Gay Peoples Chronicle

by Lee N. Kocheas

February 1, 1985

Suit Filed in Metroparks Case

page 13

In December 1976 Ishmael Craven fa This class action represents an esticated and verbally abused to intensify their Victims are threatened, ridiculed, Entrapment by ununiformed park rangers pseudonya) described his experiences 40,000 people whose civil rights have posing as gav men, have characterized in High Gear. Craven was standing at been or may be violated by this anti-gay officers often purport to bannish thes rear, anxiety, and humiliation. Arresting the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District a urinal in the men's room when a ranger campaign. from the Parks. for many years. Legalization of homosexuapproached his. looking down at his geniThe Park District has established ality in Ohio has not changed practices tals. When Craven asked whether something This activity is instituted only against of the Park District, which operates was interesting to him, he was arrested "special detail" employing decoy personnel as an autonomous political subdivision and later fined. Still later he learned not in uniform, to approach men who have en assumed to be homosexual. The Parks do not employ women decoys to be used of the State. Consistently a center that the Metroparks Office of Information been targeted as susceptible to homosexual lure. A decoy ranger generally approaches heterosexual men are never approached. against men or women, and supposedly of homophobia, the District periodically had listed him as a "known pervert". steps up its campaign against gay men. his victims to strike up conversation Recently the Metropark District has and walk with them into the woods, or In the October 1976 High Gear John again intensified its drive against gay he loiters in restrooms to approach them. Nosek reported that four men had been

The case reports, which in spite of the legal status of homosexuality in

booked by park rangers for "sexual is-struck back. Four members of the gay is interested in, sexual contact, he often and the nature of the incident as "per-

asks, "What are you into?"

vert", along with fingerprints and photo-

conduct". He wrote. "Agents followed Community have filed a class-action suit the individuals into restrooms and then in the United States District Court against At some point the ranger produces his graphs, are sent to local law enforcement placed themselves in approachable posithe Cleveland Metropolitan Fark District, tions. One agent was reported to have including representative officers and badge and takes his victis into custody, agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investi where other officers subject bia to fingergation. deliberately brushed against one of the directors as well as cooperating municipalwen and another agent engaged in small ities. They charge that their constitucharges. Other forms of harassment and printing, photographing, All members of the gay community, and talk until he was propositioned." tional rights have been violated by camour scare tactics have also been reported. nongay associates, should become paign against homosexual men. laware of this prejudicial practice, to which this class action calls for an end.

Healthwise

Consider these facts from 1984:

1. AIDS does exist in Cleveland (17 certified cases by year-end). And men are contracting it here without leaving the city. So no longer does it only happen in New York, Los Angeles, or San Francis-

CO.

2. French and American researchers have isolated a specific virus as the probable cause of AIDS. This has led to the development of a test for exposure, although preliminary results indicate questionable reliability. (And the meaning of the results remains unclear--testing positive for exposure does not necessarily mean an individual will develop AIDS).

3. New studies show a much wider exposure to the virus than previously estimated-perhaps as many as 500,000 people nationwide. Researchers now believe that in some cities as much as 50-80% of the gay male population would test positive for antibodies indicating exposure to the virus.

4. AIDS has shown a breathtaking degree of variability. The incubation period before visible svmptoms appear can rang from several months to four years. Some individuals can show signs of AIDS-ilke svmptoms, but hot vet have or never will have; the disease itself. Stul others can be perfectly healthy. yet act as carriers of the disease. And importantly, perhaps as many as 90% of those exposed will successfully fight the virus and not develop AIDS.

5. The original notion that AIDS strikes only those individuals with hyperactive, promiscuous, and drug-filled sex lives is being replaced with one of "being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The relationship of "co-factors' such as previous exposures to other sexually transmitted diseases, drug use, and multiple anonymous sexual contacts to susceptibility to AIDS is unclear.

It is amazing how much has been learned since 1981. when doctors in California and New York began to put the first pieces together. Yet, many in our community are still uninformed.

What's being done in Cleveland? Besides research projects at local medical centers. the Ohio State AIDS Hotline (1-800-332-AIDS), and networking seminars in 1983 and 1984. we have an organization centering on AIDS and other health problems.

By L. Kolke

For the past year and a half, a small group called the Health Issues Taskforce has organized to provide support to AIDS patients, to help educate our community about health-related choices, and to network with local researchers and the medical community. HIT is a recognized nonprofit corporation that really has just one criterion for membership--a willingness to work. Some become involved out of a deep need to help others. Others joined for the comfort of a community facing its fears together. For whatever individual reasons, Hit is committed to improving the health of our community.

In 1985, we need volunteers to 1. Continue to provide "buddy" support to AIDS patients (and when appropriate, financial assistance as well).

2. Develop an AIDS education program for our Black community.

3. Educate individuals on "safe" sexual practices, including a 'Safe Sex Week" Community promotion.

4. Develop with the Cleveland Department of Health a Hepatitis B screening program screening program for gay men lan equally serious health problem).

5. Develop and

tap continuous sources of funding such as grants and community fundraisers.

of

These goals require the participation and support our entire community. Will it take 100 deaths? 1000? to move us to act? We can make a difference now. Prevention is still the only cure. Researchers such as the head of the Center for Disease Control's AIDS program are not joking when they publicly express their belief that AIDS will become the leading cause of death for gay men in this century and into the next.

This monthly column will hopefully help to further our objectives and serve as a forum on all health concerns. WE intend to pass along important information to you from a variety of resources in the medical and gay communities about all gay health issues, not just AIDS. Your comments and questions about this column or interest in joining the Taskforce should be directed to:

Health Issues Taskforce P.O. Box 14925

Public Square Station Cleveland, Ohio 44114

L. Kolke is Secretary and a Trustee of the Health Issues Taskforce.

and criminal

The complaint charges that the Metroparks are involved in an unconstitutional intrusion into personal integrity, that the practice is discriminatory and denies equal protection under the law to its victims.

The suit also points out that malicious prosecution, false arrest, threats of violence, and the infliction of emotional distress, as well as the invasion of privacy, are actions taken toward "punishing homosexual men".

Three of the men have filed under pseudonvas because they would be "exposed to irreparable injury". The privacy they are fighting to protect would be compromised if they were to use their legal

names.

The fourth man, a resident of Brooklyn, has filed using his legal name.

They are trying to obtain compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys fees. The suit also requests, on behalf of all members of the class, a declaration that the practices instituted against gav sen are unconstitutional, and they a preliminary and permanent injunction be instituted to stop them.

The complaint filed with the court, to be heard by Judge George W. White, states, "In their treatment of homosexual men, defendants (Metro-parks et al.) have effectively made the Metroparks an enclave in which the Constitution has no territorail reach."

Casino Night

Benefit Postponed

The Hearts & Diamonds Casino Night Benefit at Chapter Two, originally scheduled for January 27, has been postponed. Designed to help retire the "Ohio Pride" debt, the benefit will be rescheduled later.

Workshop for

Parents Planned

Jewish Family Services recently announced the formation of a workshop designed to help parents of lesbians and gavs in the Cleveland area.

The workshop will consist of four sessions guided by a professional social worker.

Times and dates will be determined to best suit schedules of those interested in participating. For further information, call Kaye Chavinson at 371-2600.