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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

During the month of December, many people celebrate holidays that are traditionally religiously orientated. Being a lesbian or gay man often means having to reexamine the faith you were brought up in to decide if you can still believe and participate in that faith because of its attitudes and policies on lesbians and gay men. We would like to share with you some stories about dif-

December, 1989

ferent religious experiences and church alternatives in Cleveland and Akron's lesbian and gay community. This is not a comprehensive feature on all the religious groups that meet here in Cleveland, (see box), but rather a sampling of the ones that our staff members were or are members of. We have also included the second part of our series on Homosexuals Anonymous.

Gay ex-Witnesses meet

The first national assembly of gay and lesbian ex-Jehovah's Witnesses met in Washington November 4. Representatives from Pennsylvania, California, Ohio and District of Columbia met to discuss their common bond. All have been "disfellowshipped" from the religious denomination of Jehovah's Witnesses.

A growing religious organization, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that anyone practicing same-sex love will suffer everlasting death at the hands of their loving God, Jehovah. Gay people along with other sinners such as smokers or any one celebrating Christmas are dealt with by disfellowshipping (excommunication, shunning). This means that any believing relative including parents or children may have nothing to do with the "sinner" not even eating with such a person. A gay person in that religion must face the certain loss of his entire family and any friends if he or she comes out.

The group meeting in Washington

found they had not only their past in common but many have now become gay activists and the energy they spent in the past in this restrictive religion is now spent on gay and mainstream community projects.

The founder of the group, known as A Common Bond, Dan Restid of Ellwood City, Pa. said "The gathering was instrumental in establishing direction for the future. Those attending have found diverse ways to satisfy each person's needs, but this group was refreshed by the level of tolerance to each other that we could not experience under the oppressive atmosphere of the Watchtower Society.

The purpose of the group is to provide a climate of mutual support for those suffering the ostracism levied by the Watchtower Society against gay people. This first encounter was so successful the group decided unanimously to make it an annual event.▼

Another point of view

In last month's issue, Steven Hurt presented a view of the local Homosexuals Anonymous chapter, told from his viewpoint as gay-identified man. Following is the story of a woman from a fundamentalist background, and her involvement with HA, as she told it to Hurt:

by Steven Hurt

Seven years ago, at the age of 24, I was a lesbian in a loving relationship with a woman. Then I had a Born-Again experience, made a clean break from homosexuality and joined the Pentecostalist Church. This period lasted from about four years, during which I left behind the gay lifestyle. Because I felt I might become weak, I limited my contact with other lesbians.

Then about three years ago at my Pentecostalist Church rumors began to spread about my former lifestyle. I was ridiculed by female members of the church who would blow kisses to each other behind my back. Eventually I was officially ostracized from the church. This was a painful time for me.

Soon after, I happen to run into my former lover, and discovered that there was a lot of loving feeling I had left behind. Then I started meeting my lesbian friends again. I feared that I was falling back into homosexuality, and sought help from a gay support group I heard of, Homosexuals Anonymous.

Once I entered again into a lesbian relationship, it really scared the hell out of me. I joined H.A. and was a member for quite some time in an attempt to stay out of the gay lifestyle.

The Adventures of

Chronicle Man

JEEZIS

LUVS ME

Chapter 5

THIS I

KNO00%

Cub reporter Steven Hurt goes undercover

to explore the slimy under belly of H. A

Homosexuals Anonymous

H.A. is based on a 14 step program of coming out of homosexuality-sort of like Alcoholics Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous. The group didn't pick on me because I was starting a gay relationship again, but they did challenge me to leave it.

As a member of H.A., I did not perceive myself as a diseased person. No, more like a sexual addict or an overeater. I felt that H.A. was a good ministry done for the good of gay people who were struggling with the same sexual problem. The group was there for me when the Pentecostalists wouldn't have me and when I felt that the gay community didn't accept me. H.A.'s task was to reach out to the gay community, to those who did not desire to be gay.

Though I found the group helpful for a while, I eventually quit attending regularly. I chose to leave because I wanted a lesbian relationship and didn't want to screw around with these people anymore. I also quit because the group was too liberal. The group held the belief that if you were involved in a gay relationship, then God would not punish you forever for it, that his anger would relent and not cast you into hell. I disagreed and stayed away for that reason. I feel that because I have a relationship with a women that I am going to hell.

It took me about a year before I even showed up at a meeting because I had to give up my anonymity-leave my name and phone number on the H.A. phone line. I don't feel real good about leaving my name and phone with an anonymous A testimonial... When he put his hand on my knee

the second time, I

fell face first (inte Satan's

lap.

New Age group

by Marne Harris

The wave of New Age spiritualism has not missed the lesbian and gay community of Cleveland. In this town it takes the shape of many small spiritual groups for lesbians and for gay men. Of those groups, Kehelatheh is the only one which welcomes both lesbians and gay men.

Kehelatheh began almost two years ago from a workshop on lesbian and gay spirituality held at the 1987 All-Ohio Lesbian and Gay Conference at Case Western Reserve University. Some of the people who attended the workshop decided that being a lesbian or a gay man did make a difference in their spirituality. They decided to form a group to support those lesbians and gay men who were on a non-traditional spiritual path.

Founding member Martha Pontoni explained how the name was chosen. "We had been meeting for a few months without any structure or purpose other than a vague notion that we wanted to support each other on a metaphysical journey. We decided we needed a name and a statement of purpose just to be more defined. In the search for our name we opened the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary to a random place and there it

was.

"Kehelatheh," according to the Metaphysical Bible Dictionary, is a "definite place in consciousness wherein [true thoughts] become more unified, abiding, and sure. Here they are rested and strengthened for their next movement toward higher and more perfect realizations of spirituality."

"Since this was exactly what we wanted to be, we adopted the name,”

group. But that was the only way H.A. did it because they didn't have funds to pay anyone to answer the phone continuously.

I sometimes answered the calls that came in on phone duty. We would get as many as 50 messages a night, and 30 would say bad things, as though we were actually practicing homosexuals ourselves or trying to promote it.

During meetings, there were just a few problems. I had a difficulty the first time a new girl came to a meeting. I had a terrible attraction to her, and we nearly became physically involved. but we weathered that temptation.

I was forever fighting with the group to meet in a public place. I felt uncomfortable meeting in Rev. Frank's private home. Meetings should have been open to the public. The anonymous part is better served in public place and not screened as though we were hiding. It is not a good policy. The group leader's opinions and viewpoints were always changing because of the members who constantly left and new ones who joined. I did not always agree with these new views on homosexuality.

I hold that the responsibility for my being separated from God by homosexuality lies directly on my shoulders. I am just like a person who smokes or drinks. Eventually you have to come to grips with this vice of yours, whatever it is, and say, 'I am doing this out of choice.' The reason for this choice is something or other that happened to me at twelve years or six years or

I resolved to

tame this demon and

from this to save me

begged my best friend

...

to rescue

continued Pontoni, "It was truly divine intervention that we found the name."

For the past year, Kehelatheh members had been meeting monthly for a potluck dinner and a meeting. The meetings usually included a presentation by one of the members of a spiritual aspect of life that the member wishes to share with others. For example, members spoke about such subjects as disease, miracles, gay spirit, and homophobia. At other meetings, people from outside the membership were invited to talk about such topics as the healing power of touch and the teachings of Jean Houston.

The group is undergoing change. Pontoni explains, "Our members wanted to do something more frequent and geared toward those just learning about metaphysics and Truth." Kehelatheh is now meeting every Tuesday to study a subject picked by the membership. Currently, the group is reading Louise Hay's You Can Heal Your Life. Other subjects that have been suggested are macrobiotic eating, Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization, and a Course in Miracles.

Every fourth Tuesday will still be a pot luck with a special presentation on the subject that is being discussed through

the month.

The group welcomes both lesbians and gay men to join and participate in the discussions. If you are unsure of your spiritual path and would like to talk to a someone, spiritual guidance is also available on a love offering basis. location call Martha Pontoni at 321-1129 For more information and meeting or Larry Kolke at 751-0258.▼

whatever. Guys and girls at H.A. have told me all kinds of stories about why they turned out gay. Many stories included sexual molestation by their parents.

I don't believe that homosexuality is an illness, though. The Scriptures say clearly that sin separates man from God. When I go to church, I tell God that I am really a sinful mess. I really want to love God, but I'm in this really sinful homosexual situation. I ask God to straighten me out and not to let me die like this because I want to go to heaven.

God is not responsible for the way I am. There is a Devil who is bad. It is very, very likely that the Devil has something to do with my being gay. But regardless of the Devil's role. I could choose at any time to be a straight person. I tried it and did very well for four years. Unfortunately, like an alcoholic I failed by going around my old friends, the old bars. That was it for me!

If I found someone else who was falling into homosexuality, I would counsel thane to follow Christ instead. I know what kind of torture homosexuality has been for me because I love my lover with all my heart. But every day I think about God and how much I would like to have things great with Him again.

At this time I can say to my lover, 'I am in a gay relationship with you' but I cannot bring myself to say 'I am gay'. Unfortunately, the feelings of homosexuality are overwhelming, and I would be surprised if there is a permanent

me from the gay lifestyle.

UNHOLY POSSESION pigsty of the

why does

{that guy Keep cruising

me?

Yes! Even

redirect my

Sexual drive

forever...

Oh my,

You look

terrible

Now she and

cure.▼

her friends save me

Over and Over

Praise

the LORD!

AGAIN!

by

AMEN

can I make an

appointment?

I can't believe this!?! 3000