GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE April 10, 2009 www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

communitygroups

BRAVO to host regional training academy

by Chris Cozad

Columbus-The Buckeye Region AntiViolence Organization is hosting the 2009 Annual Roundtable Meetings and Regional Training Academy of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs from May 27 through May 31. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus.

NCAVP works to create a national response to issues of violence as it affects the LGBT community. BRAVO is a founding member of NCAVP and last hosted the Roundtable and Training Academy in 1999. Anti-violence program staff from member agencies will gather to share technical expertise and training, network and conduct

coalition business during the Roundtable portion of the event.

The Regional Training Academy will be presented by local and NCAVP experts and is a free technical assistance and cultural competency conference that is open to all. The 2009 RTA will present an overview of several facets of violence against LGBT people and will be directed primarily at service providers and community leaders. Continuing Education Unit credit will be available through the Ohio State University College of Social Work.

RTA sessions will include Hate and Bias Violence, Sexual Assault, Shelter Safety for LGBT Clients, Safety in Organizations for

LGBT Youth, and Violence Issues When Working with LGBT Elders.

The conference will also feature a community reception hosted by Stonewall Columbus and the Center on High to allow NCAVP members from around the country, conference attendees from around Ohio and local community members a chance to meet and mingle on the evening of Saturday, May 30.

People interested in registering for the free conference can contact BRAVO by phone at 866-862-7286 or register on line at www.BRAVO-Ohio.org.

Chris Cozad is the conference coordinator.

Talk with your lawmakers at Lobby Day

by Kim Welter

Columbus-Plan to join Equality Ohio and LGBT people and their allies from across the state, walking the halls of the Statehouse on Wednesday, May 13.

For the last three years, hundreds of Ohioans have visited their elected officials to talk with them about equal rights for all Ohioans regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Mothers, fathers, fami-

lies, clergy members, students-straight and gay, young and old they took a day off from school or work to come to Columbus for Lobby Day.

The Equal Housing and Employment Act will be reintroduced in the Ohio House of Representatives soon, and this is the best chance ever for it to pass. When it passes, this will be the first pro-equality bill for LGBT people ever enacted at the state level in Ohio.

But make no mistake, the EHEA will not pass if we don't work for it.

Bring your story to the statehouse on May 13 to make a difference. Don't be late!

Register before April 30 to join in on this important day. Information and registration is online at http://eqfed.org/equalityohio/ events/lobby09/details.tcl.

Kim Welter is the program manager for education and outreach fo quality Ohio.

Softball league begins 26th season in May

by Rob Gallagher

Cleveland-The North Coast Softball League will be starting its 26th season on May 17.

This LGBT and ally softball organization has been in existence since 1983 and looks to grow as a league every year. Last year the league had 16 teams within 4 divisions, over 300 players.

Every year the goal of North Coast Softball is to provide an outlet for LGBT people and allies to play softball in a fun, exciting, competitive, and discrimination-free environment.

The league would like to continue to expand and be one of the largest LGBT softball organizations in the Midwest.

The season runs from May 17 until the

playoffs in mid-August. On Labor Day weekend, Cleveland teams participate in the annual MIST tournament, held this year in Cincinnati.

Game play goes on every Sunday with double-headers, except on holiday week-

ends.

The fields are located at Gordon Park off I-90 at East 72nd Street. The registration fee for the individual is nominal since most teams have sponsors. Individuals' ages range from 18-year olds to seniors. The skill level ranges from those who just want to learn to hit and catch, to very skilled players. In any event, we all have fun!

Some of the events that are planned this year include a recruiting drive for more teams and players, Drag Ball IV-a drag softball game the day after Pride, a kickoff

party, and marching in the Cleveland Pride parade. Teams will also travel to tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, join the national gay softball organization (NAGAAA) and many other events.

If you have an interest in learning how to play softball, would love to meet other athletic LGBT people and allies, and have a great time this summer, feel free to contact the commissioner at 216-255-0103 or visit www.northcoastsoftball.org.

Unassigned players will be put on the list for a team manager to call. Please identify if you would prefer to play on a competitive, intermediate, or recreational team. See you

soon.

♡

Rob Gallagher is the commissioner of the North Coast Softball League.

Blow off the stink of winter at CLAW

by Dennis McMahon

Cleveland The Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend is coming, on the last weekend of this month.

What is CLAW anyway?

The hubbub center of this action-packed, muscle-studded, leather, fetish and Levi weekend is the Wyndham Playhouse Square Hotel on the corner of Euclid Ave. and East 12th St.

You might say, "Hell, what do I wanna go down there for?"

Because there is more life going on in those 210 rooms, one ballroom and nine meeting spaces than goes on most of the year in the entire city.

CLAW not only stands for the Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend, it also stands for community involvement, folks who have gotten up off their asses to do something about the "there's nothing to do in this town, it's so boring" attitude. This weekend is to blow off the stink after a long rough winter, socialize and renew ourselves, at the same time raising some much needed cash to keep social services running properly.

The Volunteer Dick-Off Party salutes 300+ volunteers that make the weekend happen. That's at the Shed on Thursday, April 23 at 8 pm.

On Friday, April 24 is the Big Kick-off Party in the Wyndham's Grand Ballroom. The "Storm the Bastille Party" starts at 7 pm and goes until 10 pm. This party will have the pooch pound, circus demos, live erotic art, games of chance and a chance for you to be the "Human Bowling

Ball." You must come to find out about that, okay?

There is also a silent auction going on at the same time. There's a Cigar Smoker Party going on for smoking daddies on the third-floor deck. The largest leather market in the state of Ohio has everything from live porno stars, leather, latex, paddles, floggers; you name it, it's for sale at the CLAW Vendor Market, open all weekend long, 11 am to 6 pm.

This marks the fourth year for the BDSM Art Show to be held at CLAW. Artists from around the world express themselves in unimaginable media. It's always amazing; you've got to see it. This year's winner will get an opportunity to show his art at the galleries of the Leather Archives and Museum, in Chicago but serving the world.

This year, experts in their fields will teach skills accredited classes. All participants will be accredited in their skill category. Master Mike from Pittsburgh will conduct these accredited classes. The Saturday educational workshops will be held in the grand ballrooms of the Wyndham hotel from 11 am-4 pm. Come learn what it's about.

The Leather Family Dinner is Saturday evening starting with the presentation of the club colors and a special performance of the Venezuelan national anthem in honor of International Mr. Leather 2008, Gary Iriza, a native Venezuelan.

Between the hours of 7 pm and 11 pm, a silent auction is taking place outside in the Cleveland Eagle Cleveland's newest leather bar, which

will be open all weekend long on the Wyndham's second floor.

The awesome "Title Holders Cocktail Party," sponsored by American Brotherhood Weekend, will be on Saturday at 6 pm at the Wyndham, with lots of leather-clad titleholders from around the world volunteering for their community.

Something new this year is the "Leather Hall of Fame," which will take place during the Sunday morning brunch, noon to 2 pm. The leather board of regents will induct several inductees into the Hall of Fame this year. The inductees' names will be engraved on a plaque to be housed at the Leather Archives and Museum.

More merriment can be had Sunday afternoon at the Breast Cancer Forum and Auction, 2-4 pm, on the second floor, featuring Leather Burlesque Bingo, definitely not your mom's bingo. Sounds like a hoot. Any guys out there wanna take it off to help fight breast cancer? Guys generally get lucky at women's events; don't ask why, that's just how it works.

If you wanna do something different the weekend of April 23-26, volunteer at CLAW. Work the auction on Friday or Saturday night. You'll meet some awesome people and have a great time, I guarantee it.

For the exact times and locations of events mentioned here, see www.clawinfo.org. All the information you may ever need is there. ♡

Dennis McMahon is the president and founder of CLAW.

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