EDITORIAL

Dukakis endorsement

Continued from Page 1.

values" and strengthens the concept of "the family." In Bush's approach to AIDS, lesbians and gay men do not exist.

Dukakis also supports mandatory testing for the military and immigrants, and supports federal antidiscrimination legislation. (Dukakis supported a Massachusetts bill to provide such protection.) Beyond these two points, Dukakis differs greatly from Bush on AIDS. Dukakis supports voluntary, confidential counseling and testing; increased spending for AIDS, with support for community-based programs; and education that includes information on sex and drug use.

Dukakis' record in Massachusetts is more mixed than he likes to portray. He overturned the state's ban on all HIV testing by insurance companies,

allowing testing for life insurance policies over $100,000 and for some disability insurance. His insurance commissioner resigned in protest. Since then, insurance companies have blocked in court the ban on testing for health, accident and life group insurance, allowing them to test and deny people When coverage. conservative state legislators pulled a "Helms maneuver" during the debate on the state's lesbian and gay rights bill, passing around copies of an explicit safer sex brochure for gay men as obscenity, Dukakis did not support explicit education. He called the brochure "far too explicit" and announced his administration would never pay for such explicit AIDS education. And while Dukakis supports more funding for AIDS programs, he has talked about cutting back on programs--including programs for

people with AIDS-to deal with the state's fiscal crisis.

Many of these things happened over two years ago. Perhaps Dukakis has learned since then and changed his mind. But in each area discussed above, the Chronicle finds a mixed Dukakis record held up against an abominable Bush (and Reagan) record. We believe Dukakis can be moved in these areas, given his inclusion of open lesbians and gay men in his campaign. We find no such evidence with regard to Bush. VOTE FOR DUKAKIS.

Concerning the vice-presidential candidates: Both Democrat Lloyd Bentsen and Republican Dan Quayle are losers in the area of lesbian and gay concerns. Forget them, vote for Dukakis, and hope nothing happens to him during the next four years. ▼

Metzenbaum endorsement

Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum deserves the lesbian and gay community's votes for re-election.A member of that much-maligned political species,

"the liberal",

Metzenbaum has been specifically targeted for defeat by conservatives nationwide. Although Metzenbaum has not been openly vocal about lesbian and gay issues, he has supported them when it's been time to vote for AIDS research funding and civil and reproductive rights.

The fact that Metzenbaum is a good senator for Ohio probably

accounts for his comfortable lead in current polls over his challenger, George V. Voinovich, mayor of Cleveland. But Voinovich's shrill comments about such burning social issues as "kiddie-porn" should remind all lesbian and gay Ohioans how critical it is to vote for Metzenbaum's reelection. After all, when the Cleveland Public Health Department was criticized for inaction concerning AIDS, Voinovich said that the problem would not exist if certain people simply obeyed the Ten Commandments! Then there were his life-threatening

= GUEST EDITORIAL

remarks about excluding condoms from AIDS education and prevention programs when he was concerned about taking on the Catholic church (and losing their votes).

Metzenbaum has stuck by his principles and taken the heat when it was not popular to be a Democrat, let alone a liberal. We wish we could say the same of Voinovich whose actions become more right-wing and homophobic as his chances get dimmer. The choice is very clear. We endorse the re-election of Metzenbaum to the Senate. ▼

From here to community

by Aubrey Weirtheim

"Why aren't more people

involved?"

"Do you think we'll ever get it together in Cleveland?"

"What gay and lesbian community?"

When I decided to return to the Cleveland area and take the job of director of the Lesbian/Gay Community Service Center, there were questions I was continually asked.

Wherever I have worked in the lesbian and gay movement (including New York City), I've heard the same complaint "no community here." And I always refuse to buy it.

There has always been community as long as gays and lesbians have been around to discover each other and exchange their unique gifts and perspectives. The concept of homosexual population began to be explored at the end of the 1800s, the idea of a gay or lesbian identity and culture took form in the mid-1900s, and the birth of gay/lesbian liberation in the 1960s created a proliferation of organizations and activity, 'community' has never been more undeniable. A gay person in the wilds of Xenia reading Adreienne Rich or listening to Meg Christian is communing with her/his people in ways that 20 years back was only available in certain knowing circles around Los Angeles or Boston.

access

The problem of remains, though, and I think those voices I first encountered were bemoaning that Cleveland's lesbian/gay community was a difficult one to access. That lavender apartheid which so insidiously divides a town into gay-friendly and gay-hostile environments was partitioned were exorbitantly in favor of straight standards and practices. community, we seemed inaccessible, invisible and inaudible.

As a

The time has come for change and I believe both the gay and straight communities are ready for it. The signs are heartening: the appearance of new businesses enthusiastically embracing a multi-racial, lesbian and clientele, new support groups and social outlets, the phenomenal volunteer response that secured The Names Project, the continued growth of The Chronicle and community bookstore.

our

own

At this time last year, the GEAR Foundation was located in an undistinguished private house in a less than reassuring part of town, with one part-time staffer and 25 volunteers running the hotlines and rap groups. Around 30 members and a state grant underwrote the place. Now, the proudly-renamed Lesbian/Gay

Community Service Center is located in a central, visible agency space on the near west side. A staff fo four (three part-time) and 95 volunteers provide 11 different programs ranging from a tremendously popular women's coffeehouse (in conjuction with West Side Women's Center) to a resource center offering over 50 different handouts and self-help pieces. A dropin, alternative-healing educational center is opening this month for people with AIDS and HIV infections, and a new youth program is readying an adolescent support group for next year. 130 members and monthly donors support The Center along with national and local foundations, Community Shares (an alternative payrolldeduction campaign), the Ohio Department of Health and the Cleveland Health Department. A diverse array of groups using the Center Buckeye Rainbow Society for the Deaf, a lesbian mothers support group, and Cleveland City Country Dancers among them also assist in our operating costs through rental donations, as well as making the center a truly community-representative

facility.

All this looks good on paper, yet in fact, it is just a toe in the door. Around 250 women and men use the Center ever month (along with 200-400 hotline callers). Over 200,000 lesbians and gays call Greater Cleveland their home. It's a mistake to say the vast majority of this number is closeted. "Closeted" implies an identity denied. Most of our brothers and sisters have no recognition they're related. To them, gays and lesbians remain twodimensional figures of fun and apprehension: stereotypical in appearance, depraved in behavior, neurotic of mind and demonic of spirit. The dominant culture works hard to keep them informed of who we aren't. It is up to all of us build community institutions social, spiritual, cultural, professional and service which decisively and provocatively turn around homophobic definitions of our people, our relationships and our families. This is the mission of The Center.

How can we realize this

dream? 1) Use us. Attend groups or fuctions at The Center. If you're currently involved in a gay/lesbian or program, consider relocating to our space. Its central, fits up to 80 folks, and will be wheelchair-accessible within the month.

Especially attend our official opening this month and see how The Center has grown. An invite in ths issue gives all the details.

2) Volunteer. In addition to 11 programs, the Center has seven administrative crews working valiantly on strengthening and expanding the agency's work. Whatever your skills, we can surely find a use for them. It isn't always glamorous, but it does have its rewards as each new hand helps to crack Cleveland's closet door a little bit more.

3) Support us. Members and

gay people's

HRONIC

Vol. 4 Issue 3.

Publishers:

KWIR Publications.

Co-Owners: Robert Downing Martha Pontoni

Editor-in-Chief:

Founder:

Martha J. Pontoni.

Charles Callender, 1928-1986.

Copy Editor:

Carlie Steen

Reporters & Writers:

Martha Pontoni, Tom P., Dora Forbes, Robert Downing, John Robinson, Joan Valentine, L.Kolke, Don S. Tracy Miller, Michele Smeller.

Columnists:

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

Production Staff:

Janice T., Raymond Burton, Tom P., Ray Kempski, Kathy S. 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 of its reproduction contents is prohibited unless either written or verbal permission is obtained.

monthly donors provide the bedrock fiscal foundation we build on. Grants and institutional giving is important, but until you individually make an investment in gay/lesbian services and communal well-being, The Center can never be secure. Becoming a member or donor is easy, painless and confidential. Give us a call and we'll show you how good giving can feel: 522-1999.

On October 11th, National Coming Out Day, The Center will officially open its door with a ribboncutting press conference in the morning, and rousing open house in the evening. This will be the first time the city of Clevelanbd has a publicized, open acknowledged, visible lesbian and gay facility. Isn't that scary?

A little. But how can we let our fear keep us from stepping forward knowing this moment some kid being called "queer" and no one helps, someone sits through a sermon persecuted and believes theres no other word someone's spending a whole life alone running through a whole heart feeling profoundly torn but not knowing why?

There is a gay and lesbiar community in Cleveland. Our task, i a challenge, exciting, never ending tasl is to bring that community into the light and into its own. For them, fo us, for today and for always. ▼