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Gay Peoples Chronicle

NATIONAL NEWS...

Georgia Defends Sodomy Law

February 1986

BY : Casmir Kuczynski

The Supreme Court this mosexual sodomy is the anasession will hear arguments thema of the basic units of in Hardwick vs. Bowers, a our society--marriage and case involving the Georgia the family. To discriminate anti-sodomy law. Its ruling or artifically withdraw the will probably determine the public's expression of its shape of such laws for some disdain for this conduct does not uplift sodomy, but rather demotes these sacred institutions to merely other alternative lifestyles."

years.

Michael Hardwick, a gay Atlantan arrested for having

sex with another man in his home, challenged the state law. Last May the 11th CirCourt of Appeals held that the Georgia law violates constitutional rights to privacy. Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Washington Blade reports that in his Supreme Court brief Bowers argues that Georgia's sodomy laws should be preserved because "homosexual sodomy epitomi-

zes moral delinquency, be-

sides leading to "other deviate practices such as sado-masochism, group orgies, or transvestism, to name only a few.

"But perhaps the most profound legislative finding that can be made is that ho-

The Blade notes that the Bowers brief cites a study by psychopathically homophobic discredited psychologist Paul Cameron, as well as a study by gay writers Karla Jay and Allen Young. Jay said their study does not support the conclusions Bowers drew.

For the Supreme Court hearing, Atlanta attorney Kathy Wilde has been joined by Lawrence Tribe, a leading expert on constitutional law who was involved last year in challenging the Oklahoma law restricting public school teachers. National Gay Rights Advocates and Lambda Legal Defence and Education Fund are providing support.

Choruses Fight Bigotry

The extreme homophobia of the American Choral Society Director's Association is again an issue. In 1984 the ACDA excluded groups that publicize "special inerests of a nonmusical and controversial nature." This is its roundabout way of saying "gay and lesbian" without using the actual words.

For their February 15 Western Division convention in San Jose, the directors listened to tapes of unidentified groups. One of those chosen to sing was the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus.

Sister Sharon Ann Bredon, the Roman Catholic nun who is president of the Western Division, refuses to let the Chorus appear without changing its name. Insisting that "gay" is a political word, she said the Conference

wanted to hear the Chorus, but did not want their politics. She denied that the policy was anti-gay, while explaining to the San Jose Mercury-News the word "gay" was inappropriate because her organization is closely tied to school systems.

The ACLU has filed suit against ACDA for violating a California anti-discrimination law.

The Windy City Gay Chorus, chosen on the same basis to perform at the Central Division convention this year, has also been told to change its Lama.

Gary Miller, Director of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses, explained that rather than withdrawing from ACDA, the GALA choruses will stay remain visible, and fight the ban.

O'Connor Fights Gay Rights

Mayor Koch has again introduced a gay civil rights bill for consideration by the New York City Council. This year's version tries to deflect charges by opponents that it will legalize bestiality by explicitly defining sexual orienttion as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality." To defang religious opponents it dis claims any endorsement or promotion of homosexuality. And it exempts religious groups from its provisions.

Although some New York gay and lesbian leaders (as well as the Daily News) expressed confidence that the bill will finally pass after 15 years, others were less optinistic and the mayor pre-

dicted a rough fight.

Since 1971, when its first version was defeated, former majority leader Tom Cuite, a political ally of Cardinal O'Connor, kept the bill in the General Welfare Committee without allowing City Council to vote on it. When Cuite retired this past year O'Connor pressured Catholic Council members to replace him as majority leader with Peter Vallone, another ally of the Archdiocese. Vallone opposes the bill. O'Connor

is also pressuring Catholic organizations and laity to take a stronger role in opposing its passage.

A New York Times editorial called for the bill's passage, pointing out that gay people need this protection.

U.S. SUPREME COURT Photo: R. A. Young

Fun Fun with Phones

[We lifted this irresistable headline from the Gay Community News.]

Jerry Falwell has merged his Moral Majority, troubled by financial and other problems, into a new organization, Liberty Federation, whose name is equally inappropriate. While Moral Majority will continue to focus on issues Falwell classes as "strictly moral," such as gay and abortion rights, Liberty Federation, equally religious, describes itself as formed to help resist Communist takeovers through out the world. It cites South Africa as one danger spot.

In spite of growing evidence that Falwell's influence has slipped badly, Vice President Bush enthusiastically saluted the Liberty Federation, descriving a

ica as in crying need of Falwell's "moral vision. Bush singled out compulsory pregnancy and compulsory prayer in schools as particularly valuable Falwell policies. He did not mention apartheit.

Falwell also dashed off to Bangor, Maine, to help his

old friend, Baptist minister Herman C. Frankland, a homophobe and fundamentalist who crusaded against gay rights at the University of Maine and opposed the coalition of gays and straights formed to ensure justice for the murderers of Charlie Howard. Frankland brought the bedroom into the workplace by confessing to an adulterous relationship, without giving details. Apparently his sexual partner was a woman. After promising to resign as minister, Frankland revealed that God wanted him to stay on. Most of the congregation left and Falwell hurried to the rescue.

Falwell is also threatening to file suit against Edward Johnson of Atlanta, who programmed his computer to call the Moral Majority's toll-free line every 30 seconds. At $1 per call, the cost to Fallwell over eight months may have reached $700,000.

The Gay Community News notes that the number for Falwell's Old Time Gospel Hour is 1-800-445-5000 and the Moral Majority is 1-800826-1234.

It Isn't Judy Garland Records

op-

Imelda Marcos, wife of the current Philippines president, has presented a novel explanation for homosexuality. Joining her embattled husband in chiding his ponent, Corazon Aquino, for behaving in an unwomanly way by running for public office against a man, Ms. Marcos said a good wife teaches her husband only in the bedroom.

She also predicted Marcos will receive the gay vote. The New York Times reported Ms. Marcos as explaining that "hairdressers and dressmakers had told her they are afraid they would lose their jobs under a less flamboyant admnistration."

Nor did Ms. Marcos stop there. She said "the gays had told her, "We are men become women because of our

reach for beauty... Because we love to keep our jobs and we love beauty, we love love and we love God, so we are for Marcos."

Reactions in the Cleveland gay community suggest that while this may be an interesting idea, it won't play in Peoria. Straight people often confuse gay men with transsexuals. But surely she knows that even in the Philippines some of us are truck drivers. And just where does this leave lesbians? Not to speak of all that gay support perhaps alienating one of Marcos' most prominent American allies, Jerry Falwell.

[Still, it must be nice to run on a platform of beauty, love, god, full employment, and flamboyance].