About The Barb. (Atlanta, Ga.) 197?-197? | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1975)
t&Xfte WH&. Black, Beautiful, Gay and Proud The gay community is the most diversified of minority communities.gayness crosses all lines of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, economic condition, etc. Their is never complete harmony among all the diversified types of gay people. Yet as a whole it is among the most accepting of individuals regardless of background. The BARB has talked with many people this month concerning their views on minorities within the gay community. The largest mi nority, and perhaps the most discriminated against minor ity, with in the gay community are black gays. After a lengthy photography session with our cover model, Glenn Billings we asked him to give us his impression of life and racial attitudes in Atlanta as he prepares to leave our city. Glenn’s usually open smile narrowed a bit and the forehead showed the slight crease that belied the feelings and concerns this question evoked. BARB: How d >v>u feel about Atlanta? GLENN: It’s a good city in many ways. BARB: What would you say about the racial and social attitudes of Atlantans vs Cincinnati where you lived before? • GLENN: There is more ease. . more willingness to dance and mix socially in Cincinnati than in Atlanta. There is more sterotyping of blacks in attitude and comments. BARB: Such as? GLENN: Well. . . I smoke occasionally not Kools, and kids have said things like you don’t smoke Kools? I thought all blacks smoked Kools? BARB: I know you love to dance and go the gars quite often. What are the attitudes there? GLENN: It’s alright. BARB: What about ID checks? Any hassels? GLENN: Not when I go in with white friends. I’m asked for ID when I go alone. I’ve even been asked, in one bar, for ID when I bought a drink. I should say that they use to not ask for ID when I went in with whites. Last weekend we were both asked for two pieces of identification. When - they refused to accept my Massey student ID as a second piece of ID I just told them I was going in and didn’t even pay the dollar cover charge. I’ve gone to that bar since it opened and I’ve never had such a hassel! BARB: Is this a policy of all gay bars? GLENN: No. Only a few. The incident with the ID occurred at the Bayou Landing. BARB: What about police Jiassels? GLENN: Only once v or twice. I was stopped by a policeman driving a friend’s car with Tennessee plates and, of course, I had to show him my Ohio’s drivers license, his comment was ‘.‘You people think you can come down and run this place”. He gave me two tickets! It seems that many people here are not aware of the new black. They had held onto cliche’s of yesterday. BARB: Has the school environment been easier than say if you were . in private enterprise? GLENN: The school has a very even attitude. . ..but the school has no'black instructors. . BARB: Will the school aid you in finding a position when you graduate? 4 jx-u. GLENN: Yes, no problem. BARB: How has the attitude been at school socials? ! GLENN: There is a lot of peer pressure not to dance, trick* etc. with blacks;. There was an incident at our party at the “Sting” when a group of black students indicated that I shouldn’t spend so much time with white students. It comes from both sides, even if the reasons are different it is there. , BARB: Any problems finding housing? GLENN: I think it’s great! This is the time to be on the market. A number of black designers seem to be “in” this year. BARB: You have supplement ed your scholarship funds by working part time jobs. Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences in that area? GLENN: I work at the Peasant Up .Town, now, and really enjoy it. I've worked for Davison’s a couple of other r restaurants and the Gillette Company. BARB: Any problems with being black and or gay? GLENN: No, the restaurant and the department store biz has a large number of gay employees. With Gillette I checked on inventories knd set up displays in stores in the Atlanta area. There was some rudness and apprehensiveness there. Traveling with Gillette outside of Atlanta the double standard really hits you. I saw a WHITE LADIES ONLY sign on a restroom in Morrow, Georgia. I pulled it down. The double water fountain, now adult and children sizes. Constant reminders of the separateness of the recent past. BARB: How do you feel generally about Atlanta’s attitudes? GLENN: The most depressing thing is the downtown area. This city is supposed to be the place for blacks. Over half the city is black. Yet downtown the majority of the office people are white and blacks still hold the menial jobs. BARB: Are white gays anymore open to blacks than straight whites? GLENN: I think so. Gay people are more sensitive than Straight whites. There is much less hostility there. BARB: Are you leaving us with good memories? GLENN: Oh yes. i’ll be back to visit with friends. Perhaps even live here* MS, Magazine Runs National Gay Rights Petition Celebrate Mass With DIGNITY ATLANTA “A Catholic Outreach to the Gay Community” St. Thomas Moore Church 624 West Ponce De Leon Ave. Decatur, Georgia 30030 Alternate Wednesdays March 5th and 19th April 2nd and 16th Eight p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL MARTY COCHRAN (404)873-2670 The February issue of Ms. Magazine includes a Petition for Sanity (p.80). Signers pledge themselves to work for an end to all discrimination based on sexual preference and for the creation of a social climate open to all lifestyles. The petition came into being due in great part to the initiative of NGTF board member Jean O’Leary. Among the 100 signatures printed on the original petition are prominent political figures including Representative Bella Abzug, National Women’s Political Caucus head Sissy Farenthold, and Massachu setts State Representative Elaine Noble. Notables from the arts include Joanne Woodward and Lily Tomlin, Anais Nin and Joyce Carol Oates Other signers are drawn from many fields: Dolores, Huerta, National Farm Workers Vice President; Gail Thain Parker, president of Bennington College; LaDonna Haris, Comanche Indian; Karen DeCrow, NOW presi dent. Ms. is tentatively planning to print the names of signers, or a representative couple of thousand, perhaps in the June issue. To be included, signatures must be received bv the end of February. The names of all signers, regard less of when they are received, will be forwarded to all members of Congress, who have already gotten copies of the original signed petition. Although the petition was conceived primarily to show solidarity among the women’s community, Ms. says that they have also prepared a version for men to sign. Gay newspapers and journals can obtain free cameraready copy for the petition by writing to Ms., 370 Lexington Avenue, New York City 10017. All groups have permission to reproduce the petition directly from the magazine and distribute it widely, according to Ms. THIS T SHIRT IS HAND PRINTED BY A FARMi FAMILY IN NORTH CAROLINA *4.00 EACH AND PLEASE STATE YOUR SIZE The BARB is published monthly in Atlanta, Georgia. We do not accept the responsibility for unsolicited manu scripts, photos, etc., unless stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. Letters and manuscripts »are wel comed. Opinions expressed by our columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the New spaper manage ment. Publisher . . JL . . Ray F. Green Editor . V/_. .... .... . .Bill Smith Atlanta Circulation Manager Ken Johnson Staff Writers: Production Staff: Eric Moore Michael Young Steve Warren Peter Thomas Bill Smith Jeanni C. Graham Richard E\ans Lee David Bryant Advertising Representatives Atlanta: Tt. Lauderdale: Billy Jones Peter Thomas P. O. Box 7922 ■ , .3801 N. Ocean Blvd. ATI/., GA. 3030}) Ft. Lauderdale. Fla. (404) 872-GOGS 33308 (305) 506-4370 . “THE VOICE OF THE GAY COMMUNITY’’ Ivyjlivers MIS P.0. Box 925-B Leicester, N.C. 21748
