COMMUNITY VOICE

HIGH GEAR/AUGUST 1977

GAY VS. HOMOSEXUAL: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

In my article of last month's High Gear ("Is There Love After Sex?"), I attempted to make a distinction between someone who is gay from someone who is "merely homosexual." This seemed to have little more effect than reflecting my personal opinion and bias, when what I was trying to do was objectively define different levels of sexual consciousness. At the risk of over-labelling,

over-defining,

and over-classifying a subject as inherently nebulous as this (a transgression of which I have been accused before), I feel a discussion on "gay VS. homosexual" is long overdue and I hope this essay will stimulate such a discussion:

A few years ago, before Stonewall and the activism it helped engender, the oppressions of society and ourselves upon our lifestyles minimized any distinctions

among those who had a preference for others of the same gender. There just wasn't any appreciable number of gay people, only homosexuals. There were closeted ones, promiscuous ones, and celibate ones, but they all looked upon themselves more in a physical context than in an emotional one. These were the times of the grubby little bars, police and public harassment, restrooms with telephone numbers scrawled on the walls. The homosexual opened himself just enough for a few physical encounters cloaked in anonymity. There was no real sense of community; indeed, it was difficult not to feel alone.

In the past decade, however, changes have begun and are accelerating. The concept of a "community" has become palatable; people are no longer as likely to hide their feelings.

PUSHING FRIENDS

It's excruciatingly difficult to give up any activity one has invested emotional and intellectual energy in; there comes a time, however, when one must re-establish personal priorities and chart a more self-fulfilling course. When she resigned her positon as editor of Gay Community News, Lyn Rosen observed that the average life span of an intense activist is two years. I am inclined to agree.

These past 28 months of being associated with High Gear have been to this point the highlight of my turbulent life. I have been able to participate in a renaissance of Cleveland gay life that is historically unprecedented. So many goals were achieved. Three years ago who would have thought Cleveland would have a gay switchboard, community center, a gay newspaper and a bars and baths scene that surely ranks in the major leagues?

Of course, much more needs to be accomplished. We continue to need an active political organization which will fight for local civil rights and we must expand our educational efforts to the community-at-large. In time, with the momentum of activism on the upswing here, i have no doubts, these objectives will be attained.

While on the soapbox, I'd like to take the opportunity to encourage High Gear readers to explore three out-of-state newspapers which have been a per-

sonal inspiration to me as an editor. Highest on the list is the only gay weekly in the U.S. Boston's Gay Community News. National in scope, GCN is unquestionably the best newspaper in the States. In Leon's and my two some odd years with High Gear, we have always viewed GNC as our staunchest political ally; and we urge those H.G. readers who understood and appreciated our policies on sexploitation to support GCN as well. Check their classified ad in this issue for subscription information. Also, Iwell worthy of praise are Toronto's Body Politic and Chicago's Gay Life, both of which are available at Conventry Books in Cleveland Hts.

From an editorial perspective, we have emulated the high ideals established by these fine newspapers, adding, of course, a very special Cleveland touch. Well, friends, thank you for having read High Gear in the past. Without your steadfast support, we couldn't have lasted as long as we have. The next couple of months will no doubt be shaky for the newspaper, due to the transition period, but bear with us. I am increasingly amazed at the stamina and loyalty of Cleveland's gay activists. They have no match.

Fondly,

John Nosek Former editor of High Gear

The term "gay" evolved, and was eventually coined by people who their complemented physical attractions to others of the same gender with an emotional sense of commitment to a particular lifestyle that enables them to augment their sexuality with a sense of culture. People identifying themselves as gay sublimated their affections beyond anonymous sex to a lifestyle wherein long-term relationships became more common and emotional commitment became as important as or more important than physical prowess. The part of the anatomy above the shoulders began to assume priority over the parts below the waist.

It has been during this relatively recent fruition of the gay rights movement that the distinction between someone who is gay from someone who is ("merely") homosexual has

arisen. For, much as we would like to think that the gay rights movement with its attendant phenomena of gay pride, consciousness, and culture are universal in appeal among us, we must realize that in this era of gay enlightenment there are still a lot of homosexuals who are unwilling or unable to look upon their sexuality as more than a physical pleasure, an ephemeral climax obtained in toilet stalls and public parks.

The basic difference between gay people and homosexuals is their respective levels of sexual consciousness. It is this sexual consciousness that motivates their actions and dictates their interest in others of like mind. Thus, gays will be more likely to meet other gays at pride marches, and homosexuals will be more likely to meet other homosexuals on street corners. The function of gay bars and the

HIGH GEAR STAFF PARTY Standing, Dan Miecznikowski and Anita Bryant. Seated, Bob Kovach, Michael Dubiecki, Leon Stevens and John Nosek.

Let us be hermits-together.

Ruwenzori

In this crazy conglomeration called the world

It is nice to know one can decline in this life, be sublime recluse. Let us be alone-together

Your cabin, the lake, the trees, and mountains Are all the companions we need. Let us be nothingness-together. For when we are together, we are everything. Let us be.

IT'S A MINIMUM, NOT A COVER

Dear Friends,

This letter is in regard to Mr. Ron Meyers' letter in reference to "cover charge rip offs." I'm sure Mr. Meyers has Traxx in mind when he states that Cleveland-area gay bars charge $1 at the door.

Where Mr. Meyers should get his facts straight is that since we have opened we have never charged a cover. We do, however, charge a one-dollar

minimum, which in turn allows the customer to receive a onedollar drink at the bar.

We have now implemented this policy to cover seven nights per week. This insures that customers will have at least one drink and helps keep out some people who do not belong in a gay bar.

If Mr. Meyers is the businessman he says he is, I would like to tell him that the first night we

incorporated the $1 minimum we turned away 50 people who did not even have a dollar. These people would take up needed space and panhandle drinks from paying customers!

We at Traxx have never charged a cover to one gay customer.

Thank you for listening to our side. Sincerely,

Hank Berger, President

For Marsha from Lynn

PAGE 7

by Dennis Highland

different types of bars cater to different levels of sexual consciousness.

The homosexual is a remnant of the past. As the sanctions of society are gradually removed, the homosexual can become more and more a victim of his own oppression. He represents the mindless lust and stereotypical behavior that has become anachronistic in the gay movement. And although he stands to gain most from an enhancement of his sexual consciousness, he compulsively avoids anything that may provide him with such an enhancement. For example, it is a sobering realization that those who stand to gain most from reading journals such as the High Gear are the least likely to look at such a paper in the first place.

The gay person is quickly becoming the characteristic of the present and the hope for the future. The physical is allied with the mental; blatant, empty promiscuity is being transformed into a sense of commitment to self and community. Sexual consciousness is elevated from mere selfgratification to a sense of sharing and mutual joy. Gay love at last is becoming less of an exception and more of a rule. The gay person isn't alone; he knows this and revels in this knowledge.

If we are to expect our advances in gay rights to continue, those of us who are still homosexual must try to become gay. We have to allow our physical impulses to expand to encompass our mental ones. We have to break the debilitating stereotypes and be ouselves, commited to our own lifestyles and the lifestyles of those who share our affectional preferences. We need to strengthen our unity based upon mutual love, for it is only through such unity that we will be able to obtain basic rights and inherent dignities enjoyed by the straight majority.

Most importantly, we must be proud of ourselves and project this pride. Being gay is something of which we can be proud; being homosexual is not. Before we can expect respect from others we have to be able to respect ourselves. For this, gay is the way.

GODMOTHER'S Do

1014 E. 63rd St.

Kimberly Adrian & Co. Saturday

Aug. 20-10:30

Tiffani Middlesexx Mona Desmond

ONE BLOCK NORTH OF ST. CLAIR JUST EAST OF E. 55TH ST.