COMMUNITY VOICE

GAY SCIENTISTS

The idea of an organization of gay scientists had occurred to some during the Second Annual Southeastern Gay Conference when, out of over 600 participants at the conference, only 10 attended the caucus devoted to gays in the physical and biological sciences. Part of the discussion at that caucus focused on the question of whether there were actually fewer gays in the sciences or just fewer visible gays. Though no conclusion was reached it was generally agreed that gays in the sciences were difficult to find and that gay scientists frequently felt isolated from both their professional colleagues

and the gay community.

Out of this interest came an informal meeting July 24, 1977 in Chapel Hill, N.C., attracting eleven people from such diverse fields as chemistry, entomology, environmental engineering and neurobiology. It was decided that the new organization (Triangle Area Gay Scientists or TAGS) would be open to students and professionals in the physical and biological sciences and mathematics and engineering.

The bimonthly meetings have remained social and informal, usually a pot luck dinner followed by conversation and socializing. Since our area has

GAY RADIO IMRU

Dear Friends:

From San Diego to Santa Barbara, IMRU is heard weekly on Pacifica's Radio Station KPFK, one of the most powerful FM stations in Southern California. We're trying to expand and diversify our coverage of the national gay community, in order to keep Southern Californians abreast of the activities of other gay organizations throughout the U.S., and we'd appreciate being added to the distribution lists of your publication, newsletter, press releases, announcements, etc.

It would also be helpful if you'd advise your readership and staff of this request, and of our gratitude for any clippings from the press in your area which they might send IMRU. As an all-volunteer organization, the GAY Radio Collective doesn't have the financial means of conventional media which would enable us to subscribe to local newspapers/wire services. It's supported entirely by the donations of its members (including time, effort, and talent), as well as by those of other groups and individuals. Thus, contributions of news clip-

pings, announcements, publications, etc, are just as meaningful to us as cash. Also, if you'd like to receive IMRU's monthly program bulletin, please let us know and your name will be added to our distribution.

Since we also maintain a news/research archives, items as diverse as books, tapes, photos, poetry, fiction, personal reminiscences, essays/commentaries, or simple flyers for a gay event would also be gratefully received.

1977 witnessed the first successful, major challenge, in Florida, to the national impetus for gay human rights. The GRC is committed to the position that a successful response to that challenge rests on our ability to establish and maintain communication with other gay groups and organizations during 1978. We hope you will agree and participate in this effort.

In the meantime, we will look forward to hearing from you. On behalf of the entire Collective, I remain,

Sincerely, Robert Orndoroff News Director/IMRU

ANITA, NO...CHRIST YES.

Dear High Gear:

I am writing in concern about the Anita Bryant issue. OK, now all of us gay people have a right (that is understandable) to be angry or frustrated against Anita, true. But we don't need to be unjustly against all Christians now merely because of the mistake of one.

Her message was factual in stating God doesn't condone homosexuality, for it is a sin...just like fornication, adultery, ect.

Yet Anita, being human, put in her own two cents worth, her own prejudice against gays intermingled with God's message. God doesn't say in the Bible to discriminate against gays or fire them, or refuse to hire them. He merely points it out as displeasing to him, as all sin is. The anger against Anita is now misdirected against too

many "innocent other Christians" and Jesus Christ. Christ loves us and wants us to be "reborn," that we might share in his glory in the kingdom to come, as humble children to our divine Father.

So Gays, go to church or wherever Christ is preached (sic), hear his eternal message and respond humbly with a contrite spirit and be reborn, born into God's (sic) holy family, born of his holy seed.

Thank you David Hoover Holland, Ohio

HIGH GEAR/MAY 1978

several politically oriented gay groups it was not felt necessary to take that direction or even to structure the group to the point of having officers.

As of the fifth meeting our mailing list has grown to 35 people from all over the Triangle Area (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) and meeting attendance has reached 30.

People have learned about our group through its members and our various advertising efforts, based in large part on a massive poster campaign on the three local university campuses (Duke, University of N.C. and N.C. State University) as well as various government and private

Tri-City National Defense Fund

Dear Friend,

research institutions in the area. We have also placed advertisements in the local campus and community newspapers and the gay media.

Our group has recently received national recognition in the pages of the ADVOCATE. An announcement in the March 8, 1978 issue defined the group membership and asked persons interested in joining to contact us. Some confusion has resulted from the ADVOCATE's wording since we are a local, not a national group. We are interested in contacting other gay groups and individuals in the sciences. We have been delighted at the number of in-

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dividuals who have contacted us offering their best wishes for our success (and sometimes their surprise at our existence!). We are disappointed, however to find we are apparently the only organized group of gay scientists around at this time. We would be glad to offer whatever information and moral support we can to individuals who might want to try starting similar groups. For those not in the position to try organizing, we would be happy to let you know if we hear of others trying to start groups in your area. Larry White and Mike Young Co-founders TAGS

POETRY, ANYONE

Dear Editors:

A new area-based poetry journal known as Indra's Net is looking for short (14 lines or less) poetic expressions for coming issues. Indra's Net was conceived as a way for people of all kinds to share their personal truths with others throughout the world and reflect

the universal truths we may share.

Expressions may be sent to: Mr. Peter Kelsey, Editor-in-Chief, Indra's Net Apt. 103, 168 Coe Street, Berea, Ohio 44017. Subscription price is $3.00 per issue; $10.00 per year. We publish quarterly.

Peter Kelsey

Tri-City National Defense Fund PO Box 3949

Hollywood, Calif. 90028

Spokespersons

Leonard P Matlovich Del Martin

March 30, 1978

Human rights are presently under attack in three American cities. Citizens of St Paul, MN.; Wichita, KS; and Eugene, OR. are all threatened by campaigns to repeal sections of their Human Rights Ordinances that protect Lesbians and Gay men from discrimination in such areas as employment and housing. Organizations have been formed to defend human rights in each of the three cities. These organizations need the support of Lesbian and Gay organizations--NOW--because the repeal elections will be held in April and May. Tri-City National Defense Fund was established to raise funds for the human rights campaigns in the three cities. To avoid national publicity--and certain defeat--the campaign organization in each city is attempting to keep the issue a local one.

This does not mean that we do not need help from your organization, it means we need it more. Since their victory in Dade County, the right-wing, conservative, fundamentalist forces have organized nationally. Their effective fund-raising machine is targeting money into the cities now facing elections to repeal human rights ordinances. If they win in these three cities, repeal efforts will be encouraged elsewhere. Already battles loom in Seattle, WA; Hartford, CT and statewide in California.

Your help is desperately needed to help turn the tide in these three cities. Unfortunately, when the right-wing fundamentalists plan the actions they draw in funds for months prior to the announcement of the repeal actions. We are forced to raise the funds necessary to combat them in as little as two or three months.

You can:

• Plan a fundraiser in your area

Ask your members to support and contribute to Tri-City by mail, by phone, at meetings

Offer to do field work in your area for fundraisers

* Make a direct contribution

WE CAN WIN--IF WE JOIN TOGETHER NOW. WE CANNOT ALLOW OUR RIGHTS TO BE TAKEN AWAY CITY BY CITY.

If you need any help in planning or coordinating activities in your area, please call Our coordinators, Dennis Ward and/or Joan Lopotko, at (612) 645-3465. Together in support of human rights

Del Martin

Leonard P Mattonch

Leonard P. Matlovich