Page 8 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Energized, deeply touched

December, 1990

hasn't addressed the wider discrimination against people of color by immigration authorities. Likewise, our demand for

Wooster

Continued from page 1

people's moral and religious beliefs came

at third national domestic partnerships, including the right before the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

conference

by Robert Laycock

Civil rights activist Dr. C.T. Vivian was a keynote speaker at the third annual "Creating Change Conference" in Minneapolis, November 10-12, organized by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). Over 700 activists from nearly 40 states and Canada attended the gathering, which was preceded by two one-day institutes on Fundraising and People of Color Organizing.

The conference was a powerful weekend for many of the participants. The plenary sessions and workshops celebrated our movement's many accomplishments, and tackled the difficult and sometimes painful challenges still facing us.

Particular attention was paid to the problem of racism within our community and our movement. One workshop series helped participants examine issues of privilege, class and their own personal racism. Workshop leaders stressed that we cannot control the class we came from or the racist values we've been taught, but we are responsible for how we deal with this

now.

Dr. Vivian, a former colleague of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a fiery speech at lunch Sunday. Dr. Vivian described racism and homophobia as "twin cancers" and emphasized the urgent need for the movements of gays, lesbians and people of color to come together. "The lie that divides us is the lie that destroys us separately," he said, "but when we're dead, we're dead together."

We must understand the nature of the struggle for human rights, Dr. Vivian said. We must come together to help each other. The key is organizing, to take the initiative and not hold to the lies of racism and homophobia. Kevin Berrill, NGLTF AntiViolence project director, emphasized that bigots don't discriminate. Those that hate one, hate the other.

Dr. Vivian is currently chairperson of the Center for Democratic Renewal (formerly the National Anti-Klan Network) and a board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

One workshop raised the need to make the political agenda of the lesbian-gay movement more inclusive Our demand for an end to immigration restrictions

to employee insurance coverage for lovers, ignores our society's unequal access to employment and health benefits. Thus, we should embrace the call for universal health care.

Many youth attended the conference and organized for the future. A special workshop met throughout the weekend to focus on the issues of campus organizing. Other workshops and caucuses addressed fundraising, boards of directors, gay male sexuality, burn-out, working with law enforcement, lobbying, and many other issues. NGLTF acknowledged several guests for their significant personal struggles and contributions to our movement. Karen Thompson and Sharon Kowalski attended and received an award as they continue their legal battle to be together. Claudia Brenner also received an award and spoke. Brenner and her lover, Rebecca, were attacked by a gunman in 1988 while hiking along the Appalachian trail. Brenner survived five gunshot wounds, but Rebecca died.

Other speakers included former Clevelander and black feminist writer Barbara Smith, a board member of the National Coalition for Black Lesbians and Gays. Feminist humorist Kate Clinton brought down the house with a moving and uproarious closing address Monday afternoon.

Ohio and Cleveland-area activists met throughout the conference to discuss strategy and to simply pal around at meals and off hours. Loretta Mikolaj of the ACLU attended, as did representatives from the Lorain Gay & Lesbian Information Center, Stonewall Union, Stonewall Cincinnati and other groups.

As the conference closed, many participants expressed how deeply the weekend had touched them. Many, including myself, felt revived and energized-ready to go back and resume their work at home. There were also many suggestions for improvements in future conferences, which were gladly received by NGLTF Director Urvashi Vaid and other staff.

I returned with a new understanding of the value of gatherings like this. They bring growth and energy to our movement as a whole, and support to us individually as we work to "create change" in ourselves and our society. I also personally came to see NGLTF in a new light. After some 15 years of membership, more than ever I recognize NGLTF's importance as a powerful organization leading the struggle for lesbian-gay civil rights-indeed, human rights.

Since 1984

BODY

"Overcoming the concerns of the lesser on this matter is not justifiable," Dix said. He added that he doesn't think that fair housing discrimination would affect his lesbian niece. "To my knowledge she has not had a difficult time."

The content of the Nov. 1 editorial was

decided upon by the Record's editorial board and was supported by Dix. Dix also

anti-gay and neither was he.

Although both committees raised about $1,600 to fight their battles, the Family Values Committee had only 11 contributors compared to over 100 for the Fair Housing Committee. Representatives of the Fair Housing Committee charge that area realtors financed the opposition in order to avoid the checker system which would have interfered with the realtors' businesses.

On November 20 the Fair Housing Committee recommended to the Mayor's Task Force on Fair Housing that the addi-

SUPPORT FAMILY VALUES

ISSUE 4: FAIR HOUSING or GAY RIGHTS

Why did the Akron Beacon Journal say, "A fair housing ordinance has turned Wooster into one of Ohio's first battlegrounds in the fight against housing discrimination for homosexuals"? (10/19/90)

Why did Loretta Mikolaj, director of the ACLU's gay-lesbian rights project, say "... If the law stands, Wooster will be far ahead of the rest of the state on the gay-rights Issue"?

Why this push when there is no housing shortage for gays?

It's obvious. Issue 4 Is NOT about fair housing, but rather, an attempt by advocates of gay rights legislation to redefine our traditional family values in Wooster.

We believe a NO vote is a vote for family values in our city.

VOTE NO ISSUE 4

Paid for by the Committee to "Support Family Valuee" Martyn Veree, Treasurer 211 Imgard, Wooster, OH 44891

One of the fair-housing opponents' handbills.

said he had not had any feedback about the editorial's statement that no biblical justification could be found for discriminating against the other protected classes. But, the Chronicle has learned that there has been a concern about that expressed by the Wooster Jewish community and that the paper is currently under investigation by the AntiDefamation League of B'nai B'rith.

Dix denies there was pressure from fundamentalists to change his position on Issue 4 and says that he received more pressure from supporters of the issue. "Religious freedom is more important," Dix said several times, although he continued to stress that the Daily Record was not

tions to the fair housing ordinance be reintroduced to Council. However, the Mayor's Task Force decided to rewrite the bill to include only the 'familial status' and checkers provisions, deleting all the other groups, to improve its chance of passing unchallenged.

Wooster city councilwoman Judith Mitten was quoted by the Akron Beacon Journal as saying that she was also working with the head of the Committee for Family Values on a draft for new legislation which is similar to the one the Task Force decided on. Mitten said that they would retain the checking system because "... that's important."

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