The Times

2 TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of January 29/30, 1977

Gay rights: two views Brake: gays could influence youth

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer There are at least two Coral Gables residents who are deadly opposed to a Metro ordinance banning discrimination against homosexuals. The ordinance passed by a 5-3 vote became effective Jan. 28 and bans discrimination in housing, public accomodations and employment on the basis of affectional and sexual preference. As one of the leaders of the newly founded organization, Save Our Children from Homosexuality, Coral Gables City Commissioner Bob Brake has been stirring up support for a special county election to repeal the ordinance. Coral Gables Police Sgt. Tony Raimondo, who heads the Youth Resource Unit, is also in opposition to the ordinance. Both Brake and Raimondo believe that the new law, which would allow gays to publicly disclose their sexual preference without fear of discrimination, would be detrimental to the children and adolescents of the community. "There is no discrimination against homosexuals as long as they don't advocate or publicly proclaim their homosexuality," said Brake. "By doing so, they would have an opportunity to influence young children. "It is not a matter of civil rights," said Brake. "Homosexuality is not a physical disease. They are deliberately doing this. They have chosen this lifestyle and no one has forced them into it. "The United States, and Dade County included, is not yet ready, and hopefully will never be ready, to accept homosexuality," said Brake. The crux of Brake's argument, as is Raimondo's, is that the ordinance will only make it easier for homosexuals to "recruit" youngsters to their way of life. "If they have been so successful in soliciting young people when its not out in the open, I can imagine what it will be like when it is," said Raimondo. The Coral Gables Police Department is one of several law enforcement agencies in the country actively investigating cases of suspected sexual abuse against boys. Raimondo believes that the ordinance will only increase the number of cases. As a result of one such investigation, a former Coral Gables private school principal was arrested last week and charged with lewd and lascivious conduct and conspiracy to commit aggravated rape on a young boy, said Raimondo. According to Raimondo, Peter Bradford, former principal of Adelphi School in Coral Gables, was served with a New Orleans warrant last Tuesday in Daytona Beach and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana. Adelphi is now under new management. In an article published in the Christian Science Monitor dealing with the neglected problem of sexual abuse on boys, Raimondo was quoted as saying that some "prominent people are under investigation for suspected sexual abuse of boys." Raimondo believes that gays go outside the homosexual community to satiate their sexual needs. "They go outside their boundaries and most of the time solicit young kids," said Raimondo. "Look at what is happening at the Coral Gables Bus Terminal. We are constantly arresting homosexuals over there, and many times they try to convert 10, 11, 12-year-old kids," he added. Brake, who is planning See GABLES, Page 4 Bob Brake and Tony Raimondo . . . two residents against the ordinance

Kunst: gays only want their rights

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer Robert S. Basker, a Coconut Grove resident, came out of the closet two weeks ago. He had lived with the fact that he is gay for nearly 30 years, but it wasn't until Jan. 18, when he went before the Metro Commission, that he publicly announced his homosexuality. As the coordinator of the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays and the spokesperson for the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Basker was one of those who urged the passage of the ordinance to ban discrimination against homosexuals. The Metro Commission approved the ordinance, but Basker and the gay community in Dade County are now faced with another obstacle, namely, the opponents of the law who are attempting to have it repealed. "We are not asking anyone to endorse our lifestyle. I don't need anyone to accept or endorse what I do," said Bob Kunst, co-chairperson for the Dade Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays. "All gays want is to be able to say they are gay and not be discriminated because of it," he said. "All these self-righteous people who are against the ordinance feel an up-front gay would be a bad example for children. "That's a phony issue," Kunst said. "The 300,000 gays in Dade County today didn't just spring out of nowhere. They didn't have upfront gays to imitate, yet they are here. For some people it is the natural state to be gay." Kunst, 34, and Alan M. See GAY, Page 4 "We're not asking anyone to endorse our lifestyle. I don't need anyone to accept or endorse what I do." Bob Kunst

news briefly Public can air views at meeting

Here's your chance to let the politicians know what you're thinking. Prior to this year's state legislative session, the Dade County delegation will hold a public hearing at Florida International University on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The hearing, chaired by Sen. Ralph Posten, will be in the University House, Room 140, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Any person or group wishing to appear on the agenda must contact the delegation office at 579-4088 as soon as possible. Tax Assistance It's time for Uncle Sam to collect his dues and, if you need assistance in finding out how much you owe, you can call the Miami office of the Internal Revenue Service at 358-5072. The local IRS office will be open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Road closed On Feb. 7, SW 72nd Street at the Florida East Coast Railroad crossing will be partially closed to traffic for seven days. The street will be reduced from four to two lanes in order to rebuild the grade crossing. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes such as Miller Drive or SW 80th Street. Blood pressure tests February is Heart Month and the Heart Association of Greater Miami will be holding free blood pressure tests at the following locations: Goulds Park, 21805 SW 114th St, on Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Coconut Grove Bank, 2701 S. Bayshore Dr., on Tuesday, Feb. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stock office opens Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith officially opened its new office at 201 Alhambra Circle Thursday, Jan. 27. Coral Gables Mayor Robert B. Knight, Chamber of Commerce President Robert R. Harcourt and Merrill Lynch president Vice President W. Kenneth Carlson were present at the formal opening ceremonies. Flower course A course in pressed flower pictures will be offered by Ms. Gloria Gersten of South Dade. Students will be taught how to press and preserve fresh plant material and design them into pictures. Courses will begin Friday, Feb. 4 and will meet for four weeks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A fee of $22 covers all supplies. To register, call Ms. Gersten at 274-0993. Flea market The Miami Killian High School Band Parents Association will hold its annual Flea Market on Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Jefferson National Bank parking lot, N. Kendall Drive and 97th Avenue. The flea market will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. and proceeds will go toward the student's spring band trip.