COMMUNITY FORUM

MAY 3, 1996

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRoNiCLE 11

Continued from previous page

serve the interests of Big Business.

There is a working class alternative. The Socialist Workers Party has announced its 1996 candidates: James Harris for President and Laura Garza for Vice President. Both are unionists and active participants in many movements for social justice. Anyone interested can learn more about the socialist campaign at the Pathfinder Bookstore, at 1832 Euclid Avenue, across from Cleveland State, by calling 216-861-6150, or via the Internet at gopher://gopher.igc.apc.apc.org:70/11/ pubs/militant.

Robert C. Laycock Cleveland

Support Hawaii's fight for marriage

Aloha to the Editors:

It is very possible that the Hawaii Supreme Court will be granting full-fledged marriage rights for gays and lesbians sometime in 1997. If this happens, the next step will be for mainland gay and lesbian couples to travel to Hawaii, get married, then return home to challenge state laws which deny them equal treatment under the law. The excitement toward this historic decision is infectious. Our community is finally realizing that legal same-gender marriage is`a pivotal step to leaving our second-class citizenship behind.

Now for some sobering news: Legal samegender marriage is in jeopardy. Since November of last year, mainland organized religious groups have been funneling tons of money to our local opponents. With this money, our adversaries have hired a slick media communications company to coordinate a local media blitz. Everyday, Hawaii residents are exposed to an enormous misinformation campaign about gays, lesbians, and same-gender marriage. Our opponents are winning, they have vastly outspent the Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project (h.e.r.m.p.), and polls show that presently a slight majority of local voters support amending the Hawaii constitution to ban samegender marriage. Most Hawaii lawmakers, always accommodating the majority opinion during an election year, are pushing for this amendment.

It is imperative that h.e.r.m.p. mount a media campaign of equal magnitude to educate local residents. The infrastructure for such an operation is already in place, but legal fees have depleted h.e.r.m.p.'s resources and there is no money left to make media purchases. All of the national gay-lesbian rights organizations have endorsed h.e.r.m.p.; however, almost none of them have contributed financially.

If we lose on marriage here in Hawaii, civil marriage for gay and lesbian people will probably not become a reality for a long time in any state. Make no mistake-we can win this. Please help us with a non-tax deductible contribution to pay for our media campaign. We are an all-volunteer organization and 100

percent of your contribution will purchase media. Please send us a check for as much as you can afford, made payable to Friends of h.c.r.m.p., P.O. Box 11690, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96828. Mahalo,

Mark Breda, Media Chair h.e.r.m.p. Steering Committee Honolulu, Hawaii

We will picket

The following letter was sent to the cochairs of the Columbus AIDS Walk '96.

As I have receved no return phone call from my message left on the AIDS Walk '96 Hotline on Saturday, April 20, this letter is to inform you of PWAS of Ohio's intent to exercise the rights of free speech via a nonconfrontational picket of the opening of AIDS Walk '96 on May 5. We are planning to congregate on the opposite side of the street of the entrance to Bicentennial Park.

The controversy surrounding the disbursement of funds raised in this "community" fund-raiser is truly indicative of the fragmented delivery of care services provided by non-profit agencies in the city of Columbus and Franklin County to people with AIDS. Shame on each and every one of you involved in this fiasco! You have obviously lost sight of who your clients are in the chase for the almighty dollar.

As a result of your inability to work in a cooperative manner to serve the changing needs of people with AIDS, you have empowered people with AIDS to organize and to become vocal about the delivery of care services, or lack thereof, in this city and county. Thank you! We are sick, and tired, and very frustrated with all of this and we intend to make it known to the public.

PWAS of Ohio are here and prepared, this date, to begin discussions on an integrated care model to serve people with AIDS in this city and county. We are planning to call for public accountability of dollars raised, the expenses incurred, and the expenditure of those dollars by each agency receiving funds from the walk. PWAS of Ohio will be a vehicle for people with AIDS and we intend to drive the non-profit agencies into providing integrated care services making sure the dollars expended are not disproportionate to the services provided.

William J. Gerard PWAS of Ohio Columbus

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 namecalling 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 on the facing page.

Cafe Tandoor

Cusisto

2096 South Taylor Rd. Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 216/371-8500/8569 Fax: 216/371-8560 Reservations Recommended

Choosing

the right person to handle your viatical settlement is crucial to its success.

We are pioneers

in the viatical settlement industry,

Let us help reduce

the financial stress

of

your

terminal illness.

There are no fees,

no obligation.

Viatical Clearing House

gives you individual attention, candid, straight forward answers, and will work with you for the right solution.

Call Deborah Rhoades 1-800-969-0509 http://www.iac.net/ viatical An Ohio Company

Change House

CREMATION

what could be simpler?

Think of what your family will go through when you die. Don't add to their burden unnecessary details and unnecessary expenses. Spare them drawn out wakes and funerals.

...and more appropriate?

Make your decision today to plan cremation as your legacy. Call or write

for a free brochure. A family service counselor can explain how reasonable the cost will be.

2

Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society

OHIO

CREMATION &

MEMORIAL SOCIETY, INC

445 Hutchinson Avenue Suite 600 Columbus, Ohio 43235

Or Call:

Central Ohio..

Northern Ohio

Southern Ohio

Western Ohio Eastern Ohio

614-840-0900 1-800-850-0852

1-800-555-2188

1-800-529-7560

1-800-984-2627

1-800-262-5242

http://www.cremation.org/ohio/ohio.hmt

I would like more information on cremation

Name

Street

Monday Saturday Lisick #130-2 pa

City.

Monday-Satičar Liner 530-10 poi

Sandau 3-9 pm.

Phone

L

State

Zip

No cost or obligation

GPC

01993 ALLIED CREMATION SERVICES