Page 20 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE September, 1989

Personal Growth

Alcoholism and drug dependency may promise to have only two drinks at

by Antone Feo, Ph.D

It is a well-documented fact that chemical dependency in the gay and lesbian community is at an epidemic level. About 40 percent of its members are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Lesbians are more prone to this disease than are their male counterparts.

The dividing line between social drinking and alcoholism can be obscure. However, there are some basic recognizable symptoms. One of the first signs is developing a tolerance for one's drug of choice. In the early stages, alcoholics may become drunk on one or two beers. As the illness progresses, they may need to consume a six-pack to regain that initial high.

As tolerance increases, alcoholics lose the ability to control their drinking. They

the bar, but at the end of the evening, they are drunk again. Alcoholics often attempt to prove to others that they are in control by saying, "I never drink alone"; "I never drink before noon"; "I only drink on weekends"; "I can't be a drunk, I only drink beer."

The alcoholic builds a life around his or her drug of choice. Everything else becomes secondary, including lover, career, family and responsibilities. Because of these priorities, there often are family difficulties, uncontrollable mood swings, problems with the law, DWIS, loss of job, depression, guilt and remorse. Parenthetically, because alcohol is a depressant, the alcoholic often is in a chronic state of depression. The individual's life appears hopeless and helpless.

In an attempt to deal with their illness, alcoholics develop elaborate denial sys-

tems. They insist that alcohol is not a problem and blame others for their difficulties. As the illness progresses, they begin to experience blackouts. After a night at the bar, they will not remember who they talked to, what was said or what they did.

Those who do not understand the dynamics of chemical dependency frequently see the alcoholic as bad, sinful or weak. Frustrated friends and lovers quickly say, "Why is he doing this to me? Can't he see that his drinking is destroying our relationship? If he really wanted to quit, he would get help."

It is important to recognize that chemical dependency is a disease, not a character flaw. Similar to other diseases, alcohol and drug dependency can be treated. If you feel you have a problem with alcohol or drugs, you may find help by attending Alcoholics Anonymous or

Judge strikes down appeal of 'domestic partners'

A San Francisco judge ruled against a lesbian couple who filed a lawsuit to block a November referendum that seeks to repeal that city's domestic partners law.

The law, which provides for formal recognition of gay couples and other unmarried unions, was suspended July 6, the day it was scheduled to take effect, after two conservative religious leaders gathered enough signatures on petitions to force a referendum calling for the law's removal from the books.

San Francisco residents Cindy Bologna and Sydney Erskine charge in their suit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, that supporters of the referendum made "serious misrepresentations" of the contents of the domestic partners law when they circulated petitions calling for

the ballot measure, actions that violate employees can take paid bereavement California's election law.

The women also charge that the petition language contained false and misleading statements about the law.

The women were represented by the National Gay Rights Advocates, a San Francisco-based litigation group.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the domestic partners measure by a unanimous vote in June. The measure would allow gay couples and other unmarried partners to register "domestic partnerships" with the city for a $35 fee and would direct the city to provide such couples with a printed "certificate of partnership."

Such couples would be allowed to take advantage of only one benefit that has any financial impact on the city: city

leave to attend the funeral of their lovers. The referendum effort is headed by a Presbyterian minister and a conservative rabbi who contend the measure will have an adverse effect on the family.

Gay activists and city officials have said the majority of voters support the law and would likely vote against the referendum. But some gay rights leaders have expressed concern that many of those who favor the domestic partners law will not turn out to the polls because 1989 is an off-year election, where no other important city or state contests are being decided.

Bologna and Erskine's suit asked the court to order the San Francisco Registrar of Voters to disqualify the referendum petitions, which would

Narcotics Anonymous meetings. If your lover or a family member is chemically dependent, you may find answers at Alanon or Co-dependency meetings. There also are meetings for Adult Children of Alcoholics. Gay and gay friendly meetings are held nightly in and around Cleveland.

For more information, contact the Regional Council on Alcoholism at 3915805

Dr. Feo is a clinical psychologist, working as a private practitioner, providing services to the gay and lesbian community.▼

remove the referendum from the Nov. 7 ballot.

The suit alleged that petition solicitors told potential signers the domestic partners law would endanger children because it would allow gay couples to adopt children. The suit also charged that while the state election law requires petitions to be impartial, petitions circulated by opponents of the domestic partners measure were inflammatory and biased against the measure.

It also stated that the petitions violated technical rules governing the type size and arrangements of the test and title. ▼

Portions of this article were reprinted by permission of the Washington Blade.

Cleveland Public Theatre

FEATURING

ANDREW

Vampire MELLEN LESBIANS RICHARD CESODOM MELISSA

ROSS

AND

SLEEPING BEAUTY COMA

September 15 30th 1989

by Charles Bush

Directed by Walter E. Grodzik

Thursday Saturday 8:00 p.m. Sundays 3:00 p.m.

Admission $8.00 • Students and Seniors $5.00 Reservations recommended. For information or reservations call 631-2727

Detroit Avenue at West 65th

Flashy costumes, sinister innocence, harmless depravity, something for everyone!