NEWS
HIGH GEAR/APRIL 1977
A THEOLOGY OF SEXUALITY Photos by Al Morrill
Cleveland During their April 1-2 lecture series at Amassa Stone Chapel, the Rev. John McNeill (author of The Church and The Homosexual) and Dr. W. Norman Pittenger (an Anglican theologian from Cambridge University in England) both called for the acceptance of gay people by all Christian churches and for a theology of sexuality
Photo by Al Morrill
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McNeill developed three theses in his presentation. First, he proposed that since God created human nature and homosexuality exists in all races and cultures of the world, then gay people are surely a part of God's plan. Secondly, McNeill argued that homosexuals have "particular gifts and sensibilities" which allow us to provide a wide range of human services to the society-at-large: "Accepting gay people would develop the humanness of mankind." Lastly, McNeill told the predominantly gay audience the love that exists among homosexuals is not sinful, is unlike the rape which is implied in Leviticus or the lust prevelant in the Sodom and Gommorah fable.
McNeill announced he himself was a celibate gay and that by working within the church, he could be most effective in: making change.
Vibrant and unorthodox, Dr. Pittenger entertained listeners with his wry sense of humor. Pittenger chided those who treat the Bible like "an encyclopedia dropped from heaven" and said, "As for the Baptists and fun-
damentalists, all we can do is pray for them and hope they'll die fairly soon."
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Pittenger's theories evolve around his premise that sexuality is not primarily reproductive. The negation of homosexuality by Christianity about through argument of "natural law." Its biological given the reproduction of the species was thus. considered "good," and since Thomas Aquinas said we should "avoid evil," homosexuality, not being conducive to reproduction, became undesirable.
Pittenger proposed that the grounds for an ethic for the homosexual man or woman should not deal with absolutes but concern itself with constructs which denote either
it's then unnatural to pick up a. pen and write a poem?"
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Pittenger argued that we must meet Biblical objections, but encouraged the development of a profounder philosophy a human existence made to be loving. "If the Bible seems to say otherwise," said Pittenger, "I'll try to explain it. If that doesn't work, so much for the Bible..."
Nearly 200 people came to see the three lecture presentation sponsored by CWRU's Hallinan Center and Dignity/Cleveland. The event received significant coverage in the local Plain Dealer as well.
BOO WATSON
good, better or best. After all, IN CONCERT
noted Pittenger, "God must like sex. He made it."
During a question and answer period, McNeill disclosed his feeling that the greatest objection to gays is based on "human nature." What can two penis' or two vaginas do with each other? Is this not a distortion of God's
Oven Productions and Wages For Housework present Boo Watson in concert, Saturday, April 16, at 8:30 p.m. The concert will be held at 2728 Lancashire in Cleveland Heights. Admission is $2. Free child care is provided by reservation; call 281-9962. The public is invited.
Boo Watson is "a woman singing about women." She writes and sings her own songs in a country rock style, accompanying herself on guitar and piano. Boo lives in Toronto; she comes to Cleveland and other Ohio cities as part of the Wages For Housework Campaign. The Campaign seeks to win wages for the millions of hours of unpaid work that women perform,. so that women can have choices about how they live their lives:
"If women were paid for all we do,
Just think what it would mean to me and you.
We'd have some money and some power, too;
Now ain't it amazing what wages do."
intentions? McNeill often quotes Kierkegaard when responding to these inquiries: "What differs Oven Productions believes it's the human from other animals is vital that issues of economic that every individual is more impower common to all womenportant than the species." be explored and expressed in McNeill expressed consterthe context of women's culture. nation over why the only animal functions ever attributed to humans are restricted to the genitalia. Added McNeill: "People say our hands, for example, were originally made to use tools and build. Perhaps,
The concert is presented as a unique consciousness-raising and sharing experience.
COLUMBUS WOMEN PRESS POLITICIANS
COLUMBUS
Three mem-
Ibers of the Central Ohio Lesbians met with City Council member Chas. Mentel on March 14 and report that Mentel is not the adamant adversary to gay rights he was three years ago. On the other hand he doesn't quite believe that gay people
suffer "life threatening" discrimination even though he realizes that the Columbus police ask the curious question on their entrance exam, "Have you ever had sexual relations with someone of the same sex?"
The C.O.L. political task force also met with Rep. V. Aveni and made an initial contact with Rep. Brooks. Meetings are scheduled with Senators Schwarzwalder and Bowen. Senators Roberto 18th district and Senator Nabakowski13th district-Lorain rebuffed contacts for meetings. Roberto claims he is interested only in hearing from his own constituents and Nabakowski just is not interested.
em-
To date, C.O.L. offers the following tally on a gay rights bill that would include ployment protection, housing, public accommodations and child custody: Pro: Stinziano, Aveni, Brooks (?), Lehman (?), Norris (???), Schwarzwalder (?), Valiquette (?) Against: Roberto, Nabakowski.
The Central Ohio Lesbians are asking all Columbus people interested in joining them on their "gay missions" to the statehouse to please get in touch with them. No experience is necessary. Call C.O.L. at (614) 291-9114 or write them at Box 8393, Columbus, O. 43201. The next political task force meeting is Mon. April 18. (News, Courtesy Central Ohio Lesbians Newsletter).
PAGE 5
ROREM'S PULITZER
American composer Ned Rorem was awarded the 1976 Pulitzer Prize in music for his composition, AIR MUSIC, which was written originally under a commission from Thomas Schippers and the Cincinnati Symphony for the Bicentennial.
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Rorem stated in a New York Times interview that AIR MUSIC was one of seven compositions commissioned almost simultaneously. Although from different sources, the compositions are thematically related. Of these, four are orchestral works: ASSEMBLY AND FALL, BOOK OF HOURS, AIR MUSIC and SKY MUSIC. One is a group of eight piano etudes, and two are vocal compositions: SONGS FOR VOICES WOMEN'S and SERENADE. SERENADE is a work for voice, viola, violin and piano and was commissioned by a group of people from Akron.
Aside from musical composition, Ned Rorem is also noted as the author of musical textbooks (including MUSIC FROM THE INSIDE OUT), musical criticism CRITICAL AFFAIRS and somewhat notorious diaries (PARIS, NEW YORK and FINAL). The diaries chronicle his gay life and loves with unabashed candor and not a little wickedness.
It is refreshing to note that the Pulitzer Prize Commission bases its awards on the pure talent and humanity of an individual without considering race, creed or sexual orientation.
OVEN'S WALLFLOWER ORDER
Oven Productions presents Wallflower Order in a performance of dance entitled "Collections for Her Story," Friday, April 22, at 8:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Auditorium of Tri-C Metro Campus. Admission is $3 advance, $3.50 at the door, under 12 and over 60 $1. Free child care is provided by reservation; call 371-1697.
On April 23, Wallflower Order, will conduct a workshop from 13 pm at the Mather Gym on the Case Western Reserve University campus. The workshop will combine movement and discussion and is free of charge. Call 371-1697 for information and reservations..
Wallflower Order is an ex-
perientially oriented dance collective of five women, each of whom has had training in ballet, modern, and jazz dance. The pieces they create and perform are highly personal, coming directly from their life experiences, relationships with each other. They are involved in a conscious process of relating the personal experience to its political meaning; their intent is to present conscious, personal art and culture that speaks to people's lives.
"Collections for Her Story" is an imagistic presentation of women's lost and forgotten herstory, based on factual accounts and the myths and legends that help fill the missing pages. It is
an attempt to recreate and visualize women's events and evolution, interweaving the past and present. To achieve their goal, Wallflower employs a wide assortment of techniques: theatrical effects, lighting, music, sounds, and the spoken word. Susie Milleman, who wrote much of the show's music, is touring with Wallflower, and performs her own pieces.
"Dynamic energy, soft sensuousness; running, leaping, turning; youthful exuberance, ancient wisdom; sometimes subtle and enigmatic, sometimes direct, broadly humorous. Watching Wallflower dance for the first time is like being struck by lighting."