HIGH GEAR Page 3

O'Leary resigns NGTF post

Jean O'Leary has announced that she will resign as CoExpecutive Director of the National Gay Task Force effective June 1979. Her decision to leave was made for personal areasons. Ms. O'Leary, who has established an outstanding record in this post since June 1976, first joined the NGTF staff as National Coordiator in 1975.

Kay Whitlock and Charles Brydon, Co-Chairs of the NGTF Board of Directors, expressed their appreciation to Ms. O'Leary for her distinguished service to NGTF and noted that "her enormous creative talent and energy will be greatly missed. We extend to her our best wishes for what we know will be successfu future endeavors, and we look forward to a continued close association with her."

Whitlock and Brydon emphasized that the Board expects to appoint a replacement for Dr. Bruce Voeller (whose resignation from the other Co-Director's position is effective January 10 well in advance of O'Leary's departure so that continuity will not be disturbed.

"We want to make it absolutely Berg, Matlovich

clear to NGTF's members and

supporters around the country,

they said, "that replacements for both Jean O'Leary and Bruce Voeller will be found who are thoroughly familiar with the projects and plans of this organization, and that the change in NGTF's executive leadership will in no way interrupt the continuity of our goals and activities. Our organization has estblished itself as the major national organization in the field of gay rights, and we are confident that changes in personnel will not affect our capacity to continue that leadership role and to do the jobs we've begun."

O'Leary noted that her experience at NGTF has been "tremendously challenging and satisfying. This is a wonderful organization with a great future," she said, "and I intend to maintain close ties to NGTF and continue to be of service in whatever ways I can." She stressed that she and Dr. Voeller have a deep commitment to the Task Force and that she has planned her resignation for June to allow for time to assist the new director in adjusting to the executive position.

The Board of Directors. together with Ms. O'Leary and Dr. Voeller, is currently exploring ways for the two directors to continue to be of assistance to NGTF after their departure.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, O'Leary has been active in the national gay and feminist movements since 1971, beginning her activities shortly after leaving the Holy Humility of Mary religious order of the Roman Catholic Church where she spent over four years

As Co-Executive Director of NGTF, she has made a number of historic inroads into public life. In 1976, after a remarkable campaign featuring her lesbian femi nist candidacy, she was elected a adelegate to the Democratic National Convention, where she lobbied for the gay issue. ****

cases reopened

According to a decision on December 6 by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia the case of former Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich must be reopened by the Air Force and the case of former Ensign Vernon E. Berg III must be reopened by the Navy. Both men claim that their discharges from the armed forces for homosexuality are unfair.

The court, a three judge panel, reversed two rulings by District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell who had upheld their discharges. Gesell will have to hear and rule on both cases a second time.

According to the appeals court

The Air Force and Navy had each failed to give a specific reason for the discharges as required by their own regulations.

The court cited the 1974 case of Champagne v. Schlessinger during which, according to the court, the Armed Forces demonstrated that it does not discharge all those found to be homosex ual. The Armed Forces argued that it uses individual discretion, that clauses exist in its regulations for making exceptions.

According to that previous case the military must show specific reasons for having discharged Matlovich and Berg or reinstate them.

California bills introduced

There are many positive signs that California will be the first state to pass an employment rights bill for lesbians and gay men," says C.H.R.A. cochairwoman Lisa Katz. "We are approaching legislators with the attitude that we will succeed and they are dealing with us with greater seriousness."

C.H.R.A. Executive Director, Steven Badeau, elaborated on some of the positive signs. "The Proposition 6 vote will help defeat legislators' fear of constituent backlash. NBC jointly with the Associated Press did a poll of voters on election day. In California, 54% of the voters said 'yes' to the question: Do you think that fair housing and fair employment laws should be extended to cover homosexuals? 34% responded 'no' and 12% were 'undecided. Badeau added, "The first Assembly Bill of the Session has a precedent of passing" "The companion bills in the Senate, SB 3 and SB 18, carry the same message because of their low numbers "Legislators save low

On March 26, 1977, through her efforts on behalf of NGTF, the White House, for the first time in history, opened its doors for discussions with gay representatives. The widely publicized meeting with Presidential aide Midge Costanza led to a series of additional meetings with highlevel officials of federal agencies, including the U.S. Civil Rights Commision, the U.S. Publi Health Service, the Bureau of Prisons, the Justice Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Significant changes in federal policy toward gays have resulted from these sessions.

O'Leary was also responsible for NGTF's receipt of a federal CETA grant which enabled the organization to hire an additional five staff persons to coordinate a one-year education campaign featuring "Weeks of Dialogue" involving lesbian and gay groups and their local non-gay

communities.

In the spring of 1977 Ms.

O'Leary was appointed by President Carter to serve on the International Women's Year Commission. That fall, she acted as principal organizer for the lesbian issue at the National Women's Conference in Houston. She was subsequently appointed by the President to serve on the National Advisory Committee for Women, and was also invited by Mayor Ed Koch to serve on the New York City Commission on the Status of Women.

As a foremat national gay leader, Ms. O'Leary has been interviewed extensively by the national media and has represented NGTF on numerous TV and radio programs, including the "Today" show and "Diock Cavett." She has lectured across the country at univesities and has keynoted numerous gay and feminist conferences.

Ms. O'Leary is currently considering a number of career decision at this time. options, but has not reached a

Exedra benefit saves GCCC

On December 10th, a successful benefit show at Exedra night club raised over $340.00 saving the Gay Community Center of Cleveland from closing February 1st.

Starring in the show was Melissa Ross and Lotta Goodbody. Ms. Ross pantomined "Don't Rain on My Parade" as the show opened with devoted audience attention. Ms. Goodbody did renditions of the "VD Polka" and Kate Smith's "Christmas Song" with such clever professional enthusiasm that it was said to be the highlight of the

evening. Debuting for the first time on stage in Ohio, Miss Jane Hunter showed a strong and professional stage performance.

Approximately 170 people attended the benefit generating funds to operate GCCC through March. A similar benefit for GCCC will be held in the near future at Dimensions next to the Center. Call The Gay Hotline for details.

The Gay Community Center of Cleveland's staff and The GEAR Foundation wish to express their thanks to the performers and Exedra for their fine support.

Queen City workshop planned

numbers for bills that they expect TO ALL ACTIVE FEMINISTS... A Feminist Workshop is curto pass." Lisa Katz observed that legisla-rently being planned by the U.C Women's Center. The purpose of tors and capitol staff people felt the tragedy in the loss of Harvey this workshop will be to bring together active feminists Milk and George Moscone. "This makes the issue and bill more throughout the city to discuss how our current and future status urgent and more personal," she said. Katz noted that this is an is being affected politically, economically and socially. Plans at this date are to have two or three women give position papers and hen to have the entire group disruss those positions in relation to how they agree or disagree with their own ideas. We feel it is of great importance for active feminists to know how their sisters are thinking and working Hopefully, this workshop will contribute to a more cohesive effort. January 20th is the planned date, and it will be held at U.C. from 12:30p.m.-5:00p.m. There will be no charge. Complete information will be available after January 3 from: Women Helping Women, 381-6003, the director of LA.B., Ruthanne Roller, 381-6003; and Women's ***Studies, 475-8778. Also, you can

important bill for women. "AB 1 deals with a problem that most women encounter at some point in their lives, the problem of sexual harassment on the job. It prohibits discrimination because of the refusal to grant sexual favors, making it a doubly important employment rights bill. We are therefore receiving support from many women's groups through out the state."

Eric Schlockman, ajde to Assemblyman Art Agnos. expressed that "This is the time to pass a bill like AB4. We must use the propostion 6 momentum while we can. If we don't pass it early this session, we will not have another opportunity for several years* *******

call the Women's Center, 4753967. ALL ACTIVE FEMINISTS ARE WELCOME (If anyone is interested in being a child-care provider or in providing play items, please write to me, Janet Fay Peak, U.C. Women's Center, University of Cinti., 45221, Mail Location #15.)

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