Press Conference About The Lavender Panthers

KRON News footage from July 7th 1973 featuring brief scenes from a press conference by representatives of the Bay Area's gay community. They are speaking out against the Rev. Ray Broshears formation of the "Lavender Panthers," an armed group who would patrol Polk Street and South of Market, with the intention of defending members of the gay community against attack. Spokeman Frank Fitch of the Society For Individual Rights (SIR) states: "The Rev. Ray Broshears does not represent the gay community. While we recognize there does exist a climate of hate, fear and ignorance against gay people in this country ... We feel that the use of violence to respond to violence solves nothing. Indeed, it only escalates the climate of hate, fear and ignorance." Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.