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("Lesbians" continued from page 1)
And politics as a whole is possibly
one of the last, most stubborn
bastions of the male process
existant. Thick skin is necessary;
pragmatism absolutely essential;
the art of compromise comes
frequently not from the heart but
from the scorecard.
Small wonder the girls boycotted.
But though not in the political
mainstream, women have certainly
not been idle. Today's patriarchal
structures of such power (such as the
churches, for example) would have
collapsed centuries ago were it not
for the female activists (they
were/are called "volunteers").
Traditionally, all those service
areas that call for toughness with
compassion, survived on the talents
of women.
So, aside from all individual
talents, it would seem that straight
women and lesbians have to offer
the talent of a flexible survivor of a
relatively hostile environment;
frequently coupled with that
remnant of innate wisdom (or high
speed intelligent processing)
termed "intuition"; and a conscious
(so natural to often be unconscious)
attention to the human
participants in the process. That's
certainly not the whole picture, but
even just this scenario stands very
impressively on its own. What a
valuable commodity.
★
Certainly due iO the women's
movement, at least partly due to
the AIDS crisis, and any other
number of factors, lesbians are
emerging to work in the political
sphere, albeit with a healthy
wariness. The question of "why?"
is important in that the answer
also indicates the interests that
attract women in the first place.
But that "why", I must confess,
could also almost bring a resounding
response of "who cares?!" from me.
The prospect of those gifts coming
into a process so constrained by
narrow, rational parameters;
utterly divorced from the basic
human needs that give rise and
reason to the pursuit of mass
political solutions in the first place
— well, it just warms the cockles of
my heart. In fact, I would dare to
say, it may be the key to the
solution this old world has been
seeking, as we zip perilously closer
to the ultimate decision regarding
the contination or cancellation of
the human race.
And for the gay community in
particular, it is a welcome advent:
an education for both genders as to
the relative strengths and
weaknesses of the other. An
Opportunity to merge the best of our
attributes and acknowledge the
rest. And most importantly, an
emergence of that non-segregated
"army of lovers" envisioned years
ago.
★
For me, it has -een, mostly, an
enjoyable learning process. From
this woman's perspective, gay men
generally are so far advanced of
straight men that somehow
Darwinism must factor in here
somewhere. Of course it's
chauvinistic, but I'd have to guess
that this superiority is
attributable to the willingness of
gay men to acknowledge their
"feminine" side.
Which is definitly not to say that
there is not traditional male
chauvinism in the gay male
community... there is, a lot of it.
"Lots of gay men are not feminist, or
even aware of feminist issues," said
ACLU officer Cathy Woolard.
"The important issues dear to
feminists, like handicapped
accessability; consideration of
people of color issues, whether or
not they are there to insist upon
them; economic issues; alcohol
dependency issues vis-a-vis
refreshments served — all these
and more have been long in the
language of lesbians. Some men,
gay men included, still roll their
eyes when these considerations are
even brought up."
"I believe that organizations with
a strong lesbian presence, or
leadership, tend to have more
success, or longer longevity than
those headed by men, because they
will include these issues," she
continued. "And women feel more
comfortable working in an
★
environment where they don't have
to reinvent the wheel yet again."
And so the Pursuit of the Lesbian
continues. But now, on an every-
increasing scale, she appears to be
willing to engage in the game... and
also, perhaps to the occasional
chagrin of the male players, to
change the rules to a more humane
pattern of behavior. And as she is
included and contributes on an ever-
expanding scale, the very fabric of
the gay/lesbian community's
unified front will have to change.
For the better. It is something to be
fervently hoped for... and worked
towards.
★
NOTICE: CAPAC IS SOLICITING
BOARD MEMBERS. WOMEN,
MINORITIES, DIF-ABLED
PERSONS ENCOURAGED TO
INDICATE YOUR INTEREST. P.O.
BOX 8420, Atlanta, C.A 30306.
888-0510
SPEAHAELE QUOTES
On the issue of gay foster parents:
"...You, judge people by their
conduct and their character, not
their sexuality."
Jesse Jackson, Presidential
candidate
"I am here when you need me"
John Lewis, Member of
Congress from Georgia, at
the HRCF Fundraising
Dinner May 21,1988
UNSPEAKABLE QUOTES
... a campaign to test seven million
Cubans - every man woman and
child over the age of 15 - for
(AIDS). In a nation that sent
homosexuals to work camps as late
as the 1970's, this raises the specter
of possible persecution and human
rights abuses on an alarming scale.
.... Until 1985, the Cuban media
belittled the AIDS threat as a
product of the "degeneracy" of the
West. The implication was that a
disease that seemed to strike gay
men and drug users was not threat to
the macho socialist man.
.... Those who test positive are
asked to go voluntarily to an
isolation facility. It they refuse, a
special police unit brings them in by
force, throwing over their heads a
nylon bag with holes only for the
eyes and nose before carrying them
to the police car.
New York Times. Februar
11,1988, p 25
★
Another theory on the sociology of
gang rape is that it is a vicarious
homosexual activity, with the
woman simply serving as a
surrogate. . . . "We don't want to
know . if this 19-year-old is
sensitive. We want to know if he's
a real man."
From the article "In gang rape, the
mob rules as 'men rape for other
men'," The Atlanta Constitution.
June 7,1988, p A14
★
But a number of political
strategists, Republicans as well as
Democrats, believe that the
Massachusetts governor's continuing
disputes withe gays may work to
his political advantage because
they help him project a sense of, as
a leading adviser says, "being his
own man."
.... "Every fight he has with gays
make him look safe," says a
Republican pollster Lance Tarrance.
"If he's eyeing November, he's
delighting in these confrontations."
.... "All seven gays in America
who want to adopt children are
unhappy, but millions of other
Americans are impressed - a classic
lesson in 'special interest' politics,"
says political consultant Mark
Siegel, a Dukakis supporter.
The Wall Street Tournal.
May 26,1988, p 60
★
Phyllis Schlafly, who led the
fight to defeat the Equal Rights
Amendment, was unaware that a
group representing lesbian and gay
rights also was scheduled to testify
Tuesday before the Republican
Platform Committee.
"They are?" she asked. "Where
arr they?"
John Thomas of the Human Rights
Car, paign Fund was to speak in the
late evening, at the other end of
the lay from Mrs. Schlafly.
"That ■ all right," she decided,
"but the platform is not going to
endorse tn Hr agenda." •
The Atlanta Constitution.
June, 1,1988, p A,
★
THE DEMOCRATS APE
THE DfHOCCATJ ACE
By Jose He
It's been speculated that the
Democrats and Republicans are
called "parties" because they have
such a love for that orgy of national
celebration that’s called a
convention. Be that as it may, the
Party is definitely coming to town.
The ubiquitous souveniers. The
funny hats. The almost feverish
drive to crowd thousands of
chattering people into one hall and
then challenge them to hear a word
the speakers say. Demonstrations.
Back-roomnegotiations.
The thrilling uncertainty... the
certaintly that, as LEGAL
President Lee Harrington says, "it's
not over 'til the convention is over."
It's a regular phenomenon, an
American institution. Although
the necessity for such a gathering is
in question since the emergence of
the dominant caucuses, it'll
probably never be dropped.
And besides, says Harrington,
"while things will be set in place
when the gala comes down, still
there's the possibility that the
delegates can change or make new
decisions. That's why the Jackson
candidacy looms so large, and
wields such a heavy influence on
the platform."
Naturally, as the host gay/lesbian
Democratic Club, LEGAL has been
laboring for months in preparation
for this national shebang. And the
COMING!
COMING!
advent, at last, of openly gay
delegates from Georgia has fueled
the enthusiasm.
Events scheduled include LEGAL's
welcome dinner for delegates,
timed late at 9 PM to allow
everyone to arrive and assemble.
Barney Frank and other politicians
will be featured speakers. For
information call 881-5353.
On Saturday, 7/16, GAPAC is
sponsoring the Raucus Caucus, an
unconventional welcome to Atlanta
for these folks as well as a good
excuse for us to have a fundraising
party in preparation for the
elections Gay politicians are
invited guests. $15/person;
$20/couple. Colony Square Hotel.
Information: 881-0510.
On Sunday, 7/16, LEGAL rallies at
the "Designated Free Speech Site"
(don't you just love it?), on Marietta
Street across from the CNN Center.
It's a parking lot between
International Boulevard and
Techwood. Speakers are to be
announced. And just as an
added attraction, LEGAL is
scheduled right after the White
Supremacists. Won't that be fun!
Interested in working with LEGAL?
Check the Southern Voice's
organization listings.
★