cut those efforts by making asinine, illadvised comments such as "We finally have a first lady we can fuck."

I feel this served mainly to supply our enemies with ammunition. The Lake County News Herald lost no time in running an editorial entitled "Homosexual rally a sleazy affair." Wasn't this the time to show ourselves in the best possible light, rather than to reinforce negative stereotypes?

I am pained at the damage done to the gay rights cause by such people.

Nora Vetarius

Dysfunctional family

To the Editors:

Some of us in the HIV spectrum are angry. In accessing various groups and programs offered at the Living Room, we have dealt with an attitude of impatience, hostility and a lack of compassion from a person or persons in charge. Some programs offered are in jeopardy of being discontinued from a lack of interest or lack of attendance, some already have been.

The words living room suggest home, belonging, family, warmth, sharing, and good conversation, all components that would inspire one that they belong. On the contrary, we have felt alienated by that very lack of compassion and what we perceive to be control issues. We have felt the Living Room is "doing us a favor," instead of it being a community resource we would look forward to using.

The Living Room has helped many people and hopefully will continue to help many more. We do not deny its many attributes, but there is always room for improvement.

First impressions are important because they make a lasting impression. When the community has basically only two resources available to people in the spectrum in Cleveland, it is a disservice when one is not functioning properly. For those first-time users who are scared to death to begin with, it can even be harmful!

Perhaps the solution is within the power of those who use or have used these resources to effect those changes. Without us these programs would not exist. It is up to us to tell the powers that be what we need. It is our responsibility to ourselves and to others in the spectrum. If we aren't able to

MAY 14, 1993

COMMUNITY FORUM

energies of criticizing and complaining through referrals, to fill its bus. And, we

and then walking away.

On the other hand, it takes true concern, character and commitment to follow through and effect positive change. And, you only get out of something as much as you put into it. When you only walk away you do yourself and countless others a serious disservice. First, because you have not had your own needs met as they deserve to be, and second, because you leave this same outcome to happen to those who come after you. We must all break out of the victim cycle by taking ownership of our circumstances and changing them if need

be.

While most of you have accessed Living Room services on a regular basis at one time or another, not one of you has ever invested your time, energies, talents or suggestions in the Living Room. You have neither volunteered nor attended meetings to share your concerns with those who most deserve to hear them. You have not approached the staff with these concerns. Furthermore, on becoming aware of your letter, Kyle personally called and left messages with several of you to discuss your concerns and which none of you chose to return. You say that it is up to you "to tell the powers that be what we (you) need”why haven't you? You have chosen to not communicate. In whose lap lies the dysfunction of which you speak?

Unattended programs will always be cut. If this concerns you then attend and help build attendance. Some people may not be greeted as they would prefer to be; let us know and help change it.

The Living Room is about personal growth and empowerment and holistic healing. The success of these principles are in personal involvement and responsibility. We do not ask for your gratitude, but your participation is a part of our mission and our success. If you choose to not be involved then you choose to not be a part of our family. We may not be totally without dysfunction, but we are a family that consciously and willingly works together to grow and heal in healthy and appropriate ways.

The Living Room's doors remain open to all.

March committee

treat ourselves with dignity and respect, we thanks you

can't expect it from others.

Les Simon

Mark J. Scott Jeffery Boone

Richard Saxton

Steven Hood Steven Mongell Joseph A. Bogar

Living Room Coordinators Kyle Rose and Jalal Naeem respond:

Many persons in the HIV spectrum are angry and usually legitimately so. The problem is that many do not express their anger in a healthy and effective manner. Anger that is appropriately expressed can be a powerful and productive energy. When it is not expressed directly, it tends to only increase the frustration and emotion of all concerned.

The authors of the letter addressing the possibility of the Living Room being a dysfunctional family are 100 percent correct when they suggest that perhaps the solution lies with themselves and others who use these resources. We support them completely in this conclusion.

The real question therefore is, why are they not following through on their own suggestion?

The Living Room, as much as it is a community resource, is also a volunteer organization. Our counselors, facilitators and committee chairs are all volunteers. They are individuals who are choosing to share their time, energy and talents with us because they believe that in doing so they can help change things for the better. It is all too easy to only indulge in the negative

To the Editors:

On behalf of the Cleveland March on Washington Committee, I would like to thank the many individuals, organizations and businesses who helped us meet our goals in a very short time.

donated $250 to the Cleveland LesbianGay Community Center for the PRYSM van to Washington.

It was wonderful to be with 1 million (or was it 300,000) of my brothers and sisters at the Washington Monument. Let's hope Cleveland can once again show its pride, this time at Public Square.

The Cleveland March on Washington Committee believes the most effective statement about gay, lesbian and bi pride is made at home. That's why we are donating to Cleveland Pride.

Our primary goal was to raise general awareness of the March, both in the lesbian-gay-bi community and in the general population. The march and its local participants received extensive coverage in the Gay People's Chronicle and What She Wants, but also in the Plain Dealer, all four TV newscasts, the Free Times and radio.

On a daily basis, Cleveland receives support from its Lesbian-Gay Community Center-something our committee learned to appreciate this spring. The community center handled our mail and hundreds of phone calls about the March. And that is why we're making a second donation to the

The committee's trips to four bars, a bowling alley, the Women's Variety Show and the HUGS conference also were an important part of our outreach, while raising hundreds of dollars.

Through these fund-raisers, the Cleveland Pride mailing, and distribution fliers, the Cleveland March on Washington Committee was successful in covering expenses related to our bus trip, printing and postage. In fact, we are finishing with a balance, which we will share with the national March on Washington Committee, the Cleveland Lesbian Gay Community Center and Cleveland Pride.

The Cleveland March on Washington Committee hired only two buses to take marchers to Washington, but what an exciting trip it was. We provided full or partial scholarships for 12 people and treated 80 riders to snacks and subway tickets.

We also helped the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ,

Delivery $10 Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage Co

N.OR.K. A

FUTON

Futons

Frames.

Covers

Tremont Sleep Sofa

Futon & Frame Full ... $258

Queen ... $298

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 17

center, in addition to the PRYSM donation. Our committee appreciated the many donations it received-from 50 cents to $500 and the many expressions of encouragement.

Please keep up the good work with the other Cleveland organizations dedicated to our "family" future.

Mary Kay Quinn, Treasurer Cleveland March on Washington Committee

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express their opinion about the paper or life in general. Please be brief. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. We will print your name unless you specifically ask us not to.

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