10 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE AUGUST 18, 1995

COMMUNITY FORUM

Try the 1950s

To the Editors:

I get tired of reading the Gay People's Chronicle and similar papers. Every article, every letter recounts how the world is out to get us and destroy us. While this may be true to a large degree, there are many positive things going on in our community that go unnoticed or are derided because they are not as good as similar events in other cities.

Recently there was a letter about the Pride Day event being so small. This was followed by another letter in later edition agreeing with that notion and adding to the negatives. When I came to Cleveland ten years ago there was no Pride Day event, no lesbian and gay community center, no major gay or lesbian groups. The center of activity was a bunch of bars and a couple of bath houses. And not too friendly, I might add.

This year, between the Pride Day festival, Dancin' in the Streets and the Garden Party, maybe five thousand people attended. Ten years ago, five years ago, this would never have happened. Today we have support groups, social organizations, religious groups, gay and lesbian professionals, African American gay groups in the city and many more.

Minorities should take a good look at where they were 20 years ago, 10 years ago and say, "Look what we've accomplished in this time, what can we do to continue and make it even better?" I am going on 59 (for the fourth time). Try coming out in the mid1950s. Most of the complainers today would never have made it through those years. We only had the bars and the baths. While things are tough today, compare to what it used to

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group is of major talent and I throroughly Special rights

enjoy their music.

Cleveland, we have some good entertainment out there now that is not the same old "Let's go to the bar to dance and drink" thang. The Cyclone Sisters are for real and they need and deserve your support! For more information call the Cyclone Sisters Hotline at 216-529-1092.

Sue Clement, avid fan Lakewood

be, stop complaining and make it work to be Running for board seat

better.

Paul Zeitzew Cleveland

Best-kept secret

To the Editors:

I wanted to help my community become aware of what I think is a major music talent right here in Cleveland that seems to be the best kept secret.

In the past few years, Cleveland's lesbian and gay community has had what I consider to be unique for this community: a music scene. Popular bands such as Odd Girl Out and the Raging Hormones have played at Pride, Dancin' in the Streets, the We are Family Picnic and at clubs such as U4ia, 5¢ Decision, the Rec Room and Dr. Dan's in Akron. We even have bands coming in from out of town to add to the mix. All of these groups are talented and entertaining in their own right. But along with these groups is very talented group of musicians called the Cyclone Sisters.

This group is for real. They are a talented group of six women and two men that play a wide range of instruments from the basic acoustic and electic guitar and drums to viola, trumpet, keyboard and various percussion instruments. What makes them stand out is their sound. I have had the pleasure of hearing them at the Women's Variety Show, Pride, and two show at U4ia and each show has been different. Their sound is a strong mix of swinging jazz and funky rock and mainly all original material. Their last show at U4ia featured soulful covers of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" and "Pennies from Heaven;" a Beatles tune which I can't recall the title; and their own material that ranges from tender ballads to just plain jamming.

I want to clarify that I am not a promotion person for the group nor am I a music critic or reviewer. I just feel very strongly that this

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 name-calling 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.

To the Editors:

At the special meeting of Stonewall Union of Columbus back in April, board president Jeff Jones implored community members to get involved. With that in mind, I would like to announce my candidacy for the board.

As president of the Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Alliance at Ohio State in 1989 and 1990, I worked towards improving the quality of life for gay, lesbian, and bi students on

campus.

I helped the organization to balance its budget, created programs and educational services to dispel myths and stereotypes about homosexuality, and formed a political action committee to address homophobia and discrimination at Ohio State and in Columbus.

In addition to my service in Columbus, I have also volunteered on steering committees for the Stonewall 25/Gay Games celebration in New York in 1994 and at the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of New York City. While volunteering at the center, I became a peer facilitator for Body Positive, a support group for people living with AIDS, and participated in the successful effort to shield the city's Division of AIDS Services from devastating budget cuts proposed by the mayor's office.

As a board member, I would offer my time and energy to increase and diversify Stonewall's membership and to offer our community more advocacy and direct action on issues which directly affect people's lives such as workplace discrimination, health and wellness, and safety against violence and abuse. Also, as a person living with AIDS, I long to give the HIV/AIDS community a public voice which is seldom heard both within and outside the gay, lesbian, and bi community.

On a personal level, since retiring from my career in retail sales, I enjoy a variety of activities including reading, travelling, and visiting with friends. My other interests include classic movies, fashion, current events, art, and history.

I ask Stonewall Union members for their vote on September 14 for a seat on the board of directors. I will do my best to strengthen Stonewall Union's role as an advocate for our community's interests, and I will work with others to improve Stonewall's responsiveness and effectiveness in reaching these goals.

P.S. You can be involved by becoming a member of Stonewall Union. Call 614299-7764 to find out how.

Thomas P. Fletcher Columbus

The following letter was sent by Rep. Martin R. Hoke, R-10, to James R. Polzner in response to a letter of Polzner's:

Dear Mr. Polzner:

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding homosexual rights. It was good to hear from you and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, but the press of congressional business and the incredible volume of mail has made responding in a timely manner difficult. I hope you understand.

Simply put, I will not support a special protection under our civil rights laws for any group based on the lifestyle of that group. Keep in mind that homosexuality is defined by conduct. As Colin Powell put it during the debate over allowing homosexuals the privilege of serving their country: "Skin color is a benign, non-behavioral characteristic. Sexual orientation is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics. Comparison of the two is a convenient, but invalid argument."

As I said in my previous letter, I condemn any form of discrimination, and I believe that the genuine rights of all Americans are already protected by the U.S. Constitution. Special protections are therefore unnecessary.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your views with me. If I can ever be of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me. Kindest personal regards.

Polzner responds:

Dear Mr. Hoke:

Martin R. Hoke Member of Congress Fairview Park

I am in receipt of your letter to me dated July 6. I thank you for your response. I understand that you probably get quite busy. I do appreciate you taking the time to respond to me.

There are several points you made in your letter to me that I would like to ask you to take a look at again. To begin with, you state that homosexuality is defined by conduct. The dictionary doesn't seem to agree with you. Webster defines homosexuality as "of or characterized by sexual desire for those of the same sex ..." Nothing in the definition says anything about conduct regarding those desires. You should probably take a closer look at your dictionary.

Second, you state that gays and lesbians are looking for special protections. Protection from discrimination in housing and employment are not special protections. They are rights that everyone should be entitled to. Gays and lesbians can have those rights denied them. Gays and lesbians are not asking for anything else. You assure me that you condemn any form of discrimination, yet you refused to answer the basic questions I posed in the first place. Do you believe the Constitution would protect me if my employer wanted to fire me solely for the reason that I am a gay man? Do you believe the Constitution would protect me if my landlord wanted to evict me solely because I am

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Correction

In the August 4 issue, the photo of Patrick Finn should have been credited to Michael A. Foley.

a gay man? I can only assume that because you won't answer those questions directly, it is because you yourself know that gays and lesbians can be discriminated against. You know we do not have the same Constitutional protections as other "groups."

You refer to the homosexual lifestyle. I am not aware of a homosexual lifestyle any more than I am aware of a Jewish lifestyle, a Puerto Rican lifestyle or an African American lifestyle. Please don't pigeonhole all gay and lesbian people into one stereotyped way of living. We are a very diverse group of people with different beliefs, careers, educations, incomes and ways of living. Some of us even vote for Republicans. It's demeaning to be told that, because I am gay, I have a predictable lifestyle. No other minority group would accept that, and I don't either.

Your defining of who gays and lesbians are based on their conduct, your stating that there is a stereotypical gay and lesbian lifestyle and your diminishing our quest for fairness as our merely seeking "special rights" all tell me that you truly do not care for those constituents of yours that are gay and lesbian, of which I am one.

At the end of your letter, you offer me whatever assistance you may be able to provide in the future. Sadly, you have already turned down my request for assistance.

James R. Polzner Cleveland