8 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 5, 1999

COMMUNITY FORUM

Recognize our allies

To the Editors:

I would like to thank the Chronicle for its very fine article about my ordination and installation as Associate Pastor of Pilgrim Church last month [Dec. 25 issue]. As an openly lesbian pastor, I was honored by the participation of the Rev. David Bahr, the Rev. Mark Suriano, and the Rev. Dr. Bill Johnson, all openly gay ministers in the United Church of Christ, in the service. Their support and encouragement along the way to ministry was invaluable to me.

However, I would also like to recognize the courageous witness of our straight allies in the church, because they work alongside us each day in the struggle for justice for all people. The Rev. Robert Strommen, association minister of the Western Reserve Association, and Joyce Strommen are two fine examples of individuals who are steadfast in their support of glbt people.

The dean of my seminary, Dr. Michael Kinnamon, also participated in the ordination. When I applied at Lexington Theological Seminary four years ago, his unwavering commitment to the ordination of gay and lesbian people made it possible for me to become the first openly lesbian or gay person to graduate from that school. What a glorious day that was!

Pilgrim Church is blessed with two excellent pastors, Rev. Dr. Laurinda Hafner and Rev. Craig Schaub, whose daily approach to ministry brings to life the vision of an inclu-

my doctor did not allow me to participate in physical education class.

What do you think students thought about a guy not taking gym class? The gym teacher in high school wanted me to help out in the locker room so I would have some male companionship. One day, a student took me by the back of the neck and forced my face into his crotch.

Is this the kind of thing you were referring to when you mentioned the "safety net" of bisexuality? I learned at a very young age that it is not the truth [of sexual orientation] that matters, but what others perceive to be the truth.

You state that you are not HIV positive, but go on to say that "AIDS is still a gay disease." Before you write any more letters about AIDS, I would suggest that you access the resource library at the Columbus AIDS Task Force. AIDS, Mr. Snyder, affects all sexes, races, sexual orientations and classes of society.

Mr. Snyder, I am a true bisexual-I am not "gay" when it's convenient and then "straight" when it's convenient. I also still maintain that there should be an active ACT UP chapter in Columbus that is open to anyone who wants to participate.

The GLBT community has problems with the mainstream partly because of the venom we have for each other. "We are family?" I don't think so.

sive and dynamic community of faith. In Bigotry from gays

particular, Laurie Hafner has taught me how truly great women can be in ministry. Finally, and most importantly of all, the people of Pilgrim Church continue to amaze me with their spirited bringing to life of the words "open and affirming."

As we continue to read, hear and experience the pain and exclusion of glbt people in many churches, I want to offer words of hope and encouragement to my sisters and brothers in our community. There is a place for us in the church-not on the margins, not halfway in, but at the very heart of the church.

Kate Huey, Associate Pastor Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ Cleveland

What 'safety net'?

To the Editors:

I am writing in response to the letter ["Still a gay disease"] written by Mr. Ray Snyder and published in the Jan. 22 issue of the Gay People's Chronicle. His letter was written in response to a letter that I wrote ["Time to act up"], which appeared in the Jan. 1 Chronicle.

In his letter, Snyder states that I know nothing of the discrimination endured by "true gay and lesbian people."

To Mr. Snyder and his "truly gay and lesbian friends," I was diagnosed with epilepsy in junior high school, and as a result,

To the Editors:

Ron Riggs Columbus

In response to Ray Snyder's letter, I have a question for Mr. Snyder: What are you, the head of the gay Ku Klux Klan?

Do you honestly believe that bisexuals don't endure discrimination on a daily basis? I suggest you read your own letter. It is filled with so many clichés, stereotypes, and bigotry, I felt sick reading it. Mr. Snyder, I am a proud bisexual man and I face more discrimination every day than you do. Not only do I live with the bigotry of homophobes, to whom I am "just another fag," but I have to live with the bigotry of gay men like you.

Mr. Snyder, just as you are gay every second of your life, I am bisexual every second of my life. I do not "become" straight or gay when it is “convenient." To say so is insane and only supports the stupid idea, purported by fundamentalist Christians and other conservative extremists, that being gay (lesbian, bisexual, etc.) is a choice.

As for your assertion that HIV/AIDS has always been, and still is a gay disease, I suggest you read Randy Shilts' book And the Band Played On. HIV/AIDS was born in Ethiopia. Therefore, the first victims were African tribespeople. Even when HIV/AIDS first took root in Western society, it wasn't an exclusively gay disease. Many of the early victims were hemophiliacs, Haitian men, IV drug users, and the newborns of IV drug

users.

Mr. Snyder, I can understand the homophobic bigotry of straight people. Our society chills heterosexuality as normal and preferred into us from birth. What I cannot understand is the bigotry of gay men like you, who are oppressed for their sexual orientation... just like me and every other bisexual, transgendered, or any other nonheterosexual monogamous vanilla person.

My. Snyder, before you complain about homophobia, bigotry, and oppression again, I suggest you remember the biblical quote, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

Paul A. Bowles Broadview Hts., Ohio

Ohio sponsors racism with Wahoo plates

To the Editors:

The American Indian Movement Autonomous vehemently opposes the continuing governmental sponsorship of racism as demonstrated by the Ohio House of Representatives' recent passage of legislation creating Chief Wahoo license plates for the State of Ohio. [The bill was signed into law by then Gov. George Voinovich on Dec 17.]

American Indians have been protesting the commercial exploitation of our identity in the trivializing caricature of Wahoo since 1953, and the U.S. Federal Court has upheld our right to do so continuously.

We support the baseball team of Cleveland but demand the creation of a new name and identity in keeping with the basic civil rights of all races. Currently, [team owner Richard] Jacobs will receive direct financial compensation from the state for all Wahoo license plates sold. This institutional, government sanctioned racism is at the expense of all taxpayers of the State of Ohio.

The merger of big business and government grows ever more complete. Not only do the legislators streamline legislation that enriches already wealthy businessmen, but it has also come to our attention that Mr. Jacobs now has taken over the responsibility for providing the catering for the "Peace Keepers."

The Peace Keepers are a neutral community-based volunteer organization of individuals who treasure the basic freedom of speech guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to such an extent that they spend their free time protecting that right for others. Their unbiased presence upholds liberty for all.

Yet now, rather than this effort receiving the support and honor from the Community Relations Board, Mr. Jacobs has appropriated the "right" to honor there individuals. The dinner honoring these outstanding community volunteers should be part of the pride of all of Cleveland and financially supported by the city. Anything less seriously compromises the Peace Keepers' neutrality now and into the future.

Robert Roche Garfield Heights, Ohio

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