A reply to"So what?"

By Thom David Glafagna When the GEAR Board passed the Anti-Discrimination Resolution (see the accompanying reso-

lution) at its June meeting, the

reaction ranged from "now what? to "so what?" But to those of us who want a strong and uniTied gay community in Greater

be heard. And we will be listened

to.

First, to establish our credentials, we like the Citizens League, the Growth Association, the

Republican and Democratic parties, must speak to the public issues of the day. And the public will learn to hear us speaking. those views. By stating our ideas

Cleveland, this was an important in ways that go beyond purely step. The straight community will recognize that we as a people will gay issues we can link ourselves to a political coalition of liberal-

GEAR Resolution

WHEREAS, the gay community has been discriminated against for years, both as individuals and as a people; and

WHEREAS, the gay community of Greater Cleveland has great variety, consisting of women and men, suburbanites, West siders and East siders, various ethnic, racial and religious groups, as well as the physically-challenged, and younger and older gays, all with wideranging values, roles, and preferences; and

WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation to provide facilties of a positive nature in the areas of mental health, physical health, and social alternatives for the entire gay community; and

WHEREAS, it is the purpose of the GEAR Foundation to provide said services in a non-judgmental, non-sexist, non-racist, non-ageist atmosphere, that is, equal services to all peple without discrimination:

and

WHEREAS, it is necessary for our continued progress and our survival as a people that we establish a strong unified gay community; WHEREAS, positive measures must be taken to end discrimination of gays by gays and to insure equality for all gay persons within the gay community;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED.

that the GEAR Foundation shall promote and actively encourage the ending of all forms of discrimination within the gay community;

and

that the GEAR Board of Trustees commit itself to speak out and take action against such discrimination, whether sexist, racist, or other forms, and whether practiced by individuals, organizations or establishments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED.

that the GEAR Foundation request all individuals, organizations,, and establishments to be open to and serve equally all members of the gay community and to seek ways to eliminate past discriminatory practices; and

that the GEAR Foundation send copies of this resolution to all gay organizations in Greater Cleveland and to all businesses that deal Iwith the gay community..

How they voted

The Representatives from Ohio who voted for McDonald's anti-gay amendment are Applegate from District 18, Ashbrook from District 17. Brown from District 7, Devine from District 12, Gradison from District 1, Guyer from District 4, Harsha from District 6, Kindness from District 12, Latta from District 5. Luken from District 2, Miller from District 10, Mott! from District 23, Pease from District 13, Regula from District 16, Stanton from District 11, Syms from District 1, Vanik from District 22, Watkins from District 3. Williams from District 19, and Wylie from District 15.

Representatives from Ohio who voted against the anti-gay amend-

libertarians and share a growing political influence. We have depended too long on the bartenders and bar-owners. God bless them, for protection.

We do need to assess our

strengths and weaknesses and

do what we can to build our-

seives up. Last year's Gay Festival showed what we can do when we stick together. Let us continue the task -with pride in who we are and what we stand for. I am proud to stand with the AntiDiscrimination Resolution and say. this I believe.

The next steps? That's up to us all. What should be done? What The Resolution has been can we do to build ourselves up. referred to the GEAR Education committee to discuss further action. Join us, tell us, share with us your ideas about those next steps. THAT'S WHAT!

Now it is time to do something to protect ourselves. To demand the protection that other citizens have. To insist the police investigate crimes against us instead of having the bars hire extra police to protect us from fag-bashers and car vandals. By linking with the greater community's political groups, we can increase our influence. The Anti-Discrimi-. nation Resolution is one step toward building those links.

Second, we as a people must build our internal links. We cannot be feuding and fighting among ourselves. It is time-now is the time for Dignity, NOCI, GEAR, women and men, blacks and whites, to sit down together as brothers and sisters and get our act together. We have no need for witch hunts, backstabbing, or finger-pointing.

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