November 1985

to volunteer alı energy to do all

willing kinds of kinds of things.

Nothing that needs to shaken up or changed?

If there weren't any problems they wouldn't have needed an Executive Director.

We have fundraising problems. We have problems finding enough people to staff the Hotlines. At this point my biggest problem is bringing women into the Center. Right now most of the programs operate entirely with gay men, because we haven't been able to reach out to the community. There hasn't been one person focussing their energies on coordinating, organizing, and publicity.

Where GEAR stands now, and where we hope it will go is like the differences between the actual and the ideal. I don't look on these differences as problems; but rather as goals. It's a process of moving forward, rather than one of knocking off problem by problem.

How can you personally help GEAR? Do you see your being a woman as an asset to the program?

GEAR was developed to serve both the lesbian and gay male populations. I certainly understand the need for separatism, among men as well as women. But there are many places where we can do things much more effectively if we don't duplicate our services--things such as the Hotline: there doesn't have to be a Lesbian Hotline and a Gay Male Hotline.

GEAR has the facilities to operate something for both lesbians and gay men. We have space that can be used by mixed groups as well as

Gay Peoples Chronicle

separate-sex groups.

I definitely think that at this point having a woman as Executive Director is the only way to draw women into the Community Center; but that's a very slow process.

think my writing and organizing skills had a great deal to do with why I was hired as Director, to organize the Foundation activities and to make changes. But making changes is not an immediate process. And I work only part-time at GEAR. So change moves forward very slowly. I am seeing change. I think we are all seing change. But it will take some time for the to see drastic community

change at GEAR.

My concept of GEAR--and think this is its reputation--is that it is maledominated. I intended to ask about your plans to reach out to gay people on the East Side, especially women. I think you've already answered that question by saying you hope more women will become involved with GEAR.

That would be nice.

was

ing

At the annual Gay and Lesbian Conference last spring, the theme of most speakers working together, keepseparatism where it belongs--private parties and parties and similar places--and not out in public. Do you believe that gay men and lesbians in Cleveland can work together to change the atmosphere here?

I feel that separatism is a political tool used to empower same-sex groups. I think they are a great place for that. But in the world it's not possible to eliminate the other sex. We work together. I've found a great deal of satisfaction in dis-

Shana Blessing Executive Director

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covering our similarities and learning to understand one another.

The lesbian/gay community in Cleveland is so spread out that it coalesces into small enclaves and there is no unity. There is also a great deal of political conservatism here, so that we don't have mass actions like those in Boston or San Francisco or Chicago. Things are very quiet here. People don't move that quickly. I think there is great opportunity for change if people choose to work together.

Although lesbians are oppressed as women, as well as in the same ways gay men are oppressed, we are both working to change homophobic attitudes. And numbers are definitely one answer to how to do that.

I know that as Executive Director of a nonprofit organization you're not supposed

be political; but do you see our lack of recognition by city Leaders as a problem? The mayor and city council pay no attention to us, and we are not an organized political group. Is that a major problem in getting us to start putting together social programs?

No. Working with GEAR I've found that money is available for social programs. We may not be recognized by city leaders, but we're also

page 9

Lucky that they don't attack us--as they have in other cities. I don't think we have to be recognized by city leaders to get anything accomplished. In a lot of ways it's our own responsibility to provide our services.

own

Five years from now, what do you think someone might be saying about GEAR?

I hope we may make a much greater impact on the community. We have the facilities, the skills, and the people to work with a number of different kinds of organizations in the community, to become much more involved with what is happening in the women's community and share some of the energy and enthusiasm of the lesbian/feminists; and to reach out to closeted gay men and women who aren't active, giving them a place to come out as far as they feel comfortable for them. I think at this point we can define ourselves very broadly. I think

are constantly trying to assess the needs of the community, to see where we can add, or to help things coalesce.

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