June 25

on the airoff the press

Same-sex vows treated with respect on Jerry Springer

by John Groves

Even the producers of the notorious Jerry Springer Show (or the programming people at Cleveland's WJW Channel 8) seem to be sensitive to this special time of year for our people. I almost fell over when I watched a tape of a repeat episode on lesbian and gay weddings that aired June 11.

The show was remarkably gay-positive for any talk show. There were none of the fights and homophobic catcalls from the audience that have characterized the Springer show of late. Even Springer's ever-present security guards remained out of sight and unused.

Springer controlled the mostly supportive audience remarkably well, taking the role of devil's advocate to ask all the questions based on people's ignorance in a most sensitive manner.

The lesbian and gay couples who came on the show took all the questions from Springer, the audience and some relatives who opposed them without flinching, and answered them clearly and firmly. These included a

to Hawaii for its eighth season and this year the housemates include Justin, a gay activist and second-year Harvard law student, and Ruthie; a bisexual Rutgers student and the only native-bom Hawaiian on the show: This Seduction in a straight bar is the first season where the Real World cast includes more than one lesbigay person on the show.

and support the station's fund-raisers when they do. Maybe we can even persuade WVIZ to pick up the In the Life series again.

Justin is asked, "Are you gay?" on the very first show when the roomies meet each other for the first time. Justin responds "Yes," but is somewhat shocked that the question comes up so soon. Ruthie, who is quite open about her bisexuality, openly pines for her girlfriend Jess back at Rutgers.

Unfortunately, Ruthie has to take a 30-day leave halfway through the new season to deal with her drinking problem (she passes out and has to be taken to the ER after the group goes clubbing for the first time) while Justin leaves the show one month before the season ends to take care of illness in his family. Still, all in all, critics expect this to be the liveliest season yet. Twenty-two shows were taped for this year's Real World in Hawaii.

Lesbian comic Suzanne Westenhoefer portrays a lesbian bartender who helps a lesbian couple re-enact their original seduction in a straight bar to celebrate their fifth

The winner wins a fabulous trip while the loser must try and apologize to the winner's satisfaction an unsatisfactory apology gets the loser's picture published in Entertainment Weekly under the caption "Don't Date This Blame Game Loser."

The gay couple surprised the audience and hosts by making up at the end of the show.

anniversary in one of the half-hour Women: Sable sues WWF over lesbian story Stories of Passion productions by women filmmakers now playing on Showtime.

Showtime has also begun airing new episodes of Rude Awakening, featuring bisexual in recovery Billy Frank and her lesbian best friend Jackie, and the African-American sitcom Linc's featuring bar owner Lincoln Russell's lesbian Army officer daughter.

Comics on cable

Openly lesbian and gay comics Elvira Kurt and Scott Thompson were among the first stand-up comics to be selected to perform alone on Comedy Central's new showcase series, Comedy Central Presents.

Lea DeLaria, Kate Clinton, Jaffe Cohen

long-time gay couple who were opposed to Kudos to WVIZ for running 3 gay films and drag queen Christopher Peterson per-

same-sex marriage on the grounds that it was an imitation of heterosexual practices. Those couples could have debated lesbigay issues with anyone and still come out on top.

A gay couple in the audience who considered themselves married for the past 13 years, at first picked up on Springer's offer to join two of the guest couples in a commitment ceremony right on the show. The couple in the audience later declined the offer saying that they could have had a ceremony any day they wanted to in the past and that this was to be a special day for the two couples who previously agreed to have their ceremonies on the air.

The audience then watched in respectful silence as the two couples, one lesbian and the other gay, were married with all the trappings and with their families beside them. After the ceremony, gay and straight audience members rose one by one to offer the couples congratulations and good wishes.

Springer closed the show without his usual sermonizing. Instead, the lights were dimmed and the music came up as viewers watched the newlyweds take their first dance.

Real World has gay man and lesbian MTV's popular Real World series, produced by openly gay Jonathan Murray, moves

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE... AND ON MY UNPROTECTED COUCH ?!!

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? SO A LESBIAN AND A GAY MAN HAD SEX ON PRIDE DAY. ESCANDALO!

ISN'T PRIDE ALL ABOUT OUR RIGHT, AS CONSENT ING ADULTS, TO HAVE SEX WITH WHOMEVER WE CHOOSE?

THESE PRIDE DAY GET TOGETHERS ARE ALWAYS SUCH FUN, AREN'T THEY?

I became more than a little concerned about WVIZ Channel 25's position on the the film It's Elementary when I read Brynna Fish's letter in the June 4 Chronicle. The Cleveland PBS station's manager, Mark Smuckler, had told Fish that there was no time slot available for the film.

Trouble finding the right slot for the program is the same response I have gotten for the last three years about Question of Equality, a four-part mini-series chronicling lesbigay life in America today.

But, thanks to Fish's urging, Channel 25 did decide to air It's Elementary, a film about lesbigay youth in our schools. It aired June 22.

Thanks also to WVIZ and station manager Mark Smuckler for going one step further

form and talk about their lives and work as lesbian and gay comics on We're Funny That Way, Canada's first all-lesbigay comedy special now playing on Cinemax.

Couple makes up on breakup show A lesbian couple and a gay male couple were featured on two editions of MTV's new Blame Game show in which recently separated couples argue their sides in a mock trial where the audience decides who was at fault for the break-up.

Pro wrestler Sable is suing the World Wrestling Federation for $110 million, complaining it wanted her to participate in a lesbian storyline, expose her breasts on TV and appear in sexually degrading photos.

The lawsuit, filed June 3 in federal court, claims negligence, breach of contract, unfair trade practices and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Sable, whose real name is Rena Mero, said the WWF stripped her of her championship belt after she repeatedly refused to have her gown torn off on national television, exposing her breasts.

Jerry McDevitt, a lawyer for the WWF, said Mero's allegations are untrue.

Mero was featured on a Playboy cover and in a photo spread, and has been getting guest roles on television.

In an upcoming TV Guide cover story, Meno defended her Playboy spread and said "posing for Playboy for me was a classy and tasteful thing to do."

John Graves is the producer and host of Gaywaves, a lesbian-gay public affairs show on Cleveland's WRUW 91.1 FM Fridays at 7 pm. Dave Haskell, Jim McGrattan and Kim Jones also contributed to this column.

A intensely personal view of a

earlier this month to air Golden Threads and woman coming into her own

After Stonewall, a documentary about the history of the struggle for lesbigay rights since the historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion against police oppression of lesbians and gays in New York City.

Smuckler told me that he was unaware of the status and history of the Question of Equality series, and that he would check into it. Like Fish said in her letter, viewer input is always a help. Let your PBS station know you want them to air these independent shows

AH'D SAY THEY WAS DOIN' THE WILD THANG...KNOCKİN' BOOTS...GETTIN'JIGGY WITH --

SURE, BABY, NEXT YOU'RE GONNA TELLUS WE'RE ALL REALLY BISEXUAL!

OH, NES ... JUST CHOCK FULL OF LOVE, AND PEACE AND UNITY

THAT'S JUST MORE MALE BULLSHIT, RUBENS

THANKS, SOIRÉE.

❤ -

SHIT, ANNIE! HOW

CAN YOU CALL YOURSELF A DYKE AND HAVE SEX WITH A MAN AND ON PRIDE DAY?!!

WELL, I THINK WE ARE. I JUST DON'T CHOOSE TO HAVE SEX WITH WOMEN ANYMORE.

HERE PLEASE REMOVE MY PILLOWS FROM YOUR GENITALS.

RICHARD, WOULD YOU HELP ME IN THE KITCHEN PLEASE?

PSST LETS GO INTO MY BEDROCMA.

OKAY!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? ME HE WOULDN'T HAVE SEX WITH... BUT A LESBIAN -CAN YOU GET OUT THE

by Lynne Page

Cleveland-With passionate lyrics, and a rich, husky soulful voice, Mary Dolan offers an intensely emotional look into her own very personal journey.

Prevalent throughout Dolan's music is the very deep influence of a Catholic upbringing, her beginning background with gospel music in the church choir, and renewal, as reflected in her song "You Freed Me."

YEAH, iSN'T THAT AGAINST THE RULES? QUICK SOMEONE GET ME THE Homo HANDBOOK!

RAINBOW JELLO?

COME ON, RICKIE, WE'RE OUTTA HERE! I DON'T HAVE TO STAND HERE AND LISTEN TO THIS CRAP!

SURE...Y'KNOW! I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SKY-OR

THAT COUCH--

THE SAME

WAY AGAIN.

ESTA MUJER ME ESTA VOLVIENDOME LOCO!!

CHEESY PRIDE PUFFS ANYONE?

CHELÉSABOYS.COM

When her new CD, Another Holy Day, first begins, one hears a church organ followed shortly after by the mournful sounds of a harmonica, accentuated by a drum roll that leads into the lyrics of "How About You." So begins our journey into Mary Dolan's very personal, impassioned struggle questioning love, longing, mental anguish and emotional despair, a theme of love and struggle intertwined with influences of a holy background.

One is struck by the intensely personal reflections, revelations and experiences of a woman coming into her own. Anyone who has struggled with the issues of their own sexuality and the influences of a religious background, who has needed to hide their love and desired to break the cadence of conformity, will be able

Mary Dolan

to relate to the words sung by Mary Dolan. This is what makes Dolan very real to the listener.

As we all know, sometimes there is a heavy emotional price for our freedom, as she hints of mental anguish and breakdown in "Where Melancholy Goes." The song captures the images, thoughts, and emotions experienced with a crisis, reflected in her lyrics, "This is when you start smoking cigarettes, this is when you learn to watch too much TV, this is where you might meet Jesus, this is where you will find someone just like me.'

Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyricist, collaborates with Mary on three tracks of this CD, including "You Freed Me,” which is due to be released on adult-contemporary radio stations. Dolan's music exudes passion, depth, and tremendous honesty. Mary Dolan will perform on July 2 at the 5¢ Decision at 4365 State Rd. in Cleveland.

Lynne Page is a freelance writer living in Cleveland.