Page 4 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE May, 1989
Atlanta chosen for conference
by Raif W. Stryker
After an exhausting four days of discussion that were at times frustrating, empowering, demanding, and exhilarating, some 160 lesbians from across the country finally agreed upon a location and date for the First National Lesbian Conference.
Convening at Duke University in Durham, N.C. in early March for the first of three national planning meetings, the women chose Atlanta, Georgia as the host city for the event slated to occur between mid-March and mid-April of 1991. The exact date will determined at a later meeting.
Deemed a historical decision, it marks the first time that a national gay or lesbian conference will be held in the South. As lesbian visibility remains a key issue in the agenda, it was felt that as part of the overall process of social change, the lesbian presence in a southern city such as Atlanta would carry greater impact than holding the event in a metropolis such as Washington D.C.
Noted an Atlanta supporter, "They have so many marches and conferences
like this in D.C. It would be easy for them to overlook us as just another group of lesbians meeting in their city once again. We can go on meeting in D.C. the rest of lives, but it's important that we make our presence known somewhere unexpected."
Support of Atlanta was further expressed due to the large number of lesbian organizations based there which could lend their assistance to the event. From 4,000 to 5,000 lesbians are expected to be in attendance at the national conference. The fact that Georgia has a sodomy law was also an important consideration as one of the goals of holding the conference was to somehow affect the host community.
The Durham national planning meeting was a culmination of a process begun in September 1988 when some 60 lesbians, most from the east coast but some from California, gathered in the nation's capital to discuss the possibility of staging a national event by and for lesbians. It was felt that although many lesbians have been doing important work to affect social change, it has usually been in association with another group or has had
Helms called killer
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reprogrammed $5 million to continue the federal AIDS drug subsidy program that helps low-income individuals purchase treatments for AIDS and related conditions.
HHS reprogrammed the funds at the urging of Senator Edward Kennedy (DMass.), who spearheaded efforts to overcome the financial crisis faced by thousands of persons who depend on federal assistance for AIDS treatments.
Originally, Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., killed legislation that would have added six months to the federal government's funding program providing AZT to lowincome individuals.
That move came in March as Georgia and Kansas had exhausted their AZT grants, with funding in several more states expiring soon. The HHS funding will allow give the government time to
reprogram funds into federal AZT subsidies.
For example, funds from states with surplus money could be moved into states whose funds have expired, or additional monies could be located within the Public Health Service to subsidize AZT.
Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, who schedules legislation in the Senate, had stipulated the bill would be brought to the floor only if senators could agree not to add amendments or to set a time limit for debate of amendments.
Legislative insiders on Capitol Hill said Helms, along with Sens. William Armstrong, R-Colo., and Don Nickles, R-Okla., refused to agree to those limits, thus effectively keeping the bill from the floor.
"When we say Jesse Helms is a 'King of Killer Amendments,' we really mean
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a focus outside the lesbian community. The need was felt to establish a national lesbian agenda dealing solely with lesbian issues which could possibly lead to the creation of a national lesbian organization.
Stated on of the conference leaders in opening remarks, “We need to create a safe space for ourselves."
Unanimous support as expressed for the idea and plans were immediately set in motion. Using funds left over from the 1987 March on Washington, regional meetings were held in January and February in preparation for Durham in March. Before Atlanta in 1991, two more national planning meetings will be held, the first in Portland, Ore. in July and the second in either Columbus, Ohio or Chicago, Ill. Specific dates are yet to be determined.
Those requesting information about the conference may contact the National Lesbian Conference Office at: PO Box 3057 Albany, N.Y. 12203 or at 518-4631051.
killer,' " said Robert Bray, HRCF communications director. "More people are going to get sick and die faster because they cannot afford life-prolonging drug treatments. It was not a good day in Washington for affordable health care."
Last September, Congress authorized $15 million to continue the program until March 31. The new bill would have extended the subsidy program through Sept. 30.
The program was created in the spring of 1987 when AZT was first licensed.
HRCF suggests people contact their senators and representatives and urge their support of future federal AZT subsidies. Individuals may send Congress a pre-authorized mailgram through HRCF's Speak Out program by calling HRCF's Field Division at 202-628-4160.
In Quotes...
"If homosexuality is a disease, we should all call in sick to work: 'Sorry, can't come in today-still queer!" "
**
Robin Tyler, at the March for Women's Lives in Washington, April 9
We weren't willfully ignoring what was indeed a newsworthy event, but simply responding to a dilemma peculiar to newsweeklies: what to do with Sunday stories. Newsweek goes to press late Saturday night... We could not, therefore, have reported on it until the following week-and by then it would have already been fully covered by other media." Editors of Newsweek magazine explaining their failure to cover the 1987 Lesbian-Gay March on Washington
"Last week more than 300,000 demonstrators . . . surged through the streets of the capital... The turnout at the rally-one of the largest in the nation's history-far exceeded anyone's expectations."
-Newsweek, in a two-page article on the Sunday, April 9 March for Women's Lives, which ran the following' week, in their April 24 edition
"I understand from talking to several of you that Cleveland is a little short on political action, and strong on social services... You cannot float half a ship.”
-William Waybourn president of the Dallas Gay Alliance, at the CWRU Lesbian-Gay Conference April 2
"Aaarrrgh!"
State Human Services Director Patricia Barry, on State Sen. Suhadolnik's no-gay-adoption bill
If you come across a quote which would be appropriate, please send it to the Chronicle, PO Box 5426, Cleveland 44101. Include original material or explanation of where quote originated. Also included your phone number. ▼
Health Issues Taskforce
= O•F C·L•E•V•E•L A⚫N D
This space has been donated to HIT by the Chronicle. The following does not necessarily reflect the views of the Chronicle staff or management.
The next buddy training is scheduled for May 12-14. Spaces are still open for this training. If you would like to provide support for PWAs in Cleveland, please call the office at 621-0766.
Israel Diaz joined the staff Feb. 21 as Hispanic services coordinator to help HIT develop and implement prevention programs for the Hispanic community and to improve the accessibility of direct services for Hispanic PWAs and their significant others.
Mark your calendars! Dancing in the Streets is scheduled for Sunday, July 23.
The planning committee is hard at work to make this year's event even bigger and better than previous events.
Three Taskforce members attended the National Lesbian and Gay Health Conference and AIDS Institute in San Francisco April 5-9. Director of Education Joe Interrante and Coordinators of Counseling Services, Darrel Greene and Karen Cimini, presented a paper titled "Providing Education, Care and Support to Gay Men Concerned about HIV Conditions in the Heartland." The paper discussed Cleveland AIDS work as a potential model for programs outside coastal and metropolitan areas.
HIT is looking for clerical and office assistance, possibly on a part-time basis. For more information, call Sue at 6210766. ▼
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