8 GAY PEOple's ChronICLE MAY 17, 1996

COMMUNITY FORUM

Supportive rabbis

To the Editors:

I had been reluctant to speak out in regards to Mubarak Dahir's April 19 "Speak Out" piece about Reform rabbis' stance on same sex unions. Not having been at the Central Conference of American Rabbis convention, I can only speak for my experience in working with Reform rabbis and the Reform movement.

As current president of Chevrei Tikva, I have had the pleasure of meeting with and working with several dozen local and national Reform rabbis. I have never felt more respected, loved, and understood by a group of clergy in my life. Several of our local rabbis have taught and officiated at conversions for gay and lesbian members of our synagogue even though we are not members of their synagogue. A Reform rabbi officiated at my daughter's naming service last year. Mind you, the daughter of two lesbian mothers.

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Chevrei Tikva has been a member of the Centuries-old tradition

Reform movement for the last several years because, as a synagogue that reaches out to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people, we wanted to be connected to a movement that practices what they preach. We have found just that.

In our almost 13 years of existence we have not been led by a rabbi; we have been very grateful for the support that we received from the local rabbis in the Reform movement while we lacked any professional leadership. This coming September we will hire a student rabbi from the Reform movement who will lead us in worship for the next year. This is large step for our congregation and one that we would not have taken if we didn't believe the Reform rabbis did not practice what they preach.

Becky Streem, President Chevrei Tikva Cleveland Heights

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The following was sent to the editor of the Columbus Catholic Times, in response to an editorial denouncing a gay play at the Reality Theatre and its foundation funding: Dear Father Kessler,

You have provided Columbus and the world with yet another example of the Catholic Church's centuries-old tradition of censorship and prejudice. In your April 12 editorial, “Is is really patronage of the arts?” you express your dismay at our promotional material. You fail to mention that the quote regarding "sexually explicit terms" is actually from the New York Times, and the photo mentioned shows two bare-chested men lying close to one another. To you, it suggests "that the play will indeed be sexually explicit."

Having somehow survived fourteen years of Catholic education, I know better than to

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attempt to change your mind regarding my "gravely disordered" sexual orientation. That subject is a topic for an entire other time and place. I do feel compelled, however, to call you on the carpet regarding your advocacy of Catholics limiting their support of the arts.

The three organizations mentioned on our flyer support us in a variety of ways. It is simply your opinion, based on Church teachings, that our play, our flyer, and our lifestyle are "evil." You are encouraging Catholics not to support the organizations that support us. Sounds like a definition of censorship to

me.

If you want plays and art to reflect your beliefs, your lifestyle, your ideas, then form a theatre company, apply for a grant, and put on The Sound of Music. (Although the mind reels at the thought of what we could do with that show.)

But don't try to silence us. Sure, the Catholic Church has patronized the arts in some ways for centuries, but do we really need another bad painting of a Pope?

The gay community has been marginalized, condemned, ostracized, excommunicated, burned, beaten, and dominated by the Catholic Church for centuries. And we haven't gone away. As long as there have been people, there have been gay people. If ignoring and silencing could make things go away, would that we could do the same with other matters, such as ignorance, prejudice and hate.

Please remember that I am still a member of this society. I have as much right to public funds as do you. Simply because you consider something obscene does not mean that it is not worthy of support. Personally, I consider the wretched excess of opera to be

(DOORS OPEN AT 2:30PM) far more obscene than this play, but I am not

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trying to pull the plug on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center. If you don't like the program, change the channel.

Our production is designed for an audience accustomed to reality. You are welcome to be a part of that audience. If you experience the play, you will find that it is about relationships, the need for communication, and the challenge of being alive in tumultuous times. However we illustrate

GAN PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 11, Issue 23

ISSN 1070-177X

Publisher:

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Reporters & Writers: Ken Bradley, John Graves, Nels P. Highberg, Jenny Lauro, Dawn Leach, Bruce Mann, M.T. Martone, Daniel R. Mullen,

Tamara Murphy, Andrea L.T. Peterson, Timothy Robson, Thom Sommers,

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Art Director: Production/Admin.:

Advertising Manager: National Advertising:

Barbara Bodemer,

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

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'96 Pride Guide comes out

Friday, May 31 Next Chronicle comes out Friday, June 7

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Is Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night the best play in the world? Far from it. But it is an important one. It gives voice to a group and to an experience in a way not previously done. Art reflects society and life. But it is not all things to all people, and can never be. Different is not necessarily wrong. It is simply different.

Larry Fink, Ph.D., Director Two Boys in a Bed... Columbus

those ideas is based on our interpretation of Oops.goof.com

the playwright's words. Our play has adult language, nudity, and two men actually showing affection to one another.

I have long ago left the Catholic Church because of people like you. Gays that are active within the Church are kidding themselves: They will never be welcome on equal footing. But my years of Catholic education did somehow teach me a few things: to love God (whatever we may experience him or her as being), and to love and respect other people. "Respect," from the Greek, meaning "to look again." In doing so, one might find something very important.

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To the Editors:

And we thought all the new area codes here are confusing! I made a mistake in my recent letter typing the Internet site of the Socialist Workers campaign. It should have read gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:70/11/ pubs/militant. Sorry for any inconvenience. Robert C. Laycock Cleveland

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