January, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

ETTERS

We won!

To the Editor:

A few months ago I sent a letter [October 1989 issue] about being involved in a nine-year custody battle for my daughter. The formal hearing was set for October 13, 1989. I would now like to let all of the concerned people know the results.

The hearing got postponed to November 21, 1989. All of the attorneys (mine and my ex's) decided to order a court appointed psychologist. After waiting what appeared to be an eternity, I proudly can say, "We won!"

Cathy, myself, our son Joel, and now our daughter Amber are finally a family! Everything is working out so beautifully! My daughter is doing well in school and has already made some good friends. We are all adjusting to our "new" family status so well!

The psychologist's report was so wonderful. She (the psychologist) wrote the following about the relationship between myself and Cathy: "The relationship between Linda and Cathy appears to be psychologically healthy, mutually respectful, stable one. Both women appear to be intelligent, sensitive individuals, who have displayed intelligent concern and awareness of the potential effect of their relationship on the two children by virtue of social/cultural stigma and prejudice. Both women appear to have the capacity to be loving and committed to the healthy development of the children in their care."

This victory is an example to all gay parents. Never give up the fight for your children. They know you love them and they will fight as hard as you to be together. And never give up faith in yourself and God.

Thank you to all who read the first letter and to all who responded! We love you!

Linda, Cathy, Joel and Amber

Should we believe them?

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Carlie Steen's article about U4ia apologizing and changing its policy.

Joe Costa understands the hesitancy of the community to believe anything U4ia management says, and I can certainly say I have no trust. As I read the article, I'd have to say that Joe Costa may be a Cuban gay man who understands discrimination, but I don't believe at all that he gets it about sex discrimination, which I have to say is true about an awful lot of gay men.

Costa said that he always envisioned some kind of a dress code, but when he saw the advertisements when the bar was opening he knew there would be trouble because the dress code applied only to women. I have two comments about this.

Supposing U4ia had opened as a dressy night spot with a dress code for all, telling a woman that the only acceptable form of being dressed up had to be in a skirt or dress is in my mind very discriminatory and totally Victorian.

Secondly, this is December 1 and on Thursday, August 31, I stood in front of U4ia protesting the dress code. That was a full three months ago, and I'm sure the guest invitations and advertisements were printed at least a week before the opening so they could be sent out.

Why has Joe Costa been mute for all this time? The Chronicle ran an article telling the community to boycott his financial investment and suddenly he becomes quite concerned about discrimination. Could the real issue be money? We have no statement from the six other partners. Unless Costa owns over 50 percent of the business, he has no

majority say. Why does he have six silent straight partners?

In the final paragraph of the article, Costa says he will change the wallpaper in the women's bathroom, because it has been described as outrageous, sexist and promoting rape; but he does not understand why the wallpaper is offensive to

women.

I went to the bar once in September, after the original dress code has supposedly been lifted. My lover and I were allowed in, but I found out later that a number of my lesbian friends, dressed no differently that we were that night, had not been allowed in. I never wanted to go back.

I did, however, use the bathroom while I was there. The stall I was in had a picture of a woman standing with her feet spread wide apart and squatted way down with a penis going through her head, running down the middle of her body, and coming out through her vagina, ending at about her knees.

Anyone who does not see the implications of men overpowering women through sexual violence in this imagery does not understand the true implications of sexual discrimination. Also, if what U4ia wants is truly a gay bar, why would lesbians be interested in looking at penises in the bathroom?

I would advise the Cleveland lesbian and gay community to proceed with caution. I see no reason at this point to trust their verbiage.

Sharon Owens

AIDS is not political

To the Editor:

On behalf of DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation For AIDS) and the many tireless volunteers of Heart Strings/Cleveland, I would like to thank you for the endorsement you gave to the November 4 performance of Heart Strings: The National Tour. I would also like to clarify any misgivings you may have had about our organization and its most current fundraising event.

I am very distressed by your review in the December issue of the Gay People's Chronicle. You made strong reference to "homophobic rumblings" and a lack of gay representation within our organization and the musical extravaganza. This is an absurd observation to make about this organization and Heart Strings: The National Tour.

You have confused an issue that was presented at a very early organizational meeting of committee members and a group of invited guests from the lesbian and gay community. The only "rumbling" that may have occurred was a concern that we had with a few individuals who wanted to impose their political views of AIDS and homosexuality on this important national fundraising event. AIDS must be removed from the political arena in order for us to make headway into realizing a cure for this disease. At no time did anyone suggest that homosexuality be closeted with respect to this organization or any of its functions.

Contrary to your perception, this organization is comprised of many hardworking, dedicated volunteers from all aspects of society. Our goal to unite all sectors of Cleveland's business, medical, educational, political, social and art communities, has been very successful and does not discriminate for any reason. You have criticized this organization without enough insight to make a fair evaluation. You do all who worked so hard on this project, straight or gay, an enormous injustice by your inaccuracy.

I would also like to comment on your review of the musical. The goal of Heart Strings is to unite everyone in a positive and compassionate way to learn about, and become emotionally responsive to AIDS, before it affects them or someone

they love. Heart Strings' depiction of all family situations is very sensitive and very emotional. You have made a blind criticism of this show's ability to represent homosexuality. This show's representation of homosexuality is done with as much pride, openness, dignity and respect that all other social situations are accorded. Heart Strings is an informative, entertaining and sensitive piece about AIDS, and how it touches all of our lives. It should not be confused with any one sector of the community's politics. I would hope that before you make such damning remarks about any organization or its functions, you make absolutely sure that you have researched your information thoroughly.

Heart Strings is considered to be one of the most important tools in the fight against the ignorance surrounding AIDS. It helps to bring communities together to recognize and to act against the devastation of AIDS. This is apparent by its endorsement by President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, the United States Conference of Mayors, former surgeon general C. Everett Koop, M.D., the American College of Physicians, Governor and Mrs. Richard Celeste, Mayor and Mrs. George Voinovich, and a host of other national and local community leaders. I would recommend that everyone see this show, and I will venture to say that it would be recommended by all of the audiences, who have seen this amazing show. It is entertaining, educational, compassionate, funny, and sad. It is important!

Heart Strings: The National Tour was very successful in Cleveland. We have raised the most money on the tour to date, with the exception of Atlanta, Georgia, where the musical originated in 1986. Most importantly, Heart Strings has made an enormous impact on the level of AIDS awareness in this community.

It is important to recognize the difference between the humanitarian issue that AIDS is and the political issue that it is not. As a leader in the lesbian and gay community we need your help to remove AIDS from the political arena. AIDS does not discriminate. This is Heart Strings' most important message. It is essential that we remove all barriers surrounding this disease, because it is a disease that knows no barriers.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who supported Heart Strings so generously. Without them Heart Strings/Cleveland could not have been such a shining success. I would also like to recognize my co-chairperson who was inadvertently omitted from your review. It is people like Eileen Roth and all those who work so desperately, in the fight against AIDS and do not recognize social barriers, that make important benefits like Heart Strings so successful.

Your review displayed a distinct "hetero-phobic" flavor that is as unhealthy as any "homo-phobic" view may be. Both views prohibit important advances toward social equality and are detrimen-

tal in the fight against AIDS. Heart Strings: The National Tour is a benefit to fund direct services for persons with AIDS and preventative education.

Alfred M. Roach Event Co-Chairperson Heart Strings/Cleveland

Martha Pontoni replies:

I first would like to make clear that the review of Heart Strings and this reply to Alfred Roach's letter are my personal opinion and not that of the Gay People's Chronicle editorial board or staff.

In response to Mr. Roach's letter I would first like to say that I have no problem with DIFFA and did not intend to malign the organization or its members. I think it is great that they brought something as big as the production of Heart Strings to Cleveland. As a member of the Pride '89 Committee I know how hard it is to organize an event. My hat is off to DIFFA and the Heart Strings Committee. I would also like to apologize to Eileen Roth for not thanking her in the original article. It really was an oversight.

BUT, I stand by my review of the play as being homophobic in its lack of obvious gay and lesbians characters. It is the lesbians and gay men of this country who are on the forefront of AIDS research and education. Unlike the mythical town in the play, heterosexuals (save for a few wonderful exceptions) have virtually ignored AIDS and its killing of gay men. In the play, some of the townspeople didn't want to fight "the cloud". Wouldn't it have been nice to show those people as heterosexual and the ones that fought the disease as gay and lesbian? Just like real life.

My point is that when groups such as DIFFA and Heart Strings choose not to include lesbians and gay men when depicting the history of AIDS and its effects they are being homophobic. I understand that to get "rich people" to donate money, making the production as least "offensive" as possible was important. I believe that lesbians and gay men are not offensive and should be depicted in shows such as this and used as a reason to donate money.

I am reminded of the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation (WRAF) benefit which spoke of how many women and children were getting the disease and needed help. I spoke up about that and I will continue to yell at the top of my voice when my brothers are excluded simply because of their sexual orientation. Maybe I live in a dream world where I believe that gay men are worth saving and worth donating money to.

Another point Mr. Roach brought up is the politicizing of AIDS and "homosexuality" (his word, not mine). AIDS is political and we aren't the ones who made it so. AIDS became a political issue when the government of this country refused to help fight it because only gay men were being affected. The government continues to drag it feet because even though we now know that everyone can get Continued on Page 12

PLEDGE CARD

I want to help the Chronicle. Enclosed is my donation of:

I

□ $1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50□OTHER

I want to help the Chronicle. I would like to be billed in: 3612 Installments for my donation of:

$1,000 $500 $250 $100 $50 OTHER

All donation of $25 or more will recieve a years subscription or one year renewal if you are already a subscriber.

Yes it is okay to publicly acknowlegedge my gift.

Donations to the Chronicle are NOT tax deductible.

Return card to: GPC P.O. BOX 5426 Cleveland, Ohio 44101