=GUEST EDITORIAL

Lesbians, AIDS & Gay Men

The gay cooperation

for

for

asking male population in Cleveland is from the lesbian community in battling more funding for AIDS research; in bringing The Names Project quilt to Cleveland (Jun. 8-10); and in organizing Western conference (to be held at Case to

the Mar.

lesbian/gay 25-27).

is phenomenon

all

This not peculiar Cleveland; it is happening the over country, especially in light of the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic. Thus, there is great need for many warm bodies working together.

The need for organizational expertise within the gay attended male community was acutely obvious to me when I the demonstration at Public Square on Jan. 11. Some men brought a large casket draped in black velvet but failed Part of having our needs to get it filmed by the media. heard, as a community, is having the media report about them. The media loves symbols; casket wonderful symbol. Unfortunately, it stayed buried behind signs and protesters because no one kept the

the

all

Politicized

are politically unconscious, understand gay oppression holistically.

lesbians

For example, we generally support abortion rights even though most of us would never be faced with the decision of whether to have an abortion. We support black rights, senior citizen rights, feminism, and sexual freedom because

in

we understand that oppression may be colored many different ways but is basically the same oppression. We understand that each individual interest group derives the supports benefit of a united front when each group the other. I fear that gay men are only seeing one form and will not look that which faces them of oppression in the mirror to see the racism and sexism they harbor.

I

-

-

experienced this kind of narrow-minded thinking in the sober gay community. A gay male told me that he would lesbian not come and support the dances organized by the A.A. the

of

because men are not permitted to attend group meeting. Following his thinking, I suppose I should not lend issue my energy on any project addressing the AIDS since I contracting have only a two percent chance While I am certain that is not what most of my gay AIDS. do would still not them brothers want, demonstrating for "women's issues" that have as much In of affecting them as AIDS does me. reality, like unequal pay for women and the lack of rights for all people affects everyone.

was a

casket

on

chance AIDS

the front line. Later, when the men decided to move the casket to Tom Johnson Square to hold a memorial service, they simply started to move it without telling the other demonstrators their Instead of having the 300 plans. demonstrators following, the majority stayed behind believing that the gays were simply leaving. The lost part of their grass roots support by not announcing their intentions.

men

The lesbian community in Cleveland has more years of experience in media-grabbing protests than the gay male community. We have experience in guaranteeing that the media will cover and report our efforts to the mainstream public. We have learned that "if the media doesn't cover it, it " didn't happen. We know to send public service announcements to the radio and television stations and call the media when an event is in the offing. We know how to gather and maintain mailing lists and to keep our community advised of upcoming events. We know how network with each other's organizations So that all groups within the called community can be upon when bodies are needed to hold signs, stuff envelopes, write fundraising letters, hold potlucks, and so on.

to

We share a common bond with our straight sisters who are feminists so our community is not limited to only lesbian feminists. We enjoy a large tightly-knit, closely-networked community with its own newspaper, centralized facilities and a large sober alliance. The attendance at events held at the Women's Building Project grows in number every year. We have our own free lending library, our own talent show, our own music and, well, everything we need. We jealously protect our community from men, and has served very separateness This is evidenced by the many lesbians strengthen their they would only spend energies on events and issues that serve women.

who told

us.

me

that

-

gay

males

to

-

I

see

equal

from

the

will

For garner large support talented and experienced lesbian community, they have to re-think their their own politics and change behavior. More specifically, they must show visible support at events that serve to battle oppression of women and minorities, as well as gays. They must educate themselves on the holistic process of oppression that affects all of us. They must stop calling each other "girl" and "woman" and recognize their full manhood be rather than adding to the subliminal message that "to a woman is to be less than a man." Alternatively, gay men can AIDS simply trudge the road without us and wait for to hit full the lesbian community before enlisting our support.

It's a lot to ask for. But, I doubt that we will see large scale cooperation from the lesbian community unless one of the two foregoing scenarios occurs. I hope I wrong. the gay male community could certainly use help we could lend them now.

The

am

For the record, this lesbian understands that AIDS is an issue confronting everyone, including gay men. I also understand that the government generally ignores problems in those segments of society which are not straight, white, and male. I support anyone involved in the struggle for AIDS resources, research, and education. I am writing about the concerns of the lesbian community in Gay hopes that gay men will change their behavior. must first demonstrate a more enlightened awareness and responsibility to the social and political to gay expect before gay men can effective with lesbians. AIDS partnership devastating health problem, an insidious social problem, and a political hot potato which will absolutely require of joint efforts both the gay and the lesbian community to eliminate it.

to

the men of of

Furthermore, the coming out journey of a woman is very different from that of a man. As soon as a woman makes it to any of the events held at our building, she is exposed to politics on a humanistic scale. She learns about racism, classism, ageism, capitalism, and, oh yeah, sexism. Every belief she learned as a child is brought under the scrutiny of her conscience. If she chooses to stay involved, she becomes a part of a whole system of leftists who fight against oppression on every front.

On the other hand, a man coming out is introduced to the bars, the bookstores, and, sometimes, the GEAR center. He is not systematically (or otherwise) taught about oppression of blacks, women or other minorities. He might get somewhat politicized because of the organizing happening around the country concerning AIDS. But, that is only one small issue in a grand scale of issues. And I fear, then, that he is being shown only one narrow view of our society's ills: heterosexism. I will grant that not all lesbians are politicized. But, I would venture say that the exact opposite is true of gay men not

to

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the

Women

LESBIAN GAY

Community Service Center

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

781-6736

needs

forge is

an a

By Rady Ananda

TOLL FREE

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

AIDS HOTLINE 1-800-332-AIDS

Funded in part by NOCI

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