Bits & Pieces
Pride '91 theme and logo contest. The Cleveland Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee announces a Pride Theme and Logo Contest for the 1991 Pride Celebration and March.
The logo design will be used on T-shirts, buttons and the Pride '91 poster. Themes in the past have include "Look to the Future" (1990) and "An Out of the Closet Experience" (1989).
Everyone is urged to participate. Finalists will be picked by the Pride executive committee, and the winner will be chosen at the Pride '91 Kick-off in February at the Lesbian Gay Community Service Center. All those who are interested should call the Chronicle office and request a specifica-
December, 1990
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Page 9
tion, the Akron Bar Task Force, and the Rangers, Inc. are sponsoring a can food drive for people with AIDS in our multicounty area. This project is presently in full
tion sheet be sent to them. Deadline for swing and will continue through the holiday season to December 31, 1990, entries is January 21.
Calling all volunteers-The Cleveland Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee will hold its first public meeting on January 28 at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center at 7:30. Representatives from all other lesbian and gay groups are urged to attend and find out what part they can play in the
Pride '91 Celebration. We will also be
planning our February Kick-Off Party and picking the Logo Contest finalists. Everyone is welcome!
Food drive for people with AIDS. Akron area's Summit Bowling Associa-
Watkins gets one-man exception to Army's ban on gays
tion against gay men and lesbians will no longer be tolerated," Rubenstein said. "The courts rejected the military's argu-
Ending a decade-long battle, the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a lower court decision which, for the first time, forced the military to re-enlistments that the presence of this openly gay openly-gay Sgt. Perry Watkins. The decision, however, is a narrow one, as it effectively applies only to Watkins.
When he first was drafted in 1967, Watkins accurately completed his preinduction medical form, answering "yes" on a question that asked whether he had 'homosexual tendencies.' The Army enlisted him anyway and let him rejoin several times despite his statement that he was gay, and three Army investigations. In 1981, when it adopted new regulations requiring the discharge of all gays and lesbians, not just those who were sexually active, the Army began proceedings to remove Watkins.
The court's decision in Watkins' favor stands on those previous re-enlistments of him as an openly-gay man.
Despite the narrowness of the ruling, ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project director William B. Rubenstein called the
Court's decision a "significant victory against the military."
"This decision is a huge step toward a day when the military's unfair discrimina-
soldier would undermine morale and discipline. Perry's career is a testament to the fact that openly gay soldiers can and will serve successfully in the armed forces."
Watkins filed his first legal complaint in August 1981 seeking to obtain reinstatement of his security clearance and to force the Army to stop its attempts to discharge him because he is gay.
In May 1989, after numerous rounds in court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that, as a matter of fairness, the Army could not discharge Watkins for being gay because it had allowed him to re-enlist three times while knowing of his sexual orientation.
The Bush administration asked the Supreme Court to review that decision. On November 5, the Court-without comment-refused that request, thus letting stand the lower court decision.
Watkins told the Associated Press that
he intends to get reinstated, and that he
wants to serve until he can retire with a full
Army pension in about five years.
Bookselle
WESTWOOD
TOWN CENTER 21611 CENTER RIDGE RD. ROCKY RIVER, OH 44116 (216) 333-7828
Monday-Saturday
10 to 10 pm Sunday
10 to 6 pm
PAVILION MALL 24031 CHAGRIN BLVD. BEACHWOOD, OH 44122 (216) 831-5035 Monday-Thursday
10 to 10 pm Friday & Saturday 10 to 12 midnight
Sunday
10 to 6 pm
SHAKER SQUARE 13214 SHAKER SQUARE CLEVELAND, OHIO 44120
(216) 751-9100 Monday-Saturday 10 to 8 pm Sunday
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Non-perishable items may be donated at local bars in the Akron area as well as various service organizations. Donations are not limited to canned food items. Paper and soap products, as well as cash donations, will be accepted.
Gift packages will be made up and distributed to clients being served by Catholic Services, Northeast Ohio Task Force on AIDS, Multi County AIDS Network and the Akron Drug Board.
For more information or to volunteer to help, call Dave at 724-4530.
"Toastmasters" group forming-If you are interested in participating in a speakers club for gay and lesbian people, contact Ed at 671-1169.
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KGLF alums to meet-The Kent GayLesbian Foundation (formerly the Kent Gay Liberation Front) is planning a twenty-year reunion as part of its 1991
spring conference. Local Kent State alumni/ae who would like to participate in the planning process are invited to attend a meeting at the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center, 1418 West 29th St., on Friday, Dec. 7, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, leave a message for Dolores Noll at the Center, 522-1999.
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New workshops at Living Room. The Living Room, a non-profit drop-in center dedicated to nurturing the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of persons who are HIV challenged, has begun a new program of Guest Workshops. The workshops will be given by Cleveland professionals on a wide range of holistic alternatives for healing and self-empowerment. These free workshops will be offered every other Friday night at 6:00 p.m. (refreshments at 5:00, Q & A afterwards) at 1410 W. 29th St.
The program for December 14 is: Macrobiotics by the East-West Institute. Guest Workshops scheduled for winter and spring include Nutrition by Iris Brailin of the Plain Dealer, Tools of Empowerment, Yoga, Healing with Laughter, Polarity, Crystals and more.
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