April Calendar 2007
Monday, April 2 Out In Akron 2007 planning meeting will be held in Akron-Summit Public Library, Firestone Park Branch, 1486 Aster Avenue, 7pm.
Tuesday, April 3 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Pec’s in Adams Street Bar, 5pm-7pm.
Wednesday, April 4 Teen Pride meets at Angel Falls Coffee Shop, 6-7:30pm.
Thursday, April 5 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Akron Steam and Sauna, 3pm-5pm.
Tuesday, April 10 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Pec’s in Adams Street Bar, 5pm-7pm. AAPC Board Meeting at Akron-Summit Public Library, Firestone Park Branch, 1486 Aster Avenue, 7pm.
Wednesday, April 11 Teen Pride meets at Angel Falls Coffee Shop, 6-7:30pm.
Thursday, April 12 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Akron Steam and Sauna, 3pm-5pm.
Saturday, April 14 Lydia’s 8th Anniversary Party at Lydia’s. DJ Kevin, food, raffles, 10pm.
Tuesday, April 17 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Pec’s in Adams Street Bar, 5pm-7pm.Club 358 Reunion will be held at Club Amsterdan to benefit The Pride Center, 8pm.
Wednesday, April 18 Teen Pride meets at Angel Falls Coffee Shop, 6-7:30pm.
Thursday, April 19 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Akron Steam and Sauna, 3pm-5pm. Akron NOW Meeting held at the Northwest Family Recreation Center in Akron, 7pm.
Saturday, April 21 Open Door Coffeehouse, an open mic alcohol-free venue encouraging musicians and poets, will be held at First Grace United Church of Christ, 7pm.
Sunday, April 22 Square Meals will be held at Square. Bring in your favorite appetizers, soups or salads with a printed recipe to be included in Square Meals cookbook, a special cookbook benefiting The Pride Center, 5pm sharp. My Space Party will be held at Adams Street Bar with door donations, raffle, silent auction baskets to benefit The Pride Center, 5pm.
Thursday, April 26 Community Aids Network will be offering free HIV OraSure testing at Akron Steam and Sauna, 3pm-5pm.
Sunday, May 6 Square Meals will be held at Square. Bring in your favorite main dish, side dish or dessert with a printed recipe to be included in Square Meals cookbook, a special cookbook benefiting The Pride Center, 5pm sharp.
Friday, June 1 Pride ArtsFest 07, fine art and live classical music, will be held at Church of Our Saviour, 471 Crosby St. Akron, 7pm-10pm.
Sunday, June 24 Day In The Sun Celebration Picnic will be held at Ohio Sportsman’s Club, 1775 Jacoby Rd. $10 pre-sale, $12 at the door, 12noon-9pm.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Akron Area Pride Collective to advocate for the well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Akron and the surrounding counties through programs and events that draw strength from the collaborative talents and skills from individuals in the community.
Newsletter Submissions
Submissions for future issues of the newsletter are due by the 15th of the month preceding publication and should be emailed to: newsletter@akronpridecenter.org.
Pride Groups
AA Pride
AA Pride will be on hiatus until The Pride Center in Firestone Park opens. Dan M. will still facilitate. This meeting will be open to all GLBT persons who have a desire to stay sober. It will be an open topic discussion meeting. For more information call 330.289.6508.
Teen Pride
The Pride Center is looking for positive, motivated teens that are willing to become role models for each other and the larger GLBTQ community. Dan McGown is the facilitator. Until The Pride Center in Firestone Park opens, Teen Pride will meet at Angel Falls Coffee Shop from 6-7:30pm every Wednesday. For more information call 330.289.6508.
Keeping In Touch Men’s Group
It is a group for gay/bisexual men to get together and share their life experiences in a supportive and confidential setting. Call Jim at 330.265.3160 or 330.375.2000 for more information.
PFLAG
Is a GLBTQ-friendly organization that supports the families and friends of lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender and questioning people.
In Akron, call 330.342.5825.
In Wooster, call 330.264.7396.
In Alliance, call 330.821.3484.
Trans Pride
Trans Pride is looking forward to meeting again. All interested parties please email Jake at transactivist@SPCGlobal.net.
The Pride Center Membership Card Discounts
Your Pride Center membership card can be a part of helping each other.
The following businesses offer discounts to members:
Dairy Queen
691 E. Wilbeth Rd.
Akron, Ohio
10% discount
Kenmore Barber’s
(No Appointments Needed)
945 Kenmore Blvd.
Akron,
Ohio
330.753.8026
Ask For Marcia
$1.00 Off Any Service
The Lit Wick Candle Co.
Hand-poured scented candles
330.328.2308
10% discount
Office Bistro
778 N. Main St.
330.376.9550
www.akronoffice.com
10% discount on food
Porthouse Theatre
Blossom Music Center
2 for 1 tickets on any
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or
Friday evening performances.
330.672.3884
Stow Kent The Towne Florist
4299 Kent Rd.
Stow, Ohio
330.686.3000
10% discount on purchase
(Except wire orders)
If your business would like to offer this discount, please contact newsletter@akronpridecenter.org.
The Wall of Remembrance
If anyone has an interest in buying a 12”x12” block for a small donation of $10, please contact one of our volunteers at The Pride Center or call 330.253.2220. In your personal design, we will include special graphics for $1.50 extra and/or photographs for $2.00 extra apiece.
Resource Directory
A Child’s Waiting
Foster care and adoption program
330.665.1811
Battered Women’s Shelter
330.374.1111 or 1.888.395.4357
Body Language
An educational store for adults
in alternative lifestyles
11424 Lorain Avenue @ W.115th St
Cleveland 44111-5427
216.251.3330
888.GAY.7733 (toll free)
www.body-language.com
Cascade Community Church
“A Family of Faith & Love”
1196 Inman St.
Akron, Ohio 44306,
330.773.5298
Church of Our Saviour
Episcopal Welcoming Congregation
471 Crosby Street
Akron, Ohio 44302,
330.535.9174
Cleveland Lesbian-Gay Hotline
1.888.GAY.8761
Community AIDS Network
667 N. Main St.
Akron 44310
330.375.2000
The Coaching Connection
900-22nd St. NE
Canton, OH 44714
330.454.7231
Community AIDS Network
1950 McTaggart Dr., Suite 105
Akron
44320
330.375.2000
Community Drug Board
Adult & Adolescent outpatient addictive services
725 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44305
330.434.4141
Emmanuel Fellowship Church
Rev. Tee M. Hines, Pastor
60 N. Arlington St.
Akron, OH 44305
330.376.8725
Family Connection
gay/lesbian parenting group
zimmbde@earthlink.net
First Grace United Church of Christ
Rev. Robert J Dreese
350 S. Portage Path
(Corner of Portage Path and West Exchange)
Akron, OH 44320
330.762.8469
GABLE
Gay Ally Bisexual Lesbian Ethos
Mount Union College
330.829.8239
Gay Fathers & Husbands
Jim: 330.836.5332
Tom: 330.535.0097
Greenleaf Family Center
Adult & Adolescent, Family & Individual CounselingGLBT Domestic Violence Group212 East Exchange StreetAkron, Ohio 330.376.9494
info@greenleafctr.org
International GLBT Ham Radio Club
Dennis Hamilton: 330.484.5536
www.rara.org (Rainbow Amateur Radio Assoc.)
Kent State University
PRIDE! Kent
330.672.2068
Friends & Allies
For straight allies of the LGBT community
Fusion magazine
LGBT student magazine produced each semester
LGBT Self Esteem & Social Skills
Treatment group facilitated by Sean Blake, L.I.S.W.
Portage Path Behavioral Health
340 South Broadway Street
Akron, OH 44308
Outpatient Services 330.253.3100
24-hour Psychiatric Emergency Services 330.762.6110
Free 24-hour Support Hotline 330.434.9144
Men in Touch
Sexuality, self-esteem
1950 McTaggart Dr.
Suite 105
Akron 44320
330.375.2000
MotherWit
NOW
Akron Area
National Organization for Women
513 West Exchange Street
Akron, Ohio 44302
330.253.7151
Ohio AIDS Coalition
48 W. Wittier St.
Columbus 43206
1.800.226.5554
PFLAG
Parents, Friends of Lesbians, Gays
Akron: 330.342.5825
Alliance: 330.821.3484
Wooster: 330.264.7396
The Pride Center
1501 Aster Avenue
PO Box 22254
Akron, Ohio 44302
330.785.0088
Rape Crisis Program
YWCA of Summit County
670 W. Exchange St.
330.253.6131
24-hour toll-free:
1.877.906.7273
Temple Square Properties
First month rent free to The Pride Center member.
$50 donation made to The Pride Center for any
LGBT residential/commercial rental.
138 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave
Akron, OH 44310
Steve Turner: 330.283.9889
Townhall II
155 N. Water St.
Kent, OH 44240
330.678.3006 business office
866.449.8518 toll free
330.678.4357 (HELP) 24-hour helpline
Unitarian Universalist Churches
Akron:
3300 Morewood Rd.
330.836.2206
Canton:
3129 Market N.
330.456.9558
Kent:
228 Gougler Ave.
330.673.4247
Wooster:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County (UUFWC)
3186 Burbank Road
Wooster, Ohio 44691
330.262.9194
Westfield Center:
6765 Park Circle
330.887.5144
University of Akron
Clinic For Child Study and Family Therapy
Counseling
330.972.6822
Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender Union-Akron
330.972.6851
Victim Assistance
150 Furnace St.
Akron 44304
24-hour hotline
330.376.0040
Violet’s Cupboard
Serving people with HIV/AIDS and their families
655 North Main St.
Akron 44310
330.375.2159
Wayne County Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Community
330.262.4142
Women’s Resource Center
Kent State University
330.672.9230
Directions to The Pride Center
1501 Aster Avenue
From the north: Route 8 South to I-77 South. Take the Wilbeth Road exit, turn right. On South Firestone Blvd, turn right. On Aster Avenue, turn right. The Pride Center is on the right hand side.
From the south: I-77 North to Wilbeth Road exit, turn left. On South Firestone Blvd, turn right. On Aster Avenue, turn right.
The Pride Center is on the right hand side.
From the east: I-76 West to I-77 South. Take the Wilbeth Road exit, turn right. On South Firestone Blvd, turn right. On Aster Avenue, turn right.
The Pride Center is on the right hand side.
From the west: I-76 East to I-77 South. Take the Wilbeth Road exit, turn right. On South Firestone Blvd, turn right. On Aster Avenue, turn right.
The Pride Center is on the right hand side.
The Pride Center is operated by the Akron Area Pride Collective.
Board of Directors:
Doug Santurri, Chair
Tim McCarragher, Vice-Chair
Steven Antalvari, Secretary
Mark Myers, Treasurer
Directors:
Terry Bates
Peter Cassidy
Ben Hood
Deborah “Ingy” Ingersoll
Jason Maurer
Dan McGown
Rebecca Richards
Doug Santurri
Wendy Vaught
The Open Door Coffeehouse
Still GREAT Coffee, Still GREAT Fun!
The Open Door Coffeehouse, an alcohol-free/issue-free event, is held the third Saturday of every month at First Grace United Church of Christ, located at the corner of South Portage Path and West Exchange. An open mic and wonderful coffee set the stage, as well as the performers who sign up from among the audience.
From 7pm until 10pm you choose what to sing, play on the piano, or other forms of entertainment. (You could just sit back and watch/listen.)
Thank you for being a part of one of Akron’s most successful events. Every month, coffee has been donated courtesy of Angel Falls. Every month, entertainment is donated courtesy of some of the area’s most interesting people. Every month, a joint event brought to you by First Grace and The Pride Center is happening.
Open Door Coffeehouse, an alcohol-free venue, will be held on Saturday, April 21 at First Grace, 7pm.
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 Pride Center celebrates our diversity, and maintains a zero tolerance for discrimination, judgment, and ridicule.
From the Community AIDS Network
We are dedicated to preventing the further transmission of HIV through education and risk reduction efforts and to provide housing assistance and other services to people already affected by HIV.
We sponsor the following programs:
Free Anonymous OraSure HIV testing every Tuesday from 5-7pm at Pec’s Lounge in Adams Street Bar. There will be weekly testing at Akron Steam and Sauna every Thursday in December from 3pm-5pm.
It is a great place to meet new people, experience new things and learn how important fellowship is for gay/bisexual men. If you have computer access and are interested, you should join the Keeping in Touch Website which will fill you in on what the group is about and what we will be doing in the future. It is also a way for you to chat with other KIT members. Reach us at: groups.yahoo.com/group/KITakron.
Men in Touch Retreats
The Men In Touch Retreat is a weekend getaway for any gay/bisexual men to share their life experiences, participate in activities and build long-lasting friendships. If you would like an info packet, e-mail Jim at jchillemi@communityaidsnetwork.org or call him at 330.265.3160.
Community AIDS Network
1950 McTaggart Dr. Suite 105
Akron OH 44320
330.375.2000
The Pride Center Advertising Rates
Full page: 1 year, $340.00; 6 months, $220.00; single issue, $50.00.
Half page: 1 year, $180.00; 6 months, $120.00; single issue, $30.00.
Quarter page: 1 year, $100.00; 6 months, $60.00; single issue, $20.00.
America Recycles
Did you know that your pop cans might be someone’s new washing machine, your milk jug could be a park bench, and glass containers might be part of a new road?
In addition, your recycled ink cartridges can be reused to better the environment and you can help support The Pride Center at the same time.
All you do is put your used ink cartridge in a postage paid plastic bag and drop it in the mail. A portion of the proceeds from the recycling will go The Pride Center! To get mailing bags; email us and we’ll mail some to you!
April Birthdays
Aries March 21-April 20th
MARS rules the Pioneer of the Zodiac, Aries, and its symbol is the RAM. Its natural place is the FIRST HOUSE, the house of Personal Identity. Independent Aries is a FIRE sign, impulsive and energetic. Rarely looking before it leaps, Aries sometimes has a problem completing tasks, too caught up in the allure of the Next Big Thing.
A couple famous Arians are Lon Chaney, 4-1 and Elizabeth Montgomery, 4-15.
Happy Birthday Aries.
R. Allen L. 4-1
Tom W. 4-1
Gery H. 4-6
Joni C. 4-8
James H. 4-8
Shannon E. 4-9
Jon C. 4-18
Joe H. 4-18
TAURUS
21 April-21 May
VENUS rules the Builder of the Zodiac, Taurus, and its symbol is the BULL. Its natural place is the SECOND HOUSE, the house of Possessions. Productive Taurus is an EARTH sign, reliable and materialistic. With a fine aesthetic sense and stubborn will to have things its own way, Taurus invariably surrounds itself with material beauty -- be it artistic or natural.
A Couple famous Taurus are Queen Elizabeth II, 4-21 and Ulysses S. Grant, 4-27.
Happy Birthday Taurus.
Paul S. 4-22
Bonnie S. 4-24
The Pride Center is moving to a new home … and we need YOUR help!
The Akron Area Pride Collective is a community organization advocating for the well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people in Akron and the surrounding counties. The AAPC sponsors programs for LGBT youth, hosts Pride events, offers LGBT education projects and seminars, collaborates with community organizations to secure service for LGBT people – and operates an LGBT Community Center called The Pride Center.
Since 1999, The Pride Center was located in a rented space – in 2006, the AAPC purchased a building on Aster Avenue in Akron to serve as the new home of The Pride Center.
Please write a check to help the AAPC renovate the building and pay off the mortgage.
Checks payable to:
AAPC
PO Box 22254
Akron, Ohio 44302
(Donations are tax deductible.)
Ask your company or business to donate architectural, electrical, plumbing or heating/cooling services, roof work, or other professional skills and services. Donations could include new furniture, new computers, office equipment, office supplies or building materials.
Offer your skills by volunteering – painting, washing walls, sweeping or helping to move items into the new location.
Contact: AsterProjectTeam@aol.com or call the AAPC at 330.785.0088.
Cleaning House and Creating a Home!!!For all of you folks who are still working on spring cleaning, or simply haven't gotten around to re-evaluating your home decor lately do we have a fundraiser for you!As The Pride Center is closing its doors at 71 North Adams Street and preparing to move to its new home in Firestone Park, we are asking you to help us create our new home!
We have been given a great opportunity at the Green Antique and Thrift. We are now one of their consigners, meaning they do 90% of the work and we get the benefit of a quick and easy fundraiser. Think of it as a giant garage sale, without the work.We are asking you to do just a simple act of giving. Please, as you come across items at home...of any variety... please, set them aside and determine a selling price. Simply mark them with the selling price and the number 69 (our ID number) then drive them down to 4858 South Main Street, Akron Ohio 44319. The lovely folks at Green Antique and Thrift will make sure the items are placed on display.
While you're there, browse for new treasures. If an item has a number 69 sticker and you buy it, you are helping the Akron Area Pride Collective create its new home! For more information contact Rebecca at rrichards@akronpridecenter.org
Your Donation Is Needed
We recently purchased a building in Firestone Park to serve as the new home of The Pride Center. We own it. It’s ours. Our goal is to remodel the building into a completely handicap-accessible facility with offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and kitchenette that can be used by local GLBT groups and allies for meetings, educational seminars and activities.
Now, we need money to finish the remodeling.
Will you please help us remodel our new home for The Pride Center? Your donation is needed.
The Pride Center is moving to a new home … and we need YOUR help!
The AAPC will acknowledge your donation by displaying your name, or the name of a loved one you wish to memorialize, on glass tiles at The Pride Center.
Red Tile: $25-$50
Orange Tile: $51-$100
Yellow Tile: $101-$250
Green Tile: $251-$500
Blue Tile: $501-$999
Purple Tile: $1000 and up
Please send all information to:
The Pride Center
PO Box 22254
Akron, OH 44302-2254
Thank you!
Shop with The Pride Center
By purchasing goods and services through the links on our website, you can help to build the new Akron Pride Center on Aster. We have arranged deals with online vendors so that the Akron Area Pride Collective will receive between 2% and 20% of your total purchases. If you are an avid online shopper, please use the links on our website each time you make a purchase to help build the new Pride Center.
Shop at: www.akronpridecenter.org/shop
Categories include: Books, Music, Magazines, Pride Gear, Travel, Gifts and more!
From retailers like Amazon.com, Target, Love and Pride, Travelocity, Restaurant.com and more!
It's ACME Time Again!
Save those Acme receipts! They are worth money for the Pride Center. This year, Acme is donating 5% of the purchase price of Acme brand products. These include Food Club, Dining In, Paws, Top Care, Top Crest, Valu Time, and Domestix. Mail your receipts in or give then to a Board member.
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Counseling at Greenleaf Family Center
Greenleaf Family Center, in coordination with the Battered Women’s Shelter of Summit and Medina counties, is currently facilitating a group for survivors of LGBT Domestic Violence. At this time, there is no cost to participants of this group due to a grant awarded by the Gay Community Endowment Fund and the Akron Community Foundation.
The group is co-facilitated by Karen Moskowitz, PC, LSW, a counselor at Greenleaf, and Tina Jarosch. If you are interested in attending this group, please contact Karen at 330.376.9494 to set up an Intake appointment.
In addition, Greenleaf offers services specifically for the LGBT community, including individual, couples, and family counseling. We are proud to be part of providing services for the LGBT community. Please contact us at 330.376.9494 for more information or to set up an Intake appointment. We accept various insurance plans, Medicaid, and also provide services based on a sliding fee scale.
Akron Area’s New Performing Arts Space
Home: For the Arts
Home: For the Arts is currently being readied for a Fall 2007 official ‘launch’ as a space dedicated to presenting professional and community performing and visual artists in the Greater Akron area, located at First Grace UCC Church, 350 S. Portage Path at W. Exchange St. adjacent to the Woman’s City Club and Coach House Theatre.
Queen Bee Productions presented their adaptation of Carol Lynn Pearson’s play “Mother Wove the Morning” at Home: For the Arts, a new performance space in Akron. “Mother Wove the Morning” presents an uncensored view of the experiences of women through history, casting light on little taught realities of endurance and triumph that will leave the audience wiser and more appreciative of women’s collective journey.
Performing the play for colleges, organizations and in repertoire with other productions since 1998, Queen Bee performed the three actor adaptation Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24 at 7pm and Sunday, March 25 at 2pm at the Akron area’s new performing arts space. Home: For the Arts. Sponsored by First Grace United Church of Christ, “Mother Wove” is a signature piece for Queen Bee Productions
Performing was local professional talent Deb Lemire, Lynette Brown and Christine Grisez. For more information call 330.762.8469 or visit www.queenbeeprod.com
Artistic Director Deb Lemire, has received several awards recognizing her work. Most recently she has been honored as one of Women’s History Project of Akron’s Women of the Year for Creativity. Deb has also been honored as Feminist of the Year by the Akron Chapter of the National Organization for Women and was listed by Northern Ohio Live Magazine as one of Northeast Ohio's most influential women.
First Grace UCC will be announcing their upcoming productions soon.
Letter from the Chair
Spring is in the air here in northeast Ohio, and The Pride Center is ready for the change in weather. We’re anxious to get renovation work underway at the new building, and with the ground thawing that means we can get started. The site survey should be about complete by the time this is printed, and our architect will be able to create our drawings for the contracted phase of the project. We’ll also be able to get our volunteers back onto the site to do some more work in the backyard, as well as on the roof.
We made substantial progress last year after buying the building. Our volunteers did a lot of work that saved us over ten thousand dollars, and we raised almost $30,000 towards the renovation. That means we’re halfway towards our fundraising goal, and The Pride Center is committed to getting the building up and running as soon as possible.
If you are interested in helping with the Aster project, you can contact our Aster Project Manager, Tom Beck, at AsterProjectTeam@aol.com.
We are also busy planning all our events for the upcoming year such as the Day in the Sun Picnic, Out in Akron, Pride ArtsFest, and several fundraisers aimed at Aster renovation. The board submitted new, yearly proposals last month, and I’m excited by the energy, enthusiasm, and great ideas that will help move the AAPC in a forward direction. As always, we are open to hearing your ideas, and would love to have you as a volunteer. Know that board meetings are open meetings to all members, and you are welcome to attend.
As the temperature warms up, The Pride Center is gearing up for a great spring and summer. I hope that you will join us by volunteering, coming to events, becoming a member or donating to the Aster Project, or even sending us your feedback or ideas. We are proud to serve the Akron-Canton LGBT community.
Volunteer Recognition
The Pride Center would like to recognize Tim McCarragher and Mary Beth White for their outstanding efforts in January creating the Anniversary Dinner and Auction. $2200 was raised and the community enjoyed an evening of food, music, information about The Pride Center and wonderful items to bid on.
Mark Myers, Ingy, and Joe Henshall continue their work on the newsletter. Each month Ingy spends hours editing and formatting the upcoming newsletter, Mark volunteers his time at the printing press, and Joe makes sure that everything is ready for assembly, mailing and distribution.
We’ve also had many volunteers who have assisted with our newsletter assembly process, cutting the time needed to collate, fold, stuff, label, stamp and staple in half. Thanks to Becca, Dan, Ingy, Mark, Joe, Kate, Erin, Eddie, Norm, Teddy, Crystal and everyone else who has been helping out!
Mary Beth is working in researching and creating a new Family Pride group for LGBT parents.
Dan McGown has continued his efforts with the Teen Pride group. Under his guidance and leadership, the group has seen a lot of growth over the past few months.
Tom and Alan volunteer their time doing repair work at the Aster building. They spent several days on the roof (and in the roof) making sure that the building would be in good shape for the spring!
Need a resource?
How you can help the community with a simple, painless donation: your knowledge!
The Community Resource Project (CRP) has been collecting data about our five county areas for several months now, and that information is available in a database on our website. (Click “resources”) LGBT life resources such as services, accommodations, businesses and support groups are all available to the community when information is needed. You can help other members of the community too!
Know of a gay friendly doctor? Do you get your haircut in a LGBT friendly place? Is there a business that you know is supportive of our community? You can submit this information in less than a minute on our website. Afterwards, that information will be available to help other people in the community who may need it.
Part of our mission is to ensure the well-being of our community, and we know that a well-informed community is more likely to be better served. Please take a moment to visit our website and help us create this valuable resource. AkronPrideCenter.org
The Pride Center PO Box 22254 . Akron, Ohio . 330.785.0088
The Pride Center is happy to announce the process of starting an LGBT Families with Kid(s) Group for the Akron and surrounding communities. We listened to you as a community and this was one of the things you felt you wanted from your Pride Center. It is our hope at The Pride Center to better connect our families with support, resources and sense of togetherness. We need your help. The Pride Center is encouraging families to contact us so we can put our minds and hearts together and make the best LGBT Family Group for the Akron community. This group is for you and your children and we want to know what you as a community would like for your family group? What are you needs and what is important to you as an LGBT family? Help us to make this a strong and supportive family group that you would be proud to be a part of. Please contact Mary Beth White, Family Group Program Coordinator at mwhite@akronpridecenter or call 330.853.3875 so we can talk about what you would like to see happen with the new program.
Mary Beth White, LSW
Family Program Coordinator
Akron Pride Center
A Love Denied
written
by Katrina N. Smith
We were masculine, feminine, beautiful, marred,
Forgotten, and rebuked but most of all
Denied.
A love denied.
She was butch femme, black, and white, Hispanic,
Asian,
exotic, ordinary.
She was mine . . . yet we’re a love denied.
I am the youth that society rebukes, a black girl with a queer eye for the very
thing that, Shames your theories on love, and right and wrong.
I hear it in the back of my mind. The whisper.
Love me.
Love me daddy,
Love me mommy,
Love me church, society and state.
With such persecution what will be our fate
A love broken, beaten and betrayed, laid down as a sacrifice
for
your self righteousness.
We are poor and rich, light and dark, hidden and obscene,
We are a love denied.
Finding someplace to confide where
words
won’t hurt and abuse doesn’t reach.
You can’t accept it because, tolerance you won’t seek.
What is it in their hearts, that our kisses bread hate?
Why is orientation and sexuality not up for debate . . .?
Don’t pretend you don’t see the flaw . . . its glaring
Hate crime is an understatement;
bigot
is just a name you find overbearing.
A Love denied because for the sake . . . of love.
Love is . . .
Transgender and Boy
Black and white.
Muslim and Catholic.
Boy and Boy
Transgender and Girl
Christian and Jewish.
Boy and Girl
Girl and Girl
Transgender and Transgender
Love is Love outside the confines of who you think we are.
Social Events
Saturday, April 14
Lydia’s 8th Anniversary Party at Lydia’s. DJ Kevin, food, raffles, 10pm.
Tuesday, April 17
Club 358 Reunion will be held at Club Amsterdan to benefit The Pride Center. Door donations, live entertainment, 50/50 raffle, 5pm.
Sunday, April 22
My Space Party will be held at Adams Street Bar with door donations, raffle, silent auction baskets to benefit The Pride Center, 5pm.
Square Meals will be held at Square. Bring in your favorite appetizers, soups or salads with a printed recipe to be included in Square Meals cookbook, a special cookbook benefiting The Pride Center, 5pm sharp.
Sunday, May 6
Square Meals will be held at Square. Bring in your favorite main dish, side dish or dessert with a printed recipe to be included in Square Meals cookbook, a special cookbook benefiting The Pride Center, 5pm sharp.
Friday, June 1
Pride ArtsFest 07 a fine art and live classical music held at Church of Our Saviour, 471 Crosby St. Akron. Donations accepted. 7pm-10pm.
Sunday, June 24
Day In The Sun Celebration Picnic held at Ohio Sportsman’s Club, 1775 Jacoby Rd. $10 pre-sale, $12 at the door, 12noon-9pm.