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Youngstown detailed

Youngstown, an industrial city of approximately 140,000, is located in northeastern Ohio, five miles from the Pennsylvania border, and is about mid-point between Cleveland and Pitts burgh. Being at the center of the fourth largest steel producing district in the country, this city has enjoyed many economic benefits through its thriving manufacturing, distribution, retailing and warehousing enterprises. Access routes span the city in abundance, thereby making travel time across town (35 sq. miles) minimal and access to all parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania easy.

Although Youngstown has only two gay bars, The Troubador and The Outpost II, nearby Warren also offers entertainment at the Phoenix and Ann's Bars. In addition, Pittsburgh, Akron, and Cleveland are relatively easy

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drives for the more venturesome party-seekers.

The Troubador, 2010 Market Street, first opened in 1975 as a cruise and show lounge but has since broadened its appeal to include disco, with Joe Bednor spinning the disks. The bar's atmosphere is easy and "laidback" for the most part, yet good dancing is available toward the back of the bar. Patrons are relaxed, friendly and ready to "party-hearty:" some coming from as far away as New Castle, Beaver Falls and Greenville, Pa. Stout drinks are poured by Russ, John, Butch and Dick from 9:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. every night of the week and are reasonably priced; incidentally there is no cover charge. Parking presents a problem, though, for the late arrivers; often necessitating quite a walk from car to bar.

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A recent addition to the Troubador has been the renovation of its downstairs and conversion to a leather bar, The Down 'N Under. Not having any place special to go, a group of people calling themselves The Exiles approached Ed Lesnak, owner of The Troubador, and offered to do the necessary work in the bar in exchange for having a bar of their own. The result has been dramatic and further adds to an atmosphere of "something for everyone." Meetings are held the first Monday of each month and bar hours run from 9:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays, and 9:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Dress code is optional.

On the other side of town, Outpost II, 3143 Mahoning Avenue, owned by Don Yartz, surges to the lights and sounds of disco. This bar opened in Youngstown approximately two years ago and

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has continued to do well. The Outpost also pulls support heavily from western Pennsylvania as well as the Akron-YoungstownWarren area. Parking, while not abundant, is not a problem. The atmosphere is very much that of any good-sized disco and provides good opportunities for a successful evening---all seven of them----dancing or cruising. Drinks are good and also reasonably priced; a cover is charged. There is some speculation that this bar may be moving to an jeven larger location with 2-3 floors but nothing definite is known.

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ever, one feels a strong, underlying sense of ethics; a deep belief in human rights and civil liberties. Within this frame o reference, it is possible that the community-at-large would certainly accept if not welcome a responsible, well-organized gay effort to educate "straights" and increase gay visibility. Recent meetings with media people have given indications that such efforts would be covered fairly and accurately. Police actions appear to be reasonably friendly with an attitude of "equal protection" for all law-abiding persons. Also, the Richley Administration seems open to suggestions and cooperation.

Lack of experienced gay leadership is a problem with which it can be tough to deal, however, without the attempt to cultivate and train leaders, very little will be accomplished. Those who have been involved with past organizations would be choice teachers and provide badly needed "Beginnings." Until gay peop e signal their intentions to be heard and treated fairly, the straights" will do nothing, Fregardless of their ethics.

At this point, perhaps it would be appropriate to note one very special activity which centers in the bars. This event is known as the BAR-A-Thon. Each year in March or April, Barbara Shargo organizes entertainers, bar owners and all available volunteers for a 24-hour stint of fundraising and partying. Proceeds are then donated to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital. To date, this activity and the people arranging it have been responsible for raising several thousand dollars for the hospital. The effect it has had for the gay cornmunity is incalculable.

Once away from the bar scene, however, there is very little gay activity in Youngstown. Always jan unfortunate situation, it is particularly so in Youngstown which has a lot of good gay talent and very little organization. Apparently, lesbians have opted to channel their main organizational energies into N.O.W. activities. Students on the campus of Youngstown University are inactive and have not applied for recognition by the University Administration for 2-3 years. Religious organizations are no longer functioning and yet there are people interested in being active.

Youngstown, is basically a hard-working, industrial community with a very conventional, nuclear-family orientation. How-

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