LESBIAN GAY

imunity

ervice

nter

by W.A.Brooks

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Greetings! Things have been cooking up splendidly in the past month here at the Center. Among them are the following items:

A group of nearly 100 volunteers were feted at the Center's Volunteer Recognition Day on Sunday, October 10, at the beautiful Koncar-Grandon estate. This reception was a recognition of the efforts of the many enthusiastic volunteers who have contributed vitally to the Center's growth and success this past year. To those of you who have not yet joined us, there is still much to be done!

Organizational Training--Our speakers and educators need help in organizing. If you or someone you know would like to gain experience in setting up a speakers' bureau, making phone arrangements with various community organizations and service agencies, contact us at the Center.

A Farewell and Welcome-Marian Colbeck, former executive assistant at the Center, is leaving us for louder pastures. Marian has accepted a position as sound engineer for Jethro Tull and will be touring with the band. Thanks to Marian for her fine work; all best wishes! Her position will be filled by Christine Hann, who hails from the world of quick cuisine. Welcome Christine, into the ranks of the lavender-collar industry!

More Center-Our community center is growing; there is now more available Center for our community and, we are working on putting more Community in our Center: the Maroon Room is now finished and ready for use, sporting a handsome red floor.

Racism ForumA task force has met with the board for the purpose of raising the multicultural consciousness of the Center, encouraging it to become both more accessible and more receptive to the entire community, including gays and lesbians of color. As a result of this meeting the board has created a committee to explore diversity. Two meetings have already been held; for more information on the Anti-Racism Forum, please call the Center.

Learning and Teaching Our thoughts and prayers are with three of the Center staff as they learn and teach at the Third Annual Conference of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force held November 2-4 in Alexandria, Va. Leigh, Aubrey and Scott will present as well as attend workshops at the conference, the theme of which is "Creating Change."

Maryann Finnegan Project Volunteers will receive in-depth training in advocacy and crisis intervention in preparation for serving as "buddies" for victims of violence. The two training sessions are scheduled for Friday evening, Nov. 8, and Saturday morning, Nov. 9. Please call the Center to let us know if you will be there.

Hotline Training-How would it have been if, when you suddenly realized that you had these "homosexual feelings," you had had a source of reassurance and support, someone to listen, to help you to realize you were not alone?. It would've been great, right? Well, there continue to be hundreds, thousands of gay, lesbian and bi-sexual people for whom one call to our hotline might make all the difference. Working on the hotline is a wonderful opportunity to learn psychological and communication skills, and one of the best ways to serve our community. Hotline training begins Nov. 17 at 7:00p.m. Call for further information.

Multi-Thanks-To the panelists and presenters, conference organizers and to the Cleveland Clinic, which generously contributed the setting, thanks for your help with the "Invisible Minority" Conference October 11. Coming from Ohio and Michigan, participants numbered more than 200. Educators, mental health and health-care professionals were reminded of the importance of intervention in light of today's increased risk of substance abuse, HIV infection, and suicide for young gays. Especially moving was the final panel discussion between mothers and their children.

A Beginning Has Been Made-Our appreciation to Channel 8's Eleanor Hayes for her profile on some of Cleveland's gay and lesbian community.

First-Ever in ClevelandThe in-service for Cleveland psychologists on the special needs of and issues concerning gay, lesbian and bi-sexual youth has been set for December; watch for more information.

Bulletin Board: The Monthly Potluck Din-Din is the third Saturday of each month at 6:00p.m.

Telephone numbers for the Center are 522-1999, during business hours; hotline number (evenings) is 781-6736. Have a great month!

Tell our Advertisers... You Saw

Them in the Gay People's Chronicle

November, 1991 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 15

Cleveland Clinic Conference a success

by Diana Hart

My sexuality is important to me. Your sexuality is important to me. I will respect it as I respect my own.

The above exercise from one of the sessions at a conference concerning gay youth could easily have been the theme of the day. "The Invisible Minority: Addressing the Isolation of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth" was the topic for the conference held at the Cleveland Clinic October 11 by the Lesbian-gay Community Center, The Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Health and the West Side Community Mental Health Center.

Dr. Joyce Hunter, president of the Lesbian-gay Health Foundation and co-founder of the Harvey Milk High School, presented the keynote address on the needs of lesbians, gay and bisexual youth. She spoke about the teen suicides, substance abuse and homelessness that are the direct results of young people struggling to cope with their sexuality.

"The government excludes the existence of youth in HIV studies," she said.

Hunter emphasized the need for counselors to keep confidences and for places where teens can interact. "There should be space made available where gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth can meet separately, as well as, together. Sometimes they need to express different issues.'

The sessions reinforced many of the points made in the keynote address. Jeffery Gearhardstein is helping men to see how they are connected with one another. In "Does Your Mother Know? Working with Families and Guardians" he emphasized the importance of men and women, gay and straight, learning that they are connected to every member of the planet and making time to develop that connection.

Rabbi David Horowitz stressed picking the "right time" to corne out to parents and not expecting them to accept things automatically. "Don't do it the day before graduation, like my daughter did!" he quipped.

He also stressed that there are many things for parents to consider. "Remember that it took you many years to come to terms with yourself... don't expect us to accept things overnight."

Elizabeth Berry, Ph.D., explained in "Sensitizing Systems, Challenging Institutional Homophobia" that counselors must be more sensitive to the need of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth to know their own minds. "The last thing a kid needs after they have come out to a counselor is to hear, 'Are you sure? Have your tried [the opposite] sex

yet?' Straight kids aren't asked 'Have you tried [the same] sex yet?"

Perhaps the most compelling information came at the end in the panel discussion where PRYSM (Presence and Respect for Youth in Sexual Minority) and FFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) members spoke.

"I came from a very traditional Asian family. The male's responsibility [in my family] is to marry, bring a new daughter into the family to take care of the parents and to carry on the family name. The pressure from this was so great because I felt I was disgracing the family by being gay. I attempted suicide," Andy said.

He said his support came from his family once he was in the hospital recovering from an overdose of anti-depressants and alcohol.

Carmen told what it was like being a black lesbian in high school. She decided to come out with her lover, which led to harassment from other students. "They would say mean things to us and would trash our lockers. They showed lots of anger."

Carmen also spoke to her disappointment of having to be the "token lesbian” in health class because lesbians and gays weren't covered in the curriculum. "If I wanted anything said, I has to bring it up and discuss it. The health teacher didn't even want to talk about it!"

Nichole, a strong young woman, spoke of how she was thrown out of her house after coming out to her parents. They won't let her see her two little brothers because they feel "all gays are child molesters."

Teens spoke of what the PRYSM group has done for them. They gave credit to PRYSM for their self-esteem, leadership abilities and general overall feelings of pride.

The panel also gave the following suggestions on how the larger lesbian-gay/ bisexual community in Cleveland can help meet the needs of teens:

Go to schools and teen groups and get education on homosexuality adapted as part of the teaching curriculum.

Students in general need to be sensitized about lesbian, gay and bisexual issues and see they aren't different except for their sexual orientation. Violent acts usually occur with adolescent males, and this would help.

Places should be created, other than the bars, for teens to just "hang out," and build solid relationships.

More support for bisexual kids. According to the Center, 208 people attended, representing two states, and five

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