HIGH

CEAR

Vol 4 A Publication of the GEAR Foundation Issue 4

HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (G.E.A.R.) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment and with any organization that will permit distribution. We are non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the Gay HotlineSwitchboard (216)-321-6632, the G.E.A.R. Foundation which sponsors the Cleveland Gay Community Center and other Ohio gay organizations.

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.

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 editorialization. We cannot guarantee the return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, unless they are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envolope.

All HIGH GEAR staff are volunteers. Anyone interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR should inquire by calling (216) 321-6632 or by writing to HIGH GEAR STAFF, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by writing to the above address.

Ine 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 will not publish material in which graphic or verbal representations of an ideal or idealized human body appear, except in the case of a performer or work of art which is the subject of the material. We also will not publish material of a racist, sexist, or pornographic nature. We reserve the right to alter and/or edit material to conform to the above standards; in the case of display advertising, after notifying the advertiser.

HIGH GEAR is printed the second Thursday of every month and available at bars, baths, universities, businesses and elsewhere thereafter.

HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Reproduction is granted to all other gay publications so long as credit is given to HIGH GEAR, All HIGH GEAR work is original unless otherwise noted.

Michael Prunty Aurthur Wieners Leon Stevens ! John Wagenhals Brian DeWitt

Tony Scafaro Neil Caldwell Ed Rawlings Robbie Robinson Terry McCormick Aaron Ross

Circulation

STAFF

Mark Kinsley Sadie Marat Steve Jobe

Dan Miecznikowski Sharon Kremer Mitchell Menigu Pat Henderson Larry Markusic Rudi Haaken Bill Smith Dennis Highland

12,000 plus Distribution........Akron, Athens, Barberton, Berea, Bowling Green, Brooklyn, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts., Columbus, Dayton, Fairview Park, Lakewood, Lima, Lorain, Munsfield, Middleburgh His., Oberlin, Painesville, Parma, Parma Hts., Piqua, Rockbridge, Rocky River, Sandusky, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown and points beyond.

There will not be a Gear Foundation Meeting in December due to the holidays. The High Gear Board wishes all of you Peace and Happiness of this holiday season

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HIGH GEAR/DECEMBER 1977

YOUNGSTOWN BAR-A-THON

Saturday, December 3rd marked the kick-off of Barbra Shargo's second annual BAR-ATHON for the benefit of St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Youngstown's Outpost hosted a 24 hour round-the-clock extravaganza that featured alternating half hours of shows and disco. Over 400 people turned out to help raise funds

Shows featuring the fabulous Barbra Shargo and the Angel Baker's Babydoll Revue generated enthusiastic and at times wild applause as they sang songs popularized by gay favorites Marilyn Monroe, Lisa Minelli, and others.

Audiences will next be delighted when the revue moves to Youngstown's popular Troubador Lounge on Saturday, December 10th. The addresses of all bars participating in the BAR-A-THON can be found in the Ohio Club and Entertainment Guide featured in each month's High Gear. The following Sunday, December 11th Barbara takes the show to

Akron's Gentlemen Pub.

Warren's Camel Lot Complex welcomes the show on Saturday, December 17th. The last performance will be held at Youngstown's Club 21 on December 18.

A trophy will be presented to the bar raising the most money on December 21 at the Troubadour Lounge.

Barbra told me at the Outpost that she was encouraged by the turnout and was confident that this year's effort would raise substantially more than last year's endeavor.

Barbra, the performers in the shows and the bar owners would like to encourage all gays in the area to turn out for at least one performance for this worth while charity. Gays have been bad-rapped constantly this past year. Let's show people what sensitive, responsive, warm, generous loving brothers and sisters we are. Help Danny Thoas help his dids and actively support the BAR-A-THON.

LEGAL SUPPORT

Sisters and Brothers:

As part of a large national progressive legal organization, we want to publicly affirm our . committment to the Gay rights struggle. The National Convention of the National Lawyers Guild recently recently passed a resolution in support ofGay liberation. The time is overdue for the Cleveland Chapter of the Guild to indicate what we believe our role should be regarding this struggle.

We stand prepared to offer our legal resources to those involved in the struggle for Gay rights. We consider the Gay liberation movement vitally important, both in and of itself and within the context of the broader struggle for freedom from sexist, racist and classist oppression. We are appalled at certain events of recent days, particularly the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case involving a Washington school teacher who was fired solely for being Gay, thereby sanctioning

such action. We also detest Antia Bryant's recent persecutive efforts and the subsequent regressive vote in Dade County. We deplore these manifestations of a myth-ridden, oppressive mentality. It is disturbing enough that there are still so many myths prevailing about human sexuality, and it is absurd that those who understand the least about this important area should be permitted to force their ignorance on others in oppressive ways.

We correspondingly applaud the recent efforts of Cleveland's Gay community to bring this issue into the public arena by demonstrating in support of Gay rights.

Page 2

MS. D RETIRES

On December 17, 1977, at 11:00 pm, Ms.D, owner of the Gentlemen's Pub in Akron, will retire from show business. The Saturday night show will end a ten-year career with her group, Ms. D and her Lavender Ladies. Ms. D and the group have traveled all over the United States and Canada, and have always been active with Metropolitan Community Churches in fund-raising shows that have raised well over $10,000.00

Ms D's final show will be almost all live with a review of all past shows. When asked why she is retiring, she commented, "Most impersonators try to hang on forever; some just to the point of people saying: 'I remember when they were good.' Well, I still do a good show and still wreck people with my show-girl looks, I'm stepping down while I'm ahead."

The Lavender Ladies will continue to do shows in the area starring Ms. Trixie Delight under Ms. D's direction and guidance. On New Year's Eve, the Gentlemen's Pub will host the Lavender Ladies in their first show without Ms. D. A full course dinner and salad bar including champagne will also be part of the festivity.

STAGECOACH

Only by recognizing the importance of the Gay struggle RAPPED

and incorporating it into the overall movement for human rights and dignity will we ever achieve a just society.

GAYS ORGANIZE

Fort Wayne, Indiana is one of the most recent cities inspired by the Dade County defeat to increase of their two daily papers are indicative of general public reaction, we hope Fort Wayne gays have the courage necessary to withstand the abuse they surely will receive. The local chapter of Dignity, an organization of gay Catholics and The Open Door Chapel, both of whom have affiliated with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) seek to minister to the spirituality of gays.

Yours in struggle, The Cleveland Chapter National Lawyers Guild

The Gay Rights Coalition ambitiously seeks to assist in educating the non-gay community, to assist in educating and aiding the gay community and to serve as a source of information for both communities.

They are already involved in meetings with the Allen County Human Rights Commission. They seek to persuade the Commission to endorse a specific ordinance prohibiting sexual or affectional discriminating in vital areas of housing, employment, etc.

In the November issue of High Gear, The Stagecoach Lounge of Akron was unfairly rapped in an article by a writer. The article was titled: Summit Gays Policed.

The Stagecoach, which has been a staunch supporter of the gay community, is not the victim of any police harrassment. The the bar is when the owners have only time police have been in requested them there.

Summit Gays Policed stated that the owner is taking advantage of the policing situation by requiring memberships. This is not the case at all! The memberships are being sold for $1.00 only to keep out some undesirable patrons might cause trouble.

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HAPPY CHANUKAN