HIGH GEAR/FEBRUARY 1977
ODDS&ENDS
by John Nosek
Gay Community News reports The National Weather Service will continue to name hurricanes after women, despite protests from feminists. In 1972 a Miami woman urged the Weather Service to stop naming hurricanes after women and name them after U.S. Senators instead. Since then, Australia has changed its policy and christens cyclones with both male and female names. According to Bob Pifer, a U.S. hurricane programmer, names for hurricanes are chosen by a federal panel who are "all men...."
now
Arnold Schwarzenegger, muscle star of Pumping Iron, recently appeared on Goodnight America. After playfully pretending to kiss Gueraldo Rivera, Arnold declared that the idea that most weightlifters are homosexuals is a "myth," deriving from the large homosexual following bodybuilders have. Rivera seemed to go out of his way to have his point made, while repeatedly patting, slapping and hugging Schwarzenegger.... The games people play....
Enterprise Science News recently published results of a study which showed legalizing private homosexual behavior between consenting adults in seven states (including Ohio) has not produced an increase in crimes of child molestation, involvement of gays in non-sex crime or use of force by homosexuals. Fifty per cent of police officers interviewed felt the legal changes now allowed them to deal with crimes of "greater seriousness" In addition, police officials, prosecuting attorneys and gays questioned all agreed that there is an increase in public displays of homosexual behavior and gay bars. The study was conducted by Dr. Gilbert Geis, a University of California-Irvine sociologist....
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In an interview with The Ladies Home Journal Rosalynn Carter offers that Gay Liberation was one of several subjects discussed by herself and President Carter with their sons. Ms. Carter said that the generation gap between the Carters and their offsprings covered "a lot of things, such as marijuana, gay liberation and things like that but Jimmy always listens. and always encourages the children to have their own opinions."
From GCN: Paul Kuntzler, an openly gay man who has been active in Washington politics for many years, has been unanimously elected as Interim President of the Greater Washington Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action...
New York's Gay Activists Alliance recently received a response from the Federal Bureau
of Investigation under the Freedom of Information Act: five single page documents, three of which identified GAA as "a homosexual group headquartered in NYC, whose purpose is the promotion of 'gay rights.'" GAA, however, is convinced the FBI is not on the upand-up, for there was no mention of the burglary and arson of GAA's Firehouse Headquarters in 1974 or documents pertinent to the numerous demonstrations since 1969. The organization has filed an appeal containing 32 specific requests...
By a tally of 5-3 the Dade County Commission in Florida has passed a gay rights bill protecting residents' jobs and homes from discriminatory practices based on sexual orientation. Dade County includes Miami, Coconut Grove, Miami Beach and Coral Gables.
HI, MARTY! WHO'S THAT GUY THERE ALWAYS SEE YOU WITH ?
Among those protesting the ordinances was singer Anita Bryant who temporarily abandoned the Florida orange groves to express her concern to the commission that the law would promote gay life... Said our Wadsworth correspondent, Bill Davis, "She'd be better off sticking to oranges."
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The next meeting of The Coalition of Gay Health Caucuses will be held in Boston on May 21-22. All gay nurses, doctors, mental health technicians, etc. interested in attending should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Walter J. Lear, 206 N. 35th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19104....
The new VD disease, penicillin-resistant clap (Thunderclap), is creating more than its share of side effects. According to The Sentinel, Utah authorities are threatening to arrest persons who are infected with the disease. They have already issued a warrant for one man who has it: Apparently, the state has a law on, its books which gives them the right to arrest anyone with a communicable disease.... (Does this include the common cold?)...
London's Gay News reports that when 1200 Italian athletes were asked about their sexual habits by a research team, one in sixteen said they take part in homosexual sex, often during training sessions (That's approximately 6% of the men and 6.4% of the women). The survey showed the more successful competitors were usually very active sexually. 60% of the men and 40% of the women said they had sex on the day before competition......
Alex Haley, author of the widely acclaimed Roots will speak at the University of Akron Feb. 24. Haley's visit is sponsored by the Black UnitedStudents. The program will begin at 8 p.m. in the E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall with a reception later in the Robertson Dining Hall. Tickets for nonstudents are $2.50 in advance
THAT'S MY BROTHER RALPH HE'S STRAIGHT.
and $3 at the door......
Mary Travers (formerly of Peter, Paul and Mary) and the Edwin Hawkins Singers are appearing at the State Theatre in Cleveland from February 8-20 at only $2 per ticket. For reservations call 261-523-1755....
Cleveland Women's Counseling is in desperate need of volunteers. If you can lend a hand as a group facilitator, an emergency housing provider, a sister, or general staff person call 216321-8585......
President Carter has been asked for a meeting on gay rights by local businessman and gay activist Gary Van Ooteghem. According to Newswest, the correspondence went out on a letterhead of the National Gay Task Force and stressed Ooteghem's role as co-chairperson of both the Task Force and the newer Gay Rights National Lobby. But other officials of the two organizations disassociated themselves from correspondence labeling it "unfortunate", and "unauthorized," and "untimely."
the
Olga Broumas a lesbian who happens to be heterosexually married has been designated
the prestigious Yale Series Of Younger Poets award for her first collection of poetry, "Begining With O." Broumas, said Newswest, claims the work is not "male-negative but feminist positive." The collection speaks openly of the author's sexuality and sexual experiences. A poetjudge referred to the manuscript as "a book of letting go, of wild avowals, unabashed eroticism." At the same time, he said, "It is a work of integral imagination, steeped in the light of Greek myth..."
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Big Mama Rag, Denver's feminist newspaper, was denied tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service for "advocating the equality of homosexual lifestyles to heterosexual lifestyles." BMR, a black gay journal, wishes to announce it began publication in December. A quarterly, published by the
Association of. Black Gays (ABG), the journal is named for the Swahili word meaning friend. For further information (and submission of manuscripts, art, photos, etc.) write Rafiki, c/o ABG, 2800 1/2 Grand Canal, Venice, CA. 90291.....
QUOTABLE QUOTE from soft rock musician Peter Ivers in an interview with The Advocate: "I'm not 'not gay' on principle.... I'm interested in the taste of semen; let's put it that way.". In the Glitter Palace, a TV movie with a lesbian theme, airs on NBC 9-11 p.m. on February 27 (Check local listings for area channel)....
Frank E. Johnson introduced his feature article "You Can't Always Be Gay Without Drinking. Volnay" in this month's Wine World with: "One ne peut etre gai saus boire du Volnay" or so the old dogerel goes. (I hasten to point out that this apparent prerequisite was coined centuries before the current meaning of "gay" entered into the patios, though for all I know it still holds)". ... Is that what we've been drinking Frank?..... Speaking of wine, thank you Au Provence (Cleveland Hts.)
Page 4
for inviting the editors of High Gear and others on your waiting list to sample the wine cellar of your superb restaurant!
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Pittsburgh's Gay Life reports a psychic and A. Michael Pascal, a nationally known private investigator have both predicted that in 1977 or early 1978, new evidence will appear, showing a male occupant was present in Teddy Kennedy's car on the night of the Chappaquiddick drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne. Pascal claims to have information proving that Kennedy and his male companion left a party together, unaware that Kopechne was asleep in the rear seat. The psychic says that fear of a homosexual scandal prompted Kennedy to hastily prepare his "full-of-loopholes" explanation of events that evening before he actually reported the accident. The alleged male occupant disappeared that same night....
The U.S. Supreme Court has sent back the John Singer case to the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals for "reconsideration." Singer, an open gay and former employee of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Seattle was discharged in April, 1972 because of his homosexuality. The 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court held that since the U.S. Civil Service no longer considers homosexuality a bar to government employment, Singer's case ought to be re-considered. The Civil Service changed its anti-gay ban in July, 1975....
Our roving Toledo reporter tells us that the Camel Lot I in Toledo is open and "tremendous". said he, "Bartender Jeannie is tops..." The Past Time in Piqua joins the ever growing list of Ohio clubs....
WHAT GOES ON
He stands waiting for the train of my desire
to stop for him. I ask no fare.
Face to face
in weeds over our heads we place our hands crotch to crotch.
In a bedroom of thin budded limbs
we unsnap and uzip. He removes his sunglasses.
My hands hold his head. He holds mine.
The day has
a new quiet to it. Two men have worshipped and been worshipped in turn. S. Blevins