NOVEMBER 1976

G.E.A.R. INVITES CLEVELAND GAYS

By Rowe Davidson

The gay scene in the Cleveland area has begun to come of age. It is apparent to us that many in the community would like to see substantial additions to social activities in Cleveland and more opportunities to meet and talk with other men and women like yourselves.

In the last few months the G.E.A.R. Foundation and High Gear have been working hard to put together a Community Center for all of us. At this point, critical questions of rental costs and funding must be dealt with.

The time is at hand to bring as many of you together as we can to discuss plans, architect drawings, proposed program of activities, and all of the many details of such an important event.

We need the perspective of your thoughts, feelings, and ideas. We also need the help that many of you are ready to offer. We know you're ready and willing, and so are we.

So G.E.A.R. invites all of you to come together on Sunday, November 21st at The Vaults, 1281 W. 9th St. downtown. A buffet dinner is available at only $3.00. You'll be served a great

HIGH GEAR

dinner, including a drink, a main course with salad and roll, dessert and beverage. The dinner is entirely optional and you are welcome to come directly to the Open Forum. Dinner will be served beginning at 2:00 p.m. and the Forum will open at 3:30 p.m.

Reservations for dinner are necessary and should be made through the Hotline (216) 3216632, no later than Thursday, November 18th.

It is vital that we see you and hear what's on your mind. Your support, at least your presence, at The Open Forum is crucial. Let's do this one together! See you there!

GEAR AT AHP CONFERENCE

PAINESVILLE Last month the G.E.A.R. Foundation sponsored a hospitality suite at the Association for Humanistic Psychology Conference.

Members of the Foundation and rap groups staffed a room which advertised "free coffee" at the conference. Over 100 people dropped in the suite for coffee, conversation or to pick up a copy of HIGH GEAR.

Information, posters, and

sheets about the G.E.A.R. Foundation, HIGH GEAR and the Community Center were available, as were forms for membership, subscriptions and donations.

In addition, G.E.A.R. board member and Hotline Director, David Holleb facilitated three workshops at the conference. The titles were "Sexual Attitudes Reassessment," "Biofeedback: Models and Uses,"

and "Counseling Sexual Minorities." All were well attended and highly successful.

The Association for Humanistic Psychology is a world-wide organization for the development of the human sciences in ways which recognize our distinctively human qualities and which work toward fulfilling our innate capacities as individuals and as members of society....

THE DIGNITY/ CLEVELAND RUMMAGE SALE

FOLDING

MANIA

Photos by Al Morrill

ARE YOU NOW....?

CLEVELAND The Play House at E. 86th St. is currently featuring Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? (through Dec. 12), a dramatization of the McCarthy witchunts of alleged Communists in the fifties. The documentary play is written by gay playwright, Eric Bentley.

Born in England in 1916, Bentley leaves a formidable impression on Western theatre history. His translations of Brecht's plays pioneered the presentation of Brecht upon the English-speaking stage. Often sharply political in nature, Bentley's original works include Thirty Years of Treason, Theatre of War, The Recantation of Galileo Galilei and, of course, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?

Bentley also coordinated a six volume edition of Modern Theatre and seven record albums including Brecht Before the Unamerican Committee, the Songs of Hans Eisler. Bentley on Biermann, and The Queen of 42nd Street.

Bentley began to

speak

openly as a homosexual in

Liberation magazine several sexuality in culture (Queens years ago. One of his letters to College, CUNY, 1972), and has that magazine was subsequently also conducted the weekly gay amplified into the chapter on radio program for Pacifica-WABI "Men's Liberation" in his book in New York. Theatre of War (1972). Bentley A leading cultural advocate of also gave one of the first gay rights, Eric Bentley peppers courses dealing with homomuch of his work with abstract

symbolism. Are You Now or Have You Ever Been? is a documentary play, largely taken from congressional records. While no mention of gays is heard, Bentley's production is nevertheless informative and relevant to all harassed people.

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