Chicagoans help gay man in Michigan congressional race

Chicagoans help gay man in Michigan congressional race
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
October 25, 2006




Chicago GLBTs gathered at a well-attended fundraiser in Lakeview Oct. 18 to support openly gay Kim Clark’s bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) in southwest Michigan’s 6th district.

“Kim has stood up, has worked hard against incredible odds and has a good shot at winning this congressional seat in Michigan,” said Art Johnston, co-owner of North Halsted Street’s Sidetrack, where the fundraiser was held.

Clark is badly trailing Upton in the fundraising race—as of last week Upton had almost $900,000 in the bank, to Clark’s $105,000. But Clark is hoping voter dissatisfaction with Republican leadership boosts him to an upset victory.

“We’re going up against an incumbent Republican who’s been there for many, many terms,” Clark said. “Nothing’s perfect in this world, but we can make it better.”

Clark has campaigned hard against the Iraq War, but Upton, who voted to authorize it, has now distanced himself from President Bush’s policy in Iraq. Clark also assails the Bush administration’s spending, budget deficits and tax cuts.

Johnston said Clark, who teaches at DePaul University in Chicago, needs the support of Chicago GLBTs.

“We can make a difference,” Johnston said. “Our country is in a desperate position. We are heading the wrong way. ÉThere could not be a better time for Kim Clark to be running for Congress than right now.”

Clark and his partner of 15 years, David Fink, own several businesses in Three Oaks, Mich., including a restaurant, Bailey’s Café, that was destroyed in a fire Oct. 16. Clark and Fink pledged to rebuild it.