Newspapers / Lambda (Carolina Gay and … / April 1, 1984, edition 1 / Page 10
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10 (REPUBLICAN, from page 2) Party, was not as optimistic about the acceptance of gay rights in mainstream politics. Real researches the "New Right" and its incursion into U.S. politics, particularly the Republican Party, and he detailed several elections where Republi cans hung the "gay issue" around the neck of the opponent. "Get involved," he said,"but be realis tic. Anything we can do in any party will help us. But bear in mind that the odds and some of the cards are stacked and always have been." Tom Chorlton, who heads the National Association of Lesbian & Gay Democratic Clubs, disagreed with Real and saw more reason for gay political optimism. He said the South was a hotbed of organizing and outliend successful efforts in Rich mond, Fort Lauderdale, Louisville, and Birmingham and in Mississippi and Oklahoma. "Here in North Carolina in 1984, you have the greatest opportunity to demon strate that [gays are everywhere]." Chorlton concluded by saying, "Lesbian and gay Americans will no longer tolerate second class citizenship." WORKSHOPS ADDRESS TACTICS All three panelists led popular work shops Saturday afternoon. Larry Bush, a full-time journalist writing about gay politics, conducted a session on "gays in the media." He outlined several scenarios demonstrating that "we have no control over the media that affects our lives." Bush said the media was just now begin ning to know us a a community and that "we have trouble articulating what brings us together." He then discussed methods of dealing more effectively with the media. Other popular workshops included: a panel discussion of the lesbian/gay infor mation gap; overcoming internalized oppression; nuts and bolts of political organizing; gay literature; gay legal issues; and couples. "I DIDN»T GIVE UP MEN TO EAT TOFU." -Robin Tyler Comic and musician Robin Tyler enter tained the gathering on Saturday night with a quick-witted monologue of satire and commentary on feminism, separatism, Judy Garland, vegetarianism, straight male behavior, Christ as a Jew, and political correctness. She emphasized the gay rights movement as being about love. "You gentlemen, gay politics is not crotch politics; it is not about the right to have sex. "We are not talking about a movement from the waist down. We are talking about the right to love, the right to have fami lies, the right to get medical insurance, to protect our lovers if they are dying, the right to visit them in the hospital." She declared her opposition to Reagan’s re-election. "If Reagan is re-elected, he will be the man to appoint the next Supreme Court. ...Reagan has to go. ...It's hell on us now, but if Reagan is re-elected it's going to be hell on us for the next 25 years." CLOSING EVENTS Sunday's events included an ecumenical church service led by St. John's MCC of Raleigh, and Democratic and gay student organizational caucuses. A plenary session turned up several suggestions for the next statewide confer ence, including more women and minorities in planning and participation, more state wide advance publicity of the Conference and the planning meetings, holding fewer workshops per time period, and better fundraising so that registration fees would not be the sole revenue source. There was also a lively disucssion of a site for the 1985 conference. Some people felt it should move outside the Triangle Area. And others proposed holding it con currently with the 10th annual Southeas tern Conference. The first Southeastern Conference was hosted in Chapel Hill in 1975. No decision was made, but an on going steering committee was initiated, and their planning meetings will be announced in advance in the lesbian and gay press. -Lee Mullis Health Issues for Mid-life The middle years, ages 45-65, are a time of rapid change for many women. Physical changes present new health challenges, and family changes can require major psychological adjustments. Knowing what to expect, how to care for her chang ing needs, and where to go for help if problems arise can help a woman face mid-life with confidence rather than uncertainty. A new series, "Health Issues for Mid- Life Women," sponsored by Women's Health Counseling Service in Chapel Hill, is designed to provide answers to many of the most perplexing questions faced by mid life women. The series begins on May 9, at 7 pm in the Presbyterian Student Center in Chapel Hill. Topics will include: May 9: "Healthy Aging I" May 16: "Healthy Aging II" May 23: "Intimacy and Relationships" For info, call Brenda Edwards: 968-4646 ’84 and Counting Where Candidates Stand As part of "'84 and Counting," a coalition effort to register gay and lesbian voters and ensure that gay issues are addressed in the presidential campaign, the National Gay Task Force has played a role in eliciting position statements on gay rights from two presidental candidates. Walter Mondale has stated, "I fully support the [Democratic] platform as enun ciated in 1980, and strengthened in 1982, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. I support, and I will sup port, legislation to prohibit discrimina tion based on sexual orientation. ...I will use the power of the Presidency to prohibit discrimination in Federal employ ment [and] ... immigration." Jesse Jackson also supports equal rights: "People of various sexual and racial persuasions must be part of a legitimate bona fide movement to afford equal protection under the law for all citizens. The Constitution does not say that one's citizenship is jeopardized because of one's race or sex or sexual preference." -from NGTF'S Task Force Report 11:1
Lambda (Carolina Gay and Lesbian Association, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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April 1, 1984, edition 1
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