Since the Referendum Passed:

June 1976 to November 1976

by FRANK FITCH

BROWN BILL REPEALED

By a vote of 3,114 071 to 3,044,044, the voters of California repealed the actions of the Legislature and the governor in passing AB 489 (Brown-SF). The 50.57% yes vote reinstates as crimes in California sodomy (P.C. 286), oral copulation (P.C. 288a), and adultery.

The Advocate asked Assembly person Willie Brown Jr, and Senator George Moscone, who stumped the state trying to defeat the referendum, why they thought we lost. Both pointed to the divisions within the gay community, between north and south, rich and poor, Democrats and Republicans, Californians and gays in other states, and so on, which were not healed in time. Willie said, "How many times did I have to step in to settle fights between various factions and ask them to try to work together in the future? The Coalition of Concerned Christians could not have succeeded without help from the lack of commitment in your community," Moscone said. NO NEW CONSENSUAL SEX BILL

Governor Brown said he would not sign another bill similar to AB 489 if it were passed and sent to his desk. "The voice of the people is clear he said.

The vote in the state Sen ate was so close that it would be impossible to pass another bill in the face of an expected veto from the governor.

FEAR AT SIR CANDIDATE NIGHT

Only one candidate for mayor of San Francisco, Senator George Moscone appeared at a recent SIR candidate's might. For supervisor, only Harvey Milk and Lloyd Tay for both declared gay candidates, were present.

For the first time since 1964, SF. police officers were station ed in front of the 83 Sixth Street location to photograph all those who entered. Only twenty five of the 300 that were expected ran the gauntlet of exploding flashbulbs. Several officers shouted "fag lover" at Senator Moscone as he entered the location.

The success of the Coalition of Concerned Christians

in repealing the Consensual Sex Bill (AB 489) in California's June Primary election has been a disaster for gay women and men throughout the United States. The failure of gay people nationally to make the referendum battle in California a high priority-even more, the failure of Californla gays to put aside past differences, eschew the apparent joys of attacking one another for imagined or real slights and to join together in the greatest test our movement has ever faced was directly responsi ble for the tremendous losses we have suffered in just five months.

WASHINGTON, DC. ACTIVIST KILLED

Noted and longtime activist Frederick Kennick was murder ed and mutilated during a twohour long rampage through the office of the Matrachine Society of Washington, DC. by nearly 100 black youths. Police records indicate that Mr. Kennick called m at 9:04 pm to report vandals entering the office and request police assistance. Officers arrived at the scene at 11:30 pm. As of two days after the tragedy, police detectives report they are still investigating the possibility that Mr. Kennick died as a result of "mutual combat," a phrase used to describe a fight engaged in willingly by the participants. An FBL spokesperson announc ed yesterday that the FBI has no plans to investigate the possi bility that Mr. Kennick's civil rights were violated,

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