Newspapers / Community Connections (Asheville, N.C.) / March 1, 1993, edition 1 / Page 1
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To report sinti-g8y/HIV+ discriaiination/violeEce: Askeville-Buncombe CommmUf RelaHons CouncU: 253-1656 / 2S2-4713 U.S. Department af Justice toll-free: 1.800-347-HATE VoLV,No.3 March 1993 Violence Against Lesbians and Gays Spurs Action Across NC ' by Deb Self Violence against lesbians and gay men once again took its toll as two people were murdered in Oregon. As residents of the state were preparing to vote on homopho bic Measure 9 (to ban local ordinances which would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation), some Oregonians took their hate to a street with a vengeance. On September 26, 1992, Hattie Mae Cohens, an African American, lesbian, and Brian -Mock, a disabled white gay man, -.were hum'fedlb death vi ■ The atrocity has languished in media silence, and details are still unavailable. , However, due to actions by the New York- based Lesbian Avengers, the word is get ting out. The Lesbian Avengers took to Fifth Avenue in the thick'of holiday shop ping with lit torches to protest the Oregon murders. They staged' a five-day around the clock encampment in the West Village before a shrine dedicated to those mur dered in Oregon arid elsewhere. ■ ■ SALGA Organizes Against Hate Inspired by the New York group, the Southern Appalachian Lesbian and Gay Alliance (SALGA) has decided to take to the streets as well. Two events are planned. On April 3 SALGA will host a rally at Asheville's City/County Plaza to protest the Oregon murders and other violence against lesbians and gays. The rally prom ises to feature a wide variety of speakers, including clergy from area churches, to speak out against the violence. The. rally will be held from 7:00- 10:00 p.m. Organizers had hoped to bum ;a boW'fire 'at,the-plaza-.to make more visible the means by which Cohens and Mock ■ were tortured. But the pennit was denied, and a candlelight vigil will beheld instead. SALGA will also sponsor a Love Against Hate Crimes KISS-IN at Senator Jesse Helms office at Asheville' s Old Fed eral Building on March 26 at 4:30 p.m. . Lesbian Avengers in Durham Also inspired by the high-profile ac tions of the Lesbian Avengers- in New York. City, .Durham women have orga nized to form the state's first local Lesbian continued on page 8 Some Media Tackle Education Process by Cynthia Janes For the first time, attitudes about gays and lesbians are being discussed all across the U.S. It began when President Clinton said, within his first week of taking office, that he wanted to lift the ban on gays and lesbians in the military. But when General Colin Powell, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Sam Nunn, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, balked and said such integration would undermine morale and discipline, Clinton decided to set aside six inonths to discuss the issue. - The right-wing so-called "Christian" fundamentalists are doing their discussing by calling and writing -the President and their Congressional representatives' in ■ record numbers. Gay and lesbian national and local organizations are urging mem bers to do. the same. Many in the gay community feel that ignorance-of who gays and lesbians are 'is the most imposing enemy, and that education must become a priority. Some local and national media apparently agree, as there have been sev- continued on page 8 NGCGLE and Pride PAC Organke to Eeform CAN Laws "A Rock, a River, a-Tree” Maya Angelou's Inaugural Poem The Witch hunts » Continue Gays still persecuted In Community Connections "Unfolding II the military ■ j More on •"x I-'l -'f 1 1 1 i the Military - ; -, Gay Ban , J iiliiiliS fsSi 1 lli As you may have read in our previous issue, Community Connections has been on some very shaky financial ground.,. So we put out a call for community support— for Board Members, volunteers and finan cial contributions. And things are begin ning to look up, thanks to your enthusiastic response. In terms, of finances, the paper now has a cushion of several months (meaning we can start looking ahead, rather than worrying about whether the next issue will come out). Our.improved financial health is due to donations we received from read- . ers this month (thank you!) and some of our advertisers paying overdue bills. Now, we feel it’s time to really begin planning for long-term stability, which depends on a better base of funding and on community ownership of the paper. And - it looks like we've got a good -start. On Thursday , February 11, Commu nity Connections held an open meeting to get feedback and support from lesbians and gay men who were committed to getting the paper on solid ground. Eighteen people came to that meeting lull of ideas and .enthusiasm, leaving the staff members en couraged and reenergized. We would particularly like to thank the five new people who have joined the Board of Directors of Community Connec tions: Susan Parker Weatherford (Chair); Mark A. Goldberg (Treasurer & Chair of ■ Finance Committee); Dianne Lind-gren (Secretary); Jamie Thomassoo (Finance Committee Member); Alysa (Lee) J. G. Goldberg (Volunteer Coordinator); and Kate Larken. The new members bring a wide range of talents, interests and experience—as weir*- as a healthy dose of humor! Under their leadership, I believe we will witness suc cessful efforts to broaden the base of com munity involvement and ownership of the paper, and to strengthen the paper's fmai]- cial foundation. Despite all this fresh air, however, we still need input fromyu«. Remember, you imke Community Connections a t&ality. it is our goal to reflect the lives and interests of gay and lesbian people across the Appa lachian South, including yours. Whether rural or urban, African American, Latino/ a, Asian or N ati ve American, or Caucasian, physically challenged, young or old, Com munity Connections aims to reflect the diversity of pur community and the com plexity of our lives. Help us inform the whole community of newsworthy happenings aiid developing issuesthatconcemus. Getinvolyed! Here's continued on page 2 iiiiiiiiililiiiiiiH (III '( "• >} • >'■ c- ,1.■ ' .-i'; ’ L-,,' . '.'TH (i L’ r; cvr., .LL:r •L-.%»,: ■ ' ■ V J. . . v. LL j 1 X CtLx's:- La; ’c.r"'*''-
Community Connections (Asheville, N.C.)
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March 1, 1993, edition 1
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