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Gay Life Pittsburgh #14 April 1978

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Summary

This April 1978 issue of Gay Life magazine for the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area (also covering parts of Ohio and West Virginia) includes articles on local and national news and events relevant to the gay community, classifieds, and advertisements for gay-friendly businesses.Key local news and events:

Jim Austin, a gay publisher, took over as manager of the Home Circle Club in Pittsburgh, effective April 1, 1978. The club was scheduled for immediate changes and a “New Management Party” on April 1.
Anita Bryant was scheduled to speak at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh on May 22, as part of a charismatic conference. Gay Supporters at Pitt (GSP) were organizing a demonstration in protest of her anti-homosexuality stance.
The second annual Ms. Pittsburgh Pageant was scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at the Home Circle Club.
The first Golden Triangle Picnic of 1978 was planned for Memorial Day, May 29, at the North Park Lodge.
Dignity/Pittsburgh, a community of gay Catholics and friends, was presenting a special liturgy and social hour called “The Dreamer” on April 23 at 1000 Tropical Ave. in Beechview.
Gay Life magazine itself was for sale, as the current publishers were planning to relocate. Interested parties could contact Jim Austin.
The GAP Group Assurance Plan was holding a blood drive from April 10 to April 21, allowing gay individuals to provide blood for themselves and their families confidentially.
Persad Center, a counseling and information center for sexual minorities, was experiencing a poor first quarter due to bad winter weather and was seeking donations.

National briefs include:

Two gay Boy Scouts in Mankato, Minnesota, were denied renewed membership because of their sexual orientation, a decision upheld by the Boy Scouts of America.
Coors Industries announced that they had added “sexual orientation” to their anti-discrimination clause in personnel policies and changed their pre-employment polygraph examination format amidst a strike and boycott.
A California judge returned custody of a 4-year-old boy to his lesbian mother in a publicized custody case, ruling that the mother’s sexual preference was irrelevant to her fitness as a parent.
Seattle city clerk Wayne Angevine publicly came out as gay in connection with his official handling of an anti-gay rights petition.
Florida oranges were reportedly dyed with Citrus Red 2, a carcinogen, providing another reason to boycott Florida citrus products.

Advertisements in the issue included various gay bars and clubs in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, bathhouses, adult bookstores, and services such as legal counsel, mental health counseling, and an escort agency.

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NextGay Life Pittsburgh #15 May 1978Next

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