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SEATTLE: INITIATIVE VS. INITIATIVE

Opponents of gay rights in Seattle have filed what they claim are more than 27,000 signatures in their campaign to get an initiative on the November ballot which would repeal the city's laws banning discrimination in jobs or housing on the basis of sexual preference. Only 17,000 signatures are required to place the issue before the city's voters.

To protest the proposed Initiative 13 members of a group calling itself Demand Obedience to Moral Ethics (DOME, which is pronounced "dumb") presented their own mock initiative to be called the "Unnatural Practices Ordinance." DOME is a subcommittee of Seattle Committee

Against Thirteen (SCAT).

The text of DOME's proposed initiative reads in part, "No heterosexual male be deemed protected by any city ordinance preventing discrimination in housing or employment when such employment involves frequent substantial contacts with minors or such housing is located within 1,000 feet of any dwelling unit in which a minor resides." Spokesperson for DOME said that this was written to protect society from heterosexual males who are responsible for more than 90 percent of the child molestation cases in Seattle.

The protest initiative would also ban celibacy, coffee

NEW CRIMINAL CODE IN JERSEY

TRENTON, NJ New Jersey touts a new criminal code whose provisions, among others, include decriminalization of homosexual acts and repeal of abortion laws.

Gov. Brendan Byrne's signing of the bill into law drew protest from those who fear deterioration of the Garden State into the "Gutter State," as well as a support demonstration. Byrne called the bill, which takes effect next September 1, "a very significant

advance in criminal law."

Other major sections deal with setting stiffer sentencing guidelines, toughening rape laws so as to limit testimony on a victim's sex life, repealing the Sun-

day closing law, upgrading penalties for white-collar crime and permitting individual towns to establish "combat zones" in which pornography is legal.

Discussion as to changing the code began in the late 1960s, leading to the 1971 recommendations of the state law revision Commission on which the new code is based.

Sen. Martin Greenberg (DEssex), a code sponsor with Assembly member Martin Herman (D-Salem), referred to the bill as "a beginning of a new era in criminal justice in this state." "I look at it as a break from the old, worn and archaic laws," Greenberg added.

drinking, making interestbearing loans, and the eating of pork, snails, owls and moles. SCAT's argument is that these practices are banned by the Bible. It is hoped that filing the initiative will point out the problems which are created "when one group's religion, philosophy or morals are im posed by law upon the rest of us."

City officials accepted the protest initiative as a legitimate proposals and designated it Initiative 17. If the city's legal officials approve the form of the proposition SCAT will have 6 months to gather the necessary signatures to put it on an election ballot.

The anti-gay petitions were received by city clerk Wayne

Angevine, a homosexual who came out of the closet earlier this year.

Initiative 13 is being pushed by 2 Seattle policemen David Estes and Dennis Falk, who have controversial records with the department. Falk is a land developer and a section leader with the John Birch society. Estes is a Mormon who frequently quotes the Bible in justifying his campaign against homosexuality. Both men hope to use Initiative 13 as a way of stopping what they see as the growing acceptance of homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle.

Anita Bryant's Protect America's Children has contributed $3,000 to the anti-gay

forces who have reported a total of $11,078 in contributions. Bryant has stated that she intends to supply SOME with a $100,000 war chest for the repeal efforts.

Seattle Citizens to Retain Fair Employment (SCRFE), another pro-gay organization, has reportedly raised $30,000 for its campaign against the initiative. This includes a $2,000 donation from the Playboy Foundation and a $25 donation from Seattle Mayor Charles Royer, a strong supporter of gay rights.

The executive board of the Washington Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO) has voted to oppose Initiative 13 and has pledged to work for equality for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.

GAY CONCERNS IN SURVEY

For the first time in history, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will include gay discrimination issues in its survey of the civil rights community. Purpose of the survey is to identify issues expected to be critical in the next decade. Leaders of the national gay community will now have an opportunity to express opinions in the survey.

Gay-related questions on the on employment, housing, and survey will be found in sections political participation. Space will also be provided for gay comment in sections dealing with education, health, public accommodations and the media.

among other things, worked to

PA COUNCIL REPORTS identify the health needs of

HARRISBURG, PA In its second annual report the Pennsylvania Council for Sexual Minorities has identified areas in which state services to members of sexual minorities have been unjustifiably neglected or denied. According to the report, "The silence which has, for too long, surrounded sexual minority issues, has resulted in a lack of information and a lack of

concern about the problems and needs of sexual minority members, Virtually no areas of government services meet these needs. Access to basic health, social and economic services are routinely denied. Sexual minority members who are alcholic, disabled, old or. troubled are especially vulnerable to this neglect."

The council, created in February 1975, has, this year

NO ON UO GAA

The University of Oklahoma has denied the Gay Activists Alliance Organization recognition as a student organization, which was also voted against by the university's Student Congress. This spirited the GAA to file suit against the university, seeking $20,000.00 in both actual and

punitive damages. A district court judge ruled against the decision by the university, stating that it was not necessary for the group to be an official student organization; however, being official would entitle the group to funds from the Student Con-

RUNNING FOR SENATE

An openly gay candidate is running for U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Brian J. Coyle, 34, has filed for the office as a public-interest independent who favors legal abortions, affirmative action, gay rights, alternative energy programs and continuing Federal support for community-based enterprises.

Coyle, a political activist since Vietnam War days, favors decentralization of government and will conduct a largely grassroots campaign throughout the state. Coyle is up against 11 other candidates, including incumbent Democrat Wendell Anderson.

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homosexuals, design pamphlets and training for health providers, organize a conference on prison rape, train and sensitize state workers in the Human Relations Commission, and implement the only statewide, non-discrimination policy for gay state workers in the country.

The reason for this denial? The university board stated that' the acts of gay people are unlawful, and that the school is a law-abiding body of the state of Oklahoma.

A follow-up survey will include subjects added by respondents, who will have ranked them in order of critical importance.

The 500 recipients of the survey will include individuals in federal state and local government, academic researchers, representatives of "special interest groups" and chairpersons

of the various State Advisory Commissions. Initial survey questions were arrived at through interviews with 25 nationally prominent civil rights leaders.

MARGARET HAMILTON

One of Broadway, Hollywood, and television's best-loved actresses, Miss Margaret Hamilton, will open the season on October 13, 1978 in Emlyn Williams' psychological thriller, NIGHT MUST FALL, Miss Hamilton, an alumna of The Cleveland Play House, is probably best remembered for her role of the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz." IN NIGHT MUST FALL she will play Mrs. Bramson, a crotchety hypochondriac, who befriends a cunning young killer. As this suspendseful drama unfolds we realize that Mrs. Bramson is the killer's next victim. NIGHT MUST FALL will run six weeks in the Francis E. Drury To Derect op 15 Theatre, Cleveland, closing on Saturday, November 18.

SAVE OUR CHILDREN'S