munity.
"I hate to say it," he notes, "but it's probably going to take an anti-gay WASP, an Anita Bryant or a Prop. 6 to get gay people here active, participating and unified.".
"A lot of people will tell you that the relationship between the police and the gay community is rather comfortable," explains David Feltham, one of the founders of the now defunct Gay Activists Alliance of Cleveland. "As a result, it's very hard getting the general gay community involved. Apathy is hot, very hot, always has been. People are comfortable and don't want to rock the boat."
Apathy, as a second point of agreement, is further lamented by the president of the Gay Awareness and Resources Foundation (GEAR), Cleveland's leading gay organization, which oversees the activities of High Gear and the Cleveland Gay Community Center. Due to demands of his employer, he requests anonymity in The ADVOCATE.
"If you were to mention the GEAR Foundation to a lot of gay people here, they wouldn't know what you were talking about," he explains. "The gay community is apathetic with a capital A," he states, his face turning a bit red and his voice level rising. "We have literally begged for volunteers for both the community center and High Gear. It's absolutely unbelievable how few people are involved and carrying the burden for the rest. The majority of our gay population is only concerned about boogying on Friday and Saturday nights. That's the extent of their contribution to gay life."
The president's strong indictment is echoed by Jeff Rhodes, a student with an education goal of a Ph.D. in organizational development: "No one's putting any effort into getting involved in politics-or anything else for that matter," he explains. "In my opinion, gay people have got to begin validating their existence, their worth to society. If we, as a group, actively participated in something of value to society, people would have a totally different impression of us. The only experience the Cleveland population has of gay people is seeing us march during. gay pride parades..
"Life's a game," he adds, "and to get ahead, you have to play, be involved, participate. We just haven't been doing that in Cleveland."
"Closeted" was a third theme on which there were multiple and harmonious variations. Gay individuals, gay businesses, even gay organizations maintain a remarkably low profile. Residents speak of a high number of successful gay-owned businesses that shun. any identification as such; with the exception of bars, discos, baths and a few bookstores, only a handful of non-sexually oriented businesses advertise in Cleveland's two gay publications.
The RSVP card and gift store, which specializes in merchandise of interest to the gay consumer, a novel bakery called How Sweet It Is, which provides imaginative, humorous. and frequently erotic creations for any occasion, and Tish's Shoe Repair and Emporium are a few businesses with a somewhat open identity as gay, though eschewing the label itself as too limiting for business purposes.
Advertising support for the city's two gay publications, High Gear and Cleveland Gay News, comes primarily from the bars and
"I guess the most rewarding thing about my relationship is I've had someone to share my life with for 16 years," says Henry Coyle, a corporate planner. "I have never been alone, and as I look ahead, I don't see myself being alone in the future."
"There seems to be a tendency in Cleveland for people to couple up instead of remaining single," observes David Feltham, himself half of a couple. "There also seems to be a need for hav ing things comfortable. That's why apathy is hot, very hot, and always has been."
baths in Ohio, although the Cleveland Play-house, some professional services, gay religious organizations, hair salons and bookstores also number among advertisers.
A weekend visit to Cleveland's dozen or so gay bars, including the 620, Traxx, New Dimensions and Exedra, found that aspect of Cleveland's gay life bristling with activity and indistinguishable from the bar scene in any major city. Although the social spots ap-
ADVOCATE
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"I am pretty happy with being gay," notes Steve Jobe, who owns a gay mail-order business called LaBelle Company. "I think it's no worse than being straight. I'm probably a lot better off fi 'nancially than I would be if I were married and had kids."
"There is a sharp division between gay men and lesbians in this city," complains Robert Kovach, a self-described "gay chauvinist." "We still have a men's bar that forbids women, and it's rare to find women participating in our gay organizations. We're brothers and sisters and all in the same boat. We should be working together, but you don't find that here in Cleveland."
peared crowded, residents claim much socializing takes place at private parties. There is also hushed talk of a fabled gay wealthy class that does not associate with the community at large on any level. Complaints of class and race discrimination were frequently voiced. Organization leaders also complained of limited participation in available social alter-
natives.
According to the president of GEAR, the
"contributions of gay money, talent and leadership to Cleveland's cultural institutions is enormous but unrecognized due to the 'closet' syndrome.
"If people only knew," he laments, "how important gay people are to those things they love about this city, the things that make them proud to be from Cleveland, it would be a major step forward for the gay community. But the same people won't be caught
22
CLEVELAND DIRECTORY
(Note: All telephone numbers are in area code 216)
ORGANIZATIONS
Dignity/Cleveland
P.O. Box 18479
Cleveland, OH 44118
791-0942
1012 Sumner Court
Gay Community Center
Cleveland, OH
621-3380
Gay Education and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation
P.O. Box 6177
Cleveland, OH 44101. 621-3380
Gay Hotline
621-3380
Nativity Fellowship Church
2728 Lancashire
Cleveland Heights, OH
781-4074
Oven Productions (Feminist Organizations)
P.O. Box 18458
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 371-1697
PUBLICATIONS
Cleveland Gay News
233 S. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 732-3334
High Gear
P.O. Box 6177
Cleveland, OH 44101 621-3380/631-9275
BUSINESSES
(The businesses listed below actively solicit gay patrons. They are not ne
cessarily gay-owned or gay-identified.)
Coventry Books
1824 Coventry Road
Cleveland Heights, OH
932-8111
Genesis 1:29 Organic Restaurant
12200 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 421-9359
Hershkoff and Holland Attorneys
1001 Euclid Ave., Suite 610 Cleveland, OH
241-1350
High Tide/Rock Bottom Jewelry
1832 Coventry
Cleveland, OH
321-8500
How Sweet It Is Bakery
510 Euclid Ave., #34
Cleveland, OH
241-7146
Lakewood News
11800 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH
The ADVOCATE, February 22, 1979