14-GAY NEWS-August 1978
Editorial viewpoints
A fight to the finish
The largest march in history for women's rights took place in Washington July 9. It was a march that began 65 years ago when Alice Paul and her followers, enduring the physical attacks of male bystanders, demonstrated for the floundering 14th Amendment. It is a march that has not yet ended, for although the Equal Rights Amendment has been ratified by 75 per cent of the population, the bill to extend the deadline for ratification is stalled in committee.
As the procession flowed down Constitution Avenue it impressed one most of all by its discipline and diversity. 100,000 feminists of both sexes marched under banners that proclaimed them to be electricians, nuns, Hispanic-Americans, lawyers, matriarchists, housewives and clinical engineers. Lesbians and gay men were out in impressive numbers: more than 45 different gay groups arrived from New York City alone.
Meanwhile, a handful of ERA opponents were trying, figuratively, to stop the marchers in their tracks. And the maledominated media were sending out stories smugly predicting the end of the ERA and the dissolution of the women's movement.
What the blissfully ignorant do not yet realize is this: that women all over the country, separated by race, creed, politics, sexual preference, economics and social standing, have seized upon ERA as the symbol of what unites them all. For every marching feminist in Washington, there were 1000 who wanted to be there but couldn't. Women would return home awed and strengthened by the sight of themselves in such massive numbers.
As the march culminated in front of the Capitol, more than one murmur spread through the crowd-"What if we stayed here and refused to leave...what if we marched into the Capitol...all of us...right now?"
This feeling was put into focus by Gloria Steinem who said, "We are the women our parents warned us about. We're here today and being nice baout it, but if the extension doesn't pass and the ERA doesn't pass, we will resort to civil disobedience."
Steinem's words brought the cheering crowd to its feet. They had heard what they had hoped to hear, and now they were committed. If those reactionaries who would deny women equal rights under law prevent ERA's passage, these women, and more, would return.
Jan Sergienko
A welcome booksort of
A new Kinsey sex report is being released in August (Homosexualities, Simon and Schuster, $12.95), only this one was launched after the famed sex researcher's death.
The study, written by psychologist Alan Bell and sociologist Martin Weinberg, tells us that of the 979 gays they interviewed, 16 per cent were "asexuals," or apathetic loners with low self-esteem. A quarter of the gays involved believe homosexuality is an emotional disorder, and a third seriously considered stopping all homosexual activity at least once in their life.
The Institute for Sex Research at Bloomington should be lauded for their comprehensive study, but it is problematic in several areas. First of all, work stopped in 1970, just when our movement was just getting underway! Obviously, the number of proud, well-adjusted gays was lower before Stonewall. Also, the study separates gays into five categories (like "dysfunctional" and "swinging singles"), but we are not zoo specimens that can be dissected so easily.
As long as we retain the gay mystique, such typology is necessary. Unfortunately, studies such as this one further reinforce the idea of our alien existence, and ironically remove us still further from the consciousness of Middle America.
Tim Cwiek
STRAIGHT STRAIGHT MAIE
GAY
FEMALE
MAIE
GAY FEMALE
ERA
=
A SIMPLE ENOUGH EQUATION FOR YOU, SENATORS?
7.Shafer 78
Our readers say...
Movie isn't politically correctso what?
Thank you for Larry Vitacco's positive review of "A Different Story." He is the first reviewer I've read who liked the movie, which gay publications and straight publications alike have been panning consistently gay ones particularly. I've been somewhat baffled by this, as I thought "A Different Story" was simply a nice, funny, harmless ro-
mantic little movie. But then again, I've never been "politically correct." and have always found people who are or, at least, consider themselves to be awfully tiresome and pretentious. I'm sure the same people who object to "A Different Story" would find the delightful, humor of Craig Russell, the wonderful female impersonator. "sexist" and "stereotypical." I'm too busy enjoying myself to be that analytical and angry. I wonder if anyone's ever done a survey to find out how prevelent ulcers are among gay activists? I think I know what the results would be.
Peter DeMilia Atlanta
Because it reinforces stereotypic thinking, that's what!
I was violently shocked and disappointed to see that the Gar News gave a positive review to "A Different Story," one of the most mindless, homophobic films pretending to "deal with" homosexuality so far. Even heterosexual columnists for the dailies here. (including less politically-conscious ones, such as the notoriously insensitive and dismissive Desmond Ryan) saw through its phony pretensions. "A Different Story" was every bit as offensive as the horrible "Norman, Is That You?" and even more insidious-because its thinly-veiled subliminal message was. "straight is better. One good lay and they'd all go straight." A truly realistic film about heterosexual entanglements in which one or both partners were gay, like the beautiful Italian film, "A Special Day." would imply no such thing. Obviously, Hollywood is not ready to portray us as we are-and may never be. That doesn't surprise me. What does surprise-and sadden
me is that the Gay News would express support of such a damaging innacurate atrocity.
Cyril Shaw Philadelphia.
Strike a blow for human rights, Eastern
Editor's note: The letter below was written to protest Eastern Airline's serving Florida orange juice
Apt. B 2021 3030 Old Decatur Rd., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30305 July 7, 1978
Public Relations Dept. Eastern Airlines Miami, FL
Dear Dept:
Despite the unlikelihood of this letter reaching sympathetic eyes, I feel compelled to write it.
I was dismayed last night, on Eastern flight 87, to be served a snack which included Florida orange juice. I am one of those people boycotting that product because of their continued support of Anita Bryant throughout her maniacal crusade against human rights.
I'm not opposed to freedom of speech; but this woman, who has not had a hit record in 14 years, would not have had access to the media in the first place if not for her forum as spokesperson for Florida citrus. By continuing to use her, the commission is giving tacit endorsement to her campaign.
Although Ms. Bryant pays lip service to love in her preaching, her followers respond with hatred, ar-. son and murder; and she does nothing to stop them.
If Eastern is serving Florida orange juice on all its snack flights, a change of menu could strike a major blow for human rights.
This does not mean I intend to boycott Eastern, but it could lead me to look more favorably upon alternatives when they exist.
Sincerely,
Steve Warren
cc. Carolyn Wills, Eastern/Atlanta Florida Citrus Commission Atlanta Gar News
News
Published by
Masco Communications
Single copy price 50¢
Mail subscriptions of First Class and Third Class available. See order form this issue. Classified ads free to subscribers. Businesses and non-subscribers-see classified order form.
Display advertising rate sheets mailed upon request. Credit to established, approved accounts only..
Corporate Offices
233 S. 13th St. Philadelphia PA 19107 (215) 732-3334 Atlanta Office P.O. Box 8651 Atlanta GA 30306
Publisher Mark Segal Managing Editor Jack Veasey
Production Director Frank Broderick Atlanta Edition
General Manager Gary W. Poe Editor
Marti Elliott
Entertainment Editor
Larry Vitacco
Staff Writer
Jan Sergienko
Philadelphia Correspondent
Tim Cwiek
Key West Correspondent Bill Damon
50%
Calendar/Resources Editor
Philip Janison-Marra Photographer
Harry Eberlin
Distribution Manager
Don Pignolet
Editorial Cartoonists Gary Michael Roseman Thom Shafer
Advertising Executives
Matthew Shinn Michael Clark Patsi Marsalis Contributing Writers Dr. Ethel Allen Robert Baxter Jeff Eiberson Frank Ginn Rich Grzesiak Nicholas Kyriazi Marie Langner James Moody Tom Oosterhoudt Lee Robbins Barbara Ruth Joe Venuti Jim Kepner
Syndicated Columnists Brian McNaught John Mitzel Robin E. Smith
The views of the Gay News are expressed only in the editorials that appear on this page. Opinions expressed in bylined columns and letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of this newspaper. The appearance of names or pictorial representations in this newspaper does not necessarily indicate the sexual orientation of that person or persons.