hh

NEWS HIGH GEAR/FEBRUARY 1977

sicians have not given up their head-hunting.

In spite of both the American Psychiatric and Psycholigical Associations' ruling that homosexuality is not a mental illness, two years ago, Dr. Bieber, a well-known

PP psychologist, spoke to

a

seminar at Hanna Pavilion in Cleveland. In his lecture he advanced his view that homosexuality was a pathological disorder which could be cured. A woman in the audience who was a member of the Cleveland Gay Activists alliance rose to attack his contention. He then promised that if any local gay individual would submit to his therapy, he would fly to Cleveland at his own expense to convert the "patient" to healthy heterosexuality. Cleveland GAA subsequently dispatched the names of several potential clients who would willingly cooperate with Dr. Bieber's program. Once in New York, Dr. Bieber responded to none of three letters sent to him by CGAA.

It is not my intent here to castigate all. psychologists. I am convinced that many are responsible counselors and brilliant theoreticians. Those I have met in Cleveland seem enlightened and "menschenfreundlich." However I am sure many practitioners are pro-gay because they sense that it is professionally in vogue but feel insecure about their new-found homophila.

Other gay people and myself are only too happy to oblige educators interested in proliferating accurate information about homosexuality via genuine gay people who know genuine gay people. But I would feel outraged if I suspected that I or a gay colleague were perceived, even for a mement, as a specimen and not a guest.

C

GRNL MOVES

New York, N.Y. The Executive Committee of the Gay Rights National Lobby, Inc., spent more than 14 hours in meetings January 15 and 16 to continue plans for the establishment of a full time lobbying office in Washington, D.C. The Executive Committee consists of five officers elected at the full Board of Directors meeting held in December: co-chairs Gary Van Ooteghem of Houston and Virginia Apuzzo of New York; secretary, Linda Lachman of Boston; treasurer, Adrienne Scott of New York; and At Large Member, Raymond Hartman of Los Angeles.

A report by GRNL Board member and office staffer Adam DeBaugh included the exciting news that H.R. 451, a discrimination prohibition bill identical to last year's Abzug bill, was introduced into the 95th Congress on the first day of the new session, January 4, 1977, by Representative Edward I. Koch (D-N.Y.). It was introduced with 14 co-sponsors and will be reintroduced in the middle of February with additional cosponsors. People should write to their representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the bill.

A major action taken by the officers of GRNL was to appoint chairpeople to and suggest guidelines for the standing committees of the organization. As established previously by the full Boad of Directors, the treasurer will chair the Finance Committee. The other appointments of chairpeople include Franklin Kameny, By Laws Committee; Don Embinder, Fund Raising Committee; and Board Secretary Linda Lachman as chair of the Media Committee. The Membership Development Committee will have a number of chairpeople in various parts of the country and will be coordinated by the At Large Member of the Executive Committee. The Co-Chairs will serve as ex-officio members of all of the standing committees.

One of the most important decisions of the Executive Committee was the initiation of a pilot program for the establishment of Regional Advisory Boards in three areas of the country the Midwest, South-

west and West Coast. The Regional Advisory Boards will consist of one or two Board members from each of the regions and six or eight nonBoard members. A comprehensive mix of racial, ethnic and economic representation of the gay community is hoped for on these Boards, which will have an equal number of women and men. These regional boards will initially help to raise membership and funds for GRNL, as well as the keep the Board in touch with and informed of the needs of the regions. The At Large member will, also, be responsible for the coordinating of these boards.

After participating in those sessions during the weekend which he was able to attend, Gary Van Ooteghem presented his letter of resignation as cochair of the Executive Committee, effective at 5 p.m., January 16. His resignation was accepted by the Executive Committee. The other officers were very appreciative of Mr. Van Ooteghem's decision to remain on the Board of Directors of GRNL as an active member.

Raymond Hartman was elected by the Executive Committee as Interim Co-chair and William Carey of Los Angeles as Interim At Large Member of the Executive

DISCO & DRAG

SHOW

D

621-2191

JERITY

Get it out of

your system.

Committee until the next Board of Directors meeting in April. Membership in the Gay Rights National Lobby, Inc., are available for a minimum of $15. Checks can be made out either to Gay Rights National Lobby,

Page 7

Inc., or GRNL, and sent to Suite 210, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington D.C. 20002

TICKETS $2

$1 w/card

I HEAR YOUR LOVER IS DYING OF V.D.!

YES, SHE HAS TERMINAL TOWER.

Women's Wet T-Shirt Contest

February 26 at 9:00 p.m.

הן

-S.

Send in today

Name Address

Richards

Fifteen East Fifth. Mansfield, Ohio. 419/526-9119