IN BOX

NOVEMBER 25, 1994

Dignity returns to a Catholic church

by Doreen Cudnik

Dignity Cleveland, a group of gay and lesbian Catholics and their friends, recently announced that they are worshiping together as a group in a Catholic church for the first time in recent history. During the 1980s, the Vatican forbade any group that "doesn't accept Church teachings”including the anti-gay onesfrom meeting on church property.

But that doesn't mean they can't go to Mass together. The group now gathers for worship at the regular 10:30 am Mass at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Cleveland.

Father Gary Chmura, pastor of Our Lady of Peace, was contacted by members of Dignity. He checked with the diocese of Cleveland and was told that it was "permissible" for the group to meet and worship there providing they did not hold a separate service. A spokesperson from the group said that a "welcome" to Dignity Cleveland was printed in the parish bulletin but, "If someone didn't already know what Dignity Cleveland was, they wouldn't know from the announcement."

Our Lady of Peace is located at E. 126th and Shaker Blvd., a few blocks west of Shaker Square.

Dignity Cleveland was formed more than 20 years ago and is one of the original chapters of Dignity USA, the national organization of gay and lesbian Catholics.

Dignity extends an invitation to anyone who would like to join the group at the 10:30 am mass. The group will gather for refreshments after the liturgy. For more information, call 216-531-4469.

Cleveland magician Eric Brouman has recently been named by Cleveland magazine to their annual list of “Cleveland's 50 Most Interesting People." Brouman, a 23year-old gay man from South Euclid, has appeared at grand opening celebrations for Tower City Center, the Galleria, and has been contacted by the organizers of the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to be part of its opening festivities in 1995. Brouman has also been the featured entertainment in the new "Junior Dawg Pound" at the Stadium during Browns home games this

season.

Sue Bennet and Heather Thorp, owners of Gifts of Athena feminist bookstore in Cleveland, report that they are very encouraged by the support the community has shown since they announced the details of their financial crisis. As of midOctober, the bookstore has raised nearly $8,000 toward the $30,000 needed to pay off back bills and keep the store open. By channeling donations to the most pressing bills, the store is staying open on a month-to-month financial plan, and can once again order inventory from their two major book suppliers.

IN

Editor

Brouman spends much of his time working to raise funds for Cleveland charities. Recently, he organized a benefit for Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, and the Achievement Center for Children. He regularly reserves time out of his over 450 shows a year to perform at

children's birthday parties, and local

Eric Brouman festivals throughout the Cleveland area. The issue of Cleveland which features Eric will hit the newsstands at the end of December.

The Gay Agenda

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:00 Darost quiche

9:00 Take dog to Madison Ave. Animal Dospital

10:00

11:00

12:00 daircut facial at Chaz Haircare Salon

1:00

2:00 Photo session at Cari Photography

3:00

4:00 Therapy at Dunkle's & Assoc

5:00

6:00

7:00 Stonewall Meeting

8:00

9:00 Tume into "The Bay 90's

10:00 with Buck flassis

11:00pm WHK 1420AM

12:00 Beauty sext

THE SECOND STORY AGAIN, INC. "the" Resale Shop for furniture, antiques, collectibles, decorative itemsand who knows what else? (no clothing)

Join us for the Holiday Stroll

November 25, 26, 27

Friday 10-8, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-5

An advisory council of women from the community has been formed to provide expertise in areas such as law, marketing and business planning. The council is currently meeting several times a month, and is working on a long-term business plan as well as implementing ideas from customer suggestions. Bennet said, "The best news is that we've learned that the northeast Ohio women's and gay communities really care about having a feminist bookstore and want to keep it open." Future bookstore and fundraising events are being planned.

Syracuse Cultural Workers is a nonprofit, progressive, educational publisher who designed and produced the official

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 9

Stonewall 25 poster. But the poster was not readily available to the one million people who attended the Stonewall 25 events in New York City this past June. This commemorative poster now available.

is

In addition to the Stonewall poster, they also publish other lesbian and gay related items including a powerful Audre Lorde

LOVE

memorial poster; gay Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and Solstice cards; the 24th edition of the Peace Calendar; and the 1995 Women Artists Datebook, which contains work by lesbian artists and annotations about gay people's history.

Syracuse director Dik Cool warned about commercial companies who attempt to appear "multicultural" because it is fashionable and exploitable. Cool said, "I recently encountered a "multicultural" distributor (Highsmith in Fort Atkinson, Wis.) who was unwilling to carry the Peace Calendar because of its gay content. I suspect this is just the tip of the homophobic iceberg in the burgeoning multicultural arena."

To receive a catalog, send $1 to Syracuse Cultural Workers, Post Office Box 6367, Syracuse, NY 13217, or call 315474-1132.

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•

› Holiday Hours •

Fridays 'til 8

Sundays 12-5

BARBARA AND HOWARD WILL WELCOME YOU As always, coffee, cookies and conversation

We Buy and Take Consignments by Appointment (216) 231-2030

2600 E. 127th at Larchmere

(E. 127th St entrance of the church)

Tuesday-Saturday

10:00am 5:00 pm

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30 Dillmont Drive

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