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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

January 10, 1992

Pattie Harris and Connie Takach: Lesbians of the Year

by Martha Pontoni

When Pattie Harris and Connie Takach decided to open a women's bar in Cleveland, they were going to call it "Cleveland's Graffiti." Then the local councilman objected to the name and, needing something quickly. they decided to do what they always did-flip a nickel, thus the 5¢ Decision was born.

For the past three years the 5¢ Decision has been one of the few lesbian-identified bars in Cleveland. The Nickel, as it is affectionately called, was the only place lesbians could shoot pool, dance and belly up to the bar. For this service to the lesbian community, Harris and Takach are being honored. In a time when lesbians are not always welcome at other clubs, and even excluded, the 5¢ is a lesbian Mecca.

Much work has gone into small bar on State Road since Harris and Takach took over. A new bar, a new dance floor and for 1992 a new exterior thanks to the City of Cleveland and the Storefront Renovation Project.

Connie Takach has long been lassociated with the bar community of Cleveland. When she meet Pattie Harris five years ago they started working on Connie's dream of owning a bar of her own. The two of them traveled the United States checking out women's bars and were, frankly, not impressed. "All the men's bars were nice, but the women's bars were holes in the ground." said Harris.

"Our goal was to have a clean and safe bar for women to socialize

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comments Takach. That has been more than accomplished.

The 5¢ has a reputation for not allowing fighting or drugs on the premises, which can cause some controversy. High standards are

important to Takach. What the customer wants is also important. When women wanted to dance, they put in small dance floor. When it became evident that the place was a little small, they tore down some walls and made more space. They host holiday parties and throw a great anniversary bash every year.

In addition to having the bar, the 5¢ also sponsors pool, volleyball, and softball teams. They are major supporters of the annual Pride Celebrations and have been a monthly Chronicle advertiser and supporter for many years. The friendly family atmosphere affects all who walk through the door. Men are welcome to join their lesbian friends any night of the week.

Owner Harris is especially proud of the 50's position in the community. Not only just the lesbian and gay community, but the City of Cleveland at large. "We are a positive example of a gay and lesbian organization to the city. We have high praise from our councilman [Ward 16s Pat O'Malley] and the police are always very positive and are glad to have us in the neighborhood." The 5¢ Decision is a

good neighbor. They have chased Raising funds and building community

away burglars and helped an elderly woman who was trying to stop an intruder. "Our neighbors know we are gay," Harris comments "They appreciate the kind of business we run here.'

When Harris was temporarily assigned to the Florida office of her assigned to the Florida office of her company, she and Takach could have easily closed the bar and moved to Florida together. Instead, they are making plans to improve the bar even more and make it "as nice on the outside as on the inside." Their commitment to the lesbian and gay community here in Cleveland is strong, and they hope to be serving the drinks and the good cheer for many years to

come.

by Kimberly Taylor

When board member Nick Palumbo went looking for ideas for the Special Events Committee of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center, he wanted something that would not only raise funds, but build community. What he came up with was the Talent Show.

"I think it was a tremendous success in terms of community building," he said.

He said the idea for the show arose from a collaborative process. In the proposal stages, he spoke with board members and women Center members. It was agreed that a talent show would be both a financial and a public relations success.

The process of men and women working together didn't just stop there.

NOCI supports many groups of co-chair Peggy Cella, Palumbo

by Martha Pontoni

Acting as the quasi-United Way of the lesbian and gay community of Cleveland, the Northern Ohio Coalition Inc. (NOCI) has raised and given out thousands of dollars to worthy causes over the past 13 years.

Gene Witts, president of the 45-member group for the past eight years, says that the group originally formed as a businessmen's group by Ozzie Hagopian. Five years later, when Witts took over, he changed the status to a non-profit group and open the membership to all men. Although NOCI has not been without its share of controversy surrounding its fund-raising and philanthropic operations, it has consistently given funds to gay, lesbian and AIDS organizations who need it.

The "We Are Family" Picnic has been the main fund-raiser for NOCI since it started. The picnic, now held at Wildwood Lake Park on Labor Day weekend attracts thousands of community members from all over Ohio. Games, entertainment, food and free beer have always held great fun for those who attend. This year the picnic raised about $13,000.

NOCI started its philanthropy with reward funds for information on the murders of gays and lesbians in Cleveland. Maryann Finegan, who was murdered outside of Isis bar several years ago had a reward fund for her murderer but, unfortunately, no one was ever charged with that crime. NOCI had about six reward funds going during that time and only paid out one reward.

NOCI also funded the Lesbian-Gay Hotline when the Center's predecessor, GEAR, could not afford it. They give yearly to the Living Room and help the PRYSM group attend conferences. NOCI helped the Health Issues Taskforce get started with a $5,000 contribution, which helped HIT get a grant from the National Conference of Mayors.

In 1991, NOCI gave over $50,000 to the Kamana House from NOCI's AIDS Hospice Fund. The fund was started when a member of NOCI was dying of AIDS, and had no place to live.

At one time NOCI gave $10,000 to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta when there was no AIDS service organization in town. "We received some flak for that," said Witts, "but AIDS was someone on the West Coast, and we wanted to help.”

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NOCI doesn't receive grants. Anything the community gives to us, we give back," explained Witts. "We have no office or phone. Our biggest administrative expense is postage and a locker where we store our stage." NOCI meets once a month at local bars and membership is by application, which can be obtained through an existing member.

NOCI doesn't see itself as a group that exists with much fanfare, but its picnic and generous grants have been a mainstay of Cleveland's lesbian and gay community for many years and are much deserving of recognition. ▼

said, "Peggy and I made a good team. The fact that a man and woman co-chaired the event helped us to remain aware of the needs in both communities."

Further, Palumbo commented, "It was Brynna Fish's expertise and professionalism that made the show a success. She deserves the credit." Fish was the show's producer.

The show was able to do the job of bridging the gaps between men and women so well that Palumbo speculates that there may have been more

lesbians there than gay men. It is this spirit of cooperation that made the Talent Show the Chronicle's choice for Event of the Year.

"I'm glad that the Chronicle re recognizes the Center's efforts to build bridges between the men's and women's communities," Palumbo said.

Center board vice president Keith Sutton commented that he believed people in the community also appreciated the Center's efforts.

Plans for future talent shows have already gotten underway with a review of this one.

"Financially, the newness of the idea worked against it. Next year people will be more aware of the show and we'll increase our number, like we have at the Lawn Party and Auction," Palumbo said. He would like to see attendance rise from the approximately 900 this year to 1,500.

"I would like to see attendance increase to the point where our advance ticket sales warrant moving to a larger facility," he said.

For Palumbo, if there are any regrets that mar this event it is the dissatisfaction over the way prizes were awarded.

"Perhaps we could have gone about that differently," he said. "It's something we will be looking at."

A synagogue open to all

Despite all of the problems surrounding it, it still pays to be out.

Rabbi David Gelfand of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple found out about Chevrei Tikva when he saw a listing about it in the Cleveland Jewish News. Knowing there was an unaffiliated congregation in the area that was reaching out to Jewish lesbians and gays intrigued him.

"We wanted to know who this ancillary group was and what they were doing in case someone with this need should come to us and ask about it," said Gelfand.

As he investigated further, Gelfand found that an older member of his congregation was involved with Chevrei Tikva, so "a bond was already there." Gelfand, on behalf of himself and his staff, Associate Rabbi Billy Dreskin and Cantor Sarah Sager, wrote to the group's president, volunteering to participate with

them. He was gratified by the incredible response he and Cantor Sager received.

Now that this bond has been created, Gelfand hopes to have more joint cultural or religious endeavors with Chevrei Tikva. "Our ultimate goal is to be a synagogue open to all," Gelfand said, noting that his is the largest congregation between New York and Los Angeles. He said the decision to be supportive of the group was not a difficult

one.

"I have been involved, demonstratively, in making people more sensitive to the issues surrounding AIDS on both a human and a political level," Gelfand said.

"We, as Jews, have been treated as outcasts and displaced human beings. We know only to well that which ignorance has perpetuated against the gay community.▼