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Gay Center Loses at City Council;
Vows to Keep Trying
Atlanta-The Atlanta City Council voted October 3 to deny a special use permit requested by the
Atlanta Gay Center (AGC) for its proposed new site at 525 Parkway Drive. AGC board
member Bill Gripp said
afterward that his group
would search out other
ways to make use of the
property.
The City Council
voted 13-1 against the
special use permit as part
of a larger package of
negative
recommendations from
the council's Zoning
Committee. Approval of
the request would have
allowed the AGC to
relocate its operations,
which include a sexually
transmitted disease (STD)
clinic, to the Bedford Pine
neighborhood. Among
the functions of the STD
Valena Henderson, Bedford Pine
neighborhood planning unit president
clinic is anonymous testing for HIV.
AGC board member Bill Gripp has repeatedly charged that the neighborhood reacted out of
homophobia and AIDS-phobia in opposing the special use permit, and said that his group was
"not finished" with the property in question. AGC officials have also blamed city
Councilmember Bill Campbell for stirring up much of the rancor surrounding the issue.
Valena Henderson, president of the neighborhood planning unit that includes Bedford Pine,
re-asserted after the council vote that her group’s only reason for opposition to the proposed
zoning variance was a desire to maintain the residential quality of the neighborhood. "I am not
against people with AIDS," she said. "AIDS is a disease, just like any other."
Although Gripp declined to discuss his group's plans in detail, he did hint that the AGC was
considering the possibility of maintaining the clinic at a location separate from other gay center
activities. Such a change might better their chances of getting to use the Bedford Pine property.
Campbell called the meeting due to "30 to 40 calls" he said he received about the move.
Campbell claims that the issue is strictly a zoning matter, and dismissed charges that his
opposition was politically motivated. Campbell has voted for pro-gay/lesbian ordinances in the
past, and has traditionally been seen as an ally by the Atlanta gay/lesbian community.
Other politicians who have publicly stated their opposition to the special use request include
state Senator Nan Orrock and Councilmember Rob Pitts, both of whom also have pro
gay/lesbian records.
The owners of 525 Parkway Drive, Lonnie and Mercedes King, have testified that they
offered the AGC the rental of the house after their own personal experiences with AIDS and
homophobia led them to recognize the importance of services offered by the Center. Mercedes
King has lost one son to AIDS, and another son is currently diagnosed with the disease.
Campbell has denied that his opposition to the AGC move is based on hostilities left over
from a 1981 council race between himself and Mercedes King, but political observers point out
that King filed charges against Campbell based on alleged election fraud in their race. The
charges were dismissed on a technicality.
While most people who testified against the zoning variance denied that their opposition was
based on homophobia and AIDS-phobia, they all invariably mentioned the combined presence
of the STD clinic and young children in the area as reasons for opposing the request.
Speaking after the council vote, Henderson added "we did not have enough evidence that
(the AGC) would not be 'strewing' their needles and waste in the community."
-Chris Duncan
Metro AIDS Ministry
Announces Offerings for Fall 1988
The Unitarian Universalist Metro Ministry of Atlanta, now in its third year of operation, has
expanded its offering of services to people with AIDS and ARC and their friends and families.
This fall the Metro Ministry will include monthly healing services, a closed growth group for
PWAs/PWARCs, and a seminar on personal belief called "Building Your Own Theology".
Healing services will be held November 13 and December 11 at 4:00 p.m. at the Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, 1911 Cliff Valley Way, N£. Rev. Chaneey states that
the idea of religious healing of physical ailments is foreign within the Unitarian Universalist
tradition. "We don't claim or even attempt to heal anyone of a disease, but we do wish to try to
provide a place where people can begin to heal their emotions and their beliefs. And if that
does not prolong life, it does give it a higher quality."
Spaces are still open in the theology seminar and closed growth group. "Building Your Own
Theology" is a seminar style class combining lecture, readings and discussion. Its purpose is to
help participants understand, develop and articulate their own values and to provide a process
for writing one’s own "credo" or "I Believe" statement based on a religious model.
Rev. Chaneey said, "As important as individual counseling and support is we also see how
people with AIDS as well as those affected by the crisis need more opportunities to build
community and we saw some unique ways where we could help. Except for Metropolitan
Community Church and the Congregationalists we Unitarian Universalists are the only ones
who view gayness as a valid lifestyle."
For more information call Joe Chaneey at (404) 688-6163 between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Ken Hoose
Candidates
Vague on
Gay/Lesbian
Issues
Close to 100 people attended a
candidates' forum on October 4th,
hosted by the Greater Atlanta
Political Awareness Coalition
(GAPAC). This is the third year
GAP AC has sponsored the event where local
political hopefuls field questions from the
lesbian and gay community. Eleven of the 12
candidates who attended are running for the
Georgia General Assembly.
Although all candidates voiced support of
such issues as repeal of the sodomy law and
increased funding for AIDS, there were some
uneducated statements made, particularly by
Ken Hoose, a Republican running against
Manuel Maloof for chief executive officer of
DeKalb County. In response to a question
concerning the rights of lesbians and gays to
retain custody of their natural children or to
become adoptive parents, Hoose stated, "If
you have the child you can raise it, and
continue to if the child does not show
tendencies to the gay/lesbian lifestyle in its
formative years."
One angry member of the audience
shouted, "My straight parents had no
influence on me being gay."
Hoose expressed his stand on the sodomy
law by saying, "I think the sodomy law is
stupid. It's your business. I think if you do it in
public on the Chattahoochee River - that's
different That goes for AC/DC, too."
It is not uncommon for candidates to take a
positive stand on lesbian and gay issues in
recent years. What is uncommon is for them
to take any action on those issues once
elected, especially newly elected officials.
GAPAC Chair Marie J. Murray explained,
"There is no way a freshman can be a leader.
If you charge out on a controversial issue, you
are going to negate your effectiveness."
Murray continued, "The only one who was
really honest was Jackie Saylor (D-House
District 25)." Saylor said, "There is no way I
could be a leader in repealing the sodomy
law. But I could help."
Murray labeled the forum a success
despite the tendency of the candidates to
speak in "vague general terms."
"At least they are interested in a dialogue,"
Murray stated. "By coming to the forum, it
says there is a real potential in the gay
community for political clout
Georgia General Assembly candidates
present at the forum were Incumbent Jim
Martin (D-House 26), Melody Harrison (R-
House 26), Incumbent John E. Thompson (R-
House District 39), Ralph Abernathy HI (D-
House 39), Joseph Baltes (R-House 40), Tim
Riley (D-Senate District 40), Doug Teper (D-
House 46), Ken Quarterman (R-House 46),
Thurbcrt Baker (D-House District 51), and
Jackie Saylor (D-House District 25) and
DeKalb Chief Executive Officer candidate
Ken Hoose.
-G. Weston
Phoebe and Rosetta...
Their love story lasts 39 years
i*% * '
SECRETS
Rebecca Ranson's new play.
Nexus Theater.
October 6 - October 23
Advance tickets available at Charis Books and More
Call 688-2500for reservations or 584-2104 for groups and information.
Southeastern
Arts, Media and
Education. Project
JO GIRAUDO