GAY PEOPLE'S▾

Chronicle

Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

Volume 27, Issue 7 September 23, 2011

ROBIN STONE

'Don't ask' is gone

Law's repeal ends a 233-year military ban on gays and lesbians

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-As LGBT veterans, service personnel and civilians across the nation watched the clock tick over to midnight, striking in September 20, the “don't ask, don't tell" law barring openly gay and lesbian members ended, bringing to a close 233 years of prohibition.

Cleveland's celebrations, organized by Northeast Ohio American Veterans for Equal Rights, were held at Twist Social Club, and group president Marie Ann Bohusch estimated over 100 people turned out on a Monday night to fete the end of the discriminatory policy.

"We had veterans showing up as early as happy hour, and many stayed until last call at 2 am,” she said. “I would say it was definitely well-attended."

President Barack Obama released a statement for the occasion, noting, “As of today, patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. As of today, our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members."

"And today, as commander in chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know

that your country deeply values your service," the release states.

Rep. Marcia Fudge of Warrensville Heights also released a statement, noting, "Repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' is a victory for fairness and justice. We are stronger as a nation when all men and women who are willing to sacrifice their lives in defense of our freedoms are free to make that commitment without hiding their sexual orientation or compromising their personal identity. This historic milestone is welcome and long overdue."

Alexander Nicholson, a veteran honorably discharged early in the life of DADT and now executive director of Servicemembers United, said, "On March 15, 1778, the first American servicemember was drummed out of the military for being gay. Since then, tens of thousands more have had their careers ruined and their lives turned upside down by a succession of anti-gay policies and regulations, culminating in the codification of an anti-gay statute in 1993 with the passage of the don't ask, don't tell law."

He noted a total of 14,346 people discharged in the 18 years of DADT, including one this year, after Obama signed the repeal bill continued on page 2

BRIAN DEWITT

Veterans Brian Tupaz, Paul Demming and Marie Ann Bohusch toast the end of the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members by popping silver party streamers at 12:01 am on September 20.

GHEY

Three days of fun

SO GHEY

SO GHEY.

Jaimie Wilson and Becky Jensen, both of Lakewood, share a playful moment in front of their Gheystuff.com booth at the Ohio Lesbian Festival near Columbus. The festival filled three days again this year. Story on page 3.

Council hears from public on domestic partnership benefits

by Anthony Glassman

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County councilors heard from supporters and a few opponents of domestic partner insurance benefits for county employees on September 16.

The proposed measure, which would grant partners the same benefits that spouses get, was put forward last month by councilor Sunny Simon of District 11. Five other members have signed on as cosponsors: President C. Ellen Connally of District 9, Dale Miller of District 2, Yvonne Conwell of District 7, Julian Rogers of District 10 and Dan Brady of District 3. That leaves five other members whose support is possible but not yet committed.

The city of Cleveland enacted similar partner benefits for city workers in July, and Cleveland Heights has had them for years. Members of the Justice Af-

fairs Committee and the Human Resources, Appointments and Equity Committee held a joint meeting to hear the public testimony.

“They heard from a few opponents, no organized opposition necessarily, but there were a few opponents, some with religious concerns, some with very interesting arguments about how we need to have babies and this won't get people to have babies," said Cleveland Stonewall Democrats president Rob Rivera. "By far, though, most of the people that testified were supporters."

Those supporters included CSD board members Kate Kennedy, Leslye Huff, her wife Mary Ostendorf and Steven Bennett.

Among other members of the organization who spoke for extending the benefits were two

Inside This Issue

Equality bill is back in the Statehouse next week

opposite-sex married couples, Rev. Bob and Joyce Strommen, and Cullen and Anne Sweeney.

"That was wonderful, to have two straight couples up there," Rivera said. "Another person who testified is a guy running for Shaker Heights City Council, Dartanian Warr, who is new to us, talking about how his eyes have been opened in the last few weeks going door to door campaigning and meeting so many of us."

"His testimony was quite powerful, I understand," Rivera noted.

Warr, in addition to his candidacy, is a former commander in the Air Force.

The council committees are circulating a survey through the end of the month to get a grasp on how many employees would

continued on page 10

News Briefs

Page 2

Bruce LaBruce's latest trans-

Charlie's Calendar Resource Directory Classifieds

gression: Reanimation sex

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

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