JUNE 1981 HIGH GEAR Page 17
Dignity national and local: gay Catholic identity
By Gordon Hathaway Dignity is an organization which helps the Roman Catholic Church to meet the needs of gay Catholics, many of whom feel that their need for fellowship, good counseling, and sacramental participation in the Body of Christ, His Church, have not been adequately served.
The-organization, however, is not an alternative to traditional Catholic thinking nor contrary to
it.
Dignity was started in 1968 in San Diego by an Augustinian priest who was concerned with the difficulties gay/lesbian Catholics experience in integrating their sexual preference with their religious tradition. The membership of Dignity consists of Catholic gay men and lesbians and other concerned persons, gay and straight, clergy and laity, who seek a more constructive inter-relation between the Church and men and women who are gay.
Dignity's Statement of Position and Purpose says that Catholics who are gay are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the people of God, and that it is their right, their privilege, and their duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, and become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
Members of Dignity believe that gay people can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teachings and that this sexuality can be exercised in ways which are ethically responsible and unselfish.
Members of Dignity believe that to promote the cause of gay men and lesbian women, members must accept their responsibility to the church, to society, and to the individual Catholic.
There are four areas of concern within the organization, these being: spiritual development, education, social involvement, and social events.
Since its inception in 1968, the organization has grown dramatically with between 90 and 100 chapters now in existence nationwide, and affiliated organizations throughout the world.
Subscriptions now cost less
By Jay Stuart
Effective with all subscriptions received after June 1, 1981, the price of a year's supply of HIGH GEAR mailed to your home/business/PO Box has been halved to $5.00.
Due to new economics and a desire to better serve our readership this move was taken at a May staff meeting. Paper staff felt that getting the eleven copies out to the readers in their homes was important-and a good value, too. Get a lasting gift for your lovergift subscriptions available. The way you want to be rememberedfor giving something s/he wanted to receive.
The new, bolder, more usefu HIGH GEAR. The one to have on your coffee table. No gay home is complete without this,
Dignity/Cleveland was organized in 1973 and in May celebrated its eighth anniversary.
Members and friends of the local chapter will hold their anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 13 at St. Philomena's Church in East Cleveland.
The office of Dignity/International is located in Washington, D.C. Executive officers consist of a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. To facilitate better communications between the International office and local chapters, a "regional" system was established.
The United States chapters comprise ten regions with the eleventh region comprising all Canadian provinces.
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky comprise Region V in which there are twelve chapters.
Detroit is the largest Regional chapter with just over one hundred members.
The Cleveland chapter is currently second in size with forty-
nine members.
On the Regional level, officers
CEAR
SIZE
consist of a Regional Director, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Regional House of Delegates meets quarterly, with each meeting being hosted by a different chapter. In addition to conducting business, the host city always provides delegates with fantastic social events.
Delegates of Region V also get to experience gay life in chapter cities from Grand Rapids to Cincinnati; Indianapolis to Cleveland. Region V takes pride in the fact that their Treasurer was recently elected as national Treasurer to fill the vacancy of the previous Treasurer who recently resigned.
Dignity/Cleveland meets in regular session on the Second and Fourth Thursdays of each month at Hallinan Center on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
Each business meeting is preceded by a liturgy with a program following the meeting. Programs may be of a social, religious, or educational nature.
Recent programs have includ-
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Three month or six month 'advertising contracts are available by writing to HIGH GEAR, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101 c/o Advertising Manager.
Such contracts must be signed at the time of purchase of the first advertisement and agreement made to purchase three or six consecutive advertisements thereafter. Payment must accompany the first advertisement placed and subsequent advertisements will be billed to those qualifying for credit. Credit may be established after paying the full amount of a three or six month contract at the time of purchase.
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One time advertisers must submit full payment. If payment is not received by the closing date of an issue, advertisements will not be run. HIGH GEAR reserves the right to approve credit in all cases.
Billing is made on day of publication. Invoices are payable on receipt. It is understood that the publisher has the right to seek payment from the advertiser in the event of nonpayment within thirty days by the advertiser's agency or representative.
ed lawyers, health officials, travelogues, games nights, discussions, and even a Roast to Anita Bryant on the occasion of her 40th birthday.
In addition to masses. ¡iturgies,
and business meetings, Dignity/Cleveland has an active social calendar. The chapter holds anniversary and Christmas parties, as well as winter and summer picnics. Members have also enjoyed outings to Cedar Point and local theatres.
The five member board of directors is a dedicated group of
individuals who work hard to provide the membership with spiritual guidance, educational opportunities, and social activities.
An invitation is extended to
join them at any of their meetings, pot lucks, or other social events.
Pot lucks are held on the third Saturday of each month at St. Philomena's Church in East Cleveland, beginning at 7:30 p.m. If anyone wishes further information on the organization, please call 321-9456 or 791-0942.
The Friday Nite Rap Group
Invites you all to the Come Together Celebration Picnic at Edgewater Park June 21, 2:00-?
AGENCY COMMISSIONS
A commission of fifteen percent (15%) will be allowed on space charges to recognized agencies. No agency commission or discount allowed on production charges. No agency commission on billings not paid within thirty days.
EDITORIAL POLICIES
HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment and through any organization that will permit distribution. It is a non-profit, federally tax-exempt publication with a circulation of 12,000 copies primarily throughout the State of Ohio.
HIGH GEAR welcomes all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography by members of the gay community. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editorialization. The return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, cannot be guaranteed unless they are accompanied by a stamped selfaddressed envelope.
All HIGH GEAR staff are volunteers. Anyone interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR should inquire by calling (216) 621-3380 or by writing to HIGH GEAR, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.
Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by writing to the above address.
The deadline for HIGH GEAR publication is the 15th of the month for advertising and written material. News items accepted until the date of publication.
HIGH GEAR will not publish material deemed to be of a racist, sexist or pornographic nature. HIGH GEAR reserves the right to alter and/or edit materials to conform to the above standards in the cases of display advertising, after notifying the advertiser.
PUBLICATION RIGHTS
The presence of the name or picture or other representation of an organization, place of business or person(s) in HIGH GEAR is not necessarily indicative of the sexual orientation of such organizations, businesses or persons.
All copy, text display, photos and illustrations in advertising are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consents for the use of names, pictures or testimonials of any living persons, and HIGH GEAR may lawfully publish and cause such publication to be made. The advertiser automatically agrees by submitting said advertisement to indemnity, and save blameless the publisher and the publishers' assigns from any and all liability, loss and expense of any nature out of such publication. Model releases must be submitted with advertising materials requiring releases or those advertisements will not be run.
HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Reproduction is granted to all other gay publications so long as credit is given to HIGH GEAR. ALL HIGH GEAR work is original unless otherwise noted.