The JOURNAL OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES VOLUME LI DECEMBER 1989 NUMBER 2 THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LESBIAN/GAY ALLIANCE 1969-1989 THE FIRST TWENTY YEARSt BY DAVID NICHOLS AND MORRIS J. KAFKA-HOZSCHLAG Mr. Nichols graduated from Rutgers College in 1975 and currently runs his own business. Mr. Kafka-Holzschlag graduated from Rutgers College in 1987 and is an historian in New Brunswick, N.J. Introduction On June 27, 1969, the New York City Police raided the Stonewall Inn, an after-hours bar on Christopher Street in the Village. The Stone- wall was a popular spot with the drag queens and the younger crowd. On an ordinary night the patrons of such an establishment would have reacted in a frightened, docile manner. This, however, was no ordinary night. The drag queens and other patrons were fed up with being harrassed and spontaneously fought back, shocking the police. Officers were pelted with bottles and stones while they waited, barricaded inside the bar, for rein- forcements as a crowd gathered outside. Police began to drag employees and patrons of the Stonewall into a paddy wagon. Shouts of "Gay Power," cheers and choruses of "We Shall Overcome" rose from the crowd. A drag queen defended herself with her purse as she was shoved into the wagon and was clubbed by a police officer; the crowd became angrier. t Rutgers Department of Special Collections and Archives is the depository for the Rutgers University Lesbian/Gay Archives, upon whose holdings much of this article is based. 56 THE JOURNAL OF THE The paddy wagon drove off but the restless crowd wouldn't disperse. A few police officers were still inside of the bar. Some young gay men pulled up a parking meter and used it as a battering ram; the windows of the Stonewall were shattered and the doors began to give. The police turned a fire hose on the crowd. The crowd dumped wastecans into the bar and squirted lighter fluid on the resulting pile of trash, igniting a fire in the Stonewall. The paddy wagon then returned with two fire engines. The officers began clubbing people again and the crowd finally retreated.* For the next four nights that summer confrontations with gay people by homophobic mobs and the police continued in the neighborhood of the Stonewall. These events received national attention. Gay people were sud- denly proud and ready to fight for their rights. Out of this historic con- frontation the modern Gay Rights Movement was born. That same Au- tumn this new-found "Gay Pride" made its way onto the Rutgers College Campus with the founding of the Student Homophile League, the oldest college group formed as a result of the Stonewall riots.* The Beginnings "Looking back, what strikes me as the the key to the Homophile League was that it was a personal growth organization that looked like a political one. By that I mean that it was a safe place to invent ourselves, to find identities and styles as Gay people in a way that would not have been possible otherwise, at least not for me and many others."1 These are the words of one of the early members of the student Homophile League (SHL or simply "the League"), which was formed in the fall of 1969 by Lionel Cuffie. Cuffie, a sophomore from Keyport, New Jersey, began the group with the aid of his roommates and the members of the Student Homophile League of Columbia University which was recognized by the Columbia administration in April, 1967. The Rutgers SHL was the first post-Stonewall student gay group in America, with its first meeting held on December 2, 1969 on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus. Methodist minister John Wright, who had been counseling Lionel in regard to the draft, agreed to sponsor the group when asked to by Cuffie,2 and super- vised the first meeting. Wright recalls a need for a college group as an * Sources for Introduction: Laud Humphreys, Out of The Closets (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1972), p. 6. Jonathan Ned Katz, "The Stonewall Rebellion," The Advocate, 527 (June 20, 1989), 39. 1 Letter from Kevin Verricker to David Nichols, April of 1988. 2 Interview conducted by David Nichols with Reverend John Wright, March 30, 1988, New Brunswick, New Jersey. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 57 Lionel Cuffie 1949-1985 Founder of the Student Homophile League alternative to Manny's Den, a local gay bar in New Brunswick, catering to an older, more conservative town crowd. A support system was also needed on the campus for those wanting to come out and those who were out. The gay campus community also required a focal point and a public voice, such as a newsletter.3 Cuffie was elected Chairman of the League by acclamation and stated in the student paper that "as Chairman of the organization he hoped that the League would ultimately aid in the breakdown of social and political persecution and discrimination directed against minority groups."4 The 3 Idem. 4 Student hfomophile League Newsletter, Volume 1, Number 1, April, 1970. Page 2. 58 THE JOURNAL OF THE Patrick Mattiola, one of the founders of the Student Homophile League others elected to office in the SHL were: Stanley Magnum, Vice-Chair- man; Ray Smith, Secretary; and Patrick Mattiola, Treasurer. About fifty men and one woman attended the first meeting. Richard Levao, President of the Rutgers College Student Government Association, was in atten- dance to assist the group in drawing up its first constitution.5 Howard Crosby, Dean of Students, Rutgers College between 1965 and 1983, re- called that the League was just another of the many activist groups which formed in the late sixties. The administration was aware of the Columbia Student Homophile League and expected a gay group eventually to form on the Rutgers' campus.6 Cuffie's original idea that "the Student Homophile League is not a so- 5 The Rutgers Daily Targum, November 1969, p. 3. 6 Interview conducted by David Nichols with Dean Howard Crosby on July 28, 1989, New Brunswick, New Jersey. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 59 cial organization, but rather a civil libertarian and educational one,"7 was modified soon after the group's inception when it began to provide social functions for the lesbians and gay men on campus. By early 1970 the League had its office in the Rutgers5 Student Center on College Avenue. Meetings were held weekly on the College Avenue campus with discus- sion groups and socials held on the Busch and Douglass campuses. (There was no Cook College at this time and Livingston College had just opened in the fall of 1969.) Twenty to thirty people, including only two or three women, attended those meetings on the average. The ten-page SHL newsletter appeared in April, 1970, containing a manifesto on sexual liberation, news of the group, poetry, various articles on homosexuality, and a calendar of events. The results of a random sur- vey of 250 students, conducted by the SHL on March 4, 1970, also were released. The survey showed an overwhelming awareness and approval of the SHL and of homosexual relationships. On May 2, 1970 the first SHL dance, attended by about 150 people, was held on the New Brunswick campus. Among the crowd were het- erosexual friends of the members and some people who just came to see what the dance would be like. In an effort to fulfill the educational goals of the SHL, members par- ticipated in speaking engagements at several fraternities and dormitories. Charles Orr, a graduate student in social work, represented the League on the public television program "New Jersey Speaks" which dealt with the homophile movement in New Jersey on March 27, 1970.8 The SHL sponsored an exhibition of erotic art in the main lounge of the Rutgers' Student Center, May 6 through May 15, 1970. The exhi- bition, on loan from the Gallery of Erotic Art in New York, featured paintings, sculpture, engravings, tapestry, and a live human sculpture entitled "The Silent Soldier"9 which consisted of SHL member Patrick Mattiola hanging nude upon a cross, his back to viewers, for several in- tervals of one hour each. After the first day of the exhibit some visitors were so outraged that they attempted to pull the man off the cross, causing both gay and straight supporters of the exhibit to link arms to keep the angry spectators away. Dean Howard Crosby's most vivid memory of the SHL was of this art exhibit. He negotiated with the group to move the "The Silent Soldier" to the music room, where people would only view it if they wished. In 7 The Rutgers Daily Targumy November 25, 1969, p. 1. 8 See footnote 4. 9 The Rutgers Daily Targum, May 5, 1970, p. 5. 60 THE JOURNAL OF THE return for moving the piece, he explained, the SHL would keep the sup- port of the administration for its funding and continued existence. Dean Crosby received no phone calls of complaint regarding the art exhibit; however the Dean was aware that Dr. Mason Gross, President of the University, had received many calls from legislators about the exhibit and Dr. Gross stood his ground, supporting the group's right to hold the exhibit. Dean Crosby is certain that the SHL would have encountered far more problems in connection with the art exhibit, if it had not been for Dr. Gross's firm commitment to human rights and artistic freedom.10 To end the SHL's first academic year in existence, many members of the group marched in the first Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade in New York City, a celebration of the anniversary of the Stonewall riot. Academic Year içyo-içy i During its first full year, the League's priority was educational as well as both political and social. The Group felt a strong need to educate the public about lesbians and gay men and to topple the common stereotypes. The League was attempting to educate homosexuals who had not come out as well as the general Rutgers community. The speakers bureau of the SHL developed formally at this time. The speakers bureau, via mailings, attempted to reach groups on and off campus.11 This effort resulted in speaking engagements before parochial and public high schools, church groups, university classes, and even Trenton State's police training courses. To further educate the public, the SHL published several articles in Targum. Additionally a radical action caucus called R.U. Fags was formed to confront the status quo politically. Feminist consciousness was developing at this time simultaneously with gay consciousness. Many women felt more oppressed as women than as lesbians, and therefore devoted most of their energy to the women's move- ment.12 Barbara Lee was elected Chairwoman of the League in Decem- ber, 197013 and devoted her energy to the gay movement.14 Lionel Cuffie, founder of the SHL and in a similar position as regards the black libera- tion movement, held the office of Secretary. The first anniversary of the League was celebrated with a dinner and a 10 See footnote 6. 11 The Rutgers Daily Targum, September 30, 1970, p. 2. 12 Gay Archives SHL letter of December 16, 1970 signed by Barbara Lee and Lionel Cuffie. Alexander Library. 13 Idem. 14 Telephone interview conducted by David Nichols with Barbara Lee, August 9, 1989. Somerville, New Jersey. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 61 I * » S Barbara Lee, one of the original members of the Rutgers Student Homophile League dance, which featured "The Looking Glass Band."15 Several other dances were held that year as a social outlet for the Rutgers gay community. Rutgers SHL held its first annual Conference on Gay Liberation April 30 through May 2, 1970, with Cuffie serving as Conference Chairman. At the time of the conference the League had elected Jerry Sprung, Chair- man; Charles Orr, Vice-Chairman; Robert Andrews, Treasurer; and Robert McCarroll, Secretary. Even though the League was only one and a half years old, the conference featured the best known lesbian and gay men activists in the country. Conference presenters included Barbara Git- tings of the Homophile Action League, Franklin Kameny of the Wash- ington Mattachine Society, Barbara Love of the Daughters of Bilitis, and Isabel Miller, author of A Place For Us. Workshops covered political, 15 Rutgers Student Fund Check Voucher A 3911, December 4, 1970. 62 THE JOURNAL OF THE social, religious, and lesbian separatist issues. A barbecue and dance were held on Saturday night of the Conference. The concluding panel discus- sion on Sunday was changed to an open microphone discussion on sexism in the gay movement. This was because Martha Shelly led a group of women out of the conference to protest the elitism and male chauvinism among the other conference participants.16 In spite of the tension arising from these political differences, the con- ference showed that a college group could hold a major gay event, and established the high standards for the four conferences which followed. The Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade was formally organized in New York City for the second Stonewall anniversary in June 1970. The SHL contributed $25.00 for its participation in the celebration17 and made and marched under its first banner. The banner still exists today and can be found in Alexander Library Gay and Lesbian Archives. Academic Year IÇJI-IÇJ2 The Leagues' next year was active and productive. The group was well- organized internally and presented a polished image to the campus and the public. The League also published an information pamphlet for the public to aid in education about homosexuality.18 The pamphlet included such topics as "Facts about Homosexuality," "Why Are We Gay?," and "What is the Rutgers Student Homophile League?" and was distributed at information tables set up at the Rutgers and Livingston dining halls. Sensitivity training sessions were held with the campus rapline staff on gay issues, and extensive speaking engagements were presented both on and off campus.19 The League took on the Rutgers Athletic Department over the defini- tion of a "date." The Athletic Department defined a date as a person of comparable age and of the opposite sex, and with your student I.D., you and a "date" were admitted free to athletic events. The League challenged this policy as being ageist and anti-gay. The issue was fought over several years and never really resolved. The League was politically active in the gay community. Various rep- resentatives attended gay meetings and conferences in the tri-state area.20 16 Gay Magazine 17 Rutgers Student Fund Check Voucher A 9806, June 17, 1971. 18 Student Homophile League Newsletter, Volume II, Number 2, March 23, 1972. 19 Student Homophile League Newsletter, Volume II, Number 1, February 18, 1972. 20 Rutgers Student Fund Check Voucher A 9850, December 21, 1971. RUTGERS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 63 The League also provided meeting space for the New Jersey Gay Coali- tion, a state wide umbrella group. The officers elected mid-year were Robert Andrews, Chairperson; and Guido Loyola, Treasurer. To celebrate the League's second anniversary, a four-page "Special Gay Liberation Supplement" appeared in Targum on December 7, 1971. The Supplement covered such topics as a statement of the purposes and accom- plishments of the League, politics, heterosexual oppression, as well as comic strips and humor. Meetings that year included such diverse speakers as Pete Wilson of the Eulenspiegel Society (leather and S&M), Jan Ruben of the Daughters of Bilitis, Lee Brewster of Queens Liberation, and the Gay Activist Al- liance of New York on the introduction of the first gay rights bill in the New York City Council.21 The League published two newsletters in the spring semester. The newsletters included announcements of dances and meeting topics, poetry, the formation of such new groups as the Livingston Gay Men's Collec- tive, and the SHL Black Caucus. The newsletters also provided a plat- form for the political stands of various individual members. The Information and Education Committee of the League met with the Alexander Library Periodical Department to discuss why the Periodical Department refused to subscribe to gay related newspapers and maga- zines.22 The "Way Out" coffeehouse, established in the basement of the Rut- gers Student Center, was sponsored by the League on Friday nights dur- ing the school year and had a 25 cents admission charge. Entertainment was provided by gay performers and offered a social alternative to the local bars.23 Many people took advantage of this relaxed atmosphere to make friends and become more aware of what the League had to offer. On May 5 through 7, 1972 the League held its second conference entitled "Gay Cultural Exposition." Speakers at the Exposition included Isabell Miller, author of Patience and Sarah\ John Francis Hunter, author of The Gay Insider; as well as many other individuals, gay business own- ers, and gay organizations.24 The Exposition was one of the major gay events on the East Coast that year. 21 Idem. 22 See footnote 19. 23 See footnote 18. 24 Gay Cultural Exposition Program May 5, 1972. 64 THE JOURNAL OF THE Academic Year 7972-/975 Membership in the League was now over eighty men and women, and it was one of the largest student organizations on campus. Educational and political action were stressed along with the social aspects. To begin the year the officers were Jon Clayborne, Chairperson; Robert Przygoda, Vice-Chairperson; Michael Sitzer, Treasurer; and Sarajane Garten, Sec- retary. A film strip "The Silent Minority" was purchased for speaking en- gagements and was used at many of the over thirty groups the League spoke before both on and off campus.25 Politically the League continued to participate in the New Jersey Gay Coalition, and was in contact with other East Coast groups offering sup- port and information. Basic human rights for homosexuals and repeal of anti-gay laws were top priorities of the League. The League continued to provide a variety of social events for lesbians and gay men during the academic year 1972-1973. Monthly dances were held in addition to weekly meetings and the coffeehouse. Additionally Jonathon Katz's play "Coming Out" was presented in conjunction with the Student Center Program Board26 and was open to all members of the New Brunswick community. The third annual conference on Gay Liberation and Culture was held April 26-29, 1973. A broad spectrum of events held attempting to in- clude both the straight and gay communities. Events ranged from an in- formal workshop on homosexuality for non-league members of the Uni- versity community, a lecture on Gay Politics, a Gay Cabaret, ranging from a wide variety of entertainment reflecting gay life, a dance, a picnic, to a gay religious service. Sixteen workshops were presented which cov- ered such topics as "Health, Self-help and the Lesbian" by Lee Lehman, the "Legal Aspects of Being Gay" by Dr. Franklin Kameny, and "Gays in the Arts" by Arthur Bell.2? The 1973 conference drew an even larger crowd than the previous year and was again a major event for the East Coast lesbian and gay commu- nity. Academic Year 7973-/974 In the spring of 1973 the League decided that officers should be elected each spring and hold office for the entire upcoming academic year. The 25 Rutgers Student Fund Check Voucher No. 106502, November 15, 1972. 26 Rutgers Student Fund Check Voucher No. 111695, October 30, 1972. 27 Program of the Third Annual Conference On Gay Liberation and Culture.