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INS to agents: don't stop gay visitors

On August 14, agents of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) were issued a temporary directive ordering them to stop preventing those foreign visitors they might suspect of being homosexual from entering the United States.

This nationwide directive was issued in response to an order given on August 2 by the Surgeon General of the United States to medical officers of the United States Public Health Service. The medical officers were ordered to stop examining and certifying for deportation anyone referred to them by INS because of suspected homosexuality. These two U.S. agencies, the

Public Health Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, have disagreed for a number of years as to whether or not to supply a section of the U.S. Immigration Code that describes "excludable aliens" to those who are homosexual. INS has been using the phrase "persons afflicted with psychopathic personality" to exclude gays, and this approach required in each instance of a "suspected homosexual" an examination and medical certificate from the Public Health Service.

The directive issued by Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond on-August 2 said that homosexuality would no longer "be considered a mental disease

or defect." Honiosexuality, according to the Public Health Service, is not medically excludable under the Immigration and Naturalization Act because it is not any illness of any kind.

In response to the Surgeon General's directive a statement was issued by Charles F. Brydon and Lucia Valeska, Co-Executive Directors of the National Gay Task Force, containing the following:

"Since the Immigration Act states that medical excludability is the sole province of the Public Health Service, and the medical excludability has been the sole grounds established by the courts, and by the Immigration Service itself, for the exclusion of

"Cruising" meets gay ire

Gays in New York City have been protesting the local filming of Cruising, the story of a homicide detective (played by Al Pacino) who tracks down in a sex club and leather bar milieu a killer who murders and mutilates

gays.

The director William Friedkin, in an interview by Vito Russo in the August 13-20 issue of New York says that the sex club and leather bar milieu is being used because he felt that it "just wasn't interesting enough to show an ordinary gay bar."

"It's no more about gay life," he says "than Woody Allen's Man-

hattan is about New Yorkers."

Considering how most moviegoers across the United States

have taken Manhattan, this statement of Friedkin's is unlikely to Columbus news

placate angry New York gays who want the filming of Cruising out of the city.

It is feared that the film might cause violence against gays, get gay rights legislation killed all across the country, and have a far-reaching negative effect on general public attitudes, which have been improving in the past few years.

An ad hoc committee has been formed, community meetings have been held to rally opposition, and twenty thousand pamphlets have been distributed saying that the movie is "a rip-off that uses gay male stereotypes as the backdrop for a horrific story of homosexuals."

"Gay men," the pamphlet continues, "are presented as onedimensional sex-crazed lunatics,

New Dignity chapter, Gay Pride Week

By Rob Davis

Bill Boyland, candidate for mayor of Columbus, spoke June 25 at the Spaghetti Warehouse as a part of Columbus' Gay Pride Week celebration. Over 50 people were present as Boyland spoke of his views in support of gay people. After his speech, he addressed more specific areas, answering questions from the audience.

I will take on myself."

During part of the questionanswer period, there was a very heated dispute between two people in the audience about how a specific problem should be addressed. Boyland's response to the apologies offered him: "A divergence of opinion keeps a community strong."

Boyland stated that he will openly support gay people if "Each community must decide asked. He welcomes the support its own goals." answered of the gay community even Boyland when asked what goals though his opponent may try to use it against him. If elected, he plans he had for the Columbus gay community. He stated that he to keep lines of communication would support expansion of open between the mayor's office human rights to include gay peoand the gay community.

ple. He spoke of current Mayor Tom Moody's 1974 veto of a civil rights bill in Columbus because it included employment protection for gay people. Boyland stated that he would support any bill that would add this employment protection for gay people.

Dignity/Central Ohlo

A new chapter of Dignity has been formed in the Columbus area. Dignity/Central Ohio was chartered in July, 1979, at the Dignity Region Five Conference in Cleveland. The group plans to Boyland stated that he would meet every Sunday, when a institute police review within his meeting place is found. A constioffice to help solve the problem tution and bylaws are in the proof police harassment. "It will be cess of being written, and input within my power as mayor to from interested persons is being control the police. I will create a sought. Dignity/Central Ohio's police review board in my adminphone number is 614-276-7615. istration. The most difficult cases Their mailing address is P.O. Box 2591, Columbus, OH 43216.

vulnerable victims of violence and death. This is not a film about how we live; it is a film about why we should be killed."

Local gays have been disrupting shooting on the picture, all of which is being filmed on locations around the city, often by such simple means as not moving from the front door stoops of apartment buildings in which they live and just sitting there grimacing at the camera.

The National Gay Task Force has said that, having read the script and having talked with Jerry Weintraub, the producer of Cruising, it would "lend its full support to all non-violent efforts to halt the filming."

Local business people have been withdrawing permission to have filming done on their premises.

The City of New York has extended to the producers of Cruising all of the usual courtesies extended to filmmakers, such as police protection, permit facilitation, and permission to store equipment on a city pier. The ad hoc committee asked the mayor to revoke the permits and rescind the police, arguing that this would not be censorship, but

merely a matter of withdrawing

cooperation.

The mayor declined, citing the First Amendment and saying that he would not interfere in any way with the content of a film being

shot in New York.

Some of the demonstrators agreed with the mayor's decision, arguing that a dangerous precedent could have been set.

Richard Goldstein in the August 6 issue of the Village Volce argues that in going to the mayor, the ad hoc committee made a serious strategic blunder, economic considerations being more powerful that the connections of gays at City Hall.

Stephen Klain in the August 1 issue of Variety reports that the efforts of the protesters are becoming more directed towards a public lobbying effort to convince Hollywood that gays are "an economic force to be reckoned with."

Cruising is being produced by Lorimar Productions which has a contract to have all of its features distributed in the United States by United Artists.

homosexual aliens, it would be a clear violation of the statute for either INS or the State Department to continue their discriminatory policies. Should such policies persist, the National Gay Task Force is prepared to obtain injunctions against their enforcement."

The August 14 directive,

issued by Carl Wack, associate commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalizaton Service, said that suspected individuals will not be given completely legal entry but will be technically "paroled" until they can be examined, when the "legal issues are resolved."

Cincinnati gays attacked

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By Walter Williams CINCINNATI A Coy Park pool swim party on July 8 was attacked by a group of about 50 young adults and teenagers.

Lambda Sports, gay sports organization, rented the pool from the city for a private party. On the morning of July 8, arriving gay people were met with signs near and in the park warning "Fags Enter at Your Own Risk," "Gays Keep Out," and "Queers Stay Away." The pool had been trashed. As soon as it was cleaned and filled, about 40 gay people occupied the pool area.

The crowd of young adults and teenagers gathered and began heckling the swimmers from a hill above the pool, screaming "fag", "queer." and more obscene statements.

filed a formal complaint with the city.

The complaint protested "the lack of adequate police protection of our rights," and stated that police inaction was "indicative of their lack of commitment to the

protection of the rights of our minority."

The letter concluded, "Gay people have had enough." As taxpayers and voters, our ten percent of the Cincinnati population is no longer content to sit back and do nothing.

As investigation of the police has begun, and criminal charges have been filed against the rioters.

On July 15 and 16, a small gang attacked the Golden Lions bar. According to those present, police were slow to respond and uncooperative with bar

Gay people at the pool were pelted with rocks, eggs, bottles, and wood. No one was seriously employees. Later in the week. injured, but one auto was damaged.

Though police had observed the mob earlier, and knew of the tense situation, they had left the scene and did not respond to several phone calls for help as the riot began. As a result, GCGC

however, police began more thorough coverage of the area, and the gang disappeared.

After these incidents, GCGC has asked that a permanent liasion be established between the police division and the gay/lesbian community.

Gay film fest, planning for march

TOLEDO NEWS

PHONE COUNSELING

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CLASS Chuck L. is putting together another phone counseling class. It will be held in Sepember, and will have a new format that sounds very exciting, The PRO crisis phone is one of our most important on-going projects, and desperately needs new counselors. Help others and yourself by taking this class and working on the phone Call 419243-9351 and make your reservations!!

PRO COFFEES One of the nicest ways to show your concern for PRO and your friends is to host a PRO Coffee. These are an important part of PRO's social life, and provide a fine social alternative to the bars. If you would like to have a coffee, I can't imagine anyone not wanting to, call the PRO phone, or see Randy

D.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON (CHARTER BUS) -PRO is in the process of trying to coordinate efforts with other gay organiza-

tions in town to charter buses for the March on Washington, D. C.. on the weekend of October 14th. We will be taking a head count of interested people at the business

meeting and at coffees throughout the month, to get an idea of interest. Specific plans will be made and announced at the September Business meeting. Call the PRO phone, if you are unable to attend any other activities and wish to go to Washington.

FILM FESTIVAL -Mark Friday evening Septemer 14th on your calendar for Toledo's GAY FILM FESTIVAL. The location is still up in the air, but the films will be Craig Russell in "Outrageous." and the award winning "Word is Out." You say that you have seen "Word is Out" on TV. Seeing it in color on a large screen with lots of gay friends brings a whole new perspective to the film.

CONGRATULATIONS EVA S PRO's first staff person. Eva is We are proud to have Eva S. as working through a CETA grant, and we are very happy to have her on board. She will be working with counseling activities, and doing outreach to other community organizations.

GAY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS For information on

the Saturday meetings and activities of this group call the PRO phone 419-243-9351.

---courtesy of PRO, 8/79