HIGH GEAR/SEPTEMBER 1978

SUMMER OF '78

By Dennis Highland

Page 15

As summer drew to a close last year, I wrote of the impressions various events had made upon me and my way of thinking. This summer, too, was very busy and at times quite emotionally charged for me, and I hope that the impact of this summer will have an effect on your thinking as much as it did mine.

Paul, a dear friend of mine, died suddenly and unexpectedly in July. The grief induced by his death also led me to reflect on what type of person he was and how the axiom that "only the good die young" still has painful truth. Paul was the type of person which is hard to find in the gay life. He was not physically attractive, but he more than compensated for it with a loving personality which warmed the hearts of all who knew him. He didn't go to the bars often because it is difficult to show more there than one's skin. But those wonderful dinner parties at his apartment were among the most pleasurable times I had ever experienced. His friends became my friends; and a close knit developed among those of us who knew him, one which I hope will endure for the rest of our lives. Paul was truly loved,

and I can only hope that I experience the same happiness and joy of friendship as he knew during his short life.

Fortunately, the rest of the summer was far more pleasant. I must admit, I was disappointed that the famous picnics in Erie, Pennsylvania were not held this year. But the picnics in Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Hudson, Ohio more than compensated for the loss. While at these places, I find it fascinating to observe the different types of people there and ascertain the different motives for their presence at the picnics. A few people told me quite frankly that their main interest was some quick sex, and those people I avoided. But most were there for a good time, to enjoy the company of their gay brethren in a gay ambience. For this reason, I find that the picnics are quickly becoming my favorite gay events. So why doesn't Cleveland host a picnic next year?

And of course, the politics of Cleveland had a chilling effect on the summer. Mayor Kucinich used the term "the people" to justify his own megalomania in trying to give some specious

stamp of validity to his narrow-

mindedness and misconceptions in the administration of the city's affairs. The concerns of the gay community, as were those of all groups comprising the city, were completely ignored as the mayor fired the best police chief the city ever had, while retaining inexperienced aides whose coarseness is exceeded only by their incompetence. A valiant attempt to rescue the city via recall was decried by self-serving ministers who appeared to be more concerned with the sin of voting on Sunday than with the murders, rapes, and robberies that occur daily outside their churches. Yes, Virginia, there are some advantages to living in the

suburbs!

But enough about politics. Earlier this year I wrote about the value of friends, and how inestimably high this value is in a gay society which so often seems bereft of direction of purpose. Through the love I feel for my friends, I have become selfconfident enough to the point where I can walk into a bar and engage in a new sort of "cruising." Not for the tawdry "one night stands," mind you, but to meet people who are there for the same purpose as I

to get to know other people, to feel less lonely, and to help someone else feel less lonely, as well. Cruising for friends instead of tricks is infinitely more rewarding, for the successful result of such an affort is someone with whom one can share a lifetime rather than only an evening. I started the "friend-cruising" this summer, and I am quite pleased with the results. It's amazing how many people are looking for more than empty sex, who are interested in someone as a human being!

This apparent openness of the people I have met seems to indicate a general trend. Maybe the idea of liberation has served to help free us from the stereotypes of the past. Oh, I imagine there will always be the quintessential faggot in the crowd, no matter how far the collective psyche of the gay community advances. But people seem to be interested in the worth of other people for more than just ephemeral physical gratification. And that's a healthy sign, no matter how far we have yet to go in defeating the Anita Bryants of the world.

Summer '78 is nearly over. For me, it is a time of reflection, to see where I've been and where I

want to go. I am one year older' than when I wrote the article about the end of summer last year. However, the question I've asked myself, and the one which I hope many others have asked of themselves, is "What have I learned in that time?"

The bright lights will always be there, but we can't expect to find complete fulfillment from them. Strangers will come and go for the passion we feel, a passion all too often devoid of any real emotional basis. There will always be the drudgery of Monday mornings. And there will also be grief from the loss of a dear friend, whether it be by death or estrangement. It is par tly due to the less pleasant aspects of gay life that we learn to appreciate the good times more. The clasp of a true friend's hand, the warm embrace of somebody special, the ability to enjoy oneself-all serve to develop our personalities, to make us more human.

The end of a summer, through this introspection, can be the beginning of a new life. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn about yourself, and I hope we all take advantage of it.

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Sunday September 3rd 9pm Anti-Briggs Benefit Night

$3 cover

THE

WATER MAIN

202 N. MAIN ST. PIQUA, OHIO 45356 (513) 773-9277

($1 to benefit-$2 for all the draft beer, coke, & 7-up you can drink)

"until midnight"

all wages and tips given to the Anti-Briggs Benefit

Disco & Light Show

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Sunday September 10th 7pm till 10pm Benefit for

Ohio Gay Rights Coalition

[pre-paid reservation only] $20 donation all monies go to Ohio Gay Rights Coalition

Champagne & Hors d'oeuvres

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