AGE 16
HIGH GEAR
OCTOBER 1976
OHIO GAY ORGANIZATIONS
AKRON-KENT Dignity/Akron-Canton (Catholic gay group) 143 S. Union St., Akron, O.
Kent Gay Liberation Front, Kent State University, Student Center, Kent O
MCC/Akron (gay Christian. group) 3300 Morewood Rd... Akron O.
CLEVELAND
The Cleveland Gay Switchboard (Help, information. ferrals) (216) 696-5330.
re-
Cleveland Gay Rap Group, Free Clinic 12201 Euclid Ave.,. Cleveland, O. Friday eve., 8-11 p.m.
Community of Celebration (non-denominational religious gay group) P.O. Box 18226. Cleveland Hts.. Ohio 44118. Dignity/Cleveland (Catholic gay group) P.O. Box 18226 Cleveland Hts.. O 44118.
Gay Alcoholics Hotline, (216) 687-0416.
Gay Counseling, Free Clinic 12201 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, O. 721-4010 for appt.
Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation (G.E.A.R. coalition of Cleveland gay groups research, fund-raising. media projects,
speaker's bureau) P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, O. 44101.
High Gear, Ohio's Gay Journal, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, O. 44101.
MCC/Cleveland (gay Christian group) (216) 696-3649.
Radio Free Lambda, WRUWFM 91.1, Mon eve. 10-11 p.m. Case-Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
What She Wants (Cleveland's feminist newspaper) C/O WomenSpace 3201 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, O. 44115.
Oven Productions (feminist cultural organization) (216) 3711697, P.O. Box 18175 Cleveland Hts., Ohio 44118.
Cleveland Gay Political Union, c/o G.E.A.R. P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, O. 44101
COLUMBUS
Central Ohio Lesbians, P.O. Box 8393. Columbus, O. 43201
Columbus Gay Activists Alliance, Ohio State University, Columbus, O. 43201. Box Room 323 Ohio Union.
Gay Alcoholics Anonymous 1-614-221-2924 or 1-614-291-
0376.
DAYTON-ANTIOCH Antioch Gay Center, Antioch
PG
EATRE
College, Yellow Springs, O. 45387, 767-7331 Ext. 217.
Dayton Gay Community Center, 665 Salem Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45406, 228-2226.
Dayton Gay Radio Program Fridays & p.m. WYSO 91.5 FM c/o DGCC 665 Salèm Ave. Dayton, O. 45406.
Dignity/Dayton, P.O. Box 153, Dayton O. 45402.
TOLEDO
Personal Rights Organ. ization, P.O. Box 4642, Old West End Station, Toledo, O. 43620. 11-419-243-9351.
MCC/Toledo, 513 Magnolia, Toledo, Ohio
BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green Gay Union, Box 9, University Hall, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, O. 43403.
OBERLIN
Oberlin Gay Union, 216-7558131
YOUNGSTOWN
Gay Rights Organization, Youngstown State University, Kilcawley Student Center, Youngstown, Ohio.
United Artists
ELEPHANT'S FOOT ANTIQUES
CLOTHES THAT ARE ART-FORMS
AND FLAIR.
..WITH HUMOR
13619 DETROIT AVE. LAKEWOOD OPEN 1-5 SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
Ty's
242 S. High St. (Rear) Columbus, Ohio 43215
DISGO
Five Nights A Week Wednesday-Sunday
WEEKDAYS 5 2:30 SAT. & SUN. 8 2:30
TALKING LESBIAN
LIVI
Lori Holmes
Eleven Ohio lesbian feminists, formerly of C.A.L.F.A., shared some of their perspectives with High Gear on a variety of issues. Here's what they said:
On the Dissolution of C.A.L.F.A.
"The reason C.A.L,F.A. disbanded was because a lot of women active in it became active in other things Oven Productions, What She Wants, the Radical Feminist Counseling Collective, and the Land Project, an effort to purchase rural land for a women's collective. C.A.L.F.A. served as an entry point for women to become integrated into the community. For those of us who put our energies into it, C.A.L.F.A.'s already served its purpose."
"There is no question that there is a need for an organization like C.A.L.F.A., but different people have to take on that responsibility now. As an umbrella organization, it became difficult for C.A.L.F.A. to be all things to all people. If other women are interested in continuing any or all its parts, we're here to provide them our resources."
"It should be understood that although C.A.L.F.A. no longer exists as a coordinating agency, 'organs,' of it are still alive. The Lesbian Mothers and Black Lesbian support groups, for example, are still active and lesbians interested in these and
Mary Ann Huckabay
Cleveland
other activities can make contacts through Women's Counseling (3218585)."
On the Future of Local Lesbian Politics
"Many political lesbians now will form coalitions with feminist groups like the Crisis Center for Women and N.O.W."
"I'd like to see a local Women's Credit Union, but it wouldn't be successful without a broad-based coalition..
Women's culture in Cleveland is largely lesbian. And it's culture more than anything else that will unify us. The display of our culture will give people the public consciousness that shows we're not solely sexual
beings."
Rita Coriell
On Lesbian Social Alternatives
"All kinds of women in the community are doing different things. For me the primary focus is Oven Productions, the women's cultural vehicle and feminism, not lesbianism. But then feminism incorporates my lesbianism."
"Some lesbians who are from middle class backgrounds might be at a point in their lives where the National Organization of Women may partially fulfill their needs; it's less threatening and primarily due to the Gay Movement is now more accepting of lesbians."
Lesbians and the Bars
"I think if we drink beer, we ought to own it."
"The only things gay bars today are concerned with are alcohol and disco."
"What we have to do is purchase our own bar, but because of our economic status, money is not that easy to come by. Our whole management approach to a bar would be difficult than in those owned by gay men. A women's bar would be a place for poetry readings and the like. It would be more like a coffee shop than anything else."
"A women's bar really is
important. 90% of the calls we got on the Lesbian Switchboard were about bars. A lot of lesbians would go to a bar before they'd go to a community center. It would bring out a lot of different types of lesbians to one central area."
On Separatism
"More separatists are visible now than ever before. For some it's more politically effective to unify themselves and in that unity find strength, but there are varying degrees of separation."
"The word 'separatism' is really no longer functional." 'Presentist' is an alternative. I am present with I choose to put my energies into women."
women.
On Socialism and Feminism
"The long range goals of socialism seem worthwhile, but as a political movement socialism doesn't differ from anything else. It has yet to embrace feminism or concern itself with the effects of sexism. We've found attention to smaller units of organization is preferable to mass organization."
"Socialists don't give a shit about women. They pay only lip service to us and still don't recognize the universal oppression of women. All socialist groups are dominated by males and their sexism affects their class analysis."
On Feminism
and the Media
"On the surface it looks like things are improving for women especially from a media viewpoint, but the fundamental patterns get obscured."
"The media thinks we're getting a piece of the pie, but it's just pacification. Take WMMS radio for example. They've just started airing an hour program coordinated by N.O.W., but look at the time it's on 8 A.M. Sunday morning. Now who listens to anything at that time of day. Meanwhile, I'm sure the WMMS people are patting themselves on the back for their 'great public service.' It's ludicrous."