justn ein rs
Between the lines
Lesbian entrepreneurs
Homophobia in Parade; Washington s two-front war on AIDS;
resolutions for life.
The new entrepreneurs' group is intended to bring women
together for exchange of ideas relating to their businesses.
B Y
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“ Parade” marches to a straight
drummer
T ja r a d e magazine should be congratulated
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for reminding us, as we count down the
final 12 years to the new century, that blatant
defamation of gays by mainstream media in
America is as mean-spirited as ever.
Parade magazine is the Sunday newspaper
supplement that wraps patriotic Americana
stories around full-page ads hawking $9.95,
24-karat gold-plated teddy bear pendants. If it
weren't for the fact that Parade is ogled by
millions of readers every Sunday morning, a
slur against gays wouldn't be worth mentioning.
In a recent story on the 1950s. a writer matter-
of-factly stated. "The ’50s, viewed through the
rosy prism of nostalgia, were the good old days.
We were the greatest military power in the
world. . .. Our children did not smoke crack or
swallow Quaaludes. We had never heard of
AIDS. Homosexuals stayed in the closet, not on
the front pages.”
For a moment I flashed: "Negroes stayed in
the back of the bus, not on the front pages.. . . ”
Sworn to protect and serve —
jaywalking tickets
t was a dark and stormy night: it was
raining like hell. So, when the three of us
quickly stepped across Stark Street, we didn’t
expect to get nailed for jaywalking. The selec­
tive enforcement of such laws — at $36 a ticket
and with a 20-minute wait in the cold rain for a
background check— in a city awash with crime
left a bad taste in our mouths.
Moral: don't jaywalk on Stark Street. Unless
you’re leaving Jake’s.
I
Officials brace for patient
increase
member of the Governor’s Task Force on AIDS.
The issue came to light during an AIDS
education workshop for teachers and public
officials that was sponsored by the Washington
state superintendent of public instruction.
Cathy Mickels of Lynden, a member of the
Governor’s Task Force, called the workshop an
“ outrage and a violation of constitutional
rights” because information was distributed
concerning human rights and discriminatory
practices against homosexuals.
In a letter to The Bellingham Herald, Mickels
said she also objected to discussion of condom
use as an alternative to abstinence.
“ I'd like to know who gave these speakers
the right to violate the law and propagate the
political viewpoint of homosexuals to our
teachers, who in turn are expected and
encouraged to spread this information to our
children?” she asked.
Well, you can't say that Governor Gardner’s
Task Force on AIDS is a one-sided group. . . .
New Year and a new beginning
ESOLVE to stop feeling sorry for people
with AIDS and ARC and to start doing
something about it. A donation of food,
clothing, housewares, money or volunteer time
to one of the groups caring for our sick will
make you — and them — feel much better in
1988.
RESOLVE to persuade yourself and your
friends to dump recreational drugs. There is a
growing body of evidence that drug use accel­
erates the onset of full-blown AIDS in those
who are infected with the virus. The longer one
Fights off the disease, the better the possibility
that one can survive once a cure is found — if a
cure is found.
RESOLVE to demand that every politician or
would-be politician who solicits your vote
explain his or her stand on the issue of human
rights for gays. Don’t support anyone who will
not openly endorse the right of gays and
lesbians to equal protections in employment,
housing, insurance and medical treatment. •
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ntrepreneurs are people who start things!
And 1988 is the year for Portland area
lesbian entrepreneurs to start their own organi­
zation. The cliche says that it’s lonely at the
top, particularly if you are single. The reality is
that women who run their own businesses
benefit from networking with other women who
not only share the same management problems,
but whose strengths of initiative, ideas, energy
and know-how are similar as well.
Most lesbian-run businesses are directed at
the general public rather than at a predomi­
nantly lesbian and gay clientele. At a planning
session for the new group the diversity of fields
was shown by the presence of an analytical
chemist, a floral designer, a jewelry designer, a
restaurant manager and a lawyer.
The group will differ from the Portland Pro­
fessional Organization for Women (PPOW) in
that PPOW is primarily a social organization
providing dances, parties and outings for its
members.
As w ith any new organization, its purpose
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w ill become better defined as more women join
and indicate their interests.
One project that has gained support is an
annual autumn lesbian business fair where
women can showcase theirart. crafts and services
as well as their retail and wholesale outlets. Not
only w ill this generate business for lesbian-
owned enterprises, but it can give all lesbians a
source of pride and strength and reinforce
awareness that lesbians are truly represented
throughout the economy and society.
The entrepreneurs’ organization can also
serve as a resource to non-profit groups serving
the lesbian community by identifying women
with business and professional experience who
can advise the groups on particular projects. A
forerunner to the entrepreneurs’ group was the
committee of restaurant owners and managers
w ho met last spring to advise the Lesbian Com­
munity Project on a plan to establish a cafe
within a lesbian community center.
The entrepreneurs’ organization will hold its
next meeting at 11 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 10, at
13 165 SW Ash. Tigard. Call 639-0826 for
directions and more information.
•
A WOMAN’S PLACE
14 Day Clearance Sale
20°/o Off
(All items except consignment items, tickets, and special orders)
A
hat's what Washington State Code 28A.
67. 110-1969 requires and that's what is
being violated when teachers mention homo­
sexual viewpoints in classrooms, according to a
A
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n estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Washing­
tonians are infected with the AIDS virus.
Although most do not show signs of the disease,
health-care officials in Seattle say a third are
expected eventually to develop AIDS.
Since 1982, 633 cases have been recorded in
Washington. So far, officials have been able to
meet the inpatient demand and are attempting to
meet the outpatient demand. But a redefinition
of AIDS cases to include AIDS-Related Com­
plex (ARC) will explode the number of reported
cases.
The Governor's Task Force on AIDS esti­
mates that under the new definition by 1991
4,771 AIDS cases will have been reported in the
state; epidemiologists estimate that at least
1.500 people in Seattle will have AIDS.
In King County, where 80 percent of the
state's AIDS patients live, health department
officials are reviewing plans for a long-term
AIDS care facility to include hospice and nurs­
ing sections. Meanwhile, the Northwest AIDS
Foundation is developing small, private group
homes for patients.
“ Must teach morality and
patriotism”
H
Jan. 2 to Jan. 15
FEM INIST BOOK GROUP FORMING
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7 p.m.
First book, Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Help choose future titles and meeting days.
ITEMS"
DOWNTOWN LUNCH
SPECIAL
M O M S — Look for information in January about our weekly
children’s reading hour.
IN C L U D E S A CUP O F FRESHLY
MADE SOUP. 1/2 TUNA SANDWICH
WITH SPROUTS. TOMATO & WHOLE
WHEAT BREAD — AND A HANDFUL
O F O R E G O N - M A D E T O R T IL L A
CHIPS. TOO!
A F em in ist
B ixikstore
& More
(DOWNTOWN LOCATION ONLY)
AVAILABLE MON-FRI
11 AM-3:30 PM
5 2 4 SW 5TH
1431 N.E. B roadw ay
P ortlan d , OK 9 7 2 3 2
(503) 2K 4-1110
M on.-Sat. 11-7
Sunday 12-5
(BETW EEM WASHINGTON & ALDER
Just Out •
7 •
January 1988