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Debuque Lesbians and Gays Plan Forsyth-Style March for April
Last September 19, Stacie Neldaughter,
Ginny Lynns and the rest of the active but
small lesbian and gay Community of Debuque,
Iowa, held their "First Ever" Gay Pride March
and Rally. The local media was very attentive,
updating the small, predominantly Catholic
community of the Pride march plans almost
nightly. Even though Mayor James Brady had
spoken out against them, and gays and lesbians
in general, by characterizing them as child
molestors, Lynns and Neldaughter were
hopeful for a good turnout. What they got was
not exactly what they had expected.
"We didn't know," said Lynns, "that there
was such an undercurrent of real anti-gay
sentiment here."
As the marchers began to march that
September afternoon, they found that they had
to walk a gauntlet of homophobia as several
hundred bigots lined the streets hurling insults,
eggs and rocks. The hate-filled mob climbed
atop buildings for better vantage-points from
which to throw and shout A local
photographer, James Shaffer, stated that most
of the egg-throwers were teenagers from an
"alternative" school in Debuque. "They were
lobbing the eggs; it was impossible to
determine specifically who was throwing" he
stated.
"Some people were even giving kids money
to buy more eggs to throw!" Lynns recalled.
As the attacks continued, the marchers
joined a group of supporters for their rally,
while the police stood by - idle.
"The police did nothing to stop the violence",
Lynn stated.
Battered, bruised and messed by the
garbage thrown by their harassers, the Gay and
Lesbian residents of Debuque received a cruel
picture of what they were really up against.
Outnumbered 10-to-l, the marchers decided
that they cannot do it alone. They have issued
a nationwide call for help.
With the cooperation of the local chapter of
the National Organization for Women, a
handful of activists in this small community
have formed NOW/FLAG - The National
Organization of Women/Friends of Lesbians
and Gays. Together with the NGLTF (National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force), the UFMCC
(United Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches), and P-FLAG (Parents
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), they are
arranging a second march and putting out a
"Call to March" to activists around the country
m April 30,1988. This "Forsyth-style March"
is designed to make all of America aware of the
oppression of and violence directed at lesbians
and gays that is so manifest in places like
Debuque.
Comments Lynns, "We call it the 'Forsyth
County' march of the lesbian and gay rights
movement because after racist attacks on black
people in the Georgia county, thousands and
thousands of people turned out for a peaceful,
but powerful and empowering march."
Sue Hyde, Privacy Project director of
NGLTF, will speak at the rally, scheduled for
1:00 P.M. in Washington Park.
Until their strategy becomes more solidified,
NOW/FLAG is keeping a low profile with the
local media. Nationally, however, the Oprah
Winfrey Show has voiced some interest in
taping a show there.
NOW/FLAG has high hopes for this march
and have information cn lodging and other
important factors for those who are interested.
Lynns hopes that these calls will drown out the
obscene harrassing phone calls from the march.
"Every Gay and Lesbian organization in the
State is giving us their support," Lynns said.
"A turnout of 200-300 people would be great."
Of course, more would be fantastic.
If you would like more information, you
may call: Ginny Lynns (319) 583-9018 or
Stacie Neldaughter (319) 582-5352. If you
wish to make a donation to help offset
organization costs, please write to:
NOW/FLAG, Post Office Box 495, Debuque,
LA 52001.
- Karl Boyce
SCORE
Continued from Front Page
Harrington continued to say, "This is the
emergence of LEGAL and the gay and lesbian
vote as a political power to be reckoned with in
the state of Georgia. Today we proved that the
system can be forced to work for gays and
lesbians, if only we get involved and
organized. I have never been more proud of
our community."
Rhodes directly credited the lesbian and gay
community with Gore's victory in the 4th.
According to Rhodes, "Those 155 votes that
gave him (Gore) the winning margin were
people that Melinda, Paul, LEGAL and myself
convinced to vote for him. We campaigned
hard, getting people who don't normally vote
in primaries, or who were leaning toward
another candidate, to punch the Gore ticket"
"Those who think this was only the work
of a little band of gays in decadent old Atlanta
are very mistaken. As the thousands of closeted
gays and lesbians, people (who) sit side-by-side
with you in church every Sunday in Savannah,
Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Albany, Athens, as
well as Atlanta, all decide it's in their best
interest to stop being ashamed of themselves
and start asserting themselves, we'll have gay
and lesbian delegates in every district in the state
of Georgia, and more, in 1992."
LEGAL will now turn its attention to the
Democratic Convention, where Rhodes, Daniels,
and Garrard will join the large lesbian and gay
caucus to force the Democratic Party to
recognize and support their agenda. Looking
past July, Harrington looks forward to the
general election, where in addition to trying to
influence the national campaigns, LEGAL will
be supporting gay and lesbian candidates for
local and statewide races. Lesbian and gay
candidates are rumored to be assessing their
chances in other races.
AIDS Bill
Continued from Front Page
The Committee of Conference substitute
bill removed the controversial AIDS Battery
and AIDS Assault provisions of the original
draft. The Representatives and Senators
agreed instead, to revise the felony reckless
endangerment statute, to include AIDS
transmission crimes including sodomy;
sharing IV needles; soliciting for prostitution
or donating blood, blood products, or
organs/body parts. The sentence for reckless
endangerment is no more than ten years.
The confidentiality requirements of the bill
are vague, but do offer some protections to
PWA/ARC's. In most cases, AIDS
confidential information will be given the
same level of protection as psychiatric
records.
The bill does, however, give discretion to
the Department of Human Resources to
disseminate AIDS confidential information
among parties it deems appropriate. Possible
persons a HIV seropositive, PWA, or
PW ARC'S status might be made available to
include a: physicians assistant; podiatrist;
funeral director; professional counselor, social
worker, or marriage and family therapist;
psychologist; and/or administrative, clerical,
and support personnel.
It is important to note that the
confidentiality of AIDS information is
considered waived if the person at question,
or their appointees: in any manner files an
insurance claim for benefits; places any aspect
of the patients medical condition at issue in a
civil or criminal proceedings; or "is involved
in a dispute regarding coverage under any
insurance policy or benefit plan."
The final version of the bill still contains
mandatory testing requirements for prisoners,
and persons entering pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere to AIDS transmitting crimes.
Anonymous testing has, for the moment,
been allowed to continue at the discretion of
the Department of Human Resources. The
Department may at any time in the future
begin requiring that the names and addresses
of individuals who test positive for HIV
antibodies be reported..
The most contentious section of the bill
requiring consent prior to testing for HIV
antibodies was decided in favor of prior
consent. Except in cases of medical
emergency, a patient must be given a
phamplet, to be prepared by the Department of
Human Resources, which explains the medical
and social effects of taking the HIV antibody
test. If the patient touches or takes into
his/her possession the phamplet, consent is
considered to be given. A patient must refuse
the phamplet in order to deny the physician
permission to administer the test(s).
The Department of Human Resources is
also directed by the bill to prepare a phamplet
to be given to a patient after the results of any
HIV antibody screening test are delivered. This
is the only form of counseling the physician
or health care provider is required to give to a
patient.
AIDS and civil rights activists across the
State are waiting for the Governor to sign the
bill, before announcing their plans of future
action. Several different sources have
privately confirmed, however, that they plan to
fight the bill, using public pressure and the
justice system to block the implementation of
the law when it takes affect
VOICES
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What is your biggest fear about coming out or being out?
"Having people find out before I have the opportunity to tell them. I would like to tell
them myself, if I choose to."
Julie Gaby
Decatur, Georgia
"Not getting support from other Gay men and Lesbians. If they
you could get your head bashed in."
are not there backing you,
Charles Haver
Atlanta, Georgia
"Life threatening things from homophobics, Gay bashings, etc. Also, having my picture
published in the Journal-Constitution. I'm afraid it would affect my job and people that
I'm not out to"
Shelley Robins
Doraville, Georgia
"Someone would terrorize me because they don't understand. I have made the choice to
be out"
Mike Edwards
Atlanta, Georgia
Do You Know Something We Don't Know?
Southern Voice seeks news tips and inside information of
interest to our community.
Call Chris Cash or Chris Duncan at 584-2104
-Chris Duncan