letters tothe editor

A job well done

To the editor:

In the early 1980s, I was co-editor of High Gear newspaper, a publication of the GEAR Foundation [Gay Education and Awareness Resources]. At the time, it was very difficult to get advertisers; so it was hard to meet publication costs. We met the costs, barely, and in the early '80s the publication folded. (I may be wrong; it's been awhile, so if I am wrong please don't shoot me). Anyway, it was a struggle then just to publish an eightpage newspaper.

It was also laughable at the thought of a Gay Pride parade going through downtown Cleveland! We thought, "Who'd show up?" But look how far we've come. The Gay People's Chronicle is not only still publishing, but has updated the format, grown in size and publishes an annual Gay Pride edition that covers a big gay parade and Pride festival in downtown Cleveland and a three-state area of Pride events, and national and international Pride events.

If through our lack of GLBT community unity, the Chronicle folds, we'll have only ourselves to blame (and you know, other communities will snicker behind our backs that we couldn't even support a newspaper.) So, let's show our support, it's soooo easy. Patronize the advertisers—say, "I saw your ad in the Chronicle.” Or subscribe, place a business or classified ad, or answer a personal ad. For the price of a night out, we can support our newspaper and show our gay power!

Kudos to the Chronicle staff for a job well done. Continue the great work.

Robert Toth Cleveland

Tell city council to fund ASC

To the Editor:

AIDS Service Connection, ASC, is being hit with a terrible lost of funding from the Columbus Department of Health. This year they are being offered $54,743 from the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, federal grant money, instead of the $121,170 received last year. This grant makes up a large portion on the ASC annual budget.

ASC had 334 clients last year that they

helped with much needed transportation, Paper doesn't support all

laundry services, and food. If ASC doesn't receive the support from the Columbus Department of Health, what will happen to these individuals when ASC has to lay off employees?

Behind the scenes, it looks like there might be a David vs. Goliath battle going on with ASC vs. the Columbus Health Department and the Columbus AIDS Task Force. I would like to tell the bureaucrats to get over the fight for control of sick folks' money and give it to an organization that has a history of providing excellent services in the past and has a reputation for serving AIDS clients compassionately, AIDS Service Connection.

At this time, the Columbus Department of Health's decision can be overturned by the Columbus City Council. I urge you to contact the council members and tell them to grant ASC at least $121,170. Michael Coleman, Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, Matt Habash, Michael Mentel, Richard Sensenbrenner, and Charleta Tavares can be reached at 90 W. Broad St., Rm. 231, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or call 614-645-7380.

Call Anheuser-Busch

To the Editor:

Susan M. Bader Columbus

I noticed in your newspaper this week that you comment on the Anheuser-Busch Breweries running a gay-friendly ad depicting two men holding ads.

What I didn't see is, and I am passing this along as hearsay, is that the folks at Budweiser are soliciting "yay" or "nay" votes concerning the ad through two tollfree phone numbers.

I have heard the Christian Coalition has mounted a campaign to get all their members and other Religious Right "hate-mongers" to call the toll-free number casting a vote against the use of such ads.

Well, I do have the phone number to cast a vote in favor of such ads, and here it is: 877233-7725.

I think you would be doing the community a great service to publish this number and ask your readers to call and support this very important cause.

GAY PEOPLE'S

Michael Moritz Lakewood, Ohio

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To the Editor:

I have read your editorial, “An open letter to the community" [April 30] and I cannot believe you ask a community to support you when you do not support the entire community. Men as well as some women feel you are very biased in your reporting of the events that happen in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

I guess we all don't do enough this community to be recognized by your newspaper.

I also wonder why if we advertise in your paper then why don't we get the coverage that Lake Effect got when it opened, and by the way I don't think I have seen any advertisement from them in your newspaper.

A two-way proposition

To the Editor:

Paul J. Kirby Cleveland

I find the logic in your editorial of April 30 somewhat confusing. You ask for support from the business community. Okay. But support, in order to be effective, has to be a two-way proposition.

For instance, you ask for business support. I, for one, have supported your enterprise from the beginning, first when the community paper was known as High Gear and successively as the Gay People's Chronicle. The first issue of High Gear had two advertisers, the West Ninth Street Club Baths and the Club Cleveland. I was the manager of the West Ninth Street Baths at that time and I am associated with Club Cleveland now. So much for credentials on the subject of giving support.

But, when we asked that you print a press release announcing an upcoming improvement, the response was that your policy did not allow that sort of thing, but we could put the announcement in a paid ad.

Forward to recent events:

Lake Effect opens. You print not a press release, but a feature story complete with a picture. Strangely, I have seen no support from the people involved with Lake Effect in the form of advertising in the Chronicle. Why? Is it because Lake Effect is the project of one of the Chronicle's "in" group? How come there was no publicity or support for the Twist or the Eagle which both recently had openings?

In other words: Just do as we tell you, not as we do.

Or did you think nobody would notice? To quote your own editorial, in paraphrase, let us not take their existence for granted. Support what means so much to so very many people.

I doubt very much that this letter will be printed, but I thought it necessary to point out your inconsistency.

Oscar Hagopian Cleveland

The Chronicle has no connection to High Gear, which was published by the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center in the 1970s and '80s, when it was called the GEAR Foundation.

Advertising has no bearing on what we cover as news. This is a basic ethic of journalism—one cannot “buy” news coverage. Our editorial and advertising staffs do not discuss what is being advertised before making decisions on what to cover.

Lake Effect told us of their grand opening in advance and invited us to it. This is done by many businesses and non-profits. Some we cover, some we don't, for reasons ranging from whether or not we think it is of interest to our readers, to the availability of a reporter or photographer.

But we're not clairvoyant. We can't cover what we don't know about. Neither Twist nor the Eagle contacted our editorial staff prior to their events. Had they done so, they might have seen a story similar to the "Day to Remember" benefit on the front page of th April 30 issue. At the least, with a couple weeks' notice, the grand openings could ha en listed in Charlie's Calendar. The editors

GAY PEOPLE'S-

Chronicle

Volume 14, Issue 46

1070-1772

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni Business Manager: Patti Harris Managing Editor: Doreen Cudnik Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt

Senior Staff Writer: Dawn E. Leach Reporters & Writers:

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 Photographers: LeeAnn McGuire

Advertising Manager: David A. Ebbert 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 daims made by advertisers. We reserve the right to reject advertising which is unsuitable for our publication.

P.Q. Bex 5426 Cleveland, Ohio 44101 216-631-9646 or Toll Free: 800-426-5947 Fax: 216-631-1052

E-mail: duronide@deronekio.com www.develand.com/community/gay

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