=GUEST EDITORIAL

Gays and violence

Drew F. Cari

The evening of Jan. 14, Steven Fuseck, known as drag performer Katie Alexander, attended a performance of "La Cage Aux Folles" at the State Theatre at Playhouse Square. The show was beautiful, full of color, energy, music. It was interwoven with a fine thread of pain and embroidered with laughter and

love.

I can't help noticing the people that surround me when I am in a theatre. I suppose it comes from having theatre training--I was taught to watch the audience. Steven Fuseck was seated two rows ahead of me, one of those people that I noticed enjoying the performance as much as anyone. I did not him, but nonetheless, I was shaken to discover that he was found shot to death in the wee hours of the morning of Jan. 15 at W.44th St. and Bridge Ave. Apparently because he was gay. The excuse is a lame one and does not sit well with me. Although the price of his sexual preference was higher than mine has been to date, I feel victimized as should the rest of the Cleveland Lesbian /Gay community, i.e.

Continued from Page 2.

gay

It

the police brutality against the male communities in those cities. should also be noted that the single event that catapulted the struggle for gay rights into the consciousness of most gay people was staged in bar that catered to drag queens (Stonewall) and this is most ironic considering Ms. Ananda's

a

statement

that gay men "must stop calling each other "girl & woman" and recognize their full manhood rather than adding to the subliminal message that "to be a woman is to less than a man". If most lesbians feel this way then they are so caught up in their own defense mechanisms that they miss the entire point why know other gay men call each "girl & woman", which is to satirize straight people's attitude towards us that we are less than men because of our We sexual preference. do not think women are unequal and have less stature than men. to For gay men "recognize their full manhood" we would have to act like straight men which is quite contradictory since straight men can generally be blamed for holding women under their thumbs for so long. I have cultivated the thoughts & both feelings of because it enables me to empathize with both sides.

I feel a rage and a disgust, part of which is due to the off hand manner in which this shattering incident was brought to my attention, almost as though it was barely worthy of mention: discussed in hushed voices at a party so as not to disturb the consciousness of those present. "How can they be So casual?" I thought. and was there no anger to Were they frightened, shake them out of that fright? Or was I observing defeat in an atmosphere hopelessness?

of

When I first sat down to write, my impulse was to fill this space with statistics on anti-gay and anti-lesbian attacks--attacks on the upswing--and chastise a community, not necessarily the Cleveland community, for displaying a sluggish and sometimes disinterested attitude towards reporting these incidents to the proper agencies. But I have had several weeks to think since Steve Fuseck met his untimely and violent death.

I have calmed myself enough to investigate and discovered that I was not the only Clevelander to report this act of violence to the Violence Project at National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. But what about the other incidents? Kevin Berrill, who heads the Violence Project at NGLTF, was in Cleveland to address the last All Ohio Lesbian/Gay Conference at Case Western Reserve University. The man spoke, urging that members of our community report these anti-gay crimes. "...and lesbian"... He gave out literature and his business card. But since that time I have personally known of other violent incidents that went unreported. Why?

sexes

Asking their gay men to renounce entire culture because it disagrees with philosophies that can be described as slanted and self-serving at best is like asking black people to step to the back of the bus. If lesbian support in the fight against AIDS is based upon the premise that gay men must change to suit lesbians backs or they're going to turn their on us during this crisis, then so be it. This kind of dogmatic selfishness is not a very progressive or accepting attitude. We welcome their support, no strings attached, but if we must struggle on without them we We have no choice. In a crisis situation, differences set must be aside and everyone should work toto overcome it. gether There is no time over for negotiation minutiae and at this stage,

It is certainly an easy task to accomplish. the telephone and dial. Only the bare essentials describing the incident need to be given to Violence Project personnel. There is no need to give the name of the victim, your name, There is no need to fear that or any one else's. you will be exposed. But there is a need to have as many of these senseless and shattering violent crimes against our community reported where it may some good.

will. All one needs to do is pick up

Violent crimes, as well as verbal abuse, Gay Hot-Line also.

do

may be reported to the Cleveland They in turn will pass the information on to an that deals with Violence Project at NGLTF.

agency

will

Reporting a murder will not bring that victim back. Filing a report not undo a bashed in skull or promote the healing of a stab wound. But if there is enough documentation of crimes against our community it supports the argument for our protection under the law. It is another way of demonstrating to our straight controlled society, the people who, to a very large extent, control our lives, that we exist. And that, because we exist as human beings, we are to be accorded the dignity that we deserve. So, why do so many of these incidents go unreported? Doesn't anyone want to be first? everyone waiting to be next.?

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A crisis situation really shows how much people care, and it is most disturbing that many lesbians "would only spend their energies on events and issues that serve women".

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