The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 1, 1986 Page: 4 of 24
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[LETTERS TO THE EIHTOtt ^1
/NOTE: Letters were received in record
numbers at The Gayly office this month—
so many, in fact, that for the first time
space will not permit the running of all
letters submitted. In keeping with our pol-
icy of providing readers a forum for the
expression of their ideas, we have ex-
panded our "Letters to the Editors" sec-
tion this month (beginning on this page
and continuing on page 17)
Guest editorials in our September and
previous issues by Keith Smith (OKC) and
Toni Broaddus (Tulsa) along with read-
ers' letters last issue agreeing and dis-
agreeing with their political viewpoints,
stimulated the greatest amount of re-
sponse we have ever received on a given
subject All of this month's letters were
supportive of the Smith/Broaddus view-
points. Representative letters were select-
ed in an effort to eliminate duplication.
Dear Sirs,
First of all, I would like to congratulate The
Gayly Oklahoman on its 3rd Anniversary
issue. I have only been reading The Gayly
for a short while, and then only to see what
festive things were happening next. For the
past five months now, I’ve been reading The
Gayly. especially for the Health news ...
I am writing because I feel Mr. Michael
Kelly should be commended on his contri-
butions to the community, especially the gay
community. This man’s sincerity and honest
concern for his peers, is evident in his writ-
ings. I am referring especially to the Sep-
tember issue of The Gayly, in which Mr. Kelly
shares with readers that God is present in
the midst of one’s storm. It is indeed enlight-
ening to know, and to be reminded, how real
God is to everyone, and anyone, especially
to this particular man. 1 too am gay... and am
a student in the medical profession. 1 work
with gays who have tested positive on the
HTLV-3 test and the Western Blot; with guys
who are “carriers of the virus," and with those
who are dying with AIDS. Mr. Kelly you are
doing a great work. Keep leaning on that ever-
lasting arm, for you have a hold on the essen-
ce of life, the belief in God and yourself. God
will bless and keep you. I am praying for you
and with you. You’ve got a friend in me.
Sincerely,
Dee/OKC
Dear Editors,
I sat in [an OKC club] on a Sunday even-
ing and watched while 3 OKC policepersons
(one was a woman) came in, turned on their
flashlights periodically checking people.
They were in the bar about ten minutes when
the two male officers zeroes in on a table of
three people ... They were escorted out of
the bar. I presume they were arrested for
public drunkenness. I later found out they
[the officers] remained outside checking IDs
... I was also informed that the night before
police had been at [other OKC clubs]. It
would appear the harassment is starting
again. We as a community will have to come
together to stop this... Are we going to allow
them to push us back into the closet? We
have to stand up and fight back. If we don’t,
we might as well plan on staying in the closet
and forget what Stonewall and people like
Harvey Milk did for us as a community.
Sincerely,
B.N./OKC
[While we would all agree that selective
law enforcement and harassment by pub-
lic servants should not be tolerated, our
sources indicate that there is an increased
presence of OKC police, not only at gay
clubs, but at straight clubs as well. As gay
citizens we do have certain rights in
common with the non-gay citizens of our
state, among those is the right to police
protection. With the increasing crime rate,
and incidence of violence, it is important
that we obey the law, support our law
enforcement officials, and report any
actual incidents of harassment which we
might witness or be the object of. I don't
think it fair—or in our best interest—
however, to equate the presence of police
with harassment. — Editors.]
Letter to the Editor:
As a gay community, we have had a long
and hard battle for our human rights and
dignity.
There are those in the state of Oklahoma
who can’t battle for themselves. They are
the elderly and the mentally or physically
handicapped. These people are too often
swept under the rug and forgotten.
Because many of these people are for
one reason or another financially dependent
on the welfare system, they are at the mercy
of the government.
Until recently welfare has paid forthe room
and board for these people in the nursing
homes. Social Security has given them
twenty five dollars a month, and welfare thirty
dollars a month plus 3 prescriptions.
But as of August 1,1986 the welfare has
cut off the $30.00 per month and substituted
two more presectiptions. This leaves only
$25.00 to pay for additional medications,
hearing aids, wheelchairs, and other health
related devices, as well as clothing, personal
needs, outside activities, cigarettes it they
smoke, and even a soda once in a while.
This cut not only applies to those in the
nursing homes, but those struggling at home
alone.
PI ease write your representative, let them
know that these actions are not only unfair,
but detremental to the security of all of us
who, tnrough no fault of our own, may one
day become dependent on others.
[Editors' note: Sometimes we get so
caught up in ourselves that we forget we
aren't the only ones persecuted by our own
government. We need to do what ever we
can to help those who can t help them-
selves, not only by writing, but maybe
some of our readers are able to donate
supplies, cigarettes, etc. If so you can call
MCC church for information.]
To The Editors,
Noted in the September 7, Sunday Okla-
homan on page 21 was an article entitled
"FBI Cashes In On Child-Pom Investigation
Techniques.” The article noted that Tulsa
police had developed "new techniques for
undercover investigations” and several fed-
eral indictments were mentioned.
While only the most far-out would even
attempt to defend the exploitation of children
for sexual purposes, others who use the mail
for exchanging adult photos or even written
descriptions of fantasies should be on their
guard.
Apparently the technique discovered in
Tulsa, and now being praised by Big Brother,
is to obtain names of potential target indi-
viduals, and send them a bogus "newsletter"
soliciting the "trade” or sharing of photos,
stories, or the names of partners. Just how
the lucky recipients of this offer are selected
is not revealed. Perhpas they are selected by
tag numbers in club parking lots, or secured
through mail-order video clubs. Wherever
the objects of such sting operations are
obtained, people using the mail should
exercise great care and keep in mind that
play time for adults and ’action" photos and
other erotica are no-no's if involving minors
or soliciting illegal acts.
U.L./OKC
Dear Gayly Oklahoman:
Let’s hear it for Keith Smith’s fine expres-
sions of fact and opinion! He makes me
proud of the Gayly and Oklahoma Demo-
crats. Republicans think that by mouthing
Reagan’s nonsense they will get richer. I
know I won’t.
Signed: A Norman Single Mother
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4 ■ The Gayly Oklahoman - October 86
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Shaffer, Ron & Hawkins, Don. The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 4, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 1, 1986, newspaper, October 1, 1986; Oklahoma City, Okla.. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc824399/m1/4/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.