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Lesbian and Gay Awareness Events in 1974

SGL Gay Awareness Week, April 29-May 3

The student group at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Students for Gay Liberation (SGL) planned a quite effective program of "gay awareness" activities for the week of April 29-May 3, 1974. The officers of SGL were Larry Whitsell, president
Sharon Kincaid, vice-president, and John Stock, secretary-treasurer.

The events of that week were well advertised in the college newspaper, The Alestle, and most of the events were well-attended. On Wednesday, May 1, The Alestle published an editorial in which it reported on the kickoff event held that Monday, a "gay liberation dialog" held in the Goshen Lounge.

"Gay Awareness Week" got off to a disturbing, if not disgusting start Monday with the gay liberation dialogue in the Goshen Lounge. The awareness program in the lounge was meant to educate the student body. Educate it did.

Members of the SIU campus community found that there is a very high level of hate for fellow human beings in this community. They could also easily see that this institution of higher learning was the home of a massive amount of ignorance.

The Alestle editorial observed that the demeanor of Whitsell and Stock was calm and rational, and that the demeanor of many of the assembled crowd's participants, themselves victims of oppression, was vulgar and intolerant. Towards the end of the article, the editor indicated that The Alestle would be unusually thorough in its coverage of the events of Gay Awareness week, and it was.

Students for Gay Liberation are trying to educate and bring forth the problems facing homosexuals in our society. They are not threatening anyone unless learning is thought of as a threat to society. Although the Alestle's policy is to keep editorials on the Opinion Pages only, it is felt this case is entirely too important for normal handling. It is extremely discouraging to see this type of complete violation of individual rights in our society.

In the same issue of The Alestle, Lynn Taylor, Alestle staff writer, reported on what had happened at the kickoff event. As a result of the complete coverage of this week of events by the sympathetic school newspaper, there is a clearer picture of this "gay liberation" event and its impact on a medium-sized college campus.

SGL had secured two highly visible leaders of the national lesbian and gay community in Franklin Kameny and Barbara Gittings, who participated in or led events on Wednesday and Thursday. Kameny was immersed in the politics of gay liberation during the 1960s and had run for U.S. Congress as an openly gay candidate in 1971. Gittings had formed the first gay caucus of the American Library Assocation. She worked closely with Kameny over the years, including their lobbying the American Psychiatric Association successfully to remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1972.

On Wednesday, both Gittings and Kameny spoke at a noon forum attended by about 300 people. Gary Suhl, Alestle staff writer reported on the gathering. Dr. Gittings traced the history of the modern gay liberation movement from the beginnings of the Matachine Society in 1951 through the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the then current explosion of gay rights organizations. Dr. Kameny spoke of his long civil rights struggle, including running for Congress, and argued that society belongs to homosexuals just as much as heterosexuals, and how obsolete laws need to be struck down. A 30 minute question and answer session followed. Both speakers were received by long applause, in contrast to the way Whitsell and Stock were treated on Monday.

After a 2 p.m. reception in the Opapi Lounge, Barbara Gittings lead a workshop called "Getting it straight with parents on being gay" for about 20 people. Ron Secoy, Alestle staff wrighter reported on the workshop. Dr. Kameny was also in attendance. Workshop participants shared stories of their difficulties coming out to their parents. Dr. Gittings provided information and resources.

The Alestle also published several student letters to the editor. Student Mark Somma's letter was a satirical depiction of Monday's debate as "show biz." Rick Whitsell (brother of the president of SGL) criticized the "herd" mentality of Monday's observers, while presenting a reasoned plea for understanding homosexuals as another deserving minority. Student Jan Orzeck complained that the Alestle's editorial was one-sided and depicted all questioners as ignorant and intolerant. She, for one, was just trying to understand, and some of her questions were misinterpreted. Finally, a student who requested anonmity enunciated a policy of "live and let live," and again criticized the large display of ridicule and unrepentant ignorance.

Gary Stuhl, Alestle staff writer interviewed Larry Whitsell, the president of Students for Gay Liberation, and others at the end of Gay Awareness week. Whitsell said that the week was a success in making the campus aware "that there are gays, and that gays' rights are taken away." He noted that the disturbance on Monday was an "over-reaction" like one would have seen "in Chicago or New York about five years ago." Nearly $1000 was appropriated for SGL's use. The director of the University Center, Bob Handy, was impressed by the dialog and gave an important opportunity to SGL.

In October, officers of Students for Gay Liberation followed up with an Alestle appeal to all gay campus students to support the efforts of their more "out" leaders in whatever small way. They were echoing the 1974 editorial of It's Time, a publication of the National Gay Task Force.

Jim Andris, August 4, 2011.