OCTOBER 27, 1995 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

13

COMMUNITY GROUPS

'Recognition of spouses' tops answers to issues survey

The results are in! Stonewall Akron conducted a survey at the 17th annual "We Are Family" picnic held at Wildwood Lake on September 10. The intent of the survey was to poll the primarily gay and lesbian attendees on what issues they considered the most important for their elected officials to act upon.

The results as ranked in order of importance by the 108 individuals who responded are as follows:

18% Inclusive definition of “family." Spousal recognition for same sex partners with the same health care and tax benefits available to married couples.

13% Passage of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

12% Dollars for improved health care including AIDS and women's health issues. 10% Gay-positive curricula in schools.

10% Election of politicians who support our causes.

8% Challenge to right-wing and religious zealots' control of government.

7%

7%

5%

5%

Parental rights and foster parental rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered parents.

Legislation dealing with biashate crimes against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.

Non-discrimination in housing and public accomodation.

Elimination of laws regulating private consensual acts.

All issues are equally important.

According to Stonewall Akron spokesperson Gary Wymer, the survey "indicates a desire by gays and lesbians to affirm the same kind of values, rights and protections that everyone in our society enjoys, but which are now denied to many citizens based solely on their sexual orientation."

Stonewall Akron is a political interest and community education organization serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered population of the greater Akron-Canton area. The organization advocates civil rights and equal rights for all minorities. They can be reached at Stonewall Akron, P.O. Box 22186, Akron, OH 44302.

Friends don't let friends

forget to vote on November 7

by Penny Van Nostrand

It has been a really exciting month for the people of Stonewall-Cleveland. The dinner is finally behind us. The elections are coming. The radical right is looking for a fight. Docs life get any better than this?

To those who attended the fourth annual Stonewall Dinner on October 8: Thank you. We had a great time. We ate great food. We laughed. We

friends and make sure that they vote as well. Did everyone see the Concerned Women of America ad in the October 12 Cleveland Plain Dealer? Did it make you angry? I hope so. Stonewall devoted the bulk of its meeting on October 16 to discussing an appropriate re-

STONEWAL

CLEVELAND

learned something (hopefully). Bob Hattoy was an excellent speaker, and I feel very lucky to have met him. He is very energizing. Cheri Morabito was amazing. She really rose to the challenge of creating a complete evening of entertainment. A great speech and an excellent sense of humor pulled everything together. The Something Dada Improvisational Troupe was fantastic. Everyone should make a point to check out one of their regular performances. Keep Sunday, October 6, 1996 open for next year's dinner.

sponse. We met with members of Cleveland's Gay Lesbian Straight Teachers Network to get their input and assistance. It was decided that the community should focus positively on the concept of October as national Gay-Lesbian History Month, and confine our negative responses to the PD advertising department. You can contact SCAN at 216-741-9105 to request copies of the ad and sample response letters. SCAN is also trying to build a list of community members who are regular Plain Dealer advertisers. If you are a gay or gay friendly PD advertiser, please let us know.

As always, remember, if we don't take control of our future, someone else will. Tuesday, November 7 is Election Day. Penny Van Nostrand is the director of Please make it a priority to go vote. Call some Stonewall Cleveland.

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