NEWS

NGTF OFFICERS MEET PRES. ASST. AT WHITE HOUSE

For the first time in the history of the United States, a top-level official at the White House has met with representatives of this nation's second-largest minority, the estimated 20,000,000 lesbians and gay men. At a twohour meeting on February 8, Margaret Costanza, Presidential Assistant for Public Liaison, met with Jean O'Leary and Bruce Voeller, Co-Executive Directors of the National Gay Task Force, to discuss issues involving official discrimination in such areas as the military, immigration and naturalization, treatment of Federal prisoners, and IRS tax-deductible status.

"This meeting," O'Leary and Voeller said, "is seen by us as the first step in fulfilling President Jimmy Carter's campaign pledge to make sure that all policies of the Federal Government will reflect his determination to oppose all forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

As the attached letter from Ms. Costanza indicates, she and her staff will host another meeting with representatives of the lesbian and gay communities at the White House on March 26, 1977, to discuss these issues in greater detail. At that time Ms. O'Leary and Dr. Voeller will head a ten-person delegation. The members of this group have not as yet been selected, but the NGTF officers have stated it will include "equal numbers of women and men, all of whom can provide expertise in the various areas to be discussed." This meeting is planned as a prelude to further discussions on specific issues with Federal officials in the relevant areas.

Although some progress has been made over the past several years in ending Federal discrimination against this country's gay minority-principally the removal of discriminatory policies by the U.S. Civil Service Commission and the Job Corps, and the inclusion of gay organizations in Federal grants for social services the agenda for the March 26th meeting will include a number of major issues as yet unresolved. They include:

Military policy: Unlike most other Western democracies, the U.S. bars homosexual persons from service in the Armed Forces, and discharges such per-

sons, including women and men who have won Purple Hearts, with less-than-honorable discharges and no veterans rights.

Immigration and Naturalization: Despite its declared adherence to the Helsinki Declaration and the freedom to travel, the United States bars gay women and men from visiting or becoming citizens of this country. And contrary to the views of the American Psychiatric Association, the rationale for such discrimination is that gay people are persons with "psychopathic personality" and "bad moral character."

Internal Revenue: IRS has denied the applications of otherwise qualified gay organizations for tax-deductible status unless they agree not to state the view that homosexuality is an acceptable alternate lifestyle.

Prisoners Rights: Federal prisoners have recently been denied the right to receive gay publications, on the grounds that such publications will make their recipients subject to sexual abuse from non-gay prisoners. Gay prisoners have been denied equal educational and recreational opportunities on similar grounds while, at the same time, prison officials have failed to protect gay inmates from abuse and assault and have often been parties to such abuse.

Civil Rights Commission Jurisdiction: Although the Commission has extended its jurisdiction to cover discrimination against such groups as the aging, on the grounds that they constitute subgroups of those officially covered under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it has thus far declined to assume jurisdiction over lesbian and gay subgroups.

It is the contention of the National Gay Task Force that all of the above areas of official discrimination can be remedied through administrative action. The March 26th agenda also includes discussion of Federal legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act to bar both private and public discrimination on the basis of sexual or affectional preference in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Contact: Ginny Vida, Media Director

(212) 741-1010

INDIANA ANTI-GAY BILL KILLED

INDIANAPOLIS The Gay People's Union of Indiana reports that an effective lobbying effort killed House Bill 1173 which would have reinstated the old sodomy laws into the new penal code. With aid from the city's Metropolitan Community Church, the Six Education and Information Counci, and

independent

lawyers and psychiatrists, GPU pointed out at a hearing that other states with newly acquired

consenting adult laws did not report a substantial increase of crimes on person. It was also noted that priorities of the police force should focus on more serious crime.

On February 18, the Committee on the Criminal Code of the House voted 6-4 to table the proposed bill. The sponser of the bill was Republican Rep. Boys who is also publically op. posed to the Equal Rights

Amendment.

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Although the sodomy law will be off the books, Indiana gays will still need the protection of a consenting adult law which is presently being drafted by GPU's legal council for intraduction in the next session of the legislature. Information on this effort and other GPU activities may be obtained by writing GPU, P.O. Box 1881, Indpls., Ind. 46206.

A PERSONAL NOTE OF THANKS FROM.........

ED LESNAK, Owner of the

Troubadour Lounge

2010 Market Street

Youngstown

To All Who Participated In and Patronized Our Second Anniversary Celebration Held the Weekend of March 4, 5, and 6.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PERFORMERS AND OTHERS WHO WORKED SO HARD:

Paul Armeni Angel Baker

"Kitty Kat" Gurley

Jerry Thomas

Chuckie Little

Dennis Thornton

Ron Cordova

Richard McConnel

Pearon Williams

John Diamond Barbara Shargo

Paul Sheldon

Jeff Evans

"Joe," "Carl," "Lem"..... Mr. Mark Burkett for the fantastic music and d.j.'ing our disco til dawn A Super Job!

Miss Crystal Starr (Bob Roth) of Tiny's Bar, Columbus, Ohio is undoubtedly one of the finest performers ever to play the Youngstown area. This was attested to on Saturday evening, March 5 when she received standing ovations during and at the conclusion of her performance. Thank you Crystal Starr, for doing it "Your Way."

THANK YOU ALL FOR PROVING ONCE AGAIN THAT YOUNGSTOWN IS A WHOLE LOT OF LIVIN'!!!

TROUBADOUR LOUNGE 2010 Market St., Youngstown, Ohio.

GAY SWITCHBOARD Fri.-Sat., 8pm-3am Sun.-Thurs., 6pm-2am 321-6632

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