July 6, 1973 Dr. Robert Bailey SecIOLOGY Dept. of Pelitical Science University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI, 54022 Dear Bob: Thanks for your hospitality. independently function on July 4. I made it back in time to I am putting together some material and will send it off to you next week. I am enclosing a copy of my July 6 Comment. Justice for all, Lloyd A. Barbee LAB:18 Enc. State Representative P. S. The enclosed March 29, 1971 Newsletter may interest you. However, I introduced a measure the next month on this subject relating to sex between consenting parties, using the age of 14 as the age of consent. My proposal to legalize prostitution was introduced later.in the same term. --- S (See Clippings 12 July 1973 Appleton Post-Crescent Page B-1] Fox VALLEY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Lloyd A. Barbee, State Representative Wisconsin Legislature Assembly Chamber Madison, Wisconsin Dear Representative Barbee: 218 North Union Street Appleton, Wisconsin 54911 July 14, 1973 We are indeed grateful to you for coming to Appleton to address our Human Rights Council last Wednesday in spite of your busy schedule (and the inadequate directions!). It was the most exciting and stimulating talk we have heard in a long time (too long); perhaps this event will open the way to more frequent incursions into controversial matters of vital concern to us all. I appreciated especially your reference to Lesbianism as a positive and constructive adjunct to the women's movement, a revolution of such wide scope that to attribute its makeup to any particular race, class, creed, or ethnic group is to deny the "human rights reality" of its goals: to enable all women to enter the mainstream of society with equal responsibility and accountability as full citizens of this country. To identify the movement as comprised of upper middle-class white women is to support the factionalizing that so satisfies the white male chauvinistic 6666666 establish- ment. We have many men (of all races) working to improve the condition of women (all women) -- in fact, 15% of the NOW membership are men! All feminists, men and women alike, must take exception to the dichotomy or schism perpetrated by those in power, who insist on linking the 'movement' to white, well-off, disgruntled women, who are trying to take jobs away from men. Do you see why I was upset by your reference to the "foolishness of the women's liber- ation movement" and by your criticism of affirmative action programs, the first step in righting the wrongs against women throughout the history of this country. In your enlightened embracing of the causes of the poor and the oppressed, can you not also embrace the cause of women, whose oppression is so subliminal that it goes unnoticed and is even supported by many women, who heve been programmed into inferiority and under-achievement from the cradle on. (One legislator said to Representative Mådge Miller the day after the WERA was defeated: --- S FOX VALLEY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL "You see, chivalry is not dead." Another asked her to stay out of the Chamber so that the carpet would not be stained with her tears.) We have made some progress in the past year in bringing to light the fact of sex discrimination in the Fox Valley. As you well know, it is a matter of making people aware of an existing intolerable situation; once they recognize it, they will support its correction. We now have programs for rooting out sexism in the schools and industries of this area, and we are fortunate in having the cooperation of the media. Our recognition and acknowledgement of the oppression of women in every level of society can only increase our sensitivity to the needs of minority groups and the poor in general. If we succeed in tapping the great human resources now stifled in half the population of our country, perhaps that will signal the right time for our common awakening to the other outrages being perpetrated in our jails, courts, police stations, and in society in general. The deprivation of the rights of one individual should be as abhorrent to us as that of a thousand, and will we be blind to that of half our population? I thought the lead on the enclosed account of your talk was distressingly flippant, but otherwise the young man did an adequate job, don't you think? You have many supporters and admirers in the Fox Valley, Representative Barbee, and it is our feeling of warmth and good will that I hope you will carry away with you, as well as our deep appreciation of the trouble you and your son took to come to us last Wednesday. It was a gift that we shall long remember. Good luck to you in the next two years. Yours with gratitude and appreciation, Mary Ann Rossi Brackenridge, President P.S. I have been laid up with an infection; hence we have delayed our departure until next Friday (July 20). It is a much-needed respite for mo. The contact person for the council is Diane Cusatis, 1908 N. Racine, Appleton (her car broke down on the way to the Stewarts, and she arrived just after you left.) --- 414/235-6220 WSU WISCONSIN STATE UNIVERSITY, OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN 54901 July 6, 1973 Rep. Lloyd Barbee Capitol Office Room No. 325 West Dear Sir: Bills that you have sponsored concerning the abolition of victimless crimes in Wisconsin, (i.e. prostitution, sexual relations between consenting adults) are of great interest to many students at this university and throughout the state. Your recent attempts to legalize homosexual and group marriage, are also in great favor among many young adults. As 1973-74 chairperson of the Oshkosh Student Association Speakers Committee, I would like to invite you to come to our campus and speak on these topics at any time convenient to yourself, during the coming academic year. I realize that your professional life severely limits your availability as a speaker, but as with other elected officials (Senator Howard Baker and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm this year) I am hopeful that we could arrange an evening speaking date while UW-O is in session. All expenses will be paid by the OSA Speakers Committee of course, and an honorarium can easily be arranged. I earnestly hope that you will consider visiting our campus, and I look for- ward to your reply. BB: js air person Sincerely, Brian Brooks Brian Brooks, Chairman OSA Senator/Speakers Committee OSA Offices Reeve Memorial Union UW-Oshkosh 54901 Phone: 424-3202,3203,3204. --- P.2 の Fox VALLEY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL "You see, chivalry is not dead." Another asked her to stay out of the Chamber so that the carpet would not be stained with her tears.) We have made some progress in the past year in bringing to light the fact of sex discrimination in the Fox Valley. As you well know, it is a matter of making people aware of an existing intolerable situation; once they recognize it, they will support its correction. We now have programs for rooting out sexism in the schools and industries of this area, and we are fortunate in having the cooperation of the media. Our recognition and acknowledgement of the oppression of women in every level of society can only increase our sensitivity to the needs of minority groups and the poor in general. If we succeed in tapping the great human resources now stifled in half the population of our country, perhaps that will signal the right time for our common awakening to the other outrages being perpetrated in our jails, courts, police stations, and in society in general. The deprivation of the rights of one individual should be as abhorrent to us as that of a thousand, and will we be blind to that of half our population? I thought the lead on the enclosed account of your talk was distressingly flippant, but otherwise the young man did an adequate job, don't you think? You have many supporters and admirers in the Fox Valley, Representative Barbee, and it is our feeling of warmth and good will that I hope you will carry away with you, as well as our deep appreciation of the trouble you and your son took to come to us last Wednesday. It was a gift that we shall long remember. Good luck to you in the next two years. НЯМА .А УОЛЛ eviistness ---