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gay peoples CHRONICLE

Published by The Cleveland Gay Peoples Press Associates

Inc.

Gay Peoples Chronicle

Publisher

Lee M. Kochems Assistant to the Publisher

Rawn LaBondano Editor-In-Chief

Charles Callender Production Editor

Bill Osborn Advertising Manager Vincent Bluett Business Manager Bob Reynolds

March 1, 1985

Staff

Writing Staff

Rich Berg, Charles Callender, Rob Daroff, Jr., Lee Kochems, Mark Kroboth, Casmir Kuczynski, Sebastian Melmoth, Bill Olds

Pride Debt

This editorial is personal statement by the Editor of the Chronicle, rather than by the Board of Publish Its publication over my name does not reflect disagreement within the Board, whose members agree this

Is the most appropriate way for The Chronicle to comment on the subJect. I am not a member of the GEAR Board of trustees do not belong to DIGNITY/Cleveland or to Equals, and was not involved with either the Casino Night Plan ning Committee or the ad hoc Hearts and Dia Bonds Planning Commit

Cleveland Coast Adver tising produced Ohio Pride Magazine publication of the GEAR Foundation, under 1983 agreement with Randy Goodman at that time President of the Foundation. Although editor Kent Wolfe an nounced in its second issue that Pride required prepayment for all advertisements. this policy apparently changed. During its first six months, Pride accumulated a $6,351.25 debt, mostly through

Je JYCLV Marathon

During last April's WCLV Marathon for the Musical Arts Association Sustaining Fund for the Cleveland Orchestra, a member of our Publishing Board offered to pledge $25, asking the Marathon to identify as a gay activist he challenged other vists to match His pledge epted, but NCL egretfully explained that they could not ncourage political Throughout

Marathon, ACLY romoting a conte Supporters

production costs. Fundraisers did not significantly reduce this debt. In November 1984, the printer filed suit against Ohio Pride Magazine, the GEAR Foundation, and Cleveland Coast Advertising. The suit specific ally names the two men who are partners in the latter. Rick Berg's story in this issue of The Chronicle

describes the events

since the suit was filed. I would make three comments on the situation.

First, trying to blame the debt on any individual or organization involved in the suit seems pointless. Every gay publication in the history of Cleyeland has been plagued by financial problems. When High Gear stopped publishing after an it was B-year run owed more than $8,000 in unpaid advertising. This practice is shamefully common and should be recognized as intensely destructive to the entire community.

Second, whatever its ultimate form. action should be taken

Homophobic

and opponents of a domed stadium to be built by increasing property taxes.

That issue was refought in a sense this fall when Mary Boyle, who led the opposition to it, defeated its main proponent, Vincent Campanella, for the post of Cuyahoga County Commissioner

We wonder what is 'political cause. and whether "political" could possibly be a euphemism for "distasteful." The Cleveland Orchestra is an excellent cause to which many gay people have

Coveland Journallam

We hope that many people read the two columns by Maria Ricc rdi, the Plain Deale television critic. One colum dealt with our growing visibility on television, no longer limited to documentari es. The other specifi cally concerned "ConseInting Adult .

Local Journalists have sometimes written eympathetic human inter rest stories about gay people or have advocated that the public be tolerant. Ms. Riccardi sounded a new and very welcome note: We are a fact

to retire the debt without damaging or overburdening any of the organizations or individuals concerned.

Third, this should be done as soon as possible. This issue has already inflicted deep scars in the community which will not heal quickly. The divisions are increasing and becoming deeper. One example is the attempt to define the relationship between Ohio Pride Magazine and The Chronicle as adversarial. There is no relationship. The nature and goals of the two publications have nothing in common. My own anger when a spokesperson for the ad hoc committer contrasted the benefits the community had drawn from Ohio Fride with what were scornfully

dismissed as the "prom-

ises" of the Chronicle was sufficient warning that this issue has to be resolved, and soon.

Charles Callender

contributed. But has the Cleveland cultural establishment ever acknowledged its debt to gay people? We refer not only to gay artists, but to gay donors, from Leonard Hanna down.

we have

A suggestion heard is that the gay community itself ret up a cultural fund to which gay people can contribute, knowing their contributions will be specifically identified as coming from a gay source.

of life, probably cons itituting one-tenth of American adults. and our existence effex cts aps one-fourth

Staff allies. And television's accepting us as a fact of life is overdue.

Thank you, Ms. Riccardi

Photographer Rob Daroff, Jr."

Columnists

L. Kolke, Alex Liberacki, Jym Roe, Julian Wilde

Production Staff

Lydia Bohm, David Boyd, Alexx Christopher, Rob Daroff, Mark Kroboth, Jeff Lang, Joy Medley, Rich Tomei

Policy

Publication of the name, picture, or other representation of an organization, place of business, or individual in the Chronicle is not indicative of their sexual orientation and may not be used as evidence of such.

Anyone interested in working on the staff of the Chronicle should call 932-2195 or write to Chronicle Staff, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Written materials, art work, or photography submitted for publication are subject to editing. Whether used by The Chronicle or not, we cannot guarantee the return of any submitted material unless it is accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in The Chronicle may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by writing to Advertising Manager, The Chronicle, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Deadlines for Chronicle publication dates are as follows:

Written material by the 13th of every onth.

Advertising by the 15th of every month. The Chronicle is distributed free of charge in any establishment or with any organization that will permit distribution. The Chronicle is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless either written or verbal permission is obtained.

Published by the Cleveland Gay Peoples Press Associates, Inc., F.O. Box 5426. Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Circulation, 6,000

Distribution, Northern Chio