ALGA Update_v2.no3.1995.06.pdf
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- ALGA Update_v2.no3.1995.06.pdf
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Pr pcrty of the Center
AMARILL®
LESBIAN
BAY
ALLIANCIE
u
Volume 2, Number 3
£oenls Calendar
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, June 1
Washington Square
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
****************
Gay Day at Disney
Saturday, June 3
Walt Disney World
***************
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, June 15
Italian Delights
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
****************
Pride Picnic
Sunday, Ju:.~ 24
Thompson Park
Picnic Areas 70 & 71
**************
Gay Day At
Texas Water Rampage
Lubbock, TX
Sunday, July 23
Tickets in Advance $12
June 1995
ALGA Information Line: 373-5725
Texas Legislature Almost Passes New Hate
Crimes Bill
by John Hintz
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bill cleared a ~ajor ~ur~le w?en !t passed the
Texas Senate m Apnl, 1t fatled m the Texas
House by two votes. Rep. John Smithee, RAmarillo, voted against the bill. The bill was
actively opposed by the Christian Coalition, the
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Eagle Forum, the American Family Association
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and other right-wing groups.
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Over six thousand people marched on
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the state Capital on April 2 in support of the Act.
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At least 30 people from the Amarillo area
attended the rally to "Stop the Hate, Stop the
;,,~;~:.. ~Jtl" ..." • - Violence." The Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of
_. ..=-1.~~~-:;,•lfTexas worked hard to pass this bill. Although
·(512) 488 4830
the bill failed, it went farther than any other gay
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or lesbian bill in Texas history, according to
Flyer Distributed by the Texas Family
Dianne Hardy-Garcia, executive director of the
Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas.
Assoication
The radical right fought hard to prevent the hate crimes act from passing and
pressured representatives to vote against it. Groups like the Texas Family Association
distributed flyers proclaiming: "THE GAY AGENDA: IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME
TEXAS STATE LAW''. The conservative groups view any codification of "sexual
orientation" as a dangerous precedent.
This was the firstyearthatthe legislation has been introduced. The religious right
did not expect the Hate Crimes act to ever reach the House floor, however, they did
everything possible to stop it once it did. When it did reach the floor on Monday, May 19,
Rep. Warren Chisum, D-Pampa, succeeded in tabling the bill with a vote of70 to 68. Rep.
Chisum is one of the biggest detractors of any legislation involving sexual orientation.
When the sodomy law was voted on last session, many legislators told HardyGarcia that they did not have any gays or lesbians in their district. Many of those same
members now report that they received letters from people in their district supporting the
Hate Crimes Act.
Hardy-Garcia credits the bills near passage to pressure from constituents. Parents,
Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) worked very hard to convey the need
for such legislation to both the House and the Senate. The bill will be introduced again in
the next session, according to Hardy-Garcia.
What's Inside
Current Events
Gay Pride Picnic & MCC Carnival
"Gay Day" at Tx Water Rampage
"Braveheart" Protest
Washington Square Entertainment
2
2,3
2
3
3
Bombing ....
4
Community Listings
"My So Called Life"
Self Improvement Workshop
AL/GA Membership
5
6
6
6
The ALGA UPDATE
Page2
CURRENT EVENTS
'Homo' = Environmentalist
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham
appologized for using the epithet "homo"
on the House floor during a debate on
the Clean Water Act. During the debate,
Cunningham stated that supporters of
the Clean Water Act are the "same ones
that would put homos in the military ... "
He did not, however, appologize or
expleain the connection between clean
water and gay rights.
Contract for the American Family
The Christian Coalition has
announced their "Contract for the
American Family.
It is a copy of the
Replican's somewhat successful,
"Contract with America." This contract,
however, offers itself as a "blueprint"
for repairing the "social fabric" of our
courntry. The "repair" calls for prayer
in the schools, a stop to abortion,
dismantling the U.S. Dept. of Education,
vouchers for private school attendance,
protecting "parental rights," "support of
private charities," "censorhip on the
Internet and Cable television and
defunding of cutlural agencies, such as
the National Endowment for the Arts
and the Coproration for Public
Broadcasting.
Although gays and lesbians are
not specifically mentioned in the
contract, the Christian Coalition's history
of activisism against gay and lesbian
people would suggest that it will become
a part of their "pro-family" agenda. A
free copy of the "Contract for the
American Family" can be obtained by
calling the Christian Coalition at 800325-4746.
Rhode Island to enact antidiscrimination bill
Rhode Island became the ninth
state to outlaw discrimination based on
sexual orientation. The law makes it
illegal to discriminate in housing,
employment, credit and public
accomodations. The other states with
anti-discrimination laws are California,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts,
Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and
Wisconsin.
Melinda Paras, Executive
Director of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force, siad that the vote
"sends a signal that Rhode Island
prefers to value and respect all its
citizens rather than pit one group
against another."
Florida County Repeals antidiscrimination bill
Hillsborough County, Florida
repealed its law that protected people
from discrimination based on sexual
orientation which had been in effect
for four years. The City of Tampa,
which is located inside the Florida
county, already protects people from
such discrimination.
Presbyterians Table Homosexuality
The Presbyterian Church
decided to adjourn all debate and
decisions on homosexuality until its
next General Assembly. Until then,
the congragations are asked to "discuss
the matter and to start a prayer
movement to seek God's guidance."
Boobs in the way
"Lesbians in the sport hurt
women's golf," said CBS Sports
commentator, Ben Wright, according
to the News Journal of Wilmington,
DE. He also is reported to have said
that, "women [in golf] are handicapped
by halving boobs."
"This is just one more example
of how homophobia in sports hurts all
women athletes, whether lesbian or
heterosexual," said Dee Mosbacher,
an NGLTF board member and producer
of the documentary film "Out For a
Change: Addressing Homophobia in
Women's Sports." "Writes comments
clearly identify the connection between
homophobia nad sexism that women
athletes face."
The ALGA UPDATE is published monthly
by the Amarillo Lesbian/Gay Alliance, P.O.
. Box9361,Amarillo, TX79105-9361 .
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 month's issue.
Gay Pride ....
The 1995 ALGA Gay Pride
Picnic and Metropolitan Community
Church (MCC) Carnival will be held
Saturday, June 24, at Thompson Park.
The picnic and carnival will begin at 1
p.m. in spaces 70 & 71 .
"We'll have a new site this
year including restrooms, electricity
and water," reports ALGA President
John Hintz. As usual, the Gay Pride
Picnic and Carnival will be clearly
marked with rainbow flags.
In keeping with ALGA Gay Pride
Picnic tradition, free beer and hot dogs
will be served thanks to the generous
contributions of local businesses. Plans
are currently underway to provide live
entertainment in addition to the
recorded music provided by a disc
jokey as in years past. Elizabeth Wills
has already agreed to appear.
For the second year in a row,
MCC is providing a "penny" carnival to
add to the day's entertainment. Dart
throws, pie throws, a possible dunking
booth, and more will provide activities
and prizes for those attending.
This years Picnic will have the
usual fun and games, including
volleyball and sack races. The picnic
usually lasts until about 7 p.m.
Gay Day at Water Park
The Amarillo Lesbian/Gay
Alliance will sponsor its second "Gay Day"
at the Texas Water Rampage in Lubbock,
Texas on Sunday, July 23. The last event
there was attended by 17 people who all
had a good time. The water park made all
the AL/GA attendees feel very welcome.
We're hoping to have an even
larger group attend this year. Tickets can
be purchased in advance for $12. A portion
of the ticket sales will benefit the Amarillo
Lesbian/Gay Alliance. Tickets may also
be purchased at the gate for $12.75,
although they will not benefit the Alliance.
To purchase/order tickets, please call John
Hintz at 374-2907 or Obrian Kightlinger at
358-8600.
Page3
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ea/1 &111111,1/1111
1607 S. Washington, 373-5885
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
1 P.M.
THOMPSON PARK
AREAS70&71
FUN,FOOD&
ENTERTAINMENT!
*Note that this is a different area than previous years
'Braveheart' Brings GLAAD
Protest
The new Mel Gibson film,
"Bravenheart," is being protested by
the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation. GLAAD believes that
Mel Gibson, who produced and
directed the film in addition to playing
the lead role, has continued his
tradition of anti-gay hate in the film.
According to GLAAD, the
portrayal of Edward II, who was
believed by many historians to be gay,
is an "excessively foolish and vain
homosexual, deserving of the
audiences's ridicule." In fact, the
crowd laughs and cheers as his lover
is tossed out a window to his death.
Mel Gibson has a history of
anit-gay rhetoric. Gibson has
"regularly made a point of
ridiculing the gay community,
publicly suggesting that gay men
and gay sex. are disgusting and
unnatural. Gibson has also
stated that he feared being
perceived as gay because he is an
actor. 'I became an actor despite
that," he told one interviewer,
'but with this look, who's going
to think I'm gay? It would be
hard to take me for someone like
THAT."'
Entertainment Schedule
Thursday, June 1
QDC at 7:30
Saturday, June 3
Acoustic Guitar with Larry Lemmons
Thursday, June 8
Open Mike 7-1 0pm
Friday, June 9
Oracle synthesized Jazz keyboard
Saturday, June 10
Gary Guinn & Haskell Morrison
Tuesday, June 13
PFLAG, 7pm
Friday, June 16
Karl Thurmond
Thursday, June 22
Open Mike, 7-10 pm
Thursday, June 29
"How to incorporate your divine self
into daily life"
self improvement excercise
Friday, June 23
Stew Moss & Pac Man,
Blues and Jazz
Friday, June 30
Woods & Henry
Classical Guitar and Native American
Flute, 7:30
Don't forget to give us
your new address!
The ALGA UPDATE
~~
by Rex Wockner
"ACT UP's three greatest
accomplisthments were that we
made AIDS a political issue;
we changed the image of gay
men from limp-wristed faires
to gough warriors; and we go
tthe drug approval process
changed from ten years to, in
some cases, less than one
year."
ACT UP Founder Larry Kramer
to New York magazine
"The gay community has
tended to fuse cultural selfexpression with political
tactics. For us, our right to
offend people is a political
statement. Unfortunately it's
had a negative effect. Too
much of our energy has gone
into cultural self-expression,
and not enough into
conventional politics."
Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, DMAss., to Mother Jones
"I just want to say, if Deb Price
appears at your bookstore on
June 24th, I'll Personally come
ina nd shoot her. I thinik fags
are wrong.... I'll shoot her, got
that?"
Message left on the answering
machine at Sisterspirit Bookstore
in San Jose, CA., where
syndicated columnist Deb Price
will sign books.
I was a kid, and someone did this to my
... home."
by Jean Owen
Another man told me of his
mother-in-law, killed in the explosion.
Today, I stood at the comer of
"If you were down, she was
5th and Robinson in Oklahoma City. It always there for you." A misty look
was an event that changed my life.
appeared in his eyes. "How many other
News reports said that a third people like that were taken?" he asked.
of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
I was moved, deeply moved.
Building was destroyed in the April 19 Like so many others, I feel that there has
bombing. That's not exactly correct. to be something I can do ... something to
A third of the outside frame is gone, help make these deaths meaningful. As
but the building is destroyed. All that I looked at the destruction, I felt a message
is left is a husk, like the abandoned come up from my heart, and I knew it
shell of a locust hanging on the side of must be said. Not likely to be heard, but
a tree. The building is truly a husk. I must write the words.
The most important element of all is
It is time for our world, our
gone ... life.
nation, our community, each one of us to
Nor is the destruction limited stop the unchecked destruction caused
to the Federal Building. It may have by the traditional heterosexual male
been the most notable structure affected mentality (found with increasing
by the blast, but smaller, commercial frequency in women and gays). I'll not
buildings across the street are half- write names, since a court is yet to
collapsed, and buildings in a five block determine guilt, but whoever caused this
area now display plywood where there unimaginable destruction most likely did
were once windows.
so not because they were evil but because
The carnage was gone ... thank they believed they were right. Loss of
God ... removed by emergency workers life makes this act horrific, but,
whose dedication I can only imagine. philisophically, its not far removed from
I heard stories ... stories I will carry the mentality of the greedy corporate
with me for many years to come.
giant who polutes without thought if it
It was not the destruction-as furthers the company's bottom line or
awesome as that was-that moved me. the blood-thirsty lawyer who loses sight
It was the people.
ofjustice in the whirlwind of his (or her)
Teddy bears and flowers hung desire to win.
from the perimeter fences that kept
Our society teaches so many of
onlookers away from the unstable our young people, especially young men,
walls. An informal shrine was filled not that they have a right to dominate or
with momentoes, flowers and gifts, destroy those who dare think differently,
mainly to the children ... those precious but that they have an obligation to do so.
lost children. Empathy and love hung I'll never watch football again. It's a
over the entire area like a living force. sport that tells young males they should
There was an immediate kinship strive to physically destroy another
between all those who looked. We person because they dare wear a jersey
were moved by the sight and cared, of another color.
almost as if we felt with a single heart,
Boycotting football may not
for those who were lost.
seem like a particularly logical protest
A woman, a stranger, grabbed against the Oklahoma City bombing, but
my arm and maintained contact with it's one that feels rightto me. At least I' II
me as she spoke. "I grew up here," she have tried to do something.
said. "I've walked these streets since
Bombing ...
The ALGA UPDATE
Page5
Community 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
Whitney Kelly, Faculty Advisor
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
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
HIV Counselor
Terry Arnold, 371-1106
Panhandle AIDS Support Organization
(PASO)
604 W. 8th, 372-1050
1-800-388-4879 Hotline/Crisis number
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 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
Businesses
Alexander's Lounge
1219 W 10th Ave
372-7414
Maggie's Disco
1515 S Harrison
371-9312.
The O.P.
500 W 16th Ave
379-9613
The Ritz
322 W 10th Ave
372-9382
Sassy's
309 W6th Ave
374-3029
The Classifieds
519 E. 10th St:
374-2435
Gay Friendly
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
11 08 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
GLAAD HOPES TO SAVE 'MY SOCALLED LIFE'
by Rex Wockner
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation has joined the push
to save the ABC-TV program "My SoCalled Life" which features openly gay
actor Wilson Cruz as the gay character
Rickie Vasquez.
The program is on hiatus while
ABC mulls its fate. Letters are urged to
Randi Cohen, ABC Productions, 2020
Avenue of the Stars, 5th Floor, Century
City, CA 90067; fax 310-557-6147.
GLAAD also supports a grassroots
campaign to save the program . It is
Operation Life Support, P.O. Box
641200, San Francisco, CA 941641200; fax (415) 292-4111, e-mail
savemscl@aol .com
Special Workshop
On Thursday, June 29,
Shannon Ratliff will be doing another
session of her interaction series. This
one will be "How to Incorporate your
divine self into daily life." Both men
and women are welcome to join
Shannon for dinner and fun.
Writers Needed
The ALGA Update needs
contributors. If you hnve a story er
column, please submit it to The ALGA
Update,P.O.Box9361,Amarillo, TX,
79105 or call John Hintz at 374-2907.
The ALGA UPDATE
MONTHLY ADVERTISING
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One half page
One quarter page
Business card
$94.50
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Business Directory Listing
Three lines
Each additional line
$7.00
$1.00
Discount Rates
Prepaid ads to run 3-6 months
receive a 10% discount
Prepaid ads to run over 6 months
receive a 20% discount.
All advertising charges must be paid in
advance. Deadlines for camera-ready
ads are 5 PM on the 20th of the month.
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)
$15 Individual 6-month membership (with 6 issues)
$10 Student/PWNSenior membership (with 12 issues)
Name(s):
Address:
State/Zip:
Phone:
Date:
Please make all checks payable to ALGA
POBox9361 ,Amarillo, TX 79105-9361