August, 1991

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

Letters

Say it loud

To the Editor:

The feeling I've felt by being able to march on June 22 in the Lesbian-Gay Pride '91 March was one of the greatest accomplishments that has occurred in my life. I'm grateful to have been part of that moment, my first Gay Pride March.

After that day's festivities, I left back to suburbia a changed person. A person even more open and proud! Several weeks have passed since that event and I continue to display the Pride of being gay. I am learning to turn the shame over. I am learning to bridge those gaps.

To those who marched in marches prior to this one: Thank you. Also, thank you to the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Pride '91 Committee! To those who are not out or able to march, that whistle tweet through downtown was for you! Hopefully next year we can march together following the lavender stripe right through downtown Cleveland.

"Say it loud! Gay and proud!"

Christopher Rein

Not on the first date

To the Editor:

Great fun seems in store with the new Lizzie Borden's Forty Whacks, but even gossip is best grounded in facts, ma'am.

To set the record straight: my source at the Pee Dee made it quite clear the publisher, Alex Machaskee, pulled my piece, though unfortunately editorial page director Brent Larkin was asked to take the rap. I was subsequently solicited for a completely new piece in the week following Pride, but having written what I had been first informed was a "quality column," I declined the immediate offer and took a Faincheck.

I never suggested that Mr. Larkin “stuff it." That seems a highly forward proposition to someone I have yet to meet.

Aubrey Wertheim Director of Services Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center

Borden had her facts right at first, but editors changed the column when a colleague of Wertheim's called. We apologize for the error.-Ed.

Spend effort where it will do some good

To the Editor:

In regard of Reverend Hawk's discontinuance (July Chronicle), one has to wonder just how long we are going to be subjected to the inane babbling of gay and lesbian churchgoers who are willing to waste their lives trying to get approval from the "Christian churches" while at the same time trying to enlist our support and sympathy with their maudlin whining?

At one point in the article the writer stated: "It is my belief that the power of religious organizations to influence social policy is immeasurable." She's right, but for the wrong reason. This power to influence that she refers to is immeasurable only because there is nothing to measure, where gay and lesbian issues are concerned.

One would be hard pressed to find an example of changes for the good concerning our community that have grown out of gay and lesbian "activism" in the church communities. However, one can find many an example of homophobic gay and lesbian churchgoers (and I include those of so-called gay and lesbian churches) who put our their own brand of oppression

while at the same time deluding themselves into actually believing that they are in some way benefiting gay and lesbian society.

I realize that these are somewhat brutal statements, but I am honestly to the point where my gag reflex is kicking in where some "issues" are concerned. The real issue here is not over the established churches' refusal to recognize gay and lesbian persons and their relationship Rather, the issue is: "How long are gay a lesbian churchgoers going to allow themselves to be psychologically abused by established churches? And what is wrong with them that they are permitting it, any way?"

They would better serve themselves and the community by learning to accept themselves and their relationships, and them concentrating their energies on secular issues such as fair housing, equal employment, etc. for gay and lesbian people.

It strikes me that the relationship with a church is like any other: If it is bad and cannot be fixed, end it. If you can't stand that overheated kitchen then get out of it. But don't whine about how uncomfortable it is, stay there, and then ask the rest of us to experience it vicariously by squandering our sympathies on you.

No G word

To the Editor:

Andrew Cari

What do Oven Productions, the Women's Coffeehouse, and the North Coast Men's Chorus all have in common?

1. All three provide fellowship and a psychologically "safe space" for homosexuals to gather, apart from the opposite

sex.

2. None of them make any reference to homosexuality in their name.

Start your own

To the Editor:

Mike Radice

Lately, whenever I open an issue of the Chronicle, I seem to find another editorial or letter concerning the name of the North Coast Men's Chorus. I can't help but think that this whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion and that someone on the Chronicle editorial staff has a personal vendetta against the chorus.

One question that I have in regard to this "controversy" is, how did the North Coast Men's Chorus come to be singled out for these attacks? In the Resource Directory of the July issue of the Chronicle I count 26 presumably gay or lesbian organizations listed under the headings of "Groups": and "Women's Organizations" which do not identify themselves in their names as gay or lesbian organizations. Only one of the five sports organizations (G.I.F.T.) is specifically identified as gay. And of the 16 religious and spiritual groups listed, only three are identified as gay. As for our local publications, only the Chronicle uses the 'G-word' in its name. Among those organizations choosing not to use the word 'gay' in their names are Stonewall-Cleveland, Monotones, Emmanuel Metropolitan Community Church, the North Coast Athletic Association, and the Women's Coffeehouse.

It is not my intent to demean the work of these organizations or the services that they provide, but only to point out the inconsistencies of the Chronicle editorial staff. When will the Chronicle ask these other groups to "push down the closet doors and stand up gay and proud" by changing their names to Gay StonewallCleveland, Gay Monotones, Gay MCC, North Coast Gay Athletic Association, and

the Lesbian Coffeehouse? I think that the gay community in Cleveland would be much better served if the Chronicle would spend more time promoting our local gay organizations rather than creating ill will towards them. They may not be perfect, but they're ours.

As a final word to all of those who take offenes at the name the Chorus has chosen for itself, I would like to suggest that you start your own chorus and call it the NorthCoast-Politically-Correct-Chorus-ofGay-Men-and-Lesbians-Who-Are-Totally-Out-of-the-Closet-to-Their-Fami-

lice-Friends-Co Workers-Neighbors-andStrangers-on-the-Street. Otherwise please do us all a favor and shut up.

Gerry Wheeler

This issue was raised, and sustained, by letters from both sides, some from Chorus members. The Letters column is a community forum; we publish most of the letters we get, with little editorial control. Our input was one four-paragraph editorial (which we stand by) last month. There is no "vendetta."-Ed.

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express their opinion about the paper or life in general. Please be brief. 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.

Hate Crime Update

compiled by the Maryann Finegan Project

Crimes of bias reported in July:

June 25-Two gay men walking between Mix Drinkery and the Vienna Deli on Detroit Avenue verbally abused by four youths in car who then menaced them with the vehicle.

July 3-Anti-lesbian verbal abuse on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

July 5-Gay teen in Edgewater area escorted home by ranger, who then outed him to his parents. Victim subsequently thrown out of home.

July 10-Picway parking lot across from Legends on Detroit Avenue. Man about to leave when assailants entered car,

beat and robbed him. Victim sustained black eyes and bruises.

July 12 Gay man arrested for DWI. When he protested towing of car, arresting officer kicked victim twice in face using homophobic language. Official complaint registered.

July 12-Lesbian couple who recently moved to West Side neighborhood harassed by neighbors with garbage thrown on porch.

Danger zone: Clifton Ave. between West 117th and West 110th is now averaging a major assault every weekend. Please travel in this area very carefully, with doors locked and windows shut. ▼

Question of the Month

Are faggot and lesbo powerful or painful even for own use?

August will mark the beginning of a new feature in the Chronicle. Each month we will have a "Question of the Month," which will focus on some event or controversy in the lesbian and gay community. Readers may call 1-900-446-KWIR to give a yes or no answer. Comments or opinions can also be recorded; we will publish excerpts of these in the following issue. The call will cost you 99¢ per minute. August's Question:

At Dancin' in the Streets, Queer Nation and others distributed stickers reading, "Faggot Power," "A Queer Was Here," "Lesbo A Go-Go," "Fag Boy," etc. Many people found it empowering to take the sting out of these "cringe" words this way, and wore the stickers on their clothing. Others, however, felt that these words will always be insults, and should not be embraced.

What do you think? Are these words still too painful? Call 1-900-446-KWIR and register your opinion. We will publish the results in September. ▼

SUE WEAVER

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