COMMON GROUND The Official Newsletter of Equality Kansas Vol. 2 No. 2 Winter 1994 Doug Glaze, Editor Bev Fiedler, Printing Media Jive, Layout Kevyn Jacobs, Kathy Greenlee, Scott Curry, Earl Loganbill, David Tritle, Sue Ledbetter, Renee & Raye Ann Contributors Common Ground is published quarterly by Equality Kansas and is distributed free of charge to members. Interested others may obtain a copy for the price of postage by writing: Doug Glaze, Editor, 1221 N. Waco, Wichita, KS 67203. (America Online and Land of Awes members may reach the editor @Doug Glaze.) Common Ground is soliciting original submissions from its readers. Articles and artistic submissions remain the copyright of the authors. Assistance for your submission is available. Please call 316.267.2748 for more information. ****************************************************** Legislative Session Opens Equality Kansas Lobbyists in Topeka Topeka,KS - Representatives of both houses of the Kansas legislature gathered in Topeka on January 10th to officially begin the 1994 legislative agenda. High on the priority list for most legislators will be the rising crime rate, education, and budgetary considerations for the coming year. For some social conservatives, however, Lesbian and Gay Kansans remain a target for legislative action. As of January 15th, social conservatives had yet to take action on introducing the Cornfield Resolution, a resolution designed to use fear and bigotry against Lesbian and Gay Kansans and further social conservative causes. Lobbyists with Equality Kansas in Topeka have no doubts that action on the Cornfield Resolution will occur. "The question is when, and in what form. Equality Kansas has done a good job in organizing against the resolution early," said Sue Ledbetter, a lobbyist with the National Organization of Women (an Equality Kansas sponsoring organization). "Every legislator has heard from at least some of his constituents about the resolution. Some have heard from a lot of people back home, and (the legislators are) starting to get the idea that there could be a political price to pay for backing the resolution." Immediately upon hearing of the resolution's inception in June of 1993, Equality Kansas came into being and organized a massive, state-wide information campaign against it. A speaker from the National Gay\Lesbian Task Force in Washington D.C. was brought in and toured urban areas of Kansas, and telephone, petition, and post-card campaigns were carried out in nearly every county in the state. In Wichita, a door-to-door canvassing effort resulted in the personal delivery of information concerning the resolution to over 1,500 homes. "Obviously, the legislators know who we are now. While that's important, and probably a first for the state of Kansas, the battle's just stared," said Scott Curry, a lobbyist for Equality Kansas. Legislators can introduce a bill before the House of Representatives any time during the session, and both Curry and Ledbetter expect the social conservative wing of the House to wait until they feel the pressure from constituents against the resolution has waned. "Don't feel like it's too late to do anything," Curry warned. "In fact, now is the time to act. Call or write your legislator and tell him or her how you feel about the resolution. If you've already done so, don't be afraid to do so again. Legislators are only human, and might need a reminder that we're out here." Unfortunately, the Cornfield Resolution may not be the only attack upon Lesbian and Gay Kansans that social conservatives have up their sleeve for this session. Some legislators will no doubt continue to push for bills that require all AIDS educational programs to exclude information about Lesbians and Gays. Equality Kansas will be working to keep you informed about such events. Legislation requiring members to act may arise quickly, and Equality Kansas will be sending out member bulletins as required to fulfill this purpose. If you have not received a copy of the resolution or our brochure concerning it, you may call the Equality Kansas secretary at 316-267-2748 and ask that one be sent to you. If you do not know who your legislator is, you may call you local county election commissioner, who will be glad to provide the information for you. All legislators are in Topeka now, and may be written to in care of the following address: State Capitol, Topeka, KS 66612. To call your legislator, you may call the House Switchboard at 913-296-7500 and ask for your representative's extension. ****************************************************** Governor Finneys Iniative Reforms Worry Activists: Lesbians and Gays Could Become Targets Topeka,KS - Shortly after announcing that she would not seek re-election as Governor of Kansas, Joan Finney declared her intention to have some sort of iniative and referendum laws put on the books before she leaves office next year. Finney was elected in 1990 after a suprising campaign in which she promised voters legislation which would give them the ability to make laws and pass constitutional changes withought going through the legislature. Currently, all laws are made through the legislature only, and constitutional amendments must pass the legislature before going on to be approved or rejected by voters. In order to see this changed, Finney announced in December the beginning of a state-wide media campaign designed to appeal to the voters and pressure legislators to pass these measures. "Initiative and referendum laws sound wonderful," says Kathy Greenlee, Co-Chair of Equality Kansas. "However, theyre not always so wonderful in practice. What sounds like direct democracy can actually turn into tyranny," Greenlee said. "Through the initiative and referendum process, members of the religious right were able to get constitutional amendments placed on the ballot in the states of Oregon and Colorado. As a result, citizens of those states were able to vote on issues which involve the civil rights of their Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual neighbors. We should not support laws," Greenlee warns, "which enable vocal, well-financed, organized minorities like the religious right to codify discrimination against any group with whom they disagree." Greenlee urges Equality Kansas members and supporters to write to Governor Finney and their local representative and ask them to oppose iniative and referendum legislation. You may reach the Governor by writing: Governor Joan Finney, 2nd Floor, State Capitol, Topeka, KS 66612-1590, or calling 913-296-3232. ****************************************************** Electronic Organizer Mobilizes Lesbian and Gay Kansans Activist's Electronic Network Established "Were here, were Queer, and we have Email!" This was the chant of Digital Queers at the 1993 March on Washington, and now, Equality Kansas has it too! Equality Kansas activists across the state can hook into the Equality Kansas Email network and recieve the latest breaking Kansas news off of the Internet. Items regarding the Cornfield Resolution and the far right in Kansas, announcements about upcoming Kansas events, and news stories from the Kansas press important to all Kansas Gay and Lesbian Activists have been flying around the Internet as a result of this powerful new activist tool. Electronic Mail, or Email, is a computerized message that is sent from one computer to another, usually over phone lines. The Internet is a world-wide public access computer network over which Email can be sent instantaneously, with no long-distance fee. "Email is a very powerful tool for moving information over a large geographic area like Kansas," stated Equality Kansas Electronic Organizer Kevyn Jacobs. "Using the Internet to move electronic mail from one computer to another has enabled Equality Kansas to keep individuals from Hays to Kansas City, Wichita to Manhattan, and everywhere in between informed of whats going on." Jacobs stated that about half of the Equality Kansas Board of Directors is now on the Email network, and hes pushing for 100% as soon as possible. Board members are now using Email to send back and forth confidential communiques, mailing lists, and news. "Email is cheaper than phone calls, and its faster than regular postal mail," said Jacobs. "Many Equality Kansas members are attached to universities in one capacity or another, and so they have access to Email through their school or work." Most of the Kansas Regents Universities, plus Washburn, are connected to the Internet. Students, faculty and staff at these institutions can get free Email addresses there. For individuals who are not attached to a university, Email addresses can be obtained from commercial servers, like America Online (AOL), which charges $9.95 a month. All that is needed is a computer, a modem, and a phone line. America Online is a local call from Topeka, Kansas City, Lawrence, Wichita, Manhattan and Salina. Other Email servers include Compuserve, MCI Mail, GEnie and Delphi. "America Online is definitely the coolest," stated Jacobs. "It is home to the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Forum, has a large library of fight the right materials, and is super easy to use." Digital Queers, P-Flag National, and The Lambda Legal Defense Fund have all chosen America Online because of its queer-friendly staff, price, and user-friendliness. The Human Rights Campaign Fund has also recently announced that it plans to make AOL its home soon. Additionally, many state organizations, including Equality Kansas, have set up shop on America Online, including the Oregon Rural Organizers Project, Nebraskas Citizens for Equal Protection, Oklahomas Simply Equal, and Missouris Show Me Equality. Equality Kansas has even gotten new members and donations because of the America Online connection. The Email network was set up in the fall of 1993 by Jacobs, with help from Darci Chapman of the Oregon Rural Organizers Project, Digital Queers, and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Board on AOL. "Ideally, every person on the Equality Kansas Email list (EKS) should check their Email box every day, the same way you would check your regular post office box. That way, you get information that is never more than 24 hours old, and it gets sent to you free of charge," stated Jacobs. Currently, the Equality Kansas mailing list has over 50 members. Messages and alerts are sent to the Electronic Organizer, who then forwards the message to everyone on the list instantaneously, and at no charge. Email is also an effective way for Equality Kansas to keep national organizers informed of events in Kansas. "Half the NGLTF staff, including Fight the Right organizers Scot Nakagawa and Sue Hyde, are monitoring Kansas events by way of this Email service," said Jacobs. "Scot Nakagawa, in fact, was the one to suggest Equality Kansas use America Online Email when he was here last October." For more information on how you can get online and start receiving Email from the Equality Kansas Email network, send Email to: EqualityKS@aol.com or call Kevyn Jacobs at 913.539.6275 ****************************************************** Beware of Do-It-Yourself Hatred From Colorado Colorado Springs,CO - Colorado for Family Values (CFV), the initiators of Amendment 2, has arguably led the campaign of hatred and bigotry against Lesbians and Gays. Now, based on CFV's success in Colorado, the group is promoting its "Model Notebook," a complete guide to introducting anti-Lesbian and Gay legislation in every state in the nation. For $95, groups and individuals passing CFV's strict scrutiny can receive the political action workbook, along with nine audio cassettes, and a private support number for special consultation and assistance. For more information on CFV, please contact the Institute for First Amendment Studies, P.O. Box 589, Great Barrington, MA 01230. (Reprinted with permission from The Freedom Writer, the newsletter for the Institute for First Amendment Studies.) ****************************************************** Beware These Buzzwords Used by the religious right, these phrases take on an ominous tone. Watch for them, and question any group that uses them or espouses them. Against Special Rights Anti-Tax Back to Basics in Education Bible Reading in School School Choice Biblical Law Biblical Principles Choice in Education Christian Nation Christian Values Conservative Crack Down on Pornography Decency De-fund PBS Excellence in Education Godless Education System Godless Humanism Judeo-Christian Values Judeo-Christian Principles Life Moral Absolutes Moral Decency Morals in School Natural Law Natural Family Opposes Gay Rights Opposes Gun Control Opposes Obscenity Opposes Sex Education Parental Control Pro-Family Pro-Life Pro-Death Penalty Protect Unborn Children Prayer in School Right to Life Sacred Human Rights Strong Conservative Values Strong Stand on Family Issues Tough on Crime Traditional Family Values Traditional American Values Traditional Morality Voluntary School Prayer ***************************************************** The next Equality Kansas Board Meeting will be January 30th. For information on how you can attend, please call Kathy Greenlee at 913-841-8519 ****************************************************** We Are EQUALITY KANSAS The following statements were adopted by the Board of Directors during their November 1993 meeting. OUR MISSION: We seek to insure the protection of Equal Rights under the Constitution for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. OUR BELIEFS: We are a broad-based, grass-roots gathering of citizens, along with business, religious and community groups who agree that ALL people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe in Equality, Justice and Inclusion of ALL people in the democratic process. OUR STRUCTURE: 1. We are a voluntary association of individuals. We are not incorporated, but we may become so as the organization matures. In the event that we do incorporate, we will become a Kansas non-profit corporation. We, therefore, do not currently have IRS tax-exempt status. This, too, may be necessary with growth. 2. We are a membership organization. Individual memberships are $10.00. Organizational memberships are $25.00. All members must support the Equality Kansas Mission and Beliefs Statements. No member will be denied participation based on inability to pay. 3. The ongoing work of the organization is coordinated by a Board of Directors. The Board consists of the following positions: Female Co-Chair, Male Co-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, 1 or 2 Media Committee Chairs, 1 or 2 Legislative Committee Chairs, 1 or 2 Outreach Committee Chairs, 1 or 2 Friends/Parents Representatives, One Religious Representative, and 3 at-large members. Additional positions may be added in order to be inclusive of additional populations or interests. Current Board members determine the need for the addition of more positions. 4. The Female Co-Chair, Male Co-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary positions shall be held by lesbian/gay/bisexual individuals who are willing to publicly identify as such. 5. All individual members and organizational representatives are welcome at any Equality Kansas event or meeting. Each individual member shall have one vote. Each organizational member may designate one representative to cast a vote on behalf of the organization. Organizational members may rotate representatives. 6. There will be no community or area representatives as initially proposed in July. 7. Interim members of the Board were selected at the July 31st meeting. On November 6th, Board members were elected to a term which will expire in June 1994. Thereafter, we intend to ask Board members to serve one year terms starting each June. 8. The Board of Directors will attempt to organize three or four membership meetings each year. The next membership meeting will most likely occur during the coming legislative session, in Topeka. 9. The current members of the Board of Directors meet every 6 to 8 weeks. They also maintain telephone, mail and computer contact. 10. When votes are taken, all members present constitute the quorum. Majority rules. In reality, members of the Board have operated by consensus. 11. Because Equality Kansas is opposing legislation, we are required to register a lobbyist. ****************************************************** Flint Hills Alliance News By Kevyn D. Jacobs Information Line Off to Great Start The new Southwestern Bell phone books for Manhattan are out, and if you open up the white pages to "G", youll find a surprise: a listing for the Gay & Lesbian Information Line. Now that may sound like tired old news, but this is definitely great news for Manhattan! The Manhattan Gay & Lesbian Information Line, which is operated by The Flint Hills Alliance, Inc., received quite a few calls in November when The Mentor, Manhattan High Schools student paper, ran a front-page story about being Gay at MHS. The story, prompted by the suicide of a 16-year-old Lesbian at MHS earlier this year, listed the phone number for the Gay and Lesbian Information Line. Sources at the high school report that there was only one complaint to the school administration about the story. The calls to the phone line keep coming in. Currently, we are staffing the line seven nights a week from 7:00pm - 11:00pm, when volunteers are available. An answering machine with community announcements is available at other times. The line is being staffed by volunteers from the community, and being funded through the generosity of members of the Manhattan community and The Flint Hills Alliance. For information about donating money or volunteering your time, please call the Info Line at 913.587.0016. Other Manhattan News: Lesbian and Gay Alcoholics Anonymous meets weekly at the Flint Hills Alliance office, 2nd Floor, 1221 Thurston Street. The Manhattan AIDS Project is looking for volunteers. Call Greg Eiselein at 913.537.8718. A Manhattan Queers Email List has been set up. To start receiving Email announcements about the latest events and news of the Manhattan Queer Community, send email to Kevyn@aol.com. The Subject should read: SUBSCRIBE MQ, and the first line of the message should read: SUBSCRIBE MQ. MCC Manhattan holds worship services on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of the Month, at 3:00pm. For more information, please call Rev.Jonathan Loppnow at 913.271.8431. The Metropolitan Community Church is open to ALL Christians of ALL sexual orientations who wish to worship together in an accepting environment. For information about other events in the Manhattan Area, please call the Manhattan Gay & Lesbian Information Line at 913.587.0016. ****************************************************** Proud of Our History 1992 Over 85% of those Lesbians and Gays who voted cast their vote in favor of Democrat Bill Clinton, helping him capture the Presidency in the November elections. It was the largest percentage of a specific group to vote for one candidate ever. Lesbians and Gays responded to Clinton's call of "There is not an American to waste," against the backdrop of a Republican campaign that featured "Families Forever, Gay Rights Never" as one of its slogans. ****************************************************** A CLERGY DECLARATION in response to THE ENVIRONMENT OF HATRED AND VIOLENCE in Topeka, Kansas October 11, 1993 We the undersigned clergy and religious leaders of Topeka make the following declaration: We believe God is Love and that we are called to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We believe that all people are Gods creation and are blessed by God. We detest the enviornment of hatred and violence that is promoted by a vocal few in Topeka. We believe there are ways people can express their religious, cultural and political differences without resorting to hostile confrontation, displays of anger or abusive language. We are opposed to taking scriptural texts and religious writings out of context and claiming they are definitive for all people. We want our community to know the scriptural interpretations displayed on our street corners by the purveyors of hate, prejudice and bigotry are neither universal nor the norm. We believe God, not individuals, judges people and nations and that we are called to go proclaim Gods love and minister faithfully to each other in Gods name. Signers of Clergy Declaration: Rev. Donald T. Moses - Grace Episcopal Rev.Charles Erb - First Congregational Rev.Dr.Rebecca S. Erb - First Congregational Father Norbert Lickteig - Christ Catholic Susan Lee - St.Matthews Bill Beachy - Topeka Peace & Justice Rev.Bill Hemmen, Jr. - Lowman Methodist Rev. Don Anderson - East Topeka Methodist Rev.Wayne Mason - West Side Baptist Rev.Dan Friberg - Good Shepherd Lutheran Rev.James D. McCullough - First Christian Father Frances Krische - Heart of Mary Rev.Dean Knewston - Otterbein Methodist Rev.Don Miller - Congregational, UCC Father William Bruning - Heart of Mary Rev.Gerald Weeks - First Lutheran Rev.Stephanie Kopsch - First Lutheran Rev.Susan Candea-Kromm - Lutheran Rev.Ron Eslinger - United Church of Christ Rabbi Lawrence Karol - Temple Beth Sholom Rev.John D. Stoneking - Topeka Methodist Rev.Peter M. Ross-Gotta - Menninger Clinic Rev.Kathryn Timpany - Congregational, UCC Rev.Don R. Flanner - Tecumseh Methodist Rev.James R. Peters - Grace Episcopal Rev.Dennis Johnson - Congregational, UCC Betty Nelson - Topeka Peace & Justice Rev.Don Lindermann Rev.Michael Mulvaney - St.Matthews Father John Lassiter Rev.Dan Gardener - Our Lady of Guadalupe Dorothy G. Berry - Ecumenical Associates Rev.Deborah Swank - Grace United Methodist Rev.John W. Emsli, Jr. - St.Pauls Lutheran Rev.John H. Rath - Faith Lutheran Rev.Karl Meisel - Berryton United Methodist Rev.C.Kent Rogers - Oakland Methodist Rev.Ann Richards - Westminster Presbyterian Rev.Gary Dieter - North Topeka Baptist Rev.Mark Lee - Grace Episcopal Canon Jim Peters - Grace Episcopal Rev.Cynthia Neufeld Smith - Mennonite Rev.Steve Hughes - Highland Park Methodist Rev.Ron Holland - First United Methodist Rev.Don Roberts - Church of the Brethren Rev.Paul C. Evans - MCC Rev.L.Jonathan Loppnow - MCC Rev.Michael E. Obenauer - Seabrook UCC Rev.Paul B. Mitchell - Countryside Methodist Rev.Kay S. Scarbrough - Methodist Rev.Jerry Quiring - Wesley United Methodist Rev.Douglas W. Phenix - Potwin Presbyterian Rev.Janet M. Harris - University Methodist Chapl. Charles E. Benton - Methodist Home Rev.Lee A. Morris - St.Andrews Presbyterian Rev.Kent M. Melcher - Shawnee Methodist Chaplain John Dillingham - retired Rev.Barry Dundus - Washburn Rev.George Brecht - Central Presbyterian Rev.Harold Schneider - Holy Name Church Rev.John Rossiter - Assumption Church Rev.Mary Alice Knewtson Rev.Virgina Pych ****************************************************** Proud of Our History November 27th, 1978 The country's first openly Gay elected official, San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, is shot to death at City Hall by political rival Dan White. White, a former City Supervisor who campaigned on "family values," is sentenced to only five years after pleading stress caused by eating too much junk food - a ploy that became known as the "Twinkie defense." Angry Lesbians and Gays took to the streets, wrecking City Hall and torching squads of police cars. Today Harvey Milk is remembered by scores of Harvey Milk Democratic Clubs across the country. ********************************************************** Eye on the Right Pro-Life, Anti-Gay Group Proposes Constitutional Amendment ========================================================== Valley Center,KS - John McDavitt with Kansas Education Watch Network has proposed an amendment to the Kansas Constitution which would give parents control of their child's education. The amendment is designed to make it easier for parents with fundamentalist beliefs to object to teaching they consider to be objectionable. Subjects in education that the group has objected to in the past are the teaching of evolution, AIDS education, and teachings about Gays and Lesbians not based in Old Testament Biblical tracts. McDavitt reports that their group hopes to gather enough sponsors for the amendment to propose it to the Kansas Legislature this session. Kansas Education Watch Network is the employer of Ann Tilson, a woman arrested for blockading Dr. George Tiller's clinic in 1991. Tilson claimed herself innocent of all charges, claiming that she was acting to "save the unborn babies." Judge Paul Clark declared her innocent on these grounds before being over-ruled by the Kansas Supreme Court earlier this year. The United States Supreme Court upheld her conviction in November 1993. Focus on the Family Affiliate in Wichita ======================================== Wichita,KS - The Kansas Family Research Institute in Wichita has begun offering a series of Focus on the Family conferences entitled "Community Impact Seminars." The religious right organization says that the seminars are "exciting ways for Christians to become involved in social and political issues." The first of these seminars was conducted in Kansas City last November, with the next in Topeka on May 14th and Garden City on June 11th. Participants in these seminars can attend lectures and workshops on such topics as "Our Cultural Crisis," and "Christian Influence in early America." Kansas Family Research Institute also distributes catalogues it calls "InfoPac"s, providing fundamentalists with a breakdown on issues important to them. The InforPac also contains a directory of what it calls "Pro-Family Groups in Kansas." For your free "InfoPac," or for more information on Kansas Family Research Institute, you may call them at 316-722-3444 or write them at 2250 N. Rock Road, Ste. 118-224, Wichita, KS 67226. Concerned Women for America Meets in Wichita ============================================ Wichita,KS -About 200 people attended a Concerned Women of America meeting at Central Christian Church in October of 1993 to listen to fundamentalist legislators outline their plans for 1994. Darlene Cornfield of Valley Center spoke about the Hate Resolution, which she plans to introduce this year. Stating that it was simply a resolution and not an amendment to the constitution like Colorado's Amendment 2, she said "If they give me too hard a time, I may introduce one." Cornfield sounded exasperated as she went on to describe opposition to the resolution from the Lesbian and Gay community, saying: "I'm pretty tired of this kind of stuff. We're talking about less than 1 percent of the population, and they're acting like they're 97 percent." Senator Mike Harris urged supporters to continue to protest abortion, Senator Todd Tiahart spoke of the proposed constitutional amendment to put educational priorities under the control of "family" organizations, and Rep. Susan Wagle of Wichita spoke of the need to "elect people who understand family values and people who believe in God." Concerned Women of America is a national organization with chapters across the United States whose purpose is to "preserve, protect, and promote traditional Judeo-Christian values." If you have an item for Eye on the Right, please contact the editor at 316-267-2748 or send it to: 1221 N. Waco, Wichita, KS 67203. ****************************************************** ON CAMPUS Equality Kansas Protests Robertson's Speech at KSU ================================================== Manhattan,KS - Over 250 people turned out to protest the appearance of fundamentalist televangelist Pat Robertson at Kansas State University last October 12th. The event was co-sponsored by Equality Kansas members Manhattan N.O.W. and the Flint Hills Alliance. President of the fundamentalist Christian Coalition, Roberston regularly travels the country speaking out against civil rights for Lesbians and Gays. Robertson was the featured speaker in the prestigous Alf Landon Speaker's Series. Robertson, who has stated in the past he believes feminism ecourages women to "leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capilalism, and become Lesbians," was also protested by Fred Phelps, who believes Roberston is "too soft on fags." ESU Hosts State-Wide Lesbian\Gay Students Networking Meeting ============================================================ Emporia,KS - Lesbian\Gay student organizations from college campuses across Kansas met in Emporia last November in what organizers hope will become an annual event. Sponsored by Gay\Lesbian Alliance Resource and Education (GLARE), the meeting was designed to provide the fifty representatives from Pittsburg, Emporia, Wichita, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Topeka universities an opportunity to share information and strategies for the upcoming year. If you would like more information about GLARE or the next networking meeting, you may contact them in care of Box 65, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial St., Emporia, KS 66801. KSU Lesbian\Gay Group to Hold Conference ======================================== Manhattan,KS - The Kansas State University Student Governing Association recently appropriated funding to KSU's Bisexual and Gay and Lesbian Association for a conference on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual issues. As a result, plans are underway for a conference on March 4th and 5th. Possible areas of concern for the conference to address include homosexuality and the religious right and a history of Lesbian and Gay issues and language. For more information on the conference, please call 913-587-0016 and leave a message, or write BAGALS Conference, 1228 Westloop 235, Manhattan,KS 66502. Wichita Lesbian\Gay Student Group Regains Official Status ========================================================= Wichita, KS - The Wichita State University's Student Senate granted the campus Lesbian and Gay student group, Ten Percent, recognition on Wednesday 11-3-93, reversing a decision made a week earlier to deny the group recognition because of a radical right student senator's concerns about "Lesbians and Gays violating state sodomy laws." Recognition allows student groups to use campus facilities for meetings and other group activites. Over 100 angry people filled the studend senate chambers for the meeting, offering testimonials as to why the group should receive funding. Ten Percent President Catherine Boyle, while pleased at the eventual outcome of the proceeding, warned of future such attempts to deny Lesbian and Gay students full access to the WSU campus. National Gay\Lesbian Task Force Speaker in Wichita ================================================== Wichita,KS - Scot Nakagawa with the National Gay\Lesbian Task Force's Fight the Right Project spoke to an Equality Kansas-sponsored Fight the Right Forum at the Wichita State University campus to a group of over 150 people on last October 17th. Nakagawa gave a concise history of the religious right movement in the United States and detailed how those attending could fight the radical right, while Fred Phelps and his family taunted, videotaped, and harrassed participants. Nakagawa and his remarks are featured in a video distributed by NGLTF called Sacred Lives,Civil Truths, which debunks the religious right's lies and misinformation concerning Lesbians and Gays. For more information on the video you may contact the NGLTF at 202-332-6483. ****************************************************** Equality Kansas REPORTS Equality Kansas Benefit Raises Over $1,000 ========================================== Wichita,KS - A benefit performance of the play "Six Women with Brain Death" in Wichita raised over one thousand dollars for Equality Kansas on New Year's Day. Christine Tasheff, owner of Cabaret Oldtown, donated the proceeds from the door , and the show's cast donated their time. "Six Women" has played across the country to rave reviews since opening, and the Cabaret's performance is no exception. Equality Kansas urges you to show your appreciation to Christine and the Cabaret by visiting them during any time you are in Wichita. "Six Women" plays through February. Call 316-265-4400 for reservations or for information about their next fantastic show. Equality Kansas Membership Meeting in Salina a Success ====================================================== Salina,KS - Over 75 people attended an Equality Kansas membership meeting in Salina on November 6th, 1993. Those attending detailed the various projects underway to fight the radical right in their communities. Election of officers was held. The meeting wrapped up with the taping of a one-hour talk show concerning the religious radical right in Kansas by Access Public TV. Panel members were: Bev Barbo, author of the Walking Wounded, a book telling the story of her son Tim, who died of AIDS in 1986; Sue Ledbetter, Lobbyist in Topeka with NOW; George Pyle editor of the Salina Journal, who had the lead editorial in the November 2nd, 1993 issue of The Advocate on why his paper ran a gay couple's wedding announcement; Don Miller, minister with United Church of Christ Congregationalist with Interfaith Ministries in Topeka, whose group endorsed a resolution condemming Phelps's actions (see "A Clergy Declaration" in this issue); and Jim Watson, Co-Chair of Equality Kansas. Social Workers Oppose Cornfield Resolution ========================================== Lawrence,KS - Last November 19th the Kansas Chapter of the National Association for Social Workers (NASW) held a statewide meeting in Lawrence, where they went on record against the Cornfield Resolution. NASW committed to send a letter to Speaker of the Kansas House, Robert Miller, stating their opposition to said amendment. During the meeting, which drew about 70 participants, Equality Kansas members Pat OBrien and Ben Zimmerman gave a workshop on the rise of the radical religious right in Kansas, and what Social Workers in Kansas could do to help stop it. Also at the meeting was a panel of Kansas legislators who were there to discuss general legislative issues for the upcoming session. The legislators present were: Senator Lana Oleen (R-Manhattan), and Representatives Kent Glasscock (R-Manhattan), Kathleen Sebelius (D-Topeka), and Forrest Swall (D-Lawrence). All stated their opposition to the resolution, echoing Rep. Glasscock's feeling that the resolution "won't go anywhere." Representative Joan Wagnon (D-Topeka), a candidate for Governor, also spoke at the luncheon, in which she spoke against the radical religious rights agenda, especially in regards to children and education. Religious Cult Disrupts PFLAG Meeting ===================================== Wichita,KS - Ten members of The Way religious cult disrupted the Sept. 9th premiere of the Wichita Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays chapters "With Arms That Encircle" campaign with taunts and verbal harrassment. The Way cult members passed out flyers condemming homosexuals as "doomed to hell" to the approximately 200 Lesbians, Gays, and family members in attendance. Those participating in the meeting watched for the first time a video professionally produced by Wichita P-FLAG entitled "With Arms That Encircle". The video was designed and shot in Wichita for use in a public awareness campaign. For more information on the "With Arms That Encircle" video, or the Wichita P-FLAG chapter, contact them at: Wichita P-FLAG, P.O. Box 686, Wichita, KS 67201-0686, or call them at 316-687-4666. Your organization's news could be here. Common Ground is distributed throughout Kansas. Simply contact the editor. ****************************************************** Regional News Lesbian\Gay Community Center to Open in Wichita =============================================== Wichita, KS - The Kansas Fund for Human Dignity, a fundraising group for Lesbian and Gay concerns, announced in January the signing of a contract for a building which is to be converted into The Center, a community place for Wichita's Lesbian and Gay community. The Center is to be open to the public and will be offerred to various groups supportive of Lesbian and Gay issues as a meeting space. The Center will also be the site of several events of interest to the Lesbian and Gay community throughout the year. KFHD takes possession of the site, located at 111 N. Spruce, on Feb. 1st. The month of February will be used to make repairs on the building and ready it for use. The Center will hold an "Out of the Closet" Sale Feb. 17th - 19th, with proceeds going towards this summer's celebration of Stonewall's 25th anniversary. The deadline for donating goods for the sale is Feb. 12th. The official opening date is to be March 1st. If you would like more information about the Center, or would like to donate goods for the sale, write to KFHD at: %WGLA, P.O. Box 2845, Wichita,KS 67201, or call Renee or Raye Ann at 316-942-6333. Newton Group Meets with Legislator ================================== Newton,KS - Twenty members of the Newton Area Study Group on Homosexuality met with Representative Gary Boston on Dec. 13th, 1993 to register their disapproval of his sponsorship of the Cornfield Resolution. Though Study Group spokesman Earl Loganbill hesitated to say that Rep. Boston had changed his mind concerning his support of the bill, he does believe the meeting had an impact on the Representative. "Like so many people, (Rep. Boston) was ignorant in many respects concerning homosexuality," said Loganbill. " I hope we pointed some things out that he hasn't thought of before." Loganbill hopes that as groups across Kansas hear of their meeting with Rep. Boston, they will be encouraged to have such meetings with their own representatives. The Newton Area Study Group on Homosexuality is a non-chartered group of individuals who meet on a monthly basis to discuss issues of concern to Lesbians, Gays, and their families. The group also sponsors a support group, and holds periodic public meetings designed to help educate the public about homosexuality. Topics of public meetings to be held in the near future include "Twentieth Century Hate Campaigns" and "Biblical Perspectives on Homosexuality." For more information on the Study Group, their support group for families and friends, or the public meetings, contact Earl Loganbill at 316-283-2199. ****************************************************** For more information: EQUALITY KANSAS P.O. BOX 116 TOPEKA, KS 66601-0116 EMAIL: equalityks@aol.com