Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1990)
Jmt out T December f 000 T i l know) sued thins *‘; Tutu defends gays and lesbians P/FLAG program supported by Episcopalians womantrelf hristians have no option but to defend all the oppressed, including gays and lesbi ans, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said on Aug. 16, 1990, in London, Ontario. Tutu was in Canada on a ten-day trip, which included ad dressing the United Church of Canada’s General Council meeting in London. The Archbishop told reports that lesbians and gay men are “marginalized,” treated in a special discrimina tory way. “Our faith cannot allow this to hap pen,” he said on the steps of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in London. C ight-wing religious and political leaders who wave the banner of “ traditional fam ily values” are a m ajor im pedim ent to overcoming the teen suicide problem according to a parent-church-educator coalition that an nounced a suicide prevention program focused on gay and lesbian youth. The project, “Respect All Youth,” is being undertaken by the Federation o f Par ents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, with financial assis tance from the United Thank O f fering Fund o f the Episcopal Church. THE REV. M ATTHEW NELSON Its principal function will be to develop and furnish training materials to those who work with youth, according to Paulette Goodman, President of P/FLAG. The organization’s anti-discrimina tion aims were recently endorsed by First Lady Barbara Bush. Government studies show that lesbian and gay teenagers are up to three times as likely to attempt suicide as other young people, because of the stigma society places on them. Neverthe less, Congressm an W illiam Dannem eyer (R- Calif.) recently prevailed upon Louis Sullivan, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to disavow the studies in the interest of “traditional family values.” Speaking strongly in support of the P/FLAG announcement were the Right Reverent Oliver Bailey Garver, Jr., Suffragan Bishop of the Epis copal Diocese of Los Angeles; and Jackie Gold berg, president of the Los Angeles City School Board. Goldberg’s district undertook the first program in the nation to initiate counseling for gay and lesbian high school students. Also endorsing the program were Virginia Uribe, director of Project 10; and Mary Griffith, a mother whose son died because of her earlier misguided religious beliefs and lack of informa tion. Griffith, a mother of four, said that her gay son, at her urging, resorted to prayer and “repara tive” therapy with religious counselors in the vain attempt to become heterosexual. At the age of 20, convinced that he was evil in the eyes of God, he threw himself off an overpass and into the path o f an 18-wheel semi-trailer. It would not have happened, she is now convinced, if there had been programs at school and elsewhere that “could have offset what he was told by me at home and by others in our church.” Griffith is now president o f the Mount Diable, California, chapter of P/FLAG. Her object, she said, is to help other parents avoid the tragedy that befell her family. R a" Ä f' tìo k r l o, condo"1-53'6 1 I M w m ..in „ Choose to "L a ' „ vaheóos d brown wraPP*. and over a ho — ZZ« 9 m r n a a ^ Ä ^ " '* " r4Lu (503) 342-2782 Southern Baptists bash Bush resident Bush has betrayed the trust of mil lions of Southern Baptists by inviting homosexuals to the White House for a sec- o n dtim e, a high Baptist official charges. The White House invited gay representatives to wit ness Bush’s July 26 signing of the American Dis abilities Act. Richard Land, head of the South ern Baptists’ Christian Life Commission, sent a letter to President Bush on Aug. 1, asking to meet with him to “discuss how your policies co incide with the agenda of the homosexual lobby.” Large numbers of Southern Baptists want to know why you are giving such official recognition to a hom osexual-lesbian lifestyle they find abhorrent,” Land wrote. This is the second time this year that Land has registered consternation over a White House invitation to gay and lesbian representatives. In April, mem bers of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force were there to see Bush sign anti-hate crime leg islation. At that time Land wrote, “For the White House to give this kind of acceptance to homo sexuals is inconsistent with its attempts to appear pro-family. The White House can’t walk both sides of the street,” he said. ‘T hey can’t be seen as both pro-family and pro-homosexual. Evan gelicals did not vote for George Bush with the prospect of his doing this.” The fallout over Bush’s April invitation to NLGTF cost him an appearance at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in June. Having originally sought an invitation to address the convention, Bush decided not to go after several Southern Baptist leaders suggested that he would receive a cool welcome. ‘T h is second invitation to the homosexual lobby has grievously damaged your administration’s standing among many o f my constituents and has led many of us to ask, ‘Does the White House no longer care about our con cerns?’” Land said in his August letter. As a result of the furor. President Bush’s key link to the religious right and other conservative constituencies was fired from his White House job after he declined to support the White House invitations. -Excerpted from Integrity News and Notes P Travel Adventures for Women Any woman can womantrek to adventure, unbounded by age, fitness or daring. Immerse yourself in the exotic sights and culture o f the world's destinations. You'll be amazed at how much you see and learn in the camaraderie o f women. 1-800-477-TREK Free brochure 206/325-4772 PO Box 20643, Seattle, WA 98102 Active, Touring & Private World Adventure Tours M aris B est F riend Premium Foods Holiday Fashions ChristmasCards&Ornaments Books & Magazines T-Shirts Toys (in many breeds) Figurines Beds & Bowls And Much More 230-0237 3445 Southeast Hawthorne Bled. Holiday Hours Mon.-Sat. 10-9 & Sun. 12-5 Come buy a gift for your mother. Your brother. Or your best friend. LetMeWdk You Home. Helping you find your way is what my job is all about. You’ll want to explore the feel and character of many different neighborhoods and discover types and styles of homes that suit your personality and needs. When it comes time for financing, facts and figures, I’ll keep you up to date on market trends, investment potential and lenders. From your dream to your dream come true, I’ll be with you all the way. Cathy Siemens Bridgetown Realty ( 503 ) 287-9370 (503) 238-0135 ( home )