FBI Memo 03-22-1972 Gay Activists Alliance Demonstration at the Democratic National Convention, FBI (Record, March 1972)
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To: Director, FBI
From: SAC, Miami (100-16589) (C)
Date: 3/22/72
Subject: Gay Activist Alliance Internal Security - New Left
Demonstration at the Democratic National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida, July 1972
Enclosed for the Bureau are 10 copies of an LHM dated and captioned as above. One copy is being furnished to the U.S. Secret Service, Miami. The information contained in the LHM will be made available by this office to the Miami Beach PD. One copy is being furnished New York for information purposes because of references made to representatives of the GAA from New York City.
Re: Gay Activist Alliance
Examination of records of the Dade County Public Safety Department reflect a record dated September 8, 1970, on [redacted] who was arrested on October 29, 1970, on charges of sale and possession of marijuana, sentenced to 90 days in jail, and placed on three years probation. His occupation was listed as "teacher" and his residence as [redacted] Miami.
On March 6, 1972, [redacted] advised that he is personally acquainted with [redacted] and acknowledged homosexual who is a member of the GAA. [redacted] said that [redacted] frequented by homosexuals and that he himself is active in attempting, through legal channels, to obtain greater equality and rights for homosexuals. He said that approximately a week previously he had a conversation with [redacted] who inquired as to whether or not [redacted] said that it had come to his attention that several members of the GAA from New York had recently been in Miami to assist in organizing a local branch of the GAA.
[redacted] said that during the course of his talks with [redacted] as well as with the visitors from New York, and other members of the GAA, he had seen no evidence whatsoever that any form of violence is planned by the GAA for the convention. He expressed the opinion that any form of violence would be in direct conflict with the very nature of most homosexuals, who are [peaceful] by nature and avoid violence. [redacted] offered to make further inquiry in order to obtain more specific information concerning plans of the GAA for the convention.
On March 13, 1972, [redacted] was interviewed at his office. At this time he identified his original source[ redacted] whom he described as [redacted].
[redacted] furnished a copy of a cassette recording of an interview that he had with [redacted] several days previously. A transcript of a portion of this tape relating to the GAA follows:
"Gay Activists Association which meets Monday, Thursday, and Friday nights at [redacted]. They're planning violent actions at the convention with firearms, I should say 12 handguns, two automatic rifles, various kinds of mace which are very damaging to facial structures. Uh, there's approximately 60-80 members now, by convention time they expect 300 to 400 people. Uh, from 50 states there will be approximately 24,000 people together in this association so they can be striving for their point for homosexual votes."
[redacted] said that [redacted] was serving time in the Dade County Jail on charges relating to [redacted]. He described [redacted] as being a clever but devious character who had furnished "reliable information" to [redacted] but who is also a "kook and nut". He expressed the opinion that [redacted] smoke marijuana but is not on narcotics. [redacted] said that despite these characteristics, [redacted] has furnished him with some reliable information which he then modified by stating that at least a portion of the information furnished by [redacted] would prove to be true.
On March 15, 1972, [redacted] Miami, advised that he is the father of [redacted] who was recently released from the Dade County jail after serving out a sentence for [redacted]. [redacted] said that he does not know where his son is living at the present time. He described his song as being completely unreliable and added that "You cannot believe a single word he says". He stated that his son has been in constant trouble, is usually unemployed and has been the despair of his parents. He said that his son had never mentioned the GAA nor had he disclosed that any group of individuals planned violence for the Democratic National Convention.
[redacted] was interviewed at the home of [redacted] Miami. [redacted] who is a friend of [redacted]. At the outset of the interview [redacted] was informed by interviewing Agents that it is a violation of Federal law to furnish false information knowingly to the Federal Government in an official investigation.
[redacted] stated that he had been released from Dade County Jail [redacted].
[redacted] said that he [redacted] whom he described as a [redacted] until the time he was dismissed after being arrested for the sale and possession of marijuana. About four or five weeks ago, according to [redacted], he attended a meeting at the apartment of [redacted]. This meeting was held by the Gay Activist Alliance (GAA) which [redacted] said is composed of homosexuals. About 40 to 65 men were present. [redacted] was in the apartment for no more than five minutes. He claimed that during this time he observed a collection of weapons on a table. These weapons included ten or twelve handguns, two rifles and four cans of mace, which he said had been placed there by some of those in attendance at the meeting. While standing outside the apartment he overheard a man inside the apartment who he described as being the President of the GAA from New York City, talk about sending representatives of the GAA to various colleges in order to determine their attitude toward the GAA.
[redacted] said that he saw a copy of the constitution of the GAA and that the Ninth Amendment to this constitution advocated violence.
He said that he also overheard various members present make references to the Democratic National Convention scheduled for Miami Beach in the Summer of 1972. Someone stated that approximately 2,500 GAA members from New York were expected to come to Miami. He said that the GAA members from New York City are promoting attendance at the convention.
[redacted] was unable to relate that any specific remarks had been made during this meeting where violence was advocated by the GAA during the convention but he assumed that this could have been so due to the presence of weapons and due to the violence advocated in the Ninth Amendment of the GAA constitution.
He also claimed that he went past [address] on subsequent occasions when meetings were being held there and saw a great many cars parked there which lead him to believe that the size of the meetings had been increasing, however, he did not attend subsequent meetings.
[redacted] said that he is now living in an apartment located in Miami with two there men but he declined to furnish his address because he did not want to be contacted there at any time in the future.
On March 15, 1962, [redacted] was again interviewed. [redacted] said that subsequent to the first interview of March 6. 1972, he had a long talk with [redacted] concerning the GAA and the forthcoming Democratic National Convention. [redacted] said that [redacted] emphatically denied the GAA or any individuals that he himself is associated with have any intention whatsoever of engaging in any form of violence at the convention. [redacted] told [redacted] that he, as a member of the GAA, is interested in developing only a service type organization and believes the GAA should obtain its goals by legal means.
[redacted] said that he himself has reliable contacts who are associated with the GAA and that he feels positive that the GAA intends no form of violence at the convention. He asserted that he himself would be the first to publically denounce the GAA if he found out that it did have any plans for violence. He reiterated that violence is abhorrent to the very nature of homosexuals, but that [redacted] and other organizations with which homosexuals are affiliated are attempting, through peaceful and legal means, to obtain greater rights and recognition for homosexuals as individuals and citizens.
[redacted] was interviewed at his residence. At the outset of the interview he was given a "Waiver of Rights" form which he read and immediately signed, stating that he had no opposition whatsoever to being interviewed by the FBI.
[redacted] stated that he is [redacted] but was terminated after he was arrested for possession of marijuana. At the present time he is earning a living by restoring antique paintings. He resides alone in his apartment.
[redacted] of the Gay Activist Alliance (GAA) in Miami. On or about February 4, 1972, a meeting of approximately eight individuals was held in his apartment. This meeting resulted form an appeal by the GAA in New York City to the [redacted] for the purpose of organizing a chapter of the GAA in Miami. During this meeting discussions related to what the GAA is, its purposes and aims, and that the primary cause for its existence is "Gay Rights". Those in attendance were primarily of the college student category.
[redacted] stated that at no time at this or any other meeting held in his apartment were any weapons in evidence or exhibited by any of those present. He asserted that at no time was the use of weapons discussed and that to do so would have been completely out of the question since neither he nor other members of the GAA have any intention whatsoever of engaging in any form of violence or to use weapons for any purpose.
He asserted that at no time was nay form of violence advocated or suggested by any of those present at the February 4, 1972, meeting or at any meeting of the GAA.
He said that there were three consecutive meetings held and that approximately 20 was the greatest number that had attended any of these meetings. The GAA in Miami now has approximately 13 members. At no time were more than that ever present.
[redacted] stated that the GAA is deeply concerned about obtaining "Gay" rights through legal channels. He asserted that it is absolutely untrue that any form of violence is advocated or intended by the GAA with which he is associated.
[redacted] produced a copy of the "Constitution and Bylaws of the Gay Activists Alliance", the pertinent portions of which are set forth below:
"Preamble:
We as liberated homosexual activists demand the freedom for expression of our dignity and value as human beings through confrontation with and disarmament of all mechanisms which unjustly inhibit us: economic, social, and political. Before the public conscience, we demand an immediate end to all [oppression] of homosexuals and the immediate unconditional recognition of these basic rights:
The right to our own feelings. This is the right to feel attracted to the beauty of members of our own sex and to embrace those feelings as truly our own, free from any question or challenge whatsoever by any other person, institution, or 'moral authority.'
The right to love. This is the right to express out feelings in action, the right to make love with anyone, anyway, anytime, provided only that such action be freely chosen by the individuals concerned.
The right to our own bodies. This is the right to treat and express our bodies as we will, to nurture, display, and embellish them solely in the matter we ourselves determine independent of any external control whatsoever.
The right to be persons. This is the right freely express our own individuality under the governance of laws justly made and executed, and to be the bearers of social and political rights which are guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, enjoined upon all legislative bodies and courts, and grounded in the fact of our common humanity.
To secure these rights, we hereby institute the Gay Activists Alliance, which shall be completely and [solely] dedicated to their implementation and maintenance, repudiating, at the same time, violence (except for the right of self-defense) as unworthy of social protest, disdaining all ideologies whether political or social, and [forbearing] alliance with any group except for those whose concrete actions are likely so specifically dedicated.
It is finally to the imagination of oppressed [homosexuals] themselves that we commend the consideration of these rights, upon whose actions [also] depends all hope for the prospect of their lasting procurement.
By-Laws
Article I. The Gay Activists Alliance will not endorse, ally with, or otherwise support any political party, candidate for public office, and/or any organization not directly related to the homosexual cause. The Gay Activists Alliance will not align itself with any organization that advocates the use of violence (except in self-defense).
[redacted] pointed out that the constitution of the GAA does not have a Ninth Amendment and he reiterated that the constitution most certainly does not advocate violence.
