38 20 2502 https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/dac443b93c96e3242960d876de90a3d6.pdf 1f5fed4ccbad9ade2d180c8547588b33 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: to implement the challenge of change... A Brief of Injustices an indictment of our society in its treatment of the homosexual Presented by The Council on Religion and the Homosexual, Inc. 330 Ellis Street San Francisco, California 94102 Page 2: to implement the challenge of change... A Brief of Injustices an indictment of our society in its treatment of the homosexual Presented by The Council on Religion and the Homosexual, Inc. 330 Ellis Street San Francisco, California 94102 Page 3: Index 1. Homosexuals are being prosecuted under laws which cannot be enforced equitably - Page 3 2. Homosexuals are being socially ostracized to the extent that they are often unable to avail themselves of effective legal counsel and unwilling to risk fighting for their legitimate rights in courts. - Page 4 3. Individuals who publicly assist persons/perceived by others as homosexuals face attempted intimidation by police as well as other negative sanctions. -Page 4 4. Enforcement officers use methods of enticement and entrapment to develop grounds for arrest and conviction of persons presumed to be homosexuals. -Page 5 5. Persons perceived to be homosexuals are subjected to unreasonable and unfair discriminatory practices in employment based on the unfounded belief of employers that homosexuals are unstable or are untrustworthy. - Page 5 6. Persons presumed to be homosexuals, on suspicion alone, are being willfully, publicly and illegally harassed by police in injurious ways. -Page 6 7. Criminals who attack citizens often go free because too much police manpower is used to harass, entice and entrap suspected homosexuals. - Page 7 8. Licensed public premises, such as bars, are subject to prosecution because they provide services to homosexuals or persons presumed to be homosexuals. Conversely, homosexuals and persons presumed to be homosexuals are deprived of access to such licensed public premises which are available to other people. - Page 7 9. In order to make a case against a licensed public place believed to serve homosexuals or persons presumed to be homosexuals, plainclothes investigators employ methods of enticement and entrapment to secure "evidence" which is often proved false or irrelevant. -Page 9 10. Private acts of unsuspecting persons which result from the deceitful enticement of undercover agents are used to suspend or revoke the license of public places, even though neither the enticement nor the private acts have ever been reported to the licensee. Page 9 Cover: The Wall of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington D.C. Page 4: Police harassment and denials of civil rights in San Francisco to persons presumed to be homosexual have raised issues of concern to all citizens. To bring this situation to the attention of the public, the Board of Trustees of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual, Inc., has prepared this Brief of Injustices. As a result of their involvement with the Council, many clergymen became aware of injustices which, until now, have been largely ignored by society. The clergy members of the Council's Board made their own investigation, and upon hearing their conclusions the Board of Trustees concurred. Consequently, this Brief is presented as the consensus of the Board. To place this Brief in proper perspective, we list the purposes of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual, which has as its objective the promotion of a "continuing dialogue between the religious community and homosexuals." 1. To orient members of religious communities (both lay persons and clergy) on aspects of homosexuality (i.e., physical, economic, legal, emotional, etc.) in accordance with homosexual testimony and available scientific data. 2. To encourage members of the religious communities to provide opportunities for homosexuals of both sexes to present their views of homosexuality to various religious organizations. 3. To open up channels of communication so that members of the religious communities may engage in dialogue with homosexuals in order to bring about new and deeper understandings of sexuality, morality, ethical behavior, and the life of religious faith. 4. To study systematically the deeper dynamics of authentic human relationships from biblical, theological and social science perspectives. 5. To engage in research which will further understanding of homosexuality within the larger framework of the present sexual revolution. 6. To enlist the aid of religious publications and other media in working toward a broadened editorial policy including more accurate and objective articles on homosexuality. 7. To provide an effective voice throughout the nation in matters of laws, policies and penal reforms governing adult sexual behavior. 8. To help professional people (clergymen, social workers, etc.) working in mental health and counseling fields to understand better their role in dealing with problems of human sexuality in our society with special reference to young people. 9. To encourage the formation of similar councils on religion and the homosexual in other areas of the nation and the world. We feel that these objectives can only be obtained through a thorough and objective consideration of human sexual behavior from all points of view and with a deep concern for the human beings and values involved in such sensitive, personal matters. The Council had its beginnings with a series of small group meetings which included homosexuals, members of the religious community, leaders of the homophile organizations, and other interested persons. After considering pertinent scientific and professional literature, we began a series of discussions with lawyers, doctors, psychiatrists, social workers,. and others knowledgeable in the field. With this background we held a consultation involving thirty people interested in the project. From this consultation there developed the idea of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual. Goals were established; the Council was formed, and later incorporated, and the major work began. Up to this point the results of our investigations were neither conclusive nor consistent. Therefore in order to understand better the ramifications of homosexual behavior, we began direct observation of the homosexual's relationships. The clergy started visiting so-called "gay bars," dances, discussion groups and other Page 5: social functions. Many of us spent time examining the little-publicized problem areas in the homosexual's existence: male prostitution, the aging homosexual, and the behavior which police and society consider undesirable. In the process we met homosexuals of every type, from every social and ethnic group, with every sort of religious and political outlook. From these investigations we derived a new sense of the difficulties we were to face. As time brought greater knowledge we discovered that a majority of homosexuals are productive members of society, doing excellent work in many fields of art, business, industry and the professions. Contrary to the conflicting theories of psychiatrists and other behavioral scientists, many of whom hold that homosexuals are abnormal, neurotic, dangerous people, we found that most of the persons we met and talked to were normal in appearance and fully capable of deep, lasting and moral relationships. Also contrary to popular misconceptions, we learned that homosexuals were not 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. In short, homosexuals turned out to be no better or worse than their heterosexual counterparts, differing from them primarily in the choice of a sexual partner. With this knowledge we were ready to act. The homophile organizations related to the Council volunteered to raise funds by sponsoring a benefit costume ball to be held January 1, 196 5. It was through this event that we experienced first hand the harassing tactics of the police. We had apprised the polic.e of the ball and the reasons for holding it, and had been led to believe the police would riot interfere- - but they did. Floodlights illuminated the entrance to the hall and police photographers took still and moving pictures of all persons entering and leaving. Police both plainclothes and uniformed, attempted to enter the hall--and did--following the arrest of three attorneys representing the Council and one woman member who was on duty at the door. Subsequently all four of those arrested pleaded not guilty to "interfering with police in the performance of their duty, " and at their jury trial were found not guilty. Now we are confronted with new and more serious problems. Can we continue what we have begun? Can we do anything constructive without provoking further hostile reactions from the police and perhaps even from the general community? Our answer: We know that we cannot accept quietly the unexpected pressures to which persons of homosexual orientation are being subjected. I During many discussions with lawyers, including those involved in the court cases which followed the dance, we have discovered that there is very little justice for the homosexual. The reasons for this are disturbing. For instance, we were surprised to discover that while it is not against the law to be homosexual, the law forbids specific sexual acts which are illegal whether performed by homosexuals, heterosexuals, or presumably even by children. We question whether such laws are either just or reasonable. Sexual acts are among the most private areas of human expression. As private acts, they should not be the subject of law. We also believe that law should sustain the right of each individual to engage in private sexual activity. Most sex laws are unjust, vague, unenforceable or unrealistic. Such laws serve best to open up avenues for blackmail, police brutality, and the violation of civil rights. The fact that the adult homosexual bears the brunt of a sporadic and prejudicial enforcement of such laws seems to be the choice of the law enforcement agencies themselves. In recent years there has been an increase in arrests for violations of these laws, but the enforcement has been directed almost exclusively against male homosexuals. If capricious enforcement of unjust laws continues, the day will Page 6: soon arrive when irritated or overzealous police officers may, at their own discretion, impose their own prejudices on some of the most intimate and private concerns of human life. This, then, is the first great injustice: Homosexuals are being prosecuted under laws which cannot be enforced equitably. II When we consider the effect of the moral standards of the community, we find that there are even greater inequities. In the Bay Area a sixteen year old boy attempted suicide arid subsequently it was discovered that. he was driven to this extreme by the brutal abuse of his schoolmates who found him to be bookish, a bit different, and therefore implicitly "queer." We have observed situations where parents have disowned their children when they discovered they were homosexuals. When a homosexual's sexual orientation is exposed the result usually is instant and overwhelming social condemnation, public shame and ridicule, the loss of employment, friends and church affiliation. As a result, dread of exposure has made many homosexuals fearful, guilt-ridden and secretive. Such citizens are easily intimidated by the public, the police, the courts and the unscrupulous lawyers to whom they sometimes have to turn. Lawyers who have represented homosexuals have told us that most homosexuals, even if not guilty, will not fight their cases through the courts. They decide it is better to plead guilty and hope for the court's mercy. They are so suspicious and fearful of exposure and publicity they usually prefer to forego trial by jury, feeling certain other citizens will consider them guilty despite all contrary evidence. While still in the hands of the police many homosexuals seem to be intimidated into making damaging admissions, often untrue, which are so incriminating that a merited defense becomes almost impossible. Hence, police statistics indicating the number of convictions may be more indicative of the fear and false guilt felt by the homosexual than of his actual guilt or innocence. Published police statistics which seek to prove that most homosexuals are criminals cannot withstand careful scrutiny from a scientific perspective. Basic prejudices and methods of enforcement preclude the scientific accuracy and importance of such data, This, then, is the second great injustice: Homosexuals are being socially ostracized to the extent that they are often unable to avail themselves of effective legal counsel and unwilling to risk fighting for their legitimate rights in courts. III We have learned much from our confrontations with the police. Before the dance some of us had two long meetings with members of the sex crimes detail of the San Francisco Police Department. What we heard astounded us. We had come to discuss the ball and the possibility of opening up avenues of communication. They were determined to examine our theological beliefs and why we had chosen to concern ourselves with people who committed what were to them sinful acts. During one discussion, we were informed that even masturbation was a crime against "God's Law." They seemed sure they were involved in enforcing "God's Law." It has become apparent that the police feel justified in doing whatever they want to do regardless of whether it is merited or not, wise, or even legal. We have also discovered that the word of some persons representing the police department is undependable; their attitudes tend to be rather big brotherish, and their actions tend to Page 7: be oppressive if not unjust. We fear this may set unparalleled precedents for, establishing a police state; where private fanaticism becomes public dogma, where eccentricity makes a man a felon, where suspicion invariably convicts, and where statutes come to mean whatever the police want them to mean. We were told; "Leave morals and law enforcement to us." In effect, they said return to the temple and pray. For us, however, God's action is not only in the temple but in the world confronting human need. This, then, is the third great injustice: Individuals who publicly assist persons perceived by others as homosexuals face attempted intimidation by police as well as other negative sanctions. IV As we have noted, the choice of the persons against whom the penalties of law are enforced seems to rest with the police department. As a result, some homosexuals suffer from the inequitable enforcement of law. But we have found our greatest source of concern in the specific police tactics used to make arrests and obtain convictions. We are convinced that the police use entrapment or enticement in order to make arrests, although they vehemently deny resorting to such practices. It is our understanding that such methods are illegal. For instance, we wonder about the legality and justice of having attractive young police officers in civilian clothes making themselves receptive targets for approach and solicitation. Can such officers be expected invariably to resist the temptation to lead the conversation into areas where an arrest is assured? The courts seem to believe the word of the police. But we wonder if the police always tell the truth. There may be many cases in which policemen color the truth or distort facts to get a conviction. And we suspect that there may be officers who spend time peeking through little holes into men's rooms or stationed behind vent screens. Others may stand at urinals inviting approach. As ministers, we have investigated many of the so-called "set-ups" used to make such arrests, and we can only wonder with what sort of men we are dealing. It has been suggested that the frequency of arrests and their nature could indicate the existence of a quota system based on the principle that minimum police efficiency demands at least so many arrests of a certain type by certain officers over a period of time. A more basic question is: Is solicitation with the intent to commit a sexual act of any kind justification for arrest and conviction? Is the discussion of possible sexual acts an adequate ground for considering that a person manifests sexual behavior presently against the law? If conversations about illegal matters are made equivalent to actual violation of law then we would have to incarcerate almost everyone. This, then, is the fourth great injustice: Enforcement officers use methods of enticement and entrapment to develop grounds for arrest and conviction of persons presumed to be homosexual. V It does not end here. We have learned that when a person is arrested he is fingerprinted, photographed, and a record is made of the charges against him. Even if the courts dismiss the case or find him not guilty, this record of arrest is retained by the police department. It can follow the person throughout his lifetime and be used much later to ruin him, particularly if the charges involve, homosexual acts, which many employers consider a risky credit for an employee. It is unfair for employers to subject such persons to severe penalties on the basis of a police record of arrests--especially as arrests are made as a means of intimidation when the arresting officers know they cannot make a case in court. It is especially unjust when prolonged unemployment results from less than legal arrests and less than just Page 8: court proceedings. But the police do not always stop at reporting the record. In many cases they tell the person's employer of the charges against him, or release this information to the press for publication, which has the same effect. The lawyers arrested at the ball were the victims of such practices by the police department which sent the San Francisco Bar Association a report that these attorneys had been arrested defending homosexuals. Fortunately, the ethics of the Bar Association are quite different from those of the police. The same might be said, but in another way in reference to the discriminatory policies adhered to by the military and governmental sectors of our society. Suspected homosexuals are ferreted out and discharged as quickly as possible. For instance, a majority of homosexuals have served honorably in the military services without being detected or demoralizing their companions. The unfortunates who are discovered are discharged on "other than honorable grounds." This becomes all the more lamentable since the younger ones often do not manifest behavior associated with homosexuality until they are in the armed services. Government employees often are pre-emptorily discharged after expensive investigations disclose grounds for "suspicion of homosexual behavior." Yet it has never been scientifically established that homosexuals are undesirable in public or military service because of their susceptibility to being blackmailed or because of innate characteristics which affect job performance. Returning to the private sector, many private employers discharge homosexual employees on grounds justified by little more than custom, prejudice and taboo. These attitudes encourage mass personnel inquisitions consuming thousands of dollars and countless man hours, and often result in irreparable loss of talent and productivity which our society cannot afford. This, then, is the fifth great injustice: Persons perceived to be homosexuals are subjected to unreasonable and unfair discriminatory practices in employment based on the unfounded belief of employers that homosexuals are unstable or untrustworthy. VI It is common knowledge that the police engage in other forms of harassment. Harassment of persons in bars, on streets, or in other public places seems predicated on the theory that although most people, even highly trained ones, cannot detect the average homosexual, the police are fully capable of making such fine distinctions. Persons are subjected to questioning based on suspicion alone without there being any proof that illegal sexual acts have been or ever will be performed by that individual. Because of dress, manner, place of assembly, choice of associates, or just because the officers detect a seeming difference from the norm, persons may be detained for questioning, have makeup cards filed on them, and in other ways be publicly embarrassed and forced to endure verbal abuse. Members of the Council and their wives have experienced such verbal abuse. In our encounter with the police, one said: "I never thought I'd see the day when ministers helped queers." One of the ministers was asked by a policeman in a condemning tone, "Would you want your son to be a homosexual?" Another question was asked, "What does your wife think of your helping homosexuals?" This, then, is the sixth great injustice: Persons presumed to be homosexuals, on suspicion alone, are being willfully, publicly, and illegally harassed by police in injurous ways. Page 9: Because homosexuals are subjected to the contempt of the public and the police, they become fair game for all forms of criminality. Fearful and distrustful of the police, the courts, and indeed of the public in general, homosexuals choose to submit to beatings, extortion and robbery by professional criminals. Many of the major crimes committed in San Francisco, such as murder, assault and battery, extortion and robbery, are perpetrated on homosexuals. Few of the perpetrators of these crimes ever seem to be caught. A whole underworld of traffic in male flesh is reported to flourish in San Francisco, yet it often seems that persons most subjected to harassment are the homosexuals who, for one reason or another, find it necessary to be clients of male prostitutes. We seriously question the advisability of the amount of police time and public money used to harass suspected homosexuals while many actual malefactors escape apprehension. We think members of the sex crimes detail now spending their time in latrines, in plainclothes standing on the street corners, or in gay bars seeking to entrap unsuspecting citizens, could better protect our community by concentrating on major areas of crime. It appears to us that disorganized and prejudicial law enforcement is almost as much of a problem as organized crime. This, then, is the seventh great injustice: Criminals who attack citizens often go free because too much police manpower is used to harass, entice and entrap suspected homosexuals. VIII Our investigation into the homosexual's behavior and his relationships to his society led us to consider the so-called "gay bars." For the harassed homosexual there hardly seems to be any place other then the gay bar in which he may freely associate without baleful scrutiny and the need to wear a mask. We investigated heterosexual bars and gay bars impartially, and at no time did we observe in gay bars any actions we might deem shocking or immoral. In most cases our arrival was not particularly noticed. We doubt that the patrons in the bars could have known that we were ministers. It can be said that in appearance, atmosphere, deportment of clientele, and the nature of any sexuality which might inadvertently find expression, the average gay bar is forced to be well above its heterosexual counterpart. After a thorough investigation of bars we met with various bartenders, managers and others who were, familiar with the problems faced by the bar owner and his patrons. This led to a confrontation with the Alcoholic Beverage Control in a meeting we held with its regional director. Unsatisfied with what we had been told there, we examined court records of such famous litigation as "Stoumen vs. Reilly," or what is popularly known as "The Black Cat Case;" "Mary's First and Last Chance," a bar which was located in Oakland; and some more recent closures affecting "Jack's Waterfront," "The D'Oak Room" and "The Jumpin' Frog" bars which we had inspected prior to their closing. Legal matters were reviewed with several lawyers, and in some cases we talked with some of the patrons who had been arrested by ABC agents or city police in attempts to gather sufficient evidence to justify closing the bars. At first we did not realize the full implications of our investigations. Basically what we found was that an agency of government, in this case the ABC, was using prejudicial enforcement of a questionable law to justify the closing of homosexual bars under legal provisions it used much less frequently in cases involving heterosexual bars. Since the average life span of a gay bar seems to be something short of two years, while heterosexual bars usually remain open almost indefinitely, it Page 10: appears that the degree of scrutiny which homosexual bars receive may greatly exceed that accorded heterosexual bars. Apparently they are usually closed on several grounds which may be summed up in this way: the licensee is running a dis.orderly house injurious to the public decency or morals, because within the premises and with his full knowledge he permitted lewd or lascivious acts, a public display or manifestation of aberrant sexual urges or desires, verbal solicitations. indicating the intent to perform such acts, or that he allowed his bar to become a resort for dope pushers or addicts, prostitutes, pimps, panderers or sexual perverts. It is very misleading to consider sexual pervert and homosexual as synonymous. For instance, some authorities consider the use of contraceptives as a practice of sexual perversion- -the perverting of sexual intimacies from the intended purpose of procreation. The disagreements which exist between scientists, sociologists, physicians, lawyers and even the clergy about the etiology of homosexuality, its nature and manifestations, preclude such a. connection between homosexuality and sexual perversion. In addition, persons with homosexual inclinations have not been scientifically proven to be ipso facto criminals, intrinsically detrimental to civilization or infected with disease. Neither do they comprise a small element in the population which can be isolated, incarcerated or eradicated by repressive measures. Therefore, to close bars just because they are patronized by homosexuals, on the basis of the incorrect belief that homosexuals are sexual perverts, is incoherent reasoning. In fact, we are told by people knowledgeable in the field that even if this spurious contention were valid there is no way to determine with any certainty what persons or groups of persons in a bar are homosexual. Therefore, as written, justice and equity in applying this law are almost impossible. There are more basic issues. Charges drawn up against gay bars are an itemization either of verbal solicitations or of acts tending to the public display or manifestation of aberrant sexual urges or desires, which are directed to, or seen by, specific ABC undercover agents whose entry into and departure from the bar are unknown to its owner. In such a sense, the act of a man placing his arm loosely around the waist of another man, in a gay bar, within the view of such an agent, indicates that the man is a homosexual publicly expressing sexual urges or desires, or the intent thereto, which are clearly against the present statutes. This sort of evidence is used to establish that the bar owner is keeping a disorderly house. To establish that a disorderly house exists does not require that a person named in a charge must actually commit an illegal sex act, so any interpretation of intent to commit such acts on the basis that a person is presumed to be a homosexual is unjustified and irrational. Most intelligent people would never sanction branding citizens as homosexuals solely on the basis that their thoughts, speech, mannerisms, conversations, attitudes, tendencies or psychological responses are in some manner or to some degree, unconventional. Neither would they expect lay authorities such as the police, the ABC, or even the courts to be able to determine from simple aspects of non-sexual behavior whether persons were homosexual. Because there is a difference between the acts themselves and the mere intent to perform them, there is no substantial connection between gestures or conversations and the specific sexual acts which are against the law. Therefore, justice itself would preclude confounding intent to perform with performance when the actual performance itself is substantially lacking. Clearly, the manner of application and enforcement of these statutes depends upon the personal opinions and prejudices of the ABC and its agents, a type of enforcement which fosters oppression, blackmail and discrimination. We hardly think it prudent to invest the ABC with the exclusive, unlimited and unrestrained authority to suppress or regulate the behavior of bar patrons through its right to suspend or revoke licenses. Thus ABC becomes what it should not become, the keeper of morals for bar patrons in general and for homosexuals in particular. Page 11: This, then, is the eighth great injustice: Licensed public premises, such as bars are subject to prosecution because they provide services to homosexuals or persons presumed to be homosexuals. Conversely, homosexuals and persons presumed to be homosexuals are deprived of access to such licensed public premises which are available to other people. IX The methods used by the ABC to gather evidence against bars are not unlike those used by the plainclothes agents of the police department. Through deceit and inducement, lure and suggestion, both police and ABC undercover agents encourage solicitations for sexual acts. Such solicitations are not reported to the licensee until months or years later when they are published in the charges used to suspend or revoke the license. In reading the charges filed against several of the bars, we concluded that almost any act or conversation in a gay bar is sufficient for arrest and for use as data in revoking the license. There is also the question of the strict legality of ruses and ploys employed by these agents in their efforts to make a case against the gay bar. We ask: In playing their part in an endless crusade to enforce the so-called moral code of society, are these agents free from disposition toward prejudice or a tendency to deliberately distort and alter the facts just to get sufficient evidence to close the bar? This, then, is the ninth great ,injustice: In order to make a case against a licensed public place believed to serve homosexuals or persons presumed to be homosexuals, plainclothes investigators employ methods of enticement and entrapment to secure "evidence" which is often proved false or irrelevant. X Although the ABC has repeatedly denied that it keeps files of charges on gay bars, or that such charges are being gathered against all the gay bars in San Francisco, logic indicates that the entire truth is not being told. Somewhere a closed file, or its equivalent, unavailable for public or legal scrutiny, must be in the process of being assembled, for in many cases the dates of actual incidents used as evidence to suspend a license date far back into the bar's history. As we have stated, from our observation the standards of behavior in gay bars are equal to, if not higher than, those in most heterosexual bars; therefore unless we assume that carefully assembled files of charges are kept on such bars we are at a loss to explain the fact that almost all gay bars are eventually closed. Since the files remain secret, since the undercover agents never report arrests to the bar owner, and since the ABC never publishes the charges until action is taken to suspend or revoke the license, the owner of the bar is required to defend himself against accusations concerning acts which may have occurred months or even years earlier. Proper defense against such charges is then almost impossible. Indeed, in criminal court the charges against the person arrested and named in the ABC action are often dismissed for lack of evidence, but the arrest is still held against the bar. Such accusations, traditionally of dubious merit, are used at a cut-and-dried proforma hearing where, almost without exception, they form the basis for the suspension of the license pending appeal. Appeals through the ABC almost always fail, and since actions on the constitutional issues in the civil courts are prohibitively expensive, most bars whose licenses are suspended are financially unable to fight for justice. Therefore they have no alternative but to go out of business. The whole idea of suspending a license pending appeal seems to be a denial of due process. Unable to properly defend himself against vague and often uncorroborated charges of which he is unaware until his license is suspended, the licensee is found sufficiently guilty by the ABC to justify suspending the license, leaving him the Page 12: almost impossible task of proving that he is innocent when in effect he has already been convicted. When we examined the actual court cases, the hearings and the appeals, we noticed that gay bars never seem to win reversals of any sort. As we have seen in the Black Ca.t case, those few that do fight their cases through the courts only achieve a temporary stay of execution. ABC pressure continues until something is found which will justify a revocation of the license. We feel the ABC is well aware that without funds the licensee cannot afford the great cost of taking the case into the courts where reversal might be possible. We suspect that both the hearing and the appeal boards of the ABC are inclined to follow the basic dictum of the entire agency; that all homosexual bars must be closed. This arrangement is a prime example of the vicious circle in exercising unlimited power to try to convict. The ABC is the investigator through its undercover agents, the accuser through its list of secret and vague charges, the prosecutor through its published charges, the judge through its boards of hearing and appeal, and the punisher through its right to suspend a license pending appeal. Such policies and actions lead us to believe that a highly prejudiced concern with a moral function exists which does not properly fall within the purview of the ABC. If they are disorderly, bars should be closed. But such treatment should be equitable, and should be based on investigations and charges which apply uniformly and which do not violate due process. Gay bars per se are not hotbeds of unspeakable acts, or the scenes of wild orgies. Just because homosexuals gather together there is no automatic offense to public morals and decency. We ministers have been in and out of all these bars often enough to reach this conclusion. This, then, is the tenth great injustice: Private acts of unsuspecting persons which result from the deceitful enticement of undercover agents are used to suspend or revoke the license of public places; even though neither the enticement nor the private acts have ever been reported to the licensee. Our police department, ever alert in rooting out crime in our community, does its small part to intimidate the patrons of gay bars. Besides the use of entrapment and enticement inside the bars they also harass people as they enter or leave. Indeed, as we have discovered, in the last ten years arrests in and out of bars has increased sharply. We wonder if these statistics do not suggest that in many cases arrests of homosexuals are like parking tickets, an effective and socially acceptable way of showing that the police are doing the job of enforcing "God's Law." Such indications provide little comfort when we read about murders and robbery on streets and in parks, or in one case, at the benefit ball, we observed over 35 policemen standing on the sidewalks. As ministers, we are discouraged when we realize that some of these social problems stem in part from misconceptions about theology and the interpretation of the Bible. The churches cannot escape their own participation in the perpetuation of these injustices. Selection of scriptural references, for instance, contribute to the attitudes of parishioners. One may read the Ten Commandments, wherein homosexuality is not mentioned at all, or one may use the oft-quoted Sodom and Gomorrah passage to justify the extermination of all homosexual behavior. We as churchmen cannot separate ourselves from our participation in the society which now perpetrates the injustices which we have described. At the same time we want to align ourselves with the causes which uphold the rights of persons, and against institutions which treat any person as less than a human and a child of God. In drawing up this Brief of Injustices we feel we are helping to expose a pattern of social, legal and economic oppression of a minority group, based not on fact and scientific analysis but rather on taboo and fear. No amount of condemnation, intimidation or incarceration in penal or mental institutions can alter the fact that a large minority of American citizens has, according to existing laws, at least upon occasion been guilty of committing homosexual acts. Further, the unreasonable Page 13: discrimination against homosexuals is demonstrated by the existence of a vast schism between the actual sexual activities of the entire population and those theoretically ideal standards which legal codes seek to uphold. Thus that a few are caught and punished is even more reprehensible. In sexual matters the law should be concerned with the protection of youth and the guarding of the public against force or predatory conduct. Other sexual behavior should be rooted in personal liberty and should be legally protected. Closely related, the right to peacefully meet in places open to the public is no more than the right of assembly granted to all citizens and should not be denied to the homosexual. It seems to us the first duty of the police is to prevent crime, not to provoke it for the sole purpose of its prosecution and punishment. Surely the utilization of plainclothesmen to try to induce citizens to perform homosexual acts for the purpose of arresting them is neither the best use of our police force nor an act of public justice. We also believe that Americans should reject any custom or law which would make any public authority the judge of private, personal moral convictions. Certainly such an authority should not permit a civil right to be whittled away indirectly any more than it should be allowed to be destroyed directly. We feel that the test of a democratic society is in the extent to which it suppresses individual thought and action. For some time there has been a demand for regulation of every aspect of human behavior and the repression of more and more conduct that is supposedly different from the so-called norm. This in itself is an expression of a growing tendency to employ broad standards and vaguely worded laws which seem to equate sin with crime, and which are used by the police to scoop up possible violators as they see fit. The excessive concern of some Americans over what are essentially areas of personal expression in sexual behavior, exercised between adults in private, can result in our becoming a nation of professional snoopers and privacy invaders, a society of voyeurs seeking to expose the scandals and defects in others which we refuse to recognize in ourselves. Laws based on such whims are a step backward. Such tendencies are. diametrically opposed to the principles of equality we profess to maintain, reducing suspected homosexuals to the status of second grade citizens and inferior human beings. In addition, it is our firm belief that any law which is unenforceable is worse than no law at all. Besides the violations of civil and human rights which these injustices imply, there are issues which reflect concern for human tragedy and waste of potential contributions to the growth of our society. The expenditures of public monies on witch hunts is only the smallest part of such waste. Greater losses occur in the reduced capacity of the individual to produce either for himself or his society. The dispersal of energies in countless small, yet terrible tragedies, seems unnecessary. We feel the chief goal in dealing with homosexuals should not be to try to reorient their sexual propensities through punishment and intimidation but rather to help them attain a satisfactory self-image and a meaningful relationship to society. Indeed, no one should be forced to suffer in silence or live in fear. We believe that only sensible criteria for judging human relationships is the maturity, necessity and justice inherent in•each relationship. Social and legal justice is essential. Society must not suffer from cheap harassment perpetrated in the name of virtue when, in fact, it is the terrible vice. Reacting to these pressures, the persecuted minority is forced into ghetto-like in-groupisms and secrecies which lead the homosexual to perpetrate on himself insults and degradations far beyond those imposed by the oppressive and hostile society in which he lives. So the homosexual is forced to perpetrate the last great injustice upon himself, that of failing to realize the best in himself and his part in cultivating the best in his society. There is an old Chinese proverb which says, "It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness." This is what we have tried to do. We are convinced that to change these constantly reinforced patterns of injustice, existing barriers to the ex- Page 14: change of knowledge must be destroyed. We of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual must find ways to establish communication between the homosexual and his society. Our work.is not aided by police who harass us, by politicians who are fearful of talking with us, by segments of the press which prefer either sensationalism or silence, by portions of the religious community which prefer to condemn rather than to understand, and by homosexuals who reject any effort to approach them. Fear will never set man free, and fear itself is perhaps the greatest obstacle which man must overcome. In our efforts to become free men we must be guided by the central ethical command of our Judeo-Christian tradition: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Signed by the Board of Trustees of The Council on Religion and the Homosexual, Inc., June, 1965 The Rev. Ted Mcllvenna, President Mr. Donald S. Lucas, Vice-President Mrs. Del Martin, Secretary Mr. Robert Walker, Treasurer Mr. William Beardemphl Mr. Harold L. Call The Rev. Dr. Clarence A. Colwell The Rev. Canon Robert W. Cromey Mr. Mark Forrester Mr. Darryl Glied Miss Phyllis Leon The Rev. Charles Lewis The Rev. Jan Marinissen Mr. Guy Strait The Rev. A. Cecil Williams Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Brief of Injustices</i> Published by CRH in September, 1965 (14 pages) Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/63f9f5e06df3eda93f516f44c432d10a.pdf 0c93c79ed5ce7df2c2c099a83d61cca1 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: In the past 120 days since CRH incorporated these are some of the accomplishments: DECEMBER: Announcement of CRH to press by Rev. Canon Cromey. Canon Cromey appeared on KCBS radio's Spectrum 74 A group of the CRH ministers met with the local ABC official. Reverends Ted McIlvenna & Cecil Williams met with the vice squad Nieto & Castro, inspectors with the vice squad, met with CRH Board. JANUARY: New Year's Ball - police harassment - ensuing arrests - publicity. $100 donated by Tavern Guild Ministers held press conference to protest police tactics. ACLU volunteered to take case of arrested attorneys. Guy Strait appeared on Spectrum 74. Letter campaign to newspapers, mayor, police John Moore on Spectrum 74 Bob Cromey & Don Lucas on Dick Stewart show on TV twice Johm Moore series of sermons on sex reported on news services Clay Colwell sets up meeting of ministers & homosexuals in Chicago at urban Training Center CRH endorsed by young democrats of S.F. Attorneys & Nancy May on radio CRH board members make KPFA tape CRH committees set up Lutheran North Beach Mission attends service at Glide for Moore sermon on homosexuality. FEBRUARY: Trial - defense wins on technicality Del M. & Don L. meet with editor of Ramparts magazine re article on homo. (they will run series of three) Members of CRH participate in young adult service. MARCH: Episcopal Diocese - Mrs. Bullwinkle runs names of speakers on homo. in bulletin circulated to all women's groups. Page 2: Episcopal Diocese Social Relations Committee recommends committee to study homosexuality & recommend official church policy on homo. Committee recommends Episcopal Diocese endorse Council Don Lucas meets with director of Humanist Society Article on CRH submitted to Davis Christian group Panel of CRH speakers at S.F. Theological Seminary Trustees attend Cal. Med. Center symposium Fred Bird speaks at San Mateo College Fred Bird speaks at Berkeley Methodists Benefit at Golden Cask - 8 more Methodist ministers back CRH. Ten programs taped for KXKX radio. Panel speaks before 20 ministers at urban training center Three ministers from above visit DOB office Retreat booklet goes to press - due out April 8 Clay & Ruth Colwell visit three newspaper publishers United Church votes $1,000 to CRH First issue of Challenge runs articles on CRH & homo. Clay c., Ed Setchko & Larry Jones meet with Phila. people. Don & Del at St. Aidan's sex class on homo. Bob & Del on POW - not released yet APRIL: Brief of Injustices Panel at Bay Area Ethical Culture Fellowship Meeting with Dr. Isadore Rubin, Sexology Mag. Panel at Unitarian Single Adults, Berkeley Ministers in Honolulu wish to start Council Southern Calif. ACLU meeting Don L. & Fred Bird at Jr. C of C Ted speaks to air command in Alaska - projected long range program with council of chaplains of council of churches Cecil has talked on CRH in Texas Interest in L.A. Glide has "integrated young adult group Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Document Outlining CRH’s Accomplishments in the 120 Days Beginning December 1964 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/d1b38e08c76dde9c424eccc072ed8aea.pdf ccd86216c2b5abae353305c02c69d6af Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: EVERY TENTH PERSON IS A HOMOSEXUAL A careful reading of the Kinsey Report and of Statistics compiled by police, doctors, social workers and homosexuals themselves indicates one in ten to be a conservative estimate of the current homosexual population. That is eighteen Page 2: million American men and women. "The word 'homosexuality' does not denote a course of conduct, but a state of affairs, the state of loving your own, not the opposite sex, it is a state of affairs in nature. One should no more deplore 'homosexuality' than left-handedness. (One can condemn or prohibit acts of course; that is another matter. But one cannot condemn or prohibit homosexuality, as such.) "Secondly, the label 'homosexuality' is misleading. People are not either homosexual or heterosexual. Most people are predominantly one or the other; most in fact are predominantly heterosexual; many are one or the other; most in fact are predominantly heterosexual; many are predominantly homosexual; many are attracted to both sexes fairly equally and may be pushed one way or the other by circumstances, convenience, and social pressure. Before we assume that homosexuality is bad and heterosexuality is good, we should recognize that homosexuals are no more necessarily promiscuous than heterosexuals are necessarily chaste. They may be similar people (or even, it will be realised, the same person) and have similar moral values. But of course, where a heterosexual finds blessing in marriage, a homosexual cannot; and many of the pressures designed to hold lovers of the opposite sex together have the effect of tearing lovers of the same sex apart; it is hardly surprising then that most homosexual affairs (at least amongst men) are less durable than most heterosexual affairs ... " Towards a Quaker View of Sex, Friends Home Service Committee, London, 1963. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Flyer Passed Out by CRH Members at the California State Fair in 1965 Description An account of the resource From private papers of James Waller. https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1fe6559beadb566165156213898d2b46.pdf 28c1b6c88fe4dc5462f858e51b4d4cf4 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The general membership meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual was called to order at 7:50 p.m. on June 15, 1965 by President Ted McIlvenna in the Glide Fellowship Hall. The minutes were read and corrected. The treasurer reported that the previous balance had been $1744.43 Income 295.05 Disbursed 744.08 Balance 1265.40 TV Rev. McIlvenna said that "CBS" Reports" will be coming out with a special on homosexuality this fall and that three hours of tape had been made on CRH. He also reported that he had met with the Chief of Chaplains and that it was expected that the problem of homosexuality and its treatment in the armed forces will be put on the agenda of the Chaplains meeting in Washington, D. C. this fall. Rev. McIlvenna indicated that the Air Force seemed to be more willing to deal with the problem that the Navy. Pres. McIlvenna also reported that CRH's request to the President's Committee on Equal Job Opportunity to participate in their June meeting had been refused on the grounds that this particular meeting was specifically on racial and ethnic problems. Rev. Cecil Williams said we should try to get in touch with members of the committee in an effort to get a dialogue started now. Larry Littlejohn reported that he did attend the meeting as a conferee and had brought up the subject in two work shops. He said he passed out 350 copies of a pamphlet (including one to Gov. Brown) and that there had been an item in the S.F. Chronicle. Rev. Colwell reported on the June l meeting in Los Angeles with ministers he thought would be responsive to our kinds of concern. The day long meeting included L.A. homophile representatives. Those there agreed to meet again to explore the idea of a Council further. Phyllis Leon said she had written to the three clergymen who had done the program on homosexuality on KRON's "Problems Please." Dean Bartlett asked to be kept advised of future CRH activities. Rabbi Fine referred CRH to the Board Rabbis. Monsignor Hurley did not reply. Rev. McIlvenna reported on the success of his appearance on "Might Call", a national telephone-in radio program. He said others on the CRH Board will probably appear on future programs. It was also reported that the Brief of Injustices was ready for printing. While the Board had wanted to hold the Brief for a timely release, it had been decided to go ahead and release it as soon as it is ready. Bob Walker said that $200 had been appropriated by the CRH Board as part of the New Years Ball legal defenses expense. George Hall reported that the Social Action Committee was engaging in a voter registration drive. Rev. Cecil Williams indicated the need for more dialogue with politicians, that they are more apt to listen the more they become aware of a homosexual voting bloc. Rev. Ted McIlvenna and Attorney Evander Smith cited a problem of police brutality recently brought to their attention. They outlined a program for dealing with such violations. Get badge number of police officer, get in touch with a clergyman immediately and have photos taken, get a doctor's certificate. Persons aware of police brutality cases were asked by Bob Walker to pass along whatever information they might have to the CRH Board so that it could be documented and proper action taken with municipal authorities. Rev. Paul Keppel said the Page 2: Legal Committee should handle .this project. Phyllis Leon pointed out that the CRH Board had already directed this committee to draw up a leaflet of instructions to be widely distributed amid the homophile community and to investigate the possibility of a 24-hour answering service which would have a list of doctors, photographers and legal resources. A proposal of a CRH picnic this summer met with lukewarm approval. Bob Koch moved, Paul. Keppel seconded that a letter be sent out to all cooperative organizations and that plans for a picnic be subject to their general reaction. Motion passed. Bill Woodson reported that the statement committee was busy writing and editing, that something had been written on three of the five sections of the pamphlet. He also suggested that the Legal Committtee might attempt to familiarize CRH members with proposed bills in the State legislature, that might require a letter writing campaign. Del Martin moved, Dorr Jones seconded that the Council join ACLU and Friends Committee on Legislation. Passed unanimously. The Theology Committee reported a change in name to Committee for Dialogue on Theology and the Homosexual. A conference in October with the faculty of the S.F. Theological Seminary has been planned. Phyllis Leon reported on public relations. Ramparts Magazine will devote a whole issue to homosexuality this fall. The Palo Alto Lutherans are planning field trips this summer to San Francisco to acquaint themselves with the homophile community. McGraw Hill Publishers have requested a book on the Church and Homosexuality. Rev. McIlvenna and/ or Rev. Don Kuhn will undertake the project. Look Magazine is also preparing a feature on homosexuality for early release. Bob Koch cited the need for volunteer typists to send out about 300 invitations to various S.F. churches to join CRH. Rev. Ted McIlvenna expressed the need for cantion in respect to researchers. He said we should require credentials and determine if a survey is valid or not. Above all, do not sign anything. Rev. McIlvenna said that "confidential" surveys being done in Los Angeles were open to question. The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Del Martin Secretary Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Membership Meeting on June 15, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/07771c72f2ab475ed58b7044e75b8acf.pdf 32260b18f1a126956122139e1545edae Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: Prior to the Board of Trustees meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual which was officially called to order at 8:25 p.m. on June 7, 1965 in the Glide Foundation offices by Pres. Ted McIlvenna, there had been an informal discussion of a specific police brutality case involving minors which had been referred to the American Civil Liberties Union. The discussion continued along the question of what the Council could do in such instances. It was suggested that all brutality cases be referred to a minister at once, that the Council maintain a list of doctors and photographers who could be called, that each case be carefully documented and reported directly to the mayor and the police chief, that an educational program be instituted by CRH throughout the homophile community by means of leaflets on what to do, such as get badge numbers and names, calling available professional help, etc. It was moved by Phyllis Leon and seconded by Del Martin that the matter be referred to the legal committee for further action. The minutes were read and approved as corrected. The treasurer reported the bank balance at the end of April $1744.43 May income 295.05 2039.48 May Disbursements 774.08 On Hand 1265.40 Rev. Mcilvenna said that CBS Reports would be releasing a TV documentary on homosexuality in September or October and that members of the CRH Board had already been filmed. He also said that John Poppy was working on an article for Look Magazine. The meeting in Southern California had resulted in two letters which indicated there would be a problem with the clergy there in setting up a Los Angeles Council. They are scared and not as enthusiastic. Bob Walker is going down on June 26th for an all day meeting to encourage and help in any way possible. Canon Cromey reported that Ramparts Magazine was planning a special symposium on homosexuality for fall publication. Ted McIlvenna said McGraw Hill wants a book on homosexuality and Christianity. Harper's magazine wants an article for winter. B. J. Stiles, editor of Motive, wants to publish a book if he can get enough articles. He wants views from the Council, both homophile and clergy, and from the medical profession, too. Rev. McIlvenna suggested the Council either take an ad in one of the church publications or that an article be submitted which refers to the "Church and the Homosexual" booklet or that we review copies to the various church magazines. Phyllis Leon said that Don Kuhn felt the booklet was difficult to review, that perhaps we would be better off to send news releases to the various church publications. Canon Cromey offered to write to the Episcopalian magazines urging them to publicize the booklet. Jan Marinissen offered to do likewise with United Church publications. Rev. McIlvenna said he would send an item to Christian Advocate, and Rev. Cecil Williams agreed to handle Christian Century and Christianity in Crisis. Guy Strait suggested the booklet be placed on news stands. Miss Leon pointed out that Don Kuhn objected to a general news stand release. Canon Cromey said he would see it was placed with the Grace Cathedral Book Shop, and Rev. Williams said he would contact Cokesbury Book Store. Rev. McIlvenna said he had had two important meetings coming up - one with the United Church in Chicago to try to bring about a broadened base of support and during the latter part of July in New York to see if we can get some foundations to underwrite part of our work. He said that neither the Church nor the foundations were jumping at the opportunity, and that he wants to force the issue to the Church. Canon Cromey said he had been pushing the Episcopal Diocese. Page 2: Guy Strait brought up his idea for a petition to the Congress based on redress of grievances in the first article of the Constitution. He said Frank Kameny of Washington Mattachine was writing a press release to be circulated across the country. Bill Beardemphl reported that SIR, as result of the sale of raffle tickets, had paid $600 to Donaldson and Smith to apply equally to the accounts for each of the two fellows who had been arrested at the New Years' Ball. Each had been charged total fees of $600, $100 paid by the individual, $300 by SIR, with a balance of $200 each still due. Mark Forrester moved that the Council should make a concrete demonstration of its responsibility and support by picking up the balance of the fees due. Don Lucas seconded. Del Martin conceded that this Board had assumed a responsibility when it decided to go ahead with the Ball in view of the police tactics prior to the Ball. Bob Walker pointed out that at a prior Board meeting Evander Smith had spoken of keeping a client-lawyer relationship and added that we can dissipate the movement by trying to help each one here and there. Both Canon Cromey and Rev. McIlvenna suggested that the Council compromise and pay half of the remainder oft he fees.. Bob Cromey then offered a substitute motion that the Council pay $200 over a period of time. Bob Walker seconded. Motion passed. Mark Forrester said that he was working on a mailing distribution of 2000 copies for the Brief of Injustices and requested authorization of $60 for this purpose. This was approved. There was discussion about publicity releases and a letter or foreword to be mailed with the brief. Rev & McIlvenna said he wanted to see and approve any such letter that went out in the name of the Council. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Del Martin Secretary Present: Jan, Ted, Cecil, Sasey, Lucas, Forrester, Leon, Strait, Walker, Martin, Beardemphl Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Board Meeting on June 7, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6adcb7b0fa81c3857e51dc048e79eeeb.pdf 2a61ba292128aa62e84effca41690e9c Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The general membership meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual held May 4, 1965 in the Glide Memorial Church was called to order by Pres. Ted McIlvenna at 7:55 p.m. The minutes were read and approved. The treasurer reported a total income of $2294.21 and $550.18 in disbursements leaving a balance of $1744.43. Pres. McIlvenna reported that he still had not received a reply from the attorney general's office and he would send another letter. Evander Smith regretted to report the outcome of the New Year's Ball trial for the two boys arrested inside the ball room. He cited the concluding remark of Assistant District Attorney O'Brien placing the homophile community on trial as a determining factor in the guilty verdict. O'Brien said in effect that the jury by its verdict would determine the standard of conduct permitted of this type of persons in San Francisco. Asked why an appeal had not been filed, Mr. Smith pointed out that Judge Lazarus, while he denied two defense motions, did lean over backwards on admission of evidence so that there was no room for error and therefore nothing to appeal on. You can't appeal just because you disagree with the jury's verdict, he added. Don Lucas took over the meeting to receive committee reports. He asked all committee chairmen to keep Phyllis Leon at Glide Foundation informed of when and where their meetings are scheduled. Miss Leon announced that she was also coordinating a speakers bureau, that many engagements had already been filled and that after the CRH brochure comes off the press a letter of introduction will be sent to the various churches in the city informing them of Council activities and announcing that speakers are available. Ted McIlvenna reported on his travels. He met with air force officials in Alaska. The chief of chaplains was there and will take up the problem of the homosexual in the armed services at the next chaplains' meeting in Washington, D. C. Rev. McIlvenna also met with church men in New York, Nashville, etc. He found everywhere he went a great deal of interest in the Council and its activities. Rev. Ed Setchko reported that he had been successful in getting the clergy and members of the homophile community together in the "scared atmosphere" of Honolulu. A meeting has been set up for May 22nd with eight or nine clergymen and about 20 or 30 from the homophile community. Rev. Setchko also met with members of the Daughters of Bilitis and the Mattachine Society in Philadelphia to help them in their attempts to form a Council there. Pres. McIlvenna said he had received a letter asking for a cooperative program with the National Council of Churches. Rev. Canon Bob Cromey reported he had spoken before the mental health class at San Jose State College and to various women's groups in San Leandro, San Bruno and the YWCA. He said there was a committee working on Episcopal denominational backing of the Council and pointed out that even if there should be a nay vote, the mere consideration of the proposition is significant. Representatives of "CBS Reports" have spoken with Canon Cromey about CRH, and it is expected that another program will be released this fall on homosexuality. Canon Cromey also suggested members of CRH keep a watch on POW, a new Sunday KPIX program - he and Del Martin have taped a 10-minute interview for this program. Rev. Ted McIlvenna said he would be on "Night Call", a radio interview program with national hook-up on Thursday, May 6, 1965. Don Lucas reported on a meeting with Dr. Isadore Rubin, editor of Sexology magazine, Page 2: who has asked for an article on the Council from Rev. Clay Colwell and a possible editorial from CRH. He also reported that he and Rev. Fred Bird had represented the Council at a Jr. Chamber of Commerce committee meeting. Bob Koch said that the packet committee had made up materials for distribution during Rev. Cromey's San Jose State talk. He suggested that other speakers avail themselves of the services of his committee. Rev. Dick Wickman asked that the theology committee meet directly after the meeting to make future plans. Del Martin reported that the statement committee had completed an outline for the booklet and were now busy with the actual writing of it. Don Lucas reported on orientations committee sessions at U. C. in Berkeley. He said he had three good teams working and would be developing others. Rev. Neale Secor spoke in behalf of a San Francisco State College student who was seeking volunteers to fill out questionnaires for a survey on sexual labeling. Twenty questionnaires had already been distributed to heterosexual men and women, and there was need for homosexual volunteers. Rev. Cecil Williams asked that the Social Action committee meet directly after the meeting to set a date for a committee meeting. Del Martin reported that Vice President Hubert Humphrey had announced that a conference was to be held in San Francisco on June 10 at the Fairmont Hotel in conjunction with the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. Mrs. Martin suggested that a letter be written requesting that CRH be allowed to participate in the program. Rev. Paul Keppel asked what was the place in the church for the homosexual minister. Rev. Cromey said that the Episcopal committee will be dealing with this subject, that it is on the agenda. Rev. Williams said that the Church won't deal with it and that the Council will have to force the issue. A motion was made by Rodney Smith that a CRH newsletter be issued apprising members of a calendar of events including scheduled radio, TV programs, etc. Second by Stanley Wise. After much discussion of duplication of effort and usurping the prerogatives of the homophile organizations as well as mailing costs, the motion was withdrawn. Guy Strait moved and Bob Cromey seconded that the Council send a letter of commendation to KRON for the presentation on homosexuality on "Problems Please." Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Strait then moved the Council place classified ads in the S.F. Chronicle at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Motion passed. The next meeting was set for June 15 in the Glide Fellowship Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. Del Martin Secretary Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Membership Meeting on May 4, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/cd001d12c5fba562220e444bf1f1f1db.pdf 97506be62460f768ddfa2ca8573f8d87 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual held April 22, 1965 at Glide Foundation was called to order by Rev. Ted McIlvenna, president, at 7:55 p.m. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Treasurer Bob Walker gave a financial report. He said that all contributions had been acknowledged, but there had not been much in from donations, that specific fund raising events had been the most contributive. New Year's Ball net income 1192.12 Golden Cask Benefit 700.27 General Donations 402.22 2294.61 Total Income Disbursements 440.18 Bad Checks 110.00 550.18 Total Expenditures Leaving a balance of 1744.43 Mr. Walker then brought up the issue of receipts of money for sale of New Year's Ball tickets which was not made immediately available to the Council and in which cases certain trustees were involved. He referred to $485 due from Mattachine (of which $265 had been stolen) and $100 due from Strait & Associates (check having been returned from the bank as NSF). There was a length and emotional discussion on ethical conduct during which time Guy Strait tendered his resignation which was not accepted. It was pointed out that the Mattachine debt had been paid in full and $20 paid on account for Strait & Associates, that all monies from the outset had been accounted for and persons involved held accountable, that the Council had nothing to gain by further dispute, that disloyalty evident among the homophile organizations and their leaders could destroy the movement and the Council with it, that it was a responsibility of Board members to squelch all rumors and to be responsible to each other. Pres. McIlvenna expressed his appreciation of the candor and honesty evident at this meeting. He went on to point out that throughout his travels in Chicago, New York, Nashville, etc. everyone knows about the Council, that the CRH image is tremendous import, and really out of proportion to our actual operation. But with this awareness, he said, we will be faced with continual problems, tough decisions, pressures from inside and outside. Evander Smith reported on the unsuccessful conclusion of the case of disorderly conduct (647A) against the two fellows that developed out of the Mardi Gras Ball. Mr. Smith indicated there were no grounds for appeal. He also said that he hoped to get Morris Lowenthal to represent them in the false arrest cases, which were filed as result of the first trial of the three attorneys and Mrs. Nancy May. Bill Beardemphl reported on the Southern California ACLU subcommittee meeting he and Darryl Glied attended. He said the Southern California and Indiana branches of the ACLU were collaborating on exploration and research in the field of Sex and Civil Liberties, that he and Mr. Glied attended the Sex & Gender Committee meeting April 1 which was chaired by Vern L. Bulla. The discussion brought out such ethical and legal aspects as: laws against homosexuals are religious carry-overs, law should enter the area of sex only when children, force or public devency is involved, registration of sex offenders is a violation of civil rights, many licensing practices are questionable and that a documented report of cases would be necessary to establish evidence to this effect. Mark Forrester said there was a need for more strategy. Guy Strait pointed out there were 123 homosexual arrests in the last two months as opposed to 54 the previous Page 2: two months, that 27 cases were dismissed. Ted McIlvenna observed that there was still need for education, that demonstrations had become unpopular and after all juries were drawn from these people. He suggested personal letters be sent with copies of Church and the Homosexual booklet and the Brief of Injustices. Phyllis Leon said that CRH brochure was in Rev. Don Kuhn's hands for a cover, that the copy had been written. Guy Strait said CRH could create an issue by petitioning the Grand Jury to investigate the treatment of homosexuals pointing out the roust arrests, that bail bondsmen are making a fortune, that 650 1/2 and 440 are unconstitutional charges. Bob Walker said we should pursue our petition to the Justice Department. The question of releasing the Brief of Injustices as an exclusive to the Chronicle was suggested - either through Donovan Bess or Charles Radebungh, the crime editor. Phyllis leon said the brief had been sent to all the ministers on the Board, that comments were in and final draft in process. Mark Forrester said he would like to have Rev. Neale Secor, Rev. Don Juhn, Guy Strait and Earl Moss serve on a committee with him to handle mail distribution. Ted McIlvenna expressed need for a bookcase for the Council, which he intended to order. The KRON-TV documentary was discussed and Don Kuhn's recommendation that the Council make an unqualified commendation of the program was rejected. In fact the CRH Board elected to make no comment whatsoever. Hal Call announced another hearing on the pornography issue would be held at 7:30 p.m. April 27 in Sacramento. He said it would helpful is some of the ministers would be there, that homosexuality as a subject could be censored and that Council literature as well as homophile publications could be banned under stipulation of some of the bills pending before the state legislature. Rev. Clay Colwell said that out of his correspondence with Los Angeles Ministers he had nine on record as desirous of a meeting with some CRH Board members to explore the possibility of setting up a Los Angeles Council. Tentative possible dates for a fully day and evening consultation suggested were Tuesday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 9. Don Lucas said he and Fred Bird spoke to the Jr. Chamber of Commerce Committee of Government, a group of 16 members who are interested in the homosexual problem in San Francisco and who expect to draft a resolution in connection with the ACLU about police harassment. Ted McIlvenna reported that the National Council of Churches had set up a new committee on the Church and the Homosexual in New York. Don Lucas said that the Episcopal Diocese of California had authorized appointment of a committee of professional persons, clergy, and members of the homophile community to study in depth and come up with a recommended policy for the Diocese to adopt with reference to homosexuality. Pres. McIlvenna said that B.J. Stiles has an issue of Motive all planned on homosexuality, but is having difficulty obtaining approval. He had requested that we send articles for a proposed booklet. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m. Del Martin, Secretary Trustees present at meeting: Revs. Ted McIlvenna, Charles Lewis and Clay Colwell; Bob Walker, Bill Beardemphl, Phyllis Leon, Mark Forrester, Hal Call, Don Lucas, Del Martin, Guy Strait. One guest, Evander Smith, was also present. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Board Meeting on April 22, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/69b3cf66ac0fba4c62b248d6ed8d4d71.pdf fa9279a262eade070d8e1b3152ff0b2e Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The Board of Trustees meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual at Glide Foundation was called to order at 8:15 p.m. on March 11 by Pres. Ted McIlvenna. Other trustees present were the Revs. Clay Colwell and Chuck Lewis; also Bill Beardemphl , Bob Walker, Don Lucas, Mark Forrester, Phyllis Leon and Del Martin. The minutes were read and approved. Rev. McIlvenna discussed briefly the problems of setting up a Council in Los Angeles, also a need for homophile people to meet with the clergy in Denver. Mark Forrester moved that the clergy here see what they could do to arrange an L.A. retreat. Motion was seconded by Bob Walker and Del Martin. Passed unanimously. A discussion on the timing and type of presentation to be made of the "Brief of Injustices" ensued. It was suggested that the actual document take on a legal form with all the trustees signing it. Phyllis Leon pointed out that a condensation, a short and concise presentation should be made at a press conference which would be backed up by the document itself. Mark Forrester was concerned with distribution of the brief to judges, legislators, et al. Don Lucas said the Tavern Guild would very likely pay for the printing and that SIR could handle the distribution. Del Martin suggested that the publications committee work on the press conference presentation. It was agreed that the Brief of Injustices should be finalized and printed and in readiness for that time which might present itself. Rev. Chuck Lewis said he would get the latest draft typed and in the hands of the trustees. Pres. McIlvenna also asked Rev. Lewis to check the scriptural references. Rev. Clay Colwell reported on the newspaper contacts he and his wife had made on behalf of the Council. They received a warm response from all three papers. But Dr. Colwell warned that we must be very careful in the use of vocabulary, that no flip or irresponsible remarks are made in public. He also reported the United Church's contact in the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce had been able to talk with Mayor Shelley in the Orient, that the Mayor now has copies of the Council's goals and the Quaker View of Sex and had asked to be apprised of future Council activities. The Mayor admitted that he himself had ordered the police to the New Year's Ball, but had done so on the basis of information supplied by the police . Rev. Colwell also added that he had made no further contact with Inspectors Nieto and Castro. Phyllis Leon suggested that the Council might distribute what she considered to be an excellent pamphlet of Question and Answers on Homosexuality put out by the Albany Trust in England. Hal Call said we should adapt the pamphlet for our own use. After some discussion the publications committee was directed to prepare a Council version of the booklet. A budget of $500 was authorized for 5000 copies of a 24-page booklet to be sold by the Council at 25 cents each. Pan-Graphic Press was awarded the printing job, with delivery within 30 days. Because the attorneys had failed to apprise the Board that the corporation papers had been returned from Sacramento, Rev. McIlvenna reported the official Council bank account had not yet been opened. Don Lucas volunteered to get the corporation seal and proceed with opening the account. Hal Call reported that nothing had been done about the Council brochure. Mark Forrester reported that the Young Democrats of San Francisco had passed a resolution endorsing the Council and that it would next be taken up at the state level. Don Lucas reported that there was still about $600 outstanding on revenue due from the New Year's Ball from Strait & Associates and The Coits. He also said Page 3: he was holding about $450 of Council money and that there was about $150 in the Glide account. Bob Walker as treasurer was requested to obtain a resale permit for the Council. Rev. McIlvenna said that Meyer Scharlack of Glide Foundation had requested a speaker for the Council at a luncheon meeting to be held March 22nd at Hospitality House between 12 and 3 p.m., also that a team of three ministers would want to make a tour of the homosexual community on that night and the next afternoon. Mark Forrester, Bob Walker and Bill Beardemphl volunteered to handle the assignment. Discussion of a phone service in connection with the night ministry, the need for an office and the October conference (date, place size) was put over to the next Board meeting which was scheduled for March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Ted McIlvenna's home, 566 - 20th Ave. The next general membership was scheduled for Tuesday, May 4th, at 7:30 p.m. at Glide Fellowship Hall, Hal Cal announced that Friday, April 2, would be the date for a Mattachine university blast. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Del Martin Secretary Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Board Meeting on March 11, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/4c6cd12081715ecffca0db266ccc0839.pdf 78359ca618c68ea02449e080c25cd696 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The general membership meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual was called to order by Don Lucas at 7:45 p.m. January 26, 1965 in the Fellowship Hall of Glide Memorial Methodist Church. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Pres. Ted McIlvenna explained membership in the Council to newcomers. There are no membership fees involved, only the signing of a membership blank indicating the member to be 21 years of age and subscribing to the aims and goals of the Council. All members are expected to actively participate in Council committee work. Herb Donaldson explaining that the trial resulting from New Year's Ball had been postponed. The district attorney has now been given 10 days to amend the complaint to a more specific charge than "obstructing a police officer in line of duty." Don Lucas reported that figures on the New year's Ball were incomplete. Monies are still outstanding from Strait & Associates and the Coits. Income from the bar, hat check, etc. 1017.89 Invitations 1504.00 2521 Actual income 1122.87 Paid out 1399.02 863.90 Bills to pay 535.12 Balance Evander Smith pointed out that the trial of the two fellows arrested on the dance floor would probably be put over until after the attorneys' trial. He added that Marshall Krause of the American Civil Liberties Union, who was handling the defense, was looking for witnesses to the actual arrests. Rev. McIlvenna read the letter directed to Mayor John Shelley from the Council protesting police harassment at the New Year's Ball. He said that no replies to any of the letters sent to the mayor had been received, that the policy of the city administration was absolute silence. Rev. Cecil Williams said there had been several reporters present at the last meeting who wrote articles for their papers about the proceedings of the Council meeting. He asked that they refrain from doing so in the future. It was suggested that perhaps the Council might issue and require membership cards be presented at meetings when delicate subjects were to be discussed. Del Martin reported on actions of the Board of Trustees. The officers of the corporation are Rev. Ted McIlvenna, president, Don Lucas, vice-president, Del Martin, secretary, and Bob Walker, treasurer. Length of terms for trustees (1, 2 or 3 years) now serving on the Board was also announced. The Board had not acted on the recommendation of the membership to hold another dance pending the outcome of the trials and further developments which might determine that advisability of such a Council activity. Members of the Board had prepared a tape for presentation on KPFS-FM at a later date. A national conference to be held the last week in October was in the planning stages, and a "brief of injustices" was in preparation by Mark Forrester for release by the Council at the conclusion of the trails. There was further discussion about sponsoring another ball. Some were critical of such a function as an activity of the Council, feeling that it would not promote Page 2: the dialogue desired by the Council and might have adverse effects. Rev. Cecil Williams said that such a dance should properly be sponsored by the homophile community, by those willing to commit themselves to going to jail. Such a maneuver would be to create tension, and that if it was to be carried through to sensitize society, a greater number must be involved. Civil rights would be the issue. Mark Forrester expressed doubt that there were enough people in the homophile community ready for such an undertaking. The alternative was suggested that the Council put all it energies into dialogue and committee work aiming at a large scale conference at which the Council would present significant statements and documents. Some one suggested the Council might try running an ad in the personals column or the daily papers to announce meetings to the public. Nancy May reported that Mr. David was putting a resolution in support of the Council before the Young Democrats at their next meeting. Rev. Ed Setchko made some verbal suggestions for improving the working of the goals and purposes of the Council. He was asked to present his revisions in writing to the Board of Trustees. The next general meeting was set for March 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Glide Church. Don Lucas read the list of committees and the trustees spearheading them as follows: Publications - Hal Call, Phyllis Leon, Guy Strait, Don Kuhn Interpretations of Denominations - Revs. Bob Cromey, Chuck Lewis and Clay Colwell Public Relations - Canon Bob Cromey and Don Lucas Orientations - Don Lucas and Rev. Jan Marinessen Legal - Bill Bendemphl Theology - Revs. Bob Cromey, Dick Whitman, Ed Stechko and John Moore Informational Packets - Rev. Ted McIlvenna Committee to plan series of three retreats or seminars to which professional, persons, politicians and business people would be invited - Rev. Clay Colwell Committee to explore TV and radio program possibilities - Phyllis Leon Committee to work on Council statement similar to Quaker View of Sex - Del Martin, Rev. Laird Sutton Committee tor planning October conference Mark Forrester Finance - Bob Walker Social Actions Projects - Rev. Cecil Williams Members were asked to meet right aft.er the meeting with the trustee spearheading the committee they were interested in working on. Rev. John Moore was to take over Theology Committee and Rev. Chuck Lewis would fill in for Rev. Clay Colwell on the Retreat Planning Committee. The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m. Del Martin Secretary Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Membership Meeting on January 26, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7a06686632e0bb8e76029c21300c713a.pdf dc9d99636d806d36dc10472d27862b18 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The general membership meeting of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual was called to order at 7:55 p.m. by Don Lucas, acting chairman, on January 5, 1965 at Glide Fellowship Hall. Acceptance of the by-laws presented by the attorneys and Board of Trustees was moved by Canon Robert Cromey and seconded by Rev. Cecil Williams. Rev. John Moore moved to make provision for monthly meetings, since the by-laws provided only for an annual membership meeting. Correction to be made to Section IV, No. 3, "There will be made monthly meetings of the membership." It was pointed out that the idea was that an active member must be on a Committee and that monthly meetings would be needed for committee reports. It was further pointed out that the purpose of the Council is to keep the dialogue flowing and that this will entail many small meetings. There must be an open-endedness for meetings - a structure not too rigid. Rev. More pointed out that the success of the organizations depends on a police of participation to keep everyone interested. Rev. Williams said everyone should go through an orientation group and that the dialogue must be consistent in groups on significant issues. A new motion was suggested that there should be at least six meetings of the entire membership per year. Rev. Laird Sutton asked how this would come about - if there is enough interest the Board may be petitioned to hold a meeting. Members will be notified of meetings by mail. Rev. Moore and Miss Leon agreed to the amendment to the motion. All but one voted aye. Rev. Lew Durham moved that the fourth line of Section 13 on page 3 of the by-laws should read "shall be given to all members of the corporation" rather than "board". This was carried unanimously. Rev. Sutton asked if Board meetings would be open to the membership. They will be closed unless otherwise stated at the discretion of the Board. Bill Plath moved, and Rev. Cromey seconded, to change "secretary" to "treasurer" on page 3, 4th line of the second paragraph. Carried unanimously. Rev. Chuck Lewis moved that Section II, paragraph 3, be changed to read "terms shall expire at the first meeting of each calendar year". Carried unanimously. Rev. Lewis moved, Bill Plath seconded, the same change in the last sentence of Paragraph 3, Section II. Hal Call moved an enabling motion to let a committee of the Board change the by-laws where necessary to conform to the previous change. Rev. Neale Secor and Rev. Williams seconded. Carried unanimously. Question was called to vote on by-laws as amended. Carried unanimously. Mr. Lucas said that members owuld receive a copy of the amended by-laws. Rev. Moore announced a series of sermons he plans on the ethics of sex and everyone was asked to attend to show our support. Many from Rev. Moore's congregation may not come, but he added they may come out of curiosity. Rev. Dick Whitman said there is a need to look at the proble in light of theological expression. He was asked to submit his ideas in writing to the Board. Page 2: Canon Cromey announced he and Don Lucas will be on Dick Stewart's show, KGO-TV, January 8, at 1:30 p.m. with a follow-up program on January 11. Guy Strait will appear on KCBS radio on the Spectrum 74 show on January 6. The ACLU will also be on radio and a program will be taped for BBC. Don Lucas thanked the participating organizations and people for their help with the Ball - Gene Swartz, SIR, decorations; Darryl Glied and Bill Plath, Tavern Guild beverages and orchestras; DOB, hat check stand and selling tickets; Strait & Associates, taking pictures; the Coits, food. Mark Forrester made a plea for further activity to follow up the Ball, outline for which he distributed in mimeograph form. He said the Council should send a delegation to see Mayor Shelley, promote a letter campaign to the newspapers and the mayor, and sponsor another dance the last week of February. He also suggested reinstating the idea of a War Chest to solicit funds for legal defense. Mr. Lucas said he had discussed the idea of another ball the clergy and lawyers and they had voiced no objections. Ball May read some copies of sample letters being sent to may or Shelley. Rev. Williams stated that we must take steps relevant to the situation, protesting the police harassment of participants of the ball (whether public or private). It is timely that we engage in such activity. What we have gained in publicity will dissipate if we don't capture what is happening now. We have not yet had a strategy meeting to structure this. The church people don't know what to think or say. We must constantly plug at educative devices. Many people are simply not interested and write us off - homosexuals and ministers alike. People are afraid. These are the underlying forces. We should be sensitive to the mayor's statement. We have got to start anticipating, sense what the mood is. At the request of Bill Billings, Don Lucas gave a financial report on the ball. 529 people presented tickets and over 600 people attended altogether (including about 50 policemen). Close to 100 tickets were sold to persons who did not attend. There were 5 refunds to minors, since ID's were checked at the door. All the money is not in, but there was approximately $3000 in income and $1650 in expenses leaving a net income for the Council of $1350. Rev. Neale Secor Pointed out, during the ensuing debate of the pros and cons of a dance or a concert as possible means for raising funds for the Council, that the particular civil rights issue involved at the moment was whether or not the ball was a public or private affair. He reminded the membership that our attorneys had asked us to strike the word ticket from our vocabulary and substitute invitation. He suggested that other constitutional issues will not be pursued and that if we hold another dance the police will come and on a more magnified and intense scale. Bob Ross pointed out that 7 bar licenses were coming up right now, that there was fear by bar owners of police reprisals - many had been ordered to take down the signs advertising the ball and they had complied. Many bar owners feared putting up signs for the coming auctions sponsored by the Tavern Page 3: Guild. He doubted very much if the bars would support another ball - there really hadn't been the support expected for the last one. Rev. Lewis Durham pointed out that the ministers' wives were hopping mad, that this was their first experience with this sort of police intimidation. Other church people, however, were concerned that the Methodists were sponsoring a bar. Mr. Lucas summarized the discussion. Suggestions for raising funds were to hold a concert or a dance. Several other purposes would be involved: drawing together the homophile and the overall community at a concert or baiting the police department by having another ball. It was suggested that the concert should come first - to gather more people to the Council on all sides and gain community support for other tactics in the civil rights area. Mr. Forrester insisted we would be stepping down if we don't hold another ball right away, that we would be giving in to fear and intimidation, that we must confront police authority. Bill Beardemphl said he believed the gay bar owners need to make a commitment. SIR is planning to have a raffle to raise funds for the Council. If we renege, we will lose self respect. Canon Cromey moved that the matter be referred to the Board of Trustees and a report made to the next general membership meeting. Mr. McIlvenna asked for a show of hands of those in favor of another dance - overwhelming majority. The objectors pointed out it was too soon, a concert should come first and all legal channels exhausted first. SIR reported that a letter writing campaign had already begun - letters being sent to the mayor, chief of police, and the newspapers. They pointed out that people should also be calling radio stations that have telephone audience participation shows. They felt letters should also be sent to the big national magazines - Life, Look, and New Week. They also suggested the use of economic boycotts. We must take advantage of the present excitement. Canon Cromey revised his motion to read that the matter be referred to the Board of Trustees to form committees to handle immediate action projects and to work out the problems of having another ball. Mr. Forrester seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The next membership meeting was scheduled for January 19. Wayne pointed out that raffle donation receipts would be ready on Monday. While the raffle will be sponsored by SIR, the money is for the Council. Prizes will be color TV, polaroid camera, case of imported champagne. SIR will need to sell 1100 tickets to break even. The raffle will be on a three months basis. No receipts are to be sent through the mails. Rev. McIlvenna said he appreciated the support and the taking of chances of the community. A lot of attitudes in our society need to be changed, and it will take discretion and courage to accomplish it. The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Del Martin Acting Secretary Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Minutes of CRH Membership Meeting on January 5, 1965 Description An account of the resource Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/1d7fadcce820c72df7134111a2b6d2eb.pdf fa7a265d1f266da14c1e71cf40977ded Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: A Report to Concerned People Growing sensitivity on the part of a few churchmen to the plight of persons labeled as homosexuals led to a three day consultation in June of 1964 which included churchmen and members of organizations of homosexuals. This consultation, including representatives of denominations, was sponsored jointly by the Boards of Education and Christian Social Concerns of The Methodist Church and the Glide Urban Center. (A report of this consultation is available from the Glide Urban Center at 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco 2, California for a price of 95¢.) It was at this retreat that the clergymen first realized the extent to which the church and society shuts out the homosexual. The need for urgent action aimed at disseminating accurate information and understanding about human sexuality, including homosexuality, was apparent. The result was that a number of ministers from several denominations joined with members of homosexual organizations and interested homosexuals and heterosexuals to form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, Inc. The stated objective of the Council is to promote a "continuing dialogue between the church and the homosexual." As the Council grew in numbers it was decided to incorporate, and the problem of financing the organization was raised. Members of six homophile organizations in San Francisco -- Daughters of Bilitis, Inc., Mattachine Society, Inc., Society for Individual Rights, Inc., The Tavern Guild of San Francisco, Inc., The Coits, Inc., and Guy Strait & Associates decided to sponsor a benefit dance. A New Year's Day Mardi Gras Ball held January 1 at California Hall in San Francisco which brought the Council unanticipated publicity. Several days prior to the date of the ball two San Francisco police inspectors from the Sex Detail of the Vice Squad dropped in at a Council executive board meeting. The police were concerned, they said, that the dance was to be a costume affair, and they indicated that any man coming dressed as a woman would be arrested immediately. However, after questioning as to the legality of their stand, the policemen backed down. When the two inspectors left they indicated that arrests, if any, would be made only if a crime was committed and advised that they would take photographs, if any, only outside the hall. The meeting ended with the definite feeling that there would be no trouble from the police. Admission to the ball was by invitation, available only prior to the night of the dance for a donation of $5 or more. Despite contrary statements made by police, no tickets were sold at the door. As the guests started arriving -- around 9:00 p.m. -- it became apparent that the previous impressions received from police were wrong. By 9:30 p.m. there were bright lights and police photographers, both movie and still, taking pictures of everyone arriving for the ball. Several times during the evening there was a patrol wagon parked in front of the entrance and several squad cars were always parked in the area. All in all some 50 uniformed and plainclothes policemen were detailed to "observe" the ball. A Chronicle reporter commented that he had never seen such a concentration of police for no apparent reason. Page 2: Two plainclothesmen came at 9:00 p.m. and requested permission to inspect the premises. This was granted and.they were taken on a tour of the hall, both upstairs and downstairs. Then they left, All permits and arrangements were in order and approved by the two officers. Later Inspectors Rudolph Nieto and Richard Castro and a policewoman demanded entrance. It was at this time that the two attorneys present on behalf of the Council stated that the Ball was a private party and entrance would be granted only on presentation of an invitation or a search warrant. Inspector Nieto departed for further instructions. When he returned and again demanded admittance, they were denied admission on the same grounds. At that point the two lawyers were arrested. Later in the evening the same scene was repeated and police arrested another attorney and a young housewife for the same reasons. Two men, guests at the party, were also arrested for "disorderly conduct," a move many felt was made by the police to justify their previous arrests. Witnesses reported seeing no disorderly conduct by the two men arrested. Because of massive harassment by the police, attendance at the ball was decreased. Many did not care to cross the picket line of lights, photographers, and policemen. Therefore the amount of money received was reduced. The ball did not achieve its purpose of furnishing the Council with a substantial financial cushion on which to build, but it did provide an example of how homosexuals are denied their civil rights. For the dozen clergymen and several of their wives who attended the ball it was a shocking revelation of police power directed against a minority group for no other reason than that of harassment. Neither the ministers nor their wives witnessed any objectionable activity other than that of the police. The wives spent most of their time in the ball room and found the evening quite enjoyable apart from the frequent police interruptions. The day after the ball minister members of the Council called a press conference to express their anger and dismay at the way the police department had "broken faith" with the Council, and for the "deliberate harassment" and intimidation of the guests attending. The ministers present at the press conference were from the Methodist, United Church of Christ, Lutheran and Protestant Episcopal denominations. One of the ministers pointed out that as he was escorting departing guests to their cars in an effort to shield them from the busy police photographers and the possibility of unjustified arrest, he was threatened with arrest for blocking the police photographers. The clergymen were united in their condemnation of the unnecessary police interference with the ball. The three attorneys and the housewife arrested at the ball were charged with blocking the entry of police to California Hall. Recognizing the charges as baseless, the American Civil Liberties Union volunteered to defend the four. All pleaded not guilty and asked for a jury trial. The trial began February 8. Following selection of the jury the defense waived its opening statement and the prosecution began to present its case. As Inspectors Nieto and Castro told their story, they revealed grossly inaccurate perception by the police. Page 3: Inspector Nieto testified that the pictures were taken at the ball for "intelligence purposes." When presiding Judge Leo R. Friedman asked what that meant, Inspector Nieto explained it was to seek for possible criminals or people who might be security risks. Judge Friedman also asked the inspector if the police attended the ball specifically to make arrests. The answer was "no" but on cross-examination Inspector Nieto admitted that prior to the ball he had prepared 50 numbered cards for use in taking pictures of people after arrests were made. On the fourth day of the trial the prosecution rested its case. Marshall Krause, attorney for the defendants, asked the judge to dismiss the charges on the grounds that no case had been made by the prosecution. Without hearing the case of the defense, the judge directed the jury to bring in a verdict of not guilty, on the technicality that the prosecution charge had been "blocking entry to California Hall" while all the prosecution testimony had shown that the police had entered the hall but had been asked not to go farther than the entrance way. Unfortunately this victory was on a technicality and left all the civil rights questions raised by the harassment unanswered. Still to be heard is the case of the two guests arrested. It may be that some of the unresolved issues in the trial of the first four will be settled during this trial. It was not and is not the purpose of the Council to hold social functions. The Council has a serious program and through its various committees is attempting to fulfill this purpose. However, the Council did not feel it could stand by in this case and watch the willful violation of civil liberties. It felt it had to raise a voice in protest. The ministers involved in the Council, now over 30 representing six major denominations, are convinced that the church should be concerned about all people. In the Bay Area estimates indicate that there are maybe as many as 100,000 members of the homophile community. Most of them see the church as being antagonistic toward them. If the church is to minister to people in the world it must be where they are and meet their needs in all situations. Undoubtedly there will be more discussion of these issues in the coming year. Lewis E. Durham Program Director Glide Urban Center Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Report to Concerned People</i> Recaps the Founding of CRH, the California Hall Incident and Resultant Activity Description An account of the resource Written by Lewis Durham, program director, Glide Urban Center, mid-1965. Phyllis Lyon & Del Martin Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/6a93c9c1c82f85ca33e04dec2861f6c1.pdf 8c74e370854ab7093d506202ec5d3378 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Mardi Gras Ball Attorneys Acquitted On Thursday, February 11, 1965, the trial of Mrs. Nancy May and the three attorneys arrested at the New Year's Even Mardi Gras Ball at California Hall ended abruptly with an acquittal. Questions Unanswered The acquittal on Thursday, February 11, of the defendants arrested at the New Year's Eve Mardi Gras Ball at California Hall was but a technical victory leaving many questions unanswered. The most important of these concerns the right of the police to enter the dance hall portion of a building to inspect for possible violations of the ABC act. Another import question involves the right of the police to invade the privacy of the individuals attending dance. The invasion was in the form of harassment, especially by the two police photographers, one of whom was taking still and the other motion pictures of as many people as possible as they entered or left the premises. At the trial Police Inspector R. Nieto stated that the pictures were necessary for intelligence. In answer to Judge Friedman's "Now, just what is that supposed to mean?", Inspector Nieto explained: "We try to identify these people and pass their names along to other enforcement agencies because of the high incidence of crime these people are involved in which affects national security." Judge Friedman also asked Inspector Nieto if the police wen to the party specifically to make an arrest. Inspector Nieto's answer was "No." However, on cross-examination by defense attorney Marshall Krause, Nieto admitted that he personally had prepared fifty numbered cards which are used in taking pictures of persons only after they are arrested. The sad thing about the situation is that legally there is but little one can do about this kind of police harassment. Lawsuits could be brought by persons whose pictures have been taken to compel surrender of the pictures as well as the names of people and organizations supplied with the film. But these suits are costly and the outcome nebulous. Moreover, a lawsuit would focus attention on the person trying to avoid publicity and hence might do the individual more personal damage than could be done by the picture in the hands of the police. The situation, however, is not entirely hopeless, although the the law in this area is in its infancy. Pending before the court at this time is the cases of [illegible] who were also arrested at the Mardi Gras Ball, and it is possible that some of the questions left unanswered in the first case will be settled in the pending cases. The four defendants were charged with having "willfully resist(ed)... and obstruct(ed) public officers... in entering... California Hall" on January 1st of this year. Police testimony, however, established that fifteen police officers entered the hall without any interference whatsoever. Municipal Judge Leo Friedman therefore recommended to the jury that they bring in a verdict of not guilty, which they did. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Acquittals in First Trial Reported in the <i>Vector</i> Description An account of the resource <i>Vector</i>, vol. 1, no. 3, February 1965. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/7004c26c4fc97acc6d7f4379f1c97f75.pdf f40a854acabdade34e02cc115b637245 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Advised Verdict Three Lawyers And Secretary Acquitted San Francisco Municipal Court Judge Leo Friedman brought a sudden end to the trial of attorneys Evander Smith, Herbert Donaldson, and Elliot Leighton and secretary Nancy May for obstructing a police officer in the course of his duties when he advised the jury to bring in a verdict of "Not Guilty" on motion of defense counsel, Marshall W. Krause, at the close of the prosecution case. The jury dutifully retired to the jury room and in about ten minutes returned with their unanimous vote of "Not Guilty." Thus on the second day of testimony and the fourth day of the trial (the first two days were consumed in choosing the jury) the case ended without ever hearing from any of the approximately 30 witnesses who were lined up to testify for the defendants. Police Witnesses The testimony by the prosecution's police witnesses was that the three attorneys folded their arms, firmly planted their feet, and told the policemen that they could not go into the ballroom of a party sponsored by the Council on Religion and the Homosexual being held at California Hall, because it was a private one and admission was by invitation only. Other police testimony showed that when police officers gave a valid reason for entering, such as inspecting for fire regulation violations, they were allowed to enter and were given an escorted tour of the premises and could stay as long as they wished. No Reason Given The attorneys objected, however, when a large crowd of policemen attempted to enter without stating any reason on the basis that their presence was for the purpose of intimidation and harassment of the party guests rather than the performance of any police function. The secretary, Nancy May, was accused of saying the same words to a policeman and putting her hands on his shoulders, but she denied the latter action. ACLU Position The ACLU position is that the mere statement of words which do not amount to a threat of physical restraint or violence, can not, as a matter of law, be held as interfering with an officer in the course of his duties. Under questioning by defense counsel Krause and by Judge Friedman, the police officers admitted that they made no attempt to walk around the attorneys or get by them in the 16 foot wide corridor where the incidents took place. Instead, the police officers said that since the premises were crowded they felt hemmed in and did not wish to try to shove through other people. The police officers also admitted under cross-examination they they did not ask the attorneys or any of the other persons watching the incident to stand aside so that they could get through. Judge's Opinion Judge Friedman in granting the defense motion of an advised verdict told the jury that in his opinion the evidence was insufficient to support the charge of the complaint that the defendants willfully resisted and obstructed public officers, to wit: Rudolph J. Nieto and Richard Castro, qualified and acting police officers of the said city and county who were then and there in the performance of their duty as such officers in entering the premises commonly known and designated The California Hall harassment of them for having as clients an unpopular group of citizens, namely, homosexuals and persons who are attempting to work with homosexuals in order to integrate them into the community. Harassment Intended It was clear from the testimony that the police were interested in harassing and disturbing the party since the very idea that homosexuals might enlist the aid of religious leaders is obnoxious to the Department. The police testified that the presence of six uniformed police officers and nine plainclothes policemen at the party was necessary to enforce the alcoholic beverage control laws at the bar. The police insisted that this was their only purpose in coming to the party and that they did not intend to make any arrests in advance of coming. However, this testimony was considerably shaken when it was admitted on cross-examination that prior to leaving the Hall of Justice for the scene of the party, the officers had prepared 50 numbered cards which they intended to hold in front of a person after he was arrested so he could be identified. Photographers The alleged purpose of the police in enforcing the liquor law was also considerably shaken by testimony that two police photographers were present outside the hall, one taking flash still photographs and one having a motion picture camera with floodlights. These photographers took pictures of most of the people entering and leaving the party and the motion picture camera was used to illuminate and take pictures of the interior of cars delivering persons and picking up persons from the party. Defense Witnesses The defense witnesses who were scheduled to testify would have presented an extremely strong phalanx to oppose the police testimony. Several ministers and their wives witnessed the arrests and would have testified that at any time the police wanted to get into the ballroom they could have gone around the attorneys and done so without any difficulty. Also some of the private policemen who had been hired by the sponsors of the party were prepared to testify that the police version of the arrest was not accurate. The facts of this case indicate that police power was used to make it embarrassing and dangerous to attend a perfectly lawful party sponsored by a group working with homosexuals. Unfortunately, trials like this can never really clear up the problem of lawless police activity, since the defendants and many other persons were considerably inconvenienced by the fact that there was a trial at all, and this seems to provide some satisfaction to the police department. It is hoped that negotiations will continue between the Police Department and the inter-faith group of ministers who support the Council on Religion and the Homosexual so that an understanding can be reached which will enable this group to go about its work in peace. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource ACLU San Francisco Chapter Reports Results of First Trial Description An account of the resource American Civil Liberties News (San Francisco), vol. XXX, no. 3, March 1965. Donald S. Lucas Papers. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/f6de02f9c75f632a1021ecb6cbd86604.pdf 969af664dfdbbdd3f412637f5890150f Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Homosexual Dance Trial Halted on Technicality Municipal Judge Leo Friedman directed a jury of eight men and four women yesterday to return a not guilty verdict against three lawyers and a woman ticket taker, charged with blocking the entry of police at a homosexual ball New Year's eve. Complaining officers sat with mouths agape as Judge Friedman halted the trial at conclusion of the State's case and snapped: "It's useless to waste everybody's time following this to its finale." The judge ordered the not guilty verdict, he said later, because police had claimed they were halted when they sought to enter California Hall, scene of the function. "You can't charge people with one thing and prove another," Judge Friedman said. "All the officers—and there were 15 of them—entered the hall without anyone's trying to stop them." The interference came later, when police sought to enter the ballroom where the party was under way, but this was not charged in the complaint. Judge Friedman said police had a legal right to inspect the hall for proper permits for the hall, but interference with their function in this regard was not charged, either. The technical victory for Attorneys Herbert Donaldson, 37, Evander Smith, 42, and Eliot Leighton, 34, and for ticket taker Nancy May, 28, was won by Marshall Krause of the American Civil Liberties Union. The New Year's function was sponsored by the Council for Religion and the Homosexual. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Chronicle</i> Reports Not Guilty Verdict in Trial Description An account of the resource <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>, February 12, 1965, page 3. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/sfhistory/sfhistory.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Francisco Public Library</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/c559035d390b1894a22ae6177e438589.pdf 79b3eb2e03bee890cbf07566e97f2cb6 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Witness Breaks Up a Courtroom Inspector Rudy Nieto of the Police Sex Detail got a big laugh yesterday at the trial of three lawyers and a ticket-taker who are charged with interfering with police at a January 1 homosexual benefit ball. He said 14 officers, one policewoman and two police photographers accompanied him to the scene of the ball at California Hall, Polk street and Golden Gate. Curious. Municipal Judge Leo Friedman asked why it took so many. "We went," said the officer, "just to inspect the premises." The audience, including half a dozen ministers and their wives from the Council for Religion and the Homosexual—which sponsored the ball—thought that was hilarious. Nieto denied that police went to the ball to harass homosexuals, but dropped one other mysterious comment. Asked why police photographers took pictures of the arriving guests, Nieto said the department "wanted pictures of these people because some of them might be connected to national security..." Defense attorney Marshall Krause of the American Civil Liberties Union, did not pursue the point. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Chronicle</i> Reports Police Inspector’s Testimony During Trial Description An account of the resource <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>, February 11, 1965, page 2. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/sfhistory/sfhistory.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Francisco Public Library</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/547d4981076439054befdc515b142184.pdf ccb6ac73d8fd6ece1af6226fb4971226 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document February 1965 After the ball was over... By now I am sure everyone has heard about the famous Mardi Gras Ball held in San Francisco Jan. 1 and sponsored by six homophile organizations (DOB included) to raise funds for the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. As a result of police harassment of the ball (by the police's own count there were 55 officers present) there have been many publicity breakthroughs in San Francisco. The "conspiracy of silence" of the news media has suffered a fatal crack. The Council held a press conference the day following the ball which received coverage on KRON-TV and in the S.F. Chronicle and the S.F. Examiner. Subsequently the American Civil Liberties Union called and volunteered to defend the six people arrested (three attorneys and one housewife for "interfering with officers in the performance of their duty" and two men for so-called disorderly conduct). The ACLU also held a press conference which was duly reported in the papers and on TV. Mayor John R. Shelley announced he had not yet studied the police reports so he could not comment. Apparently he still hasn't seen the reports because he has made no comment. For two half-hour program the Dick Stewart show on KGO-TV featured the Rt. Rev. Canon Robert W. Cromey, vicar of St. Aiden's Episcopal Church, and Don Lucas, executive secretary of the Mattachine Society, in a lively discussion of the reasons for the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. Guy Strait, the editor of Citizens News, was interviewed on "Spectrum 74" on KCBS radio. The attorneys who were arrested (Evander Smith, Herb Donaldson and Elliott Leighton) appeared on KAFE-FM and that tape was replayed by BBC throughout the British Commonwealth. Board members of the Council taped a 90 minute program about the Council which will be aired on KPFA-FM about Jan 27 or 28. Call the station and/or watch your papers for the date. The Rev. John Moore, pastor of Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco has given a series of three sermons on sex. The one on Jan. 17 entitled "Church, Community, and Homosexuality" filled the church and received coverage in all three S.F. papers. A series of 3 broadcasts about the Council is scheduled for airing in the near future on KXKX-FM. Further, the long-awaited KRON-TV special on homosexuality is now announced for early in Feb.—watch your papers! Part of the problem homophile organizations have had in getting their message to the public has been the reluctance or refusal of mass media to tough the subject. This barrier has been broken. Although the ball was not the financial success it was hoped it would be, it has done more to bring the homosexual's plight to the attention of the public than anything else. Letters to the editors of all three S.F. papers were overwhelmingly against the police tactics. Comments from foreign newsmen and newspapers have been all against the police. Although S.F. papers have not seen fit to comment editorially on the ball and the ensuing actions other papers in the U.S. have, and all favorably to the homosexual position. It would seem that the homophile organizations in San Francisco have been in at the birth of a new era which can only result in a final determination that U.S. citizenship is for all whether homosexual or heterosexual, black or white, male or female. DOB member should be proud to be a part of the beginning of this new determination. Phyllis Leon Public Relations Director, DOB Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource San Francisco Chapter of Daughters of Bilitis Reports on CRH and California Hall Incident Description An account of the resource <i>Daughters of Bilitis San Francisco Chapter Newsletter</i>, January 1965. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/ad32bb55f0ec06a7f3e188de64279839.pdf 0fdf6bc281962fa35b0904ae8951de66 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Private Benefit Ball Invaded On January 1st the Vice Squad openly declared war on the local homophile community. A task force of 55 was ordered to intimidate, harass and make arrests; and to in any fashion destroy the ball held by the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. This they did, in the most brutal and ugly manner, yet in contrast, 600 ticket holders behaved with exemplary courage and personal pride in the face of this outrage. The Council on Religion and the Homosexual acted in good faith when they talked with police officials and proceeded with plans for the Mardi Gras Ball to raise funds to operate. And then, without warning, this huge force of Vice Squad members, in a complete reversal of stated position, invaded the ball and disrupted the affair. The action in this affair will be contested in court to establish the right of homosexuals and all adults to assemble lawfully without invasion of privacy, taking of photographs without permission and other illegal tactics. The American Civil Liberties Union has entered the case, and the Community knows lawful rights, as much as can be expected with current statutes, will be upheld. Decisive political activity is also under way, for this marks a beginning and not the end for our determination to achieve full citizenship for homosexuals and to exercise our considerable voting power at ensuing elections. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Vector</i>, Newsletter of the Newly-Formed Society for Individual Rights, Reports on California Hall Affair Description An account of the resource <i>Vector</i>, vol. 1, no. 2, January 1965. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/5c2dde05ecf7c0eda7eb55eee5d1f5ce.pdf dac792ca510a6f9e6edf24d38ba1bfb1 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Page 1: The Ball & After The Council on Religion and the Homosexual held a costume ball at California Hall in San Francisco on the 1st of January. The CRH is an organization dedicated, in part, to the establishment of a continuing dialogue between the clergy and the homosexuals. The reason for giving this ball was to obtain funds for the necessary expenses of this organization. Since it is involved in an unpopular cause, there are no municipal or other non-profit foundation organizations willing to be associated. The ball was cleared with all the proper authorities before the event and a very large crowd was expected. Unfortunately the ball was so heavily harassed by the San Francisco Police Department that only a portion of those who arranged for invitations crossed the picket line posted by the Police Department. About 550 of the homosexuals and their friends were brave enough to come into the place. This assured that the ball would not be a financial failure, but it was not a financial success. However socially the ball was enjoyed by those 500 who did get into the building. There was dancing on two levels with the twist, swim, jerk, etc. being the mode in the basement and the fox-trot prevailing on the upper-level. Some of the costumes were comparable with the finest to be seen on Bourbon Street on Shrove Tuesday. There was Erick and the Countess as "Marie Antoinette and Louis"; There was B. Billings as "The New Year"; There was Michelle in one of his most fabulous costumes yet; There was The Franklin with balloons; There was J. Deare as "The Golden Girl"; There was an untold number of police posing as law-abiding citizens; There was no-one posing as a law-breaking policeman; There was Zelda as the most sparkling personality on the dance floor; There was an overflow of good costumery. The food was furnished by the Coits, the bar was manned by The Tavern Guild, S.I.R. arranged for the decorations of the hall; Advertising was by Strait and Associates and the Mattachine Society of San Francisco. Except for the unwarranted and obnoxious presence of the delegation from the Hall of Justice, the ball proceeded without a hitch and everyone had a good time. There were two floor shows, one performed by Franklin, who had to combat the cops-and-robbers show that filled the hall, with lots of cops and not a criminal in the house. Altho the party broke up early (about 1AM) there was no one who could not say they had not had a more unusual, if not enjoyable, experience. There is considerable pressure on the CRH to repeat the ball at the first opportunity but the leaders of CRH insist that it is not in this field of endeavor that they want to be considered. (Continued on page 2) Page 2: Police Action at the Ball The Law, the Action and the Reaction Prior to the holding of the Mardi Gras Ball at the California Hall in San Francisco, two ministers arranged a call on the Chief of Police. As is usual, the Chief was busy and could not see them and they were referred to the sex detail of the SFPD. The Sex Detail was surprized that anyone would want to have anything to do with such undesirable people as homosexuals and were vitally interested in the theology of anyone so interested, One of the ministers who attended the 'conference' felt he was being subjected to a discourse on theology rather than being briefed on police policy. After this 'conference', a call was received by the ministers from the SFPD, saying that "No masks and NO costumes would be permitted to be worn at the ball. Since this was an obvious violation (on the part of the police department) of the California Penal Code, the ministers called a hasty meeting of the various homophile organizations. (The California Penal Code reads as follows: 650a-WEARING OF MASKS PROHIBITED- It is a misdemeanor for any person, either alone or in company with others, to appear on any street or highway, or in other public places or any place open to view by the general public, with his face partially or completely concealed by means of a mask or other regalia or paraphernalia, with intent thereby to conceal his identity. This section does not prohibit the wearing of such means of concealment in good faith for the 'purposes of amusement, entertaining or in compliance with any public health order."(Emphasis supplied) Regarding costume: (The law here is so vague that it is beyond description) 650 1/2 - Injuries to persons, property, Public peace, Health or decency; false personation for lewd purpose; -A person who willfully and wrongfully commits any act which ... openly outrages public decency or ... who with intent of accomplishing any lewd or licentious purpose ... is guilty of a misdemeanor.") The meeting called by the ministers had already decided to go ahead with the ball since it was only hours away when two men from the sex detail happened to drop in. A compromise was worked out with the police whereby the sponsors of the affair would see to it that the costumes were not paraded on the streets and that they would alight at the front door and immediately go into the hall. This appeared to satisfy the police and they said then that there would be no harassment of the affair so long as there was no other law violations. Upon arrival at the Hall the ministers and others were amazed to find three police photographers, dozens of police officers (in and out of uniform) and an aggregation of police cars. The photographers (both movie and still) photographed everyone entering and leaving the hall. At first this caused consternation, but after one straight woman said, "Send me 30 copies", the rest of the people relaxed, POLICE ACTION AT THE BALL Persons arriving at the Mardi Gras Ball were greeted with such a display of police power as to scare away all but the most determined, At one time there was an estimate of 35 uniformed officers and 15 plainclothesmen present. Each person arriving was given a barrage of flood lights and cameramen. They were police officers. One of the ministers, in assisting a person to depart, positioned himself in front of the photographer. He was warned that if he did this again he would be arrested. At another time the editor of the Citizens News, Guy Strait, questioned the photographer as to his status. The photographer was reluctant to reveal his identity. When Mr. Strait approached another officer and made the statement, "This guy says he is a police officer but refuses to show me his badge and I will not refrain from blocking his camera until he does" the other officer said that he could vouch for the fact that the photographer was, in fact, a police officer. Later the photographer did show his badge to Mr. Strait. After the harassment in front of the Hall had died down, due to the arrival of most of the guests, some police officers attempted to enter the building, At this time two attorneys, hired by the CRH, protested their entry into a private party. They were promptly arrested for interfering with an officer in the performance of his duty, Then another attorney came to the rescue, and he was also arrested. A very slightly built woman was at the entry checking invitations. An officer in plainclothes came into the building. He was asked for his invitation by this young lady. He said, "I am a police officer." When she asked to see his badge, she was also arrested. Until this time, altho the police had long ago forced their entry into the hall, it was strange to see how little interest they had in the persons in the hall. About an hour after the entry had been forced, two plainclothesmen arrested two men for lewd conduct. They accused them of kissing in public. However witnesses in the vicinity do not agree with the statement of the police in this matter, This was the last arrest made on the premises. The departure from the hall was quiet, orderly and except for the police officer's photography (which is said to be poor) no further incidents were reported. THE PICTURES ON PAGE THREE #1-Inspector Toomey in white trenchcoat outside hall. The women in background were in the police party. #2- Two plainclothesmen in-side the hall #3-Police photographer outside the hall. Movie cameraman in background. #4- Movie Cameraman spots another customer. Page 3: What Shall We Do Next? (Regarding the police action at the New Year's Mardi Gras Ball) (Excerpts from an address to the Council on Religion and the Homosexual.) We have all taken a courageous and public stand. We have ascribed to the belief that "This is a beginning and not an end to our determination to achieve full citizenship for homosexuals and all minorities, without discrimination and intimidation." It is our belief that the best way to realize this goal is to continue the confrontation which we have initiated on positive and effective levels of action. Therefore, it is essential that the Council on Religion and the Homosexual and all of the cooperating organizations consider the following general program and this need for action. Since the police and the political structure in general will continue these tactics, using the age-old and irrelevant moral arguments as a basis for the justice of what they are doing, when in fact the real object is to keep concerned organizations without a ready source of funds, and concerned individuals in a state of constant and paralysing fear, we must make this a civil rights issue which merits front page consideration and positive legal action. Therefore, we must have another dance as soon as possible, using these guidelines for our action: 1) Prior publicity must be utilized to the fullest extent including delegations to see the Mayor and other important people, a deluge mailing campaign using all available mailing lists and a general form letter giving the facts and urging the recipient to write a personal letter to indicated public officials, press conferences, and the coordinated and effective use of other pressure and public relations tactics. We must clearly demonstrate that the police have illegally and deliberately interfered with a fund-raising social event held to benefit a program and organization dealing with meaningful social religious problems. 2) The dance itself must make use of the following clear realities; a. Its date, location and purpose must be made a matter of public and police knowledge b. Its set-up must be legal and so arranged that it is automatically a test of illegal police harassment. c. Provisions must be made for bail and legal defense of all persons arrested. d. The Homosexual Community must be induced to attend this event through a widespread campaign to convince them that this is their fight also. Invitation: should include a propaganda sheet explaining the issues, the safeguards we will provide and an indication that if they can't afford to attend, they can at least afford to contribute. e. Important people must be invited and induced to attend the affair including prominent lawyers, newspaper people, religious leaders and others. f. Whatever the outcome, we must be able to use public relations techniques to assure that we come "smelling like roses." 4) ... This is the first time an act of public courage of this sort has ever been attempted by homosexuals anywhere in this country. We can hardly afford to do less ourselves, despite the fact that a new hall may be difficult to obtain, and despite the fact catering license could be contested, and despite the fact that the police will find ways to try to intimidate us. The good Mayor's statement made over television and filled with the usual phony-sacro-sanctimonious is what we can expect, but this is a fight we surely must win if we really believe we are right. M. F,-San Francisco Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Citizens News</i> Reports the California Hall Incidents Including Photos of Attendees and Police Action Description An account of the resource <i>Citizen News</i>, vol. 4, no. 7, published by Strait and Associates. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/21f8a06055282d38929c1c243955426e.pdf 50046b5b128a0d242009055e98200e31 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document Arrested Lawyers To Fight Protest Police Action at Ball Three attorneys retained to advise the Council for Religion and the Homosexual yesterday protested their arrest during the council's fund-raising ball last Friday night in California Hall. Attorneys Herbert Donaldson, Evander Smith, and Elliot Leighton, appearing at a conference called by the American Civil Liberties Union, reiterated their intention to fight charges of interfering with a police officer. The council is a new organization formed by seven Protestant ministers in The City, for the purpose of orienting the clergy on aspects of homosexuality and opening channels of communication between the community and homosexuals. Not Abusive "There was no physical contact after the officers appeared," explained Leighton. "We were not abusive in our language. The facts are that we were retained by the ministerial committee to advise them on moves against possible police harassment. We were present to advise them on their legal rights. No unlawful act was being committed at the time of our arrest." The three attorneys, it was announced, will be defended by Attorney Marshal Kruase, representing the Civil Liberties Union. The ministerial group earlier had accused police of "deliberate harassment." Private Affair Leighton insisted that "this was a private affair. There were no ticket sellers at the door, as police have asserted. Those at the door were checking a list of invited guests." Referring to Mayor John F. Shelley's criticism of the event, Leighton said "they Mayor is overlooking the fact that this was a church-sponsored function, to assist in the integration of homosexuals and thus avert a homosexual problem in San Francisco. "Police cameramen took photographs of everybody coming out of the hall that night," Leighton added. "We feel this was an intimidation. Donaldson and I were whisked away and not told why we were under arrest." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Examiner</i> Reports ACLU Press Conference with Arrested Lawyers Description An account of the resource <i>San Francisco Examiner</i>, January 6, 1965, page 12. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a> https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/files/original/0c92a23f257146bd8009b32cbca1e946.pdf c228142da864c802573dbac8a551174e Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Any textual data included in the document ACLU Joins Homosexual Dance Case The American Civil Liberties Union announced here yesterday it will defend three lawyers arrested at a homosexual benefit ball when they objected to the police moving in. Flanked by the attorneys involved, ACLU lawyer Marshall Krause told a press conference the three were victims of "police harassment." Charged with obstructing police officers at California Hall the night of January 1 were attorneys Evander Smith, Herbert Donaldson and Elliot Leighton. The police made the arrests, Krause said, in an effort "to intimidate attorneys who represent unpopular groups." The three lawyers said they were hustled away by uniformed police on the instructions of plainclothes inspectors when they said police needed either a warrant or information that a crime was being committed to enter the premises. The benefit ball was organized by the Council for Religion and Homosexuality, a group established by Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran and United Church of Christ leaders to try to integrate homosexuals into the community. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource <i>Chronicle</i> Reports ACLU Press Conference with Arrested Lawyers Description An account of the resource <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>, January 6, 1965, page 7. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Repository: <a href="http://www.glbthistory.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GLBT Historical Society</a>