free! " GAY AUSTIN. ·_1, summer 1979 vol. 3, no. 9 Verdict against Driskill Gay victory,in court EDITOR'S NOTE: As this issue of Mathew Coles, the gay rights activist Gay Austin was going to press, the from San Francisco on hand in A us tin Cabaret disco was found guilty of violat- for the trial, called the case the first of ing the city's ordinance and fined $200. its kind in the country where the issue The municipal. court jury composed of of discrimination concerned a person's three women and three men took less sexual preference. than half an hour to reach its verdict Driskill attorney Mark Levbarg said that the disco's house rule agains t same- he would seek an appeal on the grounds sex dancing violates the ''public accom- that the ordinance is "too vague to modations " ordinance, enforce. " The complaint against the Cabaret bar nances in other cities, was scheduled to at the Driskill Hotel for discriminating ·come to Austin in June for the trial. against patrons on the basis of sexual Coles is primarily concerned with .orientation is expected to be heard in defending the ordinance from any con- Celebrants on Town Lake for aI/-day festivities May 26. municipal court July 10. stitutional challenges, such as the "The specific setting of the trial is still Cabaret's injunction. pending," explained Woody Egger, who "This is one of the first test cases of has closely monitored the complaint's such an ordinance anywhere," Egger Marchers convene progress. "In any case, it is expected to said. "It's certainly the first of its kind in go before a jury trial." Texas." Neither Houston nor Dallas NEW "XORK - Organizers for the posters and other informative materials The management of the Cabaret is have similar laws to protect the rights-of National March on Washington. for to be distributed nationally. A logistics charged with expelling two couples for gays. Austin is the only city with ordi- Lesbian and Gay Rights are convening office will soon be set up in Washington engaging. in same-sex dancing 'on the nances to guarantee gays their civil in Houston July 6-8 for a nationalcon- to manage the publicity effort. club floor in February 1978. An ordi- rights in the areas of employment and ference to finalize plans for the October A support staff will monitor march nance passed by the city council before public accommodations. 14 event. transportation arrangements for some that time prohibits discrimination "At the time (the alleged offense was Delegates from all .regions of the 50 locales. A computer system will keep , against gays in public places. If found in committed), the Cabaret officials were country, representing the ethnic com- the office up to date in arranging rides violation of the ordinance, the club faces told that there was an ordinance and position of their areas, will attend the - and carpools. The office will also assist in a maximum fine of $200. there would be a complaint filed," Egger conference, said Ray Hill, co-chair of the arranging transportation by air, bus and The club had challenged the validity added. Three of the four complainants national logistics committee. "Such a rail, but warns that from many locales _~ 4.L ..l! ...l .&.L _ •....1...... 4-.... \".". .."...•__....~_ •.l..._...__ ~_1.._•..•_ .••._•••_•.•__ :_•.• .~_ •._: •••.j.L••_~_~_~~~--,,"-----L_· _""_~ • l---.J--.I_-l~' """"_ ffiI''!M',UW. •.. ---.lJr1entatIon IS eXpeCLeU LU ue nearu III U'l:'I.~""U~"'5 - •.•••••• VI. '-' • .llQ.""'\,;.~ .1. VI .•" Q..I.1,J' '\,;.V.I.I- - - -,_.-. -~.,-. -- ~••.• _,T •.• "'. municipal court July 10. stitutional challenges, such as the "The specific setting of the trial is still Cabaret's injunction. pending," explained Woody Egger, who "This is one of the first test cases of has closely monitored the complaint's such an ordinance anywhere," Egger 'Marchers progress. "In any case, it is expected to said. "It's certainly the first of its kind in convene go before a jury trial." Texas." Neither Houston nor Dallas NEW ~ORK - Organizers for the posters and other informative materials The management of the Cabaret is have similar laws to protect the rights-of National 'March on Washington for to be distributed nationally. A logistics I charged with expelling, two couples for gays. Austin is the only city with ordi- Lesbian and. Gay Rights"are convening office.will soon be set up in Washington engaging in same-sex dancing-on the nances to ~guarantee _.gays their civil in Houston July. 6-8 for a~aJiqna) c~n; to-manage the publicity effort. club floor in February 1978. An ordi- rights in the areas or' employment and ference to finalize plans for the October' 'A support staff wlll monitor march nance passed by the city council before public accommodations. 14 event. transportation arrangements for some that time' prohibits discrimination "At the time (the alleged offense was Delegates from all .regions of the 50 locales. A computer system will keep against gays in public places. If found in committed), the Cabaret officials were country, representing the ethnic com- the office up to date in arranging rides violation of the ordinance, the club faces told that there was an ordinance and position of their areas, will attend the - and carpools. The office will also assist in a maximum fine of $200. there would be a complaint filed," Egger conference, said Ray Hill, co-chair of the arranging transportation by air, bus and The club had challenged the validity added. Three of the four complainants national logistics committee. "Such a rail, but warns that from many locales of the ordinance and the case was plan to be present when the case is nationally representative body can commercial services are already booked scheduled to be heard in district court heard in court. guarantee the March on Washington solid. last month. However, at the beginning of The Cabaret's defense, Egger ex- speaks from the heart of the American Persons interested in helping organ- June, the Cabaret dropped its injunction plained, is that sexual orientation, as lesbian and gay population," Hill said. ize the transportation effort should con- against the city and opened the way for a defined in the ordinance, is "am- A national transportation network has tact the New York office, which is co- trial on the facts of the case in municipal biguous." "They claim that they are not already been announced by march or- ordinating the effort until the office in court. , discriminating against gays, since heter- ganizers. A press release from the New Washington is set up. The New York of- Matthew Coles, a San Francisco at- osexuals cannot engage in same-sex dan- York office outlines plans for a 24-hour fice phone number is (212)924-2970. torney who has worked with Gay Rights cing either." toll-free information line, as well as Advocates in helping draft similar ordi- "'\ "".'.~ Delegates to gather. here in August -, ', Organizers for the sixth annual state- predominantly gay' district; and Pat vision, and how gay organizations and wide gay conference are expecting a Bond, a Bay Area actress and comedian individuals can develop effective work- larger turnout than ever before and are who is best known nationally among the ing relationships with the mass media scheduling an ambitious program for the gay community for her appearance in and ensure the most favorable treat- 400 delegates expected here next month. the film, "Word Is Out." Recently, Bond .ment possible. I Texas Gay Conference VI, sponsored has' gained recognition for her 'one- In addition to the workshop sessions, by the Texas Gay Task Force, is slated woman interpretations of Gertrude. Egger hopes to schedule a Caucus period for the weekend of August 17-19 at the Stein and Colette. which will not conflict with the work- Sheraton Crest Hotel in downtown "We're organizing our workshops into shops. "It will be a sort of coalition build- Austin. A wide variety of workshops three periods with five to six workshops ing session," Egger explained. Bond and have been scheduled and two nationally per period," Woody Egger, coordinator Matlovich will address conference dele- recognized gays spokespersons plan to for the conference, said. The workshops gates at Saturday night's banquet. A attend. The featured speakers for this will cover diverse topics, ranging -from short business meeting for the confer- year's conference include Leonard legal questions and child custody to ence is also planned for Sunday morning. Matlovich, who has worked to reverse physical health care and a report on the The pre-registration fee for delegates is discrimination against gays in the armed lobbying effort at the state legislature. $20, which includes the cost of the ban- forces and is presently a candidate for Other subjects include sessions on "life- quet and a get-acquainted party at the city supervisor from San Francisco's styles," fund raising, problems of adoles- Sheraton Friday evening. Registrations cent gays, history and roots of gays in at the door will be $25. Texas, and "transpeople." Inquiries may be addressed- to the Two additional workshops will deal Texas Gay Task Force, P. O. Box 91, Pal Bond in one of her s lage roles with how gays have been depicted in Austin, TX 78767, or interested persons public life and on stage, screen and tele- can call Gay Community Services at 477- 6699. -, I'. T " 2 gay austin --.. Gallup polls teens on ,gays Attitudes toward gays have not While one gay wondered if the study's changed a great deal among the younger generation, according to a recent Gallup talking .' .