gay people's

HRO

Cleveland, Ohio

'I couldn't see her suffer like that'

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARY SOCIAL SCIENCES DEAT

PERIODICAL

N I CI

August 21, 1992

Woman kills lover to save her from family's harassment

by Martha Pontoni

1992 Gay People's Chronicle

It started with a personal ad and ended in a murder.

In October of 1989 Jan LaRosa put a personal ad in the paper hoping to meet an older woman who enjoyed the same things as she, so they could spend the rest of their lives together. Tressa Tonni answered that personal ad--and spent the rest of her life with LaRosa. LaRosa will possibly spend the rest of her life in prison.

Tonni was discovered lying in a pool of blood in her Euclid home on July 23 by her father, Anthony Tanno. The immediate suspect was Tonni's lover, LaRosa.

LaRosa was found the next day in a motel in Pennsylvania, having taken an overdose of pills. She was returned to Cuyahoga County and charged with murder. Tonni's family immediately pointed to LaRosa, saying the murder was the result of her being drunk at a family barbecue and fighting with Tonni.

The accused's story is very different. According to LaRosa, she killed Tonni to save Tonni from the harassment her grown children and father were giving her for being lesbian and living with LaRosa. "I did it all myself. I couldn't see her suffer like that no more," said LaRosa.

During a jail interview, the accused described the desperate no-win scenario she saw the couple trapped in. She said that

since she and Tonni met three years ago, the harassment by Tonni's family has never stopped. It included a multitude of calls to Tonni and LaRosa asking them why they lived together and what they did in bed. Calls were also made to the Chronicle, where LaRosa worked in 1989. Both Tonni and LaRosa said at that time that Tonni's two adult daughters were going through their mail, looking for evidence that the two daughters had ransacked their house, turnwere gay. LaRosa also said that Tonni's ing up records of LaRosa's mastectomy, which they thought made her a transsexual.

For the first year she lived with Tonni, LaRosa said, Anthony Tanno refused to talk to his daughter except for brief monosyllables. He removed her from being executor of his will, and Tonni was afraid he would disown her completely. After a year, he did begin speaking to his daughter again, but she still feared him.

LaRosa said she watched as Tonni beha-

L E

60 cents

Volume 8 Issue 2

On Newsstands

An Independent Chronicle of the Lesbian & Gay Community

Blackbeard's raffle

Between rain showers during the Garden Party, Jeff Plato sells Chrisse France one of several hundred keys to a treasure chest, only one of which fit the lock.

came more and more depressed as the he Garden Party wet fete raises $23,000 for Center programs

rassment kept up. "She was drinking three fifths of vodka a day," said LaRosa. "She would say, all the time, 'I wish I was dead'."

LaRosa explained in a very calm voice by Kevin Beaney how she killed Tonni, although she does take exception to media stories that the music was blasting. "I covered her nicely with the blankets and turned down the Continued on Page 6

Felony HIV bill is nearing passage in the Ohio Senate

by Gary Hemphill

A state bill that would make knowingly transmitting the HIV virus a felony appears headed for passage, its sponsor says.

State Representative Joseph J. Vukovich says he thinks chances are good for passage of the legislation before the end of the year. Vukovich introduced House Bill 713 in March and it whisked through the House, passing 95-0 in June. It now sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee, but there will be no action on the bill until the Ohio General Assembly returns from summer

recess.

"Any time a bill passes by that margin, I think it has a good chance," said Vukovich in an interview with the Chronicle.

Here's what the legislation calls for: It attaches a third degree felony charge of "Criminal Transmission of HIV" to several sections of the Ohio Revised Code, including sections dealing with rape, sexual battery and corruption of a minor.

The bill also targets HIV-infected individuals who give blood, plasma, semen, organs, tissue and any other potentially HIV-infected body parts or fluids. And it

targets those persons that exchange needles for intravenous drug use.

The legislation requires the arresting authority to submit the person charged to tests for HIV and other venereal diseases.

The results of the tests would then be given to the accused, the court, the department of health, sheriff, and head of the prison or jail where the accused is incarcerated. The legislation states that no other disclosure of the test results would be made except to the victim who would have access to the results if he or she wanted.

Despite the bill's swift movement through the House, not everyone believes H,B. 713 is good legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union blasted the bill when it was introduced last spring, but Vukovich says the ACLU never showed up at any of the hearings on the bill.

A reporter could not reach anyone at the ACLU for comment.

The Health Issues Taskforce, Northeast Ohio's primary AIDS social service agency, says H.B. 713 is bad legislation.

"Willful transmission of HIV is practically nonexistent," said Joseph Interrante,

executive director of the task force. "This Continued on Page 6

Roommates?

Umbrellas were the fashion accessory as approximately 230 people overlooked very rainy weather to come out and support the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center's third annual Garden Party on July 26. The upscale event, supported by more artists and other donors than ever before, raised more than $23,000 for the Center and its programs.

Held this year at the historic home and gardens of John Koncar and Howard Grandon, the estate provided a reserved and exquisite location for the fundraiser. Those patrons who donated at least twice the admission to the Garden Party were given the opportunity to tour the Koncar-Grandon home and chat with the owners prior to the brunch and auction.

The property is regarded as the oldest permanent residence in the city of Cleveland, having first been used as a farm in 1797. The current house on Nottingham Road was started in the 1840's with major structural completions in the 1860's, 1880's and early 1900's. The current owners arrived in 1984, clearing the landfill that the property had become and uncovering a stream and the ruins of a silo and carriage house. Recently they located another foundation which they believe is that of the original farmhouse and have invited scholars to dig. Koncar and Grandon have also been restoring the existing architecture of the house themselves and cheerfully pointed out details to visitors.

During the early afternoon, the guests trod carefully along the wet grounds while enjoying a brunch and light music, using the time to browse through several tents which housed more than 100 silent auction items. Primarily art objects, including pieces from the 19th century, cut glass bowls, and

an entire room of paintings, prints and photos, the silent auction also offered theater tickets, books, gift certificates, compact discs and motion picture memorabilia.

The early morning downpours had softened to occasional drizzle during the brunch and silent auction segments of the fete. Everyone was urged to head to the main tent where they were officially welcomed by Garden Party committee co-chair Bob Reynolds, Center Executive Director Leigh Robertson, and Board President Dolores Noll.

Then the live auction was begun, skillfully handled by auctioneer Evelyn Hayes of Prosperity Productions. The combination of light-hearted banter by Hayes and the heated bidding on some items was reflected in the weather as it became warm and bright by 3 o'clock.

The live auction presented some 43 items with bids typically ranging from $200 to $1,200. Again, artwork and sculpture were Continued on Page 6

Letters

CONTENTS

5th AIDS Conference. Lesbian festival in Ohio. Vatican: Anti-gay bias OK Gay Democrats in spotlight. GOP is 'schizophrenic' on gays.. 9 National Notes

Bits and Pieces

Spotlight Focus on Lakewood .. 14 Entertainment

Charlie's Calendar Personals ... Resource Directory

Oh, come on now.

Page 2

Photo by Brian DeWitt