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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1998)
nTiTTTTTiTI news M usical C hairs The smoke has yet to clear following GOP shuffle of congressional leadership positions by Bob Roehr S ome gay and lesbian politicos say the incoming Republican leadership team in the U .S. House of Representatives isn’t likely to change the congression al environment relative to lesbian and gay issues. And many speculate that Speaker-elect Bob Livingston— who was tapped by House Repub licans in November to succeed Newt G in grich— will manifest a more managerial, less confrontational style than Gingrich. Gingrich announced his resignation plans following the G O P ’s relatively poor showing in the midterm elections. He leaves office in Janu ary. Livingston, who hails from Louisiana, has already met with influential outsiders including Jesse Jackson, conservative consultant Ralph Reed and White House chief of staff John Podesta. Texas Republican Dick Anney, meanwhile, survived a G O P caucus challenge to retain his post as majority leader. His principal challenger was Oklahoma Rep. Steve Largent, who has close ties to anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family. The strident Tom DeLay of Texas was unop posed for party whip. The only African Ameri can Republican in Congress, J.C . Watts of Okla homa, defeated Ohio’s John Boehner for confer ence chairman. Watts is an ordained minister and has articulated anti-gay positions. The sole moderate to gain a leadership post was Tom Davis of Virginia, who will chair the National Republican Congressional Com mit tee, which recruits candidates and raises money. The Family Research Council attacked Davis for not being “pro-family,” but he rolled over incumbent John Linder of Georgia by a 130-77 vote. Davis has a sexual orientation nondiscrimi nation employment policy in his office, and he hicago Mayor Richard Daley’s $3.2 million rainbow-themed redecoration of the North Halsted Street area— considered the city’s queerest strip— is finished. The modifications include the placement of huge retro-futuristic sculptures welcoming visi tors to the area at each end of the strip; 20 con crete planters topped with 12-foot-high iron trellises containing the names o f the cross streets; and 20 rainbow-ringed, 25-foot-tall art deco pylons placed along the length of the entire strip. “This has been a labor of love,” Daley said at the project’s unveiling in late November. "I knew we were right at the beginning. It’s called fairness. I’m thanking you for what you have done [for] North Halsted Street for many, many years— for the city of Chicago.” When the project was initially proposed as part of Daley’s Neighborhoods Alive program, it was controversial. Some straight residents didn’t want to live in a recognized gay and lesbian neighborhood, nor did some older gay residents who feared being outed or targeted by bashers. In addition, some critics said the project could lead to lower property values. As a result of the objections, the overtly gay aspects of the design were toned down a little— C Bob Livingston (left) and Newt Gingrich opposed three anti-gay amendments this year. However, he has not co-sponsored any of the Human Rights Campaign’s gay-related legisla tion. “Republicans learned in the ’96 elections that bashing immigrants wasn’t a successful strategy,” says Winnie Stachelberg, H RC’s polit ical director. “It cost them votes.” She believes the November 1998 election sent the same message on anti-gay rhetoric and positions. “What remains to be seen is whether the Republican leadership will read the election the same way,” she suggests. Livingston leaves the chairmanship of an Appropriations Committee that has overseen a massive increase in A ID S funding, each year adding more to the budget than President Clin ton proposed. The new chairman will be the G O P’s C.W. Bill Young of Florida. “We have a very good working relationship with him,” says Stachelberg. Young, 67, has been in Congress since 1970 and is a close ally of Livingston. He is considered to be a pragmatist who works well across party lines. He is likely to defer to John Porter of Illi nois, a key subcommittee chair who has cham pioned support for A ID S research and services. Daniel Zingale, executive director of the A ID S Action Council, expects Porter will assume “even greater significance” in funding for all health issues. Perhaps the most disturbing change in lead ership comes in the least powerful position, that of chairman of the Appropriations subcommit tee that oversees the District of Columbia bud get. Social conservatives have made it a battle ground on issues such as abortion, needle exchange and anti-gay amendments pertaining to domestic partners and adoption. The symbol ic impact is far greater than the small number of people the legislation impacts. The new chairman of that subcommittee is Ernest Istook of Oklahoma, who recently joined nine other legislators in filing an amicus brief with the New Jersey Supreme Court opposing a lower court ruling that said the Boy Scouts of America illegally discriminated against an open ly gay scoutmaster by expelling him from the group. Stachelberg says the thought of Istook as a subcommittee chair “sends shudders through many of us.” Carl Schmid, a member of the gay group Log Cabin Republicans, has lobbied extensively on D.C.-related issues. He says, “There is no ques tion that Istook is a social conservative, [but] everyone said his predecessors were so conserva tive, yet we still worked with them.” Meanwhile, Rich Tafel, executive director of LCR, accuses social conservatives of “using the [District of Columbia] as a playground.” He adds, “It will be interesting to see if they have learned the lesson of the last election, that gay bashing doesn’t work.” First Congregational United Church of Christ 1126 SW PARK AVENUE 228-7219 Celebrate Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. Family Service Children are invited to participate in the retelling of the Christmas Story. 10:00 p.m. Concert 10:30 p.m. Candlelight Service A friendly, open church where everyone is welcome — regardless o f race, sexual orientation or religious background. RE/MAX S ignature P ro perties ! H alsted H ubbub Rainbow motif colors W indy City queer strip despite a little hot air from the opposition by Rex Wockner but the 20 sets of illuminated rainbow rings clearly remain its focus. A t the height of the controversy, Daley, who has long been gay-friendly, declared, “I won’t let the homophobes run this city!” Rick Garcia, executive director of the Illi nois Federation for Human Rights, says: “I deeply appreciate Mayor Richard Daley’s refusal to succumb to those who didn’t want the rain bow motif to be included. One of the rainbow pylons is directly in front of our office and I love it When I saw the first installed pylon, I cried.” Alderman Bemie Hansen, whose district includes much of the project, told the Windy City Times, “I think it’s the culmination of a great program to recognize the contribution of the business and leadership of this community over the years. It's the frosting on a beautiful cake." Gay state Rep. Larry McKeon, a Chicago Democrat, said, “It’s great to be a part of history.” One of the rainbow-ringed pylons installed along Chicago's gayest strip. Came lot in Sullivan Gulch An elegant property w/3200 sf, 4 bedrooms. 3 full baths, 3 levels. Amenities include gorgeous grounds w/3 fountains & private deck; master suite w/Pireplace, sitting room and jacuzzi tub; formal living & dining rooms w/2nd fireplace, coved ceilings, hardwoods, double garage, security system, more. A must see! $349K Tina Schafer RE/MAX Signature Properties 282-Í000 X 122 e-mail: tina@rmls.com