JANUARY 13, 1995

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 9

Beware of 'proof'

To the Editors:

Preparing to move to Cleveland in the near future, I have been following with frustration and dismay the fallout from the World AIDS Day speaker, Robert E. Willner. This is a discussion that needs to occur, but I fear that it has taken on an irrational and irresponsible flavor.

The December 9 ACT UP "Community Groups" column triumphantly declares, “Dr. Willner challenged local AIDS doctors... to prove their assertion that HIV is 100 percent responsible for AIDS. Surprise, not one doctor in the Cleveland AIDS research community would come forward. Why? They know they cannot 100 percent prove their hypothesis." This point is used to support the columnists' assertion that the research community is not pursuing their work responsibly.

=

A word to the wise: if anyone in the scientific community claims to have proof for the HIV AIDS connection, any other theory, or even uses the word “proof,” as Willner unfortunately has in the title of his book, it's time to be very skeptical. Any scientist worth her or his credentials knows that the scientific method cannot supply proof only the most likely hypothesis, given the current data. The term "scientific proof" is nothing but tabloid fodder, because science has never actually "proven" anything, even things that we consider common sense, like the Earth being round.

It's very human for us to want simple, definitive answers to unknowns like the causes of AIDS. We're in the uncomfortable position of expending resources on a hypoth-

COMMUNITY FORUM

Evans, Kenneth Montlack, and Joanne Not news nor analysis appeared in more than two dozen gay and

O'Brien.

Council has already receiced a lot of complaints. We need to let council know that they did the right thing. Please call them at 216291-3921, or fax 216-291-2064.

At the very beginning Alexandria Ruden helped me to focus my goals, do some planning, and she linked me with Councilman Kelley. John Nolan provided me with information on Columbus' and Cincinnati's protections that were compiled by Jerry Bunge. Gary Katz provided information on Cleveland's ordinance. Rich Horton contacted a council member that he knew.

Gifts of Athena let me collect signatures which were submitted to council to demonstrate community support. Thanks to all who signed.

Scott Hare contacted the Unitarian Society of Cleveland. Their social concerns committee officially supported this ordinance. To spread the word about the actual vote I was assisted by Chris Horvath of the Unitarian Society, Martha Webb, and Scott Hare. Debra Dunkle, Martha Webb, Scott Hare, Patrick McCabe, and my partner Brian DeWitt attended council meetings and spoke with council members to urge their support.

Thanks to all who came to the January 3 council meeting, including Judy Rainbrook, director of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center, and friends from the Unitarian Society in Cleveland Heights. A special thanks goes to those who publicly spoke. That showed a lot of courage.

Thanks to all. We have a lot to be proud of. Douglas Braun Cleveland Heights

esis that might someday be discounted. UnNGLTF is healthy

fortunately, we're always going to be in that position, because that's the nature of the "answers" that science gives us. Our most effective response is to follow through on the best theory with as much passion as we can muster; I don't want to look back with regret that I did too little. At the moment, the HIV connection is the most plausible, and it's ahead of the challengers by a huge lead.

Yes, let's always keep an open mind that what we're doing might be based on a misunderstanding. And yes, let's investigate other possibilities that seem to have some merit. But let's not allow our frustration and the possibility of being wrong thwart our common sense and best efforts; there's definitely enough credibility to the HIV connection to keep practicing safer sex and responsible living. After all, doing the best we can with the information we've got is what responsible activism is all about.

Scott Gerard Prinster Berkeley, Calif.

Heights gets rights

To the Editors:

It passed unanimously!

On January 3, the Cleveland Heights city council passed an ordinance that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the areas of housing, public employment, and city contracts.

Councilman Edward Kelley was instrumental in bringing this issue to council. In addition to him, the rest of council was also supportive: Mayor Carol Edwards, ViceMayor Philmore Hart, Bonnie Caplan, Phyllis

Community Forum

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express your opinion about the Community or the paper. Please, however, keep letters nstructive, and avoid namecalling and personal attacks. Please be brief. We reserve the right to edit letters. We will print your name unless you specifically ask us not to.

Address letters to: Chronicle Editors, PO Box 5426, Cleveland, Ohio 44101; or P.O. Box 12235, Columbus, Ohio 43212; or e-mail ChronOhio@aol.com; or fax to 216-631-1082 (24 hours) or 614253-1367. Include your address and phone So we may contact you to verify the letter.

To the Editors:

I attended the recent National Gay and Lesbian Task Force "Creating Change" conference in Dallas, Texas. This is an annual event which attracts more than 1,000 gay and lesbian activists from all over the country.

This conference is the most inspiring I have ever attended. Mel White inspired me when he issued an emotional and compelling call for all lesbians and gays to tell our truths in the face of lies from the right wing and the activists looking for solutions to the every day problems they face were equally inspiring. Texas State Legislator Glen Maxey was a shining example of a completely out, very visible and influential gay man.

The conference was also inspiring because of what it showed about NGLTF. I almost didn't attend because of the midstream resignation of the conference organizer and all the other turmoil in the organization. I called NGLTF to ask if the conference would get off the ground and they said that of course it would. I was somewhat dubious.

Not only did the conference "come off," NGLTF itself came off looking very good. The conference was very well organized. All the details were taken care of. Also, the workshops I attended were better than last year's and the overall organization of the program was more integrated and thus more effective.

During plenary sessions attended by all 1,000-plus conference attendees, Melinda Paras acknowledged the problems the organization had faced since the last annual conference. (Paras has since been named the executive director of NGLTF.) She laid out plans to address the problems. The plans were based on the recognition that NGLTF's most fundamental purpose is to support the gay-lesbian organizing going on around the country. The plans are solid and they have the support of the staff and the board.

Paras handled herself with grace, honesty and integrity. The co-chairs of NGLTF did too. So did Peri Jude Radecic, who was the executive director at the time of the conference. I left Dallas feeling that NGLTF is well-positioned to become an effective national resource for our movement. They need our financial support as well as our encouragement to keep up the good fight. Betsy Tabac East Cleveland

To the Editors:

Conservative Republican gay political opinion writer Bob Roehr's "news analysis," recently picked up from other sources for reprinting by the Chronicle ["Controversy greets new NGLTF director Paras," December 23] is not news nor analysis. I am concerned Chronicle readers might have accepted Roehr's disinformation campaign without questioning the "opinion column's" content, without knowing of Roehr's conservative politics, and without being informed of his involvement in creating and fanning the flames of "the controversy" over the past several months.

Besides the oversight of not informing its readers of who Bob Roehr is (perhaps the

lesbian publications, both national and local, over the last two years.

I speak often and at length with current and past employees and volunteers at the Task Force and other organizations. Many have voiced their own concerns with Melinda Paras.

The authors would have one believe that criticism of the Paras appointment is an aberration. It is not. Other community papers and reporters, from Boston to San Francisco, as well as mainstream outlets, have written critically of the appointment.

My views and opinions did not make this a major story. The track record of Melinda Paras and the actions of the NGLTF board made this a major story.

Chronicle was not aware), Melinda Paras Christmas spirit

and the new staff at NGLTF should have been given the same space in the same issue to show readers where NGLTF energies will now be focused in this new era of conservative dominated political debate and Republican control of Congress. That would have been analysis.

I'd like to offer what I know about "the controversy." Roehr is working to keep popping into print. Since early fall his opinions about Melinda Paras have been "floated" onto the Internet. Roehr's "news analysis" about financial problems at Shanti and his intention to blame them on Paras, who had no financial accountability at Shanti, have been popping into print in the gay press sporadically for weeks. The Shanti problem was news over 21⁄2 years ago! The person who was accountable at Shanti, Marc Ansley, blames Paras still, though several audits and investigations have said that was not the

case.

Robert Bray of the Fight the Right Staff of NGLTF, and well-respected media specialist, calls Bob Roehr "the Rush Limbaugh" of the gay media.

Roehr would love to see folks keep their political donations and membership dues from an inclusive-thinking, progressivelyfocused NGLTF. Readers who buy into Roehr's trick will only do conservatives, and right wing bigots, a favor.

In the future, please label Roehr's stuff "Conservative Political Opinion" in the future so readers will not be misled.

Bill Henderson Cleveland

We feel Roehr's piece, which was submitted to us, not reprinted, was well-written, informative, and well-researched. Paras comes to NGLTF amidst much controversythat is not inaccurate information. Neither is the fact that she has many critics in the lesbian and gay community.

To side-step this information in an effort to show only the good doesn't serve anyone well. Our national and local organizations are essential to our survival as a community. But it is unwise to "rally 'round the flag" and say they can do no wrong.

The Chronicle will continue to present diverse opinions of current events. We would not be able to fairly represent these differing ideas if we become a "mouthpiece" for any one organization, or if we concerned ourselves with our writers' party affiliations.

We welcome any correspondence from Paras or the NGLTF on this issue, and we wish her and her staff well as she settles into her new position as the NGLTF executive director.

Bob Roehr responds:

-Eds.

The facts which seem to most disturb the authors [Bill Henderson, above, and Judy Rainbrook on page 11] are direct quotations from principal employees of Shanti at the time of the incidents. Those sources have firsthand knowledge of the situation, unlike myself or the writers defending Paras.

The financial problems at Shanti are current news because the matter is not closed. Shanti is still negotiating terms of repayment with the city.

I have held leadership positions in the Washington, D.C. gay and lesbian community for the past 15 years, always without compensation. My work as a journalist has

To the Editors:

At this season of the year I always struggle to keep the "Christmas Spirit." There is so much about Christmas, the lights, the tree, the presents, that really have nothing to do with my belief of what the holiday is about, even though they are fun traditions. I am not a Christian, but I do believe in the Spirit of Christmas, and I have made it my own tradition to watch at least two versions of A Christmas Carol every season! This year I read, out loud, with my best British accent, A Christmas Carol and as always, found the meaning of Christmas there in Dickens' words.

When Marley's ghost visits Scrooge he informs him that "It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow men, and travel far and wide..." and when Scrooge defends Marley as having been "a good man of business," the ghost replies, "Business!" Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business."

In these few sentences, Dickens embodies the Spirit of Christmas. If I can hear them enough, it seems to me maybe I can remember them throughout the year and act accordingly. Charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence couldn't the world do with a little more of these? But, as I can attest to, these concepts are not always easy to uphold. Perhaps that's why I need my double dose of Dickens every Christmas. So, Happy New Year, and may the Spirit of Christmas find its way into all our hearts this year.

Linda Malicki North Ridgeville

Supporting lesbians

An open letter to the lesbian community:

The Women's Community Foundation has much to be proud of in 1994. We more than doubled the amount of grant monies we distributed to $85,000; we successfully changed staff leadership; we had the largest attendance ever at both our Creative Philanthropy Awards dinner and our How To Apply workshop; and we were able to leverage additional grant monies because of our grantmaking.

All of these things were accomplished under the passionate and talented leadership of lesbians. The foundation president, interim executive director, co-chair of the allocations committee, several other board and committee members and support staff have been and are lesbians. We represent lesbians of different races, religions, class backgrounds, ages, and physical abilities. The Foundation has benefited from the leadership and unique perspective which we have developed from our experiences as women and as lesbians.

Our grantmaking supports specific projects which benefit lesbians and support lesbians who are in leadership positions in organizations serving a wider constituency of women. Our issues are women's issues. Please take this time to support the Women's Community Foundation with a generous donation. It is important that lesbians continue to support the lesbian visibility within

Continued on page 25