JANUARY 1977

NO 24 GRAKE BEAM

Lotta Crabtree from Columbus.

WOMEN'S MUSIC

LOTTA CRABTREE -

CLEVELAND On January 29, Oven Productions and Cleveland Women's Counseling present LOTTA CRABTREE in a combination concert/square dance event. It will be held at Plymouth Church, Coventry and Weymouth, in Shaker Heights, beginning at 8:30 pm. Admission is $3 advance, $3.50 at the door, under 12 and over 60 $1.00. Free child care is available by calling 371-1697.

traditional and bluegrass styles, plus original material. The second half of the performance will feature a new square dance form they have created to be non-sexist: instead of the traditional form of couples with the men leading, the dance is based on groupings of threes, and circles called "families". In addition, an old-time "cake walk" is planned. It promises to be an evening of fun, with lots of audience participation. The event is open to the public.

LOTTA CRABTREE is an innovative group of women musicians from Columbus, Ohio. It includes Bonnie Woods, guitar, washboard, and vocals; Diantha Rau, fiddle, mandolin, flute, harmonica, and vocals (including modeeling); and Suzie Simpson, mandolin, spoons, bells, clackers, and vocals. Their music is a blend of womenMichigan this past summer. oriented adaptations of

In addition to performing for many women's benefits and traditional folk festivals in the Ohio area, LOTTA CRABTREE has also performed at the National Women's Music Festival in Illinois, and the Women's Music Festival in

LESBIAN ORDAINED PRIEST

NEW YORK In an unprecedented action, the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore Jr. officially ordained Ms. Ellen Marie Barrett, an avowed lesbian, as an Episcopal deacon here on Jan. 10. Reading from a statement, Moore declared Ms. Barrett "highly qualified intellectually, morally and spiritually to be a priest."

When Rev. Moore asked if there were any objections to the ordination, Rev. James C. Watley stood up and said homosexuals lead "a life of sin" and that Ms. Barrett's ordination would be a travesty and a scan.

dal" unless she publically disavows lesbianism.

After Rev. Watley's comments, Moore asked the 250 persons gathered at the Church of the Holy Apostles, "Is it your will that Ellen Marie be ordained a priest?"

The congregation replied in unison, "It is."

Ms. Barrett told a news con. ference after the ceremony that the church's attitude previously forced many gays in the ministery "to lie about themselves in the house of truth....to me, that's a sin."

HIGH GEAR

BUREAU OF PRISONS

BANS GAY PUBLICATIONS

The National Gay Task Force learned on December 14 of a decision by the US. Bureau of Prisons not to permit gay publications, including NGTF's newsletter, It's Time and High Gear in Federal correctional facilities. NGTF learned of the decision through the office of Congressman Ed Koch (D-NY) who had appealed to the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Norman Carlson, to allow It's Time and other gay publications to be received by gay inmates. The appeal followed refusal by the Warden of the Federal facility at Leavenworth, Kansas, to permit receipt of gay publications there.

In a letter to Congressman Koch dated December 10, Carlson said, "The reason for this decision focused exclusively on the fact that homosexuality is a major

problem in correctional institutions. As you will recall, the recent investigation into eight murders at Lewisburg revealed that five had homosexual overtones. Unfortunately, Lewisburg is not atypical of the problems in most institutions. We agree with the philosophy of limiting an offender's access to literature or publications only in cases where there is a clearly overriding institutional interest. In this case we believe that such is the case as publications advocating or supporting homosexuality exacerbate a major problem. Publications which caii attention or identify inmates who accept homosexuality can, in our opinion, be detrimental to their safety as well as to the safety of others. For that reason we have concluded that such publications should be prohibited."

TRANSSEXUAL FIGHTS

OHIO PROSTITUTION LAWS

CLEVELAND Transsexual prostitute, Tracey St. Clair, is challenging Ohio and Cleveland prostitution laws as unconstitutional because they violate her rights to privacy, equal protect ion and due process. The case marks the first time Ohio courts have been asked to apply constitutional issues to prostitution laws.

St. Clair, 28, who was born male but underwent a sex change five years ago, indicated in Common Pleas Court on Dec. 2 that she has worked as both a

male and a female prostitute. Her suit argues that prostitution laws discriminate against women, because the male customer goes unpunished. Said her lawyer, Deborah P. Goslinen, "Traditionally women are subject to street 'pickup' by men and those solicitations are not criminalized."

Capt. Carl I. Delau who supervises Cleveland police vice units, defended police enforcement of soliciting laws "because it is usually the girl, the

HIGH GEAR KEEPS IT ON

Thanks to the rallying of people who felt High Gear was worth maintaining, we are happy to announce the journal will continue monthly publication. We, however, are still sorely in need of volunteers for our advertising collective, lay-out staff and distribution (No experience is necessary). Artists and writers are also encouraged to write us. Let's keep High Gear free and available to all of those who want it. If you can spare a few hours per month, call the Gay Switchboard (216) 321-6632 after 6 p.m. or write High Gear, P.O. Box 6177 Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

While we're on the subject of the paper, a few miscellaneous comments are in order. Because High Gear is based in Cleveland, our most immediate area of concern is Northeastern Ohio Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Warren, and Youngstown.

We have expanded to Columbus, Dayton, Mansfield, Cincinnati, Toledo and Sandusky not because of a lust for economic or political imperialism, but due rather to numerous requests from these cities for an outreach to their communities. By providing free news, feature and calendar space to activist groups in other Ohio areas, we feel we are providing a needed public service. Ideally, each metropolis should develop its own organ of communication; but until that happens High Gear will continue to attempt to fill the vacuum. So Ohio, use us!

One other word is warranted on the relationship of the paper to the Cleveland Gay Community Center. While originally High Gear had intended to direct all its "profits" toward the establishment of a gay center, we have since found that this is not practical nor reliable for a

PAGE 3

Responding to the decision, Ginny Vida, NGTF's media director and editor of It's Time, said. "We are shocked at this outrageous denial of the rights of gay prisoners. Carlson's explanation is just a ruse; they're trying to persuade us that they're protecting gays by depriving them of their constitutional rights."

The National Gay Task Force is exploring, with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the possibility of taking the case to court. The American Civil Liberties Union has already filed a class action suit on behalf of prisoners which includes this issue, but no action is expected until this spring. Another possibility is that President-elect Carter will appoint someone to replace Carison who will rescind the policy now established.

prostitute, who makes the initial contact. She's the aggressor and solicitor in 99% of the cases." Delau also claims prostitutes are readily identified "by their make-up, their actions, type of dress and where they are working." Later, however, he admitted policewoman decoys "dressed normally, like what they would wear to work or to a party."

St. Clair testified that "without the demand, prostitution would not happen."

number of reasons. First, our advertising revenues are so low and advertisers so tardy or delinquent in their payments that we barely are able to meet monthly paper expenses. Secondly, because the G.E.A.R. Foundation has had little funding. High Gear has been sponsoring the Gay Switchboard and its equipment with call forwarding which averages to about $100.00 a month. For the time being, High Gear cannot be viewed as a viable source for Center expenses.

We encourage the N.E. Ohio gay community to contribute what it can to the G.E.A.R. Foundation's Gay Center Fund Raising Drive. As an organ of the GEAR. Foundation, High Gear will continue to do what it can to publicize G.E.A.R. activities and make Ohio gay people more aware and responsible for their own community(s).