Neighborhood Around Elder a Star, Too
I read with interest last week's cover story Bob's Army (issue of June 18-24), which focused on the Elder High School arts department and the artists it has produced. It was a fascinating article, but I wish reporter Steve Ramos would have lingered longer in Price Hill, the neighborhood that surrounds Elder. If he had, he would have witnessed the tremendous resurgence that's occurring.
Price Hill features spectacular architecture and some of the strongest housing stock in the city. This is particularly true of the Cedar Grove area of Price Hill that surrounds Elder High School. And rather than "having a chance at urban renewal," as the article states, Price Hill is already in the process of a tremendous revitalization. Homes are being rehabbed by young professionals attracted by the short commute to downtown. Students and artists, perhaps the same artists who graduated from Elder, are also attracted by the reasonable cost of houses.
I hope CityBeat and its readers get beyond the outdated stereotypes and discover that Price Hill is a dynamic, vibrant and exciting neighborhood.
-- Jeff Cramerding, Chair, Price Hill Will Housing Committee
How Art Can Change You
I love the play Corpus Christi (The Play's a Protest, Too, issue of June 18-24). How many of you reading this letter had fear, disgust or even anger flash through your mind upon reading that sentence? How many of you are praying for my soul?
You see, for me the debate isn't about blasphemy vs. freedom of speech but about love. I love all the people who support this play. I love and forgive the people who hate this play, especially the ones who have never read or seen it -- which is most of those opposing the work -- because I wish I could show you the world through my eyes, through the eyes of love.
Why am I such a loving, forgiving person? I was in Corpus Christi. I played the lead role of Joshua. And it changed me forever.
This play made me stronger, more caring and compassionate and restored my dwindling faith to new heights. If that is anti-Catholic, then what has Catholicism become?
-- Jeffrey T. Bower, Delray Beach, Fla.
Gay Play Should Be Condemned
The gay community in Cincinnati wants special rights and wants to be accepted as a new race. A lot of people say, "OK, that's cool, to each his own. It's about tolerance -- if you tolerate my lifestyle, I'll tolerate yours. Hey, that's equal and equal is cool."
But with the play Corpus Christi, the gays have gone too damn far (The Play's a Protest, Too, issue of June 18-24). I can't tolerate this shit -- excuse my French -- portraying Jesus and the disciples as gay. I'll have you know that Jesus is a black man, and He sho' ain't gay!
The nerve of those assholes organizing that play. It should be condemned by Christians and Muslims alike. I condemn it as a black militant, and that's why there's been a protest every day of the play's run.
Who will they portray as gay next? Will it be Moses, David, Solomon or Mary the mother of Jesus, or will it be Dr. Martin Luther King?
The gays have gone too far, and they can kiss my ass. No, I take that back -- they might enjoy that. We will not tolerate the Anti-Christ.
-- Gen. Kabaka Oba, The Black Fist
Immorality Moves North
Finally! Canada is on the verge of legalizing same sex marriage! That means all those whiners in Cincinnati can move to Canada now and enjoy their immoral bliss legally. Thank you, Canada!
Stone-Walled Again
Has anyone else noticed the new code in Cincinnati these days? Talking down the boycott is the politically acceptable way of saying, "I like the status quo" or "Things aren't really that bad in Cincinnati," which translates as "I have my piece of the pie."
Maria Rogers' piece Repairing the Wall (issue of June 4-10) celebrated just such an attitude coming from the "new" Stonewall Cincinnati. Talking down the boycott and distancing itself from grassroots activism is the latest hypocrisy perpetrated by an organization that deliberately destroyed a unique opportunity to be a part of advancing the cause of civil rights for all Cincinnatians.
In fall 2001, Stonewall held a press conference calling for the Olympic Games not to come to Cincinnati because of Article 12. This press conference came on the heels of nearly nine years of sanctions Stonewall called against convention business in Cincinnati. Stonewall's boycott of Cincinnati cost the city over $64 million.
In February 2002, as new Stonewall board members, we held a joint press conference with the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. Stonewall announced that it was stepping up its campaign to sanction convention business and that it was against the proposed extension of the convention center. Equally significant at that press conference was Stonewall's announcement that it would work with and stand in solidarity with all oppressed minorities in Cincinnati.
Unfortunately, a few people with a lot of power and influence decided that race and class are not important issues for Queer Cincinnati. Instead of honoring the democratic process of accepting dissent, they worked very hard to cast out board members who were exposing racism, classism and homophobia for what they are -- different symptoms of the same cancer. Throwing progressives out of Stonewall only served to cut ties, however fragile, the organization had with the African-American community.
A few homophobic leaders in the African-American community worked just as hard to distance their organizations and churches from Queer Cincinnati, a fact that Doreen Cudnik focuses on relentlessly in Rogers' story. Cudnik made a false statement saying that Stonewall offered solidarity toward the boycott movement as a way of saying "thanks" for including the repeal of Article 12 as one of its demands. In fact, Stonewall's involvement with the boycott and collaboration with boycott groups came about because we were shocked and horrified by the racism and murders being committed against African Americans at the hands of the Cincinnati Police.
If Rogers had taken the time to interview other activists in the GLBT community about the "new" Stonewall, she would have discovered that many people are suspicious of their motives. Others, particularly queer people of color, are hardly surprised by the flip-flop in the organization's mission and outreach. Many of them waited patiently for the "shit to hit the fan" when a few progressive souls at an all-white queer group started talking "boycott" and "All One Struggle, All One People."
How will Stonewall Cincinnati or Citizens to Restore Fairness win over the hearts and minds of African-American Cincinnatians when it comes time to vote down Article 12, when both organizations now argue angrily against the boycott, one of few legal, non-violent means African Americans have to stop police killings and get white Cincinnati to pay attention to class and race? What about the $64 million Stonewall cost the city of Cincinnati? Has Stonewall Cincinnati ended its boycott?
The "new" Stonewall plays its old song that says it has many open board seats designated for people of color. Last year, for the first time, four African Americans were on the board; one was kicked off for being too uppity, and two others resigned in disgust over constant bickering and pressure from a crowd of very loud, very white, very status quo naysayers who made it clear they'd never allow genuine change in "their" organization. The picture of the current board accompanying Rogers' article had all white faces looking out. It seems they might have returned to the status quo in many ways.
This city needs radical change. Returning Stonewall to being a safely irrelevant organization and renouncing the boycott was the reaction of fearful people who have much more to lose from dismantling racist, classist and even homophobic institutions in Cincinnati and elsewhere in this culture than from maintaining the status quo and their own privileged position in it.
-- Roy Ford, Heidi Bruins and Mike McCleese, Ex-Stonewall Cincinnati board members
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