Newspaper Page Text
DEAR MTV I.F.F.
Dear Luv Lee,
I am 20 years old and
my folks found out that I’m
gay. They either want me to
move out or I will have to
stay in after work 7 nights
a week. It would be like
prison. Can you give me
some advice. I have never
been away from home De-
fore. I think I should move
out, but I am scared.
Thank you,
Mixed up and Miserable
Dear Mixed up and Miser
able,
First of all, you have
the answer to your problem.
No one wants to live “in
prison,” as you put it. My
advice is to move out. The
Metroploitan Community
Church has a Roommate Re
ferral Service and I’m sure
that Rev. John Gill or one
of his associates would be
more than happy to help
you. You can call 378-6291.
Also there is a Gay Infor
mation Service that you cou
ld call as well. The num
ber is 874-4400. Everyone
must at one time or another
face the problem of making
it on their own.. It isn't as
hard as it may seem. The
fact that you have a job,
indicates a little security
and responsibility on your
part. I’m sure that things
will work out well for you.
I do, however, caution you
to visit your family and
don’t become a stranger to
them. They will adjust in
time. Good Luck.
Luv Lee
Dear Luv Lee,
I have a problem. 1 am
19 years old and a Male.
I am Gay and very effem
inite, I really look like a
girl, think like a girl and
feel like a girl. I don’t
know anything about the
Sex Change Operation, but
I think that I should have
it. I want to get married
and adopt children and I
know I can’t do this as
a boy. My Grandmother died
a few years a 8e ano left
me a good deal of money
in a Tust fund. I think
I would have enough to co
ver the operation, but I
don’t know how to find out
about it. I would appreciate
any information you would
give me.
Thank you,
Ronnie D.
Dear Ronnie,
Having a Sex Change sh
ould not be taken lightiy.
It costs a great deal more
than money. It- entails not
only the actual surgery, but
psychiatric evaluation and
sometimes treatment as
well. You would spend many
months preparing for it
mentally as well as physi
cally. I feel that you are
really sincere about it and
I want you to call Glen
Luth at the Gay Informat
ion Service at 874-4400.
Glenn has been preparing
for Sex Change Surgery and
is a really nice person. I
am sure that he would be
more than happy to discuss
every aspect of it with you.
You might also drop by the
Stardust Lounge and speak
to Daisy Dalton or Tina
Terrell during Intermis
sion. They are both in the
process of treatment and
preparation for the surgery,
and I’m sure that they wo
uld be glad to talk to you
about it. I do know for a
fact that Emory University
has competaht doctors that
perform this type of oper
ation. Good Luck, and call
or write and let. me know
the outcome.
Luv Lee
Bartender Of The Month
Clay Stewart —Powder Puff
Here he is, from the Pow
der Puff Lounge in Chattan
ooga, Term., Clay Stewart,
who received the most no
minations for the ‘‘Barten
der of the Month” contest.
He has had three years ex
perience working at the
Powder Puff and before that
Dick’s Tavern in Daton,
Tenn.
Clay is an Aquarius and
hails from Dayton, Tenn.,
originally. Although he has
held no titles or degrees,
he is an interesting person
with a tremendous follow
ing. When asked about his
interests or hobbys, he re
plied: ‘‘Dancing and Mark,
my spouse”. His greatest
ambition, he confided, ‘‘Is
to Marry Mark Legally.”
We hope this will come to
pass for Clay and Mark.
i' ■ >. * % :i -f t %
ATLANTA BARB-Page 3
INTERESTING PERSONALITIES
If a contest were held
for the ‘‘Book store person
ality” of the month, this
would be won hands down
by Bob Battagalia, night
manager of Eros book store
on Ponce De Leon Ave.
A new comer to Atlanta,
Bob is from New York City.
Although he has held no
titles or degrees, his life
has been most interesting
and filled with excitement.
Beginning as an usher at
the age of 14, Bob worked
his way up to manager of
the famous RKO Theatre,
and later on to become
District manager of the
Walter Reade Theatre Cor
poration. During the two
years he was on Broadway,
he met many of the great
est show business person
alities. Among them, ‘‘Vin
cent Price,” his favorite.
He also set up the stage
for the Stanley Kramer’s
premiere production of
‘‘Guess Who’s Coming To
Dinner.”-His greastest am
bition is to re-enter the
Theatre profession, not as
a performer but in man
agement.
Since Bob’s short time
in Atlanta, he has gained
a tremendous following. He 1
digs horseback riding and
loves the opera, among
other things. Unfortunately
since he is tied up six nights
a week at the bookstore,
he doesn’t have much time
to pursue his interest.
Drop on over, buy a book
see a movie or just say
‘‘hello.”
Community Activities
Bill Smith has been ac
tive in Atlanta politics for
several years. He was the
youngest person ever to
serve as the President of
DeKalb County’s Young
Democrats. After two
years away at school he
made the switch to Gay
politics, helping to found
the Georgia Gay Liberat
ion front and serving as
one of it’s first co-|chair-
people and later as it’s!
Treasurer. Bill was active
in the short lived Southeas
tern Gay Coalition, and co
ordinated the 1973 Gay
Pride week celebrated
held in Atlanta.
He was the first known;
homosexual to be hired by
the City of Atlanta, and
was appointed to the Com
munity Relations Commis
sion by former Mayor Mas-
sell in November of 1973
for a term expiring in No
vember of 1976. In addition
to his activities as a com
mission member, he is
director of Atlanta’s Gay
Information Service; a twen
-ty-four hour non-profit
counseling and referral ser
vice.
We are pleased to have
Bill heading this column
on Community Activities
and feel that he is extre
mely qualified in his field.
Each month he will be wri
ting Community Activities,
informing us of the laws
and action of the CRC that
effect our lives in the gay
community of Atlanta. Po
litics are vital to all of us,
and if we are to attain
our goal of equality, we
must become more involv
ed in Community Activi
ties.
Each month the Com
munity Relations Commis
sion (CRC) meets on the
fourth Tuesday to discuss
some of the problems of
Atlanta with citizens, go
vernmental agencies and
officials. We attempt to
bring the various groups
in our community togeth
er to work out problems,
to study them and to make
specific recommendation
for their solution. The
CRC has received con
stant praise by the news
media, politicians and the
general public for it’s
efforts to improve the
quality of life in Atlanta.
Even though I have serv
ed on the commission only
a few months it is easy to
see why the CRC has drawn
so much praise. The mem
bers and the staff of CRC
are dedicated to Atlanta
and the improvement of the
quality of life in our city.
This commitment breaks
all lines of class, color,
religion and sex. For many
citizens including gays
the CRC has been a source
of help and hope. Nat Welch,
the director arranged the
first meeting between gay
community leaders and the
police department. This
was the first in a series
of meetings that led to a
more open atmosphere of
communications between
the gay community and the
police officials.