National Notes
November, 1990
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
Page 7
Court lets paper discriminate
Madison, Wis. In a decision that could severely diminish major civil rights protections in Wisconsin, that state's Supreme Court in September refused to hear the appeal of a gay man and two lesbians who claim they encountered discrimination by the Green Bay Press Gazette which refused to accept their classified advertisements because their announcements contained the words lesbian and gay. The Press Gazette is owned by Gannett, the
largest media conglomerate in the country.
In 1982, Wisconsin became the first state to pass a state-wide gay rights law. This case is the first gay rights case litigated under the "public accommodations" section of that law.
The Wisconsin law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation and other categories by businesses and places of public accommodation. Though the statute specifically designates approximately 15 businesses (including theaters, restaurants, hotels and hair salons) as places that may not discriminate, the law clearly states that it should be interpreted broadly by the courts to prohibit discrimination by "any place where accommodations, amusements, goods or services are available."
By refusing to review the case, the Supreme Court has approved a very narrow construction of the law made by a lower court which could result in more widespread discrimination throughout the
state.
Lambda Legal Defense, which represented the plaintiffs along with Madison lawyer Mark Borns, argued that newspapers provide a service to individuals or businesses who wish to advertise. In providing such an essential service to the community, newspapers, by law, are businesses that should be prohibited from engaging in discriminatory acts. Rights measure voted down
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-Lesbian and gay activists in Broward County, Fla., lost their recent referendum battle to ban discrimination against gay people, but have vowed to "come back" and use their new-found political might in the ongoing struggle against anti-gay discrimination.
Broward County voters on September 4 rejected a move to amend its human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation. Approximately 101,400 voters (59 percent) said no and about 71,580 (41 percent) said yes to the measure, which would have
prohibited discrimination against gay men and lesbians in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.
"Although they lost this battle, local activists are optimistic that they can use the visibility and political presence generated by the referendum in future fights," said Robert Bray, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) public information director. Bray was in Broward County for the vote and assisted activists with media advocacy and organizing.
Craig Davidson resigns as GLAAD executive director
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation of New York (GLAAD/NY) has announced the resignation, effective September 30, of its executive director Craig Davidson. Davidson will continue to work with the organization as a consultant to local GLAAD chapters in their effort to create and implement a formal national GLAAD federation.
Davidson has been at GLAAD for three years and was the organization's first fulltime staff member. Under his leadership the organization has grown to a staff of five with hundreds of dedicated volunteers. In addition, he has helped to develop GLAAD chapters in other cities around the country, including Cleveland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago and Dallas. Davidson spoke at the 1989 Pride festival in Cleveland.
"Craig's contributions to GLAAD have been immeasurable," said Beverly Samuels and Dennis Lonergan, co-chairs of GLAAD/ NY. "Under his dedicated guidance, the organization has grown from a small, lowvisibility group to an important organizar tion with national credibility."
The GLAAD/NY board of directors has announced its search for a new executive director. For further information and a position description, contact the GLAAD/ NY office at 212-966-1700.
Federal charity drive supports lesbian group
San Francisco For the first time in the history of the Combined Federal Campaign, every employee of the federal government has the opportunity to support the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The NCLR is a public interest law firm dedicated to gaining equality for lesbians, by working in the courts, through the legal system and in the community.
Each fall, the more than 5 million em-
ployees of the U.S. government are encouraged to make payroll deduction contributions to the charities eligible to participate in the campaign, which resembles the United Way donor option drives.
In announcing its participation in the campaign, Patti Roberts, newly-appointed
executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, noted, "Through the Combined Federal Campaign, federal employees can state-safely and as a group that they cherish and support this institution that exists solely to enhance the quality of our lives as lesbians and gay men."
Federal employees can direct their contributions to NCLR by designating #1076 on their pledge forms during the campaign
season.
NGRA is 'back on it's feet'
San Francisco-National Gay Rights Advocates Legal Director Paul A. Di Donato announced that four staff members have joined the public interest law firm in recent months and that the organization "is back on its feet with a full legal staff in the San Francisco office." In the past year, NGRA has been shaken by controversy surrounding executive director Jean O'Leary, who left the organization last winter.
"NGRA is fully equipped to move aggressively on its current docket as well as to take on additional cases and issues of importance to the gay, lesbian, and AIDS civil rights movement," DiDonato said.
20,000 mailgrams for NEA
Washington, D.C.-The Human Rights Campalgir Find activated 20,000 "Speak Out" messages to members of the United States Senate in the controversial debate over funding of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This is the largest number of messages sent to Congress by HRCF in the existence of the "Speak Out" program.
"The messages called on the Senate to accept compromise language sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kansas, which would give the courts, and not politicians such as Jesse Helms, the responsibility for determining what art could be considered obscene," said HRCF executve director Tim McFeeley.
The compromise language is supported by a broad coalition of arts and civil rights organizations. Funding for the National Endowment for the Arts has been hotly debated in Congress for the past year, with particular emphasis given to the Endow-
--
ment's support of the works of openly lesbian and gay artists such as the late Robert Mapplethorpe and performance artists Holly Hughes and Tim Miller.
Participants in the "Speak Out" program authorize HRCF in advance to write and send mailgrams in their name to House and
Senate members as issues arise that are important to the gay, lesbian and AIDS communities.
NGLTF backs Marlboro and Miller boycott
Washington, D.C.-The board of directors of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has voted to endorse the nation-wide boycott of Marlboro cigarettes and Miller beer, two highly visible products of the Philip Morris Corp.
Inaugurated by ACT UP-D.C. and other activists, the boycott targets Philip Morris, one of the largest corporate donors to the re-election campaign of anti-gay Sen. Jesse Helms and also the largest corporate donor to the Jesse Helms museum in Monroe, North Carolina.
NGLTF encourages its 17,000 members to stop buying Marlboro cigarettes and Miller beer. Members are also encouraged to write Philip Morris to voice opposition to the corporation's support of Jesse Helms. Address letters to: Hamish Maxwell, CEO, Philip Morris, 120 Park Avenue, New York City, NY 10017; fax: (212)878-2167.
P-FLAG works with Episcopal church on gay youth suicide
Right-wing religious and political leaders who wave the banner of "traditional
family values" are a major impediment to overcoming the teen suicide problem, according to a parent-church-educator coalition that announced a prevention program focused on gay and lesbian youth.
The project, "Respect All Youth," is being undertaken by the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, with financial assistance from the United Thank Offering Fund of the Episcopal Church.
Its principal function will be to develop and furnish training materials to those who work with youth, according to P-FLAG president Paulette Goodman. The organization's anti-discrimination aims were recently endorsed by First Lady Barbara Bush.
Government studies show that lesbian and gay teenagers are up to three times as likely to attempt suicide as other young people, because of the stigma society places
on them.▼
DEBRA L. DUNKLE, A.C.S.W.,L.I.S.W.
CUNICAL SOCIAL WORKER
ANDREW PETER BEEBE, Ph.D.
PSYCHOLOGIST
AND ASSOCIATES
a lesbian and gay psychotherapy practice
Jane Miller M.S.S.A.
John R. O'Connor A.C.S.W. L.I.S.W.
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