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TO THE EDITOR
Milam House Responds
by Viktoria Gotting
Executive Director
AIDS Housing Houston, Inc. Milam House
Eventually in the life of most non-profit
agencies, some unforeseen circumstance
presents a challenge to the administration
and strains even the strongest ties it has to its
supporters. Such was the case recently at
Milam House. Although this challenge was
met head on, and the associated problems
resolved in short order, it was evident from
the outset that such news would receive public attention.
Given the unavoidable exposure, we were
satisfied that the Houston Voice covered the
event from an unbiased perspective. It is
absolutely contrary to the goals and purposes of Milam House for a person in a position
of responsibility to make inappropriate
advances toward any resident. Moreover, it
is the administrative policy that if such a situation should occur, Milam House will not
require the resident to explain his reaction to
such behavior. The reported and verified
behavior will simply be regarded as unacceptable, and the person initiating such contacts will be required to sever all ties with the
agency. Such was the immediate outcome in
this instance.
We would like to express our gratitude to
the Houston Voice for its support of Milam
House over the years, and for the continuing
contributions you have made to AIDS service providers large and small. Finally,
Milam House would like to express its
thanks to our collaborators and numerous
friends whose kind expressions and words of
encouragement leave this agency with the
impression that our community is truly one
that believes we are all in this together.
Despite the disappointments involved, we
are inspired to a renewed sense of pnde and
continued commitment to serving those
who are homeless and living with
HIV/AIDS
Voice Reader Expresses
Dismay
by Rick McMahan
Alvin, TX
I am writing to express my disdain over
the cover story in last week's issue of the
Houston Voice. One of the more recent
things that was evident about the Voice was
that it was, seemingly at least, trying to
attain higher goals of professionalism and
responsible journalism. The article regarding the recent u-oubles at Milam House is
nothing more than old fashioned "yellow
journalism" - something used purely to sell
the newspaper, which is interesting considering the fact that the newspaper is a "freebie".
It was anything but responsible journalism.
As a matter of fact, I am wondering why
The Voice chose to print it in the first place.
The whole scenario is based on allegations
brought by one individual against another. I
don't know who to feel the saddest toward -
the accuser or the person accused. The
accuser obviously has some real need to
have attention showered upon him at all
times - a carefully edited if not scripted
response to all questions. And the one
accused was obviously in a state of disbelief
that this was even happening - as every vocal
pause and repeat of words was included.
As I read it, I was reminded of the poor
man in Atlanta that was accused of setting
the bomb near Olympic Park - an innocent
person tried and convicted in the press. If
even the casual observer cannot read
between the lines in this article, then there is
something very wrong. Never mind that the
story was tembly biased, it simply did not
belong in The Voice and I, for one, am very
disappointed in the editorial staff and management of the newspaper for allowing it to
go to press. You might as well have your
newspaper displayed along with The Globe
and The National Enquirer because this type
of journalism ranks that low.
(The Houston Voice did not edit any of
the conversation between the principles in
an effort to ensure that the article remain
unbiased and maintain a modicum of accuracy. - Ed.)
In Defense oi Mr. Jonte
by Robert Fisher
Regarding your recent cover story on the
alleged controversy at Milam House; I have
known George Jonte for over two years and
have never known him to behave in this
manner. George is a kind and considerate
man who is far too intelligent to allow himself to get involved in something like this. It
is obvious to me that the young man's story
is so full of inconsistencies and his responses to this so called "harassment" so bizarre,
that it seems irresponsible for the Voice to
have published it. This kind of journalism
seems more in character with a weekly
tabloid than with an otherwise respectable
paper. George was a volunteer who cared
deeply for Milam House and he deserves
better than this.
Local Media Remiss in
Covering Hate Crimes
March
by Roy McCarthy
Please allow me a moment to express my
anger with the local mainstream media as
well as with the Houston Chronicle.
This past weekend there were rallies,
marches and yesterday (3-24-97) a "lobbying
day" in Austin to pressure our legislators to
pass a hate crimes bill. Thousands were in
attendance as well as ABC, CBS, NBC and
CNN TV news teams; yet neither our local
TV news stations nor "The Chronicle" had
any coverage whatsoever of this important
event. It is my firm conviction that there is
no more honorable, just, righteous or patriotic cause that to actively work to stop the
hate and not only get an "anti-hate" crime
bill passed but to put an end to discrimination against Gays and Lesbians in the work
place.
I contacted KTRK, KHOU, KPRC, KRIV
and KNWS and they all told me they didn't
know about the rally nor about the scheduled lobbying. I had contacted all these
news rooms by 8 am Monday morning. I
expected some sort of a "catch up" news
story about the "lobbying day" at the 5pm
and 6pm news broadcasts - nothing at all -
not even the 10pm news. They knew
because I told them and yet the total news
black out.
I am angry - very angry - about this blackout of such and honorable cause. I've canceled my subscription to the Houston
Chronicle. I want to call upon our leaders to
call the local media into account and not
allow the media to say that we didn't have a
large enough turn out. This issue is not
about numbers; its about right and wrong.
Gay Bashing is just as wrong as racial or
religious bashing.
An Acknowledgement of
Don Gill's Efforts
byJames P. Vokoun
Vice President,
Public Affairs Colt 45 s, Inc.
On behalf of the officers, members and
clients of the Colt 45's, Inc., I would like to
publicly and gratefully acknowledge Mr.
Don Gill for his outstanding efforts in producing "Night in Black Leather." This was
a wonderfully entertaining evening of hot
leather, humor, camp and fun held at the
Venture-N on March 1st. Under Mr. Gill's
direction and supervision, a number of different performers, emcees and sponsors
helped to make this event entertaining and
memorable. This year "Night in Black
Leather" raised nearly $6,000.00 for the Colt
45's. Past recipients of Night in Black
Leather have been Soiree Aubergine and the
Lady Victoria Lust PWA Holiday Fund
(soon to be known as the PWA Holiday
Charities.)
Over ihe past three years, Mr. Gill and his
production team have consistently devoted
themselves to raising money to help people
with AIDS and HIV. The Colt 45's offer a
See LETTERS page 4
This
Issue
letters to the Editor
pages 2 & 4
Regional News
pages 4, 5 & 9
National News
pages 11, 12 & 15
Arts & Entertainment
pages 15, 17, 18 & 19
Columnists
Plain Speaking • page 8
Righteous Indignation ■ page 9
Life with AIDS - page 16
Health
page 21
Sports
page 23
Horoscope
page 24
Church Calendar
page 25
Service Directory
pages 26 & 27
Scene and Heard
page 29
Community Calendar
page 28
Classifieds
pages 30 & 31
Out in Houston
page 33
Personals
page 35
HOUSTON
VOICE
One Community! One Voice!*
ISSUE 85CS
MARCH aiST, 1997
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Established 1974 as the Montrose Star,
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Changed name to The Houston Voice in 1991
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