Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / Aug. 23, 1997, edition 1 / Page 11
Part of Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
African-American gay leader meets with ofricials in Zimbabwe Q-Notes T August 23,1997 T PAGE 11 by Monique Meadows Special to Q-Notes WASHINGTON, DC—In response to re cent anti-gay policies of the government of Zim babwe, a black, gay official from the US met with black leaders of Gays and Lesbians of Zim babwe (GALZ) and with American and Zim babwean government officials during a trip to Harare, Zimbabwe. Keith Boykin, executive director of the Na tional Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Fo rum, a national organization founded in 1988, was the only openly gay person to participate in President Clintons 35-member US delega tion to Zimbabwe. While in Harare, Boykin met with half a dozen gay and lesbian activists and visited the office of GALZ, Zimbabwe’s only major gay and lesbian organization. “I was very inspired by the courage of the lesbians and gay men I met in Zimbabwe,” said Boykin. “In the face of stiff resistance, these freedom fighters press on for justice.” Homosexual conduct is illegal in Zimbabwe and GALZ members reported that police rou tinely harass gays and lesbians. For the past two years, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has ordered Zimbabwe’s gay organization banned from participating in an annual international book fair and has labeled them as “sexual per verts” and compared them to “dogs and pigs.” Zimbabwe’s state-dominated media will not allow positive coverage of gay and lesbian is sues, according to a local reporter in Harare who interviewed Boykin about the situation. GALZ members are preparing for another possible confrontation next month when the international book fair returns to Harare. In addition, they are preparing for a conference of the World Council of Churches to take place in Zimbabwe in the fall of 1998. Boykin met with the Honorable Justice Mahomed A. Adam of the High Court of Zim babwe and discussed Zimbabwe’s lack of for mal legal protections for gays and lesbians. Adam said that he was unaware of any legal challenges to Zimbabwe’s sodomy laws, but Boykin noted that the one-party government’s anti-gay rhetoric had intimidated many activ ists from coming out and challenging the laws. President Mugabe’s ZANU PF Party controls the entire Zimbabwean Parliament. Also in Harare, Boykin met with the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Johnnie Carson, and with the US Embassy staff, who briefed Compiled by Dan Van Mourik Q-Notes Staff The fifth annual West Virginia Pride picnic will be held on Sunday, September 7 from noon to dusk at the Riverside Pavilion in Coonskin Park, Charleston, WV. Organized by Com munity Oriented Gay & Lesbian Events and Services (COGLES), the picnic includes a “BATTLE of the DJs” in which DJs spin their best while receiving donations for local AIDS charities. There are also volleyball games, touch football games and vendor booths. Drinks, hot dogs and hamburgers are provided, but picnick ers are asked to bring a covered dish. A $3 do nation is requested at the gate. For more infor mation, send an SASE to COGLES, 1517 Jack- son St., Charleston, WV 25311, call (304) 345- 0491 or email SHEETSIGTA@aol.com. The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County is in the process of up dating their listing of clubs and organizations in Mecklenburg County. Both a printed di rectory and mailing labels are available for pur chase through the Library. The directory will also be accessible on the Library Internet Home Page at www.plcmc.lib.nc.us. If you have not already received an update form or would like your organization included in this directory, contact K. MacCulley, Public Library of Char lotte & Mecklenburg County, 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202-2176; (704) 336- 2801; fax (704) 336-2677. Honey van Campe, authoress of The Drag Queen's Cookbook & Guide to Sensible Living, has a travel guide set for early 1998 release. Entitled Adventures While A Broad, Ms. van him on the current political climate for gays and lesbians in that country. During the same trip, he met with US Ambassador Joseph Wil son, the African Director of the National Secu rity Council, and he urged the American gov ernment to raise human rights concerns in meetings with the leaders of Zimbabwe’s gov ernment. “The situation in Zimbabwe poses a chal lenge for American policy makers,” said Boykin. “On one hand, the US must help support the development of African countries, including Zimbabwe, but on the other hand, the US can not ignore its responsibility to speak out on critical issues of human rights,” he added. “It’s important that we support Africa and support human rights at the same time,” said Boykin, who noted that Zimbabwe’s neighbor South Africa is the first country in the world to pro tect gays and lesbians in its constitution. The official US delegation was led by US Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater and the Rev. Jesse Jackson and included Coretta Scott King; Dorothy Height of the National Coun cil of Negro Women; former New York City Mayor David Dinkins; Ernest Green, who was one of nine black smdents who integrated Litde Rock Central High School in 1957; George Haley, brother of famed Roots author Alex Haley; Michael Brown, President and CEO of the Ronald H. Brown Foundation; and Niara Sudarkasa, President of Lincoln College in Pennsylvania. The summit took place from July 20 to July 25 and addressed topics including AIDS and health care, arts and culture, business and eco nomic development, media and communica tions, education, democracy and governance, population, and women’s issues. According to the World Health Organiza tion, nearly two-thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS are in sub-Saharan Africa. In Harare, Zimbabwe, an estimated one out of every five men is HIV-infected and the num ber rises to one out of three in the uniformed services, according to the US Embassy. Despite the presence of several major American busi nesses at the Zimbabwe Summit, virtually no American pharmaceutical companies partici pated, according to Boykin. “It’s well past time for American drug com panies and American political leaders to play a larger role in reducing the spread of AIDS throughout Africa,” Boykin said. T Campe is calling for submissions of drag- themed, travel-oriented photos. Air, land or sea...she’ll consider any submissions as long as they are fun. Photos must be the property of the submitter and must include submitter’s name, address, phone number and favorite mode of travel. Submission deadline is No vember 10. Send non-returnable photos to Pontalba Press, Atm: Miss Candy Asphalt, 4417 Dryades St., New Orleans, LA 70115. The Eighth Atmual Gay Men of Color AIDS Institute will be held October 23-26 at the Robert Treat Hotel and Rutgers University in Newark, NJ. Sponsored by the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention (NTFAP) and the New York City Department of Health Bureau of HIV Program Services, this institute is the only national conference focusing on the HIV prevention needs of gay and bisexual men of color. Conference fees are $125, $50 for PWHIV/AIDS and $50 for youth under 25. Fees are for the conference only and do not in clude travel, accommodations nor meals. The Robert Treat Hotel is offering a special group rate of $84 nightly for singles and doubles. Request the NTFAP group rate and call (973) 622-1000. For more information or a detailed brochure, contact NTFAP, National Programs, 973 Market St., Suite 550, San Francisco, CA 94103; (415) 356-8134; fax (415) 356-8138. After a year’s hiatus, Wigstock is back. It’s happening from 2:00 - 10:30pm at Pier 54 at 13th St. and the West Side Highway in New York City on Sunday, August 31. This outra geous drag event has astounded even hard- boiled New Yorkers since 1984, as evidenced in Wigstock: The Movie. Tickets are $10 in ad vance, $20 at the door if available and can be purchased by calling Box Office Tickets at 1- 800-494-8497. T If you have a pet, we want to be your vet! Dr. Margurette Straley Dr. Leland McLaughlin, Jr. Dr. Amy Ballard FREEDOM ANIAAAL HOSPITAL 3055 Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 (704) 399-6534 Fax: (704) 391-0210 Hwy 74 News ft Video 3514 Barry Dr. Charlotte, NC 98214 (704) 399-7907 Video Adventures 3231 Wilkinson Blvd* Charlotte, NC 28208 (704) 399-7187 • Charlotte's Only Adult Theatres • Videos, Novelties, Masazines • Now Hirins Responsible Clerks I I i i I I I I I I OFF PURCHASES OVER ^30 OFF PURCHASES OVER ^50 DOES NOT INCLUDE VIDEO * WITH COUPON * EXPIRES 9/30/97
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 23, 1997, edition 1
11
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75