MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN IOWA “We have a constitutional duty to ensure equal protection of the law. .... If gay and lesbian people must submit to different treatment without an exceedingly persuasive justification, they are deprived of the benefits of the principle of equal protection upon which the rule of law is founded. (T)he language in Iowa Code section 595.2 limiting civil marriage to a man and a woman must be stricken from the statute.” — The Iowa Supreme Court in an April 3 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.
Starting just after 8am on Monday, April 27, 2009, the first same-gender couples started applying for marriage certificates in Iowa. Shortly after, couples who received a court waiver of the three-day waiting period held hastily assembled wedding ceremonies and completed the state’s requirements for legal marriage. Protesters were generally outnumbered by couples seeking marriage licenses and both groups appeared to be far outnumbered by representatives of press from across the country.
Have Your Cake... Laws Regarding Same-Sex Partnerships in the United States Same-sex marriages Unions granting rights similar to marriage Unions granting limited/enumerated rights Foreign same-sex marriages recognized No specific prohibition or recognition of same-sex marriages or unions Statute bans same-sex marriage Constitution bans same-sex marriage Constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samesex_marriage_in_USA.svg
Tipping Points Happen... by Rex Wockner
Miss California, Carrie Prejean, being interviewed by reporter Rex Wockner. For the full text of the interview, see page 6.
National and World News Page 4
Tipping points happen, and don't stay in Vegas Either it is a nonstory that “the media” made into a huge story. Or the U.S. gay world hit some kind of tipping point, and it's no longer possible to “get away” with saying anti-gay things in many arenas -- just as one can’t get away with saying sexist or racist things. At the Miss USA pageant April 19, judge Perez Hilton, the gay blogger, asked Miss California, Carrie Prejean, this question: “Vermont recently became the fourth
Interview with Miss California Page 6
state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?” Prejean responded: “Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Um, we live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and -- you know what? -- in my country and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and TTTIPPING POINT continued page 3
A Message from One Iowa Page 7
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Section 1: News & Politics
May 2009
May 2009
PUBLICATION INFORMATION Copyright © 2009 ACCESS in Northeast Iowa P.O. Box 2666 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666 (319) 550-0957 www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com ACCESSline is a bimonthly publication by ACCESS (A Concerned Community for Education, Safer-sex and Support) in Northeast Iowa, a registered non-profit organization in the State of Iowa and a federal non-profit organization under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS Code. Arthur Breur, Editor in Chief Aaron Stroschein, Assistant Editor Cory Tenney, Advertising Sales Joshua Dagon Brett Edward Stout Sharon Malheiro, One Iowa Lisa Schreihart (a.k.a IowaLisa) Q Syndicate Rex Wockner News Service All rights reserved. Original material printed in ACCESSline (with the exception of information from other sources) may be “lifted” for use in other publications so long as proper credit is given. Publication of the name, photograph or likeness of any person, business or organization in ACCESSline is not to be construed as any indication of sexual orientation. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ACCESSline, ACCESS or the gay and lesbian community. Letters to the editor may be published. We cannot be responsible for errors in advertising copy. We welcome the submission of original materials, including line drawings and cartoons, news stories, poems, essays. They should be clearly labeled with author/artist name, address, and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters and other material for reasons of profanity, space, or clarity. Materials will not be returned. A writer’s guide is available for those wishing to submit original work. Advertising rates and deadlines are available at ACCESSlineIOWA.com. All ads must be approved by ACCESSline’s editorial board.
Section 1: News & Politics What’s Inside: Section 1: News & Politics US News.................................................4 World News ..........................................5 Gay Men Tortured in Iraq......................5 Interview with Miss California..............6 A Message from One Iowa....................7 Opinion & Commentary................... 7-9 Political IQ...............................................................7 Steve King, Creep of the Week..........................8 National Organization for Marriage................9 Health & HIV/AIDS News............ 10-11 Joshua Dagon.......................................12
Section 2: Community Look Before You Leap.........................25 Chef deJon............................................26 Ask Auntie Emm..................................27
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Morals & Values: The Evolution of a Sacrament....30 Out of Town: Hawaii.............................31
SScontinued from page 1
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Tipping Point
DVD Review.........................................32
that’s how I think that it should be: between a man and a woman. Thank you.” In reality, Americans can choose same-sex marriage only in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and, starting Sept. 1, Vermont. One would think Miss California might remember that tiny little battle over Proposition 8, but whatever. Prejean, who came in first runnerup, later said, “At that moment after I’d answered the question, I knew that I was not going to win because of my answer.” Subsequent reporting revealed she apparently is right about that, which suggests that having “correct” gay positions has become more important than many of us might have assumed. Yet, in a video blog, Hilton later opined: “She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage. Miss California lost because she's a dumb bitch. OK? ... If that girl would have won Miss USA, I would have gone up onstage — I shit you not — I would have gone up onstage, snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door.” The boy does have a way with words.
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Yet later, Hilton told MSNBC, “I called her the b-word and, hey, I was thinking the c-word, and I didn’t say it.” One does not often hear “the c-word,” even called just “the c-word,” on MSNBC. At any rate, Hilton appears to believe there is a way for a Miss USA contestant to oppose gay marriage -- but that would be some way other than the way Prejean did it. All of this resulted in so many media stories that Google News probably had to add server capacity. But the interesting question, actually, is: Was this a gay tipping point? All Prejean did — albeit not particularly articulately — was say that she believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Fifty-two percent of California voters think that, too. Or at least they did as of last Nov. 4. But then there was Iowa. And Vermont. And 8 million media stories and TV things. The bottom line, I guess: If Miss USA can't dis the gays and get away with it, then there probably now are many, many arenas in which one can't dis the gays and get away with it. If that's true, a “tipping point” is probably exactly what we observed, and the orgy of media coverage may have been (sigh) warranted.
ACCESSline Page 4
Section 1: News & Politics
May 2009
US NEWS by Rex Wockner Amazon blacklists gay books Over Easter weekend, it was discovered that Amazon.com had de-ranked and delisted hundreds or thousands of books that touch on gay topics. When authors complained, they were told: “In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude ‘adult’ material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.” The quasi-banned books included titles such as “Running With Scissors” by Augusten Burroughs, “Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown, “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel, “The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1” by Michel Foucault, “Bastard Out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” by Jean-Dominque Bauby, “Maurice” by E.M. Forster and “Becoming a Man” by Paul Monette. News of the blacklist ricocheted across cyberspace, particularly via Twitter, prompting Amazon to issue a second explanation: “There was a glitch in our systems and it’s being fixed.” When critics then questioned how a “glitch” could single out books that touch on gay issues, Amazon issued a third explanation: “This is an embarrassing and ham-fisted cataloging error for a company that prides itself on offering complete selection. It has been misreported that the issue was limited to Gay & Lesbian themed titles -- in fact, it impacted 57,310 books in a number of broad categories such as Health, Mind & Body, Reproductive & Sexual Medicine, and Erotica. This problem impacted books not just in the United States but globally. It affected not just sales rank but also had the effect of removing the books from Amazon’s main product search. Many books have now been fixed and we’re in the process of fixing the remainder as quickly as possible, and we intend to implement new measures to make this kind of accident less likely to occur in the future.” At press time, some observers still weren’t content with Amazon’s explanations. Web, software and database geeks writing online continued to theorize that the “ham-fisted cataloging error” could not have happened if Amazon algorithms had not previously tagged books with positive references to anything gay as “adult.” N.Y. governor introduces bill to legalize same-sex marriage New York Gov. David Paterson introduced a bill in the state Legislature on April 16 to legalize same-sex marriage. “We have a crisis of leadership today,” Paterson said. “We’re going to fill that vacuum today. (G)ay and lesbian New Yorkers ... have been the victims of what is a legal system that has systematically discriminated against them.” “For too long, the gay and lesbian community have been told that their rights and freedoms have to wait,” he said. “The time has come to act.” The bill should pass the Assembly easily, as it did in 2007, but its prospects in the Senate, where it died in 2007, remain uncertain.
Hyatt boycott expanded The nearly yearlong gay boycott of San Diego’s Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel was expanded April 14 when a coalition of activists protested outside Hyatt’s Andaz West Hollywood hotel. The San Diego property, owned by businessman Doug Manchester and operated by Hyatt, was targeted after Manchester gave $125,000 to the campaign that resulted in California’s re-banning of same-sex marriage last November. The activists who gathered at the West Hollywood hotel said they hoped their move would increase pressure on Global Hyatt Corp. to deal with the “hypocrisy” of being a gay-friendly corporation that also is in business with Manchester. “The coalition is not calling for a boycott of the Andaz Hotel, but pledges to hold the Andaz and its owner and operator, The Hyatt Corporation, accountable for their relationship to Manchester,” the group said in a statement. The group included veteran activist Cleve Jones, Courage Campaign Chair Rick Jacobs, West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, Los Angeles Stonewall Democrats President John Cleary, UNITE HERE Local 11 President Tom Walsh, and Lisa Powell of Organizing with America. ‘All but marriage’ law passes in Washington state In a 62-35 vote, Washington’s House of Representatives passed a bill April 15 beefing up the state’s domestic-partnership law so it grants registered same-sex couples every state-level right and obligation of marriage. The measure had passed the Senate 30-18 in March. Gov. Chris Gregoire intends to sign the bill into law. “We have to respect and protect all of the families that make up our communities,” she said. At present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa permit gay and lesbian couples to marry and New York recognizes gay marriages entered into elsewhere. Same-sex marriage will become legal in Vermont on September 1. Eight states and the District of Columbia legally recognize same-sex couples but do not let them marry. California, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and D.C. extend all state-level rights and obligations of marriage to gay couples who enter into a civil union or domestic partnership. Maine, Washington and Hawaii grant registered gay couples some benefits of marriage. Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden (starting May 1). Vermont legalizes same-sex marriage Vermont’s Legislature overrode Gov.
Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill legalizing samesex marriage April 7. The Senate vote to override was 23-5 and the House vote was 100-49, the exact number of House votes needed. The law takes effect Sept. 1. “The struggle for equal rights is never easy,” said Vermont Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin. “I was proud to be president of the Senate nine years ago when Vermont created civil unions (and) I have never felt more proud of Vermont as we become the first state in the country to enact marriage equality not as the result of a court order, but because it is the right thing to do.” Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called the override “a significant turning point in the struggle for the equal treatment of our relationships.” “Vermont is once again making history,” Carey said. “Nine years ago it did so when it became the first state to grant legal recognition of same-sex relationships through its civil unions law; today, it became the first state ... to pass and enact a marriage equality measure. “The enactment of this bill affirms that only marriage can provide the protections, dignity and respect that the institution bestows. This vote also recognizes that civil unions simply fall short in ensuring same-sex couples are treated equally under the law.” Same-sex marriage also is legal in Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts, as
well as in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden. California’s Legislature has twice passed bills legalizing same-sex marriage but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed them. Later, the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, with a ruling that took effect in June 2008. Approximately 18,000 same-sex couples got married prior to Nov. 4, 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. The constitutionality of Prop 8 and the status of the 18,000 marriages are now before the state Supreme Court, with a ruling required by June 3.
Shannon Minter, NCLR Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and lead lawyer for the gay side in the California case, called the Vermont override “yet another indication that Proposition 8 is out of step with our nation’s movement toward equality.” TTUS NEWS continued page 11
May 2009
Section 1: News & Politics
ACCESSline Page 5
World News by Rex Wockner Polis: Iraqi GLBT executions have begun Of the five or six members of Iraqi LGBT who reportedly have been sentenced to death in Baghdad for belonging to a supposedly banned organization, one has escaped custody and one has been executed, says U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. According to Polis, the “egregious human rights violations” are “being carried out by Iraqi government officials from the Ministry of the Interior.” “While I do not know if these executions are being sanctioned at the highest levels of the Iraqi government, it is nonetheless disturbing that government officials and state-funded security forces are involved in the torturing and execution of LGBT Iraqis,” Polis wrote to Patricia Butenis, the chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. Polis said the U.S. government “appears to be largely unaware that the executions of gay and transgender Iraqis have been able to occur in Iraq” and has expressed an “unwillingness to seriously consider these allegations and examine the evidence (from) international human rights watchdog organizations.” Reports of the pending executions were first brought to light by Iraqi LGBT founder Ali Hili, who launched the group in London after escaping Iraq. In a recent phone interview, Hili said he isn’t sure what statute might make belonging to a banned organization a capital offense. “That’s what they have been told by a judge in a brief court hearing,” he said. “I don’t think this is in the Iraqi constitution as a death penalty (crime). The court is ... kangaroo-style. It was brief and people weren’t able to present legal representation or defend themselves in that kind of court. Our information is that these five members
have been convicted to death for running activities of a forbidden organization on Iraqi soil.” Scott Long, director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT Rights Division, said: “We are trying urgently to determine who they (the condemned men) are and what has happened. ... Together with other groups, members of Congress and concerned activists, we’re doing everything we can to investigate and determine who’s jailed and what their fates may be. The Iraqi government and the U.S. government must both investigate these charges immediately.” At press time, Long was in Iraq attempting to learn more. In addition to the uncertainty over what death-penalty crime the condemned men could have been charged with, it also is unclear if gay sex is illegal in Iraq. Some news reports have said it isn’t, some have said the punishment is up to seven years in prison, and some have said engaging in gay sex is a capital crime. A lengthy Wikipedia entry on the question reflects the confusion. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s quasi-definitive report “State-Sponsored Homophobia - A world survey of laws prohibiting same sex activity between consenting adults” says: “Iraq reinstated the Penal Code of 1969 after the American invasion in 2003. The Penal Code does not prohibit sexual activities between consenting adults of the same sex. However, as the country is under war, and law enforcement is not functioning properly, death squads operate in the country, killing homosexuals.” Hili called the question of whether gay sex is illegal in Iraq “a very gray area.” “They haven’t mentioned clearly (in the law) about punishment or legalization
for homosexuality,” he said. “But from what we hear and what we see on the ground, it is clearly illegal.” Gay flash mob hits St. Petersburg A gay flash mob hit Nevsky Prospekt
in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 4 to mark the culmination of the third Russian Week Against Homophobia. About 20 people from the group Coming Out strolled along the city’s main TTWORLD NEWS continued page 8
Bodies of 7 Gays in Baghdad Morgue [caution: graphic content] The following is a translation of a story from Alarabiya, a UAE-based media network, which was published on its Arabic website. While the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has not verified all of the allegations, many are consistent with patterns of human rights violations being reported from within Iraq. By Hayyan Neyuf - Dubai / Ali Al-Iraqi - Baghdad A prominent Iraqi human rights activist says that Iraqi militia have deployed a painful form of torture against homosexuals by closing their anuses using “Iranian gum.”... Yina Mohammad told Alarabiya.net that, “Iraqi militias have deployed an unprecedented form of torture against homosexuals by using very strong glue that will close their anus.” According to her, the new substance “is known as the American hum, which is an Iranian-manufactured glue that if applied to the skin, sticks to it and can only be removed by surgery. After they glue the anuses of homosexuals, they give them a drink that causes diarrhea. Since the anus is closed, the diarrhea causes death. Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cell phones in Iraq.” According to this human rights activ-
ist, for the past 3 weeks a crackdown on homosexuals has been going on based on a religious decree that demands their death; dozens have been targeted. She says that the persecution of homosexuals is not confined to the Shiite clerics. Some Sunni leaders have also declared the death penalty for sodomy on satellite channels.” 63 People Tortured According to Hassan from the Iraqi LGBT group in London , attacks against homosexuals have been abundant in Shiite neighborhoods, especially poor regions and remote areas such as the southern provinces and the Hurriya, Sho’la and Sadr neighborhoods in Baghdad . So far, 63 members of the group have been tortured. Hassan also confirmed the use of “Iranian Gum” in the torture process, adding that, “I talked to many young men who have been tortured by this method. They went to the hospital for treatment and in some cases they were refused treatment.” According to Hassan, “all religious leaders, whether Sunni or Shiite, call for the eradication of homosexuals, but the Shiites are the ones who are most involved in these attacks.” Vigilante Groups According to newspaper reports from local news sources in Sadr City in East
Baghdad , a previously unknown group “Ahl al-Haq (the followers of Truth) have stepped up the persecution of Iraqi homosexuals after the murder of a number of them in the past few days. The news sources say that, “3 lists, each with the name of 10 gay men were circulated in Sadr City for a few hours.” The lists included a quote saying, “You, prostitutes, we will punish you!” 7 Bodies in Bagdad’s Morgue The Alarabiya reporter, visited the Baghdad Morgue in Bab-al-Moazaam in central Baghdad , where the Neman Mohsen, the medical examiner, confirmed that they have the bodies of 7 homosexuals in the morgue. He said, “We were not able to identify the culprits who dumped the bodies in front of the morgue and fled, without being seen.” He explained, “There were bodies with gunshots in the head and chest and the rest of the body without any obvious causes of death.” Khalaf Abdul Hussein, from the Legal Affairs Office at the Police Station in Sadr City, told Alarabiya: “the extra-judicial killing of any citizen is a crime punishable by law. No one has the right to become a substitute for judicial authorities or executive authorities, and if there are complaints against individuals, there is law and there are
police and there are government agencies. No group or class has the authority to punish people instead of the state.” He said: “We, like everyone else, have heard rumors about these cases, but we can’t comment on something that is not evidence, and there is no evidence for these crimes either in terms of motivation or in terms of the nature of the criminal acts. We do not know the motives of the killers and we do not know the intentions of those killed.” “Son of a Bitch” Officials and tribal leaders in Sadr City are reluctant to provide details about the murder of homosexuals. However, Sheikh Hashem Mokhani, one of the tribal elders in the city, said: “The people refer to these sexual perverts as ‘son of a bitch,’ but most of the victims were not residents of Sadr City. They used to hang out in a [gay] cafe, on Palestine Street in Baghdad .” Sheik Salal Al-kaabi, one of the elders of Sadr City says: “we have heard that the tribes, to whom these perverts belonged, declared their lives worthless and allowed their death, but we have also heard that an organization calling itself the followers of Truth (ahl-al Haq) are responsible for the murders and have written on the chest of victim a sentence that reads: This is the fate of a son of a bitch.”
Section 1: News & Politics
ACCESSline Page 6
May 2009
Interview with Miss California, Carrie Prejean by Rex Wockner
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Sanctuary of the Rock Church San Diego, April 26, 2009 Rex Wockner: Clearly, nobody would ever get up there (at the Miss USA pageant) and say, “I don’t think black people should be able to marry white people” or something like that. Or nobody would get up there and say something sexist. And people are wondering if maybe we’ve gotten to a moment in American culture where you can’t really say something that’s interpreted as anti-gay anymore, like you might have been able to five years ago. Do you think maybe that’s what could have happened, or, if not, what do you think happened in Vegas that led to all this media stuff? Carrie Prejean: I think the key thing is tolerance, and I think Perez Hilton had, obviously, a hidden agenda, because of the reaction immediately after the pageant. He didn’t agree with what I said, therefore he wanted to go out there and bash me and say things that were very hurtful. So, I think that this wouldn’t be happening right now had he not have done that. So, it would have just been me saying my own opinions, which I’m entitled to, just as you are, and I think it would have been over with. But the fact that he went out there and attacked me, you know, verbally, that’s why this is all happening right now. R: So, you think if you had just expressed your opinion that marriage is between a man and a woman, which 52 percent of the voters in California agree with you on that -C: Right, I’m representing not only
the state of California but the majority of people in our nation. R: So, do you think the reason it became such a big news story is because he called you a bitch? C: Um, I think that because of his expression and his verbal attack on me immediately after the pageant -- I mean, he didn’t even wait one day to do this attack -so I do think there was a hidden agenda there. R: I saw on his blog that he wants to have coffee with you. Is that something you would do? C: Um, I’m not sure if I would have coffee with him. If I did, I’d bring (the Rock Church Pastor) Miles (McPherson) with me. R: If you had it to do all over again, would you do anything different at the microphone at the pageant? C: No, I wouldn’t do anything different. I think that I was entitled to my own opinion. He asked me, you know, how I feel about a certain subject and I gave him my honest opinion. So, no, I have no regrets. R: Do you think that same-sex marriage is just a matter of time, that clearly society is evolving in that direction, and that we’re going to look back on these days as the way we look back on days when white and black people couldn’t get married to each other, or do you think it’s going to be a very long fight to try to get Americans to accept that? C: I definitely think it’s going to be a very long fight. As you can see in California, you know, we had already ruled that, you know, with Proposition 8, that was already discussed that marriage is between a man
and a woman. We voted on it. Um, so, I think that it maybe will be a matter of time, but I don’t see that coming anytime soon. R: And, I guess, last question: What would be so wrong with two women who love each other getting married? C: What would be so wrong with two women that love each other? R: What would be so wrong with that? Yeah. C: What don’t you see wrong with that? R: I don’t see anything wrong with it. C: Why? R: Uh, why don’t -- oh, this is fun -- why don’t I see anything wrong with it? Uh, because they’re in love with each other, and they want to spend their lives together, and marriage is kind of the way that our society recognizes that two people love each other and want to spend their lives together and make commitment and be financially intertwined and be faithful and, you know, permanent. So, why should that be something that gay people can’t do? There’s gay people all around us all the time. C: Exactly, and this is nothing against gay people. I have a lot of friends that are gay. This is not a verbal attack on gay people. It’s just a matter of opinion, and the way that I was raised, the way that I was brought up, that was not an option. I knew I was going to marry a man growing up. And so, for me, it’s a biblical thing, it’s something that I was raised believing, um, that a marriage, you know, is between a man and a woman. Barack Obama even supports that. The majority of the people
in our nation support that. The secretary of state supports that. So, I don’t see anything wrong with it. R: It’s hard to argue with. I mean, you’re right that 52 percent of California voters -C: Because Barack Obama doesn’t agree with you, does that make him a bad president? R: Uh, no, I kind of like Barack Obama as a president, actually. C: I do, too. R: I understand that you were raised to believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and I understand that you grew up knowing that you were always going to marry a guy, but you’re heterosexual. Um, some people are born gay, maybe, you think? C: No, I don’t think so. R: OK, so now we’re getting somewhere. C: I think it’s a behavior that develops over time. R: Why would someone choose it, given that if you choose that, you get discriminated against? C: Um, because obviously Perez Hilton doesn’t think that there’s anything wrong with it. R: No, but if being gay is a choice, rather than something you’re born with, why would you choose something that’s going to lead to your being discriminated against? What would be the motivation? C: I’m not sure what the motivation would be. R: OK. Me either.
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May 2009
Section 1: News & Politics
A Message from One Iowa by Sharon Malheiro Where were you when you heard the news that gay and lesbians couples could get married in Iowa? I was at work, and as soon as I read the word “affirmed” on the Supreme Court opinion, I called my partner Sue Ackerman and asked her to marry me. She accepted, and I couldn’t have been happier! We’ve been together for 20 years, sharing our lives and taking care of each other and our family. How did we know we wanted to get married? Over the past 20 years, we’ve talked about it. We’ve thought about it. It’s a way to show our love, commitment, and honor to the world. It’s a visible testament to how much we love each other, and how devoted we are to each other. We aren’t getting married just because it’s now an option; we’re getting married because it’s the right choice for us. My fiancée—I’m so proud to call her my fiancée now, and I no longer have to explain that she is not my business partner but the love of my life—and I am ready for the responsibilities of marriage. I urge same-sex couples to take marriage seriously. With this new right, we also have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Sue and I realize how significant this is, and hope you do too. Marriage is important to us - and it’s important to all Iowans. Sue and I are so proud to live in a state where all loving
couples are able to honor their commitments through marriage. Let’s celebrate marriage equality in Iowa, and honor all couples who are ready to make the lifetime commitment to marriage. As Board Chair of One Iowa, I know firsthand just how important the work of One Iowa is. One Iowa continues to work to protect marriage equality for all couples, for
me and my fiancée, and for same-sex couples across the state. Please visit www.oneiowa. org today to learn more and donate to support this vital work. Everyone remembers their wedding day as a special moment, and we want to help make sure that marriage equality is secure for all Iowan’s special moments. Sharon Malheiro Board Chair, One Iowa
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“The Supreme Court of Iowa, in a unanimous decision, has clearly stated that the Constitution of our state, which guarantees equal protection of the law to all Iowans, requires the State of Iowa to recognize the civil marriage contract of two people of the same gender. The Court also concluded that the denial of this right constitutes discrimination. Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the Court’s decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory. As Governor, I must respect the authority of the Iowa Supreme Court, and have a duty to uphold the Constitution of the State of Iowa. I also fully respect the right of all Iowans to live under the full protection of Iowa’s Constitution.” — Gov. Chet Culver in an April 7 statement.
Political IQ: The Tide Isn’t Turning on Marriage by Diane Silver The Real Meaning of Vermont and Iowa This is a reality check. From a hard, crass, political point of view, our victories in Iowa and Vermont mean very little. For gay- and lesbian-headed households in Vermont, and for couples like Lee and Tony in outback Iowa, the victories mean almost everything, of course. Starting on April 27 in Iowa and Sept. 1 in Vermont, same-sex couples can marry. They and their children can finally take advantage of the protections their states provide married heterosexuals. On the positive side of the political ledger, Vermont pioneered a new path. By first passing a marriage bill and then overriding the governor’s veto with a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate, the Vermont legislature proved equality can be won in statehouses as well as courthouses. This victory undercuts the religious right’s longstanding claim that only lattedrinking, un-American, activist judges will side with same-sex couples. In Vermont, it was the duly elected representatives of the people who declared our families to be equal. Iowa was momentous because it was the first victory in middle America. Better yet, the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous vote was an emphatic stand against discrimination. Coming within days of each other and doubling the number of states where samesex couples can marry, Iowa and Vermont set off a flurry of excitement. “I think we’re going to look back at this week as a moment when our entire country
turned a corner,” Lambda Legal’s Jennifer C. Pizer told The Washington Post. Something important did happen, but when it comes to marriage, the nation hasn’t turned the corner; the tide hasn’t changed; the momentum hasn’t shifted. Pick whatever metaphor you like, but the politics of the situation remain the same. Politically speaking, there are two keys to winning this battle: political muscle and the hearts and minds of voters. GLBT political muscle remains flabby in the states and clumsy on the national scene, despite the inauguration of Barack Obama. The passage of Proposition 8 in California showed us to be a tad out of shape, even in a state known for liberalism. The $45 million that was pumped into the No-On-8 campaign couldn’t even seal a victory. Among the reasons that campaign stumbled was the lack of grassroots organization (i.e. political muscle). California’s well-funded, long-established GLBT groups fell flat, most likely because these community centers, statehouse lobbyists and nonprofit law firms were never intended to be political campaigns.
Block-by-block outreach and get-outthe-vote efforts are the only ways to win at the ballot box. GLBT Americans don’t have that kind of grassroots depth in any state – at least not yet. Given that the opposition comes from socially conservative churches, we also don’t have their advantages. GLBT America doesn’t have tax exempt organizing centers – otherwise known as congregations – in every county of every state. Until we build that kind of localized muscle, we won’t be turning any corners. Another sign of political weakness is the fact that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is still law. Because of DOMA, gay and lesbian households in Massachusetts, Connecticut and now Iowa and Vermont face legal and financial hardships their heterosexual counterparts never see. The biggest obstacle we face, though, is the hearts-and-minds factor. Proposition 8 passed because ignorance and prejudice trumped the American inclination toward fairness. Until voters get it in their guts that GLBT people are not the predators portrayed by the religious right, we will not be treated equally.
Winning hearts and minds is hard. It takes appealing ad campaigns, detailed talking points, neighbor-to-neighbor conversations and a mass coming out on a scale that even San Francisco has never seen. We’re making progress. Even though polls continue to show support for marriage equality to be far below 50 percent, they also show that number rising an astounding 10 percentage points in just five years. In politics, the turning of the tide can be difficult to spot. Soon after the Iowa decision, I thought I saw the signs in the Spencer Daily Reporter, circulation 4,000. The northwest Iowa newspaper wrote about Lee and Tony, who have begun planning a 2010 wedding to celebrate their 15th anniversary. I was thrilled at the honesty of this middle aged gay couple, who live in a small town in Dickinson County (county population: 16,500). Then I realized the couple’s last names were never mentioned. Not even their town was revealed. What happened in Iowa and Vermont will change lives. It is already bringing hope to people in places as unlikely as rural Iowa, The tide will not have truly turned, though, until DOMA is repealed and marriage equality has either arrived or is close to appearing in dozens of states. Most importantly, we will know change has come when people like Lee and Tony no longer fear putting their names in the newspaper. Diane Silver is a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, whose work has appeared in The Progressive, Salon.com, Ms, and other national publications. She can be reached at PoliticalIQ@qsyndicate.com.
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Section 1: News & Politics
May 2009
Creep of the Week: Steve King by D’Anne Witkowski Iowa. Corn growing, homo loving Iowa. Who would have thought? Certainly not U.S. Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican with glowing rating on the joint Family Research Council Action/Focus on the Family Action Congressional Scorecard. No, something tells me that corn-fed farm boys exchanging “I do’s” is something that keeps King up at night. Needless to say, the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in favor of letting homosexuals marry – each other – didn’t sit well with King, who immediately called for a constitutional amendment banning samesex wedded bliss. “This is an unconstitutional ruling and another example of activist judges molding the Constitution to achieve their personal political ends,” King crowed. “Iowa law says that marriage is between one man and one woman. If judges believe the Iowa legislature should grant same sex marriage, they should resign from their positions and run for office, not legislate from the bench.” Something tells me that King wouldn’t be demanding the judges’ resignations had
they ruled against letting same-sex couples wed. This whole issue of “legislating from the bench” is a red herring we hear a lot from the anti-gay right. The issue is the separation of powers – that whole checks and balances thing. When things don’t go their way, folks like King cry about the unlimited power they don’t have. “Now it is the Iowa legislature’s responsibility to pass the Marriage Amendment to the Iowa Constitution, clarifying that marriage is between one man and one woman, to give the power that the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself back to the people of Iowa,” King said. It’s as if King thinks the Iowa Supreme Court is not part of the same government of the people, by the people, for the people that signs his paycheck. Not only does King want to keep Iowa homos from getting hitched, he wants to keep out-of-state homos from getting hitched in the state. “Along with a constitutional amendment, the legislature must also enact marriage license residency requirements so
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attempt damage control as a result of actions that we did not take.” McFarlane chastised the boycott organizers for not getting approval from J-FLAG, Jamaica’s leading gay organization, before launching the action. “We believe that any overseas entity or organisation seeking to agitate for change in a context with which it has only passing familiarity should first do its homework to ensure that it does not do harm ... to the cause of the local community whose interest it seeks to defend,” he said. Boycott organizers responded that J-FLAG doesn’t speak for ordinary gay Jamaicans, and accused the group of being aligned with elements in the U.S. that sometimes have criticized the work of grassroots and street activists. “For years, we have heard that the status quo will make the situation better in Jamaica,” said Wayne Besen, an organizer of the New York arm of the boycott. “Yet, the most recent human rights reports read like pages from a horror novel. ... For their own safety, J-FLAG members have no choice but to come out publicly against all boycotts -- as their former leader Gareth Henry (has stated). We fully understand this -- but we also believe that unless there is economic pressure from the outside, nothing will change in Jamaica.” “Human Rights Watch, IGLHRC (International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) and MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches) are working to undermine this boycott for political reasons,” Besen charged. “They want to unveil their own Jamaica campaign in September -- which could include a boycott.” Besen quoted former J-FLAG Co-chair Gareth Henry, who fled to Canada last year, as saying: “J-FLAG can’t be seen to publicly support a boycott ... but the gays, lesbians and queers on the ground are supportive of a boycott. ... We have to hit people where it’s going to hurt, where they’ll feel it. In the Jamaican context talk is cheap.” Scott Long, head of Human Rights
World News street for 90 minutes and distributed 1,000 brochures and 700 postcards. Organized by the Russian LGBT Network, the Week Against Homophobia included workshops, discussions, debates, movies and press conferences in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, Arkhangelsk, Tyumen, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Kemerovo, Krasnoyarsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostovon-Don, Tomsk, Khabarovsk and Naberezhnye Chelny, organizers said. Jamaican GLBT group opposes boycott The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, AllSexuals and Gays issued a letter April 12 opposing the U.S.-based boycott of Red Stripe beer, Myers’s Rum and tourism to the island nation. The boycott was launched by GLBT grassroots activists in San Francisco on March 28 and spread to New York City on April 15. The U.S. activists were responding to a new U.S. State Department report detailing the island’s gravely homophobic atmosphere, which includes, among much else, music by several internationally known dancehall artists that promotes anti-gay violence and murder. J-FLAG Programs Manager Jason McFarlane took particular exception to the boycott of Red Stripe beer, saying the brewer has “unequivocally distanced itself from the hostility and violence typical of Jamaican music towards members of the LGBT community.” “In April 2008, Red Stripe took the brave and principled stance to cease sponsorship of music festivals that promoted hate and intolerance, including that against members of the LGBT community,” McFarlane said. “The naming of Red Stripe, therefore, as a target of this boycott is extremely damaging to the cause of LGBT activists in Jamaica. ... The boycott call has now left us not only with our persistent day to day challenges but with a need to engage Red Stripe and
that Iowa does not become the gay marriage Mecca due to the Supreme Court’s latest experiment in social engineering,” he said. Ah yes, Iowa as the “gay marriage Mecca.” It’s exactly what the gay agenda had planned all along. States like California and New York with their homo hot-spots like San Francisco and New York City were just “dazzle camouflage” to keep all eyes
Watch’s LGBT Rights Division, called the notion that HRW, IGLHRC and MCC are in cahoots with J-FLAG to undermine the boycott “nonsense.” “J-FLAG, with which we’ve worked since 2004, asked folks to forward what they wrote -- that’s all,” he said. And, on April 16, Henry attacked the boycott organizers for using words he wrote last year “to support your boycott issues of this year.” “I was part of the Canada-based attempts at a boycott last year,” Henry said. “We learned numerous lessons from that attempt, not least among which is the fact that the lives of LGBT persons in Jamaica are at risk. I have therefore changed my strategy
off of Iowa. But now we’re in. And we’re taking over. Hello Gay Moines, Waterlez, Dykenport and Homo Rapids. And just what does King mean by this ruling being “the Supreme Court’s latest experiment in social engineering,” anyway? When I think “social engineering” I think of shows like “The Real World,” “Big Brother” and “Wife Swap.” Either that or I think about the Republican eagerness to completely dismantle this nation’s social safety net by gutting social security, rolling back welfare and telling poor kids to ask Santa if they want health care so bad. Social engineering isn’t exactly what I’d call letting two adults in a committed relationship have legal protection and recognition for their families. D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world in her column she reviews rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan. and will do nothing without the inclusion of my colleagues in Jamaica. ... This call for a boycott of Jamaica is outrageous and counter productive. The attack on Red Stripe is appalling and unacceptable.” Besen then responded: “The J-FLAG/ MCC/Human Rights Watch/IGLHRC status quo has failed. ... If Scott Long had expended as much time on ending homophobia in Jamaica as he has attacking our campaign, there would have been no need to launch this effort in the first place. (I)f people don’t like our boycott, they don’t have to participate. There are millions of people, however, who don’t want to spend their hard-earned money in the ‘most homophobic place on earth.’” International gay human-rights activists have routinely named Jamaica as one of the most homophobic nations in the world, and several dancehall stars have been blocked from performing in other countries because of lyrics that promote the killing of homosexuals. The Department of State’s “2008 Human Rights Report: Jamaica” says: “The law prohibits ‘acts of gross indecency’ (generally interpreted as any kind of physiTTWORLD NEWS continued page 11
May 2009
Section 1: News & Politics
ACCESSline Page 9
National Organization for Marriage by D’Anne Witkowski It’s no secret that anti-gay right wingers are obsessed with sex. No doubt folks like Tony Perkins, Don Wildmon and Maggie Gallagher think about your sex life more than you do (and yet gays are supposedly the sex obsessed perverts). So when the National Organization for Marriage nicknamed their new Two Million for Marriage initiative “2M4M,” they received plenty of ribbing for being so outside of the gay sex lingo loop. As MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow said, “If you don’t know what the abbreviation M4M stands for, I do not want to spoil your Googling fun, but here’s a hint: The related search that Google suggests is for the Web site Manhunt.” In other words, don’t Google M4M at work unless you’re self-employed or work for, say, a self-righteous anti-gay marriage organization. Even better than the initiative’s name, however, is the commercial NOM produced to spread the word. Dubbed “A Gathering Storm,” the made-to-be-parodied ad features actors (and I use that term loosely) expressing their fear about gay marriage whilst standing amidst lightning and thunder clouds in what I guess is supposed to be what heaven will look like once gays can legally wed all across this nation. New York Times columnist Frank Rich described the ad as what would happen “if you crossed that creepy 1960s horror classic ‘The Village of the Damned’ with the Broadway staple ‘A Chorus Line.’” Stephen Colbert said, “I love that ad. It is like watching The 700 Club and the Weather Channel at the same time.”
The ad opens with a blonde woman saying, “There’s a storm gathering” then cuts to some guy saying “The clouds are dark and the winds are strong.” A woman who bears a striking resemblance to Ugly Betty says, “And I am afraid.” After parading the multi-ethnic cast of scaredy cats before us, the ad starts presenting real folks who’ve been discriminated against. The thing is, they aren’t real folks, and the discrimination they detail is just hypothetical. There’s a tiny, tiny disclaimer in the ad, but clearly folks are supposed to watch the dumpy woman in the dark pantsuit say, “I’m a California doctor who must choose between my faith and my job,” and take it as fact. The ad has inspired countless parodies on YouTube, including a mash-up with the video for “It’s Raining Men.” The best one, however, comes from faux-newscaster Stephen Colbert. Using a cast of various ethnicities rotating from line to line and a strikingly similar set, it’s far better than the original. “There’s a storm gathering,” it begins. “A giant gay storm. With rough winds blowing in from the east. And even rougher winds blowing from the west. Before long, the winds will be blowing each other.” Granted, the ad campaign gets more attention every time someone makes fun of it, but I don’t think the increased exposure of NOM’s original ad will do them much good. Rich claims that the ad marks “a historic turning point in the demise of America’s anti-gay movement.” “What gives the ad its symbolic signifi-
cance,” Rich writes, “is not just that it’s idiotic, but that its release was the only loud protest anywhere in America to the news that same-sex marriage had been legalized in Iowa and Vermont. If it advances any message, it’s mainly that homophobic activism is ever more depopulated and isolated as well as brain-dead.” For the first time in history, my friends, it’s going to start raining M4M. D’Anne Witkowski has been gay for pay since 2003. She’s a freelance writer and poet (believe it!). When she’s not taking on the creeps of the world she reviews rock and roll shows in Detroit with her twin sister and teaches writing at the University of Michigan.
“The video mockeries produced in response to (the National Organization for Marriage’s) hysterical, zombie propaganda poo have made this past week one of the most fabulous ever on the vast internets. Thank you, Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown for awakening and entertaining the movement for marriage equality (with your ‘Gathering Storm’ anti-same-sex marriage ad). Because of your Night of the Living Storm Troopers silliness, the whole world is not only watching, it’s having a good laugh at your expense.” — Blogger Mike Tidmus, April 12.
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Section 1: News & Politics
Obama’s Domestic AIDS Proposal Disappoints $45M for National HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign—Obama’s First Official Action on AIDS—Falls Far Short of Need; Stepped-up HIV Testing, Linkage to Treatment Will Help Break Chain of Infection US’ Largest AIDS Group Renews Call on Government to Spend $200M for 10 Million HIV Tests April 7, 2009 AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest non-profit HIV/AIDS organization in the US which currently provides medical care and services to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/ Caribbean and Asia, expressed its deep disappointment today regarding President Obama’s proposal to spend $45 million— over the next five years—only $9 million per year—on a national communications campaign on HIV/AIDS here in the United States. The proposal—Obama’s first official action on AIDS—falls far short of the need to adequately address the growing domestic epidemic and appears to be window dressing of a potentially politically-charged issue. The White House will partner with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the campaign, the first federally funded national domestic HIV/AIDS campaign in almost twenty years according to White House officials. “There are approximately 1.2 million
people in the US living with HIV/AIDS today. More than 300,000 of these individuals have never had an HIV test and therefore do not know their HIV status. A $45 million communications plan no matter how well intended will do little to help identify those 300,000 infected individuals who may unknowingly be infecting others,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “In November, we issued a statement reminding President-elect Obama that AIDS remains a significant and growing crisis in America, and we urged him to prioritize this public health crisis by taking simple, straightforward steps to address the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic upon taking office in January. If this proposal is any indication of how President Obama and his Administration intend to address the AIDS epidemic domestically or globally, we are deeply disappointed.” In September 2006, the CDC recommended that diagnostic HIV testing and opt-out HIV screening become a part of routine clinical care in all healthcare settings (emergency units, community clinics, etc.) for all those ages 13 to 64. To date, this CDC guideline has not been widely-implemented due to bureaucratic delays and conflict as to who actually absorbs the costs of such public health testing—the government or private insurance companies. In August 2008, the CDC released stark new data showing an alarming 40%
increase in HIV infections in the US annually (56,000 new cases each year up from a previous estimate of 40,000 cases annually). Those numbers are an indictment of how profoundly US and CDC HIV prevention efforts have failed over the years. “According to an Institute of Medicine study, the lifetime cost of one HIV-infected individual’s treatment and care is estimated to be $600,000. The cost of an HIV test can be under $20. Without an accurate picture of the epidemic, which has been vastly underestimated for the past ten years, we have missed countless opportunities to intervene with effective public health strategies,” added AHF’s Weinstein. “AIDS Healthcare Foundation believes that President Obama, HHS and the CDC should appropriate $200 million to test ten million people for HIV over the next three years. Massive scale-up of HIV testing is the only way to bring down the growing HIV/AIDS crisis in America. Identifying all those who are infected and linking them to treatment is the only way to break the chain of new infections and begin to address the nation’s runaway epidemic.” AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation’s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/ Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org
May 2009
“I’m very big on human beings finding love, attachment and commitment and being faithful to it, because there’s more to benefit when there is real true commitment and faithfulness to it. I still believe, as just every president has, and all the people who ran for office, that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a woman. So not calling it marriage works for me. But that two people would have that sort of commitment to me is very healthy and very positive thing in their lives and society as a whole. ... That’s (same-sex relationships) a beautiful thing and a healthy thing.” — Laura Schlessinger (Dr. Laura), singing a new tune to CNN’s Larry King, April 8.
May 2009
Section 1: News & Politics
HEALTH & HIV/AIDS BRIEFS GSK and Pfizer merge to create new HIV drugs company GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, two of the worlds largest drugs companies, are to join forces to create a new venture that will merge the HIV operations and resources of both companies together. GSK will own the majority of the new business giving it more control of the HIV market, putting the company in a more powerful position to control drug prices and patents. It is too early, however, to know what effect this move will have on the availability and price of AIDS drugs in developing countries. What is critical is the need for drug prices to be kept low and to ensure affordable second-line therapy is made available in all developing countries. Annabel Kanabus, Director of AVERT adds, “While the move does not have any positive consequence for developing countries as yet, it is vital that investment in research and development is increased. There is still a desperate need for new drugs to be developed and GSK are now in a good position to do this”. The Guardian 4/16/2009 Study estimates 1.2 million AIDS deaths have been averted in PEPFAR focus countries A new study into the effects of PEPFAR (the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) funding has shown a 10% drop in the death rate – equivalent to 1.2 million
deaths - compared to pre-2003 levels in 12 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this, the number of AIDS cases in the countries studied has continued to rise. The number of deaths averted in these countries is seen as a result of better treatment access for those living with HIV, something the study attributes to the input of PEPFAR funding. While PEPFAR has undoubtedly had a positive impact, the authors of the report acknowledge that there are other contributing factors beside PEPFAR, such as AIDS funding from other organizations, which could explain the drop in death rate for these specific countries. Had PEPFAR chosen other focus countries at a different time the impact of interventions and subsequent results could have been different. There is also a possibility the epidemic was in differing phases among the countries, affecting AIDS death rates independently of interventions. Because of this it is not possible to solely attribute the results to PEPFAR. What the study has shown is that as more people are accessing treatment and living longer, without sufficient prevention initiatives to reduce HIV incidence, the funding gap between what PEPFAR can provide and what is needed will increase. Without a Global AIDS Coordinator in charge, the future of PEPFAR and whether it can sustain its program under the Obama administration is yet to be known. Annals of Internal Medicine 4/8/2009
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US News
World News
“If the California Supreme Court upholds Proposition 8, California will be an outlier in the ongoing history of equality that is now exemplified by Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts, as well as many nations around the world,” Minter said.
cal intimacy) between men, in public or in private, which are punishable by 10 years in prison. ... J-FLAG continued to report human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, mob attacks, stabbings, harassment of homosexual patients by hospital and prison staff, and targeted shootings of homosexuals. Police often did not investigate such incidents.” The report continues: “J-FLAG members also suffered attacks on their property, home intrusions as people demanded to know the number of persons and beds in a home, and in one instance, a fire bombing at the home of two men that left one of them with burns on more than 60 percent of his body. In addition homosexuals faced death and arson threats, with some of these directed at the J-FLAG offices. J-FLAG did not publicize its location due to such threats, and its officials reported feeling unsafe having meetings with clients at the organization’s office. ... Human rights NGOs and government entities agreed that brutality against homosexuals, primarily by private citizens, was widespread in the community.” To read the full gay section of the report, go to tinyurl.com/dhdmyc and search for the word “gay.” San Francisco activists launched the boycott March 28 at Harvey Milk Plaza at the intersection of Market and Castro streets. They dumped Red Stripe and Myers’s Rum into the street. City Supervisor Bevan Dufty attended the kickoff and promised to get the two Jamaican products out of all San Francisco gay bars within a month. Several bars, restaurants and community leaders announced support for the campaign. For detailed information, visit boycottjamaica.org. J-FLAG’s Web site is www.jflag.org.
Nat’l Org. for Marriage hits HRC with copyright complaint Furious online sparring over the National Organization for Marriage’s new TV ad against same-sex marriage led to a copyright complaint by NOM against the Human Rights Campaign. The spooky ad, “Gathering Storm,” used actors to portray various Americans who supposedly are profoundly alarmed at the notion of gays marrying each other. To view the ad: tinyurl.com/br8ym4. HRC somehow got its hands on the audition tapes for the ad and uploaded them to YouTube. NOM apparently was not amused and, according to HRC Deputy Communications Director Trevor Thomas, “filed a copyright violation notice with YouTube” on April 9. YouTube then deleted the videos, but not before MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow snagged them and broadcast them on her show. NOM later got that clip from Maddow’s show banned from YouTube as well, YouTube reported. On April 10, Wired.com said “internet rebels are reportedly saving the videos with keepvid.com, and then uploading them back to YouTube when they’re pulled.” Meanwhile, on April 10, Maddow broadcast another segment tweaking NOM, which is calling its new campaign against same-sex marriage “2M4M,” which stands for “2 Million for Marriage.” NOM perhaps was unaware of the longstanding use of “M4M” in the gay online-cruising world. Said Maddow: “Have you ever read personals ads? Have you ever just browsed through Craigslist? Ever, I don’t know, googled ‘M4M’? For the anti-gay-marriage group? If you don’t know what the abbreviation M4M stands for, I do not want to spoil your googling fun, but here’s a hint: The related search that Google suggests is for the Web site Manhunt. You know, maybe these folks should just join up with the teabaggers.” See tinyurl.com/djfwy9. Maddow broadcast segments on April 9 and 10 about a new anti-tax movement called “teabagging” -- founded, Maddow assumes, by people who didn’t know about the term’s sexual meaning (placing one’s testicles in another’s mouth). The April 9 Maddow clip, which became an online sensation, is at tinyurl. com/ddmj2k. New GOP gay group forms A new national Republican gay group has been formed by people who think the Log Cabin Republicans group has become too liberal. Among the founders of GOPROUD is former LCR Political Director Christopher Barron, who told Politico.com, “Log Cabin ... has simply moved way too far to the left and is basically indistinguishable from any other gay left organization.” “If your main issue is hate crimes or (ENDA) or marriage, you’re probably not a Republican,” Barron said.
“The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals, and Gays (J-FLAG) continued to report human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, mob attacks, stabbings, harassment of homosexual patients by hospital and prison staff, and targeted shootings of homosexuals. Police often did not investigate such incidents. ... Human rights NGOs and government entities agreed that brutality against homosexuals, primarily by private citizens, was widespread in the community.” — From the U.S. State Department’s recent “2008 Human Rights Report: Jamaica.” In response, a group of San Francisco gay activists, including city Supervisor Bevan Dufty, launched a boycott of the nation March 28.
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Section 1: News & Politics
May 2009
I Love a Parade by Joshua Dagon One of the highlights of my summer is attending some of the Gay and Lesbian Pride events hosted by major cities, both the festivals and parades. I’ve always made every attempt to attend these gatherings for a number of reasons. In my late teens, it was because many of the bars were so busy during the day they would inadvertently sell beer to Miley Cyrus. In my very early twenties, I went because there were lots of other boys roaming around the street who, because of all that free-flowing beer, were often without major articles of clothing. Today, my little bit of cultural experience has given me even more reasons. I usually begin preparing to attend several weeks before I’ll even think about why I should attend. One of the first things I’ll do is purchase a strategic pair of pants. This is important so that my butt still looks good even while walking around with my shirt hanging from my pocket. Obtaining the right tan is also important. You want enough exposure so as not to be pasty yet not so much as to immediately require collagen therapy. I learned the hard way in regard to preparing my tan early. A couple of years ago, I found myself just days before a festival with no tan at all. That’s a terrible blunder, especially if the Pride Parade happens to be in Los Angeles, or Miami, or San Diego.
Something had to be done, of course. I did the only rational thing: I went to an indoor salon and set the bed on “cancer.” Each year I also decide I should lose a couple of inches off of my waist before parade day. I can usually attain this with my Code Red Diet, which consists of a week of consuming only protein shakes and iceberg lettuce. After which, I’ll perform a quick home-liposuction using my Dirt Devil and a bendy straw. I’m much more relaxed about my appearance once I’m actually at the parade route. This is due to the fact that I always make sure to have those mirror-type sunglasses so I can watch people without them knowing and determine if they’re checking me out. In the same vein, I try to make sure to attend in the company of no less than five other people. This way, at least one or two of them will be constantly getting lost, and we’ll all have a legitimate reason to be continuously scanning the crowd. The “My Friend Just Wandered Off” look is highly effective in covering for the “Scoping for Shirtless Muscle Boys In Designer Pants With No Underwear” look. Some people like to get to the route parade pretty early and stake out a good place to watch. This is not feasible for my friends and I in that we’re seldom sufficiently
recovered from the previous evening’s party in time to make it before the parade begins. Actually, we’re seldom sufficiently recovered from that particular celebration anytime before the following Thursday. However, we do manage a power nap, and are normally able to make it for at least the last hour of the parade. No one wants to miss seeing some of our favorite marching groups, such as “Parents and Friends of Dykes on Bikes Who Support Cross Dressing Cheerleaders.” So on parade day, we’ll usually arise after approximately forty-five minutes of sleep, slip into our special butt-titivating pants, and drive to the parade grounds where we spend the next several hours intensely involved in a fundamental activity that traditionally unites the entire gay community: searching for a parking space. After the same amount of time it would have taken to walk from Texas, we arrive at the route and begin our day. Of course, it’s sometimes unbearably hot, and we’ll naturally shed our T-shirts. We do a quick body check: (Tans... check. Ab muscles... check. Calvin Kleins sticking out at least half an inch... check.) ...and head off down the street. At festivals in a major metropolitan area, the entire gay population of the city always seems to converge on a little strip of street for the Pride Parade event. Often, there are many, many other people who are topless in the heat, including women. But, in spite of the temperature, there are also several men in full drag wearing enough makeup to disguise a small rhino. To watch my friends and me you would think the object of the day is to wander around aimlessly from place to place. However, each time we arrive at a “random” destination, we immediately think up a new place to go and a reason to go there. “Hey, there’s Curtis! Let’s go make fun of his pants!” is one reason to wander the parade grounds utilizing our strategic, Adonis-scoping, mirrored sunglasses. “Hey, let’s go drink some beer by those scantily clad muscular boys!” is another excuse to roam. All the while we’re constantly turning quickly toward the parade every time the crowd cheers, trying to see what fabulously interesting portion is currently moving past our location. “Hey, there’s the Handicapped Republican Tom of Finland Society!” At some point, we normally manage to get reasonably close to the curb, so we might stand there for a while to watch the next few groups march past. After all, there are normally a copious amount of floats and marching groups that are sprawling with desirable men, especially in densely populated coastal cities. We might as well occasionally gawk in their direction. Given a choice, though, I’d rather be in the shade. Even so, sometimes it’s worth it to bear the heat. Like when I see a group of people marching proudly down the route who are obviously not gay. They’re often the parents of someone gay and I’m immediately reminded of my own parents. Although not quite ready to march in a parade themselves, they’ve been as supportive as they know how in the face of an issue that I know is very difficult for them. So, I’ll cheer. I’ll cheer for the parents marching past me, as well as for my own. Every year, it suddenly strikes me that a
Novelist Joshua Dagon is the author of Into the Mouth of the Wolf, The Fallen, and Demon Tears. Visit him at: www.joshuadagon.com little bit of everything is marching by. I catch frequent references to Stonewall. I know the story, although vaguely. It was an event that happened before I was born, and one that’s difficult for me to connect to my life today, even though it has everything to do with my life today. I may be too young to remember Stonewall, but not too young to enjoy the progress it inspired. At some point, the rainbow flag will go by, accompanied by the pink triangle, which stirs even more historical significance. It’s the reminder that we are a culture, not just an orientation, with a history and a future. It’s the trophy for just how far we’ve come, and a question as to how much I’m personally doing to insure we continue to advance. It’s the highlighter of all the freedoms I take for granted every day, and a marker for the responsibility I have to insure that the next generations enjoy the same, if not more, liberties. Then I’ll remember. I’ll remember Wayne, and Hadley, and John, who stood with me watching the Pride Parade just a few years ago and who are now only represented by patches on The Quilt. I’ll remember Mark, my mentor, who would have watched with me and unquestionably shared the silent understanding. He would have watched with me if I hadn’t had to say goodbye to him so soon. Far too soon. All the real reasons for coming to the parade will come flooding to me. All the significance of the event will weigh upon me as I stand there in the sun on a bright, resplendent day with thousands and thousands of other people just like me. All the years of alienation and guilty solitude will become an insignificant memory in the height of that moment and suddenly, right then, there’ll be no question of right or wrong, or of good or bad. We’ll be together and we’ll be exhilarated and we’ll be proud. The flags will go by, and I’ll wipe the little streams of sweat and maybe tears from my face. The flags will go by just as the years do. Just as we all will. This is the second edition of Joshua Dagon’s article I love a Parade, which was originally published in Circuit Noize Magazine, Summer 1998, Issue Number 17.
ACCESSline’s fun guide
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente Mitchell takes Eckhart and Kidman down the Rabbit Hole Why is that so many hack directors crank out movie after movie while the really talented filmmakers make us wait? John Cameron Mitchell took five long years after Hedwig and the Angry Inch to get 2006’s Shortbus into theaters, and he’s only now getting rolling on his third feature, which sounds both fascinating and mass-audience friendly. Mitchell has been tapped to bring the Pulitzer Prize–winning Broadway hit
Rabbit Hole to the big screen, and he’s got Aaron Eckhart and Nicole Kidman in the lead roles. David Lindsay-Abaire will adapt his own play, which tells the story of a married couple taking an emotional journey after sudden tragedy strikes. Kidman is producing and will play the role that won lesbian actress Cynthia Nixon a Tony. Shooting starts in late May, so Rabbit Hole might be finished in time for Oscar contention at the end of the year. Or next. Or maybe the one after that.
Nicole Kidman (photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)
Kristanna Loken rolls up to Janjaweed Oh, Kristanna Loken, you may be married now, but to Romeo you’ll always be the loose-lipped bisexual who outed her girlfriend in an Advocate interview and set Shane’s hair salon–skateboard park–clothing store–smoothie hut on fire on The L Word. And now you’re reuniting with your Bloodrayne director, the infamous Uwe Boll, for another movie. And it’s about Darfur. Because, really, who doesn’t want to see a film about one of the great tragedies of the modern era directed by the guy who gave us grade-Z entertainment disasters like Alone in the Dark and In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale? Joining Loken on what promises to be a fascinating journey are Billy Zane and the long-outof-the-spotlight Edward Furlong. Shooting commences soon, but Boll’s got a very full schedule (quantity, not quality, is this man’s m.o.), so a release date is anyone’s guess.
Green Day’s American Idiot becomes a musical Hit-making (and very pro-queer) poppunks Green Day are taking their multi-platinum 2004 concept album American Idiot and turning it into a stage musical. (You’ll recall the title song, in which lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong reasoned, “Maybe I am the faggot America/I’m not part of a redneck agenda.”) American Idiot, like the album that spawned it, is about coming of age in an America rocked by 9/11, and it makes its stage premiere in September at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California. Running the show is gay Broadway biggie Michael Mayer, who won a Tony for putting together Spring Awakening; his other credits include the musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie and the revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, so he knows what he’s doing. Don’t be surprised to see this Idiot go all the way to the Great White Way.
is to help out not only the people who go before their cameras but also viewers who might not think they know any queer folks or who don’t understand the toll involved in keeping a major part of one’s life a secret. Look for a Way Out in late 2009 or early 2010.
Showtime goes Way Out Every gay man and lesbian has his or her own coming-out story, but the process of disclosing your sexual orientation to the world is about to become good TV. Showtime has brought on two producers of the utterly addictive Intervention to create Way Out, a weekly show that will follow LGBT subjects on their journey out of the closet. A nationwide search is currently underway to find the subjects for the first season; the creators say the goal of the show
NBC emerald-lights Dorothy Gale If you’re an American gay man, it’s a statistical likelihood (but not a metaphysical certainty) that you’re a fan of both The Wizard of Oz and Ugly Betty. And if you’ve been waiting for someone to put your Oz chocolate into your Betty peanut butter, wait no more. A new pilot for NBC called Dorothy Gale transplants the plucky L. Frank Baum heroine to the modern day. Our heroine moves from her home in Kansas to the glittering city of Manhattan, where she gets a job in the art world and has to contend with a—wait for it—“wicked” boss. The Oz mythos has survived everything from the musical Wicked to that truly bizarre Tin Man mini-series, so why not a weekly series? If the network doesn’t put it to sleep with the poppies, Dorothy Gale could land on TV this fall. Quick, everybody click their heels three times. Romeo San Vicente takes no responsibility for outing that A-list actor. The man in question should have picked a hotel with better soundproofing. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
WEDDING PICTURES NEEDED: Are you and your same-sex partner married, civil unionized, or have you celebrated your bond with a commitment ceremony? We’re putting together a collection of photos from these ceremonies featuring couples from across the state, to demonstrate the need for marriage equality in Iowa. E-mail digital or scanned photos of the ceremony to justin@oneiowa.org with partner names, address, city, and phone number. For privacy purposes, we will only share first names and City with the public. By sending photos, you release the right to use the images to One Iowa in promotional, educational, and other publications or multimedia. For more info, contact Justin Uebelhor at justin@oneiowa.org.
accessed on OutHistory through their group titles: LGBT Employee Groups: A History; LGBT Union Groups: A History; and LGBT Professional Groups: A History. OutHistory. org is a freely accessible, nonprofit, educational website produced by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies. For more info, e-mail Jonathan Ned Katz at outhistory@ gc.cuny.edu.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR IWMF!: The 2009 Iowa Women’s Music Festival will be held on Saturday, September 12 in Iowa City. A Friday night comedy show is also in the works. The lineup is currently coming together and looks to be another great one! Check www.prairievoices.net for updates.
OUTHISTORY REQUESTS HISTORIES OF LGBT EMPLOYEE AND OTHER GROUPS: Knowledgeable members of the public can create on-site histories of LGBT corporate employee groups, unions, and professional groups. Any logged-in users can contribute to the site. The entries can be
U. OF IOWA SOFTBALL CONTINUES! All games are at Pearl Field, at the corner of Hwy 6 and the Coralville strip, Iowa City. Here are the rest of the spring home game dates: 5/6, 5/8, and 5/9. Check out www.hawkeyesports.com for more info, opponents, start times, and to confirm games in case of inclement weather.
CAPITAL CITY PRIDE: The 2009 forms for Parade, Volunteering, Sponsorship, and Pride Guide for the Des Moines festival are at: http://www. capitalcitypride.org/forms.php. Please download the forms you need and send them back to the P.O. Box listed on the form or TTEVENTS continued page 14
IowaLisa’s List by Lisa Schreihart Howdy folks! This is a list of Iowa’s live music, arts, social events and culture for, by, featuring, and of interest to women and friends for May through June. To submit events and announcements, or to sign up a friend to receive this list by e-mail, e-mail iowalisa@ juno.com. To view this list on-line, go to www.myspace.com/iowalisa.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: FEMINIST, POLITICAL, SMART, ESSENTIALLY ESTROGEN! Check out www.essentialesstrogen.com for blogs by and concerning women. The link www.essentialestrogen.com/blogroll. html has a list of Iowa blogs of all different sorts by women of all different sorts. For feminist blogs, go to www.esssentialestrogen.com/essential-feminists.html. Check it out! MOTO POSSE: Revving their engines soon! Moto Posse is a group of LGBT motorcycle enthusiasts who go on bi-weekly organized rides starting soon. For more info, or to get on the mailing list contact Jewell at crazelefty@ hotmail.com. ACOUSTIC IDOL CONTEST: Kimberli Maloy, host of the Acoustic Idol concert at Daniel Arthur’s in downtown Cedar Rapids, has openings for 10 more acts for the current contest round. Call Kimberli
to sign up at 319-270-0975. You need only 20-25 minutes worth of material, a great attitude and the ability to win over three judges and as many audience members as you can. The contest is held Monday nights at Daniel Arthur’s Six Feet Under lounge, but you must pre-register to compete.
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Events scan and email to info@capitalcitypride. org. Email info@capitalcitypride.org with any questions or needs. GLBT EVENTS LIST: Bridget Malone sends a comprehensive monthly (and sometimes more often) listing of GLBT events in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area. To get on her list, e-mail malone.bridget@gmail.com. Bridget’s list comes out twice per month, around the 1st and the 15th. If you hear of GLBT related events, please send them to her at malone. bridget@gmail.com. TWO NEW QC GROUPS: The Lesbian Book Club is reading books by or about lesbians. Non-lesbians are welcome to attend. All meetings are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport, and meet the 4th Saturday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. OUT (Our United Truth): A GLBT Support Group meets every Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m., also at the Unitarian Universalist Church (address above). For more info, call 563-359-0816. NEW CEDAR RAPIDS GLBT READING GROUP: The GLBT Reading Group meets in the conference room at Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. The group is open to new members; please contact crglbtreadinggroup@yahoo.com for further info. Here’s the reading list for the next couple months: March 26th, The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall; April 23rd, Adam by Anthony McDonald. NEW CEDAR RAPIDS GLBT SPIRITUAL GROUP: There is a new GLBT Spiritual Group that will meet to socialize, discuss topics, share stories, hang out and have fun! The current plan is to meet alternating months for dinner and get together to do a fun activity other months. To be included on future e-mails and invitations, contact Susan at liddelles@aol.com. Or sign up for the new Google Group cedar-rapids-glbta-interfaithgroup@googlegroups.com. GET YOUR RECIPE IN A COOKBOOK FOR A CAUSE: Generations of Change is a newly formed intergenerational group of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and allied (GLBTQA) community members committed to bridging generational differences and encourage mentoring in the Iowa City community. The group is seeking recipes for an intergenerational cookbook, the proceeds of which will benefit the United Action for Youth GLBTQA Youth Group (www.unitedactionforyouth.org). A recipe submission form can be found on-line at the UAY website or by request to: uayamylouis@yahoo.com. Send the completed form to: UAY GLBTQA Group, c/o Amy Louis, 410 Iowa Ave, Iowa 52240. The cookbook will be on sale in June 2009. HAVE YOU DISCOVERED? Indian Creek Nature Center is a private, non-profit nature center providing environmental education for all ages that
the fun guide is funded by memberships, income from programs, donations, and grants. The Center features 210 acres with four miles of trails, woodlands, prairies, wetlands, a butterfly garden, riparian forests, an interpretive center with exhibits, an auditorium, offices, and gift shop, a maple sugar house, herb garden, frog pond, bee hives, bat houses, bluebird trail, sugarbush, and picnic areas. Check out the ICNC at www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org. The ICNC is located at 6665 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED? Prairiewoods, a quiet reflective space where people of all faiths find opportunities for growth in health of body, mind and spirit. The sisters have 70 acres of natural beauty for retreats, workshops, meetings and spiritual/holistic services. Come listen to your own spirit as you connect with the healing power of nature. Check out www. prairiewoods.org. Prairiewoods is located at 120 E. Boyson Rd. in Hiawatha. OUTLOOK MAGAZINE Iowa City’s own LGBT magazine, is looking for volunteer photographers, copy writers and advertising salespeople. Get involved in our June edition. Great people, great experience! Contact Scott Hoffman for more information. Meetings starting soon! snhoffman@mchsi.com. ONE IOWA The state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, is dedicated to supporting full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals living in Iowa through grassroots education and advocacy. Check out their website, donate, volunteer, and become involved: http://www.oneiowa. org/web/. There are many state-wide events to learn about Marriage Equality and the current Varnum v. Brien case listed on One Iowa’s site, so go there for the scoop! OLD CAPITOL CITY ROLLER GIRLS: Iowa City is starting a roller derby team and is recruiting new members. For more info, contact: Sarah Carter (Huzzie Lecher #FU), Coach, Asst. Team Manager at 515-201-0161 or kaylola3@aol.com; or Amanda Sergent (Kila Kaylola #H8), Team Manager, Asst. Coach at 515-2014743 or kaylola3@aol.com. Visit the Old Capitol City Roller Girls at http://www. myspace.com/oldcapitolcityrollergirls or e-mail occrgirls@yahoo.com. Practices are Sundays 6-9 p.m. at Grant Wood Elementary School (1930 Lakeside Dr. Iowa City) and Wednesdays 9-10 p.m. at Robert A. Lee Rec. Center (220 S. Gilbert St. Iowa City). CLASS ON CANCER RECOVERY: “The Lebed Method, Focus on Healing” is a therapeutic exercise and movement program designed to aid the physical and emotional recovery of breast cancer survivors. The Lebed Method helps restore range of motion -- as well as physical and emotional balance -- and is especially helpful in reducing the effects of lymphedema, among the most common side effects of breast cancer treatment. It is also beneficial for people with other cancers and chronic conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, chronic fatigue, and other disorders. For more info, and to view a short demo, go to www.thelebedmethod.com. Kathy Moon will be leading a Lebed Method
May 2009
class at the Iowa City Senior Center, Fridays, 1-2 p.m., room G13 from May 1 - June 5 (6 sessions), $45. You need not be a Center member to participate, but registration is required. Call to register, 319-356-5220. Meanwhile, Kripalu YogaDance continues at Heartland Yoga (Wednesday 7 p.m.) and the Senior Center (Wednesday noon), and drop-ins are welcome at both classes. More info at www.dancingwisdom.com.
LGBT and Allied network of students and supporters.
NEW WOMEN IN MUSIC CDs! Visit www.ladyslipper.org for the best of women in music!
IOWA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: The ICSW has a new, updated website! Visit www.women.iowa.gov to find resources and tools for women, ICSW initiatives, and information for girls. NEW SPEED-DATING EVENTS: Silvia is creating a new series of speed dating events in Cedar Rapids. To get on Silvia’s list for future events in Cedar Rapids, e-mail her at diversity4dating@hotmail.com.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Find GLBT events of interest at www.glbtiowa.com. DO YOU GET LC? Lesbian Connection is the free worldwide forum of news, ideas, and information for, by, and about lesbians, with info on festivals, travel, conferences, retirement communities, books, health issues, relationships, politics, and much more. Ambitious Amazons have been publishing since 1974, and they mail issues out every other month in plain brown envelopes. If you’d like to start receiving LC for free, all you need to do is email elsiepub@aol.com with your full name and mailing address. LC’s official name and address is Elsie Publishing Institute (EPI), PO Box 811, East Lansing, MI 48826, ph 517-371-5257, fax 517-371-5200. EPI is a tax-deductible 501(c)3 nonprofit charity. WEBSITE FOR MIDWESTERN EVENTS: If you want to know what’s going on in neighboring states for women, check out Kai Phillipi’s website www.lambdabuzz.com. BETA SIGMA PHI... ...is an international women’s friendship network. It provides educational programs to its members and opportunities for service to others. It includes women of all ages, interests, and educational and economic backgrounds. It’s the largest organization of its kind in the world. For more info, contact Mackenzie Hootman at mmh52204@ hotmail.com or call 319-721-2105. CONNECTIONS... ...the Iowa City organization that provides social and networking opportunities for GLBT folks and friends with a range of interests, is in full swing. Connections offers it all (a nature group, a spiritual group, a chess group, a movie night group, a cooking group, and a sewing group, just to name a few), and what it doesn’t offer can be arranged! Check out the Connections website at www.queerconnections.org. For more info, e-mail queerconnections@yahoo. com. At the General Membership meeting, many expressed interest in doing an Outdoor group again. If you would be interested, contact Bridget at bmalone@kirkwood.edu and she will connect you with the organizers. IOWA PRIDE NETWORK: If you are interested in getting more involved and active in Iowa’s GLBTQ community, focusing on safe schools and LGBT student leadership and development, check out the Iowa Pride Network’s new website http://www.iowapridenetwork. org. Register at http://www.iowapridenetwork.org/jointhenetwork.htm to join this
WOMEN’S CULTURAL COLLECTIVE: Check out the happenings in Des Moines and the surrounding areas that are sponsored or supported by the Women’s Cultural Collective (WCC) at www. iowawcc.org.
ONE-TIME EVENTS:
NOW through June 7, GIRLS ONLY at the Prairie Meadows Temple Theatre, 10th and Locust Sts., downtown Des Moines. Girls Only is an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor and silliness of being female. With a two-woman cast and audiences full of raucous, laughing ladies, the show has found quick popularity in its unique examination of all things girly. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com. NOW through May 11, ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE at the Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave., Amana. Tickets $26.50. For more info or tix, visit www.oldcreamery.org or call 1-800-35AMANA. Friday, May 1, 5-8 p.m., KELLY CARRELL with LAURIE HAAG & FRIENDS at a First Friday Coffeehouse concert for Kelly’s birthday bash and a benefit for the Iowa N.E.W. Leadership Program, at Dawn’s Hide & Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City (across from The Englert Theatre). $3 suggested donation. For more info, call 319-338-1566. Snacks and coffee available. Friday, May 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., FIRST LADIE’S TEA at CornerHouse Gallery, 2753 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. “First Ladie’s Teas through American History” is an exhibit which was designed for the Herbert Hoover Museum. The exhibit now travels by request and is presented by Rosemary Pracha (the Tea Lady) from Brighton, Iowa. Rosemary will be at the gallery and present commentary on the display. See HOW IT’S DONE. Fine china, silver…The ART of the table. May 1-16, HAIR, presented by Theatre Cedar Rapids, at TCR Lindale, 4444 1st Ave. NE. For more info or tickets, call 319-3668591 or visit www.theatrecr.org. Saturday-Sunday, May 1-2, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), LYNNE ROTHROCK with Russell Davis and Ron DeWitte, in a cabaret to celebrate Lynne’s new CD. At ARA Gallery and Interiors, 4850 Armar Dr. SE (behind Carlos O’Kelly’s). Tickets $25. Call ARA Gallery for tickets at 319-3662520. Saturday, May 2, 6 p.m., PUNKN at The Straight Edge, 1130 16th St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Iowa blues, all ages. From the Eventful.com listing, she looks like a solo artist. Curious people, check it out. Saturday, May 2, 6-11 p.m., VENUS ENVY – QUAD CITIES, at the Bucktown TTEVENTS continued page 21
May 2009
the fun guide
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Cocktail Chatter by Camper English A Drink By Any Other Name Even if I enjoyed having a Sex on the Beach (the drink), I would probably feel too embarrassed to order one in public. Luckily my aversion to peach schnapps precludes me from asking the bartender for a cocktail named after an uncomfortable erotic act. Seriously, have you tried it? The Sex on the Beach was popular in the vodka-schnapps drink era of the 1980’s, as were cutesy-sexy cocktail names you never wanted to hear your parents order. We had the Fuzzy Navel, the Freddy Fudpucker, and the Slow Comfortable Screw. Sadly, these drinks seem almost quaint now as many cocktail names have become downright dirty. One online drink database lists 327 drinks with the word ‘sex’ in the name, and there are probably seven cocktails named for every position in the Kama Sutra. Luckily, not many of these drinks make it into popular circulation, and the ones that do are generally served in nightclubs where commanding the bartender to give you a Reverse Cowgirl ends well whether it’s served in a glass or in the back of the coat check room. Overly cute cocktail names are only slightly better. One bartender friend makes every drink a ridiculous pun that makes you feel like a fool for requesting. The worst was the Cardamom My Dearest. (If you don’t get that reference you may not be this publication’s target audience.) Some drinks have the wrong name entirely, which only bothers cocktail dorks like me. I get huffy when cocktails are called
a flavor of Martini- Chocolate Martini, Apple Martini, Orange Martini, whatever. I have a theory that this naming schema was popularized during the late 1990’s dot-com boom when every job title changed to superlative like ‘diva’ or ‘guru’ whether or not they were deserved. You had the mailroom guru and the accounts payable diva getting together for a Death by Chocolate Martini. These not-really Martinis are usually vodka plus a flavored liqueur with a splash of fruit juice and a slathering of sugar on the rim, so I suppose they do belong in the same category as each other - just not, in my opinion, in the Martini category. When I create cocktails, which is more often than I’ll admit in polite company, I try to name them sensibly so I can remember what’s in them the next day. I’ll make a Strawberry Mojito or a Fizzy Lemon Daiquiri and be done with it. But if my new drink doesn’t closely resemble another one, I’ll try to use an acronym for the ingredients - like the COP with cognac, orange liqueur, and pear. The problem with the Sex on the Beach is that its ingredients - vodka, orange juice, peach schnapps, and cranberry - don’t spell a word no matter how you arrange the letters VOPC. Then again, neither does LGBT, and we all know what the ingredients are in that. Maybe we should consider re-branding ourselves like an easy-to-pronounce drink instead - it could be a great PR move. People will whisper, “Is it true that he’s really Pink Delicious?”
Building a Better Bloody Mary You can tell a lot about a person from his or her choice in a Bloody Mary. Some people try a little too hard to butch up the drink with seven kinds of hot sauce. Others are all about flair, bedazzling the drink with enough garnish to decorate Carmen Miranda’s hat. And a certain segment of the population just likes drinking at breakfast. I suppose my style of Bloody Mary reveals both trust and control issues. I don’t trust the bartender to make the drink for me most places; I’d prefer to control the process at the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar. I want the drink to have a perfect combination of savory flavors, with a dash of olive brine and the tiniest pinch of celery salt. I don’t like the saltiness of a Dirty Martini or even olives in the drink (“Can I get those on the side?” I’ll ask,) but when you add savory tomato juice to the situation then all my issues are going to come out. These days savory cocktails are all the rage in experimental bars. I’ve consumed drinks with carrot juice, cucumbers, yogurt, and even mustard - but those weren’t Bloody Marys. Savory additions to that drink mostly involve mixing meat into it, with beef bullion and clam juice inside the cocktail and bacon and shrimp on top as garnish. Some bartenders are infusing vodka with bacon, though that often leads to gloppy vodka. But that’s all recent history. The Bloody Mary’s history goes back to 1920 or 1939
(or some other date) depending on whose story you believe. Like most of the famous cocktails of today, its origin is in dispute. It may have been created in France; maybe New York. It may have originally been made with vodka, or maybe with gin. Today some call the gin version a Red Snapper; the tequila version a Bloody Maria; sake in the Bloody Geisha, and so on. No matter what you call it, there are plenty of ways to adjust the recipe to your personal taste. Within the vodka family, flavored or infused vodkas go great in this drink - citrus flavors like lemon and even lime can work, and you can sometimes find special edition chipotle flavored vodka, or the more readily available pepper (Peppar) flavor. Speaking of spicy, I love wasabi paste, horseradish, and muddled jalapeno and red bell peppers in the drink. You can also infuse them in vodka overnight - I’ve tried them all, and they were each differently delicious. Ethnic hot sauces for Asian and Latin cuisine are great in the drink, as are savory soy, Worcestershire, and steak sauces. Outside the glass, I say the more the merrier - more olives, pickled green beans, celery stalks, lemon wedges, cucumbers, tomolives, etc. I even like salt and pepper and more celery salt around the rim. Bring it on. Now that I see my Bloody Mary drink preferences all written down - hot and savory and a whole salad as garnish - it’s clear I don’t have control issues at all. I think I’m just a big old glutton. Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer and publisher of Alcademics.com.
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Wedding Services and Resources Rainbow Wedding Network RainbowWeddingNetwork.com has been the trusted resource for gay and lesbian weddings since its launch in September, 2000! Free Couple’s Webpages, Gift Registry, Ceremony Tips, Trends, Community Connections and the most extensive directory of screened, gay-friendly businesses online. Since 2003, Rainbow Wedding Network has also been the proud producer of many of the nation’s first gay and lesbian Wedding Expos, and in 2006 began publishing the nation’s first-ever Wedding Magazine, dedicated to the gay and lesbian community.
The company’s sister campaign, SameLoveSameRights.com, is a dynamic force in legitimizing the issues of gay and lesbian marriage rights - visit the site for online forums, petitions, polls, blogs and more.
garters, first dances, etc. We talked about garters and would they want the “frilly, lacey, satiny” kinds of garters and they thought not. So we got busy and GayGarters is what we came up with. After all, love should be the only criteria for marriage. GayGarters.com
GayGarters Thanks to the recent California Supreme Court ruling, our dearest friends, were getting married after being together 28 years. They asked us to stand for them so we began planning their celebration. This led to discussions about whether they would do “traditional” wedding things like cakes,
Reverent Tizzy Hyatt Tizzy Hyatt of Healing Journeys (HealingJourneysOfIowa.com) in Windsor Heights is an Ordained Priestess of the Goddess offering wedding ceremonies for all couples. She has experience officiating at same sex ceremonies and is thrilled to be able to offer legal weddings to all her LGBTQ sisters and brothers. She has many standard ceremonies to choose from and can also help you create your own personalized ritual. She offers an open heart and open mind to all who would like a ceremony created to honor their love. She also offers spiritual counseling, tarot readings & parties, and shamanic journeying sessions. She sends out loving blessings to all. A Little to the Left Greeting Cards “I am the mother of a gay son who has been in a committed relationship for over 15 years. For 15 years I have been griping that there are no appropriate greeting cards for a mother to give to her son and son-in-law for their anniversaries and holidays. So last year I started my own small business designing and selling just those kinds of cards. “Please take a few minutes to visit my site at ALittleToTheLeft.com so that you can
see what I have to offer. I think you will see that my cards are subtle, tasteful and elegant. They are something a mother would buy for her son or daughter. “To me, this is more than a business, it is a passion. I am not just selling greeting cards, I am making a political statement. I am trying to get the message across that we are all people who celebrate joyful events together and there is no reason why the LGBT community shouldn’t have their straight friends and family members celebrate with them.” - Sandy Timberlake Iowa State Center Whether you’re planning for a few dozen guests or a few hundred, we’ll make your wedding celebration a memory to have and to hold. You’ll adore our personal service and delectable cuisine...and thanks to our amazing attention to detail, you’ll even have time to enjoy yourself. Pastor John Chaplin Pastor John Chaplin completed LEARN, a lay ministry program of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in June, 2000. In 2001 he was licensed for pulpit supply by the Central Association. He is authorized to officiate at wedding locales throughout Iowa. Lee, his partner of 23 years, passed away in 2007 and John now shares a home with one controlling feline known as Ms. Kitty Windsor.
Glamour and Elegance and You Can Eat It Too! by Brett Edward Stout “Hold your breath, make a wish, count to three. Come with me, and you’ll be, in a world of pure imagination.” — Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory As the bells of marriage ring across the state of Iowa for the first time for everyone, images of spectacle, ceremony, and celebration fill our heads. None of these images seems so closely associated with the occasion as the elaborate and iconic cake that forms the centerpiece of the first meal a newly joined couple will have with their friends. Eastern Iowa has perhaps, no greater virtuoso of edible sculpture than Adam, owner and baking extraordinaire of Tip Top Cakes. In a state where many are born and leave, Adam and his partner Jeremy came to Iowa from Colorado. The two met in 2003 while studying musical theatre at Mesa State College. While at first their personalities seemed in conflict, they soon found themselves a couple that was rarely apart. After a change of major, the two of them decided to come to Iowa City where Jeremy had been accepted by the prestigious Physician’s Assistant school at the University of Iowa. With job and schooling secured, the two uprooted themselves and settled into their new home. Adam had always enjoyed cooking. He
Photo by Amy Andrews started working at a Colorado bakery while still in high school. Little did he know that his steady hands and knack for detail would lead him down the path of entrepreneurship. While at the Cake Cottage, Adam recalls the tireless work and sacrifice it took to keep the business going. The bakery consisted of only the Adam and the owner. Adam worked long hours—sometimes without pay—mixing, extruding, embellishing, and designing any and every creation that customers commissioned from him. A combination hectic scheduling and personal conflicts caused Adam to leave the bakery and focus his attention on his new career in banking. When the couple first moved to Iowa, Adam had lain down his mixing bowls and piping bags for more than a year. Most of his time and energy was devoted to his career in banking and finance. Then, chance intervened as chance often does. To help pay for couple’s new life together Adam also worked a second job at Barnes & Nobel. One day he noticed
a woman walking through the store with a wedding book in hand. Approaching her, he introduced himself and inquired if she might be interested his baking services. She was and set up a meeting between him and her soon-to-be-married daughter. Adam’s creation proved to be the star of the reception. The impressive design and execution opened the door to more and more opportunities, eventually gaining the attention of Iowa wedding planner Cynthia from weddingsiniowa.com. His first creation for one of Cynthia’s clients blew the doors of success wide open. The enormous cake stood five tiers tall from its 18” base. Each layer
was wrapped in white fondant sides, black fondant ribbons, and silky fondant drapery with red roses finishing off the masterpiece. The designs Adam custom fashions are like exquisite sandcastles. Beautiful testaments to craft and creativity that dazzle for a moment before being destroyed with delight. His compositions baffle the mind and border on fantastical. Silk drapery made of thinly rolled fondant, creatures and waves sculpted from dyed-white chocolate, flowers squeezed of buttercream, royal icing scrolls, and edible bouquets are all erected into elegant columns, slanted mad-hats, or TTTIP TOP CAKES continued page 24
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Happily Ever After
starts Here Whether you’re planning for a few dozen guests or a few hundred, we’ll make your wedding celebration a memory to have and to hold. You’ll adore our personal service and delectable cuisine...and thanks to our amazing attention to detail, you’ll even have time to enjoy yourself.
To plan your memory, call 515-294-3347, toll-free 1-877-843-2368, or visit www.center.iastate.edu
Fisher TheaterÊUÊScheman BuildingÊUÊStephens Auditorium
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The Outfield by Dan Woog Sherry McGregor: The Out ‘Karate Kid’
Growing up in Florida, in a sixth-generation Southern family, Sherry McGregor battled demons. While her mother worked her way through serial marriages (she is now on her eighth), Sherry felt uncomfortable dating boys. Finally, in her senior year of high school, she began a relationship with a 25-year-old woman she’d met at church. For the first time in her life, she felt free. As a scholarship basketball player at a South Carolina Baptist college, she thought her life’s mission was to work in youth ministry. She joined Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and became a noted speaker. But at the same time she continued her involvement in martial arts – a passion since elementary school – and over time that stereotypically macho sport allowed her to realize who she truly is: an out, proud “peaceful warrior.” Her first exposure to martial arts came in a six-week after-school karate class. Her mother had just left an abusive husband, and wanted McGregor to learn to take care of herself. “Remembering how hard it was as a 5-year-old to watch my mother being beaten has ignited a special passion in me to teach self-defense,” McGregor now says. She has taken her teaching far and wide. Currently the highest-ranking female martial artist in the United States, she has been featured in People Magazine and on
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Events Center for the Arts, Davenport. This event is a celebration of female creativity, empowering women through the arts of music, theatre, visual arts, multimedia installations, written and spoken word. The Venus Envy event is intended for mature audiences only. The Venus Envy Exhibit will remain on show through May 22. For more info, go to www. venusenvyqc.org or e-mail venusenvyqc@ gmail.com. Saturday, May 2, 9 p.m., JODIE FOSTER CONNECTION at Volume, Cedar Rapids. Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m.-Noon, ANNUAL SPRING PLANT SALE at Indian Creek Nature Center, 6665 Otis Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids. This event raises funds for the ICNC. Vendors garden art, accessories, and plants such as wildflowers, prairie grasses and flowers, hostas, geraniums, and various perennials. Saturday, May 2, 10:30 a.m.-Noon, CREATIVE CONNECTIONS-ARTISTS IN ACTION with Sara Sorensen, Watercolorist, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 3rd Ave. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. This is a collaborative effort between the CRMA and local artists to reach and teach non-artists about the artistic processes. Come learn from the pros, see how work is done and what it really takes to make great art. Free! Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3, CHALK THE WALK in Mt. Vernon. For more info, e-mail Craig at cwilson@cityofmtvernonia.gov. Monday, May 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL DIVERSITY NETWORK (PTDN) THIRD PLACES at The Bohemian Café and Pub,
the Discovery Channel and for favors. They love that the Learning Channel. She attitude.” is the only female member Still, fearing their reacof a combat ki team (which tion in so intimate an environemphasizes body and mind ment, it took years before she integrity) that travels the came out to them. She began world demonstrating how to the process a decade ago, and take kicks and punches to grew “really bold” about it in vital areas of the body without the past five years. injury. After women watch Their reaction, she says, her take strikes to her throat is “great. They love it. They by an NFL player, or see four say we can girl-watch togeth200-pound men punch her er.” However, she admits, “I Sherry McGregor don’t know if it would have neck, they’re inspired to take up martial arts, too. been the same if I hadn’t McGregor has represented the U.S. in already had their respect from training.” karate world competitions, and is a twoMcGregor believes there is a higher time U.S. Open champion. She is a fourth percentage of lesbians in martial arts than degree black belt or above in an astonishing gay men – perhaps half of the female 17 different styles of martial arts (including instructors she knows are gay. One reason 10th degree, the highest possible, in karate). might be that the first women attracted to And she has been inducted into the Martial male-dominated martial arts were ardent Arts Hall of Fame as both a competitor and feminists with the courage and willpower a master teacher. to assert themselves. Many were lesbians. Throughout her 36-year career, But whether gay or straight, McGregor McGregor’s identity as a woman, and a says, martial arts is good for women. It builds lesbian, has evolved. confidence, provides fitness and offers entry “As a kid playing backyard games, I into a community of supportive, like-minded always saw myself as a boy,” she recalls. people. “When I finally heard the word ‘gay,’ I She describes her teaching technique figured out what it all meant.” as “high-energy and jovial. I’m not militaMartial arts is a male-dominated world. ristic, which makes me different from the Even today, most of the athletes McGregor traditionalists. I think people learn better in trains with are men. “They see me as one a fun environment.” Perhaps, she says, that of the guys,” she says. “I’ve never asked attitude developed from her early introduc-
tion to martial arts, as a means to escape her stressful life. McGregor does not think being a lesbian is relevant to her success. Martial arts, she says, should appeal to all females, regardless of sexual orientation. “I don’t know of any other field, except maybe law enforcement, that would accept me so easily as one of the guys. I don’t have to be more feminine than I am. That’s a very freeing feeling for anyone.” Not long ago, McGregor fell in love with a woman. She moved to Seattle live with her. She is writing a book on self-defense for “everyday people.” She travels far and wide, offering seminars and private lessons to individuals, groups and corporations to help people of all ages and experience levels learn focus, leadership skills, perseverance, discipline, problem-solving and a strong work ethic. Now completely out, McGregor also looks forward to using martial arts to help gay youth. In some ways that is a long way – and in others just a short hop – from her college vision of “youth ministry.” For more information on Sherry McGregor, visit www.sherrymcgregor.com or e-mail sherry@sherrymcgregor.com
Saturday, May 9, 8 p.m., rising star of African music, DOBET GNAHORE from the Ivory Coast, at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, visit www.legionarts.org, call 319-364-1580, or e-mail info@legionarts.org. Saturday, May 9, 7 p.m., EGO LIKENESS, a female-fronted goth band, with Bella Morte, at the Paul Engle Center Center for the Arts, 1600 4th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids. Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m., CLORIS LEACHMAN presents her one-woman show CLORIS! at the Civic Center of Des Moines. For more info or tix, visit www.ticketmaster.com. This performance benefits the Roosevelt High School renovation project. Tuesday, May 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL DIVERSITY NETWORK (PTDN) THIRD PLACES at Monica’s Italian Bistro and Pizzeria, in Walden Square Plaza, 749
Mormon Trek Blvd., Iowa City. PTDN is a social group of like-minded professionals in the Corridor area. Everyone is welcome to meet, eat, socialize and network! To join the PTDN listserv, contact Russ Novotny at russ@novotnys.info. Thursday, May 14, 8 p.m., Chicago folkster EMILY WHITE at Coffee Cat, 111 S. Delaware/N. Hwy. 65, Mason City. For more info, visit www.coffeecatonline.com, or e-mail cat@coffeecatonline.com. $3 suggested donation to the artist. Friday, May 15, 7-9 p.m., Australian rocker grrl MARTINE LOCKE in Concert at Hamburger Mary’s, 1st Ave. and Glenbrook Dr. SE, next to Home Depot and behind Taco John’s in Cedar Rapids. Welcome Australian (via San Francisco) Martine Locke back to Eastern Iowa! She’s played twice at Iowa Women’s Music Festival and rocks the house TTEVENTS continued page 24
95 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. PTDN is a social group of like-minded professionals in the Corridor area. Everyone is welcome to meet, eat, socialize and network! To join the PTDN listserv, contact Russ Novotny at russ@novotnys.info. May 5-7, 7:30 p.m., RIVERDANCE, Farewell Performances, at the GallagherBluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, call 319-273-4TIX or visit www.gbpac.org. Wednesday, May 6, IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS at the Englert Theatre, Iowa City. For more info, visit www.englert.org. Thursday, May 7, 7 p.m., WOMEN’S STUDIES BOOK GROUP, at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 333 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9, PELLA TULIP FESTIVAL in Pella. For more info, visit www.pellatuliptime.com. Friday, May 8, 8 p.m., RICH & TINA MOCK with JEN WHITE at Coffee Cat, 111 S. Delaware/N. Hwy. 65, Mason City. For more info, visit www.coffeecatonline. com, or e-mail cat@coffeecatonline.com. $3 suggested donation to the artist. Friday, May 8, 7 p.m., SCOTT & MICHELLE DALZIEL at Java Creek Café, corner of Boyson Rd. and C Ave., Cedar Rapids NE side. For more info, visit www. javacreekcafe.com. Free! Friday, May 8, 5-6 p.m., RAINBOW GRADUATION, at the U. of Iowa LGBT Resource Center, 125 Grand Ave Ct., Iowa City. There will be short program at 5:15 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Graduating students (both undergraduate and graduate) should RSVP to Bret Gothe, bret-gothe@uiowa.edu.
Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, gay activist, and author of the “Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes. Visit his Web site at www.danwoog.com. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutField@qsyndicate.com.
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Events everywhere she goes with her flaming red hair, high energy, and kickin’ music! Come join us for an early show. Grab your friends and get the party started! Hamburger Mary’s regular drag show starts at 9 p.m. Cover charge of $3 begins at 8 p.m., so come early for the start of Martine’s show! Check out Martine at www.martinelocke.com. Visit Mary’s at www.hamburgermaryscr.com. Friday, May 15, 9 p.m., DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND WITH THE DIPLOMETTES at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. For more info, visit www.icmill.com or call 319-351-9529. Cover: $7. Check out www.myspace.com/ thediplomatsofsolidsound. Saturday, May 16, Noon, CAPITAL CITY PRIDE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT, at the Sands Volleyball Complex in West Des Moines. 6 on 6 play with a maximum of 8 people per team. At least half of your team must consist of boys or girls in full drag. Cost is $100 per team and all proceeds go to Capital City Pride. Limited to the first 16 teams. If you don’t have a team, you can be added to another team. To sign up or for more info, call Justin 515-669-0801 or Todd 515-979-4688. Saturday, May 16, USHER’S FERRY PARLOUR THEATRE presents JANE AUSTEN’S EMMA at the Ambroz Recreation Center, 2000 Mt. Vernon Rd. SE, Cedar Rapids. Children 3-14 years $6, adults $12. Saturday, May 16, ETTA MAY, the Reigning Queen of Southern Sass, at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center, Iowa City. Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17, MARION ARTS FESTIVAL in the Marion downtown square. Sunday, May 17, 1 p.m., SCOTT & MICHELLE DALZIEL, at the Fireside Winery, 1755 P Ave., Marengo. May 18-24, CSPS/Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids hosts the North American debut of DIVADLO Z PASAZE (or Theatre from the Passage), from Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. The 16 members of this acclaimed ensemble are individuals with profound mental disabilities, hired from state institutions. The plays they create have been described by critics as beautiful and poignant, bridging the gap between art and life. Visit www.legionarts.org for a list of events during their visit. Wednesday, May 20, SMART TALK, the series of talks by amazing women, continues at the Des Moines Civic Center. This final talk is by actress Diane Keaton. To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster. com. Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m., OPEN MIC hosted by KIMBERLI at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company, 118 2nd St. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. Sign up starting at 6:30 p.m. or e-mail Kimberli in advance at flyingmonkeyscr@aol.com. Thursday, May 21, 6-8 p.m., OUTDOOR WINE TASTING AND LIVE JAZZ, features the Eddie Piccard Quartet, at Vineria, 264 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Sample 20 wines from around the world. Cheese and crackers will be served. Please make your reservation in advance. Cost is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. The tasting glass is yours to keep. For more info or to register, call 319-373-6141 or email:
the fun guide vineria@mchsi.com. Friday-Sunday, May 29-31, Des Moines WOMEN’S CULTURAL COLLECTIVE ANNUAL CAMPING TRIP (and Potluck). For more info, e-mail Elaine at elainera57@aim.com. Tuesday, June 2, 9 p.m., CAROLINE SMITH AND THE GOODNIGHT SLEEPS, at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. Anchored by the tight playing of the Goodnight Sleeps, Caroline Smith’s voice floats above these songs like a hummingbird zipping from one killer melody to the next. Free! Check out www.myspace.com/carolinesmithmusic. Friday, June 5, 5:30 p.m., 2009 MATTHEW SHEPARD SCHOLARSHIPAWARDS DINNER, featuring music by members of the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, a keynote address by Chair and CEO of Garden State Equality Steven Goldstein, headliner Judy Shepard, and presenting Iowa’s 2009 Matthew Shepard Scholarship Recipients. Held at the HyVee Conference Center, 5820 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. 5:30 PM Reception (Cash Bar), 6:45 PM Dinner and Program. Advanced tickets available through March 31 for $65. From April 1-May 15, tix are $75. From May 15-June 1, the price goes up to $85. To register or for more info, go to http:// www.eychanerfoundation.org/scholarships/ mssdinner.html. June 10-14, MAMA MIA, at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com. Thursday, June 11, 7 p.m., DISCUSSION ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND THE IOWA SUPREME COURT DECISION with noted newspaper reporter, Clarence Page, at the Iowa Historical Building Auditorium, Des Moines. Mr. Page is a Washington Bureau reporter for the Chicago Tribune and is a staunch supporter of marriage equality. For details visit: http://www.imforiowa.com/ht/display/ EventDetails/i/1254765. Friday-Sunday, June 12-14, CAPITAL CITY PRIDE in Des Moines. For more info, visit www.capitalcitypride.org. Monday, June 15, 10:00am, GAY DAY AT ADVENTURELAND PARK. Join all your friends for a family fun day at our local amusement park. Each year we all try to coordinate matching colors so we can find one another. This years color is Purple. If you havent been before - Catch the wave! Disount tickets available at the Capital City Pride booth at the Street fest on June 13th and the festival on June 14th or by emailing vice_moderator@capitalcitypride.org. Save $10 off the regular admission price by purchasing through Capital City Pride Saturday, June 20, CORRIDOR PRIDE in Iowa City. The Cedar Rapids Pridefest will combine this year with the Iowa City Pride Festival. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more info! You may also get info by going to Pride’s Facebook page. Friday-Sunday, June 19-21, annual NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN (NOW) CONFERENCE in Indianapolis. For more info, visit www. now.org. Saturday, June 27, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., QUAD CITIES PRIDEFEST 2009: “WINDS OF CHANGE” at Le Claire Park in Davenport.
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Tip Top Cakes staggered towers that defy gravity. “Usually cakes either look good or taste good. They should be both, so that’s what I do.” Creating cakes is a personal endeavor that comes deep from Adam’s soul. One can only imagine what it must have been like to make wedding cakes for others while knowing that you yourself could not marry, but when I asked Adam about this he said it never bothered him. “Weddings are about the celebration” and Adam says he never felt excluded; rather, he felt privileged to contribute to ceremonies of such joy. Recalling their commitment ceremony four years earlier, his partner Jeremy interjected his own feelings on the subject: “We’ve given our vows already, should we jump for joy that someone else finally approves? With
the war, the flood, and the economy I think it is ironic that people are so worried about gays getting married.” But they do recognize the significance and difference in having a legal ceremony. Adam, who spends his time working as a financial adviser when he’s not toiling in his bakery has been attentive to ensure that the couple’s home and assets are jointly owned in the event of the unimaginable. As most know, many have not been so prepared. However, after the April Supreme Court decision, such detailed preparations will become a thing of the past. Adam’s creations are not limited to wedding cakes. His services are available for all occasions. Consultations are available by appointment. Tip Top Cakes can be reached at 970-270-3630 or 319-358-5736, by email at tiptopcakes@yahoo.com, or through his website www.tiptopcakes.com.
May 2009
Section 3: Community
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Look Before You Leap by Eddi Krug Now that exuberance over the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in the Varnum case has abated somewhat, I’m reminded of the saying, “watch what you wish for.” As the dust settles and we get down to the technical business of applying for marriage licenses and arranging for wedding halls and caterers, let’s stop for a minute and consider what all of this means in the practical world. I also need to add a caveat here since in my former life, I was married to a woman. Thus, what follows is commentary from my legal and practical experiences. For those of you contemplating, “popping the question,” read on very carefully. First of all, marriage, whether performed in a civil context (by a judge) or in a religious setting (by a minister or rabbi), is in the truest sense a legally binding contract. While love may be the reason for a marriage, the contract exists regardless of whether both parties, that is both spouses, remain in love. Once two people are married, the only way this “contract” can be broken is by way of a divorce. By necessity, divorce involves filing a petition with the court and ultimately, unless the parties can agree between themselves, a judge makes a decision of how marital assets should be split between the parties. This gets far more complicated if debt, alimony (also known as spousal support) or child support are involved. In other words, it is far easier to get into a marriage than it is to get out of one.
Some of you may have heard or understand that one spouse can become legally obligated for the debts of the other spouse. This is so true. For many of you used to years of living alone and being responsible solely for your own debts, this may be a huge concept to get used to. The most common form of joint debt is a home mortgage; if you want to buy a house or condo, the mortgage company or bank will require both spouses to sign off on the mortgage. If you split or divorce (see below), the bank will come after both of you to pay the debt. The same is true with credit cards; if you have a joint credit card, both of you are responsible for paying on the card, regardless of what happens with your marriage. And what if it doesn’t work out? Most of us don’t know about child support and alimony, those things that straight people have been dealing with for years when they divorce. For GLBT couples, children will become part of the equation in a couple of different ways. For female couples, it is likely that one of the spouses will carry the child and give birth; under the new law, the other spouse will in turn automatically be considered the child’s parent. For male couples, this will be different. Both men will still have to adopt the child. Regardless of whether the child is born into the marriage or adopted, legal obligations are created once the birth or adoption
occurs. Most important of these obligations is the requirement that the child be supported financially even if the parents stop being married. In Iowa, if the couple separate or divorce, support arises for the non-custodial parent. Thus, the parent who moves out without the child becomes obligated to pay child support. And remember, child support continues until the child is 18 and out of high school. In many cases, the court will require the non-custodial parent to pay a third of the child’s college education. In other words, we are talking about writing checks for a long, long time. The right to alimony arises when one spouse has been placed at a financial disadvantage as a consequence of commitments made during the marriage. The classic example is where a college educated spouse stays at home to raise the children, only to find that after 15 years of marriage, the bread winning spouse has decided to leave. In that instance, the courts will award alimony for varying periods of time to the stay-at-home spouse. In fact, the spouse who leaves could become obligated to pay both alimony and child support. Because of all these legal obligations, one should seriously consider a few things before saying “I do.” One of the most important considerations is the money habits of the other person. One of the quickest ways to divorce is when one spouse cannot control
their spending, which results in debt that both partners become obligated to pay. Thus, if your present partner or future fiancé always seems to be out of money, don’t assume that will change once the two of you get married. Another important factor to consider is the character of the person you are marrying. This doesn’t mean his or her “personality,” and whether they are funny or likable. Instead, “character” is something fundamental to how the person operates in life. Are they honest? Do they keep their word? Do they sacrifice for others? Affirmative answers to each of these questions help to ensure that the person you are marrying will do the kind of things to help a marriages endure. These qualities also help to avoid the financial and emotional issues that tear marriages apart. Okay, enough of the heavy thinking. For those of you undeterred by this, I wish you only the very best. Marriage can be a wonderful thing between two people who love each other. It can be the ultimate expression of one’s love. We are so lucky to have a Supreme Court willing to speak the truth. So, go take advantage of an opportunity that so many others take for granted. And just remember all of the responsibilities that come with that opportunity. Eddi Krug is an attorney in North Liberty who has been practicing law for 27 years. She can be reached at: ekrug@ kruglawfirm.com
Waterloo’s Alternative Night Club
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May 2009
Chef deJon for brunch or supper or little squares for appetizers. They’re perfect for picnics, so don’t pack a basket without one.
Southwestern Caesar Salad with Chipotle Dressing Dressing • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1 1/2 tablespoon canned low-salt chicken broth • 1 tablespoon soy sauce • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 1 1/2 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chilies (in adobo sauce) • 1 teaspoon brown sugar Salad • 1 large head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces • 2 medium tomatoes, seeded, diced • 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed, drained • 4 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese Whisk mayonnaise, chicken broth, soy sauce, lemon juice, chipotles and brown sugar in medium bowl to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Mix lettuce, tomatoes and corn in large bowl. Add dressing and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and serve. Yield: Serves 4 Epicurious.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1/3 cup thinly sliced shallots • 1/4 cup turkey bacon • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 4 eggs • 1/4 cup cheese • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped arugula, for garnish DIRECTIONS 1) Preheat the broiler. 2) Melt the butter in a l0-inch flameproof skillet. When it has stopped foaming, stir in the shallots, prosciutto, and pepper. Cook, over medium-high heat, stirring, until the shallots are golden and the prosciutto is nearly crisp, about 2 minutes. Then stir in the mushrooms, and cook 1 minute. 3) Lightly beat the eggs with the parsley and season with pepper. Lower the heat to medium-low and pour them into the skillet. Stir quickly, incorporating the mushroom mixture. Cook just until the bottom is set; the top should still be wet, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese. 4) Place the skillet under the broiler and cook just until the frittata is sizzling, puffed, and set, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately. 2 portions
San Diego Fish Tacos • • • • • • • • • Quick & Healthy Frittata with AppleMaple Chicken Sausage Frittatas are to Italians what omelets are to the French. In a frittata (or tortilla in Spain) the filling is mixed with the eggs and the whole mixture is cooked slowly in a skillet until set, then quickly browned under the broiler. Frittatas are a bit drier than omelets, not so fussy in their timing, and much easier to make for a gang. The filling ingredients are what make the frittata so wonderful, but it’s the eggs that bind everything together. Frittatas can be served hot right in the skillet or left to cool at room temperature. They can be cut into pie-shaped wedges
1/2 cup canola oil 1 cup beer 1 large egg 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper Two 8-ounce white fish fillets (such as scrod, pollack, snapper, haddock, halibut, and catfish), pin bones removed and each fillet cut crosswise into 6 pieces (by the fish monger, if possible) • 1 small to medium sweet onion such as Vidalia, 4 to 8 ounces • 10 sprigs cilantro • 1/2 cup light or regular mayonnaise • 1/2 cup low-fat yogurt • 1 small head green cabbage, 12 to 16 ounces • 1 ripe but firm avocado • 1 lime • One 12-ounce jar medium-hot salsa • 12 flour tortillas, 8 inches in diameter 1) Put the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Combine the beer, egg, and flour in a medium-size mixing bowl.
Stir in the mustard, cayenne, salt, and several grindings of black pepper. Put 6 pieces of fish in the batter, coat well, and add to the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes, turn the pieces over, and cook for 3 more minutes until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel-lined platter. Repeat with the remaining 6 pieces. Reduce the heat if needed to prevent burning. 2) While the fish cooks, peel and quarter the onion and remove the leaves from the cilantro sprigs. Put the onion and cilantro in a food processor and pulse several times, or until coarsely chopped. (Or chop by hand.) Add the mayonnaise and yogurt to the processor and pulse just once or twice to combine. Put the onion-mayonnaise sauce in a small bowl. 3) Halve the cabbage lengthwise and remove the core from each half. Place each half on a cutting surface, flat side down. Cut into thin shreds with a chef’s knife. (Or shred using the large holes of a four-sided grater or the grating attachment of a food processor.) You should have about 4 cups. Put the cabbage in a small bowl. 4) Halve pit and peel the avocados. Cut each half lengthwise into six slices. Lay the slices on a small plate. Cut the lime into 4 wedges and put in a small dish. Put the salsa in a small bowl with a slotted spoon (so you won’t get a lot of liquid in your tacos). 5) Bring all the ingredients for the tacos to the table and allow diners to make tacos one at a time as follows: Put a few tablespoons of cabbage in the middle of each tortilla. Top with 1 piece of fish, 1
tablespoon or so of the onion-mayonnaise sauce, 1 tablespoon of the salsa, 2 avocado slices, and a squeeze of lime. Fold and eat. Makes 12 tacos, 3 per person. Yield: Serves 4 SamCooks.com
Coconut Brownies • • • • • •
1 package fudge mix 1 C (8 oz) sour cream 1 C coconut-pecan frosting 2 eggs 1/4 C water 1 C semisweet chocolate chips In a large bowl, combine the brownie mix, sour cream, frosting, eggs and water just until moistened. Pour into a 13-in x 9-in x 2-in baking pan coasted with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set (do not over bake). Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand for 5 minutes. Spread chips over brownies for frosting. Yield: 2 dozen.
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May 2009
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Auntie Emm
Answers Your Questions & Gives Advice As Only Your Auntie Can! Dear Auntie Emm: My partner of several years and I are going to get married, but I’m a bit more traditional than she is: I think it is important that we combine our names so that we have one family name, but she thinks that would just be a pain in the neck. What do you think? A Rose by Any Other Name in Oelwein Dear Rose: Oh, dear, but you have so many options: keep your own last names; make up a new last name for both of you; combine your names with hyphens (but which name goes first?); tack on your partner’s name to the end of your own (Rose Jones-Smith and Mary Smith-Jones). Things are so different than they used to be. Married folks are keeping their own names all the time nowadays, and it doesn’t make them any less a family. And if your fiancée doesn’t want to change her name, then maybe you might want to think about some good reasons NOT to. Remember, little girls used to romanticize about some day becoming “Mrs. What’s-His-Name”, but we’re not talking about your father’s Oldsmobile anymore. (Oh, dear, Auntie just dated herself, didn’t she? Well, maybe no one will notice; let’s move on.) Women used to change their names because once they were married they no longer belonged to their own family, but instead to their husband. Hmph. We’ve had quite enough of that. First, you have to change ALL your records and documentation: drivers license, credit cards, mortgage papers, utility statements, and anything else you can think of and all those things you haven’t thought of. You might even have one of those “Twitter” things going or a “FaceSpace” page, and what are you going to do about those? Then, you could end up at a completely different place in the alphabet. You think this is just a little thing until you find yourself waiting through the alphabetical roll-call because now you’re Auntie Zee instead of Auntie Emm. (That’s why—if your fiancée does agree to change your names after all and despite the little headaches that might come with that choice—your Auntie likes the idea that you add each other’s last name to the end of your own with a hyphen. You each get to keep your own name as part of your new last name AND you get to keep your place in the alphabet. And everyone who meets you is reminded, each time you say your name, that you’re part of a committed couple.)
Auntie Emm Dear Auntie Emm: I just came out to my family, and my brother—who is very religious—keeps telling me every time he sees me that I am NOT gay and I can change if I want to,
and he keeps telling me I’m sinning and I’m going to hell if I “choose to live a gay lifestyle”. I started going to a different church a while back, partly because I was tired of my old church’s gay marriage rants, and my new church even has had gay union ceremonies. (Now it will get to do gay weddings!) Auntie, I’m old enough to know now that this isn’t any “phase” I’m going through. I love my brother very much, but how can I get him to stop worrying and to stop preaching – or at the very least to shut his yap? Badgered in Belle Plain Dear Badgered: Oh, it’s just silly how much fuss some folks make about everyone else going to Hell. Seems to me that people do a lot of picking and choosing as to which verses they’re reciting when pointing their fingers at other people, and which verses they’re conveniently forgetting about when it comes to themselves. As for you: you let your brother know how much it means to you that he is so concerned about your soul and which place it’ll end up at, and then tell him he can come and pray for you every Sunday… so long as he does it sitting next to you at YOUR church. Maybe he’ll pick up some sense while he’s there.
Auntie Emm Dear Auntie Emm: Our whole family is SO excited about the fact that we can get married now, and everybody we know—and I mean EVERYBODY: friends, family, co-workers— is asking when the big day is. My partner’s mom even started crying, talking about how beautiful we’d both look in tuxes with boutonnières. OK, sure we would, but we’ve been together since the 1990s, and we have thought of ourselves as married for years now. Besides that, polo shirts are about as formal as we ever get. We just want to run down to the county recorder and get the license to finally make what for years we have considered our “marriage” a legally recognized thing too. We really don’t want to have the pressure that comes with a big wedding day. What can we do to make everybody understand? Casual Couple in Altoona Dear Couple: Before I say another word, let me just congratulate you on your long relationship. Oh, it just tickles me all over to hear about yet another happy, healthy couple. Now you need to know that you can’t just get the license and call it a day. Iowa law REQUIRES that you have a marriage ceremony within six months of receiving your valid marriage license. For more on this, read up on getting hitched at OneIowa.
org. Just know, that at the ceremony, “both parties must be physically present with an officiant and two witnesses, all of whom must sign the marriage certificate. The officiant is then required to file your certificate with the County Recorder within 15 days.” Now let your Auntie tell you something else: everybody is happy for you, and you are darned lucky to have so many people supporting you! You just be careful that you’re not being ungrateful! A wedding isn’t just for the lucky couple. A wedding is so everybody can come together and let you know how much you both are loved and how many good wishes they have for you and how much they will stand behind you in the years to come. Don’t go thinking that every wedding needs to look like Charles and Di at St Paul’s big ol’ London Cathedral. A wedding can be anywhere you like, and you can wear what you like, and you can invite as many or as few people as you like. If you don’t like all the froufrou that comes with it, do your own thing. On the other hand (and your Auntie has two hands, so why not use them both?) when you get married, you’re only supposed to do it ONCE and that’s IT. If you don’t mind the idea of a big to-do, but you just don’t want to have to make all the arrangements yourselves, hire a good wedding planner. (Oh, let me tell you, the wedding planners are practically dancing in the streets here in Iowa right now!) So go ahead! Toss a couple garters and get yourself a big fancy cake! Get
dressed to the nines, let folks pamper you, and maybe even let your parents or siblings or friends “give you away”! (I attended a wedding where a widow friend was marrying for the first time since losing the father of her teenage son. I started to get just the least little bit choked up when her son walked her up the aisle, smiling and looking like a prince; but, mercy me, I cried like a baby when the pastor asked, not who was “giving her away”, but, “Who presents this woman to be married?” and that young man proudly declared, “Her son.” Then he went right up next to her and stood there where the bridesmaids would usually be. So you see, it was important to him to be included that day, and I don’t see how his mamma could have done it better!) Really, the “traditional” ceremony and reception is really just an option any more these days. A couple cuties I know down in Cedar Rapids have talked about starting their own wedding tradition. They’re planning to have a tiny little ceremony with just their closest relatives, and then they’re going to have two or three (or four or five!) big parties spread out over a couple of months after (and maybe even in a couple of different states!), for all their friends and their big extended family to show up when and where they can and really kick up their heels. That way, folks don’t have to all try to get together on just one day, and the boys don’t have all that pressure to get one big event totally perfect.
Auntie Emm
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Section 3: Community
May 2009
Hemming and Hawing by Aaron Stroschein
Column #2: Amazon, Podcasts, and The Importance of Indie Marketing Amazon.com had a “glitch” labeling LGBT literature strictly adult. Did they issue a sincere apology? Were their actions intentional? My response: big deal. Why should we worry about it? There are plenty of other ways to get word out about LGBT literature. Maybe the word may not be spread in the most public of ways, but how many of you think we should rely on Amazon now they have slighted the creative geniuses from our niche of society? When one gets a book published with a big-name publisher, they are essentially handing over 95 percent of the marketing responsibilities to the company. The authors can still go around and pass out business cards and market their book themselves. However, they are not the ones who contact Borders and Barnes and Noble Booksellers to line front windows with copies of their bound masterpieces. Big name publishing companies take charge of that aspect. I say writers should turn to other marketing venues, such as podcasting or blogging, as an alternative to get word out about their LGBT literary works. Don’t know what a podcast is? A podcast is a media file that is downloadable via RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. The file can be electronically written like a
Across
1 Skedaddles, to Jim Nabors 5 Mapplethorpe’s flashers 10 Animal rights issue 14 “Tell me ___ haven’t heard!” 15 Type of queen 16 Coup target, to Cocteau 17 Haul ass 18 Part of a flight 19 Golda of Israel 20 Partner of 37-Across, who died in 2004 23 Decryption org. 24 Peninsula where the rain falls mainly on the plain 25 Enters quickly 27 Prize money 28 Provincetown souvenir 31 Cause to have an orgasm 32 Puncture sound 33 Water slides 36 If not 37 Photographer Annie 39 Rights-defending org. 42 Bianchi’s tool 43 Putting your mouth on a stranger, perhaps 46 Brand of foamy heads 48 Cold War abbr. 49 Whoopi’s role in “The Color Purple” 51 Potatoes and such 53 Frasier’s ex 54 Workers under Dr. O’Malley 55 The “gay tax” that Annie and others have to pay 59 Katharine’s Butch Cassidy role 61 Writer Wystan Hugh 62 “Aren’t ___ lucky one!” 63 Clairvoyant
Q-PUZZLE: “The Gay Tax”
64 Heyday 65 Coward of Blithe Spirit 66 One in bondage 67 The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas author 68 They may be split
Down
1 Provides dirt for Casablanca 2 Evil spirit 3 Prick stimulators 4 Indian instruments
magazine article, audio like a radio show, or visual like a filmed documentary. One can find and subscribe to podcasts using programs such as iTunes. The RSS feed also updates your subscription each time the creator of the podcast makes a new episode. The podcast I recently created to help LGBT literary voices is called AM Writing Sessions With AMS. The show provides LGBT writers with tips and inspiration for writing literature. It also gives insight into books already written pertaining to the gay and lesbian community. One other site called Podiobooks.com is where one can research and download independently-published books. It showcases a wide variety of works from many authors from many different genres. There are many other places on the Internet to look for these types of resources, too. All one has to do is explore. What is the advantage to promoting work yourself rather than relying on a bigger company to do it for you? Well, you may not experience earth-shattering sales, but it gives you a chance to build up your credentials and get publicity. I am not saying a large-name company should not pick up the project eventually. Sometimes the best literature carries its own weight without much outside help. 5 Start of a dance name 6 Capable of performing 7 Lawrence of Arabia director David 8 George Michael, for one 9 Rat Bohemia author Schulman 10 Butch’s gal 11 Tool 12 Wrinkled fruits 13 Queer, literally 21 Dorothy, to Em 22 Sailor, slangily 26 Fed head 28 Marching band section 29 Water molecule threesome 30 “Over my dead body!” 34 Lush sound 35 Lady’s man 37 Tackle box item 38 Not spelled out 39 Fierstein, in Hairspray? 40 Poet Cullen 41 Maine course 43 Bill of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” fame 44 Worked on the mound 45 Does a cobbler’s job 47 Hindu title of respect 50 Noble in government, once 52 Moves the ball between one’s legs 53 Stuff in a closet 56 Wounded 57 Falco of “The Sopranos” 58 Maria’s “Do-___” 60 Poodle’s bark
• SOLUTION ON PAGE 38
May 2009 SSHemming and Hawing, continued Scott Sigler, a writer and podcaster, created the novel Ancestors and released it as a PDF online. The book reached #7 in 2007 on Amazon.com the day it was released. Mur Lafferty, an author based out of North Carolina, wrote a book called Playing For Keeps published by Swarm Press, an independent publisher, in August of 2008. It also rose up the charts eventually hitting #1 on Amazon. One book I would recommend people read if they wish to market their literature is Self-Publishing For The Creative Person by Lee Silber. It gives many examples of how now-famous stars started out with humble beginnings. It also gives many different strategies on how to market oneself in the giant world of today. From simple things like handing out promotions at a convention to touring the country with your prized projects, there are a myriad of ways to promote oneself. While your efforts won’t necessarily shut Amazon down from lack of publicity or shoot the bejeezus out of their reputation, you can break away from the norm and take your work to your audience directly. It may be hard to do at first and it may not seem like you have the time, but in order to gain an audience you have to be social and make time to nurture the product you gave life to in the first place. Editor’s Note: Another avenue for getting books to the LGBT market is to work directly with community bookstores. While some bookstores will only do business with large distributors, many will purchase directly from the author or from independent publishers. Generally when working directly with bookstores, the author or publisher will be able to sell the books at a better rate. (Amazon is known as one of the publishing industry’s “800-pound Gorillas”, not compromising on the low wholesale rate they pay authors and small publishers.) Bookstores such as A Different Light in West Hollywood, California (www. ADLBooks.com), The Lavender Inkwell in Syracuse, New York (www.lavenderinkwell. com), Obelisk Bookstore in San Diego, California (www.obeliskbookstore.com) and many others are often eager to work directly with LGBT authors and publishers. While it means a bit more effort (because the shipping, billing, and bill collection are not handled by someone else), there is definitely a culture of support between our community’s book sellers and its independent publishers and authors.
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The Evolution of a Sacrament Interview by Paul O’Donnell From Beliefnet.com
A biblical scholar and Episcopal priest talks about the spiritual side of gay marriage L. William Countryman is a priest in the Episcopal Church and professor of Biblical Studies at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. He is the author of “Gifted by Otherness” and other books on gay spirituality and sexual ethics. We talked to him recently about the sacraments and gay marriage. The recent Texas sodomy decision by the Supreme Court, Canada’s decision to allow gay marriages and the movement here for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage have framed the question in strictly legal terms. What is the spiritual component of gay marriage? The spiritual component is basically the same whether you are heterosexual or homosexual. The intimate sexual relationship in a marriage or partnership is one of the most important experiences human beings have in transcending our individual limitations and becoming part of a larger whole. Sexuality is what makes that possible. Sexual love is probably the most important door for people into a way of speaking about and understanding our relationships with God. Erotic imagery has been fundamental for Christian spirituality from the very beginning. In the Middle Ages you find people writing commentaries on it left and right, asking, How does this inform your relationship with God? Later you have St. John of the Cross, and English writers like Henry Vaughn and Thomas Traherne. They all draw very heavily on The Song of Songs. Do you believe gay relationships are ordained by God in the same way as heterosexual relationships are? I can see no difference between the way gay partnerships function in building that bond of intimacy and the way heterosexual marriage does. Neither group does it terribly well. So yes, I’d say there are plenty of gay partnerships that this is exactly how the sexual partnership functions. You say in your book, “Gifted by Otherness” that gay spirituality can improve everyone’s spirituality in the Christian
community. Would you say that same about gay marriage? It helps in certain ways. In gay partnerships, the focus is on the relationship between the partners, whereas in heterosexual marriage it’s so easy for that to be diffused by social expectations. Gay partnerships, on the other hand, don’t fufill much in terms of social expectations--in fact they can get you in trouble--so there has to be a pretty powerful drive toward that kind of intimacy with another person in order for gay relationships to work. Heterosexual people might pay attention to the homosexual experience of partnership. It could be helpful in rediscovering what marriage is about. It’s intriguing, too, that a recent New York Times article reported that not only does gay parenting seem to work as well as heterosexual parenting, it could even serve as a model. That’s not because gay people are better parents, but they have to focus on what they’re doing because the social order is not set up for us. Many Christians cite Scripture, particularly Paul, to condemn homosexuality. How do you respond? I think Paul is almost invariably misread. What he does in Romans 1, which is the relevant passage, is not announcing that gay or lesbian sexual relationships are wrong. He takes advantage of widespread Jewish prejudice at the time to lure his audience into feeling superior. Having turned the audience into that spot, he attacks them. The unfortunate thing is that he lured the rest of Christendom into feeling superior for the rest of its history. How do convince someone who believes the Bible says homosexuality is wrong? In my own experience, people become free from that not from thinking but from living life. People who get to know gay or lesbian people and find they are pretty much the same mix as any other group of people eventually begin to think there is something wrong with their system of thinking. Then they may be able to go back to the Bible and read it differently. It seems like gay marriage has become a pressing issue nearly overnight. It became a major issue with the development of the AIDS epidemic. Gay partners are significantly disadvantaged because, with no equivalent of marriage, people found TTSPIRITUAL continued page 32
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Out of Town: A Gay Travel Primer on Hawaii by Andrew Collins A trip to Hawaii requires a greater investment of time and money than to just about any other U.S. destination, but when planned carefully, the rewards are unrivaled. The 50th state lies about 2,500 miles from Southern California, its nearest major land mass. The flora, fauna, and natural beauty of this rugged archipelago are unique in the Western Hemisphere, and each of the four major islands that make up the Hawaiian chain varies tremendously in terrain, diversions, and personality. Whereas most mainland destinations can be enjoyed over a long weekend, Hawaii is best explored over at least a week two if you can possibly manage it. The creature least likely to enjoy a visit to Hawaii is the gay single traveler with high expectations of finding romance (the gay single traveler with low expectations of finding romance may have a terrific time, however). While hooking up here isn’t unheard of, it tends to happen more by accident than by design. Honolulu (and its resort community Waikiki), may buzz with commerce, shopping, dining, and other bigcity diversions, but it has only a smattering of gay bars. Waikiki has a handful of gay bars, but overall the GLBT nightlife scene here is far mellower than in most cities this size. The island of Hawaii (or Big Island) has a small gay bar. Hawaii is most definitely a destination geared toward couples, so romantics should plan to bring along their own lover. Oahu located in the state’s capital Honolulu, is home to about 900,000 people (70 percent of the state’s population). Many visitors base themselves here because of the plethora of high-rise beachside hotels in Waikiki, the dazzling variety of restaurants and shops, the ease of getting around without a car, and the presence of Hawaii’s major international airport. Waikiki has also enjoyed a dramatic makeover during the past decade, but it’s still a densely developed neighborhood that lacks the elbow room and mellow vibe common on neighbor islands. Most of the big beachside hotels have undergone impressive renovations of late, greatly increasingly the quality of accommodations. But Waikiki still has a number of rather bland high-rise properties, and if you visit only this stretch of (albeit beautiful) sand, you won’t really come away with a particularly rich sense of the state of Hawaii. The ideal time to see Oahu is during the first few days of your visit, as Waikiki is walkable and downtown Honolulu offers the kinds of cultural attractions Iolani Palace, Chinatown, Doris Duke’s Shangri La Foundation for Islamic Art, the Bishop Museum you might be most in the mood to appreciate having just arrived from the mainland (once you experience the more pristine and peaceful neighbor islands, you’ll probably have considerably less interest in urban diversions). No visit to Oahu is complete without a drive around the island’s splendid Windward Coast and North Shore, which can be managed easily in a day (the only day you might consider renting a car, which is unnecessary unless you plan to leave Honolulu and Waikiki). The island of Hawaii (known most commonly as “the Big Island”) is about twice the
Diamond Head at Waikiki size of the other islands combined. There’s considerable resort development along the western (Kohala) coastline, distinctive for its arid and beautifully desolate terrain, characterized by massive black fields of lava rock. Ideally, you should try to spend at least three days on the Big Island, one to drive to the verdant tropical eastern coast, which is anchored by the small, historic city of Hilo. Dedicate another day to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which comprises two active (and occasionally flowing) volcanoes and countless trails and campsites. And spend your final day driving north into the upcountry ranching community of Waimea, and beyond that to the breathtakingly rugged Hamakua Coast. In terms of scenery, the one Hawaiian island that comes closest to living up to the expectations of many first-time visitors is Kauai, a relatively small but magnificently lush isle of rainforests, towering seaside cliffs, and secluded beaches. Hikers flock to Na Pali Coast State Park, which is on the remote northwestern tip of the island, just beyond the picturesque village of Hanalei (which has been the setting for such films as South Pacific, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. The eastern side is dominated by the waterfalls of the Wailua River Valley (home to several gay-friendly B&Bs), and the southern side by Poipu’s beaches and grand resorts. Kauai remains largely unspoiled and slow-paced, an ideal spot for devotees of the outdoors; loyal admirers often vacation here exclusively and skip the other islands. One island virtually any traveler could encamp happily on for a full week or more is diverse and dramatic Maui, the second-most populated and developed of Hawaii’s islands. Longtime visitors fret that the rate at which tourism has boomed here has diminished Maui’s appeal, but a quick glance at Waikiki should convince anybody that development could be far more intense. Maui’s resorts are sophisticated and relatively new (most built over the past two to three decades), and fine restaurants and shops abound along the west coast, which is also where you’ll find the best and sunniest beaches. The island’s must-do activities are a drive to the 10,023-foot Mt. Haleakala, a dormant volcano whose peak offers unrivaled views of the Pacific Ocean; and an all-day drive to the sleepy village of Hana, set in the richly verdant southeast side of Maui.
Great Hawaiian Sleeps Hawaii is rife with gay-friendly accommodations, from luxurious full-service resorts to modest upcountry B&Bs. Distinguishing the duds from the winners can take a bit of research, so spend a little time perusing both gay and mainstream books and websites before investing time and money into your accommodations. Determine how much you’re willing to spend, the intimacy and clientele you seek, and the setting you desire. And remember that many Hawaiian hotels and inns require a significant portion of the payment up front, so avoid committing to a place you haven’t heard good things about from at least three reliable sources the differences between dreamy and dreary can be extreme among Hawaiian hotels. There are dozens of fine properties across the archipelago, but here are a handful of the best: Embassy Suites Waikiki, Oahu. This well-run, twin-tower, all-suites property is across the street from one of the prettiest stretches of beach on Waikiki. Rooms are spacious and reasonably priced, and many upscale shops and eateries are within a quick stroll. Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui. Accommodations at this Moorish-inspired hotel at the posh Wailea Resort are among the largest and most beautiful in Hawaii, each with about 1,000 square feet of living space, Italian marble baths, kitchen facilities, high-end entertainment centers, and room for two couples. Four Seasons Hualalai, Big Island. There are deluxe resort hotels in Hawaii, and then there’s the Four Seasons Hualani, which consists of spacious rooms set within secluded three and four-unit clusters facing either the ocean or golf courses. Private entrances, expansive lanais, a state-of-the-art health club and spa, and parklike grounds set this compound apart from the competition. Four Seasons, Maui. A stunning Ushape hotel with an incredible collection of local, contemporary art, a fantastic spa (treatments can be enjoyed in open-air hales by the ocean), three superb restaurants, and the most attuned and solicitous staff in all of Hawaii make this the ultimate luxe getaway. Grand Hyatt, Kauai. Built with native Hawaiian materials and designs and furnished with a fascinating collection of native art and antiquities, this elegant, gay-friendly resort is head-and-shoulders above the rest
on Kuaui. The setting at Kauai’s fancy Poipu Resort incorporates 5 acres of swimming lagoons, a huge fitness center and spa, and a multitude of fine restaurants. Hale Ohia Cottages, Big Island. This airy and cheerfully furnished seven-room complex is nestled amid pine trees and ferns in the shadows of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park it’s one of the better values on the Big Island. The elegant cottages and suites sleep from two to five persons and some have kitchen facilities. Horizon Guest House, Big Island. This super luxurious guest house offers amenities and furnishings on par with any of Hawaii’s top resorts but with the intimacy and seclusion of your own private ranch. Each of the four units afford unparalleled ocean views, as does the in-ground infinity pool and sweeping grounds on a 40acre mountainside high above the Pacific. JW Marriott Ihilani, Oahu. One of the only resorts on the island that’s removed from the busy Waikiki scene, the handsomely appointed Ihilani sits along the sun-kissed west coast, affording guests incredible sunsets. Rooms are swanky and contemporary. If you’re planning to visit all four islands, you might consider staying with Hawaii’s gay-friendly Outrigger Hotels chain, which has about 25 hotels and condos throughout the state, most in Waikiki (the beachfront Reef and Waikiki properties are the best on Oahu, and the Outrigger Aina Nalu on Maui is also a standout). With one call to Outrigger’s central reservation service, you can book comfortable and moderately priced accommodations across the state of Hawaii. Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA and eight additional travel guides. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.
The Little Black Book -- Embassy Suites Waikiki 808-921-2345 www.embassysuites.com -- Fairmont Kea Lani 808-8754100 or 866-540-4456 www.fairmont.com/kealani -- Four Seasons Hualalai 808-3258000 or 8003323442 www.fourseasons.com/hualalai -- Four Seasons Maui 808-874-8000 www.fourseasons.com/maui -- Grand Hyatt Kauai 808-742-1234 www.kuai.hyatt.com -- Hale Ohia Cottages 808-9677986 or 8004553803 www.haleohia.com -- Hawaii Convention & Visitors Bureau 800-GO-HAWAII www.gohawaii.com -- Horizon Guest House 808-3282540 or 888-328-8301 www.horizonguesthouse.com -- JW Marriott Ihilani Resort 808-679-0079 or 800-626-4446 www.marriott.com -- Outrigger Hotels and Resorts 866-956-4262 www.outrigger.com
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Spiritual themselves evicted from their residences and their joint property claimed by the family of the deceased, who may not have had much to do with him when he was alive. So marriage in terms of the legal right and responsibility, that’s been an issue for quite some time. In the church, gay Episcopalians have long focused on his, because they perceived that the alternative is toleration. The sense ways, “You can come sit in the back pew, but don’t expect to be thought of as a real member of this congregation.” That sounds political, but it’s a spiritual thing: we’re here, this is who we are. Either get rid of us or take us seriously. Do some gays reject marriage as a “straight” institution, not part of what being gay is? Part of the gay liberation movement was
Section 3: Community a rejection of societal norms, which had been entirely punitive to gay and lesbian people. But gay people are as diverse as heterosexuals are, and some people have always been couple oriented. There are those who are experimenting with groups larger than two, and those who don’t want to settle down. That’s true of heterosexuals as well. The main difference is that society doesn’t help you come together as a couple if you are gay. Do sacraments change? I think they can certainly change. Marriage wasn’t even defined as a sacrament until the 12th century. Celibacy was considered the sexual ideal in the church until the Reformation. There was a question whether something as erotic as marriage had any place in the church. You can see how sacraments evolve more easily in the other sacraments. Confirmation, for instance, is radically different in the Eastern church, where it’s adminstered
by the priest at baptism, and the Western church, where it’s been reserved to the bishop.There have been times when no one was supposed to receive communion without being confirmed. There were times when confirmation was rather rare. Or take the sacrament of reconciliation. There have been times when it was an entirely public process. It was the Irish monks who converted it into private confession to use it for spiritual direction. There were other times when it was thought of primarily as a deathbed process. So yes, sacraments do change and develop over time. Gay men are already getting married in what are essentially church weddings, in the form of blessings. Would you consider that marriage? In the legal sense, no. The commitment is the same, and that sense of taking on the commitment publicly is the same. But when you apply the word marriage, you are into
May 2009 realms of legislation that the act can’t create. That is up to the larger society. How do you define marriage? Marriage is the union of two adult people, the sharing of their entire lives with one another. It’s the celebration of a particular intimacy and the creation of a household. I think that’s very important. The celebration is not simply for them. We don’t sanction them to be totally absorbed in each other and retreat from the world. Rather it’s a celebration of a new building block in the community. It has to be open to the community. It serves as a center of hospitality, of generosity, of hope, of contribution to the larger community. If it’s not that, it’s not worth celebrating and it should be a sacrament. Because sacraments aren’t inward looking. They are proclamations of the gospel. Paul O’Donnell is former Culture Editor of Beliefnet.
Hear Me Out: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pet Shop Boys Music Reviews by Chris Azzopardi Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz! R.I.P. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Karen O and Co.’s alt-rock sound has died – but the bohemian Big Apple-based band’s survived by disco-strobed synths in a techy 2.0 sound that’ll leave naysayers’ eyes rolling, and the rest of us? Feet shuffling and heart murmuring. YYY’s third-album metamorphosis is a whiplash jerk, but it puts a caterpillar to shame with a transformation so beautifully memorizing it’s whore-easy to get enveloped in the electroclash swooshes and O’s expressive, best-to-date singing. “Zero,” the first single, is aurally orgasmic, an electrocharged sonic mish-mash kicked up with a pulsating synths-on-steroids chorus and O’s high-flying yowl. Glitter sheen slides into “Heads Will Roll,” pleasuring with an irresistible pop
Fundamental and re-embracing mindless heyday pep should help the “West End Girls” hit-makers on their 10th LP. The gay-culture mainstays, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, wax on the candy-coated flamboyancy for “Love etc.” and “Pandemonium” – the for-
mer love-over-looks mantra featuring their eye for sly lyricism, and the be-bopping latter so on-ecstasy you’ll want whatever they’re on. And it doesn’t get deliciously weirder – or gayer – than “All Over the World,” where a Tchaikovsky sample spills over fuzzed-out synths. Their lazy failings aren’t totally indigestible, either – the “Vulnerable” refrain recycles more than a tree hugger, and “Beautiful People” works ’70s TV-show theme nostalgia to a cheeseball effect. But the disc’s embarrassing coda, “Legacy,” contradicts its title, becoming insufferably unmemorable with a meandering six-plus minutes of nothingness. So when Tennant asks on “Pandemonium,” “Is this a riot or are you just pleased to see me?”, the answer is mostly. Grade: B-
looms – threats and an emotional goodbye to his ex (played by James Franco in one of many solid supporting roles) – the intensity of Van Sant’s film swells, letting up only as the credits roll and we’ve been simultaneously saddened and inspired. The film is so good that skimping on the special features – no commentary? – is a let-down. With only a few deleted scenes, and three short featurettes – “Remembering
Harvey,” “Hollywood Comes to San Francisco” and “Marching for Equality” – that are interesting but essentially all pay respect to the real Harvey Milk, a scene-by-scene commentary would’ve been a very welcome addition. Especially from Dustin Lance Black, who gave a heartfelt, misty-eyed speech about his muse for the film when he accepted his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Look for a double-dip DVD soon. Grade B+
hook, but it’s the futuristic free-verse balladry that shows the grunge-rock group’s finesse and maturation: melancholy Celticlined “Skeleton,” which builds to a heartstopping chorus, and euphoric lullaby “Little Shadow” (both of which are performed acoustically at the disc’s end). Call this switcheroo a conformist move, but the YYYs sell it like they own it. Grade: APet Shop Boys, Yes The electropop sound the Pet Shop Boys helped revolutionize in the ’80s has more than come back – it’s turned Lady Gaga into a hyped record-breaking brand. The English duo couldn’t have timed this better. Reclaiming Gaga’s glory is nearly impossible, but lightening-up after 2004’s politics-heavy
Got Milk? DVD Review by Chris Azzopardi
“Milk” isn’t just a movie. When it was released, during the discouraging passage of California’s Prop. 8, it became an unassuming statement to right-wing bigots. But because the biopic about Harvey Milk, the
gunned-down gay activist, dropped in the midst of all the political madness, when protests were being staged across the nation, it became more to LGBT folks than filmmakers had probably intended. On DVD March 10, “Milk” proves history does indeed repeat itself – then, in the late ’70s, the first out-politician was fighting against Prop. 6, which would banish gay teachers. Two Oscars later (of eight nods), the Gus Van Sant masterpiece is an intimate portrait of a hero, a lively man who knew his fate and kept fighting anyhow. It’s a testament to the change one person can muster. As Harvey Milk, Sean Penn, who deservedly nabbed Best Actor at the Oscars, might as well be a clone, capturing his fey mannerisms so well – and his vigor for life, for human rights, for the future – that it’s a cinch to embrace him. And so when death
“[Iowa’s legalization of same-sex marriage] caught me, candidly, by surprise, proverbially flat-footed. It was around April 1st, so I thought, honestly, it was an April Fool’s joke. ... Now you have four states that are legally sanctioning same-sex marriage, and New York and California are not among them. Who could have predicted that?” —San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to The New York Times, April 11.
May 2009 DIRECTORY NOTICE The ACCESSline directory is updated each issue. The directory may also be found at ACCESSlineIOWA.com. LISTINGS ARE FREE. Information about new groups must contain a phone number for publication and a contact (e-mail address, land address, or website) for our records. For more information or to provide corrections, please contact Editor@ACCESSlineIOWA.com or call (319) 550-0957.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund 1705 DeSales St NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC, 20036 202-VICTORY [842-8679] www.victoryfund.org. Human Rights Campaign National political organization, lobbies congress for gay lesbian issues, political training state and local 1-800-777-HRCF[4723] www.hrc.org Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund I I E. Adams, Suite 1008 Chicago, IL 60603-6303 312-663-4413 Fax: 312-663-4307 www.lambdalegal.org National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) 1325 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC, 20005 www. ngltf.org / taskforce.org National Organization for Women (NOW) 733 15th ST NW, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20005 202-628-8669 www.now.org P-FLAG National Offices 1726 M St. NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 202-467-8180 info@pflag.org www.pflag.org STATE ORGANIZATIONS Equality Iowa Call Sandy V., 515-537-3126 P.O. Box 286 Carlisle, IA 50047 Imperial Court of Iowa Non-profit fundraising & social, statewide organization with members from across the State of Iowa. PO Box 1491 Des Moines, IA 50306-1491 Iowa Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) David Steward, President of Iowa NOW 1010 Charlotte Ave. Davenport, IA 52803 LGBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force Contact Brad Clark, Project Coordinator 515-243-1221 PO Box 1997 Des Moines, 50306. Stonewall Democrats of Iowa 5661 Fleur Drive Des Moines, IA 50321 515-244-7292 or 515-558-9580 Contact: Sharon Mahliero IDP@iowademocrats.org AMES Central Iowa Bisexual Social Monthly meetings on Sundays at 5:30pm, call for location. Open to bisexuals and their friends. www.public.iastate.edu/~vraymond/BiSocial.html 515-233-3189 First United Methodist Church 6th & Kellogg 515-232-2750 Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30; Sun at 8:30 and 11:00am. www.fumcames.org. Living with HIV Program 126 S. Kellogg, Suite 1 515-956-3312 ext 106 or I -800-890-8230 Ask for Janelle (Coordinator) ISU LGBTA Alliance GLBT Support, Activism, Social Events, Newsletter G-46 Memorial Union, ISU Ames, IA. 50014 515-294-2104 alliance@iastate.edu http://www.alliance.stu.org.iastate.edu Lord of Life Lutheran 2126 Gable Lane, Ames 50014 Call 515-233-2350 Services Sundays at 9:00a.m.; Wed. 7:00pm. PFLAG Ames 2nd Tuesday, 7pm Youth and Shelter Services Offices 420 Kellogg Ave, 1st Floor. 515-291-3607 Romantics Pleasure Palace 117 Kellogg Street Ames, IA 50010 515-232-7717 www.fun69.com
Section 3: Community Stonewall Democrats of Ames Contacts: Terry Lowman, 515-292-3279, or Mary Goodwin 515-292-0352 goodwinm@istate.edu, or: tlloman@aol.com United Church of Christ-Congregational 6th & Kellogg Ames, 50010 515-232-9323 Sunday Continental Breakfast, 9:00am; Sunday School, 9:30am; Worship, 10:45am. uccames@midiowa.net. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames 1015 Hyland Ave. 515-292-5960 Services: 9am and 11am, Sunday uufa@ aol.com Unity Church of Ames 226 9th St. Sunday service and Sunday school 10:30am. Wednesday mediation 6:30pm, class 7:15pm. Daily dial-a-blessing 515-233-1613 www.websyt/unity/ames. ARNOLDS PARK, OKOBOJI, SPIRIT LAKE
Wilson Resource Center An Iowa Great Lakes area gay-owned nonprofit community based organization. PO Box 486 Arnolds Park IA 51331-0486 712-332-5043 F. JosephWilson@aol.com. BURLINGTON HIV/AIDS Screening @ Des Moines County Health Department in Burlington 522 N. 3rd By appointment between 8:00am to 4:30 319-753-8217 Confidential. PFLAG Burlington/SE Iowa Chapter 319-753-1058 or write PO Box 480 West Burlington, IA 52655 pflagseia@yahoo.com
United Church of Christ Cedar Falls 9204 University Avenue Cedar Falls 319-266-9686 Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County 3912 Cedar Heights Drive Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5640. CEDAR RAPIDS/MARION Adult Shop 630 66th Ave SW 319-362-4939
Club Basix Open 5pm to 2am M-F, Sat & Sun. 3pm to 2am 3916 1st Ave. NE Cedar Rapids 319-363-3194 www.clubbasix.com. Coe Alliance Education, activism, & fun for GLBT and straight students, staff, faculty and people from the community. Regular meetings. Call John Chaimov (contact) at 319-399-8594 for time & place. Coe College 1220 First Ave. NE jchaimov@coe.edu www.public.coe.edu/organizations/Alliance. CSPS Legion Arts Contemporary Arts Center 1103 3rd St. SE 319-364-1580 info@legionarts.org Faith UMC 1000 30th Street NE Cedar Rapids, 52402 Call 319-363-8454 or Pastor Kathy Moore Sunday services at 11:00am. Visit our web page www. crfaithumc.org for information.
Steve’s Place 852 Washington St Burlington 319-752-9109 CEDAR FALLS - WATERLOO Black Hawk Co. Health Department Free HIV testing (donations accepted); MW, 1:00pm to 3:00pm; Thurs, 1:00pm to 4:45pm 1407 Independence Ave. (5th floor) Waterloo 50703 319-291 -2413. Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS) Service, support groups & trained volunteers for persons with HIV/AIDS in Waterloo/Cedar Falls area call Elizabeth or Karla, 319-272-AIDS (2437). cvhospice@forbin.net Cedar Valley Counseling Services Promoting personal growth and development in a strengths-based environment Joan E. Farstad, MA, Director. 319-240-4615 www.cvcounseling.com farstd@cvcounseling.com. In
Community AIDS Assistance Program (CAAP) Funding for special personal needs, community projects, and small grants that are AIDS related. PO Box 36, Waterloo, IA 50704-0036. (no phone) LGBTA Support Group at Hawkeye Community College Call Carol at 319-296-4014 for time and location of meeting chedberg@hawkeyecollege.edu Iowa Legal Aid Free civil legal service available to low income persons who qualify under income/asset guidelines. 607 Sycamore, #708, Waterloo, IA 50703 1-800-772-0039 or 319-235-7008 Kings & Queens Tap 304 W. 4th St. Waterloo, IA 319-232-3001 www.//myspace.com/kingsandqueensspace PFLAG Waterloo/Cedar Falls 317 Hartman Ave Waterloo, IA 319-239-1096 or 319-234-6531 johnpaul@forbin.net Stellas Guesthouse 324 Summit Ave Waterloo, IA Private B&B, Overnight accomodations for adults only. 319-232-2122 St. Lukes Episcopal Church 2410 Melrose Drive Cedar Falls, IA 50613 www.st-lukes-episcopal.org 319-277-8520 Sunday services 8:00 and 10:15, Thurs 11:30. Together For Youth 233 Vold Dr.
UNI-LGBTA Alliance-Student Organization 244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls 50613 319-222-0003 lgbta@uni.edu
Adult Shop North 5539 Grain Lane 319-294-5360
PFLAG Okoboji Call F. Joseph Wilson PO Box 486 Arnolds Park, IA 51331-0486 712- 332-5043 fjosephwilson@aol.com
Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry. Lutheran Center 2616 College St. Cedar Falls, IA 319-415-5747 mcdinoiwa@aol.com www.episcopalcampus.org All welcome!
Waterloo, IA 50703 319-274-6768 www.TogetherForYouth.net
Foundation 2 Crisis Counseling 24- hour telephone crisis counseling. 319-362-2174 or 800-332-4224 f2crisis@aol.com or www.f2online.org 1540 2nd Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA GLRC of Cedar Rapids Support, social activities lnfo@crglrc.org www.crglrc.org or, write to P.O. Box 1643 Cedar Rapids 52406-1643 Call 319-366-2055 and leave a message -- all calls will be returned. Krug Law Firm 401 1st St SE Suite 330 319-297-7515
Front Runners/Front Walkers Walking/jogging club. P.O. Box 4583 Omaha, NE 68104 402-496-3658. Gilligan’s Pub and Grill 1407 Harney Omaha, NE 402-449-9147 Everyday 4pm-1am. Friday and Sat. After hours 12-4am GLBT Rainbow Outreach Omaha Serving GLBT community in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Excellent message and info. 402-341-0330 Also office for Imperial court of Nebraska. www. rocc.org 1719 Leavenworth St Omaha, NE Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA) PO Box 3354 Omaha, NE 68103 402-203-4680 www.hgra.net HGRA serves both Iowa and Nebraska. Imperial Court of Nebraska P.O. Box 3772 Omaha, NE 68103 402-556-9907 L.E.O. (Leather Engineers of Omaha) Educational-social group for Gay Men with interest in Leather Lifestyle. Meets 2nd Saturday at Gilligan’s Pub at 7:00pm. Write L.E.O. PO Box 8101 Omaha, NE 68108. The Max 1417 Jackson at 15th Omaha, NE 68102 6 bars Call 402-346-4110. MCC of Omaha 819 South 22nd P.O. Box 3173 Omaha, NE 68103 Sun. 9 & 11 am. Contemporary Worship Service, Sat 7PM 402-345-2563. PFLAG Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church 7020 Cass St. (Omaha) 402-291-6781 2nd Thursday, 7, 6:30 Social time River City Mixed Chorus Gay/lesbian chorus PO Box 3267 Omaha, NE 68103 Call Stan Brown, marketing 402-341-7464. Youth Support Group for GLBT Youth 13-21, meets twice monthly. Omaha, NE 402-291- 6781. DECORAH Decorah Diversity Appreciation Team Call Martin Klammer, Luther College 700 College Dr., 52101 563-387-2112.
Linn County Public Health 501 13th NW 319-892-6000 Free confidential HIV testing,
Luther College Student Congregation Contact Office for College Ministry 700 College Drive Decorah, IA 52101 563-387-1040.
Rapid AIDS Grant Wood Area Red Cross 3600 Rockwell Dr NE Cedar Rapids, 52410 319-393-9579.
PFLAG Northeast IA (Waukon/Decorah) St. Benedict’s Catholic Church 309 W Main St (Parish Center). 563-535-7680 4th Monday, 7pm
PFLAG Cedar Rapids 3rd Monday, 6:30pm, 6 social Faith United Methodist Church 1000 30th St, NE 515-537-3126
PRIDE Luther College Diversisty Center, 700 College Dr. Decorah, IA 52101 Contact Chris at 563-387-2145 or Melanie at 563387-1273
People’s Church Unitarian Universalist A welcoming congregation. 600 Third Avenue SE. 319-362-9827 11AM Sunday.
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meets alternating Sundays at 10:30am, Decorah Senior Center 806 River St. Call Bill at 563-382-3458.
Stonewall Democrats of Linn County Contact Roy Porterfield 319-362-5281 royboycr@mchsi.com. COUNCIL BLUFFS, OMAHA(NE) AIDS Interfaith Network 100 N. 62nd Omaha, NE Call Br. Wm.. Woeger 402-558-3100 Citizens For Equal Protection 1105 Howard St, Suite #2 Omaha, NE 68102 402-398-3027 www.cfep-ne.org info@cfep-ne.org Council Bluffs NOW Write PO Box 3325 Omaha, NE 68103-0325
DES MOINES
ACCESSline Page 33 First Friday Breakfast Club Educational breakfast club for gay/bisexual men. Meets first Friday of each month. Contact Jonathan Wilson for meeting topic and place. 515-288-2500 Jonathanwilson@davisbrownlaw.com First Unitarian Church 1800 Bell Avenue 515-244-8603 Services Sundays at 9:30 &1 1:00 a.m. The Garden 112 SE 4th Des Moines, IA 515-243-3965 Wed-Sun. 8pm-2am www.grdn.com Gay & Lesbian AA & AI-Anonymous Mon. 7 pm; Tues. - Thurs. 6 pm; Sat. 5:30 pm at Drake Ministries in Ed. Bldg. 28th & University Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee 4211 Grand Avenue, Level-3 Des Moines, IA 50312 515-277-1117 Heartland Gay Rodeo Midwest Division of the International Gay Rodeo Association. 402-203-4680 Impulse Night Club 508 Indianola Ave Des Moines, IA 515-371-8586 Open Wed - Sun 8pm - 2am; Fri 5pm - 2am. www.Impulsenightclub.com. Iowa Affirmation Lesbian/Gay United Methodist Thoreau Center, 35th & Kingman Blvd. Write Affirmation PO Box 1726 Des Moines, IA 50309 Java Joe’s Gay friendly 214 4th St. 50309 515-288-5282 Lavender Victory Fund Financial assistance for women in need for medical emergencies. Contact Bonnie at 515-244-7946 700 Rose Ave Des Moines, IA 50315 Liberty Gifts 333 E. Grand Ave., Loft 105 Des Moines, IA 515-508-0825 Gay owned specialty clothing, jewelry, home decor. Libertygiftsonline.com LGBT Community Center of Central Iowa Information/advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgendered community. Open center and lending library; newsletter and special programs. 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 227 Des Moines, IA 50310 (515) 277-7884 Lesbian Independent Press Service (LIPS) Women’s monthly magazine. Contact Linda Smith. Iowalips@hotmail.com. PO Box 22233 Clive, IA 50325-4326. MINX Show Palace 1510 N.E. Broadway Des Moines, IA 50313 (515) 266-2744 Open 9am - 2am, M-Th; 9am - 4am, F-Sat. 10am -9pm Sun. National Association of Social Workers (NOW) (Nat’1 Organization of Women in Des Moines) http://www.meetup.com/locale/us/ia/desmoines North Star Gay Rodeo Association of IGRA, Iowa Division of North Star NSGRA@NSGRA.org or 612-82RODEO Parents of Rainbow Teens (PORT) 515-778-3668 Parent support group Rainbow Union, Drake University Contact Sara Graham ru@drake.edu PFLAG Des Moines Call Howard Eldrenkamp at 515-271-6718 howardflo@aol.com or write 3520 Grand Ave #51 Des Moines, IA 50312
AIDS Project of Central Iowa Resources, buddy program, support groups, and newsletter. 730 E. 4th St. Suite 100 Decorah, IA 50309 Call 515-284-0245.
Plymouth Congregational UCC Church. and the Plymouth GLBT Community. 4126 Ingersoll Ave. 515-255-3149 Services at 5:30pm Sat, 9am & I lam Sunday. www.PlymouthGLBT.com
Buddies Corral 418 5th. Des Moines, IA 515-244-7140
Polk County Health Department Free STD, HIV, and Hepatitis B & C testing. HIV. Rapid testing also offered. 1907 Carpenter Des Moines, IA 515-286-3798.
Church of the Holy Spirit-MCC Pastor Pat Esperanza Sunday service I0:30am at the 1st Christian Church 2500 University Questions? email: chsmccdmia@aol.com or call 515-287-9787.
DC’s Saloon 610 S. 14th St. Omaha, NE Call 402-344-3103. Everyday 2pm to 1am,. western/ levi/leather.
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus 515-953-1540 PO Box 12269 Des Moines, IA 50312 dmgmc@mchsi.com www.dmgmc.org.
Diamond Bar 712 S. 16th St. Omaha, NE Call 402-342-9595 10am - 1am, M-Sa, closed Sun
Family Practice Center Safe, supportive LGBT health care. 200 Army Post Road, Ste 26 515-953-7560 www.ppgi.org
Raccoon River Resort Accomodations for men, women, or mixed in campgrounds, lodge, TeePees or Treehouses. Reservations: 515-996-2829 or 515-279-7312 Rio’s Video and Patio Bar 1500 SE 1st Des Moines, IA 515-288-0381 www.riovideobar.com. Ritual Cafe On 13th between Grand and Locust. 515-288-4872 Women owned, great music, awesome food and coffee.
Section 3: Community
ACCESSline Page 34 Spouses of Lesbians & Gays Contact Ruth Schanke, 515-277-3700 St. John’s Lutheran Church 600 6th Ave “A Church for All People.” Services Sat 5pm, Sun 7:45, 8:45 & Ilam. See web page for other services. 515-243-7691 www.stjohnsdsm.org. Trans-Formations Monthly meetings for the female to male and male to female transgender community and their significant others. For location and info, email Jeff at frogestyie@ aol.com or call Jordan at 515-284-0245 Trinity United Methodist Church 1548 Eighth Street Services Sundays at 10a.m. 515-288-4056 Urbandale UCC An open & affirming congregation. 3530 70th St. Urbandale, IA 50322 515-276-0625. Walnut Hills UMC Join us at 8:30 or 10:30am for Sunday worship. Sunday classes and group studies are at 9:30am. 12321 Hickman Rd. Urbandale, IA 50323 515-270-9226. Westminister Presbyterian Church 4114 Allison Ave. www.westpres.org 515-274-1534. Sunday services 8:45 and 11am. Of note is their Gay Lesbian Straignt Affirmation small group ministry. Word of God Ministries Join us at 3:30 for Sunday Worship at 3120 E. 24th St. Des Moines, IA Mailing address: PO Box 4396 Des Moines IA 50333 515-276-6614 Women’s Culture Collective A lesbian social group. 515-830-1775 Des Moines, IA www.iowawcc.org Youth Alliance Contact Sandy Vopalka 515-689-5428 www.youthalliance.org 705 E. 2nd St. Des Moines, IA 50309 Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure Open daily. 2723 Ingersoll Des Moines, IA 515-244-7694. DUBUQUE Adult Warehouse 975 Jackson St. Dubuque, IA 563-588-9184. The Q 920 Main Street Dubuque, IA Open Mon - Sun, 7pm to 2am. www.myspace.com/qbar_dbq 563-557-7375. Dubuque Friends (Quaker) Worship Group. An unprogrammed meeting at 10am Sunday through September May. Meeting at the Roberta Kuhn Center 1100 Carmel Drive Dubuque, IA 563-556-3685 for info and directions. Dubuque Regional AIDS Coalition Direct services, education. HIV+/AIDS support group and family/friends support group. Contact Kay Auderer or Connie Sprimont, Mercy Health Center. 563-589-9606. PFLAG Dubuque St. John’s Lutheran Church 1276 White St. 563-582-9388 3rd Thursday, 7pm Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque 1699 Iowa St. Dubuque, IA
“The uncommon denomination.” Adult religious education meets Sunday at 9am before general services at 10am. 563-583-9910 www.uuf-dbq.org. GRINNELL Saints Ephrem & Macrina Orthodox Mission. Welcoming worship in the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition. Sunday services at 10am. 1226 Broad Street Grinnell, IA 641-236-0936 Aaffiliated with the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America. Stonewall Resource Center Open 4:30pm to 11:30pm, Sun through Thurs and by Appointment. Grinnell College 1210 Park Street PO Box B-1 Grinnell, IA, 50112 641-269-3327 srcenter@grinnell.edu INDIANOLA Crossroads United Church of Christ (UCC) Open and affirming congregation. Services: Sunday I0:30am, Summer worship: June, July, Aug, @ 9:30 am. Currently worshiping at Smith Chapel, Simpson College Campus, corner of Buxton and Clinton. Mailing address: P.O. Box 811 Indianola, IA 50125 Church office phone: 515-961-9370. First United Methodist Church 307 W. Ashland Ave Indianola, IA 50125 Day: 515-961-5317 PFLAG Indianola Call 515-989-9218 or write PO Box 137 Carlisle, IA 50047. or email: capcorn2@aol.com IOWA CITY AA (GLBT) Meetings Sundays 5 - 6pm at First Baptist Church, 500 North Clinton Street. For more info, call IC Intergroup Answering Service, 319-338-9111 Congregational Church UCC A registered “Open and Affirming Congregation,” Sunday Worship 10:1 Sam 30 N. Clinton St. (across from Ul Pentacrest) 319-337-4301. Counseling Clinic Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sensitive and supportive counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups. Sliding Fee. 505 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240 319-354-6238. Counseling and Health Center Client-centered therapy. Les-Bi-Gay-Trans always welcome. 616 Bloomington St. Iowa City, IA 319-337-6998. Crisis Center 1121 Gilbert Court Iowa City, 52240 319-351-0140. Emma Goldman Clinic 227 N. Dubuque St. Iowa City, IA 52245 319-337-2111 or 1-800-848-7684. Faith United Church of Christ 1609 De Forest Street Iowa City, IA 319-338-5238 Services Sundays at 9:30 a.m. GLBTAU-Uof I Student support system and resource center, info, activism, events, and other community involvements. 203 IMU, University of IA Iowa City, IA 52242-1317 319-335-3251 (voice mail) glbtau@uiowa.edu
Hope United Methodist Church Worship Service at 9:30am. 2929 E. Court St. Iowa City, IA 319-338-9865 Contact Rev. Sherry Lohman. ICARE Iowa Center for AIDS Resources & Education Practical and emotional support, youth programs, information, referrals and support groups. 3211 E 1st Iowa City, IA 52240-4703 319-338-2135. Iowa City Bi-Group A discussion and support group for bisexual people and people exploring their sexuality. Meets bimonthly. Call WRAC, 319-335-1486 Iowa City Free Medical Clinic Free and strictly confidential HIV Testing. 2440 Towncrest Drive Iowa City, IA. Call for appointment . 319-337-4459. Iowa City NOW PO Box 2944 Iowa City, IA 52244 for information & meeting times/places Iowa Women’s Music Festival P.O. Box 3411 Iowa City, IA 52244 319-335-1486 Men Supporting Men HIV prevention program exploring issues that gay/ bisexual men deal with on a daily basis. Discussion Groups, Educational Series, Safer Sex Workshops, Book Club.Contact Andy Weigel, email: aweigel@co.johnson.ia.us 319-356-6038 Ext 2
Women’s Resource Action Center (WRAC) Leads & collaborates on projects that serve Uofl & the greater community, offers social & support services, including LGBT Coming Out Group. University of Iowa 130 N. Madison Iowa City, IA 52242 319-335-1486 MARSHALLTOWN Adult Odyssey [Adult Video] 907 Iowa Ave E 641-752-6550 Domestic Violence Alternatives/Sexual Assult Center, Inc. 24 hour Crisis Line: 641-753-3513 or (instate only) 800-779-3512 MASON CITY
MOUNT VERNON Alliance Cornell College, 810 Commons Cir. #2035. email: alliance@cornellcollege.edu Web site: www. cornellcollege.edu/alliance contact person: Glynnis @ 319-895-5874 PELLA
Pride Committee WRAC 130 N. Madison Iowa City, IA 52242 Bridget Malone 319-338-0512 Charles Howes 319-335-1486.
Augie’s Tap 313 20th St. Rock Island (IL) 309-788-7389 Noon - 3am daily.
The Ursine Group 319-338-5810 Bear Events in the Midwest. P.O. Box 1143 Iowa City, IA 52244-1 143 The Vortex 211 E. Washington, downtown Iowa City 319-337-3434
Rainbow Gifts 309-764-0559 www.rainbowgifts.net.
Venus News (Adult) 902 w. 3rd St. Davenport, IA 563-322-7576
AIDS Project Quad Cities Info, education & support. Suite 360 1351 Central Park West Davenport, IA 52804 563-421-4266.
United Action for Youth A GLBTQA Youth Group providing support and counseling for teenagers and young adults processing sexual identity issues. Meets Mondays 7-9pm at UAY 410 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, IA 319-338-7518 or Teen Line, 319-338-0559.
Quad Cities Pride Chorus. MCC Church in D’port,. 3pm Sun @ MCC church Call Don at 563-324-0215 or qcswede64@aol.com
PFLAG North Iowa Chapter 1st Presbyterian Church 100 S. Pierce. 641-583-2848 1st/ 2nd Monday (alternating), 7pm
PFLAG Iowa City-Hawkeye Chapter Call Craig Jarvie at 319-338-8487 or email: hawkeyepflag@yahoo.com or write PO Box 652 Iowa City, IA 52244-0652
Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City Inclusive and free religious community nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth and fostering ethical and social responsibility. 10 S. Gilbert Iowa City, IA Sunday services: 9am & 10:45am. 319-337-3443 www.uusic.org
Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD) Social & support groups for lesian, bi, and gay teens, adults, friends & families; newsletter. 309-786-2580 Community Center located at 1608 2nd Ave, Rock Island.
T.R. Video Adult books & video 3727 Hickory Grove Rd. Davenport, IA 563-386-7914.
Common Ground (Central College) Support group for GLBT students and allies. Contact: Student Life, Tim Phillips 641-628-5249 commonground@central.edu
Uof I Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Staff & Faculty Association c/o WRAC 130 N. Madison Iowa City, IA 52242 319-335-1486
Prism (Augustana College) Augustana Gay-Straight Alliance Augustana Library 639 38th St. Rock Island, IL Contact Tom Bengston 309-794-7406.
Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health 22 N. Georgia Ave, suite 300 Mason City –Iowa 50401. Free confidential AIDS testing. 641-421-9306
New Song Episcopal Church 912 20th Ave Coralville, IA Sunday services at 1Oam. 319-351-3577 Rev. Elizabeth Coulter, Pastor Rev. John Harper, Associate.
Studio 13 13 S. Linn St. (in the Alley) Iowa City, IA 319-338-7145 Open 7pm ‘til 2am, daily
May 2009
QUAD CITIES
Black Hawk College Unity Alliance Serving GLBT community at Black Hawk College. 6600 34th Ave. Rock Island, IL 309-716-0542. Connections Nightclub 822 W 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52802 Phone: (563) 322-1121 DeLaCerda House. Provides housing and supportive services, advocacy and referrals for people living with HIV/AIDS. P.O. Box 4551 Rock Island, Il. 61201 309-786-7386. Holy Spirit Catholic Faith Community Meets one Sunday per month for Mass at 5:30pm at MCC-QC 3025 N. Harrison St. IL For more info, call 563-340-7488 Mary’s On 2nd 832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA 563-884-8014. MCC Quad Cities. Services Sun. I0am and 12 noon. Bible study Wed. 7 pm. Write to: 3019 N. Harrison Davenport, IA 52803 Call 563-324-8281. Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm. Call Dennis, 309-755-7346 dennyray3@juno.com. PFLAG Eldridge United Methodist Church 604 S.2nd St., (Eldridge) 563-285-4173 1st Monday, 6:30 pm
“When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today’s events will be why it took us so long. It is a tough question to answer because treating everyone fairly is really a matter of Iowa common sense and Iowa common decency. Today, the Iowa Supreme Court has reaffirmed those Iowa values by ruling that gay and lesbian Iowans have all the same rights and responsibilities of citizenship as any other Iowan.” — Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy affirming April 3 that they will fight any efforts by legislators to amend the state constitution to override the state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. Any proposed amendment would have to pass two different sessions of the Legislature, then go to the voters in 2012, at the earliest.
SHENANDOAH PFLAG Shenandoah 712-246-2824 or write to 1002 South Elm Street Shenandoah, IA 51601. SIOUX CITY Am. Business & Professional Guild. Gay Businessmen. Meets last Sat. of the month; ABPG P. O. BOX 72 Sioux City, 51102 abpguild@yahoo.com Grace United Methodist Church 1735 Morningside Avenue 712-276-3452. Jones Street Station (Bar) 412 Jones St. 712-258-6922 Nightly 6:00pm to 2:00am. Mayflower Congregational Church. 1407 West 18th Street, Call 712-258-8278. Morningside College Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Alliance Contact Professor Gail Dooley, Advisor Morningside College GSA 1501 Morningside Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106-1717 dooley@morningside.edu Call 712-274-5208 PFLAG Siouxland 712-251-4157 or write PO Box 1311 Sioux City, IA 51102 siouxland PFLAG @aol.com St. Thomas Episcopal Church Service Sun 10:30am 406 12th St. Waverly, IA Rev Mary Christopher 712-258-0141 Western Iowa Tech. GSA widemal@juno.com for info. WAVERLY Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry. 717 W. Bremer, (St. Andrew’s Episcopal) Waverly, IA 319-415-5747 www.episcoplcampus.org Gay, Lesbian Bisexual Student Alliance Write to: Alliance Wartburg College Contact Susan Vallem 50677 319-352-8250 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 717 W. Bremer 319-352-1489 We welcome all to worship with us on Sunday at I0:30am. Bible discussion Wed. 6:45. Rev. Maureen Doherty, Pastor
May 2009
Section 3: Community
NAKED PRIDE
DES MOINES GAY MEN’S CHORUS Friday June 12, 2009 7:30 p.m. Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University 2507 University Avenue / Des Moines For more information, call 515.953.1540 or email DMGMC@mchsi.com Order Tickets Online at: www.DMGMC.org Retail Ticket Outlet: Liberty Gifts, 333 E Grand Ave, Des Moines
ACCESSline Page 35
Iowa’s
2009
MATTHEW SHEPARD SCHOLARSHIP
Awards Dinner FRIDAY
june 5th 5:30pm reception 6:45pm dinner
headliner Judy Shepard
keynote speaker Steven Goldstein
honoring
Sharon Malheiro and
Camilla Taylor
IOWA
west des moines
hy-vee conference center 5820 westown parkway In October 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard lost their 21 year-old son, Matthew, to a murder motivated by anti-gay hate. Matthew’s death moved many thousands of people around the world to attend vigils and rallies in his memory. Steven is Chair and CEO of Garden State Equality. Steven and his partner Daniel Gross were the first couple to have their union covered by the New York Times. Steven has owned a public affairs consulting firm in New York and was co-manager of Jon Corzine's successful 2000 campaign for the US Senate from New Jersey.
introducing Iowa’s 2009 Matthew Shepard Scholars
Sharon Malheiro was an expert witness in Varnum v. Brien marriage equality case and was instrumental in encouraging Lambda Legal to successfully lead the case, which resulted in victorious Iowa Supreme Court decisions. Camilla Taylor is Senior Staff Attorney in the M idwest Regional Office of Lambda Legal, and led Lambda Legal’s successful effort in litigating Varnum v. Brien in District Court and before the Iowa Supreme Court.
entertainment Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
emcee
& Mike P a c e
buy tickets now! tickets are only available until monday june first. Get yours Today online at eychanerfoundation.org