Boy 1943

INUTES OF THE OGRC MEETING

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 1977, COLU IBUS, OHIO

Forty persons representing Cleveland, Columbus, Athens, Oberlin and Kent attended the fifth OGRC meeting at the OSU Drake Union in Columbus. The treasurer reported that we collected $185.00 for Dade County at our lay 15 Rally at the Capitol. Presently our balance is $139.14 with no outstanding bills.

The meeting opened with a discussion concerning the events in Dade County, Florida, as they relate to OGRC's strategy for obtaining Gay civil rights legislation in Ohio. It was agreed that we need to respond to Anita Bryant's attacks on Gays by increasing our public education efforts until the legislative climate is less influenced by Anita's harangues.

At the last meeting several cities assumed responsibility for beginning various projects. They reported as follows:

Columbus: As a first stop in drafting an Ohio Gay civil rights bill, Columbus reviewed existing Ohio civil rights legislation using Connecticut's bill as an example. le now know where to ammend current legislation by inserting the words "sexual orientation" or "sexual and affectional proference" and "lifestyle" in the appropriate places. It was suggested that we send copies of the final bill with support statements to our opposition when we begin taking it to the legislature.

Cleveland: There has been no progress on the educational pamphlet that Cleveland chose to work on due to their recent involvement with IWY and their planning for the upcoming Gay Pride March on June 25. After this rally they will begin work on drafting the pamphlet for critique at the next OGRC meeting. Cleveland also requested a statement of support for their rally from OGRC which was unanimously granted.

Oberlin: Due to technical and human difficulties the newsletter was not published and mailed before this meeting. It was suggested that wo publish a quarterly newsletter to compile information and ideas, and should announce meeting details through public media.

Based on these reports and on interest expressed by individuals during the session, we then met in small groups to discuss and take action on the following areas: 1) Communications network, 2) Public aducation, 3) Educational pamphlet and 4) Lesbian/feminist coalition strategy.

When we reconvened as an entire group, the following reports were given:

Communications network: OGRC contact persons have been established for the following counties: Athens, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Franklin, Gallia, Hamilton, lahoning, ledina, Portage, Summit, and Wood; underlined counties are currently being represented by contact persons in other counties see contact persons list and tentative contacts are being explored in these areas to establish more local contact persons. These contact people will organize a communications network of individuals and organizations in their counties in whatever ways they consider most effective, and will also compile media lists for their counties. Copies of the communications network will be sent to Columbus and then to Oberlin. To alleviate deadline demands for the newsletter the communications task group agreed that Oberlin will mail a brief mimeo newsletter within seven to ten days of each OGRC meeting, and publish a more polished newsletter quarterly, and also try to leaflet upcoming pertinent evonts. A request was made of the communications task group that OGRC letterhead stationery be designed and made available to mombors for OGRC correspondence. Oberlin will design the letterhead, revising the newsletter heading slightly and adding a side column of OGRC member organization.

Public education: The committee proposed actions to facillitate acquisition and shering of information. They plan to link up soeckers' burecus in the major cities, and to make an appeal in High Gear for factual information concerning Gay lifestyles. Before the next meeting they will draft a cover letter, including announcement of the speakers' bureaus, to accompany the proposed educational pamphlet and will also register with Chamber of Commerce speakers' bureau lists in each respective city. This committee will investigate purchasing display racks to distinctively display the educational pamphlet. Members of this committee also see a need to respond more immediately to events affecting Gays and to present a more consistently positive image of Gays to the public. Monthly articles of a positive, informative nature will be written and submitted to alternative publications and traditional midia to help meet these needs. A final action is to investigate the possibility of having an information booth at the State Fair in August. (See newsflash.)