Newspaper Page Text
Southern Voice/Febmary 14, 1991
19
LINES
Age: 40
Hometown: Atlanta
Occupation:
Organizer and aspiring writer
Favorite
Movement Figures:
Gloria Steinem
and Alice B. Toklas
Relationship:
Happily married
Professional
and Personal Goal:
To have gay rights movement
no longer necessary in the
21st century.
PAT HUSSAIN:
Seeking Paths for Change
Pat Hussain is not the sort of woman to
take abuse sitting down. She learned this
about herself participating in non-violent
demonstrations with Dr. King. Pat remem
bers: "I saw a man buy a cup of coffee and
pour it down the neck of one of the
women demonstrators. The coffee was
scalding hot. My reaction would not have
been to sit quietly. I would have tom the
man's throat out. I had to stand up and
leave. I found myself praying: 'Please
Lord, if there is any violence, let me be
strong enough to control myself.' When
she talked later to Dr. King about her reac
tion, he comforted her, saying: 'Everyone
does what they can. You must find your
own way.'"
It has been 25 years since that day, and
Pat still finds herself seeking other paths
for change.
Pat's own lifestyle has certainly
changed a lot lately. She has gone from a
top management position in Toys R' Us to
self-employment as an aspiring writer. In
business she had a simple code: "Do it my
way, or leave." Her co-workers called her
"the Terminator." Instead of a pistol, she
packed a pad of pink slips. Today she puts
her no-nonsense approach to work as one
of the co-chairpersons of Atlanta newly
formed chapter of G.L.A.A.D.
GL.A.A.D., Gay and Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation, works to change the
negative public images of gays and les
bians on TV or in the press. The organiza
tion started in New York and California
and is spreading across the country.
"We don't find public figures making
racist statements as often these days," says
Hussain. "That's because they know that
the N.A.A.C.P. or S.C.L.C. will call them
on it. Before G.L.A.A.D., we had no such
groups to come to our defense and stand
up and say: 'That's not funny, and we're
not laughing anymore. Today, if a TV
journalist makes a homophobic remark,
the switchboards are lighting up before
they are off the air. The response is imme
diate and it's beginning to change how the
media talks about us."
"The media is the area that we are con
centrating on because it has a ripple effect
and touches the greater public," she adds.
"Not only straight people, but gay people
see themselves in the media too, and it's
important to our own self-esteem that the
image that is portrayed is a real one."
"That's why I love it when people I
admire come out. It's such a positive story.
Martina has done a world of good for the
image of lesbians around die world."
"I'm not saying that everyone must
come out, 'cause it's really none of the
media's business. But numbers are impor
tant. We must stand up for ourselves if the
hate crimes are to stop."
One of G.L.A.A.D.'s projects is chang
ing the obituary policy at the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, which has refused
to list AIDS as a cause of death, and
declined to mention longtime companions
who are survivors.
"Gay relationships need to be normal
ized," Hussain booms. "I am tired of
watching our people cowering in a closet
that should have been blown up a long
time ago."
Pat's own relationship with her lover of
four years was celebrated with a Holy
Union in August. Cherry is often taken for
Pat's sister when they make media con
tacts because they share the same last
name. "I get a kick out of correcting them
and letting them know that she is my
spouse," she smiles.
Hussain has lived as an open lesbian
for 12 years. "It's important that we do
away with coming out as an issue," she
feels. "I'd like to see expectations changed
for gay children until being gay is seen as
normal as being left-handed."
"People still assume that being gay is a
matter of choice. When some people ques
tion me if I regret my choice, I just laugh
and say: 'I'm black and a woman, do you
think I'd choose to join another minority if
I had a choice?"'
"I was lucky when I finally acknowl
edged my sexual preference. I never felt in
my heart that I had done something
wrong. I never found myself praying to
the Lord because I felt guilty about my
life."
Spirituality is a central part of Pat's life.
She attends First M.C.C. and believes,
"When we can connect our spirituality
with our gayness, we will look at our
selves in a whole new way. I will not go to
a church that is praying for a change in
my sexuality."
"I think black women often have a
harder time coming out in this society
because many of them belong to religions
in which you cannot be a chosen of God
and a lesbian at the same time. Therefore,
coming out often means a spiritual break
as well, and it's very hard to go against the
religion of your heart."
"I have chosen education as my path
now. I think it's the best route. I have
come to terms with my own anger and I
understand better now, and I don't want to
do any more harm. I have been blessed in
my life and now it's time to give back to
the community. I aspire to bring about
positive change in my surroundings and
when that's done, it's enough."
—Gale Reter
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