CLEVELANDER'S

to take pride in

Two Clevelanders to Be Proud Of are Dr. A. Peter Beebe, Ph.D., and Debbie Dunkle, ACSW, LISW. Dr. Beebe and Ms. Dunkle have recently opened the first openly lesbian and gay psychotherapy office in Cleveland. They are also involved in many areas of the lesbian and gay community in Cleveland and have served as role models here for many years.

as

Dr. Beebe is the co-founder of the Health Issues Task Force, a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in New York, and is currently one of the few openly gay board members of the Western Reserve Aids Foundation here in Cleveland. Dr. Beebe is involved a steering committee member of the Midwest Association for the Study of Lesbian and Gay Issues for the American Psychological Association, as well as a member of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychologists. He is consultant for various national Gay and Lesbian Organizations and will be giving the key-note address at the Veteran's Administration National Clinical Nursing Conference in April of this year.

Ms. Dunkle is a gradate of Wheaton College, Wheaton Illinois, Case Western Reserve University, and the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. She is a former member of Oven Productions and is currently a member of the Land Project. Ms. Dunkle is a trainer and educator for mental health and medical professionals regarding work with lesbians and gay men on many topics including therapy issues, chemical dependency, AIDS, and others. She has made many media appearances representing the Lesbian Community here in Cleveland. Along with Dr. Beebe, she helped start HUGS-Cleveland and has been a copresenter at many All-Ohio Lesbian/Gay Conferences at CWRU. Ms. Dunkle also is the founder of Focus Counseling Inc. and has been coleader of lesbian and incest groups.

Both Dr. Beebe and Ms. Dunkle are extremely dedicated to the lesbian and gay community which served as motivation to open their practice. "There are many competent therapists in Cleveland working with

heterosexuals.

There are few therapists in Cleveland who understand and cherish the unique struggles and challenges of lesbians and gay men and who are themselves "out", and who are also competent therapists. We strive to be such people," says Dunkle.

Besides being role models to the lesbian and gay community both Beebe and Dunkle see themselves as role models to the straight community, of what it means to be lesbian and gay psychological professionals. Beebe believes their work is even more far reaching "I also believe we will be an increasingly important presence in our professional organizations, like Cleveland Psychological Association, for example." Dr. Beebe would eventually like to do research of value on lesbian and gay issues. This would include both traditional and statistical research as well as experimental models for treatment of lesbians and gays in such areas as shame reduction.

Dr.

Beebe considers psychotherapy an art-form "... we teach persons what it means to be subjective, to move within themselves to discover their own depths and to live by this self within, rather than living predominantly by external expectations". Ms. Dunkle sees therapy as an opportunity to be a positive role model, "Although we do not believe all lesbians and gay men need therapy. We see a need for role models of healthy lesbians and gay men. Because of the dearth of such models in our culture, we believe therapists can be such models for their clients".

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Dunkle and Beebe enjoy working with each other and are close personal friends. Dr. Beebe comments, It is wonderful to be working with a lesbian who is a friend and whose competence I respect". Ms. Dunkle comments, "It is equally wonderful to have as a business partner a man who is committed to excellence as a professional and is also a loyal and dear friend. For me it is important to work with and not against gay men. Starting this practice feels like 'coming home."

Dr. Beebe and Ms. Dunkle do not have a name for their practice. Their offices are located at 12329 Cedar Rd., #23, Cleveland Hts., and they can be reached at 229-2100.

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Mark or David

The

Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Political Club Endorses

Jessie Jackson for President

In The May 3rd Democratic Primary