June 1985

Gay Film at New Mayfield

Highlight of June films with particular interest for gay people is the Cleveland premiere of L'Homme Blesse at the New Mayfield Repertory Cinema, June 1 through 4. Released in 1983, the film was an official selection of the Cannes Film Festival and has received several awards. Directed by Patrice Chareau, himself gay, L'Homme Blesse centers on an 18-year-old's realization of his homosexuality. Chereau is probably best known here for the version of Wagner's Ring cycle he staged at Beyreuth, which was shown last year on Channel 25. L'Homme Blesse will be shown at 7:30 and 9:45 Saturday; 3, 5:30, and 8 on Sunday; and 8 on Monday and Tuesday.

Most of the New Mayfield's June offerings are part of a Hitchcock retrospective with films dating from 1942 through his final one, Family Plot, in 1976. series includes several gems, e.g. Shadow of a Doubt and (in spite of he critics)

DEMS DROP GAY CAUCUS

By RICK BERG

The

The executive committee of the Democratic Party withdrew recognition of the Lesbian/Gay Caucus of the Democratic Natioal Committee at a Washington meeting last month.

Local gay and lesbian political leaders denounced the decision. The Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Democratic Club sent a telegram to party chairman Paul G. Kirk, Jr. protesting the action. "This is a retreat from the Democratic Party's strong stance in support of civil rights for lesbians and gays," said ERGDC President Jerry Bores. "We deplore the decision and the manner in which it was reached."

The Associated Press reported that the Democrats executive committee actually agreed to eliminate the Lesbian/Gay Caucus at a dinner behind closed doors. Very little debate preceded the formal vote. Kirk has been calling for Democrats to shed their special-interest image since he became party chairman.

ERGDC Vice President Win Weizer responded, "The civil rights of Americans is not a special interest. Full civil rights for all minorities in the broadest interest of the whole society and the Democratic Party recognized this."

The Trouble with Harry. The film most relevant for gay people is Rope (1948), in which Farley Granger and John Dall play a pair of wealthy young gays who murder a friend for the hell of it. Rope plays Sunday through Tuesday, June 9-11. It shows Sunday at 3 and 7; Monday and Tuesday at 7:30. It shares double billing with The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) cursed with James Stewart and doubly cursed with Doris Day; but you'll enjoy it if you have an unfullfilled longing to hear Day sing Que Sera, Sera again.

French Can-Can, playing July 3-9, is in no sense gay oriented but is, as the New Mayfield points out, a special event. A 1955 film directed by Jean Renoir, it has been repeatedly described as a masterpiece. It shows Wednesday and Thursday at 8, Friday and Saturday at 7:15 and 9:30, Sunday at 2:15, 4:30. 6:45, and 9; and Monday and Tuesday at 8.

Jean Hughes Anglade (HENRI) and Vittorio Mezzogiorino (JEAN) in a scene from " L'HOMME BLESSE", Playing at the New Mayfield

June 1

4.

BWMT CONVENTION HONORS RUSTIN

Black and White Men Together (BWMT) will honor lifelong civil rights activist Bayard Rustin at its fifth annual convention. The 33-chapter National Association of BWMT will meet in Los Angeles July 1520 to set organizational goals, elect new officers, and attend workshops and social events.

Rustin, who is currently President of the Board of Directors of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute in New York, was chosen by Randolph to direct the historic 1963 March on Washington. When some black religious leaders protested to Martin Luther

BWMT

SPONSORS PICNIC

BWMT and Friends issues an open invitation to their July 4 Picnic Basket held at Blossom Music Festval. Advance reseravtions are essential. Call 521-8604.

COVEY AT AKRON

Craig Covey, Executive Director of Stonewall Union, Columbus, will speak on Civil Rights in the Gay Community at the University of Akron June 26. Presented by The Minority Issues Forum of the University, in observation of Gay Pride Week, this event marks the first time the Forum has sponsored a gay speaker. All lesbian/gay interest groups in the region are invited to take part in this event. The program will take place in the Pine Room of Gardner Student Center, at 7 p.m. The party withdrew re For more information, call

The Democratic National Committee officially recognized the Lesbian/Gay Caučus in 1982, after gay and lesbian Democrats had waged a nationwide campaign for recognition. ERGDC was active in that campaign.

nition from several other caucuses in the same vote.

384-2612.

King, Jr., that Rustin's "past associations" made him unsuitable for so public a role, Rustin agreed to organizae the March as Deputy Director to spare the civil rights movement embarrassment.

Nonetheless, Randolph and other civil rights leaders publicly defended Rustin when, two weeks before the March, Strom Thurmond_denounced him from the Senate floor as "a communist, a draft dodger, and a [word for homosexual that was not deemed suitable for the Congressional Record]."

Other speakers will include Advocate owner David Goodstein and the Rev. Troy

Perry.

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In addition to city and bar tours, nightly parties, and a multi-ethnic reception at the home of activist Morris Kight, a consultation service has been set up for new and troubled chapters of the young National Association, and a Leadership Academy will focus on grooming black gay leaders and instructing white ones in power-sharing. Founded in 1980, BWMT is one of America's fastest growing gay organizations. It is both a social fellowship practicing deliberate integration and an anti-racist forum.

The local contact telephone number is 371-4597.

Tennis Anyone?

Over the past few years a group of us have played tennis together during the summer on Sunday mornings. Knowing how much we have enjoyed itwe thought it would be fun to expand the group to include the many individuals who have expressed interest. With the growth in volleyball, softball and bowling, we thought it was time for us tennis players to show our colors shorts and shots!

At this time the group has no defined goal other than the opportunity to get to know more players and have more opportunity to play. We know it is often hard to find a partner on short notice so why not expand your list?

Finding courts which can accommodate a group is no small task, particularly if you want good quality courts, protected from the elements. The courts we have chosen are located on the campus of Case Western

Reserve Universtiy behind Thwing Center. Thwing Center is on Euclid Avenue next to Severance Hall, but parking for the tennis courts is best found behind them on Bellflower Road.

The times of play will be as follows: Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. Everyone will not be expected to make all three times each week, but we thought by offering a choice most interestd persons could make at least one. In the beginning, bringing a partner will assure you an opportunity to play. However, an effort will be made to include persons without partners, so don't let that prevent your attending. If you have any suggestions or thoughts please contact Jim Harrison 281-9039; Skip Martin 481-2009; or Ted Wilson 752-5876.

We are doing this to have fun by sharing in a sport we enjoy Come join us and help make it happen.