1971 - In Unity - July

'.I

JULY 1971 • VOLUME 2' NUMBER 6

.JU8TIC~

AND I' BBDO. DONATION FIFTY CENTS

I

Publisher: Don Jughes Co-Editors: Pat Rardin Connie Vaughn Treasurer: Rev. Louis Loynes Circulation: Robert Quinn Feature Writers: C. Shawn Earrel.l: Al Correa Pat Rardin Graphic resigner: Connie Vaughn' Staff: Kathy Laine Marie Woody Pau t Winders Board of Elders of Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches: Reverend Troy D. Perry Reverend John H. Hose Reverend Richard A. Ploen Reverend Louis Loyrtes In Unity is published monthly by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Editorial offices in Los Angeles California.Mailing Address e 2201 South Union Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca. 90007. Copyrighted 1971. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is p~hibited. Address letters to Editor of In Unity. No anonymous letters will be considered for publiCation. There is a monthly theme for the magazine, which most of tre articles will follow. The theme for August will be "S\.IDlIIler Vacations". All copy must be sutmi tted to this office by July 12th. The theme for September will be "Youth and the Borrophi.Ie"; The copy must be submitted to this office by August 11th. First keep thyself in peace, and then thou'shalt be able to be a peacemaker wards others. A peacable man doth more good than a welllearned. Thanas a Kempis 1

Life can be so complex This I must admit. The more I think about life The less I know of it. Whey a man is GAY, I iaon de r Why he's not content To find one man and e e tt Le down Happy with just one gent. To live in peace and majesty together and confident, That love will keep them Close and tigh t And guide them safely Through the night. The deadly night of indecision When temptation comes along To make you forget LOVE and Desire leads to wrong. The temp tation to taste Another fruit Wi l:l: try to z'ead you astray. But remember him whose heart you hold And turn the wish away. LOVe is very special This we all must learn When LOVE is given; Treasure it . ' An d g~ve more love in return. Do nothing that may lose it Hold it tightly to your breast Keep it very preciou? And God will do the rest. When someone new comes along Sex rears it's ugly head Desire for the new one Can't temp t you in to bed. Just remember him who loves you And cast the whim away. And hurry home with all your love ~mbrace your man and say; I love you darlin~, I love you This cannot be denied. And though lust and carnal Pl~asures tempt me, I will always turn them aside. I love you, I love you darling, I shall always belong to you No matter who tries to lure me, TO YOU I WILL BE TRUE. -

ly Le page

Ir--------~-.I

As a small boy in Ta::"lahassee, Florida, I was taug~t to salute the American FJag. And always, we came to the part "freedom and justice for all." What a wonderful dream. As I grew older, I found out that there wasn't freedom and justice for all individuals in this country. When I was in my teens I Decame aware of discrimlnation against BlacKS and other peoples that ~e as Southerners didn't understand.. It wasn't until after I was pastoring at Metropoli tan Communi ty Church, in fact, it was only a year ago that I truly felt being a Homosexual lS like a mino~ity person. I stood In front of Chief Davis, our Chief of Police, and asked for a permit to hold a pa~ade in Los P~geles. It was there that I heard the Homosexucil being o::ypifiedas being in -':he same catagcry as a thief and a burglar. It was during that year that a young homosexual came to me and talked to me about being discharged f r-om the Army. The st.atement h.vs been made many, many times since then, "They gave me a medal for killing many men and a cJishonorable discharge for loving one" • Another young individual who had been d:"scharged from the service with honors told me that <-,e planned to send his

medals back to the government, because he felt like a second class (~ ti zen. A young woman carne to me and told me of the facts of being fired from her job because she was too "masculine". What a shame, in America, this land where we dream and we think and where we talk about a government for the people, by the people and made up of the people. Liberty and justice for all? NO, we still have discrimination in America. We are going to have a long, hard battle before these things are ch ange d , Some people will say, "well, if you don't like our system of government, leave this country". But, I say no, this is the land of ~ybirth, I plan to stay here because I do love America, but I do want to change her. I want the rights that every citizen of this country should have. I wan~ the right to love the individual that I want to love, I want the right to work at the jab that is best for me and that I am best qualified for, I want to live whe r-e I personally feel I would like to live as long as I have the money to pay that rent. I want an America that is free from prejudice; so that labels like Blacks, Chicanos, Homosexuals, etc. won't exist anymore. But that there will be only one label and that is American. Let's do pray, let's do change our government by writing to our legislators and informing them that 'de want those simple rights and we will have them, if we stand together. Gnited we stand, but divided we fall. Let us look to God, who can help to bring this about, let us petition Heaven as well as our r-oliticians and see what the Lord will do. Freedom and jus tice for all? Well time will tell. Yours In Christ,

if~£>·.~q Reverend Troy D. Perry Pastor

2

Percy Patrick Here is the note l.S, ~ho died of a sel.fPi Lon Jr., infl.ic t:e d gunshot ~oundJ l.eft for the pub l.i. c to ~arn drug users. "I have used all types of drugs from hash, pot and acid to hard stuff. It's all a bad scene. The people who push don't use it because they know it's bad stuff. They can see what it does to you. All you are doing is ruining your life and letting people make money thru you. They are only using you. "Drugs suppress, depress and dull your ability to function right. But most of all they kill and destroy. Not all tabs of acid are alike. Each tab has different amounts of acid. No two are alike.

3

"Also, no two vials or packages of heroin are the same. If you shoot up with a friend, chances are you're not on the same kind of trip. You may both come down, but in different worlds. Then again, you may come down OK, while your friend is coming down, crashing bad. "If you are crashing now or on a trip, what are you going to get out of it? You're only destroying. "Where are you going to go from pot - hash - acid - heroin? "Man, if you are on the stuff" please, for your sake, get off. If you can't fight it by yourself get help. It may be rough, trying to straighten yourself out, but it's never too late. Man, at least try. That's not too much to ask. You don't know me, but I want to help because I needed help and someone helped me. There are a lot of real things to do, so many useful things we could do, and life offers only a short time in which to do it. "I remember the words from a song, "So much of life ahead, we have only just be gun to live'. I f you can k i ck drugs then you will find out what the song is really about. Don't give up to problems and escape by using drugs. It will only ~ake more. "I have ruined a part of my life that can never be repaired and.have takp.n the chance of ruining myself for gDod. I finally found out the truth about drugs and have quit. If you quit, a whole new life can open up to you. "If someone offers you drugs, be more of a man than I was - say no. Learn from my mistakes. I don't want anyone to go through the hell I went through and am still going through. These 'friends' of yours will offer stuff free, then start making you pay for it. "They sell you harder stuff at discount prices, then boost the price when they get you hooked. Remember, ~he same person or friend who has grass will also be able to push heroin to you, and for what? To make money fo.r himself while he destroys you. People who push are the ones who want to destroy you and if you give them the chance they will. "Please, if you need help get it.

continued page l.8

Father Robert]. Richards, the priest-director of the Community of St. ] ohn the Beloved, a Catholic ministry within the Homophile community; was reinstated as a member of the Catholic Priests Association of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. At the May' 26th meeting of the priests association, Father Richards was informed that he had been accepted back into the association and that a document would be sent to him at the Community of St. ] ohntheBeloved,officially confirming his acceptance. Father Richards is an admitted homosexual and began a ful ltirne ministry with Gay Catholics over six months ago in the San Francisco area. He is quick to point-out that the priests association's action will in no way change his 'status' with the Archbishop of San Francisco. Father Richards is not permitted to function 'officially' by the Archbishop. It was shortly after Father Richards recieved a letter from the Archbishop, informing him he was forbidden to function that the priests association had dropped him from their mailing list as a member. With his reinstatement,. Father Richards expressed that the attitude of the Catholic Church regarding homosexuals is indeed changing. Along with Father Richards' acceptance into the association, he also recieved congratulations for his minis try wi thin the Gay community, from a Roman Catholic Bishop. Bishop Antulio ParrillaBonilla, S.]., wrote Father Richards, stating "I congratulate you and give you assurance of my prayers for the success of your appostolate ..... among ,:the homophile community members of San Francisco." Bishop Parrilla-Bonilla is a Roman Catholic Bishop in good standing and is officially residing in Puerto Rico. He is noted for his Christian poverty and .his work for peace in the world. Assisting Father Richards with the various services offered by the Community of St. ] ohn, is Edward Mutter. Having been a member of the Cornuni ty for over 5 months, Edward views this ministry as a r:al step towards gays gaining their rightful place in the Church.

Robert].

Richards,

Priest

Editors note: Father Robert J. Richards is a Friend of MCC San Francisco.

THE

SEMINARY

CORNER

The Seminary classroom is one of the n icer rooms in the older part of the building of the Mother Church. A number of people helped to make it so. Some were students and some were members of the Los Angeles Church. After the Chairman of the building committee told us what room we could have, people volunteered . to h.elp. We pulled old plaster from the ceiling and walls, nailed up new wall paneling and painted. One person donated the money for some student chairs, another individual gave us a chalk· board and some additional chairs, and a friend gave us a lecturn. The end result of all this labor and donations is a fine classroom, adequate for a large class. It's usefulness is apparent by it's constant use. God's ways are past finding out. But it is marvelous how he sends us people. Lately, the Credentials Committee of the Universal Fellowship has been in correspondence with a number of unusually qualified people who have been or still are in the ministry. If our Fellowship is to grow, we need these people right now. At the same time, we need dedicated men and women who want to get an education so they can help others. We need to be training people for the future leaders of our Church; Our Seminary has the chairs. We have dedicated instructors. We need persons who will give their life to the Kingdom of God. Someone may be waiting for you to speak that word of encouragement. Our present Seminary students will be happy to talk with any who wish. Call or write the Dean of Samaritan Bible Seminary. Our address is: 2201 South Union Avenue, 'Los Angeles, California 90007. Telephone (213) 748-0123. 4

Memories of Sunday, June 6, '71 w ill forever linger in my heart as a day of victorious triumph and Divine fulfillment. It was on this date that I joined the membership Church, Los Angeles.

of Metropolitan Community For over 20 years I have

diligently searched for a church which would be more than just a house where a select few could go to worship but which would be instead a church which I felt was the home of the living God where all of His children would be welcome. This was my seemingly impossible dream, but to find its fulfillment was my quest. My father was a Swedish Lutheran minister who pastored such a church and my mother W2S thought of, by all who knew her, as a Saint. She was able to commune directly with God and thus healed many who were given up as hopeless by specialists in the field of medicine. After I left home to make my own way in this big, wide world, I found out that the type of church of my childhood was virtually non-existent. I learned what-r soc ie ty

at a very early dictated. I was

age not to believe determined to find

out for myself exactly what type of people made up these minority groups that society so cruely rejected. To do this I rented rooms in the very heart of their communities. I made it a point to frequent the places they frequented and intermingle. They could ha ve rejected me; but they didn't. I found a hos t of beautiful Christian friends, much more Christian in fact than the society from which I had originally sprang. Everywhere I went in all of these groups, I was accepted as one with them. To my wonderful Christian brothers and sisters of other races and colors, who had so warmly accepted me into thei r communities and shown me so many, many acts of pure Christian kindness, I said, "Come to church with me and let us worship and praise our God together." They turned to me wi th sad eyes and answered, "Dear friend, J oanie! We would love to do this bu t we cannot because we are not welcome there, and if you are seen there with us you will be rejected also." I wept. To my devoted community who had

5

I

Christian friends of the gay given me so much strength

and comfort and who were a source of constant joy and encouragement, I said, "Come to church with me and let us worship and praise our God together." They also turned to me wi th sad eyes and answered, "Dear friend, J oanie! We would love to do this but we cannot because we are not welcome there, and if you are seen there with us you will be rejected also." I wept again. To the many

beautiful

flower

children

who

had so willingly shared the very little they had with me out of true Christian love and administered so untiringly to my needd, I said, "Come to church wi th me and let us worship and praise our God together." They too turned to me with sad eyes and answered, "Dear friend, J oanie! We would love to do this but we cannot because we are not welcome there, and if you are seen there with us you will be rejected also." I wept a third time. I reasoned that if the churches I attended turned away all of these beautiful people who were truly God's children, how could God possibly dwell there. If God did not dwell there, then it certainly could not be a suitable church home for me, so I never joined. any of the many churches I visited. My quest for fulfillment of my impossible dream c cnrinued. As became more affiliated with various branches of show business, my circle of gay friends constantly increased. I wanted to gather them all under my wings like a mother hen gathers her flock and jus t love and comfort them. I promised them that God would surely send a leader or shepherd who would be strong enough to lead them out of this desert of dispair even as Moses was chosen to lead his people out of Egypt. Thus their impossible dream became interwoven with my own and I was determined to find an answer. One day, after many years of dauntless praying and searching, one of my gay friends jubilantly called to invite me over to his apartment to read an article in the latest edition of the Advocate.

continued page L?

VIHIII fj)OIrIl OIF fIJ.AiI.

DOVE: OF PEACE: Every church h~s that one special significance that dwells in the hearts and minds of the people who come to worship. We at Metropolitan Community Church mission Milwaukee, Wisconsin also have a tender heartwarming significance that has really become a part of our chur('1-, home.MCC has services every Sunday at 1 PM at the United Methodist Church for All People, 2024 W. Highland Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The church was officially closed two years ago. For the past two years the bells in the bell tower haved ceased to ring, the pipe organ no longer rang out the praises of God in music. The altar collected dust and the pulpit was left standing bare. The doors were locked and the beautiful little church on the hill became a cold, stone building. People scurried by without any thoughts of the emptiness inside. Kids used the windows, walls and doors for target practice, and their notes for anyone to read. A rock hurled through one of the magnificent stained glass windows. The bulls eye was the deep blue center of the mammoth window that held the descending white Dove of Peace, repr'esent Lnr the Holy Spirit. The glas s shattered and fell to the floor of the sanctuary. There the glass would lay, until that resurection day two years later. The church opened its door with eight people and Pastor Bill Parish. These people wanted a church home for worship, and started hold-

ing services in the altar area. At the same time, Pastor Parish was meeting with representatives from Chicago MCC who were trying to find a church home for all our brothers and sisters in Milwaukee. God brought us together to fulfill a purpose of being a true Church for All People and opening frie doors to bring our Saviors love once again into God's house. It was almost two weeks before MCC was to hold their first worship service, when several people gathered at the church and cOllected all the pieces of the stained glass window that had been broken two years before. They decided they would try to restore this section of the window and somehow replace the Dove of Peace descending downward, bringing the Holy Spirit into the church. This true story of the Dove of Peace and the stained window touched the heart of Pastor Paul, the minister of the new MCC Milwaukee mission. Pastor Paul had his prayers answered and MCC Milwaukee now becomes Prince of Peace Parish, Metropolitan Community Church and once again the Holy Spirit is overflowing in our little church on the hill. Love and Peace Prince of Peace Parish Chuck Haynes M-~Luaukee Mi.ssion~

Con+t:

We would like to send our thanks and congratulations to Pastor Bill Parish and his congregation of the Church For All People. They are truly representing the name of their church. Pastor Parish and his congregation offically became a chartered church of the United Methodist Church fellowship on the same Sunday Prince of Peace held its first service. Our Lord is certainly showering us with many blessings. Yours in Christ, Chuck Haynes, Secretary

Pro-tern 6

USE IT or

LOSE IT

FOR UNTO EVERY ONE TH'AT HATH SHALL BE GIVEt-', AND HE SHALL HAVE ABUNDANCE: BUT FROM HIM THAT HATH NOT" SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY EVEN THAT WHICH HE HATH," Matthew 25:29 The parable of the ten talents in the twenty, Iifrh chapter of Matthew tells of a man who. pri ix to departing on a long voyage, divided his riches among his servants To the first he left five talents: to the second, two talents, and to the third, on ly me. talent The first an d second servants were aggresive and industrious and soon they each doubled the talents which had been given to them. But the me talent servant cautiously went and buried his lone talent in the ground, as it was done in those days. before the introduction of safety deposit boxes Later, upon their master's return, t he two servants who had multiplied their talents were highly praised The third servant, who had hoarded his single ta bn t in the secrecy of the earth, reproached his master with ill humor and accused him d being uncharitable This was his attempt to excuse himself for not using the small amount which had been left in his charge But he was judged by his own words and severely punished. This parable is summarized by the scripture. At first, this seems to mean that those who already have will receive even more, and those who have little will even lose that small amount. The best paraphrase d this is "use it or lose it." • Everyone of us who has had a personal experience of commitment to Christ knows that release of excitement, that sense of pure peace and complete unity with fellow Christians. It is a joyous, exultant rapture unlike any other experience and with out it there can be no other physical means of self-awareness that Christ is with us, But too frequently there is a slow descent from the peak of this joyous mountain and we are faced with a gradual leveling off of the inner excitement and rapture. The light dims and the exhilaration fades and we are left confused with disenchantment, always longing for the previous thrill which we no longer feeL There is only one reason why this sometimes happens, and that is because we do not always adhere to the lesson of this parable of the ten talents. We forget that if we don't use it, we will lose it. Christ said "Go ye, into all the world." He was speaking to all of us, to you and. to me. It is our Lord's command to spread the word of His

7 .

Gospal. Unless we use that fire from the experience in our own commitment to kindle the flame of another's candle of fa ith and de dication to Christ, the fire in our own life will burn lower and dwindle until it is extinquished .. Unless we share the joy with others in unity, we will lose both the joy we have found and the unity which we cherish. The law is use it or lose it. Bob Darst Samaritan Bible Seminary M,C.C. Los Angeles June1971

WITH AND

LIBERTY, FREEDOM

JUSTICE FOR ALL

As A child in qrade school, I believed these words. My parents and teachers taught me that I lived in a country where all men were created equal and 1ived in ·freedom. And. I believed them. How disappointed I was when I grew up one day and found this wasn't true! Even in college, I believed my professor of Constitutional History when he explained that my rights as an American assured me protection from illegal searches and seizures, that I had the right to live where I wanted, that I could come and go as I wished, that I was entitled to a fair trial before a jury of my peers, and that I did not need to fear unlawful detainment for a crime I didn't commit or for anything I believed. Little .did I realize the truth. I~hen I was in the Navy, I bel ieved them when they told me of my rights. I believed so greatly, I even risked my own court-martial several times in order to protect the rights of a fellow sailor when I believed he was being unjustly accused or was not being treated fairly because the IIbrass wanted to teach him a lesson. Yes,I was still believing when they held me IIIncommunicado for a long period of time because they wanted me to confess to being a homosexual. They won that round, because I then knew my rights and freedoms as an American citizen in the military servicewere meaningless and I was afraid. There are many places where we are nothing but second-class citizens. Our black brother's fight is our fight. He only wants to be a man in his own right. And, so do I. ll

ll

Hal Young

d~;·)K

R:SVIE~-v'i by

Pat

R.clrdin

This is one of the truly great adventure stories of the Bible. Whether you first think of David and Jonathan or David and Bathsheba, they are all in this book. It is a simple and beautiful love story, a love story between a man and God. It is the story of a shepherd boy who becomes a king and unites all of Israel. Dr. Frank G. Slaughter has included some of the psalms of David and included them in a beautiful new modern English way, so all can easily understand them and appreciate them to their fullest. The story starts when David is but a youth (probably in his middle teens) and is hunting a Jackal who has carried away a lamb from his flock. David finds the Jackal and kills it waih his sling, just like he kills Goliath about two years later. David is summoned to sing before Saul, then king, to try to dispel Saul's black and wrathful moods. At this point David is described as the sweetest singer in all of Israel. It is also at this time that David first meets Jonathan. Dr. Salughter has David tell Jonathan right at the beginning of his anointing by the prophet Samuel. Jonathan understands exactly what this means and tells David not to tell anyone about it, expecially Saul. Since Jonathan is Saul's oldest son and thus hereditarily speaking, next in line to be king, it sort of shows his feelings for David. For it is after this that they swear blood brotherhood and that nothing wi 11 ever come between them. Later Jonathan, several times, saves David from the wrath of Saul, in fact, saves his life. Dr. Slaughter is not very explicit about their relationship, but seeing as he is following the Bible you could hardly expect him to be. However, he does make it quite clear that Jonathan knows that he would probably succeed to being king if David were killed.

Dr. Slaughter again, m this book, describes the country side and the people during the time David is in exile because of Saul. During this time David is forced to move around the country quite a bit because he will not fight Saul. When Saul and Jonathan are finally defeated and killed by the Philistines, David morns them both. Saul as his king and Jonathan as his greatest friend. David's love for Bathsheba only proves how human David was. Even though David's whole family is cursed by God because of this ilicir affair, it is by Bathsheba that Solomon, next to be king, is born. Actually this curse helped Solomon to become ing as it removed his strongest competition, all of whom were older brothers. The only older brothe r who is still alive when David dies was just too weak and vacillating to really offer any serious challenge. Yes, Dr. Slaughter does make David very much a human being. A human who can see to it that a man is sent to his death in battle for no other reason than that he (David) lusts after that man's wife. A human who can cry and morn the death of his favorite son, even though that son was trying to kill him. A human with all the frailities and weaknesses that all humans have. On the other hand, - he also shows how David, because of his love and trust in God, succeeds time and time again, when his own human weakness say he can not. The book ends wi th the crowning of Solomon as David lies dying and finally with David's actual death. Dr. Slaughter has David saying one of his psalms as he dies. The same psalm that David first composed after killing Goliath and while still In a very frightened state from that experience. This psalm goes as follows: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not wan t. He makerh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

8

SoaiaZ obZigations of the ahristian

oan't has failed. But we, as individuals, have only one way to deal with this social problem--all menare the children of God, all menare brothers •••• no mention is made of skin pigment. There is no choice---only an imperative! Freedom, how do you get it? If you are part of a minority, it is sometimes very hard. Freedom, however, must be worked for, no matter what your circumstances are. No one hands anyone anything on a silver platter in this day and age or in any day and age. Demonstrations can earn you freedom, but they can also result in anarchy, a s tate of complete lawlessness. There can not be freedom in a state of lawlessness either. A peaceful, completely nonviolent show of numbers, can prove to the existing government that the laws need to be changed. A violent demonstration only proves that that particular group does not need and should not have more freedom. In fact, it only helps to make the laws more stringent. It simply moves the government, away from giving that particular group more freedom, to taking away what little freedom they had in the beginning. This seems to be the age of demonstrations. Many are now saying that the Blacks would not have gotten anywhere without violence. But have they really gotten anywhere lately, except, maybe, jail. The' laws that were changed were changed because of their peacefu 1, complete! y non -violen t demonstrations of a few years back. Back then, the only violence was committed by the local lawenforcement agencies and it is these same agencies that ha ve lost ou t in the long run. Lost out because the laws were changed and the Blacks did get more freedom. Also telling the truth in actions as well as in words is important. To have freedom, you must first have justice. You certainly can not get justice by lying. You can not say you are a passivist, but carry a club, or a brick, or a stone. You can not be a passivist about the war and yet violent against the police. Your very actions brand you as a liar and shows the whole world that you do not really want justice. After al l , since you can not trust the justice of a liar, so why give that liar justice. And without justice, there can be no freedom. You wan t liberty, justice and freedom for all? STAND UP AND BE COUNTED' Show your numbers, show your voting power, but don't show the world that you are a liar. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH' Only the truthful believe in true justice and thus earn their freedom.

9

By Pat Rardin

5. Christian attitude should prevail in the matter of economics. "Moneyis a good slave; but a bad master!" Keepyour property in your purse-not in your heart." As the Wordof God acl!ronishes: "The LOVE of moneyis the root of all evil". 6. Weare impelled to demonstrate Christian concern for suffering humanity••• "Give me your tired, your poor,your downtrodden" ••• all those who have been stigmatized, despised, rejected by society. It is imperative that we demonstrate by action our concern for their welfare and that we draw the circle that includes them in! 7. Finally, the Christian has a special obligation to his fellow Christians: "He that loveth not his brother alxideth in dea'th"; It is only through showing love for our fellow menthat we can demonstrate to Godthat we trill y love Hll1. Weare admonishedto SERVE one another, "Brethren, through love be servants of one another". lID old poemsays it all best:

Lord~ heZp me to Live fram day to day In suah a seZf-forgetfuZway That even when I kneeZ to pray My prayers ehal.l:be for othere; HeZp me in aZZ the work I do Ever to be sinaere and true~ And know that al.LI do for Thee Must needs be done foro others. Others~ Lord; yes~ others. Let this my motto be. Let me Zive for others That I may Zive Zike Thee. PRAYER FOR PEACE "Lord, give us peace on earth, I pray!" And so I pleaded day by day; Then looking on a field of wheat A farmer sowed that men may eat, In shame I humbly bowed my head: "Forgive me, Lord, forgive," I said, "Oh help me serve-hand, heart, and mind, That peace may reign for all mankind." - Myrtle Cook Jackson, in The American Bard

[VIEWPOINT· -c , ANOTHER

KIND

Shawn

Farrell

OF FREEDOM

Freedom of will mean~ the ability to do, say, and think as one wishes; to express life as one personally desires, to be able merely to think and dream of freedom would not be liberty. To imagine, withou~the power to manifest such imagination would be to remain in a dream world which would never become reality. Man was created with the possibility of limitless freedom, a pathway cf self-discovery stretching before him into infinity. On this road of self-growth he is subject to the natural laws of cause and effect - the laws of the Universe itself in all of Nature. If in ignorance, man violates the Law of Reality, he suffers, this doe s not mean that man is born to suffsr, only that by his own choice of actions and emotions in any given set of circumstances, he decides the outcome - joy or pain. The meaning of Freedom implies ~he possibility of suffering because if we are free - we are free only by the virtue of choosing more than one course of action as an experience. Experience is living - experience is the essence of man I s self-discovery and growth we are what we are and we use this nature for better or for worse thus placing ourselves wi thin the laws of cause and effect. If vie violate the Universal Law we su f f er, if we obey t};.eUniversal Law we are rewar~ed, the choice is ours for' God created man in His own image and did not restrict his freedom to choose the path his life will take. The truth lies in the fact that sin is basically a mistake, and for each mistake there is the inevitable consequence. ~vroEg doing is punished, right is rewarded. We are not punish-

ed for our sins, but by them. Sin is it sown purii.shmerrt and righteousnes s its own reward. If we speak of discord and anger, we shall be discordant and angry.The more the TNorld arms for war, the more certain war becomes. The longer people discuss their unhappiness the deeper they are dragged into it. We are part of a Divine Spirit, loving, all-powerful - all-knowing. He does not punish us - we punish ourselves by misusing the eternal Freedom that is every man I s birthright. So long as we make guns, men will die, so J ong as we burn ci ties, men will lose their homes, so long as we hate - that long will hate exist. As charity begins at home, so Freedom begins within t:,e soul of each human being.

WHEN

-c.

YOU

ARE

FREE

- ALL MEN ARE

FREE!

Shawn Farrell

PART II

In the last issue we took a look at the historical picture of the female hornosexual, and now we I d like to examine the new lesbian.To better grasp what is happening to the gay wanan of today, we need to find out what she is doing about her status as a wanan in society, and as a female member of the homophilecommunity. "The Los Angeles Da.ughters of Bilitis is a non-political,non-profitorganization which has as its goal the actualizationof personal pride in the lesbian.We intend to realize this goal by educatingthe lesbian to utilize her unique talents in ways most beneficialto herself and society.Itis our purpose to educate the lesbian to appreciate her sexual orientation as freedomof

aontinued page Z8

10

F@IiJR FREED@MS - - - - - - - - - - - Kathy Laine The name given to the gener~l world aims of the United States, 1S described by President Franklin n. Roosevelt in his address to Congr~ss on January 6, 1941. He said: In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential freedoms. The first is Freedom of Speech and expression - everywhere in the world. The second is Freedom of every person to Worship God in his own way - everywhere in the world. The third is Freedom from Want which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants everywhere in the world. The fourth is Freedom from Fear which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough.fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of agression against any neighbor - any where in the world. Freedom is a term defined in three distinct ways: 1) as the absence of external restraint; 2) as the capacity to do what one wishes; and, 3) as the capacity to do what one ought. Literally ,freedom means "not in bondage."The terms "liberty" and "freedom" are frequently used interchsmgeably. However, "freedom" has a more philosophic connotation, and "liberty" is most often associated wi.th the first of the three definitions. In a sense, "liberty" is freedom applied to political or legal matters, while "freedom" can apply to' personal matters as well. "Civil Liberties" are those liberties required for a person to perform the functions of a citizen in his particular society. In the U.S., this phrase generally refers to the Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Assembly and the other protections against arbitrary governmental action specified in the first Ten

11

Amendments to the Constitution (the Bill of Rights). The phrase "civil rights" is usually identified with the individual's freedom from discrimination on grounds of race 'or creed, as provided for in the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution. Freedom in the first two definitions could never be absolute. Total absence of external restraints is unimaginable. If a man were free to follow his own desires completely, there would be contiriual argument and violence. What one person wants to do is often unfair or even harmful to someone else. From earliest times, people have found it practical to live in groups. To do this, they restrain some natural desires and permit themselves to be controlled by rules or laws. Freedom brings not only rights but also certain responsibilities or duties. A man released from prison gains freedom, but at the same time must face the responsibility of supporting himself. On a larger scale, the people of a nation that wins independence must be prepared to govern themselves wisely if they are to avoid dictatorship or domination by a foreign power. A citizen who shuns his responsibility to vote risks losing the freedom of having a say in how he is governed. Most individuals want personal liberty, that is, not to' be held in slavery or bondage but to be able to enj oy unhindered the. results of their work. They also may want to worship as they choose, and to be free to hold and to express opinions. So, in 1941, President Roosevelt named these "four essential freedoms" that could be achieved thru government and they were: FREEDOM OF SPEECH FREEDOM OF RELIGION FREEDOM FROM WANT FREEDOM FROM FEAR .The his tory of the development of freedom is, in a sense, the pOlitica l , economic, and social history of the world~

A BEGINNING ... , Looking back now it is hard to remember all that led me to do what I did. Suffice it to say that I felt trapped, I hadn't had work for a couple of months, and I didn't know where to go or what to do. I didn't know where to turn for help, but I had read of Metropoli tan Community Church in the Advocate and decided to go to one of the services and maybe I would be able to get some help. One Sunday in September of 1969, I attended the service at the Encore rfheater in Hollywood. I enjoyed the service tremendously and I enjoyed being in a church again after an absence of 5 years. I had not attended any church during those 5 years. Not because I couldn't, but rather because lam very introverted among people I don't know. I find it hard to get myself to go anywhere for the first time. Had I not been desparate I probably would never have attended MCC, and that would have been the greatest tragedy of my life. I djdn't know just what to expect when I first attended, but, having read of the church in the Advocate I knew that most of the people who attended were gay. I had never kno~n anyone gay and I was a bit apprehensive about what I would find, but what I found was people who Lelieve in Gc~ and in helping their fellow beings, wonderful people. I came for help, but didn't know how or to whom to speak. I wanted to ask Reverend Perry for help, but with about 300 other people there, I couldn't. I shook hands with Reverend Perry and he said, "God bless you, Jeff" CI had a name tag on). But, I didn't ask for help as I had wanted to de. I stayed in Hollywood that Sunday night and I wrote to Reverend Pel~ telling him that I had bee~ at the service that day, that I had come to get help, but didn't know how. I said that the only way I knew to straighten things out was to kill myself. It is embarrassing, now, to think I would do something so foolish. But, Monday morning I mailed my letter, bought some Sleeping pills and took the bus for home. When I got home I took the 36 sleeping pills and went to bed. It's funny, but I wasn't afraid, in fact I didn't really believe that I would die. The only thing

that worried me, if I should die, was that God had put me on this earth to do something and I had failed Him. Well, I didn't die, fact is, I didn't even get sleepy. My mother came home and we had a terrible fight (she didn't know that I had taken the pills until the next day). So, I took a heaping handful of asprins, thinking, "God, you saved me once today, if you really want me to live, please save me again". He did and the next morning I was a bit dizzy, but by afternoon I was fine. Reverend Perry received my letter Tuesday morning and naturally was very upset. He phoned my Deacon, Leo, at work and Leo phoned Karen, the Deaconess of the Long Beach parish, and asked her to meet him at my home that afternoon. I was extremely embarrassed, knowing they probably knew what I had done, and I didn't know how to introduce them to my mother when she came home. Leo and Karen took me to the parsonage, where I met so many wonderful people. I met Reverend Perry and I saw everyone working together fixing up the parsonage, sanding the floors, scraping and painting. It was great to see everyone working together and taking an active part in the church that was theirs. It impressed me very much. Later that evening, Karen and Leo took me to a meeting of the counseling committee. It did my heart so much good to see all these people, working on a completely voluntary basis, who set up a 24 hour counseling service for anyone with problems. I knew that here were so many people who really cared about helping others. I couldn't help but want to be part of MCC. , I started coming to MCC regularly, I joined the choir and the Communications with the Deaf class. I've made so many friends, I know that they care about me and I know that I need never be afraid to ask for help again. I have a church to go to, and I'm very glad of that. I can sing and that makes me happy. I have two very special friends who have become my confidants, whom I look upon as brothers, wi th whom I can share my happiness and all my secrets, with whom I can be completely open and honest, who advise me, care about me and help me. AND I THANK GOD! by Jeff Moore 12

I

Social ObUgationsof the Christian by Rev. John H. Hose, B. D., M. S. vlhat follows is, in part, a sermon delivered before the Congregation of Metroploi tan Corrununi ty Church in San Diego, California ••••and has been composed into print at the request of many who heard it-----and wanted to have it to share with those who may lack understanding in this area. When we are called upon to evaluate what a Christian is and does, we are talking about the SOCIAL obligations of the Christian---his inter-action with Society. Christians, because they see through the eyes of Jesus, find new horizons for thinking, find new perspectives for life. The old prejudices slip away, and all selfishness has no roan in their lives. Many have refused the Christian life as negative and spoil sport. They say Christiani ty is against anything that is pleasant or profitable. They're like the woman who complained that "everything worth doing is either immoral, illegal or fatten3'" This is not true! Only pleasures that spring from LOVE OF SELF is Non-Christian. The Christian way of life does not require that man renounce any legitimate interests or ambitions -- only those which are not motivated by his love of God. However, the Christian Community is concerned about those who think of nothing but their personal pleasures, personal property, and material profits. Christianity is not primarily concerned with the matter of externals; but it does find expression in conversation, habits, recreation, emplJaS.LSand ambi tions to be noted in our daily lives. We are impelled, therefore, to ask ourselves: "Does your conversation honor Christ?" "Are our habits those of which he approves?" I am mindful of the criteria established by my Father-in-law, the late Rev. M. M. Schmidt. He advised his six children that they were free to do anything, go anyplace where they felt they would be comfortable if "the Lord were with them". Certainly, it is not trite to say that the guiding principle of our relation to the world is, and must always be: "And as you would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise". Many people have critized the so-called "social gospel" but Jesus taught that ~ ~ to take regener-

13

ation in ~ hand and ~ cup of cold water in the other. --~ow does a CChristian demonstrate--aside from church participation, praying in public, etc. It is our belief that there are seven important areas where he enacts ,if you please, in his daily living, his Christian beliefs. 1. First, he is a ~o~ citizen or hlS country. He is Law-alridi.ng , TI lit> does not mean that he can't criticize unjust laws that may discriminate against special groups! 2. Christians should be given to hospital~. Sanething more than just--affording a frriend.ly gree t.ing to people in church or on the street. During my childhood, my mother always fed every tramp that came to our back. door, quoting the Master's words: "Behold I stand at the door and knock ••••:: It was her belief that we never knew in what form the Master would present himself, and that sure.ly as we "did it unto the least of these, we were doing it for Him". 3. Further, we should display a Christian attitude toward sex. NOWHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH THAT SEX IN ITSELF IS A SIN, although many frigid old maids Cof both sexes) would try to make it appear so. What the Bible does teach is THAT THE WRONG USE OF SEX IS SINFUL. Now, what if the wrong use of sex. Sex--stripped of mutual love, respect, and the sincere deSIre to gi'VeJoy and. fulfillment to the other person becomes slffiplyan animal-act--and it is about this that the Bible warns. The sly, secret, embarrassed, "let's pretend it doesn't exist" attitude about sex is purely man made. In trying to overcone the mysterious "let's not talk about it" approach to sex, our present civilization has put far too much emphasis upon the MECHANICS of it, and far too little insistence on the spiritual atmosphere in which this overwhelming expression of human love must have its origin! 4. Further, the Christian looks through the eyes of Christ at the race question.Up to now-:the Church of Christ, as a body--continued

page 9

Dear Mr. President: In October of 1967 I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service while stationed in the Republic of Viet Nam, I served with honor and dignity, and .great pride in the United States Army, and never once questioned the ideals of freedom and democracy we·were supposedly defending there. Upon my return to civilian life, I came to the sad realization that I had not been defending freedom and derrocracy,but rather extunuating the cruel oppression of my people, the homosexuals in our society. I was to learn soon enough that I was not a first-class; nor even a second-class citizen, but rather an illegal entity. I am the dirt to be swept quietly under the rug and into the institutions. I am barred from holding many jubs because of my sexual preference. I am discrlminated against in nearly every phase of our society, and I have, on several occasions, been harassed by the police. In spite of this, I am proud to be a homosexual and an American. I will not lie about it, and I refuse to sacrifice my pride to the "wheels of the system." Since my sex life is of such immence importance to society, and my decadence so very poisonous to the national prestige, I would like to know to which agency or branch of the government, may I return my medal and the official presentation papers. It is hardly fitting that a homosexual should be awarded such a· distinguished medal; don't you think so? And to whom may I apologize for having inadvertently served while being unworthy? A Homosexual Patroit Jerry L. Me Kee

************* The State of Uncle Sam

NEWS

OF OUR

CHURCHES

Our churches and missions have been so active Curing June 1971~Here a r-e a few of the highlights edited from their various news letters and correspondence:

MCC - SAN DIEGO Lots of exciting social activity going on in San Diego, which is one of the three major churches in size in the Fe L'l.ows h i.p, They had a Memorial Day picnic. Soon ~fter, on June 3rd, some 75 members attended a performance of Hair, which I'm sure must have been a ball! On June 5th the San Diego Youth Group (AKA: The Sa 1ty Dogs) hosted a dance. Th is youth group is headed by Bud Berk. Hany ether activities have taken place, but pos s .i.b ly the one arousing the greatest interest is the first Sa!'.Diego Retreat st ar t i n g on Friday, July 9th thru Sunday afternoon of .Ju Ly 11th. The J ecation is Mount Palomar and this is the sort of event that creates fellowship through the common bonds of shared events. Coming, as it will, after our spate of annual activism during Gay Pride \.Jeek, some spiritual medi tation and sunrise swimming may be JUST what we will require.

14

MCC -

SAN

FRANcrsCO

There's so much going on in San Francisco that it's difficult to get it all covered. 'I'h e i r- Cou r-me t c La s s met June 15th, 22nd and 29th at the communi ty center. The Co up Le s Cluh n.e t for a pot luck d i.nrie r- and even s h owe d the movie "It Coulon' t Be Done " with Lee Marvin and Th e Fifth Iii rnen s i.on ; an o t he r: pot Luck dinner' is being hosted Ju~e 28th, also with e n t.e r-t a i.n men t , BU8<2S and car pools were being organized for the march c.n the State Cc'..P i. t o l Bu i l d i.n g In Sacraffii::nto. And Saturday morning (June 26th) ~he buses depart once more, towards Southern California, for the parade down Hollywood Blvd. Every ~Ned;Jesda} evening -::her'e is a praY'2r .nee t .i.n g at the communi ty ce n t e r-, Their radio program, The Gay Cr o s e , pr-ovi.de.: an .i npc rt an t forum to get our message to large grou?s. On June 1st, Reve~end Alice Nau~oss, Assistant Pastor o~ NCC - SF, spoke OIl the t op i c : ':;od is not a crutch!" On .Jurie8th, Re ve r-en d Troy D. Perry was .i.n t e r-vie we d , In addition, ThE-~ Gay Cress hosts interesting discussions wit~ gay ~uthors, such as Douglc:.sDe an , U'1 the changing Gay nJvel and it's invulvement in Sooiety's changing attit~dcs. /\ letter from Bill Thek, one of their .Li r-e c t o r s , tells n"::: that 't he y dlso e ng age in active missionary work right in their cwn city. "Every other Saturday evening a group of il:':,;leet dt: 11:3C Pi'! at our COITlTTlur:i ty center and from t r.e r-e we leave for the b a r s wi t:';literature or fliers to pass ou~ to people coming ~nd going from t~e bars. qpeaking from experience, mlSSlon,3.ry1,;01'\: pay:::off ~ Han y p",~op1e;1i3.V2 !.wen .i n t r-o d .ce d to l'-'I C C s,.,lely t.h ro ugh ou r rru s si on ar-y effort."

PFES NO

MIS,) ION

the mc t rre l' church on June Reverend ~ichard P10en anno un c e d that a new mission had r.e eri founded In ::pc:sno. At

2 C'-eh ,

15

vIe .have no f ur-t he r information at ~his time, so we are unable to do more than print this announcement Our next issue Hill have more information. May the Lord give his blpssings to our br-o t.he r s =.nd S2.st,,!I'S in F'res n o on t:l.ecornme o ce men t of t.h is new out?ost of Christian outreach.

CllRI •.. ''!' CHAPEL

MCC -

ORANGE

COUNTY

C;-,ris t Chapel ~CC began as _. on SeptelJlber20, 1970. B:'>T Easter 2unday, 1971 it h2d gro~n sufficiently large to be chartered as a full fledged chu r-cr: .• T~eir Pastor, Reverend Roger Harrison,recent:ly wr-o t ::.tate b lyman Robe rt E. Burke urging his support for the controversial nrown bill. Assen~lyman Burke mailed copies of Pastor Harrison's private Le t t e r to his constituents in Orange C01;.::1ty. 3Ul"ke's covering letter said "Not lcng ago, even the pe r-ve r+s wh o wou}d be liberated by this legislature would not have been told enough to p ub L'i.c s Ly voice thei.r s uppo rrt !", Ora.nge Cc-un t y Gayrs are now quietly waiting to g2t the last word on e Le c t i.on day. On the lighter s~de, much of the a c t i. vity a-L: Ch ri s t Ch ap e L includes the events of the o~her a2tive gI'OUp3 in thE COITJUUEi ty. .There l S a SHimming group, an acti ve Couples CL]b, wh i.ch hosted a dance L! ,June. 'J]- e :.:'fC'. is G.:l.~' Liheration Front at California State College at Fullerton, which conducts gay life and gay lib classes and a Gay Students Union at University of California at Irvine. rri s s i on

e

SACRAMENTO

As

s

e

rn-

MISSION

As our worship center In the California State Capitol, the mission is, naturally, looking forward eagerly to the Long March to the State Capitol. They are expecting 10,000 marchers to join Reverend Perry for the walk to the west steps of the Capitol Building. Despite the excitement of this important rally, right in their home ground, there is one event of local

interest that has almost succeeded in competing for their interest and with good reason. They have found a downtown location and have all but obtained the final legal lease to it. To quote their own report, "No congregation of the size of ours has attempted anything of this magnitude. In fact, no congregation, except the mother church has' facilities that come close to actually filling the needs. We will have to look at this as an opportunity for new work and not as a reason for congratulating ourselves." The address will not be released until the lease is final and binding. . Our hearts are filled with joy and excitement for our fellow members in Sacramento on the eve of this serious and important turning point in their history. SAN

JOSE

MISSION

On June 6th a pe tition signed by fourteen residents of San Jose was presented to the San Francisco Church requesting status as a mission. Their first service was a short devotional service of 30 minites. Already this young mission has organized rap sessions for Monday nights from 8:00 to 10:00 PM and on Saturday evenings, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM is fellowship night. Fellowship night is an informal gathering where you can meet new friends, renew old friendships and relax in a Christian atmosphere.

MCC -

PH OENI X

Pastor Pobert J. Cunningham of MCC-Phoenix visited the mother church on June 6th and we were pleased to see that Phoenix had been blessed with this alert and goodhumored man. A busy and dedicated me rriller, Pastor Cunningham leaves his home in San Diego on Friday evenings after work and drives six and a half hours to Phoenix. Saturday is taken up with Pastoral duties, Sunday with worship services and then the long drive back to San Diego.

Praise ]>e to God that we have and dedication men of this stature to carry His message.

TUCSON

MISSION

Deacon Allan MrQs has been conducting worship services at our newest desert outpost. Our prayers and hope for their continued growth go to this fine group. DENVER

MISSION

Reverend Ron Carnes and Reverend Allan E. Haberkorn are tending to the needs of our Friends and Members in the Mile High City of Denver. They are currently trying to start up a newsletter of their own. In June the Northeast Parish of the mother church voted to purchase ten hymnals for our fellow members in Denver. They have been ordered and hopefully have arrived by the time vou read this. Reverend Carnes writes:"Pray for us here that God is able to raise up a work that will challenge any we now have --- I believe this and will work towards this goal. Give my love to our flock there •..• We remember you in prayer each day." MILWAUKEE

MISSION

On Sunday, June 6th the doors of the Church For All People swung open bringing the 'Good News' to the Gay Community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prince of Peace Parish, Metropolitan Community Church held its first service. Fourty-three brothers and sisters gathered in GOd's house to hear Pastor Paul Sydman ask each of us "Why Did We Come Here?". His mes sage was one of encouragement and hope for all of us. Pastor Paul is as sistan t pastor of Good Shepard Parish, M. C. C., Chicago, and we are certain the people of Milwaukee will grow to love him and respect him as do his people Chicago. Many promising things are blosoming forth from Milwaukee and we can be sure that with Pastor Paul as interim pastor our parish will grow in the Christian faith and love we can all wi tness from. continued page 6

m

16

Fulfil Lmeni: of My Impoee ibl:e Dream (Continued) "I think this will be very interesting to you", he said as he sh owed me the article about Rev. Perry and M.C.C. "Oh yes", I said excitedly. "It does sound like this could be the leader I promised you and knew in my heart that God would send someday." I asked all my friends if they had heard of this new church. Finally I found
except

for the

church

of my childhood

into

which I was born. I wanted so much for the boy who has been as close to me as any blood brother could ever be for almos t ten years to take this beautiful step with me. He was visiting with his family on the East Coast when I first discovered our Spiritual home. Finally he returned to Los and I brought him to M.C.C. He had never before seen any form of Spiritual psychic phenomena and did not in fact believe it could be seen through human eyes until this Palm Sunday. He said, as he sat enraptured by the beautiful sermon delivered by Rev. Troy Perry, he actually saw the Holy Spirit standing behind our pastor as if it were prompting him. As he watched in awe and wonderment, It seemed to become one with Rev. Perry and a beautiful pure golden aureola or halo formed around

17

about him. My brother knew then that God was speaking to his heart and he made plans to )Oln M.C.C. with me. The first day of our classes for church membership which was Mother's Day, I looked up at the beautiful painting of Christ in the stained glass window.

To my complete

amazement

it didn't

look

at all like a painting as it alway had before. This work of art became three dimensional and it seemed to me to be the living form of Christ stretching out His arms to our congregation. Only the bars which actually hold the glass secure appeared to restrain Him from walking right into the room and He seemed to be leaning even over these. I thought, 'right now if those bars were cut, Christ would actually step out of that window and join hands with us.' I knew that this vision was God speaking to my heart in approval of taking the first step in becoming a member of Metropolitan Community Church which is truly God's home on this earth. With much love in my heart for all my brothers and sister in Christ. Joanie

PEACE

BE UNTO

Kettles

THEE, STRANGER

Peaae be unto thee, Stanger, enter and be not afraid. I have Zeft the gate open and thou art welaome to my home. There is room in my house for all. I have swept the hearth and lighted the fire. The room is warm and aheerful and you wilZ find aomfort and rest within. The table is laid and the fruits of life are spread before thee. The wine is here also, it sparkles in the light. I have set a ahair for you where the sunbeams danae through the shade. Sit and rest and rej:resh your soul. Eat of the fruit and drink the wine. All, all is yours, and you are welaome. Submitted bye. Shawn Farrell (Author Unknown)

Female of the Species (Continued). mophile community suffer lQss of freedom before the law or in the general social order, then all members of the ccmnunity are in danger of losing those same freedoms. Much has been said and written concerning treatment of homosexuals-adjustment by homosexuals to their way of life, and the legalizing of homosexual relationships between consenting adults. It is my firm belief that each of us has the right to live our lives in productivity--in harmonv, in peace -- so long as we do not misuse that same right granted to our fellow hnmans , Thoreau said each should march to the music he hears. So each of us must live our lives to the best of our abilities and accept the responsibility that comes with whatever path we have chosen.Although to many people it would appear the lesbian has social and legal advantages, re~ember she does exist. In spite of the "blinders" worn by generations of men and wanen who find such a fact hard to accept. l£t us not forget that the term "homosexual by any other name is still a homosexual." Although wr i ters and lecturers speak very little of the lesbian, they cannot erase the fact that in homosexuality, as in everyttring :i n nature, there is "The Female of The Species."

.It's Nevep too Late (Continued) "I have decided to taKe a trip ~etter than Jrugs could ever offer Life. It's a great trip. Try it before it's too late. Remember, you can make life what it can be or something it should h ave been."

The part of the note Pi lor: addpessed to his parants pead: "Dear Dad and Mom -I have lived a. lot in 18 years, more than some people EO or over have all their lives. Well, my 18 years are over. It's best t~is way now. I can do no more shame to our name. Just p~cture me as as leep and I wi 11 awake in another world where perhaps I will find peace. "I really must t h ank you for all you have put up with. It w~s a wonder you did. Pe r-h ap s you krie w I needed help but couldn't t ur-n me in. Thank vou for being the ~~reatest parents ever. You never let me down. "If t.he r-e is an o t h e r- vor Ld or.'if t~is is a dream. with a bad ending, I

am sure I will never find anyone as great as you have been. You gave me chances others never would have. I am only sorry I let you down. "Drugs have their small moments of the last year of my life. Before this last year I spent 17 years of gooc'. t Lrne s c Lose to you ~ I kn ow I have changed and I realize drugs could never undo what they did to me in one year. They cloudec my thou8hts of love, destroyed my ambition s and ruined my family life, which meant so much to me before they arrived. I only wish ~ could have fulfilled some type of purpose while on earth. Some may say he was too young. But jf I cuuld have displaye d my life before and after' drugs entered it, maybe I could h.ive helped someone. "Drugs have their small moments of ':",appiness, but for each moment lies a century of sadness never tc be r-e move d , "I wis~ I could have learned a Le s son f r-orn someone else's mistakes, but life didn't let me learn by others. I had to find out myself. "Please find Ian wherever he is and 1:e11 him of my transfer. He will want to know. I really liked him. H8 and I learned a lot from life, love and drugs. We saw how we needed help and failed to seek it. He is a great Yid, but needs care and love to make jt in this world. "Morn, I love you. I never warrt e d to hurt you. Believe me it's best th is '.·,lay. Morn, thanks for understanding me and my problems. Dad, you sure WEnt through he.ll with me. Sorry, but now iT'S over. OK. "I hate to leave, but the more of this world I see the more confused I become. Goodbye, be good, love to a.ll. Pat. "P. S. In 18 years I have really had a great life and you gave it to me. I only couldn't start to say how sorry I am about hurting and worrying you about drugs. "I wanted to live. Only this way is better because I won't be afraid of what I may do. Maybe I will find another world or place where I can truly find peace. Thanks, Love. Pat"

Re p r i nt e d , with CHICAGO

TODAY.

p e rmi.e e i on , fpom

the 18

Female of the Species (Continued) choice ,as 'dell as to appreciate her d ifference of 1ifestvle wi thin her own communi tv. " The prececlinr.;parar,raph is a quote from the news Ie t ter- of the L.A. Chapter of WP. This organization has laid out a :reevaluation system they describe as r.S.P. E - E:ducational: Educate first the lesbiar. herself. Teach her to know herself as a cepab.le woman of t a Ierrt s and cua l i ties much needed, not only in the hcmoph i.Le communitv, hut in the world at iarge. Cive to the lesbian knowledRe of her legal ~nd personal rights, and above all else, give to each the certaintv that the female of any community is ~~()lo~r;er a seoond-c lass c i t i zen , It is not enoufh, however, to educate only the lesbian hersel f. !X'B is at-Jd.""e that society at large needs knoVlledge, also. To this purpose, they have extended t} eir educat ional drive to all who would learn. Speakers fY'OITl )"'lanv 0rganizations not homosexuallv oriented att~nrl thA ir -r:n;?etin(Ts) br i ng ine new under-s tendinr , '1ew ccnmur. ,-~dt i.cn, The Educat iona l Cormit tee also plans to start a farvi Iv wor-kshop S0 the families of P3\' 'vvDner: rjr.ht be dr-awn closer to lJnder-st and ir.g and appr-eciating the wav a lesr-i.ar, feels. Herein lies the answer to much of

t odav ' s lad

of

to! er'ance --

Lack

of

knowledge, and mB .ir.tends eloin? something about it. S - :'":ocial :This is A.n inte~r':Llpart of any organization. The-re is a need to r-e Iax , to meet friends, old WIC new, lYlE,although having yearly dues, sti1l depends somewhat on .i t s social f unct ior.s to help wi th expenses. It furrii shes the lc!~Hanwi t h a social outlet and m~~'~r.r place other than the local r-ul., P - Psvch0108:'ca1: Perhaps ,his is merelv an arm of the educa t iona l sect ion , for it a Ll.cws the Le s r-i.an to lea.rn :nore about her-se If in the i.nfoY""d 1 "ran spss ior.s ;" F'Inc inr- out "that the flT'0!:l~r: one has are not conf i.nec eych.:,-:i.velvto an'! indiv::dual, that many of thp Lorren have the same c i f f icu l t ies accepr i.nr; lxmosexua li-t:v, and be inf aex'f'rted,he Lps to erase rhat. f ee l i ng of bei,,£,: so t(~rrit;:.\' alone. This then is the oldest cf Lesr.i.ar. organizations, anJ .ir: all pro':ahilitv the larp;est, with chapter's in a nur-ler- of o ther' cities and one in Australia. There is aJ so a Gay Vlornen' s Liberat ion ~ovement here in the L..A. area. These 'vvDmer. v.lOrk -l:ov..'aro the I iberar ion of the lesbian t as a t·;ornan first t and a hrrnosexua.l secondly. /1.8 W~ brought out i:1 the f irs t 19

I

sep,ment of this series, wOJ:!en haVE: been somewhat less than the tor-dop- of the social mourrtain as far back as recorded history car: take us. Equal rir,hts before the Law , equal pay for equal vor-k , recognition as ro.sponsit-le members of th~ social structure as wcmen and as lesbians. An arduous task, btt one that has been long overdue. This is the goal of Gay l.vanen' s Liberation. A need to be recognized not on.'> ly by the world as v.IOMEN, but also by the male homosexuals as a large part of the population within the homophile cc:rnmunity. And what of the individual lesbian herself? Ho» does she feel about her organizations, about her place in the sche~e of things? There is a new breed of lesbian emerging fran the ranks of this "Now" generation. She makes no excuses for her sexual preference, she has no qualms about admitting her status. She refuses to be assigned to a role, a form of standards set for her by the heterosexual society, or by the lesbians of older generations.She is an individual, and insists on being treated as such. I,]hatkind of a woman is this? She teaches school, she is a student in college, she's a musician,a secretary, she's a nurse, a social worker, a psychologist, a grocery checker, a beautician, a mother, a sister, a daughter. She has faith in God and in her lellow-humans, she is an atheist, a skeptic. She's the blond at the drugstore, the brunette at the cafe, the redhead in the office. She IS, and all the shaking heads and fervent-aenials cannot erase the fact of her existence. She loves, she hates, she feels compassion, she knows pain. She is very much a part of the world around her. Oh , yes, she can also be that sad creature on the stool of the local liquor establishment, or the one on the psychiatrist's couch, but if this was the majority then we would need many rrore stools, and many more couches to accommodate all the lesbians in this country. A number of lesbians have some animosity for the male homosexual, and even an aver-s ion to close association wi th many of their O\A1nsex within the homophile community. This is their privilege in exercising a freedom of choice in their companionship. It is to be hoped, however, that the future will hold more communication between male and female homosexuals ar prejudice of any kind is a weakening factor. Both gay men and women must realize that on basic issues they have the same goals. If any of the ho-

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C H U R C H E S Metropolitan Canrmmi ty Church Los ~eles 220r ~Union Ave. Los I\ngeles, Calif. 90007 213-748-0123 Rev. Troy D. Perry, Pastor Rev. John H. Hose, Assistant Pastor Rev. Richard A. Ploen, Minister of Christian Education Rev. Kenneth R. Jones, Minister of Visitation Sunday 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 7:00 PM Metropolitan Canrnunity Church San DiV~o Chollas lew Methodist Church 906 North 47th Street San Diego, California 714-234-9909 Rev. JohnH. Hose, Pastor Deacon Howard Williams, Asst. Pastor Sunday 7:30 PM

Metropolitan Canmuni ty Church San Francisco california tiaJI 625 Polk Street San Francisco, California 94102 415-864-3576 Rev. Howard Wells, Pastor Rev. Alice Naumoff, Asst. Pastor Sunday 1: 00 PM MCC Ccmnuni ty Center 1760 Market Street San Francisco Gcod Shepherd Parish, Metropolitan Corrmunity Church Chi~o 3342 orth Broadway Chicago, Illinois 60657 312-248-1525 Rev. Arthur Green, Pastor Sunday 7:00 PM 20

Christ Chapel, Metropolitan Canmuni ty Church 1259 Victoria STreet Costa Mesa, California 92627 114-548-'6'868 Rev. Rodger Harrison, Pastor Sunday 7:00 PM Metropolitan Conmuni ty Church Miami Write P.O.Box 5077, Miami 33131 920 Alton Rd. Miami Beach, Florida 305-377-1088 Rev. P. Bradley Wilson, Pastor Rev. Dona.Ld Hoffman, As st. Pastor Sunday 11:30 AM, 7:30 PM Metropolitan Canrnunity Church Phoenix 4 (51 E. Roosevelt Phoenix, Arizona 85002 602-274-.9567 Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, Pastor Sunday 1: 00 PM Metropolitan Canrnunity Church was~ton, D.C. PO BOx 1 Riverdale, Mary land Rev. Paul Breton, Pastor Me tropol itan Community Church Dallas First Unitarian Church 5014 Normandy Dallas, Texas 214-824-0770 Rev. Richard Vincent, Pastor Hetropoli tan Community Church Honolulu, Hawaii 2500 Pali Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 808-247-2738 Rev. Ron Hanson, Pastor Sunday 7:30 PM

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Tampa Mission P. O. Box 1063 Tampa, Florida 33602 Rev. Lee J. Carlton Harmony Mission of San Francisco Church Metropolitan Cammmi ty Church 902 IIJII Street Sacramento, California 95814 Deacon Joseph H. Gilbert, Worship Coordinator Sunday 5: 00 PM Milwaukee Mission of Chicago Church Prince of Peace Parish Metropolitan Camnuni ty Church 2024 West Highland Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 Paul W. Sydman, Pastor Denver Mission of Los Angeles Church Metropolitan Community Church 3143 Wyndot Denver, Colorado 80211 Sunday 7:30 PM Tuscon Mission of Phoenix Church Metropolitan Community Church Broadway & Country Club Tuscon, Arizona Deacon A. Mros, Missionary San Jose Mission of San Francisco Church Contact through San Francisco Church Fresno Mission of Los Angeles Church 11300 East Sierra Clovis, California 93612 New Orleans Mission of San Diego Church Elysian Fields Parish Metropolitan Community Church The Upstairs (Theater in back) 604 Iberville Street New Orleans, La. 70130 Rev. David E. Solanon, Missionary

Eastbay Metropolitan Community Church 440 Santa Clara Avenue Oakland, California 94610 Rev. Jim Sandmire, Pastor Sunday 7:30 PM 21

Dear Lor d , h el p me tod av' to remove every obstacle to the gospel's ."r('(1(1 beginning toith. me, an d leI mp do something affirmatire to carry heat'en's message to someolle. [II Jesus' nallle.

Amen.

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