Newspaper Page Text
Activist/Author Joseph Beam
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Joseph Beam, Author/Activist, Dies at 33
The gay community lost one of its leading activists on December 27 with the death in
Philadelphia of Joseph Fairchild Beam. The exact cause of his death was not immediately
clear. Friends said, however, that he had been in ill health recently and had been extremely
depressed for several months.
For many years, Beam had worked to create a stronger movement of black lesbians and
gay men. He was the first editor of Black/Out, a magazine serving that community, and
served three years on the board of directors of the National Coalition for Black Lesbians and
Gays (NCBLG).
"Joe was such a positive role model for black gay men and women alike," said Renee
McCoy, executive director of the NCBLG. "He had a gentle, frank spirit and was an
inspiration to gays and lesbians at all levels, from all walks of life."
In 1985, Beam began work on a collection of writings and artwork by black gay men. It
was published eighteen months later, under the title In the Life. Although a number of
works had already been published by and about black lesbians, Beam's was the first
anthology ever to focus on the experiences of black gay men.
At the time of his death, Beam was compiling material for a second collection, Brother
to Brother. According to his publisher, Sasha Alyson, "Joe already had made a great deal of
progress on that book, and his parents were highly supportive of what he was doing. We
still expect to publish it"
A Joseph Beam Memorial Scholarship Fund for creative writing has been established at
Temple University. Interested parties may contact it in care of Marie Inyang, Esq., 12
South Twelfth Street, PSFS Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Angry animal rights activists have stepped up their demand for the ethical
treatment of animals. Scientists claim, however, that the use of laboratory
animals is necessary for continued success in medical breakthroughs for
humans. See Page 13.
SOUTHERN
Looks like
ABC will drop the
lesbian couple
from
Vol. l,No.24
Taking Pride in Our Culture
January 19,1989
Lomax to Introduce Extensive
Lesbian/Gay Rights Ordinance
Fulton County Commission Chair
Michael Lomax told Southern Voice in an
exclusive interview on Jan. 11 that he is on
the verge of introducing sweeping
legislation that will ban discrimination
based on sexual orientation and HIV
antibody status in the metro Atlanta county.
The broad language contained in a near
final version of the ordinance prohibits
discrimination in "employment, housing,
public accommodation, public
transportation, public services,
governmental services and health care
services offered in any place in Fulton
County, Georgia."
Although Lomax cautioned that a draft
copy of the ordinance provided to Southern
Voice by an anonymous source had not been
given finai approval, sources on liis staff
said that this version "closely approximates"
what they predict will be introduced before
the commission. The original version of the
ordinance was written by members of the
Georgia AIDS Legislative Coalition.
Lomax declined to speculate how his
fellow commissioners would vote on the
ordinance. Members of a citizen's lobbying
group in favor of the ordinance, however,
feel that a favorable vote of5-2or6-lis
almost certain.
Lomax said he had not discussed the
matter with the other commissioners, but
that he did feel that the ordinance would be
given a fair hearing.
"This board has been very affirmative
about human rights issues and anti
discrimination," he said. "My view is that
the human rights initiative that we are going
to undertake here around sexual orientation
is not going to be differently viewed than
others we have undertaken."
One of the most striking features of the
ordinance is that it not only forbids
discrimination based on sexual orientation
and HIV antibody status, but also forbids
discrimination based on the perception of
sexual orientation and HIV antibody status.
This provision would presumably
remove the requirement that a person state
their sexual orientation or HIV status in
court in order to file a complaint Under the
ordinance as it is now written, a person
would only have to prove that a defendant
perceived them as a member of a protected
minority.
Cont'd Page 11