Jim Andris, Facebook

Homophobias heckle Gay-lib panel in Goshen

the daily Alestle
Southern Illinois at Edwardsville
Wednesday, November 12, 1975

By Nancy Stencil
For the Alestle

Apathy–often found at SIU–was not in evidence at Monday's dialogue
in the Goshen Lounge.
A four-member panel of the Gay Community was presented by UCB to preview Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, a gay Air Force officer, who will speak in the University Center tonight.
Lisa Wagaman, a transsexual lesbian on the panel, said, I was a woman in the body of a male. I had the emotions and feelings of a woman, but I was trapped in the wrong body."
Ms. Wagaman said she sought reassignment of a gender identity surgically and hormonally to become a woman, and underwent a sex change operation.
The crowd in the Goshen Lounge grew quickly while she spoke of her change. One woman asked her to stand, “in order to see her beautiful figure.
Perhaps the issue that puzzled and intrigued the crowd most was Lisa’s preference, sexually, for women.
“I always preferred women, when I was a male," she said. But she never saw her relationships as heterosexual because she "felt like a woman.”
Jim Andris, a professor at SIU who is also active in Gay Liberation, was perhaps the most assertive member of the panel. Andris is obviously piqued by what he feels are the rigid stereotyped roles in society. “The roles of everyone are oppressive.” He said in society there is a disease called homophobia (fear of homosexuals) which needs to be treated by therapy.
Someone in the crowd cracked, “Who’s gonna treat ‘em, a queer?” With that, Andris stroked his beard and remarked, *All the B.S. in this crowd is from homophobes. The crowd cheered.
Galen Moon was the most distinguished looking person on the panel. He has a neatly-trimmed white goattee which contrasts with his tanned skin. Mr. Moon is a 73-year-old retired chef who is a homosexual. "I am helping in education in the Gay Community to make it possible for all of us to live together without harassing and heckling."
Moon, is deeply involved in the Metropolitan Life Services Center (MLSC). "MLSC addresses itself directly to the needs, welfare, and advancement of the homosexual citizens of the Greater St. Louis area."
Moon feels, also, that frustrations are encountered more sharply by older gay people. "It's very difficult for an older gay to come out,' " he said.
The most questioned and perhaps most misunderstood panel member was Rev. Francis Crouch, assistant pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church.
Several young people directed hostile remarks at him and questioned his credibility as a Christian.
One young Black with a capped Afro got into some theatrics while raising points and questions.
"Now don't put me down, man," he said, lowering his voice and body as he said "down."
"I don't think you, as a man of the cloth, have the right to represent this (Gay Liberation). You represent God." The crowd cheered in agreement.
"Maybe there's something to be said for celibacy. What's the matter, couldn't get any women?" Again, the crowd cheered.
Rev. Crouch thanked the man for his opinion and said, "God loves his creatures as individuals, not because they are sexual in one way or another."
The Black student responded with an incomprehensible dissertation on reproduction, which ended with, "I mean to say, man, this shit ain't natural." With that he turned and exited, in the true theatrical sense. The crowd gave him a [Continued on Page 6 (not saved)]