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Pittsburgh’s Out #44 November 1980

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Summary

This issue of Out magazine, from November 1980, features Chris Bazzoli, the first Mr. Pittsburgh, on its cover and in an interview. Bazzoli, a 23-year-old Navy veteran and father of two, discusses his life, his recent move to Pittsburgh, and the unexpected experience of winning the Mr. Pittsburgh title. He expresses pride in being gay and a desire to stand up for what he believes is right.The magazine also includes a special report on the Northside area of Pittsburgh, focusing on its rehabilitation, re-gentrification, and the role of the gay community in its revitalization. It notes that while the majority of homeowners are straight, gays have made a substantial investment in the area’s restoration, particularly in the Mexican War Streets.Other notable articles and news items include:

Charity Drive: The Norreh Social Club, in cooperation with MCC and Dignity, is entering its fifth year of a Christmas charity drive to assist the less fortunate, visiting homes for the elderly and providing gifts.
Gay World Series: The Los Angeles team, Griff’s, won the Gay World Series IV softball championship in September 1980.
Political Action Fund: The Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF), a national political action committee, has been established to support federal candidates committed to equal justice and civil rights for lesbians and gay men, in response to the mobilization of the New Christian Right.
Hepatitis B Vaccine: Tests for a new Hepatitis B vaccine show promising results, with Merck, Sharpe and Dohme planning to submit results to the FDA by mid-1981. Gay men were chosen for the study due to their higher risk of developing the disease.
KDKA Editorial: Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV aired an editorial on October 14, 1980, addressing unprovoked violent crime against homosexuals in downtown Pittsburgh and calling for increased public awareness and police action.
Anti-Gay Legislation: News reports cover the state’s new anti-obscenity law, the defeat of a state bill to ban poppers, the Senate dropping anti-gay language from a legal services money bill, and a lawsuit filed by the National Gay Task Force against an Oklahoma law prohibiting the employment of homosexuals in schools.
Gay Rights Progress: The Screen Actors Guild added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination clause, Philadelphia renewed its discrimination plan to include sexual orientation, and the first Congressional hearings on a lesbian/gay civil rights bill took place in San Francisco.
Community Events: Pride Week ’81 planning is underway, and a statewide Pennsylvania Lesbian/Gay Support Network conference drew nearly 200 participants.

The editorial section, “Outspoken,” discusses the importance of gay voters considering specific gay issues in elections and criticizes irresponsible behavior by some gays in public areas. A “Reader’s Turn” letter laments the destruction of the Castaways Inn, a gay bar in Cresson, PA, by fire.

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