Vol. 2 A Publication of the GEAR Foundation Issue 10

HIGH GEAR

1976 GEAR

COLUMBUS WOMAN CHALLENGES POLICE

Coakley to take his baton and beat her in the face. Abdon said blood was splattered all over the store floor and magazine rack, (Ms. Moore required four stiches).

COLUMBUS The Columbus Gay Activist Alliance reports that police harassment of gays in that city seems to be on the upswing. According to Jay Abdon who gave this story to High Gear, on the evening of As Moore was taken to the March 6, Kelly Moore, Gary patrol car, Patrolman Richard McIntyre, and Jay Abdon Smith assisted in the arrest. entered the Seven-Eleven, a According to Abdon, he did not carry-out store in Columbus. lay a hand on Ms. Moore who by Sergeant Carson Coakley was now making a purchase as the group entered the store. Coakley took note of a Gay Power button sported on McIntyre's coat lapel and muttered, "We ought to take those damn queers off the street." To which Ms. Moore not a lesbian herself, but supportive of gay rights snorted, "The smell of bacon around here is terrible."

In an effort to prevent a confrontation, Jay Abdon said to Coakley, "Sarge, listen, she's had a bad night." But Coakley, obviously flustered, shot back, "If you drive off this lot with her, you're under arrest." At this point Coakley grabbed Moore and told her she was under arrest. In defense, Ms. Moore struggled and spewed a barrage of obscenities which provoked

was handcuffed. (Later, Ms. Moore claimed a can of mace was sprayed in her face). She was taken to the Woman's Workhouse and released the following morning on a $500.00

bail.

Prior to picking her up from the Workhouse, Abdon and McIntyre went to the police station where McIntyre was arrested. Apparently, an unidentified

policeman,

overhearing their story, commented, "I don't want to hear anything about pigs" to which McIntyre made a comment about "this being a fascist state" and asked what happened to the first amendment and free speech.

Replied the unidentified officer, "There is no freedom of speech when I'm around."

McIntyre then made a comment about Nazi Germany. The policeman warned McIntyre that if he said another word, he would be sorry. McIntyre made a Nazi salute and was arrested on the spot for disorderly conduct. The charges were dropped later

as the courts refused to hear the case.

Ms Moore is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Her trial is set for June 17 and she will enter a plea of "not guilty." The defense plans to present the testimony of three

witnesses while the prosecution plans six.

High Gear attempted to contact Sergeant Coakley to provide him an opportunity to air his side of the story, but we were told he was unavailable.

PRO-GAY CARTER WINS IN OHIO

OHIO Former governor. of Georgia, Jimmy Carter won the Democratic Ohio Presidential primary by picking up 119 of Ohio's 152 delegates on June 8. This total combined with the 67 in California and 25 in New Jersey boosts Carter's total to more than 1250 of the 1505 required for nominátion. It is expected Carter will get commitments from delegates not tied to any candidate in contention and will go over the top by the time the Democratic Convention holds its first ballot in July.

At a news conference in San Francisco on May 21, Carter announced that he would sign the national Gay Rights bill, if he

is elected President. In response to a reporter's question, Carter said, "I will certainly sign it, because I don't want to single out homosexuals for special abuse or harassment."

The Abzug sponsored bill

would end discrimination against gays in housing, credit, federally-assisted education, public accomodation, government and private hiring as well as in other areas. Carter also voiced public support for gays on the Tommorrow show (March 19, 1976).

Carter's campaign has hired three open gay people to California staff jobs and placed four up-front gays on his California delegate slates. The front running presidential candidate also has an advisory committtee on gay people made up of such prominent people as the Reverend Troy Perry, Morris Knight, filmmaker Pat Rocco, and feminist Sharon Corneilson among others.

TWILEY'S TORNAIS

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