UUGC Wiii L Whitehurst, Daniel Protest ;;
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Unlteri8n-Unlversellat Gey Community Unitarian Church 739 Yarmouth Street IFREEI Norfolk, Virginia 23510 JULY 1981 No. 5 Vol. 10 For information and help call 625-1130 ~~ ~'4J, UUGC WiII l Whitehurst, Daniel Protest ;;. and Trible Censorship Vote No Jamestown On July 11th and 12th members of tion to the censorship of the exhib Legal Aid to Gays the Unitarian Universalist Gay Com it and requested that the plaque be .Three Tidewater congresspersons, the view that the existance of a munity (UUGC) will leaflet visitors reinstated. Mr. Maeder refused to G. William Whitehurst, Robert W. Dan right automatically means that the re to the Colonial National Historical reinstate or even modify the refer iel, and Paul S. Trible cast their sources of the federal treasury must Park . at Jamestown. The leafleting ence and subs~quently on June 25th votes on June 18 to ban legal aid be used to protect or promote this is in protest of the removal of a removed the entire exhibit to avoid services for gay discrimination r.i ght. II plaque acknowledging that lesbians additional controvers~ cases. He cont'inued, "While I do not want and gay men helped colonize Virginia. Mr. Maeder stated.that the exhibit The so-called "McO"onald Amendment" to deny the protections of the Con The plaque was part of an exhibit "was removed to make way for a new sponsored by Larry P. McDonald, D-Ga, stitution to homosexuals, it does titled "Jamestown's Other People" exhibit corrmemorating Yorktown's would prevent the Legal Service Corp~ seem to me improper for the American which was developed in response to Bicentennial." However, according to from -aiding to "promote, defend or taxpayer, who clearly rejects this a Women and Minorities Conference members of the staff, the new exhibit protect homosexuality." lifestyle by an overwhelming margin, sponsored b_y the Park Service in will not be ready until approximately According to McDonald, "Taxpayer's to pay for its enhancement." September, 1979. ·- mid-August. One UUGC member said, money will not be used to defend Senator John Warner, in the Decem The plaque with the gay reference "Again Mr. Maeder has avoided the is homosexuality or a homosexual life ber issue of Our Own took a different had been a part of the exhibit for sue by not being straightforward. In style." view of the bill stating, "Had the Mc seven months before its removal by stead of dealing with the issue he The vote was 245 in favor and 137 Donald Amendment been voted upon by park superintendent Richard Maeder. has chosen to play Pollyanna and pre against the amendment. The bill is the full Senate, I would have opposed Mr. Maeder ordered the removal short tend that there is no controversy." now beinq passed on to the Senate it. II ly after he became superintendent and In a July 2nd Times Herald article, where President Reagan hopes to elim- EEditors Note: At press time, Senator after learning about complaints from the Association for the Preservation inate funding for the program entirely. Harry F. Byrd's sentiments on the bi'N a number of park visitors (5 letters of Virginia Antiquities came out in Representative Whitehurst's vote were not known. Until the Senate vote, of complaint from 126,000 who visit support of Mr. Maeder, saying that on the bill was not a s~rprise. In letters to Senators Warner and Byrd ed the park during the period the the use of the reference of Richard October 1980 he wrote Our Own that, may be the key to defeating this latest plaque was part of the exhibit.) Cornish as proof does not hold, as "In recent years, a substantial seg example of anti-gay discrimination by According to a June 23rd Times Her- . the record only indicates the ship ment of our society has somehow come the government.] .,, ald article, Mr. Maeder's justifica:=: was anchored in the James and does Tion for removal is "that there not specifically mention Jamestown. teally isn't any documentation of However they failed to acknowledge the gay contribution to the coloniza that the reference to others in the tion of Virginia ... " While there exhibit (women, blacks, and native were several references for the Americans) used documentation that in- plaque, another plaque referencing dicated focations other t'han James the contribution of senior citizens town. has no documentation. The scarcity Members of the corrmunity-at-large of references is not surprising as are encouraged to join the protest homosexual behavior in 17th century on July 11th and 12th. Volunteer$ Virginia carried the death penalty, are needed for two or three hours and gay people therefore had secret as well as the whole day. For more . 1i ves. information call the Gay Information In a May~Oth meeting with Mr. Line at 625-1130 between 6 and 10pm. Maeder the UUGC expressed its objec- - GAY Pride 81 D.C. everything I could see: the booths, "Our Day Out" First Gay Pride the art exhibit, everything." March in N. Carolina's "Golden Expanding from a political statement The March Parade stepped off at Triangle" to encompass a celebration of gay life, 11 am and ended at the Festival site by Byron Whiting Gay Pride Day has been held annually about noon. With an estimated eleven since the Stonewall riot, in New York thousand in attendance, the Festival Durham, N. C.-Muirhead Plaza in City and other corrmunities. In D.C., began with greetings from ~lard 4 Council Downtown Durham was the staging area Gay Pride has been held continuously woman Charlene Drew Jarvis, Council for that city's first gay pride march every year since 1975. Beginning woman-at-large Betty Ann Kane, and held Saturday, June 27. Titled "Our with block parties, it has evolved Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr., followed Day Out" by march coordinators, the into this year's week long celebration by an awards presentation to out event attracted at least 350 marchers, that started with the Gay Pride Day standing gay c0111Tiunity leaders. and the triangular route was lined Parade and ended with a Gay Pride The crowd enjoyed an art show, a with nearly that many more observers Festival at Francis Park Recreation music jam, swirrming pool access, and and well-wishers. ceeded in silence in memory of the Area. concession stands selling T-shirts, In contrast to the op~ressive heat beating death in April of Ronald According to one participant, "When jewelry, books, food, etc. The Sports earlier in the week, the day was clear Antonevitch on the Little River) and I first set foot on the Festival site, Festival held a 10 km run '. and volley and warm, and the mood of the partic finished by following Main Street I was flooded with that euphoric feel ball, softball, swinming, and basket- . ipants was jubilant. Due in large back to the plaza. ; ng of freedom you get from being sur- · ball competiti:ons !.- part to the expertise of the marshals, Singing(solo and corrmunity}, poetry rounded by thousands of gays. To me, The following artists provided enter the event was well-organized and went reading and speeches continued when as a woman, it's the safest feeling tainment: Maxine Feldman, D.C. Feminist off without a hitch. the march returned to this starting I know short of a woman-only event. Chorus, Wanda the Wiz, D.C.'s Different Well-- delivered speeches containing point. One was worth special mention. It's the kindred spirit feeling- Drurrmers, Clubhouse Dancers, Michael gay pride messages were received Sister Lessie Love Lines, an amusing seeing thousands of people really Stokes Fashion Show, Rick Carpenter, enthusiastically by the assembled alias for a very talented lesbian, touching, talking to strangers, caring Squeeze Louise, Dana Terrell, and crowd. delivered a rousing, shouting, fiery about each other, and expressing pride others. After an inttial speech of welcome, sermon to the assembly. Dressed in in ourselves. It's the glimpse of a Carl Harrell SUITITled up the general announcements, and community singing, an orange smock over a knee-length dream world." attitude of the event by saying, "The the march got underway. Participants beige pants suit, a white blouse - To UUGC membe·r, Scott Wyatt, "It was atmosphere was filled with a sense walked four abreast up Chapel Hill with demure sash tie neckline and a unique experience because it was the of warmth of well-being by just know Street down to and around the court topped with a black straw sailor, first time I had ever been to a Gay ing that you can relax and be your house. (This part of the march pro- continued on page 2 Pride event. I just wanted to take in self with friends." 2~-------------------------------------~---------------------------has a tavern-like atmosphere; and our on September 30th. Atl 6f these events Apology to Our newest bar, The Park, which is a really and more are due to the fact that The hot disco. The Park has become the Park appreciates and believes in Roa Durham Own Subscribers nucleus for Roanoke's Gay Community. noKe's Gay Community. Due -to unforeseen circumstances, Through it we have had many successful from pg. 1 mailed subscriptions of Our Own were fund raising events, parties and social S{nce October 1980 there has .been delayed 'during a two monti,""period. events. Most recently we had a Gay a new club formed called the Centur Lessie regaled her congregation During that time, however, our mail Prom. ions Levi-Leather Motorcycle Club. with variations on evangelical ing 11st was computerized and we do fheir home bar is the Last Straw.