BODY POLITIC

Selling well is the best revenge. Amid the outcry over the National Endowment for the Arts controversies, the gay community is taking the obvious retaliatory step--the creation of the National Fund for Lesbian and Gay Artists. Dedicated to promoting work that explores the themes and realities of homosexual life, it will award grants to artists who might have a tough time pleasing Sen. Jesse Helms and his ilk.

“This is not an antidote to homophobia,” says Holly Hughes, co-founder of the fund. “Obviously, gay artists should get NEAs. The whole thing seems ironic when you consider how many artists are gay.”

Its first fund-raiser, the OUT Auction on May 3-5 at the 18th Street Arts Complex in Santa Monica, is co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center. More than 500 artists, famous and not-yet famous, have donated works. A few of the more luminous: John Baldessari, Mike Kelley, Roy Lichtenstein, Judy Chicago, Claes Oldenburg, Keith Haring, Greg Gorman, Barbara Kruger.

Proceeds also will benefit the community services center and Woman’s Building. Grant guidelines will be available in July.

“We intend to encourage artists in a tangible way,” says fund co-founder Tim Miller. “With cash.”