HEIGHTS GAY RIGHTS PROPOSED

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS Positive Action Program for hiring city employees of different minority groups, including gays, has been passed unanimously by the Personnel Committee (headed by Oliver Schroeder) and now rests in the office of the city manager.

The program is designed to ensure fair and equal treatment for all persons, regardless of race, color, religions, sex,

marital status, physical handicap, age, sexual orientation, creed, or national origin, in all employment practices.

Cleveland Hts. currently has no written legislation minority hiring, because its agreement with the Ohio Civil Rights commission ployment practices, signed Sept.. 11, 1973, has expired.

on em-

It is expected that the "new majority" will soon pass a

minority rights program for em-

ployment. The Police Department, for instance, has only one black officer as the Plain Dealer pointed out several weeks ago.

The Positive Action Plan now under study was instigated by the Social Action Committee of

Dignity, a group of Catholic gays which meets at Hallinan Center, C.W.R.U. and was drafted by an attorney representing several women's action groups.

HIGH GEAR

hallo!

Vol. 2 A Publication of the GEAR Foundation Issue 5 1976 The Gear Foundation

Gay Hotline

Needs Volunteers

CLEVELAND The first organizational meeting for the Gay Hotline will be held at 8 PM. Wed., January, 14 at the MCC/GEAR office, 2999 W. 25th, Cleveland. The Gay Hotline is sponsored

by the GEAR Foundation, and coordinated by David Holleb. Anyone interested in working for the Gay Hotline must attend this meeting. which will serve as an introduction, to working the hotline.

If you need a ride to the office or can't attend the meeting, or for more information call 6965330. If you feel that you don't know how or feel that you're not qualified, but would like to work on the hotline, don't worry. There will be additional training given by hotline and mental health professionals to all volunteers. So, if you're sincere and want to help your gay sisters and brothers, please come to this meeting.

Are you a phoney? Can you talk to people on the telephone, give out information, and willing to help people with their problems? Well, the Gay Hotline is waiting for you to answer its telephone.

PD Gags Gays Here

The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently received several letters from individuals in the local gay community expressing outrage over

its sensationalized reporting of the slaying of John Knight. In its report, the P.D. inferred that the crime was associated with the participants' homosexuality. The discovery of gay-oriented pornography in the victim's apartment exaggerated and exhausted for its scandal value.

was

The P.D. refused to print letters of protest from local gays because respondents requested that their home addresses not be published. Prominent gays here interpreted the P.D.'s attitude as contemptuous of the gay community. Although the pro-gay finally appeared long after the fact, most were ignored. One of those not published was the following from John Vogel of Radio Lambda:

Editor

response

The Plain Dealer 1801 Superior Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Dear Sir,

I must take issue with you concerning one of your headlines on the front page of yesterday's newspaper (Dec.9). Either you do not understand the psychology of fear and hate, or you understand it too well and are using it to promote distrust and hatred of homosexuals. Either way, you are engaged in sensationalism.

You do not bill the many murders which happen in the city of Cleveland as "Heterosexual Sought in Killing," even though many of the murders are the result of heterosexual arguments and

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many of the murder sites are found to contain pictures of nude women and men (Playboy, Playgirl, etc.). You use the words "black" and "white" in much the same way, thus linking the idea of crime with blacks and homosexuals in the minds of your readers -an untrue and harmful connection. In point of fact, proportionately straights commit crimes against gays than gays do against straights or other gays. Homosexuals are percentagewise more often the victims rather than the criminals, but you do not give that fact banner headlines. Nor do you give headlines to the many activities of gays which benefit the gay and straight communities.

Mr. Knight's connections with the gay community are, of course, a valid clue to discover the murderer, but they are no more headline material than the time of day or the weapon used. I suggest that you start helping gays and straights to have equal rights, not only in law but also in the assumptions and attitudes of your readers by reporting news responsibly and without prejudice or sensationalism.

Sincerely yours, John Vogel

JANUARY 1976

CGPU Acts on Cleve. Hts. Bill

CLEVELAND At its meeting on January 7, the Cleveland Gay Political Union discussed at length the proposed Cleveland Hts. resolution granting gays and others equal employment protection. A reading of the proposed resolution and its history was presented.

One of the bill's sponsors said the organization could be most effective by showing its presence at the city council meeting when. the resolution comes up for a vote. This will occur sometime within the next six weeks.

In the meantime, two CGPU members will approach key city council people to discuss the importance of this bill for gays. in the Greater Cleveland area. (It is hoped that its passage will spark other communities to pass similar legislation.)

Other CGPU business included the decision to have co-

chairperson Peter Barrosse approach Cleveland State University for full student organization status. To date, CGPU has been recognized under the auspices of the GEAR Foundation (which had previous permission to use the space) although the two groups are not, nor have they ever been, affiliated.

The January meeting was attended by a record number 17 women and men. The next meeting will be held February 4 at 8:00 p.m. in Room 361 of CSU's University Center Bldg unless earlier action in Heights is required.

NEW BAR IN TOWN

CLEVELAND On Friday, December 19, Michael From the Body Shop Lounge reopened Jo Anne's and changed its name to The Zanzibar. The bar is open to people eighteen or over and "everybody is allowed; nobody is barred."

A special grand opening celebration is planned for some

AKRON

time in January. Among the plans for the Zanzibar are Go Go Boys on Friday and Saturday and full live production numbers on Wednesdays.

The Zanzibar, located at 1630Payne Avenue near Park Centre, holds a reduced priced cocktail hour from 5 to 9 every Sunday.

Gays Support Charities

The American Hotel in Akron held a slave auction on December 18 with the proceeds donated to radio station WAKR's Share A Christmas Fund. Steve Skrobot announced presented WAKR with a check for $150 and $50 in cash in the name of "The Patrons, Employees, and Management of the American Hotel." Of the seventy-five to one hundred different contributors, according to WAKR, the American made the second largest single contribution by a group. The

entire drive totaled just over $1500.

area

Twenty "slaves" were auctioned off to help provide a happier holiday for several Akron that he residents. As auctioneer Skrobot described it, "The scene was hot and heavy as the bidding went higher and higher. Even slaves bought slaves; bartenders bought slaves, and slaves bought bartenders! At the close of the auction the auctioneer even sold his clothes. All in all the program was very delightful."

HAPPY GAN IRING