Publication of the Buffalo Gay Community January 1976
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5thFreedom PUBLICATION OF THE BUFFALO GAY COMMUNITY JANUARY 1976 5THFREEDOM PI i/J I SATURDAY NITE SUPPORTS: jtf i^^k^J I counseling, publications, I le<3 a l&me dical advice, info., I bookstore, library, speakers V^fl I bureau and much more. please I Bk flfl I suPP ort us. -Uj I ij J LUNCHES ll:30am-3pm Lbu /M HAPPY HOUR every day till J -V Bpm reg. drinks 75< I ift MON. NITE SPECIAL happy jT ' PC hour all nite reg. drinks V 75 < wine 50 < local beerso< f\ WED. NITE 2 fori from Bpm H THURS. HIGHBALL NITE ff~\ blended whiskey only 75< a \S SAT. & SUN, open from Ipm W , * OPEN NITELY for your drink- @ C/ J* n9 ar|d dancing enjoyment ___ JM fI l£ ■ 'till 4am I "Your Favorite Nightspot!" I / I 274 Delaware Aye. - Buffalo, N.Y. DEMONSTRATION PLANNED A major, national gay demon- stration at the 1976 Democra- tic National Convention is A QUESTION OF being planned by the New York COLOR? 6 State Coalition of Gay Organi- zations (NYSCGO). THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES ~~8 The state-wide coalition of over 50 groups unanimously BLACK ON WHITE J) voted to "sponsor, organize, and help build a mass demon- REVIEW 12 stration" at their quarterly conference October 4 and 5 in EXCERPTS FROM TABLE Rochester. The central focus TALK of next July's demonstration at the Democratic National OF A CHILD WHO IS HEARD 13 Convention in New York City is to demand repeal of sodomy COMING OUT: WHAT'S IT laws and passage of gay civil rights legislation. ALL ABOUT? 18 "We were originally prompted to this action by the failure of the New York State Legisla- EDITORIAL/MAILBAG. .4 ENTERTAIN - ture to repeal the consensual sodomy law and pass gay rignts MENT.. 10 POETRY.. 14 SHORT legislation, but we are also SHOTS concerned about similar legis- . .16 CLASSIFIED . .19 lation in other states and the national gay rights bill," sth Freedom: Circulation 2000. STAFF: Benji, Greg Bodekor, Dorm said Arthur Goodman, one of Holley, Grant King, Don Michaels, Jayme Spyridon, Dane Winters, five NYSCGO Spokespersons. John Yanson, S.O.S. Writers Collective. NYSCGO's primary focus for MAILING ADDRESS: Box 975, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, N.Y. 14205. the past several years has been sth Freedom is published at 1350 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y. 14209, state-wide lobbying for gay Phone (716) 881-5335, and printed by Octobergraphics, 1207 Hertel rights. "It is now time for us Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y. 14216. Permission is required for repro- to shift our emphasis, to be duction of material. DEADLINE: 10th of each month. ADVERTISING visibly active in our drive RATES ON REQUEST. VOL. 6, #1. for full constitutional rights," said Madeline Davis, Spokes- person. "We will be at the Con- "" vention to demand that conven- /" N tion delegates and the public — recognize the rights of les- bruce sirkus bians and gay men, and to say that we, the gay community, will not accept second-hand citizenship." After the Stonewall riots, gay groups sprang up all over New York State. NYSCGO formed buffalo, n.y. to promote communications and to coordinate state-level movement activities, particu- larly legislative projects. The coalition holds several y. accessories j conferences a year; has spon- sored two marches on Albany, the state capitol; and since its formation has lobbied ex- tensively for repeal of the state consensual sodomy law, eet passage of a New York State The gay rights bill, and numerous GG^4^^ other gay-issue bills. open: 2*? cjreenfield st TO OUR CANADIAN READERS 7n£a(s Due to reclassification of closed m€at^ss service on monc^/f^^^^Yj 3rd class mail to Canada, it is necessary to mail Ist class. From this issue on, all subscriptions to Canada must be at our Ist class rate of $7. 50 EDITORIAL We at the sth Freedom had —mentioning, among others, Al Seviere had asked that just recently resolved not to Toronto and Buffalo — for I handle media arrangements jump on the media bandwagon focusing a "vicious anger" on for Mat's appearance in Buffa- of the "Matlovich story." We Al Seviere, Matlovich's Aide- lo, since such arrangements broke that resolution in our de-Camp. had not been handled properly last issue with Burton Weiss' Needless to say, we in Buf- in other cities (his assess- article, "On the Other Hand," falo were 'perturbed,1 to say ment, not mine). I went ahead vowing, however, that it would the least. We herewith reprint and scheduled TV appearances, be the last. But, circumstances a letter by Mattachine Presi- radio and press interviews, have a way of dictating against dent Don Michaels, forwarded as well as a news conference the strongest of resolves. to The Advocate, as a response without the benefit of knowing In the December 31st issue to the Gregory-Lewis article: when Matlovich would arrive or of The Advocate Sasha Gregory- how long he would stay in Buf- Lewis authored an article en- Open letter to The Advocate, falo. It was Al Seviere who titled "Cannibalization of a I am extremely angered by had promised to give mc that Hero." It was all about Leonard Sasha Gregory-Lewis' article information, but who neglected Matlovich - - and, how he has "Cannibalization of a Hero." to do so. No contact was made been 'victimized' by the gay Buffalo is mentioned as one with anyone here until less movement I She went on to say of the cities that focused a than 4 8 hours before Mat's that, "it seemed as if every "vicious anger" on Al Seviere. scheduled appearance. At that gay individual in the country I am no doubt the person res- time the media schedule we had felt he had a right to the gay ponsible for that attitude, arranged was agreed to with a celebrity's time. They acted since I offered my opinions few minor changes. However, as if they owned him. Citizen freely both to Leonard Matlo- less than 12 hours before Mat's Matlovich became property vich and to Bruce Voeller scheduled appearance, Seviere Matlovich." Making insinuations about Al Seviere's handling called and cancelled Mat's that gay groups around the of Mat's appearance here. One early arrival, necessitating needs be country had broken agreements, clarification to an embarrassing and totally and that is upset schedules and abandoned made, however, unnecessary cancellation of that what I expressed not Matlovich "like rats scrambling was the media schedule we had put off a sinking ship," she fur- "vicious anger" but unresolved ther berated "city after city" frustration. FROM OURMAILBAG Dear Brothers & Sisters, the Dallas-based Gay newspaper, articles several times. Thank THE CHANNEL, a move which I you so much! Recently while on a speak- think will be beneficial to us ing tour of western Pennsylva- all. Affectionately, nia & Ohio I saw a copy of Please continue to send STH A Devotee your publication. I felt that FREEDOM to the COMMUNITY NEWS it was very informative. We address. We find it a very would like to trade publica- valuable resource. Dear sth Freedom, tions with you if possible. I For gay solidarity, Found your mag at Oscar hope this can be arranged Wilde in the Village and thor- since I feel that we can all Allen Reed, editor oughly enjoyed A. Earl Hersh- learn from other groups, and COMMUNITY NEWS berger's report on the GAU con- its their publications that Fort Worth, Texas ference. He has a delightful bring us the news of the many writing style! Has he come down projects in our struggle. yet from all the coffee he suf- With warm regards, fered through? Dear Friends, I was an 'observer' at the In gay love, conference and agree with Earl Mark Segal, Director Bravo! for your 2 part arti- that it was a marvel at how Gay Raiders cle on "Anal Intercourse." It's well organized the GAU people Philadelphia the clearest, most informative were. It was my first experi- piece (no pun intended) I've ence with such a large confer- £ ever found on the subject. And, ence and I was totally freaked believe mc, I've looked. I have out by so many gays in one yet to find any readily avail- place at one time! Needless to Dear Friends, able health source that has any say, Earl's article gave mc a information or knowledge about rush of fantastic memories! the Thank you very much for anal sex. The STH FREEDOM has Enclosed is my subscription. exchange subscription to STH done mc and many other 'devotees' FREEDOM. a great service! Gay love, months of talks, After two There was so much helpful G. B. Cox COMMUNITY NEWS has merged with advice that I've had to read the Manhattan 4 EDITORIAL,cont. NEW SCULPTURE SERIES a lot of time and energy into setting up. Sculptor Wayne Hampton has announced a There were major new ser- many other frus- ies of sculptured male figures trating and inci- alienating entitled THE MEN OF AMERICA. dents concerning Mat's appear- Thus far the series is com- ance here, particularly due to prised of DIGGER DAN, a road the lack of organization on worker, SLIM JIM, a young car- his behalf. That is why am Miiunl I penter, and the third, a husky totally at odds with Sasha laborer with a sledgehammer. Gregory-Lewis' article which oreaous Future pieces the pictures Matlovich and will portray Seviere Male in a poor, American variety of & as innocent victims of and ' gems shoddy and occupations lifestyles.