Newspaper Page Text
6- THE BARB, March 1977
Editor’s Notebook
A Gay War
February has been an extrodinary month in the
life of the Atlanta Gay Community. An unfortunate-
fire destroyed a large portion of the show wardrobe
of the entertainers at the Locker Room Disco.
Entertainers and bar owners from competing
lounges immediatly began a series of benifit shows.
There were no headlines in the Atlanta Journal'
and Constitution proclaiming that“Waring Gay
Bars Unify to help fire victims.” In fact there was
no mention of it at all. Louis Slaton, our crime
fighting District Attorney of Fulton County must
really be perplexed over this sudden truce in our
raging war. How can Slaton explain why the
manager of the Sweet Gum Head would donate over
$500 to help the entertainers at the enemy con
trolled bar.He would have been incredulous at the
warm outpouring of support at the Atlanta Bar
Awards for Linda DeBoard as she accepted the
award for Businessman of the Year in behalf of her
mother “MaMa Dee” DeBoard.Perhaps Slaton just
has a semantical problem.We might write to
Mr.Slaton and remind him that businesses do
compete and the gay bar business in Atlanta is
highly competitive. War is definitely a com
petition.There is, however, a vast differance bet
ween the competition of war and the honest com
petition of the business world.
it is unfortunate that the Journal and Con
stitution do not give as much coverage to Roski
Fernandez thanking the Atlanta bar owners,
entertainers and customers for their generous
contributions or a Dina Jacobs pleading with
customers to help the competition across the street.
Perhaps I am wrong and Slaton is right.Perhaps
this is a “Gay War, ” a war between people at
tempting to show the most love and the most
compassion and most importantly a Gay War of
Unity.
choice for “Orange Queen” you won’t be buying
their product. If you live in South Florida and have
an account with First Federal bank you might try
another bank-Ms. Bryant is their spokesperson
too!!
Marge Thurmond
Anita Bryant
Everyone has the right to their own opnion. We
have always fought for the right of any individual to
express their own opnion without fear of
discrimination, loss of job or other- recrimination
from government or private employers. The
passage of gay rights bill in Dade County
(Miami) protects the jobs of thousands of hard
working people. It has caused the loss of one;Anita
Bryant’s proposed T.V. talk show. I believe very
firmly in Anita Bryant’s right to demonstrate,
organize and speak out against or for anything she
chooses.
Minority groups tyave suffered at the hands of
the media and businesses both large and small. In
politics, minorities approve or disapprove of the
policies of the government at the ballot box. In the
business world and the media we vote with our
purchasing power and like in politics to write let
ters to the appropriate people.
Ms. Bryant’s show cancelled because the media
knows that not only gay people but thousands of
amerieans who believe in individual rights will vote
no to Ms. Bryant, making advertising sales dif
ficult. The Florida Citrus Commission as well as
First Federal should also cancel Ms. Bryant. Would
that violate her right of free speech and job
protection? Does a commercial spokesperson have
the same rights as a bank teller or a citrus picker.
No. Each is hired for differant functions. A com
mercial spokesperson is hired for his ability to
promote a product. Their political life as well as
social life affects the product. A gay activist bank
teller or a KKK bank teller are not selling the bank.
As long as they treat each customer fairly their
political and private lives are no business of the
employer.
The commercial spokespersons problem is
vastly different. What company would hire a Lester
Maddox or J.B. Stone or Angela Davis to promote
their product?
Isn’t the Florida Citrus Commission saying they
don’t want our business by retaining Ms. Bryant as
a spokesperson? I think I can live for awhile
without orange juice or oranges. If you feel that you
can too, write the Florida Citrus Com
mission,C.O.Ed Taylor, Executive Director Fla.
Citrus Commission 1115 Lakeland Fla. 33801 and let
them know that as long as Ms. Bryant is their
There are ten candidates vying for Ambassador
Andrew Young’s vacant 5th.District Congressional
Seat.Eight of those candidates have stated they
favor gay civil rights,one we have not been able to
contact and the other adamantly opposes gay
rights.lt may not be proper to urge you to vote
against some one but I will.Wyche Fowler is a
threat to gay rights.His pompous pronouncement
on gay rights is“I see no need for legislation in that
area”.I would suggest that Mr. Fowler get thicker
contact lenses.lt has long been rummored that Mr.
Fowler is a closet part of our comm unity.His
somewhat “Liberal ” record like that of
Congressman Elliot Layitis has deluded many gay
people into supporting him. They are not our
friends.
Who are our friends? Eight candidates will
support our effort for gay rights. They are our
friends. John Lewis and Paul Coverdell have
given simple clear statements of support.Henrietta
Canty in her race made open statements of support
for gay rights as did Representative Billy
McKinney.Marge Thurmon has worked quietly
both as a Democrate Party official and as a lawyer
for the rights of gay people. Perhaps Cover
dell, Lewis,Canty and McKinney would have if we
had asked but the fact remains Marge Thurmond’s
the only candidate with a track record of support
for gay people.I along with Richard Cavanaugh the
editor of Cruise Magazine urge you to vote for and
support Marge Thurmon on March 22nd.
Letters
Dear Editor,
I for one would like to
speak out in total
disgust of Anita
Bryant, who wants to
ram her own Religious
convictions down the
throats of others.
All too long this
country has suffered
from abuse of
civil,constitutional,and
human rights by people
who delight in their own
selfrightousness and
Join the People of NGTF
Photo: Bill Bland
*«?**'• •***&>»<*«
David Kopay
HOME: Washington, D.C.
PROFESSION: Ex-professionai football player, author,
lecturer.
OTHER INTERESTS: Music, sports, philosophy,
psychology, coaching.
MOST RECENT ACHIEVEMENT: TV appearances on
David Susskind, Pat Collins, Tomorrow Show.
PROFILE: After leading his team to the Rose Bowl two
years and playing pro-football for the Redskins, this
warmhearted man serves as a distinguished role model
for young and old, gay and non-gay, in how to be a
gentle man without exploiting the bravado of machismo.
QUOTE: A man is someone who accepts the
responsibility of what he does and what and who he is."
. MEMBER: The National Gay Task Force
REASON: "Freedom is our most cherished possession
and we must protect it by standing up and being
counted.”
IWITTUZT National Gay Task Force, Rm. 506, 80 Fifth Ave.,
11 New York, N.Y. 10011, Tel.: (212) 741-1010
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City
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THE
TOWER LOUNGE
Atlanta,
735 Forest Rd.
Georgia (404) 525—9393
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Atlanta Flea Market
., Piedmont jk Lindbergh
lack of compassion. It
matters not to them how
much misery or suf
fering of horrible
torture result from their
fanaticism, neither do
they take time to
research issues or to
listen to thoes who have
different opnions. She
deserves to be held in
high esteem by those
who worship Hitler and
Continued on page 15.
Twelve Ministers continued
from page 4
that homosexuals that
did not find what they
wanted n the lounge
would ! o next doo* to
the a pa 1 tment com plex
molestin' children.
The Council, which
had p' elimina 1 ylv
app'Oved a liquo 1
1 cense fo- the Lolypop
Loun' o, « eve> sed itself
unanamouslv to
d sapp ove the license.
Gay 'cs: dents wee
appaled by Green’s
aile- ed statements and
many we e fearful of
ene> a! > epereussion of
the publicity.
M em be s of
Atlanta’s Met' opobtian
Community Chu- eh
expressed thee support
fo the Augusta Gay
Comnuin ty m a Sunday
evenn se vice held in
the Lolypop Lounge.
Rove and Howard
Wells, paste MCC -
Atlanta, made several
\ sits to the city to assist
the local MCC mission
and a>d the Community
as it dealt With the
OHSIS.
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