Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 02:29:16 EST
From: gaynet@gallifrey.kent.edu
Reply-To: gaynet@gallifrey.kent.edu
Subject: GayNet Digest Volume 11 Issue 20
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.gaynet

In this issue:
                    GayNet Digest Volume 11 Issue 14
                              Military ban
                         Angelou Gay reference
                    GayNet Digest Volume 11 Issue 14
                          Lifting military ban
                             after the ball
       Student & Youth Socio-Political Organizations -- Esp. LBG!
                             After the Ball
                    URGENT: Gay Military Ban Action
                           Gay Military News

Please send messages for the entire list to gaynet@GALLIFREY.KENT.edu,
requests to be added or deleted to gaynet-request@GALLIFREY.KENT.EDU, and
personal replies directly to the other person, not the entire list.
Postings to GayNet are public communications.  If you must keep your
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For those restricted to 8 characters for addresses, Requests can be sent
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GALLIFRY  (Gallifrey minus the E before the Y).

If you have problems any of these addresses, please contact me directly at:

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perkins@kentvms (BITNET/J-Net)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 18:08:51 CST
From: kevin gregory fuller <kgf1@midway.uchicago.edu>
Subject: Re: GayNet Digest Volume 11 Issue 14

	The Chicago Tribune printed the poethe day foll and printed the poem
with (I suppose) the proper words per line, correct stanzas, etc. if you
would like to have a look or copy it.  Just thought you might want to know.

------------------------------

From: Sand <sjw@csd4.csd.uwm.edu>
Subject: Military ban
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 17:48:01 CST

01/25/93

Register your support to lift the ban against homosexuals serving in the
military by calling the "White House Comment Line" Monday thru Friday,
from 9a.m. to 5p.m. EST: 1-202-456-1111 or fax your comment to the
White House Fax: 1-202-456-2883.

I heard that 4 times as many phone calls are being received to keep the
current ban, than the number of phone calls supporting lifting the ban.

-
sandra j. wald
sjw@csd4.csd.uwm.edu

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 19:31:25 -0500
From: gaber@info.umd.edu (Paula Gaber)
Subject: Angelou Gay reference

For those of you who asked, the Info On-line version of the poem came
from the Washington Post. The New York Times also had the Gay reference.

Paula
gaber@info.umd.edu

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 18:06:23 CST
From: kevin gregory fuller <kgf1@midway.uchicago.edu>
Subject: Re: GayNet Digest Volume 11 Issue 14

------------------------------

Date: 25 Jan 1993 16:14:02 U
From: "Kris Langabeer" <klangabeer@physci.ucla.edu>
Subject: Lifting military ban

                       Subject:                               Time:4:12 PM
  OFFICE MEMO          Lifting military ban                   Date:1/25/93
I've been told that public opinion, including calls to the White House, is
overwhelmingly against lifting the ban on gays/lesbians in the military.
Clinton needs calls of support.  The White House number is 202-456-1111.

Kris Langabeer
UCLA

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 20:14:45 -0500
From: Tim Pierce <twpierce@unix.amherst.edu>
Subject: after the ball
Organization: Elitist Usenet Administrators, Stuff and Nonsense Division

COLE@utkvx.utk.edu said:

>Which provides the greater impact:  a "straight-looking" (whatever that
>is!) male couple who are openly gay on a show such as Knots Landing or
>the same couple dressed in drag?

This innocuous-sounding question ignores a couple of larger points to
be made:

1) Are we discussing the short-term or the long-term impact each
   couple makes, and

2) Which sends the more powerful message?

I don't think that the first couple would have much long-term impact,
in part because they don't leave the viewer with much to remember.
Oh, there are a couple of men.  They seem to be gay.  I guess that's
okay.  What's on next?  I don't see much progress to be made there.

Even supposing there's progress to be made, though, what end does it
accomplish?  The humble viewer turns the channel on his TV and
discovers a newsreel with a gay man in drag on the screen.  Oh,
there's a gay person!  How nasty!  Why couldn't he be more like those
nice boys on KNOTS LANDING?  Flip, flip, flip.

The "homophile" movement in the U.S. between the 1920s and the 1950s
revolved around eerily similar principles to Kirk and Madsen's: go
slowly, acceptance comes a little bit at a time, don't go for the
shock potential.  Take a minute to consider how much progress was made
between 1920 and 1960.  Now consider the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969,
which had nellies, transvestites, and leather queens at the forefront.
How much progress, comparatively, was made just in the following ten
years?  Think about it.

-
____ Tim Pierce                /
\  / twpierce@unix.amherst.edu /               Rocks say goodbye.
 \/ (BITnet: TWPIERCE@AMHERST) /

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 23:34:31 EST
From: Shawn Landres <jsl7@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu>
Subject: Student & Youth Socio-Political Organizations -- Esp. LBG!

I'm doing an extended research and writing project on the political
socialization of the younger cohort of the twentysomething generation (born
between 1967 and 1981). My focus is on broad trends in sociopolitical
attitudes, efficacy, and participation.

Can anyone:
1) recommend primary (or close secondary) source material
and/or
2) send me contact names and numbers at organizations set up and run by members
of this generational cohort ?

Please be aware that this is *not* an examination of student activism per se
nor is it limited to any part of the political spectrum. I need all sides and
all viewpoints.

Thanks much,

Shawn Landres
jsl7@columbia.edu

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 20:36:27 -0800
From: dbsmith@tuba.calpoly.edu
Subject: After the Ball

John Medlin suggests that since Jews were already out in Germany and got creamed
anyway, and Bosnian Moslems were already out and got creamed anyway, then even
if gays come out in America we might get cvreamed anyway.  Maybe so, but
there is a HUGE difference:  Jews' relatives and closest relationships in
 Germany
were all with Jews, and Moslems' relatives and closest associations in Bosnia
 are mostly
other Moslems, but with us, our moms and dads and brothers and
sisters are mostly straight.  Unless and until we are out to them, they
won't know that their antigay attitudes and acts hurt people they love.  My
brothers laughed at fag jokes until I came out to them, but they don't
laugh any more.

Another After the Ball issue has been discussed by several of you:  should
our community's strategy for the 90's be to get straight folks used to the
more noticeably diffewrent parts of our group, or should we break the straights
in more slowly by letting "straighter-looking" gays do the front work?  My
 answer
is that we should do both.  Why be monolithic about it?  But perhaps the
preference should be the latter, because, if my perception is accurate,
most of us actually are pretty straight looking and acting.  That's who
we, a lot of us, really are.  The only thing that makes us look different
is the pink triangle we wear proudly on our lapels.  This is not meant to
put down or marginalize people who choose less standard paths, but most of us
don't choose those less standard paths, and the only way the straights we'll
 know
we're everywhere is if we tell them.

------------------------------

Subject: URGENT: Gay Military Ban Action
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:13:55 EST
From: Ron Buckmire <buckmr@rpi.edu>

Sub:    URGENT! Military Ban Action

Many citizens of the US are sending messages by phone and mail to the White
House urging President Clinton to NOT lift the ban on gays and lesbians in the
military.  It is essential that our voices in support of ending the 50 year ban
are heard:

IMMEDIATELY DO THE FOLLOWING:

1.  Telephone the White House at 202-456-1111 and tell them to lift the ban
now.  If you get a busy signal,  keep trying.  It doesn't count unless you
connect.

2.  Write and send by overnight mail if possible to the White House at the
following address:

President Bill Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Washington. D.C.  20500
Fax: 202-456-2883

3.   Legislation is being introduced in the House and Senate to make the ban
enforceable by legislation.  (Remember the ban was instituted through an
Executive Order 50 yrs ago - legislation could make the ban into LAW!!!)  It is
essential you immediate call and write your Congressperson and Senator and let
them know you oppose such legislation.  Senators are the most important right
now - VISIT THEM IN PERSON IF POSSIBLE.

4.  Get all of your friends and work associates to do all of the above!!!!.

Thank you!!!

Elizabeth Birch and Curt Shepard
CoChairs Board of Directors NGLTF


---
RON BUCKMIRE, 11 Colvin Circle, Troy, NY 12180-3735.  ``D.C. in 93!''
uunet!rpi.edu!buckmr||buckmr@rpitsmts.bitnet||buckmr@rpi.edu||+1 518 276 8910
    C O N S E R V A T I S M   I S   A   M E N T A L   I L L N E S S .

------------------------------

Date: 26 Jan 93 01:58:42 EST
Subject: Gay Military News
From: An Anonymous Sender


The Associated Press.
   WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton told Pentagon leaders on
Monday he will fulfill his pledge to revoke the ban on homosexuals in
the military. The military officials objected to his decision but
"expressed their respect for his decision-making power as commander
in chief," a spokesman said.
   Clinton and the Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the issue for
nearly two hours at a White House meeting. The president plans to
take steps within a week to end the 50-year-old ban, White House
communications chief George Stephanopoulos said.
   "It's the president's decision," the spokesman said. Nevertheless,
there is intense opposition both at the Pentagon and in Congress to
lifting the ban.
   Stephanopoulos characterized Clinton's meeting with the military
chiefs as "cordial, honest and respectful." Asked if there was any
talk of Gen. Colin Powell, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, or any
other member resigning over the policy, Stephanopoulos said, "No,
none at all."
   Powell, returning to the Pentagon, refused through his spokesman
to comment on the discussions.
   "He characterized it as a very productive meeting," spokesman Col.
William Smullen said. "He said, 'I was pleased with the meeting."'
   Smullen said neither Powell nor the individual service chiefs
would comment publicly on the meeting until the White House issued a
statement, which he said was likely in the next day or two.
   Military officials have raised concerns about housing, spousal
benefits, discipline and requests for same-sex marriages. They also
have warned of the potential of violence against gay members of the
military.
   Clinton's promise to end the 50-year-old ban has inflamed
passions, presenting the new commander in chief with the delicate
challenge of carrying out a major campaign pledge while preventing a
backlash from Congress and the Pentagon.
   Briefing reporters on the White House meeting, Stephanopoulos said
that Clinton "reiterated his commitment to ending discrimination
against homosexuals in the military solely on the basis of status and
to maintaining morale and cohesion in the military.
   "The Joint Chiefs expressed their concerns and difficulties with
the president's commitment but also expressed their respect for his
decision-making power as commander in chief," Stephanopoulos said.
   Clinton plans to discuss the issue on Tuesday with leaders of
Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike.
   "The president wants to make sure this is done with as little
disruption as possible," White House press secretary Dee Dee Myers
said. Asked if the ban in effect had been lifted, she said, "The
president has not announced his new policy."
   She said the chiefs "reflected their concerns" over Clinton's plan
of action.
   Even before meeting the chiefs, Clinton promised to carry out his
pledge.
Slain sailor's mother asks justice

By Marcus Stern
Copley News Service

   WASHINGTON The mother of a sailor allegedly beaten to death by
a shipmate in a gay-bashing incident in Japan last fall Monday
(Jan. 17) called for the prosecution of his accused murderer to be
taken out of the hands of the Navy.
   "I think that my son's investigation should be put in the
judicial system and taken out of the hands of the Navy," said
Dorothy Hajdys, mother of Seaman Allen R. Schindler, who once was
based in San Diego.    Hajdys made her remarks during a emotional
candlelight vigil held by homosexual activists honoring her son as
a "gay hero" at the Navy Memorial.
   "I don't think the Navy's going to try the guy right because my
son declared himself homosexual," said Hajdys, a resident of
Chicago Heights, Ill.
   Schindler, 22, was beaten to death in October in a public
restroom near his military base in Japan shortly after revealing
his homosexuality.
   The vigil came on the eve of a scheduled preliminary hearing in
Japan to decide whether to court-martial Airman Terry Helvey in
Schindler's slaying. A second sailor, Charles Vins, was sentenced
to a year in custody for resisting arrest and failing to report a
crime.    Hajdys and the homosexual activists called for justice in
the case, railed against military attitudes toward homosexuals and
called for a repeal of the ban on homosexuals in the military.
   "My reason for doing this is because I don't want any other
mother to go through what I'm going through," said Hajdys,
trembling with emotion and speaking tearfully. "My son's body could
not even be identified except by the tattoos on his arm. I can't
understand how anyone could do that to another human being."
   Homosexual activists have charged that the Navy has attempted to
cover up the incident and Hajdys angrily decried the Navy's conduct
in the case.
   "I fear for any homosexual's life because of the way that the
military thinks about homosexuals and their attitudes towards it
and I fear for their lives," she said. "I fear that there could be
thousands of mothers going through what I'm going through."
Schindler, who was killed Oct. 27, was based in San Diego until his
ship, the amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood, was moved last fall
to the Japanesse home port of Sasebo.
-----------------------------------
Fatally beaten gay seaman memorialized

By Angela Lau
Copley News Service

   SAN DIEGO Allen Schindler was a gentle, fun-loving man, but he
died a violent death because he was gay, his friends said.
   The 22-year-old seaman was remembered at a memorial service
yesterday (Jan. 17) at the Metropolitan Community Church, where 100
relatives, friends and supporters from San Diego's gay and lesbian
community gathered.
   They recalled Schindler's walking his 16- and 18-inch lizards on
a leash and keeping even more exotic pets, including turtles, a
chinchilla, parrots and a duck, while growing up near Chicago.
"My son was a loving person. He'd never have hurt anyone," his
mother, Dorothy Hajdys, said. "I want to know what's going on on
his ship."
   Schindler, a San Diego resident, was beaten to death Oct. 27 in
a bathroom near a Navy base in Sasebo, Japan, where his ship the
amphibious assault vessel Belleau Wood was berthed. Navy
investigators said gay-bashing may have been the motive behind the
murder.
   Navy records obtained by Schindler's mother show that the
attacker  whom the Navy alleges to be Terry Helvey hit Schindler
repeatedly on the head and the body, breaking almost all his ribs
and bashing in his skull.
   Another shipmate, Charles Vins, watched the beating, the Navy
alleges.
   Hajdys said her son had complained repeatedly about harassment
for his sexual orientation.
   "It got so bad he wanted out," Hajdys said. "He called me 12
hours before the murder to tell me he'd spoken to a military lawyer
and was arranging to get off the ship. He said he'd be home by
Christmas for good."
   But Lt. Kenneth Ross, a Navy spokesman in Hawaii, denied
Schindler ever complained.
   Rep. Lynn Schenk, D-San Diego, who attended the service, said
she will join with Rep. Gerry Studds, D-Mass., in pressing the Navy
for a thorough, unbiased investigation.
   Schindler's death has galvanized the San Diego gay and lesbian
community, which has vowed to pressure the president to lift the
military ban on homosexuals in the hope of preventing similar hate
crimes.
   "We need to end this bigotry, this violence," said Schindler's
lover, Jim Jennings, 32. "We need to learn to live with one another
as human beings."

------------------------------

End of GayNet Digest
********************
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