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VOLUME FOUR, NO. 14—July 11, 1991—July 24, 1991 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. The Wisconsin Light Lawmakers Claim AIDS Definition Rep. Steve Gunderson Is Target Ignores Women Of "Outing" By Activists [Madison]- The Bush Administration is [Washington, D.C.]- Steve Gunderson reviewing a proposal by Wisconsin (R-WI, 3rd Dist.) was the target of heavy legislators to change the definition of Clarenbach Wins Endorsement From "outing" over the July 4th weekend. AIDS as it relates to women, who now The 3rd District includes much of make up the fastest-growing population of The Human Rights Campaign Fund western Wisconsin including the cities of people with AIDS. Eau Claire, La Crosse, Platteville and Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison) [Madison]. State Representative David and Lesbian civil rights during the early Prairie du Chien. and seventeen other lawmakers have sent Clarenbach has won a major, early 1970's, when even mild support for the According to the Milwaukee Journal, President Bush a letter pointing out that endorsement for the Democratic cause was difficult to come by," said Tim On the evening of June 30, 1991, woman are not accurately represented in nomination for Congress in Wisconsin's McFeeley, HRCF's Executive Director. Gunderson was in a restaurant/bar in national statistics on AIDS. The Centers Second District. "Not only was he an early advocate, Alexandria, VA at 808 King St. The bar is for Disease Control (CDC) definition of The Human Rights Campaign Fund but he has been a remarkable effective known as The French Quarter and AIDS does not include infections that are (HRCF) has announced its endorsement one. Consider Wisconsin's landmark Gay according to the owner, Murray specifically related to women. of Clarenbach (D- Madison) in the and Lesbian civil rights law, its ban on Greenberg, is a Gay bar with 50 percent of Among those who signed the letter are: September, 1992 Democratic discrimination against people with AIDS, the dinner crowd being straight. Speaker of the Assembly Walter Kunicki, Congressional primary. its law against hate crimes. Passing any According to Gunderson's press attache, Health Committee Chair Rep. Tim "I am delighted to accept this vote of one of these laws would be a major Jennifer Koberstein, Gunderson was Carpenter, Health Committee Vice Chair confidence," Clarenbach said. "The accomplishment. For David to have Rep. Peter Bock, Rep. Marcia Coggs and Human Rights Campaign Fund's authored them all, and much more, Rep. Barbara Notestein. endorsement is another of the many testifies to his rare legislative talent," "The CDC definition continues to be encouraging signs that there is broad McFeeley said. centered in how AIDS is manifested in support for me to seek the Democratic The HRCF endorsement includes a men and ignores the anatomical Congressional nomination. "The Human $5,000 contribution toward Clarenbach's differences between men and women," Rights Campaign Fund is a leading primary campaign. the letter states. "Women's first national political organization active in the Clarenbach, the Speaker Pro Tem of the HIV-related symptoms are often fight against AIDS and against Assembly, is expected to seek the House gynecological; thus a different disease discrimination based on sexual seat held until last January by Rep. profile occurs for women than for men." orientation. It also advocates public Robert W. Kastenmeier (D-Sun Prairie). Clarenbach said it is otten more health legislation such as universal health A veteran of nearly 20 years in elective difficult for women than for men to qualify insurance, family and medical leave, and office, Clarenbach, 37, has been elected for HIV assistance, since government reproductive freedom of choice. to the Assembly since 1974. He chairs the policies are based on a CDC definition In making the endorsement, HRCF Special Committee on Reform of Health that does not include gynecological officials stressed Clarenbach's legislative Insurance, and the Subcommittee on the manifestations of HIV disease. skill, experience and political foresight. Future of Family Farming. The letter calls on the CDC to revise its "David became an advocate for Gay definition of AIDS, and to institute a system to regularly revise its surveillance definition to include newly discovered or Milwaukee Bar Owners Join Fight developing opportunistic diseases in all affected people. To Protect Patrons From Bashings In response, the White House said the REP. STEVE GUNDERSON Department of Health and Human [Milwaukee]. According to a La Cage Alderperson Mary Ann McNulty was having dinner. He was accosted by a man Services would review the request. customer survey, 100% of 200 expected to attend, but was not there. She later identified as Michael Petrelis. "The President shares your concern respondents so far feel safe inside the did not attend the two previous meetings. Petrelis is a member of Queer over the tragic toll that AIDS has taken on bar. But 90% think they are unsafe Gunkel reported that Mayor John Nation/D.C., publishes a sporadic women," wrote Mary McClure, a special nearby the club. Norquist's office is "very interested" newsletter called Piss And Vinegar , his assistant to the President. The survey is being taken by George and has been very cooperative. primary outing vehicle and is a long-time Clarenbach called for a quick response Prentice, owner of La Cage. While the The meeting was the third of three proponent of outing. by the Bush Administration. survey is not complete — Prentice hopes convened to discuss ways to counteract Petrelis said he had received word that "Women are the fastest-growing for 700-1,000 respondents — the the incidents of anti- Gay/Lesbian Gunderson was at the French Quarter. population of people with AIDS," preliminary results have taken him aback violence. Petrelis had previously named Clarenbach said. "Once diagnosed, they as he told those attending a meeting on Prentice said he thought the Gunderson as a closeted Gay become sicker faster and die sooner than July 8, sponsored by the Lambda Rights "perception of danger was greater than Congressman who was not a sponsor of men with AIDS. Network and Queer Nation. the reality." Still, he said, the perception the Gay/Lesbian Civil Rights Bill. "The government's failure to come to The meeting, attended by 11 people, was there, it was real and something had According to the National Gay and grips with this reality adds another tragic was held in the Milwaukee Public Library to be done to correct it. Lesbian Task Force, Gunderson's voting dimension to the AIDS epidemic — first floor conference room and was Discussion was given to the future record on issues important to Lesbians 94 doubly tragic, since this is something that chaired by Scott Gunkel. Among those establishment of patrols in the area. and Gays and AIDS legislation is could easily be corrected," Clarenbach there were the owners of La Cage, However, Prentice and Jim Balistreri of percent favorable in the last Congress. said. Partners and the 3 B's. Partners pointed out the problems According to Petrelis, he found involved with such patrols, including Gunderson in the bar area on the second Court Denies liability. Untrained people patrolling the floor of the French Quarter. Petrelis says Wisconsin Supreme streets, Prentice maintained, "could he introduced himself and began a become part of the problem." conversation about coming out and Visitation Rights To Lesbian Instead, Prentice opted for the idea of supporting Gay rights legislation. the bars in the area of La Cage (2nd and At one point, Gunderson allegedly awarding [Madison, WI] - In a 5-2 decision compelling reasons exist for National) cooperating in hiring responded to Petrelis, "I am out! I'm in Callow. rendered on June 26, the Wisconsin custody," wrote Justice William professional security people. Uniformed a Gay bar, aren't I?" Koberstein denied Shelley Supreme Court upheld a lower court Before the decision came down, security, he said, was "prevention," that Gunderson had made those remarks. said: ruling that a Lesbian could be denied Gaylord, Sporleder's attorney, adding that police tend to pay more Petrelis says he began chanting and visitation rights to a child adopted by her "My priority is to get parental attention when called by security people. "Come Out, Gunderson, Come Out!" recognized former partner. parental-like relationships That idea is currently being acted upon. and threw a drink on his chest. Other The court said that Wendy L. Sporleder, regardless of sexual orientation." Prentice said later that the security reports say it was thrown in the represented of Appleton, lacked proper legal standing Attorney Dan Cross, who people would be in place "in a week" Congressman's face. Koberstein told in state law to gain visitation rights to the boy who Hermes, argued that nothing and, as of press time, he had already Light that Gunderson said that Petrelis rulings was adopted by Janice A. Hermes in or previous Supreme Court begun to contact the other bar owners in was "practically hysterical." Koberstein on parental 1988. suggested that "taking the area. said that Gunderson then turned and rights of Hermes had adopted the boy after responsibility gives the Other steps to beef up the security of walked away, refusing to respond to the "a classic Sporleder's attempts at artificial parents." He called it bar patrons and prevent vandalism are attack. not appropriate for insemination were unsuccessful. The example of where it is being taken as well. The manager and bartender called the women were together for seven years the state to intervene." The Boot Camp already has security police. Petrelis was not arrested and no attention before their break-up, after which Hermes The case drew nationwide persons in its parking lot on weekends.

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