HIGH GEAR/FEBRUARY 1978

Page 3

ODDS&ENDS

When will she ever give up? Anita Bryant is at it again....or is it still? In a recent news conference in Washington, she suggested that commercial television drop those shows that portray homosexuality as alternative lifestyle. Anifa said that she would like to see more family entertainment "to replace the gross perverted sex and violence which is subtly undermining the family unit in its presentation of alternative lifestyles as natural and normal." Understandbly, security was tight at that news conference...And in the lighter mood, not to mention more encouraging... THE San Francisco city supervisors are prepared to hire two homosexual mental health workers; one who will serve as the city's coordinator of gay services. The finance Committee of the city's Board of Supervisors approved the action, upon recommendation of Mental Health Director Dr. William Goldman...It appears that Bella Abzug will be the new representative in the U.S. House for the East side of Manhattan, New York City Mayor Edward Koch's former district. The State Supreme Court ruled in her behalf deciding that she, and not Carter Bruden, the winnerof the vote held by the Democratic County Committee for the Democratic nomination in the special election being held Februayr 14. Bella is expected to defeat her Republican opponent S, William Green...Maybe now that gay rights bill will move...Anyone for a little recreation?...Margaret Taylor, acting Family court judge in New York, ruled recently in the case of an unidentified 14-year-old girl charged with prostitution that "sex for a fee is recreational" and the judge therefore voided the charges against the girl. In the some-what convoluted logic of her decision, Taylor asserted that the girl's actions would not be considered a crime if committed by an adult, so the juvenile could not be considered delinquent. In trying to brand adult prostitution laws as unconstitutional, Judge Taylor seemingly had a good idea, but bad timing. Recall efforts are on the way...and from the NGTF Action Report, we have these two items...Do you remember what growing up gay was like for you? Share your memories with today's gay youth. Frances Hanckel and John Cunningham, of the American Library Association's gay task force,

was

are preparing a book on gay experience for young lesbians and gay men. Their aim is to provide an alternative to the predominantly negative reading material on homosexuality tha! is currently available to youngsters. Send your reminiscences, anecdotes, or comments to them % P.O. Box 2382, Philadelphia 19103.

Confidentiality will be preserved if requested..and...Two women planning a book of love letters between women request copies of such correspondence. The letters may be from all phases of a relationship and should be accompanied with clarifying biographical information about the parties involved. All letters received will be treated confidentially, and any that are eventually published will have all named changed (indicate preferred pseudonyms, if any). The editors need releases signed by the writers (not recipients) of the letters, so give names and addresses. The deadline is March 1, 1978. To forward letters or for more information, write LLL, P. O. Box 621, Old Chelsea Station, New York, N. Y. 110011.....While shopping in Rome a few weeks ago sincer Grace Jones, who is one of. the stars of the San Remo Festival there, was barraged by photographers, one of them becoming exceptionally "pisht". After many attempts to defend herself from him, Grace became indignant and swung her purse at him, practically destroying his camera...Didyou happen to notice associate director of the Cleveland Ballet, Dennis Nahat, in the film Turning Point? Small as the role may have been, just to have the opportunity to be in a film of that proportion...Congratulations,

Dennis...

Our

own

TRAXX WAITER

And speaking for the Uniformed Firefighters Association of New York City Richard V. Vizzini said the Union is "unalterably opposed" to Mayor Koch's executive order prohibiting gay discrimination in the department. Vizzini said "Firefighters live in very close quarters, so close that if homosexuals were admitted to the fire department, we would have to seriously consider providing separate bathroom, showers and living facilities for gays." We wonder if Mr. Vizzini would refuse mouth to mouth resuscitation from a gay male if his life depended on

it.

Increasingly, groups and organizations are supporting gay rights. The International Women's Year Conference spoke out for equal rights for all gay persons not just lesbians. Presbyterian leaders have

spoken forcefully in support of the ordination of openly and actively practicing homosexuals. The Bay Area Reporter recently carried a news item that the most politically and socially important older persons groups, the Gray Panthers, has unanimously

passed a

resolution endorsing the civil rights of gay people. Maggie Kuhn, Gray Panthers national president spoke out recently on behalf of gays. She called for a new coalition, specifically with the gay community because if its understanding of sexuality and "Its struggle for new life styles and identify."

California Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally was the featured speaker on January 10, at dinner honoring Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected in that state. Dymally is the highest ranking black official in California. Milk stated, "it is more than just symbolic to have Blacks and Gays standing together and supporting each other it shows how far the Gay Movement has advanced in a relatively few years. It shows the potential all minorities have."

The Briggs initiative in California may be the Dade County story for 1978. Gay Activist Howard Wallace told the Bay Area Reporter, "Teachers in general oppose this in. fringement on free speech. If they try to fire teachers, we will organize faculty and students in every case and go on strike. All hell will break lose."

The same publication reports that Tom Ammiano, an organizer of gay teachers, stated that one third of the public school teachers and administrators are homosexual and emphazies that the San Francisco School Board voted 7-0 to eleminate negative references to gays in teaching guidelines that they issue.

Despite Dade County, gays gained greater legal protection in 1977. Six U.S. municipalities and one in Canada brought to 42 the number of cities that passed some form of gay rights protection. The additions were Tucson, Arizona, lowa City, lowa, Champaign, Illinois, Wichita, Kansas, Eugene, Oregon, Aspen, Colorado and Windsor Ontario. According to the Advocate legislation is pending in New York City, Providence, Rhode Island and Berkeley, California. Providence. Mayor Vincent A. Clancl, Jr. was quoted as saying "In my opinion there are certain positions in city government where sexual orientation would make a big difference." Mr. Mayor, your bigotry is showing

just a little!!!... According to one study, there is a higher percentage of homosexuals in the clergy than in any other profession or occupation.

The percentage of gay businessmen ranks second and gay actors third... Rather interesting conversation points,

don't you think?... The Cincinnati Enquirer in an editorial from their January 11, 1978 issue said the following about Anita Bryant: "... the fact remains that she stands high in the esteem of the real people. It ought to be growingly clear that every eyebrow arched in derision at the mention of her name is a signal of contempt for the American people and the values to which they attach importance.

There is a chasm between the people and those who presume to set their cultural standards a chasm that grows wider every day." Bring on the violins, boys!

The city of Chicago will soon be entering the battle over gay rights.

Chicago Alderman Clifford Kelley has said that he will soon be introducing an ordinance to the City Council to prohibit discrimination against gays in the city government... Did you know that our demand for acceptance in the churches was one of the top news items for the year 1977? We had the second place rating in a poll taken by the Religion Newswriters Association. Not bad, really. But I know that in 1978 we will be No. 1 ... in all ways...

... the Kent Gay Liberation Front is sponsoring a Valentine's Day Dance on February 13, in Room 204 of the Student Union Building... KGLF is also looking for people interested in conducting workshops. Please contact either Mike Anderson at 6722068 or Delores Nolls at 6722581... There's a rumor going around that California's Governor Jerry Brown is being urged by his staff to drop country / pop singer Linda Ronstadt in order to improve his image. You see, that's because Jerry's new pen pal is Prince Charles of England...I always did wonder about those two ....

Did you know that the first publisher of valentines was Esther Howland of Worcester, Mass., and that her first creations appeared in the 1840's? The poor dear was so busy cranking these out that she never even married. Watch out! Tiny Tim is trying to stage a comeback! Appearing in Los Angeles' Comedy Store, Tim is doing just about the same routine that he started with back in the late '60's... And the people are still not taking him seriously....

Oven Production is presenting Cleveland Women's Third Annual Variety Show on Satur day, February 11. The curtain goes up at 8:30 p.m. at The Church of the Redeemer, 2420 South Taylor Road, in Cleveland Heights. Proceeds will be put toward Oven Production's payment for their new sound equipment... the Friends of the Cleveland Ballet will kick off the 1978 membership campaign on February 23 with Agnes de Mille lecturing on "Dance in America" at 8 p.m. at the Cleveland Institute of Arts' Gartner

Auditorium. Ms. de Mille is credited with the choreography for the Broadway productions of the

foliowing musicals: "Oklahoma," "Carousel," "Brigadoon," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "Paint Your Wagon," among many others. Tickets are $5.00 each and are available at the Cleveland Ballet box office (1375 Euclid Avenue, Suite 330 OR just call 621-3634) See you there!...

...

Agnes de Mille

Still another one of those damned lists... our own President Carter was voted No. 1 of the Ten Most Celebrated Lovers, sponsored by Ponthouse Forum Magazine. Those following the Prez on the list were, in order, Joe Namath, who "has charmed the ladies (and we all know, some of the men!) from coast to coast," Burt Reynolds, Jack Nicholson, Jos DIMaggio, Ken Norton, Warron Beatty, Omar Sharif, Frank Tanana (Who's he? Baseball pitcher!) and Elton John (And we all know the truth about him! And you thought that your vote didn't count!... in his Cleveland Pross article, "Gays in the Pulpit," George R. Plagenz asks, "Why does the ministry seem to attract so many homosexuals? Some guess that it is because gays tend to be of a sensitive temperament. They like the humane nature of the work of the ministry, the contact with people that it provides and the flexible hours which are in keeping with their free, artistic natures." I'll bet that you never thought of all that!...

Muhammad All sued Playgirl Magazine for that picture. (Don't get excited, guys, it was only a drawing!) The Champ claimed it was a "clear and unmistakable likeness of him with genitals 'prominently exposed' "... Get ready for the Water Main's Mardi Gras Costume Party in Piqua on February 18. Prizes will be awarded for the most. original, funniest and the most unique costumes providing there are at least two entries in a category...

Lyn Frizzell led the gay community in protesting the Washington, DC. appearance of Anita Bryant on Sunday. January 22. He's the one that wrote and sang the song "Hurricane Anita" last summer that you may have heard once or twice on the radio ...