Newspaper Page Text
Staff Editorial
Much Ado About Marching...
To demonstrate, or not to demonstrate. For
a substantial part of what we might, for want of
a better term, call the politicized portion of the
lesbian and gay community that is the question.
At least this week.
At noon on Monday, January 8th, ACT-UP
plans to zap Georgia's State Capitol Building
with what it hopes will be a large and angry
mass of humanity demanding repeal of our fan-
state's draconian sodomy law. The action here
is part of a series of demonstrations nationwide
that is intended to focus public attention on the
need to change sodomy statutes in the 25 states
(and D.C.) that still criminalize the way most
gay, lesbian and even straight folks have con-
senual sex in the privacy of their bedrooms.
If there is a gay man or lesbian in Georgia
who thinks decriminalizing the way we make
love is a bad idea, we haven't met that person.
ACT-UP uses its creative spirit along with
tried and true organizing techniques to empow
er those who participate and to attempt to affect
change. Its track record on empowerment is
admirable. And sometimes its actions do pro
duce the desired results; witness Circle K and
NIAID's community research initiative. Chip
Rowan offers documentation in Gareth Fenley's
article on page 3.
We have, however, heard from a very vocal
segment of our community that ACT-UP's
demostration is at best counter-productive and
at worst downright dangerous. Some who
espouse this point of view are highly closeted
and frightened people who wrongly fear that
what society sees openly gay/lesbian folks that
it also sees those who remain hidden. That's a
delusion created by oppression, often self
oppression. In all but the most extreme cases it
is we alone who control our closet doors.
But also among the vigorous opponents of
this demonstration are some of our most tireless
and dedicated workers. They are folks who
believe that the road to equality is paved with
accomodation and negotiation, not confronta
tion. Independent lobbyist Chris Hagin makes
a well documented case for working inside the
system in Fenley's piece.
Both sides want the same thing and both
have good strategies. Why can't they work
together on this important issue ?
Hagin provides the answer when he says,
"real political decisions are made by a small
number of people...behind closed doors....about
25 players involved and that was too many."
The very nature of politics—especially in
Georgia—precludes the empowerment of large
numbers of people. Our elected officials fre
quently form closed clubs to which few of us
have real access.
Working inside the system may get us favor
able legislation, but invariably it is others, not
we ourselves, who make that happen. Laws
passed this way too often leave us with a
vaguely hollow feeling—like the kid who
wanted to mangle the bully across the street but
whose father wound up doing battle with the
bully's father in his stead. Feminists blame it
on the patriarchy. Leftists might call it elitism.
Whatever the handle, it's a fact of life in our
political system. If you're not one of the inside
elite, the feeling of powerlessness gnaws away
at your innards almost as strongly as the
offending law does.
ACT-UP's Chip Rowan has made more than
one reference to the efficacy of massive direct
action in Eastern Europe. It would be nice if
the analogy held up in this case, but it doesn't.
The Poles, Romanians and their neighbors are
trying to change an entire system of govern
ment, not a law or two.
Many gays and lesbians feel that the only
way we'll get what we want is to mimic those
actions, change the whole damn system. Be
that the case or not, ACT-UP's sodomy demon
stration isn't going to overturn Georgia's gov
ernment; every fag and dyke in the state
camped on the Capitol steps for a month
wouldn't get that done in this century .
Does that mean that we think the accomoda-
tionists/mainstreamers are right and the direct
action/ACT-UP folks are all wet ?
No way!
Southern Voice happily supports both sides.
Were there other strategies for eliminati
on/modification of the sodomy law in the off
ing, we’d probably offer a thumbs up on them
too.
Complex as the issue may seem, it can be
reduced to fairly simple terms: In the end it will
be lobbyists like Hagin who get the law
changed. And lawyers will probably have to
defend that change. But it's only through
actions like those planned by ACT-UP that
future lobbyists and lawyers become sufficently
educated and empowered to work within the
system.
Equally important is the fact that participa
tion in such demonstrations allows us to feel
like we are part of the answer rather than vic
tims mired in the problem.
And don't believe the doom mongers on
either side. This country and the gay/lesbian
movement have a long history of give and take
between direct action and deals made in pri
vate, smoky rooms. This isn't the end of the
world or the rift that killed the movement.
It has been almost four years since the
Supreme Court forced the bitter pill of
Hardwick vs Bowers down our throats. The fact
that not one, but two strategies have finally
emerged to deal with the issue strikes us as
cause for celebration.
I Southern
Managing Editor: Christina Cash
Personnel: Leigh VanderEIs
Advertising:
Manager: Jessi MeVay
Display" Ccve Seay
Classifieds Bill Mediate
Circulation:
Manager: lanaTVson
Distribution: Steve Albano, Craig Allen, S. Brown,
Maureen "Mei 1 ' Donahue, Anita Akens, MID.,
Emory Lesbian & Gay Organization, Sam Moore,
Mona Landry, AngelaMoaer,Eileen Podeeatzky
v Brace Petrovich, Will fitber
■M Production:
Mari DuPont, LizaGoilotah, Shelly Robbins,
KT Slaughter, NancyR. Topping
Contributors;
Franklin Abbott, Charlene Ball, Kalan Brown, Keith
Clark, Chris Duncan, Terry Francis, F.G.,Dave Hayward,
Molly McGuire, Cliff CNeilt, Paul Vgmeil, KC Wiidmoon
Calendar Editor: Candace Wiggins
Photographers:
T« ffikotopwiw, to Rustic
Southern Volet:ia publi abet by Ryan Publications, tec. with
offices at 1179 Virginia Ave, NE, Ariassa, GA 30506. AS material
in Southern Voice it protected by federal copyright law sad may
o« be reproduced without the ynnenwnsem of the Managing
Editor. General Policy
The views of Southern Voice aie expressed only in the ediariil
columns or in die editors notes. Opirionsexpreswc air dmr of die
writers and do neg neceatarily represent the opinion of Southern
Y oke or the publisher. . '
The Bernal cremation of adveraaen, photographs*, oartooniata,
and writers published herein is neither inferred nor itnptcd. The
appearance of names or prcwriai rcpreaenBtiore. doeioot necessarily
indicate ihe sexual orietsasor. of that petstm or persons, V: :.
, Ad*enuuig*«b>s«t* the appnwal of Southern Voicraod d*
publisher. Although Southern Voice appre'-.svr.i its adveriters, we
cannek accept responsihi.ity for claims ttk*. Services and prtviucs
are not tesled and appearance of adv mid ng u v: rxs. initJy. nt*: dries
it consulate, endorsement by Southern Voice. Advertising rates end
■ •
Southern Volet wdoocnes tutsdiand material, winding letters to
ttBedtsy, r-xtae; ^renghr to edit or reject any roa'i r a! mbmth
ted, AH rights revert to authors upon publication. Unsolicited
manusuiijMna itwmparaed t)» r adf-addressed stamped envelope
P.O. Box 1IU1S, Adantt. GA 3031b (404) *7*1*19
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Georgia
1. Idea
A. Conceived by individual legislator
B. Conceived by Study Committee, Ad Hoc
Committee, Interim Committee
C. Conceived by citizen or citizens group
D. Conceived by special interest group or
lobby
2. Drafting
A. Drafting by any of above mentioned
groups or individuals utilizing private
legal resources
B. Drafting by legislative counsel on behalf
of individual legislator of legislative com
mittee (or subcommittee)
C. Copied after legislation used in other
states
3. Introduction
A. Filed with Clerk of House of
Representatives
B. Interested persons testify, for and against
C. Committee votes with several options
available
1. Recommend "do pass" for bill in original
form
2. Recommend "do pass" for bill with com
mittee amendment
3. Recommend "do pass" for bill as sub
stitued by committee
4. Recommend "do not pass" for bill either
in original form or in amended or sub
stitued form
5. Pass bill with no recommendation
6. Hold bill/no action
5. Bill (if given "do pass" recommendation)
Returned to House
A. Placed on calendar
B. Called by Speaker for third reading and
vote
C. Bill debated on floor (may be amended or
substituted on floor by majority vote
D. Bill passed or defeated by majority vote.
(If bill is tax measure or if constitutional
amendment resolution, 2/3 vote required
for passage)
6. To the Senate
Bills passing the House, in whatever form,
are transmitted to the Senate where a similar
process takes place
7. Return to the House
A. Any Senate amendment, either in com
mittee or on the floor, requires House
approval. The bill then comes back to the
full House for a vote, bypassing the com
mittee on this step. If the House concurs
with the Senate amendment in its entirety,
the measure is finally passed and sent to
the Governor. If the House disagrees with
the Senate amendment or changes any
other language (or both) the bill is
assigned to a conference committee com
posed of 3 House and 3 Senate members
B. Conference committees may rewrite the
entire bill although the usual procedure is
to work out the differences on the conflict
ing language
C. The conference committee report is read
to the House (likewise the Senate) which
either accepts or rejects the conference
report. If accepted, the bill is finally
passed. However, if either chamber rejects
the conference report, the measure is either
assigned to a new conference committee or
allowed to die
8. Bill Goes to the Governor
A. Governor may veto (kill) or sign into law
1. He has 6 days during session to act on
. bill
2. He has 40 days after session to act
3. Bills not acted on become law automati
cally
9. Veto Override
The General Assembly, by a 2/3 vote, may
override the veto of a Governor. If this
occurs, the measure becomes law.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KKK To March
This Week
A white supremacist bomb
ing/terror campaign has left a
federal judge and a Black civil
rights attorney dead, with other
live bombs found in another
courtroom and the Jacksonville
office of the NAACP. Adding
insult to murder, the Ku Klux
Klan is planning to demon
strate in Atlanta on January 6
and 20th with the obvious
intent to vilify Dr. Martin
Luther King's birthday.
The racist bombings demon
strate that the Klan's words lead
to real physical attacks against
Black people, Latinos, Gay
people, Jewish people - or law
makers who rule against the
Klan.
Demonstrate against the
KKK on Saturday, January 6 at
the State Capitol. Gather at
8:00 a.m. at City Hall,
Washington Avenue between
Mitchell and Trinity.
For more information,
call 688-7422.
Legislative Tip Sheet
to find out
1, Who your legislator is;
Write to: Senate Public Information Office
or House Public Information Office, State
Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334
Ask for a copy of Members of the Georgia
General Asembly or contact the Voter
Registration office at your local county
courthouse. Look in the phone book under
your county government.
2. Who is
Contact
on what committe:
Senate or House
Public
Information Office for a copy of Members
Of the Georgia General Assembly*
*This booklet is available in updated ver
sion in early January.
3. When a committee is meeting;
House of Representatives: Speakers's office
- 656-5020, Senate: Secretary of the Senate
- 656-5040. Committees are seldom sched
uled until the day that they meet, just prior
to adjournment of the House or Senate ses
sions. Adjournment is usually at 2p.m. at
the earliest.
4. For a copy of a bill, or the recorded vote
on a bill call Secretary of the Senate, 656
5040 or Clerk of the House, 656-5015. Be
sure to specify the correct number of the
bill, and whether it is a Senate bill (SB) or a
House bill (HB).
5. To leave a short message for your legis
lator during the General Assembly call
659-1100. The toll-free telephone numbers
are: House, 1-800-282-5800; Senate, 1
800-282-5803. The 1986 General
Assembly will begin on January 13.
6/Southern Voice • January 4,1990