From: nyt%nyxfer%igc.apc.org@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu (NY Transfer News)
Subject: challenge to anti-gay measures /ww
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: The NY Transfer News Service
Resent-From: "Rich Winkel" <MATHRICH@MIZZOU1.missouri.edu>
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 18:16:04 GMT

CHALLENGE EMERGES TO ANTI-GAY MEASURES

By Lyn Neeley

Oregon and Colorado have become the targets of a right-wing
campaign against lesbians and gays. Legislation that would not
only legalize but encourage discrimination has been introduced in
both states. The bills would minimize punishment for assaults
against people perceived to be gay, and force public schools to
teach young people that homosexuality is "abnormal, wrong,
unnatural, and perverse" and should be "discouraged and avoided,"
in the words of Oregon's Measure 9.

If Amendment 2 passes in Colorado, all gay rights ordinances in
the state will be repealed and no local or state agency will be
allowed to adopt nondiscrimination protection based on sexual
orientation. Tennis star Martina Navratilova, who lives in the
state, has issued a statement calling for "help to defeat the
worst attack on civil rights in recent Colorado history." She
said, "I am outraged!"

Colorado for Family Values is the local group behind the measure.
But as Navratilova said, "The national right wing wants to lay
claim to Colorado, and Amendment 2 is its tool."  If the measure
wins, she warned, people can "look for an all-out attack on
privacy and local control, on what can be taught in our schools,
and even control of our own bodies."

In Oregon, opposition to Measure 9 and the Oregon Citizen's
Alliance, the group behind the measure, is rapidly building.
Donna Redwing of Portland's Lesbian Community Project told
Workers World, "We're sending out three and four speakers a night
to churches, clubs and organizations." She said many people in
Oregon are offended by the amendment.

The No On 9 Campaign expects 5,000 to 10,000 people, representing
a wide coalition of groups from the region, to attend a unity
rally in Portland on Oct. 4. The director of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force, Urvashi Vaid, will be the featured speaker.

The rally kicks off a 30-day countdown to the Nov. 3 election. No
On 9 is organizing fund-raising events and a media campaign.
Their first television commercial will air the beginning of
October.

The issue will also be raised at the National Coming Out Day
rally being held at the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland Oct. 9.
Organizers say there will be an open microphone where hundreds of
people can come out to the world, and that this year the rally
should be very moving.

Redwing said, "We are going to take back the words Family Values"
at a Family Celebration Oct. 18. All kinds of
families--heterosexual, lesbian and gay--will eat, play games and
sign a family registry.

Marion Malcolm from Clergy and Laity Concerned said the group is
holding teach-ins, house parties and fund-raisers in opposition
to Amendment 9 every day in Eugene, Ore. The Religious Response
Network was started a year ago to respond to OCA's right-wing
campaign. The group has planned a signature ad in the newspaper,
a news conference for Oct. 19, and an interfaith service followed
by a vigil on Oct. 21.

The Northwest Coalition against Malicious Harassment, a group
based in five states in the region, is holding its annual
conference in Eugene Oct. 23-25, and will focus on the `No on 9'
issue.

(Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted
if source is cited. For more info contact Workers World,46 W. 21
St., New York, NY 10010; "workers@mcimail.com".)


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