Pride Guide 2002 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-23

Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio marks 6th year

by Bill Hedrick

Columbus The Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio is now entering its sixth year. The group's mission is to promote equality for members of the LGBT community by working with and for the Democratic Party

by educating candidates in the party on issues important to the LGBT community and working to elect faired minded Democratic candidates through fundraising and fieldwork. In addition, club members are encouraged to obtain leadership roles within the Democratic Party.

Dance to swing at the Starlight Ball on June 22

by Amy Crawford

Columbus-Looking for some fun this Pride month? The sponsors of the Frostbite Ball are proud to bring you the Starlight Ball, an alcoholand drug-free women's dance to be held on June 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Agriculture Administration Building, 2120 Fyffe Road, on the campus of Ohio State University.

The event is being coordinated by BRAVO, the Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization; the Lesbian Busi-

ness Association; Stonewall Columbus and Women's Outreach for Women, and is open to all interested women.

The Starlight Ball will feature dancing, prizes, and refreshments. Instructors will be on hand to provide free swing dance lessons from 8 pm-8:30 pm. DJ Kira will provide a

good mix of music and there will be plenty of time to dance.

Suggested donations for tickets are $4 in advance and $5 at the door, but no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Advance tickets are available at Women's Outreach for Women, BRAVO, LBA Clubhouse, Stonewall Columbus and Alternative Auto Care. Get your tickets early, before they sell out.

Any proceeds from the Starlight Ball will go toward the coordination of future women's alcohol and drug free social and educational events. Children under 12 will be admitted free, but no structured childcare will be provided. For more information, email womensout reach@aol.com or call 614-291-3639.

Amy Crawford is the program director of Women's Outreach for Women.

BRAVO keeps Ohio safe

by Kellye Pinkleton

The Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity through prevention education, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services, both within and on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.

enforcement officers, fire and safety personnel, health care providers, and a range of human service providers benefit from our expertise. Recently, the Columbus fire department invited BRAVO to provide sensitivity training to all new recruits. Although some groups provide an

BRAVO

Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization

Serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Communities

BRAVO is a member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) and a member agency of Community Shares of Mid Ohio. All programs are free and confidential and include the following:

Victim/Survivor Services include crisis intervention helpline, support groups for victims of domestic violence and same-sex sexual assault, court room accompaniment, hospital advocacy, police liaison, emergency housing, and an extensive network of referrals to assist clients in the transition from victim to survivor and in their pursuit of justice.

Documentation of anti-LGBT bias crimes and same-sex domestic violence provides reliable statistical data that can be used for a wide range of educational purposes. BRAVO is a founding member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). NCAVP publishes two national statistics reports each year, one on anti-LGBT bias crimes and one on same-sex domestic violence, as part of a national tracking program.

Prevention activities include community awareness initiatives, whistle campaigns, street safety seminars and self-defense classes. Our quarterly newsletter The BRAVO Bulletin includes a Safety Page in each issue that is dedicated specifically to violence prevention education.

Education underlies all of BRAVO's activities. In addition to prevention and awareness presentations, BRAVO trains extensively outside the LGBT community on violence issues and LGBT people. Law

honorarium, we do not charge for our training and 95% of our presentations are provided at no charge to the sponsoring group. Publications, educational and marketing pieces are an integral part of our Outreach Efforts. The BRAVO Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter distributed widely throughout central Ohio. BRAVO also has a series of six primary educational brochures, has a community awareness poster campaign, and distributes safety materials to local LGBT bars and businesses.

Some upcoming BRAVO events include: June 20 Volunteer Team Night at the Office June 21: A Matter of Pride Conference at the Veterans Memorial

June 22: Women's Chem Free Dance at OSU's Agricultural Center June 29: PRIDE Festival Informational Table June 30: Bat-N-Rouge Game to Benefit BRAVO

BRAVO has a new, toll-free hotline number, 866-86-BRAVO(27286). For more information on how you can help prevent and eliminate violence within the LGBT community, schedule a training or self-defense class, volunteer for BRAVO, access services or attend any of the above upcoming activities, please contact 614-268-9622, or write to BRAVO at P. O. Box 82068, Columbus, Ohio 43202.

Kellye Pinkleton is the office manager for BRAVO.

Members of the Stonewall Democrats have served as delegates to the 2000 National 'Democratic convention. Club members also currently serve as active members of both the Executive and Central Committees of the Franklin County Democratic Party.

An active effort is made to register new voters within the LGBT community and to recruit new members to the organization. Membership to the Stonewall Democrats has risen consistently every year. Current paid membership in the club is around two hundred people and the club's mailing list exceeds five hundred.

Members of the club and the LGBT community are informed about fair-minded Democratic candidates by the club's newsletter, published six times a year. The club also sends out an extensive candidate questionnaire as part of its endorsement process. Endorsed candidates are announced to

club members and the community at large by official endorsement ads and sample ballots. The endorsement committee also brings to light any Democratic candidates that are less than stellar when it comes to issues concerning the LGBT community.

Although we are proud of the progress the organization has made there always remains more work to be done. This year marked the first time that a Stonewall Democrat sought elective office. Club member Chad Foust ran a spirited and professional campaign to become Ohio's first openly gay state representative.

To contact the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio, call 614-265-7444 or contact Stonewall Democrats President Bill Hedrick at B_Hedrick@msn.com.

Bill Hedrick is president of the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio.