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HIGH GEAR
OCTOBER 1976
METROPARKS ENTRAPMENT: A FOLLOW-UP
By JOHN NOSEK
CLEVELAND
The ACLU
reports the four gay men who were booked for various "sexual misconducts" in the Metroparks system (See August High Gear) have each had their cases heard. Because the four men have not contacted ACLU, it is assumed the charges have either been dropped or nominal fees levied. It is unlikely any were ..given jail sentences, since all four were "first offenders."
The men had been charged with "disorderly conduct," "public indecency," "gross sexual conduct" and "importuning" for allegedly approaching undercover park agents. The importuning count is a first degree midemeanor carrying a maximum $1000 fine and six months in jail. The others are lesser misdemeanors.
From accounts received by the Gay Switchboard from the four men, agents followed the individuals into restrooms and then placed themselves in approachable positions. One agent was reported to have deliberately brushed against one of the men and another agent engaged in small talk until he was propositioned.
Entrapment appears to be on the upswing, not only in Ohio but across the nation. David Fisher, ACLU staff assitant, feels this is partially to the U. S. Supreme Court decision sanctioning state anti-sodomy statutes and also to another recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on entrapment.
Written by Justice Rehnquist, the latter ruling came in response to a drug case in which an unconstitutional
POLICE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH SUPPORTS GAYS
the
Provided courtesy, National Gay Task Force. The 65th General Convention of the Episcopal Church which met in Minneapolis Sept. 11-23 passed several resolutions relating to the rights of homosexuals in the church and society.
The Convention declared that "Homosexual persons are children of God who have full and equal claim will all other persons up the love, acceptance, pastoral concern and care of the church." In addition, a resolution was passed declaring that "homosexual persons are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens" and calling upon society to see that "such protection is provided in actuality."
Resolutions restricting ordination of homosexuals were defeated.
Lobbying efforts for the gay community at the convention were directed by the Rev. Ron Wessner of Philadelphia, president of Integrity; Richard York of Cambridge, Mass., the floor manager; and John Lenhardt of Integrity Philadelphia. Also present were the on
The Bishops and Deputies called for a study of human sexuality (including homosexuality) as it pertains to living styles, employment, housing and education. A new Standing Commission Human Affairs and Health was established and funded to undertake this study over the next three years and to make recommendations for action for the next General Convention to be held in Denver in 1979.
The resolutions passed were developed in dialogue with the gay community through Integrity, the Episcopal Church gay caucus, meeting with the Joint Commission on Human Affairs in Atlanta in January
Beer Blast Mon. Concerning the ordination of 1976. The Bishops of the
401 S. Ludlow Dayton
homosexuals, the delegates voted that the church examine the question in detail over the next three years and make recommendations for action at the next General Convention.
Rev. Robert Herrick, program director for religion, National Gay Task Force, New York; and members of the Minneapolis chapters of Integrity, and of Dignity, the Roman Catholic Gay caucus.
Wessner, commenting on the successful resolutions at the convention, said: "We are obviously pleased with our church in taking these actions at the same convention which approved ordination of women priests and the adoption of a new book of common prayer.
frame-up was charged. The Court, however, ruled a police officer can give a defendant actual contraband and wait until it's sold. The officer may then move in to arrest the defendant. The rationale behind the decision was based on the idea of predisposition, that a "seller" was pre-disposed toward the crime. Implicit in this is a justification for all forms of entrapment and an inherent license to harass homosexuals.
A 1975 study done by the League of Women Voters indicates that, excluding traffic citations, over 70% of police activity focuses on victimless crimes. The League looked specifically at the Cleveland Municipal Court system and computed the percentage of cases heard in a select period of time. Out of 732 cases on the dockets of the Cleveland Municipal Court from May 12 July 14, 521 or 72.5% of the cases were for victimless offenses intoxication, prostitution, pornography shop shut-downs, marijuana offenders and entrapped gays. The results strongly imply a large portion of police time is taken up by crimes which have no victims.
Until the courts reverse their stand on police entrapment approval, gay people will be forced to be especially careful in all public places. Like the Metroparks victims, one can easily be framed for even the slightest gesture.
Perhaps one avenue for change lies in Ohio's local legislatures. A statute prohibiting entrapment of gays is not out of the question, nor for that matter is public pressure to cease such arbitrary practices. But it would take an organized, concerted effort on all our parts to make that a reality. Are you willing to participate?
Episcopal Church must come to understand that it has a pastoral responsibility to those gay persons who are already ordained as well as to openly gay persons presenting themselves for ordination. Gays are not a threat to the church but rather a resource for its ministry to gay persons. I would hope that by the next General Convention we would have an openly gay person as a member of the House of Deputies."
Bishop Paul Moore, Jr., Bishop of New York, who had received some criticism for ordaining an openly gay person, the Rev. Ellen Barrett, as a Deacon, commented on the action of the convention: "The gay community acted with great dignity at the convention and am proud of the way in which
Episcopal Church had studied The efforts of Integrity over the persuade the chur educate and
this issue through extensive meetings held under the leadership of the Rt. Rev. David Richards over the past several years.
next three years will be directed toward meeting with the new Standing Commission to educate the church on issues relating to homosexuality The
to a deeper understanding of our pastoral responsibility to gay churchpersons and our responsibility to fight for equal justice before the law for all gay persons."