JULY 9, 1993 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

GOP brunch serves up party's pro-gay side

by R. Woodward

The Log Cabin Club of Northeast Ohio held a brunch at Snicker's Sunday, June 13. Along with the food, those attending were served a great deal of up-to-date political

news.

The chief servers of the news were Richard Tafel and Jerry Neal, Jr, the official guests of the event. Tafel is currently the president of the National Federation of Log Cabin Clubs and is employed by the administration of William L. Weld, Republican governor of Massachusetts. Hired as an openly gay man, he is director of the adolescent health program in the Massachusetts Department of Health. His department has an open and official program to address the mental health problems of gay adolescents. Jerry Neal was an openly-gay Republican candidate for a Columbus-area Ohio House seat in 1992.

Tafel and Neal both discussed the gay political ferment in Ohio and friendly relationships with Gov. George Voinovich. Neal Isaid that he decided to run last year as an openly gay Republican candidate because Gov. Voinovich encouraged him to do so.

Tafel had with him an official proclamation signed by Gov. Voinovich welcoming him to Ohio and extending wishes for “continued success in all endeavors." The writer of the proclamation obviously meant gay politics to be included by the phrase “all endeavors." Tafel's serving as president of the National Log Cabin Federation was pointed out in the previous sentence.

Neal mentioned that he and Tafel were at a gay Republican brunch the day before in Columbus. The purpose of this brunch was to form a central Ohio Log Cabin Club, and those in attendance, said Neal, got out their checkbooks and donated $10,000. Tafel said that the national organization expects to have $200,000 by August for opening a guests of the event. Tafel is currently the

national office in Washington, D.C.

Neal discussed current politics in Columbus, and of contacting Republican U.S. Rep. John Kasich. Kasich, thought to be unapproachable by gay leaders in Columbus, was found by Neal to be friendly and supportive especially on the issue of gays in the military.

Neal said that this was an example of gay leaders assuming that the Republican officeholder was hostile without bothering to actually talk to him. Neal also pointed out that Columbus' Mayor Lashutke has been more gay-friendly than most elected Democrats have been in Columbus. Lashutke strongly backed a gay-inclusive anti-discrimination ordinance as it was passing through the city council.

On the subject of people taking things for granted, Tafel had a story about the victory of Republican businessman Richard Riordan over liberal Democrat Michael Woo in the Los Angeles mayoral election. Local Log Cabin Republicans pointed out to Riordan's campaign that gay voters were offended that Woo and his campaign staff were not addressing them at all-assuming that their votes were in the bag. Ads written by Log Cabin Republicans for the Riordan campaign began running in the local gay press which said that Riordan was asking for the votes of gays and Woo was not.

In exchange for Log Cabin support Riordan promised that his administration would form a commission for gay youth and employ open gays.

Gay support for Riordan's campaign seems to have come along just as it was sinking into the doldrums-with Woo leading by about five points and Riordan's people eager for a fresh idea to liven it up; the swing vote made the difference. Tafel said that the effect of gay input on Riordan's campaign has been noticed by Republican campaigns all across the country.

Bratenahl estate hosts this year's Garden Party

The manicured lawns and sculptured floral gardens of an English country "cottage" in Bratenahl Village will be the site of the fourth annual Garden Party on Sunday, July 25, to benefit the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland.

The event, inaugurated in 1990, is held each year at a unique Cleveland area locale. This year's setting is a charming Bratenahl akefront home built by Meade Hamilton architects in 1928, and the adjacent landscaped grounds.

Refreshments will be served during a silent auction beginning at noon, followed by a buffet luncheon and a live auction, conducted by Evelyn Hayes. Items to be auctioned include artwork by Andrew Wyeth, Christopher Pekoc, Daniel Postotnik, antiques, autographed photos of movie celebrities, vacation opportunities, restaurant and entertainment packages, and

many more surprises.

Benefit chairman Tim Homan announced that the theme of the 1993 Garden Party is "Turning Over a New Leaf," to mark the beginning of a new era of leadership for the Center with the recent appointment of Judy Rainbrook as executive director.

Money that is raised will maintain programs and services to gay men and lesbians throughout Greater Cleveland, including the telephone Hotline, a primary resource for information and referral, as well as the Living Room, a drop-in facility for people with AIDS and HIV, offering counseling, support and social services. The Center is located at 1418 West 29th St.

Benefit tickets are $30 and include the buffet brunch and refreshments. Patron tickets at $60 also include a pre-auction champagne reception and a special estate tour. Call the Center at 522-1999 for full information.

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