GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE November 3, 2006

communitygroups

The little church on the hill invites all

by Erin Nash

Akron-Emmanuel Fellowship Church has seen a lot of changes in its twenty years. The little church on the hill was started by a group of GLBT people with great faith, a little bit of money, and a really big dream—

Emmanuel Fellowship Church

to carry the message of Jesus' love and salvation to anyone who wanted it. Emmanuel's founders were tired of being beaten up by conservative religious leaders and condemned by others for who they loved. They wanted a welcoming place where they could celebrate God's love in peace and joy.

The small non-denominational church has seen a lot of folks come and go. The church had regular attendances as low as five or six in its early years. The lean times

are gone though, and now regular attendance is 60 or more. They now have a praise team that plays guitars and leads music every first and third Sunday, an ensemble that includes everything from flutes to trumpets to a cello, and a choir that does a cantata every Christmas and Easter.

A number of families with children attend regularly. This has led to a youth ministry featuring a puppet known as the Church Mouse every third Sunday, a kids game night every few months, and the youth leading the services once every few months.

The congregation may have changed but its message remains the same God's love is for everyone!

On Sunday, November 5, the church is hosting their "Come and See Sunday." The day's events will include special services starting at 11 a.m. featuring the church's choir, praise team and a special appearance by the Church Mouse. After services there will be refreshments and fellowship in the

church's social hall.

At 7 p.m. that evening, Pastor T.M. Hines will be presenting "What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality.” Pastor T. has been in the ministries for over 29 years and is currently working towards getting her doctorate in spiritual formation. She has done extensive research into multiple translations and Biblical history to provide an in depth look at where many common misconceptions about homosexuality and Christianity have developed.

Emmanuel Fellowship Church is located at 60 North Arlington Street in Akron. Regular services are Sundays at 11 am, Bible study sessions are Sundays at 6:30 pm, and there are prayer and praise services every Wednesday at 7 pm. For more information, call the church offices at 330-376-8725 or log on to www.efcakron.org.

Erin Nash is an education committee member at Emmanuel Fellowship Church.

Muse to perform 'Where I Live'

by Natalie Mathis

Cincinnati-Muse, Cincinnati's Women's Choir, will devote three concert performances to breast cancer awareness and host a women's health fair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 17, 18, and 19 at St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church, 320 Resor Ave.

Where I Live, a breast cancer oratorio written by Diane Benjamin, has been performed nationwide since 2000 when it was commissioned by the Denver Women's Chorus. The work is scored for women's chorus, strings, percussion, piano, and narration. Muse is partnering with local health care providers and organizations to host a health fair at the concert to promote women's health awareness.

Actress Dale Hodges will narrate the per-

formance on Friday and Saturday nights, and actress and singer Claire Slemmer will narrate Sunday afternoon. Hodges has been recognized by the League of Cincinnati Theaters with a lifetime achievement award. Over the course of her 25 year career, Claire Slemmer has appeared frequently on television, in major motion pictures, and in Cincinnati theatres.

In the last several years, members of Muse

Muse Women's Choir

have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

"We, in the choir, asked ourselves how, as a choral organization, could we address the all-encompassing complexity of this disease in a concert setting," said Muse artistic director Catherine Roma. "We de-

cided to program Where I Live with other inspirational music, interjecting humor and love to create a concert experience full of gratitude and joy. Where I Live is an uplifting musical work."

Tickets may be purchased in advance via the Muse website at www.musechoir.org or by contacting the office at muse@musechoir.org or 513-221-1118. Ticket prices are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. A sliding scale of $10$50 is available. St. John's UU Church is handicap accessible. Sign language interpretation will be provided. Free childcare is available with reservation by Friday, November 10 by contacting the Muse office. 5

Natalie Mathis is the managing director of Muse, Cincinnati's Women's Choir.

Oxford drag show raises $2,000 for AVOC

by Barry Floore

Oxford, Ohio-Oxford and Spectrum, Miami University's GLBT, questioning and straight alliance, premiered its fourth season of charity drag shows on October 20, raising just under $2,000 for AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati.

Over 400 people attended the show at

AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati

Balcony bar in Oxford's Uptown District, where it has been since season three.

Until this year, Truly Scrumptious, who was unable to continue after her recent public retirement, had directed the show. Kristy Kay Karolina took the reigns this season due to her status as a Miami University alumnus and as the first organizer of the show. Besides Karolina, the cast featured

Miami student performers Jazmine Delicious, Godiva Pride, Ima Mann, and Davy Cockett; as well as Miss Cincinnati International 2006 and Yadda Club show director Whitney Sierra Divine.

"The Drag Show," as it was originally named, has been critical over the past three years in bringing GLBT culture to a campus

that has been stereotyped as insular and conservative. It is now considered one of the most anticipated events on campus every year, bringing straight and gay people alike for a night of entertainment and charity.

It "was a perfect example of how Oxford should be: inclusive, welcoming, entertaining and all in the name of charity," said Leslie Morrow, Miami University's interim director of LGBT services. The show also provides "a greater experience... of social justice, truly providing students, faculty, staff and Oxford community members the

letterstotheeditors

Pryce's Foley spin is offensive

To the Editors:

I would like to express how offended I am at the behavior of Rep. Deb Pryce, who has engaged in viciously homophobic spin derived from the Christian Right. After her opponent ran an ad criticizing Pryce and the GOP leadership for protecting Mark Foley, Pryce accused her opponent of "gay baiting" [October 13 issue].

This was a reprehensible use of the Chris-

tian Right's talking point, that Foley is in trouble for being gay, not for sexually harassing minor employees. Pryce should be ashamed for trying to turn this into a "gay scandal." It is a devious effort by Pryce to conflate homosexuality with pedophilia and sexual abuse.

It is hardly new for Republicans like Pryce to smear us by associating us with child molesters, but it still is just as morally repugnant when it happens.

Thomas Klem Staten Island, N.Y.

chance to eradicate HIV, a virus that knows no boundaries,"

The first show brought in over 600 people in 2003 and nearly $1,400 for AVOC. It has since grown, moving to the bar Upper Stadium in the second season (2004-2005), and then found its current home at Balcony Bar in the third season last year, where it remains today.

It is estimated that the 2003-2006 seasons have brought in nearly $10,000 for charities including AVOC, Caracole, and PFLAG Cincinnati. It is currently an Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire show.

One student said that he was very pleased to find a community of people who were accepting and open, and that the Drag Show gave them a opportunity to have fun and find people of like mindedness in a town that at times seemed unwelcoming and unfriendly to gays.

Spectrum co-president Tim Yaczo, aka Jazmine Delicious, agrees with the student.

"The energy of shows at Miami continue to surprise me," he said. "Performing at the drag shows are some of my best memories here at Miami."

The next show is planned for December 1, World AIDS Day, and will be a fundraiser for Caracole, Inc., Cincinnati's HIV and AIDS housing authority. It will take place at the Balcony, 1161⁄2 East High St. in Oxford, beginning at 11 p.m. All performers from the October 20 show will be there, joined by several special guests.

Spectrum co-president Michaela Frischerz says that she would like to see the show break the $2,000 mark for Caracole for the first time.

Barry Floore is an HIV educator and GLBT specialist for AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati by day, fighting crime by night as Kristy Kay Karolina.

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Volume 22, Issue 18

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