New women's club opens

by K. D. Mahnal

The Black Swan, a women's club, celebrated its grand opening February 14. The name is a comparison to the women's community-both are beautiful and unique.

It is this philosophy that prompted owner Beth H. to open the Black Swan.

"I wanted to provide a nice space for women to have another alternative," Beth explains.

The club opened with the help of a few lesbians who volunteered to remodel the interior. Three months later the transformation was successful-from an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan.

Beth wants the Black Swan to be more than just another bar.

"Not just a liquor-hustling bar... more of a social gathering place," Beth said.

The Black Swan also caters to the non-drinker, offering a variety of juices, soft drinks, coffee and non-alcholic beverages.

Admission and dress code policies are casual.

"Men are welcome if they are gay sympathetic-everyone is welcome, but the club is oriented to women,' Beth said. "The only dress code is 'clean, comfortable and appropriate.""

Black Swan's clientele encompasses a wide spectrum of women from various age, social and economic groups and women of color. A disc jockey spins the wax on Friday and Saturday, and the club can seat 75 to 80 women comfortably.

Upcoming plans include specialty nights, snack foods, local female entertainment and an outdoor patio and barbecue area. The club is open Wednesday through Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Drink discounts are available Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday all night and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is a $2.00 cover charge on Friday and Saturday, starting at 9:00 p.m.

The Black Swan is at 11814 Detroit Ave., in Lakewood. Entrance and parking are at the rear of the building.

Center holds forum on Helms art amendment

by Bob Boone

As part of the general membership meeting of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center on March 6, members of the Center joined in a forum entitled Culture Shock, Gagging Gay-Lesbian Art. The discussion centered on an amendment engineered by Jesse Helms

replace the Eleanor Roosevelt society. He contended that the local gay community needs a watchdog to warn of such violations of rights as the censorship leveled by the current Helms amend-

ment.

and passed by the Congress that restricts According to the

the funding by the National Endowment for the Arts. According to the amendment, the NEA is prohibited from funding art that is homoerotic in nature, as well as art that depicts sadomasochism, sexually exploits children, or features sex acts.

The NEA was founded in the early 70's by Nancy Hanks to set aside government monies to fund the creation or the display by non-profit entities. It began with a budget of $15 million and has grown into a fund of $171 million. A committee established in the early 80's to examine the worthiness of NEA concluded that it was a model deserving to be studied by other government agencies. Currently, the NEA Reauthorization Committee is studying once again whether or not the fund should exist.

A panel gathered by Aubrey Wertheim, Center director of services, and moderated by Dolores Noll, Center board member, discussed the restriction now binding NEA funds. Jean Gaffert of the Cleveland Public Theatre questioned what value art could possibly be given in a society that allows such an amendment as the one concocted by Helms to censor our nation's artists. As did all the panel members, she decried the fact that art was being made a political plaything.

Furthering this complaint, Bob Navis of the Near West Theatre called for a new political group in Cleveland to

amendment, the NEA is prohibited from funding art that is homoerotic in nature, as well as art that depicts sadomasochism.

Local art gallery owner Bill Tregoning called for artists and the gay community to fight against the censorship enacted by the Congress. However, if the restrictions are not lifted, he said he would rather see the end of NEA. He commented, "If he (Helms) is going to play with that agency, close it." Roger Danforth of the Cleveland Playhouse pointed out that NEA funds equal 0.02 percent of the total federal budget, which he claimed proves the Helms amendment is not a fiscal matter, but part of larger social agenda that inhibits personal diversity. He said that by its definition, art must be subversive, the very quality the Helms amendment attempts to quell.

The panel urged individuals outraged against the restrictions placed on the NEA to write their senators and representatives and voice their opposition.▼

April, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 5

Building Project elects new board

The Women's Building Project (WBP) held their first annual membership meeting February 25 at the Unitarian Society in Cleveland Heights. Forty women attended the meeting.

First on the agenda was the financial report. It was announced that because of the various fundraisers put on in 1989, the Boat Cruise, Cleveland Public Theatre Play Nites, and the Halloween Party and Auction, the WBP now has $5,000 towards acquiring their own building.

Next, the new by-laws of the WBP as a membership organization were reviewed. There were some minor changes and additions made before they were voted on and approved by the membership.

Nominations were then accepted for the 13 positions on the board. Each candidate was given three minutes to share something about herself and why she would like to serve on the WBP board. Twelve of the 13 openings for board members were filled, and the WBP is

pleased to announce the new board: Joyce Donnelly, Jeanne Petti, Susan Holland, Marlane Neslian, Amy Gorn, Joy Savern, Heather Thorp, Marilyn Bianchi, Mary Briggs, Kathy Snyder, Karen Slavern and Diane Sarotte.

There will be another election meeting held in October to elect the final board member. The new board will hold their first meeting on Sunday, April 1 at 3:30 p.m. at the new women's bookstore, Gifts of Athena, at 2199 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. These meetings are open to WPB members. Membership forms are available in the Feminist Lending Library at the Civic or by calling the WBP at 321-3054.

Over the past year, many of the women in our community came together; to agree, to disagree, to pose solutions, to be heard, to let go of some things and to move on to new beginnings. The WBP thanks all of these women for their energy and hopes to nurture this process of working together so that the WBP continues to grow.▼

The Gay Games: a growing legacy

by K. D. Mahnal

The Gay Games has taken another important, positive step to enhance and preserve its legacy. In July 1989, a newly founded organization, the Federation of Gay Games, convened in Seattle, Washington, with 40 invitees from Europe and North America.

The Federation is the outgrowth of the founding organization of the Gay Games, the San Francisco Arts and Athletics, Inc. The purpose of the Federation will be threefold: 1, to foster and augment the self-respect of lesbians and gay men throughout the world; 2, to promote respect and understanding from the non-gay world through the Gay Games and Cultural Festival medium; and 3, to ensure the inclusion principles of the Games, so everyone may perform at their personal best.

A board of directors headed by an executive council of six officers and several critical planning committees will provide the organizational structure of the Federation. Various individual sports-cultural organizations and representatives from past and present Gay Games hosting organizations will also be members. Meetings will be held annually and as required between the quadrennial Gay Games.

San Francisco will be home for the Federation, the repository of the Gay Games archives and the Dr. Tom Wad-

dell Memorial Cup, named for the Games' founder.

The Federation will assist future host organizations, the international sporting world, and cultural organizations. Support will be provided in communications, planning, promotional, and financial resources, to ensure the future of the Gay Games.

Currently on the Federation agenda is the registration of the mark "Gay Games" and a three ring logo. Registration is pending with the U. S. Trademark Office and the Federation may apply for registrations in other countries, as required. This will enable the Federation to control licensing rights and approve all uses of the mark and logo.

Celebration '90: Gay Games III and Cultural Festival, to be hosted by Vancouver, British Columbia is experiencing an unexpected growth in terms of registration. Organizers have 4,600 athletes registered as of February, and new estimates project 6,000-7,000 athletes, and a near equal number of participants in the Cultural Festival. In addition to the participants, there will be approximately 10,000 spectators.

This number of participants will make Celebration '90 the world's largest multisports event anywhere in 1990 and will only be eclipsed by the 1992 Olympics. Representatives from 20 countries are Continued on Page 17

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