STONEWALLING

by Thomas J. Jackson

Behind the CLGR Lawsuit

The media binge triggered by the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights's lawyer Chris Lynn's lawsuit to strike down the so-called "high-risk sex" order issued by Governor Cuomo's Public Health Council has resulted in considerable discussion and some consternation in gay legal and political circles. We will leave the legal issues to the lawyers this time in the interest of brevity.

In the past, we have written about our reservations as to the credentials and the effectiveness of the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Without meaning to suggest an organized conspiracy, we continue to question whether CLGR is a legitimate coalition (with two-way communication), rather than a very small group of Leftist, mediastruck gay political activists with an impressive-sounding name and a letterhead, operating with energy and opportunism in a leadership vacuum. As a result of sometimes frenetic activity, the members of the press now push CLGR's button when they want something loud and gay; although certain reporters have admitted that they do not believe that the group truly represents or reflects the larger gay community.

So far as CLGR's lobbying efforts on behalf of gay civil rights are concerned, the results have been consistently disappointing to date, the latest example being the recent surge forward in the waning days of the current City Council term, an effort that was easily frustrated by majority leader Thomas Cuite's refusal to calendar the bill. Of course, we acknowledge the extreme difficulty of CLGR's self-imposed task, but we believe that the questions now being asked about competence, strategy, and tactics are serious ones.

It's obvious that CLGR's political agenda includes a good deal more than the passage of gay civil rights legislation (the leadership wears multiple political hats), and it was not surprising when the group launched a spurious media attack on Mayor Koch during the 1985 Democratic Party primary. At that time, Koch, who has always taken the gay vote seriously, characterized CLGR as "a radical

Barbanes

Andy Humm

Snider/Photo Images

group." It seems to us that CLGR is more bubbleheaded than radical. Chief spokesperson Andy Humm, who has seemingly unlimited time to loiter in the City Hall press room, is apparently hyperactivated by the sight of a camera and, more often than not, is so gaga that he abandons selfcontrol and common sense for starters. We have not forgotten that newspaper photograph of Humm giving the Nazi salute in response to a provocation by an orthodox Jewish sect opposed to gay civil rights.

A few weeks ago, Tom Stoddard, a well-respected civil liberties lawyer, publicly suggested that there was a need for an organization to lobby professionally and speak on behalf of lesbians and gay men in New York State. At that time, we wondered aloud why the CLGR principals, who were present, didn't speak up, since they have always been most protective of what they take to be their turf. Could it be that lawyer Lynn's lawsuit is CLGR's response to Stoddard's suggestion as much as it is to Governor Cuomo and his unimaginative advisers in Albany?

In any event, Tom Stoddard's proposal of a properly funded, nonpartisan lobbying and informational organization remains on the table. The formation of several new gay groups demonstrates a perceived need; but the time is growing short, and the situation is not good. A silver lin-

ing? The foregoing was written on December 7, 1985--Pearl Harbor Day.

Notes from the Plantation*

*A gay politico refers to the Native's politics as reflecting a "plantation mentality." We don't agree, of course; but we think it's catchy.

On December 9, we attended Mayor Koch's Hanukkah party at City Hall. The Mayor must have an iron bottom to sit through such lengthy programs, particularly with veteran Councilwoman Miriam Friedlander, a long-time mayoral enemy, balefully staring at him from the first row of seats. Manhattan Borough President-elect David Dinkins was also seated on the platform, next to Herb Rickman, perilously close to a small but very noisy hand which played the quirky music sometimes heard at old-fashioned Jewish wedding receptions, paying almost too high a price-it seemed to us-for the improvement of black/Jewish relations.

Leaving City Hall with Councilman Arthur Katzman, a staunch friend of the community, we were greeted by Arthur Strickler, an anti-Koch gay activist who is seeking a patronage job with Dinkins. When we mentioned this to Councilman Katzman, he said he was sure that Strickler was already on the city pad since he saw him so often at City Hall.

GLID Tidings

The takeover of Manhattan's Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats-by Lesbian/Gay Progressive Action, a radical left formation, and persons closely associated with gay politico David Rothenberg--took another step forward at a GLID meeting held December 11 at the Community Center. The new control group nominated a slate of candidates for the numerous club offices. It is expected that the slate, which is largely unopposed, will be elected early in 1986. The nominating process went according to the script except for an embarrassing moment when David Fleischer, Rothenberg's campaign manager, was nominated for the wrong office and declined so that he could accept another nomination as planned.

We expect to see a new gay Democratic Club in Manhattan soon. According to veteran gay activist Lewis Todd, "It will be a democratic Democratic club."

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BARBANES

"The Leisure Section doesn't think the country's ready for gay retirement communities!"

NEW YORK NATIVE/DECEMBER 23-29, 1985 17