FEBRUARY 9, 1996 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 13
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Many traditions have supported same-sex marriage
by Bill Henderson
It is a matter of months, not years, until the Constitution-supporting and economically astute state of Hawaii legally recognizes same-sex unions. It will be held that it is unconstitutional gender bias to deny a person the right to marry unless it is to someone of the opposite sex. And although conservative religious forces argue that only heterosexual marriages are sanctioned by "church tradition," and that
no liturgy to sanction marriage between just one man and one woman (remember Solomon was "blessed" with 200 wives and 700 concubines). Even in the New Testament, written within two lifetimes of Christ's crucifixion, there is no marriage liturgy limited to people of opposite sexes. Yet, both the preChristian books and the New Testament cel-
OUTVoice
the state should reinforce that, historians are shedding new light on the claims for church support of only heterosexual marriages.
In fact, it was the tradition of the church to be ambivalent about sanctifying marriages for the first thousand years of Christianity. The new religion was seen by its leadership as refocusing on the spiritual relationship of the individual to God, and marriage was a diversion of attention necessary only for assuring the distribution of property within a family.
Pre-Christian books of the Bible offered
ebrate the spiritual romantic ties between any two people as a great gift of God. Some good examples of this are the relationships between Ruth and
Naomi, David and Jonathan, and the saints of the new church who lived together as couples-Serge and Bacchus, Perpetua and Felicita, Cosma and Damian.
In pre-modern Europe, as in many African and Asian cultures, and native North and South American cultures, love between any two people was seen as a spiritually inspired union, not just for sexual pleasure. It was celebrated and sanctified for its spiritual truth and for its non-materialistic essence. Marriages and same-sex unions co-existed because they were recognized for different pur-
poses, and both were sanctified to strengthen the spirituality of those joined in them.
When political movements divided the church into Eastern and Western rites after 1000 A.D., same-sex unions continued to be openly celebrated in the east for hundreds of years, but in the west, they were performed secretly or without open sanction. By the late middle ages, homophobia had been incorporated by Western conservative church leaders into their political strategies. The ancient sacraments, dating nearly to the time of Christ, celebrating the unions of man to man and woman to woman were suppressed by the fifteenth century. The spiritual love for which they were created began to be denied by
mankind, but not by God. That is our history to reclaim.
The late John Boswell's Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe is must reading for those among us who wish to reclaim spirituality from the religious conservatives who want to deny us our rights to it.
To support educational work in our communities send any size donation to Out Voice, 1263 West Blvd., Cleveland 44102. To support candidates who like you just as you ate, and to work with those already in office, send any size donation to Ohioans Against Discrimination, 250 E. Broad St., Suite 201, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
See me for car, home, life and health insurance.
Valentine evening benefits East Side HIV center
Couples and singles alike are invited to "Paint the Town Red" on Valentine's Evening, Wednesday, February 14 at Tower City Center. The event marks the premiere benefit for the Open House, a non-profit center in Cleveland Heights for people with HIV/AIDS, as well as their parents, spouses, friends and relatives. Honorary chairpersons are Fran and Jules Belkin and Ruth Miller; chairpersons are Peter Arendt and Wendy Zahler.
Partygoers have the choice of spending the entire evening at Tower City Center beginning with a
special pre-party for Valentine Sweethearts in the English Oak Room from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Sweethearts will enjoy exclusive entertainment, el-
House offers privacy and solitude in its library, video library and music room, as well as support groups, professional counseling, information and referral and massage therapy. More than half of its clients are parents who can comfortably talk-sometimes for the first time-about their HIV-positive children.
Today, Sr. Marian Durkin, a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, serves as executive director. A meager staff is supplemented by dozens of energetic volunteers. Still the only center of its kind on the city's
The Open House
egant hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and delectable signature desserts as well as a program listing and complimentary valet parking.
East Side, the Open House exists primarily through grants, memorials and donations.
"The Open House addresses the psychological, spiritual,
a center for persons in the HIV spectrum❘ physical and social needs of not only persons with HIV/AIDS, but also their parents, spouses, firends and relatives," said Durkin. "Paint the Town Red" is a terrific way to have fun and help us continue to meet the growing needs of our neighbors affected by HIV and AIDS."
The other option is to cap off the evening as Valentine Cupids and join the fun from 8:00 pm til midnight on the Avenue at Tower City Center with dancing to today's top hits, light fare and beer, wine or soft drinks. All guests are encouraged to wear red casual attire.
The Open House started with the friendship of a Roman Catholic nun and a Jewish woman. A former elementary teacher and school principal, Sister Marian Durkin had been an active volunteer in AIDS education and support since 1987. She first trained as a member of Cleveland's Health Issues Task Force Speakers Bureau and "Buddy" program. Weekly volunteering eventually took her to a support group at St. Vincent's Charity Hospital where she met Gail Frires, a licensed social worker who had lost a brother to AIDS.
The two women shared a similar frustration that their volunteering wasn't enough. A study of various local programs revealed a surprising gap in services: there were no non-hospital-based AIDS-related resources on Cleveland's East Side.
Although many landlords were resistant to house such a center, in July, 1993, the Open House found a home within a Cleveland Heights medical building where clients enjoy "anonymous entry" as well as easy access to public transportation. The Open
"Paint the Town Red" will also feature a silent Valentine auction for a variety of spectacular items ranging from a baseball autographed by Cleveland Indians star Albert Belle to a once-in-a-lifetime luncheon for two in the dining room of the White House in Washington, D.C. In addition, guests can share messages of love or remembrance on the special Valentine Wall which will be on display at Tower City Center throughout Valentine's Week. The commemorative Northeast Ohio AIDS Quilt will be exhibited as well.
With more than 2,000 diagnosed cases, Cleveland ranks 14th in the nation for the number of people with HIV/AIDS. The Open House has served more than 500 greater Clevelanders since its opening in 1993 through one-on-one counseling with licensed independent social workers, support groups, hospital visitation and support for the homebound. Services provided also include a variety of healing therapies and educational outreach efforts.
Valentine Sweetheart tickets for Paint the Town Red are $150; Valentine Cupid tickets are $50. For more information about Paint the Town Red call 216-229-6722.
♡
STATE FARM
Auto
Life
Fire
INSURANCE
Jean M. Jones
(216) 864-8866
1653 Merriman Road, Suite 108 Akron, Ohio 44313
State Farm Insurance Companies Home Offices: Bloomington, Illinois
OPENING FEBRUARY
SSS 1996
2710 Lorain Ave. Historic Ohio City
Cleveland
SPANIEL'S
Coffee Cafe
Cleveland's Alternative Meeting Place World Class:
• Gourmet Drip Coffee Espresso, Cappuccino Gourmet Teas
• Deli Sandwiches • Soups. Chiles
• Exquisite Pastries All Fresh Daily
...
Come With Friends to meet New Friends live Entertainment .... Surf the Net ....
....
to get away from it all ... Call: 651-4060
for more Information and Employment Opportunities
TOP WOLLO
λ
TATTOO YOUR LOVER
ABOO ATTOO
TABOO
<
636 N. HIGH ST. 228-8337 UNDER THE RAINBOW AWNING!
Springhill Farm
TENNIS
Deluxe
Cabins
Trails
Hot Tub
Pool & Pond Fireplaces
BASKETBALL
PADDLEBOAT GARDENS
614-659-2364
45 min. east of Columbus Susan & Kathy, owners A RETREAT FOR WOMEN