gay people's

RO I

April 1989CVER

Public Library

APR C-1989

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPT. PERIODICAL

Volume 4 Issue 10

Cleveland, Ohio

A Chronicle of the Lesbian & Gay Community

Oakar, Stokes back gay-rights bill

by Brian DeWitt

Rep. Mary Rose Oakar, D-20, of Cleveland, for the first time became a co-sponsor of the federal lesbian-gay rights bill February 22.

Oakar, who represents the West Side and inner western and southern suburbs, joins Rep. Louis Stokes, D-21, of Shaker Heights, as the sole Ohio co-sponsors of the bill. Stokes, who represents the East Side and inner eastern suburbs, was an original co-sponsor when the bill was introduced January 24.

Two other Ohio representatives, Rep. Edward Feighan, D-19, representing outer Cleveland suburbs, and Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-14, of Akron, are considering, co-sponsoring the legislation.

Kevin Layton, assistant political director of the Human Rights Campaign Fund, said the Washington-based lesbian-gay lobbying organization is encouraging people in Stokes' and Oakar's districts to write to their representatives, expressing support for their co-sponsorship. This is especially needed in the case of Oakar, as this is the first time she is co-sponsoring lesbian-gay rights legislation, although her voting record has been good in the past. Stokes has "a perfect voting record," said Layton, and has cosponsored other pro-gay legislation.

Layton also encouraged those living in Feighan's and Sawyer's districts to write them asking that they co-sponsor. He

said that when HRCF approached Feighan about co-sponsoring, Feighan said he would consider it, but that he never had heard about it from constituents.

The bill, H.R. 655, the Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1989, was introduced by Rep. Ted Weiss, D-Mass. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Alan Cranston, D-Calif. Neither Ohio senator is presently cosponsoring the Senate bill.

The House and Senate bills have been introduced in every session of Congress since the mid 1970s. Committee hearings were held on the House bill in 1980 and 1981, but no action was taken.

The bill would amend existing federal civil rights laws to include protection from discrimination because of "affectional or sexual orientation" in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and government-assisted opportunities. The bill would outlaw discrimination in stores, restaurants, hotels and other places selling services or goods.

"Affectional or sexual orientation" is defined as "male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality, by orientation or practice, by and between consenting adults."

So far, 68 of 435 representatives are co-sponsoring the House bill, and nine of 100 senators are co-sponsoring the

Pride returns to Cleveland

The first Cleveland lesbian and gay pride celebration in well more than a decade will take place June 18 in front of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center at 1419 W. 29th St.

"The focus of the event is on the pride in ourselves as lesbians and gay men," said Martha Pontoni, co-chair of the Pride '89 Committee, which is producing the event. The other co-chair is Drew Cari.

Activities will include a rally featuring speakers Craig Davidson, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and Renee McCoy, director of the National Association of Black Lesbians and Gays; singers, musicians and a skit by PRYSM, the Center's youth group. All entertainment is being produced by Brynna Fish of Bluefish Productions.

One of the main features will be the business fair. Booths are available to lesbian and gay merchants and service organizations.

"Strong lesbian and gay business is just as much as part of a strong lesbian and gay community as strong health and service organizations and political groups," Pontoni said.

"But," added Cari, "the key words for the day are still 'pride,' 'celebration' and 'fun.'"

Pride '89, billed as an "an out of the closet experience," grew out of the need for Clevelanders to have their own celebration of the events of Stonewall. Gay Pride Week is celebrated nationwide with parades, rallies and entertainment. In past years Clevelanders have participated in celebrations in Columbus.

Continued on Page 4

Community focus: HIT

by Joan Valentine

This month, the Chronicle was to begin a series focusing on Cleveland's Health Issues Taskforce. We have talked to people involved with the organization to get their account of its history, their opinions on its development and their thoughts on its future. However, the resignation of Executive Director Gary Reynolds changed the course of this series. Our first installment will include an interview with Reynolds and comments on his departure by Geno Taylor, chairman of the HIT board.

Gary Reynolds has the pleasant, wellmodulated voice of an administrator. He chooses his words carefully when he speaks of his departure from HIT on Feb. 17.

While he says he is “not at liberty" to discuss the terms of his resignation, when, he speaks of his 11 months working with people with AIDSthe "most vulnerable members of the community” – his voice softens, and his determination to succeed becomes less official and more personal.

He issued the following statement to the Chronicle and to the people of Cleveland:

"I resigned my position with the Taskforce. I am very proud of the accomplishments of the last eleven months, and I think that the working membership of the organization is very proud of the accomplishments. From the direction the Taskforce is going, I think I had a clear mandate from the [membership], and I was glad to be a part of the cause Continued on Page 4

Senate version. At the close of the 100th Congress last year, 71 representatives and 10 senators were co-sponsoring the bill.

Layton said that, with so many cosponsors this early in the 101st session, it is likely that there will ultimately be many more than in the last session, and it is possible that there will be hearings on the bill. Legislation not passed must be reintroduced in each session of Congress.

Layton noted that of the 25 House

votes over the past decade that HRCF considers important to the lesbian-gay agenda, Stokes has voted with lesbians and gays on 21, and did not vote on the remaining four.

Oakar has voted pro-gay on 18, against on three and did not vote on four. The three anti-gay votes all concerned a 1981 sodomy law repeal in the District of Columbia, over which Congress has review.▼

OCTH march for gay & Castian, & Nurman rights

Louise Luczak catches the spirit of Lesbian/Gay Pride at the 1987 march on Washington.

March for Equality

The National Organization for Women is sponsoring a national demonstration in support of women's equality and reproductive choice. The demonstration, called the March for Women's Equality and Women's Lives, will be held in Washington Saturday, April 9.

The march was precipitated by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to accept a case called Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services. The case is expected to involve the Supreme Court in a review of its 1973 decision in Roe vs. Wade, which upheld the right of women to obtain an abortion in the first trimester.

A Harris poll done on January 29 found that Americans oppose the reversal of Roe vs. Wade 57 percent to 40 percent.

The Supreme Court could reverse its earlier decision or interpret it so as to cripple the key provisions of Roe.

President George Bush, Attorney General Richard Thornburgh and other key administration officials have publicly announced their support for a reversal of Roe.

Nearly 170 organizations have endorsed the march so far, including the following gay and lesbian groups: Alexandria Gay Community Association, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay and Lesbian Democrats of America, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Lamdba Legal Defense and Education Fund, Lesbian Rights Project, National Committee to Free Sharon Kowalski, NGLTF, National Gay Rights Advocates and the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force.

"Support for this march by the gay and lesbian community is crucial," said NGLTF Executive Director Jeffrey Levi. "We are a community whose privacy rights are directly affected by the Continued on Page 4

WBP to relocate

by Faith Klasek

The Women's Building Project, currently housed in the west wing of the Civic at 3130 Mayfield in Cleveland Heights, is looking for a new location.

The WBP was established as an independent project of the Women's Community Fund in 1981. According to Benita Chernyk, acting chairwoman of WBP's volunteer board, the organization was formed to "provide a safe space for women in the Greater Cleveland area."

The Building Project is intended to provide subsidized space, centralized services and a communication network for the women's community. Presently

the WBP is home to groups which serve a variety of the community's social, political, and personal growth needs.

Organizers and community members believe the WBP's purpose would be better served and possibly broadened if the WBP had a building of its own.

From the beginning, the WBP has aspired to have a women-owned building. Slim finances, however, have been the primary reason for settling for less. As a non-profit organization, the WBP raises money through its fall pledge drive, Halloween party and New Year's Eve party. Although the WBP has Continued on Page 4