Ihe Empty Closet NEW YORK STATE'S OLDEST GAY NEWSPAPER Local Alliance conducts picnic survey The Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley, and controlling alcohol use in the picnic For morc information, call the Gay Alliance news briefs through the efforts of thc its Center Direc­ area. They are looking for morc feedback on at 244-8640; leave a message if no one is in tor, Susan McNair, circulated a written survey past picnics and help with this year's event. the office. BeneHts raise in March and April on the annual Gay Com­ munity Picnic. quilt money The survey was mailed to all Gay Alliance Picnic Surrey Results members and was available at the Alliance By Jeff Kost and in local lesbian and gay bars. Surveys are A: Has attended picnic 1 year The R(K*hester Quilt Cummittctr, which is still coming in, but 68 of them had been B: Has attended 2-4 years spon.Horing the focal May 20-22 visit of the returned by April 12. The data in thc accom­ C: Has attended 5 Names Pn>iect AIDS Memorial QuJlt, ha^i panying sidebar Is based on those 68. or more years received S4.5<H) fn>m three fundraising events held in April. Most people were satisfied with the pic­ Category Ites/PMittvtt/High Fto/Nagttv/BBBsonaMe C'Jub Powers, a gay nightclub open on nic location at Genesee Valley Park, the pic­ weekends ai the Fowcni ClriU, 36 West Main nic date on the second Sunday of July, the A B C Total A B C Total St.. held a benefit for the Quilt Committee five-hour .length of the event, the crowd Price 3 14 on April 8 that raised more than S2,6<M) in 10 27 5 16 18 39 diversity and the security. The majority of Vegetarian 3 24 donations at the d<M>r and thn>ugh the sale those surveyed said thc flO price was 8 5 16 5 23 52 of Names Project merchandise such as T- reasonable, but many said it was too high. Chem-Free 6 24 18 48 2 7 11 22 shirts and buttons. About 24 percent of those who respond­ Accessibility 8 30 28 66 0 1 1 2 The Liberty, a gay bar at I2A Liberty Pole ed were vegetarians, but many picnic-goers, Alcohol 6 23 19 48 2 8 8 18 Way. hosted the annual Female Imper­ vegetarians and meat-eaters, said they weie Location 7 28 26 61 0 0 0 sonators Against AIDS pageant on April 16. 0 dissatisfied with the food variety and quali­ Length 6 27 23 56 1 2 2 The pn>ceeds went to the Quilt Committee ty and requested a menu change. Most 5 and the Lesbian and (iay Health Network, survey respondents were in favor of Date 8 24 24 66 0 2 2 4 a task force of the (iay AUiance of Ciencsee establishing alcohol- and chemical-free areas Food Quality 3 9 12 24 1 9 7 17 Valley. Tach group received about J7S0 at the event, and some suggested that pic­ Food Quantity 2 17 13 32 0 5 6 11 More than 15 male and female impeiM>nators nic organizers make available a bigger variety Food Variety 2 11 11 24 1 10 8 19 participated, donating tips of S226 to be of beverages and more tightly control beer divided between the two organizations. distribution. Bev, Variety 2 17 9 38 3 9 6 18 The QuiU Committee's supporters are also An overwhelming majority supported Security 6 24 20 60 0 1 6 7 holding house parties to raise money and making the picnic more accessible to the Entertainment 4 16 10 30 0 8 8 16 educate people about the quilt. The first par­ disabled. Almost half the respondents in­ Activities 3 10 9 22 1 10 9 20 ty, attencjkrdby 11 guests, raised aN)Ut SM(K). dicated that parking was a problem, so pic­ Parking 3 13 7 23 2 4 12 18 The Names Pn)ject covers the cost of nic organizers are looking into plans to ex­ Crowd Diversity 7 22 0 4 tran.sporiing the quilt — about 17.5(H) for a pand parking facilities. 21 50 3 7 tractor-trailer truck and five workers — but The organizers are also working on Publicity 5 26 15 45 1 1 1 3 local groups must pay for the display of the changes in food, entertainment, activities quilt in their communities. The RfK'hester Quilt (Committee hax already raised the SI.(MM) needed for thc display at Monrtx: <>>mmunity College, and the rest of the AIDS Quilt coming May 20-22 money rai.sed will go to kxral AIDS agencies. For more information on the quilt or By Tim N. Tompkins volunteered for similar projects for years: For information on making quilt panels, hosting a fundraising party, call the quilt line The Rochester Quilt Committee wili host J.R. Russel, Jeff Kost, Tony Greene, David call the quilt workshop, Jimmy's Place, at at 987-IHS3 the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt on Hcnzler, Chic Parker and morc. Thank you 473-8391. Saturday, May 20 and Sunday. May 21 from all for your continuing effort in the battle The quilt is a means of expression of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday. May 12 from against AIDS. human compassion, a means of comfort and Koch defends 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the MonnK- Community But the committee needs more help and a means of remembrance. It is also an effec­ College gymnasium. KKK) East Henrietta more donations. Call the quilt line at tive way to teach people about thc losses AIDS policies Road. 987-1853. associated with AIDS. Admission to Ihe display is free, but the NEW YORK — At an April tl press con­ R<Krhester QuiU Committee will collect ference for the gay and lesbtan media. Mayor donations ftir local AIDS patient care agen­ Kdward Koch defended his administration's cies. The committee has been conducting a ACT UP, Gay Alliance AIDS policies and said that his past support major fundraising effort for the last couple of the gay community has cost him of months to benefit these agencies. ¥or politically. more information, call 987-1853 sponsor gay pride parade Koch described his administration's "The goals and purposes of the Quilt arc response to the AIDS epidemic as "outstan­ to .show the impact ofthe AIDS epidemic in By Cynchia ^^m Ness event say they hope participants will use ding" but acknowledged it "wasn't human terms and to furnish a means for ex­ RcK'bester's first (iay, Lesbian and Bisex­ banners, signs, floats, costumes, street enough." He dismissed his critics in the gay pression by those living with AIDS and per­ ual Pride Parade, sponsored by ACT UP theater and other creative displays of com­ community saying the>' attack him and his sons whose lives have been affected by the (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) and the munity pride. administration as tun having done enough epidemic." sa>'s Cleve Jones, executive direc­ (say Alliance of Genesee Valley, will take ACTT UP members are planning access for in order to spur him to more acti<m. Koch tor of the Names Pn)ject Foundati(m. "The place on the evening of V(^dnesday, June 28. the disabled to the parade and rally and are said the city of New York is m>t only spen­ pf\>jecT aiul display event are a part of a ctK>r- The parade, and similar celebrations working to make sure the event provides ding more to deal with the crisis than any dinated educational and fundraising cam­ around the country, will commemorate the visibility for community members who are other city but is also spending more per per­ paign to rai.se vital funds for AIDS service 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, usually overlooked, such as lesbians, people son with AIDS than any other city. onunizations and to encourage support for which launched the contemporary gay and of color, thc disabled, people with AIDS and The mayor refuted claims that he did not persons with AIDS." lesbian movement. Patrons ofthe Stonewall bisexuals. meet with any gay community leader about The quilt bears nearly 9<KM) names of Inn. a Greenwich Village bar frequented by Help is needed with logistics, maishalling, AIDS umil 1983. two or three years after the those who have died as a result of AIDS. Black and Latino drag queens, lesbians and media coordination, publicity and promo­ epidemic had begun in the New York C4>m- RtKhester is the only city in New York state gay men, began the riots to protest a police tion, indusiveness, fundraising and rally munity and killed many people. He said the to receive the quilt in 1989. raid of the bar Ofganization. ACT UP will schedule training claims an>se because he did not meet with The quilt weighs 16 tons and is compris­ The parade organizers have applied for a sessions for parade maishalts and spokespeo­ those leaders making the claims. ed of 8,738 3-f<M)i-by-6-foot panels and five parade permit that will allow the closing of ple. For more information, call 442-3519. Koch said his support for gay causes hxs miles of fabric. All 50 states, and 13 (Hher a section of Main Street to automobile traf­ cost him votes. "But Iocs of things I say and countries, are represented.