Oberlin Gays Active

HIGH GEAR Page 3

College Union has vigorous beginning

Though many college gay of activities. Energy generated organizations are experiencing a decline in membership, interest, and activity, the Oberlin College Gay Union (OCGU) has just ended an extremely active and successful first semester, and is looking forward to what appears to be another successful semester.

from last Spring's 'Baba Yaga' performance carried into this year. Cosponsored by the OCGU and other groups, both the 'Izquierda Ensemble' and 'Jade and Sarsaparilla' gave Oberlin performances. The Jade and Sarsaparilla' concert ended in nostalgia and sadness, since it

The Fall semester saw a variety was the final performance, as a

duo, of the two women who met several years ago as students at Oberlin.

The landmark film 'Word Is Out' played to large audiences when it was shown in early October.

Three major forums were held. Gay peace activist George Lakey gave a noon assembly on his activities with the Movement for a

Lobbyist visits OGRC

By ROB DAVIS Columbus news Gay Alliance

The second annual Gay Community Valentine's Dance is being sponsored by G.A. at the Northend Community Center, 5 W. Northwood Ave., Columbus. Festivities will start at 8 pm and the dance will last until "whenever" according to publicity. Admission will be $1.00 in advance, $1.25 at the door. More volunteer effort is still needed to help make this a successful event. For more information, or to volunteer, call G.A. at 614-422-9212 or 614-2620322 or 614-299-2428. Refreshments will be served, and beer will perhaps be available, pending permit approval. Be sure to be there for this most festive event!

Gay Alliance was represented January 11 at the Ohio Unionsponsored Organization Week by staffing a booth there during the day, along with other student organizations. Visibility was good and people were made more aware of G.A. and its programs. News of the Columbus Gay and Lesbian Community will be resuming publica-

tion soon and volunteers are being sought. To volunteer, call 614-262-0322.

Weekly meetings of G.A. are at 9:00 pm on Tuesday nights, at the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High Street, Columbus. A swimming party is planned for February. Ohio Gay Rights Coalition

O.G.R.C. met in Columbus on January 14, and many cities were represented, in spite of bad weather predictions. A lot of business was discussed, and projects for the future were debated. One possible future project is another booth at the Ohio State Fair, pending location of a coordinating person in the Columbus area. The informational pamphlet designed for the 1978 Ohio State Fair will be refined before it is reprinted.

O.G.R.C. also discussed the possibility of incorporation and applying for tax-exempt status.

O.G.R.C. now has a registered lobbyist in the Ohio Legislature. George Painter, formerly registered as the Central Ohio Gay Coalition lobbyist, has now registered as a lobbyist for O.G.R.C.

A basic membership in O.G.R.C. is $15.00 which includes a subscription to the O.G.R.C. newsletter. A subcription to the newsletter alone

costs $4.00.ow income memberships can be obtained by communicating with the O.G.R.C. board. O.G.R.C. may be written to at P.O. Box 8393,

Columbus, Ohio 43201.

Adam DeBaugh, a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitain Community Churches, visited and spoke at the O.G.R.C. meeting during the late afternoon. He spoke of a proposed U.S. House bill for gay civil rights and his work with it. He raised the question of what term should be used in the bill-"sexual preference," "sexual orientation," or some other term.

While strong support existed for the word "preference," and others suggested that this word implied a choice where they could not see much of any choice, most people agreed that "affectional" should be part of the term used in the bill..

Adam also spoke of the need

liturgy followed by a Dignity business meeting.

Feburary 19 will be the second meeting of the Gay Couple's Support Group. The group is still in formation, and goals are being set. For more information about this just-beginning group, call Dignity at 614-274-1029.

MCC/Columbus

MCC/Columbus recently had several out-of-town speakers at church. R. Adam DeBaugh, director of the Wasington field office of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, and Reverend Karen Wheeler, of MCC/Akron, both spoke at church. Adam is the only recognized lobbyist from a national organization involved in lobbying for gay civil rights.

MCC/Columbus still meets at the northeast corner of Twelfth and Indianola Avenues, Columbus.

for documentation of discriminaMeg Christian Concert tion against gay people to help show the need for this bill. This

could mean almost anything printed--for example, a lease or a job application. Documentation should be sent to Gay Rights National Lobby, 110 Maryland, N.E.. Washington, DC. 20002. It's phone number is 202-543-2447.

Ave.,

Other possible future O.G.R.C. projects include increasing lobbyist support, a statewide commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the Stonewall riots in June 1979, and increasing the outreach to isolated gay people, particularly the handicapped, the elderly, and prisoners. O.G.R.C. will meet next in Columbus on March 4. Dignity/Columbus

Dignity/Columbus is sponsoring its "First Annual" Mardi Gras festivities with help from MCC/Columbus, at the Twylight Lounge, 2467 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus. The date is February 26, and special shows will be held at 9:30 and 11:00, featuring a variety of talent from the community. A special appearance by Felicia Furnace will highlight the evening. A donation at the door of $1.00 will benefit both groups, and hopes are for a good attendance.

February 3 is the new date for a slide presentation promoting the 1979 Dignity Convention in San Diego, following 8:00 liturgy at the Newman Center, 64 West Lane Avenue, Columbus. Also to be discussed will be, "What is Dignity?" February 17 will be

Women's Music Union,

Columbus, is sponsoring a Meg Christian concert February 11, in the auditorium of the Summit United Methodist Church Campus Center, 82 East 16th Avenue, Columbus. The concert will begin at 8:00. Meg is a feminist songwriter who performs for Olivia Records. Her two most recent releases are two albums: "I Know You Know," in 1975; and "Face the Music," in 1977. She sings and speaks of lesbianism, class and race, and the commonality of women's struggles everywhere. This promises to be an especially good concert. For more information, call Women's Music Union at 614-267-1270.

Meg will also be performing in Oberlin, Ohio on February 10, sponsored by the Oberlin College Gay Union. More information on this concert may be had by calling 216-775-8131.

Outdoors Club Forming

An outdoors club is now forming in Columbus. Designed for gay and bisexual Ohioans. This... club will offer camping, canoeing, hiking, bicycling, and other outdoor activities. Ideas and input are now needed, and hopes are to expand this club to include all of Ohio. This group will be patterned after a California, group, Great Outdoors. For more information, contact Rick Cooper at 1711 Summit St., Apartment C. Columbus, 43201, or call 614-299-0484.

New Society, as well as a workshop on gay rights activism. Joe, Miller came from Boston to speak on the problems and politics of gay youth and sexuality in non-adults. Cosponsored by OCGU and the Sparticist Youth League, Walter Sloan gave a forum on 'The Gay Movement and the Communist Program'

Vincent Price appeared at Oberlin in a college sponsored presentation of 'Oscar Wilde: Diversions and Delights.'

The OCGU also began meeting with the Alumni Board, which will indirectly strengthen the position of OCGU as a part of Office of College Relations. which handles publications and public relations for the college. Hopefully, the meetings will result in the publication of the college's comprehensive non discrimination policy. This policy affirms non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. These meetings will continue in the Spring semester.

Activities in the upcoming semester include films, speakers, among other things. Films to be shown are 'Maedcheon in Uniform' (1932) March 13, 'Inherit the Wind, (1960) April 10, and Fortune and Men's Eyes' (1971)May 1.

Lesbian/feminist musician Meg Christian will be performing in Finney Chapel on February 10.

Adam DeBaugh (MCC/Washington DC) will be speaking at Oberlin on March 10. His speech

will include discussions of gay rights legislation, gay lobbying. and the role of religion in politics.

Investigation into the possibilities of forming an Alumni Gay Union will start this Spring, with the hope of establishing a greater gay presence in the Oberlin Community.

Two academic courses (for credit) will be taught this Spring throuh the Experimental College, a student-run department of the College. One course will be a comprehensive gay studies course similar to those taught for several semesters. A new course will be in peer counselling skills for gay people. This is the first step in the establishment of an on-going peer counselling service.

Perhaps one of the most important developments in the Oberlin community is the formation of Lesbians Into Preserving Sappho. (LIPS), a Lesbian/feminist organization. LIPS' primary aim is to provide for a greater development of the women's community at Oberlin. Already. it has strengthed both the women's and gay communities.

The transience of the college environment makes it difficult for a college organization to maintain continuity. Nonetheless, OCGU has grown considerably in the past few years. This year has been an ambitious, full-scale program. It is to be hoped that growth will continue.

Shapp gives Gays teeth

Harrisburg, Pa.--In one of his last acts as lame duck governor of Pennsylvania, Milton Shapp has reissued his 1975 Executive Order establishing a Council of Sexual Minorities. "The original order related mostly to employment," explained Council chairperson Tony Silvestre. "The new order gives us more teeth by specifically telling Pennsylvania state agencies what they are responsible for to insure equal rights for sexual minorities."

In its reissued form, the Executive Order stipulates that agencies must not discriminate against sexual minorities in their "provisions of services, or any other matter whatsoever." Agencies are further directed to "supply the Council with direct assistance and information requested and...send a representative to Council meetings when so requested by the chairperson."

The new order also extends the policy against discrimination to "employes of firms which contract with the Commonwealth." Silvestre noted that complex legal work will be needed to determine exactly what groups receiving state government money must comply with the new regulations.

Though outgoing Governor Shapp was a strong supporter of

gay rights throughout his administration, gays throughout Pennvylvania have reason to be generally pleased with the outcome of the November elǝctions. The new Governor Thornburgh has made strong commitments to women's rights; and, while not as vocal on the issue of gay rights, he has pledged the continuance of Governor Shapp's Executive Order. courtesy of GPU News

Legal status

LEGALITIES: Prof. Rhonda Rivera of the Ohio State University Law School suggests that people watch for the MarchApril issue of the Hastings Law Journal, which will include a survey of the current legal status of lesbians and gay men in the fifty states. Reprints will be available for $3 postpaid from the Hastings College of the Law, 198 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Since demand for this issue may be especially heavy, it is a good idea to put in your reprint orders early. For. more information, call the HLJ at (415) 557-1715. from NOTF ACTION REPORT...