Fifth Freedom, 1980-02-01

State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State The aM deline Davis Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, The iF fth rF eedom Transgender Archives of Western New York 2-1-1980 Fifth rF eedom, 1980-02-01 The aM ttachine Society of the Niagara Frontier Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/fifthfreedom Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons Recommended Citation The aM ttachine Society of the Niagara Frontier, "Fifth rF eedom, 1980-02-01" (1980). The Fifth Freedom. 63. http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/fifthfreedom/63 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The aM deline Davis Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Archives of Western New York at Digital Commons at Buffalo tS ate. It has been accepted for inclusion in The iF fth rF eedom by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at Buffalo tS ate. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 5thFreedom FEB. 1 -!) Publication of the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier Free CONSENSUAL SODOMy BEATEN DOWN On January 24, 1980, the Appellate Division on the Supreme Court in Rochester -- one of four courts at the REFLECTIONS: MATTACHINE IN AN ELECTION YEAR second highest tier of the New York court systerm — BY G. ROGER DENSON issued an important decision striking down the New York consensual sodomy statute. The Rochester court over western New York and, therefore, has jurisdiction 1980: An election year, but the local news for Gays isn't of the is to benefit the immediate impact decision good. The Cay political movement has slowed to a virtual western New York area who might other- residents in the standstill. Yes, there has been a quasi-successful boy- to arrest for violation of the wise have been subject cott of the Towne Red Hots restaurant organized by the Onofre the Syra- statute. The case involved Ronald from Buffalo Area Lesbian & Gay Coalition (BALGC) and honored cuse area. by Gays throughout Buffalo. Organizationally speaking, Ronald Onofre was convicted in Syracuse for consen- however, it looks bad. Mattachine, the once leading Gay sodomy involving sex activity in his home. The sual organization on the Niagara Frontier has, after.eleven case is extraordinary in that it is virtually impossible years of impetus, languished away to a mere ten or fif- to consensual sodomy cases in the courts where the find teen members. in private. As a result, the appeal of acts occurred Meanwhile, the Gay bars ar,e thriving, fueled by a a unique opportunity to test tho the case presented disco-thrilled, sexually aroused crowd which consists, in relatively new constituional doctrine of the whether the the majority, of Gay men. There are three Gay bars to privacy" protects gays in their sexuaj expres- "right to speak of. The Villa Capri, Dominique's, and Mean Alice's sion as it had previously been held to protect — just and one explicitly gay restaurant, The Allen Street Rest- the right to have access to birth control information, aurant. Meetings of Gay Proffessionals, a social organ- abortions and the right to privately possess obscene ization designed to be sup- materials in one's own home. The court's decision was portive to Gay men and Les- a ringing affirmation of the principle so many across NATIONAL MARCH bians, is by all accounts, the country have been working for — that one's private, FOR well liked and well attended. adult and consensual sex activity is just that, private ON WASHINGTON The Student Alliance for Gay and no business of the government. GAY RIGHTS LESBIAN & Equality (SAGE) Gay The Appellate Division ruled that the law is uncon- and the Front are local stitutional and, in doing so, published an opinion adopt y 200 Liberation the campus organizations. Gay ing the key legal arguments pressed on behalf of the Buffalo lesbians, pay men, Rights for Older Women (GROW), defendant. The court found the rights to be based on a and supporters went to lesbian caucuses within the "concept of personal freedom" including the right of an Washington on Oct. 14 for the National March on Was- Buffalo Women's Liberation his individual to "devolop hington for Lesbian and Union, the Emma Bookstore, and as he campus centers personal existence" BOYCOTT Cay Rights. The Buffalo various area sees fit. "Person- are or she participants filled two for women's resources all al sexual -conduct is a fun- TOWNE HOTS busses, as we I 1 as a num- enjoying the support of small damental right, protected boycott on lowne ber of car poo Is. numbers of lesbians. right to privacy be- But has been by the s Restaurant is in its Drawing at Leasl why Mattachine cause of the transcendental rt.h month. The boycott 100,000 people from all abandoned by almost everyone? importance of sex to the RThe group of Gays or Les- was called by the Buffalo types of organizations No one human condition, the inti- bians have been more, persis- Area Lesbian and Cay Coal- ,-ni(l from .-i 1I areas of the macy of the conduct and its tent its fight against ition (BALGC), in response eounl ry, the March was an in relationship to a person's on a reg- to the restaurant owner's tmportant mi estone in the sexual oppression right to his or her l control consistent practice of re- battle for gay rights. In ional level. Neither has any own body.... The right is organization consist- moving posters public i z Lng the worths of march organ- other broad enough to include sex- ently Gay commun- the gay rights march on izer Steve AuHI , it marked served the ual, acts between non-married in lobbying, Washington from the commun- "the first time thai the ity educational persons...and intimate homo- outreach, personal counseling, ity bulletin board. Cay const i tuency has sexual conduct...." to bet- J.n a new effort pulled together on a nat- legal referral, and the The public press has settle dispute in a terment of social opportun- this iona I level .'; The March been confusing regarding to both present bars manner acceptable md Lcated I <» Wash Lngl on ities, the Gay the effect of the decision. owner and included. the restaurant pel t ie inns that gays are Any judge may declare a gay people and their sup- i So where is the woman and a sizable nor Lty in this statute unconstitutional if entered mi porters, the BALGC conn and that they are man power to staff the Gay that is his/her conclusion. try, into negoti.it ions with the overcome Hotline? To facilitate the has state- strong enough to That judgement Towne on Janua- counselor training sessions? owners of their oppression, on a wide application if the rep re sen _ Or to staff and distribute ry 12. Coalition national political level. issue is taken to the Court *tatives explained to the the sth Freedom? of Appeals in Albany, the owners that by removing Is this apathy indica- state's highest court, and the posters they were active- tive of the national gay that court agrees with the ly discriminating against movement? Surely we have judgement below. It is not gay people by refusing as all paid heed to the media's known whether the District access to the community announcement of the re- Attorney in Syracuse, will bulletine board...a right emergence of the patriotic appeal the. Onofre ruling. freely given to any other American right and the Whether or not he does so, individual or group. pavement set for them by however, the issue will go The solution the the "inept" liberal admin- to Albany. Two cases in- BALGC proposed was that the istrations. But have these volving the same legal ar- owner place a disclaimer on reports been accurate in guments are being taken the bulletin board stating 'reporting a general Ameri- from Buffalo City Court that the management did not can mood? If so, how has necessarily support the this"new conservatism" activities or events ad- cont. p. 4 con't pg 6 vertised. BALGC' (con't pg 3) FIFTH EDITORIAL In the past two years, you have seen the sth Freedom suffer from many FREEDOM illnesses... X_s_£> Publication of Mattachine Society But we of the sth Freedom tell of the you now that WE ARE HERE TO STAY!!! classified: Niagara Frontier We've got the energy. Our adver- FIFTH FREEDOM CLASSIFIED ADS COST 10* for each WORD AND CAN tisers are behind us. We can be self- HAILED TO: FIFTH FREEDOH V0L.10,N0.l sufficient. We are a group of positive BE to bring CLASSIFIED sth Freedom is a monthly pub- thinking Cay people determined PC BOX 155 lication of the Mattachine news and information to the Gay Commun- ELLICOTT STA. Society of the Niagara iron- ity of Buffalo. We will publish on the The paper will BUFF., NY W203 tier. It is distributed free First of every month. of charge through any estab- be available at our advertisers, by sub- Male, age 31, sincere, open-minded, loves through the people, no lishment or organization per- scription and Mattachine has hang-ups. Looking for from the friends to mitting such distribution. •Society.' All net proceeds help him relocate when he by the Mattachine leaves prison. Our monthly circulation is sth Freedom are used Walt Atterberry, #131350, of POB 2500 copies. Society for the betterment the pol- 45699, Lucasville, Ohio 45699 itical atmosphere towards (Jays in Buf- The presence of the name, Male,' age 27, 6''l", likes weight lifting to such services as picture, or other represen- falo; and provide and body-building.

Load more