October, 1989

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 5

NSIDE THE WASHINGTON LOBBY

Sex Survey. The House Appropriations Committee had a nasty surprise for lesbians, gays and people with AIDS. The controversy over a survey the Public Health Service was going to conduct to determine the sexual practices of people in this country was met by every respected commission and organization that has addressed the AIDS epidemic, who insist that this survey is essential to learn about ways to fight the AIDS epidemic. Congressman William Dannemeyer spearheaded the opposition, saying it was a homosexual plot to make it seem that more Americans than previously assumed were homosexuals. While activists were expecting an amendment by Dannemeyer that would kill the survey, the unexpected happened the House Appropriations Committee took out the $11 million budget for the survey. This move was quietly led by Congressman William Natcher, the powerful chair of the House Health Appropriations Subcommittee. AIDS advocates had no time to respond. Not only did they kill the item, they made a general swipe against such surveys in its report: "A large-scale national survey of sexual behavior...does not appear to be an appropriate use of public funds; if such a survey is necessary, it should be supported with non-governmental funds. The Public Health Service is directed not to proceed with this study."

As with the budget, AIDS lobbyists will be turning to the Senate in September to see if the survey can be included in their budget, or at the least the report item removed. Voting for sex surveys makes members of Congress extremely nervous. At the moment it is unclear whether there is anyone on the Senate Appropriations Committee who would be willing to carry the banner for us.

The Hate Crimes Statistics Bill, which would compile statistics on how many hate-related crimes are perpetrated in the country against minority groups, including gays and lesbians, was passed in the House and is waiting to be introduced on the Senate floor. Gay rights activists expect an anti-gay amendment to be offered by Senator Jesse Helms, R-NC, and are already drumming up opposition to whatever it might be.

Anti-Gay Arts Amendment. Robert

LESBIAN GAY Community Service Center

by Robert Laycock

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Court Watch. The Center is assisting the ACLU in recruiting volunteers for court watches on gay cases including police harassment and entrapment. These watches are important to monitor our treatment by the courts and pressure for more effective protection of lesbian and gay civil rights by the legal system. Volunteers need to be available weekdays for this activity. Call the Center to volunteer.

Black Lesbians & Gays. A new organization is forming here, the Cleveland Coalition of Black Lesbians & Gays (CCBLG.) CCBLG has already held its first dance on September 30, and future meetings are being planned. Call the Hotline for more information.

Center Workshops. The Center's Workshop Series continues in October with two sessions. On Monday, October 16, attorney Susan Weaver will speak on harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation. On Monday, October 30, a slide show will be presented on health and social issues "Today in Nicaragua." Both workshops begin at 7:30 p.m., and donations are requested at the door. $2 for members, $4 for nonmembers.

Centertainment. But, we can't be serious all the time, so the Center would also like to organize "Centertainment,

Mapplethorpe's photography of men kissing gone another drew anti-gay responses from some members of Congress. The House voted in early July to reduce funding to the National Endowment for the Arts by $45,000, the exact amount of the Mapplethorpe grant and another controversial arts grant. The Senate took it one step further a few weeks later by voting to prohibit any funding by the federal government for "indecent" or "obscene" art, which it defined, among other things, as "homoerotic art."

Members of the arts community are just beginning to wake up to the ramifications of this amendment. Urvashi Vaid of the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force and Barry Lynn from the ACLU are organizing the arts community to try to get Congress to delete the amendment.

The 1990 budget is still in the process of negotiation, although it must be wrapped up by October 1. At the end of July the House Appropriations Committee voted on a budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, including money for AIDS. After the vote, they released a report – an essential document that expresses how Congress intends the money to be spent. The full House of Representatives passed the recommended budget by a vote of 365-58 on August 2. While the overall dollar figure for AIDS looks good, we had some unpleasant surprises in both the budget and report.

The estimated amount of money that will be spent on AIDS during the next

This has saved AIDS advocates from having to fight the NIH for adequate funding. This year we did not get that line-item designation in the House budget. NIH will receive $7 million, according to the budget, but no specified amount must be spent on AIDS. The Appropriations Committee report read: "The level of activity has now reached the point where AIDS research should be managed by the NIH using the same system as it uses for other critical illnesses such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease". NIH will decide on the precise amount to be used for AIDS research based on the quality of applications submitted and competing research priorities.

The Committee views AIDS as being no longer a public health emergency that we know it still is. In practical terms, not having a line-item means AIDS advocates will have to start monitoring NIH – a huge task if no line-item funding level is added to the budget before the finalization of the budget process. Lobbyists are still working with Senators to add in the line-item. The Senate has not yet voted on its budget or written its report so there is still time to get the line-item included.

The American With Disabilities Act. This piece of legislation would be a major step forward to ensure strong and effective anti-discrimination protection for people with AIDS and HIV infection in the private sector. The ADA would

fiscal year is $1.6 million. This includes Personal Growth

money for research, prevention, education, and some direct services. (This figure does not include money spent on services provided through Medicaid, the health program for people with low incomes. The total amount of money the Federal government will probably spend on AIDS including Medicaid and Medicare is $2.8 billion.) While $1.6 million is a respectable figure, it is $400 million below what lobbyists and some members of Congress had hoped for.

For the past few years Congress has established a line-item budget for the amount of money that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is supposed to spend on AIDS research, instead of giving discretion to NIH administrators.

series of group excursions to the opera, Cleveland Play House, orchestra, etc. If you enjoy these, and hate to go alone, why not join a group from the Center? Better yet, help us organize it! Call the Center to volunteer.

It's A Stage. Out of the Showers and Into the Center! Our monthly showtune sing-a-longs, "It's A Stage," continue October 23 at 7:30 p.m. They're great fun, so don't waste your talents alone during your morning shower. Join us!

Youth Dance. The Women's Coffee

House is sponsoring a Youth Dance for PRYSM (Pride and Respect for Youth in Sexual Minority) on Friday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m. It's open to youth aged 22 and under, and will be held at the Franklin Circle Church at 1688 Fulton Road (across from Lutheran Hospital.) Admission is $5, or whatever you can afford.

Living Room Training. We are having an informal volunteer training session for the Living Room on Saturday, October 14, starting at 10:00 a.m. The session will include an introduction to peer support, alternative healing techniques, and the pleasure and success of sharing ourselves with others. Training is open to anyone whose life has been touched by AIDS, but you don't have to be within the HIV spectrum to volunteer. Call Paul. Whitehurst at 522-1998 for information.

New Living Room Phone. The Living Room now has it's own telephone number. It's 522-1998. We hope you'll call.

Aerobics. The No Sweat Bodyworks aerobics classes are continuing at the Center Mondays through Thursdays, and Saturdays. Your first session is free, then $2.50 thereafter.

by Antone F. Feo, Ph.D.

We in the gay and lesbian community are able to find happiness only after we learn to love ourselves. When we can say, "I love myself," we gain a sense of selfrespect, a level of self-comfort and an increased self-esteem. We are able to assert our wants and desires effectively and do not readily assume a victim's role. We do not sabotage our hopes and dreams and we do not abuse or violate the rights of others. We are able to put ourselves first, but not at the expense of others. Loving ourselves enables us to love others, which allows others to love

us.

Individuals who do not like themsel ves are easily manipulated, abused and violated. They feel inferior to others, lack self-confidence and are readily hurt by criticism. They frequently compare themselves to others and always come out the loser. They see themselves as too fat, too thin, not handsome enough, not rich enough or not intelligent. They learn to vent their discomfort in an aggressive and abusive manner. Because they have not learned to love themselves, they keep others at an emotional distance.

It is not unusual for the homosexual to dislike himself or herself. Early in life, we are subjected to homophobia on a conscious and unconscious level. The effeminate boy is chastised by peers who call him "queer." Similarly, the "tomboy" is seen as different and poked fun at. Because of fear and ignorance we often do not disclose our sexual orientation to our families, friends or peers. This process can result in alienation, depression and a sense of worthlessness.

prohibit employers and all private businesses from discriminating against people with disabilities, including people with AIDS and HIV infection.

Late in the evening on August 1, a deal on the ADA was struck between the Bush administration and Senators Tom Harkins, D-Iowa, and Ted Kennedy, DMass., the original principal sponsors of ADA. Republican Senators Durenberger, R-Minn., and Hatch, R-Utah, were also in on the negotiations.

The bill now has bipartisan support as well as administration support--both of which will be critical when it goes to the floor of the House and Senate. It may happen that amendments are offered to restrict the strength of the bill and exclude people with AIDS and HIV infection.

But the success of the deal was evident on August 2, when the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee passed the bill 16-0. With this type of Republican and Administration support, as well as the ongoing support of the Democrats, the disability community and the AIDS community, ADA may pass quickly, with its full protections in-

tact.

We will be back in September to continue giving you the picture inside the Washington lobby.

Laura Markowitz is an editor of a national magazine and a lesbian activist.

Chai Feldblum is an attorney for the ACLU AIDS Project. ▼

Many religious leaders present homosexuality as a moral issue and condemn us to hell. In several states, homosexuality is still treated as criminal behavior, punishable by jail sentences. We are not welcome in the armed forces and other government jobs. As the political climate continues to swing to the right, , "gay-bashing" becomes more prevalent.

In spite of this bigotry and hatred, we can learn to love ourselves. We do not have to be our own worst enemies. This goal requires us to recognize that our sexual orientation is a normal and natural state of being. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association both have identified homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. The mental health community no longer views us as mentally disturbed or perverted.

If you are unable to love yourself and have a low self-esteem you can find help. You need to involve yourself in positive interactions with other gay and lesbian individuals. Enroll in a self-help or support group. In this milieu you can gain support, understanding and a sense of belonging. You can share feelings and learn that you are not alone. Volunteer your time, join a fitness group, read gayand lesbian-oriented books, or attend a supportive religious group. If you feel you need individual psychotherapy to work through important issues, there are therapists and counselors who provide professional services to the community.

Dr. Feo is a clinical psychologist, working as a private practitioner providing services to the gay and lesbian community.

truffles

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