January1994 FRESH WHOLESOME ORGA4, ENTERTAINING? meet your menu needs... port in the community, I noticed a sizeable gay community for a city the size of Lewiston. I wondered.. “Are these people only able to leave their homes at night? I don’t see them vol- unteering.” I discovered the answer to my own question a few days later on November 2nd, election day in Lewiston, Maine. As election day neared and I began to really get to know my gay and straight brothers and sisters in the volunteer effort, I felt that even though I was a complete stranger to them a few days ago, an outsider from inside the beltway, that I belonged. Denis Gil- bert let us have complete run of his home for ten days and vol- unteered daily. Roland Blais, local gay bar owner expended a tre- mendous effort in organizing and canvassing. Lewiston Mayor James Howaniec canvassed and helped us put up signs. Janet. Welch the spearhead of EPL, a Franco—American Lesbian and native of Lewiston, inspired us all. Naturally at the Coop and not for members only The polls opened on November 2nd at 7:30 A.M. and I anived at my designated polling place to monitor the activity to make sure no underhanded deeds took place by the forces of the extremist right. Two women from the “Vote Yes to Repeal Special Rights” camp were there with clipboards ready to challenge Bates Col-' lege students as to their legal residency. After she voted, one young student told me that she “sensed a lot of hate” from the two clipboard ladies. I simply agreed and said “That’s why we’re here.” “Thanks,” she said. We connected. SCl0O:l '|VNO|.LN3I\NOO '9 0| 274 North Winooski Ave. Burlington 863-3659 M-S 9:30-7:30, Sunday 12 to 5 Later in the day I observed a young college student with a March on Washington for Lesbian & Gay Liberation T-shirt approach the ballot table. The two elderly women poll workers upon see- ing the pretty design in the shape of a triangle on the shirt wanted to read it. Tracing the text on the shirt with her finger, one of the women was speechless, unsure of what to say, the other said, “Oh My son went to that.” The elderly ladies eyes met. A con- nection was made. Minutes later I noticed a young man whom I had made conversa- tion with at the local gay bar two nights earlier. Although I didn’t recall his name, I reached out to shake his hand and said a friend- ly hello. My gesture was ignored. I said hello again, and he re- coiled and pointed to the woman in front of him at the polling- table, mouthing the words “that’s my mother”. Now I was the one who was speechless. I realized that he was not out to his mother, and simply because I had on a campaign button I was a threat. I was slapped back into the reality of Lewiston. There was no connection here. 9 Passi0Iz,,. 3'Pearls... Although it took only a moment, that incident told me a lot about why we lost in Lewiston. Our biggest enemy in this battle was not the extreme right and the hate-mongers. It was the closet. The Friday, _]an_ 7 Women’; Dance $6.00 5.9 p_m_ fear tactics and stereotypes that our opponents use time and time again stuck_like glue in Lewiston. Sure, there were some high 5-u,,.,_]a,,_ 16 Buffet B,-lmch 10 am, 2 p_m_ profile lesbians and gays and gay friendly people there. But All you can eat $7_95 something was missing — the personal connection. Thur., Jan.. 20 Also our Juice Bar $3.00 10 p.m. Lewiston is a small place, and it is reasonable to assume that eve- (An other Thm_sdayS_Dance bal__N0. Cover) ry voter knew someone who is lesbian or gay. Every voter has a link to a friend, a family member or a co—worker who happens to be lesbian or gay. Unfortunately, they didn’t know it. All over the country, too few of us have come out, even whenour civil Friday and Saturday Door Cover Policy Before 9:00 Free - 9:00 - 10:00 $1.00 After 10:00 $3.00 rights are on the line. In 1994, anti—gay initiatives may be on the Please note new hams! ballots of as many as twelve states. If we are ever to win these _ , _ battles against bigotry and discrimination, we all need to make Dally: 7-'30 til (71059 more connections. B'llDk k‘ hPl"lD fhH 1 ar er, wor s in t e 0 mm epartment 0 t e uman - Rights Campaign Fund, and spent the two weeks before election . 135 Pearl Street . Burlmgton’ Vtermont day campaigning against an anti—gay initiative in Lewiston, 863-2343 Maine V