2
3
Memorial
Bowling
Tournament
PFLAG Cleveland Partners
with CLEVELAND G.I.F.T,
an LGBT bowling group,
will host the Bob Asch
Memorial Bowling Event on
Saturday, Nov. 19 at
Freeway Lanes, 12859
Brookpark Rd., Parma.
This “9 Pin No Tap” event
is open to bowlers age 12
and older. Registration
opens at 2 pm and bowling
begins at 2:30 pm.
There will be two divisions:
Competitive Bowlers with
Cleveland G.I.F.T, and
Social Bowlers with PFLAG
Cleveland. Fee for PFLAG
Social Bowlers is $10 for 3
games and bowling shoe
rental. Drawings and prizes
too.
Please join us for this social
event in memory of our
longtime PFLAG Cleveland
member Bob Asch. Details
on the PFLAG Cleveland
Facebook page and our
events calendar at
pflagcleveland.org.
3-4
5
6
PFLAG Cleveland Education Program Focuses on Local Research Efforts and Clinical Trials
By Kavita Sherman, PFLAG Cleveland
Before 1985, acquired immune deficiency syndrome--or AIDS--was the disease of gay men
and intravenous drug users. As such, AIDS
research efforts received minimal funding. But
actor Rock Hudson, a lady-killer and A-List
leading man, changed that. When Hudson confirmed he had AIDS, the world took notice. His
death from AIDS-related complications in October 1985 brought celebrity status to an epidemic
that had already claimed nearly 6,000 lives that
year. His star power ultimately translated into
dollars, with $2.7 billion allocated on HIV/AIDS
research in the U.S. in 2016.
In the 31 years since Hudson's death, nearly
700,000 people have died from AIDS in the U.S.
However, a lot more is known about AIDS, including the virus that causes it (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)), what can be done to
prevent HIV, and how to live with HIV/AIDS.
Researchers also know more about how the
disease has spread beyond gay men and intravenous drug users to other populations, such as
women and babies.
Despite this knowledge, HIV/AIDS continues to
spread. For example, in Cuyahoga County, approximately 60 percent of young gay and bisexual men tested positive for HIV, although they
make up only two percent of the population.
Add to this the fact that about one in eight people in the U.S. don't know they're infected.
Cleveland researchers at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) have been on the front
lines of finding a cure for HIV/AIDS since 1987.
Located in University Circle, the ACTU is one of
33 units that comprise the national Adult AIDS
Clinical Trials Group (AACTG). Additionally, the
organization works collaboratively with other
trial networks and international organizations.
"Cleveland is really well-known as an HIV/AIDS
clinical site," said Bob Bucklew, outreach coordinator for the ACTU. Case ACTU offers a wide
variety of clinical trials and research projects for
HIV-positive and HIV-negative people, community outreach and education about HIV-related
clinical trials research findings, and information
about and referrals for HIV testing and prevention strategies, such as PrEP (pre-exposure
prophylaxis).
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, you can hear firsthand
about Case ACTU's cutting-edge research and
its impact on HIV prevention at PFLAG Cleveland's monthly educational option. (The session
is offered as an alternative to PFLAG Cleveland's monthly support group meeting. See pg.
6 for time/location.) Bucklew, along with Brooke
Willis, ACTU community educator, will talk
about new biomedical approaches being taken
by the federal government to reduce new HIV
infections, the continued disproportionate impact of HIV on the LGBTQ community, and an
HIV prevention clinical trial currently being conducted at the ACTU site in Cleveland.
For those unable to attend, there is another way
to get involved with HIV/AIDS. Each December,
PFLAG Cleveland collects canned and boxed
food at the monthly support meeting for AIDS
Taskforce of Greater Cleveland's food pantry,
which benefits people living with HIV/AIDS. Visit
the AIDS Taskforce Facebook site or http://
aidstaskforce.org for details.
Our Mission
PFLAG promotes the health and
well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender persons, their
families and friends through
SUPPORT to cope with an adverse
society; EDUCATION to enlighten
an ill-informed public; and
ADVOCACY to end discrimination
and to secure equal civil rights.
PFLAG provides opportunity for
dialogue about sexual orientation
and gender identity and acts to
create a society that is healthy and
respectful of human diversity.
AKRON CHAPTER
PO Box 5471
Akron, OH 44334
P F L AG A K RO N . O RG
[email protected]
INFO & HELPLINE:
330-342-5825
Executive Board
President-Kim Mosyjowski; VP-Bill
Libby; Secretary-Joe Mosyjowski;
Treasurer-David Horowitz; At LargeRuss and Heather Clevenger, Joe
Gardner, Kim Homsher, Marie Libby,
Ed and Audrey Kancler, Katie Miller
Upcoming Events
December 16—Ice Skating at Lock 3 from 7-9
pm. Meet us in the dining area. Skates and pizza provided.
(l-r): Alida Moonan, Ed Kancler, Susan To, and Dawn
Sauer at the Akron PFLAG resource table, a part of
Summa Health Care's networking event in support of the
National Coming Out Day, Oct.11.
The Teen Pride Network is funded by generous
grants from the Gay Community Endowment
Fund and The Aids Healthcare Foundation. No
one is turned away from any of our events due
to lack of funds.
Follow us at Facebook.com/TPNAkron
TransAlive!
TransAlive! meets the 4th Tuesday of the
month, 6-8 pm, at Fairlawn West UCC, 2095
W. Market St., Akron.
We recognize that gender is fluid and we provide a safe space for people anywhere on the
transgender spectrum, along with their family,
friends, and allies.
For more info, contact facilitator Jake Nash at
330-240-1600.
Quentin Jamieson was a fabulous guide on our October
23 walk in MetroPark's Brecksville Reservation- we
enjoyed good company and perfect fall weather!
Committee Chairs
Membership-open, Publicity-Marie
Libby; Library-David Greene;
Hospitality-Rada Jenkins; NewsletterAudrey Kancler
Joe Cimperman to be
honored as Cleveland
Ally of the Year
CLEVELAND
CHAPTER
615 Prospect St.
Berea, OH 44017
Cleveland’s LGBT Heritage Day was his creation, and the event is now in it’s 8th year.
P F L AG C LE V E LA N D . O RG
[email protected]
When marriage for same-sex couples was illegal in Ohio, Joe started the conversation in
Cleveland about a domestic partnership registry
––one of the first in Ohio.
INFOLINE:
216-556-1701
Executive Board
President-Sharon Groh-Wargo;
VP-Tonya Young; Treasurer-Art
Thomson; Secretary-Quentin
Jamieson; At Large-Alan Cohen, Bill
Crozier, Tom Falcone, Bill Franklin,
Craig Hoffman, Brian Javor, Michele
Kit, Tonya Young; Jr. Members-Logan
Shermon, Stephen Gonska;
Newsletter-Pat Brandt; Hospitality-Bob
and Eileen MacDowell; Social MediaDenise Webb
We sincerely appreciate the
generous contribution of the
Lanci family and Consolidated
Solutions for making this full-color
newsletter possible.
Equality Ohio is honoring long-time LGBTQ advocate and humanitarian Joe Cimperman as the
2016 Cleveland Ally of the Year for his contributions, or “good deeds,” for LGBTQ equality in
Cleveland.
As a councilman, he was so well trusted that he
served as the liaison between city hall, the mayor,
and the LGBTQ community. He was key in ensuring that the city’s highest officials were visible at
Cleveland Pride as early as 2005.
He was very instrumental in bringing the 2014
Gay Games to Cleveland, and keeping them in
Cleveland amid strong controversy.
He co-sponsored and fought for Ordinance
1446-13, which removed a provision in Cleveland’s code making it legal to discriminate
against transgender people with regard to restroom use.
Ceremony will take place Dec. 1 at Music Box
Supper Club, Flats West Bank, from 5:30-7:30
pm. Details at http://www.equalityohio.org/
YOU ALW AYS H AVE A HOME AT PFL AG !
National
Coming Out
Day
This exciting holiday event has been put on every year since 2001 by the Gay Community Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation. Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 7, at
10 am. General admission tickets are $25 and
include a self-guided tour of six houses that
have been exquisitely decorated for the Holidays. The homes are located in West Akron,
Fairlawn Hts., and Bath.
Patron tickets are $150 and include the selfguided tour of six homes, an invitation to a private, catered party at an exclusive seventh residence in Hudson, and a limited-edition ZeberMartell holiday ornament. Theses tickets are
limited and SELL OUT VERY QUICKLY They
can only be purchased by calling the Akron
Community Foundation, 330-376-8522, at 10
am on Nov. 7.
Additional limited-edition commemorative ornaments designed by local artist Claudia ZeberMartell will be available for $20.
General admission tickets can be purchased
online at www.sugarplumtour.org/tickets or by
calling Akron Community Foundation at 330-376
-8522. Cash-only general admission tickets are
also available at Angel Falls Coffee Company, 792 W. Market St. in Akron. General tour
attendee sign-in and tour guide pickup will
begin at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the tour
at Angel Falls Coffee Company. Patron
ticketholders and sponsors may pick up their
tickets, tour guides and holiday ornaments
at the West Side Bakery, 2303 W. Market St. in
Akron, beginning at 12:30 pm.
Returning to the tour this year is another fabulous seven-day online silent auction that will
begin at noon on Monday, Nov. 7, and continue through noon on Monday, Nov. 14. Bidders
will have the opportunity to win more than 40
extravagant items, including destination vacations in Mexico, New York City and Orlando; a
private airplane tour of Northeast Ohio; customized outdoor landscape lighting; entertainment
and dinner packages at upscale restaurants; a
ride on the Goodyear Blimp; Jim Brickman VIP
concert tickets; Don Drumm and Zeber-Martell
collectible artwork; and much more. Auction
items can be previewed now
at www.akroncf.org/sugarplumauction.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Transgender Day of Remembrance is
held annually as a memorial to trans-identified
and gender variant individuals who are murdered each year due to hate, transphobia and
our strict adherence to the gender binary. This
event aims to raise awareness and educate
the larger community in order to effect change
in this horrifying trend.
This year’s event will take place Friday, Nov.
18 at 5:30 pm at Huntington Park on the corner of Lakeside and W3rd in downtown Cleveland. We will hold a walking candlelight vigil to
City Hall as a memorial for those we have lost.
Following the candlelight vigil, the program will
continue at Cleveland City Hall where we will
hear from local leaders about ways in which
they and the community at large can get engaged in the movement for change. In addition, individuals who have been working tirelessly within NE Ohio area for full inclusion
and the protections of this community will be
honored.
Following the program, people are invited to
congregate in order to network, socialize, and
celebrate how far we have come as a community. Reception location to be determined.
Event info can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/
744107552395081/
PFLAG Cleveland
members Marianne Buccini
(top) and Tom Falcone
spoke at the Coming Out
Day program at Cuyahoga
Community College.
phil·an·thro·pi·a
is Dec. 5
Happy Hour Fundraiser
Executive Caterers will host
its annual benefit luncheon
at Landerhaven on Monday,
Dec. 5 from 11 am-1:30 pm.
phil·an·thro·pi·a is designed
PFLAG Akron at the Game Change Conference (l-r): Jeff
Bixby, Kim Homsher, Audrey Kancler, Kim Mosyjowski
Skylight Financial Group’s next F.L.A.R.E.
(Focused LGBTQ & Ally Rising Entrepreneurs)
event is a happy hour fundraiser for the Facility
Endowment Fund Campaign on Friday, Nov.
11 from 6-9 pm at Dive Bar, 1214 W. 6th St.,
Cleveland. Admission ($20) includes all-youcan-eat hors d’oeuvres and beverages. All
proceeds benefit The LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
to benefit non-profits
RSVP to [email protected] .
throughout Northeast Ohio.
The mission of F.L.A.R.E. is to provide an avenue for young professional LGBTQ and Ally
leaders to build strong business, social, community, and leadership connections in the
Cleveland area.
The cost of admission is a
tax-deductible check in the
amount of $75 or more
made out to the 501(c)(3)
charity of your choice. Executive Caterers is proud to
underwrite the cost of host-
Plexus, NE Ohio’s LGBT chamber of commerce, will host its December Network Night
and Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from
5:30-8 pm at the Hilton Hotel Downtown Cleveland, 100 Lakeside Avenue East.
Everyone is invited for some holiday merriment! Kick off the holidays and celebrate another year of collaboration and networking.
Register at business.thinklexus.org/events.
ing the event’s stimulating
program and special lunch
so that our local non-profits
can enjoy the full value of
each donation without incur-
Never Turning Back
ring any of the expenses
Windsong, Cleveland’s feminist chorus, will
perform on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 pm at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, 14502 Detroit Ave.,
Lakewood.
usually associated with a
fundraising event.
Concert features songs by Carly Simon, Anne
E. Dechant, Pat Humphries and many more.
To register, mail a completed registration form along
with a check made out to a
non-profit of your choice to
Executive Caterers at
Landerhaven
Attn: Philanthropia
6111 Landerhaven Drive
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124
Tickets are $13 advance/seniors, $15 at door,
$5 children 12 and under. Group rates available. For info or tickets call 216-905-6198 or
visit windsongcleveland.org.
Our Gay Apparel
Join the North Coast
Men’s Chorus as we
kick off our season with
our holiday concert.
Enjoy NCMC”s style of
humor, dance and incredible harmonies on
classic carols and pop songs that make December such a wonderful time of the year. And
did we mention Christmas sweaters?
Performances Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 pm and
8pm and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 pm at the Hanna
Theatre, Playhouse Square, 2067 E. 14th St.,
Cleveland. Tickets at 216-556-0590 or [email protected].
Mardi Gras
Save the date for our
annual Mardi Gras
Celebration, Saturday,
Feb. 4, 6:30-11 pm at
Windows On The River in The Powerhouse.
2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland.
Music, merriment, and masquerade with Bourbon Street cuisine, a live and silent auction,
and a French Quarter wall with a top prize of
$500! Benefits the Chorus and its Youth Outreach Program recipients.
WHEN Y OU N O LO NGE R NEED PFL AG, T H AT’S WHEN PFL AG N EEDS Y OU
LGBT Heritage
Day Awardees
The 2016 Heritage Day
awardees:
Health and Wellness
Richard Snarsky
Public Service
Beth Little
The GCC 2016 planning committee and key note speaker from left to right: Jeff Bixby, GLSEN NEO; David Robinson, University
Circle Inc.; Connie Schultz; Mary Beth Clemons; Dr. Theresa Beyerle; Julie Boylen, Akron LGBTU; Rebecca Callahan, CANAPI;
Kim Mosyjowski, Akron PFLAG; Matthew Barlet, CANAPI. Not pictured - Ken Ditlevson, KSU
Advocacy and Activism
Vania Sherepita
Arts and Culture
Darius Stubbs
By Kim Mosyjowski, Akron PFLAG president
The GCC was a collaborative product of Community Aids Network/Akron Pride Initiative, Gay
Community Endowment Fund of the Akron
Community Foundation, the Akron Chapter of
PFLAG, GLSEN NEO, Kent State University's
Division of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and
the University of Akron's LGBT Union, with Additional Support from Summit County Public
Health.
Our sponsors included: Kent State University's
LGBTQ Student Center & Center for the Study
of Gender and Sexuality, Equitas Health, Akron
PFLAG, the Unitarian Universalist Church of
Akron, Cleveland AIDS Clinical Trial Unit, and
the Gay Community Endowment Fund
The conference featured fourteen workshops
which were attended by over 65 people. CEUs
were offered for social workers and educators.
The keynote speaker for this year's conference
was Pulitzer prize winning journalist, Connie
Schultz, a nationally syndicated columnist for
Creators Syndicate and Professional in Residence at Kent State University. In 2005, she
won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for
columns that judges praised for providing “a
voice for the underdog and the underprivileged."
Her work has appeared in the New York Times,
the Washington Post, Politico, Parade, the Atlantic, ESPN Magazine and Democracy Journal.
Workplace Inclusion
Thomas R. Hawn
LGBT Heritage Day is an
awards ceremony that
honor and celebrates
LGBTQ+ individuals who
have an ongoing
commitment to the Greater
Northeast Ohio LGBT
community.
The ceremony is held
annually during the second
week in October to
coincide with National
World AIDS Day is Dec. 1
LGBT History Month and
NEORAG / CANAPI
CWRU
Coming Out Day. The
The Northeast Ohio Regional Advisory Group
(NEORAG) will present World AIDS Day 2016,
a community event aimed at HIV education,
prevention and awareness, on Thursday, Dec.
1 at the Highland Theater, Highland Square,
826 W. Market St., Akron.
Case Western Reserve University will host a
World AIDS Day Community Education Forum
on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5-8 pm at Tinkham
Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Rd.,
Cleveland (216-368-5681).
LGBT Community Center
Together, we will reflect on the history of HIV/
AIDS, gain an understanding of stigma and
other challenges from personal testimony and
discover what we can do as individuals to
eliminate HIV infections in our community.
Details will be available on CANAPI’s Facebook page or at canapi.org.
The Forum includes a community village at 5
pm, presentations on current topics at 6
pm, reception, raffle prizes and more. Childcare available. Free parking (Severance Hall
parking lot) and RTA tickets. RSVPs requested, but not required: 216-844-4444
or [email protected].
All are welcome!
of Greater Cleveland acts
as the host organization.
PFLAG CHAPTER
MEETINGS
Akron
3rd Thursdays - 7 pm
North Springfield
Presbyterian Church
671 N. Canton Rd.
Cleveland
2nd Tuesdays - 6:45 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church
2230 Euclid Ave,, 44115
1st Thursdays - 7:00 pm
Southwest UUC
6320 Royalton Rd.
N. Royalton
Elyria/Lorain
3rd Mondays - 7 pm
First Congregational Ch.
4th and Washington
CANAPI celebrates a new home in Akron
A welcoming event occurred on Wednesday,
October 19, 2016, as CANAPI showcased their
new headquarters at 759 W. Market, Akron.
Political dignitaries introduced by board chairman Phil Montgomery, and executive secretary
Rebecca Callahan were Akron Mayor Daniel
Horrigan, Ohio State Representative for District
35, Greta Johnson, and Summit County councilpersons, Jeff Wilhite and Sandra Kurt.
In 2010 the Community Aids Network and the
Akron Pride Initiative merged as CANAPI. Their
new “digs” are very attractive and inviting to the
greater Akron community. They are located in
the busy Highland District of Akron. CANAPI’s
mission is to empower an inclusive community
through education, outreach and awareness,
while eliminating stigma and HIV transmission.
Before their 2010 merger the Akron PFLAG
chapter members were a regular presence at
many of the Akron PRIDE Initiative events at
their Adams St. headquarters and at fund raising events. We loaned funds to purchase a
building on Asher Ave. That deal fell through,
but the new CANAPI board members returned
the remaining principal to Akron PFLAG! For
that we are forever grateful! PFLAG Akron sent
its best regards to CANAPI as they attract new
members and clients.
CANAPI is a blessing for the gay community
and the greater Akron region.
—Bill Libby, vice president, Akron PFLAG
Youngstown
2nd Tuesdays - 6:30 pm
St. John’s Episcopal Ch.
323 Wick Ave.
OTHER SUPPORT
GROUPS
OutSupport Medina
4th Mondays - 7 pm
Unity Church
787 Lafayette Rd./Williams
on the Lake (4th bldg.)
Sandi 330-241-1281
OutSupport.org
Infinite Rainbow
2nd Sundays - 1:00 pm
First Universalist Church
of Westfield Center
6 Park Circle
330-242-0121
[email protected]
PrideZone TV
(Tuscarawas Valley)
1st Wednesdays - 7:30 pm
Outreach Center
208 N. Wooster Ave. Dover
[email protected]
Love on a Mission
3rd Sundays
Email for location / time
[email protected]
TransAlive!
4th Tuesdays—6-8 pm
Fairlawn West UCC
2095 W. Market St., Akron
Jake 330-240-1600
(l-r): Summit County Councilman Jeff Wilhite, Judge Joy Malek Oldfield, City of Akron, Ohio Mayor's Office's Dan Horrigan, CANAPI Board Chair Phil Montgomery, State Representative
Greta Johnson, CANAPI Executive Director Rebecca Callahan, Summit County Clerk of
CourtsSandra J. Kurt at the CANAPI Open House on Oct. 19 —Photo by Shane Wynn
How to resolve Ohio LGBT tax issue
The Ohio Department of Taxation has issued
bills and fines to some same-sex couples for
unpaid taxes from 2013.
Taxpayers who received a tax notice with the
code “FAGI” (federal adjusted gross income),
with “Case Type 8” can obtain a resolution if
they quality.
The mix-up is a result of confusion following
the Windsor Supreme Court decision. Many
couples filed as married for federal taxes, and
as single in Ohio, because Ohio didn’t recognize same-sex marriages at the time. To address this discrepancy, the Ohio Department of
Taxation introduced a form called Schedule IT S
to indicate the couple was in a valid, federally
recognized marriage outside of the state. Many
filers, either unintentionally or deliberately, did
not file form IT S (or check the box indicating it
was necessary) when they filed their state returns. That is what triggered the notice.
If you have received this notice, you can call the
Taxpayer Service Center at 888-297-2911 and
explain the situation. They may be able to resolve it for you.
If you were affected, please tell Equality Ohio at
http://www.equalityohio.org/some-gay-andlesbian-families-are-getting-a-tax-bill-that-theydont-need-to-pay-heres-whats-happening/. We
need to assess how widespread this issue is in
Ohio.