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Reflections
Leonard Hirsch
Federal GLOBE President
As we celebrate pride, we are reminded of what is left to be done. just this week, some of our colleagues in
the Uniformed Secret Service embarrassed us all by donning gloves when the White House was hosting a
meeting for elected lesbian and gay officials from around the country. This egregious act of maliciousness,
happily, has been strongly denounced from almost all quarters. But, simply denouncing it is not enough.
We do not know whether the timing of this display was ironic or reactive, because, Secretary of Treasury
Rubin earlier this month, promulgated an enhanced non-discrimination policy that for the first time for that
department, included sexual orientation. But simply stating that discrimination is unacceptable is not
enough.
Federal GLOBE and the members of Treasury GLOBE have offered to work closely with the Secret Service
and the White House the make certain that the necessary policies, avenues of redress and of training are
put into place to make certain that this sort of behavior, and the many daily smaller and less public acts of
discrimination are eliminated from the Federal workplace. But even this is not enough.
We need all of you, and your colleagues, lesbian, gay, bi, transgendered and straight, to work to overcome
the misinformation about our community that is so prevalent in our culture. We need to work in each
department and agency to take the next steps in ensuring a federal workplace free from discrimination of
any type.
This work will be ongoing. Each year there will be new battles and old ones that have to be refought. At
times it will look like we are backsliding, but an historical view shows that enormous progress has been
made.
To recognize this progress, and the spirit of creating change, the Board of Directors of Federal GLOBE is
pleased to announce the creation of the Franklin E. Kameny Award for sustained service for lesbian, gay,
and bisexual federal employees. As you probably know, Dr. Kameny was fired from federal employment
because of allegations of homosexuality in 1957. He has spent rest of his life working ceaselessly to create
the conditions where this cannot happen again. Through his formative work in Mattachine Society, the Gay
and Lesbian Activists Alliance and numerous other organizations, his advocacy for individuals in cases
before all agencies, and his strong articulation for positive and constructive advancement, our world in 1995
is friendlier and more educated about lesbians and gays. He was instrumental in getting the Civil Service
Commission to drop its rules on the automatic firing of homosexuals in 1975 and has been constantly
challenging and slowly expanding the rights and protections of lesbians and gays in federal service in
issues of tenure, promotion and security clearances.
Federal GLOBE invites you to join us for the First Annual Kameny Award presentations and reception, July
11, 1995 at 6pm in the Rayburn House Office Building 2206 as we give the 1995 Award to Don Henry of
the National Park Service, W. Eric Keller of the Smithsonian Institution, and Ronald E Patterson of the
Office of Personnel Management.
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New Board Members
The following three members of Federal GLOBE have been put forward for the three positions open this
year. Welcome them (back) for the next two years. Ron Patterson, one of the founding members of the
Board stepped down a few months ago due to scheduling demands. We miss his knowledge and wisdom
on the Board, but know he continues to do wonderful work with OPM and HRCF. Ron Coleman (who has
been filling out the term of Jim Patterson) and Ed Horvath rejoin the Board in full two-year terms.
Robert M. Sadler serves as an attorney in the Office of the General Council, US Department of Commerce,
now in his third year. He is currently a member of the Board of Commerce GLOBE and also serves as the
sole openly gay member of Secretary Ron Brown's Diversity Initiative. Rob is serving as the Vice Chair of
the Training Needs and Opportunities Working Group and as a member of the Policy Working Group of the
Diversity Council. He has been active in Garnering support within the Department to implement a
Department-wide nondiscrimination policy, inclusive of sexual orientation, and in effecting changes in the
treatment of employees bringing complaints based on sexual orientation to the Department's Office of Civil
Rights. Rob has been instrumental in developing our understanding of restriction on Federal employees
representing employee organizations before Federal officials under 18 U.S.C.§205, now subject to
legislation before Congress. "I view service on the Federal GLOBE Board as an opportunity to grow with
Federal GLOBE and help make it become a stronger organization, both in its usefulness to GLOBE
Chapters but also vis-à-vis other gay/Iesbian/bisexual community organizations."
Ron Coleman works in the Department of Agriculture in the area of employee relation. This work has
provided him with insight into the Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights issues and their effects on the
workplace. He is currently Treasurer of USDA GLOBE. 'As an openly gay black male, I hope to be a
representative voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of color in Federal service.'
Ed Horvath: "Out, open, and direct is the way I've conducted myself in the Federal workplace and my life
outside the office, basically the one person concept.
Working with Federal GLOBE over the past two and a half years as chair of the issues committee and
subsequently as a member of the board of directors for the past year my experience has confirmed the
need to be visible and responsible.
By presenting our position compatible with our bureaucratic styles we can offer the best option for our
agencies.
There are real threats to continued employment for many federal workers. Political control and fear are
making what was once only considered hypothetical nightmares now [really] viable. We have to be
prepared to take care of ourselves across agency lines by sharing information on policies, opportunities,
and insensitivity. At the International Trade Commission my initiative and performance give me great
credibility from a relatively low staff position. We need to identify ourselves as top performers in agencies
and take advantage of the visibility this can give us.
Strategic vision, planning, and actions are how our agencies will have to survive. We have to be a part of
these processes. Counter to current trends my vision of how things will be working during the next decade
tends to move away from the practice of dialogue as we have known and used it in our development. The
monologue is where I see control going and we have to be ready to deal in this style by stating our interests
and visions while participating in the planning of how to effect the actions we support.
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Pride Day Celebrations
Black Lesbian and Gay Pride
Despite the dreary weather on May 28, a fair sized crowd attended the 5th annual Black Lesbian
and Gay Pride festival in Banneker Park. "Visibility: The Key to Pride' was the theme for this year's
celebration and Federal GLOBE was pleased to again be one of the groups participating in the education
and outreach of the festival. In addition to the festival, this event attracts thousands of people from all
over the country for a week of such as a film festival, art and fashion shows, a pool party, a health festival,
and a prayer breakfast. All of the proceeds from the Festival and related programs go to AIDS
organizations.
Montgomery County Pride Day
Federal GLOBE joined NIH-Salutaris for a successful day that connected many federal employees with
contacts in their agencies. NIH is the largest employer in Montgomery County and members of Salutaris
were prominent in the planning for the day.
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Announcements
Diversity Watch
Federal GLOBE is frequently asked for names of trainers who are handling sexual orientation wither well or
poorly. The impetus for this diversity watch came after the Bureau of Labor Statistics hired a consultant
(Edwin Nichols, Inc.) who said that U.S. culture was "moving towards Sodom and Gomorra" and blamed
AIDS in the black community on gay prostitutes! The EEO officers at the agency saw nothing wrong with
his comments. Let us know if you have had either positive or negative experiences. We would like to be
able to steer you away from the damaging ones and recommend those who take care to deal with our
issues responsibly. Either send information to Federal GLOBE or contact Diane Herz on 202/606-6378.
USDA GLOBE NoCA
The Northern California Chapter, headquarters in San Francisco, is the first local USDA GLOBE chapter
established outside the Washington, DC area. National Vice President George Ferris met with chapter
members on May 9 to discuss strategic planning issues and a workplan. For those of you who are USDA
employees in Northern California we encourage you to contact USDA GLOBE NoCal for more information.
Craig Mahaffey, Forest Service, Region 5, 415705-2793, /fswa/s=c.mahaffey/ou=rO5a@mhs.attmail.com;
Jim Shevock, Forest Service, Region 5, 415-705-2691, /fswa/s=j.shevock/oU=rO5a@mhs.attmail.com; Ron
Neighbors, Food and Consumer Service, Western Region, 415-705-1328, neighbor@netcom.com
AmFedVets
AmFedVets is a veterans advocacy group supporting veterans without regard to race, religion, creed or
sexual orientation. It was chartered in the fall of 1994 and at the first meeting in February, set a course of
action to make certain that lesbian and gay veterans are given fair and equal services and representation.
We will have more about AmFedVets in the next newsletter. Contacts: Dane Hays, 703/524-1094; Mark
Repass, 703/250-2273.
Mauntner Project September 30 Dinner
Federal GLOBE is sponsoring a table at a fund-raiser for the Mauntner Project for women with cancer. The
$100 a person fund-raiser will be September 30 in Washington. Chastity Bono is the featured speaker.
Helen Mauntner worked for the Department of Labor before her early death. All those interested in coming
to the event, call Diane Herz, 202/606-6378.
Navy GLOBE, Paget Sound
After being chartered as a chapter of the Navy Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employee (GLOBE) organization
in February of this year, an organization of gay employees at the Paget Sound Naval Shipyard has begun to
advertise its meetings in a Navy newspaper and on Navy bulletin boards.
Chris Thatcher, co-chair of the Paget Sound GLOBE chapter, said that he and several members of the new
organization posted over 200 notices on shipyard bulletin boards last week calling attention to the group
and providing telephone contacts for those interested in information. GLOBE also published an
announcement in the "Salute', the shipyard's newspaper, introducing the group to the over
10,000 employees who work there.
The postings and newspaper announcement were published with permission of shipyard management,
which nevertheless has not formally recognized the group.
Reaction to the new visibility of Navy GLOBE has been intense, both positive and negative.
Within 24 hours of posting, approximately 80 percent of the bulletin board announcements mysteriously
disappeared.
On the positive side, many employees contacted the leaders of Navy GLOBE to genuinely express interest
in the group and to find out how they could attend meetings and functions. Unfortunately, there were also
many prank calls made to the telephone contacts as well as many who contacted the offices of the "Salute
to express their opinion on gay and lesbian issues.
Chris Thatcher has been contacted by the "Bremerton Sun", "Navy News" and the "Federal Times" which
are all planning stories on the events regarding Navy GLOBE at the shipyard. The "Bremerton Sun" also
contacted Steve Benzek of Navy GLOBE Headquarters in Washington, DC, for comment on the new
group.
Official comment from shipyard management is not available.
The Paget Sound chapter intends to march under a shipyard banner at upcoming gay pride festivities in
Seattle and is attempting to begin a dialogue with management personnel on issues of concern to lesbian
and gay employees.
For further information, contact Mr. Chris Thatcher, co-chair, Navy GLOBE Paget Sound Naval Shipyard
Chapter at 360/871-7413.
AIDSWALK
Last year Federal agency AIDSWALK teams raised over $27,000 for AIDSWALK. We are working with
Whitman Walker Clinic to obtain permission from OPM to solicit for AIDSWALK in the workplace. Please
contact Diane Herz 202/606-6378 if you can help coordinate the federal workplace effort for AIDSWALK.
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Coming Out in the Age of Technology
The computer age has greatly expanded information resources. Web resources are available for gay and
lesbian topics and can be easily accessed through services such as America OnLine. Federal GLOBE
needs to become more visible by developing a home page on the web and establishing a reflector list. If
you are computer literate and can help us with this, please contact Leonard P. Hirsch 202/633-4788.
IRS GLOBE VITA Project
IRS GLOBE sponsored two VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Sites during this filing season,
providing tax preparation help to nearly 100 people with HIV/AIDS.
From February through April volunteers were present at the Whitman Walker Clinic on Saturdays and
Mondays, and at the Max Robinson Center in Anacostia on Wednesdays. As expected, most of the clients
had disability-specific tax issues, and could not afford to hire a private tax consultant. In addition, these
disability tax issues are well beyond what most VITA sites are prepared to handle. These volunteers took
care of a very special group of people needing help.
We salute the six fabulous volunteers for their many hours of valuable work.
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Upcoming Events
GLOBAL:
All events will be held in the Training and Conference Center in the Postal Square Building.
"Straight from the Heart' Thursday June 22 12noon-1pm. A video of interviews with parents of gays and
lesbians conducted by Dee Mosbacher, openly-lesbian daughter of Robert Mosbacher, former Secretary of
the Department of Commerce.
"Homophobia in the Workplace" Wednesday, June 28, 12noon-1pm A 60-minute video on -the
ways in which homophobia is present in and affects the workplace. Uses discussion and interview to show
how homophobia affects all employees. Room numbers will be posted on the board by the conference
center entrance.
Federal GLOBE:
First Annual Kameny Awards
Tuesday July 11, 6pm, 226 Rayburn House Office Building
Third Annual GLOBE Picnic
Sunday August 13, 12noon, LBJ Park
Federal GLOBE Monthly Program
Tuesday September 12, 6pm The Circle
Rich Tafel, Log Cabin Club, invited