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NOV. 11, 1983 / MONTROSE VOICE 3
Hundreds Attend GPC Election Central
By Hollis Hood
Hundreds of voters gathered to cheer their
Gay Political Caucus endorsed winners,
comfort the losers and repledge support to
their run-off contenders amid dancing and
laser lights at GPC'e election central,
Numbers 2, 300 Westheimer, last Tuesday
night.
As election results were televised on the
wall-screen monitor, and as several GPC-
supported candidates' victories were
assured, GPC president Larry Bagneris
said "Ivet's give ourselves a hand. It's time
to understand and reflect on GPC. It has
existed for eight years. We have realized
that for any minority to get anything
done, it takes a team effort," he said, referring to the GPC gay bloc vote. "We'retalking about human rights, not just gay
rights."
"There was a 'gay' issue in 1983," said
Councilman Jim Greenwood, the first of
several public officials to address the
gathering that evening. "But hopefully it
will mark the last time there will be; there
shouldn't be.
"My hat is off to GPC on yet another
issue," he said, referring to the GPC convention center endorsement. "We need it
for jobs, to diversify the economy and to
strengthen our downtown."
Also he mentioned that the $80,000 in
the Houston budget for the AIDS tracking
project was not enough, but "it's more
than was in the budget last year. This
needs to be treated as any serious epidemic. That needs to be done—and that
will be done," he said over cheers of approval from the crowd.
Greenwood introduced the members of
his family to the crowd, shook a round of
hands and left for another 'thank you'
stop.
Early in the evening, it became clear
that Anne Wheeler, the GPC endorsed
candidate opposing Jim Westmoreland in
the At-Large 1 race, had gleaned only
about one-third of the vote. But at Election
Central, she was greeted with applause
and hand shakes, not unlike the reception
given to persons who had won their races
that evening.
"I want you to know that this lady has
never been a loser in Montrose, and the
results show it," exclaimed Bagneris.
"She took on the biggest turd at city hall,
and we'll get him next time. Westmore-
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land will retire in two years."
A tearful Wheeler said, "I am very proud
of your support. To me, Montrose is the
center of the universe."
She went on to say that most of thecoun-
cilpersons are supportive of human rights
and of anyone who "is sensitive to all
human needs and all communities."
Regarding her defeat, Wheeler said that
the incumbent was elected on name identification. "There is no question that if they
knew my opponent's record, they could not
possibly have voted for him."
Bagneris assured Wheeler of the continued support of the gay community "150
percent, anytime, Montrose is behind
you."
Lee Harrington, proponent and liaison
to the gay community from Texas Eastern's convention center project, told the
crowd that by gay support of the successful center vote that the community "has
arrived" in the eyes of downtown business. "By the political power of the bloc
vote, we got their attention, and once they
met us, they found out they liked us
besides. We just blew them (top Texas
Eastern management) away."
He said that the issue has enabled gay
corporate personnel to "come out" as
never before, and that building the convention center on the eastside will "help
clean up lower Westheimer."
Referring to repeated comments about
liking gays when getting to know them,
Bagneris said, "People learn that we are
not out to molest their kids; we are not
interested in their husbands or their
wives. All we want is our jobs and the right
to raise our kids. All they have to do is
meet one of us, see how we walk and talk,
and they are satisfied about the kind of
folks we are forever. We are interested in
the quality of life, in getting potholes
repaired and that buses run on time."
Nikki Van Hightower, the GPC
endorsed candidate, and Anthony Hall
will he in a runoff for the At-Large Position 4 spot, which was a surprise to no one,
with both candidates garnering approximately one-third of the vote. Figures
representing Montrose, however, indicated this area went for Van Hightower by
62 percent to Hall's 20 percent.
In reference to Hall's position on gay
rights pertaining to the employment antidiscrimination issue, Bagneris said that
he authored the first rights ordinance.
"Where was sexual orientation then?" he
asked the crowd.
Van Hightower addressed the group
saying that she knew the community had
granted her great support and had been
fractured in time and money, but that^the
campaign would continue for the three
more weeks of the runoff. She asked for
continued support saying "looks like there
will be a runoff and I think we have the
strategy for victory. We've had a lot of help
from gays. I can't do it without you."
State Rep. Debra Danburg and Sherry
Valentine were on hand to support Van
Hightower as well.
See related story, page 1.
Guess who's on the cover of the just-
released Advocate? Houston's own Colt
Thomas.
Inside are several articles on Texas,
including the lead article, "In Search of
the Average Gay Texan" by Joe Baker.
Joe, of Dallas, frequently has articles
appearing here in the VOICE.
Lola's owner Marilyn Arnold is planning
on making lots of changes in the bar—
just like she's always making lots of
changes to her hairdo.... Wayne Barton,
the new DJ at Mary's, is keeping the place
jumping nightly. And Mary's is celebrating its 13th Anniversary this Sunday all
day, all night, with keg beer and champagne.
More good bar news: The 611 opens r-e-
a-l soon with Steve and Ken. They're at
611 Hyde Park.
— D —
Danny Villa has finally figured out when
he's going to hold that Zapp Clap Two,
Too. It will be Nov. 21 and 22, a week from
now, at Numbers, benefitting the Montrose Clinic and the KS/AIDS Foundation.
— a —
The City of Houston VD people will be at
Midtowne Spa tonight (Friday), 9pm-
1am, for free blood tests and gonorrhea
screening. Then they'll be at JR's and the
Mining Company Sunday afternoon, 4-
8pm. with the VD Buggy for more tests
And next Wednesday night they'll be at
the Copa, 9pm-1am.
—a —
Here are some important events that
occurred this week in past years-
excuses to throw a party.
Friday, Nov. 11: David Ignatius Walsh
was born today in 1872. So that means
you can celebrate that your middle name
is not Ignatius.
Actually, old Iggie was a U.S. Senator
from Massachusets that became involved
in a homosexual scandal in 1942. Seems
police raided this New York "male brothel" (bathhouse? questions CA. Tripp in
his book, The Homosexual Matrix) and
arrested manager Gustave Beekman.
They then offered Beekman a deal for
cooperation and he named Walsh as a
customer. Newspapers plastered Walsh's
name on their covers for weeks—and the
Senate conducted a sensational
investigation—but it cleared Walash
Police then prosecuted Beekman on
charges of "sodomy," found him quilty
and sentenced him to 20 years in prison
He served every day of it.
And special thanks to Martin Greifs
The Gay Books of Days, from which we
gathered some of this information
Friday is also Veterans' Day.
Monday. Nov. 14: Herman Melville's
Moby Dick was published today in 1851.
And, good God!. Joseph McCarthy was
born today in 1908. But on a more refreshing note, Arthur Bell, gay columnist for
New York's Village Voice, was born today
in 1940.
Tuesday, Nov. 15: Pike discovered his
peak today in 1806.
Wednesday, Nov. 16: Al Capone was
released from jail today in 1939, three
years early for good behavior
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