6 GAYEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

February 27, 2009

•

www.GayPeoples Chronicle.com

letterstotheeditors

Colombia has full human rights

To the Editors:

We have come a long way.

In January, the Colombian Supreme Court gave full legal rights to same sex couples, including citizenship to domestic partners. The contrast to the U.S. and particularly Cleveland is shocking.

In a country that is consecrated every year, by the Catholic hierarchy, to the "Sacred Heart of Jesus," there was no fuss. Even after a very positive article in El Tiempo, the main Colombian newspaper, there were very few fundamentalist comments.

My partner was delighted to hear that he can be a Colombian citizen and inherit the family farms. He also noted the different reaction to the Plain Dealer articles by

Connie Schulz and Regina Brett. Many Clevelanders wrote so many stupid and negative things about the columnists and the action of the city to create a domestic partner registry. A registry without any legal implications.

Not a single negative response in Colombia to the article in El Tiempo.

And not because Colombians don't write; a recent article about legalized abortion, only legal in Colombia for two years, generated many negative comments.

I learned a lot from El Tiempo. With 8 million inhabitants, Bogotá has more than 100 LGBT bars, an office in charge of implementing gay rights policies and 80 nonprofit organizations to help the wellbeing of the LGBT community.

Because of the acceptance and tolerance,

communitygroups

new generations are coming out earlier and with less trauma. There is something like our GLSEN, to help teachers and students in schools and universities.

Some activists made note of the progress, there were sodomy laws until the 1991 constitution, and they were enforced very often. A teacher in my medical school went to jail in 1964 and lost his job and his medical practice when he was labeled a criminal.

The fight for domestic partnership was not easy, but the contrast is sad: Colombians are celebrating full human rights and Cleveland is fighting an ordinance without any rights.

Julio Aponte Cleveland

Join GLSEN for a celebration of change

by Anthony Adkisson and Judy Connolly

Cleveland-Join the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Northeast Ohio for a celebration of change at Bounce on Saturday, February 28 at 3 pm.

Come out and meet the new board; gather together with the individuals who will guide the organization into the future. Meet faces both new and familiar, allies and supporters of our Northeastern Ohio communities.

They include a diverse group of experienced educators and LGBT organization

founders and leaders with the financial expertise, strategic vision and heart that will lead the chapter into a future that builds upon its history-making past.

Have a dialogue, get acquainted, ask them why they accepted the invitation to join the board. Tell them what you would like to see for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Northeast Ohio.

Find out what the fresh perspective is that each brings to the board.

There is new national leadership for GLSEN, and the Northeast Ohio group made history last year by releasing the Ohio Edu-

cators Guide to LGBT Resources. Come see what the future will hold for the effort to make safe schools for all students.

And, of course, there'll be music, food and a cash bar.

Bounce is located inside Union at 2814 Detroit Ave.

information,

For more www.glsen.org/northeastoh.

visit

Anthony Adkisson and Judy Connolly are board members of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of Northeast Ohio.

Director seeks stories of 'When I knew'

by Kris Harrington

Youngstown-Director Robert Dennick Joki is looking for stories from LGBT writers about when you realized that you were gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, for an upcoming production. Stories are also sought from the point of view of friends, family members, allies, co-workers, etc.

Write about the fears, frustrations, relief, secrecy, beginnings, and endings of your experience. You don't have to be an awardwinning author or a professional journalist, all you have to be is a real person with a story to share.

These stories will be used in conjunction with Joki's original theatrical production, When I Knew... and How It Saved Me, to be performed at the Oakland Center for the Arts on April 17 and 18.

The purpose of this project is to raise awareness about LGBT equality and to support the local LGBT community through the Mahoning Valley Pride Center. All proceeds will benefit downtown Youngstown's first gay pride festival, which will take place on June 6.

Please send, as a Microsoft Word attachment, your submission to wheniknew

show@yahoo.com. Include in your cover e-mail a brief biography with your name, contact information, age, gender or gender identity, and anything else you'd like us to know.

Anonymous submissions won't be accepted, but names may be withheld from the performance at the author's request. Submission deadline is Friday, April 10.

Kris Harrington is a board member of the Oakland Center for the Arts.

Don't miss a single issue.

Subscribe to the Chronicle today!

26 Issues for $30.00 or 52 Issues for $60.00

If you'd like to receive the Chronicle first class mail, $43.00 for 26 Issues or $86.00 for 52 Issues

Enclosed is my check for $.

Name

Address

City

Phone ( )

MasterCard

OVISA

Name on Card.

Card #

for

State.

Zip.

Issues

Check or Money Order Enclosed

Exp. Date

If paying by MasterCard or VISA, fax this form to 216-631-1052 or call 216-631-8646,toll free 800-426-5947.

Send filled-out form with payment to: Gay People's Chronicle, PO Box 5426, Cleveland, OH 44101

GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Managing Editor: Patti Harris

Associate Editor: Brian DeWitt

Art Director: Robin Stone

ISSIN

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

Kaizaad Kotwal, Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner

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

1070-177X

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 a forum to air grievances and express joys.

The Gay People's Chronicle is copyrighted under federal law. Any reproduction of its contents is prohibited unless permission is obtained.

Any material submitted for publication will be subject to editing. The Chronide cannot guarantee return of any such materials unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

The Gay People's Chronicle is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. We reserve the right to reject advertising which is unsuitable for our publication.

One copy of the Gay People's Chronicle is available free of charge for each reader. Copies of the Gay People's Chronicle which have not been picked up for the purpose of reading them remain the property of KWIR Publications, Inc. Any unauthorized person who takes or moves multiple copies of the Gay People's Chronicle to prevent other people from seeing or reading them shall be considered guilty of theft. Violators will be prosecuted. Multiple copies can be sent to any distribution point free of charge. Please call for information.

P.O. Box 5426 Cleveland, Ohio 44101 216-631-8646 E-mail:

Chronicle@ChronOhio.com

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Letters to the Editor

The Chronicle encourages everyone to write and express your opinion about the community or the paper. Please, however, keep letters constructive, and avoid namecalling and personal attacks. Please be brief. We reserve the right to edit letters. We will print your name unless you specifically ask us not to.

Letters must include a street address and phone, for verification only. They can be sent via U.S. mail or fax to the addresses in the masthead above, or by email to Letters@ChronOhio.com.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are $15 for 13 issues, $30 for 26 issues (Full year). For faster first-class delivery, add 50¢ per issue to cover extra postage: $21.50 for 13 issues, $43 for 26 issues(Full year).

Mail check or money order with your address to Chronicle Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland Ohio 44101. To use Mastercard or Visa, include your signature, card number, expiration date, and your name as it appears on the card.

Deadlines

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 the 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.

Milestones

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.