February, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

LETTERS

What's missing?

To the Editor:

After reading Alfred Roach's letter about Heart Strings in the January Chronicle, I had some thoughts that I wanted to share.

I heard many good things about Heart Strings. The people whom I spoke with said that the performance was exciting, vibrant, and moving.

I am sorry that I was not able to be in town that weekend. If I had been around, however, I probably still would not have gone. Being a student, I do not have enough disposable income to spend $35 on a show, I don't care if it is a benefit performance. Needless to say, I think that a lower ticket price would have allowed more people to attend. I know that I am not the only person shut out.

I have one complaint about the music director. He came to a rehearsal of the North Coast Men's Chorus, of which I am a member, to talk about participation in Heart Strings. Everything was fine until he made the comment that Heart Strings was a way that "rich old ladies can pay $250 and think they did their part for AIDS." Forty other people heard the same words. He did go on to explain that Heart Strings would profoundly affect them, but I took offense at his words "rich old ladies." There was no opportunity for me to address that at the time, so I let it drop.

I disagree with Mr. Roach's comment that the Chronicle's review is heterophobic. I think the review reflected disappointment and anger at the lack of obviously gay or lesbian characters. I do not, however, believe that this is indicative of heterophobia.

I think that the Heart Strings ad on the back page of the November 2 Cleveland Edition exemplifies the homophobia-bydenial that was described in the review. The ad says that Heart Strings is an “allegory about a mysterious cloud that endangers every member of a community regardless of age, sex, race, class or any other personal characteristic."

Isn't it pretty obvious that something is being left out?

Douglas Braun

Balls in a teacup

To the Editor:

My letter is in response to Sharon Owens' [in the January issue] in regard to policy changes made by U4ia nightclub.

Can Cleveland's gay community please let a sick dog die? Granted, everything mentioned in Ms. Owen's letter is true in that it did occur. Who can deny that? But, it seems to me the only reason Cleveland lacks "nice" nightclubs where everyone can meet and have a good time is because everyone is still mad at what the previous owners did eight years ago. Mr. Costa screwed up. I was one of the few out there, on opening night, to tell him so in the form of a picket. But, Mr. Costa has also said "no" to those few misogynist brat boys who have tried to make this community regress instead of grow.

I think he covered all bases with a public apology, policy change, women's programming and the removal of the penile worship wallpaper in the women's bathroom. What do you want? His balls in a teacup?

I'm certainly not saying ignore outright sexist behavior. But, when the offender apologizes and takes steps to correct bad behavior, don't carry hostility in your back pocket. Go out and have a good time. That's what nightclubs are for!

Debra Shepherd

WRAF supports gay AIDS services

To the Editor:

In your response to Alfred Roach's letter to the editor, [January] you made a reference to the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation that seems to imply that the Foundation does not support AIDS-related services or programs in the gay community. It is my intention to clarify this ongoing misconception.

The Western Reserve AIDS Foundation is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to generate and distribute funds in Northeast Ohio to support and improve education for prevention, social/human support services and medical and behavioral research as they relate to AIDS and the spectrum of illness caused by the human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The focus of all activity for the Foundation is the person with AIDS, HIV, or at-risk for HIV infection.

Since its inception in 1988, WRAF has distributed $300,000 in Northeast Ohio: 42 percent of all funding has gone to eduction for prevention campaigns; 41 percent has supported social/human services and 17 percent has provided funding for research. These figures do not include the numerous discretionary grants made to local organizations which enable their presence at AIDS information conferences, skills building conferences or the significant support WRAF has provided to the Cleveland chapter of the Names Project.

The Western Reserve AIDS Foundation has provided funding to local gay organizations which support major AIDS-related services or programs in our community. We have supported the Health Issues Taskforce with grants totalling $114,590. These grants have provided direct assistance to people living with AIDS, eduction for prevention programs, outreach efforts in minority community and counselling for people living with AIDS.

We have provided the start-up funding for the Living Room at the LesbianGay Community Service Center and supported the program in its first and second phases of development. These dollars total $22,000.

In addition, the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation has provided the start-up funding for the Multi-County AIDS Network (Summit and several other eastern counties) and to the Ohio Human Interest Organization (Lorain and other western counties) for the establishment of a Rural AIDS Information Service Network.

The Foundation and its Grants Advisory Committee, whose Board and Committee members include gay community leaders, as acted on its strong commitment to only fund organizations who, in the delivery of services or programs, do not discriminate with respect to sexual orientation.

In addition, the Foundation has supported, and will only support, AIDS education for prevention programs which deal with the realities of human sexual behavior.

We believe that AIDS must be a concern to the community as a wholeregardless of the race, sexual orientation, gender, age or income of whichever population happens to be affected disproportionately at any given time during this epidemic..

In order to achieve that goal, we must communicate, cooperate and collaborate in the development of solutions.

Wiebka Marks Executive Director Western Reserve AIDS Foundation Martha Pontoni's response to Alfred Roach's letter was her personal opinion and not that of the Chronicle staff or management. Pontoni did not mean to imply the WRAF did not contribute to the

lesbian and gay community but rather that WRAF was not itself a lesbian or gay organization. The Chronicle continues to recognize WRAF's contribution to our community and supports its efforts to provide care for all of those in the HIV spectrum. Ed.

Wants to know more about NOCI

To the Editor:

Recently I was approached at Over the Rainbow to buy a calendar that depicted photos of many of the gay bars and several gay organizations in the Cleveland area. I was told the money raised would go to the Northern Ohio Coalition, Inc. hospice fund.

I did not buy the calender, although it looked like a terrific effort. I didn't buy it because I do not know enough about NOCI to support another fundraiser. I do know that they produce the picnic in September, (one of my favorite events of the whole year!) I also know they put on the Spring Into Summer Dance and that they hold several benefit fundraisers throughout the year at the local gay bars. However, I didn't buy the calendar because I never hear of where, and to whom, all the money goes that NOCI collects.

I know there is a Hilly Smith Fund, but I do not know who benefits from this.

I know there is a Hospice Fund, but I have never heard about any of the plans NOCI has for this money.

I know there is a general fund, but I don't know who is, or has been, awarded monies.

What I'd like to know at this point is: Is NOCI a non-profit organization? Do they have a 501(c)(3) number?

Do they keep a record of how much events like the picnic, Spring Into Summer and other benefits make? Are these ever shared with the public?

Is there a record of who has received money from NOCI? Does NOCI know what the monies they give out are used for, and is there something that is printed that they can share with the community?

What is the Hilly Smith Fund, and who may apply for financial aid from this money?

Is there an NOCI board and how and when are they elected?

What exactly is the Hospice plan, how much needs to raised to actually bring the Hospice to fruition? Is there a goal we are striving for?

How much money from the general fund goes to direct service?

Who can apply, and how does one go about applying for this money?

Who has received money in the past, what types of things are funded and what evaluations of services are done?

I am aware this may already be published somewhere and I just don't know

it but after talking to two NOCI board members it doesn't seem to be written down. In order for me to be supportive of an organization I need to know how it works. Because I have been active in fundraising with both the Health Issues Taskforce and the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center I understand how difficult it is to communicate what's going on within an organization. However, there are several organizations in Cleveland, all vying for my dollar, and I want to know both where my dollar is going, and who it's helping.

Recently I received information newsletters from HIT, WRAF, and the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center. These all specified monies taken in, services provided, and general information from the director or chairman. Perhaps NOCI could do something along these lines to educate the community about who and what they are; they will need to do this to gain my support.

Zak Haley

Center is no longer band's agent

To the Editor:

The Board of Trustees of the LesbianGay Community Service Center hereby gives official public notice that the Center is no longer serving as fiscal agent for the North Coast Freedom Band. Accordingly, contributions to the Band are no longer tax-deductible using the Center's tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.

The Center occasionally serves as fiscal agent for non-profit organizations whose mission and activities are consistent with the goals and mission of the Center, but which do not have 501(C)(3) tax-exempt recognition from the IRS.

This legal relationship requires that certain fiscal and other obligations be met by these organizations. The Band was unable to fulfill these.

This action is taken solely for legal necessity. The Center continues to value and support the Band and its contribution to our community.

Robert C. Laycock President, Board of Trustees Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express their opinion about the paper or life in general. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. We will print your name unless you specifically ask us not to.

Address letters to the Chronicle, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101.

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