ALGA Update_v2.no10.1996.01.pdf
- Title
- ALGA Update_v2.no10.1996.01.pdf
- extracted text
-
Property of the Crn~rr
Volume 2, Number 10
£e1enl1 Calendar
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, January 4
Washington Square
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
"Question Of Equality"
Part 1
Thursday, Jan 4
Classifieds, 9 -· 10 p.m.
P-FLAG
(Parents Family & Friends Of
Lesbians and Gays)
Tuesday, January 9
7:30 p.m.
Call 358-4810 or 373-5885
for details
"Question Of Equality"
Part2
Thursday, Jan 11
Classifieds, 9 - 10 p.m.
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, January 18
Italian Delights
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
"Question Of Equality"
Part3
Thursday, Jan 18 . .
Classifieds, 9 -· 10 p.m. .
"Question Of Equality"
Part4
Thursday, Jan 25 ·
Classifieds, 9 - 10 p.m.
ALGA Information Line: 373-5725
January 1996
HAWAII STATE COMMISSION URGES LEGISLATURE
TO LEGALIZE MARRIAGE FOR SAME-GENDER COUPLES
HONOLULU, Dec. 8, 1995 -- In an historic first, a Hawaii state
government-created commission, specifically charged with studying
the freedom to marry that is denied same-gender couples, forwarded
a report to the state legislature today recommending Hawaii
marriage laws be amended "to allow two people regardless of their
gender to marry."
The report by the Hawaii Commission on Sexual Orientation
and the Law, whose members were appointed by the governor, will
now go to the state legislature. The commission was created by the
legislature in June, 1 994, to determine how best to address the
ways in which same-gender couples are affected by not being able
to marry.
"After months of intense research and witness testimony, a
government body has finally concluded that there is no legitimate
reason for the state to continue refusing civil marriage licenses to
same-gender couples who want to make the commitment of
marriage," said Rich Tafel of Log Cabin Republicans.
"They looked at all the arguments for and against same-gender
marriage and concluded it's wrong for government to say 'no' to
people saying 'I do,"' said Tafel.
The commission was created in response to a landmark lawsuit
challenging the denial of civil marriage licenses to same-gender
couples. In May, 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the
"same-gender restriction" on marriage appears to violate the state
constitution. The Court held that unless the state can identify a
"compelling" justification for discriminating, it must stop. The
case, Baehr v. Lewin, is now before the lower court, where the
couples are represented by co-counsel Dan Foley of the Hawaii
Equal Rights Marriage Project (HERMP) and Evan Wolfson of
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund.
What's Inside
Current Events
Washington Square
Overheard
Heterosexuals
2
3
4
4
Organizations
5
ALGA Membership Form 6
Page2
"The commission's report
further strengthens our court
challenge, clearly illustrating that
the state has no 'compelling'
reason to deny same-gender
couples the freedom to marry,"
said Tom Ramsey, Co-Chair of
HERMP. "If the legislature fails to
end the discriminatory restriction
on marriage, we're still confident
that the Hawaii Supreme Court
will, through the Baehr v. Lewin
Case. It was less than 30 years
ago that courts took a similar
stand, ending the ban on interracial
marriage."
The landmark report was hailed
by leaders of gay and non-gay
organizations nationwide as a key
step in educating the public about
how the denial of the freedom to
marry harms couples and fosters
inequality.
"Many Americans have never
thought about marriage in
connection with lesbian and gay
•people, or even about the reality
that same-gender couples form
families that need protection and
deserve support," said Elizabeth
Birch, Executive Director of the
Human Rights Campaign. "The
commission did its homework, and
looked at equal marriage rights
fairly and methodically. We invite
the public, judges, and legislators
in the rest of the country to do the
same."
The commission of seven
members, headed by highlyrespected former Lt. Gov. Tom
Gill, represented a diverse range
of views. Its report has already
been editorially endorsed by
Hawaii's two leading newspapers.
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
POSTPONED
NEW YORK--A test case challenge
N"ews
Brie£s
to the military's ban on lesbians
and gay men was postponed
today when a federal appeals
court judge excused himself from
the case.
The case, Able v. USA, is
the first case to challenge in its
entirety the law barring lesbians
and gay men from openly serving
in the armed forces. Brought
jointly by the American Civil
Liberties Union and Lambda Legal
Defense and Education Fund on
behalf of six servicemembers,
the lawsuit contends that the
so-called "don't ask, don't tell"
legislation is discriminatory,
based solely on prejudice, and in
violation of free speech and equal
protection.
Although the case was
scheduled for arguments today,
Judge Guido Callabresi recused
himself from the appeal this
morning in order to avoid any
appearance of partiality. While
Dean of the Yale Law School,
Callabresi was among 11 9 legal
scholars who signed onto a
March 1 993 letter that voiced
constitutional concerns about
the military's ban. Government
lawyers had raised the issue to
the court's clerks in a letter dated
today.
Apparently, the two other
members on the panel, Judges
Pierre N. Leval and Wilfred
Feinberg, will remain on the case.
A new hearing date will likely be
announced in early January after
a replacement is selected.
The ALGA UPDATE
KNOWING VICTIMS WERE
LESBIAN
"MADE IT EASIER TO KILL"
National Gay & Lesbian Task
Force
Washington, D.C., Dec. 19,
1995 ... New developments in the
case and jail house statements by
the confessed killer of two lesbian
activists in Oregon have raised
the level of concern about the
cause of the murders, which have '
been reported in the press as a
"botched robbery."
In a letter to U.S. Attorney
Jariet Reno today, National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)
executive director Melinda Paras
cited recent statements made by
Robert James Acremant, who has
been apprehended and has
confessed to killing Roxanne Ellis
and Michelle Abdill of Medford,
Oregon.
"Mr. Acremant's
reported comments of this past
weekend have increased the
concerns" about the motives
behind the murders, said Paras.
The Oregonian ( 1 2/1 7 and
1 2/1 8) and the San Francisco
Examiner ( 1 2/1 7) have both
reported
lesbian-phobic
statements made by Acremant
while in custody.
In press
interviews, Acremant said the
sexual orientation of victims had
nothing to do with the murders,
but then goes on to say that the
fact they were lesbians "made it
easier [to kill them] because I
don'tlikethem." He'salsoquoted
The ALGA UPDATE is published
monthly by the Amarillo Lesbian/Gay
Alliance, P.O. Box 9361, Amarillo, TX
79105-9361 . Anyone wishing to
contribute, please call 374-2907 and
leave the information on the machine, or
mail information to the Editor. Deadlines
will be the 15th of the month for the next
The ALGA UPDATE
as saying he did .not feel any rob, not kill, the victims, and
remorse for "these people." The that the murders took place
Examiner story made Acremant's after the robbery went wrong.
disdain for lesbians even more But it has also been reported
explicit: "I don't care for lesbians. that money and credit cards
Bisexual women don't bother me a were left behind at the murder
bit. I couldn't help but think that scene,
raising
serious
she's [Ellis] 54 years old and had questions about the suspect's
been dating that women for 1 2 claim that robbery was the
years; isn't that sick? That's initial motive. Since then the
someone's grandma for God's sake. killer has also stated he plans
Could you imagine r.============;-,to sell his story
my grandma a Important Phone Numbers of the murders
to the "highest
lesbian with another
Senator Phil Gramm (R)
bidder."
women? I couldn't
202-224-2934
(FAX) 202-228-2856
"The local
believe that.
It
gay,
lesbian
and
crossed my mind a
Senator
Kay
Bailey
Hutchison
(R)
b
i
s
e
x
u
a I
couple of times -202-224-5922
community in
1es b o
grandma,
(FAX) 202-224-0776
Medford
... and
what a thing, huh?"
elsewhere
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-13th)
T
h
e
202-225-3706
believe
there are
Oregonian ( 1 2/18)
(FAX) 202-225-3486
still
many
went on to report
unanswered
that Acremant said
Rep. Larry Combest (R-19th)
questions,"
said
he asked Roxanne
202-225-4005
the letter to
(FAX) 202-225-9615
Ellis
"out
of
curiosity" if she and t...::::===========:::J Reno. "In any
Abdill were lesbians, a fact the event, of course, the issue is
article points out he may actually not just what the suspect's
have
al ready
suspected. initial motive was, but whether
Apparently, the article says, his motive in killing the women
Acremant had spent time looking had to do with the fact they
over county records and had noted were lesbians."
that the victims, who he knew
BRITISH GAYS TO
lived together, were listed as coCOLONIZE ISLAND
owners
of
the
property
by Rex Wockner
management firm.
Ellis told
Gay activists plan to
Acremant they were a lesbian proclaim an independent
couple and that they were open republic on a small island off
about it. He is quoted as saying, the coast of Devon, England,
"[i]t kind of made me sick to my to protest British immigration's
stomach that she was someone's restrictive refugee laws,
grandma," after which he burst reported the Australian
into laughter.
publication Capital Q.
Newspaper articles also
Peter Tatchell,
reported that the suspect's family spokesman for the London
said that Acremant was desperate street-activist group OutRage!,
for money and that he intended to said gays will occupy the island
Page3
RE
1607 S. Washington , 373-5885
1/
New Holiday Hours
Mon-Wed
7:30 - 3:30 pm
Thurs-Fri
7:30 - 1 0:00pm
Saturday
2 - 1 0 pm
'Pleas, Call lor tnlerlainm,nl
Sch,tlul,
of Lundy, population 12, for one
week and erect the gay flag, print
gay money and issue gay marriage
licenses.
OutRage! spent $13,000 to
rent every available building on the
island for the week.
DUTCH LUTHERANS OK GAY
BLESSINGS
by Rex Wockner
A synod of the 20,000member Dutch Lutheran Church
0 K 'd church blessings of gay unions
this month.
The synod declared: "There
are no theological arguments
against blessing two people who
are strongly committed to one
another, faithful and dedicated ....
The blessing of a commitment for
life between two women or two
men can give extra meaning to a
relationship."
The synod also called for
reconsideration of the theological
notions of "wedding vows,"
"fidelity" and "blessing."
The ALGA UPDATE
o
O
@
by Rex Wockner
"It's such a freeing
experience, not only to be
out but to be vocal about it. I
left Czechoslovakia for a lot
of reasons; there if you spoke
your mind, you would go to
jail. So for me to be in this
country and be quiet because
somebody else is
uncomfortable with it -- well,
I'm not going to do that!"
-- Tennis legend Martina
Navratilova to The Advocate.
"How can you be a
Republican when you're gay?
It just doesn't compute!"
--Navratilova to The
Advocate.
"Procreation is used as an
argument [against gay
marriage] but interestingly
enough, no heterosexual
couples are asked that
question. If two 75-year-olds
walk in for a marriage
license, they don't say,
'What the hell are you doing
here?'"
--Thomas Gill, chairman of
Hawaii Gov. Benjamin ·
Cayetano 's Commission on
Sexual Orientation and the
Law, which this week
recommended legalization of
gay marriage. Gill is a former
lieutenant governor and
Congressman.
Heterosexuals And the Gay, Lebian, Bisexual Movement
by Rev. Meg Riley co-chair, Advisory Board, And Justice for All
In April of 1993, I was one of more than 2,000 Unitarian
Universalists who, led by our President and Board · of Trustees,
joined hundreds of thousands of others and marched in Washington,
DC, for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Equality.
Since that time, I have repeatedly heard others who were there
describe that event. When the person speaking is gay, lesbian or
bisexual, the punchline, spoken with something akin to awe, is
almost always: "And at least half of the UU's marching were
heterosexual!"
Many of the heterosexuals tell a different story, more like this: "As
we marched, hundreds of people, mostly gay, called to us from
the side of the streets and profusely thanked us for our witness.
I had never been aware that it mattered so much to gay people that
heterosexuals march with them."
My heterosexual friends who march in the P-FFLAG (Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) contingents in marches
always tell similar stories, of being thanked, often by people in
tears. Why? What is it that makes those of us who are lesbian,
bisexual and gay so surprised, so emotional at the presence of
support from our heterosexual allies?
Perhaps it's the deeply engrained, implicit policy of "don't ask,
don't tell" that governs most of our lives. That policy keeps us
uncertain of our worth, our value, or even our existence, in the
heterosexual world. We are so accustomed to looking in the mirror
and seeing no reflection--or a distorted, negative one--that when
we see one which •is compassionate and supportive, we are
overcome with emotion.
Perhaps it's because our lives don't seem to matter to anyone but
us. Our jobs, no matter how well we do them, are often held only
at the cost of silence about our home lives. Our children, regardless
of the quality of our care for them, may be taken from us at will.
Our faith,. no matter how deep and sustaining, is called blasphemy.
Our military service, far from being a matter of pride to our country,
is labelled a threat to national security. Whether we're celebrating
our paper anniversary or our golden one, we are still "single" in
hospital emergency rooms or on tax forms.
When we don't see ourselves and our lives reflected back to us
accurately in the non-gay world, we begin to believe that our lives
are marginal, freakshows, of no interest to anyone but ourselves.
Page 5
The ALGA UPDATE
tudent rgamzat,ons
Lambdas of West Texas A&M
Box wr 335, Canyon, TX 79016
Saul Reyes, Co-Chair, 374-3054
Becky Cavitt, Co-Chair 655-5769
Pink Triangles Student Group
Amarillo College
Contact Rob Mills, 371-5300
Religious Organizations
Metropolitan Community Church
2123 S Polk, Rev. Bob Finch
Office hours M-F 9 AM 1 PM 372-4557
Sunday Services 10:30 AM & 6 PM
Children's Sunday school during service
Monday 12 Noon, Brown Bag Prayer
Wednesday 7 PM, Discussion Group
St Andrews Episcopal Church
1601 S. Georgia, Father Bill Nix
376-6316
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
4901 Cornell
Sundays, 11 am (Summers, 10 am)
355-9351
Services
Family Support Services
Domestic violence, rape crisis, counseling
services. Fees charged on a sliding scale.
900 S. Lincoln
372-3202
1-800-749-9026 hotline/helpline
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
1734 14th St. NW
Washington , D.C., 20009
(202) 332-6483
National Gay & Lesbian Teen Hotline
1-800-347-8336
Open 6 PM to 11 PM Central Time
Northwest Texas Public Services
D.J. Wyatt Community Health Ctr.
351-7220
The Pavilion
Northwest Texas Healthcare
System
Intensive Outpatient Program/
Addictive Disorders
354-1835
Shepherd House (call PASO)
MWF 11 :30- 1:30
Home cooked meal services for
HIV/AIDS individuals
Sisters (Women's Discussion
Group)
MCC 2123 S Polk
Every Sunday 7 .PM
Speak Out! Human Rights
Campaign Fund Information
1-800-777-HRCF
Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas
P.O. Box 2579
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 474-LGRL
People For The American Way
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
Parents, Family & Friends of
Lesbians & Gays (P-FLAG)
Travis McBride 358-4810 or
Wash. Square 373-5885
Bars
Alexander's Lounge
1219 W 10th Ave
372-7414
Maggie's Disco
1515 S Harrison
371-9312
The Ritz
322 W 10th Ave
372-9382
Panhandle AIDS Support Organization
(PASO)
604 W. 8th, 372-1050
1-800-388-4879 Hotline/Crisis number
Sassy's
309 W6th Ave
374-3029
Parents & Friends of Lesbians/Gays
(P-FLAG), Amarillo Chapter
Parents and friends, you have a support
group, too! Call Washington Square for
times and dates.
The Classifieds
519 E. 10th St.
374-2435
ay riendly
Businesses/Organizations
Amarillo Bowl
4100 Wolflin
352-5681
Hastings Books and Video
2001 S Georgia - Gay/Lesbian book
section & magazines
4301 W 45th - Lambda book section
Kinko's Copies
3801 Olsen Blvd
Open 24 hours
Italian Delights, Inc.
2710 W 10th Ave
Queer Dinner Club (QDC) meets
7:30 PM on the third Thursday of
the month. Everyone is welcome!
Valley Lodge Family Motel &
The Hole Thing Donut Shop
PO Box 304 - Main Street
Red River NM 87558
Reservations: 1-800-951-2262
Information: (505) 754 2218
Via Veneto
1108 N Pierce
Same owners as Italian Delights,
open for lunch only.
Gay Owned Businesses
Washington Square Cafe &
Bookstore
1607 S. Washington
373-5885
Teas, coffees, light dining, books,
magazines, entertainment and art.
Closed Sunday.
French & Co. Realtors
Paul D. French, Owner
4200 Ridgecrest, Suite A-5
356-9086
This listing is a service of the
Amarillo Lesbian/Gay Alliance.
Please send corrections/additions
to ALGA Update, P.O. Box 9361,
Amarillo, TX 79105-9361.
I
Page 6
The ALGA UPDATE
If we are going to know that we matter, that our lives have meaning not just for us but for the world,
we need to know that it is noticed when we are beautiful, when we are kind, when we are abused, or
when we are marginalized. In short, I want heterosexuals to become our allies, and to become activists
for our equality.
I don't want activism by heterosexual allies as a replacement for activism by gay, lesbian bisexual and
transgendered people on our own behalf, but in addition to that activism. I don't look to heterosexual
people to do anything for us, but to do it with us. I want the world to know that our issues are human
issues, that our lives matter, no more and no less than anyone else's.
I want hundreds of educated heterosexuals to show up at their town square every time homophobia is
promoted in City Council meetings. I want dozens of heterosexuals to write well thought out letters
to their local newspapers each time homophobic language or behavior occurs. I want scores of
compassionate heterosexuals to speak up each time scripture is used as a hammer to beat on those who
are "an abomination
11
•
Next time there's a March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equality, I want every single one of
the millions of marchers to say, in a tone akin to awe, "And at least half of the people marching were
heterosexual!
11
I am proud to serve as advisory co-Chair for And Justice for All, a new national group created to mobilize
heterosexual advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.
~
ALGA seeks to provide an organization that will encourage healthy acceptance of our lifestyle both·~
within our community and the population at large. Our annual budget is funded solely by your membership
fees. Membership guarantees reduced rates for future ALGA-sponsored events. Those same fees pay for
printing and mailing of this newsletter, sponsors the annual ALGA Gay Pride Picnic, camping trips, future
workshops and our hotline costs. All mailings are discrete, and our mailing list will never be provided to any
other agency.
We are happy to provide the ALGA UPDATE to people who cannot afford to purchase a subscription;
however, we ask that anyone who can afford to subscribe, do so to keep the exchange of information
flowing, our community informed, and allow for more activities in the future.
□
□
□
□
$50
$35
$25
$10
Silver membership (3 year membership, and 36 issues)
Household annual membership for 2 adults (with 12 issues)
Individual annual membership (with 12 issues)
Student/PWA/Low Income membership (with 12 issues)
Name(s):
Address:
State/Zip:
Phone:
Date:
Please make all checks payable to ALGA