Sports Pride

October, 1991

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Greater Cleveland

NOW

Page 17

by Lee Sharmat & Rich Flowers

RICH: Rodeo, as a competitive sport, evolved from the hardworking lifestyle of the American cowhand. The hard life in the West produced a character and attitude that remains a living legend the American Cowboy and Cowgirl, emblems of free spirit.

LEE: The first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada, October 2nd, 1976. Gay rodeo is now big business in 18 Western states, bringing in millions of dollars into local economies. January, 1985 saw the formation of the IGRA (The International Gay Rodeo Association).

RICH: The rodeo season ends in October, the IGRA finals will be held in Wichita, Kansas, October 18th-20th.

LEE: Speaking of riding, Pacelines the international newsletter for lesbian and gay bicyclists, lists a bunch of neato events coming up. There's the BIKE-TOBER-FEST for West coast bike groups who will gather to attend a biking rally in Santa Barbara, October 4th-6th.

RICH: East coast bikers in New England have a wide range of foliage rides from the OYSTER FEST BIKE RIDE on Long Island, New York, October 20th, to the HORSE COUNTRY RIDE in Essex County, Massachusetts, October 13th. So, get off your seat and call Bob Bland at 617-266-3812 for national bicycling information.

LEE: There is much discussion among national lesbian soccer players concerning their exclusion from the U.S. National Gay Soccer Tournament, October 12th-14th in Atlanta, GA.

RICH: seems as though no one in Atlanta thought to invite lesbians. According to Atlanta organizers, "We don't know any lesbians who could help us organize, we don't have enough fields and besides, we didn't know we had to include lesbians."

LEE: I happen to know that numerous lesbians from all over the country had been calling the Atlanta organizers for weeks, and phone calls were not returned until it was too late to do anything. New York soccer coach, Bob Whitmore, said that the reason women weren't included was because lesbian soccer players in Atlanta didn't want to be associated with an openly gay tournament. Even if there wasn't one Atlanta lesbian soccer player willing to help organizers, there were numerous women around the country who would have been willing to help out. It's just laziness on the part of the Atlanta organizers.

RICH: New York will be making a bid to host the 1992 Soccer Nationals "The Waddell Cup". Gay Games IV organizers have made it known to the New York soccer community that they look forward to endorsing a bid that includes lesbians. A national governing body for soccer is expected to be formed at this year's tournament and the adoption of national guidelines should ease tension.

LEE: Unity '94, Gay Games IV & Cultural Festival is looking forward to an exciting October with the announcement of the winner of their international logo competition (chosen from over 100 entries),

the hiring of the first Executive Director, and the first International Planning Meeting for Gay Games IV in New York, October 4th-6th.

to

RICH: Federation members and Gay Games IV organizers will be trying to formulate a sporting game plan. LEE: Congratulations the San Francisco Tsunami Lesbian-gay Swim Team as nine Tsunamians ranked in the Speedo Swimming International World Top Ten of Master's Swimming. Softball teams from all over the nation are expected to be on hand for the Sun and Surf Invitational in Norfolk, VA., over the Columbus Day weekend, October 11th-14th.

RICH: Tennis continues in perpetuallywarm California and Texas. The California Cup VI is set for Los Angeles, October 5th-6th. The Oak Lawn Nationals take place in Dallas, October 12th-13th. Speaking of lawns, a study has just been released that concludes golf causes cancer. If you are raising money for AIDS service organizations, don't hold any benefits like "T-Off for T-Cells."

LEE: Gee, those lawns look so innocent. RICH: Something as leisurely as tee-time has suddenly become a Pandora's Box of ill health.

LEE: According to the study, the average golf course uses seven times the amount of pesticides farmer's use and twelve time the amount of the average homeowner. RICH: That's some handicap. So, homohackers beware!

The G.L.O.B.A.L. warming has begun

by Vincent L. Morvatz

Perhaps you've read scientific reports or watched a public television special or documentary about the effects of pollution on our environment. Many scientists believe that our earth's inner atmosphere is gradually changing, causing worldwide climatic changes. Our fragile planet's environment is not the only thing that has been changing over the years.

Just as our planet has changed, so has its people and their attitudes and ideas about their own sexuality. It is out of this premise that a community support group has evolved in the Akron-Canton area that encompasses a wider range of people with different sexual and demographic backgrounds. The group is G.L.O.B.A.L. which stands for Gay, Lesbian, Or Bisexual Alliance League.

The founders of G.L.O.B.A.L. formed the group out of the idea that the time has come for all sexual minorities to bond together for the common cause of supporting each other and securing our basic human rights. Through solidarity, we can work together to accomplish this goal.

They also wanted G.L.O.B.A.L. to be an "ism" and "phobia" free group dedicated to the support of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals through rap groups, social activities, community visibility, and political participation.

G.L.O.B.A.L.'s agenda states that it is a group for sexual minorities and those who empathize with them. Issues facing sexual minorities are the focus of G.L.O.B.A.L. Therefore, we welcome heterosexual involvement in G.L.O.B.A.L. for the purpose of fostering understanding between sexual minorities and the heterosexual community.

The first events that they visibly participated in were the Cleveland and Columbus pride marches. In less than three months G.L.O.B.A.L. has been involved in several major gay-lesbian events, as well as, having had many speakers give presentations at their Sunday evening meetings. Those who have spoken to the group include Lynne Sweeney, former Gay Risk Reduction Specialist for N.E.O.T.F.A.; Karl Selman, pastor of Cascade Community Church. and David and

poetry readings by members of the organization. Almost all of the programs have revolved around gay-lesbian-bisexual issues.

As well as, referring people to local resources, G.L.O.B.A.L. is actively involved in political participation and community visibility, having attended a recent statewide gay-lesbian political leadership conference and an ongoing involvement in the LesbianGay Leadership and Networking Forum through the Cleveland Lesbian-GayCommunity Service Center.

In addition to the many educational awareness programs, G.L.O.B.A.L. has also had a wide variety of social events including attending Dancin' in the Streets, a picnic, and boating on the Portage Lake, plus just

recently attending a laser light show and festival at E.J. Thomas Hall. Most of their social events are planned to be relatively inexpensive so that people are not limited from participating because of financial constraints. These social events provide an additional means for gays,lesbians, and bisexuals to enjoy each other's friendship and camaraderie in a supportive and accepting environ-

ment.

One of the major upcoming events that G.L.O.B.A.L. is planning is a murder mystery night in celebration of National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 12th, from 6:00 p.m. to ???. This evening of fun and festivities will be a combination community potluck and get together with the cost for the

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evening being $5.00 per person, more if you can less if you can't. If you plan on attending please R.S.V.P. to Monalisa at 798-4164.

This event will be an opportunity and open invitation to anyone in the community that would like to find out what our organization is about as well as the chance to share a relaxing, fun-filled evening with other gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from the community.

G.L.O.B.A.L. meets every Sunday from 6:30 p.m.9:00 p.m. in the Social Hall of Cascade Community Church at 1196 Inman Street in Akron. For further information contact G.L.O.B.A.L. at: P.O. Box 6226, Akron, OH 44312 or by calling the following individuals in Akron: Monalisa 798-4164 or in Canton: Brian 497-3529. ▼

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS...

Fifteen years age, Cris Williamson went into a recording studio and changed music history. ebrating the 15th Anniversary of The Changer and the Changed and the recently Completed national tour, Olivia is offering two treasured keepsakes:

THE CHANGE VIDEO A RECORD OF THE TIMES

nostalgic video presentation of interviews with Cris, Meg Christian, Bonnie Raitt, June Millington, Vicki Randle, Holly Near, Margie Adam and others, as well as concert footage from 1975 to 1990. It is a reminisaring the magic of the album that many lives, showcasing the music that still has the power to move, to heal and to validate.

70 minutes. VHS

arkes Stree

livia Records,

4608

dditional item.

CRIS WILLIAMSON LIVE IN CONCERT

year

This 17-song collection chronicles the special feeling of Cris' Changer anniversary shows this past and offers for the first time many of the songs Cris sang in her early years as a traveling folk musician. Her songs from The Changer and the Changed elicit ecstatic applause and spontaneous sing-alongs in a unique exchange, symbolizing the years and the gifts that have passed between Cris and her audience.

Long-playing cassette Compact dise

$14.00 $15.00

1415-655-0364.

RECORDS

The voice in celebration of women.