Awards
continued from pg. 1
Event of the Year: The Center Talent Show.Beyond raising money, the goal of Special Events, Chair Nick Palumbo was to provide a space where lesbians and gay men could enjoy each other's company in what will become another annual "family reunion."
Mixed Group of the Year: Queer Nation. The name Queer Nation brings to mind our fierce brothers and sisters taking it to the streets and letting bigots like those at WMJI know the lesbian-gay community refuses to be pushed around anymore. But this group is also making the personal, political and philosophical
Steffan
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that they are being viewed as sexual objects."
Reached at his home in Connecticut, Steffan said that "It would be difficult to write an opinion that more clearly manifests bias towards gays and lesbians."
"As we got to know Gasch, we realized we would lose on this [court] level," said Steffan. But the reasoning underlying the decision will benefit us in the long run. It's so outrageous, [Gasch] has set himself up for reversal on appeal."
The judge himself raised the issue of AIDS during oral arguments in the case in early November. At that time, Gasch told puzzled courtroom participants and observers that he was introducing the government report on AIDS into the case. In combination with the 1988 final report of the Presidential Commission on HIV, which Gasch introduced into the case recently, the Centers for Disease Center report led the judge to conclude the following: "Given that at least 59 percent of all those who have contracted HIV have done so due to homosexual or bisexual activity, surely it does not require extended discussion . . . to show that the exclusion of homosexuals from the Armed
Separatism
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and oppressed living in a misogynist world. For example, she could still be denied control over her own body and good affordable child care. Her educational opportunities and salary would still not be equal to those of men. And most of all, she must still endure pain, humiliation and even death from the many forms of male violence we lesbians, as women, experience every day.
The heterosexist culture that gays want to assimilate toward is the same heterosexist culture separatists want to destroy. This is where I feel threatened that lesbian energy is going into a lesbian-gay agenda, rather than a lesbian feminist one.
commitments needed to make men and
women, old and young, black and white, feel welcome. They make the community safe within and out.
Lesbian Group of the Year: Sistahparty. This nearly two year old group started as a place where lesbians of color could feel safe and welcomed. It went on to fulfill is mission of empowering lesbians of color mostly notably with a Leadership Skills Retreat. Finally, the group stepped out of its stated constituency to hold a conference for women of all races, sexual orientations and political views. They are winners for caring enough to share their energy.
Gay Group of the Year: Northern Ohio Coalition Inc. This group of bar
Forces constitutes a reasonable step towards the protection of those forces' bealth."
"To be sure, there is no evidence in this case about [Steffan] having had sex with anybody, male or female," Gasch wrote. "But the [military's] policy of excluding homosexuals is rational in that it is directed, in part, at preventing those who are at the greatest risk of dying of AIDS from serving in the Navy and the other armed services. The interest we as a nation have in a healthy military cannot be underestimated or discounted."
Neither Steffan's lawyers or the Justice Department attorney's representing the military had ever raised AIDS as ar issue.
Gasch made no mention of the rel evance of his AIDS-related arguments to lesbians, a group considered to be at the lowest risk for HIV infection, or of its relevance to blacks, who have been hard hit by the epidemic. He also did not mention that the military's current policy calls for retaining HIV-infected personnel in the service as long as they can work.
Steffan said his lawyers have already begun work on the appeal. That would place the case in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.▼
Reprinted with permission from the Washington Blade.
Q: Well, there are many people at the Center who will tell you that as soon as women start using the Center, they will have a say. Do you accept that the Talent Show and funding letter to the women's community are attempts at bridging the gaps between lesbians and gay men?
A: No, they seemed to be attempts to get our money and energy. Gaps between lesbians and gay men won't be bridged until gay men-independent of lesbians-address issues that oppress and harm women.
The Chronicle invites you to express your opinion in this column, on any issue that affects the lesbian and gay community. Submissions should be at least 500 words, not exceeding 1.500 words. typewritten or on an IBM-compatible diskette. Please note the item is for consideration as a "Guest Opinion," and include your name and phone number so we may contact you. Send submissions to P.O. Box 5426. Cleveland, Ohio 44101.
Gay Republicans form new group
On December 11, 14 Northeast Ohioans met at Snickers Restaurant in Cleveland to form the Log Cabin Club of Northeast Ohio, and have agreed to affiliate with the National Log Cabin Federation in Washington, D.C.
There are 12 charter members, including John White from Lorain County. White has served on the board of the Lesbian Gay Community Services Center, Ohio Human Interest Organization and was recently appointed by the mayor of Lorain to serve representative of the community on the Lorain 2000 Taskforce along with 100 business, civic and organizational leaders to chart the future of their city.
as
Also, Bob Reynolds, who has been involved with a number of community organizations including the Lesbian-Gay Community Services Center, Stonewall Cleveland and the Discrimination Response System (a project of BWMT).
Karen Schneiderman, executive director of Wayne/Wooster Legal Aid Inc. and past president of Stone wall Cleveland, will be a special guest at the January 8 meeting, 6:00 p.m., at Snickers Restaurant, W. 76th St. (north of Lake Ave.).
On Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, the club will hold an organizational meeting to adopt its charter and by-laws. ▼
January 10, 1992
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
owners recognizes that it's not enough for gay people to have a place to have fun. They give money back to the community in order to benefit its health and welfare. Looking beyond the bottom line helps build trust.
Lesbians of the Year: Pattie Harris and Connie Takach. The 5 Cent Decision is one of the few places Cleveland lesbians can gather to shoot pool, dance and belly up to the bar. Owners Harris and Takach also make a point of supporting the lesbian-gay community, sponsoring volleyball and softball teams, and supporting events such as the annual Pride celebrations.
1
Gay Man of the Year: Douglas Braun. Braun has worked for some time to help
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the bearing-impaired community become more fully involved with the lesbian-gay community. But it is his work with getting Pride '91 listed in the city's Summerfare calendar that made him our choice. His “bridging the gaps" was both between the hearing and the hearingimpaired, and the gay and the non-gay communities.
The editorial board recognizes that as you read this list, you will also begin to think of people you know who deserve recognition. In light of that, we invite you to fill out the survey included in this issue.▼
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