The Michigan Daily -Tuesday, September 11, 1990 --Page3 ACT-UP memi protest anti-ga, by Sarah Schweitzer Approximately 50 activists gath- ered on the steps of the Union last night for a rally in response to anti- gay messages written on chalkboards in Angell and Mason Halls. The messages, written sometime on or before Saturday by an anony- mous author, invited people who agreed with the statement, "Homosexuals are not people, but abominations," to attend a meeting last night in Angell Hall. When alerted to the presence of the "anti-gay" meeting announce- ments, the AIDS Coalition to Un- leash Power (ACT-UP) quickly or- ganized its members and planned a disruption of the meeting followed by a workshop on homophobia. A local chapter of the national organization ACT-UP was founded last spring in Ann Arbor to fight in- stitutional racism and discrimina- tion against homosexuals in the University and community. When the anonymous authors did not arrive at Angell Hall by 7:15 p.m., the 50 people - members of ACT-UP and other gay male and lesbian rights activists - marched to the steps of the Union. As they made their way, the group chanted, "Hey hey ho ho, ho- mophobia has got to go," and "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, born again bigots go away." Upon arriving at the Union, the group held a "victory rally" to pro- claim their success in scaring off the anonymous authors. "This mobilization shows any- time bigots organize, we will be there and not allow it to happen," said LSA senior and ACT-UP mem- ber Paul Carnouche. Following the rally, organizers ceremoniously burned a copy of the Michigan Review, a campus con- servative publication which attacked ACT-UP in its September issue. bers " y. event The assembled group also held a speakout, a forum in which gar males and lesbians were encouraggd to tell of the difficulties they en. counter because of their sexual prt erence. LSA senior Jim Cotant told the group of the pain he experiences when he is hassled by people on the street of Ann Arbor. Cotant added, "I've been lucZ with my friends, they have been t~e epitome of loving and caring... rather be physically assaulted t*l:i have my friends turn on me." Ann Arbor Community H; School junior and ACT-UP memb4 Valerie Park called the protest aOd rally "a powerful moment." "Whoever put that (announce- ment) up on the board will really have to think before they put something like that up again," Park said. t JOSE JUAREZ/Daily -ACT-UP members and student acitivists look on as as the Michigan Review is burned in reaction to a story in .the September issue which attacked ACT-UP, a gay male and lesbian rights group. r" Couple protests abortion laws for young women by Amanda Neuman Bill and Karen Bell will be at the Michigan League tonight to tell the fatal story of their daughter Becky, who died of an illegal abortion two years ago. The Indiana couple, in conjunc- tion with the Fund for the Feminist ;Majority (FFM), are launching a na- tionwide campaign to fight laws that restrict young womens' access to abortions. The campaign, entitled, "The Becky Bell-Rosie Jimenez Cam- paign," seeks to enlist one million college and high school women to speak out against parental consent and notification laws in the United States. On September 16, 1988, Becky Bell died from an illegal abortion with pneumonia as a contributing factor. Becky had just turned 17 and was subject to an Indiana law which requires young women under 18 to obtain parental permission before getting an abortion. Becky was afraid to tell her par- ents about her pregnancy because she didn't want to disappoint them. She feared she would not be granted a "judicial bypass" - a waiver from parental consent - from an Indiana judge and decided to get an illegal abortion. Of the 35 states that have parental consent or notification laws, only 14 states enforce them. Though Michigan has no such laws, the state legislature will begin considering a parental consent initiative during its three week session that begins today. The initiative, started by the Right to Life of Michigan, needs a majority vote to pass in the Michi- gan Legislature. Pat Rose, former chair and re- source coordinator for the Right to Life of Washtenaw County believes the bill is mandatory to protect the lives of young women. "If she [Becky] had confided in her parents, she could have probably been alive today because they could have gotten her the help she needed," she said. Margy Long, public affairs coor- dinator for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, disagrees with the Right to Life position. "Their initiative will endanger the lives of Michigan teenagers by forc- ing the teens who can't involve their parents because of fear of abuse or family crisis," she said. Darleen Straub, director of coun- seling at a pregnancy counseling center in Ann Arbor, said that if passed, the law would open the lines of communication in the home. *} Tamar Raphael, press secretary. for FFM, said that the law didnpt improve family communication. s, evidenced by a note Becky wrote.to her parents saying, "I wish I copld tell you everything, but I can'. i) have to deal with it myself. I ca%4o't it, and I love you." If the initiative fails, it w illo on the 1992 election ballot. - The Bells will be speaking.i Room C of the Michigan Lea$ . tonight at 7:30 p.m. Union members pi y Heather Fee Municipal Employees (AFSCME) *Daily Staff Reporter president Patricia Darden. Approximately 12 local union The AFSCME executive board members picketed in front of their - a governing body which acts for union office near the corner of the union between meetings - Packard and Platt yesterday to protest suspended Darden on July 19, 1990, the suspension of their elected during contract negotiations. president and the reinstatement of the In a letter to John Seferian, chair former president of the union. of the AFSCME International Opposing union members sat on Judicial Panel, members of the the front porch of the office executive board said Darden was *occasionally throwing rocks, calling suspended for "willful violation" of out names and spraying water at the union laws, preventing fellow union picketers, who were mainly workers from doing their jobs, and ,niversity service and maintenance attempting to undermine executive vyorkers. board authority. The protesters were concerned Specifically, the executive board about the suspension of American, members objected to Darden's Federation, State, County, discharge of office secretary Deborah cket their own headquarters Carmen. The board suspended Darden and reinstated Leroy Carter, the former president of the union with a vote of three for, two against and two abstentions. Union members, in protesting the move, said they felt their vote was undermined, and the board used powers to which it was unentitled. "They're taking away our right to vote. I don't think the executive board should have that kind of power," said Mattie Jordan who helped organize the protest. Another member agreed. "The people elected should be in there (the union office). Pat Darden was elected. They should give her a chance to do her job," said Stanley Johnson, a member who ran for president but lost. Darden won her seat 473 to 388; the union represents approximately 2400 University workers. The three members of the executive board who voted to suspend Darden and office secretary Deborah Carmen sat on the steps of the union building and refused to comment on why Darden was suspended. Union Sergeant at Arms Steven Hunter said, "It would hurt our members to put our internal affairs in the paper." Darden and union bargaining chair Judy Levy explained that Darden's suspension related to the firing of Carmen. Carmen, who was hired by the former president, was fired by Darden. Darden said Carmen refused to unlock desks and cabinets for her and do ordinary office tasks such as operate the photocopier. A fight ensued over the keys to the cabinets and desks. Levy, who witnessed the fight said Carmen dangled the keys in front of Darden and Darden grabbed for them. Darden called the police to arrest Carmen for trespassing. After calling a state union representative, Carmen left. Union members complained about other issues. Picket signs read "Stop the petty games and bad treatment of employees," and "Take our union out of the toilet. Flush Carter and company out." NOw &portA o 'lon Join the Dail call fi 764CO~ US still seeks contributions for d WASHINGTON (AP) - The, oil-rich Middle Eastern countries are coming forward quickly with multi- billion dollar pledges of support for the campaign against Saddam Hus- sein, but the United States is having a tougher time with its European and Asian allies, a fact that has not gone unnoticed in Congress. Secretary of State James Baker *announced yesterday that Saudi Ara- bia, the United Arab Emirates and the exiled government of Kuwait had pledged $12 billion to help pay for the U.S. defense of the Persian Gulf and to assist poor nations hurt by their adherence tb the trade embargo against Iraq. But Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady had far less success in obtain- ing additional support from France, *Britain, South Korea and Japan. The European Community voted Friday to supply $2 billion in eco- 'nomic aid to Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan - the three states hardest hit by the crisis. However, they said they would not pay to support the U.S. military presence in the region. With the exception of Britain and France, which already involved in the military efforts, European na- tions have been wary of making mil- itary contributions, preferring the less confrontational approach of supporting poor nations hurt by the embargo. Brady also came away essentially empty-handed following stops in South Korea and Japan. South Korea, which has benefited from U.S. military backing for more than four decades, pledged only a few transport flights while Japan said it needed further time to decide how much it can do beyond the $1 billion in assistance it has already offered. Some members of Congress ex- pressed displeasure Monday at the tepid responses, especially from Japan. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called Japan's $1 billion pledge only a "few token shillings." He con- tended a more adequate response given Japan's economic standing would be an $8 billion pledge. - In a related incident, Rep. William Ford (D-Mich.) has intro- duced legislation which would enable eployment U.S. troops in the Middle East to send letters to relatives and friends for no charge. The bill is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, and Ford hopes for a House vote early next week. Lawmakers who visited the troops in Saudi Arabia last month heard frequent pleas for less red tape in sending mail, Ford said. I' t DOES SEXUALITY HAVE A HISTORY? CATHARINE MACKINNON Professor of Law University of Michigan Wednesday, September 12, 1990 4:00 P.M. Amphitheater, Fourth Floor Rackham Building Cosponsored by the Institute for the Humanities and the Law School t 3 Business (7~ dow careers U.. r.J y .. C Cr1-11- Nci' Correction The Daily incorrectly identified the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity in a page one photo in yesterday's paper. The Daily apologizes for this error. I THE LIS.T What's happening in Ann Arbor today4 Campus Visits THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY Presents RALPH W. BOEKER VP, CORPORATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS University of Michigan Alumnus "THE ROLE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN GLOBAIZATION" Tuesday, September 11, 1990 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. MichigansUion -- Kuenuel Room 1'i3*i.l II ir~~t c .. '1 Meetings Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) - Mass Meeting. MUG, 7:30. For more information, call Dina Khaury, 663- 1567. C r.e -n - e Building. "Socialism: Future or Fan- tasy?" - SPARK Revolutionary History Series. 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., B 122 MLB. Other Mic Q rer,'*uTrvouuts -- 5:00 I I - IV I