September, 1975

An Editorial

HIGH GEAR

Cleveland In A State Of Transition

Of late, much ado has been stirred about the upcoming improvements in store for our fair city. Submitted by competent San Francisco designers, The Halprin Plan promises to renovate the heart of Cleveland, Public Square and bring needed business dollars into the community.

Settler's Landing appears to be on schedule for its addition of a grade A shopping and entertainment district. And the social scene down in the Flats is accelerating so rapidly that it's hard for even the most trendy Clevelander to keep up with.

Cleveland, of course, already boasts of many new attractions The Bond Court Hotel, Park Centre, the summer concerts at Chester Commons, unprecedented theatre growth, and the most essential ingredient of any progress, attitude.

It is in this last regard, however that Cleveland is not yet the cosmopolitan metropolis it desires to be. Recent harassment of gays seems to be on the upswing.

We at High Gear are receiving almost daily reports of gay victimization throughout the city. At two major clubs in town gays

have been beaten and robbed; one not only was assaulted but locked in the trunk of his own car.

Automobiles are reported stolen or broken into. Making a concerted effort to drive the gay business out of its locale, the neighborhood surrounding one of the Baths has forced the enlistment of a full-time security guard to keep the building under 24 hour surveillance. The list goes on... Church protestations of a disco in the diocese, Cleveland Zoo harassment of gays braving to hold hands in public, and the abominable MCC hassles all pollute the efforts of progress.

When hostility turns to physical force, it is time for all of us straight and gay to show concern. What can we do? The answers are plain; but require steadfast action. First, we require (and to date have received) the co-operation of The Cleveland Police Dept. and all gay businesses who have an obligation to protect their clientele. Next, we need to continue our attempts to educate the straight public about homosexuality.

High Gear is now distributed at over ten "straight" outlets. We must expand even more. On a personal level in our open contacts with non-gay in-

dividuals, each of us affects what members of the public assume about gays in general. It is important to remember that every gay person is a representative tf his community at all times. Third, when disagreements and misunderstandings surface between the straight and gay communities, every effort should be made to meet at the conference table and not the wrestling arena. Harassment of gays must stop and now!

Outside of these scattered clouds, the sunshine is seeping through. Gay social life in Cleveland has never been better. The Bayou Landing now has its liquor license and wealth of high quality live shows. Rikki's promises to be a super hot spot and Twiggy's is packed, not to mention an increase in patronage of The Rainbow. Sources inform us two new bars are scheduled to open shortly, but are tempering any prepublicity.

There are gay baseball teams, picnics nearly every other weekend, one small, but active political group, The Cleveland Gay Federation, and two religious organizations. The MCC and Dignity and, of course High Gear. Gay Clevelanders have much to be proud of, and it's simply a matter of time and

communication

before gay visitors from other towns begin dropping by to partake of our activities.

631-5330

Page 9

One last note... The GEAR Foundation and High Gear newspaper wish to extend their support to MCC in their move from St. John's Episcopal Church to new quarters. Until the GEAR Foundation is able to estalibh separate facilities for a community center has been and will provide community services for the gay community-at-large.

They have been responsible for the Hotline, made available professional counseling by appointment, and offer the social alternative of The Coffeehouse. On behalf of all gays in Northeastern Ohio, High Gear voices their gratitude and wishes for future success to the Cleveland MCC.

V.D.

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