| Transcript |
Breakfast Festival for Huma.'1 Rights, May 7, 1978,
Town Lake Park, Austin
VOL.2 N0.6
GAY PRIDE WEEK FOR AUSTI
A parade and rally, a "town rreeting" and numerous
cultural events are in store for Austin as the city's
lesbian/gay camunity gears up for the eleventh national
"Gay Pride Week." This event celebrates the Stonewall
Resistance of 1969 , which was the reg-inning of the
lesbian/gay camumity's errergence as a political and
social force in the United States.
This year's celebration will regin on Sunday, June
22 with Austin's first lesbian and gay "town rreeting. "
The meeting will offer a grass-roots discussion of
lesbian/gay issues in Austin. Representatives fran
various organizations will be on hand for a question
and answer session.
The Lesbian/Gay Pride Parade will regin at 10:00
a.m. on Saturday, June 28. Marchers will gather at the
fire tower on Town Lake, at East First and Colorado,
beside the Sheraton-<.::rest Inn . They will proceed up
Congress Avenue until they reach the Capitol. They
will turn east at Eleventh Street and march to Wooldridge
Park at Tenth and Guadalupe.
The rally will regin at 12 noon at WOOldridge Park.
Teatro Alegre will perform excerpts fran "Jatos" and
various other Austin entertainers will perform. Praninent
lesbian/gay social and political leaders will be
guest speakers. Alcohol ic and non- alcoholic drinks
wil l be available. Femini st, lesbi an , and gay J::usinesses
will display their wares .
Austin Laml::x'l.a cultural Center will present v.0rkshops
, poetry readings , and various other lesbi an/
gay cultural activities throughout the 'M=el<.
This year 's Austin Lesbian/Gay Pride Week will be
roth eventful and entertaining. Don't go to Houston
or Dallas . Stay right here and give our camo.mity 's
straight population a good dose of lesbian/gay pride.
Nowhere else bJ.t Austin!
Anyone who is interested in v.0rking on one of the
planned events or in coordinating one of their own
niay contact the Gay Pride Week Planning Camlittee
through Gay Camunity Services at 477- 6699 bet¼een
6 :00 and 10:00 p.m.
kut•fm cancels
different
drummer
Austin 's gay radio program, A Different Drurmer,
has been cancelled by KUI'-FM station nianager William
Giorda. The program, produced by Carr Strong and the
~tin Gay Radio Co~lective, ended May 25 , after only
thirteen shows. This cancellation cares in spite of a
warm reception of the program in roth the gay and
straight camunities of Austin.
. Manager Giorda said, "This seri es , over the past
3 (sic) rronths , has provided a service of interest to
one of the numerous segroonts of the camumity. Regrettably,
air time that is avq,i.lable for these sorts of
st:iecial interest programs is finite ; and, as a consequence,
it needs to be shared as equitabl y as possible
arrongst other segments of the camunitv."
' (continued on page 3)
ii
2 ., CONNECTIONS
C O N N E C T I O N S
2401 :-lanor Road #118, Austin, TX 78722
512/474-1660 HOURS: 6-10 p.m.
Editor/Publisher .Jim Olinger
Graphics. • • • • .Don
Typing • • • • • • • Wayde Frey
Distril:::ution. • • .Wayde Frey
National Advertising .Joe DiSabato,
666 6th Ave., New York NY 10010, 212/242-6863
ARI'ICLES - Larry Bush, Gary Fitzsimrons, Wayde Frey,
Rob Gips, Andrew Glass, David Miller, Ron Moss, Jim
Olinger, Gary Reese, Carr Strong, Gerry Tarr.
POETRY - Lynn Aday, Hektor Munoz.
~ - Jim Olinger, Alan Pogue, Richard Rogers.
PUBLICATIOOS - A. p. , ALGPC Newsletter, Aus tin Laml:x1a
Newsletter, Cox News Service, Dialog, Gay Austin, IGNA,
It's Time (NGI'F) , Metro Star, Time, 'IWIT, Upfront
Arrerica, Washington Post Service.
CCNNECTIOOS is dedicated to providing a forum for
the lesbian/gay ccmrunity of Austin and Texas. Publication
of the name or photograph of any person or
organization is not to be taken as any indication
of the sexual orientation of that person or organization.
CCNNECTIOOS welcares unsolicited news and/or
feature articles, photographs , drawings , and poetry. ,
If return or acknowledgerrent is requested, please
enclose a stamped, self- addressed envelope.
CCNNECTIOOS will not assume responsibility for
unsolicited material.
Published by Gay Camunity Services , a program of
the University YWCA/Yt!CA, 2330 Guadalupe, Austin,
Texas 78705. Telephone: 512/477-6699
Gay Camunity Services Coordinating Council
Meml::ership •••.•• Lynn Aday
Office • •• .•••• Rob Gips
Speakers Bureau •••••••
Publications ••.••••.
Univ. Y Liaison •.•••.•
Troy Stokes
Jim Olinger
Gary Fitzsimrons
!'.
'? ? q 9
? ? ? 'l. 9 .
• ? ;:> •
') .,::) • '\ 'l. ?
'l ,· Questi6ns? q_
') '? ?~ ?.1,)
f' 'l. 1. II • ? • • 1·? ~? ?
I
;J
•
GAY COMMUNITY SERVICES '? ? HOTLINE 1
;,
• 477-6699
GAY POWER, GAY PRIDE
Sunday, May 25, A Different Drul1lrer made its last
broadcast. The program was canceled because lesbians
and gays are "a special interest group" which has gotten
all the attention we deserve. There is only one lesbian/
gay radio program left in Texas. Significantly, the
manager of the station which broadcasts it is gay.
April 26, CBS Television broadcast "Gay Power,
Gay Poli tics , " which purported to be a docurren tary.
It depicted gay men as satanic creatures out to destroy
"the wholesare Arrerican nuclear family" and ignored
lesbians. The fear this program has engendered among
straights has already been used against us at the Travis
County Democratic Convention (see page 11).
My way of screaming "I'm mad as hell and I'm not
going to take it anymore" is publishing this newspaper.
This rronth, I'm going to do sare other screaming: at
KUl'- FM, at CBS Television News, at the Austin CBS affiliate,
KTBC, and probably at the Federal Carmunications
Ccmnission.
Please join me. Write a letter to KUl'-FM and
tell them that thirteen shows aren't enough to correct
centuries of fear and superstition. Write CBS-'IV News
and tell them you "\\On't tolerate irresponsible, biased
journalism any longer. Write the FCC and tell them you
don't like seeing your airwaves polluted by slander.
The FCC has finally recognized lesbians and gays
as a "legitimate minority group" which broadcasters must
consider in their prograrrrning. Write your local station
and tell them you want prograrrrning on hcrrosexuality
which isn't poisoned by fear and superstition.
We have gotten this far by "\\Orking together.
But we can lose everything we've gained very quickly.
We must support and protect all our lesbian/gay media
and all our gay brothers and sisters. If we don't hang
together, we will surely hang separately. Please help
us show what gay power and gay pride really are.
Addresses
Federal Camunications Ccmnission
Canplaints and Carpliance Division
Washington, D.C. 20036
Station Manager
KUI'-FM Radio
Camn.mications Building B
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712
KTBC-'IV
P.O. Box 2223
Aus tin, Texas 78768
CBS Television News
524 West 57th
New York, New York
10019
AUS'l'IN ORGANIZA'l'IOOS
Austin Laml:da AA Center ...•... 1403 East Sixth
6:30 - 10:30μn nightly . .•... .• . 472-0336
Austin Larnl:x:l.a cultural Center • . . . 603 West Twelfth
7 - 10μn nightly ... ... .. .•. 478-8653
Austin Lesbian Gay Political caucus ... P.O. Box 822
Austin, 'l'exas 78767
Gay Cornnunity Services
6 - 10μn nightly ..
Gay Law Students ....
. 2330 Guadalupe
.. .. 477-6699
2501 Oldham #207
... . 478-4595
Gay Nurses Alliance of Austin 1010-B Rareria Drive
Austin, Texas 78757 ........• 453- 0816
Holy 'lrinity Church of Austin .. 1606 South Congress
. . . • . . • . . . . . • . 447-7359
Metropolitan Carrnunity Church of Austin . 614 East 6th
. • • . . . . • . . . • . • 447-7747
•
CONNECTIONS 3
DIG-lITY CCNVENTION IN AUSTIN
Dignity/Austin will host the Dignity Region VII
Convention June 6, 7, and 8 at the Castilian, 2323 San
Antonio. Dignity meml:ers fran Houston, San Antonio,
Dallas, Fort worth, Lubtock, and El Paso are expected
to attend.
Tan Oddo, csc, a pioneer in the gay Catholic
noverrent in the United States, will l::e a featured
speaker and guest hanilist. Mike Caudry, SJ, forrrerly
of the University of Washington, will also l::e a featured
speaker.
The there of the convention is The Harosexual
Christian: Past, Present, and Future. Dignity/Austin
plans the v.eekend as an educational experience as well
as an opportunity to prarote fellowship anong gay Christians.
Of course, it will also l::e a lot of fun.
Father Thanas Oddo, Congregation of the Holy
Cross (CSC), is a national figure in ministry to gay
Catholics. He is a Holy Cross priest and is currently
assistant professor of religious studies at Stonehill
College outside of Boston. He has a Ph.D. in theology
fran Harvard University.
Father Oddo has teen active in gay ministry for
nine years. He served for four years as Secretary to
Dignity, Inc. and continues to serve as Chaplain to
Dignity/Boston and colunmist for the Dignity, Inc.
Newsletter.
He will give a Y.Orkshop on l::eing gay and dealing
with one's sexuality in today's scx::iety and Church.
He will also speak on the future of gay Christians
in his hanily during the convention's liturgy.
Further information al::X:)Ut the convention can l::e
obtained by calling 477-6699 or by writing P.O. Box
7471, Austin, Texas 78712.
Program producer Strong was shocked by the news
that A Different Drwmer had teen cancelled. "The news
carre very suddenly to us, after we had already planned
out and started production on June's programs. I was
not officially notified until over av.eek after the
program had been cancelled." The program is l::eing
replaced with SoundSight, four hours of programs for
the blind on Sunday norning. A tv.o-hour time slot had
opened up on Sunday evenings and Strong had hoped?:_
Different Drurrrrer might get a half-hour. G~orda refused.
The KUT-FM programning departrrent also offered
A Different Drwmer a prime time 7:30 Friday night
slot, and the 3:00 Wednesday afternoon space usually
devoted to minority programning. Both time slots are
currently running "filler." KUT-FM is seeking regular
programs for them. Giorda has flatly refused to consider
A Different Drwmer for either space.
strong responded, "When the positive audience
response and the gay carmunity's reactions are con-
~ CCM1UNITY SERVICES HOLDS COUNSELLING
IDRKSHOP
On May 3, 1980, Gay Camunity Services of Austin
sponsored a telephone counselling and interpersonal
camu.mications Y.Orkshop. Fifteen volunteers fran GCS
and Metropolitan Camunity Church of Austin attended.
The ...orkshop was led by Michael Menefee and Rich Kline,
t\\O psychologists asscx::iated with the University of
Texas at Austin•.
The YPrkshop consisted of brief lectures and
discussion sessions, as well as role-playing exercises
intended to help teach the participants how to cannunicate
nore effectively with telephone clients, such as
those GCS and M:::CA encounter.
Another Y.Orkshop is l::eing planned for early sunner.
Any interested individual is welcare to attend, wt
the number of participants is limited. For nore information,
call Gay Carmmity Services at 477-6699
l::etween 6:00 and 10:00 p.m.
GCS PHONE COUNSELORS NEEDED
by Rob Gips
Gay Carmunity Services currently needs volunteer
counselors. Duties include telephone and drop-in peer
counseling, as well as making referrals to various Austin
service organizations, rosinesses and professionals.
We need mature, service oriented, individuals to
\\Ork fran 6:00 to 10:00 PM one night per week. You'll
l::e performing a valuable service for Austin. Peer
counseling is a lot of fun, too!
Interested lesbians and gay men should telephone
the GCS office at 477-6699 any evening l::etween 6:00 and
10:00 PM for more information.
, .
sidered, the program must l::e tenned a success. The
o~ly reasons I can see for its cancellation are.political
- there may have teen pressure fran the Universit:(
of Texas administration. We did get sore pressure
during the early days of the series, wt I thought it
had abated. Another possible reason is the fear the
program created anong the possibly gay high-level
managerrent of the Carmunication Center."
Strong also said, "It seems strange to rre that
Giorda Y.Ould consider three nonths of half-hour
programs as l::eing an 'equitable share' of air tirre
for gays. The blind will have four hours per v.eek,
and eventually a full-time reading service on KUT's
SCA sub-channel. The Blacks have three hours every
weeknight. Waren have an hour v.eekly. We are asking
for a very small amount of time in carparison."
The Gay Radio Collective will now try to start
the series up on another Austin radio station.
4 CONNECTIONS
•
Gay
Nurses'
Alliance
The Gay Nurses ' Alliance of Austin held its
third rreE}ting on April 28, 1980. We welcared h-.o
rrore fem.μe nurses into irembership. The Alliance menr
bership n<::M stands at 17.
The S'ID program reported that as of April 28 ,
they had obtained 392 blood samples for syphilis
screening and 155 cultures for gonorrhea screening.
Results fran 133 syphilis tests have been returned so
far. Ten new, untreated, contagious cases of syphilis
were found. That' s 7. 5% of the individuals tes ted.
The majority of these ten new cases carre fran the l::x:lokstores
and baths . We are conterrplating increasing the
frequency of the S'ID cl inics . A stationary clinic is
also under consideration. (See survey) .
The 'Ihird National Lesbian and Gay Health Conference
will be held in San Francisco, June 18- 22 at
the San Francisco State University. Registration fee
is $45. 00 for a ...orking profess ional and $10.00 for
students. Continuing Educational units wil l be available
for nurses and possibly for physicians. Pl ease
add $15 . 00 to the registration fee for CEU credits.
Registration forms are available through the Gay Nurses '
Alliance of Austin, 1010B Rareria Dr. , Austin 78757 ,
phone 453- 0816 .
The All iance has decided to conduct Voter Registration
Drives during the S'ID clinics . No candidates
have been endorsed at the present time. We will focus
on getting individuals registered to vote.
The Gay Nurses' Alliance of Austin does not limit
its irembership sol ely to nurses . I ndi viduals who are
involved in health care and are concerned about gay
health care issues are welcared to join us . We invite
your suggestions , criticism, caiplaints and/or crnplirrents
.
REVEREND NAISBITT ORDA INED
Ordination Service for M.C.C. Austin pastor Rev.
Candace A. Naisbitt, May 25 at M.C.C.A. Fran
left: Rev. Naisbitt, Rev. Don Eastman - Dallas,
Rev. Elder Freda Smith - forner pastor of the
first church where Rev. Naisbitt was Exhorter,
Rev. Chuck Larson - Houston. Rev. Naisbitt is
the new M.C.C. south Central District Co-ordinator.
rnAA SURVEY
The Gay Nurses ' Alliance of Austin is seeking
your inp.it on issues M'lich directly concern your health.
Gay Carrrunity Services of Austin has offered a roan at
the university Y (2330 Guadalupe) where rnAA can condu<?
t_a stationary sexually transmitted disease (S'ID)
clinic to screen for syphilis and gonorrhea.
rnAA wishes to thank GCS for the beautiful invitation
and for their concern about gay health issues.
If rnAA establishes a stationary S'ID clinic, it ~ ld
replace the S'ID clinics n<::M being held at various gay
establishrrents .
S~e this issue directly affects you, we want
your opinions. PLEASE caiplete the questi onaire below
and return it to rnAA at your earliest convenience.
It is very :i.npor tant that we know your feel ings.
Thank :YOU for your time and cooperation.
In Gay Pride,
The Gay Nurses ' Alliance of Austin
l (questi;:;;) - - - - 7 1) I feel that a stationary S'ID cl inic at
2330 Guadalupe v.Ould better sui t my needs I and/or the needs of the carrruni ty. I
understand that the S'ID clinics currently
conducted at various gay establishrrents
v.0uld stop.
2) I feel that you should continue to hold I the S'ID c l inics at the various gay establishrrents,
as this ~ld better suit my
I needs and/or the needs of the carrrunity. I
( CIRCLE CNE)
. -~ · ... :·,.:
Yes No I ~ ld like to see the establ ishrrent of a I "'!ay cl ini c" which ~ld deal specifically I with gay heal th care. (The narre and location
of such a clinic v.0uld not necessarily be the
above. )
ase return_your questionalle to GNM, 10100 lkmeria I Drive, Austin, Texas 78757_. Thank :Y()u. -----
•
Metropolitan Community Church I 614 E. 6th ST, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 I
(512) 477.7747
SUNDAY SERVICES WEDNESDAY
12 00 NOON AND 7 30 PM 7 30 PM
REV CANDACE A NAISBITT
Pastor
Tuesday Bible Study: 7:30 μn
Tuesday, June 10:
Board of Directors Meeting - 7: 30μn
Saturday, June 21:
Pot Luck Supper and Awards
Dinner - 7:30 μn
CHURCH PROGRAMS
Sunday WOrship: 12:00 noon and 7: 30 μn
Wednesday Counseling: 7:30 - 9:30 μn
., ....... -~ .. ... . . . . .. .. . ,. ,
CONNECTiJONS 5
I SYPHILIS/ GONORHEA I~
SYPHILIS/ GONORRHEA
by Gerry Tarr
One of life's great joys is the thrill and exciterrent
of sexuality, Since the beginning of tine, individuals
have indulged themselves in erotic ecstasy. But,
as with rrost things, there are drawbacks.
Syphilis and gonorrhea are spread by sexual contact.
In Texas, over the past b-.o years, infectious
syphilis increased 36% arrong women and rren 20-24 years
old. It increased 18% for those 15-19 years of age.
Over the past four years , gonorrhea increased 23% in the
15-19 age group and 24% in the 20-24 age group. Significant
increases in J::oth syphilis and gonorrhea have
teen seen in the age group 25 and over.
With syphilis, if any symptans appear at all, tile
first stage symptoms will generally begin 10-90 days
(average 21 days) after exr:osure. A painless lesion
(sore) appears on the genitals, rrouth, rectum, vagina,
or any other site exr:osed to the germs. This lesion
may last several days or weeks. It will gradually disappear
without treatrrent.
Within a few days, or even up to 1 0 weeks after
the first lesion disappears, a body rash, whitish
patches in the rrouth, swllen joints, flu-like illness,
and/or loss of hair may occur. Any of these symptans
will last several weeks and then disappear witllout
treatrrent.
In the last stage of syphili$, if untreated, these
complications may occur 5, 10, 15, even 20 years after
Syphilis screening at Club Dallas baths. SID
clinics are appearing all over the country,
Roy Hall/METRO STAR
infection: brain and organ damage, insanity, paralysis,
heart disease, death.
The symptans of gonorrhea_us~a~ly appear 2-6 days
after contact with an infected mdividual. They may re
so mild that they go unnoticed or they may n<?t al:'pear
at all. Men may have a J::urning pain wh~ ur matmg and
a discharge of whitish pus fran the penis• Sorre rren
with the disease have no apparent symptans. There are
usually no symptans of gonorrhea in w::xren. For J::oth
sexes, there may be no symptans or a mild to severe
sore throat, fever and chills, if the infection is
oral. An anal infection may have either no symptcrns,
or a discharge, intense rectal irritation, a feeling
of an incorrplete to<.-.€1 rroverrent, and !::.urning during
defecation or intercourse.
If untreated, Pelvic Inflanrnatory Disease (PID)
is the rrost carrron and dangerous corrplication of gonorrhea
in v.emen.
Every case of syphilis and/or gonorrhea requires
.imrediate examination and treatrrent of all
sexual partners in order to prevent serious corrplications
and the p::,ssibility of further spread.
By stat:e law, all cases are confide.ritial. Minors
may request their own examination and treatrrent without
fear of parents or guardians finding out.
Renember, only you can protect your health arrl
that of those you care al::out! For further assistance,
call your physician, local health departrrent, the Gay
Nurses' Alliance of Austin, or the National Hotline,
(toll free) 1-800- 523-1885 .
Protect yourself and others!
Human Rights Advocaf es
P .0 Box 39406
San Antonio, Texas 78239
512/655-3724
YES! I believe In I professional approach to leglslotlve
adv~cy for gay civil righu In Texos.
PLEASE INCLUDE MY NAME ON THE LEGISLATIVE ALERT LIST.
Name _____ ______ _ ____ _
Add~"-- - - -------- ----
City/State - - --- --- ---:!Ip __ _
CONNECTIONS
ALGPC AI.GPC ENDORSES JIMMY S~
"Jimny Snell has l:een the kind of friend we need
to keep in public office, " says Co-<::hair Scotty Scott,
as the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus announced
endorserrent of Jimny Snell in his run-off election for
Travis County Corrmissioner of Precinct 1 on June 7.
In the ~lay 3 Primary, Snell and his opponent, Irene
Snyder, ran neck and neck , with each garnering 44% of
the vote. A third candidate, Hylon Adams, forced the
run-off by receiving 12% of the vote.
The endorserrent was issued after AI.GPC officers
interviewed l:oth candidates . It was based on Snell's
proven record of support of gay rights . Snell is currently
serving his third term on the Austin City council.
Shortly after his first election in 1975 , Snell
supported the enactrrent of Austin 's Equal Errployrrent
Opportunities Ordinance, a progressive rreasure which
extended civil rights to lesbians and gay rren. In
early 1976, Snell .-Prked for the Public Accarodations
Ordinance which also prohibits discrimination based
on sexual orientation. In mid- 1977, the Council cons
i dered a ~ful, carprehensive Fair Housing
Ordinance. In the wake of Anita Bryant and Dade county,
the sexual orientation provision of the ordinance
becarre the central issue of debate . Sul::sequently,
the McClellan majority del eted the protection of gays
and enacted a weakened, irrp:>tent version of the ordinance
. Throughout the several, ronths-long battle,
Snell consistently .-Prked for the inclusion of gays .
He, along with Councilrrembers Goodman and Trevino,
voted against the McClellan housing ordinance, declaring
it a civil rights farce.
Recently, Snell (again with Goodman and Trevino)
fought a behind- the-scenes battle to reappoint forrrer'
AI.GPC CO-Chair Janna Zumbrun to a third term on the
Human Relations Carmission. The McClellan majority
was well on its way to retiring Zumbrun fran the Canwission
when Councilrrember Ron Mullen defected to the
liberal carrq::,, ensuring a majority vote in favor of the
reappointrrent.
Finally, as much as is possible within the constraints
of a Council-Manager form of governrrent,
Snell has advocated on behalf of gay city errployees
vmo have l:een harrassed or discriminated against on
the job.
The Snell endorserrent follows on the heels of the
AI.GPC erldorserrent of and successful carrq::,aign .-Prk for
Guy Herman, who was elected Justice of the Peace.
AI.GPC Co-<::hair Scotty Scott camented, "We proved to
ourselves and to local politicians that we are an
asset to a candidate, that we can turn out the lesbian
and gay voters fo;:- a friend. Ji.miy Snell has been the
kind of friend we need to keep in public office. We
ca'1 cou."1t on Jimny as a Cou.'1ty Corrmissioner to .-Prk
for equal Opj:X)rtunity i.'1 Cou.rity persomel policies, to
look out for our interests in county funding of social
services, a""ld to help ensure that gays are treated
fairly by the County criminal justice system."
AI.GPC is orga"1izing volunteers to assist in
Ji.miy Snell's carrq::,aign. 1-:orkers are needed each eve~
i.rig to staff phone banks arid identify Snell supporters.
Volu.riteers are also needed to help with mailouts,
putting up yard signs, placing dcorhangers on Precinct
1 houses, a"1d ha'1ding out car:paign literature at the
gay bars.
The Snell phone bank is located in Suite 802 of
the Vaughn Building, 807 Brazos. The Snell carrpaign
headquarters is at 3124 :-lanor Road (1 block east of
Airport Blvd. ) , phone number 472- 4898.
s
N
E
L
L
AI.GPC-MCKED GUY HERMAN WINS JPS RACE
Guy Herman handily .-Pn his May 3 Primary race
for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5. Herman tallied
4, 685 votes to opponent David Brooks 's 3, 030. Herman
had l:een endorsed by the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political
Caucus after the Steering Cornnittee conducted extensive
candidate interviews.
Herman acknowledged the ALGPC endorserrent in a
display ad in the DAILY 'IEXAN . He also becarre the
first political candidate to carrq::,aign in gay bars in
Austin. AI.GPC rranbers acca-rpanied Herman to the Private
Cellar, the Austin Country, and Tex 's Colorado
Street bars . AI.GPC leafleted bars, mailed out endorserrent
information, and staffed a phone bank to identified
gays in Precinct 5 on election day. AI.GPC also
forrred a Political Action Carmittee, which contriruted
$125 to Herman 's carrq::,ai gn.
Caucus officers estimate we reached sare 4, 000
gays and probably produced hundreds of votes for
Herman. AI.GPC Political Action Chair Scotty Scott
remarked, "We feel we made a real difference in this
carrq::,aign. We were so enthusiastic about Guy in general ,
as well as his strong support for our issues , that we
organized the lesbian and gay carmunities behind a
carrpaign as has never been done before in Austin. This
effort will make it difficult in the future for candidates
to claim that our endorserrent and our assistance
is a political liability. "
vote for _/
JIMMY SNELL~
Travis County
Commissioner
precinct one
Endorsed by the Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus
Pol Ad Pd to< by tho Jornmy SneHIOebon Comm.•72-48118
3124 Man01 Aoed, Austin, Ttxas 78723, Chlrlff Urd';', Trtu
"
<
CONNECTIONS 7
LESBIAN/GAY DEMX:RATS OF TEXAS NEED HELP
The Lesbian/Gay Derrocrats of Texas desperately
need your support if an effective gay voice is to be
heard at the Texas State Derrocratic Convention in San
Antonio June 21 - 22 .
More than one hundred l esbian and gay delegates
were elected at their county and senatorial district
conventions in May. They will represent the gay and
lesbian constituency of Texas . LGDT is trying to coordinate
a concerted statewide effort so that the convention
as a whole will have to seriously address the
issues of gay rights .
Specifically, this rreans getting a gay rights
resolution on the f loor of the convention to be voted
on by all the delegates present; placing gay and lesbian
delegates in important positions on convention carrnit-tees
, such as Naninations and Resolutions; educating
non-gay delegates on gay-related issues; and being
visible, showing straight, uptight Texas that we will
not fade away, rut intend to take an active role in
the power brokerage of this state.
The gay rights resol uti on, as passed in county
and senatorial district conventions across the state,
calls for repeal of Section 21. 06 of the Texas Penal
Code (the so-cal led "Sodomy Law") , an end to discrimination
in errployrrent, housing and public accarodations ,
and an end to considering a person 's sexual orientation
as the sole criterion in civil and criminal courts ,
such as in child custody cases . LGDT intends to see
this resolution incorporated in the Derrocratic Party's
national platfonn.
Because of skillful grassroots organization, we
are three tirres stronger than we were at the last state
Derrocratic Convention t...o years ago. But, our delegates
at San Antonio ...on ' t be able to flex any gay
political muscle if they don ' t have the funds to publicize
our concerns and political goals .
That rreans MJNEY ! Projected total costs for the
statewide effort approach $2 , 000. This arrount will
cover the costs of advertising, publicity flyers and
leaflets , sare travel expenses , phone charges and
renting a "hospitality suite" (where much of presentday
politicking goes on) .
Austin 's share is $300. Area gay and lesbian
organizations have already offered their support, rut
we can' t make it happen without you. Contrirutions
and requests for rrore information al::out the Lesbian/
Gay Derrocrats of Texas effort should be addressed to
LGDT, P.O. Box 822, Austin , Texas 78767, or call 512/
472-1221 .
It's not much to ask for the people who are
standing up for your rights.
SCOTT, STRONG ELECTED ALGPC CO-OWRS
Scotty Scott and Carr Strong were elected as
Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus CO-Chairs at the
regular rronthly rreeting on J:vlay 20. Scotty has served
as Political Action Chair for the Caucus during the
past year, and has led Austin's participation in the
l-larch on lvashington, the showing of the film "Nord is
Out" as an alternative to the rrovie "Cruising," the
voter registration drive, and the recent Guy Herman
campaign. Strong has se..--ved as General Coordinator
of Gay Conmunity Se:vices . He recently produced "A
Different Dru!lTner," a gay radio series on KITT-FM.
Other officers elected are Donna Johnson, finance
chair; Ginny Cleaver, program chair; Gary Fitzs.irmons,
publicity chair; Sage White, political action chair;
Steve Thomas, legislation chair; Janna Zurnbrun,
recorder; and Becky Badgett, at-large steering corrmittee
member.
The next ALGPC rreeting will be June 24 at 7:30
p.rn. at Austin Lambda Cultural Center, 603 W. 12 .
For rrore information al::out ALGPC , call Scotty scott
at 454-3893 or Carr Stror.g at 441-4231 .
LESBIAN/GAY CAOCUS SCORES VICTORIES !IT
DEMX:RATIC C'CNVENI'ICN
The Lesbian/Gay Caucus of the Travis County
Derrocratic Convention scored a number of significant
victories on Saturday, May 10. At least seven delegates
and six alternates to the State Derrocratic Convention
were elected from the rrore than 75 lesbian and
gay delegates and alternates to the County Convention;
In 1978, five delegates and three alternates were selected.
Members of the Lesbian/Gay Caucus also served
on convention carrnittees: T¼O LG Caucus members on
the Credentials Corrmittee, tv.o on Naninations (including
Sage White) and one (Scotty Scott) on the Resolutions
Corrmittee.
A corrprehensive gay rights - repeal of Section
21 . 06 resolution was reported out of ccmnittee unanirrously.
It passed the convention with only rrodest
opposition. Many non-gay supporters expressed a willingness
to speak for the resolution, and three of them
- Janice Robinson, Stuart Hersch, and Paul Finkleman -
did so. Janna Zurnbrun also spoke in favor of the
resolution. One opponent spoke at length atout the
recent CBS special report, "Gay Power, Gay Politics."
. The delegates and alternates elected on May 10
will go to the State Conventions in San Antonio June
21 - 22 and in Houston in September. • Reports fran around
the state indicate that there will be over 100 lesbian
and gay delegates to the State Conventions. (See story
on funds needed for Lesbian/Gay Derrocrats of Texas
hospitality suite, page
The participation and successes of lesbians and
gay rren in the Derrocratic conventions, bJth in Travis
Coru:itr and statewide, will have an effect on non- partisan
politics , too. Combined with the electoral success of
candidates endorsed by gay organizations, they serve to
derronstr~te the increasing political clout wielded by
the lesbian and gay ccmnuni ties .
8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! C O N N EC Tl O N S,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~!!!!!!!!!!!c ON N EC TIO N s:~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~_ 9
C)
2
0
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MISS THING FANTASY
BALL AND COTILLION
REVUE
THE U .:;r N wOUNTRY MAY ~1, 1980
10 CONNECTIONS
THE AUSTIN COUNTRY:
a 9!!!! gay place_t_o_·,b._e_ ____
"There are l::oth p::isitive and negative eleirents of ~.. ....
3ay bars. We want tote a p::isitive_one." This staterrent
sums up the philosophy of Austill Country manager
James Spiller.
Spiller feels that the 15 to 20 i:ieople associa~
with the country are rrore like a family than a 1:usiness
. Several have teen there for seven years. They
feel the Country isn't just another bar , 1:ut a gay
carrnunity. Spiller says "It's the only bar envirorurent
I 'd feel comfortable ,.orking in."
The bar is owned by Keith iliwards and Bunch Brittain.
It has several sections, including a dance
floor with an elal::orate light and sound system, a
patio, pool tables, an aquarium, a plush quiet bar,
and a big screen 'IV viewing roan. Improveirents are
teing ma.de constantly. The latest is a brand-new
deck for the patio.
Owner Bunch Brittain is active in gay p::ilitics,
l::oth in Austin and statewide. He serves on the steer-
. ,-~- . -
Bunch {in l::oat) and Keith (purrping) deliver the teer
at Hippy Hollow Splash Day (sponsored by the Austin
Country and the New Apartrrent I.ounge) •
ing camiittee ltlhich directs the lobbying efforts of
the Human Rights Advocates of the Texas Gay Task Force.
Bunch has taken an active role in establishing carrnunications
l:el:'.-.ieen the gay carrnunity and law enforceirent
officials in Austin. He also serves on the Holy
Trinity Church of Austin l::oard of trustees.
The Austin Country has teen the scene of fundraisers
for nUID2rous lesbian/gay organizations. It
has hosted l:enefits for the Metrop::ilitan Carrnunity
Church of Austin (M:CA) J:uilding fund, the California
"No on 6" Campaign, the March on Washington, and Gay
Carrnunity Services of Austin.
T\o.o traditional annual events the Country sp::insors
are Splash Day at Hippy Hollow (the first Sunday in
May) ana the party at Keith and Bunch's suite in the
Menger Hotel in Sa, Antonio on Saturday night during
Fiesta in April.
The Cour.try staff doesn't oeheve that the Country
should l:e the only bar in town, with everyone packed ir.
::.1ke sard1..."es. Ma,ager Janes Spiller recalls other •
p::ipular a,d successful bars. In the 1950 's, there was
The iarJiatta, on Congress Avenue. It was a delicatessen
by day a"'ld a bar at m.ght. :::ts sign was later
part of the Pearl Street Warehouse decor.
The ·:ew Apart:rrent I.ounge is the longest-lived gay
bar i."1 Austin. Bob Clifton's Griffon Club and the Tap,
l::oth on Guadalupe, have passed, as have the once p::ipular
gay discos Friends and I.overs and the Pearl Street
Warehouse. .nglish' s on Guadalupe was a gay bar called
the Carousel in the early 1960's.
The Austin Country's J:uilding has an interesting
history. According to James Spiller, it is actually
three large barns connected together. They ;.ere origLrially
used as a stable. General Pershing kept his
horses there at one tirre. The maze of small roans up-
Doorkeepers Jerry Shayne, left, and Bill Durrell
greet custorrers .
stairs , \olhich still exist tOday, originally housed
prostitutes. In the early 1970's , a lesbian bar called
Pearl ' s Place opened on the ground floor . A huge p::irtr
ai t of Janis Joplin hung l:ehind the bar. Then, it
was a straight bar called the Waterloo Country for
three weeks . Keith and Bunch opened the Austin country
as a gay bar in 1973 .
The Country staff works on the sound and light
systems constantly. The DJ plays rock and new wave
music as well as disco, and it's all gOOd dance music.
The Country tries to create a "party" atrrosphere and
plans to feature "theme party" nights , such as "Rock"
and "Country and Western" nights soon. The "Miss Thing
Fantasy Ball and Cotillion Revue" was held May 21. The
Austin Country has hosted entertainers like Mr . Tiffany
Jones , The Montrose Men, R.C. Cola, and the Blandscrew
Sisters. Weekly features include cookouts on the patio
at 7:00 p .rn. Sunday, the Monday night ma.le dance contest,
and the Thursday night female impersonators'
show.
Perforrrers scheduled during June 1980 include Tiny
Mac and Tragedy Ann, Pauletta Lay, R.C. Cola, Lindsay
I.ove and Lindsay :--lcCall, Linda Weatherby (of the Blandscrew
Sisters) , and Teresa Cole and Chatty Kathy. The
Country will l:e hosting the Texas caipetition for Miss
Gay U.S.A. on July 6.
The Austin Country management is dedicated to continuing
to irrprove its facilities and services to provide
an enjoyable environrrent for the Austin ccmnunity.
The City of Austin has plans to perhaps expand the
p::ilice station onto the land the Country now occupies.
If this ever happens, Spiller says, the Austin Country
will sirrply rrove to sate other location in the area.
Terry Stout, left, and "bar back"
.. ---· ~-. - L
CONN EC T IO N S~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
PROTEST FOLLOWS
''GAY POWER•GAY POLITICS''
I~--Howls o~ pro~st, foll~ by the filing
of official carplamts with the National News Council,
greeted the recent CBS television docurrentary "Gay
Power, Gay Politics." The program purported to examine
the effect of harosexuals on the recent Mayoral el ection
in San Francisco. It proved to be a call for heteros~
als_across the nation to be on guard against gay
liberation goals in their carmunities.
The National Gay Task Force, Mayor Dianne Feinstein
and Supervisor Harry Britt of San Francisco and
many others, have prepared staterrents that condemn the
program.
It is felt that CBS News failed to rreet reasonable
s~dards of accuracy and fairness for broadcast journ~
ism. Further, the producers are being accused of
nusrepresentation, distortion, and sensationalism.
Chief am:mg the carplaints are the use of u-.o
children as wi~ess to "Ii'llblic sex" in the heavily
~.ooded Buena Vista Park in San Francisco and the shavr
mg of S&M paraphernalia in a deceptive and shocking
way, capi~izing <;>n ignorance and fear of the subject
and equating S&M with the results of gay pol itical
power.
It is also claimed certain scenes ....ere edited
to make evei:its seem to have occurred sirru.lltaneously
when they did not. _The Juxtaposition of eccentricly
<ll:essed_people (during Hall~ celebrati onsj with
discussions of serious gay grievances resulted in a
manipulation of the facts which could only lead viev.ers
to false conclusions about gay life.
AUSTIN RESPONDS TO "GP.£. PCmER, GK£ roLITICS"
"Gay Pov.er, Gay Pol itics" was as much of a shock
in Austin as it was nationally. Austin activists ....ere
quick to respond to this attack on the lesbian/gay
camn.mity.
The crnNE.CTIONS staff was finishing pasting up the
May 1980 edition when the program carre on. After watching
it, a hasty, indignant review was written and·inserted
at the last minute.
The Austin Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus and Austin
Laml::da piltural Center .irmediately initiated letterwriting
campaigns against the CBS News production.
Austin Lambda cultural also sh~ a video tape of the
program on Saturday, May 31 .
The Lesbian/Gay Caucus of the Travis County Democratic
convention reported that repercussions of this
horrophobic "docurrentary" have already been felt. At
the ~avi~ County Derrocratic convention, the majority
of obJections to the introduction of a lesbian/gay
rights plank in the party platform \-.ere based on
fears generated partly by "Gay Power, Gay Politics."
THANKS
The Austin Country, along with the New Apartrrent
LOunge, l:egan advertising in GAY AUSTIN in that paper's
first year , 1976 . The country, the Apartrrent and M:CA
are the only organizations which have placed display
advertiserrents in all seven issues of CONNECTIONS .
Their faithful financial support have made Austin's
own lesbian/gay news magazine possible. Without them,
CONNECI'IONS s:i.rrply v.0uld not exist. The managerrent and
staff of the Austin Country care about the readers of
our paper, and they care about our lesbian/gay cc:mnunity
as a ;,.hole .
The National Gay Task Force condemned the program
as causing "damage to the cause of civil rights and
human dignity for the nation's lesbian and gay citizens
and a further erosion of public confidence in the
rredia's ability to accurately and fairly report the
truth. II
The program has brought up imfortant questions
about the way information is conveyed to the PJ.blic.
If the press is untrusu-.orthy, where can a factfinding
citizen turn for information?
In a live panel discussion that follc:,,...e:l the showing
of the docurrentary (broadcast only in the San Francisco
area, not nationally) sare of the major participants
in the program rret face- to-face with producers
George Crile and Grace Diekhaus. A furious debate
ensued.
Cleve Jones , who was the man chosen as the focus
of the program, said that he felt betrayed by the
producers.
Armistead Maupin, author of Tales of the City,
said he was surprised that producer Crile had spent
so rruch of the show pointing out and deploring gay
back-roan sex when Crile himself had told Maupin that
he envied the sexual freed.an of gays , because he felt
hemred in by his marriage.
Gv.enn Craig, a black l esbian, asked why alrrost
nothing about lesbians appeared in the program. The
producers said they had decided to leave lesbians out
because they couldn ' t find anything controversial
about them.
THUP.SDAY
10 PM SHOW
STARRING
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35¢ OAP. DP.INKS
AND CANNED DEEP.
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FRIDAYS
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12
A:HTA BRYA:JT FILES FOR DIVORCE
Selma, Alabama (AP) - The breakup of her marriage
may be the rrost painful experience in her life, b.lt
controversial singer Anita Bryant said trouble had been
brewing in the 20-year union fran the very start,
In an interview arranged by Hurst, Texas, evangelist
Jarres Robison, Bryant talked atout her fight to save
the marriage and the circumstances leading to the breakup
with husband Bob Green, a forrrer disc jockey.
"\·le sought counseling, different kinds of counsel -
ing fran different approaches," she said. "I wanted
to save my marriage, b.lt because of a (recent) set of
circumstances, I decided that was not quite the route
to go."
Since filing for divorce in Miami, Bryant has been
in seclusion in Selma, Alabama with her four children.
In her divorce petition, Bryant charged that Green,
her manager, had cooperated "with certain hired staff
rranl::ers who conspired to control me and to use my narre
and reputation to b.lild their personal careers instead
of my ministry. "
She said she believes divorce is a sin and "I have
to accept 5 0 percent of the blarre. I am seeking the
will of God, living one day at a time. There are hurts
and scars that need time to heal.
"I carre fran a broken hare and have been so concerned
al:out my own family that. divorce has not even
been in my vocal::ulary. It's against everything that I
believe in."
Bryant has resigned frcrn Anit:a Bryant Ministries
and asked that its narre be changed. After gaining
national attention for her anti-harosexuality stand, she
established the organization to help harosexuals change
their lifestyles.
All her Christianleor1certs were canceled when news
of the divorce was made public and she has 1:¼0 secular
concerts scheduled.
"The only inccrre ~•ve had has been with the ministries
and now that's gone," she said.
Robison , a fundamental evangelist who also gained
attention when his Dallas television program was canceled
following an anti-harosexualit.y serrron, has counseled
Bryant since the breakup, she said.
"When I asked if he 1•.ould stand wit.h me, he said he
'i.OU.ld a.'1d all I could do was cry. I never suspected
anyone in the fundamentalist camunity could embrace
me in that way, and I have praised the LOrd ever since,"
she said.
". !y irmediate goals are licking my v.Ounds, concentrating
on my children and clinging to the Lord,
"God loves me where I am. "
CITRUS roMISSIOO PRUNES BRYANT
KPFT--Singer Anita Bryant may have made her final
camercial on behalf of the Florida Citrus Camussion.
The agency which handles the carrnission is advertising
says that no rrore camercials with the contro-•
versial singer are planned. According to t1:e agency's
Douqlas Hoffer, Bryant is through as a Florida oran~e
juice spokesperson, "if the ccmnission goes along with
it."
It is believed that gay-sponsored J::oycotts of
Florida citrus products have cut into orange juice sales
nationwide. Recently, 1:¼0 major Florida orange juice
carpanies applied for permission to rerrove the v.0rd
"Florida" fran their labels, indicating that the designation
on the label was having an adverse effect on
sales.
-Reprinted fran the METRO STAR
ANITA Is FINA."JCES
by Larry Bush
In fili."lgs recently released by the Internal Revenue
Service, Anita Bryant has indicated that her antigay
organizations had provided vir~ually no fund~g_for
her premised program while collecting over tv.O mil.lien
dollars fran the public. The IRS, while refusing c,..' -
ment on Bryant's continued tax-exempt and tax-deuuct-:.ble
status, indicated that a tax audit may be in the offing.
Both Anita Bryant Ministries, Inc. , allegedly a
religious counseling program, and Protect Arrerica's
Children, a "rrorality" lobby that engages in political
activity, entered tax statements showing the lion's
share of expenses had gone to fundraising and that
neither group had "launched" its ostensible program.
Protect Arrerica' s Children had as its aim an
explicitly political function, and it incorporated in
1977 for a tax-exempt, though not tax-deductible status,
Under IRS guidelines it could J::-e used as a vehicle for
carrpaign activity.
Anita Bryant Ministries, Inc., was also launched in
1977 in an effort to counter criticism that Bryant was
engaged only in negative activity. Bryant announced
with the formation of Anita Bryant Ministries that she
v.OUld establish counseling centers for harosexuals as
v.ell as for others who had drifted away fran her brand
of fundamentalist Christianity.
In the filings, ~ver, Bryant is only able to
report success at raising funds .
Anita Bryant Ministries reports netting alrrost one
million dollars in contrib.ltions. Under "Program Activity"
it reports that only $150 of that arrount v.ent to
"counseling." That was less than the funds spent on
press and photos, consulting fees or Christmas gifts.
The b.llk of the expenses was for "direct mail fundraising
letters for raising contrib.ltions, gif~~ grants,
etc. totaling nearly $400,000.00 The remaining half
million dollars was bankrolled at the end of the year.
Protect Arrerica's Children by its political lobby
raised alm:>st 1.3 million dollars that sarre year.
Reprinted fran UPFRCNI'
CONNECTIONS
EVERYDAY
EVERYDAY WE PASS EACH OTHER
AND IGNORE EACH OTHER 'S SIGHT
WE CARE NOT TO SEE EACH OTHER
AND FORGET ABOUT THAT NIGHT
WHEN YOU WERE MINE
AND I WAS YOURS
AND WE WERE ONE •••
BUT FELL APART
WE ARE NO LONGER
OURSELVES
FOR WE FORGOT TO GIVE THE
LOVE
AND NOW WE PASS EACH
OTHER
AND FORGET ABOUT THAT NIGHT
HEKTOR
A PASSING
When i t cares time to part,
It i s really always an art.
For you find that your hearts
Will not totally part.
For time wil l care,
And time will go,
But your need for each other
Will al ways show.
For you need him in your way,
And he needs you in his .
Together this makes
The best friendship there is .
Lynn Aday
TEATRO ALEGRE 'IO APPEAR NJ' GA.5LIGEIT 'IHEATRE
Teatro Alegre (Gay Theatre) has been delighting
Austin audiences with "Jatos" ("Queers" , revievied in
May, 1980 cruND:TIONS) for the past tw 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
sarething like ' the three bears go disco, ' only different.
" It 's ab::>ut Teddy Bear, who wants to be a disco
dancer rut who rrust struggle with society's prejudices
_ and a big, bad v.01f .
Teddy Bear will be pl ayed by Hektor Munoz.
Pancha, the Discc Queen (Parrela Leighton) accanpanies
him in his adventure . Cliff Manuel pl ays Mr. M., the
v.0lf , and Diana Sol iz is the Fairy ( "no pun intended") •
"El Osi to Bail arin" i s Teatro Alegre 's second
production and it pranises to be every bi t as entertaining
as "Jotos ." The bilingual production will pl ay
nearly every Thursday and Saturday afternoon in Jul y.
Part of the proceeds will be donated to GCS . Showtirne
wil l be 3:15 p .m. Don ' t miss it.
'"·
II II
71
••
••
14 !!!!:.,.::-V CONNECTIONS
'till death
by do us part
RON MOSS
They looked so alone , at first . Two distinguished
, middle-pged gentlemen in suits seem out of
place in a disco crowd . But it soon became obvious
they had many friends , There was a constant crowd at
their table , When some people would drift away to
dance , others would stop at their table to talk .
I was a stranger and had never met either of them,
but they seemed most familiar. to all the congregation
in the bar, As the night progressed , I found the two
gentlemen ' s names were James and Tom. One young man
spoke of the two as "parents,"
After several dances with one blonde number , I
found myself being introduced to James and Tom, They
knew my blonde escort very well , We sat at the table
and had a pleasant conversation ,
As it neared closing time , James and Tom invited
me to stay at their house , rather than go to the local
baths. It may have been the liquor that I had consumed
or it may have been the undaring stares I had been
receiving from Tom that made me accept the invitation,
The house was located out in the country. We
talked about each other on the long drive home and
learned even more about each other.
James , I found, was forty- three . He had been
born in Montana and had been raised on his father ' s
cattle ranch. He had originally moved to the city
to go to c :_ege. He had met Tom at the bar one night
several years earlier , They became fast friends and
soon founJ themselves wa~~.i.~ to be around each other
re and more . ~hey sett"iet~:2,_wp or a sma.l country
ot that ,Jame.; ri·vi bo 1 ·hj· "'1'lieLt,jtP- first u.oved to the
·ity.
T ar o d
l'1tra
Texas , He had joined the army when he was eighteen.
After a four year bout with the military , Tom decided
to travel , He had gone to California; New York ; Canada
and many other interesting places , He had originally
just planned on passing through the city, but
he liked it and had decided to stay a few days longer
when he met James .
During our conversation about my lovers , Tom
said he wanted me to know that he and James were not
lovers , but only "good pals," I thought the situation
a bi t strange as they certainly acted as if they were
lovers , Tom saw the look of disbeli ef on my face and
explained that he and James had been lovers , but found
that being tied down kept their life together somewhat
strained, so they became pals,
Soon we arrived at our destination, James '
description had just not done justice to all the hard
work they had put into the house and lot , A s i mple
frame house sat surrounded by plants of all kinds ,
sizes , and shapes , Although the house was simple on
the outside , it was elegant on the inside , Everything ,
including the early ceiling fans , looked as if they
belonged in the house all along, The natural wooden
floors and the natU.'ral brick walls added a f l air that
was to be unknown by any other house I was to ever
enter again ,
It was late , so we decided to bed down for the
night , I was given a most comfortable room in the back
of the house. A waterbed adorned the center of the
room, Chocolate brown drapes fluttered on the windows
and a rice brown velvet bedspread lashed across the
bed,
I got ready for bed after taking a sensuous
shower, I slipped into my jockstrap and crawled
underneath the warmth of the bedspread ,
I soon flew into a fast and deep sleep. I was
very tired after my long trip and the fast- paced
evening I spent at the bar,
It began to snow during the evening, During
the night I grew restless and woke up, I got up to
go to the kitchen and get something to drink, Althouv.t.
+ried o make very i+-+;le noise, I w"ke '!'om, ·,nd he
''.L'll ·r+o the kit,;hen to he p m loea+c tne thinb"'•
I mac..e f a ,1i"h out o ' 3O"le 1° 'tovers ·n +J-fa
luy., ,.,. mi r. Tom
·vir rooM +o ,·t
th
tt
vw-1· r ~oa & +.,
r om 'l. .,!l'a
nr th• ~irep 'l.' •
t
+o .. o, -
room, A.; om A.n<i r cu la ea
ow y <U'' fte d into
1r wna··ks and
d ·iaP1 w wo~ d re ~or the rc.;t o" the ni~ht ,
Upon reachine Lhe bedroom, we found that our
sexua appetites for one c.nother had grown . We ay in
P'.i ·ti o+her ' s arms, caressing and kissine: and t'ond ing
he obJeet of ~ur deEires ,
ur folluwing actions and motions he.d us in a
stati- of ,.mspendect animation . I-If' wr>re joined not only
in body, bu'; in being and essence. 'he hours tnat we
.;pent entwined were both fulf.i. 1 'rp 'l.nd ,joyous . We
firQ 1y n,•iftect ofr to s~eep and woke in the morning
fee 'n · r, newed and refreshed ,
' ve lived t~re :n the _;mall frame house for five
years w. James and Tom are still good pals, as are
J·unes ani I , We are all very close to each other anri
mA.ke up a wonderous ittle family . Tom and I are now
lovers , We have much joy and tranquility in our
relationship . We have shared our love with James and
with each other , Our lives are abundant and filled ,
we truly meant the pledge we made when we held each
other ' s hands in the small, but quaint country church
and were jouned in .o y Union , We shall be together
till death do us pPrt.
CONNE,:T.IONS 15
CONNECTIONS
CALENDAR
JUNE,1980
Sun June 1 9am, Austin Laml:da Cultural carpool to
final Houston showing of Judy Chicago's
"Dinner Party"
10flll, Showtirre at Austin Country with
Tiny Mac and Tragedy Ann
Mon June 2 6:30- 8flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural planning
collective meeting
Tue June 3 and Wed June 4 12 noon, Austin Laml:da Cul -
tural bake sale fund raiser by Co-op
Wed June 4 8flll, Gay Corrm.mity Services coordinators
meeting, Uni versity Y office
Thu June 5 6- 8flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural coordinators
meeting
1 0flll, Showtirre at Austin Country with
Pauletta Lay
Fri June 6 7flll, Di gnity Region VII Convention at the
Castili an, 2323 San Antonio, through
June 8. Hosted by Dignity Austin.
7: 30flll, lesbian films at Austin Laml:da
Cultural•
Sat June 7 VOI'E in your party primary run-off elections
today. ALGPC endorses Jinrny Snell
for County Ccmnissioner, Precinct 1 •
Sun June 8 7fltl, Austin Laml:da Cultural lesbian i=otluck
supper
10flll, Showtirre at Austin Country wi th
R.C. Cola (punk rock and new wave)
Tue June 1 0 7fll\, Aus tin Laml:da Cul t ural meeting to
discuss concensus decisi on-making
7:30flll, Metroi:olitan Camumity Church of
Austin Board of Director s meeting
Thu June 12 5- 7flll, Kay Gardner ..x:>rkshop, Publ ic Library.
Everyone welcare.
10flll, Showtirre at Austin Country with
Lindsay Love and Lindsay McCall
Fri June 13 8flll, Kay Gardner at Hogg Auditorium, UT,
$4 .00 Flautist sponsored by Hurrmingbird
Productions.
Sat June 14 6:30fll\, Austin Laml:da AA covered dish
dinner
7flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural auction.
Everyone welcaue.
10μn-3am, free STD (sexually transmitted
disease) screening by Gay :,urses'
Alliance of Austin and Austin-Travis
County Health Dept. at the Club Baths
Sun June 15 8flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural dessert potluck.
Terri 1'1cCaslin, speaker
Mon June 16 6:30- 8fll\, Austin Laml:da Cultural planning
collective
Wed June 18 7- 10fll\, Austin Laml:da Cultural planning
collective
8flll, Gay Camunity Services general
rosiness meeting, University Y office
Thu June 19 6- 8flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural coordinator£
meeting
10flll, Showtirre at Austin Country with
Linda Weatherby of the Blandscrew
Sisters
Fri June 20 12 midnight, Gay Nurses' Alliance of
Austin meeting. Call 453- 0816 for
location.
Sat June 21 7:30fll\, 1'CCA pot luck supper and awards
dinner
Sun June 22 Glfi PRIDE WEEK: Austin Laml:da Cultural
exhibit and sale, art ..x:>rk and crafts,
to be announced
Sflll, GNi PRIDE WEEK: Town Meeting, to be
announced
Tue June 24 7:30flll, ALGPC meeting, Austin Laml:da
Cultural
Thu June 26 1 0flll, Showtirre at Austin Country with
Teresa Cole and Chatty Kathy
Fri June 27 GAY PRIDE WEEK: Austin Laml:da Cultural
night of individual or small group
rrusic and poetry. To be arranged
Sat June 28 10am, GAY PRIDE Parade, 1st and Color ado
12 noon, GNi PRIDE Rally, beer rust and
barbecue at Wooldridge Park
8flll, Austin Laml:da AA birthday night for
all AA groups . Sobriety birthday celebrants
are the guest speakers .
8flll, GAY PRIDE WEEK: Austin Laml:da CUltural
dance, to be arranged
Mon June 30 6- 8flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural collating
of July newsletter
weekly events in june '80
sunday 12 noon and 7: 30fll\, ..x:>rship services at
Monday
MetrO!X)li tan Carrounity Church of Austin
1fltl, liturgi cal service, Holy Trinity Church
of Austin
3flll, Austin Laml:da AA Step 12 group
4flll, Volleyball, Waterloo Park (Red River
be~ 11th and 15th streets)
8flll, Dignity liturgy. Call 477-6699 for
location.
8flll, Austin Laml:da AA Monday group
8- 10flll, Austin Laml:da Cultural gay men 's
awareness group. $1 donation asked fran
non- sponsors
Tuesday 7:30flll, Bible study, 1'CCA
Wednesday 6: 30flll, Austin Lamtrla AA ¼Oren together
meeting
7:30- 9: 30flll, Counseling, 1'CCA
8 and 9: 30flll, Austin Lamtrla AA presents
films on alcoholism
Thursday 7:30fll\, rap group, 1'CCA
8- 10fll\, Austin Lamtrla Cultural lesbian
awareness group. $1 donation asked fran
non-s=nsors
Friday
8flll, Austin Laml:da AA steps study group
8fll\, Gay Camunity Services rap group,
University Y rap group roan
8fll\, CCAA bowling, Brunswick Capitol
Bowling Center, 5700 Grover
8fll\, Austin Lamtrla AA Friday group
A D V E R T I S E R S
Anarchadillo
Austin Country
Henry 's Mernrys
Holy Trinity
Libertarian Party of Texas
Metropolitan Ccmnunity Church of Austin
New Apartrrent Lounge
Paths Untrodden Bookstore
~Tirrmy Snell
Gerry Tarr
-
16· CONNECTIONS
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LOIR..."'Y O.RGA:l - Holiday with Genie. Twin
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Player, Autaratic rhyt.hrrVaccorrpanirrent.
Headphones and bench. Excellent condition.
$1950. Gerry at 459-5094 after 6 p.m.
A'lARCHADIILO - Austin's unique headshop
featurbg fine glass and ceramic pipes.
Chinese and Korean ginseng teas. Natural
soaps and sharrq:x:x:>s. Lil::.ertar ian J:ooks and
scie.'1Ce fiction. Open 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.
2401 ~!a.~Or Road. 474-5968
HOLY TRINITY CHlilOi OF AUSTTI,. Liturgical
service Sunday 1 : 00 p.m. David Charles,
v-0rship leader. 1606 s. Congr~ss, 447-7359
HENRYS MD1RYS invites you to visit our
unusual, funky shop. Vintage clothes,
hot party clothes and costurres. Hours
11-5 ~n., Tues. lied. 11:00-11:00 Thurs. ,
Fri. , Sat. 423 East 6th. 474-6428
GAY HERITAGE - gay owned J:ook service has
large selection of J:ooks reflecting the
gay man's experience. Catalog $1.00.
Paths Untrodden, Dept. C, Box 459 ,
Village Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10014
FRIENDLY PEOPLE NEEDED to collect signatures
to p.1t candidates on ballot. Fullt.ure/
part- t.ure. $5 to $8/hour. Flexible hours/
locations. Petition at rock concerts , ur,
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Party, the party of human rights and civil
lil::.erties. Call 476- 2728 or visit our new
headquarters at 2201 Manor Road.
\QI'E FOR Jil41Y SNELL June 7 for County
Ccmni.ssioner, Precinct 1 • Ad paid for by
a friend.
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