HIGH

GEAR

C 1977 GEAR

Vol 4 A Publication of the GEAR Foundation Issue 3

HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (G.E.A.R.) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment and with any organization that will permit distribution. We are non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the Gay HotlineSwitchboard (216)-321-6632, the G.E.A.R. Foundation which sponsors the Cleveland Gay Community Center and other Ohio gay organizations.

The presence of the name or picture or other representation of an organization, place of business or person(s) in HIGH GEAR is not necessarily indicative of the sexual orientation of such organizations, businesses or persons.

We welcome all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography by members of the gay community. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editorialization. We cannot guarantee the return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, unless they are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envolope.

All HIGH GEAR staff are volunteers. Anyone interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR should inquire by calling (216) 321-6632 or by writing to HIGH GEAR STAFF, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by writing to the above address.

Ine deadline for HIGH GEAR publication dates is as follows:

Advertising by the 30th of every month, camera ready and composition ads. Written material by the 5th of every month. News items until publication.

High Gear will not publish material in which graphic or verbal representations of an ideal or idealized human body appear, except in the case of a performer or work of art which is the subject of the material. We also will not publish material of a racist, sexist, or pornographic nature. We reserve the right to alter and/or edit material to conform to the above standards; in the case of display advertising, after notifying the advertiser.

HIGH GEAR is printed the second Thursday of every month and available at bars, baths, universities, businesses and elsewhere thereafter.

HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Reproduction is granted to all other gay publications so long as credit is given to HIGH GEAR. All HIGH GEAR work is original unless otherwise noted.

INTERIM STAFF

Michael Prunty Arthur Wieners Leon Stevens ! John Wagenhais Brian DeWitt Tony Scafaro Nell Caldwell

Ed Rawlings

Robbie Robinson Terry McCormick

Chrouiation

Marc Loxley. Sadie Marat Steve Jobe Dan Miecznikowski Sharon Kremer Bob Kovach Mike Dubecki Larry Markusio). Audi Hasken Bill Smith

.12,000 plus Distribution.Akron, Athens, Barberton, Seren, Bowling Green, Breskiyn, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cleveland His., Columbus, Dayton, Falirview Park, Lakewood, Line, Lorain, Mansfield, Middleburgh Hie., Oberlin, Peineevilis, Parma, Parma His., Piqun, Rockbridge, Rocky Rivor, Sandusky, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown and points beyond.

BOARD MEETING

The next meeting of the GEAR Foundation Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 1977 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting, which will be held at

HIGH GEAR/NOVEMBER 1977

the Gay Community Center of Cleveland, is open to the public and all interested persons ars urged to attend.

CITRUS BOYCOTT

The Dade County Coalition for Human Rights, in June, requested that the Florida Citrus Commission issue a statement noting that their hiring policies would not discriminate against people based on their sexual or affectional preferences, as they did not discriminate against Ms. Anita Bryant for her opinions. To date, the Florida Citrus Commission has taken no steps whatsoever to place itself in at least a neutral position.

The D.C.C.H.R., is spearheading the international movement to boycott all Florida cirtrus products. We shall take any and all measures necessary to cut the profits of the Florida citrus industry at every level, in all markets, and from every source. We have initiated a mailing of boycott kits, including Boycott Florida Citrus" stickers, to nearly five hundred organizations in the United States and Canada, we are mobilizing gay organizations and supportive groups. The early, overwhelming response has forced us to have an unexpected second printing of stickers. This is only the first stage of implementing the boycott since the directive of the National Gay Leadership Conference in Denver last August.

We must point out that much

of our inspiration has come from the success of the gay organized and backed Coors boycott in the West. This boycott sent the fifth largest brewer in the nation plummeting from its eleven year position as the primary West Coast brewer.

Our economic sanctions will have an impact on the entire citrus industry, even if only the fifteen per cent of the national money, representing the gay population, flows elsewhere due to the boycott. Apparently, however, the response has not been limited to the gay community, as the rejection of Florida citrus products by many organizations

shows.

The Dade County Coaltion For Human Rights and the Florida Citrus Boycott Committee are asking only for a simple statement from the Florida Citrus Commission returning it to neutrality in the area of discrimination against homosexuals. Both the committee and the D.C.C.H.R. support Ms. Bryant's right to her lifestyle and beliefs; until you extend this right to all people, regardless of sexual and affectional preferance, you are not on neutral ground. We hope to have your cooperation in this matter let's get back to business.

topics being discussed are

KGLF RAPS Myths and Misconceptions

KENT, OHIO: The Kent Gay Liberation Front has been holding both male and female rap sessions open to the gay community at 238 Student Center in the Kent State campus. Among the...men's group

about Gays, Roles, and straight Chauvinism. The women are discussing topics on Criticisms for the Miami Coalition, Growing up Gay, Child Custody, Gay Marriages, and Lesbians in the Gay Pulpit. More information can be obtained by calling KGLF at 672-2068.

SUMMIT GAYS POLICED

In Summit County, directly south of Cleveland, gays are experiencing the age old police harassment.

In Akron, the former owner of Myrtle's Five & Dime gay bar opened another bar downtown hoping to turn it into a new gay club. The bar was visited by Akron police daily for almost two weeks. LT. George of the Akron Police warned the bar owner that the police had orders not to permit another gay bar in the downtown area. The bar remained open but is not strictly for gays, and will not be advertised as a gay place.

The Vault, at 316 South Main Street, opened in the early part of the summer by the former bar owner of Wal's Corner in Can ton. Akron Police wasted no time in closing the establishIment within two weeks.

Three known arrests have been made in October at the Interstate 77 roadside rest between Akron and Canton. The gays involved were charged with loitering.

The killing of a young man in his 20's lead Akron police to spark up their harassment of

gays in the Grace Park Area. Police have been stopping motorists threatening arrests and verbally abusing them. One gay man, legally parked, was told to get out of the area or face arrest. At the nearby gay bar, The Stagecoach, police have been visiting regularly, causing the owner to strictly watch which patrons center. Unfortunately the bar owner has taken advantage of the situation and demands new memberships be purchased whether or not patrons have memberships that were purchased when the club originally opened.

Two years ago, Akron police harassed patrons at the American Hotel and Restaurant citing patrons for defective mufflers and auto mechanical defects as they left the parking lot. The Akron Gay Community responded well at that time by staging a protest at Akron's city hall. The protest was effective and ticketing stopped. Currently, the Summit County Coalition is preparing a confrontation with the City of Akron to stop the unnecessary police harassment.

Page 2

AKRON GAY CENTER

High Gear has received calls recently as to what has happened to plans for Akron's Gay Community Center.

At several meetings in January, 1977, plans were discussed on sharing the Metropolitan Community Church office on Buchtel Avenue with the planned community center. Stan Roberts, former minister of Akron MCC, felt that since the office was used

only part of the time by the church, the planned community center would utilize the office for complete referral services and a meeting hall for various gay groups. Money to operate the center would come from donations and various groups using the center. Stan felt that this would supplement the office rent and utilities now paid solely by Akron MCC.

By February of 1977, Stan Roberts and several others tried to locate a new facility which might better house the church office and planned gay center. At that time, Stan was offered a new pastoral position by MCC of San Jose, California. By the end of March, he had accepted the position leaving MCC's office staff to continue with the plans. Others who were working on the planned community center gave up the idea due to lack of funds, lack of community support, and the transition period in which Akron MCC was going through. Now that Akron is once again gaining support in it's' operations, a Gay Community Center may well be about to go back into the planning board.

NGIF

The National Gay Task Force has announced that it is seeking recommendations from NGTF members and non-members from around the country of persons qualified to serve on the NGTF Board of Directors.

NGTF is interested in having a broad range of people serving on its board: women and men who are active in the gay community, persons from various. regions of the country, and persons who have particular skills or background in law, fundraising, serving on other boards of large corporations, etc. Both gay and non-gay women and men may serve on the board.

The deadline for receipt of recommendations is December 10. Anyone wishing to submit a name (or names) for consideration should request a "Nominee Suggestion Form" from:

Nominating Committee NGTF

80 Fifth Ave. New York, N.Y. 10011

(Please enclose a selfaddressed, stamped envelope.)