8 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE AUGUST 5, 1994

EDITORIAL

Keeping it in the family

How much thought do you give before spending money on a product or service?

It's an important question every lesbian and gay man should consider before gay money ever leaves the house.

Time and convenience, the fuel that pump our modern economy, are factors that stand in direct opposition to the business traditions that built colonial America. A town square and local business were and still are to some degree central to defining life in communities like Wooster, Medina and Marietta. But for most people in large metropolitan areas, strip malls and home shopping have destroyed the concept of "town center" and identity, leaving instead a void where services and mass-produced goods are far removed often by oceansfrom the people who need them.

In this mass-market climate, communities with specialized needs and particular tastes are often forgotten by manufacturers and businesses. If it won't sell in the millions, chances are you won't find it in your local Wal-Mart.

Ironically, in contrast to mass-consumption, the power of gay money helps center and define our community, while identifying those people friendly to us and our lives. It's a simple economic lesson: Where and when to spend, and where and when to not.

Even the most occassional purchase carries the weight of a political statement. Every queer dollar spent must represent a conscious decision made where thought wins out over impulse and convenience, and weightier issues have been considered.

For gay people, those considerations are self-evident. How gay-friendly is this business? Will they understand my relationship with my partner? Will I be able to talk openly

about myself? How much homophobia will I have to sift through?

Some services, like medical, legal or financial, are far easier to carry out when honesty and openness are established between client and professional. How effective can medical help be when a gay man or lesbian can not come forth with the truth of their sexuality? The high rate of breast cancer among lesbians says much about the fear of unsympathetic professionals who do not accept our sexuality.

A healthy and vocal gay public that wields its economic power wisely is a key defense against the rising radical right

Gay-owned and gay-friendly retail operations also provide confidentiality and understanding, as well as a knowledge about specific products sometimes lacking in mainstream business. Sure, that latest piece of queer fiction may be available at the local mall bookstore around the corner, or, more likely, it may not. Those committment rings are still missing from your fingers, but who would understand two men buying the same wedding band? Even a simple gift of flowers can be a problematic purchase when the card reads, 'To Laura. Thanks for last night. Love, Sue.'

Beyond the obvious ease and comfort, keeping the money in friendly hands provides other, subtler benefits. For many people

still struggling to come out, doing business in the community may be their only act of community. By supporting gay-friendly businesses, they make their first tentative step into the circle of family.

Some businesses even act as impromptu community centers. Bars and nightclubs have long been the nucleus of activity in gay society. Slowly, that's changed. Now, larger cities like Cleveland and Columbus can count on arising number of coffeehouses and bookstores that not only cater to our tastes, but draw people together, help disseminate valuable information and, in some cases, have pro-actively worked to educate our community.

A healthy and vocal gay public that wields its economic power wisely is a key defense against the rising radical right. No smart business person will want to see the enactment of any law that denies gay civil rights, which could lead to withholding the allimportant gay dollar. Witness the power of boycotts in Colorado.

And let's not forget the importance of the economic food chain. Friendly business people, gay or otherwise, must in turn see themselves as members of the community too. Our patronage of their business is only one part of the picture. They must also reach out and embrace our concerns and causes, giving back to the community that supports them.

Still, the marketplace is a two-way street. To expect business leaders to take a vocal stand on gay rights by actively courting our dollars demands that we in turn support them, even when time and convenience might sway us otherwise. Any time a gay-owned or friendly business dies, it's more than another statistic for the record books. It puts us all one step closer to cultural extinction. ♡

COMMUNITY FORUM

Thank you, Aubrey

To the Editors:

Sad am I to learn that Aubrey Wertheim will be leaving the Center (July 22 Chronicle). I must echo similar sentiments to Judy

is concerned, feel free to give me a call. Also, please accept a small donation to keep up the good work.

Erik Piepenburg Washington, DC

Ohioans Against Discrimination Rev. Robert T. Strommen Western Reserve Association United Church of Christ Rev. Leah F. Matthews

Western Reserve Association United Church of Christ

Rainbrook; Aubrey's example of life out of Supporting equal rights Rabbi Daniel A. Roberts

the closet led me to appreciate that I, too, could enjoy the same freedom. His encouragement helped me to understand that we gain our successes one at a time.

Further motivated by Aubrey's tenacity, I felt able to work within the Republican Party to remove homophobia from that organization. Granted, there's a bit more work to be done, but the light at the end of the tunnel is not that of an oncoming train.

I'd feel great if I could share in a fraction of the kinds of successes for the gay community that Aubrey Wertheim has under his belt. His future can only get brighter; our community can only get better because of him.

Jack Power

You've come a long way, Cleveland

The following was sent to both ACT UP Cleveland and the Chronicle:

To ACT UP:

Ads on RTA buses? A Cleveland AIDS czar? Increased city AIDS funding? Needle exchange? It's incredible how far you have come in such a short time! The mayor, city council, and various administrators seem to have formed a respectable alliance with ACT UP, one that benefits not only community relations, visibility, and the ACT UP message, but also provides much needed assistance to PWAS. ACT UP Cleveland has truly been a success story.

I'm a researcher at People for the American Way here in D.C., and if there's any help you may need as far as monitoring rightwing responses to AIDS or other gay issues

Before the Pride '94 festival in June, organizers circulated this letter of support for lesbian, gay, and bisexual civil rights (see Pride column, page 15):

During 1994, Cleveland joined a growing number of municipalities and states which have adopted statutes to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As part of the recent Pride festival celebration, the following Cleveland-area community and religious leaders have released the following statement:

"We, leaders of community groups and religious organizations, applaud the efforts of the Mayor, Michael White, and the Cleveland City Council, led by Jay Westbrook, President, in the passage of the new ordinance including "sexual orientation" in the city antidiscrimination statute. We urge other communities and the State of Ohio to adopt such

statutes.

"We stand for the proposition that all people are created equal, regardless of their gender, race, religion, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. We will stand united and will not allow ourselves to be divided by words and actions of intolerance, prejudice, and bigotry against lesbian, gay or bisexual people. "Greater Cleveland is known for its diversity of people, enriched by many races, religions, and ethnic groups. As we approach the close of this century, we will build the future together a future rooted in an unwavering commitment to American values of acceptance and mutual respect for all people, including gay, lesbian and bisexual persons."

The persons supporting this statement are: Mr. Tim Downing

Temple Emanu El Rev. Bill Johnson

United Church Board for Homeland Ministries

Rev. Paul Sherry

President, United Church of Christ Mark A. Hesseling

Convenor, Integrity

Clerk of Trinity Cathedral John Nolan

President, Stonewall Cleveland Adan Chincilla

American Latinos Amigos Gay-Lesbian Group

Amanda Aikman

First Unitarian Church of Cleveland David L. Lahti

Lutherans Concerned-Cleveland Hope Lutheran Church, Cleveland Hts. David G. Ward

Lutherans Concerned-Cleveland

Hope Lutheran Church, Cleveland Hts. Rev. Mary Grigolia

Minister, South West Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Dan Geslin

Liberation United Church of Christ Mr. Allen Clutter

Human Rights Campaign Fund Rev. David Bahr

Archwood United Church of Christ Mr. Clifford Savren

Anti-Defamation League Rev. Matthew Peterson Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. Rev. Wilton S. Haffey, Jr. Pastor, United Church of Christ Rev. Michael A. McGee Minister, West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 10, Issue 3

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni Business Manager: Patti Harris Managing Editor: Charlton Harper Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt Reporters & Writers: Doreen Cudnik, Barry

Daniels, Brynna Fish,

John Graves, Charlton Harper, Taylor Hart, Jeff Hirst, Timothy Robson, Steven St. James

Akron-Canton: Paul Schwitzgebel,

Jerry Kaiser

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

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 E-mail chronohio@aol.com

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Associate Director

Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleve. Jerry Knasel

Interweave Judy Rainbrook

Executive Director

Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center

of Greater Cleveland Rabbi David J. Gelfand

Rabbi Billy Dreskin

Cantor Sarah J. Sager

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Robert W. Reynolds, President Log Cabin Club of Northeast Ohio Howard Epstein, M.D. Chevrei Tikva

Bill Henderson

Out Voice Region II

Have a gay-friendly cup

To the Editors:

I'm an employee at the Phoenix Coffeehouse that opened just four months ago at the new shopping plaza at Archwood and Pearl (next to Blockbuster Video). From my initial interview till this very day, I've been impressed by the open-mindedness and fair treatment extended by owners Joan and Tony Felice. This coffeehouse is a brand new business for them, and though they walked in as newcomers to the food industry, they had a finelytuned vision of what they wanted to contribute to the entire community. Both owners were very clear from the start that their vision for our neighborhood coffeehouse was one of tolerance and acceptance, and that in every way the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community was to be included in this picture.

Since we opened I've watched them really work to keep that ideal. Aside from their dayto-day business practices, they purchased a table at Gay Pride, and have advertised in the

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