GEAR FOUNDATION REPORT

By Steve Jobe

In October, reports came out that the Gear Foundation (Gay Educational Awareness Resources) was bankrupt and that their building on West 14th street in Cleveland, which houses the gay community center, had been foreclosed on. This information came from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and a Gear Hot Line staffer.

The above information is true only in part. Shortly after that information was released, five Gear members in great concern for the foundation's continuance wrote all members telling them the entire board of trustees had resigned and that a meeting was called for of all members on November 8th. Less than half of Gear's 67 paid up members attended the Nov. 8th meeting.

Having served as an associate editor on High Gear and The Gear Foundation Treasurer back in 1978, I felt concerned too and decided to attend. The meeting was opened by Bob Reynolds, Gear member, for the 45 people attending. He began introducing

each of the heads of the social services who got up and gave a report on their particular social service.

The Hotline report was one of the first given and probably the only one of a positive value. 750 calls are received each month giving information and guidance to those gay people calling. The cost of the service is $135 per month for the phones and the people manning them are. volunteers.

Next, Mr. Robert Toth, editor of High Gear, reported on the status of the newspaper. In September, High Gear ceased publishing after only doing four issues since Mr. Toth accepted his position as editor. Mr. Toth reported that nothing was being done with the paper because of lack of volunteers. He said that $1271.75 was in the High Gear bank account and that numerous checks received by the paper hadn't been deposited. It was quite evident to me, Mr. Toth didn't seem to take his position too seriously or maybe he was too laxidazical to be assertive.

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Next, one of two Gear counselors reported that 92 hours of counseling gay people was done by herself and associate. She said that this amounted to $3,680 in time donated to the foundation. This figures out to $40 an hour for the counseling. By her appearance and mannerisms, I doubt if the private sector would have given her minimum wage.

On and on the reports were given with one report on the financial status of Gear. According to the report, Gear has in its' checking account $929.00. It was also reported that $10,200 in outstanding debts had not been paid. $6,600 of that was for mortgage payments alone and $1,300 for building insurance. One person at that point got up and critized N.O.C.I (Northern Ohio Coalition Inc.) for not helping resolve the financial dilema, however, it had been noted that Gear's books were not kept for some time and no business or organization is going to help out if they can't even keep a set of books. In 1978, when we had gotten the IRS taxexempt status, Gear's books could have withstood the most rigid of

audits.

Finally, a vote was taken and was passed by a 22 member vote to continue the foundation and it's services. Following that, it was decided to return the Gear Foundation Building on West 14th Street to Mr. Bernard, the former owner. Previouy it had been reported in numeris places that Mr. Bernard was foreclosing on the building, however, this is totally false. Mr. Bernard had sold the building to Gear and financed it for them because he and his wife had received help from two gay fellows. with their ill health. Mr. Bernard felt that this was a way to say thank you to the fellows and help the gay community as well. By returning the building to Mr. Bernard, Gear would alleyiate the $26,000 mortgage and the $7,900 debts due over the building. Gear could then obtain a more affordable space elsewhere.

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An open letter

to the gay community on hepatitis B

Hepatitis B, a serious disease,

may be sexually transmitted Sexually transmitted diseases among the gay community are epidemic. Herpes has recently received a lot of attention; gonorrhea and syphilis are well known; but the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued at major recommendation for the prevention of another sexually transmitted disease: Hepatitis B. In their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC stated: "Susceptible homosexually active males should be vaccinated [against hepatitis B] regardless of their age or duration of their homosexual practices.

Gay men are at a high risk of contracting hepatitis B

In one study, from 51% to 76% of 3,816 gay men seen in five sexually transmitted disease clinics had evidence of past or present hepatitis B infection. Once infected, there's a 6% to 10% chance of becoming a carriercapable of passing on the virus. The CDC estimated there are nearly 1 million carriers in the United States and that 100,000 of these carriers are gay men.

The hepatitis B virus can be passed on by contact with contaminated body fluids

such as saliva, urine, semen, and blood. The hepatitis B virus can be transmitted through tiny breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes. This can occur during intimate sexual contact and can lead to hepatitis B for the partner of an infected person. Although most patients recover and over half contracting hepatitis B do not get symptoms, there is no specific treatment and no known cure for hepatitis B infections.

Hepatitis B may lead to even more serious complications

For those who do get symptoms of hepatitis B, a mild

or severe "flu-like" sickness may continue for weeks or months. Ten percent of all infections become long lasting (chronic) with potential complications that are sometimes more serious than those of other sexually transmitted diseases. The serious complications include the chronic carrier state, chronic active hepatitis, chronic persistent hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even cancer of the liver. Every year almost 4.000 carriers. die of cirrhosis. In addition, carriers have a risk 273 times greater than that of the general population of contracting a usually fatal form of liver cancer.

Now this serious sexually transmitted disease is usually preventable by vaccination with the new hepatitis B vaccine

After more than a decade of research and development, a new vaccine is available for prevention, not treatment, of hepatitis B. In clinical studies. the vaccine was highly effective in preventing hepatitis B infection and was generally well tolerated. No serious adverse reactions occurred in these studies.

The vaccination regimen consists of a series of three injections, the first two a month apart and the third, six months after the first. To be effective, the vaccine must be given before a person gets hepatitis B. The vaccine helps prevent the disease: It is not effective as a treatment. We suggest that you consult your doctor to determine if you should be vaccinated.

For more information about hepatitis B and the vaccine to prevent it, contact your doctor, clinic, or the American Liver Foundation, 998 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 (201) 857-2626.

This message is brought to you as a public service by The American Liver Foundation

Why you should consult your doctor or clinic

The vaccine helps protect against infection caused by hepatitis B virus. This virus is an important cause of viral hepatitis, a disease mainly of the liver. Even mild forms of this disease may lead to serious complications and aftereffects. including liver cancer. There is no specific treatment for viral hepatitis. Vaccination is recommended for persons who have a higher risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B virus because of frequent, close contact with infected people or exposure to body fluids from such people. It will not protect against hepatitis caused by viruses other than hepatitis B virus.

No serious adverse reactions were reported in over 6.000 individuals receiving the vaccine in clinical trials. The most frequent reaction was soreness at the point of injection; less

common local reactions included redness, swelling, warmth. or formation of a hard. lumplike spot. The local effects were usually mild and lasted no more than 2 days after vaccination. Occasionally, low-grade fever (less than 101 °F) occurred. When did, it usually lasted no longer than 48 hours following vaccination. In rare cases, fever over 102 °F was reported.

it

More generalized complaints including malaise. fatigue. headache, nausea, dizziness, muscle pain, and joint pain were reported infrequently. Rash was reported rarely. As with any vaccine, broad use may reveal additional adverse reactions. Your doctor or clinic knows what special care must be taken when administering the vaccine and in determining who should receive the vaccine. The vaccine is not intended for persons who are allergic to any of its components.

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