“Hayward has a rather large gay population, at least larger than neighboring cities. There are four gay bars in Hayward, while there are none in San Leandro and maybe one or two in Fremont. There are some reasons why Hayward is more open to gay people than its neighbors. Police harassment of homosexual people is almost non-existent here. The community, in general, is looser, too. This is probably due to the fact that a good number of Hayward people are from working families and are less uptight than most middle-class families. Also, the two colleges may have a liberating affect in the community.”
– (Vol. 1 No. 11 March 1972)A Gay Notes section gives readers some insight on local politician’s views on gay issues.
Hayward Gay Action put together a questionnaire to ask the people who were running for city council in Hayward. The questions include:
- How important do you regard the homosexual voting bloc in your city?
- Would you allow a known homosexual person to work under your employment if he or she were qualified to do so?
- Would you support legislation affecting your city which would attempt to end the employment discrimination faced by known homosexual people?
- Do you support the legalization of all sexual conduct among consenting adults in private?
- Had you been aware that in Southern Alameda County there are no fewer than four bars catering to homosexual clientele; had you been aware that Metropolitan Community Church, a national group of churches directed towards the homosexual community, is operating a successful congregation in Southern Alameda County?
One candidate answered the questionnaire completely, four candidates did not answer the questionnaire and instead gave statements on certain topics, and the rest of the candidates did not respond at all.
– (Vol. 1 No. 11 March 1972)
Hayward was a place where Gays could be “sexually free” and have a sense of community and belonging. It was home to a large Gay population and was known for its “looser” and accepting nature during a time of discrimination and oppression. To fight discrimination, Gay people used a basic tool of “coming out”. Hayward cultivated an environment where they could be open and “make people realize that gay people aren’t terrible monsters but rather just good people.”
In the Country Press, the community was encouraged to submit their work and have their voice heard. This is an example of Allen Young’s interpretation of what it meant to be “sexually free” and his journey of defining his gay identity. This was paramount in education the community and creating a safe space.
This article shows the scope of the Gay community and the resources available to them all over the country. This article shows the progress, challenges, and methods of building a safe Gay community in their neighborhoods. They provided social activities, counseling, clothes, shelter, and other necessities for survival.
This article showcases the Hayward Gay Action group calling the local community together to celebrate Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 25. This day of celebration is named after “a street in New York where a Gay bar was raided by the police in June 1969. The Gay people were tired of being trashed, so they fought back and the riot which arose became the bloodiest ever to be fought for Gay Liberation.” This article is significant because it shows how the Gay community built a place where they could celebrate the progress of Gay Rights and bring people together in planning events important to them.
This edition of Gay Notes shows the attempt to create a thriving Gay community in Hayward. It shows areas they have succeeded in and areas which need improvement. They state that they have been successful in becoming a regular feature in the Country Press and have impacted many. They have also participated in the switchboard service and reached many Gay callers. The areas where they seem to struggle is building a strong core group to hold in person events and gatherings. This article serves as a call to action and hopes to create more community involvement.
This article showcases the utilization of different mediums to create a more involved Gay community and provides resources to people who may need help or need their questions answered. They provided a switchboard service where both straight and gay people could talk with each other and receive news and messages. They also mentioned a program for Gay People on the Radio where multiple Gay alliances could share news and resources.
These pictures here represent a revolution of acceptance within the Gay community. The center image showcases nude women and men entangled and almost indistinguishable where one body begins and ends. I believe this means no matter what you identify as, we are all human and we should be accepting of everyone.
This article showcases the discrimination that Gay people are facing in the workforce. It shares an ironic story of John Singer losing his job from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission because he was found to be gay and “flaunting his homosexuality”. Although there were some protections against inequality in the workforce, Gay people were still fired unjustly.
This article shows the Hayward Gay Action group’s disapproval of this bill. This bill is meant to “make consenting sex acts legal between adults” but it has many flaws. It shows the frustration felt amongst the Gay community with lawmakers. The law makers fail to work with the Gay community and are not on the same page.
This article shows that at the time of print, the Hayward Gay Action group is “run by one person, and has been one person since last spring.” This shows the dedication and hard work of that one person towards the Gay cause. I am unsure if it has always been one person or if the number of people declined. The person states that there is “an estimation of 25,000 Gay people here.” The lone member of the Hayward Gay Action group is looking for help to support the Gay cause and create a sense of belonging.
This short section of Gay Notes gives great information about local resources and community.