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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

August 15, 2008 • www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

letterstotheeditors

Thank you, Martha Pontoni

To the Editors:

When I came to Cleveland in 1985, the GLBT community was under a rock someplace. GEAR was the forerunner of the current LGBT Community Center, the AIDS

Taskforce was called HIT and the Chronicle was a mimeographed sheet.

Martha Pontoni changed the latter into what we now know as the Gay People's Chronicle, a newspaper of substance. Now that she has announced her retirement, it is time to take a step back and say thank you

communitygroups

Martha for persevering over the years of tough times and good times, for keeping us informed via the Chronicle and keeping a quality staff that perpetuates your ideas. Good luck. The community will miss you.

Paul Zeitzew

Body Language Cleveland

Kings Island night moved to August 29

by Michael X. Chanak

Cincinnati-Fuel up with extra savings at the Kings Island Pride Night.

The Cincinnati GLBT Center changed the date for Kings Island Pride Night to Friday, August 29. The earlier date allows the center to show some love by offering free parking for the first time to loyal guests.

Pride Night proceeds help to cover the yearly operating expenses of the community center. This marks the twelfth year the Center and Kings Island have hosted this unique night of fun, rides and entertain-

ment.

As an added bonus: Ticket prices will actually be less this year; so don't miss the chance to be part of Pride Night 2008, where over 3,000 family and friends meet.

Online tickets this year are $39.99; at a ticket outlet they are $40.99, gate $42.99,

Cincinnati GLBT Center

online group sales of 10-25 are $37.99, and online group sales 26 or more are$36.99.

Go to the center's Pride Night web page at www.pridenight.com, where the online

ticket store is now open, as well as ticket outlet information and event-specific information.

Regular Kings Island season passes are not valid the night of the event. For more information, contact

pridenight@glbtcentercincinnati.com. The parking area at Kings Islands is available to guests beginning at 5 pm with admission gate opening at 6 pm on August 29. The event concludes at 12 midnight. ✓

Michael X. Chanak is a board member of the Cincinnati GLBT Center.

Shares members work for social justice

by Mike Brickner

Cleveland-The LGBT community in Ohio has been through its share of good and bad times. There have been many joyful occasions, such as the first hearing of the Equal Housing and Employment Act earlier this year. The community has also been tested by those who seek to thwart equality, such as the passage of the mean-spirited

Community Shares

anti-gay marriage amendment in 2004.

Through the good and bad, Greater Cleveland Community Shares has stood firm in its support of the LGBT community.

Community Shares is a non-profit federation of organizations that attack the root causes of basic problems to find lasting solutions. For its 37 members, it conducts workplace giving campaigns each year to provide ongoing financial resources to support member organizations' social justice missions.

The Cleveland LGBT Center recently marked its 20th year as a member of Community Shares and continues to be one of the top recipients of Shares' funds. Donations made through Community Shares have

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helped the center implement programs helping homeless LGBT youth and provide education on issues such as family law, cultural competency and gay health and wellness.

Donations to Shares also support other organizations that are working for equality, giving the gift greater impact. Whether it is through a controversial play examining LGBT issues at Near West Theater, Domestic Violence Center providing counseling

for a person abused by his or her partner or the ACLU entering the courtroom to limit the reaches of the anti-gay marriage amendment, nearly all 37 Shares members have supported the LGBT community.

As other charities begin to realize that social justice related causes are where the

most help is needed in our neighborhoods, Community Shares remains dedicated to its mission of supporting organizations working for lasting change. Shares is proud of its work with the LGBT community and pledges to continue to raise funds to ensure greater equality for all people.

The Community Shares Annual Campaign Kickoff is slated for midto lateSeptember, and is a fun way to learn more about Shares, as well as network with others interested in social justice causes. Check out www.communityshares.org for more information or to donate.

Mike Brickner is the media coordinator of the ACLU of Ohio, a Community Shares member organization.

Center has adoption

and parenting workshop

by Stefan Budz

Cleveland-The Cleveland LGBT Center presents the third annual "A Family for Every Child," a workshop covering the process of adoption, legal complications that may arise in LGBT family planning, parent testimonies and experiences, and the process and complications of assisted insemination.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen to experts from various children and family social service agencies discuss the adoptive process and

Cleveland LGBT Center

procedures from a county and agency point of view. These agencies include the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Service, the Adoption Network and A Child's Waiting.

Attendees will also have a chance to hear personal stories of parents who have adopted within the LGBT community.

Lawyer Jenine Nickerson will be reviewing legal issues in the LGBT family community such as foster care rights and second parent rights.

Lastly, Dr. William H. Hurd of the MacDonald Fertility and IVF Center, associated with University Hospitals, will be speaking on the process, procedures, and complications of artificial insemination.

This is a free workshop with a five dollar free-will donation at the door. All donations are greatly appreciated.

The workshop will be on Saturday, August 16 at 9:30 am at the Cleveland LGBT Center, 6600 Detroit Avenue. For more information, call 216-651-5428 ext. 25 or go to www.lgbtcleveland.org.

Stefan Budz is a program intern at the Cleveland LGBT Center.

GAY PEOPLES

Chronicle

Publishing the News of Ohio's LGBT Community since 1985 Volume 24, Issue 4 Copyright©2008. All rights reserved. Founded by Charles Callender, 1928-1986 Published by KWIR Publications, Inc. ISSN 1070-177X

Managing Editor: Patti Harris Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt

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

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