Editorial

WHERE ARE YOU?

Cleveland's Lesbian and Gay people complain that "There is nothing for do in this town." The months of November and December saw at least three major events produced by Lesbian and Gay organizations stricken by low attendance and lack of support.

Where is everyone?

Eastsiders won't go West.

——

Westsiders won't go East. still others are content to stay where they are in their closets. There is a saying: If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

There is no reason that Cleveland's community can't support major events; we certainly have a large enough population. What could be the problem? Lack information? Bad timing on the part of the producers? Or is there just not enough caring by the majority of Lesbian and Gay Clevelanders? There are a few who are willing to support by volunteering or giving financially to the events and services we do have. But how long can a few support the many?

Everyone knows someone who has left Cleveland in search of a "better" community in Boston, San Francisco, or New York. Has anyone moved to Cleveland because of the legend of our community? Not lately.

Why not? If everyone did a little, and that is all that it would take, we would have a community that we could be proud of. We have the talent, we need the support. Pick an event and go. Volunteer a few hours a week. Send a check. Patronize a gay establishment. Help build our community because we can't support us if we can't support ourselves.

Harvey Milk Will Not Be Forgotten...?

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing "The Times of Harvey Milk" for the first time last night in Strosacker Auditorium on CWRU. Not only did I watch the first showing, but I was easily convinced by a friend to stay to see the second. I would have thought that I would not have gotten so emotional the second time. Wrong. I became even more emotional.

I was eighteen, in my first year of college, and still in the closet when Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone were assassinated, on a Monday at 11:10am, by former Supervisor Dan White. I no doubt was getting ready to go to my first class of the day, which would have been one o'clock in the afternoon. Somehow the news of the assassinations reached the small college town where I was attending school.

could

and

As I reached back into the recesses of my mind after seeing the film I recall hearing bits of news releases about Harvey Milk's campaign hopeful triumph as the first openly gay nominee and elected politician running for a position on any city council. Then the triumph came, followed by trials and tribulations over the victory of being the first openly gay politician winning the position. Then came the assassination, the candle-lit vigil down Market Street stretching as far as the eye could see with thousands of participants; gay, straight; young, old; black, white; Chinese, the average working stiff, and silence.

Silence the day of the assassination, silence at the vigil, and silence as they buried Mayor Moscone and scattered Harvey Milk's ashes into the Pacific. There was grief and sorrow expressed and witnessed by both participants and by-standers. As the marchers passed one by-stander, his screams of "Where is your anger?" pierced many a one's thoughts and inner consciousness. sad didn't seem an appropriate or eloquent response for the anger Respect prevailed for those killed and their survivors.

For many, occasion.

The

Many thought the trial of Dan White would be cut and dry, over in one day, with White receiving the maximum penalty, if not the electric chair. trial lasted eleven days. It took the State of California three days to decide whether or not there was enough evidence to bring him to trial, despite White's tape-recorded confession. The one thing that appalled me was evidence that Dan White had eaten too much junk food that morning, which made his thinking unclear. This defense was favored by the judicial system and upheld. The day of final deliberation came and so did the verdict: voluntary manslaughter brought on by being overly depressed. The justice system decided that the civil rights of murder victims are not important if one of the victims happens to be homosexual. Justice had not prevailed.

Ignorance is not bliss. How often have we used ignorance as an excuse not to become politically committed to a cause or an issue? Or used the rationale that those issues did not affect our lives? Slowly, one by one, issues of homophobia, sexism, feminism, ageism, oppression, solidarity, and discrimination have invaded my life, as I am sure they have or will infiltrate yours, permeating deep into one's soul and consciousness raising questions not only of civil rights but of human rights as well.

Is Cleveland any different from San Francisco? Has any of the above mentioned form of discriminations taken place in Cleveland, only to be dismissed or ignored because of one's sexual preference? Are we, as a community, doing enough? Ask yourself. by Bruce Roberts

gay people's

CHRONICLE

THE GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE Vol. 3 Issue 6.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Martha J. Pontoni.

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Rob B.

FOUNDER:

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COPY EDITOR:

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Martha Pontoni, Tom P., Forbes, Robert Downing, John Robinson, Raymond Burton.

COLUMNISTS:

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Dale Petersen.

PRODUCTION STAFF: Janice T.,

Raymond Burton, Kaija Berzins, Rob B., Robert Downing.

DISTRIBUTION CHIEF:

Robert Downing.

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Correction

Correction:

The photograph of the March on Washington which appeared in the November issue was taken by Louise Luczak.

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