VOLUME FIVE, NO. 23—November 12, 1992—November 25, 1992 FREE Give the People Light and they will find their own way. V' The Wisconsin Light State Hospitals Awarded Grants to Hate Law Passes In Colorado Aid Health Care Workers But Fails To Pass In Oregon [Denver, CO]- On November 3, 1992, [Milwaukee]- State Rep. Tim Carpenter Colorado became the only state in the (D-Milwaukee) announced that the Union where voters have added to their Milwaukee County Medical Complex constitution a provision banning laws (MCMC) is the recipient of a $26,000 protecting Gays. Department of Health and Social Services The measure, known as "Amendment award to implement the use of new 2" passed by 54 to 46 percent. The medical technology designed to prevent measure also repeals anti- discrimination the spread of AIDS and hepatitis to health ordinances in Denver, Boulder and care workers who care for infected Aspen. patients. Reactions of Gay, Lesbians and their "The nurses, doctors, and attendants supporters was swift. of the Milwaukee County Medical On Tuesday night, angry Gays invaded Complex need this grant to protect their the Democratic Party's gathering lives as well as their families' health," celebrating the election of Bill Clinton to said Rep. Carpenter. "The MCMC treats the presidency. Protesters asserted that by far the greatest number of AIDS and the Party had not done enough for them. HIV positive patients of any health care There were other rallies and protest facility in Wisconsin so accidental marches as well. On Wednesday night, needlesticks carry a tremendous risk to hundreds of protesters gathered at the the health care workers there." state capitol in Denver for a candlelight The Health Care Device Safety Grants, vigil. A witness told Light that loud passed as 1991 Act 290, and authored by chants of "No More Hate" echoed Rep. Carpenter, will be awarded to four through the grounds. other Wisconsin hospitals. War These are: Beloit Memorial Hospital, Legal Beloit, WI, $10,500; Prairie du Chien On Wednesday,' Colorado political Memorial, Prairie du Chien, WI, $6,000; leaders launched a plan for a legal war on Vernon County Memorial, Viroqua, WI, Amendment 2, while Gay rights activists $1,384; Hudson Memorial, Hudson, WI, promised to push for a national boycott of $5,516. the state until the measure is overthrown. "Health care professionals certainly On Wednesday too, Denver Mayor deserve some added safety measures and Wellington Webb said that the city would peace of mind as they continue their file a lawsuit within 10 days to overturn efforts in helping AIDS patients fight this the measure. Webb said that the terrible fight," said Carpenter. "These amendment violates the state new syringes and hypodermics should be constitution's home-rule provision which available to all health care workers and gives some cities authority to make their this program should act as an impetus to own laws. health care facilities everywhere to There Is Much To Aspen and Boulder will likely join implement their consistent use." Celebrate Denver as plaintiffs in the lawsuit said Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, Denver City Attorney Dan Muse. A the site of Wisconsin's first confirmed With Nov. 3 Election Results coalition of private groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the case of a health care worker being Analysis By John Quinlan Light. "We elected a pro-Gay president Lambda Legal Defense and Education infected with HIV due to an accidental [Milwaukee]- Lesbians and Gay men — a major victory." Fund, will bankroll the lawsuit. needlestick while treating an HIV positive throughout the country had much to "We elected more pro-Gay senators, patient, is among the hospitals receiving celebrate after the November 3rd such as Russ Feingold here in Wisconsin, Boycott of Colorado a grant. elections, despite some notable who will represent the Gay and Lesbian As of press time no Lesbian/Gay The Health Care Device Safety proposal challenges that lie ahead. community very well," Baldwin added. organization has called for a national was passed as a two-year $150,000 "We made some major advances "In Congress overall, we can expect to boycott of Colorado. Indeed, some program before being vetoed to $50,000, across the country," openly Lesbian see the number of co-sponsors of the Gay national Lesbian/Gay leaders say that a according to Rep. Carpenter. State-Rep.-elect Tammy Baldwin told the and Lesbian Civil Rights bill increase by boycott would be wrong. Speaking for about 15 sponsors." background, one person in Washington told Light that now was the time for there Bound for Justice: Joe Steffan More Homophobia by the Right to be more Gays and Lesbians in Colorado In a victory for Gay and Lesbian rights, than ever. Lesbians and Gays need to be Discusses His On-Going Legal Battle Oregon voters turned down an anti-Gay visible in the state. However, The Denver Post reported By Owen Keehnen based his pro-military ruling on his own rights initiative by a 55 to 45 margin. that by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, the novel AIDS theory with evidence he "This is very encouraging in that there In 1987, just six weeks short of American Association of Physicians for provided himself. Has anyone followed up was an incredible amount of organizing graduation, Joseph Steffan was called Human Rights, a Gay and Lesbian to try and do anything to get this guy coalitions between the Gay and straight into his commandant's office after a doctor's group, had canceled plans to removed from the court? communities," Baldwin said. rumor he was Gay reached administration hold it's August, 1993 convention, with JS: When he originally made his However, she lamented the fact that officials at Annapolis, the Naval several hundred delegates, in Denver. comments, we tried to have him removed this battle had zapped much of the energy Academy. Abiding by the naval honor the same time, Fred Kohn, from the cased and even appealed this and strength of the entire region's At code, Steffan refused to deny the rumor president of the International Gay Travel issue. The problem was we drew a very activists. "This is the strategy of the and was stripped of his rank and denied Association, said he has already begun conservative appellate panel for this Right and we'll see more of this. We his diploma. discouraging clients from visiting the review that decided his comments were don't want to continue to fight Since his discharge, Steffan has been state. not necessarily an indication of any bias. homophobic ballot measures. We'd involved in a still on-going legal suit for Aspen's annual Gay Ski Week which That was remarkable to me. rather be making progress on a new set of reinstatement. fills hotels and restaurants with more Bound: A Gay OK: If you hadn't been "outted," challenges." In his book, Honor than 3,000 skiers, may also be in would you have come out anyway? American Fights for the Right to Serve Do They Really Hate Us That Much? jeopardy. "I do not want to be punitive to JS: That's a tough question and I don't His Country, Joe recounts his discharge Elsewhere in the country, there was a the Aspen community, but I think the know if I really know the answer. As I look and ensuing legal battle. mixed record of success. Voters in State of Colorado has to understand that What do you hope to at my life today, I know I could never go Owen Keehnen: Portland, Maine voted to keep their Gay they cannot get away with this kind of back in the closet. If I'd have gone beyond achieve in your lawsuit against the Navy? rights law, while Tampa, Florida voters discrimination," said Los Angeles travel Technically, we're asking graduation, people are generally able to Joe Steffan: chose to repeal theirs. agent Robin Tyler, who helps publicize be a little more open in the military itself. for three remedies. First, that I be The most disappointing defeat came in the ski weekend. Some people are even out to their granted my diploma from the Academy. Colorado, where Gay rights opponents The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund has commanders and people they work with. Secondly, that I be reinstated in the succeeded in passing a referendum that also announced the removal of Denver OK: Is there a Gay underground in the military to continue my career. And had the effect of overturning Gay rights from consideration as a site for its 1993 military? finally, that the military policy itself be ordinances in several major Colorado conferences. "Our perception of the unconstitutional and overturned. JS: There actually is. There is quite a declared cities. The loss took many activists by constitutional amendment is that Gays you were reinstated, wouldn't large number of Gay and Lesbian people OK: If surprise, because polls had shown the Lesbians are no longer welcome in fearful about going back in the military and as this issue gains and you be a bit measure unlikely to pass. Colorado," wrote William Waybourn, the walls of Annapolis? predominance, the level of networking is within the "I feel like I've been kicked in the Victory Fund's Executive Director. JS: I think I'd be somewhat concerned, increasing dramatically. There is a stomach," Lawrence Pacheco, a The Opposition but there would be Gay people right and support network and organizations. There 23-year-old Gay, man told the New York left. And if there's one thing the military is now a Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Times.