of GAY& 1
LESBIAN ' 1 ,
SERVICES ,
”'1‘“ MARCH 1996
,
A PUBLICATION OF THE LEXINGTON GAY AND LESBIAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION
BUILDING COMMUNITY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: REACH GLSO Onllne:
contributed by Michael Taylor OUT AND JUST SAY NO Peter: pjtayl00@ukcc.uky.edu
I left Kentucky when I was 22 years old Kentucky Rep. Danny Ford, a Republican Elizabeth: bee@mis.net
and traveled to Hingharn, Mass. to join the (surprise!) from Mount Vernon hasfiled afloor Tammy: sappho@mis.net
rrovitiate class of the Maryknoll Fathers and amendment to replace the hill with a measure W
Brothers, I was idealistic, naive, vulnerable, that would overturn a 1992 state Supreme Court FIGHT THE RIGHT
and inexperienced in the harder lessons of the decision by giving the legislature the right to re— A few months ago we ran an article
world. Iwas in search of identity, hope, love, criminalize sodomy, even between consenting listing local businesses who advertise in the
family, and a way to find my own gifts so I adults of different sexes. “I think an anti- right—wing Kentucky Chm/22171 News, We
could give them to others. sodomy amendment would be far more received a letter from Tim Banks telling us how
The next seven years as a seminarian, in acceptable to the people than one aimed at he has started sending letters to the businesses
what thankfully turned out to be a progressive destroying the two—party system in this state," who were in the News.
Catholic missionary order, gave me real Ford said. T he amendment has been offered to Dear Owner or Manager:
experience of brotherhood (old terminology) be attached to 118 219 (the redistricting bill I was troubled to see you advertisement
and community. During my overseas stint in sponsored byGreg Stunrbo). There has been no recently in the Kentucky Clans/fan Neus. A
Korea, culture chock knocked me on my ass as vote yet on whether to accept this amendment. copy was in the public lounge area of Jeff‘s Car
1 was challenged to learn a new language, eat If it is accepted, it will gut HB 219 and change Wash.
strange food (spicy!) and experience being a if from a redistricting bill to one to recrimi—
foreigner and minority person for the first nalize sodomy After reading the publication, I feel that your
time. I thought I would surely go crazy at Asimilar Ford measure in 1994 killed 21 advertisement supports a tabloid that attacls
times but the Korean people took me in, House amendment that would have allowed the wonderful diversity in our community,
protected me, and taught me. I came back to legislative committees to cancel certain state promotes intolerance and prejudice, and
the States with adeeper sense ofself, adifferent contracts between legislative sessions. House inflames readers to behave in a non—Christian
view of the world, and an adventurous and less Democratic leaders killed the bill to avoid a manner.
fearful spirit. (In case you‘re wondering vote on the sodomy issue, which was being
comrades, while in Korea I fell in love with a pressed by social conservatives. New House The right to express personal opinions and the
classmate from Pennsylvania, had a brief rules make Ford‘s latest measure clearly out obligation to promote particular viewpoints is
“first time affair" and found a wonderful new of order, but he said he will make a motion a great treasure. However, advertising your
energy inside that sustained me the next 2 1/2 to force a vote on the issue. public business in a judgmental and dogmatic
years in Asia). According to David Williams, editor of .
_ . . . continued on page 12
My desire for community today rs rust as The Letter, two more preces of antr—gay
real and important to me here in Iexington as legislation have been introduced in the
it was in Hingham or Korea. I think often House. The first is an amendment to SB 68
about where we are in building our gay, which would provide that: “lfany residentof GLSO Sponsors 0f the Month
lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered this state marries in another state, the Tammy 81 Elizabeth
community. I think of how we can become marriage shall be valid if valid in the state . .
Gilliam-Strong
continued on page 13 continued on page 2 _