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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1992)
J im « o u * T withdraw support of the military’s anti-gay and lesbian bias and tiptoeing around the AIDS issue to avoid offending the far right. Independent candidate Ross Perot initially promised Firm sup port for AIDS research, but then also said he would not appoint homosexuals to high govern On May 19, U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D- ment positions. Colo.) introduced in Congress the Military Free dom Act of 1992, which seeks for the First time to directly repeal the military policy banning gays Quayie denounces gay from serving in the military. Schroeder called the Department of Defense policy “stupid,” based and lesbian parents solely on anti-gay prejudice, adding that numer Speaking to a national convention of Southern ous court actions and direct appeals to President Baptists, Vice President Dan Quayie asserted that George Bush or Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney it is “wrong” for gay and lesbian couples to be have been unsuccessful. parents. “The cultural elites respect neither tradi The bill preserves rules and policies regarding tion nor standards,” Quayie said. “They believe sexual misconduct by military members regard moral truths are relative and that all lifestyles are less of sexual orientation. “The issue is not equal. They seem to think that the family is an whether gay men and lesbians should serve,” said arbitrary arrangement of people who decided to openly gay Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.); “they live under the same roof, that fathers are dispens always have, and they always will. The question able, and that parents need not be married or even is whether they will be able to do so openly, with of opposite sexes. They are wrong!” dignity and with pride.” The 16,000 Baptists burst into vigorous ap Recently, active Navy pilot Lt. Tracy Thome plause. Earlier, the delegates overwhelmingly came out on ABC’s Nightline program, citing a passed a resolution banning local churches that “ripe political climate," adding that he had seen “afFirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behav “too much discrimination” in the military to re ior.” The Southern Baptist Convention is main silent any longer. Over 14,000 service America’s largest Protestant convention, with 16 personnel have been discharged since 1982 for million members. their sexual orientation. The most noteworthy recently was of decorated Vietnam veteran and Washington National Guard Colonel Margarethe Perot representatives Cammermeyer, one of the highest ranking sol attempt to soften diers ever removed for homosexuality. Landmark House bill challenges military anti-gay bias Human Rights Campaign Fund endorses Clinton for President The nation’s largest lesbian and gay political organization, the Human Rights Campaign Fund, has announced its support for Bill Clinton for President of the United States, the first time in its 11 year history that it has endorsed a presidential candidate. Noted Fund co-chair Laura Altschul, “After 12 years of ignorance, inaction, and indif ference, the choice in 1992 is too important for our community to stand on the sidelines.” Fund executive director Tim McFeeley added that Gov. Clinton had been among the first candi dates to answer a detailed questionnaire on les bian and gay issues, and “On issues ranging from discrimination in the military to AIDS education. Bill Clinton is on the side of lesbian and gay America.” While candidates, particularly Democratic hopefuls, have met with and raised money from the gay community in the past, they have never done so as publicly as they have been recently, a trend at least partially attributed to the spread of the AIDS virus. An estimated one out of every four Americans now knows someone with AIDS. On May 18, while addressing a large audience of lesbians and gays in front of a dozen television cameras, Clinton’s eyes Filled with tears when, as he later told a friend, he realized that many of these young professionals carried the HIV virus and would die before their time. Clinton has led the way in making gays, lesbians and AIDS activists part of his campaign, stating, “We can’t afford to waste the capacities, the contributions, the hearts, the souls, the minds of the gay and lesbian Americans.” Republicans have been far more reticent in supporting lesbian and gay causes, refusing to homophobic remarks Gay and lesbian activists met with representa tives of the H. Ross Perot campaign in Washing ton, D.C. following the uproar caused by Perot’s “insulting and offensive” comments on gays in the military and the Cabinet. During a 20/20 interview on May 29, Perot stated that he would not hire openly gay or lesbian cabinet members • and opposed lesbians and gays serving in the military. “It will distract from the work to be done,” Perot told ABC’s Barbara Walters, add ing, “I don’t think it’s realistic” for gays to serve in the military. Representatives from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Queer Nation, and the Hu man Rights Campaign Fund met at the District of Columbia Perot petition office on June 8, but were locked out of the office by Perot staffers in the presence of the national media. During the meet ing outside the office, activists called on Perot to renounce his earlier homophobic stands, to pub licly condemn discrimination based on sexual orientation, and to endorse the five-point United for AIDS Action platform on AIDS leadership, care, research, education, and discrimination. “I believe Mr. Perot is very sensitive to this issue,“ said Jim Brown, regional Perot represen tative and liaison to the Perot Dallas office. “Any effort to exclude anyone is wrong.” However, Perot representatives on several occasions stated that they cannot speak for Mr. Perot. NGLTF is notifying its 18,000 members to contact the Perot Campaign office in Dallas and urge him to support gay and lesbian civil rights. Activists are urged to contact Perot at H. Ross Perot Petition Committee, PO Box 517025, Dal las, TX 75251-7025, phone (800) 685-7777 or (800) 826-9540, fax (800) 925-1300. Act Up suggests sending gay positive material through the fax, or simply put the bite on Perot’s pocket- book by calling his 800 numbers. Jim Hunger REPORT HOMOPHOBIC VIOLENCE July f9 9 2 T 9 3.5" x 3.5" Vinyl Removable Anti-OCA Bumper Stickers $ 1 each Send SASE to: J. Otis • sp ecializin g in deep m uscle m assage • red u ce stress and an x iety • h ourly rates: in-$30 • out $35 13807 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Box 121 Milwaukie, OR 97222 Up to 20 can be shipped in one envelope HAL JONES AUTOMOTIVE JOY ENTERPRISES We love our just out customers. We join you in celebrating Lesbian and Gay Pride Month. 5111 NE Fremont Portland, OR 97213 281-7831 # 4016 N.E. Fremont 288-1130 G ary L uckey Gary Luckey , Portland's first non-tipping salon.
