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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1988)
Voices in the wilderness W hat it'Jesse Jackson was white ami Oliver North was black?" — T-shirt seen at the Democratic Motional Convention in Atlanta inger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels " — Ann Richards, state treasurer of Texas, keynote address to Democratic Motional Convention. July IN. IVNN G A What's ^ going on V here? ct up. fight back, fight AIDS." — ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power), a nonpartisan group o f individuals united in anger and committed to direct action in the face of the AIDS crisis e believe that we honor our multi cultural heritage by assuring equal B Y J A Y____ [)___ R O W N access to government services, employment, that called attention to the lesbian and gay housing, business enterprise and education to constituency and to the AIDS epidemic. every citizen regardless of race. sex. national Sullivan and his messages were broadcast by origin, religion, age. handicapping condition or ABC, NBC, CBS and CNN as well as (we sexual orientation." assume) the dozens of local television stations — Civil rights plank of the Democratic covering the convention. Party platf orm Sullivan used his visibility to educate. He reports that his mother asked him to explain the Visibility meaning of SILENCE = DEATH, which she had seen on a button he was wearing when his image appeared on her television screen. Mil he gay and lesbian presence at the 1988 lions of other people may now be asking for an Democratic National Convention was the strongest it ever has been. More than l(X) openly explanation because of his visibility. During coverage of the closing session on gay men and lesbians were delegates or Thursday night, CBS cut to Sullivan when alternates to the convention, and they came presidential nominee Michael Dukakis said that from such states as Georgia. Kansas. Nebraska. AIDS will be a priority item in his adminis Florida. Texas and Maine, as well as states with tration. And on Friday, coverage of the previ more traditionally progressive populations such ous evening’s session by the Today Show as California. New York and Massachusetts. included shots of Sullivan and his messages. Oregon’s only openly gay delegate. Randy Randy Sullivan exemplifies the positive Sullivan, quickly became the touchstone of gay visibility for television crews. Sullivan took full aspects of being openly gay in the best sense of the term. He should be applauded by all for his advantage of his position on the floor of the convention hall by displaying signs and placards diligence in getting the word out. # W Fighting for our rights P T ,| M ICHELE RUSSO within it was neither seen nor heard by anyone outside the enclosed parking lot. ACT UP’s ress briefing, Atlanta City Hall. Thursday: purpose in holding the “ kiss-in” on the side Mayor Andrew Young takes a card from his shirt pocket and says, "I must apologize to walk was to involve people other than them selves. AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power." The "kiss-in” was organized as an aggres Mayor Young’s apology followed three days sive demonstration of affection and to challenge of negotiations that involved members of ACT repressive conventions that prohibit displays of UP of New York City, gay activists of Atlanta love between persons of the same sex. People including Georgia AIDS Lobby Chairman participating in the action moved along the Chris Hagin, Shirley Franklin. Mayor Young’s sidewalk in opposite directions while top lieutenant and the city’s chief executive embracing and kissing as they passed. The officer, and the public safety establishment. police, chanting “ move, move, move” and Ironically. Mayor Young’s action on Thursday equipped with bullet-proof vests, shields and followed a badly botched “ apology” at his shielded helmets, formed a phalanx and in half press briefing on Wednesday in which he said step pushed the demonstrators a block and a half that any group calling themselves ACT UP away. The police captain then closed off the "should expect trouble” from the police. street. ACT UP’s “ trouble” did come from the police — a solid line of men in full riot gear. About 15 minutes later, the “ kiss-in” ACT UP had organized a “ kiss-in” on the resumed at the original site — ACT UP out sidewalk in front of the Omni, the site of the flanked the police by going around the block. Democratic National Convention. The side The phalanx formed, the shields went up, in walk was outside the so-called “ free speech half-step and chanting, the Atlanta police area,” a parking lot directly across the street pushed the "kiss-in” through the fence. from the Omni. The parking lot was enclosed by And for that. Mayor Andrew Young a double row of portable fences with the apologized to ACT UP— twice. entrance on the side farthest away from the The aborted “ kiss-in” resumed at 3 pm entrance to the Omni convention hall. The Thursday under the watchful eye of Shirley "free speech area” was isolated: any activity Franklin. And a good time was had by all. # Symbols A Fifty Year Retrospective August 12-O ctober9 PORTLAND ART M USEUM *1219 S.W. PARK • 226-2811 Dukakis administration would be sensitive — and responsive — to lesbian and gay issues. he Gay and Lesbian Caucus at the 1988 Melinda Daniels, a delegate from Georgia, Democratic National Convention failed was voted the Guts Award by the Gay and in its bid to nominate Perry Watkins as a candi I Lesbian Caucus for her courage in asking her date for vice president of the United States. state delegation to approve a resolution Watkins is a U S. Army staff sergeant who formulated by the caucus. The Georgia delega received a favorable ruling from the U S. Court tion turned down Daniels's request. Daniels, a of Appeals for the 9th District in his suit against lesbian, made her presentation in the full light the military ban on homosexuals for which he of television cameras. She reported that the next was discharged seven years ago. In less than 24 day her boss told her to “ stay away from the hours, caucus members gathered 237 signatures cameras.” of the 300 (10 percent of total delegates to the About 20 percent of state delegations convention) needed for nomination. approved the resolution that urged Dukakis to The only openly gay man to be nominated to issue an executive order and to show a clear the nation’s number-two office was the late commitment in the fight against AIDS and Melvin Boozer, a civil rights activist who lived homophobia, among other issues. The Oregon in Washington. D.C. Boozer's name was placed delegation approved the resolution, as well as a in nomination at the 1980 Democratic National resolution written by gay Oregon delegate Convention. Randy Sullivan that condemns Measure 8. the Attempts to include the "G ” and “ L” words Oregon Citizens Alliance’s attack on human in Michael Dukakis’s acceptance speech also rights. Secretary of State Barbara Roberts made failed. However. Dukakis forces took great an eloquent speech in support of Sullivan’s pains to assure the gay and lesbian caucus that a resolution, which was unanimously approved. • T Snapshots of Atlanta s my silhouette was being drawn at the “ die-in” on Monday morning. I heard a voice reading the names of what seemed an endless number of people who had died from AIDS who shared my surname. 1 left a few tears in the outline on that pavement as I wrote the name of Jerry West. A Sporatomd by a m ajor grant from im M E s r COMMUNICATIONS just I mi • 4 • August IVHK @ Oregon Art Institute M umud CoMqt A ftr* Canw M axine Wolfe of ACT UP facilitating the meeting at City Hall Maxine. Frank, Neil, Heidi and all the other ACT UP of New York people leading the fight for our rights and fighting back against AIDS and homophobia. All these people are heroes — they are fearless, exemplary individuals. tlanta's commissioner of public safety leading gay and lesbian demonstrators from the state Capitol to City Hall past a large group of epithet-chanting Christian funda mentalists. • A