OCTOBER 1976
Roger MacBride, Libertarian Party
For community control of public services such as police departments, schools, and public housing. 2) Against all forms of racist, ageist, and sexist discrimination. 3) For a minimum yearly income of $6500 for a family of four, a steeply graduated income tax and a maximum take home pay of $50,000. 4) For local control of industry by boards composed equally of workers, consumers and the government. 5) For withdrawal of all U.S. forces from our 3,000 military bases. 6) unconditional amnesty for all war objectors. 7) For free good quality helth car for all people.8) for decriminalization of marijuana, and 9) for self-determination for all people in the manner determined by them, including statehood for the District of Columbia and independence for Guam and Puerto Rico.
THE SOCIALIST WORKER'S PARTY Also on the left continuum is the SWP. The Socialist Worker's Party attitude toward gays has been at best erratic. Throughout the sixties openly gay people were not allowed in the organization. SWP members reasoned that because homosexuality was illegal, gay presence would have a "negative" effect on the group as a whole. Since SWP's foundation was presumably built on fighting "ruling class" laws, this proved an embarrassing contradiction in retrospect.
But then came the Stonewall liberation cry of 1969 and gay people showed en masse that we will no longer tolerate being ignored. In response, at the dawn of the seventies, SWP voiced public support for the Gay Movement; but still would not allow open gay membership. Inevitably, as the Gay Movement increased its momentum and more and more leftists came out, SWP in turn took a 180 degree twist on their position.
Today (and since 1972) gay people are welcomed as active participants and a defense of gay rights is called for in the SWP's general platform.
But that's all the mention we get. While there are separate policy pamphlets on rights for
working people, women's rights and black equality, only one brief line appears in support of gays (Although, to be fair, The Militant for a time closely followed national gay news. Locally, however, SWP support in gay street action and demonstrations has been invisible).
This November SWP is running Peter Camejo and Willie Mae Reid for President and Vice-President respectively. Melissa Singler is on the ticket for the Ohio senate and the following are congressional candidates: Mike Alewitz, 14th district, Jeff Feather, 20th district, Paula Savich, 21st district, and Almeda Kirsch, 22nd district.
On other issues SWP stands thus: In a call for a socialist America and a labor party demands are made as well for 1) full employment 2) ERA ratification 3) school desegregation 4) dismantling of the war machine 5) support of all strikes of working people 6) no discriminatory lay-offs, 7) independence of Puerto Rico 8) boycotts of scab products 9) the right to an adequate income, free education, free medical care and secure retirement 10) redistribution of the country's wealth.
YAWF AND WORKER'S WORLD
The Worker's World Party and the Youth Against War and Fascism broke away from SWP to form a party which would acknowledge a coalition of caucuses all struggling for. liberation. On the Ohio Level YAWF has perhaps been the most visible in street support for gay deomonstrations. (The, group, incidentally, is the only leftist grouping with an active gay caucus). As well, WWP has published a pamphlet which analyzes the roots of gay oppression and how to fight it:The Gay Question: A Marxist Approach.
WWP and YAWF are most noted for putting theory into practice, in 1962 YAWF held the first anti-Vietnam War protest ever. Consistently, the organizations have proclaimed, "Stop the War Against Black America"
HIGH GEAR
and were particularly active in building for the December 1974 March Against Racism. An active Women's caucus has existed since 1970 and played a prominent role in organization of this year's Cleveland International Women's Day as well as in support of lesbian revolutionary Susan Saxe. On October 16 the organizations are building for a Cleveland anti-apartheid demonstration.
Although WWP and YAWF have no national or Ohio candidates running this year, they are mentioned because on the left specturm they have been the most vocal and consistent in support of gay rights. Their stands on major issues are similar to those of SWP with one .major difference that being their acceptance and backing of separate struggles which show unique cultures and sometimes demand divided energies (although both WWP and YAWF would argue that "capitalism" and its offspring sexism are the oppressors of all liberation movements).
So there you have it a synopsis of the majors and the Other Side (s). Weigh the variables and VOTE NOVEMBER SECOND!!!
BLUE LADY
By Van Ault
Located in her solitary confinement,
She plays her special gameLying in bubbling memories That cough out the special brand of loneliness So savory to her style. She squirms in the fragranceLifts herself out of the watery casket
And proceeds forward to Share it with
the other
Prisoners of the world.
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