GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Publishing the News of Ohio's LGBT Community since 1985

Volume 24, Issue 2

Published by KWIR Publications, Inc.

Publisher: Martha J. Pontoni

Managing Editor: Patti Harris

Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt

ISSN

Editorial Board: Brian DeWitt, Christine Hahn, Patti Harris, Martha Pontoni

Staff Reporters: Anthony Glassman, Eric Resnick Reporters & Writers:

Kaizaad Kotwal, Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner

Art Director: Christine Hahn Photographers: Janet Macoska, Becky McMahon Advertising Manager: David A. Ebbert Advertising Sales: Ginger Needham

National Advertising:

Rivendell Media 212-242-6863

David A. Ebbert 216-631-8646 ext. 10 DisplayAds@ChronOhio.com

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The Gay People's Chronicle is dedicated to providing a space in the Ohio lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community for all of its members to communicate and be involved with each other. This means that every Chronicle, to the best of its ability, will be equally dedicated to both men's and women's issues, as well as issues that affect the entire community. This balance will provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with forum to air grievances and express joys.

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The Gay People's Chronicle is published every Friday. Display ad and article deadlines are 7 to 8 days earlier. Call for specific dates. Calendar, Classified and Personal deadlines are shown in each of those sections.

Obituaries

Obituaries, written by spouses, family, or friends, may be placed in Chronicle free of charge. They can be sent via e-mail, U.S. mail, or fax (see above for address); but we can't take information over the phone. Include your name and phone, so we may contact you. A photo can be included; please send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want it returned.

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Tell everyone about your union ceremony, arrival of a child, or other milestone of life, in the Chronicle! Announcements should be 200-300 words, and can include a photoblack and white or color is okay. Photos will be returned if a self-addressed stamped envelope is included. Mail, fax, and e-mail addresses are above; include your address and phone so we may contact you.

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com ⚫ July 18, 2008

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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

communitygroups

How to make yourself into a good catch

by David Galik and Jim Broyles

Cleveland-Many gay men today are struggling with their search for love. Some are newly out and just beginning their understanding of the gay social world. Others have been around for a while and have

Cleveland LGBT Center

briefly experienced a happy date or two, but real love and satisfying relationships seem to be elusive for them.

The same questions seem to haunt us over and over: Where do I go to meet Mr. Right? Why does the guy who seems like Mr. Right only end up being Mr. Wrong? Are there any decent men left out there?

The truth is that people are often dissatisfied with their experiences in this area because they are asking the wrong questions. When they look into their past and see unhappy dating experiences, what they tend to do is focus only on the others they have been with. They will never completely solve this problem until they are willing to take a look at themselves.

A better way of saying this is, if you want to experience a happy love life, you should focus less on finding the right person and focus more on being the right person.

Whether you are new to the dating scene or experienced but weary of the lack of success, a good starting point is to take stock in yourself. A good question to ask is: who do I want to be in a relationship? Do I want to be loving? Confident? Aware of my own strengths and uniqueness? Optimistic

about life and what I have to offer? Or do I want to be guarded? Cautious? Down on myself? Aware of my past hurts?

To attract different experiences, start by making a commitment to yourself that, regardless of the person you are with or the circumstance you are in, you will start being the person you want to be in happy relationship.

A free workshop on social development and dating for gay men will be presented on July 21 at 6 pm at the Cleveland LGBT Center at 6600 Detroit Avenue. Pre-registration is required. For registration and more information, contact David Galik at 216351-0566.

Jim Broyles, Ph.D., is a gay psychologist in private practice in the Columbus area. David Galik, M.Ed., is a gay professional counselor in the Cleveland area.

Akron gay fund seeks grant recipients

by Tina Boyes

Akron-The Gay Community Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation is currently accepting grant applications for both existing and new programs that will positively impact the local LGBT communities and greater Akron as a whole.

To coincide with the call for proposals, fund representatives will answer grant seekers' questions during an informational session. This will be Thursday, August 14 at 4:30 p.m. at Akron Community Foundation's office, 345 West Cedar St. To RSVP for the informational meeting, call 330-376-8522.

The Gay Community Endowment Fund accepts operational, programmatic and capital requests from 501(c)(3) nonprofit orga-

Akron Community Foundation

nizations and encourages collaborations between applicants.

To be considered for a grant, returnten copies of the completed application to Akron Community Foundation by Monday, September 15. Applications are available by calling 330-376-8522 or at www.akroncommunityfdn.org/glbt.

obituaries

David Feldt

Cleveland-David Feldt, a well-known figure in Cleveland's gay and Jewish communities and a tireless advocate for gay rights and AIDS-related issues, died on July 4, 2008 at the Hospice of Western Re-

serve.

Diagnosed with AIDS in 1991, Feldt, 50, was symbolic for many people as a survivor of the disease, having lived a full and rich life far beyond what was expected. For many years, he was the voice of AIDS in Cleveland, having been interviewed by practically every local newspaper and TV station.

Feldt served as president of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland from 19992002. During that time, he played a significant role in the merger between the AIDS Housing Council and the Taskforce. Over the course of 90 days, starting in October 2000, the two organizations integrated, combining budgets, contracts, staff and boards of directors. Feldt was a driving force to make the merger happen. The result was a major accomplishment, preserving dedicated HIV/AIDS housing in Cleveland and bringing "one-stop shopping" for people with HIV/AIDS.

In addition to his role at the Taskforce, Feldt was a trustee of the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center of Greater Cleveland from 1996-2000.

Feldt received his bachelor of science in nursing from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey and last worked as the manager of AIDS programs and special projects at the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland. He was granted the title of ACRN (AIDS Certified Registered Nurse) from the HIV/AIDS Nursing Certification Board in 1996.

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He received the Voices Against the Silence Award on World AIDS Day in 1999, among many other awards for community service and volunteerism.

Feldt was a longtime member of Kol HaLev, Cleveland's Reconstructionist community, where he was an active participant, leading Torah studies and services. He served as Kol HaLev's administrative vice president on the executive committee. Feldt wrote many poems and blessings that reflected his faith and was passionate about bringing a modern sensibility to traditional Jewish ritu-

als.

In 1997, Feldt wrote about his coming

Founded in 2001, the Gay Community Endowment Fund is a permanent philanthropic endowment of Akron Community

Foundation. The fund's areas of interest include organizations, programs and services benefiting LGBT youth, the arts, health issues, operational needs and programming with a connection to the fund's mission. In 2007, the fund awarded six grants totaling $24,000.

Tina Boyes is the vice president of communication for the Akron Community Foundation.

out in 1976: “After graduation [from Cleveland's John Marshall High School], my life became more difficult. I was deeply conflicted about my emerging sexuality. I knew that I was gay for most of my life, but had repressed this knowledge... I finally came to grips with this part of myself and told my friends and family that they would have to adjust to it. I was very clear that if they had a problem with my being gay, that I could not be a part of their lives."

He also commented about his life with AIDS at that time: "I've lost most of family of choice to AIDS. Those losses affect you... Through the losses. . . I would like to think of myself as a strong person who could be difficult at times. At least I am open to others and am somehow able to maintain a sense of humor.

For those who were with David during his last days, that humor was readily apparent. He was fond of saying that the new definition of irony was that "the AIDS didn't get me," since his final diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition with no known cause, while his HIV status was stable.

Feldt was preceded in death by his partners Stephen Baron and Michael Abdenour. He is survived by his partner Jonathan Wilhelm of Cleveland Heights; his parents, Edwin and Betty of Brunswick; sisters Brenda Barkfeldt of Brunswick and Sandra Sullivan of Medina; and brother Kevin of Brunswick.

A memorial service will be held at the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, 3210 Euclid Ave., on Thursday, July 31 from 45:30 pm.