January 14, 2000 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

speakout

That night, many saw the ugly face of hate for the first time

by Linda Malicki

Monday, January 10, 2000, 7 p.m. It was the Christians vs. the Gays at the Lakewood Colosseum. It was the Shootout at the OK No Gay Corral. It was the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

It was a public hearing on the proposed domestic partnership ordinance in Lakewood.

How to describe it? "Toxic" comes to mind. Scores of conservative Christians denouncing homosexuality. Unruly, uncivil, mean-spirited citizens of Lakewood using their twisted interpretation of Christianity to attack us, shouting that we have no rights because of our chosen, immoral lifestyles.

Self-righteous heterosexuals declaring that their tax money had better not be used for "those people." And that if"those people" want health care benefits, they can just take themselves somewhere else and get them, but not here in Lakewood.

But amid all this ugliness and hate something wonderful happened. People, gay and straight, stood up and faced this hostile mob and spoke honestly and eloquently about the subject of justice and civil rights. People who had never before declared themselves

in public came out and talked about their lives.

I am astounded by their courage. I am inspired by their courage. The good that will come of these acts of bravery will go on long after we have left the narrow and meanspirited behind.

Thank you to everyone who took your courage in hand and faced that selfrighteous, hateful group of people. You have created a beacon of light that won't ever go

out.

Another thing happened. It wasn't pretty, but it was important. Gay people and many straight allies saw firsthand, for probably the first time, in-your-face anti-gay sentiment. It wasn't about people hating gay people, it was about people hating you. Hating you even as you stood proudly talking about your life and the issues you face. It didn't make any difference. They were too busy hating to listen.

It was a very difficult meeting to sit through. A lot of us were wounded by the open hostility and scorn. We need to help each other heal.

The Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center and Urban Hope Unitarian Universalist Congregation are organizing a meeting on Monday,

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January 17 at 6:30 pm, for all who have attended the public meetings about the ordinance, or who need some healing from other anti-gay attacks.

The meeting will take place at Urban Hope, 3204 Lorain Ave. and will be facilitated by Rev. Mary Grigolia. Everyone is welcome. Please call the center at 216-522-1999 if you have questions or concerns.

Things are ugly, folks. And unfortunately, as we continue to push for full civil rights and “justice for all," they are going to get uglier.

We need to be able to continue to speak out and to stand in the face of open anti-gay hostility. In order to do that, we need to learn ways to process these attacks and to support each other in the wake of these attacks.

Please join us on Monday, the celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, as we strengthen our hearts and our resolve to keep moving forward.

Linda Malicki is executive director of the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center.

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