PRISON RAP

by Jeanne Barney

Two sides of the same coin, first from the outside... Dear Jeannie:

I'd like to answer some of those people who've written from prison looking for correspondence and friendship. Do they realize that we on the outside also have feelings? Over the past months I've written. to several prisoners, and yet have had very, very few responses. These people say they want friendships; well, so do I! I don't expect overnight replies, but when one hasn't heard in several months, one begins to wonder exactly what these people are really looking for.

Also, I have received a few letters from some who, after a short. time, asked me for money. If I could send them any, I would. But I am unemployed and facing civil suits and attorney's fees. When I explain my situation, I hear nothing further. Evidently they are more interested in money than in cultivating new friendships.

I realize never having been behind bars myself, it is difficult to relate to the person who is. But I am genuinely interested in forming new and lasting friendships. I know I don't have tremendous looks, but I'm only looking for friendship, not sex. Friendships are difficult for me to make, but once a friendship is cemented I will do anything to help that person. Even if these people aren't interested in friendships, they should have the decency to write and say so. Bob Glassboro, NJ

Dear Bob:

Knock that small chip off your shoulder and see what an insider has to say...

Dear Jeannie:

I was very interested in the letter from Tom (Issue #159) about writing to prisoners. He makes it seem that every gay in the prison system is a phony and a con artist. That is a very sad outlook for readers to take, for there are some like myself who are sincere and very lonely. I've wanted someone to correspond with since I've been in prison but, until now, have had no outlet to find anyone.

I have no family, and my lover disowned me when I was incarcerated. My lover and I stayed to ourselves and this curtailed most of my close friendships, so I've found myself without correspondents. It's very lonely here when there's no one outside who cares whether or not you exist.

When I was outside, I always held a job and worked hard. I was a dog groomer and part-time bartender near San Francisco. The psychiatrist here told me that I should find another profession because the boredom of my work was the stem of my drinking problem. I'm now training as a radiologist technician and am working as a radiological transcriber and lead clerk in the X-Ray Department. When I'm released, I'll have a new profession and hope to be a more stable individual in our society. I'll be released in May, 1976.

During the next months I'd really like to correspond with some sincere, together guys who'd be

willing to share their activities and feelings with me through the mail.

Tom, not every prisoner is trying to deceive outsiders. Here's one who is sincere, truthful and genuinely lonesome.

Robert Morgan, B-61178 Box 2000 Vacaville, CA 94070

How about a note of friendship to a lonely brother?

At Box 747, Starke, FL 32091: Willie Boyd, 019231, Cell W-3-N-2 (30, black, in jail for the last 12 years); Raul Cabrera, 034185, Cell U-3-S-11 (23, 6', 169, brown hair, green eyes); Thomas Douglas, 025938, Cell P-2-N-8 (25, 5'10", 170, black, bi); Clarence Ennis, 021297, Cell 18-1101 (5'10", 160, brown hair, blue eyes); Don Head, 023316, Cell 23-2211 (21, 5'10", 150, sandy hair, green eyes); Parker Leach, 038666, Cell M-3-S-11; J. Metcalf, 034020, Cell W-1-N-5 (25, 5'9", 147, brown hair and eyes); Eddie Milton, A026236, Cell P-2-N-7 (23, 5'10", black bi); Lonnie Rainey, 032606, Cell U-2N-2 (30, 5'9", 165, sandy hair, brown eyes); Bobby Walker, 029083, Cell 23-1211 (23, 5'11", 150, brown hair, hazel eyes); and Johnny Williams, 025803, Cell P2-S-16 (22, 5'8", 150, black, bi).

At Box 221, Raiford, FL 32083: Willie Guidry, 040997, Dorm 1; James Holden, 034481, Cell CB-16

Get it out!

Got a problem in prison? Is there something you want to get off your chest? Is there something you want to know about from the outside world? Send your gripes, complaints, and even your plaudits to Prison Rap, The ADVOCATE, Box 8444, La Crescenta, CA 91214.

(6', 190, brown hair, hazel eyes, black); William Palmer, 042858, Cell AC-11 (19); and Norman Stapleton, 033558, Cell CB-2 (30, 6', 190).

R. DeFalco, 118371, Box 2000, Route 3, Hagerstown, MD 21740.

At Parchman, MS 38738: Larry Bradley, 36014, C4; and Willie Powell, 38042 (25, 5'82", red hair, blue eyes, enjoys music).

Joseph Lemmo, 91195, OSRBox 788, Mansfield, OH 44901.

James Hood, 138548, Box 57, Marion, OH 43302.

At Box 787, Lucasville, OH 45648: Frank Dix, 140481 (26, 5'8", 138); Linwood Frazier, 140703 (27, 5'8", 138, black hair, brown eyes); and Melvin Vines (26, 6'3", 190, light brown skin and eyes, black hair).

At Box 69, London, OH 43140: George Heard, 138947; Dennis Johnson, 136559 (26, 5'10", black hair, brown eyes and complexion); Gary Dean Kuykendall, 139814 (32, 5'11", 165, brown hair, blue eyes); Chris Mitchell, 140271 (27, 6'2", 180); and William Shipp, 134056.

Cecil Norton, Box 33578, 2605 State St., Salem, OR 97310.

Robert Beavers (seeking financial and/or legal assistance), Box C, Waupun, WI 53963.

1975, Jeanne Chesley Barney

ANY COLOR OR

B&W PRINT FILM

100% CONFIDENTIAL

Your Personal Films Developed

ANY SLIDE FILM

ANY MOVIE FILM

12 EXP.

$ 4.00

20 EXP.

$ 6.50

20 EXP. $ 3.00 36 EXP.

$ 4.00

$10.00

REG. 8 SUPER 8 8MM

$ 4.00

30¢ EACH

36 EXP.

JUMBO COLOR SILK REPRINTS

POLAROID COPIES $1.25 EACH

Years of Experience

GUARANTEES

No One Beats Our Service or Quality

THE HOUSE of COLOR

P.O. BOX 1591 B MILWAUKEE, WISC. 53201

tennis guidance

tennis has grace, exercise, and excellent training for the game of life

$8.00 per half hour

14.00 per hour you will learn

y to your own ability

arthur chaite 874-2200

please leave name & phone number for appointment

Private Court

THE RIVER CLUB

Cocktails

RC

IX

3152 Riverside Drive, L.A.

Dancing, Pool

LAMBDA

THE PROUD ONE

Lambda Shaped Jewelry All Sterling Silver

• Pendant 3/4" 9.501" 12.00 Tie Tack 4" 5.00 1" €7.00

• Windshield Sticker 1.00

666-9025

Tie Bar

• Cuff Links

9.50

18.00

Tee Shirt Iron-ons 3" 5" 7" 1.00 each

Belt-Lambda design or Sperm design 10.00 (11⁄2" wide, brown with white design.)

• Earrings (pr.) 34" 10.00-1" 14.00

LAMBDA ASSOCIATES P.O. Box 6649

San Antonio, Texas 78209

AN OLD FRIEND

LODGING FOR MEN

Friendly atmosphere

Secluded location Private courtyard

• Nude sunbathing

.

Outdoor waterbeds Air-conditioned

Heated pool

Eight-man bunkhouse

Private doubles

Make plans now; call 714-327-1812 and talk to the nice dude-he's An Old Friend. BankAmericard Mastercharge.

1830 RACQUET CLUB ROAD PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262.

May 7, 1975

Leather Keychains 1.00 1.00 each

• Buttons

Allow 4 weeks delivery Catalog not available. Do not send currency. Include your return address.

THE ADVOCATE

Page 35