Page 6

INTERVIEW:

CHRIS RIDDIOUGH

ON N.O.W. AND LESBIANS

By MARTHA PONTONI

I think that is a combination of things. For one thing, I think it's partly sexism. When talking about any group, people in general think in terms of men. Talking about the black community, for instance,

AND LESBIANS they talk about black men

Chris Riddiough is Director of Lesbian Rights for the National Organization for Women. She is responsible for developing Lesbian Rights programs and acting as NOW Liaison with gay and lesbian groups. Ms. Riddiough was interviewed in April, while in Cleveland to speak at the All-Ohio Lesbian/Gay/Feminist Conference.

Does NOW see lesbian rights as an important issue?

In

Yes, it's a priority issue. NOW originally passed a resolution supporting lesbian rights in 1971, and has passed a series of resolutions since then. the past two years I would say there has been a real emphasis on program development in this area. While state and local activities have occurred previously, our development of a national program on this issue has been recent, reaching out in a more active way.

What exactly are lesbian rights?

I think we're basically talking about people's right to live out their own lives as they choose; that someone can't tell me, or anyone, that we have to live our lives in a certain way. We are talking about things like freedom from harrassment and violence simply. because someone thinks it is wrong to be gay. We're talking about our being able to have jobs for which we are qualified without being fired when someone finds out we are gay. Basically, it's being able to be openly gay without fearing reprisals; and to have our relation-' ships validated.

How is NOW working toward achieving these rights for lesbians?

Through a combination of things. NOW is a very action-oriented oranization.

And so much of our emphasis is on developing action programs to change the laws, and to pass civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination in employment and housing. Currently I think we are broadening our notion of civil rights to include things like domestic partnerships: legislation giving gay people the same rights as heterosexual couples, in terms of insurance and spousal visitation. But within NOW we also recognize education as very important, so we are developing programs to educate our members and the community at large about homophobia and its impact on society.

The AIDS issue affects all of us, because legislation against homosexuals draws no distinction between men and wonen. How is NOW helping with AIDS?

Over the past couple of years, since the issue has become more prominent, our activity has been basically supportive. We've supported funding for AIDS research through bills in Congress and things like that. We've worked with groups like the Gay Rights National Lobby and AIDS Action Council, getting the message across to members of Congress that we need more help on AIDS.

While AIDS doesn't directly affect most of our members, our concern is that the political impact could very well be tremendous. Phyllis Schafly, one of NOW's arch-enemies, has_put out a pamphlet called "The Gay ERA-AIDS Connection," in which she basically argues that if we pass the Equal Rights Amendment everyone will get AIDS. This is completely bizarre, but it's an argument that many people buy because they are afraid. So we are very much

concerned about AIDS, and basically want to be supportive in any way we can.

Why do you think lesbians are ignored in the media?

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rather than black women. So the image that the media has and projects is generally male. A second factor is the sense that men are more sexual. So people don't often think of women as sexual, and don't even consider the possibility of their being lesbians, women who relate to each other sexually.

What do you see in the future for lesbians?

I'm always an optimist, so I'm very hopeful in many ways. But I think we have to be realistic and see that we are faced with an Administration inimical to lesbian and gay rights. For example, we can't expect this President to issue an executive order banning discrimination in the military. We are not very likely to get ligislation through Congress. So I think that in the short run we face a difficult situation.

For the long range, I think that in realistic terms none of us should expect or hope that this is going to be a short fight. We have to be prepared for 5, 10, or 20 years of activism to gain our rights. In the past 15 years we have seen quite a lot of progress. There are now about 80 communities with protection for lesbians and gays. One state has passed a gay rights bill. Six other states have executive orders. I think we will continue to see slow but steady progress.

I think we will see more lesbians moving into the political arena. The potential is there for making real gains over the next 5 years. But to do that we have to see ourselves in the larger context. There s a political shift to the right in the United States, and we have to work as hard as we can against that shift, to make our specific gains. What is NOW doing to address such women's health issues as alcoholism and eating disorders?

Much of NOW's activism involved legislation and electoral politics. With women's health issues, we try to look at their legis-

1836 Euclid Avenue, Suite 206 Cleveland, Ohio

June 1985

WOMEN'S GROUP

DENIED FUNDS

ON TECHNICALITY

BY KATHERINE CLARK

The Case Western Reserve University Women's Center announced that it was denied funding for academic year 1985-86. The Women's Center has yet to be officially informed of the funding nonallocation--in fact, ther were informed of the nonallocation by Gerald Bores, who frequently sits in on the Student Government meetings.

Apparently, the Women's Center filled out their budget applications incorrectly: they did not list. the requisite four officers. The fact that the Women's Center is a consensus, nonhierarchical organization and has never listed officers in its 10-plus year history did not sway the budget committee's decision. Now the Women's Center must wait until fall semester to again petition for funds, but members of the group fear little money will be available then. They think that very likely the funding for the group will end up being a fraction of the $1,300 originally asked for.

The Women's Center asks the community for their support to fight this obvious phallusocentrism.

lative impact. For instance, reproductive technology has opened a whole new range of possibilities. We are concerned that these will not impact negatively on women, or specifically on lesbians. In terms of lesbians, for example, a Council member in Washington, D.C. has introduced a bill licensing sperm banks and surrogate mother operations. We work mostly on that front.

In the service-oriented area, we are likely to support the efforts of other organizations, such as the Women's Health Center, to deal with things at that level. We try to determine the areas where we can be most effective without duplicating the work of other organizations.

Continued in July issue

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