Page 8 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE March, 1990
Despair of lesbians and gays worldwide demands our attention
by John Hubert
I am a senior high school student. I am 17 years old, living in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. I am writing you this letter in tears because this is the last time for me to write letter in the world. After giving this letter to a foreigner who will leave China, I will kill myself and stop my nightmare thoroughly. I really don't have any other choice.
I am gay. I don't dare tell anyone. I am very very lonely and despair. I curse my fate for living in China. Gays should not be born into China. I have to hide my feelings all day long. If I am catched out, I will be sent to jail.
I write all my pain and bitter emotions in my diary. I love one of my classmates deeply. I wrote my love of him in the diary in great depth. I don't dare to show my love. That is very painful in my inner heart. I wrote all these emotional struggles in the diary.
It is my fault and careless that I shall pay with my life. My diary was read by two of my classmates. Not very long that the whole school and the people in my neighborhood have known this shocking news I have been exposed thoroughly to the society. For days my mom has been crying and my father has beaten me four times so
New York case could establish rights for
lesbian mothers
New York-In the first such case to be submitted to an appellate court, the New York Appellate Division on January 8 heard oral arguments on whether a lesbian who raised a child with her former partner, who is the biological parent, should be allowed to seek visitation rights as a parent.
This case could establish standards for the legal recognition of non-biological lesbian parents.
The case which uses only first names and last initials to protect the interests of the child-was filed in Poughkeepsie by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund nearly two years ago on behalf of Alison D., a non-biological mother whose former lover cut off visitation with their son.
Alison D. and Virginia M. met in 1977, and had been in a committed relationship for several years when they decided to have a family. Virginia became pregnant by donor insemination and gave birth to their son in 1981. As planned, the couple raised the child together, sharing equally financial and emotional commitment. When their son was two, Alison gave birth to a daughter, who also was conceived through donor insemination. Several months later, in November 1983,
far. My younger sister doesn't dare to go out because her peers will laugh at her and beat her. Most of the neighbors' smiling faces have turned to stone faces. Everyone here is chatting on this big news, pointing to the members of my family.
I have been asked to leave school and to await punishment from my school. Because I haven't reached the adult's age of 18, the police officer on my street hasn't bothered me yet.
I don't dare to look at the faces of other people these days. I feel terrible and grieve. I owe my family. I owe my relatives. I owe my friends. I have brought trouble to them. As long as I think of these, I can't help my tears. God, why do I have such bad luck!
I have decided to cut my wrists and put an end to my pain-filled life. I hope my family and relatives would understand and forgive me. Life for me is too hard to bear. I don't have face to continue my unhuman-like life in front of all these hostile people. It is time for me to leave this heartbreaking world and forget everything forever. Goodbye!
Li Binbin
Li Binbin's goodbye letter was sent to
Virginia and Alison ended their relationship, and Alison moved out of the family home.
The two women agreed that Alison I would have substantial visitation with their son. Sometime in 1986, Virginia began to limit Alison's visitation to only several hours per week. In July 1987, she completely cut off visitation when Alison moved to take a temporary position in Dublin, Ireland, her current partner's native country. Before considering the move, Alison had solicited Virginia's repeated assurances that the relationship she developed with their son would be maintained through phone calls, cards, and visits.
Immediately after Alison and her partner left for Ireland, Virginia cut off all contact between Alison and their son. Virginia never tried to maintain a relationship with their daughter.
After attempts at negotiation failed, Alison sought Lambda's assistance and in February 1988 filed a petition for visitation under a New York statute allowing parents to seek visitation. Refusing Lambda's request to hold a factual hearing to determine Alison's relationship with her son, the trial court dismissed Alison's claim on the grounds that, as a matter of law, a parent "is a biological parent and not otherwise." On appeal, Lambda has repudiated this narrow definition of parenthood and maintains that many lesbians who raise children with their partners are parents who should be given a right to seek visitation in the event of the couples' separation. ▼
the ACLU Gay Rights Project in California. As he used an assumed name to protect his family, it is not possible to know if he followed through with his unhappy plans.
There are many Li Binbins in our world, in Asia, in Africa and in Latin America as well as in the U.S. and all other countries. A recent report from the Institute for the Protection of Lesbian and Gay Youth of New York City showed that 29 percent of the people visiting their facility reported attempting suicideall because they were gay. Joyce Hunter, the institute's director, says, "Gay youth are six times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts. Up to 23 percent of lesbians and up to 18 percent of gay men have attempted suicide."
In AALA countries (Asia, Africa & Latin America) the situation is more difficult as there are far fewer support facilities, such as lesbian and gay organizations which one can join.
Two things that we can do to help out in AALA countries are: join protest letter campaigns to raise the consciousness of leaders in AALA countries, and have one or more overseas penpals. Many of
those seeking overseas contacts are also budding activists. You might encourage this.
Some lesbian and gay Asians requesting pen friends include:
Indonesian lesbian, 27, would like to correspond with other lesbians outside of Indonesia. She lives with her family so please be discreet. Ellen T., Jl. Jatinegara Barat V/6, Jakarta 13310, Indonesia.
• Indonesian-Chinese gay male, 25, student, wants to contact gay friends worldwide. Is new to gay life. Aditia Nugrahn, P.O. Box 124, Daan Mogot, Jakarta 11001, Indonesia.
Gay Singapore-Chinese, 28, wants to correspond with gays worldwide. John Tay, Alexandra P. O. Box 0114, Singapore 9115, Singapore.
⚫ Malaysian-Chinese, professional, 55, seeks correspondence and friendship from Asians and whites, 20-35. Jaivan Ho, 4708A, Taman Maju, 15200 Kota Bharu, Malaysia. Jaivan would like to see a gay movement develop in Malaysia.
For a free listing of 50 Worldwide Pen Friends, write to this columnist, P. O. Box 66450, Houston, Texas 77266. ▼
Lesbian and gay rights bill marks 15th anniversary in Congress
Washington The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the federal Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Bill on March 25-27 with a series of commemerative events designed to increase momentum and awareness of the anti-discrimination legislation.
Among other things, NGLTF will launch a massive gay and lesbian constituent post card campaign to increase support for the bill in the U.S. Congress. The objective of the Task Force is to pass the bill during this decade.
The bill, officially known as The Civil Rights Amendment Act of 1990, was introduced into the 94th Congress in 1975 by then Representative Bella Abzug, the bill's first sponsor. NGLTF staff and board of directors were instrumental in securing the bill's introduction. NGLTF extensively lobbied Abzug and helped develop the bill's language and provisions.
"NGLTF was there at the birth of this important bill 15 years ago," said Urvashi Vaid, NGLTF executive director. "Now, we are calling on our community and allies to rededicate and commit ourselves to enacting this law in the 90's."
Support for the bill has grown steadily over the years. Currently, H.R. 655,
sponsored by Ted Weiss, D-N.Y., has 74 House cosponsors, and S.47, sponsored by Alan Cranston, D-Calif., has eight
cosponsors.
The act would prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation in the areas of housing, employment, credit, public accommodations and federally assisted programs. Passage of the bill would specifically amend Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin.
Advocates of the bill say it would ensure equal access for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, to vital areas of society. The bill also protects persons from being required to disclose their sexual orientation.
As part of its commemorative post card campaign, NGLTF will distribute thousands of cards to gay and lesbian organizations nationwide. Constituents will be asked to complete the cards and forward them to their lawmakers, urging them to cosponsor the bill.
NGLTF will also sponsor various receptions and other events in Washington, D.C., during the March celebration of the bill's anniversary.
Aesthetic Realists run ads claiming they can 'cure' homosexuality;
that it stems from 'contempt for women'
Ads claiming that lesbians and gays can be “cured," and stating illogical causes of homosexuality appeared in January in the New York Times and on a New York radio station.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) launched a response to the advertisements, placed by the Aesthetic Realism Foundation. The ads consisted of a two-page ad in the first section of the New York Times and a 60-second spot on WINS radio. Within two hours of launching the response, GLAAD was able to get results.
The ads claimed that the roots of homosexuality are "contempt for the world and women." They claimed that people can "change" their sexual orientation by studying Aesthetic Realism. They also accused the American press of keeping this information from the public.
Craig Davidson, executive director of GLAAD, said, "These assertions are absurd. How can lesbianism be attributed to contempt for women? And what about the hundreds of studies that have concluded that sexual orientation is determined early in life, possibly before birth, and cannot be changed?"
He added, "Perhaps most offensive is the premise that homosexuality is an ill that needs to be cured. The truth is that gay people generally lead happy, productive, loving lives. We need to cure prejudice, not homosexuality."
Within hours of discovering that the advertisements had been placed, GLAAD was able to secure an agreement from WINS radio for equal time. GLAAD's 60-second spot was broadcast the following day (January 10) at the same time and with the same frequency od won stew (arh Baliteke vo
as the Aesthetic Realism spots. GLAAD also formally requested that the New York Times either provide free ad space to GLAAD for rebutting the ad or condemn this and other group defamation in an editorial.
In addition, GLAAD discovered that the Times' advertising guidelines lack protections for gays and lesbians. In a section titled, "Discrimination," the guidelines state that the paper will not accept "advertisements which fail to comply with federal and state laws against discrimination or which... discriminate on grounds of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status or disability." Sexual orientation is omitted from this provision, notwithstanding that the New York City human rights or-
dinance prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
GLAAD requested that the Times revise these guidelines to specifically state that they won't accept advertisements that defame the gay and lesbian community. At this time, the Times has not yet officially responded to GLAAD's requests.
Founded in 1985, GLAAD is the only national organization devoted primarily to discouraging stereotypes and misinformation about lesbians and gay men. GLAAD pursues its goal by organizing grass-roots response to public bigotry and working with the media to improve coverage of issues that concern gay people. ▼