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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1992)
8 T jan y ary 1 9 9 2 ▼ ju at ou* Falwell anti-gay campaign The Rev. Jerry Falwell, the conservative Vir ginia televangelist who founded the Moral Major ity in the 1970’s, announced a “national battle plan” in a letter to his followers to defeat what he called the “radical homosexual m ovem ent” Un der the letterhead of the Liberty Foundation, a sister organization of the Moral Majority, Falwell outlined several recent victories by gay and les bian rights advocates and predicted that if they are not stopped, “America is on the road to becoming THE NEXT SODOM AND GOMORRAH!” “ M y h eart breaks for these people,” Falwell wrote, "they are “ ■^ “ so consumed with their deviant sexuality. We certainly want to win them to Christ. We surely love their souls. And we must reach out to them with the Gospel. But we must awaken to their wicked agenda for America!” he added, circling the words “wicked agenda.” The letter proclaimed, “WE CANNOT ALLOW HOMOSEXUALS TO RULE AMERICA!" To prevent that, Falwell announced that he has a “national battle plan to defeat the radical homosexual movement,” al though he does not outline it beyond requesting $35 from letter recipients. Baltimore Alternative Surprising Lutheran coalition raises money for AIDS agencies Lutherans, conservative and liberal, gay and non-gay, all joined together recently at Grace Lutheran Church in Richmond, California for a fund-raising banquet called “Grace and Comfort.” Proceeds totalling over 54,000 were divided be tween local AIDS service organizations and 10 percent went to benefit the Township AIDS Project in Soweto, Africa. The Rev. Simon Farisani, Dean of the Duvhala- Lebowa District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, described how the legacy of apartheid is compounding the effects of the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. “Thank you for remembering South Africa!” he proclaimed several times. Other participants in the event included such diverse individuals and groups as the Missouri Synod District President, an Evangelical Lutheran Churchof America Bishop, Lutherans Concerned of San Francisco, Lutheran AIDS Network, Rich mond City Councilwomen, and Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans. The event was spon sored by Lutheran Concemed/San Francisco and the Sierra Pacific Synod AIDS Task Force. Second Stone Portland Archdiocese pushing HIV sensitivity Under the direction o f the Rev. Bruce Cwiekowski of the Catholic AIDS Ministry, the % & 4L /A 91 ¡9 *r> V Using latex condoms with water-based lubricants will help prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. Making a personal commitment to always practice safer sex is your best assurance of many New Year's celebrations to come. Make 1992 your "Year of the Condom". Volunteer Training: Join us for our upcoming training for new volunteers interested in working in Prevention/Outreach or on our Oregon AIDS Hotline. Training will be held February 1,5,8 and 12. Please call CAP today for a volunteer application! CASCADE AIDS PROJECT PREVENTION/OUTREACH SER VICES 223-5907 V/TDD Dignity community dinner Each year Dignity Portland, the lesbian and gay organization for Catholics, thanks the com munity groups and organizations that create a positive role model for all of us. This year’s dinner will be held on Jan. 18 at the St. Francis Church. Dignity will be honoring the Portland Gay M en’s Chorus and the Portland Lesbian Choir for their efforts in “bridging the gender gap” within the community. Walla Walla College hears about Kinship Kinship International, the gay and lesbian support group for Seventh Day Adventists, re ceived a rash o f phone calls from Walla Walla College students due largely to an article pub- lished in the student newspaper, the Collegian. The front-page article was favorable, and it included the toll-free number for the hotline in the first paragraph. According to the article, interest was started when Kinship posters began appearing around campus advertising the toll-free number. Second Stone ■46k Proper use increases condom effectiveness Archdiocese of Portland is encouraging congre gations to become more involved in ministry with people affected by HIV disease. The AIDS Min istry has created 11 articles to be used by churches to replace fiction with facts about AIDS, and to express the Catholic Church’s concern and com passion for those afflicted with the HIV virus. MCC celebrates anniversary with special guest Metropolitan Community Church of Portland is celebrating its 16th anniversary Jan. 17-19. The Rev. Dr. A. Stephen Pieters, who is the field director o f the Universal Fellowship of Metro politan Community Church’s AIDS Ministry, will be in Portland for the celebration. Pieters is a long-term survivor o f AIDS. His remarkable story of full recovery serves as an inspiring ex ample o f healing and hope. Pieters has been a member of MCC for 15 years. From 1979 to 1982, he was the pastor of MCC in Hartford, Connecticut. He has served as field director o f UFMCC AIDS Ministry since 1987. In April 1984, he was diagnosed with acquired immune difficiency syndrome. His diseases in clude Kaposis’s Sarcoma as well as stage four lymphoma, he was told by one health professional that he would not live to see 1985. Not only did he live to see 1985, but that year he participated in an experimental anti-viral drug trial during which his cancer went into complete remission. He continues to enjoy good health and according to his physician at the University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Cen ter, he is “clinically well in all respects.” Since his diagnosis, Pieters has served as an officer of the board of directors o f AIDS Project Los Angeles, and on the Executive Committee of the AIDS Interfailh Council o f Southern Cali fornia. He has written many articles about his experiences with AIDS and currently edits ALERT, UFMCC ’ s monthly newsletter on AIDS. Pieters has received numerous awards for his ministry in the AIDS crisis from religious, hu manitarian, and political organizations. For more information on Pieters speaking schedule, contact the church office at 281-8660. The Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 am, Jan. 19, will feature the Rev. Pieters. MCC is located at 1644 NE 24th (at Broadway). Com piled by M atthew Nelson, an ordained m inister o f the United Church o f Christ
