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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1978)
friday, September 22, 1978 daily nebraskan page 5 Despite opposition, Gay Action rap line becomes reality No thanks to the Young Americans for Freedom and the NU Board of Regents, the Lincoln gay community has its rap line. I remember a bittle about two years ago, when the University Gay Action Group fought the Fees Allocation Board to tenaciously hold on to the meager funding they were receiving in support of the Gay Rap line. (They were receiving $500, which paid for half of the yearly operation. Only fair, the Lincoln Gay Action Group also used the services and they kicked in $500.) kate gaul That meeting was an insult to the gay individuals bravely present; a Bible waving zealot (devising his own biblical interpretations) demanded they defend their lifestyle, when all they wanted was a little cash to support their demonstrably needed service. I also remember glimpsing a YAF newsletter (evident ly a very secretive document-I was told in hushed terms to hastily return it to the source who had procured it for me). Anyway asides aside, this newsletter front-paged giving the YAF kudos for defeating university funding of the gay organization. Good over EvO? I don't remember if the man present was a YAFer and I don't recall from that bleak time period any overt Ali Continued from Page 4 started coming in with their ten and twenty dollar bills to see the braggin' nigger." During a book promotion in Washington, he said, I have to keep coming up with new things to stay in the news ... So I mesmerize you with all this foolish ness, my poetry and predictions and TV shows and 16 room mansions. Then youll be listening when I say what I mean." Ali did force the country to listen when he spoke for his convictions. He beat the U.S. Army, won a unanimous decision in the Supreme Court and walked away unmarked from the boxing underworld when he took up with the Black Muslims. Social work He gave large sums to the poor and talks of working for social justice as one of his future outlets. To those who see boxing as a base form of sanctioned violence, these triumphs will be remembered more than the batterings inflicted on one pug or another over the years. When he began fighting in 1960, Ali couldn't have forseen the entourage of fawning intellectuals who would build him into a mythical figure. From his comments in New Orleans last week, it appears as if Ali continues to enjoy the sport of debunk ing the myths, or at least taking on the myth-makers. He said his most enjoyable clobberings have been given not to boxers but to "the educated fools of the media." As Ali dances around the ring, a full circle is made: By openly discussing his put-ons, this disciple of Gorgeous George teases the intellectuals into marveling more and more at the wit of a champ. Ali will retire as a fighter, but the verbal jabs will persist as long as the empty pad needs to be filled. (Copyright), 1978, The Washington Post Company. activity against gays by the YAF. But evidently their forces of Good had triumphed over the gay force of Evil. So, with this background in mind, I am giving the Lincoln Gay Community - student and non-student -kudos for their own victory and their own resources. On August 1, the Gay Crisis and Referral Line began operation. The back-scenes work began when a few individuals who recognized this need left in limbo began organizing ways to raise money and gather volunteers (no, Ms. Bryant, they did not recruit anybody, the people were already here). There was a beer bust and then a benefit show in May by The Mime to Madness Revue (they call themselves a little more than a drag show) which netted around $600. The Lincoln gay community celebrated Gay Pride Week 78 with a beer bust and disco which also brought in more money for the crisis line. Now, I hear, another Mime to Madness benefit show is planned for October. Stigma survives The resources of this community are staggering when it is realized that they are faced with centuries of perse cution and the social stigma that even exist today in our "liberated" generation. And it does my own weary sense of propriety good to see some people work hard for what they believe in. It's good to see some people work for the betterment of others and to abandon their own selfishness and beliefs that others can be bettered. It's good to believe. In their first initial month of operation, the Crisis line logged somewhere between 60 to 80 calls. They were 45 Cans i 1 i i i i i i i i i s-S pram Brass Rail 1 436 'O' St. Open positions for the following ASUN committees: 3 positions for Union Board 3 graduate senators 1 engineering senator 1 opening Teacher's senator 6 committee for Fee's Allocation Board 2 Greek Members 2 Resident Hall Members 2 Off Campus Members Deadline Wednesday Sept. 27 ' . . .'V It 5 v What style, what shape diamond, what color of gold? Our diamond experts will gladly help in this most important decision. They'll answer your questions, point out advantages of each ring, advise what values are best. Why not see our new selection soon? -ty fumawn tt ilt .ii.tt i ca tta oc f Downtown Gateway Conaatoga 1129 "O" St. Encloaad Malt Enclosed Mall Lincoln Lincoln Grand Island 0 w mostly referral calls -where can I go if I'm gay and I want to dance?, where can I find a doctor that under stands my gay medical needs?, hey, my 21-year-old sister is gay, where can I find literature about gays? but they were calls that needed answers to questions that were previously denied or buried in obscurity. Missed ear But, the Crisis line is there for more serious problems too. They can provide an empathetic ear if you want to talk and positive information if your problem needs serious counseling. That ear was deaf for over a year. Don't think it wasn't missed! During the course of the summer a gay man in his forties quietly laid down on his bed with a sufficient dose of barbiturates to assure that he never woke up. No one really knows why he gave up on life, but it was rooted in loneliness. And being gay and lonely in a small, somewhat oppressive city can be a killing combination. Too late for one, but ready for a hundred others is a staff of trained volunteers only a dial tone away. Human need, to me, supercedes personal opinion and prejudiced stereotypes. Personal religious convictions don't mean a damn if they create hate instead of love. And, regardless of your own feelings about gay people, here is a community that is reaching out to others. They can't be shot down for that. Oh, hey, that number is 475-5710. tlEEDA r fOAJEf ; MAKE IT WITH D TEQUILA GOLD OX SILVER IMPORTED I BOTTLED BV TEQUILA JALISCO S A ST LOUIS M0 80 PROOF t UNFEMININE HAIR REMOVED PERMANENTLY from Face or Body, II . .... jililtlti&l '"', """' ''' '4,, 11 1 fill fill 'S.-Vs.v. v. dv me Tamous KREE method of hair removal Come for a FREE and confidential consultation to Beauty Salon on Second Floor Or phone 467-4421 UCTQC0"Q THE ATRIUM, (13th & N) IF
