Fifth Freedom, 1978-10-01

              5th Freedom Publication of the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier FREE OCTOBER 1978 N.Y.S. GAY GROUPS MEET IN BUFFALO The October conference of The New York State coalition of Gay Organiz-ations, a collection of fifty gay groups state wide, is being held in Buffalo the weekend of October 20,21 and 22. During this? meeting, the single most important for this organization this year, a new board of directors will be elected, strategy for the 3.979 state legislative sessions will be developed, and new gay organizations applying for NYSCGO will be admitted. The conference is being hosted by four local organizations - Mattachine, Gay Liberation Front/SUNY Buffalo, Dignity/Buffalo and Student Alliance for Gay Equality/SUC Buffalo. SAGE has arranged for the rooms for the conference on the state college campus. There is much work yet to be done, and organizers need help in several ways: we need places to house delegates we need individuals willing to meet delegates at the airposrt and bus termoinals and bring them to the college campus, we need help setting up and cleaning, up. If you wish to help out, please call the conference coordinator, Don Licht, at 886-8198. All meetings and most workshops are open and you are invited to participate. Several of the workshops are of immediate interest, ,I'hey include: -how to manage non-profit organizations -lobbying - how to do it effectively -CETA funds - how to obtain them . -how to respond to antigay campaigns -how to work with the straight media A major dinner is slated for Saturday, October 21 at spm -jith a well known speaker yet to be announced. That; as well, a foil; music coffeehouse will be held for a small donation and Madelaine Davis will perform. The Rochester Rally for Rights, held September 23, hosted hundreds of gay people to counterbalance Anita Bryant's visit there. Among those present were Leonard Matlovich and Kate Millet. CONFESSIONS OF A GAY LOBBYIST We have heard in recent months of the political defeats which gay people have suffered in Oregon, Minnesota, Florida and elsewhere. News like this can be most discouraging. In the face of such discouragement still working indefatigably for Gay Rights and legislation requires a particular dedication—such stamina can be found in John Nehrich--New York State Coalition of Gay Organization's full-time lobbyist ("Legislative Consultant") in Albany. With his degree in chemistry from Rensellaer Polytechnic, he worked at General Electric in Schenectady. After leaving their employ in 1976, John became increasingly involved with canvassing NY State Assembly people and Senators, as a volunteer. First assigned to lobby freshmen in the Assembly, John was appointed as full-time lobbyist in October 1977, a paid position. Gay legislation has been presented to the Assembly for the past eight years in one form or another. In recent years, five separate bills have been considered: consensual sodomy repeal, gay civil rights guarantees, gay men and lesbian child custody; guarantee of nondiscrimination within the state civil service; and a reform of the state liquor codes--which presently (in theory) deny lisences to establishments who serve gay people. This legislative year, which is now at an end, none of the bills appeared on committee agendas--on purpose. Although a majority of the Democratic Assembly are privately in favor of gay legislation, publicly, they are unwilling to vote for legislation doomed to defeat in the Republican controlled Senate. F On the inside.... Professional Group Expands page 4 A Men's Movement in Buffalo page 4