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Chorus marks tenth year with return of first director

by Eunice Hornsby

Columbus-The Columbus Women's Chorus proudly presents its spring concert "One More Voice," a celebration of life through an eclectic selection of songs.

The concert is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. at the Summit United Methodist Church, 82 East 16th Avenue at Waldeck, one block east of High Street. Tickets are available at An Open Book, Pearls of Wisdom, or from any chorus member. Sug-

Panel to discuss Bible's real view of homosexuality

by Tom Beck

Akron-The discussion topic for the May 18 Akron Area Pride Collective meeting will

be "What Does The

Bible Really Say About Homosexuality?"

The meeting will

"People frequently quote Bible verses and suggest incorrectly that gays and lesbians are condemned because of their sexual orientation," she added.

AVAPC

"Our panel members are experts on Bible passages," said Te r r y

be held at the Akron Area pride Collective Zimmerman, the

collective's Pride

Center, located at 71 North Adams Street in Akron starting at 7:00 pm. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Guests for the panel discussion will include Father Norm Douglas from the Newman Campus Ministries in Akron, Reverend Michael Dudley from the Church of Our Savior in Akron, Rabbi David Horowitz from Temple Israel in Akron, and Pastor Deb Tanner from New Hope Temple in Akron.

The guests will present a half-hour panel discussion followed by questions from the audience. A mixer will follow the question and answer session.

"This is a topic that most gay and lesbian people have to face eventually," said Marnay Schrock, a Pride Collective board member.

collective's treasurer. "We'll look forward to hearing their opinions on what the Bible really says about homosexuality," he added.

The general monthly meetings of the Akron Area Pride Collective are open to the public and have included a variety of topics focusing on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered issues.

"This is the first time we've addressed an issue of religion," said Susie Davis, a Pride Center volunteer. "Some people use religion to denigrate others and the victims of those verbal attacks don't always know how to respond. It will be refreshing to hear from the experts on this subject." ♡

Tom Beck is chair of the Akron Area Pride Collective.

Portage AIDS candlelight vigil is part of world event

Kent-A Portage County candlelight vigil will be held for the fourth year on Sunday May 16, sponsored by the Portage County AIDS Task Force.

This is the second year that the Portage County vigil is part of the international AIDS Candlelight Memorial event. This year marks the 16th such memorial, and will take place at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent at 228 Gougler Ave. in Kent.

The New Mount Calvary Baptist Church Choir and the Unitarian Universalist Children's and Adult Chorus will return to provide their beautiful music this year, due to their extraordinary performances of last year. The indoor commemoration will empha-

1999

MUTT STRUT

Sunday, May 23rd, 1999 Monument Park, Canton, Ohio 2:00 6:00 pm $5.00 per dog + donated item

The Mutt Strut is a 2 mile non-competitive walk-athon for dogs and their families, friends and admirers. Proceeds equally benefit the Canton Preservation Society and the Stark County Humane Society Contests & Prizes For information call: (330) 290-8230 or e-mail Mutistrun@aol.com http://members.col.com/muttotrust/page/index him

16th

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

and Mobilization

size the music in addition to readings and the lighting of candles. Everyone is welcome to join in an expression of support of those whose lives have been impacted by HIV and AIDS, and mobilizes community-based response to the disease. Refreshment and opportunity for conversation will be provided afterwards.

On May 16, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization will be held in over 400 cities and towns in 60 countries, making it the largest grassroots AIDS event

ever.

The annual event, coordinated worldwide by Mobilization Against AIDS, commemorates the lives lost to AIDS, demonstrates support for people living with HIV and AIDS, and mobilizes community-based response to the disease.

The theme of this year's International AIDS Candlelight Memorial and Mobilization is "Building Global Solidarity Against Injustice for a World without AIDS."

In addition, on May 15, the Akron Area Ryan White Consortium is sponsoring a memorial service at 8 p.m. and a candlelight march at 9:15 p.m. It will begin at the Akron Health Department in Akron. For more information about the service, contact AIDS Holistic Services at 330-375-2159.

For more information about the Portage County AIDS Task Force Candlelight Vigil, contact Kat Holtz at 330-678-3006.

gested donation is students $5, advance $8, at the door, $10.

To begin celebrating its tenth anniversary, the chorus will sing what many will remember as its theme song, "We're all Strong Women" by Cleveland's Lisa Rainsong. Past favorites and new

additions to the repertoire include NaAmerican

tive

After teaching instrumental and vocal music in Painesville, Mad River Township (Dayton), and Garrettsville, Weinert is now in her third career as a training officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation. She continues to participate in music performance as clarinetist with the State of Ohio Department of Music and as a bi-sectional with the Summit Singers.

The Columbus Women's Chorus

chants, folk songs, traditional Zulu and Quaker songs and several serious and humorous choral pieces. The title song "One More Voice" reflects the chorus's commitment to the value of peace, singing "Making wars to cease."

The chorus welcomes the return of its first director, Naomi Weinert. She directed the chorus during its first five years, but was happy to turn the reins over to other conductors so she could do what she really likes to do: sing. Weinert has degrees in music education from Otterbein College and Kent State University.

Millie Hay has accompanied the chorus for four years. She has a degree

from Ohio State .

University in family relations and human development. Hay studied piano performance at Ohio State, enabling her to further develop her musical talents. In addition to her love for playing and singing music, she is also an avid gardener.

The concert will be interpreted for the deaf and is the building is wheelchair accessible. For concert information, call 614878-3684.

Meet two authors at A Cultural Exchange mixer

Cleveland-A Cultural Exchange, an

arts organization for children, and the AIDS Taskforce of Cleveland are co-sponsoring two evenings of mixing and mingling with African American authors E. Lynn Harris and Ricc Rollins.

A portion of the proceeds from the events will go to children and their families that have been impacted by HIV.

E. Lynn Harris is the author of four novels: Invisible Life, Just As I Am, If This World Were Mine and This Too Shall Pass. A former Arkansas resident, he now lives in Atlanta.

Ricc Rollins is an award-winning talk show host, ordained minister and father of two. He studied at Morehouse College in Atlanta, majoring in business. At present, he is president and CEO of the Ishai Creative Group, a multifaceted public relations and project development company. Rollins presently resides in Tampa, Fla., with his partner, and is working on the sequel to his book Like Breathing, Breathe Again.

AIDS

TASKFORCE

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

The evenings are the brainchild of Patrick Washington, who worked with A Cultural Exchange executive director Debbie McCamm to make them happen.

Washington felt that this would be good for the African American gay community because Harris' writings reflect some issues faced in the African American MSM community.

MSMs are men who have sex with men, but do not identify their sexuality as gay or bisexual. Bringing E. Lynn Harris to Cleveland seemed like a great opportunity to talk with him about how his own relationships in life helped create his writings.

McCamm and Washington brought together a group of African American gay, bi, and MSM groups to collaborate on the evenings.

Members of BlackOut Unlimited, Brother Circle of Cleveland, Akron Brother Circle, CART, KNOWING and the Cuyahoga County Regional Advisory Group, joined A Cultural Exchange and the Taskforce to prepare for the event.

E. Lynn Harris

The evenings will be Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at A Cultural Exchange, 12621 Larchmere Rd., near Shaker Square. Both evenings begin at 6 pm. For more information call 216-229-8300.

These events are made possible in part by funding and support of the Ohio Department of Health and the AIDS Funding Collaborative.

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