RELIGION

Articles Needed on Sexuality

NEW YORK, NY-Episcopal Bishop John M. Allin, chairman of the special committee on Priesthood and Human Sexuality, announced that Seabury Press will consider articles from anyone for publication of two books on priesthood and sexuality.

Two volumes will be published: one on priesthood, and another on sexuality. Queries should be submitted to Rev. F. Reid Isaac, Seabury Press, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017.

'At Least 338,900' Gay Lutherans

MINNEAPOLIS, MN-Lutherans Concerned for Gay People, in an effort to let other Lutherans know that their denomination does indeed include large numbers of gay people, estimates that there are at least 338,900 gay Lutherans in the 8.5 million member denomination.

The Lutherans Concerned estimate was based on a 1972 study which asked a sampling of Lutheran congregations how many "had homosexual intercourse." One percent said frequently; three percent said occasionally; and seven percent gave no response.

Dignity Uncovers Racism

PITTSBURGH, PA-The Home Circle Club in this city's North Side may not dis criminate against gay people, but that doesn't necessarily mean they've joined the last quarter of the twentieth century yet, as the local Dignity chapter learned.

The gay Catholic group's newsletter reported on a dinner meeting at the Home, "We found out in the middle of dinner that members and friends have to be white. "One black friend of Dignity and one black member of Dignity were not admitted to the club."

As a result of the incident the Dignity/Pittsburgh Steering Committee passed a resolution not to hold any future events at the Home.

A 'Celebrative Moment'

by John Zeh

PHILADELPHIA, PA-George Lakey learned one important fact from researching oppressed minorities: The crucial element leading to their direct struggle was a change in self-image.

Despite this realization, Lakey somehow failed to connect history's lesson to his own life. "It was kind of a 'consciousness lag,' the veteran peace activist explains now. "At first I just didn't understand it in terms of my own self put-down as a gay person."

All of a sudden, last summer, Lakey saw the light and announced his homosexuality (or, more precisely, his bisexuality; he's married and has three children) to 1,500 Quakers gathered at Ithaca, N.Y. for the 1974 Friends General Conference.

He's embarrassed to make a big deal out of it, but it's clear that his announcement was a powerful act. "Quakerism is my second home, and I was worried maybe they wouldn't like me anymore. Turned out, it was a very exciting and celebrative moment for me."

His coming out was especially important, he feels, as a signal to younger Friends who

are torn about their gay feelings and see most Quakers to be straight, or not to have sexual lives at all.

The tall, young-looking 34-year-old is the author of several books and articles on social change that reflect his radical pacifism. His latest is Strategies for a Living Revolution, available in paperback from W.H. Freeman. He wrote this manifesto for people who want to recover their "personhood" by participating in living communities while struggling to recover their humanity.

Lakey sketches five stages of struggle toward a new society. First is changing ourselves; then, organization-building; confronting the forces of evil; economic and political cooperation; and, eventually, taking over the reins of government.

He feels we're well into the first stage, especially compared to the '60s and '50s when "we hardly knew what racism was, let alone sexism." At the second level, Lakey feels, many gay groups have failed by regressing to formal, unfriendly structures. "The way a movement grows, especially one that is linked to personalized oppression, is through expression of love. Maybe most of all in gay liberation we need to find ways that enable the love we feel to be expressed, rather than, say, our shyness, or status and objectification games."

Lately, Lakey has been working to formulate a vision of a sexually liberated future with the Movement for a New Society, a network he helped form that consists of small, autonomous groups dedicated to revolutionary, non-violent change.

On a personal level, he's exploring-in a men's group what being gay means politically and culturally, as well as what coming out to other males means in terms of risks. He credits his coming out partly to the gay movement-and to an activist gay man who "pushed him a lot."

"Only since coming out," Lakey concludes, "have I learned that I couldn't be a part of political struggle until I was proud of my gayness."

Gay Quaker, George Lakey

Rev. 'Beau' McDaniels

'Her

Business is

God's Work'

by Rob Shivers

INDIANAPOLIS, IN-She means business, and her business is God's work in this city's homophile community. Rev. "Beau" McDaniels, 32, has recently been elected District Coordinator of the five-state Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Great Lakes District, to complete the term of Rev. Arthur Green, who resigned.

Rev. McDaniels is a warm, charismatic person whose dedication has resulted in the founding of four MCC churches: Cincinnati (OH), Lexington and Louisville (KY) and Indianapolis. She pastors the Indianapolis church and has a new study group under her tutelage in Akron (OH).

Rev. McDaniels is a down-to-earth preacher whose love for God and humankind reaches out to everyone. Her relaxed humor and clear-eyed, honest approach quickly removes barriers and doubts from those with whom she deals.

But it takes more than a warm smile to achieve the successful ministry that has been hers since the start. It takes deep gutlevel courage, determination, faith and vision.

For example, the politically disastrous situation in Indianapolis for the gay community. The very first MCC service, held in a private home two years ago, was raided by local police. They arrested (but never charged) those attending, demanding to know names, addresses and places of employment.

The police were "physically intimidating," Rev. McDaniels charges, but the Indiana Civil Liberties Union refused to handle a suit because their funding comes in part from the State. The fledgling church also lacked funds to take the case to court.

When the local baths were raided a few months later, the owners took the matter to court. Everyone concerned stood firm, and the case was dismissed.

The church was never raided again, "because they know I'll fight," Rev. McDaniels stated with determined anger. "They'll not come into another one of my services. If they do, it'll be over my dead body.

"We need protection, not harassment," she emphasized. "Indianapolis gays have been harassed to battle pitch, and the harassment has been a unifying force. The Ku Klux Klan marches openly in their robes down the streets, but gay organizers are tarred and feathered or lassoed and dragged through the streets," she added bitterly..

Partly because there are no other area gay organizations in the area, the Indianapolis MCC has experienced exceptionally rapid growth and is a viable influence in the gay community. After two years they have their own church building at 1940 N. Delaware. and a second building, which will become an "extended care" and crisis intervention center within the next three years.

The extended care center will offer counseling and supportive care on both an in-

May 7, 1975

and an out-patient basis. This type of facility is badly needed in Indiana because the state institutions consider the patient's. problems only from the view of their sexuality and offer almost nothing to homosexuals. Rev. McDaniels hopes the center will be able to gain funding in the future.

In the larger gay community Rev. McDaniels has launched a voter-registration drive. She feels bloc voting will bring about a change in approach to gay issues and eliminate police corruption and brutality. She has almost completed the groundwork for establishing a Legal Defense Fund and the area news blackout for the gay community has been successfully lightened by her efforts. There are now a number of radio talk shows on homosexuality to be aired in the near future.

A woman of strong convictions, Rev. McDaniels says of herself, "I guess I'm just one of those lucky ministers. I have all the things in my life I really need: a lover, a loving congregation and a job I'm capable of doing.'

Rev. McDaniels, or "Beau" as she is affectionately known, first came to MCC five years ago from a Baptist and Methodist background. She attended the first service of the Phoenix (AZ) church, held in a women's bar, in 1970. She gradually became more involved and fully active. As an accountant she used her business abilities as a member of the Board of Directors and was later ordained a deacon.

As she "came up through the ranks" she experienced the growing conviction of a call to the full-time ministry. She became an Exhorter candidate and was licensed by the Fellowship.

With an infectious laugh she confides, "I love leather but wear lace because leather scares them to death in the Midwest!"

Then she speaks seriously of her goals for the Great Lakes District: to unify the district and build a more democratic system so there can be more responsibility and cooperation between the churches, to see as many churches as possible in the District "grow up" with worship coordinators receiving pastoral guidance and assistance. She says the Akron group is experiencing rapid growth and Lexington now has a new full-time coordinator and should begin to see more rapid growth.

Rev. McDaniels says of herself, "I have two main abilities in my ministry: I'm a 'building pastor' and I can teach people to love one another-even if I have to make them 'butt heads'! People who come to MCC often must first learn to love themselves. Then I try to teach them to love their brothers and sisters. You cannot love God if you do not love your brothers and sisters. In the structure of MCC we try to lift the limitations on God (the only limits that God has are those we give Him) and on ourselves."

THE ADVOCATE

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