November, 1989

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

LETTERS

Don't blame L.A.

To the Editor:

F. Carmen's guest editorial in the September Chronicle ("The Pitfalls of La-La Land") was entirely misdirected. Mr. Carmen lambastes Los Angeles, attempting to incriminate an entire city for his own sour experience. His decision to return to Cleveland, whether by failure or choice, was evidently correct. But don't blame L.A.

What thinking person would truly expect that, as Mr. Carmen puts it, "things/life would be better than ordinary reality?” Had he gone there expecting to deal with reality, I think his experience would have been different. Instead he decided to get on the "roller coaster" as soon as he arrived, choosing a job-and apparently a lifestyle-that revolved around the bar scene and allowed him to "see and do plenty.”

Many of Mr. Carmen's observations regarding L.A., both positive and negative, are indeed correct. But he has missed the central advantage-the unfettered ability to be oneself. Mr. Carmen's perceived need to learn "how it all works, how to play along" in L.A. deprived him of the opportunity to experience the freedom that is there for the taking. It is in Cleveland (and all across the country) that we "play along," instinctively guarding every word and action-all to protect straight society from the very notion that gays exist; all to protect ourselves from the backlash.

Wrote Mr. Carmen, "I liked less of what I saw in Los Angeles as time careened treacherously on." Los Angeles is an enormously diverse city. Perhaps Mr. Carmen's problem lay in what he chose to look at. Further, time simply passes. It does not "careen treacherously," although people's lives often do.

Mr. Carmen describes some significantly difficult personal and emotional situations in his life. While one sympathizes with these burdens, they

have no editorial connection to his derision of Los Angeles. The piece must be viewed as a part of a cathartic process for Mr. Carmen, rather than an objective dissertation on the superiority of Cleveland over L.A. Indeed, the Chronicle's choice to place it under the "editorial" heading is the primary error. Rick Simmons

Don't forget MCC

To the Editor:

I must take issue with an article that appeared in a recent issue of the Chronicle. The article [in October's issue] was entitled, “Unitarians foremost in religious acceptance of gays." One question asked in the article is, "What other denomination can claim equal commitment to the promotion of justice, freedom and equality within congregational life as well as in the larger society?" When I read this I had to ask myself, "Have they never heard of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches?" I know this is not true because your newspaper recently wrote a very nice article on Emmanuel Metropolitan Community Church here in Cleveland. Knowing about UFMCC and the great strides that we have made to promote gay and lesbian rights in this country, how can you print such an article?

Yes, the Unitarians have been much more accepting than other religious groups. But please don't say they are the most accepting. Within the UFMCC, 80 percent of our members and 95 percent of our clergy are gay or lesbian people. We have been front runners in the struggle for full human rights. Without UFMCC, such things as the Briggs Initiative would never have been defeated.

No, we have not passed eight resolutions over the last twenty years to affirm gay and lesbian and bisexual people. Because 21 years ago, we were established

as a denomination where all people, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and non-gay can meet together and worship God. We are here. We are part of your community here in Cleveland. Please do not treat us as though we don't exist.

In Christ's service, Rev. Kathleen J. Williams-Smith

to leave and continued chanting and singing.

U4ia has now changed their dress code due to the picket line and a threatened boycott. The lesbian and gay community will continue to fight bigotry whether the threat is within our community or in society at large. Businesses that profit from lesbians and gay men must not be allowed to discriminate.

The Chronicle regrets the oversight.Racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, class Ed. differences, any reason to divide our community must be fought against and stopped. This is the road to lesbian and gay liberation.

U4ia dress code

To the Editor:

August 14 marked the opening of Not a penis

Cleveland's newest dance club, U4ia. However, contrary to the headline of the To the Editor: October Gay People's Chronicle, the opening was not "marred by protesters." Instead, the management of U4ia marred, insulted, and tried to dehumanize the lesbian community of Cleveland.

It is a lie that the "dress" code was only for opening weekend as claimed by manager Rob Farinacci. In Victory News and in the Chronicle, U4ia advertisements placed after the August 24 opening weekend stated, "Proper Dress (dresses or skirts for ladies)." In fact, it was the editor of this newspaper who alerted the community to U4ia's attempt to discriminate against lesbians.

The patrons at opening night were met by a militant picket line. Chants included "Lesbian rights, right now"; "2,4,6,8 U4ia discriminates"; and "Stop racism, sexism and classism." People entering the bar were handed a leaflet explaining that the community must work together and not let anyone discriminate against any one of us.

The management was extremely hostile and threatening. At one point, four Cleveland police squad cars were on the scene as well as numerous private duty cops. However, we in the protest refused

Susan R. Schnur

I read your editorial in the September, 1989 issue. I agreed with most of what you said except for one thing. "HIT passed out red plastic penises.” If that was a penis, I guess I've never seen one before. I have seen the same item that was mentioned in several department stores. What you thought about the plastic holder never crossed my mind.

I enjoy your paper very much but please keep your mind out of the gutter.

We are family

To the Editor:

Dean Griffith

This is an open letter to leaders of the San Francisco religious community.

I fell in love with Sydney as we walked arm in arm through Central Park on a crisp, snow-filled day. She was kind of bold, in a shy sort of way. She had the prettiest brown eyes and she could make me laugh! We talked for hours about politics and theatre. In the evening we read to each other from an assortment of

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