o“ GAY& '
LESBIAN
SERVICES
OVRG' FEBRUARY l996
A PUBLICATION OF THE LEXINGTON GAY AND LESBIAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION
FOUNTAIN or YOUTH ANTI-GAY VIOLENCE RALLY GLSO Online:
contributed by Joshua J. T. MacFarlane A SUCCESS Peter: p]taleO@ukcc.uky.edu
‘ “I am responsible for my'outlook and contributed by Mary Crone ‘ Elizabeth: be e@mis.net
attitudes and l have the chorce today of . On Friday, December 29, Farmess 0i Tammy: sappho@mis.net
magnifying positive or negative.” Anonymous Iexrngton organized a successful rally to draw #
Due to the snow I have had the pleasure attention to the deaths of Michelle Abdel and stand: there has never been such an addition
of attending school only one day since my last Roxanne Ellis and to the many other hate to a state constitution in the history of the
column. This has allowed me almost four crimes occurring within the last few years. United States.
weeks to do nothing but think, write and Over one hundred people turned out on this Most of the ahhggy measures that have
socialize. In that timeihave come to discover cold winter evening to hear a number of been taken to the voters have been turned
several things about myself and about those speakers including Vice Mayor Teresa 1533C: down. However, the debate of homophobic
around me. Not the least of which is the Michael Folger from the Council for Peace and ballot initiatives always seems to include plenty
revelation that two of mycontemporaries, one Justice, Rex Van Alstine, minister 0f the of bizarre and vitriolic attacks on our
21 close friend and the Other a little more than Metropolitan Community Church, Keith Elston community. And this rhetoric gives pennission
an acquaintance, are both bisexual. One of With the American CiVil Liberties Union, and and encouragement to some individuals to
the two IWOUld never assumed was bisexual, Mary CFOUE from (3130- There were also threaten, assault, or even murder us. We do
let alone a predominately gay bisexual, The statements from the National Conference and not want to see this happen in Kentucky, but it
other I wondered about, and have come to find the Human Rights Commission. Linda West could.
out is a predominately straight bisexual. This did a great job in organizing this event and in In 1994 KY State Legislature, there were
in itself makes me ponder hOW many other speaking to the press and TV interviewers 15 different anti-gay bills or amendments
lesbigayslmay unknowingly know. attending. Thanks to Linda, itwas some of the preposed. This year there may be more.
The path by which Icame to discover this best media coverage we have had. Through the efforts of the Kentucky Fairness
about these tWO and the process of us A main PUIPOSC Of this vigil was to make Alliance and the many of us who made phone
becoming some of each others’ closest and clear the COUhECiiOH anti—gay political activity, calls and wrote letters, we defeated all the
most loyal friends is one full of self-realization anti—gay rhetoric, and the rise in hate crimes efforts in 1994 and are gearing up to do the
and trust, aswell asdeceit and betraval. The against lesbigaytrans people. Keith ElStOh . i
4 . . contmued on page 12
last four weeks have not been easy by any delineated how the amount of anti—gay
means. They have been both emotionally and violence has risen in the particular states in
physically draining, but i shall never forget which anti-gayinitiatives have been debated or GLSO Sponsor of the Month
them, nor shall I ever regret them. [have also pm on the ballot. In Colorado, for example,
come to better understand my own emotions, anti—gay violence rose 129% from 1991 (89 R“ sse ll Be a m
attitudes, and what i do and don’t like in incidents documented) 10 1992 (204 incidents Bookkeeping &
myself, others, and society as a whole. of documented) when Amendment 2was debated . rs .
course, I’m sure many of you are wondering and passed. This amendment states that it is Tax SerVIces
how this applies to you. Well, I‘ll tell you it permissible to discriminate against 404 LataYEtte AVE-v Shite 300
all has to do with perspective and one's homosexuals in Colorado. The U.S. Supreme Lexington. KY 40502'2140
attitudes toward the world around them. Court will be handing down a ruling on the 266-2 903
Iwould not have been able to survive the constitutionality of this amendment soon, see {1,111,th ad inside
continued on page 2 Hopefully they will not let this amendment _