Page 2
HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free to charge in any establishment, and with any organization, that will permit distribution. We are a non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the use of the GEAR Foundation's Community Center.
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, and may not be used as evidence of the sexual orientation of any contributors.
We welcome all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography by members of the gay community. All materials sub'mitted for publication are subject to editorilization. We cannot guarantee the return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, unless it is accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Anyone interested in working on the Staff of HIGH GEAR should inquire by calling 696-5330, or write 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 calling 696-5330, or writing to Advertising. HIGH GEAR, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.
The 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 available at bars, baths, universities, businesses and elsewhere the second Friday of every month.
HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless either written or verbal permission is obtained.
Coordinating Editors.
STAFF
Advertising and Public Relations.
Art Coordinator..
Photography Coordinator.................
News Coordinators..
...John Nosek, Leon Stevens ....Matt Phillips ...Rudi Haaken
..............Albert Morrill
..David Holleb,
Jerry Juszczyk, John Nosek, Matt Phillips, Don Skaggs, John
Vogel
Women's Features and
HIGH GEAR
ACLU BACKS CENTER
CLEVLAND-On May 17 by a narrow vote, the American Civil Liberties Union Board of Directors of Greater Cleveland approved local ACLU support for a Gay Community Services Center for gay social services and recreational purposes. David Fisher, ACLU staff assistant and Advisory Board member to the G.E.A.R. gay community center effort, told High Gear that the board took such action "in view of the history of sexual oppression in this country and the recent Supreme Court decision upholding anti-sodomy statutes."
ACLU support is not directed
-
toward any one gay community center but rather toward the concept of one. All prerogatives are being left by the board to Mr. Fisher who has worked in the field of gay rights now for some time.
more
Although the decision will not accord any financial support to the center, it will involve the local ACLU branch extensively in the legal and social problems of gays. The emphasis on consideration of social issues as well as legal problems will broaden the ACLU relationship with the gay community and establishes the Union as our staunchest ally. Asked by High Gear
June 1976
reporters why the vote was so close, Mr. Fisher offered his opinion that some board members had reservations about the ACLU forming a commitment to any organization whose political, social, and legal views are different from that of ACLU's. Fisher also thought there was some covert homophobic reactions by those opposing the measure.
The ACLU action signifies a firm comitment to rapidly respond to Center police or community harassment, and the active opposition on state legislative fronts to any return of the anti-sodomy statutes to the legal code of Ohio.
RADIO LAMBDA SIDETRACKED
CLEVELAND Broadcasting from the Case Western Reserve University base of WRUW FM, Radio Lambda transmitted its last signal on May 24. John Vogel who coordinated the weekly gay radio program has accepted a job out of state and needs to expend all his energy toward the completion of his Ph.D. in Physics.
On his own initiative, Vogel started the program October 6, 1975. His formats varied and included interviews with leaders of local organizations, drag people, information on V.D., feminist perspectives and weekly selections of gay oriented music. Vogel made it a practice to keep listeners up to date on local news and non-bar social functions.
Said Vogel: "Working with Radio Lambda was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had. The contacts I made in the were gay community phenomenal."
And so was the growth of the program. Debuting as a fifteen minute insert in regular WRUW programming, within a few months the show expanded to 75 minutes. Just before Vogel resigned as coordinator, numerous other college stations contacted him requesting syndication of the program.
Since the show has been off the air, WRUW has been innundated with phone calls, causing the program manager to comment, "I wish we could. continue the program. It's one of the most popular we have."
All, however, is not lost. WRUW plans to continue summer broadcasting from 6 p.m. to midnight, and Vogel told High Gear that two individuals have expressed some interest in continuing the show. Additional volunteers are welcome. Those who feel they have some expertise in radio or are willing to learn should call the Gay Switchboard, 696-5330. All interested parties will be referred to John Vogel. One does not have to be a CWRU student to handle the program.
No doubt, there is a need for Radio Lambda. As John Vogel said, "The primary reason for establishing the program was to communicate to closeted people who don't see the papers or go to the bars."
Entertainment Coordinator
Reviews and Features
Donna Minkler
.........Don Avery, Marc Lewis,
Mitchell Menigu, Aaron Ross, Gloria Sorenson and innumerable
others.
Drag Coordinator.....
Travel Coordinator.
Calendar...
Circulation.........
Distribution.
......Anne Ritchey ...A. Mark Joseph .Tom Eville .....12,000
...Akron, Barberton,
Berea, Canton, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts., Columbus, Dayton, Lakewood, Lima, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville, Rockbridge, Sandusky, Steubenville, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown.
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
HELP THE GAY COMMUNITY CENTER
Please accept my donation of $
Gay Community Services Center.
toward the
I would like to receive progress reports about the community services
center.
I would like my donation to remain anonymous.
Mail this form and your check or money order to GAY COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER P.O. Box 6177 Cleveland, Ohio 44101
Dear Editor:
LIBERATIAN PARTY
Political opportunities for gays are extremely limited in the U.S. The derogatory comments by Senator "Scoop" Jackson about gays in Wisconsin are unfortunately fairly typical of the conventional political response to gay problems and gay rights. For American gays this has generally limited any political activities to a narrow spectrum of new left and Marxist groups. This is also unfortunate since Marxists, once having attained power, have brutally oppressed homosexuals. Karla Jay and Allen Young's Out of the Closets: Voices of Gay Liberation discusses the experience of gay members of the Venceremos Brigade in Cuba. Government attacks on gays in the Peoples Republic of China have also been documented.
In 1971 a new political party, the Libertarian Party, was founded on the principle that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose."
The Libertarian Party platform
specifically advocates the repeal of all criminal laws in which there is no victim. Roger MacBride, the Libertarian Party presidential candidate, advocates the following positions concerning gay rights: 1) Repeal of all laws regarding consensual sexual acts between adults (with the age of consent reasonably defined).
2) Repeal of all laws prohibiting homosexual marriages.
3) Release of all individuals presently incarcerated for any victimless crime.
4) Equality of treatment of gay people in regard to government service, including membership in the armed forces.
5) An end to the use of loitering. statutes and entrapment procedures as a means of harassing gays and prostitutes.
6) An end to the collection by government agencies of data on the sexual preferences of individuals. 7) Recognition of the right of a homosexual parent to be considered for custody of his or her natural child.
The Libertarian Party is concerned about all aspects of individual rights and has taken positions opposing government infringement of civil
liberties. Government interference in a free economy is opposed as is our interventionist foreign policy. If High Gear's subscribers are interested in receiving more information about the Libertarian Party and it's presidential candidate Roger MacBride, they can write to:
Libertarian Party
1516 "P" St. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 The pamphlets "Gay Rights: A Libertarian Approach" and the "1976 Platform of the Libertarian Party" will explain the libertarian approach in much more detail. There is a political party concerned about gay rights which is not inhibited by traditional political divisions between conservatives, liberals, and socialists. For more information about libertarian activities in northeast Ohio call (216) 621-1854. Sincerely,
Karl E. Peterjohn.
Vice Chairman, Ohio MacBride for President Com. Treasurer, Libertarian Party of Ohio. 1898 E. 123 St. Cleveland, Ohio 44106