Newspaper Collage: Pledge Your Allegiance...Yes, I'm gay. So What? House member Reveals, We Won't Go Back (1987-1989)

A large poster with a neon orange background and greyscale photos that look like they were hand cut and glued to the poster. The top left photo is a cutout of a newspaper that reads, “Sound Off Commentary: Sept. 9-10: San Diego Stands With Orange County; Our brothers and sisters to the north of us in Orange County are currently under attack by powerful homophobic forces, including their own version of Dorman Owens: the Rev. Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition that has been trying to stop Orange County’s first lesbian/gay pride celebration. Although Sheldon and his cohorts have not succeeded thus far, they are continuing their efforts to destroy our neighbors’ pride. In response to the right wing attack, a “Call to Action” has been issued throughout California urging lesbians and gay men to go to Orange County to offer support to our beleaguered “family.” We in San Diego County are urging members of our gay and lesbian community to heed the call and join with our Orange County friends in celebration and support by attending the Orange County gay pride events on Sept. 9-10. The parade and festival will be held in Centennial Park, at the corner of Fairview and Edinger in Santa Ana. A San Diego contingent is being organized, and everyone is welcome. Call Nicole at 692-1967 for more information. We can all support our sisters and brothers in Orange County in several ways: -By speaking in supportive ways about the effort; by getting a moment on our community’s agenda to urge all of us to support and attend. -By being at Centennial Park on Sept. 9-10 to buy a ticket, visit the booths, to be cheerful if not downright gay, and to tell our friends we stand with them. -By creating carpools and chartering buses to the events, thereby creating two days of fun. Go both days if you can arrange the time and travel. -By attending the parade on Sunday, Sept. 10, beginning at noon. Be there by 11am to be in place. -By taking a booth at the festival. The cost for nonprofit organizations is low. Contact Orange County Cultural Pride, PO Box 8167, Orange 92664, for more information. - By marching in the parade with the San Diego contingent, bringing your banners and signs along with you. Please join us in sending a strong and visible message: that on Sept. 9-10 San Diego stands with Orange County!; The Rev, David Farrell- Pastor, MCC/San Diego; Chris Kehoe-Co-Chair, 15/20 Council; Herb King-LIFE AIDS Lobby Executive Committee; Jeri Dillon-President, San Diego Democratic Club; Stan Berry-United Republican for Equality and Privacy National Executive Board; Jim CUA-Vice-President, Harvey Milk Democratic Club; Michael Lloyd-Vice President, San Diego Democratic Club.”The top middle image is a photo of a person’s face looking at the camera. They are identified as “Rep. Barney Frank” and the photograph belongs to The United Press International. Underneath their photo is a quote that reads, “‘Yes, I'm gay. So what?’ House member reveals.” Under the quote is a block of text that reads, “BOSTON- Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., acknowledged he is a homosexual, but said in an interview published yesterday in The Boston globe that he does not believe his sexual preference is relevant to his job. ‘If you ask the direct question: ‘Are you gay?’ The answer is, ‘Yes. So what?’ Frank said in the interview conducted Friday in Washington. ‘I've said all along that if I was asked by a reporter and I didn’t respond, it would look like I had something to hide, and I don't think I have anything to hide,’ he said. Frank is the second member of Massachusetts’ congressional delegation to disclose his homosexuality. Democratic Rep. Gerry Studds acknowledged his homosexuality after revelations in 1983 of a sexual relationship with a male teenage House page, a liaison that earned him a formal House censure. In the interview, Frank said he was prompted to disclose his sexual preference when he reviewed the recent press scrutiny of former presidential candidate Gary Hart and of the alleged homosexual activities of Rep. Stewart McKinney, R-Conn. McKinney died last month of complications from AIDS. Rep. Brian Donnelly, D-Mass., said of Frank, ‘People who work with him already know about his sexual preference. But this enhances his image as a forthright, honest representative who’s willing to say he has nothing to hide.’ ‘I don't think my sex life is relevant to my job,’ said Frank, a four term congressman. ‘But on the other hand, I don't want to leave the impression that I'm embarrassed about my life.’ San Diego Union May 31, 1987.” The top right image is a light photograph of two people holding hands while sitting on a park bench. The person on the rights hair is long and colored in yellow. The American flag is also colored in and is painted on the bench they are sitting on. The bottom left image is a grayscale copy of the San Diego Gay Times from the Friday, October 21, 1988 number 43 issue. Black text reads, “Making a Statement; Andrea Villa, Ellie Rapp and Laura Sutherland took their National Coming Out Day act to Horton Plaza. They managed to shop through several stores before security personnel at the shopping center requested that they leave, which they did-ever so slowly.” The image shows the three aforementioned people holding up signs that read from left to right, “Female by Birth, Lesbian by Grace. - Take Control Nat’l Coming Out Day - My Mother is proud of me. She knows I'm a lesbian!” The bottom center is a cutout of another newspaper article. The article reads, “NOW Protests Homophobia by Bethany Berry Staff Writer; NOW, along with a coalition of gay and lesbian organizations, as well as other civil rights groups held an action in Washington, D.C. on January 26 to confront the prejudice espoused by the Coalition for Traditional Values (CTV) at a CTV symposium. The symposium, entitled the ‘National Summit on Heterosexual Ethic’ was held at the Sheraton Washington Hotel and featured the following speakers: CTV’s director, Rev. Louis Sheldon, William Allen, the former chair of the Civil Rights Commission, and Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-California). Sheldon’s positions on creationism in the classroom, abortion and homosexuality have garnered CTV considerable controversy and media attention. Most recently, a speech by William Allen of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, entitled, ‘Blacks, Homosexuals, Animals: What is a Minority?’ At a CTV symposium in Orange County, California drew broad congressional and public criticism. The topics discussed at the CTV symposium included ‘reparative therapy’ to cure lesbians and gay men, and strategies to defeat gay and lesbian civil rights initiatives at all levels. ‘The ‘National Summit on Homosexuality’ is yet another ugly example of the profound bigotry which infects the radical right movement in this country. Like their counterparts in the anti-abortion movement, homophobic fanatics seek to impose their religious beliefs on the nation as a whole.’ Said NOW president Molly Yard. ‘We pledge to continue the struggle for justice for all people, to stand against homophobia wherever it rears its head, and to fight fiercely to end discrimination against any and all groups.’ A rally against CTV was held at Dupont Circle, where a crowd of 600 listened as several speakers stressed the urgency tonight back against homophobia. Loretta Kane, president of Capital City NOW said, ‘As I look out on this crowd, I do not see a thousand points of light; rather, I see a thousand points of dissent woven into a blanket of activism.’ A ‘March Against Homophobia’ followed after the rally and over 800 protestors marched to the Sheraton-Washington Hotel where CTV members met inside. A candle-lighting ceremony took place to remember the lesbians and gay men who have been the targets and victims of hate crimes.” The article is cited by the National NOW Times. The bottom left image is a cutout of a comic strip from The Guardian on October 14, 1987 that reads, “We won't go back!” The comic depicts three people each with inscriptions on their shirts. Text reads from left to right, “Religious Condemnation, AIDS bigotry, Gender Stereotype and Pro-Family.” They are all holding a white straight jacket with an angry face. Text reads, “Lesbians! Gays! Everyone! Do you find yourselves Coming out of the closet and climbing into a Straight-Jacket???? You don't have to!! Just say no!” The bottom of the comic depicts a person punching the straight jacket and saying “Get Lost! Be Yourself.” At the far bottom left corner is a tiny cut out of Keith Harding’s Coming Out artwork.

Publication date: 7 November 2022