GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE NOVEMBER 10, 1995

COMMUNITY FORUM

Hoover 38-95

Hands are always out

To the Editors:

The problem with the Lesbian Gay Community Center is not that it is "flaunting gay and lesbian stuff." It is because men and women are getting scared off by the constant hands out needing money.

I have participated in groups there. It seems that after the quick introduction I have been hit with "how many hours can you volunteer and how many bucks can you spare?" Some groups will not even take you until a certain date and by the time I find out about them I am always past the starting date! Also, if you cannot volunteer or donate, you are made to feel excluded. If you don't help, the people who are running the groups start saying "Well then, we will have to cancel it altogether." It's not enough just to participate in the group.

I was hit up by a member of a political group who said, "The next time you have fifty bucks, give it to us instead of the bar." For one thing, I never spend that much in one night, and another is, when I asked him how that fifty dollars would be spent he answered me, "On flyers." Wow, I was impressed.

It takes me at least two days to earn fifty bucks and I am real tired of the put downs the gay and lesbian community have for people who do not donate money. Did it ever occur to you that a lot of the 200,000 gay and lesbian people here are broke and barely making it week to week? Can we working poor people come to the Center for a free bag of food, a meal, clothes, or a voucher? Whose needs do you meet? Poor gay people have to go to the Christian churches for help, isn't that ironic? I think it's rather sad.

Just where is "our community" for those new in the area? Also, does "our community" help those gay and lesbian persons when they need it? Does the Center provide jobs for people? All I got was the "where the bars are" list.

All I am saying is if you want something from anyone, you have to give them something first. Even a telemarketer offers you a free gift for your purchase.

I am a very out of the closet lesbian who is tired of being told that gays and lesbians don't give money because they are scared, or that some people think the Center is too radical because of their internalized homophobia, or worse yet, (in What She Wants) that women take and take from the women's community and never replenish it. Okay, so now we are going to be insulted if we don't give? Wake up, because I don't think so.

I am also getting tired of the message I get from the Center, the women's book store, and every festival that if you give and give you will be accepted, for a minute. I am also

OPEN PRAIRIE by Joe Noover

IOWA VOTERS DES MOINES

.、6.

CHRISTIAN COALITION

tions' budgets are composed of salaries-to provide those services.

4. Every paid staff-hour spent in the delivery of Center services generates an additional hour of volunteer-provided service. A good return on Center investment.

5. The Center was in a rare position to have a foundation fund the executive director's position for two years. Today, the reality is that this type of funding no longer exists for most organizations. The executive director's salary was appropriately budgeted and funded from other sources of income.

6. Judy's resignation letter was addressed to me personally. It is inappropriate to print excerpts from private correspondence without the permission of the writer or recipient-no matter how the Chronicle obtained the letter.

The Center is governed by its board of

services.

EALE

CAN'T

LET THE SCHOOLS GET

INFESTED!

PESTICIDE THAT KILLS THE CROP AND FEEDS THE PESTS

Returning Arthur Walters to the central healing committee of OAC and to the executive committee as past president will initiate the healing process for the board as well as the organization. Again, my congratulations and thanks for this insightful action. Welcome back, Arthur!

In my heart, I believe the board has taken the appropriate actions in a professional manner to move the organization forward. You have my love, respect, and support. Kim Hale can now rest in peace; her mission accomplished!

William J. Gerard, PLWA Member and former board member of OAC Columbus

trustees. Those trustees, including myself, Demean the troops

take that responsibility very seriously. Policy and operational issues are thoroughly researched, debated and voted on by the board as a whole. For the Chronicle to print an article suggesting otherwise, without thoroughly researching and presenting the whole picture, is irresponsible.

Bill Potoczak, President Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Cleveland

A past board president, quoted in the story, volunteered that Rainbrook's salary was higher than Robertson's. Rainbrookand many board members contacted by the Chronicle-chose not to discuss this. Potoczak and Chronicle managing editor Doreen Cudnik have met to explore ways to improve future communication between the Center and the paper. -Editors

getting the message that if you don't have it, Kudos to OAC board

don't bother to show up.

I am not ashamed of being poor, but I am ashamed that gays and lesbians treat each other the way they do... just like family.

Does anyone out there feel this way too? Raven Valencia Lakewood

Salary wasn't higher

To the Editors:

I am deeply concerned that the Chronicle reported the wrong picture of the executive director's salary, its funding and relationship to the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center's budget. I am referring to the article in the October 27 issue titled "Director of Lesbian-Gay Center Resigns." Here are my comments:

1. Judy Rainbrook's starting salary was the same as Leigh Robertson's ending salary. The article suggested that Judy's salary was much higher than Leigh's. I did not have this fact at the time I spoke with the Chronicle. Additionally, Judy did not take a raise during her second year of employment because of budget constraints.

2. Salaries at the Center make up about 60 percent of the total budget. However, over 80 percent of those salaries are spent in the direct delivery of Center services, not running the office.

3. The Center is a service organization. A significant portion of most service organiza-

To the Editors:

Again, the almighty advertising dollar wins. So much for Gay pride Gay awareness Gay education

Gay acceptance Gay sensitivity

and good manners

Demean the troops-see advertisement in October 13 Gay People's Chronicle-copy attached ["Tomgirls and Sissyboys" event].

Why not include: [sic] Chinks, Polaks, Yids, niggers, diesel dikes, Guks, Spicks, lipstick dikes, Dagoes, Micks, Kikes, Gumbas, frog eaters, muff divers, etc., etc. Or does the staff of the Chronicle not find demeaning others wrong?

I and other gays find this type of information not in keeping with a positive portrayal of our community.

Recently, the board of directors of the loved it

Ohio AIDS Coalition (OAC) voted to cancel the pilot project of the office, eliminating the position of executive director. My heartfelt congratulations to the board on this tough decision to correct an ill-planned, poorly conceived, disastrously implemented project considered by many members to be a dismal failure.

Your reaffirming the organization's commitment to return to its grass roots, all-volunteer organization, concentrating your efforts on the Healing Weekends is affirmation that you have listened to the voices of the members throughout Ohio instead of a controlling Columbus clique (3C). For every one of the 3C's who will castigate you for making this tough decision there exist ten members who will support you. You have truly empowered the members of OAC, consisting primarily of people within the HIV spectrum, by hearing their voices and taking appropriate action.

Continue to move forward, putting healing back into the Healing Weekends and

To the Editors:

Stanley M. Mason Lakewood

I attended the Tomgirls Sissyboys evening out after the Seattle game. What a great time! I lo-o-oved it! Finally an all-inclusive flyer, empowering our misfit status. This gives us not so pick-up-oriented, disco-driven, perfect-hair-and-clothes alternative gay crowd at least one evening out. Hurray! I only fear that the all-too-politically-correct closeted community will try to snuff out our fun and I'll be forced to have more in-house parties for me and my friends. (I really hate the mess and bad coffee.) We just came to dance and listen to the music that was promised in the ads. The variety was there, the people were there and not one line dance. How's that for queer? Thank

you, thank

you, thank you. Magdalena DeLamore Mistress of the Misfits Cleveland

completing your one, three, and five year Surprising omission

plans. You have reaffirmed your position as the only state-wide organization dedicated to providing a positive, distinct, much needed service for people within the HIV spectrum. Your actions will bring forward a new cadre of volunteers to assist you in providing these

To the Editors:

I am writing because I am surprised about an unfortunate omission which occurred recently. The Chronicle has neglected to cover

prairie/

GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE

Volume 11, Issue 10

Publisher:

Business Manager:

Managing Editor:

Associate Editor:

Martha J. Pontoni

Patti Harris

Doreen Cudnik

Brian DeWitt

Reporters & Writers: Barry Daniels, John Graves, Jeff Hirst, Dawn Leach, M.T. Martone, Michael Miller, Daniel R. Mullen, Timothy Robson, Paul Schwitzgebel, Thom Sommers, John Young Photographers:

Art Director: Production/Admin.:

Advertising Manager: National Advertising:

Barbara Bodemer,

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

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the candidacy of John Farina who is running for Lakewood City Council. It is my under standing that this occurred because the press release submitted was too long. If indeed this is the reason then it is truly regrettable.

I believe this story is newsworthy and should have been covered for several rea sons: John Farina is an openly gay candidate running in a community with a large gay population. He is president of the local chap ter of the Log Cabin Club, a gay Republican organization that has recently been in the news. There isn't currently a glut of gay candidates and I think it's important for read ers to be aware that some do exist, particu larly on the local level.

I assume the purpose of the Chronicle isto publish not just the gay advertisments, but also articles specifically pertaining to the gay community. I believe the Chronicle has the journalistic responsibility to cover gay topics with greater fairness than would nor mally appear in the straight press. This is what sets it apart from the Plain Dealer of Cleveland magazine.

In the future if a submitted article is too long I would strongly encourage the editors to exercise their professional privilege and edit it to fit; a far better alternative than no coverage at all.

Ham-handed

To the Editors:

Jim Sims Lakewood

I am writing to voice my disappointment and frustration over the ham-handed fashion that the 1995 Lakewood municipal election facing page

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