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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Pride Guide 2007

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Church, center collaborate

on Geauga youth outreach

by Kevin Barnard

Chesterland, Ohio-The Cleveland LGBT Center has been updating to reach out to a wider audience of youth. The center aims to provide social support and an opportunity to grow for every young person queer or otherwise that walks through its doors. Now, it is reaching out under the Metro Youth Outreach project to communities that are not apart of the typical metropolitan LGBT connection.

In Geauga County the center allied with some concerned community members who walk to a different drummer. Geauga is comprised of smaller, often isolated communities. The center met with Rev. Pam Branscome, head pastor of the Open and Affirming congregation at Chesterland United Church of Christ, who was eager to be involved and approached the center on what they could do

to be supportive and provide for queer and allied youth.

There are thus far about 15 wonderfully committed adults who have volunteered to chaperone, support, and extend generational connections to future LGBT young adults. While still small, the group is growing each month and the center hopes to have students from many districts joining soon.

The church has graciously offered its continued support. They hope to do programming with the youth over summer, have provided food, a supportive environment, and the opportunity for a good time, growth and learning.

Contact Kevin Barnard at 216-651-5428 ext. 25 or Rev. Branscome at 440-729-7898.

Kevin Barnard is the education and wealth program specialist at the Cleveland LGBT Center.

Join Girth and Mirth on the first Saturday at Cocktails

by Chris Arthur

Cleveland-After over 20 years and in various states of being, Girth and Mirth is still active in Cleveland.

Girth and Mirth is a club for men of large stature and the men who enjoy their company. After hosting a successful national event last year, the North Coast Chub Chaser Bear Weekend, Girth and Mirth Cleveland is still going strong but have decided to revamp the way the club operates.

As always, the group promotes positive self-image and friendship with its social events but now it no longer requires membership to be a part of the group. In an effort to build on its already growing group of friends, it welcomes everyone to its events.

On the first Saturday of every month at

9 pm, we get together at Cocktails Cleveland (formerly Rockies) to have some fun with old friends and new. If you're not comfortable being at a bar, then join the Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ girthandmirth, to find out about the picnics at Edgewater Park are along with our other nonbar events.

We hope to see you at one of our events. Just look for the group of big guys and introduce yourself! If you'd like more information about Girth and Mirth Cleveland, you can email girthandmirthcleveland@gmail.com.

Large men in central Ohio and their admirers can go to www.gmcolumbus.com to find out about Girth and Mirth Columbus.

Chris Arthur is the coordinator of Girth and Mirth Cleveland.

jim anderson *. chris schlenkerman

216.961.5959

janderson@progressiveurban.com

216.798.4100 chris@progressiveurban.com

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find family at archwood

Sunday 11am Worship & Sunday School Small Groups, Retreats, Teen Program, Gospel Choir

Archwood United Church of Christ 2800 Archwood Avenue Cleveland 216/351-1060 (Pearl Rd/W 25th; just south of 1-71)

ASL provided for all services

Rev. Dr. David Bahr, Pastor Check us out at www.archwooducc.org