GAY PEOPLE'S▾

Chronicle

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

The lawmaker and the queen

G.L HONAKER, VISION VIDEO

State Rep. Nickie Antonio and Stevie Reese Desmond keep the crowd going at the January 22 HerHRC event at Brothers Lounge in Cleveland, one of three of the events in Ohio. The evening began with a VIP party featuring speed dating, before moving on to a dream date auction and a live performance by Anne E. DeChant. According to organizers, about 250 women turned out for the event. The next HRC Cleveland event will be the annual Equality Bowling, this year held on Saturday, April 14. The location will be announced closer to the day. For more information about the Cleveland Steering Committee of the Human Rights Campaign, go to www.hrc.org/steering-committees/cleveland.

Center will probably remain in Cleveland, but may be smaller

by Brian DeWitt

Cleveland-The Cleveland LGBT Center's new location should be at street level, have good parking, be wheelchair-accessible and be in an easily-reached area.

These are some of the qualities given as most desirable in a survey taken by the center, which is considering a move to new quarters.

Two more stand out: It will reImain in the city of Clevelandrequested by almost three-quarters of the responses and may be smaller than the current one.

The size would be determined by the cost per square foot to rent new space, which must be no more

Durandura

TLOAN AND THE ANT

than the current location, board member Bryan Bowser told a January 24 town-hall meeting held to discuss the move. The center presently pays about $3 per square foot for its space in the lower lever of the Gordon Square Arcade-a bargain compared to $12-15 for street-level space in the area, he noted.

Bowser encouraged more people to take the survey, which will remain online until February 1 at www.lgbtcleveland.org.

Three hundred people have responded to the poll so far, plus 30

Romantics

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BRIAN DEWITT

Volume 27, Issue 16 January 27, 2012

Three states may

pass marriage bills

by Anthony Glassman

Olympia, Wash.-Three state legislatures are ready to pass marriage equality legislation, while a fourth contemplates repealing its existing law. Two of the new marriage bills, however, may hinge on whether lawmakers can override a governor's veto.

In Washington state, Gov. Christine Gregoire introduced a marriage equality bill herself, and it will likely pass the House with ease. It was the state Senate that was considered the sticking point, until Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen announced her support of the measure on January 23.

She is the 25th state senator to announce support for the bill, and the final vote necessary for it to pass the chamber.

In a change from the regular rhetoric, Haugen cited her "very strong Christian beliefs" as the reason for her support of the legislation.

"To some degree, this is generational. Years ago I took exception to my parents' beliefs on certain social issues, and today my children take exception to some of mine," she said in a statement. "Times change, even if it makes us uncomfortable. I think we should all be uncomfortable sometime.

and

Cleveland LGBT Center board members Joe Hazen, left, Bryan Bowser peruse the industrial-look ceiling of their facility, which has occupied the lower level of the Gordon Square Arcade for almost 12 years. Bowser later led a townhall meeting on the center's possible relocation.

Inside This Issue

Three Ohio mayors join effort for marriage equality

None of us knows everything, and it's important to have our beliefs questioned."

"I have very strong Christian beliefs, and personally I have always said when I accepted the Lord, I became more tolerant of others," she continued. "I stopped judging people and try to live by the Golden Rule. This is part of my decision. I do not believe it is my role to judge others, regardless of my personal beliefs. It's not always easy to do that."

"For me personally, I have always believed in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. This is what I believe, to this day. But this issue isn't about just what I believe. It's about respecting others, including people who may believe differently than I. It's about whether everyone has the same opportunities for love and companionship and family and security that I have enjoyed," Haugen noted.

There are four state senators who have yet to announce their position on the bill, and 20 who oppose it.

The anti-gay Family Policy Institute of Washington has promised a referendum if the Washington bill passes. Voters in the state narrowly approved full domestic partnerships in a similar 2009 election.

In Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley followed Gregoire's example and introduced an equal marriage bill on January 23. The bill was distributed at the beginning of the legislature's 8 pm session after the governor and his staff worked with community advocates to clarify religious protections in the hope of increasing support over last year's measure.

Last year's bill, for instance, protected religious institutions for refusing to recognize same-sex marriages, while this year's bill extends that shield to religious leaders. It also states that religious leaders control doctrine and limits punitive actions against religious organizations that refuse to perform same-sex marriages.

All of those provisions simply repeat long-standing constitutional protections.

Last year's measure passed the Continue on page 2

PUT THE NEEDLE ON THE

News Briefs

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Resource Directory Classifieds

Let me show you the world on 45s

Charlie's Calendar

THE 1980s

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