EDITORIAL

Happy Birthday GPC!

Happy Birthday to the GPC, Happy Birthday to the GPC... oh

excuse us.

It is hard to believe that the Chronicle is one year old this month (after its rebirth). Because it is such a special occasion we are going to dedicate this space to a little reminiscing and, of course, editorializing.

The decision to restart the Chronicle was not a hard one. The paper had to begin again if Cleveland was ever going to have a unified lesbian/gay community. The only question was could we do it? While both Bob Downing and I had worked on the previous Chronicle neither had actually done the whole production. But after a talk we realized we had nothing to lose by trying. After all if we failed we wouldn't have lost anything (Cleveland still wouldn't have a paper). But on the other hand, if we succeeded, and all of Cleveland's lesbian/gay community would have everything to gain.

It was obvious to us that someone had to at least try to establish this paper. Maybe if we started, others would help. Someone else in the community come up with the idea of starting another paper and invited all those who had signed up at the All Ohio Lesbian/Gay Conference at Case Western Reserve University in 1987 to help with a paper. Two out of the 40 people on the list showed up. So we figured it would just be the two of us (unlikely partners that we were). We had three conditions to the starting of the paper: 1) this would be a business if we couldn't pay the bills and salaries we would stop publishing 2) we would do the best we can and no more -if we experience burnout we would stop 3) we would never be late with a issue when publishing date rolled around we would print what ever we had done. So far we have have stuck with those three premises. We have never published late, we pay our bills (sometimes late, but they get paid), and when someone on the staff experiences burnout, she or he takes a break.

We were wrong about one thing though. We certainly didn't have to do this alone. One of the brightest joys and bonus from owning this newspaper is working with our staff.

Somehow, somewhere, we

have

collected the greatest set of volunteers ever. These people put in long hours of hard work for little or no pay. They do excellent work. If someday down the road the paper doesn't make it this will all have been worth it because of the impact these people have had in our lives.

Almost all of these people have never volunteered anywhere before. Some of them do layout, some deliver papers, some do clerical work, others write articles or sell ads. All of them work hard. The Chronicle wouldn't be what it is today without them.

The Chronicle can't be the work of two people or express the opinion of just one. Which is why our volunteers come from many different areas of the community. We solicit guest editorials from people very different from us and encourage them to express their own opinions. The entire staff helps in choosing our "Clevelander to Take Pride In" because this column is for the entire community and should reflect that.

We feel that as a staff we had made some tremendous strides toward being the paper we want to be. No one works full time which can be a problem sometimes. Often we get critized for not doing enough, but a lot of times we get praised for the work we do. We make mistakes, but we have also learned from them. We have learned to work together as a team, women and men together working for a common goal which has been a new experience for many of us.

Working on the paper has been fun, scary sometimes, but after 12 months still fun. But, there still are problems, and needs. We need a computer of our own, we need office space, and most of all we need more staff. Although our present staff works very hard there is still much to do. One of ways we help our staff to avoid burnout is to assign every one a small task that can be easily done. This makes for many small tasks that still need to be done.

There are so many events in Cleveland that impact our community that don't get coverage in the Chronicle because we don't have enough

= GUEST EDITORIAL

reporters. There are many business that would be willing to advertise but we don't have enough sales reps to talk to all of them. Often Cleveland's organizations find our ad prices too high. The prices aren't too high, organizations aren't used to having to budget funds for newspaper advertising. The Chronicle could use an liaison between these groups on the paper.

What about Akron, Elyria, Astublua, Youngstown? What are the Chronicle's responsibilities to these cities? We would like to include them but we don't have funds or personnel, yet.

As you can see the Chronicle has a long way to go. We invite all of you who can to join us on our journey and we thank all of you who have already helped.

The paper doesn't belong to just us it really belongs to all of you. Don't let it die of neglect, indifference, and "someone else can help." We will continue to do our part the best we can and we are asking you to do your part. Maybe the most you can do is write a letter to the editor, or give your business to one of our advertisers (and tell them about it), but that is a lot.

Thank you, Cleveland, for letting us be your newspaper. With God's help we look forward to providing this service for many, many years to come.

Remember if you have time to complain about this community you have time to help fix it.▼

Marthe Ponton

Martha Pontoni

Bob Rowning

Bob Downing

Shalom. From a Jewish lesbian

by Fern Levy

I am a Jew. I am a woman. I am a lesbian. I am joyous. I wouldn't have it any other way. But I have not always been the Jew, the woman, the lesbian that I am today. I have been fragmented. There have been cycles of exile and return, of depletion and renewal, and of denial and acceptance. As I affirm and embrace all of who I am and must be, what once seemed impossible becomes possible, what once seemed unthinkable becomes reality, and what was once unknown to me about myself, through my process of self-discovery, becomes known. What seemed like three separate identities has now merged into one complete entity.

As they say in Yiddish, "Sver zit zein a Yid." "It's hard to be a Jew" in a world that dishonors Jews. It is hard to be a woman in a world that oppresses women. And it is hard to be a lesbian in a world that fears the full power of women loving each other -of woman loving herself.

I've asked many questions on my journey of self-discovery. How to love myself as a Jew? How to love myself as a woman? How to love myself as a lesbian? How to find selflove in a world that dishonors, oppresses, and fears who I am? And most importantly, how do I, as a Jewish lesbian, find a place for myself in the Jewish world which excludes me as a woman, as a lesbian.

As a girl, I searched for my role in Judaism. Where I once had felt safe and came to feel unsafe. I continue to search for my role, my place of safety. To create a place where my expression of a personal feminist Judaism is allowed and supported. Where I can claim my power as a Jewish lesbian in order to come home to myself. Where I can celebrate myself.

The Jewish Community is not yet able to provide gay and lesbian Jews with a compassionate and safe

environment within institutionalized Judaism. And so, we as lesbian and gay Jews have had to create a place of safety for ourselves. I became involved in Chevrei Tikva (Friends of Hope), the organization for gay and lesbian Jews here in Cleveland, a few years ago during its birthing process. I was initially excited by the concept of celebrating my Jewishness with other lesbian and gay men. But I was suspicious of the traditional religiosity which I had run from emotionally and spiritually many years before. But I couldn't help but respect the passionate and profound commitment to being Jewish that I found there. However, I resisted what still excluded me as a woman, as a lesbian, and as a feminist.

After all, wasn't I the same person as the girl who was chosen to play God in a Sunday School play? Wasn't I the same person as the girl who had practiced for the rabbinate in my bedroom by reading out loud from the prayerbook to my imagined

gay people's

HRONICLE

Vol. 4 Issue 1.

Editor-in-Chief:

Founder:

Martha J. Pontoni.

Charles Callender, 1928-1986.

Copy Editor:

Kaija Berzins.

Production Editor:

Janice T.

Reporters & Writers:

Martha Pontoni, Tom P., Dora Forbes, Robert Downing, John Robinson, Joe Gubeno, Ben Shively Kathy Snyder, Joan Valentine.

Columnists:

Buck Harris, John Robinson, Janice T., Auntie Ray, Doug Moore.

Production Staff:

Janice T., Raymond Burton, Tom P., Ray Kempski, Kaija Berzins, Kathy S.

Art Director:

Dale Petersen.

Artist:

Christine H.

Distribution Chief:

Robert Downing.

Publication of the name, picture, or other representation of an individual, organization, or place of business in the GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE is not indicative of his/her sexual orientation or character.

Any material submitted for publication will be subject to editing. The GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE cannot guarantee the return of any such materials unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressed envelope.

Advertisers may obtain rate sheets and other information by writing the CHRONICLE, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, OH 44101. Our phone number is (216) 321-1129.

The GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE is distributed free of charge in any establishment that permits its distribution.

The GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless either written or verbal permission is obtained.

congregation. And wasn't I the same person as the young women who was chosen to be Leader of Vow at Confirmation because I was one of the Rabbi's favorites? There are many different ways to express one's Jewishness, one's commitment Jewish identity. And so I take what I can from the group and leave the rest. And I have even begun to forgive the three thousand year delay in "allowing" women to be rabbis.

Chevrei Tikva is blessed with commitment and fervor needed to make a difference in this community. It is blessed with the passion of its members. New bursts of energy have led to creative leadership and creative decision-making. And it has supported me as I have created women-centered Sabbath services, Women's Seders, baby-naming rituals, birthday rituals, and as Education Chair, a series of seminars with topics ranging from team building and group-centered leadership

(Continued on Page Five)