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HIGH GEAR/AUGUST 1977

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ANTI-GAY HYSTERIA PLATO ON GAYS

RIDDLES TORONTO

·

TORONTO As High Gear went to press, we discovered that Toronto has been gripped by a wave of anti-gay hysteria. On July 28, 12 year old Emanuel Jaques, a shoeshine boy, vanished from Yonge Street. Three days later, his body was found on the roof of a Yonge Street sex shop. Jaques had died of asphyxiation by drowning. Four men, ages 26-41 have been charged with his murder and have thrown the city of Toronto into emotional upheaval.

Two days after the incident, nearly two hundred people marched to Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall. Young children held signs that read, "Kill Sex Perverts Jail's Too Good" and "Give Us Back Capital Punishment." Later, as the mayor (Crombie) spoke to marchers, an elderly woman began sobbing loudly. As the television cameras zoomed in, she cried, "Dirty homosexuals, homosexuals.... They're ruining where I live. Homosexuals, lesbians. They're smoking marijuana and

everything...."

At the boy's funeral the next day, a man was peddling a petition which was headed "STAMP OUT GAYS AND BODY RUBS." He claimed to have collected 1000 signatures.

The Toronto Globe and Mail has sensationalized this murder

and its supposed link to gay people considerably and unjustly. On August 3, it ran an interview with two male hustlers ("Professional

homosexuals')

which portrayed a distorted picture of gay life replete with prostitution, bizarre sex games and young boys. To date, surveillance of the Globe and Mail has yielded only one small article which presents the

prevalent side of gay life. The spot attributed a comment to a gay activist that read, "Homosexuals are just as shocked and outraged (at this murder) as anyone else." The spokesperson added that if heterosexuals were involved, the incident wouldn't have been so sensationalized and that 95% of child molestations are committed by heterosexuals.

No backlash against gays has yet occured, though the local media seems to have sown the seeds. Gay Ohio visitors to Toronto should not necessarily discard their vacation plans,

but cautious discretion is advised. High Gear will have an update report on the situation next month.

(The following is an excerpt from The Symposium written by Plato about 416 B.C. It is one of the oldest defenses of gay males

and gay male relationships.)

........................

Those who are carved out of the archetypal male, pursue the male, and as they are maturing, being part of that male, are fond of men and enjoy lying with men and embracing them. These are the best of young men and the bravest.

Some call them shameless, but that is false; no shamelessness makes them do this, but boldness and courage and a manly force which attracts that which is similar. The proof is apparent: such men singular in public affairs.

are

Upon reaching manhood, they fancy young men and naturally do not trouble about marriage and getting a family, except where the law and custom compels them; they find it satisfying to live unmarried together. Such

a person is always inclined to be a lover or a beloved as he always welcomes what is like himself.

So when one of these meets his own proper half, whether lover or anyone else, then they are wonderfully overwhelmed by affection and intimacy and love, and one may say never wish to be apart for a moment.

These are the ones who remain together all their lives, although they could not say what they expect to get from each other; for no one could suppose that this is a purely sensual union, as if this could make anyone delight in another's company so seriously as all that. Plainly the soul of each wants something elsewhat, it cannot say, but it divines and guesses what it wants.

And as they lie together suppose Hephaistos were to stand beside them with his tools, and ask, "What do you want from each other, men?" And if they were at a loss, suppose he

should ask again, "Is it only that you desire to be together as close as possible, and not to be apart from each other night or day? For if that is what you desire, I am ready to melt you and weld you together, so that you two may be made one, and as one you may live together as long as you live, and when you die you may die still one instead of two, and be yonder in the house of the dead together...If that were offered, we know that not a single one would object, or be found to wish anything else; he would simply believe he had heard that which he had so long desired, to be united and melted together with his beloved, and to become one from two. For the reason is that this was our ancient natural shape, when we were one whole; and so the desire for the whole and the pursuit of it is named love.

-PLATO

"OHIO" PROUDLY PRESENTS the 6th ANNUAL "Miss Gay Ohio Pageant 1977"

September 3rd 1977

Showtime 9:00 P.M. Doors Open At 7:00 P:M.

Special Guest MISS VICKY ST. CLAIR (Miss Gay Ohio 1976)

WINNER RECEIVES $500.00

ADMISSION: $5.00 Per Person (NOW)

AT THE DOOR$7.00 per Person

B.Y.O.B.

Tickets Are On Sale in Canton At The 540 Club

AMERICAN LEGION HALL 1439 CLEVELAND AVE. N.W.

CANTON, OHIO

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W.B. SCHUMACHER 1201 DELAWARE AVE. S.W. CANTON, OHIO 447 10