Gay Educational Awareness Resources Foundation.

The Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland (LGCSC) (f.1974), began as The Gay Education and Awareness Resource Foundation (Gear Foundation). The Gear Foundation was created to serve the Lesbian and Gay community in Cleveland through social, political and cultural events, counseling and support groups, and to empower and raise the community's level of visibility. The Gear Foundation was incorporated as a non profit organization in 1975, and given tax exempt status in 1978. The first activities of the Gear Foundation were the operation of a Gay Hotline Switchboard and the publication of High Gear, a monthly paper covering news and events of interest in the Gay community. Both the Hotline and High Gear were operated and produced by volunteers from the Gear Foundation's membership. High Gear served as a unifying element in the growing Lesbian and Gay community in Cleveland during the "Gay Liberation" movement of the mid 1970s. The publication's articles included coverage of Gay civil rights issues and political rallies, Lesbian Gay oriented literature, theater and film reviews, creative writing and editorials. In addition to High Gear and the Hotline, the Gear Foundation served as an umbrella organization for other groups and activities, including a Rap Group and Speakers Bureau.

In March of 1977, the Gear Foundation opened Cleveland's first Lesbian Gay Community Center, to serve as a base of operations for its activities. This first Center was located on Cleveland's east side, and over the years has relocate several times. In 1992, it was located at 1418 West 29th Street on the city's near west side.

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