GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community • www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

CAPITAL PRIDE BAND COLUMBUS, OH

The Capital Pride Band leads the second part of the parade out of the Short North.

Volume 24, Issue 1 July 4, 2008

BRIAN DEWITT(2)

Even with rain, Columbus Pride gets hotter

by Kaizaad Kotwal

Columbus-After many years of sunny, if scorching, weather, it finally rained on the Columbus Pride parade.

The wet weather notwithstanding, Pride just gets hotter and hotter each year, breaking records each successive year in terms of visibility and attendance. The 27th Pride Holidayput on by Stonewall Columbus since 1982 was a lively celebration lasting a week, with other activities all month long. The parade lineup began at 12 noon June 28 on Dennison Avenue on the west side of Goodale Park, along with the crowds of the annual Community Festival at the same time in the eastern part of the park.

As the floats and crowd were assembling, local activists, politicians and LGBT luminaries addressed the crowd about the state of LGBT equality in Columbus, around Ohio and at the national level. A large number of politicians came out to support Pride and seek LGBT endorsements.

The parade included familiar activist groups like P-FLAG, Stonewall Columbus, HRC,

Angelina Pleasant of Ironton and Maria Harmon of Waverly cool their feet in the Bicentennial Park fountain after the parade.

Equality Ohio, BRAVO, the Knox County Gay Straight Alliance and Kaleidoscope Youth Coalition alongside many bars and clubs like Wall Street and Q Bar.

Groups from cities across Ohio were also represented in the pa-

rade, including Newark, Toledo, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton. Several groups from neighboring Indiana were also in the parade.

The march set off from Goodale Park at 1 p.m. and it took a little

under two hours for the entire parade to conclude at Bicentennial Park downtown.、

The parade marched on High Street through the Short North district, past the convention center and the Ohio Statehouse before winding up its route through downtown on High Street. The route was packed with watchers and supporters all the way.

This year the usual protesters and religious zealots showed up, but were consistently drowned out by the cheering crowds. The heavy Stonewall security as well as the presence of local police made sure that things were exceptionally peaceful this year.

Some of the religious picketers tried something deceptive, wearing fluorescent green T-shirts similar to Stonewall volunteers, with the word "Security" printed on the back and "Little Lambs Protection Agency" on the front.

But the religious protestors were overwhelmingly outnumbered by religious groups marching in the parade. While

Continued on page 3

House has first-ever hearing on anti-TG bias

by Eric Resnick

Washington, D.C.-Nine witnesses, including two members of Congress, testified before a House subcommittee on discrimination against transgender people in the workplace on June 26.

It was the first time Congress had held a hearing on the lives of transgender Americans. The testimony was not tied to legislation in either chamber.

The House passed a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in November that didn't include gender identity because sponsors feared that members did not understand and would not vote for transgender rights.

The hearing was the first formal step of an education process in anticipation of the introduction of a transgender-inclusive ENDA bili next year.

ENDA is under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor, chaired by George Miller of California. Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland is on that committee.

The subcommittee on Health Education Labor and Pensions held the hearing. It is chaired b Robert Andrews of New Jerse who supports transgender protec tion, as does Miller.

Seven witnesses spoke in favor of transgender protection. One spoke against, and one alked about the unintended c \ne quences of enacting the

tion.

Thirst to testify Rep. Tammy "aldwin

sin.

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"I remember a time in my own life, when thought I had to choose

Continued on page 5

Inside This Issue

A gay jihad

Page

Downpour makes drag game into Bat 'n' Rain Page 2

Community Groups Charlie's Calendar.. Comics. Classifieds.