30 years ago in PGN
By Jen Colletta
PGN Staff Writer

In October 1977, anti-porn legislation was approved in Philadelphia that banned the establishment of obscene book and movie stores, as well as massage shops and live sex shows. The term “obscene” was based on community standards.

The bill was signed by then-Mayor Frank L. Rizzo and received the support of most members of City Council, except for Cecil Moore, who thought it threatened the community’s First Amendment rights.

The legislation banned all material that lacked “serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value,” and violators could face up to $300 in fines and up to 90 days in prison.

Also at the time, Equus, a gay bar and restaurant on 12th Street that closed in the 1980s and is now 12th Air Command, was embroiled in a bitter debate with local residents, who were trying to block the bar from obtaining a dance license.

Members of the Washington Square West Project Area Committee said they were not against gays, but rather the “undesirables” they thought the bar would attract.

In a survey distributed to businesses and residents within 500 feet of Equus, however, 266 out of 281 people responded positively to the licensing.

October also saw the Community Alliance of Philadelphia publicly announcing its formation to the city, although few media outlets paid attention.

The political organization, no longer in existence, worked to unite GLBT and heterosexual allies to push for equal rights.

The Philadelphia Daily News and several smaller publications covered the press conference.

CAP representatives planned to announce a boycott of Coca-Cola, since the company owned part of the Florida Orange Juice industry and thus could be seen as supporting anti-gay activist Anita Bryant. However, on the day of the conference, Coca-Cola sent CAP a letter that stated the company did not discriminate in its hiring process and “[does] not intrude in the private lives of employees.”