COMMUNITY VOICE

LIKES SOAP

MR. FRED SILVERMAN, PRESIDENT ABC ENTERTAINMENT

1330 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, N.Y. 10019 Dear Mr. Silverman:

Enclosed is a tear sheet from High Gear, a Gay newspaper from Cleveland, Ohio. While I agree with some points in the article, I like SOAP and hope it has a long, long run. The High Gear columnist doesn't seem able to laugh at himself. SOAP gives me at least one good surprise laugh a week, usually from "Jodie."

If "Jodie" is a "screaming queen," then some of the individuals I have seen In Cleveland's Gay Bars must be hungry Hildas out for blood! "Jodie" is no more silly than any other person--straight or gay--who is "love struck." ! think Billy Crystal portrays his character

SOAP

very well-keeping in mind that SOAP is comedy. (Laugh, already!)

Have you had any letters yet from Italian Americans objecting to the portrayal of Danny, the apprentice Mafia killer? It would be very interesting, and probably good publicity, to release to the press excerpts from the funniest of the letters.

How about a contest! Take all the positive letters from Gays who like SOAP and have a drawing. First prize-a night on the town with "Jodie."

GAY LOBBY

---Anonymous Canton, OH.

support; the University of Cincinnati has supported this attitude in employment policy also.

CINCINNATI, OHIO: The Cincinnati has given it's written cinnati coalition of gays, affiliated with the Ohio Gay Rights Coalition, has used the month of October to lobby area companies. The group is attempting to gain promises of inclusion of non-discrimination clauses in employment policies.

So far, only five, gay organizations have received state-grant moneys for the purpose of educating the public on Proctor and Gamble of Cingay issues and trying to change

VD CONTROL The Cleveland VD Control

Program of the Cleveland Department of Public Health and

Welfare in cooperation with the

management of the Club Cleveland, Club Baths, and Cleveland Depo Baths provides free and confidential tests for veneral disease. The tests are given at the bathes in the evenings from 8 P.M. to 10 P.M.

The schedule for future testing is as follows: Club Baths(W. 9th) November 1, 1977 November 15, 1977 November 29, 1977 December 13, 1977 December 27, 1977 January 10, 1978 January 24, 1978 February 7, 1978 February 21, 1978 March 7, 1978 March 21, 1978

April 4, 1978

April 24, 1978

Club Cleveland(W. 32nd) October 26, 1977 November 22, 1977 December 20, 1977 January 17, 1978 February 14, 1978

, March 14, 1978 April 11, 1978

The Depo November 7, 1977 December 5, 1977 January 9, 1978 February 6, 1978 March 6, 1978 April 3, 1978

old-fashioned attitudes. Among these organizations receiving the grants were, the Lesbian Activist Bureau, a chapter of MCC, and Gay Alcoholics.

STATUS CORRECTED

Dear Friends:

I don't know where you got your information from, but it's wrong. The Fund for Human

Dignity is about eight years too late to pose as the "1st gay group to be granted federal tax exemption" (High Gear, 9/77).

The Homosexual Information Center was the first gay group to be granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS in March, 1970. Not only was the word "homosexual" conspicuously a part of the name of the organization, but our charter openly advocates homosexuality. Other groups have since won tax deductible status. Not only is the Fund for Human Dignity woefully behind the times in this regard, but it actually hides its true identity behind a euphonic name and its charter nowhere advocates homosexuality as a sexual

choice.

This is sert just to set the record straight. All good wishes.

Cordially,

David G. Kennedy, Treasurer Homosexual Information Center 6715 Hollywood Blvd. No. 210 Los Angeles, California 90028.

EDITOR'S NOTE: SORRY! WE REPEATED THE SAME ERROP IN THIS ISSUE.

HIGH GEAR/NOVEMBER 1977

MCC NOW NFC

To whom this may concern:

Community

Metropolitan Church held a district conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 28th and 29th. At this meeting it was decided that Cleveland MCC could no longer operate under the name MCC.

The decision was made because of past performance of MCC leadership. They also cited reasons such as some present attending members. This board feels they did not act in good response with their reasoning.

As requested, it was announced that Cleveland MCC would no longer meet under that

name.

Prior to this conference, Reverend Kenneth Martin, District Co-ordinator for the Great Lakes District, met in Cleveland and stated he was satisfied with the leadership shown since July 1977. He said he felt Cleveland MCC was more successful now than it had been at any time since it began.

Since July 1977, Cleveland MCC has paid all debts past and present. Some of those debts were two years old. At present there is a bank account and the group is debt free for the first time since it began.

Attendance has tripled since July and all persons attending have become loyal and sup-

porting the present leadership.

Because of MCC decision to no longer operate in Cleveland, a congregational meeting was held with the following results: A new name was adopted, Nativity Fellowship Church; Present leadership to remain active; Continue meeting as a group to worship; No longer recognize MCC as parent church; Tony lorio to remain as pastor; Tom Farley, Tony lorio and Hugh Hampton to remain on the board.

Nativity Fellowship Church meets every Sunday at 2-p.m.

the address is 2728 Lancashire Road Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Tony lorio, pastor, can be reached at his home 942-2268.

Board member Hugh Hampton I can be reached at his home 9516705. Both numbers are local with no toll charge.

For those who did not wish to attend because of the MCC stigma, you can now feel free to worship with us as an independent group. We welcome you.

Hugh Hampton 7191 Mentor Avenue Apartment C-302 Mentor, OH 44060

CENTER UPDATE

by Stan Kawecki COUNSELORS NEEDED The community center is now in the process of expanding its counseling services. Those interested in volunteering to do counseling. Please contact the Hotline. Both experienced and inexperienced people are needed now! Counselor training will be offered soon.

MOVIESGay male dealing with the relationships of "Nick and John," and "Jim and Verre" (the titles of the movies), will be shown at the Gay Community Center at 8:30 p.m. on Friday Nov. 18. The rap group will be discussing the movies afterwards. A $1.00 donation to cover costs, will be asked for at the door.

GAY AL-ANON The purpose of this group is to help those who are involved with an alcoholic in any way. If you feel such a group can be of help to you please call The Gay Hotline for further information. Phone 321-6632 any evening after 6:00 p.m.

FEED BACK We need some

response from you on events we are planning for the future. attending a performance of Those would possibly include Michael Lorimer, a classical, guitarist, on Jan. 22. Also a toJanuary or February. If you bogganing party sometime in would like to be involved in helping with these, or just want to attend please call The Gay Hotline. If you have any ideas on events we could set up please call also.

WOMEN Find out about the Rap Group and other services offered by stopping in on Monday evenings or calling the Gay

Hotline.

Counselors Needed The Center is located at 2795 Euclid Hts. Blvd. on the corner of Coventry. Stop in some time and visit.

DAY IN THE PARK On Sun. Nov. 20, there will be a hike in a Cleveland Metro park. Here is a chance to enjoy some time outdoors before winter comes. All

men and women are invited to bring a friend and some food and have a good time. We will meet at the Center and leave approx. 1:00 p.m. If you need a ride from the center call the Hotline by Nov. 17, phone 321-6632.

POTLUCK DINNER On Sun. Dec. 4, the men's and women's activities committee will be having a potluck dinner. This will be held at the Community Center starting at 7:00 p.m. If you want to contribute a main

Page 16

REFUSES RIGHTS

By L.J. Hershkoff, Esq. The U.S. Supreme Court started a new term October 3rd by handing down a 40-page list of which cases it will and will not" hear this judicial year. Of the 4500 cases The Court is asked! to consider it will agree to review about 250. Most notable to us as gays, and based on the national media's reaction --' the Court refused to review (and thus let stand the ruling of the Washington State Supreme Court) that gay teachers may be fired simply because they're gay...

In legal theory, the high court's ruling has no instructive value for other courts which are considering gay rights cases. The Court did not spell out why it was refusing to review the case and it is well known that the Court chooses very carefully which cases it will consider each year. Practically speaking, however, it is clearly a significant defeat as the Court's refusal to review the state court's decision will be blindly relied upon by some lower federal and state courts as indicating that gays do not enjoy any special constitutional protection.

There are still many cases in the courts which seek to establish that gays as a class are entitled to special constitutional protection. For this reason: gays are a discrete insular minority who do not benefit from our majoritarian political process. In other words, gays, like Blacks and many would argue, even more so than

Blacks are a distinct and isolated societal group whose rights are not adquately protected by our system of govern-

ment.

After Miami there can be little doubt that "our majoritarian political process" is insensitive to the rights of gays. Indeed, even withost Miami, it has always been apparent that electoral politics has never served to protect gays against the straight majority. It would also seem to be self-evident that we comprise a distinct and isolated group, separated from the majority by our sexual or affectional preferences. At least for the time being, the October 3rd ruling means that the Supreme Court is not ready to act upon its own rhetoric when it comes to the civil rights of gays

dish, salad, dessert or beverage THANKS JOE

please call The Hotline any evening after 6 p.m. at 321-6632. For those who don't like to cook, but would like to come

anyway, there will be a dollar

donation at the door. This is open to all men and women. You don't have to call ahead uniess you are bringing food, if so please call by Dec. 1.

GAYHOTLINE 321-6632

6-10 WEEKDAYS

The Gay Community Center wishes to publicly thank Jpe Bruno of the 620 club on Rockwell for his generous donation toward the financial viability of the Center. Joe's loyal advertising support in these pages has also assisted the gay movement in Ohio to further its objectives. Again, Joe, thanks from the staff of the Center, the . GEAR bvoard and the gays of edit Cleveland:09, erit nouoditA