JANUARY 1977

HIGH CO

UNCHANGE HIGH GEAR

PAGE 9

HACHARY

THE NEED

FOR A GAY CENTER

A Guest Editorial By Donald Skaggs of the G.E.A.R. Foundation

For some time, a gay community services center has been

in the planning and making here in Cleveland. Such an endeavor has been successfully under. taken in many metropolitan areas of our country. Boston, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and New York are a few of the cities which have gay centers.

A community center is a focal point to establish solidarity among the divergent segments of the gay community, as well as being a medium through which services can be rendered to those segments where problems occur.

A center's structure and operating policies should be tailored to the community which it serves. Thus, much time and energy has been expanded so that our center will most appropriately fit the broad specIrum of interests and concerns in our community.

Many different locations for our center have been considered over the past months. Each had to be scrutinized in terms of

legal suitability, available funding and structura! feasability to determine its usefulness for our

·

a

purposes. Our intent was to find an aesthetically pleasing site in an easily accessible area center that would appeal to many segments of the gay community.

The Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation (G.E.A.R.) has been providing the momentum for securing a community center. Space is greatly needed to house the already existing services sponsored by the G.E.A.R. Foundation and other homophile groups. Office space and meeting rooms are needed for High Gear newspaper, the Gay Hotline, gay counseling, rap groups, workshops and other activities presently undertaken. The center would provide the cohesive force to bind together these various services for greater efficiencyand would be an operating base for future growth and productivity.

A lease is to be signed for the services center on Febuary 1, 1977. The site chosen is located at the intersection of Mayfield and Euclid in University Circle. There are three interconnecting rooms that are of moderate size

The available space and funding, the University Circle location proves most suitable. Once our center is on its feet and

providing an efficient system of services, foundation grants and other funding can be pursued to establish a services center on a larger scale at a future time. In

this fashion, the center can grow in its usefulness and appeal to the Cleveland gay community.

In the past there has been some criticism that the G.E.A.R. Foundation has been of the center. The delay has procrastinating on the opening stemmed from lack of finances and proper space to produce a center complementary to the needs and interests in Cleveland. At this time, proceeds from High Gear although pumped directly back into community services are not sufficient to support the center. We need a center for our first year. From total of $4000.00 to operate the donations, we have collected Our two previous benefits and $900.00. We have made the commitment.

In January and February, an all-out fund-raising effort is G.E.A.R. Foundation to secure being undertaken by the the additional funding. We hope to achieve our goal by February 28. We now need you to show

your commitment. No doub! there is considerable apathy among some gays. Other gays are isolated and do not feel a part of the gay community. Many feel a community does not exist.

A community is generated from the commitment of the individuals to that community. The center needs to be the focal the community will gain momenpoint of our commitment and tum as well as directly confront apathy.

and positive life styles. We tend Many gays have comfortable to forget that there are a large number of gays whose lives are problematic and who may have not achieved a positive adjustment to their sexuality. Services in the hetero-social community are grossly inadequate to meet the needs of gay people.

We are appealing to you to help us help other gay people, establish the center to serve all gays, and enhance our sense of community. We only need $3100.00 more dollars. The community services center and the gay community will only be as and in good condition. This Please send donations to Center strong as your commitment. location is conducive to the aura Fund, P.O. Box. 6177, Cleveland, needed to appeal to many gays Ohio 44101. Checks should be and house a professionally run made out to the GEAR Comcenter for the gay community. Our original intent was to munity Center. Thank you. In solidarity there is hope and

have a large-scale operation;

however after consideration of

progress.

HAUPT

IS

THE VAULTS 1281 WEST NINTH

Open 10 a.m. Mon. thru Fri.

LUNCH SERVED DAILY

DINNER EVERY SUNDAY From 2 til 5

Full Course $3.00 Includes 1st Drink

BAIDU LANDING

CLEVELAND

1012 Sumner Avenue Cleveland, Ohio Phone 216/621-6900

PRESENTS

MR. & MS. Bayou Landing CONTEST

Ms. Bayou Landing

Jan. 19

Mr. Bayou Landing

Jan. 26

1st Prize $100.00

2nd

3rd

8

50.00

25.00