VOLUME EIGHT, NO. 7--March 30, 1995--April 12 , 1995—Issue 176 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. V" The Wisconsin Light Equitable Ryan White Vice President and Mrs. Gore to Serve as CARE Act Advances to the Senate Honorary Co-Chairs of AIDS Walk Wisconsin Washington, D.C.— In late breaking news that is an update to earlier stories in Light, in its first test of U.S. Senate support, the new Walk to be Held Ryan White CARE Act with hard-fought equi- table formulas, was endorsed unanimously by September 17 on the Senate Subcommittee on Labor and Human Resources. Milwaukee 's Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS), Chair of the Committee, crafted the new formulas which have been vigorously promoted over the Lakefront past year by the Wisconsin-led Campaign For Fairness in Ryan White CARE Act Funding. In Committee action on Wednesday, March Milwaukee— "Tonight, it is a real joy for 29, the new CARE Act was unanimously me to announce a wonderful surprise," said voted out of Committee without amendment Doug Nelson, Executive Director of the AIDS and may be scheduled for a full Senate vote Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW), the prior to the Easter recess of Congress. parent agency of the Milwaukee AIDS Project AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin Execu- (MAP). Nelson was speaking before over 900 tive Director, Doug Nelson, who has led the people who attended the ninth annual Make A national fight for equity, praised the Commit- Promise Dinner and Auction that was held, tee vote. "This is the first indication that this March 25 in Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel. Congress is committed to equitable AIDS What Nelson was about to say had been funding," Nelson said. "It is a big victory close held by MAP until it could be revealed which will double Ryan White funds for Wis- that night. consin." "As you may know," Nelson continued, "we Nelson hailed the new formulas which ap- seek out leaders to serve as honorary co-chairs propriately counts living AIDS cases and dis- of AIDS Walk Wisconsin, the largest and most tributes funds on an equitable basis per living successful fundraising event on AIDS in the AIDS case. state. "There is a lot of work yet to do before the "Yesterday, I received the following letter CARE Act gets to the President's desk for that I would like to share with you." Nelson signature," Nelson said. "But this win today began to read. means that our plea for equity has been heard `We share your deep commitment to this and that our long national campaign is worth- important battle against AIDS and, as you while." know, we have worked hard to increase fed- eral funding for AIDS research and treat- ment...We are also personally dedicated to The Cream City doing all that we can to support the work of agencies" like MAP. Foundation `So, it is with great enthusiasm therefore that we accept your invitation to serve as the hon- Spearheads Reception orary co-chairs of AIDS Walk Wisconsin.'" The letter was signed by Vice President Al for Ron Geiman Vice President and Mrs. Gore and Tipper Gore. Barrett (D-WI) who at- Wisconsin Congressman Tom Milwaukee-- Milwaukee's Cream City Honorary Co-Chairs of AIDS Walk tended the dinner with his wife, said, "I am Foundation, along with the AIDS Resource very pleased that the Vice President and Mrs. Center of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Light Gore are coming to Milwaukee. I think it's will be sponsoring a recognition reception for great that the event has been a success and will Ron Geiman, Editor/Publisher of In Step continue to grow." Magazine. The event will take place on Sun- David Mixner Leads Nationwide Gay Fight Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist who also day, April 30, 1995 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in attended Make A Promise, voiced his enthusi- the Renaissance Center, 1451 N. Prospect asm for the news. "The Vice President and Avenue in Milwaukee's lower East Side. Against Anti-Gay Montana Law Mrs. Gore have always been dedicated to the welfare of others. We will welcome them to Helena, MT- In a quick about-face, the taken to send Gay people to the concentration Milwaukee. This is a great thing for our city Montana Senate, meeting in emergency session camps. and the AIDS Walk." at 4:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon, March 23, However, by all accounts it was David Mix- Both Barrett and Norquist have always been dumped a provision from the Criminal Sex Of- ner who turned the tide. Mixner is a close per- participants in the Walk. Norquist, along with fender Bill requiring people convicted of ho- sonal friend of President Bill Clinton and an his wife, Susan Mudd served as co-chairs of mosexual acts and those with HIV and AIDS advisor to the President. Mixner was in Mil- the first AIDS Walk. to register with police, and one of its support- waukee on Saturday, March 25, to attend the David Mixner, personal friend and advisor ers apologized. AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin's Make to President Clinton also attended the dinner. It had all begun on Tuesday, March 21, A Promise Dinner and honor the late philan- "I think what this represents," Mixner said, when the Republican-dominated Senate had thropist, Duane Rath. "is another step, especially by Vice President passed a bill on a 41-8 vote that included the According to Mixner, as soon as he heard and Mrs. Gore, showing their deep support requirement that homosexuality was one of the about what had happened in Montana he and compassion for people with AIDS. They crimes along with rape and child molestation moved quickly to rally powerful forces to have marched in Washington with us and it's for which a convicted person must register make the Legislature back down. thrilling that they're going to be honorary co- with local law enforcement under a lifetime By noon, Wednesday, through phone calls chairs of the walk." mandate. and faxes, Mixner had 6,000 telegrams and Nelson told Light that, "With all of the po- Any form of sexual contact between mem- O litical threats to AIDS funding that we are now bers of the same sex in Montana, including facing, the commitment of the Vice President kissing, is a felony subject to fines of up to 0 and Tipper Gore to the AIDS Walk is a real $50,000 and ten years in prison. As in other boost to our spirits. "The Clinton Admini- states with such laws, the law is rarely, if 0.) stration has always made AIDS a priority and ever, enforced. Had the registration law the Gore's will bring that commitment home to passed, enforcement was to be "rigorous," one Wisconsin. They will rally this state behind legislator said. the AIDS Walk and we will see a turnout of at The Montana Republican-dominated House least 15,000 people. It will be a day in the had earlier passed the bill by a 32-18 vote. history of AIDS in this state that no one will Ron Geiman Rep. Al Bishop (R-Billings) speaking in want to miss." For over 10 years, Ron has labored to bring support of registering Gays said that he con- AIDS Walk Wisconsin will take place on Milwaukee, Madison and all Wisconsin the sidered homosexual acts as worse than some September 17, 1995. Registration forms are news and features that have helped to knit this other crimes. "This type of action is even now available and can be obtained by calling LesBiGay community into one. He has, in the worse than a violent sexual act," he said. 1-800-348-WALK. process, given Wisconsin one of the finest Montana Republican Governor Marc Racicot LesBiGay publications in the country. had not yet indicated whether or not he would In addition, he has been on the forefront of sign the bill. the continuous battle for civil rights and dig- Both the National Gay and Lesbian Task Remember! nity •for all Gay people. Force (NGLTF) and the Human Rights Cam- He has given of his time and resources with paign Fund (HRCF) issued nationwide calls to It's Your Right unflagging zeal to support community events. action. At the same time, the Montana Gay activist group, Pride!, held a rally at the Look for more about this in upcoming issues David Mixner Capitol. of this paper, but for now, mark your calen- governor's office. There Vote! Similar rallies were held in the other major calls flooding the dars! were plenty more on the way, he said. The event will be free and open to the pub- cities throughout the state where, the Associ- lic. There will be food and beer will be pro- ated Press reported, speakers likened the Re- In addition, Mixner was on the phone con- On April 4 vided by Miller Brewery. publicans to Nazis and the bill to measures TURN TO MONTANA, PAGE 23 March 30, 1995--April 12, 1995--WISCONSIN LIGHT-2 NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS Seattle Judge Finds for the Government in Gay Sailor's Case Bob Enyart Gets Mistrial to an earlier Colorado Springs, CO--AP--An El Paso County District Judge has declared a mistrial in the Seattle, WA— In an update Dwyer said the Navy order recommending upheld the case of a Greenwood Village TV talkshow host accused of child abuse. After declaring a mis- story in Light, a federal judge has Philips' discharge praised him as an outstand- gay sailor trial on March 20, Judge James Patterson set a new trial date for May 8 for conservative talk- Navy's recommended discharge of a ing professional who "has excelled at every show host Bob Enyart.