[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF THE LESBIAN/GAY COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF 
                  CLEVELAND'S TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 10, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the twenty-fifth 
anniversary of Cleveland's Lesbian/Gay Community Service Center. For 
the past twenty-five years, the Center has served the community's gay, 
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their supporters in the 
Greater Cleveland area.
  Driven by the belief that all people have a right to pursue life, 
liberty, and happiness in America, and because gay, lesbian, bisexual 
and transgender (GLBT) people have been denied these basic rights, the 
Center has distinguished itself as a respected educator, advocate, 
social services provider and community builder.
  In 1975, the Center's founders, Ethan Ericsen, Michael Madigan, and 
Arthur MacDonald, opened the Gay Education and Awareness Resource 
Foundation, or GEAR. In 1988, GEAR's name was changed to the Lesbian/
Gay Community Service Center and the ``Living Room,'' a drop-in center 
for men with AIDS, was opened. The Living Room was the only center of 
its kind in the Midwest United States--establishing the Center's 
position as not only a preeminent advocate for the gay and lesbian 
community, but as a pioneer in GLBT services. The Center has served 
Cleveland in many capacities, including the encouragement of GLBT 
people to vote with ``Promote the Vote'' programs, the creation of a 
Speaker's Bureau to inform and educate the general public about the 
Center and its gay/lesbian issues, and the training of law enforcement 
agencies regarding GLBT issues. Recently, the Center was awarded the 
Human Rights Campaign's Equality award for outstanding service to the 
GLBT community in Greater Cleveland. Now, arriving at its twenty-fifth 
year celebration, the Center is still thriving with various activities 
and plans to serve Greater Cleveland Community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my fellow members join me in honoring the 
outstanding community service of the Lesbian and Gay Community Service 
Center of Greater Cleveland.

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