DECEMBER 1978/ JANUARY 1979 NUMBER 49/$
Profits of doom: making a buck off the Apocalypse
Play it with feeling: a look at the collective behind "Crimes Against Nature"
Whitewashing Brown: The (soft) selling of Rita Mae's new novel
A MAGAZINE ^ FOR GAY LIBERATION
VICTORY IN CALIFORNIA • VICTORY IN SEATTLE
And in Toronto, The Body Politic heads for the big courtroom battle DOWN TO THE WIRE
? •t-Xss-. y<^' On January 2, The Body Politic's non-profit publisher. Pink Triangle Press, defence. In all of this we have depended on gay people all across Canada, and its three directors go on trial in Toronto. They are charged with possession throughout the United States and in other parts of the world as well — people of "obscene" material (the gay sex guide, Loving Man) and with use of the who value a strong and independent gay press; people who know that lesbians mail to distribute an "obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous" item (Issue 39 and gay men must have their own media if they are to define themselves to of TBP, which contained an article each other in an overwhelmingly on child-adult relationships). FuU straight, and often hostile, world. details appear in the article which People Like you. begins on page 20 of this issue. Many of you have helped. Many This is the last issue of The Body have contributed time and energy, Politic to appjear before the trial. and many more have made the do- If the defendants in that trial are nations that have kept the legal case found guilty, three of them, Gerald going this far. We can't overstate Harmon, Edward Jackson and Ken our appreciation. Pop)ert, could go to jail. Pink Tri- But now, as it says on the cover angle Press could be heavily fined, of this issue, we're coming down to seriously threatening the continued can help it. the wire. By the time you read this, existence of this magazine. TTie Body Politic may be only a few This could in fact be the last issue days from trial. Your support is of The Body Politic. more necessary now than ever. But not if we can help it. The Do what you can: let your friends c/oCkjrnish, King, Sachs Cheques payable to: Body Politic Free the Press Fund know about the case; make a dona- + Waldman THE Lynn King in Trust has been working since last January Barristers + Solicitors forThe Body Politic tion; give a call and find out how 111 Press to make people aware of the case, Richmond Street FreeThe Fund you can help. West Suite 320 BODY POLITK to gather support and to collect the Toronto, Ontario Information; The Body Politic is not going to money needed to mount a strong CANADA (416)863-6320 die. M5H3N6 FREE THE PRESS Not if >'OM can help it. FUND 2/ BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 " December 1 978 / January 1 979 "The liberation of homosexuals can only be the work of homosexuals themselves." — Kurt HilLer, 1921 — The Collective Christine Bearchell, Rick Bibout, Gerald Hannon, Countdown: p 20 Robin Hardy, Edward Jackson, Bill Lewis, When the police raided TBP last December, Tim McCaskell, Keith Sly, Paul TroUope, Mariana Valverde they apparently didn't anticipate much opposi- Designer tion. These 31 people were among the many Kirk Kelly decided to give surprise. this last The News who them a In Gerald Hannon, Bill Lewis issue before trial, we take a detailed look at Jeremy Bass (Winnipeg), Maurice Beaulieu (Quebec), the it. Elgin Blair (Mississauga), Michael Calcott (St John's), case and the characters behind Russ Congdon (Calgary), Ron Dayman (Montreal), David Garmaise (Ottawa), Education Collective, Activism anxiety 1952: 24 Gay Community Centre (Saskatoon), and p Barry Eriksen (Guelph), Robin Hardy (Toronto), ' . 'Then there was the badge. . . " The entrapment of Mattachine leader Dale Jim Mendenhall (Brandon), Robin Metcalfe (Halifax) Jim Monk (Windsor), Terry Nelson (Regina), Jeimings was to become the focus for the fledgling Society's first public action. Bob Radke (Edmonton), Rosemary Ray (Edmonton), This new visibility spurred rapid growth, but in the red-baiting, loyalty-minded Stuart Russell (Montreal), Joe Szalai (Kitchener), James Thatcher (London), Paul TroUope (Toronto), era presided over by Senator Joe McCarthy, public exposure also brought Merv Walker (Vancouver) • with it a challenge to Mattachine's secret leadership. Tim McCaskell (International) Part Two of John D'Emilio's "Dreams Deferred. Michael Merrill (San Francisco) Our Image From nine individual biographies, the San Francisco Gay Men's Edward Jackson, Mariana Valverde Crimes of Theatre Collective has put together a performance which they'll Burke Campbell, Tim Guest, Robin Hardy, present in Ilona Laney, David MacLean, Gordon Montador passion — Toronto this month. TBP writer Robin Hardy uncovers Robert Reinhard, Thomas Waugh, Loma Weir, Crimes Against Nature. In other reviews, Gordon Montador Alexander Wilson and profit discovers lousy exposure when he focuses on The Gay Picture Book Features through the lens of Susan Sontag's On Photography, and Lorna Gerald Hannon, Edward Jackson p37 Christine Bearchell, Rick Bebout, John D'Emilio Weir finds that while Rita Mae Brown's publicists may try our Robin Hardy, Simon Karlinsky, Gary Ostrom, faith, her new novel retains it. All in "Our Image." Paul Pearce, Paul TroUope Columns Triumph and tragedy in California: 16-17 Guilty — no defence: p 33 Christine BearcheU, John Forl)es, Michael Lynch p Ken Popert, Billy Sutherland, Ian Young Days after gay wins at the polls in Seattle and across California, San Fran- An Alice-in Wonderland trial ends in Letters/Community Page cisco is stunned by the double assassination of Mayor George Moscone and a real life, plea-bargained conviction. TroUope Robin Hardy, Paul gay Supervisor Harvey Milk. These, and other stories, in TBP's World News. The convict? Havelock Ellis' Sexual Inversion, the first serious work on Layout and Production Righteousness: 33 Rkk Bcboul p homosexuality in English, ruled Carl Bognar, Burke CampbeU, Michael Lynch, The last In a move that the Edmonton Journal "lewd" David MacLean, Fiona Rattray, Robert Reinhard, — and worse — without a called Alcim RobitaiUe, Elan Rosenquist, Loma Weir, "outrageous," Mormon-led X-mas: word being allowed in its defence. Marc White, Alexander Wilson Alberta bigots have managed to get Another in our series on major Typesetting: Pinktype, Toronto p30 an anti-gay Printing: Delta Web Graphics, Scarborough resolution passed by the "obscenity" trials, "The Real Dirt." province's school board trustees. The Advertising and Promotion matter rests, uneasily, with the Rick Bebout, Robin Hardy, Keith Sly 7^ Other features David MacLean, Dave and Linda Ministry of Education. ^ Letters: p 4. Editorial: p. 7 Subscriptions and Distribution Keith Sly, Robert Trow Poet on ice: p 35 Tribal Rights: p 18. Between Joan Anderson, BiU Chesney, Richard Fung, d^ Gennady Trifonov has found that the Lines: p 19. Dykes: p 32. Tom Hanrahan, Philip Hartwick, Norman Laurila, David Marriage, WiUiam Mole, Joe McNemey being a gay poet in the USSR means The New Age: p 34. Ivory Dan Schneider, Richard Sutton slurs, official condemnation and life Tunnel: p 43. Classifieds: p 44. and members of the collective Some people can find a way to make in a labour camp. Even there, he isn't Community Page: p 47. a killing on anything — even the Office end giving up. Rick Bebout, Gerald Hannon of the world. Gary Ostrom looks at Denis Fontaine, and members of the collective 77ie cover: Photographer Frank Rooney catches some Please note: Out in the City, Monitor, the last profiteers in "Entrepreneurs the coming of Pink Triangle's regulars gearing upfor and Flaunting It! are on holiday and Tlu Baiy Politic is published len tiroes i year by Pink legal showdown — or maybe just trying to keep of the Apocalypse. Triangle Press, a non-profit corporation, as a contribu- warm during a shooting session on the office roof. will return next month. tion 10 the building ot the gay movement and the growth of gay consciousness. Responsibility for the content of ter capitalism, we do operate within a TV Body Politic rests with the Body Politic Collective, an autonomous body operating within Pink Triangle capitalist system in a number of ways, Preu. The collective is i group of people who regularly Selling without selling out one of which is having to sell our paper give their time and labour to the production of this nuga- zine. The opinions of the collective are represented only to subscribers (and advertisers) to keep it Well, trying not to. Further thoughts on advertising — this time our own. in editohals and clearly marked editorial euays. OfHces going, even as we try to reveal how this of The Body Poliiic are located at Z4 Duncan Street (nfth floorl in Toronto. The back cover of this issue hangs a sub- the Duberman ad was run. What, we works. No hard objections here. The publication of an advertisement in Thr Body Politic scription ad onto a kind blurb about asked, was the ad's message to our read- The means of recommending the does na mean that the collective endorses the advenuer. TBP from one of its kindest contribu- ers? The explicit message seemed easy: paper turned out to be the issue: selling Mulling address: The Body Politic, Bo> 72OT, Station A, tors, Jane Rule. We're glad she likes us TBP is a certain kind of magazine, the paper by means of a blurb from a Toronto. Ontario, Canada M3 W I X9 nione :(4l6)S63-«320 enough and agreed (when we were as- Martin Duberman recommends it, you prominent historian and playwright. sembling a series of such ads) to recom- should subscribe. But why, we asked, Examining our copy wc tried to articu- Available on micronim from: Mact.aren Miaopublishing, Box 972. Station F, mend us in this way. tell a reader who has TBP in hand what late the messages hidden here. The Toronto, Ontario. Canada M4Y 2N9 The first ad in this series appeared on kind of magazine it is? Was there a possibihties were: First, thai were selling Copyright ftj Pink Tnangle Press the back cover of the last issue, featuring hidden message here, too? We knew ads wc Martin ^idOau Mail Registration No. )24) equally kind words from Martin all contain hidden messages, and not Duberman even as he sold us. Even LSSNOSiS J606 Duberman. We were also pleased with just those which show photographs of readers who didn't know him would The Collective acknowledge^ an operating grant his praise and his willingness to express it ice cubes that subliminally spell out (and gather from this ad that we thought his from the Ontario Arts Council in this way. sellout) SIX. recommcndalion important, thai he was rhr liitdy I'lililic K mrmhrr of But, during a rather thorough "post The urging to subscribe contained a someone F'romincnl. lhe( anadian l^-sbian and (>> Kighis ( oaiilion, thr ( <>alitt Printed and published in Canada some of the rcscr/ations we fell when accepted. Though wc don't wish to fos- mniintird on i>iii:f f> DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/3 What has: Hofsess..." TV plug the item begins — whereas I live and work in Alberta and have for I think it is real rude of you people to so several months. "A sometimes gay" the blatantly and impolitely ignore a year's item continues. What does that mean? Whole eggs, very hard work by a dedicated band of Are there now part-time and full-time homosexuals and completely ignore the gays? Are bisexuals "sometimes gay"? Cable TV series, "This Program May Be And on what basis is this assertion fresh, creamy butter, Offensive to Heterosexuals." What made? The only pubUc statement I have reason? Do we not come up to political made concerning myself and the tire- Demerara sugar snuff? Sloppy editing? Bad breath? some issue of sexual orientation (is she? What? The series may not have been is he? are they really?) occurred in earth-shaking, but by cracky, it was Content magazine last year in which I and unbleached flour, something. If you think my comments mentioned having had a brief sound sUghtly biased, you're right. I am homosexual relationship at age 16 in David G. Marriage 1954 — and the consequences thereof. a member of Is it now TBP's editorial position The Gay Offensive Collective, to identify people as "gay" or "some- juicy sultanas, Toronto times gay" on the basis of homo- sexual activity, however limited, at any You are absolutely right; the series was time in a person's life? I should think big date pieces, significant. We simplyfailed to get a that it is up to an individual, not a clear commitmentfrom a reliable presumptuous pubUcation, to decide currants, reviewer who was able to screen the whether or not to wear the label "gay" entire series. — Our Image Working or whether the word is even ap- Group propriate, given the facts of his or her figs, personal life. The item continues ...(Hofsess) "seems to beUeve sun-dried apricots, that the repressed shall inherit the A family affair earth." What is that based on? Where in the Book-in-Canada essay, which is walnuts, Ken Popert's article on the family seems supposed to be the article being unnecessarily one-sided. It is certainly "monitored" here, is such a view ex- true that the family today is being pressed or suggested? Where, in any of almonds, eroded on all sides, and that one of the my writings, have I advocated limiting tasks of gay hberation is to discuss and one's sensual or intellectual knowledge mammoth pecans, nurture alternatives to fill the void this and experience? I have said, creates. But I feel it is a mistake to occasionally, that there are certain gay exclude the family by definition from practices that trash the potentiality of and this process. homosexual experience, and which de- I return home for Christmas with my grade it; in the same way that certain (here's the hint) family each year not out of a sense of restaurants made a grim mockery out of duty, but because I want to. I enjoy what constitutes a meal, or that certain carting out the dusty tree-trimmings and books and movies feiil utterly even as is beautifully aged immersing myself in the old traditions. minimal artistic experiences, but my But then, I had and have a happy, fairly criticisms are motivated by a desire to uiu-estricted family life. My parents see homosexujil relationships (etc.) in brandy? weathered my coming out with grace improved from what they commonly and understanding, and while neither are, not to circumscribe them, and would subscribe to TBPot join a rally certainly not to "repress" them. for gay rights, they are interested in my Finally your commentator gets development as a gay person and make around to my essay "Gay Abandon" it- conscious efforts to inform themselves self. It came as no surprise that he didn't of the growth of gay consciousness. understand it, couldn't even be bothered NaturaDy, This perhaps puts me in a minority. to try. He ends with the preposterous Still, my feeling is that liberation, both statement that "men Hke Hofsess should the fabulous personal and collective, can be enriched thank their lucky stars for lunacy: within the traditional family unit. Using (referring to my characterization of gay one's unique gay sensibility to help the militants as a "lunatic fringe") he's won holiday fruitcake family evolve seems a worthwhile effort. the right to write his tripe because some Every gay person owes it to himself and have dared to chant and march." from his family to at least explore this I've been writing on numerous possibility. Ken Popert seems content, subjects for major publications in even reheved, to pronounce the family Canada for nearly ten years now. Even, dead without first taking its pulse. however, with the few stories on gay in recent years — Bill Chesney themes I have done Toronto the story about John Damien for Week- end, Jane Rule for Books-in Canada, or my interview with members of Gay Hot Hofsess Youth Toronto for Toronto Life — there isn't the remotest connec- New format but same old shoddy jour- tion between organized (or disorganized) gay politics the publication of such nalism. Writing a letter to TBP, and pieces. Most of the gay people I have trying to instill anything resembling a written little or connec- concern for accuracy among its editors is about have no rather hke trying to teach prosody to tion with marches and protests. It is that just punk-rockers. They just don't get it. absurd however to think In the November issue, under because someone is not militant, and an 1099 Yonge Street, Toronto. Monitor, there appears an item about ardent supporter of The Body Politic, Summerhill Liquor Store. Just south of the me that combines a maximum of mis- that they are not political. Jane Rule and Phone 922-8661 information in a minimum of space. John Dimiien have done more to ad- "Hamilton freelance writer John vance gay rights in this country (in my DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 4/ BODY POLITIC . "Your paper rarely rises above the level of bigotry, unfairness and inaccuracy." nnQtorQ posters view) than all the rallies and protests Paul, Wichita, Eugene and now Seattle from one end of the country to the with Initiative 13 and California against other. the Briggs referendum. The right wing, Yet when my story on Damien not us, is determining the arena of iit appeared (February 21, 1976) it was at- struggle, the issues to be fought over, the tacked in The Body Politic by Gerald means by which the conflict will be Hannon for "whitewashing" Damien. waged and the social forces which will be posters and printed ephemera, vintage and new Hannon said I should have called involved in the fight. They have you 265 queen street east, toronto canada MSA 186 Damien a "cock-sucker" and flaunted relying straight voters, limited to the on hours: tues-sat 10-6, call daniel stroud at 861-1851 his homosexuality in the faces of all ballot, in an area of their choice and Weekend's readers. It seems never to have you on the defensive. have occurred to the ever-flaunting Of course we must defend ourselves. Hannon (who recently flaunted the Men But are there not enough petty bourgeois ^.^ Loving Boys Loving Men article from and liberal elements to accomplish that his pen) that the precise details of John sort of work? Would it unduly weaken Damien's sexual activities (oral, anal, or our movement for the more progressive whatever) were and are none of my elements of the gay communities to business, and I would neither ask for prepare for the possibility of defeat, HAK^ (^\fr &m& 5?ec\AL nor publish such personal information. however remote you might think it is? My story was a story of gross injustice An alternative strategy, wich would have that is still going on... both in and out- us coming from a position of strength, side the pages of TBP. The is based on self-reliance, yet would seek most discouraging thing about your to unite us with other oppressed ele- paper to me is that it rarely rises above ments of the existing social order. the level of bigotry, unfairness, and Gay and anti-sexist men who are a inaccuracy so often attributed to the serious about freedom must support worst of gay people's adversaries. Gay, their counterparts in the prisons. We are sometimes gay, or never, or whatever... your fighters. Help to build a strong we all need something better. movement. Help us to help you. Look John Hofsess to the prisons. Calgary Men Against Sexism Washington State Penitentiary Walla Walla, Washington Prison strategy Prison is an intensified microcosm of Disco castrato society on the outside. Every aspect of oppression and exploitation is magni- I hate writing letters, but I hate disco fied. We elect our own goverrmient, "music" more. Thank you for the which is just as powerless as the one article "Disco Muzak..." (TBP Sept Ross S. Irwin elect 1978). The writer, Glenn Schellenberg, you out there, to do anything but Barrister and Solicitor maintain the status quo. In fact, you are drives a stake through the heart of the in the same prison system as we are, the monster in a few short sentences and ac- announces the opening of his practice of law only difference being that you have complishes this with force and author- minimum custody. Men Against Sexism ity. I've been trying to do my part by in partnership with has been leading the struggle of pri- loud denunciations with my friends and Beth Symes soners agains overcrowding, subhuman Disco Sucks T-shirts. Schellenberg 's under the firm name living conditions and repressive method is probably more effective. He administrative policies. It is composed gives aid and comfort to that small Symes & Irwin of gay and anti-sexist men here at the minority of folks who remember, Washington State Penitentiary who fondly, real music with balls, and hate at came together for the purpose of de- the laundered overly processed Vachon 31 Prince Arthur Avenue, fending ourselves against sexual cake product that is disco. Toronto, Ontario 1B2 oppression from both prisoners and Leiand Richard M5R staff. Montreal 964-8191 Given the similarities of our respective situations, can you imagine us being able to achieve what we have by submitting the issue of our rights to Media message straight prisoners so they could vote on them? We have had to fight for what we I just wanted to drop you a note saying have. others in their While we helped how much I enjoyed the "Monitor" fight with our captors, we have always column in the October issue. Your VILLAGE WEAVER had to rely on ourselves when push came concise and perceptive reports on the to shove. We call this self-reliance. And Rorem profile in People, the Matlovich YARNS if we had relied on straight prisoners to movie (you were right-on-target with protect our rights we would still be being that one) and Gilmour's Word is Out LARGEST COLLECTION OF raped and bought and sold by them. We review were excellent; as were the other WEAVING MATERIALS were smart enough to know this from interesting and informative items. I look the outset. We did not submit the issue forward to seeing more. FANCY KNITTING AND of our rights to the prisoners of Eight Too many people (and that in- CROCHET YARNS 1 Wing lose, then and submit them to Six cludes gay activists) pay little attention WOOLS COTTONS SILKS Wing and lose, then to Seven Wing and to our media image. They'd rather lose, then prepare to get the prisoners yet ignore it than get angry over it, because ALPACA ANGORA MOHAIR more cell-houses to vote on the same anger takes I up time. wish I had ten of HANDWEAVING CLASSES issue. Yet you out there do this exact you for my media committee. same thing; you have adopted a strategy LECLERC LOOMS Bill Schoell that can only lead to defeat. You Acting Chairman MAIL ORDER SAMPLE CARDS $2.00 continue to rely on straight voters to Media Commitler protect your rights and refuse lo learn The (iay Activists Alliance 551 CHURCH STREET (AT WELLESLEY) from your mistakes. Dade County, St. New York City TORONTO • 9640436 DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITlC/5 .x^r^ LUNCH:, BRUNCH: Advertising is the capitalist institution Elegant Eggs Fresh Baked Bread most necessary to the operation of this es collectivist paper, and most often makes us question our assumptions. Wages Due replies defend the right of all women to free, safe and legal abortions. Thefollowing letter, accompanied by a FRI12 2 30 Our invisibiUty and isolation are note signed by Gay Youth Toronto 12 4 coming to an end, because we are deter- (G YT), Brent Hawkes (Toronto MCC), mined to lead our Uves as we choose. and Barry (Dignity), was sent to TBP as SAT 610 Many straight women and a lot of men a reply to Ken Popert 's column stand with us against your crusade, be- "Bryantism" rTBP. Sept 1978). Upon 12 4PM cause they too want sexual choices, and enquiry TBP was told that Wages Due ESPRESSO BAR a better future for all the children, does want their January 1978 Open JAZZ whose fight begins with our moments of Letter to Anita Bryant to be printed as a 325 QUEE»fWEST AT BEVERLEY TORONTO 366- never knowing when we'll lose it all their regularity or longevity rather than through arbitrary deportations. their "expertise"? What if several We are prostitutes because it pays us people, rather than just one, appeared in enough to provide for our children, and each ad? hve with whom we wish. When we are The matter was left open. Our one de- thrown in jail, we have to leave them cision was, after the Jane Rule ad this behind sometimes forever. issue, not to run this particular series any We are full-time housewives caring for more in TBP but to use them where the our families' needs, with Httle time left function of introducing the magazine is for ourselves. primary. An American audience, for ex- As mothers, we want our children to ample, might know Martin Duberman or have better Uves than we have had, with Jonathan Katz, and not us, so we would more freedom and less prejudice. And run those ads in American papers. Jane we are fighting harder thsm anyone else Rule we would run in, say, various les- to protect them from the sexual coercion bian pubhcations where the audience is that we ourselves have suffered, as Ukely to know Jane Rule but haven't women. We stand with our children considered TBP as lesbian-relevant. against all sexual assault by their fathers, Open, but for now, two final shots: uncles, friends, teachers or strangers, first, you see that it isn't only other whether straight or gay. We want our people's ads that we reject because of children to be able to decide for them- what they sell in an open or hidden way. selves in everything that matters to Second, an odd but telling observation: them. the capitalist institution most necessary 1. ockcr Roon) leBirter Rings Because you also oppose abortion, we to the operation of this collectivist paper h Rush & Jackets want you to know that many of us have is advertising, and it's the one that most been forced to abort because we can't often makes us question just what our llOMEOrTfl: afford to give our children the life we assumptions really are. • •* **lfc^ think they deserve. Until we can, we The Collective D 3/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 . The Body Politic Editorial atCo, <« 1 St prize $400 — m^^ 2nd prizes 200. 3rd prize SI GO* m^^0^ Beware the flourishing trumpets Judges: Jane Rule & Marie-Claire Blais ^^^ The United Nations has proclaimed 1979 the International Year of the Child (lYC), i^ ^ and the Canadian government is distributing literature promoting the UN Declara- LasbiciD tion of the Rights of the Child and encouraging a renewed concern for children's issues. These rights include the right to love and understanding, the right to Fielion CodUsI adequate nutrition and medical care, free education, and even "the right to be brought up in a spirit of peace and universal brotherhood." write The key to the UN's high-sounding declaration can be found in the s.aicnieni that How it came to be What to Thecontest will be for short children are "our most precious resource." Precious or not, to call any group of "I don't know any other Canadian lesbian writers. fiction by lesbians and with people a resource is to consider them as objects to be owned and controlled by others Jane Rule said when she lestsian-relevanl themes. Stories —in this case, straight adults. was interviewed by TBP a (No poetry please ) couple of years ago. should be between 2500 This declaration denies that children have any sexuality of their own: sexuality is Then, just recently, after and 3000 words. not mentioned in the long list of official UN rights. This means that, like tall 8'//'x 1 1 paper. Two proposed a fiction contest in all sexual matters. This control is especially harsh for gay children; many young for Canadian lesbian writers. copies of each manuscript women in so-called reformatories are there simply because they are lesbians. Sheand Marie-Claire offered will tie required , Stories tojudge the entries. And we cannot be returned, so Children are also "protected" from gay adults, even if that adult happens to be would publish the winners. please keep a copy for their parent. The legal system has decided that gays are detrimental to children's We leapt at the chance. yourself. of course health: while couching their homophobia in child-saving rhetoric, these lovers of When does it all happen So. The Body Raiitic is mankind perpetuate the prejudices that make life difficult for gay children, their pleased to announce the Entrydeadline is December first Great Canadian 31. 1978. Results will be parents, gay parents and their children. The power to con- Lesbian faction Contest. announced in the Apnl issue trol is also the power to oppress, and those who are "pro- of The Body Politic The winning story will be tected" are rarely consulted. Who can enter published in May and the This trumpet flourish in honour of children comes, in Entrants nnust be citizens or runners-up at any time at time when daycare, education, and health care residenlsof Canada. Stones after that. If entries are of Canada, a must be submitted over sufficient quality and facilities are suffering serious cutbacks. The government is author's real names, but quantity .Pink Triangle Press distributing lYC pubUcity with the right hand while taking winning stories may be may publish an anthology of published over pseudonyms the tiest short fiction away children's rights to physical and mental health with if necessary. The Body the left. And, if memory of International Women's Year (1975) serves us right, we Politic will retain the option Whatyou can win life first Morth American know that trumpet flourishes often announce a real decline in the quality of of on Fameand fortune can be publication rights, but final yours. First prize is $400 the group which is supposedly being honoured and protected. D copyright will remain with and publication in The Body the authors. Mitic Second prize is $200 andThirdisSlOO. The Great Canadian Lesbian Fiction Contest. The only effective strategy c/oThe Body Politic. Box 7289. Stn A. Toronto. Ontario. M5W I X9. We won. The anti-gay tide sweeping the USA has been turned back in California and Seattle. After a referendum held a year ago, we had to write, "The leadership in Miami adopted a 'high-toned' human rights approach full of fiag-waving and pictures of the endangered American con- stitution. They discouraged public Acapuico appearances by gay people and •c*-^ TZMffffM ^^^^^KSM^MH^^X^M ^'- San Francisco Key West \\ vetoed the mobilization of volunteers R. Lauderdale London for a door-to-door campaign." Paris In 1977, we lost in Miami. With the Rio same kind of campaigns we lost referenda in several other American LIFESTYLE VACATIONS cities during the year. When considering a Fiesta, Skylark, Wardair or Sunflight package holiday, Seattle and California campaign in many areas. And it was their support which topped the balance in our favour. The Body Politic salutes the thousands of gay people who made possible the Seattle and California victories. You have shown clearly that the liberation of homosexuals can only be the work of homosexuals themselves. You have shown us who our allies are. You have demonstrated once again that the only effective strategy in our struggle is to be very "out," very open and proud to be gay. LI HncoreTravd Limited 193 Carlton St. Toroiitf).'^^^M5A2K7 'IM 022 169.3 DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/7 ! TheNews who should be allowed to enjoy the charges by saying that they were "more school trustees launch personal freedoms our laws gujirantee, concerned by the distributions to private Alberta soon only the morally righteous would homes than by the exhibition." Ottawa qualify." Revue is normally sold only at minl-Brlggs campaign An additional 100 resolutions were newsstands or by subscription, although passed at the Alberta School Trustees' a promotional distribution had been Edmonton Journal labels action "outrageous" convention and these will be presented made in the Blackburn Hamlet area. to the Miiuster of Education on Viau, meanwhile, has stated that he EDMONTON — The Alberta School defend them (homosexuals), we figure December 20. St£m Maertz, executive will fight the obscenity charge. "It's not a question of obscenity but one of Trustees' Association has passed a they are." Brooks said that while the director of the Trustees Association, has dealing in art. resolution asking the provincial govern- school board accepts the Individual stated that the resolution dealing with "D ment not to introduce legislation which Rights Protection Act, the act should homosexuality will be presented without would restrict local school boards "from not be used to the extent that people of commentary since it was passed by such Handicapped stay dealing with proven instances of homo- the same sex would be going around the a narrow margin. sexuality among any of its paid halls holding hands and caressing each Robin Hardy D with gays employees, elected officials or student other, "and that's only what you see in ' TORONTO — A coalition of enrolment." The motion for the resolu- the daylight. ' He quoted to delegates handicapped people in this city has over- tion was put forward by Willard Brooks, biblical descriptions of homosexuals by whelmingly reaffirmed a policy demand- a school trustee from the southern Moses ans St Paul and warned that these ing that sexual orientation be included as Alberta town of Cardston. Brooks is a are some of the people who might be a prohibited ground of discrimination devout Mormon and his resolution teaching your children and boy scouts in the Ontario Human Rights Code, received the support of other religious and coaching your hockey team." along with protection from discrimina- trustees, including Edmonton trustee Herb Jamieson, a vocal supporter of tion because of a physical handicap. Herb Jamieson, a member of the resolution, said that trustees must The Coalition for Usable Transporta- Renaissance Canada and a speaker at ensure the moral safety of children. A tion (CUT) spoke during the summer to the April Anita Bryant rally in that city. platform guest and speaker at the Bryant Ontario Liberid Leader Stuart Smith While introducing his resolution at the concert in April, Jamieson announced from the platform that he had donated about various subjects of concern to the School Trustees convention , held handicapped. When human rights were November 8 in Edmonton, Brooks $500 to Renaissance that night. mentioned. Smith told CUT represen- asserted that unless the resolution was Other trustees spoke against the reso- tatives that although both "physical passed, homosexual child molesters lution, saying that trustees have no right handicap" and "sexual orientation" would be rampant in the schools. in the bedrooms of their employees or should be in the Code, it might be Despite the use of this standard scare fellow trustees. Another delegate said poUtically wiser for interested groups to tactic, the vote on the resolution was that human rights legislation is designed press only for coverage for the handi- close. Trustees voted 329 in favour and to protect people from all kinds of dis- capped "at this time." 318 against. crimination, and trustees do not want a Smith apparently felt that an anti-gay The resolution was initially witch hunt. backlash taking place in Ontario and introduced by Brooks for fear the Mac Kryzanowski, president of the October 26 issue of elsewhere would make it difficult to get government would act on recommenda- Alberta Teachers' Association reacted Ottawa Revue seized and charged obscene. "sexual orientation" into new tions made by the Alberta Human angrily to the trustees' action, saying as legislation. Groups insisting on its in- Rights Commission to prohibit discri- homosexuals have as much right to be Art mag charged clusion might find that their other con- mination based on sexual orientation. teachers as anyone "as long as they have cerns were also ignored, especially if the Such fears seem unwarranted, however, no adverse effect in the classroom." with obscenity government treated the Ontario Human as Alberta Minister of Labour, Neil Kryzanowski said that the Teachers' OTTAWA — Pierre Viau, managing Rights Commission's 1977 recommen- Crawford, has made it quite clear that Association knows of no case of a editor of Ottawa Revue, an arts and dations as a package deal. the government will not be making teacher in Alberta being fired for entertainment guide, has been charged Following this advice from Smith, amendments of any kind to the Indi- homosexuality, and the Association has with distributing material after discussed the matter, and early in vidual Rights Protection Act. pledged to fight any such dismissals. obscene CUT police investigation which included a the fall 1978 reaffirmed that the de- Ehiring the School Trustees Alberta teachers now can be fired only a of raid a respected art gallery. for protection for gays would convention, Willard Brooks told dele- on the grounds of incompetence or dere- on Ottawa mand Accompanying an October 26 continue to be part of its policy. gates that his school board initiated the liction of duty. editorial calling for an end to obscenity Pat Shinton, a member, told motion after learning in a publication of In an editorial entitled "No Moral CUT laws, Ottawa Revue printed TBP that her group was not fooled by the Alberta Teachers' Association that Example' ' the Edmonton Journal photographs then appearing in an exhi- Smith's counsel that "it's smarter to teachers had participated in demonstra- mentioned the defeat of the Briggs bition Richard Nigro's at the thing." "It was an tiotu against Bryant during her spring Initiative in CaUfomia and condenmed of work push your own Gallery in Ottawa. Entitled "Of attempt to divide us from each other — visit. Said Brooks, "We hate to say all the trustees' action as "outrageous and SAW Intimate Silences," the photos were to split us up along group lines," she Human Rights Commission staff are unwarranted." The editorial said that Forbidden decided to keep gay, but with the vigour with which they "If the morally righteous are to decide inspired by Mishima's novel said. "The whole group Colours and explored the violence which sexual orientation in there. I was quite exists between people connected by love surprised." or passion. One photo, reprinted on the Shinton felt special interest groups cover of Ottawa Revue showed a man would only be weakened if they acceded kneeUngat the crotch of a woman. The to pressure to "put ours above yours." editorial in the same issue defended the Gay people within CUT, and non- Nigro photograph series as "serious and gays with handicapped friends who are compelling." gay, appear to have been instrumental in Police began their investigation after a having CUT institute and reaffirm the woman in the Ottawa suburb of pohcy. Blackburn Hamlet complained of John Rae, a spokesperson for receiving an unsolicited copy of the BOOST, a blind person's self-help or- magazine. On October 31 three morality ganization, also opposed Smith's squad detectives raided SAW Gallery suggestion at the time his group was and seized three photographs. The meeting with the opposition leader. photographs were returned to the gallery Ontario's Tory government has not several days later, on the condition the taken any visible action on the Human gallery owner post a sign warning that Rights Commissioners' unanimous "some of the work is of a sexual nature report of a year and a half ago. Life and may offend some persons." Police Together. The report recommended subsequently laid the obscenity charges legislated protection for gays as well as against Ottawa Revue. Assistant Crown handicapped people. Look here! I'm in charge of all the hate and bigotry departments! Attorney Richard Mosly defended the Paul TroUopeD 1978 / 1979 8/ BODY POLITIC DECEMBER JANUARY "No gay or lesbian individual would be considered for foster parenting regardless of his or her merits." — Alberta Foster Care Department His column was followed the next day to both heterosexual and homosexual Doctor leaked medical by a Sun editorial calling on the union staff, the language appears to be directly to "smarten up and stop being silly aimed at homosexual persons. TBP has Info, charges twits." learned that the alleged position is not, Damien In response to the Sun articles the in fact, included in any CAS staff CAS was deluged with phone calls, most manual or employment contract, and In the most startling development in the supporting Hoy's position. In a press most likely was produced for the occa- John Damien case since it began almost release, Douglas Barr, Executive Direc- sion by the Executive Director. four years ago, Damien has sued the tor of the CAS, said, "1 am not at liber- Inclusion of the sexual orientation man who was his doctor when he was ty to make any comment other than provision in the proposed collective dismissed from his job with the Ontario to say that it is a matter presently under agreement was made by the Collective Racing Commission. Damien charges negotiation and that the Society has not Bargaining Committee of the Staff that the doctor violated medical respon- accepted the proposal." Association and accepted unanimously sibility by telling racing officials that he ups. In the press release a quotation pur- by the CAS staff as part of the proposed was gay, and this disclosure eventually Damien's suit claims damages of four porting to be a CAS official position on contract. As yet there has been no dis- led to his dismissal from the hundred thousand dollars, plus costs. staff relations with children stated: cussion between staff and management Commission. Meanwhile, the Committee to Defend "Any staff member . . . involved in any on the issue. After the February 1975 dismissal, John Damien is co-ordinating late Nov- misconduct including sexual advances or People wishing to indicate their sup- Damien launched a suit against the ember protests at various Ontario race- proselytizing with children. . .will be port for the proposal should phone the Racing Commission and four racing tracks. The goal of the protests is to alert subject to disciplinary action." While a CAS at (416) 924-4646. officials demanding damages and rein- racing fans of the case and seek their spokesperson claimed the position refers statement to his job as Commission support for Damien. Robin Hardy D steward Oudge). Michael Lynch D The new suit is against Dr Thoreau Willard O'Mulvenny, who practiced Contribute today to the ongoing medicine in Fort Erie, Ontario. Damien work of the Committee to Defend Foster Care vetoes gay parent aDeges that while he was O'Mulvenny's John Damien. Send your cheque or patient in 1974, the doctor learned that money order to the Committee at CALGARY — The Foster Care Depart- she said that Foster Care had been he was gay and subsequently, despite the Box 608, Station K, Toronto, ON, ment of the Alberta government has pre- informed that Kissinger was "a self-pro- confidentiality provisions of the Vener- M4P 1S3. Ifyou also wish to contri- vented a gay man from becoming a claimed gay," and asked for eal Diseases Prevention Act, informed a bute to the Defence Fund, seep 46. foster parent. In the final stages of gain- confirmation. When Kissinger agreed. representative of the Ontario Jockey ing custody of a 12 year-old boy, Jerry Amy told him that there was a specific Club who in turn informed Damien's Kissinger was told that despite otherwise policy of the Department that "no gay superiors at the Commission. superior qualifications, he could not or lesbian individual would be If the court upholds the claims in become a foster parent because of his considered for foster parenting regard- Damien's new suit, they will explain homosexuality. less of what other merits he or she might another missing piece in the case so far: On August 14, Kissinger had filed a possess." just what the sequence of events leading formal application to become the foster The day after the interview, Kissinger to the firing was. parent of Jim Smith, an autistic and contacted Alma Jordan, Amy's super- The new suit arises from information mentally handicapped boy. Kissinger visor within the Department, who learned or deduced from information first met the boy in 1975 while working repeated that the reason Kissinger's which Damien has gleaned during the as an institutional aide at Calgary's application was refused was because of examinations for discovery which have Baker Centre, a large residence and his homosexuality. Kissinger asked that been underway during the last three training institution for mentally handi- the explanation be given in writing, but years. All of the four original defendants capped children. He had been assigned to date written notification he has re- were examined during this period. OTTAWA — The Canadian Lesbian to work with Jim and was responsible ceived has confirmed only that his appli- According to the claim, two of them and Gay Rights Coalition commemor- for the boy's program development. cation is "cancelled with our depart- made statements last November which ated the deaths of tens of thousands During the following two years, ment." would support the charge against of gay men and women in German con- Kissinger worked closely with the boy, Shortly after, Kissinger approached O'Mulvenny. centration camps during World War teaching him skills such as how to wash, the Alberta Human Rights Commission Dr. O'Mulvenny has already been n, as well as those Canadian soldiers, dress, eat and go to the toilet by himself. for assistance. Commission examined by Damien's lawyers, and gay and non-gay, who gave their lives to Throughout the program, Kissinger investigating officer Penny Davies Damien has been examined once by end Nazi crimes against humanity. The tried to increase the opportunity for Jim contacted Alma Jordon in an unofficial O'Mulvenny and will be examined a wreath, bearing a pink triangle, is placed to be independent and go where he investigation. Apparently Davies was second time early in December. by Martin Hogarth (above), a Corporal wished without close supervision, and a told that the Foster Care Department The new claim does not indicate to in the Armed Forces until his discharge warm, father-son relationship developed had no policy against homosexuals, and whom in the Ontario Jockey Club Dr. on the grounds of his homosexuality in between the two. that Jordon knew of both gay men and O'Mulvenny passed on the confidential 1975. In May 1977, Kissinger left his job at lesbians who were presently foster information. Damien's lawyer, Paul Baker Centre but remained in close parents. The Department, however, has Jewell, has not indicated publicly contact with Jim. As a member of Cal- yet to provide valid reasons for the re- whether there will be a further charge Hoy attacks gary's Citizen Advocacy Society, an jection of Kissinger's application. against this individual. agency which assigns volunteers to the Meanwhile, Kissinger has written Damien's allegation that O'Mulvenny Children's Aid handicapped on a one to one basis, Herb Henry, regional co-ordinator of violated medical confidentiality comes at Kissinger has been assigned to work on social services in Calgcuy, asking for a a significant moment in Ontario. pro- A TORONTO — Employees of the Jim's training program, and Jim is full explanation for the rejection. If no vincial commission headed Justice by Mr Children's Aid Society (CAS) have been allowed to visit Kissinger's home during answer is forthcoming he plans to take Horace Krever has been investigating the attacked by columnist Claire Hoy and weekends. his case to the provincial Ombudsman misuse of medical records in the prov- the Toronto Sun for seeking protection Earlier this year, convinced that the who has the power to force Foster Care ince. OHIP (Ontario's government from discrimination on the basis of boy could never receive the kind of to explain their actions. operated health insurance plan), insur- sexual orientation in a union contract. attention he needed within the Despite the rejection of his applica- ance companies, and medical personnel Two days after the proposed con- institution, Kissinger decided to apply to tion, Kissinger maintains close contact appear to the prime subjects of in- tract be was submitted to management. be Jim's foster parent. His application with Jim, but still feels Baker Centre is vestigation. Hoy attacked the contract as "the had the support of Jim's natural inadequate to provide the attention the Jewell has submitted the Damien- first of a new strategy by the militant parents, who know of Kissinger's boy requires. Discussing his desire to j O'Mulvenny ch2u-ge to the Commission, homosexuals in our midst to spread homosexuality and think highly of him. become Jim's foster parent, Kissinger but it is unclear at this time whether their particular brand of depravity." The Foster Care Department did not told rflPthat "working with a foster Krever will consider it formally. He went on to describe an explicit scena- think so highly of Kissinger's child provides the best combination of will be especially Gay men concerned rio of a (male) homosexual counsellor homosexuality, however. On September work and lifestyle. Because of the chal- implication of the charge, "left by the new alone night after night to tuck the I 13, after having checked out Kissinger's lenges of living with and caring for since many closeted gay men rely on the boys into bed in one the of CAS's many references, Vcndia Amy, a Department another human being. I can think of no confidentiality provisions of the VD group homes." He then urged con- social worker, visited his home to better way lo spend my time, 'i 1 Prevention Act when they have check- cerned people to phone the CAS. conduct the final interview. While there DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/Q ' When the Quebec Human Rights folks dodged as usual, Gatineau gays had a trick up theu* sleeve. lot more interesting with its variables." could ascertain after an informal inves- NDP votes to change Code, June Tattle's son came out to her two tigation, there had been no discrim- years ago. "I was freaked out," she ination on the part of the landlord. In remembers. "It seemed like a the year since sexual orientation was protection for gays on the way catastrophe. But I went to a parents' added to the Code, the Quebec Human night at a Gay Youth Toronto meeting Rights Commission hasn't found any SASKATOON — Saskatchewan's NDP Bryant" if it did not support the motion. and it was a real eye-opener just to sit landlord guilty of discrimination despite government may introduce legislation by Rod Dickinson, special assistant to and listen to those young people. My several complaints from gays. Christmas which will add sexual orienta- Premier Blakeney, said that attitudes to- whole family had this image of gay men Apparently, Cro-Mex had told the tion to the Human Rights Code as a pro- wards homosexuality were irrelevant as effeminate and in dresses. An Commission it preferred to rent to a bus- hibited ground of discrimination. The when it came to ensuring homosexuals abomination. Then you realize they're iness, or to someone who would use the government was urged to pass such legis- had full rights. Neil Richards and just ordinary kids. I became very premises during the day, rather than at lation when delegates at the NDP annual Michael Gordon, both members of the emotionally involved, and I saw there night, and that this was the reason for conference here November 19 approved SGC and delegates at the convention, was an obvious need for a parents' not renting to AGOQ. two-to-one a resolution calling for a law also spoke in favour of the motion. A organization. The kids kept saying they All this time the premises were still to forbid discrimination against homo- spokesperson for SGC said, "It took wished there was someone for their being advertised in the window and in Le sexuals. NDP governments are normally five years of intensive lobbying to do parents to talk to. Pretty soon Steve Droit, the area French-language daily. bound to implement rank and file reso- this, and it's important to realize that began volunteering me to speak as a When Thividrge expressed doubt as to lutions arising from aimual conventions. the debate was carried by straight parent to gay organizations." whether the premises had actually been The government has indicated it will supporters." The group Tattle saw as an "obvious rented to anyone. Lech promised the be drafting legislation for a number of Unsuccessfully opposing the motion need" became a reality when Parents of Commission would keep the file open, human rights amendments before the were Eli Nesdoly, the NDP candidate in Gays Toronto held its first meeting in but refused to pursue the case any end of December. the federal riding of Battleford- mid-November. There were only four further. The victory for gay rights at the con- Meadow Lake, and Consumer Affairs mothers present, but the group has On November 7, another member of ference was the result of five years of Minister Ed Whelan. Nesdoly warned already been postering around the city, AGOQ, Guy Barrette, tried to rent the lobbying by the Saskatchewan Gay that entrenching homosexual rights and phone calls are already coming in at accommodation, pretending to represent Coalition (SGC). Although it was the would create problems for school boards all hours of the day and night. a social service agency. He was success- first time the issue had been debated on concerned about the influence on "It's because they have to talk," says ful and the lease was signed. The rental the floor of a convention, a similar children. Fairchild. "The first reaction of parents agent told Barrette he was glad to con- resolution had passed in Executive In passing the motion, delegates also when a son or daughter comes out is fear clude a deal with him because he didn't Council two years before. rejected an argument that homosexuals of the unknown. Later they begin to W2uit to have to rent to a group of The one thousand delegates were told were not a legitimate group needing question those beliefs and realize some "tapettes" (fags) who had approached that the NDP would be seen as siding human rights protection. are wrong. The most important thing is him. with "international buffoon Anita Robin Hardy D to give them positive information over Barrette's visit accomplished three and over again. It's most important for things. AGOQ got its centre. The visit them to meet other gays." proved that the place had obviously not Ninety percent of the parents involved been rented to someone else. And, in POG are women. Fairchild says that finally, it invalidated the reasons Cro- "Men find it harder to deal with Mex gave the Commission for not rent- emotional issues. They see it as a threat ing to AGOQ. However, it was the per- to their masculinity. ' sistence of AGOQ and not the inter- Both women emphasize that Parents vention of the Commission that pro- of Gays is open to all parents, and they duced these results. "The Commission encourage any parent in need of support acted quickly when we approached toget in touch. them," Thivi^rge said, "but it seemed The group can be contacted c/o 29 more interested in having us drop the Granby St, Toronto. ON. MSB 1H8, or case than in pursuing what was obvious- at (416) 484-4634.0 ly a clear instance of discrimination." What the landlord will do when he finds out he has a group of homosexuals No office space for tenants remains to be seen. for'iapettes'»»» David GarmaiseG GATINEAU — A new group has tricked a landlord into renting premises Midnight Express which had at first been r^fMsed be- cause the group is gay. The deceit was protest criticized necessary because an appeal to the June Tattle (left) and Betty Fairchild discuss plans for Parents of Gays. Quebec Human Rights Commission The Body Politic has criticized both the proved entirely ineffective. racist nature of the new Hollywood film Midnight Express and the attacks on it Mother organizes Parents of Gays On October 25, 1' Association Gaie de I'Ouest Qu^bdcois (AGOQ) tried to rent that have been made by the Turkish- the premises at 32 Gatineau Avenue Canadian Friendship Association. TORONTO — The formation of a local Homosexuality. called The Turkish-Canadian Friendship Parents of Gays group, the third to be During an interview with TBP, Fair- from a company Cro-Mex. The group wanted to use the premises as an Association has been leafleting crowds organized in Canada, was announced at a child and Tattle explained their involve- office and centre. member Yvon attending the film in Toronto. Their press conference here November 27. The ment in an organization which both see as AGOQ Thivi^rge and the rental agent had leaflets attack the film forjudging "a group is being co-ordinated at present by crucial to the needs of most parents agreed to terms and were filling out the whole nation as sadists and homo- June Tattle whose son Steve is on the facing the fact that they have a gay child. lease when the agent realized he would sexuals." executive of the Coalition for Gay Rights Betty Fairchild realized she was the to the Editor of in Ontario. mother of a gay son in 1970 when her 17- be renting to a gay group. In a letter from TBP that the said that the Toronto Globe and Mail, collective The formation of the group here was year-old came out to her. She reacted At point agent he to with Jackson says "we agree that assisted by Betty Fairchild of Denver, "with horror," but decided to visit him would have check the owner and member Ed that he would call Thivi^rge back the in general the film is insulting to Turkey Colorado, who flew to Toronto to con- the following year in Berkeley. "I had an next day. didn't call. Thividrgf Turkish people. It should be judged tribute her experience in orgaiiizing to the average American housewife mentality He When and its distortion facts and in local chapter. about women's lib and gay people," she called him, the agent said the premises as racist in of had idready rented to someone else. its caricatures of third world peoples." Fairchild, who has long been associa- said. "When I went to Berkeley I ex- been complained to the cannot, however, accept (the ted with Parents of Gays organizations, perienced so much. I saw that many AGOQ Quebec "We has become something of a spokes- people were living outside the norm, and Human Rights Commission and they Friendship Association's) equation of agreed to open an inquiry. Several days homosexuality with crime and senseless person for the movement, and is the outside the stereotypes I believed in. later. Commission inquiry officer Joe brutality. Such a gratuitous slur on gay author of /Vow That You Know: What Some of them were gay people jmd I Every Parent Should Know A bout began to drop those stereotypes. Life's a Lech told Thividrge that, as far as he people is equally repugnant. "D 10/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 i^^'lj-^^>^ mm to the elections, to protest against the Drapeau re-elected, Drapeau regime and to publicize its call. Parasites may not harm About 30 lesbians and gays took part in more gay repression the afternoon protest. M0^4TREAL — Gay leaders here have In addition to Drapeau, other anti-gay majority of gay men expressed concern over the results of the candidates were elected to city council, recent municipal elections. On including Dr Luc Larivee, president of TORONTO — As many as two-thirds fession. Because no data were taken on November 12, Mayor Drapeau was re- the Montreal Catholic School of sexually active gay men may carry the frequency of sexual contacts of the elected with 61 % of the vote and his Commission, the body which has re- microscopic intestinal parasites, firemen, it is not known whether sexual- Civic Party virtually wiped out the op- fused to rent space to ADGQ. according to the results of a recent study ly active heterosexuals would carry in- position, taking 52 of the 54 city council The MCM and MAG each elected by Dr Donna Keystone, a Toronto testinal parasites to the same extent as seats. only one councillor. Nick auf der tropical health specialist. H'^wever, the the gay men. Drapeau and his party are considered Mauer, who had indicated support for study also concluded that the presence Despite the lack of symptoms in most by many to have been directly respon- gay rights as a candidate in the last of these parasites is generally not asso- of the men with either £ histolytica or G sible for the police harassment of the provincial election, is the MAG's only ciated with serious symptoms of lamblia, Keystone still recommended Montreal gay community over the past elected representative. intestinal illness. treatment because of the potential these twenty-five years. With the overwhelm- Ron Dayman D Conducted in cooperation with Hassle protozoa have for causing serious ill- ing majority he and his party ob- Free community health clinic. ness. In most cases, the men were cured tained in the November elections, he Keystone's study involved screening by a 10-day treatment with the drug may feel free to increase his anti-gay Biblios compiled stool samples from 200 gay men and 100 Bemarsal. Listed as an emergency drug campaign over the next four years. Toronto firemen for the presence of by the Federal Government, Bemarsal, Prior to the elections, ADGQ, a TORONTO — Three bibliographies on parasites known as protozoa. Keystone has not been released for general per- Montreal-based gay civil rights group, homosexuality have been published by was particularly interested in two types scription in Canada because safety tests sent letters to the opposition parties, the theOntarioMinistry of Labour. Con- of protozoa. Entamoeba histolytica (left have not been carried out here. The drug Montreal Citizen's Movement (MCM) taining over 200 pages of references above) and Giardia lamblia (right), has been approved in most European and the Municipal Action Group compiled by researcher Alan Miller, the which are known in some cases to cause countries, however, and Keystone specu- (MAG), asking for their positions on bibhographies are entitled Homosexuali- severe intestinal illness. These two pro- lated that the drug companies here have issues of concern to lesbians and gays. ty and Human Rights, Homosexuality tozoa are considered harmful enough not undertaken the studies because there Only the MCM, which had expressed its and Employment, and Homosexuality in by public health officials that treatment is not enough profit to be made from support for gays during the 1976 pre- Specific Fields. of them is mandatory. curtent consumption of the drug. She Olympic clean-up campaign, responded. The Ministry of Labour originally re- The results of Keystone's study in- hopes one consequence of the study will Abe Limonchick, MCM president, ex- quested that the resource collection be dicate that these parasites are far more be a renewed interest in Bdmarsal by pressed support for an end to police re- built up in their Ubrary after the Ontario common in gay men than in the general drug companies. At present, any doctor pression and for gay rights. In fact he Human Rights Commission, which is population, and that they cire often not in Canada can obtain the drug only pointed out the MCM had voiced its under the jurisdiction of the Ministry, associated with ill health, or provoke through a special request. support in city council following the recommended that the government add only mild intestinal symptoms. Because of the high incidence of the Truxx raid in October 1977. sexual orientation to the Ontario Of the 200 gay men, 68% were found intestinal parasites in gay men and their Serge Joyal, mayoral candidate for Human Rights Code. The Ministry sub- to be infected with one or more varieties potential for causing illness. Keystone is the MAG, spoke on the gay television sequently decided to publish the bibho- of protozoa, and an alanning 38% recommending that sexually active gays programme. Productions 88, and indica- graphies as a resource for human rights canied the potential disease-causing E have annual stool examinations as a pre- ted that if elected he would enact commissions and other Canadian histolytica or G lamblia. In contrast, far caution. Sample collection kits can be measures to reduce police repression. He researchers. fewer of the control sample of firemen obtained from Hassle Free Clinic in also promised a municipal human rights According to Miller, current biblio- were infected with the parasites. Only Toronto (922-3323) or from most charter including "sexual orientation." graphies and computer searches of titles 4% of the firemen carried the disease- MDs.D A representative of the MCM, Marc wereof only limited help. Instead he causing protozoa, an incidence almost Raboy, appeared on the same utilized a small gay collection at the Uni- 10 times lower than that of the gay programme and repeated the MCM versity of Toronto and the much larger sample. Customs seizes positions in support of gays. Predic- collection of the Canadian Gay To determine whether the presence of tably, Mayor Drapeau 's office refused Archives. "Without the Canadian Gay parasites was cortelated with intestinal Swedish magazine to appear on the programme. Archives, the bibliographies could never illness, and to determine whether the As the election drew near, ADGQ have been adequately treated," he said. types and frequency of sexual contacts TORONTO — The Deputy Minister of called upon gays, lesbians and their Copies of the bibliographies can be increased the risk of being infected, par- National Revenue has upheld the seizure supporters to vote against Drapeau in obtained free of charge from the ticipants in the survey filled out a de- and confiscation by Canada Customs of view of the mayor's long record of anti- Ontario Ministry of Labour, 400 Univer- tailed questionnaire. The results indica- the September issue of Revolt, a Swedish gay actions. sity Avenue, Toronto M7A lT7.n ted that intestinal symptoms did not cor- gay liberation magazine containing relate with the presence of the parasites. sexually explicit illustrations. At almost Almost half of those gay men with para- the same time, the Toronto office of the sites showed no symptoms at all, and Customs Department has notified TBP most of the remainder showed only mild that a second issue of Revolt has also intestinal discomfort. been seized. Of the gay men in the study, most A ruling dated September 1 5 and were very sexually active, with 50% re- signed by H Meredith, a Toronto porting more than 6 different sexual par- customs inspector, held that the tners in the previous six months. The in- September issue was "immoral and cidence of parasites, however, did not indecent" and thus was prohibited entry seem to cortelate with the number of into Canada under the provisions of sexual contacts. Those gay men with the Customs Tariff. The Canadian fewer or no sexual contacts in 6 months Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition and were just as likely to be carrying one or the Canadian Periodical Publishers' more of the protozoa. It is generally As,sociation, two groups of which TBP believed that the intestinal protozoa are is a member, have both adopted policies spread by oral-anal contact. The study, demanding repeal of this section of the however, also failed correlate to ! Customs Tariff. incidence of parasites with anal sex, TBP plans to appeal the decision to | though the results did suggest that men the Minister of National Revenue, who cleansed before anal sex had a Anthony Abbott. A further appeal to slightly reduced chance of being infected. a County Court judge is possible, but is Of the control group of firemen, none not planned in the case of Revolt. TBP admitted having any homosexual feels (hal there would be no possibility experiences — hardly surprising, con- of convincmg a judge that the maga/Jne Anti-Drapeau protesters march in front of Montreal City Hall. sidering the homophobia of that pro- should be released. Li DECtfMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODYPOLmC/11 ' ' y*xQ )r< r Gays hold silent vigil to protest violence WINNIPEG — Gays, Quakers and visibility to a public right of way is deter- other concerned individuals gathered mined by cops actively searching the November 1 1 at the Louis Riel Monu- bushes with flashlights. ment on the grounds of the Manitoba When asked how the police would res- Legislative Building to draw attention to pond to men holding hands or kissing in the increasing number of physical the area, Ogelski said that cops "would Guelph Gay Equality attacks on gays. The crowd, at times kick their asses and send them on home. regulariy receives mail with hate messages numbering more than 25, stood silently More for the danger of being there at scrawled in day-glo pink, and with anti- gay news or circled around the well-known gay night; that's only stupidity." clippings attached. The above envelope, and others like it, were cruising area for several hours. Meanwhile Genos itself has called on mailed from Milton, Ontario, the headquarters of Renaissance Canada, Anita The protest was organized by an ad gays to stay away from the cruising area. Bryant's sponsor. The Guelph postmaster says mailing such material may be illegal. hoc group of gay people shortly after a Clearly the police have no interest in pre- man was beaten to death in late venting the real crime of physical vio- September (TBP, November). In a state- lence against gays — to them it is gay ment released to the media November 9, people who create the problem by Fate of 1 44 tied to verdict the group explained the silent vigil by continuing to meet in public. D stating that "Violence on the grounds of the Legislative Building resulted in the Gay candidate loses in trial of Truxx owner death of a man on September 28. This in MONTREAL — Final testimony has ditions pending trial, they were ordered vigil will call the conscience of the com- school board race been heard in the trial of Tnixx bar to undergo further tests by the city munity to bear against the violence WINDSOR — Well-known gay activist owner Giuseppe Salvaggio. Charged doctor. arising from irtational fear and hatred and community worker Jim Monk has ' with keeping "a common bawdy house" The regulation of the Public Health of homosexuality. lost his bid to become Canada's first after Montreal police raided the gay bar Act used by officials is being challenged The vigil took place without incident, openly gay school trustee. in October 1977, Salvaggio has pleaded on the basis that it contravenes a funda- and was concluded by the singing of He came seventh in a field of eight innocent. mental principle of law which protects "Blowin' in the Wind." Afterward, candidates and garnered 866 votes, After hearing defense witnesses, Mun- the hberty of the individual as well as the people gathered for a discussion at St about one third of those required to win icipal Court Judge Rolland Langlois Quebec Charter of Human Rights clause Stephen's Broadway Church. one of the two Ward 3 seats. remanded the case until December 12 dealing with the right to bodily integrity. Alerted by press releases distributed Winners in the November 13 election when the lawyers' closing arguments will The case is under deliberation by the by the group, the city's media, including were Helen Carefoot, the incumbent, be heard. Langlois' decision will deter- court and judgement is not expected for TV, radio and the Winnipeg Free Press, and Tom Kilpatrick. Both received over mine the fate of charges against the 144 some time. reported the vigil. In addition, a letter 2,000 votes. men also arrested in the original raid and In the meantime, funds are urgently which had been circulated to clergy and "I think I can attribute my loss to in- charged with being found in a bawdy needed to continue the defense of the social service workers was endorsed by experience," Monk said. "As well, we house. If Salvaggio is found innocent of Truxx accused. Contributions can be over 30 individuals. The two-page letter weren't well organized, and we didn't keeping a common bawdy house the sent to Fond de defense des accuses, c/o discussed the local violence in a wider spend enough money on the campaign. I charges against the 144 men will be Androgyny Bookstore, 1217 Crescent, social context. "North America is had about 25 volunteers working for me, dropped. If convicted, Sjilvaggio himself Montreal H3G2B1. currently the arena of a well-financed but the problem really was lack of faces a possible two-year prison sentence Stuart Russell a campaign to stir up hatred and fear organization." and prosecution will proceed against the around the issues of homosexuality and 144 found-ins. Gay Jews celebrate the rights of women. This campaign is Salvaggio's trial began last May when waged in the name of religion and mor- the police and defense witnesses testified TORONTO — Forty gay Jewish men ality, but its effects are inflammatory as to the activities inside the bar. The and women from across North America and oppressive. It creates a climate of Court then adjourned the case until gathered here November 24-26 for Shab- alienation and polarization." October 25 when an additional 15 de- baton '78, a rehgious and cultural cele- Meanwhile, in a special report printed fense witnesses testified that acts of bration that included a weekend of in the Winnipeg gay magazine Genos "gross indecency" were not common in workshops and seminars to discuss (formerly Out & About), editors Ann the bar. Some of the witnesses admitted, organization and social programming. King and Jefre Keep interviewed Police however, that "there were exchanges of Special guest at the festival was Rabbi Superintendent of Crime, Ed Ogelski, kisses and embraces of the kind that Richard Stemberger of Washington DC, concerning police response to the General de Gaulle used to give to foreign a leading spokesperson for the Reform increasing number of attacks on gays in diplomats." Congregations in the United States. The the cruising area. In the interview, The police testimony was characteri- conference was sponsored by the B'nai entitled "Walk on the Killing Ground," zed by sensationalism. They claimed Kehillah Congregation of Toronto, an Superintendent Ogelski appeared far that sex was going on continually in organization of gay Jews. from sympathetic, maintaining that all Truxx and documented incidents of Rob Sands, a spokesperson for the the police could do was "recommend School board candidate Jim Monk. masturbation, sodomy and other acts. organization, explained its role in the most strongly that you people just don't Reported to be one of the most con- gay community: "We are supportive of go there." Ogelski went on to note that Monk spent only $320 in a campaign servative justices sitting in Municipal lobbying, and the Coalition for Gay "you people have been cruising that that often sets candidates back Court, Langlois frequently turned red at Rights in Ontario. I'd like to see more area since I was a cruiser-car man thousands of dollars. Most of the money the mention of such activities. women and more activists in our con- myself, and I've been a cop for twenty- went towards the printing of a leaflet As the trial proceeded inside the gregation though. The people here are five years." During those twenty-five and newspaper which outlined his ideas court, 30 gay men and lesbians picketed mainly middle class, in their late years and more, Winnipeg gays have on education. "Both were well re- outside, demanding that all charges be twenties, jmd many are closeted. It's leeu-ned not to count on the police for ceived," says Monk. "But we were able dropped. more importjmt for them to gain self- any kind of protection against physical to leaflet the ward once only. I had In a related development from the confidence as gay men and lesbians than attack. people call me up and tell me it was the same Truxx arrests, the Quebec Court of to have their necks fiung from the back Ogelski promised, however, that gays best piece of campaign literature they'd ' Appeals has heard an appeal from law- of the closet to the picket line. found "actively making out" would be received. Only two calls were negative, yer Jeff Richstone to quash a provincial B'njii Kehillah's major goal at this arrested, especially if they were "visible and as far as I know none of my oppon- regulation that forced the Truxx found- time is to be received as a member in the from a public right of way, or if the ents indulged in any gay-baiting." ins to undergo VD tests after their Canadian Council of Reform Congrega- officers are responding to a complaint Monk is uncertain as to whether he arrests. In his brief, presented tions. At a convention in 1976 of North from a member of the public." To those would run again two years from now. November 16, Richstone claimed that American Reform Rabbis, it was familiar with police presence at this "If I do," he says, "I'll have a campaign not only were the men forced to undergo resolved that gays have an important cruising area it is clear they aren't res- manager for sure. And I'll start the tests, but, as one of the bail con- role in the Jev«sh community. D ponding to public complaints, and that organizing a lot earlier. "D 12/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 D " Police hit Battered Wives demo MONTREAL — Police here arrested rock is a form of social protest, "the thirty-three women and twenty- Battered Wives' publicity campaign triv- five men and beat up many others on ializes the gruesome experience of dom- November 8, during a peaceful demon- estic violence." WAVAW member Eve stration protesting the appearance of the Zaremba explained that the feminist punk rock group Battered Wives at the group is not trying to impose censorship Theatre Saint-Denis. but rather to "point out the connection Barely an hour after it had begun the between society's acceptance of the protest was broken up by rows of riot group's name and society's acceptance police wearing helmets and wielding of the crime of wife beating." billy-clubs. Demonstrators who were The Toronto demonstration did not seated on the sidewalk chanting slogans, involve any physical violence, but some as well as innocent passers-by, were of the rock group's fans insulted the attacked by police, kicked and beaten, women who were demonstrating. and a woman was dragged by the hair "Some very nasty things were said, but into a paddy wagon. Demonstrator the majority just stood there," said Clara Valverde said that the poUce did Zaremba. not give any warning or tell the crowd to The rock group had an appearance at disperse and that they singled out well- Carleton University cancelled, and was known leaders in the crowd for arrest. officially condemned by the National The fifty-eight arrested were held until 4 Union of Students and the British am while poUce tried to determine what Columbia Status of Women Committee. charges could be laid. A police sergeant In view of this negative pubhcity, they later said that those arrested could be grudgingly changed their name to "The charged with obstructing the sidewalk, Wives." but no charges have been laid to date. However, even this small victory won The demonstration was organized by by feminists proved to be shortHved. On the Montreal Coahtion des Femmes November 23, as soon as the tour with contre la Violence, who in August had Costello was over, the punk rock group already organized a protest against the changed its name again, back to "The group's record. It was supported by Battered Wives." In a press conference members of a musicians' union, the they attacked the "unfair tactics" of women's group Plurielles, and the gay WAVAW and announced the formation bookstore Androgyny. According to the of a coalition, to be called Rock against feminists, the Battered Wives' logo (a Repression, which apparently has the lipstick stained fist inside a bleeding support of the extreme right-wing heart), the group's lyrics and their Ontario Libertarian Party. The new ELscaping the crowd: Drag queen and friend (centre) avoid the hostile Hallowe'en hets. album cover all trivialize women's exper- Battered Wives plan to hold a concert on ience of oppression for publicity gim- January 12 at the Masonic Temple. micks. The group, incidentally, had origin- Straiglit liate on Hallowe'en In Toronto, a rally and march organ- ally wanted to call itself "Niggers in a — police, after meet- people are throwing eggs at the front of ized by Women Against Violence Wood Pile," but didn't because of the TORONTO The a ing with representatives of the gay com- the tavern. There's a small, empty no- Against Women (WAVAW) had taken racist implications of the name. They munity in early October, promised they man's land directly in front of the build- place on November 3, when Battered apparently have no such reservations would do their best to prevent crowds of ing that is so slick with broken eggs that Wives played at the O'Keefe center as about sexism. anti-gay heterosexuals from gathering it's cdmost impossible to cross without the opening act for Elvis Costello. by Elizabeth Bolton outside the St Charles tavern on faUing. Some people do fall. The crowd WAVAW stated that, while some punk and Mariana ValverdeD Hallowe'en. roars. They didn't. "The cops spend most of their time Though they were there in large doing their best to keep people from without men produced a tremendous numbers, the police did nothing to pre- standing too close to the plate glass store Women reclaim feeling of strength," said head marshall vent the biggest regular mass display of windows along the street. When some- Rape City streets Effie Woloshyn. straight hate in North America from one rushes the front door of the St The march ended at the University of tximing Yonge Street into dangerous terri- Charles and rips it open, breaking the EDMONTON — After dark on Satur- Alberta campus, where rally facilities tory for gay people. However, a quickly lock and sphntering the wood, they look day, November 18, several hundred were being set up by men from Edmon- organized, ad hoc group of gay activists the other way. They get a little more women gathered in -23°C weather on ton's Lesbian and Gay Rights Organi- spent most of the evening patroling dark upset if a stray egg hits one of them — 97th Street here. Chanting arm in arm, zation. Addressed by groups such as the backstreets where isolated gay people they plunge into the crowd and there's the women proceeded to march through Rape Crisis Centre and Student Legal might be in danger from straight attacks. one more surest. the roughest area of the city to reclaim Aid, the rally managed to raise $450 to The newspapers reported 95 arrests, "One of the dykes I was with saw this the streets which have given Edmonton offset expenses and help support the more than ever before. Gay spokes- straight creep with eggs hidden under his the reputation of Canada's Rape City. Rape Crisis Centre. persons feel the increased number of shirt. She strolls past and "accidentally" An alarming increase recently in the Edmonton's media gave the event arrests may be due in part to the pressure smacks into him at belly level. The look number of sexual assaults spurred good coverage and a CP wire story was the community has been putting on the on his face... Edmonton's Women's Coalition to picked up by newspapers across the pohce, and they also hope the arrests "Inside the St Charles the drag show organize the march. Said spokeswoman country. Organizers were pleased and may help discourage the event next year. goes on without a hitch. When it's all Mary Hickman, "We marched here be- Woloshyn called the event "really TBP reporter Robin Hardy was part over, they leave by the back door, same cause we are afraid of the violence done fantastic, women here are in high of the Yonge Street crowd this as they came in. A few hets have to women in this city — Rape City. We spirits." Hallowe'en: "There were thousands of gathered around by that time. An older want that violence and the fear of that Meanwhile, Federal Justice Minister them lining both sides of the street for 4 man points to one of the queens and violence to end." Otto Lang has indicated that new rape or 5 city blocks. Ostensibly they were says. "He should be put out of his The lively five-kilometre march legislation redefining rape as indecent there to see the drag queens go in and misery." occured without incident. The women assault has been postponed at least until out of the St Charles tavern, but all they Gay community spokespersons had decided not to apply for a march early next year. The Law Reform Com- can do is ogle each other across the street empha-sizcd they will continue to put permit in order to avoid having a male mission ha.s recommended that rape laws or check out the bumper to bumper pressure on the police to do their job and police escort, and in the same spirit, men be replaced with a provision thai sexual horn-honking traffic. The drag queens prevent crowds from forming. It is were not invited to participate in the contact with another person without are smart enough to enter by the back hoped as well that a larger group of gay march itself. "Two hundred women that person's consent be the offense. door. people can be organized to patrol the walking together through the streets "From different places in the crowd streets next ycar.U DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/ 13 BENERT DANCE for the Lesbian Mothers' Ma Air Street (at IHllilll Castiefield) Defence Fund IlVVIt in Toronto and Gay Youth Toronto In Touch $2.25 Mandate $2.00 December 1 6, 9 PM to 1 AM BJueboy $2.25 Advocate $ .75 519 Church Street, Toronto Operation Liberty protests Numbers $3.00 Cash Bar We don't charge over cover price. increased state repression Open8AM-6PM Admission/Donation: $2.50 Advance tickets available at (416)486-8739 The Toronto Women's Bookstore MONTREAL — Over one thousand stration. The events had originally been Mail orders are now being accepted. Add and Glad Day Books people packed Operation Liberty's Nov- scheduled for October 21 , but had been 50 14/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 Avid Entertainments & Joseph Deane present WINNER SAN FRANCISCO DRAMA CRITICS AWARD CRIMES AGAINST NATURE study a plan to occupy Quebec. May 8, 1972. The RCMP bums down a bam in the Eastern Townships to pre- SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN'S THEATRE COLLECTIVE vent a meeting from taking place. October 6, 1972. Quebec Provincial Police, Montreal Security Police and RCMP carry out a burglary at the offices of Agence de Press Libre, a Quebec news service. Membership and subscription lists are stolen. January 8, 1973. RCMP agents steal and copy computer tapes with membership lists of the Parti Qu^b^ois. February 21, 1973. Montreal city police search the Women's Centre in that city and seize documents. August 1973, Microphone bugs are dis- covered in Agence de Press Libre offices. June 30, 1974. Legislation on electronic eavesdropping which amends the Official Secrets Act becomes law. July 26, 1974. An RCMP agent is wounded when a bomb he is placing at the home of the president of Steinberg's Supermarkets explodes. The bombing was to appear to be the work of striking supermarket workers. March 27, 1975. The Federal cabinet issues a series of secret directives to broaden the mandate of the RCMP on terms of the fight against "subversion." June 25, 1975. Montreal police search the offices of The Committee to Struggle A Play About Survival for Contraception and Free Abortion and The Feminist Documentation Centre. Lists and documents are seized. ORIGINAL CAST Spring 1976. In preparation for the Olympic Games, the secret services of "BRISK WrrTY...MADE US LAUGH MORE THAN "SO WELL STAGED AND PERFORMED THAT IT " the Canadian Army, the RCMP. the ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS BLEW ME OUT OF MY SEAT" San Francisco Chroncle QPP, and Montreal police carry out ex- village Voice tensive raids, searches and interrogations in Quebec and across the country. December 4th-1 6th July 1977. The Federal law on wiretap- Moa-Thurs. &30pm Fri.&Sat. 8 OOA lOISpm Tickets $550 -$8.80 ping and electronic eavesdropping is amended and made more repressive. Autumn 1977. The public leams that the MUSIC HALL THEATRE RCMP stole and used confidential 147 Danforth Avenue at Broadview 463-1186 medical files and income tax reports held by other state agencies. October 23, 1977. Machine gun-totting Catherine deKatevale in Quebec. Both this was totally unacceptable to the New and police march into the Truxx bar in QPP and RCMP subsequently refuse to Democratic Party. Up Coming Montreal and arrest 144 gay men, take responsibility for the harassment. The meeting, in downtown Toronto's The Lesbian Organization of Toronto forcing them to undergo compulsory VD October 1978. Parliament declares a St Lawrence Hall, was called on an (LOOT) is sponsoring a benefit dance to tests. strike by Canadian Union of Postal emergency basis by the Federation of raise money for a Canada-wide lesbian December 30, 1977. Metropolitan Workers illegal, and RCMP agents begin Metro Tenants' Associations to prevent conference. The dance will be held on Toronto and Ontario Provincial Police searching union offices, seizing the Tory government from pushing December 9 at St Paul's Church, raid the offices of The Body Politic and membership lists and harassing union through the new legislation without suf- 121 Avenue Road, at 9 pm. LOOT is seize 12 shipping boxes of files, personal officials in their homes. D ficient time for public discussion and responsible for organizing the confer- correspondence, submissions, financial debate. ence and needs women wilhng to help. records and subscription lists. Officials support The proposed legislation would Contact The Lesbian Conference Com- Autumn 1977. The Canadian Defense destroy or substantially weaken all the mittee, c/o LOOT, 342 Jarvis St, Minister admits that the security services Toronto, and see page 36 for details. gay tenants rights reforms achieved by tenants in 1 970 and of the Canadian Army and the RCMP 1975 amendments to landlord and On Friday, December 15, from 8 pm, landlord have been installing listening devices in TORONTO — New and tenant law. Particularly dangerous is a the Waterloo Universities' Gay Liber- tenant student meeting halls in Toronto, legislation changing the laws re- new provision allowing landlords to ation Movement is having a Christmas lating to Ottawa and Montreal. residential tenancies should establish "house rules" and to make pany in the 5th Hoor lounge of the Math include provisions The public learns the RCMP protecting lesbians possible summary eviction for any viola- and Computer Building. With taped and gays from eviction on the basis has been illegally opening first class mail of tion of such roles. The provision music and the band "Willow," the ad- their sexual orientation, according to in the Post Office for almost 40 years. could allow homophobic landlords to mission is $1.00 for Kitchener- Ontario NDP leader Michael Cassidy. February 1978. Cabinet introduces Bill establish discriminatory "rules" stating Waterloo students and $2.00 for Speaking to about 500 C-26 into Parliament to make illegal angry tenants that gays and lesbians could not be others. For more information call (519) at a meeting held RCMP mail openings legal after the November 15 to tenants, or that homosexual or lesbian 884-0769. oppose proposed fact. new residential sexual acts were forbidden on the Toronto Inlexrity, the gay Anglicans, tenancy September 28, 1978. Fifty police armed legislation, Cassidy was res- premises. are having their Christmas party at 8 pm with rifles, cameras with telescopic ponding to comments and questions Paul TrollopcD on December 12 at St John's Church \n lenses, binoculars and walkie-talkies, from the floor. He seemed surprised to Toronto. Integrity's next regular meet- hear that illegally surround a farmhouse where a lesbians and gays were being ing is on January 9 al 8 pm at Holy study weekend organized by the group evicted from their apartments because of Trinity Church, and the second Tuesday In Struggle! is taking place near St their sexual orientation, and said that of every month i hereafter. D DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/ 15 ' TheWorld and said, "I also want to ask everybody paper advertisements opposing the Gays win landslide victory; to vote against Proposition 6." At that initiative. D point he did receive the loudest applause of his speech. Senate votes voters dump both 13 and 6 Briggs has declared he will put the in- iative back on the ballot in 1980. Calling ERA extension Briggs and SOME vow to return the three miUion votes which defeated WASHINGTON — The US Senate has the initiative a "narrow margin," the voted to extend by 39 months the rati- SEATTLE — Voters defeated an initia- evident at the two victory parties as anti-gay senator expressed confidence fication deadUne for the Equal Rights "13" tive to repeal this city's gay rights or- overjoyed opponents of kissed, that in a presidential election yesir his in- Amendment. The Senate followed the dinance by a margin of 62.9 to 37. 1 per clapped, danced, hugged, stomped and iative would receive less opposition from lead of the House of Representatives cent. shouted. The "Citizens" party heard prominent national figures. which had voted for the extension last The results make Seattle the first US congratulatory speeches from Seattle Although the poHtician's stands stole summer. The bill now goes to President city to reaffirm its support for gay rights mayor Charles Royer and City Attorney the headlines, mjmy were motivated only Carter who will undoubtedly sign it. popular referendum. by Gay rights or- Doug Jewett. At the more crowded by their desire to come down on the The ERA seeks to enshrine equal dinances were repealed in Miami, SCAT and WAT bash the atmosphere winning side. The victory was due to the rights for women in the American Wichita, St Paul and Eugene over the was even more exuberant. broad grass roots support mobilized by constitution. It must be ratified by three last two years. Said SCAT'S Shannon West, "I've the thousands of gay people who organi- more state legislatures on or before the The victory was largely due to an ex- been saying we were going to win, sure, zed themselves against the right-wing now extended deadUne of June 30, 1982 tensive grass roots campaign which tack- because that's the way you've got to run offensive. in order to become the 27th amend- led head on the issues of gay rights and a campaign, but I really didn't expect "A new dimension has been added to ment. D . ' homosexuality. Opposition to the anti- this ... I ' m totally blown away gay politics," says the American Civil gay initiative was spearheaded by the The overwhelming defeat of 1 3 helped Liberties Union Northern California Sweats resist threats Seattle Against 13 Committee (SCAT) the gay community here to realize it has Gay Rights Chapter Bulletin. "It seems BELFAST — The British gay theatre and Women Against 13 (WAT). The pohtical clout. "I think it's going to to have to do with educating the culture group Gay Sweatshop is continuing its conservative more "Citizens to Retain make us a really strong political and cul- as to who we are and what we want — tour in Northern Ireland in spite of Fair Employment" concentrated its ef- tural force," said SCAT spokesperson along with presenting ourselves as real threats and harassment. forts on media advertising and endorse- Dennis Raymond. Another SCAT people. This means struggUng with the Opening night at Coleraine University ments from figures. pubUc worker was already looking ahead: "It's gut issues, as painful as they are. Homo- was marred by a last minute change in In the last weeks of the campaign, all not over yet. We have to try to get the phobia is fear — ours and theirs, and theatres and by demonstrators from the three major anti-13 organizations were state gay rights biU passed. Homophobia must be confronted." Free Methodist Church and Reverend active. Door-to-door canvassing is still out there. "D Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist • continued across the city. "Citizens" Dade County Party. Although heckling forced one reached its campaign goal of $1(X),000. CALIFORNIA — Senator John Briggs' stop in the performance, the actors con- SCAT and WAT volunteers wearing Initiative 13 was defeated by a margin of votes no again tinued and were given a standing ovation sandwich bill-boards and dispensing 58 to 42 percent. In San Francisco 75% by a capacity audience at the end of the literature were seen all over town, while of voters opposed the measure. The MIAMI — Voters in Dade County, evening. freeway banners at rush hour recom- "Briggs Initiative" would have required Florida once again defeated a measure The following day Belfast gays mended a "no" vote. SCAT also man- both the firing of gay teachers and of which would have guaranteed equal mounted a counter protest and kept aged to line up substantial union support anyone — even straights — who rights to gay people. Unionist demonstrators away from the behind gay rights, and took the question supported gay rights within the Califor- The anti-discrimination ordinance, theatre doors. The performance took into working class and black areas for nia school system. put on the ballot by Bob Kunst, Alan place without incident. the first of time. Even before Proposition 6 qualified Rockway and Melody Moorehead "No way would we let threats stop us Pre-election polls had predicted an ex- for the ballot, anti-Briggs groups were Miami's Transperience Centre, was de- from performing," said group adminis- tremely close race: the last Seattle Times forming to try and stop it. "Califomians feated by a 59 to 41 per cent margin. The trator John Hoyland. "Gay Sweatshop survey said 54 under-funding 3md lack of pohtical ex- Pjuty Central Committee; the San Fran- mothers who had borne children after unlikely — it was finjdly destroyed by perience. SOME received a $10,000 cisco Chronicle and Examiner; and the artificial insemination. Evening News this case." donation from Anita Bryant's Protect LA Times all urged no on 6. staff posing as lesbians had tricked their Labour MP Maureen Colquhoun America's Children. At the end of a speech in support of way into the confidence of members of urged the Home Secretary that the SOME's other co-chair, policemjm Democratic candidates in Sacramento, Sappho Pubhcations, a lesbian publish- Council be replaced. "The investigation Dennis Falk, grumbled, "If the voters President Carter turned to Governor ing collective, and subsequently tracked methods used by the Evening News were have rejected our initiative, they have Brown and asked, "Do you think I down the lesbian households. Photo- the depths of a depraved section of the just taken the homosexuals and their ought to say anything about Proposition graphs were taken without the British Press. Yet these methods have behaviour, put their stamp of approved 6?" Both politicians evidently thought knowledge of the mothers concerned. been condoned by a sick and tired Press on it, and this element is just going to go their remarks could not be heard by the The Press Council rejected the five Council, a body which you must know wild filing complaints against landlords crowd although in fact they were speak- separate complaints on the ground that has long lost the confidence of the and employers. Maybe we should have ing before an open microphone. Brown the subject was "undoubtedly a matter House of Commons and responsible let these homosexuals carry on with their replied to Carter, "Reagan and Ford of pubUc interest and concern about joumaUsts. The Press Council protects recruiting of our children for another have come out against it. You'll get your which information was not otherwise no one except the rising circulation of year or so. As they flaunt their deviant loudest applause if you do. It's going to available." The Council's decision the gutter press. . .The recent decision on behaviour in the face of the general be defeated and Ford and Reagan have ignored the fact that Sappho magazine AID babies... is total discrimination public, the public will become concerned already come out against it, so I think had treated the subject more than once against lesbian mothers and part of the and we'll get on the ballot again." it's perfectly safe." in articles readily available to reporters. buildup in Britain against the Much "deviant behaviour" was Carter then turned back to the crowd Lesbian and gay groups reacted homosexual minority. .."D 16/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 D Killer guns down Harvey Milk SAN FRANCISCO — Gay municipal and killed him. There is an unconfirmed supervisor Harvey Milk and pro-gay report that White also aimed his gun at Mayor George Moscone were shot and another councillor, but was out of killed November 27 in the offices of city bullets. White then fied city hall, but hall. Ex-supervisor Dan White has been later turned himself in to police. arrested and charged with murder in The San Francisco gay community connection with the slayings. went into a state of shock after the The murders followed Mayor murders. Milk's election last November Moscone's refusal to rescind White's symbolized for many the ascendancy to resignation as supervisor two weeks out-of-the-closet gay . public office of before. Although it appears at present men and women. that the slayings were not gay-related, A candlelight memorial march up Dyke dumps cop: Margaret Crisp (left), mother of three and wife of London White was the only member to consis- Castro Street to city hall took place the Police Chief, Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner John Crisp, is asking for a divorce tently vote against gay rights matters evening of November 27, and in order to live with her lover, deaconess Maureen "Dusty" Miller. Ms Crisp, 50, before the Board of Supervisors. demonstrations have been planned in says she tried not to fall in love with Dusty, even having affairs with men, hoping White, an ex-policeman and former Dallas, Washington and New York. they would smother her true feelings. Viet Nam paratrooper, entered city hall There are fears of further violence in Deciding she could no longer endure "the nightmare of presenting the image of duti- at 10:45 AM and asked to meet with the San Francisco in the wake of the Milk- ful wife to a high ranking police officer," Ms Crisp finally came out last month, "so mayor. Moscone was to have announced Moscone slayings. Some spokespersons I could be with the woman I love." White's replacement as supervisor at a pointed out that the murders were not an news conference later that morning. anti-gay action, but were motivated by Pickets were held at Greek Embassies to 66 and included married men in jobs Moscone agreed to the meeting and Moscone's refusal to rescind White's in Paris, Dublin, London, Rome, ranging from labourers to businessmen. into his asked White inner office. resignation as supervisor. Milk Ottawa, Washington DC and other cities Police used a secret camera concealed in Shortly thereafter, people outside heard apparently supported Moscone's around the world. the ceiling of the restroom to trap their noises and, upon entering the office, decision. However, other individuals Greek authorities reacted with victims. D found shot the Moscone in head. White pointed out White's anti-gay council reassurances that although a bill is in allegedly left the office through a back record. preparation, "No authentic or official Group urges vote exit and crossed through city hall to the "Harvey was well-liked not only by text has yet been made available." IGA supervisors' offices where he saw gays but by everyone in San Francisco," spokespeople are hoping this means against constitution Harvey Milk in the corridor. White said Paul Lorch of the Bay Area there will be a careful revision of the BARCELONA — The Lambda asked Milk to join him in White's Reporter. "He was a champion of draft proposal circulated earlier this year ' Institute, a gay liberation centre, has ur- former office where he allegedly shot human rights causes. ' D and that the bill will be radically differ- ged gays to vote "no" on the new ent when it is finally introduced into Spanish constitution. Parliament. The constitution will formalize diocese of New York was preparing to Greece is especially vulnerable to Spain's new democracy following the since it spend $2 million to defeat the bill if it international pressure at present Rights bill killed death of Spanish dictator Francisco had passed on to council. is applying for membership in the Euro- Franco. It is expected to be approved by This is the fifth time gay rights have pean Economic Community and its for fifth time the electorate in a December 6 been turned down in New York. human rights record is under close referendum. NEW YORK CITY — City Council's Committees rejected the bill in July scrutiny, n The anti-discrimination clauses General Welfare Committee has voted 1972, April 1973 and September 1975. proposed in the legislation are broad and to kill Introduction 384, the gay rights The measure was voted down by the full do not specifically prohibit discrimina- bill, before it could be discussed in City council in 1974. tion on the basis of sexual orientaton. Council. The decision came November 8 The CLGR called a demonstration Cop cameras nab 39 The Institute's information bulletin after a raucous 12-hour hearing marked the following day "to voice our deter- at truckers' rest stop points out that the interpretation of the by loud exchanges between committee mination in the streets!" Three thou- anti-discrimination clauses will be the members and over 200 gay rights sand angry gays and gay-rights sup- KALAMAZOO — A crackdown early 'responsibility of the judges and magis- supporters. porters responded, rallying in Green- in November by Kalamazoo County trates of the Supreme Tribunal who, "as Mayor Ed Koch was the first witness wich Village and marching up Eighth Sherifrs detectives on alleged homo- we all know, in their great majority both to testify in support of the bill. Avenue to a Times Square rally which sexual activities at a rest area on the politically and morally belong to the most Individuals and groups supporting the completely blocked traffic on nearby State Highway has resulted in the reactionary sectors of our society. "D bill included former Representative Bella Broadway. arrests of 39 men, two of them high Abzug, the City Council president. "We will not stop our struggle until school teachers. — High school students Borough Presidents of Manhattan, the full human rights for millions of lesbians "We have 73 rest areas in the state Bronx and Queens, representatives from and gay citizens have been won," said all have this problem," said a State fbmi gay youth group the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay the Coalition press release. The Highway spokesperson. Pohce claimed Rights, and other gay groups. Coalition plans to continue pressing to they were responding to the complaints JAMAICA — A little more than a year The 6 to 3 decision not to send the bill bring the bill before a full council where of "truck drivers." after the founding of the Gay Freedom to council feel the police effort was greeted with shouts of they feel it has more support. Kalamazoo gays Movement (GFM), a Gay Youth Move- "shame, shame" by gay activists. was an attempt at harassment. Seventy- ment has been launched on this Carib- The Coalition for Lesbian and Gay one students and former students, along bean island. Rights called the decision "arrogant and World-wide pickets with twenty-one parents, signed a After a series of meetings attended by cowardly." "The lesbian and gay com- petition demanding the reinstatement of students from a number of Kingston protest bill munity is outraged at the decision of the Greek the two teachers, removed from teaching area high schools, the group elected an General Welfare Committee to once DUBLIN — Protesters responding to a duties by the local Board of Education executive and began plan. .nig future again trample on our rights by refusing call from the International Gay Associa- after the charges became known. activities. The group plans to provide to release Intro 384 from committee ... tion picketed Greek Embassies in cities Speaking on behalf of the parents and gay youth with an opportunity to meet they once again caved in to pressure around the world September 29. students, Jim Bump, chairperson of the with each other lo discuss common from political bigwigs operating behind The protests were A Dignity spokesperson, Andy up to three months, and would make it learned about justice in this country." tests, and will refer patients to gay Humm, had revealed that the Arch- illegal to be openly gay in public. Those arrested ranged in age from 18 doctors.! 1 DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODYPOLmC/17 / TribalRites come by John Forbes any way you like Hanky Panky: Beyond the pale & back again Before the 1970s there was only one true hanky code — effeminate. Whether you were a fop, a pansy or a queen, your flag was the handkerchief flaunted in the face of oppression. Now, as this decade looks back with but come an increasingly post-mortem view, such camp seems tarnished, along with the rest of the ddclass^ elements of our yes- teryears. Already, pocket hankies have undergone a role-change, stylishly resur- facing over the hip pockets of the New Butch, that State of Denim which rides a range from early dude ranch to late jack- boots. This pocket drapery (known to the trade as a "Hot Hanky"), the warp the S&M Dressing, please." in the new weave, is really just a re- With this in mind, note the following finement on the old Fifties theme of list of codes and colours, extended and "His & Hers" towel sets given new kink redesigned with Taste, Refinement and and sparkle; presumably to liven up the Decorator Hues in mind. Should you beige aridity of the Seventies. have any doubt about this being the These Hot Hanks come with a list of shape of things to come, please remem- role-colours and pocket-placings that ber that you can always revert back to ng(]H50U[?5 read like a "Who's What" of the sex- the campier byways of Romance as en- status register. Thus, in the self-serve visioned by the lovely Barbara Cartland, and take-out world of Disco you can get Queen Regnant of the Romance novel, it as "done the way you like it" as a who believes that "make-up is a dis- Burger King Whopper: "I'll have the cipline... and what most people lack EQ Passif Role Buns with just a touch of today is self-discipline." COLOUR LEFT SIDE RIGHT SIDE Red Fist Fucker & Lint Picker Fist Fuckee & Bargain Hunter Dari(Blue Fucker with Indoor /Outdoor Fuckee Needing a Good Patio Carpeting Vacuuming Mustard Has 8" or more with Relish Wants a Big One For the & Onions Cuisinart Yellow Golden Shower Giver & GS Receiver & GQ Reader Bridal Shower Dreamer Olive Drab Military / Uni forms / & Looking For Same In Orion The Layered Look Pile White Jack Me Off For Jesus I'll Do Us Both For God Gray Gives Bondage/ Light S&M Desires Same with Some Dusting Required Mayonnaise Black Heavy S&M, Top — Will Heavy S&M, Bottom — Will Eat Twinkles If Forced Not Use Meat Tenderizers Purple Piercer / Genitorturer / Piercee / Creme Caramel Vegetarian / Plushstu ffer Caresser, Etc. THE WHIP AND CHILL GUIDE: Dusty Rose will purchase this enchanting will receive same & place in a shade of toilet tissue at a smart silver deco bathroom smart Milanese boutique to accent Clarice Cliff sconces Melon reads Interview & the wishes he were one social register Charcoal Worsted Scat singer — Digs Ella, a young person fascinated narrow ties & safety pins by the "fabulous fifties" but who hasn't discovered: McCarthyism or Barbecues Avocado into Dishwasher Sports, has toaster & seeks your Microwave Disciplines & Pop Tarts Betty Crockery Desert Gold likes hockey & tv bondage loves Ice Capades & Dream a fully licensed restaurant Whip Elephant's Breath is a master of bean sprouts a slave to organic peanut at 562 church street, toronto (grey drab) butter open Sunday through thursday, noon to ten p.m. Gold Lame wants a dressmaker receives sequins friday and Saturday until one am. Leopard Spots a devotee of "Catch Me, waiting to be discovered by Tarzan" Doctor Brute closed mondays Jaded Green loves it when you yawn a conversational sleeper Decorator's a basket hanger — devotee wishes someone would 924-1972 Chocolate of macrame — very hot for appreciate his new suede plants upholstery 18/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 by Ken Popert G(XX>BERRY NATURAL FOODS of Toronto's Public memory, private property One finest selections of Health and Natural Foods A week or so before California's Pro- detailed manipulation of current news nVltamin supplements n Fresh Produce position Six went to the voters in the and the constant revision of old news D Herbs recent US by-elections, CBC Radio's were used by the ruling party to control D Cheese Shop evening news program, "The World at the population. D Natural and Organic nSoya Bean Foods Six," carried a two-to-three minute Our own circumstances differ only in Flours, Grains, Beans D Juices and Blenders report on the Briggs effort to bar gays degree from that hypothetical situation. Books from the teaching profession. As I list- News stories which tend to disconfirm ened, I made a bet with myself: if Briggs the dogma of the ruling group — the Natural Foods Juice and Snack Bar also known as wins, I thought, the CBC will carry a fol- owners of big business, 17 St. Nicholas Street, Toronto low-up story reporting his victory, but, the bourgeoisie — suddenly vanish if the gays win, we won't hear about it. without a trace. I've already mentioned Bring this ad in and get 10% off your purchase Regrettably, I was proved correct. Proposition Six, but I'm sure that you, Briggs lost and the story disappeared like me, can recall times when you've from "The World at Six." Not a single suddenly wondered "Whatever hap- word has subsequently been carried by pened to ..." in connection with some- the program on a story which had been thing you'd heard or read in the news. assigned major importance just a few The other indicator of news manipula- days before. tion is the sudden appearance in the Jewellery My speculation regarding the Briggs news of stories which, by their style, im- story wasn't snatched from the thin air. ply they've been in the news all along. I first noticed (two years ago) a You just hadn't noticed them. Like all consistent pattern in CBC Radio's those city bylaws. Factory coverage of the gay rights struggle. Times of social crisis, like our own, In June 1977, an Ontario New Dem- stimulate the appetite of the offers you fabulous ocratic Party convention adopted a reso- bourgeoisie for solutions to the problem jewellery made in lution favouring the inclusion of sexual of democracy. Locally, The Globe and our own workshop orientation in the Ontario Human Mail and The Toronto Star have in Rights Code. The convention also voted recent years closed their clippings Save 30% to 50% to strike from the resolution a section in libraries to the public. Until they took on Jewellery, favour of allowing gays to adopt chil- that step, you could always check your Diamonds & Watches dren. So, although it proved skittish on shaky recollections by consulting those ;We pierce anything free with purchase! the question of adoption, the conven- compilations of yesterday's news. But y^ 427 Queen Street West tion did generally endorse human rights now that record of the past is no longer >vy (at Spadlna), Toronto for gays. accessible. Ever in the vanguard of ' ^ Telephone: 368-3753 But listeners of the CBC Radio news Orwellian innovations. The Star will tell program, "Sunday Magazine," were you it has no such library if you call to given a strikingly different picture. make an inquiry. ^Cappuccino-30 teas-fresh apple cider-frappe- perrier rri There it was reported that the NDP And so public memory becomes X o convention had "unceremoniously private property, to be disposed of as its dumped" a resolution on the adoption owners see fit. of children by homosexuals. That was it. It will be instructive to observe how The approval of the broader resolution the news media use — or, as they say, Q> on gay rights was not mentioned. "report" — the upcoming prosecution Another example: a number of US of The Body Politic. The trial will be of 3 and Canadian cities have passed bylaws interest to the media mainly to the extent barring discrimination against gays. that it can feed their demand for CO 0) As far as I know, CBC Radio has never material confirming the image of gays to acknowledged any of these advances for be projected for public consumption. 406 Dupont St CD gay people. Yet, this same news We can expect rather more Co operation has attentively covered the re- coverage for crown witnesses and rather Toronto 9618341 Q. peal of some of these same bylaws. less for defence testimony. It is also a So, whatever its pohcy, CBC practice is strong possibility that the amount of Lunch 12.2:30 o that gay defeats are newsworthy, while coverage will dwindle as the trial runs its co' gay victories are not. The way this three-day course. This follows naturally Dinner 6.10 pm (A practice meshes with opposition to the from the fact that prosecution testimony Q (0 gay movement is plain enough: it will be offered first and will be of greater O) Closed MondoLjs Co dampens the struggle for gay rights by use to the media. But the coverage will CD conveying the false impression that the also diminish if the trial fails to produce "^ Curry-ratatouille ~ hummus-seafood cr&pes - spanakopitta ^ gay struggle never wins. If we didn't "newsworthy" material and instead have our own news vehicles, feeble as provides points of view which contra- they are, we'd never be the wiser. dict the media image of gays. CBC Radio is not unique. On the If there is coverage of The Body contrary, it is utterly typical of the news Politic trial in your local news media, I media. The news is a political tool which suggest you try this little experiment. COME ONCE is used, among many other reprehensible Imagine yourself as a person who, like You^ll come again and again to: uses, to demoralize the gay movement most people, has never seen The Body and encourage reaction against it. Politic. Try to capture the impression of I don't know what kind of coverage this magazine as conveyed to such a the defeat of the Briggs initiative person by your news media. Compare received in your part of the country. I do that impression with your knowledge of know that, with the exception of a brief The Body Politic. Next, multiply that mention in a Globe and Mail article discrepancy by every story which House (significantly headed "US tax-cuts appears in your newspaper, on your Room & Apartment rates: popular; Florida voters reject gambling, radio, on your television screen. Daily: $22 to $50 gay rights"), the interested Torontonian I hope that frightens you.U Weekly: $132 to $300 could have scoured the daily press in pfteclive Dpcember 16 to April 30 vain for news of that important gay In Toronlo, contact Encore Travel, 922-1693 victory in California. • In Historic Old Town, close to bars, beach, restaurants and disco This curious elasticity of "the news" • new pool • two sundecks • complimentary coffee brings with it a I984ish aroma. In the 1129 Fleming Street • Key West. Florida 33040 • (305) 294-6284 society sketched in Orwell's novel, the DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/ 19 BodyMilic SPECIAL PRE-TRIAL REPORT HERHUJESTT THEQDEEH TS nNKTRUMLE PRESS That is how the law sees it. The State deems itself aggrieved by the actions of a non-profit Ontario cor- poration and its three "executives." The courts will settle the matter. Whatever drama there is in the situation will be played out in a cramped, stuffy courtroom in the bowels of a brooding Victorian edifice in downtown Toronto. The law books will record a decision; they may record an appeal. What they won't record is a struggle, nor will there be any mention of the real forces in opposition. Representing Her Majesty: an Attorney General reportedly opposed to equal rights for gay people and happy to discover an occasion which might "set back the cause"; Sergeant Mike Jennings and Detective Sergeant John Houston of 20/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 Operation P (for pornography), the very much depend upon the support, the be there. • The first charge relates to the posses- squad that needed to seize 12 boxes of work, the encouragement of the gay The judges, too, become hardened sion by Pink Triangle Press' Book Ser- material in order to press charges against community, n and impatient. Lengthy cross-examina- vice of copies of the gay sex manual this paper; the Toronto Sun and its tions are discouraged. Defence lawyers Loving Man. This offence is worded as crank columnist Claire Hoy, both with who try to elicit contradictions and in- follows: Every one an interest in engineering the "swing to consistencies in police evidence are often commits an offence who... has in his possession for the purpyose of... distri- the right" they are so fond of reporting; January 2,1979: harshly criticized. Many judges dst bution... any obscene written matter, pic- a Catholic priest whose pastoral duties impatient with legal arguments, citation ture... or other thing whatsoever. appear to include probing the gay com- of case law by lawyers, or fine dis- the setting The Criminal Code definition of munity for witnesses against TBP. tinctions over problem areas in the crimineil law. "obscene" is as follows: On the other side is that Ontario cor- Collective member Paul Trollope is an For the purposes of this Act, any publica- poration. Pink Triangle Press and its articling law student. We asked him to As well, the criminal court is over- tion a dominant characteristic of which is three "executives." Regular readers of clarify thejudicial process in which TBP whelmingly male dominated. Not one of the undue exploitation of sex, or of sex and is involved. the several hundred provincial criminail this pubUcation will understand what any one or more of the following subjects, court in is that really means. The general pubUc judges Ontario a woman. namely, crime, horror, cruelty and vio- will not understand that PTP pubUshes Toronto's Old City Hall is a dreary place Very few women are employed as Crown lence, shall be deemed to be obscene. the major voice of gay people in to visit. About 25 courtrooms on four attorneys, and very few women act as The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled Canada; that those executive positions floors process hundreds of accused per- criminal defence lawyers. that the question of whether there has exist only to fulfill the requirements of sons every day of the week. The court is The judges' styles differ widely. Some been "undue exploitation of sex" must the Ontario corporations act, and that in said to be the highest volume criminal are openly intimidating towards counsel be determined by reference to "a general fact we operate collectively, with help court in Canada. The backlog of cases is as well as accused. Others treat counsel average of contemporary Canadian and advice from a group larger than the considerable, creating chronic adminis- with respect, but show little kindness or community standards." This is a one we were able to gather for the trative difficulties. consideration towards the accused. question of fact for the jury to deter- Several photograph (left). The general pubhc Most of the courtrooms are fairly of the judges, usually the mine — if there is a jury. Where a judge will not be aware that gay people in small, noisy, and very hot in summer. younger, more recently appointed ones, tries a case, he or she alone must decide Canada, the US and overseas have Several of them have stairways or are articulate, interested and courteous this issue. donated generously enough to the passageways leading directly from the to all concerned. Some have a sharp and The second charge relates to the use of defence fund that money has, so far, not holding cells in the basement so that insightful knowledge of the law, while the mails by The Body Politic to trans- been a problem in this case. Nor will the accused persons in custody can be herd- others appear to have forgotten most of mit its December 1977/ January 1978 public know that organizations both gay ed directly into court, often in hand- it. issue which contained an article by and straight have condemned the police cuffs. In at least one courtroom, there is The TBP trial will be influenced by Gerald Hannon entitled "Men Loving will action and have written, marched and a constant clatter of bells, shouting be- most of the above factors, but there Boys Loving Men." This offence is editorialized on our behalf. tween policemen about which prisoners be several important differences. The worded as follows: At issue between Her Majesty and to take where, and doors slamming. All case will not be simply one of many in a Every one commits an offence who makes Pink Triangle Press are the questions of this takes place while cases are being courtroom January 2: a special court- use of the mails for the purpose of trans- the "obscenity" of a book and the "im- tried. room and judge will have been assigned mitting or delivering anything that is morality" (or "indecency," or "scurril- It is almost impossible to hear the pro- solely for our case. More important, obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous... ousness") of an issue of a magazine. ceedings in some courtrooms. Witnesses perhaps, is the fact that the Crown is not Presumably the same definition of "ob- What is really at issue is far more impor- are called to the witness stand but often treating the case casually. On the scene" would apply here, but neither the tant than that. As one letter writer to a do not speak loudly enough to be heard. contrary, a special Crown attorney has Criminal Code nor case law provides any Toronto arts magazine put it, "The out- Other noises created by air conditioning been assigned to our case since the clear definition of "immoral," come of The Body Politic trial in the machinery (which does not seem to cool charges were first laid, and he has been "indecent" or "scurrilous." In this next month or so will determine whether anything) and by construction crews working in direct consultation with the case, the courts usually turn to the or not in this country censorship has right outside the window add to the Deputy Head Crown Attorney for York. ordinary diction£U7 meanings of such moved into its final, tertiary phase..." general uproar. On several occasions The trial itself will bear little resem- words. Tertiary, because the writer was com- judges have adjourned court, advising blance to the dramatic encounters What are the possible penalties that paring the process to syphilis. the hapless Crown attorney that unless popularized by television. The obscenity could be levied if anyone is found Censorship, because, as the same s/he finds a quieter or cooler courtroom laws are among the most muddled and guilty? writer put it, the charges represented the in which to meet, the judge will dismiss vague sections of the Criminal Code. That depends. Every one who commits "suppression of a distinct minority all the remaining charges on the list that There are likely to be endless technical an offence under either of these group." day. legal arguments over interpretation, pro- sections is guilty of either an indictable What is at issue is not merely the The Provincial Court (Criminal cedure, admissibility of evidence, dis- offence (in which case the maximum question of the obscenity of a certain Division) is the lowest level criminal agreements over so-called expert penalty is two years' imprisonment) or a book, but the legal status of a sensitively court in Ontario. Its judges are pro- evidence, and so on. The proceedings summary conviction offence (in which written, explicit gay male sex guide. The vincially appointed, earn about $40,000 may be long and boring. To most gay case the maximum penalty is a fine of real question is whether the depiction of a year, and have on occasion been people, they may seem to have little $500 or six months in jail or both). male lovemaking is obscene. reputed to have earned their appoint- relevance to the issues as we see them. However, the above penalties apply only What is at issue is not merely the ment either as a reward for belonging to Loving Man and TBP will be dissected to individuals found guilty. If a "iirunorality" of an issue of The Body the right political party, or for being a and discussed by police officers and corporation is found guilty, fines "in an Politic, but the question of whether a nuisance in the opposition. "experts" (psychologists, sociologists, amount that is in the discretion of the community is to have a forum in which Provincial Court is where almost all priests, psychiatrists, literary figures and court" may be imposed for conviction it can discuss issues of concern to itself. criminal charges are first heard. Daily the like), almost all of them at least pre- by indictment. Fines of up to $1000 may In a larger context, the question is the court deals with a very wide spec- tending to be heterosexual. be imposed for summary conviction. whether there are some issues deemed so trum of offences, from minor ones such All in all, this is not an encouraging What's the difference between summary offensive as to be beyond public dis- as assault, shoplifting and traffic picture of the place where The Body conviction and indictment? cussion. violations to more serious ones such as Politic trial will take place, and the way Summary conviction and indictment This is the last issue of The Body drug trafficking, gross indecency, armed it will be run. It's not meant to be. The are merely the two different methods by Politic to appear before the trijil. In the robbery, and so on. Many of the charges process, though, can be an education in which the Crown may proceed to prose- following pages, we set out to clarify the are disposed of by guilty pleas, often the realities of the judicial system. cute an accused person or corporation. events, the personalities, the forces made from the prisoners' dock by young If you want to start the New Year off As a very rough guide, the least serious which have led this magazine, this col- men and women who realize that a quick by losing a few illusions, join us in court offences are punishable by summary lective effort, to a confrontation Jan- guilty plea followed by probation or a on January 2nd. D conviction only. But there are lots of uary 2 with the representatives of Her short jail sentence will probably end up "hybrid" offences which may be Majesty the Queen. getting them out of jail sooner than if proceeded with either way. Both charges There is no doubt in our minds as to they choose a full trial. Many more of which TBP is facing are such offences. the The law: breadth and loyalty of our support the charges are disposed of by plea bar- If the Crown elects (as it probably on this issue — it has been demon- gaining, where a guilty plea to a lesser will) to proceed summarily, the trial will strated many times. There is also no offence is accepted by the Crown in re- qaestions automatically be held in Old City Hall, doubt as to the strength of the opposi- turn for dropping the more serious Toronto, before a Provincial Court tion, or its aims. The Minister of Justice charge. This saves everyone's time and Judge. There will be no right to trial by has recently re-introduced a piece of energy, but there is a real question as to & answers jury under these circumstances. legislation which would further broaden whether it results in justice being served. However, if the Crown elects to pro- by Paul Trollope the obscenity laws. If you think the With all the pressure to process the ceed indictably, the defendants can then courts have found "undue exploitation vast number of people appearing in choose whether they wish to be tried by of sex" usefully vague, imagine the time court every day, it is not surprising that What rxaclly are the charj^eN against Provincial Court Judge alone. County they'll have with "undue degradation of the participants in the system become TBP, llannon, Popert and Jackson? Court Judge alone, or a County Court the human body." callous, cynical and unpleasant. For the Pink Triangle Press (The Body Politic's Judge with a 12-pcrson jury. If either of It would be foolish of us to imagine accused, court is often a confusing, publisher) as a corporate entity, and the latter two choices were made, the either an easy fight or an easy win. humiliating process which they don't Gerald Hannon, Ed Jack.son and Ken prtxcedmgs in Old City Hall would be a Whatever the result, the process will be understand. The Crown attorneys and Popert as individuals, are each charged preliminary inquiry to dctermmc draining, difficult and traumatic. police often seem to assume thai people with two separate charges under the whether there was enough evidence to How — and whether — we survive will in court must be guilty or they wouldn't Criminal Code. send the defendants to trial. If there DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/21 were, a trial date in the County Court Appeals can relate to conviction only, police entrapment. In most cases, he will face both would be set, and the full trial would be conviction and sentence, or sentence The victim will certainly be detained, charges. But very often, the law will give further delayed. only. Any appeal proceedings would be questioned and charged. He will probab- him "a chance." It's called the plea bar- What possibility for appeals would there extremely costly and time-consuming. D ly be abused verbally, and quite possibly gaining. Plead guilty to the lesser, be if anyone were found guilty? physically. He is very much alone and summary charge, and the indictable If a finding of guilt followed a summary vulnerable. It may be just his self-esteem charge of gross indecency will be conviction trial, there would be an auto- at stake, but it is more likely to be his dropped. It's tempting — the penalty matic right of appeal to a County Court Coppii^aplea: career and his whole way of life. for the former will likely be a smallish Judge. This appeal would be taken "on What are his options at this point? He fine. A guilty verdict on a gross indecen- the record" of the original trial. The feels he has done something foolish, and cy charge can sometimes mean a County Court Judge, with the trial tran- the politics insofar as he's been caught, he probably jail term. script before him/her, would hear argu- has. He wants it over with, wants out A lot of men accept that deal. They ment from the Crown as well of 'deals' with as few scars as possible. The law plead guilty, pay the fine and try to for- as TBP's lawyer about errors of law tells him he is to be charged with "gross get they now carry a criirunal record or arbitrary findings of fact not support- by Chris Bearchell indecency," or the "lesser crime" of wherever they go. ed by the evidence. "an indecent act in a public place." It But people in the gay movement A further appeal to the Ontario Court doesn't seem important that there was believe that their "crime" is in fact no " of Appeal, and in Umited circumstances A man is caught in the act." It may be no one else around but the cop with crime at all. No one was coerced. The to the Supreme Court of Canada, would in the middle of the night in a downtown voyeuristic intentions, or the cop who real victim is the so-called criminal. Gay be possible. park; it may be in the middle of the enticed him into it in the first place. And liberatiotiists advise men in this situation If a finding of guilt followed a trial afternoon in the washroom of a subway it does not seem to matter that gay sex is to fight back, to refuse to negotiate, and proceeded with by indictment in station. His "partner in crime" may be maligned, degraded and dismissed as above all never to plead guilty. The County Court, an appeal would go simply another victim of police terror, or "an indecent act" or "gross movement knows that these laws both directly to the Ontario Court of Appeal. a real-life cop in the seamy business of indecency." depend upon and foster closetry and gay FOR HER MAJESTY FOR THE PRESS Leading the pack: Sgt Mike Jennings (top left) and his Facing charges: Ed Jackson (left), Gerald Hannon and Ken Popert. With the paper since issut "Operation P" buddy Det/Sgt John Houston organized 2, and long-time co-ordinator of the review section, Jackson works as a researcher at the and carried out the raid on TBP's office December 30, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Hannon left the real world two and half years ago 1977. Both appeared before the Federal Justice and Legal to join the office staff of TBP. Ken Popert is the editor of Content magazine and gives TBP Affairs Committee February 7, 1978 to argue for a broader readers a monthly look "Between the Lines." Clay Ruby, right, is counsel for Pink Triangle definition of obscenity. Jennings has tried to persuade Rev Press. Brent Hawkes of the MCC to testify against TBP. Houston And a cast of tens: Flip back to page twenty for a look at some of the people who belong or received "Student of the Year" award from the Ontario contribute to Pink Triangle Press. 1. John Forbes, "Tribal Rites" column 2. Pat Leslie, of the Police College. Presently doing his MA thesis on Free the Press Fund 3. Graham Jackson, 7"flP dance critic 4. Ilona Laney, record reviewer 5. pornography. Paul Pearce and 6. Lorna Weir, both "Our Image" contributors 7. Elgin Blair, Mississauga Hands clasped in prayer at the prospect of a world with- news correspondent 8. Mariana Valverde, 9. Tim McCaskell and 10. Paul Trollope, collective out porn: Rev Brad Massman, Roman Catholic priest, members 1 1 . Elan Rosenquist and 12. Richard Fung, both of the Free the Press Fund 13. Billy ordained seven years ago after leaving the arms of an Chesney, distribution worker 14. Robert Trow, distribution manager 15. Ken Popert 16. Bill American multinational corporation. Two years active duty Brown, distribution worker 17. James Eraser, Canadian Gay Archivist 18. Gerald Hannon with the Navy before that ("I am not a prude. I know what 19. Michael Riordon, "Flaunting It" column 20. Ed Jackson 21 . Glenn Schellenberg and 22. cheesecake folders are of girls. 1 had them maybe in my Billy Sutherland, "The New Age" column 23. Robert Wallace, theatre reviewer 24. Richard locker too of Marilyn Monroe..."). Co-chairman, Joint Sutton, distribution worker 25. Terry Farley, office volunteer 26. David Marriage, dis- Church-Parliamentary Committee on Pornography and tribution worker 27. Bill Lewis, collective member 28. Joan Anderson, Gay Archives collec- Obscenity. At the request of the police, contacted at least tive 29. David Mole of the Free the Press Fund 30. Christine Bearchell, collective member two gay organizations in hunt for witnesses against TBP. 31 . Rick Bebout, collective member and office person Skating on thin ice: Roy McMurtry, Attorney General of Ontario and Honourary Chairman of Big Brothers, Metro Toronto. Authorized the raid and charges against TBP. Initiated Operation P. Reported to be opposedTo the inclusion of "sexual orientation" in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Last and least: Claire Hoy, vitriolic (and frequently inaccurate) columnist for the Toronto Sun. His hysteri- cal denunciations of TBP are widely thought to have precipitated the raid. Frequently uses his columns to attack gay people. When asked to define a "decent homosexual" (something the Sw« is fond of endorsing), he replied that it would be difficult to dis- tinguish between a "decent sleazebag and an indecent sleazebag." .Not pictured but part of the gang: Gerald Wylie, Crown attorney, charged with the prosecution of TBPal the trial January 2. 22/ BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 self-oppression. change for leniency — is just one exam- with nothing more than a light fine, say, knew the subtleties in the first with the in return for a guilty plea on one of the place — legal etiquette dictates that The raid on The Body Politic is ple of state power wielded generally seen as an attempt to terrorize apparent consent of the individual. charges — could at first seem an when you bargain you don't talk about guilty. enticingly simple way to take this whole it is all of us rather than any one of us. It was After all, the man agreed to plead later. Silence part of the deal.) motivated by a political rather than a And if someone admits guilt, persecu- tedious, costly mess smd resolve it, once Besides making 7"flP "obscene" by for all. last, all get back sexual act, and its object was political tion by the cops looks a lot less like the and At we could self-admission, accepting a deal would rather than sexual repression. But like bullying it really is. to business, back to where we were also undermine the credibility of the cases of police entrapment and charges Realizing this, the defendants in the before the police walked in. magazine within its own community. It There is, however, real going back. of gross indecency, it is an attempt to TBP case have had to prepare no would render hypocritical our attempts force the community back into a closet themselves to face the possibility of If the police chose to drop all the (in situations like those faced by victims of silence — silence on any topic our backroom deals. The prospect, after all, charges, that might undo their actions of of gross indecency laws) to drag the enemies might construe as unacceptable is a tempting one. Money and energy are the past year, but nothing short of that persecution of our community out from subject matter. being drained out of the magazine and would. A guilty plea, on the contrary, behind the closed doors of the police There are two ways in which the state the community by the demands of the would vindicate them: the publishers of station, the courtroom and the closet. wields power. There is simple, naked defence. Three men are faced with a gay magazine would have admitted, We have always said that if gay people coercion. However, the most conmion having to bear individual responsibility without a fight, that a gay sex manual are to challenge the concepts— that the law and effective means (in North America, — and possible jail terms — for the was obscene, and that the topic of imposes on our lives "obscenity," anyway) is to govern with what appears consequences of a collective decision. relationships between adults and "indecency," "immorality" — it can't to be the consent of the governed. You The trial could be a messy and children, no matter how carefully and be done by negotiation, by bargaining or guarantee that consent by keeping unpleasant event, and media coverage of sensitively handled, was beyond by pleading guilty. We have always said around handy little things like the War it could bring the entire gay community discussion. Those damning precedents that we have to build our case on our Measures Act. under divisive and undeserved fire. would survive long after people had for- own terms. We have to fight. Plea bargaining — convincing an Whatever "deal" might be gotten subtleties of the bargained plea We have never said that it would be accused to enter a guilty plea in ex- offered — the guarantee of getting off that established them. (If, in fact, they easy.n THE TEAR: A GHBIHiaiiOOT November 21, 1977. Issue No 39 of The Body Politic hits the January 5. Charges are laid against Pink Triangle Press and September 5. Operation P news stands. The issue includes a feature by Gerald Hannon, three officers of the corporation, Ken Popert, Gerald Hannon police officers visit Brent "Men Loving Boys Lov- and Ed Jackson, under two sections of the Criminal Code: Hawkes to ask him to tes- ing Men," the third in a Section 1 59 — use of the mails for the distribution of obscene tify against TBP. He again series on youth sexuality. Piilite material, and Section 164 — possession of obscene material refuses. sxterr j^is-ia f for the purpose of distribution. December 22. Claire Hoy, September 8. Four of the a regular columnist for the January 14. A thousand people march down Yonge Street to twelve cartons of material Toronto Sun, makes an- protest the visit of Anita Bryant to the city. "Defend The Body seized in the raid are return- other in a long history of Politic" is one of the official slogans of the march. ed to Clayton Ruby's office. They contain copies attacks on the gay move- January 24. A demonstration protesting the raid is held in San of The Joy Sex, The Joy Lesbian Sex — copies ment. He singles out TBP Francisco. City Supervisor Harvey Milk calls for a tourist boy- of Gay of which the police have held for eight months although the in a column entitled, "Our cott of English Canada. Taxes Help Homosexuals books were not under charge — and some out-of-date January 27. A picket is held outside Canada House in London, Promote Abuse of subscription lists. England demanding that TBP's material be returned and Children." October 6. charges dropped. Ontario Arts Council approves an operating grant December 25. Hoy writes of $ 1650 to rsp. February 3. The February issue of TBP goes on sale only three a second column: "Kids, weeks late. October 12. Claire Hoy, in a column entitled "Davis defied on not Rights, Their grant to homosexuals," criticizes OAC for granting funds to a Craving." February 3. The Free the Press Fund and the Mariposa Film magazine "promoting homosexual relationships with Group co-sponsor the first Canadian screening of the film December 27. Toronto Sun, in an editorial entitled "Bawdy children." Wordls Out as a successful fund-raising event. Politic," calls for exclusion of sexual orientation from Ontario October 12. Reuben Baetz, Minister of Culture and Recrea- Human Rights Code and an end to arts grants to February 21. TBP appears before Judge Hugh Garrett to have TBP. tion, issues a statement saying he disagrees with the OAC the search warrant authorizing the raid declared illegal. December 27. TBP Collective issues a statement denying it decision because he fears taxpayers may interpret it as endorse- urged the molestation of children and asserting its right to dis- March 15. Judge Garrett upholds the search warrant. TBP ment of the paper, thereby prejudicing the court case. cuss fully a controversial lawyer Clayton Ruby begins to prepare an appeal. issue. October 13. Claire Hoy continues his attack with a second " December 28. The media say police are studying issue No 39 to March 18. The Pink Satin column called It's a case of shoddy politic(s)' ' in which he see whether criminal charges can be laid. Ontario Attorney- Bombers, a US gay male says TBP is a "smutty publication" which "advocated General Roy McMurtry is quoted as saying he is appalled by theatre collective, give a pedophilia." reports of the article. benefit performance October 15. A third Hoy article says TBP "espouses the virtues in Toronto for the Free December 30. Five police officers from Operation P (Pornog- of homosexual relationships between men and boys." the Press Fund. raphy Squad) raid the office of TBP and seize twelve shipping October 16. Toronto Sun editorial "Bawdy politics" (original, cartons of material after a March 23. The Free the yes?) berates OAC for giving money to a "shabby tabloid" 3 1/2 hour search. Cor- Press Fund organizes a which "encourages the homosexual seduction and corruption porate records, cheque demonstration outside the of children." books, subscription lists, Toronto offices of the October 20-21. TBP's case has high visibility at the Conference distribution and adverti- Attorney General, and calls for the dropping of all charges. on Human Freedom and Sexuality in Toronto. sing records, manuscripts April 14. The Ontario Court of Appeal dismisses the next stage for publication and per- November 9. The Canadian publishing world's Freedom of of the attempt to quash the search warrant. TBP prepares to go sonal mail Expression Committee sponsors a reading called "Banned are taken. before the Supreme Court of Canada. Books" at Toronto's Town Hall. Displays include a Free the December 31. TBP, with April 24. Permission is finally given by the police to photocopy Press Fund information booth. its lawyer Clayton Ruby, parts of seized material crucial to the paper's functioning. holds a press conference November 17. The Body Politic Free the Press Fund partici- June 5. The Supreme Court refuses to hear the paper's appeal denouncing the raid as an pates centrally in the Operation Liberty meeting opposing against lower court decisions. attack on freedom of the P^ police repression and the War Measures Act. press and an attempt to June 28. Police obtain a search warrant to examine the bank January 2. 1979. The trial begins. intimidate subscribers. files of Pink Triangle Press. Januar>' 1. 1978. A dem- June 28. Ontario Arts Council approves a grant to TBP. onstration protesting the June 29. Col Frank McEachern, chairman of the OAC, calls raid is held in Vancouver ItSim another meeting and persuades the members of the Council to by the Gay Alliance Toward Equality. It is the first of a series defer the grant decision. of demonstrations across the continent. July 12. Rev Brad Massman, Roman Catholic Church bureau- .lanuary 2-4. Messages of support from Canadian broadcasting crat, visits Toronto MCC minister Brent Hawkes to ask him to iind publishing figures, including the Canadian Periodical testify against TBP. Hawkes refuses. Publishers' Association, and from gay groups around the July 18. The date for trial on obscenity charges is set for world, begin to arrive. They deplore the police action and call January 1979. tor the return of sci/cd materials. 2. July 18. Ontario Arts Council informs TBP that it has deferred .Ianuar> 4. The Body Politic Free the Press Fund is formed to a decision on its application for funding until September. No collect money lo defray legal costs resulting from the raid and explanation is given. any resulting charges. Auf(usi 26. Total collected for Defence Fund is calculated at $23,760. with total expenditure to thai date being $15,300. AuKusl 26. The Free the Press Fund displays an information kiosk ai ihc popular Gaydays Fair held in Toronto's Queens Park. DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/23 ' " " MRTTWOOF DREAMS "Then there was the badge and the policeman was snapping the handcuffs on me with the remark, 'Maybe you 'II talk better with my " partner outside. February 1952. Dale Jennings, one of thefounding members of the recently-formed homosexual organization, the Mattachine So- ciety, hadjust become a victim ofpolice entrapment. He was arrested by a plainclothes officer who accosted him in a Los Angeles park and charged him with lewd and dissolute behaviour. "I wasforced to sit in the rear ofa car on a dark street for almost an hour while three officers questioned me., Jennings later was to write. "It was a peculiarly effective type ofgrilling. They laughed a lot a- mong themselves. Then, in a sudden silence, one would ask, "How long have you been this way?" I refused to answer. I was scared stiff. Then more laughter and shop talk and another sud- den question. At last the driver started the car up. Having expected the usual beating before, now I was positive it was coming — out in the country somewhere. They drove over a mile past the suburb ofLincoln Heights, then slowly doubled back. During this time they repeatedly madejokes about police brutality, and each of the three instructed me to plead guilty and everything would be all right. Thefirst officer had approached me atfive to nine in the park, I was booked at eleven-thirty and not allowed to send out a message until three in the morning. Finally released on bail, Jennings called his Matta- chine Society associates, who hastily scheduled an emergency meeting. They listened carefully as Jennings, tense and still shaken by the experience, described what had happened. But while he bemoaned his in- evitable conviction as afelon, the others responded differently. Harry Hay, his eyes lighting up, arguedforcefully that Jennings' arrest was the chance they had been waiting for. After much debate they decided to fight the charges and use the arrest to expose police entrapment practices against homosexuals. It would be thefirst major plunge into public action for thefiedgling organization. In "Part One: Radical Beginnings" ^BP, Nov), historian John D'Emilio described how this homosexual emancipation movement, despite the odds against it, had taken root in the inhospitable soil of mid-twentieth century America. In November 1950, five men had met secretly at the home ofHarry Hay to discussfor thefirst time theformation ofan organizationfor the liber- ation of the homosexual minority. They met in secrecyfor two very good rea- sons: all of the men were homosexuals and all were either members of the Communist Party or what were then called "fellow-travellers. "It was difficult enough to be gay in post-war A merica; to be a communist or communist sym- pathizer only compounded the danger, for by the end of 1950 the Cold War and its domestic counterpart, the maniacal anti-communism symbolized by Senator Joe McCarthy (left), had seized hold in the United States. Nonetheless, several months after thefirst meeting. Hay, Chuck Rowland, Bob Hull, Dale Jennings and three othersfounded the Mattachine Society. In order to protect their membersfrom exposure, thefounders utilized their ex- perience in the Communist Party to create an elaborate, secret structure of five "orders, " with themselves at the top. The hallmark of the Society during itsfirst year was the discussion group. Run by first order "guild" members, the groups met informally in participants ' homes where, perhaps for thefirst time, gay women and men broke down their isolation, slowly developing a solidarity which stemmedfrom their shared oppression andfrom their view of an "ethical homosexual culture. " The discussion groups became arenas in which they were able to fashion a political consciousness about their sexual identity, and to explore the unheard-of notion that perhaps they were neither sinners nor psychopaths, but members of an oppressed minority. Through this process US Senator Joseph McCarthy they came to recognize the needfor collective, militant mass action as the way to change their inferior status. byJohnDTEmilio With the arrest of Dale Jennings, the momentfor such action had arrived. 24/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 . ' . . area who surreptitiously dropped flyers to be a homosexual in today's socio- into the packages of their gay cus- political climate." After thirty-six hours Through Hay's Communist tomers! of deliberation, the jury reported that it party contacts, the fifth order The literature of the Citizens Com- was hopelessly deadlocked, with one hired George Shibley, a radical mittee argued its case in forthright, com- member holding fast to a verdict of lawyer from Long Beach who pelling terms. All of the committee's guilty. The rest voted straight acquittal. had a reputation. Hay recalled, as "a flyers, though prominently featuring The judge ordered a re-trial, but a few good fighting attorney." An Armen- the specifically homosexual aspect of the days later the district attorney's office ian by birth, Shibley had achieved local case, emphasized the threat which decided to drop all charges against notoriety during World War II as the entrapment of homosexuals posed for Jennings. defence attorney for a group of Mexican- all citizens. One piece of literature Given the prevalent attitudes toward American youths who were arrested on declju-ed that it was "not only idle, but "sexual deviance," the Citizens Com- trumped-up murder charges. Although dangerous, for the community at large mittee was justified in calUng the out- Shibley knew httle about gay life, he to placidly assume that illegal police come "a GREAT VICTORY for the homo- agreed to take the case. techniques as practiced against the sexual minority." In many long conferences the fifth Homosexual Minority are special and Jermings' trial marked a watershed in order members educated him about the confined." On the contrary, the tech- the history of the early Mattachine problems experienced by homosexuals niques of "blackmail, intimidations, Society. Chuck Rowland recalled that and together they decided on the shakedown, entrapment, search and after the Jennings victory, "Mattachine strategy to pursue. Jennings would seizure without warrant, encarceration really took off. From the months when admit in court that he was a homo- without charge currently employed we had nothing, we moved into a broad sexual, but plead not guilty to the against homosexuals can be wielded sunlit upland filled with whole legions of charges of lewd and dissolute behavior. against the entire community." eager gays. Mattachine was suddenly in. It was a courageous — and Jennings deserved support, the com- No combination of people in our Umited dangerous — stand to take, since mittee reasoned, because "the issue is leadership could handle them." popular prejudice equated homosex- civil rights. The issue is the restoration Word of the Mattachine spread like uality with lewdness and immorality. of basic citizenship guarantees, rights wildfire. Discussion groups that had fif- To admit one's homosexuality in court and privileges equally for everybody. teen or twenty members were deluged by risked almost certain conviction on the Deny the homosexual basic protections as many newcomers. Groups sub- charges. But the Mattachine founders as a citizen, and you'll have set up the divided, only to repeat the process a few had resolved to challenge the practices very machinery which will deny weeks later as the number of partici- that victimized the gay minority. yourselves these rights. The moment you pants continued to multiply. The net- Wishing to build a large public establish second class citizenship cate- work of discussion groups soon had campaign in support of Jennings, the gories, you too are headed for that class. spread throughout Southern California. ' fifth order decided to mobilize the We 're all in the same boat! By the beginning of 1953, they extended discussion groups around the issue and Their arguments struck a responsive along the coast from the beach commun- throughout the spring of 1952, the up- chord, for the Citizens Conmiittee was ities north of Santa Monica south to San conung trial became the prime topic at soon receiving a flood of mail with Diego, and inland to San Bernardino. the groups. To the dismay of the guild financial contributions to defray legal New guilds were formed to handle the members who were leading the prohferating discussion groups, and the discussions, participants were at first structure of the Mattachine expanded to NOW is the time to fight- reluctant to rally around the case. Many include second order units. In May pollc« bruLallty »nd en'.rapasQl . . . .oo« •till* '.i.fc Grand Jury irivasll- gkllon of pollc* corruption Is on. ...no* vnllo mure I5 ^e^o^« '.ne of them simply assumed that if Jennings courts tn* c«»e of tno Hozlcan-Aaorickn youths vno defended tneir 1953, the fifth order estimated that over right to nateroeexuft llty eblle e vice squad plslnc lotnesaen sough-, were arrested, he must have been guilty. to ohargo then «lth lead end Indeceot kcta....ooe anlle tne puollc 2,000 people were participating in the deaeode en end to police subTorslon of Cons tl tu tlooal rights. As Jennings wryly commented later, Society's activities. "Innocent people don't get into such a CITIZUIS or LOS AltCi,L&S aiVi a Reel. Or'POATUMity >'0R ACriUH The Mattachine Society also grew be- MQt IN SUPPORT or * TEST CASE flUlCR IILL CUUc oi?Oh£ ihL situation. Nice people just don't get ar- COURTS SOOM. IHILS TAKING A lALK, A ClTlZeH MAS ACCOsTfcU bf yond its Southern Cahfornia place of A PLAIHCLOTUESHAN ASSIGNED TO THE VICE SmUAD. THE OPFICER rested!" IDE EVtRI EFrORT TO INCUCE THE CITIZEN TO aAtE A L£«D OH origin. In February 1953, a young man INDECENT GESTURi. lOIARD Hla BUT >AS COHPLETELI UNSUCCESSt uL leadership, however, ArTER AN HOJR Or TdfSE ATTEMPTS THE CITIZEN IAS NEVLRIHELESE Brissette as The Mattachine ARRESTED UNDER THE DECLARED ASSUHPTIOI THAT HE lUULD -,AL^ named Gerry who worked a HURE" UePuRE Olh&H OFFICERS. took the position that innocence or guilt lab technician at the University of This Is e oeee of e'.teapted entrepaan t--l tself lllagel--s case In was irrelevant to the question of ehicn an officer of the lea, uneucceasful lo iDduelog a cltlsen to California at Berkeley wrote a letter of break the lea, broke It hlaaelf by aaking ao Illegal arrest end elil support. The law itself was unjust, they Rghting back: Leaflet (right), bave to perjure blBeeif to sake the charge etick against an Innocent inquiry to the Mattachine Society. De- aan. tv^r'/ citlsen auet underatend tbet such police aethods consti- argued, and needed to be questioned, probably the first in US his- tute a real danger to asarvona- No* «111 XOU prove your Innocence scribing himself as a pacifist who was vneo a friendly etraoger strike* up a eooversatlon elth you and turns and the abusive police practices toward tory to raise gay issues pub- out lo be a aeaber of the vice aquad arraatlog you for levd end In- active in the Fellowship of Reconcilia- decent eonductV homosexuals must be stopped. They licly, called for support for tion, he spoke of his "dream of free- TU£ ISSUE HERE IS MOT fhlTUEH THE MAN IS A KOIIO. argued persuasively. In time, the entire the legal case of Dale 5UUAL OR NOT, BUT tjETlJER THE fOLlCE DIFARTa&MT dom" for homosexuals. "I am with you IS JUSTIFIED IN USING SUCN NEIHf-r.s. Juatiee ia Mattachine Society mobilized itself in Jennings (above), entrapped based upoe the propoeltlon that a aan la ioDocen'. all the way," his letter concluded. At until proven guilty end that he aua I not be forced to teatlfy a|aloat hlaeelf. THUS THE ISSUE HERE IS support of Jennings. by an LA plainclothes cop. TO UPQSL THE NALIGNANCT OF POLICE PEHJURI AND TO the invitation of Rowland, Brissette UNUSI lU ADMINISIRATKI CONSPIRtCI 10 SIUVEKT Still hesitant about exposing the Mat- THE klGNTS OF CITIZENS. came to Los Angeles in March to meet tachine Society to public view, the fifth In aueh a ceapalga, that caae sbtch eill aubordlnat* Ita peraonel with the fifth order members. He re- interests to tbs objeotlve of the oaapaigo 1< the right caeej order adopted a standard Communist Innocence ef the cbargee le irreleveat . . . . the uncons t itut ions 1 Ity turned to Berkeley eager to start the of the charges is the issue. Id this case ve neve e aaa eno has party organizing tactic and created an ad elpctad to figbt this etteek on not only bis oeo freedoa but your*. Mattachine Society there. Before long The Coaalltee, deterained to aake of this fight e poeerful indict- hoc committee, the Citizens Committee aent against eotrapaeat , nea obtained the couoaei of a noted discussion groups had spread from attorney to Outlaw Entrapment, to publicize the ual issue, in areas fre- Berkeley to Oakland and to San Fran- case. Its task was not an easy one. homosexuals. NAIURALlI funds are URGENILI need at once Iu CuNDUCt cisco, with sixty or quented by IhL IBIAL 111 THI LOCAL COURTS AMD kVENTUALLT. IF NEED more persons coming HE, IN tut HIGHER COURTS OF THE SIAIE. THIS IS VOUh Despite press releases and letters to radio They handed them out at FlCni II IS ur TO lOU TO SEE THAT II IS ION. GIVE to meetings. As Brissette wrote to TOUR COirRIBUTlON TO THE PERSON DISTRIBUTING THIS and television stations and to gay beaches in Santa LEAFLET OR HAIL IT Xo [HE ADDRESS BELOi. PLaASt lAAl Rowland, gays continued to "flock to us CNICIS PAIABLE TO NISS JEAN DiaPSI, IREASUhER. RECEIrTS newspapers, a complete news blackout Monica and at bars in Los ILi. HE SENT ro ALL t^^NLRIBUTORS . in hordes, hungry, anxious, eager to do •aamllta* I* •ullsw amttmpmamt prevailed, the first of many that the gay Angeles. They deposited •a' something, say something, get started." movement would confront in the coming them in restrooms known 3132 oak crest drive los angeles 38. California With the growth in membership came decades. to be cruised by gay the expansion of activities. Well- With no prospects of media coverage, men. And they plastered them on park tees and requests for information about established discussion groups began the Citizens Committee decided to use benches and at bus stops in homosexual what else could be done. assuming new functions. One group, the informal communications network areas of the city. They also arranged When the trial began on June 23, composed mostly of faculty members at of the gay male subculture to make the meetings with gay shop owners in West 1952, Jennings admitted under Shibley's UCLA, embarked upon a program of upcoming trial known. The leadership Hollywood, talked to them about the questioning that he was a homosexual, reading in the natural and social sciences wrote several fiycrs about the case and issue, and ehciled their cooperation in while denying that he was guilty of the in an attempt to make sense of then circulated them throughout Los Angeles. informing their homosexual patrons charges against him. At the close of the current theories about homosexuality. Mattachinc's membership distributed about the case. Hay humorously recalled proceedings, Shibley delivered a speech Another l>cgan surveying literature with the leaflets, probably the first ones in the that the Mattachine even had a couple of to the jurors which Hay characterized as homosexual characters and themes. country's history to raise the homoscx- supermarket clerks in the Hollywood "a militant exposition of what it is like Others compiled clipping files on con- DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POUTlC/25 PUBUC ACTIONS PRIYATE FEARS 1952-53 temporary sex mores, and most of them Carlyle which provided both name and independent of the Mattachine Society, the many newcomers about who was gathered written statements from parti- masthead-slogan: "A mystic bond of most of the editorial board were sponsoring the discussion groups and cipants who had suffered abusive police brotherhood makes all men one." More members of the organization and Dale other activities; it would offer an behaviour, with the goal of assembling decisions followed, "one Magazine Jennings served as the magazine's first acceptable front for reaching out to the massive documentation of illegal and would be issued monthly. It would not editor. Early issues of one prominently society, especially to professionals and discriminatory police practices. be mimeographed. It would be printed featured articles about the Mattachine public officials; and it could become the The most significant development, and have the best format that could be Society, and the network of discussion vehicle for conducting research into however, was the decision in October managed. There would be essays, groups provided the editors with a large homosexuality and for using the results 1952 by a few members of one discussion scientific articles, original fiction, poetry pool of subscribers and potential cus- as a part of the campaign for the rights group to launch publication of a homo- and reprints from classics. In short," tomers. Within a few months, one's of the gay minority. sexual magazine. In the midst of one concluded the later account, Vit was to sales had surpassed 2,000 copies per Rowland wrote a concise, four-page person's telling of his unfortunate exp)er- be neither a tract nor a pamphlet, but a month, with a readership substantially p2miphlet introducing the foundation. iences at the hands of the police, some- real magazine." larger than that. The magazine was also Using the findings of the Kinsey study of one declared, "There ought to be some circulating, as the letters to the editor male sexual behaviour to emphasize the way of letting more people know these Three months later, in January revealed, among gays throughout the scope of the problem, the pamphlet de- things." When another participant 1953, the first issue of one, country. clared that 150,000 male homosexuals suggested that homosexuals needed their featuring a simple gray cover The exf>erience of the Citizens resided in the Los Angeles area alone. own magazine, several members volun- with purple lettering, was ready Committee to Outlaw Entrapment "Homosexuals are not," it emphasized, teered to remain behind to explore the for distribution. emphasized, for the leaders, the need to "insane, stupid, wilfully perverted, un- idea further. More talks were scheduled. The publication of one constituted a have a mechanism apart from the secret natural, or socially incompetent. They Several years later, an issue of the major step forward for the young move- structure of the organization to mediate are neither uncommon nor queer, but magazine described the process of birth ment. The Jennings cast vividly demon- between the anonymous membership homosexuals as such have only during these meetings: "What would be strated that homosexuals could not and the larger society. Shortly after the limited social and legal rights — in its name? This was a tedious, wearying depend on the press or other media to Jennings case ended, the fifth order fact, our whole society is organized to hassle, over endless cups of coffee. The publicize their grievances. The gay decided to incorporate in California as a keep them completely oppressed." The 'dignified and ambiguous' school women and men who established one not-for-profit educational organization pamphlet announced the formation of argued against the 'let's-be-frank' intended it as a forum where the gay called the Mattachine Foundation. the Mattachine Foundation by a "group group." Guy Rousseau, a young black minority could present its views to the They saw the Foundation as a means of Los Angeles citizens" to conduct member of the discussion group, finally public and to other homosexuals and of advancing their work in several ways: research, promote education, and came up with a quote from Thomas lesbians. Although one was formally it would allay the fears and questions of encourage understanding of an n "Not a tract, but a real magazine." It didn 't look like anything special — this issue a with its one first (lefi) of new magazine unassuming gray andpurple cover. But the date was January 1953 and ONE was thefirst regularpublication produced by American homosexuals. Its appearance marked a major step forwardfor a growing homosexual emancipation movement. Finally, there was aforumfor the gay community — a community too long silenced by thefear and isolation of its individual members. Homosexuals were now organizing and, in discussion groups of the Mattachine Society, getting together to talk to each other about their place in society. Out ofsuch a discussion group came the ideafor ONE magazine. Within a year the publication was reaching thousands readers. It was, in the press in TO iE ACCUSED. IS TO SE GUILTY JANUARY l»S3 of fact, beginnings of the independent gay North America. lEPORT TO THE CALIKMNIA STATE LEGISLATURE TWENTY CENTS The people, the format: A meeting of one's editorial board (left) is sfiown in a 1955 article from the magazine People Today. (No photos of activities from one's first year could be found.) The design and layout of the magazine (below) , despite its limited resources, was from the beginning surprisingly professional. 26/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 ' important social phenomenon. her with a large pool of gay men for her techniques. Although few candidates "The Mattachine Foundation," study of the male homosexual personal- responded to the questiormaire, the Mat- Rowland concluded, "looks toward the ity. Other efforts secured the involve- tachine's founders considered it an time the homosexual minority will live a ment of a clergyman, Wallace de Ortega important step to take. well-oriented, socially productive life, Maxey, pastor of the First Universalist As fifth order members, foundation with pride and without fear, will develop Church in Los Angeles which supported directors, participants in the first and its own standards of ethics and con- a variety of political causes, and a physi- second order units, and leaders of dis- ventions suitable to its needs and in con- cian from San Bernardino, Richard cussion groups, the founders saw their formity with the best interests of society, Gwartney. lives almost consumed by these activi- and will make a huge, recognized Increasingly confident of the course ties. In two and one half years, the tiny ^ ^ addition to the productiveness and social We moved into they were taking, Mattachine's leaders group of leftist homosexuals had built a consciousness of our City, our State and decided to use the cover of the foun- thriving, rapidly expanding our Country." a broad sunlit dation to raise the homosexual issue in organization. Konrad Stevens recalled The fifth order had modest success in local elections. To candidates for the that, for a time after the Jennings trial, obtaining professional backing for the upland filled with Los Angeles Board of Education they "We were meeting very often. We just foundation. Through members James sent a letter which charged the public lived Mattachine. We didn't do anything Gruber and Konrad Stevens, they ar- whole legions school system with "a high percentage else. We never went anywhere just for ranged a meeting with the writer, Chris- of responsibility for the social tragedy" pleasure. When we went, it was topher Isherwood, and with a research of eager gays. ' of the homosexual minority and asked organizing." psychologist from UCLA, Dr Evelyn candidates for their position on From being "pioneers in a hostile Hooker. Both professed support for "nonpartisan" counselling on homo- society," Rowland wrote to Hay, the what the Mattachine leaders were sexuality in the high schools. In another leadership could claim that they had attempting, although they declined to — Chuck Rowland, 1952 letter to aspirants for mayor, city council "set a movement in motion." join the board of directors. Isherwood, and board of supervisors, they outlined But the spectacular growth of the according to Stevens, bowed out on the the "growing body of evidence" Mattachine Society also created other grounds that he was not a "joiner," but u£dity, felt that membership would indicating that the Los Angeles police problems for the leaders that demanded he did contribute money to the founda- compromise her research in the eyes of were engaging in "exphcitly unlawful" solution. Rapid expansion strained the tion and informed others of its her colleagues. She did keep in close practices against homosexuals and organization's structure and weakened existence. Hooker, who was just touch with her Mattachine friends, how- polled candidates on their attitudes the cohesion which the fifth order beginning her studies of male homosex- ever, and in 1953, Mattachine provided toward a range of law enforcement valued so highly. As the discussion A long tradition: A cross- section of covers from 1953, one's first year of publication. Several years later, one rented its first office, seen here behind Don Slater (left). Dorr Legg, and James Kep- ner. Slater was a member of ones first editorial board, Legg its first and long-time business manager, and Kepner a later editor and fre- quent writer. All tfiree continue to be associated with the remaining organizations of the LA homophile movement: Slater with the Homo- sexual Information Center, Legg with ONE Inc, and Kepner with the Western Gay Archives. Modest beginnings; The first planning meetings for The ONE took place in the home of Dorr Legg. The house Homosexua (below), located at the corner of Dalton and 27th St one in one of Los Angeles' older west side residential Majjazinc areas, has since been demolished. all f ictio issue lA Fabulous l'"a !)> JAMKS HA the Autlior QUA'l'KHl'O DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/27 PUBLK ACTIONS PRIVATE FEARS 1952*53 groups proliferated, the need for leader- argued that opening up the Society solidarity with other oppressed gays and the homosexual minority — and wemt ship forced the guilds to loosen the pro- would weaken it irreparably. Hay's posi- no allegiance. Hay felt, to the long-term assimilation (passing, by Christ!) made cedures for initiation into membership. tion grew out of the distrust he felt goal of building a powerful, militant respectable." To Rowlsmd's claim that The original emphasis on a toward many of the newcomers. Their mass movement for homosexual rights. reorganization was a radical solution. "consensus of principle," on agreement attraction to the Mattachine, he believed, In response to Rowland's letter. Hay Hay countered: "No, Chuck! this move that homosexuals were indeed an came from a narrow concern for their reminded him that from the start the isn't radical, it's betrayal. You can't oppressed minority who needed to own security. The successful defence of basic objective of the Mattachine build a democratic society on a bunch of engage in collective political action, gave Dale Jennings made them see the organ- Society had been the "integration of our diversified individualists going way before the simple requirement of ization merely as a means of protection minority as a group." The mcdcontents nowhere." having enough guild members to lead in case they personally ran afoul of the who were pressuring for an open organ- Before the fifth order could resolve its each of the discussion groups. Men and law. But they had little if any sense of ization, he said, "don't give a shit about differences, a redbaiting newspaper women who had only recently attended their first discussion meetings found themselves invited to join the guilds and to assume responsibility in an organization whose structure, purpose, and leadership remained enshrouded in mystery. Under these circumstances the secret, cell-like structure of the Mattachine Society hampered the organization. Instead of seeing it as a mechanism to protect them from exposure, newer members feared it as a device to manipu- late them. NVithin the guilds, dissension surfaced with an alarming frequency; pressure mounted to reorganize the Mattachine Society in an open, demo- cratic form. question of reorganization Theprovoked the first serious split among the members of the fifth order. Their carefully nurtured unaiiimity collapsed as they debated the merits of restructuring. A special week- end conference held in February 1953 to work out a solution fell apart in acri- mony. Tensions were so high that some members were barely speaking to one another. Rowland, Hull, Stevens, and Martin Block — the one new-comer admitted to the fifth order since the founding of the Mattachine — argued strongly for an aboveground membership organiza- tion. In a letter to Hay, Rowland remin- ded him that secrecy had never been an end in itself, but rather a tactical response lo the fear of joining a gay or- ganization. Now, he said, the Matta- chine's efforts had created "a qualita- tively new situation in which even our Junior Chamber of Commerce Laguna Group (the exact type of group the secrecy of the Society was designed to protect)," favored openness. Much had changed since their first meeting in 1950, he went on, and "a rarf/co/ approach" was required. "Three years ago," Rowland wrote, "we were pioneers in a hostile society, and we had to take elaborate precautions to insure our safety and that of others. Today we have such diverse elements as Gwartney, Don Frey, Tommy, the swishy Long Beach crowd and you. Our pioneering has created a whole new situation and it is in this situation that we must act and act intel- ligently or we will lose our leadership, all our aims, and our purposes." Rowland told Hay that he would introduce at the next meeting of the fifth order a motion to call a convention and propose a constitution for a newly structured Mattachine Society. "Whether you like it or not," he concluded, "the subject of discussion " for today is reorganization. Hay adamantly disagreed and instead / JANUARY 1979 28/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 " column on the Mattachine Foundation refusal to contribute funds to the © John D'EmiUo 1978 gave the debate a sudden urgency. Los foundation. John D'Emilio was one thefounders Angeles journalist Paul Coates had re- Marilyn Rieger, a guild member from of of the Gay Academic Union in New ceived a copy of the Mattachine Founda- Los Angeles, wrote a forceful letter to York City in 1973. He has taught a gay tion's letter and questionnaire to local the foundation in which she reported studies course, did a gay newscast for candidates. In describing his efforts to that "many members of the meetings WBAI-Radio, and was a member the discover more information about this feel that Mr Coates asked legitimate of Gay Socialist Action Project. "strange new pressure group," Coates questions and that explanations are def- A Danforth fellowship holder, he is writing reported that the California State Div- initely in order." To continue working a book-length history ofthepre- ision of Corporations had no record of a for a cause, Rieger said, she needed Stonewall "Homophile" movement. He Mattachine Foundation. Further "complete faith in the people who set would appreciate response to this series investigation revealed, however, that the forth the policies, principles, aims and since he considers this to be "work in Mattachine's legal adviser, attorney purposes." Should the directors fail to progress. Fred Snider, had been an "unfriendly respond, she announced her intention of witness" before the House Un-American writing to Sacramento and to the state Requirements ofspace prevent the print- Activities Committee. Coates reminded bau- association in order to pursue the ing of the author's extensivefootnotes. his readers that homosexuals "have been disturbing revelations in the Coates However, those wishing to obtain com- found to be bad security risks in our article. plete footnotesfor the three parts of the State Department," and he painted a With pressures upon them escalating series should write the author, c/o The lurid picture of "sexual deviates" rapidly, the fifth order acted decisively. Body Politic, Box 7289, Station A, banding together to "swing tremendous Burying whatever doubts remained Toronto, Ontario M5W 1X9. political power." With an alleged about restructuring, it called a TBP wishes to acknowledge the help of 200,000 homosexuals in the Los Angeles "democratic convention" of all Jim Kepner the Western Gay area alone, he asserted, "a well-trained members of the Mattachine Society. The of Archives, Henry Hay and Jonathan subversive could move in and forge that "deliberately complicated" secret Katz in providing illustrative material. power into a dangerous political wea- structure "has served its function well," pon." While disingenuously stating that the invitation declared, smd "the time is Following the publication of thefirst it would be "vicious and irresponsible" ripe for a democratic organization to article in this series (Nov), TBP received to damn the organization, Coates point- move forward into greater spheres." a letterfrom Harry Hay giving "hugs edly said: "If I belonged to that club, I'd The fifth order proposed that the con- and kisses all round"for our coverage. worry." vention be held on April 1 1 and 12, He also pointed out a number offactual It is important to remember the con- 1953, at the Reverend Maxey's Uni- errors in the text. We thank him for text in which the Coates column ap- versalist Church in Los Angeles, draw bringing them to our attention: peared. Senator a constitution, by-laws, Joseph McCarthy, who up adopt and 1) Hayjoined the Communist Party in had become chairman of the Govern- elect officers for an open membership the spring of 1933, not 1934. its organization. ment Operation Committee and per- 2) He remained in the party until 1951 manent subcommittee on investigations Despite the assured tone of the invi- — 17 years. in January 1953, was at the height of his tation, the fifth order the approached 3) The address of his mother's house — influence. In February, he began his in- event apprehensively. As Rowland wrote thefirst address used openlyfor gay to Gerry Brissette, the Mattachine's organizational meetings in the US — leader in northern CaUfomia, "there has The GEORGE W. HENRY FOUNDATION, Inc. was 3132 Oakcrest Dr, not 2132. been very a considerable, delayed 4) The People's Education Center, reaction to the Coates article," and he 24 reoruary where Hay taught in the fall 1947, QuuxtCajk 1953 of and the other fifth order members were LkWBUlU b H>L came to an end early in 1948 when the reluctant to predict the final outcome. film directors known as the Hollywood flexible Tfte ItLttacfllne Foundation, Inc. Although on matters of struc- Ten were called before the House Un- P. 0. 3oi 2553 Terr^inol Annex ture, the fifth order had resolved to hold American Activities Committee. The Los An^elee 64, Calif. firm in two areas: the new Society must Ucntleben: Congress of Industrial Organizations pledge itself to "the necessity of con- (CIO), not yet the American Federation Receipt of your literature Is here- by acKnoF'ltdg.d, cltn :.-,anke. InoBc.ucti as I certed action its and of members accept- Labor - Congress Industrial •OJld llM to circulate tnis iiaoni- sevaral of of of our 3oar.l aetbers, I -oulJ be »ery glad to re- ing a consciousness of their existence" Twki* Ko. ceive several sets of tne same. Organizations (AFL-CIO), took over 1 hu»* in "To be accused is to as a minority; it resist We are en^-a^red and must the hue classes *^C4^'- rT in a work In some iM guilty": Paranoia most of the under the aegis of the senses slollar to tjat *nlc.. you propose to do, and I i-it:. and cry for a declaration of anti- FiuL IM. HD read conslierablt satisfaction created by HUAC hear- Southern California Labor School toe report of tf.e successful outcome of the court communism. case. HO'ever, we arc appreaenslve of beginning in the fall of 1948. Hay taught any organizations of itoKostxuals banoln* toem- ings (above) led to ex- selves toeet.'icr for mutual protection or any In forceful terms, Rowland informed under their sponsorship until 1952. other object, no Batter nor praleerortny. It cessive caution about rould bo Interestln. to Brissette that, learn ho« our name hap- "come hell or high water, 5) Hay's lover's name — attributed in- pened to appear on your naillnE list. gay organizing shown will all we oppose ideas of a non-com- correctly in still Word Is Out — Youra very truly in letter (left). a from munist statement by any group using the is John Burnside, not Ironside. name Mattachine. We, as individuals, Angeles in March will have nothing to do with any group and April, 1953, which has loyalty as 'Ive Secretary a oath a condition PART THREE CONTINUES NEXT MONTH and held public of membership. Our position is that a hearings on the fight against the House Un-American operations of the Activities Committee is our fight, in our Communist party in interests. I am convinced that this is the Los Angeles. correct course of action, and I believe The Coates col- that we who are doing organizational umn hit the Matta- work must take a very strong stand on chine Society this issue from the first." where it was Although he offered the opinion that most vulnerable "the Mattachine movement will live and vestigation into alleged Communist in- and its charges provoked a swift, vocal grow," Rowland also revealed his per- fluence in the State Department, its reaction throughout the organization. sonal fear that there "may be a split at overseas information program, and the One Los Angeles discussion group, the convention" over the Communist Voice of America, an investigation having set aside its scheduled topic, issue. which received widespread publicity. appealed to the foundation's directors to Little did Rowland know that the The House Un-American Activities "make themselves known" and bring an convention would set in motion drastic Committee, moreover, which had end to "subterfuge." A recalcitrant La- changes that would transform the Mat- conducted numerous inquiries into guna group called for "a loyalty oath a.s tachine Society from a radical, visionary Communist influence in Hollywood a condition of membership" in the Mat- gay organization into a conservative, over the preceding six years, was in Los tachine, and backed its demands with a closeted, and self-effacing one. [J DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/29 It all started with and the Christmas 1,978 Apocalypse meet years ago (give or head-on? Can the take a few), and it End of the World all ends three turn a buck? Will Popes from now big business ask according to the for tax incentives? prophecies of Gary Ostrom, Nostradamus and rePs fifth St Malachi. horseman of the What happens Apocalypse, offers when capitalism us his vision... 'Snlrepreneurs of the v^pocdlipse Fly vendors on every corner.. .a comnnon sight Familiar objects are put to novel use. DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 30/ BODY POLITIC POLITIC/31 DECEMB\i-F^1978/ JAN BODY C ' by Chris Bearchell RITA MAE This is the last Dylces column They didn't have any illusions that they bration did on a cultural level what would be automatically well received, so Anita Bryant had done on a political they called themselves the Gay Offensive level. Both the huge workforce of Les- Collective. Offensive, not just because bians and gay men, brought together in they were "fed up to here" with being the group Liberated Energy, and the defensive, but because they were de- celebration itself showed not only the termined to tell it like they saw it creative and zany sides of our respective whether it offended anyone or not. They communities, but that we could have told it through the medium of television. fun together. The newest gay rights For a year, GOC worked on six one- organizations in the country — in hour television shows that were to be London and Guelph, Ontario — have broadcast as part of a Toronto cable TV been founded as mixed organizations by company's community programming. Lesbians. They hoped the right people would be Those readers who, like the viewers of offended, and found out that all too the GOC series, may worry that a Les- often they had offended the wrong bian takeover is in the offing should not people for what seemed the wrong think complacently that this very pub- reasons. lication is immune. The last show was broadcast Uve as a The Gay Offensive Collective and phone-in. A lot of well-wishing hetero- other political and cultural sexual women and men called. A few developments have not occurred simply gay men got through the switchboard. because Lesbians are no longer content And so did a few hostile straights. "It to leave gay liberation to men while oc- was good of them to call and show them- cupying themselves with matters pri- selves up for us," gloated host Heather marily of concern to their straight sis- Ramsay. One had a really choice ters. Many lesbian activists and an in- comment: "Why are there all these Les- creasing number of male gay activists bians on this show? Why doesn't the have understood that gay liberation man (Richard Sutton, the other host, theory shares a lot of conunon ground was the only male on the live show) do with feminism. It is becoming apparent ' more of the talking? that while each needs its independence, The Gay Offensive Collective is a loose much more can be accomplished when collection of Lesbians and gay men the two movements act together. And brought together on the basis of much more can be understood when the common perceptions of gay liberation two bodies of theory are looked at in l^nAMAECROHM and feminism. Coincidentally, the dykes relation to one another. Feminism and tended to outnumber the faggots about gay liberation present many of the same A NOVEL ABOUT challenges to our social structure. Both BEING DIFFERENT two to one. It isn't surprising, then, that a RUOTCUiF AND LOVING IT lot of air time was devoted to the con- movements expose sex-role stereotyping, cerns of women in general, and Lesbians both condemn the compulsory and in particular. GOC felt it was appro- oppressive nature of the nuclear family, priate that the gay media do their part to both question the suppression of free Rubyfruit and open expressions of sexuality. make up for the distortions of their Brown, of course. Her new novel, straight counterparts. They could not Sometimes the phrases sound rhetorical " Six of One, is a spirited and only present the gay community on its and over-used. We've heard them too own terms, but redress a balance that often. We haven't heard enough of what entertaining book," says Lorna left Lesbians out of straight media they mean — of what the substance is RITA MAE BROWN Weir in this issue of TBP. attempts to deal with gay people. It behind them, of how they may be inter- came as no surprise to preted differently in the gay and feminist And Rubyfruit Jungle CK)C that an anti-gay caller would also be contexts. And of ways they are the same; became an overnight bestseller anti-woman and anti-feminist. While the times they can and should come together. when first released in 1973. reception in the gay community for "This Show May be Offensive" has The Lesbian and gay communities Six of One. $13.75, hardcover. been positive, the collective was were in a different space just over two Rubyfruit Jungle, $1.95, paper. surprised to discover (from reactions in years ago when "Dykes" began appear- the bars, in letters, and phone calls) that ing in the pages of The Body Politic. Both for only $14.00 some gay men were also disturbed about Some, at least, of the changes that have the Lesbian bias. occured since then have been reflected in The circumstances that led Lesbians this column: treatment of Lesbians by and gay men in different directions the media, the struggle at Nellie's started to change about two years ago. (women's) hostel, a concert by Alix The changes began when gay women dis- Dobkin, Lesbians and high school sex cussed their need for autonomous Les- education, and discussions of Lesbian $13.75. Send me: aSixot one nRubvfruitJungle$1.95. bian organizations. They wanted a autonomy and relations between Les- DBoth for $14.00 Lesbian movement established in a way bians and gay men. Some of the columns primarily oriented, Make cheque or money order payable to Pink Triangle Press, and mail along with that would allow close working relation- have been Lesbian this coupon to PTP, Box 639, Station A, Toronto, ON M5W 1G5. Allow four weeks ships with both the gay and feminist others explicitly feminist, still others of for delivery. If you want to charge your purchase, simply print your card number movements, while refusing to live within interest to the general gay conununity. and expiry date in the charge box below, and be sure to provide your signature. the shadow of either. The main thing that "Dykes" did was Things did begin to change. ensure that there was Lesbian input in Name A year ago this winter, Anita Bryjmt every issue of the paper. But, as TBP has and her cohorts attempted to bring their become increasingly a Lesbian and gay Address_ fundamentalist, anti-gay message to magazine, it seems to have served its City Code. Southern Ontario. For the first time in purpose and we feel it has become re- this country, Lesbians and gay men dundant. What seems in order now is an united to respond to Bryant's challenge explicitly and emphatically feminist Charge this purchase to: Number, on a mass scale in political action. For column which we are launching with the riVisa the last two years, Lesbians have become next issue. Expiry date. a significant force at gay movement con- Watch for it. D nt^astercharge Signature ferences both Canada-wide £md regional. Toronto's recent Gaydays cele- 32/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 . ' TheRealDirt Plea bargaining and the trial of Sexual Inversion Wickedness, lewdness and debauchery Scotlaind Yard was not amused. The grew as he saw "young" girls and boys, with books of the 'psychology' type." executor, Brown apparently wemted to Legitimation League was getting too of 18 or 19, attending the League's anti- The book, Sexual Inversion, was the keep the Symonds name clear of homo- good a press. marriage meetings. first ever in English to give a fair picture sexual connections so soon after the In the fall of 1877, a London clergy- of homosexual lives and to argue for en- Wilde trial. He bought up almost all the Its initial aim, when founded in 1895, man used his press contacts to broadcast lightened laws. Half a century later, copies in this edition and destroyed was to legitimize acknowledged illegiti- a complaint against police supineness re- Alfred Kinsey would still be citing it. It them. Ellis had to prepare a second mate children (thus its name). This had garding the League. Reactionary gentle- was also the pubhcation that brought the edition, deleting or concealing Symond's seemed mild enough to state authorities. men joined him in a public letter urging word "homosexuality" into the English contributions. It was this edition that of- But now, in 1898, it pushed a broader that "the strong hand of the law should language. Theretofore it had been used, ficer Sweeney purchased from the Legi- platform: against "ironbound marriage crush a teaching which would turn since its coinage in 1869, only in mation League's shop in Bedborough's customs, which tend to crush indivi- society into groups of harlots." German. home at 16 John Street, Bedford Row. duality;" against the treatment of wo- Bedborough, meanwhile, had stocked John Addington Symonds, the classi- The date was 27 May 1898. men as children "to be kept in ignorance several copies of a new book which The cist whose own homosexuality had led Four days later Sweeney came to ar- of emancipating knowledge;" against Adult's publisher had recently printed. him virtually to found gay studies as a rest Bedborough. Anticipating the treatment of a wife as the property He did not advertise it, and his few sales humanistic venture, had proposed the resistance, the police sent Chief of her husband ;/o/- divorce by mutual idea to Havelock ElUs in 1892 as a joint Inspector Melville with him and hid half consent; /or total candour about physi- project. Symonds, then 52, would con- a dozen men nearby. The precaution ology with children; /or open discussion tribute much of the classical material as proved unnecessary. "Bedborough's all Tbt well as various case histories, including cheery spirit and sangfroid never left of sex matters. One member had been incarcerated in his own. Ellis, then 33, saw the volume him," wrote Sweeney, "and we three an insane asylum just for holding these as the first in a series of books on sexu- took a hansom to Bow Street, gaily chat- beliefs, and the press had raised a fuss ft ality to which he planned to devote his ting as we went along." over this, so big that the Commissioners I life, a series he would call Studies in the Lillian Harmon, the infamous anti- of Lunacy had had to release her. Psychology of Sex. marriage "sex radical" from the United AJoonal Ibrtht AdrMiawtmtof Fwedom The Yard was also unamused because Although Ellis and Symonds never States, was with Bedborough at the time in 8«zaal BabUkmUpi. of the arrest. it saw Anarchists gathering around the •" -*•" nil'"-' met, they were able, through correspon- She had been lecturing for League like bees around pollen. dence, to efficiently assemble their the League during the previous month, Vol. I . No. i] JUNE, 1897. [Twopence. Although George Bedborough, at 27 the volume. At its core were extended case and as a non-marrying mother at 27 had League's spirit and brain, was not him- histories from homosexual males, most caused a media stir. She wired Ellis in EDITORIAL. self an Anarchist, the poUce disapproved of them showing healthy psychological Carbis Bay. Ellis wired his wife, the les- of his and his fellow members' "endea- lives which challenged the then rapidly bian writer Edith Ellis, then visiting in Tbb Abvlt ia tW arf«a of tbe Lefitinudfli Lf«fiir. lu p«c«* vours to avoid the least appearance will W opea for ika ducaMioa of important pkaart of wx quntioDt developing pathological model of homo- the North, who wrote back: "We'll live of stifling discussion." sexuality (although Ellis himself was not in England and spit at them, and two to- They also disapproved of the League's immune to calling it an abnormality). gether can pull a boat that would else growing influence in the community were strictly private. Indeed, he seems Also included was Symond's essay "A sink." On 6 June, Ellis returned to under Bedborough 's leadership. Many not to have been much interested in it. Problem in Greek Ethics," which he had London to arrange the defence. new members, many of them influential The book had to do with homosexuality, written in 1873 and privately pubUshed He found that Bedborough had al- (as even the Yard was surprised to learn and had been sold elsewhere, discussed in 1883, and which was the most exten- ready hired a very bad lawyer, a Mr when it came on a raid to seize the openly, and even reviewed positively in sive study of Greek love ever made. Digby, who would not even show up in League's books), had joined. the psychology journals. Hovering over the project was the court when the trial came around. Ellis Bedborough had founded The Adult, The police, however, were looking for danger of publishing anything positive himself would not be a party in the case. the League's outspoken "Journal for some pretext to justify an assault on the about homosexuality. But two surprise In Regina vs Bedborough a spate of the Advancement of Freedom in Sexual League; the book, significant to events contributed even further to the charges relating to the League were laid, Relationships." There he carefully Bedborough or not, would do. A book's already odd pre-publication but the key one was that George avoided any phrasings, as his elegantly complaint had come from Liverpool history. First, Symonds died suddenly of Bedborough had "sold and uttered a conducted meetings avoided any about the book, the Yard said, which flu in Rome in 1893. And two years later certain lewd wicked bawdy scandalous behaviour, to which the Yard might asked for the suppression of such liter- the trial and imprisonment of Oscar and obscene libel in the form of a book legally object. Bedborough was brilliant- ature. So Sweeney bought a copy from Wilde validated the homophobic rage of entitled Studies in the Psychology of ' ly cautious. Bedborough and then, as he put it, "we an English society seeking a scapegoat Sex: Sexual Inversion What was there to do? Simple, some applied for a warrant for his arrest, con- for all "decadence." Ellis found, in short, that his book inspector must have said: infiltrate. And vinced that we would at one blow kill A German edition of Sexual Inversion was going on trial in such a way that thus the Yard's own John Sweeney be- a growing evil in the shape of a vigorous appeared first, but just when the first neither he nor the book's pubUsher came an active League member. Even campaign of free love and Anarchism, English edition was bound and ready to would be able to defend it. And George Sweeney, however, could uncover no in- and at the same time discover the means distribute, a man named Horatio Brown Bedborough had no particular interest in criminating evidence. His frustration by which the country was being Hooded quailed. Symond's friend and literary the book! — ' 1 TheNewAge by Billy Sutherland ' ' I may claim some credit for having carefully handled a deli- cate case, full of pitfalls, where the least slip would have meant Role roulette one of two things —the growth of a Frankenstein monster wrecking In August a woman friend from nursing aren't many people stronger than I am. school got married. We used to talk And it's no fun being taken care of when the marriage laws of our country, about the upcoming marriage a lot. I you get right down to it. It limits your and perhaps carrying off the would ask her why she wanted to get independence. married, but I knew what the answer Tim Guest once said in this column, general respect for all law; or, on would be. She wanted to get married be- "In our own lives we have been captured the other hand, of raising about cause she wanted security and she want- by heterosexual methods of romance." the ears of the authorities a ed to please her parents. Those two fantasies are definitely based Most of the time I was supportive, but on hetero models. I don't really want shriek of popular objections to I feel weird about it. Their relationship is that. I want to find new and different our interference with the rights of based on roles, some overt and spoken ways to relate. of, some covert free speech." and articulated conditioned. —John Sweeney, I feel weird about it because I sort of Scotland Yard 1904 want that. I want social acceptance and the security of relationships. Role play- ing is safe and secure; it means never His own defence effort, Ellis con- sexuality in English went on record as putting yourself out on a limb, never cluded, would be one of publicizing the wicked, lewd, and impure. taking risks with your social acceptabil- case in freedom-of-the-press terms. The Defence Committee was out- ity. Agreeing to serve on his "Free Press raged. They issued a statement which But I can't ever have it the way she has] Defence Committee" were a number of politely averred that "it is unnecessary it. I am a "femme" male homo, and prominent Victorian writers, including to reproach Mr Bedborough," but con- that means rejection — by heteros for Edward Carpenter, Frank Harris, and tinued bluntly, "it is enough to say that being homo, and by homos for being Bernard Shaw. But even they had dif- he was not strong enough for the battle femme. Wearing makeup doesn't exact- ficulty getting their message into the which he must have known he was seek- ly go over big with the new gay macho. newspapers. The Daily Chronicle, a ing. Nevertheless it is to be profoundly I came out at fifteen because I had fi- Uberal paper whose editor originally regretted that Dr Havelock Ellis's book nally met some positive role models. I wanted to praise the book, refused a had been branded in a court of law as befriended two men, one who identified paid ad from the Committee. Its editor, 'bawdy and obscene' without a word himself as bi, the other as gay. They Massingham, later fell in with the judge being said in its defence; that a large and would march down the street chanting on the issue, a "characteristic example," influential Committee has spoken, "say it loud, I'm gay and proud." They Ellis would bitterly write, "of high jour- written, and laboured in vain; and that introduced me to gay bars. But I realized nalistic temper to match the high judicial anyone who may hereafter be prose- very soon that their chanting was not temper." cuted like Mr Bedborough will suffer a loud enough for passers-by to hear, and The case languished for six months terrible disadvantage in consequence of that they were nervous about being seen Part of the hetero model involves jeal- before coming to trial. In garnering wit- his weak submission." going into gay bars. They used to have ousy. I have a huge jealous streak that I nesses for the defence, Ellis found that And thus, as Ellis's biographer girlfriends for show. hate. But that doesn't make it any easier medical authorities would support the Houston Peterson put it, "the great A boyfriend, just after we split up, for me to be less jealous. The self-hate book — in private. A German physician fight for a principle, the splendid storm went around calling me his "ex-wife" to only reinforces the insecurity which is wrote: "No doubt the judge (unless suf- that was to clear the sky, turned into a his friends. I had earned that title-stereo- the underlying cause of my jealousy. fering from senile dementia) will accord chilling drizzle. On the following day the type by nagging, but also by expressing The boys that I live with say that jeal- you brilliant satisfaction. But in any case newspaper account of the trial was emotion, something he couldn't do. He ousy is a conditioned response, and in the whole of scientific psychology and placed between cases of conspiracy and wasn't able to deal with that, and to me part they have proved it. Two of them medicine on the Continent is on your procuring." he appeared uncaring. So I took on the are lovers, yet they both have sex with side." But almost all were reluctant Shocked to the bone, Ellis had to face clinging role, and became more and other people fairly frequently. Neither to take the stand on its behalf. the future of his lifework. He more demanding. I didn't want to be of them feels jealous of the other. On 14 September, finally, the Grand announced, in a privately printed "Note like that. I hated myself, and I hated him They are great role models for me. Be- Jury indicted Bedborough: "being a on the Bedborough Trial" that he would for bringing that out in me. fore I lived with them, I didn't believe person of a wicked and depraved mind attempt to pubUsh no more of the re- I finally dumped him, realizing that I the "politically correct" line that jeal- and disposition, and unlawfully and maining Studies in England. Soon there- would be much more together without ousy is conditioned. I used to think that wickedly devising, contriving, and in- after he found a Philadelphia publisher him. But for the five months that I play- anyone not surrendering entirely to a tending to vitiate and corrupt the morals with whom he stayed until 1936. Until ed nag to his nagged, I was too insecure jealous fit was denying his real feelings, of the liege subjects of our said Lady the the end of his long life, he raged against to ask for what I wanted and risk not covering up. But it's not true — the Queen, and to raise and create in them "obscenity" laws. Outside England getting it. boys in my house are secure enough in lustful desires, and to bring the said liege Sexual Inversion went through many After I dumped him, I started mon- their relationship to deal with jealousy subjects into a state of wickedness, lewd- editions and was widely translated. It is itoring my roles (femme, passively ag- when and if it comes along. ness, and debauchery ..." still being read today. gressive, nagging) and realized what was As I said before, I tend to take on the The trial was set for 31 October. The A checklist of hkenesses between wrong with them. They denied a side of "femme" role, and rarely relinquish it. I Defense Committee raised funds and the TBP case and this one would be long my character that has only recently be- am not sure why I do — it's partly be- prepared a case against the monstrous indeed. It would include specific police gun to emerge, a character with real e- cause it's a secure way for me to react to charge. tactics, the notion that the truth about motional strength and a desire to be more men. I always want to flirt with the But, much like Horatio Brown before homosexual lives is itself "obscene," in- assertive. Stereotypes don't include un- straight men at work. If I can't flirt, I'm him, Bedborough quailed. Ten days be- discriminate rjiids, the dilemma of plea .derstanding what is wrong with them. too scared of them to open a conversa- fore trial he called the Committee to- bargaining, media and police and cleri- My woman friend from school once tion. I have to feel they want to talk to gether and announced that he had cal collusion, and the use of "obscen- asked me if I would ever get married to a me, to make an effort to get to know shucked principle: he had bargained the ity" law not to confront true obscenity man. Never, I answered. (Never to a wo- me. If they want to flirt with me, they plea. An offer, Ellis surmised, had come but to crush a growing social movement. man, for that matter.) But I used to have want to get to know me. from the Commissioner of Police when But we should remember that Ellis a fantasy about marrying a doctor and In my private life, I am beginning to he realized, as the trial grew near, just had the final word. "For look," he living in some smart part of town like resolve that. I can now initiate a conver- how formidable Rosedale. I get sation with a strange man. It's still based the defence was. exclaimed wryly in 1935, "see how the Everyday would up and — And so it was that on Hallowe'en world is made. The mighty engines of put on my Chanel suit, lipstick and pa- on flirting — being witty and cute Day, 1898, George Bedborough Social Order and Respectability were set tent leather pumps. Then I would drive but it's closer to the kind of role I want appeared in the Old Bailey and pleaded in motion to crush this infamous thing. the kids to school and go downtown to for myself. What I want is no role at all, guilty to the first three charges, includ- What they really accomplished was to shop, volunteer, or have tea with other simply to be able to respond easily, intu- ing the one against Sexual Inversion. enable that infamous thing to crush Rosedale ladies. itively to people without resorting to Havelock and Edith Ellis, waiting in an them." I also have a fantasy of being courted, "safe" ways of relating. To express my antechamber, never even got into the Michael Lynch D taken out, adored. I fantasize about a emotions and thoughts without fear of courtroom. A light fine was imposed; homo marriage in which the other per- rejection. the other charges against Bedborough son is stronger than I, and takes care of To wear makeup and to giggle when I were dropped. The first book on homo- me. But as a friend of mine says, there want to. D 34/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 " Jailed for writing gay poetry, Soviet poet Gennady Trifonov continues to resist even from LETTER a forced labour camp in the Ural Mountains. He's asking for your help. FROM PRISON In the spring of 1976 a young Russian Trifonov's poetry is highly regarded Leningrad a vehement "Open Letter" The Body Politic wishes to thank Simon poet was grabbed by several policemen by those Russian literati who have had addressed to the Literary Gazette. In his Karlinsky of the University of Califor- while walking down a Leningrad street. an opportunity to read it. Vera Panova's letter, Trifonov protests the recent slan- nia, Berkeleyfor the information and He was brutally beaten and carted off to husband, Soviet novelist and playwright ders of homosexujils in the Soviet press translations contained in the above Kresty Prison to languish until David Dar, who was recently allowed to and documents the brutal treatment of article. It is a somewhat edited version of November of that year, when he was emigrate to Israel, wrote an admiring homosexuals by both inmates and staff material which has already appeared in brought to trial. It was a sepret trial and review while still in the USSR. Knowing of the labour camps. The letter has not London 's Gay News and San at the time his family and friends did not that many of his readers would find Trif- the shghtest chance of being published. Francisco's Gay Sunshine. Both of these know for sure what the charges were. onov's homosexual themes unpalatable, Printed below is a translation of a recent publications also reprinted Karlinsky 's They do know that he was found guilty Dar offered a courageous apology for letter from prison which has made its translation of the full text of David and sentenced to four years in a Soviet homosexuahty: "It is a pure play of way to the West. Dar's hyperbolic appreciation of Trifon- labour camp in the Ural Mountains. emotion, and is as contrary to nature, The family and friends of Gennady ov's poetry. The poet's name is Gennady Trifonov whimsical, incomprehensible and inex- Trifonov fecu- that he will not be able to and he was probably charged with vio- phcable as the equally unnatural desire survive the four years of harsh labour For other items about Trifonov andfor lating Article 121 of the Soviet Criminal of people to speak in rhymes, or depict camp regime. They feel that the only translations of his poetry into English Code, which prohibits homosexual acts. on canvas objects and events of our sur- way to help him is to give his case the see "From Russia with Love, " Chris- His transgression? He circulated private- rounding world, or extract from musical greatest possible publicity in the West. topher Street, March 1977; Richard ly a series of poems about his love for instruments sounds that do not exist in Letters on Gennady Trifonov's behalf Sylvester, "Gennady Trifonov, " Gay another man. nature." from private individuals should be Sunshine, No 32, Spring J 977; Peter Trifonov is a rarity in the USSR: he is Meanwhile, Trifonov himself addressed to Soviet embassies and con- Burton, "Gennady Trifonov, " Gay an openly gay poet. No Russian writer continues his defiance. After reading in sulates, to Amnesty International and to News, No 119, May 19-June 1, 1977; has dealt as freely and extensively with the labour camp the Ogonyok and Liter- writers' organizations such as the PEN Orgasms of Light, ed Winston Leyland. homosexual love since the immediate ary Gazette pieces, he sent his friends in Club.D Gay Sunshine Press, 1977. post-Revolution period of the Twenties, which saw an admirable but short-hved effort to create a sexually non-repressive society. I getyour letters, telling me Trifonov's homosexuality has caused that I'm a poet, which is dazzling, him trouble with the authorities for that this is why my lofty star more than ten years. Until 1973 he was is not extinguished in the dark. employed by the noted novelist Vera Panova, who used her influence to All ofyou write me that my voice shield him as much as possible from has been absorbed by wintry groves KGB persecution. Since her death, however, harassment has become con- which are obedient to my hand, tinual and has led Trifonov to at least obedient like my own handwriting. one suicide attempt. After Trifonov's case was mentioned All ofyou tell me: I alone in several gay publications in the West in sang — as no one's allowed to sing the spring of 1977, the mass-circulation ofhow we love without response Soviet illustrated magazine Ogonyok him who 's our sole necessity, responded with an official version of what had happened to the poet. In a vit- Him who gives shape to all our lives riohc article about a Dutch divinity stu- the way the branchesform a garden dent who was expelled from the Soviet when God will kiss us on the lips Union for gathering information about the dissident movement, Gennady Trif- the way the snowfall kisses earth; onov was mentioned as someone the The onefor whom I shout at night, Dutchman had met but did not try to re- cruit for espionage activities. Trifonov, for whom I call, a wounded bird; it went on, was subsequently convicted One who no longer haunts my dreams. for serving liquor to a minor, theft, One about whom my verse is silent. hooliganism, and "violating still another article of the criminal code, one that has You write, responding in advance. a direct bearing on his miserable homo- You plead with me: "Do not give up. sexual doggerel." Endure it all and stay alive. Estabhshing guilt by association and And I live on. And there 'sno life. piling up charges of petty crime are quite usual when the Soviet press writes of — Gennady Trifonov anyone considered a dissident. What February 1978 was new in the Ogonyok piece was the North Urals previously unmentionable topic of homosexuality. The subject came up in Translated by the Soviet press several more times in Simon Karlinsky 1977-78, always in contexts that equated homosexuality with crime (or insanity) and with anti-Soviet attitudes. Among these instances were articles in Sovetsky Sport that denounced body building as allegedly leading to both homosexuality and murder and an account in the Liter- ary Gazette of the one-man demonstra- tion for gay rights staged in Moscow on November 15, 1977 by the Italian gay liberationist Angelo Pczzana (see TBP, August 1978). The article described Pczzana a.s an emissary from the Biennale of Dissent that wa.s about to open in Venice at the time and implied that the Biennale was organized by homosexuals and madmen. DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY , t - » 1 (/) QJ K «J CO t^. a> ° !5 c -£ a> O O 3 >. < o CTJ 00 E ^2 .a c >>>1^ o % - E — 5 ^ 1? s •a C-. J CO O J^ E a> CO O o .y b! S <3 f2 o t/i c !" c j: CO c T3 5 --5 o j= o C ^ CO "E 5^1i § T3 1>3 CO CO - D. C-. C c - 00 •a 1) O (S CO 1 c -i^ c X) . O. 2 u 3i c^ Q, ^s§l 3 O s: a k: .o >, 00 oi= « O 2 a _c « 5 ^ J^ ^ (/I Ci. c o. 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O o i: aj > k- 3 re x: ar ^ >. c« 4> k. CO 4> 00 o CO °. 3 c« D, .x: o a> aJaj E ^ <*- II (L) . o >> 3 ^-c 2 §-i: o. =! re >. k« a^ re of: x: CO .^ CO C ^ ^ = 5 •~Z c« O — 00 2^ aj C CTv ^ CO >\ 00 c aj -^ — T3 o ^^ 36/ BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 gay but in the forms of oppression they had exper- ienced, and described themselves as "ten white men with varying amounts of privilege and oppression." "Feelings" Meetings were added to the political sessions and the collective struggled with the delicate interaction of politics, emotions and oppression. At times emotions fiared and ashtrays fiew across the room. Out of these meetings grew the play Crimes Against Nature. Each member contributed a story specific to his ex- perience, and the collective worked 30 to 40 hours a week for ten weeks to shape the play. Finally, Crimes opened in San Francisco in March of 1977. Even after the opening. Crimes underwent a num- ber of changes. Among the more significant was the rewriting of the ending. Originally, the men donned ribbons and performed a stick dance, weaving amongst each other to syncopated music of wood on wood. However, the defeat in Dade County and the subsequent murder in San Francisco of Robert Hills- boro, during which one of the assailants shouted, "This one's for Anita," impressed upon the collect- ive the need for some representation of group action. In the present ending, the men begin the stick dance. A shot rings out from the back of the theatre, and a man falls dead on stage. The eight remaining men adopt defiant poses, batons raised, ready to fight. The message is clear. Ironically, on the first night the new ending was performed, the actors had just put on their ribbons to commence the dance when, suddenly, rocks came hurtling through the windows of the theatre. The men reassured the audience, calmly swept the broken glass from the stage and the play went on. With the exception of this symbolic death and uni- ted action in the last few minutes. Crimes does not show gay people interacting with other gay people except in negative ways. "We don't put out a solution to gay oppression," says Richard LaRose of the collective. "We are sim- ply identifying who our enemies are, and figuring out what our problems are. It is through our collective action that we move forward. Our show is for people who feel bad about their gayness. Perhaps for the Collective first time in their life they have their own experience Crimea validated. The purpose was not to give or di- purpose rection but to give strength. Crimes validates pain too. It's too good for other gay people to see actors going through those things." Crimes fails in not providing an explicit link be- Acts tween self-realisation Unnatural gay oppression an indi- and on Crimes Against Nature, a play by the Gay Men's things to me. I had to learn from gay men," a New vidual level and the solidarity presented symbolically Theatre Collective of San Francisco, is about rela- York critic from the straight press writes: "There is in the final scene. But while the relationships of gays tionships: those we develop to survive in a society nothing here to appeal to non-gays." Despite phen- to each other may not be explored in Crimes, the lev- which forces us to deceive each other, and those we omenal success in the gay community of San Fran- el of honesty and trust which exists between the ac- can develop when we are honest. cisco, and a held-over run in New York, a critic from tors creates an intense experience for the audience. "A bundle of sticks. Faggots. Labeled a crime Christopher Street magazine comments "There's no- We sense new relationships which can be developed. against nature and burned. Some of us have sur- thing here for gay people." Asked to describe his relationship to the members vived. What we have done to survive is a crime The GMTC had its genesis two years ago in San of the collective, LaRose groped for words: "The against our own nature." On a New York stage nine Francisco at a potluck dinner attended by twenty collective became my mother, my father, lover, best men in colourful tanktops and jeans, Ut by fire-hued men who wanted to work with other gay men in a friend... and my working companions. It's very much lights, enact a burning. They weave in and out, each skills-sharing workshop. Several months later, in a working collective." chanting their methods of survival. Nine vignettes are August of 1976, six of the men went to the Faggots In Word Is Out one man defined "love" as a com- presented through poetry, dance and improvisation. and Class Struggle Conference in Wolfe Creek, Cal- bination of "lust and trust." The dynamics of the One man stole jockstraps from the school locker ifornia, where they demonstrated improvisation tech- Gay Men's Theatre Collective challenge this. The no- room to possess the masculinity he felt imbued in the niques. They returned filled with enthusiasm. Said tion of romantic pair-bonding, which in heterosexual soiled cotton. He survived by playing butch. Another Timo Lupin-Child, "What seemed to impress dele- terms is usually a design for dependency and oppres- learned early in the game that men do not express em- gates the most was the closeness, the getting down in- sion, appears inadequate. GMTC indicates that otion or have feelings, and if people get hurt, "it's to deep places, the intimacy and the physical con- strong affective relationships are present in a only because they don't play the game as well as 1 tact." collective lifestyle where sexual needs can be met do." A third was quickly taught to suppress his child- In an attempt to channel this enthusiasm the col- outside the group. hood fantasies of playing a princess rescued from lective began weekly political study meetings. It was a GMTC at this stage is firmly welded together by mythical beasts. Others learned to cope by being flip- very difficult but important time in their develop- the sharing of experience, and they intend to move a- pant or agreeable, by taking drugs or living in a fan- ment. "We had energy and enthusiasm but we need- head in developing another presentation, using the ta.sy world. ed direction. We had to find a process and a format vehicle of their political workshop and an analysis of Crimes played to sold-out audiences in San Fran- for our workshops, and part of the discovery was class to distill their ideas. cisco for over a year, won the SF Critics' Circle Award that we would have to create our own because we Crimes Against Nature is an important first step in for Best Experimental Play, and opened in New York were different. Through finding it, and sticking to it, this process. The next step should be an exploration in June 1978. Currently projected are European and we began to get into feeling about ourselves and of relationships between gay people. If this hapi^ens. North American tours, including performances at the about each other." it cannot help but involve a strong denunciation of Music Hall Theatre in Toronto, Dec 4-12. The collective is compo.sed of men of every con- aspects of heterosexual conditioning, much of which Crimes has displayed a broad appeal to theatre- ceivable background: sissy-identified men, butch- involves cla.ss and family and which prevents gays goers while polarizing the reactions of critics. Al- identified men, urban and rural men, those from back- from developing, amongst ourselves, a "more though a straight woman tells the cast, "Now I un- grounds of privilege and those from the working perfect world." derstand my old man. He could never say those class. They began to discover unity not only in being Robin llardyD DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITiC/37 The best feature of the book is its Saint Charles Tavern on Hallowe'en. design, which calls to mind Sontag's Finding pictures that would document mm warning that artful collections often homosexual oppression wouldn't be all create historical lies. Barile has given a that easy. Queer bashers don't hang Gay chic: bad exposure kind of "new-wave" graphic style to the around for photographers, a lesbian book, through his use of photo- mother trapped in a heterosexual The Gay Picturebook edited by Michael mands for conformist behaviour, who endpapers of graffiti that boldly claims marriage looks to the camera Hke any Emory. Contemporary Books (Beaverbooks "choose" to make the sex act their live- PUNK QUEER LIVE, in his concentrated, other housewife, John Damien leaving in Canada), 1978, $11.50. lihood, who manage to live their fanta- assymetrical and angled lay-outs (most the racetrack would just look like a man On Photography by Susan Sontag. Delta sies, have been the subjects of almost as pages have from two to five leaving the racetrack. Pictures alone Paper, 1978, $4.45. many photographs as the deserving photographs), and by leaving the furry don't tell stories very well. And Sontag poor. black lines at the edges of many of the points out that photography and the rest What importance has the photograph in Until recently, gays who were the prints uncropped. The slick surface of of the contemporary arts have "lowered the development and expression of gay camera's subjects tended also to be its the page and the right angles of the book the threshold of what is terrible" to con- culture? It's certainly cnicial to hetero- victims. For many, this situation has give these rough edges a very contem- temporary eyes. Photographs intended sexual life, tying the nuclear family radically changed, and a strong porary sophistication, and make the as social comment are easily neutralized together on Christmas cards, aggressive image (not to be confused photographs themselves very accessible. by the distance between the picture and documenting the growth of children, with masculinist swagger) has been de- But the quality of most of the photo- its jaded audience. This complaint and furnishing the real proof of matri- veloped that confronts the aggression of graphs, especially those taken by the concerning the paradox of the effect of mony. For most of its history, for most the camera head-on. The culture editor, is incredibly low. Badly focused photography reverberates throughout homosexuals, the camera has been becomes more complex as more of the and poorly exposed, shot for the most On Photography: that while "there is no feared in even implicitly homosexual threads of gay sensibility emerge from part without imagination or flair, way to suppress the tendency inherent in situations. Exposure wasn't sure to stop the blanket assumptions of they've been arranged in Uttle groups all photographs to accord value to their with the shutter. Pictures were evidence heterosexuality. according to content, with no apparent subjects," a parallel tendency can frame that could only be used against you. Arthur Bell has wondered whether we regard for the way one image might gain and isolate the subject of a photo- Photographers took from painting the wouldn't be better off if our skins were strength or truth from the images graph, limiting the force of the image to genre of "the nude," and developed an lavender, but in black and white photos around it. Several of the photographs the size of the print. Undue attention to industry around it. From the classic lavender would probably just look are at least five years old, recognizable subjects of little importance can in cer- studies of Thomas Eakins, Edward beige. The real test of a "gay picture- from old movement publications. tain contexts utterly distort the truth, Muybridge and Baron von Gloeden to book" would not lie in its ability to As Sontag remarks, a photograph can and this is the greatest effect of The the heavy pectorals in contemporjuy document once again the superficial sur- be either art or evidence, and not many Gay Picturebook. magazines like Blueboy, photographs of realities of "gay life." Times have are both. The photographs in The Gay But photographs documenting the naked men have suppUed male homo- changed, and many more gay lives are Picturebook approach no subtleties of fight against oppression would be easy sexuals, in largely anti-gay and anti- available to the camera now. texture, lighting, composition or to find, easy to take; in fact many of the sexual societies, with the stuff of their The Gay Picturebook, edited and movement; they are static, posed, un- pictures of unidentified gay men in The erotic imaginations. These pictures not largely photographed by Michael natural, dull. They are evidence only. Gay Picturebook are of movement ac- only help masturbation, they act as tal- Emory, designed by Carl Barile, with an Evidence of what? According to the tivists, from New York, Toronto, ismans: promises, however insincere, of introduction by Dennis Sanders, con- introduction by Dennis Sanders, the Miami, and likely half-a-dozen other attainable youth and beauty. tains twenty pictures of lesbians; fifteen photographs are evidence of "a lot of centers where the faces are less familiar. Historically, "gay" photographs seem pictures of drag queens;thirteen pictures very different people being different to- Emory and Sanders dismiss the political to come from two sources: from straight cont£uning political statements (all taken gether." Not only is the statement struggle while taking advantage of the photographers' forays into the city of at gay pride marches); nineteen pictures meaningless, it's a lie. Most of the freedoms achieved by it. "Gay" doesn't night, and from the Uves of famous relating to sado-masochism (not people in this book are exactly the same. simply apply to disco and the Marlboro homosexuals. The latter crop up increa- including three two-page spreads of Sanders' introduction consists of one in- Man. The word was popularized by the singly in biographies of writers and models trying on various leather credible simphfication after another gay liberation movement, it applies to artists, and while usually no more than "gear"); thirty-six pictures of sex-film ("gay life is very in, very chic, very every field of human endeavour in which group shots of people on lawns, or stars, theatres, and Colt models; thirty Seventies — what blacks were to the homosexuals have played a part, and it studio portraits of loving couples careful pictures on Fire Island; nine pictures of Sixties, Jews to the Fifties, GIs to the involves a special understanding of every to regard the camera rather than each "Entert£iiners Popular With Gay Forties"). The only thing to learn from social circumstance. other, much is suggested to those who Audiences" (the only people identified this shallow and stupid essay is that for If not all of this is readily accessible to understand the importance of appear- in the whole book); one picture of a man the purposes of this book, "gay" is an the camera, then perhaps some hard ance in our culture. giving himself an enema, one of some- adjective that relates solely to style, and thinking about what photographs could Most photographic treatments of one dressed in a space-age rubber suit that this style finds its apotheosis in the reveal is in order. There's no evidence of modem urban society have included pic- (for water sports?); one of a penis very phenomenon of the "gay bar." Of thought in The Gay Picturebook, no tures of the bits of gay culture available tightly bound in thin leather straps, and course, the result is a book no more ad- captions either, to give the images some to the camera. Some of these images, re- two huge blow-ups (each fills a page) of venturous, no more perceptive, than the weight. It's a lazy production, a mar- trieved from their dismal company of crab lice. Most of the rest of the photo- pictures of drag queens taken by the keting trick, a waste of paper. "decadent" night-Hfe studies, have graphs are of anonymous gay men. In heterosexual mobs behind Toronto's For Sontag, photography is suspect extraordinary power. The famous five pictures only, out of at least a few because it keeps us from making neces- Brassai photograph of two lesbians hundred, are two men shown in any sort sary judgements, from drawing "dis- dancing in a Paris nightclub, their calm of embrace. tinctions between the beautiful and the round faces confronting the camera, ugly, the true and the false, the useful their stance utterly assured, has become and the useless, good taste and bad." an indispensable part of our history. Photographed, everything becomes Portraits like these are evidence not "interesting." And faced with the liter- merely of homosexujil desire, but of the ally infinite number of photographs and cultural complexity such desires can their reproductions, the lines between create. But for the most part, pictures of what is real and what is an image become transvestites and the denizens of dark blurred. bars were true only to the heterosexual Sontag's "conservationist remedy," imagination. What the camera seems to limiting the role and extent of photo- record is in fact an interpretation. In her constantly illuminating collection of essays On Photography, Susan Sontag notes the attraction of photography to the Surtealists, who found in the camera many new ways to document "unofficial reality." Sontag cljiims that the photograph is necesseuily surreal, "in its irrefutable pathos as a message from time past, and the con- creteness of its intimations about social class." One of the great subjects of American photography has always been How The Other Half Lives (the title of an 1890 collection of Jacob Riis' photos of the New York slums), alternate reali- ties laid bare for the shock and titillation of the bourgeoisie. Of course, "the other half isn't restricted to the poor, it includes the sexually disaffected as well. People unable to cope with societal de- 38/BODY POLITIC graphy to gain a better perspective on The Inner London Education the largest both image and reality, is wishful Authority (ILEA), one of and thinking. Gay people like Emory and in some ways most progressive boards in Sanders will continue to exploit their the world, fumbled badly in its first superficial understanding of gay society attempt to sack an openly gay teacher. and culture as long as there's money in Open and Positive, a pamphlet it, and images acceptable to profiteering published by the Gay Teachers' Group publishers will continue to cloud our (London), documents with remarkable knowledge of what is real. thoroughness every aspect of the ILEA'S Gordon MontadorD destruction of John Warburton's teaching career. But the booklet points as well to the true victors in the Warburton case: the other gay teachers Rags to riches of Britain. In the fall of 1974 Warburton, a young temporary teacher working for Six of One by Rita Mae Brown. Harper and the ILEA at a girls' secondary school, Row (Fitzhenry & Whiteside in Canada), was faced with a series of abusive anti- 1978, $13.75. gay outbursts from students in a number Lesbian-feminist hero Rita Mae Brown of his classes. He dealt with each situa- has refurbished her image for the dust tion calmly and briefiy: he defended jacket of her latest novel. Six of One, himself as a gay person, and explained cleverly disguising herself as the Medusa the harm which such abuse causes gays. of the Chanel No 5 ad. Brown, the im- Two other staff members, learning poverished lesbian who made a sizable from their students of Warburton's re- sum writing a book about a destitute marks, rushed to the Headmistress; the lesbian, currently works as a script latter called in the heavies from the writer in Hollywood, where she has pur- ILEA that same afternoon. chased what her recent interview in From the beginning, the ILEA took Publisher's Weekly calls a "spacious the position that Warburton had mansion." Rubyfruit Jungle, justly "intruded his private life into his pro- billed as "the first lesbian comic novel," which has been excluded from unions and marxism are dealt with in a fessional hfe in school, to an extent sold 70,000 copies in its Daughters' (a "universal," public acceptance. It is to superficial manner in Brown's haste to which could not be overlooked, nor be small feminist press) edition, and is now insist that the words "universal" and get on to the next epoch. In spite of the allowed to recur." The Authority available at your comer grocery store as "human" be rethought. The qualifier thinness of some of its incidents, any refused to employ him in any of its a Bantam book with 330,000 copies in "lesbian" in lesbian writer will not lesbian-feminist book which so mentions schools unless he was wiUing to give "the print. Movie rights to it have been sold, vanish into the writer until the social op- unions is to be welcomed as ambitious. written assurance" that he would "not with Brown co-authoring the script. presion of lesbians has disappeared. To It is unfortunate that the major in future discuss homosexuality with Rubyfruit Jungle is the stuff of which insist that these modifiers vanish imme- lesbian character. Celeste, is so wealthy. pupils, except in the course of a Anita Bryant's bad dreams are made. diately is to pre-empt the social struggle The largesse of the lesbian couple can completely structured programme of sex Lionized by both feminists and Holly- for their acceptance, and to side with only perpetuate the stereotype that les- education, of which the wood, Rita Mae Brown has met with a those who hide their interests behind a bianism is a vocation for rich literati, Headmaster /Headmistress has full far different reception than Radclyffe smokescreen of universality. Those who since only the rich can afford to protect knowledge and with which he/she is in Hall fifty years ago, and the very belong to oppressed groups have no themselves from social disapproval. full agreement." warmth of this reception creates its own interest in disguising their struggle. Ironically, the woman who broke away Such a condition was unacceptable to problems. There is a battle being fought over Rita from the myth of the aristocratic lesbian Warburton because it would prevent The publicity for Six of One makes Mae Brown's "universal appeal," and living off her inheritance, and gave us a him from dealing effectively with stu- clear that lesbians don't hold the copy- she is on dangerous ground if she resists model of a working-class lesbian in dents in the future, and because it right to Rita Mae Brown. How could we being categorized as a lesbian writer. Rubyfruit Jungle, backslides into amounted to the imposition on him of a be so selfish? She is a universal cultural With these reservations about the Sackville-West gentiUty. The novel has unique and discriminatory teaching treasure. Harper and Row hasten to publicity. Six of One can be safely an equally unfortunate tendency to contract. assure us that "Rita Mae has broken chortled and guffawed through by divide the elite of Runnymede into the Warburton turned for support to his through — this is not a lesbian novel or lesbians and gay men. It is an immensely self-interested, money-grubbing union, the National Union of Teachers even a "woman's book," it is a hterary enjoyable account of twentieth-century bourgeoisie at the munitions factory vs (NUT). From the beginning the NUT groundbreaker with immense universal American history as it affected a handful the natural, landed artistocracy, and to urged him to accept the ILEA'S appeal." How convenient for the of people in Runnymede, a town smack subtly idealize the latter: a repeat of conditions for re-employment and after Company that she has broken through on the Mason-Dixon line. Union- American Civil War ideology without a year of stalUng it decided it could not her previous lesbian-feminist identifica- bashing, class struggles, two World mention of slavery. We are not charmed support his efforts to appeal the tion and can now be sold to everyone. Wars, Prohibition, and a series of by the fact that the representative of the Authority's decision. A series of distur- More alarming are Brown's own births, deaths and murders proceed southern landed gentry, the lesbian bing documents are printed here which comments arguing that she is no more a apace in merry abandon through the appropriately named Celeste, does, in demonstrate the NUT's disguised hostil- lesbian writer than James Baldwin is a decades. The central characters are two the best Stephen Gordon tradition, ity to Warburton, and its consistent black writer, such categories being the sisters who have a hfelong relationship never need to trouble about her income refusal to defend his basic rights. stereotypes of oppression. Objecting to of loving mutual insult, their mother, and because the shoe factory is so far away To its enduring shame, the Inner confinement in such categorical ghettos, a filthy rich, beautiful, cultured lesbian and tended by her brother. London Education Authority to this day she recently said, "Next time anyone couple. It is a thoroughly woman-identi- Still, Rita Mae Brown has not broken refuses to reinstate John Warburton. calls me a lesbian writer I'm going to fied piece; Rita Mae Brown's male char- faith with lesbians, gays and feminists, Yet since his dismissal, no gay teacher knock their teeth in. I'm a writer and acters are superficially drawn, but and Six of One remains a spirited and has been dismissed by the ILEA on I'm from the South and I'm alive, and described in a warm and understanding entertaining book, a good read for the groundsof open homosexuality — and that is that." (The bite is still there.) fashion. week between Christmas and New there are a number who are very open. The ideal of universal humanity is a Packed with hilarious jokes and one- Year's when something bubbly is How many openly gay teachers the moral balm which, assuaging the pain of liners, the dialogue is initially difficult to desired. Authority has hired since Warburton, specific oppressions, causes penetrate, reading more like a script. Loma WelrD we are not told. forgetfulness to set in. The content of Rita Mae Brown may well become a This pamphlet is a must for all gay this universal humanity has been fixed better script writer or playwright than teachers in Canada. It will be of great by white, occidental, publicly hetero- novelist. She has an ear for collo- Closed to open value as well to gay students here: they sexual males. In order to be considered quialism and a positive genius for proper can use it to show their gay teachers why part of it, one must have "broken names, my favourites being the names of the latter should break out of their Open and Positive: An Account of How Jotin through" one's gayness, blackness, the lesbian feminists' cats, Mme de protective closets. School board officials Warburton Came Out At School and the womanhood or other particular Stael and Mme Rdcamier. As in Mark and teachers' unions in Canada should Consequences by the Gay Teachers' Group. oppression because the universal is a Twain, her favourite author, Brown's be furnished with copies of this docu- London 1978. stereotype which, paradoxically, excludes characters are chock full of homespun, ment to prepare them for the struggles almost everyone. To say that someone is pithy wisdom. Begun strongly, the book At the moment only a few school boards which lie ahead. a "male writer" or "white writer" ends weakly as people die with monot- in Canada, Britain, the USA and Tern PhillipsD souxkIs redundant, while "woman writer" onous regularity, the jokes wear thin, Australia face the "dilemma" of openly or "black writer" arc not. The words and the sisters' behaviour degenerates gay teachers amongst their employees. A vailahlefrom Glad Day Books. 4 Collier St. "writer" and "universal" are much like from being pranksterish to juvenile. But as gay teachers of both sexes Toronto andfrom the Gay Teachers Group, the pronoun "he," which in a wonderful The series of historical vignettes intro- continue to come out and to organize, c/o 112 Broxholm Rd. London St 27. economy of expression, theoretically duces more problems than arc resolved, school jurisdictions in these countries England/or £1.2^ lS2. fO) or £!.(,!• Ii3.30) air includes but practically excludes women. and the final upbeat message, will be challenged to adopt progressive mail. Pink Triangle Press has a shipment on To be a lesbian writer or a black writer "everything is pos,sib!c," rings hollow. policies which combat anti-gay order; details of price will tie announced next is to write from a particular oppression The topics, for example, of bisexuality, discrimination. issue. DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POUTIC/39 them." The booklet has a definite feminist Open school gates perspective, which in itself sets it apart from the majority of sex education Young, Gay and Proud by the Melbourne Gay material available to youth. The section Teachers' and Students' Group. 1978. entitled "Doing It, Gay Men/Gay ' " ' Where are we all? is the title of one of Women" is bound to raise a few conser- the chapters in this sensitive booklet vative brows. Here sex is discussed as aimed at gay high school students. Isn't naturally as eating or breathing. We are it a question many of us asked ourselves actually told that our bodies are when we first felt there wasn't anyone something we should enjoy. Heaven for- else in the world who was — different? bid that this should reach young, The struggle for self-realization is one impressionable minds! of the hardest, especially for a gay Young, Gay and Proud is definitely a teenager who feels she/he is totally far cry from the kind of leaflet handed alone. In an institution as devoted to re- out in health classes, proclaiming the inforcing stereotypical sex roles as the joys of heterosexuality while dealing average high school, the isolation can be with both masturbation and homosex- unbearable. It is there we are supposed uality in one paragraph. Even though to learn our "place" in society, but what such a booklet is desperately needed in if it doesn't provide the mold we're high school sex education curricula, I looking for? Reinforcement or positive doubt it could be sneaked past the front role models are virtually non-existent for office. Your average homophobic vice- the gay student. Fortunately, with the principal might misinterpret the boldly- flurry of harmonizations, then join development of gay youth groups, there printed cover as perverted, radical together in strength and volume on the are now some outlets for young people propaganda. key phrase "My friend is a woman, a to meet in besides bars which cater only The backlash is here. If The Catcher sweet woman child." It is an excellent Soap and silence to those of legal drinking age. But what in the Rye is being removed from example of how this group use their of the time spent at home with the English courses in some schools, voices as instruments — hjumonizing, Total Eclipse by Christopher Hampton. family or in the school environment? something tells me they won't be sending blending, contrasting major and minor Directed by Sean Mulcahy for Labyrinth The purpose of this booklet is to vali- out rush orders for Young, Gay and keys, singing a capella. There are a few Productions. Bathurst Street Arena Theatre, date the reader's homosexuality. It Proud. Getting positive resource instrumentals with piano, flute and Toronto. presents its information directly and material to young gay people is a major guitar in a jazz-folk mode, but it's I cannot figure out why Christopher honestly and suggests positive routes to problem. definitely the vocals that are exciting. I Hampton has called Total Eclipse, his take in dealing with this big discovery. I think we are all becoming aware of have mixed feelings about the actual dramatization of the relationship be- The booklet incorporates photographs the difficulties facing the young and gay tape, but I recommend the group tween Rimbaud and Verlaine, a tragi- of happy looking same-sex couples and in the present educational system. The without reservation. comedy. It's mostly soap. The efforts of humourous illustrations — many done solutions are complex and long term. Lilith is an all-women's rock band. the newly-formed Labyrinth by the well-known cartoonist Ostrom. It There are a lot of lies to unlearn but the They've been playing together longer Productions are worth watching, is blunt when discussing the topics of publication of this booklet is a step in than any of the other groups — they got though. With more experience, they sex, sexism and oppression. There is a the right direction. together professionally in 1972. should be a solid troupe. section devoted to giving sensible Maybe one day soon the chant Although they don't identify primarily Will we ever see a worthwhile study of answers to questions and to refuting age- "Young, Gay and Proud" really will with women's music, neither do they fit these two figures? The glaring lacunae in old misconceptions and lies. For ex- echo from the local schoolyard. into the heterosexist rock mainstream the records of their passionate swing ample, to the assertion, "Women be- David MacLeanD either. A new women's recording net- invite interpolations outside come gay because they can't get a man," work has recorded them and, at the from an artistic agency, but Hampton hits only they reply: "This is another lie spread For more information write to the Mel- women's clubs where they often the worst effects and ignores the stuff of around by straight men who can't live bourne Gay Teachers' and Students' perform, you will hear them play a genius. His Verlaine is nothing more with the truth that there are some Group, POBox35, Fitzroy, Victoria vsiriety of styles from jazz to rock'n'roll. than pitiful and incapable, and Rimbaud women who just aren't interested in 3065, Australia. Rock standards like "Pick Up the Pieces" display their professional ability only aloof and anti-Christian. You to play fast and tight. would never know that their association Do you remember Cris Williamson's brought about Verlaine's great paroles his inspired mm first album? One of Olivia Records' Romances sans and "tightly," Sagesse, or a great deal of Rimbaud's nearly seamlessly, and have firsts as well, it pleased a lot of people. an obvious care and respect for the visionary break with Parnassian poetry. Dip and soar Understandably, I was looking forward quality of their Read Henry Miller on Rimbaud instead. music. to her next album after hearing it was in the by Baba Yaga. LP. Bloodleaf this first the songs range Don't expect to see any love scenes, On Edge On album the works, but it disappointed me when Records (distributed by Olivia Records), from demented to either. Only the aesthete's exploration of a parody of a polka it finally arrived. It is a live album 1978, $7.50 hot swing to low-key jazz numbers, which, among many other technical cruelty and domination is put on the stage. Like a Mountain by the Izquierda Ensemble. while the lyrics incorporate much of the problems, distorts voices and Enid Starkie's biography has Cassette, Riverbear Music (distributed by feeUngs and issues of women's culture. instruments while unaccountably already done its best to veil the acts of Ladyslipper Music), 1978 Most notable: "Monogamy- muffiing some parts and amplifying physical love between them. I think Shbedogamy," a parody of current anti- others. we're ready to see something of the Boston Ride by Lilith. LP, Galaxia Women (The Dream Machine, not monogamy attitudes which is funny boy's urgent craving for the older man Enterprises, 1978, $7.50 Olivia, produced it). It seems to avoid while making pertinent points; "Char- almost totally the positive aspect of as well. Hampton also misses out by not Williamson, with Jackie Live Dream by Cris Verlaine's lotte's Web," a strong, driving jazz going live — hearing how the musicians sufficiently counterpointing Robins and June Millington. LP, The Dream physical abuse of his wife Mathilde with instrumental; and "Rise Agsiin," which interact with the audience. There is not Machine (distributed by Olivia Records), does have a melody that dips and soars one clap, not one comment, and not any his subjection to Rimbaud's willful con- 1978, $7.50 as the musicians take cues from each feeling of spontaneity. Except for "In trols. Verlaine was a wife beater who sublimated his violence into an ideali- "Pounding those gorgeous other in short solos. Put this album on the Best Interest" (the title song of the chords /Making music that dips and your list of have-to-get records. film on lesbian mothers called In the zation of the young man's supremacy. Total Eclipse shows merely escaping soars/ Like a mama Hon, joy it Like a Mountain by the Izquierda Best Interests of the Children) and the him into roars/ Very loud — hear it now" is a Ensemble is recorded on a tape cassette, Jimmy CHff "Born to Win," the music from a bourgeois confinement liquor nostalgic revery. tragedy good summation of the current crop of which doesn't quite balance out the is not memorable at all. The songs also and No women's music on record, despite the vocals and the accompaniment (they suffer from having only two accompany- here, just a yawning fall. different intentions and styles of the intend, however, to record an album in ing musicians. Physical closeness is not all that's groups. the near future). Much of their music is Williamson has used a shoddy vehicle missing from the play. Verlaine was also per- Two of these bands, Baba Yaga and written by Naomi Littlebear, drawing to present an upHfting message, which is often pathetic, but he had some the Izquierda Ensemble, appear to have upon her Chicana background. All of embarrassing for a woman who has been sonal grandeur even at the end of his originated in the women's community in them participate equally and joyfully in performing professionally for many life. His mistress Eugenie was not just tart this play, Verlaine Portland, Oregon. Baba Yaga play the music-making. What this cassette years and done better work. This is an the dumb of and mostly jazz, while Izquierda have their misses is the banter and good spirits of album for the die-hard Williamson fans was more than just drunk, idle and silent deserves roots in Spanish /Indian folk music. Baba their concert introductions. They see only. Hang on to your memories of what after parting with Rimbaud. He Yaga take their name from a legendary their music as a vehicle to raise people's Cris used to do and might have been. more respect. By the way, Rimbaud was consciousness and create not his only male lover. Russian witch and subtitle themselves a awareness and by IlonaLaneyD women's band. Collectively organized, pride in women's culture. My favourite Part of the difficulty in staging their they set out to "make a kind of music cutis "Rising Tide," an upbeat folk Two of the above records are available relationship is that these grand romantic that women, except for vocalists, have song about alliances made, or to be from Olivia Records, 2662 Harrison St, facts need no help from fiction to make traditionally not made." They identify made, among women. Lovely voices rise Oakland, CA 94612; the otherfrom us wonder. Their lives and their works Black and Latin influences on their to a crescendo on the refrain "Rise up Galaxia Women Enterprises, Box 212, were stupendous enough in their way. music. As a group they play together fighting, rise up, rise up," cascade into a Woburn, MA 01801. Robert ReinhardD 40/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 " G spare the heterosexual sensibilities of the silencing majority. For lesbians, this Crisp and stylish movie is an exercise in frustration. And for feminists, forget it. Never do words An Evening With Quentin Crisp: like "liberation" cross the Ups of any of Rb Nalud Owl Servant. TWP Theatre. Toronto. the characters, even though they are all Quentin Crisp saunters down the aisle trendy New Yorkers. We know that — a grand, urbane raven in jacicet and nobody reads books in Hollywood, but trousers, still handsome at 70. Descen- we have heard that Ms. sells a few copies ding to the drawing room setting, he in New York. removes his black hat with sloping brim, Agnes Varda's film brings us a hodge- paces the stage, delivers his lines to the podge of images of two women's design in the red carpet. I fear (wrongly) struggles to get abortions, bring up that we are in for a re-hash of his hit children, and get married without losing auto-biography The Naked Civil their independence (more or less in that Servant, in which he chronicled his order), as well as carrying on a friendship difficult existence as a self-evident by means of picture postcards. It also homosexual. At first, he appears a non- brings us anecdotes about a group of actor tossing off his witty, self-effacing feminist musicians who tour the anecdotes, exploited by those who do backward South of France with not have the sense to hire a competent mediocre music and souped-up Simone director. Suddenly on this particular de Beauvoir lyrics. The idea is interesting evening, playwright John Herbert, One Sings, the Other Doesn't: souped up Simone de Beauvoir but it remains undeveloped. Besides, the appju-ently lacking such an audience, peasants for whom they play look like interrupts with loud comments. Crisp, forward by way of gossip and anecdotes. left-overs from Monty Python's Holy with alarming grace and instinct, And these are linguistic forms — as the Grail, and the result is that the audience answers Herbert, harnesses his poetry of Frank O'Hara ably does not know whether to laugh at them chirpings, snatches the evening back. demonstrates — that are distinctly gay. or to blush at the unconscious self- Crisp lectures on style — the idiom by No more flowers Finally, it is the distance Hazan's parody. which one communicates one's true self film keeps from its subject that makes it Despite its courageous tackhng of A Bigger Splasli. Directed and produced by — and urges us to develop our own. He quite special. Nothing is ponderously issues like contraception and abortion, Jack Hazan and David Mingay. A Buzzy gives examples of those with style: explained. The success or failure of Varda's One Sings, the Other Doesn 't Enterprises Ltd Production, England, 1974. Mohammed Ali is defeated, it is the relationships is never rationalized: you remains shallow, and its shallowness is fight he loses, not the one Spinks won. There is something about the painter just stop dropping by with flowers. illustrated by the unbehevably they-all- Joan Crawford is style itself, fusing sub- David Hockney that suggests the Sixties Anti-familial relationships are without lived-happily-ever-after ending, in which stance and form, and Crisp imagines right off the bat. Those wonderful models, after all. In such a context, the a slightly unfocussed camera shows us her, inheritor of a soft drink empire, glasses, the huge bow ties, the bright everyday and the banal become the faces of the characters that might stalking into the packed boardroom of suspenders. His paintings speak the significant. Which is what Hockney's have been memorable. Claudia Weill's Pepsi-Cola, imposing her will simply by same way, both in their mod colours, paintings are all about. film remains disappointing for a dif- slapping the secretary and thundering, and in their fascination with the tacky, Alexander Wilson D ferent reason. It gives us a long intro- ' ! ' Who told you to take t he minutes apolitical space of Southern California. duction to nothing, a series of well- He reminds us of Eva Peron: a woman It's the Sixties in its aesthetic rather played variations on a missing theme. of such audacity that she, dripping in than social sense. Think not of protest Mariana ValverdeD diamonds and fur, saluted a cheering marches, but of Andy Warhol, Twiggy A whiff of feminism Argentine crowd with the defiant cry, and Camaby Street; Georgie Girl, Blow- Girlfriends. Directed and produced by "We — the shirtless!" Crisp is a great Up, or even To Sir With Love. Jack ClaudiaWeill. USA, 1978. story teller. But he isn't acting — he's Medical thrills Hazan's feature film A Bigger Splash One Sings, the Other Doesn't. Directed and himself. There's no pretense; we see places the painter in just this milieu: the produced by Agn6s Varda. France, 1976. Born a Man ... Let Me Die a Woman . A poise, not posture. enigmatic, terribly self-indulgent artist HygeneFilm. Montreal. After intermission. Crisp answers in a "swinging" London of ten years What one film has, the other doesn't. written questions from the audience, ago. Girlfriends is a well-made American film Montrealers had a chance this fall to see reminding us that he is here to say A Bigger Splash is both a random where good acting and excellent heterosexist ideology take its baldest and "exactly what you want to hear." narrative about Hockney's friends and technique are supposed to make the most brutal form in a sexploitation doc- However, the show weakens when he affairs, and a documentary study of his viewers forget that the two women never umentary about transsexuals called Born answers verbal questions as isolated con- art. Its brilliance lies precisely in the become the characters we've been prom- a Man. . . Let Me Die a Woman. The film, versations develop between Crisp and confusion of these two forms. The ised. One Sings, the Other Doesn 't is apparently American in origin, packed his interrogators. movie was made during the period when a poorly-produced French film where a them in for seven weeks at a soft-core One may disagree with Crisp's reso- Hockney was breaking up with his sustained feminist line is supposed to house in the most respectable stretch of lute forbearance, his politics (or lack of model and boyfriend of some years, excuse an awkward script and mediocre St Catherine Street, just across from them) — but it is impossible not to love Peter Schlesinger. The uncompleted photography. Simpson-Sears. him. takes to his He such pains define painting "Peter by the Pool" becomes Girlfriends follows what has now The whole sordid thing is narrated by terms and beliefs, he even his de- causes the locus of Hockney's frustration and become the Julia tradition, in that it a Dr Leo WoUman, who reminds us sev- tractors to re-examine amd clarify their obsession with his friend. But so do his explores the problems that two women eral times of his MD and PhD while own. The central irony is that, for most other relationships. The movie blurs the have in sustaining a deep and supportive showing in explicit detail how medicine of his life, Crisp was in continual danger relations between the artist, his work friendship. But it goes beyond it in can correct Nature's "monstrous biolog- from the law for being the thing same he and his circle. Almost all of it is shot in beginning to broach the possibihty that ical joke" of "imprisoning" a woman in is celebrated for today: unique. the bright and lucid colours of the such friendships may \x a form of a man's body (or vice-versa). In addition Burke Campbell paintings themselves. The vase of wilted lesbianism. to gory close-up examination of surgical tulips that so characterizes the almost Although the plot is headed in that nip-amd-tuck and of newly fashioned Jean-Marc Amyot gave an ener^tic maudlin reactions of Hockney's friends direction, lesbianism remains a persistant genitals, both male and female, the good performance in Michel Tremblay's one- to his malaise turn up both on canvases possibility, no more than an overtone. doctor also treats us to dramatized act, one-person play La Duchesse de and on coffee tables. Photographs are Claudia Weill, the director, decided to episodes depicting the suicide or self-cas- Langeais, produced by Le Thditre du blown up to be traced for paintings, and P'tit Bonheur In Toronto. A Bigger Splash: David Hockney (left) contemplates New York paintings serve as models for scenes in the film. While bathing in his opulent chlorine-blue-tiled shower, Hockney fantasizes about Peter frolicking around a California pool that the film analyses, frame by frame, in the very terms of the painter's photo-realist style. Yet the film is much more than this. It departs from the standard art documentary by being funny, at times sublimely so. And it is here that I think it is of particular interest to gay people. The naked California blonds, the drag show, the generally frivolous and stylish presentation of the characters — all of these wc recognize as the cliches of the discourse of gay male society. But they arc not used unthinkingly; they arc key elements of a story that is carried Not happy with your living arrangements? Looking for a self-contained room? Find that apartment lonely? Parliament Street Fully self-contained bachelorettes Private bathroom Fridge, stove and sinl< in each unit Nine units fully renovated with modern furnishings At Wellesley, minutes from Yonge Start at $43 per week Victor Avenue Slove, fridge and sink in each room Free use of washer and dryer Steps from Broadview, two blocks north of Gerrard 1 1 units — start at $32 per week Tourist accomodation by the night or weekly tration of transsexuals who can't deal tyraiuiy now made respectable by the with it. We meet the predictable, a half- aura of science. The issues raised by sex- completed woman who engages in change surgery are still not entirely clear. prostitution to save up for the rest of her But in the meantime, someone is making operation (followed, of course, by a a lot of money off people who have Call Don (465-3287), Bob (465-8919) shower in order to show her shrivelled- Ustened to its promises. or Ron (928-9009) up penis). Thomas WaughD Dr Wollman also provides us with the opportunity to meet some of his victims, occasionally poking their siUcone-taut breasts to show off his craftsmanship. A Straight guffaws few tell their own stories. One, a young Burroughs. Cinema Lumi^re, Toronto Puerto-Rican woman in nail polish and the 13th of November saw negligee, apparently quite a success for Monday WiUiam S Burroughs read to a full house the doctor, tells an engaging story of Lumi^re, and it growing up in her biological "prison" at Toronto's Cinema entertaining event. within a large, poor family and a macho was at least an Burroughs' animated voice drifted culture. But an offhand remark that if through stories, tirades, and vindictive she had any children she wouldn't want testimonies drawn from forty years of TOR— 10 B*** ST. them to be gay suddenly explodes a mass writing. His deUvery was poUshed, clever Masc. Toronto men, into healthy meals, of contradictions which the film is trying and funny, and it was all popular materi- to avoid. California wine, get off on friendly western al. The audience responded with a cackle I always thought that the pseudo- and guffaw at every turn. They seemed atmosphere at DUDES after five. Seeking scientific sexploitation fUc had gone out to be extremely titillated at the mention with the fifties, that Sex Kittens at hungry, hot companions. Turn on to hard of anything scatalogical. College had edged Damaged Lives (an Who are they and where do they come muscles, moustaches and shooting pool early and extremely profitable treat- from — that's what I wanted to know. courses. ment of venereal disease) off the market. between So much of the audience seemed uninter- Not so. Born a Man. . . points toward a ested in Burroughs as a literary persona, whole new horizon for this venerable preferring rather to assign him the role film genre. of Sixties cult figure. They were so in- The narrator makes claim at one ordinately dumb. Burroughs under- point that once upon a time "anatomy standably presented them a selection of was destiny," but now, thanks to the writing which was certainly entertaining advance of modern medicine, etc, etc. In but not involving. fact, what he and his despicable freak- It was also a very heterosexual Come for dinner, show demonstrate is a whole new way of occasion. There was hardly a queer in enforcing the tyranny of anatomy, a stay the night. the house, which I found quite interes- ting since Burroughs' writing stands out as explicitly homo-erotic. Moreover, he Our Image Contributors doesn't simply deal with homosexuality as a theme; almost all his work is highly Burke Campbell hates it when people stare at sexualized, like an electrical current him In Loblaws. . .Tim Guest hotly denies that he It's odd, IS an Intellectual elitist ...llona Laney was last which charges every sequence. attracts such a hetero seen listening to loud lesbian music. . .David then, that he Maclean Is a seventeen-year-old Marilyn audience, as though they understand Monroe fan living in Toronto. . .Gordon graphic sexuality (and an antinormal Montador trips a light fantastic in and about imagination) as only a mild indiscretion. Toronto... Robert Reinhard, who will soon leave It's even stranger that Burroughs Toronto for Boston, writes poetry. . .Thomas received such sparse support from Waugh teaches film at Montreal's Concordia Toronto gays. Insipid dopes like University. . .Lorna Weir's Interests range from Gotham apparently provide to many a phrenology to curried eggplant. . .Alexander palatable version of our own story. Wilson grew up in Oakland, California and now more 10 breadalbane toronto 923-6136 lives in Toronto. Tim GuestD 42/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 ThelvoryTunnel LAUNDRY ISNT THE ONLY THING Gay Small Press by Ian Young TO DO ON SUNDAY NIGHT Regis Film Programme has great classic films at Innis Town Hall on Sundays. For information call 536-7382. Patriotic poodle, outstanding educator REGIS FILM PROGRAMME, BOX 102, STATION P, TORONTO, ON M5S 2J0 "John Ironstone's" politically-con- It is the exception for a book of poetry /^^^ scious porno novels have been reviewed in this country, especijilly one from an .^^iriB before in these pages. His latest is Gay unknown poet and a small press, to sell Rights ($2.25, Parliament News, 1 1085 more than 500 copies, but Don Garner's Olinda St, Sun Valley, CA 91352) which first chapbook. Dirty Laundry, has sold — o" 3* .V5^^ is almost all politics, very little porno. almost twice that in a few months Of The publishers are to be commended, mainly because the author has been ^K MONMV » SATURMr- ^^k 11:30am to >Mi«t^ though many readers will be disap- hustling it on Toronto street corners. % ^F SUNOAYS- V^ pointed that there is not more sex, and Yes, that attractive young man who's so indeed a little more eros might have often to be seen buttonholing passers-by helped the ethos along. It is unfortunate, across Yonge St from the Pju^kside is a too, that Ironstone in one passage nris- poet. The poems are inspired by represents S/M in much the same way Garner's days as a teacher and by his many straight writers have traditionally travels from Muskoka to Morocco. Now misrepresented homosexuality. Another the cold weather's here, the author STEREO ironic feature: the cover photo is of two won't be on the streets so much, but young men, shirtless, embracing. copies are available at $1 .50 from Huron & Presumably they are meant to represent Path Press, 113 Ellsworth Ave, Toronto jfuratturc the liberated gay characters in the book; M6G 2K5. TELE- unfortunately, one of them sports a A fine book of restrained and evoca- tattoo of a swastika! tive poems is Jon Bracker's Duplicate VISION For the past five years, a series of Keys ($2.50, Thorp Springs Press, 231 1- quiet and reflective articles signed "A. C Woolsey St, Berkeley, CA 94705). REPAIRS Nolder Gay" has been appearing in Here is "Last Night": Boston gay papers, providing a (some- also servicing all types I had been wanting things again: what) older and relatively conservative -pri6c of craftsiMnship to be published of home entertainment gay man's musings on various aspects of --ol6-fa5hiotie6 to find a cheap hot-plate that worked equipment quality gay life. Some of these columns have to move into a wonderful arrangement now been collected as The View From and small appliances -free csHtimtes with a neat, clean, faultless person the Closet ($3, Union Park Press, PO -pickip aii6 6elivYrg who would keep me entertained Box 2737, Boston, MA 02208). Here is Frank Hutchings and leave me alone -10% ^aiy 6i6coant one amusing quote from the book: Electronics "A year or so ago the Chancellor of and worrying about my blood pressure the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh still a little high - 691-9269 555 -*l 53 7 successfully nominated his sixty pound poodle for a listing in Outstanding and generally playing the fool Educators ofAmerica. The vitae and when just before you turned to go HHH pubUcations list were, of course, bogus, you closed the gap between us with a kiss, Come ski with us but the publisher (a Montgomery, Ala- ra ^^1 the first <^ bama firm) accepted the listing without 1 b ^^^^^H^^1 this checking because of the presumed Q. w winter! and made my heart stare after you, CO ^^^* ^^^H honesty of the nominator. When called content to be amazed. (0 Downhill on the matter, a company representative & Cross-country CO claimed that normally the 'Board of Many of the poems seem to be gay, but 3 o Editors' (who are employees of the the otherwise enjoyable drawings by o CO Weekend and day trips in Ontario, firm) do check for fake entries; they also Frank Stack not this. 5 do reflect 3 L Q\ ^— eliminate people 'we feel are not patrio- David A Shore's Annotated Resource o or take a whole week o LO jm tic; you know, not for the country.' Guide to Periodicals in Human m and come out West, or to Vermont • Pressed to give an example, she cited Sexuality lists a variety of periodicals, ^ ^\ m CD 'someone who lists membership in a from Sexuality and Disability to Play- ^O ^^^r And go gayly down the slopes! homosexual organization.' Gay Aca- boy. In a 53-item listing, a lot of sources 'co cn demic Union types, 3 be forewarned; your are missed, including some of the best O (Instruction for beginners available poodle can make it into Outstanding gay periodicals, but the sampUng will be c on request) Educators ofAmerica. but^OM can't." useful to students and librarians. It's CO $3 o o from the editor, Sullivan House, 1525, E o 5o CO o T- 53rd St, Suite 1 102A, Chicago, IL ^ For information on o ^% 60615. E ^^ o these trips, call This column is supposed to review D ^^?^-'' books from the independent, mostly c b 364-6117 CO o non -commercial presses, but I also try to CO r. cover gay titles issued by those pariahs o IT) or visit us at of publishing, the subsidy or "vanity" c 05 50 houses — commercial companies that •h CJ C charge authors for a job that only tech- C 5: « 1:1 nically could be called publishing. Vantage Press, one of the largest is the ^o • printer-up of Tabbylane, a novel by ' i CO Mercury Tours * Gunnar Savers ($7.95 from 516 W 34 St, o New York, NY 10001). 111 & Travel According to the dust-jacket. Tabby- CNJ lane is supposed to be waggish and 404 King St. E. witty. Unfortunately, the characters, 4ic-y€^ ^ CJ whose adventures ensue during a pair of -^ c /T*! LO — Toronto, Ont. equally tedious parties, are neither funny nor plausible. Two of them seem • MSA 1L4 lo be loosely ba.sed on William F Buck- ley and Gore Vidal but the televised veli- D tations of the originals were far more O ( c entertaining than anything here. Mr 0) o Illustralion: Savers is a wholesaler and amateur .j; Rycke Polhieri from Don Garner's Dirty Laundry golfer from Arkansas. U DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/43 . . Classifieds number with letter. All welcome but blacks enjoy theatre movies companionship. Drawer WELL ENDOWED YOUNG MAN WANTS preferred, ages 25 to 45. Drawer 8218. 8252. FRIENDS- graphy, racial equality. Send photo and GAY MALE, 22, 5'8", 150 lbs, brown shoul- man would understand^hat I also love my phone. Discretion assured. Drawer B256. der length hair seeking other males who love GOOD LOOKING, slim, masculine guy, wife and want to protect her, but our friend- to suck cock. I do. I'm interested in a great 29, into watersports seeks good looking ship would be no secret. Other than fidelity I Manitoba many other things. Write a sizzling letter and boyish type 21 to 28 into same for mutual fun have no definite sexual ideas because if we LONELY PROFESSIONAL male 42, 130 tell me your fantasies. I love sex, so let's meet or B&D. Drawer B259. care about each other this will work out. lbs, 5' 11" seeking sincere mature males. Kitchener and anywhere, drawer 8284. FRIENDLY, CONSERVATIVE (but not Aside from normal cleanliness looks are not important, it's the emotional contact I need. I Interests: music (classical), plants, books, BISEXUAL MAN, 40, married, short, slim, stuffy), 35, 5'H" 158 lbs; wants to meet a travel, correspondence. All serious replies feel strange about placing this ad and assure athletic, many interests, likes fun. Devoted to gentle, masculine fellow who is stable, with- anyone who cares to respond absolute dis- answered, photo appreciated. Drawer . B251 family but often desires escape, suburbia out being absolutely predictable, prefer cretion and expect the same. Drawer B283 . WINNIPEG couple interested in meeting same quickies, wants honest discreet friendship(s) someone 30-38, not overweight, for casual fcff evenings out and in. Singles and out-of-town- hopefully more with similar together attrac- dates or ideally a steady relationship. PHILIPPINO OR CHINESE FRIEND, wanted tall successful ers also welcome. No drugs. Drawer 823 1 tive man to 45. Self-employed so mobile, es- Interests: film, theatre, skating, travel, under 30, by man, 48, pecially during the week. Photo music. Drawer 8260. affectionate with nice apartment and car. SINCERE, 20 YEAR OLD would like to appreciated /reciprocated. Write looking Likes travel, photography. Recently visited meet new friends or hear from penpals P.O.Box MALE 30 YEARS considered good 2785, Rochester, N.Y. 14626. seeks active mature friend to experi- Asia. Drawer 8285. across the country. Am tired of phonies, wide ^^_ ence love. 25 YR. BOY. 5'8", 120 lbs; variety of interests have room for lots of love CONSERVATIVE, QUIET, masculine guy, homosexual Discretion and photo OLD CAREER welcome. 8261. am interested in exploring untried B&D in my life. Write me and see if we can't be 35, 5'8", 165 lbs, professional classical Drawer fantasies with another acolyte. Must be friends. B230. musician, would like to meet other gays, 25- MALE MODEL, young, versatile, wants healthy, slim, into smoking, drinking of fine 35, for friendship and to see what develops. handsome, young, greek active friends. wines. Drawer Montreal Hefty is beautiful. Photo appreciated. Drawer 8262. 8286. Drawer 8219. 497- AFFECTIONATE MALE, 26, 5'6", 125 lbs. HANDSOME YOUNG GREEK PASSIVE TORONTO S&M B&D — Phone (416) 1635 — guys, one dominant, one swings who is sensitive, honest, intelligent, versatile, male, seeks homy, young friends. Drawer two both ways, seek submissive slim guys 21 to 35 and a little lonely is searching for similar Toronto 8263. young (18 to 30) males for intimated friend- YOUNG MAN, 140 lbs, would like to meet for groovy scenes, all limits respected, MALE GRADUATE STUDENT 33 experi- ship, possible long-term relationship. attractive TV, am inexperienced. Would also novices welcomed, photo appreciated. Just encing difficulty coping with another Kings- consider erotic posing. Must be clean and Rogers Box 374 Agincourt, Ontario, Canada "coming out" guys welcome. Take a ton winter seeks correspondence with chance — maybe we can help each other. discreet. Photo if possible. Box 831, Adelaide MIS 3C6. Also weekend slave wanted. intelligent life anywhere in Toronto-Kingston Street Post Office, Toronto. overweight Photo and phone number appreciated. All -Ottawa area. Drawer 8267. WHITE MALE 32 185 lbs but letters answered. Drawer 8187. working down. Average looks hairy french MAN, RELIGIOUS, seeks loving YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE, 8LACK,educated relationship with one other man, my age, active wish friends 25 to 35 prefer straight MONTREAL GAY MALE, bilingual, 40, male 27 seeks attractive male for lasting 5'10", also devout. My description: 25,6'2", 160 appearance total honesty please no drugs 158 lbs., straight looking, sincere, friendship. Drawer 8268. unattached, cultured, enjoys quiet refined lbs, trim, deep brown eyes, moustache, well- beards or kinks. If necessary phone 275-4444. 5'7", lbs. SINCERE MALE, 25, 130 seeks Will reply all. lifestyle, arts, travel, music, dining, looking endowed, versatile, non-talker, non-drinker, Please answer with photo. genuine friends, interested in politics, music, for level headed self-supporting companion, non-smoker, vegetarian, reliable, tolerant, Drawer 888. travel and reading. Sometimes considered too 35 or younger to share good moments with, sensible, masculine and affectionate. Photo MOUSTACHE, SHORT HAIR, classy very academic and serious, but hope this is not the appreciated, I'll return it with mine. possible stable relationship. Drawer 8229 . PO Box attractive male model. Hard working etc. whole truth. All replies welcomed, particular- 425, Station O, Toronto M4A 2P1. Seeks friends. Rodney (416) 361-1141. ly from Orientals and Asians. Discretion Northern Ontario TWO FRIENDLY GUYS, 34 and 24, want to assured. Drawer 8269. WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOUNG WHITE MALE, goodlooking, masculine, meet young masculine guys to age 28. Have MASCULINE GUY 25 6'3" good build, uni- student interested in sports theatre. Must be professional, 35, 5'10", 155 lbs, well- movies and own home. Enjoy country versity degree, would like to hear from horny sincere and honest. Answer with phone educated, affectionate, wishes to share driving, camping and the outdoors. Reply masculine guys under 30. Am into weekend number please. Drawer 8209. his life with similar goodlooking masculine with description and phone number to P.O. fun, cross country skiing, reading, levis and PASSIVE WHITE MALE 25 5'4" 130 lbs. man 21-34. Enjoy individual sports, music, Box 507, Station O, Toronto, M4A 2P I good times. Drawer 8270. seeks well hung black or white men. Photo travel, conversation, sense of humour. Need VISITING TORONTO? New in town? Call GUY, ATTRACTIVE, LATE TWENTIES, and phone number Drawer 8235. clean cut guy who is intelligent, sensitive, Bob 923-8306 caring, giving & has his act together. Write wishes to meet with gay males who like SEEKING horny male, younger, slim, huge MALE, 28, 5'8", 140 lbs, seeks companion. about yourself with address, phone and receiving oral experiences. Reply and good cock for mid-30 Greek passive, 6' plus male Likes movies, bowling, skiing, dining out, photo. Ontario, Manitoba and BC areas. photo guaranteed. Must be discreet. Drawer for good times. Drawer 811. also glass of wine. Write P.O. Box 188, Drawer 8265. 8271. SLIM EAST INDIAN MALES turn me on, Station W, Toronto M6M 4Z2. GAY CANADIAN MALE EARLY 40's so if you are a young horny guy, well- honest Ottawa WANTED: A CLEAN, wishes to meet male 35 to 45 for friendship endowed, write Drawer 8287. broadminded, well endowed, masculine male 33, INTELLIGENT, BILINGUAL. Like and hopefully more. I am self employed. I YOUNG GREEK ACTIVES for sensuous with own apt. (single or married). Am 43, 5' cycling, running, light sports. Warm towards like music, theatre, or just times to share with love-making, write with phone number. 10", clean, lithe, w/e, quiet, broadminded, sincere, loyal people. Dislike "Gay a friend & books. So let's get together. Drawer B 158. married. For occasional but sincere, lasting Swingers." Jazz, classical, folk music Drawer 8272. friendship. Photo and/or frank letter BODY BUILDER looking for Greek Active pleasing. Amateur photographer. Seek WOULD LIKE TO MEET YOUNG welcome. Discretion respected. Will answer guys who want more action than talking on eventual sharing, close relationship. Richard, student interested in sports, theatre. Please the phone. Must work at your body. I have all. Drawer 8249. drawer 8246. reply with photo and phone number. Drawer my own place and like long hard sessions. ATTRACTIVE MALE LATE 20'S 5' 8" MATURE MALE PROFESSIONAL, seeks 8275. Serious replies only. Les 465-6423. brown hair would like to meet other gays to male friend this area. Send photo and phone 1978 / JANUARY 1979 44/ BODY POLITIC DECEMBER , No neal to get into rigid roles and categories of course; that's always a bit dull. OASSIFYYOURSELP But there' s no reason not to let others know that you ' re looking for friends or lovers or a place to live, or that you want to trade your stuffed tarantula for SINCERE, MASCULINE, professional RESPONSIBLE THIRD person to share a vintage recording of Yma Sumac. And we have the way to do It: male, 35, 6', 170 lbs., physically and mentally newly decorated house, Riverdale area, The Body Politic's classified ads. TBP can take your message all over attractive, interested in the finer things in life, with two others in 20s. Own unfurnished seeks North America . and beyond, and can zero in on right where you live, too. masculine attractive, sincere and honest room & storage. $140. per month (1st & last). person who is interested to share planning Available end of November. 465-1700 after 5 It's easy — and cheap. Just 20 cents a word for personal ads, 60 cents and feelings that lead to a good and long- pm. for businesses. You simply fill in your message in the form below, count up lasting relationship. Only sincere replies with QUIET DISCREET MAN, non-smoker, photo and phone number appreciated. the number of words and send it off to us with a cheque or money order needed to share large airy 3-bedroom apt. Drawer B291. with two others. Near Sheridan Mall, Miss- for the correct amount. Get in before the deadline listed below and your ad MALE (33) SEEKS DISCRETE FRIENDS issauga. $100 a month, parking extra. Write will appear in the very next issue. with exotic tastes for semi-regular meetings. Box 6248, Stn. A., Toronto, Ont. M5W 1P6. You can say just about anything, but there are a few things you should Detail your likes and suggestions (leather, lingerie, or too shy to try). Send photo. keep in mind. If you 're interested in meeting people it's best to be positive. Drawer B2 88. Tell them about yourself and your interests, not about what you don't like. STRAPS TURN YOU ON? Me too. I'm Specifying exclusions on the basis of race or appearance (saying "no fats looking for guys who love laying on heavy straps and belts. Must work at your body and offems' ' for instance) is just plain rude, and being rude doesn't make friends. be aggressive. I'm Gr passive. I work out at a Saying that you ' re interested in meeting people for sex is fine. But there are gym 3 times a week. Mel 465-3287 . a few restrictions — the law's, not ours. Underthe Criminal Code of Canada ARTICULATE PROFESSIONAL, 31, it is illegal to have sex with anyone of the same sex under the age of 21 5'H", 155, well-read, mellow, with sense of humour, zest for living, wide-ranging in- to have sex with more than one person at a time regardless of their ages, or to terests. Pragmatic romantic, bored by gossip solicit for the purposes of prostitution. We' re not allowed to run ads that in smokey bars, convinced there must be indicate you want to do any of those things, either. Otherwise sex is still legal, more rational way to meet sincere, sensitive companions. Drawer B290. so far. But to protect both you and us, we reserve the right to alter or refuse any classified ad. BUSINESS If you want people to answer you directly, put your address or phone number in your message. Or, you can take advantage of our forwarding 26 YEAR OLD MALE interested in apt. $5 each service. For only two dollars extra we' II assign your ad a drawer number cleaning, weekly basis. Honest, reliable ref- for erences supplied. Come home to a clean (5 $20) and collect answers in our office to be sent to you once a week. home. Drawer B2S0. (Ontario residents add 7% sales tax) If you want to answer someone else's ad, that's easy, too. Put your reply TIRED of carrying tension, anger, de- J.A.L. Inc. In an envelope, seal it and send it to us making sure to mark on the front pression in your body? Tired of living 89 Burnside Drive in your head? Want freer emotional ex- the drawer number you're re- Your Place Toronto, ON pression? Individual Body-Mind psychother- M6G 2M9 sponding to. You don't need to return stamp address apy. Exercise classes. Group Therapy. E. here send any money to answer an ad. Allen SchOentag 524 Bathurst St Toronto Wholesale inquiries invited The Rorty Politic 967-0272. Your unopened reply will reach the Box 7289, Station A (416) 366-2859 Drawer Toronto, ON person ' re In "ANITA CHIQUITA" exciting single from (Line open 24 hours) you answering just M5W1X9 B.C. hand Basement Faith. $1.50. 806 W. 15, a few days. Vancouver, B.C. WANTED: SELECT TENANTS for private, APARTMENT CLEANING. Available no hassle, renovated apartments in 3-unit days. Bonded. Call R. Horvath. 925-6408 . detached home, half block from streetcar CONDITIONS Dundas /Pape area. — or do not send cash through the mails. JEWELLERY of all types available One bedroom All ads must be prepaid by money order cheque — 10' will for immediately. Full colour catalogue on open bar kitchen /living room x 20', The Body Politic reserves the right to alter or refuse any ad . Late copy be held over request. Specialize in men's diamond rings balcony, spotlights, bedroom 10' x 18' with the following issue Deadline for the February issue: Wed, January 10 and lead chronograph watches. Ladies jewel- double bed alcove finished in modern rough HATES: ry also available. $1.25 gets complete infor- plaster and wood, hall and bath. $235. Individuals: per word, minimun$2. Businesses: per word, minimum $6. mation. Drawer B222. Bachelor — 10' x 14' living/ bedroom 9' x 13' 20c 60c kitchen through arcn, small entrance hall and Forwarding Service: $2 per ad per issue. If you would like us to assign your ad a drawer number and forward mail to you once a week please check the box indicated below. bath $185. Call 461-8026. , HOMES ROSEDALE FLAT to share, personable, neat 29 year old male seeks same to share Name spacious 2-bedroom flat. Rent Halifax Address includes: Cable TV, hydro, cleaning woman, HALIFAX MAN, with secure job, good and own bathroom facilities. Other features: Postal Code income, 43, offers 2-bedroom modern large kitchen with automatic dishwasher, free apartment free no strings D Drawer number required whatever to serious use of laundry facilities. If interested, pleas." student or other needy young person. The call 920-7513 evenings or weekends after I enclose $ .for_ jssues whole place will be his as 80% of the time noon. occupant is away. So good housekeeping, Please run my ad in the .section. LUXURY OFFICE SPACE in Toronto for honesty and reliability is first, personal com- rent or lease. Terms negotiable. Please phone Print your ad below in block letters, one word per box patibility is second. Drifters and careless Randy Notte 366-1830. people need not apply. Leave message on my THINKING about moving out? Think telephone answering machine if I'm not home. Let's talk. Phone 429-4650. about moving in. Three gay men seek man or woman to share 4-Person house m Montreal Riverdale. Approx $1 15/mo. Phone Richard, Harvey or Ralph 463- 1 569. MONTREAL. GAY MALE has five & half room flat to share with same. Own room VICTORIAN STYLE, renovated 3-storey Prefer nnn-'.moker. Eve's 766—9623. house, solid brick with parking for two Toronto cars. Sandblasted inside and out. Stained trim throughout. Two storey floor to ceiling COMPATIBLE MALE STUDENT wanted bay window. Spacious and light design. to share spacious 2-bedroom apartment with Restored staircase, mantle, bevelled glass gay couple. Own room. Furnished, TTC. Call doors, wood fireplace, large tasteful decor 535-9753. .Serious calls only please. Dundas bathroom, three decks. Centrally located at West subway stop. $40 weekly or reduced 1027 Logan Ave and Browning Ave. Ready rent in exchange for houseboy duties. for occupancy, $95.000. Call Terry 537-2462 . DOWNTOWN TORONTO.Share main Hoor ^^^^ house with young professional male. Clean. Spacious backyard Garage Laundry. %l- LETTERS 7338 evenings. MAKI-. NHW I RIENDS throughout Canada. BROADVIEW Queen. AND Pre-renovation Join GAYMATES, a pen pal club for gay sale in accepted area. At these prices, do your men. For information write, GSl, P.O. Box own thing. Six challenging homes. Area now 3043. Saskatoon. Sask. S7K 3S9. Canada. under massive renovations. Call Jack, 431- YUGOSLAVIAN 4646. STUDENT, 25. in Belgrade seeks gay correspondents from TORONTO CO-OP has opening for non- North America. All replies will be answered. tobacco smoking, financially stable, mature Please send photo. Also interested in re- man. Shaggy dog, together cat, and huge ceiving copies of gay publications. Markovic park arc also part of home. $115 monthly. Vladimir, Vukasoviceva-21 . 11090. 535-1537. Rakovica. BcUrade. Yugoslavia. Mail to: The Body Politic, Box 7289, Station A, Toron to,ONM5W1X9 DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/45 . Nature's Gay Twin experienced in many fields but prepared to do Teachers! anything. All replies answered immediately. SERVICES Thank you. Drawer B207. Lesbian PERSONALIZED press clipping service. DID WE MISS YOUR AD? Our apologies. Invites female impersonators, transvestites ' Do you have a passion for old street- Please contact us and we'll have it run next and transsexuals to private showings of the Teachers! cars, the "New Age" movement or solar issue. finest selection of silicone breast forms, energy? Let me keep you up to date with reg- special bras, lingerie and loungewear featuring ular mailings tailored to your job, hobby, or TM" our exclusive "Nature's Twin special interests. Write to Box 6248, Stn A, Toronto. Ontario, M5W 1P6. Consultations by appointment on/j; Jom! JEWISH? Free Friday nights? Want some- Ask for Simone • Confidentiality; is assured The Ontario thing to do before going to the clubs? B'nai Kehillah for Moving may be you! Come and find out. Catalogue auailable — send $1 to: Gay Teachers' Caucus Every 2nd and 4th Friday, 8:15 pm, Holy Trinity. Eaton Centre. Nature's Twin, Inc. Box 543, Station F well 16752 N.E. 4th Court ^iorth Miami, Florida 33162 50 Charles Street East Telephone: (305)651-7885 Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2L8 along And with your tax- deductible donation, Satellite Books John Damien's case could move yet faster! 289 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario (Directly across from the Eaton Centre at Dundas Street) Tel: 366-1524 Hours: 10 AM to 12 PM,Mon-Sat THE 5th NATIONAL Conference on Men and Masculinity "Men Overcoming Sexism", Your downtown bookstore. Dec 27-31. UCLA Campus. Los We carry Mandate, Blueboy, In Touch, Numbers Angeles. CAL. For more information contact Los Angeles Men's Collective. 6286 Commo- and a great selection of other fine magazines dore Sloat Drive. Los Angeles, CAL 90048. and paperbacks for your enjoyment. Tel (213) 473-4229. Women welcome. Please make cheque We welcome your visit. Upon presentation of WE ARE FORMING A CR, support and payable to Defense this ad, a 10% discount will be given. growth group in Toronto to help gay men Fund.the John Damien achieve an integrated lifestyle. We are seeking See you soon. Foundation, and mail those desirous of personal development today to Box 608, Sta. K, within a context of mutual co-operation. The Toronto, ON. M4P2H1. objective is to provide the framework Defense Fund monies go necessary for us to realize our individual to legal expenses only. potentials. Drawer 8266. GAY MEN & lesbians working in helping professions. Openly gay psycho- therapist wants contact for interpersonal support, discussion of mutual concerns, John damien: possible development of community services. WHEN HE WINS, WE ALL WIN! E Allen Schoentag. 524 Bathurst St. Toronto 967-0272. continuedfrom page 47 TRAVEL cursaleD, Ottawa, ON KIP 5W9. Ph: (613)233-0152. SAN FRANCISCO Crystal Hotels attractive DCoalition binationale pour la jeunesse gai(e), rooms, congenial atmosphere, convenient Si^socialquib^ois: CP753,SuccursaleH. downtown locations. Weekly rates Montrfail,PQH3G2M7. DCominittec to Defend John Damien, Box 608, $22.50 to $30. Now at 141 Eddy St. Call (415) Station K. Toronto. ON M4P 2H 1 771-4597 or (415) 928-3450. DTbe John Damien Foundation, Box 1 17. Station V. GAY MALE age 30 seeks companion for Toronto, ON M6R3A4. ^oO!f^^^u0^v^<^ .o^^G^^ro^c^t'' world travel up to one year. Should have the New Democratic Party Gay Caucus. Box 792. Station F, Toronto, ON M4Y 2N7. ACV^' following characteristics: over 25, financially DOIder Lesbians and Gays, Box 624«, Station A. independent, like traveling bohemian style, '^^^^-'^ easy-going Toronto, ON M5W1P6. intelligent, enjoy finding esoteric VAt^"^ DPrairie Regional OfHce, CLGRC/CCDLG, Box ;ce locales. Hope to leave Canada spring 1979. 27, UMSU, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Drawe^24^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MB,R3T2N2. DRegroupemenI national des lesbiennes et des gais du Quebec, may be reached through the address ^00^! ^.vA^ WAR BUDDIES given for I'Association pour les droits des gai(e)s du Quebec (ADGQ). WORLD WAR II. Europe '43 - '46 RCAF Fighter-Reconaissance Sqdn No 126. I ran the movie projector for the Canadian Legion: PUBLICATIONS Biggin Hill all the way to Schleswig. Would D AfterSlonewall, Box 205 1 . Winnipeg, MB like to hear from any fellow Gays who R3C3M2. remember. Why not write and reminisce. DThe Body Politic. Box 7289, Station A. Toronto, Drawer B292. ONM5W1X9. D Forum, a publication of the CLGRC/CCDLG, CP 36, SuccursaleC. Montreal, PQH2L4J7. aGaKe)sdu Quebec. CP 36, SuccursaleC. WORK Montrtal.PQH2L4J7. IF YOU ARE GAY, not over 35, non- DGay Rising, Box 1 56, Station P. Toronto, ON M5S2S7. smoker, wish to relocate, and have extensive DGay Tide. Box 1463. Station A, Vancouver, BC and successful background selling food ser- V6C2P7. vice equipment and supplies to restaurants, DLesbian Newsletter Coalition, Box 773, Guelph, hotels and institutions, please forward ON, NIH 6L8. resume to drawer B264. DMelro Community News, 29 Granby St, Toronto, ATTRACTIVE MALE 6 ft. 170 lbs. ON, MSB 1H8. dark complexion and well built; but due to DOuland About, Box 27. U.M.S.U.. University of sudden financial difficulties, I am forced to Manitoba, R3T 2N2. look for a good-paying part-time job. I am 46/BODY POLITIC DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 . . . . , , . . . CommnnityPage DComitidesoutien aux accuse du Truxx, c/o 1217 The Community Page is a listing o/gay groups in Can- Crescent, H3G2B1. jda and Quebec which primarily direct themselves Peterborough NEWFOUNDLAND DCoop Femmes, 3617 Boulevard St Laurent, toward alleviating or struggling against gay oppres- DTrent Homophile Associadoo, Box 1524, K9J 7H7. 2V5. sion. It includes: democratically constituted organi- H2X Ph: (514)843-8998. . : 742-6229, Comer Brook 262 Rubidge St , Rm 203 Ph (705) DDIpiily/Montreal, CP 641 , Snowdon, H3X 3X8. zations, cooperatively-run clubs and community cen- Thuis,7-10PM. /Montreal tres, bookstores which sell gay and/eminisi literature, DCommunity Homophile Association of New- DEgltwCommunautairc de MontrM Comnamity Church, CP 610, Succursale NDG, and non-profit gayperiodicals. foundland (CHAN), Box 905, A2H 6J2. Thunder Bay (514)845-4471. Organizations wishing to be listed, or to revise in- DGay Organization of the Women of Newfound- H4A3Rl.Ph: DNofthem Women'sCentre, 316Bay St, P7B ISl. DEglise du Disciple Bicn-Aimi, 4376 formation presently listed, should contact: The Body land (GOW N ) , may be contacted at the address De La Roche. Politic Community Page, Box 7289, Station A, Tor- for CHAN given above Ph: (807) 345-78ra^ Ph:^514) 279-5381. onto, ONM5W 1X9. Toronto DGay Friends of Concordia meet every Thursday in St John's Rm 923, Hall Building, at 4pm, c/o DSA, 1455 de DCatalyst Press, 315 Blantyre Ave, Scarborough, Maisonneuve. Ph: (514) 288-3787. DCommunity Homophile Association of New- ALBERTA MtN2S6. DGay Info, Box 610, Station NDG, H4A 3R1 foundland (CHAN), Box 613, Station C,A1C5K8. DChatsworth ChariUble Foundation, 29 Granby St, Ph: (514)486-4404, Mon-Sat, 7-1 1PM. Calgary M5B1H8. DGaylhK: (514) 931-S66S or 931-5330. Seven days DCommunity Homophile Association of Toronto awe«k,7-llPM. D Dignity/CiUg«ry, Box 1492, StationT. T2H2H7. NOVA SCOTIA (CHAT), 29Granby St, M5B 1H8. DGay McGiU, University Centre, 3480 McTavish, Ph: (403) 269-7542. DCoi^regation B'nai Kehillah of Toronto for H3A1X9. DGay Academic Union, BoxG-262, StationG, Halifax Gay Jews, c/o66 Gloucester St, M4Y1L5. DGay Social Services Project, 5 Weredale Park, T3A2G2. DThe Alternate Bookshop, 1585 Harrington St, Meetings and services every 2nd and 4th Fri, 10 H3ZlY5.Ph: (514)937-9581. DGay Infornution and Resources, Rm 312, 223 Suite301,B3JlZ8. Trinity Square. DGay VDainic, Montreal Youth ainic, Mon, Wed 12AveSW,T2R0G9. Ph.(403)264-3911. D Atfamtic Provinces Political Lesbians for Example D Dignity for Gay Catholics, Box 249, Station E, and FH evenings, 3658 Ste FamiUe. Information and counselling Monday - Saturday; (APPLE), Box 361 1 , Halifax South Postal Sution, M6H 4E2. Ph: (416) 923-5015. Ph: (514) 843-7885. Gay AA Monday; Lesbian discussion Tuesday, B3J3K6. DGay Women of McGOl meet Tues, 8pm, Women's Men's discussion Friday. DFrte Lesbians and Gays (FLAG), Box 605, 361 , Halifax Centre, 3480 McTavish, DGay AUance for Equality, Box 1 Adelaide Union, University H3A DMetropollIan Community Church, 1703 IstStNW, St Station, M5C 2J8. Ph: (416) South Postal Station, B3J 3K6. Ph: (902)429-6969. 362-3678. 1X9. Rm 425-6. Ph: Gayline or (514) 866-2131. T2M 4P4. Ph: (403) 266- 1 806. D Gay Youth Halifax may be reached through the DGroupegsiirUniversitiduQuMteciMoatrtel, D Parents of Gays meets last Sunday ofeach month DGay Academic Union, c/o Prof John Lee, Scar- address given for the Gay Alliance for Equality. CP8888,H3C3P8. at the Unitarian Church, 1703 IstStNW. borough CoUege, West HiU, MIC 1A4. DIntegrity: Gay Anglicans and Friends, c/o 305 Harbinger, Rm 214, Edmonton DGay Alliance at York, c/o WUlibrord Ave, Verdun, H4G 2T7. Ph: (514) ONTARIO Vanier Residence, York University, 4700 Keele St, 766-9621. aaub 70, 10242-106 St, T5J 1H7. Ph:(403)423-5051. Dovmsview, M3J 1P3. Meetings: Tues, 8pm. Ph: D Jeunesse Gaic de Montreal (Gay Youth of DDipity/Edmonton. Box53,T5J 2G9. Gudph (416)667-3632. Montreal), CP 753. Succursale H, H3G 2M7. D Edmonton Lesbian and Gay Rights Organization AlUance Toward Equality (GATE), Box 973, Meetings at 5 Weredale Park. Sat. 1 :30PM. DGudph Gay Equality, Box 773, NIH 6L8. DGay 964-0148. (ELGRO), Box 837, Substation 1 1 , University of Station M4T 2N7. Ph: (416) Discussion Group, Box Gayline: (5 19) 8364550. Q, D NACHES: Gay Jewish Alberta, T6G 2E0. (514)488-0849. DGudph Gay Youth Group, Info: (519) 836-4550, 298, Station H. H3G 2K8. Ph: D Gay Anarchists, c / o Ian Young, 3 1 5 Blantyre Ave, DGay AlUance Toward E4|uality (GATE), Box 1852, DParentsof Gays, c/o Box 610, Station NDG, Mon,Wed&Thurs,8-10PM. Scarborough, MIN 236. T5J 2P2. Office: 10144-101 St, Ph: (403)424-8361 H4A3R1. Ph: (514)486-4404. DGay Community Calendar: (416)923-GAYS. D Metropolitan Community Church, Box 1312, T5J 88, 1406 rue de la Visiution No 3. Hamilton 24-hour recorded message. DProductions 2M8.Ph: (403)432-9204. St H2L 3B8. DMcMaster Homophile Association, EXTl, Box44, DGay Commu nily Services Centre, 29 Granby Station B, L8L 7T5. Gayline: (416) 527-0336. M5B 1H8. Distress and counselling line: (416) Mon-Thur, 7-10:30PM; Fri Quebec BRITISH COLUMBIA D Gay Women of Hamilton may be contacted at the 364-9835. Drop-in address given for the McMaster Homophile Assoc. &Sat to 11:30PM. D Centre Homophile d' Aide et de Liberation DGaysat Toronto, c/o SAC Office, Hart House Prince George (CHAL), CP 596, Haute-ville, G 1 R 4R8. 1 75 nie Kingston Circle, University of Toronto. Prince-Edouard. Ph: (418)525-4997. DThe gay group in this city can be contacted through DGay Youth Toronto, 29 Granby St, Suite 301 D Paroine Sajnt-Robert (Eglise catholique eucharis- Kington Women's Centre, Queen's University, the Crisis Centre, Ph: (604)563-1214. D Ph: (416) 366-5664. Meetings at the 519Church St tique), 310, rue de la Courotme, G 1 K 6E4. Student Memorial Union, 3rd floor Commimity Centre, Tues, 7:30PM. Qucoi's Homophile Association, Student Affairs Vancouver D DGIad Day Bookstore, 4 Collier St at Yonge, Centre, 5 1 Crescent, University, Sherbrooke Queen's Queen's 1L7. Ph: (416)%1-4161. Dignity /Vancouver, Box 1036, V6B3X5. M4W D K7L2S7. Ph: (613)547-2836. DGay AlUance Toward Equality (GATE), Box 1463. DHarbinger Gay Men's Drop-In, Tues, 12-6pm, DCHAJUEslrie, CP 2032, Succursale Jacques- Carti DGay Friends of Frvderirton. Box 442, E3B 5A4 Male PsYchologi^n, c/o Canadian Psychological H21 4J7. \ltAS\ Jimolhce I (514)843 867! Continued on pa^e 46 Ph (506)472-0847 Association. 350 rue Sparks Street. Suilc 602. Ph: | DECEMBER 1978 / JANUARY 1979 BODY POLITIC/47 "tea magazine. for us alir For many years now, novelist Jane Rule has been receiving a regular subscription copy of The Body Politic every month at her home on Galiano Island in British Columbia. On a number of occasions she has written criticism and short stories that we have been pleased to print in TBP's pages. We've always enjoyed this exchange. Recently we decided to ask Jane how she felt about it. "I read The Body Politic,'' she said, "to be politically informed. I write reviews and fiction for The Body Politic to reach my brothers as well as my sisters. "It's a magazine for us all." Warm words, and we appreciate them. Of course, you'll want to make your own judgements based on this issue; we hope you'll want to see future ones, as well. The best way to do that? Try Jane Rule's solution — subscribe. I like it. Sign me up. The Body For a subscription, fill in your name and address in the appropriate spaces below and mail this form to: The Body Politic, Box 7289, Station A, Toronto, ON M5W 1X9. Make cheques payable to The Body Pobtic; do not send cash through the mail. If you want to charge your purchase, fill in your charge card number and expiry date Politic* in the spaces provided in the charge box below, and be sure to give us your signature. Please note the new rates: Canada: n2nd class, $7.50 D 1st class, $15 International: D2nd class, $10 D 1st class, $20 First cla-ss subscriptions are mailed in sealed Name plain envelopes Jind receive priority postal service. Charge this purchase to: \I\Visa Address \3Mastercharge City Number Expiry date Code Signature