Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Voeller, Jones Speak at AOA Convention Councilman Pierce Calls For End of “Sexual Orientation” Protection in Atlanta ATLANTA * Bruce Voeller. National Gay Task Force Executive Director and Rev. Clinton Jones. Episcopalian minister active in Homosexual Counseling spoke before the American Ortho psychiatric Association here March 5th. Jones and Voeller par ticipated in a panel workshop an Homosexual Panel Reaction and it’s Sociological Implications. The panel discussed the recent American Psychiatric Association’s substitution of the diagnostic term “sexual oricntationdisturbance'* for homosexuality. A change which, according to the OPA in no way reduced panic reaction ex perienced by many who become rcd-ncckcd at the very mention of the topic. Panel Moderator. John Bauer opened the panel with the program hyposthesis that "In spite of minor changes in school textbooks regarding gender identity, and some attempt by organizations such as Women's Liberation and Gay Liberation to alter institutional attitudes among the public, homo- afffcctional ties continue to be prcccivcd as intensly Brace Voeller, NGTF Executive Director. threatening to most. should methods of further intervention be undertaken? The homosexual Panic workshop was only of of many workshop panels sponsored by the aop at their 53rd annual meeting. Other workshops were held concrning Gender Iden tity. AItematc Life Styles and Gianging Attitudes LA. Mayor Commends SPREE LA - For the first time in history a city official has issu ed a "Commendation" to a gay organization. Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley sent his top aid. present the official document at an awards banquet at Studio One, a large gay discotheque in West Hollywood. The Society of Pat Rocco Enlightened Enthusiasts (SPREE) was the gay organization commended for nation" and for "providing much-nccded, unique services to the community of Los Agneles.” SPREE was also cited for having " Distinguished itself in its Nippon of and encouragement to a considerable number of other (gay) organizations" and further "is noted for its sense of civic pride and duty." In making the official commendation, mayor Bradley set a precedent that will Fopdar gav dm maker Pat Rnrcn arceota the historic ‘Commendation" document for SPREE from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. seven years of service to the Los Angeles gay community. SPREE sprang up in 1%9 as "fan club" for poplar gay film maker Pat Rocco. and hundreds of people have gathered montlv to view his films, as well as to-sec a full scale live production put on the members themselves. The mayor commended SPREE for having "the only continuing gay repertory theatre mnipany of its tv»e in the hopefully be followed by other city officials throughout the country. Gay organizations can now be encouraged to seek official support and recognition from those in government. SPREE, whose regular membership numbers more than five hundred, has en tertained thousands of people in its seven years of existence, and. through the encouragement of its "namesake" Pat Rocco. lias ATLANTA - Hugh Pierce, an Atlanta City Councilman, has introduced a amendment in Atlanta City Council which would strike "sexual orien tation" from CRC's charter. Councilman Pierce’s unexpected admendment was sent to committee after CRC Executive Director Dwight Jackson, requested time to study the amendment. Pierce’s amendment would strike "age. sex. marital status, sexual oreintaion. isabilitv. political affiliation or non-private source of income from the ere charter. The effect of the amendment would be to serious curtail the commission's ability to investigate and attempt to solve community problems in such areas. CRC member Bill Smith w as shocked by the sudden attempt to stop CRC of powers in these areas. He urged The Barb readers to call their city council |KTSon and urge them to vote against this amendment. CALL YOUR COUNCILMAN 876-6356 Or Write to Him/Her c/o Atlanta City Hall 68 Mitchell St. Atlanta, GA Ask Him/Her to Vote No On the Pierce Amendment NGTF Effects End to Job Corp Discrimination The National Gay Task Force announced recently that NGTF efforts have resulted in ending a United States Job Corps policy of discrimination against lesbians and gay men. At a meeting held in Washington on February 20. NGTF Executive Director Dr. Bruce Voeller and Board member Dr. Franklin Kameny were informed by John T. Stetson. Director of the Job Corps, that the anti-gay policy would be terminated. Dr. Kameny had met earlier with staff members of the Job Corps to clarify Task Force objections to the manuel. Prior to that meeting, letters protesting the Job Corps policy had been sent to the Job Corps and the Secretary of Labor by Dr. Bruce Voeller and members of Congress. including representatives Edward Koch. Bella Abzug, Michael Harrington and Senator Alan Cranston. The discriminatory Job Corps policy and “Sexual Deviation" manual were first brought to NGTFs attention by lesbian at a Job Corps facility in Astoria, Oregon. They asked NGTF’s assistance because the Job Corps is one of the few agencies not covered by the recent U.S. Civil Service policy order forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation in federal employment. Both Voeller and Kameny reported that the meeting with Mr. Stetson on February 20 was "very productive and very aordial.” According to them. Mr. Stetson expressed concern that the manual and related Policy were still in effect in 1976 and agreed that both the manual and policy were inappropriate. Upon receipt of Dr. Voeller’s letter. Stetson had drafted a letter to the ten regional directors of the Corps instructing them to withdraw and disregard the manual entirely. During the meeting Mr. Stetson accepted the proposal that an antigay paragraph in the Federal Register be amended to indicate that sexual orientation shall not be a basis for ad ministering medical assistance and is not to be construed as a basis for serving in the Job Corps. Mr. Stetson also agreed to a reeducation project for coun selors and staff already in the Corps, many of whom have had Continued on Page 9 Dignity Atlanta boats Catholic clergy from fbiaagli ant the South at the Georgian Terrace Hotel. Panel discussion featured above was only one of many events In the week long conference. (l*r| Daisy Dalton, Atlanta Tern ale im personator now appearing at the Onyx Lounge, BUI Smith Barb editor, Mary Ellen Clinton member of Atlanta Lesbian Feminist Alliance ana former nun, Joe Guy, Dignity Atlanta treasurer, Marina smith radical lesbian feminist and Marty Cochran, past president of Dignity Atlanta. the news monthly for southern gays APRIL 1976 NATIONAL NOTES formed within its membership the Spree Drama Workshop, the Spree Film Workshop, and montly outings for members that range from theatre parties to weekend trips to the deserts and mountains of Southern California. It has also joined in with other gay organizations and causes doing benefits, donating money from its treasury, and giving much volunteer time and energy. Sonce nudity is never a hangup with the actors who appear in the montly stage productions, the variety of shows that SPREE has presented, along with the regular screenings of Pat Rocco movies, has frawn a large crowd of monthly regulars. Being the first recipients of sudi a history-making com mendation,. Pat Rocco and the SPREE Board of Directors, in thanking the mayor, promised to “continued to maintain the high standards that our organization is noted for." BOSTON - (GCN) A massive city-wide boycott of Sack Theatres. Boston’s largest movie theater chain, has begun here after the Sack diain book the movie "Snuff." The film, which depicts the murder and dismemberment of a woman has been under fire from gay and women’s groups throughout the country. The film has been the target of demonstrations in New York and tire Philadelphia lesbian-feminist group, Dykctactics, forced the film out of center city Philadelphia to a suburban locale. HARTFORD - (GCN) With virtually no debate, the Con necticut House of Represen tatives last Wednesday voted down that state’s annual gav anti-discrimination bill by a vote ot 84 to 62. Ihe only legislator to speak for or against the measure was Rep. Winnifrcd Tangcr (D-Hartford) a self- described "middle-aged mother of2." "1 have nothing personal to gain," said Tanger as she urged her fellow legislators "to pass civil rights for an oppressed portion of the population." BOSTON - (GCN) Rep. Elaine Noble (D) of Boston hopes to become the first openly gay delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York has gone up in smoke with the overwhelming defeat of Indiana Senator Birch Bayh in the Massechuesettes primary on March 2nd. NEW YORK - (GCN) Congresswoman Elizabeth Haltzman of Brooklyn’s 16th district has agreed, at the urging of the Gav Activists Alliance, to amend her bill authorizing the exclusion or deportation of alients who engaged in the persecution of others on account ot race, religion or national origin during the Nazi period. CHICAGO - (CGL) Mattachine Midwest has presented a check to the Matlovich Foundation, which included the proceeds of the fund raising on the part of Mattachine during Matlovich’s visit to Chicago. Guy Warner of Mattachine Midwest presented the thirty- five hundred dollar check to Craig Palton, trustee for the Matlovich Foundation. CHICAGO - (CGL) Jack Eichhorn, tne bogus representative of the Matlovich Foundation is said to be living with friends near Fort Wayne, Indiana. Various gay people and organizations have reported to Chicago Gay Life that Eichhorn ripped them off while purporting to be raising funds for the Matlovcih Foundation. SAN MATEO, CA - . (ADV) David Goodstein. publisher of The Advocate has announced a planning conference "to create the fund raising capability to support an office in Washington to frvbbv for Federal civil rights tor gays." Goodstein hopes the conference will achieve enough agreement on basic issues and obtain enough financial pledges to make the project real. MILWAUKEE (ADV) The Miriam Ben Shalon Foundation for Minority Rights. Inc was set up to raise funds to pursue Ben Shalom’s legal challenges by paying attomcv s fees, court costs ana witness tees. Sargeant Shalom graduated from the U.S. Army drill instructors school Dec. I, 1975 to become not only the first female drill sargeant in the 84th Division of the Army Reserves but the first openly gay person on record to ever graduate from a U.S. military school. Ben Shalom had been, for a full year of her army ser vice, president of Milwaukee's Gay People’s Union. Army ON THE COVER Michael is one of the many fresh and exciting escorts working with Youngman Incorporated, the Atlanta based escort agency. Twenty-four hour advance reser vations are encouraged. Call them at [404] 874- 7713for additional information. a