PRIDE GUIDE 1996 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-35
Pride interfaith service at mainstream temple for first time
Chevrei Tikva, Cleveland's lesbian and gay synagogue, is sponsoring the annual Pride Interfaith Service on Friday, June 14 at 8:00 pm. The service will take place at The Temple East-Tifereth Israel at 26000 Shaker Blvd. between Richmond and Brainard in Pepper Pike. Oneg Shabbat (coffee hour) will be immediately after the
service.
This is the first year that the pride serIvice will be at a mainstream temple.
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Chevrei Tikva vice president of programming Barbara Margolis said that she feels that this is a sign that lesbians and gays are gaining recognition from the Reform Jewish movement.
"Them letting the Pride event happen there is exciting," said Margolis. "This is a big step for us, especially with regard to recent events emanating from the Reform movement."
She pointed out that the Reform rabbin-
ate voted to issue a statement in support of Company, a gay, lesbian and gay-friendly
civil marriage for same-sex couples.
Chevrei Tikva has invited all of the Reform congregations in Cleveland to come to the Pride Interfaith service.
"We've had a lot of support in Cleveland," Margolis said.
"We need to remember that when there's so much that's threatening to us." The service will feature music by Good
choral ensemble directed by Karen Weaver. The final number of the service will be a South African piece called "We Are Marching in the Light of God." It is not a difficult piece and Weaver has invited everyone to sing along. Anyone who would like to join should come early at 7:15 for a brief rehearsal before the service.
Dignity Cleveland celebrates its 23rd anniversary
by Dan Reichert
The year was 1973, and society was changing as the baby-boomer generation was reaching the age of majority. Gay Catholics in the Cleveland area, fresh out of parochial school and CCD classes, were feeling a growing need to unite together. Thus, in that year, a new religious and social organization was founded under the banner of Dignity Cleveland.
On June 23, 1996, Dignity Cleveland will celebrate its 23rd year of continuous service to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Cleveland. On that Sunday, the chapter members and friends will gather for a noon mass with the congregation of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, located at the corner of E. 126 and Shaker Blvd. A brunch will follow. All present and former members are invited to attend and help celebrate this event.
All Saints Church to dedicate new home
On June 2, the assembly of All Saints Community Church will be dedicating their new Worship Center. The site is located at 259 W. Main Street in Cortland, north of Youngstown.
The celebration is set to begin at 10:30a.m. with a reception to follow. During the dedication, the All Saints Chorale will be performing David Haas' No Longer Strangers. The All Saints Instrumentalists will accompany the
assembly and Chorale. The Associate Pastor of Music is Steven Begert-Clark, life-partner of Senior Minister Tom Begert-Clark.
All Saints Community Church is a nondenominational, affirming congregation, enjoying a blend of faiths, colors, traditional and non-traditional families and sexual orientations. All Saints has been housed at their current Warren location since their conception in November, 1994.
Through the years, Dignity Cleveland has always been a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics and their friends, and a part of a national lay movement in the Church. It was begun in 1969 in Los Angeles under the leadership of Fr. Patrick Nidorf, O.S.A., and became a national organization by 1973.
In local chapters throughout the United States, participants worship, socialize, share personal and spiritual concerns, and work together on educational and justice issues. Members gather at semi-annual regional and biannual national conventions.
Cleveland Dignity has experienced many changes over the years. Initially, the chapter was able to work in cooperation and with the support of the Cleveland Diocese. This union helped create a strong and vibrant gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Catholics. Many people will fondly remember the Fourth of July picnics, the retreats, winter picnics, and the fellowship of worship.
Unfortunately, in 1986 the Vatican issued a document that instructed the bishops to withdraw all support from any group that supported the morality of homogenital acts. Since then, the Cleveland chapter has adjusted to the
changed times and in spite of it all, has gone on as part of the national group of homosexual but self-affirming and practicing Catholics.
As with any organization, there have always been a variety of reasons that people have become involved with Dignity Cleveland. There have also been a wide diversity of individual backgrounds, values, attitudes, ideas and talents impacting what has transpired and has added to the dynamic interaction that has taken place over these twenty-two years. It is with this rich history that Dignity Cleveland has experienced as the group that it continuously evolves.
As Dignity Cleveland celebrates its 23rd anniversary, much is now happening. The group and its friends attend mass together in fellowship with the congregation of Our Lady of Peace in Cleveland on the fourth Sunday of each month. Afterward, the group gathers for a social time. membership has taken a large leap. there have also been discussion groups and the monthly “ethnic restaurant" nights out have been generating much excitement.
Dignity Cleveland welcomes all to join us at our celebration on June 23. If you have any questions or want further information on this event, call Dan at 216-229-2138.
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