Page 2 LION'S EYE October 25, 1977 by JoAnn Babcock and Edward Wrzesniewski On Friday, October 7, 1977 the City Council of Philadelphia voted 15-2 in favor of anti-pornography bill No. 699. The coun- cil decided that the commercial ex- ploitation of sexual conduct through papers, magazines, films, and other forms of the media ‘‘constitutes a debasement and distortion of a sensitive key relationship of human existence, central to family life, community welfare and the development of human personality”. According to chapter 10- 1103 of the Ob- cenity Bill, no one may “Knowingly sell, rent, distribute, exhibit, show, or transmit to another any obscene motion picture film or any obscene literature, book, magazine, pamphlet, newspaper, story book, paper, comic book, writing, drawing, photograph, figure, image, or any written or printed matter of an obscene nature or any device, article or instrument of an obscene nature.” According to the bill, no one in Philadelphia may display at any newstand, store or any other place of business frequented by minors any materials depic- ting the acts deemed obscene. Obscenity is ‘“‘anything which can be deemed ‘patently offensive’ to the current standards in the decency in the com- munity.”’ This section of the bill outlaws sexual intercourse, sadomasochism, any lewd exhibition of the genitals and any sexual aid devices. Any books, magazines, comic books or any written materials ‘‘containing photographs or photographic images depic- ting children under the age of seventeen years participatng, performing, or observing Taking a Side: Pornography Bill Is Obscene any acts defined as obscene’ shall be illegal and the persons responsible shall be guilty of a ‘summary offense’. Any ‘massage parlor’ or ‘model studio’ operated for lewd purposes or prostitution is to be declared a ‘public nuisance’. Massage as used in the bill means ‘any method of treating the superficial soft parts of the human body for remedial hygiene, or any similar treatment, accomplished by hand, or by the use of any instrument. A ‘massage parlor’ is any building or place where the public can with or without a fee obtain ‘massage services’. A ‘model studio’ is any place of business which has nude models available to pose for painting, sculp- ture or photography for a fee. The bill explicitly states violations of the law and the enforcement of it. An officer suspecting a violation or receiving a com- plaint shall “purchase the allegedly obscene articles, prepare a citation and present the article and citation to a Municipal Court Judge.” If an allegedly obscene film can not be purchased the officer will obtain a search warrant, then confiscate the film. He will then prepare the citation and present the film and citation to a Municipal Court Judge. If it is the only copy available, a copy of the original shall be made and the original will be returned to the owner. If a live performance should be reported as - being obscene, the officer will observe the allegedly obscene show, prepare a citation and present it to the Municipal Court Judge. Anyone acting in violation of the bill shall be guilty of a summary offense and if convicted can be sentenced to a period of imprisonment for up to ninety days, and or pay a fine up to three hundred dollars. Gay Rights: Pro and Con For Gay Rights by Regina Ferrante and Kathleen Blohm The Supreme Court recently handed & down a decision that supported the firing of * a teacher because he was a homosexual. Homosexuals and gay rights advocates viewed the ruling as a violation of basic con- stitutional rights. Discrimination against gays in jobs, hous- ing, and public accommodations is equal to racial, sexual and discriminations of the earlier years. Anti-gay rights forces contend that by giving admitted homosexuals equal rights in jobs, we are jeopardizing the safety of young - children. The assumption that homosexuals will attempt to seduce or molest children is unwarranted. Statistics show that gays commit less sexual crimes against children than heterosexuals do. The activities of two consenting adults whether they be gay or straight should not determine their eligibility for equal rights. In recent years, minorities have rebelled against the oppressive circumstances to which they have been subjected to. They have organized protests to achieve the civil rights they deserve. Homosexuals as a minority, deserve these same rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. Although homosexual behavior may seem unnatural to some people, a compassionate understanding of their situation and a dis- regard for the common homosexual stereo- type, is needed. Against Gay Rights by Steven Walters With the recent emergence of the Gay Liberation movement, the issue of gay rights has become a subject of increased controversy. The question: Should homosexuals have equal rights? The an- swer: No. Homosexuals and other gay rights ad- vocates insist that discrimination against gays in jobs, housing, etc. is the same as racial and sexual discrimination. In my opinion this is not so. In the latter cases - you have people that are victims of cir- cumstances and had no choice in the matter whatsoever. Homosexuals are people who have chosen a way of life that is contrary to society and nature. To advocate gay rights is to advocate the potential recruiting or seduction of young school children by homosexuals. The teacher, for instance, has as much influence on a child in his formative years as the child’s own parents. I feel it would be open- ly inviting disaster to allow a vulnerable child to be subjected to possible homosexual indoctrination. Gay rights advocates argue that less sexual crimes are committed against children by gays than heterosexuals. They do not include the fact that this so because there are many more heterosexuals than gay people. : | Another argument of pro gay rights for- ces is that any homosexual who attempts to: ‘seduce or molest children would be: diagnosed as a mentally disturbed person as would a heterosexual of the same nature. The fact is that there is still debate among psychologists whether homosexuality is a mental disturbance, in which case all gays would become suspect. Society must and will have certain restrictions. Gays can enjoy equal rights today if they do not advertise their sexual preference. I feel there is no need for equal rights for “admitted” homosexuals. By denying gay rights we can discourage a possible domino effect of rantings and ravings of other social outcasts. Travel Rep. wanted for this campus, p/time, start immed. Call Marlboro Tours: Tom Rachfalski, 743-8707. The recent pornography bill passed by the City of Philadelphia has prompted the Lion’s Eye to express its’ dissatisfaction and discon- tentment to what this bill stands for. Bill No. 699 defines for the people what is obscene. When a body of government, no matter how large or small determines what movies or books people cannot read and see, it is acting totally against the democratic principles set down by our forefathers in the Constitution. Obscenity means many things to many different people. It is not the government’s right to tell the city of Philadelphia what kind of literature they can buy. Not only is this unconstitutional but it is also a form of cen- sorship as well. Nobody is forcing people to frequent peep shows and x-rated films or make them buy a Playboy or Penthouse magazine, but when a city govern- ment starts restricting their sale while posing no physical danger to the society in general, then this is totally unconstitutional. The First Amendment guarantees the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press. If the government of the people start to tell society what they can and cannot do, then what kind of democracy do we live in? The Lion’s Eye takes a firm stand in emphasizing that the por- nography bill is not only unconstitutional but undemocratic as well. The decision should be left up to the individual what he should be able to buy and see. No government dedicated to the preservation of a democracy can take this basic right away. This shouldn’t happen in Philadelphia, Harris- burg, Washington or for that matter at all in the United States of America. PENN STATE NIGHT AT THE RACES AT LIBERTY BELL Sunday Night Nov. 20th “after finals’ DINNER, CLUBHOUSE SEATS AND A RACE NAMED AFTER US Price 12.00 1st Come, 1st Serve Only 50-95 Spaces Available FOR MORE INFO COME TO THE U.S.A. OFFICE OR SEE LARRY GALLONE OR HELEN CRISTON PPO POPOV UN NNN NN NNN
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers