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OCR Page 1 of 95/96
Final answers to The Advocate questionnaire
1.
In 1992, you said to gay people "I have a vision and you are part of it." What is that
vision in 1996 and how do gays and lesbians figure into it?
I have a vision of American in which every individual is valued and respected. As President,
I have sought to promote inclusion and heighten public awareness in order to send a powerful
message of equality and acceptance to people everywhere. Increased opportunity makes
citizens more productive, building stronger communities and a stronger nation. I believe that
we must continue to help people rise as far as their talents and determination can take them in
order to make the most out of our great diversity.
2.
You have been praised by gays and lesbians as the most "pro-gay" president in
history. Yet there is also a profound sense of disappointment in the gay community because
the expectations you set in 1992 were so high. What do you say to those gay voters who
invested so much emotionally to your candidacy but who have felt let down?
We have truly accomplished a great deal during my Administration. We have also learned a
lot about what we can do and how to get it done. My Administration has taken more steps
than any previous in bringing the gay and lesbian communities to the table. I am proud of
my record and it is a record to build on.
I remain dedicated to ending discrimination and to protecting the civil rights of every citizen
in our society. I am proud that my Administration has more openly gay and lesbian
individuals serving in appointed positions than in any previous Administration, and their
impact, both in expertise and in efforts to advocate for the concerns of gay men and lesbians,
is significant. We have increased AIDS funding, research, and educational outreach. I am
the first President ever to endorse a gay and lesbian civil rights bill, the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act. We have also opened the door for qualified gays and lesbians to receive
top security clearances. I pledge to you that I will continue striving for greater education and
compassion, working not simply to tolerate our differences, but to celebrate them.
3.
What is your own personal comfort level with homosexuality? Is it one of tolerance
or acceptance or something else?
I believe all Americans should be judged on their merits, not on their orientation. I strive to
do this in my personal life. It was one of the most fundamental lessons that my mother
taught me from a very early age -- to make decisions about people based on who they are,
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