PT 30A9

KEPT TRUST A GABO HOIH

HIGH GEAR/AUGUST 1977

PAGE 18

OVENTRY BOOKS 1824

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TORONTO -

IT'S NOT PARADISEBUT I LIKE IT

By JOHN NOSEK

Embarking on a trip to Toronto, two friends and I were filled with high expectations some of which were met, others driven by the wayside. As so it is, perhaps, with any thriving metropolis. Situated on the clean shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto must surely be, at least from a visual perspective, the San Francisco of the east. With picturesque red street cars (which, sadly, were sold to this Canadian city by Cleveland), Toronto places great stock in restoration of the old and creative imagination in its selection of contemporary architecture. This is a walking city. People are out at all hours of the day and night, bathing in an international air of excitement not easily found in the States. But where San Francisco's gay scene appears to be omnipresent, Toronto's gay people can only be found in clusters around pre-designated locations.

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The city's gay life is a beehive of contradictions. When one first arrives in busy Toronto, it is wise to call the Gay Information Line (it's in the Book) for a listing of specialized bars and/or discos, baths and socio-political The organizations. covering the line when we called informed us that Toronto's baths and bars

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are owned by straights and are not very responsive to the political needs of the community.

Those we visited included St. Charles Place, an all-male sit down bar with a churning disco upstairs which goes on after hours (after 1 A.M.), the Parkside, also an all male spot which is so brightly lit as to remind one of a cafeteria and the Manatee (an after hours flash club for younger gays). Other bars worth noting are Studio Two, The Quest (current hot spots) and Jo-Jo's (which caters to both lesbians and gay men). Drinks are priced approximately 25% higher than in Ohio and some clubs levy a $3.00 cover charge with ticket drink exchange. Although Toronto cosmopolitan, liberal city, we were surprised and somewhat shakled to discover that it is illegal to walk around in a bar with an alcoholic beverage in hand. Patrons must be seated and/or standing in a stationary position while waiters or bartenders come to take their orders. This was intimidating and we

pointed out to new-found Canadian friends that a Cleveland or Ohio crowd would never stand for it. They responded, this has always been the case in Ontario and people simply learn to adapt.

The congenality of gay Canadians cannot be overstated. Gay people here are friendly without being overbearing and. as easy to approach as they are in initiating conversation. While politely aggressive in a true European-influenced tradition

on a social level, gay Torontonians, were observed, are politically passive. When we stopped outside of the Manatee for a breath of air, we were chagrined to see policemen scattering the gay crowd. Although the harassment appeared gentle enough, it was alarming in that directly next to the Manatee a group of straight people were not asked "to move along."

Toronto's gay scene appears to be victimized by the suppression of those in power (including anti-gay propoganda dispensed by the city's two daily newspapers). This, however, does not deter the activism of the city's residents. The Body Politic, truly one of North America's finest gay publications, finds its home in Toronto. Ohio tourists would be wise to visit The Politic's of fices, as they have an extensive archives section. gay A stop at the Glad Day Bookshop is also highly recommended. Here one can unearth

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much gay and lesbian European literature and magazines unavailable in the States. Two very active political and social groups include the Toronto Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) and the Community Homophile Association of Toronto (CHAT).

Sunday afternoon, before we

charted our five hour drive toward home, we took a ferry from downtown Toronto to Hanlin Island which houses a lengthy stretch of beach inhabited almost exclusively by gay men and lesbians. The trip proved to be a weekend highlight as people here seemed unabashadly free, an. Eden on the lake. Several lesbians bathed in the nude (topless) and while the men did not (apparently there was a crackdown last summer), they changed into swimming suits most casually and yes, ritually.

During our stay we also took in Toronto's standard tourist fare. Ontario Place and the awesome Needle Point Tower were worthwhile though the latter was a flagrant rip-off at $2.75 a head. David Rabe's play "Streamers" which sports a symbolic homosexual theme is playing at the Toronto Arts Center and is a must-see production for theatre buffs. And Toronto's restaurants lived up to their world-wide reputations.

Toronto is an endearing city of contrasts. Each trip I make there makes me appreciate it and my home town of Cleveland a little more. From a comprehensive viewpoint, Toronto is what Cleveland should have been and still should be. Yet as a gay person, I'm glad to reside in Cleveland where the outside en-

vironment is less hostile and certainly more accepting of my life style.

I like Toronto. From its Victorian architecture slapped up against 20th century bravado to its relatively safe streets to its hospitable gay people, Toronto rates an "A" in this man's book. By the time you read this, I'll be on my way for a return weekend visit. Why not join me this time out?....I'll recognize you by your Cleveland T. shirt....