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Ohio's Gay Journal

Margaret Wright, People's Party

by John Nosek

Extensive publicity has been given to the political platforms of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Thus far, we know Governor Carter has pledged full support for the Bella-Abzug sponsored bill in the House which would prohibit any discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; yet we are also aware that Carter said he would not appoint a gay person to a high security position because of the "risk of blackmail."

President Ford on the otherhand, has remained secretive about his public stand on gay people and has responded to activist inquiries by saying he "has not taken any position on gay activity at the present time." Both major party platforms say nothing about gay rights..

2nd.

But the Democrats and Republicans are not the only choices available to voters this November Independent presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy voiced his support of gay rights back in 1968 and stands as a left-ofcenter populist on other pertinent issues.

Thouh relatively small, the Libertarians, the People's Party, the American Independent Party. and Youth Against War and Fascism and the Socialist Worker's party among others, are all vying for a place in American hearts. As a public service, High Gear is presenting philosophical summaries of these smaller political groups. We are, of course, most interested in their respective stands on gay rights but feel other issues are of importance as well. High Gear does not and will not endorse any particular candidate or party. We do, however, maintain that the electorate has a right and a responsibility to be informed about all available alternatives.

THE AIP

We may immediately dispense with the American Independent Party. When this reporter con-

tacted the group and explained what gay meant, the spokesperson for AIP abruptly said, "We are against the rights of homosexuals, the Equal Rights Amendment and abortions." Before any response could be given, our line was disconnected.

THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY Conversely, one of the most outspoken groups of supporters for gay rights are individuals in the Libertarian Party. Gay people generally are leery of the many politicos who use gay rights for opportunistic reasons, later only to conveniently gloss over or "forget" their committments when no longer needed. No doubt, gays were somewhat

Benjamin Spock, People's Party

surprised recently to view a nationwide TV political spot wherein Libertarian Presidential nominee Roger MacBride called for an end to all sodomy statues and full civil liberties for homosexuals. Rarely does any group mention rights for gays at small public meeting, let alone national TV.

The Libertarians argue their support of gays fits logically in the composite of their philosophical spectrum. Intriguingly, in some matters they are left of center, in others right of center. Libertarians oppose any U.S. intervention in the affairs of other nations; they feel the lowering of all taxes will increase human liberty; they

Peter Camejo, SWP

OCTOBER 1976

strongly oppose censorship in any form or the prosecution of victimless crimes. In Libertarian eyes, the only proper function of government is protection of the individual from force and fraud, not power-broking for "Special interest" legislation "that protects business, farmers and unions from the competitive free market." To the Libertarians the crucial issue is individual liberty in all dimensions of one's life.

THE PEOPLE'S PARTY Moving from individual to community concerns, one finds. a growing new movement on the left horizon. Centered in Washington D.C., the People's Party not only voices a public committment to gay rights but also boasts openly gay candidates. In 1972 People's Party candidates (who then ran on the Human Rights Party ticket) Nancy Wechsler and Jerry DeGrieck were elected to city council in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While on council both came out publically. Then in 1974 HRP candidate Kathy Kozachenko won election to city council in Ann Arbor. She was the first open lesbian ever to be elected to public office in the U.S.

This fall the People's Party presidential and vice-presidential candidates are respectively, socialist-feminist Margaret Wright and activistauthor Benjamin Spock. In their national platform under

Willie Mae Reid, SWP the section marked "Sexism". the People's Party has this to say on gay people: "We must advocate positive individual and social actions that identify the People's Party with the struggles of the lesbian and male homosexual communities and will abolish all anti-gay mechanism of identification, isolation, control and oppression. All legislation concerning sexual orientation, transvestism, transsexualism, pornography, obscenity, soliciting and prositution must be abolished, except for those laws which protect people from being forced into such activities against their will."

On the other issues the People's Party stands thus: 1)

BohemA Mosi tenispA 1W.eht not einph no wiriqming voilog.