| Transcript |
the
cZNUNTIUS
VOLUME 4 NO. 6
FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE GAY COMMUNITY
JUNE 1973
GAYS BOYCOTT HOUSTON CHRONICLE
On or about May 1, 1973 Chuck
Berger and Billy Walker went down
to the special features division of
the Houston Chronicle and applied
for an ad. The copy read:
"Montrose Gaze Community Center serving the gay community
504 Fairview, 528-9069 - open
Spmldaily"
Miss Vera Coffin, head of special
features division took a personal
check for payment of the ad and
stated "it (the ad) will be in
this coming Sundays edition of
Zest, in the Houston Chronicle."
The ad did not appear the following Sunday, nor the following
Sunday nor the following Sunday.
After three weeks of inquiry
as to why the ad was not appearing
Mr. Walker tried of the reply
the Chronicle was giving; i.e., "the
ad was lost in composing", and we
misplaced it and it will be in next
Sundays edition," Mr. Walker
asked to speak to higher authority
and was told ultimately (after three
weeks of being put off by the
Chronicle management) that the
ad would not be put in the paper.
The chronicle management refused
to give a reason for not printing
the copy.
Mr. Walker called the president
of the Chronicle, Mr. D. Johnson,
and explained the previous three
weeks of business dealings with the
Chronicle. The president of the
Chronicle then recommended that
Mr. Walker take his issue to the
Chronicle's advertising director
Mr. Jack Johnson.
Mr. Walker talked to Jack Johnson who said, "I have never seen
the ad or its contents, but I leave
the final decision to my department heads (Vera Coffin - special
features) and the decision has been
made to refuse to print the ad."
Mr. Walker at this time informed
Mr. Johnson that the Houston Gay
Political Coalition was beginning
a boycot of the Chronicle and was
Gay Pride Parade
(Join the Ranks of Hundreds of
Straights and Gays Marching in
Dallas' Second Annual GAY PRIDE
PARADE!)
The Gay Event of the Year will
take place the last Friday and
Saturday of this month, then spill
over into the first Sunday of July.
Hords of people, both straight and
gay, will be coming from all over
the Southwest to participate in the
many gay-full events planned for
that weekend - a national holiday,
celebrated all over America and
parts of Europe.
Those from out of the city will
be housed by members of Dallas'
Metropolitan Community Church,
the Circle of Friends and The
Daughters of Bilitis. Anyone needing a place to stay should call
824-0770 upon arrival.
BIG BANG FRIDAY NIGHT --
Things will get off to a big
bang Friday night as several of
the local gay bars are planning
special entertainment to honor
those marching for Gay Civil
Rights. The gay bars have been
especially cooperative this year
in allowing posters advertising the
parade to be displayed in their
establishments and permitting flyers to be distributed to their
patrons. Those new to Big D will
want to patronize more than a few
of Dallas' famous gay bars, both
large and small.
GAY PRIDE PARADE SATURDAY
MORNING
It is hoped our guests won't
have such a grand time that they
stay out too late Friday night, as
next morning at 10:00, straights
alongside gays will startassembl-
ing at Main and Market, ready to
step off at 11:00 on the dot.
step off at 11:00 on the dot.
This year's parade is expected
to be considerably larger, after
last year's success, and the parade
route is twice as long. There will
be floats, decorated cars, streamers, banners, confetti, colorful
baloons and hundreds of people
carrying signs to show the world
that we ARE human and should
be able to exercise the same civil
rights and enjoy the very same
freedoms as all other citizens.
You, as an individual or as part
of a group, are invited to march
shoulder to shoulder with your
gay brothers and sisters. Organizations marching beside you will
be the Circle of Friends, the
Dallas Metropolitan Community
Church, Agape Metropolitan Community Church of Ft. Worth, the
Dallas Chapter of the Daughters of
Bilitis, AURA of Ft. Worth, the
Gay Liberation Front of the Univ-
encouraging all gay subscribers
and gay businesses to cancel their
respective contracts with the
Chronicle. "That, if the Chronicle
could not accept money and print
an ad for the gay organizations,
then it shouldn't expect to make
money from gay business owners
and gay subscribers."
Mr. Walker, after talking to the
advertising director of the Chronicle, called the mayor, radio stations and TV networks and both
major newspapers and related the
business transaction with the paper
and informed the media that there
was a boycott in effect.
Mr. Walker then contacted the
special feature department of the
Houston Post and proceeded to
place the same ad in that newspaper -- the ad was accepted
and much praise goes to that
paper for for not continuing the
oppressive position that the Houston Chronicle has taken against the
Homosexual Community.
ersity of Texas, the Metropolitan
Community Church of Oklahoma
City, the Gay Community Alliance
of the University of Oklahoma, the
Montrose Gaze of "Houston, The
Texas Gay Coalition, Dignity, the
Gay Liberation Front of Houston,
NUNTIUS / OUR COMMUNITY of
Houston/Dallas, the Gay Women's
Liberation of Kansas, the Family
of Abilene, the Family of Kileen
and Integrity from Houston. Groups
of students from El Centro, SMU,
Eastfield as individuals are also
planning to march.
Last year, some members of
the Dallas City Council tried to
stop the GAY PRIDE PARADE.
Their efforts were in vain. Indeed
the publicity received, from the
fuss they kicked up, aided us. There
were no arrests, violence or harassment last year and Dallas police
were helpful and cooperative. As
a matter-of-fact, they seemed to
enjoy the parade.
As last year, the Dallas Chapter
of the American Civil Liberties
Union has volunteered to help the
gay community be serving as impartial observers along the parade
route.
There are those who feel they
can not "come out" because of
jobs, family and for personal reasons. This is understandable. But
EVERYONE can help! Money is
needed, and volunteers are asked
to help decorate cars and floats
and make banners. Never again will
we merely wring our hands and
cry, "Ain't it ashame. Why doesn't
somebody DO something?"
PICNIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Immediately following the parade, there will be a picnic at
Flag Pole Hill overlooking White
Rock Lake. Everyone is invited,
but please bring food and drink
for yourself and for a friend.
Transportation will be provided
for those needing it.
After the picnic everyone will
have time to dash home and rest
a bit before attending the TEDDY
BEAR'S FOLLIES, the premiere
performance of the Thespian Players of the Metropolitan Community
Church. This gay romp, in the style
of a turn-of-the-century vaudeville
comedy, will be presented on the
beautiful stage of the Encore,
starting at 10:00pm.
MORE ON SUNDAY
Again as last year, the following day will be cramed with activity. In the morning and early
evening, there will be a swim and
picnic at Dallas' famous Queen's
Point at Lake Dallas. Afterwards,
all are invited to the Metropolitan
Community Church's monthly Covered Dish Party starting at 5:30
pm. The church is located at
3834 Ross Avenue. Here one can
eat all s(he) wants for only $1.50
-- and with the price of food
nowdays, this is surely Dallas'
best bargain. Well, you know very
well what damn good cooks we gay
people are!
PEACEFUL END
To end the fun-filled weekend,
why not plan to stay for evening
service at MCC? With gay love,
warmth and peace, the joyous,
frantic activities will come to an
end. Don't miss any of it.
Steve Jansson
GAY PRIDE
WEEK
Rey Ramirez
Montrose Gaze is kicking off
Gay Pride Week June 24-30 with
open house Sunday June 24. Among
many events planned will be an
appearance by State Representative Ron Waters, guest speaker
of the day. Folk singer Don Sanders will perform and there will be
a display of arts and crafts by
Gay artists. There will be food
and refreshments, a drawing, a
high heel race and free pool
sor a VD booth for information
and tests. Montrose Gaze is also
sponsoring a float in the Dallas
parade. We expect heavy support
from the Gay Community here
in Houston. No admission and
everyone is welcome.
OUR COMMUNITY
NOTfllNQ bUMAN iS ALIGN TO US
|
