For Judge Sara Hunter

JUNE 1981-HIGH GEAR Page 3

First fundraiser of local gay Dems

By Jay Stuart Judge Sara R. Hunter, judge of the Municipal Court of Cleveland Heights, joined gay Democrats at the Eleanor Roosevelt Demo-

cratic Club's fundraising cocktail party in April. The party, the Democratic Club's first fundraising event, was held in the Cleveland Heights home of David Batz and Rick Berg.

Judge Hunter, who is running for re-election to her second term as judge, spoke on gay civi! rights. Very few laws exist which protect gay people from discrimination, according to the judge. Presently it is illegal for anyone to discriminate against another person on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, age,

or sex.

Precedent-setting legal opinion has found that the prohibition against discrimination based on sex does not make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, Judge Hunter explained. Exceptions are those local areas which have enacted laws protecting gays from discrimination. Such protection, however, applies only to those local areas.

Gays are protected from discrimination in municipal hiring in Cleveland Heights, Judge Hunter said. This protection is .the result of an executive order issued by a former Cleveland Heights city manager..

Besides Cleveland Heights,

Columbus is the only other Ohio city which legally protects gays from some forms of discrimination.

Judge Hunter also warned of the threat to civil liberties inher-

ent in the Family Protection Act, now pending in the U.S. Congress. If enacted, this legislation would prohibit gays from enjoying the benefits of many federal programs and would cut off all

federal aid to any organization which advocates a gay life style as a legitimate alternative to heterosexuality.

This act, introduced by congressmen loyal to leaders of the "moral majority," would also cut off federal aid to feminist organizations.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, a group of Cleveland area gay Democrats, endorsed Judge Hunter for re-election in February.

It was the first endorsement issued by the club. ERDC has pledged $400 to Hunter's campaign. Over $150 was raised through the cocktail party.

"Judge Hunter has been an outstanding protector of civil liberties for many years," said Rick Berg, president of ERDC. "That makes it very appropriate that she should receive the club's first endorsement."

When introducing the judge, Berg commented, "The presence of Judge Sara Hunter at this gathering is evidence of how far we (gays) have come...A very short time ago, a candidate for public office in this area would have considered gay support to be the kiss of death."

Judge Hunter commented that she was "proud and pleased" to be the recipient of gay support.

The Eleanor Roosevelt Demo-

cratic Club was founded in the wake of the 1980 elections to provide a channel for gay participation in the Democratic Party in greater Cleveland.

The club meets the last Wednesday night of each month at 8 o'clock. Anyone interested in attending a meeting or in joining ERDC may telephone David Batz or Rick Berg at 229-7529 or

421-2122.

The club plans to endorse candidates, open a dialogue with elected officials, register gays to vote, and encourage gays to run for public office.

A second fundraising event is planned for late summer.

"We are looking at the possibility of hosting a fifties sock hop for our next fundraiser," said Berg. "Details on that will be available very soon."

Local gay participation in massive march

By David George

On May 3, 1981, over 100,000 people, the largest demonstration since the 1960's anti-war movement, marched on the Pentagon to protest President Rea-

Don't disappoint us

By Ray Chesnick, Jr.

(excluding alcohol, tobacco, and sales taxes) made with a coupon during our assigned days will be donated to the GEAR Foundation; 4) Fifty percent of the total donated by Fazio's will be matched by an anonymous individual.

The GEAR Foundation has received a check for $114.96 as proceeds from the first Fazio's Benefit Days held February 16 19. This amount accounts for $2299.20 in sales purchased with Benefit Days coupons. We are asking everyone gayThese figures are very disap-/lesbian and gay-/lesbianpointing. Of 2000 coupons dissupportive, to shop at Fazio's tributed, only 55 (approximately during our next set of Benefit 3%) were used.

Hopefully, the following facts will help the turnout for our next Benefit Days:

1) Fazio's is only aware that GEAR is a charitable, non-profit, and tax-exempt organization;

2) No one will know that you are gay/lesbian or gay-/lesbian supportive by using a coupon;

3) Five percent of all purchases

Days.

Your purchases will go for maintaining the many services and facilities offered through the GEAR Foundation.

Our next set of days is scheduled for Monday through Thursday, June 22-25. Coupons are available through the GEAR Foundation, 621-6546. Please, help us to help you.

Local judge to Zeh defense: Ohio has jurisdiction

CINCINNATI The First Amendment Defense Fund has stepped up its efforts to raise money for gay radio producer John Zeh after & Hamilton County (OH) judge refused to dismiss felony indictments against Zeh and public station

WAIF FM.

Judge Peter Outcalt ruled May 15 that the State does have jurisdiction despite Federal Communications Commission licensing of both Zeh and WAIF. Attorneys Allen Brown and James Feldman Jr. argued that the FCC should have jurisdiction since WAIF broadcasts to several counties and three states.

Assistant Prosecutor Leonard Kirschner acknowledged at the hearing that "to the best of our knowledge, this is a unique case, the first time in which the question is raised of whether or not state criminal statutes are preempted by the FCC."

Attorney Brown, appointed to represent WAIF by the local American, Civil Liberties Union ****chapter warned that local

prosecution for controversial content could bankrupt even the most powerful, richest commercial stations.

Programs dealing with human sexuality such as The Phil Donohue Show and those with sexual overtones such as Charlie's Angels and even the Miss America Pageant "would have to go off the air in Ohio," argued Feldman, who represents Zeh.

Brown accused the prosecutor of "demagoguery" using the cry of obscenity as "a growing encroachment on the independence of the citizenry and the judicial system."

Before the case goes to trial before a jury, Outcalt will hear other defense motions for dismissal on July 27.

and taped by four youngsters. Their father complained to Leis, who sought grand jury indict-

ments.)

Brown and Feldman will also argue that no crime was committed since an Ohio appeals court recently ruled that the material must be distribued directly to juveniles, not to the general public. They will also dispute the constitutionality of the law, a fourth degree felony.

The FAD Fund is accepting donations to pay legal costs and Feldman's fee. Zeh is seeking contributions directly to him to help pay personal expenses, since publicity surrounding the case has complicated his search for work. He was fired from an outside job and evicted after the case broke. He continues volunteer work at WAIF, Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition, Gay Community News. Donations to either the FAD Fund of Zeh may be sent to Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition, Box 19158, Cincinnati, OH 45219.01 no bil 6 Q8AX 01 Devre en noe

Defense attorneys will try to get the four counts combined into one, saying they are "stacked" for one alleged offense. (A broadcast of Zeh's Gaydreams containing a "Guide To Greasy Fingers" from First Hand, magazine was overheard

gan's economic and pro-war policies. More than 250 people from Cleveland boarded chartered buses or went by car to Washington to be a part of this march.

We marched for various reasons: to say NO to the billions of our tax dollars going to the Pentagon for war, to call for an end to racism and racist violence, and to stop the repression and attacks against Lesbians and Gays. We also demanded no draft.

Some of our signs and slogans said: "Defend Atlanta's children, not El Salvador's junta," "Money for jobs, not for war," and "No

not El Salvador's junta." "Money

intervention in southern Africa.

The march was sponsored by the People's Anti-War Mobilization (PAM). More than 120 cities set up PAM chapters and organ-

ized for the march, making it clear that this is a new movement that speaks for the many millions who are sick and tired of war, of economic hardships, or racism and all forms of bigotry.

Well over 700 organizations and prominent individuals cosponsored the national march.

Larry Holmes, PAM organizer and member of Workers World Party, co-chaired the rally in front of the Pentagon and exclaimed "This rally is unique... because we have speakers of the most oppressed... We have Black, Native American, Puerto Rican, Salvadorean, Palestinian and Lesbian speakers. This has never been done in the past and it will set a precedent for the future."

...:

(Continued on page six)

New York writers hold Zeh benefit

A group of writers read their prose and poetry at a benefit in St. Mark's Church, New York City, on May 1 for John Zeh, Cincinnati producer of “Gaydreams" a gay radio program. Zeh, who read a humorous guide to sexual Some of the sponsors included: lubricants on his January third Steve Ault, National Lesbian & program, has been charged with Gay Communication Network; "Disseminating Material ConsiDykes Against Racism Every-dered Harmful to Minors," which where (DARE); Gay Community is a fourth degree felony under News; Mississippi Gay Alliance; Ohio law. and a host of others. Members of DARE served on the steering committee.

It was a warm sunny day of 75 degrees. As the protesters marched, they shouted chants of "U.S. Out of El Salvador" and "Hell, no, we won't go," "Gay, Straight, Black and White, all people must unite," and "Reagan says 'cutback', we say 'fight

back.'

Speakers included Bella Abzug, former U.S. Congresswoman, Sister Geraldine Brake, Maryknolls of Central America, Dr. Michio Kaku, physicist and anti-nuke activist, and Arnolda Ramos, of the Democratic Revolutionary Front of El Salvador. Said Gwendolyn Weindling of DARE, "For the first time in the history of this country lesbians and gay people are here as a vis-. ible force. We have always been active in liberation struggles, in the civil rights movement, in

The benefit at St. Mark's was organized by Tim Dlugos, and the writers appearing were William Burroughs, author of "Naked Lunch" and the recently published "Cities of the Red Night"; Jane DeLynn; John Giorno; Michel Lally; Joan Lark; James McCourt; Eileen Myles and Donald Windham, author of "Two People" and "Tanaquil," who read his short short story, "The Hitchhiker."

Charges against Zeh were filed by James and Margaret Platt after their four children listened to and taped the program and then showed it to their parents.

There are four counts of the

felony against Zeh, one for each child, with the total maximum penalty twenty years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

The American Civil Liberties Union is involved in the case on

behalf of the radio station, WAIF.

The Gay Coalition of Greater Cincinati, P.O. Box 19158, Cintinnati, Ohio 45219, is collecting. money for a First Amendment Defense Fund for Zeh, who has lost his job and his apartment and is now released on his own recognizance Dee A mudjoe aver a'yeixonit zeesUD

every movement against oppression, in every progressive force, but this is the first time that we are really visible. And we're here to say no to racism, sexism, no to the war build-up, no to lesbian (ale neevana gay'oppression."