Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 1, No. 9
March 28,1985
Baths Update
The case against dub Atlanta is dragging
on, which seems to be to the liking of
Charles Hunter, attorney from the
Solicitor's office.
"I think they're trying to put us out of
business by using delay tactics. We have
asked the Solicitor's office to present a
proposal of how Club Atlanta should be
run," said Mike Frusca of Fleck and
Associates, owners of Qub Atlanta.
Judge Ethridge has stated if the situa
tion is not settled soon, he will issue an
order to settle the suit.
Frusca says that Heck and Associates is
adamant about protecting individual
rights and the rights of gays to congregate
and will defend to all ends those rights.
Qub Atlanta remains open, although
rules have been tightened somewhat,
Frusca said.
Gay Civil Rights
An Historical
Perspective
ROGER RUTHERFORD
The Issue is...
Our Civil Rights—What's
Happening to Them?
Prior to WWH Germany was the inter
national leader for gay rights, as is the US
today. The sudden reversals and the
disintegration of gay freedoms which
resulted from national economic depres
sion and the rise to power of the political
right (Nazism) in the short period
1928-1936. (the duration of a two-term
presidency) serve as an invaluable lesson
for gay rights advocates today.
Magnus Hirschfeld founded the
Scientific Humanitarian Committee of
the Institute of Sexual Science in 1897.
Headquartered in Berlin, the Committee
was the "umbrella" for some thirty gay
movement organizations, in as many
cities, by the 1920's. By 1929 the move
ment was even able to persuade German
political leaders to seek the repeal of
Paragraph 175, an 1871 sodomy statute.
The newly formed Nazi party strongly
opposed this legislation, however, hav
ing insisted as early as 1928 that "anyone
who even thinks of homosexual love is
our enemy."
When the stock market plummeted
and economic depression reached Ger
many, the proposed sodomy statute
repeal legislation was shelved and the
.Nazis were soon swept into power. By
1933 2,319 persons had been convicted
under Paragraph 175 by the Nazis. In
May 1933 Hirschfeld's institute was at
tacked, and gay books and periodicals
were publically burned outside.
Hirschfeld fled to Paris where he died in
1935.
Homosexuality was vehemently link
ed with traitorous political intrigue in
June 1934, when the rivalry between the
SS (the upper class Gestapo) and SA (the
working class storm-troopers, led by
openly gay Ernst Rohm) reached the
boiling point. Convinced by the SS that
the SA were planning a "second revolu
tion," Hitler ordered the entire SA, as
well as unfriendly clergy, journalists, and
others, executed. Some 2,000 persons
were killed on that "Night of the Long
Knives." The alleged plot and the alleged
homosexuality of the slain were subse
quently used to defend Hitler's actions.
Since all gay persons (especially more
visible gay men) were now implicitly ac
cused of treachery, gay organizations and
bars were closed. Some bars were later
reopened by the Gestapo to entrap other
gay men.
. In 1935, on the anniversary of this
massacre, a new law (175a) was enacted,
creating ten new homosexual offenses.
Focusing now upon intent rather than
action, the Nazis could prosecute for
same-sex kisses or embraces, for being
listed in a convicted gay person's address
book, for looks of same-sex lust (cruis
ing), and for homoerotic fantasies! Ar
rests jumped to 8,000 a year.
f continued, page 3)
What's going on with our civil rights?
Recently we've seen gay pornography
removed from Fulton County,
Christopher's Kind denied the ability to
advertise itself as a lesbian and gay
bookstore in the Yellow Fhges, an attempt
to close the baths, and a man arrested for
having sex with another (consenting)
man in his own home.
Most of us live fairly comfortable lives
and feel free to do as we please. Are we
smarter or luckier than the people whose
civil rights are actually messed with or
are we just turning our heads and saying
"that couldnT happen to me?"
In this, issue, we compare 1985 in
Atlanta andpre-World War II Germany,
look at what has happened at
Christopher's Kind and we've printed
some of the photographs from exhibits of
Roger Rutherford and Steven Arnold
that Judd Publishing, our previous
printer wouldn't allow us because they
might be called pornographic.
There are twelve pages in this issue
thanks to some new advertisers and con
tinued support from those who have
been with us for awhile. Some of the
new ads are from bars. Does that mean
that we are going to turn into another
"Cruise" or "Around the Qock"? No.
What it does mean is that smart business
folks of all kinds recognize that THE
NEWS reaches the widest variety of les
bians and gay men in Atlanta for the
fewest dollars and in the best taste.
Enjoy THE NEWS!
COMING UP NEXT
—What Is Being Done to Preserve Our
Civil Rights?
—What Does HRCF, GRNL, NGTF
Mean and Why Do They Want My
Money?
—Interview with Kathleen Wilde about
Hardwick case and much, much more!!!