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Victory Fund condemns Roseanne Barr’s anti-gay comments (updated)

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

UPDATE:  Roseanne Barr, on her blog today , apologized for comments she made suggesting gays and lesbians who are politically active are oblivious to causes other than LGBT rights. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—April 10, 2007—The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today condemned anti-gay remarks made this week by comedian and actress Roseanne Barr on a California radio station.  In a discussion about families accepting their gay relatives, Barr said, "Never once in my 54 years have I ever once heard a gay or lesbian person who's politically active say one thing about anything that was not about them. They don't care about minimum wage, they don't care about any other group other than their own self because you know, some people say being gay and lesbian is a totally narcissistic thing and sometimes I wonder.”

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund, disputed Barr’s assertion:  “Roseanne Barr has defamed the hundreds of openly gay and lesbian elected and appointed officials who go to work every day to improve schools, make streets safer and better their communities.  Politically active gays and lesbians are involved in many issues and they’re giving back to their communities.  Inane comments like Roseanne’s are irresponsible and uninformed.  Her remarks are all the more surprising given her previous support and understanding of the LGBT community,” Wolfe said.

Just this week an Associated Press story about Patricia Todd, the first openly gay person ever elected in the state of Alabama, highlighted her work in the State House of Representatives to establish a state minimum wage in Alabama.  “Patricia Todd is very involved in the process and is working hard to represent her district,” House Speaker Seth Hammett told the AP.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is the nation’s largest LGBT political action committee and the only national organization dedicated to increasing the number of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elected officials.  Since its founding in 1991, the Victory Fund has helped grow the number of out elected officials from 49 to more than 370.  Roughly 22% of all Americans are represented by an openly LGBT elected or appointed official.  For more information, visit www.victoryfund.org.