GAY PEOPLE's ChronICLE MARCH 19, 1999

COMMUNITY FORUM

Where's the pink bead?

To the Editors:

Local schools, the State of Ohio and local employers have recently initiated programs to help resolve race and cultural issues. They should be commended for this effort. However, a disturbing trend appears to be occurring. Diversity issues related to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people are often ignored or barely given lip service. An example of this trend is a diversity game using beads or beans of different colors. Attendees are asked to pick beads to represent themselves, their neighbors, their friends, doctors, dentists, etc. The color of beads vary, but may be black for African Americans, white for white Americans, yellow for Asian Americans, and red for American Indians. While this game certainly can identify racial diversity, it ignores the many other groups that diversity is supposed to represent.

Why not a pink bead for the LGBT community? Why not a bead representing the various religious groups in this country? Why not a bead for persons with a handicap or with disabilities? Why not beads for

women who are struggling to obtain their equal rights?

I asked this question to Mr. Jim White of Performance Consulting, who sold this game package to the State of Ohio. His response was that this game is supposed to be a small part of a total diversity training package. However, the fact remains that this game is in many cases the sole part of diversity training.

At a time when members of our own community are being attacked and killed, harassed in local stores, students intimidated by their peers and newspaper staffs threatened, it is imperative that LGBT issues take a prominent role in diversity activities and any diversity exercises.

We as taxpayers are in many cases paying for these diversity programs. I urge you to contact your local schools, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the State of Ohio Human Resources Chief, Mr. Steven Gulyassy, and demand that the LGBT community be included in their diversity activities. And while you are talking to them, please ask, "Where is the pink bead?"

Michael H. Flickinger Cleveland

SPEAK OUT

Drag ball isn't gay

To the Editors:

I was surprised to see [a calendar listing] in this publication supporting the Hair Ball, soon to be held at the Wexner Center. Why is a gay publication trying to drum up support for such a strictly heterosexual event?

The Hair Ball raises money for the Wexner Center's "children and family programs." Two things that the vast majority of gay people do not, or in some cases are prohibited by law from having or participating in.

Perhaps the gay community would be better served by spending our hardearned dollars on events and programs that benefit us as well.

I also have a problem with the idea of a straight organization, such as the organizing committee of the Hair Ball, trying to convince the gay community to perpetuate a stereotype, such as drag, to benefit heterosexual relationships and programs that strictly benefit them.

Family values are for everyone

by Gordon Shull

For some years, our son Dave-now in his thirties has sent us a very special Christmas gift. It's a calendar; but this is no ordinary calendar. Each month has its own separate page with a family snapshot from the past year, along with a quotation that fits the scene.

The calendar for this month features Dave's brother Andy. Perched atop Andy's shoulder is his four-year-old son Warren. Standing beside them is Warren's Uncle Peter and from the tilt of Warren's head,

and the smile on his face, it's apparent that Peter must be running a tickling finger up his back. What a wonderful family photo! And what a neat poem that Dave picked to match it, from the McLean Family Band:

The sun shines just to follow you around, And the moon is in the sky to see you smile, And flowers grow just hoping you will look at them,

And I was born just to be with you awhile.

Dave prepares a separate calendar for his two brothers as well as for us. Who can

Delivery right to your mailbox every week

HRONICLE

26 Issues for $30.00 or 52 Iss for $6000

If you'd like to receiv

You for 26 Iss

ronicle first 0 for 52 1

mail

Chronicles

envelope. for

Issues

Zip

to: Gay People's Chiro

126, Cleveland,

Ray Snyder Columbus

doubt that our families are all strengthened by this wonderful gift?

Does it matter that Warren's Uncle Dave and Uncle Peter are gay partners, now in their ninth year of a committed relationship? Does it matter that their mutual commitment was celebrated and sealed in a church service attended by the families of both partners? It obviously does not matter to Warren: "Uncle Peter and Uncle Dave" are just as natural to him as Uncle Phil and Aunt Jill, or Grandma and Grandpa. They read to him, play with him, build Lincoln Log houses with him. He knows they belong together.

Nor does it matter to the twelve hundred members of the congregation Dave and Peter serve, as two of the church's four pastors. Like any other minister, they visit the sick, baptize babies, preach the stewardship sermon, lead Wednesday evening discussions of significant books, and open their home on Christmas day to all members without families. In their years in this church, neither has preached on the subject of homosexuality; they want to be known not only as "the gay couple," but as dedicated pastors.

Like any other pastor, they do what they can to promote family values. They do it by word as well as by example-showing how two people can enrich each other's lives, as well as the lives of those they meet, in faithful commitment. In a world of broken promises, God knows we need families such as theirs.

Some people who have never met the likes of Peter and Dave are not comfortable with such a family. We have been carefully taught to hate the idea of a loving commitment between two people of the same gender. Political leaders deride it. Governing bodies of Presbyterians (of whom I am one), Anglicans, Methodists, Catholics--all have insisted that people like Peter and Dave can not be entrusted with the Gospel. This, despite the fact that the handful of Biblical passages on homosexuality show no knowledge of the kind of relationship Peter and Dave have, and Christ himself, the center of the Christian faith never mentioned the subject at all.

But little Warren, whose mind has not been corrupted by homophobia grasping for scriptural straws, knows faithful love when he feels it. The rest of us, mindful of the Scripture passage telling us to "become like little children," could learn a valuable lesson from him.

Gordon Shull is a proud dad and grandpa living in Wooster, Ohio.

PLE'S CHRONICLE

Volume 14, Issue 38

PUBLISH

THE GAY

PEOPLE'S

KWIR

A DECADE

BONICE

Published by

KWIR Publications, Inc. ISSN 1070-177X

Publisher:

Business Manager: Managing Editor: Associate Editor: Senior Staff Writer:

Reporters & Writers:

Martha J. Pontoni Patti Harris Doreen Cudnik Brian DeWitt Dawn E. Leach

Mubarak S. Dahir, Beren deMotier, Bob Findle, John Graves, Mark J. Huisman, Kaizaad Kotwal, M.T. Martone, Tim Nasson, Jeffrey Newman, Harriet L. Schwartz, Kirk Read, Eric Resnick, Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, John Zeh

Art Director: Christine Hahn Production Assistant: Patricia Hughes Photographer: LeeAnn McGuire Advertising Manager:

Sales:

David A. Ebbert Timothy Peterson

National Advertising: Rivendell Marketing

212-242-6863 David A. Ebbert 800-426-5947

The Gay People's Chronicle is dedicated to providing a space in the Ohio lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community for all of its members to communicate and be involved with each other. This means that every Chronicle, to the best of its ability, will be equally dedicated to both men's and women's issues, as well as issues that affect the entire community. This balance will provide lesbians and gay men with a forum to air grievances and express joys.

The Gay People's Chronicle is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless permission is obtained.

Any material submitted for publication will be subject to editing. The Chronicle cannot guarantee return of any such materials unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

The Gay People's Chronicle is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. We reserve the right to reject advertising which is unsuitable for our publication.

P.O. Box 5426 Cleveland, Ohio 44101 216-631-8646 or Toll Free: 800-426-5947 Fax:216-631-1052

E-mail: chronicle@chronohio.com Website: www.cleveland.com/community/gay

Community Forum

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express your opinion about the community or the paper. Please, however, keep letters constructive, and avoid namecalling and personal attacks. Please be brief. We reserve the right to edit letters. We will print your name unless you specifically ask

us not to.

Letters must include a street address and phone, for verification only. They can be sent via U.S. mail, or fax to the addresses in the masthead above, or by E-mail to letters@chronohio.com.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are $15 for 13 issues, $30 for 26 issues (half year) or $60 for 52 issues (full year), sent third class in a plain envelope. For faster first-class delivery, add 50¢ per issue to cover extra postage: $21.50 for 13 issues, $43 for 26 issues, and $86 for 52 issues.

Mail check or money order with your address to Chronicle Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland Ohio 44101. To use Mastercard or Visa, include your signature, card number, expiration date, and your name as it appears on the card.

Deadlines

The Gay People's Chronicle is published every Friday. Display ad and article deadlines are 7 to 8 days earlier. Call for specific dates. Calendar, Classified and Personal deadlines are shown in each of those sections.

Obituaries

Obituaries, written by spouses, family, or friends, may be placed in the Chronicle free of charge. They can be sent by mail or fax (see above for address); but we can't take information over the phone. Include your name and phone, so we may contact you. A photo can be included; please send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want it returned.

Milestones

Tell everyone about your union ceremony, arrival of a child, or other milestone of life, in the Chronicle! Announcements should be 200-300 words, and can include a photoblack and white or color is okay. Photos will be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is included. Mail, fax, and E-mail addresses are above; include your address and phone so we may contact you.