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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1987)
— —■ March on Washington proceeds apace ens of thousands of lesbians and 8 gays will gather at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on October 11, 1987, to bring an urgent message to the people of this nation: The enemies of gays and lesbians are threatening the entire community and its values; they are push ing an agenda of hatred, fear and bigotry against us and against freedom. “ For Love and for Life,” the theme of the March on Washington, encompasses more than threats to the rights of lesbians and gay s. The agenda for the October 9-15 weekend includes these seven demands: • Legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships. • The repeal of all laws that make sodomy between consenting adults a crime. • A presidential order banning anti-gay discrimination by federal government. • Passage of the congressional lesbian and gay rights bill. • An end to discrimination against people with AIDS, ARC, HIV positive or those perceived to have AIDS. Massive in- creae in funding for AIDS Education, research, and patient care. Money for AIDS, not for war. • Reproductive freedom, the right to con- ■ trol our own bodies, and an end to sexist oppression. • An end to racism in this country and apartheid in South Africa. Related events taking place over the five days are highlighted by: National Lobby Day (October 9). Delegations from around the country meet with their senators and members of Congress. March Against Death and Violence (October 9-11). For 40 hours people carry ing the names of those who have died of homophobic violence or AIDS will move in single procession past the White House and the Capitol. The Wedding (October 10). A non sectarian union ceremony to celebrate same-sex relationships to emphasize the demand that gay and lesbian domestic partners are entitled to the same rights and privileges as married heterosexual couples. AIDS Memorial Project (October 11). Thousands of 3’x6’ fabric panels, each bearing the name of someone lost to AIDS, will be assembled into a massive expanse and displayed across the Capitol Mall. (Names Project, PO Box 14573, SF, CA 94114 or call (415) 626-5725.) Veterans Memorial Service (October 11). Prior to the March, a memorial service at the Tomb of the Unknown Sol dier in honor of gays and lesbians who have given their lives as members of the U.S. Military. National Lesbian and Gav Rights Congress Planning Meeting (October 12). Proposals fora nationwide Congress of gays and lesbians in 1988. Civil Disobedience for Lesbian and Gay Rights (October 13). A non-violent action at the Supreme Court. As the organizing efforts increase in scope, a housing bureau is being coordi nated through the national March on Wash ington office to make hotel accommoda tions available at specially negotiated group rates. Several thousand hotel rooms have been secured throughout the metro politan D.C. area. A brochure is available from the Na tional Housing Bureau, March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, P.O. Box 7781, Washington, D.C. 20044. For more information and to join the local effort contact Evee Smith, PO Box 1339, Corvallis, OR 97339, phone 752-0595; or March on Washington Com mittee, PO Box 7781, Washington D.C. 20044. phone (202) 783-1828. • PGMC offered challenge grant A “ challenge” grant offered to the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus will match contributions to the Chorus made between now and June 15, up to $2,000. If the goal is met, it will add a total of $4(XX) to the group's operating funds. “ Here is a chance for friends of PGMC to double their money,” said Scott Eckelman, business manager. The grant was offered to the Chorus unsolicited, by anonymous private sources, Eckelman said. “ This offer has come at a good time,” he said. “ The funds will strengthen our financial position as we prepare for our first full season in the new Portland Center for the Performing Arts.” The move into the new Performing Arts Center will make individual concerts more expensive to produce, but it is hoped that the prestige of being a major tenant in the new halls will boost support for the Chorus, and will be a source of pride for the com munity as a whole, both gay and straight. PGMC derives a larger portion of its annual budget from ticket sales than most arts organizations do, but it is still neces sary to apply for public grants and to rely on individual donors to make up the difference. Contributions should be postmarked by June 15 to qualify for the matching funds. Checks may be made to PGMC or Rose City Performing Arts, Inc., and mailed to P.O. Box 3223, Portland, OR 97208. The Chorus has full non-profit tax status; con tributions are deductible. • ANAL SEX AND AIDS After four years of studying thousands of cases of AIDS, the evidence is becoming increasingly clear: anal sex is the number one cause of AIDS transmission in America. Several epidemiological studies conducted independently in several different cities, involving thousands of gay and bisexual men, have produced essentially the same find ings—the most significant difference between gay men who get AIDS, and gay men who don’t get AIDS, is the amount and kind of Unsafe anal sex they have engaged in. Unsafe anal sex includes anal intercourse without a condom, rim ming. scat, fisting and fingering, and the sharing of dildoes and other insertive sex toys. So our message is very7 simple. If we as a community are to survive this epidemic, unprotected anal sex has to cease to be a part of our gay male lifestyles until a medical solution for AIDS is availa ble. The risks are just too great for both tops and bottoms. lubricants.) It takes practice to use condoms correctly. However, condoms are readily available, inexpensive, and when used properly, are good protection. If you insist on anal sex, insist on condoms. Learn to use them. UNSAFE SEX PRACTICES Anal Intercourse Without Condom Rimming Fisting Blood Contact Sharing Sex Toys or Needles Semen or Urine in Mouth Vaginal Intercourse Without Condom Unprotected anal sex is extremely dangerous for both partners. Human anal tissue is richly sup plied with blood vessels and is surprisingly fragile. Small tears open tiny paths to the bloodstream. The bottom is exposed to preseminal fluid, which may contain the virus, and to semen, which can contain huge quantities of the virus. The anal canal has almost no specific immunological defenses. The top is exposed to blood and feces on his penis, and probably on his fingers and hands. Bloody feces, even in small quantities, can contain Let’s protect one another. Let ’s end all Unsafe Sex practices in Portland until this epidemic is over. Gay men are too important to lose. the virus (and can also contain intestinal parasites, a probable co- factor for AIDS). Tops have gotten AIDS through unprotected anal sex, just as they have gotten other sexually transmitted diseases. Condoms can help. Condoms are capable of stopping the AIDS virus. Anal intercourse with a condom is still considered “possibly safe’ because of the risk of breakage through misuse. (The major causes of condom breakage are air inside the condom, not enough lubrication, old or mistreat ed condoms, or the use of oil-based c A S c A D E S A 1 D P R 0 J E C T 408 S. W. Second Ave. Suite 420 Portland, Oregon 97204 (508) 223-5907 Call for more information. This material is published with the permission of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. A portion of this ad donated by lust Out. 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