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HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment, and with any: organization, that will permit distribution. We are a non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the use of the GEAR Foundation's Community Center.

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HIGH GEAR

LOCAL ACTIVISTS

RESPOND TO COURT DECISION

CLEVELAND

KENT-Within

hours of the Supreme Court. ruling which declared state antisodomy laws constitutional, local gay activists appeared on area media. Four GEAR board members participated in a 2 1/2 hour telephone exchange on radio station WSUM-AM.. Questions were taken from the listening audience.

The very next day GEAR contacted all TV stations and selected radio programs for air time. Appearances were arranged for WEWS-TV's In My Opinion and Inner Circle where David Fisher, ACLU representative, joined a GEAR board member to discuss legal ramifications of the Court's decision. Also scheduled is an appearance on WVIZ-TV, Channel 25's Kamm's Corner. The In My Opinion segment, follows:

"This week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6 to 3 decision that a state can prohibit homosexual acts between consenting adults in the privacy of their own bedrooms. The court made this ruling without listening to a single argument from the defense. We at the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation feel that no government has the right to interfere with the private lovemaking of its citizens. Fortunately, Ohio is one of 13 states which protects gays from barbaric government reprisals.

Last year both the American Psychological and Psychiatric Associations reaffirmed that homosexuality is not a mental disorder. We are gay and we I have no regrets.

We ask you to support us in obtaining the same rights and freedoms shared by other Americans. If the Supreme Court can invade our privacy, it can invade yours."

The Cleveland Gay Political Union penned a letter-news release and sent it to all major straight press and other mediachannels (specifically those who were not immediately responsive to GEAR contacts, ie., WJW-TV, WKYC-TV, and WERE Radio). The letter contained the following:

Dear Editors:

The recent Supreme Court decision upholding state antisodomy laws is a direct attack upon the right of individuals to act on their sexual orientation. For over a decade now, gay people have fought hard and won gains in civil liberties. In thirteen states, including Ohio, anti-gay laws have been abolished. Numerous states have incorporated job and housing protection for gay citizens. Recently, in our own area, Cleveland Hts. passed legislation prohibiting job discrimination against gay employees.

APRIL 1976

We feel the Supreme Court decision is an attempt to roll back the gains gay people have struggled for. The decision will give license to anti-gay sentiment which motivates cruel acts of violence against us. We want the right to express our love the way we want and with whom we want.

Gay people refuse to be discouraged by this measure, and we will continue to fight for our civil liberties.

M. Gravatt R. Lander L. Stevens

Sincerely yours,

B. Keenan J. Juszczky J. Nosek

Cleveland Gay Political Union

Kent Gay Liberation also moved quickly in response to the Court in the Akron area. Bill Hoover spoke on pop radio station WHLO and another KGLF spokesperson was interviewed on WAKR-TV, Channel 23.

The response of local activities was immediate, determined, and overtly aggressive. As one activist put it, "The Supreme Court ruling will either make gays increasingly militant or drive us back into the closet. We would only betray our people and ourselves by recoiling in defeat. For us, the fight has just begun."

Managing Editors

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STAFF

John Nosek, Leon Stevens

Matt Phillips

Rudi Haaken

Albert Morrill

Don Avery, Tom Eville, Rudi Haaken,

David Holleb, Jerry Juszczyk), Marc Lewis, A. Mark-Joseph, Mitchell Menigu, Donna Minkler, Abert Morrill, Matt Phillips, Aaron Ross, Anne Ritchey, John Vogel, Irene Zenska. Published by The Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation Circulation

10,000

Distribution Akron, Barberton, Berea, Canton, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts., Columbus, Dayton, Garfield Hts., Kent, Lakewood, Lima, Lorain, Mansfield, Sandusky, Steubenville, Toledo, Warren.

TWO NEW CLEVELAND BARS

CLEVELAND During the past month two more gay bars have made themselves known to the Cleveland scene. They are the Putty Cat Lounge at W 65th and Denison and the Market Pub on Abbey Ave. just east of the intersection of Lorain Ave. and W. 25th.

Besides being a bar, the Putty Cat offers a full menu to choose from seven days a week with special red snapper dinners or steak dinners on Fridays. On Friday each month Jan and Gaynell, the owners, offer a lob. ster night with a complete lobster dinner for $9. They emphasize that all food is freshly prepared; nothing is frozen.

Already a gathering place for Westsiders, the Putty Cat has

established a machine bowling league of 60 people.

The Market Pub (across Lorain Ave. from the West Side Market) opened its doors for business on Saturday, March 27. Sharon, the manager, says that the Pub will be open to the public until about May 1, when it will become a private key club. Annual membership fee for the club will probably be $2.50. Also around May 1, they are planning to add go-go boys.

To get Clevelanders acquainted with Market Pub there will be a Grand Opening Birthday Party with free food and champagne on Friday, April

30.

Both bars have adequate off street parking.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ANNE W.H.?

PROVINCETOWNFormer Cleveland gay activitist AnnWeld-Harrington has surfaced to prominence in Provincetown, Massachusetts where she has been residing for more than two years. She is currently running for the office of Selectperson in Provincetown. Ms. Harrington was a controversial figure in Cleveland. As Co-chairperson of the local Gay Activist's Alliance, she struggled to further gay liberation in the face of in-creasing apathy and disillusionment within the Movement, and straight hostility without. Her enemies branded her "arrogant" while her friends characterized her as "spunky."

According to Boston's Gay Community News, Harrington is one of five candidates running for the single position, campaigning as an open lesbian. She hopes to win via a large gay vote potential and progressive straight support. Her platform in-. cludes heavy emphasis on welfare issues, as much of Provincetown's population is

supplements. Also of concern to Harrington are the Cape Marina and fishing industries.

Harrington boasts many accomplishments toward gay

liberation including the organization of the recent New England Gay Conference which attracted over 300 people.

seasonally unemployed and Ann Weld-Harrington, candidate for Selectperson in Provincetown.

dependant on governmental

Photo, Courtesy Gay Community News