Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'Gay L By AARON MEDLOCK Gamecock Staff Writer Mike, a USC student is organizing students interested in the Gay Liberation move ment. Last Monday, an organiza tional meeting of the group was held, but few people showed up. "Six people showed up, but I got a lot of calls" Mike said, "some being crank calls. The meeting was announced late Monday afternoon, causing a bad turnout for Monday night." For the Feb. 7 meeting, Mike expects a larger response. Dietzel'si From Page 1 Montgomery, who for merly taught in Florida, said that the state law there on open meetings which is much more strict than the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, pro vides for fines and jail terms for any official who holds closed meet All meat. No fillers or cer freshly ground beef. No I South Hall. Have a burger or All produots shown are straight from the na beratioi "From the phone calls I've. received, I expect about 15 people, which would be great," he said. "Surprisingly enough, a lot of people are just coming out of their closets in Columbia," Mike said. "I would expect that Columbia's homosexuality is higher than average and fairly active once you find out where it is.It's very underground." Mike wants the gay liberation organization to provide an alter native for the "closet" cases in Columbia. "When gays decide to come out, their first contact is mainly through the Russell House men's room, McKissick Library 3ontract is ings without the proper criteria. He said further that at FSU, where he taught, any one could go to the university library and read from a large vol ume, the salary of any employe of that institu tion. Huitt said that he 'ais afre in our bugrs i u e.Tr oe tRu elHo c.Uvsy in ia Studeni as alter or on Senate Street," Mike said "Most of them have guilt fee. lings about this and feel repres sive. They prefer anonymity. They're living a fundamental lie," he said. Mike accepted the fact that he was gay two years ago while in California. "I was on my first LSD trip. I just couldn't deny it any lon ger," he said. "I'm glad I've accepted it. My life was screwed up because I hadn't come to terms with this." "I've been contacted by a lot of high school kids," Mike said. "They want to be able to act and live on the basis of their own feelings." revealed didn't see the situation developing in that direc tion in the near future, but that theoretically if someone wanted to know the salary of a university employe he could request it from the sec retary of the executive committee of the trustees. *L I S ouncs of pure, ise, Capstone or Service. tries to organ native for 'clos He said one of his plans for - the gay lib organization would be to set up a panel that could go around and speak to high school students and help them accept their feelings. "We need a referral service with coun 'There's no place gays can really ge parties' and enterta selors whom students could contact with their problems," he said. Mike plans to apply for a charter as a student organiza tion within two weeks. "I understand all we need are twenty signatures, a constitu tion and a faculty sponsor," he said. "A straight history profes sor has agreed to sponsor us and the rest is easy. It's paradoxical that most of the people signing the petition will be straight," he added. As a student organization, gay lib would be eligible for student funds. ZIP KLEEN 13247 Main Street 1-hour cleaning 4-hour Laundry Servic Monda - Saturday BRIT'I Super For Ln Bliuses Values to 25.00 Values to 30.00 Clogs %OF KnitIbp Values to 31 MANY OTHER TIsMREMT ize club et' cases "We need funds mainly to put on social events in order for gays to meet other gays. There's no place in Columbia where gays can really get together for "drag parties" and entertainment," Mike said. "'I'd in Columbia where together for 'drag inment.' like to get involved with the people who own the bars so they could provide some entertain ment for us." Mike hopes to have weekly meetings. "At the meetings," he said, "we can have sensitivity ses sions and encounter groups to help us understand what we are." "It will be almost impossible to reach the married people of Columbia," Mike said. "I know of quite a few cases of gays mar rying straight people. It's really pathetic sometimes. They don't want to risk expos ing their situation," he said. BLOOD DONORS NEEDED! IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Age Limitations, 18-60 NEW HOURS 9:30 a.m. 'tl 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. CAROLINA BLOOD BANK 1317 Taylor 253-6232 'ON'S. Sale Sdies ' 5.00 ).0 'UCED 'IU 50%' OFF