Bomb Targets Lesbian Bar in Atlanta On the night of February 22, a pipe bomb ex- ploded and sent nails and other metallic debris shoot- ing through the crowd at the Otherside lounge, an Atlanta lesbian bar, injuring five people. No deaths were reported. A second bomb was discovered outside the establishment and detonated by police. Specialists believe that the first bomb was intended to move people into the vicinity of the second bomb, which could have produced far deadlier results. The same strategy was used in the January bombing of the Northside Family Planning Services, an Atlanta abortion clinic. Atlanta police said this bombing, the fourth to strike the city in seven months, has other similarities to the abortion clinic bombing, and that both may also be linked to the deadly explosion at the Olympic Games last summer. Holocaust Survivors Sought As Swiss banks prepare to disperse nearly $70 million in funds confiscated by the Nazis during World War II, the International Gay and Lesbian Association (IGLA) has stepped forward to ensure that our own communities’ Holocaust victims won’t be - forgotten. Historians estimate that between 10,000 and one million homosexuals met their deaths in German con- centration camps. Even after the camps were liberated, gays and lesbians were often left imprisoned, as Ally forces considered them to be actual ‘criminals. Survivors of the Holocaust and its victims are encouraged to contact IGLA via e-mail at inryser@ilga.org to find out more about the Swiss bank restitution process. Ellen and “Ellen” Come Out After months of hype and speculation, Ellen DeGeneres will finally tell it like it is on April 30 when both she and the lead character of her popular TV sitcom (also named Ellen) reveal their true sexual orientation. The much anticipated episode completed taping in March and is set to feature Laura Dern as Ellen’s romantic interest. Also appearing on the landmark pro- gram will be Oprah Winfrey as a therapist and singer k.d. lang as a waitress at a lesbian coffeehouse. Mel- issa Ethcridge will also appear in the episode’s open- ing credits. DeGeneres will also appear as her_self on an upcoming installment of“Prime Time Live" with Diane Sawyer. Though she has cleverly dodged saying the “l” word during previous interviews, inside media sources expect her appearance to be one of her most honest to date. ACLU Supports STRAIGHT Students The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is no stranger to controversy as it lights to uphold basic civil rights for all Americans. While the group has often proved an influ- ential ally to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. it sometimes linds itself on the other side of the argument. Recently, the ACLU has taken a stand in support of Students Reinforcing Adherence In General Heterosexual Tradition (STRAIGHT) at Pennsylvania State University. The student government at Penn State recently voted against sanctioning the new group. “You have to be able to tolerate speech of people you disagree with," said Lany Frankel, Executive Director of the regional ACLU. STRAlGHT’s founder, 27-year-old Darin Lx)caiini, plans to appeal the student govemment’s decision. Elsewhere, another ACLU oflicial threatened to otit members of his state’s legislattire if they voted in favor of a ban on same-sex marriage. In this case, however, the national ACLU instructed the Director, Keith Elston, to keep his free speech to himself and apologize to the lawmakers for his threat. DOMA: From Defense to Denial When DOMA was signed into law last year, many gay and lesbian people didn’t realize how far-reaching the effects of such legislation could be. One gay man. openly gay Representative Steve Gunderson (R) llfldpfln idea, however, and he asked the Government Accounting Office (GAO) to investigate. In its preliminary report, the GAO listed I ,O49 federal statutes affected by marital status. Since DOMA effectively denies federal recognition to same-sex couples, these benefits and provisions re- main out of reach. The extent of the GAO’s findings was such a surprise that the office has decided against expending further time and resources on the project. House Republican Co-Sponsors ENDA Vermont’s Republican Senator James Jeffords earned the respect of many gay and lesbian people in his home state when he agreed to be a principal spon- sor of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (or ENDA) with Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy. Now another Republican has stepped to the forefront, this time in the House of Representatives. Connecti- cut legislator Christopher Shays has agreed to co- sponsor ENDA with openly gay Rep. Barney Frank, a Democrat from Massachusetts. Shays is the first Republican to assume such a leading role on ENDA in the House. \ Despite his show of support, Shays remains pessimistic about the fate of the bill in the Republi- can—controlled House. Last September, ENDA came within one vote of being passed in the Senate. The bill will most likely be re-introduced sometime this month. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is gathering stories from those who have experienced workplace discrimination. These will be used in open hearings on ENDA. Anyone wishing to include their own experiences is encouraged to call HRC at (202) 628-4160, extension 4000. Still Looking for a Few Good Men As stories of homophobic witch hunts, sexual as- satilts, and harassment cases continue to dominate the press around the U.S. Armed Forces, recruiting offices are reportedly having trouble meeting their goals for new servicemembers. In response, the Army has lowered its educational requirements and nearly quadrupled its ad- vertising budget for the coming year. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), reportedthat in «I996 al‘on’e,»the"Depai1ment ' —- of Defense discharged 850 people under the current policies — a tive—year high. The group also docu- mented 443 specific violations of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rules. Women were disproportionately targeted in the military’s witch hunts. In addition to criticism and lawsuits from the gay and lesbian communities, the Anny has also come under the attack of women’s groups and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Both constituencies have expressed con- cern about the Army’s recent handling of rape and , sexual assault cases on military bases, citing the dis- proportionate number of African-American service- men under investigation and the coercive treatment of women throughout thejudiciary proceedings. Those wishing to protest of the Army’s treat- ment of its servicemembers are encouraged to write to The Honorable William Cohen, Secretary of De- fense, 1000 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1000. Changes at the Black Leadership Forum The National Black Gay and Lesbian Leader- ship Forum has changed its name — to the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. In so do- ing, the national advocacy group — the only one in the country working specifically on African-Ameri- can g/l/b/t projects — marks a number of changes within the organization. The group has launched an initiative to estab- lish member organizations in each of the fifty states. Resources and financial support will be made avail- able to local groups from the main office in Wash- ington DC. In addition, the NBLGLF has lowered its individual membership fee from $35 to $10 a year. For more information about the NBLGLF, call (202) 483-6786. Presbyterian Prohibitions Despite taking a supportive stance on the matter of same-sex marriages, the nation’s Presbyte- rian churches recently passed an amendment that would keep non-celibate gays and lesbians from be- ing ordained. The Church needed a simple majority of votes from its local presbyteries in order to pass the amendment. I In language reminiscent ofthe recently passed “Defense of Marriage Act,“ the new rule restricts church leadership positions to those who live “either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage of a man and a woman, or chastity in siiig|eness."V Lori E. Dow-:‘ O W E R 5 Dnopn'<'l.<‘i' /1'.» /1//ar-minim flowers for all occasions. We welcome your bti..~‘iiic.~s.~:. 802-863-2300 2 Fax 302-§53—2i9i' 350 Dorset Street - South Burlington, Vermont 05403 March 1997 WOMEN ’sTciioiCE GYNECOLOGIC ASSOCIATES 23 Mansfield Avenue, v Burlington, Vermont 05401 802-863-9001 ,Fax:802-863-4951 Cheryl A. Gibson M.D. Susan F. Smith M.D. SUSAN M. 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