Out the Archives is a recurring feature diving into the Windy City Times collection, offering a look back at the rich history of LGBTQ+ Chicago. In this edition, we look back at the March 1997 issue of BLACKlines.
Elected in 1992, Carol Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, wrote BlackLINES writer Shamara Riley. In a Q&A published in the March 1997 issue, Riley sat down with Braun to talk about issues affecting women, LGBTQ+ people and the Black community.
Her legislative priorities heading into the 105th Congress included education infrastructure, job creation and a work opportunity tax credit for employers who hire low income workers. Moseley-Braun said she hoped to continue building on her “record of success” from the previous Congress.
At the time, Moseley-Braun was also working on getting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act reintroduced to Congress. The Act has been introduced in every Congress since 1994 except one, and has yet to be passed—in 2015, LGBTQ+ activists moved to support the Equality Act.
In Moseley-Braun’s interview with BlackLINEs, she said she didn’t feel as hopeful as in the previous Congress considering the Senate was more conservative.
In 1997, the Clinton administration had recently unveiled its national strategy for combating the AIDS epidemic which received criticism from AIDS activists. Moseley-Braun said although the Ryan White Act provided more funding for AIDS, more funding and research were still needed.
“I hope AIDS activists will continue their struggle to ensure that AIDS is not just a health issue,” she said. “AIDS is also a community issue, a housing issue, and a research and development issue in terms of developing a cure for AIDS.”
In terms of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Moseley-Braun said she voted against it due to its cuts on the safety net for children and immigrants. She said the effects on Black children will be disproportionate.
“Most welfare recipients are children, many under the age of six,” she said. “In discussing welfare reform, we must examine the consequences.”
She also hoped to increase benefits for women, such as expanding individual retirement accounts. She emphasized her commitment to being pro-choice and belief that the government has no place in women’s health decisions.
After Moseley-Braun’s senate term finished in 1999, she went on to become the U.S. Ambassador to Samoa, and later New Zealand. She is currently a member and chair of the board of directors for the United States African Development Foundation.
