page 6

Gay Peoples Chronicle

August 1986

INNER-CITY LESBIANS

By PATRICIA DUNCAN

The following thoughts, while directed to all Cleveland-area lesbians, are particularly intended for women of the Inner City, specifically those who have considered active participation in our community.

The Inner City is where I have spent the majority of my time and energy. It's the area which I know best. It includes Ohio City, Old Brooklyn, the Near West and East Sides, Slavic Village, and Downtown.

I hope that these thoughts will compel each of you to assess how the needs and desires of Inner City women will only gain recognition and come to be addressed through our shared participation in Cleveland's lesbian and gay community.

Presently, Cleveland

diverse

has

many resources available to lesbians. Chief among these are:

1. Lesbian specialty groups

2. Counseling services 3. Hot Lines

4. New publications

make

5. Religious organizations These resources exist in their current form as a result of the courage and determination of the women and men who were willing to do the work necessary, to their ideas a reality. If Inner City women have felt a lack of recognition and representation by these groups, it is primarily due to our collective failure to participate and contribute. Rarnessing our diverse energies and talents can produce

additional resources addressing our specific needs, while at the same time further contributing to the unification of our community as a whole.

Recognizing the need for involvement in our community is the first step toward realizing our goals. Our next steps must Be to identify and then to deal with those barriers that may have kept us from our desired participatión. After consideration of my own experience, I have identified four major barri-

ers

which I believe will strike a responsive chord in many Inner City women:

1: Fear of rejection and failure

Z. Low self-esteem

3. Limited exposure to the gay community.

4. Uncertainty about how to initiate involvement

These problems are not insurmountable. It's sad that

we have allowed ourselves to be isolated from one another and from a community which will certainly benefit from all that we have to offer.

While some women will become involved on their Own courage and initiative, others will appreciate the support of group involvement, and some women may want thé assistance of our community's professional counseling services as a first step. Each woman must decide for herself what direction she will take in finding her particular role in our community.

What we need now is the unification of all interested women, whatever their

level

be.

Can

of readiness may Through this unity we lay the foundation toward becoming a viable and productive part of Cleveland's lesbian and gay community. Living in Cleveland's Inner City for the majority of my live has made me constantly aware of the unending and senseless waste people's talents and minds through drug abuse inability to reach out to others for help, inner conflicts,

of

and the lack of hope which numbs the emotions. The quality of life needs desperately to be improved for almost everyone. I have watched the idleness of lesbian sisters and fear for their futures if their inactivity continues on its present course.

my

It is my concern and unending desire to improve the quality of life for each woman that has prompted relate these thoughts to

to you.

me

are

To those women who willing to do the work necessary to make your ideas into realities, I offer my admiration. support and I offer also the opportunity for each of us to gather collectively in hope of unification. The choice is yours; each of you needs only take one step in a forward direction.

As a first step, I urge you to call the number listed below at any time. Congratulations on taking action.

NORTH COAST LESBIAN ASSOCIATION

Patricia Duncan 883-1200

CALL FROM NAIAD

The Naiad Press is actively seeking fiction works in two specific genres.

Lesbian authors working in the science fiction and fantasy field are invited to inquire. Naiad Press would prefer manuscripts that are well grounded in science fiction and that are not simply cosmetically lesbian in theme.

Lesbian authors working in the international intrigue and spy novel genre are also invited to inquire. The same proviso, that the characters not simply be interchangeable, höläs true in this field.

Procedure is to inquire by writing a single-page letter about yourself, along with a one-page precis of your novel. DO NOT SEND SAMPLE CHAPTERS AND DO NOT SEND THE MANUSCRIPT WITHOUT INQUIRING. The Press does not consider simultaneous submissions.

Direct inquiries to Naiad Press, P.0. Box 10543, Tallahassee, Florida 32302.

WOMEN-3

Westside

Women

Wonderful meets the second Wednesday of each month.

The August 13 meeting will be a picnic at the Rocky River Boat Launch, 7 p.m. For information, call Bobbi, 631-3819.

the

The North Coast Lesbian Association meets at 8 p.m. second Tuesday of each month in the Small Group Room at the Civic. The next meeting is August 12; next month, September 9.

The Lesbian Support/Discussion Group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month, also p.m. and in the Small Group Room. Donation at the door. Next meeting is August 26

at

"Tea

The Summer Dance, Dance of the August Moon," will be held Saturday, August 23, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Center Hall of the Civic. There will be a live band. Tickets are $4 at the door. Work/exchange is also available. Call Barbara, 381-3722, by August 11.

Sunday August 3, Northwest Ohio Rib Burnoff in Toledo. Call 521-0809.

Sunday, August 17, Women-3 will visit Lonzo's Winery, Bass Island. For information call Linda, 238-3814.

INDIVIDUAL • COUPLE FAMILY GROUP

FOCUS

COUNSELING SERVICES, INC.

2100 FULTON ROAD CLEVELAND, OHIO

LESBIANS

LONELY AND OVER 50?

A Contact/Correspondence Club just for you. And for women interested in older women. Nationwide. Confidential. Please send self-addressed stamped envelope for information. GOLDEN THREADS, P.O. BOX 2416, QUINCY, MA 02269

1836 Euclid Avenue, Suite 206 Cleveland, Ohio

JOY B. SAVREN Attorney at Law

771-6597

GENERAL PRACTICE Divorce/Dissolution Power of Attorney Custody/Support Landlord/Tenant Personal Injury⚫ Traffic/DWI

Criminal Wills

NO CHARGE FOR INITIAL CONSULTATION

DEBRA DUNKLE, A.C.S.W.

NICHOLAS PALUMBO, A.C.S.W.

SUELLEN SAUNDERS, M.S.S.A.

651-7111 7-11 P.M. FOR APPOINTMENT