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Moraitakis, U.S. Congress Hopeful,
On AIDS & Lesbian/Gay Rights
As the controversy surrounding 4th
district Congressman Pat Swindall heats up,
the race for the Democratic nomination
becomes more important. Atlanta attorney
Nick Moraitakis is running in that race
against Ben Jones and John Stembler. With
the August 9 primary only weeks away,
here's what Mr. Moraitakis told Southern
Voice during an interview conducted at his
home \on June 29,1988.
Southern Voice: Do you have any gays
or lesbians working on your campaign?
Nick Moraitakis: Yes. Dr. StoshOstrow
has been an advisor on AIDS and on issues of
concern to the gay community. He's probably
the most important
SV: So, you have a sense of what issues
are most important to the gay and lesbian
community?
NM: My sense for it is, AIDS, AIDS
discrimination and civil rights.
S\: What would you do about AIDS?
NM: I would work to get as much funding
as we can for research and education.
SV: How much funding do you think is
needed?
NM: I would hesitate to put a dollar value
on it Certainly more than the Reagan
administration is calling for.
SV: What would your priorities be in
spending AIDS funding?
NM: Research, education, treatment
testing.
SV: What about social services for
people with AIDS?
NM: I include that in treatment We need
to insure that we have the capability to treat
people with AIDS and care for them.
SV: What's your position on the need for
a federal AIDS anti-discrimination law?
NM: I think it's a must. We need to do
everything we can to encourage people to be
tested We are not doing enough to maintain
confidentiality and prevent discrimination.
S V: Do you favor any kind of mandatory
testing?
NM: Yes. I would prefer mandatory
testing in the military because of the potential
need for blood transfusions under hastened
circumstances. I would favor testing for blood
and organ donors...I lean toward mandatory
testing for people seeking marriage licenses
and I favor testing in the prison system.
S V: Do you favor criminal penalties for
people who, after testing positive, behave in
a way some consider inappropriate?
NM: I haven't really developed a firm
position on that I'm concerned about the
effects on society of taking that (criminal
penalties) approach. I think the important
thing is that we accompany testing with
enhanced counseling.
SV: So you wouldn't rule out criminal
penalties?
NM: I haven't given it enough thought. I
was not in favor of the bill the Georgia
legislature passed. I think the net result is that
it's going to encourage people not to be tested.
SV: Turning to other areas.. Jf elected,
would you vote to extend civil rights
protections to gays and lesbians?
NM: I am a firm believer that everyone
should have the benefit of civil right laws,
that discrimination should find its way
nowhere. I would be inclined to favor the
legislation.
SV: Would you favor recognizing gay
and lesbian couples and guaranteeing for
them the same rights heterosexual couples
have?
NM: When you talk about discrimination,
you include recognition that no one will be
treated differently. I think our laws have to
To contribute or volunteer,
call Tom Berman 938-4301
Dekalb County
House District 46
Together WE can
make a
difference!
Vote Tuesday
August 9th.
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872-5260
STOSH OSTROW, M.D.
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apply to all members of society equally.
S\: Do you have any problem with gays
and lesbians as parents?
NM: When you talk about children who
are in a court proceeding, the state has to act in
the best interest of the child. Based on all
criteria, the state has to decide who is the best
parent. Clearly, the single most important
criterion is the love of the parent.
SV: How does sexual preference affect
the parents’ qualifications, other things being
equal?
NM: I think it's a factor to be considered.
But homosexuality should not be the sole
disqualifier.
SV: Is there an area where you think
gays and lesbians should be excluded...The
military, CIA, teaching...?
NM: No. I'm anti-discrimination. That's
the way I was raised. My father ingrained that
in me since I was a very young child.
SV: Why should a Southern Voice reader
vote for Nick Moraitakis rather than for Ben
Jones?
NM: ...for the same reason everyone in
this district should vote for me. I'm more
qualified...
SV: Any parting words for the readers of
Southern Voice?
NM: The only parting words I have is that
my feeling about the responsibility of an
elected official is that we must elect people
who recognize that wisdom emerges from
contending views. That's the way I've always
felt and it's the way I've run my life. I
welcome your readers to call on me with their
advice and with their counsel. My number is
371-1988 and I'll be willing to do everything I
can to have their input in our campaign.
-F.G.
Magazine Celebrates Southern
Gay/Lesbian Cultural History
With Special Issue
The Institute for Southern Studies in
Durham, publishers of Southern Exposure
magazine, has put out a call for articles that
capture our past as gay and lesbian
Southerners.
As lesbians
and gay men
throughout the
South gain
strength and
visibility in theii
campaign for
civil rights, it is
crucial to
document and
cherish the
history of a
culture that was fostered in silence and fear.
To keep these stories from being lost, the
Institue is preparing a record of Southern
gay and lesbian history, culture and politics.
The fall issue of the Institute's quarterly
journal will feature a 30-page cover section
on lesbians and gay men in the South. The
essential message of the section will be that
gay and lesbian culture is intricately
intertwined with Southern culture.
Writers, historians, and archivists are
encouraged to submit articles and ideas.
There is particular interest in oral histories
of gay elders throughout the Southern
states, who were bom and raised in the
South, who came out in the South, and
whose lives
are
representative
of the richness
of the culture.
This
special issue
of Southern
Exposure will
be published
in October of
1988. In
addition to
distributing the issues to subscribers, the
Institute is planning a direct mail to reach
gay and lesbian organizations and
individuals throughout the South and the
nation.
Please submit your articles and ideas by
July 30 lo:Jim Baxter, Project Coordinator,
P.O. Box 25642, Raleigh, N.C. 27611.
Please enclose a stamped, self-addressed
envelope if you want your article returned.
Photo by Georgia Poverty Journal
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