Bits and Pieces- Diane Frank

Ohio ENDA Bad News-

I received the following email from Patrick Shepherd of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats:

Hello, Ms. Frank --

I want to pass along my most heartfelt regrets about the unfortunate nature of the Senate bill that was drafted to protect only lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals from workplace discrimination.

I want to ensure that any future bill includes the transgender community, and I think that the advocacy process needs to begin at our earliest convenience.


Please let me know if you -- or any members of your organization – are interested in following up on this.

Thanks,
Patrick

Patrick Shepherd, President
Cleveland Stonewall Democrats

VenUU in Cleveland Heights

Venuu is a performing arts organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church in the Coventry District of Cleveland Heights. I’ve been meaning to check it out as a safe place for people to visit for some time, however their events have tended to conflict with AO meetings. Since we got out early last month, I was able to drop by to catch my friends doing another version of the Sissy Show. The Sissy Show, for those of you who don’t know is a show largely about the travails of being transsexual, with an occasional tip of the bonnet to crossdressers. Joni, who helped is in the cast. Kathy Harvey, who chairs one of the committees I serve on at the GLBT center performs and wrote a lot of the music in collaboration with Chris Howey, a former AO member (See May Issue of the Silhouette), and recently seen on Oprah. I’m never sure how interested most people in AO would be in this show, given the emphasis on the transsexual side of things. Certainly the title alone can make you uncomfortable, but with the word "queer" being reclaimed by some activists, and shows titled "Urine Town", it’s hard to be too critical.

But enough about that. I’m pleased to report that as expected, Venuu is a safe and affordable place to enjoy some off-beat entertainment in the raiment of your choice. I’ve subscribed to the emailing list for Venuu and will be reporting upcoming productions in our local events column. Do check that out this month, as it’s quite full.

Akron Pride Center: Open Door Coffee House

Last month I wrote about the open door coffee house in Akron. I mentioned that I’d been dragooned into singing for the June session. I just want to let everyone know that a) I was given a great accompanist b) I did have the right gown in my closet and c) I had a great time. I sang "Ten Cents a Dance" by Rogers and Hart, "Love for Sale" by Cole Porter and a sing along of "I t^^hink you’re wo^^nderful" (letters hashed to block search engines), a children’s song, for an uplifting finish. I think the audience had a good time too....but in modesty, I think you’d have to ask them.

Pride Festival- June 22nd Voinovich Park, Cleveland

I helped out at the Chevrei Tikva booth at the Pride Festival this year. I’d been to Pride before, but this time seemed much better attended than last time. There was little in the way of flamboyant displays this year as well. One middle aged man dressed only in a kilt of dollar bills was about it. What really struck me was how many people I knew there, how many good friends I’ve made over the years I’ve been collecting information for and representing Alpha Omega in the larger GLBT community. I don’t think the Pride Festival is a particularly good place for AO to be represented directly, but it is a good place to double check on the number of friendly organizations and activities you can get involved with in the Greater Cleveland area.