VISA/US Olympic Committee
Choices
The Fourth Reich?
W
ex partner contact tracing has begun in
Indiana. The Indiana State Board of Health
is now notifying the known sex partners of
people suspected of having AIDS, according to
the New Works News.
Those notified by the Indiana State Board of
Health will not. however, be told the names of
the contacts identifying them as sex partners. A
spokeswoman told the New Works News that
there may be times when those who test positive
don't want to personally tell their partners for
one reason or another. “ We'll do that tor them
and it will be strictly confidential."
This seemingly provincial matter has major
national importance; Dr. Woodrow Myers. Di
rector o f the Indiana State Board of Health, is a
member o f Reagan's AIDS Commission.
as September Queer Month in Portland.
or what ’ The Portland Gay Men \
Chorus and Intimate Friends at the Portland
Center for the Performing Arts played to sellout
crowds. Both theaters will be blessed with fall
out o f fairy dust for years to come.
In mid-month gays and lesbians even had a
choice on a Friday night. Tom Ammiano and
Alix Dobkin and Phranc all played on the same
night Both concerts drew excellent crowds.
The opening ceremonies of the AIDS Vigil on
the same night was also well attended
Speaking o f choices on a Friday night,
picketing Kristine Gebbie at the AIDS Vigil
may have been the wrong choice. According to
an informed source. Gebbie has been fair to
gays and PWAs and on occasion gone farther
for them in some areas than gay and PWA
advocates were willing to go. But regardless of
the alleged intransigence of a bureaucrat,
picketing an AIDS Vigil at a Metropolitan
Community Church is tacky.
S
he response to Sasha Alyson s call for
action against VISA has been amazing.
Alyson says. “ Clearly. I'm not the only one
w ho absolutely loathes the U.S. Olympic Com
mittee for their vicious and homophobic treat
ment of Dr. Tom Waddell and the Gay Games.”
Aly son says we.can also make an impact on
other corporations who think Olympic sponsor
ship is a “ good, non-controversial way to im
prove their PR."
The VISA sponsorship of the Olympic Com
mittee will extend through September 1988, so
remember that when using a VISA card a
percentage of the money spent will go to the US
Olympic Committee. .
Alyson is making a scrapbook o f half cards
and press clippings about this action. Sasha
Alyson can be contacted at Alyson Publications.
40 Plympon S t.. Boston, MA 02118.
Cruising parks still dangerous
B Y
J A Y
B R O W N
Tacky acts, part two
A
nother tacky act occurred two nights later
bers. say ing that the owner wouldn't return
on the same comer. The Rev. Gary
my call.
Wilson. Pastor of Metropolitan Community
At 9:00 p.m. that night Gregory Casteel,
( hurch of Portland, told us: “ People who were owner o f Prestige, contacted me at home, say
part of a religious ceremony at our church were
ing he had had to go to his Catholic priest to find
harassed by people who were probably em
out if he should talk to me. He then went on to
ployees of Prestige Limousine. The harassment
say he did not support homosexuals or homo
consisted of anti-gay/lesbian comments and
sexual rights. I asked for an apology from Merv
jokes about the disease. AIDS.
and an investigation into the Sunday matter and
On Monday. September 14. 1987. I called
was told nothing further would be done.
Prestige to ask that they look into the matter and
Thursday. September 17. 1987. leaded
to speak to any offending employees. A man
Neighborh<xx! Mediation and asked for inter
w ho identified himself as the manager and said
vention. Today. Mr Emmanuel Paris of Neigh
his name is Merv was very rude, hanging upon
borhood Mediation called to say that Prestige
me four times, ref using to tell me how or when I
had said they would not be involved in mediation.
could contact the owner (until the fifth call I
At press time, the Rev. Wilson had received
placed) and informing me that homosexuals are
neither acknowledgement nor apology from
an abomination before God. Only grudgingly
Prestige Limousine. Prestige Limousine is
did Merv take my name and telephone num
located at 1716 NE 24th
eople will persist in cruising parks late at
night. Late night park cruising was never
safe, even in the best of times. Among our
correspondence this month was an anonymous
letter relating an incident in Laurelhurst Park on
September 18.
The writer was accosted by a young man who
threatened him and demanded money from him
— “ He was grabbing and pushing me and
calling me faggot and demanding that I hand
over my money.”
“ I called the police when I got home. They
wanted me to give my phone number and name.
I didn't because
I . It happened so fast. I don't remember
what the kid looks like.
2. 1 have a hunch the police would have
asked me. What were you doing in the park at
3:00 a .m .?' To that. I wouldn't have a justifi
able response.”
Please, if you are cruising Laurelhurst Park
late at night, use the utmost caution. I consider
myself lucky that I didn't get stabbed or killed. I
w ill never, however, wander through Laurel
hurst Park alone after dark.”
P
Business in AIDS time
anagement of a downtown gay bar has
recently terminated the employment of
at least two persons w ith AIDS. In one case, the
bar ow ners have set attorneys brandishing
release forms on the PWA.
We wonder how much more o f this kind of
thing is going on — and not only in gay busines
ses We were particularly shocked, though, to
hear about a gay-owned business acting so
shabbily.
M
A last word
othing in the Constitution points to a
right to privacy.” Archibald Cox
said recently in an interview on All Things Con
sidered. Cox was the special prosecutor fired by
Robert Bork on orders from then President
Richard Nixon in October 1974.
Just one more bit of evidence that gay/lesbian
civil rights advocates still have a difficult road
ahead.
•
N
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