CANADIAN LESBIANS BARRED FROM U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ORDERS INS TO BAN
HOMOSEXUALS
At least 55 women were refused entry
into the U.S. from Canada during the week— Reversing an August decision to stop
A end of the Michigan Women's Music Festival, banning homosexual foreigners from the
AUSUSt 22-24- At Port Huron, MI GSPiCial- U.S., the Justice Department in late Decem—
' ly, Immigration and Naturalization Service ber notified the Immigration and Naturali—
officials turned back women believed to be zation Service that it is ”statutorily
lesbians or who were suspected of going to required to enforce the exclusion of homo—
the festival. Later, the INS officers said sexual aliens" under the 1952 McCorrah—
that they had not yet officially received Walter Act.
word of an August 10th policy directive The August decision, according to U.S.
concerning admission of "suspected homosex— Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond of the
uals." Under the new policy, lesbians and Public Health Service, was made to "reflect
gay men are "paroled” into the country, and current and generally accepted canon of
could be subjected to an examination to medical practice with respect to homosex—
"determine homosexuality” if INS lawyers uality,” and also because homosexuality
ever develop a standard test. Previously; could not be determined through a medical
homosexuality had been determined by medi— diagnostic procedure (sic).
cal examination, but after protests from Following the Public Health Service de— 1
the Public Health Service stating that no cision, the INS temporarily halted efforts
valid medical examination could possibly to deny entry to” suspected homosexuals,
determine sexual orientation, INS dropped pending a Justice Department review of the
these exams. INS is currently searching legal issues involved. David Crosland,
for a substitute procedure. The initial acting director of the INS, was advised in
reSponse from the INS to charges of policy late December by the Justice Department to ,
violation was, ”It was just a piece of pa— enforce the law.
per that got mislaid and we can't get ex— Foreigners will not be asked about their
cited every time that happens." sexual preference unless the immigration

While most women were not officially official, has some reason to suspect homo—

turned back, the majority "withdrew” their sexuality, Crosland said. Crosland indi—
applications for entry after official in— cated he believed the number of foreigners
timidation. In some cases, women's pass— to have been excluded from the U.S. because
ports were stamped "sexual deviate," a of homosexuality was very small. He said
label they must now carry into every coun— that the total number of people excluded
try they visit. Women were asked such for all medical and psychiatric reasons
questions as: When was the last time you from 1971 to 1978 was 31, of which homo—
slept with a man? DO you have negative sexuals would represent an even Smaller
feelings about homosexuality? Why not? How number.
can you tell me you are not homosexual? Why excerpted from
are you traveling with other women? Do you Dayton Daily News, 12/27/79
have a purse? Do you ever carry a purse?
Your friend (detained and interviewed sep—
arately) tells me all the women on this ve—
hicle are lesbians. . . Your friend has al—
ready informed us that you are a lesbian.
What do you have to say to that?

Incidents were also reported Of mothers The Michigan Supreme Court reversed two
who were separated from FhElr children; lower court decisions January 17, and re—
prescription medic1nes confiscated; baggage stored custody of 12—year—old Jillian Mil—
searched for festival literature; etc. ler to her lesbian mother. It was the first

_ OUt going INS Commissioner Leonard Cas— time the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in a
tillo has ordered an investigation into his lesbian parent's favor, establishing that
agency's dirECt violation Of this new pol— lesbianism alone is not grounds for refus—
icy. ing custody.

— Lesbian Connection, Nov. 1979
LNS, Jan. 26, 1979 (via £9)