page 14

LETTERS

from p. 5

To the Editor:

All gay people ought to join in the cheers and jeers due your Declaration of Self Esteem reprint. Given the fact that many gays, as well as nongays, suffer various kinds of pain coming to grips with personal elfworth, it is good that someone drafted a vocalization addressing this matter.

However, in his extreme desire to state that his worth as a single entity in the psychodramă called life is not to be determined by any set rules or any sort of conjunctive association with others of the species, John Pierre has squarely placed himself on a desert island without so much as a "Man Friday."

Mr.

More than enough evidence of this is given by any tallying of the number of uses he makes of the first person pronoun form, Me.

I'm sure à life in which there is no accountability for self or for others, and toward others, would be idyllic, to say the least.

The valid clinical observation that anyone can easily make is that the socalled "Me generation" has assumed that it, collectively and individually, has attained some level of perfection--both snobbish and elitist in practice, and unreal in its general implementation.

Gay Peoples Chronicle

Having, thus, "arrived," and loudly proclaiming, as they do, I'm O.K.; You're O.K." they ignore the fact that life and reality are a continuing and changing panorama of growth and learning.

The most recurring and consistent picture we get of these people is one of selfindulged, sated, "stuffed" complacency. With a plethora of "this is who I am" and "I'm just being myself" parroted by these folk as the "really with-it" catch phrases, these benign souls hope to blanket the lethargy:

If there were time or space to update Pierre's statement to include a reallife world peopled with real, live people--humans-I'd attempt that here. Since there is not, it is appropriate to say, "I'm O.K., but I intend never to stop getting better," and, "As for you and your life, I can't say whether you are O.K. or not, but I'm here to help you if you want to work on your self-esteem."

Sadly, the me-generation attitude has festered to the point of ostracising more people than it has imparted greater self-esteem to. All of the so-called "S000000 O.K." people don't think anyone overy 30 is very 0.K. No person who is overweight,

LIFE AT THE CLOSET DOOR

under-employed, not financially independent, more than 5 or 6 years their senior, not sveltely-built, not a "major hunk," not having a "heavenly HOOTER," not bland and not stamped visibly with

imprimatur "Made by the master machines of Clones Inc., International, could or should be considered an O.K. candidate for a loving relationship with themselves or with any other human gay person.

or

Under cover of their multitudes of pious platitudes, like so-and-so isn't my type," or "chocolate makes my skin break out, starting their spiel with, "I'm ONLY attracted to" thus and such, or "My chemistry only works one way," many more worthy recipients of respect and attention are passed over. What ever happened to personality, maturity, awareness, ability to learn and grow together, and spiritual acumen as reasons and criteria for beginning, building, and sustaining love relationships?

Could it be that because these ideas actually affirm self-worth and personal "O.K.-ness" they are now rejected from pragmatic implementation? Would realiy shatter fantasy? AND WHY SHOULDN'T IT?

Address your answers to T.L. Morgan c/o G.P.C.

July 1986

10 Years Ago

in Cleveland:

*On July 10 Cleveland experienced its second Gay Pride March. Beginning at Gypsy's Restaurant on St. Clair at 1:30 p.m., it moved through downtown to the proposed site of the Cleveland Gay Community Center on West Sixth. Apparently about 50 people participated. (Sponsors of the march chose.to publicize it in Ohio East Gay News, copies of which have not survived.

*The GEAR Foundation's Board of Directors delayed renting quarters for a Gay Community Center in the Bradley Building, on West Sixth St., until they had an estimate of renovation

costs.

*This month Baskerville's Music and Company, in the Flats, and Bayou Landing-where Tiffany Jones was again playing--began operating after-hours.

*The Cleveland Area Lesbian-Feminist Alliance held a benefit July 17 and a softball game July 25. The Lesbian Switchboard operated Sunday through Thursday, 710 p.m.

WHAT ABOUT HIM? IS HE GAY?

AND THE TWO

GUYS WITH HIM.

THE GUY AT THE WATERFOUNTAIN IS DEFINITELY GAY, AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE GUY WALKING LIP CONNECT KUT AVENUE, BUT IF HE TURNS AROUND I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

RECOVERING FROM

ALCOHOLISM/CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY?

DO YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE TO EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS?

GAY SUPPORT GROUP

FOR RECOVERING MEN AND WOMEN

I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IT, JOHN. HOW CAN YOU GAYS SPOT ONE ANOTHER ON THE STREETS? DO YOU

WEAR SPECIAL CLOTHING? SHOES?

BY BRADUES

YOU'VE DISCOVERED CUR SECRET. DEAR... WE ALL HAVE TATOOS

ON OUR FOREHEADS.

I KNEW IT! THERE

HAD TO BE A TRICK!!

·

BRADY

REGIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM

CALL OR WRITE TIM AT...

Suite 707 391-5805

3101 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44115

NOTE: ALL CALLS AND INQUIRIES ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL

Thursdays/ 7:30pm

Lakewood Area $10.00 per group

8

KEYS

COCKTAILS & COMPANY

1028 PROSPECT AVE. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44115 PHONE: (216) 566-0060