EDITORIAL

"Dancin"". time for a change?

Does the Lesbian and Gay Community of Cleveland have enough guts to question our leaders. and institutions, or are we so deprived we just accept what is thrown to us without ever asking if it is enough? Accountability and constructive criticism is important for a growing, thriving, healthy community.

Year after year HIT (Health Issues Task Force) raises thousands of dollars from Dancin' In the Streets for AIDS research and education. But for how long can this community support an event that continues to take and makes little effort to give back to the community?

HIT'S 100% profit policy effectively prohibits any small business from having a table at the fair and sharing in the "wealth" which HIT has generated. HIT requires that anyone who sets up a table gives 100% of the money raised to HIT. If merchants were allowed to keep all or part of the profits many more would be represented there. This in turn would draw even more people and raise the door receipts considerably. The 100% requirement is just plain greedy which in the end, like all greedy acts, nets less than a generous act. HIT wants to give people a good time for their money at

Dancin' In the Streets but by limiting the number of merchants they limit the benefit of attending, and reduce the good the rest of the community could derive from this event.

One of the biggest ironies of the event is pushing one disease to raise money for another. The amount of alcohol that is pushed (yes, pushed), is incredible considering that at least one out of every three of us is an alcoholic or addict. The use drug and alcohol also contributes significantly to the spread of AIDS because of reduced inhibitions that increase the chance that safe sex will not be practiced. True, soft drinks were sold and Brothers and Sisters in Sobriety were allowed to sell lemonade (something which almost didn't happen because of HIT's 100% policy). But this is not enough. Because food was limited (again because of HIT's 100% policy -not every one can eat hot dogs), drinking became almost the only thing to do. The biggest crisis of the night was that the beer ran out. Announcements were made about that problem, but were any made about not driving drunk, or limiting intake as to not stress the immune system? Sure HIT raised a lot of money from alcohol

=GUEST EDITORIAL

sales but it seems that this is blood money since we don't know how many people were killed, and injured in drunk driving accidents or contracted AIDS because they were to drunk to even care about safe sex.

HIT cannot control. an individual's alcohol intake but they can be more aware of the problem and do more education on alcohol's effect. If we as a community cannot raise money or have fun without excessive amounts of alcohol then we are really in trouble.

One last point is the lack of sensitivity to the lesbians who support this event. It seemed that HIT had made much progress in including lesbians and making them feel welcome but alas, this year evidence of that progress was no where to be seen. For example, how many lesbians would want to wear a t-shirt with two men dancing on it? Lesbians are invisible to the community at large but why do they have to be invisible in our community too? Wake up will you guys. Women do exist and they are interested in helping.▼

★

The awakening of a bisexual

By Charles Douglas

Most of my life I knew I was different. I did the same things most "normal" people did: I played sports, dated girls, went to parties, joined a fraternity, got married, had kids the whole bit. But I retained rigid control of myself. I never drank to excess, or did drugs because if I let my guard down even slightly, I might do the unspeakable: make a pass at a man. Looking back on it now, I should have known better. My first crush was on a man, a program director at a camp I attended at age 6. My second crush was at age seven on a high school senior (girl) who I usually walked part way to school with. In high school I never lacked for a date with a girl and did the usual necking and petting (with some at least) expected of me by both my parents and my peers. But, at the same time, I'd spend hours sneaking glances at this handsome football player who sat directly across from me. I once made an attempt to have sex with a male cousin, only to be interrupted by an aunt before the action got too far. That scared me so bad, it was years before I tried male sex again.

In my junior year in college, I finally made a pass at my roommate, only to be punched and thrown out of the room. The dorm faculty resident found me another room under the condition that I'd get therapy for my

LETTERS

Out & audible

An Open Letter to ti. Cleveland Gay/Lesbian Community National Coming Out Day is slated for October of this year. The staff at GayWaves has always been up front with their identities. We think that in observance of this event that it is time that our various guests were also out and about, so to speak. Therefore, we wish to announce our new policy of OUT AND AUDIBLE. No longer will we promote a Continued on Page 6.

"condition." So back in 1969 I began a year and a half of psychotherapy. My sexuality wasn't really discussed that much. We spent the majority of time on my relationship with my parents (and that did help me work through an awful lot of crap my sister is only recently getting through). Finally my treatment culminated in a "crisis night." I was told I had to choose: I could be straight or I could be gay. I couldn't be both. Back then bisexuality was unheard of. So I chose to be straight. Who would choose to be the object of scorn, ridicule, hate, and persecution? I was in love with a girl that I had been dating since high school. We married.

We had a good life together. We seldom fought and shared many wonderful things together. I never made close male friends. I had on separate occasions become really good friends with two different men during high school and college years. In both cases the friendship turned to love (on my part) and in both cases they rejected me when I tried to move the relationship into sex. So now I threw everything I had into the relationship I had with my wife and my job. Twice during the first 15 years of our marriage I managed to stumble into a quickie sex situation with a man. I dismissed these as some kind of flash back behavior to my younger years and would subject myself to even tighter control to be the heterosexual man

Nudity warning

We are writing this letter so that others in our community who may be considering an evening at the Loyal Oak Health and Swim Club (LOHSC) in Norton, Ohio may know of the risks involved.

After seeing its bar flyers and ads in area gay publications, we went to the LOHSC on August 6th. These ads, which are still being run at the time of this writing, promote "Nude Swimming 11 p.m. -7 a.m."

Continued on Page 6.

everyone expected me to be. To this day I have no idea how I justified all those male sex fantasies that kept running through my head.

Finally I met a young man who was extremely straight acting, very handsome, athletic, in short everything that society says a young adult male is supposed to be. And then he told me he was GAY. It really threw me for a loop. This was someone I could relate to. I knew I wasn't the fairy queen swishing down the street that society wants us to believe all gay men are. I was in head over heel lust. John knew what I was going through even before I did. I just knew I wanted to be with him and maybe once we could just fall into bed together without the terrible repercussions such behavior had had on me in the past. But John kept me at arms length, letting me sort through my own thoughts. Finally after three months, I convinced John to go to dinner with me. During dinner I confessed my attraction for him. He told me it was time that I came to terms. I needed to accept my gayness. I told him that I still loved my wife and was sexually active with her. John told me then to accept my gayness, but continue to have a monogamous relationship with my wife. Little did I know that as I was forcing open the closet door on my gayness, a new one was being prepared for me.

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gay people's

HRONICLE

Vol 4 Issue 3.

Publishers:

KWIR Publications.

Editor-in-Chief:

Martha J. Pontoni.

Founder:

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

HELP WANTED

The Chronicle is in need of an Art Director. Qualified person will have a background in graphic arts, experience in advertising a plus. Own equipment and access to stat making facilities a must. Will be supervising lay-out crew. Experience in newspaper layout is important. This is a volunteer position leading to paid position. Will be doing layout at least 3 nights a month. Call 321-1129 or 621-0228.

PRIDE 89!!

An Out Of The Closet Experience Commitee Now Forming!

Meeting: September 15, 8:00 P.M. at the Center

(29th & Detroit)

781-6736