WISCONSIN Newspaper Association 33 North Dickinson Madison, Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division Stoughton Courier APR 7 1977 31- Clarenba Propose Changes In Income Tax Brackets A Wisconsin lawmaker has proposed creation of four new brackets on the upper income levels of the state income tax form. State Representative David Clarenbach "The income tax in charged that, Wisconsin, once designed to tax based on ability to pay, has now deteriorated into a most unprogressive tax. " The income level above $14,000 is now assessed a flat rate of 11.4 percent. Under Assembly Bill 494, new brackets are created at the $20,000, $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 income levels. "Middle- and low-income citizens have to bear the tax burden of our state, while the rich have enjoyed the benefits of this loophole for years," Clarenbach said. income "The progressive principle that the the greater higher your percentage you ought to pay in taxes, is sound and generally accepted. This tax redistribution plan would bring needed relief for the over-taxed middle-income individual," said Clarenbach. Assembly Bill 494 has been referred to the Assembly Revenue Committee for a public hearing. WISCONSIN Newspaper Association 33 North Dickinson Madison. Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division Manitowoc Herald Times APR 18 1977 Two Rivers, Wis. 3+ Mon., April 18, 1977-21 31 Gays plan campaign against Anita Bryant 1 The MADISON, Wis. (AP) University of Wisconsin student union is to be the scene of a May Day rally by sympathizers of homosexuals who have begun what they call an anti-Anita Bryant campaign. The campaigners outlined their program Saturday with the support of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state Rep. Da- vid Clarenbach, D-Madison. Funds raised at the May 1 campus festivities are to sun- port Florida homose are defending a cor Miami ordinance whi its job discriminatio sex preference. Miss Bryant, a known vocalist. sai B e cism of the gays' ordinance has made her a target of political pressure by gay activists. She is organizing an effort to have the ordinance repealed. In a letter to Dade County, Fla., commissioners, Soglin said a similar statute in Madi- son "has not had the negative impact feared by some eiti- zens. "It has not led to recruitment of children by older gay people," Soglin said. "It has WISCONSIN Press Association 33 North Dickinson Madison, Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division Wausau Daily Herald APR 1 8 1977 Isthmus of Panama between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 31. the Seventeen W Rally at UW organiz for Florida homosex MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The University of Wisconsin student union is to be the scene of a May Day rally by sympathizers of homosexuals who have begun Anita what they call an anti Bryant campaign. - The campaigners outlined their program Saturday with the support of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and state Rep. David Clarenbach, D-Madison. Funds raised at the May 1 f campus festivities are to sup- port Florida homosexuals who are defending a controversial d Miami ordinance which prohibits job discrimination based on sex preference. Miss Bryant, a nationally known vocalist, said her criticism of the gays' ordinance has made her a target of political pre tivists. She i fort to hav repealed. In a lette Fla., commis a similar s "has not ha pact feared "It has no of children b Soglin sa destroyed building blo has it led to ple into Ma be protect dinance." Miss B collected e force a ref troversials --- Clarenbach still has hope for 'consenting adult' bill By OWEN COYLE Of The Capital Times Staff State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) says there will be an at- tempt to bring the so-called sex bill out of committee and back to the As- sembly floor within the next two weeks. The bill, which won preliminary ap- proval in the Assembly last week by a ten vote margin, was returned to the Assembly Judiciary committee Wednesday by a 51-45 vote. But Clarenbach said the amend- ments which should answer oppo- nents' arguments can be drafted quickly. And by conservative esti- mate, he said, there are still enough votes in committee to report the bill out. The proposal would wipe out present state penalties for sexual acts in private between consenting adults. That includes oral sex which is illegal under present law even between hus- band and wife. Clarenbach said the aim of the pr posal is "to get the state out of t bedroom." Opponents contended, however, th by definition, the bill was legalizir prostitution and throwing a block in regulation of massage parlors sin those activites alledgedly take place private. Those arguments prevailed Wedne day despite a letter from Dane Coun District Attorney James E. Doyle, J that the bill, even in its original for would not have legalized prostitution Clarenbach said one of the probler which arose during the Assembly flo debate is that clarifying amendmen were drafted in improper form. But it will be a simple job, he said, write the proper amendments in cor mittee and bring the bill up for a se ond committee vote. Joanne Duren were tacked on the bill. One would make it clear that prostitution was not legalized by its provisions, while the other would ban sexual massages, such as are allegedly practiced in massage parlors around the state, from the bill's provisions. C-T 5/12/77 David Clarenbach State Rep. John Shabaz (R-New Berlin), the Republican floor leader in the Assembly, was the key figure in getting the bill reconsidered Wednes- day. It was his motion during Wednes- day night's debate that got the bill re- ferred to the Judiciary Committee. Assembly rethinks sex position By MARK HAZELBAKER of the Cardinal Staff A bill legalizing all private sexual acts between consenting adults ran into trouble in the state assembly Wednesday when charges the bill would legalize prostitution caused many representatives to reconsider an earlier vote in favor of the bill. Rep. John Shabaz, R-New Berlin, assembly minority leader and a member of the John Birch Society, charged the bill would prevent police from arresting prostitutes, because it legalizes all private sexual acts. WHEN THE bill came up for consideration Wednesday, the 54- 44 preliminary approval margin of last week vanished as the measure was returned to the bill for passage the first time on an 8 Judiciary Committee for further The committee recommended th vote. Clarenbach said one committe consideration. Proponents of the bill, led by Rep. David Clarenbach, D- Madison, vehemently denied the bill would legalize prostitution. Clarenbach distributed an opinion by Dane County D.A. James Doyle that the bill would not legalize prostitution. In response to the charges, several amendments to the bill specifically exempting prostitution from legalization, were introduced. But the assembly still failed to approve the bill. Clarenbach termed the vote "really bizarre." Ten legislators told Clarenbach they could no longer support the bill, for fear of backlash from constituents, he said. "THE THING that bothers me is the number of legislators who said 'Yeah, this is a good bill, but I can't vote for it,' and all for political reasons," Clare said. Clarenbach said an amendment taking care of the prostitution objections has been drafted, and will be added to the bill. "It'll probably take weeks," Claren- bach said. Clarenbach was sharply critical of the tactics used by opponents of AB 323. "Several members resorted to bible reading," he said. "Wisconsin's answer to Anita Bryant, Joe Tregoning (R- Shullsburg), started saying this bill would legalize 'those homosexuals.' " "We have the votes to pass it if we can get it through committee again," Clarenbach said. He said most Judiciary Committee members will still go along with it. Put he noted that Ren. Louise --- WISCONSIN Press Association 33 North Dickinson Madison, Wis. 53703 Clipping Bureau Division West Allis Star Pos AUG 17 1977 Sex bill now bottled up By Gayle A. Falk For the Star/Post A bill aimed at legalizing some sex- ual acts between consenting adults and reducing penalties for others has been sent to the joint committee on finance "sexual perversion" committed by consenting adults from $500 to $200, and imprisonment from a maximum of 5 years to a maximum of 6 months. Conviction of such a crime would no lenger be grounds to revoke drivers' li- in the Wisconsin legislature. In effect,censes, as it now is. this prevents any action on the matter during this session of the state legislature. Introduced by Representative David Clarenbach (D-Madison) in February, the bill would reduce fines for acts of At a public hearing on the bill, Ren resentative Clarenbach defended his stand, calling present laws "archaic, unenforceable and disobeyed." In practice, the measure would legal- ize private sex acts between unmarried including adults, homosexuality. acts of Although any bill which would change criminml fines must be sent to the finance committee, some legisla- tors see burying the bill there was a Way to sidestep the issue, which has strong opposition. The three men representing West Allis in the Assembly characterize this dichotomy. Gary Barczak, representing the 24th Assembly District, supported the bill. "He voted for it in its initial stages," explained Stanweske, of Barczak's Madison office. "But the thing is dead," since it went to joint finance. Thomas Hauke, representing the 23rd Assembly District, opposed the bill. Citing referral to the finance com- mittee, he explained, "that's a pretty fair estimate on how the opposition has grown." Hauke also believed the "adultery and fornication sections can be taken care of in another bill." His real difficulty with the bill was the legal- ization of homosexuality. "I don't feel to accept my district wants homosexuality as a recognized standard.' Richard Pabst, representing the 33rd district, admitted to "mixed opinions on that." Whether he would support or oppose the bill "depends on amendments," he explained. Church groups, vociferously opposed to the bill in its early stages, have become strangely hesitant to comment. Asked about the bill, Father Joseph Janicki, Assistant Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, responded, "Personally, I don't see how we could go along with it." He stressed that this was his own opinion, rather than the church's stand, and referred further questions to Charles Phillips of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Madison. But contacted for the church's offi- cial stand on the bill, Phillips claimed they had none. After being reminded that the bill, if passed, would legalize homosexuality, adultery and fornication done privately, Phillips consulted his files and found that the church "opposed "the bill. The South Wisconsin District Office of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod had similar reservations on the bill. District President Karl Barth was unable to comment on the bill. Father Norvell, chairman of the Christian Social Action Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, I was out of town and could not be reached for comment. --- Wednesday, July 6, 1977 Northwest Post B-8 Permissive sex bill locked behind assembly's doors By Marianne Andritsch For the Post A bill that would legalize certain sex- ual activities that take place behind closed doors is currently locked in the State Joint Finance Committee. And will remain there until at least September, when the legislature reconvenes. Assembly Bill No. 323 calls for the relaxation of certain statutory restric- tions on sexual activities between con- senting adults. It would allow consenting adults to have sexual relations, including those presently considered sexual perversions, as long as they took place in private and did not involve minors. According to the bill's sponsor, Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), the bill would not legalize any sexual crimes involving children, obscenity (lewd and lascivious behavior) nor prostitution. Clarenbach maintained that the only sexual crimes that this bill deals with are fornication and forms of sexual perversion between consenting adults in private. "I introduced this bill because I feel the current laws are unrealistic and outdated," Clarenbach explained. "They prohibit certain sexual activi- ties between consenting adults in private which are practiced by about 90 per cent of our adult population. "I really do not want 90 per cent of our adults to be classed as criminals." The bill was first brought to the as- sembly in February, 1977. It was then sent to the Judiciary Committee where amendments were made, and was then sent back to the assembly for reconsid- • eration. The assembly voted to keep the bill alive (by a 10 vote margin). After further substitutions were made by the Judiciary Committee, the bill was shuttled to the Joint Committee of Fi- nance, where it currently resides until legislature returns from summer break. If all runs as Clarenbach hopes, the bill will gain assembly approval in September and then move on to the Senate for final consideration. Clarenbach is fairly confident the bill will be passed by all, but added, "we must keep in mind that it is still a long way from becoming law." The bill's path through the legisla- ture has been a long and bumpy one. There has been a considerable amount of debate over the bill and various in- cidents surrounding it. Both critics and endorsers have been very vocal in their arguments. Clarenbach categorized the major opposition as, "right wing groups, the Wisconsin Society for American Decency, and certain religious groups." As for supporters, he said there are a large number of ministers who back the bill, as well as the Wisconsin Allience for Sexual Privacy (WASP), which consists of various clergymen, gay rights activists, a number of medi- cal professionals, and sex educators. Representative Susan Engeleiter (R- Brookfield) said that she has received "virtually no mail from consistuents opposed to the bill, and some in favor of it." She said there was originally some confusion concerning the text of the bill. "Some felt that it would legalize pro- stitution, she explained, "but after careful research it was determined that prostitution would still be against the law in the state of Wisconsin." Engeleiter said she intends to watami that the bill might not even make it out of the Joint Finance Committee, and that if it does, it could very well be sent on to another committee. Shabaz said that the reason the bill went to the finance committee at all was because the sponsors realized there were not sufficient votes for pas- sage. He also felt that this move was a delay tactic. Alyn Hess, president of the Gay Peo- ple's Union Inc., and strong supporter of the bill agreed with Shabaz on this particular point. "The bill ran into a few problems recently and the sponsors did not want to take any big risks so it was sent to the committee as a staff tactic." Hess said that he himself believes that one of the reasons the bill was delayed was because Governor Patrick Lucey did not think he would sign the bill. But Hess claims that Lt. Governor Shreiber said, informally, that he would sign it. Hess indicated. supporters wanted to wait until Lucey left for Mexico before bringing it out. Clarenbach has said that sending the bill to the Joint Finance Committee was "purely routine." "Any bill that has any fiscal impact must be sent through this committee," he said. (According to Clarenbach, and therefore has fiscal impact.) AB323 deals with criminal penalties Clarenbach did state however, that nated from a "clerical error. the bill ran into a problem which origi- Through various lobbying efforts, a group of 110 clergy issued a letter of endorsement for AB323," Clarenbach explained. "Included on the letter were also a group of organizations, some of which are national." (National organi- zations rarely endorse specific bills.) "This was actually a clerical error, he continued. "Instead of saying these groups endorsed the rights to privacy we inadvertantly said they specifically endorsed AB323," Clarenbach said. "Some groups against the bill made a big thing out of it and said we were trying to pull the wool over everyone's correct. Clarenbach added that a large number of those organizations have already written back and indicated that their thinking runs along the bill's lines. Regardless of those who applaud the bill, Shabaz is one representative who strongly opposes it. "This is a terribly bad piece of legis- lation," Shabaz said. "I look upon it as a forerunner to legalize prostitution...I also believe that it would do nothing for the people of this state, and that it is not in the best interest of the state of Wisconsin. Shabaz felt that the bill would also make "homosexual behavior" more permissible by the legal action. According to Roger Durand, vice president of the Gay People's Union and coordinator of WASP, Shabaz's arguments could be more damaging to the legislator. "I know John and I knew he would be against the bill...and I asked that he not be quite so adamant about it and he has not been," Durand claimed. Durand claimed that his acquaint- ance with Shabaz began when he (Du- rand) worked on Shabaz's first campaign back in 1964. When questioned, Shabaz denied knowing who Durand and Hess are. "I do not recall either," Shabaz said. "Durand might have worked on my campaign, but then again, a lot of peo- ple say they do that I do not know. I have never talked to either." The Gay People's Union that Hess and Durand head up can not be directly involved in any lobbying efforts (Hess said law forbids any non-profit organi- zation from using more than 10 per cent of their finances on lobbying efforts). But the two voice their support for the bill through WASP. Hess said that if passed, the bill would be of some benefit to gay peo- ple's organizations. "Right now it is difficult for a 'crimi- nal class' to get federal funding for counseling centers," Hess explained. u "If the bill is passed it would lay the legal foundations for us. We really need the funding. " Hess indicated that the money they would possibly receive would be used for counseling for gays. He said one of the biggest problems that gays face is alcoholism and that counseling in this area is badly needed. "This bill is an excellent step for society as a whole, not just for gay peo- ple," Hess declared. Hess justified this rationale by in- dicating that since there are a lot more heterosexuals than gays, the bill has a the latter. greater influence on the former than Hess added that the biggest problem gays face is harrassment, and that the bill would not stop that. Regarding possible police harass- ment, Hess cited that 62 per cent of the law enforcers questioned in one state felt the bill would make their jobs tougher and did not want it prior to its passage. But thaf after the bill became official, 54 per cent of the law officers were in favor of it, he said. --- County approves gay rights resolution By Tom Griffin of the Cardinal Staff The difference between Dade-County and Dane County is greater than the third letter in their legal names. Last night the Dane County Board approved a resolution in support of a bill in the state legislature legalizing private sexual acts between consenting adults. IN SHARP CONTRAST TO Anita Bryant's Florida turf, there was little opposition to the resolution, which in effect supports gay rights. Only two supervisors expressed reservations about the resolution before it passed on a voice vote at the board's evening meeting. "There have been cases of the mentally incompetent being sexually assulted," said Mount Horeb Supervisor Ann De Witt. "We have to have some laws on the books to protect these people." She added that she didn't want to see anyone persecuted for their sexual preferences. "I don't want to be called the Anita Bryant of Dane County," she added. SUPERVISOR ROBERT ANDERS of Middleton also objected to the pending state legislation, sponsored by State Rep, David Clarenbach. D-Madison. Clarenbach, who spoke to the board before the vote, said, "Government has no business coming into our bedrooms telling adults what they can and cannot do behind closed doors." The country board was more divided by a proposal to grant the city $100,000 for the new Civic Center, though this resolution also passed on a 30 to 6 vote. Supervisor Janis Redford of Cambridge lead the attack, calling the appropriation "Robin Hood in reverse." " "THE RICH ARE ROBBING the poor to pay for a $7 million building," she said. "You are robbing the poor people of the county for something they won't be able to see. It's a rotten way to run a government." But Madison Supervisor Leo J. Cooper III noted that "the arts are for everybody. I know people who barely make any money at all who save up to go to the Memorial Union and see a great pianist." For legal reasons the $100,000 is stipulated to pay for an orchestra lift in the Capitol Theatre auditorium, which prompted one supervisor to quip, "It's a lift similar to a heist.' Civic Center supporters noted that the grant is a fraction of the total expenditure for the complex. Madison Supervisor William Offendahl added that the money had already been budgeted. "WE ARE CONTRIBUTING A token gesture," he ex- plained. "It's small compared to its costs." The most original defense of the grant came from Monona Supervisor Howard Groth, who noted, "All civilizations for thousands of years have fallen because their cultures deteriorated. DC 11/4/77 Tues Nov 22, 1977 Wisconsin State Journal 7_ Alderman protests state building By Reid Beveridge Of The State Journal The state should halt plans to build two downtown office buildings unless it can assure neighborhood residents there won't be any adverse affects from traffic and parking, Madison Ald. John Mattes, Dist. 4, told the State Building Commission Monday night. Mattes was one of just three per- sons protesting the construction of the two new buildings, to be known as GEF-II and GEF-III. whether to go ahead with the projects, subject to the approval in December of the Legislature Joint Finance Com- mittee. The hearing was on an environ- mental impact statement that said the construction of the two new buildings will have a positive impact on the downtown area. The statement also says the downtown location is much preferable to a proposed addition to the Hill Farms State Office Building, 4802 Sheboygan Ave. on Madison's west side. Mattes, who represents downtown The commission will decide Nov. 29 Madison on the City Council, said the neighborhood residents are most con- cerned about the additional traffic and parking. He said the environmental impact statement estimates there will be 900 additional auto trips to the Capitol Square area as a result of the new buildings. The statement goes on to say that considering the tens of thousands of cars that enter the Square daily, this is an insignificant increase. "We don't want them in our neigh- borhood," Mattes said. "The state re- fuses to provide for them and the city darn sure won't provide for them." Mattes said that until the state finds solutions for the traffic and park- ing problems to be created by the new buildings, "it's time to call a morato- rium. The plans call for 46 to 100 parking spaces in each building. Mattes presented a petition he said I was signed by at least one member of every household i in the area adjacent to the new buildings. They all oppose the construction, Mattes said. Also opposing the buildings was Mrs. LaVern Felts, 5109 Marathon Dr., who said she formerly lived in the area. She said the residents around the buildings have been victims for the past several years as they coped with the proposed construction first of GEF-I, 201 E. Washington Ave., and now GEF-II and GEF-III. State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), who represents the area, I said the state should prove beyond a reasonable doubt the new buildings will not adversely affect the neighbor- hood. The two buildings, each to be 150,- 000 square feet, are planned for con- struction just south of GEF-I on a block bounded by E. Main, Butler, Webster and King Sts., an irregularly shaped block. The state now owns the land except for two small buildings on the southern tip. GEF-II will be located along E. Main St. directly across the street from GEF-I. GEF-III will be on the east side of the block. If the commission and the finance committee approve the project, con- struction on GEF-II is scheduled to begin in January with completion in August, 1979. GEF-III would be comp- leted in 1980. LANDERS ISN'T easily c vinced that he's actually talking --- THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL Wednesday, May 13, 1981 Bill to ban sex bias 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." 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. --- Gay Madison, August 1981 Update on Gay Rights Legislation by David Clarenbach, State Representative Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Assembly narrowly defeated Assembly Bill 235 which would have legalized all sexual acts between con- senting adults by a vote of 50 to 49. It is possible that this same legislation in the form of Senate Bill 205 could once again come is steadily gaining momentum and I am confident that we will see our laws changed soon. Another bill I have au- thored, Assembly Bill 70, will be up for a vote when we return to session this fall. AB 70 prohibits dis- crimination in employment, housing, or public accomo- dations because of sexual up for consideration this ses- preference and has been sion if we can find the needed recommended for passage by additional vote for passage. the Committee on Health and Despite rumblings from the Human Services. "Moral Majority, the gay rights movement in Wisconsin " cessfully enacted such gay rights protection, and both by executive order. I hope to see our legislature become the first to prohibit discrim- ination against gay people, and also go on to become the 26th to lift its ban on homo- sexual activity. Right now, letters and phone calls to the Legisla- tive Hotline (266-9960) in support of AB 70, especially from Wisconsin residents whose permanent addresses are outside of Madison, would be helpful to our effort. If you would like further infor- mation about either initia- Only two states, Californiative, please contact my of- and Pennsylvania, have suc- fice (266-8570). 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 discrimination based on an in- dividual's sexual orientation in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. It was recently recommended for passage by the health and human services committee on an 8 to 6 vote. The measure defines sexual orientation as having a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, bi-sexuality, having a history of such a preference or being identified with such preference." a Only one opponent appeared before the committee when a public hearing was held. Rev. Richard E. Pritchard, pastor of Heritage 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 homosexually oriented, Rev. 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 tenants who are 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 have an active role in the Christian community. Herald-Citizen-Milwaukee JUN 13 1981 --- Wisconsin considers sodomy repeal, anti-gay bias ban MADISON, WI-A bill to legalize sexual acts between consenting adults, including homosexuals, has died in the Wisconsin state Assembly, but a companion bill is still alive in the state Senate, GayLife learned last week. By a slim 50-49 margin, the Assembly approved a motion April 28 to indefinitely pospone consideration on A.B. 235. If that motion had failed, a vote on the bill itself would have been taken. Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), who sponsored the bill, said the issue is, however, "very much alive" in this session, with an "identical" bill assigned to Senate committee "likely to pass" the full Senate and be sent to the Assembly. The drive to reform Wisconsin's sex offenses statutes has traditionally met its major stumbling block in the Assembly. Last year, the Senate passed a sexual privacy bill that was subsequently defeated 55-41 in the Assembly. This year, gay rights backers decided to meet the opposition head on and call for a vote first in the Assembly. After the close April 28 vote to postpone consideration, a motion was made to reconsider the vote. Backers, however, were unable to muster sufficient support for the legislation, and the motion to reconsider was withdrawn May 7. Gay Life, 6/5/81 WISCONSIN BILL Continued from page 1 such anti-discriminatory legislation exists in Wisconsin. Several years ago, Madison, the state capital and second largest city, passed a • comprehensive gay rights ordinance. Last year, Dane County, in which Madison is located, followed suit, and Milwaukee also passed a law banning anti-gay discrimination in city or city- related employment. The news is better for a bill proposed by Clarenbach to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" in Wisconsin employment, housing, and public accommo- dations. The bill, A.B. 70, was approved by the legislative committee May 26 and is awaiting scheduling for a vote in the Assembly. A similar gay rights bill failed May 14 in the Illinois House of Representatives (the equiva- lent body to the Wisconsin Assembly). In 1961, Illinois became the first state in the country to pass a sexual privacy law, when a revised criminal code eliminated the sodomy statute. Despite the defeat of A.B. 235, Clarenbach is optimistic about the chances for Wisconsin to become the "26th state to lift its bans on homosexual activity." He said that Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus agreed to sign such a reform law last year and has not changed his public position since then. But Clarenbach believes a favorable vote is possibly more likely on his proposed anti- discrimination bill. Unlike the sexual privacy bill pending in the Senate, he said, A.B. 70 "does not legalize anything. The question with this bill is not whether gay is good," he added, "but whether discrimination is tolerable." Clarenbach pointed out that precedent for Continued to page 16 Calling the May 26 committee vote "a good sign," Clarenbach said he is "confident that our legislature will go on to become the first to pass a bill prohibiting discrimination against gay people." Clarenbach said a vote on the bill could come "late this month or be postponed until fall." "Given the alleged strength of the 'Moral Majority," he concluded, "the gay rights movement has great strength and is gaining support every day." --- Clarenbach still has hope for 'consenting adult' bill By OWEN COYLE Of The Capital Times Staff State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison) says there will be an at- tempt to bring the so-called sex bill out of committee and back to the As- sembly floor within the next two weeks. The bill, which won preliminary ap- proval in the Assembly last week by a ten vote margin, was returned to the Assembly Judiciary committee Wednesday by a 51-45 vote. But Clarenbach said the amend- ments which should answer oppo- nents' arguments can be drafted quickly. And by conservative esti- mate, he said, there are still enough votes in committee to report the bill out. The proposal would wipe out present state penalties for sexual acts in private between consenting adults. That includes oral sex which is illegal under present law even between hus- band and wife. Joanne Duren were tacked on the bill. One would make it clear that prostitution was not legalized by its provisions, while the other would ban sexual massages, such as are allegedly practiced in massage parlors around the state, from the bill's provisions. C-T 5/12/77 David Clarenbach State Rep. John Shabaz (R-New Berlin), the Republican floor leader in the Assembly, was the key figure in getting the bill reconsidered Wednes- day. It was his motion during Wednes- day night's debate that got the bill re- ferred to the Judiciary Committee. peal to the date or assembly rethinks sex position Clarenbach said is get bedroom." aim of the pr out of th Opponents contended, however, th by definition, the bill was legalizir prostitution and throwing a block in regulation of massage parlors sin those activites alledgedly take place private. Those arguments prevailed Wedne day despite a letter from Dane Coun District Attorney James E. Doyle, J that the bill, even in its original for would not have legalized prostitution Clarenbach said one of the problen which arose during the Assembly flo debate is that clarifying amendmen were drafted in improper form. But it will be a simple job, he said, write the proper amendments in con mittee and bring the bill up for a se By MARK HAZELBAKER Proponents of the bill, led by of the Cardinal Staff Rep. David Clarenbach, D- A bill legalizing all private Madison, vehemently denied the sexual acts between consenting bill would legalize prostitution. adults ran into trouble in the state Clarenbach distributed an opinion assembly Wednesday when by Dane County D.A. James Doyle that the bill would not legalize charges the bill would legalize prostitution caused many prostitution. representatives to reconsider an earlier vote in favor of the bill. Rep. John Shabaz, R-New Berlin, assembly minority leader and a member of the John Birch Society, charged the bill would prevent police from arresting prostitutes, because it legalizes all private sexual acts. WHEN THE bill came up for consideration Wednesday, the 54- 44 preliminary approval margin of last week vanished as the The committee recommended th measure was returned to the bill for passage the first time on an 8 Judiciary Committee for further ond committee vote. vote. Clarenbach said one committe consideration. In response to the charges, several amendments to the bill specifically exempting prostitution from legalization, were introduced. But the assembly still failed to approve the bill. Clarenbach termed the vote "really bizarre." Ten legislators told Clarenbach they could no longer support the bill, for fear of backlash from constituents, he said. "THE THING that bothers me is the number of legislators who said 'Yeah, this is a good bill, but I can't vote for it,' and all for political reasons," Clare said. Clarenbach said an amendment taking care of the prostitution objections has been drafted, and will be added to the bill. "It'll probably take weeks," Claren- bach said. " Clarenbach was sharply critical of the tactics used by opponents of AB 323. "Several members resorted to bible reading, he said. "Wisconsin's answer to Anita Bryant, Joe Tregoning (R- Shullsburg), started saying this bill would legalize 'those homosexuals.'" "We have the votes to pass it if we can get it through committee again," Clarenbach said. He said most Judiciary Committee members will still go along with it. But he noted that Ren Louise --- As pr sexual Legi tween prelim sembl attem Am 49-47 tion, turne In for p a fel of for Ac by t mea such rema Between consenting adults Bill legalizes all private sexual acts By MARK HAZELBAKER A bill legalizing all private of the Cardinal Staff consensual sexual acts between and hetero- both adults, homosexual, was passed Thur- sday by the Wisconsin Assembly, 54-44. It will now be considered by the state senate. The bill, AB 323, similar to liberalization statutes passed by 18 other states, removes existing criminal penalties for fornication (sex between unmarried persons of the opposite sex), anal and oral intercourse (a provision which rights groups) and other sexual was strongly supported by gay acts now barred. "IT WAS A hard battle," to get the bill passed, said AB sponsor Rep. David Clarenbach, D- Madison. "Our society continue to be hung up about sex," he said. However, "Ninety-eight per these laws," he said, including cent of our citizens have violated the members "Most legislature.' of Presently, some acts between married people, such as fellatio and cunnilingus, are prohibited by law. Clarenbach's bill legalizes any sexual act between con- senting adults. Clarenbach said the legalization also allows sado- masochistic acts, but only when there is consent. A coalition of gay groups, the League of Women Voters and some church organizations in the state fought for the bill and con- tributed significantly to its passage, Clarenbach said. With a broad-based coalition behind the change, it was hard for the assembly to vote no, he said. ONE OF THE 44 members who did vote against the bill was Rep. Earl Schmidt, R-Shawano. "You ought to let a bill like this die on the vine," he said. Schmidt said he has no strong objections to the bill, but felt the change was unnecessary because "present laws aren't a hardship "The laws are so on anyone.' rarely enforced they have no meaning, Schmidt said. A change in the rights of minors 16 and older will result from the bill, Schmidt said. The rape law reform bill passed last year allows sexual acts between consenting minors ages 16 and 17, if consent could be proven in court, Schmidt said, claiming AB 323 outlaws sexual acts between minors. Clarenbach denied the bill would affect minors, saying it would not be interpreted that way by the courts. PASSAGE OF THE bill in the assembly came after a heated debate in which Rep. Joanne Duren, D-Cazenovia, said the state should not consider such a bill, because it sanctions im- morality. (Duren is the sponsor of another bil, AB 321, which would cut off all public funding of abortions and facilities which including them, perform hospitals.). Rep. Harvey Dueholm, D-Luck, replied to Duren, "If you don't play the game, don't make the rules." Dueholm said present laws are enforced against the poor, minorities and other persons unable to defend themselves in court as effectively as the rich. Friday, May 6, 1977-the daily cardinal-page 4 Dav tate C affe con B sion S --- Friday, May 6, 1977-the daily cardinal-page 4 Between consenting adults Bill legalizes all private sexual acts By MARK HAZELBAKER of the Cardinal Staff A bill legalizing all private consensual sexual acts between and hetero- both adults, homosexual, was passed Thur- sday by the Wisconsin Assembly, 54-44. It will now be considered by the state senate. The bill, AB 323, similar to liberalization statutes passed by 18 other states, removes existing criminal penalties for fornication (sex between unmarried persons of the opposite sex), anal and oral intercourse (a provision which was strongly supported by gay rights groups) and other sexual acts now barred. "IT WAS A hard battle," to get the bill passed, said AB sponsor Rep. David Clarenbach, D- Madison. "Our society continue to be hung up about sex," he said. However, "Ninety-eight per cent of our citizens have violated he said, including these laws, "Most members of legislature." " the Presently, some acts between married people, such as fellatio and cunnilingus, are prohibited by law. Clarenbach's bill legalizes any sexual act between con- senting adults. Clarenbach said the legalization also allows sado- masochistic acts, but only when there is consent. A coalition of gay groups, the League of Women Voters and some church organizations in the state fought for the bill and con- tributed significantly to its passage, Clarenbach said. With a broad-based coalition behind the change, it was hard for the assembly to vote no, he said. ONE OF THE 44 members who did vote against the bill was Rep. Earl Schmidt, R-Shawano. "You ought to let a bill like this die on the vine," he said. Schmidt said he has no strong objections to the bill, but felt the change was unnecessary because "present laws aren't a hardship " on anyone. The laws are so rarely enforced they have no meaning, Schmidt said. A change in the rights of minors 16 and older will result from the bill, Schmidt said. The rape law reform bill passed last year allows sexual acts between consenting minors ages 16 and 17, if consent could be proven in court, Schmidt said, claiming AB 323 outlaws sexual acts between minors. Clarenbach denied the bill would affect minors, saying it would not be interpreted that way by the courts. PASSAGE OF THE bill in the assembly came after a heated debate in which Rep. Joan Duren, D-Cazenovia, said t state should not consider such bill, because it sanctions in morality. (Duren is the sponsor another bil, AB 321, which wou cut off all public funding abortions and facilities whi- perform them, includin hospitals.). Rep. Harvey Dueholm, D-Luc replied to Duren, "If you do play the game, don't make t rules." Dueholm said present laws a enforced against the рос minorities and other perso unable to defend themselves court as effectively as the rich private adult sex acts Assembly votes OK on By OWEN COYLE turned down by a 52-45 vote. 49-47 and a committee referral mo- A motion to kill the bill was defeated tion, which followed immediately, was attempts to sidetrack it and to kill it. Of The Capital Times Staff sembly today after narrowly suviving preliminary approval in the State As- tween consenting adults was given sexual acts committed in private be- Legislation eliminating penalties on self" to even consider it. bly, she added, "should not lower it- Duren (D-Cazenovia), and the Assem- sion in private, said State Rep. Joanne But it does condone sexual perver- consenting adults in private. affected minors and related only to Clarenbach said the bill in no way tated the felony penalties. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), reins- meanor. The amended bill, supported by the principal author, State Rep. such acts were reduced to a misde- remain a felony. In the original bill Acts of sexual perversion in public of fornication in public. a felony to a misdemeanor the crime for private acts, the bill reduces from In addition to erasing the penalties throughout the state had signed letters He said 106 clergymen from legitimate concern." what he labeled a "very serious and kosh) said the bill addressed itself to State Rep. Richard Flintrop (D-Osh- science." personal pain to their own con- selled, he said, that produces "some persons whom clergymen had coun- under present state law. And for some Ivacy of the bedroom were illegal reason was that some acts in the pri- of support for the bill. He said a prime ure the result of a "holier than thou at- titude. Luck) tagged opposition to the meas- State Rep. Harvey Dueholm (D- . make the rules," he added. "If you don't play the game don't right," he said. big enough and high enough, it's al- people. Under present law, "if you're was primarily legislation for poor Beyond that, Dueholm said the bill pretty near. Maybe the eighth." ed. "It's the first act in the Bible. Well, "Sex is not a sin," Dueholm continu- CT 5/5/77 --- WSJ 5/17/77 Homosexual law Paul Soglin, his associates, State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), and other liberals throughout the country are rushing to the aid of the homosexuals in their battle against big, bad Christian Anita Bryant. This is to be expected as the deep compassion the permissive liberal has. for the "oppressed" commercial sex vendors, the violent student activists and other such dubious causes have previously been publicly expressed. Soglin stated in his letter to the Dade County, Florida commissioners that the City of Madison ordinance protecting the homosexual has not had a negative impact on Madison. I com- pletely disagree. Soglin should talk to some of the young, bona-fide residents of Madison. His dialogue only seems to be with those individuals having the same political and moral mores as himself. Under Soglin, Madison has become the sex mecca of, the Mid- west. I would definitely call that a neg- ative influence. I agree with Anita Bryant and her husband. The homosexual needs un- derstanding and compassion. He or she is also a child of God but that does not mean my religious convictions can be violated by the government passing a law changing a religious tenet by political means. Today, homosexual- ity; tomorrow, what further violation of the freedom of religion will be prop- osed? E. J. Kohlaas, Madison. Anita Bryant Anita Bryant epitomizes all that is wrong with religion. She is righteous, judgmental, overly concerned with other people's sex lives and not too bright. - Carl H. Jenkins, Madison. --- Sex bill is stalled in Assembly The bill which would liberalize state laws restricting sexual activities be- tween adults has run into trouble in the Assembly. Representatives voted 98-0 to recon- sider an earlier vote which had ap- proved the measure. The action came after Minority Leader John C. Shabaz (R-New Berlin) said he believed the bill would lift the prohibition against prostitution. Assembly Bill 323, which had been expected to pass, was placed on the table while supporters tried to draft ar amendment to solve the language problem. State Rep. David Clarenbach (D- Madison), one of the authors of the bill, said today that he feels there should be no problem in clearing up the language to which Shabaz objects. Clarenbach was busy drafting an amendment to the bill this morning and it was hoped that it could be fin- ished in time for the Assembly to re- consider the bill later today. Under the measure, consenting adults would be allowed to have sexual relations and engage in oral and anal intercourse providing that the acts are done in private and do not involve a minor. Fornication and "sexual perver- sion" now are felonies for which fines and prison terms can be imposed. Prostitution, which includes both sex- ual relations and perversion, also is prohibited by a separate law. embly votes OK on private adult sex acts 5/5/44 By OWEN COYLE Of The Capital Times Staff Legislation eliminating penalties on sexual acts committed in private be- tween consenting adults was given preliminary approval in the State As- sembly today after narrowly suviving attempts to sidetrack it and to kill it. A motion to kill the bill was defeated 49-47 and a committee referral mo- tion, which followed immediately, was turned down by a 52-45 vote. In addition to erasing the penalties for private acts, the bill reduces from a felony to a misdemeanor the crime of fornication in public. Acts of sexual perversion in public remain a felony. In the original bill such acts were reduced to a misde- meanor. The amended bill, supported by the principal author, State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), reins- tated the felony penalties. Clarenbach said the bill in no way affected minors and related only to consenting adults in private. But it does condone sexual perver- sion in private, said State Rep. Joanne Duren (D-Cazenovia), and the Assem- bly, she added, "should not lower it- self" to even consider it. State Rep. Richard Flintrop (D-Osh- kosh) said the bill addressed itself to what he labeled a "very serious and legitimate concern.' He said 106 clergymen from throughout the state had signed letters " of support for the bill. He said a prime reason was that some acts in the pri- vacy of the bedroom were illegal under present state law. And for some persons whom clergymen had coun- selled, he said, that produces "some personal pain to their own con- science." State Rep. Harvey Dueholm (D- Luck) tagged opposition to the meas- ure the result of a "holier than thou at- titude. "Sex is not a sin," Dueholm continu- ed. "It's the first act in the Bible. Well, pretty near. Maybe the eighth." " Beyond that, Dueholm said the bill was primarily legislation for poor people. Under present law, "if you're big enough and high enough, it's al- right," he said. "If you don't play the game don't make the rules," he added. 5/17/77 Homosexual law Paul Soglin, his associates, State Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison), and other liberals throughout the country are rushing to the aid of the homosexuals in their battle against big, bad Christian Anita Bryant. is to be expected as the deep compassion the permissive liberal has.. for the "oppressed" commercial sex vendors, the violent student activists and other such dubious causes have previously been publicly expressed. This stated not had his letter to the Madison ordinance Dade County, Florida commissioners Soglin St protecting the homosexual.com- a negative impact on Madison. I com- pletely disagree. Soglin should talk to some of the young, bona-fide residents that the City of of Madison. His dialogue only seems to be with those individuals having the same political and moral mores as himself. Under Soglin, Madison has become the sex mecca of, the Mid- west. I would definitely call that a neg- ative influence. I agree with Anita Bryant and her husband. The homosexual needs un- derstanding and compassion. He or she is also a child of God but that does not mean my religious convictions can be violated by the government passing a law changing a religious tenet by political means. Today, homosexual- ity; tomorrow, what further violation of the freedom of religion will be prop- osed? -E. J. Kohlaas, Madison. Anita Bryant Anita Bryant epitomizes all that is wrong with religion. She is righteous, judgmental, overly concerned with other people's --- 6/1/77 Test Votes Favor Mills, Rich Areas Hil By NEIL H. SHIVELY Sentinel Madison Bureau Madison, Wis. - The State Assembly cast test votes favoring wealthy suburbs, polluting paper mills, big labor and small business Tuesday as it opened its week- long state budget exercise. However, by the end of the week, the votes may not mean a lot. By then, the 66 to 33 Democratic majority will go fnto caucus and shape a budget that can attract 50 or more votes, principally from Democrats. Assembly Democrats are following essentially the same procedure used in the Senate two weeks ago - test the strength of changes offered to the $10 billion 1977-'79 budget bill, then table the amendments if they survive test votes. The amendments are then reshaped in caucus. Amendments that survived included: An attempt to kill a $7.5 million shift in state prop- erty tax credits which, if left in the bill, would strip high income communities, such as River Hills, of gener al property tax relief. The move to drop the idea drew a 54 to 45 vote, but many were Republican votes. Senate positions that would give Wisconsin River and Fox River Valley paper mills extra time to meet pollution standards a position opposed by the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA). Votes against the DNR's "trust us" position on setting standards were 60 to 38 and 55 to 44. An attempt to kill the "design-build concept" au- thorizing $20 million in new Madison state office build- ings, an approach opposed by organized labor. Opposition to design-build, which opponents fear will erode competitive bidding principles, was substantial- 89 to 9. Removal of the $18 million budget provision to ap- ply a 4% sales tax on computer services a tax sever- al legislators said would unfairly tax small businesses. Before the 80 to 19 test vote on deleting the computer tax, the Democratic leadership said its loss would throw the budget out of whack. The Assembly voted on almost 30 amendments dur- ing Tuesday's session that ran into the evening, with dozens more awaiting action. None was adopted. The test votes on rejection of amendments indicate strength, and in some instances give legislators a chance to get roll call records on issues sensitive in their dis- tricts. Waiting in the wings, too, is a Republican substitute budget that differs markedly from the bill offered by Gov. Lucey and modified by the Joint Finance Commit- tee and the State Senate last week. It eliminates the transportation agency reorganiza- tion Lucey seeks and tightens up welfare law. On other amendments to the budget, the Assembly: Voted against the idea of Wisconsin going to a sin- gle automobile license plate. The two plate system was supported, 61 to 38. Voted against, 66 to 32, the budget provision per- mitting countywide assessment with a majority vote of the county beard Rejected, 55 to 44, an amendment to add state in- come tax brackets above $14,000 (now 11.4%) to make the tax system more progressive. Rep. David Claren- bach (D-Madison) was the sponsor. Rejected increasing by $4 million the state's pay- ments for municipal services provided state property, such as fire protection. Localities are currently being reimbursed at 71% of service costs. Voted overwhelmingly, 74 to 25, to insert a family size factor into the beefed up Homestead Tax Credit program. City gets grant to study night transit dilemma A $75,000 grant to explore the feasi- bility of using taxi cabs to provide late night public transportation was ap- proved today for the city of Madison by the state Dept. of Transportation. "This is a grant for development of a pilot project to study the feasibility of use of taxi cabs or private cars to take up the slack that Women's Transit Authority (WTA) is now hav- ing to bear," said Rep. David Claren- bach (D-Madison). "WTA funding problems are ex- tremely severe," he said. With recent sexual attacks on women in the central city, WTA rider- ship has increased, taxing the finan- cially troubled rape prevention trans- portation system that is run by volun- teer help. At present, the WTA budget is $11,- 000: $3,000 from the University of Wisconsin Dean of Students, $3,600 from the Wisconsin Student Assn., and $4,500 from the city of Madison. "Lack of money has jeopardized the needed services of WTA," Claren- bach said, "and they are now on the verge of folding. "With the awarding of this grant, Madison will be able to continue a pro- gram of providing safe transportation in the late evening hours to all citi- zens." The grant includes $67,100 in state funds and $7,455 in local funds. Supporters of liberalizing cr sex laws admit an error MILWAUKEE (AP) Supporters of a bill for legalizing controversial sex acts in private say there was an error in petitioners' claims that do- zens of clergymen and 10 organiza- tions endorse the legislation. "A minor mistake was clearly made," said Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Madison) chief author of the bill. Petitions which said clerical, law- yer, health and voter groups had en- dorsed the bill should have stated in- stead that the organizations "en- dorsed the concept," Clarenbach said. The petitions urge legislators to vote for the bill which Rep. Stephen Leo- pold (D-Milwaukee) says would "remove archaic laws that aren't obs- erved anyway." The measure would allow adults to engage in sex acts - even those con- sidered to be perversion if con- ducted in private. Leopold said it is not designed to accommodate prostitu- tion. Petitioners contend that existing laws "criminalize much of what is now regarded as normal physical ex- pression of love and affection." The Rev. Judith Michaels, a Presby- terian minister serving with a reli- gious education division at the Univer- sity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said "there was a mix-up in communica- tion" leading to the petition allegation of endorsements by the 10 groups. "We are working it out now," she said, adding she doesn't know who lis- ted the endorsements. C.T 6/6/77 "I really don't have an answer," she said. "I didn't work on that part of it and don't know who did." The petitions said the bill has the blessing of more than 100 clergymen and such groups as the League of Women Voters, the United Federation of Teachers, the American Bar Asso- ciation, the National Council of Chur- ches in Christ, the National Federa- tion of Priests Council, the YWCA, the American Psychological Association, the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association and the American Public Health Asso- ciation. we o --- 615177 Milwa Sex Privacy Stirs Up a D Staff Correspondence A proposal to relax the statutory restrictions on sex- ual activities might be ex- pected to raise some contro- versy, and it has. A Racine radio station says an investigation it conducted revealed "glaring irregulari- ties" in a petition circulated respo found port t He from or so ent 1 thus claim by supporters of the bill (A- 323). Neith ture tion 3 Cla bill w imme to th th gethe PAGE 2, SECTION 1 WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1977 Bryant to pursue anti-homosex - rights law was defeated, singer Anita homosexuality, which she calls an jig after Dade County's homosexual Bryant says she is setting out for simi- MIAMI (AP) Inspired to dance a lar crusades elsewhere to fight abomination to God. Bryant, 37, vowed Tuesday night, shortly after it became apparent her Save Our Children crusade had de- "All America and all the world will hear what the people have said," Miss feated the homosexual rights nance here by a 2-1 margin. ordi- - was 202,- reflecting a It was the first referendum in a a law forbidding discrimination based on sexual preference. major American metropolitan area on In the excitement as the votes But Mike Thompson, the advertis- were counted, Miss Bryant said Save ing man who wrote Save Our Chil- Our Children had set its sights on San Antonio, Tex., Minneapolis, California and Washington. The unofficial vote 319 votes against the law to 89,562 for surprisingly high turnout retaining it. over her objections. Thompson said dren in January after the Dade County Miss Bryant formed Save Our Chil- commission passed the ordinance a representative of Sen. Jesse Helms the group would meet next week with (R-N.C.) to choose the next arena. Helms has publicly announced his sup- port of Miss Bryant's group. dren's pamphlets citing alleged outra- ges against children by homosexuals, said Wednesday no specific areas have been selected. Thompson and Miss Bryant said they are considering setting up a Congress. And Thompson said Save Jesse Jackson's campaign against Washington office, presumably to focus on a homosexual rights bill in Our Children is interested in the Rev. sexually explicit song lyrics. teer women, many of them Baptists, canvassed by telephone and handed In Miami, the Save Our Children out petitions to get the 62,000 signa- from church groups. A force of volun- tures that forced the Dade County ref- campaign drew much of its backing erendum. rabbis un vote for r bishop Co ests to re bishops s Miss Sunday fundame moter of said she bitions b sexual ri A UI,, tive," sh A number of ministers and a few seek hel The author and supporters of the bill concede that a mis- take was made in the petition but claim that foes of the measure have seized on the issue as a last gasp effort to block it. The petition asks state lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill, which would allow consenting adults to have sexual relations, including those considered sexual perv- ersion, as long as they were in private and did not involve minors. It maintains that present laws "criminalize much of what is now regard- ed as normal physical expres- sion of love and affection." Long List The petition lists the names of more than 100 state clergy who support the measure and 10 organizations that it says 'specifically endorsed" the bill. The radio station says it checked with all 10 organiza- tions and they denied ever having seen the bill or en- dorsing it. The organizations it con- tacted were the Wisconsin League of Women Voters, the Wisconsin Psychiatric Asso- ciation, the American Psy- chological Association, the American Public Health As- sociation, the American Med- ical Association, the National Council of Churches in Christ, the National Federa- tion of Priests Council, the YWCA, the United Federa tion of Teachers and the American Bar Association. Mistake Conceded Rep. David Clarenbach (D Madison), the main author of the measure, concedes that "a minor mistake was clearly made" by a group working in support of the bill. Claren- bach said the petition should have stated that the 10 orga- nizations "endorsed the con- cept embodied in the sexual privacy bill." The Rev. Judith Michaels of Milwaukee, a Presbyterian minister who serves in the United Ministry in Higher' Education at UWM and who worked on the petition, commented that "there was a mixup in communication" and that "we're working it out now." As to how the mis- conception occurred, she said that "I really don't have an answer. I didn't work on that part of it and don't know who did." Clarenbach said he was contacting all of the organi- zations to determine what their position would be on the specific Wisconsin bill, and that of those that had port. Ar Stepl kee), torti legal tion, claim "E arch serv --- CLEANINGS BY BILL SHERMAN Controversial Sex Bill Raises Questions There were some strange circumstances sur- rounding the near demise of Assembly Bill 323 last week the legislation which would have legalized acts of sexual perversion and fornication in private between consenting adults. Don Edmark, newsman for WRJN radio in Racine, uncovered the story, and his work prob- ably halted the bill. It is now in limbo in the Joint Finance Committee, where it is likely to die. Intrigued by the whole thing, I gave Edmark a I call at his home Thursday. Here's the story he told me: An hour before the first vote in the Assembly was taken May 5 on AB 323, a petition appeared on the desks of all the assemblymen stating that the bill was "specifically endorsed" by such groups as the League of Women Voters, the National Council of Churches in Christ, the YWCA, the National Federation of Priests Council, the American Bar Association, the United Federation of Teachers and others. Many assemblymen have said since then that the impressive list of supporters was very influential in their voting for the bill, which passed easily, Edmark said. Hearing about the petition, Edmark was sur- prised to find the names of so many groups which he would expect to oppose the bill. So he decided to call and ask why they favored it when it seemed to be contrary to their moral stance. To his surprise, the first organization he called had never heard of the bill. He called a second, and a third, and finally all ten of the organizations which were alleged to have "specifically en- dorsed" the bill. None had heard of it, and none could offer any explanation for their organization being listed on the petition. David Clarenbach, the 24-year-old Madison assemblyman who authored the bill, said the peti- tion had a "minor mistake" and said it should have indicated the organizations "endorsed the concept'" of the bill. Edmark told me that even that's not true. Many of them wouldn't endorse the concept of it, he said. Clarenbach disputed that Tuesday on the phone from his Madison office. All of the organi- zations listed have endorsed the "consenting adults" principle, and some of them have endorsed AB 323 specifically, he said. He said he did not work on getting the en- dorsements and did not know who made the mistake. "My name didn't appear on that letter," he said. Rev. Judith Michaels, Milwaukee, a circulator of the petition, told me Monday that the confusion resulted from several people working on it. It was a composite effort, she said, and the person who got the list of the supporting agencies didn't clarify whether it was the national or the local group. "Nothing was intentionally fraudulent," she said. Based on his investigation, Edmark has said that the motivation behind the bill is not con- cerned with what couples, married or unmarried, do in private. " "This is a smoke screen," he has said on the air. "The motivation for Bill 323, as it now sur- faces, is to legalize homosexuality in Wisconsin." I asked Edmark why he thought that was true, and he said because many who have supported the bill and appeared at a hearing in its behalf are "closely allied with the gay rights movement in Madison and Milwaukee.' I asked Cloyd Porter - Burlington assembly- man who voted against the bill -- about that, and he concurred. "It has been very evident that all the gay groups are in support of it," he said. Both Rev. Michaels and Assemblyman Claren- bach agreed that people in the gay rights move- ment are in favor of the bill, and Clarenbach affirmed that it would legalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. But he denied that legalizing homosexual acts is the motivation behind the bill. "The principal behind the bill is that of sexual privacy," he said, "for all Wisconsin adults." THREAT Porter also told me, and Edmark confirmed it, that Assemblyman James Rooney of Racine re- ceived a letter from a gay rights activist which contained a threat to Edmark. Porter said the gay rights movement in Wisconsin is "very radical very dangerous." "I'd say Don (Edmark) had better watch him- self," Porter said. What does it all mean? A couple things. First, that the gay rights movement in Wisconsin possibly galvanized by the Anita Bryant epic in Florida-- may be coming out of the shadows and may be more vocal and more active in the future. And second, that some very serious questions need to be answered about the appearance of a petition May 5 which influenced votes in the State Assembly. There is talk of an investigation of the whole matter by the legislature. If AB 323 is a gay rights inspired bill to legalize homosexuality, the lawmakers and the public should know that. Let's hope the truth comes out. And let's also hope that AB 323 dies quietly in the Joint Finance Com- mittee. I don't believe the people of this state would want to legalize homosexuality -- whatever the motivation behind the bill. ---