesbian events. “Clinton may be making a big mistake if he comes.”

White House spokesman Mike McCurry praised Brown for keeping his “ear to the ground,” but said the president would make no changes in his itinerary.The furor stems from Clinton’s recent statements in support of a pending bill that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, making gay couples ineligible for a range of federal benefits. The bill is a reaction to a Hawaii law that, if upheld in court, could make same-sex marriage legal in that state.

Clinton and congressional Democrats have accused the GOP sponsors of the bill of stirring up an anti-gay issue during this election year, but Clinton has said he would sign it anyway.

“There’s a high level of disappointment about that,” said City Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who is gay. “He expressed no sensitivity, no empathy, no respect for gays and lesbians and their families.”

“No, I don’t think this is the time to ask the gay and lesbian community if they’re happy with Clinton. There’s a feeling of disenchantment, and I think we can expect some protests,” said city Supervisor Susan Leal, who is a lesbian. “But I don’t think there will be mass protests. The gay and lesbian community still sees him as their only viable alternative.”

Clinton has normally been able to count on support in San Francisco, one of the nation’s most liberal cities. He won 72.4 percent of the presidential vote in the city in 1992, and Mayor Brown, one of the state’s most prominent and vocal Democrats, is an ardent Clinton supporter.