Page 2 HIGH GEAR-APRIL 1981

NEWS

Cincinnati chilled

by Zeh indictment

By Michael Glover Reprinted with permission from GAY COMMUNITY NEWS, 22 Bromfield Street, Boston, MA 02108.

CINCINNATI--People here are fighting to offset the chilling effects of the indictment of John Zeh, broadcaster of a lesbian/gay radio program, charged with what the local prosecutor labels the "obscene" act of reading a humorous guide to sexual lubricants on his January 3 show.

Zeh is charged with disseminating obscene matter to juveniles, a felony under Ohio law. The penalties? Up to 20 years and a $10,000 fine--five years for each of the four children who supposedly listened to Zeh laugh about how hard it is to get the banana smell out of your bed if you forget to use a rubber sheet.

As dangerous as the facts in this particular case appear to be, potentially the most damaging effect of the indictment of the producer of "Gaydreams" is the resulting "voluntary" selfcensorship. The case is already affecting broadcasters' willingness to test the chilly waters of the boundary of what is permissible.

Even the most clearly focused broadcaster now has to include

in the baggage of deciding how queer she or he is to be the heavy addition of the possibility of an obscenity charge.

What does that do to limit the range of our actions, and our thinking itself?

Even John Zeh, strongly

responding to the charges in the courts and in the straight and lesbian/gay media, supported by clearly aroused local lesbian, gay, and civil libertarian groups, admits that the indictment has changed what he's willing to try

on his show.

"I would have ordinarily called this new year 'The Year of the Cock' on my show," says Zeh, "but now I have to be extra careful." (This Chinese new year is "The Year of the Rooster.").

that many people in Cincinnati are warming up for a fight. The Gay Coalition of Greater Cincinnati organized a rally "in defense of the first amendment" in Fountain Square February 22. More than 200 people showed up--a large crowd for conservative, closeted Cincinnati.

"A lot of traditionally nonpolitical people have become upset over this issue and are speaking up a little bit," says a student at the University of Cincinnati, "and speaking up a little bit in Cincinnati is a lot."

is gone from the newstands in the county.

Zeh says the Club Baths built a bathhouse here, but it never opened. And the assistant prosecutor, James Applegate, cut his teeth as the prosecutor in the Matlovich case. Applegate is now working on Zeh's case.

"Simon Leis is well-known for his anti-gay, anti-lesbian, homophobic feeling," says Jim Feldman, Zeh's attorney. "The man is very uptight over anything to do with sex." Leis knows how to appeal to emotional issues, and uses the power of his office. He's very popular here.

Margie Robertson of the American Civil Liberties Union told the crowd the indictments were "a terrorist attack on the media by an agency of the state which would control what we would hear." She said the prosecutor is saying the people of Hamilton County are incompetent in judging what they will or will not hear. It's not the first time Simon L. Leis. Jr, the prosecutor, has tried to bust a journalist for obscenity. He arrested Larry Flint, publisher of Hustler magazine, and Hustler up.

Given the conservative political climate, and the hard-tobelieve story of the four children accidently stumbling across the show, taping it, and then running to their mother and telling her, according to the Cincinnati Post, "Listen, there's something on the radio we shouldn't be hearing," Zeh can't eliminate the possibility that the whole thing was set

FCC says "no" to

anti-gay TV evangelist

The Federal Communications Commission by unanimous vote of participating Commissioners on February 25, 1981, has found an appeal by the James Robison Evangelical Association to be without merit.

The FCC staff had upheld the right of Dallas station WFAA-TV to cancel the James Robison Evangelical Hour following an anti-gay broadcast.

mission. Consequently, the National Gay Task Force and the Dallas Gay Political Caucus joined to oppose the Robison complaint. The Media Access Project, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C., served as attorney for NGTF and DGPC.

"This action by the FCC is an affirmation of the principle of! fairness and equity for all embodied in the Personal Attack Rule and Fairness Doctrine," commented NGTF Co-Directors Charles F. Brydon and Lucia Valeska. "To the extent that elec-

On February 25, 1979, James Robison, a television minister based in Dallas, Texas, preached a sermon on morality of which a substantial portion dealt with a one-sided view of homosexual-tronic preachers hold anti-gay ity. The following day, WFAA-TV terminated the series (since reinstated) stating that it believed that religious programs should not deal with controversial issues of public importance.

WFAA's action was based on the Fairness Doctrine and Personal Attack Rule and was taken following a Personal Attack complaint by the Dallas Gay Political Caucus. James Robison with the FCC's Complaints and filed a complaint against WFAA Compliance Division which ruled in February 1980 that no action was warranted.

WFAA-TV declined to defend its action before the full Com-

views, they are on notice that use of the public airwaves to spread their biased point of view will not go unchallenged. We call on station managements to be specially vigilant for one-sided presentations of the gay issue in religious programming. Gay rights and related subjects are controversial issues of public importance. Station managers have a duty to apply the Fairness organizations an opportunity to Doctrine by offering local gay respond. NGTF will assist local gay organizations that experience difficulty with a broadcast licensee," concluded Brydon and Valeska.

Black and White Men Together

By R.D.

social events and to discuss matters of interest to black and white men.

Black and White Men Together (BWMT) is an interracial support group with an active Cleveland chapter. Since November of 1980 the local chapter has grown to include about 50 members. It meets on the first and third Wed-ity nesdays of each month to plan

What has happened

Reprinted from the March 1981 Issue THE YELLOW PAGE, Newsletter of the Greater Cincinnati Gay Community.

One thing for sure-the news is OUT! We are in the midst of a ⚫ first amendment test here in Cincinnati. The radios, TV's and daily papers are spreading the news in case you have been out of town or just recovered from a

coma here in a nutshell is what

has happened:

1-On January 3, 1981, John Zeh of Gay-dreams (Gay radio program) read a humorous article on

sexual lubricants over the air. The actual air time was about 5 minutes.

2 On January 8th, John Zeh is suspended by Tom Knox, WAIF (FM-88.3) station coordinator, being under pressure from the Hamilton County Prosecutor's office.

questions. WAIF Officials who are called to testify take the 5th Amendment and say nothing. 4The Grand Jury (Hamilton County) hands down an indictment against John Zeh and the radio station. 5-There are four counts of "Disseminating Material Considered Harmful to Minors" which is a fourth degree felony.

6 John Zeh goes for arraign-

ment held in Judge Cartelano's court. John Zeh enters no plea on the basis that the charges are not criminal under the law and is released on his own recognizance.

Where we are now

The Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition (GCGC) votes full support for John Zeh and "Gaydreams" and commits time, effort and resources to this issue. A rally in support of Zeh, WAIF and 3-Then follows a process where the first amendment was held on John Zeh goes to the Prosecu-Sunday, February 22, at Foun "The chilling effect of the case tor's office and under advice tain Square. It was announced his attorney: answers no that a Defense Pune has been

is subtle. More obvious is the fact

set up to "cover the costs incurred." These costs would include legal fees, court costs, supportive materials, and costs in organizing the support. Various sources of estimates suggest that if all goes well and without complications the case could cost up to $15,000!

Currently we have to wait & see "what judge will hear the case then we'll know more about just where we stand" stated John Zeh, "its time to raise money and solicit support-especially organ-

izing the defense fund."

If you have something to offer or donate please call the Gay Community Switchboard at 2410001 Sunday through Friday evenings. Donations may be sent directly to:

Goals set for 1981 include:

making the Cleveland gay community more aware of BWMT's existence, promoting commun-

service that would benefit the gay community, particularly the GEAR Foundation, and increasing the number of social functions where black and white men can be together.

During the past several months, at least one social event has been scheduled every ten days, including two roller skating parties, a private party for members, and three film society gatherings.

BWMT is now planning a number of other activities. Several Cleveland members plan to attend the national BWMT Convention to be held in San Francisco over the second weekend in June. Two local members were in San Francisco between Februry 24th and March 3rd helping with preparations for the

national convention.

BWMT Talent Show A BWMT Talent Show is now

being planned, proceeds from which will be donated to the GEAR Foundation. This talent show may very well turn out to be one of this year's biggest events for the Cleveland gay community. Those interested in joining BWMT or who would just like to hear at 621-3380 or

First Amendment Defense Fund c/o Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition PO Box 19158 gay can call the Cincinnati, Ohio 4521 James at 662-8303 after 6pm.

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