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GAY PEOPLE's ChronicLE OCTOBER 1, 1993

'Giant lesbian picnic' grows into complete festival

by Kim Dill

"It's the biggest little festival there is." That's how Lesbian Business Association (LBA) President Garbo Todd described the LBA's Fifth Annual Ohio Lesbian Festival.

Indeed, the festival, held Sept. 11 at Frontier Ranch at Kirkersville, is growing larger each year, passing up other mediumsized festivals (as compared to the biggies like Michigan's).

Entertainment kicked off at 1 pm and went strong until after 11 pm. The day's music started out with singers and groups from around Ohio, including Katrina Curtis of Columbus and the Columbus Women's Chorus; Jamie Fota, Meg Whitt and Chris Collier, all based in Cincinnati; and K.J. Denhart from Cleveland. The group "Dykes From Hell" was chosen as the featured Ohio performer.

Other performers were nationally known, including Jamie Morton, Erica Wheeler, Jamie Anderson and Sue Fink. Fink and Anderson also performed selections from their new multi-artist release Family of Friends. Susan Herrick and CasselberryDuPree topped off the evening. Most entertainers found time to chat with their fans after performances.

Almost as fun to watch were the signlanguage interpreters. On hand to make sure that the sounds were accessible and entertaining to everyone were Meg Tucker, Dianne Surati, Ruth Bowman, Candas Barnes, and Laura Kolb.

The increasing number of acts reflects a changing focus for festival organizers, said Garbo, author of the books Rusty and Garbo

Talks. It started out as a "giant lesbian picnic," she said. Since then, performers have become more and more important. "Bringing the audience a variety of artists representing cultural diversity is important to festival organizers," Garbo said.

Other activities have been added since that first gathering. At this year's festival, nine workshops were held during the afternoon. Themes focused on issues such as deaf culture, lesbians with children, lesbian diversity, car care, yoga, safer sex, coming out, and spirituality. In addition, a kidfest was held with programs and activities for the children of festival-goers.

Volleyballs, basketballs and footballs were flying all day long, and around dusk an awesome drumming circle could be heard all over the grounds.

Fifty merchants and organizations staffed booths at the festival. Women could pick up

books from Fan the Flames, copies of The Word is Out!, prints from Rene, rainbow flags from Kukalas, jewelry, masks, pottery and other items. Political organizations like Stonewall Union, the National Organization for Women and the Human Rights Campaign Fund also were represented.

Garbo attributed the festival's success to the wonderful weather that day, but also to several years of "trail blazing" with previous festivals. She said that many festival organizers have somehow avoided the "dreaded lesbian burnout" so common in activist circles and have been involved since the first festival. This year's festival "ran very smoothly" according to Garbo.

The festival also was financially successful, Garbo said, adding that the money earned will go back into the lesbian community. The LBA dispenses community services grants throughout the year. Garbo said that

the organization works to instill and reinforce lesbian pride and to let people know that lesbian-owned businesses are a visible force in the community. The LBA works to help lesbians starting businesses, supports ongoing businesses and provides a network among businesses.

Next year's festival will be held at Frontier Ranch on Sept. 10. Plans also are in the works to expand the event to a two-day festival in the future. LBA members are seeking input on that idea.

Also upcoming is Winterizations, the LBA-sponsored craft fair, which includes entertainment and dancing. The event will be held Dec. 4.

Lesbians interested in learning more about the LBA may call 614-267-DYKE (3953), or write to P.O. Box 02086, Columbus, OH 43202. Owning a business is not required for membership.

Gay housing loss is not seen as defeat

by Christopher Federer Columbus gay rights leaders are disappointed but not discouraged by Ohio State University President Gordon Gee's recent decision to remove consideration of a policy to open OSU's family housing to samesex couples from the Board of Trustees agenda.

"There are many things that the

gay

Center talent show cancelled

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the community to support us in this process," said Noll. "If we are able to break new ground in this area, then the Center will be able to more successfully create other opportunities for fun and community in the future."

The talent show was intended by the Center to be a community-building event where both men and women could participate. Previously, only the Womyn's Variety Show, which excludes men, offered a talent showcase.

But the two previous Center shows have been subject to criticism from some in the

and

women's community. In 1991, there was a controversy when only male acts won prizes. In 1992, some key women boycotted the show, causing logistical headaches and lower ticket sales.

This year, the lesbian-separatist agenda still seems to be on the table. Kim Taylor noted in the September What She Wants that during a meeting between 16 lesbian-feminists and Center Executive Director Judy Rainbrook, the talent show was criticized as being a rip-off of the Variety Show, and its prize awards were deemed offensive for being classist. The Center's new goal to "create other opportunities for fun and community" will have to resolve most, if not all of these concerns.

Kent State gets gay course

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According to Johnson, the course has received much support and interest. “I think it was a matter of one individual who reacted to a situation. It's not representative of the university as a whole." Many alumni in Kent and Akron have expressed interest in the class, as have many undergrads and graduate students. There are plans to offer a special course that will allow grad students to access the class. While the course will be

♡

offered as demand allows, Johnson says it should be available in consecutive semesters. Teaching chores will alternate each semester between Johnson and Rushing.

Johnson has also been on the front line in the area of spousal benefits for same sex partners of faculty. The issue currently awaits a December 7 arbitration date between representatives of the American Association of University Professors and KSU attorneys. "It's a day of infamy," notes Johnson with a wry laugh. ♡

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lesbian faculty, staff and students would say are clearly more important," said Phil Martin, director of the OSU Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Services Office.

"We were surprised at Gee's decision," said Stonewall Union President Ed Pfeiffer. "We thought he would continue to fight for equality for gay and lesbian couples at OSU, given his history of fighting to keep the Office of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Services Office on campus."

Gee, who wanted to open the 396-unit Buckeye Village apartment complex to samesex couples, has not personally changed his position, said Macao Barrow, OSU's executive director of communications.

"Speaking to what President Gee felt was in the best interest of the university, as opposed to his personal point of view, he felt it just would not fly at this time," Barrow said.

He compared the situation to the national issue of gays in the military, saying a political climate did not exist to support a change in the housing policy.

In July, State Rep. Michael Fox, RHamilton, sponsored House Bill 442 which would prohibit state universities from allowing anyone but legally married couples to live in family housing. The bill's second clause would bar any state agency from extending insurance benefits to same-sex partners.

Fox's office did not return phone calls to comment on the status of the bill, which had 13 Republican co-signers. The bill will probably lie dormant since Gee backed off the housing issue, Pfeiffer said.

Barrow would not say if legislative pressure influenced Gee's decision.

"No single overriding factor led to the decision," he said.

Barrow added that Gee and many others believe that the family housing policy issue will continue to be discussed.

The issue first surfaced four years ago when the director of residence and dining halls recommended to President Edward Jennings that Buckeye Village be open to same-sex couples. The recommendation was made every year since and became controversial when Gee decided to move forward on it in April.

Gee thought he could implement the policy administratively, opening Buckeye Village to same-sex couples but not to unmarried heterosexuals, said Martin.

"Then there was a huge reaction, primarily from people saying it was a discriminatory policy because it did not include unmarried heterosexual couples," he said.

Martin added that until Gee brought it up, Buckeye Village was never a top agenda item for gay and lesbian campus organizations.

In Ohio, Dayton's Wright State University is the most progressive campus, allowing same-sex couples to live in family housing and permitting students to purchase insurance for same-sex partners.

Martin said that despite the family housing policy, OSU is one of the most gayfriendly campuses in the country. He cited the large number of gay and lesbian campus groups, the availability of gay and lesbian courses and the active participation of gays and lesbians in the university administration.

"This does not mean we are satisfied, though," Martin said. "It looks as if the bigots won in the short-term, but it's important to realize they've only won the battlethey haven't won the war."

2,000 join AIDS Walk

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state elected officials. Cleveland Mayor Michael White served as honorary chairman. This is special, said Fausel, because he tries to avoid official appearances on Sundays.

Ohio Attorney General Lee Fisher left a particularly moving impression as he spoke about his own family's link to AIDS. Says Fausel, "I think it's very important for someone like Lee Fisher to get up and take off his political hat and show the personal connection. It really goes a long way."

Overall, Fausel is satisfied with the results. "Oh, I'm very pleased. I was especially happy with the diversity of the crowd, so many colors. And the families with kids! It emphasizes that AIDS affects everyone. So many of our corporate sponsors turned out

and that's great. And besides, I really think people had fun.”

Were there any problems? Again, an understandably exhausted Fausel has little to complain about. "Oh, there were a few minor things here and there, but with any event there are going to be glitches. But really nothing that deterred the Walk. I have to say again how enthusiastic the people were and there were all sorts of people. One woman had a walker and she made it up that hill from the beach and a good way down Edgewater Drive. And she stayed until the last song was sung at the closing. That's something."

Was there anything she would do differently? Fausel laughs. "I think we could turn the waterworks off sooner next time."

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