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VIEWPOINTS
Editorial
Good Move, MACGLO
One observer described the debate as
"spirited, but polite." And when it was over
the Metropolitan Council of Gay and Lesbian
Organizations (MACGLO) agreed almost
unanimously—GAP AC abstained—to adopt
by-law changes designed to guarantee the
inclusion of women, as well as racial and
other minorities, in elective offices.
The adopted changes were submitted by
the African-American Lesbian Gay Alliance;
you may remember that we commented
favorably two issues ago on a similar, but
more cumbersome proposal submitted by
LEGAL
The by-law changes are divided into five
sections but, simply put, provide that MAC
GLO shall have as policy gender parity as
well as racial and minority representation in
its four elected offices. And if the post of
Executive Secretary is filled for two terms by
a person of one sex, then the next person to
hold that office must be of the opposite sex.
Finally, if the nominating committee tries its
best but can’t find folks of the right gender
(apparent gender that is) and race/ethnic ori
gin, to fill the offices, others can be elected.
MACGLO's meeting agenda is in fact set
by its Steering Committee which consists of
the elected officers and four additional voting
members appointed by the Executive
Secretary for overlapping six month terms.
By-law changes mandating gender/racial par
ity in those appointments were not made.
A proposed amendment from the Atlanta
Gay Center which would have required that
all MACGLO meetings be audio taped was
defeated by a vote of 20-0. Needless to say, a
representative from that organization was not
present at the February meeting.
Far stickier it appears is the issue of
whether or not to create a new class of
Associate membership: "any individual or
other entity...who either does not qualify for
Organizational membership (autonomous
not-for-profit metro area organizations) or
does not wish to become an Organizational
member..."
At issue here is the necessity and appro
priateness of having such members in a
Council of lesbian and gay organizations.
Proponents argue that the option would allow
politicians, friends of the community, and
other coalitions to contribute to the Council
thus having a sense of connection with the
gay and lesbian community.
Opponents contend that opening the
membership to individuals creates the possi
bility of MACGLO becoming a super orga
nization and a possible vehicle for individu
als seeking prominence or a public platform.
After substantial discussion of the subject,
a tie vote (broken in favor of further study by
Executive Secretary Joe Parsons) sent the
matter to a committee. An evenly split vote
is a relative rarity at MACGLO, where
approval or denial by acclimation (with one
or two in disagreement) has been the general
rule.
We’re ambivalent about the membership
changes; both sides make their points well
and since we can't vote, we won’t.
We vacillate less on the possibility that
MACGLO may be developing a multi-polar
way of looking at important issues. Given
that our community is frequently factional
about how things ought to be done, it seems
that its most broad-ranging body should
reflect those differences in its deliberations.
The existence of several coalitions within the
Council would likely result in policies and
programs that are more responsive to all seg
ments of the community.
Guest Editorial
Expo Displays Gay Financial Clout
by Elizabeth Marsala
The future is ours. How? Personal
empowerment and political action have
long been cornerstones of the gay and les
bian movement in Atlanta. With the dawn
ing of a new decade, our clout as con
sumers and business people is rapidly
emerging as the third, powerful component
of that movement.
That's why Fourth Tuesday and
Atlanta's gay and lesbian publications are
sponsoring Business Expo 1990 on
Saturday, April 7 at the Colony Square
Hotel.
Who benefits? First are business owners
and operators. They will have the ability to
display their wares while talking about and
selling their products or services. This is a
golden opportunity to obtain leads, net
work with others and advertise in person.
Anyone in sales knows that direct contact
with a customer or client is significant in
"making the sale". Customers want to
know who they are buying from.
And as a business owner myself, I
know from experience that the best cus
tomer service starts with a personal contact
and trust.
Comments from last year's Expo partic
ipants range from, "I made a lot of contacts
that will help my business grow," to
"Someone called me just last week saying
he had talked with me at the Business
Expo last year and was finally in a position
to use my services."
The second group of people who bene
fit from Expo are individual customers.
This is an opportunity to see what products
or seminars are offered by community
members and those who support us.
Spending our money within our communi
ty and/or with our friends is one more way
we strengthen our power-base in Atlanta.
Last year, both Maynard Jackson and
Michael Lomax, as mayoral candidates,
called to ask if they could attend the Expo.
This demonstrates mainstream political
recognition of our community as a viable
and important constituency in local gov
ernment. We anticipate that Mayor
Jackson will attend Expo this year to
demonstrate his continued support for our
community.
And a visit to Expo is a great way to
spend the day. Strolling through the
booths, meeting people and enjoying the
food and drink provided. And if you have
visions of starting your own business, net
working at Expo is great way to learn from
other people who have already taken the
plunge.
Another real beauty of the 1990 Expo is
the way many gay and lesbian individuals
have come together to organize it. We are
sponsored by Fourth Tuesday, Etcetera,
Southern Voice, The News and Ovation .
Other volunteer involvement has come
from W.O.W., Business and Professional
Guild and HLM Services, Inc. Our inclu
sive committee is actively engaged in out
reach to all members of the gay and les
bian community.
The 1990 Business Expo will be held
April 7 in the Colony Square Hotel from
10AM til 4PM. Booth applications can be
obtained by calling 662-6877. Tickets for
the day are $5 in advance and $6 at the
door. They can be purchased at Charis
Books & More and at The Boy Next Door.
Elizabeth Marsala is a training and
development consultant, a member of
Fourth Tuesday and Chair of Expo 1990.
SOUTHERN
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Legislation is not the cure-all to all of our problems
To the Editor:
I'm confused. I don't understand why
the gay and lesbian community is making
such a big deal about legislation that will
compile statistics on hate crimes. You'd
think that such legislation would be the
cure-all to all of our problems
Don't get me wrong, I understand the
need for compiling this information. Doing
so lets our law enforcement community
know that hate crimes do exist, and they
need this information to sensitize them.
But this legislation by itself has all the
effect of the proverbial tree falling in the
deserted forest. If hate crime victims do
not report hate crimes, will hate crime
statistics prove anything?
The problem begins with bigoted,
homohating young men who learn from
their peers that fagbashing makes them
more manly. These young men then
descend on Midtown, looking for a likely
victim.
Moments later, a brick is thrown, and
the assault is over—if the gay man is
lucky.
The victim now has a choice. Either he
can go back into his closet, lick his wounds
and privately curse those who assaulted
him. Or he can report the crime and
announce to the world that he is gay.
You can guess what most will choose to
do.
Hate crime statistic acts are helpful, if
hate crimes are reported. The sad, simple
truth is that most are not.
While we are mobilizing to support the
passage of hate crime statistic acts, let's
mobilize to educate our own community
that they must report hate crimes. And
while we're mobilized to educate, let's edu
cate our youth that hate crimes are not tol
erable behavior in a civilized society.
Along those lines, I have proposed to
Rep. Nan Orrock that she amend her origi
nal hate crime bill to include a provision
that would require teenagers convicted of
hate crimes to spend twenty hours of com
munity service speaking out against hate
crimes in our high schools.
Better yet, require these teens convicted
of hate crimes against gays and lesbians to
serve 20 hours of community service in a
gay and lesbian social outreach program,
or the AID Atlanta hotline.
If the police are required to keep hate
crime statistics and no one reports these
crimes, would there be any statistics?
That's what confuses me.
Tom Robinson
...Worth a thousand words
Barbara Snell
Clue Klutz Clandestine Pair
Editor:
Expose these nerds, let the readers see what a joke they really are.
Barbara Snell
6/Southern Voice • March 1,1990