Dear Editor;

LETTERS

mun GEAR

HIGH GEAR

It is my understanding that the Bayou Landing will not permit members of the drag community into the bar. Is this true, and if it is, why are they discriminating against us? It seems every bar in town keeps the drags out, and ther isn't any place that we can frequent, that I personally want to be seen in.

Thanks,

Name Withheld

The management of the Bayou at first claimed that the ban against members of the drag community was because crossdressing was illegal. However, upon being shown the proof of the dismissal of the state and city ordinances against crossdressing, they relented. They will never discriminate against any member of the community. However, they will not permit drag community people in the Bayou, for reasons of professionalism. The show with Tiffany Jones is not a drag show, and Tiffany is not a member of the drag community. He is a professional entertainer, and they wish to keep the separation clear. If you want to have the bars in Cleveland open up to the drag community, work on raising the level of credibility of your community, and get your people involved in contributing positively to the community as a whole. And good luck from us here at HIGH GEAR.

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Pigs At Gear?

Leon Stevens

As Art, John and I were performing our secretarial duties to High dear recently, we were approached by a Lesbian carpenter, also working for cles pertinent to women have not been appearing in this pa Gear who inquired why more artiper. We replied that the main reason was that virtually no women have submitted articles to High Gear. solicited material from women we know, most have been apaAlthough we have thetic and little has been forthcoming. To be sure, our sistors are confronted with gigantic prolems in both straight To our and ray society. Lesbians have no toleraole bar to call their own, they are threatened and hassled in various locales: where they are admitted and are generally oppressed by male hegemony and sexism. It would be easy for one of us to write

a pro-Lesbian article, since the plight of our sisters 1s immediate. However, we feel that if we did so, we would be playing into the hands of male supremacy. We male contrioutors to High Gear oalk at the thought of assuming the role of crave knights rescuing weak damsels with our journalistic swords. Needless to say, every enlightened man is obligated to defend the civil rights of women, especially when there are none present to speak for themselves, but in an open forum such as this newspaper, I, for my part, refuse to imply that my sisters are illiterate, meek or in some other. way incapable of speaking out in their own behalf. am designated an honorary feminist, I shall not presume to know what is best for my Lesbian peers.

Until I

In conclusion, there are five male secretaries at High Gear serving Cleveland's gay population, so girls, please EXPLOIT US!

An Interview

The bars are the ce Their openings, closing tests, or other special city's gay population. efforts to increase com we held an interview wi to guage their views on We wish again to thank and to encourage such e the future.

JSN; AS AN INVESTOR IN FEEL YOU ARE TAKING A C BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE BAR 1: As far as Clevel The ten years or more. a changeover here, becau climate. I think gays roundings. Actually, w bar in itself is a dist BAR 2: Yes, there is sc The length of the exist bar you have. Generall at about five years. S change the kind of esta BAR 3 The popularity c crowd is not a loyal cr action is and that is u BAR 4: I would estimate about three years. As risk. I feel also that area, every bar's life JSN: HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR CLIENTELE?

The

I

BAR 1: Not at all. is at the parks or the gays as to prevent muge BAR 2: No problems with BAR 3: We've never had BAR 4 No conflicts. business. I think the tant things to do with JSN: HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR CLIENTELE? BAR 1: Because of our A to straight people. surrounded by commercia ceptible to such a pro BAR 2: Sometimes, we ha because gays are bandi right back.

BAR 3: Straight people They know where they're BAR 4: We don't allow here. Straights who de

not encouraged.

JSN: IT IS SOMETIMES S. IS THE KISS OF DEATH FO FEEL THIS IS TRUE?

BAR 1: We try to cater they want. Well manne: trouble. The formula ful one.

BAR 2: My personal opi of the owner's is that straight men will sure starts, because a stra is approached by a gay a fight may result. BAR 3: Yes, I think adr to divide the gay crow