ALGA Update_v2.no9.1995.12.pdf
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- ALGA Update_v2.no9.1995.12.pdf
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Volume 2, Number 9
tuenl1 Calendar
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, December 7
Washington Square
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
P-FLAG
(Parents Family & Friends Of
Lesbians and Gays)
Tuesday, December 12
7:30 p.m.
Call 358-4810 or 373-5885
for details
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, December 21
Italian Delights
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
"Question Of Equality"
Part 1
Thursday, Jan 4
Classifieds, 9 - 10 p.m.
"Question Of Equality"
Part2
Thursday, Jan 11
Classifieds, 9 - 10 p.m.
"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
December 1995
World AIDS Day Observed in Amarillo
People of Amarillo commemorated "World AIDS Day" in
Amarillo on Friday, December 1 . There were three events,
including a lunch time gathering, an evening candlelight walk and
a healing service. The theme for the day was "Equal Rights, Equal
Responsibility." Many Amarillo churches rang their bells at noon
in rememberance of those who have died as a result of HIV/AIDS.
The lunch time event included Billie Raye, the State HIV
Education Coordinator for this region. Ms. Raye spoke on several
points concerning the theme of World AIDS Day, "Equal Rights,
Equal Responsibility." She also reminded us that over 157 clients
of PASO have died since 1986, 95 of which have died in the last
three years. However, this number is deceiving because it only
includes people reporting to PASO. Many who die in the Panhandle
are not clients of PASO. The number of people in the Panhandle
infected with HIV in Amarillo is believed to be much higher.
Nationally, it is the number 1 killer of men between the age of 22
and 45. Ms. Raye reminded us all that we must take repsonibility
for AIDS and work to prevent it our community.
There was a "Lights of Hope Walk" through Western Plaza
in the evening that was aimed at raising the public awareness of
the effects of HIV in Amarillo.
Walkers called out the names of
every PASO patient that had died in the Panhandle since 1986,
when PASO was formed. "The march impacted everyone who
participated and those who were in the plaza at the time," said
Many at the walk were in tears as they
O'Brian Kightlinger.
remembered loved ones who have succumbed to AIDS.
There was also an Interfaith Service of Healing and Hope at
the First Christian Church. The Amarillo churches gathered to offer
prayers of healing for people with HIV/AIDS. Speakers included
Catholic Bishop Matthiesan, Episcopal Bishop Hulsey, Billie Raye
and others. They sang, prayed and ended with a personal blessing
for those who chose to participate.
What's Inside
Current Events
Washington Square
Rex Wockner
NGLTF Conference
2
3
4
4
Organizations
5
Zimbabwe update
6
ALGA Membership Form 6
The ALGA UPDATE
Page2
STUDDS WILL NOT SEEK
RE-ELECTION
by Rex Wockner
U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds, DMass., the first openly gay member
of Congress, announced Oct. 28 that
he will not seek re-election in 1 996.
Speaking in an historic
Edgartown church on Martha's
Vineyard, Studds said his decision
was based on "a profoundly personal
issue, not a political one" and that it
was time to move on to "other
challenges."
The Reuter news service
elaborated, "Democratic observers
have said Studds, 58, has appeared
unhappy since the 1 994 Republican
resurgence cost him the chairmanship
of the House Merchant Marine and
Fisheries Committee, which was later
dissolved."
In a prepared statement, Studds
said: "To everything, as the Biblical
verse goes, there is a season -- a time
to plant and a time to harvest. It is
now time for me to chart a new
course: by no means to retire, but to
find new endeavors, both public and
private, that will allow more than an
occasional weekend or evening to
catch up on things neglected for a
quarter century, like reading and
writing and actually using my tide
chart; to be a better partner, brother,
uncle and friend; and to be a useful
human being in new ways that the
demands of elective office have
precluded for most of my adult life.
"Since embarking on this
improbable journey," Studds
continued, "I have been very
conscious that each of us is allotted
only so many hours and so many days
on this earth .... It's probably divulging
no great secret to admit that I do not
thrive on what some consider
indispensable parts of the job. I am
not by nature a particularly gregarious
person. I get annoyed by frequent
interruptions. I get tired of hearing
myself talk. And there are already far
too many people in Washington who
confuse themselves with the
monuments."
Studds spokesman Mark Forest
said Studds' health and his
relationship with his lover are both in
fine shape.
"I honestly think he's looking
for a break," Forest said. "The job
requires tremendous energy and a
total commitment to one's work.
Gerry has always enjoyed spending
time with his family, friends and
partner, and putting out his lobster
traps, fishing, reading."
Studds has been in Congress
since 1972 and was re-elected six
times after being censured by the
House in 1 983 for having had sex
with
a
1 7-year-old
male
Congressional page in 1973.
Studds came out of the closet
on the floor of the House during the
1983 scandal -- thus becoming the
first openly gay U.S. Congressman.
There are two other open gays
in Congress -- Rep. Barney Frank, DMass., and Rep. Steve Gunderson,
R-Wisc., who also is not seeking reelection.
MAINE VOTERS REJECT ANTIGAY BALLOT MEASURE
Portland, Maine -- Voters in
Maine today rejected a discriminatory
ballot measure that sought to forever
deny basic
rights to gay and lesbian Mainers.
Question 1 , the only anti-gay measure
on a state ballot this year, was the
first such
initiative to appear on a state ballot
east of the Rocky Mountains. Last
year, voters in Idaho and Oregon
rejected
anti-gay measures.
"Common sense and decency
triumphed over extremism. Today's
vote here in Maine is in keeping with
the national trend. Americans are
rejecting extremism," said Elizabeth
Birch, executive director of the
Human Rights Campaign, the largest
national lesbian and gay political
organization. "But we must put this
campaign in perspective. While this
was a wonderful vic.t ory, gay and
lesbian citizens of Maine have not
moved one step closer to having basic
equal rights. Gay and lesbian people
can still be fired from their jobs, even
in Maine, merely for being gay." Birch
noted that Maine is one of the 41
states that does not protect its citizens
from discrimination based on sexual
orientation, and that federal law also
offers no such protection.
The Human Rights Campaign
sent eight staff members to Maine
and provided major technical and
financial assistance to Maine Won't
Discriminate, the local coalition of
religious, business, and community
organizations that worked to defeat
Question 1.
The Human Rights
Campaign is also the largest single
financial contributor to the legal
challenge against Colorado's
Amendment 2, which is now before
the U.S. Supreme Court.
National extreme right groups
actively pushed for a "yes" vote on
Question 1 . Bob Knight of the Family
Research Council toured the state
calling on voters to approve the
measure, as did Beverly LaHaye of
Concerned Women for America.
Focus on the Family aired radio
advertisements in favor of the
initiative.
Unlike earlier anti-gay
measures, the language of Question
1 avoided mentioning lesbian and gay
people. The question asked voters to
limit "protected classifications" in
current and future state and local
laws to ten specific categories -- not
including sexual orientation.
The
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. Deadli~es
will be the 15th of the month for the next
'
•
Page3
The ALGA UPDATE
measure would have repealed two local Henderson.
"We are saddened
non-discrimination laws that include and angered that television
gay people, and would have prohibited stations who have a broadcast
communities from passing such laws in responsibility to their communities
the future. No federal or Maine state would cave in to pressure to censor
law protects people from being fired, from the Christian Broadcasting
refused
work,
or
otherwise Network."
discriminated against merely for being
KHOV, the CBS affiliate in
lesbian or gay. Question 1 was written Houston, Texas and KHTV, a
by Bruce Fein, a right-wing lawyer Houston independent station, who
based in Virginia, to circumvent court had accepted the initial advertising
decisions saying that gays should not buys,
also
pulled
the
be singled out for
advertisements
r;::::=========:::::;-,
discrimination.
Important Phone Numbers from
their
PFLAG PRESIDENT
schedules after
receiving the letter
MITZI HENDERSON
Senator Phil Gramm (R)
from CBN.
The
202-224-2934
ISSUES
(FAX)
202-228-2856
spots
never
aired
STATEMENT
Pa r e n t s ,
on either station.
Families and Friends Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) At the time of this
202 -224 - 5922
of Lesbians and Gays
release, TCI Cable
(PFLAG), has met with
(FAX) 202-224 -0 776
of Oklahoma has
harsh attacks on its
also put the ads
Project Open Mind
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-13th)
"on hold."
202
225
3706
t e I e v i s i o n
M i t z i
(FAX) 202-225-3486
advertisements in
Henderson said,
Tulsa, Oklahoma and
"We
are
Rep. Larry Combest (R-19th)
in Houston, Texas.
_
_
condemning
hate
202 225 4005
Project Open Mind
(FAX) 202 _225 _9615
speech.
Project
challenges anti-gay L..::::=:=:==================:::::JOPen Mind was
hate speech and addresses its harmful
created
to
impact on lesbian and gay Americans, challenge all hate speech that is
their families and friends and society at currently being spoken by those
large.
who consider themselves moral
In a letter addressed to all leaders in our society, and to show
television general managers in Project the potential tragic consequences
Open Mind's target cities of Tulsa, of such anti-gay rhetoric. America
Atlanta and Houston, CBN threatened needs to
old its leaders
to "seek judicial redress" against all accountable to a higher standard
stations airing the television of tolerance and acceptance of
advertisements, "to the maximum their fellow human beings. ·T he
extent permitted by law, including ads are a wake-up call to tolerant,
injunctive relief and monetary fairminded Americans that this
damages."
kind of hate speech in their
When Tulsa NBC affiliate station communities is harmful to their
KJRH consulted its attorneys and lesbian and gay family members
decided to air the ads, CBN then issued and neighbors.
a memo to the station that said "we
"The religious and political
hereby demand that you immediately leaders featured in the television
air a retraction and public apology to advertisements are unfortunately
Pat Robertson and CBN."
KJRH only representatives of those who
discontinued its airing of the ads, citing bring insidious anti-gay rhetoric
its concern aboutthe "creative content" into our culture every day for
of the ads. "This is censorship, pure political gain. There is no justifiable
and simple," said PFLAG President Mitzi context for the demonizing and
WA~HINGT~N
1607 S. Washington , 373-5885
1/
New Holiday Hours
Mon-Wed
7:30 - 3:30 pm
7:30 - 1O:OOpm
Thurs-Fri
Saturday
2 - 10 pm
1ennessee 1uckness
Friday & Saturday
December 8 & 9
8 pm
'O.q. 1leu,el1Jn
Thursday
December 14
7 pm
tti,a6elh hlitls
Friday & Saturday
December 15 & 16
Washington Square is selling
out of all books and magazines.
They are opening a new TV and
smoking lounge in the back
area.
marginalization of gays and lesbians, or
any group of American citizens."
The ALGA UPDATE
0
,
~
by Rex Wockner
"Bob Dole wishes that his lessthan-excellent adventure with
the gay Log Cabin Republicans
would just go away, and no
wonder. This farcical affair -during which Dole accepted a
campaign contribution from Log
Cabin, then returned it, then this
week said returning it had been
a mistake -- branded him not
only as a flip-flopper but also as
a hypocrite (why didn't he return
any contributions to Time
Warner?), a buck-passer (he
blamed all the pratfalls on his
staff) and a procrastinator (he let
the embarrassing mess drag on
for two months). It's hard to
imagine how anyone could make
a worse case for himself as a
potential chief executive of
anything, let alone the U.S.A."
--New York Times columnist
Frank Rich.
"They're great. Got the best
music there, got the best
atmosphere. You know, you have
to throw out all that bull, all that
prejudice against gay people. I'm
straight, bro, but you can go
anywhere you want to."
--Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman
when
asked about h~
patronization of gay bars.
"He does not believe that we
should endorse or sanction [gay]
marriages .... He thinks that we
should do everything we can to
stop discrimination. He will
continue to do that."
NGLTF IS "CREATING CHANGE"
by John Hintz
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force held the eigth annual
"Creating Change" conference in Detroit, Michigan November 812. The conference bills itself as "I.he. National Conference for the
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Movement." Over 1,800
actvists from around the country attended the conference, including
two from Amarillo.
The conference featured various workshops including
discussions on race and discrimination, youth organizing, campus
organizing, state organizing, workplace organizing, public schools,
violence, marriage, HIV /AIDS and gender issues.
Speakers
included Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a second term member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly, Harry Britt, who served on the San
Francisco Board of Supervisors for 14 years, Elias Farajaje-Jones,
who is a "Spanish-speaking afrikan native-american and an anarchist
guerrilla theologian/ AIDS terrorist/writer/cultural critic/performane
artist/ritual technician," and Urvashi Vaid, a community organizer,
attorney, and former director of NGLTF.
Digital Queers, "an organization of professional technology
professionals and fans that is dedicated to empowering the queer
community through computers and email technology," held
computer training courses throughout the conference.
Entertainment included a "Motown Dance" one night and a
concert that featured singing from The Fabulous Flirtations (which
lesbian singer Suede has now joined), comedy from Karen
Williams and Lea Delaria and Nell Carter as the headliner.
The Task Force seems appeared to be headed in the right
direction. Executive Director Melinda Paras listened more than
spoke in the smaller meetings. She was determined to make sure
that NGLTF understands what the community needs from it rather
than telling activists what NGLTF would do for them. The Task
Force used the conference as a place to allow activists to
communicate and share ideas, needs and experiences.
-- White House adviser George journal of British war hero Lord
Stephanopoulos discussing Robert Baden-Powell, founder of
President Clinton's positions at the Boy Scouts (in 1908). The
the National Lesbian and Gay Boy Scouts ban gays.
Journalists
Association
convention
Oct.
20
in "Possibly, I might get a further
Washington, D. C.
look at those wonderful
photographs of yours."
"Stayed with Tod. Tod's photos --Nov. 18, 1919, letter from
of naked boys and trees are Baden-Powell to A.H. Tod.
excellent."
--Nov. 15, 1919, entry in the
Page5
The ALGA UPDATE
Student Organizations
Lambdas of West Texas A&M
Box WT 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 Cuti 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 W6thAve
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
Gay Friendly
Businesses/Oryanizations
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.
Page 6
The ALGA UPDATE
GA VS IN ZIMBABWE ARE FRIGHTENED
by Rex Wockner
With President Robert Mugabe and
several members of Parliament continuing
to spout some of the most virulently antigay rhetoric heard anywhere in the world,
Zimbabwean gays and lesbians are quite
simply "afraid," says Stephen Van Breda,
international spokesman for the group Gays
and Lesbians of Zimbabwe.
In an interview with this news column,
Breda explained : "In Zimbabwe the police
force and army are merely the puppet of the
prevailing government. They can, and often
do, arrest · and detain people under the
flimsiest of excuses. We have lived under
military rule for so long that the mention of
arrest and/or possible detention has a
tremendous impact on any individual
irrespective of status or social standing.
Therefore it is safe to say that the entire gay
and lesbian population of Zimbabwe is
constantly afraid.
"Very few people are aware of their
legal rights or have the resources to defend
themselves against the mis-use of authority
[and) even those who do have both the
knowledge and resources are reluctant to
get into a battle with the government and
prefer to remain silent," Breda said. "We are
currently reorganizing GALZ to try to cope
with the changed circumstances."
Mugabe has labeled homosexuality
"sub-animal behavior" that will "never ever"
be allowed in Zimbabwe. "If you see people
in your areas parading themselves as lesbians
and gays, arrest them and hand them over
to the police," he has urged. "I don't believe
they have any rights at all."
Gay activist groups such as GALZ,
Mugabe declared, are "immoral and
repulsive."
Meanwhile, in Parliament Nov. 8, MP
Norbert Makoni stated: "Whipping used to
be the answer [for bad behavior). Let us use
a sjamook [whip). All found practicing this
evil should have stiff punishment meted
out."
MP Tirivanhu Mudariki urged fellow
parliamentarians "that this House
unreservedly condemns the evil and
iniquitous practice of homosexualism and
lesbianism .. . and urges Government to
take all the necessary steps to stamp out
this evil practice. [llf we allow or condone
such bastardly acts under the so-called
human-rights banners ... we shall also have
rapists, murderers, criminals and those
sodomists who are militating to have sex
with four-year-olds claiming their human
rights," he said.
And MP Border Gezi suggested: "I
would like to ask [that the police) take them
and put them somewhere where they can
never be seen because we cannot mix with
such people .... If we take them to jails ...
they will start engaging in these homosexual
and lesbian practices .... If we let them free,
you will find them in the night going for
other men instead of women to have sex
with .... These people do not belong to our
culture."
Protests may be directed to Parliament
of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box CY298, Causeway,
Harare, Zimbabwe, and to President
Mugabe, Private Bag 7700, Causeway,
Harare, Zimbabwe. Support may be sent to
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ),
Private Bag A6131, Avondale, Harare,
Zimbabwe.
The Amarillo Gay/Lesbian Alliance (ALGA) Membership Application
~
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 Silver membership (3 year membership, and 36 issues)
□ $35 Household annual membership for 2 adults (with 12 issues)
□
□
$25 Individual annual membership (with 12 issues)
$10 StudenUPWA/Low Income membership (with 12 issues)
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Please make all checks payable to ALGA
PO Box 9361, Amarillo, TX 79105-9361