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Operation Rescue
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and the blockades fizzled out before long.
"Now we're having to play catch-up from not having been there," according to COOR’s
Stacey Ferdinands. Ferdinands thinks abortion rights may be revoked before long, thanks in
part to the publicity generated by the violent anti-abortion group.
The Supreme Court has already been asked to review the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision
legalizing abortion and voters in several states opted to restrict abortion rights in the last
election. A ban on Medicaid-funded abortions just went into effect in Michigan, for
example. That state's Medicaid Director says Michigan spent $6 million last year on
abortions for poor women. Now, he says, the state could spend as much as $50 million more
Members of COOR hang the Rev. Jerry Falwell in effigy.
for Medicaid births and children bom into poverty.
Meanwhile the Reagan Administration has placed even more restrictions on Title X
funds, designed to offer assistance for family planning and contraception. Family planning
clinics now cannot receive Title X money if they provide any counseling about abortion or
refer anyone to an abortion facility.
In Atlanta's clinics it's not all bad news. Rita Barnes says since Operation Rescue came
to town, the number of volunteer offers have increased tremendously, but so have the
number of reports of babies abandoned in dumpsters.
She and virtually all those who have worked in the clinics during the "Rescues" say
protesters are vicious in their attacks against women and the people helping to escort them.
The women, already upset about their situation, are pelted with shouts of "Don’t kill your
baby," or "Are you happy now that you killed your child," while the volunteer escorts are
regularly shoved and insulted. COOR members say anti-abortion protesters regularly hurl
homophobic epithets at them. One pro-choice man was asked at the Falwell conference,
"How's your AIDS, fag?"
Barnes says women going for abortions are sometimes told "They're a bunch of lesbians
in (the clinic) who are going to give you AIDS." Gays and lesbians have been actively
involved in the fight for reproductive rights, both as members of pro-choice groups and as
escorts. Legal experts say reproductive and sexual rights are closely tied, leading many
activists to believe that abortion is directly related to gay and lesbian rights.
COOR members say this is all about oppression. Many agree. "It is starting to dawn on
people," notes Barnes, "the connection between a woman's right to choose and freedom.
Especially when Falwell is involved."
GARAL, which doesn't necessarily support pro-choice rallies at the clinics, plans a major
demonstration at the State Capitol on January 22nd, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade
decision. -F.G.
Judge Upholds D.C. Gay Rights Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. District Court
Judge Royce Lamberth ruled December
13th that the Armstrong amendment,
designed to force the District to allow
discrimination against lesbians and gays in
religious-educational institutions, was
unconstitutional.
"It's a very wise decision by (Lamberth),
and a big victory for home rule and gay
rights in the District," said Herb Schultz,
treasurer of the Gay and Lesbian
Democratic Association (GLDA).
Known officially as the Nation's Capital
Religious Liberty and Academic Freedom
Act, the Armstrong amendment was
attached to the D.C. appropriations bill at
the close of the 1988 Congress. The
Armstrong amendment was proposed by
Senator William L. Armstrong (R-CO).
In a prepared press statement, Sen.
Armstrong said, "The District Court's
decision is only a temporary setback in the
continuing and vital effort to protect
religious liberty." He has asked the Justice
Department to appeal the decision.
The bill was designed to force the D.C.
City Council to amend their human rights
law to allow religious-educational
institutions to discriminate based on sexual
orientation.
If Judge Lamberth had not ruled the
amendment unconstitutional, the District
would have had to alter the human rights
law or lose the authority to spend its funds
for all governmental functions as of
December 31st
Lamberth ruled that the Armstrong
amendment was unconstitutional because it
would force Councilmembers to vote
against their wishes, and effectively curtail
their First Amendment right to free speech.
The Justice Department, which defended
the government's case, has not decided
whether or not to appeal the decision.
-Chris Duncan
Candidates Take
Record Amount
of Gay Money
Washington, D.C.- In 1988 more
candidates than ever took record-breaking
contributions of gay and lesbian PAC
money.
The Human Rights Campaign Fund
(HRCF), the nation’s largest gay and
lesbian political action committee (PAC)
and lobbying organization, contributed
more than $400,000 in cash and in-kind
gifts to Republican and Democrat
candidates and progressive groups during
the 1987-88 election cycle. That's 60 per
cent more than 1985-86 contributions.
Political analysts believe the increased
number of politicians willing to take gay
money, and support what some perceive as
controversial issues, points to the progress
gays and lesbians have made in mainstream
American politics.
"In the past, some candidates considered
it a liability to publicly stand up for us and
take our money," said Vic Basile, HRCF
executive director. "And some still do. But
the fact that 81 per cent of the candidates
we supported won - some by landslide
margins - is a sound argument that gay
money is an enhancement, not a
hindrance."
Basile also noted that, with the
exception of Senator Lowell Weicker (R-
Conn.), no cosponsor of the gay and lesbian
civil rights bill in the House or Senate lost
his or her re-election.
HRCF criteria for contributing to
candidates include their voting records or
Where the Gay & Lesbian
Money Went
HRCF 198T-SS Political Contributions’
= % of money I
= % of candidates
Democrats Republicans Winners Losers
Candidates 98 13 91 20
positions on gay and lesbian issues, such as
federal AIDS legislation, hate crimes,
immigration, the gay and lesbian civil rights
bill, and others.
Fighting notorious homophobe Senator
Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) took a big chunk of
gay PAC money.
"There is no such thing as a free civil
rights movement for the lesbian and gay
community," said Robert Bray, HRCF
communications director.
Atlanta’s Best New Year's Party
Join Us For an Evening
of Distinction
Complimentary
Champagne Toast
& Buffet
$8 in advance,
$10 at the door
Open at 8 p.m.
550 Pharr Rd.
262-2525
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