GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

January 15, 2010 www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

letterstotheeditors

Ordinance story lacked a TG voice

To the Editors:

I am e-mailing you because of my continued disappointment with how the coverage of this important ordinance has been reported ["Cleveland passes protections for transgender people," December 4].

First of all it is obvious that reporter Eric Resnick is in support of what Ask Cleveland has been doing, which is not a bad thing in and of itself, but when it makes the reporting one-sided, that's where the problem is.

I am very disheartened that none of the article that have covered this issue included a quote from the very community that it affects mine! I stood right in front of him at the Finance Committee meeting while he was asking Sue Doerfer what she thought about the amendment to the piece.

At that point I said to him that I thought he should be asking the opinion of a

Lets go somewhere romantic for dinner!

Okay... where? Advertise in the

transgender individual, since it affects them. He then said to me "Okay, here is your chance to be heard" and he asked me what I thought about the amendment. I find it interesting that my words were no where to be found in the article, nor those of any other transgender person.

I started working on this bill with Councilman Santiago in February of 2008 along with Adam Apple and Heidi Mercer (an intern at the Center back then) and after Santiago introduced the piece in August, other LGBT organizations came along side to assure its passage.

Ask Cleveland was not even a blip on the radar and yet they are the ones Resnick has continually given credit to for this law and the other organizations are ridiculed for their efforts to work collaboratively with City Council and the people of color community.

Each group played a part in getting this

News Briefs

Continued from page 3

earlier this month, and Ohio was among the states getting the lowest score, 1.5. One point was for a federal law that applies in every state, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crime Act passed last year. Another half-point was granted for what the organization called "not-tested joint adoption."

Court cases have gone both ways in Ohio for adoptions involving same-sex couples. California, Iowa, New Jersey and Vermont all scored 5.5, although California would have had a perfect 6 when same-sex marriage was legal there. Had the New

Ilaw passed and that should be celebrated because my community is better off because of it, but because of bad reporting and incorrect information it has soured the moment. Are there things that still need to be done for this piece to be fully inclusive? Absolutely, but the transgender community is better off today than it was before it passed. Sometimes it takes small steps to get to where we want to be. If we try and take too many steps at a time, sometimes we fall and lose our footing, and we can't afford to do that since we have come so far in this fight.

Please know how much I appreciate all the work each of the reporters do at the Chronicle and how important it is to the community, but I would be doing a disservice to the transgender community and the LGB community if I did not speak up and say anything on this issue.

Jake Nash Cleveland

Jersey senate passed their same-sex marriage bill last week, the state would have also garnered a 6. *.

Compiled from wire reports by Brian DeWitt, Anthony Glassman and Patti Harris.

keeping score

Chronicle Friday bowling standings

Let the LGBT community know about your restaurant!

Call David today for more information! 440-986-0051 Ask for David

Nancy Marcus, S.J.D.

Attorney at Law

Berkman, Gordon, Murray & DeVan

Constitutional Law and Civil Rights

Trial and Appellate Practice

Cleveland-These are the standings of the North Coast Bowling Association's Friday night bowling league at the beginning of the season's second half on January 8. The Friday night league is a fun social league with plenty of openings. Both fulltime bowlers as well as alternates are needed. No experience is necessary. Bowling begins at 7 pm Fridays at Ambassador Superior Lanes, 1500 Superior Ave. in downtown Cleveland, and finishes by 9:30 pm. For more information, contact the league at 216-228-6966 or 216-481-4417, or see www.ncbafriday.org.

Team

1. Beyond a Mess

Sunday bowling standings

Cleveland-These are the standings of the North Coast Bowling Association's Sunday league after the games on January 3.

The Sunday league is northeast Ohio's original gay bowling league, now in its 30th season. They bowl at Freeway Lanes of Parma, 12859 Brookpark Rd. near West 130th St., at 1 pm. Practice starts at 12:45 pm. See the website at www.ncbasunday.com or contact Greg McPherson at 216-536-6999 for more information.

Won

Lost

18 3

Division 1

Won Lost

Team

2. Golden Boyz

Deadwood

Criminal Defense

3. Hang'en on the Edge

4. Queens of Nines

Flame Throwers

5. Strike it Up

6. Dead Wood

LGBT Center Buns o' Fun

7. Triple XXX Turkeys

8. B.I.L.F.

Cocktails

9. Stallions

10. Gutter Girls

Division 2

11. Tied Up & Twisted

Riding the Edge

Kitsch City

17.3 Black Men & a Bitch 18. Ball Busters

Dianna's Deli

19. Mines in the Gutter

Hush

20. Superstars

Personal Injury Medical Malpractice General Civil Practice

Free Initial Consultation

(216) 781-5245 www.bgmdlaw.com nmarcus@bgmdlaw.com 55 Public Square, Suite 2200 Cleveland, OH 44113-1949

12. Alley Katz

13. Lightning Strikes

14. B.F.T.S. II

15. Wicked Twistas

16. Cheap 'n' Easy

22222OOOOO

127

GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

ISSN 1070-177X

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