LESBIAN/GAY PRIDE WEEK, JUNE 24-30

Gay Pride Week has special significance for those who remember what the life of gay people was like before 1969. Most of us then accepted our oppression and condemnation by heterosexist society and felt we deserved it. We believed the psychiatrists who told us we were mentally ill. We honored the churches that condemned us as sinners. Many of us did not want to be gay. Most of us hid our gayness, rather than taking pride in it.

In all except a handful of states, gay sex could bring prison sentences or terms in mental institutions. Gay bars were enclaves where we could be ourselves. But in some states, like New York, the law prohibited selling alcohol to gay people.

In

gay peoples CHRONICLE

Vol. 1 No. 5

most cities the bars, even when legal, were subject to police harrassment and raids.

On June 27, 1968, some New York police made a routine raid on the Stonewall Inn, on Christopher Street, an easy target because most of its patrons patrons were nonwhite and into drag. A crowd gathered as the police took the patrons and employees to paddy wagons and patrol cars. The last patron they led out, a lesbian, began fighting. The crowd joined her, throwing bottles, beer cans, cobblestones, and even coins. Eventually they set fire to the Stonewall Inn, where some of the police had taken refuge.

In Sexual Politics Sexual Communities, John D'Emilio describes the events that followed: "Reinforcements rescued the shaken officers from page 4, col 1

Cleveland, Ohio

Metroparks Suit Chris Riddiough

p.2

p.8

June 1985

NGTF Chief CITY BEGINS HTLV-III TESTING

Jeff Levi To Visit Here

By RICK BERG

Jeff Levi, newly appointed head of the National Gay Task Force (NGTF), will appear at two downtown Cleveland bars Sunday, June

9.

The appearances are sponsored by the Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Democratic Club. "We wanted our community to have a chance to meet Jeff and hear him speak about NGTF and the national lesbian and gay agenda," said ERGDC President Jerry Bores. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to bring him here."

He

Levi will be at Waterstreet Dan's 3:15-4:30 p.m. and at Isis 6:30-7:30. will speak briefly at both locations. The appearances page 3, col. 4

By CHARLES CALLENDER

Free and confidential testing for exposure to the HTLV-III virus suspected of causing AIDS is being offered by the city of Cleveland. The tests, on a walkin basis, began May 20 at the Thomas McCafferty Health Center, 4242 Lorain Ave., between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Panelists at the press conference announcing the testing program stressed that, in spite of media reports, the test at most determines which individuals have been exposed to the virus. It is not a test for AIDS. A positive reaction, indicating exposure, has next to no predictive value. Funded by the federal government, whose subsidies for research on AIDS have been parsimonious, the testing program was not instituted for the benefit of gay men. Its purpose is to channel members of groups

at high risk for AIDS away from the testing program for blood donors, set up in March by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by offering the same test at other sites. Earlier fears that large numbers of gay men seeking the test would flood the donor centers have not materialized.

The City of Cleveland AIDS Task Force, like representatives of gay community groups, does not encourge gay men to take the test.

Dr. Diana Morledge-Richardson, Task Force Chairwoman and Cleveland Commissioner of Health, said the city reluctantly instituted the testing program to avoid burdening other Ohio health centers with Cleveland residents seeking tests. Morledge-Richardson emphasized the complete confidentiality of the testing program at the McCafferty Health Center. Those seeking tests will be assigned

numbers. Names will not be recorded. They can learn the results only through a two-

week follow-up appointment, in person. The Center also offers initial counselling for those seeking the test, and follow-up counselling for those testing positively. These will have to be referred to other medical facilities, where anonymity cannot be assured. Buck Harris, Gay Health Consultant for the Ohio Department of Health, applauded efforts by the state and local health department to educate at-risk groups. Like the rest of the panel, he was unenthusiastic about the page 3, col. 1

The July issue of the GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE will be published July 9 to enable us to bring you the story of the Midwest Gay Pride Parade in that issue.

CLEVELAND TO LEAD MIDWEST GAY PRIDE PARADE

By RICK BERG

Marchers from Cleveland will lead the Midwest Gay Pride Parade when it steps off in Columbus June 30.

The annual parade is organized by Stonewall Union of Columbus. The event is expected to attract 8,000 people from Ohio and the

Over

surrounding states. 4,000 attended last year's celebration.

Chartered bus service between Cleveland and the parade will be provided by the Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Democratic Club. The Club has offered the bus service for the past two years. Cost of the round trip ticket is $18, which in-

cludes refreshments on the bus. Call 961-5556.

The Pride Parade forms at 1 p.m. in Goodale Park, just north of downtown Columbus. Step-off time is 2:00, and the parade route ends at the Ohio state capital grounds. A rally will be held on the capitol steps. Downtown Columbus' lesbian and gay bars will be open to serve

thirsty marchers.

Anyone who wishes may march in the Midwest Gay Pride Parade. Participants are organized at Goodale Park according to city. Signs, banners, costumes, and floats are encouraged. For more information call the Gay/Lesbian Switchboard at 651-7111 or Stonewall Unio at (614) 299-7764.