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History: TV Show Exposed Police Harassment
In August of 1971, WGR-TV Channel 2 aired an eight-part television series that not only depicted Buffalo’s gay life, but brought harassment and entrapment charges against the Buffalo Police Department.
The charges, directed specifically against Captain Kenneth Kennedy, head of the Vice Squad, were made by three members of the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier. Kennedy, who had come up against the Mattachine Society on a number of occasions, had repeatedly denied the use of entrapment by members of his vice squad.
Kennedy stated that law enforcement against gay people in Buffalo was necessary because “young lads could be taken advantage of unknowingly.” This assertion was rejected by a Buffalo psychiatrist who participated in the television show.
Kennedy was also asked how he could possibly defend discriminatory law enforcement against gay people.
“My men have an awesome responsibility,” he said. “We direct our activity where youths are involved or public solicitation.”
He stated that gays having sex in private were not targeted unless “we secure evidence in this area. We’ll make an arrest because it’s still a violation of the law. [Furthermore] it is necessary to protect children and the heterosexual community if their sense of decency is offended.”
- Madeline Davis is the director of the Buffalo GLBT Archives. Contact the Archives via e-mail at buffalo.glbt.archives.
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