12 GAY PEOPLE's ChronicLE
JULY 5, 1996
COMMUNITY FORUM
Continued from page 10 Self-evident truths
To the Editors:
A request:
I ask that the Gay People's Chronicle reprint the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July.
A hope:
That we learn from history, especially modern. Other nations of equal size and natural resources have fallen into, or remain in, miserable economic and moral condition because
perity of securing the Blessings of Liberty for all of the people. A goal:
To remain a great nation being guided by a great notion. On the Fourth of July, re-read and appreciate the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas A. Martin Mentor-on-the-Lake
The Declaration is good reading. It can be found in any almanac or encyclopedia, and in some dictionaries. -Editors
they choose to subjugate individuals' freeA glowing success
doms and responsibilities to the whims of those in power.
A thought:
That we become re-enlightened to the pros-
To the Editors:
Cleveland Pride '96 at Pier Park was a glowing success! Many echo the sentiments
LOOT
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reported in the June 21 pages of the Chronicle that this year's Pride was "the best ever."
As the Pride Coordinator, not just this year, but for Pride '94 and Pride '95 as well, I want to thank our community for showing the pride of our rainbow colors.
It has been an honor and privilege to work professionally for Pride. I have met dozens and dozens of people, each representing their own unique contribution to our community.
This year's Pride was especially rewarding for me both professionally and personally. We knew early on that Pride '96 would be the biggest event we've ever organized. We were thrilled with our new location at Pier Park. We were delighted by the commitment, enthusiasm and energy of those who came to Pride meetings and participated on the Pride committee. We were inspired as we saw so many of
get on either of our performance stages. We thank the volunteers who stuck with us way beyond their scheduled shifts. And we thank you!
I invite you, each and every member of our community, as well as our straight supporters, to get involved in Pride, to help us continue to grow as a reflection of our community pride. I invite you to call me at 216-371-9714 with your questions, constructive criticism, ideas, and suggestions.
Again, it has been an honor and privilege to work with all those involved in Pride and to be the Pride Coordinator.
Peace, love, and Pride,
Brynna Fish, Pride Coordinator Cleveland Heights
our ideas grow into reality: special-order Pride Why no coverage?
rainbow T-shirts, corporate sponsorships, the beer garden, celebrity emcees, and parade decorations are but a few.
As we got closer and closer to Pride many called us to volunteer, to get more information, to get on our mailing list, to sign up as a vendor, to perform or participate in the parade. By the time Pride was a month out, I was receiving up to 35 calls a day, all of them supportive of our efforts. I spoke to men, women, teenagers, mothers, grandmothers, straight supporters, vendors inquiring from California to Massachusetts, and many college students.
By the time June 15 was upon us, Pride '96 sported over 90 vendors, a full food court, a first-time beer garden, 47 groups in our Parade, two full entertainment stages, and a volunteer crew of over 125 people.
By 8pm that evening, as the sun began to set over Lake Erie, the last of us pulled out of Pier Park basking in the glow of our day. Over 1,250 people marched in our Parade and up to 3,500 of us swelled at one time at the festival with a grand total of 5,000 supporters showing their pride at Pier Park.
I can still close my eyes and hear the North Coast Men's Chorus singing the National Anthem. I can see Cleveland's awesome skyline rising over the white tent of the main stage and can feel the electrifying power of standing in the middle of Pier Park, in the middle of rainbow streamers and T-shi and the several thousand strong blended group of Parade participants and those who waited for the parade's arrival. It was at that moment, at approximately 1:00, standing on the grass in front of the main stage that Pride came alive for me, that the countless hours of preparation by dozens of people came together in a single word: Pride.
Every single person who worked on Pride did a great job! We could not have achieved Pride '96 to the level of success we experienced were it not for each and every person, group, volunteer, vendor, entertainer, committee member, crew, parade participant, everyone who made Pride '96 come alive.
And while event was an overall success we do not grow without growing pains. We promise next year there will be more port-o-pots! We apologize to those who called too late to
The following was sent to the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Dear Editors,
I'm writing to you to express how disappointed I was on Sunday morning when I realized that once again the lesbian-gay-bisexual community, my community, has been treated as if we did not exist. Allow me to illustrate: On Friday, June 14, in your "Friday" [entertainment] magazine, there appeared a short story about the annual Gay-LesbianBisexual Pride March and Festival. The march commemorates the Stonewall riot that signifies the beginning of the gay rights movement in this country. The article explained that the march was to be held on the following day.
So, why was there no coverage of the event in the Sunday paper? How could you miss a parade of 1,300 very proud Clevelanders and other northeast Ohioans, who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight, marching from Euclid Ave. at East 22nd all the way to Voinovich Park at the end of East 9th? How is it that you could have missed the event when you reported on it the previous day?
Many of us in the lesbian-gay-bisexual community use this event to celebrate who we are and to let our straight neighbors know we are part of their community too. I personally march, not to flaunt my sexuality, but to show people that we are proud, confident, and productive members of this community. So, when a story about the march was obviously intentionally not included, you are in effect saying we are not a significant part of this community! This is why I take exception! I also think that 1,300 proud marchers and 4,000 to 5,000 festival-goers are a significant part of this community and I call on all of them to cancel their subscriptions to your so-called newspaper.
Today, a newspaper is not a necessity. Computer on-line services, as you already probably know, deliver news, sports, weather and more entertainment than a newspaper, and faster too. So, I don't need to wait till the morning to get the news; neither do all the other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in this community. Sue Clement Cleveland
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