VOLUME TWO, NO. 2—January 26, 198 41—Fehruary 8, 1989 • FREE
Give the People Light and they will find their own way. The Wisconsin Light
••■••111, Light Inside... Wisconsin Light Exclusive Interview A TIME TO DIE IX Witches Night Page 2 HARVEY FIERSTEIN TALKS RELIGIOUS OUTREACH . Page 4 ABOUT FILMING "TORCH SONG" BOY OF SUMMER. , Page 5 By Terry Buntiner THE LIVELY ARTS His voice is not what 1 expected., It s not gutteral, but more silken-soft with just a. Jeff Kampen Profile, , Page 7 touch of-Mae Westin sensuality to it. There is also more than a hint in it of the WORLD VIEWS kind and gentle man that comes across so Europe & Far East. Page 8 well on the screen. By all accounts, Harvey Fierstein is a POLITICALLY SPEAKING star.. The movie "Torch Song Trilogy"
I bid Page 9 which is, above all his labor of love. is doing very well indeed, not only in SISTER NEWS AND VIEWS Milwaukee, but in the rest of the country Women's Coalition. . Page 10 as well. Yet, he is so easy to talk with and patient in answering the questions that he SGT, BEN-SHALOM has undoubtedly heard a. million times before. Army Case Profiled.. Page 12 Is "Torch Song" autobiographical? "No,", he says, .."Not really." It is no more the story or his life than the work of National Political any other author. But, since any writer creates only from what and who they Conference In know. Fierstein adds "The real Alan (played in the film by Matthew Broderick) Madison Nov. 17 is alive and well in Chkago and the real "Madinun]. Dane County and Madison's Ed (played in the film by Brian Kerwin) is openly Gay and Lesbian elected officials living in New York.- announced that the national Fifth Annual The making of the film has been Conference for openly Lesbian arid Gay described as "A labor of love" yet, it had public officials will be held in Madison on its difficult moments, For Fierstein, the November 17-19, 11989, Arnold (Hey Fierstein) and "114113 - tAnne Bancroft) diecuRR hardest of these was the filming 14 "A/ran mother -and son on alit occasion of Arnold II birthday, — Matthew s death." It was raining, he The first conference was held in West Says and, Irt- between takes, the actors Hollywood . in 1985, Sal men Lk! n "joked a lot dtml little in the street conferences have here Weld in Dallas., .ifti4g WOW I (15 relieve ffire -peopiv,-, Ire in 199b, in Washington, D.C. says, "were shocked by this," but it. got Minneapolis 'In 1987, and in San Diego in Condemned for. Anti-Gay Actions them through an emotionality rough scene. 1988. The past conferences have been To make matters worse or, perhaps with a Delius, Mi. Elected officials and attended by Congressman Barney Frank, Dallas V01016 the Gay/Lesbian newspaper terrible real Gay-bashers Mood leaders of civil rights, victim rights and state legislators, judges,. county board in that city, at its meeting on the 13th, the near-by laughing at the whole thing. You chairs and supervise's, mayors, city law enforcement groups condemned the Commission • took public testimony, The can hear the sadness mired with anger in council members, a town clerk, a school actions of Dallas Judge Jack Hampton Commission will .have On days to make a FierF.tein a voice as he recounts the connection with the sentencing of Richard response. It s deliberatious are secret. incident. And, I admit, because I find Lee Bcdnarski, who was convicied for the Vercher told Light that the Commission Matthew Broderick wen detfully attractive brutal murder of tau Gay men. Judge has four options.- drop the charges in a vulnerable way. what Fierstein says. Hampton sentence! Bednarski to 30 against Hampton entirely, 2) a private hurts. years in prison instead of the full life cennure, 3) a public censure,. 4) initiate Some people have wondered at the sentence Sought by the prosecution proceedings that will teed to the judge s neighborhood in which Alan and Arnold because the murderer s victims were ouster. Should this happen and ouster (Fierstein) choose to live, "It s I real Gay. At Aim sentencing heating on take place, Vercher said, Hampton can neighborhood•1", Fierstein says. December • 15. NM, Judge Hampton appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. "it s "Where it takes place is on the corner of said, "1 don t much care for queers up in the Mr. , Vetcher said, as to which Thompson and Spring in lower westside cruising the streets picking up teen-age option the Commission will take. Manhattan in the Little Italy section of boys,.. d put prostitutes and Gays at about Regardless of the outcome, Hampton New York." When I tell him that some the same level. and I d be hard put to give faces an election in 199U. Vercher told wonder at the run-dawn building and the somebody life for killing a prostitute." Light that, in the contest, Democrats and beautiful apartment, he chuckles and It has been reported that one of the "centrist" Republicans will "line up" replies, "Tell them that s what New York murdered Gay men pleaded for Ids life as against Hampton. "His Hampton s is like. That s a reel loft. It was a factory the gun barrel was put into his mouth and support will come from the Republican far — you can see that in the film if you look fired, rieht.",. Vercher said. closely." As to the furniture, well, "It At the request of the Texas Human The Dallas Gay Alliance urges all was all second hand stuff." If `people Rights Foundation, the Texas State persons outraged by the Judge s conduct thought it waa.beautifol, "well, what can Commission on Judicial Conduct held a to write letters to: Robert C Flowers, I say? Fag skills?" I think of a friend who Tammy S.C. Baldwin hearing on January 13 . to investigate Stale Commission on Judicial Conduct, talks Aleut The queen s touch." board member and various appointed Judge Hampton s behavior in the case. P.O. Box 12265, Capitol Station, Austin, One thing about the film puzzles me.. In officials. Attendees have been According to Dennis Vercher, editor of TX 787H. the scene where Virginia Hamm is Democrats, Republicans and Socialists. singing and being heckled by an International guests have included the. Judge Orders Sharon Kowalski obnoxious type, why does a man leap Honorable Chris Smith MP, an openly from hilt chair and, knife in hand, grab Gay member of the British House of Broderick who was clearly not Commons. Moved to Rehab Facility responsible? The conference was invited to Madison Again Fierstein chuckles. "The heckler county, MN). District court Kowalski may have visitation... with by Dane . County Board of Supervisors 1St. LOWS had slipped away.", he answers. "He those personal friends who she. Chair Richard Wagner and Supervisors judge Robert V. Campbell has ordered and his friend jumped over the railing." that Sharon Kowalski be moved to specifically and reliably request visit Kathleen Nichols., Tammy S. G. Baldwin But, Fierstein admita„ "The action was and Earl Brkker and Madison Alderman Millerawan Medical Center in Duluth to her." very fast, too fast. It should have been James McFarland. The letter of invitation begin receiving communication and other Kowalski s parents have obtained a slowed down. A number of people missed rehabilitation therapy. stay of the order while they prepare an noted "We think it particularly it." Kowalski, who was severely injured in appeal, Thompson and other activists appropriate that OW conference should Then he says. "Here s something for an automobile accident In 1983, has been working for improvements in Kosvalski s meet in the capital city of the nation's you. Did you recognise the heckler?" situation were surprised by the parents only Gay rights state." Wisconsin has kept in a nursing home fillet 1985. She l admit that I didn t. appeal. Thompson said. "1 just don t been represented at each conference by has received little rehab there and has not, "The heckler,". says Fierstein, "was understand how they could try and get out officials from Diane County. been allowed to see visitors of her choice. the same guy who played Alan in the of giving their daughter rehabilitation. In 1989, Wisconsin will observe the Kowalski has been under the legal stage production of Torch Song. I think At this critical time, the case l on the seventh anniversary of the first statewide guardianship of her, father. Donald your readers might be interested in law banning discrimination oti tine basis of Kowalski, since 1984. threshold of major changes, and the thaLt. sexual orientation and Madison will Karen Thompson, Kowalaki ls partner, National. Committee to Free Sharon Beth Broderick end Kerwin do, i think, observe the 20th_ anniversary of Gay has been pursuing legal action sMce 1984 Kowalski Is in need of funds to continue warmly sensitive jobs playing Gay activism in its community. for proper medical care for Kowalski, as working for Sbaron s freedom, Donations characters. But, does a. person playing an A special effort will be made for the well as for the right to visit and help care May be ant to the National Committee at open and aympathetk Gay role suffer for her. 1725 17th St., NW, Rm 515, Washington, fifth anniversary to reunite the 12 ufficials when it comes to getting future parts? Campbell s order stated that "Ms. D.C. 20009. TURN TO MADISON, PAGE 3 TURN TO FIERSTEIN, PAGE 10
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