OCTOBER 1975

HIGH GEAR

GAYS ON CAMPUS

By MATT PHILLIPS

The spotlight for gay activism. and civil liberties is usually directed toward the east coast and the west coast, but there is much happening right here in Ohio. The focal points for these actions are the gay campus organizations at colleges and universities throughout Ohio. With a combination of students, faculty members, and towns' people, they are making significant strides for our gay rights and making important contributions to a new awareness and lifestyle.

gay

Since its formation on December 11, 1971, the Kent Gay Liberation Front, in the words of co-chairperson Wendy Gaylord, tries to "eliminate itself, not just KGLF, but the whole gay movement so that we won't be needed any more."

Although it seems like a strange goal for an organization, there are definite signs that they are succeeding. It has become increasingly difficult for

students to ignore the gay rights issue.

This fall for example, all incoming KSU freshmen received a flyer in their orientation packet which read, "KGLF is Kent Gay Liberation Front organization devoted to changing the way society views gay people.

...

an

"Our goals are to free gay people of the guilt imposed upon them by a bigoted society to provide a healthy at-

mosphere in which gay men and woman can meet and to create a society in which gay lifestyles will be as acceptable as heterosexual lifestyles.".

The speaker's bureau of KGLF is largely responsible for these changing attitudes around Kent. The bureau is KGLF's "biggest asset" for making straights aware of gays. Faculty advisor Dr. Delores Noll estimates the speaker's bureau is responsible for over 100 speeches а year, ranging from two to eight a week during the school year.

These talks are given to college and high school classes, religious groups, services groups, fraternities, sororities, TV and radio stations, and other gay groups. In addition, there have been "tons of class and dorm raps" with students, residence hall counselors, and university personnel. "If KGLF weren't here," says COchairperson Bill Hoover, "I don't think the attitude of the university would be as open as it is. (The KSU attitude) is generally pretty positive."

Although the administration did not accept KGLF with open arms, the KGLF had to threaten to picket to get a phone, the organization is now a fully recognized campus organization with an office in the Student Center, The Student Senate, from the start was unanimously in support of KGLF and denounced the administration for its hesitancy.

Action for civil liberties, both at Kent and in the surrounding

northern Ohio communities, has

been another main focus of the Kent group since its inception. As Bill Hoover puts it, KGLF is "working for the social and emotional rights of gay people."

Their first demonstration was directed toward the women's physical education department because a member of that department refused to recommend a student whom she suspected of being gay. Other actions against area businessess resulted in gays being renired and nondiscriminatory hiring policies.

More recently KGLF has lent support to the Larraine Townend Defense Fund, both financially and by offering a forum to discuss the topic. Currently, Bill Hoover, and two others are taking on the Akron police department by protesting their arrest for J-Walking in front of Mother's (Akron bar). They were taken in a paddy-wagon, fingerprinted, detained and not allowed to make a phone call, and had bond set at $1100. The next court appearance is scheduled for November 5.

In addition to their activism, KGLF offers many services to the gay community. At their general meetings on Tuesday nights (8 P.M. in the Student Center) there are special progarms and discussions on gay related topics attended by up to 150 people. On Fridays at 8 in the Student Center the women's rap session and the men's rap session are held. Throughout the year KGLF holds workshops, dances and other social functions. (The next

dance is a Halloween dance on Tuesday, October 28.)

In brief, as advisor Dr. Delores Noll says, "We provide an active, positive group that gay men and women can come to." KGLF is open to all interested people, not just university students and not just people who are out of the closet. Wendy Gaylord adds that there are many active peole behind the scenes who can not yet leave their closets and "we don't force people to come out."

With their combination of people in and out of closets, UGLF hes managed to make great strides toward gay liberation in Northern Ohio.

Farther to the south is another long active (since 1969) gay rights group, the Gay Activist Alliance at the Ohio State University. Through the years the image of GAA-OSU has changed from one of radical militancy to a more moderate stand. "We've learned to use the system to counteract the system," says GAA treasurer Bob Smith, during a phone interview with High Gear.

Through the work of GAA, Columbus has become one of the "seven most liberal cities in the country." Equal rights legislation has been in effect for everything except employment since January 1, 1974. Advisor John Quigley, Professor of Law at OSU, is a leading force in GAA's fight for civil liberties. Presently, he and GAA are in the negotiation stage with a new Columbus disco bar, the Dixie Electric Company, about an incident where four "thugs" came up to four gay men and asked them to leave. The organization has also fought for the revisions of the Ohio State Code and the Columbus City Code. Currently, they are fighting the solicitations laws, charging that it is unconstitutional because it prohibits freedom of speech and has different standards for men and women. (Until the law is changed, when in doubt, they suggest using a phrase like, "Would you be offended if I asked to have sex with you?")

Like other gay campus organizations a large effort goes toward educating people about their group and about gays in general. On Tuesday, September 25, WTVN-TV (Ch 6 in Columbus) devoted a half-hour talk show, "Let's Deal With It," to homosexuality. According to Smith there was quite a response, "most of it very positive!" Members of their speaker's bureau have spoken throughout central Ohio.

As a fully recognized campus organization, they receive operational money from the university through student government.

On campus, GAA operates as a student service organization from its office in the student

Page 7

union. (614-422-9212). In addition to the speaker's bureau, they operate as an information dispersal center and a 24-hour counseling service. (Just recently they have started a gay consciousness raising workshop led by a trained psychologist, with the possibility of starting another group if interest warrants it.)

At the weekly Wednesday night meetings in the student union, they discuss problems within the community. Possible future meetings may include discussions with Columbus Mayor, James Moody, who has issued both positive and negative statements about gays. At first he courted the gay vote, but later he ignored gays and refused to sign the equal rights bill because of the "poison" in the bill (referring to equal em-. ployment rights for gays). City Service Director, Bernie Chupka who is in charge of police and fire departments has also been asked to attend the meeting.

Back north again, there are several recently formed groups at Oberlin, Wooster and Youngstown State.

OBERLIN COLLEGE OBERLIN GAY UNION

At Oberlin College, the Oberlin Gay Union has as its main focus providing an opportunity for gays to get together and talk, counseling training and various social events. Meetings are held at the Gay Union office in the Student Union (775-8131) at 10 p.m. every Thursday. During October plans include a gay wedding (guerrilla theater style) on the village square, a discussion with Carla Jay, editor of Out of the Closets, Into the Streets, and a dance before October 24. In addition to these events they have started a course in the Experimental College called "Homosexuality: A Contemporary Perspective."

WOOSTER COLLEGE WOOSTER GAY CAUCUS

This year in Wooster, the Wooster Gay Caucus is building an atmosphere on campus where alternate lifestyles are accepted. The Caucus meets Mondays at 8 in the Lowry Center and is open to both students and non-students with weekly programs attacking stereotypes and leading to an understanding by gays and straights.

Reaction from the school community has been mixed in the past. Since the caucus is recognized by the university, it is supported by student government funds. The administration attitude, however, is one of "benign neglect," according to one observer. The only negative reaction was a practical joke last year when posters appeared around campus advertising a

Bist du gleichgeschlechtlich ?