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1st GAP AC Dinner Exhibits
Renewed Interest in Local Politics
"Old Traditions; New Ambitions" was
the theme of the Greater Atlanta Political
Awareness Coalition's (GAPAC) first
annual fundraising dinner and show held
November 12th. The estimated crowd of
400 people included an array of pro
gay/lesbian politicians and community
leaders.
In his keynote address, Fulton County
Commission Chair Michael Lomax
expanded upon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s
historic "I Have A Dream" speech to
"challenge the gayAesbian community to
never allow anyone to exercise unjust power
over you."
He also drew from the "Old Traditions,
New Ambitions" theme, and spoke
convincingly of the gayAesbian
community's future empowerment within
King's "beloved community." He repeatedly
addressed the concerns of gays and lesbians
within the context of the broader scope of
oppressed peoples.
GAP AC Chair Marie J. Murray said of
for "successfully lobbying for the final,
vastly improved version of the 1988 AIDS
Omnibus Bill," and Southern Voice for its
"presentation of news, activities, columns
and editorials specific to the gay and lesbian
community-noted for its... impeccable
layout and presentation."
Entertainment for the evening was
provided by local comic and actor Doug
Lothes and singer/songwriter Suede.
M.C. Cathy Woolard moved the evening
along well, sprinkling humorous personal
commentary between guest introductions.
Murray chuckled later that Woolard's
comments did not necessarily reflect those
of GAP AC, which is a non-partisan
organization.
Lomax, who is an un-announced
candidate for the 1989 Atlanta mayoral
race, concentrated on the future of
progressive politics in Atlanta and the
United States, and stressed repeatedly that
gays and lesbians must concentrate on
building coalitions with other civil and
human rights groups.
Lomax captivated the banquet crowd
with his vision for the future of Atlanta. "If
we disregard the inconsequential
differences-like color, like gender, like
religion, like sexual orientation-we can be a
community. We must recognize that more
binds us than divides us.
"So let us throw away our petty,
superficial concerns, and focus on our
common humanity. Atlanta is a diverse
city, where different people must learn to
live together in civility and mutual respect
and understanding," he continued.
Speaking from his experience as a civil
rights leader, Lomax electrified the
audience when he spoke of their individual
and community power. "You have the
capacity to take control away from those
who would direct your lives and inhibit
you, and exercise your own personal
control over your own destinies.
"That's what empowerment is all about,"
he said. "There's nothing more important
than that tradition, and no greater goal than
that ambition."
Politicos present included: State
representatives Jim Martin and Nan Orrock;
Fulton County Commission Chair Michael
Lomax and Cheryl Lomax; Atlanta City
Council members Bill Campbell and Mary
Davis; Maynard Jackson for Mayor
campaign aide Peter White III; Michael
Lomax for Mayor campaign aide Gary
Cox; Betty Grant, chair of the Georgia
chapter of the National Organization for
Women; Georgia AIDS Legislative
Coalition state lobbyist Gil Robison; openly
gayAesbian Georgia delegates to the
Democratic National Convention '88 Dick
Rhodes and Melinda Daniels; John Hausler,
president of the Atlanta Business and
Professional Guild; Human Rights
Campaign Fund board members Drs. Jackie
Johnson and Stosh Ostrow; MACGLO
executive secretary Jeffrey Laymon;
Sabrina Sojourner, co-chair of the African-
American Lesbian Gay Alliance; LEGAL
board member Linda Meredith; Frank
Gouda of the Georgia Physicians for
Human Rights; Rebecca Ranson, president
of SAME; Georgia ACLU executive
director Gene Guerrero; Ray Kluka,
associate editor of Etcetera; and Kenny
Milligan of Black and White Men
Together.
* -Chris Duncan
Fulton County Commission Chair
Michael Lomax
the dinner, "I'm just thrilled that Atlanta's
gayAesbian community, which is called
upon to support so many organizations,
would respond so wonderfully to GAP AC. I
can see that this is the beginning of a long
and wonderful tradition."
Murray said that the dinner and show
grossed more than $20,000.
GAP AC also inaugurated its annual
Impact Award at the dinner. Murray, who
called this the proudest moment of her
tenure, said that the award is intended to
recognize that organization which has "in
the past year excelled in activities that have
directly, positively impacted the gayAesbian
community." Nominated for the award were
the Southeastern Arts, Media and Education
Project, Inc. (SAME), Southern Voice, the
Metropolitan Atlanta Council of Gay and
Lesbian Organizations (MACGLO), the
Georgia AIDS Legislative Coalition, and
Legislate Equality for Gays And Lesbians
(LEGAL).
Unable to decide upon one recipient,
GAP AC's executive committee jointly gave
the Impact Award to the Georgia AIDS
Legislative Coalition and Southern Voice.
Accepting the award for the Legislative
Coalition was chair Maury Wiel, and for
Southern Voice, managing editor Christina
Cash.
The Legislative Coalition was recognized
Kovach Resignation
Cont'd From Page 1
paper had not taken such a positive stand, said
Weil, the Assembly would have produced much
more negative legislation.
According to Kovach, the improvement in
coverage of gay and lesbian community was
deliberate. He said gays and lesbians make up
"one of the larger identifiable parts of Atlanta,"
and, he noted, "the gay community has an
enormous impact on the city." At least a dozen
of freedom of expression.
Novelist Pat Conroy, a leading organizer of
the protest, spoke to the crowd saying Cox
Enterprises has chosen to make Lewis Grizzard
the soul of the papers. Grizzard, said the writer,
"represents everything I loathe about the South."
He described the columnist as a "bully who
wants to pick on blacks, women, and gays.
"Lewis," he said addressing Grizzard, "when
you write about gays, it sickens me."
Conroy said Cox is choosing Grizzard's
South over his. Atlanta’s loss of Kovach, he
added, will make another city richer.
Effigies of (1-r) Cox Enterprises heir Anne Cox Chambers,
Journal-Constitution publisher Jay Smith, and Cox president David Easterly,
were carried by protestors, led by Atlanta novelist Pat Conroy, during the
Nov. 12 rally for Kovach.
gays and lesbians put their names on a full-page
ad to protest the departure, and a large group
participated in the demonstration on Saturday,
November 12, that took to the
JournallConstitution offices downtown a mock
New Orleans style funeral symbolizing the death
Although Kovach and Smith say the
resignation is final Kovach said the protest will
have an effect. When readers make their voices
heard publishers must listen, he said, because in
the end "newspapers belong to their readers.”
-F.G.
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