REMEMBER YOUR SPECIAL

VALENTINES

HIGH GEAR

FEBRUARY, 1975 ISSUE NO. 6

National News

PORTLAND-The culmination of more than two years of work by the local gay rights groups has been the passage of an Equal Rights bill, in the city of Portland, Oregon: This is the first of its kind in the state, and was passed after a five hour hearing before the city council of Portland, and much harrassment from anti-gay people and groups in the city. The bill states that people cannot be released from their place of employment for reason of their sexual orientation, based on evidence presented that confirmed that sexual orientation has nothing to do with a person's work performance. The hill was passed, by a 3 2 vote.

BOSTON-The city of Boston has announced agrant of $52, 371.00 to the Charles Street Meetinghouse, to carry out a Gay Youth Advocacy Program. The purpose of the program is to provide a constructive alternative to the street crime involved with hustling, found in the young gay community. The Meetinghouse is a church in Boston, that opened its doors more than four years ago to the gay community, and has been active in many community programs, including the gay community.

KANSAS CITY-At the recent Democratic Party Charter Revision meeting here, a minority caucus was able to force an anti-discriminatory clause into the Democratic Charter. The caucus was composed of Blacks, Women, and Latinos, but unfortunately Rep. Elaine Noble (D. Boston), was not able to get a sexual orientation clause included. However, according to Rep. Noble, the "handwriting is on the wall" for the gay community, since the first step has been taken.

DETROIT-The Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit has appointed as liason to the gay community, Brian McNaught, who was fired from the local Catholic magazine for admitting his own homosexuality. He went on a hunger strike to protest, and drew tremendous support from the community, straight and gay.The Priest's Senate that proposed the idea of a gay liason, passed the measure on a 13 to 5 vote. The Senate has also passed a measure supporting the rights of gay people, and calling for educational measures to be used, to help

priests deal with gay people in their parishes. This was passed with no opposition, 18-0. However, a move to see McNaught reinstated in his previous job was defeated,

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The U.S. Senate's constitutional rights subcommittee has branded polygraphs, or lie. detector tests, an invasion of privacy, and declared they should be outlawed. Such tests are often used to sort out gays and other 'misfits', during employment interview sessions.

NEW YORK-Lesbians here staged a two day sit-in and protest at the NBC headquarters in New York, angry at the airing of NBC's POLICE WOMAN series 'Flowers of Evil". The show depicted two lesbians as killers. NBC is discussing the issue with the National Gay Task Force, and some progress towards an elimination of such programming has been made.

HARRISBURG, PA. -The State of Pennsylvania has established liason personnel to deal with problems the gay community has within the state. Information concerning the liason people may be obtained from the Pittsburgh Gay News.

PITTSBURGH, PA-Metropolitan Community Church is beginning the groundwork for the establishment of a mission in this city. Rev. Frank Scott, a Baptist minister, has undertaken the responsibility for the work, and has been appointéd the worship coordinator for the group. More informattion may be obtained by calling 412-441-6305.

WASHINGTON, D. C.The FBI has announced that it will no longer continue the undercover activities to investigate "left-wing" groups. This will include several gay organizations, such as the Metropolitan Community Church. NEW YORK-4 district court judge ruled in Suffolk county that New York State's sodomy laws were unconstitutional, because they discriminated against single people. The case is being appealed, but the defense attorney is confident that the judge's ruling will be upheld, and the laws will be sent to the state legislature for rewriting. However, the legislature will in all probability not find it necessary to write new laws into existence.