defenseless victims of AIDS is to exhibit woeful and willful ignorance and uses misstatements of fact to justify blind prejudice against gays, the last socially acceptable form of prejudice in America (Bruce 3.7, 23). McKinney Collection GLRA took steps to inform the public on AIDS, including collecting and distributing literature, providing information in its annual Incoming Gay Student Mini-Series, and bringing Dr. Donna Sweet to speak on the subject. Steve also emphasized that mission was to educate and GLRA’s not to spread the so-called gay lifestyle (Bruce 3.7, 23). McKinney Collection “corrupt” In addition to AIDS hysteria, anti-sodomy fervor also shaped the experiences of GLRA. This can perhaps be seen by examining a controversy concerning the gathering of gays at Oak Park. At that time, Oak had the reputation of being a place where sexual Wichita’s solicitation by gays frequently occurred. According to the Parks Director at the time, there had been consistent complaints of open solicitation, public sex, late-night crowds and noise, and park assaults of homosexuals. Moreover, there were numerous arrests connected with assaults; larcenies; and liquor, sex, drug, and traffic violations. In response, park officers installed gates and began to shut down the park three hours early, at 9pm (Bruce 3.7, 24). McKinney Collection Wheeler interpreted the situation differently. According to him the main GLRA’s Steve reason people came to the park was to meet friends, play sports, and take nature walks—not to have sex. The park, he said, was a place where gay people could openly be who they are: For certain types of gays who get in the bars, who who can’t aren’t religious, take someone to their house, who are just coming out and know any can’t don’t other place to go, this is the place to a safe place as far as anybody finding go. It’s out an OK thing to go to the park. [Here, gays] can express their they’re gay…it’s love without anyone finding not talking about sex, about out. I’m I’m talking
defenseless victims of AIDS is to exhibit woeful and willful ignorance and uses misstatements of fact to justify blind prejudice against gays, the last socially acceptable form of prejudice in America (Bruce McKinney Collection 3.7, 23). GLRA took steps to inform the public on AIDS, including collecting and distributing literature, providing information in its annual Incoming Gay Student Mini-Series, and bringing Dr. Donna Sweet to speak on the subject. Steve also emphasized that GLRA’s mission was to educate and not to spread the so-called “corrupt” gay lifestyle (Bruce McKinney Collection 3.7, 23). In addition to AIDS hysteria, anti-sodomy fervor also shaped the experiences of GLRA. This can perhaps be seen by examining a controversy concerning the gathering of gays at Wichita’s Oak Park. At that time, Oak had the reputation of being a place where sexual solicitation by gays frequently occurred. According to the Parks Director at the time, there had been consistent complaints of open solicitation, public sex, late-night crowds and noise, and park assaults of homosexuals. Moreover, there were numerous arrests connected with assaults; larcenies; and liquor, sex, drug, and traffic violations. In response, park officers installed gates and began to shut down the park three hours early, at 9pm (Bruce McKinney Collection 3.7, 24). GLRA’s Steve Wheeler interpreted the situation differently. According to him the main reason people came to the park was to meet friends, play sports, and take nature walks—not to have sex. The park, he said, was a place where gay people could openly be who they are: For certain types of gays who can’t get in the bars, who aren’t religious, who can’t take someone to their house, who are just coming out and don’t know any other place to go, this is the place to go. It’s a safe place as far as anybody finding out they’re gay…it’s an OK thing to go to the park. [Here, gays] can express their love without anyone finding out. I’m not talking about sex, I’m talking about