Local Activist Appointed President of Stonewall Democrats
Cuyahoga Falls native Shane May was recently appointed president after a year of participating in gay rights protests.
Gay Rights
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Saturday, January 19, 2013
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Gay Rights Activist Deplores Bigotry on National Coming Out Day: Letter to the Editor
Cuyahoga Falls native Shane May shares his stuggles of growing up as a homosexual, rails against "homophobic" behavior and offers a message of hope during National Coming Out Day.
In case anybody missed the memo... I am gay. Sorry for the shocker; I know this may be devastating news to most of you, but know that I am okay with it and have been okay with it for many years. I would personally like to thank every single one of you from Price Elementary, Sill Middle School and Cuyahoga Falls High School who called me names and made fun of me while growing up. Your name calling and bullying gave me the strength and courage to come to terms with who I am today and only made me stronger. While you live in your hate-filled worlds of homophobic bigotry, know that I am making a difference in this community and doing something with my life that I am passionate about. Never again will you be able to tear me down like you did in…
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Gay Rights Protestors to Picket Against Romney, Christie and Mayor Robart
Due, in part, to Christie's veto of same-sex marriage legislation, local gay activists will protest outside Gov. Mitt Romney's "Victory Rally" at the Natatorium on Tuesday evening.
Thousands will flood Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday evening to cheer on the Republican presidential candidate, but there's some who plan to protest against Romney, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Mayor Don Robart. Shane May, of Akron, organized the protest via social media and said he's expecting protestors from local gay rights groups, like GetEqual of Ohio, to join him on the picket line for various reasons. In a Patch email interview on Oct. 8, May wrote: "It was an extreme disappointment when Gov. Christie vetoed the same-sex marriage bill within the state of New Jersey (in February)...Both of the men visiting my hometown tomorrow have made their points pretty clear where they stand with the LGBT community, and it was no shock that …
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Friday, April 13, 2012
Parks and Rec Board Prepares for Final Call on Natatorium Rate Structure, Gay Rights Issue
The issue over whether or not to redefine the gym's spouse memberships will be resolved next month.
The end is near. In May, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board will face arguably its biggest decision in decades when it makes a final ruling on whether or not to change the Natatorium's rate structure. Chairman Tim Gorbach arrived at the next and final step following a report by Parks and Recreation Superintendent Bill Lohan and a public address by Falls City Councilwoman Diana Colavecchio during Thursday’s monthly parks board meeting at the Natatorium. Lohan based his report on a late-March, closed-door work session he had with Colavecchio, council members Terry Mader and Carrie Snyder, Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Paul Janis and others. Here’s the breakdown: To absorb the losses, Colavecchio proposed the city reallocate a …
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Pastor Chris
12:03 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
Jan, final thought. I agree this should not be polarizing. I did not ask this to come upon our city. But it did. I never imposed my values upon another, I have simply stood for the existing values of our community as expressed in the State Constitution, as well as expressing God's way for marriage as being best for society and civilization. That is not polarizing, those opposing marriage from a … more ›
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Falls Parks and Recreation Board Taking Second Look at Natatorium Rate Structure
The Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board will consider the issue, for the second time, this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Natatorium.
This week could mark the last chapter in the long and winding Natatorium controversy as the Parks and Recreation Board will take another look at whether or not to alter the gym’s rate structure. “I intend to make this a discussion item at the meeting and will open it back up and see what the will of the park board is,” said board chairman Tim Gorbach. At its last meeting on March 8, the parks board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by Gorbach, which would have ultimately created a head of household rate structure. Under that structure, rates would rise or fall depending on the number of people who reside in any given Cuyahoga Falls residence. The head of household would eliminate what some call a discriminatory discount plan, otherwise …
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Keena Tomko
3:48 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
John, I think we can find solutions to this without being inflammatory. What have the cavemen ever done to you? Also, they prefer to be referred to as In-Ground Dwellers. more ›
Monday, March 26, 2012
Council Members, Natatorium Officials to Meet Behind Closed Doors Regarding Gym's Rate Structure
The group will begin the discussion in a work session format on whether or not to seek an alternative membership rates after Monday's regular City Council meeting.
A handful of Cuyahoga Falls City Council members will meet with Natatorium officlals on Monday to discuss the fitness center's current rate structure and to explore alternatives; however, the public will not be able to attend. Council members Terry Mader, Carrie Snyder and Diana Colavecchio will sit down with Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Superintendent Bill Lohan, Assistant Superintendent Ed Stewart and Facilities Director Lori Visner to set a discussion in motion following Monday night's regular city council meeting at the Natatorium, said Colavecchio. Since there is no pending legislation and because the number of members attending doesn't constiture a council quorum, the work session format, by law, can be conducted behind closed…
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Bill
3:23 pm on Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Just have a non resident fee and a resident fee...charge as much as other facilities that offer a lot less and call it a day. more ›
Friday, March 9, 2012
Letter to the Editor: One Way Out of the Natatorium Issue
Cuyahoga Falls Patch reader offers rationale on why she feels the City Council should restructure the Nat's rate policies.
Editor's note: This letter was submitted by former Cuyahoga Falls resident and Patch contributor Kate Bigam. As a former city employee and an advocate for equal rights, I am disappointed in the Parks and Recreation Board’s decision not to update the Natatorium’s membership rates to encompass all kinds of families. As Patch reported yesterday, Board Chairman Tim Gorbach proposed a motion that would have extended the current couples rate to same-sex couples in legally recognized civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriages performed out of state. Unfortunately, the board rejected this proposal in a 3-2 vote, disappointing those of us who’d hoped to see the Nat’s policies better reflect the kind of open & welcoming place we expect our …
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Shane May
10:38 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012
Because I was born and raised within that town and have lived there my entire life until I found a home with my HUSBAND two streets over from city lines. more ›
POLL: Falls City Council Will Make Final Decision on Natatorium Rate Change Issue
In the coming weeks, the council will decide on whether or not to change the Nat's membership rate structure to include non-traditional families. Where do you stand?
On Thursday night, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by chairman Tim Gorbach to change the Natatorium's “w/spouse” rates. If the motion had passed, the current "w/spouse" rate would have changed to a "w/partner" rate, opening the memberships up to "two persons that are legally married, or are domestic partners, or are in a civil union as recognized by any U.S. jurisdiciton," said Gorbach. Under the current rate policy, the Nat only allows married men and women who are recognized by the Ohio Constitution to receive discounted memberships. The second part of his motion called for a “head of household” rate structure to take effect by June 1 of this year, meaning that rates would be set solely …
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Wthames
12:46 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
If you can't afford two passes to the Nat, that's too bad. Just because you are gay doesn't mean you deserve the rights we straight married couples deserve. The Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman! Get over yourselves! Any straight couple denied a discount would have moved on quietly! This is not bullying, it's a policy. DEAL WITH IT! more ›
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Parks Board Rejects Natatorium Membership Rate Changes
A motion raised by Parks and Recreation Board Chair Tim Gorbach to alter the rates failed by a 3-2 vote.
On Thursday night, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by chairman Tim Gorbach to change the Natatorium's membership rates that apply to married couples. If the motion had passed, the current "w/spouse" rate would have changed to the "w/partner" rate, which would have opened the memberships up to "two persons that are legally married, or are domestic partners, or are in a civil union as recognized by any U.S. jurisdiciton," said Gorbach. According to the Natatorium's current rate structure, the w/spouse rate applies to couples who have been legally married under the State of Ohio constitution. Such couples are afforded a yearly membership discount of $255 versus those who hold individual …
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anna
5:48 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
I'm 15, and I know this is wrong, others have no right to impose their view points on another. We as a Americans have the right to live our lives as we want as long as we don't impede on another person's rights. We should not be able to choose how another person lives their life. more ›
Natatorium Discounts For Gay Couples on Parks Board Agenda Today
Controversial issue to be decided during 5:30 p.m. meeting at Natatorium.
The question of whether gay, married couples should be eligible for family memberships at the Natatorium will likely be answered today by the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board. Board president Tim Gorbach said the issue is on the agenda for the board's 5:30 p.m. meeting today at the Natatorium, and that a decision will be reached. The topic has been garnering headlines since Akron newlyweds Shane and Coty May were denied family membership status at the Nat in early January because the parks board – which sets the facility's rates – did not consider their marriage legal. On Feb. 8, Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Paul Janis released a 10-page legal opinion stating that City Council could override the board’s authority and establish …
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M
8:34 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
They should include couples who arent married living together with there kids more ›
Steve Stallard
7:20 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
They are just trying to make it an issue. Gay marriage is NOT recognized in Ohio. What is so difficult to understand.And Melissa, people are awake and will never change what they believe in. more ›