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HRCF Executive DirectorVic Basile.
GOP Committee Hears
Pro-gay/lesbian Testimony
Kansas City, Mo. - The Washington-based
Human Rights Campaign Fund broke new
political ground May 31 when it became the
first gay/lesbian organization ever to address
the platform committee of the Republican
party.
Board member John Thomas of Dallas,
Texas, told committee members that he is one
of millions of gay and lesbian voters who
believe "the route of attainment for [our] goals
is through the Republican party."
In his speech, Thomas emphasized the need
for anti-discrimination legislation, increased
attention to AIDS, and the rights of gays and
lesbians to participate in military service and
have legally recognized domestic partnerships.
HRCF is gaining the ear of the Republican
party just as some gay and lesbian activists are
fighting to keep their issues alive with
Democrats. Paul Kirk, chair of the Democratic
party, has made it clear that the 1988 platform
will be substantially shorter than the 1984
version, which ran to more than 100 pages.
'We could be totally ignored in the
platform," said Tim Forshay of the local
Democratic organization LEGAL (Legislate
Equality for Gays and Lesbians). 'We wont
actually have the words 'gay and lesbian' in
there without a lot of effort."
Under the guidance of LEGAL president
Lee Harrington, members drafted letters to
Democratic candidates Jesse Jackson and
Michael Dukakis, asking for their continued
support on gay and lesbian issues.
Eric Rosenthal, political director of HRCF,
called it "very unlikely" that those issues will be
covered as well this year as in 1984, but
pointed out that HRCF executive director Vic
Basile addressed the Democratic platform
committee in early May, and "there are
elements in both parties with whom we are
working."
-David Tucker
Lesbian/Gay Rights
Now Law in Baltimore
Baltimore-Tbc Baltimore lesbian and gay
community scored a major victory with
approval by the City Council of a bill
protecting them from discrimination.
Steve Cody, Co-Resident of the group
Baltimore Justice Campaign (BJC), told
Southern Voice how important community
involvement was in winning this landmark
vote after defeats in 1980 and 1985.
"The main difference is hat this time we
were better organized.
"The gay community is now more involved
in mainstream politics," he explained.
The impetus for strong organization came
after the March on Washingtoa Shortly after
the March, Cody wrote several articles in
lesbian and gay papers calling for action and,
eventually, for a "town-meeting" of
community members. The meeting happened
on December 12, almost exactly two months
after the Washington demonstration. About 75
people attended the political strategy discussion
where a decision was mack to make passage of
the legislation the number one priority.
Committees sprang into action, with a media
committee organizing press conferences and
radio and television coverage on the issue. A
documents committee prepared what Cody
called "a very impressive report" which helped
sway votes in the Council in favor of the bill.
Baltimore lesbians and gays had also
obtained a promise of support from the man
who would become Mayor.
During his campaign, Kurt Schmoke
attended a Pride Day rally where he promised
to support extension of civil rights to gays.
Schmoke stated he would ptush for passage of
tlx bill and said if the bill were defeated, he
would sign an executive order banning
discrimination.
In the end, Schmoke won his election and
kept his promise. Some political observers say
Schmoke could not have won without the
lesbian/gayvote. He won by a four percent
margin, with complete support from gays and
lesbians who make up ten percent of the city.
In addition to working in the mayoral elections,
lesbian/gay groups targetied Council Members
for defeat what their records opposed gay
rights. The composition of the City Council
changed, and the bill passed by a 12 to 7 vote.
Next in line for the Baltimore Justice
Campaign is the Maryland Stale House.
Cody said the BJC will meet on June 4th
to decide exactly what they will tackle next, but
chances are they will leave the City Council in
what are now supportive hands, and move on
to Annapolis, where the legislature has tried to
tamper with civil rights.
Last year the House tried to pass a
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Quarantine law for people with AIDS, scaring
activists into quick and effective action to kill
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This type of organization by lesbians and
gays in Baltimore will cany its weight to the
Democratic Convention in Atlanta this
summer. Cody will visit Atlanta as a Jackson
delegate to the Convcntioa
-F.G.
Apple Computer
Announces Non
Discrimination Policy
San Francisco-In response to demands by
gay and lesbian employees, Apple Computer
has announced a policy of nondiscrimination
on the basis of sexual orientatioa
Gay and lesbian employees who formed
Apple Lambda for months received only
sympathetic hearings from Apple officials who
said nondiscrimination has been practiced at
Apple since its founding. Finally, last month
the company agreed to guarantee equal rights,
although it left open the question of extending
benefits to live-in partners.
Apple has a long record of support for
lesbian and gay groups, with several donations
of equipment to social service organizations.
Boston Police Spying on
Gays and Lesbians
Boston-Gay and lesbian groups in Boston
arc demanding that Governor Dukakis fire the
Chief of the Capitol Police in response to
reports of police spying on gay groups.
The storm broke when the Boston Herald
reported on police requests for funds to
continue infiltrating gay groups. The matey
was sought at budget hearings where police
officials revealed they had already infiltrated
several lesbian and gay groups. Rob Gale of
Mass ACT OUT, Boston's gay direct acton
group said about the spying, "if it is standard
operating procedure, they better wear swastikas
on their arms." Dukakis has called for an
investigation, but the State's Commissioner of
Public Safety downplayed the significance of
the case, explaining that police were merely
gathering information at open meetings to find
out who the leaders were.
Europeans to Work
Together Against AIDS
Brasseis-European health ministers have
agreed to work together in their fight against
AIDS, following reports of a sharp increase in
the number of cases in the European Economic
Community.
By the end of 1987, the number of cases
doubled tie 1986 totals. Three months
later-by tlx end of March of this year-twenty
percent more cases had already been registered.
The biggest increase took place in France,
which also has the highest per-capita number
of cases.
Tlx ministers, alarmed by the figures,
agreed to coordinate their efforts and exchange
information, including scientific, legal and
political developments in the fight against
AIDS.
Members of the 12-counlry community
reiterated their opposition to mandatory testing,
and reaffirmed their year-old commitment not
to permit discriminatton against PWAs (People
with AIDS).
This protection of the dignity and human
rights of the ill stands in sharp contrast to toe
United Stales position where the Reagan
administration opposed legislation banning
discrimination against people living with
AIDS.
Oregon Lesbian/Gay
Rights Order
Salem, Ore. - Fundamentalist Christians in
Oregon are organizing to recall the gay rights
executive order issued last year by the state's
Democratic governor, Neil Goldschmidt.
The fundamentalists - under the aegis of the
leadership group, the Salt Shakers - have until
July 8 to convince 80,000 of the roughly 2
million Oregonians of voting age to sign a
petition placing the recall on the November
ballot. The recallers held their first public
meeting May 24.
"I think they will get the signatures but I
think we will win the vote," said John Baker,
chair of the state's PAC, Right to Privacy. "It
will be close." One point in favor of gays is
that tlx ballot title states: "Permits
Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual
Orientatioa" Penned by pro-gay Secretary of
State Barbara Roberts (D), that title is predicted
to lead many Oregonians who do not believe in
gay rights but who believe in fairness to vote
against the recalL
If the recall wins, Right to Privacy plans to
challenge it or constitutional grounds.
Regardless of the outcome, Goldschmidt is
expected to stand fast. As mayor of Portland in
the mid-70’s, he was the target of a recall
attempt by fundamentalists angered by his
issuing a gay pride proclamatton But they
failed to gather enough signatures to ptit it oi
the ballot
Elected in 1986 after defeating moderate
Republican Norma Paulus with 52% of the
vote, Goldschmidt issued the executive order at
the request of Right to Privacy which has
sought such a measure since 1976.
Gay/Lesbian Monthly
in Israel
Tel Aviv-Only weeks after homosexuality
became legal in Israel, a
new gay/lesbian magazine
hits the stands in the
Promised Land. To
subscribe to the monthly
magazine, write to Post
Office Box 11990, Tel
Aviv, Israel.
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