and Seattle, and in Portland, where a gay
rights ordinance was recently lost It was
agreed that in Multnomah County, gay politi
cal organization is “top down" — organized
most at the higher levels, but less well-
organized at a more grass-roots level. The
decisions made for the passage of the Mult
nomah County ordinance, and later for its
repeal, were all made at the top. And the
secrecy that characterized this decision
making process tied the hands of the com
munity at large, proving again that back-room
politics is insufficient in the face of a right
wing initiative, says Nelson.
Nelson believes that a broad-based, grass
roots movement can defeat the right wing’s
present tactics. As long as gays work, then
gay rights is a labor issue; as long as there are
gays of color, then gay rights is a racial issue;
as long as there are women who are lesbian,
then gay rights is a feminist issue. A coalition
can out-publicize, out-number, and out-
organize the right wing.
Standing up to adversity collectively is not
however, a tactic used by conservative gay
leadership. In fact according to Nelson, gay
leaders sometimes have reasons to abet op
pression. The elite of the movement —
White, male and affluent can still buy
privilege, no matter how narrow, within pre
sent society. For them, there is more to fear
from freedom of all individuals than reason to
resent the “conditional freedom" and privi
lege of belonging to an elite. By the secrecy of
its dealings with established power, for exam
ple, conservative gay leaders "tie the hands”
of more radical gays. For the elite, there is too
much to lose — affluence and privilege — by
allowing equal process to all. Gay conserva
tives fear less the right wing than the radical
tendency of their own communty because
the gay left represents the loss of privilege.
All forms of oppression operate within the
same network, and gay rights is not the only
issue. “Anything less than 100% backing of all
victims of oppression means someone is be
ing sold short," said Nelson. “Mutual self-
defense aid" across the realm of minorities is
the only workable answer to the right wing’s
present tactics. Working solely within gay
politics is self-defeating. Rather, one must
work in other causes as a gay "be on other
people’s sides, not just your own." Solidarity
at the grass-roots is the only way of meeting
and defeating the right
C.A.P. receives
grant for
condom cam paign
b y B row n M cD onald
The Cascade AIDS Project has received
$ 1,880.00 from the Venereal Disease Action
Council to begin distributing condoms in
Portland’s gay bars and baths and initiate a
Condom Campaign that will be on-going
and self-sustaining. Several of Portland’s
most popular bars have expressed a strong
interest in helping to educate their customers
about condoms and to make them available
for a very small donation. Some of Portland’s
baths are already distributing condoms to
their customers. A group of bartenders and
owners called Bartenders Against AIDS has
formed under the leadership of David Lee to
assist C A P. in managing the campaign at
interested bars. Distribution of the condoms
began Saturday July 20 at the City Nights
Benefit featuring Sylvester.
Condom use is an effective way to help
prevent the transmission of disease, includ
ing the HTLV-III virus, the presumed cause of
AIDS. The risk of transmitting AIDS is greatly
reduced and potentially eliminated if a con
dom is used during intercourse and CAP. is
urging all gay men to begin using condoms if
they haven’t already started. C A P. plans to
distribute 10,000 condoms to all bars parti
cipating in the condom campaign and to
make the campaign self-sustaining by asking
for a 25C donation for each condom. This
small donation will permit C A P. to keep the
bars stocked with condoms that are a frac
tion of the cost if purchased in a retail outlet
The condoms selected are packaged attrac
tively and non-offensively and will be
attached to a card that lists sexual activities
according to the level of risk involved.
They also offer yet another opportunity to
lem more about Safesex by attending Safesex
Workshop IV at the Embers/Avenue on
Saturday, August 10 from 2-5 p.m. If you
haven’t attended one of the previous work
shops, NOW is the time to come. Not only will
they discuss and outline the mechanics of
safer sex, but they will talk about the psycho
logical and emotional issues involved. Past
response to the Safesex Workshops has been
outstanding and you’re REALLY cheating
yourself if you don’t attend. The support
you’ll get from the other men attending will
add something very special to your life. It’s a
chance to take a step that can make ALL the
difference.
City Nights Group
works a miracle
b y Jay B row n
City Nights Group knows how; with one
benefit event they managed to work a miracle
by raising more than $ 11,000 for the gay
people of Oregon facing AIDS. The moneys
raised by the City Nights Group's Sylvester
concert on July 20 will be given to the existing
AIDS oriented organizations in Oregon,
Cascade AIDS Project and the Community
Health Support Services (PAL Project).
“The Sylvester Concert was a rousing sue-
cess," said Steve Fosler, City Nights Group
spokesperson. "We are very, very pleased at
the turnout and we are most happy that the
concert attracted such a wide mix of more
than 1000 people.
City Nights Group is composed of a dozen
or so men in Portland’s gay community who
have been involved in other organizations.
They banded together early in the year for the
specific purpose of raising money by produc
ing benefits for T h e gay people of Oregon
facing AIDS."
More benefit events are in the offing, ac
cording to Fosler. We hope to do one or two a
year. The overwhelming success of the
Sylvester Concert surprised even us. And
we re forging ahead on the next event”
Barbara Aehle
by Kim M ohr
"We are the chosen ones — not some of us
But all of us, every one
Not just the meek, not just the strong
These divisions are all wrong.
We are the chosen ones, not just some of us
But all of us, every one
We are chosen to do our best
‘til we finally get to rest”
"The Chosen Ones" from Secrets by Linda
Tillery. Composed by Tony Eldon.
Barbara Aehle died on July 9, in a one-car
accident on 1-86 near American Falls, Idaho.
Ms. Aehle was bom in Seattle on August 7,
1952.
Barb moved to Portland in 1973, and it was
about this time when she played with the
Lavender Menace softball team. She was one
of the original members of the jug band which
was first called “Pearl Stewart and the Rocky
Mountain Mamas." Barb also played guitar in
Portland with a ’50s band and used her ’56
Chevy convertible, Sister Mary Elephant in
many promo pictures.
Barb left Portland to live on a reservation for
a year, then returned to work at Bradley Angle
House and W HO Farm. Barb was the heart of
Red Spirit Creations, a Native American craft
shop in Old Town, associated with the Urban
Indian Council.
Barb was an activist involved with many
minority concerns. Whether the issues were
Indian rights, lesbian and gay rights, women’s
rights, street people, or differently abled
persons. Barb’s vision and love truly brought
a coalition of people together for the better
ment of all people.
A memorial fund in Barbara Aehle’s name
has been established. The fund will be used
to assist runaway youth and street people and
for indigent people who need financial aid for
Native American ceremonies. Contribution
to the Barbara Aehle Memorial Fund may be
sent to: Urban Indian Council, Inc., P.O. Box
3198, Portland, OR 97208. Attention: Barbara
Aehle Memorial Fund.
Looking for gay community?
Join the Group Program at Phoenix Rising
Activity and Growth group
experiences in an 8-week biock for
lesbians and gay men.
The Group Program provides a
place to grow, learn, play, and just be
together.
Next session begins Wednesday
Septem ber nth, 6:30-10 p.m.
Call Phoenix Rising now to register
or for more information
223 8299
SUNNfySIDFUP
b a k e ry and
C A F 6 - -
Phoenix Rising Foundation
408 S. W. 2nd Avenue, Suite 407
Portland, Oregon 97204
(503) 223 8299
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233-9405
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