1412 Michigan South Milwaukee, Wis. 53172 March 4, 1976 Lloyd Barbee Chairperson of Judiciary Committee Madison, Wisconsin Dear Sir: I would like to voice my support of the House Bill 269. I believe that in our democratic government, this Bill is long in coming. In my professional experience, working with single parent adults, I see the need for a right to choice. I belive that everyone should have the right to choice in matters of two consenting adults, as in same sex marriage. Also, freedom of choice in abortion, where a person should be able to choose alternatives that are offered to them. And abortion should be among the alternatives that can be opened to an individual if they so choose. I also feel that a stiffer penalty should be imposed on convicted rapists, that such a vicious assault should not go unpunished or lightly sentenced. I feel that House Bill 269 would be instrumental in these changes that are long overdue. Thank you. Maturen Ms. Maureen Conley MC/ra day any arcade laws patan ga private note at a law wald Latrobe Mr. Flyn Hess 1370 a. aid foundation. Wital Thy cald arvoll v. sociologio DIONERY 1321 E. Neals Elva. Milwaukee, Misc. 53211 March 3, 1970 點 Milwaukee, Misc. 53202 Re: Assembly is 11 209 Dear Mr. Housi I understand that you plan to attend the hearing in a 'sor on a and partial rl are interested in the provision of the till when would repeat laws prohibitior various sex ac. between consenting adults. For this reason I thou am writing to you express my support for that provision of the i. I belive that, with the knowledge society now as abot hum. sexualit,, it is 1swa berin to rafle & more mature, alt view. Sircondly; aus, Elam Nunnally Llun Nunnelly, h.D. Marian and Parily Consultant --- SOCIETY OF THE DIVINE SAVIOR, 1735 Hi-Mount Boulevard, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208 Re: Bill 269 To the legislators: By way of introduction, we represent DIGNITY/MILWAUKEE which is part of a 5,000 member national organization of Gay Catholics with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Dignity was formed approximately five years ago and the reason for its existence is represented in its statement of position and pur- робе. "-to work for the development of the Ohurch's sexual theology and for the acceptance of gays as full and equal members of that body -to work for justice and social acceptance through education and legal reforms -to reinforce self-acceptance and a sense of dignity in the gay community and to aid it in becoming a more active force in the Church and society..." Because of the oppression and fear inherent in admitting their nature in an atmosphere of non-acceptance, many people in the Gay community are not in a position to speak for themselves and it is for those who no longer entertain such fear to then speak for them. We who are in a leadership position in the Gay community therefore assume that responsibility. There exist today many archaic laws which govern what are essentially very private acts; that a law would intrude upon the expression of human emotion between two people in a relationship of affectionate regard, we find unjust and inhumane. We propose no vast change in morality, but a reassessment of laws based on fear that in the light of psychological and sociological knowledge have no valid foundation. We as members of DIGNITY are in full support of Bill 269 and urge its passage. Grand. Michal Fitzalcaldes S Brother Grant-Michael Fitzgerald Society of the Divine Savior Dale N. Sprang Dale H. Sprang Chairperson, DIGNITY/MILWAUKEE Avibly December 6, 1961 --- CB269 To he AB269 R. 2 Box 218 Ogema, WI 54459 Feb. 10, 1975 Dear Representative Barbee- I refer to Bill A-269- article in Milwaukee Journal Sunday Feb. 9, 1975 Will you kindly kindly tell me Allow persons of of the same. your reasons for a bill to sex to marry? Why you be age of consent for feel ful the mid to reduce the sepural activity I activity to 14? Don't we have enough problems with abortion as is and other related probleme this involves Yours truly Ms. Ray FC. Rumberg --- Subhed to Governing Resed by Section III March 1975 Stand Ros 6, 1975 A RESOLUTION ON CIVIL RICHTS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AS TC AFFECTIONAL OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE The National Council of the Churches of Christ has always held that, as a child of God, every person is endowed with worth and dignity that human judgment cannot set aside. Therefore every person is entitled to equal treat- ment under the law, For this reason the National Council of the Churches of Christ has endeavored to insure for all persons regardless of race, class, sex, creed, or place of national origin their full civil rights. To this list the Governing Board now adds affectional or sexual preference. Discrimination based on any of those criteria is morally wrong. Many persons, including some of the members and pastors of some of our churches, have been and are being deprived of their civil rights in employment housing and full and equal protection of the law because of their affectional or sexual preference. THEREFORE: 1. The Governing Board reiterates the Christian conviction that all persons are entitled to full civil rights and equal pro- tection as citizens and to the pastoral concern of the church. 2. The Governing Board urges its member churches and their constituencies to work to ensure the enactment of legislation at the national, state and local levels that would guarantee the civil rights of all persons without regard to their affectional or sexual preferences. 3. The Governing Board asks the General Secretary to request the appropriate units of the Council to gather for the Board's information work already done or in process in the com- munions on this subject and to explore the most effective ways of relating the theological insights of the churches on the effects of discrimination and prejudice to the lives of homosexual persons in the community and the churches. *See the policy statement on HUMAN RIGHTS adopted by the Council's General Assembly, December 6, 1963. --- A STATEMENT from LUTHERANS CONCERNED FOR GAY PEOPLE Adopted at Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 17, 1974 TO THE CHURCH: As gay Lutherans, we affirm with joy the goodness of human sexuality which God has given us. We are to be found in the pulpits and pews, the schools, and offices of Lutheran churches and organizations throughout the land. We have received the sacraments, listened to the preaching of God's Word, taught in the schools, and worked in the committees and organizations of Lutheran churches. Some of us have rejoiced to find through the ministry of Lutheran churches that we are included among those whom Jesus Christ has redeemed. But many of us have found that our church has misled, misunderstood, con- fused, alienated, and unjustly condemned us, so that we have sometimes been driven to despair and robbed of the peace and joy which the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to all people. We call upon our church to further a greater understanding of human sexuality in all its manifestations. We ask our church to seek to remove prejudice and discrimination against gay women and men wherever it exists. We ask our church to receive and welcome us as it receives and welcomes others. TO GAY PEOPLE: To our gay sisters and brothers, we affirm that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all of us too. We call upon you to explore that gospel mes- sage and to receive it, for we believe that it can free us from the bondage of a misunderstanding of self, and empower us to express true Christian love in our relationships with others. JAS: bks 6/19/74 1. The Church should take steps to create an atmosphere of openness and understanding about human sexuality and particularly about homosexuality. Programs to assist in this process should be en- couraged at all levels: national, diocesan, convocational, and parochial. Such programs should be at the disposal of institutions of learning and in particular our seminaries and church-related schools. 2. All ministries and professions should be open to otherwise qualified people whatever their sexual orientation. The use that any person makes of sexuality should be open to a reasonable evaluation by individuals competent to judge the relevance of such use to the exercise of the ministry or other profession in question. An oppressive or destructive use of sexuality within personal relationships, whatever the sexual preference or orientation, should give reason to doubt the candidate's fitness for office. all 3. All aspects of the Church's life-education, liturgy, pastoral care, fellowship-should be available to persons, and not contingent upon those persons' guaranteed heterosexuality. Gatherings for homosexuals on church property should be accepted to the extent that they serve the same purpose as other social gatherings-enabling people to meet in an atmosphere of love and acceptance. 4. The Church's concern for individuals and a just social order should lead it to speak publicly for repeal of all laws which make criminal offenses of private, voluntary sex acts between mature persons. The Church ought also to oppose police harassment of homosexuals and investigatory practices which sometimes verge upon entrapment. Likewise the Church should speak publicly on behalf of homosexual persons in the area of civil rights legislation. There should be no discrimination against any person in housing, employment, business services, or public accommodations on the grounds of sexual orientation. FROM RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMISSION ON HOMOSEXUALITY OF BIBLIOGRAPHY: EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF MICHIGAN JULY 1973 1. Some Basic Books - a place to begin reading! Bailey, Derrick S.: Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition, Longmans Green, London, 1955. Jones, H. Kimball: Toward A Christian Understanding of Homosexuality, Association Press, New York, 1966. Hansel, Robert R.: The Homosexual Problem - Theirs or Ours, Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, New York, 1970. Weinberg, George: Society and the Healthy Homosexual, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1972. Weltge, Ralph (ed): The Same Sex, Pilgrim Press, Philadelphia, 1971. --- -20- would make an indirect contribution to the mental health of the homosexual population. It would also serve to reduce the possibilities for blackmail, which are a constant hazard to the homosexual under present conditions. (14) To be sure, full equality in employment, full security and full acceptance by the society for homosexuals will not be achieved by changes in the law alone, but such changes may help to facilitate the recasting of public attitudes that are ultimately needed. (B) Employment Policies and Practices. It is recommended that there be a reassessment of current employment practices and policy relating to the employment of homosexual individuals with a view toward making needed changes. Discrimination in employment can lead to economic disenfranchisement, thus engendering anxiety and frustrating legitimate achievement motivation. (15) Present employment policies generally deal with the homosexual individual as if homosexuality were a specific and homogeneous category of behavior, and tends to ignore the wide range of variation that exists. (16) we recognize that some homosexuals, like some heterosexuals, may be unsuitable employees in some situations because they do not exercise reason- able control over their sexual tendencies or activities. --- FINAL REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON HOMOSEXUALITY -18- ост. 10, 1969 chaired by Dr Evelyn Hooker for National Institute of Mental are offered with the full awareness that findings from further Health research must provide a more firm basis for continuing critical re-evaluation of policy measures in this area. Changes in social policy can be discussed under two headings, namely legal changes and changes in employment policies and practices. (A) Legal changes. Although many people continue to regard homosexual activities with repugnance, there is evidence that public attitudes are changing. Discreet homosexuality, together with many other aspects of human sexual behavior, is being recognized more and more as the private business of the individual rather than a subject for public regulation through statute. Many homosexuals are good citizens, holding regular jobs and leading productive lives. The exis- tence of legal penalties relating to homosexual acts means that the mental health problems of homosexuals are exacerbated by the need for concealment and the emotional stresses arising from this need and from the opprobrium of being in violation of the law. On the other hand, there is no evidence suggesting that legal penalties are effective in preventing or reducing the incidence of homosexual acts in private between consent- ing adults. In the United States such persons are so seldom brought to trial that to all intents and purposes --- -19- such laws are dead letters, and their repeal would merely officially confirm a situation that already exists. It should be emphasized that the repeal of such laws would in no way affect existing legal sanctions against sexual behavior which violates public decency or involves the seduction of minors, whether such behavior be homosexual or heterosexual. A number of eminent bodies--the British Wolfenden Commission, the Ninth International Congress on Criminal Law, and the American Law Institute in its Model Penal Code have all recommended, after exten- sive studies, that statutes covering sexual acts be recast in such a way as to remove legal penalties against acts in private among consenting adults. A majority of this Task Force accepts and concurs with this recommendation and urges that the NIMH support ongoing studies of the legal and societal implications of such a change with respect to both homosexual and heterosexual behavior. We believe that such a change would reduce the emotional stresses upon the parties involved and thereby contribute to an improvement in their mental health. Furthermore, such a change in the law would also encourage revisions in certain governmental regu- lations which now make homosexual acts a bar to employ- ment, or a cause for dismissal. By helping thereby to remove a source of anxiety over being discovered, this --- AB269 Libertarian Party The Party of Principle Adopted in Convention Dallas, Texas June 12-16, 1974 D Statement of Principles We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual. We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose. Individual Rights and Civil Order No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. Both con- cepts are based on the same fundamental principle that no individual. group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. [1] CRIME We hold that no action which does not infringe the rights of others can properly be termed a crime. We favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes without victims" now incorporated in federal, state and local laws-such as laws on voluntary sexual relations, drug use. gambling, and attempted suicide. We support impartial and consistent enforce- ment of laws designed to protect individual rights-regardless of the motivation for which these laws may be violated. MacBride for President Committee 1516 P Street, NW, Washington, DC. 20005 Tel. (202) 232-5227 Robert H. Meier. Chairman Howard S. Rich. Treasurer MACBRIDE ON THE ISSUES F + CENSORSHIP The Federal Communica- tions Commission is one of the most dangerous agencies of government In recent years it has been lightening a velvet vise of censorship on the communications media-using its li- censing power to intimidate broadcasters and regulate the content of prime time television Even the Federal Election Commission has tried to regulate newspaper coverage of politi cal campaigns VICTIMLESS CRIME If there is no Vic- tim, there can be no crime This business of passing a law to prevent people from dom something simply because we think is mural- ly wrong is nonsense How we conduct CUR selves is a moral question that can be answered by our own conscienc Ine police should forget about trying to prevent conse it- ing adults from engaging in sex or gambling and start concentrating on real crimes like rape robbery and murder. WISCONSIN STATE DEMOCRATC PARTY 1974 Platform Page 3 We strongly belleve in greater public participation in the political process and urge the elimination of policies that prohibit such participation by public employees and the implementation of a Universal Voter Registration Drive. IRMAN RIGHTS All persons should have the same full and equal rights, privileges, oppor- unities and immunities without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, class, an ional origin, handicap or ancestry and should be able to have such rights, privileges. opportunities and immunities enforced in the courts. To this end, the Democratic Party shall seek necessary legislation to protect all citizens against invasion of privacy from whatever source -- -public or private and shall administer all public agencies and policies to assure ertension and preservation of such rights, privileges, opportunities, and immunities We, the members of the Libertarian Parts, challenge the cult of the --- WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL STAFF MEMORANDUM Room 147 North, State Capitol, Madison 53702 Telephone (608) 266-1304 DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: August 1, 1974 JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Orlan L. Prestegard, Staff Attorney Revisor's No. 7-74, State ex rel. Farrell v. Stovall (1973), 59 Wis. 2d 148. Revisor's Report State ex rel. Farrell v. Stovall, 59 Wis. 2d 148. The sex deviate law (Ch. 975) reviewed and it was held that a jury may be demanded on the question of sexual deviancy although the statute does not provide for one. The right must parallel that under Ch. 51 in order to be constitutional. See also State v. Dudrey, 59 Wis. 2d 175, holding that a person has a constitutional right to a jury trial as to an extension of his commitment as a sex deviate. Supreme Court Decision Farrell v. Stovall was a consolidation of 2 actions concerning the validity of Ch. 975, Wis. Stats., the Sex Crimes Law, which were remanded from the United States Supreme Court. The Court stated the issues as follows: 1. Do the equal protection requirements of the state and federal constitutions invalidate the sex deviate commitment proceedings under ch. 975, Stats., insofar as they fail to provide a jury trial, if requested, at either the initial commitment or subsequent commitment proceedings? 2. Are any of the distinctions between mentally ill persons under ch. 51 and sex deviates under ch. 975, Stats., constitutionally permissible? The Court held: In Huebner v. State we we required a judicial hearing in the determination of sex deviation in order to --- -2- avoid constitutional attack on the Sex Crimes Law. In the instant matter, this court now requires jury determinations at both stages, initial commitment and recommitment, of the sex deviate proceedings. Since ch. 51 requires only a six-man jury, if requested, such is all a person whose commitment is sought under ch. 975 is entitled to demand. [Farrell, at 168] The Court stated that there are permissible differences between the Sex Crimes Law and the Mental Health Act since the person committed under the Sex Crimes Law has been convicted of a sex crime. Staff Recommendations Section 975.06 (1), concerning the initial commitment hearing, should be amended to delete the sentence: "The hearing shall be conducted by the court without a jury" and to add language to provide for a 6-man jury upon request. Section 975.06 (1), concerning the recommitment hearing, should be amended to delete one sentence: "The hearing shall be conducted by the court without a jury" and to add language to provide for a 6-man jury upon request. OLP:mf choice of -6-person Barbee moves it should be 192-person!" language should" 12-person, unanimous or unanimous changed "6-person" instead of "6-man or 6. unanimous at both hearing ---