HIGH GEAR

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 4

DECEMBER, 1978

PAGE 1

Matlovich talks at fund-raising

By Rob Davis

Gay Alliance

Gay Alliance will continue regular Tuesday meetings • during December, meeting in members' homes. A toga party is planned during early December...for more information and meeting locations, call Gay Alliance at 614-422-9212 or 614299-2428 or 614-262-0322.

Leonard Matlovich spoke at a fund-raising Gay Alliance meeting on October 24. After losing his air Force commission for being gay, he has been traveling and speaking to raise money to help defeat the Briggs Initiative in California. This nowunsuccessful California effort hoped to require the firing of gay teachers or even those teachers who "advocated" gay lifestyles or even allowed for variation between people, in terms of their sexual or affectional preference. "I was given a medal for killing two men, and a discharge for loving one man," he said as he spoke of his experience of coming out while he was in the Air Force. Matlovich spoke of the many societal-pressures that gay people have to face, and the many stereotypes that force

Non-gay friends brought along

As part of the National Gay Task Force week of dialogue between gay people and their families, DIGNITY/Cleveland hosted "bring a friend" night at its October 26 meeting. The dialogue was co-sponsored by

Photo By Rob Davis

people into accepting narrow self-definitions instead of realizing their full humanity. He stressed the importance of people knowing and sharing themselves as full human beings instead of concentrating on their sexuality, one of the many aspects that people do have. "I am not afraid to admit that I am a militant homosexual, but I am a militant homosexual for love and hope, not for hatred and despair."

Gay Alliance sponsored a Halloween Costume Skating Party on October 31. Approximately 50 people attended, and some were dressed in costumes resembling a surgeon, Raggedy Ann, Count Dracula and Queen Elizabeth. Skating parties are becoming a regular event of Gay Alliance, with more planned for the future.

The Gay Bowling League continues on Monday nights at 8:30 at Olentangy Lanes, 2815 North High Street. The Gay Alliance team still needs people to be substitutes. The team is full at this time. To volunteer, call GA at 614-262-0322. News of the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Community needs a new layout person. Anyone who wishes to help with this Columbus

newsletter and calendar should call Gay Alliance.

MCC/Columbus Metropolitan

Community Church in Columbus pians an active December with special Advent celebrations scheduled during regular 2:00 services during the month. December 3 will be a special day for MCC. Special Christmas music will be featured during the service, with a spaghetti supper served afterwards. Supper will begin about 4:30 p.m. and will be served until 6:30 p.m. Cost will be only $2.00.

November 5 was the date that Rev. Larry Uhrig, pastor of MCC/Washington, D.C. spoke in Columbus. MCC/Columbus plans to have other visiting pastors at their service. For more information, call MCC at 614-294-3026.

Dignity/Columbus

dance and potluck on December Dignity plans a Christmas 16, along with the regular 8:00 meeting at the Newman Center, 64 West Lane Avenue. On December 4, the discussion will center around the topic, "When God was a woman." After that discussion, the group will go to Cleveland Avenue. Regular the Twylight Lounge, 2467 meetings and "bar nights" will continue. For more information, call Dignity at 614-274-1029.

50-50 Contest

down. Someone else interpecies has $1500 prize

Dignity, Integrity and the GEAR roles in the gay world as a Foundation. Over fifty people at means of putting down the put tended including a number of down. Someone else interjected non-gay relatives and friends of that in coming out one is made members of Dignity and Invery conscious of roles. One tegrity. response to that is to reject This dialogue was extremely roles and let both the masculine significant because the family is and feminine sides of your per-

OGRC news usually the last place a gay personality show. Consequently.

Ohio Gay Rights. Coalition selected members to its board of trustees last month. The election was held Sunday, November 12, at a meeting in Bowling Green. Elected board members are: Marilyn G. Bufton, Columbus; Diane M. Delahunty, Columbus; Frances S. Dostal, Cleveland; Howard Getz, Dayton; Barbara Keenan, Cleveland; Mark Kinsley, Cleveland; Richard Lange, Akron; delores, L. Noll, Kent; Robert C. Peppard, Cincinnati; Tom J. Phillips, Berea; and Roger M. Walton, Deyton.

One female board position remains unfilled at this time. Nominations to fill this vacancy will be fielded at the January, 1979, meeting to be held in Columbus

un.

son can turn to for support. certain mannerisms of the other Most parents are probably never sex may apper but told. One mother responded by consciously to the gay person. saying that she was very glad The discussion moved along that her son told her he was gay. easily with everybody talking enIt was difficult at first, she said, tirely candidly. Undoubtedly to stop blaming herself for more could have been said but failing as a parent. But, she said, the exchange that took place parents are not to blame and was rewarding for all present. they lose a lot by not openly acThe purpose of the dialogue was to build bridges between two cepting their gay children. Another participant pointed customarily isolated segments of out that we should not expect our society. Were there more our families to readily open up. dialogue between gay and It was, after all, difficult for most straight perhaps there would be of us to accept our own gayness less need for Dignity and Inand come to terms with it over tegrity to function as families for people who feel disowned. time.

Role playing also came up for discussion as someone mentioned that gay men impressed him as effemimate there is a deliberate mocking of feminine

NGTF has plans for other such dialogues between different facets of the gay and nongay communities.

During the months of January and February, a 50/50 Contest will be conducted by GEAR and High Gear. According to GEAR Treasurer, Steve Jobe, an estimated 3,000 tickets will be sold throughout Ohio to make some lucky Grand Prize Winner approximately $1,500 richer.

Funds generated by the contest will also give GEAR an estimated $1,500 to fund their Gay Educational and Awareness Resources programs. Among these programs is the Gay Community Center of Cleveland. The Center, at present, only has a few more months of operational funds left.

To enter the contest, a ticket coupon may be clipped from the January and February issues of High Gear and mailed with a $1.00 donation or a person may be eligible for the drawing by sending $1.00 donation and their name, address, and phone number on a 3" X 5" piece of paper. Entries must be received no later than March 14, 1979. Entries may be sent to GEAR 50/50, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Tickets also may be obtained at Cleveland-area bars who participate in the 50/50. Bars or businesses may participate by contacting GEAR at the Gay Hotline or calling 216-631-9275. Akron participants may call 216-733-5612. The bar or business selling the most tickets will receive a free 1/2 page High Gear following the contest.

The drawing will be held at the Gay Community Center of Cleveland, 1012 Sumner Court, on March 20, 1979 during the monthly Gear trustee meeting. Any volunteers connected with the GEAR Foundation are not eligible to enter the contest.