CLEVELAND

The Contrasts, Closets and Couples

by Robert I. McQueen

T IS A CITY of stark contrasts: the gentle, natural terrain of rolling, wooded hills abruptly punctuated by the harsh rectilinearity of monstrous, man-made industrial complexes; the notorious pollution of the air, Lake Erie and the "flaming" Cuyahoga River mocking the magnificence of a system of parks, trails and bridle paths known as the Emerald Necklace; pockets of abject poverty butted against conclaves of opulence; a nearly lifeless center city, a ghost of its former self, populated by 750,000 members of ethnic minorities, sur-

bearable only in summer," a union business agent claims. "The gay life is petty, silly and totally lacking in zip." A production analyst with a major automobile company has an opposing point of view: "Contrary to what national headlines have reported, Cleveland is a fun city. The gay scene is interesting with plenty of friendly, warm people."

The manager of a women's apparel shop calls it an "ultra-conservative farm town

flanked on all sides by factories," while a government employee heralds Cleveland's "nearly perfect size... It's large enough to sustain magnificent educational, cultural, health and social institutions, yet not so large as to make one feel anonymous," he reports.

Other contrasting opinions: "Living here is oppressive, depressing, stupid and dull if you I don't drink, dress in drag, put everyone down and fuck someone new every day. Lord

rounded by a bustling, predominantly white And Comments of its Gay Citizens

suburban sprawl of more than two million people; conservative rednecks sharing with liberal culture-vultures the sidewalks and freeways, the dreams and aspirations, the frustrations and problems of modern American life; outstanding academic, health and cultural institutions bred and nurtured by a city now teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. and, under the leadership of its controversial "boy" mayor, seemingly unable to solve its pressing municipal problems. It is Cleveland, Ohio, a city divided geographically by the Cuyahoga, socially by class and race, politically by opposing liberal and conservative forces.

MEDIA TAKE

A group of women attired in radical lesbian chic greets us at WJKW-TV, where we will tape an. hour segment of Public Square, the city's toprated public affairs program. Smiles are not exchanged, nor friendly hellos. "Oh, no," I think, "is this show going to be about sexism in The ADVOCATE?" My concern mounts as, in the midst of pre-taping chaos, a male voice rings out: "Hey, girls, move over to the chairs on the left." A female voice retorts heatedly, "We don't respond to the word girls!" An argument ensues, drawing in the heretofore aloof host.

"Are you a lesbian?" he asks one of the more vocal women. "Does it make a difference?" she responds. "I just want to know who I'm dealing with," he counters. Efforts to force a definition of the group's collective sexuality are firmly repudiated. I quietly admire their tenacity. The host shrugs and gives up, muttering in my direction a few choice sexist remarks. I assume he assumes I sympathize with him. The audience, now composed of 12 to 15 women and one man, is quietly, if not nervously, assembled. The show begins.

The discussion is intelligent, sometimes provocative. I am impressed-and relieved-with the questions from the audience. They are probing, sensitive and, for the viewing audience, I believe, remarkably instructive. The subject of sexism in The ADVOCATE does not come up. I am grateful for the supportive presence of these women. I discover later, when we have a brief discussion about sexism and The ADVOCATE, that they are members of Cleveland's lesbian community.

Much like the city itself, Cleveland's gay community also appears divided geographically, socially and politically, as well as by gender-separatism remains a strong political ideal, I am informed by several lesbians-by degree of openness and participation within. the community and its organizations, and by attitudes toward the city. There are those who love Cleveland and those who would love to leave it. Defenders defend it with the same intensity as detractors damn it. "Cleveland is ugly, lifeless, provincial and

The ADVOCATE, February 22, 1979

Photos by Dan Miecznikowski

A "very monogamous couple," John Duhn (left) and Dan Riddle (right) claim "Clevelanders play other cities' images because they really don't have any of their own. What California is doing, we read about in the magazines, and the next thing you know everybody here looks just like the pictures."

"We had a real courtship," explain Terry Spinks (left) and James Blevins (right) in discussing their relationship. "We literally studied each other before we wanted to. live together. If gay people were a little more sensible in how they handled their relationships, there might be fewer breakups.”

help the nice guy." -A respiratory therapist "Cleveland seems to be a city of couples and longer lasting relationships."-A personnel director

"Coming here from Chicago made me realize just what 'in the closet' means. The majority of the gay population carry a straight facade everywhere except in the bars."-A store manager

"The unique thing about Cleveland's gay. life is the lack of paranoia of discovery. People act quite openly gay around town."A male warehouse worker

"I have not the slightest idea about gay life in this area. I have no association with it and do not even know if it takes place or doesn't. I would not dare be seen at whatever places it might be."-A bank officer

"Cleveland's gay life runs the gamut. The alternatives are limitless."-An accountant

"Gay life is relatively open in this area. Since we don't feel threatened, it is hard to organize gay people. Even the bars act as rivals to each other."-Department manager of a large corporation

"Gay support and participation are evident. in all facets of the community. It's encouraging to see gays involved in positive programs."-A librarian

A college instructor points out that "Cleveland's worst problem is its image," and a travel agent notes that "although the weather may not be ideal, warm people are a great comfort on cold nights."

The "inferiority complex" of Cleveland's gay residents is something that disturbs Dan Miecznikowski, editor of High Gear, Cleve land's premier gay publication. "Like any place, it's largely what you make of it," he explains. "And there's a lot of good, raw material here in Cleveland: interesting and diverse places to go, things to do, people to meet."

MEDIA TAKE

The DJ on Cleveland's number-two-rated morning radio show has just given me a new telephone caller. She has one of those kindly voices you know belongs to somebody's grandmother.

"I'm a grandmother," she says in her kindest of kindly grandmother voices, "and I just want to express my opinion about you gay people."

"Yes," I say in my most polite of polite faggot voices, "and what might that be?"

"Well," she answers after only a moment's hesitation, "I believe in the Bible, and I think, like the Bible says, that you people should be stoned to death."

"Even if it's one of your own grandchildren?" I ask.

"Yes," she says without hesitation. Little Red-Riding Hood was right.

Along with the differences in opinion, a survey of more than 400 Clevelanders and interviews with around 30 of its gay citizens revealed at least a few points of agreement. The city seems, if not hospitable toward, at least very tolerant of its gay community. Harassment of any kind is minimal, undoubtedly aided by Ohio's progressive consensual sex legislation. According to Robert Kovach, who is active in Cleveland's gay organizations, the relatively open atmosphere and absence of police harassment contribute to the general apathy of the com-