The Michigan Daily-Friday, August 15, 1980-Page 3 . .. ...... . Conveution Reports Gay s and lesbians lobby Dems at convention or their rights By KEVIN TOTTIS Special to The Daily NEW YORK-Executives in business suits, men and women in t-shirts and jeans, women dressed in blazers, skirts, and dresses-a total of 77 people-are all here to purge the country of "one of the last 'ac- ceptable' forms of discrimination" and lobby for their common interest-gay rights. The presence of the 77 members who make up the Gay and Lesbian Caucus contrasts sharply with the gay presence of the Democratic convention four years ago, when only two delegates were publicly gay. THE GAY VOICE is powerful now-powerful enough to succeed in having a gay rights clause put in the civil rights plank of the Democratiac platform: all groups must be protected from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, language, age, sex, or sexual orien- tation...' The caucus consists of 43 delegates, 27 alternates, and seven volunteers. Harold Wells, a caucus member and Iowa delegate, said the main focus of the caucus was to "make gay rights a concern of the convention." He said the group was fairly successful and got support from several feminist organizations. SHEILA WILLIAMS, a California alternate and caucus member, said she feels that in addition to gay rights, the caucus deals with the broader subject of human rights. "We are strong human rights supporters; we've tried to build a coalition based on that," she said. Both she and Wells felt that most of the delegates had been responsive rather thancritical of their at- tempts, as did Jerry Krieger, another California alternate and caucus member. "I got no negative remarks," he said. He added although he came from a liberal state, he found the delegates from more con- servative states were also supportive. "A woman I know from Utah complimented us on having a good and respectful demonstration," he said. LAST NIGHT, THE members of the caucus demonstrated on the convention floor urging fellow Democrats to continue support for gay rights. The demonstration coincided with the nomination of Melvin Boozer, a District of Columbia delegate for vice-president, in another effort to stir up support for gay rights. Both Krieger and Wells agreed the gay community has gained power in some areas during the past four years. Wells said California and New York were two states where gay delegates had some clout. Many of the delegates were supporters of Edward Kennedy. According to Wells, there is still some am- bivalence on the part of the gay delegates to support President Carter. Consequently the caucus members varied in their support of Carter's handling of gay rights issues. "I'M NOT TERRIBLY optimistic about Carter," a See GAY, Page 7 Christians, in largest protest, hail morality By ELAINE RIDEOUT Special to The Daily NEW YORK-About 1,500 local Christians asking Americans to "vote morality" staged the largest demon- stration held so far at the Democratic convention yesterday, but were largely ignored by delegates, police officers, and members of the news media. Nine police officers standing on the steps of the post office located across from Madison Square Garden watched idly as protesters shouted their op- position to abortion, ERA, divorce, homosexuality, and laws prohibiting school prayer. ACCORDING TO OFFICER Ernest Blount, the New York police depar- tment expected little trouble from the Christians, although they had been prepared for violence at Wednesday's anti-draft protest, which was watched by several hundred police officers. "There was a lot of tension in the air at the anti-draft demonstration," Blount said. "But these are a different kind of people. I think it's because they believe in godliness and cleanliness," he added. "We are gathered at this convention because we care about what is hap- pening to America," said Jim McCot- ter, a rally organizer. "We believe in legislation for morality. We are asking for laws to stop the slaughter of our un- born." THE SPEAKER BECKONED to an unwed mother carrying a blond-haired child of about three years old. "I want every pro-abortonist to look into the face of this child who would have been dead had they got their way," McCotter said. "The issue is not abortion or non- abortion, the issue is morality and im- morality," he said. Tom Short of Iowa State University said, "It is not the Democrats, the Republicans, or the Independents. If any politician doesn't stand up for moral issue, he will be thrown out in the 1980s." PAT SPITZ, ALSO, from Iowa State University, said, "Unless this nation will humble itself, we will soon be See CHRISTIANS, Page 11 Pro-life rs end up at odds With emocrat s By JOSHUA PECK Special to The Daily NEW YORK - You can't really tell them from any other Democrats at the convention. They certainly don't look like supporters of what some call a reactionary idea. But at the end of the convention's platform fight, the anti- abortion lobbyists (their generic name), or the pro-lifers (their name for themselves) ended up at odds with the rest of the Democratic party. The reason: While the number of pro- lifers at the convention was relatively large, their influence was small. The See PRO-LIFERS, Page14 Names campaign chair Independent presidential candidate John Anderson yesterday named Mary Crisp as his national campaign chairwoman. Crisp left a senior post with the Republican National Committee in a bitter dispute over women's issues last month. Anderson said Crisp would'have "major responsibilities" in his cam- paign, including formulation of political strategy and fund-raising.