| Transcript |
GAY PAPER OF NORTH TEXAS 35~
February 1975 Dallas I Fort Worth Number 6
Texas Gay Task Force Now
Open to Individual Memberships
(Dallas) Membership in the Texas Gay
Task Force is now open to individuals as
a result of action taken by the House of
Delegates and Coordinating Council of
the TGTF at their winter conference here
last month.
The first session of the House of Delegates
became an open rap with calls from
delegates, coordinators and observers for
reform and a reaffirmation of the original
purposes of the TGTF. This discussion
produced one of the most productive sessions
of the Task Force since its organizational
meeting last year in San Antonio.
The delegates heard calls for more unity
and commitment and pleas to be more
aware of the needs of gay people. The
House of Delegates, after much debate,
finally issued two directives for the Coordinating
Council to implement:
l) To open the TGTF to individual
memberships and to collect dues from individual
members and from organizational
members. This would bring much
needed revenue into the Task Force and
solve the problem of the status of organi-
. - .
zations such as the Metropolitan Com-munity
Churches and San Antonio Gay
Community Center which, because of
their constitutions, had encountered dificulty
in officially joining the Task Force
as members;
2) To establish the roles, rights and privileges
of the new individual members and
better define the roles of the Coordinating
Council and the House of Delegates.
The Coordinating Council then recommended
that membership in the Task
Force be open to individuals who would
pay one of the following annual dues:
$5 - low income
S l 0 - basic membership
$25 - contributing membership
S l 00 - supporter s _ - patron
Individual members will elect the regional
representatives who comprise the
Coordinating Council and will receive a
quarterly publication of the Task Force.
Organizations may join the Task Force
for $10 annual dues, will nominate the
regional representatives and will elect one
OLDEST GAY GROUP IN TEXAS OKAYS NEW NAME
Circle of Friends Is Now
Gay Organization of Dallas
(Dallas) Circle of Friends, the oldest gay
organization in Texas, has changed its
name, along with its approach and priorities.
Now the Gay Organization of Dallas,
its members hope its new name will be
consistent with a more active role in
working toward gay rights and legal reform.
The C.0.F. was created IO years ago
primarily as an alternative to the bars.
However, over the years its focus has
changed, and the group has taken on a
more active role. The C.O.F. has organized
Gay Pride parades and group representatives
have spoken on homosexuality
to local churches, clubs, schools and on
the media.
As one of its immediate projects, G.O.
O.D. plans to confront the candidates
delegate and one alternate from that organization
to sit in the House of Delegates.
The member organizations will also
participate in a monthly exchange of
reports to be maintained by the state secretary,
Bill Buie of Integrity/Houston.
The Council directed that the moderator
of the Council, Ken Cyr of AURA
(Fort Worth), would collect the dues and
maintain and keep confidential the membership
rolls.
The Council defined its responsibilities
as to maintain and administer all funds of
the TGTF and to be responsible for implementing
the purposes of the TGTF.
It defined the role of the House of Delegates
as the policy makers of TGTF with
the responsibility of choosing the priorities
of the Task Force.
A membership brochure for potential
individual members is being prepared.
Membership inquiries may be directed to
Texas Gay Task Force, P.O. Box 7318,
Fort Worth, TX 76111. Checks may be
made payable to either TGTF or Texas
Gay Task Force.
for mayor in the approaching Dallas city
election. The group hopes to determine
the positions of the candidates concerning
anti-gay discrimination.
The name change simply reflects an
image that a majority of the group wished
to project. Members hope that the new
name will reflect the groups political,
social and educational commitments.
Said one member: "An upfront name
will tell people who we are - it will show
everyone that we are not afraid to stand
up and that we are proud to be gay.''
Gay Movement Loses Leader
(New fork) Dr. Howard J. Brown, founder of the National Gay Task Force, died February
I of a heart ailment at his home in Greenwich Village. In October 1973, Dr.
Brown made the front page of the New York Times when he announced that he was
a homosexual. The former Health Service Administrator in Mayor John Lindsey's administration
made the announcement in an attempt to end the prejudices that homosexuals
face in obtaining jobs. In the same month he helped found and became board
chairman of the National Gay Task Force, a civil rights clearing house for gay groups
and individuals.
When Dr. Brown announced that he was
a homosexual, he expressed the hope that
others in high positions would follow his
example.
Dr. Brown's background and reputation
lent a legitimacy to the new National Gay
Task Force that it otherwise would have
had to develop on its own. The Task
Force has since gone on to attract most
of the well-known names in the movement
to its support.
Born in Peoria, Illinois, on April 15,
1924. Dr. Brown served as an enlisted
man during World War II and received his
M.D. from Western Reserve Medical
School in 1954. He came to New York
that year to serve as director of profes·
sional services for the Health Insurance
Plan. Seven years later he took over the
ambulatory care unit at Grouverneur.
In 1966 he was chosen by Mayor John
Lindsay to serve as New York's first
REPEAL EFFORT IS LAUNCHED
(Dallas) At its winter meeting in Dallas,
the Texas Gay Task Force launched its
drive to have Section 21.06 of the Texas
Penal Code repealed by the Legislature.
Acting in the belief that the repeal of
21.06 is the most important concern for
gay people in Texas, the Coordinating
Council of TGTF established its Legal
Committee whose current sole purpose is
to organize a statewide campaign against
21.06.
Section 21.06 of the Penal Code reads:
§21.06. Homosexual Conduct
(a) A person commits an offense if
he engages in deviate sexual intercourse
with another individual of the same
sex.
(b) An offense under this section is a
Class C misdemeanor.
This law makes private consensual sex
between gays illegal. It is the basis of
rucha~~~M~~~~~ NEWS ~
Director
Allen Reid Managing Editor
Scott Stebelman Dallas Editor
John Chapman Art Director
Staff: Ario, Jay Alexander, Ken Cyr, Sue
Harris, Kay Wilson, Randy Beitel, Rip Mailing Addresses:
Corley, Mark Elgin, Alexander Langham,
not nece arily reflect the views of this
publication, AURA, the Northern Region
of the TGTF, or of their members.
Wayne Ribble and others. P.O. Box 7367
Fort Worth, TX 76111
P.O. Box 9928
Dallas, TX 75214
Commw1izi· News is published by the
Northern Region of the Texas Gay Task
Force (Communications Committee) and
by AURA (Awareness, Unity and Research
Association), not for profit but as
a service to the Gay Community.
Telephone:
Opinions expressed in Community News
Fort Worth (817) 838-2095
Dallas (214) 827-2798
are those of the individual writers and do SUBSCRIPTION RATE is $4 (!st Class)
2 I COJfMUNITY NEWS I FEBRUAR y 75
Health Services Administrator. He envisioned
a complete reordering of public
health care, putting the patients' interests
first.
Ill health was a factor in Brown's resignation
from the City Health Service. In
1968 he became director of community
medicine at Fordham llospital and later
taught full-time at New York University's
School of Public Administration and
School of Medicine. He held professorships
at both schools at the time of his
death.
Mrs. John Sibley, his sister and only surviving
relative, has requested that any
memorials be in the form of contributions
to the newly created Fund for Human
Dignity/Howard Brown Memorial Fund.
Robert L. Livingston, chairman of the
fund, asks that donation~ be mailed to
Room 506, 80 Fifth Avenue, New York,
New York 10011. The fund will be used
to carry on the work which Dr. Brown in
his lifetime began.
much of the harassment and legal discrimination
against gay people. Private consensual
sex acts between adults of the opposite
sex is legal.
Randy Beitel of Dallas and Neil Parker
of Austin were appointed co-chairpersons
of the Legal Committee. More information
may be obtained by writing the Texas
Gay Task Force, P.O. Box 7318, Fort
Worth, TX 76111, or by calling (817)
838-2095.
and $3 (3rd Class) for 12 issues mailed in
plain envelope.
LETTE:.RS to the editor of Commtmio·
News should be igncd. llowcvcr, na1;1e
will be withheld upon request. All letters
arc subject to editing to meet space requircmcn
ts and to remove potentially
libelous tatcmcnts.
Puhlication of the name of any person,
b1Hinns or group in Community News
should not be constured as anv indication
of the sexual preference of that person,
business or group, or of their employees
or members.
AD RATES available upon request.
WANTADS: Sec Wantads section of
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Conferees at the winter session of the Texas Gay Task Force in Dallas January 25 included Gene Leggett, San
Antonio, House of the Covenant representative and coordinator of the 1975 Texas Gay Conference; Rob
Shivers, Dallas, Northern Region member of the TGTF Coordinating Council ; and Ken Cyr, Fort Worth, also
representing the Northern Region on the Council.
Elaine Noble, Morris Kight Planned for Conference
(Dallas) Rousing applause greeted the announcement
by Gene Leggett, coordinator
of the 1975 Texas Gay Conference,
that Elaine Noble and Morris Kight are
tentatively scheduled as featured speakers
at the conference to be held June 20-22
in San Antonio.
In his report to the TGTF House of
Delegates at their winter meeting, Leggett
stated that Kight had already accepted
and he felt confident that Noble's acceptance
would become definite shortly.
Elaine Noble is a member of the Massachusetts
House of Representatives and is
the first person running openly as a Lesbian
to be elected to a position in any
state legislature.
Morris Kight, sometimes referred to as
the "dean of gay liberation," is the director
of the famed Los Angeles Gay Community
Service Center which recently
was the recipient of a million dollar government
grant for its free clinic program.
Leggett also announced that a site has
been selected for the conference and will
be announced soon.
Preparations are being made to open
registration soon for the conference
which will draw people from throughout
Texas and across the nation.
This will be the second annual Texas
Gay Conference, the first being held last
June in Fort Worth. The 1974 Texas Gay
Conference featured Barbara Gittings and
Dr. Franklin Kameny and gave birth to
the Texas Gay Task Force which now
sponsors the annual event.
COUNSELING
CONFERENCE
SET FOR MARCH 1
(Dallas) On Saturday, March 1, DallasFort
Worth area psychotherapists and
counselors will have an opportunity to
meet for a workshop on "Counseling and
Homosexuality," a program of continuing
professional education designed to sharpen
counselors' awareness of the special
problems of homosexuals and their families.
The workshop is designed for participation
of psychologists, psychiatrists, coun-selors,
student personnel workers, social
workers, health educators, sex educators
and clergy. The conference, sponsored
by the Homosexual Counseling Journal,
will be held at Mountainview Junior College,
4849 West Illinois, Dallas, from 9:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In addition to the keynote address by
Dr. Ralph Blair of New York City, the
workshop will include panel presentations
and discussion by local mental health
professionals and representatives of the
gay community. There will also be an
opportunity for small group discussions
and dialog.
Additional information about the Dallas
conference may be obtained from the
Homosexual Community Counseling Center,
Inc., 45 East 74th Street, New York,
New York 10021, or by contacting the
local conference coordinator, Charles
Weis, at {214) 688-2031 or 521-8244.
Registration fee is $20 per person (including
lunch), but this fee can be reduced
to $15 per person for personnel of
any organization registering three or more
persons. Student registration fee is S 10.
0...00...00...00...0
COMMUNITY NEWS / FEBRUARY 75 / 3
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-1 COMMUNIT> '1-WS FlBRUAR> 75
Bl ff, LINDA & HAP
as portrayed in Dallas
Repertory Theatre's
production of "Death
of a Salesman" by 8.J.
Theus, Joan Foy and
Steven Linn.
Review by Alexander Langham
DEATH
OF A
SALESMAN
Take a tnp up Preston Road to St.
Mark's School where the Dallas Repertory
Theatre is performing Death of a
Salesman. Forget that Arthur Miller's
play 1s rega rded as a "classic of our
times," is required l11gh-school reading,
and deals not only with a death in a family
but with the dea th of The Family. If
all this ound depressing or dull, be assured
that the events enacted onstage at
the new Dcchard Arts Center are neither.
Even adequately performed, Deatlt oj a
Salesman would be deeply moving; given
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DRT's vibrant production, it's an experience
that will leave you gasping.
Salesman is a triumph for DRT producer/
director Ed Delatte - not only because
he invests the events onstage with
the intensity and pulse they require, but
for his meticulous placement of each
theatrical element in time, space, and sequence:
the play of Michael Foutch's
lights over Dejah Moore's ambitious set is
dramatic in itself; Eloise Swanson's witty
costuming of two amateur whores (sweet
and dry) creates the characters as much
as Mary Durall and Susan Coleman, the
talented actresses who play the parts.
It is in the acting that this production
glows. From Cal Duggan 's wordless Busboy
to The Salesman himself, beautifully
played by Bob Magruder, this cast acts,
reacts, and interacts with the selfless conviction
of a company of stars for which
we may thank Delatte.
Bob Magruder's Willy Loman is exhausted
"to the death" before the play
begins, a shuffling hulk vivified into flickering
life by the ever-increasing visitation
of past dreams. Dreadful as it is to see
him moved to rage, it is when hope visits
Three
Friendliest
1• n Town
JOE, TEX
and TERRY
the sagging face that we want to avert our
eyes in pity and horror.
Joan Foy's fine-boned beauty and plangent
voice make Willy's devoted wife Linda
a thoroughbred too good for the man
whose life's fate she tragically chooses to
share.
As son Biff, the object of Willy's fanatic
devotion, B.J. Theus is the image of Corrupted
All-American Boy, his firm-chinned,
short-nosed handsomeness flawed by
the self-doubt that haunts the wide blue
eyes. Like Jon Voight in Midnight Cowboy,
Theus displays a teddybear sweetness
all the more poignant for being embodied
in a loser's personality.
On the other hand, Steven Linn as the
oversexed younger brother Happy displays
a tacky charm as insidious as it is
amusing -until the sweep of events reveals
the spite beneath the cocky grin,
and beneath that, naked vulnerability.
Linn's campily explicit pickup of "Miss
Forsythe" in the restaurant scene, Handsomely
assisted by Mary Durall and Clifford
Samuelson's Waiter, is genuine comic
relief.
Riley Austin, Miles Mutchler, and
Lynne Roots also provide lighter moments:
the two men as Bernard and Charley,
the son and father who, unlike Willy,
don't need to talk about it because they
can do it; Miss Roots as the Other Woman,
younger and sexier than Miller's inspiredly
dowdy Miss Frances, and with a
distinct touch of professionalism.
Will leVison's Uncle Ben, Willy's dreamimage
of material success, is a monstrous
old bastard, heroic in scale, all the more
terrifying for his joviality. Rod Blaydes
as Howard, the boss's son, is a bastard
neat, with no scale whatever - which is
just what the playwright ordered. Paula
Gilbert as Jenny the secretary doesn't
have much in the way of a part, but she
looks spiffy in platform heels and Rosalind
Russell pinstripes.
It's always difficult to assign credit for
a production as well-meshed as this; all
theatre is collaboration. So let me end
simply by saying Death of a Salesman
will run through February 16 with Friday
and Saturday performances and a Sunday
matinee. After that you can prove your
faith in fairies at DRT's Peter Pan (the
musical version) at North Park Community
Hall.
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COMMUNITY NEWS FEBRUARY 75 / 5
Cruising the News
CYR TO APPEAR ON
RADIO TALK SHOW
(Fort Worth) Ken Cyr, director of AURA,
local gay organization, will be the guest
on the Sunday, February 23 edition of
"Sidetrack," KFJZ radio talk show (9 to
11 p.m.).
Additionally, AURA representatives are
scheduled to speak during the month before
groups at Texas Christian University,
Weatherford College, Southern Methodist
University and Tarrant County Junior
College (Northeast campus), as well as at
the Human Potential lnstitute's Alternate
Lifestyles group.
GAY FREEDOM THEME
OF RUTGERS MEETING
(New Brunswick, NJ) Rutgers University
Homophile League will hold its fifth annual
conference on Gay Freedom April
18-20. The conference will bring together
scholars, movement activists and gay people
from many parts of the United States
and Canada for a series of lectures, seminars
and group discussiom as well as exhibits
and various social even ts.
Further information is available from
Rutgers University Homophile League,
R.P.O. 2901, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
BELLA'S GAY RIGHTS BILL
INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
(Washington) A Gay Rights bill designed
to outlaw discrimination on the basis of
aff ectional or sexual preference has been
introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
The bill seeks to amend the
1964 Civil Rights Act to protect gay people
against discrimination in employment,
public accommodations, public education
and federally funded programs. The bill
(HR-166) was introduced by Rep. Bella
Abzug (D-NY) and at last word had acquired
at least 10 cosponsors.
GAY ACADEMIC CONFERENCE
SET FOR APRIL 12 IN AUSTIN
(Austin) The South Central Region of
the Gay Academic Union will hold a oneday
conference in Austin on Saturday,
April 12. Purpose of the meeting is to
create an opportunity for gay and lesbian
adademics - teachers, researchers, scholars,
administrators, professionals and students
- to meet one another to discuss
problems and issues of mutual interest.
Gay Academic Union is a national
organization of lesbian and gay male academics
and scholars. At the second annual
conference of GAU last year in New
York, conference participants elected a
BEER, WINE, SET-UPS
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Fort Worth
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6 I CO.'itMUNITY NEWS I FEBRUARY 75
national board of directors, composed
of one woman and one man from each of
five geographic regions. The South Central
Region currently comprises membership
in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana
and Mississippi.
Attendance at the conference is open to
all gay academics whether or not they are
members of GAU. More information can
be obtained from Art Addington, conference
chairperson, 900 West Avenue, Austin,
Texas 78701.
Houston Police Probe Ordered
(Houston) Mayor Fred Hofheinz has appointed
three jurists to a special commission
to investigate activities in the Houston
Police Department.
Officials have discovered evidence of
widespread improper surveillance of individual
citizens. It is not known yet whether
surveillance reports were made on
gay people, but sources in Integrity/
Houston, local gay organization, say local
gay leaders will not be surprised to find
their names in the reports.
New Gay Male Adult Theater
Is Now Open in Dallu
(Dallas) The manager of the Coronet
Theater, which recently opened at 2420
North Fitzhugh, has told Community
News he plans to show quality gay male
adult films at the theater.
MALE COMPANION WANTED
Wish to share my home with honest
working man, possibly leading to a .
permanent relationship. Minimal
share of work and finances as I have
two children. North Mid-Cities, convenient
to Dallas & Ft. Worth.
283-3310
WANTADS are $.50 per line, minimum
of $1. (Each line of regulu copy is
limited to 35 units, including letten,
spaces and punctuation. Boldface caps
are limited to 22 units per line.) Payment
should accompany your copy.
Discount 10% for 6 or more insertions
of the same copy, paid at the same
time.
EDITORIAL COMMENT three on charges of "exposing person,"
Disorderly Conduct No. I 0.
Ft. Worth Police Are at It Again (Still?) During the interrogation, officers were
repeatedly verbally abusive to the four,
using such terms as "fuckin' queers." At
another point, one of the officers reportedly
ripped an MCC poster off the wall
and said, "Can you believe this goddam
shit - a fucking church advertising in a
queer bar!"
Has the Fort Worth Police Department reverted
to a late 50's, early 60's strategy in its dealings
with gay men and women? Recent events
in the city (discussed in accompanying articles)
seem to indicate that the F.W.P.D. has abandoned
any attempt at a reconciliation with gay citizens
and has instead launched a repressive drive
against gays in the city, reflecting a homophobic
mentality that, thankfully, is disappearing in
most other progressive cities.
The vice and intelligence division, under the
direction of Capt. C.E. Hogue, seems intent upon
clinging to the ridiculous myths of the pastthat
homosexuals are somehow a threat to society
.. . that gay people force their attentions
on unwilling and innocent bystanders ... that
homosexuals are violent people ... that they are
all child molesters ... that they are psychologi·
cally unstable and morally corrupt .. . and so
on, ad nauseam. RIDICULOUS! And the facts
from numerous scientific reports speak for
themselves - if only the police would take the
opportunity to educate themselves away from
emotionalism and into reality.
How many rapes, murders and robberies take
place on the streets of Fort Worth while cunning
vice cops while away hours with suspected
gays, saying all the right things, playing the perfect
part, using every trick in the book, EN·
COURAGING them to commit what is called a
"crime."
What a waste of manpower, time and taxpayer
money! QR.
WAS THE RAWHIDE RAID HARASSMENT!
Witnesses told CN that there was no
more "exposure" than one is likely to
find at any public swimming pool or
beach. {"Tarzan wore less than any of
these did.") The "auction" which involves
only play money and no actual sale is
an entertainment gimmick in which customers
"bid" on young men as they stand
on the auction block. The "auctioneer"
gives a campy dialogue as the "slaves" are
stripped down to their briefs. Similar
gimmicks are used in gay bars in many
other cities without there having been
POLICE PRESSURE
CLOSES RAWHIDE
(Fort Worth) It was a Tuesday night and
the Rawhide was packed to see the "Slave
Auction," a weekly entertainment.
Among the spectators was a medium-built
stranger with medium-length dark hair
and a sparse beard. The six-footer, in his
late twenties, seemed to enjoy the show,
but at intermission got up and left.
A short time later, Vice Officer David
King returned with three other officers,
I.D.'s were checked, the bar was cleared
except for the owner and three others,
who were detained for questioning by the
officers and by officers of the Texas Al-
Sign Language
coholic Beverage Commission. The four
were arrested: the owner, according to
police reports, on suspicion of violating
Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code,
"Homosexual Conduct," and the other
any question of their legality, and much
more risque entertainment may be found
in numerous Fort Worth "straildit" bars.
(Continued on Page 13)
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COMMUNITY NEWS / FEBRUARY 75 11
STAR-TELEGRAM ARTICLE EXPOSES VICE SQUAD HOMOPHOBIA
"Vice officers say the homosexuals they arrest
are creating a public nuisance," wrote John
MaKeig in a feature article about vice activity
as related to victimless crimes in the December
29, 1974, issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"It's gotten so bad in the last year that you
can stand on some of these corners for an hour,
say, and you'll get a few offers," one officer
was quoted as saying.
"Also," the story continues, "officers point
to the savage murders in Houston last year and
a few here and say homosexuals are not entirely
the peaceful persons many feel they are.
"Officers say that making such arrests intermittently
is a way of making their presence
felt."
In the article, MaKeig reports on a typical arrest
by Officer John Ladd, who "stood looking
like Jon Voight in a scent from 'Midnight Cowboy'
waiting for his victim to be tempted enough
to approach him. After circling by five
or six times, a car stopped and Ladd got in.
Unitarian Minister Responds
to Star-Telegram Article
(Excerpts repnnted from an article in the
FIRST UNITARJAN ADVANCE with the
permission of the author, Rev. Walter Bae·e,
who at the time was pastor of the Fir t Unitarian
Church of Fort Worth)
The article ought to have arouc;ed the indignation
and concern of all, who, if they don't
understand the Bill of Rights nor the principles
underlying concepts of per~onal freedom and
individual rights, at least suspect there may be
something wrong with tax money used to support
young plainclothe police officer tanding
on street corners "looking like Jon Voight," a
the article referred to them, for hour on end
waiting for those terrible threats to public morals
to pass them a number of times in their cars
and finally ask one if he wants a nde (with the
intent admittedly of something other than simply
giving them a ride, at least the hope). All
the while this little charade is being observed by
a second police officer in a darkened car who
has binoculars. Then, in what presumably is a
typical situation, the young officer may drive
around as much as an hour or more with the
man who has picked him up waiting (inviting)
the overt gesture that a sures the arrest of this
dangerous deviant (since it may not be entirely
clear, I refer to the dnver, not the vice officer).
One legitimately might wonder what the government
is doing legi lating laws concerning
matters of per onal choice that it take such
"trolling" to ferret out "offender "and authorizing
a considerable amount of taxpayer money
to pay for the operation, particularly while
real crime rates soar: robberies, rape, not to
speak of other real and far-reaching crimes
against society such as those labeled "white collar."
How curious it is that the stigma attached
to so many real crimes does not compare to
that which would fall on the man in the car
whose career is virtually over if it becomes
known.
Could it be clearer than if one is approached,
he (or she) has only to say "no," or say nothing
at all. I remember years ago in Miami Beach
when a prostitute approached me and asked
how I'd like a good time! Apart from the obvious
fact that she surely misjudged in my own
situation, I scarcely became unglued by this
"outrage"! And why should anyone who is not
terribly threatened (or tempted) already?
I do think that "street cruising" is an unattractive
behavior, though I understand the motives
of lonliness that might cause it Or the
(Adapted
from
"It' got o bad in downtown
Fort Worth that a goocllooking
young vice cop can't . land on the
corner rubbing the bulging crotch
of hi · ti11ht fitting pants for
mon· than an hour without ~?;<-lling
proposi ti orn· d ! "
mapzine)
12 I CO.UM UNITY NHWS I FHBR UAR y 75
"From 10.20 p.m. to 11 :15 p.m. the three
vice units followed the car around north Fort
Worth ... wondering all the while why the driver
hadn't .. . done something overt enough to
justify Ladd arresting him.
"At 11 :25 p.m., the radio in (Officer) Carter's
car crackled out the message that Ladd
.had arrested the driver "when he had finally
made a move of a "homosexual nature."
"This just isn't your night, is it?" one of the
officers was quoted as saying to the man as he
was hauled off to jail.
motive of those married men who most frequently
engage in it who are fearful to be seen
at gay bars or other places where gays would be
together, thinking there is more of a risk in going
there. That they sometimes are woefully
mistaken is sadly the case: for instance when
the hustler turns out to be a plainsclothes vice
officer.
But what percentage of homoc;exuals - and l
refer to those of us who are gay and know it
and within our elves live comfortably, or as
comfortably as anyone lives with himself -
what percentage do you think engage m nightly
street cruising? .001 maybe. And the deliberately
misleading, intentionally deceptive statement
from the vice officers that we are not
"peaceful per ons" is so absurd and disgu tingly
untrue as almost to defy any other comment.
Something on a par with the notion that all
black men are likely to rob 7-Fleven stores .. ..
I think about a fnend of mine who had left a
gay bar with a friend of his. They were stopped
by the police as they were getting into the friend's
car. One of the two officer used the
most abusive and dens1ve language against the
two young men as he tore the car apart looking
for and saying he would find " omethmg" to be
able to take those two "perverts" in. He didn't
find anything, of course, but obviously did he
neither apologize but left them to straighten
out the damage with a string of the usual obsenities
hurled at homosexuals by ignorant (and
themselves threatened?) persons in or outside
uniforms.
It eludes me how any sexual relationships between
persons mutually participating by their
own choice and volition - be those between
the same or both sexes - can be called "vice"
except by standards or criteria born of ignorance,
superstition, hypoc.risy, or, perhap , envy.
The vice squad is probably well named. But
for the wrong reasons. The wrong "vice ." At
least where their "commando tactic ," "trolling,"
standing around on street corner waiting
in darkened cars not for any crime ~ith a
victim to happen, or to investigate one that ha
happened, but to catch, punish, humtliate offendcn
to what are basically per onal or pnvate,
conventional or parochial standard of morality.
In this, it h they who are viciou . "V1c1ou)"
meaning, as m its Latin origin, vit1osu indicates,
full of laults, ruined by detect , Ila w-or
errors, having bad habits, malicious, spiteful,
mean. And they are not many \\ho have had
any contact with the "vice" who unlikely think
the word doe n't apply to them.
You don't have to answer these questions! • • •
THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC reproduction of a
questionnaire currently being used by the Fort
Worth Police Department to compile informa·
tion on gay men, the gay community and the
local gay movement. Suspected homosexuals
are pressured to provide answers to the ques·
tions by officers, who, if asked, will admit
that a person is not legally required to provide
this information but is advised to cooperate.
FORT WORTH
POLICE ON RAMPAGE
Increased downtown surveillance and
arrests which smell suspiciously like entrapment
Increased police visibility around bars
and other gay gathering places in an obvious
attempt at "making their presence
felt." Squad cars have been observed
many times slowly cruising through parking
lots of gay establishments "routinely"
checking inspcd1on stickers. (Police tend
to forget that gays spend most of their
tune m "straight" settings ... and there
they sec no such concerted actions and
feel no such heavy poltce presence.) Routine?
In addition to the raid on the Rawhide,
CN has received reports of mass I. D.
checks at another Fort Worth bar
Continued use of an "information"
sheet on suspected homosexuals which is
degrading, insulting, is an invasion of privacy
and has an over-all tone designed to
intimidate the accused person.
NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT: Fewer
gay people are being intimidated. More
and more are fighting back ... and more
and more of those who challenge their
arrests and harassment are winning their
rights legally in court. Also, a more Ii beral-
minded public is lending its support to
those gays who are fighting against police
harassment, entrapment and invasion of
privacy.
IF YOU HAVE a problem with ANY law enforcement
officer which involves a gay activity
or in which your gayness plays any part in po·
lice conduct toward you ·· please report the in·
cident in writing to COMMUNITY NEWS.
Even if you do not wish to file an official complaint,
the information can be most helpful in
compiling a statistical record of police activity
against gays.
RA Wl/IDH (Co11t11111cd fro111 Page 11)
At least two of those arrestee.I have
plcdge<l to challenge the arrests in court.
Following the arrests, a further pattern
of harassment emerged. Although the
AB(' offi ·crs t!it! not remove the har's Ii-
Plainclothes Division 36202
Personal History Continued
Page 2
Sex D,.v1.ates if Applicable
l. Does subject admit to homosexual tendencies?
2. Does he have normal sexual relations with the opposite sex?
3. At what age did subject first notice homosexual te~dencies7
Relata .circumstancea ·aurrounding first unnatural sex act
4. Was subject introduced to homos-.xuality by someone else?
5. Name of other person involved in first homosexual act
6. Does subject belong to a homosexual group?
7. Typea. of sodomy practiced
8. Has subject had a lasting affair with another homosexual
If so, how long did it last?
9. Has subject ever attempted to obtain psychiatric treatment?
10. Does he have any desire for psychiatric treatment? --- -
11. Vocational preference
12. Religious denomination Name of Church
Frequency of attendance Date last attended
13. Name• and addresses of persons subject knows to be homosexual:
14. Subject's idcRs on why he is a homosexual, briefly explain
15. Memoranda the subject has in his pos~ession, i. e., names, addresses,
and telephone numbers
quor license during the mcident (as is the
usual procedure if there is any cause),
several days later, the ABC requested that
the license be signed over to them ant!
threatened retaliation in the form of "legal.
non-provable harassment" of the bar
ant! its customers if the request \V3S not
honored ext, the har's t!ancl! license
001-36202
was revolked by the city, although the
owner had merely been charged and not
yet convicted of anything.
Facing certain continued harassment
from the city and the ABC. the owner
gave away his beer supply ant! dosed his
doors. pending final settlement t)f the
durgcs against him.
C0\/1/l \If} \l ll'S J-l !JRl IRl -_, ,,
( DIRECTORY
DALLAS
Act III. 3115 Live Oak, 824-9043
Bayou Landing, 2609 N. Pearl, 742-9521
Bon Soir, 4527 Cole, 526-9432
Crew Inn, 3220 N. Fitzhugh, 526-9320
Encore, 4516 McKinney, 526-9328
Entre Nuit, 3116 Live Oak, 823-0423
Highland, 3018 Monticello. 526-9551
Marlboro, 4100 Maple, 526-9487
Old Plantation, 3717 Rawlins. 528-6550
OliYe Branch, (on McKinney), 823-0921
One Way In, 2509 N. Fitzhugh (women)
824-9227
Ramrod, 3224 N. Fitzhugh. 526-9110
Sundance Kids. 4025 Maple, 5 26-9173
S\\amp Trash, 3014 Throckmorton,
528-9184
Swinger, 4006 Maple, 526-9295
Terry's Ranch, 4117 Maple, 526-9524
T.J .' , 3307 McKinney, 5 26-9 368
Villa Fontana, 1315 Skiles, 823-0372
The Fifth Wheel, 1212 Oak Lawn,
742-0010
ALSO in Dallas ...
Studio 9 Theater, 4817 Bryan, Dallas,
823-0447
Bachelor Quarter Bath , 3116 Live Oak,
Dallas, 823-0432
aub Dallas Baths, 2616 Swiss, 821-1990
FORT WORTH
Other Place, 2308 W 7th. 335-0586
Purple Lady, 3029 S Main, 927-9881
Rawhide, 4016 White Settlement Rd.,
737-0248
Regency Lounge, 1812 Hemphill,
927-9416
651 Club, 651 S. Jennings, 33 2-0417
T.J.' Back Door, 5536 Jacksboro Hwy.,
(rear) 624-0630
AMARILLO
My Way, 523 E. 10th. 373-4792
\\1CIUTA FALL
Carousel, 703 Travis, 322-0832
I
Sand Box. 31 51 Seymore Hwy, 3 22-0866
L BBOCK
David's Warehouse, 2402 Marshall St.,
762-1165
(Readers. If any of these hstings are not
correct, please contact Commumty News}
Org ani za ti ons
Agape ~etropolitan Community Church,
P.O. Box 4589, Ft. Worth TX 76106,
Services at 2800 Purington, office
{817) 534-9406
AURA (Awareness, Unity & Research
Association}. P.O. Box 7318, Fort
Worth TX76111,{817)838-2095
Daughters of Bilitis. P.O. Box 1242. Dallas
TX 75221, (214) 241-4118, meetings
first & third Fridays
Dignity, P.O. Box 70. Euless TX 76039.
(metro) 469-6669. Call for meeting
information
G.0.0.D. (Gay OrganiLation of Dallas.
Circle of Friends), 3834 Ros) Avenue.
Dallas TX 75204, (214) 827-2798or
REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS
Sunday - MCC-Dallas Worship, 11 a.m.
& 7:30 p.m.
MCC-Ft. Worth Worship, 7:30 p.m.
Monday - MCC-Ft. Worth, Bible Study
(pastor's office). 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday - MCC-Ft. Worth, Sign Language
Clas (pa tor' office), 7:30 p.m.
Wedne day - MCC-Ft. Worth Worship,
7:30 p.m.
Thu~day - MCC-Ft. Worth, Open Rap
(discussion) (pastor's office), 7;30 p.m.
Friday - MCC-Dallas, "Experimental
Worship Service," 7:30 p.m.
528-8369, meetings second and fourth
Fridays
Metropolitan Community Church of Dallas.
3834 Ross Avenue, Dallas TX
75204. (214) 826-0291
WRANGLERS ... Please con tact CN if
you have information about this organization.
GA YLORDS ... Please contact CN if
you have information about thi organization.
Other organizations not listed: Please
contact CN with information about
your orga111zation and activities.
FEBRUARY
Friday, Feb. 14 - Agape MCC Valentine
Party, 9:00 p.m., 2800 Purington, Ft.
Worth, S2 at the door
Monday, Feb. 17 - Agape MCC "Gay
Sway" skating party, SI.SO at the
door, $1 in advance, at Holiday Roller
Rink, 2920 Carson, Haltom City, 7:30
-9:00 p.m.
MARCH
"Hello, Dolly" - March production at
the Encore. Call (214) 526-9328 for
dates, time and reservations.
(Editor's Note: Come on, people -
There's bound to be more than this going
on. let us know about it.)
SUBSCRIBE Su6scri6e SUBSCRIBE Subscribe
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Subscribe only $3 - 3rd Class.
$4 - 1st Class
Address-------------
City/State/Zip -----------
Make check payable to COMMUNITY NEWS
P.O. Box 7367. Fort Worth TX 76111
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14 / CO.".fMUNITY NEWS / FEBRUARY 75
BOOK REVIEW By Scott Stebelman
•••••••••••••••••••••••
1'/Je Frollt H111J1Jer
***********************
Warren, Patricia Nell. The Front Runner.
New York: William Morrow & Company,
1974.
What is so amazing about The Front
Runner is that it was written by a woman.
The novel is a celebration, almost a
deification, of gay macho of the young
gay runner who strives for physical perfection
on the track and for emotional
fulfi llment off it. It chronicles the love
of Billy Sive and Harlan Brown, how they
train rigorously for the 1976 Olympics,
how they struggle to love each other with
tenderness and respect, and how they are
eventually crushed by America's homophobia.
The plot is quite simple in many respects.
Three University of Oregon track
stars, dropped from the team for being
openly gay, seek refuge with Harlan
Brown, a gay track coach at Prescott College.
Two of the boys are lovers, but the
third, Billy Sive, is unattached. Harlan
and Billy quickly fall for each other, but
Harlan, still feeling the effects of a homosexual
scandal which cost him his last job,
ref uses to give in to his emotions. Sexual
tension builds: Billy can't study, he becomes
depressed, he overtrains all of
which affect his running. Seeing that he
is destroying his runner, and himself as
well, Harlan relents, confesses his Jove to
Billy, and the two begin a very serious
love affair.
As Billy's running times decrease, the
rumors about his affair with Harlan increase.
Finally, at an interview after a
meet a reporter asks him point blank if he
is gay and Harlan's lover; al ways honest,
Billy answers yes, which causes an avalanche
of criticism from the American
public. As the 1976 Olympics approach,
the AAU tries to disqualify him on technicalities,
but Billy's father, a gay activist
lawyer, and some sympathetic runners intervene,
forcing the committee to relent.
Ironically, this causes Billy's death, for he
is assassinated during one of the races.
As good as The Front Runner is, it does
have some serious flaws. Characters are
often portrayed as heroes (the Prescotts,
Mike Stella, Armas Sepponan) or villains
(Mike Dellinger, Gus Lindquist, the AAU).
This problem is particularly noticeable in
Billy Sives, who is more ethereal than
earthly: he never lies or deceives, he never
cruises, he charms everybody wherever
he goes, and he runs with impeccable
grace. Even Harlan says: "He had the
most beautiful natural form I had ever
seen no wasted effort anywhere. He
was almost unreal. He was that idea of a
runner that haunts the minds of track
people." Harlan is probably the most believable
character in the book. He, too,
has a beautiful body, but he is incapable
of showing grief or, initially, softness. If
anybody grows in the novel, it is he.
Another minor irritation is the digressive
lectures on gay law and the workings
of the athletic organizations. These are
all very interesting, but they retard plot
development.
Criticism aside, this is quite a good novel.
It treats gay relationships sympathetically,
honestly, and with a good deal of
taste and dignity. Moreover, it is moving:
plan on a box of Kleenex for the last 30
pages.
] designer
~
Matching Wedding Rings
Original Designs
by JO ANN ETNIER
3136 Routh, Suite 204
Dallas, Texas 75201
747-2115
~·····························································································································
CELEBRATE
"
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The price is $3.00 for 25 sheets plus 75~
for First Class postage and handling. To
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COMMUNITY NEWS / FEBRUARY 75 15
Good News
GAY ORGANIZATION OF DALLAS
CIRCLE OF ·FRIENDS
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WORKING FOR GAY EQUALITY?
DO YOU WANT A BE'ITER GAY COMMUNITY?
THEN COME TO G.0.0.D.
Gay Organization of Dallas
3834 Ross Avenue
A member organization of
Dallas, Texas 75204
FWD Metroplex Gay Council &
TEXAS GAY TASK FORCE
mJIBBWINTBD ..
4025 MAPLE AVE.·
OPEN DAILY 2 PM - 2 AM
HAPPY HOUR 5-8 MON. - FRI.
526-9173
AFTER HOlJRS FRI & SAT 2 AM - 4 PM
SERVING (;()FFEE ·-- SOFT DRINKS -- JUJ<:ES ()NLY
Wednesday Night Keg Party & Free Draft - 9 p~m. -11 pm.
After Keg Party Can Beer - 5~ Draft Beer - 10¢
Sunday Beer Bust - 7-9 Free Draft - Bloody Bulls .69
16 / COI'rfMUN/TY Nf:WS /FEBRUARY 75
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