GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE APRIL 22, 1994

Proudly presenting:

Lucie Blue Tremblay

in concert

Saturday, May 21st at Peabody's DownUnder

in the Flats, 1059 Old River Road

8:30 P.M.

featuring her latest release:

Transformations

THE THIRD ALBUM

Tickets are available through: Ticketmaster, Peabody's Downunder, Gifts of Athena & 5¢ Decision

Gay long distance service tussles with provider

Thousands of lesbian and gay customers of CommunitySpirit, a lesbian-gay-bi-owned long distance phone service, have been outraged to find that their long-distance service had been switched without their consent, to Members Long Distance Advantage, a program offered by the non-gay Trans National Communications (TNC) of Boston.

The entangled maneuvering is hard to unwind. Overlooked Opinions (parent of CommunitySpirit) had severed ties with TNC, the company who had been contracted to handle the long-distance service and billing of Community Spirit customers. TNC purchases bulk long distance time and operator services through U.S. Sprint. On and before November 1, 1993, Overlooked notified TNC that it was in breach of contract for a variety of reasons, including homophobic treatment of customers, overbilling, and underpayment of fees to Overlooked. When nothing was done, Overlooked dropped TNC on February 17,.

Following the break, TNC launched a misleading telemarketing and direct mail campaign against Overlooked that made use of the Community Spirit trademark and told members that things were still normal, that TNC was still Community Spirit, even though the break had occurred, according to Overlooked.

TNC had also switched an estimated 20,000 customers from Overlooked to their own service without valid "letters of agency" from the customers. TNC has since filed an injunction with the U.S. District Court to order CommunitySpirit customers onto the TNC program. TNC must convince the court that the fact that CommunitySpirit is lesbiangay owned and operated is only incidental and not fundamentally important to the customers. But the fact that CommunitySpirit is

gay owned and that a percentage of net proceeds are donated to gay charities chosen by customers, is important, says Overlooked.

Community Spirit has since moved all customer service, billing, calling card production and other aspects of their business in-house. TNC had offered up to $1 million to buy Community Spirit, an offer which was rejected. All negotiations have been severed. TNC has tried to urge Community Spirit members to join their new program, the Pride Network.

Community Spirit urges all customers who joined the Pride Network to call toll free, 800-IT'S-OURS (800-487-6877), to re-establish service. Write a letter describing your experience with TNC; documentation is important for Community Spiritto fight TNC.

HIV cancer

Continued from Page 1

More broadly, the study raises questions about the use of any retrovirus in a vaccine, as well as their increasing role in the new field of gene therapy. Retroviruses can be used to carry a gene into an organ to correct its functioning.

Dr. Irving Chen, director of the University of California at Los Angeles AIDS Institute, called the study very important if confirmed.

But he said it was important to know how often the virus-caused cancer occurs, and how long it takes to develop. That could determine whether a future AIDS vaccine is worth the cancer risk.

"I don't date because I don't want to meet people at the bars!"

NO EXCUSES.

Meet someone in the largest selection of Lesbian/Gay/Bi personals in the state! Section B of the Gay People's Chronicle. Respond to your favorite personal today... and have a date tomorrow!

A CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY

FINE ART & CRAFT STUDIO SALE SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1994 10 AM 8PM 1515 WEST 29TH ST., CLEVELAND

ELEVEN ARTISTS WILL OFFER A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF THEIR NEW WORK. ENJOY REFRESHMENTS & CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS WHILE YOU SHOP FOR GIFTS FOR MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY. WEDDINGS & MARK'S BIRTHDAY.

DIANNE & BARBARA ALBERY JEFF BALAZS

LIZ BURGESS

AMY HARDACRE

DAN KIRK

PAGET LEIGH ROSE

JULIE VERDON

RADMILA JANEVSKI-STAVEC

MARK YASENCHACK

THERESA YONDO

CALL MARK AT 575.9140 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

Helmuth Psychological Associates welcomes

Philip Seibel, Ph.D. Psychologist

Individual and Relationship Therapy

3725 S. Cleve.-Mass. Rd. • Norton, Oh 44203 216-825-0133

Saturday * June 11th

PRIDE

'94

Cleveland's 6th Annual Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual Pride March and Festival

March

Entertainment Dancing

Community of Pride

Merchandise Booths & Displays

Food & Fun

For more information or to volunteer

call 595-8788 or 371-9714