Bits and Pieces- Diane Frank

Ohio ENDA Information Posted

Two months, Debbie, Laura and I attended a meeting of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats, at which a presentation was made about legislation to be proposed to the State of Ohio by State Senator Dan Brady (D). State Representative Dale Miller (D) has also proposed similar legislation. At the time we felt we had helped the cause of making transgender issues part of the discussion. Recently, a web site http://www.capitolsquarehrc.com/default.htm has gone live which provides information on the status of the legislation. Thus far seven State Senators have endorsed the bill. I regret to report that the employment issues that our community is most concerned about, being fired for legal off the job behavior does not appear to be covered...if the Bills are accurately described by the website. We will be looking into the more in the months ahead.

Gray Pride

Both Akron and Cleveland have gray pride groups for LGBT seniors (50+). The Cleveland Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month (excepting this June, 2003) and is in potluck format with categories assigned by last name. There is a featured speaker and as befitting a seniors group the evening starts and ends early. I attended to listen to my friend Carol reminisce about her long life as a lesbian, physical therapist and Peace Corps volunteer.

Gray Pride

Lakewood Senior Center West,
16024 Madison Avenue in Lakewood.
Doors open at 5:45 pm.
Food is served about 6:10.
Speaker 6:45.

See also http://www.ptcleveland.org/ For schedule and more information

Akron Pride Center: Open Door Coffee House

The Akron Pride Center, in association with the First Grace United Church of Christ holds a coffee house on the 3rd Sunday of the Month. This politics free, alcohol free gathering features the talents of members of the Church and the Akron Pride communities. Refreshments are provided by Angel Falls Coffee Company of Highland Square. I visited during May, and promptly was enrolled to sing in June by our friend Susan from Susan's Fashions (our April meeting guest). If only I can find the right gown. Anyhow, I advise getting there early as the house is packed, the refreshments plentiful and delicious. You will be entertained as well by a variety of music, comedy and poetry.

First Grace United Church of Christ is located at 350 South Portage Path (at Exchange Street, next to the Women’s City Club and in front of Coach House Theater.) There is plenty of free parking in a well-lit lot. The next meeting will be Sunday, June 15th from 6:30-9:30 PM.

The Bindlestiff Family Circus at the Beachland Ballroom.

How could I pass it up? A show called "High Heels and Red Noses" and an offer of $2 off the admission price if one came in costume. I was so looking forward to looking down my nose at the ticket seller and saying sweetly, with only a touch of asperity, "Costume? What costume?!". But the ticket seller didn’t offer. Sometimes you have a win-win situation.

Beachland Ballroom is the second underground cultural treasure in Cleveland, joining the Cleveland Public Theatre as a local haven for the avante garde and just plain weird. Keeping Cleveland balanced, if in an off-balance sort of way, Beachland Ballroom is located on the East Side, while CPT is on the West Side. It can be a little tricky to get to, especially from the East Suburbs. The best access from either the east or west is off of route 90, something that can be frustrating to people who live, as I do about due south of the place.

Beachland Ballroom
15711 Waterloo Rd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44110

tel: 216.383.1124

http://www.beachlandballroom.com/

But while the ghosts of the old vaudeville and burlesque shows are probably tickled pink at the presentations at CPT, I suspect the old Croatians whose "Liberty Home" was converted to the Beachland Ballroom in 2000 are probably spinning in their graves. This rapid rotation occurring despite BB’s nod to ethnic music from Eastern European groups such as Harmonia.

Look over the concerts, pick a group that seems weird enough and it’s most likely a safe place to go. I certainly had no hassles, and just to prove how small a place Cleveland is, I ran into Mary & Mary, a couple I know from other theatrical venues, most recently the Wild Plum Theatre, where one of the Marys performed and the other graciously offered me a saved seat ( see Newsletter, April 2003).

When am I going to describe the circus you ask? Is now soon enough? Yup there were high heels galore on the fetching and provocative female performers. The were rubber noses all around. And a subversive post 911 political edge that had the first act finale performed in gas masks.


The Bindlestiff’s show is a collection of old routines that you probably haven’t seen since you were a kid watching Captain Kangaroo, plus some now politically incorrect staples, such as the sad drunken hobo that used to be a common act. You have your sword swallower, you have your aerial act (a striptease on a trapeze), you have your clowns throwing Indian Clubs, and clowns performing the cigar box balancing tricks, a markwomanship whip act, hula hoops by the dozens, and two male clowns playing around with burlesque routines, including pasties. One line said by the lead clown Mr. Pennygaff (the Emmett Kelly like hobo, and later Jack Nicholson impressionist) could apply to the entire cast- "a $100,000 liberal arts education and THIS is what I do for a living". Given the reasonable ticket prices, and the entertaining use and reframing of time tested routines, he may have a chance of paying off those student loans.....someday.

For More Information about the Bindlestiff Family Circus see:

http://www.bindlestiff.org/cirkus.html