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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1988)
Senate actions bash gays T wo recent actions by the United States Senate affirmed once again that an over whelming majority of senators are anti-gay. An amendment to a bill appropriating $1.244 billion for AIDS research, care and education would forbid use of federal funds “ in materials, curriculums, or programs that promote or encourage homosexuality, or to use words stating that homosexuality is 'normal,' ‘natural,’ or ‘healthy.' “ The amendment was introduced by Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.) after several attempts by Jesse Heims (R-N.C.) to attach anti-gay and anti-AIDS amendments to the bill had been defeated. Senators voted 82-15 against a motion to table the Humphrey amendment. Oregon Sens. Mark Hatfield and Bob Pack- wood voted with the majority. In October 1987, both senators voted in favor of the notorious Helms amendment. Sen. Hatfield voted for and Sen Packwood voted against an amendment to a District o f Columbia appropriations bill that exempts religious educational institutions from comply ing with the Washington, D C ., gay rights law. The amendment undermines a recent legal deci sion requiring Georgetown University (Roman Catholic) to grant equal access to facilities and funds to its gay and lesbian student groups. (The District of Columbia is a federal territory and all laws, regulations and policies of the District are subject to review and reversal by the U S. Congress.) The amendment was introduced by Sen. William Armstrong (R-Colo.) and passed by a vote of 58-33. Plans are also in motion to secure Pioneer Courthouse Square for a noon rally on National Coming Out Day, October 11. Beginning in the first week of October and continuing until the election, human billboards will be set up on bridges and busy streets throughout the metropolitan area. The organizeijof these events, a group of concerned lesbians and gays who invite all Lesbian appointed to Democratic people to join in the struggle, meets each National Committee Tuesday at 6:30 pm in the back room of the Embers, located at Northwest Broadway and ichael Dukakis, the Democratic Couch Street. The group is, at this writing, presidential nominee, has named lesbian activist Jean O'Leary as an at-large unnamed. (Maybe it’s better that way.) member of the Democratic National Commit tee. O ’Leary’s appointment marks the first time Town Hall faces Measure 8 an open lesbian has been named to the govern ATU-TV’s Town Hall (Channel 2 in ing body of the National Democratic Party. Portland) will take a look at Measure 8 O ’Leary, a 17-year veteran of Democratic and its ramifications for the gay and lesbian Party politics, served as a Dukakis whip at the community on November 6, two days before Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. the general election. In order to provide a During the Carter administration, O ’Leary or balanced presentation, Town Hall's producers ganized the first and only meeting of gay and are dividing the limited seating between Oregon lesbian leaders held in the White House. In Citizens Alliance (sponsors of the anti-gay 1977, President Carter appointed O’Leary to ballot measure) and Oregonians for Fairness. the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year, the first time an openly gay person had been appointed to a presidential commission. Carter later named Oops! O ’Leary to his National Advisory Commission on the Status of Women. he Oregon Democratic Party has never For the past seven years, O ’Leary has been elected an openly gay man or woman as a executive director o f National Gay Rights member of a delegation to our national conven Advocates, a nonprofit, impact litigation firm tion” (Just Out, July 1988). committed to promoting civil rights for lesbians Well, you know how it is when you say never and gays. — or always. Way back in 1976, the Oregon Democratic Party elected its first openly gay delegate, Richard Pastega, a lifelong resident of “ No names” forge ahead Klamath Falls. Pastega called to tell us that he eginning Friday, September 2, gays and was a delegate committed to the candidacy of lesbians and their supporters will gather at Jerry Brown, and that he was then as now an Pioneer Courthouse from 4:30 to 6 pm to openly gay man. participate in demonstrations against the bigoted Pastega is still active in politics and is the and discriminatory Ballot Measure 8. The only openly gay person holding an elective demonstrations will continue each Friday until office in Oregon. (We would love being proved further notice. wrong on this.) Organizers of the weekly events say that they Pastega is a member of the Klamath Falls will also continue to protest the removal of City Council. He has recently been under fire in Cascade AIDS Project’s AIDS-education ads a controversy over funding for streetlights in from Tri-Met buses. The demonstrations will that city. Judging from letters to the editor feature educational materials, placards and printed in the Klamath Falls Herald and News signs to alert the general public to the explicit concerning the complicated matter, Pastega is dangers in the ballot measure. something of a local hero. A High Noon-style “ Bring a sign and join us,” said Fred showdown against a barrage of political Menard. “ And if people want copies of the maneuverings led to censure by his opponents CAP posters; I have a good supply. Call me at on the city council. (We’ll have more on this 233-7216.” next month.) m and lascivious conduct for compensation,” according to the Bay Area Reporter. The man in whose home the sexually explicit materials were found was charged with running a house of prostitution. W hat's ^ going on V here? j B B O W N dishonorably discharged after court-martial convictions of sodomy and “ indecent acts." Six other women have been discharged or are awaiting findings on their cases. As many as 30 women may face disciplinary action due to the investigation, according to the Washington Blade. The investigation was prompted by a two- year-old report by the Defense Advisory Com mittee on Women in the Service that called homosexuality a major problem in the military. On the West Coast, four male Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton were discharged and as many as 25 others are under investigation Marines declare war on queers after Oceanside, California, police raided the n an ongoing investigation into lesbian home of a local resident and discovered videos activity, two female Marines stationed at and still photographs depicting Marines posing Parris Island Training Center in South Carolina nude and performing sex acts in uniform. The have been sentenced to one year in prison and discharged Marines were convicted of “ lewd I HAWAII! Waikiki Special (till Dec. 15) $439 P.P.D.O. Inc udes Round Trip air, 7 nights Waikiki Surf Main. 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