How I see it

You, your Member of Congress, and your telephone

By Rick Berg

We gays in Cleveland have scored a significant political victory. We were successful in persuading two of our four U.S. Congresspeople to cast pro-gay votes in the U.S. House of Representatives when the anti-gay

McDonald Amendment reached the House floor for a vote.

I should backtrack and start this story at the beginning if it's going to make any sense at all. Last fall, in the previous Congress, a bill was introduced to provide federal funding for legal services for people who could not afford them. An amendment to this Legal Service Bill was introduced by Rep. Larry McDonald (D-Ga).

The intent of this McDonald Amendment was to prevent gays from using the Legal Services Administration to protect or defend their civil rights. The McDonald Amendment was soundly defeated in a voice vote. Rep. McDonald then requested a roll call vote, requiring the vote of each congressperson to be publicly recorded. The McDonald Amendment won in the roll call vote and became part of the Legal Services Bill. The Cuyahoga County congresspeople voted as follows:

Ronald Mottl YES Mary Rose Oakar response

Louis Stokes No response Charles Vanik YES

Unfortunately, the McDonald Amendment once again passed the House of Representatives. This time, however, two Cleveland area-congresspeople voted "no," while in last year's vote there were no negative votes from Cuyahoga County at all. Why did two Representatives who did not cast a vote the first time find the courage to cast a just and humane vote defending the rights of their gay constituents? Very likely Oakar and Stokes voted the way they did this last time because their local offices received a number of phone calls asking them to vote "no." For the first time, these congresspeople were made aware that they have gay constituents and that they have gay constituents who care enough to give them a call and say, "These

are my rights at stake and I want them defended."

If you didn't get to call your congressperson, it's not too late. You know how she/he voted. Call the appropriate local office now and say, "I wish to thank Congressperson for

voting against the McDonald Amendment," or "I learned that Congressman Mottl voted in favor of the McDonald Amendment and I'm unhappy over it," or, "I learned that Congressman Eckart did not vote on the McDonaid Amendment and I regret that he did not vote against it." It will still make a difference. It will let your Representative know that you are there and that you care how she/he votes.

The person answering the telephone will ask for your name

Notable quote

Alexander Cockburn in an article entitled “The Last Socially Acceptable form of Bigotry" in the July 2 issue of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:

"So far as national security is concerned, everyone knows that agents of the KGB and kindred outfits seek out homosexuals in the intelligence services who might be blackmailed into treachery. Last year the National Security Agency, discovering one of its employes to be gay, requested his resignation. The gay person and his adviser stood firm and indicated that they intended to make a full, public test case of the issue.

"By October, probably helped by the enlightened interest of the No NSA's then director, Admiral Bobby Inman, agreement had been reached. The gay person was given 60 days to inform his family of his preference. With such disclosure the possibility of blackmail would be eradicated. Hence he would not be a security risk and thus there would be no "rational nexus," as the phrase goes, between his homosexuality and his suitability for employment. He retained his job.

A bill to continue funding to Legal Services was introduced in the current Congress in June. McDonald once again introduced his amendment to prevent gay people from using these services. Gay Rights National Lobby, a Washington group working for gay civil rights legislation in Congress, made an

"There was presumably deep gloom in the KGB at this development. And today, since the NSA is naturally insisting the case was not a precedent, there is presumably optimism in the KGB that in the current intolerant atmosphere the spirit of enlightenment will be shuting up shop and heading for the hills. In this instance, the interests of Congressman Larry McDonald, hammer of the gays, and the KGB are identical."

urgent call to local gay organizawhat

tions across the country asking them to contact their local congresspeople to ask them to vote against the McDonald Amendment.

In Cleveland, the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club organized a call-in campaign to reach the four area Representatives. Over 50 telephone calls were received at the local offices of the Cuyahoga County congresspeople in two days. This time the Cuyahoga County delegation voted as follows:

Ronald Mott! YES Mary Rose Oakar NO

Louis Stokes NO

Dennis Eckart No response

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and address. This is to determine whether or not you live in the congressperson's district. You need not give your name and address if you feel uncomfortable doing so.

Of course, a caller who does give her/his name and address will be taken somewhat more seriously than one who does not. Consider that making a comment on legislation affecting gays will not identify you as being gay. One need not be gay to be concerned about fair treatment for gay people just as one need not be black to care about the treatment of black people or female to care about the treatment of women. Here are the telephone numbers. These are local calls, as these are the Representatives' local offices.

Ronald Mottl: 522-4382 Mary Rose Oakar: 522-4927 Louis Stokes: 522-4900 Dennis Eckart: 522-2158 Go ahead and call. Be part of the first big gay call-in in Cleveland. It'll only take three minutes and you'll feel much better. It's about the easiest thing you can do for gay rights. It's much easier

than giving money or volunteering time or coming out to your mother. Who knows? You might really like it. You might start calling your congressperson all the time. Why not? You pay taxes. You vote. (At least, i hope you vote.) Go ahead and tell them how you feel. Otherwise they'll never know.

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The Bible shouters are stoking up the fires. Especially here in Washington, D.C. This is the hot core which sends out heat across the country. It's where a change in national law can cook us all together.

Gay Rights National Lobby is at the center, rallying our friends in Congress to help put out the fires. We've had success-expanding support and co-sponsorship of gay/lesbian civil rights bills. generating thousands of letters to Congress, fighting anti-gay bills such as the "McDonald Resolution" and the "Family Protection Act," and bringing together coalitions with other groups who also feel the danger. In the Advocate, October 16, 1980, you can find an independent evaluation of our work: "Ön an absurdly low budget, GRNL is producing miracles. Imagine what they could do if we really supported them."

We ask again for your real support. The heat's on right now and we truly need your contributions. Please wake up. Let's not go like frogs.

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