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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE February 16, 2001
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eveningsout
Cleveland is burning
by Anthony Glassman
February 23 marks a milestone for the black gay community in Cleveland.
Something is coming, something which will secure Cleveland's place on the map in terms of being young, black and gay.
It's being brought here by Club 1722, a youth group founded and run by BlackOut Unlimited.
It will bring people from as far away as New York City and Chicago, and as close as Youngstown, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
It is the Flawless Ball, Club 1722's house ball.
For those of you who don't know what a "house ball" is, perhaps an explanation is in order.
In large urban areas, gay black men will often group together in "houses," cliques of friends who hang out together, support each other emotionally, and, in the case of the balls, compete together. A house is a family, a family created by the people in it.
The balls are extravaganzas organized by houses, featuring drag shows and competitions with categories both in and out of what is best known as drag. Some of the categories might be for acting straight, being convincing. Others can be best use of high-fashion designer clothes, or most convincing woman.
The ball scene was immortalized in the 1990 documentary film Paris is Burning, which focused on the balls in New York, immortalizing the House of Chanel and the House of LaBeija, among others.
And now the balls are coming to Cleveland.
Actually, balls have been held in Cleveland all along, according to Chris Coleman, public relations and volunteer coordinator for the Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Center and the adult advisor for Club 1722. The problem lies in the insulation of the white gay community to the happenings in the black gay community.
That should change.
This ball, being held at the Club Center at 8800 Woodland Ave., the site of at least one previous ball, promises to be the biggest such event in Cleveland's history. DJ Robbie Rob, the premiere spin-master for Northeast Ohio's black gay community, will provide the music, the backbone for the evening. The evening will be emceed by Neo Rode'o, who hosted a ball in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, providing motivation for the competitors as well as introducing them and providing commentary for the audi-
ence.
"Some of these [Cleveland] kids travel quite a distance to participate in these balls in places such as Detroit, Chicago, New York and Pittsburgh," Coleman said.
There will also be a performance by the Lady Deception,, one of Cleveland's premiere illusionists.
With categories as diverse as voguing, labels, and big girl runway, the competition promises to be fierce as well.
However, there is a greater reason for the gala than simply to have fun and enjoy the festivities.
The event, hopes Coleman, will raise community awareness of Club 1722, one of the few gay youth groups in the nation focusing on minority youth. The members of the group make up safer-sex packets which they distribute at clubs and get the word out about the club, and the ball should enable them to do that on a grand scale.
The group used to meet at the Red Cross on the east side, where a lot of the young people live. Over the summer, however, the meetings moved to the center's new location at 6600 Detroit Avenue.
"At times, we would have three or four kids show up," recalls Coleman. “At the last drop-in, we had 19 kids.”
The group meets every Thursday from six to eight in the evening at the center, giving LGBT youth of color a safe space to hang out and express their concerns.
"We're here to help them achieve in this life," Coleman said. "I believe [group cofounder] Larry Webb is very committed to that endeavor."
The question may occur to some, however, that with the Prysm youth group being run through the center, why is there also a minority-only youth group as well?
"I believe that the kids feel more comfortable," Coleman explained. "They might have needs that wouldn't necessarily be met with a multicultural group."
Club 1722 has had recent challenges coping with the scope of their mission, in fact. Originally conceived as a group for African-American gay male youth, they have since added lesbians to their focus. They also now have some Latino members as well.
Club 1722 enables young LGBT people who do not grow up in positions of societal privilege to network, to gain support and understanding, and to learn about their lives and the lives of those who have come before them. The Flawless Ball should give 1722 a wonderful opportunity to spread that message further across metropolitan Cleveland, and if some of the people attending the ball take the idea back home with them, perhaps to other urban areas as well.
♡
The Flawless Ball will be held February 23 at 10 pm at the Club Center, 8800 Woodland Ave, Cleveland. Tickets are $8 before 11 pm, and $12 after. For more information, call Club 1722 at 216-752-1722, or Tyrese at 216-961-9353.
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"I DO."
So, you've found the love of your life and you want to get married.
Now what?
In Honor of National Freedom to Marry Day
the Lesbian/Gay Community Service Center and the Religious and Spiritual Leaders Group invite you to an affirmation of same-gender unions, and a presentation and discussion on same-gender commitment ceremonies and gay marriage.
Wednesday, February 21st from 7pm-9pm
At The Center
6600 Detroit Ave.
,L
Keynote speaker: Rev. Mary Grigolia
Pastor of Urban Hope Unitarian Universalist Congregation & Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
on "The Meaning of Marriage"