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NEWS IN BRIEF
Savannah News Panics Over
" Homosexual Invasion"
Sanannah, Ga-A gay and lesbian brochure about
St. Patrick's weekend events in Savannah was
distorted by a local newscaster last month as a
planned "invasion by homosexuals" to take over the
city, citing one sentence from the First City
Network, Inc. brochure: "We plan to make
Savannah the San Francisco of the Deep South."
Prior to the WTOC-TV11
(CBS affiliate) six o'clock
lead news story by News
Director Doug Weathers,
WTOC reported Jim Carswell
had received direct
information from FCN
Boardmembers that the quote
meant FCN hoped the non
homophobic attitude granted
generally to lesbians and gays
in San Francisco would be
imitated in Savannah.
Nevertheless, Mr. Weathers
implied an underground
conspiracy to take over
Savannah was in the works.
Another sentence from the
brochure: "Men don't forget
your condoms" instead was
reported to have
demonstrations are planned in London on Saturday,
April 30; Saturday, June 18, a lesbian solidarity
march; and Saturday, June 25, in conjunction with
the Lesbian and Gay Carnival Parade and Festival.
Said Jan Parker, a lesbian officer for the Association
of London Authorities, "It's discouraging that we're
not going to win in terms of the law, but we have
succeeded in mobilizing the biggest gay rights
movement ever in Britain. A hell of a lot more
people have become engaged in the straggle.”
Pat Norman, Stephen Gendin, Steve Ault & Kay Osterb, members of the
Executive Committee for the March on Washington. Photo by ETC.
"recommended homosexual visitors bring Safesex
devices."
One ray of light in the newscast: WTOC
approached Savannah Mayor John Rousakis as to
what his reaction to the brochure was (copies of the
brochure had been sent by FCN to Mayor Rousakis
and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce).
Mayor Rousakis looked squarely at the reporter and
said that he thought the one-thousand brochure-
invitation distribution to gays and lesbians across the
USA "great" and that St. Patrick's Day was a time
Savannah was known for "opening its arms and
welcoming everyone."
FCN sent a critical letter to WTOC and a "thank-
you" to Mayor Rousakis.
British Gay/Lesbian
Activists Fight Clause 28
London - British lesbian and gay activists face
the most serious threat to their community in twenty
years if, as expected, the House of Commons
approves on third reading a law which prohibits
local governments from funding materials or,
programs which "promote homosexuality." The
law, known in legislative language as Clause 28,
will likely go into effect in June, 1988.
In a move echoing the Helms Amendment in this
country, the British Parliament seeks to squash any
neutral or positive presentation of lesbian and gay
life by restricting the power and autonomy of local
governments. Local governments in Britain
administer social services, public housing and
community health services, schools, youth groups,
colleges and libraries, as well as fund counseling
projects and other volunteer sector work, subsidize
many theatres, cinemas and art galleries, and grant
cafe, bar and club licenses. Because local
governments have such broad powers under British
law, Clause 28 creates a virtual gag order on
publicly-funded and authorized lesbian and gay
activity and culture.
Clause 28 also outlaws the teaching of the
"acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended
family relationship," leaving public school teachers
with two options - to cast gay and lesbian
relationships as "unacceptable" or to suppress all
references to homosexuality in their teaching.
Teachers will likely be prohibited from even
answering students' direct questions in a positive
way or offering any advice or counseling to lesbian
and gay pupils.
"We regard Clause 28 as a savage attack on our
rights of access to information and freedom of
association," stated a press release by Stop Clause
28. "Many supporters of Cause 28 intend to use it
as the first step toward recriminalization of male
homosexuality and, for the first time, criminalization
of lesbian sexuality. Clause 28 is already fueling
anit-gay and anti-lesbian violence, with the
firebombing of the offices of the newspaper
Capital Gay"
But the Brits are fighting back! Mass
March Committee Calls
For Grant Proposals
Washington - The March on Washington for
Lesbian and Gay Rights is calling for grant
proposals to disburse about $70,000 in suplus funds
in the national office accounts. Grants will be
awarded by seven member Executive Committee
based on criteria approved by the 65- member
national Steering Committee.
"We were shocked to find that we had any
surplus funds given our straggles to raise money
before the October 11 th march", reported Kay
Ostberg, national co-chair in Washington, D.C.,"
however, the amount of money we raised during the
week of events was evidence of the overwhelming
success of the march."
In order to be awarded a grant, a project must be
lesbian, gay and/or AIDS related and have national
or state significance. Proposals for amounts up to
$5,000 will be considered. At least one-half of the
recipients will be lesbians and least one-quarter of
the recipients will be people of color. Preference
will be given to grassroots projects, projects bom of
march organizing, and projects working toward one
or more of the march demands.
Those interest in applying for a grant should get a
copy of the request for proposals. Write the March
on Washington at P.O. Box 7781, Washington, D.C.
20044. Grant proposals must be received by June 1,
1988 to be considered. .
American Family
Celebration Neglects
Gay/Lesbian Issues
Washington, D C. - A labor movement initiated
coalition calling for the creation of a national family
policy agenda has deliberately refused to address the
needs, problems and concerns of gay and lesbian
families, rejecting strong appeals by the National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (NGLTF).
The American Family Celebration (AFC), a
national gathering scheduled for May 14,1988 in
Washington, D.C., has the support of over 165
feminist, labor and professional organizations. The
principal sponsor of the event is the Coalition of
Labor Union Women (CLU). NGLTF and Lambda
Legal Defense and Education Fund are the only two
gay/lesbian endorsers of the event
Organizers of the AFC rejected NGLTFs formal
appeals to address the concerns fo gay/lesbian
families at public coalition meetings held on
February 10,1988 and March 25,1988. The event's
organizers said at both meetings that they had
deliberately decided not to address gay and lesbian
families in order to obtain a broad base of support
for the May 14th event.
NGLTF endorsed the AFC because it is deeply
commitled to the issues of economic justice,
comprehensive health care, child care, family and
medical leave, services for the elderly and equity in
education upon which the AFC platform rests. All
of these issues affect gay men and lesbians. In
addition, gay/lesbian families face discrimination by
the legal system, lack of legal protection and
recognition for unmarried partners, and lack of
access to tangible economic benefits such as
medical leave, insurance and other government
benefits accorded to married partners.
"This deliberate avoidance of gay/lesbian
families is an example of the cowardice and benign
neglect that typifies the mainstream civil rights’
community's approach to
gay and lesbian
equality," noted Jeffrey
Levi, Executive Director
of NGLTF. 'The
American Family
Celebration is trying to
avoid controversy by not
taking up gay/lesbian
family issues. This is
shameful and in the
context of the AIDS
health crisis that is
destroying so many gay
families, it is morally
reprehensible."
NGLTF urges that
letters protesting the
silencing of gay issues be
sent to the American
Tamily Celebration,
1920 L Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC
20036. NGLTF will organize a gay/lesbian
presence at the May 14th event
Couples, Inc. Designates
May 8th "Parents Day"
Atlanta-Los Angeles-based lesbian and gay civil
rights activists J. Carey Junkin and Walter Wheeler
presented a seminar/discussion group during the
recent Southeastern Conference of Lesbians and
Gay Men (SECLGM) on same-sex relationships.
The two men, who co-founded Couples, Inc. and
organized The Wedding as an integral part of the
National March on Washington last October,
discussed the legal and social benefits of same sex
couples living an open life; as well as the
ramifications.
Couples, Inc. was formed in response to the
National March Committee's demand for full legal
and social recognition of same-sex relationships.
According to Junkin, "the primary focus of our
organization is to confront society with our
existence in day-to-day life. Every time someone
says you're not a couple, you should correct them.”
During their seminar, the two recommended that
couples read A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay
Couples by Dennis Clifford and Heyden Curry.
The book contains valuable information on
legalizing gay and lesbian relationships, according
J. Carey Junkin. Photo by Rhonda Mertsen
to Wheeler.
In recognition of the love and commitment
represented by lesbian and gay families, Couples,
Inc. has designated May 8,1988 as Parents Day.
That Sunday, which is also traditional Mother's Day
this year, will be marked by celebrations in several
cities. According to Junkin, "We plan to honor gay
fathers and lesbian mothers for the love and care
they give their children. ...we plan to show the non
gay and gay communities that our families are based
on love."
They announced on Saturday a planned action
for October 11,1988, the anniversary of the March
on Washington and the first ever National Coming
Out Day. They intend to flood local marriage
license bureaus with same-sex applicants just before
closing time.
"Unfortunately, same-sex couples often have to
hide their identity to protect themselves from
protracted child-custody battles, and to secure our
economic base," said Junkin.
Couples, Inc. is therefore recommending that
participants worried about being photographed
disguise their identity by wearing a paper bag over
their heads.
They warned participants that local bureaucrats
might call the police. "If that happens," said
Wheeler, "people should leave. We're not planning
this as a civil disobedience action.” People
presenting their applications inside local
government offices will be supported by pickcters
outside, according to Junkin.
In those states requiring an HIV-antibody test,
Junkin and Wheeler warned participants to leave
that space blank on their applications. "Couples,
Inc. suggests that people wanting to know their
antibody status go to independent, anonymous
testing sites. We do not recommend that people
submit to government testing."
Atlanta is home to one of Couples, Inc.'s three
regional offices. Interested persons may contact
Mark du Pont at (404) 634-3061.
NCBLG Moves to Detroit
Washington, D.C. - The Board of Directors of the
National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays
(NCBLG) has announced the relocation of its
national headquarters from Washington, D.C., to
Detroit, Michigan, effective May 16,1988.
NCBLG's executive director, Renee McCoy, sees
the move as a positive step for the organization. "As
NCBLG moves into its second decade," McCoy
says, "we plan to intensify our outreach to establish
more local chapters and gain greater visibility,
especially within the Black community. Moving to
Detroit will make the organization more accessible
to Blacks in the central areas of the country, and
thus, better enable NCBLG to provide technical
assistance and leadership training to beginning
groups. Since operational costs will also be
lowered, we will be able to put more resources into
service-oriented programs and education."
NCBLG's new office will be located at 19641
West Seven Mile, Detroit, MI 48219. This building
is owned by the Michigan Organization for Human
Rights, (MOHR) Foundation and also houses
MOHR, Michigan's Gay rights organization, and the
Detroit Gay Community Center.
Lesbians Thrown Out of
Marine Corps
Parris Island, S.C.- Two women Marines
received discharges for being lesbians. The women,
two of seven under investigation at the Parris Island
training center,
were given
honorable
discharges after
waiving their
right to a
hearing before
an
Administrative
Discharge
Board.
Three other
women Marines
have already
had hearings
where the
military accused
them of
violating the
Pentagon's policy on homosexuality. The remaining
two under investigation have had their hearing
postponed in order to prepare their cases with
civilian attorneys.
There was no evidence that the discharged
women had not performend their duties as required
by superiors. Marine officials said that their conduct
was not serious enough to warrant charges but, they
said, "it specifically violates Department of Defense
policy." The military's policy against homosexuality
has recently come under attack, with a major defeat
in a recent case before a Federal Appeals Court
which found it to be unconstitutional."
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