Page 2 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE June, 1989

EDITORIAL Expect the best

"Today, while I am still alive, I try to give my weary eyes a rest from the scene of ignorance, of degradation, of unutterable poverty that confronts me here in Russia, and find comfort by looking across the border, where there are Jewish professors, Jewish members of Academies, Jewish officers in the army, Jewish civil servants; and when I see there, behind the glory and the grandeur of it all a twofold spiritual slavery and intellectual slavery—and ask myself, 'Do I envy these fellow-Jews of mine their emancipation?' I answer in truth and sincerity, 'No! A thousand times, no! The privileges are not worth the price!' I may not be emancipated; but at least I have not sold my soul for emancipation"

-Ahad Ha'Am (1856-1927) writing in 1891 about the dangers of assimilation of Jews into cultures other than their own.

A few years less than a century ago Ahad Ha'Am was warning his fellow Jews of the danger of losing their identity by becoming complete members of other cultures and forgetting their Jewish

roots.

Today, in the lesbian talaga com munities, it is fairly easy to forget bur culture and act like we are straight. There are many advantages to this: One can skip a lot of ridicule, walk the street fairly certain that no one will beat you up because straights don't get bashed, adopt and raise children without legislators breathing down your back, and laugh at all the "fag" jokes that your buddies tell.

Of course, the disadvantages of pretending you are straight add up: Midnight calls to the gay-lesbian hotline just to talk to someone who might understand this pain in your heart; never quite being honest with anyone because it just might slip; never really being intimate with your spouse because when you are making love it is someone else's face you need to see; and acute envy when you see a same-sex couple together and wonder how they do it. Above all, intense loneliness because no matter what you do you will never be yourself, or form any kind of bonding with anyone who doesn't know your secret. A small price to pay not to confront your own homophobia?

GUEST EDITORIAL

Recently a performer was asked to be at the Cleveland Pride '89 celebration. She declined, stating that she was going to be in town to do a children's show and didn't think she should go to a gay event in the same day. Why? (We don't know.)

A wedding took place not to long ago which supposedly celebrated the commitment of two women together. But there was no touching, there was no mention of the word lesbian, there was no acknowledgement of the other lesbians in attendance. The excuse: "Well, our families were there and we didn't what to embarrass them." Who would be embarrassed and exactly who didn't want to acknowledge two lesbians? Good question.

These are just some examples of how we treat ourselves just like society treats us. These are examples on how we teach our own people to hate themselves and deny their very existence. These are examples of how we deny our own culture and try to be "emancipated." These are examples of how we will never achieve full acceptance from society because we never have achieved full acceptance Continued on Page 4

Changes at the Women's Building Project

by Benita Chernyk

By the time most of you read this, you will probably have become aware of the changes that the Women's Building Project is experiencing. As you may remember, several months ago, What She Wants printed announcements of open forums to gather community energy to start the process of looking towards the acquisition of a new women's space. Despite such effort however, the WBP is downsizing, versus expanding at this point in time. More specifically, as a function of financial problems, we have been forced to let go of the majority of our space at the Civic. Below, some of the reasons contributing to WBP's current dilemma will be discussed.

At the first of the forums described above, the board became aware of the many myths surrounding the existence of the WBP. For starters, the WBP does not own the Civic, nor does it own the west wing of the Civic. Since 1981, the Building Project has rented space in that wing. An impetus for the growth of the WBP (as we know it today) stemmed from proceeds of the Judy Chicago exhibit in Cleveland some years ago. Despite the

LETTERS

"Those things'

The following was sent to State Senator Gary Suhadolnik, of Parma:

Dear Senator,

Our organization strongly opposes your bill #162 prohibiting lesbians or gay men from adopting or acting as foster parents. A person should be approved or disapproved for adopting or foster parenting on the basis of who they are as individuals, not for the group they belong

to.

misperception of some women, the proceeds of this exhibit did not go directly to the Building Project. For clarification purposes, it should be noted that the approximately $60,000 which the show netted was disbursed as follows: (a) $40,000 went toward the development of the Women's Community Trust (now known as the Women's Community Fund [WCF]); (b) $5,000 went toward the Women's Building Fund (now known as the Women's Building Project); and, (c) another $5,000 went towards the establishment of the Women's Revolving Loan Fund (which has been defunct for several years). The remaining monies were disbursed by the WCF. "Arrangements" were made between the WCF and the WBP which had as their shared goal: facilitating the growth of these sister organizations. Such negotiations eventuated in a small monthly interest payment on the $40,000 endowment account (approximately $100.00) and a rental payment for the space that the Community Fund rented form the WBP. The WBP has never received a grant or a loan from the WCF, probably because we have been tied together by the WCF's use of the WBP's tax-exempt status.

parents than heterosexuals because of the discrimination they face in everyday life.

Do we not have enough problems with growing numbers of skinheads, Klu Klux Klan and neo-Nazis without adding our own state representatives to the list?

We strongly urge you to drop the introduction of this prejudiced bill into the Senate.

A. Paul President, Chevrei Tikva

Your reasoning that “children should Supports rights

not see 'those things' " is a feeble attempt

at discrimination. Do children who see 'those things' in heterosexual households live a better life? Actually, what are those things that you allude to?

Many homosexuals make better

The following was received in response to Brian DeWitt's letter, published in the March Chronicle.

Thank you for your correspondence

Thus, in contrast to popular belief, the "support" that the WBP has received form the WCF has been less substantial than our community may have believed. The status of our relationship with the WCF continues to be unclear, particularly as the Community Fund recently informed us of their decision to vacate their rental space at the Civic as of June 1, 1989.

In addition to the above mentioned monies, the WBP has been able to survive financially due to a $7,500 grant received from the Chicago Resources Foundation some years ago. Such support (in conjunction with that gleaned from the Judy Chicago show) facilitated the actual "start-up" of the WBP and enabled the WBP to meet maintenance

expenses for the past seven years. Every year, WBP operating expenses result in a $6,000 deficit. That means that in spite of the approximate $6,000 that is raised in annual pledge money and the gross profits from our fundraising efforts, every month the WBP faces a deficit (on the average) of $500.00. Because the WBP is essentially a space-subsidizing tenant management organization, the WBP has not been a grant-fundable enContinued on Page 4

expressing your support of my co-sponsorship of H.R. 655, the Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1989. I appreciate your taking time to write me regarding this important issue.

Introduced by Representative Ted Weiss, this bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation. H.R.655 has been referred to the Educa-

gay people's

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Correction

The article, "Anti-Lesbian Witchhunt" in last month's issue was reprinted with permission from the Washington Blade.

I want you to know that I will continue to work to ensure that our nation's laws protect the interests of gay and lesbian persons, and that these individuals are allowed full and equal participation in our society. Again, thank you for writing. Louis Stokes Member of Congress

tion and Labor Committee and the ComWill keep it in mind

mittee of the Judiciary.

Like you, I believe that gays and lesbians should not be discriminated against because of their affectional or sexual orientation. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked to ensure that all persons, gays and members of other disadvantaged groups have equal access and are treated equally under our nation's laws. My position on these issues has not changed.

Sen. Metzenbaum's response to a mailgram sent to him encouraging his sup port of S. 47:

Thank you for your communication. I appreciate hearing from you. The Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1989, to prohibit discrimination of the basis of affectional or sexual orientation, was inContinued on Page 4