Date: Wed, 4 Sep 1996 18:38:18 -0500 (CDT)
From: "....DREALM...." <grantham@knuth.mtsu.edu>
Subject: MTSU takes Leaders to Chicago Convention


Michael Grantham

	More than 500 gay and lesbian equal rights activist met in 
Chicago last weekend to take part in the Human Rights Campaign's OUTVOTE 
'96. For the first time in history, the voice of gay and lesbian 
Americans began to articulate a unified national vision of equal rights 
in the context of presidential politics.
	Sending the largest youth contingent, gay and lesbian student 
leaders from Middle Tennessee State University's Lambda Association took a 
step with history. In a chorus of voices from the Rev. Jesse Jackson and 
President Clinton to our community's own Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer and 
Elizabeth Birch, Lambda participants vowed to re-energize issues of equality 
for gays and lesbians. 
	Through state wide campus based civil rights initiatives, such as 
the "Equality is Civility" campaign of MTSU, student leaders will rally 
to the call of the nation to protect the American vision of inclusion. 
The "Equality is Civility" campaign, begun more than a year ago by the 
Uniform Equality Committee at MTSU will soon reaffirm its committment to 
remain "on message" with a national movement for the causes of freedom.
	Gay and lesbian student leaders from across the state will also 
showcase their efforts of solidarity at the 6th Annual Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual College Conference hosted by MTSU in February and will make 
history for the state by enhancing campus policies from the University of 
Memphis to East Tennessee State University. These leaders clearly stand 
on the threshold of an historic era of empowerment for Tennessee gays and 
lesbians.
	Although making history in Chicago as far as political conventions is 
concerned isn't quite as unprecedented, the experience of a collective 
political voice for gays and lesbian is awesome. The Democratic National 
Convention of 1968 publicized a nation making its voice heard on a number 
of issues. One year later, Stonewall would give a face to the voice of 
gay America.
	For most of gay and lesbian America struggling to find a voice in 
the presidential elections, OUTVOTE '96 sounded an official wake up call. 
Highlighting some of our brightest activists, the HRC set out to solidify 
the gay and lesbian vote and empower this voice through an historic 
political convention.
	With Chicago as a backdrop and partisan politics to either side, 
OUTVOTE '96 bolstered the gay and lesbian vote and has helped define the 
gay and lesbian political agenda for the nation.
	Continuing with this work here at home, TN's new HRC Governor, 
Mark Lopez, will soon begin to crystalize a statewide steering committee 
overseeing a grassroots base for the HRC's vision for Tennessee gays and 
lesbians.
	The Second Annual HRC Dinner, co-chaired by Nashville's Scott 
Bane and Amy Ehresman on March 15 at Opryland's Delta Wing, will bring 
Hillary Rosing and others echoing a message for Americans to hold fast to 
the principles of liberty.
	Working with the HRC to increase membership, MTSU's Lambda 
Association is helping to bring change to the South one person at a time. 
Student leaders of Lambda Association encourage everyone to join and take 
part in an exciting moment in our history. To learn how you can help, 
call (615)780-2293 or visit Lambda Association's website at 
www.mtsu.edu/~mtlambda/uec.html