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