Transcripts

ANN DEGROOT: I think the big thing is that this is going to be a big, big celebration for us. Because since last year's Gay Pride, the state law has been passed, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. And last year, in fact, at Gay Pride, we were organizing for that. And we had a meeting one of the days, and people were, do you think this is going to pass?

Well, it passed and it passed big. So we're going to really be celebrating that. I also think that we are-- this is definitely the gay '90s in a lot of ways. Lots of things have happened since last year.

Clinton's been elected. There's now an AIDS czar in the White House so there's somebody there working on that issue specifically. The discussion about the military has been raised. The discussion about domestic partners locally is being raised more and more, not just in the city, but in corporations.

People are coming out. And it is a big year for us. So I think people are going to be celebrating. They're going to be planning. But I think there's a way in which pride this year means something a little bit different than it has in the past because we have so much to show for it.

SPEAKER: I want to touch on a couple of issues you mentioned. First of all, the AIDS czar, the appointment of Kristine Gebbie. Not all gay-lesbian groups are supporting her, at least at the outset. What's your take on her?

ANN DEGROOT: Well, yeah, I understand that that's true. My take on it is I'm glad that Clinton put somebody in that position in the White House. I think that's critical.

I think we ought to give her the benefit of the doubt and see how she does. I know there's concerns because she was on the AIDS commission and was appointed by Reagan. So there's some concern about that.

There's some concern that it's a woman and not a gay man, gay men being the largest group being affected by AIDS at this moment in time, although that's changing very, very rapidly. I know that there are some concerns in those ways. But I think we ought to give her the benefit of the doubt and see how she does, and give her our help and support to be able to help shape and change policies on the federal level.

SPEAKER: And the issue of gays in the military. Now, I see where Defense Secretary Aspin appears to be leaning toward or has circulated some memos saying that it'll be OK, but as long as they keep quiet about that. I assume you're not happy with that. What's your prediction of what the final policy will be?

ANN DEGROOT: It's hard to say. Although Clinton has been coming through on a lot of his promises lately, and especially point to the area of choice and the AIDS czar that he just appointed and a few other things. And I think that it's entirely possible that the ban will be lifted in July. I have no doubt that the ban is going to be lifted eventually.

It's just, it's kind of a foolish thing. We spend a third of a billion dollars a year kicking people out of the military because of their sexual orientation or their perceived sexual orientation. And in a time when we've just passed a deficit reduction package, that seems absolutely ludicrous to me to be spending that kind of money.

SPEAKER: So you think it will be lifted with no restrictions?

ANN DEGROOT: In time, yeah. We'll see what happens in July. I think the idea of you can be gay but don't talk about it is crazy. You're asking people to lie. You're putting an incredible strain on them. You're putting a strain on their units and their outfits. And I think that that would be bad policy. So I think I hope that we see something stronger than that.

SPEAKER: Now, this year's theme of the pride celebration is a family of pride?

ANN DEGROOT: Right.

SPEAKER: Now, it's apparently in direct reaction to the family values that we've heard so much about. And yet the very folks who coined-- not didn't coin the term, but made it kind of a household word, conservatives, openly criticize gays and lesbians. Do you see a problem with that?

ANN DEGROOT: No, I think that we need to take back the name "family." I think a lot of people in this community need to take back the term family, not just gay-lesbian people. There's lots of families who are excluded from the definition of families as defined by the conservative right.