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The Word

OTHER WORDS

www.thegayword.com

Did Bernie burn our community?

And reflections on the need for active queer press

eel the Bern You have heard

the slogan by now. But I certainly
wasnt expecting much more from
him, or any politician, in this cycle. I
by Michael Chanak
like being surprised even if its by a
Rachel Maddow podcast.
Did I hear Rachel ask the Bern what
The Goose met them through
he thought about Hillarys endorsement community events, notably pride
coming from Human Rights Campaign, planning when the event was in
Planned Parenthood and NARAL? The
Northside (Cincinnati) and led by the
Bern says he certainly would like their
Gay Lesbian Center. Sure, Ron ran
endorsement, and then mentions his list unopposed, but it is an accomplishment
of endorsements, such as MoveOn.org.
worth noting.
Oh no, did the Bern intentionally or
I know something of Golf Manor,
accidentally wandered into the Goose
having lived there 10 years in the 90s.
Fly Zone when he offered to Rachel
I was delighted to see many Dem
that the groups endorsing Hillary were
favorites turning out, including City
mainstream? I love you for it.
of Cincinnati counsel-person Chris
I have lived too long to hear a
Seelbach. Ron was sworn in by local
national politician label HRC for what I attorney, Scott Knox, in December. Ron
always thought it was, and only wanted
knocked on every door in Golf Manor
to be: mainstream. Maybe that is okay prior to the election, a village of some
for some, but for this old fowl Id feel
4,000 folks.
more comfortable with a progressive
A word: Ive spent the past few
gay group, rather than the same old.
months chronicling the deaths of some
So the Bern seemed to burn HRC
folks that played an important role in
out, unless by the time this makes press,
the establishment of a queer community
Bern hasnt clarified his comment any
in Cincinnati. While I appreciate all
further.
the kind words, and a few who thought
Soon after this news, a small item
I didnt have a fact exactly correct, the
came to my attention about President
reason I do it is because it is critical
Obama nominating the first gay
for our young folks, and new folks to
Secretary of the
the community,
Army. All fine and
to understand
As the gay press
well, but when I
something of its past.
heard the reportage,
All the credit and
disappeared, the result
I thought it truly
the passion to write
is less organizational
must be 1980.
about Tedd Good,
accountability, less
Why do journalists
Ronn Rucker, Maria
insist on saying
Jenkins, Gary Wright,
discussion of who and
first openly
Bill Abney and Ruth
why we call ourselves
gay nominee?
Rowen belong to
Somehow, I keep
them. Please thank
community.
hoping progress
The Word for making
might pick up the
the space available!
pace.
The need for a vibrant queer press
Alas, there is some good news in
is now more vital. It is not news that
destination non-reality: a true story of
mainline publications print less and rely
a fine couple (I wouldnt call them out
on the internet more.
gay men). I am speaking of Ron Hirth,
For instance, in Cincinnati, at one
the first gay Mayor in Ohio and his
point we had GCN/OutFront cable
partner, Steve Simiele of the Village of
shows, Gay Dreams/Alternating
Golf Manor.
Currents on radio, The Gay Beat and

The Goose is Loose

Bernie Sanders (right) has been interviewed repeatedly by MSNBC pundit

Rachel Maddow during the 2016 presidential campaign. Sanders also cites
being a longtime supporter of LGBT rights on his campaign website,
berniesanders.com. (MSNBC image)
The Gay Noveau. Sadly, all these have
ended, leaving us with one publication
which is devoted to features.
I always was proud of being part of
the queer press, and was honored to
have worked with some of the greats:
Steve Buescher (GCN/gaycincinnati.
com), Worley Rodehaver (GLBT
News), the cast and crew of Alternating
Currents, Edward Hicks of The Gay
Beat, and then Gay Noveau.
It seems that since our gay press
has become so limited locally, one of
the primary functions of the press,
critical analysis and commentary, has
disappeared. I see this clearly as I look
at the landscape over 35 years. The result
is less organizational accountability,
less discussion of who and why we
call ourselves community, and less
transmission of knowledge of our
community.

February 2016

There is so much to be done, yet

too many seem to think that because
DADT or DOMA are gone, the battle
is won. Youll find it isnt.
Who knows, if Bern can surprise
me, maybe some of us old birds might
just have to come up with a new queer
information source.
I was delighted to hear the remaining
publication in Cincinnati has done a few
podcasts. Imagine that: The Goose has
a closet full of old interviews, many of
people who have left us.
More on this later, but Bishop John
Bell of New Spirit and Chucky Beatty
of our local film fest have suggested
that a loose group of old-time activists
in the Cincinnati area have a dowagers
potluck. Word is Randy Bridges at On
Broadway has offered us a space. I think
some folks need to get planning.
We have a lot to discuss. O