ALGA Update_v2.no6.1995.09.pdf
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- ALGA Update_v2.no6.1995.09.pdf
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Prct'.'"rty of th~ f'l"r.ter
~rillo
tesbia
Alli ____
Volume 2, Number 6
£11enl, Calendar
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, September 7
Washington Square
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
****************
P-FLAG Meeting
Tuesday, September 12
7:30 p.m.
Call 358-4810 or 373-5885
• for details
****************
Queer Dinner Club
Thursday, September 21
Italian Delights
7:30 p.m.
Everyone Invited
****************
Amarillo Lesbian Gay Alliance
Presents
A fundraiser for the
Lesbian Gay Right~ Lobby of
Texas
• with special guest,
Dianne Hardy-Garcia,
Executive Director of LGRL
Saturday, October 28
Details to be announced
September1995
ALGA Information Line: 373-5725
ALGA Holds Annual Membership Meeting
(by Jean Owen)
"The (ALGA's) basic mission is to serve the community," explained
one ALGA board member during the 1995 annual membership meeting held
Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Wash ingto n Square.
The comment was given as part of a discussion of the purpose and
goals of the Amarillo Lesbian and Gay Alliance (ALGA) in response to
questions from one of the organization's newest members. Following that
discussion, the new member volunteered to assist with efforts to expand
advertising in the ALGA Update in an effort to obtain the resources needed
to increase circulation of the publication. Expansion of Update readership
would improve this publication's ability to serve the community as a
communications channel.
During the Aug. 15 meeting, ALGA President John Hintz reported that
ALGA currently has 39 paid members, the largest official membership in the
organization's five-year history.
While a good number of Amarillo's
residents participate in ALGA events (e.g., an estimated 250 at the Gay Pride
Picnic), official participation in the organization remains conservative.
Election of 1995-96 ALGA officers topped the Aug. 15 meeting's
planned agenda. Officers elected for the coming year included:
President-John Hintz
Treasurer-O'Brian Kightlinger
Secretary-Jimmie Wilson
Members-at-large:
Bekki McQuay
Bruce Leventhal
Kay P.
The annua! financial report shewed expandituras fo; tha yea; totalling
$2,218.39, slightly exceeding income at $2,188. The balance in the ALGA
account as of Aug. 15 was $487 .41.
"This year, the officers have not had to kick in extra money," Hintz
commented, indicating a strengthening of ALGA's financial stability. In past
years, organizational officers regularly paid phone charges to maintain the
ALGA information line. That was not necessary during the 1994-95 fiscal
year.
Alert! Please call your Representative (Thornberry or Combest)
TODAY and ask them to support the Ryan White CARE Act. (see
page 3 for details and phone numbers).
What's Inside
News Briefs
Shocking Gray Out of Bus.
Washington Square
Take Action (Alerts)
Overheard
2
2
3
3
4
Bowling Update
PFLAGMove
Community Organizations
ALGA Member Application
4
4
5
6
Page2
The ALGA UPDATE
Gramm Shows Bigotry
Texas Sen. Phil Gramm
backed an effort to oust a longtime
member of the Des Moines School
Board known to be gay. The Iowa
Christian Coalition, a chapter of
televangelist Pat Robertson's
Christian Coalition, is targeting
Jonathon C. Wilson for defeat in
teh upcoming school bard
elections.
Wilson recently
acknowledged that he is gay,
amidst an effort by right-wing
activists to defend anti-gay
discrimination in a proposed
change to the school disctrict's
curriculum.
Referring to the curriculum
controversy in a letter seeking
support from members of the antigay group, The Report, Gramm
condemed the "radical homosexual
community" for mounting an
"attack on our children" and
accused lesbian and gay people of
threatening "the very essence of
our nuclear families." The Report
is a militant anti-gay organization
which has cirulated explicit, onesided videotapes in efforst to smear
lesbian and gay Americans.
"It's sad to see Senator
Gramm pandering to extremists,"
said HRCF Political Director Daniel
"It appears Gramm
Zingale.
believes the only way to get
attention for his floundering
presidential campaign is to divide
the country. Voters of all stripes
reject discrimination, and will see
through his thinly velied attempt
to prey on public fear for political
gain. Lesbian and gay people are
very much a part of American
families, and should not be
targeted for discrimination. The
school board race should be
decided on the merits of the
News
B~ie.fs
candidatese, not the myths
conjured up aobut irrelevant
issues."
National Coming Out Day
Founder Mourned
Rob Eichberg, founder of
a workshop called The
Experience and cofounder of
National Coming Out Day died
August 1 0 in his New Mexico
home. Eichberg succumbed to
complications from AIDS.
"Rob Eichberg spent his
life helping others understand
the significance gay and lesbian
visibility has on turning ignorance
into acceptance," said HRCF
Executive Director Elizabeth
Birch. "Through his work with
National Coming Out Day and
The Experience, Rob has allowed
thousands to take the next
important step in their coming
out process," said Birch. "Rob
always understood that if gays
and lesbians were open and
honest, more people would be
supportive of equal rights for
gay apeople. His vision servea
as an inspiration to others that
coming out makes a difference."
SHOCKING GRAY OUT OF
BUSINESS
By E.L. Wiggins and Tige Watts,
copyright In Unison
Shocking
Gray's
consulting buyer and an office
assistant have told In Unison
newsmagazine (based out of
Columbia, S.C.) the mail-order
catalog company has closed and
intends to file for bankruptcy.
Ed Rhuebart, .a Manhattanbased buyer for the largest gay
and lesbian catalog company, said
Shocking Gray has stopped
processing orders, released
employees and padlocked their
offices shut.
Rhuebart said he did not
know if Shocking Gray's
shutdown is permanent or if they
will open after realligning the
company and its procedures.
"Shocking Gray, the
catalog, was doing fine. Shocking
Gray, the company, was not,"
Rhuebart said. A former office
assistant of the company said
Shocking Gray was not being run
like a business should. "It was a
real big mess. We had vendors
stop supplying us unless we paid
in cash. Creditors were hounding
us, and we just dug a hole too
deep to get out of," said the
former employee, who requested
anonymity.
Rhuebart confirmed the
bankruptcy is the result of bad
business decisions by Shocking
Gray. In fact, Rhuebart said he
did not know about the closing
until Aug. 17 when he was renegotiating his contract with
Shocking Gray. Rhuebart was
waiting for his contract to be faxed
from the company, when he
Continued on last page
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 ~nd
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
Page3
Resources Emergency (CARE)
Act, the federal government's
leading effort to provide vital
Washington - Radical right medical care to more than
political groups are attacking a 350,000 men, women
longstanding policy of not andchildren with AIDS, will
discriminating on the basis of sexual end on September 30 unless
orientation in adoption and foster Congress renews it. Thanks
parenting decisions in Washington, to the many phone calls in
D.C.
Groups like Concerned support of the Act, the U.S.
Women for America are preying Senate thwarted Sen. Jesse
upon the most r.=======~~=;:=::;7 Helms' efforsts
repugnant myths
Important Phone Numbers to gut the bill,
Congress May Attack
Gay & Lesbian Parents
about gay people
Senator Phil Gramm (R)
and chhildren to try
202 _224 _2934
to scare Congress
(FAX)202-228-2856
into mandating that
local governments Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R)
place
personal
prejudice ahead of
the best interest o
fthe child. The first
action on this will
202-224-5922
(FAX) 202 _224 _0776
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-13th)
202-225-3706
(FAX) 202 -225 -3486
V
Friday, September 22
Diane Curtis
(folk-rock)
battle is far from
over, however,
as it moves to
the House of
Representatives.
Ryan White Care Act Faces
Next Hurdle
Don't forget to give us
your new address/
'I
Friday & Saturday,
September 15 & 16
TennesseeTuckness
and passed it in
July gby an
overwhelming
97 to 3 vote.
T h i s
probably occur in
Rep. Larry Combest (R-l 9th)
A n t i - g a Y
the
C. C
202-225-4005
extremists may
App r op r i at ions
(FAX) 202-225-9615
try to gut the bill
Committee of the
w
i
t
h
amendments that would
U.S. House of Representatives.
Decisions on foster and exclude local medical providers
adoptive
parenting
have serving the gay community -traditionally been left for states denying gay Americans with
and cities. There is no reason for HIV equal access to vital
Congress to change that now. Any medical care.
We need to
action Congress takes to build bipartisan momentum of
discriminate against lesbian and teh Senate vote and pass teh
gay foster and adoptive parents in Ryan White CARE Act in the
the District of Columbia will affect House of Representatives all lesbian and gay Americans without
any
negative
opposed to discrimmijnation in amendments. Call and write
parenting.
Urge your Senators your U.S. Representatives
and Representatives to oppose TODAY
discrimination against lesbians and
gay men in adoptive and foster
parenting.
Washington -- The Ryan
White Comprehensive AIDS
1607 S. Washington, 373-5885
Friday & Saturday
September 29 & 30
Stew Moss
11,,:\..
Jeffrey is now playing in larger
cities, including Tulsa and
Albuquerque.
The ALGA UPDATE
PASO Mixed Bowling League
Nets $1,000 as Fund Raiser
"There's nothing wrong with
being gay, so to deny it is to
make a judgment. And why
make a big deal of it? If
someone doesn't want to hire
me because they think I'm gay,
well, then I have to deal with it,
I guess. Or if people were
picketing a theater. But
otherwise, it's just gossip, isn't
it?"
--Actor Keanu Reeves to Vanity
Fair.
"It's one of the best roles I've
ever played. It's a very witty
character . ... I think it's quite
an important little film."
--Patrick "Captain Picard"
Stewart on his new role as a
gay interior
designer in "Jeffrey. "
"Pat Robertson and his legions
consider each and every one of
us -- from flamboyant drag
queen to the most straightacting Log Cabin Republican -the children of Satan who, in
the name of Jesus Christ
himself, must be erased from
the face of the earth."
--Marvin Liebman, the
conservative leader who turned
to gay activism at
age 67, in his syndicated gay-
The 1995 Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO) Mixed Bowling
League netted over $1,000 as a fund raiser for the PASO food pantry, it is
learned from league officials. A portion of each bowler's weekly fee for
participation in the 12-week league was designated as a contribution to PASO
in a cooperative agreement with Amarillo Bowl.
For the second year in a row, the annual league has proven to be a
successful fund raiser, as well as an entertaining community event, for the
Panhandle's primary AIDS support organization. League members voted to
continue the league again in 1996 with officers for the coming year elected
following awards ceremonies held late in July.
Final team results from the 1996 league were as follows:
Won
Cruise Club
Ceces
Gutter Cows
Strawberries
Bad Boys
PASO
La Mafia
Bowl Blanche Bowl
Holy Bowlers
34
31
28
26
26
23
22
21
10
Lost
14
17
20
22
22
25
26
27
38
PFLAG Moves to New Location
The Amarillo Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
ays (PFLAG) recently changed their monthly meeting location from Washington
quare Cafe to the Cana House, 1012 W. 13th St., adjacent to St. Mary's
atholic Church. PFLAG's regular meetings continue to be held on the second
uesday every month at 7 p.m.
PFLAG members and participants decided on the location change in an
ffort to welcome those parents and family members who may be reluctant to
ttend a support group in a public cafe, it is learned from Travis McBride, Amarillo
FLAG's president. The Cana House offers a more private environment.
Representatives from the organization expressed strong appreciation for
he months in which Washington Square opened its door to the fledgling
rganization.
"Without the time and caring Bekki McQuay (Washington Square's
wner) put into PFLAG, I'm not sure there would even be an Amarillo chapter,"
ne member said.
The organization continues to grow and develop since their first informal
eeting last December. Nine individuals have officially joined the organization
nd each meeting draws from ten to 20 participants, including family members
nd friends of gays as well as gay men and lesbians there to support the
rganization.
Ongoing PFLAG projects include negotiations with the Amarillo Independent
chool District to provide educational materials to counselors throughout the
chool system. PFLAG also plans to provide reference materials and contact
elephone numbers to ministers and counselors throughout the city.
While efforts to education the general public will continue, the primary
urpose of Amarillo PFLAG is to provide an ongoing support group for parents,
amily members and friends who must go through their own "coming out" process
n loving and understand their gay relative or friend.
Page 5
The ALGA UPDATE
tudent rgamzations
Lambdas of West Texas A&M
Box WT 335, Canyon, TX 79016
Saul Reyes, Co-Chair, 37 4-3054
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, Discus:.ion Group
St Andrews Episcopal Church
1601 S. Georgia, Father Bill Nix
376-6316
Unitarian Unlversalist 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
Amarillo Bowl
41 00 Wolflin
352-5681
Shepherd House (call PASO)
MWF 11 :30 -1:30
Home cooked meal services for
HIV/AIDS individuals
Hastings Books and Video
2001 S Georgia - Gay/Lesbian book
section & magazines
4301 W 45th - Lambda book section
Sisters (Women's Discussion
Group)
MCC 2123 S Polk
Every Sunday 7 PM
Kinko's Copies
3801 Olsen Blvd
Open 24 hours
Speak Out! Human Rights
Campaign Fund Information
1-800-777-HRCF
Italian De!lghts, Inc.
2710 W 10th Ave
Queer Dinner Club (QDC) meets
7:30 PM on the third Thursday of
the month. Everyone is welcome!
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
Gay Friendly
Businesses/Organizations
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
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 W6thAve
374-3029
The Classifieds
519 E. 10th St.
374-2435
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
Continued From Page 2
discovered the company was
cl osed .
After a lengthy wait,
Rhuebart called the company only
to find Shocking Gray's phone
lines were disconnected. "I was
real surprised at the way they
handled this, considering they
were my brothers and sisters. I
could understand it if it was
AT&T," he said.
With the closing, Phoenix
Rising co-owner Rex Mitchell said
he'll reach more consumers
through catalog sales. Phoenix
Rising, headquartered in Virginia,
will distribute about 900,000
catalogs for the holiday shopping
season right aroung the corner.
"We're poised and ready
to go in there and fill the void
Shocking Gray has left," Mitchell
said.
Mitchell said he doesn't
think gay and lesbian consumers
will have too much difficulties
ordering merchandise, but
consumers may have to look
harder for products.
"With Lambda Rising going
on America Online, and us setting
up our own World Wide Web
page, I think gay and lesbian
consumers won't have any
problems ordering this year," he
said.
Mitchell said he has already
been bombarded by former
Shocking Gray venpors wanting
to get in his chain's catalog.
I'm really sorry this
happened to Shocking Gray, but
at least there are alternatives
available (for gay and lesbian
consumers)," Mitchell said.
Did you write or call your
congressman abot.t the Ryan
White CARE Act? People's
lives depend on it. Call today.
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.
,-,.
L..J $50
Siiver 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)
Name(s):
Address:
State/Zip:
Phone:
Date:
Please make all checks payable to ALGA
PO Box 9361, Amarillo, TX 79105-9361