Difference between revisions of "Grand Jury and the Fight for a Gay Rights Bill in Champaign, May 1972-May 1973"
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[[Dramatization of First Meeting with Assistant State's Attorney]]<ref>Graubart, Jeff. 2009. ''The Quest for Brian'', 4th Draft,4:37-41</ref> | [[Dramatization of First Meeting with Assistant State's Attorney]]<ref>Graubart, Jeff. 2009. ''The Quest for Brian'', 4th Draft,4:37-41</ref> | ||
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Revision as of 22:02, 29 January 2010
The Cast - Major players identified. Actual historical figures on left.
| Jeff Graubart, Activist C-U Gay Liberation Front | Dave Rosen |
| William Stanley, Activist C-U Gay Liberation Front | Winston Stanfield III |
The Grand Jury
Despite the threat of a year in prison for breathing a word about the actions of the Urbana cop, when Bill Stanley and I were released from the Urbana police station, we went directly to the office of the Champaign County States Attorney and demanded a grand jury investigation. Unfortunately, neither of us knew the cops name. In the book, The Quest for Brian the cops name tag was ripped off, we assumed in the anti-war riots two days earlier. But that is fiction. In truth, neither Bill nor I actually looked.
Dramatization of First Meeting with Assistant State's Attorney[1] I remember nothing about the look or dress of the Assistant Champaign County State's Attorney, so all such references are fiction, the rest is not.
The assistant States Attorney did promise an investigation and we sent out a press release on the incident, for several purposes, not the least of which was to protect ourselves from revenge by the Urbana cop.
For reasons that did not become clear until 1976, there was a press blackout from May through November of 1972 on the grand jury investigation and the Gay Liberation Front's visits to the Champaign City Council demanding civil rights. At this time, all references in this section until November, 1972 will be from the fictional work The Quest for Brian although hopefully I will be able to produce other sources before the March 2010 deadline.
Going to Jail for Gay Rights
After the second unanimous defeat of the gay rights bill in Champaign, on November 9th, 1972, fifteen members of the Gay Liberation Front held a sit-in in the Mayor Wikoff's office, demanding he come out in favor of the ordinance. At 5 o'clock, Clarance Fletcher and Jeff Graubart remained and were arrested for Criminal Trespass to Public Property.
Champaign Tries Again After 1973 Election
Gay Rights and Bible in Same Discussion[3]
Champaign citizens react to the vote in Penny For Your Thoughts local CBS radio show and reprinted in the News-Gazette.
![[4]](/wiki/File:HowShouldMemberOfCouncilVote.jpg)
![[5]](/wiki/File:RightsOfHomosexualsDiscussed.jpg)
References
- ↑ Graubart, Jeff. 2009. The Quest for Brian, 4th Draft,4:37-41
- ↑ Mike Murphy 1973,Their Sexuality Was Threatened, News-Gazette, May 16th, Front section
- ↑ Mike Murphy 1973,'Gay Rights,' Bible In Same Discussion, News-Gazette, May 9th, Front section
- ↑ Anonymous 1973,How Should Member Of Council Vote, News-Gazette, May 16th, Front section
- ↑ Anonymous 1973,Rights of Homosexuals Discussed, News-Gazette, May 22nd, Front section
Contact Person
Jeff Graubart jeffgrau@rcn.com
