Page 4 GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE January, 1989

Election produces mixed results

This year's election brought mixed results for the gay-lesbian community, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).

The most significant victory was the defeat of Proposition 102 in California, the Dannemeyer AIDS initiative that would have eliminated anonymous HIV testing and imposed mandatory reporting of HIV-positive individuals, while the greatest disappointments were in Oregon, where a state executive order banning sexual orientation discrimination was overturned in a referendum, and in Con necticut, where AIDS and gay civil rights supporter Lowell Weicker was defeated in his bid for re-election to the Senate.

Irrespective of those results, Jeffrey Levi, NGLTF's executive director, observed that "this election marks the end of an era of neglect by the president of the nation's most compelling public health issue. While we do not fully agree with Presidentelect George Bush on many of his positions on AIDS, Bush has been more engaged on this issue than President Reagan. Bush actively supports anti-discrimination protection for persons with HIV infection, and has had an open ear to those working on AIDS in the Public Health Service."

Commenting on the defeat of Proposition 102 and its impact on national politics, Levi observed: "This is a great victory for public health. It is a statement by the people of California that they will not be browbeaten into accepting expensive and ineffective

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'quick fixes' to the AIDS problem. It proves that education of a population can work in changing attitudes and increasing understanding about AIDS. We hope this defeat of William Dannemeyer---on the heels of three-to-one votes against his repressive proposals in the House of Representatives last month---will return to debate to a more reasonable level in California and in the nation's capital. We also believe that defeat of this measure will stop a steamroller effect of copy cat propositions around the country."

NGLTF noted with regret passage of the other California AIDS initiative, Proposition 96, which, among other things, allows court-ordered testing of persons accused of certain crimes. "While not as far-reaching as 102," observed Public Information Director Urvashi Vaid, "it attacks the basic civil liberties of those most vulnerable in our society---persons accused of crimes. Had this required testing of those convicted on sexual assault, etc., this might have been an understandable---though not neces-

sarily

appropriate---approach. However, in permitting testings of those merely accused of certain crimes, the measure undermines the fundamental American principle of innocent until proven guilty---and provides a motivation for false accusations of crimes. It poses a substantial threat to the accused's opportunity to receive a fair, impartial trial, particularly in jury cases."

The vote to repeal the Oregon executive order on sexual orientation

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discrimination was the source of great disappointment "to gays and lesbians and all those concerned with civil liberties," Levi said. "On the anniversary of Kristallnacht, it is particularly sad that the people of Oregon would turn their backs on any minority group that has suffered discrimination." The contrasting vote in the Presidential election---Oregonians supported

Governor Dukakis---showed, Levi said, "that progressive views in other areas does not always translate into support for gay-lesbian civil rights."

The returning 101st Congress will look quite similar to the 100th, with one major exception. "The loss of Lowell Weicker---our strongest advocate and spokesperson in the United States Senate---will be a tremendous one," commented Levi. "Weicker stood alone at times in fighting uncompromisingly for those who were not represented in the Senate---all minorities, not just gays and lesbians. His role in increasing funding for AIDS, most recently in the extension of federal funding to AZT, cannot be overestimated."

With the election over, Levi said, "some of the most challenging

work is ahead of us. A new administration is being constructed---and we plan to be in on the ground floor in helping advise and counsel the transition teams about AIDS and civil rights issues.

"We anticipate continued discussion and access to the Public Health Service in a Bush administration," Levi continued, "just as we have had access within the Department of Health and Human Services in the Reagan administration. The change we anticipate is greater receptiveness at the political level---assuming the budget cutters at the Office of Management and Budget are not given the upper hand in health policy debates."

On a less optimistic note, Levi observed, "it is clear, based on the record, that George Bush still needs a good deal of education on gay-lesbian issues. It is our hope, however, that a younger, more moderate generation of cabinet officials and other political appointees will at least afford access on these concerns."

Try a classified

Have you considered trying to meet someone new by advertising or responding to a personal? Many people want to meet someone new but are apprehensive about an advertisement. Think for a moment about this efficient and time saving avenue. And certainly a reasonable alternative to the bars.

Meeting a person via a personal ad is like a blind date. If you have a spirit of adventure and don't give up, you can be successful.

How do you compose an ad? Write a brief description of yourself, and include a catchy phrase that would invite someone to respond to you. Remember you are competing. This does not mean the ad should be misleading, but make it attractive enough to generate a response. Six responses are preferred to one. Rewriting your ad several times is important.

The next step after receiving a response is to call and interview your choices. Prepare a script to extract or verify information not in the letters. Letters can be misleading, and preparing a list of questions is important

until you develop a phone style. Don't be afraid of mistakes. Your goal is to arrange a meeting. Keeping your conversation to between five and ten minutes is advisable since a face-toface meeting is important. Phone contacts can also be misleading. When you finally meet review your script again as a starter.

What if you are responding to an ad or preparing for a phone call or meeting? The aforementioned advice applies. Rehearse a written script and find out important features of your new friend. You will become comfortable in time. If you don't receive any calls you are probably revealing too much in your letter. Be a little mysterious! Take a chance and answer as many ads as possible to increase your chances of a response.

The ideal way to meet someone is through personal introductions, but this does not always happen. Remember most people are busy and time is valuable. If you are open to new ideas and not afraid of a risk a personal ad is worth a try. ▼

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