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NUMBER 1
L,
I
JUNE 1976
'The n~wsletter of Gay Conununity Services of Austin, Texas for its gay community. 11
I .
GAY PRIDE WEEK CELEBRATION, 1976!
(Wherein we march on the Capitol Itself)
I The following year the Christopher
Street Parade was held in N~w York City
as the first commemoration of this event.
To celcbrat1::. Gay Pride Wed< (June Since then other American cities have
20-26, as proclaimed by Austin Mayor Jeff ·held parades to show the pride we have
Friedman) a parade, rally at the Capitol, I in our lifestyles . Stonb~all also marked
and party/dance will be held Saturday, I the beginning of gay community s rvices
June 26, 1976 . Lesbians, gay men, their l centers around the country. Austin's
children, parents, and friends are invited 1Gay Community Services first started
to join in the festivities . : operations in summer, 19 75 ·ao-1 bas sine·.:..
PARADE: 10:30-11:00 A.M. - -The paraae:provided Austin gays with an ever-vioenwill
organize at 2nd Street and Congress iing rang~ of services.
Avenue (downtown) . Participants will i Ev~ryone is inuited to join in our
march to the Capitol grounds, and ace I celebration (out-of-towncrs, s~e pag12 4).
asked to bring signs, friends, costumes, Organizations participating include Gay
and pride. Community Services, :ms tin Lesbian Organ-
RALLY: 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.-- ization, Texas Gay Task Fore , ·
Gay and LLsbian speakers will address i~ om~n/Spacc, ana Austin Metropolitan
the massive crowd on such topics as law, .Community Church. For more information,
politics, rights of Lesbian/gay parents, ,call GCS at (512)-477-6699.
psychiatry, and religion . Music and
po~try will providt: the entcrtairur.t.nt and
the soon-to-be-annual Gay Pride and
Prejudice A~ards will be given . Rally I DECRIMINALIZING LOVE
D. P.
participants are asked to bring food and The United States Supr me Court .
drink for a picnic . practically styrniea the gay rights move-
DANCE: 8:00 P .M. to 2:00 A.M . -- ·mcnt earlier this year when it refused
Gay Community Services will sponsor a to reconside= a lower court's holding
dance at the University "Y'' Auditorium !that sodomy statut..!s do not conflict with
upstairs at 2330 Guadalupe to c elebrate 1any Constitutional provisions. Negative
Gay Pride Week. Varied types of music reactions to the d cision were voiced
will be available for dancing (including 1not only by gay activists but by repr ~ -
disco) and drinks (both alcoholic and sentatives of mainstrea~ straight society
non-alcoholic) and snacks will be served . ;as well . Editorials appeared in n arly
A $2 .00 donation is requested at the all major nci;• spap.::~s and even in our own
door . ·local American-Statesman expressing con-
The Gay Pride Week concept originat<.:d I CLrn about th..: govl!rnrr.ent 's intrusion
in 1969 in New York City, when gay p e opl ~ into the privacy of th~ bedroom.
first massed together in opposition to Despite ti.is ~id~spread opposition
police harassment of their community . to the court's <leci5ion, it still stands
This week is celebrated annually to m~rk as the legal ruling on tht: issue . To
the anniversary of the now-famous r e ~ain th .... momentum of our movement
"Stonewall riots" . I I (Continued on PAGE 2)
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GAY AUSTIN
REPEAL 21.0o (concluded)
towards equal rights for gays, we need
to study the exact meaning of the deci-1
sion, review the alternatives it leaves
us, and unite our efforts for a common
I goal. •
Despite the psychological impact
of tl.e Supreme Court's decision, it did
not really say that gay people are perverts
with no rights. In fact, the
Supreme Court said nothing about gays
at all . What it did do was affirm
a lower couct's ruling that the indiv~
dual states could regulate sexual conduct
without trandgressing any provision
of the Constitution . This partially
explains why so many editors felt
compelled to speaK up - -the decision
applied not only to gays but also to
heterosexuals who practice ' deviat~ 1
1
sex acts such as fellatio or cunnilinb-1
us.
The real political impact of the
decision, however, is to throw the
issue from the federal courts bacK to
the state legislatures . If we wish to
conduct our sex lives without fear of
government intrusion, we must now go to1
the legislature of our own state and
get it to repeal all proscriptive laws I
relating to private conduct becween I
consenting adults. Fifteen states havel
alrea~y repealed their laws against
homos exual conduct and nullifieo the
effect of the Supreme Court's ruling
on their gay residtnts .
Section 21 .06 of the Texas fenal
Code still prohibits homosexual con- I
duct however. Considering the law's I
potential threat to every gay person I
in the state and the Supreme Court's
decision not to interfere with the I
enforcement of such la~s, it is incum-bent
on every gay activist in the I
state to make repeal of this law top
priority . The prospect of getting the I
Texas ltgislature to act may not seem I
encouraging, but neither did th~ !
legislatures of Arkansas or New Mexico
seem promising, yet both have r '-pec l ed /
their laws on homosexual conduct. I
Texas will too if we work for it anG. 1
show the members how many people op- I
pose such repressive laws . Let's
take the initiative and regain the I
lost momentum in our movement towards I
PAGE 2
full equality for gays. Let ' s unite
our efforts and get Section 21.06
repealed!
W.E.
GAY CO~lMUNITY SERVICES--
and some of the things we do
Gay Community Services of Austin
offers 24- hour peer-counselling, referrals,
and information over the phon_,
Walk- in peer-counselling and rappin0 are
available from 4 to 10 1 .M., Monday
through Saturday, in the GCS office at
2330 Guadalupe, Room 7. Our lending
library is open in the office during
office hours. General busintss mcetin5s
are held on alternate Thursdays in the
GCS office (call for tim~ and date).
Also available in the office are a community
bulletin boartl anu a gay calendar
of events .
Men's rap groups take place every
Friday at 7:45 P.H. in the University
1 ·y 1 Audi tori um> next door to the off ice.
Our women's rap group has been consolidated
with the Women/Space Lesbian
rap group, which happens every Thursday
at 7 ~ . M . in tht: Women/Spact: office in
the University ' Y .
GCS maintains a Speakers' Service
which provid~s sp~akcrs on ~ay-relateci
topics to int rested groups and classes.
Past social events have included a
keg party in the park, a danc~, and a
coffee house (hopefully soon to oe a
regular event).
D. ?.
GAY BARS IN AUSTIN
Pearl Street Warehouse, 1720 Lavaca
(18t:n and Lavaca), closed Mondays, open
oth~r aavs 9 P.M . to 2 A.M. and after- J
hours. Covs r charge (50¢) Fri. & Sat.
Disco-bar. Phon • 478-0176.
The Nc::w Apartm~ nt, 2828 Rio Grandt: (29th
and Rio Granae), open every day, noon to
2 A.M. Cover charge (50¢) Fri. & Sat.
Lo~-Key bar with pool, pinball, some
dancing. Phone 478-0224.
Austin Country, 600 E . 7th, (7th and Red
River), opt:n Sat. & Sun., 8 P.M. to 2
A.M. and afcerhours. Cover charge.
Phonto 472-0418.
D.P.
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GAY AUSTIN PAGE 3
EDITORIAL '.lo resolve this issue; we invite our
Since its founding last August, rc~d~rs co sc~d u~ · th~i~ vi~1s. Vote
Gay Community Services has had a dual pro and con will not be so important as
nature; one part of our activity has been! the strength of the arguments presented.
objective--disserninating information !For this issue of Gay Austin, we have
about the Austin gay community; the other l)ublicized all events we are aw.'.!re of
part has been more subjective--our strug- to help achieve a sucessful Gay Pride
gle against sexism both within and 1ith- ~Jeek in Austin. Please mail your
out our organization . thoughts by the end of the month to
Gay Austin must, of necessity, Gay Austin, 2330 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas
represent both facets of our group's I 78701 .
life: the impartial role of conununity
nei;;rsgiver, and the more partisan role of 1,
w.c., TJ.E., J.J . , D.P .
11news - maker11
•
We are therefore compelled to pub licize
all activities of the gay community
in these pages; 'tle must also comncnt I
on these activities i1hen ue feel it I WANTED:
necessary . j HELP FOR GCS, WELL-KNOWH AS A
Individually i;1e believe, and col - ; POOR BUT HONEST GROUP
lectively we agree that the abuse or j
domination of one sex by the other should!
be confronted and vigorously fought . !Would ~ou like to help build a
Some examples of sexisr'.1 are easy to commum.ty consciousness among th~ gay
identify and confront, as in the case of I people of Austin? Or develop mmrcness
the recent film Snuff, wherein a woman ! and understanding of gay people by the
is supposedly disemboweled by a group of I rest of the community':' Gay Community
men . Other forms are more subtle and j Services is uorking on these and other
may not even be recognized by the less ;goals and would appreciate your support.
aware populace, as Hhen men are assigneJ I Women and men arc needed to staff
to operate heavy machinery and women to
plant f loHers although both are hired
under identical job descriptions and
standards .
The examples we nm'l con.!:ront are even
less obvious and are likely to be
debated . Certain events that we report,
and others which have already occurred,
have been restricted to 11women onlyi· or
"men only11
• We realize that certain
activites, such as encounter and consciousness
-raising groups ~ay need to
limit their participants to one sex in
order to accomplish their particular
purposes . Other, more pas sive, activities
such as viewing a film or listeninc
to a concert present no obvious need for
segregation.
Our dilemma, therefore, is wcthcr
to be strictly a disseminator of news
or whether to apply our moral judgements
and censor events which we believe are
sexist . m1ich will better serve the
community?
I our telephone hotline to provide inf ormation,
referrals, and peer -counselling.
jVolunteers to help with the Gay Pride
1Dance and Parade can also contribute to
1\thc success of these activities. ~riters
and artists are needed to publicize our
activites and services .
AND, tax-deductible contributions
made to t~1e University ·y · may be ear-
, marked for use by Gay Comounity Services.
!Money is desperately needed to fund and
..:;{pantl our range of services. If you
lwish to join or help us in any uay,
pleas e call GCS at 477 -6699 or drop by
our office to sec what we arc do:.ng .
·Uc arc located at 2330 Guadalupe
(upstairs through the doo:- between
Sommcr's and Skillcrn 1 s on th0 Drag), in
Room 7. Our office is opcr. between
l~ .::md 10 P . r~ . aonday through Saturday.
IWc would love to have you visit (there
are usually some people in the office
talking or something); you might even
want to get involved!
W. E.
PAGE 4
--·====:-====-~1;::;..;G=A~Y~HA==P=P=E~N=IN~G=S--I-N-t-.U-S-T-I-N--·~--~~--~
The nation's capital is still rLeling This is an acti•: month for the
HETEROSEXUAL SCANDAL UNCOVEREO!
after being hit by the biggest bombshell Austin gay community; along with the
since Watergate. Elizabeth Ray, an admit- usual GCS activities w~ cel~bratt: Gay
ted heterosexual, landed a direct hit Pride Wet:k (June 20-26) with a parade,
w~eks ago when she accused Rep. Wayne picnic/rally, an a dance. Pl~ase Join
"ays, D-Ohio, of various heterosexual us in the sixth yearly c 1 bration of
escapades at the taxpayers' expense. Rep. the Stonewall riots.
Hays, kno;vn for some time to be a hetero- The Tt:xas Gay Task Force and the
sexual, first denied having committed any Gay Acad~mic Union will sponsor a stat~-
heterosexual acts with Ms. Ray but later wide conferenc~ in Houston on tht 18th,
on, as evidence mounted, admitted having 19th, and 20th.
a heterosexual r~lationship with her but For Gemini gays, Lesbians, an
claimed it was not at government expcns~. friends: A costun~ picnic at Shoal
Ms. Ray also claimed to have carried Creek Park on Norland Stre~t the 18ch,
on heterosexual linisons with other mem- 19th, and 20th.
b<::rs of Congress. News reports began to Worn n/Space presents ''Lavendt:r , a
surface tr1at FBI investigators haa un- L~sbian film, on th~ 25th at 7 P ..
earthed a large heterosexual ring operat- Women only pl~as .
ing in the Capitol corridors. The ring Regular gcy events for the rest of
includes a close-knit group of political the month iricludc: Sundays--Austin
friends who have carried on their hetero- L~sbian Organization Rap Group, 7:30 P.M.
sexual affairs discreetly, so as not to at the ALO Center; M~tropolitan C mmun-alarm
their constitu~nts back homu. Larg~ ity Church of Austin holds s rvic~s at
parties attended mainly by heteros~xuals 2 P.M. in th~ Congr ~ gational Church at
were reported. Other low-ranking govern- 2jro and San Antonio. Thursda\s--L sbian
ment employees began to come forward rap group at 7 P.M. in the Women/Spec
admitting their heterosexuality and claim- office in th~ University ' Y''. Frideys--
ing to have been given their Jobs in Gay meL's rap group at 7:45 P.H. in th
return for certain heterosexual favors UnLv~rsity ·y Auditorium.
they provided for various congr~ssm~n . ThLr~ will be a general m etLng of
Inv scigations are still underwny GCS m\:.mb rs and fri~nds at 7 P.M . am th
at this time, with no final report having 17th and a Coordinotin CouncLl m~cting
been made, i~ading one to suspect that at 7 P.M. on tl~ 24th .
heterosexual politics are rampant in th~ For more up-to-dat information,
Capitol and that only th~ tip of the ic~bcrg
has been uncovered. Perhaps th~ .
final report will enable Congress to rid
itself of those self-proclaimed heterosexuals
who have indulged their s~tyric
desires at the taxpayers' expense.
W.E.
GAY AUSTIN is:
Woody Egger, Joe Justice, Dan Puck~tt
friends, contributors, sympathizers,
patient (and impatient) lov rs, and
fagsymps. If you have any gripes, suggestions,
comments, questions, or ax~s
to grind, ~rite or call us at GCS, 2330
Guadalup1.=: 1.~7, Austin, T~xas 78701 . If
you want to joLn us in producing this
newsletter, PLEASE contact us NOW. We'll
even be nice. Kis~, kiss.
call us.
w.c.
NON-AUSTINITES, PLEASE NOTE:
If you are planning to attend Gay
Pride We k ce cbrations in Austin, you
do not hov• to spend that lavcnd~r capital
on housing! Gay Community Scrvicus
is providing crash pads at its mernb~rs'
hom~s for Gay Pride Week participants.
If you need a place to stay, pl~ase
writ~ or call as soon as possibl~. Let
us know the number of p opl Ln your
~roup and w1 n you plan to arriv~. Then,
cnll 477-6699 lhen you get to town and
\IC wi 11 have u pl ace for you.
D.P.
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