| Transcript |
NATURALLY
MARY' BU TED FOR GAY
PRIDE ...=W=-=E=E;;;.;;;;K;...;;;.__ _ ________
The Houston police force ohserved the beginning ~ VICE SQUAD RAIDS
of Gay Pride Week by raiding Mary 's. Fifteen unifonred
and plain-clothes officers entered the bar shortly after
midnight on Friday, June 20 and arrested si.xty-TuO
patrons for "public intoxication." Several custarers
were arrested before they had finished their first drink.
Friday afternoon, Houston 's acting Chief of Police
held a press conference. He stated that si.xty- TuO
arrests wasn't an unusually large number and that it
was only coincidence that the raid took place at the
beginning of Gay Pride Week. He said the police action
was based on a citizen 's corrplaint, rut declined to identify
the individual making the corrplaint, citing
police department policy.
Houston activist Ray Hill responded that this was
the third year in a r<:M of Houston Police harrassrrent
during Gay Pride Week. A police spokesman denied any
kn<:Mledge of previous attempts to intimidate the gay
carm..mity and said he v.0uld look into it.
Charles Gillis , <:Mner of the Wilde 'n' Stein Bookstore,
told caJNECTIOOS that the ccmrunity's reaction
was mainly "what else is new?" He characterized the
police attitude as "making sure the queens don 't get
too pissy." The police action which drew the rrost criticism
was crOv.tiing 30 people into one small van, slightly
injuring several.
Despite the raid, the gay vs. police baseball garre
went ahead as planned. The gays lost, 22 to 7.
Gillis said the Houston television and newspaper
coverage was "pretty positive." It "left the :inpression
that the raid could have been police harrassrrent. It
wasn't normal activity."
...
AUSTIN BOOKSTORE
O,mer Sexually Harrassed
by Jim Olinger
Members of the Austin Vice Squad joined narcotics
officers in a raid on long- ti.Ire COONECTIOOS advertiser
Anarchodillo Sl<:M Burning Books and Papers at 2401 Manor
Road on Monday, June 2. They arrested owner Gene Berkman
in the apparent belief that they were smashing a
major drug distribJ.tor. It is unusual for Vice Squad
rrembers to participate in drug raids.
Although no hard drugs were found, $6927 in cash,
assets of Anarchodillo, the retail outlet of Berkman's
Pacific Sunrise Trading Carpany, was seized as "evidence."
Although Berkman cooperated fully with the
police during the raid and has a history of camunity
involverrent fighting Austin's hard drug traffic, the
police spent TuO and one half hours ransacking the
store. Berkman was also subjected to sexual harrassrrent
in the course of his arrest.
"I believe the Vice Squad !1EIT\bers were brought
fran their assignrrents in gay bars to see if they recognized
me as a patron," Berkman says. "Since I'm not
gay and I don't drink alcohol, this proved just another
waste of the taxpayers' rroney."
"The TuO Vice cops just stood arOund while the
four narcotics officers searched," Berkman continued.
"Finally, one offered to help because the search was
taking so lonq. He found thirty-six boxes of Chinese
Continued on page 4 .
'-2 ~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CONN EC TI O N S
C o·N NEC TIO NS AUSTIN GAY PRIDE RALLY
2401 :-ianor Road #118, Austin, TX 78722
512/474-1660 HOURS: 6-10 p.m.
Editor/Publisher .Jim Olinger
Graphics. • • • • • .Don
Typing • • • • • . . • • • Wayde Frey
Distrib..ltion . • • • ••• Wayde Frey
National Advertising •••• Joe DiSabato,
666 6th Ave., New York NY 10010, 212/242-6863
Articles - Alan Crawford, Dianne Draper, Wayde
Frey, Jim Olinger
Pictures - ScOtt Bieser, Kit Brooking, Jim Olinger
Publications - Austin Arrerican-Statesman, Free
Texas , Upfront Arrer ica
O::X...NECTIONS is dedicated to providing a forum for
the lesbian/gay carmunity of Austin and Texas. Publication
of the name or photograph of any person or
organization is not to J::e taken as any indication_
of the sexual orientation of that person or organization.
co~~:ECTIONS welcares unsolicited news and/or
feature articles, photographs, drawings, and poetry.
If return or acknowledgement is requested, please
enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
CQ;:-!ECTICJ.-:S will not assurre responsibility for
u.~solicited material.
PubHshed by Gay Cornrunity Services, a program_of
the University Yl-x:.A/YYCA, 2330 Guadalupe, Austin,
Texas 78705. Telephone: 512/477-6699
Gay Carmunity Services Coordinating Council
:-:e.rnl::ership . • . . . · · • ·
Office ...... • • • · ·
Spea~ers Bureau ......•
Publications .......•
Lynn Aday
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GAY COMMUNITY SERVICES '? ? HOTLINE ?
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The gay pride parade and the town rreeting, victims
of Austin's low sumrer energy level and lesbian/gay
organizations' conflicting carmitrrents, were cancelled.
However, several people rret June 16 at Metropolitan_
Carm.mity Church of Austin to try to salvage sorre kind
of Gay Pride Week celebration for Austin.
Those present were Dianne Draper, Scotty Scott,
Michael Fernandes, Becky Badgett, Jim Olinger and Wayde
Frey. The result was that a Gay Prid7 Rally was scheduled
for Thursday, June 26, at Wooldridge Park, sponsored
by Austin Lamb:la, Austin Lesbian-Gay ~litical
Caucus, Gay carmunity Services and Metropolitan Carmunity
Church of Austin.
Michael Fernandes arranged for Jubilation to play
at the event, vtiich was to run fran 6 to 10 p.m. Also
lined up to entertain were Hektor Munoz and Teatro
Alegre (Gay Theatre) , Richard Howard, and Deanna Stevenson.
Rev. Candace Naisbitt of M:CA also agreed to
speak.
Fernandes printed up and distrib..lted a leaflet
advertising the rally. Jim Olinger arranged for the
changed date for the park permit. Lynn Aday handled
J::eer arrangements, so that GCS could recoup the costs
of the park permit and other expenses for the event.
GCS had originally fronted the rroney for the rally
to the Gay Pride Week Organizing Carmittee, v-tlich atterrpted
to organize Gay Pride Week festivities for
Austin, wt then gave up and wanted to call everything
off.
However, M:CA pastor Candace Naisbitt, Dianne
Draper, other M:CA rrembers, Fernandes, Olinger, and
many others wanted to have sare sort of gay pride celebration
in Austin for 1980, and the June 26 rally
was an outcare of their joint efforts.
Austin Lamb:la had scheduled a performance by
Jubilation, rut needed a place to hold a dance. GCS
had reserved Wooldridge Park for a rally, but needed
people to entertain. Fernandes and Olinger agreed to
combine their efforts and to have Austin Lamb:la and
GCS jointly sponsor one event for all of Austin, along
with AI.GPC and M:CA.
GCS COMPLETES OFFICE RENOVATION
Through the efforts of several people, the Gay
Carm.mity Services office at 2330 Guadalupe has J::een
renovated and airconditoned. I Larry Palrrer, George, Leo Cazares, Michael, Gerry
Tarr and Francisco stripped paint fran window frames
and the door , sheetrocked, taped, patched and painted
walls, and scraped up asphalt tile, ruffed the pine'M)()d
floor and varnished it to a lovely shine. cork l:ulletin
boards and a stuffed sofa and matching chairs carpleted
the canfortable, harey decor. All this was done in
January, 1980.
In "1arch, Dick Ehlert organized a fund-raising
J::enefit for GCS at the Austin Country. Part of the
proceeds fran this J::enefit was used to re.i.ml:A.irse people
v-mo had bought materials for use in the office renovation
and had rented a floor ruffing machine.
In .-iay, part of the proceeds fran the benefit were
spent on a window airconditioner for the GCS office.
The v.ork was carpleted just in tirre for sumrer and hot
weather. GCS has also taken over an ur.used hall for
additional storage.
Lynn Aday located and installed a used airconditioner.
He and Gary Fitzsimrons planed, painted and
installed a v.ooden door to keep the cool air inside
the office area.
c:<N~CTilliS readers are invited to care by GCS and
to enJoy the cool, attractive surrOW1dings .
CONNE.CTIONS
HELP GAY CUBAN REFUGEES
by Dj_anne Draper
Horrosexuals are everywhere!
Today there are thousands of~ - lesbians and
gay men - in the Cuban refugee carrps. They have J:een
separated from the other refugees and placed in their
own barracks. They have already known tont'ent,
torture, and abuse - not because they are refugees -
wt because they are homosexuals.
Reports of the abuse they received J:efore leaving
Cuba have reached us. The 'WOrst was walking a
"gauntlet" of bayonets and J:eing stabbed in the face ,
arms , body, legs . They ....ere tortured because they
were considered criminals. Their crim:! was J:eing
horrosexual .
These men and ...aren are presently incarcerated
J:ehind barbed wire in Indiantown Gap, Pa., Eglinton
Air Force Bas, Fla. , and Fort Chaffee, Ark.
While many social agencies are willing to help
the heterosexual Cuban refugees, no one has stepped
forward to help our people.
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Corrmunity
Churches J:elieves that if one person is oppressed,
all people are oppressed. This Fellowship, of which
Metropolitan Corrmunity Church of Austin is a part,
has determined to do scrrething about helping the horrosexual
Cuban refugees. We cannot do it alone. We ask
the help of the Austin gay ccmnunity.
The Fellowship aims to negotiate with our government
to facilitate the release and relocation of our
brothers and sisters . Arrangements are J:eing made to
visit these people .imrediately and reassure them that
the lesbian/gay comnunity in this country cares about
them. --
Please help us with the negotiating, planning,
and facilitating that will result in freeing our
people, by contributing financially. Send your checks
and money orders to Metropolitan Corrmunity Church of
Austin, 614 East 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
These funds will J:e forwarded to the U.F.M.C.C. Cuban
Refugee Relief Fund in Los Angeles. 65% of the funds
will go for relocation expenses and 35% will go for
administrative costs.
'l'tousands of years ago £-loses cried to Pharaoh,
"Let my people go!" Today v-.e are crying out also, to
the administration of this country, "Let our people
go." But they must have somewhere to go.~on 't you
help us find therr. a place?
Lynn Aday (1) and Wayde Frey unload "new" G.C.S.
air conditioner.
Lynn Aday and Gary Fitzsinrrons installing new
outer door for G.c.s. office.
3
4 CONNECT.IONS
Continued frart page 1
hairbrushes and a letter addressed to 'Ms. Jean Berkman'
and asked me, 'Are you a transvestite?' I explained
atout carputer mailing lists."
Berkma.'1 was eventually charged with possession,
not sale, of marijuana by narcotics officer Sargent
Slayton. R. L. Chaμrian of the Vice Squad filed a
warrant for seizure of the rroney. Berkman spent the
night in jail before he was released on personal recognizance
l:x:>nd. In the rrorning, Berkman was given a
styrofoarn cup of "Florida orange juice," which tasted
like a soft drink.
"The jailer cane down the line of cells repeating
'Florida orange juice. Here's your Florida orange
juice,"' Berkman relates. "He was obviously trying to
get sare kind of reaction out of me. I finally did
what any native Californian v,0uld do. I said 'I'm frcm
California. I want California orange juice. ' The jailer
replied, 'I hear when you suck a California orange,
it sucks back.'"
Along with the harrassment, a clear- cut legal
issue is involved, Berkman says. "The police are
attacking the right of legitimate rusinesses to do rosiness
in cash and to maintain cash assets on the rusiness
premises. How many tines have you taken marijuana
to your place of ¼Ork? ~:ext tine you go srroke a joint,
you better wry the rroney in your cash register. And
forget atout the rroney in your safe."
The police rumnaged through $13 ,000 v.orth (,vholesale
value) of rrercha'1dise before seizing the $7 , 000 .
"They acted like Bulls in a China shop, " Berl<rnan canmented.
Boxes of soap, l:x:>oks, hairbrushes , shoes, and
dozens of other prOducts were scattered and searched,
including many prOducts still in manufacturer's seals.
The police eventually left, taking Berkman's personal
stash, The Queens, a l::XJok atout transvestites ,
and a stack of i.'1voices. "The cop said, 'LOok at sare
of these titles,' when they shav.e:l. :ny attorney the
evide.~e they are intrOducing," Berkma.'1 states . These
include :-orals a--id Liberty, Why :·lages Rise , Rule of Law,
and Viole.'1ce as a PrOduct of Imposed Order. A.'1 invoice
for bath to\·.els, paper fans, and v.aren 's brocade slippers,
is also being in traduced. "I suppose that's
evide.'1ce I'm a transvestite," Berkman remarked.
Berkrrian sees the charges he now faces , especially
the civil suit to allow the police to keep the rroney,
as "legalistic blackmail." "They seem to be acting on
the principle that they have it in their possession and
I v,0n't contest their keeping it because I have so-rething
else to hide. I suspect they brought the Vice
Squad in with the hope that I'd be afraid of being
publicly identified as harosexual. But they can't blackmail
me. I'm too proud of all my deviations."
Gene Berkma.'1 rroved to Austin fran California in
1977. He owns the Pacific Su."!rise Trading Canpany,
vm.ich .w. holesales irr'ported prOducts, and operates .. . . . . . . . ................
AnarchOdillo, which is a retail outlet and l::XJokstore.
The $7,000 had been eannarked as the down payrrent on a
wilding to house his expanding rosiness. He had l:een
in contact with several realtors concerning the acquisition
of a South Austin property in the week preceeding
his arrest. The new location, at 1712 South Congress
Avenue , is scheduled to open in September, 1980.
The preliminary hearing was set for Monday, June
23. However, the District Attorney has requested a
continuance, which is a tactic usually err-ployed by
defense counsel. The hearing will be delayed until
early July.
Berkman has retained the Austin law firm of Presse
and Grizzard, specialists in drug laws and rroney seizure
cases, for his defense. Libertarian publications are
giving the case nationwide publicity. Friends have
formed the Pacific Sunrise Defense Camuttee to finance
his legal fees in the separate criminal and civil cases .
Contriwtions should be sent to Pacific Sunrise Defense
and Reconstruction Fund, Box 6023, Austin, Texas 78722.
I Metropolitan Community Church I 614 E 6th ST, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 I I (512) 477-7747
SUNDAY SERVICES WEDNESDAY
1200 NOON AND 7 30 PM 7 30 PM
REV CANDACE A NAISBITT
Pastor
Tuesday Bible Study: 7: 30 r:rn
POTLUCK SUPPER SATURDAY JULY 19, 7:30 P ,M,
CHURCH PROGRAMS
Sunday lvorship: 1 2 : 00 noon and 7: 30 r:rn
\·lednesday counseling: 7: 30 - 9: 30 r:rn
CONNECTIONS 5
VICE SQUAD ACCUSED OF BEING POLITICAL 'IOOL
Dt'NVER- (IG,JA) - Both a gay oothhouse and a gay theater
have filed suits here to try to stop police harassment
of their patrons.
'I'he Ballpark Health Club and the Spartan 'lheater
claim they have been singled out for persecution by
the vice squad. Gay activists claim the rusinesses
have been harassed because some gay activists refused
to support the re-election of Mayor William H.
McNichols, Jr.
Denver District Judge Clifton Flo..:ers ordered
police to curtail checks of the health club until
arguments can be heard.
Attorney Arthur M. Schwartz, representing the
Spartan 'Iheater, claims a local ordinance governing
amusement roe.ms is both unconstitutional and inapplicable
to the Spartan . A J::asement roan there, is
allegedly used for homosexual activity. Schwartz said
the roan is not open to the public .
The Spartan 'lheater got into the news last sumner
when former Englewood City Councilman Donald Weber was
arrested there for allegedly violating a city ordinance
against "fondling." tie was later acquitted of the
charge.
'Ihe Spartan is asking for a restraining order , plus
$300 , 000 in damages.
Austin party in honor of Donald Baker, who is challenging
Section 21 . 06 , the "Anti- Sodany" law, in court.
Fran left: Dan Boyle, Don Baker, Jarma Zumbrun, Steve
Thanas , Donna Johnson, and Rev. Candace Naisbi tt.
JANNA ZUMBRUN NAMED TO DEMOCRAT IC
NATIONAL PLATFORM COMM ITTEE
Janna Zurnbrun was el ected to the National Platform
Comnittee of the Derrocratic Party Saturday at the
State Dem:x::ratic Party Convention held in San Antonio
June 20- 21.
Zumbrun, a delegate from Travis County, .imredi ately
flew to Washington, D.C. for the convening of the
cornnittee , which began meeting Sunday rrorning, June 22 .
The 150 comnittee members from all parts of the country
will continue meeting at least through Wednesday to
write the party platform that will be presented to the
National Convention in August.
Recently reappointed to the Austin Human Relations
Cornnission, Zumbrun is also out- going co-chairperson
of the Lesbian/Gay Dem:x::rats of Texas and a former
•.•. OO"'¥ll.iiU-~30!1 .OD •tile, ~t.in• "I;esbian;/Gay Political
Caucus .
-
~ I
Rep. Wilhelmina Delco shares Jimmy Snell's victory jubilation.
J IMMY SNELL WINS RUNOFF
On June 7, Jirrrny Snell v.x:>n the runoff for the
Derrocratic nanination for Travis County camti.ssioner,
precinct 1. Endorsed by the Austin Lesbia.'1-Gay Political
Caucus , Snell campaigned in the Austin Country and
in other gay bars in town. Snell also advertised in the
June issue of ca.~"ECI'IOXS. AI.GPC v.x:>rkers staffed phone
banks in the Snell campaign headquarters to help get
out the vote. Snell's 532- vote margin over his opponent,
Irene Snyder, can be attriruted to the efforts of the
ALGPC campaign volunteers as 'Well as to Snell' s vigorous
campaigning arrong black voters in East Austin.
- For a strong voice against south
Texas Nuclear Project .. Elect :
JIMMY SNELL
TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER
PAID FOR BY TRAVI~ Cot TY lrnTRTARIAN,~ IANCE .... t401 MANOR RD, #11 ~STIN, EXA; 7 111 ENE BERKMAN, FINANTE !RECTOR, 4 4-5 8
... LOCATED AT MARCHOD LLO
ANARCHODl~tO
AUSTIN'S UN\OUE HEADSH
SOAPS & SHAMPOOS
NATURAL & tMPORTt~INESE GIN~ENG ExTRACT
FINE HERB EAS * Sc I ENCE I CTI ON S c::
LIBERTARIAN ~ SSELECTION OF CHINESE HO~S
Afu sn N' s LARGES UP, S OF RACE OR SEXUAL
* L \·JELCCX"1E, REG~~1:i~~JK I ES, SPEEDFREAKS'
PREFEREtlCE, EXCE
AND THIEVES ., I
I
f'qalJYl Gay Camunity Services May 10, 1980 You were created EQUAL. And you ' re so diseased •
•
2330 Guadalupe a you STILL try to el:iecrieeze on another man! That's
Austin, Texas ~ why you 've got to go. •
. Punky
Dears :
a . Ycu know sarething you filthy perverts, every 'Z\ tJ.ne we turn around we get repo.rts on perverts
covertly interfering l:etween tv.O might-be lovers, •
If you have to spread your "open" minded a to see if you perverts could do your filthy num-
•
type propagandas, please be aware of sane things. 'Z\ bers on one of them instead of a love affair
We are far better than you are, because we a happening! (And by the way, since you just fal
face the highest enotions of living, and YOU 'Z\ haven't got it, why don ' t you just claim that 'qlJY
•
are faggots. ~ there's really no such thing as love, openly, so
And-iJ-iat YOU FAGS do is so nasty. You take , 'N you look better?) a
a clean, sensitive, personal weiner and mate it We know your tactics of covert fear and 'qlJY
•
with another man's shit hole! You filthy rotten a degradation and deceit. You scare us , but we get •
al:users of sexuality!! 'Z\ stronger because of it. We are just ab:lut throucrh
And besides, our bips FIT. And YOURS ro-J'T! ~ turning the other cheek to you hateful , clandestine
•
We can find the super- ultimate sexual' ex=- 'Z\ aliens to happiness and joy. •
perience and you can't, because you don't even ~ You 're "different," all right, arid so is your
have any right to exist and nature hasn't made '-~~ brother Satan, whan God hates as we hate you.
any plans for you, haro. We ~ow it is YOU who Jrurder our girls , and •
And even if they did fit, your bips are like ~ we know in our hearts that you can ' t possibly
rcx::ks - you can ' t even feel what you I re doing -z., have anything like the souls we do, or, any soul
•
very well. And you don ' t get hard enough to ~- ,•. at all. •
really do the thing, either. , And you' re not going to be in our environ-
And vie're not going to have any of you llEI1t , so you can just get THAT crazy idea out of
fa1 "bisexual" or "jcx::ker" punks on our girls, either . ~ your heads . • 'qlJY lvhen you enter a wanan, you 're supposed to be -z., Andone thing cannot be shunned: YOU are
•
cfaarrggy?ied. away with passion. \vhat happened to that, ~-z., the 1 o s er s . • We have to tel 1 you that you cannot continue
We'll tell you what: You're half numb, ~- ,•., to JJUt out :(Our poisonous propaganda and expect it
half hard, and half head! ~ to go unnoticed by people who just ....on' t let you
J"1 A darm freak that wants under another man's slip by· • 'qlJY pants. You think we ' re going to let ~ on ~ W~ ~ow that you secretly long for the peace
STRAIGlT GIRIS? ~ of oblivion, and no one wants to sit down sare- fal We're way over you, and we're not going to ~ where and hear you haros spit out the dribble that •
'qIJY have YOU on anything we're on. Period. You just ' ,• you spread, so until we care for you , you will do
•
haven't got it. Take your rrother, so you can ,:iell to help us out by refraining fran your idiot-claim
to be "bigger" yet. a ic propaganda. •
We've also heard that you like to call whole- X\ And keep your hands off straight girls ,
•
sate people like us , "sick." ~ because you could get your heads bla,;ed off, if
But even YOU know that the only real "sick- 'Z\ you don't. •
ness" is your filthy, harosexually diseased self. ~ -•
•
You have no right to get another male's Yours for freedan fran harosexuals ,
pants down - you are a crine against life, de- EUIWINASIA FOR PERVERTS CAMPAIGN OFFICE Fa1
generate. ~ (signed) Michael V
•
LPage 2 - Bent Bip Services7 'Z\ Michael Johnson, executive secretary
Anyway, your sex organs don't ....ork as good ~ fil/dml fa1
as ours do - at all. We ' re so rroJCh higher than no enclosures 'qlJY
f'qalJ1Y ypoisus, - athnatst . your lives are ....orth no rrore than •
1
• ~ Headquarters , Yes on Euthan':15ia for Sexual LI t1.gf@ t give us your pseudo-equality crap. 'Z\ Perverts , P.O. Box 185 , Manitou Springs ,
~,&:::.I ,&:::.I~ H }S,H'E++ H SHH am:,eJl§ H H H H H Ha~
CONNECTION'S .7
James Farrrer, the longtilre civil rights activist,
said at a news conference on the afternoon of the
"Washington for Jesus" rally of right-wing fundamentalists
in Washington April 28-29, 1980, that "if God
looked down on /the Mall/ today, He probably v.01.1ld say,
Thank God, I'm not a Christian. II
The organizers of "Washington for Jesus" did drum
up a sizeable crow:i. An estimated 200,000 showed up,
according to U.S. Park Police. That was sare 25,000
rrore than turned out last Octol:er to see the Pope give
THE LEADERS ISSUED A
HCHRISTIAN DECLARATIONH
DENOUNCING HOMOSEXUALITY,
Mass wt all the same well below the one million pranised'
by "One Nation Under God," the collection of video
preachers, tent-show revivalists and squeaky-clean entertainll'ent
figures who put the show together.
They sang and they prayed, care rain or care shine
- rrostly care rain. The red, white and blue wnting
that festooned the bandstand from which the preachers
held forth was streaked and stained from tw days'
drizzle, wt the crow:i remained in high spirits nonetheless.
In fact, a picnic atrrosphere prevailed, as
the Faithful fran all over sat in folding chairs and
knelt in prayer on nuddy blankets.
They heard one preacher after another all day long,
and the notion of American Paradise Lost got big play.
According to the Reverend Bill Bright who heads Canpus
Crusade International, Anerica "is disintegrating because
we have turned from the faith of our fathers."
But others insisted that there's still hope. "In tilre
of crisis in our land, to care and say, God of our
fathers, ycu will save us - that is why we are here,"
said the Reverend Pat Robertson who, as host of the
Christian Broadcasting Netv.Ork 's "700 Club," doubles
as the Johnny Carson of the Hookv.Orm Belt.
There was at least a trickle of politics on tap.
Most of the preachers railed against atortion, harosexuality
and "permissiveness" in general, and the Rev.
Bright even took on Carrnunism and the sad state of
America's defenses.
Specialists in the field say Robertson and his ilk
reach sore 100 m.i.llion Anericans each ~k on 36 wholly
religious television channels, 1,300 radio stations and
dozens of gospel television shows that buy tilre on can_
rercial 'IV. Their entire constiuency nationwide may
consist of rrore than 50 rrullion "rorn again" Christians ,
rrostly Protestants, plus 30 million "rrorally conservative"
Ronan Catholics and a few million ~lOrrrons and Jews.
That's "enough votes to run the country," Robertson
cently issued a congressional report card rating
elected officials on "rroral issues" - consulting in the
preparations.
Senators Jesse Helms of North Carolina and John
lvarner of Virginia were active, too. The rally wuld
feature syrrpathetic politicians who v.01.1ld be asked to
address the throng. Original preparations also called
for the platform from which the serrrons were broadcast
to have seats for every Member of Congress, with their
names emblazoned on them. That way, one Washingtonbased
Christian activist told Ire, the preachers could
acknowledge the politicoes who shc,,,..,ed up and "zero in
on the empty chairs."
In January, the leaders '-"=I1t so far as to issue a
"Christian Declaration" that denounced atortion, harosexuality
and excessive governirent spending. Oregon
Senator Mark Hatfield, a 111:x:>rn again" Christian wt a
liberal, was especially outraged. He Iret with the
leaders to express his misgivings. A source close to
the planning says it was made clear at the ireeting that
if the right-wingers did not back off, the tax-exempt
stc:':·:.s of "One Nation Under God" wuld receive very
~lose attention indeed.
At that point, the leaders "did a 180-degree turn,"
announcing that there v.01.1ld be no political speeches
and no politicians v.01.1ld be allowed to address the
cr()y.rj_. Even so, the rally was attended by Senators
told U.S. News and World Report. "And when the people
say, 'We've had enough,, we are going to take over." Helms and Orrin Hatch (a Utah Morrron) and several
lvashington lesbian and gay groups and assorted congressiren.Pat Boone, who had care to croon at the
literals had been bracing for the arrival of the '.rwice stadium songfest, put in an appearance at a . 'ew Right
Born since planning began rronths ago. Back then the fundraiser ·
rally was to have been explicitly political, with Chris- At the rally itself, h~ver, nuch care was tal(en
tian Voice - a Pasadena based 1 · t · 1 1 bb th t to wake sure the speakers didn't get too political -
- ~ 1 B~~ wi~ a fakra s=ess:nm ~ ==~.
ristian.:Soldie,~ ......... .
8 CONNECTIONS
''GAY POWER•GAY POLITICS''
TRANSCRIPT OF GAY POWER, GAY POLITICS
CBS (Carmentator Harry Reasoner) : "According to Kinsey
one out of every 10 of us is hctiosexual. It used to be
that it was sorrething to hide. But last ~tober the
harosexuals of this country publically proclairred
themselves to be the newest legitimate minority. They
did it just like all the others before them - with a
march on Washington ••• "
Lesb~an Speaker at Washington :-larch: "You know us,
Arrerica. 1-le are sorre your !:est friends. 1-le 're sorre
of your best relatives. Your sisters. Your brothers.
Your rrothers •. Your fathers. Your daughters. And
your sons. In the eighties we are rroving from gay
pride to gay politics ..• "
CBS: "For sareone of my generation it sounds a bit preposterous.
Political p:,<.~r for horrosexuals? But those
predictions are already caning true. In this report
we'll see how the gays of San Francisco are usina the
political process to further their own special interests
- gay~, gay politics. That's what this
report is alxlut. It.'s not a report al:out lifestyles
or the average gay experience. What we' 11 see is the
birth of a political rroverrent .•. "
"The assassinations of San Francisco Mayor libscone
a.'1d Harvey Milk, the openly gay rreml::er of the
city's 1:oard of Supervisors, on :Jovember 27, 1978,
are considered by many to be a political turning point
in San Francisco gay politics. Diane Fejnstein, then
the president of the Board of Supervisors said 'As
presiden~ of the Board of Supervisors it is my
1
duty to
.·
make this announcerrent: Both Mayor Moscone and Sui::ervisor
Harvey Milk have been shot and killed. The
suspect is Supervisor Dan White. 111
CBS: "And so Diane Feinstein becarre the 11ew mayor and
San Francisco was aJ:out to becorre a dangerously divided
city."
THE DOCUMENTARY CO~TINUED TO FOL.Lo.'l THE M/\YORAL
RACE, EMPHASIZING THAT rEINSTEIN QUICKLY LEARNED THAT
SHE WAS DEALING WITH AN IMPORTANT SEGMENT OF THE
VOTING POPULATION BY VIRTUE OF NUMBERS AND THEREFORE
CLOUT, SHE BEGAN TO ATTENCLGAY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS THE
POPULAR BEAUX ARTS BALL. CBS EMPHASIZED THE STRENGTH
OF THE GAY COVMUNITY PRIM/\RILY THROUGH ITS VOTING
Po.'lER ALONE AND NOT THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OR CONCERN
FOR HUM/\N RIGHTS,
CBS : "There's a consequence to the horrosexual lifestyle
here. Traditional values are under attack. The estimates
of gays in San Francisco range from 75,000 to
175,000. From 12% of the city to 25%. A Kinsey report
on S':111 Francisco 's gay colony was just carpleted. 'According
to its findings the average gay man here has
had sexual encounters with at least 500 different rren
28% with rrore than 1000. Most San Franciscans have ·
care to accept the ope11 cruising on Castro Street.
It's not unlike the singles scene in the straight
v.arld. A place where boy rreets boy in the light of
day. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. When
you take the next step you find yourself in places with
no counterpart in the straight v.arld.
For instance, should public parks be used for sex?
Today it.s 's (~uena Vista Park) one of the pieces of
territory clairred by the gay conmunity. When we carre
here with our carrera crew a group of gay rren surrounded
us and forced us to leave. A week later we carre back
without our crew wt with a horre rrovie carrera. This is
what we found: From sun up to sun down, rren everywhere.
Hundreds of them corre into this park each day for public
sex."
Child interviewed by CBS: "l·le went up there and we saw
a strea'<er a:1d anotJ1.er man which was with him said if
we told anyone he'd beat us up."
CONNECTIONS 9
CBS: "For the go.y rren of San Francisco, cruising in
Buena Vista Park is done without shame •.. The rren don't
exchange narres. They barely even talk as they follow
each other into the l:::ushes for sex. "
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION WAS OF S8Jv1 ACTIVITIES:
CBS: "We we.re told at.out an institution in this city
where people are involved in S&M activity in which they
are so dangerous that they have a gynecological table
there with a doctor and nurse on hand to sew people up."
City Coroner: "Yes, I've heard of those places. Why
are they allowed to flourish? Currently there is no
law against it."
CBS: "And, you as the coroner, when you go to the city's
politicians or the police force and tell then that you
are seeing sanething which is growing and way l:e very
dangerous, what sort of response do you get?"
Coroner: "From the police departrrent we. get great response.
The police departrrent and my office -work together
very closely. From the city we. get no response."
CBS CO~TINUED WITH EXPLANATIONS OF THE PROCESS BY
WHICH U!ANNE FEINSTEIN GAINED THE MAJORITY OF THE GAY
VOTE, BASICALLY THE DOCUMENTARY INDICATED THAT INCREASINGLY
SHE BECAME AWARE OF THE NEED TO COURT THE
GAY VOTERS OF SAN rRANCl3CO AND THAT TO WIN THEIR SUPPORT
SHE WOULD HAVE TO SUPPORT THEIR LIFESTYLES,
CBS: "What if Mayor Feinstein had gone through the campaign
making the sarre kinds of corments she did to the
Ladies Home Journal (i.e. that gays should observe
corrm..mity standards and not irrp:)se their lifestyle on
others) . What v.ould have happened to her in terms of
the gay vote?"
Gay SP?kesperson: "She -would not have had it."
Mayor Feinstein (to the gay conmunity): "I don't come
to you as a perfect person that knows all of the answe.
rs, and that doesn ' t make mistakes, l:::ut I do come
to you as a scxreone who has a heart and a concern and
a very deep interest and desire to represent this community.
And mayl:e at times I have teen insensitive.
It wasn't tecause of any calculated reason. If I've
said things that the comnunity has found offensive, or
doesn't understand, I apologize for that."
Question from audience: "What I want to know is what
changed your mind from June when you didn ' t think you
needed us to three weeks before the election when you
thought you needed us."
CBS: "She didn ' t answe.r this question to anyone 's satisfaction.
But it didn ' t matter. Everyone here knew
0 ,0" ,g
!1
~
C1
~
2
~
::ayer
Dian:.e Feinstein
r
..
that the mayor had just apologized. And it wasn't just
an apology. She offered them a gay police carrnissioner. •
And political appointments in proportion to their political
numl:ers in the city. In short, she had given
them all they had asked for."
CBS: "It may l:e that San Francisco is unique. That it
couldn ' t happen anywhere else. But if Kinsey is right,
u ards of 20 million Arrericans are harosexual. And,
as we. saw at that march in Washington last Octol:er,
gay political organizations are acting all across the
country. The right of horrosexuals to organize like
any other minority seeking to further its own interests
is no longer in question. The question is what will
those interests l:e? lvHl they include a demand for
absolute sexual freedom as they did in San Francisco?
And if so, will this challenge to traditional values
provoke far more hostility and controversy when it is
put to the test elsewhere? It is no longer a matter
of whether horrosexuals will achieve political~,
l:::ut what will they atterrpt to do with it. I'm Harry
Reasoner. Goodnight. "
SAN FRANCISCO PREPARES COMPLAINT
:-:ew York City (NGTF) The National Gay Task Force,.
with the cooperation of the leadership of the San Francisco
gay corrm..mity, Supervisor Harry Britt and :-layor
Dianne Feinstein, is preparing a National . ·ews council
complaint regarding the recent CBS ~.ews Special "Gay
Power, Gay Politics . "
.GTF Co-Directors Charles F. Brydon a.~d Lucia L.
Valeska said: "\·le l:elieve that CBS ~:ews i.."'l its program
'Gay Po·.,er, Gay Politics,' failed to rreet reaso:.able
standards of accuracy or fairness for broadcast journalism.
CBS v1ent l:eyond the bounds of legiti..--:iate rol:::ust
Jour:1alisrr into the reaL'TI of misrepresentatio:1, distortion
and sensationalism. The progra'TI reflects badequate
and shoddy research and was edited in such a
fashion as to negatively manipulate the viewing public's
attitude toward the gay rights movement. This manipulation
occurred through the omission of vital facts
fundarrental to an understanding of the events portrayed.
11\ve condemn t.1-J.is style of journalism and its consequences
- damage to the cause of civil rights and
human dignity for the nation's lesbian and gay citizens
,md a further erosion of public confidence in th~ media's
ability to accurately a.'1d fairly report the truth. ''.
10 CONNECTIONS
TEATRO ALEGRE 'ID APPEAR AT GASLIGI-IT THEATRE
Teatro Alegre (Gay Theatre) has teen delighting
Austin audiences with "Jotos" ("Queers" , revie~ in
May, 1980 COONF.CTICT-JS) for the past t'M) rronths. Now
this talented Latino lesbian/gay theatre group is rehearsing
for "El Osito Bailarin" ("The Dancing Bear.")
It will be presented for six afternoons in July at the
Gaslight Theatre, 214 West 4th.
Author Hektor Munoz describes "El Osito Bailarin"
as "a children's play which is also for adults. It's
sorrething like 'the three bears go disco,' only different."
It's al:::out Teddy Bear, who wants to be a disco
dancer J:::ut who must struggle with society's prejudices
and a big, bad wolf.
Teddy Bear will be played by Hektor Munoz.
Pancha, the Disco Queen (Pam:la Leighton) accanpanies
him in his adventure. Cliff Manuel plays Mr . M., the
v.Olf, and Diana Soliz is the Fairy ("no p..m intended") .
"El OSito Bailarin" is Teatro Alegre's second
production and it premises to be every bit as
entertaining as "~otos." Toe bilingual production '
will play at 3:15 μnon Friday, July 11 , 18,25 and at
at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 12,19,26. Part of
the proceeds will be donated to G.C.S.
Don't miss it.
TEXAS MONTHLY FINALLY
ACKNOWLEDGES GAYS EXIST
After eight years of publishing, TEXA.S .-V.tIHLY
has printed its first feature article on lesbiaI'-s and
3"ays in its June 1980 iss;.:e.
Written by :,1ichael Ennis and titled 11\vhat Do
I'hese Rugged Texas He-: Jen Have in Ccmron?", the article
describes gay life in Dallas and Houston, J:::ut skips
Austir1, Sa11 A.11to?1io, a11d other Texas cities.
En.11is concludes his article by sayi.11g that the
rrerger of the gay sul:x::ulture and the straight mainstrea;n
is already a'1 accarplished fact. The real challenge
for society, T"'....XA.S :-0:,"IHLY says, is not the restriction
or isolation of gay culture J:::ut the assi.'ll.i.lation of it.
Hear, hear!
2828 RIO GRANDE/AUSTIN
478 0224
ENTRANCE IN REAR
The GASLIGI-IT THEATER presents .....
TEATRO ALEGRE
.·.·•..: '
I • • -- -•••
I
• • : . • •
, •• • . , • • ; ..,
BY HEKTOR ~oz
JULY ]J-~t, l~SO
MATINEES
FRIDAYS at 3:15 pm
SATIJRDAYS at 11 am
- CONNECTIONS w 11 ,,,------------------...
CONNECTIONS
CALENDAR
JULY,1980
Wed July 2 8pm, Gay Corrmunity Services coordinators
meeting, University Y office
Thu July 3 7: 30pm, first meeting of Austin Parents
and Friends of Gays at Metropolitan
Corrmunity Church of Austin
Fri July 4
8pm, Austin Larnl::da Cultural independence
celebration
1 0pm, Showtime at Austin Country with
Donna Day
12 noon, Annual 4th of July gay picnic,
City Park, Lake Austin
Sun July 6 3pm, Austin Larnl::da Cultural hike for
....aren
9pm, Miss USA-Texas contest at the Austin
Country
Tue July 8 8pm, Austin Larnl::da Cultural support group
for bisexual vv0rren
Thu July 10 1 0pm, Showtime at Austin Country with
Monique and Candy LOve
Fri July 11 3:15pm, Teatro Alegre (Gay Theatre) presents
"El Osito Bailarin" (The Dancing
Bear) at the Gaslight Theatre, 214 \vest
4th. Bilingual, for children, the 3
tears go disco.
Sat July 12 1 0am-1 pm, Austin Larnl::da Cultural speakers
bJreau training
11 am, Teatro Alegre presents "El Osito
Bailarin" at the Gaslight Theatre
6pm, Austin Larnl::da AA covered dish supper
8pm, Austin Lawl:x:1a Cultural lesbian dance
f·!On July 14 1 0pm-2am, free sexually transmitted disease
(STD) screening by Gay Nurses'
Alliance of Austin (G:\AA) and AustinTravis
County Health Departrrent (A-'TCHD)
at the New Apartrrent LOunge
Wed July 16 7:i;:m, Austin Larnl::da Cultural lesbian potluck
supper
8pm, Gay Comnunity Services general rosiness
meeting, University Y office
Thu July 17 10pm, Showtime at Austin Country with
-Angela Aaron
Fri July 18 3:15 pm, Teatro Alegre presents "El Osito
Bailarin" (See Fri July 11)
12 midnight, Gay Nurses' Alliance of Austin
rreeting. Call 453-0816 for location.
Sat July 19 11am, Teatro Alegre presents "El Osito
Bailarin" (See Fri July 11)
7:30pm, .M2CA potluck supper
8: 30pm, .l~.ustin Lamb::la Cultural reshowing
of slides of Judy Chicago's "Dinner
Party"
Sun July 20 8pm, 'Ruth and Gail tenefit concert for
Austin Larnl::da Cultural at Literty Lunch.
$2.50
Tue July 22 7:30pm, ALGPC meeting, Austin Larnl::da Cultural
Thu July 24 10pm, Showtime at Austin Country with
Vonda Delaine and Dione :-iartell
Fri July 25 3:15pm, Teatro Alegre presents "El Osito
Bailarin" (See Fri July 11)
Sat July 26 11am, Teatro Alegre presents "El Osito
Bailarin" (See Fri July 11)
10pm-3am, free STD screening by G:--JAA and
A-'TCHD at the Club Baths
Sun July 27 3pm, Austin Larnl::da Cultural rren 's potluck
supper, Woads Park, 9th Street east of
Lamar
Thu July 31 Conference on sexual assault tegins at UT
10pm, Showtime at Austin Country wifo Lee
Shannon
• t I I I •
Sunday
t-bnday
\vEFr'LY EVJ::l;'TS IN JULY ' 80
12 noon and 7:30pm, wrship services at
Metropolitan Corrmunity Church of Austin
1pm, liturgical services, Holy Trinity Church
of Austin
3pm, Austin Laml:xla AA 'J.\,,elve Traditions Study
4pm, Volleyball, Waterloo Park (Red River
te~ 11th and 15th streets)
8pm, Dignity liturgy. Call 477-6699 for
location.
8pm, Austin Laml:xla AA sex and sobriety Study
8pm, Austin Laml:xla AA t-bnday group
8-10pm, Austin Laml:xla Cultural gay rren's
awareness group. $1 donation asked fran
non-sponsors
Tuesday 7: 30pm, Bible study, MXA
8pm, Austin Laml:rla AA Big Book study
Wednesday 7: 30pm, Austin Laml:xla AA Waren Together
Group
7:30-9:30pm, Counseling, M:CA
8:30pm, Austin Larnl::da AA Big Book Stories
Study
Thursday 8-1 0pm, Austin Lamb::la Cultual lesbian
awareness group. $1 donation asked f~
non-sponsors
Friday
8pm, Austin Larnl::da AA steps study group
8pm, CCAA bowling, Brunswick Capitol
Bowling Center, 5700 Grover
8pm, Austin Laml:rla AA open discussion
Saturday 8pm, Austin Lamb::la AA rreeting open to all
gays
AUS'l'IN ORGA.1\JIZA'l'IQ.JS
• Austin Laml::da AA Center .. • .•... 1403 East Sixth
6: 30 - 10: 30pm nightly . . . . . . . . . 4 72-0336
Austin Laml::da Cultural Center ...• 603 West 'l'welfth
7 - 10pm nightly •.•........ 478-8653
1Austin Lesbian Gay Political Caucus ..• P.O. Box 822
Austin, 'l'exas 78767
Gay Corrmunity Services . 2330 Guadalupe
6 - 10pm nightly. • . . . . •.. 477-6699
Gay Law Students . . . . . • . 2501 Oldham =207
. . . . . . • ...• 478-4595
Gay Nurses Alliance of Austin. 1010-B Rareria Drive
Austin, 'l'exas 78757 .......•. 453-0816
Holy 'l'rinity Church of Austin .. 1606 South Congress
............•. 447-7359
Metropolitan Carmunity Church of Austin .614 East 6th
. . . . . . . . • . • . . • 447-7747
A D V E R T I S E R S
Anarchadillo
Austin Country
Henry's Memrys
Holy Trinity
~1etropolita11 Corrmunity Church of Austin
New Apartrrent LOunge
Paths Untrodden Bookstore
Roomin 'n ' Groomir
~1.imny Snell
Gerry Tarr
12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!C ON NEC _TI O N S
COONECTICNS reaches a special audience that
other Austin publications don't. We'll assign
a blind !::ox numoor to advertisers 'Who wish to
remain anonyrrous. Classified deadline is the
~ty-second of each rronth. Classified rate
is 10¢ per wrd - min.im.Jm one dollar. Call
474-1660 for further details.
MAIL YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS TO COONECTICNS
2401 Manor Road #118
Austin, Texas 78722
I.Lame, __________ Phone ____ _
Aacttes~ ----------------~
City/State _____________ Zip __
Totalwords_ Cost
-_-_-' /
---'
___ / ___ / ___ {
Volume__ No. __
All classlfleds must be accompanied by payment· In advance.
IDvREY ORGAN - Holiday with Genie. Twin
keyl::oard. Spinet. Walnut case. Cassette
Player, Autanatic rhythny' accarpanirrent.
Headphones and bench. Excellent condition.
$1950. Gerry at 459-5094 after 6 p.m.
HOLY TRINITY CHUR::H OF AUSTIN , Liturgical
service Sunday 1:00 p .m. David Charles,
wrship leader. 1606 S. Congress, 447- 7359
HENRYS MEMRYS invites you to visit our
unusual, funky shop. Vintage clothes,
hot party clothes and costurres. Hours
11 -5 M:>n., Tues. Wed. 11:00- 11:00 Thurs.,
Fri., Sat. 423 East 6th. 474-6428
GAY HERITAGE - gay owned l::ook service has
large selection of l::ooks reflecting the
gay IMn's experience. Catalog $1.00.
Paths Untrodden, Dept. c, Box 459,
Village Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10014
EXPERIENCED 003 GRCOlER needed for growing
new bJsiness. For rrore infonnation, call
817/634- 8076.
Share tw bedroan. Gcx:x:1 north location.
$137,50+~. Call Don at 453-7231.
Human Rights Advocates
P .0. Box 39406
San Antonio, Texas 78239
512/655-3724
YES! I believe In a professional approach to leglslatlve
adv~y for gay civil righU In Texas.
PLEASE INCLUDE MY NAME ON THE LEGISLATIVE ALERT LIST.
Name _____________ _
Address ____________ _
City/State ---------Zip __
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CONNECTIONS
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