12-HIGH GEAR
DOING AMERICA
BOSTON
by Bob Damron
Boston baked beans are just great, but Boston's beautiful boys are even better! Boston has been traditionally liberal, since the famous 'Tea Party'. when some young, long-haired liberals like John Hancock, Paul Revere and Samuel Adams started the American revolution. Todays' young liberals are more into pot, poppers and booze than tea, but Massachusetts' capitol is not only the largest city, but unquestionably, the gay capitol for all of New England.
Dart's at 271 Dartmouth is the 'in' macho disco and loaded with hot looking jocks. It closed Boston Boston-Boston (now Straight) and clobbered ChapsStyx ... not surprising when you consider the indifferent management at each. The 1270 on Boylston is the oldest disco, but still doing well with a hip, young crowd. The new Encore, next door, is trying, so far unsuccessfully, to attract their clientelle. 119 Merrimac is another good disco, and 'the' place to go on Thursday nights. They also feature Sunday brunch. Twelve Carver (12 Carver St.) is an 'institution' and Herbie's Ramrod upstairs was Boston's first leather bar. The Eagle
opened as a leather bar but failed, so added a disco next door... which does get some humpy guys on weekends only. Since the owners ripped me off for $200.00, I am happy to report that both rooms are absolutely' 'dead' during the rest of
the week.
Not far from 12 Carver is a popular new spot called The Bar, at 252 Boylston, a cruisy place with small disco and pool tables. This can be fun trying to out-hustle the occasional hustler. Also nearby and just off Park Square is the Napoleon Club, which has been here forever... not quite as pissy, but just as prissy as it was twenty years ago. Others in the area known as the "Combat Zone" and best avoided unless you are a confirmed masochist, include The Carnival, Citadel, Other Side, Jacques, and Playland. Together, downstairs at 110 Boylston has occasional shows, etc. and the Bamboo Lounge has closed.
Sporters at 2:28 Cambridge has been one of my favorite bars for many years. Last year they added a small disco, but this hasn't disturbed the spirit of the place, which can be described as Make-outs-ville Northeast. It is opposite the Holiday InnGovernment Center, at Cambridge and Blossom, which is where I stay, for obvious reasons. Sporters does not have a sign in front, but you can't miss it just follow the parade of hot and horny Beacon Hill boys or
join the after hours 'Meat-rack'. Another new and potentially very good cruise bar is The Paradise Cafe, across the Charles River at 180 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge. This attracts some hot hunks from Harvard. Somewhere at 295 Franklin is a womens' disco, and ladies also like the Club 76 and Delivery Entrance, downstairs bar at The House, Boston's favorite (mostly gav) restaurant. Great Italian
food, a delightful ambience and genial host Tony, all add up to a 'must' for The House at 12 Wilton in Allston. La Trattoria near Sporters, is anothe mixed Italian restaurant, and try Dart's for lunch.
Locke-Ober is my favorite 'straight' restaurant, where the downstairs is reserved, strictly for men... unless women's lib has destroyed this hundred year old tradition? Other good dinner houses include Anthony's, Pier Four, Cafe Budapest, Gallagher's, Marliave, Polcari's, RitzCarlton, Warehouse and Zachary's. Frankly I would skip the highly promo'd Joyce Chen's.
C.B.C.'s Club Boston at 4 LaGrange is the top bath, and I have heard some interesting reports about Jupiter in Aries, a massage' parlor next to Dart's. For magazines, 'liquid and erotica visit Esplanade books at 107 Charles, or the Paperback Booksmith, 753 Boylston. Most places carry Esplanade or G.C.N., newspapers serving the gay community.
Boston is a beautiful city, with a perfect balance between the old and new. It's only flaw, aside from some cold winters, is the crazy way people drive and double-park. History buffs can walk the 'Freedom Trail', visiting Faneuil Hall, Old North Church, Bunker Hill, The Boston Common and much, much more. The only problem is keeping your eyes off the humpy honchos (or Foxy ladies) long enough to do some real sightseeing.
A DISTURBED PEACE
By BRIAN MCNAUGHT When I started writing columns in 1970, it was a weekly effort for a Michigan Catholic newspaper. At age 22 I had an abundance of clearly defined opinions to share with my hundred thousand hungry readers.; Eight years later I find myself staring into the treetops from my Boston apartment for any clearly defined position. I have a thousand questions and no an-
swers.
I don't long for the days when unflinching positions came with ease. In fact, I pray that anyone who has followed my writing since the beginning has a good sense of humor and an appreciation of the process of growth. I would hate to be held accountable for anything I wrote two months ago, much less eight years ago.
Recently I read the parable of a man who sought out a sage with the plea for the secret of happiness. Before addressing the man, the sage began pouring him a cup of tea. As the liquid filled the cup, the sage continued to pour, spilling tea ail over the table. "It's full, it's full!" shouted his astonished guest. "So it is with you," the sage replied. "You are filled up
with opinions and yet come here to be further instructed. Empty yourself before you seek to be filled."
The process of emptying your self, I believe, begins with the confrontation between old and new thoughts. The more I am aware of the differences between my current position and my previously unflinching stands on such topics as open relationships, militancy, abortion, smoking grass, Catholicism, et. al., the more aware I am of the foolishness of hard line positions. As a youngster, I attempted to convert all of my rural neighborhood friends of Catholicism, warning them of the alternative. In seventh grade I moderated a debate between two persons representing Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. I cheered for Nixon. As a high school senior 1 led the attack against two conscientious objectors who spoke at the school charging them with cowardice. After gradduating from college but before walking into my first gay bar, I privately swore I would never have sex with someone I loved,
convinced of the demonic aspects of homosexual love making. (In my great wisdom, I insisted later that only
monogamous relationships were valid.)
Humbled and shamed by my change of positions and by the possible hurting effect those positions had upon the people who heard them, I tend to be more careful about espousing any hard line stand and less secure in entertaining them. The end result is doubt, confusion,
emptiness and many questions. The questions change from day to day in importance and scope depending on what is happening in my life at the time. Recent events prompted the following questions.
How much of, who I am is so programmed that I will never be able to make free choices? Is the Catholic influence so strong that I will always feel at least somewhat guilty when I am eating with the knowledge others are hungry; when I am enjoying sex by myself or with someone I am not committed to; when I want to make enough money to buy a cabin on a lake in the woods but fear financial security will separate me from other hurting people?
How many of my sexual fantasies have been programmed by my cultural image of masculinity and feminity? Are gayšlaidčekan
REAGAN: NAY TO PROPOSITION 6
Former California Governor Ronald Reagan has announced that he opposes Proposition 6, the anti-gay initiative, sponsored by a fellow Republican, state Senator John Briggs. Reagan's opposition was based on 2 major themes: the fact that the initiative is unnecessary and that it could create an infringement of the rights of teachers.
'In his statement the conservative Republican said:
I don't approve of teaching so-called gay lifestyle in our schools, but there is already adequate legal machinery (according to various legal experts including Atty. Gen. Evelle Younger) to deal with such problems if and when they arise.
This measure has nothing to do with those so-called gay rights issues in Dade County, Florida, and elsewhere. Instead, it has the potential of infringing on basic rights of privacy and perhaps even constitutional rights.
It is cumbersome and has potential for real mischief. For example, it would require that if a complaint is filed against a teacher, a full public hearing must be held by the school board. What if an overwrought youngster, disappointed by bad grades, imagined it was the teacher's fault and struck out by accusing the teacher of advocating homosexuality? The school board, sitting in effect as a court, would have to judge the matter in public. Innocent lives could be ruined. Under present law such matters can be investigated first to see if they have any merit.
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Proposition 6 is not needed to protest our children. We have that legal protection now. It could be very costly to implement and it has the potential for causing undue harm to people.
The Los Angeles Times in an editiroal entitled "Reagan Sees !! Right" praised him for his "fair minded position" and agreed with his statements. The newspaper called the Briggs Initiative "vague, arbitrary and intolerant" and characterized it as part of "a vicious, nationwide campaign against homosexuals" which is now "using teachers as pawns."
The No on Proposition 6 Committee is urging individuals and groups around the country to write to President Carter and urge him to take a strong stand against Proposition 6. Some of the gay strategists feel he may refuse to say anything because he regards the initiative as a local issue. The intent of the letters is to show the president that such a proposal is of national importance.
or are they taking their toll on my relationship?
Am I mimicking my folks' marriage and the relationships of my brothers and sisters in order to fit in or does my social life actually meet my needs?
Have the strokes of affirmation I have received since I was little affected by ability to be affectionate with another man in the airport, kissing hello or goodbye on the street or holding hands in the theater? Am I afraid of encouraging scowls from strangers or have I subconsciously decided it would be "flaunting" to do otherwise?
Is the strategy of educating the heterosexual the most appropriate one still or is it my fear of violence which makes me non-violent?
If intellectually I can see no harm to a relationship when both parties agree to the possibility of outside sexual encounters, why can't I become emotionally comfortable and why do I have a double standard which says I could handle the experience but Ray couldn't?
KRUMROY AWARDED
David Krumroy of Detroit received the Michigan Organization For Human Rights Award at its annual membership convention on October 14, 1978 at the Pantlind Hotel in Grand
Rapids. The award is given to persons who have given outstanding service to the gay community of Michigan. MOHB chose 19 Copter its
Is it a distorted religious sense of community. which prompts me to keep hoping the various segments of the lesbian and gay male population will eventually work together or is it a viable dream?
Have I outlived my usefulness in the movement or am I still accomplishing something? Am I in it because I asked God to use me effectively or because it can be a cheap power trip? Would finding a fulltime job be a cop out or could I accomplish as much if was hired as an "avowed" homosexual?
Am afraid of allowing a heterosexual fantasy to enter my mind for fear of losing my gay I.D. or am I a truly an exclusive | homosexual?
Are questions such as these signs of burning out or growing up? Are they indications of weakness or strength? Will they prompt in the reader a lack of confidence in the writer or will the public acknowledgment of doubt encourage some strength in others who are relieved to know they don't walk alone?
award on Mr. Krumroy, former editor of The Metro Gay News, for a long list of outstanding achievements and dedicated services, including work as producer of Gayly Speaking on WDET-FM in Detroit, advocate for gay concerns to the Detroit city council, founder of the Metro Detroit Gay VD council, and work on annual gay pri