Leather Stallion turns 20

by Kevin Beaney

Record-setting crowds and hot weather marked the 20th anniversary party at the Leather Stallion Saloon. On July 3, the Stallion celebrated its 20-year endurance record, making it the oldest Levi-and-leather bar in the area. Parking on St. Clair Avenue was difficult as several hundred people jammed the indoor and patio bars to help owners Brian Molnar and Norman Hines celebrate.

The ceremonies included the annual Mr. LSS contest, awards to loyal customers, and many thank-yous to all the individuals, bars, and area businesses that sent their congratulations. Original owner Al Brighton, now living in Florida, was also there to enjoy the fun.

Shortly after midnight, with the temperature on the Patio Bar at 80 degrees, seven contestants competed for the Mr. LSS title. Retiring title holder Greg Lakota introduced the men who ranged in age from 22 to 38. The judges, who included previous title holders, picked the winners based on physical appearance, general attitude, and Levi or leather appeal.

After the crowd got to see each of the contestants several times, the judges' scores were totaled and the winners, all from Cleveland, were announced. Second runner-up, winning a $15 bar tab, was Tony Rodriguez. First runner-up, winning a $20 bar tab, was Steve. The winner of the 1990-91 title was Greg Ammell. In addition to winning a $100 prize, Greg will represent the Stallion throughout the year.

The Stallion is known for more than serving drinks. Over the years it's been a strong supporter of the gay community, sponsoring benefits for many organizations and providing a club. room for four leather clubs.

One example is the popularity of staff member Rocky, who has won the Gown and Crown title at the NOCI

Thompson

Continued from Page 1

ability rights. "Precedents set in this case go far beyond the lesbian and gay issue," Thompson said.

Issues which include guardianship, living wills, power of attorneys, proper care in nursing facilities and many others are now being tackled by Thompson.

The vehicle by which Thompson campaigns is from her own personal experience and those learned as she speaks to groups across the country.

Something as simple as proper care in a nursing home has become a principal issue. Kowalski's care suffered greatly when Thompson's visiting privileges were stopped. Four years of less than sufficient rehabilitative therapy and physical care left Kowalski with a condition known as foot drop: She is unable to bear her own weight and she has also developed a stubborn oral fungus.

Antone F. Feo

Clinical Psychologist

picnic for three years in a row. This bar competition fundraiser leading up to the picnic has seen most of its contributions come from supporters of Rocky and the Stallion. The bar has also raised thousands of dollars for other groups including the North Coast Freedom Band, the North Coast Mens Chorus, and the Health Issues Taskforce, in addition to supporting its leather clubs.

In the six years that Brian and Norman have owned the saloon, they have recognized and quickly responded to the increasing AIDS crisis with safer sex campaigns and material. According to Brian, "Leather bars have always had a reputation for unsafe sex practices, but we were one of the first to realize the need to change that image. It was pretty much the leather bars that acted first." In addition to posting safer sex guidelines, the Stallion has brought in Buck Harris to explain safer sex habits.

Brian is happy with the way the Leather Stallion has moved into the 1990's. "We try to create a very friendly, relaxed, neighborhood feeling, and it works. People who come here for the first time are usually surprised at how comfortable it feels. There are no threats. You don't have to wear leather and many people don't-to fit in." As an example, he points to the saloon's popular "Cruiseday Tuesday" night which carries a nautical theme, with many patrons dressing the part.

The visible management style of Brian and Norman, along with a staff of long-time regulars, provides familiar faces and genuine friendship. Brian spoke of the many occasions when persons new to the bar are greeted by a regular patron and given the feeling that they are welcome at the Stallion. By providing this type of individual recognition along with support for the larger gay community, the owners look forward to many more anniversaries at the Leather Stallion Saloon.

Kowalski, who has a tendency to withdraw, especially when not in Thompson's presence, has been making limited but hopeful progress. Surgery performed in February might correct a muscle contraction problem that prevents Kowalski's legs from bending 90 degrees and presents problems for Thompson's weekend care.

A triumph born from tragedy, Thompson now has many varied needs for Kowalski's weekend visits. A $9,000 motorized wheelchair donated by Shannon Luginbuhl, in the memory of her mother and delivered by lesbians in the local area has helped, but there are still needs to be addressed. First, the wheelchair requires approximately $3,000 in modifications for Kowalski to use. Secondly, a hospital bed would be invaluable to Thompson, who has to bathe and tube feed Kowalski from a waterbed, which is no easy task.

August, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Mass. gay rights law upheld

by Kevin Beaney

On July 5 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued its ruling on the state's gay rights law. The 5-2 vote agreed with the state attorney general's opinion that the law cannot be challenged through a referendum vote. The law, which adds sexual orientation to the equal rights protection provided in housing, employment, insurance and credit, has been in effect and is now uncontested.

Following the signing of the gay rights bill into law on November 15, 1989, Attorney General James Shannon ruled that it could not be put to a referendum vote because of its wording. The Massachusetts state constitution specifically prohibits referendum challenges to laws affecting religious bodies. During the legislative process, conservative opponents had amended the bill so that religious institutions would not be required to provide equal rights based on sexual orientation. When the bill became law, it was on this wording that the attorney general based his opinion.

Fundamentalists, led by a group called Citizens for Family First, appealed the ruling to the Supreme Judicial Court as they began a drive to collect signatures to force a referendum vote. They announced early in the year that they had obtained over 60,000 signatures, more than enough to put the question on the ballot in the general election. According to the Cambridge-based Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights, many of the petition signatures were fraudulently collected by disseminating misinformation about the nature of the law and about gay people in general.

In February, assuming that the court would permit the referendum, the state's gay activists began planning a statewide education effort to keep the law from being rejected by voters. The potential referendum was an expanded challenge

Thompson's legal needs, however, no fund or organized benefit has addressed Kowalski's needs, now that she is in Thompson's care on the weekends. That is until our local community became involved in transporting the wheelchair to Thompson.

Advance sale tickets for the benefit, which include a rib dinner from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., a raffle, and live entertainment, are available for $15 from Gifts of Athena, the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center, and the Black Swan.

General admission at the door is $5.00 any time following the dinner. A cash bar is available.

So, come on out to hear Thompson at the Black Swan. "Give a damn" about yourself, your partner and your community.

Kowalski's progress regressed so tremendously that at a competency hearing in September 1988, a judge ruled that Kowalski would be moved to Miller Dawn Hospital in Duluth and that the medical team would render decisions on

A fund has long been established for rehabilitation, therapy and visitation, not

Ph.D.

"Dedicated to your personal

growth and development"

24670 Euclid Ave.

Cleveland, Ohio 44117

20325 Center Ridge, Suite 520 Rocky River, Ohio 44116 331-3399

Page 5

to war-weary gay activists and supporters who now had to organize, raise money, and gear up to reach out to citizens throughout the state.

The court's ruling is a major victory in the struggle that took 17 legislative sessions before being signed last year. If the referendum had taken place, supporters were still generally confident since, in a poll taken just after the law was signed, 70 percent of the voters favored the gay rights law. According to Arlene Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, "We're relieved that the people of Massachusetts and the gay community have been spared what would have been one of the ugliest and most divisive campaigns the state has ever seen."

Now that the referendum threat is removed, the gay supporters can enjoy the benefits of their efforts, with protection in housing, employment, credit and insurance, regardless of sexual orientation. Although this bitter struggle is not likely to be over, it will be at least a year before opponents can take their next action mounting an initiative petition drive for the 1992 ballot.

Walesa

Continued from Page 1 ves be influenced by rhetoric.

"I'm afraid there's going to be a lot of support for these [anti-gay] ideas and I'm afraid he could be a kind of Polish Hitler. Not strictly, of course, but I compare the situation in Poland now to the situation in the Germany before the Second World War."

Asked if he was exaggerating, Kisiel said: "They could change the laws. It's possible as it was in Germany before the war. We are happy they are not talking about [concentration] camps yet, but it happened in Germany. and the word he has used is 'eliminate.''

the Kowalski family. The judge found that Kowalski "was not competent, but was capable of making life's basic choices," Thompson said. Nursing homes provide "maintenance care, not rehabilitative care," Thompson said.

The irony of all that Thompson has endured has become a two-fold message. First, if they would have been more legally

prepared, much of what has happened could have been avoided.

"If you have the legal documents, usually the courts won't go against your wishes," Thompson said.

Second, being "out of the closet" is a scary, but necessary road for Thompson, who feels that being "out" is the only way to strive for the basic human rights every lesbian and gay deserves.

"Staying in the closet is a dangerous place to be. I love being 'out'; I've learned to respect myself," Thompson said.

Thompson is embroiled in a guardianship struggle. Recently a judge handed down a "reserved" ruling, which is the equivalent of a "no-comment" state-

SCOTT

Custom Travel Service. 721-9500

Gay & Lesbian

•Airline Tickets •Amtrak

•Vacations

•Cruises •Groups

11322 EUCLID AVENUE

Next Door To Brandywines