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SODOMY:
Same Cause, Different Fight
Question
January 8th Sodomy demonstration?
by Gareth Fenley
Chris Hagin is wishing for bad weather on January 8. That’s the day his neighbor Chip Rowan
plans to confront the reconvening Georgia legislature with a demonstration on the Capitol steps.
Although these two gay men are both working to repeal the state's sodomy law, one sees it as a
professional insider's job, while the other believes in stirring up public outrage. They explain their
strategies in exclusive interviews with Southern Voice.
Chris Hagin Chip Rowan
Registered lobbyist, Legal coordinator, ACT UPlAtlanta
Georgia General Assembly Action facilitator for the January 8
demonstration
Real political decisions are made by a small
number of people. You handle things very
quietly, very simply, behind closed doors. We
pulled off a coup on the AIDS bill that we got
passed two years ago—we outwitted and
outsmarted the opposition. There were only
about 25 players involved, and even that was
too many.
Four people who were involved with the
passage of the AIDS bill are also working with
me on the sodomy bill. Some are straight and
some are gay. Two are paid lobbyists, and two
are members of the General Assembly. The
groundwork on this has been going on for
about four years.
An outright repeal of the sodomy law will
not happen. But we have influential members
of the General Assembly on our side. Until
ACT UP announced their demonstration, the
plan was to amend the statute to make an
exception for consenting adults. This would
effectively repeal the sodomy law. Beginning
Continued on page 10
I hope that our January 8 demonstration at
the Georgia Capitol will kick off a national
movement to repeal sodomy laws. It will be a
national demonstration, with people invited to
attend from Birmingham, Nashville, Oriando,
Savannah, Dallas, New York City, Los
Angeles, and Washington, DC. The National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force will be
represented.
Georgia is an appropriate place to start
because we have the most notorious sodomy
law in the country, and it's still being enforced.
The Hardwick decision made Georgia's law the
symbol for sodomy laws in all 26 states that
have them. We're going to raise the issue in a
very public way. We want to get people to
discuss it, and eventually have an impact on
legislators. There will be follow-up actions
through the session; we'll be planning those
later on.
Standing alone, a demonstration is not going
to repeal the sodomy law. It will raise the issue
Continued on page 10
Jack McGee Lenora Moffa, Gaia McCall Moffa
I will not because a psychic once explained my Yes, we will be there—at least my baby and I.
lack of political activism as deriving from My partner would like to go but the visibility
being an 18th Century French Nobleman could have a detrimental effect on her career,
murdered by fellow aristocrats due to my pro- It's frightening that an act as private as sex
revolutionary stance. That said, I'm glad that between consenting adults can be legislated !
ACT-UP will be there because someone needs What does "right to privacy" mean anyway ?
to draw the legislature's attention to this issue. The demonstration gives me the opportunity
to tell legislators my opinion.
■ •
All those photos that never made it to print
are on display
THE ED SANDS PHOTO EXHIBIT
Peter C. White III John Kappers
No. I think the folks at ACT-UP are great, I'll have to miss the demonstration on Monday,
but I don't think their planned demonstration but I'll definitely be at the CDC on Tuesday,
should take place just now. There are people When I demonstrated at the Supreme Court in
working within the system trying to change '87 I didn't have the misconception that it
this unfair law. Give them a chance. If the would change any of the laws Immediately, but
legislature refuses to Cooperate, then go for it it did send a clear message that we weren't
going to sit back and accept their decision, that
the law must change.
Mickey Day
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Patricia Jackson Sue and Dave Warren
Yes. Our government is not satisfied with Georgia's outdated sodomy law seems like an
controlling public displays of affection attempt to legislate Judeo-Christian/
between lesbians and gay men. It has forced Victorian morality. We live In a time when the
offers only restrictions and condemnations, wrest away the gains made by the civil,
not support, In our "pursuit of happiness." If women's and gay/lesbian rights movements,
we do not act up when our civil rights are We need to contact our representatives and
violated, we might as well enchain ourselves, mobilize public demonstrations. The abortion
snap on the locks and swallow the keys. issue has put politicians on the hot seat We
, need to show the power of our numbers.
January 4,1990 • Southern Voicel3
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