GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

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Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com Volume 27, Issue 3 July 29, 2011

Partners added to Cleveland health plan

But the benefit, same as spouses get, is limited to only 15 couples

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-Council passed domestic partner benefits for city employees on July 20, but limited city-funded health coverage to couples who joined the city's domestic partner registry before May 1.

Other workers can have their domestic partners added to their insurance, but at a cost to the worker of $8,000 a year.

The May 1 limit was a compromise over the cost of granting the benefits, which is estimated to be around $100,000 if all 15 couples who are eligible sign up for the plan.

However, the city spends the same amount per couple for married spouses, which is has covered for decades at a cost of millions. Ward 2 Councilor Zack Reed cast the sole vote against the measure, leaving it with a 17-1 approval.

"My understanding is that the concerns of the administration and some on the council were financial in the face of budget cuts from Gov. Kasich's administration," said Rob Rivera, president of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats. "The most important thing for now to focus on, is they got it through

with only one 'no' vote, and we and others plan to continue to meet with council members and the administration to get this expanded at the earliest possibility to all employees."

"I am confident we can do that,” he asserted.

The ordinance was sponsored by Ward 3 Councilor Joe Cimperman, who has been behind most of the pro-LGBT legislation in the city over the last few years.

There was little notice about the vote. The ordinance was added to the special summer meeting of the city council late in the game after having little movement since its introduction in March.

While many in the LGBT community are concerned about the May 1 cutoff date for registered couples, Rivera noted that the passage of the ordinance is not the end of the story, but rather the beginning.

"I will be meeting with Joe Cimperman, Council President Martin Sweeney and a representative from the mayor's office in the next week or two," he noted. "I think the best thing about this is

continued on page 10

East Cleveland passes a broad equality law

by Anthony Glassman

East Cleveland-After two years of bridge-building between the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats and the East Cleveland government, the city unanimously passed an expansive civil rights ordinance on July 19.

The legislation covers sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, gender and disability in the areas of education, employment, public accommodation and housing. It was drafted by attorney Leslye Huff, one of three Stonewall Democrats board mem-

MAM DEBOYS

ARE?!

bers who live in the city, along with her wife Mary Ostendorf and fellow board member Kate Kennedy.

It replaces a narrower fairhousing ordinance, to which sexual orientation was added ten years ago.

The new measure establishes a fiveto seven-member civil rights commission to investigate allegations of discrimination. If, after the investigation, the matter cannot be resolved through mediation or continued on page 2

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Claudio Caviglia joins a group looking over the silent auction items, among the 350 people attending the Cleveland LGBT Center Garden Party.

Garden Party is 'A beautiful day'

by Anthony Glassman

Hunting Valley, Ohio-The Cleveland LGBT Center's 35th annual Garden Party took over Ron Bailey and Bill Edwards' Hunting Valley home on July 24, bringing 350 people in the midst of a heat wave to enjoy entertainment, food, drink and camaraderie.

Led by honorary chairs Henry Hawley and George Vassos, the annual event saw the center bring in about two months' worth of funding over the course of four hours.

"It was a hot, beautiful day," said center executive director Jan Cline. "It was very, very hot as most of the past two weeks have been."

He joked that he might have liked it a touch more if it were 20 degrees cooler, like in the high 70s or low 80s, but noted more seriously that it was still a successful celebration.

WOIO Channel 19 news anchor Danielle Serino and co-

median Karen Williams emceed the live auction, which, together with the silent auction, brought in between $13,000 and $15,000.

Williams also provided preauction entertainment.

"She was on the edge with some of her act, but she was very funny," Cline said. "Last year we had a male entertainer, and he was out there. The men appreciated him more than the women did. This year we had a female entertainer and the women appreciated her more than the men did."

"It is all about balance," he noted.

Once again, Bob Sferra and his company Culinary Occasions provided the food.

"He did a great job," Cline said.

Hard final numbers are not yet available, but estimates put the income at over $90,000, and Cline believes that

Inside This Issue

Situation 'bleak' for Ohio LGBT students, report finds

roughly 60 percent of that will go back to the center, which he said is just over two months' worth of operating costs.

"It costs us about $28,000 a month, a little less than a thousand dollars a day" to run the center, he noted, pointing out that it currently does not get any direct government funding. "It's all private donations, mostly from individuals and some from grants."

With that financial shot in the arm, Cline is already beginning to muse over the 36th annual Garden Party.

"One of the things I'm looking forward to is next year," he said. "Next year it may be on a different property, it may be a different caterer, it will be a different entertainer, so the possibilities are endless, although I know it's a little too soon to start thinking about next year."

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