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VOLUME FOUR, NO. 12—June 13, 1991—June 26, 1991 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. V The Wisconsin Light Panel Supports Increased Funds Superior Man Brutally Killed For AIDS [Madison]. In a follow up to an article in By Openly Homophobic Attacker the last issue of Light written by Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), [Superior, WI]. Stuart Ellanson was Clarenbach has said that members of the charged on June 4, 1991 with first-degree Legislature's budget-writing panel have intentional homicide under Wisconsin's taken a bold step toward meeting the Johnson hate crimes law in the butcher-knife challenge of AIDS in Wisconsin. killing of a Superior man, according to A discussion group of the Joint Finance Jerry Assistant District Attorney James Committee approved increased Boughner. appropriations for AIDS programs that Dead' is Kevin E. Dutcher, 27, who was faced inadequate funding or elimination stabbed several times in the kitchen of his under Governor Thompson's proposed Superior home. 1991-93 budget. According to reports carried in the "This action is a significant victory in Duluth News-Tribune and the Superior the fight against AIDS," Clarenbach Evening Telegram, the criminal complaint said. "The AIDS case load is soaring, filed in Douglas County Circuit Court and the state cannot pretend that it is not. quoted Ellanson as saying "This was This action recognizes the severity of the premeditated... I wanted to kill this fag. AIDS crisis, and provides desperately My whole life is devoted to killing faggots needed help for the care givers serving and child molesters." the infected population." Ellanson allegedly told police that he The discussion group's action stabbed Dutcher in the chest., The encompasses the key elements of the presumed murder weapon is a 12 inch Wisconsin AIDS Initiative which butcher knife. The victim pleaded for his Clarenbach proposed. Highlights of the life. Ellanson stabbed him again and package include: then, after calling 911, to say "I just A 20 percent increase in Life Care Milwaukee's Fest City Singers performed to capacity crowds last weekend at the Stackner Cabaret. stabbed a guy" according to police, Services Grants to AIDS Service An encore performance will be given at La Cage on Sunday, June 16. See details on Page 9. stabbed Dutcher a third time. After that, Organizations (ASOs). These grants fund Ellanson waited for police to arrive and the work of case managers who provide surrendered without incident at the scene HIV infected individuals with financial, Outing by 'Christians' Leads at 11:48 p.m. medical, legal, housing, emotional and Superior Police Department Detective other support services. Increased funds To Resignation of Minister Bill Braman said Ellanson confessed to would be allocated to private, nonprofit fatally stabbing Dutcher who was ASOs that supplement state funding with [La Crosse, WI]. The assistant to a La Jesus Christ. Sexuality is a gift from God, reportedly HIV positive. Ellanson private support. Crosse Lutheran bishop resigned his post homosexuality as well as heterosexuality." frequently used terms derogatory to Gays The Governor's budget would have on May 22 after revealing he is Gay. Johnson, married and the father of during his interviews with police. provided no increase over current levels; The Rev. Paul Johnson, assistant to three, said he was "not aware of my According to Boughner, Ellanson said the 20% increase would raise funding Bishop Stefan Guttormsson of the La sexuality either when I got married or "he would like to kill Gay people. That he levels to $835,200 in 1991-92 and Crosse Area Synod of the Evangelical when I was ordained. My struggle with would kill more in prison." $1,002,240 in 1992- 93. Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) my sexual identity caused me to be ministers and priests contacted by the Continuation of the AIDS Clinical Drug informed the Bishop that Johnson was suicidal for many years." He called his News-Tribune only four chose to Trials Program. This progiam brings Gay. That information was disclosed by final acceptance of himself as a Gay man a is not listed as a resident there. Braman promising experimental drugs to two people who believed it was their "born-again" experience. He told his said that despite Ellanson's young age, Wisconsin AIDS/HIV patients. For "Christian duty" to write, informing wife about it shortly thereafter. he had been a frequent resident of alcohol several years, clinical drug trials have Guttormsson of Johnson's sexual He said his Gayness has been a source rehab centers. been conducted in Chicago and orientation, according to Gayda Hollnagel of pain and struggle for his wife, but she Ellanson is being held without bond in Minneapolis, but have been generally reporting for the La Crosse Tribune. has come to accept it. "At this point," he the Douglas County jail. Boughner told unavailable to Wisconsin patients. According to a statement sent to said, "she feels very strongly that the Light that arraignment would take place The Governor's budget would totally Wisconsin Light, Johnson had spoken of church is wrong." on July 1. eliminate funding for 1991-93; restoration his sexual orientation to a small group at Johnson said that while many people Ministers and politicians have stayed of the program will continue funding at an ELCA Congregational Social Ministry would like to think that the issue of quiet about the murder. Out of 28 the current level of $150,000 for each of event in Chicago. All such remarks at the Gay/Lesbian clergy concerns only a few ministers and priest contacted by the the next two fiscal years. conference were to be in confidence. people, in reality it affects many more. News- Tribune only four chose to At the end of May, the discussion "The trust level in my group," wrote "There are people in every comment. That silence has left the Gay group approved full funding (as requested Johnson, "was good and I believed my congregation and pastors in every synod community feeling isolated and by the Governor) of the AIDS/HIV Drug confidence would be respected." who struggle and suffer because even abandoned. Reimbursement Program which assists However, the two people who were not though they are faithful Christians they "I thought God was merciful and individuals with the high cost of drugs members of Johnson's diocese, broke are also Gay or Lesbian. All of us need loving to all people," said Bob Jansen, such as AZT and Pentamidine. It also that trust because of "Christian duty." love and acceptance, not judgment and owner of The Main Club bar in Superior. directed that the reimbursement rate be Johnson, of Viroqua, said: "I condemnation." "When churches can decide who is good based on ability to pay, and permitted submitted my resignation because I am Wisconsin law forbids job and who is bad, I wonder about the reimbursement for other experimental not in agreement with the guidelines of discrimination because of sexual philosophies of organized religion." drugs which are cost-effective the ELCA regarding ordination of persons orientation, Johnson said, but churches The Duluth News-Tribune which has alternatives to AZT and Pentamidine. who are homosexual. For those of us who are exempted from the legislation. "In denounced racism, has no plans to "Given the growing demands on AIDS are Gay, the church reciuires a any other profession, I'd have a strong publish an editorial on homophobia, said programs, these are modest requests," commitment to life-long celibacy. I am case." editorial page editor Virgil Swing. Clarenbach said. "But also given the unwilling to make such a commitment and Leo Treadway. vice chairman for the state's budget constraints, the Finance I don't believe the church should require cream city brick mansion on Brewers Hill Minnesota Governor's Task Force on Committee should be commended for it. that he shares with me (his spouse), one Gays and Lesbians was reported as assigning these programs the high Johnson said he believes he is a "child pussy cat, a family of robins, a couple of saying that some people might be atrata priority they deserve." of God, accepted and affirmed by our Lord bats and, reputedly, a ghost or two. He that if they expressed outrage at a murder also works part-time at Video of a Gay person, it might lead people to Adventures. believe they themselves were Gay. Mayor Appoints Light Publisher I fully intended this to be a sober news Iver Bogen, professor of psychology at story. You know, unbiased, just the facts the University of Minnesota-Duluth, said Commission etc., but I'm not unbiased, not in the that part of the problem lies with society. To Housing/Jobs slightest. There was little indeed in my "There's this tacit support for this By Terry Boughner Milwaukee, called Eagle. He graduated long life that made shivers run up and violent thinking, for this violence that [Milwaukee]. Jerry Johnson has been from Milton College with a B.A. in down my spine so much as when I stood occurs," he said. "I think Ellanson appointed by Milwaukee Mayor John 0. English, taught school and entered the there, watching and listening as Jer took really believes he's doing God's work, or Norquist to a post on the Mayor's Peace Corps in 1966 and served for two the oath of office. I was so proud. the culture's work, or whatever. That's Commission on Fair Housing and years in Nigeria. Jer will never tell you how deeply probably related to the fact that there Employment. Johnson is, at least, the Since moving to Milwaukee, he has committed he is to his beloved isn't this hue and cry about this." second openly Gay person named to been active in a variety of civic and Milwaukee; how much he loves it.