Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 20:41:37 -0600 From: Barry Wick For Immediate Release South Dakota's first statewide organization dedicated to human rights for gays and lesbians held its first annual meeting in Pierre on September 21st. Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. held its first meeting with over 85 members represented by proxies or present. The board of directors for FACES of South Dakota consists of 5 from east of the Missouri river and 3 from west of the river. Elected to two year terms were Barry Wick of Rapid City, president; Linda Docherty of Rapid City, vice-president; Lawrence Novotny of Brookings, clerk/secretary; Vince Kassube of Rapid City, treasurer, Sherri Walton of Sioux Falls, DeAnna Miller of Vermillion and Cheryl Bixby of Brookings. FACES of South Dakota, Inc. publishes the first-ever statewide newsletter for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered persons with readership estimated now over 600. FACES of South Dakota has a circulation of 430 by mail, and another 200+ copies distributed through other organizations and locations in the state. Growth of the organization since its founding in October of 1995 has been at a rate of 4 percent per month or greater. The organization has also created the first-ever library for gays and lesbians in the state of South Dakota now consisting of nearly 500 books and over 800 magazines. Basic membership in the organization is $15 per year. Contributions are tax deductible as FACES was named a 501c3 corporation under IRS rules as of July of 1996. "Growth has been astounding in the first year of this organization," said re-elected president Barry Wick of Rapid City. "We have plans to continue opposing homophobia(irrational fear of homosexuals) and heterosexism (the assumption that all persons are hetereosexual)." Keynote speaker for the event was Board of Governors member Charles Anderson of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, DC. Anderson, born in Brookings, now of Denver, Colorado and Silver City, South Dakota spoke on the recent failure to pass the Employment Non-discrimnation Act and the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act by Congress. Wick and others formed FACES in response to the State Legislature's attempted enactment of laws banning marriage of same-sex partners. They continue their opposition into the 1996 Legislative session without success. "Eventually, opposition to same-sex marriage will crumble because it is as Martin Luther King said: 'the long arc of history bends toward justice.'" "It is unjust to deny same-sex partners the right to marry when they are attracted to persons of the opposite sex." "It is unjust of South Dakota not to protect gays and lesbians from being fired from their jobs." "It is unjust of South Dakota to allow discrimination in housing and accomodations for lesbian and gay persons." "It is unjust for South Dakota to allow the continue harassment of lesbian and gay youth in schools." "It is unjust to allow an atmosphere of intolerance to exist in a state where individual rights and freedoms are prized by all citizens." "It is illogical for South Dakotans to continue to believe gay persons can change into something they can never be by denying the discoveries of science." "One hundred years of study in the origins of homosexuality have shown that this is a normal sexual orientation. Any other opinion flies in the face of scientific fact and discovery." "And finally, it is horrific for South Dakotans to believe others who know nothing of us describe our lives in the vilest terms to our fellow citizens when we are in every strata of South Dakota society. We pay taxes, build our families, care for our homes, and live productive lives everyday in fear of the discovery that we love another of our same sex," said Wick. "We will end our fear when we step out of our self-imposed silences." Wick is the great-grandson of South Dakota Governor Carl Gunderson. He lead the testimony for two years against bills in the Legislature. Wick is also the executive director of the organization. The board of directors of FACES will be considering the opening and expansion of the library, an anti-violence project, a survey of lesbians and gays, phone trees, visability projects and other business during a December 1st meeting. "October 11th is National Coming Out Day nationwide. We'll be 'coming-out' of our closets even stronger this next year in South Dakota." The October issue of FACES of South Dakota featured a "coming-out" interview with Matthew Petersen-Samp, gay son of Governor Janklow's campaign manager Rollyn Samp of Sioux Falls. The 22 year old Petersen-Samp, now living in Omaha, was interviewed by Wick for the anniversary issue. -30- for further information contact: Barry Wick, Executive Director South Dakota Alternative Library Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. FACES of South Dakota, a publication 13121 South Creekview Road Rapid City, South Dakota 57702-8503 Phone 605-343-5577 FAX 605-394-8962 email: facessd@rapidnet.com Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 21:11:45 -0600 From: Barry Wick Subject: Addition to News from South Dakota Addition to News from South Dakota. Also voted to the board of directors of FACES of South Dakota, Inc. is Marilyn Jones, Executive Director of the Office of Gay and Lesbian Concerns for the United Church of Christ in South Dakota. Barry Wick, Executive Director South Dakota Alternative Library Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. FACES of South Dakota, a publication 13121 South Creekview Road Rapid City, South Dakota 57702-8503 Phone 605-343-5577 FAX 605-394-8962 email: facessd@rapidnet.com