Wednesday, November 16, 1977
University Daily Kansan
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Staff Photo by PAUL ROSI
Gau activist
Leen Hopkins published of her book "I am Not Crazy, Just Different" last night at the Gay Services of Kansas meeting in the Kansas University. Hopkins read samples of her book at the event.
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Staff Writer
Gay is not crazy,
While a ballroom of Youth for Christ last night raised their voices in song praising the Lord, a former Playboy bumy turned-gayed, then turned-female, and adjoinning Pine Room of the Kansas Union.
"I love it," she said. "Background music for gay poetry."
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The gay activist, Lea Hopkins, read her poetry and recounted her experiences as a black, gay woman and unwed mother for 30 years at a Gay Services of Kansas meeting.
Her style was simple. Her message direct, Hopkins' first book, released yesterday, summed that message up: "I'm Not Crazy, Just Different."
"If you ever take all your strides and
minutes and make them plumes, you've got
to be ready."
"I'm a black, a lesbian, an unwed mother and a woman, but if you turn that around you will be a white
Hopkins, now a professional model for an independent agency in Kansas City, Kan., has been in charge of last July during a gay rally sponsored by the Christopher Street Association, a gay organization in Kansas City. She had organized the association three weeks before the rally.
She told the audience that she was in favor of people announcing their sexual preferences. "I do know if everyone who was gay came out, it would totally ruin the
Hopkins said her "coming out" has had no effect on her career.
"It's a lot easier for a hairdresser to be open than a president of a bank.
economic structure of the country," she said.
*WE’D NOT’ KNOW who we are. They (heterosexuals) don’t know who we are.*
She said she would advise gays to go into the business world without concealting their sexual preferences. One reason, she said, is that gays have more political pull than before.
"You may not get your job, or keep your job, but you' re gled you id it in the long run."
Hopkins admitted, though, that it was much easier to be gay on the East or West Coast than in the Midwest because the coasts were so far away that you come into the open is greater on the coasts.
Hopkins, a Kansas City native, went to New York 12 years ago to find out whether she was gay or just going through a phase or fantasizing.
"I'm glad I left. I know I could never have done it if I'd staved." she said.
HOPKINS RETURNED to Kansas City in 1974 to have her son, Jason.
"I wanted a child, so I had one," she said.
"Mothering had nothing to do with being gay. I'm a woman first and a lesbian second."
The child's father still lives in New York. Although she said she never sees him, she said he always had access to Jason. The father is aware that their relationship was solely for the purpose of her bearing a child, she said.
just different
"He knows now, he just doesn't know
he's called," she said. "He calls it
loves not."
She said she would tell her son she was gay when she felt it was necessary.
A MEMBER OF THE audience asked Hopkins how she managed living such an environment.
"I do it easily," she said. "It's not hard when it has to be done.
Such was the case when she became Kansas City's first black Playboy bunny in
A woman asked her last night, "Didn't you feel oppressed as a woman?"
"No. It was a job," she replied,
"and has to do it. The money was
faultful."
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She had no idea that she was the club's first black bunny.
Hopkins had originally gone to the Playboy Club to apply for a secretarial job when she was asked to apply for the bunny job.
ywwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
"I didn't know the NAACP had gone national against Playboy and wanted to see a black face in every club. Mine just haphazardly be the one that was there at the time."
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She said the bunny job was by no means easy. Her feet ached from the three-inch heels she wore and her body hurt from a suit she said no woman was built for. Most of her spare time was spent in loose T-shirts and shorts, she said, so her body could relax.
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She plans to do more writing. Her first book of lesbian-feminist poetry will be published in early 1978. Entitled "Womyn, Womyn," it outlips its entries reflect a self-assured style.
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She said she could not do it all So she is actively searching for other people who will be willing to stand up and speak out for gay rights.
Hopkins said she really did not know exactly what her future plans would be.
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Perhaps her entry "Lifestyles" sums up her personality best.
Lifestyles.
If I had to do it all over again, I would
You are cordially invited to attend State of Kansas Banquet for Higher Education
guest speaker
Former Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents
Glee Smith
Glee Smith
Presentation of the
Higher Education Leadership Award Higher Education Service Awards
Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award
Saturday, November 19, 1977
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Kansas Union Ballroom
The University of Kansas
$4.30 per person
Tickets available in Senate office level 2, Union
paid for by Student Activity Fees
November28-December 2
The Transcendental Meditation Program
Create an Ideal Society
The progress of society is founded upon the growth of consciousness of each individual.
Nikahuria, Nabihah Youi
Free Introductory Lecture
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas Union
Oread Room
For Information: 842-1225
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