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The Dallas Gay Alliance (The Dallas Way)

 Collection
Identifier: AR0838

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This collection contains early court cases, photographs, negatives, correspondence and clippings related to the Dallas Gay Alliance. Cases defended by Donald Maison include incidents where gay men were being targeted by the Dallas Police Department for lewd behavior at clubs. Later, the Dallas Gay Alliance vs. the City of Dallas (Parkland Hospital) case, also presented by Maison, was fought, where allegations were brought to the court's attention that AIDS patients were not being provided adequate care by Parkland Hospital. Participants in the case included members of the Dallas Gay Alliance and Ron Woodroof. In the case of Schwiderski v. The State of Texas, Richard Schwiderski was arrested for public lewdness on October 24th, 1979 in the Village Station bar in Dallas by undercover members of the Dallas Police Department Vice Squad for allegedly having illicit contact with another man while dancing. For the next five years, Schwiderski, along with attorney Donald J. Maison, fought a lengthy appeals process for Schwiderski’s conviction. Though there were five other men arrested that night besides Schwiderski, his case received the most media attention because of his decision to appeal and fight the conviction. Throughout the collection we see testimony from Donald J. Maison, the arresting officers of the Dallas Police Department Vice Squad, character witnesses for Richard Schwiderski, as well as colored photographs of Village Station, police records and arrest reports for Schwiderski and the five other men arrested at the same time.

Dates

  • Creation: 1968-1988
  • Acquisition: Date acquired: 09/00/2014

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is not restricted.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Special Collections department. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Biographical or Historical Information

The Dallas Gay Alliance was a continuation of the Dallas Gay Political Caucus. Founded in the mid-1970s, the Dallas Gay Political Caucus was first established by Dick Peeples, Steve Wilkins, Louise Young, Don Baker and others. During the early 1980s, the group changed its name to the Dallas Gay Alliance. One part of the group became the Lesbian/Gay Political Coalition of Dallas. During the 1980s, the Dallas Gay Alliance continued to work towards improving rights for the LGBT population through education and social work as well as its primary focus, developing ways of combatting the AIDS problem.

Note written by

Extent

2.00 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains early court cases, photographs, negatives, correspondence and clippings related to the Dallas Gay Alliance.

Arrangement Note

This collection is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Physical Access Requirements

This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hour notice prior to use.

Accruals and Additions

2014-77

Title
The Dallas Gay Alliance (The Dallas Way)
Author
S. Ivie
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of North Texas Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of North Texas, Willis Library
1155 Union Circle # 305190
Denton TX 76203 US