MINNEAPOLIS-State Sen. Allan Spear

returned home from a Christmas vacation to Mexico Dec. 30 to find his mailbox stuffed, mostly with letters and cards from well-wishers who congratulated him on coming out.

In fact, Spear said he has yet to receive much criticism at all for having become, on Dec. 9, the nation's first elected public official to come out as gay.

The announcement was carried across the front page of the Minneapolis Star, Minnesota's largest afternoon paper, in a story below the headline, "State Sen. Allan Spear Declares Ha's Homosexual."

Seid Spear, "I'm really gratified by the kind of response it got, both from gay people and from the folks I know in politics. I feel very good about it."

Spear counted 76 letters and telegrams received up to that point, only five or six of them at all negative, usually enclosing Bible tracts. "And the letters with the tracts were usually kind ones, telling me how sorry they were that I'm condemned to hell unless I become straight. They were sorrowful, good people, not hateful at all," he said.

Spear, 37, is a portly associate professor of Afro-American history at the University of Minnesota, a

veteran of anti-war marches and radical causes who was elected to his first four-year term in the Minnesota House in 1972. His district is dominated by the huge, 43,000-student campus, but includes conservative blue-collar neighborhoods on either side of it. Politically it is overwhelmingly Democratic-Farmer-Laborite, and it was Sen. George McGovern's coattails that carried DF Ler Spear through in 1972 against a popular Republican liberal.

Thus Spear was especially gratified to receive a congratulatory telephone call Dec. 13 from Gov. Wendell R. Anderson.

"The governor said he wanted me to know he admired my courage in doing what I did, and that it would make no difference in our political relationship — that I've done a good job as a senator and that he'll support me for re-election," said Spear.

It was quite a statement for the governor, a handsome, well-muscled alumnus of the U.S. Olympic hockey team who has been close-mouthed on gay issues since his election in 1970. In 1973 an aide to the governor made the mistake of trying to lobby Spear, of > all people, to vote against a gay rights bill in the Sanate. Anderson himself repeatedly refused gay activists' requests for interviews until last June, when he told reporters, and gay representatives, that he had decided to support at least a weak gay job-rights bill in the 1975 legislative session.

During gay-rights debate in 1973, Spear felt he had to remain silent on the Senate floor. "I don't want to go through that again," Spear told the Star. "I felt lousy." This year he'll definitely speak up for the bill as a gay senator.

Spear's announcement in the Star was carried arend the nation by the AP and UPI wire services, earnin,

space in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Houston papers – as well as in Der Spiegel, the German newsweekly.

It was not exactly a shock in Minneapolis political circles, however, for Spear had been inching out of the closet for several years. He made a point of informing many campaign workers and key supporters in 1972 before he ran, and he was often seen, during and after the campaign, at Sutton Place, a large gay bar in downtown Minneapolis.

A year ago he took a leading role in the founding of the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights, which seeks to become a large, popularly based organization with both gay and straight membership mounting a many-fronts campaign of education and political action. Since June he has served as co-chairperson.

Spear was not exactly deep in the closet, then, and "everyone around the Capital and the actively political people knew it anyway," he conceded.

Spear was concerned about coming out publicy, however, for fear that he would become known only as a gay senator, that fact overshadowing his views and votes

on taxes, housing, etc., "that my stands will be filtered through others' perceptions of me as a gay person," he said.

His decision to come out in December was triggered in part, he said, by the election Nov. 5 of Elaine Noble to the legislature in Massachusetts. "When she won, it made me feel a little less lonely," Spear said.

Spear's Christmas trip to Mexico was to see his parents, who have retired from the small-town.Indiana home where they raised Speer.

"They were a little surprised, and stunned too, when ! showed them the article in the Staruntil I showed them the first batch of letters I had received, and all the good things that were said," Spear related.

Only a year ago he told his parents that he's gay. "I never thought i couidi teti them,” he said, and found them just as shocked as he had feared.

But they were supportive, too. "Mame said a lovely thing. She said it used to be that such a thing would have been horrible. More recently, she said she would have felt sorry for someone who was sick, but, 'Allan,' she said, 'I don't think you're sick.'"

Gay Horoscopes

AQUARIUS January 20-February 18

So you think you're the stud of the Zodiac now, but all you get is cold turkey. Reach out to the unusual and :fip into the hard core of sex. Sex is in your favor but not if you don't try to do something new with yourself Is well as your bed-fellow. Now is as good a time as any o try some of these "tricks" on someone whom you night have impressed before.

MMSCES February 19 March 20

With your coals burning brighter in the fire, relax and wait for someone special to really get it on with. You joo should try something new. Get on your feet and set *pace you can keep up with, yet not too much at first. Seek pleasure for yourself, not pressure as you've had in the past. New scenes could spark a more meaningful relationship for you.

AIRES March 21 April 19

Stop looking for your reflection in new aquaintances. Many will be pleased at what you have more than how you can use it. Shed some of your tensions and put more "umph" behind what you've got. Soon as you do, you might find yourself being called for instead of just looking and waiting. Nevertheless, you're always irresistible but others may be cautious with themselves around you when your charm is shining too bright. TAURUS April 20-May 20

Lay low and collect your thoughts. It's time you've started to do things for yourself rather than having them done for you, but keep them close at hand. Once is enough for the night for your mate; not so for you. In your eagerness to satisfy, you continue to wear yourself out. Slow down and stop the rushing thrust; you're in no hurry now.

GEMINI May 21 June 21

You still have that sex craving appetite that can't be curbed, but put your tricks in your pocket and try a new

SCORPIO October 23-November 22

It's a New Year as well as a New Scorpio; you come on strong and many can't say no to you. Like the Libra, you've finally gotten it all together and find yourself more sought after than ever now. Maybe you and Libra should get together and put on a package show of your goodies. You're hot and many are hot for you, do son't be stingy.

SAGITTARIUS November 23-December 21

Like the state of the Union, you too are in a recession. Don't let it bother you though your sex appeal is still quite handsome. Even though your skills in bed may short-change your partner now, wait until you've got a "little something" behind you. This should rejuvenate your kindling somewhat and won't leave you short-changed at all. As soon as the sparks fly, cut loose and give 'em hell!

CAPRICORN December 22-January 19

You're still the stud on the go, but it won't be long now when you find its time to cool your lillies. Being as hot as you always are, temptation is irresistable as always. Try to single out one of the many you have on the line, but don't be obvious about it. Let him coms to you and don't try to start anything you can't handle.

approach. When you've finally figured out where your head is at, reach back in your pocket and start all over again. Maybe this time you will find complete and satisfying love for one instead of ten or so.

MOON CHILD June 22 July 22

Things are getting out of hand and someone is trying to change you. Stick to your grounds and watch out for irresistible temptations. They could get you in trouble. In the meanwhile keep your cool and permit yourself to regular sex, but if the opportunity is right go ahead with your plans for a new experience with someone different. It may ease some of your emotional moods. LEO July 23-August 22

Still the fox you always were, you're headed in a down slope that seems like it won't end. Relief is at hand due to your sexual appeal. Make no sudden moves just yet; eagerness to end your down hill mood could pull you under. Look to your friends for help, not your tricks. VIRGO August 23-September 22

Stop relying on your fantasies for sexual relief. Make the most of what you have both fore and after. Still have your fantasies, but use them in situations when you're lonesome instead of when you're in bed with someone you're just stuck with. As soon as you learn how to handle yourself, you'll find no problem in letting someone else handle you. Now that you know "fact" from "Fantasy," it's easier for you to take whatever is avaliable.

LIBRA September 23October 22

Bravo! Your personality, sexual appeal and erectile capability have finally won you the favor of "super stud." Now's your chance to show off what you possess and how you can handle yourself in any situation. You'll find yourself enjoying two just as much as one; however, you might just as weli make it an orgy. You can do it with your personality alona.Many sensuous; males may not understand why you reject them, but you'll get to them in time. You have no worries as far as sex is concerned.

AMA Rejects Sodomy Repeal

PORTLAND, Oreg. The American Medical Association rejected a recommendation by its leaders that it come out for repeal of sodomy and other laws controlling consenting adults.

But the reason delegates made clear, is that they are concerned about appearing to condone prostitution, not about letting gay adults do their thing in private.

The question brought before the AMA's entwal clinical session Dec. 3 was whether to approve the American Law Institute's model penal code, which does not outlaw private consentual sex between adults.

The measure had been endorsed by the AMA's board of trustees, but the delegates referred it back to the board by a vote of 112 to 90.

A year ago the AMA's Council on Mental Health released a recommendation declaring that being gay "denotes no inherent impairment in physical or mental capacity for social or vocational adaptation." The delegates have not approved that position yet, either.