October 1986

Gay Peoples Chronicle

page 13

NO ON LAROUCHE

The following communication was sent out under the following names: Diane Abbitt, Harry Britt, Vic Basile, Jean O'Leary, VirB. ginia M. Apuzzo, Thomas Stoddard, Niles Merton, Jeff Levi, Tim Wolfred, Richard Ken Dawson,

Dunné,

Tim

Sweeney, Paul Akio Kuwata, and Troy Perry.

Never before have so many leaders of our community agreed on the fundamental importance of a single event. And never before have so many added their names to a request like this one.

California voters will be voting in just a few weeks on an Initiative that, if passed, will have a disastrous impact lives on the

and liberties of gay men and lesbians everywhere in America.

This Initiative--which was proposed and funded by extremist Lyndon LaRouche's organization--has far-reaching implications. Some things it could do are certain:

--could require MANDATORY AIDS ANTIBODY TESTING;

--Allow QUARANTINING of antibody positive persons;

--require REPORTING of antibody positive persons to the state

--PROHIBIT restaurant workers, flight attendants and possibly bartenders from working with food if they are antibody positive;

--Prohibit

students,

teachers and school employees from the classroom even if they only LIVE WITH person who is antibodypositive.

The spectre of quarantine areas for Persons With AIDS until now seemed like exaggerated rhetoric. Today it appears to be a distinct possibility--one much of the public supports.

According to a Los Angeles Survey, 46% of those quarantining

Times polled favor Pers: AI. AIDS.

The

polls are showing the vote a toss-up at this There is no question point. but that the next few weeks, and the No on 64--Stop LaRouche organization's

ability to wage an effective campaign, will decide this election. Already there is a top notch team in place setting up a massive media and grassroots campaign.

The Wall Street Journal noted, "(LaRouche) and his followers have tapped into a major public coneri... (they) garnered over 70% more (signatures) than needed to qualify."

LaRouche and his fringe supporters brought this proposal to the ballot, but today it has been embraced by a wide variety of political opportunists seeking to exploit the fear of AIDS.

Their Initiative is so repugnant, no genuine defender of civil liberties, human or privacy rights--qay or straight, male or female-can possibly, in good con-

Science, ignore this appeal for help.

Please, if you support our movement, if you respect the work of the organizations with which we are affiliated, we urge you to send as large a contribution as you possibly can to the No on 64--Stop LaRouche Campaign.

It is not an accident that LaRouche chose California to be the testing ground for his poisonous plan. If he is able to win here, in a major state with the most progressive anti-AIDS discrimination efforts in the country he will have a green light to take this Initiative anywhere in America.

vote

The outcome of this will be a harbinger of things to come nationwide. That is why we must stop them now This is an election of national importance_and gay men and lesbians, anywhere in America, who ignore it do so at their own péril.

run

If we can raise the money we need, we will be able to an effective campaign and turn the tide of public opinion before it's too late. Three reasons why can win, if you help:

1.

Over twenty gay Clevelanders hit the rapids of Ohiopyle State Park last month. Pennsylvania's Pictured above, a four-man raft shortly before it became a three-man raft!

ly.

Stand up--be proud--and know that someday those that fought bigotry, opposed ignorance and calmed fear are those who will earn a place in the respected we annals of human history. We are right. They wrong. It's that simple.

National Unity. There's a new maturity in the gay and lesbian civil rights movement--a new sense of unity--resolving our internal differences to fight our common foes, especially now when we are under attack. And unity means power: on the streets, in government, in editorial boardrooms and at the polls;

2. California Voters. Californians know from past initiatives (like the Briggs Initiative) that California voters can be educated to do what's right--when we've got the money to educate them. Our gameplan is to work with the California Medical Association and other groups to expose Prop. 64 for the frightening fraud it is;

3. You. Only a few years ago there was virtually no sizeable group of persons willing to contribute money to protet the rights of gay people. Today there is. Now we urgently implore you to open your hearts and checkbooks to help our fight. This is it. Those of you that do not live in California will only get a second chance to stop this type of political venom when it is in your own backyard.

Please, go get your checkbook, sit down this minute and send in whatever you can afford--we are not suggesting specific amounts. Only you know what you can give. We

won't have the time to come back and ask for more money. This is all or nothing, today. The media campaign, voter turnout effort, and neighbor to neighbor organizing depend on your making as large a contribution as possible very quick-

are

make

your

check

Please payable to: "No on 64--Stop LaRouche.

18

Somewhere in California there is an undecided voter we must reach. We need your check to reach them.

No On 64-Stop LaRouche, Los Blvd, 3870 Wilshire CA 90010. Angeles,

Have you been discriminated against lately?

DRS DB2

*In Columbus call (614) 221-2734

BWMT

Midwest Regional Discrimination Response System

*In Youngstown call (216) 793-7936

*In Cleveland call (216) 651-7111

The Midwest Regional DRS, Inc., a project of Black and White Men Together, is committed to overcoming racial and cultural barriers and to realizing the goal of human equality. To this end it is engaged in other inequities in our communities and in our lives.

BMW documentation, education, and assistance as means of dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, and

TEN YEARS AGO

On September 13 CALFSA (Cleveland Area Lesbian Feminist Alliance) disbanded. Formerly DYKE, CALFA took that name late in 1975. First reports attributed the demise of CALFA to a decline in active members, lack of vulunteers, and almost empty treasury.

In an interview with High Gear, several CALFA members gave a more optimistic view of its dissolution, explaining that many members had become active in other things, such as Oven Productions, What She Wants, the Radiczl Feminist Counseling Collective, and the Land Project.

Although a Greater Cleveland Gay Community Services Center had been almost a reality, on October 12 the GEAR Board, in an emergency meeting, decided their organization could not sign lease without firm sources of funding.

a

Favored location for the Center had been the Bradley Building on West 6th Street, but the costs of renovating the quarters and bringing them into conformity with city codes seemed prohibitive.

Although GEAR had counted in a regular monthly income from High Gear, co-editors John Nosek and Leon Stevents pointed out that many advertisers were irregular in paying their bills.