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Editor's Note...

The following letter was orginally sent to the Plain Dealer. As of printing, it has not been included in any issue.

Editor, The Plain Dealer:

Your coverage of the Gay and Lesbian March on Washington was pretty good it was sensitive and supportive although technically incorrect. It was not the National Gay Task Force who organized the march, but an autonomous ad-hoc group, the "Committee for the March" who pulled it together. It doesn't matter we're all working for the same thing anyway.

The march was a step, but it was actually a great disappointment to me. I commend and applaud the 75,000 brave men and women who risked careers, families, and community stature by daring to show up. 75,000 gay people from all over the country. Do you realize there are 75,000 gay people in Cleveland alone? Roughly 250 of us were in Washington the other 74,750 were home here in the closets of Cuyahoga County (barring those who were there in spirit but just couldn't make it.)

We marched, even in our scant numbers for the millions of us in this country who cannot march, against the legislation that keeps us afraid to march. Gay people do not have equal rights in the eyes of the law.

Gay people are subject to blackmail, extortion, and threat of public disgrace if they're in the closet, because if they come out of the closet they can be fired, evicted from their apartments, refused lodging in hotels, refused service in restaurants, to say nothing of losing custody of their children simply because of their choice of relationship.

The American Medical Association has said we're not a disease. The American Psychiatric Association has said we are not mentally ill. The Supreme Court says it's not a crime. The churches continue to debate the morality of homosexuality, along with divorce, birth control, and abortion. How many people would tolerate being fired from their jobs as "Morally Undesirable" because they use birth control? Come on, America! I don't care about your private lives I just want my civil rights!

Diller got gay boost

Hollywood

Phyllis Diller, the nation's "top female stand-up comic," told United Press reporter Vernon Scott that Gay audiences gave her her start in show business 25 yrs ago.

Said Diller, "The only joints that would accept a female comic in those days were Gay places. Non-Gay male audiences were hostile. They still are."

Celebrating her 62nd birthday last week the now-single comedienne continued, "To this day I wo do my act unless there are women in the audience. Men hated me at the beginning."

"But the Gays laughed from the beginning. They welcomed a

fresh approach and new material. They were the nucleus of joints in San Francisco in those days (the mid-50's). But it was tough getting a break in straight clubs."

Diller broke in as a comedienne at 37 at San Franciscos Purple Onion. She played there for 89 weeks--starting at $60 per week. In recent years Diller has earned as much as $170,000 in a single week in Las Vegas. She maintains that the seond half of her life has been a great improvement over her early years.

In the Purple Onion days she was labeled "off-beat."

---courtesy of Bay Area Reporter, 8/16/79

We are forced to listen to gospel-preaching quacks who pray that we repent our sins, or we are shown dark Hollywood stereotypes of twisted human beings straddling mysterious depths of role reversals Are these the attitudes of the enlightened 20th century?

We are human beings. We are tax-paying American citizens here in the land of the free, and I, for one, bitterly resent pounding the pavement with a picket sign for my civil rights.

We are all born with the consti

tutional right to equal protection under the law -and a God-give right to a personal life, of our own choosing.

Dear Editor,

HIGH GEAR Page 21

GAY CORNELLIANS: WHERE ARE YOU?

Cornell University alumni. We want to hear from gay alumni all over Several gay alumni are interested in starting an organization for gay the country who would be interested in getting to know other gay Cornellians. We hope to hold get-acquainted parties around the country, and to provide a way for gay Cornellians to get in touch with others in their area. Long-range goals include support for the oncampus Gay Liberation Front and special events for gay alumin connection with class reunions in Ithaca.

Interested gay alumni of Cornell University are invited to write to one of the following.

Art Leonard 74. P.O. Box 1899. Grand Central Station, New York NY 10017, Mark Schwartz 74, 1314 Grove Street, Berkeley. ja 's-

ma 94709.

Young Men's

Sincerely. Discussion Group

Melinda McGeorge

I would like to give a special thanks to Eric (the dj at Mist-a-'Henry's) for everything he's done for the party from the music to the lights for the show. Especially for putting my "Happy Birthday, David" on the Goodyyear blimp. Are you saying I'm fat?

Thank you Mary and Vince for the use of the Exedra Club for my party. Sorry Mary, it didn't fit!

Peter my roommate, for throwing me my birthday party. It was great!

Donne thanks for bartending Mary came in and playing with the lights. We all know you like playing!

Órka and Lotta Goodbody the show was great and everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you for doing the show

Carl thank, you for the use of your facilities: for the cooking of the piggies Peter

Open to young men 20 and under A place to meet

A reason to meet

An opportunity to talk with others A chance for self-expression, respect, and growth

Gay Community Center 1012 Sumner Court

1 block north of Carnegie between E. 9th and E. 14th

0000

Every Saturday 1 P.M.

J J's Disco and Showbar

2402

Gas Lite Inn

638 West Main Street Springfield, Ohio

OPEN DAILY-EXCEPT SUNDAY 8:00p.m. til 2:30a.m.

GENESIS 1:29 RESTAURANT

12200 EUCLID AVE.

Tea Tavern with Jazz

Fri. and Sat. 10-1

New Hours:

M.T.Th, Fr 12-10. Sat & Sun 2-10 Cleveland

(216) 421-9359

November 4th9:30 PM

November 11th10:00 P.M

Some of J J's Top

"HERMAN" presents

Showgirls Diana Soul, Cathy Craig, Big MaMa, Angie Monroe, Miss J J's 1979, Denise Simone Nikkie Summers, and Kate Alexander.

AN EVENING OF MOTOWN VOLUME II With Your Hostess Ms. Claudette Knight, the Madam of the House. Featuring the Lovebirds Denise Simone, Diana Soul & Big MaMa. also Ms. Knight's Gents Candyman, Marvin Delray, Gregg and Little Joe. With Very Special Guest Arthea

November 25th10:30 PM

2402 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

JJ's Presents Big MaMa THE DEVIL MADE ME DO THIS With Terri Vegas, Mr. Bob Taylor, Ms. Cathy Craig and, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the very lovely MaMa Ray.

"SOMEONE FOR EVERYONE"

(216) 566-9576