Newspaper Page Text
Lifestyles
Creating New Families - Page 4.
Vol. 2, No. 13 Taking Pride in Our Culture August 17,1989
Lomax Bows Out of Mayor's Race
NAMES Quilt To Be Displayed For Last Time in D.C.
Gay Supporters Feel
"Wounded" But Stand
By Lomax's Decision
There were many tear-filled eyes and clenched jaws last
week when Fulton County Commission Chair Michael L.
Lomax announced his withdrawal from the 1989 mayoral race.
Among the many supporters gathered around him at the
August 8 press conference, it was perhaps his gay/lesbian sup
porters who felt the stunning impact of his decision the deep
est
Lomax, who officially announced his candidacy last
January, began campaigning in the gay/lesbian community as
early as the summer of 1988 for what everyone predicted
would be an uphill battle against opponent Maynard H.
Jackson. Despite his underdog status, many gays and lesbians
signed on to his campaign early, and fought hard for their can
didate every inch ofme way. - - ..
The gay and lesbian community formed one of Lomax's tar
get voting blocs from the beginning of the campaign, accord
ing to sources close to him, and he formed many close
alliances in the community over the past year.
Explaining his campaign strategy, after his withdrawal from
the race, Lomax said, "The size and potential power of the gay
and lesbian community are tremendously underestimated in
Atlanta.
I am pleased to have taken the history-making step of
acknowledging and organizing...in the gay and lesbian com
munity," he added, "(and) I look forward to continuing my
working relationship with the gay and lesbian community as
chairman of the Fulton County Commission."
It was Lomax's decision to actively court the gay/lesbian
vote that swayed many to join his campaign so early, explained
activist Joan Gamer, and it was his human qualities that forged
such a deep allegiance between him and his supporters.
Gamer, who is black, said that Lomax's outreach to her as
both an African-American and a lesbian was the deciding fac
tor in her decision to work on the campaign.
"I felt he not only addressed our issues, but I think he made
an extra effort to find out where black lesbians and gays are in
this city, what our issues are, and what we're concerned about,"
Gamer said.
Although she admitted that she felt personally "wounded"
by his decision to withdraw, Gamer said that she respected
Lomax for making an "extremely tough decision"
"This was my first campaign here, and I got very emotion
ally involved," said Gamer. "I have to admit that I'm feeling a
little bit wounded right now. (But) when I look at this situation
on an individual basis, I recognize that Michael Lomax did the
right thing for himself."
Gamer's "wounded" feeling was echoed by every Lomax
supporter spoken with in the week after his announcement.
They all also, however, said they continue to respect and
admire their man despite his decision.
Insiders at the campaign headquarters explained last week
that the decision to resign was a tough one for Lomax. Facing
an August 18 qualifying deadline, he was forced to "take a
realistic look at whether or not he could win in October," one
supporter said.
With his withdrawal from the mayor's race now, Lomax
will be able to maintain his seat on the Fulton County
Commission until he is up for re-election in 1990. Many of his
mayoral supporters are already talking of working on the
County Commission race next year.
Among those who are already working toward that goal is
Gary S. Cox, who served as the campaign's liaison to the
Cont’d on Page 3
The NAMES Project Quilt, a memorial to those who have
died of AIDS, has grown to almost 12,000 panels since its
first showing two years ago in Washington, D.C. The size of
the Quilt, and the logistic and financial problems of full dis
plays, have made organizers turn to smaller showings. The
Quilt will be seen in its entirety for the last time in
Washington, D.C. in October. See page 15.
DONELAN • LOGO A POSTER DESIGN: ART JAGO-
NASI, SJP. • TYPOGRAPHY: ONE STOP TYPESETTING. ST.
1989 Gay Softball World Series Coming to Atlanta
Five teams from the Hotlanta Softball League will compete
in the Gay Softball World Series to be held here in Atlanta
August 22 through 26. Sixty teams from the U.S. and Canada
will participate in the five-day double-elimination tournament
to be held at Southside Park.
1989 marks the thirteenth year for the Series, and the first
year Atlanta has hosted the Series. Burkhart's (17-1) will rep
resent Atlanta in the Open Division. Toolulah's (12-6) and
Rumblefish (144) will battle it out in the Women’s Division,
and Bulldog's Lushpuppies (5-5) and Bass Ale Boys (0-10)
will compete in the Recreation Division, the Series' newest
division added in 1988.
In the Open Division, Atlanta's Burkhart's team faces tough
competition from two-time defending champions Twin Cities
Cloud Nine. Other teams for Burkhart's to watch out for are
Houston, Milwaukee, Dallas, San Francisco and Norfolk.
"There are no slouch teams in this Series anymore," said one
Burkhart's player who asked not to be named.
Wayne Vaughn, a player for Burkhart's and Hotlanta
Softball Commissioner-elect, indicated that pre-series practice
for Burkhart's will emphasize the fundamentals. "We're work
ing on base-running and hitting...This could be our year [to
win the Series]. Our goals were to win the season and to win
the World Series."
In last year's World Series competition, the core members
of the current Burkhart's team played as the Pharr Library and
placed third. For the last five years, the Burkhart's/Pharr
Library team has been one of the top five contenders in the
Series.
Cont'd on Page 20