HIGH GEAR/JUNE 1978

Page 3

CRANSTON SUPPORTS GAYS

---Courtesy of Bay Area Reporter, 5/11/78

By George Mendenhall

LOS ANGELES "Too early an effort to enact antidiscrimination legislation in Congress would put off by far perhaps by decades the achievement of the ultimate victory that will surely be won if the battle is waged with wisdom, courage and determination."

This was the advice given 1,000 activists at a Hollywood Palladium banquet on April 30. The banquet was a tribute to Rev. Troy Perry, founder of Metropolitan

Community Church, by the Gay Rights Chapter Southern Division of the American Civil Liberties Union. The person giving the advice was U.S. Senator Alan Cranston (D-California), Senate Majority Whip and a trusted

move, to strike, but

he

friend of President Jimmy Carcautioned "all too often, when a ter.

The senator told the cheering crowd that the way toward achievement for full and equal rights for Gay men and Lesbians will be difficult but "it will come." Its reality will be achieved nationally, he urged, after a "careful, thoughtful, practical, persistent educational and political campaign." He added that he has "listened carefully" as colleagues in Congress discussed Gay rights and he revealed, "I know from these discussions how much work needs to be done."

Cranston gave his full support to the Gay rights movement because "if even one individual loses his/her rights or fails to gain rights, then all are in danger." However, he added that activists must "plan and prepare" as there are times to

highly controversial bill is defeated in the House and Senate by an overwhelming margin, that bill and others like it are dead for years."

Cranston stated that while it was a "marvelous" gesture to recognize Rev. Perry that even he can be denied his rights in housing, employment and public service because of his sexual orientation. Perry and others, the senator stressed, hopefully realize that "there are no shortcuts. There are no evasions, of the tough, methodical, thorough drive at the grassroots and at the level of community and national leadership that must pave the way for a movement for the right legislation at the right time." Meanwhile, he warned, Gay activists must fight to retain those rights that they now have."

QUAKERS SUPPORT GAYS

PHILADELPHIA In a pioneering effort to establish the civil rights of lesbians and gay men, the American Friends Service Committee announced on

April 26 the enactment of an Affirmative Action Plan designed to include gay people as well as women and third world persons. The plan covers: employment, committee and board membership, membership in coalitions, contractual relationships, and program design and execution.

Building on a long history of action in the civil rights and peace movements, the enactment of a plan to assure greater participation of third world

a

people and women was seen as natural next step. Discrimination against gay people, however, was brought to the AFSC's attention relatively recently. In September of 1975, four gay people involved with the AFSC as staff and committee members sent a letter throughout the organization announcing that they were gay, encouraging other gays to "come out" and asking for discussion of the problems gay people faced both within the AFSC and in the larger society.

More gay people did "come out" and discussions occurred throughout the national office in Philadelphia and in regional of-

O'LEARY NAMED TO COMMISSION

Jean O'Leary, Co-Executive Director of the National Gay Task Force, has been named by Mayor Ed Koch as one of 14 new members of the New York City Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. O'Leary, who was appointed to serve a 3-year term, is the only publicly-identified gay person on the Commission: The new appointments were announced on May 3.

The 38-member Commission was established by Executive Order in February 1975 to advise the Mayor on policies, advocate measures, and gather and analyze information which would promote for women "the

benefits of equal opportunity, the full utilization of their talents and, in general, their economic and social well-being."

Upon notification of her appointment, Ms. O'Leary, who has just completed & year of service on the President's commission on the observance of International Women's Year, said: "I am very pleased at this opportunity to represent the concerns of lesbians and all New York City area women on the new Commission. I believe that the Commission, in cooperation with Mr. Koch, may be able to accomplish a great deal, particularly because of the high

TIMES SUPPORTS GAYS

The New York Times, one of the most respected daily newspapers in the United States, earlier this month publicly stated its support for gay rights bills in general and its specific endorsement for the gay rights bill now before New York City Council. It wrote, "although the apparent backlash against homosexual rights is deplorable, it

cannot be written off simply as the work of kooks and bigots. Observers have noted widespread concern in this country that fundamental values are under attack. Many people seem to view tolerance for homosexuals as a threat to family life, children, religious beliefs, perhaps to their own sexuality. Unfortunately, some of the rhetoric

fices throughout the country. A Board of Directors minute was written in June, 1976, which said: "The AFSC Board of Directors supports the civil and human rights of homosexual and bisexual persons, and commits itself to implementation of this concern." Based on these discussions and the Board's directive, the Affirmative Action Planning Committee (created in June 1976) was given the charge to consider oppression and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in addition to race and sex.

In the Affirmative Action Committee's final report, it said: "Gay people suffer not only from

Jean O'Leary

level of commitment which the Mayor has already indicated in remedying the discrimination faced by the gay and women's communities in this city.

and demonstrations of homosexual groups have exacerbated such fears."

It continues that "the issue is not whether homosexuality is admirable, only whether discrimination is acceptable. Most homosexuals are not out to convert the nation; they simply want a fair chance to find a job and a place to live. The shame is that

Sen. Alan Cranston

--Courtesy of Gay Community News, 5/20/78 denial of legal rights and discrimination in employment, but also from stereotyping, from cruel jokes and from condescension. Gay people are one of the few groups of people remaining in this country against whom it is legal to pass discriminatory laws and mount popular campaigns denying them rights. Discrimination against the rights of women and third world people is no longer widely acceptable.

This is not true of gays and the open oppression of them is often as accepted as it is pervasive. In this public atmosphere, it is vitally important that the AFSC make a clear and

PRODDING THE

---courtesy of San Franciso Pride Foundation

United States District Court Judge Cecil F. Poole, on Friday, April 7, 1978, refused to dismiss a lawsuit in which he had enjoined the processing of Navy personnel for discharge on grounds of homosexuality.

Judge Poole previously had ordered the reinstatement of Ignacio Martinez, on the grounds that the Navy regulations used to process him were unconstitutional, in that they failed to consider his ability to do his job. The Navy conceded he had done a very good job, and re-enlisted Martinez, according to his lawyer, San Francisco lawyer John Vaisey, director of the Pride Foundation.

such ordinary wants need, to be guaranteed by law, but that is how the matter stands. Without statutes to protect them, homosexuals will continued to be faced by barriers to their livelihood and freedom."

The editorial Identifies those who in the past have opposed sound gay rights legislation -Catholic and Orthodox Jewish groups as well as police and

strong public witness in its deeds, its actions, and in what it

is."

In order to accomplish the goals outlined in the plan, a Nationwide Affirmative Action Task Force which will oversee implementation of the plan, has been created. An Affirmative Action Department, headed by an Affirmative Action Secretary, is being set up in the national office in Philadelphia. Also regional Affirmative Action Committees are being established (ten regional office addresses are on the news release letterhead).

AFSC is in the process of recruiting an Affirmative Action Secretary.

NAVY

The government had moved to dismiss the lawsuit since Martinez had been re-enlisted and a new regulation had been implemented in place of one of the previous ones. Vaisey objected on grounds that the new regulation still fell short of Judge Poole's order and that the government still maintained secret files and classifications on citizens and that the government had not paid Martinez all of his re-enlistment pay.

The Court in refusing to dismiss indicated that the new regulation allows someone to be retained after only a single incident. The Court pointed out it is not the arbitrary number which is to be determinative, but the individual's fitness for duty.

firemen's unions. The new bill would ban discrimination in housing, employment or public accommodation on the basis of "sexual orientation" and has the support of Mayor Koch.

The New York Times concludes that "we hope that this time around the bill passes and New Yorkers affirm their belief in the equitable treatment for a long-abused minority.