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State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State The aM deline Davis Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, The iF fth rF eedom Transgender Archives of Western New York 8-1-1981 Fifth rF eedom, 1981-08-01 The aM ttachine Society of the Niagara Frontier Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/fifthfreedom Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons Recommended Citation The aM ttachine Society of the Niagara Frontier, "Fifth rF eedom, 1981-08-01" (1981). The Fifth Freedom. 81. http://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/fifthfreedom/81 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The aM deline Davis Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Archives of Western New York at Digital Commons at Buffalo tS ate. It has been accepted for inclusion in The iF fth rF eedom by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at Buffalo tS ate. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THEFIFTHFREEDOM A PUBLICATION FOR THE BUFFALO GAY COMMUNITY AUGUST 1981 FREE "The Freedom to love whomeverand however we want" A Gay Future For The Queen City? tion, Gays have located in significant (EDITOR'S NOTE:RodHenselis usually numbers in housing units on the West Side ourman who keeps tabs on the Media via and in the north Elmwood-Bidwell area Media Watch. Lately they have been very side streets. The process is taking place in quiet,knock on wood, so weasked him to the form of owner occupancy, and in the look at Buffalo's future and what he sees field of rental units, with Gays who own the Gayrole tobe in the planningalready multiple residency units often preferring to under way. We feel his insights should rent to other Gays. help usto look to the yearsahead as a time These rather significant contributions to to make ourpresence known.) Buffalo's development have remained al- most invisible, in the By ROD HENSEL party because of Gay community's low profile, but also because development has taken place on scattered Summer 1981. The planning for Buffa- lo's future in the 1980's, 1990's and sites. beyond is well underway. Homeowners groups Each day, the newspapers are filled with A planning consideration for the Gay community at point is an stories on how progress is going on each this how Visible impact Gays part of the plan. A new section of the sub- do wish to have in home reha- An way is inspected and marked completed. bilitation. association of Gay home- landlords could take im- Funding is secured for the downtown pe- owners and on an destrian walkways. complex portant function in helping home investors A new ofcon- locate choice homes neighborhoods dominiums is planned at the waterfront. in where Gays already Such housing The plans are unveiled for the Hyatt Hotel. exist. a The city fathers have designed a Buffalo assistance group could also help Gays (and York's Falls of the future. But where in that future does seeking rental units find landlords Gayguide beside another ofWestern New neighbors) who are also Gay. Beach combing can be fun even without Woodlawn. Buffalo's gay community fit in? It should surprise no one that Buffalo's It is possible that such an organization, on gay community has done no planning re- organized a neighborhood basis, could Western New York's help Gay homeowners obtain federal garding its role in the Buffalo of the future. as- Cays here have been largely unorganized sistance in home rehabilitation under exist- Tricky Areas CommunityDevelopment It Natural and to this date still do not have a cohesive ing programs. By JOE you see the Super Duper store on your goal or plan. But for once the Gays in Buf- is conceivable such a group of taxpayers right, you're just a few blocks (3 signals I falo are not alone, for other minorities in would also be able to obtain federal dollars think) leveraging bank money Into nature? Love the summer scenery? from you turn onto Route 62. It's a the city have also done little or nothing to for with to secure reduced interest rates on rehabilitation Do you go into heat at the thought of lying right turn followed immediately by a curve decide what theirrole is to be in the "new" naked with some humpy number on a flat to the left. This is locally called Pierce Aye. Buffalo. loans and second and first mortgages. working a specific rock beside a secluded rushing stream that and later becomes Gowanda State Rd. but Critics of the Griffin administration have An organization in looks like it just fell out of a post card? to the non-locals it is Routes 62 and 75. charged thatthe mayorand his Community neighborhood would undoubtedly en- counter public resistance (though to what Well, if this is for you, I'm about to tell you Follow this a brief way, go down the hill, Development department have, to a large stream degree cannot be determined at this point) where to find that and a lot more and cross the (18 Mile Creek) and hang a degree, neglected the problems of inner - as well resistance would you believe WITHIN TWELVE right just after the Water Valley Inn onto city development (in regards to neighbor- as from theGay commu- - nity itself. The of MILES OF ALLENTOWN! South Creek Rd. (This is the Ist or 2nd hoods) in favor of downtown question creating a "Gay a strategy. ghetto" has long been Let's start with the CAVE and the FALLS: street after crossing the stream.) Now, The administration responds that it has a controversial one. Yep! a deep dark cave with a flatfloor com- you're almost there. Just continue along made significant progress in the neighbor- While some argue that an almost totally plete with an inch or so of trepid H2O to South Creek Rd. until you reach a ford. hoods (particularly the East Side), but that Gay environment is the only one in which cool overheated bodies and a falls just a Now, to the left it says "Dead End" and to the task is a monumental one, and that they can be truly comfortable, others con- tend that living an all-Gay neighborhood few yards further. Now, this is no Niagara the right is a bridge. You want to park just more can be done to improve the overall in is an escape with look but don't touch attitude. This his side of the bridge but on the wrongside economy through downtown and industri- from reality. a Allentown falls is people size. You can sit in and slide of the road. The best thing to do is cross the al development. questions If Buffalo's are to in down it! One word ofcaution, though, the bridge - there's a cross street there just Still, based on the experience of other Gays claim a role fu- development, an important stream bed is slippery flat rocks and sneak- icross the bridge (Old Lake View Rd.) cities the the argument ture considera- across nation, can will be where. tradition, ers with good grips should be worn when /vhere you can turn around, recross the be made that a city's visible minorities can tion By the Gay has always been most visible in the water. Dridge and park. Trust mc, that little park- contribute greatly to plans for overall community in the Allentown only When was at this dream spot, had the ng spot is the only one you'll find and by development. It has been particularly area - yet two or I I three openly Gay businesses are lo- good fortune of being with the most excit- irking there you'll be ready for the next shown that the Gay community play now can cated the Allen Street-lower Elmwood ing man to ever walk the face of the earth ace to visit a waterfall that tumbles an important role. on - i - yet Gays no lie and frollicking with him in thefalls straight down about 25 feet down the face Gay Neighborhoods area, have not made any attempt - to make input into these plans. with the warm water flowing around and jfthe gorge to mingle its fluids with those Gays have traditionally played a signifi- Despite some financing problems, the over us is a mental picture I'll cherish fore- Df 18Mile Creek - almost sexual, isn't it? cantrole in community development inthe ver and begfor a repetition of. Oh, well, first stop is the cave. There's a of neighborhood revitalization. Be- plans for the Allentown Mall at Franklin area and Allen appear likely to Be sureto bringa flashlightfor the cave. path next to the bridge you just went over cause both Gay singles and couples tend to move forward I next year and forgot and so can't tell you much about it and it'll take you down directly under the have a larger than average disposable in- opportunity would exist there for the input not only the other than you can walk comfortably into bridge into the creek bed below. It's steep come than that of a small family, the mo- of commu- nity, but of business it. but you can scramble down it with no real ney is readily available for home purchase Gay owners as well. The developers of the project This place, although the finest of them sweat. Well now, you're right down in the and improvements. envision a all in my opinion, is the least secluded gorge and walking down stream.

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