Pride Guide 2006 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Worship service celebrates a rainbow of leaders

by Rev. Allen V. Harris

Cleveland-On the Sunday of Cleveland Pride weekend, people of many different faith traditions will gather at Trinity Cathedral to worship together in a celebration raising up life-giving heroes reflecting the rainbow community and honoring leaders and families in the community.

LGBT and affirming people will come together in a service of worship to honor those in the community who are, by their words and their deeds, positive and encouraging examples to others. The service will also affirm

the importance of families in the LGBTA community.

Using as a guide the six colors of the Pride flag, these individuals and groups will be honored:

• Red for Life: Cleveland Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG).

•Orange for Healing: Sister Marian Durkin, founder of Open House, a ministry for people affected by HIV and AIDS.

• Yellow for Light: Cleveland Heights Councilor Mark Tumeo, Cleveland Councilor Joe Santiago and Lakewood Councilor

ERIC RESNICK

Equality Cleveland volunteer Katie Alex speaks with a voter returning from the polls during a February special election.

Success in elections comes from speaking with voters

by Tim Marshall

Cleveland Shortly after the disappointing results of the November 2004 election were announced, staff members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland acted quickly to form both a community response and a new committee of community leaders to prevent similar defeats from occurring. Thus, Equality Cleveland was born. The group, a program of the center, is a coordinating council of representatives from other local advocacy organizations, including Heights Families for Equality, Equality Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio, Cleveland Stonewall Democrats and the local chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.

Since its inception, Equality Cleveland has organized a variety of events to help mobilize the LGBT community of Northeast Ohio. The group offered an activist training series at the center, hosted several rallies, held the "Banniversary," an event on December 2 which marked one year since the Issue 1 marriage ban amendment took effect, and

more.

However, one of the most important functions of the group is voter identification. Voter ID is the process of speaking with voters to find those who support LGBT issues. This is often done outside polling places during elections; it can also be done by canvassing neighborhoods. Once these voters are identified, they can be contacted when LGBT issues are on the ballot, bettering chances of victory.

Voter ID is the key tool of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force that Heights Families for Equality used to pass the Cleveland Heights domestic partner registry in 2003. The method was also responsible for the only LGBT success story during the November 2004 election: the repeal of Cincinnati's anti-gay Article 12.

People for the American Way has produced a documentary on how voter ID truly created change in Cincinnati called A Blinding Flash of the Obvious. This inspirational film can be viewed at www.pfaw.org. With continued voter ID efforts at each special and general election, work progresses toward future LGBT victories for Cleveland and Ohio as well.

For Equality Cleveland to continue voter ID and expand other grassroots initiatives, it needs volunteers. To get involved with Equality Cleveland, just come to a regular monthly meeting, on the first Tuesdays, 7 p.m. at the Center, 6600 Detroit Avenue. In addition to helping with voter ID, other assistance is needed with organized events.

Members of Equality Cleveland do not need to be existing Center members, volunteers or patrons, or any of the other groups it represents. All are welcome to join and volunteer to help secure rights for the LGBT community.

For more information, visit www.lgbtcleveland.org or call 216-651-5428.

Tim Marshall is the director of advancement for the Cleveland LGBT Center.

Nickie Antonio; all newly elected and openly gay or lesbian.

• Green for Nature: Brooke Willis, former Boy Scout, local AIDS and queer activist, and church leader.

• Blue for Harmony: People of All Colors Together Cleveland, Michael Kelley and Kevin Calhoun, co-chairs.

Purple for Spirit: the Rev. David Bahr, pastor of Archwood United Church of Christ and the first openly gay clergyperson in Cleveland serving a congregation.

The service is Sunday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave. All in the community are welcome. It will be a family-friendly service, with children's activities and colorful and engaging rituals.

Guest speakers will be Brynna Fish, head of the Family Violence Program at Jewish Family Services and Cleveland Pride coordi-

THE GREAT

PEACE!

MARCH

MUSE Cincinnati's Women's Choir Catherine Roma, Artistic Director

The Great Peace March 23rd Annual Spring Concert MUSE & Holly Near Cindy Sheehan and Shakila Ahmad

Friday & Saturday, June 9 & 10 at 8PM

New Thought Unity Center 1401 East McMillan Street, Cincinnati Pre-Concert Teach-ins begin at 7PM Friday, June 9:

Cindy Sheehan Gold Star Families for Peace

Saturday, June 10:

Shakila Ahmad Muslim Mothers Against Violence

Ticket price: $15.00

(sliding scale $8 $25) in advance, $20 at the door Tickets available at: MUSE office at St. John's (Clifton) Shake It Records (Northside)Epic Books (Yellow Springs) Sam and Eddie's Open Books (Yellow Springs) Free childcare available with reservation by June 221-1118 Co-Sponsored by: UC Diversity Education, UC Department of Women's Studies

UC Friends of Women's Studies, The Peace Collective

MUSE-Cincinnati's Women's Choir Holly Near

Cindy Sheehan and Shakila Ahmad Friday & Saturday, June 9 & 10 at 8PM

LIMBO

12706 Larchmere Blvd, Cleveland 44120

Fabulous food with an ambiance like no other Live Music EVERY Weekend!

June 3 Sat: Pamela Means. 8:30pm Boston-based Out (spoken), Biracial indie folk artist with a 'kamikaze guitar style' and punchy provocative songs. June 7 Wed: Willoughby Run, acoustic rock/blues. 8pm willoughbyrun.com

June 8 Thurs: Eve Goodman and Heather Kropf. 8pm evegoodman.com

•June 10 Sat: Crossties with Roland Kausen extraordinary vocals, described as a "sweet reedy bluegrass tenor" 8:30pm

June 14 Wed: Amy Fish and the Yonder Blue. 8pm American Roots music.

216.707.3333

ohiorootsmusic.com

B-5

nator, and Sue Doerfer, executive director of the Cleveland LGBT Center and a licensed therapist with her own practice in Ohio City. They are partners who have raised a child together and are members of Chevrei Tikva Chavura at Fairmount Temple in Beachwood.

There is no charge, although a free will offering will be received. Folks who like to sing are invited to join an impromptu choir and come early that day at 5 p.m. to rehearse. A reception will follow the service. Ample parking is available and the building is accessible.

This annual service is offered by the Interfaith Religious and Spiritual Leaders, meeting at the Cleveland LGBT Center. For more information, call 216-272-0622.

Rev. Allen V. Harris is the pastor of Franklin Circle Christian Church, a Disciples of Christ congregation.

EDIE CAREY

in concertcatch her before she tours to the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival this summer!

Friday, July 28, 8pm $10 advance, $12 at the door

Loganberry Books

13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Hts. 216.795.9800

www.loganberrybooks.com

OPEN

Located in Cleveland's antiques district.

We have an extensive and dignified wire and beer list