GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Ohio's Weekly Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community

Volume 23, Issue 6 August 10, 2007

BRIAN DEWITT

Picnickers dance on the amphitheater stage at Kirtland Park during an hour of sunshine at the Black, Gay and Proud Celebration Family Picnic on August 5.

Black Gay & Proud celebrates varied events

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-A week of events marked the tenth anniversary of the Black, Gay and Proud Celebration, ranging from a cruise on Lake Erie to a jazz concert by Pamela Williams.

The celebration started with a jazz and poetry night sponsored by People of All Colors Together-Cleveland and Punané on July 31. A Better Place Restaurant hosted 150 people for the event, which brought out dozens of poets and singers.

The following night, 50 people attended the annual BGP Awards Ceremony at the AIDS Taskforce, although two of the awards, Best Female Impersonator and LGBT Community Ally, were given out the next night during the Family Cruise aboard the Nautica Queen. The cruise was a joint venture between the Black, Gay and Proud

Celebration and the National Association of Black and White Men Together annual convention, which was held in Cleveland this year from August 1 to 4. Around 220 people attended the cruise, which featured a large buffet and dancing, as well as a three-hour jaunt along the coast of Lake Erie.

A heavy rain squall earlier in the day caused trepidation about the voyage, but by the time the ship got underway, the skies were clear and the weather was hot.

While the Nautica Queen docks on the west bank of the Flats, Friday night's party at the Tiki Bar was on the east bank of the Flats. The Bermuda Bash, which encouraged beach wear, drew 60 attendch wear, drew 60 a

ees.

Friday also saw the Youth Exchange, a health and wellness Continued on page 4

After 25 years, Truffles coffee shop closes

by Anthony Glassman

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addition to competition than the cham coffee shop two blocks away, in terms of past ries, sheard and Truffles not only had to compete against sipermurkets, but also against bre box stores.

Icant compete with Costco hand things re

Why wasn't Brinkman indicted?

'Real culprit' in anti-gay election fraud had ties to prosecutor

by Eric Resnick

Cincinnati--The state lawmaker labeled the "real culprit" in election fraud related to an antigay campaign may have escaped indictment through his ties to the county prosecutor.

State Rep. Thomas A. Brinkman, Jr. of Cincinnati ran last year's petition drive by Equal Rights Not Special Rights to force a vote on Cincinnati's new LGBT human rights ordinance. The campaign was halted after fake signatures and altered addresses were found on the petitions.

At the time, ERNSR head Phil Burress blamed the problem on day laborers hired to collect signatures. Two of those workers, Precilla Ward and Lois Mingo, pleaded guilty to election falsification on July 11.

But Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert P. Ruehlman bluntly blamed Brinkman in an extraordinary statement from the bench during the women's hearing.

"[T]he real culprit is Mr. Brinkman and his boss," said Ruehlman from the bench. "They [Ward and Mingo] are kind of pawns compared to him.“

Ruehlman, a Republican like Brinkman, repeated this thought during the brief hearing.

"They shouldn't have done it," Ruehlman said of the two women. "But, again, looking at the big Continued on page 7

Inside This Issue

ULINI

225

Film festival in a box

Page 8

A

Truffles' front patio was a gathering

spot on summer nights.

suspected arson fire damages

Why Not III in Springfield

Page 3

Community Groups ... 6 Charlie's Calendar.. 11 Comics....................... 8 15

Classifieds ................................