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GAY PEOPLE's ChroNICLE JANUARY 1, 1999

SPEAK OUT

From Shepard to Baldwin, 1998 was a roller coaster

by David Phelps

and Doreen Cudnik

In his novel A Tale of Two Cities, author Charles Dickens wrote, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." How true that statement is as we look back and reflect on the year that has just passed.

Think about it. 1998 was the year, back in January, when we first heard the name Monica Lewinsky. Political pundits immediately began forecasting the imminent downfall of the President of the United States, but they forgot the old adage: "No politician is truly dead until you see him being lowered into the ground."

Yes, William Jefferson Clinton did become the first president in 130 years to be impeached, but House Speaker Newt Gingrich and later his replacement Bob Livingston, also went down amidst the drama. Meanwhile, Clinton's post-impeachment approval ratings continue to hover around 70 percent-higher than they were before the House cast their historic vote.

While the nation saw an overall decrease in violent crimes, we also saw an increase in both the frequency and violence of attacks motivated by sexual orientation, gender expression and HIV status, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects reported in March.

No incident seared our communities' consciousness in quite the same way as Matthew Shepard's brutal murder in Wyoming. Regardless of our sexual orientation, that particular hate crime reminded us all that the road to equality and civil rights for GLBT people is still fraught with danger and hatred.

This was the year had to listen to Trent Lott, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, compare us to kleptomaniacs—sick individuals in desperate need of a cure. And speaking of Lott, he stalled long enough to deny openly gay businessman James Hormel the opportunity of serving his country as ambassador to Luxembourg.

Football player Reggie White shocked many when he made anti-gay and racially insensitive remarks to the Wisconsin State Assembly. It came as no surprise, then, when White turned up as one of the poster-children for the Religious Right's "Truth in Love" series of anti-gay newspaper advertisements.

When Clinton signed an executive order in May to protect gay and lesbian federal workers from job discrimination, the right wing tried to overturn it. But in a surprising setback for conservatives, the House later voted overwhelmingly to reject the amendment that would have overturned the executive order.

This was the year we saw a record number of gay and lesbian candidates elected to political office, including Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin, the first open lesbian and openly gay non-incumbent elected to the U.S. Congress.

Hopes for same-sex marriage were dashed at the polls in Hawaii and Alaska this past

Sin

imply Derenity

November, but there is optimism that Vermont may become the first state to allow same-sex unions.

In Ohio, we also experienced our share of both good news and bad news.

Pride celebrations in cities around the state were a huge success, and in July, four lesbian and gay community centers-Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton, formed a statewide coalition in order to plan for a series of statewide "Equality Begins at Home" events scheduled for March, 1999. The highlight of the week-long event will be a march on the state capitol.

Unfortunately, after months of struggling financially, the Dayton community center was forced to close its doors, as did the Lorain Gay and Lesbian Center in Amherst earlier in the year. However, a new LGBT center has opened in Akron, and the community will celebrate its grand opening on January 9.

Oberlin College named openly gay Michael Muska as their athletic director. He is believed to be first openly gay man to head up an athletics program at a college or university.

In early December, Toledo city council passed a GLBT rights ordinance, and Columbus became the first city in the state to offer health benefits to employees' same-sex part-

ners.

Perhaps the worst of the bad news for Ohio in 1998 was the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to re-hear the Issue 3 case, making Cincinnati the only place in the nation to have an outright ban on gay and lesbian civil rights encoded in the city charter. But activists in Cincinnati have vowed to fight on.

In June, the Gay People's Chronicle marked its 13th year by beginning weekly publication, after five years as a biweekly.

Like other years, 1998 saw more than its fair share of human tragedy and disaster: plane crashes, hurricanes, school shootings (one in Paducah, Kentucky motivated by anti-gay taunting), floods, and the passing of the famous and the infamous.

It was a year of laughter and tears, of exuberance and depression. It was a year of amazing heights and dark valleys. It was a year where each of us learned the true meaning of friendship.

And now, as a nation and as individuals, we say farewell to 1998 with our confidence in the future higher than at any other time in the past three decades. Our economy is robust, employment is at a record high and opportunities abound in 1999. But there are challenges.

None of us can accurately forecast what this approaching year will bring. The year we are leaving is living proof of that impossibility. But what we can, and do, know is that 1999 represents a continuing challenge for all members of the GLBT community.

It will be a year when candidates for president of the United States will establish "exploratory committees” and, before year's end, announce their decision whether or not to run. Many of these candidates, recognizing

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the power of the gay and lesbian vote in 2000, will begin to actively court our support. We will need to carefully examine their record on our issues.

It will be a year when a record number of gays and lesbians-seeing the success of their brothers in sisters in 1998-will decide to begin the process of seeking political office. To succeed, they will need our assistance and support in 1999.

It will be a year where we will see renewed activity by the religious right and other conservative groups. They will continue to paint gays and lesbians as evil, and will persist with blatant accusations of child molestation, perversion and degeneracy, ignoring the fact that we too know the real meaning of "family values."

They will create ballot initiatives; they will seek to overturn existing laws and statutes that protect our rights. They will fight us every step of the way-and 1999 will be a year where we will learn the painful lesson of never, never, never giving up.

It will be a year that will see increased demands on our time, our financial resources,

our energy, and our commitment. NGLTF's "Equality Begins At Home" actions will seek to mobilize grassroots activists throughout the country. There will be AIDS walks to support, Marches for the Cure to attend, circuit parties and fundraisers for a variety of worthy causes. Our leaders will debate the merits of Washington-focused activity or grass-roots community action.

As gay men and lesbians, we will fall in love, we will separate, we will laugh and we will cry. We will meet new friends, we will say goodbye to old ones. We will dance and sing, we will mourn and withdraw into our innermost selves. We will seek a better life for our children and for our community, we will demand better health care and lower taxes.

In 1999, we will be, simply, no different from everyone else who lives in this great country. We have yet to see what 1999 will bring. But one thing is certain the future is in our hands.

David Phelps is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund's advisory council. Doreen Cudnik is managing editor of the Gay People's Chronicle.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Akron center celebrates grand opening January 9

Akron-The new Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center will officially open its doors for service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of Akron on Saturday, January 9, during a grand opening celebration from 2 pm to 6 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

The LGBT Community Center is located at 71 North Adams Street in Akron, off East Market Street and across from City Hospital. The center will be staffed by volunteers from the Akron Area Pride Collective and other interested supporters.

"The opening of a LGBT Community Center in Akron is an historic event", said Brian Simmons, co-chair of the Akron Area Pride Collective. "We've been planning this center since June of 1997.”

The center will include a 1,122 square foot first-floor meeting area and office space with a library along with a 2,244 square foot basement complete with a kitchen and entertainment area.

"The center offers a safe place for all gay and lesbian groups to meet," said collective treasurer Terry Zimmerman. “Our goal is to create a pleasant environment where everybody will feel welcome."

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A Brunch & Conversation

Facilitator Rev. Mary Grigolia will help us explore: Why should we get married when it's not legal yet?

How do we ensure our wedding

ceremony reflects us? What do we do first?

Sunday, January 10

10 a.m. Noon

at The Ashe Center, 1861 W. 25th Street, Cleveland $5 donation

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Call to reserve

your seat: 216-556-3316

The center is already being used as a clearing house for Akron area lesbian and gay information. There are more than 15 independent political organizations, service groups, and churches.

"We're an educational organization," Simmons said, "but we also hope to be of service to other existing gay and lesbian groups. Unity and cooperation among lesbian and gay groups will help to focus attention on the many needs and issues facing gays and lesbians in greater Akron."

The Akron Area Pride Collective holds non-profit status under section 501 (c) (3) of the federal Internal Revenue code. The center will be funded through contributions, memberships and grants.

"Funding is going to be very important," Zimmerman said. "We hope the lesbian and gay community will rally with support of money and volunteer services. That's one test for success since the center exists for all of us."

The January 9 grand opening will include tours of the new community center and prizes along with food and beverages provided by Angel Falls Coffee, Café 115, Gaelic Imports, Jasper's and the Sandwich Board. The group Horizon will be the featured musical entertainment.

Members of the center's board of directors will be available during the grand opening and suggestions will be taken for a permanent name for the new center.

"The Board is going to make the final decision about the name of the center," Simmons said, "but we want input from the entire community."

The center will be open every day except holidays for public use. “You don't have to be gay or lesbian to visit the center," Zimmerman said. "We're open to everybody and we want to be helpful in any way

we can.

"

"The center is a dream we've had for many years and now we've made that dream a reality," Simmons said. “We have high hopes for the future.”

"It's going to take a lot of work to eliminate homophobia in society,” Zimmerman added. "The Lesbian and Gay Community Center will stand as a reminder of the important presence of gays and lesbians in our culture."

For more information call 330-253-2220 or access the center's web site www.rainbow-akron.com/aapc/.