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LAMBDA PENDANTS $4

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CLEVELAND DEPO BATHS

FOURTH OF JULY

CELEBRATION

FUN IN THE SUN PATIO

OPENING SOON

under new management free parking east side of bldg.

1946 ST. CLAIR

INTEGRITY

GAY EPISCOPALIANS and our Friends

HIGH GEAR/JUNE 1978

A DISTURBED PEACE

By Brian McNaught

A friend from out of state called me the day after the vote in Eugene. The morning Globe reported that the good people in that "progressive" little college town had voted two-to-one to deny my rights to employment and

housing. The same newspaper said Ms. Anita Bryant had announced she would conduct training sessions in her home for anyone wishing to counsel homosexuals into being cured. Another story on the opposite page related how the Presbyterian Church had voted to deny "practicing" homosexuals the right to be ordained but would consider ordaining "repentant" gays. My friend who called was frustrated and wanted to know what we should do.

I'm not the best person to ask what to do when I'm angry. I don't get angry very frequently but when I do, i get very angry. That morning, I was very angry.

Despite my pacifism, I have a wonderful imagination of tortures and terrorism. I am sure it

579-0634 is my imagination and my dreams which prevent me fron going insane. Sometimes, for instance, it is only good taste which prevents me from teaching my overly-friendly Irish Setter, Jeremy, to lift his leg upon command. After discovering the sentiments of my neighbors, regarding gay rights, I could, in one walk, brown the bottom branches of several thousand-dollar evergreens.

1st & 3rd Thursday --8 pm trinity cathedral chapter room

2021 euclid ave

phone 771--3630

AKRON 867-3354

I

GODMOTHER'S 1014 E. 63rd St

PRESENT

Kimberly Adrian & Mona Desmond

SATURDAY JULY 1st 10:30 LL

In my best days, I imagine having the ability to communicate suggestions to millions of gay men and lesbians across the country. Think about it. We could ask all gay ticket agents to put San Diegobound passengers on flights to Boise: gay interior designers

could insist the new look was plastic plants; gay grocery clerks could all place the eggs at the bottom of the bag; gay traffic cops could cause fourhour-tie ups in every city during the rush hour; gay Burger King chefs could add the pickle when the were asked to hold it; gay hotel maids could short-sheet all the beds. The list, obviously, could go on and on. The fantasy ends with President Carter calling a press conference to announce "We Give In".

My Black friends in Detroit told me that during the early days of the civil rights movement they had what was called "Nudge Tuesday". It was an un-. publicized but commonly known tradition in the black community that every Tuesday all blacks would give a little nudge to the white person standing next to them in elevator, street corner or bus. It was for them a small but effective way to vent their frustration and express their anger at unsuspecting "whitey."

It isn't very easy being enthusiastic about the progress of the gay rights movement today when your morning paper in a matter of weeks reports that Americans have voted overwhelmingly in three cities to overturn ordinances which protected your rights. Even the most committed gay spokespersons get angry, discouraged and tired. Those persons who are just beginning to consider "coming out" must find the experience even more intimidating.

But the battle isn't over. It's

just beginning! What's more, it's becoming more tangible. Think for a moment about the future. What are the possibilities? Do you imagine that all of the defeats we are suffering are going to prompt gay people back into the closet? Forget it. Once you've left the closet there is no going back, any more than the Nation's women will resume their former place of being barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen because of the various E.R.A. defeats.

The National Gay Task Force and the Gay Rights National Lobby are getting bigger and better every day.The gay media grows in numbers and impact. More and more people are beginning to say "I'm OK". the ugly head of oppression doesn't

HENRY TRUJILLO

Henry Trujillo, a Clevelander for the past few years, was killed May 19, 1978, in an automobile accident on the West Shoreway. He recently worked at the West 9th Street Baths.

Because he had no relatives, Henry's wake was arranged by Allen Gill, a close friend who assumed responsibility for burial. Starting spontaneously, volunteers took ollections to

help Allen pay the costs. Over $1200.00 was raised in a one week effort from the patrons, employees, and managements of the Vaults, 620, Dimensions, and the West 9th Street Baths.

The funeral ceremony was handled by Edwards Funeral Home, with a requiem Mass at St. Philomena's Church celebrated by Monsignor O'Donnell on Friday, May 26th. As a

stop people, it energizes them. Any measure put to a vote in this country which speaks of "rights' will be defeated. A few years ago a group of people put the Bil of Rights in common language and found it overwhelmingly defeated by the people on the street. Our country is going through a predictable stage of reactionism. Insecure people believe that if they sing and pray loud enough and pcur enough of their money into campaigns they will be able to take the country back to the "good old days" that never were. People are afraid today. They're afraid of change and afraid of what they see diminishing values. But people have always been afraid of chang. Sooner of later they will be afraid of tomorrow's problems and today's fears will be accepted as reality.

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Until then, our task is to keep each other fighting for the cause. We have to learn to reach out when we sense someone is burning out. We have to learn to laugh and to have hope. We have to develop a sense of mission and a sense of history. We have to eliminate the unnecessary disputes among ourselves about religion, economics, dress, politics and personalities. These are extraneous issues which only sap. our energy and contribute to our discouragement.

Instead of wasting our time and energy nudging "straighty" on Tuesday,why don't we recapture Thursday and hug another gay man or lesbian instead, even one we don't especially like. We'll call it "Hug Thurs-· day." Why don't we make it a point to write a letter to the editor of our favorite gay publication and offer compliments on a job well done. Why don't we let NGTF or the GRNL, or any organization we belong to, know that we appreciate their efforts. It takes no mora energy to encourage someone who is gay than it does to nudge someone who isn't, and positive energy is always more rewarding than negative. Besides, every one who's gay could use a smile and a hug today.

Beyond that, let your fantasy life help diffuse some of your anger. Wouldn't it be fun if all gay movie stars started eating onions before love scenes and what if...

former member of the Navy, Henry was buried in the Veterans area at Highland Cemetary. Anyone wishing to donate in Henry's name should see Allen Gill personally or leave the donation at the West 9th Steet Baths. Even though the full costs of the funeral are not yet paid, any excess funds collected will be given to the religious order that ran the orphanage where Henry was raised.