San Francisco Chronicle Article Reporting the Release of Brief of Injustices

San Francisco Chronicle Article Reporting the Release of Brief of Injustices

San Francisco Chronicle, September 25, 1965, pages 1 and 4.

Repository: San Francisco Public Library

The City's Homosexuals--And Police
By Scott Thurber

A group of San Francisco ministers who have taken a long, close look at the city's "Gay" world came up with some trenchant conclusions yesterday.

The lot of the homosexual, they report, is a sorry one indeed.

The ministers' lengthy report damns public attitudes toward homosexuals, and "unenforceable laws" affecting them - but it is most truculent in dealing with the police.

The report charges that undercover policemen invade generally decorous "gay" bars and use techniques of "entrapment and enticement" in an effort to get arrests.

"It seems to us the first duty of police is to prevent crime, not to provoke it for the sole purpose of its prosecution and punishment," the ministers declare.

In broad terms, the council on Religion and Homosexual's "Brief of social, legal and economic oppression of a minority group, based not on fact and scientific analysis but rather on taboo and fear."

Specifically the report charges that:
- Homosexuals are ostracized socially to the extent that many of them even refuse to fight for their legal rights in court because they fear public exposure as homosexuals.

- They are prosecuted under laws which can't be enforced equitably. The laws prohibiting specific sexual acts apply to heterosexual contacts too, the ministers say–but "the adult homosexual bears the brunt of a sporadic and prejudicial enforcement of such laws..."

- Homosexuals are subjected to discriminatory employment practices "based on the unfounded belief of employers that homosexuals are unstable or are untrustworthy."

AIM
The Council on Religion and the Homosexual was formed last year to promote "dialogues" between homosexuals and the community at large—in the interests of increased mutual understanding.

The Council says its intensive study has convinced it that, contrary to public opinion, homosexuals are not "abnormal, neurotic, dangerous people," nor are they "inherently more criminal either in intent or actions than their heterosexual counterparts.

"As with any group of people, we discovered elements which constitute social or legal problems. But by and large this group in the homosexual community, as in the larger community seems to be small."

The Rev. Ted McIlvenna of Glide Foundation, president of the council, said he made 200 visits to gay bars during his part of the study–which he began on his own two years ago.

"They were all different," he said. "Some catered to people who were immaculately dressed - obviously business executives; others catered to people casually dressed in levis and sneakers; other drew the black leather motorcycle type..."

CAREFUL
But in almost all cases he found that "gay bars are policed better by the people who run them" than non gay bars.

Canon Robert W. Cromey of St. Aidan's church visited only a few of the bars but had similar conclusions.

"Obviously the bar owners are out to make money and want to stay in business," he said.

The Rev. Mr. McIlvenna said the only thing he ever saw "out of line" in gay bars was the police.

"Sometimes two cops would come in the front door and just stand there–looking. And partly blocking the door.

"Or a police car would park across the street and the police would sit there for a long time–starting.

"These are all forms of harassment . I'm not against the police, but I think there's been a considerable amount of harassment of gay bars.

IMPOLITE
The report's criticism of the police said in part that members of the council had been treated impolitely by the police when they sought to talk to them about better understanding of homosexuals.

"They seemed sure they were involved in enforcing God's Law."

In its discussion of charges of police "entrapment and enticement" techniques the report questions "the legality and justice of having attractive young police officers in civilian clothes making themselves receptive targets for approach and socialization."

The report also suggests that far too many officers who might be out apprehending murderers and robbers are spending their time:

"Peeking through little holes into men's rooms, or stationed behind vent screens."

CHIEF
Police Chief Thomas J. Cahill said he didn't know what the ministers were talking about. The police "will police about.

He said charges that homosexuals are harassed are "utterly false."

What about "enticement and entrapment"?

"We will continue to do the police work deemed necessary to protect the public," he said. "We do not violate the law of entrapment."

He said homosexuals are "a segment of the population that requires constant policing."

Ronald M. Lockyer, district Alcoholic Beverage Control Department administrator, said that "most gay bars are well known and some are well-behaved premises. However, others are very fragrant and these have been prosecuted vigorously."

"No one," he said "has ever proved entrapment. We can't comment on the wisdom of the laws. We're just here to enforce the laws the Legislature give us."