being generally more active in poliics on the
local level.
How should gays and lesbians go about
gaining political goals? Smith says more
gays should become involved in politics and
in the party structures as people, not just as
gays. There is much ground to be gained by
and for gays simply by being effectively in
volved as workers and planners — and as
gays — at all levels of the political process.
Also, Smith says that the gay community
must have a better knowledge of which politi-
cans are “ friends” in order to avoid divided
loyalties. For instance, Smith cites a case in
which a local gay activist group decided to
back a gay candidate, mnning for the first
time, against a “ friend” of long standing who
had considerable clout in the legislature.
Gays must recognize supporters in positions
of power and not work against them or give
them reason to back away from that support
by shifting allegiances without good cause.
We have to undersand how politics works if
our goal is political change, Smith says.
Any new group that might form in Portland
to have political clout must work in closer
connection with the powers that be. Smith is
uncertain whether a rights bill at the local
level is worth the cost and effort or even
whether such a bill is necessary. Smith thinks
that the state is the proper place to pursue
gay rights, at which level, he says, there is
always hope of passage. But before a rights
bill could be attempted, a lot of work must be
done to garner support, particularly, says
Smith, the support of the mainstream
churches.
Beyond pursuing rights issues, a new gay
and lesbian organization might, suggests
Smith, work toward establishing better rela
tions with community powers — the police,
for instance — and with service organizations
that affect gays — the housing authority and
welfare, perhaps. The gay community ought
to make more use of the presence of people
like Police Chief Harrington and Mayor Clark.
Smith suggests a meeting with Harrington to
discuss problems between gays and the
police, and a lobbying effort launched to en
courage the mayor to name gays to citizen
committees and to make use of the capabili
ties of gays and the gay communty in his
administration. We must create a dialogue, to
propose an interchange, to foster better rela
tions through familiarity. Those in power are
generally sympathetic, but until they are
aware of our needs and of ways to address
our problems, nothing is accomplished.
Of Mayor Clark, Smith says: he is very
sincere, but because he is “color blind" —
lacking most prejudices — he must be made
aware of specific needs. Smith would like to
see Clark appoint a liaison between his office
and the gay community so that the commu
nity would have representation in decisions
of the urban area. And in general Smith sug-
gets that conventional politics is willing to
work with gays, if gays are willing to come
half-way.
Smith sees the need for networking in the
gay community. The decisions made
surrounding the Davis referendum threat
were, Smith considers, the correct ones, and
he was very impressed by the quality of
minds drawn together at such short notice.
The right decision was made that time, but
next time the issue — and the decision —
might be different The community should
have input on matters that involve the lives of
its members, and a method should be forged
to get a consensus of those members.
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