December, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

Letters

Open and proud

To the Editor:

My aunt wrote me, "I love you, but not what you believe or what you are." I replied frankly asking what if she said to Bonita (our niece by marriage), "I love you but not your being black." What if she said to her only son Lance (a concert violinist), "I love you but not your music ability."

Aunt Susie, will you ever see that my capacity to deeply love and make love with

another man is a gift of God just as real as

Bonita's black skin or Lance's music ability? Can you imagine what it feels like to go to other people's weddings and be expected to celebrate and congratulate them when I know many of them would not celebrate and congratulate me if I find a male lover or companion?

If I someday have another lover, I would choose to express my affection publicly, just as many male-female couples in love do-arm around the other's shoulder, sitting close, hugging, endearing looks across the room, affectionate kisses, wherever.

I would choose to dance proudly with him at neighborhood celebrations. I will not quarantine myself to the gay ghetto. I refuse to let society make me feel or act as if our romance is inferior or reserved only for the privacy of our bedroom.

Two of my hardest lessons in romance have been: 1) My intense attraction for another man in no way guarantees his attraction for me; and, 2) A man's sexy physique in no way guarantees his common sense, compassion or our emotional compatibility.

What is more frustrating than someone with craving and capability for deep intimacy to be partners with someone not capable because of previous massive emotional wounds not yet healed? Because someone needs love does not guarantee that person can receive love or return love in equal measure.

As much as possible, I aim to be the kind of lover I seek. I am attracted to someone honest, strong, tender, healthy, full of life, horny, lean, muscular, vegetarian, masculine, perpetually passionate, romantic, forgiving, proud to be openly gay, who knows what he wants, thrives on intense intimacy and vigorous argument, enjoys living fulfilled on little money, does not smoke or drink, is deeply committed to justice and peace, and celebrates nature often nude in the sunshine!

I will not wait for society's attitudes to change in order to exercise my full humanity to live openly and proudly gay. I choose to live the freedom now!

Don Schrader Albequerque, N.M.

Many thanks for a great year

To the Editor:

As 1990 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the great accomplishments in our community over the past year. They are remarkable:

• Mayor White reached out to our community and issued a proclamation for Pride '90. The Center now presents a mandatory seminar on anti-gay violence and harassment to all Cleveland police cadets.

grant form the Cleveland Foundation to support core lesbian-gay organizing and services.

Stonewall Cleveland was established and is growing rapidly.

All this just scratches the surface. Our advances are coming so quickly that it's sometimes easy to forget how far we've progressed. Many dedicated folks are responsible, working very hard through the Center, the Chronicle, Stonewall, the ACLU, and many other groups.

Though I write the Center's monthly

privacy to lesbian and gay people in the United States.

I thought your misgivings about the vote expressed an understanding of what the decision has meant to us. Evidently I was wrong, because you also said that the Bowers vote has not occupied even 30 minutes of your time since you made the decision.

The case brought by Michael Hardwick was not "frivolous." The court's decision has done much damage to lesbian and gay men. Since gay people are so manifestly invisible to most heterosexuals, I have

that your colleagues on the U.S. Supreme Court the sitting justices-know how you feel about your vote in Bowers. Your repudiation of your own vote in the case is the strongest argument for a review and a reversal by the court. Help to restore our faith in the ideals of justice and equal protection for all under the law.

Sue Hyde Director, Privacy Project National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

column, I'd like to take a moment here to listed below some examples of the impact End military bias

speak solely for myself. I am now coming of Bowers. to the conclusion of my first term as president of the Center. It's been anything but easy, yet it's also been immensely fulfilling and rewarding. I believe that the Center today is as healthy and strong as it may have ever been.

This progress results from the outstanding efforts of over 100 Center volunteers who give the vest of themselves and their talents to the community. These are the folks who keep the hotline answered, staff the Living Room, or present the police seminars for the Maryann Finegan Project.

They're our Fundraising Committee members. The $12,000 Garden Party auction in July was a masterpiece!

They are our Board members. Never before have I had the pleasure to work with a stronger or more committed Board of Trustees. They work hard and their humor prevails through even the longest meetings.

And, they are two individuals deserving special mention: Judy Rainbrook and Dolores Noll. Judy left the Board this year, but she was a driving force behind the powerful resurgence in 1988 that has made the Center today a leader in the Cleveland lesbian-gay civil rights movement.

Dolores is an old friend of many years, and lives in Kent. When the Center found itself facing an internal crisis early this year, Dolores agreed to serve as Acting Executive Director. For over six months, she commuted daily from Kent to provide this service without pay. Her efforts contributed immeasurably to our success this year.

A special thanks is also due our major donors whose personal gifts are so generous and vital. And, our members too. Their annual dues, advice and ideas help keep things on track.

Finally, recognition is due our paid staff and Living Room consultants: Aubrey Wertheim, our Director of Services, works tirelessly orchestrating the constant bustle of activity. Marian Colbeck keeps the office running, and the Living Room has grown rapidly under the skillful guidance of Sharon Thomas and Kyle.

My thanks to everyone above and the others I've probably forgotten. 1990 has been a landmark year. I feel very excited for our future in 1991 and beyond.

Robert C. Laycock

A 'frivolous' kick in the teeth

The following was sent to retired U.S. Supreme Court justice Lewis Powell, who recently said he "probably made a mistake" with his pivotal vote in the 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick decision upholding sodomy laws. He also said he thought the case was "frivolous," and "of little or no importance."

• Cleveland City Council acknowledged our community with a Pride Day proclamation. Council President Jay Dear Justice Powell: Westbrook addressed Pride '90.

•Over 600 marched through downtown Cleveland for lesbian-gay civil rights. Pride '90 is a huge success with over 2,000 attending.

Lesbian and gay representatives met face-to-face with editors and writers of the Plain Dealer to confront biased reporting.

The Center won an historic $83,000

I was at first glad to read in the national media (Washington Post, October 26) that you regret your vote in Bowers v. Hardwick. You cast the deciding vote to uphold the Georgia law criminalizing private, adult, consensual sex and you supported with your swing vote a decision that denies personhood and the fundamental right of

Since Bowers, at least four men in Tennessee have stood trial for "crimes against nature," that is, consensual sex with an adult partner. Two received suspended jail sentences of five years. Men in other states have gone to jail for similar "crimes."

Since Bowers, a mother in Georgia was denied custody of her seven-year-old son because, as a lesbian, she is an unconvicted felon in that state.

Since Bowers, the New Hampshire legislature prohibited lesbian and gay people from becoming foster parents in that state, citing the majority opinion in Bowers as evidence of the unacceptability of homosexuality.

Since Bowers, a woman was prevented from applying for a job with the Dallas Police Department because, as a lesbian in Texas, she is automatically assumed to be a criminal and unsuited for work as a law enforcement officer.

Since Bowers, a constitutional challenge to the military's policy of excluding and discharging gay and lesbian people was turned aside at the federal appeals court level, in part because the Bowers majority denies us our fundamental right to privacy.

Lives ruined. Careers destroyed. Families ripped apart. The stories of damage done by Bowers go on and on. If you need more proof of the impact of this case, please contact me. I have so many more examples in my files that my heart hurts.

Lesbian and gay men's lives are not frivolous and we are not frivolous people. We are angry and resolute that the wrong you have done us should be set right as soon as possible. We will continue our 25 battles in 25 state legislatures and in 25 state courts to undo your terrible mistake.

Justice Powell, you can help us in two ways. First, write a letter to the high courts and legislatures of each state that retains a sodomy law. Tell the state court judges and the legislators that you have erred and you would not wish them to compound your mistake by failing to decriminalize private, adult, consensual sex in their states. I have enclosed with this letter an address list of the governments in unreformed states to assist you in this task. This will be a bit time-consuming, but it will help us when we knock on the doors of state governments and courts if you have already visited them.

And then, on behalf of Michael Hardwick, who was handcuffed, arrested, and spent many hours in jail awaiting release on bail, I ask this of you: Please make sure

The following was sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney:

Dear Secretary Cheney:

I am writing to urge the Department of Defense to end its policy of excluding some individuals from military service because of their sexual orientation. As the Chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley, I am eager to join my many colleagues in higher education who have spoken out against the practice of denying gays and lesbians the privilege of serving their country in the military.

It is a matter of great concern to me that such exclusion is currently practiced on the Berkeley Campus within the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program. At Berkeley we are committed, in policy and in practice, to nurturing civility, free and thoughtful expression, and respect for differences among people. Thus, the fundamental conflict between our policy of nondiscrimination and the military's position on sexual orientation leads to distresss and anger for many members of our community.

More that forty years ago, the Department of Defense abolished its policy of discriminating against military personnel on the basis of their race. In recent years, it has made important progress in equalizing opportunities for men and women in the military. Regrettably, discrimination against gays and lesbians continues to this day.

The lingering presence of this discrimination has been felt in the colleges and universities across the country that sponsor ROTC Programs. Its immediate cessation would not only enable these ROTC units to attract outstanding young men and women who find discrimination abhorrent but also provide an example of leadership for us all. I urge the Department of Defense, for the good of our colleges and the good of our country, to abandon this wasteful and hurtful policy.

Chang-Lin Tien, Chancellor University of California, Berkeley

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. Include your address and phone number so we may contact you.

Ohio City Oasis damaged in fire

A November 25 fire did $25,000 damage to the Ohio City Oasis, a gay men's bar at 1402 West 29th St.

Smoke from the fire was noticed at 12:00 noon, shortly after the bar opened. Firefighters said the fire started in basement wiring under the dance floor, which was the most heavily damaged area. Four apartments over the club, and several adjacent storefronts, including the LesbianGay Community Service Center, sustained smoke damage.

Oasis owner Richard Husarick, who also owns the building, said the club's

sound system and computers, which he valued at $25,000, were destroyed by heat and water. He said club meeting rooms in the basement were also damaged, as well as the dance floor itself, which had several large holes in it.

The bar was open for business that night, with the dance floor area closed off. Husarick, who lives in the building, said that the apartment residents would be able to return the following night.

The Center and the Living Room, two doors south in the same building, received only minor smoke damage.