Bush Better Than Reagan On Aids

Bush Better Than Reagan on AIDS

The November elections resulted in victories and defeats tor the lesbian and gay men's community, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. California voters defeated "Proposition 102," the Dannemeyer AIDS initiative that would have eliminated anonymous testing for HIV and imposed mandatory reporting of the names of individuals whose test results were positive.

Unfortunately, an Oregon state executive order banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was overturned in a referendum. In Connecticut, Senator Lowell Weicker, who has consistently supported legislation to fight the AIDS epidemie and to confront homophobia, was defeated in his bid for re-election.

It is important to note that NGLTF's Executive Director Jeffrey Levi has stated, "This election marks the end of an era of neglect by the President of the nation's most compelling public-health issue. While we do no fully agree with President-elect George Bush on many of his positions on AIDS, Bush has been more engaged on this issue than President Reagan. Bush actively supports anti-discrimination protections for persons with HIV infection, and has had an open ear to those working on AIDS in the Public Health Service."

Levi also commented that "it is dear, based on the record, that George Bush still needs a good deal of education on gay/lesbian issues. It is our hope, however, that a younger, more moderate generation of cabinet officials and other political appointees will at least afford access on these concerns."

Locally, Lana Pollack was defeated in her bid for election to Congress, losing to incumbent Carl Pursell. Pollack clearly needs education on lesbian/gay issues, but would, we hope, ultimately have proven more supportive of our concerns than has Pursell. And a homophobic voice and vote will continue to wield influence on the U-M's board of regents, since Deane Baker was re-elected to that body. Let's work together for better news tour years hence!

Gay Liberation's Purpose is to provide information, counseling, and related social services for people concerned about sexual orientation. We maintain a Hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling, and referral; help provide factual information to offset prejudice and misinformation about lesbians and gay men; work to obtain human and civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation; help lesbian and gay men's groups organize; and we link to other community groups.

Community Services include a Hotline: crisis intervention, peer counseling, referral. Education: workshops and conferences on lesbian and gay male concerns, with an emphasis on how people in the "helping professions' and teaching professions" can work positively with lesbian and gay male clients, patients, students. Speakers Bureau: phone for information Human & Civil Rights: information and referral to help people under discrimination because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation or because of their presumed "cross-gender" characteristics; lobbying for human and civil rights. Community Organizing: information and assistance in organizing groups, setting goals, addressing conflict, linking with other groups and resources. Gay Liberation indudes U-M students, staff, and faculty, and people from the larger community.

Gay Liberation, c/o 4117 Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109, info: 763-4186; hotline: 662-1977.