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endorsement

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Volume 23/Issue 4/2005

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by Toni Pizanie
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

LaFonta #4 Endorsed by Ambush Mag for District 96 Louisiana House Seat


Ambush Mag is proud to announce the endorsement of Juan LaFonta, and to encourage you to vote for him this
Saturday, February 26.  There is some misinformation being circulated about who Juan is so we sat down with him
for a two hour interview, and this is what we learned.  Juan is a Liberal Democrat.  Yes, he used and is proud of the
“L” word.  Liberals get the job done for all citizens not just a select few, he told me.  He is a 32 year old, straight man
with roots in the Gay community through family members and his students and friends at Dillard University.


I didn’t realize that I had met Juan many years ago when we both worked on a Bagneris Campaign.  He was the
young man who rallied other young people together to canvas the neighborhoods and place political signs.  Since
that time Juan has become an attorney, opened his own law firm and teaches Public Health Law at Dillard.  He is a
man full of energy, ideas and a desire to serve the total community of District 96.


He places his faith in a Christian God with respect for all spiritual beliefs.  Almost before the interview started, Juan
told me that he put his faith and future in God.  If this is the path where I can serve Him best, then the people of
District 96 will make me their Representative.  Sometimes it is not easy but I try to serve God’s will for my life.


Those words struck a cord in my heart.  I asked how this strong faith would affect the issues that a Democrat must
uphold.  Juan said that through prayer he has come to believe in a woman’s right to choose, equal unions under civil
law and sensitivity training for all civil servants such as the police, firefighters and EMTs.  


Abortion should not be used as birth control.  It should be used after a woman and her doctor have made an informed
decision.  For some women, he continue, the woman should also consult her spiritual leader.  Also the word game of
marriage and civil unions has to come to an end.  Equal rights must be available for all.  And training is essential for
law enforcement agencies including the State Police, he continued.


I believe in partnerships and will strive to bring communities together, he went on to say.  He finds that HIV is one
leveler than attacks all communities.  He wants education, protection and equal health care available.  As a teen, he
remembers the large numbers of Gay men that were dying in Charity Hospital.  Now he sees large numbers of Black
men and women being infected because the community will not acknowledge a Bisexual society that is prevalent
today.  Parents need to be educated also to help their children.


There are so many areas that are of concern to Juan.  Not the lease of these is how to support and improve our school
system.  Public schools need help so that our children can meet their potential.  Improving public schools and HIV
education are the two issues at the top of his priority list.  


You are taking a lot on your plate, I told him towards the end of our interview.  He shyly smiled and quoted from the
Bible, “James 2:17, even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead.  If it is God’s will, District 96 will be my works.”  On
that note, a hug was in order.  I have done dozens of interviews with politicians but this is the first time that I have
wanted to hug one.  


Ambush is an openly GLBT publication with an openly GLBT staff.  We join together to endorse and support Juan
LaFonta #4 on Saturday, February 26, 2005.   For more visit JuanLaFonta.COM.

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