Jackson: 'I don't want gay votes!'

Ohio primary June 8: Presidential candidates tell views on gay

EDITOR'S NOTE: In order to help Ohio gays to make up their minds whom to support in the state's June 8 Presidential primary election, we are here presenting a wrap-up report of recent expressions on the gay rights issue by the major announced candidates.

by Richard Rusinow

The indefatigable Mark Segal of Philadelphia's Gay Raiders has conducted another one of his surveys: this time of Presidential candidates' attitudes towards equal rights for gay Americans. At press time, he had received responses from Democratic candidates Jimmy Carter, Morris Udall, and Fred Harris (who has since bowed out of the race), and from Republican candidate Ronald Reagan. President Gerald Ford's campaign office promised a response, but none has

yet been received, and both Senator Henry Jackson and Alabama Governor George Wallace have declined to respond in any way. However, from other sources we have several recent statements on the issue by Jackson, and also an informal response to a question about it by.. Sen. Frank Church, the latest to enter the Democratic contest.

As the most vocal homophobe presently running for any national office, Jackson deserves pride of place. A representative of the Madison Committee for Gay Rights questioned him on March 30 while he was campaigning in Wisconsin and, according to the Advocate, the senator told the questioner that gay sexual acts are "corrupting you. They are bad, wrong, dead wrong." When it was pointed out that such statements were hardly a good way

BULLETIN!

Matlovich benefit postponed here

CLEVELANDThe scheduled appearance of discharged Air Force T/Sgt. Leonard Matlovich at a benefit reception May 9 at the Bayou Landing here has been postponed indefinitely. Doug Mowery, new manager of the Bayou Landing and the Double L Bar at 1012 Sumner Ct., told the Gay News he had received notification from Matlovich's attorney that a scheduling conflict had arisen, and that the nationallyprominent gay "celebrity" would have to be elsewhere on May

9.

Mowery expressed disappointment in cancelling the event, saying, "We wanted to be able to sponsor an event to help 'Mat' in his legal battles, but we'll try again." He estimated that it would be at least two or three months before a new benefit could take place. He promised to advertise it well in advance.

Matlovich was scheduled to appear at a benefit "slave auction" and live show as well as an informal reception at the

Bayou complex. The appearance was to be one of many throughout the nation being held to raise funds for what is considered to be a perfect landmark test case of the military's anti-gay policies.

Theater party benefit for gay community center set

CLEVELAND-to raise funds for the proposed new gay community center here, a benefit "gay theater night" has been arranged by the GEAR (Gay Education and Awareness Resources) Foundation. The movie A Very Natural Thing, one of the very few films realistically to show a gay relationship, will be featured at the New Mayfield Repertory Cinema (12300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland) on Monday, May 24.

Tickets for the showing, which include a glass of champagne (soft drinks will be available for nondrinkers and those under age), are priced at $5. "Patron tickets," which entitle holders to a dinner buffet before the film, are available for $15 per person and $25 per couple. The buffet will begin at 6:30pm and the

film will be shown at 7:30pm.

Specially-priced student tickets will be available for $3.50 at the door the night of the showing, but proper identification will be required. All other tickets may be obtained in advance by mail or else at the door. For mail orders send a check or money order (no cash) and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Theater Party, P.0.Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Marty Phillips, a member of the Gay Community Center Finance Committee, commented that: "This is an exciting time in Cleveland. We are finally going to have our community center. This benefit is just one way in which everyone can help make it happen-and have fun at the same time."

to court the gay vote, Jackson replied, "Sure, I don't want your vote!"

Campaigning in Queens (of all places) before the New York primary, Jackson was "heckled" by a number of gay demonstrators. According to the New York Times, he turned on them and said: "Go on and have your own rally. Our people want hard work. We don't want gay work. We don't want gay jobs. You have your gay jobs. You just do your own thing and stay away."

According to the National Gay Task Force, on the April 4 edition of the CBS-TV interview program, "Face the Nation," Leslie Stahl referred to these incidents and asked, "How does that square with the fact that you tell people that you're a great civil libertarian?" Jackson's answer: "Well, I think that as a matter of public policy, the idea of sexual deviation runs contrary to our most important institution, the family, and the Supreme Court has ruled that states can indeed legislate in this area even in the sense of private acts. I think that speaks for itself. I do believe that this sort of thing does lead to the destruction of the family and the family is the heart of the American institutions, and I'm not going to be a party to acquiescing in or promoting it. I believe that they have a right to a job, not to every job in highly sensitive areas, but they certainly have a right to make a living. They need help. They're sick."

Backtracking a bit from these statements, on the ABC-TV "Issues and Answers" interview program April 11, Jackson said that the Supreme Court "may have gone too far" in its decision upholding state sodomy laws. "The court is going a long way when you start peeking under the covers," he was quoted as saying. However, he then went on to reaffirm his own anti-gay views, saying that "I deplore the very

'Gay rap' reaches out to 'closet'

CLEVELANDThe "gay rap" groups which have been held at the Cleveland Free Clinic since late 1975 have initiated a new feature entitled "coming out" raps. The new addition has begun in response to complaints by some attending the regular Friday evening discussion groups who expressed uneasiness with the gay liberation-oriented atmosphere they found there. The groups' organizers have urged people who are not "public" or need to be "closeted" about their gayness to consider attending the new "coming out" rap group now held at 7pm every Friday at the Free Clinic.

The Free Clinic is located at 12201 Euclid Avenue, across from the Euclid/E. 121st Rapid Station. The regular open discussion group will continue to be held at 8pm every Friday at the same location, and both are open to men and

women.

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nature of deviation from the norm in sexual terms because of its obviously adverse impact on the American family."

In refreshing contrast, not least for its brevity and (unusual) unequivocality, was Jimmy Carter's answer to the Segal inquiry. Carter wrote: "I oppose all forms of discrimination against individuals, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. As President, I can assure you that all policies of the federal government would reflect this commitment to ending all forms of discrimination."

Arizona Rep. Morris Udall (who has been endorsed by, among others, the Pittsburgh Gay News) replied in the following way: "While social attitudes are changing, there can be no doubt that discrimination against homosexuals still exists in many forms, much of it based on false assumptions. As a matter of general philosophy, I believe that citizens should be entitled to lifestyles of their own preference, and that such choices should not interfere with equal opportunities for careers in the private or public sectors or be used as a basis for discrimination or denial of equal rights in any way. Any individual ought to have the right to make the most of his or her talents without regard to personal lifestyle or sexual preference."

Idaho Sen. Erank Church has not as yet issued any formal statements about gay rights, and he was not among those questioned by Segal. However, Dr. Frank Kameny

of Washington has conveyed to the Gay News Church's answer to a question put to him by Kameny after a recent speech in Colorado. Kameny asked:"What is your position with respect to the rights of 15 million homosexual Americans?" Church's answer to the unexpected question, according to Kameny, was that "the government should keep out of the moral decisions of citizens and they should not suffer disadvantages from such decisions."

Fred Harris, who has now withdrawn from active candidacy, did not himself reply to Segal's letter, but the national coordinator of his campaign committee, Jim Hightower, wrote to say that "Fred Harris has made it clear that he feels there should be no discrimination on the basis of sexual preference." Somewhat ambiguously, Hightower went on to express Harris' position as being that "the government has enough to do without involving itself in any way in a question of private sexual preference, either in regard to the criminal laws or employment." This. could be read as meaning that Harris opposes a government ban on anti-gay employment discrimination.

Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, in what appears to be the first statement he has made on the subject, had an aide write Segal as follows: "(Governor Reagan) has always believed that a person should be judged by a prospective employer on the basis of his or her qualifications. He is opposed to discrimination of any sort. At the same time, it's his position that an employer has a right to hire the person he considers best suited to the job available."

Former Cleveland gay activist runs for office

PROVINCETOWN, Mass.A one-time controversial figure in Cleveland's fledgling gay liberation movement has announced her candidacy for the office of selectman here. Ann Weld-Harrington, former co-chairperson of the now-defunct Cleveland Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) is one of five candidates for the position, which is the equivalent of a city councilor in this fishing and resort village on the tip of Cape Cod.

Weld-Harrington is running as an open lesbian, and expects support from the unusually large gay population here as well as from nongay supporters. Her platform includes a heavy emphasis on welfare

INDEX

issues (since much of Provincetown's population is seasonally unemployed), the Cape marina, and the area's only industry other than tourism: fishing.

While involved in the then-new Cleveland gay movement, WeldHarrington made as many enemies. among the gay community as friends, and eventually moved to New England where she has resided for over two years. Her dislike of apathy in the gay community, coupled with a domineering quality, some former members have commented, was a major reason for the fall of GAA.

Ohio Primary upcoming: roundup of candidates' gay rights stands. A3 Extortionist bursted, reneges on bond..

Gay community center dream moving toward reality here Fashion feature by Cleveland's House of Pennsport National gay leaders, KGLF gay lib conference.. Former Cleveland gay activist runs for office in Mass Supreme Court Ruling: analysis, reaction, state tally... Albee's own 'Virginia Woolf': revenge for Nichol's movie? Chicago conference nets national gay rights lobby. David Cassidy nude? Gay News exposes rip-off. LAPD goes berserk, raids charity 'slave auction,' arrests 40

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