Page 2 GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE January, 1989

EDITORIAL

Chronicle recognizes service to community

This issue of the Chronicle brings with it a new tradition; the Annual Community Service Awards. Cleveland's

Throughout lesbian-gay community, there are women and men who work hard day after day to give what they can to make our community better and easier to live in. Often these hard-working souls get no compensation except for the knowledge that they have made a difference in the world.

some

At the Chronicle, we think those hard workers deserve recognition from the rest of us. We would like them to know that what they have done has made a difference in more than just their own lives.

It was not easy to pick from the many well-deserving people who have worked so hard over the years. One of the most important criteria for receiving this award was that the person or organization honored had contributed something unique which had a impact on the members of Cleveland's lesbian-gay community in 1988. Many people and organizations fit this description well, but none as well as our honorees.

We would like to mention that it was hard not to pick Aubrey Wertheim; his work at the Lesbian-Gay Community Center has been outstanding. Aubrey has been the shot in the arm this community has needed for years. It also was difficult to not pick organizations such as Oven, for the Olivia concert, the Women's Building Project for its continuing effort to

create safe space for women, The North Coast Men's Chorus (even if they aren't gay), for bringing us music like we haven't heard in a while. Other possibilities included the Happy Feet Dance Collective, the Women's Coffee House and the Health Issues Taskforce.

But this year's honors had to go to Judy Rainbrook, president of the board of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center, and Dale Melsness, president of the NAMES Project Cleveland Chapter.

Without Judy Rainbrook's hard work and vision, the Center would not be where it is today. It would not be a place for lesbians and gay men to meet, mingle and contribute in ways that never have been possible in Cleveland before. GEAR, from which the Center sprung, was not doing the job. The Center's board, staff and volunteers make it what it is. And Judy pulls all of those talents together to work in harmony and have some lasting contributions to offer our community. The Center's grand opening celebration, the Men in Touch program, the Living Room, the new youth program, the Alcoholism Project---these are just a few of the programs that will have a lasting impression on the lesbians and gay men of Greater Cleveland. The Hotline's continued existence affects us all no matter what stage of coming out we are in. Thank you, Judy.

Dale Melsness is new to working in the lesbian-gay community in Cleveland. His one-time contri-

GUEST EDITORI

At his feet

By Doug Gaynes

Never would I have guessed we would have had over 1,700 men join the Foot Fraternity in just a few years. Since that time we have had over 6,000 requests for information. Interest growing, I'd like to share more about this unique area of interest that many men find so erotic.

Feet-shoes-boots-sneakersthongs-clean sox-dirty sox-foot worship-boot licking-foot kissing-sox smelling, to be a footmat, slave, foot stool, our pleasure all comes from this. .. being at his feet or having someone worship our feet and footgear.

My story is one of many. I originally felt desires in this area at the age of four when I remember watching daddy's socked feet and the enjoyment of sitting near them or placing my face at his feet. A bit later on I had a brother, five years older, very straight and macho who would enjoy wrestling around with me, pin me down and stick his socked feet in my face. It seemed to be equally exciting for him to dominate with his feet as it was for me to be forced to be submissive to them as this Scene

repeated itself many times

= LETTERS

through the years. It varied in degrees of having me lese bets and have to kiss his feet, polish his shoes, etc.

In my late teens, the interest in feet was strong and a vital part of my sexuality. I would watch men inadvertently slip their shoes on or off in restaurants, libraries and other public settings. The beach was wonderful! I was able to watch the part of the body I found most erotic when most men never even knew it. At work, I would often make silly bets with truck drivers, delivery men, etc. saying things like, "If you can carry all those in here, I'll kiss your feet" or "If you brought in my special order that I've been waiting for, I'll lick your boots!" Often they would smile and think I was just making small talk, but occasionally, they would do it and sit back waiting for me to pay up!

I have since spent hundreds of hours in the last nine years having my lover teach me the art of worshiping his feet, sox and foot gear. This is a very healthy expression of exploring one's erotic feelings (fetishes of sorts) and bringing that fantasy to reality. I was destined to one day run a group like the Foot Fraternity because I wanted to reach out and tell other people who were embarrassed at finding this to be

Five Cent Decision responds

To the editor:

We would like to respond to the letter printed in the December, 1988 issue of the Gay People's Chronicle and direct this letter to its author.

Prior to your visiting the Five Cent Decision with your son that Friday night, two women and two men came in, ordered a round of drinks, and began playing pool. They were soon joined by another woman and her young son. We informed her of our status as a "21 and older" club and that her son was not of age to remain. She asked that her group be allowed to finish their beverages and pool game and we agreed. Shortly thereafter, you arrived, and unlike the previous group,

we recognized you as a patron we had enjoyed serving and talking with in the past. We are not in the business of turning away patrons, and it is never pleasant to make such decisions, espeIcially when it involves our somewhat regular customers. We had at least five sets of eyes (belonging to the first group with a child and other patrons) closely observing our reponse to your entering with your son. Yes, we do realize that many of our lesbian and gay customers are parents. Some are also aunts and uncles, or lovers to "significant others" that may not be of legal drinking age or old enough to remain in our club. In striving to be consistent with our clientele, can we enact one set of rules for our regulars and another

bution was so grand that it overshadows all other events this year. Cleveland was chosen from many cities to display the NAMES Project Quilt because of Dale's speed in requesting that it come here. Almost singlehandedly, Dale's vision brought to our doorstep a sight that anyone viewing the quilt never will forget.

It is sometimes very obvious that there are many women and men in Cleveland who don't understand the severity of the AIDS epidemic. They don't see that AIDS is killing our people, that Cleveland's numbers are low now but they won't be soon. The quilt helped that message reach many people, straight and gay. The tears that flowed that weekend wash away many doubts that we won't be as affected as other communities. Each panel represented a person and each one of those people could have been someone we know and love. Now, thanks to Dale, we know that, we feel that, and we have had the opportunity to grieve all our brothers and sisters who have died, are sick or will die because of AIDS. Thanks, Dale. Don't stop working for

us.

In the years to come, the Chronicle hopes to continue to present this award to any person or organization who has contributed outstanding service to our community. We regret if we passed up anyone who should have been mentioned. We hope that this award becomes something to be proud of, something worth working for. ▼

erotic to them that it's okay. You are all okay when you discover any part of the body as erotic, or if you like certain kinds of clothing, uniforms, hats, gloves, whatever. It is healthy to discover your pleasures and seek to fulfill them. I encourage you to face them, muster up your courage to admit them to yourself and seek a fulfilling life of enjoying those pleasures.

It most certainly helps to develop "safe sex" ideas in these rough times of disease. Engaging in your fantasies, fetishes and "different" erotic pleasures is superb for bringing new life and safe sex to your sexual experiences.

I have found that men must be okay with themselves before they could join a group such as the Foot Fraternity. They need to accept that the desires are present, feel good about them (it is an alternative form of lovemaking) and seek to find friends, partners and possible mates who can equally enjoy these alternatives.

I spend many hours on the phone with people who have the joy of finally talking to another person about what they're into and have liked for years. What a burden seems to be lifted. Or, just to be told, "You like

for newcomers, one set for lesbians and gay men and another for heterosexuals,. one set for members of teams we sponsor and another for the nonathletic? Where do we draw the line? Do we allow your child to stay because he falls within an established "children's" age group and hope that those customers with 19-year-old lovers will understand? Or would it be best to set up a "minors' hour" and trust that our customers with children will respect that time frame?

Some parents and guardians do not possess intentions as admirable as yours and your father's. We, too, have been in bars where children are allowed, where you look on in amazement, if not horror, at the parent who

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Vol. 4, Issue 7.

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Correction

In last month's Chronicle, we inadvertently omitted the signature of the letter concerning children in the Five Cent Decision. The letter was signed R.K.M.

feet? Great, so do I, experience your fantasies, we can help. There are men out there who love having their feet worshiped as much as your want to do it.

You can contact the Foot Fraternity at P.O. Box 24102, Cleveland, OH 44124. ▼

is well en route to "tying one on," where the child sits bored,yet all too used to seeing Mom or Dad getting drunk again. Or the child who has the run of the place, zipping in and out of patrons and bar stools, perhaps innocently interrupting serious pool games or conversations. Or the child who likes to taste Mom's drinks, either under her knowing eye or behind her back as she greets a friend or visits the women's room. The laws governing taverns are quite clear and the penalties severe regarding minors and alcohol, with absolutely no concern for the circumstances leading to a child's ingestion of these beverages.

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