APRIL 1976

IS THE POPE GAY?

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VATICAN CITY On April 5 Pope Paul VI refuted printed accusations that he is homosexual. He called them "horrible and slanderous insinuations."

The charges were made by French author Roger Peyrefitte, a self-proclaimed homosexual, in a 3000 word article printed by the Italian weekly magazine, Tempo.

In his article, originally written for a French sex magazine, Peyrefitte wrote: "I said in my last book with all due respect to a Pope, especially a living one, that he was a homosexual. It's well known that Paul had as a boyfriend a movie actor whose name I am not going to mention but whom I recall very well."

In an address to a crowd of 20,000 people in St. Peter's Square; Pope Paul responded: "We know that our cardinal vicar and the Italian bishop's conference have urged you to pray for our humble person, who

has been made the target of scorn and horrible and slanderous insinuations by a certain -press lacking dutiful regard for honesty and truth. We thank you all for these demonstrations of faithful piety and moral sensibility."

A "day of consolation" for the Pope was called and special prayers were said in all churches across the country.

Police have seized Tempo in Florence on orders from a state attorney and a lawsuit has been filed against the magazine editor for "abusing the honor of the Pope, as the head of a foreign state," a crime in Italy.

In the early 1950's Peyrefitte's book Saint Peter's Keys was seized by police in Italian bookshops on grounds it abused religion. In 1958 Peyrefitte was expelled from Italy following a written attack against Pope Pius XII who did nothing to help the victims of Nazism.

CAPOTE IN CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND

Author

Truman Capote lectured a jampacked Western Cuyahoga Community College audience March 17. Here to push his latest novel, Answered Prayers, Capote was asked the following by a High Gear staff person:

Question: Mr. Capote? Often Proust deals with homosexual themes, and I'm interested in finding out if you've dealt with homosexuality in any of your writings, or if you intend to.

Answer: My first book, Other Voices, Other Rooms, was entirely about it. Not entirely, but that was the intent of the book. And I think it was one of the first books it was published in 1948 and the whole denouement of

the book, that was what it was about. In this new novel of mine, Answered Prayers, it's dealt with in a much more realistic way. Other Voices, Other Rooms is rather impressionistic, poetic novel, but this new novel of mine is very realistic. And I think you'll find it dealt with to your full satisfaction.

During his speech Capote indulged in a number of sexual innuendos, some of which went pointedly over many of the audience's heads. le., "Answered Prayers is the most complicated and ambitious piece of writing I've ever done. I know it's long. Not that I consider length a virtue, at least not in literature..."

MCC AKRON

CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

AKRONOn March 14 the Metropolitan Community Church of Akron celebrated its second year. From a small group of a dozen and a half to now a congregation of 90 the past two years have been good for this new born church. In March of 1974 Joel Kauhl made his first outreach to Akron with the original service of MCC at the Unity Church on West Market. That first service was conducted by the founder and Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Church the Reverend Troy Perry. The present pastor, Rev. Stan Roberts remembers that first service as being the single most outstanding challenge placed before the Akron community in many years. Little did he know that just two

years later he would be sharing the second anniversary of a growing congregation.

MCC Akron became a full Charter Church in January and now has a full time pastor and enjoys the growth and strength of two years of hard work. To celebrate the Second Anniversary of MCC the founder Joel Kauhl was brought to Akron from Dallas, Texas. Over one hundred people gathered at the Unitarian Universalist in Akron for the celebration.

The District Coordinator of the Great Lakes District of UFMCC was also present to participate and be a part of the ceremony. The congregation of MCC Akron wishes to thank every one who has played a part in these past two years of growth.

HIGH GEAR

COMMUNITY CENTER OFF THE GROUND

CLEVELAND On Monday March 29, the first meeting for planning a Cleveland-area Gay Community Services Center was held at the home of Don Skaggs, Assistant Director of the Gay Switchboard-Hotline, and Dan Richmond, M.C.C. Eighteen people were in attendance and represented the following groups: C.A.L.F.A., Dignity. Community of Celebration, the G.E.A.R. Foundation, the Switchboard-Hotline, Radio Free Lambda, Gay Alcoholics. American Civil Liberties Union. M.C.C., the Free Medical Clinic of Cleveland, High Gear the Ohio East Gay News and other private individuals. Philosophy of the Center and

what services should be offered was the main concern of the meeting. Two committees were formed, one to locate possible buildings for the Center, and one to do finances, fund-raising benefits, and public relations. The idea was proposed to find a large space to house any gay organization that wishes to be part of the Center, and to have large rooms available for meetings, dances, etc.

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The services the Center would hope to provide include a coffee house, a library. job and housing placement. ride board, professional and peer counseling and other mental · needs, a medical and V.D. Clinic, referrals to social

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services or any other needs not supplied by the Center, the Switchboard-Hotline and offices for various organizations.

Also considered was auditorium or stage space to run theatre, films and lectures. Courses in various areas, or special interest groups would hopefully form and be offered at the Center. The next meeting of the Advisory Board for the Center will be held Monday April 12. If you wish to attend and to help in the organization, if you have expertise in any area, just want to volunteer, or donate funds, please contact the SwitchboardHotline, 696-5330 in the evenings.

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BENEFITS SET FOR COMMUNITY CENTER

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CLEVELAND A night of dancing, fun, and food has been planned to help make a Gay Community Center in Cleveland a reality. Since a committee has already been started to look for a building to house the center, funding of the center is eminent.

Two benefits have been planned by the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation to help pay for the

center.

The first benefit will be held Wednesday May 5, at the Shaker Club (2775 South Moreland just south of Shaker Square). All proceeds from the

$1.50

donation at the door will go toward the new community cen-

ter.

From 8 pm to 10 pm the Shaker Club will provide a free buffet for the people attending the benefit. Throughout the night door prizes, provided by area businesses, will be given away. In addition there will be a dance contest with prizes for the winners.

All people 21 and over are urged to come, have fun Wednesday May 5, and help bring the dream of a Cleveland Gay Community Center to fruition.

The second benefit is a movie theater party during the middle. of May. The exact date and picture are not yet finalized, but current plans call for an admission price of $5.00 which includes a free glass of champagne (soft drink substituted for those under age).

Student tickets will be available for a slightly lower price the night of the film. Patron tickets for a minimum of $15 (25 per couple) will entitle the holder to a private dinner buffet at the theater earlier in the evening.

FIGHTING THE S. 1 BILL

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WASHINGTON, D.C.S.1, the revision of the federal criminal code, is currently in full committee in the Senate. Nearly no information about the bill has been given to the news media, primarily because it is an election year. The bill, as High Gear readers may remember from past analyses, contains highly repressive measures which may squelch the freedoms of selfexpression we presently have. Particularly heinous are the anti-riot portions. A riot is defined as a gathering of ten or more people whose very .presence authorities conclude poses a threat to people or property (even if the crowd shows no violence). These provisions also strip away. the distinction between federal and state control of riots which means an individual can be convicted under both federal and state laws. Under the statute the government may argue that national security protection extends to any private industry which had, has, or will have some connection with the government (nearly all). This implies people cannot picket such arbitrarily designated places or strike them if they are employees. To do so would make them liable under federal sabotage laws, if S. 1 passed.

S. 1 is actually a rehash of the Nixon-Mitchell Kleindienst bill. Thus it should come as no surprise that another portion of the statute presents guidelines for "public duty." Should the President or other member of the executive branch order any

other government employee to willingly break the law, according to S. 1, s/he will be exempt from prosecution because the action came under "Presidential authority." This is exactly the same used argument by Haldeman and Ehrlichman in their defense of burglary, mail extortion, and other practices. Presently, there is an alternative to S. 1 in the House of Representatives. HB 10850. This proposal is also a revision of the criminal code, but has the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union.

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Ohio Senator Taft is a cosponsor of S. 1 and is currently sitting on the Judiciary Committee studying the bill. Other senators include Chairman Sen.

Eastland, another co-sponsor, Senators Edward Kennedy, Abourzek, Mansfield, Bayh, and Scott. ACLU especially encourages Ohioans to write Senator Taft and mention since he is up for re-election, the voter will seriously consider his stand

on S. 1. All Senators may be reached by contacting: Senator-

U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

ACLU strongly recommends we all severe, proposal.

write to protest this unconstitutional

New Gear

on May 14

Readers, please note: High Gear is available the second Friday of every month and has been for the past half year. As such, the May issue will be out as usual, the second Friday on May 14. We make mention of this because many readers are accustomed to looking for our newspaper one week after OEGN is made available. Next month, wait two weeks. Thank you.