Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1989)
justneinrs This Holiday, Give The Gift of Health & Well Being — To Yourself or a Loved One. — Urvashi Vaid National Gay and Lesbian Task Force B Y R E X W O C K N E R n a weekend highlighted by renewed focus on the anti-gay policies of the U. S. mili tary, more than 500 leading activists from 33 states strategized in suburban Washington November 9-12 at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force “Creating Change” conference. Among the featured guests was former U. S. Army staff sergeant Perry Watkins, who was booted from the military for being gay in 1982, 15 years after he first told his superiors he was a homosexual. Following W atkins’s spirited Veteran’s Day address to the gathering, some 200 activists converged on the White House to demand that the military treat gays and straights equally. Pentagon policy states that homosexuality is “incompatible with military service” because, among other things, it leads to a “breakdown in morale and discipline.” Watkins’s case is still winding through the courts. Workshops at the second annual confab ran the gamut from practical to philosophical. While a group attending “Media 101” intently took notes on the differences between a “press release," a “media advisory” and a “backgrounder,” activists next door were “Unlearning Sexism” and “Organizing Against Violence.” Other sessions discussed “Gay and Lesbian Seniors,” ‘Teaching Them About Us,” "Working With Law Enforcement,” “Lobbying 101,” and “De-Gaying and Re- Gaying AIDS.” The conference is an outgrowth of 1988’s “War Conference” in rural Virginia. At that event, 200 leading activists gathered by invitation only to respond to the “war” against gays and lesbians by conservative politicians. I fundamentalist Christians and others. But unlike the Was Conference, NGLTF’s event is open to anyone and is designed to attract both neophyte activists from Boise, Idaho and sophisticated old-timers from New York. “This is the only time that virtually everybody who is anybody working full-time in the movement gets together and talks politics," said NGLTF executive director Urvashi Vaid. “The leadership of gay and lesbian America is here and that’s very exciting.” As the conference convened amidst the distraction of East Germany, conferees also had to face the news that three days earlier gays lost all five gay-related voters’ referenda that were on election ballots around the country — including San Francisco’s landmark domestic partner ordinance. According to Vaid, “W e’re only going to continue to face such referenda in the ’90s and that makes this conference all the more important. To beat these things,” she said, “we need better communication, better grass roots mobilization, and we need to become more serious political players.” Gay celebrities attending included author Vito Russo, former NGLTF head Virginia Apuzzo, PWA Coalition founder Michael Callen, historian John D ’Emilio, feminist author Charlotte Bunch, Shanti Project’s Eric Rofes, International Lesbian and Gay Association secretariat general Lisa Power, Catholic activist Brian McNaught, historian Allan Berube, and contingents from all major U. S. gay rights organizations. Next year’s conference will be held in Minneapolis and the gathering will move around the country every second year thereafter. conclusion is that the military services will soon be asked by the courts of the Congress to re-examine their policies and practices regarding recruitment and retention o f men and women whose sexual interests deviate from the customary.” The PERSEREC report invites Congres sional intervention to drag the Pentagon kicking and screaming into the 1990s. Urge your Congressional representatives to work for rescission of the DoD policy of exclusion ollowing the release on October 18 of and discharge. This policy, which declares “Nonconforming Sexual Orientations and Military Suitability,” an internal Department that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service,” was established in 1943 and of Defense (DoD) report which openly criti has accounted for the early discharges — cizes the DoD policy of excluding and dis many of them under less than honorable charging gay men and lesbians from the conditions — of 100,000 men and women. Armed Forces, the Pentagon is extremely vulnerable to political pressure to rescind its Additionally, a 1989 Gallup poll indicated homophobic and dangerous policy. that 60 percent of respondents believed that Senators and Representatives need to hear gay men and lesbians should be allowed to from constituents that the Pentagon must serve in the Armed Forces. implement all recommendations of the Addresses and telephone numbers for congresspersons are listed in the blue pages of PERSEREC report, authored by Theodore local telephone directories under the Sarbin and Kenneth Karols. The authors congresspersons’ names; Senators: Mark O. state, “Under prevailing social conditions, a Hatfield and Bob Packwood; Representatives: public admission of homosexuality carries Les AuCoin, Bob Smith, Ron Wyden, Peter less stigma than in earlier times, and is no DeFazio, and Denny Smith. ▼ legal bar to most employment....Our studied Divorce: $65.00 Save up to 50% on F iling Fees, no court appearances, no extra charge for children or property. Activists plot course for Gay '90s "We need better communication, better grass roots mobilization, and we need to become more serious political players" Legal Alternatives Mention Just Out for these discounts. (Purchase certificates before Dec. 21st.) • Full Body O n « Hour Massage reg. 30.00. only 20.00 • O n « Hour Psychic Reading (tape men reg. 50.00, only 35.00 • One Hour Personal Counseling reg. 45.00. only 30.00 Faye Pietrokowsky 222-7304 Coil for appointm ent or information. Gift Certificates Available. Wills: $45 Business Incorporation: $75 Bankruptcy: $75 Complete preparation o f all legal documents. Thousands successfully prepared. L e g a l A lt e r n a t iv e s (5 0 3 ) 2 5 5 -7 4 3 5 HAPPY HOLIDAYS Bring this ad and enjoy your two for one haircuts. Good through Dec 31.1989. t Perms • Colors • Cuts Full Service Salon Featuring Focus 21 Mastey Oggi The Portland Lesbian Choir ---------- PRESENT---------- SECOND ANNUAL The Lesbian Community Project New Year's Action alert: military gays and lesbians need your help now F WELCOME IT! THE GAY 9 0 's DANCIN' TO THE HOT TUNES SPUN BY DJ JANICE ALL AGES WELCOME • Free Champagne at Midnight •M unchies and Party Favors •Non-Alcoholic and Alcoholic Drinks 8pm-lam Echo Theatre 1515 SE 37th T ickets available at A Woman’s Place Bookstore just out Oregon's complete lesbian and gay connection. $5.50 ($4.50 LC P m em bers) in advance $7.50 ($6.50 LC P m em bers) at the door just out V 11 V December 1989