ACHING NEED MET

HIGH GEAR-3

NAT'L GAY SWITCHBOARD SUCCEEDS

A fifteen-year-old female whose mother is a Lesbian, a 65year old man who has spent all his life in the military hiding his Gay feelings, and a man who accidentally found his teenaged son having sex with a boyfriend were among the more than 400 people who made use of the GAY NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SWITCHBOARD during its first. week of operation.

Calls originated from such diverse places as Park City, Utah; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Macomb, Illinois; Florence, Massachusetts; and Atlanta, Georgia. In total, calls came from 34 of the 48 states.

"The need for our services I could not have been more clearly demonstrated," according to Mignon MacNicols, Volunteer Coordinator for the Switchboard. She added, "A lot of the calls came from rural areas and from the South where there are very few resources for people with Gay feelings."

Commented Jeff Richards, Switchboard Training Coordinator, "I was pleased that our callers were asking us for the very things that Switchboard volunteers were trained to provide--non-judgmental inform-

ARRESTED RICHMOND SUPPORTED

Representative Fredrick Richmond (D-N.Y.) was arrested in Washington D.C. and charged with soliciting sex from a 16 year old black male. At the conclusion of his trial, a judge or dered him released into psychiatric care.

lation, supportive listening, and sensitive referrals. Frequently a common sense approach to questions or problems is all that's required."

Calls are answered by over 60 volunteers who come from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. These women and. men have received extensive training in human sexuality, communication and listening skills.

The Switchboard opened Octber 1 to provide badly needed

accurate information about Gay sexuality and. Gay lifestyles. A project of the Human Rights Foundation in San Francisco, the Switchboard is the first of its kind to offer national access through its toll-free "800" numbers.

The Switchboard is currently open from 2 p.m. to midnight in all four time zones. The number to call is 800-227-0888. (California residents call 800-652-1442). The Switchboard staff emphasizes that the WATS number

will never appear on the phone bill of the caller.

The hours of operation will be expanded when more funds become available. To operate the Switchboard 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, the WATS service alone will cost $100,000. Once the hours are increased, the Switchboard will have the capacity to handle upwards of 8,000 calls per month.

Sabrina Sojourner, Public Information Director for the

FIRST PROP. 6 SUCCESS, THEN WHO'S NEXT?

By L.J. Hershkoff

Editor's Note: Mr. Hershkoff, an attorney with the firm of HERSHKOFF & HOLLAND in Cleveland, recently attended the Gay Rights under Law Symposium at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco on behlaf of The GEAR Foundation. The following article is his first in a series of articles on legal issues and developments affecting the gay community.

On September 23 and 24 the first gathering of activist gay attorneys from around the country was held in San Francisco. The 2-day symposium, which was hosted by the Gay Law Students Association of Hastings College of Law provided the first opportunity for an exchange of ideas and strategies between lawyers committed to securing full and equal rights for all gays and lesbians. However, much of the time and concern of the participants focused upon Califor-

wealthy celebrities known for their support of liberal causes are limiting their contributions to $49 shows that many donors fear that proposition 6 is the start of a new McCarthy guilt-byassociation era. The already apparent unwillingness of many "liberal" straights to stand up publicly for gay rights because they fear it may hurt their future careers demonstrates the destructiveness of 6's inclusion of those who merely advocate the right of homosexuals to exist outside of locked closets.

Without large donations there can be no broad media campaign and without intensive TV and radio advertising against 6 the chances of it passing are looking more and more threatening. Of course, Briggs and his homophobes are not having any fund raising problems. It is expected that the final weeks before the election will see a massive pro6/homophobic media campaign.

This incident did not end "Political analysis of the likely 'fall-out' from 6 makes it a

Richmond's career, however. In the September primaries in his Brooklyn district, he over-

whelmed his opponent for the critical issue for all of us."

Democratic slot in the November election, receiving 51.3% of the total vote.

In a letter to his constituents,

Richmond wrote "for compassion and understanding at this extremely difficult time." Twenty members of the House signed a support statement for him, along with the support of New York Mayor Edward Koch.

Other notable supporters for Richmond included Vice-

President Walter Mondale, House Speaker Thomas O'Neill, three former mayors of New York and the President of the City Council.

nia's proposition

anti-gay initiative).

(the Briggs

Proposition 6 would require local school boards to fire all known homosexual teachers and any straights who openly support the right of gays and lesbians to live and work outside of the proverbial closet. It would also require upon any citizen's complaint, school boards to conduct hearings on the private sexual lives of teachers "suspected" of having engaged in homosexual conduct.

The wide reach of proposition

elec-6--both gay teachers and other

The representative is expected to win the general tion in November in a heavily

Democratic district.

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teachers who publicly associate with of support the rights of

.gays who would be subjected to dismissal and hearing provisions has already made fund raising difficult for the anti6 committees. Donors don't want their names known and since California law requires that names be reported on all contributions of $50 or more, there have been a lot of $49 donations. Few larger donations have been received and large donations are necessary if a broad media campaign is to be waged. The fact that even 134 www yowww ww

Although some of the polls show that it is close, many of California's gay activists are fearful of its passing because Miami and other recent elections demonstrate that we do better in the polls than in the polling places on election day. Thus there is a major campaign going on in the gay community to make gays who aren't teachers aware that proposition 6 is their issue too.

"fall-out" from 6 makes it e Political analysis of the likely critical issue for all of us. It mus be expected that if it passes in California, then similar initiatives will be placed on the ballot in many other states: This is exactly what's happening in the wake of proposition 13's (the property tax reduction initiative) passage in California. Also, in California and elsewhere, it's expected that if 6 passes, then Bryant and her homophobes will use it to support their campaign for the RE-criminalization of consensual sexual relations between adults of the same gender. Indeed, a law which would do troduced in the New Jersey just this has already been inlegislature.

The Californiang, at the con-

Switchboard, commented, "One caller told us that this was the most difficult and most important call she had ever made. Others have told us that they are glad that we're here."

She added, "The rash of misinformation currently being spread in various legislative campaigns only adds to the great amounts of stress to which people with Gay feelings are subject in a culture frightened of its own sexuality."

courts is extremely hazardous to our health. The courts may only modify or restrict it. Fur-

ference also expressed the fear that too many well-educated gays aren't taking the issue seriously because they believe-thermore, the California courts probably rightly--that the are powerless to stop the likely California courts will find much "fall-out" from proposition 6 or even all of it to be unwhich will have an effect on constitutional. But relying on the politicians, legislatures and courts is like relying on the fire courts across the country. We department to put out a fire should all watch very closely before it destroys the house, what happens in California on when one should be busy stamNovember 7th, as soon we may ping out the flames at the first all be made painfully aware that sign of fire. Relying on the 6 is our issue too.

FRISCO FOLLIES

On Nov. 3 and 4, you will have an opportunity to see a show unlike anything you will see in this area. The Keg Lounge in Sandusky will once again present the "Frisco Follies Just For You," featuring Michael Lee & Jack Edwards.

This is NOT just another DRAG Show, there are both male & female roles in the show; eg. Al Jolson, Eddy Cantor, Steve & Edie, etc. These are professionals who perform in such places as HARRAH'S and the PLAYBOY CLUBS. In fact for those of you who missed them in June when they were at the Keg, this was the first time in five years they had performed in a gay club.

The Frisco Follies have ben performing in Wildwood, New Jersey for the summer and will be closing there soon. At this time the troupe disperses to take a short rest before they start heading back west for the winter. In doing so Michael (who is originally from Ohio) and Jack will be here for a visit and this special appearance.

Believe me you will not be disappointed by these wonderful performers. The glitter the glamour the lights the pageantry is that of VEGAS! But, when the show is over you will find Michael and Jack mingling around in the crowd in their flannel shirts and jeans, talking about most anything imaginable not just the show, because that's the kind of people they are.

Also in the show will be none other than the Keg's own "Moms," Billy May, who appeared with the "Follies" in June. Michael and Jack loved Billy as much as everyone else and requested that he appear with them again.

The show was a sellout in June so get there early to be assured of a good seat, the doors open at 8:00 and the show starts at 10:30. Also if you would like to meet Michael and Jack sans the crowd of the show nightly Oct. 28 to Nov. 4.