Departing center director Doerfer honored at Winter Party

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland--Bidding adieu after five years, Cleveland LGBT Center executive director Sue Doerfer was honored at a reception before the center?s annual Winter Party on December 11.

Doerfer was presented with commendations from the state of Ohio, delivered by State Rep. Mike Skindell, and the city of Cleveland, presented by councilors Jay Westbrook and Joe Cimperman.

Out lesbian Lakewood councilmember Nickie Antonio was also present to speak about Doerfer?s dedication to the LGBT community of northeast Ohio, joined by 50 guests.

This year?s Winter Party was held at Gray?s Auctioneers, continuing the theme of surrounding the festivities with art. Last year?s event was held at Tregoning and Co. art gallery, and the inaugural event was at the Silver Grille at Tower City, a lavish 1940s-era art deco ballroom that was once the Higbee?s department store restaurant.

Around 100 people attended this year?s fete, which featured food by Sferra Culinary Occasions as well as dancing to DJ-provided music and a cash bar.

?It really was a wonderful last event for me, and I was really touched by the people who attended and the well-wishes and recognition that I?ve received,? Doerfer said.

She announced earlier this month that she is leaving the Cleveland LGBT Center to assume the mantle of executive director of Equality Ohio.

She will not, however, be leaving the city when she takes that post on January 18. According to Equality Ohio board president Rev. Michael Castle, Doerfer will still live in Cleveland, and ?hopefully, her car will be her office,? he told the Chronicle earlier this month.

Her strength in fundraising is a prime reason for her selection, as Equality Ohio has fallen short of its budgetary goals.

She also presents a face for Equality Ohio that is not Columbus-centered, an accusation that the organization has faced from its start, despite board members from every region of the state. Castle himself is the pastor of Cross Creek Community Church in Dayton.

Doerfer was named executive director of the Cleveland LGBT Center in 2004, after a stint at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland as the clinical director of services.

She is a doctoral candidate in social welfare at the City University of New York. She received her bachelor?s degree from St. Ambrose University in Iowa and her master?s from California State University in Sacramento.

While her last day as executive director will be on December 30, ?In a way I'm not leaving the center, because now the entire LGBT population of Ohio is my center. I'll continue to work with Cleveland, and now include the rest of the state in my work,? she said.

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