40 GAY PEOPLE

RONICLE AAT 5, 1996

COMMUNITY FORUM

Case closed

To the Editors:

After two and a half years, the case of Alice v. Brenda is finally over. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who believed in and supported me, especially during the trial.

Since August, 1993, Marcia Riley has been deprived of the recognition and respect she deserves as sole owner of Slammers. Marcia has sacrificed and worked hard to make her bar and restaurant one of the finest in the city. It is time we commend her for her courage and enterprising spirit, just as we should commend the entrepreneurs of other new establishments including: Red Dog, Downtown Connection, Tickled Pink, Blazer's Pub, Cafe Q, The Far Side, and Outland.

We should support these new ventures along with the founding businesses of our proud "Rainbow" community.

Finally, I would like to publicly thank my legal counsel, Gary Gillett, of Buckley, King, and Bluso, and acknowledge the contributions of "Stix" and "Puddin," my mother, sister, and late father, and all of you who are not afraid to call me "friend!"

Brenda J. Duncan Kukala's Tanning & Tees Columbus

Be strong, trust God

To the Editors:

History has proven over and over again the fact that mankind can not progress until certain issues have been settled. And homosexuality is one of them.

The stigmas against gays and lesbians are just as ridiculous in our times as the controversy about the Sabbath was for earlier wor-

THE OPEN PRAIRIE by Joe Noover

OH, MRS. SMITH! WE WERE JUST PLAYING *SMEAR THE QUEER

WITH BOBBY HERE!

KICK!

regardless of how the rest of the world feels about it. And that's okay, because we all, who are believers, will answer to God for our thoughts and actions.

So the remainder of this letter is for the homosexuals and their friends: Be strong in truth and patient in righteousness. Homosexuality is not wrong, just different. Have faith in the fact that God will deliver us all, both straight and gay, from ignorance in his own time. Remember: Christianity is about character, and that alone is what matters to God.

And for those who just can't seem to understand that and continually harass and harm you because of who you are, if you must give them a response, tell them "beware of what you're thinking and doing when you mess with me because God shall deal with you at the appointed hour." Trust God, family, and take care of yourselves.

Emmanuel G. Martin-Norris Martinsburg, West Virginia

shippers. Sure there are those who will carry We regret same

this negative attitude with them to their graves,

"AIN'T HELEN'

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202 E. LONG ST. 469-SLAM

PATI

night schedule

To the Editors:

The North Coast Men's Chorus and the Human Rights Campaign have had the unfortunate problem of having scheduled their events on the same night, Saturday, April 13.

NCMC regrets that this scheduling conflict has occurred. Indeed, the conflict is being felt by many in the Chorus, who contribute to HRC and would very much like to attend.

NCMC scheduled its 1995-96 concert dates in early summer 1995, and was bound by the availability of Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State. (We suspect HRC had similar restrictions). We believe Waetjen to be the most congenial performance venue for choral music in the city, and the best location for this performance by the North Coast Men's Chorus.

We are planning our 1996-97 season now. When the dates are set we will make them widely available to the gay and lesbian community in Cleveland, as well as to the Cleveland arts community in general. It is in no one's best interest to have conflicts such as

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NOW BILLY! THERE WILL BE NO MENTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY! WE WOULDN'T WANT LITTLE SISSYS LIKE BOBBY TO GET ANY IDEAS THAT HOMOSEXUALITY COULD BE A POSITIVE

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•OPEN PRAIRIE Sodicate

the one we have on April 13, and we will do our best to avoid possible conflicts in the future.

To all those going to HRC's dinner, enjoy it for us. We'll miss you, and hope to see you at another NCMC concert.

Timothy Robson, Music Director North Coast Men's Chorus Cleveland

CATF welcomed in the bars

To the Editors:

In his story, "Gay bars are not responsible for the spread of HIV," published March 22, Thom Sommers says:

"I did not ask about the allegations made that Health Issues Taskforce was refused access to the club's customers. However, although I hear of that happening in Columbus gay clubs, I do not hear of it in Cleveland bars, gay or straight."

While we can't speak to Health Issues Taskforce gaining access to Columbus gay clubs for the purpose of HIV/AIDS-related prevention education, the staff and volunteers of the Columbus AIDS Task Force (CATF) have found the clubs and bars in Columbus to be very open, approachable, and welcoming. We have condoms and literature in all 19 Columbus gay bars and a number of gay/lesbian-owned businesses. In conjunction with the staff from the Columbus Health Department, we have been able to offer testing in many of these bars as well. Most recently, we have found the Columbus bars and coffeehouses to be a tremendous support to our programming efforts, allowing us to run a four-week long program on their premises.

We would like to take this opportunity to correct Mr. Sommer's understanding of the situation in Columbus and to extend the heartfelt thanks of CATF to the bar and club owners in Columbus for their incredible support of our efforts.

Katherine E. "Smokey” Shumate, Director Education and Training Department David W. Andrist Risk Reduction Columbus AIDS Task Force

Email:

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GAY PEOPLES CHRONICLE

Volume 11, Issue 20

Publisher:

Business Manager: Managing Editor:

Associate Editor:

Martha J. Pontoni

Patti Harris Doreen Cudnik Brian De Witt

Reporters & Writers: Ken Bradley, John Graves, Nels Highberg, Jenny Lauro, Dawn Leach, Bruce Mann

M.T. Martone, Daniel R. Mullen, Tamara Murphy, Andrea L.T. Peterson, Timothy Robson, Thom Sommers,

John Young Photographers:

Art Director: Production/Admin.:

Advertising Manager: National Advertising:

Barbara Bodemer, Beth Leonard, LeeAnn McGuire Christine Hahn Gina Adkins David A. Ebbert Rivendell Marketing 212-242-6863 David A. Ebbert 800-426-5947

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