DECEMBER 1976

S. BLEVINS

COUNCIL SUPPORTS GAYS-BARELY

meeting. A hat passed to provide funds for mailings to the members of the newly formed caucus resulted in a collection of $154.00.

CHICAGO At its annual convenors for a gay caucus of business meeting in Chicago, the NCTE. About fifty people aton November 27, 1976, the tended the organizational National Council of Teachers of English passed a resolution on discrimination against gay men and lesbians. The resolution passed by a vote of 102-96 of the membership attending the Crew and Stanley were active business meeting. Because the also in one of the convention five members of the sessions titled "Towards a organization's Resolution's Healthy Gay Presence in TextCommittee were split two for, books and Classrooms in two against and one abstaining Secondary Schools and on the question of submitting Colleges." Professor Crew the resolution to the member-chaired the session and ship, it was offered from the Professor Stanley read a paper floor by Louie Crew of Fort on "The Lesbian Perspective." Valley State College, Georgia, a Two representatives of Kent prominent gay activist. The State also read papers at the second spokesperson for the session, Deborah L. Core spoke resolution was Julia P. Stanley on "Love Between Women in of the University of Nebraska. the Novels of D.H. Lawrence." The resolution Whereas lesbians and Gay men read a paper titled "Theology are now and have always been and Literature: Genesis and present in society and members Dante on "Sodomy." Two other of our profession, both as interesting presentations were students and teachers, we the offered by Raymond Jean Fronmembers of the National Countain of Purdue University, whose cil of Teachers of English urge paper was titled "Paderasteia the immediate end of all the Classroom: Socrates, discrimination against them) Petronius, Henry James and Gay wherever it may

HIGH GEAR

EDITORIALS

MIXING WORDS

Inspired by feminist philosophy High Gear's editorial policy has strived (not always successfully perhaps) to eradicate some of the sexist presence in our vernacular. Unless articles are destined to deal specifically with one sex, the term "s/he" instead of "he" is used for first person pronouns. Likewise, "his or her" as a unit is applied to possessive adjectives. Individual members of our staff have also made a conscious effort to incorporate said usage in their conversational speech. We urge others to do the same.

Generically, "man" and "he" have long been used to denote humanity at large but historically (the emphasis is intentional) women, like gays, have largely been neglected by our patriarchal culture and language. Pick up any history book and the most you'll find about women's participation in the building of Western civilization

is a brief sub-topic (You'll be hard-pressed even find the word homosexual in any historical periodical, let alone any mention of our people's contributions).

In Guidelines for Equal Treatment of the Sexes, Alma Graham demonstrates that 'Man' is one of the most overworked nouns in the English language. For example, "Consider the congressman. He is the man of the people. To prove that he's the best man for the job, he takes his case to the man in the street. He is the champion of the working man. He speaks for the little man and he remembers the forgotten man. He speaks for the little man and he remembers the forgotten man. And he firmly believes in the principle: "one man, one vote." And, of course, let's not forget the deliveryman, repairman, fireman, chairman, anchorman, etc. etc.

Until 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court had repeatedly decreed

that women were not considered "persons" under the law! We hope it won't be 200 years before lesbians and gay men are granted the same recognition.

the

High Gear maintains irrevocably that gay politics and feminism are intricately entwined and our enemy woman-hating, homophobic patriarch is the same. Not only must gay people join women in a struggle for liberation, but we must share the lead in the language revolution.

So to hell with straight-male inspired words like "broad, chick, faggot, queer" and the use of "man" as the generic suffix for descriptive nouns. Up with "wo/mankind" and GAY." Each person can do "their part" to excise the cancer. (The use of "their" is not a grammatical error, despite what academicians may claim. Why say "he" when we can collectively say "their" or "our?.)

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

With the holiday season here, gay business enterprises are initiating benefits for such needy organizations as "Toys for Tots." While we laud the spirit of these acts of charity, we can't help but feel their focus is somewhat misplaced. At present, throughout the state, gay organizations, mostly comprised of volunteers, are crying for monies that would assist them in providing needed services to the gay community hotlines, professional counseling, VD tests, rap groups, etc., etc.

Even in this enlightened era, young (and old) gay people continue to commit suicide over their sexual orientation. Some are driven to manic depression over their inability to cope with the realities of a gay life style. And still others just coming out have no where to turn for

annual benefit(s) for volunteer gay groups, especially in lieu of the fact that similiar efforts are made for straight charities.

Such an initiative on an entrepreneur's part is certain to create goodwill among local gays and show the community there is an appreciation of patronage as well as a genuine interest in its welfare.

information on the gay subsponsor an annual or semiculture. Where do these people go when there are volunteers to implement services but no available funds? As demonstrated here in Cleveland, local gay groups are more than willing to work in cooperation with the bar business establishments. Indeed, one hand does wash the other. Businesses advertise in High Gear and permit the posting of organizational announcements while the Gay Switchboard refers people with inquiries about gay entertainment impartially to area spots, thus boosting local business.

But more can be done, and our alliances can grow stronger, not only in Cleveland, but everywhere in the state. High Gear feels it is not asking a great deal to request Ohio bar owners to

In whatever Ohio city Akron, Canton, Columbus, Toledo, Cleveland, et.al., we urge businesspeople who cater to a gay clientele to sponsor benefits for local gay organizations. After all, such a gesture can only enhance one's reputation where it's needed most. The holidays will be over in less than three weeks, but January's not too late.

reads: Sister Diane Culberston, O.P., SHANLEY INSULTS GAYS

A Guest Editorial

By Neil Caldwell

Gib Shanley, local television personality, insulted and outraged Cleveland's gay community on the 6:00 p.m.

broadcast Monday December 6. He and the remainder of the Eyewitness news team (WEWS-TV) were engaging in some idle chatter when the rebuff to Cleveland's gays was made.

news exist, Values in the Teaching of specifically in the hiring and English and Janet Cooper, a firing practices of our member of Pennsylvania Goverprofession, in the textbooks of nor Milton Shapp's Council on our discipline, and in our Sexual Minorities, who reported classroom practices and exon some of the materials that changes with students. We furher group had gathered relating ther urge that NCTE establish an to gay experiences. appropriate group charged with both investigating problems faced by Gay colleagues and students in the discipline of English and the formulating of recommendations to the Council concernin their welfare in the profession.

About seventy people were packed into the room where the session was held; many others listened in the hallway. The session adjourned after a comment to the chairperson urging him to tell the convention organizers to give the group a The preceding evening Crew meeting place next year larger and Stanley served as cothan a closet.

It all started when Dorothy Fuldheim made a remark about how it was customary in ancient times for men to paint and perfume their beards. Don Webster added that there were some places in Cleveland where this practice was probably still common. These comments were fine until sportscaster Gib Shanley said, "And over the

door of these places there's probably a sign that says HOMO SWEET HOMO."

At least 30 local gay activists heard this remark and began to call the station demanding that Shanley retract his statements and apologize to the gay community. The people in the news room were cordial to the callers and said that the station would review the tape of the show. As of press time Channel 5 has not issued any retraction or apology.

It's unfortunate that Cleveland's gay community must tolerate inadequate representation in the local straight media. When news people are allowed to make distasteful and oppressive remarks about gays, it's time for the gay community to respond and respond strongly!

What can we do? First of all, every time a remark is made, we should call the station and protest. Second, if there is no response after the initial call, let's call again and let them know we're still not satisfied, Third, write a letter to the station manager, or the Federal Communications Commission. We must let it be known that we will not put up with insulting. news reporting and/or commentary.

If another situation like this occurs, let's not sit back and take it. Let's begin the process by calling the station and then calling our friends, asking them to call as well. Maybe the next time, a repressive or offensive remark is made, the station will receive 500-1000 calls. It is then that they can hardly ignore us!