Page 6 HIGH GEAR AUGUST 1981

Toronto police bashing gays

(Continued from page three) McMurtry, who authorized the investigations leading to the raids. The demonstration was then brought to a close.

According to a Body Politic emergency news supplement accompanying the July/August issue, trouble did not begin until

to

ignityleveland

after the protest had ended. A group of queerbashers, no longer held in check by the police, chased some of the dispersing protestors with chunks of wood. The police were nowhere to be seen until the protesters fought off their attackers, at which point the police moved

Provides spiritual, educational, and social programs for Catholic and non-Catholic gay men lesbians & their friends. For more information: PO. Box 18479,Cleveland O.H.(216) 791-0942 & 321-9456

Gas Lite Inn

638 West Main Street Springfield, Ohio

OPEN DAILY-EXCEPT SUNDAY 7:00-2:30

in to rescue the queerbashers. Angry at the lack of police protection for gay marchers, some of the protesters started to rock and bang on a parked police car. The police reacted by shoving and clubbing people and a major scuffle erupted.

The TBP supplement reports, "The police continued to advance as they knocked people to the ground, piling fresh victims on top of the already fallen. A woman apparently had her leg broken. Others were pinned against the car and beaten. MCC pastor Brent Hawkes, going to the rescue of an older man who was being kicked as he lay on the pavement, was seized and held by two cops as a third punched him. Another victim was pinned

down by three police officers while a fourth attacked her crotch with his billyclub. Later she kicked the police supervisor in the shoulder, dislocating it.

attacked the demonstration were arrested.

"Each demonstration becomes more militant," commented Chris Bearchell in a telephone interview. "The first one (on Feb. 6) was a spontaneous reaction of blind rage and fear. This time there was no fear but just determined and controlled anger.

gays and lesbians to get together socially. Canadian police, she said, have realized this, at least subconsciously, in their frontal attack on baths not only in Toronto but in Edmonton. On May 30 Edmonton police burst into the Pisces Spa with video cameras, filming everyone as they kicked holes in doors and walls. 56 men were arrested as found-ins and four as keepers of a bawdy-house.

According to Bearchell, police have totally ignored the pressure that has come not only from local and international gay organiza'The way the police are using tions but also from many nonthe bawdy-house laws is that any gay groups and individuals, who gay sexual act qualifies as an act all spoke out against the Februof indecency," remarked Bearary raids and the police harass-chell. "Whether a minor is ment of the gay community. involved... whether both parties "Some things remain to be were consenting... whether any done, such as mobilizing the money changed hands... police straight community and continuaren't bothering with any of these ing our lobbying for changes in things.

"Who goes to the baths? Men who can't bring someone home because they live with their families, or men who are into sex for its own sake. In that way the baths are an institution of gay subculture, and if police can intimidate this extreme sector of the gay community, it's bound to street patrol for the downtown have a detrimental effect on the area, out of lack of confidence whole community. That's what that the police will protect us. the police are aiming for. Some Violence against gays on the gays have responded in fear, by street has gotten really bad," said staying away from the baths. But

the Criminal Code and for the addition of sexual orientation to the Human Rights Code. And there is the tactic of laying charges against the police for their brutality in demonstrations. Several people were mowed Otherwise there is not much we down by a police car that accelcan do, legally. The Right to Prierated into a small crowd of pro-vacy Committee has formed a testers. As people moved onto the sidewalks they shouted insults at the police and threw things at them. During these scuffles, the police arrested six people, who were charged with assaulting or obstructing the police. At least three other protesters were hospitalized. None of the queerbashers who

Bearchell.

Bearchell commented that bars and baths are the bottom line of gay culture, in that they provide a relatively safe place for

others have reacted in defiance, and I don't think there's been any big decline in business at the baths," she commented.

filed from Boston

CLEVELAND'S OWN

SUMNER TRUCKING CO.

STC

14.

T

הד

EVERY MONDAY

R & R FOR ALL CLEVELAND AREA BARTENDERS AND BAR EMPLOYEES

EVERY THURSDAY

2-4-1

SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY

SUPER SUPPERS $1.50/WITH BEVERAGE PURCHASE

WE'RE BUILDING A REPUTATION-NOT RESTING ON ONE!

Open 7 nights from 4 PM

1012 Sumner Court

admeteg yasm of exoge aan ede

Cleveland Gay Bridge club meets every Wednesday-come for dinner-stay for the tricks