course YOU are still welcome as , you've always been and I UNDERSTAND (!!!) about you and your. friend, but how can we expect our other friends to act likewise" "After all, we're all in a tense situation as it is. The message is unfortunately much-too-clear for words. Actions have said it all.

the

After guing through egregious trauma of "coming out.of-the-closet" and declaring my inner-most feelings, revealing my "naked Soul" to those me

do I

now become a pariah ostracized from "Both Worlds" only to grovel my way back into yet another closet to find the bes: avenue to route my way out agin!!!!!!!

11

-

This would, indeed, appear to be the case Tha: such a situation could possibly exist and persist : exis: TODAY in the 1970's The Age of Enlighten rejection. Conversely, where acumen and Sophistication is doubly disturbing. For this IS purportedly the Enlightened Era. Gay Pride is coming upon its Decade due. Can we not share our Love, our victories as well as our sorrows with our brethern without fear of retribution for having been so "unwise" to have chosen "one-ofthem" for a Soulmate! One could easily become over-zealous and feel thai "He tha: is no: FOR me is AGAINST me."but this would only lead another treadmill of hostility and ultimate frustration.

What avenues then are open? "Two wrongs have never MADE a right," and this maxim is particularly vital to human interactions ESPECIALLY when one is trying to prove a constructive point not only for nis/her own benefit but for others who migh: one day follow in the identical footsteps.

"If you can': bea: 'em, join 'em." but, better still have "them" JOIN vou. HOW????

By your example. Have them "join" with you through education the greatest teaching model

..

HIGH GEAR/SEPTEMBER 1978

tickets of prejudice within and bigotry from without.

The challenge is there for all those willing 10 :ake i:s monumental task upon SHARED shoulders shared in Love. Devotion, and Mutual Respect. Your sharing and feelings of joint-accomplishments can bring your own Gay Selma to yourselves and create the vanguard for others of your kindred to follow suit. This is the MESSAGE tha: WE TOO. SHALL OVERCOME!!!

One can well expect to endure slings and arrows from those from whom we would formerly had endearingly anticipate kisses and hugs, but I know of no more fruitful way to know where REALLY stands amongs: his/her bre:hern.

one

There is not une amenges: us who can ever achieve the very best of ALL possible worlds, but through this avenue of endeavor

DAYTON

By Ruthanne Seaman

Dayton on a weekend is varied, exciting and has a good choice of places to go. The bars are scattered around the area and there's something for every taste. Disco is the big thing at Studio I on North Main. They have a good floor, lights and disc jockey. Also on Main is the new place, Three's Company. It's under new management and '

I heartily encourage all those of seems to be a good place for our persuasion who have fostered women. Of course, the good a desire to "mate" with a member stand-bys are the Martinique of the "opposite" race (rather and the Mail Boxx. sex) to take heed. Make haste For the lesbians the choice is slowly For if you are "in i:" for more limited than for gay males. ever conceived by HOMO Lus: rather than Love, you may Although the bars are mixed, the find your one-night-stand more majority in most is male. Women than commonplace. However, if have one really great bar togo to you "MEAN BUSINESS" and are really looking for and planning to and that's in LaSourdsville build a MEANINGFUL RELATION-rather than Dayton proper. The

100

sapiens. "thinking wo/man" viz., the "LIVING EXAMPLE." I have often heard it said, and have even seen it in print that

a Black who is Gay has two strikes SHIP which could be the precur-Chez Joy on Route 4 is a fan-

mos:

ayainst him/her from the "ge:sor and the model (if not the tastic and friendly place where go." S/he is the better and wors: part of two minorities. Yet, i "envy") of all others, then you the majority of people are would not take the have open for you the challenge women. It has a good dance Sophisticated of a lifetime. For your particular floor and juke box with slow computer to calculate the astronomical odds and personal LOVE and devotion music for the romantic and against one who chooses as shall be tested often brutally time disco for the energetic. It also his/her Soulmate a Black lover, and time again. You and your or, be S/he Black, a White mate. Soulmate shall either be driven has pizza for the hungry! Society has seemingly accepand racism which have so afflic-though. Today in Ohio it's apart via the same vices of bigotry Dayton isn't all just bars. ted/tolerated Gay Pride, but it would appear tha: Gay Pride hased and inflammed our Black serious business being gay brethern for centries or you and openly. Many organizations not yet accepted, tolerated the In-yours. can stand staunch in your have been formed to combat ter-racial Love Affair. Such a racks and prove yourselves wor-discrimination and disseminate relationship is compelled by shy of the respect and admiration information. Ohio Gay Rights the hearts of ALL brethern your MODEL has inculcated into Coalition is the umbrella group for organizations like Dayton "straight" and "gay." One can well anticipate the enGay Rights Coalition. They meet durement of fire-and-brimstone regularly for meetings and plans not to mention all manner of other of action. The time and place "testings." but if your Love. can be found by calling the Gay is Center, 513-228-4875. Devotion and Respect MEANINGFUL to and for your For lesbians looking for sup then such Relationship. aport, not to mention en. RELATIONSHIP couragement, help is in some MEANINGFUL

"own kind" to take the same backward steps that parallels "Marriage" in the "Straigh: 'World."

Without the proper, rational and "Cool" sense of direction all this could lead to bitterness, hostility and ultimate disaster.

Yet, there IS an ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS DO SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

As with the Inter-racial

marriages "out there" who must "prove" themselves worthy of acceptance, likewise, we -who choose this route of Life & Love

must take upon ourselves ine Herculean challenge to provoke through our living example that we really "MEAN IT" and ARE going to "MAKE IT WORK."

I in no way intend to belch platitudes, but I truly believe in the POWER OF LOVE which can surmount all the vicissitudes of the hostility of a blinded-by-

bigotry world.

shall indeed overcome all hard: places non-existent. But in ships. Though you may not Dayton, we have Lesbians the apposition, yours shall be the United. We meet every Sunday victories or the shambles to be evening at 6 pm. For the SHARED in LOVE rather than location, center, 513-223-3296 Womens

Lusi.

dured the relationship long evening a planned topic is For it is possible for I enor the Gay Center. Each Sunday sonally that one (we) can speaker. The group is open to enough to know its merits per-discussed or there is a guest have the best of both worlds with any lesbian who needs a niche dignity and pride. One develops a Love worth "Fighting For all of a place to get to know some the way through the vicious good people.

CHRISTOPHER STREET HONCHO

and

adventure one can unquestionably achieve the very best of BOTH worldsBLACK & WHITE -united as one in a nonracial Soul comprised of Live. Brother/Sister hood and Peace. What a giant step forward for all of us!!!

...C Bestain

Page

1824 Coventry Road Cleveland Heights

Covi

932-8111

VENTRY BOOKS INC

Gay Source: A Catalog For Men $6.95 Paperback

ท,,

10-10 WEEKDAYS 10-7 SATURDAY NOON-6 SUNDAY

OUR PAD IS YOUR PAD

PINKY & SHEP

Jwylight

Lounge

2467 Cleveland Ave. Columbus 614/268-7724 Open 6 Days from 2:00pm to 2:30am

GAYS WEEK

DRUMMER

AFTER DARK BOOKSTORE

ONE BIG NEWSSTAND

Featuring

OUT-OF-TOWN NEWSPAPERS

Over 3000 Different

American & European Magazines Paperback Books New & Used **WE MAIL ORDER ANYWHERE** LAKEWOOD INTERNATIONAL NEWS 11848 DETROIT AVENUE OPEN DAILY & SUNDAYS-228-0209

ΠΙΥΟΟΛΟΥ

CLOTHING, CRYSTAL, AND JEWELRY, INCENSE, CLIPS GALORE!

A GIFT FOR YOUR SWEETIE? PIPES AND MORE... The Place to score Is The ONE + ONLY

TRADE WINDS

STORE! 1652 N. HIGH COLUMBUS OHIO

PROWE

AOยงกาย

NEW YORK TIMES

PLAYGUY