14 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE OCTOBER 15, 1993

EDITORIAL

Reading, writing and respecting

Occasionally over the past few months, some readers and authors have called into question the Chronicle's decisions on selecting or editing articles, announcements, letters and opinion pieces to be published. The paper has become more professional as it has grown; some previous practices have been abandoned. The editorial board wants to clarify its policy.

This newspaper is committed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, focusing on issues that affect this community in Ohio, but also concerned with the nationwide, and indeed worldwide community.

In addition, this newspaper is committed to encouraging dialogue within the community and printing opinions generated by its members. At the same time, the Chronicle strives to uphold a level of respect for all in the community and expects others who express their opinion to do the same. Disagreement is not the same as disparagement.

The Chronicle occasionally receives written material or proposals for articles that are considerably divergent from the general direction and thought process of the community. While the movement for gender and sexual equality is largely accepted as a liberal agenda, there are limits to the amount of radicalism even a liberal move-

Show yourself!

ment can accept. The editorial board is willing to publish "fringe" opinion, as long as there is intellectual substance to the argument and it does not simply dismiss prevailing opinion as unacceptable.

For all written material, whether more generally accepted or fringe opinions, the editorial board will not print that which, in its judgment, is libelous. Libelous material is untrue material which injures the person's reputation, such as alleging "crime, fraud, dishonesty, immoral or dishonorable conduct, or stories that defame the subject professionally, causing financial loss either personally or to a business." [The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual]

The Chronicle will not print material that contains personal attacks. Critiquing a person's opinions or actions with condescension, while not encouraged, is allowable. Statements that question an individual's sanity, intelligence, honesty or other personal characteristic get into an gray area that will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the editors. Insults and sweeping accusations against individuals will not be printed.

For organizations, the criteria are different. Unsubstantiated attacks on an organization or event are discouraged, but will be printed within the libel guidelines cited above. Specific criticisms are welcome in the spirit of constructive and not destructive words.

Of course, both sides of an issue are welcome to express their views. In some cases where accusations are made, the Chronicle may contact the individual or organization being criticized in advance of publication to allow them to prepare a re-

sponse.

All material published is edited to conform to the newspaper's style guide. Some examples of that styling include not capitalizing the words gay and lesbian, and using women as the spelling unless the actual name of an event, such as the "Michigan Womyn's Music Festival," has an alternate spelling. The newspaper observes political correctness in referring to groups or classes of people as generally accepted across the country. An individual's or local group's announcement that a particular word is now the "accepted" or only permissible reference is not sufficient evidence to change terminology.

Ongoing communication is the key to education and advancement of our community. Regardless of the thoughts being expressed or the individual authoring them, we all should carefully consider the points of the argument and respect another's voicing of opinion. The Gay People's Chronicle encourages all of its readers to provide their own observations when an issue is ignored. or reported on incorrectly.

COMMUNITY FORUM

An open letter to the community from ACT UP:

This is a notice to anybody who feels the need to editorialize in the Chronicle in regards to ACT UP actions or demonstrations or articles, or whatever. If you choose to reduce yourself to a non-person by not having balls enough to sign your name to a letter, don't bother to write it. ACT UP doesn't recognize people who don't recognize themselves. Neither does the government. An anonymous letter is the lowest form of life on the media food chain. [“Not gutless pansies," Community Forum, October 1.]

On the other hand, anybody and everybody is encouraged to attend ACT UP meetings and let your views be heard. Hell, if you come to three meetings or one demonstration, you're a voting member and one vote can make a difference.

So, here's the invitation, if you don't like what we do or how we do it, or have suggestions or comments, come to the general meetings Monday evening at 7 pm at Ohio City Oasis, and we'll be happy to listen to you. If you decide you'd rather remain a

nobody that's up to you. It boils down to Joe Carroccio

this: put up or shut up.

ACT UP Cleveland

Thanks for support

To the Editors:

I would like to take this opportunity to openly thank the gay community of Cleveland for all the support shown at our first annual "Day to Remember" Benefit which started with a kick-off at U4ia on Saturday, July 24 and concluded with the main event at Numbers on Sunday, July 25. I consider this a successful benefit considering it was our first year and considering the fact that we raised $1,600, which was divided between the Hilliard Smith Memorial Fund and Kamana House.

There are many people and businesses who helped make this a success. While I can't mention all of them, there are some

who were very instrumental in organizing and volunteering their time that I would like to mention: Kenny Barberic (Kimberly Adrian) and John; Big Mama; Henry Catrett and Louie; Joyce and of course my lover, Don. Without the help of these people, there would have been no benefit.

I would also like to thank Melissa Ross and all the entertainers who gave their time to perform at both shows on Sunday at Numbers.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank Lou at U4ia and Michael at Numbers for giving their time, their food donations and their clubs to host this event. There are also a countless number of other bars and businesses that were involved through their donations of gifts and by selling T-shirts for us. To each and everyone of them I would like to say "Thank You" from the bottom of my heart.

I hope that all of you will "Remember" us next year when we have "A Day to Remember-1994." We would like to see more people get involved and make our next benefit truly "A Day to Remember."

Ginger Manchester Miss Gay Midwest, USA Miss Ohio Valley, USA

The Chronicle is not listening to its racism

To the Editors:

As a member of SOAR [Stop Oppression and Racism] and a former journalist, I am appalled at the Chronicle's coverage of the People of Color fishbowl, the shoddiness of which is only surpassed by the racism of the editorial in the September 17th issue. It came to SOAR's attention that Kevin Beaney taped the fishbowl without asking permission nor informing the people of color, despite a clear request from the people of color that press in attendance fully participate in the process. The taping is not a legal issue, as it was an open forum. The taping is an issue of disrespect and white entitlement towards people of color.

For Beaney to describe the environment as one in which a "glass wall" came "thundering down" to isolate the "ins" from the

"outs," resulting in him feeling "belittlement and dismissal," totally misses the point that it has been white gay and lesbian people in this community that have consistently belittled and dismissed the people of color. The Gay People's Chronicle dismissed the people of color when you would not print an article Cella submitted a few weeks ago. The Gay People's Chronicle dismissed the people of color when you never pursued a direct quote from the fishbowl organizers when the fishbowl was first mentioned in the article Beaney wrote about the Center's new leadership. The headline, "Black gays in 'fishbowl' tell of frustration," was also totally inappropriate and racist. Is this 1993? Haven't people of color told us what they wish to be called? Haven't lesbians told us that "gay" is not an all-inclusive term! Since when do we group three women and one man of color as "Black gays"! The Chronicle is not listening. One woman in the fishbowl identified herself as Hispanic. And to reduce the fishbowl's content to "frustration" is nothing but trivialization.

It is an outrage that the writer of the editorial attributed the lack of people of color in our community's gay and lesbian organizations to personalities on both sides throwing the movement off track," to "anger and resentment inflam(ing) the issues," and to people of color calling white people racist. Our community is segregated because of white racism. We do not have multi-cultural organizations because of white racism. For us white folk to expect people of color to not be angry at us is outrageous. Racism is far more destructive to our movement, to our community, to our very lives than anger. In fact, revolutions are made from anger and love. If I'm not angry at oppression, I'm not going to do anything to end it.

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 9, Issue 8

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni Business Manager: Patti Harris Managing Editor: Kevin Beaney Production Manager: Brian De Witt Reporters & Writers: Martha J. Pontoni, Dora Forbes, Marne Harris, Kevin Beaney, Timothy Robson, Barry Daniels, Mike Radice, John DuAne Graves, John Chaich, Charlton Harper, Joseph Morris

Akron-Canton: Ted Wammes, Richard

Simonton, Jerry Kaiser, Paul Schwitzgebel, Heather Steenrod Artist: Christine Hahn Sales Manager: Patti Harris Account Executive: David A. Ebbert

The Gay People's Chronicle is dedicated to providing a space in the Ohio lesbian-gay community for all of its members to communicate and be involved with each other. This means that every Chronicle, to the best of its ability, will be equally dedicated to both men's and women's issues, as well as issues that affect the entire community. This balance will provide lesbians and gay men with a forum to air grievances and express joys.

The Gay People's Chronicle is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless permission is obtained.

Any material submitted for publication will be subject to editing. The Chronicle cannot guarantee return of any such materials unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

The Gay People's Chronicle is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. We reserve the right to reject advertising which is unsuitable for our publication.

P.O. Box 5426 Cleveland, Ohio 44101 216-621-5280 Fax 216-621-5282

Next Chronicle comes out Friday, October 29

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Corrections

An article in the October 1 issue announcing the change in ownership of Body Language said that the store was started by the late Linus Herrell. In fact, Herrell and Ray Burton founded the store together in 1984. Burton was a full partner for three years before selling his. half to Herrell.

In another October 1 article on the Ohio State University family housing policy, the name of OSU's executive director of communications was incorrectly stated. He is Malcolm Baroway.

what some of the answers are if s/he had attended the fishbowl and subsequent follow-up sessions.

Most contemptible of all is the editorial 'writer's thought that white people should come together with people of color because. exciting" that white lesbians and gay men "African-American culture is so rich and should "have the opportunity to soak more of it up." That's akin to saying, "Maybe we shouldn't gas all those Jews, Adolph, because we Aryans still can learn so much from them." I find such a lack of integrity, awareness, sensitivity, and understanding about the realities of racism shameful in the pages of a gay and lesbian newspaper.

You do not have my permission to edit

dismissed people of color when the editorial The Gay People's Chronicle once again stated, "No one likes to be called racist, and no one likes to be excluded by what they feel this letter. Very long letters have recently

are racist attitudes," as if the attitudes may not really be racist, as if the person of color is mistaken, as if the person of color is feeling racism when none really exists.

As far as not knowing the answers, the writer of the editorial could have learned

appeared in the pages of the Gay People's Chronicle. This letter is shorter than many of them. If you are going to cut any of this letter, do not put one word of it in.

Diane Elze Continued on next page