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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1991)
¡i • ▼ D K t m b c r 1991 ▼ jus* owl national briefs Video sways vote % Measure M, which passed by only 63 votes in a city of 57,000 registered voters, will strike sexual orientation protections from Concord, C alifornia’s human rights ordinance. A homophobic videotape is apparently responsible for the narrow vote to repeal the gay rights law. Mayor Byron Campbell, who chaired the “No on M" campaign, said he would ask for a recount. The tape, which showed nudity at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Parade along with graphic depictions of gay sex, was distributed city-wide shortly before the election. The Rev. Lloyd Mashore, who was elected to the City Council on an anti-gay platform two years ago and is cur rently the subject of a recall drive, warns in the videotape that “this will happen in Concord.” The Concord videotape is of particular con cern to gay and lesbian rights proponents in Port land because of a similar tape being distributed by the anti-gay Oregon Citizens Alliance. Election day, Nov. 5, was mostly good to gays and lesbians around the U.S. Three newcomers were elected to public office, no incumbents were defeated, and half of the various anti-gay mea sures nationwide failed. In New York City, two openly gay men, Tom Duane and Antonio Pagan, were elected to the city council. Duane, who is also openly HIV- positive, defeated openly lesbian Liz Abzug, daughter of former Congresswoman Bella Abzug. The race may have been the first to pit two openly gay candidates against one another. Two gay activists were re-elected to city coun cil seats-David Scondras in Boston and Joe Her- zenberg in Chapel Hill, N.C. About 54 percent of St. Paul, Minn, voters said no to a measure that would have deleted all references to sexual orientation from the city’s human rights ordinance. In San Francisco, nearly 60 percent of voters said no to a proposal that would have repealed the city’s year-old domestic partners law. Hartwig cleared The Navy has apologized for wrongly accus ing sailor Clayton M. Hartwig of committing suicidal sabotage in the 1989 U.S.S. Iowa explo sion that killed 47 crewmen. The Navy had cast Hartwig as a jilted homo sexual lover who caused the explosion in a fit of depression and anger. For family members and gay activists, even the unusual public nature of the Navy's exonera tion was too little, too late. While the Navy’s public apology pleased Hartwig's mother, she said she planned to pro ceed with her $40 million lawsuit. HIV suit In what could become a landmark case, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., dental assistant fired for refus ing to take an HIV test is suing his former em ployer, a private dental office. Allan Terl, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union who says Florida law clearly bars discrimination based on HIV status, has filed a complaint with the state’s Commission on Hu man Relations. Although the dental assistant had received two pay raises and was an employee of the month, he was terminated in August for refusing to comply with an office-wide policy requiring HIV testing. AIDS redefined Effective Jan. 1,1992, the Centers for Disease Control will expand the definition of AIDS to include HIV-positive people with T-cell counts at or below 200. This broadening of the definition for the first time since 1987 is designed to help more people with AIDS gain access to health care and social services. It will also further drain limited re sources, underscoring the need for additional support from the government. While the new AIDS definition is generally seen as a step forward, it does not include recent information on HIV disease in women. While the CDC will add cervical cancer and recurring vagi nal candidiasis to the “B category” of HIV infec tion, these conditions currently are not sufficient to qualify women for state medical assistance programs. As a result, many women are dying from HIV disease without ever receiving an official AIDS diagnosis. Out in LA Two stars of old TV sitcoms came out of the closet on National Coming Out Day, OcL 11, by contacting the Associated Press’ Los Angeles bureau. Dick Sargent, 61, who played Darrin Stephens on ABC’s “Bewitched” from 1969-72, said he approached the wire service to show that gays are normal people. “The whole world contains gays,” Sargent noted. “For us to be ashamed to be gay is probably COME OUT TO ONE PERSON A MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR. Rex Wockner Catalog targets gays, lesbians A wide range of merchandise-firom jewelry and luggage to clothing and designer dishes-is available in the premiere issueof“Shocking Gray,” a mail-order catalog produced by and for the gay and lesbian community. Catalog publishers promise to donate a per centage of all revenues to gay and lesbian causes, from AIDS research to political lobby groups. The catalog features gay and lesbian couples as models. Those interested in obtaining a catalog may write to “Shocking Gray,” 1216 East Euclid, San Antonio, TX 78212, or may telephone the com pany toll free at 1 (800) 788-4729. F O R CHALLENGE TO THE COMMUNITY Coming out day is not just one day out of the year. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals are the invisible minority. Our silence allows groups such as the OCA to attack us. The "straight’’ community inadvertently allows this to happen because they see only images of our community. These images do not put our whole face foreward, let alone positive images many times. Of the people you have come out to, how many would vote for the OCA's abnormal behavior initiative? Not many, because you have given them a reason not to. By being who you are, they have become personally connected to someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual. But you must tell them! Therefore the No on Hate campaign, to stop the OCA's abnormal behavior initiative, is making this challenge to the community: why the suicide rate of gay and lesbian teens is three times the average for other teenagers.” Actress Sheila James KuehL 50, who played ZeldaGilroy on CBS ’ “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” from 1959-63 also contacted AP. Kuehl said TV executives figured her out in 1965 and terminated her career. Also coming out in L.A. OcL 11 were 25 school teachers and a schoolboard member who held a press conference to proclaim their homo sexuality. “Whin someone comes out like this, it’s ex citing and an affirmation that we are everywhere, at all levels of life and careers," said L. A. School Board member Jeff Horton, 43. “I hope...it will put to rest the most vicious stereotype of gays and lesbians-that they are somehow unfit to work with children.” B Y 1020 NF 2nd Ave, Suite 200 Holladay Fark Prof Bldg Portland, OR 97232 It’s up to you to make your own decisions. If you choose abortion, it’s up to us to provide support and respect as well as confidential quality care. Services include: Free Walk in Pregnancy Testing Abortion through 20wks Birth Control Options (including the Cervical Cap) Annual Exams f J HEALTH FEMINIST WOMEN'S CENTER 233-0808 3815 SW Hall Blvd Beaver Creek Village Beaverton, OR 97005 646-4204 D eni S tarr 'ATTORNEY AT LAW Tell them about yourself, tell them about the OCA's initiative, tell them not to sign the initiative. Let's stop this initiative with our most powerful weapon - ourselves! Educate yourself. Educate others. Join the NO ON HATE campaign. Donate your time, your money, your voice. The time is now to stop oppression in Oregon! J u stitia V i e t A rm is V Accidents and Injuries Family Law Tenant rights Employment Rights Real Estate w ills Debt Collections Name change/gender reassignment A call to action from the NO O N HATE PD X/M etro PAC PO BOX 2 7 2 5 , Portland, Or. 9 7 2 0 8 -2 7 2 5 5 0 3 -2 3 0 -9 4 3 0 Suite 521 408 SW Second Portland, OR 97204 ( 503 ) 274-7006