Summary

Library of Congress, "Evening Star" (1963): "D.C. Hearing To Challenge Homosexuals"

Full Text

D.C. Hearing To Challenge Homosexuals

Revocation of a certificate of registration issued to the Mattachine Society of Washington, an organization formed to combat discrimination against homosexuals, will be considered at a preliminary hearing September 24.

The society has been notified by the Department of Licenses and Inspections of the proposed revocation of its registartion under the city's Charitable Solicitations Act. This registration gives the organization the right to solicit funds here.

The grounds cited in the Licenses and Inspections notice were that false names were given for the individuals listed as officers of the Mattachine Society.

The District Commissioners yesterday authorized issuing of subpoenas for summoning of witnesses to the hearing at 10 a.m. in the District Building.

Under the city's Charitable Solicitations Act, officers of any organization which solicits money here must register and disclose certain financial information. The present law is a disclosure measure only and makes no provision for the rejection applications for registration.

A hearing was held recently on a bill designed to revoke the registration of the Mattachine Society but questions were raised as to whether the measure violated constitutional safeguards.

At this hearing representatives of the Mattachine Society said their members sometimes used false names to avoid blackmail. This testimony furnished the grounds for the proposed revocation action by the Department of Licenses and Inspections.