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Community Connections, February 1993 Page Asheville Gay and Lesbian Information Line: 253-2971 A project of the AshevSte Say and Lesbian Community Council Gay and Lesbian Youth Hotline: 1-800-347-TEEN Thurs.-Sun. 7 a.m. To report anti-gay/HrV+ discrimination/violence: AsheviUe-Buncombe Community Relations Council: 253-1656 / 252-4713 U.S. Department of Justice toll-free: 1-800-347-HATE Asheville, NC Serving the Southern Appalachian Gay/Lesbian Community Vol. V, No.2 February 1993 ACT-UP Triangle Wins Suit Against State Anonymous HIV Testing Restored in All Counties Anonymous testing is once again avail able in North Carolina. On January 4 Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson issued a preliminary injunction against the NC Commission for Health Services, forc ing the immediate restoration of anony mous testing in all 100 county health de partments. Since September 1,1991, anony mous testing had been restricted to only 17 to 18 health departments. The judge gave as his reason for ruling in ACT Up's favor the denial of equal protection to North Carolina citizens not living in the 18 counties where anonymous testing was available. Both the federal and state Constitutions provide equal protec tion under the law to citizens. Judge Hudson also said that the State had failed to show that it had a compelling public health- based reason for its decision to limit anony mous testing to 18 counties. The NC Health Services Commission may now seek a full judicial review of the case. According to The Front Page, spokes person Steve Harris emphasized that all health departments must give anonymous tests. Anyone having difficulty receiving an anonymous HIV test in any county health department in North Carolina should immediately contact ACT UP at (919)990- 1197.—Portions excerpted from The Front Page, 1/15/93, by Paul Falduto NCCGLE Fires Up with Retreat At the Inaugural Ball, sponsored by SALGA at Stone Soup in Asheville on January 20, happy voters celebrated the swearing-in of President Bill Clinton, photos by Cynthia Janes by Cynthia Janes The North Carolina Coali tion for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCCGLE) catapulted into a new phase when the newly elected Board met for the first time the weekend of January 9 in Char lotte. Professional facilitator Tobi Lippin successfully guided the Board through two days of packed agenda that included work on the March on Washington, the an nual hate crimes report, discus sion of plans for action on the crimes-against-nature(CAN) law, revision of by-laws, 1993 goal setting, formation of working committees, and much more. Warm-up exercises and a Satur day night reception by members of Charlotte's gay and lesbian community provided welcomed breaks. Board members were housed by Charlotte residents. Founded in 1988, NCCGLE has struggled since its inception to work effectively on statewide issues. Efforts to overturn the North Carolina CAN law, which criminalizes most sex acts be tween two unmarried people, was the group's original focus, but its most successful project has been the organization of the state's Documentation Project, which culminates in the publica tion of an atmual report on inci dents of discrimination and vio lence towards lesbians and gay men. The 1992 report, due out in April, will be the third done by NCCGLE. Maintaining an active and viable board had been an ongo ing problem for the group. Martha Wilson (Winston-Salem) is the only board member to have been with the group from continued, with photos, on page 4 o Paper ^ folding? Community Connections needs you! / ■ 3 1 Local Group Organizes for March on Washington 1 7 "Stop AIDS Now" Workshops by WNCAP 12 David Hopes reviews "In The Life" t; ' ■■■ WUNC Pulls "In the Life II by Cynthia Janes NC Public Television has decided not to continue the gay series "In The Life," which the station first aired in January. A monthly variety show, "In The Life" is the first regularly scheduled, na tional, non-cable gay/lesbian TV program. It is funded by its viewers and not by tax dollars, a decision made to prevent right- wing Senators and Congressmen from ac cusing PBS of using public funds to "pro mote homosexuality." On January 3 the series' first two episodes were aired on WUNC, beginning at 11:30 p.m. The third episode had been scheduled for February 1. Meanwhile, other PBS affiliates have been picking up "In The Life" at a faster rate than the show's producers had antici pated. According to Development Direc tor Kevin McDonough, the program is already being carried by well over 20 stations, the original goal for the first few months. However, according to Outlines (1/93), no Southern city was on the broad cast list as of the first part of January. North Carolina Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (NCCGLE) spokesper son Chris Ingle said that WUNC gave the following reasons for pulling the show off the air: the station has received many calls in opposition to the show; the show does not appeal to a general audience; the show is not educational, but entertainment; and the show has poor production quality. Ingle pointed out that many PBS shows are not intended for general audiences, and that a purpose of public broadcasting is to provide a voice for groups which might not otherwise be heard, such as "Tony Brown's Journal." Ingle also named "Masterpiece Theater," "Are You Being Served," and the "Lawrence Welk Show" as programs that are mainly entertaining rather than educational. Regarding technical quality, Ingle said that "The Nineties" was a PBS program lacking in some technical areas, but nevertheless it was an excellent show. Ingle urged viewers to call WUNC to express support for the show. Call Pro gram Director Diane Lucas or Center Di rector Tom Howe (919)549-7000. (See \David Hopes‘s review of "In The Life," p. 12.^
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