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Gays rally in Queen City

Fountain Square, in downtown Cincinnati, was the scene of a large and festive Lesbian/Gay Pride Day Rally, Saturday, June 30, 1979.

This Rally, the only one of its kind held this year in Ohio, was the high point of a week-long celebration commemorating the Tenth Anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots.

Despite intermittent rain -showers and chilly winds, approximately 300 to 350 cheering lesbians and gays gave Rally speakers and organizers a warm reception: Co-Chairperson, Janet Fay Peak of the University of Cincinnati Women's Center presented and read Mayor Bobbie Sterne's Proclamation setting aside Saturday, June 30, 1979, as Lesblan and Gay Pride Day. This Proclamation represented a

community and the mutual support that we can offer each other as we become more positive about ourselves and our future. This year has seen the strengthening of local gay organizations, with much more active co-ordination through the Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition."

Wendy Winkler of the Lesbian Activist Bureau congratulated the members of the audience for exercising their Constitutional freedom to assemble and noted that, "... we exercise that freedom here joined in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of lesbian sisters and gay brothers across this nation. We have a great deal about which to assemble and we have a number of grievances which need redress.

She further noted that, "Ten

not be easy, but neither has the road behind been easy. As always, there will be ambushes on the road ahead, traps on the road ahead, betrayals on the road ahead. But none of this is new and none of this will stop our forward march as a people. We will not turn back. We will not turn back. No more isolation, no more separation, we are a people, we go forward together."

Rev. Howard Gaass, minister of MCC/Cincinnati, asked the crowd to register to vote and Cincinnatians, in particular, to go back to that "one special closet" just for a minute this fall and vote to throw out those politicians who have used Constitutional laws to prevent gay rights. "Let us go forward with strength and unity and into those voting booths!"

large step forward as it had been years of struggle are being Columbus news

denied only one year earlier.

celebrated here. Ten years since several hundred gays united publicly at Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village and fought back. Ten years since the cry was first heard, "no more." "No more police brutality! No more raids! No more shame! No more isolation!"

Winkler observed that the right forces are dangerous and

Speaking to the crowd. Patrick Clayton of the Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition, reflected briefly on the past year's events and recollected that 1978 had begun as the "Year of the Park." City police had used well publicized arrests in Burnett Woods to embarrass the proposed Human Rights Ordinance then languish-wing ing in City Council. This obvious want to wipe out all gains made in attempt to deny civil rights to the last terr years by gay people gays led to an unprecedented. The next important task is to find level of activism and protest. The common cause not only with each results were to put gays in the other but also with other minority news more than ever and to groups and to coalesce for increase community organizing human rights. So long, as one tremendously. group is under attack, she remarked, all minority groups are in danger. "The road ahead will

Said Clayton, "We are here to celebrate this new sense of

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March plans released

Initial details of a nationally unified transportation plan for the October 14 March On Washington were released to the gay media June 5. March transportation coordinators say a logistics office will open in Metropolitan Washington, D.C.

soon.

The plan calls for a 24-hour toll-free information line to be staffed by a team of operators. News releases and posters publicizing the Information line will be distributed throughout the U.S. in early July. A support staff will monitor the March transportation arrangements of over 50 U.S. Jocales, keeping the information line up to date.

Additionally, a computer system at the disposal of the infor-

mation center operators will help in arranging rides for March enthusiasts nationwide who prefer carpools to train, air,and bus carriers-already reserved in many local areas by travel agencies and local transportation committees in coordination with the national transportation office.

Agencies and other persons interested in helping to organize March transportation on the local level should contact the National Office in New York City which will temporarily coordinate transportation, until the Transportation Office in Washington is established around the first week in July. The phone number in New York is 212-924-2970.

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The Rev. Howard Gaas joins in verbal combat with one of the many evangelists present at the Lesbian/Gay Pride Rally.

Margareth Miller, a lesbian mother from Ann Arbor, addressed the Rally and spoke eloquently of her struggle to regain custody of her children. After four losses, an appellate judge, "told me my child should stay with me. I want to see no more Gay Pride Days or Weeks. I want to see a Gay Pride Century."

Bob Peppard of the Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition and and Co-chairperson of the Gay Pride Day underlined the importance of unity and maintaining what has been built this far. Marilyn Bufton of the Ohio Gay Rights Coalition congratulated Cincinnatians on what they have accomplished and stated that with regard to both Cincinnati and the state of Ohio. "We can not allow this

mockery of justice to continue. Continued action is a must."

Bob Peppard. departing secretry of the Coalition, was givecial a ognitive for his outstanding service and contribution to the gay community. Also singled out for special recognition in regard to her custody court case was Judy Sidwell.

Groups involved with the Rally as well as the week's series of Pride events included: the Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition, MCC/Cincinnati, Lesbian Activist Bureau, Dignity, Cincinnati Men's Network, Women Helping Women and the Queen City Business Association.

Other activities such as a swim party. Gaymefest, hayride. special radio programming, dotted the calendar all week.

New Alternatives, new bars

By ROB DAVIS ALTERNATIVES

A new group. Alternatives, is forming in Columbus. The group is open to anyone whose style of living is different from that of society at large. The group consists of gay and straight people. as well as those in between. Beyond fellowship and support. this group provides educational services to the public and works for social, religious, and educational justice. One of Alternatives' organizers spoke of the need to have everyone working together and not to split into all gay or all-straight groups. "Education is the key," he said. The whole purpose of our group is to create understanding and to work against those things that divide us. We are open to anyone." Alternatives meets every two weeks, 7:30 to 9:30 PM Sundays at the Newman Center, 64 West Lane Avenue. Meetings for the summer are July 8 and 22. and August 12 and 26. For more information, call Al at 614-2532426 or 614-221-7870.

CLUB RIVERSIDE OPENS

Club Riverside. 1570 Olentangy River Road, opened May 12 in Columbus. This is an 18 and over place for both women and men, gay and straight. This club plans to include two bars, a res-

taurant, disco, and a game room. Hours for the bar are 11:30 AM to 2:30 AM, while the restaurant plans longer hours.

Decorations from the '40's and 50's feature a variety of movie posters from this era. The Art Deco flavor is ca ried out even in the column ligh s near the bar. Disco will begin at 10:00 PM continuing until closing. A game room downstairs will feature a quiet bar away from the disco

The Riverside Eatery will be the name of the restaurant operating within Club Riverside. This restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a variety of home-made, foods. "Every thing here is home cooking: it's good food," said Craig Hardesty. who coordinates The Riverside Eatery with his partner Danny Twigg. "We want it to be like eating at Grandma's." Dinners will include chicken, fresh fish, barbeque ribs and cornish game hen, served with side dishes such as grits, blackeye peas, oyster stew, and corned beef hash. Lighter meals include different types of omelettes, sandwiches. salads and soups. Some vegetarian food will be available. Specials such as spaghetti "alll you can eat" will be featured during different weeks.

Club Riverside promises to be a most enjoyable place for a "night out," whether it be for din-

ing or dancing. We have long needed such a place in Columbus where we can enjoy a meal or quiet conversation, and it appears that this place will begin to fill that need. Club Riverside is located just north of King Avenue at 1570 Olentangy River Road. Their phone number is 614-4217372

NEW BAR OPENS

Men now have a new place to go in Columbus. Fort Dicks. located at 117 East Chestnut (next door to Tradewinds II) has. now opened. Upon entering Fort Dicks, the feeling is one of being in the center of a small western town. The walls are decorated to resemble the fronts of buildings while signs such as General. Store and Livery" add to the western feeling. The har is finished with roughewn dark wood, set off by an antique cuckoo clock over the bar. Jukebox dancing is available in the center of the room in the "OK Corral." Other features of Fort Dicks are a game room, with pool and pinball, and a leather shop, open 11:30 PM to closing, entered by walking through the jail. This is a quieter bar than many, and will provide opportunities for conversation. Fort Dicks promises to be a most lively place. Their phone number is 614-461-4110.