[ACLU of Southern California Gay Rights Chapter Newsletters - Broken run of 10 issues]

Los Angeles, California: ACLU of Southern California Gay Rights Chapter, 1980. Very good. Ten issues in various formats and paginations, all measuring around 11" x 8½", most are 8-16 pages. Publication sequence: Vol. 2, No. 3 (May 1977); 4 unnumbered issues (Jan 1978, Feb 1978, May 1978, Aug 1979); Vol. 4, Nos. 11-12 (Nov-Dec 1979); Vol. 5, Nos. 1, 3-4 (Jan 1 1980, Mar-Apr 1980). Generally very good or better: one issue with a 4" x 2" section excised and two tears to last leaf not affecting any text; a few issues toned with a bit of light edge wear and creasing.

Founded in August 1976, the ACLU Gay Rights Chapter (later the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Chapter) was the first ACLU chapter devoted exclusively to addressing the civil rights of the LGBTQ populace. The newsletters offered here went through various titles, in order, as follows: "ACLU Gay Rights Newsletter"; "ACLU of Southern California Gay Rights Newsletter"; "Gay Rights Newsletter"; and "Gay Rights Guardian."

The collection provides a month-by-month view into the inner workings of the chapter and how it lobbied bills in the legislature, kept tabs on the LAPD and how it effected change with its members' activism at all levels, from City Hall all the way to Congress and the United States Supreme Court. Most issues, at a minimum, contained minutes of meetings as well as reports of the legislative, legal and publicity committees. Writers regularly urged direct involvement, with howtos for the initiated, and regular features such as "Exercise your writes" which provided short paragraphs summing up important legislative issues and directions on who to pepper with letters and phone calls. There were also many short articles regarding pending bills and legislation and what members could do to advocate the group's positions.

One issue covered a talk on Chicano rights given at a chapter meeting by Grace Davis, Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles. Another touched on California Assemblywoman Maxine Waters' subversive response to the "frequent, almost sacrosanct introductions" of female beauty queens by her male colleagues, in which she introduced the winner of "Mr. Golden Bear 1979" to the state capitol. Other noteworthy articles include a teacher announcing he was gay while speaking out on local television about anti-gay legislation as well an anonymous accusation alleging racism and sexism in state law enforcement made by fifteen women who worked for the agencies. There was much discussion on the Briggs initiative which sought to prevent gays and lesbians from working in California's public schools. Other articles covered violence against gays, the 1979 National March on Washington and much more. As the newsletter evolved and expanded, issues ran several photographic images of important events, meetings and leaders. There were also illustrated advertisements for gay-friendly services and establishments, including early ads for Southern California's Log Cabin Club, as well as calendar listings for committee meetings and community events.

A valuable resource with a multi-year window on a hotbed of activism and legislative machinations devoted to the promotion of LGBTQ rights. OCLC shows ten different institutions over several entries holding a small handful of issues.