SECTION ONE-4

THE SUNDAY PLAIN DEALER, JULY 10, 1977

GAY PRIDE

CLEVELAND

The Plain Dealer/Charles Horris

200 join gays' march for rights;

group to seek law against bias

By Jane M. Littleton More than 200 persons, mostly gays, paraded down Euclid Avenue yesterday afternoon to show Clevelanders, and especially singer Anita Bryant (they said), that they have come out of the closets forever.

Anita Bryant led the successful crusade to repeal an ordinance banning discrimination against homosexuals in Dade County, Fla.

They carried signs that read:"Anita We ARE Your Children," "2,4,6,8, Is Your Husband Really Straight," and "Gay and Proud." One man wore a T-shirt with "Anita Needs a Woman's Touch" across the front.

Shoppers stopped along the sidewalk to watch the marchers, who were accompanied by police.

The Rev. Dan Richmond, of the Metropolitan Community Church, a gay non-denominational church at 2728 Lancashire Rd., Cleveland Heights, said the purpose of the march was to unite gays in the city and the state. At least 15 speakers representing gay rights groups from Columbus, Kent, Dayton and Toledo

A look at the gay bar scene. Another in a series by Jane Scott. Section 4, Page 1.

participated in the gathering on the Mall.

"For so many years the only place gays could meet was in bars. So holding picnics and rallies like this makes them feel like they are whole people," he said.

The Rev. Mr. Richmond said the rally would also strengthen the Northern Ohio Coalition for Humanistic Rights, an advocate group for gays being organized throughout the state.

"But the biggest problem is job discrimination," he said. He said there were 17 gay Cleveland public school teachers at the rally who would be fired or harrassed if school officials knew they were gay.

Thomas H. Smith, co-founder of the National Gay Task Force and a Cleveland resident, said gays plan to ask City Council for an ordinance that would ban discrimination against homosexuals in housing, public

accommodations and employment. Meanwhile, Smith said he will remind gays "about their oppression. You can't lead a double life," he said.

While speakers were urging the crowd to unite in their fight for gay rights, two men wandered through the crowd murmuring, "Jesus is the answer to this," and passing out pamphlets. The Rev. Mr. Richmond asked police to escort them out of the rally.

Dan and his lover, Jim, said they participated in the march because they are gay and want everybody to know.

A school teacher, who would not give her name, said she had been married, but finally realized that she was a lesbian. "Now, i'm going to do what I can to help us get our rights."

"It's nobody's business who I sleep with," she added.

"Anita Bryant just united the gay communities all over the country," said Jerry Batal, a bartender in a gay .bar.

Gay rights marchers begin their downtown trek at E. 3d St. and Rockwell Ave.