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50 CENTS 'the news monthly for southern gays November, 1975 Vo/. 2 No. 10 NOBLE A TTENDS DEMO CONFERENCE NATIONAL NOTES Massacnusettes . State Representative Elaine Noble was flown in by Atlanta’s gay business owners to attend the Southern Regional Democratic Conference. Representative Noble, the first open gay person to be elected to a state legislature, recently an nounced her support of the Indiana. Senator Birch Bayh for Democratic Party presidential nomination. .Representative Noble met with a host of party and campaign .workers at the conference on Friday as well as the national , press attending the conference. Newly elected member of the National Organization of Women’s (NOW) National Board of Directors, Chryle Pence hosted a reception for Representative Noble on Saturday evening. Representative Noble also spoke to large crowds at several Atlanta lounges as well as the Metropolitan Community Church. Ms. Noble’s remarks at M.C.C. Atlanta came in the midst of Halloween festivities and Ms. Noble remarked .j|L on the significance of witches and hobgoblins to gay people. She opened her remarks by relating a story of a (dace in Massachusettes wfiicn she* usually visited on Halloween, a pilgramage of sorts to a place where witchs were burned. “Many of the witches that were burned were actually lesbians and homosexual men who were used as faggots for the fire. The church excommunicated you for being a witch and burned you for being gay ... I don’t want to bring you down . . . but we ought to think about that and what we want to do as gay people.” CAMPBELL LOSES By Joey Lord MIAMI-Voter apathy, especially within the gay community is generally considered the root of Jack’s Campbell’s defeat in his bid to unseat incumbent Miami City Commissioner J. L. Plum mer. Jack Campbell, President of the Club Bath Chain (CBC), chose to run because of police harassment directed against Club Miami. Other considerations were the endorsement of Plummer by Miami’s machine. politicians, the lack of fair coverage of gays in the local media and his strong belief in the necessity of gays in elected political office. Campbell ran as an openly gay person. With four candidates running, Campbell totaled 4,703 votes (19%) while Plummer received 14,310 (58%) with the other two candidates totalling 5,516. Although the statistics give no indication of it Campbell was expected to force Plummer into a run-off at which time the other two candidates said they would openly endorse him. Miami Mayor Maurice Ferrer congratulated Campbell “for running a good race.” Various backers and volunteers made these comments: Billie Marie Jansick, political advisor, “I cannot understand the “fall- off” in votes between the various candidate and offices.”; Frank Arango, founder of GAY Miami and board member of GAA-New York, “The gay vote just didn’t come out. I’ve never seen people so petrified as in Miami.” Sandy Redwood, representing NOW’s Lesbian Task Force, 'Tm so surprised that I’m in shock.” Bill Fleming, Deputy Campaign Treasurer, “The gays just wouldn’t come out and even some, unsanctioned by the headquarters, caused a backlash by their actions re suiting a larger turn out on the whole.” Mike Smyser, Mr. Campbell’s Campaign Manager commented that “the country wasn’t ready for human reform with George McGovern and it wasn’t ready for gay reform with Jack Campbell.” Mike was also “extremely disappointed” with the gay vote as there are at least 30,000 gays in greater Miami, placing that figure in the 130,000 potential votes of Miami (29,000 voting November 4) makes Campbell’s receiving only 4,703' votes especially saddening. Speaking for himself, Campbell said “We have not lost. There will be other elections.“ He will run for Dade County Com missioner in ‘76. At that time greater support from Women and the Latin and Black communities is expected. Both Campbell and Smyser have only praise and gratitude for their staff of volunteers which was truly representative of all peoples regardless of age, race, sex or sexual orientation. Characterizing this election were threats of physical violence to jjoll workers, intimidation and police harassment. Consesus was that the CTA Towers was the citadel from which the political machine played its games and used weapons to reelect Plum mer. Jack Campbell lost but the why and wherefore are still uncertain. As to what local gay communtiy can now expect, Campbell commented that “If the election figures reflect a true vote there will be a crashing down; however, if not, then the status quo will continute.” Asked about her choice to work within the system of the Democratic Party Ms. Noble stated I4fat “There are only two choices if you are 'Serous about political power: the DemocrStie^ Republican Parties.” Ms. Noble was then wisked from the Halloween festivities at M.C.C. to a rowdy reception at Tower lounge and then to the Shriver reception held by Bobby Kennedy, Jr. at the Sheraton Biltmore. WASHINGTON, DC- In a statement issued^from his D.C. office U.S. Senator Edward Brooke (R-MA) who is the nation’s only Black senator, wrote “Unless and until it can be established that the personal and private lifestyle of such members of the armed forcesinterfereswith their ability to do their job competently and loyally, the present policy (toward exclusion of homosexuals) is benighted, self-defeating and not in the best interest of the United States of America. ’ , HARRISBURG,PA- Gov." Milton J. Shapp has vetoed a bill in- tended to ban gays from such state jobs as police, prison guards and teachers. The bill, passed as a result of Shapp’s support of gay rights, will be tested in court, according to gay activist, Mark Segal, if the veto is overriden. WASHINGTON,DC- The Washington Post has revealed a Nixon administration smear to discredit columinst Jack Anderson as gay. Woodward ’revealedjthat David Young, the official in charge^.pf -the White House “Plumber Umt ! ~’ -4)ad ordered a lower official to shov?' that Anderson was involved in a homosexual relationship with Navy Yooman Charles Radford. WASHINGTON,DC- U. S. District Judge Gerhard Gesell has agreed to rule on the con stitutionality of the U. S. Military’s atuomatic right to discharge gays. Gesell called Sgt. Leonard Matlovich who is testing the anti-gay policy, “A man who has served his country well....a man of exceptional qualifications in and out of combat. ’ ’ PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island’s “People With Gay Concerns” is planning to sue that state’s Bicentennial Commission for its refusal to incorporate Gays into the Rhode Island Bicen tennial celebrations. WASHINGTON, DC - A United Methodist Church board has recommended that the denominationadopt a more open policy toward church membership for gays. The board recom mended that the Methodist Social Principles statement be revised to read: “We welcome all persons regardless of sexual orientation into the fellowship and membership” of the church. This statement would replace an earlier one which stated: “We do not condone homosexuality and consider this practice in compatible with Christian teaching.” CHAPEL HELL, NC - This college town’s six member Board of Aldermen unanimously approved adding a clause barring discrimination against gay people in city hiring to its personnel policies. The ordinance prohibits discrimination personnel policies. The ordinance prohibits discrimination on the basis of “affectiorial preference or martial status '■ ’ PHILADELPHIA - The National Organization for Women (NOW) voted overwhelmingly for a resolution making equal rights for lesbians a top priority for the feminist group. NOW voted to work for local and state legislation guaranteeing rights for homosexuals. It also voted to support the gay rights bill in troduced into congress by Rep. Bella Abzug. WASHINGTON,DC - the National Association of Social Workers has passed a resolution supporting the “civil rights of homosexually oriented women and men.” The organization commits its Board of Directors to the active support of the federal gay rights bill and of local and state anti-discrimination ...legislation. SPRINGFIELD. MA - Presidential aspirant Jimmy^ffftefrappgars to have changed his mind about gay civil rights. Denying that he had made a statement favoring total equality for gays, Carter stated that he had reservations about gays holding government security jobs and that he had not made up his mind on the federal gay rights bill. LOS ANGELES ,CA - Protesting approval of new Civil Service guidelines which would permit gays to be LA police officers Police Chief Ed Davis said publicly, “The liaisons that homosexuals . spontaneously engage in the public theaters and back alleys and that sort of thing and the high percentage of germs and so forth pose a real health threat to people who work with them.” RALEIGH,NC - The state Attorney General’s office has issued an opinion that student government funding of the Carolina Gay Association (CGA) is legal. The office said, “Unless the Carolina Gay Association in fact participates in criminal activities on the campus during these meetings, the university would be hard put to prohibit this organization as a recognized student organization.” HOFHEINZE FACES RUN-OFF The Gay Political Caucus, headed by former Harris County comptroller Gary Van Otirigham, now sets its sights on the upcoming December 2nd election where Fred Hofheinz, supported by G. P. C., will face a hard battle against Frank Bricsoe ( 1 st cousin to the Governor; Dolph Briscoe) an affluent conservative lawyer, and former district attorney.” Mayor Hofheinz received 113,404 votes or 47.4% 3s opposed to Frank Briscoe’s 75,600 or 31.6%. A third contender, Dick Gottlieb, received 19.8% of the votes. There were two minor party candidat es who received less than 1% total votes. In the five city council races, two who were elected were supported by G. P. C.: In District A, the incumbent Larry McKaskle, took 67.3% of the total vote with Larry Wegman (supported by G. P. C.) receiving 6.6% or 11,193 votes. HOFHEINZ - CONTINUED ON PAGE 14.