GAY NEWS-August 1978-7

Helped by federal lending codes

Gays move into suburban home market

by Jan Sergienko

NEW YORK-Lesbians and gay men are making inroads in the suburban home market, according to a recent article in the New York Times. Gays in greater numbers than ever before are finding it easier to secure the privacy that a suburban home affords.

Recent changes in the Federal anti-discrimination code in lending have helped ease the entry of gays into the suburbs. Such changes prohibit discrimination based on sex (i.e. against women) or marital status (against single people). While the changes were not instituted specifically for gays, gays are indirectly benefitting from them.

Lesbians, who for years found the housing market closed to them because of their sex, have been helped the most. The lesbian found that banks were unwilling to release mortgage money to her since she was technically classified as a woman of child-bearing age. Banks theorized

that any such woman might, if she had a baby, be forced to give up her income. The gay male has also been helped by the non-discriminatory lending codes. First priority for mortgage money has traditionally-→ been given to married, rather than single men.

Yet despite the general loosening of mortgage money for gays, discrimination still abounds. A number of gays interviewed in recent weeks said that while bankers may preach fairness, they can be ruthless in their scrutiny of mortgage applications from gays. One person characterized the processing method as a kind of "cruel thoroughness" not used for the average family couple.

According to real estate agents, gays are apparently willing to put up with the hassles involved in buying a suburban home for one overwhelming reason privacy. A house, especially one in wooded surroundings, offers freedom from the prying eyes of nosey neighbors.

Lesbians and gay men see real es-

L.A. mayor donates to community center

LOS ANGELES-Mayor Tom Bardley has donated $100 to the Gay Community Services Center here, expressing delight at the Center's "fantastic programs."

During an hour-long visit, the Mayor spoke to every person on the 80-member staff. In praise of the Center, he said, "I don't know of a program in the city that has the diversity of services you offer. All of the essential needs of people are dealt with here in an atmosphere of acceptance, free of hostility and judgmental attitudes. That's important to anybody, gay or straight."

Recent city funds have aided GCSC's expansion, a move which the mayor noted has caused some criticism.

Bradley pledged his open support in the gay community's fight against the Briggs Initiative. "When the Briggs Initiative is put before the people of the state, they are led to express emotional prejudices against a body of people based on misunderstanding and emotional orientation. To use that as a basis for discrimination. is, in my judgment, one of the most unacceptable operations that exist in our society," he said.

tate as an excellent investment. Also, private home ownership provides à less restrictive lifestyle than that of a condominium, with its concept of community partnership.

The settlement patterns of suburban gays are generally different from those in cities. Since the quest for privacy is what leads gays to suburbia in the first place, they are unlikely to congregate in any one particular neighborhood or town. They prefer to let their gayness remain unrecognized. Gay men and women select differing types of communities in which to live, usually because of economic reasons. Lesbians settle in less affluent areas, while gay men find that their higher incomes permit entry into wealthier communities.

Not advertising one's gayness obviously helps in getting around the obstacles of suburban home buying. Real estate agents report that since there are so many singles in the suburban market now, it is difficult for them to distinguish their gay clients from their other singles buying in

ERA

National Gay Task Force's Bruce

partnership. Said one prospective buyer, "We certainly don't tell the agent we are gay when we go looking for a home."

However, once gays settle down in their new homes, prejudice can, and does, surface. Therefore, they usually move to suburbs of the metropolitan areas where they have already gained some measure of acceptance. Gays in New York City say that the most attractive suburbs for them are Westchester, Long Island, southern Connecticut and New Jersey.

Some effort is being made in these areas to prohibit discrimination against gays. Connecticut State Senator Betty Hudson has tried for four years to get an anti-discrimination. bill passed in the Connecticut state legislature. She says that "parents are afraid that children will be molested or that these people will also become role models for their sons or daughters. That is where the trouble really lies." Senator Hudson believes that legislators fear that passing

such a law would encourage gays to move into the state.

Gays in the suburbs do have their supporters. Real estate agents are. quick to defend their gay clientsfrom a business point of view. Agents say that the purchase of a house by gays usually indicates it will have a higher resale value. One agent explained, "The men have a special eye for home improvement. They are not burdened by family expenses and so put a lot more money into remodeling. The end result is usually marvelous. When it comes to resale, we all know the 'gay house' is going to be snapped up fast."

To help gays find sympathetic real estate agents and lawyers, there are gay referral services cropping up all over the country. This is according. to Dai Thompson, coordinator of one such group sponsored by the Connecticut Gay Task Force in New Haven. Gays who use the service say that agents will advise them against buying in neighborhoods that are "not for us."

Voeller nominated

for spot on ACLU board of directors

by Jan Sergienko

NEW YORK-Dr. Bruce Voeller, co-executive director of the National Gay Task Force, may soon be the first open gay on the National Board of Directors of the American Civil Liberties Union. The Nominating Committee of the ACLU asked Voeller, a longtime union member, to be one of the 19 nominees for 14 member positions on the National Board. More than 1500 delegates will vote in the election, expected to

Voeller, a potential ACLU policy, take place within the next few weeks.

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Since the Board of Directors establishes the union's national policy. Voeller would be in a prime position of influence as regards ACLU action. on gay rights.

In accepting the American Civil Liberties Union nomination, Voeller said, "I'm deeply honored by the Board's consideration of me. The ACLU has led the court and legal effort to secure equal protection of lesbians and gay men in diverse areas as custody cases and visitation rights, free speech, the rights of gay groups on campuses, and in jobs. It will be a pleasure to serve on the Board if elected, especially as to the best of my knowledge there is not presently an openly gay person on the National Board."

During an interview, Dr. Voeller explained the importance of an open gay being on the ACLU's National Board: "As with any minority group problem, the presence of minority members strengthens the effort and quality of championing related issues." Voeller said that the ACLU must pick and choose among a vast numbers of cases brought to it each year. Therefore, he explained, "there is a need for gay people to be on the Board to bring across an understanding of the importance of gay cases otherwise, gays tend to get lost in the shuffle."

According to Voeller, the most crucial problem in the legal battle for gay rights concerns the proper handling of test cases, such as child. custody suits and job discrimination cases. In the past, he explained, gay. groups would present appeals without fully considering the favorable or unfavorable attitude of the local court. Often the gay group would lose the appeal and the test case decision, would become a precedent. Voeller said the gay movement needs "a national strategy of joining

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