by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland--An al fresco proposal was one of the high points of the July 13 Garden Party, the traditional summer fundraiser for the Cleveland LGBT Center.

Jamie Moore and Tim Scott?s betrothal followed brief speeches from both the hosts, Meg Doerr and Dan Bode, and from Elizabeth Kucinich, chair of the host committee and wife of Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Doerr and Bode explained that their love for each other, a married heterosexual couple, was no more joyful or important than the love their LGBT friends shared with their partners, which was part of the reason they opened their East Side lakefront home to the event.

Elizabeth Kucinich, striding to the patio-stage like Boudica in a sundress, expressed her love and support of the gay community, with whom she surrounded herself in her native England and who became her first family here in the United States. She explained that Doerr had actually said much of what she would have, but continued on to remark on the instant love she felt for her politico husband and lamenting the inequality in marriage laws.

Live and silent auctions featuring lavish items like a vintage cocktail gift set, an antique recruiting poster donated by Bill Tregoning, trips to Mexico, Arizona and New York, other art work, services and gift baskets raised almost $11,000.

The live auction and the brief program, in which sponsorship coordinator Mary Zaller was honored and presented with a vintage dress and clutch, were the only interruptions in the summery jazz provided by the Theron Brown Duo, who were at times joined by Dan Bode on harmonica and vocals. The most poignant number was a rendition of Gershwin?s ?Summertime? from Porgy and Bess.

A variety of hearty summer fare provided by Dish Global Catering and an open bar combined with the unfaltering sunshine and cool lake breeze to keep the party going strong even after its scheduled end time of 6 pm.

Nearly 200 people attended the event, which ended up with a profit of $20,000 for the Cleveland LGBT Center.

?This was our best event ever,? said executive director Sue Doerfer. ?The homeowners, Meg and Dan, were incredible, the setting was amazing and the weather was beautiful.?

?We couldn?t have asked for anything better!?