OPLE'S CHRONICLE July 23, 1999
communitygroups
African American lesbians, gays begin to build community
by Derek Barnett
Cleveland-As the queer rights movement leaps momentously into the 21st century, one midwestern community is just beginning to struggle with issues many lesbian and gay activist groups addressed decades ago.
The African American lesbian and gay or same-gender loving (SGL) community in Cleveland finds itself re-creating the wheel of activism and community-building.
The impetus for activism among this si-
lent double-minority in a less-than-progressive part of the country has been partially attributable to the alarming increase in new HIV cases among young African Americans.
"We can't claim victory over the virus yet. The face of HIV and AIDS is steadily becoming blacker and browner, and we have to challenge the [majority lesbian and gay] community not to lose its passion." says BlackOut Unlimited co-founder Larry Webb. “At the same time, we realize that the same issues of identity, self-respect and community that used to just be 'par for the course' of being
Garden Party rises $39,000 for center operating costs
by Dan Hlad
Cleveland—Another hugely successful and entertaining Garden Party took place on Sunday, July 11 at the beautiful Hillbrook Club in Hunting Valley, Ohio.
Marking the event's tenth anniversary, the Garden Party is the chief fundraising event for the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Cleveland, generating a substantial percentage of the yearly operating expenses of the agency.
As always, guests enjoyed the casual elegance of the setting which featured a number of interesting live and silent auction items, entertainment by the North Coast Men's Chorus' Coastliners ensemble, the harp and flute duo of Jocelyn Chang and Michael Leese, and the return of the hugely
entertaining live auction hosts, Cabaret DaDa.
Although an exact figure has yet to be determined, the Garden Party is expected to gross over $39,000 for the programs and services of the center.
The center would like to extend our thanks to all the volunteers, volunteer planning committee, auction donors, and attendees that made this event possible. Special thanks to the Coastliners, Cabaret DaDa, the Hillbrook Club staff and the corporate sponsors: Real Estate Mortgage, Chivas Regal, Southwest Airlines, Republic Bank, American Express Financial Advisors, Ohio Skin Clinic, Hecks Catering, Meritech Blue, Ameritech, the Gay People's Chronicle and Gaycleveland.com.
Dan Hlad is public relations director of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center.
Softball scores and standings
Cleveland―These are the scores for North Coast Athletic Association softball games played on Sunday, July 11, and the team standing at the end of those games.
Miller Time 22, Team Yellow/Twist 7 Miller Time 21, Club Cleveland Mustangs 10 Club Cleveland Mustangs 20, Twist 2 Nationwide LeMonte Agency 11, Tuscany Tile and Marble 23, Tuscany Tile and Marble 21,
Rudy's 21,
Nickel Queens/Hard Hatted Women 0 Rudy's O Four Play 7
Nationwide LeMonte Agency 3
Team Yellow/Twist 18, Nickel Queens/Hard Hatted Women
Twist 14,
Four Play 9
Standings as of July 11
Competitive Division
Team
Miller Time
Recreational Division
-
1
W L
% GB
4
0 1.000 0.0
Team Team Yellow/Twist
W
% GB
3 1 .750
0.0
Tuscany Tile & Marble 4 Twist
2
Club Cleveland Mustangs 1 Four Play
0
0234
1.000 0.0 Rudy's
.500 2.0
Nickel Queens/
2 2 .500 1.0
$89 88
-
.250 3.0
Hard Hatted Women .000 4.0 Nationwide LeMonte Agency
1 3 .250 2.0
1 3
.250
2.0
African American and gay, are now issues that contribute to risky sexual behavior. Those are the issues we seek to confront."
However, the renewed fight against HIV and AIDS has evoked a sentiment that already existed in some, but was previously unchannelled. There have always been people in our community who knew that healthy SGL lifestyles could exist outside of the gay bars. When those folks got a taste of what our community could achieve, a movement was born.
Blackout seeks to create a space to explore fundamental social, cultural, spiritual, familial and other issues in a setting that's not quite as formal as a classroom, but slightly more cerebral than cocktail party conversation.
So what do you get when a community combines grassroots activism which quasiintellectual soul-searching? BlackOut Weekend.
For the third year in a row, African American lesbians and gays in Cleveland will celebrate their unique position in both the African American and in the lesbian and gay communities. On July 30 through August 1, participants will attend a series of events hosted by the not-for-profit BlackOut Unlimited, Inc.
The movement, which spawned BlackOut and other organizations, comes as a relief to many who have been lamenting the belief by outsiders that Cleveland's African American SGL community is fragmented.
Meanwhile, African American lesbians and gays in other parts of the country have been making serious strides. Charlene Cothran is the publisher of Venus magazine, a slick and attractive national publication for African American SGLS. Cothran will be one of the featured speakers during BlackOut 99 Weekend's conference, called The Exchange.
Another featured guest will be Ricc Rollins. He is the self-published author of Like Breathing. It's communities like the one in Cleveland which Rollins hopes to reach with his work.
"There hasn't been anything done where there are positive characters who are not confused about their sexual orientation,” Rollins said. Being gay is only a minor part of who we are. It's the heterosexuals that make such a big deal of our homosexuality. For some of us, it's 'this is who I am,' it's like breathing."
Dr. Marjorie Hill, a nationally known lecturer and clinical psychologist will also be a featured speaker at The Exchange.
Other activities during the weekend include an evening of arts and entertainment, a glitzy reception and a picnic.
Blackout 99 is sponsored by Agouron Pharmaceuticals, the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland chapter of the American Red Cross, the Brother Circle of Cleveland, the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Pride.
The BlackOut 99 schedule of events includes:
Evening of the Arts
Friday, July 30, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
A celebration of talented singers, performers, dancers, poets and other artists in our community. The Cleveland Health Museum, 8911 Euclid Avenue; $5 admission.
The Exchange
Saturday, July 31, 9 am to 3:30 pm
Our third annual cultural and educational conference for the African American SGL community. Greater Cleveland American Red Cross, 3747 Euclid Avenue; $25.
The Soiree
Saturday, July 31, 7:30 pm to 10 pm
A sophisticated evening with music, food and friends. The Cleveland Health Museum, 8911 Euclid Avenue; $15, or $10 with registration in The Exchange.
BlackOut Weekend Picnic Sunday, August 1, noon to dusk
Our traditional weekend finale. Edgewater Park, upper pavilion. Free!
To participate, purchase tickets or get more information, contact BlackOut at 888-825-5226, blkout@hotmail.com
or
Founded in 1997, BlackOut Unlimited is a not-for-profit organization, which seeks to raise the level of conscientiousness of and about Cleveland's African American samegender loving community. Activities include a quarterly conversation series, an entertainment series and BlackOut Weekend, Ohio's first and largest annual event for the African American SGL community.
Derek Barnett co-founded BlackOut with Larry Webb.
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