VOLUME SEVEN, NO. 6—March 17, 1994—March 30, 1994—Issue 150 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. IV The Wisconsin Light Statewide Organization Formed [Madison]- The entire Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual community of Wisconsin is uniting to create a statewide network. This "congress" of organizations is To Fight Bigots and Hate Mongers expected to be a powerful political force in the next few years. "We are becoming extremely organized," said Dale Johnson, President of the Board of The United and an AIDS activist. "Bigots and hate mongers will no longer be able to attack any member of our community without a swift response from the Gay and Lesbian community. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us." There is a Gay rights agenda," said Karl Hoagland of the Human Rights League. "We want equal, not special, protection under the law. We want our basic civil rights. We want to live without fear of violence. We want to be able to marry and raise families. We want to pursue our personal dreams and goals. We want the same opportunities that others take for granted." The statewide network has been the brainchild of State Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison). "We need to be unified to confront the assaults on our community," she said. "When I introduce Domestic Partnership legislation and same-sex marriage legislation, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and supportive communities will be organized to lobby their representatives, talk to the media, and inform the public." The statewide network is still in formation with nearly 100 Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual and ally WEARING THE GREEN— marchers Gay and Lesbian make their debut during the San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 13, 1994. organizations becoming involved, San Francisco invited them to join the celebration in response to Boston canceling their Annual Irish Parade in protest of a court order allowing Gays and Lesbians to march. including: The Wisconsin Light, In Step Magazine, the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Legislature Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade Campus Center, Lizards (Lesbians 35 plus years in age), Northern Women, the Passes State Democratic Party, GALVAnize, the Canceled to Keep Gays Out Lesbian Alliance of Metro Milwaukee Health Care [Boston, MA]- If the Massachusetts expressed disappointment at the (LAMM), the National Organization for State Supreme Judicial Court thought it cancellation of the 92-year-old parade. He Women (NOW), Briarpatch, Bi? Shy? Reform Bill had the last word when it ruled that Gays said that the city will sponsor the parade Why?, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Lesbians must be allowed to march in next year and will include the and Gays, Center for Public [Milwaukee]- In a follow up to the the South Boston St. Patrick's Day Irish-American Gay, Lesbian and Representation, People Living With AIDS article in the last issue concerning the parade, it was wrong. The parade's Bisexuals of Boston. Coalition, the ACLU, Gay/Lesbian Ethnic AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin's organizers have announced that the In San Francisco Minority Association, Lesbian Parents (ARCW) fight for health care reform in the parade has been canceled. Network, Log Cabin (G/L Republicans), Meanwhile, Gay and Lesbian State Assembly, a major victory was "We are overruling the Court's marchers The United, the Madison AIDS Support made their debut in Frisco's achieved in the final hours of legislative decision," said John "Wacko" Hurley, 142nd Network, Dykes Disabilities and Stuff, the annual St. Paddy's day parade. debate. The focus was on the president of the South Boston Allied War UW System Gay and Lesbian Task Force, "We wouldn't be consistent ARCW-sponsored amendment to the Veterans Council. "They're not going to with our PICADA, Human Rights Wisconsin, the stand on no Assembly Democratic health care reform shove something down our face that's not political or religious 10 Percent Society, Frontiers, Men of All discrimination in bill which would require a biennial open our traditional values." Northern Ireland if they Colors Together, Human Rights were kept out," enrollment for all health insurance plans. "We're disappointed, but we're glad said Joe O'Donoghue, Campaign Fund, International Network of the parade chairman. By a 56-42 vote, the State Assembly they stuck to their guns," said "Sis" Lesbian and Gay Elected and Appointed The only glitch in endorsed the ARCW proposal which Joyce, a South Boston resident. "We the parade came not Officials, and dozens of Lesbian/Gay from assures that people with pre-existing certainly don't need Gays in our parade. Gays, but from the fact that the businesses. parade's four health conditions such as HIV disease can It's a family." Grand Marshals were all in "This will be an extremely powerful jail. They had escaped obtain health insurance coverage. A last minute request to Supreme Court from Northern and influential organization," said Alice Ireland's "This was a very important win for the Justice David H. Souter on March 16th by Maze Prison and were captured Reynolds, member of the Board of in California. AIDS community," said ARCW the parade sponsors to bar Gay marchers They are awaiting Governors of the Human Rights extradition. Executive Director Doug Nelson. "It is from the parade was denied. Campaign Fund. "It will be a leader in also the first time that we have taken an Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino the Federal Advocacy Network (of HRCF) AIDS public policy initiative to the floor of that is creating a national superstructure the Assembly against great odds and of Gay and Lesbian organizations." won. Cities Must Re-assess When "The strategy of the religious right has "Throughout the history of the AIDS been to launch many attacks against our epidemic, we have had to battle the To Issue community that leave us burned out and insurance industry to gain coverage for Water Advisories divided," said Jane Vanderbosh, people with HIV who need medical care [Milwaukee]- "More people died from immune- compromised are susceptible to Director of The United. "With the and the industry's tradition of excluding Milwaukee's water crisis last year than lower infectious dosages of contaminated statewide network, we will develop our people with pre- existing health died in this year's Los Angles water than those who are own sophisticated, cohesive strategy for conditions has been the biggest and earthquake," Doug Nelson, Executive immune-healthy," Nelson said. attaining the basic civil rights of Lesbians cruelest barrier. Director of the Milwaukee AIDS Project "It's also reasonable, therefore, for and Gay people. We will no longer spend "With the Assembly's support of our (MAP) told a medical group in an address different water advisory standards to be all our time reacting to attacks, now we amendment which is consistent with the on March 15. promulgated," Nelson said. are taking a pro-active approach." Senate position, the Legislature has Nearing the anniversary of Nelson said there is public health "The statewide network will be endorsed a crucial state policy change Milwaukee's cryptosporidium crisis, precedent for such a dual approach to monitoring and working with all types of that begins to break down this barrier by Nelson has urged the city to establish water advisories, citing the air quality legislation locally, statewide and requiring the insurance industry to open water quality policies and protocols that advisories that are regularly made for nationally that affects the Lesbian and enrollment in all insurance plans at least specifically address people with HIV and people with chronic lung disease when air Gay community," said Judi Trampf, every two years," Nelson explained. AIDS and other immune compromised pollution is acute. WisTec Director at the State Independent "It's an important step forward and truly conditions. "The most important purpose of water Living Centers. a rare success in the face of Wisconsin's Nelson said that the city should advisories is to provide the public with "Homophobic bigot and the religious giant insurance industry," he said. establish standards for water advisories full disclosure of risk information so that right should be very concerned," said Nelson reported that ARCW public that are different for the immune- everyone can make their own decision Kevin Baird, Co-chair of Human Rights policy coordinator Mike Gifford made compromised and the immune-healthy about self-protection," Nelson said. Wisconsin. "It is time for the more than 65 lobby visits at the State populations. "The city now has the ability to discrimination and hatred to end. This Capitol during the week prior to the "The risk of contaminated water, the constantly monitor water turbidity and statewide network will make change Assembly vote. While support for the health impact of infectious dosages of particle counts and make an immediate happen." amendment came from Republicans and contaminated water and the protections to decision on issuing a water advisory. The The next meeting of the statewide Democrats, Nelson signaled out praise for avoid illness and death are all different for standards used to issue such an advisory network will be Saturday, March 19 at State Rep. Peter Bock (D-Milwaukee) for these distinct populations," Nelson must eliminate all risk of illness for noon in the North Hearing Room of the his floor leadership. explained. people with AIDS and severely State Capitol. For more information, Other key supporters included State "There is scientific reason to the compromised immune systems," Nelson please call Rep. Baldwin's office at (608) TURN TO HEALTH CARE, PAGE 12 premise that people who are severely TURN TO WATER, PAGE 12 266-8570.