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HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment, and with any organization, that will permit distribution. We are a non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the use of the GEAR Foundation's Community Center.
The presence of the name or picture or other representation of an organization, place of business, or person(s) in HIGH GEAR is not necessarily indicative of the sexual orientation of such organizations, businesses, or persons, and may not be used as evidence of the sexual orientation of any contributors.
We welcome all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography by members of the gay community. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editorilization. We cannot guarantee the return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, unless it is accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Anyone interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR should inquire by calling 696-5330, or write to HIGH GEAR STAFF, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.
Businesses or oragnizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by calling 696-5330, or writing to Advertising, HIGH GEAR, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101.
The deadline for HIGH GEAR publication dates is as follows: Advertising by the 30th of every month, camera-ready and composition ads. Written material by the 5th of every month. News items until publication.
HIGH GEAR is available at bars, baths, universities, businesses and elsewhere the second Friday of every month.
HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless, either written or verbal permission is obtained.
донововод
HOBOROZONONO
Managing Editors
Advertising Coordinator
Art Direction.......
Photography.....
General Staff..
STAFF
John Nosek, Leon Stevens
......Matt Phillips .Rudolf Haaken .Chris Jacobson
..Don Avery, Peter Barrosse
Rudolf Haaken, David Holleb, Jerry Juszczyk, John Kline, Marc Lewis, Dee Lorenz, Donna Minkler, Matt Phillips, Anne Ritchey, John Vogel
Published by..... The Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation
Circulation
Distribution.
.10,000 ..Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts., Columbus, Dayton, Kent, Lima, Toledo, Warren, Youngst
Eric returns to Shaker
HIGH GEAR
LETTERS
(The following refers to My Fantasies by Rudolph Haaken which appeared in our last month's issue.)
Hi Rudolph,
I've never written a letter to anyone whose article I've read, but I just had to write you. Your fantasies are unreal! They so closely parallel my own childhood fantasies, I can hardly believe it! I'm twenty-four and I've just come out. It's nice to know someone else has shared my fantasties.
I agree with all your choices The Lone Ranger, Robin Hood, Tarzan and the Justice Leaguers (especially the guy who could run super fast. I forgot his name Flash?) but he wore red tights and a mask, and he really turned me on). Also there's a couple you didn't mention whom I enjoyed.
One was Robert Fuller in "Laramie" with his painted on jeans. Many a fantasy I had of being draped over his shoulder or being dragged out of the line of fire by him as the ground rubbed against my skin-tight denims. There was also Lloyd Bridges, in "Seahunt." We had many hand-to-hand struggles. while wearing wet-suits, either in the water or on the beach. I loved wrestling too, even though. I would dream I was in the ring wrestling desperately to get out from under a wrestler. I never succeeded, but it was fun trying.
Thanks a lot for your article. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories, and it made me feel not so weird after all.
B.N. -Cleveland
Dear High Gear:
As a heterosexual woman, I'm not sure if you will print this in your publication. But it is, in a strange way, a thank-you note to you. A little time back my son told my husband and me that he was a homosexual. Both my husband and I were shocked and ashamed. We didn't want anything to do with our son. We felt he had a mental problem.
But a little while after that I found several magazines for homosexuals. After reading several of them, homosexuals didn't seem So sick. After reviewing your High Gear newspaper, I came to face reality a bit more concerning homosexuals. It was your articles etc. which made me understand homosexuals.
Thank you for letting me keep my son and still be proud of him. Sincerely,
Mrs. Claudia Zamarek -Cincinnati
December 1975
Movie Leaders
Defend Pasolini's
Last Film
PARIS Italian film directors and actors, among them Bernardo Bertolucci, director of Last Tango in Paris, attacked film censorship of the last film made by the late gay activist Marxist Pier Paolo Pasolini, "Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom."
The film, being premiered at the international film festival here, received a mixed reception at a press showing. Torture and sex scenes were criticized. The film is about Facist Northern Italy in 1944.
Pasolini, 53, was found run over by a car November 2, on a road near the beach of Ostra, southwest of Rome. Giuseppe Pelosi, a 17 year old youth, was charged with the crime.
Vacation for Radio Lambda
CLEVELAND
WRUW (91.1
FM) the Case Western Reserve University radio station which originates "Radio Free Lambda" will be off the air from either Dec. 14 or Dec. 17 until the first week in January because of the winter break at the university. "Lambda" will return when WRUW does in January.
Media Watching
In this time when the mass media influences so many people in their everyday outlook, it is becoming increasingly important that gay people make their voices heard regarding how they are represented in movies, television, newspapers and magazines. It is from the mass media, that daily deluge of information that programming and advertising executives spoon-feed the American public, that non-gays often receive their only impressions of the gay minority.
The majority of non-gays never have the chance to honestly talk with gay people, so the media becomes the sole source of information that they have about us.
It is important, therefore, that we are represented in the media in an honest and appropriate manner. In order for straights to see gays as anything other than limp-wrists or foot-stomping dykes, the spreading of false information and the reinforcement of stereotypes in the media must come to an end.
When an inaccurate representation of gays comes across the in living color, the average non-gay (or uninformed.
screen
by Peter Barrosse
closeted gay) is likely to accept the falsehood as a truth, setting back the gay movement another step.
When the false information comes from an "expert" like good Dr. Rueben, the damage can be even greater. Not only must such negative portrayals be dealt with, but the censorship of positive information regarding the Gay Movement must also cease.
The only way that publishers and broadcasters are going to treat gays in an enlightened manner IS if we ourselves REACT to the images of gays and the gay lifestyle on the air and in print. It is sometimes the case that the editor or programming director is actually ignorant of the facts; it is our duty to inform them and let them know who we are and what we think.
REACTION, then is the key to influencing the media. When you see or read something that is offensive to you as a gay, COMPLAIN! In the case of radio and television, jot down the station, time, and the offensive remark. An immediate phone call may be appropriate, but in all cases a follow-up letter to the
Program or News Director is a must. If the offensive material is particularly upsetting, a call to the General Manager may be in order.
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If an inaccurate or offensive statement is discovered in newspaper or magazine, save the article for future reference. A letter to the Publisher or Editor will bring the matter to their attention. Even if you phone in a complaint, a letter should always be sent. (Retain a carbon copy for your own reference.)
Letters have a stronger, more definite impact than phone calls or postcards. If you cannot sign, make it a political statement by explaining that you cannot sign because of your oppression as a gay.
React not only to negative representation, but also to positive portrayals of gayness. The straight public cannot reshape their attitudes if they have no positive models of homosexual behavior to evaluate. Encourage media people to represent us in a fair manner, with some effort and a lot of postage stamps, we may make a dent in the straight consciousness, thus making strides in our struggle for basic human rights.