Newspaper Page Text
National Notes
‘St. Louis —Denial of recognition to the "Gay Lib” organization at
fthe University of Missouri at Columbia violated its members’
^constitutional rights to assembly and free speech, the Eighth l|.S,
Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled. In denying a rehearing of
the case, the court affirmed that gay students at the School may
use campusmeeting facilities and seekstudent activity funds, ihe
University may appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Los Angeles —A Republican legislator who flew to Florida to
support Anita Bryant announced plans for a similar campaign to
ban the hiring of admitted homosexuals as teachers in California.
State Senator John Briggs, a candidate for the GOP nomination
for governor, said he will seek a vote on the issue during the
state's spring balloting.
San Francisco —Two separate decisions issued by the California
Supreme Court have broadened the civil rights of school teachers
arrested for sexual offenses. In one case, the court upheld a
lower court decision that reinstated a Long Beach teacher in his
job with back pay. The teacher was arrested in 1972 for homo
sexual solicitation in a public restroom, although no criminal
charges were brought against him. The lower court judge ruled
that the teacher's conduct did not establish his unfitness to teach.
The second case involved a teacher arrested for lewd conduct in
a public place. This case was also dismissed.
Springfield, IL—The Illinois House of Representatives has defeated
a Dill rnat would have congratulated Anita Bryant for her “cou
rageous" campaign against the DadeCounty gay rightsordinance.
One Representative said anything that praises Bryant should not
be introduced" “I think somebody put Spanish fly in her orange
juice," he said.
Princeton, NJ — The New Jersey International Women's Year
meeting has called for an end to discrimination on the basis of
"sexual or affectional preference* and repeal of laws governing
private sexual behavior between consenting adults. Those recom
mendations will be brought before the International Women's
Year conference to be held in Houston in November.
Minneapolis — The National Education Association (NEA) , the
world's largest organization of teachers, has added the phrase
“sexual orientation" to its statement of philosophy on civil rights.
The addition was approved by the association's annual meeting.
The revised policy calis for the removal lay statute and practice,
af all barriers df...sexual orientation."
Washington, DC—The United Church of Christ has called for Civil
rights for gays, labeling Anita Bryant's crusade against gays “a
new reactionary movement" threatening the civil liberties of all
Americans.
Newark, DE —A U.S. District Court judge has awarded back pay
and damages to Richard Aumiller, a gay teacher at the University
of Delaware who was fired last year because of his public ac
knowledgement of his homosexuality. Expressing the opinion that
Aumiller’s right of freedom of expression had been violated, the
judge also assessed $5,000 ofthe damage money (out of a total of
$27,000) personally to the University president who was instru
mental in firing him.
Hunting ton, WV —Demonstrators booed and threw cherry bonbs
at Anita Bryant recently following the singer's appearance at a
Marshall University fund raising banquet for a proposed family
oriented television station. Miss Bryant, who said she was willing
to “pay the price'for speakingoutagainsthomosexuality, received
a Standing ovation from an audience of 500 in the University
Student Center when she finished singing a series of religious
songs.
Columbia, MO —The Missouri state legislature has given final
approval to a revised criminal code that reduces gay sexual
activity from felony to misdemeanor stqtus. The code, however,
repeals all criminal penalties for so called “deviate” sexual-acts
between persons of the opposite sex.
Freemont, CA -When a city beautification committee promised
space on u commemorative plaque to persons or groups con
tributing at least $50 to Freemont's Bicentennial Grove, it didn't
expect a donation from a local,gay group. But, the City Beautiful
Committee, as promised, provided space on the plaque for the
Freemont Gay Community of Concern. Some, however, have
protested. “You don't advertise a weakness," said Sister Pierree
Eymard of the Dominican Convent nearby. She said the whole
thing "violates good taste."
TORONTO-A recent report in 3ody Politiesuggests the
Cepacol, Coricidin and Chloroseptic throat lozenges are o
some use in preventing oral gonorrhea. These anti-bacteri
lozenges act to make the mouth, which is already a hosti
environment to the germ s,“just a little too hostile.” Autho
Merv Walker recommends sucking a lozenge immediately
after oral sex. For rectal hygiene, Walker suggests Ortho
Gynol contraceptive jelly as an anti-bacterial lubricant. It
“not as slippery as KY but it lasts longer.”’; v- < v
“America’s Greatest American” Award Protested
Atlanta - Almost 150 people
participated in an anti-Anita
Bryant demonstration held at
the Atlanta Arts Alliance
before the finals of the Miss
National teenager contest
August 19. The demon
stration, organized by
Atlanta’s Gay Rights
Alliance, was held toiprotest
the “America’s Greatest
American’’ award that was to
have been presented Ms.
Bryant.
The gay rights opponent
who is reportedly vacationing
outside the country, declined
•o attend the function
although rumors abounded
that she planned to ’’slip in”
or send a representative to
accep* for her.
The protest, which was
orderly ahd well managed,
a** r acted local media at
tention as well as causing
some concern to the
organizers and participants
in the contest. Guests
arriving for the fete had to
make their way through a
crowded sidewalk of con
stantly moving demons
strators. Their reactions to
•he protes* ranged from “you
shouldn’ 1 do ‘his in front of
teenagers” to “sick, sick,
you’re all sick.”
Sybil Shaffer, pageant
director, said that Ms.
Bryant was chosen for her
religiousvimpact on the13500
women finalists and not
because of her campaign
against the Dade county gay
right s ordinance.
Beware Bad “Ludes”
Atlanta - Fake Quaaludes, a
popular and much abused
drug, are being sold in the
city. Several overdoses
linked to the phoney ‘‘ludes’ ’
have been reported in
Atlanta area hospitals. The
Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), is
investigating the counterfeit
Quaaludes. Dr. Jerry L.
McHan, director of Mercer
University’s Bronan
Toxicology Laboratory,
discovered the fake drugs
when a young man became
suspicious of the drugs. The
tablets look like actual
Quaaludes but contain
Dizepam, a tranquilizer.
In an interview with the
Gay Politics
Atlanta - State Represen
tative Mike Nichols has
urged gay voter registration
according the Georgia Gay
Alliance. Nichols, who won
his midtown district ad
vocating gay rights,
maintained that only as
active voters would gays be
noticed by elected officials.
He predicted that gays would
become a significant political
force in the city. *
BARB, a young man said he
passed out on one of the
tablets. He stated that he
had previously taken four or
more Quaaludes without
passing out. The com
bination of the fake pills with
alcohol can be lethal. Users
of so called “love drugs”
usually combine the pill with
alcohol^ to produce the
desired high.
DEA officials are concerned
that the fake Quaaludes
taken in multidoses could
cause the user to become
comatose and in some cases
cause death. Diazepam, the
main ingredient in the fake
Quaaludes, is used to make
Valium, another popular and
much abused tranquilizer.
The fake Quaaludes contain
up to eight times the amount
of Diazepam used in a
Valium tablet.
Dr. McHan stated that two
forms of the fake Quaaludes
have been brought to his
laboratory. One of the fakes
was not as white or a thick as
real Quaalude. The other
counterfeit was exceptionally
deceiving. Both, however,
contained 80 milligrams of
Diazepam. 40 milligrams is
the maximum daily dosage
recommended for Diazepam.
Council Candidates Meet Gays
Atlanta - The 1st Tuesday
Democratic Gub has issued
invitation^ to all candidates
for city offices to meet with
the gay community. The
meeting is scheduled for
September 12, at 8:00 p.m.
at the Metropolitan Com
munity Church, 800 North
Highland.
Gil Robison told the Barb
that several Council
members had already ac
cepted the invitation.
Robison added that a
quest ionairre would be sent
to all candidates to establish
•heir position on Gay Rights.
The 1st Tuesday
Democratic Club is a new
organization. The name was
taken to commemorate the
date of the Dade County
Referendum held on the first
Tuesday of June 1977. The
group has not yet established
a regular meeting schedule.
The meeting is planned for
August 25. Call 355-1416 for
time ahd location. j
Militant Gays Aren't
Ridding Around Anymore
PETER A. MCLILLO
New York-lt was a turn about when a group of whistle
blowing militant gay activists raided a straight singles bar.
The protestors demanded that the owner of Georgie$ on
Third Avenue, remove a sign labeling a huge ax hanging over
the bar, as a'“fairy swatter.” The Gay Activists Alliance
mobilized about 100 demonstrators who occupied the bar and
drove paying customers away while po.ltce looked on,
refusing to interfere. “The owner has promised us the sign
will stay down,” a GAA spokesman commented, “If if goes
up agaih, we’ll be back." ,