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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

An Independent Chronicle of the Northern Ohio Lesbian and Gay Community

Jasmine Baker's final curtain

PHOTO BY LOUIS MCCLUNG

Robin A. Nelson, better known as female impersonator Jasmine Baker, died May 19. See obituary on Page 7.

Volume 8, Issue 12 June 11, 1993

OSU same-sex couples' housing in jeopardy

A policy that would allow gay and lesbian student couples access to Ohio State University on-campus housing for married students may be thwarted by an amendment to the state budget. The new policy, announced May 12, was originally to take effect July 1, but has been delayed pending a review by the school's board of trustees. The Ohio Senate has passed the state's regular biannual budget with a rider attached by State Sen. Eugene Watts, RGalloway, limiting on-campus apartments in all state universities to legally married students or single students with children. The amendment does not mention gays or lesbians, nor does any of Watts' material explaining its purpose.

The amendment does not address any monetary issue, as on-campus housing is entirely paid for by resident fees.

The budget is now in a conference com-

Clinton: U.S. should not 'appear

to be endorsing a gay lifestyle'

by Lisa Keen

President Clinton said May 27 that the White House was "very close" to working out a compromise on the gays in the military controversy that will address the "legitimate concern" that "our country does not appear to be endorsing a gay lifestyle."

The statements elicited a uniform response of dismay from gay activists including Clinton's long-time friend and adviser, David Mixner.

"It's extremely disappointing," said Virginia suburb of Woodbridge. Referring Mixner, when told of the remarks.

Clinton made his statement during a live television appearance on CBS's This Morning program, held in the White House Rose Garden with a live audience that was given an opportunity to ask questions.

The issue about the military compromise was posed by an audience member who identified himself as Bill Roberts, senior pastor of Christ Chapel in the northern

Senate confirms first openly-lesbian top official

Washington-The Senate brushed aside complaints of conservatives May 24 and confirmed openly lesbian San Francisco supervisor Roberta Achtenberg to be a top federal housing official.

The vote was 58-31 to make Achtenberg the first openly lesbian or gay nominee to be confirmed by the Senate. The former law school professor becomes assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Both Ohio senators voted in favor of her confirmation.

Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., vehemently led the opposition, calling her a "militant-activist-mean lesbian" who "tried to bully the Boy Scouts" into permitting gay scout leaders.

Helms was quoted the week before the

Sailor's killer, sentenced to life, told how he

vote calling her a "damn lesbian." In a May 21 interview, he didn't deny the quote, but said, "It's not really like me to say damn anything."

If you want to call me a bigot, go ahead," Helms said.

Other conservatives seized upon the Boy Scout issue, saying they were otherwise willing to vote for a qualified lesbian for high federal office.

Achtenberg supported a decision by the San Francisco United Way to cut off funding for the Boy Scouts because their policy banning gay scouts or scoutmasters was contrary to United Way policy.

Her chief Senate backer, Banking Committee Chairman Donald Riegle, DMich., called her "one of the most comContinued on Page 8

Gay male sex is no longer crime in Russia. Nevada may so

to gays in the military, Roberts said he was concerned about "the degradation of morality in our nation and our society in the military as a whole."

"There are and always have been homosexuals in the military. The question is whether they should be kicked out-not because of what they do but because of who they are," said Clinton. "My view is people should be judged on their conduct. . .

"That does not imply that the rest of the society agrees with the lifestyle, but you just accept as a fact that there are... and always have been homosexuals who are capable of honoring their country... And they should be judged based on their behavior, not their lifestyle. That's my view— their behavior. It's a behavior test . . ."

"Most Americans believe if you don't ask and you don't say and you're not forced to confront it, people should be able to serve," said Clinton. "Most Americans believe that the gay lifestyle should not be promoted by the military or anybody else in this country... We are trying to work this out so that our country does not-I understand what you're saying-so that our country does not appear to be endorsing a gay lifestyle. But we accept people as people and give them a chance to serve if they play by the rules," said Clinton.

This Morning co-host Paula Zahn asked Clinton if he could be "satisfied with don't ask, don't tell, don't investigate” as a compromise to the gays in the military controversy.

"Well, we might end up that way as long Continued on Page 4

INSIDE

Imagine

17 being born,

"We've gone from being

climaxing, dying, unspeakably

in love, scandalous to being

acceptably se

mittee, to be reconciled with the Ohio Housepassed version, which does not have the anti-gay amendment. The six-member committee is expected to be done with the bill before the end of June, returning it to both houses for final approval.

"We are hoping to have the amendment removed in the conference committee," said Phyllis Gorman, executive director of Stonewall Union, a Columbus lesbian-gay group. "From our point of view, it would be a significant victory."

State Sen. Ben Espy, D-Columbus, who sits on the committee, had moved unsuccessfully to have Watts' amendment removed from the budget before it passed the Senate. State Rep. Patrick Sweeney, DCleveland, is the committee chair.

"This [the budget] is not an appropriate place for this issue to be given a hearing," said Gorman. "Sexual orientation discrimination and fair housing are civil rights issues."

State Rep. Michael Fox, R-Hamilton, who had threatened to introduce legislation blocking the policy, said he is satisfied with the decision by OSU's board of trustees to postpone its implementation. Although he is speaking out against the policy, he has, at press time, not introduced any legislation.

While the conference committee makes its decision, OSU president Gordon Gee Continued on Page 8

Hawaii moves

closer to gay

marriage

Hawaii's Supreme Court has ruled the state's ban on gay marriages may be unconstitutional, a finding that moves Hawaii closer to becoming the first state to allow such unions.

The court ruled 3 to 1 on May 5 that the state must prove the ban is constitutional and must show a "compelling state interest" for retaining it. The court reinforced its ruling May 27, when it refused to grant the state a chance to re-argue the case.

The lawsuit, brought by three couples, two gay male and one lesbian, now goes back to the lower court which had earlier dismissed it.

Daniel Foley, a lawyer for the couples seeking marriage licenses, said the cause is all but won. He said what the state is being asked to prove is an "almost impossible burden."

However, state Attorney General Robert Continued on page 6

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