THe BaItimore
MarcIi1987
Vol. 2. No. 2
MMIRfWJWl
Another Voice, Another C/kwce...
Free
State AIDS Task Force Report Released
What Should Maryland Do Now?
Where To for 31st St. Bookstore?
The 31 si Street Bookstore has provided womyn with a cultural base since its opening 14
years ago.
AIDS Awareness Month in MD
tain circles. Its upswing is directly
attributable to peoples’ fear of the
disease, according to figures released
by the National Gay Task Force.
Such fears were augmented at a
meeting on February 20th sponsored
by the National Democratic Policy
Committee (which is not connected to
the Democratic party) for the purpose
of disseminating the “facts” about
AIDS. The meeting turned out to be a
two-hour commercial to gamer sup¬
port for Presidential Candidate Lyndon
LaRouche. (see article, page 3) A
LaRouche disciple, Debra Flanania
Continued on page 12
guidelines on the prevention of trans¬
mission of AIDS, as well as strong
suggestions to implement and
strengthen public awareness and edu¬
cation programs.
This report is not, and is apparently
not intended to be, the powerful
political tool many had expected it to
be.
Still, this is not the document of a
timid committee. It states unequivoca-
Continued on page 20
March Declared
by Bill Urban
BALTIMORE — Institutions such as
The Sunpapers and Baltimore HERO
(Health Education and Resource
Organization) have made great strides
throughout the state in promoting
understanding and education about a
disease that is growing at pandemic
proportions. Yet, even with the wealth
of information available in newspa¬
pers, libraries, and community centers
and Health clinics, AIDS (Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome) still
remains one of the most misunder¬
stood diseases in the nation today.
In an effort to bring a greater
understanding to all citizens of the
state, March will be declared “AIDS
by Carey Lambert
BALTIMORE— While Harry
Hughes slipped quietly out of office,
and the Govemmor William Donald
Schaefer juggernaut stormed in, the
former governor’s Task Force Report
on Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome, AIDS and Maryland, was
published and quietly distributed.
AIDS and Maryland has barely
gurgled in the maelstrom of state
politics this year. Governor Schaefer’s
proposals for stadiums and tax in¬
creases have been so turbulent that the
by Johnette E. Banks
Approximately forty womyn respon¬
ded to a call to save the 31st Street
Bookstore. The Bookstore, more an
institution than a store, may soon be
sold to the highest bidder at the next
state auction.
According to Joanne Woodard,
who chaired the Jan. 30th emergency
meeting at St. Johns Church, 27th &
St. Paul Sts., the desire to sell the
store was not made public in a way
that the community could respond.
When it became known that the store
might be auctioned around Feb. 13th,
concerned parties sprang into action.
The initial meeting was serious and
well-organized. The general consen¬
sus among participants was that to
lose the store would be a great blow to
this city. One womon stated that “31st
Street is more than just a place to buy
books, it's a place to find out what's
going on around town.”
Another womon mentioned that
even on Sundays, people look in the
windows to see what announcements
are posted concerning different events.
Still another lamented the possibility
that her children may no longer have
access to the non-sexist children's
literature which the store carried.
The main question put to partici¬
pants at the meeting was whether the
Awareness Month” in Maryland.
Governor William Donald Schaefer is
expected to make a formal announce¬
ment at a press conference, tentatively
scheduled for March 19th. Emphasis
will be placed on education and and
getting the correct facts concerning
AIDS and people at risk and their
"significant others”: parents, lovers
husbands, wives and children.
Maryland, like the rest of the
nation, is plagued not only by the dis¬
ease itself but by violence and political
backbiting brought about by the
suspicion, fear and mystery sur¬
rounding AIDS. Discrimination and
racism is now openly accepted in cer-
AIDS report just swirled away to the
side.
But, even without all those other
leadline-catching issues, AIDS and
Maryland may well have created few
headlines of its own, for it contains no
startling revelations, and makes no
comprehensive recommendations.
AIDS and Maryland is primarily an
assessment of the state of AIDS in the
State, coupled with recommendations
to subdivisions and health care
professionals to follow the published
community wanted to attempt pur¬
chase of the bookstore. If so, how
could the community accomplish that
goal? Several committees were formed
to research both various channels of
approach, and the financial ability to
do so.
An anonymous poll was taken of
the womyn present to see how much
each individual would be willing to
purchase if shares of stock were sold
at $100. The speculative pledges,
ranging from $100 to $5000,
amounted to a total of $16,700.
At a second meeting, held the
following Friday, committees pre¬
sented findings based on their
research. After discussing the salient
aspects of the bookstore’s financial
history and its general performance,
Continued on page 20
WJZ Hosts Gay Youth
by Bill Urban
On Monday February 9, WJZ-TV's
People Are Talking program presented
a show on Gay Youth. The subject of
the show allowed host Richard Sher to
explore some of the problems, fears
and anxieties gay teenagers face when
they discover their sexuality at an early
age.
An ALTERNATIVE editorial about
the lack of AIDS education in Balti¬
more City Schools inspired producer
Terry Todesco to schedule a segment
of People Are Talking to address the
AIDS epidemic among teens, and
what they are or are not taught in area
schools.
Sher's popular morning talk show
had just aired several AIDS-related
programs, thus the producers decided
to have Gay teens talk about coming
out and growing up gay, without the
original AIDS emphasis. The show
generated an unusual amount of posi¬
tive response from the viewers.
Unable to reach the Gay and Les¬
bian Community Center (GLCCB) for
information regarding the Baltimore
Chapter of Gay Youth, Ms. Todesco
contacted BAGLY (Boston Associa¬
tion of Gay and Lesbian Youth).
BAGLY, which was founded
approximately 7 years ago, is a social
support group with an active member¬
ship of about 100 people.
Kevin Cranston, a youth minister
and counselor, along with three teens
represented BAGLY on Sher's show.
The three teens were Anthony Flynn,
President of BAGLY, along with
Brian Williams, and Jessica Benuto.
Baltimore Youth Group member and
writer for the Baltimore ALTERNA¬
TIVE, Ed Cole also participated in the
program which discussed the role that
youth groups in general play in assist¬
ing young people come to terms with
who they are.
After initially questioning the panel
participants about their growing up
and sexual awareness, some audience
members seemed surprised to learn
that only 1 of the 4 teens had engagaed
in any sexual activity before the age of
19 or 20. Mr. Sher emphasized this
point to discourage the belief that all
Gays are sexually promiscuous and
that the teens do need responsible role
models for a moral upbringing, as well
as some outlet for discussion of their
feelings.
Continued on page 20
in This Issue
Urblculture . 3-5
Editorial . e
Other tlleiv Points . 9
Heroes America . 10-12
Alternative Choices.... 14
Between the Covers ..15
Branching Out . .....16
Mothers Memoirs . t?
Religion . 22
