NOVEMBER 1980-HIGH GEAR Page

Problems of gay engineers

By EDWARD SEBESTA (IGNA) I have found it necessary to assure people that gay engineers indeed exist. I am a gay engineer and know other engineers in various fields of engineering. In fact, I know many times more gay engineers than hairdressers and interior decorators.

Gay engineers face two distinct problems. One is working for companies that deal with the military. Discrimination against gay engineers by military contractors is much more severe than it is by employers in general. The military requires companies to fire gay employees as security risks since gays are supposed to be subject to blackmail. However, if a gay person is "out," it is hard to see how he could be blackmailed. Nevertheless, one must remember the case of

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would like to see the

The other problem faced by gay employees probably do not gay engineers is insecurity even know of these policies because of prevailing attitudes in unless they read gay publicathe industrial world. Almost all tions. managers find the concept of a gay engineer inconceivable: Sociologically, this is known as a "closed awareness context." That is, you don't see what you

can't believe exisis.

managers who do the hiring and firing of personnel more knowledgeable about non-discriminatory policies. I propose to send out a more effective question-

Damron visits New York

(Continued from Page 8) Over 100 of the Fortune 500 have responded to a National hotels in this large chain. Or you Gay Task Force questionnaire may want to try the baths. The saying that they do not discrimi-Roman Sauna at 109 North Street nate on the basis of sexual orienis the largest and busiest, while tation. However, a questionnaire is the Hitch-hiker (formerly East no guarantee of the actual thinkRiders) at 92 North is more apt to ing patterns of management in attract some rough-riders. the industry. Companies are under no obligation to implement and enforce non-discriminatory policies toward gays. Many

Syracuse has a population of only 200,000, but has some fun

Warren G. Preston, who worked NGTF and law group to merge

for GTE Sylvania in Sunnyvale, California until the Army removed Preston's security clearance when he said that he was gay. He was fired by his company, and only lawsuits and pressure caused him eventually to regain full-time employment with the same employer..

But even military contractors will bend the rules if it suits their purpose, that is, if they have need of an exceptionally skilled gay engineer. Thus the military will do a special investigation into the gay engineer's life to see if he is classifiable as subject to blackmail. Strangely enough, often such an engineer will have to go public to keep his job. In one case an engineer was required to write his hometown newspaper a letter supporting gay rights. Needless to say, this was a violation of the man's privacy. If the

government can compel you to write a letter to the editor, how free are any of us, heterosexual or homosexual?

(IGNA) Gay Rights Advocates, the public interest law firm based in San Francisco, and the National Gay Task Force, the civil rights and public education organization working on behalf of gay rights, have agreed to discuss developing a proposal for formal affiliation between the

two organizations.

Spokespersons explained that "The need to consider affiliation has emerged from a perception, shared by both organizations, that as the gay rights movement moves into the 1980s, there is a

need for a national entity with the capability to coordinate advocacy, lobbying, education, and litigation in support of common interests. This is the successful model we see in organizations such as the NAACP, NOW, and the Anti-Defamation League, and we believe that model offers us important lessons as we seek to become even more effective in our work."

Both organizations wish to make clear that any merger that may result will not serve to limit contracts or cooperation with other gay groups.

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watering spas. Ryan's Someplace Else is a local institutionlocated at 136 E. Genesee. This is a very 'hot' disco attracting macho young jocks. The Laurel Tree at 210 Hawley used to be a Moose Lodge, but is now a popular lesbian disco. Buster Brown's

at Butternut and Lodi is a men's. cruise bar, which will probably attract most levi and leather guys around. Cissy's Saloon' around the corner from Ryan's, at 246 E. Water should be a winner. The Half Shell closed and the Showboat is as sleazy as ever. Traveler's Sauna at 308 S. Warren is the only (and newly remodeled) baths in town. For books and things try Franklin News at 306 S. Franklin.

When visiting Syracuse I usually stay at the circular Holiday Inn-Downtown. For straight dining try Barbuto's, Glen Loch Mill, Poseidon terio's Landmark or Phoebe's...a casual fun place near the University of Syracuse...which has a student body of 15,000. You may also want to visit Onondaga Lake, Green Lakes

naire to high technology) employers and find out what policies toward homosexuals really are, where they are written down, and who knows what about them.

State. Park, Erie Canal Boat Cruises in Liverpool or the very cruisy bushes near the Water Tower in Thornton Park. The New York State Fair is held here annually ten days before Labor Day.

Obviously, most gay visitors to New York are going to head for Gotham first...but don't discount upstate too! Much less crowded than the "Big Apple," many find it friendlier also! The bars in these. parts close at 2:00 a.m...earlier than N.Y.C. or Buffalo. I personally find Rochester most interesting, but decide for yourself and don't overlook "The Boys from Syracuse."

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