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TRINITY CATHEDRAL

WELCOMES, SUPPORTS LESBIANS, GAYS

BY DAVID GELATLY

a

On the corner of East 22nd and Euclid stand stone, glass, metal, and wood, an institution, a place of worship, a community, a supposed enemy, an ally friend. Words are not the best tools to capture something dynamic, in progress complex, multi-layered, and yet, somehow accessable and open. I'm talking about Trinity Cathedral, surrounded by CSU, the Y, Chaps, and a bookstore or two. A fair-

ly imposing structure, something out of an idyllic English fantasy, yet appropriatly set in the middle of many abrasive currents in our society, and, open to all of us.

In one way! Trinity is a mass of physical elements, And as such, rises like a symphony off the ground: A statement to craft, art, and beauty. Also, a testimony to the dreams, skill and taste of the men and women who built and maintain it. Even this part of Trinity is not static. A new organ is installed, things are changed, new uses put to space, old ideas rethought. Surely not static: imposing maybe, but not static or cold.

Trinity is an institution. It served as the first community of worship in Cleveland, and is the See Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. It was built with funds from old monied families in Cleveland and can feel foreboding. Yet, this may be more from what we lay on it, than from what the institution lays on us. Anyway, as an institution Trinity has impact, and as such, can act as either a driving or restraining force for societal change. As a driving force for change it is interesting to note that the new Canon, or assistant priest for the Cathedral, will be a woman with three children. Hardly the usual stereotype for Episcopal clergy. Also, an objective in the five year plan (1984-

Trinity Cathedral

1989) for the Cathedral, endorsed by the entire congregation last June, states that "Trinity will remain open and reponsive to the needs of the Lesbian and Gay Community." This at a time when lesbians and gays usually experience either anger or silence--not support. And these are not hollow words. Trinity is the home of the first Integrity chapter in the state. In addition, when our gay community center felt that it was too risky to allow a gay youth group to meet in their facilities, Trinity offered space and ran interference with angry parents and curious police. When the Health Issues Task Force (HIT) needs space for a meeting, or a letter_of support for the U. S. Conference of Mayors grant, Trinity is there. When we want to hold a bartender

Parents, friends form

local P-FLAG group

A local psychologist and social worker recently announced plans for the formation of a Cleveland chapter of the national organization Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG).

Jane Daroff, the social worker and a mother of a gay son, and Jess Sellers, a concerned Cleveland psychologist, have put together plans for an initial meeting Tuesday, July 9, from 8 to 9:30 pm in Trinity Cathedral's Brotherhood Room. P-FLAG meetings will

provide a support system for families and friends of lesbians and gays in their effort to understand, accept, and support their children. The meetings will also provide support for gays and lesbians who are trying to cope with their own parents."

There is no charge for participation and confidentiality is respected absolutely.

For more information, call the Gay Hotline (651-7111) and look for more details in the July issue of the Chronicle.

training on Safe-Sex with the Ohio Department of Health, Trinity fely offers what is needed. It is indeed a driving force for change.

As a restraining force against change, Trinity is trying to slow down or break those elements that would say, "Those people don't matter." Whether "those people" are old people, hungry people, lesbians and gays, single people, or handicapped people, they do matter at Trinity. Again, this has been proven in action, through Sunday lunch programs, committment to neighborhood organizations, and the list goes on and on. As a community, a worshiping community, Trinity is not the expected. Often on a Sunday at the main service, there may be only 100 people, including the choir. And yet the place is not empty, for all the people

June 1985

are individuals, and each has worth. From the baglady to the blue-blood, from the transsexual to the married couple, from the gay couple to the lonely widower. All have worth, each belongs, each finds friends, and each knows some of what' it means to experience God, the Divine in ourselves and others. It is a community-a common unity.

In the Trinity community, lesbians and gays play an integral part. We are in all parts or facets of Trinity. From the congregation to the vestry, some with a low profile, others very open. All are a part of it. To me, this is what a worshiping community is. Not necessarily a lot of smells and bells, but people experiencing and striving to experience God in themselves and each other.

All of us have had experiences which tell us the institutional church is our enemy. And we cannot blind ourselves to the negative power that some "religious people" or some part of the church holds against us. The Reverend Fallwell is not our friend. And yet we cannot, as you say, throw the baby out with the bath water. We have too often been victims of sterotypes and misunderstanding to lay that on others. There are religious people who are are brothers and sisters. There are religious institutions and communities that are our friends and supporters. All of us, now and in the not too distant future, will need all the real friends and supporters we can find. AIDS will not go away, and we cannot hide from it.

Again, something dynamic and changing is difficult to capture in words, but we must try. A symbol for Trinity is a triangle, a green triangle. Triangles have great meaning for the gay community, and I'm sure that the shade of green in the Trinity triangle is blended with pink: a green/pink triangle. Come and experience it for yourself-we have a friend.

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

GAY DEMOCRATIC CLUB

Ride The Gay Freedom Express June 30,1985 To The Midwest Gay and Lesbian Freedom Parade In Columbus, OH

BUS AND REFRESHMENTS $18.00 ERGDC, PO BOX 777, LAKEWOOD, OH. 44107