HIGH GEAR/DECEMBER 1977

COMMISSION OK'S ANITA

In a surprise move last month the Florida Citrus Commission voted unanimously to exercise

an option to pick up the third year of Anita Bryant's contract as advertising spokesperson for Florida orange producers. Recently there has been speculation that she would be dropped as principal huckster for orange juice because of her controversial campaign against homosexuals. The contract will now expire August 31, 1979.

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Earlier this year the Commission retained the services of professional pollsters in an effort to determine the impact of Ms. Bryant's vendetta against gays on the sales of cirtus products. Published reports indicated that slightly over 11% of the consumers were negatively

effected by her crusade.

Ms Bryant has consistently asserted that the sale of orange juice is up substantially this year over a comparable period last year and that this was sufficient reason for retention of her services by the Commission. Robert Greene, Bryant's husband, told the audience on a Phil Donahue show recently screened in the midwest, that if his wife lost her contract with the Florida Citrus Commission, she would be out of show business for all practical purposes.

Ms. Bryant has suffered the cancellation of numerous opportunities because of her campaign. She reports that her annual income has been cut in half

AGAINST RAPE

Reprinted Courtesy Columbus Free Press

Naughty whispers in the dormitory halls. Cat-calls. And finally, on Oct. 6, three men threatened her.

"We don't want a dyke in our commons," they said, "you better move out. If you don't we will show you what men are like."

She was terrified, but confused about what to do. She had already changed dormitories once in the month since school began. Would running away from the rumors make her any safer?

She arranged a simple security system with her roommates. If she didn't show up within a reasonable time after she was expected at home, at her classes, at meetings-they were to go out looking for her.

feminist services for women.

"The atmosphere in the OSU dorms is viciously anti-gay," she continued.

"We have heard reports of other women being harassed by students because they are suspected of being lesbians. But this incident must be met and dealt with. Rape is a tool men use to control women's lives."

"We do not perceive a demonstration as an end in itself," said Sunny Graff, a Women Against Rape member and Capital University law student. "A demonstration is a lever--it's a way to get the students and the University authorities to see how serious the problem is."

Women Against Rape called the demonstration for October 24 in the OSU North dormitory complex where the woman lived who had been raped. Because anti-homosexual sentiment is very outspoken there and because the issue has to do with women's rights, the women organizing the demonstration realized that their security system had to be strong. They recruited and briefed marshals

For six days, there were no incidents. Then, on the night of October 12, the same three men caught her on the Ohio State University Oval. All three beat her. All three raped her. And "while they did, they said, "This is the way it should be. And you had better watch yourself." She arrived back at her dor-in mitory room 45 minutes late--her roommates were just getting ready to go out looking for her-too late to do any good.

"It's important that we make a statement now" Ami Bar On of Women Against Rape told an Oct. 19 meeting of the Women's Action Collective, a non-profit corporation formed to produce

Stop Raps

an hour-long meeting Oct. 23. "This is a dangerous location for a demonstration," said Ami Bar On at that meeting. "It would be too easy for women to be isolated and attacked in an area with so many barriers." She pointed to the lines of shrubs, the high brick walls. "So, it is absolutely necessary to be alert. And if you hear anything

END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!

OHT

as a result. According to Mr. Greene only two talk shows, the Phil Donahue Show and another unnamed one permit her to appear as a guest. Show business personalities have threatened to boycott all other shows if she were permitted to appear as a guest.

The two-paragraph statement released by the Florida Citrus Commission read in part:"The Commission had been scheduled to consider Miss Bryant's contract during a February meeting but the matter was pushed up to November because of recent speculation that she might be on her way out as an advertising personality for Florida orange products."

Edward Taylor, executive director of the Florida Depart-

suspicious, tell us. We must be prepared to isolate any dangerous situations so that no one will ge hurt."

Five hundred people attended the "Demonstration of Outrage" October 24. It was held from 5 to 6 PM so that students going to eat at that time could be exposed to it.

Two thousand leaflets explaining what had happened to the women and outlining strategies for eliminating such acts of violence against women were passed out. Both the University and the students were called upon to share responsibility for what had happened.

Students were asked to report persons who harass or gossip about others to OSU or Women Against Rape and to actively support women's right to be free of traditional roles, if they choose.

The University was called upon to make a public statement I about its concern for the safety of all its students. Women Against Rape also volunteered its expertise in dealing with rape to the University and explained programs to help eliminate rape. The University has made no response.

But the campus police department did issue a statement. They said they could do nothing unless the crime was reported.

"The criminal justice system is messed up," WAR spokesperson Sunny. Graff told FREEPRESS. "When a man is

the

ment of Citrus told growers' meeting in early November that "a change will have to be made in the forseeable future. When consumers see her, they don't think about orange juice. The think about the gay rights ¡issue."

Ms. Bryant's commercials have been virtually eliminated on Candian television, ostensibly for reasons of "Canadian Nationalism," It is well known that the Commission has been taping orange juice commercials featuring Arthur Fiedler and Peggy Fleming, and it was expected that these spots would be used as Bryant was phased out.

The Commission's action is surprising considering two

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recent factors which could influence orange juice sales. Orange juice commodity futures have dramatically skyrocketed this year portending significantly higher retail price tags -when the products are brought to market. Historically, volume demand decreases as prices increase. Then too, the DadeCounty Coalition for Human Rights has announced plans to Implement a national boycott of Florida citrus products. The boycott to date has been unorganized and uneven. Significantly higher orange juice prices coupled with dedicated gay support for the boycott could have a significant and measurable impact on the fortunes of Florida orange growers.

WOMEN'S CONFERENCE SUPPORTS LESBIAN RIGHTS, ABORTION

The National Women's Conference recently held in Houston overwhelmingly supported resolutions calling for reproductive freedom which includes abortions, a constitutional amendment giving women equal rights and equal rights for lesbians. These three controversical planks had been passionately opposed by 300 of the 2000 delegates who describe themselves as pro-life and pro-family supporters.

The Conference was generally amicable. Delegates had little difficulty in agreeing on 23 of the 26 resolutions identified as areas requiring national improvement.

The Conference, empowered by Congress to determine the barriers to equality for women and to make recommendations for remedies, was provided with 5 million dollars in Federal funds for that purpose.

The only resolution not adopted was a proposed Cabinet Level Women's Department. Betty Freidan, a nationally recognized feminist leader did depart from feminists' concerns when she said that "gay rights for women is not enough." Gay men must have their's too.

The conference provided grist for the Bryant mill. Calling the Conference a "farce", she said

sent to prison for rape, he is not NOT MARRIED

rehabilitated-more often than

not he rapes other men in prison, and when he is released, he will rape women again."

The woman who was raped October 12 wishes to avoid harassment, retaliation, and publicity. She does not know who the men are who raped her-she assumes that they are OSU students, but is not certain. Even if she were to change her mind about reporting the incident to the police, a rape charge cannot be substantiated in court unless the woman undergoes a gynocological exam within hours after the incident.

!

Although legally married by state of Florida standards, William Merica was forced to testify against his spouse Barry Doney in a court appearence following a domestic squabble at their apartment in Dayton. When police were called to placate the two men, Doney was later charged with felonious assault after cutting one of the officers with a knife, besides being charged and convicted with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. The assault charge will be handled at a later date by the Montgomery County Grand Jury.

"pro-lesbian, pro-abortion and pro many other things aren't representative of the thinking of most American women. I believe in equal rights for women, but not in the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and certainly not in the Women's Conference, which is a waste of 5 million dollars of the American taxpayers' money.

The 5 million provided by the government was challenged by STOP ERA, the John Birch Society and the Mormon Church all of whom opposed the Conference recommendations on the grounds that they erode the traditional family structure. The Women's Conference was the first held since 1848 and the first ever funded by the Federal Goverment.

The resolutions will now be presented to the President and the

Congress. Margaret Costanza, assistant to the President for the office of Public Liaison was quoted as saying "I know that the response from Jimmy Carter will be substantive." She continued, "and to use his phrase, 'you can depend on that."

The National Gay Task Force reported that most states had a lesbian contingency in their elected delegations. In addition, most of them had some form of lesbian gay resolutions.

Doney consequently appealed the decision by Municipal Judge W. Erwin Kilpatrick and was denied a new trial even though Merica could be considered his lawful spouse. Ohio law states that one spouse cannot be impelled to testify against the other. On making the extraordinary ruling, Judge Kilpatrick said: "Even if there was as asserted a ceremonial marriage after obtaining a license to marry, two persons of the same sex do not have the capability to enter into a marriage contract and the purported marriage is a nullity."