VOLUME NINE, NO. 3—February 1, 1996—February 14, 1996—Issue 197 FREE Give the People Light and they willfind their own way. 11" The Wisconsin Light Valentine's Day Sees Gay Marriage Caught Up in a Firestorm of Debate Honolulu--The state House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday night, January 23rd virtually closed the door to any action by the Legislature this election year on the thorny issue of same-sex marriage. The committee supported Chairman Terrance Tom's recommendation to kill bills variously calling to establish same-sex marriage, provide for domestic partnerships or allow certain benefits for domestic partners. Tom then deferred action on three bills that would put the issue of same-sex marriages to the voters in the form of amendments to the state Constitution. "These matters will be deferred until the committee and myself believe there has been adequate discussion to make a decision on this issue," Tom said following a six-hour hearing in the Capitol auditorium. He said he hasn't decided whether he would arrange for any further discussion on the issue in the current session. One reason, Tom said, was that the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law established by the Legislature last year failed to address the question of whether the voters who approved the 1978 constitutional amendment barring sex discrimination should be asked if they intended it to apply to same-sex marriages. It was the gender discrimination amendment that the state Supreme Court cited in its May 1993 ruling that the state could not deny three same-sex couples marriage licenses unless it could show a compelling public interest in such discrimination. Tom noted that the 1994 Legislature voted to reject the high court's interpretation of the constitution and the voters intent when they voted to approve a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation. The commission majority's proposal to legalize same-sex marriages "glosses over the fact that the majority of the people of this state do not support such a proposal at this time and that such marriages are unlikely to be recognized either by the federal government or other states," Tom Members of the Tribe meet at "the Clubhouse." (l-r) Cheryl Lucus, Bill, J.C., Robb, Tom Yorky, Kreg White, Jeff Fillion, David Holder, Guy said, noting some states are already acting to bar same-sex Clough, ARCW Director, Doug Nelson, (bottom) Kathy, Lil Lau and Lori Sitzwohl marriages. TURN TO MARRIAGE, PAGE 18 Joseph Flinchbaugh Held Over on Charge of Three Openly Gay Candidates for Dane Murder 1 In Killing of Mandi McCall County Board, Face Tough Primary By Ladybell Bradlee side of his body. The deepest being about 3 Commentary by John Quinlan time when literally every vote will count. Milwaukee-1:30 p.m., January 26, 1996. inches missing his heart. He also suffered Madison—Dane County could be without These elections may seem to come out of the Cold, overcast and damp. It matches our from multiple blows with a blunt object. It is openly Lesbian or Gay representation on the blue because they are being held earlier than mood. Room 146, the Criminal Justice Build- believed the object was a heavy shoe or boot— Dane County Board for the first time in recent usual this year. (The state's new, earlier ing. Mandi's friends—We are all here. We possible still being worn. No single one of history if the LGB community is not mobilized March 19th presidential primary date is the talk. We want revenge—not simply justice for these would have caused death. behind three openly Gay candidates. This reason.) Mandi. We hope horrible things will happen to The primary cause of death was strangula- would be especially ironic, observers say, Given that the only non-local race on the Joseph Flinchbaugh in prison. Wisconsin does tion by use of a necktie, and it was still around given that by next April, Dane County could ballot is the primary race for the Wisconsin not have the death penalty. We want Mandi his neck. According to the medical examiner— very well make history by electing the nation's State Supreme Court, that could mean a fright- back. We know that is not possible. We want Mandi's throat was also cut. It is believed this first openly Gay or Lesbian County Executive. fully low turn-out—which either represents a closure. We must wait for that. occurred after death ox at least after loss of The plot thickens—read on. great danger or a great opportunity for Dane consciousness. More than almost any primary in recent County's current crop of openly Gay candi- TURN TO MANDI, PAGE 19 history, this Tuesday's elections represent a dates. With three-term supervisor Mark Pocan's impending retirement, Sup. Scott McCormick Greg Louganis, to Make Only Milwaukee is the only openly Gay incumbent seeking re- election, and he faces a tight, three-way race Appearance at AfterWords in his notoriously low turn-out UW-Madison Milwaukee—AfterWords Bookstore & Es- campus district. presso Bar is especially pleased to announce Openly Gay newcomers Alan Furnas in the our major author appearance for the Spring (non-city of Madison) southside and Darren with legendary Olympic Champion Diver Greg Kittleson on Madison's far southwest side, are Louganis on Monday, March 25th. underdogs in tough races, although both seem Greg Louganis is making a 10-city national to be fielding well-organized campaigns. tour for the paperback release of his New Scott McCormick York Times best-selling, Breaking the Sur- McCormick, a close confidante and friend of face (Plume Pb $13.95). AfterWords Book- Dane County Executive Rick Phelps (who re- store will be Louganis's only Milwaukee ap- cently announced he will not seek re-election pearance. in 1997), is unabashedly progressive in his Breaking the Surface is Greg's unflinch- politics, but is seen as a bridge-builder be- ingly honest story of a Gay man breaking free tween the progressive and conservative fac- from a lifetime of silence and isolation. tions around AIDS issues and issues of con- Born to a young Samoan father and a North- cern to the LGB community. ern European mother, Greg was adopted at Alan Furnas nine months by Pete and Frances Louganis. What he lacks in name recognition, Alan At nine he started diving lessons and at 16 he Furnas, a manager of housing for people with won a silver medal at the Montreal Olympics. developmental disabilities, is making up for in Mandi McCall Despite Louganis's astonishing athletic skill solid organizing. He is coordinating closely 2:25 p.m. Joseph Flinchbaugh is brought and artistry on the diving board, he struggled with other progressive county board candi- into the courtroom. He is wearing prison or- with late-detected dyslexia, pre judgments and dates, and is working particularly closely with ange. He appears cocky. He sneers when he prejudice over his dark skin coloring and a Greg Louganis African-American community leaders, Sup. sees us sitting there. His attorney is with him. deep personal anguish over his sexual orienta- face, Louganis announced to the world that Regina Rhyne and former Sup. Eyvonne Mr. Flinchbaugh is asked if he wants to waive tion. several months prior to the 1988 Olympics, he Crawford-Gray, who are running to represent his rights to this preliminary hearing. He says Many fans still remember the dramatic im- had tested positive for HIV. adjacent southside districts. no. Commissioner Audry Brooks reads the age of handsome young athlete hitting his head By speaking out, both in the book and to Based on high standards of viability and his charges against him—Intentional Homicide in on the diving board during the springboard Barbara Walters on national TV, Louganis has stance on issues of importance to the LGB the first degree. No plea is entered—this is a preliminaries at the Olympics. Only two min- hoped to raise awareness about AIDS preven- community, Furnas has received the endorse- hearing. utes later, with four stitches, he was back on tion and domestic violence, amongst other is- ment of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. The state will call two witnesses to reinforce the board and executed perhaps the best dive sues. Darren Kittleson Further details about Louganis's appearance the charges. of the 1988 Games. Enmeshed in a four-way race for the far at AfterWords Bookstore will be announced The first is Dr. John Teggatz, Milwaukee Despite stitches and a water proof-patch, west side First District seat currently held by during the upcoming weeks. For further in- County. Medical Examiner and forensic pa- Louganis would win his third and fourth progressive leader Carol Brooks, is Darren thologist who is brief and to the point. Mandi Olympic Gold medals. formation please contact Carl M. Szatmary at suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper left With the publication of Breaking the Sur- AfterWords: (414) 963-9089. TURN TO MADISON, PAGE 14 February 1, 1996—February 14, 1996—WISCONSIN LIGHT-2 Researchers Wrong About Suspected AIDS Case News Briefs London, England-AP-Two British researchers say they were mistaken in claiming that AIDS was present in Britain as early as 1959. In a letter published in The Lancet, in the last week in January, Andrew Bailey and Gerald Corbitt of Manchester Royal Infirmary said the tissue sam- Resort Manager Apologizes: Servers Wore Gloves ples had been contaminated in the laboratory. The original research, published in The Lancet Alexandria, MN-AP-A resort official has apologized after some employees wore latex gloves in July, 1990, reported the AIDS virus was detected in tissues from a British sailor in 1959, 20 while serving food to participants in a Gay and Lesbian conference.