Parallel experience shared
Mains, Gordon describe political challenges
By Nicole Russo
Last Updated:4:30 PM EST 4/22/09 Section: News
"When the verdict came out, people just couldn't believe it," Gordon said.
The announcement was met with shock, setting off the "White Night Riots" in the city.
Mains had a similarly strong reaction to the news.
"I never had the chance to meet him, but I was devastated when I heard the news," he said. "The verdict was really hard for me, as a gay man, to deal with."
Milk's success opened doors for other politicans. Less than a decade after his death, Mains was elected to the city council by 11 votes.
Unlike Milk, who ran on the basis of being gay and prioritized gay and lesbian issues, Mains focused on the lack of low-income housing in the Rochester area, better relationships between the public and police and economic issues.
"I wasn't really aggressive on any gay or lesbian issues, but my sexual orientation became the only issue from my opponents' point of view," he said. "Even though I wasn't running because of my orientation, I was pretty sure it would be an issue. What we knew about politics at that point was that minorities, particularly gays and lesbians, didn't have much success.
"My response throughout the campaign was to just keep going back to my issues and going back to my issues."
Prior to the campaign, Gordon and Mains had become friends through the Gay Alliance Speakers' Bureau. For Gordon, it conjured up memories of her experiences in California.
"When Tim ran as an openly gay man, I was a little frightened," Gordon said.
Milk received numerous death threats throughout his campaign.
And indeed, Mains had similar stories.
"I received death threats almost on a daily basis," he said. "They'd be called in to the campaign headquarters and I had campaign volunteers who quit because they were too shaken up or upset."
One threat came at a bit closer range than a telephone line. When Mains walked up to a house while canvassing on one of his campaigns, the homeowner answered, then pointed a gun at him through the screen door.
The announcement was met with shock, setting off the "White Night Riots" in the city.
Mains had a similarly strong reaction to the news.
"I never had the chance to meet him, but I was devastated when I heard the news," he said. "The verdict was really hard for me, as a gay man, to deal with."
Milk's success opened doors for other politicans. Less than a decade after his death, Mains was elected to the city council by 11 votes.
Unlike Milk, who ran on the basis of being gay and prioritized gay and lesbian issues, Mains focused on the lack of low-income housing in the Rochester area, better relationships between the public and police and economic issues.
"I wasn't really aggressive on any gay or lesbian issues, but my sexual orientation became the only issue from my opponents' point of view," he said. "Even though I wasn't running because of my orientation, I was pretty sure it would be an issue. What we knew about politics at that point was that minorities, particularly gays and lesbians, didn't have much success.
"My response throughout the campaign was to just keep going back to my issues and going back to my issues."
Prior to the campaign, Gordon and Mains had become friends through the Gay Alliance Speakers' Bureau. For Gordon, it conjured up memories of her experiences in California.
"When Tim ran as an openly gay man, I was a little frightened," Gordon said.
Milk received numerous death threats throughout his campaign.
And indeed, Mains had similar stories.
"I received death threats almost on a daily basis," he said. "They'd be called in to the campaign headquarters and I had campaign volunteers who quit because they were too shaken up or upset."
One threat came at a bit closer range than a telephone line. When Mains walked up to a house while canvassing on one of his campaigns, the homeowner answered, then pointed a gun at him through the screen door.
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