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YORK'S OLDEST GAY NEWSPAPER ISSUE 96 July/AuguM 1979

By SUE COWELL

A recent tocident tovolving a aiatron of a local women's bar and an officer of t h e R o c h e s t e r Police D e p a r t m e n t p rompt t a an emergency meettog with the Deputy Chief of Police. The meetmg tovolvta representatives &oin the Gay Alliance of the Genesee VaUey tocluding Susan Cowell, J i m Ide and Joan Giuffre. County Legislator Bill Benet a t t e n d t a as an impartial observer. Maricia Craig p a r t i d p a t t a as a reporter for the Rochester-basta feminist newspaper New Women*s Tintes. An eyewitness to the tocident also a t t end t a to give her observations.

The meetmg with the police was

Mohr Hesigns

By M.L. WELLS George Mohr reaipi ta aa Co-PreM'

dent of GAGV oa Jime 12, 197f» endtog his ato moadi term. Mohr came to the gay community to a very quiet way back to the wtoter of 1977. He anendta the Gay Taa^ Force meetings a ta sat qtntay by aa bevabaorbta the workuogs of the group ^ihd the political iasues the gay cocamuasty hta-to faoe.

He tbea begaa to take on a more active role by becoauag the RGTF repreaeattafc to the Gay Allianoe Board of Direcsora. He participaiad to voter regtatratioo campaigns, leafiettiag bars, wrote, workta to political campaigna a ta geaarally repreaeafeta die gays m our

Hia dev^opmetkt a ta tovolveaneat to 197t a t a 1979 can be lookta apoa as fTaaJiplary fbr aSL ga j activista. He became a apokeaperaon w the aiedto a ta

na aB very prota to have b lm as

SaMe tbe cancaptfan af ^ke Gay AttsBoe, there haa aat been a aaore ooaapatible and pradaccive team th—* ibat at Mabr a t a kfa ea-nraaidanr S«ML

^ A ^ f e ^ We wiB

^ Q G a a a m i H ^

b t e i a t a with bave ao let

of ovr leaders lem we make sure tbat

C ^ f ' t b a ^ raaliaa Aa t thm fnture m ^ ^ ' i h a t i h a T t a s h t

cal l ta to tadress concerns of the gay community which s temmed from several mcidents of police toteraction to local gay bars and other gay functions.

Last fall during the plaimiAg of the Rally for Rights there were many reports of plato-clothes police m the bars . Police have also routtoely taken the license number of cars at gay bars . These issues were d i scuss ta at the meettog between the GAGV and the police. Described as routtoe intelligence work or field surveys

because of fear and lack of knowledge about community resources available to gay victims. The GAGV mamtains a complete referral list of lawyers and other professionals who can help to a time of crisis. The GAGV .is also contmually enhancmg and developtog relationships with other community groups such as Alternatives for Battered Women, Rape Crisis Service, the American Civil Liberties Union, Roch­ester Women Agamst Violence Agamst

tnat proceed throughout the city, it was expla inta by the police diat this action often assists to trackmg criminals. Police s t a t t a that checking pfane numbers has a id t a them to solvmg at -4east four murde r s tovolving homosexual victims. GAGV representatives explatoed to po­lice that there are other methods of gatfaermg tofbrmatton regardtog the plannmg of peaceful rallies and other functtons. It was also stated that plam-clothta police officers are often recognized to bars and that their u n e ^ l a m e d presence is upsetttog to bar patrons.

to the past there has been an identified liaison between the police and the gay community. However, last year the appoto t ta liaison, Captato Urlacher, was assigned to another unit of the police force and his posittoa as liaison was never fillta. Coanwaricarkai be­tween the gay community a t a the police £orce has broken dowa since Urlacher's departure &om that position.

There are many crimes tovolving lesbians a t a gays that go unreported

Hstp NMKMKI

Gay Ownafwanty Piodc aat far July 15 at Geneaee VaBey Pant wwl paaoaa^jf draw

We wflbe

Women, and others , that can offer assistance.

If you feel you have been harassed by the police or have been the victim of a crime, please contact the Gay Alliance for help. The liaison between the gay conununity and the police will be established as a result of this meeting. We will help you through the system.

Syracuse Celebration

By SUSAN COWELL . Syracuae a ta surrounding upstate

communities celebratta ten years of Gay Liberatton on June 16tb. The activities includta a raBy tbat was keynocta by FraakUn Rameny, founder of the Wash-iagtoa. D.C. Mattadiine Sodety to 1961.

Hiatofficany, die h M h o i the Gay Movewiem ia recogniata as die day of die Stonewall riots to 1969 taiea gay paciatM rebd l ta againat polite ra4da of tbe New York O t y ^ y bara. Pra i iUn gaaieity waa the firat g ^ paraon to piridlcalfy aaaounoe bia gayneaa a t a talk abowt 0ay hberatioa on aiooattai tawvi* sion. He is dao a board aaambpr of ihe Nacwnai G i ^ Taak Foree a t a aacMber ef the Waahtog^nn, D.C. rnaamisi HaaMB W i M -

gaya haaa aaade In

B> m t n t i th»

wiahiac ( • M p can a f l dM GJk.G.T. office M 244-M40.

M Anyone toterested m more details about current activity with the police can contact the Alliance at 244-8640 or Rochester Wometi Agamst Violence Against Women.

i

Lesbian Aasaultta

The early momtog of J u n e 14, 1979, began quietly as several women matron-ized a local lesbian bar . Withto the next few hours a horrtfymg series of mcidents shockta women m Rochester toto a furor.

An ambulance and the Rochester City Police Depar tment had been cal l ta to the bar to assist a male muggmg victim who had been accosted several blocks away. What happened when the police arrived was more than a surprise CO the women who h t a initially called the police to kelp .

Cheryl Voorhees was sitttog at the end of the bar closest to the door. Voorhees allegedly whist l ta at a police officer sent to response to the call regardtog the mugging victim. H i e officer approached Voorhees a t a al-lededly accused her of having too m u d i

to drink. He then procedta to lecture her on respect fbr authority.

to fitll view of a least founeen 13

cmididates diat represem gay ooncema. The raUy waa ^laraely attendta

although the speeches were very inspira­tional. Vem Hall , President o£ the Rodiester Gay Task Force spoke abont die March on Waahinfton, D .C , sdied-u l ta fbr Oct. 14. 1979. He said* «*Now ta the time to show our aoBdarity, now to tbe time to show our atnogit :** Mm urgta graaaroou pwttdpatlon a t a tocvfe* ed au lyatate romafamitie i to wave aaa Waahtogton from Rocbaatar* t h e WOfKt win be oootainating cfiatta «a tcan^oat pasfde to Waahtogsea far $2S eaata tBJjp.

The raOy was apbnaorta by dbi O o j Light CoBoctive, pahBdhwa of A a Bftm^ cuse §af papar. the Cay I4ffc/. I t waa

by tha

Chape* a l N.O.W. B p l GaMpw a t dha

m i r is iihii aiiaadail Ha aiai ta i h « o f an tata aaaaa raiaaBaa ha aaaa oaBafltoaaiB' d w r a l f . M M wttm p M U i ^ M * •

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L E T T E R S TO THE ED I T O R

19 the Edit«ir: The Oay AHiance of Genesee VaUey

faic. would Uke to puUicaUy thank the local bar ownera guild for dieir recent contribtttaon t o the GAGV. They bave been faidifiil auppoiters dirougb adver-tiatof to d i e Bmpty Closet a t a by pecaonal contributions. Thfty contmue to work widi u s to overcome misunder-standtoga a t a to help make Rodiester a g o t a place fbr lesbians a t a gay men to Uve. We a re fortunate to have sucb supportive busineases a t a hope that everyone wiO siqiport local bustoesses that help tbe gay community. We look forward to con t tou ta work together and thank jro^ once agato.

Susan CoweU George Mohr

Co-presidents of GAGV

Dear People ofThe Empty Colset: What is this symbolic misspelling of

woman? Perhaps we should start identi­fying ourselves as hutnyns and rewrite geneology in te rms of Zs tostead of Xs and Ys. Perhaps we should picket the plumbmg industry and rally for the renaming of male and female adaptors.

The prevailing resentment of men is ludicrous. Where would you be without them? You wouldn ' t . There is some man m every woman and ther is part of women in every man . That 's a fact of life misspelling and mutilatmg our language wont change.

M. Wheeler P.S. The Colset Advisor column is a joke, isn't it? fc-

DearCloset Advisor , Who writes your column anjrway? I

fita your answers to be extremely fUp, insensitive, and not at aU helpful. I have no way of knowing if tbe let ters you puldish are real or not, but if they are , the people seeking your advice were better off without it.

You have taken what may be real dilemmas for the tavice seekers ^ d have a t t e m p t t a to turn them toto opportunites for some sort of sick humor. WeU, I 'm not laughing. I doubt anyone else finds your column funny, eaither!

The more I r e t a your answers, the angrier I get . You teU the person who wants to l e a m how to dance that most everyone else is " m o v i i ^ around like that because their pams are too tight." You might have ment ibnta the Disco Lessons starting on J u n e 8. To the person wbo cannot control h i s /her

teiiq>er, you say stay hoaie, undoubtedly to become angrier a t a angrier from frustration a t a lack of aocial si^iport.

But T m most c o n c e m t a about your

responses to the p e o ^ haviilg problems with their lovers. Any straigjit individual readmg your cidumn oould not help but bave aU of h i s /he r suspicions confomta regardtog gajrs' s i^ iposta promiscui^ , lovelessness, a t a insensitivity to the needs of others . Youf answers do not reflect to any way diat most gay lovers treat each other widi utmost reelect , concern and r e ^ r d fbr each other 's feelings. In short, that we truly love each other . You say that, "You ' re better off

, alone— do your own thtog— enjoy your freedom." Obviously, this is at the expense of others, and at the expense of knowtog the joy of lovtog someone enough to try to work thtogs out between you.

Discontmue your colunm or find someone to write it with more sensitivity for others and for the broader realities of the gay life style.

T ' i shR miMeaMMMMiMMMiiMuianMe«aaamnaaai BiaaiM

Dear Closet Advisor: I thought your response to " a lone"

w a s t o t a e q u a t e and neglected a valuable resource available to Rochester. The Lesbian Resource Center and the Gay Brotherhota have regular meetings th^t are a great way to make friends. The answer to loneliness is to get tovolvta, not to run away. Get with it taviaor, and join the gay movement and fight loneltoess.

Sue CoweU • Peer Cotuiselorlbr LRC

'Editor *s Note: Last month ' s Closet Advisor waS AN EXPERIMENT. Re­actions to the column were from both sides of the spectrum. Some felt the column was tosensitive; others found it humorous, to any case this experiment got the Closet to receive more mail than any other a r t ide , feature, news item, or editorial, published in at least one year.

Most written responses were from the negative viewpotot. The Closet seldom receives mail for its contributions to the community; anger or confuston seem to be easier to express than thanks or appreciation.

This column was not meant to be a substitute for counselmg providta by the GAGV or any other source, only as a catalyst for response to the paper and to add a bit of humor to an otherwise " n e w s o r i e n t t a " f6rmat.

THE LESBIAN SWnCHBQ^kRD iNkMMArioN & REIERRAI

b e d & NAliONAl RESOiaCES

aaRENr HsriNQof CVEN1S

607 722-5629 rrnm

Thanks, Sally ByCLAJREBAIXR

Remember die first tune you walk ta down the narrow alley a t a aacendta a s teep staircaae to die Gay Alliance office? You pause fbr a tnoment before entering the door, thinktog. Siould you

go to? Thoughts race through your m i t a . You're lonely, no one understancb you, you want to meet people who wiU accept

Dear Friends, The Gay AUiance of the Genesee

VaUey toe. was the first New York State gay organization to have CETA fundmg. "Project Equati ty" has greatiy Bene­fitted the Rochester community by providtog fiiU-time support staff. How­ever, it has also p m an tocreasta burden on GAGV to cope with the extra demands on volunteer support staff and to monetary support of the project. Our "cash flow" problem has been acutely heightened to the past several months to the potot of fmandal crisis. We acknow­ledge and appreda te the support GAGV has received to the past years and months , for without your support we could not have grown to where we are now. However, the finandal burden of keeptog our doors open must be broad b a s t a and not faU on the shoulders of a few people.

It costs about $500 to simply keep our doors open each month. Perhaps you were not one of the 1500 counselmg calls we h a n d l t a last year; perhaps you are not a regular reader of The Empty Closet (publ i sh ta free to d ie community fbr seven years) or maybe y o u ' r e never read one of our 500 volumes from our lendmg library. But many have uaed our services and need our services. If you dc»i't know abotit the many other activities we are tovolvta in, pleaae caU us and discover them.

We n e t a a minimum of $2500 to start a contingency f u t a to deal with our cash flow problems. If you can ' t donate now, perhaps you could volunteer t ime to our Development Committee, or organize a fundraiser fbr GAGV.

You*ve gitfeh to everyone else 's cause; now it 's time to give to our tmm. Leshidm artd gay rights are etferyorte's • cor%cem.

We hope you wiU be able to r e s p o t a a t a help u s continue to serve die gay community.

to peace, Suaan CoweU Co-Preaidem of GAGV Inc.

who you are . So you cross your foars a t a e n t ^ the door. Here yoo fita a place r t h t t e peopia a re understanding, friend­ly a t a caring.

SaUy n e e d t a to talk widi lesbiaa women. She a t t end ta a Lesbtan Re­source Center meeting to April. Sall^ was a U e to walk tbroufh the Gay AUiance door because someone ca r r i t a ber to their arma up 15 s teps . Her wheelchair, adiicfa was ca r r i t a to prior to her arrival, was <^iettta up a t a Stdly was gendy lower ta toto a seat which repre­sents her life.

SaUy was the speaker at die Lesbian Resource Center meettog on J u n e 6th. This was a speda l meetmg for her because it was the 3rd LRC meetmg for her and she became a member of the Lesbian Resource Centet that night. SaUy spoke of her feeltogs of bemg a handicapfita lesbian woman. She said, " I need this organization more that I need the Musctdar Pystrophy Associa­tion and Arthritis Assodation to which I belong. I have overcome physical handi­caps, but I have mental and emotional needs. I have my own apartment , I am leamtog to drive a van. I am gomg to coUege. I have a job and hope to become a police dispatcher. Accept me as a person—not as a handicappta person, but a person who can think and has feeltogs, but 'needs your help to sur­

vive. SaUy said that she likes to make

e v e i y m e tough, a t a she dui . She s h a r t a many of her Ufe experiences, such as the history and catises of her handicap, how she survives, personal experiences on her feeltogs of betog a lesbian woman and a demonstration of how to carry her so women can overcome dieir foars a t a h d ^ her to a t t e t a LRC meetings. SaUy said she needs people to help her get out of her apar tment so she can a t t e t a LRC meetmgs. She cannot do it without the help of o thers . Please caU the Gay Alliance of the Genesee VaUey, toe, at 244-9030 or 244-8640 if you can he lp .

SaUy and the women of the Lesbian Resource Center have many experiences to share. We n e t a each other to grow, talk, listen, laugh, cry a t a have fim. SaUy gave us the experience to know her, which is a special gift.

Thank you, SaUy. (Claire Bader is the Alliance's

houstog and emp^yvaesu ^leciaUst. Her position is fimdta d m u g l i C B t A . ) ^

Dear Editot, I was deeply affectta by the M.L.

WeUs ar t ide to die J i m e issue; To show her the support she is asktog £ot, tny response must be made pubUc through this forum. I hope that other lesbian feminists who " d o not unders tand" her wiU do likewise.

No, I do not always agree with you, ^ M. L., and for the past seven years I have put my energies toto feminist, not gay, rights strugglies. And I doubt that even now I put as high a priority on gay issues as I do feminist issues. But I want you to know that I support you 100 percent . I deef^y admire your for the dedication, skiUs, a t a harmoniousness you have brought to the gay rights s truggle. Not the least of your virtues is

your sense ot humor to the face oppresttott. You have a way of keepmg us aU from growing too bitter and burnt out to go on. Your energy is t remendous! I beUeve that 3rou have almost stogle­handedly kept GAGV (or at beast the task force) together at times. You have dese rv ta aU the Viniue Cup Awards, not jus t the one you finaUy receivta .

Most of aU, I appreciate yau tar betog the strongest supporter of lesbian mothers to the gay community. WhUe I do not agree with you that aU lesbian femixusts are an t i -^Ud, I do appreciate the fact that someotie withom children (as you are) is so en t i rdy pro-diild and pro-family. The du ldren are here among u s , and rather than just bemg to te ta t t a , they should be lov ta and given a positive

viewpotot about gay Ufe. Everyone to the commimity should make it a fmority to actively support the struggles of lesbian mothers as they try to create alternative families that wiU to turn create the next

F^f^^fitOii^Vation's n o n - h o m o p h o b i c , n o n -sexist taults. This you have always done.

M.L., thanks for s t iddng with it aU these years , many times alone, and

frequentiy misunders tota . This lesbtan feminist, fer one, suf^iortS'and appred-

^ ' A p. i . lesbian mother

Dear Editor: M.L. WeUs* "PoUticaUy Incorrect" was long overdue. I empathire witii the writer, to pondering over how to respond, I have chosen:

" . . .To bring the problem up to date: it is p . i . to have heroes. . . I t 's p . i . to work with lesbians (att women are potential castratOTs). I t ' s p. i . to work for gay rights, even if jfour oppresaacm is def inta by you to mean that y6ur gay (male) lifestyle blocks your way to Uve a r id i , fuU life.. . it was reaUy very p . i . of jrou to bear d u l d r e n with die matriarchy to the first p lace . . . it is p . i . to model your love reIationshq> after heterosexual oouf^es

. . . According to die m o d e m gayiaat ia Superman p.i .? Looking, at him with aa <dd4ine n ^ t o perspective, he cannot b e m i s s t a as a favorite pr«MocypeI"

You see , M.L., the natural cfaaaasa do exiat. I think your very survival doea not d e p e t a on figuring out bow to harmonioualy live/work widi the femin­ist lesbian to your midat. Now is not tiieir time to u n d e r s t a t a you.

To the contrary, your survival depends on your oomtnuing to t ranaoeta the wnmafuntica aad impoaalmlitiea oi the pdbr i t ies you are wefl aware of.

In fact, continue to be the genuine activist a t a beautiful peraon you a re . You, aa tbey wiU discover to t ime, are a key to their midat to future h u m a a liberatioa—fat ua aU. Keep smiling. W e

^ " " ^ y ^ - D a r y i a e m e n a

Dear Closet Advisor: If, G t a forbid, you represent the

values of the gay community, that community, to my opmion, has hit rock bottom. You really are obses s t a with your sexual identity. You remtod me of a kid encountermg his first experience with what he believes is forbidden and rebcUmg for it. Your attitudes are immature and irresponsible.

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WHO CARES? WE DO! IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR THE ROCHESTER GAY COMMUNITir

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EMERGENCY AND CRISIS COUNSEUNG

Ufattnefi 27$.SlSt

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THE EMPTY CLOSET Episcopal Diocese confronted on gayness

ByJAMESR.IDE On Thursday, June 7th, 1979 to the

auditorium ef Ruadel Piddic L&rary an urban (puUk) hearing was held at vdiidi paople from the d ty gave teatimooy to dM^ leadership a t die diurch ooacermag die probleaaa they-face a t a how die dbiwch mi^ t t begffi to address die many problems. There were feur objectives to mmd: to dramatize visibly tbe concerns of the Episcopal Church fer the urban crisis; to yield authentic data for conttoumg concern and action by the dergy a t a laity of the diocese as they seek to understata tbe proper direction of their ministry and the churdi's miasion to the dties; to provide opportu­nity for a brota spectrum of individuals and groups to present their concerns to appropriate leaders of the church; to produce a report of findings and recom-mendta actions for the church to take at diis time at tbe local parish and diocesan levels to imfdement the church's mission to diocesan urban centers to the decade abeta.

The procedure was that testifiers presentta to writing aU testimony and documentation of their testimony, eiJu-bsts, and so on. There was a twelve fn|w i«-o limit on oral testimony, foUowta by interrogation by the panelists.

The panelists consistta of: die Rt. Rev. John Krumn, Kshop of Southern <Ma; the Rev. Lawrence Witmer, Bxec-tave IXrector of Geneaee Bcumenical Ministries; Ms. Baibara Buder, Secre-

I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I L

The empty ctoset

The Empty Closet is producta eleven times a year Ouly-August combinta) by The Entity Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Gepesee VaUey, Inc., at 713 Mon­roe Ave., Rochester, NY 14607, sole owner and puUisher. J^>pToxi-flEiately 3000 copies of each issue are diatributta on the first week-e t a of the month by mail a t a carrier.

The pubbcation of die name or f^iotogr^^ of any person or organization to artides or advertis­ing to diis newspaper is not an

of the sexual or afifec-

tary of the Diocese; the Rev. Thomas Hayes, past presidem of the E^sdopal Peace Fellowship; Ms. Beverly Jackson,. Director of I^anntog and Developmem fer the Urban League of Rochester; die Rev. George Cocuzzi, Director of Per-aaanem Deacon Program for the Roman Cathobc Diocese of Rodiester; The Rev. Joseph A. Pelham, Dean of Students at Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

The chief testifiers were: Ms. Ruth Scott, Councilperson; Mr. Vincent Coughlto, Rochester Downtown Deve­lopment Corporation; Mr. James McCul-ler, Actitm for a Better Community; Mr. Dommgo Garda, Ibero-American Action League; Mr. Ron Bang, Unitta Auto Workers; Mr. Wilbam Johnson, Urban Lei^ue of Rocliester, Inc.; Ms. Mollie Traub, Metro-Act of Rochester; Mr. Marty Wemgarten, the Center for Yotith Services, toe; Mr. WiUiam McDonald, Office of the Aging; Ms. Maxine Sobel, New Women's Times; Ms. l^ginto Mackey, Educational Designs for Jus­tice; Mr. Bob Bonn, Rochester Interfaith Jail Ministry, Inc.; Ms. Susan Costa, Victim's Assistance Program; a t a Mr. James R. Ide, Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Mr. Ide's testimony is as follows:

There are three mterrelatta ques­tions which I would like to pose ta tiiis distinguishta panel. (1) Is the diurdi guilty of consipracy of sOence on sexualxty? (2) Is die church the enemy of the homosexual? (3) Why ahould .die

*-f I I I I tional orientation of that person or

organization. For pubUcation, submit news

items, letters, stories and poetry, art, e t c b y n u u l o r t o p e r s o n a t the G.A.G.V. office before die ISth of die month. For information about advertising rates please write to tbe G.A.G.V. office or caU (716) 244-8640 or 244-9930, day or evening, Monday through Friday.

To subscribe to 77ie Empty Closet, s e t a $6.00 (check or money order) to the Empty Closet Press, 713 Monroe Ave., Rodiester, NY 14607. The newspa|>er ia mailta to a i^ato sealta envdope.

rm fn t t namnn i i f s sa i a i i

• cflunsainc • Df. Daryl Clemena, D.MIn. Dr. Aian £. Clark, D. Mln.

family and altornatlvo thoraplata

Qayttwriipy Blaoxuol Tharapy Sox Tharapy Human Soxuality and Ufoorstlon laauea

Otalvlduala - oouplaa - groupa)

400 Norton Stroot Rocheator, N.Y. 14621 (716)467-4432

\ ^ homosexual bother with the church at aU?

The silence of the diurdi on the matter of sexuaUty has given tadt ai^>rovaI to negative attitudes a t a guilt feeltogs about sexuaUty and has cattsta tintold suffering an<l nuseiy fer mUUona of people throughout tbe centuries.

The church has goOe firom a policy of extermtoation to a policy of sUence to deaimg with its homosexual chUdren. From the bummgs at the stake to die middle ages, through the exterminatiott of 250,000 of us durtog the holocaust, through the McCarthy peri ta to the 1940s a t a 1950s, the sUence of the -hurch has been deafentog. In die 1960s ano the 19708 aay gay brothers and sisters are stiU being murderta a t a maimta to this—the l a ta of the firee. Their murderers are sometimes given Uttie more than a slap on the wrist, and, aU too often cheerta 1^ the police, by tiie judges, by the juries, a t a by the populace. Too often I hear "KiU a Queer fer Christ** whUe I hear nothing froc:! the chtirch.

In tiiis great urban cemer durir^ the two C.E.T.A. controversies, many ofour diurches and the Genesee Ecumenical Ministries rematota dtiier silent, stayta home, or spoke so softly that the Gannett Press reader understota that the issue was one of morality, not tme of legality. The reader got the i n^es s ion that Fletdier Brotiiers, Anita Bryant, a t a Charles A. Schiano were the voices of the Christian consdence to this, an e n U ^ t e n t a urban center.

Why does the diurch remato so sUent? Is it becauae you have nothing to say, no one to say it to, or is it because you are fearful of loss of finandal support fiom your benefactors? 1 would hope on this last potot the church would have more ccmrage than the Cunununity Chest. Do you remam silent because you don't want a squabble withto yotv churdi fanuly? Would Chriat have remainta silent fer the same reason?

The diurdi silence perpetuates die real heresy, to deaimg with hcmioaez^ uals, the diurch is too often imrhrisrian, it is too often tiie enemy. Whca not diretay the enemy, the diurch t h r o u ^ its silence is guilty of atdftig a t a abetting die real enemy. The grei^test perverskm of aU is to See the Bible uf ta as a aocial we^Mm that hurta, harms, and ddm-manises my brotiiers a t a sisters.

la silence safe fer the church? You may tiiink it is aow becanse moat homosexuals do not flaunt their sexual­ity , tiiey remam to tiieir doseta. Since we are the silent sexual minority, adm wiU cry out against your silence? How many gays would dare m hold you acoounta-Ue? How many straights would dare tlo hold you accountable fer fear of having " the label" attachta to tbem? How many unmarrita men a t a woaien would dare to raiae their voices to protest on

our behalf? Who wUl hold you accounta­ble? C^irist wiU. When Chnst reviews your stewardship of the diurch, I know He wiU fita your sUeace dairmtog a t a wanton.

Can a 20th century ^ u s d i which hopes to survive toto the next century be so bl i ta and bound to tradition tiiat yau can convert the Levitical Laws, out of time—historical—ata cultural context, toto the ctMmerstone of your sexual bigotry. Where is your reverence fbr life and for love?

The churdi has us ta Christ's mes­sage of a greater love to supercede Paul's less enUghtenta views <m women a t a slavery; but you fail to use that same message of a greater love lahen dealing with sexuaUty. Did the real lesaon of the humatiity and the love of Christ get lost somewhere to the church? Is the Christian churdi the church of Paul or is it the diurch of Christ?

It has been suggestta that maybe tiie diurch renuuns sUent becauae of fear that by acceptance of active homosexuals you wiU lose any Bibtical basis lor impostog restrictions on human behav­ior, espedaUy on sexuaUty. Is it possible that the cburdi can not recognise that sex has meanmg and value outside the fimction of procreation. Sexual morality or inimoraUty has nothing to do witii genitaUa, and until tiie church under­stands that s ingle truth, tiiere is httle hope of a recondUiation between you and millions of your duldrtti .

There is no moraUcy to an orienta­tion, but there is a morality to what one does with the orientation. No oae diooses to be homosexual. Since there is no dioice, no free wiU, there is no am to being homosexual. What one does with ones bcmiosexuaUty, however, can be sinful a t a criminal. It is not moral er immoral to be homosexual, it is how one exercises his or her sexuaUty diat determines the value a t a the worth of that person a t a that peraon's actions.

As a Christian, it ia not my homosexuahty whidi identifies my per-aonhota. There are ao many more facets than that single aspect of my peracmal-ity. It is not my sexuality which gives me claim to acceptance, or to homan righta, or to being lovta. It is the feet that we are aU brothers a t a sisters nntier die, oneness of G ta that we make our daim to human righta, to aoceptaaee, a t a to love. We are nmre human dum homoaea-ual.

la the diurdi our eaawcyf WeU, let ua look at die record. The current atatua of the diurdi a t a tiie homoaexual revedda that the churdi offera tia several opticma or ac^otiofia: (1) he carta—but— hoaaoaexuaUty is not a aidEneaa a t a you have not yet l eamta that ifanple truth; or (2) be ceUbate—but—cdUbacy muat he fireely chosen a t a to make it a require-mem fer the homosexual a t a not A a hcteroaexual ia toheritaB^ ta^nat a t a

avaamamimaainsi

The Dorr Collactton Artittle Flewar Arrangamawla

Fine Planli/Cttt Flewar*

741 Menroa Avanua foar. Rutgers St.] VISA and MaatarCHarga

t i

COLLECTIVE THINKING The churdi saya dicy wil

• • ilaa mmiacfy gay wha aeek to a te , ramato crUbaia, or (3) wha af lat ami chiaaieO, Ihto kiadof wdkame aaljr comatmea to adaacify die church aa tha amaaay a t a wi l tamiayt ta do aa aa

ak yea a ^ "We lava yaa Aa bat hate a t a daplate every*

ddng that identiAaa yaa aa a hsmaara-ua l . " We do not a a t a timt ktod af lave. Whea I hear yon aay that haowaexaal

not the cotaition, are iamioral, I I could aefy^ wiah yau would

conttoue your sileace insteta. Why should the homosexual bother

with tiie d iurdi at aU? The simple anawer is that many of us feel we ne t a the church. The diurch and the religious communiky ptoys an important role to setting common standards. When the U.S. Supreme Court rul ta the Virgiiua Sodomy Law oanstttutional, they d t t a tiie Levitical Code e t a Jtaao-Chriatian tradition as grownda fev tiieir dedaion, ao mwch for tiie separation of diurdi a t a

The churdi provides a vebkle fer education. The mu4aa Aruat ef hameaex-aal organizariona is attituditffl change, but atticudes caa change only whea peofde accept exposure ta new ideas, accurate facts, and a wilUafaess to mvestigate aU sides ef a qaesiioa. Education, as a conveyor of truth, pLays a large role to tiie reshaping of people's attstndes. Solid education about homo­sexuality must replace the stereotypes witii the tmch, the mytiis witii realkies. The church must take a leadership role to this taucational process. Since they are more guilty than anyone else fer the mistnfermation and ignorance on sexual­ity, the church shotdd wekome this opportunity to redeem itself a t a they should do the education whde they stiU have the credibility to do so.

Why bother with the church? Many homosextials have a love, a reverence, a t a a great respect a t a ne ta for religion a t a the diurch. The church must help them to .come to a better understanding of tiiemaelves, their sexuality, a t a tiieir relanoBship with the larger community. The guik trip you have laid upon your people muat e t a . An abaolute conderan-atian of aU ferma of homosexual love is untenable. Between these two extreme positions the debate moves on. But the suffering of your diildren also goes on.

The diurdi has tiie brato power, die resources, a t a die means to discover a t a educate your children aa to the proper role of sexuaUty. Sexual rdation­ships should be loving a t a tiooexfdoit-ive, respectful, reaponsible, a t a promo­tive of the gota of both parties.

It is tinae fer the diurdi to speak out, e t a your aUence. It is time fer the dnirch to love a t a be lovta by the homoaexual. The church can exiat witii­out gtving peofde gink ccftnplexea if tiiey iffta****—^ tiie real ^ mesiage of the homanky a t a the love of Chriat. Gota ktod a t a loving people aee Gta a t a paople aa gota ktod a t a loving. Bad. adfiph« aakl ta , a t a mtaer^ile people

G t a a a vlaActive a t a vangefel a t a

see people aa Gta 'a fitibica rather than aa Hla succeaa a t a to Hto h a ^ e .

Ihere la a critical a« ta fer a change a t a the ne ta ia fer dto change—now. People are aaOerinf, Am churdi haa been Inatractta by Gta w address itadf to salfering a t a to effect chaage. I expect so hear yen say du* yen ^ have a rnawiiiiiinn scttd|y Am laane. They wHI travel rhrnaghoai the eauntry. hold hearinga, collect evidence, a t a make their reconanetaarions baata on know­ledge a t a honest endeavors. The churdi, to its wisdom thea suhntits the reauks to ito general aasemUy or aome such b o ^ fer a popidar referendum.

If the diurdi , thru stiuity, prayer, a t a detiberation discovers a truth—why does the truth n e t a to be affirmta by a referendum? Does the popularity of an issue have relevance to its trutii or does truth exist independent of our approval

15June79 Dear Jim,

I want to thank you for your exceUent presentation to the Episcopal Urban Hearing last week. Your text was formidable. You yourself were succinct, honest a t a very articulate.

The community here to Rochester, and I, certainly owe you a great deal. Beyond the time and effort you ex-pendta to compUe your data, you showed a great amount of courage to betog so outspoken before the panel.

I thanked Gta for you as I tistenta and I s e t a the thanks and prayers of Dignity-totegrity for you perscmaUy a t a aU your endeavors. ^ Tm certainly proud, Jim. to call you my brother.

Peace to you, Margaret-Mary

Oigmty-Integrity/Rochester

June 20, 1979 Mr James R. Ede 29 Rowley Street Rochester, New York 14607 Dear Mr Ide: 1 want to express my particular appreci­ation to you for the testimony which you recently offered at the Urban Hcarmg sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester. Your depiction ofthe posture of ftiuch of the religious community as inhumane towards homosexuals was, 1 believe, accurate, and your call to the Church to reform its attitude to the light of its own standard of love and compassion was compelltog. My own experience and involvement m recent years persuades me that there are more church people listentog with care to statements such as those you made, and I betieve that the effect of that kmd of Ustenmg is to change hearts, mmds, and attitudes. It is, however, a sinfuUy slow process, which makes me the more grateful when the victims of an oppres­sive attitude contmue to be vnlltog to assist to the process of reform.

Thank you very much for yoor assistance to us.

Very stocerely yours, Robert R. Spears, J

Episcopal Diocese of Rochester

ar diaappraval. I wauld a t t t a i that to dcpeadaac we yhe k er not.

hia witiwut a

• tudki of Am hnmawxaal naaay af d ^ m have urg ta greater paaieral concern a t a rompaistoa fer haaaiiirfaali, defendiaf our dvfl fi^tta. Ihia ia an hafwrtaat firat step. A peraon

Uveas productive^ to a aociaty

My tiaw fer teatknai^ ia at an time fer your teatknony ia here . B t a your silence oa tfiraaBty

brave, have oaurage, a t a widi

rhlldrfia not becaoaa k to papular, would do na I M S .

Skorcc i i ^Age U M 1

i

The GAGV peer counselmg pro- <luring Jvly and August so that tbe LRC i gram has addta a new service. Several and GBR offices can be regularly staffta ~ ofour staff have sign language skiUs and during the summer vacation perita. tf are willtog to see deaf ga3rs on an you can volumeer even a fcrw nights a appointment basis. For more infbrma- month please caU 244-8640 or 244-9030 tion caU 244-9030 or 244-8640 week to let the Peer Counseling Committee nights between 7:30 a t a 9:30 p.m. or know when you are available, contact the Peer Cotmseling Committee by mail c/o GAGV A celebration for rural gay men a t a -

Summer vacation time is rapidly gay men moving toward oountry life wiU I ^iproachmg! Our regularly schedulta gatiier on the weekend of die faUS peer counselors wiU be enjoytog vaca- equinox (Sept. 21-23) to nordiwestem! timis also. Any GAGV certifita peer Massachusetts. We wiU share ourselves I counselors who have been inactive in fota, song, dance, a t a dreams. For I during the past year are askta to detaila write: Bruce Penroae, Rt 2 , ! volunteer an evening (or two or three) Potsdam, NY 13676.

I 7:Jt^.^7ii4PJ:u.IJ^^ i i w a » w • • • • « %

•TTii at the _

Village Qtfeen&o<*kstor& 766 Mowrtje Ave.

The Gold ^ .

'A l>«autjfuly wriiteri lurreL Other writers slvow: UJ* ihe vsret vre vfere. rToi\dte dhovftf gL tKe T resf vre atv. I t talced coinage to le^k. in tkft inirr<Jr. If y«a have i t tKetviisadT^ 0OU>l>mERS'

-Ri taMic^twin

1>7 Midiael Denneny

B^ery love »toTy ia tyro »toTic». Throu^ a. iieriea of iKbervScMSf Keal ana Philip vece xA ax^Teexandtie HmrliNre a & i r i t tm the fa-»t dav to Uie lacft. Cxpaxiafld ftom an arUcJc in thti^Pi^yer d t r e e i M a ^ i n i '

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The Twne IS Nowl

Nattonal March on Washington For leabian a ta Qay Righto

October 14,1979

An •nd to all social, •conomic, judicial and lagal opprasslon of Laablan and Gay paopla • Repeal ail anti-lesbRan/gay laws • Pass a comprehensive iesbian/gay rights bili in Congress • Issue a presidential executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the Federal Government, the military, and federally-contracted private employment • End discrimination in lesbian mother and gay father custody cases • Pro­tect lesbian and gay youth from any laws which are used to discriminate against, oppress and/or harass them in their homes, schools, jobs, and social environments

Register now for Round Tiip Chartered Bus leaving Rochester Satur­day afternoon and returning Sunday evening. Fare is $30 per person payable in advance. If you can't go, your donation will help others to go!

mm

Committee for Human Rights c/o GAGV 713 Monroe Avenue

Rocliester, N.Y. 14607 Planning meetings every Monday, 7:30 p.m. at GAGV

For Information call 244-8640 or 244-9030

IL.

BUI passes in L.A. A comprehensive gay rights bill

easily passed the Los Angeles City Council on MaY */3?* ACCORDING TO Duncan Donovan of, the Gay Rights Chapter, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

The new ordinance, which passed with only two dissenting votes, prohibits discrimination against gays in the areas of employment, housing and all public accoirnnodations. It was introduced by Council members Joe l Wachs of North Hollywood and Peggy Stevenson of Hollywood. Both have for many years supported the gay community, as has L. A. ' s Mayor Tom Bradley.

The bill came to a vote after only forty-fove minutes of public discussion. t h e only sugnificant opposition came from a c o t e r i e of f u n d a m e n t a l i s t

churches to Glendale which routmely oppose all gay rights legislation. While the vote at the first readmg on May 23 taUed up ten to one to favor of the ordmance. The final May 30 hearing, fotiowmg occasional burs t s of emotion, concluded with a thirteen to two vote.

Donovan credited an aU-day *'Gay Consti tuent 's D a y " held on April 10 for contributmg to the relatively easy sue-

Kopay moves SAN FRANCISCO, C a l i f . — " J o c k s " have been to the bustoess of selltog cars for several years> now, and that fact usuaUy doesn ' t ra te coverage to the Gay press . When the jock m question is Dave K<^ay, however, the story demands attention.

Kopay, former NFL player fbr both the Washtogton Redskins and the San Francisco '49ers, has recendy been reported selltog cars at Geary Ford to San Francisco, accordtog to a recent article m The Washington Post Maga-xir%e. Ads touttog his association with the Ford dealership have also been seen to Gay publicattons from the Bay area.

Kopay, along with co-author Perry Deane Young, wrote the bestseUer fhe Dave Kopay Story a few years back, ripping the closet door off of homosex­uahty to professtonal sports.- He says now that the re is not much difference between selltog cars ^ Ga3rs or straights, accordtog to the Post, and that he longs to write a sequel to his first book, to b e t ided. Don' t Die Wondering.

Support our oAdvertizers! IThey support

([The Empty Qoset

o"

c X ^ S ^

cess with which the bill passed through committee and through the council floor vote. On that date, close to one hundred gay women and men, and their parents , yisited City Council representatives from their respective districts to explam the need for such an ordinance. Consituent 's Day t>arficipants also asked council members for support for the a Gay Community Services Cednter which offers health, housing, legal and em­ployment counseling to over 4000 people a month.

The new ordinance is based on one recently adopted in Berkeley, California.

Gays blamed for

V.D. spread

Cincinnati, OH.— A federal . public health adviser

assigned to the nat ions 's first center for training doctors to treat and control sexuaUy transmitted diseases recently blamed homosexuals for stifling the government ' s at tempts to eradicate syphiUs. Tim Baker of the U. S. Center for Disease Control tbid a conference on substance abuse and human sexuaUty here that there had been a "dramatic decrease, virtual control of S3rphihs until it became contemporary and chic to be gay or bisexual.'*

*'Tbe gay poptUation," Baker said, •'is the latest p rob lem" in the govern­ment ' s anti-syphiUs campaign. "They go to b a r s a n d b a t h s a n d pick a n o n y m o u s

contacts, literaUy having sex with twenty-five or thirty strangers in one night. That doesn ' t enhance disease control very much. Spread of sjrphilis has increased, with homosexuals accounting for fifty-five percent, he said. "On the average, there is more contact among gay persons than with heterosexuals. Gays are more active, more geographi­cally displaced and more at peace with themselves. They have contentment of self-image, ther ' re more a£Quent and more mobi le . . . "

—from Arizona Gay News [GCN]

GOT A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL?

GAYAA meets

every Thurs. St. Luke's Church 17 South Fitzhugh

8:30 p.m.

1-

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! J u n e saw three major drag shows at

the Rochester bars . Two celebrated anniversaries, one was held for tu> apparent reason other than entertain­ment.

The Avenue Pub celebrated its fourth anniversary with the Tiffany Love Review. The show was held Saturday, June 9 with a champaign toast at midnight. Introductions were made by Lee, wbo served as M . C , and managed to surmoucD such obstacles as power failures, beer showers and a couple of noisey underst t idies. Performing that evening were Carmen, MicheUe (a former Miss Rochester), Nuala, Nichole, and of course. Tiffany Love. A special appearance was made by tboda, who agreed to do a number after a moderate amount of coaxing.

J u n e 16 marked the sixth anniver­sary of the Bachelor Forum. Their show drew a good sized crowd, the show featured Carmen, Rhoda and the ViUage People (most of them, at any rate) . Norma J e a n made a special appearance fbr one number . Highlights of the show included Carmen ' s glass-shattering aria from "La Trav ia ta" and her debut with Rhoda closing the first show.

J i m ' s hosted an Evening with the

Stars on J t m e 24. Headlining the show were Bemadet te , the current Miss Rochester, DeDe, the reigning Miss Syractise, with Cassandra making her debut. Tiffany Love also put in an appearance for the second show. High­lights of the show included DeDe*.s Broadway medley and Bad Girl Bema­det te ' s plat inum performance of Donna Summers ' current h i t .

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Communities: Trdddng Through Today's Communes

By

PAWJiRUST

There are probably as many visions of a better aociecy as diere are people

- vdm are dissatisfied with diis one.. What would dia ideal worid be Uke? How wanld people relate to each odier and what would be the way of life? I've often tried to imagme what it would be Uke to Uve in a society where people don't

, assume you're straight ^ e s s you say odierwise, where they don't stigmatize yim when you do say odierwise, where dvU rights are a way of life, not something to be concerned with in your ^ a r e time, and where the person next to me in the assemUy line doesn't whisper a amdemnation of "that gay man over d iere ," or make sexuaUst/racist/sexist/ ageist, etc. remarks beginning with " I don't want to sound prejudiced, but — "

As many of us have, I've spent a good bit of time critirizing various aspects of the mainstream culture. I've created my share af mental models of a workable society based on certain sex­ual, poUrical, social, behavioral, —al, —al, and —al ideals. Arc any of them left? What were they really like, and did they work as 'I imagined?

Then lastDecember, after the usual sophomore tratimas af three weeks of daily drinking akme and a potentiaUy ps3rchot/suicidal friend, I decided it was time to be somewhere else but coUege. So, armed with a complete set of expectations that I'd be disiUusioned, ignored, resented, brainwashed and fed bread and Kool-Aid, I set out in January with a very flexible schedule that included three communes or, to use the current term, "communities."

Five months and seven communities later I am far ^ m i being disiUusioned. T was not lotAing £M Utopia and I didn't find it (SMryf). What I did find was a wide variety of life styles, some of whidi were refresliiagly humane and very accepting of die gay Ufe style.

BeCare Ilaundb into deacr^MBg being gpy in acammHBtty, letaie dispel sonse of the mydu aboiit communes. When I uae Am word ooasmnne I often encoumer atereocypes of care£ree hippies lasing airaund on hUlaidea, or I'm queationed aaat warned about brainwaskinf, cuk, and reUgioiBS gurus. Of cours there are

Uke diat, aad thoae are Am Aaa get madia atteatiea. Bui

cea»e in maay Aapma and L Tliere's aa "typkid'* ffinimiinii.

I aiBarept frooi eacii ooicr aa Amy aam nom Am mainwicam oucnre. I k e inembCTa of asoat eooMBMnities, Car Bpaaa DfcM«g c&»*

munities dbhave in conanion, if cmly by definitibn, is diat die men­bers share reaources to some extent. Generally, aaembera have aome valnea or bdUe&in oooimon, ^i^iedier dbey be merely a belief in mmmunal life and oonnnon dis-iUuaionmettt w ^ A e maiaatfeam euhure or an expUcic, dm^fdicated, rigid religion.

The commnaities I visited ra ided in their attitudes towards, and involvement with, fa tness . At *one extreme is a CathoUc urban senu-anarchy in Wash­ington, D. C., where anydiing having to do vrath aex or sexudity ia frowned t^Mn. For exanple: women and men aren't siqiposed to emer each ochers' rooms. Homoseluality wasn ' t even ac-no^Hedged by hemg mentioned in the rules. At the other extreme is a rural

oreaiiag a aafe place far their parricuiar

wffl let foab. One tiltBf

Fama waa the only oonmumity I visited irfddihada spiricual teadier or any other pe rmanen t , atructurally recognised leader. Most of die eAeta beiay noa-hierardiical and egaUfcarian, On Hie Farm the spiritual leader teaches con­ventional vahies such aa diastity before ' marziage, marriage as a Ufe-loog com- ' nutment, and birtA control and abortion aa wrongs. One man adviaed me that '*Wliat you need ia to git yeraelf a baby an ' settle down." When I aafced abmit homosezuaUrf, ctte^pmbti replied that ahe did not ddnk the leader would-appiuve.

Two mixed communities which I virited were particularly weU integrated and accepting of aU sexual lifestyles. Twin Oaks andBast Wind are tnetnhers af

working daaa separ^aist lesbian women's community in Missouri. There lesbi­anism was never mentioned either, bm fior a tocaUy difiCerent reason— die same reason why straight peof^e rarely feel the need to mention that diey are straifbt. k waa a refreshing l e ^ n g to be praaamed lesbian Ibr oooe iqatead of being preaueaed s t r a i ^ unless 1 said other-

labecween theae aauemei are aoaae odier iacareating rnawHuaiilsi. ' 'The PatrnT waa iMHMled i a ^ «ea by a ffo«9> of young people from H a i ^ - A s l i b i i ^ in Cabfaraia. Vi^Atg The Farm ia Uke ateppoig back a few decades ta die wedd ef flower-diildraa and '^vOiej." Aa part

of a oottcecn abour worid hunger* "Farmers" are meal vegetariana; they eat ao meat, egga, or dafry ptodacu. Now. widi 1200paopie.iciabdiavedtobe die largeat f n aianaiii i ia thm U.S. A. thm

the Federarioa ef BgaUtsrian Communi­ties, members of whidi make a conscious effert to prmnote equaUty between women and men, gays and straights, races, ages, daases:.. Wbea I first arrived and saw Kevin <a paawdonym representing Sfveral men) wearing a skirt, and on die wad a hand-embroidered aampler aaying/'ftM» eadi aocordiag to ee'a abilities; la maA aeootdiai ta ca'a needs,*; 1 knew r d fed vary camfeftable Aare . <At Twin Oaka A e WOMI CO la aaed in r^aee of he fee die Aitd pmeaam ptonoon when tke gcadar of die peraon refeflfod so ia uBkaewa or hrrelevaAt.)

Bakig §1^ at TMaOaha aMana amta than belftf accaptad aa gaiy; k meana

rdadvdty free of aMay of A a tmaaypmaaadaayAakmpoamdmmttahy

Am s t r a ^ ^ aiafority. la Am outaide wodd paople are

generaHf pffnamiid aaaigkt arieaa d i ^

aay oAarwiae. Bekig gay ia an eaceptloii dutt daaacvea remade wiieieaa b a i ^ s t r a i i ^ does not. {Vwm often aanacd jAout iniiuducing wtfi "Mar-duu meet Kennetk; he's hecotoaasnd.") At TNain Oaka, gay cotiachiuiaeas aaamg bodi gaya and noo-^ys ia k i ^ . Alao» ia tke oacdde world whaa I s i ^ I am not straigpat I often fed ckaDaniged to prove it; aa if ooe cannot reaQy be gay unless ooe has kad a gay bvar, wkereaa ooe need not kave kad a a t r a i ^ lover m prove ooe ia scra^Jit. At Twin Oaks la partkolar, eoe ia gay if ooe conaidera oneaelf g i^ , or straight* biaezud, or undefined, if tmm etmaidmrs anasa^sueh, Ifeb firee to exfrfore nqr lexwaKfy without being labdled, no matter what the label, •unles I diose to label myself.

We've probdsly aU encountered the misconception that gay people's Uvea revtdve around dieir sexuality. It is as if straight people may oome in many forms, b w that to say " H e / ^ e is gay," somehow describes the gay person's totality. We run into this misconception in many guises. One example is the person who, phjrsicany touched by smneone of their own sex outside the narrow bounds of "proper conduct," backs off thinking "He/She must be gay!) Odier examples are the women vdio, finding out that I love women, interpret my every look and touch as a come-<m. Then there is the idea, sometimes true, that one's love for the same sex is purely sexual. PeraonaUy, my lesbian love happena to be more "fbr women" than ' W women"; it is sodal and poUtical as weU as sexual. Also, my love for women does not mean I hate men— a faadUar accusatioa.

At Twin Oaks 1 ran into theae misconceptions infrequendy, if ever. Prejudice seemed a thing from another world, far away and unreal. It felt wonderful— tiberating. Whenever I felt like it I could go hug sotneone and be given a hug in return, without a suspicious locyk. If I meant it to be a sinq^e gesture of firiendahip it was taken that way, aiiether the peracm being hugged waa man or woman. At Twin Otka^ lesbianten ia aec^ced as not only a sezod oriemtadao, m d women are aiaters, aot juat bed p a m c r s . Siaterkood aad brodieiliaad aooend m straight aa

OuMlde eaaftawmit^, gay groupa aad bars provide a apace free from ami-tay prejudice aad mydu iaa|M>sed by the straigkt wodd. PmAap% the beat part of ( ay aacanttaul Ufe m refrain coountm^ ties ia dial tkia freedoaa ia oot fenwl ooly ia iada«ed havens a» be aotered a few times a week, hot ki eke wkafe way of Ufe. file paopk and Am lifeirylc aae

Aaa waa a wasna and wliaiiiia diaaga. If anyana kma a cmttud emrlmailf ar

smrtama trUarmat itr cmtmuadtyt / taimid hm uarf h appy ta ftdl to yoo mmd awjaw qumatkma^ tAtmt' halmg gmy im eottt-rtumiify ea' mmy othmr aapmef af cQmtmmmify Ufa, I hmaa Am adjkwfia* af mmy eorittmttiitias teiad^g aeiwraf women's

mmtl I loam tmtkittg abomi t . Piamam ttatttma wm by hmtittg

a mmsMt^a at Am lashtmrn Rmsotmxa Cmtuar, 713 Mottroa Amtmtm, MaOtaatar. Nmw York [714] M1-MJ0.

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$an Francisco—City in Siege By W: LOW

vnVkat WiU we da l o o i ^ ? " 1 aaked an - Bnoan Saapnen on tuy' fifat aueiiiaoo. ki Sao Fraodlieo. I waa jnac aiartiog whai I koped. woidd be a g^oriooa^

**We*B ptobdily go m die protest," ke caaoatfy aoawered^

**WiB diere be a proceat?" I asked. AlxMtt a minute later die trolley

wkidi waa taking us up M a ^ e t Street to Sfe^heo's friends' apartmem ui die Miasiott district of San Fraodaco came to a dead kak. flooked up to aee nearly 1000 poof4e fhardiiDg down Market Street, shoutkig ' 'Remember Harvey Mi&." We got out of the troUey^and walked by die marchers tow»rd home. Their angry voices were echoed and magnified to an anguished intensity by an overpass.

The protest, which began in the Gay buaineas district of Castro Street, was a ^xmtaneous reaction to the verdict rdeased oidy a few hours earlier. Dan White, confessed murderer of Mayor George Moscone and Si^>ervisor Harvey Milk, was fbund guilty of two aounts of voltmtary manslaughter. White, thirty-two, a fbrmer supervisor, pUceman, and fireman, would receive a maximum sentence of about seven and a half years and with good behavior in prison could be out on the streets by 1983.

Milk's murder especially shocked San Francisco's large gay cottimunity. He was cme of the country's first openly homosexual poUticians. He held a high poUdcal office, yet at the same time was known as a "street politician" who anyone cotdd talk with.

Back at the apartment the ten o'clockfUews was teUing us and aU of San Frenciaoo about tbe protesters smashing windows at City HaU alongside stories of San Francisco ofificids e^^ressing dis­belief in the White verdict. Our two fiiends arrived just as the news started. They had been walking around Castro Street awaiting the inevitable reaction to the verdict, and were unaware that they had missed the march to City HaU.

We catted a cab and gcM there within five minutes. We walked and aomedmes eadtadly raa to. tke bkick bekind City HaO a^ere we could aee a Uoe of pdice eordooing ofiFtke street. Tke main crowd waa b ^ o n d diia Une of pdice. O n ^ tben dkl k kk OM Aaa Aim waa a dangerous

aituatioa and diat tkinga could k^ipen here that I mi^ i t not care m be a part of.

"1 don't feel Vkm I bekmg he re . " I aaid aaide to Ste|dien.

"Well I do,'* he answered. As S t ^ i e n ' a friends dis^ipeared into die czowd bcyaod die police Une, it was time to dedde. The nervous, bijfy-dub weild-inf pdice Uoe made aae not care to stay where 1 was, bdiind dieir b a d n . So we took the phmge. A youog, 'tMtAmppy lookk^ poUceman lifted his d u b quickfy m prevem us from ctoasiag. I cahnly explained that we were trying to cross imo die crowd, not out tk it. Another pdiceman told him to let us through.

I fdt tri^pped dien, but it seemed better to £a|ce die police if they were that jumpy. In the crowd, about 5000 people, a strange atmosf^iere prevailed. We came during a hiU and were unaware of the earlier tense moments ^ e n mem­bers of the board of supervisors - were unable to .cahn the crowd that stormed Oty HaU. One member was hit by a rock and die police were fbrced m retreat inside the budding. Even a human chain formed by protesters could not hold the crowd back then. Reinforcements had given the poUce the tipper hand by the time we arrived. A smeU of tear gas lingered, with conflicting reports as to whether police or protesters had thrown it. We dipped our shirts in a pool of water to protect our faces.

As I sized up the crowd, it was not as overwhelmingly homosexual as later news reports made it seem. Others who disapproved of the verdict, excitement seekers and the merely curious had joined those who had originally marched. Marxist activists, mainly wo­men, declaimed the verdict as an example of inequal justice for different segments of society. The issues didn*t fit neatly into this doctrinaire ,u^)4|natiqp. but a sign saying "What if Wi&te was black?" was thought-provoking.

Some people were visibly drtmk, and I assume that many of those stiU htirling bottles and rocks at the police and the now devastated facade fell into this category.

Fresh police troops were arriving in groups, jogging down the street in full riot gear, biUy-dubs at the ready. With each stride they uttered a unified cry which sounded ominously like the Ger-aaan "Hei l ." Someone behind me joked, "WeU, if that's what you're imo, we'U just go home and get our ' ^ t l e leather suits on ."

Now paying! "STAGE U X K » " • (Hollywood A "Hamlet" buriesqucd) t

Ja^U-15..1t<-21 : Comiag! "THE CHEHRY CMtCHAKD'*:

MyM : New Theatre ia Todd Uaioa •

Curtatn time 9 p.m. For inftcvaa^oa and ticket reservations •

caR ZTS- OM tCkoup tales avdkOsle) t

The poUce, like the protesters, were a mixed bag. Some were cdm and joking, some nervous and serious, and " smne vicious. There vrere a number of women in the police lines.

In front trfCity H aU, the crowd was deceptively cahn. Occasiond botdes were thrown aad occasiond d a n t s wem up» but then died again.

"If we trash City Hall, we'll only end up paying to fix it, * * someone shouted. Later I heard, "I pay for it with my taxes, and I'U trash it if I want."

Qaeryoive wa^ waiting to see what the next move would be. Suddenly a cheer rose up and aU attennon shifted to the right comer of City HaU where a poUce car was on fire. The crowd cleared away from the car, afraid it would blow up sending metal debris aU over.

I thought this acdon would release some of the crowd's tension, but the crowd was much more fixrious and frustrated than I realized. While we climbed out of the car I could teU something was wrong. No violence seemed to have taken place, but police, were grouped in the middle of the imersection as bystanders yeUed "Go home. We dtm't wmt you here. Where

were you when my neighbor was being mugged." That last cham was a refer­ence to poor pdice re^ionse to help caBa frcmi predominmidy gay neighborhooda. tenaion roae aa more police appeared. R seemed as if diey were trying to provoke aaother rioc, on gay home turf, " h ' s a retaliatory strike," was my sudden, sickening oonchiaion. Weary, Stefdien and I decided to avoid another bad scene.

As we walked home I saw dbe police gathering at Market aod Castio. preparing to go down into the crowd, many of whom had not left Castro Street att evening.

I crossed over and addressed tke man idio seemed to be in charge. "Sir, I realize you have your orders, but I dcm't know if you reaUze v^iat's happening down there. There would be no trouble if the police weren't there. It 's the people's own neighborhood and they vron't trash i t . " , The poUceman (I later found out he happened to be PoUce Chief Charles Gain) said, "First of aU, we aren't taking orders here, we're giving them."

He had the bearing ofGeneral Patton. "Good," I said. "Then I hope you use judgement."

"TeU those people down at City HaU to use some judgemem," he snapped back with his eyes narrowing and flashing, then , as if upset at revealing emotion, he abruptly told me to go away and pointed to the sidewalk. The tensions of this evening finaUy told, and once out of his sight I began to cry.

We were back in our apartment by 2,^M, worryiag about our fiiends. When Tom returned he fiUcd us in on the police attack on the Elephant Walk, a quiet bar where police went in and smashed heads, including that of the bartender.

The next day a party which had long ago been planned to celebrate Harvey Milk's forty-ninth birthday was held jo3rfuUy and peacefuUy, as planners and revelers were determined it wotdd. The police stayed out of sight nearby, and oidy TV news crews seemed disappointed that there was nothing sensational m fihn. There was djmcing and singing on Castro Street, and a huge poster of Milk was di^layed.

For me, watching and reading the news was fascinating. For once I knew where die reports were inccmiplete or biased. However, our friend Gary didn't even watdi the reports. He said,"I doa't have to watch the news. I am the news!"

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Use\bur Pun

Oo you nmed m VOHHT r«9i«lrstlon torm HMltod to you? Coil liio Monroo County Boord of Etoetions 0t:42S-45Sa

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.Coming out is a kmg process. For y e a r s I wasn ' t out to tnyseU. When the realization finaU came that the feelings I had for other women— support, caring, fiiendship, love, and so forth— were not wrong , but were in fact more a part of m e than I ever knew, I was thriUed. FinaUy I knew ^dio I was . Or did I?

Questions have been asked of me lately that make m e wonder why I 've 'been defining n^naelf as a lesbian.

" W h y can' t you feel that support, caring, and so forth, without being a l e s b i a n ? "

Not knowing why one couldn't, there was no answer that I could readily give.

J u s t adiat doea make me a lesbian? The fact that I enjoy being with other women? Loving one woman in par­ticular? A difficult question.

Striving fbr answers to why I " d i o s e " the Ufe ("You could d w a y s be

Lesbian phones

The Lesbian Switdiboard celebrated ita o n e 3rear anniversary on May 21, .1979. The phone a e r n c e waa established last year hy the Binghamton Women ' s

ICenter in order to provide information and referrals to lesbians or anyone widi a legit imate concern about the lesbian

issue. The Lesbian Switchboard, which is open every Monday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 at 722-3629, received eighty-three calls In t h e first year.

According m die Saritdiboard's a n n u d report , " T h e statistics firom the first year of opetatioo clearly ahow that d ie re ia a need in d i e Binghaiinun

s t ra igh t . " ) leads me to the foUowing. Living a lesbian life style means freedom to me . Afrer a relationship with a man that p a n n e d four years and several t raumas, freedom was a driving force that helped me come out to myself. However there is stiU much fear in m y life.Fear of rejection by my family and friends is at the top of the Ust. Fear of harrassment on the job (One I 've held for five years) . Another fear is that of having to define myself as anything other than a person. At a meeting I once a t tended I stated "If I have to define myself, I 'm a person, a woman, a feminist, .a.lesbian. In that o r d e r , " That was my^ o r d ^ of priorities then. Now. I don ' t know. Maybe I 'm a lesbian first, woman second, and so forth— what combination should I choose? Should I have to choose a taU?

Did I choose this life, or was it mine aU akmg? I could've chosen to remahi

commimity fer our se rv ice . " About foety-^x percent of t he callers were women who identified themselves as gay. " A a many as twenty-six percent of the calla were firom men , and more than half of those were g a y . "

" T h e caUs are about evenly divided between reques ts fer specific referrals to

locd resources or professionab, dis­cussion of pe r sdod proUems, and quest ioiu about currem a o d d Events ," said one spokeswoman. A few calls eame from friends and relatives of gays who wanted m talk about their relationship widi the gay person. Six percent of the year ' s od i s were from anno3ring crank caUers.

" T h e o v e r w h d m i i ^ feeling he re is that die Lesbian Switchboard is worth­while and utilised by ikke people who need our se rv ice ," reported the spokes­woman. " W e begin our second year of operation with enduu ia sm and d ie g o d 4^ maHng' more people a w a r i of t l i $ LesbiansSwitdiboard."

The Lesbian Switchboard is a com­mit tee of the Binghamton W o m e n ' s Center , a community-based activist or-ganixadon which addresses a variety of women ' s concerns. The Switdiboard is open every Monday night firom 7:00 to 9:oo at 722-3629.

Compliments off a Friend

married and unhappy fbr the rest ot my life. I could've chosen to remain in the straight world as what used to be termed an "old m a i d " ; " sp ins te r"— aU those horrible words used for women who d iose to Uve without men . Weren ' t Dmily Dickinaon, Susan B . Anthony, J a n e Austen, strong widiin themselves and eventuaUy successful in dieir goala?

And just how many other survived and succeed without Let 's not f t^get Sappho.

Confusion. Terminology. Anysa ' Definitions. Choices* Ofo styies. Peoplia When wiU the day be that I a m Uve mj» Ufe as a person, with whomever I ckopaa, as an individud akaring my Bfet Idealiam.

Up Front Theatra auditkina

Auditions are now planned for the 1 ^ front theatre production of " A Late

Snow" by J a n e Chambers . The pro­duction of this rwo-act play, published in the long awaited Gay Plays: The First Collection (available locaUy) promises to

' be a strong kick-off of Gay Awareness Week, now in the planning stages for October 5-13.

" A Late Snow" is a "wit ty, b i t ing" drama about five women ^>ending a rather tense night together in a cabin. The characters are: an estabUshed cd lege professor (stiU rather conserva-^ v e d^ id ibo i ; H'S he r caUki), her young lover (a sttident and a writer), her ex-lover (a very sharp-edged alcoholic), her possible future-lover (a weU known writer) and her "coUege sweethear t" (now married, who swears that they were just friends; " I ' m not like t h a t " ) . Through some errors of bad timing, including the snowstorm, d ie women are forced to face each other and sometimes

themselves, producing some very tense and teUing moments . It is a very weU written play and gives a concise de­piction of common situations and atti­tudes in the gay world, both concerning f e m d e s and m d e s . Scripts wiU be avaUable at the AUiance office for reading (in the office).

Auditions are d a t e d for J tdy 18, 6-8:30, July 19, 7-9:30, Ju ly 26, 7-9:30, at the Genesee Co-op, 713 Monroe Avenue. Auditions wiU involve some improvisations, readings from the play and prepared readings (not required). You need not know the play to audition. Arayaiom wlid cannoc make d t e t k n u at the given t imes, and anyone interested in working with us on the production, may contact Claire at the AUiance^ 244-9030.

Friends, this*can b e a great move, both pubUdy and financially. Your siq>port is greatly needed . Encourage your friends who have artistic and technicd t d e n t s to join in and help out!

Tha^ l

PADVS FAMHV 0%V^<0 A OPetATEO

GROCERY since iBAi

GOLDBEEa 7AM • IOPM

tdiile she touetted her way acroas the s tage into the wiUiag and unable arma of Alexis Ivaoovitdi Letmootoy, a t e , not

being aMe therewith to restrain lumadf , wioou never to nunt awana agam. ^wana were impescd by:

Ida Wevetaayoava Tooriacyva Yondiead Doris Vidaaya B d c a Highwatera M a r g e a a Maodayn

without tke overemphaaited uae of taste and inteipretatipo-

AD in aU, d ie evening waa a great soocess. Baoept fea a few who were n a m i n g Mwaro d ie exita, moat everyooe waa eidier amiliog or kad a lode of waodcf aod ainawmc.m oo dieir feces. Later oo diat evening k waa reported tkat aofoe of d i e petfermera became prooe to e a d t e o , acntiopiireaic of joy aod rd i e f aa i^ey were cruiaiog tke a i^ i ta and aoonds of

Le Corsair Paa De Deux waa siqpremdy eaecmed by Ida Neversay-neva , and T I K I Smknov, whose perfor-mancea deoumatrated^pure dignity, re -s t ra im, ' d e g a o c e , reserve ap4 p e p .

From now imtil never, your ^ballet reviewer refraaes m siga h i s / he r Ufe away.

U.R. Summer Theatre presenttf'Stage BloocI"

"Trocks" "Les BaUets Trockadero de Monte

Car lo" made its Rodiester debtu Friday and Saturday, J u n e 8 and 9, with an exquisite perfbrmance that could oidy be deacribed as a combination of Les Sy^^iide and Follies Bergere, or a cross between Le Chat Rouge Burlesque and The Little Troilui that Could.

Tot those who are avid baUet lovers, the evening proved to be one of the most magnificent and creative examples of

m o d e m Ballet tie Cooiic Re-relief and proved once and fbr aU that the art of baUet can b e exploited beyond the realms of disbelief.

For those who are not avid baUet lovers, bu t enjoy a good time, the night was enjoyable, an evening of byetericd sensations not m be experienced for many days .

There were many highUghts of this

performance, but only a few can be mentioned. During Swan Lake, Act II, indescribable and dldidous T a m ^ a Doundiyeva cap tu r j ^ the hearts oi all

i t is not d i e convendond theat re audience Upstate Repertory Summer Theatre courts, with such productions as Friedrich Duer renman ' s s o d d indict­ment , 77ie Visit, or Thomas MidcUeton's lusty extravaganza, A Chaste Maid in Cheapside. This year, URST's middle production. Stage Blood (billed as " a spoof of Hamlet and Hollywood) holds a spec id interest for the gay community.

Playwright/actor/du-ector Charles Ludlam's early plays were gUttery, campy fantasies which earned h im a regular audience among New York City gays. In 1970 he tightened his style with Bluebeard,'i% first "weU-made p lay"— about a mad scientist in search of the third gen i td . Ludlam went on to win Oliies _ for h is work as playwright, director, and actor. He is particularly celebrated for his por t rayd of Margue­rite Gautier, in his adaptation of Cantille. There is nothing epicene about Ludlam, who plays the Garbo role with chest and armpits conspicuoudy hairy. He decided to play the role not because he wished to imitate a woman, but to express that

range of emotions, that commitmem m. loxe* normaUy fbifbidden ta men in our society.

Again, widivStote Blood, Ludlam surprises his audience, gtiing beyond conventions of gay theatre . This parody of Hamlet ridicules the old notions that homosexuaUty originates in fear, by burlesquing Sir Laurence CMivier's oedi-p d interpretation of Hamlet . On the serious side, Ludlam achnits using Stage Blood to explore and express murderous feelings towards h i s own father. Yet he makes us view aU with the incisive and twinkling eye of ridicule: HoUywood's stereot3rpicd castrating mother {a Ut Bette Davis), the fading dcohoUc father (here, a cheap replica of J o h n Barry-more). He lampoons those roles s t rdgh t sodety forces upon u s . And—most revolutionary of aU—he eroticizes the m d e . Ludlam celebrates his tightly levied Hamlet as a creature of s exud wonder.

For iidbrmation and ticket reserva­tions, caU the Summer Theatre box office at 275-4088.

FRIAR'S invites yon to join us In

A olgbf of fvnia&if tifati

The Safari begins on August 19 9:00 P. M. - 2:00 A. M.

Waick for detaila poated hi Ike bar.

i RlAirS INN 248 Monroe Ave. 232-9803

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Singled out Bdtimore, MD—

COST (Committee of Singled-out Taxpayers) contends tkat millioas of Americans are "singled ou t" by our currem In temd Revenue laws fbr in­oome tax cUscrimination. Two biUs currentiy pending in the Congressiqnd House Ways and Means Omimittee would help to aUeviate this sittiation, COST says.

H.R. 108 would lower tax rates fbr single taxpayers to diose currendy paid l ^ maidfed persons and it would dso eliminate the "marriage pendty'* from married couples who both have incomes.

H. R. 871 would make a beginning toward income tj|x equaUty for renters by pemutting tenants to take a dedtiction for that portion of their rent ipdiich goes ultimately to pay the property tax and interest on their rentd unit (either bouse or apartment).

COST Director Lee Spencer empha­sized that these biUs are of particular interest to the gay commimity stnce the overwhelming majority of gay people are legaUy single and are renters.

COST is currently ptishing for prompt favorable action on diese biUs. Individuds can obtain more information by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to COST, Box 1797, Bdtimore, MD 21203.

—from Arizorui Gay News

Nevada update Tlie Nevada State Legislature haa

diacarded legidation whick would kave added a 85000 fine to die edatkig 1-6 year peoaky Ibr die **iofi againat nature ." The iotrodocediojaauary aspar tof a bffl to eqaaHte crimind penalties fer simUar types of offenses. The biU passed die Nevada Senate 20-0 in April, in aphe of lobbying efibrts by activists in Reno and Las Vegas, but ran into unei^iected oppodtion in the Assembly.

An amendmem to the biU, intro­duced by Assembtjrman Steven Coulter of Reno, deleted die increases in pendties for such victimless crimes as "the infamous crime against nature" (defined by Nevada law as sexud acts between two consenting adults of the same sex) and marijuana possession. Couher's amendment passed without of^iosition, a victory idiich may be partiy credited to a caU-in tdef^ione campaign by Las Vegas gays. FoUowing Senate rejection of the amended fotm of the biU, the conflict was turned over to a joim comprotaise commiuee which akimately accepted the Assembly version. Hcmm-sexud acts are stiU punidiabfe by a 1-6 year prison term in N ^ a d a .

I h e legislature alao passed a biU< whkh states diat "NY PWEAON < ^ 0

The legidature also passed a biU vd i i^ states diet ' 'any person tdm incites, entices or soUdts a minor m engage in acts which would oonstitme

pcrfecmed by mi o M t " Is Bdble la a asaxknuat aix-yoar ftiaoo tecB. A dureat earUar ki tka aaasioo by Aaammkky woman Karoo Umymu to kurodora an akti-gay teatker bffl akmdUa 'ta Am Cdifbcnia B d n a faitiailvo frrilad to loateriaUae, reportedly Aaa ta

madia and fi^ow fegiriaioti.

We are family WEST CHBSTBR* PA.—

Did you Imow diat oo July 29, 1973, die Intemationd Red Gross announced tha gay cmqfiles would be treated like married couples for purposes of ]^ood Bank privileges? If a gay peraon donates blood to a blood bank, his a t her gay ^Miuse wffl have the aame right to reedve blood in an emergency from a Red Cross Mood Bank diat a heterosexud wife or husband would.

Different Drummer

San Diego aUonce San Diego, CA—

"What you are now experiencing could be the r e d thing— a raid or the dosure of this bar or bath. For five minutes there wiU be no service or music. Think what it would be like if you had no place to socialize." With this message, announced to patrons at midnight on April 13, to h undreds of San Diego people, as almost every gay business in the city observed five

minutes of s^eoce, patraoa wore alao tdd , "The rmtaaa wave of stepped ttp pdice haraaameoi arooad o w eataUiok-ments aosat end. We need yom kelp. Si^iport Gay Affiance fer fiqnd R i | ^ . ' '

in ooe bar, Tke Depot, tke U | M went out aod die mmtma$m was read by {UakU^t to A e stunned crowd. At aaother place, Weat Coast Co*, die annouacement ended with a plea far funds, with $90 spontaoeoudy coUected. At The Httt the customers applauded and tiiere was " a r e d good feding cvery^dxere," the manager reported. GABR, recentiy formed to combat the

continuing arrests and the questioning at

gay people. —from Arizona Gay News

Lesbian Hred DaUas, TX—

The Women's Division ofthe United Methodist Board of Globd Ministries by a vote of forty to thirteen reversed itself and fired Joan L. Clark, staff member. The action was taken in Cincinnati, O h ^ at the Women's Division meeting, one week afrer the same gro«^ had rejectc^d a personnel committee's recommendation to accept Ms Clark's resignation. Her employment as an executive staff mem­ber ended May 1. The Women's Division had granted Ms Clark a leave for professiond "development during which timi: she documented the effects of homophobia within the church and sodety. At the completion of her leave she submitted a report to the Women's

The More News Page Division personnel committee in which sbe discussed her research and affirmed her own s e x u d orientation as a lesbian.

The decision to fire Ms Clark because she is a lesbian is a story that in kself documents the use of homophobia to deny persons their civil rights. This decision was made not an the basis of competency, expertise, or job perfor­mance, iduch were never inquestion, but exdusively on the fear of conse­quences-if she was retained. Mai Gray, Women' s Division president stated, "Witii the vicious attacks and pubUcity the Division and the Board have re­ceived, we did not feel that we could withstand this action with the constitu­ency

Thoughtful letters of concern, an­dys i s , protest, may be sent to Mrs C. Jar re t t G^ay, President, Worrurn » I?l-vision. Board of Globd Ministries, 475 Riverside Drive, 15th floor. New York, NY 10027, with carbons to Michael Collins, Co-coordinator of Affirmation, P. O. Box 775, New York, NY 10011.

—from Arizona Gay News

Gay parents NEW YORK* N. Y.—

Renee Bpstein, a free4ance writer in New York City, is seeking interviews with gay parents (both lesbians and gay men) and dieir di i ldren from aU par t s of tile country for a book she is writing^ on dii ldren of gaya. Gommissicmed by a smaU independent puUisher, A^ew Press of Bennington, Vermont, Ms Bpste in ' s book wiU not be a scientific study but ra^cramSmpresawoist ic por t s^fd of the variety of r e l a t i o n s h ^ between gay parenta and their du ldren . The anony­mity of participants wiU be fuUy protec­ted if they ao desire. The chUdren to be interviewed must be aware that the parent is gay and old enough to talk d e a d y about it. Ms Epstein is particu­lariy interested in intex viewing older di i ldren and aduks (whether gay or non-gay themselves) ^trho grew up knowing of a parent ' s gayness. The book wffl focus on the children, not the parenta, but tiie author, though not gay heraelf, is ex t remdy sympathetic and aware of gay and feminist issues, and her book should be a valuable ireaource for gay people who are or want to be pareitts in tiieir s t r u g i ^ fer puUic acceptance. The n u d e u s of the book is sm a r t ide d u i Ma Bpstem waa a ^ e d to WEke for d i e New York Times, only to kave k rejected Ibr bemg " too p ro - say . " I k e a r tk l e waa ptddiahed m Boftoo's S U ^ Paper oo March 11 aod ia bemg cooddered fee pubUcatioo d sewhe re . t h e book ia fdaooed m appear sometime m 1980. M s i ^ a t d n wffl b e traveUng around die cbuatry for interviews, but preUndnary acreening araat take place by t d e p h o n e . She has a toU-free (no charge to calUng party) number fi» tiua pacpoae: (800) 223-0010. Her matUag addroaa ia 325 West 75di Street, New Y a ^ N.Y. 1002S.

Bogus buttons The Nat iond March On Washing­

ton, for Lesbian and Gay Rights, formdly disassociates itself from a recent button advertisement appearing in TTie Gay Community News of Boston and posdbly other lesbian and gay pubUcations currently circulating the country.

The following advertisement was not produced nor authorized by The Nat iond March On WashUigton. It is presently " in production" despite our objections.

The button advertised does not reflect the poUtics of the Nationd March On Washington in that it omits the word Lesbian, which all our materials include.

In addition, the button is being sold by individuds who d a i m fifty percent of the profits. CaU the Rodiester Gay Task Force at 244-8640 for more information.

—from National March on Washington for Lesbian arul Gay Rights

Condittons 5 CotuHticms: Hve , the black women's

issue of Coftdititms, a nationaUy dis­tr ibuted m a g a d n e of wr i t i i^ by women with an emphasis on writing by lesbians, wffl appear in late August, 1979. Entirely devoted to writing by black vromen. Conditions: Five is guest-edited by Lorraine B e t h d and Barbara Smith, and vrffl i n d u d e poetry, fikrtion, autobio-g r ^ ^ i i c d prose,; j o u m d excerpts, song lyrics, essays , and book reviews. Price of •a single iaaue is $3.00; subarriptionn to^ Condiiiorts (three issues) are available to individuals for 88.00 (regular rate) or $6.00 (hardahip rate). AU orders should be directed to CONDfnONS P. O.Box 56, Van Brum Station, B r o t ^ y n , New York 11215. papar t id ooments: Poetry by Becky Birtha, Tia Carstarphen, MicheUe T. Clinton, Toi Deriootte, Ruth Farmer, Yvonne Flowera, <^oria T . HuU, Chir-lane McCray, Pat Parker, Kate Rushin; Prose Poems by Alexis DeVeaux, Pat­ricia Jonea ; Fiction/Autobiographicd Proae by Audre Lorde, Rashida; Jour -n d s by Audrey Ewart, M u r i d J o n e s , J a n e t Singlettm, Bevewrly Smith; Song Lyrica by Deirdre McCaUa, Niobdi , Mary Watkins; Bsa^rs—"The poetry af AngeUna W d d Gr imke" by. <^oria T dnffl; " T h e bladt lesbiaa in American l i t e ra ture" by Aaa Allea Shocldey; **Notea for another paper oa Idadt feminiam" by Barbara S o u ^ ; "Artiata without art Ibcm: ci i t idam of tiie works of Toni Monriaon" by Renita Weems; Reviews by Pahamiaha Shariat Brown, Gher^i O a r k e , Linda C. Powdl .angela Wilson; Reviews of The Afro-American ' woman: struggles atui itnages edited by Sharon Harley aod Roaalyn Terborg-PenA; Black macho and thm myth of the si^erwommn hy Michele Wallace; The black utticom hy Audre Lorde; Nappy edges hy Ntosake Skaoge.

WEAR A BUTTON! MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE

50% OF PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT *nYIE MARCH ON WASHINGTON^

Photo search LARKSPUR. Cdif.—Sister Rise, a Les­bian coUective, is in the process of com­piling a book of photographs that wiU be a supportive s ta tement of ^dio Lesbian women are in our society. A podtive knage of Lesbians from aU backgrounds and lifestyles wiU b e presented.

The coUective is seeking 8 " x l O " black and white prints and portfolios of Lesbian women for their review. Entries should i ndude n a m e , address , and titie of the print. Please indicate prints that need to be re turned and endose a self-addressed, s tamped envelope for that purpose.

I^otographers chosen for possible indusion in the book wiU b e contacted

Ea#e CHsis Senrice

OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY 24 VWeSOR.STRKT ROCHESTER. NEW YORK 14605 TELEPHONE (71« S46-2S06

for release details and wiU reedve proper credits and space for a short pe r sond s ta tement .

Send entr ies to Sister Rise CoUec­tive, P.O. Box 940, Larkspur, CaUf. 94939.

eyewitnesses, the officer aUegedly then lifred the woman out of her chair by her hair and pants , shoved her out the door and began to hit and kick her in the process of arrest for disorderly conduct. The officer aUeges that Voorhees used offensive langauage to him and attemp­ted to strike him before he dragged her outside.

Eyewitnesses to the incident deny that Voorhees tried to strike the officer. Maintaining that he provoked Voorhees with v e r b d insults, waving his flashlight in her face and aUegedly hitting her with it on the hand , matrons at the bar described the indden t as b r u t d and unnecessary.

Cheryl was arrested, taken to the police station where bail was set at $500. Women at the bar coUected the bail n ^ n e y so that Voorhees could go free.

During this inddent the origind mugging victim was lefr near the entrance to the bar on a bench, vdiere he patiently w d t e d to be taken to die hospi td in the ambtilance. A fiiU accoimt of this inddent caa be read in an article wrinen by M a r d a C r d g published in die New Women's Times. .

On J u n e 28, Cheryl Voorhees wem to court to face charges of disorderiy condtict. She was found not guUty and aU charges were dropped by the court .

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In review The Gold Diggers. By Patti Monette. (Avon. Books, 1979)

BylK/CICDJXON

This is another new Gay novel, part a t a continuing increase of gay novels produced by a number of publishers. This one is different in the fact it is not a gay novel, only for the sake of producing and explooting the "new gay tiieme." It is an intriginng book that looks at the Uves of three people, two men and one woman who are at the least the best of friends, at the most they are lovers, in the truest sense of the word. They care

for each other the same as family cares for family, and in a way that is exactly what they are, family. Nick and Peter arc lovers and have been through the good times and bad. Rita, an old friend of Peter comes into their lives and immecK-ately incorporates herself into the life of Nick the same way she had done with Peter, fuUy and totaUy. The twist from other "gay theme novels" is that she

does not try to break up the relationship between Nick and Peter. Like so many friends, she knows that she can't, and even tf she could, ahe would not$ Rita is veiy coment being part of their Uves and rdatkmsh^, without needing to have more from them.

**Unashamedly unafraid of success arul fame atui ordy slightly afraid of love, Rita Nick, And Peter search for ' 'The Good Life." For Nick it's lots of gorgeous men for his bed; for Peter it's the glamour of an incredibly wealthy clientele; for Rita it's a fantastic dis­covery— an immense treastire of rare paintings arul priceless antitiues hidden in a secret room in Crook House, This discovery makes it possible for all three to realize their individual fantasies, but along with the treasure they uncover a decadent and sordid legacy from the mansion's first oWner capable of des­troying all their dreams.

The Gold Diggers is "must" read­ing for gay people who enjoy both fiction and gay fiction. It is an interesting and ingriguing book that has a gay theme rather than one which exploits a gay theme. The characters bring with them their whole life rather than a gay life; they dso intertwine their gay life with their everyday lives.

shape by the end of this year. <we should wiU at this point give credit to our very ablej

notice the number of pages in this issue* . .fdvettidng^ representative who has d-^ and the increase in the size and nuinber most single-^iandedly reestablished good of the advertisements vdiich have made relations with our advertisers.)

^it posdble. We are happy to see the We urge you to patronize die 2 rettim of old friends in our ads as weU as businesses and organizations which

severd new aama; we think it only proper advertise in our pages; and whenever ^ to say that withcmt our advertisers we posdble pleaae teU them tiiat you have % would not be aUe m produce the E n ^ i ^ seen their ads in the Bn^xy Closet. Closet in ita customary form. And finaUy, we hope you wiU notice

I The generous response to our fairly and appreciate the new tjrpeface vdiich ^ recent request Un donations and help did we are using fer the ttat—we think you ^ much to get us om of the difficulties wiU find it eader and pleasanter to read, i I which faced ua. The increases in our That's our way of celebratittg tiie new^ I advertising revenues (phis our subscrip- self-confidence we are experiencing. ^ I tiona) wiU probaUy pm us in very good Have a happy summer' I

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Tlw AINsiKMi Is tioonilnoi Qay'sin ByRiCKDDCON

I would Uke to rekerate diat the ADiaace is a busy f^ace, as I stated in the laat Bmpty Closet. The Miance ofiEices are open between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM« Monday through Friday, and be­tween 7:30 and 9:30 PM every evening, Simday through Friday. I have heard people in the past say»'*I caUed the AUiance and no one was there ." Tlie Affiance is staffed by two CBTA em­ployees during 4 e day and usually there ia someone here between the regular bnaintfas hours. Tlie evenings are staffed by volunteers and sometimes, through onferseen circumstance , there is no one bete. This is die exception rather than Am rule. There are xiew peer counselors who have just finished their ten weeks of apprentice training and so the offices are now being c o v e r t every evening.

Tli^ referral list that was moitioned in die last Enrpty Closet has grown. This liac of profeaaiaiials idbo will see clients on a non-judgemental and supportive baaia has expanded well beyond the requirements of CBTA. The list now indudes six lawyers, eleven medical professibnals, nine professional coun­selors, three psydmlogists, five pastoral eounselors, three sex therapists, two real eatace peraons, and two places for emergency houaing. The names, ad­dresses, phone numbers and specialty of these professionala may be obtained by calling die Alliance offices during the day or evening hours vdiich are listed above.

Tlie meetings of the affiliate groups are ctmtinuing, and information about these may be obtained by calling or stopping at the offices. These meetings are open to the public and all peraons are

to attend.

The plans fbr die local parddpadon in dke Mardi on Waahiagton are ooodnuing; to take p t t t in these plans and march^ attend the Rodiester Gay Taak Forco meeting on any Monday night at 7:30 PM, at 713 Monroe Avenue.

The evening peer couaaelors are pleased that the number <i counseling calls and walk-ins has increased in the recent past. These peer counselors are trained to deal with both phone counsel­ing and face-to-face counseling situ-ationa. No iqppointmem is necessary, and all are wdcome and encourated to participate in this free service offered to the community. This does not have to be a crisis situation. Many peof^e call just totalk to a supportive person. The

counsdors have a wide range of personal eiqperience and^have gone dirough a lot of the same things diat the cotmselee may be gtiing thnnigh. It is often nice to talk with a si^iportive person and know that you are not alone in a situation.

The library of approximately 1000 volumes has been getting increased use. I has the more popular ddes as well as litde known gay works. Many publishers have sent recent works to the Alliance and have thus increased the Hbrary collection and circulation. AD die books that are reviewed in the Empty Closet are avaflable in the Alliance library. A peraon with skiUs working with a library is desperately need m do much needed re-organiration. If you have this skill, call me (Rick Dixon) at the Alliance «iy day Monday through Friday. Please!

At present there is a btilletin board lasting housing and employment oppor­tunities. Hiis can be seen (or added to) aay time die offices are open. I would like the enqitoyers of this area to help

thek gay bcodiera and aiaters when haey have or know of job openings. It is better to aappatt our own ooaBmunity rather Aau Cad uacaasfertalde with a non-gay emptoyee vdioi ia not uoderstaiMlmg^ It is sometimes hard, if you are openly gay, ao tet*s help each odier.

Tliere is always work to be done, no matter iHiat your specialty is or where your interests he. For more information, please call of stop by die Affiance offices at 713 Monroe Avenue (side tloor) or call 244^640 or 244-9030 between S:30 AM and 5:00PM Monday through Friday, or between 7:30 and 9:30 PM Sunday thnmgii Friday evenings.

(Rick Dixon is the GAGV Office Goordinator whose positicm is ftmtled t h r o u ^ CETA.)

HewYork— "Brenda Starr, Reparter" haa die-

covered that her rival, di^ very 9mxy Slipper Veil, is actually a female kaperaoBarac i^e|diew of Brmada^a ^fpt' rent lover. BaalL Brenda admia diat 'die envies d ipper idiile Basil states that his nefrfiew's "coming out'* is cauaing him omsiderable dispair. It is all happening in die syndicated comic acri^, idiidi first started the gay cyde when a character in ^'Doeneabury*' stated that he was gay. That strip was banned in severd soudiem states and made Time Magazirte.

"Prince Valiant" is dso getting his eiqiosure— not direcdy, bw through one of its regulars, the str^s's youdifiil hero Am. Am met a somewhat efifete kinght. Sir Edwin. Two frames after they met. Sir Edwin is Ijring naked under a blanket

- in what oould be described as a seducdve pose. Edarin asks Am to spend the n i s ^ t but Am declines.what next?

—from ArizotM (^y News [BAR]

Another aaaault San Francisco, CA—

The Distnct Attorney's office here has filed crimind charges against vice squad officer Daniel Marr and a dvilian, Kevin Guerine, for their alleged partid­pation sn a violent disturbance at a lesbian bar. Peg's Place, on March 31.

According to the San Francisco Sentinel, two counts of battery have been filed against officer Marr based dn allegations that he shoved and pundied Alene Levine when she attempted to prevent Marr and his companions fiom entering the bar.

rLevine, 27, believed that the men, who we^e canying beer botdes at the dmc, were too drunk to be legally sorted in the licensed establishment.

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