/ Insurance company forced to withdraw discriminatory guidelines National Gay Rights Advocates, Concerned Insurance Professionals for Human Rights, and the California Department of Insurance have successfully forced the Munich Ameri can Reassurance Company to withdraw their underwriting guidelines for AIDS. These guidelines had singled out unmarried appli cants, those who choose beneficiaries other than a spouse or child, or those who lead “illicit lifestyles” for discrimination. NGRA had challenged the guidelines before the California Department of Insurance and had threatened to sue Munich American if they were not withdrawn. "This is a landmark victory,” declared Ben jam in Schatz, Director of NGRA’s AIDS Civil Rights Project “This is the first time that an insurance company has been forced to re vise its entire underwriting approach to AIDS in all 50 states." “The insurance industry has been put on notice that the gay community will fight for its rights — and win,” said NGRA Executive Director Jean O ’Leary. “W e’re pleased that the California Department of Insurance joined with the gay community in taking a strong stand against discrimination,” she said. Gay multi-interracial group forms Men of All Colors Together (MACT), a gay multi-interracial support group for couples and singles, will hold its first meeting on Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Metropolitan Com munity Church, N.E. 24th & Broadway. The Portland chapter will seek affiliation with the National Association of Black and White Men Together: A Gay Multi-racial Organiza tion For All People, which was founded in San Francisco in Janaury, 1980. The National Association of Black and White Men Together is a gay interracial or ganization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome and the goal of human equality realized. To these ends we engage in educational, political, cultural, and social activities as means of dealing with the racism, sexism, homophobia, and other ine quities in our communities and in our lives. The Portland meeting will feature personal introductions, poetry readings, and the airing of a rap record about AIDS. The record, en titled R esp ect Yourself, was created in large part by BWMT/Philadelphia and was funded by the G.S. Conference of Mayors. Informa tion about the National Association will be distributed. National Co-chair Tim Wilson, who recently moved to Portland, says that the number one priority of the group will be to provide AIDS education to people of color. AIDS education is often neglected for people of color since most AIDS organizations are run by gay white males and the condition is erroneously seen by blacks to be a “white m an’s disease.” Statistically, AIDS is twice as prevalent among blacks as whites. Wilson stresses that each chapter of the organization is autonomous and activities of the groups are determined by the interest of the members. Some chapters are more polit ical (and have succeeded in some cities in bringing court cases against — and eventu ally closing — bars with racist policies), and others are more socially oriented. Wilson says a retreat is already planned this fall for the Portland and Seattle chapters. Just O ut, M ay 1986 Affirmation sets SF conference for June Affirm ation/Gay and Lesbian Mormons, a national, non-profit educational, social and fellowship organization, recently concluded its winter leadership meeting in San Jose, California. In attendance were national offi cers, Chapter representatives from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Phoenix and Dallas, and other interest ed members and friends. A new national educational outreach pro gram was announced to acquaint Church leaders and members with Affirmation s purposes and goals. Church leaders will especially be targeted for outreach so that they can better counsel their homosexual members. Plans were also announced for the 6th an nual Affirmation international conference to be held in San Francisco June 27,28, and 29, 1986. Each year members of Affirmation, from around the world, gather to discuss is sues of importance to the Lesbian and Gay Mormon. The conference is planned this year to coincide with the annual San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade and celebration on June 29th. The chosen theme of the Conference “One in Ten — A Family Matter," will focus on the reality that one in ten people in America is • gay or lesbian, and therefore part of most American families. It will also focus on the ways in which lesbian and gay people can and do contribute to both traditional and non-traditional family groups. Many addi tional seminars will be conducted through out the weekend including topics of interest for LDS parents of Gay or Lesbian children. For further information, please contact Conference chairperson Ron Kershaw at (415) 641-4554 or write to the San Francisco Chapter of Affirmation at P.O. Box 26302, San Francisco, CA 94126. Benefit AUCTION/DANCE for A W om an’s Place Bookstore and Lesbian and Gay Pride ’86 SATURDAY May 10th PINE STREET THEATRE 7-8 p.m. Silent Auction 8-9 p.m . Oral Auction 9 p.m.-1 a.m . DANCE $10 Admission will include $5 in Auction Scrip 1 Glass of Champagne or Sparkling Cider 1 Door Prize Ticket Items to be A uctioned: TRAVEL ART ENTERTAINMENT ANTIQUES WARDROBES FINE & CASUAL DINING MUCH MORE! M .C . Auctioneer Music by Dance by Ticket Outlets Dora Jar LaVerne Lewis Acoustic Guitarist Mark The Blues Sisters Artichoke Music A Woman’s Place Bookstore D ance only tickets a v a ila b le for S5 after 8:30 p.m. Please call 233-1169 for more ticket outlets. •>- ** Out of the Closet opens O u t of the Closet is open for business at 2857 SE Stark (next door to Starky's 3.) Out o f th e C loset, a thrift store, is managed by Phoenix Rising’s Fred Menard and will benefit Portland’s gay and lesbian non-profit organizations. Fred Menard has been long involved in the antiques and retro business; he was also the manager of a thrift store. Fred says that Out of the Closet will specialize in vintage clo thing and antiques, but "we are soliciting any thing and everything saleable. All donations are tax deductible." O u t of the Closet is modeled after a store in San Francisco which disperses funds to 227 non-profit organizations. In Portland so far. O u t of the Closet has garnered interest from Cascade AIDS Project, CHESS/PAL Project The Brinker Fund, Portland Gay M en’s Chorus and others. Any organization with a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status is eligible to apply for funds. To get O ut of the Closet off the ground, Phoenix Rising is holding a drawing at Les bian and Gay Pride Rally on June 21. Prizes include a trip to Palm Springs for 2, dinner for four at a local restaurant among other numerous gifts. For more information about O ut of the Closet, call 223-8299. BO O KS, BOOKS AND M ORE BOOKS!! We are filled to capacity. Over 10,000 books and no space to display them! But moving costs money and we need your help. Become a sustaining member of A Woman's Place Bookstore. You can help the bookstore move while giving yourself a discount on all the books and records (except sale items and consignments) you purchase over the next twelve months. Simply fill out the coupon below drop it by the bookstore or mail it with your check to A Woman's Place Bookstore, 2349 S.E. Ankeny, Portland, Oregon 97214. , , , . , , ■ Yes, I w ant to help the bookstore move! Mail or drop by A Woman's Place Bookstore 2349 S.E Ankeny Portland, Oregon 97214 $25.00 Sustaining Membership Receive a 10% discount over the next 12 months $50.00 Matron Membership Receive a 20% discount over the next 12 months NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP 7