August 21, 1992
GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
Page 7
Invisible
Continued from Page 2
bian-gay awareness training. That would have made for lively reading.
But, no, the PD is on the trail of another pet pig lead...
Recently, I relayed these concerns to a PD reporter who countered that "you people" have to just keep submitting lead after lead, op-ed piece after op-ed piece and "even if they're rejected, it's an educational process for the paper."
I say, in 1992, for this community-facing much bigger crises and very limited resources--to bring the Plain Dealer to a professionalism that was set and institutionalized by numerous daily papers years ago--the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and many others--is a tremendous waste of labor and lobbying.
An upgrade can be enacted in a matter of meetings: Machaskee with more progressive publishers, then with his editors, his editors with their writers and reporters, their writers and reporters with community people and newsmakers. There are lesbiangay style guides, out-of-the-closet mainstream reporters and, of course, the more progressive papers themselves to show how it's done.
As hostaged as we are in a one-paper town, until we see those changes in the Plain Dealer, I recommend you catch the TV news and invest elsewhere.
As it newsstands now, where there should be good lesbian-gay journalism, we just get a pig-pen.
Wertheim is director of services of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Community Cen-
ter.
Invisibility in the Akron Beacon Journal, also
The following was sent in early July by Aubrey Wertheim to Akron Beacon Journal reporters Bonnie Bolden and Thrity Umrigar, about their coverage of the Aaron Kittle suicide case:
As promised, enclosed is substantial information about the phenomenon of gay and lesbian youth suicide, general materials regarding gay and lesbian youth, and background information about PRYSM [the Center's youth group].
To reiterate my concerns with the coverage: for the past three years, Ohio has averaged over 80 teen suicides a year. 30 percent of these young people taking their lives were gay or lesbian, though only 10 percent of adolescents are gay or lesbian.
The facts are these:
A young man kills himself on the anniversary of his friend's death in a car accident, at the gravesite.
He leaves a rose, a military-style cap, a pen and a note that says: "I wasn't good in sports."
99
"I love you and can't live without you." "Nobody knows what 'teammates stay together' means. "This takes incredible courage.'
99
99
No other documentation is left for his family, friends or girlfriend.
●He comes from a family with strong religious beliefs and military background.
He is described as artistic, gifted, compassionate, intelligent, but withdrawn, unemotional and a loner.
He dropped out of sports shortly after his friend's death.
Everyone in his family, peer circle and school are clueless.
For the Beacon Journal to focus on unrelated accidental deaths at Crestwood High School (when this was not a copycat suicide) or publish maudlin, irrelevant male-bonding pieces, is to not only avoid the painfully obvious in Aaron Kittle's plight, but to send a clear message to similarly isolated gay and lesbian youth: even after death, your truths will be disregarded or denied.
Though it is probable few in Kittle's life (peers, sports team-members, family, construction co-workers) would have been informed of his gayness (50 percent of gays and lesbians become permanently estranged from their biological families upon coming out), journalists still have the responsibility to give a full story.
Or to illustrate through a reversal: If the accident victim had been a girl, how would the story bave been treated?
March on Washington opens office
The national office of the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Equal Rights opened July 23, with a reception attended by about 50 people. The space, at 1012 14th St. N.W., Seventh Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005, is one floor above the offices of the Human Rights Campaign Fund. It can be reached at 202-628-0493, or 800832-2889. The march is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 1993.
SSSS.
Man who lost weight--and his job--gets rights panel hearing
by Lynn McIntyre
Nineteen months ago Lane Tidwell was the floral and gift shop manager at Akron's elite West Point Market. After having some success losing weight with a liquid diet, Tidwell became the victim of a rumor. Several of Tidwell's co-workers believed that he was suffering from AIDS. A short time later, Russ Vernon, owner of West Point Market, asked Tidwell to vacate his position. Tidwell gave up his job, but he decided to pursue the matter.
After enlisting the help of Akron lawyer Nancy Grimm, Tidwell went to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. What followed was months of hard work.
In September, Tidwell's battle will climax as he and Vernon meet in the hearing room of the commission. The hearing will be in the Oliver R. Ocasek Government Building on South High St. in Akron, and is open to the public.
Report Anti-Gay Violence Assault Vandalism Threats & Verbal Abuse Police Abuse
Call the police at 911.
Call the Center at 781-6736 Call the federal Hate Crime Statistics Hotline at 800-347-4283.
Of course you know us from Sunday Brunch... But have you ever tried us for dinner?
on
he Inn
BURGERS
Coventry
PASTA
CHICKEN
and Mom's homemade desserts. Full Liquor Breakfast 7am-2pm Lunch 11am-5pm Dinner 5pm-10pm Sunday Brunch 9am-3pm
2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd.. Cleveland Hts. 371-1811
LAWYERS THAT CARE
•
"Jim Brown and Marcia Margolius handled my claim as if I was the most important client they had. They were not only my lawyers but my friends." G.I.
"Without Marcia Margolius I would have never won my claim for SSI. Now I get some money every month and my medical bills paid." R.P.
"I didn't know that you could get Social Security and Workers' Compensation at the same time until I retained Brown and Margolius. With Comp and Social Security I had coverage for all of my medical bills.' B.B.
"
"When it comes to disability benefits, no one can get you every penny you deserve better than Marcia Margolius and Jim Brown." J.S.
"When Jim Brown won my Workers' Compensation claim all of my medical bills were paid, I was compensated for my time off work and I even received money after I returned to work." LP.
BORDERS BOOK SHOP & Espresso Bar
Our Selection of Books and Services Speaks Volumes
LA PLACE CENTER 2101 Richmond Road Beachwood
292-2660
If you or your friends have Social Security or Workers' Compensation questions, have them call the people with the answers.
BROWN AND MARGOLIUS L.P.A. 75 Public Square 500 Cleveland, Ohio 44113-2001
216-621-2034
800-234-7792 Fax 216-621-1908
Call for Our Free Brochures
ARBERRY