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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE September, 1989

Sheriff sued by bisexual

Suit has been brought against Walter J. Gallagher, sheriff of Orange County (Fla.), for violating a deputy's constitutional rights.

Gallagher is accused of infringing on the constitutional rights of Deputy Sheriff Thomas Woodard, including his right to privacy under the Florida Constitution.

Gallagher forced Woodard to resign after mounting an unconstitutional investigation into Woodard's off-duty private sexual activity, the suit claims.

During his five-year tenure with the Orange County sheriff's office, Woodard had been promoted three times and had received consistently high recommendations and evaluations by supervisors and co-workers. In October 1988, Woodard was appointed deputy sheriff by Gallagher.

Six months later, despite Woodard's continued exemplary service and professional conduct, the sheriff's office began a probe of Woodard's private life, including his off-duty sexual activity.

The investigation was based on an allegation that Woodard, while off duty more than 1 1/2 years half before, had engaged in a sexual relationship with a consenting adult male in Woodard's home. At no time was an allegation made involving Woodard's performance as deputy sheriff.

REVIEW

Behind the Mask

by Kim Larabee, $6.95 trade paperback,

Alyson Publications

You're alone for the evening for once or as usual and there's nothing to watch on television, it's pouring rain outside, and promising, but not quite delivering, nice weather. You're restless, eager to be having fun, but your options are dismal.

Then you remember that you picked up a book last week, something the bookseller recommended with a twinkle in her eye, and you settle down with an obscenely large bowl of ice cream, intending to just try the book while you're pigging out.

At 2:30 a.m., a smile on your lips, you put the book down, finished, and drift off into sweet, romantic, adventurous dreams. You've obviously just read Behind the Mask.

Regency novels are like soap operas. If you put aside your prejudices, you can discover a whole escapist world that exists to give you nothing but pleasure. The manners in Kim Larabee's first novel are archaic, but delightfully so. The romantic machinations are stiff to the point of silliness, but that's what makes the reader laugh. The women are, of course, excitingly beautiful, but you can imagine whomever you want in their roles yourself, your next seduction, your longlost, unattainable gym teacher.

This particular Regency opens with a highwayman lying in wait for the spoils of an unwary carriage. Who is this dashing, well-horsed figure? What can the capped brigand have to do with the butchy and high-spirited Magdalena we meet a few pages later as she surveys a new ball dress?

As part of the investigation, an investigator called Woodard in after he had worked a full night shift, and subjected him to a demeaning inquiry regarding intimate details of his life history. In response to this interrogation, Woodard stated that he is bisexual.

Based on this, Woodard was labeled homosexual and was told to resign or be terminated.

Under duress, Woodard agreed to quit, but only after being assured that such resignation would ensure the confidentiality of the investigation. Despite this representation, the private details of Woodard's sex life and termination were made available to the local press, and were widely publicized. As a result, Woodard has been unable to find a law enforcement job.

Woodard is suing Gallagher for violations of his right to privacy, due process, freedom of expression and association, and equal protection of the laws. Woodard also charges Gallagher with fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation regarding the confidentiality of the investigation.

The suit asks for damages, including reinstatement as a deputy sheriff, and restoration of all back pay and seniority.

The suit has been brought in the Orange County Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. ▼

Of course, Larabee's Regency has a twist or two. For one, the heroine is never called Magdalena, but Maddie. For another, she is strangely, even violently, averse to the advances of the courtly men who beg to be included on her dance cards. And then surprise when the light is kindled in her eyes, it is Alley Sifton who is "the sweetening of the pot," so to speak, not some salivating viscount.

While the language used by Larabee is appropriately archaic, it also is, as often is the case in this genre, so inexact

as to be sloppy. An occasional grammatical and stylistic faux pas made this reader sometimes stumble through what is otherwise beguiling fun.

On the other hand, it is only our second lesbian Regency, the first being Michelle Martin's Pembroke Park (Naiad, 1986), and it's been a long time coming. Entertainment, not literary perfection, is what a genre reader seeks. It's even amusing to note the similarities in plot between Behind the Mask and Penny Hayes's Yellowthroat (Naiad, 1988), an

truffles

PASTRIES

11118 CLIFTON BOULEVARD CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 (216) 961-7439

LESBIAN GAY

Community Service Center

by Robert Laycock

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Join PRYSM. Presence & Respect for Youth in Sexual Minority (PRYSM) is a social and support group for young gays and lesbians, age 22 and under. Over 20 young men and women are now active in PRYSM. Plans for this fall include an outreach to the mainstream media and local junior and senior high schools. This summer PRYSM performed a great skit at Pride '89 and published its first volume of poetry available at the Center for just $2.00. Call the Hotline at 781-6736 for more information.

Hotline Training. While you're calling, why don't you volunteer to work the Hotline? It's important work, and interesting too! Training for new volunteers starts Tuesday, September 5, at 7:00 p.m. Hotline volunteers keep the community in touch with events, information and referrals.

Center Workshops. The Center's Workshop Series continues this month with "Stepparenting in the Gay/Lesbian Family," to be held on Monday, September 11. On September 25, the topic is "Gay Estate Planning: The Use of Legal and Financial Means to Protect You and Your Partner." The workshops start at 7:30 p.m. Don't miss 'em!

Pride '90. The Cleveland Pride Committee will meet at the Center on Thursday, September 7, at 7:30 p.m., to start planning for Pride '90. Everyone is welcome.

Lesbian Mothers. Lesbian Mothers will be rapping at the Center on Saturday, September 9, at 3:00 p.m. Call the Hotline for more information.

HIV+ AA. The Living Room is now offering a HIV-positive AA group on Sunday evenings. Other programs include free haircuts and massages, and an art expression group. Call Paul Whitehurst at the Center.

unabashed Western novel set a hundred years later in the more roughly hewn American wild West. Lesbians, like most fictional characters, don't change much through the centuries.

Allie's hands reached up to slip the domino from Maddie's shoulders. Her own quickly followed, and she pressed herself up against Maddie, igniting fires

Men In Touch. The popular Men In Touch men's support group is now beginning its fifth cycle! This six-week series of meetings explores intimacy, communications and relationships. An introductory forum will be held September 14 at 8 p.m. The meetings then start September 21.

It's Soup! The Center's Monthly Potluck Dinner is becoming very popular! Says Aubrey, "It's becoming a veritable battle of the pallets. Bring a dish... or pay a little extra and just be one!" The potluck is every third Saturday of the month, starting at 6:00 p.m. Fun, games and conversation abound! A $1.00 donation is also requested.

Just A Stage. You can sing for your supper (so to speak) at the show tune sing-a-long Monday, September 18, at 7:30 p.m. The scores this month are from Oklahoma and Man of La Mancha.

No Sweat. Why exercise alone with your Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons tapes? Geno Taylor's No Sweat Bodyworks is offering classes at the Center Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays. Tone up and tune in with great instructors and hi-energy music. Call 781-4073 for more information.

Hardhat Dept. Carpenters, painters, and all around handypeople are needed to assist the renovation efforts at the Center. Leave a message for Miles at the Center, 522-1999.

House Parties. House parties are a great way to have fun with your friends and help the Center too. Call the Director at the Center for details.

Community Shares. Last, but absolutely not least, you can help the Center by starting a payroll deduction plan at work through Community Shares, an alternative fund for 19 social action groups including the Center. Designate "Community Shares," and your deduction will be divided equally among the 19 groups. Declare "Community Shares The Center," and 100% will go to the Center. It's easy, but it makes a big difference! Call the Center for details.

deep inside.

So if you have a romantic bent, and if you have a yen for vicarious adventure, low-key intrigue and some nicely done erotica, Behind the Mask is just the sort of spritely romp you're looking for. It's wonderful exercise for the imagination. Reviewed by Lee Lynch, nationally syndicated columnist and author.

Kim Larabee, author of the regency-style romance Behind the Mask (Alyson Publications: 1989), owns and operates a thoroughbred horse farm in Michigan.

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(Photo credit: Richard Larabee.)