A Publication bv the Lexungton Gav and Lesbian Servuces Organﬁhon
an EdltOl’lal Piece: (1 History of LesBiGoy Lexington
Lexrngton City Countll Candidate: (A Series by Jeff Jones)
‘| I,
by Jeff Jones Settlers, Sewers and Sex Shops

With the entire Lexington-Fayette County Urban City
COUﬂCil being €1€Ct€d onTuesday, NOY- 2, itiS imperative This month I begin a short series on the history
that lesbigay voters b? aware 0f candfdarjes and get out of gay, lesbian and bisexual spaces here in our city.
[0 vote. A5 a non-profit service organization, GL$O cap Basically, I am writing a paper for a graduate class on
not legally endorse candidates. The Views in this urban geography and have had to do the research
editorial are my personal views and do not represent anyway. Similar series have been done in the past by
endorsements by G150 or any other organization 1 David Williams in The Letter and by Greg Lee in the
also must thank local activists Tomi Ross (Fairness of GLSO News in 1984. 1 highly recommend reading
Lexington), Keith Elston (KY Fairness Alliance/ ACLU), both. The UK Library has back copies of both
and Laura Kaplan (Diversity Business Coalition) for publications.
information and opinions provided by them. Since moving to Lexington, I have long
GLSQ hopes that Peqple, Will get 0‘“ to vote for the wondered how a gay bar, The Bar, ended up on Main
candidate 0f their ChOICC 1“ support Of our democratic Street...and apparently for several decades. The story
IDSUVUUOHS- of this area begins all the way back in 1787 when

Lexington was being laid out by the first European
Mayor: ' settlers. Main Street was laid out to run parallel
Pam Miller (seen as generally progressrve) to the Town Branch of Elkhorn Creek. For this reason,
Ted Mims (viewed 35 unsupportive and poor fiscal East Main actually runs NW-SE instead of E—W. The
sense) area currently holding The Bar, the Kentucky Theater,
15‘: . . _ the Lexington Transit Center, and Park Plaza was
(#30189 Brown (WldelY respected bOFh Wthm and originally a single block of ‘outlots.’ At settlement, the
WithOUt the African—American community; Viewed 35 first Lexingtonians receiveda 1/2 acre town lot (centered
supportive 0f human rights for all people) on the area around Triangle Park today) and a 5 acre
Pat MCGHI (member 0f the anti-gay, right-wing local outlot for farming. This East Main block was a natural
chapter 0f the Christian Coalition) valley with the Town Branch through the middle of it
2nd: and a fairly steep grade up to Hill (now High) Street.
RobertJefferson (viewed as moderate; past chair of CONTINUED TO PAGE 7
the Lexington Human Rights Commission)
3rd:
Kathy Pratt (viewed as sympathetic but not strongly Have you bean discriminated against
SUPPO’T‘VC) . . in the Commonwealth of Kentuc
Brack Marquette (Viewed as conservatlve and . . ,
unresponsive to questionsfrom the lesbigay community) fOI' your sexual orientotlon.
4th: I
Isabel Yates (running unopposed; conservative; has THE" REPORT IT-
called for civil rights for all but will not address 216-5383
question of gay rights)
CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 ﬁuﬁimimimﬁon Ptoct