Vegas mayor blasted by Republican for gay marriage comments
ASSOCIATED PRESS
2/25/2004 11:17 pm
LAS VEGAS Mayor Oscar Goodman has been accused of promoting a homosexual agenda by a Republican activist who has mounted a computerized telephone campaign.
Goodman vowed Wednesday not to be drawn into a national debate about gay marriage after activist Tony Dane criticized Goodmans support for a businessman who was refused a lease for a drag-themed club at a struggling downtown entertainment complex.
Theres no room in my town for hate-mongering, Goodman said.
The American way allows people to say whatever they want to say, Goodman said. I will not be pulled into the trap hes trying to set.
Dane said his firm, Dane & Associates, made about 30,000 computerized phone calls Tuesday to Las Vegas residents and would make about 70,000 more this week in a city of about 529,000.
Its my voice. Im paying for it, Dane said of the campaign he estimated was costing $1,000.
Tell him to keep his homosexual agenda to himself, Danes telephone recording says, accusing Goodman of pushing his own agenda, just like the mayor of San Francisco.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has given the go-ahead for his city to issue licenses for same-sex marriages, arguing the California Constitutions equal protection provision trumps state law barring gay marriage. President Bush backed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage on Tuesday, citing the rush of San Francisco weddings and a recent ruling by Massachusetts highest court.
Next thing you can expect is for Goodman to allow same-sex marriage in the city limits, Dane said in his phone message. Dont let this happen.
Nevada voters approved a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriages in 2002, and Goodman said he would not propose allowing them in Las Vegas.
Goodman said he opposes same-sex marriages as part of his Jewish faith.
Goodman, who has been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2006, said he hoped Danes personal attack didnt represent gay-bashing and intolerance for political motivation.
In 1996 Dane ran against David Parks, who won a state Assembly seat as an openly gay Democrat. Dane has been involved in other campaigns, but not as a candidate, he said.
Dane said he was angered by Goodmans support for Donald Troxel, whose drag-themed nightclub was rejected by managers at Neonopolis, a $99 million movie, arcade, bar and retail complex built partly with taxpayer funds.
Goodman this week said Neonopolis managers had defaulted on their lease, citing discrimination against Troxel and their failure to provide financial statements to the city.
Neonopolis representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Contacted at his Celebrity Show and Dance Club in Dayton, Ohio, Troxel said he appreciated Goodmans support.
Its crazy how theyre doing this and connecting it with gay marriages, Troxel said. Las Vegas ought to be glad theyve got a mayor willing to stand up for peoples rights. All hes doing is trying to back an honest businessman.
