What's Up

    By now most of you know that Steve Plunk, Risk Reduction Specialist
for C.A.N., will be leaving to take a similar job in Seattle, Washington
with the Gay City Health Project. Steve has done a wonderful job here
and will be sorely missed. We will especially miss his wonderful smile and
good humor (what a sweetheart). A lot of Steve's friends and co-workers
gathered at Pecs on the 29th to bid him farewell. Entertainment was
provided by Danial Vasquez, Tay Loni Parlo, and Keith Munnerland.
Keith has a wonderful voice (what an undiscovered talent).

    I had the pleasure on Jan. 26th to see two plays that have Gay related
themes and I am sure you would enjoy both of them as I did. "Lips
Together, Teeth Apart" is playing at the Weathervane Playhouse.
Call 836-2626 for info. There was no heat in the theater, but, the
performance will warm your heart.

    Some Friends of mine recently returned from Park City, Utah from a
skiing trip. While they were there they also attended the Sundance Film
Festival. Over fifty percent of the films viewed this year, have Gay
themes. They were telling me about one documentary about the Cracker
Barrel Restaurant Chain, which has a policy stating any Gays or
Lesbians will be FIRED. They also said that it is legal to fire a person
based upon their sexual orientation in FORTY ONE STATES.
(I find this unbelievable) If this information is correct then we should be
directing our efforts to overturn these laws, and stop worrying about Gay
marriages not yet being legal. I will never set foot in a Cracker Barrel
restaurant. This is something that we should all make a concerted effort
to do. Look at what happened when Jesse Jackson threatened to boycott
Texaco filling stations and products, the mere threat brought about all
kinds of positive response from Texaco officials. If we band together we
have the same power to bring about change to benefit our community. I
may not be Jesse Jackson, but I am sure that my convictions on these
issues are just as strong as his.

    The new editors, and now publishers, of What's Up
(Terry Zimmerman and James Lehman) have been trying to promote the
themes of unity, supporting Gay and Gay friendly businesses, boycotting
businesses that are known to have Anti-Gay policies, and trying to call us
to arms (figuratively speaking) since issue #16 of What's Up. The
response from the community has been underwhelming.
LET'S GET WITH IT, AKRON - CANTON.