NEWS

HIGH GEAR/MAY 1977

OHIO GAYS MOBILIZE COLUMBUS NEWS

COLUMBUS The Ohio Gay Rights Coalition met in Kent April 24 and plotted numerous strategies for state-wide political action. First on the agenda is a Columbus State-House march on Sunday May 15 at 12:00 p.m. Designed to express Ohio support for the Dade County (Miami, Fla.) Gay Rights Ordinance (which will be voted on in a June 7 referendum), the rally will also function as a first-step toward providing more gay visibility, a pre-requisite to an upcoming gay rights bill OGRC plans to submit to the Ohio State Legislature.

To date, lobbying efforts have been largely part-time and conducted by members of the Central Ohio Lesbians and the Columbus Gay Activists

Alliance. A spokeswoman for C.O.L. suggested activists consider securing sponsorship of the bill by a "conservative Democrat with high ranking" to lend the legislation greater leverage.

Ohio N.O.W. Task Force Coordinator on Sexuality and Lesbianism, Arlene Ross, said she has been in contact with Dr. Linda Howard, a political science professor at Ohio State University. Dr. Howard teaches a legislative process class at O.S.U. and at the recent Women and the Law Conference in Wisconsin, offered her class to help write bills for political organizations. Ms. Ross will investigate the possibilities of the class composing the proposed Ohio gay rights bill. OGRC, in turn, will consider what shall go into the bill at its next meeting, May 15, to be held following the rally in Columbus at approximately 2. p.m.

Dr. Dolores Noll, KSU English Professor, suggested that the Coalition consider liaison functioning and utilize the lobbyists of organizations which have expressed gay rights support, notably, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Ohio Education Association. While participants agreed with the importance of maintaining com-

munication with these groups, some felt ACLU and OEA lob-

byists would not place gay rights as high priority.

Concern at the meeting was expressed over the lack of representation of southern Ohio gay people. The largest contingents in OGRC have been from Cleveland and Columbus and the northern tiers of the state Bowling Green, Youngstown, Kent, Oberlin, etc. A general consensus developed that OGRC must do more to involve gays from Dayton and Cincinnati and other points due south. Future meeting locations

will be more centralized and made accessible to as many Ohio gays as possible.

OGRC's momentum continued to build. Nearly 60 people attended the April 24 Kent meeting. A communications network has been instituted by the Oberlin Gay Union and attempts are being made to contact gay people in every Ohio county. Those wishing to receive further information on the Ohio Gay Rights Coalition, including the newsletter and dates of future meetings may write OGRC, c/o Oberlin Gay Union, Box 30, Wilder Hall, Oberlin, Ohio 44074.

Photos by Al Morrill

COLUMBUS -The political task force of Central Ohio Lesbians reports in its newsletter that meetings were held with Senators Schwartzwalder (Cols.) and Bowen (Dayton). C.O.L. says that both men are prepared to co-sponsor but will not sponsor gay rights legislation.

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The State Senate is seen to be even more conservative and anti-gay than the House, so C.O.L. representatives proceeding to search for SPONSOR ("Ranking Democrat with credibility and a bit conservative") in the House.

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A meeting was also held with representative Les Brown who appears to be the most supportive of gay rights, but who, says C.O.L. lacks rank and credibility being a first termer.

C.O.L.'s list of May activities is listed in the High Gear Calendar this month. Interested women

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are urged to attend noted functions.

Also on the Columbus front is the Columbus Gay Activists Alliance. The predominantly male group wishes to stress that it is not an organization for college gays only and that an outreach is made to all Columbus area gays. G.A.A. meets every Tuesday at the Ohio Union, Room 323, Ohio State University, 1739 N. High St. at 8 p.m. G.A.A.'s main this month is the organization of the Anti-Anita Bryant March on the Statehouse Sunday, May 15. Other activities include a movie fund-raiser on May 19 at the Conference Theatre, 7 and 9:30 p.m. The flick will be "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane." For more information on G.A.A. call (614) 422-9212 or (614) 262-0322.

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RAP MOVES TO CENTER

Cleveland The Gay Switchboard Hotline and the Friday Night rap groups (formerly held at the Free Clinic) will now be located at the new Gay Community Center at 2795 Euclid Hts. Blvd., third floor, suite No. 7. The new Hotline hours are 611 p.m. weekday evenings and soon to expand to include the weekend from Noon 10 p.m.

During our move to the center, with a change of volunteers and telephone company problems the Switchboard/Hotline has not been fully operational the first two weeks of May. Please forgive us during relocating and try to call us after May 15th. Call the Switchboard/Hotline for any information in the Gay Community, problems, counseling, referrals and emergency help, or harassment complaints. The number is the same321-6632. Please call if you want to volunteer!

The Gay Rap Group, an informal, open discussion group will start meeting at the Center on Friday May 20. Previously this group has been meeting on Fridays at the Free Clinic since December of 1975. We offer much thanks to the Free Clinic

CENTER OVERCOMES CITY BIND

Cleveland Cleveland's Gay Community Center, delayed in its projected opening on May 1, 1977, has finally overcome the major obstacles which stood in its way. The delays were caused by last-minute requirements imposed by the City of Cleveland Heights. Two weeks before the lease was to come into effect and the Center was to open officially, the Center's landlord, Louis Zipkin, was informed by the Cleveland Heights Fire Inspector that according to his interpretation of the pertinent Cleveland Heights Municipal Code provisions the building had to be fitted with an adA

ditional fire exit. Although

Zipkin disputed this interpretation of the law with respect to these premises, he agreed to make the necessary alteration in the building. The Fire Inspector offered to give his oral consent to the occupancy of the suite by the Gay Community Center for thirty days, by which time Zipkin promised to have completed the fire exit.

The only other requirement which must be met in order to qualify for the City's Occupancy Permit is painting the suite. Members of the G.E.A.R. Foundation, and other members of the gay community who volunteered are currently in the process of painting the

suite. So far, the room to be used as the hotline office and reception area is completely painted, and the rest of the rooms will follow shortly.

The landlord was agreeable to amending the written lease to take effect one month later than the May 1 date originally contemplated by the parties, due to the unexpected delay which Center's prevented the cupancy from beginning on time. This change means that the rent will not begin to come due until the first of June.

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Although few activities have been planned for the rest of the monty of May, the public is into drop in at the center and

see how the work is coming along. Be sure to consult the next issue of High Gear for the amouncement of ret marth's

events and activities, and those to follow in the coming months. See you at the Center! Hessler Street Arts and Crafts

The annual Hessler Street (in Univ. Circle) Fair will be held Saturday and Sunday May 21-22. The G.E.A.R. Foundation has been invited as one of the ten community service organizations to have a booth there. Come to the fair for a good time, music, food & drink, and stop by the G.E.A.R. booth to help sup-port the Gay Community Center,

YES PAYS entire vited to the Hotline and other activities.

for their donation of space for groups, meetings, help in past Hotline training and for their continued support (especially free medical services and V.D. exams) to the Gay community in general. For more information about the rap groups and other activities at the Center, please call 321-2664, the new Gay Community Center phone number, or call the Hotline if there's no answer. We look forward to seeing all of you at the Center.

AMERICA NEEDS YOU NOW

HIGH GEAR P.O. BOX 6177 CLEVELAND 44101