Cincinnati should pay attention to one of our own Gay Rights leaders from the recent past. I am talking about SCOTT McLARTY. Before moving to Washington, D.C., Scott was a major activist here in Cincinnati and was one of my Out Reach staff at an AIDS program I directed at the Cincinnati Health Department. He worked closely with me, Bob McNee, and Shane Que-Hee in local Gay activist initiatives.

Scott moved to the the District of Columbia and has become the National Spokesperson for the GREEN Party headed by Ralph Nader.

I believe Scott has a promising future and he is in a great position to achieve even more national influence. Today on C-Span, he was articulate, intelligent, and handsome!

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The "GAY" issue keeps coming up in the current political scene across the country and Ohio has lead the way.

We've had the dreaded Blackwell implying Ted Strickland might be off the straight and narrow track and Miss Prim and Proper, Jean Schmidt, coming on in a commercial about the support of Gay Marriage by her opponent.

Blackwell has a long history of attacking Gay people on his road to political power. In the 1970's he tried very hard to remove me as a Counselor in our now world respected HIV test site because he thought it wrong to have a Gay Man in such a position. He implied at the time that a Gay Man in that role would be advocating "homosexuality" as a life style. His effort was thwarted by calmer and more rational people who saw great value in having a Gay man there at the HIV Test Clinic. Not only did it increase the number of those feeling more comfortable about getting tested, but also it gave men learning their results some one to talk to who would not look ascance at their sexual orientation.

Now as he seems to be drowning in possible defeat, he pulls out the Gay Card again. Should Blackwell ever get to a more powerful position, my fear is he would try to scapegoat Gays for more political advancement for himself.

The Schmidt TV ads are basically appalling in the effort to make fun of Gay Marriages. I must say the Wedding Cake Topper of two men is rather cute. However, Schmidt is trying the same hateful anti-gay tactics as Blackwell.

Now today we hear that Schmidt also thinks we should look at storing the entire world's nuclear waste materials in Pike County, Ohio. What will Jean think of next? Fortunately, she has created a back lash that may deliver all the Eastern areas of the district to Dr. Wulsin.

Maybe some day political candidates will learn that attacking people on the basis of sexuality, race, creed, or religion is not the way to endear themselves to intelligent voters.

Blackwell and Schmidt have not learned yet. I am planning now how I will hopefully celebrate their defeat on Election Day.