HIGH GEAR/DECEMBER 1977

ODDS&ENDS

Gay Life reports that the International Union of Gay Athletcs (I.U.G.A.) which along with the National Gay Task Force, recently met with ABC-TV executives to protest the stereotypic characterization of a gay male in the series "SOAP". They were pleased to learn that several local affiliates have cancelled certain episodes.

The Gay Athletes Union claims 1450 gay members in six countries (many of whom are college level varsity athletes) and promises to be active in upcoming gay projects...

"I know several homosexual bishops," said the Reverend Malcolm Boyd of the Episcopalian church, in accusations of that church's leadership for hypocrisy regarding homosexuals. Boyd is a member of a committee that will oppose the church's stand against women's and homosexual rights and programs for the poor.

The Alternative recently wrote that Dr. Jack Weinberg, president of the American Psychiatric Association has come out strongly in support of the right of homosexuals to teach in the public schools. Since 1973 the association has repeatedly affirmed that homosexuality per se implies no impairment of judgment, stability or general vocational

capabilities...

The Pride Foundation is challenging the Federal Tax Exempt status of many fundamentalist Christian churches who were the backbone of the initiative effort against gay teachers recently in California. The Foundation successfully thwarted efforts to have the issue placed on the June 78 statewide ballot because it misrepresented the intent and extent of the gay teacher witch hunt.

State Senator John Briggs who has sponsored the homopholic petition is seeking the Governor's seat. The Bay Area Reporter reports that Pride indicated that churches are permitted no political activity under the 1976 Federal Tax Reform Act and that their active participation in the signature drive is clearly in violation.

Meanwhile our Gear Staff can report that John Briggs has little chance of replacing handsome bachelor Jerry Brown as chief honcho in California. Republican Briggs trails the asctic governor 17% to 62% with 21% of Californians undecided in a recent poll published in the San Francisco Chronicle.

to report the issues in the Coors controversy next month and highlight the boycott effective-

ness.

In the same vein the Bay Area Reporter reveals that only one gay bar in San Francisco is now serving Coors. If the Gaycott is justifiable, shame on them!!!

The effectiveness of this gaycott should encourage those who plan to be part of the gaycott of Florida Citrus Products, Coca Cola and Delta Airlines.

Coors, California's most popular beer has beer toppled from the number one position it has held for years as a result of a boycott by gays, feminists and union members. GPU NEWS reports that Anheuser Busch has moved ahead of Coors who attribute much of the sales loss to the Gaycott. High Gear plans

The Empty Closet carried an interesting quote that we would like to share with you. Father Paul Shanley, Humberto Cardinal Medeiro's full-time minister to sexual minorities (Archdiocese of Boston) was one of the main speakers at the second anniversary of Dignity-Integrity of Rochester, New York. "Homosexuality is an orientation," Father Shanley noted. He continued, "There is no morality to an orientation.”

Such a resolution is of course meaningless (isn't much of what they do?) but it would affect progay legislation for a long time for example, the proposed revision of the criminal code which would decriminalize consensual sex between adults to be considered shortly...

Thursday, December 1, marked the 25th anniversary of Christine Jorgensen's sex change operation in a Danish hospital. When asked to comment about the operation, she remarked, "I have no regrets about the surgery...things don't hurt the way they did then.."

In response to a question on immorality, Fr. Shanley said, "To put the label of immorality on homosexuality is a crime which cries out to heaven with vengeance for redress. The only sexual acts which are immoral (heterosexual or homosexual) are 1) rape and 2)exploitative use of a person's body without caring for that person. No sexual act is psychologically damaging where no force or money is used, where there is no feeling of guilt, and where it is with someone you are attracted to. Even in rape and molestation cases, the police, the courts, and the 'friends' of the person or child often cause more damage than the act itself."

The Boston Globe reports that Elaine Noble will not seek reelection next year to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She indicated that her father's illness played prominently in her decision...

When Nixon sought advice on a policy matter, he frequently asked aids how "it would play in Peoria." This city is sometimes described (unfairly) as the representation of the nation's "hick" towns. Several months ago gay Peorians formed The Gay Initiative. They have already had several meetings and activities and more activities are being planned. So when you're asked how it plays in Peoria, tell them it plays gay...

Howdo some legislators spend their time and therefore taxpayers' money? The Metro Gay News reports that the Michigan House of representatives offered a resolution congratulating Antia Bryant for her "brave and righteous campaign" against the Dade County gay right ordinance. It urges her to continue her efforts and calls for the Michigan Legislature to express its "depest gratitude, support and congratulations" to her.

Open Love

head in strange places. Washington, D.C. Councilmanat-large Douglas E. Moore, a black man, recently showed his anti-gay bias. According to the Washington Star, Mr. Moore proposed a ban on the employment of homosexuals in most public institutions. His action came as the Council was reenacting the city's Human Rights Act which is considered to be the most comprehensive in the nation. His proposal was defeated 12-1...

Carol Channing, who loves us as much as we love her, attended the cast party of a revival of "Hello Dolly" at Bookie's Club

Put a Little Love by jeun HEARTS

YOU THERE (REVIDUAL

ABERE SLIND AS AVITA BAJANTS

DISCRIMINATION GODS TOEN

3' gany, it's heed to

The Bay Area Reporter published a financial statement from "A Star Spangled Night for Rights" recently held for the benefit of the Save Our Human Rights Foundation, Inc. The Hollywood Bowl extravaganza starring many of Hollywood's pro-gay entertainers netted $87,000...

The Dade County Coalition for Human Rights reports that it spend $371,434 to fight the June 7 anti-gay rights referendum and has $7,921 left over from the $379,355 in contributions it received. About $65,000 each was spent for print media advertising and TV advertising. Personnel services cost $91,838, and over $130,000 was paid for postage, printing, and rent overhead...

Gay Community News reports that the Supreme Court of Massachusetts affirmed in the Commonwealth vs. Scagliotti the rights of adults in that state to engage in consensual, private sexual activity without fear of arrest.. "A consensual unnatural jact must be committed in a public place in order to be punishable (under state law)" write the court...

The New York Times reports that Christopher Isherwood's "A Meeting By the River" will go into rehearsal in January and hopefully open on Broadway later in 1978. The play treats two of Mr. Isherwood's favorite themes Hinduism and homosexuality. Mr. Isherwood's "Christopher and His Kind" was recently released in paperback... Discrimination rears its ugly

870, a Detroit gay bar...

More Evidence of the 300 solidarity among gays people gathered at Detroit's Gay My Fair Lady to raise $1,300 for the defense fund for Scott Michael who is accused of accosting and soliciting a police officer. Reporting on the benefits The Metro Community News quoted the master of ceremonies as saying "This gathering is symbolic that the time is past when gay men and women will standy by and allow Nazi-type harassment of innocent people like Michael by a few officers who choose to abuse their authority. We can and will stand together to end this kind of oppression."

Scott

"...The record has nothing to do with the homosexual issue," Bob Greene insisted. "It's just a good country song about a normal relationship between a man and woman, the child on the knee and all that stuff." Yes, folks, Anita Bryant is trying to make a comeback! And what's the title of her new song? "There's Nothing like the Love Between a Man and a Woman". But it seems that Anita is having a problem in finding a producer for the record ... I wonder why?

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Alaska now has its own gay community center in Anchorage. Richard Philp and Mary Whitney offer a history of men dancing from the male point of view in the new book DANSEUR: The Male in Ballet (McGraw-Hill, $19.95.) Beaucoup pictures from both rehearsals and actual performances, most by the noted dance photographer Herbert Migdoll..........

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Has Anita also lost her position as the announcer on the telecast for the Orange Bowl Parade? Seems that normally she's invited in October of the previous year and has yet to hear anything...

Lots of cities have them on the drawing board but Gay Community News reports that

Last month's issue of High Gear reported on the 36th and 37th American cities to pass ordinances prohibiting discrimination in employment, etc. We don't know which cities are in between but Gay Community News, America's best weekly gay tabloid reports Aspen, Colorado as the 42nd city to effect a similar ordinance. Aspen City Attorney Dorothy Mittall, who drew up the legislation, called it "the most progressive piece of antidiscrimination legislation in the U.S. And all this since Dade County!! Thanks Anita.

Bob Kunst, who labored vigorously for the Dade County ordinance informs us that "Hurricane Anita" opened December 1 in North Miami Beach. Hurricane, a new disco, will ban O.J., Coors beer and Coca-Cola (the Minute Maid is hooked on Florida O.J.). Twentyfive percent of the profits will go to the Miami Victory Campaign. Seems like yesterday that we were marching in Cleveland's two gay parades last June. It's hard to believe six months have passed. That means only 6 months until our next. Other cities will start planning their demonstrations next month. It takes a lot of effort to organize 25,000 people in New York and 100,000 in San Francisco. If Ohio wants to have an impressive turnout on June 25th (we have the permit already) we'll have to have people come forward to plan and organize the effort. We had 200 marchers last year. With Dade County and all that's happened since, why not 1,000 in 1978. Write High Gear if you are interested in planning '78.