Eastern Illinois University The Keep

The Post Amerikan (1972-2004) The Post Amerikan Project

6-1979

Volume 8, Number 2

Post Amerikan

Follow this and additional works at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/post_amerikan

Part of the Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, Publishing Commons, and the Social Influence and oliticalP Communication Commons dumpsters; turkey busts; retraction; stateville; county jail

i!iiiiiiiiii~~~~ Ten years after: gay pri·de marches on pages 9-24

MY son, the gay per·son page 1

Lesbian mothers page 14

Gay rage page 18

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' ""-... •. ··, Post-Amerikan page 2 Post Sellers BLOOMINGTON Book Hive, 103 W. Front Anyone can be a me Eastgate IGA, at parking lot exit staff except maybe Dave Anderson, Most of our material and inspiration Sambo's Restaurant, Washington & Beltline 'cause we _park our cars on the street. Medusa's Adult Wor~d, 420 N. Madison All you have to do is cowP- to the for material comes from the community. The Back Porch, 402 1/2 N. Main meetings and do one of the many dif­ encourage you, the reader, to ferent exciting tasks necessary for Wi South West Corner--Front & Main become more than a reader. the smooth operation of a paper like Downtown Postal Substation, this. You start work at nothing per We welcome all stories and tips for Bl. Post Office, E. Empire (at exit) hour, and stay there. Everyone else stories, which you can mail to our Devary's Market, 1402 W. Market is paid the same. Ego gratification office (the address is at the end Harris' Market, 802 N. Morris and good karma are the fringe of this rap). The deadline this Hickory Pit, 920 W. Washington benefits. month is July 11. Biasi's Drug Store, 217 N. Main If You'd like to work on the Post and/ Discount Den, 207 N. Main Decisions are made collectively by or come to meetings, call us. The U-1 Grocery, 918 W. Market number is 828-7232. You can also staff members at one of our regular Kroger's, 1110 E. Oakland meetings. All workers have an equal reach folks at 828-6885 or ask for voice. The Post-Amerikan has no Andrea at 829-6223 during the day. Bus Depot, 523 N. East editor or hierarchical structure, so The Wash House, 609 N. Clinton quit calling up here and asking who's You can make bread hawking the Post-- in charge. · 15¢ a copy, except for the first SO copies on which you make only 10¢ a Anybody who reads this paper can tell copy. Call us a~ 828-7232. Man-Ding-Go's, 312 S. Lee the type of stuff we print. All Mel-0-Cream Doughnuts, 901 N. Main Mail, which we more than welcome, worthwhile material is welcome. We Mr. Donut, 1310 E. Empire try-to choose articles that are timely, should be sent to: The Post-Amerikan, relevant, informative, and not avail­ P.O. Box 3452, Bloomington, IL 61701. Doug's Motorcycle, 809 S. Morris Ave. able in other local media. We will (Be sure you tell · us if you don't want K-Mart, at parking lot exit not print anythin~ racist, sexist, or your letter printed! Otherwise it's Small Changes Bookstore, 409A N. Main ageist. likely to end up in our letters column.) Lfly-Z-J Saloon, 1401 W. Market Pantagraph Building (in front) North East Corner--Main & Washington ~17~()~() I[) ~ IU ~\ 113 I~ I~' NORMAL , University Liquors, 706 W. Beaufort Alchoholics Anonymous--828-5049 National Health Care Services (abortion assist­ Redbird IGA, 301 S. Mai.n American Civil Liberties Union-- 452-3634 ance in Peoria)--691-9073 Mother Murphy's 111 1/2 North St. Clare House (Catholic Worker)--828-4035 National Runaway Switchboard--800-621-4000 Ram, 101 Broadway Mall Community for Social Action--452-4867 in Illinois--800-972-6004 (all 800 #'s toll free) Eisner's, E. College (near sign) Countering Domestic Violence (PATH)--827-4005 Occupational Development Center--828-7324 Divinyl Madness, 115 North St. Dept. of Children and Family Services--829-5326 PATH (Personal Assistance Telephone Help)-- Bowling and Billiards Center, ISU Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare (Social 827-4005 Baker's Dozen Donuts, 602 Kingsley Security Admin. )--829-9436 Parents Anonymous--827-4005 (PATH) Cage, ISU Student Union Dept. of Mental Health--828-4311 Planned Parenthood--827-8025 Midstate Truck Plaza, R.:>ute 51 North Gay Action/Awareness Union--828-6935 Post-Amerikan--828-7232 Upper Cut, 1203 1/2 S. Main Gay National Educational Switchboard-- Prairie State Legal Aid--827-5021 800-227-0888 Project OZ--827-0377 OUTTATOWN Gay People's Alliance (ISU) 829-7868 Public Aid, McLean Cnty. Dept. of--827-4621 Galesburg: Under The Sun, E. Main St. HELP (Transportation for handicapped and sr. Rape Crisis Line--827-4005 (PATH) Monmouth: Head's Up citizens)--828-8301 SAW (Student Association for Women, ISU)-- Peoria: That Other Place, NE Adams Ill. Lawyer Referral Service--800-252-8916 438-7619 Sound Warehouse, 3217 N. University Kaleidoscope--828-7346 Small Changes Alternative Bookstore--829-6223 Decatur: Coop Tapes and Records, Lighthouse--828-1371 Sunnyside Neighborhood Center--827-5428 1470 Pershing McLean County Health Dept. --829-3363 Tele Care--828-8301 •· Springfield: King Harvest Food Coop, McLean County Mental Health Center--827-5351 Unemployment Compensation/Employment 1131 S. Grand Ave. East Men's Rap Group--828-6935 Office--827-6237 Urbana: Horizon Bookstore, 517 S. Mobile Meals (meals for shut-ins)--828-8301 United Farmworkers Support Group--452-5046 Goodwin Women's Switchboard--800-927-5404 Dance, relax, and help the Post at our BENEFIT-· JUNE 24 Have you ever wondered what you could do to worn, damaged or stolen. Also we need the money support your local alternative newspaper? for the funds are getting a little low. Women's Try this: set aside one evening (Sunday, June 24, 8 p.m.) to relax, have fun, visit with friends, drink a few beers or fruit juice, and take in the Also, it wculd be neat for the staff and the readers potluck sounds of an enjoyable band (Alesha). to get together and share some suggestions, This month's potluck for women in goals, and general ideas about the Post. the community will be o~ Sunday, That's it! SounJ easy? Well, it is if you would June 24, at 3:00 in Frinklin Park. like to support the Post-Amerikan benefit. The With the assistance and support of local people, P-A benefit is going to take place on Sunday, we have been able to put this benefit together. June 24, at 8 p.m. at the Lay-Z-J (1404 W. The folks at New Age Music have been very help­ Market, Bloomington). The donation will be ful in the planning stages, and the Lay-Z-J has m•n's, too, $2. 00. contributed a lot. But the main reason this bene­ This month's potluck for men in the fit is possible is the band--Alesha. community will be held on Sunday, The P-A has been a community-based paper since June 17, at 5:30 in Forrest Park. April, 1972. In the seven years of our circula­ Alesha, a Bloomington band, will provide the tion, we have encouraged our readers to become entertainment. Alesha is a 5-piece jazz-rock These potlucks provide an oppor­ band. Their enjoyable and interesting sounds in­ tunity for politically aware men more involved with their paper. Now it's time to get together informally and enjoy to ask for additional support--financial support. clude the music of Steeley Dan, Santana, Billy each other's company. Joel and Stevie Wonder. The band also plays in­ We hope this can be done easily by providing a strumentals of favorite jazz material. good time while raising money that will insure the Marita Brake, a local folksinger, songwriter will continuation of your non-profit alternative news­ start the evenings program. Willy Berry, a local Help PATH paper. musician will also provide some fine songs. Everyone wants to feel needed. Through PATH--personal assistance through tele­ The money raised by the benefit will enable us to So mark June 24 on your calendar. We hope to phone help--you can feel needed. replace many of our newspaper racks that are see you at the "J," relaxing and having fun. • I • If you want to help others and rave a rewarding experience besides, why not --Michael be a PATH phoneroom volunteer? ; By calling 828-1922 or 1-800-322-5015 Into crime? Then you need a good you can receive information on PATH's Classyfried ads get-away-car! A Small $1500.00 next training session which begins investment could be your way to June 20. success . 1971 T-Bird, one owner-­ If you commute to Peoria--call me. good upkeep . All power-FM stero, a/c PATH's phoneroom staff needs you, and I would like to share expense with radial tires . This could be it. Call so do lots of others. another sap. call evenings 829-4015 . uvenings 829-4015 . Post-Amerikan VoL 8 No. 2 · page 3 Corn Belt Bank expansion stabs community in ;th-e back

To make ,a dance floor for the McLean County Dance Association, volunteers worked hours sanding and refinishing the hardwood floor on the old Bloomington Club's top story. The Corn Belt Bank \vas an unsympathetic landlord, though, and refused to repair the roof when it began leaking. Water has warped the dance floor now, undoing the volunteers' painstaking labor. The Dance Association has been told to move, as the bank plans to tear the building down now.

Corn Belt Bank's imperialist ex­ And what a fine landlord th.e bank The bank told the Art Center they must pansion plan has claimed another is. Housed on the third floor of' vacate the b4ilding by Sept. l, 1979. victim, the old Bloomington Club, the building is the Dance Associ­ A spokesperson from the center told which now houses the McLean County ation. The dance people put a lot me there is no way they can relocate Art Center and the McLean County of' work into refinishing the hard~ by then. Dance Association. Corn Belt pres­ wood floor so they would have a ident Harry Petr,ie told the Art smooth surface f'or dancing. The This is a bleak and·ugly story about Center in March that the city land- roof' of' the building leaked all a bleak and ugly institution. Corn . mark would be demolished. winter. Water drained qnto the Belt'Bank's expansion has ruined a floor, ··ruining the surface and cre­ whole city block, replacing aesthetic-· Despite the implications of'i des­ ating huge buckles in the wood. ·· ally beautiful buildings such as troying a community landmarik, the Withers library and now the old public didn't even find out about Bloomington Club with modern eyesores the pians until May 21, when like the bank building- itself', drive­ Margaret .Chasson of the McLean up windows, and· parking lots. If' a County Art Council (a different body new building must go up, why must an from the Association) protested the old one be destroyed? . Why not go out bank's plans in a letter to the to the east side where ugly new build­ Pantagraph. ings pop up like weeds. anyway? That letter was "premature," Presi­ The ba~ and its administrators (Harry dent Petrie complained, when I Petrie in particular) are doing the talked to him on the phone. Petrie community wrong in two ways. They would not talk about what the bank are not only uprooting the Art Center planned to do with the building. and the Dance Association, but even. _ Preferring to ignore the implica­ more unjustly, they are robbing the tions of how the bank manages its community of a landmark building. property, Petrie said it was the business of Corn Belt Bank and the Bloomington is a rare and lucky town Art Center, no~ my business. to have so many interesting, his­ torical~ and just piain beautiful The Art Center has been located in Here people are working to improve a old buildings. Let's keep them the old Bloomington Club since Octo­ building they don't even own and what because once they're gone, they ·can ber, 1976, before the bank owned do they get in return from the owners? never be replaced. the building. After the center had --less than nothing. The bank isn't been leasing the building for over a furnishing what any landlord is Why not destroy Corn Belt Bank year, the owner told the management expected to. The bank probably knew instead? • of the center·the building was for then that they were going to demolish sale. Because of' the building's lo­ the building. --v. Laszlo cation, it was a prime target f'or purchase by Corn Belt Bank. The old Bloomington Club and another build­ ~ng were the only two buildings on the block that th~ bank didn't own at the time. The management relay-. ed the message the building was f'or sale t.o· the Art Association board, which set up a committee to inves­ tigate the possibility of purchas- · ing the building. The Art Association, of which Nancy Merwin (now the Association's presi­ dent) , was an integral part, made no report to the Art Center. It just so happens Nancy Merwin's husband, Davis, is on the Corn Belt Bank's board of directors. Six months passed and the committee WITHERS made no report. By the time it did PARK report, the·bank had purchased the building. The Art Association com­ .. mittee has stalled long. enough to permit Corn Belt to buy the build­ ing out from under the Art .Center. 4/.Pshingfon

The Art Center never had a chance, .. . ' thanks to Nancy Merwin and the Art Dates record the Corn Belt Bank's year-by-year acquisition of all the private property on Association. So the bank finally · its block. The bank holds an option to buy the parcel labled with a question mark. An old owned the whole block (excluding one will forbids the city from selling Withers Park, but the city is likely to turn over the alley building, which ii now is in agree­ to the bank in-the future. The old Bloomington Club, which the bank plans to tear down ment ~to. buy) • And the Art Center s~on, is marked in black. had a new landlord. Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 Food capitalists: page 4 Why swallow their lies when you can eat theirgarbage?_ Are you tired of paying sky-high prices at the supermarkets? Tired from taking this food, which would of the long lines and pushy people at otherwise go to waste, by thinking the check-out counters? Are you sick there is anything low or demoralizing of running all over town to shop the in rescuing this food from the bargains? Well, the biggest bargains dumpsters and putting it to good usE. of all may well be in the garbage It is the grocery stores that shoul~ dumpsters. be thought disgusting for the horrible wastes created by such a system. We have recently found, to our complete surprise and pleasure, a way In our recent efforts at dumpster of getting groceries without the hunting, we found that our hassles of long lines, high prices, preconceived notions that anything and sales promotions. If you don't in a dumpster was trash and therefore mind late night shopping and bagging rotten, spoiled, and of no use to ) your own groceries, there awaits a anyone, were far from the truth. By multitude of good, healthful, and making several stops at dumpsters, absolutely free foods right in your in an hour's time we were able to own neighborhood. obtain a whole backseat full of food that was as goodas, in some cases be This food, which was only hours before better than,_ what ·we had recently a wholesome, fresh, saleable product purchased at exorbitant prices at on the supermarket shelves suddenly our local grocery stores. at closing time becomes worthless garbage and is thrown in the trash. We simply drove up to the dumpsters, The same people who only hours before usually located behind grocery would have eagerly paid their hard stores, and quickly loaded up what earned cash to purchase this food, we had found. We would no doubt have now become disgusted at the thought found much more had it not been for of digging through a dumpster for the the high sides on some of the very same food which is now totally dumpsters making it difficult to get free. beyond the top layer of trash. This food that is completely wasted In one brief dumpster hunt to four should, of course, be given away. The stores, we got potatoes, oranges, grocery stores, however, are not about broccoli, cabbages, cucumbers,apples, average of about five minutes at to admit that there is free food to watermelons, celery, strawberries, each dumpster and didn't dig very be had for the taking in their tomatoes, and onions. We spent an far into any of them. garbage. We should not be dissuaded A definiate disappointment to dumpster hunters were the Eisner BELOW: Locked dumpster could be an ominous sign of things to come, if food stores, which have E-Z PAK greedy grocers seriously begrudge gratis garbage gropers. trash compacters, making their trash a real zero. Eagle's also had a trash compacter. Nobody is going to get anything free I off these enterprising businesses. Jack's Produce, however, was a real bonanza of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Dumpster hunters and garbage collectors have confirmed our suspicions that Jack's is always a prime spot for late-night dumpstering. Another definite point of interest is the Kroger store at the Landmark Mall. We made a big haul with little effort and obtained good quality food (and the price was right). The local IGAs also proved to be fruitful; however, overcrowding in the dumpsters created obscurity, making the search for edibles more challenging, though not impossible. Absurd you say? Only long-haired hippies in bare feet would be so degenerate as to root through the rusted, unsanitary bins of refuse? Have you ever considered how unsanitary the shelves are that your produce lies on in the stores? Notice, they are always camouflaged with a dark covering. Most of our findings during our enlightenment were already prepacked in cardboard boxes, making them just as sanitary as when they lie in the store being fondled by every interested shopper. Late night dumpster shopping makes it even more convenient than having your groceries packed in a thin brown bag with the We now mushrooms, tomatoes, and bread under have lower your canned goods. Our experience inside the dumpsters made us acutel;r aware that this prices and a phenomenal waste of edible food is 809 S. Morris what causes the high prices we are BLOOMINGTON. ILLINOIS 61701 bigger burdened to pay. It's not Jack's Produce or any other enterprise that PHONE (309) 829-8941 inventory! loses its profit. We feed them our money and they feed us food (sometimes) that is outrageously overpriced. We can stop this disgusting cycle by not playing this game, by turning to alternative sources for our food. One of these alternatives is to find and consume good food that is going to waste. In the next issue we will find out what the store managers have to say.e --Greta Garbage and Dolly Dumpster Retraction Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 5 Man falsely labeled MEG agent The post-Amerikan made a h~rr~ble We "confirmed" that Hill's car was a before plate sales ended. If the mistake last issue by publ1sh1ng MEG car by checking the license computer had information on all the photos of the man pictured here and plate number with the computer in plates sold, then Hill's "no record labeling him an undercover MEG the Secretary of State's office. on file" pointed to the conclusion agent. When asked about a MEG plate number, that he was driving a narc car, the computer always says "no record This falsely accused man is John . on file." We learned, too late, that the Hill, of Bartonville, After talk1ng Unfortunately, the state's computer computer hadn't had complete several times with John and Cheryl also says "no record on file" in information in mid-April. After Hill visiting their apartment, other circumstances, too. For we'd already printed Hill's photo, and discrediting our original example, a check on a newly­ we checked his plates again--in May. "evidence," I am convinced that purchased license plate will come Instead of saying "no record on we blew it last issue, This is a back "no record on file" for a file," the computer coughed up all retraction. certain period of time--until the information normally recorded on a non-undercover vehicle. The check This retraction is also an apology the information has been entered into the computer. revealed that Hill bought his plates to the Hill family and their friends on Feb. 28, and acquaintances. All of us at This is where we went wrong with the Post-Amerikan sincerely regret Hill's car. If we had waited an extra few weeks what you have had to go through (or if John Hill bought his plates because of our blunder~ We first checked Hill's ulate number earlier) , Hill's photo would never with the comuuter in mid:March, :1ave been in the Post-Amerikan. It's a mistake we've tried hard to alsong with a number of other a~o1a. Since we published our first numbers, A lot of the checks, 3ut the car and the license plate narc photo in 1974, we have revealed including ones we were pretty sure check wouldn't have been enough to the identities of close to a hundred weren't MEG plates, came back "no get Hill accused of being a narc in undercover agents and informers, record on file." We ~igured that print, not with the uncertainty without falsely accusing anyone. the computer didn't have information about whether the state's computer Until now, in our May issue. yet on all the '79 plates, since the had all the info from Feb. 28 banks had been selling them until license plate sales. The Post-Amerikan owes its readers just a few weeks before, an explanation: how did we print In an operation something like a the wrong person's photo, and how We tried a batch of plates again line-up, a person who has observed are we going to prevent this in the in mid-April, Non-MEG plates which comings and goings at the MEG office future? produced a "no record on file" picked Hill's photo out from a stack response from the computer in March of several shots. It wasn't one of When we took Hill's photo, he was were now producing name and address those "This is the one--I'd know driving a blue 1978 Chevy Camaro-­ information. But when asked about that mug anywhere" identifications the exact color, make and model of that MEG victims have sometimes made a vehicle MEG has been leasing for Hill's plates, the computer still said "no record on file." when pulling an agent's photo out of more than a year. Hill's car had a a pile of suspects--but it swayed bashed-in left front fender; so did The computer was releasing us, when combined with the other MEG's blue '78 Camaro. information on some plates it said evidence. were purchased on Feb. 27--one day Identification of people by . photograph isn't the most reliable evidence. I wish we hadn't used it. Last issue, we said that the man pictured here has been seen entering and leaving MEG's office building at 600 Abingdon in Peoria.

John Hill says he's never been to that building, and hasn't even been in that part of Peoria for years, 1 believ~ him. Post readers in the six-county MEG ~rea energetically pass around our ~hotos of narcs and post them in oars and other hang-outs. The Post s~aff hopes readers will put the same energy into passing around this retraction. • ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••--Mark Silverstein :Informer's identity • • !revealed • •Another MEG informer's identity has • :been revealed in papers filed at the • eMcLean County Courthouse, • • • •Raymond Huff, address unknown, worked • !as MEG Confidential Source #207. : .working with Agent Glenda Hollis, • eHuff set up Bloomington resident • •Rosalind Mann in August 1978, • These are photos of John Hill. We mistakenly identified the •according to police reports filed one on the left as a narc photo last issue, but we were wrong. • •1n•· case no, 79 cf 72. • FALCON MOTEL, CABLE TV TELEPHONES ll ON u.s. 51 I AIR CONDITIONED Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 Page 6 Prisoners beaten during '!retaking' of Stateville

Last fall, 29 prisoners were transferred from dodged the issue, saying the prisoners' attorneys held. Though regulations call for mandatory medi­ Pontiac to Stateville's "corner"--the prison's hadn't adequately shown that the beatings were cal care after macing, none was provided. most secure area, which houses the state's directly connected to the policies directing the electric chair. The director of the Department deadlock. --Prisoner Donald Adams states "Officer Cecetis of Corrections said the 29 prisoners were sus­ (phonetic spelling) hit me with his club on my pected of involvement in the July 22, 1978, rebel­ Although the prisoners 1 affidavits were filed in left side and lower back, and struck me in the lion at Pontiac. court, there has been no media coverage of their genitals. I saw the same officer strike another accusations. In fact, press reports have claimed prisoner, Wilson. I was unable to see a doctor In early March, 31 prisoners were indicted in that the Department of Corrections has not had any until March 12, 1979, even though I was urinat­ connection with the rebellion--17 of them for mur­ incidents while turning stateville into a maxi­ ing blood since March 9, 1979, when I was der. Most of the 29 prisoners held at Stateville's maximum security prison. struck by. officer Cecetis. At that time, Dr. death row were indicted, but not all of them. Atlas recommended that I see a urologist im­ The following accounts are taken from prisoners' mediately. I am still urinating blood, but I Four of the P!isoners who were not indicted have allegations in federal court: have not seen a urologist as of this date (March charged in federal court that guards beat them in 22, 1979). II March. --On March 16, prisoner Curtis Houston had his shoulder and a bone in his mouth dislocated when a In support of their contention that these beatings The beating followed the Department of Correc­ Lt. Hayes came to Houston's cell and said he had ~ a direct result of the Department of Cor­ tions 1 much-publicized "retaking" of Stateville a hospital appointment. He was handcuffed, taken rections' policy regarding the Stateville deadlock, from the Chicago street gangs who the Department from his cell, and soon met by 20-30 baton-wield­ prisoners 1 attorneys offered statements from said were in control of the prison. ing guards from the special tactical team. When some of the tactical squad members themselves. he got to a doorway, he was kicked in the rear, Without previously notifying many prison em­ smacked on the shoulder with a baton and thrown These statements said that officers conducting the ployees, the "retaking" of Stateville began Feb. down the stairs to the basement of his unit. Lt. shakedown were to act "forcefully," that injuries 24. Ten alleged gang leaders were transferred Hayes then hit Houston in the eye, and an. officer were to be expected, that most injuries would be under heavy police guard to federal custody in Morgan pulled up his head and kicked him. Hayes confined to prisoners who allegedly did something Chicago. told other guards to "whip his ass, but don't use wrong, that restrictions on guards in the gun sticks. " While beating Houston, officers told him towers should be lifted, and they should be free With state troopers standing by, a special 50- "you'd better tell everything you know about the to shoot at their own discretion. member tactical team helped Stateville guards Pontiac riot." Houston, who is an epileptic, was place the entire prison on deadlock. Correctional not charged with any disciplinary infraction. When asked in federal court (March 13) if he officers carried riot sticks, while the orange­ agreed with the above statements, Department of suited tactical team wore helmets, gas masks, --Terrel Waters was beaten and repeatedly thrown Corrections Director Gayle Fral'l.Zen said, "I and carried weapons. Teams of dogs sniffed for against a radiator by Hayes and some of his sub­ certainly do." The Director also said that injury contraband. Officials announced a complete cell­ ordinates--guards McDade, Pollard, Ward and to prisoners during the Stat eville deadlock was to by-cell shakedown of the prison, with the dead­ Chambers. When Hayes threw Walters against the ·be expected. e lock expected to last two months. radiator, he said, "So what nigger, we burned you. " Hayes was also responsible for macing Leon --info for this article comes The four Pontiac prisoners who filed affidavits in Jackson and ten-other brothers in the "cor:tier"-­ from the Pontiac Prisoners Support federal court asked Judge Crowley for an injunc­ the area \\here 29 Pontiac prisoners are being Coalition. Much is reproduced directly tion against further guard violence. Crowley from a draft article for the next issue of the Coalition's newsletter.

A weekend of positive energy Mark the weekend of June 16-17 on your Sunday will feature workshops on checks to Positive Energy, CRC, calendars 'cause that's when the sec­ wind power, appropriate technology, 210 W. Mulberry, Normal, IL 61761 or ond Positive Energy Convention is and natural heating, among others. call 309-452-8094.) going to happen. In addition to lots In the morning Clergy and Laity of exhibits on solar energy, energy Concerned, which focuses on This convention is not a group of efficiency, and other alternative nuclear and other social concerns, cigar-smoking men in a stuffy room. sources of energy, this year's PEC will organize a central Illinois It is a coming-together of many features a big craft fair and a full action group. The theme Sunday folks from all over who are united program of mellow music, speakers, afternoon will be "Cooperative in their belief that a better world presentations, films, games, contests, Solutions in a Competitive Society," is possible through concern for the .and meetings. with presentations by groups ranging earth, cooperation, and the use of from worker-owned and-managed renewable energy sources. Please Planned activities start at 10 each businesses to food coops and the come and be a part of what's happen­ morning at Timberline Recreation area, Bloomington-Normal New School. ing. • one mile north of Goodfield on Illinois 117 between Peoria and (Booths are still available for ·--B.C. Bloomington. Adults will be asked $40 to commercial exhibitors and for to donate about $2 at the gate. $5 to non-profit exhibitors. Send On Saturday there will be a solar energy workshop followed by the first annual meeting of the Illinois Solar t 111. state legislature: Assn., a citizens' group that wants to get good solar energy laws passed in Illinois. There will also I I wrote an articl:-las~~~~eyurg~~p~~~~e~ do~~h~~~!!is information? be a nuclear power workshop at 1 p.m. ~ all of you to write to your friendly I guess he didn't hear about the followed by a no-nukes conference legislators to urge them to support uranium miners dying of cancer in New at 3 to plan the fight against nukes ~, some bills concerning nuclear power Mexico. in Illinois. and waste dumps in the state of Illinois. I don't know what got into So if you write to these fellas, don't Saturday night you've got two choices: 'J_ me. I even wrote to them myself! ~V assume they know anything. Send them - friends told me that my letters the information you want them to know a program of films on alternative­ _ wouldn't even be read but to their fueled vehicles, passive solar build­ if you're interested enough to write - surprise, and mine, all three repre­ them a letter. ings, breeder reactors, rate hikes sentatives and the state senator s2n': and grassroots energy projects; or a ' story-telling session around a bonfire I hasty replies. I call the legislators "fellas" of biomass. because most of them are white, '- A couple of them were form letters. middle-class males. In the height of Among the musicians playing at the PEC Sen. John Maitland wrote a real nice this last-ditch effort to restore my two-page letter to me saying that he faith in government, I attended a will be Marita Brake, Tom Ricker, Tim _ was all for alternative energy Piper and the Prairie Clipper Band, senate committee hearing where they I development but that nuclear power was were to decide whether or not these ~nd Dave Williams. Bring your instru­ ' a viable alternative also. environmental bills would go to the ments and jam. I General Assembly for a vote. The The funniest one came from State Rep. senators barked, argued, and insulted A children's activity tent will offer I Gordon L. Ropp who said, "With the in a truly "masculine" way, and the a variety of puppet shows, cartoons, need for additional sources of energy only female member of the committee, and magic shows both days, and we and the excellent record of safety, a right-on sister in her mid-fifties, encourage everyone to camp out in terms of no loss of life due to was repeatedly referred to as a girl. Saturday night. Iradiation. I am reluctant to support How's that for enlightenment? • .the Bills you mentioned." This guy I doesn't even write complete sentences! --Susan I

Train derails, workers not surprised ::;~vol. vm'=: On May 29, a grain train derailed on "We all talked about how that track contractions won't be extreme enough the old IC tracks at the north end of was gonna buckle and end up out in to cause the rail to buckle or break. Wapella. ~ housemate just came home the ditch in late July or mid-August-- from working 32 hours cleaning up and here it is June 1. It's hard to get repairing the track, and I was lucky into your work when it's freezing and But the track by Wapella was laid in enough to catch an interview with him wet anyway, and then if you know it's cold weather, and not enough care before wage-slave delirium set in. stupid and the conditions are was taken to get the track to the practically unbearable, it's really right temperatur~ before laying it. He helped lay that rail last winter. frustrating. You know you're just That's why it buckled on a hot day, He wasn't a bit surprised to get the creating more work for yourself throwing 12 cars sideways. (Some of call about the derailment. He says later." the cars aren't salvageable.) When that most of the experienced laborers laying track in cold weather, the crew on the railroad knew, as they were The big mistake was laying the rail is supposed to warm up the track with chipping ice off the machines in the in freezing weather, not only because a special machine. Last December and freezing rain last December and January, the workers used the machine it was hard on the workers. The ICG but when it got to be spring they January, that it was a mistake to higher-ups ordered that 5 miles of wer~ lay the rail in the first place. told just to lay the rail, even though old conventional track be torn up and temperatures were only 40 degrees. replaced with 5 miles of continuous rail. The continuous rail is made The temperature should be about 60. from old 30-foot and shorter pieces Most experienced railroaders even say of rail welded together in quarter that the machine for warming track was mile lengths. The crew lays the a farce in the winter& they say that quarter mile lengths and then welds below a certain temperature, it can't those together, making a continuous correct enough, and the track just rail. shouldn't be put down. The continuous rail is supposed to need less maintenance than conven­ "Everybody out there thought it was stupid. But they get orders. Ev~n tional track. Conventional track is though they may know a lot about 30-foot lengths with gaps between the railroads and how to operate them lengths. The gaps provide leeway for efficiently, they don't seem to have the expansion and contraction that much decision-making power." happens when it's hot and cold out. The people who give the orders, my Continuous rail doesn't have these housemate thinks, are removed from gaps. So it's real important to have the practicalities of railroading the rail at a certain temperature and involved instead in trying to when it's laid and anchored down to save money and cut corners on the the ties, so that the expansions and railway, while dabbling heavily in multinational corporations and non-railroad investments. Nuke wastes may careen So now the crew is ordered to cut gaps in the continuous rail and re-weld In spite of efforts to make sure the hoping to prevent future buckling.' rail isn't goi~ to buckle again (see thru central Illinois The same crew could have prevented adjoining story), the old Illinois this derailment if they had been Central track is nothing to write from the Clinton nuclear power plant. 1nvited to use their expertise to home about. The general condition decide what to do last November. of the track is horrible, and a crew That means that nuclear wastes, which of four people is supposed to repair (as we keep saying) are too dangerous "As we were trying to clean up that and maintain the sixty miles closest to even think about for more than two mess, I just kept lookin' down the to us. minut~s consecut~vely, are likely to line toward the Clinton nuke," my be go1ng over thl.s.track, heading for housemate said. • And it's the most direct route to and dumps up north. If they get there. --Phoebe Caulfield They might get dumped on the ground by a nearby creek, or the radioactive RR threatens particles might blow into your trees trailers, and lungs like so much cor~ subdivision dust. (see adjoining story) Petersen Subdivision, located along The IC track has what's called both sides of the Illinois Central "swinging ties." This doesn't Gulf Railroad tracks from Willow St. mean they practice free love. to Vernon Ave. in Normal, is in danger It means that there's not from the poor general condition of the enough gravel and hard ground ICG tracks. under them, so that when a Back in spring 1978, when Chuck train wheel goes over them, (Kosher Chuck) Petersen was applying they bounce up and down, to the Normal city council for making the train rise and fall. permission to develop a 75-foot-wide strip along the tracks, residents of The joints in the rails are nearby neighborhoods said that staggered, so that the right Petersen's buildings would be too wheels of the train pass over close to the tracks for safety. a sag and the train sways right, and then the left "Don't blame all of this pollution on us...... lt's these stinltint~ fishl" Petersen got permission anyway. The wheels of the car pass over a subdivision consists of apartment sag and the train sways left. houses, mostly for students to live Railroad dumps in. Thousands of pounds of speeding metal swaying left and right while heaving on Wapella Now there's only a narrow strip of up and down isn't, in my mind, an right-of-way on each side of the appropriate container for deadly po1sons to tootle through our cities The train that derailed at Wapella dilapidated tracks. "That's not May 29 was carrying hoppers full of nearly enough," one ICG worker told l.n. • corn. Twelve cars broke open and the Post~Amerikan. The recent spilled the grain all over the place. derailment in Wapella supports his --P. C. To clean it up, the railroad used a point (see adjoining story). Twelve huge vacuum-sweeper-type machine with cars, about forty feet long each, a hose one foot or so in diameter were thrown off the track. sucking up the corn. Then the corn was dumped 5 or 6 feet through the "Those cars would go through the air into trucks. buildings like a puff of wind if they derailed in Normal," said the Of course, the grain dust and the dirt worker. "Imagine the force and from being on the ground blew away. momentum of a moving train, against It covered the trees, the trailers in the cheap plywood, soft 2 x 4•s, and a nearby trailer court, and probably thin brick veneer of a modern the inside of everyone's lungs. apartment building. It'd be like ••.. wel~, it'd be like getting hit by a In addition, all the corn didn't get tra1n." sucked and dumped. Lots of it is still on the ground, churned in and He pointed out that many of the mix;d with dirt because of the heavy engineers go over the speed limit equ1pment used at the accident site. in the city. Furthermore, sometimes even the posted speed limits aren't In three to six months, when this corn low enough, considering the poor gets damp and rots, it's going to condition of the track. • stink. Bad. • --P. C. --P. C. page 8 Post-Amerikan vol. vm no. 2 June-July When you park your car on the street But for Anderson, they were even and someone comes along and bashes willing to make ~cols of themselves into it, you'd better hope it's a in print. After all, they really do teenager. or a black or woman--not a know what immediately means, and if drunken city official. they don't they can look it up in a dictionary. On April J, Normal City manager Dave Anderson, after drinking at Pub II McGuire's refusal to charge Anderson City in Normal, smashed into a car on in April is temptingly like Franklin Avenue. He drove home on Anderson's refusal to reprimand a flat tire, changed the tire, and McGuire in February. McGuire tried finally called the police to report to fix a ticket with Ron "Bull" the accident. Dozier, the state's attorney, in manager February. Pantagraph reporter The state law covering these matters says that a motorist who rams a parked car has to "immediately stop" and "then and there either locate and notify the owner of such leaves vehicle ••• of his name, address and registration number of the vehicle he is driving or shall attach securely in a conspicuous place on or in the vehicle ••• a written note" acciden-t giving the same information. Also, the cops are supposed to be notified "without unreasonable delay." Anderson didn't stop, didn't leave a note, and didn't call the cops until after a delay. But Police Cheif Richard McGuire says in the Pantagraph that such terms as --- "immediately" and "reasonable" allow room for interpretation. Normal's Mayor Godfrey told th: Pantagraph reporter that "His (Anderson's) Bernie Schoenburg exposed that deal. judgment may well have been the Dozier decided not to fix the ticket correct procedure." and Anderson, as city manager, decided not to reprimand McGuire If you or I drank three beers (in for putting the fix in. nothing Anderson's case, more likely six or twelve, since he admitted three), It's nice to have powerful friends, and then careened into a parked car especially if you're going to get on our way home, and then went on drunk and clobber parked cars or home and piddled around sobering up get nervous and shoot students. • happens and altering evidence, without a doubt we would be charged with --Phoebe Caulfield leaving the scene of an accident. Mayors and police chiefs refuse to Note: For the flip side of the story, fiddle with the language to read what happened to Eric Biedenharm, protect us from a ticket. pp~ 28-29 of this issue.

HELP! WE'RE BROKE! THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING A Post-Amerikan Benefit Featuring folksinger songwriter Marita Brake Willie Berry (tentatively) and Alesha Jazz-Rock

Support your local alternative newspaper! Sunday June 24, 8:00 p.m. at the Lay·Z·J 1404 W. Market $2.00 cover (donation) Coma down and have a drink with Post-Amarlkan folks and let us know what you think of the paper. Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page g

Ten years after- Gay Pride marches on

"If they come for you in the morning,

they will surely return for us in the afternoon."

This special section on gay people and gay issues politics and gay rage, about gay youth and lesbian celebrates the Spirit of Stonewall. Ten years mothers, about "coming out" and dealing with ago in New York City, gay people finally struck religion. You'll hear from the mother of a gay back at their oppressors. This long overdue son, a radical lesbian-feminist, a black gay man, display of power and pride signaled the end of and a Catholic lesbian. We also tell you what gay compliance and the beginning of gay conscious­ to read and how to join the celebration for the ness. 10th anniversary of Stonewall. The gay voices you will hear in the following These articles speak to gays and nongays--and pages demonstrate that that consciousness is everybody in between. The struggle to be free alive and well--and living right here in isn't bounded by sexual preference. Our anger Bloomington-Normal. You'll encounter a whole and conflicts conGern everyone who seeks freedom. range of sounds in these articles--happy, defiant, thoughtful, humorous, aware gay people telling The relevance of this section is the same you what we think and how we feel. relevance that James Baldwin, a gay black writer, described when he wrote to Angela Davis about his In addition to a survey of past and present involvement with her struggle: "If they come for efforts to win gay rights, you'll hear about gay you in the morning, they will surely return for us in the afternoon. " • ·Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 10

On June 28, 1969, one of the country's full drag were loaded into the police side almost gave in. "We'll shoot largest--and most silent--minorities van, the crowd began to boo and the first motherfucker that comes became vocal and militant. Tired of catcall. A cry went up to turn the through the door," shouted a leading double lives, tired of being paddywagon over, but it drove away detective. Then someone squirted considered sick or sinful or criminal, before anything could happen. some lighter fluid in a window, tired of getting caught between the and a flaring match followed. police and syndicate-controlled bars, Action subsided momentarily. The next gay people fought back. person to come out of the bar was a The police were ready to shoot. But lesbian--she fought all the way from they didn't. The whoosh of the flames The scene was the Stonewall Inn, a gay the door to the car. The officer in was accompanied by the sound of bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich charge, Deputy Inspector Seymour Pine, sirens in the background. The crowd Village. When New York City plain­ ordered the remaining cars to leave beat a retreat as carloads of police clothes officers entered the Stonewall before the crowd became a mob. "Just reinforcements arrived. The riot was on Friday, June 27, they had no reason drop them at the Sixth Precinct and over--for the time being. It had to think the raid would be different from all the others. As usual, the police had a trumped-up charge--they claimed that the bar, which operated as a private club, had been selling Surprise at Stonewall liquor witho~t a license.* As usual, they closed the club, arrested the employees, and ushered the patrons out. But what happened next was not usual. Instead of disappearing into the night, The night the grateful for having escaped the scene anonymous and untouched, the gay patrons stayed around. They clashed with the police in a riot that lasted nearly three nights. hurry back," Pine said. lasted 45 minutes. ~t first, it was a festive gathering~­ Just a few Stonewall patrons waiting It was at that moment that the scene Since it was past midnight, June 28 for their friends still inside. be came explosive . "Pigs! Faggot became Stonewall Day, the Boston Tea Cheers went up as more dramatic cops!" the gay people shouted. They Party of the so-called Gay Liberation patrons swept by the detectives ("Hi began to throw pennies and dimes-­ movement. By the time the last cop there, fella") and made campy re­ then nickles, quarters--a bottle, was off the street Saturday morning, marks--"! gave them the gay power bit, another bottle. "Let's get inside;" a sign was going up announcing that and they loved it, girls." yelled Pine. "Lock ourselves inside, the Stonewall Inn would reopen that it's safer." night. It did. Once the cops were inside, the angry * * * gays stepped up their assault--breaking winiows, crashing the door open, The gay response at Stonewall was BETTEH hurling beer cans and bottles in. The unexpected, but that particular raid cops tried to scare the mob from the was not the only reason for incidents door; they were met with a hail of occuring on the weekend of June 28. BLATENT coins. A beer can glanced off the ~n the three weeks prior to that time, head of one of the detectives. five gay bars in the Village had been Another cop got hit under the eye hit by the police.** A member of the with something and was bleeding. Gay Liberation Front later recalled •THAN• how on June J he and a friend had At that point Pine grabbed a gay seen about 15 paddywagons pull up at a protester and dragged him by the gay hangout near the docks and that N hair into the doorway. The cop "cops were beating people to the who was cut yelled at the man, ground." "So you're the one who hit me!" And while the other cops helped, he slapped the prisoner five or six times and finished with a punch to the mouth. It took three cops to get the man away from the crowd and into the Stonewall. That left no uolice on the street. As if by sig~al, the crowd erupted. They heaved bottles and cobblestones. A trashcan crashed through a window. The The Stonewall Inn was primarily a reaction was solid: they were pissed. hangout for queens--men who act in outrageously effeminate ways or From somewhere came an uprooted dress in women's clothes. But that parking meter--to be used as a bat­ night the limp wrists, the posing and tering ram. The door to the Stone­ primping, the biting comments finally wall was smashed open again, more gave way to the real anger beneath objects thrown in. There weren't the flashy exterior. any more dancing faggots--but a powerful mob bent on revenge. With the arrival of the paddywagon, the mood of the crowd changed. As The cops drew their pistols and aimed three of the more blatant queens in at the front door. A door to the But the reaction to the Stonewall .raid didn't remain a simple protest BOOKSTORE against police harassment. As the weekend developed, the protest grew into a full-scale display of power and pride. "I'm a faggot, and I'm proud of it!" "Gay Power!" "I like boys!"-­ these and many other slogans were heard all three nights as gays asserted their power and clashed with the city's police forces.

Friday night's crowd returned and was led in "gay power" cheers by a group of cheerleaders: "We are the Stonewall girls/We wear our hair in curls!" Hand-holding, kissing, and posing accompanied each of the cheers. As the chants rose in frequency and •••women's Books, Health Care, volume, the crowd grew restless. Non-sexist Children's The front of the Stonewall was losing its attraction. "Let's go down the Literature, 25-cent Used Books street and see what's happening," and MORE someone yelled. And down the street they went, smack into the city's Tactical Patrol Force (TPF), sometimes QOQA N.MAlN called the "riot squad," which had been called earlier to disperse the 6lOOMING'TON crowd. 829'v22! ,o,~~sA1' Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 11

According to the reporter for the GLF, the movement for gay rights in Stonewall was a turning point. Village Voice, the TPF "cleared the this country took a decisive step Things would never.be the same for crowd of screaming gay powerites forward. gay people in Amerika after June 1969. down Christopher to Seventh Avenue." But accounts from gay people who Most of the action took place on the And the spirit of Stonewall has never were there told a different story. two coasts--primarily in New York died. Every year the Gay Pride and San Francisco. But there were celebrations, in memory of the '69 One observer described how the police groups identifying with "gay lib" in riots, grow larger and larger. Last "chased people away and they would such unlikely places as Tallahassee, year, gay people, re-awakened by the just go around the block and come in Florida, and Lawrence, Kansas. By menace of Anita Bryant and her holy another way." Gays started to take 1971 at least 6 gay liberation bigots, put on the biggest show of over the street, stopping cars from newspapers were appearing more or solidarity in the country's history-- coming through, unless driven by gay less regularly. In universities and 60,000 marched in New York, 200,000 in people. There were shouts of colleges, gay student organizations San Francisco. The strange blend of "Christopher Street belongs to the sprang up with enormous speed--a GLF rage and pride that surfaced at Stonewall 10 years ago is a vitalizing force that continues to drive gay prople toward the goal of total lib­ eration. • --Ferdydurke gays fought back

queens!" and "Liberate Christopher group was organized at Illinois State Street!" Lige Clark and Jack Nichols, University in 1969, just months after gay co-columnists for Screw, flatly Stonewall. There was even a gay declared that "the police were scared organization at Berkeley's Pacific shitless and the massive crowds of School of Religion, a traditional angry protestors chased them for theological college. blocks screaming 'Catch them! Fuck them!'" *The purported reason for the Stonewall In any case, the crowd didn't break up raid--lack of a liquor license--was until J:JO a.m. Sunday was already so bogus that it was an insult. The there, and it was to be another day of Stonewall Inn was a popular bar that gay protest--but in a different key. had been operating for J years just a few blocks from the 6th Precinct Sunday night was a time for rapping stationhouse. and hanging out. The gay power chants were gone, but not the pride and the **A member of the Gay Activists new openness. Gay people could be Allianc~ explained the heavy police seen everywhere--on steps and curbs, harassment of gay bars this way: "The in the parks and the streets. Gayness police hit the bars at the prime hours, w~s on display, as couples and groups not so much so that they can give k1ssed, embraced, walked arm in arm. petty fines to the bar owners--it's for the effect of terrorizing the customers and sometimes physically abusing them. This drives the people away, alienates them, and forces the owner either to 'up' the payoff or to close down." After a raid, gays generally did not patronize the bar until word got around that the owner is 'paying off more.' Gay bars were especially good places to hit up for payoffs because of the built-in, vulnerable clientele.

It would be impossible to trace the NOTE: The main source of the histor­ growth of the gay movement--the ical material for this article is groups, the splits, the regroupings-­ Donn Teal's The ~y Militants. in the decade that followed the Stonewall riots. The women's movement provided support for lesbian causes, and lesbians contributed a great deal to the rise of feminism, although the two movements have never had an The Village Voice reporter said it easy relationship. was "a relief and a kind of joy" to see the happy, confident Allen The initial momentum didn't last, of Ginsberg on the scene. "He lent an course: like other political and umbrella of serenity," said the uptight social movements of the 60s, gay lib reporter, "with his laughter and quiet experienced a decline in the 70s. But commentary on consciousness, 'gay power' as a new movement, and the various implications of what had happened." Allen Ginsberg may have symbolized "serenity" to a reporter freaked out GIBSON GUILD FENDER YAMAHA OVATION by a weekend of gay rage. But Ginsberg also understood the serious meaning of the Stonewall riots. His reaction caught the political point WOODSON KUSTOM TRAVIS BEAN of June 28-29, 1969: "Gay power! Isn't that great! We're one of the largest minorities in the country •... It's about time we did something to assert ourselves."

* * * The assertion that followed Stonewall was historic. The exuberance of that weekend produced an outpouring of organizations and publications. Stonewall gave birth to all sorts of gay rallies and demonstrations, marches and picketings, sit-ins and GUITAR political zappings. The New York Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was founded in July, and by November the we teach you to play, newspaper Come Out! had begun to WORLD appear. With the emergence of the then sell you the right guitar. 105 N Broadway • Normal. IL 61761 309-452-6412 Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 12 How being a lesbian changed my life Coming out as a lesbian five years survive best if they hooked up not purposely against my best ago was both a result of a lot of with men and spoke out for men's interests. Recognizing that that healthy changes I was making and interests rather than hooking up lie is promoted by men who profit the cause of lots of new ones. with women.) by it contributed more to my "mental health" than anything else except I realized before I came out that From liking and appreciating women having parents who let me develop I have always looked primarily and realizing that we have common in the "'ays I wanted to. (Remember to women for friendship, for love, concerns, it was only a small step all the pictures of smiling for support, for intellectual to being turned on to other women policemen directing traffic and stimulation, for fun. Because of sexually. helping frail "little old ladies" that, when I realized that men across the street in our grade and their institutions work to It was wonderful to stop depending school propaganda workbooks?) keep women from gitting what we on men for things I never got from need, I was comfortable becoming them anyway--sexual satisfaction, So I guess coming out as a lesbian politically woman-oriented too . understanding, encouragement to has helped me both to get more and defining myself as a feminist. grow as much as I could. in touch with my anger and to become (I think Anita Bryani and Phyllis mor8 loving towards others and Schlafly are examples of women And it was wonderful to be angry. myself. And I think that's great who also realized in some part I had always assumed that when I all the way round. • of themselves that men keep women had conflicts with men, at least down but believed they would they were acting with good will and --Alice Wonder

The struggle to be black, )\ gay· ·and human

Before I get into what gayne~s has The heart of this sense of self meant for me personally, I would comes from having experienced offer a brief introduction. I began social rejection first hand. Were as an only child in a rather I not stigmatized, I would probably Proud to be a conservative small town in east have felt no qualms about joining central Illinois. Now, as far the ranks of the blind oppressors. womyn back as I can remember, there has I probably would have eagerly sown never been a time in my life when the seeds of torment, and my narrow Many people, especially straight I was not bl~ck, and never a time outlook would have insulate~ me folks, think of lesbianism strictly when I was not aware of my gay from ever knowing what I was doing. in terms of "sexual preference" (or feelings. Quite a combination, sleeping with other womyn). For wouldn't you say? Especially when As it is, my senses have been so me, being a lesbian means so much you stop to realize all the negative filled with the stench of oppression more than this. This distinction feelings often associated with · tha~ I couldn't knowingly wish the is very important to me because I each condition. same on another living thing. have been a lesbian for approximately a year and a half. For the last As a black I found it necessary to My gayness, my blackness--and my year I have not been involved in struggle for self-respect in ways constant awareness of the meaning a sexual relationship, yet I do th.at some people will experience of both these parts of my self-­ not doubt for a moment that I am only vicariously, if at all. At have been the salvation of my in fact a lesbian. the same time, I'll be damned if I humanity. And they will continue didn't find myself just as put down to keep me human. So what are the Dther things that by the very repressive attitudes lesbianism means te me? Well, for reserved exclusively for gays. I feel that lt is onlv through this starters it means valuing my rela­ recovery and preserv~tion of tionships with other womyn more The pressures of dealing with my humanity that the quality of life than I value any relationship with gay, black images have caused a for more than just a privileged any man. It means putting my time number of psychological and phil­ few will ever be attained .• and energy into working with other osophical changes in my life. They womyn instead of competing with have brought about my present self­ --Roy them for men's attention or letting awareness. men drain my energy away from other womyn. It means having pride and respect for myself as a womyn, and for other womyn, our skills~ our struggles, our strengths, and our love for each other.e

- -RL I I .\ '\

I'm here, angry, and gay

I just finished writing to an old I had avoided, repressed, ignored, college friend. What do I say to and been afraid of for so long. him to really let him know what's happened to me since I saw him last Being gay means struggling to un­ (10 years ago)? When·he knew me I derstand and accept myself and to was somewhat quiet, shy, insecure redirect my self-hate by being and very afraid to seriously look angry at what really makes me at myself. Somehow I wanted to afraid. Loving another man should tell him I've gotten happier and not make me feel bad--instead, I've more exciting, that I've changed learned to get angry at those who a lot and it's for the better that tell me I can't love men. I've "come out." Being gay with my friends is fun. I won't forget that first night. I I'm comfortable and supported, I'm stayed over at a friend's house. We loved and understood, and I'm able talked late into the night, then went to return these nurturing qualities. to bed. Neither of us could sleep. I felt so close to him that I Outside my close community, being wanted more. After trying to sleep, gay makes me angry and afraid. getting up for a cigarette, talking There really are people who find a little more, and tossing around, me disgusting, pitiful, evil and I said, "I can't get to sleep." He downright nasty. I know I'm not. said, "Neither can I. I'm going to But these folks may want to wipe touch you." me off the earth. Well, I'm not going. I'm here, I'm angry, and I guess I can say the earth moved, I'm gay. • not so much in sexual passion but through discovering all the feelings --Chris Are homosexuals really color-blind? Let me begin by pointing out that both issues of greater importance as it has allowed me to share my simply because I am a gay person, my to me. feelings, experiences, and loves mind is not constantly dealing with with them. My relationships are as aspects of my gayness. By that, I My sexual preference was clear to important to me as any in which mean that there are matters of much me so long ago that it is difficult they might be involved and they greater importance to me than to discuss many of the negative understand this. Their intelligent recalling happenings which took aspects frequently associated with approach has allowed them to accept place in New York ~ity a decade being gay. The role my family has each of my lovers as the members ago. I am proud to be a functioning, played in dealing with my sexuality of our family that they truly are. seemingly well-adjusted gay person, has been one of unusual acceptance. and I have marched proudly with my We share, in fact, such a great Feeling so good about being gay gay sisters and brothers by the rapport that my mother has agreed hasn't always been true for me. thousands in parades marking the Before I could be proud to be gay, anniversaries of Stonewall. I had to understand what it meant to be gay. Being a teenager in the But as I struggle to put these 60's in central Illinois often remarks together, my mind is drawn meant groping blindly at any source to the small town of Starke, where of information available. When I. the state of Florida recently was about fifteen, I recall, I murdered one of its citizens. saw the headline on a magazine Within my own mind, the question that read, "Homosexuals are Color of whether any state possesses the 3 Blind." Well, I was sure my eyes right to kill is of such paramount had been tested for color blindness. to write an article for this issue. importance that I am truly struggling I was equally sure I was homosexual. to write this article on my gayness. It is unfortunate, but many gay When I got the magazine home, I There ·arc other issues of much people find themselves alienated discovered that the story dealt with greater importance to me than the from family members when it is the closeness of blacks and whites "gay issue." The cancer-like discovered or revealed that they within the gay community. But disease of racism which exists in are gay. while the headline had proven to every corner of the country, as be misleading, the article did well as the fight that goes on and With the exception of a brother, provide valuable information for on in so many states for ratification briefly turned religious, all the a confused teenager.e of the Equal Rights Amendment, are members of my family have been very understanding and accepting. This --Ron has been extremely helpful to me, Bei_ng gay means

My son, the gay person < being free 0 ...... One week after his fifteenth My son didn't run out of the closet While I find it very easy to birthday, my son took an overdose one day, jump on a stump and make identify the highly visible features 00 of tranquilizers. This left me an announcement about his gayness. of the gay experience--from hot bars confused and bewildered--my first­ It was more gradual and subtle--but to manners of speech and dress--the z 0 born was shackled to a bed in an just as revealing and final. very p~rsonal aspects of gayness intensive care unit, saying "I'll are more elusive. N do it again." He's had three lovers that I know about, two of whom I consider good After long thought on my own There seemed nothing else to do friends and one that I consider a feelings as a gay man, I discovered but put him into a State Hospital, real mess. By the law of averages, that being gay has always meant Traumatic is not a strong enough that's not bad. I doubt that Mickey one fundamental thing--freedom. word for what followed. In his Rooney's mother liked all her The kind of freedom that "coming room at home, I found some liter­ daughters-in-law. out" brings and which invariably ature which concerned homosexuality. has drawn me closer to other The State p ;c. y chi at r is t suggest'"? d Am I happy with his way of life? important people in my life. The that my son might be leaning that No simple yes or no can answer kind of freedom which allows me wav. The doctor also said that. I'm happy he's happy. In to talk about myself with my co­ ho~osexual•ty was an everyday some ways, I'd like it better if workers and thus advance the cause thing in l'is country (the Philippines) he was "straight" and conformed to a bit mori. The kind of freedom :mel impl i J that i might he to blame what socictv calls a "normal" which also gives me the strength bcciU;;e hadn't hreastfed mv son. lifestyle. -1 also wish he'd drink to become angry when straight 1 told t doctor that this ~as the less, had a better paying job and society--whether in the form of a United ~tatcs and that being a more education. And I'd like it San Francisco jury or a Chicago cop-­ homosc.•.:t;_!l wasn't accepted here if he'd call his mother more often, tries once more to oppress gay men (it wa; 1965). Also, I said that even when he doesn't want anything.e and women. if rny ·;on's formula "ruined" him, then the doctor better watch out --A.J.A. Most important of all, though, is because 1 had four more kids to the fact that this liberating f 0 ll 011!. quality of gayness has freed me to enjoy being the person that I am.e Mad? You're damned right I was mad! ~ly second son was less than --wg two years younger and he'd gotten his nourishment from the same )) Evenflo Nurser.

My son stayed several months in the institution. Then--at my insistence and against all the experts' advice-­ he came home and went back to school. He was a year behind, of gay news londonjcpf ~ course, and although he was a I bright and retentive student, he didn't do well and never completed •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• high school. :• ALL SERVICES FREE •e Then began his series of heterosexual : Income Maintenance during : "engagements." One to a nearly blind girl, then to two different : training. If you are : black girls. Next came an official engagement to a scholastically • unemployed and have low CETA • bright young woman, who was a nit­ wit in the common sense department. • income during the past : They possibly would have gotten • Training e married if the young woman hadn't •. year you may be eligible. available: • gotten pregnant by another man. • Jobs e I guess that put an odd ~o my son's . *Typing •. string of girlfriends. • Inquire at • *Direct Placement *GED e e CETA, *On the job *LPN e : 201 E. Grove, training *Nurses Aide • : Bloomington. *Public Service *English for : • Jobs· Spanish speaking • .: 827·4026 *additional classes : •• An Equal Opportunity Employer - • - . . •' ( .. , ...... page 14 Post-Amerikan A lot of what I've thought and read and talked vol. VIII no. 2 about being gay and young is painful stuff, Gay people have to make lots of hard choices day after day about how open to be. We face real dangers of being punished for our gayness by those who have power over us. On the other hand, it's difficult to feel good about ourselves or share it openly with others and confront hostile remarks and actions against gay people. Teenage gay people are even more squeezed between a rock and a hard place than adult gays. They have even less control over their own lives than we do.

Their choice to bc gay ofte.n is not taken serious~y Young 1 by older people who tell them they are just going through a phase. This way of not dealing with a young person's gayness is supported by lots of lies in our culture. One is that young folks are not capable of making good decisions about their own lives. Another is that gayness is an "immature" and (and therefore not-so-hot!) sexual choice. That last lie, like most lies, has some truth buried in it. Most of us do have at least limited sexual experiences with people of our own sex when we're first becoming re-aware of our sexuality. (Babies know about sexuality, but get it slapped away.) Some time in our teens, though, we become gay resigned to trying to be "normal." When older people do take a young person's gayness seriously, their non-acceptance sible and what school we go to is becomes more up-front. Parents disown or regulated by law. Running away threaten to disown children unless the should not be the only choice dis­ children change. School administrators satisfied young people have. suspend openly gay students. Teachers give Older gay people could be a source of gay students bad grades when the students lots of support and friendship for gay challenge teachers' statements about gayness. teenagers and children, but usually And those young people are stuck with those can't be or won't be. Some adult parents and teachers. Switching jobs is often gays couldn't imagine what good things hard. But switching parents is usually impos- a young person might bring to a relationship with them: They are ageist. All, that is, except Other gay adults can't give younger Ten forty-three, your potential DEVIATE! So I'll SCREAM at 'em gays what one group would love to In exactly Your fledgling REBEL! and take their NAMES offer and the other love to get TWO MINUTES Your incipient and give them FIVE because adult gays also have a lot I'll ring the BOATROCKER! THEY'LL DETENTIONS and EXTRA to be afraid of. Gay teachers lose FIRST BELL and try to move all right! HOMEWORK! NEXT time their jobs and are kept from doing they'll all THEY'LL have to they won't move the work they often care passionately stand still! learn the HARD after the first about if they offer public support to way not to move! bell! a gay student, or offer private support and are "found out." Adult They'll grow up to accept gays reject the sexual advances of Because when they've TAXES! HOUSING "under-age" gays because they can be learned not to question Non-movement DEVELOPMENTS! after sent to prison for accepting. the FIRST BELL, they'll INSURANCE! WAR! learn not to question the first MEN ON THE MOON! bell is Another way that ageism in the cul­ their TEXTS! Their LIQUOR! ture keeps young and adult gays TEACHERS! Their the LAWS! POLITICS! backbone isolated from each other is through .COURSES! PARKING METERS! laws (and customs with the force of EXAMINATIONS! of Western TELEVISION! Civilization! law) that compel us to be in FUNERALS! different places. For instance, many gay adults spend a lot of time at gay bars, where we can feel safe and connected with each other. Law­ makers have forbidden young people Lesbian mothers start winning to go to bars. Gay adults need to Until recently, it was practically such an openly gay lifestyle might take a lot of responsibility certain that a lesbian mother whose lead to the children's becoming (because we have more power than gayness became an issue would lose homosexual. After hearing expert younger gays) to confront this a custody dispute. That's no longer testimony, the lower court rejected issue or work around it. true. Although openly lesbian this argument, and the Court of mothers lose custody of their Appeals agreed. There are great things about being children more often than they win, young and gay, too. Realizing we're enough favorable precedents have --Last October, the Washington Stqte gay in high school or junior high now been established to give gay Supreme Court issued a ruling that can make it possible to have more women a fighting chance. should have +.he same impact in that meaningful, honest relationships state as the Miller decision in with friends of both sexes. Here's the information about the most Michigan. Sandra Schuster and important cases which have improved Madeleine Isaacson are lovers who each Realizing we're gay early can also the outlook for gay mothers: have children from dissolved mariages. make school less painful because it They live together in adjoining apart­ helps us understand what some of the --The most recent case, and one of the ments, which, in effect, form a single problems we're up against really are. most important, is that of Margareth household, an arrangement sanctioned (A lot of my depression in early Miller, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Last by a lower court but protested by both high school was because I was confused January the Michigan Supreme Court women's former husbands. In a 6-3 about why I was so unhappy, and then unanimously reversed decisions by split, the state's highest court I felt bad about myself.) two lower courts grantin~ Ms. Miller's refused to remove the children from daughter Jillian (now 12) to her their mothers' custody, although four If we're lucky, being gay can help us former husband. The district court of the £ix in the majority voted to realize that we're not unhappy because judge who originally ruled against require the women to maintain separate we're not smart enough or pretty Ms. Miller apparently based his residences. But since there was no enough or athletic enough or popular decision almost solely on her sexual basic change in the custody conditions, enough, but because people are trying orientation (Ms. Miller is not Ms. Schuster and Ms. Isaacson, in their to keep us from figuring out what we currently living with a lover); no words, "won it all. " want and getting it once we know. e specific detrimental effect on --Alice Wonder Jillian was even alleged. The --In June 1978 Denver Judge Orelle Supreme Court's reversal thus seems Weeks granted custody of 17-year-old P.S. I apologize to young gay readers to establish for all Michigan courts Betty Hatzopoulos to Donna Levy, who because this article is written by a the principle that gayness in itself had been Betty's mother's lover for lesbian in her twenties rather than is not a sufficient cause to deny thirteen years before the mother died. somebody younger. I'm afraid we custody. Temporary custody had been granted to adults at the Post are also isolated the mother's sister and her husband, from young gay people. Please write --In an earlier Michigan decision, the but it was withdrawn when the couple and let us know what you think about state Court of Appeals upheld a separated. "Donna's sexual preference this article, the Post in general, judgement granting custody of her two has not affected the child in the past or life. children to Marjanne Schneider, and is not related to her ability to whose lover lives with her and her parent," Judge Weeks said. • P.P.S. Thanks to the folks of Youth children. It had. been argued that Liberation in Ann Arbor for some of --National Gay Task Force the ideas in this article. Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 15 Protest planned: Chicago cops harass gay bars Welcome to the 1950s! Chicago indeed have been theirs--a police attention. police are raiding and harassing plant some gays suspect). gay bars again. On the weekend One observer blamed one particular of May 18-20, police visited cop--a Sergeant Greenwood--for some 7 gay bars on the near north Your usual police instigating the hostile police action. side in the kind of crackdown Greenwood's harassments and verbal that the city hasn't seen since violence abuse reportedly continued all the the late 50s. The cops then locked the doors, way to the police station. turned the music off and the What is different about these lights on, and proceeded to have Quick gay •••••••• raids, though, is that gay people the crowd of approximately 550 are taking quick, decisive action file outside. When people began Gay reaction to these violent events against them. At least two to make verbal protests, the police was almost immediate. One meeting meetings with the police, one began to make arrests. One gay was held the same day (May 19) and which included a representative man claims that he was arrested a larger one on Monday (May 22). of the mayor's office, have already just for asking about a friend The Monday gathering, sponsored by been held. And a protest march who had been pushed up against the Chicago Gay/Lesbian Coalition, down Michigan Avenue is scheduled a window. drew 350 energetic, noisy people. for June 5. They quickly agreed to hold a A photographer who was attempting demonstration/march down Michigan Chicago gays complain that the to record the scene on Wells Street Avenue to the 11th Street head­ raids have been marked by excessive was tackled by a police officer. quarters of the Chicago Police force, verbal abuse, and provo­ After being handcuffed, the photo­ Department on Tuesday, June 5. cation on the part of the police. grapher was struck in the stomach with a nightstick. His camera was The group easily managed to form The most serious incident took damaged and the film confiscated. a solid position. "We will not place at a bar called Carol's tolerate any more police harassment," Speakeasy on May 19. Eleven An attorney who questioned the said the coalition's brief, unified men were arrested there on charges arrest of the photographer was statement. of disorderly conduct. Police arrested himself--for "disorderly entered Carol's at 1:15 a.m., conduct." He received a similar At the May 22 meeting, Gaylife allegedly to check for und.erage roughin~ up and eventually had to publisher Grant Ford reported that drinkers. After both uniformed be taken to a hospital for treatment he had been in touch with Mayor and plainclothes officers with of a scalp wound and a concussion, Byrne's office and was told the flashlights circulated among the although he was held for at least Mayor will not tolerate police the crowd, they found their 30 minutes before getting medical harassment of any people in the underage patron (and he may city and will order an investigation of the raids. .efS 1 A~so, Alderman Bruce Young pledged ------,Gay 1 h1s support. "Harassment and news brl I intimidation of the gay community cannot be tolerated. If you aren't I free to go in a bar, then I'm not I either," Young told the group. He Gay newspaper I promised to participate in the march. e I under attack I --Ferdydurke I Source: Gaylife, May 25, 1979 Rio de Janeiro--Brazil's major gay I liberation newspaper, Lampiao, is under attack by that country's military dictatorship. ~------Michigan protects The paper's board of editors is being sued by the Brazilian government for gray gays "outrages against public morality and good mores." Five members of the Lansing, Mich.--The Michigan legis­ editorial staff have been subpoenaed. lature has passed an act which pro­ There are fears that the paper may hibits discrimination on the basis soon be seized by the police. of sexual preference in state nursing Under the present regime in Brazil, homes. the government may at any time seize publications that it considers Bill 659, passed last fall, assures dangerous. that appropriate care will not be denied on the basis of sexual preference or other factors. The bill Since its first issue in April 1978, also guarantees senior citizens in Lampiao has built up a monthly such homes the right to medical circulation of 15,000 copies and is sold at newsstands in 18 principal confidentiality, privacy, the right Gay legal Brazilian cities. The paper's name to receive mail unopened, and the means "lantern," but it is also the right to associate with persons of name of Brazil's most famous bandit, one's choice.• services in Chicago a national hero in macho folklore.• A free legal clinic specializing in --!IQ Date service to the Chicago area's gay community opened its doors May 6. Gay Horizons Legal Services Program, Approaching our 10th year part of Gay Horizons, Inc., an umbrella gay social services agency, in existence, and our first is located at 3225 N. Sheffield Ave. year in Normal. Staffeq by volunteer lawyers, law students, and others, the legal project is the first of its kind in the WE LOVE YOU! Chicago area.• --The Advocate 207 BROADWAY, NORMAL

Our aim is to give you the best ,.------1 selection of albums at the best I I 50¢ off prices possible. I I I any tape or album I (not already on sale) We will special order anything we don't have in stock. I I • •...... • I • '. . Protesting one more inJustice Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 16 Angry gays storm SF City Hall

On May 22, 1979, lesbians and gay The first violent encounter with the men demonstrated violently for five police occurred when about 8 officers hours in San Francisco. They were from inside the building broke protesting the verdict of voluntary through a protective line of mar­ manslaughter in the case of assassin shalls in front of city hall. Dan White, who had killed gay Wearing riot helmets and swinging Supervisor Harvey Milk and pro-gay billy clubs, the police attempted Mayor George Moscone last November. to clear the area around the front door. They were pelted with eggs Estimates of the predominantly gay and splattered with white paint. crowd ranged from the "official" 5,000 to more than JO;ooo. Then the crowd began to throw rocks and concrete chunks at the glass The angry protestors began gathering doors. Wrought iron railings were at 7 p.m. There were about JOO at torn off the building and used as a brief rally at 18th and Castro battering rams, thrown through streets, in the heart of the city's windows, and used to smash windows lAM gay section. Then Cleve Jones, a of parked cars. gay activist and close friend of Milk's, led the crowd down Market Pleas for non-violence within the Street toward city hall. They crowd were shouted down. A police A shouted "Dan White was a pig, too" officer who said he was gay urged at the police who were on the scene. non-violent demonstrations--he was (White had been both a city police met with chants of "You kill people, and firefighter.) we break glass." I-lUMAN· The crowd filled Market Street, blocking traffic in both directions. Pollee begin action By 8:JO there were so many protest­ ors in the city hall plaza that SEXUA police closed Market from Castro to Action erupted in several parts of the City Hall building. the plaza. At the north end, on Polk Street, the protestors rocked an empty police car trying to turn it over. The police clubbed and "No mDPI IIIIIChiSI" ar,rested at least one demonstrator Flaming rage at this spot. The outraged crowd was in no ~ood Fire trucks coming down Polk Street for talk. Every speaker who tried At the same time, police charged were blocked by bloody protestors, to address them was shouted down. the people who were sitting on the about 100 of them. Unable to reach When one speaker said, "No one in court house steps, beating them the burning police car, the trucks the city is more angry than I am with clubs to clear that area. backed up and left the scene. !'ight now," the crowd replied, Several demonstrators were arrested "Bullshit!" and "No more speeches! at this point, and the police formed In all, JO automobiles were set afire, We've done enough talking." a semi-circle on the court house including 1J police squadcars. steps. Reports about fires in city hall are Supervisor Carol Silver, a gay less definite. Some say incendiary rights supporter, tried to lead the Meanwhile, the police car on Polk devices were thrown through basement crowd in singing "We Shall Overcome." Street had been torched. Police windows; others claim that demon­ "Overcome, shit!" came the reply. made periodic charges into the strators inside the building set Later, someone in the crowd threw a crowd at several spots. Tear gas fires in the records section and piece of concrete which struck was fired--either directly into other areas. Silver on the mouth. She had to the crowd or into an area between be helped into the building and the crowd and the police, depending Police' positioned themselves inside taken away in an ambulance. on which reports you believe. But city hall doors to protect Mayor because not all the police were Feinstein and the supervisors. They Mayor Dianne Feinstein, who was equipped with gas masks, some of barricaded doors and windows with inside city hall, attempted to them suffered along with the tables and other furn~ture. speak.from the balcony. She was demonstrators. And some of the drowned out with chants of "Dump smoking canisters were thrown back A "Code J" emergency was declared and Dianne!" into city hall by the crowd. all available units in the city responded. Off-duty police were called in, as well as state police. By 11:JO, though, heavy tear gas drove the crowd out of the plaza back towards Castro Street. Downs Import Mare police vialence

In the confrontation on Castro, police Auto Service actually conducted an unprovoked raid on a well-known gay bar, breaking up the place and clubbing two bartenders. Gay observers report that the cops were all geared up to the best foreign car do battle and that they were heard to chant "Kill, kill, kill" as they • • marched into the gay section-of town. servtce In McLean County The enraged protestors caused more than $200,000 in damage before they were dispersed. Reportedly, all the windows on the lower floors of city hall were smashed. Police made 17 arrests, and 6J demonstrators as well as 59 police were reported injured. · According to the San Francisco Examiner, a complaint for inciting a riot was filed Tuesday by police against Supervisor Harry Britt, the Vander gay man who was appointed as Harvey Milk's successor. The charge against Britt is based on this remark Bag™ which he supposedly made to the crowd early in the evening: "This is gay anger you are seeing. We aren't going to put up with any more Whites. "e

--Ferdydurke Shaffer Dr., Downs 378·4321 Source: Gaylife, 25 May 1979. Gay old days: Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 17 The early homosexual The June 1969 Stonewall riots in New York have generally been viewed as the beginning of the gay liberation movement movement. But this view is based on a lack of information. In truth, By 1912, believe it or not, this sort (Wilde was a successful playwrigr,t .1969 marked a rebirth of gay lib. of ad was appearing in German who brought suit against his lover's newspapers: father, a duke, for slander. The The story of the first wave of gay slander trial, however, was turned liberation, which began in the 1860s, "REICHSTAG ELECTION! 3rd Sex! into a trial of Wilde's lifestyle. has been almost entirely suppressed. Consider this! In the Reichstag Eventually, charges were brought But John Lauritsen and David Thorstad on May 31, 1905, members of the against Wilde; he was convicted, and have uncovered the lost history of Center, the Conservatives, and sent to prison in 1895--all for being pioneering gay rights efforts in the Economic Alliance spoke gay. --Editor's note.) their book The Early Homosexual Rights AGAINST you. But FOR you, the Movement (1864-1212), published by orators of the LEFT! Agitate And what was going on in the United the Times Change Press in 1975. and vote ac?ordingly!" States during this period? Not much. Walt Whitman was publicly There was even a gay lib film ("Dif­ denying any homoeroticism in his As Lauritsen and Thorstad point out, Calamus poems (he told Symonds not Stonewall can be considered the 100th ferent from Other People") made in 1919 by Hirschfeld and his associates. to make any "morbid inferences"). anniversary of gay liberation. In As the authors make clear, the first 1869, a doctor named Benkert (not his In 1922, the signed petition was American to speak out for gay rights real name) wrote an open letter of finally presented to the Reichstag-- was Emma Goldman in 1923. Her protest against the impending adoption 25 years after it was launched. More perspective was anarchistic and was of an anti-homosexual law in Germany. than 6,000 prominent figures signed achieved only after she had left Benkert's letter reflected a defiance it, half of them doctors. Some of this country and met Hirschfeld in and indignation at bigotry, ignorance, the famous signers included Hermann Europe. and intolerance that we might easily Hesse, Martin Buber, Albert Einstein, associate with the militancy of the Thomas Mann, Emile Zola and Leo What happened from 1925 to 1935 was gay movement today. Tolstoy. that in both Germany and Russia, gay rights were snuffed out by totali­ Benkert did not make his stand in a The Rei~hstag voted to turn the tarian governments. The authors vacuum, for the 1860s had seen the petition over to the government for document the gay movement in both beginnings of what might be called consideration. And there it remained, countries. "scientific interest" in homosexual for by 1923 the post-war economic behavior. Karl Henirich Ulrichs, a and social chaos that gave rise to While it is true that the push for gay German, wrote several studies of Nazism already threatened the early gay rights came from the "the riddle of love between men." His existence of the Committee. liberals in Germany who were later work was concerned primarily with beaten down by the fascist right, it legal and social aspects of gay male Lauritsen and Thorstad present a is also true that the move toward behavior. rather detailed account of all the sexual. freedom announced after the contributions that Hirschfeld made Bolshevik revolution was gradually Ulrichs took the view that homosexuals to the gay cause before he had to undercut by the leftist rigidity were special--a "third sex" with a. flee the Nazis. They also make of Stalinism. By 1935, gay people woman's mind in a man's body and v1ce clear the role of women in keeping were being imprisoned in both versa for women. Mistaken as this the efforts of the Committee alive countries. notion was, Ulrichs' ideas were widely in its long struggle. influential. He can quite properly The Early Homosexual Rights Movement be called the grandfather of gay lib. is a short book--it has only 91 pages. It is admittedly just a start. But, Two years after Ulrichs' death, in as critic Eric Bently observes, 1897,- the first gay organization was "Thorstad and Lauritsen ... have begun formed, also in Germany. It was the to enlighten our darkness." This Scientific Humanitarian Committee book gives us some idea just how and was founded by Magnus Hirschfeld, thoroughly and effectively minority who worked tirelessly for the next history is suppressed. Blacks, 35 years to oppose gay oppression. women, native Americans, chicanes-­ all these groups have had to The on-going project of the Committee struggle, and continue to do so, was to circulate a petit~on against for their place in American history. the same anti-homosexual law that Gay people are also taking up the Benkert had objected to. For two The book also treats the gay move­ ment in England at this same time. struggle, and the appearance of decades the petition was sent The focus is on the early writings this book (and Jonathan Katz's Gay throughout the world to gain support of Edward Carpenter, John Addington American History) indicates, just as for homosexuals in Europe. In surely as Stonewall did, that we are addition, the Committee also Symonds, and Havelock Ellis. published a yearbook and numerous Carpenter was lecturing and publish­ ready and willing to fight .• ing on "homogenic love" as early as pamphlets, and held many meetings 1895. But, as you can imagine, the --Ferdydurke and conventions to discuss the Oscar Wilde trial brought the political status of gay people in English gay movement to a halt for Germany. quite a while.

Tuesday night: Anger gone but not forgotten

Bandages and casts were in evidence. Gay men and lesbians.took to.the GIJI CDRIPDI IPII One man, who had two black eyes and streets of San Franc1sco aga1n on a face full of stitches, was sitting the night afte~ the viole~t protests But not a single uniformed police in a doorway holding flowers. against the unJust Dan Wh1te officer entered the Castro Street verdict. But the scene was very area Tuesday night. Crowd control different from the previous night's was left entirely to 300 gay monitors, "fDP JDU, HIPVIJ" angry demonstrations. who wore T-shirts which read "Please! No violence." The police maintained At the close of the 3-hour party, On their home turf, the Castro constant communication with monitor Harry Britt addressed the crowd: "We Street area, more than 15,000 gay headquarters for any reports of owe no one an apology for what people celebrated the bir~hday of trouble. happened last night. Until we display slain supervisor Harvey Milk. He our ungovernable rage at injustice, would have been 49 on Tuesday, May No serious incidents occurred. Some we won't be heard." 23· minor outbreaks on the fringe of the Castro area were quelled by the The organizer of the celebration, The anger of Monday's crowd gave monitors, according to.the San Cleve Jones, spoke last. A close way to street dancing, balloons and Francisco Sentinel. friend of Milk's, Jones first urged streamers. Meg Christian and Holly the people to leave in groups of Near performed; clowns and mimes and But the festivities were not without 6 or more to reduce the danger of street artists circulated freely. their reminders of the gay rage that attack,, Then he asked for silence. had erupted on Monday. A few people "Harvey, this is for you," he said-­ No police were visible. Mayor . were wearing T-shirts with photos of and released a lavender balloon. Feinstein had asked for extra pollee, Dan White and the caption "He got It drifted over the crowd, then and officers from Marin, Alameda, away with murder." A sign on a bank rose into the sky and disappeared .• and San Mateo counties were brought building read: "Dan White & Company: in. They were reportedly cruising you will not escape, for violent --Ferdydurke the perimeter of the area with as fairies will visit you, even in your many as six to a car. dreams." Source: Gaylife, 25 May 1979 Comment on gay rage Post~Arnerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 18 ''I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to

But I still feel the pressures--the rejections, the hesitations, the questions--and they never let up. People aren't comfortable with my I completely understand what hap­ behavior, my conversation, my pened in San Francisco in response mannerisms. And every day there's to the manslaughter verdict for a new attack: Bigots on the radio Dan White. If I had been there, I saying that the new gay bar in town would almost certainly have been is disgraceful. Uptight males yelling smashing windows and setting police "Fucking faggots!"' at me and my cars on fire right along with my friends as we come out of My Place. gay brothers and sisters. A local minister sneering publicly at gay people and pronouncing us This is a surprising admission sickening and disgusting. because I'm not a violent person. I've never held a gun, let alone On the general level, the forms of shot one. I've always avoiaed oppression are numerous and fights (the physical ones). I devastating: Thousands of gay men find football stupid and boxing and women horribly slaughtered in obscene. I think people often the German prison camps (and hardly resort to hitting and beating ever mentioned in accounts of the because they're incapable of thought holocaust); suicides and deaths due or too lazy to find any other to Anita Bryant's campaign; having solutions to their problems. to live false, neurotic double lives; being beaten, killed, fired, And yet gay rage and gay violenc~ tormented, lied to, lied about, and seem totally justified to me. Not laughed at; phony marriages, only that, I also think it's blackmail, shock treatments; inevitable and quite possibly the tasteless jokes on TV; stupid films only way we'll ever achieve the and novels that make a mockery of freedom and power we need and our lives; kids getting kicked out deserve. of horne; lesbian mothers separated Strugglejcpf from their children; distortions, I know it's difficult for many hatred, intolerance. After all that people, gay and nongay alike, to share my feelings on this matter. Actually, I've had it relatively we have gone through, wouldn't any Violence is ugly. But so is easy myself. No one's ever beaten violence we perpetrate be justifiable? oppression. And the oppression of me up for being gay, although a man lesbians and gay men is very real threatened me with a gun one time The destruction and violence in San when I made a pass at him. I've Francisco didn't happen just because and very painful and has gone on one jury gave a lenient verdict to much too long. When a straight man lost my job only once on account of my gayness (well, maybe twice; it's a man who shot a homosexual. Neither gets 7 years in prison for killing did it happen just because gay a gay man, in a country where gay kind of hard to know for sure what's people can get 15 years for making going on in people's heads). And my ·people are called names and get love to one another, then something family hasn't disowned me or refused their heads knocked in. It was the is very wrong. to talk to me (as long as I don't combination, I believe, that ignited bring up gay topics) . the fuse. When public outrages

.J Ll ~ Post-Amer ikan Vol . 8 No . 2 page 19 " take it anymore If I partake Vlith thankfulness

"For why should my liberty be determined by As I could not be both a lesbian and a Christian, another's scruples? If I partake with thankful­ I determined that one of the two would have to go. ness, why am I denounced because of that for I tried giving up lesbianism. I dated men, I which I give thanks?" I Corinthians 10:29-30. spent time with men, I became intimate with more men than I care to remember. All this I almost hesitate to put this article into print, contact with men did was thoroughly convince me for I feel my credibility in this community will that plan A was not going to work. be sorely shaken, if not completely destroyed, if I do. I am a lesbian; I am also a practicing So I tried the only other option I saw available: Catholic. •And, even worse according to most I gave up God. I became as anti-God as the of my friends, I am a recent (March 1978) con­ Jesus freaks were pro-God. I adopted the atti­ vert to Catholicism. tude that if God were going to hate me just be­ cause I was a lesbian and not bother to take into I have been told by members of the radical com­ account that I was basically a decent.person, munity that I am a very non-offensive Christ­ then screw God, because who needs Her anyway. ian, meaning I think that I do not go on at This option worked even less well than the other. length about religion, that I do not try to con­ vert anyone, and that I can be just as sacri­ ,· It was not until I found men and women of the J. • i legious as the next person and frequently am. l •. cloth who believed that one could most assured­ '.�· . ··' . I hope this article does not do anything to change ly be both gay and Christian, and until I, after *}� ' ,1-.,, that opinion. many years with these people, came to believe

ffe& <,M".'> �,';.�� As difficult as it is for the religious community to accept the fact that I am Catholic and gay, it seems even more difficult for the radical com­ join up with dai ly in sults, well , munity to accept the fact that I am gay and it's time to take action . When the Catholic. I seem to be one of the few people who the pol i e churches and the courts, � has no serious problems accepting both these media condone gay oppression-­ and the commitments as integral parts of my life. This or , worse , contribute to it-- th�n was, however, not always the case. reason and restraint seem downright silly, even dangerous . If �he . institutions that promise aid and I was raised Baptist, real hard-core, fundamen­ protect ion are against us , then talist, literalist, Bible-thumping Baptist. Were what source of power do we have but it not for literalism and the King James Bible, our own rage? I would probably still be Baptist. But when it became clear to me that I could no longer accept Gay violence is not ithout pur pose . � the writings of all those men as true and rele­ It is not mindless , immature, vant to my life, literalism and the Baptist tra­ wanton . The gay peop le in San . dition ceased to be my identification. That was, Francisco attacked the very agencies and institutions--city hall, the of course, much easier stated than put into court house the police- - that must practice. Twenty years of fundamentalism be held res�onsible for injustices tends to stay with one, and it is probably that . This is that have been done to us which makes me believe that although I may be country , the public officials our a radical, I am definitely not a liberal. are accountab le to us . If we gays don't have enough self- respect to Although I abandoned organized religion, I did demand our rights from our government, then we can't expect not abandon God. She and I remained very close the fag-baiters and queer -beaters and maintained a very good relationship until I Some people may react strangely when you come out. not to see us as easy victims. discovered that my sexual preference was not directed toward men. Although my intellect had Ten years ago at Stonewall gay long since given up believing in a literal inter­ peop le stood up and decl ared "We pretation of Scripture, my emotions had not, and Will Not Be Victims Any More. " I can read Romans and Galatians as well as any­ We del ivered the same message that too, that my life seemed to come together. again in San Francisco. I see one. I knew that from that point on, God and I The organized religion where I found this attitude no other choice but to keep were going to have serious problems. God hated most frequently was the Catholic Church. I repeating it until the point dykes; I was a dyke; therefore, God hated me. quite realize that the Church � � does not finally gets through . An d I don't As someone who believes that it is essential to hold this opinion, but the nun and the priests I think we shou ld wait another decade have a closeness with the Almighty, ·this was talked to do. I did not become a Catholic for to make the next delivery . • extremely hard to take. But there it was, and this express reason, but it most cert·il.inly helped Scripture was never wrong. the decision. - -Ferdy durke

I need to feel close to God, and in part I need to feel that by being a member of a religious com­ munity. I also need that community not to assume that I am straight. As such, I have re­ cently "come out" to the people at my church, and I have noticed no overtly awful reactions to my announcement. For the most part, they have ranged from disinterest and curiosity to accep­ tance and understanding.

I feel no less a part of that community, and I feel certain now that when they tell me that they are to love all of God's people, that that love extends to gay people as well as everyone else. That was a very exciting and somewhat sur­ prising revelation.

The people in both the religious and the radical communities with which I am involved have the same basic beliefs, and I think it matters very little in the long run whether one chooses to call THE that belief Christian or humanist, Catholic left FLOTATION SLEEP SPECIALISTS or new left, religion or politics. I choose to call FOR OVER 10 YEARS it Christianity. QUALITY WATERBED SYSTEMS & ACCESSORIES refuse people interpret God MIRRORS - WALL HANGINGS - PHOTOMURALS I to allow to for me. If most Christian people want to believe that the entire gay population of the world is doomed from the word go, that's not my problem, for �1829-5012I• they are not describing the God that I worship. My God andI understand each other. I accept Her weirdnesses and idiosyncrasies and God, being cool, accepts mine.•

--Deborah Wiatt Dear Mom and Dad • • •

Five and a half years ago I told was no person on earth better than I, the people in ISU0s Gay People's and by the same token no person any Alliance that I was seriously worse than r. I grew up in a home considering coming out to my filled with love, understanding, parents, The GPA response, to humor, and literature. I was also the time I wrote them about my say the least, was not positive. taught that when the war was going gayness I was attending my fourth .I was told that my parents could badly, home was the one place we college in as many years and there disown me, that I didn't need to could always come for a little R and was still no degree in sight. tell them since they were 125 miles R. None of those things made them away and would never find out, and real happy, but still they loved me, that my sexual preference was none considered me a good person, and of their business anyway. All did not estrange .themselves from me. those things were true: They could, I hoped they would take my lesbian­ I didn't, and it isn't• But my ism in much the same vein, so I parents have always operated under mailed the letter" three basic rules: 1. Nothing is worth losing their kids over; Two days before I was supposed. to 2. Question authority at every go home, I had still not received available opportunity; J. Be any response from my parents. My completely honest with one another. warped imagination went to work �ith those things in mind, I almost immediately, and I considered decided to tell them, So 10 days three nossible reasons for this, before spring break, 1974, I wrote They c-;uld have not gotten the letter my parents a ?-page type-written yet and would get it while I was letter telling them that their home. They could have gotten it ;:'.arling baby daughter was a lesbian. and felt they shouldn't reply since I was no longer their daughter. Before I tell you their reaction, And, finally, they could have gotten I should give you some background it, found it interesting, but felt about my parents. My mother is a that no response was necessary. I bookkeeper for a local radio finally broke down and called home station. She attended college for to find that it was the third two years, teaches Sunday School, possible response that they were and is active in all aspects of the operating under. Baptist Church. Her English and Dutch ancestors were among the first My father talked to me for 25 Knowing those things about them, I to settle Rock Island County. minutes and never did mention the was a bit less terrified. I was letter, so I was forced to ask still not sure how they would react, My father is an inspector in a him. He said he wasn't surprised, and an alienation of their affections steel foundry. He quit high school and that my mother had been upset < was something I did fear, but my 0 to help support his five brothers; for about 20 minutes, (You have "'"' intellect told me that if they he's a trustee in his UAW local, to understand that when my mother wanted to disown me, I had already and a past master of the Masonic found me smoking a Kool she left given them plenty of opportunities Lodge. He is also second generation the house in tears of rage and was Polish. They are both registered to do so. They had never been z gone for almost three hours. She 0 Republicans. All in all, it is not pleased that I had always considered gets upset for 20 minutes when school a farce and treated it as a rosy picture I pai�t. someone trumps her ace in Euchre.) N such, that I fancied myself a Except that above all those less Communist all through high school, I didn't really believe that they that I became a hippie in college, desirable things, my parents happen had both taken the news so well, but to be real neat people. I was that I hustled drinks from men when I went home anyway and cornered my raised as non-sexist as possible for I had no money, that I did dope, N brother. He confirmed what my 0 the 1950s, I was taught that there that I abused alcohol, and that by

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Post Save@ on the cost FRI. & SAT. �merikan of admission ! JUNE 29&30 benefit for information Harvey Call 828·5512 Mandel Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 21 Gay Pride Week, 1979 Dear Mom A schedule of the primary events follows: and Dad, cont. June 16, Saturday--Art Fair, noon to father had told me. Dad had read 6 p.m. ; at Broadway Limited, Carmichael the letter, said, "I'm not Village, 3132 N. Broadway. surprised, " and gave the letter to my mother. Mom was upset for, he June 17, Sunday--Picnic, 2 p. m. ; east of the lagoon in Lincoln Park. thou?ht, somewhere between 15 and. 20 minutes. I asked him about his feelings, and he told me that I had June 19, Tuesday--Town Hall Meeting, always been strange, that I was ?:JO p.m. ; location to be announced. the strangest person he had ever known, and that he didn't consider June 22, Friday--Loop Ra lly, l:JO p.m. ; this any stranger than anything Daley Plaza. else I had ever come up with, and June 23, Saturday--Women's Dance, 8 that it was, in fact, a lot less p. m. ; at the Light Factory, 2500 N. strange than some. "Who needs Charlie Brown?" Southport; sponsored by the Lesbian · Community Center. Do my parents understand? Not totally. Do they approve? I don't June 23, Saturday--Dance (for everyone) think so. But do they accept? This year the Chicago celebration of Warlock: A Pagan Celebration of the Definitely. 'A few years ago my Gay and Lesbian Pride Week will be Summer Solstice; at 3257 N. Sheffield. parent's church was giving space June 16-24. The theme, Stonewall--Ten for the Total Woman seminars. Years After, commemorates the 10th My June 24, Sunday--Gay Pride Parade, 1 father told the minister that he anniversary of the Stonewall riots. p. m. (line up); forms at Halstead and understood that the church must Addison; rally and awards at the end make space available for groups, The planning committee has arranged of the parade. but that if he found out that the three major events this year: an Art/Street Fair featuring displays of church was also supporting this * * * * group monetarily that he would gay and lesbian art, film, music, demand that a gay Christian group dance, theater, etc. , on Saturday, A new addition to this year's Gay be started, supported and funded Jµne 16; a Loop Rally in the Daley Pride Parade will be the 20-piece by the church, · or no more money Plaza with speeches from gay leaders marching band, Chicago's Gay Pride would be pouring into the treasury and local legislators on Friday, June Band. The band was formed several from his household. He accepts. 22; and the culmination of the week, in nths ago and has been rehearsing the 10th Annual Gay Pride Parade on ? since February. They will be I get my license plates from a Sunday. accompanied by a 5-member flag corps .• bank in Silvis, and they carry QC letters, Last year when I was home and was putting the new plates ?n my car, my mother said she thought it was very strange. I asked her what was strange, and she said, "Well, that the QC on all the other cars stands for Quad Cities, but the QC on yours stands for Queer Child. " She accepts,

It is a wonderful feeling to have the freedom of acceptance from my parents, And that acceptance is not a one-shot thing, but I feel it all around, all the time. I told my mother that I would be home fa_:_� M·c:norial Day Weekend late Friday night or early Saturday morning. I finally pulled in at 5:15 Saturday night, grinning like a fiend, When she asked how I was, I blushed and told her just fine. She smiled and said, "Oh really? What's her name?" •

--Deborah Wiatt

College & Linden Normal Illinois page 22 Post-Amerikan vol. Vm no . 2 June-July Lesbian feminism. • • In Woman on the Edge of Time, �rge kept ignorant about the workings of cooperatively with one another. Piercy creates a time-warp setting the world from our own body mechanics where the choices a 20th century to auto mechanics. We are denied Another step towards cooperation is woman makes in her life determine access to schools, to jobs, to striving for equal relationships with the existence of a future utopian physical fitness, to homes and streets one another. In a sexist society, it society. Piercy's message is that safe from the danger of rape. We are is impossible for women to have our current actions create the trapped into depending on men. �ual relat-ionships with men. Men society of tomorrow. The message is have power over women. Both the man­ awesome: We are powerful because we In choosing to relate to women stranger and the man-lover can and are creators. sexually, emotionally, politically, do rape, batter, and imprison us. spiritually, lesbians are reclaiming Like Piercy, I too have a utopia. their independence, their creative I feel there is more potential for In my vision, creative individuals individuality. "With women I have equality in my relationships with work cooperatively with one another more freedom to be myself. There's women. Women give me the space to and with the planet in an egalitarian no mold to fit in." be my growing self--intelligent, community. playful, scared, angry, competent, * * * Creative individuals working "I can be defense-less with women' Because I believe that I am a "woman cooperatively with one another ... and so have a more equal relation­ on the edge of time," I choose to live ship." my 20th century life as a radical Unlike men, women are not taught to lesbian feminist. I see the seeds be aggressive, competitive. But, if An important part of my growing self of my future utopia in the actions a woman believes that her survival is being in tune with my emotions, my and words of my lesbian friends. depends on a man, she may compete intuitions. The more I am open to with another woman for that man. listening to my feelings, the more I

* * * Creative individuals •.. Feminism teaches us that in our know what I want, the more likely I relationships with women "It's more am to get what I want, and the more "My parents encouraged me to be my important (to me) that we stay likely I am to be happy. In this own person. I didn't want to marry. friends. It's more important (to me) sexist society, women are allowed to I wanted to be smart, rich, and that we not fight because of a man." be emotional, whereas men are famous." Our sexist society cripples (Holly Near) discouraged from it. We as women women so that we cannot be our "own have the potential to be aware of person." We are raised to be passive, When agression and competition are our emotions, our wants, and to help scared to make decisions. We are minimized we can begin to work each other discover our feelings and

Gay po litics: Fighting

What I am wri ting ab out is my we are oppressed Once we have being a gay man and being poli tical more power, then I will think abou t and how the two are related . sharing it . Bu t first we need to Although I don't like wri ting very get the power. And we will . much, I think that it's a good idea * * * for me to put together on paper how it is that being gay has made me

• poli tical--and possibly how being In thinking about writing this • poli tical has made me gay . I do article, I dec ided that I would • not intend to speak for all gay men quote from some of the materials • and I certainly do not intend to that I have read wh ich have helped • me to define what I th ink about • speak for lesb i ans. (Most of the • lesb ians I know don't need anyone gayness and politics. I wanted not • to speak for them.) o�ly to give credit to other • people and sources that I think are • ou t" or tell ing other people that I should begin by saying what some neat but also to include some of • I am gay takes constant effort since of these words mean to me. Gayness what they say . • it is generally accepted that most • for me involves a choice. I chose people are not gay . My gayness • to be gay. And that choice involves The first quote is from a collective includes not only talking about the • more than who I have sex with. I statement made by the Men's Task • oppression of lesb ians and gay men see "homosexual" and "gay" as mean­ Force Against Rape and Sexism in • but also deciding to do something • ing two differen t things. For me, Champaign-Urbana. Their statement about it. Wh ich brings me to talking • the term homosexuality refers solely on sexist oppression is important about what I mean by "politics. " • to sexual activity. Someone who because I think the power relation­ • is homosexual is someone who seeks ships between women and men are • • out same -sex physical intimacy. One llY lllWIP closely related to the power re ­ • can be homosexual for an hour or lationships between gays (lesb ians • for a mon th or for a year. When I think of politics I think and gay men ) and nongays: • of power relationships. Politics • "... women are victimized in the • Gayness to me is more political. for me includes what goes on between present economic and political • For me gayness means that I have two people as well as between two sy • dec i ded to tell myself and other countries. It's a question of who stem by the lower pay scales, • people that I have sexual relation­ has power or wants the power or inaccessibility to the job • ships with other men, that I will market, and the lack of repre­ • is going to share the power. When sen tation. In the media women • continue to have sex with men and it comes to lesb ians and gay men, • that I feel good about it. "Coming I want more power for us because are vi ctimized by their portrayal • as mindless sex objects, male­ system 'liberated ' professionals, or efficient housekeepers. In personal relationsh ips women are victimized by men through men 's AAMIACTUREl\S PAPE.PJ power- tripping, decision-making, ownersh ip mentalities, protect­ DtsrRl&UTO� P1KS ionism, so - called seduction, and their general treatmen t of women WD ESALE.,,... RlTAlL BONG,.1 as objects to please and appease an/

The nex t quote, from an anthology, For Men Aga inst Sexism (edited by Post-Amerikan page 23 June-July vol. VIII no. 2 the seeds of utopia work toward getting what we want. means striving for equal relationships. mental hospitals, corporations, In the political sense, it means schools--which keep all oppressed * * * Creative individuals working recognizing that inequality happens people down. cooperatively with one another and to classes of people, and it requires with the planet .. that we work to end all inequality. * * * Creative individuals working Being a lesbian in a heterosexist cooperatively with one another and Men are trained to be masters--masters society, and a woman in a sexist with the planet in an egalitarian of their families, masters of science, society, means that I am oppressed. community. masters of their world. Well, this Recognizing my own oppression enables planet is not theirs, and their me to see that all lesbians, all "Women need to get together to effect attemptS-tornaster it are destroying women, all blacks, all gay men, all change." And women are getting our home. children, all handicapped people, all together. As I look around my town, poor people, are oppressed and I see women's rap groups, a woman- In contrast, women are raised to be hurting. run bookstore, a woman-run rape crisis the caretakers of growing things-­ center, a women's self-defense class, babies, plants, consciousnesses. In I am choosing to fight this oppression. a concert of women's music. · I see being trained to be mothers, women As a feminist I fight to destroy men's the struggling to create a women's are taught to respect and care for power plays that keep women down-­ community where all women can grow people as beings with feelings. rape, incest, battery, sexual strong by sharing knowledge, love, harassment, pornography, job discrim­ experiences, and support with each When this feminine attitude is applied ination, forced sterilization, forced other. to animals, we are on the road to childbirth. vegetarianism; when it is applied to As we grow strong in our present our natural resources, we are on the As a lesbian I am fighting by refusing communities we will create a future road to ecology; when it is applied to have my energy drained by men. "I community where our daughters can to energy, we are on the road to "no put my energy into women because I get grow free and' equal. nukes!" support from women, trust, communica­ tion, and I can give those things back Fight back, today. We are all "women * * * Creative individuals working to women." on the edge of time."• cooperatively with one another and with the planet in an egalitarian. As a radical, I am fighting back by --Riverfinger defying the authorities and destroying with Alice Wonder, R.L. & L.R. In the personal sense, egalitarianism their institutions--marriage, prisons, the heterosexual system

wanted to act upon my sexual feelings toward men. I began an attempt to get from men the support an d nurtur ing that I had gotten from women. It has been and still is a difficult t�sk. Men haven 't learned to nurture as wel l as women have . passed for straight

Surrender ing he terosexual priv­ ilege was an impor tant part of my nurturing or support. They turn "c min g out." There are so many ? to women for these. th.1ngs that 1 could and stilJ can do if I a� identified as I want to put my ene rgies into heterosexual. He terosexual men who are gay or gay identified . pri�ilege allows me the oppor­ I want to struggle with them agains t tun1 ty to get job s more ea s ily the oppres s ion of women , of and to get higher-paying jobs. lesbians and of gay men . I also I also doh't have to worry too want to struggle with them to much about los ing my job if I learn how to develop intimacy , am cons i dered a heterosexual. how to nurture and give support . If a man is open ly heterosexual ' It's har d work and most of the he has ce rtain privileges that reason the work is so hard has to relate to money. It is eas ier do with our sexist, heterosexual , to secure a loan; and there are male-identified culture. And I tax break s and insurance breaks don ' t 1 ike it. It makes me angry.• too .

reps) --L. Kn ight Before I "came out ," I could go to almost any party and not have to Jon Snodgrass) , comes from an worry ab out the nongay peop le article called ''.}he Reluctant there. I could be open ly and Pat riarchs , A Review of Men and he terosexually affectionate and Masculinity": I w?uld not have to worry about _ ridicule. I got support for it. A man may refuse to oppress I also got support for being the women he knows , he may share sexist toward women as well. the housework and childcare, he may reject every unsavory All of my life I have been en­ • element of machismo. Yet if he... couraged and supported for hook­ • can pick up a text book in his ing up wi th a woman , preferab ly • high school or college clas s one who fits the Madison Avenue • • and know that all human achieve­ image of pretty, so that she • ment is ascri bed to him, or could take care of my emotional • can rout inely walk pas t needs , because I didn't know • strangers without being whistled how to take care of them. • at or propositioned or fearing • rape , or does n't have to cope • Actual ly I don't see much hope • with the ho rrors of trying to for heterosexual relat ionships • . stretch wel fare payments so he unt il men start giving up power. • and his chi ldren can survive An� actually I don't trus t nongay • • another day , or need never wh ite men to do much giving up • worry ab out the ill effects of of power because I don't think • contracep tion on his body--he that they have ever felt oppres sion. • is still part of a privileged And � don't have much energy to • group . put into mos t nongay whi te men • --- . because they are uptight about • I think that ma le privilege and intimacy with other men. For • heterosexual privilege are con­ them intimacy means sex, and -----· nected. So my "coming out" meant sex between men is "not where • • several things . Not on ly was I t�ey are at." So they are not _ • attempting to give up power that � illing to put much time and energy • I had over women in intimate into male relationships that have "Janie, I've decided to go straight." • sexual relationships , but I also to do with any kind of caring, • • -Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 24

Liberate • • • Educate: Books on gay liberation The following list includes books Brown, Rita Mae. Plain Brown Rapper. Woman. Glide Publications, 1972; which relate to the so-called Gay Diana Press, 197�3� Bantam, 1973. Liberation movement, its history and theory. Fiction and biographies Political essays, lesbian-feminist Pioneering work on lesbianism, have not been included. This is not theory. written by and for gay women.' an exhaustive list, but represents a selection of works frequently cited Falk, Ruth. Women Loving: � Journey Murphy, John. Homosexual Liberation: and used. Some attempt has been toward Becoming an Independent �Personal View. Praeger, 1971. made to cover a variety of sub-topics �· Random House, 1975. within the liberation theme--gay Generally positive application of youth, lesbian-feminism; gay rights, One woman's definition of love, politics to personal life. etc. Many of these books can be expanded by thoughtful personal found at Small Changes Bookstore or accounts and interviews with other Myron, Nancy and Charlotte Bunch, eds. can be ordered there; a good many women. Lesbianism and the Women's Movement. are available in paperback. Diana Press-;-I975. ��- - Hefner, Keith and Al Autin, eds. Abbott, Sidney and Barbara Love. Growing !IQ Gay. Youth Liberation Essays on lesbianism and feminism Sappho Was §:. Right-On Woman: A Press, 1978. 40 pp. and the connections between the two. Liberated View of Lesbianism. Stein & Da�972; Day Books, 1978. Articles by and about gay teenagers. Richmond, Len and Gary Noguera, eds. The Gay Liberation Book. Ramparts 251 PP· Jay, Karla and Allen Young, eds. Press, 1973. 208 pp. Lesbian lifestyles before and after After You're Out: Personal the lesbian-feminist movements, EX}?eriencesof Gay Men and Lesbian Essays, poetry, photos, cartoons by including historical material of the Women. Pyramid Books, 1975. 296 pp. men about the oppression and libera­ movement in the early 70s and the tion of gay males. gay/straight split in N.o.w. Essays about day-to-day problems of living a "liberated" life. Teal, Donn. The Gay Militants. Stein Adair, Nancy and Casey Adair. Word & Day, 1971. 355 PP· of Our Le T's Is Out: Stories -of Some u.Be�aTe Lives. New Glide Publications/ A play-by-play account of the birth s1sreR. MaR1e of gay liberation from Stonewall on. Delta, 1978. JJ7 PP· I Full texts of the 26 interviews that Tobin, Kay and Randy Wicker. The Gay make up the award-winning documentary Crusaders. Paperback Library, 1972. film. 2J8 pp.

Altman, Dennis. Homosexual Oppression Interviews with 15 men and women who and Liberation. Outerbridge & were active in the early gay Dienstfrey, 1971; Dutton, 1974, movement. 242 PP· Jay and Young, eds. Lavender Culture. The 25 to 6 Baking and Trucking Society. Great Gay in the Morning! Political analysis of the origin and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1978. purposes of the gay movement. One Group·� Approach to Communal 491 pp. Living and Sexual Politics. Times Change Press, Articles about the way gay people 1972. 95 pp. live, with emphasis on the arts and Warm, upbeat look at an experiment social contexts. in gay community. Jay and Young, eds. Out of the Closets: Voices of Ga* Liberation. Belero· Pyramid Books, 1974, OJ pp. • Essays on Gay liberation, coming out, 18XISm and related topics. can be Johnston, Jill. Lesbian Nation: The Feminist Solution. Simon & Schuster, cared. Bell, Arthur. Dancing the Gay Lib 1973; Touchstone paper ed., 1974. Blues: A Year in the Homosexual 28J pp. Right to Love: A Liberation!ViOVemen� Simon & Vida, Ginny. Our Schuster, 1971. Lesbian Resource Book. Prentice= Stimulating radical feminist analyses Hall, 1978. JlB p:p:-- of many basic issues. Witty, somewhat critical view of the early movement. Basic human-rights issues for all Lauritsen, John and David Thorstad. women with a stimulating exploration The Early Homosexual Rights Movement of the nature and scope of lesbian Boggan, E. Carrington and others. (1864-1:..2..1.2)· Times Change Press, The Rights of Gay People: The lifestyles. 1974, 93 PP· Basic ACLU Guide. Avon, 1975, Z'b8"Pp. Walker, Mitch. Men Loving Men: �Gay Basic reference source about the Sex Guide and Conciousness Book. first stirrings of gay awareness, Gay Sunshine Press, 1977. Legal and constitutional rights in pride, and organization. �PP· such areas as employment, free I! speech, housing. Text and photos about love between Martin, Del and Phyllis Lyon. Lesbian/ men, techniques and attitudes.

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•JEWELRY TOOLS· •JEWELRY SUPPLIES So Ra01 it today 10-5:30 Mon-Sat 12:00 -4:00 Sun 101 Broadway Mall Normal, Ill. 61761 (Across from the public library) ph. 309/ 452-2924 Local woman faces murder charge Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 25 Williams! Mary Williams is a 42-year-old five children, ranging in age from Bloomington woman. Her life 3 to 13, face being separated from resembles the lives of many their mother. And why? Because an other women. She is poor, isolated, unidentified man tried to break her and has been living in an unhappy door down in the dead of night, and and abusive marital situation. But she defended herself, her home, and on May l, l979, her life took·a her children. I would have been tragic turn when she accidentally scared senseless. I think Mary shot and killed her husband, Leslie Williams kept a great deal of Williams, who had been trying to strength and courage about her, break into her house through the But the system is rough on women back door in the early morning who fight back, hours, Mary Williams's bail is $3,000. Mary describes what happened that She needs to get out of jail to night as a terrible accident. She work on her defense and to care for was a woman al one, under extreme her children, She is asking·our emotional pressure, and she reacted support, Any help you can give will in the best way she knew to protect be appreciated. herself and her children from an unknown intruder. If you would like to write a friendly letter of support, send it Perhaps the saddest part of the to Mary Williams, c/o McLean County story is that Mary had recently Jail, l04 W. Front, Bloomington Il. started gaining some control over 617oi. her life, She had left her husband, home. But he didn't, and now she's had her own home with her children paying for it, and paying heavily. If you can give any money toward the and was filing for dissolution of $3,000 bail, please send your the marriage. Her husband was under Mary Williams is now jailed and contribution to Suzanne Little or court order to stay away from her facing conviction for murder. Her Susie Sewell, c/o Small Changes Bookstore, 409A N. Main, Bloomington Il. 61701. • •••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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Pontiac inmate: "Hate makes hate!"

Dear Post, Witnessed a murder of an inmate by guards at Stateville! I was beaten I am serving time in Pontiac Prison. by guards bad. Seems I've lost my I received a copy of your paper from federal court suit; prison legal aid a guard! He's pretty good. Anyhow, was handling it. Now I haven't heard I was told I could get a subscription from them. Seems the System keeps free for being in prison. I would right on lying and killing or whatever gladly pay, had I the means. they please! Also I would like to say you put out I wasn't at the riot here where 3 a fine newspaper. I myself was shot guards were killed. I do know there's by police (Waukegan, Ill.) for a more involved than just "it happened. " traffic ticket, and since then I was Hate makes hate! in prison! For a bar fight with a Post Note: motorcycle gang--self-defense, yet I Anyhow, thanks in advance for your was convicted. paper, if possible. We cannot substantiate the claim that Lagrow Irequents the Polar Lounge, because Very truly yours, upon further investigation of Lagrow's Mike Wall #C-10175 art of cracking pot seeds, we have found Head narc that he starids on his front legs. uses drugs! Dear Post, I have a little news item for you. It seems that Jerry LaGrow, sworn .. enemy of youth and liberty, has a new hangout. He has been seen at the Polar Lounge about 4 or 5 every night for the past month, and not only that, but he was observed using DRUGS (alcohol and nicotine) ! Could it be that even the head narco has the need to get high once in a while? I wouldn't have recognized Jerry had I not seen his photo in the Post. Another thing that tipped me off was that he was crouched on the bar stool like a squirrel and cracking pot seeds with his teeth. Please print my name so Jerry will know who turned him in. NATURAL FOODS James C. Tippett 516 N. Main St. . Bloomington, Ill. 61701 Electric error .W sttn-e . featf1J'J1'6.. Dear Post, �1 1\atfJ!'&1 , . . In my last letter about nuclear power, ,f{j�j\{,ts Nft � r/"� ;-1( I made one important mistake which . 1()rdi.M · needs to be corrected. I said use of ����t..L. electricity decreased .6% from 1977 to . � ereaj ·� ttojt iOte!'S � sea'Vtcf=4�S . 1978. Actually, what I meant to say . is that peak use decreased .7% from � .. .A • J)erbs �e.as f.Jours 1977 to 1978. Peak use is what the • - • • •' • • • • •• • • r •• - • - need for additional generating . , "i. facilities is determined by, and it is 1'> still a full 25% below capacity. yehave ro producbs a\78i1ab1e i1\ SO:Op-�OU'll\, Sincerely yours, David Burdette �s. Elease stb.Pty to � ac?Jlal.Nted '· ,. Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 26

Post, Ploense and Plante discuss .Prisoners'

Prisoners in the McLean County Jail will now be rights. I also took notes, recording the two Prisoners checking out Post-Amerlkans from the able to read the Post-Amerikan, according to officials' constantly changing versions of their jail library wouldn't be permitted to cut them up, procedures explained to me in a May 21 conference procedures and policies and the reasons for Plante said, and prisoners would be required to with jail warden Leo Plante and Operations them. return the papers in a week for recirculation. Oftlcer Gary Ploense. From the beginning, Plante clearly gave perni.ission "The whole point of a jail library is to teach The conference was fascinating. I eagerly soaked for the Post-Amerlkan to be placed in the jail accountability and ~sponsibility, " the jail warden up information on the jail's policies regarding library, if the paper would donate the subscription. said. prisoners' mail and reading materials. With fN e will be sending several copies of each issue rapt amusement, I listened to Plante's overdone to the library from now on.) He spoke glowingly Plante and his operations officer Gary Ploense declamations about his own concern for of the First Amendment and the prisoners' also said the Post shouldn't be mailed to . .-- prisoners' welfare and his dedication to their rights to read what they chqose. individual prisoners because ''for security reasons, there's a limit on the amoUnt of reading Though Plante aclmowledged prisoners' rights material an inmate may possess at one time. " tO receive papers individually addressed to them, both Plante and Ploense heavily tried to Plante said prisoners are permitted to have one discourage my interest in sending copies to mble, one book and two magazines in their particular inmates. Plante said ''trouble" might possession at any one time. occur from some prisoners complaining that · others were receiving special treatment. The "security reason": a prisoner could roll up a Individually addressed copies wouldn't circulate magazine, soak it in water, and make a club "as through the jail well, Plante advised--each copy hard as any hickory stick, " Ploense explained. would basically get to the six people in a particular cellblock. Plante was even concerned (Of course, by allowing each of a cellblock's that individually addressed copies of the Post six prisoners two magazines, there's already might get torn up, from prisoners cutting out plenty around to threaten Ploense's and Plante's articles they liked. "security. ")

A vital question: Who can shoot who?

I I I I I I I I I ~ .

<:•tu::~IJ'J:Jttod with jus- a. t too s il811Ujks:­ election. ~e to amend that. would ' is~···•Pv.altAntt:W okay £1)r eops to shoot spend ~iae ng menaces yoq shove them, but it's not to our society and less time cover­ okay for you to shoot a "regular ing up the illegal and illi~it person" i£ they beat you. actions of Officer Elllngton. I wish my friend Ron Dozier would use So I guess what my friend Ron Dozier hi$ very capable mind to protect the is trying to say is that you can't citizens of McLean County rather go around shoving cops, because they than shield the maniacal NPD. I have a right to shoot you, but that wish I could still consider my you can go around beating people, friend Ron Dozier my friend. But because they can't fight back. he's making that extremely diffi­ cult at the moment.• But how far can we\xtend this warp­ 111 e. beaufort ed sense of justice? If a cop can --Deborah shoot me for shoving him, can a normal State's Attorney shoot me for writ- Pos t-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 27 right to read and other county jail biz

Later, Plante talked as though these reading Finally, Ploense said, "I assure you that if you Plante said he cuts down on friction between material limits weren't on the amount a prisoner mail a paper to a specific prisoner, it will be prisoners. "My job is to protect the inmate, " · could possess, but a limit on how much a prisoner delivered. " Plante explained with compassion in his voice. could check out from the library. So, I suggested h that mailing a few extra magazines in to a prisoner "That doesn't mean I'm going to allow you to mail Plante started anot er speech, expressing empathy wouldn't conflict with the two magazine limit. a copy to every prisoner in the jail, either, " for the prisoners' plight, having nothing to do But Plante changed his story again. He said if the Ploense warned sternly. all day, not knowing when they were going to trial Post mailed in ten different issues, an officer would or when they'd get out. "My greatest concern is take all ten to the prisoner, ask which issue he When I questioned this newest twist, Plante how to help these men fill up their time, " Plante wanted to read that week, and put the rest in the interrupted. Plante told me that Ploense merely said. prisoner's personal property folder. After a week, meant that I wouldn't be able to get the names of Plante said, the prisoner would be permitted to every prisoner, so it would be impossible to I suggested that reading would be a good way, and exchange that issue for another one in his folder. address a paper to each one. that men with so much time on their ·hands might want to read more than one book, one Bible, Plante said that one book, one Bible, and two As we concluded the subject of mailing in and two magazines a week. magazines was enough reading material for a copies of the Post-Amerikan, Plante week. Later Plante gave a speech about how his reiterated Ploense's guarantee: any copy of Unfazed, ·Plante moved into a speech about staff does not interfere with anything sent through the Post-Amerikan mailed to a particular prisoners' need for education. While I might the United States mail. prisoner would be delivered. In addition, be able to read that much in a week, Plante said, prisoners would be allowed to check out papers I would be surprised at the education level of I inquired again what would happen if the Post from the jail library. prisoners in the jail. After a poignant anecdote mailed a batch of back issues to a prisoner in about a prisoner who was embarrassed about his a manila envelope. We then talked about the one Bible, one book, illiteracy, Plante launched a promotional two magazine policy. I tried to find out if a lecture about the jail's G. E. D. program to help Ploense said that they would open the envelope, prisoner could trade in his Bible for an ex tra prisoners get the high school equivalency and "then when we found a newspaper inside, book. I swear, it took at least five minutes certificates. we'd just throw it away. " "Hey, listen, would you like to do something, I Ploense said he wasn't going to let me take up mean, really do something?" Ploense asked in his his staff time by opening envelopes full of best rrm-going-to-challenge-you-man-to-man Post-Amerikans all day. He said the law voice. required him to have the envelopes opened. I said sure, (I like to do lots of things.) , But Plante had just said that prisoners would get the back issues, though maybe not all at Ploense threw some sincerity into his tone, to once. show me that he isn't always the macho authoritarian prick he'd been coming off as. Ploense then said his staff wouldn't throw the ·Packaging his request in a tone that tried to say, papers away, but that prisoners might not get "I'm really concerned about those fellas in there, " them. Ploense asked me to "really do something for before Plante and Ploense understood the those guys. " Ploense then changed his story again, saying that question. The jail officials finally told me that prisoners would get the papers, but that delivery prisoners could check out two books from the He wanted me to ask, in the Post-Amerikan, for might take a long time, "sinc�_we'd have to read library, and that one of them could be a Bible, people to donate some ping-pong tables to the them first. " but didn't have to be. (I got to hear an inspiring jail. speech about religious freedom at this point. ) ''What 's the matter, Mark, don't you want us to I'm sure that if Ploense thought it was important read them, " the jail's operations officer asked. The limitation on reading material is not simply for the prisoners to have ping pong tables, they'd Plante's and Ploense's paranoia about water­ already be there. But if any Post readers have Ploense said they'd have to read the papers soaked clubs. The limitation has been imposed an extra table, send it down. because of their obligation to search for out of concern for prisoners' welfare. Plante contraband. said that when a prisoner accumulates some The jail library will also accept donations of personal property, he can become a victim of books, except "for that stuff with deviant sex in it, But then Plante said they wouldn't read the extortion. Bribery is more likely, and prisoners that 's bad, " warden Plante said. • papers, just flip through every page. might fight over books and magazines. By limiting the amount of personal property in the cells, --Mark Silverstein

Coun ty jail wa rden tells reporter: ''If you print that, I'll cut your balls off''

While talking with McLean County Jail And why would the jail warden care if As it turns out, Plante wasn 't quite Warden Leo Plante about allowing anyone knew he ordered the shakedown? correct about his ordering the prisoners to receive the Post-Ame rikan shakedown. He later admi t ted he only�

(see adjoining story), I asked the "For security reasons, ;, Plante recommended it; the sheriff actnally ·· wa·rden about the March 2nd shakedown, explained. "I don't want people to ordered it. the subject of prisoner complaints and know how I operate. " (I could see several arti cles in the Post-Amerikan. why, cons idering the operation he was Last issue, a prisoner's le tter threaten ing me with. ) "I 'm jus t reported that a secretary in the (All prisoners were strip-searched in telling you this as a friend, " he sheriff's department removed the fron t of TV cameras, then herded continued. butcher knife from the ki tchen. The outs ide. Without coats, some without letter's author was working as a shoes, prisoners sat for hours in trus tee in the kitchen ; he gave the 30-degree weather under the stony - knife to the sec retary, who wanted it gaze of rifle-toting guards while -r to cut lasagne she'd made for some each cell was thoroughly searcbtld. sheriff's deputies. Prison off icials said they were look ing for a butcher knife which was Warden Plante admitted that this missing from the kitchen. ) prisoner passed a ploygraph . But so did the woman who took the kn ife, When I brought up the subject, Warden Plante a� ded. She said she returned Plan te said, "I'll tell ya something. the knife to the ki t chen. Where it I ordered that shakedown. " The Warden went af ter that, Plante told me, no paused, stretched his arm across his one knows. desk, pointed at me and warned, "And if you print that, I'll cut your balls It's not in any of the prisoners' off. " rectums --Plante 's men checked all those potential hiding places. The earlier conversation hadn't been "off the record," and I didn't like "I know it's n·.> t anywhere in the Plante's approach. If he wants his jail," Plante reported proudly, answers to stay out of print, he ought bragging about the thoroughness of to arrange that agreement before he the shakedown. • answers a ques tion, not afterward. - -M.S. Po Watch your language st-Amerikan Vol . 8 No. 2 page 28 Squawkin' ' bout Turkey Laws

It's the non-mainstream culture that Melodee Biedenharn's letter agent interpreted "white cross " and' really bothers these guys. No matter (adjoining this arti cle) protests "whites " to mean the controlled how legal it is, some hippie dropping the McLean County Sta te 's Attorney's substance amphetamine. Witnesses -­ ten hits of ephedrine to cop a buzz prosecution of cases under the so ­ including a linguist and a drug just bugs the hell out of Ron Dozier called "turkey " law , whi ch makes it education proje ct director- -testified and his sideki ck Murphy. illegal to make a turkey out of a about the meaning of the words narcoti cs agent. Frequently, narcs "whites " and "white cross. " The Uptight , hopelessly middle-class manage to buy only legal substances defense produced a full-page major whites, these moralisti c nerds know when making their undercover magazine advertisement urging dieters who the "bad people " are--and the purchases. When they can 't charge a to send away for "white cross. " turkey law gives them a rare chance defendant with delivering a controlled The ad showed that the term does 'not to na il someone basi cally for being substance , narcs na il the dealer always mean amphetamines, since part of a "bad crowd." under the turkey law --a law whi ch those aren 't sold ma il-order. makes it a felony to deliver a legal (The "white cross " advertised in substance if it is "reuresented to be national magazines is actually If the drug la ws were intended to a controlled substance-. " ephedrine. ) stop people from using and delivering substances which the legislature If I ha nd you an aspirin and say, Melodee Biedenharn 's letter implies considers especially dangerous, then "Have an aspirin, " I've committed no that Asst. Sta te 's Attorney Brad che poli ce should be required to crime . But if I ha nd you an a�irin Murphy may have de cided against cat ch people actua lly using or and say , "Here, have a Valium, " then prosecuting further turkey cases delivering those specific drugs in =•ve commi tted a felony --aelivering after hearing the defense 's evidence. before putting anyone the a substance represented to be a I talked to both Murphy and his boss , penitentiary . controlled substance . The turkey State 's Attorney Ron Dozier , about �ith the turkey la w, especia ily the 'law is really a law against speech, their poli cy on charging people with way Doz ier applies it, people are not against conduct. turkey sales. �oing to jail conYicted only of using the language and styl� of the When the defendant 's speech is Both Murphy and Doz ier sa id they would drug culture --not for actual ambiguous, prosecution of the turkey no longer charge a person with a law becomes outrageous . Instead of involvement with the drugs banned turkey sale if the only evidence tha t by la w. • testimony about whether or not the the suspect wa s representing the stuff defendant did something, the as a controlled substance wa s the - -M , S. testimony concerns what the narcoti cs suspect's using the word "speed. " agent thought the defendant meant

by using a particular word. ��- "But, " Dozier was careful to point out, "it is extremely rare that the 4 Y2 years for For example , "speed " is used nowadays saying word 'speed' is the sole element of to refer to most any stimulant, the representation. " whether or not the substance is • Post-Note: This letter inspired the illegal. But prosecutors will claim According to Dozier , other elements adjoining arti cle, whi ch you should that someone who calls a legal include carrying out a transa ction read after you read this letter . substance "speed " is representing it in a private home , pa ckaging the pills to be a controlled substance. Guilt in a plastic baggie , and showing or innocence in this kind of case concern about whether the buyer is a depends on interpretation of the word police agent. He says these acts "speed "--not on the defendant's are all part of representing the action. substance to be a controlled substan ce. (Maybe he even includes In the turkey cases mentioned in the fa ilure to furnish a re ceipt and to adjoining letter , Eri c Biedenharm charge sales tax. ) Under Doz ier's sold ta blets of the stimulant � poli cy, then , a person could be ti ephedrine to a MEG agent. Ephedr ine f-' lega lly using ephedrine for its is not a controlled substance . If �:!::!' ""' itimulant effect, and could be :::: Biedenharn had described his Ill reasonably using the term "speed " ()Q merchandise as ephedrine when he Ill to refer to the white uills. But if N sold it, he would not be charged >-'• this, person --while sitt ing at home ::i with a felony . ro �nd peering cautiously out the --- 0 winaow--were to hand over a ulastic 'rj ,_,, Instead, Bieaennarn described his baggie of this lega l speed, then me::-: chandise as "whites " or "white �o zier would be ready to file a uear Post Readers, cross. " He was charged with a felony felony charge. : am wr iting in behalf of my newly under the turkey law, because the MEG wed husband, Eric Biedenharn. He would wr ite himself but is unable to because on April 2J , 1979, this 2J­ year-old man wa s sentenced to 4� years in a state penitentiary. He is one of the victims of Judge Luther Dearborn and his companion, Assistant Sta te's Attorney Brad Murphy.

Eric was charged with 4 counts of PA IR-A-DICE delivering a legal drug (they are "turkey " charges) and one count of Records and tapes delivering PCP . ••••••••••••••••••••••• • ••••••• ••••••••••• Eddie Farris, who is spending week­ ends in McLean County Jail and also residing at Lighthouse , and Paul Brenkman (MEG agent) are the .culprits -T·Shirts - in this case. I am protesting the manner of prosecution involving the 4 turkey char es , for which a stiff sentence Largest selection of � of 42 years wa s handed down.

transfers in The drug Eri c sold to Brenkman wa s a non -controlled substance called ephedrine whi ch Ron Dozier himself Bloomington-Normal could purchase at most any drug store. It can also be obtained by the general publi c through magazines New inventory of pipes and other ma ss .media. and bongs arriving daily Eri c told everyone he sold it to that it was legal. We both thought we were well within our lega l rights to resell clean , safe, whites that were 702 N. Evans purchased lega lly. However , we were 828-8831 grossly mistaken. Tu es.- Thurs. The key fa ctor in this case was that 11 -7:30 the state contended Eri c misrepre ­ sented the lega l drug to be an Fri.-Sat. illegal one. Paul Brenkman (MEG 11 - 9 agent) stated that Eric represented the ephedrine as an amphetamine . Post-Amerikan Vol . 8 No. 2 page 29 Dr inking ag e changes again

Stomp ludicrous lawmaki ng A 19-year-old is allowed to compete in this success-oriented world where all are afforded an equal opportun­ ity to succeed, yet isn't allowed an equal opportunity to dr ink . It appears as though our state leg­ islature will soon decide that those A privileged 19-year-old can become between the ages of 19 and 21 aren 't a parental guardian just like the ir psychologically prepared to cons ume parents ! A 19-year-old, however , alcoh ol. canno t consume alcohol?

On May 16 , the Illino is Senate ap­ The he ight of the 19-year-olds ' proved a bill that , if it becomes privi leges lies in the ir being law, would raise the drinking age permitted to satis fy the ir patri ­ to 21 throughout the entire state . otism� (Why , they can actually Th� exception to this law would be become a vegetable for the ir that the 92 home -rule uni ts would country !) They can kill another have the option to retain a lower person for being on the opposite drink ing age . side of the hill during time of war . The House had previously passed a bill that would raise the I see now. ' 19-year-olds are re ­ drinking age without any options spons ible and psychologically availab le to specific areas . capab le enough to support them­ selves , ra ise children , and kill The Senate and Hous e recently � people . They aren't, however, agreed that areas should be ab le i:.  prepared to drink alcohol. to use the ir home rule authority . � The ambiguity within this law over- ·� �...,,.�� If alcoholism is becoming more whelms me ! � prevalent in Illinois , then it 's 2 time our lawmakers began to ex­ amine why , rather than using the 19 to 21-year-olds as the ir pawns . Where do these "representatives" come off determining who is psycho­ I also question the timing of this logically capable of handling their bill . Was it a sheer coincidence alcohol? Is it the entrepreneurs that the Senate sat on the bill un ­ who come home from a laborious day ti l May 16 --by which time many col­ of manipulating , to soak up martinis leges had ended the ir spring semes­ all night whi le they read the Dow ters , and high school students were the wrong word Jones ? Or is it Normal 's city mana­ engrossed in graduation? Or was it ger who smashed into a parked car a political ploy to discourage those Brenkman 's entire argument was based after a council me eting, after having between the ages of 19 and 21 from on Eric's referral to the ephedrine three beers (supposedly) ? If he as whites or white crosses. The wasn 't under the influence of un iting to protest the ir rights? Wh ether coincidence or ploy, I think brand name of the ephedrine is "Mini alcohol, what type of influence was Whites." he unde r? Was he feeliLg the city it's time people un ited and supported wh at they feel to be the ir splitting at its �earns and could no The above testimony by Brenkman (who rights , rathe r than saying it's longer cope ? was the state's witness) was allowed wrong but nothing can be done .• to be heard by the entire court and The core of the problem appears to jury . However , the testimony of - -Didi defense witness Garrett Scott, who be the consumption of alcohol . So , is an expert in the field of why don't our legislators address linguistics (the study of words and the question of why people drink? Do people drink to release the how they change ) and who also works at Bloomington High School , was stresses and anxieties of the rat­ allowed to be heard in the court race created by our success-orient­ room but not in the presence of ed lifestyles ? If this is true , the jury . a 19-year-old as well as a 21-year­ old experiences the effects of the rat- race . At deliberation time, the state's exhibits, which consisted of the Oh , but 19-year-olds should feel seized drug conveniently packed in indeb ted to those in authority who baggies , was allowed to be in the have granted them so many privi­ presence of the jury in the leges already ! deliberation room. Post Amerikan/cpt The defendant's exhibits of the ephedrine advertised in 3 reputable na tional magazines was not allowed to be examined by jurors in deliberation .

The evidence in this case was so ridiculous that a few minutes after the jury left to deliberate, Brad Murphy (Asst , State 's Attorney ) said to Eric 's attorney, "Well, Charl.ie, you may not have won the battle , but you have won the war, " meaning the state did not intend to prosecute a case based on such unfounded arguments again. Despite this fact, Judge Dearborn still handed down a stiff sentence of 4� years.

But where does that leave Eric and others like him? If any law has been broken here, it is a violation of pharmacy--simply reselling without Jan Rimbey Michael Thomas, a valid license, which is a Owner & Manager misdemeanor . No stretch of the imagination could , in this case, warrant a sentence of •JEWELRY •CLOTHING 4� years . Instead, the already crowded prisons are being even more overpopulated by persons caught in Veda Brown •MUSIC •PARAPHERNALIA the same judicial dilemma.

This is not a fair and just execution of the laws, and I would like to fight hard to change it . If anyone out there has any suggestions or �\ A\� •• I()11 � t(;•• t(;t()·� ' information which could help Eric and others like him, please write to me. Sl2 t. lee, Blooh1in9ton Thank you. MHd•.1 - Melodee Biedenharn l•t•rll•.1 11 -9 828-2114 1302 Bakewell Normal, Illinois 61761 ...... Post-Amerikan Vo l. 8 No. 2 page 30 How to homebrew beer

Two or three years ago in the Post, pas try yeas t) in a cup of lukewarm Bottle cappers are avai lab le at Ace there appeared a simple re cipe fo r water and a teaspoon of sugar. Th is Hardware stores or at the other sources brewing beer at home. I have been starts the yeas t growing. After pour­ mentioned. To siphon the beer into experimenting and bottling my own ing the dissolved sugar and mal t into the bottles , set the jug of brew high beer ever since then , and I thought the five gal lon jug, I add en ough hot on a tab le and have your clean bottles I could pass on some tips to help or cold water to make a lukewarm low on the floor. I keep mine in the other readers gain independence climate for the yeas t to grow in. cases so they won't tip over. A large from corporate beer ful l of chem ­ Next carefully add the cup of yeas t. diameter siphon hose makes it a quick icals. job , letting the beer flow continuous- Then plug the brewing jug wi th a wa ter The four ingred ients for 5 gallons trap (to keep out foreign bacteria and (two cases) of home-brew are 5 gallons to let out expand ing gases ). These Bottle water , one can of hop- flavo red malt fermen tation locks are available at ex tract, 3 pounds of sugar and a packet the sources mentioned , or you can make capper of beer yeas t. Leave out the potas - your own.

Now if your water wasn' t too hot or cold to ki ll the yeas t, your water ly from bottle to bottle. Leave an trap wi ll soon start bubbling from inch or two of air in each bottle. the rapidly growing culture. The yeas t is alive, so keep it warm and Don' t let the end of the hose in the it will brew quickly. (One week. ) A jug suck up the yeas t sediment hot attic is nice in the summe r. settled on the bottom or you will have a bitter product . In the winter , the brew can be set in front of a heater or by a furnace. After capping the bottles , set in a Las t winter I wrapped a heat tape dark corner for a week to let addi ­ sium bi-sul fate, hydrochloric acid, (avai lab le at hardware stores ) around tional sed iment settle to the bottom magnes ium sulfate , polymixin B and all the brew and insulated it with a of each bottle. other chemicals usually put in com­ blanket. I plugged .and unp lug ged the mercial beer. heat tape a t different times to keep To drink the beer , careful ly pour the the brew lukewarm. beer into a drinking glass wi thout It took me a year to find the hop­ dis turb ing the sedimen t in the flavored malt extract , beer yeas t Now your friendly bacteria (the beer bottom. As you near the las t of the and bottle caps in Illinois. Wool­ yeas t) should be ab le to consume the beer in the bottle , you wi ll see the fes on's Natural Food Store at the sediment come down toward the drink ­ univers ity campus in Champaign has all in g glass and get caught in the the supplies needed for homeb rewing. shoulder of the bottle. Immed iately strai ghten up the bottle to keep the I also found a ma il order supp ly that sediment in the bottle and out of offers very prompt service. Write your drink. Rinse the bottle after­ for a catalog to E. C. Draus , PO Box wa rds so it won't get mo ldy and can 7850 , Independence , Mo. 64053. .be reused.

A five gallon glas s jug is handy to Experimentation is the mos t important brew in--glass so that you can keep rule in homeb rewing. I cut my sugar an eye on the beer. I paid a $5 de ­ to three pounds per five ga llons to Fermentation locks or water traps posit to get a drinkjng wa ter jug from reduce the sweetness. I now put a the health food store. Plastic jugs squashed rais in in each bottle before are availab le by mail order , and sugar and malt (energy and nutrients ) capping. Thanks to th is sugges tion don't break like my glass jug did. in relative peace and produce the end by an old- timer , my homeb rew tas tes products wh ich are alcohol and carbon­ like expens ive imported beer. Disinfect your brew ing containers , ation (piss and farts ). utens ils and bottles with campden One mo re exc iting point is that it is tablets or baking powder (I wear You can tel l when the brew is ready to illegal to brew beer at home in the rubber gloves) and rinse with cold bottle when you notice the rate of U. S.A. with more than �% alcohol water.. I used a baby bottle brush expanding gases slowing down through content ! (I now keep my illegal brew available at grocery stores to scrub the water trap. Don't bottle too soon warm under plan t lights in a closet the ins ides of old mo ldy beer bottles. or the yeas t will keep expanding and with some illegal foliage. ) • Th is ensures that the beer yeas t will the bottles will blow up. Don' t be the only bacteria flourishing in bottle too late or your yeas t will be --Anonamos your home brew. dead from starvation and you'l l have flat beer. If you aren't sure when to Put a couple gallons of your wa ter in bottle your batch , buy a hydrometer a large disinfected kettle and heat availab le at the sources mentioned. it up en ough to dissolve your sugar Th is measures the gases in the liquid and malt extract. The ma lt extract is an d is simple to use wi th the ins truc ­ as thick as tar , so I always preheat tions incl uded. the can in hot water before open ing. Flat beer that still has a little life Green Limbs While the sugar and malt dissolve , I to it can be revi ved by putting a � put the packet of beer yeas t (not teaspoon of sugar in the bottom of The room was white , each bottle before capping. And spotlessly so, So the figure of The ragged girl lnter n1tl1n11 Was startingly bizarre. The tattered girl Ylll' If tlle Cllllll Ageist to the core Led me to each room , In each the smell of The United Nations has designated theme of International Women 's Year Rotting flesh raping the air. 1979 as the "International Year of was "The Woman and Her Man, " and how In each mirror gasped the Child" (IYC) . However, if you 're she relates to him and her community Glimpses of history , looking forward to a children's through him. The Parent 's Room version of International Women 's Revealing the dyed end. Year , you'll be disappointed. Apparently the IYC planners sti ll The striking features International Women 's Year was by haven 't discovered that chi ldren are In the showing and large a feminist event . Women people in their own right , and no t Were the instances of planne d it , women ran it and women just some family sub-group . De-individual ization and amputation. defined its goals. The Year culminated in an international conference in The logo chosen for IYC is also Call it what you will , Mexico City where the world -wide astounding in its paternalism . The The practice of self-glorification status of feminism could be assessed . design of a child being embraced by Among the rul ing class �'he International Year of the Child the sheltering arms of· an adult is Is appalling at best. . ;,as been conceived quite differently . suppo sed to be symbo li c of children 's The sport uses the ne eds . Again , just think about this Greenest limbs , �irst, it 's run by adults . Second , symbo lism in terms of the women 's But lays snow on them the theme of "The Child and the mo vement and you 'll see wh at a Much too wet for saplings . Fami ly, " sugge sted for IYC by the gro tesque parody it is of real Just try to subvert lnited States , focuses on the rel­ children 's liberation . Imagine a Some picnic plans ationship of children to their woman with the strong , pro te ctive Or dad 's mind films . fami lies and through the ir families arms of a man around her as a symbol For all beings who se to the ir communi ties and institutions . of women 's ne eds . Limbs are green , By concentrating on the role that Fo r all lovabl e spastics , young people can and should play-- Bo th of the se de s igns are powerful Unite ! in their fami lies and in their com­ symbols all right --one s we 're Get rid of those . muni ties . You can only wonder what fighting against . Tiresome chains . the response wo uld have been if the --Thanks to FPS --A poem by Jonathan Campbell Post-Amerikan Vol. 8 No. 2 page 31 Your day in court Small claims disclaimer

Ah the sweet satisfaction of vic­ to�y in court. But, oh, �he bitter disappointment when you disco er On the day of · your case, just show· � . up with all your evidence and a that having the law on your side i� ­ n't all it 's cracked up to be. �his heart full of confidence and hope. statement is made in reference to And be prepared with facts. Don 't the questionable effectiveness of · bother blowing the fifteen bucks if the Small Claims Court, the agency you haven't anything to back your which is supposed to settle claims argument--that is, receipts, 'photo­ of debts from say , fifteen dollars on graphs, witnesses, letters, secret up to one thousand dollars. There tapes, written promises, written is no guarantee when y9u ente: the lies and whatnot. This is not to small claims court that you will say you need all this stuff to win, ever see the money you're owed, even but get together as much valid evi­ if you win. However, if you feel dence as you can. strongly enough about the jerk Wh?'S ripping you off to gamble about fi� ­ If you lose the case, . you don : t have teen bucks for a chance to see their to pay anything, but if you w7n, ass or righteousness in a sling, your troubles aren 't necessarily then try your luck with the Small over. This is where you see how Claims Court Shuffle. powerless the court really is. You can bring your case before the The effectiveness of a ruling in court whether it is a personal debt, your favor is contingent upon how business ripoff, landlord hassle or seriously your opponent takes the what -have-you. I speak strictly law. Hopefully you are facing a from the landlord ripoff point of somewhat law-respecting citizen who view, since my case is of the Unre­ will take the court's decision seri­ funded Security Deposit variety. ously and pay you right away--be­ cause the court can in no way help The procedure is essentially the you collect the money. You see, in same for all types of small claims, letter mailed for $J , or you can do my case, the court ruled in my favor but all that was said and if you have doubts as to whe­ it up right and ha�e the sheriff de­ was that the ther your case would be valid, t ey . defendant and I were to work out _ � liver the summons in person. This the· can tell you "wherever small cl.aims last is a lot more expensive, the payment -arrangement among our­ are filed. " (The McLean County selves. I had to hound him for an­ cost depending upon the sheriff's other two small claims office is located on individual fee for this service plus months_ to get my dough. the third floor of the courthouse at a mileage cost for the deliver�. However, 104 W. Front in Bloomington.) that payment is supposed to This charge can really add up if .the take precedence sheriff doesn't find the defendant over any other bills Now, it's going to cost you a few the defendant might have, and while at home the first time and has to go unpaid, that dollars at the beginning but you back. debt shows up in his/ won 't be spending any more after her credit rating and blocks any that unless you plan to hire a law­ loans or mortgages s/he might be These costs are all paid at the time wanting to take yer. The lawyer is strictly op­ you file your claim. You are also out. tional, and you will probably do given a preliminary hearing date at ju st as well without one . There is So there you have it. I can't say that time. At this hearing , you and the small claims a cost for filing your claim and a the defendant appear before the court is complete­ cost for notifying the defendant. ly ineffectual because I wouldn't judge, and it is determined whether have If you win, the defendant has to re ­ gotten my money back wi thout the defendant wants to contest the it, but on the imburse you for these court costs. charges· or simply pay you the money. other hand, you can see that it is far from a sure thing. Since the court has no power If s/he pays you the money, �here is to force payment, The filing cost for a claim under no trial and you are stuck with the really what they end up doing is echoing what you 've $500 is $11 . For a claim under court costs (which you 've already probab�y been $1000 it costs $26 . You have two paid). If s/he contests, the court, screaming for months: "Hey, you asshole, you owe me choices of how you want the summons date is set. money ! So served. You can have a certified pay up !"• --Virginia Dahl

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