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Yes, Jean, There are Queers Here - There - and Everywhere! When DcKalb County Commissioner Jean Williams refused to sign a proclamation designating June 18-26 as "Lesbian and Gay Rights Week," she reportedly said that there were none of "those people" living in her district anyway. Had Williams attended the Pride March and Rally on Sunday, June 26, she might have been surprised at both the number and the variety of "those people" w'ho participated. Some were veteran marchers who compared notes on their previous experiences. Others were participating in their first march ever. Lee Bomhoff, a first-time marcher, admitted he was a little edgy when he arrived PHOTO BY RH< Looking over the throngs of people in the park that afternoon, she said that a similar event in Berlin or some other large German city would have drawn many more people. "It looks like nobody's coming here because everyone's trying to hide." Bill, who works for a large corporation downtown and volunteers with the Democratic group LEGAL, estimated that the crowd in the park, large as it was, still only represented" l/30th of the [gay and lesbian] population," but said he understood the problem. "AIDS has really punched the gay pride movement in the stomach," he said. "It was DA MENSEN From Germany to Gwinnett County; we are everybody, we are everywhere. at the Civic Center on Sunday morning. As organizers gave him a balloon on which he could write a personal message, and the crowd began to practice chants, he felt his throat close up momentarily. "It was like that old feeling you had the first time you came out to someone," he said, "and those words have to come out of your mouth." "J.P." is a young woman back in the closet again after accepting a management-level job in Macon. Previously, she had lived a very open life in Atlanta, attending a number of marches and other events in the earlv ’80’s. All that is behind her now. "I hate it," she said of her new way of living, her reluctance to give her name or be photographed. Even though she says her co workers in Macon "would walk away, or run me out," if she chose to be candid about her sexual orientation, she decided to take the small risk of participating in Sunday's march. "Not enough of us take the risk," she sa*d. And although her options are severely limited now, "I'm willing to take the risk to be another body here today." Karen and Anja, two students from Germany who came to Atlanta recently to further their education, would probably understand "J.P.'"s feelings. Although they have only been in this country a short time, they have already noticed one thing - "it's so different to be gay in America." "Here it feels like it's illegal," Karen explained, "like you're not supposed to be that." Pride Cont'dfrom Page 6 Among the speakers at the rally were Leigh VanderEls who spoke of the fight for custody of her son, and reminded everyone about the struggles of an estimated three million gay and lesbian parents in the U.S. Rebecca Ranson of SAME brought cast members of her play "Higher Ground: Voices of AIDS" to share some lines from the play. And Tipton Bishop, out of the hospital to perform in "Higher Ground," sang to a standing ovation. Performers from the community entertained the audience, among them were Sam Baker, Angela Motter, Tory Batey, Bev Cook, the Atlanta Gay Men's Chaus and the Lambda Chorale. When Lisa King brought her talent on stage, the heterosexual visitors to the park crowded along one side of the stage, and were taken to task by Woolard fa leaving as soon as King finished her three songs. "Yeah, that's right, go at and leave now, the drag show is over." so easy for straight people to believe all the B.S. that was being thrown around." His friend Kim, an actor and prospective law student, agreed, but said the NAMES Project was "a first cohesive step in the community" that began to draw people together again. "A lot of my friends are in the process now of making positive changes in their lives," he said. First-time marchers Gay Babin and Melissa Wheaton came in from their home in Gwinnett County to take part in the event Relatively new to Atlanta, having moved here from Louisiana last year, they have settled comfortably into the suburbs with few problems. "We've never really had any trouble," Babin said, as she and her partner of three years stretched out on a blanket in the park. "People can tell that we have a good, stable relationship." She was annoyed, however, that the march and rally received so little coverage in Atlanta's mainstream media. "They're so paranoid to advertise anything gay," she said, explaining that she and Wheaton only found out about the event because a friend mentioned it For most who did participate in the march, it was an experience they will look back on fondly, as did Lee Bomhoff. "It was tough at first," he said. "But I'm glad I did iL It fell good." -David Tucker Wooiaid also reminded straight onlookers that they too are subject to harrasanent and arrest as long as Georgia's sodomy law remains on the books. -F.G. PHOTO BY PAMELA J. COLE The Great American Piedmont Park Kiss-In. Open 24- hours on weekends $1.50 well drinks all the time See our ad in EXIT for exciting happenings during the 1988 Democratic Convention * -. - ■ ' • C ■ • -rr* - : information (4G4)-881-5353 • Sponsor: LEGAL (Legislate Equality for Gays and Lesbians), the voice of Lesbian and Gay Georgians in the Democratic Party * In cooperation wfththe National association of Lesbian & Gay Democratic Ciubs, the Southeastern Conference for Lesbian & Gay Men and other Atlanta and national organizations. COME HEAR^ U.S. Senators/Representativesl Stage, Screen, & TV Stars! Political & Civic Leaders! AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION RALLY FOR LESBIAN & GAY RIGHTS 5:00 PM STOPJUDS STOP VIOLENCE STOP DISCRIMINATION... this is AMERICA! Take the 7 March On Washington Demands for Lesbian & Gay Rights to j the Democratic National Convention. July 15th Welcome Dinner with Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA)! at 9PM. Cost is $35.00 • 7PM production of "Street Theatre" Stonewall-The Night The Gays Fought Back. Cost is $10.00 per person. Page 7