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Vol. 10, No. 9 February 1996 Politics of Color ...Page 13 The Naked Truth ...Page 19 The Carolines’ Most Comprehensive Gay & Lesbian Newspaper Printed on Recycled Paper FREE NC gays must decide who can best oppose Helms by David Jones Q-Notes Staff North Carolina gay activists are in the midst of deciding whether to support Harvey Gantt or Charles Sanders, or anyone, in the May 7 primary election to select the Demo cratic opponent to Sen. Jesse Helms in the 1996 general election. Defeating the vimlently anti-gay Helms has been a priority of activists here for many years. It is believed by many that either can didate for the Democratic nomination could mount a strong campaign against Helms, al though Gantt has a record of supporting gay civil rights and got strong gay support in his close 1990 race against Helms, and has strong ties to the Democratic Party. Charles Sanders, a retired pharmaceutical company executive, is virtually unknown in the gay community and new to electoral politics. But Sanders is presumed to be very wealthy personally and able to spend and raise a significant amount of money for the campaign. The country’s largest lesbian and gay po litical organization, the Human Rights Cam paign based in Washington, DC, has already decided what it will do. The Campaign will not endorse any candidate in the Democratic pri mary, according to David Smith, the Campaign’s communica tions director. “We think we can reach more voters earlier by conducting an independent expenditure campaign” starting in the primary race. Smith said. Independent expenditure federal campaigns can educate voters about issues, but cannot endorse or work with specific candidates, nor work or communicate with organizations that endorse candidates. This is a change from the 1990 US Senate race in which the organization endorsed Gantt in the primary and general elections because of his gay-friendly positions, and contributed Harvey Gantt $5,000 to Gantt for each race, the maximum allowed under federal law. “We will be reminding people that North Carolina can make a ma jor contribution to public health by retiring Senator Helms in 1996,” Smith told Q-Notes, because “Helms represents ex tremist politics in its most raw form. Helms is not a positive influence in public policy deci sions of this country and is a toxic influence in the whole public policy arena.” NC Mobilization 1996, currently an infor mal coalition of activists interested in the election, will hold a statewide meeting in Raleigh on February 10 that will include a discussion of what to do in the primary and general elections. Charles Sanders An early look at the two candidates shows some of the things that activists and gay voters will have to consider as they try to balance their desire to support a strong candi date to defeat Helms with their desire to support candidates who support the positions that they care about. Harvey Gantt has a long history of encour aging a respect for diversity and supporting civil rights generally and lesbian and civil gay rights specifically. He accepted the endorse ments of gay groups in the 1990 US Senate race and attended several fundraisers spon sored by openly-gay organizers. Gantt ad dressed the Charlotte City Council in 1992 in support of a proposal to protect gay people from discrimination in the city’s public ac commodations law. In an interview with Q- Notes last year, Gantt disagreed with Presi dent Bill Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of allowing the military to discharge service members because they are gay and said that Clinton should have been more force ful in defending his original pledge to ban discrimination in the military based on sexual Continued on page 8 NCCGLE executive director seeks local post by Susan Tedder Q-Notcs Staff DURHAM—While Triangle area papers warn residents of the “big dyke” seeking a position on the Durham County Board of Commissioners, Kenda Kirby is pushing her qualifications. Kirby, executive director of the North Carolina Qralition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCCGLE), has been at tending commission meetings for some time as an observer, and feels that her presence there is a sure sign that she would be heard as a valid spokesperson for the county on issues that affect every resident. Kenda Kirby “I’m out there; I’ve been there doing the work for the community,” Kirby said. She feels that winning a seat on the Board of Commissioners will give NCCGLE more rec ognition as an effective coalition building force. Her press release was designed, how ever, to refocus the constituency on the issues rather than on her sexuality, which is where the mainstream press is trying to concentrate. Kirby said she would be a “partner in progress” when she filed for candidacy. “I am running because I am a well-qualified candi date who cares deeply about our Durham community. I will be a partner in progress in improving education for our children, mak ing our community safer, and attracting good jobs.” As a former educator and an extremely experienced civic leader, Kirby offers much to the Durham community in iter three-plat form stance — on education, violence pre vention and economic development. “I believe that education is the single most important way government can improve our community. A good education provides eco nomic opportunity and a sense of self-worth. I care about education. While the Board of County Commissioners does not directly con trol the schools, it does have the responsibility of providing adequate resources, and there fore has the job of ultimate accountability,” Kirby said. In her work with NCCGLE and various local commissions on violence, Kirby has encouraged long-term, community-based so lutions to the problem. “We must first change attitudes — we must instill an understanding of and respect for the sanctity of life, and we must begin to fully appreciate the beauty in diversity. I also believe that any real solutions must involve the total community and address the complex aspects that contribute to the problem. For example, problems of addiction and economic insecurity must be addressed if we want to solve the problem of violence in our society.” With economic development as the third key issue, Kirby stated, “I will ask tough questions to make sure that the kinds of jobs we attract are the kinds of jobs we need. I will advocate for growth in places like Durham’s Downtown Historic District where we have the infrastructure to support growth, a ready employee pool, and transportation routes to ensure that people can get to work.” While recognizing the importance of economic growth in the Research Triangle Park area, Kirby is also keenly aware of the responsibil ity for environmental stewardship in planning for new business and the development it brings. Kirby’s desire to serve is apparent by her level of community involvement. She said, “I bring to an elected position professional ex pertise in the issues we all care about.” “I can’t stress enough how important it is for everyone to register and get out and vote in the May 7 Democratic primary. Unde clared voters can vote in the Democratic pri mary as well as those who are declared Demo crats. There are a lot of important races affected by this primary...this one, a school board race...it’s just real important.” Promise Keepers confirm Carolines rally by David Stout ■ Q-Notes Staff CHARLOTTE—^According to a January 19 press conference, Charlotte Motor Speed way will host a gathering of up to 150,000 men this summer when Promise Keepers, a conservative Christian men’s organization, brings its controversial message to NC. The event will occur June 21-22 and is expected to be the best attended rally in Prom ise Keepers’ six-year history. In comparison, the two largest previous gatherings drew slightly less than 75,000 men each. Like those prior rallies, women will not be allowed to attend this event, although they will be al lowed to help organize it. Jack Munday, the head of Promise Keep ers’ Carolinas Chapter, has the responsibility for most of the organizing and will oversee the headquarters’ upcoming move from Greensboro to Charlotte. Charges of homophobia are routinely lev eled at Promise Keepers, while many women’s groups believe that they are indisputably sex ist as well. At the press conference, it ap peared that these concerns weren’t shared by track management. President H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler stated that Charlotte Motor Speed way is picky about who it hosts—making the venture sound more like an endorsement than a simple business deal. Q-Notes askedJerry Gappens, a speedway spokesman, who initiated this arrangement. “Promise Keepers approached the speedway,” he said. “We lease out our facility, and it’s utilized about 280 days a year. TTiey ap proached us about the size of our facility. Continued on page 4 President signs miiitary HiV ban by Susan Tedder Q-Notes Staff WASHINGTON—1,500 healthy service- members who are infected with HIV will apparently soon be civilians again, due to the efforts of Rep. Bob Doman (R-CA), Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) and Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS). These congressmen added a provision to the FY 1996 Department of Defense Authoriza tion Bill (S. 1124) which instructs the Penta gon to discharge all servicemembers who test positive for HIV, even if they are healthy and show no signs of illness. As Q-Notes goes to press. President Clinton is expected to sign the bill, which not only mandates immediate discharge of HlV-posi- tive enlisted personnel, but denies them ac cess to the medical and disability benefits available to other servicemembers who are discharged for medical reasons. In December 1995, President Clinton ve toed the authorization bill because of this provision, but apparently he has succumbed to the pressure placed on him by the Republi can dominated Congress and the recent gov ernment shutdowns. AIDS advocacy groups are extremely troubled by the President’s change of heart. “It is shameful that Bob Doman, Dan Coats, and Trent Lott cajoled their congressional colleagues into including in the defense bill this unconscionable ban,” said AIDS Action Council Executive Director, Mark Barnes. “We are disappointed that the President of the United States intends to sign his name to a bill that would, through this extremist pro vision, cut short the military careers of these patriotic men and women who have served our country proudly and with distinction. AIDS Action urges President Clinton, at the very least, to right some of the terrible wrong committed by taking bold administrative steps to guarantee these soon-to-be discharged servicemembers access to the same medical care and disability compensation afforded to mother service members retired for medical reasons.” The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force also responded forcefully to the breaking news. Task Force Deputy Director Kerry Lobel is sued this statement: “We condemn the provi sion in the defense authorization bill that will discriminate against servicemembers with HIV. The measure is unsound AIDS health care policy and is discriminatory to the hun dreds of brave and courageous members of the Armed Forces who have admirably served their country.”
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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