Page 2 HIGH GEAR

WOMEN WERE NOT BORN TO SATISFY YOUR GROIN II !!

NEWS

1200 attend Take Back the Night

By Barbara Lee

On Friday, August 3, 1200 Greater Cleveland women met at Public Square to support Take Back the Night, a rally and march protesting violence against women. The enthusiastic and receptive crowd included women of all ages, some of their children as well as a number of men. The latter lent their support to the women by standing along the parade route and by holding flashlights to light the way.

Gathering at the statue of Moses Cleveland, the exuberant women first listened to a series of speakers who addressed the variety of issues related to this society's aggression against women: Josephine Irwin, a suffragette who has fought for women's rights since the early part of this century, drew applause when she urged women to unite and continue the struggle. Dr. Zelma George, who had served as a delegate to the

United Nations and who had

instructor (Rape Crisis Center), Kathy Thomas (Gold Flower Defense committee, Jean Van Atta, Education Director (Rape Crisis Center), and Beverly Webster, Executive Director (Women Together).

The idea for the Take Back the Night rally surfaced last fall when a small group of women met and discussed a news article that described a successful march that had ocurred in Boston. The Cleveland women decided to arrange a local march. Soon the group increased in size and participation and received endorsements from such organizations as the Rape Crisis Center, the Free Clinic, Womenspace, the Women's Growth Cooperative, Cleveland NOW and Cleveland State's Women's Alliance.

One of the committee's early members described the rally's purpose as an effort to protest violence against women and to affirm their basic right to go out directed the Women's Job Corps at night without the fear of being of Cleveland, focused on the assaulted, harassed, robbed, or crime concerns of one particuraped. She added that society's larly vulnerable group-elderly approach to street crime and viowomen. She called for the imple-lence has been to "punish" the mentation of programs to increase protection for women, young and old.

victims (women) and to tell them not going out at night or by only to seek protection from attack by going out in groups. This stance forces many women to remain home. She said that the fear about going out is very isolating; it prevents women from enjoying

Councilperson Mary Zone and Congressperson Mary Rose Oaker endorsed the rally's objectives. Ms. Zone read a resolution which expressed Cleveland City Council's support of the goals of the Take Back the Night Committee. Other speakers included Kathy Cowles, self defense The committee believes that

Cleveland's numerous cultural, social, recreational, and political offerings.

Gay Marchers cautioned on transportation

Organizers of the National March on Washington for Lesbian Gay Rights announced today that they have severed their relationship with the National Transportation Information Center... (1-800-5287382) in Metropolitan PhoenixScotsdale, Arizona and the National Transportation Office (PO Box 3624) Houston, Texas 77001. This announcement came out of a planning meeting held in Washington, D. C. the weekend of August 17-19, 1979.

Due to the short time from now until the date of the March, October 14, 1979, the March

organizers advise persons having already made travel arrangements through the 800# to consult with their local travel agencies to reconfirm their reservations.

The National Logistics Office in Washington, D.C. (1-202-7891070) has all information regarding the March and the National Third World Lesbian Gay Conference. The Freedom Trains leaving from the West Coast and Chicago are completely separate from the 800# Transportation Organization and are still available for reservations.

such an approach allows society to abdicate its responsibility to take positive action to prevent and reduce violence and to insure safety in the streets. The Take Back the Night Committee asserts that governmental officials as well as employers must make concerted efforts the will increase women's confid、.ce about their safety. Along this line, the committee urges implementation of 6 reforms: 1. better security at RTA bus stops and rapid stations, 2. incresed RTA schedule flexibility, 3. quality lighting on city streets, 4. improvement in security at the workplace, 5. more sheltered res-

idences for battered women and their children, 6. more efforts to decrease assults against women.

The march followed the rally. Mother Nature was cooperative with the demonstrators. She provided a warm, clear, rainless evening that made walking through Cleveland's downtown and red light districts both pleasant and invigorating. The march ended on Cleveland State University's campus. There festivities continued with a celebration dance sponsored by CSU's Women Alliance and the Rape Crisis Center. Funds raised have been donated to the Rape Crisis Center.

Take Back the Night was a rousing success in terms of the number of women who participated, in terms of the enthusiasm and spirit of solidarity generated. A Take Back the Night spokesperson noted that dozens of individuals and groups participated in organizing and publicizing the rally. Special thanks is extended to CSU's Women's Alliance for securing facilities and equipment for the post-rally celebration on the CSU campus. Thanks too goes to the Free Clinic's staff and volunteers who were available to provide first aid.

Photos By: LOUISE LUCZAK

BACK LINT RGK

NGS

YOUNG TO T

NIGHT

AKE BACK

Transexual bill introduced in house

A bill to permit new birth certificates to be issued to persons who undergo sex reassignment surgery was introduced July 11 into the House of Representatives by State Rep. Phale D. Hale (D-Columbus). The bill is House Bill 750.

Rep. Hale hopes the bill will be referred to the Human Resources Committee, which he chairs. If it is, Mr. Hale predicts the bill will be approved by the committee, although he makes no promised beyond that.

Mr. Hale, a Baptist minister, introduced the bill on behalf of a

had undergone the surgery. member of his congregation who Upon talking with Ohio Gay Rights Coalition lobbyist George Painter, Rep. Hale recounted the Biblical story of the adultress who was about to be stoned but saved by Jesus Christ with the words, "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone."

Immediately Painter brought up the Gay rights issue, to see Mr. Hale's position on it. The smile on Mr. Hale's face turned into a vague frown and Mr. Hale stated he would have to see the bill, both what it does and what

said he believed that discriminathe motives are behind it. He also tion against Gay people does not

exist.

Rep. Hale's 31st House District is composed of downtown, the predominantly Black Near East Side and South Linden, the wealthy suburb of Bexley (home of the governor's mansion and most of Columbus' power elite) and largerly Gay neighborhoods like German Village and Franklin Park.

Letters of support for HB 750 can be sent to Rep. Phale Hale, Ohio State House, Columbus,