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HIGH GEAR

HOW THE GAY PLATFORM PLANK FAILED

The following is provided by the National Gay Task Force, 80 Fifth Avenue, N.Y., N.Y. 10011

By Jean O'Leary, National Gay Task Force Co-Executive Director, and Virginia Apuzzo, Coordinator of NGTF Communications Room, 1976 Democratic Convention.

was

The gay rights issue raised twelve times during the five-day period that the Democratic Platform Committee met in Washington, D.C. enumerating specific issues such as gay civil rights, decriminalizing of consensual sex acts, lesbian mothers' rights, etc.

Conversations with key Carter representatives, who dominated the leadership of the Platform Committee, however, indicated that the platform would be written in very general terms and that there was no intention to include a gay rights plank in any form. So we first lobbied for a single sentence resolution committing the party to "the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual affectional preference." When those efforts failed we worked for the inclusion of the phrase "sexual preference" in the listing of groups to be guaranteed civil rights protection. What follows is an outline of our efforts to lobby for a gay rights plank despite the significant opposition from Carter forces.

or

Three attempts were made by Horace Sheffield (Mich.), Yvonne Burke (Cal.) and Nick Carbone (Conn.) to introduce a resolution stating,

the

The

Democratic Party supports the elimination of all forms of discrimination based on sexual or affectional preference," in the Draft Sub-Committee. Two of the motions died because members felt it was not an "appropriate issue" for the platform. Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts ruled the third motion out of order.

At the meeting of the whole Platform Committee for the purpose of discussion and recommendation, Bella Abzug and "Wally" Albertson both spoke in favor of including "sexual preference" in the civil and political rights section of the platform.

on

When the committee broke down into task forces specific portions of the platform, we decided to pursue the strategy of including "sexual preference" in the listing of groups to be protected from discrimination. In the Human Needs Task Force, a motion introduced by Miriam Jackson (N.Y.) was defeated by a vote of 8-7. When the motion was reintroduced by Paul Casky (Minn.) using the phrase "sexual orientation", it was ruled out of order. Midge Costanza of New York moved to overrule the chair and won. She then attempted to introduce a motion using the language of Bella Abzug's federal gay civil rights bill (HR5452) and gave moving statements in support of the motion. Her attempt was ruled out of order.

In the Task Force on Cities, Counties and States, Michael Steed introduced and spoke at length for a motion that would support decriminalization of private consensual sex acts. A Carter representative spoke

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strongly against the motion,calling it "a lot of claptrap," and urged that it be unanimously defeated. It was defeated 9-3.

Then the entire Platform Committee reconvened and considered each Task Force report in sequence. The private consensual sex acts motion was raised again, by Hans Schiller (Cal.). Stu Eizenstat, the chief Carter representative on issues, spoke against it and it was defeated in a voice vote. The "sexual preference" motion was also raised and seconded by fifteen people. No one spoke against the motion and so it could not be debated. It was defeated by a vote of 57-27.

Throughout this time, lobbying continued behind the scenes. On the evening of June 14th, Carter himself was approached by two supporters while he was in New York. Carter promised them he would call Eizenstat and request him to include the "sexual preference" amendment. At a Carter leadership meeting attended by approximately thirty-five people, Eizenstat admitted that Carter had called him about the gay rights issue but that he, Eizenstat, felt that the amendment ought to remain out of the platform despite Carter's public statements in support of gay rights. As a result of a press conference called by NGTF in Washington, Eizenstat was later quoted in the New York Post as saying that Carter did call him about gay rights, but left the final decision up to him.

The only possibility left for including gay rights in the platform was through a minority report, which would allow the issue to be debated on the floor of the convention. There were

two ways of submitting a minority plank. A report could have been filed by four of the fifteen members of the Draft SubCommittee, approved by a majority in any Task Force, and then be considered as an amendment by the Platform Committee. Or an individual report could have been filed with the Platform Committee, seconded by fifteen people and then opened for limited debate.

Several factors made it impossible to include a minority report. All minority reports had to be signed by thirty-nine delegates who voted against the majority report. Therefore, those delegates wanting to support gay rights would have to withhold their support from the chapter including such issues as the E.R.A. and abortion. Because voice votes were taken, it was very difficult to identify that many potential supporters. So, in effect, the leadership of the Platform Committee and Carter representatives, through parliamentary maneuvering and close vote monitoring, insured that no minority reports would be debated at the convention this year.

Despite the failure of our etforts to include gay rights plank in the platform, there was some very real support for us among the delegates. Contacts were also made with women from the National Women's Political Caucus, and the Agenda '76. The hope was expressed that we could work together again in the future.

Alternatives are now being explored for raising the issue in some way at the convention. The National Gay Task Force will have a Communications Center at the Sheraton-Hilton

JULY 1976

for educating and lobbying delegates and members of the press. Future efforts will also concentrate on obtaining public statements supporting gay rights from the presidential candidates. Demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention are also planned, and the refusal of the Platform Committee to support gay rights is expected to encourage large numbers of gay people to demonstrate.

We feel that this current setback will only serve to encourage more gay people to work on all levels for their rights until the American public and the political parties finally support the civil rights of twenty million gay Americans.

LESBIAN SOFTBALL

came

NORTH CANTON During the July Fourth weekend there was a lesbian softball tournament at Price Park in North Canton. The seven teams which participated in the double elimination tourney from Pennsylvania, York, Michigan, and Ohio. Mary Boron and Huffy were the organizers of the tournament. The competition included a party thrown for the participants by Hal's Corner of Canton.

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