Trans Pride will have a new group in East Cleveland

by Susan Davis

Trans Pride of Northeast Ohio is now into its fourth year with plans to continue its strong presence in Akron, at the Akron Pride Center, while establishing a second group in the East Cleveland area. We will continue to meet at the Akron Pride Center at 7 pm on the third Friday of every month; the time and place for the East Cleveland group will be finalized and announced during June.

From the beginning, Trans Pride has maintained a commitment to building better gender understanding and respect within the total LGBT community as well as the greater community of Northeast Ohio. Though two of us called our first meeting with the intent to be a transsexual support group, we immediately realized that there was a much larger gender issue needing a focus. From that first meeting on we have strived to build understanding of gender ambiguity challenging all of us.

Our group does not maintain a membership role or collect dues. All women and men, all parents and friends, all LGBT and supportive persons are welcome. No reser-

vations are required, no special dress; we only ask that you come with an open mind and a sincere interest in promoting gender understanding.

Our meetings always start with a potluck dinner, with the entree furnished, followed by a moderated program. Our programs involve outside speakers, such as plastic surgeons, psychologists, clergy, etc., as well as moderated open discussions on specific gender related subjects. All programs involve Q & A periods moderated to involve all present into any discussions.

Do come and join us for fun and better gender understanding. For further information e-mail Susan Davis at susie@nls.net or phone 330-923-3413.

The Akron Pride Center is at 71 North Adams Street, Akron, and can be reached at 330-253-2220. The location, meeting days, and time for the new East Cleveland group will be published under the transgender listings of the Gay People's Chronicle late in ✓

June.

Susan Davis is a co-founder and organizer of Trans Pride of Northeast Ohio.

Pride Center's collective also has picnic and arts fest

by H. Paul Schwitzgebel

Akron-The Pride Center is the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community center serving Akron. The services and activities of the Pride Center are open to any person who is supportive of the LGBT community.

The center provides a safe and comfortable meeting place for several LGBT social clubs, political organizations, and religious groups from the greater Akron and Canton

area.

annual Pride Collective-sponsored programs that are held in the community and not at the Pride Center.

The collective also works in collaboration with other organizations ranging from small support groups to large universities to provide educational and social activities aimed at the well-being and development of the LGBT community.

AAPC

The Pride Center in cludes a kitchen area, large and small meeting rooms, a

Akron Area pride Collective smoking room, the library

Most activities at the Pride Center are programs generated by the board of the Akron Area Pride Collective, the non-profit membership corporation which operates the center. Those programs and activities include monthly social events, seminars, and educational meetings.

An annual Akron-Canton picnic called “A Day in the Sun" and the Pride ArtsFest, a fine and performing arts event held the first Friday evening in June are examples of two

and a casual reception and information area. It is operated as an alcoholfree facility.

The Pride Center is located at 71 North Adams Street in Akron, neighboring Summa Akron City Hospital on East Market Street. The web site is http://www.akronpride center.org and the telephone number is 330253-2220.

H. Paul Schwitzgebel is a member of the Akron Area Pride Collective board of directors.

Pride Guide 2002 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Egg Moon Farm

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Meet and network with women at fund's events

by Susan Davis

Akron-Are you looking for a quiet, smoke-free place to meet, network, and talk with women, a place that offers "adults only" and "kids welcome" events? FLOWER Fund get-togethers may be the place for you. Join us for picnics, parties, game and movie nights, dances, and book discussions.

We strive to support and nurture the greater Akron area women's community in Summit, Portage, Stark, Wayne, and Medina counties, while empowering women to build a better future. We do this by organizing group events designed to raise funds to support women in need in the queer community.

Some of our group priorities include promoting diversity through building sexual, racial, and gender understanding, developing community by encouraging interaction between women, supporting new members, promoting social and economic justice and equality and celebrating women's culture and

in our roles as teachers and learners. FLOWER Fund (For the Love of Women Emergency Fund) workshops draw on the skills of many women. Come find out more about such topics as women's history, grass roots organizing, anti-oppression issues, personal money management, and self-defense.

Our group will be present at Habitat for Humanity's "Women Built House." We are organizing a gay prom later in the summer, and are planning other various social and fundraising events. Have some ideas? Join us at our next meeting!

Meetings take place every second and fourth Friday of the month at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 3300 Morewood Rd., Akron. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. sharp, but feel free to show up at 6:30 to chat with friends and partake of snacks and beverages. For more information on our projects and activities, contact: the FLOWER Fund, P.O. Box 265, Kent, OH 44240, call: 330-923-3413, or e-mail flowerfund2002@yahoo.com.

d history that knowledge sharing among ouran Davis is a founder of the

We feel

women is vital and that we affirm each other

Susan Davis is a FLOWER Fund.

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