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VIEWPOINTS
Bedford-Pine Reminds Us
We Need to do Our Homework
IWantMyGOTV!
The reaction of Bedford-Pine residents to the Atlanta Gay Center’s request for a Special Use Permit to
- relocate in their neighborhood (see page 1) serves as a potent reminder that homophobia is a reality, just as
much now as twenty or fifty years ago. Basically, little has changed. When we work and socialize within our
own community, it's easy to forget that Also, our expectations of tolerance and/or acceptance are higher for
those people who have struggled and continue to struggle for their civil rights and their dignity. Somehow, we
feel that the black community "should” support us, "should" feel a kinship with us. When this doesn't happen,
as is the case with the Bedford-Pine residents, we are doubly disappointed.
Our disappointment stems from the following premise: We want every straight person, black, brown, white,
yellow and red, to understand and accept us. Problem is that when we function out of that premise we will be
disappointed - over and over and over again. To see the goal of our movement as acceptance means we
always play the "victim", it means we sit by and wait for someone or something to "rescue" us, and it means
we continue to experience rejection. The rejection feeds into our already shaky self-conception. It tells us once
again that we are "not good enough" and/or "sick". And it does nothing to move us forward, politically or
personally.
Acceptance does not come by asking for it It does not come by moving into the neighborhood. For any of
us, including the Atlanta Gay Center, to expect such is folly. To try to position ourselves in what is potentially
a hostile environment without laying the necessary groundwork first, is reckless and irresponsible.
The Atlanta Gay Center appears to believe that begging for acceptance and playing the victim when we are
not accepted is the way we should go after what we want and need from society at large. That stance is clearly
evident with their most recent controversy.
There was a lot of homophobia and AIDS phobia expressed by Bedford-Pine residents, both openly and
under the guise of "keeping the neighborhood residential", and granted, Atlanta City Council member Bill
Campbell waved a red flag (covertly), and did nothing during the meetings except pay lip service to our
community. But was the Gay Center not at least partially responsible for the reaction from both the neighbors
and the politicians? We don't know for sure because the Gay Center refused to talk to us after the Zoning
Review Board meeting on Thursday night, but we wanted answers to the following questions from them: 1)
Did the AGC contact Bill Campbell or Nan Orrock when they made the decision to file the Special Use Permit
and ask for advice on how best to present it to neighbors and the Zoning Review Board? 2) Did they talk to the
neighbors personally and explain to them why they wanted to be a part of the neighborhood? 3) Why does the
AGC want to locate in Bedford-Pine? To better serve the black community? If their motive to serve the black
community is sincere, did they contact straight and/or gay black community groups about their effort? Do
they have any support from these groups? Do they think that black closeted gays will visit a Gay Center in the
a community where they do not want their sexual orientation exposed? 4) Does the AGC realize the need to
keep in-town residential neighborhoods intact? Have they not watched their current Midtown neighborhood
be destroyed by development?
The AGCs reaction to the outcry was simplistic. Homophobia. AEDS-phobia. They are correct.
Unfortunately, the Gay Center could have avoided much of it if they had done their homework; people in
general do not respond well when faced with surprise litmus tests. We believe that the AGC did themselves
and our community at large no favor with their attempt to move into a residential neighborhood without doing
the necessary outreach. Their actions won us no friends and it certainly didn't positively influence any of those
politicians who have historically stood with us. That is the price we will continue to pay as long as we choose
to beg for acceptance instead of taking positive and pro-active steps to insure our civil rights.
\OCE
SOUTHERN
Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editor
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Photo Editor Production/Design
Pamela J. Cole Sharon Blalock
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Communities. f "\
GOTV. Not a descendant of MTV nor any
other all music video channel on cable
television. Get Out the Vote (GOTV), is a
concept included in every workshop offered
through the mainstream political process.
Voter participation in a presidential
election rarely reaches 60%, and in most other
elections participation approaches only 40%.
It was not always this way. In the 19th
Century, voter participation approximated the
same 80% figure that exists in most
democracies. During the 20th Century,
however, the dominant theme in amending
the Constitution and our election laws has
been to broaden the franchise-direct election
of Senators, votes for women, votes for 18-21
year olds, abolition of poll taxes, literacy tests
and residence requirements, and liberalization
of voter registration rules which were
previously prohibitive to registration of racial
minorities. Given the existence of a formal
right to vote and the growth of a popular
Getting out the vote is a two step process not
only requiring voter registration, but also (and
perhaps more importantly) the mobilization
of individuals once they are registered.
Which brings us to the question of whether or
not that elusive and powerful entity known as
the gay and lesbian bloc vote exists. And
further, if such a bloc exists, how do we meld
it into a cohesive unit? All too often
candidates seeking our votes, as well as
individuals from within our own community
who are either working for candidates or
candidates themselves, rely on a few
acceptable (and noncontroversial) buzz words
in hopes of tapping "the bloc." What these
individuals fail to realize is that we do not
vote solely with our sexual orientation in
mind. We are a diverse, independent and
rational group of human beings. Certainly a
candidate who is upfront on issues such as
equal rights for same sex families or binding
for AIDS education and investigational
Than Ever
REGISTER TO VOTE
ideology that glorifies universal participation
in the democratic process, why has the 20th
Century been characterized by a self
destructive decline in voting? In particular,
why is it so difficult to register and mobilize
voters within our community?.
Gays and lesbians are truly the last "special
interest group" to be prohibited in their voter
registration efforts by existing legislation. We
are not allowed to register voters in or around
places that serve alcohol, but gay and lesbian
bars are the place where people can be
themselves without fear of reprisal. We are
not allowed to go door-to-door in our efforts
to register voters, but we know that certain
intown areas are safe harbors for members of
our community. In an attempt to register gays
and lesbians in the metropolitan area, we must
memorize and adhere to a variety of county
voter registration regulations. Individuals
wishing to become deputy registrars may do
so only by scheduling a classroom
appointment with the county voter registration
office, where you could expect to spend
anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours
learning how to "fill in the blanks" on a voter
registration form. Once these obstacles have
been surmounted, individuals must wait 30
days from registration to actually vote in an
election.
While this complex system of voter
registration is a national disgrace, lack of
voter participation by the gay and lesbian
community cannot be blamed solely on the
prohibitive nature of voter regulations.
therapies could expect to gamer a great deal
of support. The most liberal voter registration
laws and the slickest advertisements designed
to get people to the polls are no substitute for
a motivated and committed candidate who
will speak to the issues which directly affect
our community. However, just as blacks and
women cannot be expected to give total
support to a single candidate, neither can gay
men and lesbians.
However, the fate of the gay and lesbian
vote is not all that grim. People are being
registered and candidates are beginning to
speak to issues which concern us. It is no
longer a given that support for gay and
lesbian issues spells the political kiss of death.
Individual votes are important, not just in the
presidential election year for the "big one" in
November, but also on the local level for
political processes as obscure as the delegate
selection caucuses for the Democratic
National Convention.
Register to vote, the last day to register
with eligibility in the November general
election is October 11th. But remember,
GOTV is a two step process. Go to the polls,
not just in November, but every time you are
given the opportunity to exercise your power.
-Linda Meredith
Linda Meredith is a DeKalb County voter
registrar, a member of LEGAL (Legislate
Equality for Gays and Lesbians) and Project
Coordinator for ACT UP I All's Circle K
protests.