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On June 13, 1988 Judge William Ison will take the stand in Clayton County
Superior Court. Ison ruled against Leigh VanderEls, an open lesbian, in her
fight to keep custody of her son in 1987. Shortly after the ruling, Ison's call
to her employer resulted in VanderEls losing her job. The Ga. Supreme
Court has reason to believe that Ison may have been "prejudiced" and he will
have to account for his actions in court.
LETTERS
MCC Welcomes Women
To The Editor
A few weeks ago, in the March 31st (I think),
Vol 1, No. 3, issue of Southern Voice, there was
Part Hof a three-part article on religious
organizations for our community. It was a good
article and informative - for the most part
One section, however, seemed very misleading.
If I had not known better, die section on the MCCs
would have led me to believe that Blessed
Redeemer was chauvinistic and 99% men. It also
sounded as if the only area in which they were
active was the Coffee House Ministry to the
homeless.
The purpose of this letter is to clear up a few
things for the community. First of all, Blessed
Redeemer is not chauvinistic, in the least! And we
do have women in leadership roles, as well, and
have for years. Women are, and have been, student
clergy, deacons, Board members, committee
chairpersons, etc.
There are also many activities and areas in which
to get involved: social functions, dances, dinners,
trips, shows, fundraisers, etc; Bible studies and
Christian Education programs (some of which Ms.
Tuttle, die author of the article, has been involved in
and even taught herself); our own
newsletter-BAALC. (Brothers and Sisters in
Christ)-, and a Deacons' Closet in existence for years
to serve the needy and PWAs in our community.
We are also active in the community in many
ways. Some more than others-such as volunteers
and Board members at the (Atlanta) Gay Center,
AID Atlanta, etc, and members of choruses and
casts, and other organizations in the community.
Recently, one of our members was a member of the
cast of "Different," We have people in ACT,
BWMT and AALGA, just to name a few.
We are also very proud to say we were the first
MCC in Atlanta and in the Southeast sixteen years
ago (there are now nineteen, not including Florida).
In the vears since, we have bought and paid for our
building at 800 North Highland Avenue, and made
many improvements and have plans for much
more.
We have had our ups and downs, as all
"families" do. But the future looks bright and very
positive. We have just installed our 7th pastor, arri
everyone is very enthusiastic. We are a warm,
friendly group and we love to "have company." So
come visit our "family" and see for yourself the
"new" first MCC.
Your sister,
Judi Hamby
We Have Met the Enemy
and It Is Ourselves
To The Editor
There have beat many articles in this paper
regarding the way society, as a whole, has been and
continues to "oppress" those of us in this alternative
lifestyle. Maybe it is time we take an objective look
at our community.
I have listened to Randy Miller's character, Les
Manley, and I must confess I find it amusing. I also
feel compelled to point out that most, if not all of
my gay friends, likewise find it amusing, due to its
slight exaggeration of the way so many of our gay
brethren think. He may on occasion cany it a bit
far, but overall, we do not find it as demeaning as
some have made it out to be. It is truly a sad state of
affairs when we cannot laugh at ourselves.
What I find distressing is the constant arguments,
verbal assaults, and disorganization which is
rampant throughout some gay organizations in this
city. Every periodical I read contains an article on
the Atlanta Gay Center's fight with the ACLU or a
fight within the Atlanta Gay Center's "leadership" (a
term I use quite loosely th this case). No wonder
society at large finds it so easy to discriminate and
mock us when we provide all of the ammunition.
Recently, the news media was plastered with
stories on eighty-five homosexual arrests in South
Harriston Park. A friend of mine, who is employed
by a large department store at Lenox, stated that his
employer had to hire (Atlanta) City Police to
monitor the men's room. We all are quick to
scream at a joke on the radio, thereby proclaiming
our outstanding citizenship and community
responsibility, yet we behave in a manner that
results in justifiable arrests.
I am aware that much of the anonymous sex that
occurs is performed by frustrated, often closeted,
married men. I am also acutely aware that there are
many gay men who do not perform sex acts in
restrooms or other public areas. In fact, I am one of
those who does not Unfortunately, however, the
average citizen is not aware of this, and, until we
address this issue and work together to put an end to
it, we will continue to suffer the "slings and arrows"
of an outraged community.
I believe that it is time the gay community puts
its actions where its mouth is. We can work
together. The March on Washington and the
successful attempt by LEGAL to send gay
delegates to the Democratic Convention have
proven this. Let us continue in this vein to remove
the ammunition we supply to those who would
mock and oppress us. Let us go forth with a clear
conscience and a unified sword and take those
rights which are inalienably ours...Life, Liberty and
the Pursuit of Happiness, as we so choose to define
it.
Sincerely,
L. Jeffrey Davis
New Alliance Party...
One More Time
To the Editor
I am proud to be a New Alliance Party (NAP)
supporter, and want to respond to Beth Coonan's
attacks on NAP. In her most recent letter, Ms.
Coonan is suggesting that Southern Voice not cover
the activities of NAP because in her opinion, NAP
is bad. Is she meaning to suggest that because she
doesn't like NAP, using as reasons for these
accusations that can't be proven in a court of law,
her personal likes and dislikes should dictate what is
newsworthy? If she doesn't like NAP that's her
business, but to say they don't deserve media
coverage for some very newsworthy events makes
you wonder whose side she is oa Is she meaning
to say that the first black woman to be on the ballot
in all 50 states; the only independent party to have a
candidate on the ballot in all 50 states; and a party
that is outspokenly pro-gay, women of color led,
multi-racial and fighting for women's rights, civil
rights, voters' rights and gay rights shouldn't be
covered in a newspaper? It's hand to know if Ms.
Coonan is on the FAR Right, or a sell-out
Democral She also states that independent politics
has nothing to do with the fight for accessible
housing. How does she know? Has she been
leading the fight for accessible housing? I don't see
any political parties fighting for the rights of the
disabled but independent parties.
As the fastest growing independent party in the
country, NAP has nothing to hide on any issue.
NAP is proud to be controversial and to be building
a fight-back movement across the country that
thousands of people support to its unwavering
stands on gay rights, on women's rights, the fight
for homes to the homeless and the fight for fair
elections and democracy. In Atlanta atone, over
3,000 people have signed a petition in support of a
legislative package calling to a National AIDS Bill
of Rights, a National Health Care Bill and the
overturning of the Hardwick Decision. Over
30,000 people have signed in support of Dr. Fulani
and the New Alliance Party's right to be on the
ballot in Georgia and over 1,000 people have
contributed to her campaign, which is the only
independent party to qualify for matching funds.
This should set Ms. Coonan's mind to rest; not all of
these people, black & white, gay and straight, can
be brainwashed.
I also want to commend Southern Voice and Pat
Jackson to covering the work of the New Alliance
Party and the Lenora B. Fulani Committee for Fair
Elections, for letting people know that there is a
progressive choice this year.
Sincerely,
Tara Harris
Atlanta, Georgia
Better People,
Not More People
To the Editor
I reply to M. Lutz, mother, who responded to my
"Viewpoints" article of April 14, "Why Are
Lesbians Having Babies?" (See Southern Voice
Vol. 1, No. 4)
Ms. Lutz, thank you to the letter.
I share with you your concern for "our future in
regards to building a society with sympathies
towards lesbians, gay mat and other oppressed
people." (Some of my best friends are oppressed.)
You might note though, that we are evidently our
own oppressors due directly to our own grand
misapprehension of ourselves. This ignorance is
both individual and collective.
By "ourselves" I refer to the soul. Spirit
Embodied menaing, purpose and will to unity. We
do not as yet understand our origins or our direction
either singly or as a world. The task of acquiring
this understanding is of paramount importance. It
forms the only possible underpinning to the happy
changes you or I would wish to see. World
conditions elect such single, unencumbered folk as
lesbians and gay men to pioneer for change. May
we not simply buck up and accept the challenge?
Why exacerbate current conditions?
Within the insufferable circumstance of spiritual
ignorance, child-breeding becomes criminal
activity. The world is tipping with people. Those
here must become better, not more. Only people
who have answered their own needs can effect
influence and change. We have not orchestrated
even that baby-step. So babies have babies.
Why don’t we "teach and inform the public?"
Why don't we "carry our vision?" Why not enlist to
"fight off the straight-world attitudes" even though
we've grudgingly endured such "from the word
go?" We might then merit the description, "self-
assertive."
Having babies to throw in our proverbial 2 cents
worth is a muddled and adolescent reaction to our
own supposed misappropriation of social political
and personal power.
I an sure lesbians are terribly serious and
contemplative and self-questioning about choosing
motherhood. I an sure also, that those ponderous
exercises would serve both the sufferer and the rest
of us more truly if they failed to culminate in the
physical manifestation of a baby.
Sincerely,
Deignan
• Atlanta, Georgia
Viewpoints is part of a continuing effort to provide a forum for our community.
We invite your ideas, comments and feelings and your responses to ideas expressed
in this space.
The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not neccesarily'
represent the views of Southern Voice. Submissions should be typed, double
spaced and no longer than four pages. Mail to:
Southern Voice/Viewpoints
PO Box 54719
Atlanta, Georgia
*30308
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