2 ▼ aprii 1, 1 0 0 4 ▼ juat out
just out
s in c e 1 9 8 3
steppin’ out
PUBLISHER
contents
Renée LaChance
EDITOR
Ariel Waterwoman
V0L.11 NO. 11 APRIL 1,1994
CALENDAR EDITOR
Meroc Elahi
FEATURES
PHOTOGRAPHER
Access and
community
Linda Klicwer
REPORTER
Lesbians and gay men with
disabilities
<pp. 15-16)
Pamela Lyons
ADVERTISING
Fred Allcmann
Meg Grace
E. Ann Hinds
Jewel Robinson
Equal access
The ADA is a first step to
ending discrimination
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
(p. 17)
E. Ann Hinds
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Rupert Kinnard
DEPARTMENTS
COPY EDITOR
World news
Kelly M. Bryan
PROOFREADER
Thomas Lauderdale
TYPESETTERS
The new VOICES billboard at Outside-In, 1236 SW Salmon St.
Dee StarDancer Fultz
Jann Gilbert
DISTRIBUTION
Up Front Distribution
CONTRIBUTORS
Miss Betsy Hunt
Bob Roehr
Howard N. Dana
Rupert Kinnard
Lee Lynch
Marc Davis
guest editorial
One door opens
Gays, immigrants and earthquake relief mix
to protect some and discriminate against others
▼
fust out is published on the first and
third F riday o f each m onth. Copyright
01994 by Just out No part of Just out
may be reproduced without written per
mission from the publisher.
The submivaon of written and graphic
m aterials is welcomed. Written material
should be typed and double-spaced. Just
out reserves the right to edit for grammar,
punctuation, style, liability concerns and
length. We will reject or edit articles or
advertisements that are offensive, de
meaning or may result in legal action. Just
out consults the Associated Press Style
Book and Libel M anual on editorial
decisions.
Letters to the editor should be limited to
two double-spaced typed pages. Deadline for
submissions to the editorial department and
for the Calendar is the Thursday before the
first and third liriday for the nest issue Views
expressed in letters to the editor, columns and
features are not necessarily those of the
publisher.
The display advertising deadline is the
Monday after the first and third Ixiday for
the next issue.
Classified ads must be received at the
office of Just out by the Monday after
the first and third Friday for the next issue,
along with payment Ads will not be taken
over the telephone.
Ad policy. No sexually exploitive
advertising will be accepted. Compensation
for errors in, or cancellation of. advertising
will be made with credit toward future
advertising.
Subscriptions to Just out are available
for $17.50 for 12 issues. F-lrst Class (in an
envelope) is $30 for 12 issues.
A copy of Just out is available for $1
and/or advertising rales are available on
request
The m ailing address and telephone
num ber for Just out are PO Box 15117,
Portland, OR 97215; (503) 236-1252. Our fax
number is 236-1257.
by Robert Bray
ays, lesbians and bisexuals in Southern California
are still repairing their homes, community centers
and AIDS support offices following last January’s
massive earthquake. Many citizens affected by the
temblor are rebuilding their lives with federal
disaster assistance authorized by the U .S. Congress.
That assistance— $8.6 billion for victims of the quake—
came with the first federal non-discrimination clause that
includes sexual orientation. The legislation authorizing the
money contained a little-noticed amendment that prohibits
discrimination based on sexual orientation in distributing emer
gency earthquake aid. It’s the first time the government has
banned discrimination against sexual minority communities in
a federal program.
But the good news is bittersweet. While the measure opens
a door for queers, it slams shut a door for another vilified group,
also at the top of the far right’s attack list: immigrants.
The queer-inclusive language appears in a controversial
section of the legislation that bars assistance to “individuals not
lawfully within the United States.’’The bill requires disaster aid
officials to take “reasonable" steps to determine the immigra
tion status of those seeking aid. The measure was quickly
condemned by immigrant groups as an example of the rising
tide of immigrant scapegoating now sweeping the nation.
Although sexual minorities are protected, the ban against
immigrants will result in wholesale discrimination of another
kind. All people should be eligible for earthquake relief regardless
of immigrant status or sexual orientation. This is a humanitarian
concern, and politics should not be a part of the consideration.
The ban also reflects a fear linked with racism. The majority
of immigrants in the U.S. arc, in fact, European. But the current
immigrant-bashing spree directs suspicion primarily toward
Latino/as and Asians.
Anti-immigrant sentiment directly affects queers. Many
undocumented immigrants and those seeking asylum arc gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgcndcr.
G
The far right—the same folks behind discriminatory initia
tives in several states—are fueling the anti-immigrant back
lash. It uses many of the same tactics against immigrants that
it does against gays.
First, the concept of protected rights is narrowly defined.
Queers are not a “rightful minority" and immigrants aren’t
“American” so neither should have protection, say the funda
mentalists. Queers are demonized as a threat to traditional
family values. Immigrants are scapegoated as a threat to U.S.
economic security.
The far right aims to institutionalize discrimination against
gays in the form of Colorado-style initiatives. It targets immi
grants with laws that discriminate against foreign citizens and
even their U.S.-born children.
Scapegoating and bashing nurtures an environment of ha
rassment and violence. This makes many queers think twice
about coming out. It makes those hit hardest by disaster fearful
of seeking assistance.
“The far right has been influential in altering political and
ideological culture in this country so people are fairly accept-
ing of intolerance, says Calhi Tactaquin, executive director of
the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
“They’ve made it easier for people to rationalize discrimina-
tiorv—to morally and legally justify it against immigrants or
gays.”
The current battles against sexual minority and immigrant
rights pose a critical question about our country: Will our
democracy expand to provide rights to an increasingly diverse
population, or will it contract to limit rights to a few?
Gay, lesbian and bisexual activists must work in alliance
with immigrants,people of color andother groups toexpose the
broader repressive agenda of the far right—an agenda that
attacks basic civil, human, labor, economic and reproductive
rights. We must establish a stronger civil rights foundation for
all. Then we can build a solid, united front against intolerance
that will result in a more inclusive democracy.
Neo-Nazi movements on the
rise in Europe; the ILGA
holds its annual convention
(p. 4)
National news
A gay man is forced to submit to
HIV test; David Leavitt and
publisher admit to plagiarism;
Lambda nominations
announced
(pp. 6-11)
Local news
Friendly House honors
Keeston Lowery; skinheads
arrested in Eugene for attack
on synagogue; Urban League
starts group for sexual
minority youth o f color
(pp. 12-13)
C O LU M N S
It’s a queer thing
Increasing violence in our
society demands awareness,
caution
(p. 27)
Amazon trail
Battle-wise veterans could lead
us down path to common
ground
(p. 28)
ARTS
Mutters
Derek Jarman s Blue, 4 Big
Girls, and PSU’s gay fraternity
(pp. 22-23)
Video
Roseanne and the 66th Academy
Awards provide fodder for queer
media-watchers
(p. 25)