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Do It for Yourself
To the Editor:
Over and again in the gay press I have
been told of Brince Manning's defeat in his re
election bid to the DeKalb County at large
seat GAP AC noted Manning as
"recommended" in the election but did not
mention his adversary, Annie Collins. I am
happy to report that when I called Collins'
headquarters before the election her
representatives checked with Collins and
called me back stating that any gay rights
ordinance would be signed by her.
Someone did not do their job. I am glad I
called because, I feel, I voted for the right
candidate, Collins. I voted for her because
she is female and females have traditionally
been stronger supporters of gay rights than
men. When voting, I feel that one should not
only vote with GAP AC (an excellent organ
ization) but also call the campaign headquar
ters to check on issues which are important to
them. GAP AC can't be totally responsible for
all voters, we must think for ourselves.
James M. Rule
Gay Center "Bashing"
Is Unfair
Etcetera Magazine
P.O. Box 8916
Atlanta, GA 30306
Dear Editor
In my opinion, the unsigned editorial in the
July 29,1988 issue of Etcetera criticizing the
Atlanta Gay Center was vindictive and utterly
ridiculous. I am so tired of seeing the Gay
Center bashed in Etcetera and, to a lesser
extent, in Southern Voice.
This particular article makes a number of
vague accusations, including "apparent con
flicts of interest and megalomania on the part
of its leaders." What, exactly, does the author
mean? If there is a real issue here, such as a
real conflict of interest, why not name the
issue? Otherwise, why make vague, unsub
stantiated, potentially damaging charges?
In any case, the most offensive accusation
in the article is of the Gay Center’s "general
lack of significant service to the community."
What do you call the Helpline? And the
adolescent support groups? And the clinic? -
Are these DISSERVICES to the community?
Come on! Does the author of this editorial (or
Etcetera itself) have a better record of service
to the community than the Gay Center? For
that matter, how many organizations have
done as much for as many people over as
many years as the Gay Center?
The Gay Center is here to help us and to
help protect our rights. If that means stirring
up a little dust occasionally, then so be iL
Maybe the Gay Center's proposal was
inappropriate. Maybe it wasn't, but
MACGLO has made its decision. Now the
community needs to put this behind us and
IT'S AM I MV IT AT/oM 7~o A
PEPU&UCAK) '/MCLUSIVITV' PARTY*
everyome is /wit££> th/s year
EXCE.pt GAY MEAJ Pc LES&AKJS?
move on. It's time to stop sniping and make
the committee that we do have work. If some
of us can't do that, whether they represent the
Atlanta Gay Center or another group, we need
to deal with those people, not trash an entire
organization!
I'm not really involved with the Gay
Center, but I do know that the Gay Center
programs are run by a fine group of
volunteers. Every cheap shot taken at the
Center is an insult to those volunteers.
If you think that there is something wrong
with die Gay Center (or any group) volunteer
or run for the board! But don't just snipe,
because if we continue to react to problems
with criticism and without solutions, Atlanta
may lose its Gay Center. And the Helpline.
And the Adolescent Support Groups. And the
clinic. And any number of other worthy
organizations. I don't think any of us want
that!
Ann Dunkin
cc: Southern Voice
Editor's Note: We appreciate and understand
the questions you raise regarding the stance
Southern Voice took during this latest fracas
concerning the Atlanta Gay Center (AGC).
We encourage you and other members of the
Atlanta gay and lesbian community to openly
debate perceived problems at the AGC or any
other organization.
We stand behind our editorial, however,
and feel that the AGC's philosophy was best
summed up by AGC board member Michael
Wilson when he said, "the AGC represents
the AGC." Southern Voice and Etcetera have
a broader responsibility - to try to represent
the best interests of all members of the gay
and lesbian community.
Southern Voice supports the hard work and
dedication of the AGC volunteers, who do
provide needed services to our community.
Oh, Lewis,
There You Go Again!!
To the Editors:
Well Mr. Grizzard you've done it again! In
your recent column "Protesters Give Nuts a
Bad Name" you managed to be even more
callous and blatantly offensive than usual. I
am referring of course to your "coverage" of
the various protests taking place in the desig
nated free speech site during the Democratic
Convention last month.
In a space no larger than an ad for Prepar
ation H you managed to lump together and
confuse the issues of the following: AIDS
protesters, Communist youth, Yuppie haters,
Gays, a jet hijacker and a Nigerian cab driver.
You spared a friend some grizzly detail
because you "didn't want to ruin his day any
more than it had already been ruined."
Heroic, considering that he had just witnessed
the AIDS "Die In."
I hope that the Chivas that your friends
ordered was cold and wet enough to wash
away the distaste of having to rub elbows with
such rif-raf, Mr. Grizzard. If we who give
legal vent to our sorrow, outrage and multi
protestations "give nuts a bad name," then you
give Southern humor an equally bad name.
I can’t claim surprise as I am all too
familiar with the lowbrow trashings that you
deliver to any and all who fail or refuse to fit
into your cozy, straight, white-male
dominated world. Despite this predictability,
who can say where your mean-spirited verbal
droppings will next land? On the elderly
perhaps? Ironically, thanks to the First
Amendment that protects us all, you are sure
to let us know.
Sincerely,
David "Laurel" Hicks
cc: Southern Voice
Editor's Note: This letter was first sent to the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Lewis
Grizzard's column titled "Protesters Give Nuts
a Bad Name" appeared in the Journal-
Constitutions Reach on August 9,1988.
Southern Voice encourages its readers to
attack Grizzard in his most vulnerable spot -
his ego. Stop reading his column!
"Pro-Life, No Matter
What the
Consequences"
To the Editor:
LEGAL's efforts supporting pro-abortion
infuriated and embarrassed me as a gay
person. I get the impression from LEGAL
(Legislate Equality for Gays & Lesbians) that
all gays and lesbians are pro-abortion. This is
NOT the case, and I, for one, am violently
opposed to the issue. These pro-abortion
efforts could be channeled to more positive
actions not involving the taking of life.
I am a PWA (person with AIDS) fighting
for the right to live. I thank God daily I was
not taken from my mother’s body and that I
was given the choice to live and die as I saw
fit Women's Reproductive Freedom is a mis
describing a misbehaved child who was not
aborted and was interrupting everyone. Give
me a break! She actually believes that this
child would be better off dead.
I am pro-life, no matter what the
consequences. Unprotected sex, gay or
straight, is negligent and stupid, and anyone
practicing unprotected sex will pay the
consequences. Give these future children
their right to live. Don't allow taking innocent
lives as a method of birth control. And don't
give the general public another reason to hate
gays and lesbians because they side with pro
abortionists.
Lyle Peters
Montgomery, AL
Editor's Note: We respect your right to your
opinions and your right to freely express them.
However, we fully support and applaud
LEGAL's efforts to protect women's basic and
intrinsic right to make choices concerning their
own bodies. We believe that a woman's right to
her own body is one that we must fight to
maintain. Many Lesbians and Gay Men have
historically participated in movements to obtain
and defend human rights for all people. Unless
we protect those rights, we as lesbians and gay
men may lose the few rights we have now.
nomer. This puts sexual enjoyment in a
higher category than human life. Where are
the values that put life above all else? Where
are we going as a society?
Ms. Carroll, who wrote to the editor in the
August 18 issue, offered her weak case by
Viewpoints is part of a continuimg effort to provide a forum for our community.
We invite your ideas, comments and feelings and your responses to ideas expressed
in yhis 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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