February 1, 1992

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 3

Letters

Buy Cracker Barrel

To the Editor:

Early last year the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain issued a memo stating the company would not employ people "whose sexual preferences fail to demonstrate normal heterosexual values." It is reported the company has fired at least 17 people on the basis of their sexual orientation since that memo.

To Queer Nation's credit they have been in the vanguard of trying to right this injustice and insult to our community. They have organized and led "actions" at Cracker Barrel restaurants, formed picket lines, experienced arrest, taunts and threats of physical violence. Through Queer Nation's efforts, other organizations, including religious bodies and trade unions, have expressed support.

It is time for individual lesbians and gays across the United States to help in this action to stop employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. It is time for each of us to purchase one share of Cracker Barrel Inc. stock. It is the goal of this writer to have thousands, hundreds of thousands of single shareholders of Cracker Barrel stock. This will create some serious prob-

lems for the company. It is required to have certain mailings, and at present they have a three-cent-a-year dividend, paid quarterly.

This action, on a nationwide basis, will have an impact on the business and political leadership of our country. It is a strong message that gays and lesbians are not going to tolerate continued discrimination based on sexual or affectional orientations.

The "Buy One" campaign can be a remarkable empowerment of our community. It can be a vivid example of our presence and power. (It should be noted the "Buy One" campaign can have the effect of raising the cost of a share of stock, but this will be offset by the popular perception of the company being bought up by lesbians and gays.)

Every gay and lesbian person needs to contact their stockbroker at the earliest moment and buy one share of Cracker Barrel Restaurants, Inc. and ask to have the

may charge more. If a person has an account it is as easy as a phone call, or if one has a friend who has an account they can purchase a share for you and have it ordered out in your name. To have a share

as the article stated, supported many community causes that benefit all of us, ranging from the Pride celebrations to the Chronicle itself.--Ed.

ordered out, the broker needs a name, Agree to disagree

address and Social Security number. To open an account requires a few additional questions such as occupation and bank,

etc.

When our campaign succeeds we can donate our individual shares to the endowment of a watchdog organization such as Lambda Legal Defense Fund.

I hope you and your readers will join in this extension of the Cracker Barrel action. The potential for effecting change in this way is enormous.

To the Editor:

Carl R. Owens Atlanta, Ga.

stock certificate sent to them. With some Some don't drink brokerage firms there may be some resistance on the part of the stockbrokers because of the paperwork. Also the charge for processing the paperwork may vary. For instance, this writer's broker, with a nationwide firm, tells me a flat charge of ten percent of the cost of the share on the day of transaction is made. Other companies

Hate Crime Update

compiled by the Maryann Finegan Project Crimes of bias reported in December and January

October 24: A lesbian leaving the Center at about 9:00 p.m. and walking west on Church St. was approached by three men who got out of a car. One of the men verbally harassed her and grabbed her arm. She was able to pull away and return to the Center without further harassment.

December 4: A gay man in Westlake received a phone call threatening to expose him to his boss as being gay.

December 12: A message threatening violence was left on answering machine at Center.

December 17: Two gay men at the Lake Cinema in Euclid were verbally abused by three young woman during the show. The men notified the management. After the show, the verbal abuse continued and a shoving match ensued. No injuries.

January 8: A juvenile entered the Leather Stallion Saloon and made a hostile remark to one of the patrons. The juvenile was escorted from the bar. The door to the

bar was then locked. Juvenile then engaged in a fight with bar patron. Other male juvenile with female accomplice providing baseball bat proceeded to smash window of one car and damage two others. In all six or seven male juveniles and three female juveniles were involved. Police arrived shortly after all juveniles departed. Later that evening, female juvenile was stopped by police and provided name of one male juvenile involved in incident. He is currently being prosecuted, no court date has been set. Stallions is assisting the victims by pursuing further criminal prosecution.

January 8: A gay male walking in the area of Detroit and Hird in Lakewood was approached by one of two 13-to-16 yearold boys walking on the opposite side of the street. The boy made a menacing advance and asked for backup from his accomplice. The other boy refused and the first left the gay man alone. No police report was made.

Updates

The Clifton basher

The Project will be holding a community forum at the Justice Center on Wednesday, February 5 to address the city's lack of followthrough in the case of the Clifton Ave. basher. Gera Linn Kolarik, author of Free to Kill, a book about Indiana serial killer Larry Eyden, will be a featured speaker. The forum is in the Justice Center Auditorium, at Ontario St. and Lakeside Ave. downtown, at 7:30 p.m. Call 522-1999 for more information.

Allies

A revision of the training manual for Allies (victim advocates) is being prepared in time for the second training session to be held in March; call the Hotline at 781-6736 for dates. Assistance for the program is being given by the Cuyahoga County Witness/Victim Program.

Copies of the training manual have been requested and sent to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington and to Stonewall Cincinnati for review.

A monthly support group has been established for Allies who have been trained.

State Attorney General Lee Fisher will be meeting with representatives from the Maryann Finegan Project in February about gay and lesbian hate crimes and local efforts to combat them.

The City of Cleveland Community Relations Board is finalizing plans for collecting statistics on hate crimes.

Maryann Finegan Project Growth

The Maryann Finegan Project could not continue to grow without the help of our volunteers and supporters. Our thanks go to:

Howard Grandon, Project Coordinator; Jeannine Petti, Traing/Awareness Program Coordinator; and Gary A., Allies (Victim Advocates) Coordinator. A warning:

As spring approaches with warmer weather, more people are outside at night. Take precautions: Avoid known danger areas, and walk with others when leaving places. If you are alone, walk aggressively, avoid verbal exchanges with people you are uncomfortable with, and seek refuge if you feel threatened.▼

Hats off to Ms. Harris and Ms. Takach for doing so much to improve the women's bar situation here in Cleveland [Lesbians of the Year award, Jan. 10]. Indeed, the 5cent Decision is a beautiful establishment, and is quite an addition to the lesbian drinking community. My point is what about the remainder of the community: To receive such an honor, you will have touched the lives of many of the lesbian community, not just the drinking community.

Congratulations, ladies; what else have you done for us besides another bar?

And to the Chronicle: Maybe we should change our standards to receive the honor of Lesbian of the Year. There are those of us who don't drink.

Name withheld

Our community is made up of many different people. Lesbians and gay men who drink are as much a part of this community as those of us who don't. Harris and Takach won their award for providing space for lesbians to meet and socialize, whether they drink or not. They have also,

To the Editor:

My response to the letter [January 10] by Mr. Daniel R. Kahn, and the insulting personal commentary dealt me in it follows:

Daniel, this is a as real as it gets: the law in the state of Ohio prohibits a bar from refusing service on the basis of gender. This is the will of the people, not a result of a tantrum on my part. Thank you for the implied compliment, but my personal power does not extend quite that far.

Why is it assumed that all radical feminist lesbians work in collectives? I work in the "middle of the system" and bang my head against its wall on a daily basis. So do many, many of my female friends. How else can we pay our mortgages? Unfortunately, our mere presence and valiant efforts to accept nothing less than our fair share do not in any way guarantee equity. Thousands of womyn will gladly testify to this fact if you are still in doubt. The organization 9 to-5 is a good place to begin looking for them.

Dressing in leather for the work place was not an issue I addressed, nor care to thank you. Perhaps you misunderstood the point of my statement.

Lastly, Daniel, the image I presented never was one of kicking and screaming ངམ་རou and I, Daniel, have differing personal opinions on separatism and its ramifications. I don't think a public paper is a proper or productive place to discuss them. I would be happy to sit and chat with you, providing we can agree to disagree-the basis of all great conversation. I promise you I am not a "vagina dentata." I enjoy camaraderie with a man familiar with his emotions and brave enough to acknowledge them. Until then, respectfully yours,

"No, it's hoGNO, TUSHOPTIO,

Debra Shepherd

Five panels to present AIDS services at Malachi Center

Saturday, February 29 will be a day of opportunities for anyone who is directly affected by HIV disease. From 9:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m., various Cleveland-area AIDS service providers, from the AIDS Ministry to the Cleveland Clinic, will gather at the Malachi Center.

There will be five panel groups on various subjects during the day. Each group will be given time to present information about services they provide. An open question and answer period will follow.

The following participants have been invited to attend:

Panel 1 will be a discussion of legal and financial issues, featuring benefits consultant William Page; Social Security AIDS Coordinator Tierney; Robert Plona, representing the Ryan White Consortium, as well as attorneys Bill Fulton and Denise Knecht.

The second panel will include spirituality and holistic healing with Rev. Don King from the AIDS Ministry; Dick Desmone, with the AIDS Massage Project; Belle-Ruth Naperstek, an expert in guided imagery; and Kyle Rose of the Living Room.

Panel 3 will discuss the medical aspects of HIV. Drs. John Carey, Sue Rehms, Victoria Cargill, Peter Cubberley and a

representative from the AIDS Clinical Trials will be featured.

The fourth panel will be about housing and nursing with Sue McGuiness from the Visiting Nurse Association; Joan Malloch of St. Augustine Manor, Louise Valentine with the AIDS Housing Council; Ellen Coleman, social worker with the Cleveland Clinic; and a representative of the Hospice of the Western Reserve.

The final panel will be about social services, with Jean Quinn from the Health Issues Taskforce; Richard Newman from the Free Clinic; Pat Baskin with the Cleveland Treatment Center; Pat Reynolds with the Cleveland Action Against Addiction; and Denis Weber with Metro General Hospital.

A day-long gathering of this type has never been attempted in Cleveland before, and the Living Room is proud to be a sponsor of this event. Anyone who is living with HIV can attend for free. Non-spectrum participants are required to contribute $10 (includes lunch). Space is limited, so register early. Forms are on the bottom of a flyer available from the Living Room, at 1410 West 29th St., 522-1998.

The Malachi Center is located behind St. Malachi's Church, at the corner of West 25th St. and Detroit Ave.▼