| Transcript |
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"WHAT ARE YOU DOING
to me?" Ken Cyr seems to
be asking in the photo above.
See page two for answer.
TROUBLE ON THE
CRUISE BLOCKS
Page Three
Directory - Page Four
Review of CONSENTING ADULT
Page Five
Not for Lesbians Only - Page Seven
Scene East I SceneWest - Page Seven
THOSE WHO DENY freedom to others
deserve it not for themselves.
- Abraham Lincoln
35~
GAY PA PER OF N ORTH TEXAS
ft. Worth Gay Fights and Wins
Job Discrimination Issue
(Fort Worth) Harold Wright, local gay activist,
was recently reinstated to his front office job at
the Fort Worth Hilton Inn after he was earlier
terminated because he is gay.
Wright, a Texas Christian University student,
was terminated last August 15 by Neal Hospers,
general manager of the Fort Worth Hilton. Hospers
learned that Wright was gay when a leading
Fort Worth businessman called Hospers and
complained that Wright and the businessman's
18-year-<>ld son, also an employee at the Hilton,
were engaged in a homosexual relationship.
Wright and the businessman's son were then
terminated.
Although Wright and the businessman's son
were employed on the same shift, Wright stated
that their relationship was never carried onto
their jobs and did not affect their job performance.
Dallas To Have
Gay Radio Show
(Dallas) A Gay radio program on communityowned
KCHU is now in production and is tentatively
scheduled to air August 25.
KCHU at 90.9 on the FM dial should begin
broadcasting Saturday, August 23. Once the
station is on the air, the weekly half hour Gay
broadcast will be heard every Monday evening
at7:30.
The program will be a taped montage of music,
entertainment, news and commentary.
"The talk show format," according to the
program's director, "has been overused. We
will use instead a magazine format and at times
will offer an abstract sound-collage of music
and ideas.
"Because this is a Gay endeavor, we want it
to be one of the most professional local shows.
But that shouldn't be difficult since there's an
awful lot of talent within the Dallas Gay Community."
Programs now in the planning stages include
such titles as: "Women's Lib and the Lesbian,"
"Where the Boys Are- An In-Depth Study of
the Cruise Block" and "HR-166 The Abzug
Emancipation Proclamation."
"Any relationship we might have had was our
own business as consenting adults. I tried to
make a point, as everybody should, of leaving
my private life out of my job and vice-versa,"
Wright said.
Wright, a member and past vice president of
AURA (Awareness, Unity & Research Association),
a Fort Worth gay civil rights organization,
subsequently filed suit through AURA's attorney
and also filed a complaint with the federal
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) alleging that his termination constituted
discrimination on the basis of sex (sexual
preference) in violation of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964.
After almost a year of litigation, an out of
court set tlement was reached with Metro Inns
Management Company (MIMCO), which owns
and operates the Fort Worth Hilton Inn.
In the settlement, MIMCO agreed to reinstate
Wright to his job; to pay his back wages
and attorney's fees; to issue a letter to Wright
apologizing for any discrimination against him
on the basis of sexual preference and to stipulate
in the letter that MIMCO does not discriminate
against homosexual or gay persons in any
way. MIMCO further agreed that it will not in
the future discriminate against Wright or any
other gay person because of sexual preference;
that no further retaliatory action will be taken
against him as long as he performs his job in a
satisfactory manner and that no mention of
this incident or the fact that he is gay will be
contained in his personnel record or repeated to
any prospective future P.mployer. MIMCO
agreed that it will treat Wright with the courtesy
and respect accorded to other employees.
Wright claims that his termination is a prime
example of the homophobia (fear of gay people)
that is prevalent in Fort Worth and Texas.
"I was terminated not because of any poor
job performance or anything related to my job,
but simply because I am gay," Wright said.
Ken Cyr, director of AURA, hailed the settlement
as not only a victory for Wright but for
the entire Fort Worth Gay Community.
"The victory won by Harold Wright over the
Hilton Inn reiterates and strengthens our position
that it is legally and morally wrong to discriminate
against a person simply because of •
that person's affectional or se:-.ual preference,"
commented Cyr.
COMMUNITY NEWS
ALLEN REID, editor
Auisted by: Lff Gaylord, Darryl Brown, Randy Beitel,
Richard van Cleve, Ken Cyr, Key Wi150n, David Lambie,
Moody Walls, David Nalley, Wayne Rlbbl , and others.
COMMUNITY NEWS is published by AURA {Awareness,
Unity & R-arch Auociation) not for profit but as a
service to the Gey Community. Opinions expressed are
thOla of the individual writers and do not necessarily
reflect the views of this 11ublication or of AURA or its
members.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE Iii $4 (1st Cl1111) or $3 (3rd class)
for 12 iuun.
LETTERS to the editor of CN should be signed. However,
name will be withheld upon request. All letters are
subject to editing to meet sp ce requirements and to remove
potentially libelous statements.
Publication of the name of any person, busineu or group
in CN should not be construed as any indic tion of th•
nxual orientation of that person, business or group, or of
their employees or members.
AD RATES available upon request
COMMUNITY NEWS, P.O. Box 7367, Fort Worth, TX
76111 . (817) 338-0128.
•
FEAR OF THE NEEDLE wasn't enough to keep 21 blood donors from attend·
ing a "Count Dracula Party" July 24 at Agape Metropolitan Community Church
sponsored by AURA, Fort Worth Gay organization. The "party" was part of a
campaign to build a blood rnerve for the Gay Community. Persons who missed
the "party" but wish to donate blood may go directly to John Pater Smith Hos·
pital Blood Benk and specify that they wish to donate to the "AURA Pool."
The blood will then go into a permanent account at the JPSH Blood Bank until
needed by members of the Gay Community (requested through AURA). Pie·
tured are JPSH technician John Byrd and AURA Director Ken Cyr, one of th•
~~ • -------------
Club Dallas has big plans for the weekend of
August 22-24. They're celebrating their first
anniversary in Dallas with a champagne party
on Friday evening, a buffet on Saturday eve·
ning and a beer and barbeque on Sunday.
Fort Worth's only Gay Organization
Meetings ere held every other Monday
at 7:30 p.m. at 5536 Jacksboro Hwy.
(T.J.'s Back Door)
For information call (817) 338-0128
or write AURA, P.O. Box 7318
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Member of the
TEXA~ GAY
TASK
FORCE
Social I Political I Service I Educational
2 I Community News I August 1975
BENEFIT SPAGHETTI DI 'NER
Thursday, eptember 4
8:00 p.m.
at T.J .'s Back Door
1.00 Donation
Proceeds Go To Help AURA
T"EOTHER
PLACE
POINTBLANK TIMES
Pu blica lion for
/,esl>ian/ Femir1i l
Subscribe: Only $3 for 12 issues
Pointblank Times, 1241 W. Bell,,
No. 4, Houston, Texas 77019
MIXED DRINKS
2308 W. 7th Street
:~:~5·0586
Fort Worth
BEER BUST - Tuesday, 10 to 11 p.m.
2 to 2 - Seven Days a Week
•
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1'/tOUBLE IN !'HE C/tUl~E BLOCK~
There's trouble in Dallas. Any of us who have While first offenders are rarely sentenced to jail
ever cruised in Dallas (and who hasn't?) is surely terms, a provision in the Penal Code requires
familiar with those two blocks just off Oak Lawn_ that upon second conviction a jail term of not
known as the "Cruise Blocks." Known for less than 90 days must be imposed. It should
years as a glorious little area where we could get also be noted that Section 21.07 is violated by
some serious cruising together or where we - ;my sexual touching in public, so "just feeling
could stop and chat with friends or camp for his cock" is all that need be proven for a con-the
passerbys, the blocks are in danger. viction; one need not be caught actually going
It seems the Dallas Police Department is get- down.
ting uptight about our presence on the cruise If you are in a habit of getting it off in your
blocks. It's not known whether the police are car, don't be lulled into a false sense of security
attempting to reassert their authority after hav- by thinking that by the time a cop could look
ing their hands tied by the spectacle of hun- in your window you can disengage all contact.
dreds of open gays attending the MCC General Perhaps you can, but you still might be charged
Conference downtown recently, or whether it's under Penal Code Section 21.08 with Indecent
just some vice cops whose masculinity is in need Exposure if you can't get it all back in quick
of some bolstering which is to blame. Never- enough. A conviction under this statute carries
theless, there has been a sharp increase in the . no jail term but does carry a $200 fine.
ing words."
Subsection (5) is subject to a defense that before
arrest, one must be warned and given an
opportunity to move on. A conviction under
Section 41.0l carries no jail term but does carry
a $200 rme. It should be noted, however, that
on all these offenses which don't carry a jail
term, one is still taken downtown and held in
- jail until the time of trial or until a bail bond is
set and posted.
_ Characteristic of this city's homophobia, Dallas
has several local ordinances which could be
used against us. Section 31-75 of the Dallas
City Code prohibits soliciting for sodomy in a
public place (which is what cruising is all about)
and Section 31-78 prohibits soliciting for obscene
conduct (fondling the sexual parts of another
human being) in a public place. While the
State of Texas has not seen fit to criminalize
the act of asking someone if they care to suck
cock, Dallas has, in an apparent effort to keep
its hunks from being hassled by all the anxious
gays. Thus, should you ask someone on the
cruise blocks to engage in virtually any gay sex
number of arrests made on the crui~e blocks in , One other section of the Penal Code might be
the last couple of weeks .. Local ~es1dents ?f t!te applicable to cruising the blocks. Section 42.01
blocks r.eport that the police helicopt~r wit~ its criminalizes Disorderly Conduct. While this
act, you could be charged with these offenses,
which carry no jail term, but do carry a $100 to
$200 rme.
search light often hovers above to assist rovmg statute has ten sections which define ten sec-
~~ad. car.s in their campaign of harassment and tions which define types of prohibited conduct,
mhm1dation. those in point to cruising are:
In light of these develo?ments, the q~~stion (1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar
to be answ~red by us all ~s wheth,er cr~1smg on language in a public place, and the language by
the blocks JS worth the n~k. ~t s begin b.Y tak- its very utterance tends to incite an immediate
ing a look at the laws which might potentially breach of the peace·
be used against us. There are two types of laws ' . . .
in effect, the uniform criminal laws which cover (2). makes an offensive gesture ~r display m a
the entire state, called the Penal Code, and the ~u~lic p~ce, an~ the gesture or display ~ends to
City Ordinances which are peculiar to Dallas. mc1te an 1mmed1ate breach o~ th~ peace, .
If one is caught flagrante delicto (with your (5) m~kes unreason~ble no1~ ma public
pants down) getting it on (or off) with some- place or.m or near a pnvate residence that he
one, say in the front seat of your parked car, has no ng~t to occupy. . . .
one can be charged with violating Section 21.07 Subsections (1) and_(2) crimm~~ only.
of the Penal Code which carries a possible pen- speech or gestures which tend to mcrte an 1m-alty
of a one year 'jail term and a $2,000 fine. mediate breach of the peace, known as 'Tight-
Even if we are just walking or driving around
the block, not doing anyone or even asking anyone
to do it, we are still likely to end up in the
clutches of those public enforcers of Dallas
morality. Under Section 31-60 of the Dallas
City Code, the police may arrest you when they
have probable cause that you are loitering. Loitering
is defined in the City Code as including
"The walking about aimlessly without apparent
purpose; lingering; hanging around; lagging behind;
the idle spending of time; delaying; saun-tering
and moving slowly about, where such
conduct is not due to physical defects or conditions."
The City Code further states that
changing one's direction of travel to avoid a
police officer or an act of concealment when a
(Continued on P.ge 7)
FEATURED GUESTS at the 1975 General Conference of the Universal
Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches held in Dallas July 29
through August 3 included Rep. Elaine Noble of Massachusetts, first
openly Gay perscn ever elected to a state office in the United States,
and Dr. Norman Pittenger (right), renowned theologian, shown here
chatting with UFMCC Founder Rev. Troy Perry. An exclusive interView
with Rep. Noble by Dallas journalist David Lambie will be publishetl in
next months issue of Community News. More than a thousand MCC
members and friends registered for the conference which was held in
the Adolphus Hotel. (Photographs by Roy Hall)
Community News I August 1975 I 3
651 SOUTH JENNINGS
Fort Worth's Only Gay Western Bar
(817) 332-0745 • Fort Worth
I ITC om lli ©li'® mv
DALLAS
Act 111, 3115 Live Oak, 824-9043
Bayou Landing, 2609 N. Pearl, 742-3269
Bon Soir, 4527 Cole, 526-9432
Chuck's, 3019 W. Haskell, 526-9329
Crews Inn, 3220 N. Fitzhu.-,, 526-9329
Encore, 4516 McKinney, 526-9328
Entre Nuit, 3116 Live Oak, 823-0423
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
SALOON
Happy Hour
5-7
OLIVE BRANCH SALOON
Monday - Wednesday
S 12 p.m.
5 p.m. - 2 a:m.
I
I
I
II 2822 McKinney I
~ Dallas I I 823-0921 824-2770 I
w.1.11.11111....,11111~
4 I Community News I August 1975
Happy Hour - 4 to 6 p.m.
Piano Bar 6 to 8 p.m.
Highland, 3018 Monti~ello, 526·9551
Joe's Place, 3019% Haskell, 526·9329
Marlboro, 4100 Maple, 526-9487
Old Plantation, 3717 Rawlins, 528·6550
Olive Branch, 2822 McKinney, 823-0921
One Way In, 2509 N. Fitzhugh, 824-9227
Ramrod, 3224 N. Fitzhugh, 526-9110
Sundance Kids, 4025 Maple, 526-9173
Sundowner, 2822 McKinney, 824·9304
Swamptrash, 3014 Throckmorton, 526·9438
Swinger, 4006 Maple, 526-9295
TJ's, 3307 McKinney, 526·9368
Terry's Ranch, 4117 Maple, 526·9302
Villa Fontana, 1315 Skiles, 823-0372
ALSO .•.
Bachelor Quarter S.th5, 3116 Live Oak,
823-0432
Club Baths, 2616 Swits, 821-1990
Coronet Theatre, 2420 N. Fitzhu9h, 821-9489
Studio 9, 4817 Bryan, 823-0447
FORT WORTH
S.iley St. Wherehouse, 259 Bailey, 335-0232
500 Club, 500 W. Magnolia, 335-0692
Other Place, 2308 W. 7th, 335-0586
Regency Lounge, 1812 Hemphill, 927-9416
651, 651 S. Jennings, 332-0417
T.J.'s Back Door, 5536 Jacksboro Hwy,
624-0630
Purple Lady, 3029 S. Main, 927-9881
Org ani za ti ons
Agape Metropolitan Community Church, P.O.
Box 7029, Ft. Worth, TX 76111, Servlc at
2800 Purington, office (8171 534-9406
AURA (Awarene , Unity & R search Auocia·
tion), P.O. Box 7318, Ft. Worth, TX 76111,
(817) 338·0128, meetings every other Mon·
day evening, 7:30, at 5536 Jacksboro Hwy.
(T.J.'s Back Doorl
Dignity, P.O. Box 70, Euless, TX 76039, Im•
tro) 469-6669, meetings first & third Friday
evenings (includes Mass)
G.0.0.D. (Gay Organization of Dallas), P.O.
Box 9928, Dallas, TX 75214, (214) 748·
9880, meetings second & fourth Fridays
Metropolitan Community Church of Dallas,
3834 Rou Ave., Dallas, TX 75204, (214)
826-0291
1'.J. I BACK DOOR
presents
DADDY's GIRLS
Every Sunday
Night
For Reservariom,
call (817) 624-0630
DRINK OF THE WEEK
Free Beer & Hot Dogs
FREE Every Sunday
8-10 p.m.
5536 JACKSBORO HWY.
Fort Worth, Texas
THURSDAY - SUNDAY
8:00 - 2:00
-
•.....•.....•.•••••••••..•....•........
Hobos, a motorcycle social group for women.
For more information, contact T J's of Dallas
Wrangl rs, a motorcycle social group for men,
P.O. Box 35853, Dallas, TX 75235
DALLAS CRISIS LINE, (214) 241-4118
Texas Gay Task Force, P.O. Box 7318. Fort
Worth, TX 76111, (817) 338-0128.
SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS
- They Support us!
•
~
I
A Review of Laura Z. flobson's
CONSENTING ADULT
By Scott Stebelman
Hobson, Laura Z. Consenting Adult. Garden
City, New York : Doubleday & Company,
1975.
With the publication of Gentlemam Afilt<emenJ,
a novel exposing the ubiquity and viciousness
of anti-semitism in America, Laura Z. Hobson
established herself as an uncompromising
opponent of prejudice. That was in 1946, when
America had just defeated "fascist" Germany
and the irony of our own discriminatory practices
at home was inescapable. Three decades
later she is still angry, still disquieted by the internecine
effects of bigotry, only the bigotry
she now attacks is sexual rather than religious.
Her new novel, Consenting Adult, is a novel
of pain, of a pain so deep that none of the characters
can talk about it. When 17 year old Jeff
Lynn discloses his homosexuality to his family,
his mother's first feelings are that of an animal
"gored," wounded vicariously as she believes
her son to be wounded, yet rejecting of the "it"
within him. The father, a liberal publisher who
abhors prejudice in the abstract, compares the
son's homosexuality to "an earthquake, a hurricane,
any natural catastrophe," and avoids seeing
or talking to him for several months, as does
the older brother, Don. Family communication,
low before the disclosure, ends with it.
This lack of communication creates a literary
problem for Ms. Hobson. Because none of the
characters talk to one another, stasis results and
what we feel, unmercifully, for nearly 200
pages, is disappointment and frustration. The
point-of-view throughout is essentially that of
the mother, but she is a weak character who eschews
conflict. For example, whenever she
questions Jeff about his welfare or his feelings,
he accuses her of "digging," which ends her
questions and any meaningful interaction the
two might have had. She is so eager not to step
on toes-her son's, her husband's, the psychoanalysts'
Jeff goes to-that she remains inert
and pathetic throughout most of the book.
Even her marriage with Ken is lackluster: he is
impotent (which illuminates, to a certain extent,
his homophobia), and his earlier stroke
prevents stressful situations with her.
The author wauts to show growth in the mother,
but because the main character is so weak
it can only be done through a deus ex machjna,
a plot contrivance tnat essentially falls flat. Dr.
Waldo, the family doctor, calls her into his
office one day and reveals that a number of
psychiatrists no longer see homosexuality as a
sickness; and with that utterance the mother
is freed of her anxiety and can now totally accept
her son and his lifestyle. The fact that it is
others who decide for her how she is to perceive
her son never dawns on the mother. What if
psychiatrists next year vote gays sick again?
Will her previous fears and suspicions return?
Her failure to resolve the problem internally
and decisively makes her sudden conversion
questionable.
It is unfortunate that the reader never gets
Jeff's side of the story, never sees how he lives
his everyday life after he comes out, how he relates
to other homosexuals and what fears con-tinue
to plague him. But then, as the publisher's
blurb notes, this novel is "unique" because it
focuses on the parents' feelings rather than the
child's. Nothing is wrong with such a strategy;
what dooms the novel, however, is that those
feelings are never made dramatically presentable.
SUPPORT FROM WOMEN
(Corpus Christi) Among resolutions passed by
delegates to the Texas Women's Political Caucus
meeting in Corpus Christi July 15-17 was
one calling for support of efforts to repeal laws
against homosexuality on both state and national
levels.
BAILEY ST. 'NHEREHOUSE
Open 2 pm -2 am
Drag Show Every
Fri. & Sat. Night
335-0232
Bailey Street Wherehouse, First Annual Picnic
ar-Queens Points, 1 :00 PM, Sunday, August 31
FREE BEER AND FOOD
259Bailey ...... Ft.Worth
Community News I August 1975 I 5
COMING OUT
'We have a right to be here.'
('Dlis article by Marie Kent is reprinted
from the Gay Lutheran, monthly publication
of Lutherans Concerned for Gay
People, Box 15592, Salt Lake CTty, UT
84115.)
We are living in a time when people are
demanding openness and honesty - in
government and in human relationships.
Yet for those of us who are gay to be
open and honest about our sexual/affectional
being can mean the loss of our very
survival - economic, physical and psychological.
For in spite of new laws and
changing moral attitudes, the risk of los·
ing painstakingly-built careers and reputations
is still great, simply because people
find subtle ways of discriminating, intimidating
and discrediting gays.
Yet until we who are gay can step forward
and say, "We are not ashamed of
who we really are," straight people will
continue to believe the myths that gays
are weirdos, "out there" somewhere, who
do obscene things in dark alleys. And we
will continue to believe these myths, and
go on feeling shame and guilt, withdrawing
into ourselves, thus depriving ourselves
B
506 West Magnolia • Fort Worth
(817) 335-0692
D ILY SPECI L
Open Everyday 2 p.m. to 2 1.m.
"500 FOLLIES" - 8 p.m. Sunday
Bloody Marys 50c - All day Sunday
and Sunday 1fternoon
organ music by Michael
6 I Community News I August 1975
of a fulfilling and satisfying part of our be·
ing.
In my opinion, gays need to encourage
and give as much strength to each other
as possible, in order to overcome this fear
of being different. For we all know who
we are - not freaks, but for the most
part, obedient daughters and sons, some
honor students, most charitable and giving
members of society, in every corner
of this great land and this grand and mysterious
world. Not new to the 20th century,
but having existed since time immemorial.
Some achieving greatness in
spite of hidden pain.
We need to stand tall and declare that
we are not ashamed of who we are ...
each and every one ... a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and stars. We
have a right to be here.
For the greatest danger, as I see it, is
that this fear of declaring "who we really
are" has and can produce the very sickness
straight society sees in us.
Gay Revolution
... '76 --
TEXAS CIVIL LI BERTI ES UNION
GIVES PRIORITY TO GAY RIGHTS
(Austin) According to the July issue of Action
Report. monthly newsletter of the Texas Civil
Ll'berties Union, decriminalization of homosexual
conduct was one of twelve key issues before
the Texas House of Representatives this session
on which the TCLU took a stand. Unfortunately
only 16 members of the Hou e agreed with
th~m. (See la t month's issue of Community
~for a report on House action on S.B. 127.
The TCLU position was on a motion by Rep.
Craig Washington to table an amendment by
Reps. Joe Spurlock and Bob Davis deleting the
homosexual decriminalization section of S.B.
127. The tabling motion was defeated 112 to
16. The House then passed the Spurlock/Dam
amendment 117 to 14.)
T .J.'s of Dallas
FREE PITCHER OF BEER
at T .J. 's Back Door
To Everyone Who Donates
Blood to the AURA Pool
(Show Blood Donor Card)
JOIN NOW!
TEXAS GAY
TASK FORCE
P.O. Box 7318
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
Basic Membership $10/yr
•
Low Income Membership
Contributing Membership
Supporting Membership
Patron (more than $100)
S 5/yr
$25/yr
$100/life
$_/hf•
Name ----- ------- - -- ------ - - -
Addr- --------- --------------
C1ty/St11te/Z1p --------- ----------
T•lephone ---------------- ----_:
TEXAS GAY
TASK FO
•
•
•
NOT FOR LESBIANS ONLY
"Well, honey, you just bake some cookies and invite those girls up,"
suggested my "mother-in-law" with an innocence possessed by few halfcentury
old women.
By Kay Wilson Cookies? Nay, nay. Never. Invite them up. What would we say? Something
like, "We just figured the two lesbians from do\\n there might like
to meet the two from up here." No way.
I have always wanted gay neighbors, but it's not the type of thing you
can ask Santa Claus for.
I scouted every gay bar I went in. I gave people who half way resembled
those girls the once over and sometimes the twice over. The months drug
on. ~Y goodness, are they nuns? I thought.
One day it finally happened. The retired couple from downstairs
moved out and some new people .noved in. One look and there was no
mistaking it - they were our kind of folks. Make no mistake about it,
friends.
One night Sue and I walked into a bar that was sardine city. Needless to
say, first priority was to find a table.
Jubilation untold! Santa had finally delivered-a few months late, but
he had done good.
In scouting for a place to park our rears, I turned around and lo and behold!
There were our neighbors just huggin and kissin. They seemed as
pleased as we to have finally met.
They came up to our apartment for a drink that week, and we all hit it
off. That's great you might think. No, that's bad, because in talking, they
told us they are building a house and will be moving in a few months. Such
is life.
I couldn't wait to tell Sue. I told all our friends. I even told Sue's
mother (who - perish the thought - does not understand the relationship
I have to her daughter) that I was dying to meet the two chicks
from downstairs. I'll be an old woman by the time the next batch of gay neighbors moves in.
11111111111111111
By Lee Gaylord
Patios are in the news this month! Both the
Encore and the Bon Soir are adding on patio
bars, and both promise to be in operation by
September. But a patio is not all that is being
added at the Bon Soir. Jerry, the bar's new
manager, is changing the atmosphere to a Gay
90's theme, complete with Honkytonk piano
and singalongs. To kick the whole thing off,
Jerry's throwing a "new manager's party" at
the bar on September 1, which sounds like it's
going to be a real camp!
The Crews Inn is still the home of the "wooden
nickel" (and some very hunky bartenders).
Singles pool tournaments are held every Sunday
at 4, and doubles tournaments are on Wednesdays
at 7:30.
Drag shows are growing in popularity in Dal·
las. Besides the shows at the Bayou Landing,
the Entre Nuit now features Cindy Birdsong
and the Kopy Kay Revue on Sundays at 9. For
the women, T.J.'s will be having shows in the
near future, and if rumor is correct, these
should be great fun.
The Olive Branch has some great specials
coming up which you might want to catch. On
September 13, Jan Poole will be singing at 9
p.m., and on the 18th, there will be a ping-pong
tournament. Then on the 21st they will be
throwing their "back-to-school bash" with free
draft from 8 to 12. Finally, on the Z7th, their
"Bird of a Feather" Singalong will happen at 9.
For a change of pace, the Gay Organization
of Dallas is planning an open air bazaar for
some time in October. Watch for later details.
They have also recently announced that one of
their goals will be to work for a Gay Community
Center in Dallas. If you are into this trip,
give them a call at (214) 521-8182.
Finally, the big news this month has to do
with the fate of the Old Plantation. Rumors
have been around for awhile now that they will
not be able to renew their lease and will be
moving. Well, nobody over there will open
their mouth about this whole thing, but I was
able to pick up on some rumors that may be
pretty reliable. Supposedly, a new location has
been selected in the Oak Lawn area and plans
are being made for a bar that you will not believe.
It's rumored that decorators will be coming
from the East to work with close to a $100-
000 budget, and that the owners are looking at
a totally new concept in sound systems that will
be dynamite. The whole thing will be a multilevel
affair with something like five bars (including
a disco bar and a piano bar), and will retain
the level of quality the Old Plantation is famous
for. Anyway, these are the rumors, so keep
an eye on this paper for more details in the
near future .
Well, these are some of the things going on in
Dallas this month, and there is enough happening
to keep you off the streets, unless, of
course, you're into that scene. (If you are, the
Dallas police supposedly have picked up several
Gays in the Oak Lawn cruise area, so watch
yourself.) Have a good month.
CRUISE BLOCKS
(Continued from Page 3)
police officer is spotted will constitute probable
cause for arrest on a loitering charge. Thus one
could be charged with loitering for driving or
walking slowly around the cruise blocks, particularly
if one turns and goes the other way
when the squad car approaches. While this
statute is currently under challenge in an appeal
to the Supreme Court, it is still in effect and
can be used against us. If we are busted on the
cruise blocks for loitering, we could appeal to
the Supreme Court, but who wants to spend
several years and thousands of dollars before
finally securing justice.
Another archaic City Ordinance which is only
dredged up to prosecute "undesireables" is Section
31-2.1, which makes it unlawful for a
group of persons, whose remaining in a street
or sidewalk obstructs traffic, to refuse to move
on when ordered to do so by a police officer.
Thus, if an officer asks you to move on, it's
move on or suffer the penalty of the ordinance,
which is a maximum $200 fine.
With all these laws swimming about in your
head, the natural question is what should I do
if I'm on the cruise block and I'm confronted
by Tillie? Section 31-61 of the Dallas City
11111•1111111
By Ario
Drag has come alive m Ft. Worth. In addition
to the traditional Sunday night shows at the
Back Door, there now are also shows at the 500
Club and the Wherehouse. The Back Door is
moving toward theme shows with a wild "Genderfuck"
show scheduled and a "Fabulous Fifties"
spectacular in the works. We will try to
review all the Fort Worth shows in future issues.
Elsewhere, Thursday nights are going to be
busy this fall. Date Night at the movies has
been scheduled by Agape MCC on alternate
Thursday nights with the line up reportedly including
such films as Showboat, The Robe and
Atlantis, the Lost Continent. First screening is
set for September 4 at $1.50/person and only
$1 for 17 and under. Also set for Sept. 4 is the
first of AURA's monthly first Thursday dinners
at the Back Door. A $l donation gets you a
feast of spaghetti, salad and French bread.
Sonday, August 31, is another big day at
Queen's Pomt on Garza-Little Elm Reservoir.
The Bailey Street Wherehouse is sponsoring free
food and beer at the Point.
Code requires that you give your name, your
address and a reasonable explanation of your
activities. What is a reasonable explanation is
anyone's guess, but the point is, all you have to
tell them is your name, your address and some
reasonable explanation. Do not run or change
directions when Tillie appears on the scene; this
will only give them a stronger case for arresting
you. if arrested, say nothing except for your
name and address, and call a la\\yer.
The QLm__munity News staff is working on a
pamphlet of what your rights are when you get
arrested, and this will appear in a future issue.
Until then, if arrested, keep quiet and call a
~r. If you've got specific questions, write
to <;.'Qmmunity News, and we will try to answer
them. If you've been arrested lately for cruis·
ing, get in touch with us (we will keep your
name confidential) so that other gays can benefit
from what happened to you. Above all, BE
CAREFUL there's trouble in Dallas.
Community News I August 1975 I 7
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