Baltimore Alternative, December 1990

ALTERNATIVE December 1990 T Volume 5, Number 12 ▼ Serving The Baltimore /Washington, D.C. Community Since 1986 p p\/| СШ Michael Callen's new book on “Surviving AIDS“ is reviewed by Robert Drake with l%Ci V I CL W an exclusive interview by Jim Marks in special Book Review section. See page 41 Lesbian Reporter Files $12.5M Suit Against United Press Int’l Christian Broadcaster Charged With ‘Hate Crimes’ BY CUFF O’NEILL _ WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT WASHINGTON — A lesbian reporter filed a ground breaking $12.5 million lawsuit in feder¬ al court here Nov. 29 charging United Press International , her former employer, with job discrimina¬ tion and a Wisconsin radio talk show host and a Christian radio network with harassment and invasion of privacy. In the case, which is being handled by the Lambda Legal Defense Fund, reporter Julie Brienza is charging that UPI illegally dismissed her because she is a lesbian and that radio talk show host Vic Eliason and his Wisconsin Voice of Christian Youth violated that state’s hate crime law by using the telephone and public airwaves to personally harass her, violate her privacy by exposing her lesbianism without her consent, and impugn her repu¬ tation, thus limiting her career options. The suit seeks $12.5 million from the three in back pay and punitive damages. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is ille¬ gal in the District of Columbia under that jurisdiction’s Human Rights Law. Although the lawsuit is being heard in Federal Court, it is invoking only D.C. and Wisconsin laws. Brienza had worked for UPI for three years when, fol¬ lowing a national campaign by Christian broadcasters to See REPORTER SUES page 4 Morelia Decries ‘Fag’ Comment By White House BY JOHN ZEH _ SPECIAL TO THE ALTERNATIVE WASHINGTON— Gay activists and U.S. Rep. Constance A. Morelia (R-MD) have criticized White House counsel C. Boyden Gray for using the word "fag’’ in a speech to the Montgomery County Republican Club in suburban Chevy Chase. The congresswoman from Maryland’s eighth district told Gray she was “surprised and disappointed” that he used “a derogatory stereotype to describe a member of the gay community.” “I find your statement especially unfortunate because the President earlier this year signed into law the Hate Crimes [act], which is aimed at placing the spotlight on negative actions and statements aimed at minority groups,” Rep. Morelia said. Her let¬ ter called on the Harvard-educated lawyer from North Carolina to apologize for his “appalling poor choice of language.” The White House said Gray would not comment. Gray used the word at the Nov. 1 session attended by about 35 GOP members in response to a question about the savings and loan crisis. He claimed that former House Speaker Jim Wright (D-TX) had spread rumors that a Federal Home Loan Bank Board examiner “was a fag.” He repeated the word when later questioned about his remark, the Bethesda Gazette reported. Bush gets high marks from activists for pushing passage of the Hate Crimes Statistics and Americans With Disabilities acts in Congress, which have a direct impact on the lives of gay men, lesbians, and people with human immunodeficiency vims (HIV), thought to cause AIDS. That openness to the gay and lesbian community has drawn fire from conservatives. Gray’s comment was “very disappointing," agreed Gregory King of the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), which shares the spotlight here with NGLTF as the largest gay/les- bian/AIDS lobbies. “Clearly Gray needs to speak to Barbara Bush,” who has helped her mate boost his inclusiveness for gays and people with HIV, King said. Rep. Morelia also noted Gray’s powerful position, saying he has “an impact” on public discussion on civil rights and other key issues. “Your insensitivity will help perpetuate stereotypes in some segments of our society at a time when most of us are seek¬ ing to overcome negative divisions,” she said in her letter. King said he hopes Gray’s choice of the word “is based on ignorance rather than deep-seated bigotry” and feels confident “it won't happen again.” INSIDE THIS EDITION ▼ A Community Takes Back Its Neighborhood / 9 ▼ Festive Holiday Wares With Artistic Flare / 29