=EDITORIAL

Changing, growing, stretching

This newspaper was founded on the premise that lesbians and gay men should and could work together towards the betterment of the collective community, this paper was founded. Other projects and events in Cleveland have recently also reflected this premise. So does it work? Can lesbians and gay men work together? Do they get anything accomplished? The answer to all three is yes sometimes.

Sometimes it does work. This paper is run under the feminist principles of equality, namely everyone is equally important. The staff goes out of its way to represent both lesbians and gay men. It is not a paper run by gay men that happens to have some lesbians on the staff. Likewise it is not a lesbian paper. (Although it has been accused of that).

Another example of togetherness working was the ACT-UP Protest. There, the committee was men and women. Again all were equal.

But just because it has worked in these cases doesn't mean it always does. Cleveland's Lesbian community and Gay community have a long way to go to establish a joint lesbian/gay community. And the fault lies on both sides.

The men plan an event. No lesbians show up to help or participate.

"But we asked" they whine, "no one showed up". Well how did they ask? Were they sensitive to lesbian/feminist issues, or were they just plan dominate males who just happen to be gay? Many, many lesbians have just had enough of the dominate male culture, to not accept it in gay men either. Do the men realize they have to change? Do they know that feminism means equality not women dominated? When will they learn?

The lesbian community is just as guilty in their inability to change. Women only space is needed and should never, never be threatened by the presence of males. But is this the only space? Are lesbians going to stand around and watch their brothers die and do nothing? Have they become just like their enemies, by being just as sexist and sterotypical ? Yes some gay men are like some straight men,-impossible to be around. They are abusive by their very nature and shouldn't be tolerated. But do all lesbians ride motorcycles ? Lumping all men into one pattern is just as dangerous as what some men do to women.

So what is the answer?

Stretching is the answer. Stretching beyond what is comfortable and learning something new. If all lesbians took the time out to find some

=GUEST EDITORIAL

Just a word of thanks

Just a word... of thanks to Cleveland for the generous support of the Names Project; generous in volunteer hours by hundreds of caring people...men and women, gay and straight; generous in financial contributions at an attendance percapita rate higher than most other cities on the tour; and generous in their love and concern for those of us living every day with AIDS.

And

word...of special mention thanking Jeff Comfort, Director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health and Human Resources, who picked up $15,000 bill for the Cleveland Convention Center and related labor costs...and the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation for underwriting the $1,700 bill for the pipe

for hanging panels...and Eugene Witts and NOCI for the generous $1,000 gift plus their ongoing panel making workshop... Valentine News for more than $2,000 in services in printing, layout, badges, and ad space...Paul Hamlin, who as a result of a "small dinner party" at his home took in 3,300 from friends and kicked in $1,700 personally to give $5,000 to the Names Project Cleveland... Stouffer's Tower City Plaza Hotel, for providing complimentary accommodations for the national tour personnel...Ohio Bell, the only local corporation to contribute (though many were asked)...and Health Issues Taskforce, where Sue Drazdik answered thousands of calls about the Names Project, volunteering, contributions, and panel making...the

FRACES

JOHNSON

FRICA

30%

BERNIER

ROLAND FIORE CRON

Names Project Quilt

ROY

Cleveland Convention Center, June 3-5, 1988

Drew Cari

feminist gay men they might realize what they were missing. If all gay men took some time out to realize how they were taught to abuse women and see women as second class citizens maybe it wouldn't be so hard for feminists (both men and women) to be around them. As a community we often complain about how "badly" society treats us. Well we do the same thing to ourselves so how can we expect others to treat us well if we don't treat ourselves well.

The lesbian/gay community of Cleveland can exist and prosper along side the lesbian community and the gay community. The lesbian/gay community if it is to survive needs to include feminists, drag queens, democrats, republicans, communists, diesel dikes and fairies. In other words we can be ourselves but we also must reserve time to be together also. We need to learn to tolerate each other and be sensitive to one another's needs. We need to actively recruit one another, not just hope some lesbian shows up or some gay man doesn't. We need to look to our selves as the problem as well as the solution. We need to at least try.

Divided we are weak, together

we are mighty.

planning committee members: Bob, Zak, Jeff, Rick, Martha, Don, and Aubrey for patiently working with a chairman who didn't always know the next hurdle but who plowed on past the doubters and the setbacks.

And words of love...for the parents, strong in their support of their lost sons and daughters, and ready to help others through their approaching loss...Georgia, Annette, Mitzi, Bruce and Katherine, Donna, and the ones who can't speak publicly yet.

And to the few...who think of theirs as the ONLY game in town, the $20,000 in proceeds raised at the Names Project display in Cleveland were distributed on July 1 to SEVEN local services organizations in the northeast Ohio area.

And a word of admiration...for the PWA's and for the health care givers, who every day provide healing and invaluable love...it must take a special courage to continue.

And our politicians...thank you Congressman Feighan, County Commissioner Hagen, and City Councilman Pianka for being there...but where were your colleagues Oakar, Stokes, Eckart, Pease?...and where were Metzenbaum, Glenn, Voinovich, Forbes, and Celeste:...they were all asked in february to be part of the event...and NOT A WORD in reply.

But it's time to move on, so one final word...D.C. '88...panel making continues because our losses continue...our lovers, our sons and daughters, our friends...so we must be present in October in Washington, D.C. to show our government and nation that AIDS is the entire nation's

concern.

Dale Melsness

gay people's HRONIC

Publishers:

KWIR Publications.

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, Joan Valentine, L.Kolke, Don S.

Columnists:

Buck Harris, John Robinson, Janice T., Auntie Ray, Doug Moore, Ed Santa Vicca, Patty M.

Production Staff:

Janice T., Raymond Burton, Kempski, Kaija

Tom P., Ray Berzins, Kathy S.

Art Director:

Dale Petersen.

Artist:

Christine H., Pat Hughes

Assistant to the Editor:

Dan Postotnik, Kathy S.

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 is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless either written or verbal permission is obtained.

Daniel T. Postotnik

POTTERY AND TILE

2570 SUPERIOR AVE

6TH FLOOR CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114

216-589-9371