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Guest Editorial
Reflections on October 11th
Bringing It Back Home
Life was exciting. Trips to Mexico,
California and the Caribbean were just a
telephone call to the travel agent away.
Friends were doctors, accountants, real estate
developers and young professionals. The
descriptive cliche was "GUPPIE" (Gay Urban
Professionals). No one in my circle of friends
had AIDS or personally knew anyone who
was stricken with the disease.
Then, in the spring of 1986, a friend called
with urgent news. He would not tell me the
news over the telephone. He was on his way
over. No other explanation was offered. The
conversation that ensued, after he arrived,
changed the course of my life. At the time, I
didn't foresee that the anger and resentment
which his news generated would eventually
be channeled into
gay activism at the
grassroots level.
Jonathan told me a
mutual friend (and
former boyfriend
of mine) was in
the hospital. The
diagnosis was
AIDS. This was
the first phase of
my personal call to
activism. Young
gay professionals
with good jobs anc
good lives didn't
get AIDS. Only
promiscuous gay
men who lived in
the bars and
thrived on the bar
scene were
afflicted with this
disease. In my circle of friends the label of,
"He is a 'bar fly,"' carried the same stigma as
girls in high school who were known".. .to do
it...". Wecrudely and jokingly referred to
them as the "AIDS poster boys".
From diagnosis to death for my friend was
nine months, not the fourteen months which
the CDC promised with unemotional ease.
He died in the winter of 1986.
I first read about the National March on
Washington in the spring of 1987. I told
myself I was going to Washington for my
friend. In reality, I was going for both of us.
Not until the march did I realize what Gay
America really was. The camaraderie of the
men and women and the energy and the
power of the largest non-violent
demonstration in the history of the United
States was incredibly intoxicating. Marching
through the streets of Washington, holding
my lover's hand in public and kissing him felt
good and natural.
Four days in Washington amidst 650,000
gay men and lesbians helped me come to
terms with my gay identity. It was the best
therapy possible. I was able to draw on the
crowd’s energy and find new strength, a
strength that had been dormant for thirty-five
years. I decided I was going back to Atlanta
and make a difference. It took me from
October to February to decide how to channel
this personal call to activism. AIDS was now
a reality in my life and in the lives of my
friends. I joined LEGAL and got involved
with voter registration. Ultimately, I would
like to see the Atlanta gay and lesbian
community become the political force it could
be if we all went to the polls and
voted-hopefully with a common voice, a
voice that says "pay attention to my
community" to the political leaders of
Georgia.
Then, I looked
for ways to have
direct input into city
and county
government Of the
elected officials I
spoke with,J found
only one willing to
talk with me about
my concerns about
AIDS, taxes and the
multi-dimensional.
issues facing gay
and lesbian people.
This was Fulton
County Commission
Chairman Michael
L. Lomax. His
concern and level of
caring was
unsurpassed. I
became a volunteer
aide to him. In Mr. Lomax I found a willing
listener to the needs of gay people where
others had turned a deaf ear. It is here that I
direct a great deal of my energy.
Find a way you can make a difference.
You don't have to march in the streets to make
a difference. (But it doesn't hurt you to do
so!) All you have to do is educate yourself
and arm yourself with the knowledge of
wlfich candidates support your community
before you enter the voting booth. Then enter
the voting booth and support them with your
vote. I encourage each of you to register to
vote and then exercise your gay and lesbian
political muscle.
Gary S. Cox
Gary S. Cox burst onto the Atlanta political
scene in February, 1988-politicized by the
March on Washington. He is active in voter
registration efforts through LEGAL and
MACGLO and is also involved in
gayllesbian civil rights issues.
Viewpoints is part of a continuing effort to provide a forum for our community.
We invite your ideas, comments and feelings and your responses to ideas expressed
in this space.
The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the views of Southern Voice. Submissions should be typed, double
spaced and no longer than four pages. Mail to:
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MILL THEOILT 6E. PMiSHED?"
Bush and Dukakis On Our Issues
The following is a comparison of Vice President George Bush and Governor Michael Dukakis
on lesbian and gay civil rights and AIDS issues offered by The Human Rights Campaign Fund.
GAY AND LESBIAN CIVIL RIGHTS
George Bush
POSITION: Opposes gay and lesbian civil rights as awarding "special privileges" to one group.
RECORD: Reagan-Bush administration supported Supreme Court Hardwick decision denying
Constitutional protections to gays.
Michael Dukakis
POSITION: Supports civil rights bill and immigration reform bill. Supports non-discrimination
with regard to security clearances. Opposes executive order protecting government employees.
RECORD: As Massachusetts legislator, introduced state gay rights bill in 1974. As governor,
he has lobbied for bill.
AIDS DISCRIMINATION
George Bush
POSITION: Supports federal legislation outlawing discrimination based on HTV status.
RECORD: The Reagan-Bush administration opposes efforts to enact legislation to prohibit
discrimination based on HIV status.
Michael Dukakis
POSITION: Supports federal legislation outlawing discrimination based on HIV status.
RECORD: Endorsed Massachusetts bill to protect people with AIDS, HIV or perceived to have
AIDS against discrimination.
AIDS TESTING
George Bush
POSITION: Advocates confidentiality of HIV test results; supports mandatory or routine
testing for military, immigrants, marriage licenses, those seeking assistance for sexually
transmitted diseases and drug dependence, and prisoners.
RECORD: The Reagan-Bush administration has left issues of confidentiality and availability to
the states. It requires testing of military personnel, immigrants, Peace Corps and Job Corps
workers, foreign service employees, and federal prisoners.
Michael Dukakis
POSITION: Supports increased voluntary, confidential counseling and testing; advocates
mandatory testing of military personnel and immigrants.
RECORD: Dukakis issued regulations banning testing for health and group life or disability
insurance. Allows life insurers to require test for individual policies over $100,000.
AIDS PREVENTION
George Bush
POSITION: Believes people should be educated about AIDS, but prevention efforts should
stress traditional moral values and strengthen the concept of "family".
RECORD: Under the Reagan-Bush administration, a nation-wide mailing, originally conceived
in the mid-1980's, was not sent until June, 1988 due to political infights over contents. The
administration refuses to provide explicit information on sex and drug use.
Michael Dukakis
POSITION: Believes that AIDS education, including explicit information on sex and drug use
should begin in primary school with information based on age and ability to absorb material.
RECORD: Massachusetts was the first state to do a house-to-house AIDS prevention mailing.
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