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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

August, 1991

Living Room staffer tackles image and fundraising

by Kevin Beaney

In late March the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center hired a development coordinator for its Living Room program. The new staff member is at the Center thanks to a grant from the Community AIDS Partnership Project (CAPP) which funded this part-time position for two years.

Scott Weisman, locally raised and selfadmitted "Cleveland junkie," is in charge of tracking grants, fundraising and acting as public relations guru for the Living Room, which is now in its third year of ministering to the emotional needs of people within the HIV spectrum and those affected by the AIDS epidemic.

Weisman finds himself at a critical point in the history of both the Center and the Living Room; he expresses confidence about his new job and the role he is playing within the community. With a background in fundraising for foundations and volunteer work for the Health Issues Taskforce, he was both gratified and challenged to be hired for this new position where he can set precedents while telling the Living Room's story to anyone who will listen.

His most pressing tasks are overcoming the Living Room's identity crisis and winning private and individual funding for the program.

He stressed that the Living Room is very much part of the Center-an integral program with recently consolidated financial management. Many people still think that the Living Room is somehow being abandoned or ignored when, in fact, it is becoming more closely aligned with the Center. Correcting that misconception-one that existed "since the Living Room first opened," according to Weisman—is part of his challenge.

A stronger gay and lesbian connection creates a dilemma for him since he is also committed to more aggressive community outreach. While contacting minorities and women, how will they react to a "gay" program? The new development coordinator is not too worried. "Personally, I feel that if you are in any way affected or afflicted by HIV that it is not going to be long before you are rubbing elbows with gay men," says Weisman.

A major part of his outreach is to overcome another misconception about the Living Room: "Word is out in the black and Hispanic communities," he says, "that

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we discriminate against minorities. It's not the policy, nor has it ever been." This misunderstanding is both a barrier that must be overcome and a sensitive issue.

Weisman says he is a good choice to meet the community, calling his "accessibility" his biggest asset. He has worked well in both the gay and straight communities. "I'm accessible as a person and don't feel blocked into a stereotype. I can travel well within the gay community and mainstream positions, both professionally and charitably. I'm able to access the straight community."

This skill will come in handy for Weisman's other major mission: securing individual contributions from the general population. Funding for the program has largely come from foundation grants and a few individuals. Both the Center and the Living Room are shifting their fundraising focus to individuals. While noting that the Living Room receives grants from CAPP, the Northern Ohio Coalition (NOCI) and several foundations, and that its "doors would not be open if it wasn't for the grants," the board and staff are planning for the future.

The alternative is to "reach the community to establish fiscal stability. We're very dependent right now on grants, and we can't be certain they'll be renewed. They're not given in perpetuity," states Weisman.

Part of his mission is overcoming the assumption on many people's parts that an AIDS program automatically receives funds. While direct care programs are frequent recipients, services such as those provided by the Living Room, many of them in their infancy, are not as high a priority and thus are not funded. "We're not a clinic; we're not specifically a minority program, although of course minorities are included; we offer no traditional medical care on site, nor a lot of care off site. So we're not eligible for a lot of the grants that are available right now."

How does he plan to market the Living Room? "Many programs at the Center have little or no interest outside our community. But while straights may not be interested in gay programs, AIDS can be used as a [marketing tool]. There is no lack of concern surrounding AIDS in the Cleveland community, and with so many people affected by AIDS, they will be more sympathetic than with a lesbian or gay issue,"

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says Weisman. He does admit that the facility is not used "as much as we'd like by the straight community. That's part of the identity problem. We're trying to change that through outreach programs."

More contact with women is also needed. "There was a women's support group formed and still in place. Women and AIDS is an issue not addressed enough by the gay community or the medical community. This can be substantiated by the number of women in trials and studies at the National Institute of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. That's changing and we'd like to see it changed here."

Up until now the Living Room staff's time was consumed with running the programs themselves, with little or no time for planning or outreach. With Weisman on board he expects to get the information to those points where men and women of all colors can access them, “including health clinics, testing sites and hospitals, but we can't force people to come here. We can't be everywhere at all times.” His job also includes redesigning the literature, making it more attractive and comprehensive.

His decision to join the Living Room staff included a determination to be very open about being gay. He realizes the implications down the road when he will list this job on his resume. “I'm proud of the work here and want to put it on my resume. [I realize] this position is not a lifetime career, but my commitment to the community is. The Center offered me an opportunity to fulfill my expectations and gave me flexibility to create an agenda for myself. To me that's a gift. It's a rare thing to be able to walk in and create, plus have the opportunity to serve the community, along with help from Leigh, Aubrey and the board, in a situation where nobody had before."

Working for a gay agency allowed the new coordinator to also consider his political agenda. He doesn't feel a political stance is necessary for his position although he notices his opinions changing. "It is important to be a member and be active in the community. Politics is a personal thing; as a gay man I don't feel that every act I make as a gay man is a political act, nor should it be."

Weisman does take issue with some gay activists: "I feel strongly that there are certain leaders in this community who feel that unless you are out and unless you are

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politically vocal that you are not fulfilling your obligation as a gay man or a lesbian woman. I find fault with that. Not everybody can be out, not everybody needs a political agenda."

He considers himself not an activist but "an advocate for our rights, for gay rights and certainly for those afflicted with HIV." He supports the efforts of groups such as Stonewall and ACT UP, although he's not personally involved with them.

Discussing the challenge of AIDS over the past 10 years brought mixed emotions to the surface. He notes that the "losses are beyond count; personal losses of friends and loved ones, to those of the art world. These are losses never to be reclaimed. We have to mourn for a generation we've lost." However, he considers himself an optimist, feeling that "the crisis has solidified the community. If nothing else it's shown the rest of the world that we're a force to be dealt with. If it needs to be a rallying point I'm okay with that. If we need to consolidate our power and choose our cause, speaking as a gay man—I can't speak for the community as whole-there's no more important issue in my life right now.”

Weisman's dedication to the success and purpose of the Living Room reflects that; he wants to see its work carried on as long as needed, providing support for those in traumas, and those in need of a friendly face or some information. Also he hopes it will always be able to change and flourish, serving in whatever capacity is needed. But he says, "point blank we need funds to continue what we're doing and expand what we're doing. We're appealing to the community. If you're not familiar with the Living Room, please stop in and visit. If you are and have supported us, please continue. The work is invaluable."

For almost his entire life he has called Cleveland home and his personal wish is for its gay and lesbians as a whole to come together. He observed that "a large portion of the community is in denial of their sexuality, their obligation to themselves and the community. It's an awareness issue that starts deep inside and has an outward ripple effect." Seeing it happen in other cities he encourages everyone that "it's okay to be gay or les and live happy lives and not be discriminated against. It's a basic human rights thing. But it's not going to happen here unless we all are aware of the fact that it isn't happening [right now]."▼

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