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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
FEBRUARY 25, 1994
PROGRESSIVE
URBAN REAL ESTATE Radio spot goes beyond the 'End"
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by Charlton Harper
Gay and gay-friendly listeners of WENZ radio, 107.9 "The End" might want to carefully consider the politics of listening when they next tune in to the local alternativeformat station. Though the station has kept a generally supportive stand towards the gay community, a recent on-air spot has 'stirred some concern and cries of homophobia.
During the winter sports season, WENZ features twice-daily ski reports focusing on conditions at area ski resorts. The segments, produced by the station, are designed to grab the listener's attention, usually through a humorous sketch sometimes peppered with celebrity impersonations. The February 17 morning and afternoon spots were no different: a scripted wild-time on the slopes, celebrating the recent U.S. skiing victories in Norway. But when an obviously lisping "Brian Boitano" happened onto the set, he
gone, the ball was dropped. "But I know that's no excuse," he said.
While Scull boasts that "our radio station has the most educated audience in the area. I really don't think that anyone is going to take that spot as incentive to beat up gay people," some listeners might be smart enough to tune in elsewhere.
But before anyone tunes out WENZ, it's important to remember that the station was a supporter for last summer's "Dancin' in the Streets" festival and the second annual AIDS Walk, the only radio station that would agree to such sponsorship. While the ski report may have been distasteful to many, it was not the typical, consciously provocative jab that a Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh normally takes against the gay community. Chalk it up to an error in judg-
ment and a breakdown in quality control.
Though Scull would make no definite promise to run a public service announcement for the Maryann Finegan Project as an amends and an acknowledgment of the seriousness of violence against lesbians and gays, he did say that the submission of any such PSAs would be welcomed. "Usually it takes 30-40 days between receiving a PSA and airing it because of the amount we receive. But I will say that if we were to receive one I would approach Vic Gideon, who handles those, and I'd say 'let's put this at the top of the list.'
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Ed Boyte of the Maryann Finegan Project assured the Chronicle that he would take the opportunity to submit a PSA to the station. The Project assists victims of anti-gay violence, and keeps track of occurrences.
was the target for an on-air gay-bashing. Ten Ten years and counting
But based on phone calls to the Chronicle and complaints to the station, some listeners failed to find any humor in a punch that hit too close to home.
In a telephone interview, Station Manager Bill Scull apologized for the gaffe, saying "It was not done with any malice or attempt to offend a particular group of people. To be frank, I didn't agree with it either and [the person responsible] has been reprimanded. Sometimes this happens. I apologize for it."
Scull says that though the spots are usually injected with humor, “sometimes they just aren't funny." Scull acknowledges that he had not read the script or reviewed the tape prior to its airing, "but that once I heard that there was a problem, I pulled it out of running any further." Scull says that usually the now-vacationing program director would review all copy, but that with him
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for Chevrei Tikva
by Charlton Harper
Few ten-year olds can consciously assess their first decade and plan the direction for their next ten years. But for any gay organization that survives those first ten critical years, it's more than ample cause to celebrate. Chevrei Tikva, (meaning “circle of friends"), Cleveland's lesbian and gay synagogue, has recently passed that milestone and now faces a future where linkage to the larger Jewish community will be a prominent focus.
Paul Zeitzew, an active member of CT since 1985, is happy to have found a congregation that provides a non-traditional approach to worship. The congregation was founded in 1983 by three local men who felt a need to establish a spiritual community for lesbians and gay men locked out by traditional Jewish practice. "The synagogue makes you feel respectable,” says Zeitzew. "It lets you know that there is more to gay life than bars and bathhouses and cruising. We fulfill social as well as religious needs for people who don't want a mainstream approach."
Growing from once-a-month meetings to first and third Friday services every month illustrates the way CT has adapted to members' needs. The congregation has staunchly remained apart from rigid ideas and doctrine. CT has devised its own prayer book, members lead the bulk of services rather than rabbis, and services are held at the Unitarian Society in Cleveland Heights, an interesting marriage, admits Zeitzew, "that we like because it serves to help members who are still in the closet who are afraid that if we met in a temple they'd run into Uncle Muck while attending services."
While a recent move by the CT congregation to become a reform synagogue was not an easy decision, it does reflect the distance the group has traveled. “We felt it was time to grow up," Zeitzew explains. "Some members felt that we would become too structured, while others were afraid we might swing too far the other way." Zeitzew says the CT congregation numbers around 75 and is pretty evenly divided between reform and conservative members. Though there was a time when most members sought the anonymity of a separate synagogue that
only recognized first names, Zeitzew is proud to say that "we have more people now who insist that we use their full names. There is definitely a shift. More and more people don't care."
The current linkage to Fairmount Temple has been a big step in wider acceptance and recognition within the Jewish community. "We've had a very good relationship with Fairmount Temple." says Zeitzew. “I can't say enough how supportive Rabbi Gelfand has been. They even came to us and insisted that we hold our 10th anniversary at Fairmount Temple." Zeitzew proudly boasts that this was a first for a major mainstream synagogue to invite a lesbian-gay synagogue to share services. Over 500 people attended the service, which included guest speakers Rabbi David Hachen, the head of the regional Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and Yoel Kahn, a wellknown openly gay rabbi from San Francisco. The evening was sponsored with the support of Fairmount Temple, the Oberlin Hillel group and Chevrei Tikva. “Without their help we could not have made that possible," says Zeitzew.
Social needs of CT members are met through various outlets like barbecues, seder celebrations and other high holiday events. Intellectual stimulation is provided by the range of guest speakers and topics sponsored by CT. "We've had all kinds of people in to talk. We brought in ACT UP and we had a big crowd for that. Some people came in with a chip on their shoulders, but it turned out to be a very positive evening."
Fundraising and giving back to the community is also important to Chevrei Tikva. Throughout 1993 CT sold red ribbon pins to heighten AIDS awareness, and raised an impressive $5,000 that was split between the AIDS Housing Council and the Free Clinic of Cleveland. Pins are still being sold, with hopes of another possible $1,000 in sales.
Whether it's the simple fact of having an affirming place to worship, without fear, or the desire for non-traditional services, everyone has their own reasons for belonging to Chevrei Tikva. In addition, Zeitzew has another motive as well. "I enjoy the services because they're over in an hour, the way they should be," he laughs.
"I don't date because everyone I know is already involved with someone else"
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