Profile: David Clarenbach The Power of Principle by Betty Brickson ISTHMUS Two years ago, former Green Bay Packers coach Bart Starr appeared before a state legislative committee to request an exemption from Wisconsin's gay rights law. Starr represented the Rawhide Boys Ranch near New London, a private residen- tial treatment center for troubled youth. The ranch had always hired married couples, where, as Starr put it, "one spouse is a man and one is a woman," to serve as parental role models for the boys. In order to insure that this practice would continue, Starr asked that Rawhide be excluded from the law. Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), who as a child dreamed of playing for the Packers, had fought hard for passage of the antidiscrimina- tion law, the only one of its kind in the United States. He spoke in opposition to his boyhood idol. Holding aloft a green and gold Packer helmet, Clarenbach noted that the headgear was "essential protection for every player in today's game of football." In a similar way, he said, Wisconsin's gay rights law protects some of society's "most vulnerable." It was a curious incident, one in which the values of Packerland came in direct conflict with those of Madtown, but Clarenbach handled it well, with humor, sensitivity and aplomb. Once again, the representative from Madison had demonstrated his ability to find common ground - even a football helmet - between opposing views. Most of his colleagues would agree that Clarenbach has come a long way. Dismissed as being too young, too naive and too leftist during his early days in office, Clarenbach has since achieved the confidence that ac- companies success. Now approaching his eighth term in office, Clarenbach is, at 34, a seasoned veteran of state government - one who is liked and respected by his fellow lawmakers and who enjoys strong support from his constituency for his progressive legislation. His legislative successes the passage of the gay rights and sexual privacy bills and, more recently, the Yahara Water- shed compromise - have all but swept away the criticisms of ineffec- tiveness that plagued him earlier in his career. - Clarenbach's struggle for acceptance among his peers has been long and arduous. Joining the Assembly in 1974 at the tender age of 21, he was the long-haired boy wonder, a vocal Soglin-era liberal whose politics emerged from the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s. In his first term in office, Clarenbach asked his older and Vol. 13, No. 8, February 19-25, 1988 decidedly more conservative col- leagues to decriminalize marijuana, urge Congress to grant unconditional amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders and pass a bill requiring companies to give advance notification of plant closings. Recalls Rep. Joseph Tregoning (R- Shullsburg), now assistant minority leader: "He came in as a liberal flake, and an immature one." Things have indeed changed. Although Clarenbach's agenda remains ambitiously progressive, his name now draws praise from both sides of the political fence. "Dave has matured tremendously during his legislative career," says state Sen. Fred Risser (D-Madison). "He's learned the process of working with his colleagues. It's one thing to espouse concepts and ideas and phi- losophies, but it's another thing to get these measures passed. He's devel- oped the technique of compromise." Risser's comments are echoed by former Dane County Executive Jonathan Barry, who has publicly sparred with Clarenbach over a number of issues. "I have a high opinion of him," says Barry. "Sure, we've had our differences. But I've watched David grow from being kind of an ideologue in his early days to reaching a good balance. He's becom- ing more mature and more effective. --- "He's a very principled guy," Barry continues. "You don't have to agree with his politics completely to respect him." "He's a very fair person,' adds Assembly Minority Leader Betty Jo Nelsen (R-Shorewood). "It seems that regardless of where the issue comes from one can appeal to David's senses of fairness, whether it's a rural issue or an urban issue or a people issue." Sitting in his small fourth floor office recently, just down the hall from the Civil War Museum and tucked away from most of the hustle and bustle of the Capitol, Clarenbach is the picture of confidence. His walls are covered with framed accolades from such groups as Wisconsin's Environ- mental Decade, the Wisconsin Civil Liberties Union and the Wisconsin Women's Political Caucus. There are photos of Clarenbach with consumer rights advocate Ralph Nadar, former California Gov. Jerry Brown, "Star Trek's" Leonard Nimoy and comedian Steve Martin. And there's a Christmas card from Jane Fonda and husband Tom Hayden that reads, "For David with respect." TWO CONSTITUENCIES Leaning back in his old swivel chair, Clarenbach reflects on the days when those same walls were bare. "My very earliest years in public office tended to be extremely frustrat- ing," he says. "I was fighting the losing battles, whether it was on issues like sexual privacy or the nuclear moratorium or some of the tax reforms. The issues I chose to prioritize put me a bit on the outside of the club. It was tempting at times to quit." What made things easier, he says, was learning how to reconcile his defeats. "Logic-shmogic- that's not what necessarily carries the day in any legislative process. I think I learned that lesson very quickly and devel- oped a set of standards and internal mechanisms to judge myself and to become satisfied with my work. "It's not necessarily the battles you win or even the commendations you receive. You have to feel good about yourself." To judge from the wide voter margins by which he's been re-elected, Clarenbach has done a good job repre- senting the interests of his constitu- ency. His 78th District, which includes east Madison, Maple Bluff and the isthmus, is unlike any other in the state. Voters are heavily Democratic and politically active, and they have a definite lean toward the left. District reapportionment in 1982 eliminated much of his student constituency, but the core of Clarenbach's support lies in tidy east-side homes where former '60's activists are now raising families. Clarenbach recognizes the freedom afforded by this kind of support, and the responsibility. "People like myself, who have the benefit of a constituency that is sympathetic to a set of principles, have an obligation to use that forum to be aggressive and assertive and outspo- ken," he says. A nagging problem for Claren- bach has been translating the social reform issues inspired by his constitu- ents into legislation that can be accepted by the rest of the Assembly. "One thing that I did not recognize in my first few years in the Assembly was that to be really good in the legislature, you had to be accepted by two constituencies; the first constitu- ency that elects you and the second that votes on your bill." he says. "Unless you can be accepted by both constituencies, in that order, you can't get to first base." Part of being accepted by that second constituency, Clarenbach has learned is recognizing that his 98 colleagues in the Assembly have different, equally valid priorities. But that has not kept him from pursuing his own priorities with uncommon vigor. Fellow Democrat David Travis, who represents northwestern Dane County, says of Clarenbach, "one of the things he's been able to do in the legislature is take an issue that might not start out with a large statewide constituency over a broad spectrum, and get that bill signed into law." IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS Two of Clarenbach's successes - the gay rights bill and a sexual privacy bill legalizing private, noncommercial sex acts between consenting adults - involved issues that were difficult to "sell" politically in some parts of the state. "It wasn't a matter of convincing the members of the legislature what was right or wrong," says Clarenbach. "The tough part was to create the political environment where they felt sufficiently secure to cast those votes. So how do you do it? You put yourself in the shoes of that average legislator from Oshkosh or Superior and see what political pressures are on them that will allow or not allow them to vote for a bill like that. "You've got to figure the partisan issue and the religious issue. If you can create sufficient support within those two communities of influence, then the [legislators] can vote for sex law reform." Clarenbach successfully laid the groundwork for the bills' passage by gaining support from various religious leaders and influential Republicans across the state, including Gov. Lee Dreyfus. "It illustrates how you can be both honest to yourself and your prin- ciples, and be sensitive to the needs of your colleagues," he says. It also illustrates cunning, patience and tenacity-qualities that did not go unnoticed. "There were members of the legislature, perhaps all, who thought a bill like that could never be passed, and later voted for it, at one point or another probably reflected on that accomplishment. And that reflection improved my standing in the legislature." Indeed, Clarenbach notes that the antidiscrimination law was passed in 1982 and he was elected speaker pro tempore of the Assembly in 1983. "I don't think it was any mere coinci- dence," he says. GROWING UP Much has been written of Clarenbach's youthful entrance into politics, of the high school student who fought to secure student repre- sentation on the Madison school board and then turned that experience to a successful run for the Dane County Board. But looking even farther back, in elementary school, a political mind was forming. On the night of the 1960 presiden- tial election, Clarenbach, then a second-grader growing up on Madison's west side, went to bed sobbing. The 7-year-old Kennedy supporter had been told to go to bed before the final results were tallied. Nixon was ahead. "I wouldn't let him stay up any later," recalls his mother, Kathryn Clarenbach, now a UW-Extension professor of governmental affairs. "He woke up, of course, knowing that Kennedy had been elected. 'Unbeknownst to me, he realized his teacher, who was a Nixon sup- porter, must be feeling the way he felt the night before. So at school he went up to her and hugged her a little and gave her a nickle. That was his idea of comfort." When he was 11, Clarenbach participated in his first peace rally. He remembers carrying a sign and marching around one of the circular flowerbeds at one corner of the Capitol. It was the same year, 1964, that he worked on John Reynold's campaign for governor. Unusual for a youngster, per- haps. But not so unusual for a child whose mother was the first chair- woman of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Not so odd for the son of Henry Clarenbach, a Madison realtor who was a McCarthy delegate to the 1968 Democratic convention and local organizer for the antiwar movement. And not surprising for the David with his mother, Kathryn, UW-Madison professor and first chairperson of the National Organizaton for Women (NOW). grandson of A.E. Frederick, a Methodist minister who was elected to the Assembly in 1914. Clarenbach has two sisters; his father, Henry, died in June 1987. "Both of my parents had a profound influence primarily because it was a feminist household," he says. "My parents shared family responsibilities and income responsibilities as well." When he was a junior in high school, David worked briefly in Mississippi on a black cooperative farm. His host there was Fanny Lou Hamer, a prominent civil rights activist who led the 1964 black delega- tion to the Democratic national convention. "It had a tremendous impact... and it inspired a commitment," Clarenbach recalls. "People who refer to burn-out amaze me. When you look at the crucial social movements and reform movements in history, the people who have dedicated them- selves to those movements don't do it for a year or two until they find a better job offer. They dedicate their life." Another influence was the late Harvey Goldberg, the popular and frenetic UW history professor with a Marxist bent, who Clarenbach met just as his political career began. "Harvey's suspicions of the political process were a useful counterbalance to my enthusi- asm," reflects Clarenbach. In Goldberg's view of history, most social movements take place outside of government, and the legislative process should be seen as a vehicle for social change not as an end unto itself. "I think I have tried to apply that," says Clarenbach. "I think Harvey would be proud, but I suspect in some ways he would continue to be suspicious and a little cynical, and probably rightly so." ECONOMIC RIGHTS Throughout his 14 years in state government, Clarenbach has carried the flag on a range of human rights issues. But lately he's turned his attention to the economy of the state, promoting a concept that Franklin Roosevelt referred to in his last address to Congress in.1944 called "economic democracy." Clarenbach says the Democratic Party has been lax in presenting a progressive alternative to the eco- nomic programs of the Reagan and Thompson administrations, which he says cater to the interests of industry and disregard the fundamental human rights of social and economic security. He has called on his party to come up --- The Gay Rights Bills ONE OF THE heartening as- pects of the sexual revolution has been a growing awarness that our laws dealing with homosexuality are sadly out of tune. All over the country, state legislatures are eliminating medieval laws that discriminate against gay women and men. Illinois has just knocked down several such statutes that have been employed to discriminate against gays. The Wisconsin legislature has several proposals to ex- pand the "rights and legi- timacy of gay people" in Wis- consin, according to State Rep. David E. Clarenbach (D- Madison). The so-called gay rights bills and amendments to existing law deserve serious considera- tion. Knowing the tenor of the times, we are not at all san- guine about the success of the proposals. Why should a homosexual suffer discrimination in hous- ing? Why should homosexuals be denied public accommoda- tions? Licenses? Jobs? There are many serious questions about society's out- moded attitude toward gays. SENATE BILL 498 removes "sexual preference" a barrier to licensure and public employment, for example. It is about time Wisconsin lived up to its reputation as a progressive state. We know the chances of change are slim. We haven't even removed all of the medieval strictures in our laws against heterosexual relations. We've yet to permit the sale of contraceptives to unmarried people. We're the last state in the union to cling to that ridiculous statute. C-T 3/2/76 --- Gays: Fear of the unknown still prevails By RON MCCREA and JO ANN ALLEN Of The Capital Times Staff ANITA BRYANT danced a little jig, like Hitler at Paris, when she learned how badly she had defeated us. This curious performance was only one act of the grotesque vaudeville that played to capacity crowds in Miami. Bryant also imitated Isaiah, warn- ing Californians that their drought was God's plague upon them for adopting liberal nondiscrimination laws. And she came on stage as Dr. Frankenstein, theorizing that gays must "reproduce" by "recruiting" in- nocents, much in the way that vam- pires legendarily increased the ranks of the un-dead. That the audience did not throw to- matoes but, rather, gave her resound- ing applause simply proves once again Thoreau's dictum that, even though the witches have been burned and candles have been invented, people are still a little afraid of the unknown. FOR GAY people, the unknown has included ourselves. For years there has been a great psychic division be- tween the ordinary, romantic feelings that gay people actually have and the nearly insane, pathological, twisted life they are told they are supposed to be leading as "homosexuals." Until recently, gay people had to face the overwhelming task of self-in- tegration alone in a society only inter- ested in condemning or converting them. The results were mixed. The strong- est of the gays became superb sur- vivors with a great tolerance for con- tradiction in their lives. The less strong were overtaken by chaos and threw themselves on psychiatry or re- ligion for salvation - if they did not go the full route and commit an obliga- tory suicide. Still others assumed scarves and rouge (the gay male equivalent of sackcloth and ashes) and lived another permitted life - that of Harlequin. The gay movement, by shattering the nearly total control that straight society wielded over the image of the homosexual, has created new possi- bilities for gay people. THIS WEEK is Gay Pride Week. It is an observance given no general le- gitimacy and ignored except in the few cities where this is impossible. This year it commemorates the eighth anniversary of the Stonewall Riot, the pitched battle that took place in Greenwich Village between police and gays who refused to be busted in a bar. Since 1969, the week has simply be- come an occasion for gay men and women to be visible-visible in dis- cussions and forums, marches and parades. It has become an occasion, as Anita Bryant might say, to "flaunt" ourselves. As uncomfortable as it might be in the short run, this flaunting - of our vitality, of our exuberance, of our or- dinariness - is a genuine rite of exor- cism for everyone. Laws protecting civil rights can help gay people live in private confidence, but only open dia- logue can purge homosexuality of its sinister mystique. The ultimate goal is not to create a society of public "homosexuals" and "heterosexuals" but to destroy sexual ghettos and cre- ate a society in which any love can have a chance. "Homophobia," our peculiarly Western queer-fear, is still wide- spread. In the wake of the Miami vote, a Johns Hopkins clinician warned that public debate of homosexuality might be harmful because "many people, es- pecially males, are afraid consciously or unconsciously that they may be ho- mosexual" and discussion could "cre- ate unnecessary anxiety" in their minds and possibly trigger "hyper- masculine behavior, emotional dis- turbances, or abusive attitudes toward homosexuals." - This admonition - that it is safer to leave people with their fears than to battle ignorance is the sort of non- sense that gay people should certainly ignore in this and future Gay Pride Weeks. The best security we can achieve is to convince just such people that the gayness they feel and fear is not a malady nor a disability and de- cidedly not a tragedy - but rather a capacity and, therefore, an opportu- nity. HOMOSEXUALITY 15 SACRILEGE GAYS VIOLATE GOD'S LAW IT'S UNGODLY CRUSH THE FRUITS C-T 6/18/77 Ron McCrea Jo Ann Allen MIAMI W LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE... AUTH THE PHILADELPHIA INMAR THE WASHINGTON POST NEM --- GAY RIGHTS BILL PASSES! The Hou 3 Dec 1982 P.2 NEW SOUTH WALES DOES A FIRST On Friday November 26 the NSW Leg- islative Council passed the Anti-Discrim- ination (Amendment) Bill. The Bill inclu- des the outlawing of discrimination on the ground of homosexuality in certain circumstances. An Opposition attempt to delete the homosexuality provisions of the Bill was defeated by the Labor Party in the lower house on November 25, by 62-24. The Legislative Assembly had debated the Bill for 2½ hours on Wednesday November 24. Speaking in favour were Neville Wran (Labor/Premier), Fred Miller (Labor/ Bligh) and Rod Cavalier (Labor/Glades- ville). Against were Tim Moore (Liberal/ Gordon), Leon Punch (National/Glou- cester), Gerald Peacocke (National/ Dubbo) and James Cameron (Liberal/ Northcott). In the Legislative Council Fred Nile alone took 1 hour 10 minutes speaking against the Bill. Others opposing the homosexuality provisions were Virginia Chadwick and Nathanael Orr. (Liberal) and Robert Smith (National). Speaking in favour were Paul Landa, Marie Fisher and Franca Arena (Labor) and Elisabeth Kirkby (Democrat). The Council passed the Bill with one minor amendment. The voting on the homosexuality provisions of the Bill was notable for two Liberals, John Holt and Derek Freeman, leaving the chamber so they would not have to vote with their party; the provisions were carried 22-16. The Baptist Union of NSW opposed the Bill and in a letter to Wran dated November 24, warned: "if the Govern- ment persists in this evil legislation, it is our intention to strongly encourage every Baptist in NSW to vote against your Gov- ernment at the next election". Likewise the Festival of Light threatened to work against the ALP at the next state elec- tion. The Bill will become law when signed by the Governor and gazetted. With the new provisions the anti-discrimination laws in NSW will be among the best in the world. Hopefully this pioneering legisla- tion in NSW will be followed by the other states and territories. --- Gay rights "You have a governor and legisla- ture willing to take political risks to support gay rights", said David Clarenbach of Gov. Tony Earl recent- ly. A recent Newsweek claims that Wisconsin's advances in gay rights (we are the only state to have enacted a gay-rights law) are an en- couraging sign for gay liberation else- where. Now The State Journal is sending reporters to cover Madison's Gay Theater Projects productions. There are still people in this com- munity who firmly believe in the old- fashioned biblical principles of moral- ity and intend to speak out and say so. We take the position that a "gay" is a male or female who has made a biologically contrary choice of sexual partner. This choice has made him or her vulnerable to disease and at times, a carrier of disease and infec- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sowl, Monona Repeal sex law When Gov. Earl signed a bill into law legalizing fornication, co-habita- tion and homosexual acts, didn't he know that the Holy Bible forbids these things? Wisconsin citizens, write to Gov. Earl and ask him to sponsor repeal of that law. Mrs. Lolita Wenger, Mon- roe --- March 5, 1982- THE WASHINGTON BLADE - A-3 Governor signs Wisconsin rights bill by Brad Green Wisconsin Governor Lee Dreyfus on February 25 signed the nation's first statewide Gay rights bill into law. The measure came to his desk from the Senate where it was approved by a voice vote on February 16. Bill Kraus, an assistant to Dreyfus, said that in the several days before the bill was signed 2,500 to 3,000 calls were received by the governor's staff either in protest or support of the measure. "Nine hundred calls to this place is a catas- trophe," he exclaimed. "This was an all time new record." The pandemonium was touched off by two conservative religious radio stations, one in Milwaukee and the other in Madi- son, when they convinced about 300 peo- ple to call Dreyfus' office urging him to veto the bill. This prompted mainline churches and another Madison radio sta- tion to urge people to phone in support of the measure. At that point, said Kraus, "the calls hit about 50-50 and stayed there." The bill amends the state's existing civil rights law by adding sexual orienta- tion to the list of protected categories. The new protections include housing, public accommodations, and employ- ment, and also extend to the administra- tive rules of state agencies, the National Guard, and all firms under contract with the state. Kraus said that Dreyfus signed the bill out of a conviction that people didn't have the right to inquire into another's sexual orientation. "He thinks that's an outrageous invasion of privacy," declared Kraus. Dan Curd, legislative assistant to Rep. David Clarenbach, who was the law's chief sponsor, credits the bill's passage in part to the fact "the opposition wasn't that organized." In addition, he said, the measure enjoyed the support of many mainline religious denominations including, sig- nificantly, the Milwaukee archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church. It was that diocese that had helped defeat an earlier measure to legalize sexual relationships between consenting adults. "There are five Catholics in the assembly who voted for this bill who did not vote for the con- senting adults bill," noted Curd. --- Wednesday, February 16, 1983 -the daily cardinal-page 4 FBI, military not employers UW sexual orientation policy not effective By Linda Kaplan of the Cardinal Staff The FBI and the U.S. military fuse to hire "open" lesbians and gay men at the University and across the nation. Although a "1982 state law and a 1979 Faculty Senate Resolution prohibit dis- crimination on the basis of sexual orientation, both federal agencies continue to recruit on campus. A faculty Senate resolution adopted on May 7, 1979, states that "all policies on non-discrim- ination in effect at UW-Madison should include sexual orientation as one of the bases on which dis- crimination should be prohibit- ed." WISCONSIN'S FAIR Em- ployment law was recently amend- ed, now prohibiting sexual orien- tation as a basis for employment decisions. Last October Chancel- lor Irving Shain, speaking at a Fa- culty Senate meeting, outlined his policies on the controversial re- cruiting process. "The law was written in such a way that it does not apply to everyone who does business in Wisconsin, but only to persons or organizations the law defines as 'employers"", Shain as- serted. "The federal government is not defined as an employer under this law. The question of supremacy of state or federal regulations does not even arise." He continued by saying that there is "nothing in Wisconsin law to bar a federal agency from giving whatever at- tention it wishes to sexual orien- tation in making employment de- cisions." At the time of Shain's an- nouncement, he invited faculty to form a committee to study the re- percussions of the ruling. Al- though the committee was formed four months ago, it has not yet met. However, according to Ar- thur Hove, assistant to the chan- cellor, the committee has a report due by March 15. The committee also has student members. Mark Borns, Student Bar Association president and committee member who has been following the issue from the be- ginning said, "The University is bringing in an entity that dis- criminates. We are aiding and abetting that discrimination. Be- cause no one person is being af- fected, it looks like the only way to change the University's position is through a court order." Borns said he believes the "court route" may be a long haul. Currently, state attorneys are presently at work on the case. In October Shain said, ""The Attor- ney General's opinion may also have some bearing on the use of University recruitment facilities by other federal agencies." BORNS, A THIRD year law student, said, "To me the law seems clear. The dispute is over the definition of 'employer.' Civil rights are so basic that it shocks me that it is even an issue. It's reminiscent of the Southern states (discriminating against blacks). The University should be in the forefront for protecting bas- ic civil liberties." But Edward Reisner of the Uni- versity Law Placement Office disagreed with Borns' interpreta- tion. "I don't see it (the law) as clear in any sense. You could take any employer on campus and find some discrimination. The ques- tion boils down to two factors; Is there proof that the FBI discrimi- nates, and if they do, does the state law prohibit the University from providing services for them?" asked Reisner. "In one sense it is a moral issue. It is evidence of state policy reflecting on a moral posi- tion." " 1 In reference to proving actual evidence of discrimination, Shain from the school, but no student said in October, "What sorts of al- has yet reached the national/fi- legations or evidence would we nal hiring process. consider sufficient to find an em- ployer guilty? Who gathers that evidence? A finding of discrimi- nation by a court of law or other appropriate government body would give use a clear directive." Reisner also said that in the seven years that he has worked in the Law Placement Office, "no graduate (from the Law School) has been hired" by the FBI. The FBI seriously considers people THE FBI WILL return to cam- pus March 10, according to a Ca- reer Advising and Placement newsletter. Because of Shain's ruling, they will be allowed to use University facilities. Attorney Michael Liethen, di- rector of the University's Legal Services, said there is "no legal bar" against the FBI coming to campus as well as recruiting and using University property. --- 0194 ATTENTION THE UNITED 306 North Brooks Madison, Wisconsin 53715 ATTENTION ATTENTION (608) 255-8582 The United is planning on opening a second-hand store to help keep The United working financially. What we need are your donations of clothing, furniture, objects, and items that you do not need but are resalable as second-hand. You know that the Moral Majority is fighting strongly against us, and that we, ourselves, in Wisconsin do not have our rights as being an individual. Please help us with our stuggle by your support to the "Opened Closet" second-hand store. drop your donations of things to the United at 306 North Brooks. Or you may call us at 255-8582 and arrange a pick-up time. Thank you, Mental Michael L. Thommen You may ATTENTION AGAIN ATTENTION AGAIN ATTENTION AGAIN According to our records, you are no longer a current paid member of The United. Yearly dues are $15/year or $1/$1000 low income." For $25 you can join both The United and the National Gay Task Force (less than the cost of joining NGTF for one year). We urge you to renew your membership, so that you can still receive Gay Madison and receive other membership benefits. With your membership, The United will still be able to keep its struggle going against the anti-gay laws that the State has, the Moral Majority, and all other homophobic people that The United has worked with. For more information look at the last page of Gay Madison. Hope to see you on the paid membership list. Sincerely, (Michael L. Thommen University YMCA Community Center --- Wisconsin State Journal, Wednesday, February 11, 1981 Anti-gay drive launched SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Calling San Francisco the Sodom and Gomor- rah of the nation, a coalition of funda- mentalist groups says that it will spend $3 million on a media campaign attacking homosexuals. The coalition said that it will at- tempt to build anti-gay feeling in the community and to persuade homosex- uals to give up their lifestyle. "I agree with capital punishment, and I believe homosexuality is one of those that could be coupled with mur- der and other sins," said Dean Wycoff, a spokesman for the Santa Clara Moral Majority, one of the groups in- volved in the campaign. Wycoff called San Francisco, where homosexuals are estimated at 15 percent of a popu- lation of 675,000, "the Sodom and Gomorrah of the United States and the armpit of this perverted movement." The Rev. Charles McIlhenny of San Francisco's First Orthodox Pres- byterian Church joined Wycoff in de- nouncing homosexuality, saying, "Ac- cording to the Scriptures, it is against the law. We want to minister to homo- sexuals and win them to Christ and stop their sinning." Homosexuals here have complained in recent months of an increase in vio- lence against them, including beatings by people gay activists refer to as "homophobics," and some expressed concern that the crusade will heighten tensions. "It certainly is a situation of grave concern," said Richard McQueen, editor of the gay newspaper the Advocate. "It sounds like things could get pretty ugly." The Rev. Richard Zone, whose In God We Trust Inc. group is spearhead- ing the campaign, said that some $3 million will be spent, beginning with a mail and media blitz. "We're going to march through this territory from one end to the other," he said. The group has announced no legis- lative program to make homosexual acts illegal or to repeal existing anti- discrimination laws. But organizers say they will watch lawmakers in Sac- ramento for any legislation they feel favors homosexuals. In Lynchburg, Va., a spokesman for Moral Majority Inc. denied knowledge of the San Francisco movement but said that the national organization, led by evangalist Jerry Falwell, is against protecting homosexuals as a minority group. "We love homosexuals as per- sons," vice president Cal Thomas said. "What we resist is the attempt to in- corporate their chosen lifestyle under the heading of a minority group." --- ng lion. ad lic re PE C- For Madison: A matter of human rights (From the Milwaukee Journal) THE DISTURBING thing about those homosexual rights ordinances now under attack around the nation is that they were deemed necessary in the first place. The right of private sexual prefer- ence among consenting adults should be considered inherent. And as long as someone does not impose this sexual preference on others or cause commu- nity harm, he or she should have the basic human right to live withou. har- assment or without discrimination employment, housing and public uc- commodations. Yet local laws were deemed neces- sary. And now three of them have been repealed by voters in the past year in Dade County, Fla.; St. Paul, Minn. and Wichita, Kan. A similar campaign is promised in Madison. The backlash is an expression of fears, honestly and widely held, that homosexuals may try to convert the young in our classrooms; molest other citizens; disrupt the peace and stabil- ity of neighborhood or office, or even threaten the foundations of American family life. some respects, irrational. There are, after all, laws and regulations and rules that cover misconduct by all per- sons, homosexual and otherwise - sanctions that deal with molesters; with teachers who preach sexual views when they should simply teach; with tenants who are noisy and disrup- tive; with employees who let their pri- vate lifestyles interfere with their work. And for a society that regards marriage and family as a cornerstone, there is no valid evidence that homosexuality is contagious. Most homosexuals aren't out to con- ert world. Like the rest of us they merely seek the opportunity to be left alone, to find a job and a decent place to live.. UNFORTUNATELY, a society with values rooted in heterosexuality has been exceedingly intolerant of devia- tion. No clause in the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination against home sexuals; the constitu- tional safeguard depends on an infer- ence that courts have been too slow in drawing. Thus homosexuals see them- selves as dependent on protection ex- pressly supplied by local ordinances. The point here is not whether These fears seem excessive and, in homosexuality is admirable; the issue is whether invidious discrimination is tolerable. Surely the effects of dis- crimination based on sexual orienta- tion can be as damaging as bias based on race, color or sex. There are distressing potential side effects to this emotional debate. For example, one Madison minister now threatens to expose homosexuals, in government. This could produce an ugly, McCarthy-like atmosphere, with flimsy accusations smearing public reputations indiscriminately - the "straight" along with the unstraight. The situation also could be loited for political purposes that have noth- ing to do with private sexual prefer- ences. - Nonetheless, one healthy conse- quence of the national debate on homosexuality is to bring the issue out of the closet thereby perhaps changing invalid public attitudes on a complex subject, and allaying some of the exaggerated fears that surround it. Protective local ordinances will be- come unnecessary when social matu- rity makes them so. Until then, homosexuals will need this extra ounce of protection to realize basic rights most of us take for granted. с-т 5/15/78 --- Bill to ban sex bias mú gains strong support By Steve Burkholder Special to The Journal Madison, Wis. While proponent after proponent called for the pas- sage of a bill that would ban discrim- ination on the basis of a person's sexual preference, only one opponent appeared before a legislative commit- tee Tuesday. The Rev. Richard E. Pritchard of Madison, who said he saw the bill as chipping away at the community's moral structure, was the lone voice of opposition at the hearing before the Assembly's Health and Human Services Committee. Some 15 persons mostly clergy and members of various homosexual groups -voiced their strong support for Assembly Bill 70, which is spon- sored by Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison). The Rev. M. Ted Steege of Luther Memorial Church in Madison said the bill was not "a pro-homosexuality bill. It is an anti-bigotry bill." Committee members asked few questions during the entire hearing. "The committee is strangely silent today," said Rep. John Medinger (D- La Crosse), noting that there was no one in attendance to testify against the bill. But that was before Pritchard be- gan to speak in answer to arguments set forth by those in favor of the bill. Pritchard said homosexual behav- ior was a sickness and, while the bill did not address homosexual behavior directly, added: "The major part of it preserves the homosexual practice and makes it legal in every way." 5/13/81 However, Tony Larsen, a minister in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Racine and Kenosha, noted that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973. Barbara Lightner, a leader of the Madison gay group The United, said there were no statistics to show that banning discrimination against homosexuals or of persons per- ceived as homosexuals in hiring would somehow allow "child pollu- tion," or the idea that "just by being around, you're contagious." Steege and others testified that the bill made no moral judgment approv- ing homosexual behavior. Instead, they argued, the bill guaranteed basic civil rights accorded other minority groups. The bill bans discrimination in employment, housing and public ac- commodations based on the sexual orientation of an individual. Under the bill, sexual orientation is defined as having a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, bi- sexuality, having a history of such a preference, or being identified with such a preference. 247570 --- From around the state... Appleton Post-Crescent JUN 16 1981 University budget cuts really hurting ار In the last ten years the University of Wis- consin System has endured a number of fi- nancial cuts which total several millions of dollars. Former Gov. Patrick Lucey encour- aged the first round of cuts almost ten years ago. The Legislature enthusiastically contin- ued to reduce the appropriations if not in ac- tual dollars then in percentages of support per student. Part of the problem came from an enroll- ment formula which worked to the univer- sity's advantage at first, but as the increases in numbers of students declined - not the ac- tual number of students, which continued to increase the formula was a handicap. An- other major problem was the refusal of the Legislature to take into account fixed costs and adequate consideration for the ever- growing percentages of part-time students. But it may also be that the university cried wolf too often. There didn't appear to be any major decline in quality or access to cam- puses until the Medford campus was ordered closed by the Legislature upon the recom- mendation of the Board of Regents this spring. Now the effects of the continued erod- ing of both quality and access aspects are be coming very apparent. The universities at Stevens Point and Stout have frozen applications for next fall for some categories of students. Other campuses I have had to cut back on the numbers of sec- tions of popular courses. Students are being warned they may not be able to take courses required for a major even until the fifth year. Others must put off needed or desired courses for a semester or longer. The cut- backs in access quite naturally mean longer times spent in the university - and more ex- penses - for many students. But while the access to some campuses and classes can be readily noticed when cut back, the sarne is not true of the even more impor- tant quality factor. Lack of library reference materials, periodicals and resource books, overloaded classes with too little time for pro- fessors to note individual problems, strengths and weaknesses other than exam results, fewer opportunities for faculty re- tooling, research and specialization - these are areas being cut which may drastically af- fect the quality of education opportunities for Wisconsin students. There may have been a time when there was fat in the university budget. But that is long past. The university is being nickled and dimed to becoming a second rate system and it doesn't seem likely that Wisconsin resi- dents really want it that way. Rights of homosexuals become issue again After the highly controversial bill to legalize sexual activity between nonmarried, consenting adults (AB 235) was defeated 50-49 in the state assembly, many legislators were hoping that no more such bills would come before them for the remainder of the session. That's not likely, however, since the Senate version of the bill could be reported out of committee at any time. In the meantime, the Assembly will face a vote soon on AB 70, which would prohibit an in- discrimination based on dividual's sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. It recently recommended for passage by the health and human services committee on an 8 to 6 vote. measure was The defines sexual orientation as having a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, bi-sexuality, having a history of such a preference or with such a being identified preference." Only one opponent appeared before the committee when a public hearing was held. Rev. Richard E. Pritchard, of pastor Congregational Church in Madison, said the bill is more "chipping away at the moral strength of our society." While most proponents, including ministers from a variety of religious denominations, testified in support on the basis that the bill provided an extension of equal rights to persons who are Rev. homosexually oriented, Pritchard disagreed. He said he has been active in the civil rights movement, but that no logical extension could be made for rights of homosexuals. There are, he said, certain jobs that homosexuals should not hold, such as positions at youth camps. Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), the bill's primary author, disagreed and said, "Fears that homosexuals may try to convert the young in our classrooms, disrupt the peace and stability of neighborhood or office, or even threaten the foundations of American family life are excessive and irrational." He told the committee that there are "laws, regulations and rules that cover misconduct by all persons, homosexual or heterosexual sanctions to deal with molesters, teachers who preach sexual views when they should teach, with are Heritage tenants who noisy and disruptive, and with employes who let their private lifestyles interfere with their work." The Wisconsin Catholic Con- ference has referred legislators and others requesting information to the pastoral letter "To Live in Christ Jesus," prepared by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1976. While pointing out that homosexual activity, as distinguished from orientation, is morally wrong, the bishops said that homosexuals have a right to respect, friendship and justice, and should community. have an active role in the Christian Herald-Citizen-Milwaukee JUN 13 1981 --- MEDICINE Sexual heference Jerry L. Mitchell Authors Hammersmith, Bell and Weinberg: A biological basis for homosexuality? Gays Are Born, Not Made The mystery really is... that I'm not like all the nice young men I see strolling hand in hand in Bloomingdale's on Saturday mornings. -"Portnoy's Complaint," by Philip Roth A lexander Portnoy can hardly believe he's not gay. After all, he has a mother whose extraordinary domination over Alex and his father would lead many psychia- trists to peg him as a perfect candidate. But this traditional theory that family relation- ships make people gay has now been chal- lenged. Homosexuality, says a new report from the Alfred C. Kinsey Institute for Sex Research, has little to do with overbearing mothers, distant fathers or any other in- fluences of childhood. Instead, the re- searchers found, the condition arises from feelings and needs that appear to be as deep- rooted and impervious to change as the heterosexual kind. In some cases, they sug- gest, homosexuality may even be deter- mined before birth. The authors of the new report, psycholo- gist Alan P. Bell and sociologists Martin S. Weinberg and Sue Kiefer Hammersmith, set out to test factors that could conceivably contribute to homosexuality. In interviews lasting several hours each, their staff ques- tioned 979 homosexuals and 477 heterosex- uals on such matters as early relationships with their parents, childhood friendships, youthful sexual and emotional feelings and traumatic sexual incidents. The most significant-and unexpected-- finding was that the family backgrounds of the subjects appeared to have little effect on eventual sexual preference. For example, boys who grew up with weak fathers and 42 dominant mothers were almost as likely to turn out heterosexual as homosexual. In fact, the significance of boys' relationships with their mothers in particular was found by the researchers to be "hardly worth mentioning." An unsatisfactory relation- ship with a father for both boys and girls was only slightly more important in predicting eventual sexual preference. One childhood trait recalled by some ho- mosexual subjects did seem to set them apart from a large number of the heterosex- uals. As youngsters, they failed to conform to generally accepted forms of behavior for their sex. For boys, this often meant a lack of interest in sports and an enjoyment of soli- tary activities like drawing, music and read- ing. Pre-homosexual girls, on the other hand, did tend to enjoy sports and outdoor play, as well as wearing boys' clothes. They were less interested than the pre-heterosex- ual girls in activities like playing house, hopscotch and jacks. Dating: This "gender nonconformity" occurred so early in childhood that the researchers view it as a reflection of an already-established homosexual propensi- ty, and not a cause. For girls, gender non- conformity in childhood was not as reliable a predictor of adult homosexuality as it was for boys; in fact, only a third of the hetero- sexual women said they were "highly femi- nine" as children. But even in boys, where the association was stronger, it was not unequivocal. One-fourth of the heterosex- ual males described themselves as sexually nonconforming children, and half the male homosexuals had been typically masculine in their childhood interests and activity. The Kinsey study, which will be pub- lished in November,* measured-and eliminated--a number of other potential factors in the development of homosexual- ity. Among them: lack of heterosexual dat- ing experience, childhood isolation from peers, traumatic early heterosexual experi- ence and homosexual seduction. Because the researchers could not find any strong connection between childhood experiences and adult homosexuality, they suggest that the orientation "may arise from a biological precursor that parents cannot control." Such a correlation has yet to be shown scientifically, but the investigators hope their study will stimulate research into possible physiological differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals. The Kinsey study is expected to provoke criticism from both the psychoanalytic community and homosexual groups. Some gay activists, the researchers note, view any investigation of the origins of homosexual- ity as an indirect attack. And many psychia- trists refuse to dismiss the family's role in explaining sexual differences. "Unless chil- dren grow up on an island without adults around," says Dr. Lawrence J. Hatterer, a New York psychoanalyst who has studied thousands of homosexuals in his practice, "parents will remain important influences on sexual development and choice." Clearly, the authors of the new report don't pretend to have a final answer. But they do firmly believe that the role of par- ents in determining sexual preference has been "grossly exaggerated." Yet parents can certainly help a child adjust to his indi- vidual sexuality, they advise, by supplying plenty of care, sympathy and devotion. JEAN SELIGMANN with MARIANA GOSNELL What Happens When The Shrink's Away The symptoms are well documented: an- ger, resentment, envy and loneliness. The disease recurs year after year, typically in late summer. Most victims recover by La- bor Day, even without treatment. While the degree of pain may vary, the cause is always the same: the annual migration of psychia- trists from their offices to the beaches of New England and the châteaux of Europe. What is a patient to do when his psychiatrist abandons him for a month? Freud used to invite selected patients to accompany him on vacation. But most pa- tients must make do with the name of one of their doctor's associates, who can be con- sulted in an emotional emergency. And without the familiar schedule and support of therapy, many of them find it hard to cope. Last month in New York a workshop called "What to Do When Your Shrink Is on Vacation" drew more than two dozen participants in various stages of bewilder- ment. "Now I'm involved with her, and she's gone away," said one young man, *Sexual Preference: Its Development in Men and Wom- en." Indiana University Press. NEWSWEEK/SEPTEMBER 7, 1981 --- ms 1/27/82 The Morning Mail "Treat everyone fairly' To The Sentinel: In response to the "Concerned Parent" who wrote concerning As- sembly Bill 70, which prohibits dis- crimination based upon sexual orien- tation, I am also a concerned parent. I am concerned that, if the bill does not pass, it will be one more indica- tion that this is not a free country and that we do not have equal rights under the law. I want my children to have every right that is theirs under the law of the land and of God. I know that God wills that every person be free and be treated fairly, as do the more than 50 clergy who have signed support for this bill and at least seven major religious denominations and the 14 medical and professional groups (in- cluding the National Education Asso- ciation and the American Psychiatric Association) and the 17 major corpo- rations. To give homosexuals the right to fair housing and employment will not change affirmative action policy, nor will it lessen the laws already on the books for the protection we all deserve as citizens. AB-70 does not give homesexuals freedom to act out their sexuality in socially unaccepta- ble ways or ways which will harm anyone else. Fear and ignorance cause us to act in prejudicial ways, even to the ex- tent of denying others their natural rights. We have got to rise above our personal fears and ignorance and al- low everyone the rights that they deserve. It is not only the will of the foun- ders of this country that all be free, but also the will of God. Until all are granted their rightful freedoms, none of us will be free. I am concerned for my children because I know that we are not all free and treated equally, and I am committed to do my best to gain their freedom while I can. REV. EDWARD S. SYKES, Rector, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Milwaukee. --- X 31 Ashland Daily Press MAR 1982 FATS-3-17-82 Notes to the North-By State Sen. Dan Theno Governor Dreyfus is treating the people of Wisconsin to a new show - his budget balancing act. He is tiptoeing across a high, tightrope with a tax increase in one hand and the promise of proprty tax relief in the other. heating fuel, are exempt from the tax. Critics will even go out on a limb and say the sales is a regressive tax because these exemptions benefit all people, not just the needy. I will accept the notion that the sales tax is less than perfect. But I know of no tax, be it the sales, income or property tax, that is perfect. And I have yet to meet except anyone Democratic legislator who thinks any of them are. a Cheering him on are the people of Wisconsin. They seem to like his proposal to balance the budget by in- creasing the sales tax by one cent. The part that is really popular is the promise to use those milions, once the The Democrats, of course, budget is balanced, for really like the income tax. It significant property Tax is the fairest of the fair, they relief. say, because it is based on ability to pay. In theory they are right. In practice, however, there comes a point when a tax ceases to be fair because it is simply too high. That is the in Wisconsin, with income tax. In 1980, a middle income family of four paid more state income tax than a similar family in any other state in the nation. In income taxes paid by all income levels, Wisconsin ranked fourth in the nation. In property taxes we rank 16th in the nation. And in sales tax, Wisconsin is 33rd. Taking potshots at the Governor are some legislators, two Democratic candidates for governor and the mayor of Milwaukee. They hope the Governor will fall flat on his face. At the very least, they want him to drop his sales tax proposal. The sales tax, even though it is popular among voters, has a bad reputation among those who pretend to know about such things. They have labeled the sales tax as a regressive tax which means it is less than perfect. Low income families, the critics say, tend to lose a greater proportion of their income with a sales tax hike than with an income tax hike. The Governor, however, would counter with this fact: the necessities of life, such as food, medical and dental services and case Now which of those should we raise to meet our budget crisis? Critics of the Governor's sales tax/property tax relief proposal say it is unfair because more populated counties with a large sales tax base will benefit the most. It Tuesday, March 2, 1982 The Post-Crescent Appleton-Neenah-Menasha, Wis. A Law protects sexual preference Gov. Lee Dreyfus was right when he signed legislation banning discrimination in hous- ing, public accommodations and employ- ment based upon an individual's sexual pref- erence. The governor was obviously very careful in his statements concerning his reasons for signing the bill which can be regarded as a defense of homosexual behavior. "I have decided to sign for one basic reason, to pro- tect one's right to privacy," he read from a prepared statement, itself unusual in Dreyfus' ordinary off the cuff remarks. Homosexuals have come out of the closet in recent years and this has upset some Ameri- cans. Those who base their discomfiture upon religious reasons obviously have no business trying to impose their beliefs upon other Americans except by persuasion. The Fox Valley Family Forum was among those organizations pressuring Gov. Dreyfus to veto the bill. But its members ought to recog- nize the difference between opposing homo- sexual behavior within their own church groups or families and demanding it from others. The reasons for homosexual behavior are not agreed upon in the medical and scien- tific community. In many ways it would seem to be less of a threat to the morals of young people, especially in crimes of violence, than heterosexual urges. is ironic that this criticism comes from Democratic legislators who have sent a disproportionate percentage of shared revenues to urban areas where they say the bills are higher. Areas where tourism is a significant part of the economic base will also benefit under the Governor's proposal. Visitors to the area will generate sales tax revenue that will help residents by providing property tax relief. In northwest Wisconsin where a large part of the economy is based on the tourism trade, this is good news. Counties will, under this plan, have the option of provide more trying to property tax relief by trying to generate more sales tax revenue. In short, boost and we relieve tourism property taxes. Two final points should be made about the Governor's proposal. The first is this: I believe he inadvertently created the impression that property taxes everywhere will be wiped out if this proposal is passed. That is not true. The revenue generated by a sales tax increase will be applied only to the county levy which comprises about 20 percent of the average tax bill in Wisconsin. If enacted, however, the Governor's proposal will still be the largest single property tax relief measure in the history of Wisconsin. The second thing that should be remembered about the Governor's budget balancing package is that the The same sort of dispute surfaced with President Reagan's nomination of the Rev. Samuel Hart for a seat on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. Apparently some of the president's misled advisers thought that merely appointing a black minister was enough for easy confirmation. But the Rev. Hart has expressed opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment and his opinion that homosexuals don't have a civil rights cause. The Leadership Coalition on Civil Rights, largely a black organization, called his nomi- nation an insult. The Rev. Hart, undoubtedly with White House pressure, has withdrawn his name. Rep. David Clarenbach was the principle sponsor of the bill passed by the Wisconsin Legislature and signed by the governor. Cla- renbach now wants to decriminalize certain laws regarding sexual activity among con- senting adults. The laws are ridiculous from both an enforcement and moral point of view. What business do governments - or employ- ers have in other people's bedroom's? There are and should be serious concerns about sexual permissive attitudes, especially among young people today. But these are matters for parents, religious figures and other community leaders to address and not for the government of Wisconsin or members of the Civil Rights Commission. sales tax proposal is only one of several tax increases he is proposing to meet our budget deficit of some $450 million.. He has also proposed a temporary surtax on all. corporations for 1982 and 1983. This will raise $46 million. Two other changes in the corporate tax laws will raise another $20 million. Applying the sales tax to interstate phone calls will raise $17.3 million. The Governor also wants to raise the cigarette tax from 20 to 23 cents on a pack. That will add some $18 million to the state treasury. In addition to taxes, the Governor has proposed cuts in state spending including a freeze on salary increases for state employees who make more than $30,000. The philosophy behind all of this is to spread the pain, as one official put it. We are, after all, dealing with a deficit of unprecendented SO un- proportions precedented action is called for. If we cut more from the state budget we would, inevitably, have to reduce aids for schools and local governments. That would create the need for local goverments to raise property. taxes. So sentiment seems to be running in favor of the Governor's approach of a tax increase in one hand and the prospect of property tax relief in the other. It seems to provide the balance we need and, at the moment anyway, it's the best act in town. What's your opinion? --- CATHOLIC COALITION FOR GAY CIVIL RIGHTS SOCIAL JUSTICE As Roman Catholics we believe that proclaiming the kingdom of God necessarily demands a vigorous pub- lic ministry of liberation from both personal and social forces that op- press people. Christian love also de- mands the recognition of the dignity and rights of all our neighbors. Per- sons with a homosexual orientation are oppressed people and also our neighbors. They have a full and equal claim upon our love and understand- ing and upon the sensitive and en- lightened pastoral concern of our Church. In their November, 1976, pastoral letter, To Live In Jesus Christ, the Catholic bishops of the United States declared that homosexual persons "should not suffer from prejudice against their basic human rights" and that they have a right to "re- spect, justice and friendship" and "an active role in the Christian com- munity." We affirm the need for the Church to motivate people constantly to desist from discriminatory atti- tudes and activities. We applaud the efforts of other Catholic groups such as the National Coalition of American Nuns, the National Assembly of Reli- gious Brothers and the National Federation of Priests' Councils to eradicate all forms of misunderstand- ing, ignorance and fear surrounding the topic of homosexuality and gay rights. We believe, however, that it is the sacred responsibility of all Catho- lic citizens to work for the establish- ment of a society based on justice in its law and practices. We urge Catholic leaders in partic- ular to take the lead in describing and defending the civil rights of gay per- sons. We oppose any practice that permits individuals and institutions to discriminate against homosexual persons because of sexual orienta- tion, which we believe cannot be identified solely with behavior. We believe that sexual orientation is at least as much a part of the human identity of some individuals as is color, race, sex or creed. We strongly support protective legislation on all levels of society that guarantees gay persons the same basic human and civil rights enjoyed by all other groups, including rights relative to housing, employment and accommo- dations. While being sensitive to the complexity of the issues involved and recognizing the rights of other groups in society, we reject the unproved as- sumption that protection in law for gay persons endorses any particular "lifestyle" any more than law guar- anteeing religious freedom endorses a particular religious denomination. MYTHS We deplore the unfounded fear that homosexuality contributes to the breakdown of family life. On the con- trary, we believe that negative social attitudes toward gay persons en- courage many homosexual individu- als to enter heterosexual unions, many of which. later end in divorce and heartache for all involved. We believe it is the parental and peer re- jection of gay persons that contri- butes more to the disintegration of family life/We believe that there are no real grounds for the fear that gay teachers exert undue influence on young people in regard to sexual orientation, any more than do ag- nostics, non-Catholics divorced per- sons or teachers holding a variety of religious or ethical-moral views. We do not believe that heterosexual youths can be "converted" to homo- sexuality. Gay persons do not choose heterosexuality, despite the constant presence and example of heterosex- ual parents and role models in their early years of socialization. For a variety of reasons one's sexual orientation seems to be discovered rather than chosen and is a much more complex phenomenon than a simple heterosexual-homosexual di- chotomy. ACTIONS The Church's courageous defense of human rights remains ineffective if not forcefully embodied in the life and structures of local Catholic communi- ties. For this reason we pledge our- selves to work for the elimination of discriminatory and unchristian atti- tudes and practices in our parishes, schools, diocesan offices, chanceries, seminaries, religious communities and the Catholic media. We will work to implement the resolutions of the 1976 United States Catholic Bishops' "Call to Action" conference in Detroit to: 1. actively seek to serve the needs of those persons with a homosexual orientation; 2. root out structures and attitudes which foster discrimination; 3. provide pastoral care to all sexual minorities who are sub- jected to societal discrimination and alienation; 4. provide information, counseling and support to families whose members are part of a sexual minority. In light of our Church's constant teachings on social justice, we urge all Catholics to support sound civil rights legislation on both federal and local levels, and not to oppose such ordinances on the basis of unfounded fears, irrational myths and inflamma- tory statements about homosexual persons. We call upon all members of the Catholic community, especially our pastors, theologians, bishops, re- ligious women and men, to join with us in this effort to provide leadership and witness in this ministry of justice, healing and reconciliation. --- WASHINGTON-Even a quick look at events in Washington and around the country shows that the Christian right's attack on gay civil rights is tak- ing on new life and intensity. The out- come is uncertain, but two things are clear: The Moral Majority will stop at nothing to make scapegoats of gay people, and the gay community is becoming more united as a result. In this climate, nothing less than extend- ing civil rights laws to cover gays will end the political and moral outrages coming into view. The clearest signal of the Moral Ma- jority's intentions came Oct. 1 when it persuaded the House of Representa- tives to overturn a revised sex-assault bill recently passed by the District of Columbia city council that decriminal- ized sodomy between consenting adults in private. The measure, which had been requested by Congress and was similar to measures already in effect in at least 25 states, drew support from a coalition that included the National Conservative Political Action Commit- tee and Washington's "Mother of the Year." There was no reason to believe that Congress would intervene to block the act during the pro forma 30-day waiting period before it became law. The Congressional veto was prompted by the Rev. Jerry Falwell's claims that gay men and lesbians are exerting too much influence in local Washington politics. Unable to counter their political weight in a city where the Moral Majority has no strength, Mr. Falwell wanted Congress to rule that their private lives are criminal. What he asked for and got from his supporters in the House was a veto that virtually excommunicates gays from the body politic in Washington. Nor is that the only sign of increas- ing hostility toward gays. Attorney General William French Smith re- cently took a public swipe at "so- called fundamental rights," including the "right to sexual privacy" - and now President Reagan's Justice De- 'Majority' Vs. Gays By Larry Bush partment will be expected to define the limits of such rights. The White House has also confirmed, that it is considering backing even more extreme legislation proposed by the Moral Majority. The "Family Pro- tection Act" now pending in Congress would, among other things, deny all Federal funds to any person or group that even "suggests" that homosex- uality is an acceptable "life style" and effectively deny matching Federal funds to any candidate for public office who supports gay civil rights. While most Americans are unaware of this assault on civil liberties, lesbians and gay men are increasingly con- cerned and are organizing. That is their only protection against the hos- tility gaining strength throughout the country. In January, Austin, Tex., will consider a referendum that sanctions discrimination against gays by land- lords and real estate agents; gays in cities everywhere feel that the police are turning a blind eye to street assaults on people taken to be homosexuals. Those assaults now include rapes of gay men as well as lesbians who are kid- napped as they leave local bars, knife slayings on the street, and even shooting deaths of unarmed gay men by police officers in Houston and Los Angeles. Many gays believe that this violence is linked to the rise in anti-gay political rhetoric. Both the street assaults and the politi- cal attack will be at issue in New York City today and tomorrow. Tonight, gay. men and lesbians will gather on the first anniversary of the death of two men shot. by a machine gun through a window of the West Village's Ramrod Bar. Tomor- row, the City Council is to hold hearings on a bill to forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation. The increasing prejudice and violence is forcing gays to accept that their pri- vate lives are a political issue. They are caught in the bind noted recently by Mayor-elect Andrew Young, as he ac- knowledged the new political power of Atlanta's gay community: "The objec- tive is to get rid of the intrusion of the state and society. The irony is that in order to do that you've got to make it a public issue." Gays are also gaining political power i in other cities, for example in Houston where they won a commitment from the newly elected mayor to fire the police chief, and in Wisconsin where the As- sembly recently passed a bill forbidding discrimination against them. The Wis- consin measure, which is expected to be approved and made law by the state Senate early next year, is supported not only by the gay community but also by the state's religious leaders, including the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Mil- waukee. Such cooperation acknowledges that what is at stake is not only protecting gays from abuse but reaffirming that prejudice is unacceptable. The question is not whether gays are winning and Jerry Falwell is losing. But if the anti- gay campaign is rejected, the victory will be for the principle that a person's sexuality is private, and that it cannot be abused and exploited by those who would use it as a ready source for fund- raising, hate campaigns, cheap votes, and political posturing. Larry Bush writes about national issues for The Advocate and The New York Native, both biweekly papers. --- CT 2/25/82 Dreyfus signs sex preference bill By MATT POMMER Capital Times Staff Writer Gov. Lee Dreyfus today signed a bill prohibiting discrimination against people because of their sexual orien- tation. Wisconsin is the first state to have such a law. It bars discrimination in employment, housing, and public ac- commodations. Dreyfus said that he felt asking questions about sexual persuasion was a "totally unwarranted invasion of privacy," according to William Kraus, his communications director. A veto of the measure would have assumed that employers, landlords, and others could have asked those questions, according to Kraus. The governor was the object of an intense lobbying campaign on the issue. State Rep. David Clarenbach, D-Madison, said Dreyfus had come down on the "side of sexual privacy- that one person's lifestyle ought not to have anything to do with their em- ployablity or their right to rent an apartment. "I think it is consistent with that Re- publican principle of removing gov- ernmental interference from the pri- vate lives of individuals and the pro- tection from discrimination of all mi- norities," said Clarenbach, the chief author of the bill. "The issue which he has decided fa- vorably on is not whether homosex- uality itself is admirable, but whether discrimination and bigotry can be tol- erated," added Clarenbach. Clarenbach said Wisconsin is the first state to have this type of law on the books, although three other states have executive orders by their gover- nors to do the same thing for employ- ment in the public sector. The bill passed the bill Assembly on a 49 to 45 vote and then was adopted by the State Senate on a voice vote after a motion to kill it failed, 19 to 13. The Senate tacked on an amend- ment that prohibits requiring the use of affirmative action to implement the bill. --- On, Wisconsin An Editorial New 'gay rights' law sadly necessary Should homosexuals have le- gal protection against discrimi- nation? Gov. Dreyfus and the State Legislature deserve praise for courageously confronting that socially explosive question and answering "yes." Dreyfus has signed into law a bill that prohibits discrimination against homosexuals in employment, housing and public accommoda- tions. The law is likely to provoke controversy, as the governor noted. People who would not countenance discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, reli- gion, age or national origin often cannot find tolerance for homo- sexuals. Many people feel that to outlaw bias against homosexuals is, in some way, to condone or promote the gay lifestyle. However, the issue is not homosexuality. The issue is an unpardonable form of discrimi- nation. As Dreyfus put it, the new law offers protection of the right to privacy in one's sexual prefer- ence, and helps keep government involvement in private lives "very restricted." By banning job and housing discrimination, the law places an "additional limitation on one more area of governmentally sanctioned in- quiry into an individual's thoughts, beliefs and feelings," Dreyfus said. Yet, the law does not injure the protections that rightly are provided against criminal or as- saultive sexual conduct. More- over, the new law does not es- tablish "gay quotas" for employ- ers. It does not sanction expres- sion of sexual preferences in classrooms. Dreyfus and the lawmakers can be proud that Wisconsin now forbids sexual-preference discrimination, as it has forbid- den other forms of bias. What is regrettable is that intolerance made the law necessary. MJ 2/26/82 --- Janesville. orge P. Koshollek struggle Monday by Dane County. Deputy Richard Raemisch and two federal officials. Teira was arrested Feb. 11 on a charge of selling about $225,000 worth of cocaine to undercover offi- cers. He assumed the identity of a man being held on a non-support charge ijuana were in his possession at the time of arrest Monday, Lackey said. of arrest Lackey said he expected Teira to be sent to Newark, N.J., where he is wanted for jumping bail on a federal drug smuggling charge before he is returned here for prosecution. Three other people have been charged in connection with the Dane County escape. hotels ger >ons parts found in prison Sentinel caliber cartridges and authorities had cheard rumors of weapons being stored within the prison, he said. 1 cases of parts make zip guns, and about six onfiscated dur-Asked whether officials feared a kedown at the possible riot, Manthe said, al Institution, "Naturally, when you get rumors rl Manthe said there may be weapons, it's some- thing you might think possible." r during the egan Jan. 26, id drug para- nade knives, un began after F He said about 160 conduct reports on inmates have been completed as a result of the shakedown. 163190. Some of the inmates were placed in isolation or lost other privileges, Manthe said.. ind three .22-In a related development, Manthe said nurses and other union employes who had stayed off their jobs in the health services unit for several days last week because of fears for their safety, were back at work Monday.. "The health services unit seems to be functioning well," Manthe said. As the result of talks last week between State Division of Correc tions officials and health care unit employes, a prison guard who had been removed recently from the unit was returned. W At least two nurses and a nursing supervisor resigned during the dis- pute. terally Halt to mining not expected d: 'You're not really going you?'" Smetana said. "He But when he realized I to affect state explained where I was to eeded to do." A riends tease him and most have been silent about his 1 it is easy to complain ent without getting in- ugh to vote and to fight 7 and I'm old enough to fice," he said. i honor student and a var- layer. signed from the Student igh school because it was i a waste of time. about the amount of time e, but I have learned that need to do a job varies " he said. ependent, he said he did bels because they some- ple from being honest 90 20 te lion annually, 59% of Wisconsin's farm income, with the state produc- ing more than 17% of the nation's dairy products. Last year, 67.8% of the state's milk production went into cheese, much of which went into govern- ment warehouses under the current price-support program. - Wisconsin farmers received an average of $12.64 a hundredweight for milk of all grades, slightly more than the national average of $12.43, but less than the $13.25 support price. Full parity would be about $16.40. The federal government is holding about 250 million pounds of butter, 547 million pounds of cheese and 898 million pounds of non-fat dried milk. Gunderson and Cropp laid the blame for the rising total of govern- ment-held dairy products to the entry into the dairy business of corpora- tions in California and Idaho, which operate on a much larger scale than the family dairy farms of Wisconsin. They said the dairy price-support program, in effect since 1949, had grain prices fell so low that corpora- kept the dairy industry stable until tions previously raising grain moved into the dairy industry. #digit Radio stations spur calls to governor Madison -AP- Interior Secre-Madison Sentinel Madison Bureau Gov. Dreyfus' office received more than 600 tary James Watt's proposed morato- telephone calls Monday concerning a bill that would pro- rium on mining and drilling in feder-hibit discrimination against homosexuals. al wilderness areas probably will have no effect in Wisconsin, a US Forest Service official said Monday. Wisconsin's only official wilder- ness area is the 6,583-acre Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area in the Chequa- megon National Forest in Bayfield I County. There have been no applica- tions by mining companies for explo- ration permits for that area, said Jack Jacks, regional geologist in the Forest Service's eastern district head- quarters in Milwaukee. Watt announced Sunday that he will ask Congress to declare the moratorium through 2000 on mineral exploration in US wilderness areas. By By late in the day, 406 callers had registered their sup- port for the bill, while 216 opposed it. Many apparently were spurred by announcements over WORT-FM, a listen- er-supported station in Madison. Last Friday, the governor's office received 370 calls after comments on the bill by two Christian radio stations, WVCY-FM in Milwaukee and WNWC-FM in Madison. The total that day was 350 against the bill and 20 in favor. The bill, which awaits action by Dreyfus, would prohibit discrimination in housing, jobs and public accommodations based on a person's sexual preference. નારા Terry FitzPatrick, WORT-FM news director, said inter- ested persons may place whatever they want on the sta- tion's announcement board. It is up to individual program- mers to read the messages on the air if they wish. A Dreyfus aide said a priest at St. Paul's Catholic Church on the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus has urged persons to call Dreyfus asking him to sign the bill. Milwaukee Sentinel Tuesday, Feb 22 1943 23.1942 Page 5, Part 1 --- 'Life' sentence could be twice as tough in future By Charles E. Friederich Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. A convict sen- tenced to life in prison would remain behind bars at least 25 years - twice the minimum now under a crimi- nal sentencing bill passed by the As- sembly Thursday night. But after heated debate, the As- sembly scuttled an amendment under which life imprisonment would real- ly have meant life. The bill was passed, 89-6, and sent to an uncertain fate in the Senate. In a 22-hour floor wrangle, the Assem- bly moderately toughened a weaker bill advanced a day earlier by a committee. The version passed by the Assem- bly still wasn't as tough as the fixed- sentencing bill it started out to be. The original measure (A-29), by Rep. Louise Tesmer (D-Milwaukee), would have curtailed early release by parole. Tesmer said she was satisfied with the final version, even though it stopped short of fixed or determinate sentencing. Under the bill, if a felon is sen- tenced to prison, he would have to serve at least 30% of his term, minus time off for good behavior. The dis- count for good behavior would be one day for each five days served. Longer for repeaters Repeat felons would serve longer terms. Under an amendment by Rep. Tommy Thompson (R-Elroy), a per- son committing a felony while on parole or probation for a felony would receive a mandatory sentence of at least 50% of the maximum sen- tence for the subsequent felony. He I would have to serve half that sen- tence before becoming eligible for parole. An amendment offered by Rep. John Norquist (D-Milwaukee) caused a stir and three roll call votes before it was finally tabled, 74-21. Norquist, who had voted against the bill in the Joint Finance Commit- tee, proposed that lifers serve life, with no possibility for parole. "The public expects a life sentence to be a life sentence," Norquist said. Supporting the amendment, Rep. Lois Plous (D-Milwaukee) said: "We're doing all these crime busting bills here. Well, I think we ought to have in Prisoners Rep. Mordecai Lee (D-Milwaukee) Some legislators assailed Norquist's amendment as "the most barbaric, uncivilized, un- Christian proposal that's come before us in a long time." Other lawmakers accused Norquist of trying to scuttle the bill by attaching a highly contro- versial provision. 11 years now Under existing law, a person sen- tenced to life becomes eligible for parole in 11 years, 3 months. Under the bill, parole eligibility begins in 25 years. X Sex laws are next target: Clarenbach Court backs AP, Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. After the signing of a gay rights law, the bill's sponsor, Rep. David Clarenbach, said he would renew his efforts to decriminalize certain laws regarding sexual activity between con- senting adults. Gov. Dreyfus Thursday signed into law a measure banning discrimination in housing, public accommodations and employment based on a person's sexual preference. Wisconsin thus became the first state to dopt such a law through a legislative act according to Clarenbach, a Madison Democrat who represents Madison's downtown and campus areas. Also on hand for the signing was Leon Rouse of Milwaukee, representing the Committee for Fundamental Judeo- Christian Human Rights. Clarenbach said that a push to decrimi- nalize some sex acts would not be made until the 1983 session. A similar measure was killed in this session by the Assem- bly, 50-49. Dreyfus, under pressure from mem- bers of fundamentalist religious groups to veto the bill, stated in signing the measure that it had the support "of a wide-ranging group of religious leader- ship, including leadership of the Roman Committee endorses bond for performers Madison, Wis. -AP- The Assem- bly's Revenue Committee Thursday endorsed a proposal that would re- quire professional sports players, stage personalities and other travel- ing entertainers to file bonds to guar- antee their their state income taxes will be paid. The bill by Rep. Gus Menos (D- Glendale) has been attacked by arena managers, sports promoters, fair commissions and booking agents I who say high-salaried entertainers may be frightened away from the state. However, Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids), chairman of the committee, said it was poor pub- lic policy to let entertainers get away with ignoring state tax laws. The bill that was endorsed 8-1 would require a performer to file a bond equal to 6% of Wisconsin earn- ings exceeding $3,200. It would have to be filed two days before the per- formance. An amendment also applies the bill to professional speakers. Catholic Church, several Lutheran syn- ods and the Jewish community." If discrimination based on sexual pref- erence is allowed, inquiries into the pri- vate lives of individuals would follow, Dreyfus said. Dreyfus also signed bills that would: Increase penalties for illegal possession of prescription drugs (A-297). Outlaw intimidation of witnesses to crimes (A-398). Revise laws regulating nursing homes (S-263). Regulate transportation of deer (A52). cable firms Journal Madison Bureau Turn to Prisoners, Page 6 Madison, Wis. - The State Public Service Commission was ordered Thursday to stop regulating rates that utilities charge cable television companies for using utility poles. Circuit Judge Robert R. Pekows- ky, Madison, in issuing the tempo- rary injunction, said the cable compa- nies had a good chance of winning their lawsuit against PSC regulation of agreements between cable compa- nies and utilities. The Wisconsin Cable Communica- tions Association had asked for the injunction in a lawsuit filed last Sep- tember, contending that the PSC in- validly claimed jurisdiction over reg- ulation of attachments to poles. The commission had claimed juris- diction in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission shortly after passage of a federal law that assigned such regulation to the feder- al agency, unless states already were regulating pole attachments. In its lawsuit, the association said the letter was like an administrative rule but did not conform to the law governing administrative rules. It also asserted that the commis- sion had no specific legal authority to regulate pole attachments, but relied on its general authority. Pekowsky said that until he ruled on those points in the basic lawsuit, the commission must notify the FCC that it could not regulate rates and conditions for attachments to poles and would not regulate them until such regulation was allowed by a court. urged no parole From Page 1 Tesmer's original bill would have required con- struction of four major prisons costing up to $144 million, with annual operating costs estimated at up to $26 million. The version passed by the As- sembly would be about half as expensive, al- though exact cost estimates were not available. The Assembly also: Passed, 84-12, a bill revising insanity defense procedures in criminal cases. The bill (A-765) was sent to the Senate. Passed, 95-1, and sent to the Senate a bill (A- 1013) giving municipalities additional powers to borrow for harbor improvements. The bill was backed by farm organizations and the City of Milwaukee, which said it would facilitate con- struction of an export grain elevator. Passed, 93-2, a bill making public teacher con- tracts and tenure a permissible subject of collec- tive bargaining (A-727). The bill, supported by teacher unions and school boards, was sent to the Senate. 6% late-tax penalty backed by Assembly Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis.- Delinquent prop- erty-tax payers could be penalized for their tardiness under legislation sent to Gov. Dreyfus Thursday. The Assembly voted final approv- al, 83-13, of a bill allowing local units of government to assess a 6% penal- ty for late payment, on top of the 12% interest allowed by current law. The Senate had approved the meas- ure last week, 27-4. The bill had been sought by Mil- waukee and some other municipali- ties. They claimed that taxpayers were making money by delaying payment and investing their unpaid taxes at interest rates exceeding 12%. The measure (A-324) is a compro- mise between earlier Senate and As- sembly versions. The Assembly bill had called for 18% interest. The Senate version called for an 18% penalty. Interest is deductible from income taxes; penalties are not. Under the compromise, the unit of government that collects the tax would decide whether to assess the 6% penalty. Localities also would be permitted to exempt owner-occupied residences and farms from the penal- ty. 82 2-26- 2-m3- --- with what amounts to an economic bill of rights. "We have been brainwashed by the business community into believing that the only way of securing jobs and economic stability is by surrendering to the demands for corporate welfare," Clarenbach says. He cites G. Heileman Brewery's successful appeal for protectionist legislation to prevent what it said was an unfriendly takeover: "They told us to jump and we asked, 'How high?' on the way up. Two weeks later, chuck- ling all the way to the bank, G. Heileman sold out to those same people, but they were able to crank up the sale price and walk away with several million dollars of additional profits. We were made the fools." In a similar vein, Clarenbach calls Chrysler Corp.'s recent announcement that it will close its Kenosha plant "a classic example of corporate irrespon- sibility and the severe violation of a social contract. It must impress upon the political leaders of the state the insanity of our constant tendency to succumb to those kind of pipe dreams." Clarenbach's proposed economic democracy legislation calls for new controls on corporations doing business in Wisconsin, more vigorous measures to create jobs and a commit- ment to such progressive ideals as health coverage for the uninsured. Although it was introduced in the As- sembly more than three years ago, the bill has failed to pick up much momentum. But Clarenbach continues to speak out on its behalf. "Just as the Constitution guaran- tees our political rights, we in the legislature ought to be guaranteeing economic rights as well," says Claren- bach. "My function is to remind the legislature of tomorrow's agenda. The economic democracy bill lays the groundwork for issues of the future." MAKING A DEAL Chief among Clarenbach's recent legislative accomplishments is the establishment of a lake district for the Yahara Watershed. After decades of discussion over lakes management in Dane County, Clarenbach proposed the establishment of a new level of government to accomplish the task. The proposal so riled County Board members and Jonathan Barry that they countered with their own plan for a rivers and lakes management committee. A compromise was reached in late January to retain county control through a five-member commission with taxing and regulating powers. "David is getting out of this deal essentially what he had advocated in terms of the initial legislation," concedes Barry. "He's certainly getting from it what he had proposed." "I think we all got what we wanted," Clarenbach agrees. "It was not a compromise in the sense of concessions made on one side or another. We succeeded in putting egos and turf battles aside and identifying our common goal." Clarenbach says the provisions of the compromise agreement are better than either his original plan or the county's. And he feels the lakes management consolidation, which was approved by the Assembly last week, is his greatest legislative accomplish- ment to date in terms of its signifi- cance to the future of the Madison area. "I think there have been other issues, sex law reform, and some of the other privacy and civil liberties issues, that are of greater significance to individuals," he says. "But the Yahara plan will have the most impact on the community as a whole. "It is for future generations that this reform is most significant." CONGRESSMAN CLARENBACH? What of David Clarenbach's political future? Many observors assume he is biding his time until the congressional seat now held by Robert Kastenmeier opens up, a prospect Clarenbach approaches with character- istic tact. "I would be honored to be a member of Congress and represent this district," Clarenbach says. "But I'm not hot to trot to run for Congress. "This may sound like a canned response, but there's no better congressman than Bob Kastenmeier. And for any of the potential successors to be hoping, even quietly, that he would retire before his time would betray this community. "We have a unique set of circum- stances here," Clarenbach continues. "We have a political environment that gives a congressman the freedom to maintain his principles, and speak out against the military build-up and ag- gressive foreign policies and violation of civil liberties. Those are the hallmark of Bob Kastenmeier. In good conscience, I don't think anyone can hope that he does anything but serve as long as he cares to." A member of Kastenmeier's campaign steering committee, Clarenbach has campaigned for the congressman since his early years in Washington. And Kastenmeier, 64, who has represented the 2nd Congres- sional District for 30 years, has not expressed any interest in retiring. But Clarenbach insists he doesn't mind. "I'm more happy in the legisla- ture than I've ever been," he says. "There are still frustrations, but I think my coping mechanism is much better now. As I become a better legislator and am more effective and therefore see my work product incorporated into the fabric of society, I think there's a greater level of satisfaction in my work." Originally appeared in Isthmus. Reprinted with permission. Paid for by the Clarenbach Committee, George Brown, Treasurer, 454 Sidney St., Madison --- Dan GayLife/Friday, May 15, 1981 A look at MAY 26 RECU Vol. 6, no. 47, PP. 114 homosexuality and the Wisconsin law By Louie Crew, Ph.D. Each year approximately 86 persons are arrested, 83 (96) prosecuted. and 71 (83) convicted of homosexual acts under Wisconsin's general "sex of- fenses" statute, according to projec- tions based on the facts which this researcher received from 51 (70.8%) of the 72 county district attorneys in a poll dated Aug. 18. 1980. (See Appendix A.) The current session of the Wisconsin legislature is debating reform legisla- tion (1981 Assembly Bill 235 and 1981 Senate Bill 205) which would legalize such sexual activity between consent- ing adults in private. Since many of the acts leading to the convictions reported by district attor- neys under the old law would remain criminal under the reform legislation (e.g.. prostitution, sexual assault. stat- utory rape, seduction and others), it is impossible to estimate with any accu- racy how many persons now prose- cuted would be left alone if the new law were to take effect. There is certainly no documentation on record to show that homosexual persons are more likely to engage in criminal sexual activity (except when consensual adult activity is defined as criminal) than are hetero- sexuals to engage in criminal hetero- sexuality. At present, however, the old law- specifying, as it does, that "buggery" and "sodomy or crime against nature" are always felonious gives law en- forcement persons the blanket permis- sion to invade private domiciles to arrest consenting adults engaged in any homosexual intercourse. Admittedly, some law enforcement persons choose to ignore such "of- fenses": if you are asking about just homo- sexual activities between consenting adults, there are no arrests. prosecu tions and or convictions - Rodney A. Zemke. D.A. Eau Claire County Consensual acts involving adults have not been reported to this office for prosecution -D.A.. Calumet County To my knowledge no one in this period (of 10 years] has been prosecuted for any offense because he or she was homosexual -D.A.. Marquette County I have been District Attorney since Jan 3 1977 Since that date there have been no arrests or prosecutions for consensual acts. not involving the giv- ing of consideration, between homo- sexual adults. In talking with members of the office who predated me. there have been no such prosecutions at least since 1974 -James E. Doyle. Jr.. D.A. Dane County Still, presumably these four sample counties have their usual quota of lesbi- ans and gay men, and presumably they are not all celibate. The effect of the law, even when it is not enforced, is to legitimize the stigma against them. often to force them into an involuntary kind of self-oppression, making them live in constant fear of exposure and reprisals. The responses of several district attorneys indicate that there is no uni- form notion of what is meant by the requested "homosexual offenses pro- cessed under Wisconsin's General Sex Offenses. "Some district attorneys indicated that they did not list any of the more general crimes of homosexu- als involving non-consent or minors (e.g.. "Figures do not include offenses charged under 940.225 [sexual assault]. D.A.. Marinette County); yet other dis- trict attorneys explicitly included them: [One conviction in 1978] Fourth Degree Sexual Assault. 940 225 (3m). -D.A.. Iron County I am also aware that he [my immediate predecessor] filed an additional [1977] com-plaint under 940 225 against a father who had sexual contact with his three small sons.. -Suzanne S. Havens. D.A. Door County Even though Havens went on to note that "this case was not specifically handled as homosexual conduct." she did list it in her documentation of "homosexual offenses." Thus, it is very difficult to know how much credence to give to the tallies collected from the district attorneys, since each operated with potentially a different assumption of what "homosexual offenses" are. There is evidence that district attor- neys varying practice in classification is matched by similar inconsistency in their prosecution of homosexual "offenses": As I am sure you are aware such offenses would have been prosecuted under a wide variety of statutes includ- ing, but not limited to, incest enticing a child for immoral purposes. sexual perversion, lewd and lascivious or dis- orderly conduct Consequently, it is impossible for us to determine the number of homosexual offenses próse cin this county for the time period in question... -Peter J Naze. D.A Brown County I am aware of no arrests of the type you are interested in I have been around for four years. so my knowledge is somewhat limited. If there have been such incidents before my time. I sus- pect they may have been prosecuted as disorderly conduct or battery and not as sex offenses. -Ed Fischer. D.A. Washburn County Many sexual perversions are charged today as sexual assault Since we average about three sexual assaults a month you can figure about eight more perversion cases (ie just under ohe-fourth of all sexual assaults! per year charged prosecuted. and con- victed since 1976 -DA. Waukesha County Francis J. Endejan. D.A. of Fond du Lac, noted that that county's "statistics are misleading because the persons involved seldom wish to pursue charges. A high incidence of this type of behavior occurs in our prison system...." Much the most aggressive and lengthy evaluation of homosexual offenses was that by E. Michael McCann. D.A. of Milwaukee County: I will address myself to several areas where homosexuals present them- selves as particular problems The order is not particularly in the order of importance (1) They present problems at various business and nonprofit establishments where they congregate and use the lay- atories I don't know how they do it. but in various lavatories where they gather they punch two or three-inch circular holes through the steel commode separators. The one goes in and closes the door and then waits for another to enter the other commode The one then thrusts his erect penis through the hole in the commode wall and the second person then proceeds to place his mouth over that penis. Usually the two individuals do not know one another. Although the degree of ano- nymity in this situation seems almost incredible. it apparently is the pattern sought by some homosexuals where literally no face-to-face contact or knowledge of one another by the two actors exists. This pattern of anonym- ity is apparently preferred by some or many homosexuals. Typically a busi- Inessman or the custodian. of a park. gels complaints by the public that var- ious nefarious achvities or proposals are being made in these bathrooms In some business establishments the aggravation caused by such com- plaints has reached such an extent that the operators have actually removed the doors of the commodes. hoping that this exposure of the interior of the commode will abate this homosexual activity, One of the finest parks in the city that enjoys a beautiful view of Lake Michigan has become a place fre quented by such individuals so muck as to render the utility of the park for others somewhat unpalatable In addi-i tion to these public bathrooms, the problem has also been occurring in so- called adult bookstores where more Ihan one will enter into a cubicle for the showing of films and while one man watches. the other will proceed to per- form an act of fellatio on him: (2) Contrary to the repeated protes- tations of homosexuals. there is very definitely a pattern of pursuil by older homosexuals of younger homosexuals known as "chicken "From my observa- tions it appears that the older homo- sexuals find some particularly attractive attribute involved in these younger persons Typically these younger per- sons are not infants but are teenage types under the age of 18 As a part of this we on occasion have older men paying young boys from 10 on up to perform acts of fellatio on them 13) We have several bathhouses operating here Although the police know we will not initiate any action in cases involving activities behind a closed door in these facilities some arrests occur from perversion activities involving two male persons in semi- public hallways or general saunas of these establishments In one such case a large number of men were standing around a mat on the floor while two men engaged in perversion activities I would suppose there is some degree of voyeurism involved in this type of activity (4) We do of course have the homo- sexual assaults on occasion in our lockups in the county (5) Occasionally there is a homosex- ual type of assault In one that I recol- lect a man woke up in a boarding house in his private room and found another uninvited lodger sucking on the first lodger's penis so hard that the penis was bleeding At least several of the homicides in our county are believed to have been occasioned by homosexual motivation It is difficult at times to know who is the voyeur here, or whether the details would seem any less lurid if the plumb- ing of the participants were identified as heterosexual. McCann clearly makes no effort to compare similar sta- tistics on heterosexuals' offenses or of their similar behavior in semi-private places. Nor does he offer any help in evaluating the extent to which the over- all homosexual population is involved in the behaviors which he found offen- sive. Clearly he is interested only in male homosexuality, because he, like so many others, makes no reference to lesbian behaviors at all. *** The state itself gives very little help in the matter. Wisconsin keeps no records of arrests, prosecutions, and convic- tions of sodomy and buggery, as it does keep records for most other offenses documented in the annual report of the Department of Justice (Wisconsin Criminal Justice Information, Crime and Arrests) Michael I. Zaleski, Assistant Attor- ney General, notes: "Under Wisconsin law, the district attorneys of the various counties have the exclusive right to prosecute criminal violations such as this." We have seen already how ran- domly and capriciously various district attorneys interpret this responsibility. Many others could not even keep up with all of the cases of this sort (see Appendix B). and still others did not respond (see Appendix C), for wha- tever reason. Perhaps the widespread confusion and the caprice which it appears to sanction, as much as any other factors. prompted the district attorneys of seven counties to join the many other individuals and groups requesting the new legislation currently under consid- eration in the legislature: Bayfield County William D Bussey. DA Dane County James Doyle DA Eau Claire County Rodney A Zemke. DA Green County- Robert S Duxtad DA. Marathon County- Rand L Krueger D.A Pierce County Michael M. Rajek DA Polk County John E Schneider DA Similar legislation in 1980 passed the Senate by a good margin. but was nar- rowly defeated in the Assembly. Pros- pects for the new effort are not clear. -0- Appendix A See page 14. OVER Appendix B The following counties reported but said that they did not have the statistics or could not supply the labor to locate the statistics: Brown. Calumet. Dane. Dodge. Douglas. Milwaukee. Outaga- mie. Winnebago, and Wood. OvERY --- Milwaukee Journal February 26, 1987 Jackamo In search of state tax equity X On, Wisconsin The Democrats who control the Legislature commendably seem willing to join Republican Gov. Dreyfus in a courageous step-raising taxes in an election-year. Unfortunately, they appear unwill- ing, for political reasons, to inject sufficient equity into the specific plan the governor has proposed to meet a huge budget deficit. Dreyfus has called for what amounts to a perma- nent 25% increase in the sales tax - from 4 cents per dollar to 5 cents. As a remedy for an unexpect- ed budget deficit resulting from a temporary na- tionwide recession, the governor's approach is simply too unfair - and the Democrats know it. Yet they balk at scrapping the sales-tax boost and substituting a far more equitable income-tax surcharge. Apparently they fear that would brand the tax boost as Democratic, rather than Republi- can, and risk voter retaliation next fall. In short, political expediency is winning over the tax equity that these Democrats usually espouse. The advantages of an income-tax surcharge are clear. It could easily be made temporary, and be- cause Wisconsin's income tax rates are pegged to citizens' ability to pay, a surcharge would take the needed new revenue from the taxpayers most able to afford it. In contrast, Dreyfus' permanent sales- tax boost would sock everyone who buys taxed items- most harshly the poor and the unem- ployed victims of recession. At the very least, the legislators should tilt the tax-increase package somewhat more toward abili- ty-to-pay by supplementing the sales-tax increase with an income surcharge. That would raise enough additional revenue to close the budget gap without the unwarranted pay-freeze and program- cut features urged by Dreyfus. In one regard, some lawmakers in both parties are trying to improve the Dreyfus plan. The gover- nor proposes that the sales tax revenue be returned to localities after July 1, 1983, when the state budget presumably will have been balanced. The lawmakers fear that his plan would turn the clock back more than a decade to the "tax island" era when revenue was unfairly returned to the locall- ties where it was raised, without regard to need. The rich got richer. Billing his plan as property-tax relief, Dreyfus has given it a popular twist, but there is no essential connection between the tax revenue's county of origin and the locations of greatest need for property-tax relief. Those legislative critics of Dreyfus' proposal make some valid points that we had not considered when last fall we backed a sales tax to help fi- nance water pollution abatement. So, if a perma- nent sales-tax boost is to be imposed statewide in the midst of a recession, the revenue should be dis- tributed to localities through some formula that reflects relative need for it-whether the funds are to be used for general property-tax relief or for pollution abatement. A sensible "need" formula would still assure help for Milwaukee County residents facing big property-tax bills for sewerage. But, equally im- portant, the formula would build more equity statewide into the Dreyfus plan. Dreyfus favors IRA deduction Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. Gov. Dreyfus said Thursday that he still regarded a state income tax deduction for indi- vidual retirement accounts as a desir- able goal for his administration. But, he said at his weekly news conference, it was not possible to propose the deduction in the budget adjustment bill last week because it would have been too costly at the time. The governor said he had been criticized for failing to follow the federal system, which provides an exemption on the first $2,000 depos- ited in the accounts. Dreyfus also said his series of town meetings around the state next week would not be political and thus I would not be underwritten by the State Republican Party. Dreyfus, accompanied by cabinet officers, will confine the content of his appearances to his proposal to increase the state sales tax to 5%. The money generated by the increase would be used by the state until mid- 1983 to help balance the budget and then would be kept by counties for property tax relief, he said. - later Dreyfus also said he rejected a budget-balancing idea from a profes- sor who suggested enactment of a tax surcharge on all people in the state who earn more than $30,000 a year. Dreyfus has proposed a one-year moratorium on raises for state em- ployes who earn more than $30,000. Donald Nichols, an economics pro- fessor at the University of Wisconsin -Madison, had said in letters to leg- islators that the governor was pick- ing on civil servants and should im- pose a surcharge on all residents in the $30,000 category instead. Nursing home Medicaid cost set Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. The cost of serving Wisconsin nursing homes' Medicaid resi- dents would be about $670 million in 1982, under a plan approved Thursday by a subcommittee of the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. Of that amount, about $233 million would be state funds, with the remainder paid by the federal government and pri- vate patient funds. Nursing homes represent the largest single part of the total Medicaid program. The subcommittee revised the original proposal of the State Health and Social Services Department for reimbursing nursing homes. The department had proposed to guar- antee the 1981 rate as a base and increase payments to home on a sliding scale, from 0% to 7%, with the most economi- cal homes receiving the highest percent- age increase. - An Editorial New 'gay rights' law sadly necessary Should homosexuals have le- gal protection against discrimi- nation? Gov. Dreyfus and the State Legislature deserve praise for courageously confronting that socially explosive question and answering "yes." Dreyfus has signed into law a bill that prohibits discrimination against homosexuals in employment, housing and public accommoda- tions. The law is likely to provoke controversy, as the governor noted. People who would not countenance discrimination on the grounds of race, sex, reli- gion, age or national origin often cannot find tolerance for homo- sexuals. Many people feel that to outlaw bias against homosexuals is, in some way, to condone or promote the gay lifestyle. However, the issue is not homosexuality. The issue is an unpardonable form of discrimi- nation. As Dreyfus put it, the new law offers protection of the right to privacy in one's sexual prefer- ence, and helps keep government involvement in private lives "very restricted." By banning job and housing discrimination, the law places an "additional limitation on one more area of governmentally sanctioned in- quiry into an individual's thoughts, beliefs and feelings," Dreyfus said. Yet, the law does not injure the protections that rightly are provided against criminal or as- saultive sexual conduct. More- over, the new law does not es- tablish "gay quotas" for employ- ers. It does not sanction expres- sion of sexual preferences in classrooms. Dreyfus and the lawmakers can be proud that Wisconsin now forbids sexual-preference discrimination, as it has forbid- den other forms of bias. What is regrettable is that intolerance made the law necessary. A The subcommittee, however, proposed increases on a scale from 4.75% to 7.5%. The subcommittee's proposal will sent to the full committee Tuesday. The full committee's recommendations must be reviewed by Gov. Dreyfus, whoq could veto them. His veto could be overr ridden by 10 of the 14 members of the committee. Sewage grants could bolster building trades Journal Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. - Wisconsin building trades should get an economic boost from $91 million in Wisconsin Fund grants for construction of sewage treatment, Natu- ral Resources Secretary Carroll Besadny said this week in reporting 1981 funds now being made available. Projects in 76 communities were listed, including $35.8 million for the Milwau- kee Metropolitan Sewerage District and $4.2 million for the City of Milwaukee. "This money will go a long way in our water pollution control efforts," Besadny said. "But just as important, it will pump dollars into the state's economy and hundreds of jobs in the hard pressed con- struction industry." He said the grants would generate more than $160 million in new, construc- tion calling for heavy equipment opera- tors, cement finishers, carpenters, sheet metal workers and other trades. These trades have been experiencing up to 10% unemployment. In its first two years the Wisconsin Fund clean water program awarded $150 million in construction grants. It will make final 1981 awards after reviewing construction bids for the projects listed. C (OVER) --- 1 Y 15 Bill on Crime Reform Clears Senate Judiciary Committee By STUART TAYLOR Jr. Special to The New York Times WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 The 15- year-old effort to overhaul the Federal Criminal Code once again cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today, in the form of a 425-page "consensus" bill with seemingly inexhaustible potential for sowing disagreement. Gathered in a cramped, smoked-filled room in the Capitol this afternoon, the Senators approved the bill by a vote of 11 to 5 after adopting a series of amend- ments designed to appease the funda- mentalist group Moral Majority and after a debate that focused on sex crimes. Senator Jeremiah Denton, Republi- can of Alabama, sought to eliminate a code provision that would make it a crime for a man to rape his wife. Moral Majority also opposed the code provi- sion, but the Senator's attempted amendment was rejected by a vote of 5 to 3. The Senator stated that, while he believed marital rape was "a hideous crime," he opposed including it in the omnibus bill. In response to a complaint from Moral Majority that the bill's maximum pen- alty for rape was too lenient, the com- mittee voted to increase it to 25 years, from 12 years. But Dr. Ronald S. God- win, vice president of Moral Majority, said today this was still not enough, op- posing the whole bill as "soft on crime." Strange Coalition of Support The criminal code reform bill, a bi- partisan effort designed to bring consis- tency and order to the chaotic and con- fusing hodgepodge of Federal criminal laws that has grown up over the years, has produced some strange allies, and an unusual collection of opponents. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Strom Thurmond, Republi- can of South Carolina, and other conser- vatives have joined with Senator Ed- ward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massa- chusetts, and other liberals in sponsor- ing the measure. Its opponents include not only conser- vative groups like Moral Majority, I which are angry at Senator Thurmond, their usual ally, but also the American Civil Liberties Union, which is angry at Senator Kennedy, one of the Senate's leading liberals. While the religious activist group Moral Majority complains that the bill is too soft on street crime and too hard on corporations accused of crimes, as well as husbands accused of marital rape, the civil liberties union said in a letter Tuesday that the bill should be de- feated because of "serious incursions on civil liberties." Senator Thurmond and other sponsors of criminal code reform, including the Reagan Administration, have tried to keep provisions involving the most con- troversial criminal justice issues out of the bill. These controversies include the death penalty, gun control and efforts to allow use of illegally seized evidence. Outlook on Enactment Their efforts to reach "consensus" to efforts to solve the immediate prob- have made the bill somewhat peripheral lem of street crime. But the bill may be debated at length on the Senate floor and ultimate enactment still seems the elusive goal it has proven to be in the past. the bill would make in the law are its Among the most important changes provisions on sentencing and bail. The the maximum prison sentences for most sentencing provisions would increase crimes by limiting the power of judges parole system, and other measures to to use probation, abolishing the Federal make sentencing more uniform and cer- tain. The bail provisions would authorize judges to jail defendants whom they consider dangerous before they have been tried or convicted. Under current law, judges must release defendants be- fore trial unless they seem unlikely to appear for trial. John Shattuck, head of the civil liber- ties union's Washington office, said after the committee action that "the preventive detention provision would violate the presumption of innocence" and the sentencing provisions would "lock more people up for longer periods of time at a time when prison over- crowding is severe." But these provisions have the support of many liberals as well as conserva- tives, and seem likely to be passed by the Senate. The prospects for criminal code reform in the House are much less favorable. --- 28 THE CAPITAL TIMES, Friday, Dec. 7, 1979 Amend 1964 bill Prox supports gay job-rights proposal By STEPHEN M. JOHNSON C-T Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON - Sen. William Proxmire, D-Wis., has expressed his strong support for legislation intro- duced in the Senate this week which would prohibit job discrimination against homosexuals. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Paul Tsongas, D-Mass., would amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include the phrase "sexual ori- entation." It would provide legal re- course for those persons who are fired or denied jobs because of their sexual preferences. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wis., says he has not yet decided whether to sup- port the measure. The 1964 Civil Rights Act already bans job discrimination based on race, sex, religion, creed or national origin. Backers of the Tsongas bill argue that as a matter of consistency and simple justice, job discrimination based on sexual preference should be banned as well. In introducing the bill, Tsongas sub- mitted for the record letters from a number of major American corpora- tions pledging their support for equal job opportunities for gays. Tsongas also presented evidence from the American Psychiatric Asso- ciation, the National Council of Churches and the National Institute of Mental Health supporting legisla- tion in this area. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "Full equality for homosexuals will not be achieved by changes in the law alone, but such changes may help to facilitate the re- casting of public attitudes that is needed." In a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Tsongas said: "The issue is simple. Every Ameri- can must have an equal right to a job based on his or her ability. Sexual ori- entation is essentially a private mat- ter that should have nothing to do with job performance. "This legislation is consistent with strong public disapproval of govern- ment intrusion in the private lives of Americans. Despite the issue's sensi- tivity, it is fundamentally a matter of equal rights under the law," Tsongas said. Joining Tsongas in sponsoring the legislation were Sens. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., and Lowell P. Weicker, R-Conn. Moynihan said he could see "no rea- son why gay men and women should be treated differently from anyone else. Guarantees against employment discrimination accorded other citi- zens should protect homosexuals and bisexuals as well." Weicker acknowledged that some people would ask, "Is this legislation necessary?" "Well, I wish it were not neces- sary," the Connecticut Republican said. "But it is. Like anything else where a minority is involved, it takes a prod. And that prod is the law, spe- cifically, the Civil Rights Act. "I do not think that we are going to address ourselves to the problem or even approach the solution to the problem unless there is a law on the books." A spokesman for Proxmire said the senator has always supported equal rights for women, minorities and other disadvantaged groups in soci- ety, and saw no reason why homosex- uais should be an exception. He said Proxmire would join Weicker and Moynihan in co-sponsor- ing the legislation if asked. --- February 19, 1982 Vol. 13, No. 4 Two Sections 50¢ OUTSIDE OF D.C./BALTIMORE AREAS The -THE GAY NEWSPAPER OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL Washington Blade Wisconsin Senate backs Gay rights by Steve Martz In an historic move, the Wisconsin State Senate approved a state Gay rights bill by voice vote on February 16. The action, without precedent in American political history, moves Wis- consin to the brink of becoming the first state to ban discrimination based on sex- ual orientation. The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Lee Dreyfus, a maverick Republican, who is expected either to sign it or, at the very least, to let it pass into law without his signature. The unrecorded voice vote came after the Senate defeated a motion of non- concurrence put forth by Republican Sen. David Opitz. The motion was defeated by a 19-13 vote. The legislation, in the form of amend- ments adding sexual orientation to the lists of protected categories in existing state civil rights laws, is broad in scope. It provides protection for state residents against discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment. In addition, the legislation requires all companies with state contracts to abide by its provisions, even if the companies are based in another state. The bill also bans bias by state agencies in the promul- gation of administrative rules and by the state's National Guard in the conduct of its affairs. The Senate action comes less than four months after the bill's chief sponsor and architect, State Rep. David Clarenbach of Madison, steered the bill through the Continued on page A-10 --- A-10 THE WASHINGTON BLADE - · February 19, 1982 Wisconsin moves to the brink Continued from page A-1 State Assembly by a vote of 50-46. At that time, Clarenbach said the bill has "cleared the major hurdle" and pre- dicted it would pass the Senate and be signed by the governor. Clarenbach remains certain the bill will become law, I said staff assistant Dan Curd. He added that every formal and informal indication Clarenbach and other supporters of the bill have received from Gov. Dreyfus' staff indicates the governor will sign it. An aide to Dreyfus confirmed that likelihood. "I don't believe there are any remaining concerns" that would prevent the governor from signing the legislation, said Margaret Lewis, a legislative liaison for the governor. Dreyfus had been mildly critical of the bill at one point because he felt it might be read to require affirmative action for homosexuals. Other than that concern, he has no qualms about the bill, he has told both reporters and religious leaders backing the legislation. After Dreyfus voiced his concern, sup- porters of the bill decided to add an affir- mative action disclaimer to the bill. The amendment was added in the Senate before the February 16 vote and was approved separately by the House on February 18. Backers of the bill assembled a broad coalition of supporters, stressing that the issue was one of civil rights, not morality. A key factor in the success of that argu- ment was the wide support the legisla- tion received from the state's religious community. According to Clarenbach, the bill's supporters included the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee and statewide church bodies representing Methodists, Lutherans, Unitarians, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Ameri- can Baptists. The action in Wisconsin is the second major victory for Gay rights during the first two months of 1982. On January 16, voters in Austin, Texas overwhelmingly rejected an initiative that would have allowed housing discrimination against homosexuals. If Clarenbach's bill clears its final hur- dle, as expected, Wisconsin will become the fourth state to offer some form of protection against discrimination to its Gay citizens. In three other states California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania - governors have issued executive orders barring discrimination by state government. None of these actions, how- ever, is as far reaching as the Wisconsin legislation. --- F. Gay Right 8 THE CAPITAL TIMES, Friday, May 22, 1981 • Koop perfect for science fiction; not the country How's this for a truly unusual vision of America's future: It's about 20 years from now. Amer- ica's homosexuals want more political power. But to get this power, they ob- viously need more gay voters. So they turn to science to achieve their goals. They begin breeding test- tube babies. As the babies grow up, the gays raise them to be gay. And within a couple of generations, we have mil- lions and millions of test-tube gays reaching voting age. And they be- come a powerful political force. Imagine that. Why, this country could wind up with a former male hairdresser as president. And the na- tion's first lady could be a guy named Max. Now, this is not just a strange pipe dream. Wait, I take that back. It is a strange pipe dream, but it wasn't hatched at some saloon bar or in a cloud of marijuana smoke. This particular pipe dream origi- nates with Dr. C. Everett Koop, who is President Reagan's choice for the post of United States surgeon general, this country's top public health job, al- though he has not yet been named to the post. And this isn't Dr. Koop's only unu- sual vision of the future. He has many of them, apparently based on a deep, conservative suspicion of scientific and social change. He could probably keep a science fiction horror writer in scary plots for years. Except Dr. Koop isn't kidding. I can't share Dr. Koop's fear of a homosexual takeover of this country through test-tube babies. For one thing, it would take an awful lot of babies before there were enough to make a political impact. Would they be raising them like pot- ted plants? Hundreds and hundreds of test tubes lined up in each gay's taste- Mike Royko Chicago Sun-Times News Service fully decorated apartment? And when they started sprouting, or whatever it is that test-tube babies would do in Dr. Koop's vision, what a terrible din we would hear in places like San Francisco and Chicago's New Town neighborhood. Tens of thou- sands, hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of these little potentially gay infants wah-wahing because they need their diapers changed, they need burping, or they're hungry. Based on my own experience as a father, I don't think Dr. Koop has any- thing to worry about. For one thing, it is hard enough catching the 1 a.m. feeding of just one baby, especially if you have to get up in the morning and go to work. But it would be an overwhelming job to have to get up at 1 a.m. and pre- pare bottles for 20 or 30 or 100 of them and get the temperature just right. And then the harried gay would have to feed them all. After feeding them, he would have to pick each of them up to burp them, which can be the hard- est part. As anyone who has ever burped kids knows, about half the time they throw up on you. It's bad enough hav- ing one baby throw up on you, but it would be unnerving to have 50 or 60 of them do it. Then you have to change their diap- ers. I really doubt that political power would be worth having 50 or 60 babies throwing up on you every night. So instead of having a gay political takeover of this country, what would probably happen would be that we would have a nationwide outbreak of nervous breakdowns by bad-smelling gays. As I said, Dr. Koop has many unu- sual ideas about our future. Many of them, according to the Washington Post, were revealed in a speech he made to a medical group a couple of years ago, and in articles he has writ- ten. For one thing, he is against abor- tion. That in itself is not unusual. But Dr. Koop believes legalized abortion will lead to parents having the legal right to kill a baby up to three days after it is born. They would do this for such reasons as having hoped for a boy, but having a girl instead. So they would just zap the girl baby. And abortion, he has said, will lead to voluntary euthanasia of people who are old or sick or senile. And this, he said, will lead to the government eventually deciding which of the old or sick or senile will be knocked off. You would think that somebody who has such nightmarish visions of where abortion will lead us would be in favor of some kind of birth control, so that we won't have parents having their children bumped off, or such a surplus of old people that society would kill them. But Dr. Koop is also a severe critic of Planned Parenthood, which be- lieves in birth control as a means of avoiding overpopulation and having unwanted children. He believes Planned Parenthood is a terrible organization that has done nothing but encourage teen-agers to have sex. (Does he really believe that. teen-agers never did that before Planned Parenthood came along?) He must have grown up with kids who took cold showers every two hours.) He's probably correct that more teen-agers engage in sex today than they did before the advent of modern birth control devices. But his answer to teen-age sex is not to educate them on how to avoid pregnancy. Instead, he believes they should be taught to abstain. Considering that we are barely able to teach teen-agers in this country how to read and write, it would be one heckuva educational challenge to teach them to resist the urge to get in the back seat of that car and grapple. And it seems unfair to blame Planned Parenthood for teen-age sex. If Planned Parenthood was really that effective in telling teen-agers how to have sex without pregnancy, we wouldn't be setting new national records every year for illegimate babies by teen-age mothers. I don't know if Dr. Koop is going to get the job of surgeon general. Some congressmen think his views are more than a little strange and they point out that he has had little public health experience and is already past the legal age limit for the post. But worse things could happen. What if Reagan decided he wanted the imaginative Koop to be secretary of defense? Then Koop might go on TV and shout: "Godzilla is coming!" --- TAKE OVER PAGE 13 Dec 1977 file: gay rights They Shall Beat Their Children Into Plowshares... "You will stand naked before the Lord on Judgement day, and on that day God will judge you on how you voted on nude dancing in this sinful city." "Amen," rang out the chorus from the packed City Council Chambers. "God said, and I believe it. And that settles it," cried that child of the Lord who came to the seat of govern- ment in Madison to convert all those sinners from the Dangle Lounge. He turned to his enemy, bible in hand, and spoke, "Whether you believe it or not, doesn't matter. The Lord says that nudity is sinful, and you must open your heart to the Lord." "Praise the Lord, Hallelu in," added the chorus. No this wasn't a revival meeting It was a hearing of the City Council on the proposed tightening of the nude danc- ing laws in Madison. The bible toting Baptists were out over 200 strong. But quietly sitting in the back were the power houses and architects of this coalition of the political right and the almighty, not that they weren't married in heaven centuries ago. Back to the crew-cut, square jawed, fair-haired (they with a few stray Blacks from the Pentecostal Gospel Church thrown in to improve the complexion), preachers. Yes, there was not a soul that Tues- day night who didn't try to shake the tiles in the ceiling lose to scare those heathen council members. We heard e- verything from the ex-hippie who was "possessed by the devil, using every drug you could think, and having some god-awful heavy sex, until the Lord Je- sus came into my life-Praise the Lord- and showed me the light, 'to the sermon on the mount message to the masses. The show went on for hours, and as the 'millenium came at 1:30 a.m. the council called it quits for another week, the Christians got stronger and stronger as if they were facing the lions in the They in Rome had come to spread the fear of god in Sodom, but they left wishing the fire and brimstone would hit that very night. The real target of this Crusade was Paul Soglin. But, being the only smart politician up there, he was in the Holy Land when the Baptists came to string him up. The Northport Baptist Church and its Reverend Wayne Dillabaugh are no strangers to the political arena. They were very much in the forefront of the Amato campaign, having the dubious distinction of having more green Amato signs on their lawn than any place in the city. They hadthemplastered to the trees and up and down the block, where many of the sheep in Pastor Wayne's flock live. All those nice little kids that are so fond of discipline wore big green Amato buttons as big as their faces, and leafleted the neighborhood regularly for old Nino. Rev. Dillabaugh believes in getting them broken in early. He also believes in busing, that is busing of his school children to the West side of town, where all those sinners live to leaflet for causes like Nino. But Wayne Dillabaugh is not a one man or one issue fellow. His latest exercise seems to be child beating. He's subject of a well publi- cized John Doe investigation by D.A. James Doyle, Jr. for spanking one of his students. The young boy was pad- dled long enough to give him bruises and contusions forcing his devout par- ents to take their trust away from the Lord just a bit and see a doctor. The doctor notified the police. Rev. Dillabaugh is a proud man. All you have to do is check the Yellow Pages to see that. He has the largest ad for any church in the City. But the Rev. is not beneath hiding behind the skirt of an 18 year old teacher in his school, who was the only witness to the inci- den the name of religious freedom and a "greater duty to God", Kathryn Brandt refused to testify before the John Doe, being conducted by Judge Moria Krue ger. She and the Northport Baptist Church hired one of Madison's most famous sinners, Jack McManus to de- fend her against those who wanted her hide or her testimony. McManus put on quite a show for his $5,000 fee at the contempt hearing beofre Judge Krueger, just one day after the Council hearing. The Reverand Wayne Dildo and his devoted flock N.B.C.; THE ALMIGHTY RIGHT RISES AGAIN The incongruity of Jack McManus, assisted by Curtis Kirkhuff. defending the feathered hair cherubic young tea- cher was apparent from the bang of the gavel. Judge Krueger proclaimed she was merely after the truth. M cManus shot back that he was a soldier of God's truth-the ultimate truth. In the end, if the actual sentence really means any- thing the court meted out a punishment against God's truth, but the good Chris- tian soldiers are getting great propa- ganda out of it. Imagine that infamous drunken, womanizing braggart Jack McManus, defender of rapists and pimps, claiming Madison to be a "lewd, ob- scene, vulgar and godless city." pro- A chorus of "Amens" came from the packed court room. McManus went on to declare Kathy Brandt a "modern day Joan of Arc". Refusing to allow her to answer any questions, Jack stated, "She will not pay tribute to this witchhunt, her greater duty lies with her god." Again Amen. Jack was having a tough time with his genders in referring to the court, attempting to apologize constantly for being disrespectful. He tried to get Moria to agree to letting Kathy sit with her bible in her chambers for an hour as punishment for her contempt. A more fitting punishment would have been to write "I believe in God" 500 times on the blackboard. Upon sentencing Judge Kreuger had some bible reading of her own. She cit- ed a chapter from the New Testament. and immediately dozens of little black cloth books sprung forth to interpret the Judge's remarks. Outside the courthouse a troop of NBC jungen were marched around and around chanting "Discipline is Love". City Finance Minister Andre Blum com- mented on his way past the troopers, "Somebody should beat the shit out of the little bastards." The question everyone seems to be asking is where did they come from? Like the rest of the right-wing Christian resurgence taking place in the country, Madison is just beginning to get into the act. They've been out there on the North- east of town for years purifying and disci- plining their souls in the baptismal, waiting for someone to take them downtown on a crusade. It started with matically despite his crushing defeat. the Amato campaign, but has grown dra- They have God on their side. The people who have marshaled their forces are the same people who have been forging right-wing colaitions in Madison for decades. The principles are all familiar names; Carroll Metzner, Fe- lix Kremer, Dr. Fosmark, Rev. Pritch- ard, and the like. The sex issue seems to be the work mainly of the prissy wives of Rev. Pritchard and Carroll Metzner, who are the best of cronies. They are not really interested in the sex issue or Madison's morality, their main concern is forging a New Right coalition that can elect someone into office. With Soglin out of the way, for the time being Metzner has announced his prime targets to be Alderman John Mattes and Assemblyman David Claren- bach. Metzner sat through over 4 hours of bible preaching to get his chance at blasting Mattes on the Council floor. Julie Maynard must be filling his ear with horror stories, tales about John's "radical past". I'M FOR MRC Why Clarenbach? The answeris all -too obvious. As an avowed gay legis- lator, David represents the next target of the Baptist bunch. Yes folks, Anita Bryant is coming to Madison in the form of a short, fat, male blonde-Pastor Wayne Dillabaugh. They are timing their campaign with the planned opening of the Gay Baths on State Street (where Good Karma) used to be. Prepare yourselves sinners, for the Lord Jesus and his crazed followers are marching into town. You have no place to hide before God. Repent! OR FIGHT BACK! Kathryn Brandt and her god-fearing Attorney, Jack McManus. --- 30 cents Vol. 1, No. 3 MAR 9 1982 Wisconsin Property Owners' News Published weekly by Wisconsin Property Owners' Association Everything for and from the property owner's view and interest. Our Purpose: To inform Wisconsin property owners of actions in and around the state affecting private property. P.O. Box 91 Mount Horeb, WI 53572 Bill Hitzemann, Director Property tax revolt hits Vernon County A property tax revolt has begun in Vernon County, where property taxes have increased by more than 32% this year. A group calling itself "Grass- roots for United Progress (GROUP),' and led by Viroqua farmer Jack Deters has already swung into action. The sixty members of GROUP are withholding 30% of their property taxes until Vernon County comes up with a roll-back in property taxes. Some persons are withholding more than that. "They won't quit spending, so we will quit giving," declared Mr. Deters to the PROPERTY OWNER'S NEWS. Deters, who owns a 100 acre farm in Viroqua, says that his property OFF-Budget wizardry hides $41 billion debt by Don Bell It is called the Federal Financing Bank, or FFB, and it started from scratch in 1974. This summer it shot past Citibank N.A. ($106.1 billion in assets) and next year (1983) it will probably overtake the biggest of them all, Bank of America ($115.7 billion). But whereas Citibank has 22,000 em- ployes and Bank of America has 76,000, the FFB has just seven full-time employes. The success story of this bank, which was intended to streamline the federal government's borrowing, is based on several attri- butes unique in the world of banking: The FFB borrows money from the Treasury at the Treasury's bargain rates and lends the funds to federal agencies and to all users of federally guaranteed loans, including busi- nesses, foreign governments and rural electric cooperatives, at only one- eighth of an interest point higher. It is guided in the financial markets by the very brains that run the Treasury itself. For example, Francis X. Cavanaugh, the Treasury's director of government financing, is acting secretary of the FFB. • Through a variety of arcane pro- cedures, the FFB can be used to "hide" federal debt that would other- wise appear in the federal budget. This aspect of the FFB has attracted a 'continued on page 5 FLASH!! The controversial Wetlands Bill is tentatively on the Assembly Calendar for Wed., March 10, 1982 tax bill was $4,400 in 1981. "That's $50 a week," he said. When asked if he feared any legal repercussions for this unusual action, Deters felt that they would be safe if enough persons in the area joined the action. Deters said that farmers are especially hard hit by property taxes because the occupation requires a massive investment in property for only a minimal return in income. Other occupations often require little or no investment in property to achieve the same income, yet county services are shared equally by all residents. Deters also felt that property assessments on farms should be based on productivity, rather than market value. "The ability to pay corresponds much better with the income tax," he said. He hopes to have an immediate impact locally by setting up commit- tees to work with school boards in keeping educational costs down. "We may have to go statewide," he mused, while looking towards the future. Deters and his organization ultimately want a tax-limitation amendment inserted into the Wiscon- sin Constitution similar to California's Proposition 13 to put ceilings on property tax increases. BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE -PAID Permit No. 63 Mt. Horeb, WI March 10, 1982 Bill limits DNR land purchases Senator Richard Kreul (R-Fenni- more) is sponsoring a bill to put a three-year moratorium on land pur- chases by the Department of Natural Resources. The DNR has, meanwhile, an- nounced that it has reached the half- way point on its planned purchases of private property, even while other agencies are trying to find ways to cut expenditures. Senator Kreul feels the bill is necessary because private property purchased by government no longer pays property taxes. The WPOA favors this bill. With all of the land-control bills now trying to give the DNR control over private property without purchasing it, we wonder why they even feel it is neces- sary to go through the expense. "Privacy" phony issue in sellout to gays Governor Dreyfus has signed into law a bill prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals in housing, em- ployment, and public accommoda- tions. The measure forces landlords and businessmen to adhere to a state mandated code of non-morality when deciding on whom they shall rent their property or employ in their private businesses. Governor Dreyfus proclaimed the bill as a significant advancement towards the right of privacy for citizens. The WPOA begs to differ. A family may rent a room in their home to gain extra income. An avowed homosexual shows up wanting to rent, and he may also be wearing one of the garish outfits that homosexuals some- times wear. By law, the family must bring this man into the privacy of their home and rent the room to him. Where are the property owner's rights of privacy? Where are their property rights? Why are they not allowed to at least uphold a code of morality within the confines of their own homes? Virtually all religions oppose homosexual practices, so why have their religious rights been violated? The word "privacy" does not even appear in the US Constitution. There is no specific "right of privacy," al- though the ninth amendment does say that just because a right is not mentioned in the constitution, that in itself should not be interpreted as the right not being there. Thus, at best the constitution does not prohibit the right of privacy. Conversely, the right of private Property was given a key billing by our forefathers as our third most important by James Delp right, after only "life" and "liberty." The property rights were later ex- ited the quartering of troops in private panded by amendments that prohib- homes, searching private property taking property without just compen- without a warrant or probable cause, sation, and taking property without due process. Even if the gay rights bill did expand the right of privacy, there is no question that property rights are far superior. What really happened in Madison last week was that the liberal clique running the legislature cherishes degree that they have outdone them- tolerance of immorality to such a selves, and in so doing they have. replaced tolerance with preference. --- RENAISSANCE NEWSLETTER box 687 madison, wi 53701 gay july/aug./sept., 1976 editor: j.m. lindert. CLARENBACH SEEKING REELECTION GAY RADIO PROGRAM State Representative David. Clarenbach, one of the Wiscon- sin Legislature's few vocal advocates for gay rights, is seeking reelection to the state assembly from the 78th district, Fadison's central and near east side. Clarenbach, 22 and a Democrat, faces stiff primary opposition in the September 14th primary. During the 1975-76 session of the legislature, David authored a number of bills and amendments aimed at eliminating discrim- ination based on sexual preference. Clarenbach offered legislation which would legalize private sexual activity between consent- ing adults as well as measures to protect gay people from dis- crimination in housing and pub- lic accomodations. "The state has a major role to play in breaking down the societal barriers which con- front gays on a daily basis" Clarenbach said. "I will continue to remind my colleagues. in the Legislature of the re- sponsibility by introducing and actively supporting the passage of cay rights legislation." continued on page 2 A proposal for 30 minute weekly radio program has been approved by WCRT-F., "Back Porch" Radio, 89.7 on the dial, will return to the air on August 15, and within six weeks, Madison's first gay program should be on the air. The intervening time will be spent training mem- bers of the radio group in engineering and production techniques, and in finding an acceptable time slot for both the station and the gay radio group. There is still a need for wider participation, espec- ially women. All interested people should contact John Young at 256-2479. The gay radio show will feature a variety of gay in- terests: gay and feminist music, gay news, book and record reviews, interviews of local gay interest, and public service announcements of interest to gay people. The group also plans to do special programs on major topics like alcohol and drug abuse, venereal dis- continued on page 3 --- -2- continued from page 1 Clarenbach has also been in- volved in a number of other civil rights issues dealing with the rights of women, tenants, students and prisoners. Ex- tremely active in the area of environment, David authored legislation to establish a five year moratorium on the construc- tion of nuclear power plants. One of David's opponents in the September 14 primary has attempted to gain popularity by suggesting that David's in- volvement in such controversial issues as gay rights has tainted. his effectiveness as a legislator. David's other primary opponent, a former member of the legisla- ture, failed to author a single piece of legislation dealing with gay rights during his 12 year tenure in the Assembly. The voter turnout in the September 14 primary is expect- ed to be relatively low; David will probably need only 2000 votes for a victory. A strong campaign organization is already at work to assure a Clarenbach vote in the primary. People can assist the campaign by volunteering to help dis- tribute literature, display window signs and other activ- ities. Call Pam wreski at 25-1638 if you want to help in any way. Lost importantly, your vote can be decisive; be sure to register and VOTE on September 14. Visit THE DOWN UNDER CLUB, LaCross's newest gay bar, at 787 North Losey Blvd, just off US Hy. 16. COUNSELING REPORT The counseling staff pro- vides counseling and infor- mation services to the Gay Community in Madison. The staff consists of non-pro- fessional peer counselors who undergo a training pro- gram lasting about six weeks. In addition the Center spon- sors support groups for people who would like to meet and "rap" with gays in a setting One other than the bar. such group is currently in operation and another is forming at the present time. The type of counseling the center provides varies as widely as the clientele. People in crisis, couples having trouble getting along, or people who are lonely and just want someone to talk to all seek us out. Our most frequent help, however, is to people who have de- cided to come out, but don't quite know how to go about it. For these people we provide an escort for their first trip to the bar, and make intoductions. The Center is open from 1-5 and 7-10 PM weekdays. In addition to counseling, anyone is welcome to drop in and peruse our collection of magazines and books. The Center is currently looking for volunteers to serve as counselors. Any one who is interested should call the Center during regular hours. Ed Estes Director, Counseling Staff # continued from page 1 ease, local politics and gays, and lesbians and gay men. During the spring meetings of the Committee for Gay Rights, the idea of a group of gays organizing to use the media was discussed. After the "Symposium on Gays and the Law" inter- ested people began org- anizing a gay radio group. Meetings have been held throughout the summer planning for the shou and preparing a proposal for WORT, "Back Forch" Radio. Another group inter- ested in TV production is submitting a proposal to Channel 21 for TRYOUT TV. Contact John Young at 256- 2479 if you are interested in working with a video group. A.R.T.: GAY COMMUNITY THEATER Initial productions of adison's gay community theatre are set to open at Freedom House 1925 winnebago, on Friday, August 27 at 8:30 p.m. The new group has adopted the name Arena Repertory Theatre, reflecting their arena-style staging and their plans for keeping several productions play- able at any given time. "THE WAITING ROCK" by John Bowen and "A TRAIN GOING SOMEWHERE" by Gary Gardner will open together, then enter rep- 3- ertory, to played sometimes on the same bill, sometimes sep- arately. Other dates will be announced later. Sarah Whelan Blake is por- traying Harriet and Ray Burns is Paul in the Bowen play. Ms Blake is one of Madison's foremost actresses, the president of Madison Theatre Guild last season. Among her local triumphs is Martha in the Guild production of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF She has worked with almost every theatre in Madison and A.R.T. is quite lucky to have her services. Ray Burns in one of the area's busiest actors, having recently performed here in KENNEDY'S CHILDREN. He was recipient of an MTG acting award for last season's JESUS CHRIST SUPER- STAR. Heading the cast of Gary Gardner's one act is Louie Larsen, Nan Gardner, and Lars Davis. Director Davis will be playing Eddie Pruitt as well as directing both productions. He has an extensive theatre back- ground and is the founder and acting president of A.R.T. Larsen will be seen as Joby, Eddie's lover, and Gardner plays Linda Lou. Margo Kelly and Nick Marzano round out the casts. Stage manager for WAITING ROOI. is Eric Adams and Evan Crawford handles the stage Technical managing of TRAIN. staff includes hary Leigh, Vicki Fontinelli and Bob Luhrsen. A.R. T. is currently casting two more one-acts which hope- fully will join repertory in continued --- -4- 5- late September. They are ONCE BELOW A LIGHTHOUSE by Ramon Delgado and TREVOR, also by John The first full-length Bowen, production is planned for Oct- either FIND YOUR WAY HOME ober, by John Hopkins (if it is avail- able), BUTLEY by Simon Gray, or HARRY, NOON, AND NIGHT by Ronald An original script by Nick Marzano should follow. Future. plans include Bertolt Brecht's EDWARD II. Ribson. Officers for the theatre are elected to terms lasting through one rehearsal period and opening. This is a method of quality control. New officers will be elected September 12. Current officers are Lars Davis president; Ray Burns, vice pres- ident; and Bob Luhrsen, secretary treasurer. Committee chairmen are: Research-Burns and Vicki Fontinelli; Booking-Ron York; Busines-Luhrsen; Publicity-Zelda Gooch; Community Relations-Evan Crawford, Officers were elected prior to any woman joining the In the future all offices group. will be filled by both women and men. A.R.T. also has an acting workshop meeting twice weekly. These sessions will culminate in a showcase. General meetings are set for each Sunday through August at 7:00 p.m. at Freedom House and anyone, gay or not, woman or man, experienced ot not is welcome to attend. The theatre can be reached through the Gay Center or by writing A.R. T. c/o Freedom House, 1925 Winnebago, Madison, WI, 53704 INTEGRITY Certainly one of the dis- advantages of living in a small community such as kadison is the difficulty in finding others of sim- ilar interests in suff- icient numbers to form an Large ongoing group. cities have active ac- tive chapters of the var- ious Christian denomin- ational gay groups, but Fadison has none to my knowledge, because no one denomination has enough gay people to organize such a chapter. While I have just returned from San Francisco and the an- nual convention of Integrity, the gay caucus of the Episcopal Church. there, I met a person from Richmond, Virginia, who described their successful group composed of members of Integrity, Dignity (Roman Catholic,) Lutherans Con- cerned for Gay People, the Presbyterian Gay Caucus, et al., which meets regularly. Is anyone interested in our trying the same thing in Madison? If so, please leave a message for me at the Gay Center, 257-7575, or PC Box 687, Madison, 53701, and 1 will contact you. (The Rev) william H. Landram OPEN LETTER TO THE GAY COMMUNITY Over the past few weeks, I have heard many rumors regarding the policy of The Cardinal in re- lation to being a gay bar. Some people have even told me that the word out there is that we do not want gays to come to our bar. This is obviously a malicious re- mark, as anyone who knows anything about what goes on at the Cardinal will attest to. It is difficult to point out everything that hs taken place at the Cardinal since we opened it. I am sure we have made mistakes and unconsciously alienated some gays. That was never out inten- tion. When we first opened the Cardinal, we did so only by word of mouth among the gay community of Madison and its closest friends. For the first time in Madison's history the gay community had an up-front bar in which to be hon- est and free about their homo- sexuality and do so in the comp- any of their most heterosexual of friends. Most of our straight friends loved the bar so much that they in turn, brought their straight friends, and so on. Women in particular responded pos- itively to the Cardinal, as we were pro-feminism and did all we could to ensure that women felt comfortable and free of hassles. It was only a matter of time, however, considering the hetero- homo ratio of the population at large, for the straights to out- number the gays. We realized long ago the pattern which had developed and continually sought to maintain the bar gay by going as far as putting up a sign at the door advising people of where the Cardinal was at. We kicked people out of the bar for as much as saying the wrong thing about a gay person. There were numerous confrontations between hetero men and gay women, particularily over the pool table, which prompted us to take it out. During this whole process of struggle, we noticed that gay people were really not struggling with us and, in fact, were leaving the Cardinal and going elsewhere. It became obvious to me after a while that we were actually be- yond the point of no return, un- less gays came to the bar in force, it was becoming more and more attractive and pleasant for straights. By December of 1975, I realized that the Cardinal was pretty much straight and, al- though many gays still come and work here, the hetero vibes had virtually taken over. By then, my greatest concern became the business itself. Not being too fond of cap- italism, having to think in terms of business was enough challenge for me. On the other hand, my political self came out of the closet, so to speak, and I got more involved in community af- fairs placing the Cardinal at the services of this community. We have therefore broadened our base and are now entering what amounts to a new period which will reflect a more integrated, open atmosphere, one that I certainly wish gay people take their place in. The remarkable thing to me has been the relative peace and mellowness which has been characteristic of the Cardinal throughout our twenty month existence. There have been only two or three incidents of actual violence inside the bar and these were really minimal. --- -6. -7- Furthermore, there has never been a gay person who was beaten up by straights in or out of the premises of the bar. This, I believe, is quite a record, particularly when one considers that the Cardinal is on the "infamous" Wilson Street. The Cardinal is a people's bar. Our only great objection is to those who do not understand and, therefor, do not appreciate the aesthetics of the place. Deco- wise, the Cardinal is a period bar, beautifully arranged and designed in the manner of the early 1900's. The management is conscious of this fact and strives to keep up an atmos- phere free of plasticity. Even the disco room, from a design point of view, keeps in tune with the old feeling of the place, being basically art deco as a follow up to the more nouveau- ish style of the bar room. Feeling-wise, the Cardinal is an open environment, subject to all kinds of vibrations which tend to remain good most of the time. Business-wise, we cannot risk alienating potentially good people on any account. And last but not least, politically- wise, we cannot discriminate on personal basis, including sex- ual orientation. We can only ask that the gay community of Madison patronize the bar and thus create the atmosphere it wants here. For gays should certainly know by now that we continue to be receptive to them as they are the manifestation of our own gayness. Ricardo SOCIAL SCIENCE VS MINORITY RIGHTS - PART 2 Last month I looked at some of the writings which down through the years have passed for scientific thought on the subject of homosexuality. I suggested that far from being truly "scientific," such writ- ing is really more of an in- dulgence by the author in a kind of fantasy. If this type of writing was directed against some other minority (blacks, Jews, etc.), it would be easily identified for what it is: hate literature. Compare for ex- ample, the Nazi "scientific" writing on the subject of race. Since gay people are the object however, and since gay people are still among the most unpop- ular groups in all society, the literature may still pass for valid social science. It is indeed, ironic that social science, which has been used to help other minorities (cf. Kenneth Clark's "black dolls" test, which aided blacks in the school desegregation cases) has at the same time been used as a tool for the continued oppression of gays. But how does this system of oppression work, and why have so many professionals been, until recently, only too eager to participate in it? The meth- odological errors in this lit- erature are far too numerous to analyze in a short article, but one of the most important must surely be the tendency on the part of the researchers to blame the victims. Though some- times cloaked in kindness and concern, the thrust of these arguments is to blame the oppressed group's problems and inferior social status on some characteristic of the group it- self, rather than on majority prejudice. Thus, as we saw, writers like Bergler come up with a laundry list of negative characteristics to apply to gay people, but ignore the prejudice and bigotry of the straight majority as possible contributors to the emotional problems of gay people. Given the level of prejudice, it would be strange not to expect gay people to have problems connected with guilt and a poor self-image. Since the image most of us have of ourselves is in part a reflection of what others around us think of us, the oppression which manifests itself on a political level in the form of legal and social discrimination often does even more damage on a personal level to individual members of the minority group. For so many supposedly "objective" and "liberal" social scientists to have ignored this all-too- obvious point for so many years cannot help but make on sus- picious, if not cynical, about their true motives. Incidentally, gays are not the only minority to have been subjected to the tender mercies of blaming social scientists. Compare the series of "reports" on the problems of the black urban poor (Moynihan, Coleman, Jensen, etc.). An additional effect of the fallacy on both gays and blacks has been to permit these scholars and the larger society they represent to ignore the substantive con- tent of the protests which have been articulated by these groups. Since we are just "neurotics" who are acting out our various symptoms, any ideas we put forth are tainted by this presumed lack of rationality on our part. This places the schol- ars, and the public, in the lux- urious position of not having to respond to the content of our protests with serious, reasoned rebuttals. People profoundly neurotic, functionally illiter- ate, or racially inferior cannot be expected to advance solid, lucid arguments or opinions so the public can comfortably and complacently ignore them. To put it bluntly, in their eyes we are reduced to something less than full-fledged human beings. In conclusion I should note that in the pst five years or so some of these professional atti- tudes have begun to change. The work of Thomas Szasz, Evelyn Hooker, George Weinberg, Seymour Halleck, and C.A. Tripp among others, has given us reason to hope that we may soom see the end of this dreadful literature. Ed Estes (continued from p. 8) Attention all of you who might be interested in working on the newsletter: an open meeting of the Newsletter/Publications Committee will be held on Sept. 19 at the Center starting at 7:30 P.M. If you cannot attend send a card or note and tell us what you are interested in doing. J.M. Lindert --- -8- GINNY VIDA SPEAKS Ginny Vida, Media Director of the National Gay Task Force addressed fifty people Saturday (June 19) at the Symposium on Gays and the Law. The prime media goal of the NGTF is, "No more negative por- trayals of gay people until there are positive portrayals." The Gay Media Task Force in Los Angeles act as consultants to the networks which have broad- casting standards committed to sensitivity towards gay people as well as other minorities. Their judgment has proved faulty. The Gay Media Alert Network of 250 groups through- out the country has pressured the networks by getting local stations to cancel such shows as "The Outrage" a Marcus Wellby episode and by getting advertisers to withdraw spon- sorship. However, the networks still exclude gay themes during family viewing times. News coverage of events im- portant to gays has never been good. No national network has covered Gay Pride Week, nor did they solicit responses from the Gay Community regarding the Supreme Court decision. ABC will, however, include a clip June 27 on Jean O'Leary, a gay delegate to the Democratic Convention. ABC also plans a documentary on Gays in America. Vida encouraged gay groups to use all events, good or bad, to stir media attention. The unprecedented opposition to the last New York City Gay Rights Bill drew unprecedented media attention to the issues involved. The Supreme Court decision upholding Virginia's sodomy statutes could have been used by local groups construct- ively. The NGTF publishes a "How to Deal with the Media." Vida recommended we start a Gay Radio show, conduct awareness sessions with news directors, and part- icipate in talk shows. She also encouraged us to discourage local stations from buying "Born Innocent." She noted that the media looks toward male author- ity figures. Therefore gay men must learn to defer to the woman if an interviewer asks him all the questions. "Gaining control of the media is essential for gaining control of our lives. = FROM THE EDITOR: Mark McNary This newsletter if the publication of the GAY CENTER located at 1001 University Ave. The GAY CENTER and the RENAISSANCE NEWSLETTER are supported by your contrib- utions. For information about contributing or more information about the GAY CENTER drop us a card care of our post box, drop in and visit, or call 257-7575. To those thoughtful people who support us thru monthly membership donations we apologize for not being able to put out the news- letter during the Summer. We hope you will continue to support our efforts. Continued on page 7 --- bos GAY MADISON NOV 20 RECU Published by The United 306 North Brooks Madison, Wisconsin 53715 NUMBER 16 OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1981 FREE 255-8582 No Place In the Socialist Revolution - A Place Here? 08 The volunteer staff and advisors of GAY MADISON are anxious to see major local news issues analyzed from a Lesbian or Gay per- spective. This is especially true when Gays and Lesbians are important players in these news stories and this fact is ignored. "The Cuban Situation" is one such story. This is the first of a two-part feature which will focus on the forces causing the current generation of Gay Cubans to become refugees; their adjustment to life in Madison; the reaction of Madison's Anglo Gay community and the impact which recent arrests have had on Lesbian and Gay Cubans. In this first segment GAY MADISON'S Kathleen Nichols interviews Grid Hall, the public Defender who handles a majority of the cases involving Spanish-speaking defen- dants in Madison. Hall is a Gay, bilingual, Anglo who is concerned that Madison, includ- ing Gay Madison, is not reacting well to the newest members of our growing racial and ethnic minority community. -K.N.: When you were traveling in Cuba in 1979 what was the official party position on homosexuality? G.H.: We were told by officials that there was no discrimination against homosexuals in Cuba. But officially homosexuals cannot be members of the party...can't teach, can't occupy any position of authority in the society...which seemed discriminatory to me. K.N.: Did you meet any Gays who were mili- tants? G.H.: I never met any. I heard stories about people, but the ones who are militants continued on page 2 - AB 70- On to the Senate! q "Courage and a sense of justice is still very much alive in Wisconsin, " said Barbara Lightner, spokesperson for The United. The remark was made following passage of Assembly Bill 70, a bill prohibiting dis- crimination on the basis of sexual orienta- tion in employment, housing, and public ac- comodations in the state. The measure was approved on a vote of 50 to 46, and marks the first time any house of any state leg- islature has furthered such a law. "We know that efforts have been made," Lightner said, "to revive the old McCarthy tradition of homophobia and intimidation in Wisconsin. But Representative David Clarenbach, primary sponsor of the bill, and his Assembly colleagues have stopped that tradition cold by standing up to be counted in their votes for social justice for Lesbians and Gay men." "We should also recongize the courage of many of the churches and individual clergy in speaking up in support of the legislation," Lightner said. "The re- sponse was overwhelmingly positive on the part of 'mainstream' churches,' " she added, "showing that the Christian tradition is not in fact dominated by the strident cries of hatred and bigotry we so often hear from a moralistic minority.' Passage of the bill came after two and a half years of work on the part of Wis- consin's Lesbians and Gay men. "Of par- ticular importance to our success was Leon Rouse of Milwaukee," Lightner said, "who almost single-handedly educated the Wisconsin churches regarding the legisla- continued on page 3 1 --- AB 70- On continued from page 1 tion, and did much to create a positive climate for its passage. " The bill is now in the Senate, where it will be acted on as soon as possible, probably early in January. Little diffi- culty is anticipated for passage, and Wis- consin will then become the first state in the country to guarantee Gay people the right to legal recourse when they encoun- ter discrimination. Worship in the Temple of the Truly Pissed Off by Sandra Finn-Curkeet Robin Tyler is a comic. We know this is true because she tells us it is. And she made believers of anyone who attended her October 17th performance here in Madison. That night the somber arched confines of Pres House quaked with laughter, shook with knee-slapping, floor-pounding appre- ciation; and resonated with the sounds only helpless side splitting mirth can make. That night the Most Irreverend Robin Tyler turned the Pres House Chapel into the Temple of the Truly Pissed Off, and a whole new meaning to the phrase "rolling in the aisles." gave After So who are the "truly pissed off" and why does Tyler bid us to join their ranks? Why would anyone who is truly pissed off find anything laughable in that? What's so funny about being angry anyway? all, anger is the result of feeling threat- ened, experiencing pain or being betrayed. There are some answers to be found in Tyler's comedy. Robin Tyler announces, "I did not have it easy as a child. Who here tonight had it easy as a child?" One person responds affirmatively. "Get out!" says Tyler, "because the rest of us did not have it easy as a child!" Ah...now we can, for a time, be one with the comic. We go back with her to examine the confusion and sometime absurdity of growing up "different." She says, "I really didn't know what was, but I knew whatever I was, I was the only one." The mostly empathetic audience is then regaled with stories of a Lesbian adolescence (these can last a long time). On a first crush: "She was the model for every woman I have ever loved a cross between Katherine Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Humphrey Bogart." On lost love: "...and somehow I knew this was the way - it would be always a bridesmaid, never a groom." On hard realities: "I guess I've always thought that monogamy was a kind of dark wood you polish. " And Tyler does not forget her Gay brothers. She speaks fondly of her friend Terry, a Gay man who with his precocious pride helped Tyler through difficult times. She recalls asking him, "Terry, why are you Gay? I mean, was your mother too dominant, your father too passive?" Terry's response (circa 1959): "I don't know darling, I guess I was just born lucky!" Do we cry? We do not. We laugh at those old pains, and they seem manageable. Tyler lets us own our anger and makes it preventive medi- cine for younger Gays and Lesbians. Then imagine, if you will, the over three hundred people in the audience singing "Silent Night" while Robin Tyler simulates the position, screams and groans of pre- Lamaze childbirth. She puts that immaculate conception to rest. She gives birth to truth and wraps it in the swaddling clothes of contradiction. "Jesus Christ," she says "was really no different than many other Jewish boys. He lived with his parents for thirty years, took up his father's profession and his mother thought he was God." Should we laugh? Jerry Falwell would not. It Tyler's performance reminds us of our history which must not be forgotten. reduces prevalent religions, social and political systems to a level where they can be seen as ludicrous. But it also examines the contradictions within ourselves (Tyler punctuates her performance with asides from her "butch" alter ego, the tough, more demonic, sometimes politically incorrect dyke). We must acknowledge these also. After two hours of high-energy hilarity and invocations to those of us who've come to understand we are "the truly pissed off," Robin Tyler pauses. She stops the comedy for a few moments to make a plea for coa- lition. She asks that for survival's sake, those of us who are more alike than not, come together to oppose the forces and sys- tems which would oppress us. She also asks that we pass on our talents and skills to others so that the effort does not die. And lastly, the Tyler Benediction: any of you here tonight have felt the least bit offended by this material you probably needed it." - "If --- GAY MADISON Published by The United 306 North Brooks Madison, Wisconsin 53715 NUMBER 15 SEPTEMBER, 1981 FREE Some Words from the Rural Connection After reading "Update on Gay Rights Legislation" by David Clarenbach in the last issue of Gay Madison, I wrote to my state represen- tative, James Laatsch. He represents the 80th dis- trict which includes the Spring Green, Baraboo, Sauk City and Reedsburg areas. I thought Gay Madison would be interested in his response so I have enclosed a copy of our correspon- dence. I am a Christian Les- bian and have a particular concern about Representa- tive Laatsch's views in that he's a clergyman. My intention is to meet with him in the near future to discuss AB 70 and the im- portance of Gay civil rights. September 8, 1981 Dear Mr. Laatsch: As a Christian I am interested in eliminating the oppression that exists in our society. In par- ticular I ask you to support passage of AB 70 which would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing or public accommodations be- cause of sexual preference. continued on page 4 Meg Christian Turns it Over by Sandra Finn-Curkeet And oh our revolutions Slowly spin me out And draw me in 11 -Meg Christian, Turning it Over Surviving or "taking a look at what it takes to stay alive," says Meg Chris- tian, "is an all encompass- ing process. She goes on to explain that action, whether political, cultural or personal "starts inter- nally" and that which is manifested externally can- not be viable without in- ternal peace and well being. It seems like such a simple idea really, but an elusive one%3B one that seems to be the focus of Meg Christian's latest album, Turning It Over. I had the brief pleasure of speaking informally with the composer and lyricist about her new album, and about her concert tour which recently included a visit to Madison. Dur- ing our conversation it was apparent that Christian maintains a commitment to supporting the work Lesbians must undertake to survive, but she also emphasizes the importance of taking care of ourselves. "I denied myself rest," she said, "and attempted to take everything upon myself finally I had to take a look at myself and reality. I had to realize I was be- coming sick inside." continued on page 3 More Support for AB 70 The Governor's Advisory Council for Women and Family Initiatives has voted, with only one dissenting vote, to support AB 70, the bill which would prohibit discrimina- tion based on sexual orien- tation. In a September 8th memo to the bill's primary author, David Clarenbach, the council stated it is "committed to supporting legislation that prohibits obstacles to free choices in employment, educational opportunities and housing." The memo further states that many homosexual indi- viduals who lead "exemplary lives" enjoy non-discrimina- tion only because their sexual orientation is not known. The council maintains: "Since honesty is a cherished value of our society, it follows that individuals should be able to honestly pursue their goals as con- tributing members of society without fear and anxiety regardless of their sexual orientation." --- GAY Renaissance Newsletter February, 1977 UW Creates Committee to Deal with Gay Discrimination The University of Wisconsin has taken a major step in recognizing the rights, legi- timacy and special problems of gay people on campus. It has created an Assistance Committee made up equally of UW Administra- tion and representatives of the gay and Lesbian communities. The committee meets monthly to discuss and act upon any case of discrimination against a gay student. According to a statement issued by Dean of Students Paul Ginsberg, "This committee will be willing to listen, to be supportive, and to inter- vene and help in any way it can. Conversa- tion with the committee will not become a matter of record, and any intervention or assistance by the Committee will occur only with the gay person's approval." The committee consists of members of the Dean of Students' office, including Gins- berg himself, plus two representatives each from the Lesbian Switchboard and the Renaissance Gay Center. Chuck Lepard and Bill Handy are the Gay Center's representa- tives. Anyone wishing to meet with the committee to discuss a grievance can contact either the Lesbian Switchboard at 257-7378, the Gay Center at 257-7575, or the Dean of Students office at 263-5700. The committee is meeting every month whether or not there are grievances. Currently the com- mittee is discussing the possibility of a Statement of Concern to be issued by the university setting out a gay rights policy. The assistance committee was the result of long discussions between community people and Ginsberg's staff. Its stated purposes are: --To hear from individuals about experiences of perceived discrimination based on sexual preference in the Univer- sity community; --To be a liaison between aggrieved individuals and the parts of the system where individuals encounter difficulty; --To raise the consciousness of the UW community and increase its sensitivity to peoblems of being gay, and to make gay people aware of existing services for them in the University community. Survivor's Notes: Memories of the '62 Gay Purge EDITOR'S NOTE: The year 1962 was not the University of Wisconsin's most libera- ted moment. The doctrine of in loco paren- tis was firmly in place. Women were requi- red to be in their dorms by 10:30 on week- nights. Students had to stay in campus housing until they were 21. In the midst of this generally repres- sive setting a purge of campus homosexuals was conducted by the Department of Protec- tion and Security and the Dean of Men. Between October 1962 and February 1963 the gay community was terrorized by a full- scale inquisition. What follows are a survivor's notes. The gay man who is the subject of the following interview is presently on the UW academic staff. His request for anon- ymity is discussed in the interview. His recollections have been slightly edited for continuity. They are presented here for the interest of Madison gays who may not know what the "bad old days" were like, or might be like. Q: What are your memories of how this purge took place? A: At the time of what has come to be called the Great Purge of '62 I was a sophomore. I was living at the time with one straight man and one gay man. Over the course of a week or two I had been recei- ving a phone call or two a week from the Department of Protection and Security. For some reason I got it into my head that they were looking for a stolen bicycle or I had a parking ticket. I had no indic- ation of why these messages were being left, and since I had no reason to cor- respond with the Department of Protection and Security that I could think of, I just said to hell with the Department of Pro- tection and Security. One evening, I guess it was about this time of year, I received a call from a graduate student friend of mine, also a. gay man, whp happened to be in the French (Continued on next page) --- THE UNITED 306 North Brooks Madison, Wisconsin 53715 YES, (608) 255-8582 LYSISTRATA WILL BE OPEN FOR THE UNITED'S non-ALCOHOLK FIRST COFFEEHOUse 6-10pm #1 Doration SUNDAY, OCT. 4 & Don'T FORSEF: he Caronar Bar's Lesbian Gas SAY DISHES BESinning THIS SUNDAY Ocs. 4, cun con Cornuary Susey Sunway The Cardinal Bar 418 E. Wilson 251-0080 REMEMBER THE GAY EQUINOX? Now, every Sunday, a night for Gay Men and Lesbians to benefit the United. FEATURING: Your Favorite D.J.'s Guest Bartenders Drink Specials (non-alcoholic & Spirited) Cocktail Buffet Raffles Games Theatre and much more! SUNDAYS 4-1 $1 --- OUR HORIZONS WISCONSIN'S GAY/LESBIAN NEWSMAGAZINE Volume 1 Number 5 Thursday, November 5, 1981 50¢ By Theresa Ferris DRIFTWOOD or DRIFTING GAYS? Spotlighting: Wisconsin Gay Rights? Vital Perspectives Black/White Men Together --- A.B. 70 CUTE, CAMPY, COCKY AND YOURS! THE VIOLENT FEMMES SM AT THE PHOENIX! NOV. 11 & 12 235 S. 2ND ST. STARTS AT 8P.M. $2 COVER MORE THEN MUSIC AND A SHOW! Wisconsin Gay Law? Maybe. Three votes in the Wisconsin State Assembly was the margin of victory for A.B. 70, the Wisconsin State Human Rights bill which would insure non- discrimination for Gays. At precisely 11:18 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23rd, the Assembly moved to pass this Bill by a vote of 49 to 45. Shortly after the vote of record another representative who had been out of the room notified the Chair that he wished to be recorded as a no vote. Several parliamentary procedures before and after this historic vote moved to block passage of this bill. The routing that yet remains is that the bill now moves to the State Senate, where, according to Leon Rouse, "We are cautiously hopeful." Hearings are expected to take place in late Janu- ary 1982. Passage of the bill in the Senate would move it to the desk of Gov. Lee Dreyfus. In a memorandum to Assembly Rep. David Clarenbach, the Governor's Advisory Council for Women and Family Initiatives states: "There are many examples of indi- viduals who have enjoyed non- discrimination in housing, employ- ment and education who, in fact, are homosexual. They have often enjoyed these choices without discrimination or harassment because their sexual orientation was unknown. They have led exemplary lives in most cases and where they have not, they have been held responsible for their behavior as I have other members of the human family." There was one dissenting vote of the committee. According to some legislative watchers, "it would be easy to sit back with this encouraging news, but at anytime the Moral Majority and its friends could mount an attack like it did in Washington D.C. and the bill could be killed in the Senate or at Dreyfus's desk. Neither the Assembly nor Senate would have the 2/3rd vote necessary to override a Governor's veto. " Rouse then pointed out that, "It cannot be forgotten that Milwaukee Assembly members Gus Menos, James Rutkowski and George Klicka all op- pose this bill." Work on A.B. 70 began in the fall of 1979. Rouse, the 24 year old coordi- nator of the Committee for Funda- mental Judeao/Christian Human Rights spent endless hours not only lobbying each member of the legis- latre and senate, but took the time to dig out minute details about the back- ground and voting record for every elected official. Once again a primary area of sup- port for this Wisconsin Bill has come from the churches. Letters of support from most of the mainline churches were an essential key to the success- ful passage of A.B. 70 according to Rouse. He went on to recall, "Cer- tain pastors and bishops would get on the phone directly to a given member of the Assembly to query their vote and actively urge their support. It was great!" (See additional story on church support.) Financial support for this program has come primarily from the United Gay Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This $1,400 has provided the fundamental support, but, according to Rouse, much more is needed. "To this date we have re- ceived NO financial support from any Milwaukee Gay group," Rouse said. "It is important to know," Rouse pointed out, "that this bill is NOT a consenting adults bill. That bill was de- feated by one vote." According to Kathleen Curran, a State of Wiscon- sin Legislative Attorney, "this bill does not make any changes in statutes which deal with "Crimes Against Sexual Morality". The prohibition against sexual intercourse with someone who is not a person's spouse, cohabitants, public sexual activity or exposure and anal or oral sexual activity are still against the law for all in Wisconsin." However, Currans noted: memorandum "This Bill prohibits dis- crimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of employ- ment, housing and public accom- modations... The Bill draft defines sexual orientation as having a prefer- ence for either heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality." If this Bill is signed into law, Wis- consin will join only California and Pennsylvania with similar laws. Ac- cording to statistics collected on Gay Rights in the United States, while 48 states have no bill like A.B. 70, 25 states do have Consenting Adults Legislation. Photo by Doug Haas -Page 3- --- WISCONSIN LAWS Continued from page 13 These counties and the ones below reporting zero arrests, prosecutions. and convictions comprise 32.38% of the population of Wisconsin, accord- ing to the 1979 State Blue Book. Hence. the projected figures in the opening sentence of this article. The following counties reported no arrests. prosecutions, or convictions for 1977-79: Ashland. Barron. Buffalo, Burnett. Florence. Forest, Iowa. Kewaunee. La Crosse. Lincoln. Mar- quette. Menominee. Oconto, Oneida. Pepin. Pierce. Richland. Rock. St. Croix. Taylor. Vernon. Washburn. Waupaca, and one unidentified county. Appendix ( The following counties did not respond: Bayfield. Clark. Columbia. Crawford. Dunn. Grant. Green(). Iron(). Jackson, Kenosha. Lafayette. Iangladet). Manitowoc. Marathon. Marinettet). Monroe, Ozaukee. Price. Racine. Rusk. Sauk. Sawyer. Sheboy- gan, Trempealeau. Walworth. Waush- ara. () These four responded. but with fewer than the three years tabulated. Appendix A District attorneys were asked to give statistics in their counties for the years 1970-79 Since many lacked earlier data. here are included the figures only. County Arrests for the last three years, 1977-79. See Appendices B and C for counties not included here. Prosecutions Convictions Adams Chippewa 3 I 2 2 Door ' 0 Fau Claire 33 3.3 30 Fond du Lac 4 3 Green Lake 0 Jefferson 6 ( 6 Juneau I 0 Polk I 1 Portage 0 0 Shawano 1 1 1 Vilas 2 Washington 3 Waukesha 24 24 24 3-year totals 83 81 70 Average per year 28 27 23 • Pending. Toute Crew is associate professor and quilts ader to the fan People's Inien at the Iniversity if Wisconsin, Stevens Poi --- New York Native 3/15-28/82 NUNS IN THE GALLERY The Church, David Clarenbach, and Wisconsin's Gay Rights Bill by Carol Stroebel W isconsin bas become the first state in the union to enact a gay civil rights law. The state Senate passed Assembly Bill 70 on a voice vote February 17. (See "Rights Bill Passes Wisconsin Senate; Will Go to Governor for Signature," Native 32.) As expected, Republican Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus signed AB 70 February 25. The driving force bebind the bill in the state legislature was its author, state Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison). Clarenbach, who was 18 when first elect- ed to public office, is now 28 and bas represented downtown Madison in the Assembly for eight years. He has intro- duced legislation for gay civil rights each year be has been in the statebouse. The Native interviewed him in bis legis- lative offices. Carol Stroebel: Wisconsin is the first state to pass such a bill, correct? Rep. David Clarenbach: Yes. I don't think it's any fluke or mistake that it occurred in Wisconsin first. One would think that New York or California, with their large and highly politically active gay communities in sensitive environ- ments, would be the place for that first step to be taken. But Wisconsin has a tradition of progressive and innovative legislation. Is that the only reason? No, a lot of groundwork was laid here that perhaps, other states have not laid. We succeeded in creating an environment of political security by confronting the Moral Majority and their issues. We con- fronted them and played their game. Naturally, politicians are afraid to offend even a very narrow minority if they are single-issue and very vocal. Thus the alleged strength of the Moral Majority. In Wisconsin, our assessment was that if the members of the legislature were allowed to have a secret vote on the gay rights issue-which, of course, they can't-they would vote for it.. Our quest was to create some politi- cal security and an environment where we could match the Moral Majority and the ultra-right-wing religious constituency with some equal strength of our own on religious issues. That, more than anything else, was the key to our success. We generated almost unanimous- literally across-the-board-endorsements of the bill from the leaders and constit- uencies of the mainstream religions in the state. We got the Archbishop of Milwaukee to endorse the bill. To have the Archbishop writing letters, to have nuns carted in from all over the state to lobby senators and representatives, that counts for a lot. We created a situation so that any legislator who voted for a gay rights bill could run for reelection in the fall or could respond to a reactionary 1 Wisconsin state representative David Clarenbach. minister raising trouble in his district by dragging out a dozen letters from the bishops of Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and other denominations from around Why the Governor Signed the Bill Following is a statement issued by Wisconsin Gov. Lee Sherman Dreyfus, a moderate Republican, explaining bis decision to sign Assembly Bill 70, the state's gay civil rights bill, into law. Dreyfus signed the measure Thursday, February 25, and it went into effect the following day. AB 70 prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation. This bill has a contro- versial history, and my office has been under heavy pressure to veto it. It also, however, has the support of a wide- ranging group of religious leadership, including leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, several Lutheran synods, and the Jewish community.. 1 have decided to sign this bill for one basic reason: to protect one's right to privacy. As one who believes in the fundamental Republican principle that government should have a very restricted involvement in people's pri- vate and personal lives, I feel strongly about governmentally sanctioned inquiry into an individual's thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. Discrimination on sexual preference, if allowed, clearly must allow inquiries into one's private life that go beyond reasonable inquiry and in-fact invade the state. The issue was not whether homosexu- ality was admirable or good, because clearly, according to many of the one's privacy. No one ought to have the right and no one ought to be placed in the position of having to reveal such personal information when it is not directly related to an overrid- ing public purpose. Be certain to understand that the clear and stated intent expressed by the legislature is that this policy will not require affirmative action or quotas. That was vital to my decision to sign this bill. I was also influenced by the fact that Madison, Dane County, and the City of Milwaukee have ordinances similar to this legis- lation. The problems associated with them which many predicted just have not arisen. Let me firmly state that this restriction on discriminatory actions or decisions does not imply approval or encouragement any more than the restriction on discrimination because of a religion or creed implies approval or encouragement of certain religions or creeds. or As to the relationship of this subject to the process of education. I feel very strongly that one's sexual preferences, either homosexual heterosexual, have absolutely no place for expression in our classrooms generally, and should not be tolerated. religions, homosexuality is not acceptable conduct. The question was not homosex- uality; it was whether discrimination and bigotry were tolerable. The response by mainstream religious leaders was clearly: "We cannot condone discrimination and bigotry against any minority group." You have been trying to get this bill. passed for years. Why did it pass now, when the strength of the regressives appears to be growing? We confronted the alleged strength of the Moral Majority and found that it was alleged at best. The Moral Majority really represents only a very narrow segment of the population. Since the state Senate concurred on the bill, the Moral Majority tried to gener- ate an avalanche of phone calls through a Christian radio network that broadcasts "emergency alerts." That network across the state could only generate a little over 1,000 phone calls, which is a pittance. It is a demonstration of their small numbers, Yet they've been able to strike fear in the hearts of politicians all across the country. I think politicans, policy makers, and the public are recognizing that they are no more than fanatics who do not by any means represent the majority sentiment. No amendments were offered on the bill-not the old exempt-the-school- teachers amendment, not the old exempt- the-National-Guard issue because you don't want a bunkmate who's a pervert. There are a thousand ways to kill a bill. All sorts of issues could have been raised but weren't. How difficult was it to get together this coalition? It was a very long task. In many instances it started at the grassroots level with individuals initiating action in meet- ings of their denominations.. It led to an interesting contradiction. It was the first session this bill was brought up for a vote and it passed. Yet, the other issue of sex law reform, the consenting adult bill-which would have legalized sex acts that are allowed by law in the majority of states now-has been brought to a vote on numerous occasions and has lost each time. It's illegal to perform homosexual sex acts in Wisconsin yet you are protected by law against discrimination if you are a homo- sexual. The Catholic church did not support the consenting adults bill because, in their view, that entered into the, moral question of the sex act itself. But the issue is very different when we talk about discrimination, when we talk about deny- ing someone a job or a home. The support we got from the Catholic church was especially instrumental. Do you see other states following suit? I think the historic significance is that if Wisconsin-a Midwestern, middle-sized, rural, quasi-conservative state which has nothing particular to offer in terms of a gay rights constituency-if we can do it, any state can do it. Alabama can do it, much less a New York or a California. While one cannot take the blueprint from the Wisconsin experience and simply transpose it to any state in the union, there are some valuable lessons. If nothing else, the lesson of encourage. ought to brought to every state. With the proper groundwork, and the proper understand- ing that the issue ought not to be articu- lated as homosexuality good or bad, but as discrimination and bigotry, it can Continued on page 36 ment and momentum be --- Continued from page 15 succeed in any state. But it's not something that can be accomplished overnight. I cringe when I see votes such as last year in the Illinois House of Representatives on their gay rights bill, where it lost 100-and-some- thing to 33. They obviously felt it more important to go for a vote and lose big than to spend those several years necessary to organize a major state. We had to create an incentive to vote for the bill. A politician had to think twice when he looked up in the gallery on the day of the vote and saw a nun from his district who had badgered the hell out of him in leters and personal visits the preceding two weeks, and who was sitting up there staring at him with the message: "You should vote for this bill because it is right." In the other states, it's been quite the opposite, It's been the right- wing religious fanatics who have been perched in the gallery, who have been haunting the hell out of these people to the point where they have been politically afraid to vote for a gay rights bill. What about the consenting adults bill? The consenting adults bill will fall in place, and we have seen this trend over the last few sessions. It's just a matter of time before Wisconsin will enter the 20th century. You've been working for years, patiently pursuing passage of the gay rights bill. Do you see counterparts in other legislatures? There are committed, politically active legislators in each state who are involved in issues such as this. It's a matter of having the commitment to make this a priority. It is important, essential, to, have someone on the inside who is will ing to play the game and manipulate the process from that end of things as well. The legislature here and in every state is very much a network of friends, and if there is someone who is difficult to work with as a colleague, they are less likely to get the marginal votes. I'm now in my eighth year in the legislature and have generated the credibility I needed to have that entree into a colleague's office, to explain how this would not hurt him politically. What is it like being a gay rights activist in the Midwest? It's not any more difficult advocating the issue of rights for lesbians and gay men in Madison, Wisconsin, than it is any- place else. One does not encounter ill will, outside of extremely redneck con- stituencies that I tend to stay away from. To shy away from a very central involve- ment in gay rights in the 1980s is like ignoring civil rights and the Vietnam war in the 1960s. It did concern me at the public hearing at the Senate in late January when some of the activists from Milwaukee showed up with their stack of newspapers and magazines to distribute to the committee for their general information and edifi-- cation, outlining the advantages of boy | occur in other states, demonstrate a fail- ing on the part of those organizing the effort, that they didn't lay the ground- work well enough, or they pushed the vote too soon. Or perhaps they relied on the activism and commitment of the gay community, which we certainly did not do here. There is still a tendency on the part of the gay community to be non- political and uninvolved. love and S&M worship and chains. They thought this would-be a marvelous edu- cational experience for the committee. My heart stopped. I offered to distribute the magazines at a more appropriate time. I thank my lucky stars that no senators who were opposed to the bill got their hands on that, because that would have been enough to kill the bill. One sena- tor, waving one of these magazines around, saying, "This is what you're condoning with this bill," would have put AB 70 in the toilet. There is a sector of the gay lifestyle which would be rather unacceptable to mainstream Wisconsinites. Yet, even in those small Midwestern towns that you think of in Norman Rockwell paintings, there is an overriding commitment to the principle of live and let live, love and let love. I don't think it's a conscious commitment to gay rights as such. I think most people in this country still can't relate to, can't conceive of a homosexual-I might be very wrong, because obviously the media have educated and sensitized the public on the existence of homosexuals. But I think there's a real commitment to the principle that individuals have a right to sexual privacy. If that were not the case, this bill would have gone down in thunderous defeat. What do you see next on the rights agenda? gay civil Very few additions to legislative pro- grams for gays can be realistically accom- plished at this time. The struggle for social acceptance, to sensitize the public about gay people, is one that will have to be carried on through enforcement of the existing anti-discrimination tections and through other means of public education. pro- In much the same way that there are bigots and people who believe in race hatred, it will take generations for lesbians and gay men to be accepted in our society. That struggle ought to continue on every front. But the laws have to come first. The laws are not an end in themselves, and we must be vigilant to see that those laws are carried out to the extent of their intent. There will be continued struggles here, Those unfortunate defeats, when they I'm sure. It's not all over. --- Volume 7/ Number 20 THE INTERNATIONAL GAY NEWSLEADER CHICAGO GayLife Comp50 entary Wisconsin assembly passes gay rights bill By Stephen Kulieke Wisconsin took a major step toward becoming the first state in the nation to enact comprehensive gay rights laws when the state Assembly approved a bill Oct. 23 banning "sexual orientation" discrimination and sent it on to the Senate for consideration. "What happened here today is a victory for gay people everywhere," said an ebullient Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), following the successful vote. "Let the Moral Majority and hatemongers take notice that the gay rights movement and human decency are alive and well." Assembly Bill 70, of which Clarenbach is the primary author, passed the Assembly by a 50-46 vote. (Two other representatives on opposite sides of the issue did not actually vote but recorded their positions through a legis- lative device known as "pairing.") The bill also survived two procedural votes-one to indefinitely postpone con- sideration and another, following the bill's approval, to reconsider by margins of 55-41 and 53-43 respect- ively. The proposed legislation would prohibit discrimina- tion based on sexual orientation in housing, public. accommodations, and employment in both public and private sectors. Clarenbach had introduced the gay rights bill in two previous legislative sessions, but this was the first time it had come to a vote on the Assembly floor. Informed sources said success this year was due in large part to "broad-based support from the religious community." Religious groups and leaders declaring their support of the bill included the state's United Methodist, Presbyter- ian, American Baptist, Unitarian Universalist, Lutheran Church in America, and American Lutheran church bodies as well as the Episcopal diocese and the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Milwaukee. Continued on page 5 --- Wisconsin assembly OKs bill Continued from page 1 Religious leaders saw the bill "as a question of human rights," said Dan Curd, an assistant to Clarenbach. By contrast, he said, a consenting-adults bill to repeal the sodomy law's criminal prohibition of gay sex, which failed in the Assembly last spring was, viewed by some mainstream religionists as a "moral question," and they consequently withheld their support. Fundamentalists who had "vir- tually tied up" legislative telephone lines prior to the previous vote were "relatively silent" on this week's gay rights bill, said Curd. Curd pointed out that legislators voting in favor of the bill ranged from liberal Democrats to middle-of-the-road and conservative Demo- crats as well as Republicans. "That's a real achievement," he said. "I think the overwhelm- ing consensus of the legislature was that the responsible people in the state supported it." יי The Assembly heard floor debate for and against the bill. The Assembly's minority leader, Rep. John Shabaz (R-West Bend), warned legislators that they were "going too far" by protecting a group (gay men and lesbians) that the original drafters of state civil rights statutes had not intended to protect. "This is not a moral issue; this is a matter of bigotry," countered Clarenbach. "It is a ques- tion of whether Wisconsin. will tolerate discrimination." Despite "rumblings" to exclude school- teachers from the provisions of the bill, no amendments were offered on the Assembly floor. Backers also successfully rebutted oppo- nents' claims that the bill, if passed, would mandate affirmative action. The bill will now be assigned to a Senate committee, which will hold a public hearing on the legislation in November or December and then vote whether to concur with the Assembly action. If approved by committee, the bill will likely reach the full Senate during January. Wisconsin's Republican governor, Lee S. Dreyfus, then would have the option of signing the bill into law, not signing it, or vetoing it. Under either of the first two options, the bill would become law. Because of the Senate's previous support of progressive legislation such as the proposed sodomy law repeal and endorsement by the Governor's Advisory Council on Women and Family Initiatives of the gay rights bill, backers Iare very optimistic about the bill's future. Marlene Cummings, gubernatorial adviser on women and family issues, said in a tele- phone interview that her council's approval of the bill had been "nearly unanimous" with only one dissent based on "lack of information." She said the council opposed "any form of discrimination against any member of the human family." Clarenbach said he is "confident we have cleared the major hurdle. . . . Wisconsin will become the first state in the country to guaran- tee gay people the legal right to recourse when they are discriminated against." Such passage. he said, "should serve to inspire enactment of similar laws in other states." Chicago Gay Life Volume 7/Number 20 --- call Prox 202 7245653 AP Wirephoto Sane Jose, Calif., Mayor Janet Gray Hayes holds a microphone for Rosalynn Carter during a briefing Tuesday evening. Rosalynn defends gays, urges Latin trade policy exceptions Ro- SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) salynn Carter, visiting a bastion of gay activists, declared Tuesday that ho- mosexual men and women should be free of harassment. During the second day of her west- ern tour, which will take her to Ho- nolulu late today, Mrs. Carter first about her views on Earlier in the day, Mrs. Carter and 20 other members of the President's Commission on Mental Health spent nearly eight hours listening to com- plaints about treatment of mentally ill Americans. She told reporters she felt was "very important" to develop commu- nity health care facilities instead of large government institutions and said she would use her powers of "persua- sion" to urge Jimmy Carter to adopt recommendations by the commission in his next budget. tried to skirt reporters' questions Proxmire urges adoption of anti-gay housing amendment Then she replied quietly, "I don't think they should be harassed." Asked if she would object if her daughter were taught by a gay teach- er, she said, "I think Jimmy answered that question very well. He said he had enough problems to worry about with- out having to take on another one." Later, in an unusual foreign policy statement by a first lady, Mrs. Carter said the United States is concerned about an arms buildup in Latin Amer- ica and suggested action by the United Nations or the Organization of Ameri- can States might be needed to avert a "possible war." Mrs. Carter, making her first speech about her recent seven-nation Latin American trip, described Ecua- dor and Peru - both governed by mili- tary regimes- as a "troubled area." She said neighboring nations were building up their armaments although leaders privately wished they instead could be developing their industries and schools. Mrs. Carter also said it was her per- sonal opinion that the United States should change its current exclusion of Venezuela and Ecuador from tariff preferences given to developing coun- tries. Both nations have been excluded from the trade benefits because they are members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, she noted, even though they did not partic- ipate in the 1973 oil embargo. WASHINGTON (UPI). -The stately Senate Appropriations Commit tee room became a forum on gay rights while members grappled with, then sidestepped, the issue of equal access to public housing for homosex- uals. The dispute arose Tuesday as the appropriations panel debated a bill providing $67.5 billion to fund the Department of Housing and Urban De- velopment and other agencies in fiscal 1978. The bill later was passed without objection. An amendment, added to the House bill after emotional debate, would bar the use of any funds to enforce a recent regulation allowing homosex- uals and other unmarried couples who live together equal access to public housing. Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.) urged the committee to adopt the same anti-gay language as the House, but Sen. Lowell Weicker (R-Conn.) and Chairman Warren Magnuson (D-Wash.) objected, saying the lan- guage would put Congress on record favoring discrimination against gays and other unmarried couples. After spirited debate, the committee altered the language slightly in order to guarantee a later House-Senate conference committee where the issue can be fought out. A Senate floor fight is still possible if an effort is made to strengthen the restriction. Proxmire said there is a waiting list for public housing and those with traditional wife-husband "stable family relationships" should have prefer- ence. "We certainly don't want to say that homosexuals have equal access with families to public housing," he said. Sen. Lawton Chiles (D-Fla.) whose state was thrust into national lime- light by singer Anita Bryant's successful campaign to repeal a "gay rights" ordinance in Dade County, said the amendment does not "deny any rights" to anyone. The question, Chiles said, "is as a matter of public policy whether we should assist them (homosexuals) with subsidized housing. " Weicker said the language posed "some very deep constitutional ques- tions" and added, "I don't want to get caught up in some temporary hys- teria and start r - people's constitutional rights all over the place." ---