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' THE VOICE OF THE GAY COMMUNITY - SERVING THE SOUTHEAST AND THE NATION” Vol. 2 No.3 PUBLISHED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA 25 cents JACKSONVILLE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION HOLDS HEARINGS Mr. Woody Slappy, the worship coordinator of the Jacksonville Metropolitan Community Church, met with the Jacksonville Community Relations Commission’s Staff committee on homosexua lity. Slappy was joined by Dr. Minor Chamblin of the University of North Florida and psychologist James Mathis of University Hospital. In the area of housing discrimination, Mathis told the committee that while his findings were not documented, the general attidues in most com munities were the same as when blacks first moved to intergate housing, i.ei., “a feeling that property values would go down.” Additionally and perhaps more pertinantly, “some homosexuals can’t stay away from youngsters.” Mr. Slappy Quickly pointed out to the committee that 97% of all child molestors are classified as hetero sexual. Slappy also noted that current statistic and clinical studies indicate that approximately 90% of the men involved in sexual activities in public bath rooms are married. Mr, Slappy cited the problems of housing and credit extension as two sources of stress in gay relationships. Police harassment has not been harsh recently he said. Slappy did state that the gay community is, as usual during an election period, preparing for an increase in police activities as politicians begin their campaigns. Mr. Slappy has recently met with the Mayor of Jack sonville and also began discussion with Duval County Sheriff Dale Carson. (The city of Jacksonville recently merged with Duval County With the Sheriff’s Depart ment accepting law enforcement responsibility for the entire area.)Slappy is also actively involved in aiding a Naval Reserve commander and a navy corpsman caught in what he describes as a Naval Intelligence Service (NiS) “witch hunt’’ for homo sexuals. Mr. Slappy told The Barb that the Jacksonville CRC members and staff were very supportive of gay civil rights efforts. Talks with both the mayor and sheriff have been productive but the large Navy population of Jacksonville still has serious problems. Slappy told us that one navy person now under investigation by the NIS will probably fight publicly as a gay person to remain in the Navy. The case could be a major one for gay civil rights within the federal govern ment. Mr. Slapp£ said the man will announce his plans later this month. The Jacksonville Flordia Times-Union reported that NIS agents had violated federal postal regulations by seizing letters between two naval officers in efforts to secure informa - mation on the officers sex life. In one case the private off-base home of a naval commander was broken into by NIS agents in their search for alleged homo sexuals. The lack of an active American Civil Liberties Union in Jacksonville has hampered efforts to obtain a lawyer. Local concerned gay people are working with the cases to gain broad support and to raise the funds fbr legal expenses involved in fighting the court battle Media Coafareace Gets Loretta Lotman , media director of the National Gay Task Force , told NATPE delegates last week that television must treat homosexuals as it would any other minority: with respect. Speaking briefly during one convention session, and at greater length later during a news conference (picturedhere), Mrs. Lotman said that gays Gay Input had gone from no mention in the media to abusive mention, and that homo sexuals were being shown almost exclusively ‘ ‘ as clowrts or as psychopaths. ’ ’ TV is the most unfair of the media, she said, because it is the most powerful. She likened the stage gays were going through now to the early Continued on Page 8 Loretta Lottman and Rev. John Gill at NATPE Convention. Cover Photo Our cover model is Tim Grantham. Nineteen year old Tim comes from Thomaston Ga. and was working at the Bayou Land ing. He loves going out and meeting people. He is this Year’s MR. BASKET & BUNS 1975. His favorite performer is Olivia Newton John and his favorite type ef music is Country Rock. He is currently planning to enter the field of fashion. “Hi . Gary. I made It!” THE BARB has a new mailing address: P.O. Box 7922 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 ★★★ NATIONAL NOTES ★★★ CHICAGO - The National Council of Churches adopted a strong gay rights resolution March 6 and urged its members to work for legislation guaranteeing “The civil rights of all persons without regard to their affectional or sexual preference.” A spokes person for the National Gay Task Force said the resolution was not a formal endorsement of the ordination of gay clergy but can be seen as an encouragement to the churches to consider eliminating affectional or sexual preference as cri teria for ordination. HARRISBURG, PA - Ciovernor Milton Shapp has issued the first state executive order banning discrimination against gay people in state government departments. NEW YORK - A second national television network, CBS. recently gave way to gay women and men and added sexual preference to its minority hiring practice polices. Next in line - the only major hold out* ABC. LOS ANGELES - A charge against homosexual conduct in a public place against actor George Maharis, a star of the old television series “Route 66” has been dropped. Maharis was allowed to plead ‘no contest’ to a lesser charge of tres passing. The actor was arrested November 21 by vice squad officers on a charge of engaging in sex with another man in a gasoline station restroom. PHILADELPHIA - The President of the Pennsylvania Baptist t Ministers Conference is actually opposing Phila delphia’s proposed gay rights bill. The Rev. Rudolph Robinson objected to “the Gay Liberation Front suggesting that homosexual rights stand equal with civil rights for the Black Community. The two issues can in no way be compared. ” BARB IS SOLD Rav F. Green, founder of the ATLANTA BARB, an nounced in early March his intention of removing himself from the active operations of the paper. Bill Smith, current editor WASHINGTON DC - The US Civil Service Commission has given tentative approval to new regualtions that will permit opently gay women and men to seek and continue to hold civilian jobs. The move opens up 2 1/2 million federal jobs that have officially been “off limits” to gay people. The new regulations will bring the Civil Service Commission in to com pliance with the consistent orders of federal jodges since 1964: that gay people are entitled to federal jobs unless and until the government can* show a “nexus,” a specific rational connection between the worker’s conduct and the ability to satisfactorily perform the duties and re- sponsibilites of the job. WASHINGTON DC - The organization representing the nation’spsycholoisthas issued a policy statement echoing the stand taken a little over a year ago by psychiatrist: Homo sexuality is not a sickness. At' a meeting here on Jan 24, the governing body of the American Psychological Association declared, “Homosexuality per se implies no impair ment in judgement, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities, The group also issued statements calling for an end to discrimination against gay people. BALTIMORE, MD - A resolution adopted by the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, strongly urges local unions to be aware of “self pro claimed homosexuals, per verts and sex deviates” who attempt to gain entrance to the fire service. URBANA, ILL - This city of 33,000 people became the 18th US city to pass em ployment protection measures for gay people. The bill, also bans discri mination against gays in public accomodations. The other cities recently passing gay rights bills are : Sunnyvale (108,000) Mountain View (59,900), and Cupertino (23,650); all are in California. ol the paper assumed control of the enterprise on April 1, 1975. Mr. Green leaves the Atlanta area with deep regret in order to further himself in his career. (See Edi torial page 2).