Pride Guide 2004 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE A-11

Education and bias reports have kept Stonewall busy

by John Schlagetter

Cincinnati-Stonewall Cincinnati has been very busy since Pride 2003.

The 22-year-old human rights organization works on behalf of all gay, lesbian, bi-

sexual and transgender people to end discrimination and violence and to promote cultural inclusion through education, advocacy and outreach.

Its focus on education has resulted in presentations to almost 300 people this year and

The search is on for the best karaoke singers

by Troy Henson

Cincinnati-The Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Center is preparing for a three-month search to find the Tri-state's most talented vocalists to compete in the first ever Island Idol event at this year's Pride Night at Paramount's Kings Island.

Island Idol, sponsored by the center and community bars and restaurants, will be the culmination of seven karaoke competitions throughout June, July and August, where audiences will vote on whom they believe are the 12 best singers. The 12 finalists will perform in front of Pride Night guests and celebrity judges on October 1 at Kings Island, all for the chance to win the grand prize, a 4day, 3-night cruise package courtesy of Ex-

otic Pleasure Parties.

The Island Idol karaoke preliminary events will take place in Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Indianapolis. A low entry fee of $15 is required. Visit the center's Pride Night web site at www.pkipridenight.com for time and locations. The site also contains the entry application and rules of the event.

The Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Center is a non-profit organization providing the GLBT and supportive community with support groups and resources. Pride Night is the center's largest fundraising event. For more information about the Center visit the website at www.glbtcentercincinnati.com.

Troy Henson is the vice president of the Cincinnati GLBT Center board.

Crossport became my lifeline, and still is today

by Cynthia Jeffries

Cincinnati-"I have to hide. I can't let any one see me like this or tell them who I really am. They will make fun of me, laugh, call me names. Make me feel ashamed of myself for having these feelings."

"What can I do or where can I go? Who can I talk to about this? No one that will listen to my heartache. Why was I born this way? Why was I ever born at all?

'I was born a male but in my heart I knew that there was something different about me.'

I can't stand the pain, the agony. It hurts soo-o bad. Maybe I'll just kill myself, then no one will ever have to see me or know about me.”

These are some of the thoughts that go through the mind of a person that is transgendered. I know, because that is what I am. There was a time in my life when I would have been totally ashamed to admit that. I lived most of my life deep in the closet and no one knew about my secret. I struggled with my gender identity since I was a child of four.

I was born a male but in my heart I knew that there was something different about me because I never wanted to be a boy and hated the fact that I was.

Growing up in the fifties and sixties I never even heard the word transsexual. Acting rough and tough, that was me. However, there was this need in me that I couldn't fulfill. Besides that, I figured no one but me had feelings like these.

When I reached the point in life that I could

Турегісте

no longer hide myself, I had to find support. Conservative Cincinnati in 1985 had a transgender support group called CrossPort, short for crossdressers support.

My name is Cynthia Jeffries. I joined in 1989 and today I am proud to be the outreach director of this group. CrossPort became my lifeline and I still call it that today. The people in this group were there to help me work through all the obstacles. I am not ashamed any more and I am a proud and happy woman.

CrossPort's mission is to provide social, educational, emotional, and functional support for all facets of the transgendered community including their partners, families, and friends.

CrossPort offers a variety of programs, including a reference library, outreach and public relations branch, speakers bureau and educational and referral resources for cross dressers and transsexuals, and much more.

Contact the group at 513-919-4850, crossportcincy@yahoo.com, PO Box 1692 Cincinnati Ohio, 45201, www.transgender.org/crossprt.

or

Messages and replies will be kept completely confidential, and a time can be left when it is best to return calls. CrossPort uses caller ID. If security is an issue, use caller ID block by dialing *67 before the number.

Crossport is not a dating service. “Admirers" need not apply.

Social meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Meetings begin with dinner, followed by socializing and informal discussion. The crossdressers' (CD/TV) support group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Every month, all or part of the meeting is dedicated to open discussion. The transsexual support group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Spouses and significant others are welcome at all meetings.

Cynthia Jeffries is the outreach director of. Crossport Cincinnati.

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the group has conducted numerous interviews with print, radio and television media outlets. Stonewall Cincinnati is thrilled to again support Cincinnati's Pride Fest. Look for their booth at Hoffner Park and receive $5 off an individual membership with admission.

Stonewall's advocacy work remains its central focus: taking and responding to complaints of anti-GLBT discrimination and violence in the Cincinnati area. They are also databasing these complaints to identify trends and patterns, and developing several new programs to benefit the community they look forward to rolling these out later this year.

Reaching out to both the GLBT and heterosexual communities, memberships are up but Stonewall always needs additional support. The Stonewall Annual Dinner returns this year; originally planned for June 5, the

event is rescheduled for the fall. Visit www.stonewallcincinnati.org to stay on top of all the news.

The web site's content has been reorganized to emphasize Stonewall Cincinnati's education, advocacy and outreach focus areas, clarify the links page, add online membership and volunteer applications and PayPal for online contributing.

Happy Pride Month, on behalf of the board of Stonewall Cincinnati: Philecia Barnes, Lester Freeman, Lori Lonergan, James Nipper, Terry Payne, John Schlagetter, and Larry Wolf; and webmaster Diane Torrance.

John Schlagetter is the co-chair of Stonewall Human Rights Organization of Greater Cincinnati.

Youth group provides a confidential social forum

Cincinnati-The Cincinnati Youth Group provides social opportunities and group support to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight youth 13 to 21. Meetings and activities allow young people the opportunity to meet other youth in the area for friendship and support.

CYG, a program of the Cincinnati Gay and Lesbian Center, provides an open and confidential forum where youth can share ideas, thoughts and issues affecting their lives. It is a non-profit organization committed to providing educational and support services, social and participator activities, for youth 13 to 21 who are dealing with their diversity. The group strives to enhance the quality of life for the community at large by providing a positive outlet for youth and by fostering their growth in becoming productive participants in a changing society.

Members and facilitators all work for the betterment of the community and its youth by

using rules and policies to promote the organization from the lowest levels of participation to empower youth in areas where they have the greatest impact. This is done without losing sight of the ultimate goal to work for the youth's growth and development.

The community shares a common set of values for human cohabitation among its diverse population. The group encourages the equal promotion of self in balance with goals of the community at large and continuously improving self to meet the needs of all in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

CYG promotes human beings as integral and important participants in the community; hence, creating an environment that is not threatening or more difficult based upon diversity.

For more information, see the CYG egroup at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ Cincinnati Youth Group, or call 513684-8405.

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