Date: Sat, 22 Apr 1995 17:04:51 -0500 (CDT) From: Kevyn Jacobs To: "Manhattan Queers Email List [MQ]" Subject: FLINT HILLS OBSERVER: APRIL 1995 THE FLINT HILLS OBSERVER Serving Manhattan and Kansas State Vol. 1 No.3 April 95 ================================== HOCHHAUSER SPEAKS ON INTOLERANT CLIMATE IN THE HOUSE by Deb Taylor Radical Right? Religious Right? Christian Right? "I prefer to call them the Intolerant Right," stated Sheila Hochhauser, Kansas House Representative for the Manhattan district. Sheila was the April speaker for the Flint Hills Alliance on Thursday, April 13. Speaking to a group of 30 people, Sheila discussed a variety of topics, Including her views on the 29 to 45 House Representatives who fall into the "Intolerant right" category. According to Sheila, the increase in the intolerant right as well as more conservative Republicans has made 1995 a very uneasy time for minorities, and perceived minorities, such as Hispanics, gays and lesbians, women, and religious minorities. But the good news, she adds, is that House Democrats have been better this year than in any other session at defeating bad legislation. And even bad legislation which has passed in the House has been defeated in the more moderate senate. For a group of people who like to call themselves social conservatives, Sheila does not see that title as appropriate. Whereas social conservatives would want less government, these people are trying to involve government more by attempting to pass such legislation as taking over the power of the State Board of Education and shifting it to Congress. Another example of their wanting more government intervention, according to Sheila, is their attempt to pass HB2301, which Sheila refers to as the Sex Education Bill. Here, school teachers all over Kansas would be told how to teach sex education on a local level instead of through their school boards. HB2301, defeated in the Senate, had a heavy focus on abstinence, monogamy, and marriage. Bad relations between the intolerant right and moderate Republicans has been very real this year, states Sheila. In fact, the intolerant right are more intolerant of moderate Republicans than of Democrats. Sheila believes that if the moderate Republicans want to retake control of the House, they need to take a firm position and not "Step over the line." A good example is House Representative Tim Shallenburger who, until recently, was very moderate and even voted with Democrats on previous legislation. States Sheila, Tim realizes that the intolerant right supported him as House speaker, and now they want "paybacks." The good news, states Sheila, is that Tim realizes that many of their notions are crazy and far-reaching. We should not write Tim off as an intolerant. She encourages us to have private talks with him as well as other House moderates. Sheila also encourages us to look at the parameters of moderates by looking at their voting records. She also stresses examining the women who are in office (many of whom are quite intolerant) just carefully as the men. As a group of tolerant people, Sheila encourages us to voice our views more openly and challenge the irrationality of the intolerant right. ====================================================================== =========================== THE FLINT HILLS ALLIANCE APRIL POTLUCK WILL BE THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 7 00 PM, AT BOB CLARK'S CALL BOB AT 537-2396 IF YOU NEED DIRECTIONS =========================== ========================================================= ANGIE MCCLURE-WALKER TO GIVE HOMOSEXUAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRESENTATION IN MAY May's First-Thursday speaker will feature Angie McClure-Walker, who will speak on "Domestic Violence In Gay and Lesbian Relationships." Angie is the senior case manager at the Crisis Center, Inc., for the Junction City area. As senior case manager for JC, Angie handles all domestic violence and sexual assault cases in Junction City. On May 4, she will discuss the similarities and differences between domestic violence in homosexual and heterosexual relationships. Angie will discuss the power and control issues that are often prevalent in abusive homosexual relationships. For example, one way an abusive partner might try to keep his/her partner in the relationship is by threatening to "out" him/her to family members or to friends. (May 4, 7:30 pm, 1st Congregational Church) =========================================== ===================== SHE SPEAKS... by Deb Taylor, editor Gays and lesbians are challenging bigotry, homophobia, and heterosexism in dynamic and exciting ways. Witness Lawrence, Kansas, where a few gays and lesbians have been fighting off and on for seven years to get sexual orientation added to its City's Human Rights Ordinance. In a few weeks, their dream might become a reality. Allen Levine, the winning commissioner who supports Simply Equal (the coalition that proposed the change), was in sixth place in the March primaries. No sixth place candidate in Lawrence's history has ever come back to win an election. But Lawrence's gays/lesbians and their supporters worked hard to make Levine a winner. On a state level, Montana became the epitome of irrationality when its Congress actually passed a degrading law which would require homosexuals to be registered as violent criminals. Thanks to concerned Montanans and horrified people from all over the nation, Montana's Congress reversed its ruling in less than 24 hours. Sometimes it takes a little bit of screaming and a lot of endurance to get non-gays/lesbians to see that we are as human as they. States all over the Midwest are seeing anti-homosexual legislation popping up in quick and maniacal ways. We must stay constantly informed and prepare ourselves for events which used to seem so unbelievably unreal and distant. My hope is that if our Kansas Congress tries to pull a stunt like Montana, we won't remain silent. I hope we have the winning spirit and endurance we've witnessed in Lawrence and Montana. ==================================================== ============================== PLANS FOR FLINT HILLS ALLIANCE SUMMER EVENTS ALMOST FINALIZED. During June, July, and August, FHA will focus on community building and having fun. After May, FHA will not have speakers on the first Thursdays of each month until September. Below is a tentative list of events: May 4: Angie McClure-Walker presentation, 7:30 pm, First Congregational May 18: Potluck at the City Park Shelter with the sand volleyball net! 6:30 pm Jun 3: Kickball, softball, and whatever at Cheryl S.'s house in secluded Alma! 4 pm (Saturday) Jun 15: Potluck: Greg Eiselein's 6:30 pm Jul 4: Special all-day July 4 Celebration at Tuttle Creek! Details TBA Jul 20: Potluck at Deb Taylor's 6:30 pm Aug 5: A SPECIAL SATURDAY event! Details TBA!! Aug 24: Welcome Back Potluck at Bob Clark's, 6:30 pm (this will be the 4th, not 3rd, Thursday) ==================================================== =============================================== BGLS Creates "Safe Zones" for KSU Gays/Lesbians KSU's Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian society (BGLS) is working on implementing "Safe Zone" signs for the KSU faculty, staff, and administration to place in their offices. Below is an sample bookmark currently being distributed. The "Safe Zone" signs should be ready to be placed throughout campus by the fall semester. If you are interested in a bookmark, or if you would like more information, please call Shel Barry at 537-3889. [IMAGE OF WILLIE THE WILDCAT SUPERIMPOSED ON A PINK TRIANGLE] This message is to gay, lesbian and bisexual students and colleagues. A person displaying this symbol is one who will be understanding, supportive and trust-worthy if a gay, lesbian or bisexual student or colleague needs help, advice or just someone to whom they can talk. A Person Displaying this message avoids heterosexist assumptions, confronts homophobia and uses inclusive language. A person displaying this symbol believes that our campus is enriched by the diversity of gay, lesbian and bisexual people. ==================================================== ================================ WHAT'S HOT AT STREETSIDE RECORDS by Eileen Meyer, manager What is your mood this spring? Are you ready to bust out and dance? Romance? Be reflective? Get involved in some sort of activism? Whatever your moods, the music community is prepared to satisfy your musical needs. ROMANCE: RCA released "Sensual Classics, Too." It is a collection of classical pieces which include Chopin, Nocturne No. 1, Beethoven Romance, Bizet Symphony in C adagio. "Sensual Classics, Too"'s cover art is two men in a romantic embrace. The liner notes are short and simple: "Play on, Play safe. National AIDS hotline 1(800)-342-2437." Another romantic compact disc/cassette is Annie Lennox's "Medusa." "Medusa" is a parallel effort to "Diva." I can say this much: Torch songs, Torch songs, Torch songs. DANCE: Per our community's requests! The ZYX music label is a club favorite, with mainly European club dance mixes. Catalog highlights of the full-lengths: "Rainbow Nation," Bronski Beat and Jimmy Sommerville revisit "The Age of Consent" release and have new remixes of "Smalltown Boy," "Hit That Perfect Beat Boy," and "Why." Our clientele have been desperately trying to track down Italian/German power dance mixes. Well, after some research and many phone calls, the stock now exists! Check out "Powerdance '95" and "100% Energy." Both compact discs have over 75 minutes of nonstop dance mixes. Artists Include DIVA convention feat, DJ Dero, 2 Unlimited, Apotheosis, Bad Boys Blue and Harajuku. REFLECTIVE: "A Woman's Heart 2," the talent and imaginative presentation of Irish acoustic music performed solely by Irish women. Artists are Mary Black, Dolores Keane, Maighread Ni Dhomhaill, Sharon Shannon, Sinead O'Connor, Mary Coghlan, Maura O'Connell, Sinead Lohan and Frances Black. BENEFITS: Mercury released "Women for Women," a compilation of popular recording artists in support of breast cancer research. Artists are Annie Lennox, Oleta Adams, Aretha Franklin, Amy Grant, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Carly Simon, Kathy Mattea, Tina Turner, Julia Fordham, Taylor Dayne, Cathy Dennis and Vanessa Williams. A portion of the proceeds from each sale of the compact disc/cassette sales will be donated to the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations. Harmonia Mundi's AIDS benefit album is, "The AIDS Quilt Songbook." Vocal and spoken texts accompanied musically. This project was inspired by the American baritone William Parker, who died in 1993 of complications caused by AIDS. All performers waived all fees and royalties of this project to ensure that a greater percentage of monies collected in the sale of the album would be donated to the war against AIDS. If you do not have the time to donate to either the crusade against Breast Cancer or AIDS, please purchase one of these albums (new, not used) from any store; it does not have to be from Streetside Records. "No one gets to miss the storm of what will be just holding on for the ride." Emily Saliers ============================================================== ======================== Everyday is "FAMILY" Day at MR.BULKY'S!! Present this coupon at MR.BULKY'S and receive 20% off EVERYTHING in the store! Mr. Bulky's offers a wide selection of candy, nuts, snacks, balloons, and gifts. * * * Mr. Bulky's, Manhattan Town Ctr (YOU MUST PRESENT THIS COUPON TO RECEIVE THE DISCOUNT!) expires 6/1/91 ================================ ================================== H E R E 'S Y O U R C H A N C E T O W I N A $ 5 0 G I F T C O I N F R O M S T R E E T S I D E R E C O R D S. To enter the drawing, pick up a ticket for every $5 donation you give to the Flint Hills Alliance. If you wish to pay your membership dues of $20 to the FHA, you will receive 4 tickets. Purchase tickets at any FHA function, or by calling Deb at 776-6743. The drawing will take place at the June 15 FHA potluck. You need not be present to win. ================================== ================================== CONCERT MAY !! MAY 2-3: Wendy Bucklew! On May 2, Bucklew will play at Streetside Records at 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm On May 3, Bucklew will do a full show (venue TBA) May 7: Caroline Aiken will perform in St.Louis at the AIDS Foundation's Concert in the Park. For more information, please call Eileen at Streetside: 776-7373. ============================================== ================================================================= SEXUAL ORIENTATION MAY SOON BE ADDED TO LAWRENCE'S CITY ORDINANCE by Deb Taylor What looked like the impossible may very soon become a reality as Lawrence may be a mere few weeks from becoming the first city In Kansas with anti-discrimination protections for homosexuals. No, the April 4 city ballot did not include whether or not sexual orientation should be included in Lawrence's city human rights ordinance, but the Lawrence City Commission election results proved that Lawrence is not as homophobic as opponents were suggesting. "Lawrence has spoken," stated Lynne Green co-chair of Simply Equal, the coalition that proposed the ordinance change last November. Adds co-chair Ben Zimmerman, "Lawrence will not tolerate bigotry." Supporters John Nalbandian and Allen Levin won In the Commission election: both had stated all along that they support Simply Equal. Doug Compton, who was up for re-election and publicly stated his opposition to Simply Equal after Initially saying he was undecided, lost. Mayor Jo Anderson, currently on the City Commission, wants to call a commission vote on the issue, possibly as soon as April 18. States Anderson, "It's always been my belief that people in this town are very interested in fairness and believe that discrimination is abhorrent." =============================================== =============================================== MONTANA NEARLY PASSES ULTIMATE ANTI-GAY LAW by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Washington, DC--In a stunning reversal following a deluge of criticism from around the country, the Montana State Senate on March 23, 1995, reconsidered a bill passed the day before that would have required offenders of the state's "deviate sexual conduct" law to register for life with local law enforcement officials. The bill was approved on March 22 In the Senate in a 41 to 8 vote. Just 24 hours later, the senate voted to repeal the "deviate sexual conduct" provision in a unanimous voice vote. According to the now-deleted provision in House Bill 214, those convicted of homosexual acts between consenting adults would be included with murderers, rapists and other violent criminals in the pending law to register violent criminals. Sen. Terry Klampe (D-Florence) led a Democratic effort to remove the "deviate sexual conduct" provision from the list of crimes requiring state registration. That measure Failed on March 22 on an 18 to 32 vote. The next day, however, Klampe again offered his amendment, which passed (without debate) on a voice vote. Anti-gay rhetoric rang out during Senate deliberations. Sen. Al Bishop (R-Billings) said that homosexual acts are "even worse than a violent sexual act." Sandy Hale, of the Montana gay and lesbian group Pride!, said at a rally, "What an insult to women who have been raped, children who have been molested, and any victims of a truly violent crime -- let alone, lesbians, gay men and bisexuals who are in loving committed relationships." Sen. Bishop apologized for his March 22 comment, saying, "We all know in the heat of debate that things are said without careful thought as to precise meaning or implication. I never intended nor meant to infer that consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex are in the same category as violent sexual acts. I regret that I made the statement." "The measure was unprecedented in its extreme persecution of gay men and lesbians and rightly caused a national outcry," stated Melinda Paras, Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Our phones were ringing off the hook as gay men and lesbians around the nation awoke to the horrifying news that a state legislative body was moving swiftly to target them for monitoring and registration with the police," Paras said. "It's a terrible example of how far legislatures will go to satisfy the demands of the Radical Right." "As long as the discriminatory 'deviate sexual conduct' law is on the books, the Montana legislature holds a weapon to attack gay, lesbian and bisexual Montanans at any time," said NGLTF spokesperson Robin Kane. "This is a frightening example of the insidious dangers of sodomy laws. These laws, even when not fully enforced, classify all gay men and lesbians as criminals and are used as justification for policies that deny us our rights and dignity." Currently 22 states have laws barring various sex acts between consenting adults. Six of those states, including Montana, bar only homosexual acts. Montana's law equates homosexuality with bestiality. =============================================================== =============================================================== LEGISLATIVE TARGETING TO STOP THE CONSERVATIVE ANTI-LESBIAN/GAY BILLS IN KS by Doug Glaze, Equality Kansas Chairperson 1995 is going to be a dangerous year for Kansas' Lesbian and Gay residents. Last year's elections handed social conservatives--who are bent on barring Lesbians and Gay men from public life as much as possible--control of the Kansas House of Representatives. Republican Tim Shallenburger, a sponsor of last year's anti-Gay Cornfield Resolution, has been elected Speaker of the House, ousting moderate Republican Bob Miller. Shallenburger promptly appointed other anti-Gay legislators to chair various House committees. It is these committees which introduce and deliberate proposed legislation before it is given to the full House for a vote. Despite promises from Shallenburger and others that economic, not social, issues will dominate the conservative agenda in the 1995 House session, legislative observers familiar with conservative tactics in past House sessions believe it is only a matter of time before anti-Gay legislation is introduced and passed. Darlene Cornfield, in particular, is expected to continue to be a source of anti-Gay proposals in the current House sessions. Cornfield, a Republican representative from Valley Center, attended a national symposium for conservative lawmakers last year on how to "combat militant homosexuality." If we are to organize successfully against anti-Gay proposals from Kansas conservatives, we must focus our efforts on the Kansas senate. The Senate is controlled by moderate Republicans, who disagree with conservatives on many social issues. Kansas Senators, who are up for re-election in 1996, will be under an extreme amount of pressure from conservative groups to pass House-sponsored social legislation. The Senators will need a lot of support from non-conservative groups and constituents to justify voting against anti-Gay social legislation. [We need to write or call senators of both parties who may be considered 'moderate' on any social issues, though not necessarily friendly towards Lesbian and Gay concerns.] When contacting these senators, please express your concerns over the House of Representatives' attempts to push divisive 'social issues' over (and to the exclusion of) other pressing issues that deserve their attention It is also important that as many people as possible 'come out' to them as being openly Lesbian or Gay - many of these Senators have expressed to various people that they have rarely or never been contacted by Lesbian or Gay constituents. [The Senator for Manhattan is Lana Oleen. Her home address is: 3000 Stagg Hill Road, Manhattan. Business 1619 Poyntz, Manhattan. 537-3300 (home) 537-9194 (work)] When writing or calling any elected official 1) Always be polite 2) Always use their titles and "The Honorable" when addressing letters 3) Always discuss a specific subject--a specific bill and number if possible 4) Always include your personal experience if relevant 5) Handwritten letters are best (if readable), and receive the most attention 6) Ask the official to take a specific stance, their support or defeat of a bill 7) Include your full name, address, and phone number in your correspondence. Offer to help your legislator - often the legislator has not heard your particular point before, and may want to know more 8) Ask your legislator for suggestions 9) Try to stick to one point of an issue--a legislator is more apt to listen and remember your point if it is brief and immediately relevant 10) Always ask for a reply. The first bills that negatively affect Lesbian and Gay Kansans have now been introduced in the House and are likely to pass there. These include HB 2301 [discussed on front page]; House Bill 2092, which would rescind the Quality Performance Accreditation program (conservatives are using this bill to kill the QPA program in part because it demands that all people, including Lesbians and Gays, be treated fairly and objectively during the presentation oś relevant course material); and House Resolution 5009 (this bill would amend the State Constitution With language that would give parents the "exclusive right" to determine how their children will be taught in public schools (it creates the legal basis to allow creationism to be taught and allows parents to censor school libraries and curriculum.) WE ARE THE PEOPLE! Write/call your legislators today! ====================================================== ======================= Join us for "FAMILY NIGHT" at REVOLUTIONS 902 W. 7th Junction City. Family Nights are every Thursday and the first and third Saturdays of every month. ======================= =========================================== BOY APPEARS TO RECOVER FROM AIDS INFECTION by Paul Raeburn, AP science writer NEW YORK (AP) -- A Los Angeles boy who was infected with the AIDS virus at birth apparently fought off the infection and is virus- free at age 5, astonishing his doctors. Dr. Yvonne J. Bryson, a pediatrician and AIDS specialist at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, said she believes it is the first carefully documented case of someone casting off all signs of infection. Tests proved conclusively that the boy was infected for at least a month during the first two months of his life. Later examinations found no sign of the virus, Bryson said. Doctors have no explanation. "It's like a miracle to me and a miracle to his mother. It's every mother's dream that their child won't be infected," Bryson said. Bryson said she and her colleagues are studying the boy's immune system for clues that could be used to stop AIDS infections in others. "It just opens up a lot of things to look at. Before now, there was such skepticism about the possibility that this could occur," said Bryson, whose findings appear in a recent New England Journal of Medicine. Doctors cannot be certain the virus isn't hiding somewhere in the boy's body. But his continuing good health is additional evidence that the infection has disappeared. Most children infected at birth get sick during the first three years of life, Bryson explained. If the boy were still infected, he would almost certainly be sick by now, she said. Bryson has since identified another child who appears to have accomplished the same improbable feat. Studies are now under way to confirm the second case, she said. The boy could have developed an immunity to the virus before birth. But Bryson warned AIDS patients not to cling to the remote hope that their infections could disappear. She and her colleagues are trying to discover whether the boy's immune system offered him special protection against infection. They might be able to harness that knowledge to protect others. Bryson said the AIDS virus was isolated from the infant at 19 days and 51 days, showing he was infected on each occasion. Further analysis of the genetic material in the viruses showed that both virus samples were identical, meaning the results were unlikely to be due to error. The boy was later examined using the technique known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, which can reveal minute quantities of viral genetic material. The examination failed to find any virus. ================================================ ========================== KANSAS AIDS NETWORK Meeting in Manhattan The next meeting of the Kansas AIDS Networking Project is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19 in Manhattan. The meeting site is the city fire department building located at 2000 Denison. The afternoon session will begin at 1:15 pm. As of this writing, the general session will include three presentations: 1) results of a HIV prevention needs assessment conducted by UMKC; 2) an overview of an HIV prevention conference for Native American youth; and 3) highlights of technological developments and challenges as presented at a conference of laboratory staff. They will also review developments in federal legislation. ==================================================== ============================== DOLE DOES ABOUT-FACE ON GAYS by The Land of Awes CIS Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, in a clear attempt to win favor with radical right-wing groups opposed to equal rights and fair treatment for lesbian and gay people, recently published a letter in the Washington Times repeating rhetoric used by extremist groups claiming that gay people want "special rights." The letter came after groups such as the Traditional Values Coalition complained about comments Dole made indicating that he opposes discrimination against lesbian and gay people. Dole, after telling the New York Times Magazine that "there oughtn't to be discrimination" against gay people, wrote a letter to the Washington Times repeating the radical right's distortion that gays want "special rights." In fact, no federal law protects people from discrimination merely for being gay or lesbian. The Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), supports a federal bill that would provide equal rights in the workplace by prohibiting anti-gay job discrimination. "Dole may be trying to have it both ways by appealing to the mainstream of fair-minded Americans, then turning around and echoing the rhetoric of the extremists," said HRCF Public Policy Director Daniel Zingale. ================================================================ ================================================= A CHRONOLOGY OF GAYS AND LESBIANS IN THE MILITARY by the Associated Press 1982 -- The Department of Defense formalizes World War II-era policies against allowing homosexuals to serve, issuing a directive that says "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service" because it undermines discipline, good order and morale. 1989 -- Members of Congress who support lifting the ban release draft copies of two internal Pentagon reports that found homosexuals in the military posed no security risk and in many cases, made better soldiers than heterosexuals. 1990 -- Sgt. Perry Watkins wins a 10-year court battle against the Army, which had discharged him in 1981 for homosexuality. The courts found that the Army had inducted Watkins and allowed his reenlistment three times, knowing he was gay. Watkins eventually agrees to forgo re-entry in return for $135,000 In back pay, an honorable discharge and full retirement benefits. June 1992 -- The General Accounting Office says the Defense Department discharged almost 17,000 service men and women for homosexuality between 1980 and 1990. GAO estimated it would cost about $27 million to recruit and train replacements for only those kicked out ln 1990. Sept. 29, 1992 -- Asked during the presidential campaign whether homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military, Bill Clinton, says, "Yes, I support repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the United States Armed Forces." Jan. 29, 1993 -- After the Pentagon and some members of Congress object to an outright lifting of the ban, President Clinton announces a compromise under which recruits would no longer be asked their sexual orientation. He gives Defense Secretary Les Aspin six months to study the issue and draft an executive order. July 19, 1993 -- Clinton issues a "don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue" policy that would allow homosexuals to serve as long as they do not announce their orientation. He calls it "an honorable compromise." July 27, 1993 -- A civil liberties group launches the first legal challenge to Clinton's policy, arguing that it is unconstitutional. Sept 9, 1993 -- The senate passes legislation to discourage homosexual enlistment in the military, calling homosexuality an "unacceptable risk" to morale. Tougher than Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell" proposal, the measure would allow a future defense secretary to reinstate questioning of recruits on their sexuality. Sept. 28, 1993 -- The House passes the same policy as the senate. Within days, Clinton signs the measure with no fanfare and little public notice. Oct. 8, 1993 -- A federal appeals court upholds a judge's order banning discrimination against gays in the military, in the case of naval Petty Officer Keith Meinhold. He was discharged, under the old policy, in August 1992 after disclosing his homosexuality on national television. The court concluded that the Pentagon policy was not an absolute ban and would allow a homosexual to remain in the military if the person showed he or she could "live by the rules" and had no "propensity" to engage in homosexual conduct. Dec. 16, 1993 -- Meinhold reenlists in the Navy. Dec. 22, 1993 -- Pentagon issues directives implementing "don't ask, don't tell" policy. March 7, 1994 -- Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union file first lawsuit challenging "don't ask, don't tell" on constitutional grounds in federal court in New York City. Government immediately moves to seek discharge of some of the six plaintiffs. April 4, 1991 -- U.S. District Judge Eugene Nickerson grants preliminary inunction barring action against plaintiffs until lawsuit is resolved. June 1994 -- Two years after Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer was kicked out of the National Guard after disclosing she is a lesbian, the highly decorated colonel and Vietnam veteran was reinstated after winning a court ruling that the old policy was unconstitutional. March 13, 1995 -- Three days of testimony begins. Nickerson takes case under advisement. March 30, 1995 -- Nickerson declares "don't ask, don't tell" unconstitutional, saying it is discriminatory and violates free speech rights. "The policy of the act is not only inherently deceptive, it also offers powerful inducements to homosexuals to lie," he added. The ruling applies only to the six gay members of the military who filed the lawsuit. And because it wasn't a class-action lawsuit, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was not struck down. Government promises to appeal. April 2, 1995 -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich proposes on "This Week with David Brinkley" that the military should return to the policy of discriminating against qualified personnel who happen to be gay or lesbian. This is in direct opposition to Gingrich's 1992 statement to the Associated Press, where he said he saw no reason to expel people from the military "for purely private behavior." ============================================================= ============================================================= KSU THEATRE PROGRAM TO PRESENT MANHATTAN AIDS PROJECT BENEFIT KSU THEATRE honorary THETA ALPHA PHI presents "LIVE STUFF: MONOLOGUE TO GOD" on April 27, 28 and 29 at 8 pm in Nichols Theatre. The production is billed as "a darkly comic nightmare with a dose of reality - a performance event." LIVE STUFF is an independent student production funded by the Theatre honorary Theta Alpha Phi and directed by our very own Tim Aumiller, graduate student in theatre. The project began two years ago in April of '93 as 'Live Stuff on Saturday Night' and was a direct spin-off of 'Saturday Night Live,' employing some of the same characters and similar sketches. even with limited advertising and a short run (one night), it achieved moderate success. Last year the title was shortened to 'Live Stuff' and ran for two nights. The production found more of its own voice, engaging social issues and employing a more solid storyline. It proved to be a resounding success, playing to near-capacity houses and raising $500.00 for the Manhattan AIDS Project. This year, the project has issued a challenge to reinvent itself and intends to present a 'performance event' with nearly all original material. The story focuses on Bernadette, a young woman suffering from insomnia and fearing sleep because of the dreams that haunt her. We are invited to share in her sitcom-like daily existence and are plunged into her nightmares which are scathingly comic looks at the absurdity of society today. It will again benefit the Manhattan AID$ Project and the theatre honorary Theta Alpha Phi. Please be advised that "LIVE STUFF: MONOLOGUE TO GOD" contains adult situations and language. Tickets for the performances are $5 and can be purchased at the McCain Box Office from noon to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. For reservations, call 532-6428. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Contact: Tim Aumiller 532-6875 or 539-7268 Laura Camien 532-5697 or 537-3613