LEVELANDER'S
to take pride in
By Joe Gobeno
This month's Clevelander to be proud of is Wynn Weizer. Working with the Lesbian/Gay Community for the past eight years, one need only look at her involvement to see why she should be recognized.
Although Wynn is currently semi-retired in the Gay Community, she still devotes time to BASIS (Brothers And Sisters in Sobriety) as well as other organizations. Her educational background includes studies at KSU where she majored in Health and Phys. Ed. "What else!!?" she says. Ms. Weizer is obviously family-oriented and she has been involved with the family business for the past 19 years.
Wynn's past titles include president of Dignity/Cleveland for two years, vice president of the Eleanor Roosevelt Gay Political Club, also for two years, and co-coordinator of the Gay Hotline. She has also chaired or co-chaired several organizations, GEAR Board, Dignity/Cleveland Women's Committee, and Lesbians in High Gear. The last was known as LIGHT although her favorite choice for a name was DIG, Dykes in GEAR.
An outgoing, yet very modest woman, Wynn feels that she was only a part of the process and involvement. "No one single person makes the final
product." She credits many people as being equally responsible for all that has been accomplished. Among them are Jerry Bores of the ERGPC, and the women at NCLA (North Coast Lesbian Alliance.) Wynn has a special thank you to Pat B. of the latter group, without whom she would not have been involved.
Wynn's social and political commitment is evident. Along with the ERGPC, she petitioned for a Ban on Discrimination in County Employment. She believes that while it was not successful, it did make the City Council realize we are a group to be reckoned with. Ms. Weizer was, also part of a committee through Dignity that led to the first AIDS Prayer Service in Cleveland which took place in June, 1986.
Wynn' faithfully believes that we must work together to make this a strong community. "While different segments may disagree on how to achieve a goal," says Wynn, "many paths can be valid. The end, not just the means, is what is of consequence." She also hopes that those who accept leadership positions will see change not as an event, but as a process. It cannot happen overnight, but we must work toward a positive Lesbian/Gay image.
Without Wynn Weizer's commitment and dedication, many things would not have happened. For this reason, we want to applaud her efforts.
If you should know of others who should also be recognized for their work in the Lesbian/Gay Community, please write to use in care of the Chronicle. Include not only the nominee's name and phone number, but also your own.▼
= DEFINITIONS:
By Janice T.
Prejudice is yet another of the many words who's meaning is left to conjecture. Everyone knows what it means, until you ask them for a definition. So what does prejudice mean?
Most people will say that prejudice is bad, some without having a reason why. Prejudice, others say, is the result of a primal self preservation. Prejudice can be learned. Hatred is often used to define the word. Prejudice is often an underlying basis for war and other forms of fighting.
Prejudice, lexicographers say, is the formation of an opinion or judgement before getting all of the facts. These opinions or judgments can be favorable but most often are not. A first impression by this definition is prejudice. Some of these dictionary writers use words like hasty, incomplete, or damage. Prejudice has become a primarily negative word.
Consider the following scenario. You see a person with a yellow rain slicker running down Euclid Ave. toward you carrying an ax in a menacing way. This person wields the ax into the window of your favorite eatery. Without addition information you've probably put as much space as possible between you and this person. You have judged this person before you met. Was this person a crazed lunatic or a firefighter (or both)? Or did this person have some other reason for this behavior?
One of the basic primal instincts is "fight or flight." When facing a charging lion or bear a quick decision is needed run or encounter. Am I equipped to handle this animal? Is there any hope? How can I survive?
Prejudice can be taught. Schools teach children to be careful (prejudice) with strangers. Victims of prejudice share their experiences with family, friends, or peers--cautioning them against the same set of conditions.
Prejudice can be the result of prejudice. How often have two groups of people clashed due to prejudice and counter-prejudice.
Hatred is where prejudice departs from the fight or flight instinct. This hatred can be generated from longheld irrational false judgments. With hatred prejudice is no longer an acceptable survival skill, rather, it is abhorrent.
Such hatred, left unbridled, leads to conflict, and often violence. Prejudiced hatred led gays, Gypsies, political dissenters, and Jews to the camps of the Nazis. Prejudiced hatred has led to continued conflicts in the Middle East. Closer to home, such hatred has lead to violence on the part of the hated.
Prejudice has divided the gay community into small manipulable groups easily squashed by those in power. A leatherman may not accept queens, nelly or otherwise. A feminist separatist is not fond of men without regard towards their race, creed, color, or sexual preference. A non-drinking alcoholic may not wish to deal with anyone still drinking even if that drinker is not an alcohol abuser. "Divide and rule is a political tool" as the song writer says.
So what does the word prejudice mean?
Definitions is a regular feature of the GPC. Readers are welcome to send letters with words they'd like defined or with their definition of a word used.
THE
NAMES
PROJECT
CHUCK SOLOMON
AGE
AIDS FILM PROJECT
Tuesday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. The Cleve. Cinematheque at the Cleve. Institute of Art East Blvd. at Bellflower, University Circle Free Parking 229-0982 $4 Members, $5 Non-members ($1 goes to support The Names Project Cleveland Chapter.)
LIVING M/
becom
Anintite port of and their strength to live with AIDS
AIDS
Kay Bookkeeping Service
ALL PHASES OF "COMPLETE" ACCOUNTING For the discreet business owner
KAY
PHONE (216) 331-7962
INSURANCE...
Because there are no guarantees in life.
LIFE* MEDICAL DISABILITY
IRA
*No testing for coverage under $250,000.
621-7330
Bob Harris Insurance Agency
1900 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115
YOUR PERSONAL SPACE
By Douglas J. Moore, Ph.D.
CONSIDERING THE HIV
TEST?
There is a lot of controversy about HIV testing. Politicians, educators, physicians, and insurance representatives are but a few who have expressed their opinion. The comments usually emphasize the protection of society with little regard to the psychological and physical impact on the person being tested.
Recent evidence suggests that stress can weaken the immune system. If this is true, one should consider the psychological impact of having an HIV test. Knowing you are HIV positive may be stressful, and contribute to a break down in the immunue system. The reverse may be true also. That is, not knowing if you are positive or negative may be very stressful. Then how do you know whether to be tested or not?
Your decision should include an examination of how you are coping
17
LESBIAN GAY
Community Service
Center
with not knowing and how that would change if you were to be tested. Which is going to result in the least amount of stress? Some people get very worried not knowing if they are HIV positive and once they find out they face it and try to keep healthy. Other people become depressed and give up when they find out they are positive. How would you react?
It may be helpful to think about situations in your past where you had to anticipate something. For example, did you worry more about taking a test in school or about the bad grade you received? Have you ever found out that a friend or relative was terminally ill? How do you tend to react to bad news? Your reaction in these situations may provide a clue to your response to a positive HIV test. It is obviously not an easy decision, good luck.
I welcome comments about the column or questions you may have. Please address them to the Chronicle.
Dr. Moore is a clinical psychologist in private practice. He also teaches, consults, and does research at several institutions in Cleveland.
SUSAN M. WEAVER
OF GREATER CLEVELAND
781-6736
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Divorce
Wills
Bankruptcy
General Practice
The Rockefeller Bldg.⚫ Suite 608
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 349-3700
TOLL FREE
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AIDS HOTLINE 1-800-332-AIDS
Funded in part by N.O.C.I.
3