GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
July
communitygroups
Four-city Power Tour to address Statehouse issues
by Dan Hlad
Cleveland-The Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center announced on July 19 the kick-off event for the statewide Power Tour will take place at the Brecksville United Church of Christ, 23 Public Square in Brecksville, Ohio on Sunday, August 8 at 7 pm.
The town hallstyle meeting will be the first of several throughout the state featuring Human Rights Campaign national field director Donna Red Wing, and Promote the Vote national organizer Carlie
Steen. The events
will also feature lo-
cal community lead-
The Center
ers and activists in each of the tour's four stops.
The Power Tour is set to meet in three more Ohio cities in the next three days: on Monday, August 9, 7:30 pm at Axis nightclub, 775 North High St. in Columbus; on Tuesday, August 10,7 pm at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft Rd. in Cincinnati; and Wednesday, August 11, 7 pm at Faith United Church of ⚫Christ, 200 Delaware St. in Dayton.
The events were organized to address several important community issues, according to Linda Malicki, executive director of the Center.
"Some key policy issues are being addressed in Ohio that affect our community," she said, citing Governor Bob Taft's executive order removing "sexual orientation" from the list of protected classes in state employment, and the recent introduction of a bill to ban the flying of the rainbow
Carlie Steen
flag at the Statehouse, after one was burned there during Columbus Pride in June.
She will also preview Out Vote '99, a regional HRC political conference scheduled to take place in Columbus on September 17 19.
Steen (a former editor of the Gay People's Chronicle) will be mobilizing Ohio voters and discussing the importance of the lgbt vote in next year's elections.
DOREEN CUDNIK
Ultimately organizers hope to motivate Ohio's lgbt communities into becoming involved in the political process on the state level. "It's easy to overlook statelevel policy decisions," said Malicki. "But those laws can have as much of an effect on our lives as the more publicized national legislation."
Donna Red Wing
In addition, Red Wing will be discussing the importance of the planned Millennium March on Washington D.C. for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, its Vote Project 2000, and how that event will effect Ohio's communities.
Red Wing added that it is important to begin organizing now. "In August, 1999 we will travel across Ohio, in April,
2000 we will march on Washington D.C. and in November, 2000 we will march to the ballot box," she said. "The lgbt community is
on the move and we are changing the cultural and political landscape of America."
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center at 216-522-1999.
Dan Hlad is public relations director of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center.
Community Groups
@chrononio,
Out in Akron's Fierstein show may sell out early
Akron-Organizers of the Out in Akron 1999 Queer Cultural Festival are encouraging people to get their tickets early for the live stage performance by actor and comedian Harvey Fierstein and a conversation with activist Chastity Bono during the weekend of October 8, 9 and 10. Both events will be held at the Highland Theater in Akron's Highland Square.
Outin Akron
"We're confident that An Evening with Harvey Fierstein will sell out," said Chris Hixson, co-chair of Out in Akron. "That's why we're releasing our plans to the GLBT community first so they'll have the first chance to purchase tickets.”
The Out in Akron weekend celebration begins on Friday at 8 pm with "Queer Shorts," a one night film fest featuring gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender shorts films. The event is free.
On Saturday at 2 pm, there will be a free movie matinee screening of Torch Song Trilogy starring Harvey Fierstein. A cash bar at 7 pm precedes a live stage performance by Fierstein at 8 pm. Tickets to his comedy and musical revue An Evening With Harvey Fierstein: This is Not Going to be Pretty! are $20 each.
Chastity Bono will be the featured speaker
at another free event, the Out in Akron Forum on Sunday at 1 pm. Bono's presentation will be followed by a panel discussion titled "It's Okay. Mom Knows: Taking the Next Step in Coming Out." Bono will sign copies of her
The weekend begins with a one-night festival of queer short films.
book Family Outing in the Highland Theatre lobby following the event.
Sunday at 7:30 pm will include the return of the free Cabaret Q featuring local talent
performing live on the stage of the Highland Theater.
The $20 ticket for the Fierstein event includes all service charges, and can be purchased through gay-owned Box Office Tickets at 800-494-8497 (800-494-TIXS); TDD 877-833-8497. Contact Out in Akron for group sales at outinakron@aol.com. Tickets are also available at the Highland Theater box office, at 826 West Market Street in Akron.
The Highland Theater is handicapped accessible. All Out in Akron Cultural Festival events, with the exception of the films, will include American Sign Language interpretation. Potential volunteers can contact Sandra Kurt for more information about volunteer opportunities at 330-869-0065 or at outinakron@aol.com.
Out in Akron is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender culture. More information is available at the web site www.rainbow-akron.com/oia.
Massage Therapy
kowron
Licensed Massage The
“Experience the power of human touch.
Antone F Feo, Ph.D.
500 Center Rider Rd.
100
PASSALACQUA & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys
• Personal
• DUI⚫ Criminal
• Domestic Partnershi
• Family Law
""
• Real Estate Transactions
tesues
of
Care
Keep it in the Comm
216-696-0040
Call for a Free Consultation. Evening & Weekend Hours Available
2830 Franklin Blvd ▼ Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Mastercard & Visa Accepted