[Copy of Circle of Friends newsletter regarding prisoner Alvin Buchanan] Page: 1 of 2
1 clipping : photocopy ; 28 cm.View a full description of this text.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
snKscriErciQnsi^^
,.THERSFOEE- NEVER SEND. TO MOW.FOE WHOM THE .BELL.TOLLS£vIT TOLL'S KEhTHES.'
.?'T‘ V>~ •- . ' , V ' - /V*. - XOHHEDOME . *'
§£;•< Buchanan writes from jail .
-r: The ADVOCATE has received the following letter from Alvin
Buchanan, who is still in Dallas County Jail, despite the fact that
his case ^suited in a federal court’s declaring the Texas anti-
sodomy law unconstitutional. The letter is addressed to ADVO-
- CATE writer Ed Jackson, who has spent considerable time and
effort over the past few months covering the Dallas case for this
. newspaper.
Dear Mr. Jackson: , - W
Thank you for your article in the April issue of the ADVOCATE.
I have received S73 toward the appeal of my case because of the
generous support of your readers. I am overwhelmed.
I am completely innocent in the two cases against me. Because I am
a homosexual, two queer-hating policemen were willing to perjure
themselves so that I would no longer be a threat to their manhood.
I have been in jail 10 months now-because I have the desire to help
other homosexuals like myself.
It seems that the homophile organizations in Dallas and the State of
Texas have refused repeatedly to help me. Yet it is the Texas homosex-
ual who will gain the most . .. There are scores of pending cases in
Texas for public acts of sodomy that will never be tried because of me.
Yet, these same people have failed to give me one dime for the free-
dom that I have purchased for them ...
Prisoner life is not easy. I am in a cell with all admitted homosex-
uals in the Dallas County Jail. Sometimes I have been beaten by other
prisoners and threatened by jail guards. Sometimes they bring homy
heterosexuals to our cell to get their rocks off. Some of the things I am
forced to do while 1 am in jail are unspeakable.
For this reason, I am particularly heartened by the support from
your readers for wjiat my attorney is trying to do for us.
Piease. publish this letter in order that gay people everywhere will
continue to write me. Their letters and financial support are the only
hope I have. Thanks again.
• ■ s -I __ _ , _ ‘ Alvin Leon Buchanan
, —V Dallas County Jail - 500 Commerce St.
________ __ .......... __ Dallas, Texas 75202
•“•Ivin needs and deserves the support of us ^"P
here in Dallas. Without it he will spend ihe next
year in the Dallas County jail vraiting for the case
■
~AF fU 12 IT-rJATl2 ~ L0S7W] GBlhoADVOf ^
appes
soitay ru
to cone tip before the Supreme Court. $750 cash is
needed for his bond. Van you help? Make checks or
Alvin L. Buchanarf’s victory in
having Texas’ anti-sodomy law
declared unconstitutional has
been appealed ;to the United
States Supreme Court by Dallas
County District Attorney Henry
Wacfe.
Wade was enjoined from en-
forcing Article 524 of the Texas
Criminal Code by the decision of
a three-judge panel in the United
States District Court in Dallas
(ADVOCATE, March!
The district attorney first
asked the District Court to recon-
sider its decision, claiming that
the “complexion” of the case was
changed when Buchanan, a ho-
mosexual, was joined by Mr, and_
Mrs. Michael Gibson acting on
behalf of married people who
“feared prosecution for possible
future acts” under the law.
In their original ruling, the
federal judges stated that the
Texas law “plainly appears” to
apply to “private consensual acts
between married persons, and pri-
vate acts of sodomy between
homosexuals.”
State District Judge Ed Gos-
sett charged the federal judges
erred “both legally and philo-
sophically” in their ruling. He
refused to free Buchanan and sen-
tenced him to five years in prisr .
on. . ;-' v
W£i Appeal Gossett Ruling
w attorney for ■ Buchanan
kind Gibsons, Henry J. Mc-
Clmkpv Tr ' * '
money orders payable to Alvin Buchanan, and mail to
Alvin Buchanan
c/o Circle of Friends
- Box 35852
Dallas 75235 Texas
As many people as possible should
see this appeal*J
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This text can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Text.
[Copy of Circle of Friends newsletter regarding prisoner Alvin Buchanan], text, 19XX-04-29/19XX-05-12; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1483908/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.