GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE MAY 19, 1995

EDITORIAL

We were robbed!

Recently, a founder of two Cleveland AIDS organizations pleaded guilty to the theft of thousands of dollars from the city's annual AIDS Walk fund-raiser. It is difficult to believe that Ted Wilson, a well-known and respected social worker, activist and trusted member of this community, took the money. But he did. He robbed the AIDS Walk and he robbed all of us.

Earlier this month. Wilson pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony. Instead of being sentenced, Wilson was referred to treatment for his alcoholism. This means that he will still be able to work as social worker in the state of Ohio, and should he ever move, there would be no record to follow him at any job he may apply for. Assuming he follows the terms of the court, which include sobriety for one year, there will be nothing on his record. What kind of punishment is that? Agreed, jail time would serve no purpose, but as it

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To the Editors:

stands now, there is no sentencing for this crime against our community. Maybe those who prosecuted Wilson didn't think this community was important enough to demand justice for.

Treatment is not a punishment. There are many suffering people who would give anything to be able to afford treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. With today's medical system, treatment of this type is a privilege, not a punishment. In effect, Wilson was given no punishment at all. So what makes the next guy think before doing it, or keeps Wilson from doing it again, here or in another community? Where is the justice for this community?

They argument goes that the money was recovered: No harm, no foul, right? Wrong. The harm and the foul both occurred, and there should have been penalty for both. Wilson stole more than money. He stole a

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bit more of our naïveté. From now on, it will be harder to trust anyone. When someone of stature falls, it casts a shadow on everyone. Sure, we are used to it in government, but this time it was our community, our money, and our friends who could have been hurt.

"How could someone so trusted and so respected steal money from people with AIDS?" we all ask.

This question can refer to either his motive or his opportunity. Wilson's motive is something only he can tell us about. His opportunity, however, is something that every AIDS and lesbian-gay organization should learn from.

The AIDS Walk organization, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, and the AIDS Housing Council can take no blame for this theft, and should not be punished in any way, including withholding donations. They, along with the rest of the community, are the victims of this crime. They had no reason whatsoever not to trust this founder and board member to handle funds in an honest way, and they should not be held liable for doing so. This is not an issue of fund mismanagement. This is an issue of being the victim of a crime.

However, there are lessons to be learned. Organizations in this community will now have a reason to really step up security around the money they collect. They can hold their volunteers and staff to be more accountable. They can review procedures and announce them to the community, so we can all know that the money we contribute is safe.

It would be great if all organizations held themselves publicly accountable for all the money they raised from the community; telling us how much came in and where it went

out.

We as a community cannot stop donating to our organizations, but we must feel secure that our money is going to provide services, and not to line someone's pockets. This is a great opportunity to make our organizations safer. Let's not miss it.

COMMUNITY FORUM

First of all, congratulations to you. I'm glad that the Chronicle now reaches several communities in the state of Ohio where local "Stonewall" organizations have been formed. It's now more important than ever before to identify in the headline which city's Stonewall group is the subject of Chronicle stories.

For example, I think that the lead story on the front page of the April 21 Chronicle should have identified Stonewall Union of Columbus, rather than simply referring to "Stonewall."

While Stonewall Cleveland is not without

about the potential for unnecessary confusion and will take the necessary steps to avoid such confusion in the future. Thanks for reading this far.

John Nolan Stonewall Cleveland

The first paragraph of the April 21 story gave the organization's full name and city, as is standard. Headlines need to be short, to fit into the space. We trust that anyone who is interested in any of the "Stonewall" groups

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hope the people of our community contact Judge Stuart Saferin if they see you take so much as one drink.

You said in your written statement, "I plan to apologize to individuals and organizations whom I have most directly wronged." I hope you have a long pencil, you have "directly wronged" over 700 people within the HIV community.

Dallas Owens Cleveland

will read the beginning of the story, as you Use the word gay

did.

its own problems (and we continue to struggle Lame excuse

and meet the challenges that we face), we don't need to add to the confusion with headlines that lack the proper (specific) identification.

I sincerely appreciate the Chronicle's continued support of Stonewall Cleveland's efforts. I hope that you understand my concern

Community Forum

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express your opinion about the community or the paper. Please, however, keep letters constructive, 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.

Letters must include a street address and phone, for verification only. They can be sent via U.S. mail, fax, or E-mail to the addresses in the masthead above.

-Editors

Why work for your money when you can learn how to commit a felony and serve no prison time for it, as Ted Wilson did?

Mr. Wilson, you may wonder why I am taking this so personally when I have never met you. I have had AIDS for 31⁄2 years. I understand how important AIDS service organizations are for the HIV positive community. I was the treasurer of the AIDS Task Force Regional Cooperative and I am currently the treasurer of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. I have been involved in fund raising and grant writing and I know how important every dime is to these agencies.

Your alcohol problem is a pretty lame excuse for what you did. I know other alcoholics and people in recovery, none of whom were thieves. I hope the members of our community contact University Hospital's social work department and express their disgust that the hospital continues to employ an admitted thief as a social worker. I also

To the Editors:

During my four years as the editor of a lesbian and gay Utah publication, I have been exchanging subscriptions with or subscribing to a wide variety of gay publications from across the country. I've purchased every issue of Network Q, the monthly video magazine.

My partner Sara and I have had plenty of time and plenty of reasons to get used to the popular use of the word queer-a word that some homosexual/bisexual/trandgender/drag people in the U.S. have taken to using as an all-inclusive term that means all of us.

In our travels, in our work, in all those publications and on Network Q, we've heard the word queer used again and again and again and again. We've been to women's festivals, the March on Washington, Stonewall 25 and the Gay Games.

You'd think that by now Sara and I would be comfortable with queer, and we are, sort of. Queer is shorter and easier to write or say than gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender. But we never use quèer ourselves, not even in our publication, and we really have no desire to.

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 10, Issue 23

Publisher:

Business Manager: Managing Editor:

Martha J. Pontoni

Patti Harris

Doreen Cudnik Brian De Witt

Associate Editor: Reporters & Writers: John Carey, Barry Daniels, John Graves, Jeff Hirst, Michael M. Lederman, M.T. Martone, Diane Moor, Tamara Murphy, Timothy Robson, Paul Schwitzgebel, Jerry Semas Photographers:

Art Director: Production/Admin.:

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Barbara Bodemer,

Beth Leonard Christine Hahn Gina Adkins David A. Ebbert Timothy N. Thomas Rivendell Marketing 212-242-6863 David A. Ebbert 800-426-5947

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Correction

A May 5 story about the Rainbow Wranglers roundup in Cleveland incorrectly described the entertainment at a Saturday night dance. While Penny Rachelle and Clay Angus did sing, there were no performances by country-western clubs.

We think there are many, many homosexual/bisexual and transgendered Americans who feel the same way.

Proponents of the word queer have a point, however. This gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgendered/drag stuff can get pretty long, unwieldy and tiresome. Queer is so short.

Gay is shorter. And sweeter. Nicer. And more comfortable.

Most lesbians get comfortable with the word gay before they get comfortable with the word lesbian.

"I'm gay." It's easy to say, easy to hear. Even many straight people can hear it and not flinch, which is not something you can say about the word queer. A huge percentage of gays and lesbians are quite comfortable saying they're gay; some of us are even proud to say it, happy to say it.

Gay. I think it sounds, and feels, comfortable and free. Out and proud. Not angry and defiant like the word queer seems to say. For my first forty years queer was a bad, nasty, insulting word.

Four years haven't managed to erase all of

that.

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