10 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE MARCH 25, 1994

EDITORIAL

Another reason to come out

Cleveland's lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have a real reason to celebrate, now that the city has passed revised human rights legislation. For the first time in the city's history, discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal. No longer will sexual minorities be helpless if they are excluded from housing, fired from their jobs, or denied services because someone doesn't like the fact that they're queer.

This legislation has been long overdue, but now that it is reality we should pause and recognize those who made it possible. Cleveland's Mayor Michael R. White deserves our thanks for seizing the moment last year, introducing this legislation in January, and lobbying City Council for its passage. City Council President Jay Westbrook deserves our thanks for expediting the legislative

process and continuously supporting lesbian and gay rights. Community Relations Board Executive Director Sam Thomas III deserves our thanks for working with members of StonewallCleveland and other community leaders in reviewing the many ordinances that contain civil rights language and ensuring that sexual minorities were included.

The timing of Cleveland's nondiscrimination legislation is somewhat momentous, occurring only months before the radical right-the theocrats— are hoping to have all "gay rights" in Ohio denied through a referendum vote. It's an equal-rights version of wartime marriage: there's barely enough time to enjoy the honeymoon before we will all be off to battle, defending our right to exist. Don't miss the honeymoon; come

out now. Every person you tell can become an ally in the fight against the subversive agenda of the theocrats. Every straight person who "knows" someone gay can put a face on what was formerly misunderstood rhetoric, and is much more likely to sympathize with

our cause.

There is no better time, and no better way, for Cleveland's lesbians, gay men and bisexuals to celebrate this legislative achievement than by coming out. Those who remain in the shadows, fearful of social censure, are truly missing out on the feelings of personal relief and freedom that come from no longer having to lie or make excuses. Ask someone who has come out and see how it has transformed them for the better. Treat yourself to some freedom.

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 9, Issue 19

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni Business Manager: Patti-Harris Managing Editor: Kevin Beaney Production Manager: Brian DeWitt Reporters & Writers: Kevin Beaney, Doreen

Cudnik, Barry Daniels, John Graves, Charlton Harper, Joseph Morris, Martha J. Pontoni, Mike

Radice, Timothy Robson

Akron-Canton: Paul Schwitzgebel,

Jerry Kaiser

Art Director: Christine Hahn Sales Manager: Patti Harris Account Executives: David A.. Ebbert, Doreen Cudnik

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Thanks for being there, Sylvia

To the Editors:

COMMUNITY FORUM

As I went in today to see my social worker at the Health Issues Taskforce, I was given some sad news. I saw my case worker and she informed me that she will no longer be my social worker, for she will be leaving.

I want to say thank you for helping me find myself. No matter how I felt, you always told me it mattered. Even if I was right or wrong, or sad or happy, you told me that my feelings had to be known. You helped me even through the bad relationship that I had!

Some people said that she was a “bitch,” because her job required her to tell people "no" sometimes. I was the first one to find that out, that's how I got where I am today. She will be dearly missed by her clients who she worked with on a weekly basis!

I would like to say once again thanks for everything you have done for me and for being there when I needed a friend to talk to. No matter what time of the day it was, I knew you would be there for me!

Sylvia, I wish you the best of luck in life and wherever you go!

L.D.A.

Be kind to those who reply to personals

To Person-in-Charge of Personal Ads:

I sent a short note with my last set of letters (four), on or about Feb. 26 regarding a major problem I am experiencing with your Personals boxholders. But no response from you!

As a former Personals boxholder myself, I appreciated, and showed it by answering, all who responded to my ad! All, in fact, were acknowledged within one week of receipt! To date, I've received not one acknowledgment for any of the ads I've replied to! Very rude and tacky, to say the least! I feel strongly that these people should be exposed, chastised and denied further personal advertising privileges unless and until they straighten up their act!

To pre-empt the problem in the first place, the Chronicle should state, as a condition of running an ad, that you will pledge to answer all who respond to your ad. At

least some type of acknowledgment to all who showed the courtesy to call or write a boxholder. This is just common decency. I think the Chronicle's policy is far too lax.

I spoke with someone a week or so ago and he appeared very wishy-washy about changing anything. Are you all that rigid up there? Come on, now! This is not such an outlandish request/proposal. Other dating/ matching services use this policy very effectively and it ends up helping everyone!

These, to date, are the no-responders: [seven box numbers were listed]. I feel strongly that especially the first three have had more than ample time to respond! Let's kick a little butt here!

Please give me your feedback!

David A. Gill

We, too, would like Personals advertisers to be courteous, but enforcing it is impossible. If someone never returns a phone call, should they have their phone taken away? The people who didn't reply are actually telling you something about themselves: that they are definitely not your type. Be glad you didn't have to go on a Date From Hell to find this out. -Eds.

Rainbow and customers' racism

To the Editors:

I'm Over the Rainbow.

I felt that when I decided to terminate my position at Beauregard's Restaurant, that the community would need to know why. Since the recent array of letters to the Chronicle about racism in our community, unfortunately this is another example. I must applaud the wonderful letters in recent months on gays and lesbians confronting their own racism. These people are our most valuable, including Judy, the Center's newest and brightest director.

After verbal racial comments made about blacks and myself on the night of Feb. 24 at the bar, I felt that I no longer could be a part

of the cynical system that operates in most of our bars. While I was present in the bar,

collecting a food bill from his lover, a drunken customer, Bob, loudly commented that "a nigger hit my car last week!" Another black customer was present; so were nine other customers including my former co-worker Ken, who grinned at me to see what my response would be. No one said

anything, and everyone continued on, business as usual. I called my former boss/ owner of the bar about what was said. The next evening, after discussing the incident, he replied that he would speak to Bob about this. But he felt that Bob would have said this even if he had been there. This did not anger me except for the fact that I was referred to as a "nigger" when I returned next door to the restaurant. (I come from a large multi-racial family, I don't think that includes me in that category). The owner also commented that Bob and his lover spend a lot of money when they come in, and that I should expect that on the job. I didn't show much reaction to this statement, but the law states that if you employ minorities that you must protect them from "abusive treatment on the job" even if it is verbal.

I've worked at the restaurant a little over a year and have met some wonderful people. Especially the woman and her lover who bring their mother in with them. For some reason the women in the restaurant were usually the highest tippers. Some of the men were too, including Al and Millie. But, I felt

Next Chronicle comes out Friday, April 8

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individuals within our community.

I once again received confirmation of this fact when, after publishing a Center "wish list" that ended in "oh, yes, and chocolate chip cookies!" in the last Chronicle, cookies were delivered to our door the following Monday! Thank you, Phil K., for being there for us.

Judith Rainbrook

that compromising my dignity and selfSupport ourselves

respect were too valuable to risk continuing my employment there. For the record, not all of the patrons and employees at OTR feel this hatred towards blacks, women and lower-income individuals. I grew up in a home that was in the income bracket of $250,000/year. My parents worked very hard to give my family and I a better way of life. Having roots in Italy, Jamaica, Brazil, Ireland, England, France and Japan, I am not an African-American, I am an “American." And in another statement made a few months ago about racism at this particular bar, that "I am sick of all this racial crap," is a real sign that our country and community are in grave danger when we discriminate within our own structure.

Kris

formerly of Beauregard's and Over the Rainbow

When the chips are down

To the Editors:

One of the most rewarding things about being the executive director of the LesbianGay Community Service Center is to be on the receiving end of tremendous support by

To the Editors:

Skating through the television channels a couple of weeks ago I happened across Pat Robertson's annual fund drive. The program was amazing. Robertson was asking for money to help restore "family" values, to reestablish prayer in school, and to fight homosexual "special" rights. The sad reality: he was raising over $100,000 an hour.

The lesbian-gay community of Cleveland has many similarities with Robertson's group. We are a diverse group of people. We come from different socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. We are different genders. We are a group of individual persons.

Like Robertson's group, the LesbianGay Community Service Center of Cleveland has initiated an annual fund drive. If the Center is going to support the rights of lesbians and gays, lesbians and gays must support the Center.

I personally do not agree with everything about the Center (past, present, and probably future). I realize the only way for me to be in 100 percent agreement with the Center is to have the Center staffed and directed by

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