July 1985

from the battlefront

Gay Peoples Chronicle

page 5

by Rob Daroff

STEPPING THROUGH THE SMOKE SCREENS, THE FEAR, AND THE FLAMES, REJECTING GUILT AND SILENCE, TWO MEN DECIDE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

OUR MOTTO: CELEBRATE

OVER 2,400 YEARS AGO, A WISE PHILOSOPHER* DESCRIBED THAT "THOSE WHO DEFEND WITH LOVE WILL BE SECURE; HEAVEN WILL SAVE THEM AND AND PROTECT THEM WITH LOVE."

THE TWO MEN HAVE NEVER STOOD TALLER.

BLAM

CLEVELAND CATHOLIC

DIOCESE

DIGNITY CLEVELAND LEADERSHIP

LETTERS

THANKS NAVIS

To the Editor:

I'm sure

I have been closeted my whole life. I am now 28 years old. I am writing because this is the only way that I could think of to thank Bob Navis and his lovJeff Gerhardstein. See ing the two of them take such a couragious stand made realize that their pain was also mv own. that this type of situation happens very often, but the positive coverage by the television, radio, and newspaDer reporters seemed unique. I'm starting to realize that there are straight people there who do out Thanks to Bob and Jeff, I'm that much closer to opening my closet door, and I'm sure that I'm not alone.

Name

care.

withheld by request.

ERGDC EXPLAINS

To the Editor:

In your June issue you printed a letter concerning the party sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Democratic Club at the CWRU Conference. We at the Club received a similar letter. We welcome the opportunity to clarify the issues they raised.

We of Eleanor Roosevelt share the concern for the alcoholism that is a problem of such major proportions in For this our community. reason, we have taken several specific long-standing actions that continue today. Our parties provide nonalcoholic beverages, either

drinks or coffee or soft both. For a short time at the CWRU party we ran out of soft drinks. Expecting about 90 people, we actually served over 300. Five extrá trips were made that night to get more supplies and we ended the evening still

ANOTHER CRAZY serving soft drinks.

To Martha Pontoni

Being a straight male who ended up working for gays, I got out of a field called physical therapy. I was just a para-professional. Obviously you can't treat underlings with any more respect whether you are lesbians or normal women any better than the Jewish heterosexual women I worked for and I am a Jewish male (nonprofessional type). After how I was harassed and abused, I hope all you gays and normal women drop dead of lingering A.I.D.S. worked Rainbow a long time ago. God is punishing you.

[Well we don't understand it either. The Rainbow Bar was once located where Keys recently flourished. Would any of its patrons have a clúe?]

The party and other functions were outside the "bar scene." At the last N.O.C.I. Labor Day picnic, we sold foods (cakes, cookies, etc.) Our buses to the Gay Pride Parade start the day with coffee and donuts, and nonalcoholic drinks are available throughout the trip.

Yet many of our community congregate at bars, and we as a community-concerned political club need to contact these members of our community as well. However, even in the "bar nites" we sponsor, we make sure food and nonalcoholic beverages

are available.

We are open for specific suggestions and further discussion on how to serve our sisters and brothers in the Community better, especially in relation to the problem of alcoholism.

Thom Gianfagna Secretary, ERGDC

The Cleveland community has become increasingly more aggressive and militant in dealing with any form of discrimination against gay people in this city.

In the past year we have responded to this militance by supporting such organizations as Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Democratic Club, Black and White Men Together (Cleveland/Columbus/Youngstown), and the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Foundation (GEAR). We have been willing to demonstrate against discriminating institutions and have supportd the filing of suits The individuals who filed against them. these suits have been supported by one or more of the community's organized groups. We have publicly demonstrated against the Cleveland Catholic Diocese, and have filed suits against the Metroparks Board for entrapment and against a local bar for discriminating against men, women, blacks and whites.

All these actions were initiated by individuals and would not have occurred without their courage. Yet the Bob Navises and those who filed against the Metroparks and the Ritz--or any of the others involvedcannot stand alone. They need the support and encouragement of the organized communi-

tyto follow up these initiatives will take

money. Litigation, obtaining evidence, deposing witnesses, filing briefs, and court costs alone will cost over $5,000 per case, not including attorney's fees that are now being donated or are on a contingency basis. Win, lose,, or draw, the community will in any case be the winner by having drawn closer together.

Support those groups which have proven that they will act to help in the fight for our rights. Ask the leaders of your organization where they really stand before Make sure your writing that next check. money really goes to help, rather than simply accepting the status quo of second class citizenship.

One dollar ($1) from everyone reading this paper would pay to publish a monthly issue for the next two years. One dollar ($1) from every gay person in the Cleveland area would fund every organization here, and finance the next phase of University Hospital's Gay Men's AIDS Project.

If you are not ready to open the closet door--at least open your wallet--for your own sake!!

Bot Boynololo

*Lao-tzu, The Tao Te

Ching, 6th Century B.C.