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VOLUME TWO, NO. 14—July 13, 1989 —July 26, 1989 FREE Give the People Light and they willfind their own way. V The Wisconsin Light Milwaukee County Board to Vote On Disavowing Pride Proclamation Wisconsin Light Readies Legal Action Judiciary Committee Votes 5-1 to Recant [Milwaukee]- As a result of the action [Milwaukee]. As a petition drive to taken on July 11 by the Committee on force the recall of Mayor John 0. Norquist Judiciary, Safety and General Services of for his proclamation honoring the Milwaukee County Board of Gay/Lesbian Pride Week reached a Supervisors, (see article, this issue) reported 2,000 signatures, the Milwaukee Wisconsin Light is exploring legal action County Board's Committee on Ju- to be taken against the County Board. diciary, Safety and General Services, According to Dr. Terry Boughner, chaired by James Koconis, on Tuesday, Editor of Light, the paper is currently in July 11, 1989, approved, a resolution to consultation with legal counsel and others "recant" the Council's proclamation concerning a class action suit to be honoring Gay/Lesbian Pride Week. The brought against the Board. proclamation which was passed A final decision will be reached on the unanimously by Council, was issued May matter following the Board's action on the 18, 1989. recantation resolution. Such action is The motion to approve the recantation scheduled to take place on Thursday, July resolution passed on a 5-1 vote. 20. Sup. Dan Casey Sup. Richard Kuzminski Supervisor Aldrich, 4th district, was the "The reason for this step by the In related action, according to and Lesbians. lone dissenter. paper," Boughner said, "is the Boughner, Light is in contact with the In other and late breaking news, Light The recantation resolution, sponsored necessity of showing those who are our Office of Civil Rights, a division of the has learned from its sources within the by, County Supervisors Gerald Engle (8th friends in public office and elsewhere that Federal Department of Health and Human movement that a group of right-wing district), Daniel Casey (23d district), and we are willing and ready to stand with Services concerning the recantation Christian Fundamentalist has retained Richard Kuzminski (24th district), them and carry on the fight for our resolution going to the full Board and the legal counsel with the aim of bring suit asserted that the Pride proclamation was rights." possibility of discrimination against Gays TURN TO LEGAL ACTION, PAGE 11 used "to apparently promote and endorse a lifestyle which embodies certain practices which are clearly unacceptable to the vast majority of Dramatic Increase in Violence Reported citizens." It concludes saying that the Council will "recant and disavow those portions" of . In Madison After May 6 March & Rally the Gay/Lesbian. Pride proclamation By John Quinlan and let live, to love and let love." "which by implication or otherwise Madison, WI- Community leaders Prior to the rally, few details of the six congratulates, endorses or applauds the expressed their anger and their solidarity attacks were known, because the lifestyle of the Gay/Lesbian movement." in the face of reports of anti-Lesbian/Gay survivors of the attacks feared the The Committee meeting was attended violence at a July 7th rally at the State consequences of going public with their by more than 100 people 10 of whom are Capitol. There have been at least six stories. "A history of the 1980's in openly Lesbian or Gay. incidents of "Gaybashing" in the two Madison cannot be silent about the Among those testifying before the and months since Madison's March for violence experienced by Lesbians Committee was resolution co-sponsor County Lesbian and Gay Rights and Pride, Gays," said openly-Lesbian Engle. He admitted voting for the Pride Baldwin. She sources say. Supervisor Tammy proclamatiOn, but "I goofed. I couldn't these "We are a gentle, angry people — and emphasized the need to report catch its meaning," he said. But now, he the press. we are speaking for our lives," said Dane crimes to the police and in said, his conscience would not allow him no one County Board Chair Richard Wagner, "This violence is simply wrong, to go on without attempting to have the a paraphrasing Holly Near. has the right to physically harass proclamation rescinded. Madison "Not everyone in this community is in member of 'the family.' " said Supervisor Richard Nyklewicz, Dist.), noting the a position to stand up to this kind of Ald. Bert Zipperer (6th supporting Engle, stated his opinion that and homophobia," the openly-Gay politician need for vocal support of Lesbians "the Gay/Lesbian movement is not a non-Lesbian/Gay told a crowd of about 100. "Those who Gays from their worthy endeavor." can must carry the burden.' brothers and sisters. Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs-Jones, one "We are here to express our Lesbian and Gay advocacy groups of the sponsors of the Pride Proclamation provide outrage," said Cevyn Godre, a member began mobilizing after the rally to said that the title of the proclamation had violence Dane County Sup. Tammy Baldwin of the Gay and Lesbian Visibility Alliance support services for survivors of TURN TO PROCLAMATION, PAGE 11 (GALVAnize). "And we are here to or harassment. significant fears in order to report the -July express our compassion for the survivors The United is planning a mid crime," said Johnson. "They fear Clarenbach Rape Crisis of homophobic violence.' meeting that will include the retaliation by their attackers. They worry department, the Too often, she said, society displays a Center, the police about insensitive treatment at the hands Strongly Reacts to Network, the local "well, what do you expect" attitude and Madison AIDS Support of the police. Crime Assistance discounts homophobic violence by VOCA (Victims of "And it's also a coming-out issue. Abortion Ruling groups. Existing blaming Lesbians and Gay men for openly Office) and other Many people aren't 'out' at work or to [Madison]- Reacting to the July U.S. and needs for expressing who they are. "Let's not fall resources will be pooled their families," he said. "They fear that Supreme Court ruling on abortion, State identified, said Dale into the trap of blaming the victim. Just as new services in reporting the crime, they will be forced Representative David E. Clarenbach member of the United. no woman deserves to be raped, no Johnson, a board to be very visibly 'out' before they're (D-Madison) issued a strongly worded preventative measures, Lesbian or Gay man deserves to be This may include ready. statement. classes and a beaten.' such as self-defense "These fears are real, but talking "Here in Wisconsin, as across the project. "Violence motivated by bigotry is "whistle for help" about what happened can be the first step nation, the political and legal system has of anti-Lesbian/Gay especially abhorrent and will not be "Survivors in overcoming the fear and the pain. been squeezed by a ruthless single issue overcome some pretty tolerated," said state Rep. David violence must TURN TO VIOLENCE, PAGE 11 lobby, that does not represent the Clarenbach (D- Madison). majority view. This is as much a crisis of Clarenbach is a sponsor of the 1987 democracy as it is a challenge to the Wisconsin Hate Crimes Law that offers Protest Vigil Planned July 20 principles of privacy and rights of stiff additional penalties to people whose women." crimes are driven by racist, homophobic at Milwaukee Court House The statement went on to say that, or other bigoted motivations. "We must use the occasion of this [Milwaukee]- On Thursday, July 20, The recantation resolution will be Violence and harassment against decision to seize back the offensive and 1989 the Board of Supervisors of brought in along with the regular report of Lesbians and Gays are only the most redouble our efforts to assert productive Milwaukee County will consider the the Judiciary Committee. That report will repugnant expression of a more deeply rights of women." recantation resolution passed by the be discussed in the late morning or early ingrained problem, Clarenbach added. Clarenbach who is Speaker Pro Tern of Judiciary Committee on July 11. afternoon. It has been reported that "Those who believe in homophobia and the Assembly and a long-time civil rights The meeting will be held at the County should a sufficient number of protesters bigotry are as much a part of that violence advocate moved at once to bring a bill (AB Building. Board meetings are open to the show up, the consideration of the as those who actually perform the 500) to the floor of the House that would public by Wisconsin law although no one resolution will be advanced on the violence.' repeal that section of the Wisconsin legal except board members may speak. agenda. It is glaringly hypocritical for certain code that made abortion a criminal All those who support retention of the There will be a roll call vote. Let each "bible-thumpers and anti-abortionists" offense. The statute has been inoperative Gay/Lesbian Pride proclamation are member of the Board as she or he casts to declare the sanctity of life and then since the Supreme Court's "Roe v. asked to come to the Board meeting their vote look and see us in our numbers. stand silent in the face of violence against Wade." ruling in 1973. wearing black armbands to attend, Let them know by our quiet presence that Lesbians and Gay men, he continued. The law, 940.04, provides for fines and peacefully showing our shock and sorrow we are a proud people. PLEASE BE "They are notable in their defense of the imprisonment for a woman obtaining an over what is taking place.