gay people's CHRONICLE

GAY DOLLARS use them wisely

cam-

Around the country various paigns have been started to draw attention to discrimination against gay people. While political organizations and demonstrations will always effectively reveal gay numbers and solidarity, another method for advertising the gay cause is gaining momentum. In Boston, Chicago and elsewhere gay people are working to prove that this numerical minority has considerable financial clout, and that gay dollars can work for lesbian and gay civil rights in a number of ways.

In 1982, the U. S. Olympic Committee sued organizers of the then gay olympics on the grounds that Congress had granted the USOC exclusive rights to use the word "Olympics" Dozens of other groups, ranging from the Armenian Olympics to the Special Olympics, the word. Only the Gay Olympics has ever been challenged.

use

of Alyson

Publications,

based gay publisher,

a

a

VISA

VISA makes a donation to the 1988 U. S. Olympic team based on purchases using the VISA card. Sasha Alyson, Bostonis coordinating national campaign to boycott for its sponsorship of the 1988 Olympics. This campaign urges lesbians and gay their men to not use cards until the Olympics are over, in September of 1988. Some protestors are cutting up their VISA's and returning the cards with a letter plaining why they will not use them. If enough gay people join in the VISA boycott, lesbian and gay solidarity

VISA

ex-

could prove to have a substantial economic impact.

In Chicago, the Gay Dollar Campaign, which has been going on for over a year, has stamped over $50 million with a red "GAY $" LOGO. Rubber stamps bearing the logo along with red ink pads are being sold in Chicago and other cities. A group of Clevelanders are contacting the Chicago organizers in hopes of bringing the same campaign to Cleveland.

was

tion

·

Cleveland Public Library

DEC 29 1987

Simon Supports

Gay Rights

by J. Robinson

BECEMBER 1987

VOLUME 3-ISSUE 6

Senator Paul Simon (D-Illinois) has stated that he supports the gay employment rights bill that is presently before The Congress. bill would extend federal civil rights protection to gay and lesbian people. Simon will consider signing onto the bill.

Sen. Simon emphasized that he has "always opposed discrimination and always will." He also supports programs to combat AIDS with protection for the civil rights of the patients. In addition, Simon backs education "education off" and "cuts down on unreasofear." Another area that he supports is expanded voluntary testing programs for HIV.

AIDS

pays ning

Sen.

rather

because

Simon is beginning to look good as a Democratic presidential nominee, following the withdrawal of Hart and Biden from the His liberalism has an attractrace. iveness that could produce considerable He also believes support. in cutting defense spending and increasing social services.

Soc

CLEVELAND, ONIO

Church Violence

by J. Robinson

Kevin Gordon, director of the Consultation on Homosexuality, Social Justice and Roman Catholic Theology

(an independent Catholic advisory group founded in 1983 to monitor issues of religion and sexuality) linked church actions to violence against lesbians. Gordon gays and points out that the church vies homosexuality as an "objective disorder" and "an intrinsic moral evil", thus license to giving lack of understanding and indirectly sanctioning violence. The position of the church "sends a signal to heterosexual youth and others that violence physical against gays is somehow not inappropriate." Also, teaching that homosexual expression is sick, sinful, and emotiopossible criminal can create and nal, psychological, spiritual problems for lesbian and gay young people.

Gordon also indicated that the church is "slow to speak and act but quick to moralize" on the AIDS issue. Gordon San cites examples in both Francisco and New York where the church to has only given token help AIDS sufferers, and has not carried any of the real financial or institutional costs involved. A good example is the highly publicized opening city

of a 14-bed hospice in New York Surprisingly, by the Cardinal John J. he gives the gay community credit for O'Connor, where the actual number of AIDS cases having Simon some political clout. is in the area of 7,000. prides himself on his reputation intelligence and integrity with a you see is what you get" atti-

"what tude.

Benefit "lays an egg"

The

for

CHRONICLE presented its first benefit, a performance of Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF EARNEST, on Nov.

18,

Oscar BEING at the Beck The benefit,

Center in Lakewood. which was supposed to raise money So the paper could continue to publish, was not successful. Although the final figures are not yet in, The CHRONICLE people staff reports major losses on the endeavor. About 50 people attended the event, although more purchased tickets. Asked to consider the consequences of the failed benefit, Editor Pontoni replied: "Well, we went out on a limb to make some money and instead we lost money. I don't foresee having to stop publishing, but our plans for growth will definitely be slowed and that will directly affect the community."

on

Discrimination against gay recently exemplified by NEWSWEEK and TIME magazines. Both newsweeklies virtually excluded any informaabout the October 11 March Washington for Lesbian and Rights. Another way to harness dollar power is to cancel subscriptions and to stop buying NEWSWEEK and TIME.

Gay gay

These are just a few ways gay dollars can work for gay civil rights. as more people join these efforts and others develop still other methods to make gay money work for gay people, gay issues will be broadcast farther and the gay struggle will become more visible.

Pontoni had no reasons for the low turnout and refused to speculate. "I felt we did what we could to advertise the show. There might have been a few things we could have done differently, but, all in all, I think

The hospice

is

funded by the city of not by the church.

New

York,

--

——

Obviously, the Catholic Church has some diametrically opposed policies. The humanity of the church a vital part of Christian doctrine does not mix well with petty moralizing. At this point the church seems to have chosen the path of moralizing, ignoring human nature and placing judgment before compassion.

--

A note of hope in this area the parishioners of St. Malachi Catholic Church are welcoming AIDS sufferers to all church activities. The church, at W. 25th St. and Detroit Ave., wants to demonstrate its concern to help people with AIDS (PWAS) and to Ideal with their isolation. This is a step forward, and hopefully the action of this congregation be followed by others.

the

will

staff did a fine job. I just hope that the low turnout does not mean that Cleveland does not want a paper. The CHRONICLE staff and I, however, do think that Cleveland needs and desires a lesbian and gay newspaper. We will continue to do what we can until it is impossible to continue."

Pontoni also said that she felt that the benefit was a success for the people who came because they seemed to have a good time.