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AIDS Vigil: Mixed Emotions
On May 6th and 7th Atlantans were given the opportunity to go to the Capitol and tell
Governor Joe Frank Harris what they think about his unforgiveable negligence concerning the
AIDS crisis in our state. Spring AIDS Action '88, organized and coordinated by the Atlanta
March Committee, had the potential of bringing young and old, black and white, and gay and
straight people together to send a strong message to Gov. Harris and the Georgia General
Assembly that AIDS funding is not rally inadequate - it is inhumane. The March Committee,
NAPWA (National Association of People With ADS, Adanta chapter) and LIFE (Lesbians in
Fun Endeavors) worked hard to publicize the 26-hour vigil and to make sure attendants were fed,
entertained and informed. Permits were secured, posters were made, food was bought and
cooked, and police security was obtained - all in an effort to stage a demonstration which could
have rocked Joe Frank's complacent boat It didn't.
Recent figures state that there are 1300 reprated AIDS cases in Georgia. There are others, of
course, which are not reported and there are many Georgia citizens who are HIV-positive. The
most people at the Capitol at any given time on May 6th and 7th was one hundred and fifty.
Given just the 1300 reprated cases of AIDS, there are thousands of other people - family, friends,
lovers and health care workers - who are directly affected by AIDS. In reality, everyone in our
state is affected in some way by AIDS.The one hundred and fifty in attendance at Spring AIDS
Action 88 represent less than rate one-hundredth of 1% of the population of Georgia. Given the
small numbers, any urgency about AIDS was lost and it's doubtful the governor will pay any
attention.
Those people who did take the time to participate deserve our gratitude and respect For a
small crowd with a life or death mission, there was an almost festive atmosphere. People cried,
but they laughed as well, and by their presence they carried the hope for an aid to the apathy and
the suffering. _
Unfortunately, there was a note of discord which needs to be addressed.On Friday evening Mr.
Charlie Brown, well known for his work and his dedication to raise money fra PWAs/ARCs,
chose the occasion to point a finger, not at Governor Harris,but at "radical lesbians". Mr. Brown
apparently felt the need to retaliate against "radical lesbians" who he believes are less than
supportive of his profession of female impersonation. He assured the crowd that female
impersonation is his "tribute" to womai and went on to say that perhaps lesbians could better
appreciate their own womanhood by "wearing a dress once a month" instead of "flannel shirts
and blue jeans". These statements were inappropriate and divisive. In his attempt to defend
himself, Mr. Brown, out of ignorance or poor eyesight, failed to notice that more than half of the
organizers, participants and entertainers were women.Wranen who, regardless of their attire or
opinions about female impersonators, are concerned and involved in the fight to end the suffering
of AIDS. (It is possible that Mr. Brown's oversight was due to his very brief stay at the Capitol).
This was an unfortunate incident in an otherwise positive and healing experience. Although we
support Mr. Brown's work for PWAs/PWARCs, we cannot excuse his "bitchiness" directed at the
lesbian community who is in the forefront in the fight against ADS.
While it's true that Spring AIDS Action 88 had its problems, it was a commendable effort.
Those who did not choose to join in, for whatever reasons, need to do some soul searching. If we,
as a gay and lesbian community cannot muster enough numbers to make a decent showing at an
AIDS vigil, who will? The answer is short and simple and frightening. Nobody.
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Guest Editorial
Changing Priorities
When the U.S. Supreme Court voted to uphold the Georgia sodomy law, the lesbian and gay
community initially reacted rather quietly. We were shocked and saddened that such an injustice
was not only allowed to continue but was strongly praised by the majority of the U.S. Supreme
Court
The anger and action came later. The March on Washinton and the growth and strength of
lesbian and gay organizations at the local and national levels attest to the vigor of our desire for
freedom and equality.
I also believe that the loss of the sodomy law challenge had another salutary effecL This
terrible decision has forced the lesbian and gay community to face the fact that the American
public still does not know who we are, or why discrimination against us is wrong. The U.S. high
court was merely echoing the sentiments of the majority.
When the Supreme Court finally approved abortion rights in Roe vs. Wade in 1973, the Court
was able to reach that decision because activists for privacy and women's rights had convinced the
majority of the public that a woman has a right to privacy over her own body. Even today, after 15
years of loud protest against this ruling by the religious right, polls show that 60% of the U.S.
public continues to support this hard-won right.
Even if the Supreme Court had voted to strike down Georgia's sodomy law, American gays and
lesbians might still not be free from fear of jail sentences and loss of children and homes and jobs.
Such a ruling, I fear, would have provoked an angry backlash against the Court and against us and
our supporters. This is because we have not yet educated the public about our lives and our lack of
rights, and thus we could not expect such a decision to be understood or readily accepted.
I believe that one of our national and local priorities must become the formation of a media and
education campaign aimed at educating the ignorant and informing the uninformed. The Jewish
and Black communities have each mounted very successful media and anti-discrimination
campaigns. Why don't we counter the lies and misinformation by educating the public about about
discrimination against us and by presenting the positive truths about our lives and our loves? Why
can't we emulate the NAACP and the Anti-Defamation League by challenging the negative
stereotypes in news reporting and in broadcasting and films? Why don't we challenge
discrimination whenever it is encountered and mount protests and boycotts against any group or
business that treats us as less than fully American?
I financially support those local and Washington-based groups now lobbying for our rights. I
doubt, however, that Congress will pass an equal rights amendment for lesbians and gays. The
public and, therefore, Congress do not yet understand the need for such protection. I believe that
the political action (PAC) funds we donate to local and national candidates do help gain us support
on legislation in our interest and help to protect us from even harsher treatment by our enemies. I
do not, however, think these political contributions will, at any time soon, win us the prize we
ultimately seek: equal treatment under the law through federal civil rights legislation.
I urge our national organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign Fimd (HRCF) and the
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) to continue lobbying for the protection of our civil
rights, but to also join together to develop a national media watch and education campaign. Such a
coordinated effort could easily be replicated at the local level. We rally have so much money and
so much energy to give. Let's pool these resources to bring the best talent together in a united
effort to educate the public about who we are and what we are not
Only when the American public understands that we want nothing more than we deserve as
American citizens and that we are members of the same human family, will Congress and the
courts have the courage to acknowledge us as equal partners. We must have the courage to mount
a media campaign that proudly tells who we are. I urge our national and local leadership to
carefully study how best to use the donations and talent of the community and to plan the
formation of a united media campaign so that the next battle before the U.S. Supreme Court will
end in a victory fra our community. -NickDanna
Nick Danna is past-president of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Chapter of the Georgia ACLU and
Treasurer of the Georgia ACLU.
Clarification
DeKalb County Commissioner Sherry Schulman announced during the April 1 Oth Focus '88 her
intention to introduce a comprehensive Hate-Crimes Ordinance for the metropolitan-Atlanta
county. (See SV, vol. 1; iss. 4) According to Schulman, the proposed ordinance is still in "the very
early planning stages," but will definitely contain language designed to include gay men and
lesbians under the scope of the law.
At the time of her announcement, Southern Voice was going to press. The story, as printed,
read "Schulman has been unavailable for comment since making her announcement." This left
open the possible conclusion that Schulman was not accessible to the lesbian and gay community,
either in DeKalb County and metropolitan Atlanta. Nothing could be farther from the truth ’
Schulman plans to present her ordinance to DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Manuel
Maloof fra his support on or about June 1,1988. She strongly urges people to report incidences of
hate-motivated crime to the proper authorities and to her office. She will need support fra her
argument that gays and lesbians need protection from hate-motivated bigots.
Long considered a strong proponent of lesbian and gay civil rights, Schulman has stated that she
considers the community one of her best friends in DeKalb County.
Southern Voice sincerely regrets any negative implications that might have been derived from
the original story.
* * *
The review of A Dangerous Knowing: Four Black Women Poets (see Southern Voice vol 1, no
5) was written by Terry Jewell. The byline for the article was inadvertantly left off. Our apologies.