GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE December 2, 2011

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Chorus asks, 'Do You Hear What I Hear?"

by Barbara Ragon

The North Coast Men's Chorus brings you a collection of songs that combine the sacred with the silly, the majestic with mistletoe, and the traditional with the trendy in "Do You Hear What I Hear?" conducted by artistic director Richard Cole.

Toss in a couple of elves, and you have a concert that only the North Coast Men's Chorus can do. What a great way to kick off your holiday season!

Performances will be this weekend, on Saturday, December 3 at 3 and 8 pm, and Sunday, December 4 at 3 pm, at the Hanna Theatre, 2067 East 14th Street in Cleveland's Playhouse Square. The Saturday evening

and Sunday shows will be interpreted for the hearing impaired.

Songs like "Silent Night," "Sleigh Ride," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" plus "Alleluia," "All is Well" and "Candlelight Carol" will bring the sounds of the holidays alive.

If the sounds of the chorus won't make you smile, then how about the sounds of uncorking wine bottles? Once again, the Wall of Wine returns with a chance for two lucky audience members to clink their glasses in merriment and revelry of the holidays.

Tickets, $10 to $40, may be purchased by

calling 216-241-6000 or 866-546-1353, or at www.playhousesquare.org. They are $15 to $45 at the door.

The North Coast Men's Chorus is supported by the public through grants from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council.

For more information about the chorus, call 216-556-0590

www.ncmchorus.org.

see

Barbara Ragon is interim executive director of the North Coast Men's Chorus.

2 Clevelanders win in Ohio Masters meet

TODD URBAN

GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

Publishing the News of Ohio's LGBT Community since 1985

Volume 27, Issue 12

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by Todd Urban

Akron-On October 29, members of the Cleveland Aquatic Team had a chance to show off their swimming prowess at the Ohio Masters Pentathlon Meet held in the new recreation complex attached to the Akron General Health and Wellness Center.

The meet was run with a pentathlon format, which meant each swimmer was required to swim all four strokes, plus the Individual Medley that combines all four strokes into one race. Two of the Cleveland swimmers outdistanced their competitors by winning the pentathlon in their respective age groups, Scott Campea and Todd Urban. Finishing second in the pentathlon in his age group was Julio Aponte, who has been a longtime masters swimmer in the Cleveland area. Tom Stebel also swam, but only competed in the freestyle and backstroke events.

The Cleveland Aquatic Team, which is only a year and half old, hosted the first gaysponsored masters swim meet in the area at Cleveland State University as part of the expanded Synergyfest. The meet was attended by both LGBT and non-LGBT athletes alike who were looking for a great facility in which to compete. Two masters world relay records were achieved, which helped put the Synergyfest on the map as a top-notch sporting event.

The roster of swimmers with the team has now surpassed 50 members and includes both men and women. The coaching is shared by three coaches on a rotating basis and practices are held at Cleveland State University on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 pm. The group has a tradition of heading out after practice for a social meal at a local restaurant where they are sometimes joined by the partners of the swimmers. At a recent practice, they had not only home-grown swimmers, but swimmers who were from the Netherlands, Spain, Columbia and England and have relocated to the Cleveland area, which made for a very international flavor.

Cleveland Aquatic Team member Scott Campea won the Ohio Masters pentathlon in his age group.

The team is setting its sights on the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships, which are to be held in Reykjavik. Iceland next year from May 29 to June 2. In the meantime, they are competing at more local events like the Hudson swim meet in December and Lakewood in January.

Swimmers on the team range in ability from experienced competitors to those just starting out and have never swum on a team

before. Even tri-athletes who want to improve the swimming portion of their race join the group, which is open to the LGBT and non-LGBT communities alike. For more information, the team has a web site at www.clevelandaquaticteam.com or you can call Todd Urban at 216-973-4547.

Todd Urban is one of the organizers of the Cleveland Aquatic Team.

20 Ohioans join P-FLAG lobby day in D.C.

by Sharon Groh-Wargo

Washington, D.C.—Twenty Ohio members of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays attended the group's national convention in Washington, D.C. November 9-13. The Ohioans were joined by hundreds of other P-FLAG leaders from across the country.

A lobby day on Capitol Hill, which kicked off the event, was followed by 21⁄2 days of plenary sessions, workshops, and lots of networking.

-P-FLAG made an indelible impact on Capitol Hill on November 9. The day began with support and encouraging words at a morning breakfast from our allies in Congress, including Sens. Al Franken and Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Jared Polis. On Capitol Hill, members shared their stories with staff from the offices of Ohio Sens. Brown and Portman, and many House representatives.

Lobby day demonstrated how personal, compelling cases can directly impact congressional support for the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Schools Non-Discrimination Act by inspiring at least five new members of Congress to sponsor the legislation.

P-FLAG National Executive Director Jody Huckaby opened the conference on Friday. Dr. Jill Biden affirmed the power of

P-FLAG's voice and the difference it makes when changing hearts and minds. A business meeting, chaired by Ohio's Rabbi David Horowitz, who is national P-FLAG president, highlighted the national organization's commitment to the mission of support, education and advocacy. A survey of chapter leaders revealed that P-FLAG is strong and growing but lacks diversity, especially from communities of color.

During the conference, several informative and well-organized plenary sessions were offered including one on religious diversity with a panel of Christian, Muslin and Jewish clergy and another on reducing risk and promoting well-being for LGBT youth, presented by Dr Caitlin Ryan.

Reps. Barney Frank and Jerrold Nadler were joined at the final plenary by speakers from the Justice Department and the FBI discussing enforcement of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009..

Workshops offered the opportunity for sharing and learning in a smaller setting and included presentations on a wide range of topics such as growing chapter size and fostering chapter leadership, using technology and social networking, improving storytelling skills, ensuring safe schools,

inspiring straight allies, supporting the silent 'T' and increasing diversity of membership. Between sessions, there was lots of time to talk to others to get and share ideas.

On Saturday, a regional meeting was convened by Dan Tepfer of Dayton, who is P-FLAG's Ohio state coordinator and director of the region that includes Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. About 20 people attended. At the meeting it was decided that the Cleveland chapter would host a regional meeting next year. The date is not set but is likely to be in early September.

A banquet was held Saturday night where awards were given to chapters for support, education and advocacy. Betty DeGeneres was an honored special guest and gave an inspiring and hilarious keynote. Lastly, more than $40,000 was raised for the Thoron Fund that will support important advocacy coalition work.

Most of all, attendees were reminded, inspired and connected to other P-FLAGers who work to advance equality at home and across the nation. It is truly a privilege to work with so many who do so much with so little: our voices, our stories and the love we have for our families and friends.

Sharon Groh-Wargo is the president of P-FLAG Cleveland.

P.O. Box 391464 Cleveland, Ohio 44139 216-916-9338

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