12 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 12, 1997

WHAT EMBODIES

THE SPIRIT OF LIBERATION?

DEEPER LIFE |~

Deeper Life is an hour and a half of prayer and meditation and is open to all who would like to attend. Deeper Life meets each Wednesday from 7-8:30 PM at the UCC National Offices, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland.

HIV+ SPIRITUAL SUPPORT GROUP Those in the HIV+ spectrum gather to offer each other spiritual and emotional support. The group meets on the third Monday of the month at members' homes.

PARENTS GROUP

Gay and lesbian parents face special challenges in raising their families in today's society. This group meets to discuss parenting issues and plans activities for Liberation parents and their children.

SECOND HOUR

The Education Committee sponsors this dialogue each week after worship services. All are welcome to join the group as they explore in more depth the readings and sermons of the day.

Genesis 9:12-13 Luke 4:18-19

LIBERATION

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

700 Prospect Ave.▼ Cleveland, Ohio 44115 ▼ 216-781-5822

Liberation UCC worships at the Hillel Foundation, located on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Ford Drive next to the Church of the Covenant, each Sunday at 10:30 AM. Free parking is available next to the church or in the adjacent parking garage.

CHURCH OF THE COVENANT

EUCLID AVENUE

FORD

P

MAYFIELD

ANNOUNCING OUR 2ND LOCATION

VIDEO

CENTRAL

Still the largest Laserdisc selection in Central Ohio

OPEN 24 HOURS

Large selection of Videos --all ratings, Super Nintendo, Sega

German Village 231 E. Livingston

221-6848

North 1299 Bethel Rd. 442-TAPE

2,500 bask in sun at picnic

Continued from page 1

plishments was helping to establish Kamana House, a residence on Cleveland's west side for people with AIDS. The group gave $65,916 to the AIDS Housing Council towards the purchase of the house, and “like a child we helped raise, we continue to take care of it," Puleo said.

Other organizations that NOCI has supported includes the AIDS Taskforce of Cleveland, the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center's PRYSM program for gay and lesbian teens, and the group that puts on the annual Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Pride festival.

Most of the groups that benefit from NOCI's generosity have been local, because, vice president Jimmy Campbell said, “You have to help home first."

Besides, Puleo added, "We started before there were the national groups."

Puleo said that the group "felt honored" when the Cleveland Black Pride committee came to them this year asking for input and whatever donation they could give to help fund their first event, and they were able to help.

But just asking them for money does not mean that an organization will automatically get it. There are certain criteria that need to be

met.

"When we give money out to groups we ask them to stipulate that this cannot go for salaries, this cannot go for rent, this can go only for what you need to make your organization run a little more smoothly," Puleo said.

"It's really important to NOCI that we know the money is going to be well used," Campbell added.

An ever-present reminder that the AIDS crisis is far from over is the Hilliard M. Smith Memorial Fund, established by NOCI to help pay the funeral expenses of people with AIDS.

"We have helped dozens and dozens of people through that fund over the years," Puleo said.

The picnic costs the organization between $15,000 and $18,000 to sponsor, but it is consistently their biggest fundraiser, drawing between 2,000 and 5,000 people annually. For $20 ($25 at the gate), people are given all-day access to the park and a beer mug that can be re-filled throughout the day. Non-alcoholic beer and soft drinks are also available.

This year's event raised between $50,000 and $60,000, before expenses.

Greg Lakota, Mr. Gay Cleveland 1990 and this year's entertainment chair, said that it is the location that makes the event such a popular event.

"You're in an environment where you can be totally yourself,” Lakota said. “It doesn't matter if you're a doctor, a lawyer or a teacher, you can be you. There are some individuals, because of the highly visible area for Dancin' in the Streets or Pride, they won't go there for fear of the retaliation from the straight community. When you're here, you can be yourself with no repercussions. Unfortunately, it shouldn't have to be that way, but that's what society dictates."

It is just this feeling of freedom, mixed with the unlimited beer, that has created one of the picnic's unique problems-men taking to the wooded areas of the park to have

sex.

One man, unable to locate his missing friend, was overheard saying to a companion, "Well I hope he's in the woods making some money, we need gas to get home!"

"We don't promote that in any way," Campbell said. "It's not that we're turning our heads to it, it is a concern. The new board has put it on our priority list to be a little more aware of what is going on in the woods and to stop it immediately."

Puleo added that NOCI hires Lorain County sheriff's deputies to provide security for the day, and they are the ones that maintain the order. The deputies are also charged with keeping an eye on the bartenders, that they are not filling up anything other than beer mugs (no buckets or pitchers) and with helping to ensure that people leave the park safely.

"Hopefully everybody's adult enough that they watch their consumption of alcohol," Campbell said, adding that they have at times asked unruly people to leave the park.

As word of the event spreads, people come from all over the state and outside Ohio. This year's event had a Mardi Gras theme, with beads handed out to everyone in their beer mug. In addition to the activities scheduled as part of the picnic, the park itself has water slides, paddle boats, a beach area for swimming and a miniature golf course.

One of the highlights of the picnic is the presentation of the Ozzie award, which Puleo said is named for past NOCI president Oscar Hopgopian, and one that the group considers to be Cleveland's highest award.

"It's given to someone who has been involved in the community for many, many years, who has given of themselves selflessly," Lakota said.

This year's recipients were founder and first president of ACT UP Cleveland Joe Carroccio, who was introduced by Puleo as "the most-in-your face AIDS activist that Cleveland has ever seen," and Rosita Estafan, whom Puleo called "one of the pillars of the Akron community."

Ultimately, adding more women to their membership is one of NOCI's goals, along with dispelling the idea among lesbians that it is an organization for gay men.

"That's going to take time," Campbell said. "We're working this year on dispelling the rumors that NOCI is a party group, that NOCI is men only-we're trying to dispel any rumor that has gone on for the last 19 years.'

""

In the last ten months, they've done outreach to the women's community by holding fundraisers at various women's bars. They've added a woman, Katie Devring, to their board of directors.

"Over the years, Puleo added, "women have been among NOCI's largest supporters. They're always there in full force at the picnic" a fact that was very evident last Sunday.

As the organization looks towards a community that will still be battling AIDS at the turn of a new century, Puleo said, “We want people to know that we're out here, that we're able to help. We're an organization that combines young and old, black and white, male and female."

Most importantly, he added, “We've been around for 19 years, and we know that we've made a difference for a lot of places and a lot of people and we want to be able to continue to do that."

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