Pride Guide 2004

A season of Pride, a season of fairness

by Justin D. Turner

Cincinnati-This summer of Gay and Lesbian Pride presents GLBT people in Cincinnati with an incredible opportunity to stand up for their rights by repealing Article 12. Article 12 of the Cincinnati City Charter unfairly bars gay people from seeking protec-

tion from discrimination. Cincinnati is the only city in the country with this provision in its city charter. Because of Article 12, a gay person can be fired from their job, denied housing or refused services simply for being gay.

Citizens to Restore Fairness has built a broad coalition dedicated to restoring fair-

ness in Cincinnati by repealing Article 12. The campaign to repeal Article 12 has been endorsed by 70 religious leaders including Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Rev. Damon Lynch Jr. and the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. Community endorsements include Mayor Charlie Luken, seven Cincinnati City Council members, the Hamilton County Demo-

Queen City Rainbow Band will march

in several Pride parades in Ohio

by Stephen J. Brown

Cincinnati-The Queen City Rainbow Band is a GLBT and allies marching band organized to perform at local and regional functions. The band is part of an international network, the Lesbian and Gay Band Association.

The band was formed in January 2002 with only five musicians and two color guard members. As of 2004, it boasts over 40 members/ volunteers and seven color guard members.

The band has a busy Pride season ahead. They are performing at Dayton Pride on June 5, the Cincinnati Drag Races on June 6, the Cincinnati Pride Parade and Music Festival on June 13, and Chicago Pride on June 26. The band is tentatively marching in the Cleve-

land Pride parade on June 19, and performing at the gayfriendly Fourth of July parade in the Northside neighborhood of Cincinnati.

For more information on the Queen City Rainbow Band, please contact Gail, 513542-6683, Fred at 513-559-9987 or Lisa, 513-257-9558. For membership information, photos and video clips of the band, visit www.qcrb.org.

Stephen J. Brown is a member of the Queen City Rainbow Band board and assistant drum major.

Queen City Rainbow Band at Cincinnati Pride 2003

LGBT chamber has directory of businesses

by Christopher May

Cincinnati-The Queen City Careers Association is the only chamber of commerce for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. For the past 16 years, QCCA has been uniting businesses and organizations that support our community through the publication of the Queen City Listings with those of us who want and need those services.

In the Listings, one will find services from Advertising, Aircraft Instruction and Attorneys to Travel Services, Veterinarians, Voter Outreach and Wine-and everything in between. The Listings has it all.

The directory also offers a Physicians Reference Guide to provide a starting point to find a primary care doctor, and a Community

Resources Guide to further help people get connected in the region. There's much, much more, so pick up a free copy today.

In addition to the Queen City Listings, the association offer several social and networking opportunities throughout the year. Be sure to check us out this year at the "World's Gayest Office Party" held at Hamburger Mary's in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, June 11.

The Queen City Careers Association is a gathering of professionals, businesses, organizations and individuals supportive of human rights. Its goal is to provide networking opportunities, develop professional relationships and promote businesses that support the LGBT community. QCCA envisions a community strengthened by our support of businesses and organizations that respect personal dignity and work for individual rights.

For more information, call 513-723-5073, or log onto www.qccainc.com.

Christopher May is the president of the Queen City Careers Association.

Chiropractic Health Services, Inc.

Dedicated

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE A-9

cratic Party and the AFL-CIO. The campaign is also supported by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, the Procter and Gamble Company, Federated Department Stores and General Electric.

Through grassroots activism, CRF has collected the necessary petition signatures to put Article 12 on the November 2004 ballot for repeal. The overwhelming support from all kinds of Cincinnatians to repeal Article 12 has opened the door to equality for all. Yet, GLBT people still stand apart from that threshold of fairness-Election Day-and there is much work to be done. Ultimately, the decision to repeal Article 12 lies in the hands of the voters.

For years other interests have framed the issues, but now GLBT people in Cincinnati have the opportunity to frame our own future through citizen action. The only way to ensure victory is by talking to voters face to face on their doorsteps about voting yes to repeal Article 12. Having these conversations with voters will dispel the stereotypes about gay people and allow CRF to know who to drive to the polls on election day.

This summer's Gay Pride is not one week, but a season of activism that ends on November 2, 2004.

Ask the questions, "What will Cincinnati look like on November 3?" and "What did I do to paint that picture?"

CRF will be spending the summer going door to door to identify the 60,000 supportive voters necessary to repeal Article 12 and your help is needed. By making the campaign a priority this summer you will insure that all Cincinnati residents are treated equally, whether they are black or white, male or female, gay or non-gay. Get involved now by calling 513-591-3247 (591-FAIR) or online at www.citizenstorestore fairness.org.

Justin D. Turner is the campaign manager for Citizens to Restore Fairness.

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Looking Forward

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