GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

July 29, 2011

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

letterstotheeditors

Dirty Dancin'

To the Editors:

With great dismay, I've read the blogged allegations about Dancin' in the Streets 2011. Sad to say, there's always someone to rain on a parade-whether it be Pride or Dancin'. Well, I carry one huge umbrella and I wear glasses. The umbrella is to keep me dry from the 'rain of discontent' showered on Dancin' and the glasses so I can see the festivities.

I'll be there for people living with HIV and AIDS, as I have been over decades. Will you dance with me?

Two-thirds get one-third

To the Editors:

Robert Toth Cleveland

Many thanks to the Gay People's Chronicle for reprinting "Two Steps For-

ward, One Step Back" [July 15 issue], the recent policy brief documenting the disparity in Ohio funding for HIV prevention efforts for gay and bisexual men.

(To read the brief, go to http:/arcohio.org/ index.php?option=com_content&view=category &layout=blog&id=72&Itemid=55.)

In Ohio, two-thirds of all new HIV cases are among gay and bisexual men the community that remains most impacted by HIV and AIDS. But less than one-third of Ohio HIV prevention funding is allocated for programs designed to reach gay and bisexual men.

It is unconscionable that, 30 years after the first reported HIV/AIDS cases, we are still fighting for prevention resources, and still advocating that they be directed where they are most needed.

Equality Ohio and AIDS groups across the state agree that the current disparity is unfair, and needs to be remedied. That will require leadership at the state and local levels, as well as a commitment to "follow the science"-to make sound funding deci-

communitygroups

sions based on local and state epidemiology, and solid evidence about what works to reach gay and bisexual men. Such decisions are sound public health policy, and consistent with the White House's National HIV/AIDS Strategy (http:// www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/

onap/nhas).

There are many local and state planners and leaders who support LGBT equality and understand the importance of fairness in HIV prevention allocations; what we need now is the political will to make the changes necessary. In the meantime, we and others will continue to highlight this issue, until funding decisions finally match the true impact of HIV and AIDS on gay and bisexual men in our state.

CLAW gives $34,300 to 18 groups

by Donn Wolfe

Cleveland-Over 1,250 people from 34 states and Canada attended the tenth Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend in April. The event raised $34,300, which was

distributed to 18 organizations:

• Leather Archives & Museum

• LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland

AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland Breast Cancer Emergency Fund

• Camp Sunrise

• Center for Integrated Therapies

• CLAW Endowment

• Cleveland Pride

• Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities Equality Ohio

• Leather Leadership Conference XVI

Nashville

• LGBT Pride Clinic

• Mr. Friendly

• Northern Ohio CoDA Intergroup

• Prince of Peace Community Center • Sharon St. Cyr (SSC) Fund, Inc.

• Synergy Swim

• Violet's Cupboard

Thanks to the generous sponsors and volunteers, CLAW has now exceeded $300,000 in community donations in its decade of existence.

Seeking a CLAW 11 logo

CLAW needs a logo to use on next year's T-shirts, posters, advertising and more. One iconic leather image will be chosen to represent CLAW 11. The winner will receive two weekend passes, the bragging rights and will enjoy having his or her image reproduced hundreds of thousands of times around the world. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 12.

To submit your entry, send a JPG, PNG, PDF of your design to clawlogo@clawinfo.org. The graphic should be high enough resolution for en-

obituaries

Gene Ashley

Gene Ashley, one of the Ohio LGBT community's most tireless allies, passed away on July 17, 2011 following an extended respiratory ailment. He was 73 years old.

Gene spent the last five years as the board chair of the Gay, Lesbian and

Chiropricus

Dr. David Budny

NO insuranc

16900 Detroit Ave.

Lakewood, OH 44107

216 228-6622

Dedicated to your wellness

Straight Education Network of Northeast Ohio, championing the safety of students in schools throughout the region.

In addition, he also worked on the "Back the Schools Committee," supporting Parma City Schools, and was

AUTO, WORK & HOME INJURIES MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED

William Hardy, CEO AIDS Resource Center Ohio Dayton

largement. Full color designs may be submitted, but a two-color version is required for t-shirt printing. Designs should incorporate the oval CLAW logo either within the leather design, or immediately beside or below it.

The CLAW Nation 2012 Tour has begun. CLAW is ready to help you plan your next event. To sign up for CLAW Nation 2012, go to CLAW Nation website today and start planning 2011-12 events.

Start planning now for CLAW 11, set for April 26-29, 2012. This year, the host hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland, sold out. Book your room now for next year.

The CLAW board is pleased to announce its four new members in 2011: Kip Hollar, Master Roy Gladson, Sir Merrill, and Roger Gee.

For more information about CLAW, go to www.clawinfo.org. ✓

Donn Wolfe is treasurer and convention manager of CLAW.

an avid amateur photographer.

A lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, Eugene Ashley III worked for 30 years as a materials manager and computer systems analyst for Sohio and BP.

"Gene's commitment to GLSEN Northeast Ohio was commendable and his dedication and devotion is what has kept GLSEN NEO afloat over the past few years, regardless of his health," wrote incoming GLSEN NEO president Gary Di Bianca in an e-mail to members and supporters. "Please keep Gene's children, grandchildren and, of course, Gene's wife, Linda Ashley, in your thoughts and prayers."

"We owe both Gene and Linda so much gratitude for their dedication and loyalty to GLSEN NEO,” he concluded.

GAY PEOPLE'S▼

Chronicle

ISSN 1070-177X

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