Pride Guide 2004

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE A-15

TAP Center brings Northwest Ohio community together

by Skeeter Hunt

Toledo Since July 2002, the Toledo Area Pride Center board has been working hard to bring together an organization for the LGBT community of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

TAP's mission is to educate in order to reduce the prejudice and discrimination that harms the LGBT communities. Toledo is the only metropolitan area in Ohio that has been without a LGBT community center.

The TAP Center also seeks to promote community development and a sense of security among LGBT and questioning people of all ages in Northwest Ohio and Southeast

Sing Out still thrives, after director leaves

by C. Corky Dunsmore

Toledo Sing Out Toledo just concluded an exciting and eventful season. The group lost its director mid-season to a job transfer, but decided to keep on with their performance schedule. Charles Brown, the talented accompanist, doubled as vocal coach, and chorus members took responsibility for music selection.

It was an interesting and meaningful exercise in group dynamics. Everyone contributed to the quality and style of performances and were able to refocus on their representation of the LGBT and friends community.

The second annual February dinner cabaret at Grumpy's Deli, showcasing movie and Broadway love songs, was a hit. This year they held performances on two consecutive weekends and sold out both shows, even managing a little choreography. Sing Out Toledo wants to repeat this on an annual basis, so save a weekend in February.

The chorus has been experimenting with new venues and styles of performance. The "stand and sing" style has not worked well with Toledo audiences. The dinner cabaret style is much better received. The chorus tried an informal setting with food and drinks at My Brother's Place. Everyone enjoyed the greater interaction with the audience.

The participation of the membership of Sing Out Toledo has made it a very rewarding season. They've been without a director, but not without direction, commitment, and heart. They're currently searching for a director and/or an accompanist. Sing Out Toledo welcomes new voices or old friends returning. To sing out, please log onto www.singouttoledo.org. Three half-day planning retreats this summer will explore music for next season and develop some new venue ideas. Please join them as a member of the audience or the chorus.

C. Corky Dunsmore is the president of Sing Out Toledo.

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Michigan. The TAP Center's goal is to provide space for the local LGBT organizations to hold their meetings and events. In addition, TAP wants to provide a safe haven for all LGBT people, their family, and friends for social and educational events, programs, and meetings. TAP will also maintain the local LGBT archives.

TAP is also developing a resource center that will provide the LGBT community with local and business information. A year-out events calendar will be posted on the web site www.tapcenter.org and a monthly events calendar posted in the TAGALA newsletter where all area LGBT organizations can list their events or meetings for free. TAP is hoping to hear from more and more local organizations about their meetings and events to promote their causes, and from gay owned businesses who wish to be known to the LGBT community.

TAP is also working to develop monthly programs directed at topics of interest to the LGBT community. In May a free Lesbian Legal Issues potluck presenting Toledo's Debra Starbird, attorney at law, Gabriele Davis of the University of Toledo legal clinic and Christina Guenther, PhD, of Bowling Green State University was held at Walbridge Park. In July, TAP will sponsor a very affordable evening out with a sock hop at the Local 12 union hall with the goal of bringing people together to "meet and greet" and just have a good time.

The TAP Center has secured its 501(c)(3) status and has begun developing a board of directors, with the hope of having one representative from each LGBT organization come forward to be on the TAP board of directors.

Thanks to the generosity of Ed Hoffman, a local realtor and board member of the TAP, the Toledo Area Pride Center has also secured

Born

its first home, office space above the Collector's Corner on Collingwood Avenue.

The TAP Center now has an opportunity to secure a small community center location in the Old West End. To obtain this new location, TAP needs to raise $10,000 to cover the lease and all the utilities for one year. The group hopes the LGBT community will come forth and show their support by helping to finance this venture. Anyone interested in contributing to the new location can make a tax-deductible donation to TAP Center, P. O. Box 4619, Toledo, Ohio 43610

For more information about the TAP Center, or to volunteer to help, e-mail tapcenter@sbcglobal.net or check out the website at www.tapcenter.org. Information is also available by calling 419-241-4827.

Skeeter Hunt is the vice president of the TAP Center board of directors.

Prove

2004 Pride Holiday

Presented By

stonewall

Inaugural Run for Pride 5K (run, walk or roll) Saturday, June 12th Location: The Arena District

Time: 9am (7:30am registration) or register at www.premierraces.com

columbus

Cost: $20 entry fee

Art Show: "An Exhibit of Pride" Thursday, June 24th Location: Garfield Place; 36 S. Garfield Avenue (1 block E of Parsons Avenue) Cost: $25 for the Champagne reception 5-7pm, $5 for the public showing from 7-10pm Rockin' in the Streets Friday, June 25th

Featuring national and local women's talent hosted by Susan Powter

and featuring Bitch and Animal along with Katie Reider Band

Location: Axis Nightclub Parking Lot Time: 8pm

Location: Axis inside; Falcon Star Andy Hunter featuring Missy Marlo and her boys Time: 11pm

Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade Saturday, June 26th

Location: Goodale Park, floats enter off Neil Avenue at Poplar then proceed to Dennison Time: Line-up beginning at 11 AM and parade step-off at 1 PM

Cost: $75 for any type of motorized vehicle (Pre-registered only), free to walking groups

Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival Saturday, June 26th

Featuring: Marketplace, food court, children and family area, two stages of live entertainment Featuring Evelyn Champagne King and The Kinsey Sicks along with Susan Powter, Skott Freedman and Luster Location: Bicentennial Park, Downtown Columbus

Time: 2-8 PM Cost: $5 donation, more if you can.

Dancin in the Streets Saturday, June 26th

Featuring: "All Things" Simone Denny along with a Modern Persona Fashion Show

Location: Axis Nightclub Time: 8pm

Stonewall Columbus Pride Brunch Sunday, June 27th

Location: The Westin Time: 11am-2pm Cost: $35

Bat N' Rouge Sunday, June 27th

Location: Africentric School Field (Corner of Grant and Livingston).

Time: 3pm Cost: $5 in advance, $7 the day of the event

For more information call: 614-299-7764 or go to www.stonewall-columbus.org