Newspaper Page Text
Washington, D.C.— Rev. Richard Pierson, president of the
general conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church has
strongly condemned homosexuality. “Any perversion that
weakens the very basis upon which a Christian nation is built
sannot be accepted by the Church,” he said. In addition,
Pierson asserted that a gay relationship is "contrary to nature
and to God's expressed will.” The statement was the
Church’s first formal statement of opposition to
homosexuality.
San Francisco — The Coors Boycott Committee here claims
that soon to be released figures will show Coors beer second
in California sales to Anheuser-Busch for the first time.
According to the Committee, the San Francisco gay com
munity is partially responsible for the drop in Coor’s sales as
30 percent of the city’s 90 gay bars no longer serve the beer.
It has been reported that the Coor’s company tunneled money
to Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaign. .The Coors company
strongly denies the charge.
San Francisco — Author and “baby doctor” Benjamin Spock
has told the Bisexual Center here that sexual orientation is
determined before age five. Spock, author of Child and Baby
Care, added that teachers do not affect teenage sexual
development. “Homosexuality does not result from
seductions by homosexual teachers,” said Spock. According
to Spock, who announced that he would launch a campaign
to educate Americans about homosexuality and children, “it
is proper and advantageous for children to be taught what
homosexuality and heterosexuality are.” Spock added that
parents should tell their children that gays are “human
beings like you and me.”
Providence, R.l. — The Fraternal Order of Police, a national
association of police officers with 150,000 members, voted
unanimously at a recent national convention to oppose the
hiring of homosexuals as police officers. “Homosexuals are
sick people and sick people shouldn’t be policemen,” one
delegate was quoted as saying.
Denver — An Episcopal ministry that attempts to change
homosexuals to heterosexuals has won the endorsement of
the Episcopal bishop of Colorado, in his letter endorsing the
King’s Ministries Program, Bishop William Frey wrote that
the group seeks to “encourage men and women to seek
freedom from those lifestyles that are incompatible with the
teachings of traditional Christian theology.”
Cleveland — Mayor Ralph Perk recently delivered a strong
attack on gay people. The conservative mayor told reporters
following the city-sponsored “National Conference on the
Blight of Obsenity,” that people who feel it necessary to have
sex with animals, children, rubber dolls, themselves or with
the same sex are not practicing what is normal. I call them
pornomaniacs.”
San Francisco — The Police Commission has approved a
new equal opportunity hiring plan that includes recruitment
of homosexuals. Police Chief Charles Gain, who began
advocating the hiring of gays when he was appointed chief
early in 1976, said that the new plan, based on federal
guidelines, will go into effect when the current recruiting
lists run Qut in April 1979.
Detroit — The Ku Klux Klan plans to disrupt the National
Women’s Conference in Houston this fall because it con
siders feminists “the misfits of society,” the Detroit News
has reported. Robert Shelton, Imperial Wizard of the Klan,
told the newspaper that the Klan considers the movement a
haven for all the misfits of society, including self-admitted
lesbians. Shelton also stated that “Our men also will be
there to protect our women from all the militant lesbians who
will be there. It’s not safe for a decent woman to be there.
Some of our women were approached by lesbians at the state
meetings.”
Champaign, IL — The City Council of Champaign has
adopted a human rights ordinance prohibiting discrimination
against gay people. The ordinance narrowly passed with the
mayor casting the tie-breaking vote. The new law calls foi
fines of up to $500 for discrimination in employment,
education and credit transactions.
Forest Hills, N.Y. — Transexual Renee Richards was
defeated recently by Virginia Wade, 1977 Wimbledon
champion in the second day of play at the U. S. Open Tennis
Championships. Dr. Richards was greeted warmly by the
near capacity crowd, which seemed to cheer both players
equally. Ms. Wade was earlier quoted as saying that she
opposed the entry of Dr. Richards in the tournament. She
also said that she wasn’t worried about the match because
Arson Stops The Show At Magic Garden
Atlanta — Shortly after 6:30
a.m., September 5, Atlanta
firemen, returning to their
station, spotted smoke
pouring from the roof of the
building housing the Magic
Garden Disco Cabaret, which
was at one time “The County
Seat.” Additional units of
the Atlanta Fire Department
were summoned and were
able to confine the blaze to
the show bar section of the
entertainment duplex. There
was some smoke and water
damage to the disco, but a
quick clean-up enabled that
section to open that evening.
The start of the fire was
reminiscent of the blaze that
damaged the dance floor of
Mother’s when it was
preparing to open in 1975. In
the Magic Garden fire, of
ficials determined that the
flames erupted from a
container of flammable
liquid, believed to be
gasoline, dropped through a
roof vent in the show bar.
Another container was
dropped through another
vent but fell onto a
suspended ceiling and did
not ignite. The total
destruction of the building
was prevented by the ac
cidental discovery by the
Atlanta fire department.
Ron Zappi, named on the
license application as
majority stockholder, listed
damages initially at forty
thousand dollars. The next
Sunday Zappi said that
reconstruction had not
started on the dam age c
section because of the in
surance claim not being
settled. An investigation
continues by Atlanta arson
investigators.
Three men reported sitting
in a car near the lounge when
the fire department arrived
were taken into custody by
police on apparent drug
charges. They have not been
connected to the damaging
fire.
The Magic Garden opened
under a shadow only five
days before the fire, when
radio station WQXI reported
that police were intensively
studying the license ap
plication for possible in
fluence by organized crime.
The station had reported that
police sources indicated the
possibility that some of
Zappi’s relatives may have
been connected to the late
Carlo Gambino mafia family
of New York. However Zappi
hasdenied^uch a possibility.
In ' addition, the lounge
opened on a thirty day permit
allowed under the existing
license since the bar’s ap
plication had not been ap
proved. A police investigator
says the bar will get an
unfavorable recommendation
when the application comes
up before the city’s license
review board.
'T^JHSZ 'EU
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the southern
■
ARB
500
gay voice
issue 48
Mayoral, Council Candidates Meet Gays at MX.C.
Emma Darnell, Candidate for Mayor
by Bill Smith
Atlanta — The First
Tuesday Democratic
Association flexed its muscle
and put gay people on the
political map recently. One
telivision 'news reporter
called it “an historically
significant event in Atlanta’s
political life.”
The recently established 1st
Tuesday Democratic
Association organized the
first public forum for can
didates to appeal to gay
voters. Sixteen hopefuls
appeared to promise their
support.
Tbe candidates asked gays
to support their campaign.
The two hupdred plus crowd,
in return, grilled each
candidate on their position
concerning gay rights.
Moderator Rev. Howard
Wells and ljst Tuesday
organizer Gil Robison
opened the questioning to
each candidate by asking
their position on a Gay
Rights ordinance for Atlanta.
Mayoralty hopeful Emma
Darnell appeared to have
picked up significant sup-
port. Ms. Darnell stirred the
audience with a ringing
denunciation of
discrimination against any
minority and a pledge for
swift inactment of a gay
rights ordinance. The ar
ticulate former city depar
tment head blasted Mayor
Jackson’s “flip flop” on gay
issues including his much
publicized failure to proclaim
Gay Pride Day last June.
Jackson did not appear at the
- forum, further deteriorating
his already sagging support
within the gay community.
Incumbent Councilwoman
Panke Bradley pledged her
support and offered her
advice to the comniunity.
“Don’t become too
emotional over Anita
Bryant...stick with your
basis, legal rights.’’(Bryant
has agreed to appear at the
World Congress Center in
Atlanta, December 10.)
■ In the 6th district, the city’s
gayest district, candidate
Ester Lefever and Mary
; Davis indicated willingness
to introduce a gay rights
ordinance. A block vote by
gays in this tight race would
'tipthe.baLapcev
The same demographics
apply to the at large post 16.
Fred First was the only
candidate in this very close
race, to appear in person.
Jules Stein and Barbara
Asher sent representatives to
speak for them. Despite
Fred First’s appearance in
person, his connection with
Mayor Jackson may cost him
votes. Barbara Asher was
represented by Cindy Fuller
who is well respected in the
gay community for her work
with the Nichols campaign
for the state legislature.
Stein was represented by a
gay man. Unfortunately for
Mr. Stein, while , his
representative was hand
some, charming, witty and
gay, he was neither an
Atlantan nor very
knowledgeable concerning
Mr. Stein’s position.
The three candidates in
district 7, which contains the
city’s second largest per
centage of gay voters, failed
to appear. Lou Holstein’s
campaign was rumored to be
seeking gay support, but his
non-appearance may throw
gay support to Republican
Hank Swab.
John Harris (12th district)
told the audience that he was
on the verge of throwing
away his 1st Tuesday
questionair when his wife
.took him to task for ex
pressing the same type of
.prejudice he had fought
against in the black civil
rights struggle.
Several black candidates
emphasized the similarity
between the black and gay
minority’s efforts for legal
protection.
Other candidates present
included Vince Egan
(mayor), Charles Wright
(district 10), John Edward
(president, city council),
John Sweet ^district 2),
Charles Bennett (district 3),
Mrs. Hosea Williams
(district 5) and Robb Pitts
( district 13)
Candidates have been
invited by 1st Tuesday, to
talk informally with the
. community Tuesday, Sep
tember 20 at the Magic
Gargen on Cheshire Bridge
Road. : Ron Zappi, Magic
Garden owner, will donate
the night’s cover charge of
$1.00 per person to the 1st
Tuesday Democratic
Association.
Have You Seen This Man?
Atlanta — FBI agents have
; circulated flyers to gay
establishments in an effort to
'apprehend Joseph Albert
Lister. Lister is thought to be
I connected with the robbery
| and murder of gay bar
'patrons. Lister is 32 years
old, 5’8”, 160 lbs., and has a
tatto “Joe” on the upper left
outer side of his arm.
Persons with information
concerning this person
should contact the Atlanta
FBI at 521-3900 or your
nearest FBI office.
