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SO CENTS the news monthly for southern gays Houston Gay Endorsos Hofheinz By Darryl Billiu Houston - Houston infant Gay Political Caucus has begun to show its potential political muscle. A massive voter registration project headed by GPC’s Keith McGhee has lead the way to. Houston’s first municipal election with gay input. Activated by the coming out of Harris County Comptroller Gary Van Otingham the two month old Gay Political Caucus registered over 3,000 citizens. The GPC had organized an intense campaign of input into the city government. On October 1st GPC and other gay activists met at houston’s Metropolitan Community Church with Mayor Fred Hofheinz. Hofheinz agreed to the establishment of a liason officer with the gay community. He also pledged his support to including “human sexuality” courses in the police cadet training program. The GPC organized a Screening Committee to question politicans and recommend favorable candidates. On October 8th the caucus endorsed incumbent Mayor Hofheinz for re-election. In races for city council the caucus endorsed: Caucus Houston Mayor Fred Hofheinz District B: Judson Robinson District C: Jim Whitmire District D: Homer Ford District E: Helen Hopkins Sagal's Gay Gaidars Ralaasa Governors Study Philadelphia - Mark Segal’s Gay Raider’s have released preliminary result of a five month study of U.S. Governor’s positions on gay rights. The survey was prompted by the Gay .Raiders successful efforts with Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp. (Shapp issued an executive; order prohibiting discrimination- based on sexual orientation on April 23,1975.) The Raider’s preliminary report concluded that “gays must start to work on a state level.. .we now see that state governments can be moved and worked with. Many state departments such as Human Relations, Affirmative Action and the State Justice Department can be dealt with to change theoppressive laws and regulations that hold back lesbians and gay men from achieving a life-style without . repression.” > ■- g; Commenting oty the report ; M^rk Segal staled that “If this survey was done just a year ago, 1 don’t think we could have received the replies that we have. Governor’s as well. as almost everyone are beginning to see the gay community as it really is, not as [the fictional character out of the dark of the room as they had believed. Gays have made many intoads into society, but we jire OPEN liTTERTO ATLANTA October 1975 Vol 2 No 9 NATIONAL NOTES The GPC also urged that gay citizens cast no vote in the unopposed candidacy of Frank Mann. just beginning. We have changed the way the media has treated us in the past, and in the future we must make the elected officials live up to their obligation to protect the rights of all people.” Several of the Governor’s have stated, that they will ask their legal staff to look into the possibility of issuing an executive order similar to the one that Governor Shapp has issued. Other Gov ernor ’ s state simply that their state government does not discriminate in hiring and promotions in state employment, while other governor’s state that they will add “sexual orien tation’ to their state affirmative action program. Some of the Governor’s believe that legislation is the answer. Continued on page 9 Each month we get many letters and telephone calls asking, “What can I do to help further gay rights. Atlanta doesn’t have a gay political organization.” Time, ideas, hard work, money, all in short supply, are what you can provide. Money, funds for a professional effort for gay civil rights is the most crucial need. Atlanta gay business people are ready to give. Elain Noble’s October visit to Atlanta to speak at the Southern Regional Democratic Caucus is being financed by Atlanta’s gay business owners. ariian 3uk,U Business people are doing their pant; what about you? fjrhe next step is up to you. Its going to cost you $1.00 each mqnth. Participating lounges in Atlanta, Macon, Columbus and Chattanooga will be collecting a $l,j()0 cover chargeon Wednesday, November 12th. All funds collected will go to organize and operate the British Sterling Memorial Fund. ■ v Vj Tile fund will then be used to begin an intensive lobbying BOSTON, MA- Former Georgia Governor and announced can didate for the 1976 Democratic Presidential nomination, Jimmy Carter, has announced his support for HR 5452, the federal gay rights bill now in congress. “I oppose all forms of discrimination against individuals including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. As president, I can assure you that all policies of the federal government would reflect this commitment to ending all forms of discrimination,” Carter said. NEW YORK, NY- The General Welfare Committee of the New York City Council voted 7 to 4 against the passage of the city’s gay civil rights bill, Intro 554, to the floor of the General Council. It was the sixth time the bill has been defeated. DOVER,DE- Air Force Staff Sgt. Rudolph S. (Skip) Keith, a black jet engineer mechanic at Dover Airforce Base who announced that he was gay to a race relations class, has been given an honorable discharge. Keith is expected to appeal the decision. I1TTLE ROCK, AK- Arkansas quietly repealed its sodomy laws earlier this year as part of a general criminal code revision. The code revision was signed into law by Govern David H. Pryor on March 3 and goes into effect on Jan. 1, 1976. The age of consent for adults in private is 16. BOSTON, MA ; - Senator Edward M. Kennedy sent a written protest to Acting Secretary of the Army, Norman Augustine, on behalf of two women whom the military is trying to oust because they are gay. Sen Kennedy wrote the letter in response to charges from the American Civil Liberties Union that discharge hearings in the case of PFC. Barbara Randolph and Pvt. Debbie Watson confine J irregularities. NEW YORK, NY- Gay organizations throughput the country are being asked by the National Gay Task Force to sign The “Montrose Circuit” up for a new “gay media alert network.” The network will be “used to consolidate and speed in formational exchanges within the gay community on broadcast problems and issues of concern to us.” according to a NGTF release. Interested organiations should contact: Loretta Lotman, Media Director, NGTF, 80 Fifth Ave., Rm., 506, New York, NY 10011. DETROIT, MI- Men in the nation’s fifth largest city have won the right to dress any way they want-even as a woman. A Wayne County Circuit Court judge has struck down as un constitutionally vague Detroit’s ordinance which prohibits males from dressing in female clothing. LOS ANGERLES, CA - Over the strenuous objections of Chief Ed. Davis, the city Civil Service Commission ruled he must accept homosexual police officers-but they must be discreet homosexuals. The commission voted unanimously to approve ne standards for police employment, eliminating homosexuality alone as grounds for rejection of ap plicants or dismissal of officers already on the force. Homosexual officers however must be regulated by the same moral regulations as heterosexual of ficers, the commission said. SEATTLE,WA- Washington courts may be handing down a major decision soon supporting the rights of gay youths to be placed in gay foster homes.- According to a lawyer in the case, a legal victory is likely after two state agencies recently lined up behind a 16 year old with “homosexual tendencies” who previously had been denied placement with a gay male couple.' WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Patrick J. Leahy (Dem) and Rep. James M. Jeffords (Rep.), Vermont congressmen, recently announced that they both intend to support HR 5452, the federal gay rights bill. Has°Moved campaign for gay interests in city state and federal legislative areas. November 12th will be a very important night. If you participate the fund will go, if you stay away from your local lounge because of the cover charge business people will have no choice but to with draw from the funding process. Are you willing to give a dollar for gay rights? Mark November 12th on your calendar and support your favorite lounge as they try to support you!