PRIDE GUIDE 1996 GAY PEOPle's ChronICLE A-15

'Safe zones' may be hard to find, but here's an easy one

by Melissa Soto

I recently moved to Ohio and the Cleveland area with my partner, now fiance, last fall. I have yet to figure out most of the literal terrain in this city, much less any of the political landscaping. But one thing I know for sure is that I live in one of the two supposedly "progressive" cities in the greater Cleveland area.

Before we moved here everyone told us to be sure to live in Cleveland Heights. Well, thanks to good advice from friends and employers we did choose to live in Cleveland Heights and are pretty happy about it. Now although I don't see too many dykes walking around the neighborhood hand in hand, I do see them out and about, that is of course, if short hair and eye contact are direct indicators of sexual orientation. And I have noticed some rainbow flags out on spring porches.

But outside of Cleveland Heights and Lakewood, I have not been able to navigate the political landscape of Cleveland. Where are the queer safety zones? Are there any "safe" zones? Can there ever be a safe queer zone in a hostile, Pat Buchanan-winningseveral-primaries, lets-move-to-legislatebans-on-same-sex-marriage, contemporary

America?

It is ironic, to say the least, that while for the first time in United States history, lesbians, gays, and bisexuals are at their most

vocal and visible point, we are simultaneously at our most vulnerable to persecution and attack. A quick perusal through any queer periodical with its listings of both physical gay bashings (if not outright murders) and local state initiatives to curb lesbian-gay civil rights is evidence enough of the intense and vitriolic hatred and discrimination perpetuated against us.

It is precisely because we are becoming more politically savvy, organized, and unified

that we are perceived (correctly) as politiThere is a bitter truth in the "Don't ask, don't

cally threatening.

tell" philosophy. Les-

bians, gays, and bisexuals were marginally tolerated as long as they stayed in the

closet-no questions asked, no truths heard.

well as what other political activists have said.

Remember the 1980s catch-phrase, “Think globally, act locally"? Well, it is sound advice. The one good thing about the recent rush to legislate on the state level against same-sex marriages is the fact that it forces us activists to concentrate on our own home turf first.

In order for there to be any real political advances on the national level they will have to happen on the local and state level first. No U.S. president is going to take the lead on this one, and even if by some miracle a president

Even if you've never thought of yourself as a "political" person, just marching in the Pride parade is a great way to make a statement and show the world we're here.

But as the old parable points out, Pandora's box is already opened and it cannot be closed again.

Obviously, we cannot and will not go back into the closet. So where do we start? How do we go about making a difference? As lesbian and gay activists start maturing politically and coming into our own, let's not forget the lessons history has taught us, as

Physicians' group started with 'Homo 101' in med school

The growth of a professional network of gay and lesbian physicians in Cleveland parallels the similar growth of national gay and lesbian movements.

The 1986 Case Western Reserve University freshman medical school class was the first to organize a local chapter of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People in Medicine of the American Medical Student Association in anticipation of a class lecture dealing with "aberrant sexualities and sexual practices."

A group of students met to propose to the faculty a presentation of positive images of gay men and lesbians, instead of the previous format of videotapes of sexual practices. Dr. Steven Levine agreed to sponsor gay and lesbian physicians who would address the class as colleagues, presenting homosexuality as a way of living, rather than purely as a

sex act.

We discovered, however, that there were no local physicians willing to lecture at the medical school under these circumstances. Two local lesbian physicians introduced us to American Physicians for Human Rights, which suggested two member physicians: Alvin Novick, a Yale professor, and Joan Wurmbrand, a family practitioner in Columbus. They addressed the class, and Cleveland area gay and lesbian social workers, physicians, and psychologists were available as resource people for the break-away discussion groups.

This format was well received, and has been used now for ten years. This year, 15 doctors from Cleveland participated, and we have not brought anyone in from out of town for the last four years.

Meanwhile, students from the first class have finished medical school and residency, and other people at different stages of training and work have joined the Cleveland chapter. It now has 80 members, and is called

Northern Ohio Physicians for Human Rights, or NOPHR.

In addition to our presence at the medical school each year on "Gay Day," we provide professional and social support for members, and we promote membership in the national association, which recently voted to change its name to Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. We operate first aid stations at local gay events, distribute a directory of gayand lesbian-friendly physicians as a community resource, and sponsor bi-monthly meetings, usually with an educational component. Membership is open to all physicians, dentists, and podiatrists who are at least at the first year of graduate study.

Doctors have particular issues that make a professional organization important. We are uniquely looked to for leadership in areas of physical and mental health, yet as gays and lesbians we struggle within our own profession for recognition as equal partners in every medical specialty—in some more than others. The specialties of psychiatry and primary care are more open to lesbians and gay , but some other specialities still practice overt discrimination. Also, many physicians start their 12 to 15 years of training before coming out. Some need help building a satisfying career, not a life-long professional closet. We believe we can best serve our patients by being who we really are.

men,

Besides being physicians, we are all members of the Cleveland gay and lesbian community, and we have a vested interest in taking care of our own. One way can currently provide this service is by contributing articles to the Chronicle, on such topics as STDs, domestic violence, substance abuse, smoking cessation, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and other topics of interest.

Northern Ohio Physicians for Human Rights may be contacted at 216-281-7418.

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were to support our rights, the power of the executive office

cannot outweigh the power of the legislative branch; our constitutional system of checks and balances will require support from both branches.

Progress will have to come from the state level first, and Hawaii just may be the tip of the iceberg, or should we say volcano. So maybe we need to change the catch phrase a little bit first. How about, "Think nationally, legislate locally"?

Here is another piece of advice: Don't look to others to do the work you need to do. Remember, the lazy person always works twice. Watch out for popular culture, and don't place too much emphasis on media stars who may or may not be out. Popular culture has the tendency to co-opt any real politics. Middle America may be willing to watch Wesley Snipes and Patrick Swayze in drag or Tom Hanks play a gay man dying of AIDS, but remember these roles were only acceptable because they were played by heterosexual men.

Sure, lesbian chic has made the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair, but what happens when Roseanne goes off the air next year? Both ER and Chicago Hope have already run their lesbian parenting episodes. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that there are some positive portrayals of us in the media. In fact, I think it's incredible that an out lesbian singer, Melissa Etheridge, has been recognized and lauded by the leaders in the music industry and the general public. But for all the good that these events are worth, we still haven't gained much ground politically in terms of actual civil rights advances.

So what can you do as an individual to make a difference and have your voice counted? March in a Pride parade and join in all of the festivities. Even if you've never thought of yourself as a "political" person, just marching in the Pride parade is a great way to make a statement and show the world we're here. Walking proudly with your head held high, surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones is great. Besides, it's lots of fun!

Pride is yours, mine, indeed our entire community's special day. Pride is the time we can come together through all of our diversity to celebrate and affirm our loves and lives. If marching is not your thing, then come party at the festival-good music, darcing, entertainment, food, and shopping. There is nothing quite so wonderful as being surrounded by a couple of thousand family members on a warm, sunny, summer day.

I'm still not too sure as to where all of the "safe" areas in Cleveland are. However, I do know of at least one place where my partner and I can walk in public proudly holding hands: the eighth annual Cleveland Pride Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 15.

We'll be joining our other 3,000-plus family members in the streets of downtown Cleveland, laughing, loving, and having fun while simultaneously sending a visible political message to all and perhaps, more importantly, working toward making all of Ohio safe for all of us.

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