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COMMUNITY VOICE HIGH GEAR/JUNE 1977 STRAIGHTENING OUT ABDON'S GAY COLUMBUS

It appears that once again the people of Columbus, as well as the people of Ohio, must be subject to the idle ramblings of a self-proclaimed authority, Jay Abdon, (A.K.A. Jay Savage.) This writer is in total shock over the lack of good editorial judgment shown by the staff of H.G. by not investigating the article "Chronicle: The People of Columbus from the Year '69." (H.G. March, 1977)

I would like to preface my comments by saying that I am the person that Mr. Abdon called King Ritchard (sic), I am better known as Dennis Richards. Mr. Abdon in the afore mentioned article was at best. inaccurate. I am not writing just in reference to the portions about my self; but inaccuracies throughout the entire article.

Mr. Abdon greatly neglects what caused the formation of the Gay Liberation Front. Yes, part of the story was harassment at the various bars; but it also involved harassment in housing, jobs, and other factors of every day life. It should also be noted that the police were harassing all "hippy" types, not just the gay people.

As far as the word "dynasty" in reference to the various stages of the G.A.A. growth, I as well as many others find this very distasteful and I use it solely for reference.

It should be pointed out that the Gay Liberation Front (G.L.F.) was not originally an O.S.U. organization. The proceedings to become an OSU funded organization was a long hard legal process. Several months after the OSU recognition was the name changed to the Gay Activists Alliance (G.A.A.).

As far as the Seventh Avenue Co-Op being the prime force for the gay movement in Columbus, this is not true, it was one of many. There were many people both gay and straight involved in many ways. No one person or group of persons made the organization or any of the events work. It took the work of many people, many who have now left Columbus to make their fortunes elsewhere. It should also be pointed out that many groups of gays had pretty much "open" homes.

As far as the so-called passing of the Seventh Avenue Co-op, yes it was sad, but not because of the closing of the house, but because many of the friends of Gay Columbus had left for other parts of the country, to seek a better life.

Yes, at the corner of Norwich and Neil there was to start one of the most exciting times of many gay people's life, including my own. John Hartis and his lover Jeff Dawson had rented a large house in which many people lived and visited. This was a time of great fun and growth in "Gay" Columbus.

"Gay" Columbus was changing at this time. The period of radical protest, etc. was ending. Many of the protests had one main purpose; to gain attention to the fact that Columbus had gay people.

At this time "Gay" Columbus was getting into Gay Rights Protection and revising the City Code. Many people worked hard and long. only to be partially successful.

Mr. Abdon refers to pressure by the University to change the structure of G.A.A. This statement is totally false. The G.A.A. changed its structure because the original constitution was too detailed and difficult to follow with an organization of 15 members. A simple one page constitution was voted in to reduce the number from over ten to five. There was NO involvement by OSU.

As far as my so-called rise to power, I am not sure what 'Mr. Abdon means by that. He had always been a non-involved member and frequently did not attend a meeting for several months. From the time I was elected in June of 1974 to December of 1974 Mr. Abdon did not attend one meeting. He. at no time was involved in any of the G.A.A. projects.

As far as the assorted remarks about me personally, all I can say is am sorry for you Mr. Abdon; you are the one I pity. I was not elected by any "political chicanery."It was a totally proper election. In fact, I was not even consulted in advance of my nomination. It should also be noted that I had held officer

مینه داستان و الا في حومات سريال الن نکال لیا اور چین کی کمی کا کھاری ہوا

positions for the previous two years. As far as my being a straight stereotype of a gay; all ! can say is wrong. I am hardly petite or anything along that line. My major crime, in Mr. Abdon's eyes is the fact I am a successful businessman, a capitalist. I also enjoy the things of life my standard of living affords. By this I mean I am clean shaven, I take a shower daily, and I can afford quality clean clothing daily.

I should also mention that Mr. Abdon was himself a major souce of trouble at the meetings. These problems included accusing me of being a Nazi (not hardly), irrelevant ramblings about WW III being around the corner, and even arguing how many atomic bombs it would take to blow up the earth. Mr. Abdon generally in some form of euphoria and not often coherent. This is very well documented.

was

As far as a coup against me; there was none. I was not president at the time; John Cairns was. The elections were not what a few people had hoped for and thus the changes. The few people involved in the so-called coup quickly learned why John and I had done many things in the way we did. They had the very same problems we did. This ranged from apathy to O.S.U. problems.

I have not been involved any further with G.A.A. since that occurred. Mr. Abdon has done a

great disservice not only to the G.A.A. but to Dignity of Columbus. His remarks were totally uncalled for. Upon checking with Dignity; it appears that they were not willing to put up with Mr. Abdon and his attitude.

I am most of all in horror over Mr. Abdon's remarks about Ronald Johnson. It appears his major crime is once again capitalism and also his religion. I do not know Mr. Johnson, however, I am sorry that his private affairs were discussed in public; especially by someone as incompetent as Mr. Abdon. Mr. Abdon claimed to have studied various gay groups, no, I think not. If this were true he would realize that there are gays in all forms of people and personalities. Most groups, no I think not. If this were true he would realize that there are gays in all forms of people and personalities. Most groups have also realized that we can now work within the establishment and get much more done, now that society realizes we exist. Yes, Mr. Abdon, the hippy movement has been dead for many years.

The vast majority of gays are now interested in making a good life for themselves, that include: religion and capitalism.

In closing would like to ask Mr. Abdon under what basis he

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can call himself a scholar of social behavior. Too many people are willing to debate that point. If he were the great scholar he claims he would have realized the changes in the gay community.

My knowledge is great in many areas, but I do not refer to myself as a scholar or expert. I was always told that ex is a has been; and spert is a small drip.

As far as I know Mr. Abdon is not now nor has he ever been a spokesperson for G.A.A. According to the G.A.A. administration he has not been active in two years or more.

In final closing it is totally impossible to condense seven years of the Columbus Gay History into a page and a half. Many things occurred and happened that only a few people know what occurred. Such an undertaking would be a "Gay Roots". It is to those hundreds ! say thanks.

Dennis Richards 4770 Indianola Ave No. 130 Columbus, Ohio

COAT AND TIE

Gentlemen:

Your article by "Codger" recently published in your paper seriously misrepresents at least one gay bar on the scene thirty years ago. And I as the manager of that bar take exception with your characterization of Little Ted's as an establishment which permitted shady characters to prey off the customers of Little Ted's in our "dark cavernous basement."

Your eyewitness reporter surely was not permitted in Little Ted's long enough to form a realistic impression. The clientele of Little Ted's thirty years ago were screened, screened as they were at the four other gay bars on the Cleveland scene.

It is true that we permitted our customers greater latitude and freedom in the clothing they wore. But our code was far stricter than any bar in which Codger has been in the last twenty years.

We have always supported the gay scene in any way we could. We put our name and our reputation up front. We are not I afraid to be innovative, to be flexible. We pioneered a dress code which had as its hallmark a certain degree of informality but an informality that Our customers desired and preferred.

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were assaulted, had their wallets ripped off. We are interested in order that we can take every precaution that when Codger comes to our bar he won't. Make. sure he wears a coat and tie.

Bob Leesberg Mary Norman Cleveland, Ohio

IN THIS CORNER

by Stan Brown

Some of the writers in this journal seem to have a lot of answers to offer. But it seems to me that we need to spend some more time with a few questions before we can find answers and especially before we can accept somebody else's answers for our own lives. And the reason for this column is to go ask on raising those questions as long as the editors and you, the Gentle Readers will allow.

After all, building a gay lifestyle is enough of a challenge already: being gay, in this society, is hard work. And iterat really doesn't help to have somebody (straight or gay) throw a stereotype at us and tell us to behave that way. One way we break. down those stereotypes, whether they come from Anita Bryant or John Rechy, is by looking at a lot of different kinds of behavior. Then we can choose what we feel will work for us. When we make that free choice, it may contain parts of some people's stereotypes, or it may not.

Get to the point, you say? All right, how about this:

Strange Lifestyles

In this journal you can read about a theory of sexuality that contains all the worst elements of the Playboy philosophy. It's not that they preach sex without guilt of course in this age we should all have that but they seem to push sex without even caring. In finding a word to ap ply to that philosophy, the best! can do is "odious".

Yes, of course sex and love are different things. But they do overlap. And affection is in there too, and companionship, and simple animal hunger for someone to hold on to. From reading this journal you get the impression (or at least I do) that all of these feelings are sup posed to fall into nice watertigh compartments.

But it's just not that simple and I for one don't want it to be Certainly don't want those compartments in my own life Right now I've no desire to spend a night with a stranger no matter how beautiful. Anc much less would I have sex with somebody wouldn't want to spend at least a night with.

A writer in the April High Gea We are inviting Codger to said, "What a waste of time tc come to the Vaults and to have to discuss the postal in. delineate in detail the horrors dustry with the mail carrier we that he and others experienced just did." Well, I have to answer at Little Ted's thirty years ago. that it's a waste of time to "do" We would be most interested in anybody. That "fuck'em and hearing how gay customers forget 'em" philosohy is as ugly nod) nut exom od bajos brent vriw ebrow eric ni Smeldorg Shepnets & palob 8Poło 10 avad vnam ca ob