GAY PEOPle's ChroNICLE APRIL 17, 1998

"History books aren't always accurate, experience upfront a portrayal of a love triangle between a King, his Queen and a beloved best friend."

“Imaginatively staged and elegantly designed, Barnhart's fluid adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II brims with style, beauty and gay attitude.” The Columbus Dispatch

ONE EDWARD 2 Opening April 17-26

Friday & Saturday at 8p.m. Sunday at 2p.m.

CPT is offering a late night comedy sketch with the

Western Reserve Hysterical Society in "Naked Sex Frenzy". Starts at 10pm following "One Edward 2" at no additional cost. April 17th, 18th, 24th & 25th. Walk-ins, $5.

cleveland public theatre

Limited Seating. Reservations Required. 216.631.2727

THE CLUB

1448 West 32nd Street Cleveland 216.961.2727

CLEVELAND NEW ORLEANS FT LAUDERDALE DALLAS INDIANAPOLIS HOUSTON ST LOUIS ORLANDO coming soon Columbus, Ohio and more!

ON THE AIR OFF THE PRESS

'No! No! No!' she screamed, 'My child is not gay!'

by John Graves

Here's an update on last month's report on my correspondent Dave Haskell's run-in with Erica Stephens. She is the homophobic cohost of The Direct Source, a weekday afternoon drive-time show on Cleveland's WEREAM 1300.

Stephens had gone ballistic on the air a few weeks ago, when Haskell called the show to support a New Jersey court ruling that the Boy Scouts could not ban gays. The battle continued when Haskell joined Jan Cline, the Cleveland Lesbian and Gay Center's new development director, on the show to respond to Stephens and a Scout representative.

I'm proud to say our folks held their own ground and even got Stephens to concede several points. In the case of Stephens I use the term homophobic in its purest sense in that she is extremely fearful of lesbians and gays as teachers, scoutmasters--or her own offspring. Stephens went absolutely bananas when it was suggested she consider a scenario in which her child could be gay.

"No! No! No!" she screamed. "My child is not gay! If my kid were gay I'd slit my wrists or something!"

Two shows are kind to couples

The tragic problem of not having our lesbigay unions recognized by the law was treated quite sensitively on two network dramas recently.

On CBS' Chicago Hope, actress Jenny O'Hara portrayed a lesbian who tried to make health care decisions for her terminally ill lover but ran into homophobic opposition from the woman's estranged brother. Although she lost in court, regular character Dr. McNeil convinced the brother to give up his claim.

On a sensitive and tragic episode of the Fox sci-fi series Millenium, regular character Frank Black was called in to track a lesbian couple who had escaped from prison. It seems one of the women was pregnant and she and her lover believed the child was "immaculately" conceived.

The episode pointed out how women in prison, and lesbians specifically, are dehumanized and demonized by the prison and police staff. The episode focused on the love between the two women and included a lesbian kiss, but ended in tragedy, however, when both women died declaring their love for each other.

Abby's back on NYPD Blue

A report in Entertainment Weekly indicates lesbian police officer Abby is returning to ABC's NYPD Blue to have her baby. The magazine also says ABC has gotten offers for a number of shows with gay characters. According to the story, proposed shows include

sitcom about a married man who realizes he is gay and gets a divorce, another sitcom about a gay man who inherits his sister's children after she dies, and a police show about a gay cop and his straight partner. 'Just buddies' cruise together

Although actor Doug Savant's gay character Matt has left Melrose Place, Savant will spoof his token gay role on the UPN revival of Love Boat. Savant's character is a groom who, abandoned at the altar, shares his already-booked honeymoon suite aboard the ship with his best friend. Everyone assumes they are a gay couple.

Taking a page from the old sitcom Three's Company, Savant's character goes along with the mistake, thinking that since women feel safe around gay men, he might get lucky and score with one of them. But, don't worry. According to an article about the show in the Advocate, the two'men realize they were meant for each other "before the end of the hour."

The show's producers also told the Advocate that storylines for the new Love Boat are not limited to "Romeo and Juliet" but can include stories about "Romeo and Romeo" and "Juliet and Juliet."

Story decries teen harassment

Thanks to Maria Borelli, a student at Valley Forge High School in the Cleveland suburb of Parma. She had the courage to speak out against anti-gay discrimination and harassment in a commentary she recently wrote for "Next," a special section for teens in the daily Plain Dealer. Although Borelli herself -is straight, she and her friends were harassed by homophobic students who assumed she was a lesbian just because she decided to get a short haircut last year.

Women in the magazines

"Xena-philia" is the title of a cover article examining the popularity of the warrior princess in the lesbian community in the April issue of Girlfriends magazine. The issue also features the magazine's First Annual Lesbian Movie Awards. Fire, Deepa Mehta's wonderful lesbian love story set in modern India, took the lioness' share of awards; winning for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and Best Love Scene.

According to a report in People magazine, the intense kiss between actresses Kathy Bates and Stacy Edwards, who play lovers in the movie Primary Colors wasn't easy for Bates. The first time they tried the kiss, Bates gave Edwards a demure and unconvincing peck on the lips and the director asked for several retakes. According to the article, when the two actresses finally exchanged the long, romantic kiss seen in the film Edwards said dreamily, "Kathy, that was so good!"

According to another People story, long time couples Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher, and k.d. lang and Leisha Hailey joined Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche at the Vanity Fair Academy Awards party. Etheridge told reporters, "It's Ellen and Anne's one-year anniversary, and we're here to celebrate with them!"

By the way, according to a story in the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer, Heche announced to the crowd at the Vanity Fair party that she and DeGeneres had gotten married in a private ceremony.

"Were You're Born That Way," the feature article in the April issue of Life magazine, examines the "nature vs. nurture" issue as it applies to many facets of the human experience, including sexual orientation.

USA Today reports that Sharon Stone has received an offer to reprise her bisexual role in the sequel to Basic Instinct and says the new script is "fabulous."

Support gay, alternative radio

Finally, WRUW 91.1 FM, Case Western Reserve's non-commercial radio station and home of Cleveland's Gaywaves radio show for over 20 years, will be holding their 1998 Radiothon fundraiser from April 20-26. For over 25 years, WRUW has aired lesbian, gay and women's music not heard on other stations. Through Gaywaves and its predecessor Radio Free Lambda, WRUW has given the Greater Cleveland lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, HIV and women's community important access to public communication. Donors calling 216-368-2208 during the Radiothon earn premiums such as new CDs and personal on-air time. Mention Gaywaves when calling to show your support for lesbian-gay radio.

John Graves is the producer and host of Gaywaves, a lesbian-gay public affairs show on Cleveland's WRUW 91.1 FM Fridays at 7 pm. Dave Haskell, Jim McGrattan and Kim Jones also contributed to this column.