FEBRUARY 6, 1998 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

IN BOX

Valentine's Day event to benefit the Open House

by Doreen Cudnik

Cleveland-The Avenue at Tower City Center will be transformed into a festive atmosphere when the Open House holds its third annual benefit, "Paint the Town Red!" The Open House, located in Cleveland Heights, is a center for individuals with HIV and AIDS, as well as their parents, spouses, friends and relatives.

The Saturday, February 14 event will be held from 8 pm to midnight and promises to be a visual and culinary delight. The Avenue will be transformed into an intimate setting and will incorporate its "dancing" fountains into the evening's entertainment. Desserts donated by Cleveland's finest restaurants and talented chefs will satisfy the palates of all those attending. Dance music, strolling entertainers, special lighting effects, and a silent auction will fill the evening with something for everyone. Since guests are encouraged to wear red casual attire, "Paint the Town Red" is certain to be one of Cleveland's most colorful extravaganzas.

"Once again, we have selected Valentine's Day as the day for Paint the Town Red. It provides a unique way for lovers and friends to celebrate the holiday," commented Wendy

Zahler, co-chair of the event.

Valentine Cupids ($75 per person) will enjoy all the festivities, including complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks, cash bar, 'heart-y' hors d'oeuvres, signature desserts, and the rhythmic flow of the music. Valentine Paramours ($250 per person) will support the attendance of two members of the HIV community at the event. Additionally, Paramours will receive a limited edition commemorative Paint the Town Red! '98 T-shirt and valet parking.

To purchase tickets, contact Sue Appell at the Open House 216-229-6722.

Festival seeks audition tapes

Columbus-Still having that recurring dream about being a star? Think you have what it takes to keep thousands of dykes happy and entertained? The 1998 Ohio Lesbian Festival is now accepting promotional materials for consideration as its featured Ohio performer. Submit your tape, CD or video no later than March 15 to: Lesbian Business Association (LBA) Festival 10th anniversary; P.O. Box 82086; Columbus 43202.

Volunteer and see free films

Cleveland-The 22nd Cleveland International Film Festival is seeking film enthusiasts interested in joining the volunteer staff for the upcoming festival. Interested persons are encouraged to apply by February 13.

Volunteers are needed to usher, count theater patrons, staff information tables and sell festival merchandise from March 10-29 at Hoyts Cinemas on the Avenue at Tower City Center. Free parking and film vouchers will be given to volunteers.

More that 150 volunteers are needed for the 11-day festival, said volunteer coordinator Maureen Fitzpatrick. Last year's festival drew a record 30,000 people to more than 70 feature-length and 100 short films from around the world, including many with sellout audiences.

Many gay and lesbian-themed films are featured annually in the "10 Percent Cinema" portion of the Festival, always a popular draw.

To volunteer, call Maureen Fitzpatrick at 888-712-7312 or e-mail 76645.75 @compuserve.com.

Play is set in AIDS clinic

State

Youngstown-Youngstown University's student production company, Black Box Productions, will be presenting the play What are Tuesdays Like? by Victor Bumbalo.

The play focuses on the lives of AIDS patients receiving treatment at a small clinic. Through their interactions and struggles, we get a clear picture of their lives as people living with AIDS. The performances will run February 12 through the 15. The afternoon performance on Sunday, February 15 will be a fundraiser for the Mahoning Valley AIDS Task Force.

Black Box Productions also plans to raise AIDS awareness by providing a symposium after each show. Literature and display material will be available for the audience in the lobby of the theater before and after each performance.

Showtimes are at 8 pm February 12-14 and 3 pm on February 15. Performances are held at the University Theater in Bliss Hall on the YSU campus. For tickets or more information, call the university box office at 330-742-3105.

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Art for Life deadline nears

Columbus-The deadline is fast approaching for Central Ohio artists that would like to have their work appear in the Columbus AIDS Task Force's 1998 Art for Life auction. Monday, February 16is the last day to submit paperwork, and all art work must be delivered by March 4 (limited to one donation per artist).

Donated works will become part of the spring fundraising event to benefit CATF. Art for Life's five-person jury will select approximately 60 pieces for the live auction, and over 70 for the silent auction.

The seven-year-old Art for Life auction is CATF's largest annual fundraising event. In 1996 the auction raised over $240,000 from the sale of art donated by over 120 artists.

The 1998 Art for Life auction will be held on Saturday, April 4 at the Columbus Museum of Art. Donated pieces will be featured the week of March 30 at the Museum, and at a buyers' preview event and artist reception on Wednesday, April 1, as well as in the auction catalog.

For more information and submission forms, contact Sally Blue at 614-299-2437, ext. 126. For tickets, call Jenae Christensen at 614-299-2437, ext. 129

Tie the knot on February 12

Columbus Ohio State University will be holding events to promote National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12.

The day is a national event sponsored by the National Freedom to Marry Coalition to bring attention to the unfairness of denying

marriage to gays and lesbians. The coalition includes the major national lesbian and gay groups, the ACLU, and the National Organization for Women.

Ohio State will also host a brown-bag lecture program on February 12, to discuss the issue of same-sex marriage and the Freedom to Marry movement. Cory S. Oakley will present the history of the marriage movement, a state of the movement address, and touch on issues dealing with conservative right wing legislative responses to the anticipated Hawaii marriage decision. The lecture will be in Ohio Union Buckeye Suites F and G, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Cory S. Oakley, Sheri Atkinson, and Scott Boden are co-chairs of the Ohio State National Freedom to Marry Day Committee. They can be reached at the OSU office of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Services, 614-292-6200.

Oakley is also spearheading the "Tie the Knot" campaign in Columbus, asking people to knot ribbons around trees, lamp posts, buildings, and door knobs; and around their ring finger or arm, or to wear a knot on their lapel.

The campaign is attempting to get as many OSU students, faculty and staff, as well as other Columbus community members, to "Tie the Knot."

For copies of the Marriage Resolution brochure and other materials, or to sign on, contact Lambda Legal Defense's Marriage Project at: 120 Wall St., Suite 1500, N.Y., N.Y. 10005, 212-809-8585, or e-mail Ildefmarry@aol.com,

www.lambdalegal.org, www.ftm.org.

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