ACCESSline, Iowa's LGBT Newspaper, September 2009 Issue, Volume 23 No 6

www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com

NOM Launches “Reclaim Iowa” Campaign Anti-Equality Group Funnels Significant Funds Into Local Special Election “Taking the battle for marriage back to the heartland,”, the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage (“NOM”) launched a fund drive for its “Reclaim Iowa Project” on August 24th.

The organization’s web site describes the effort as follows: “The Reclaim Iowa Project is a multi-year campaign to pass a state constitutional amendment reversing last spring’s same-sex marriage ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court.”

The initial goal was to provide nearly $90,000 in advertising just for the September 1, 2009 special election in House District 90 (“HD90”), which includes all of Van

Iowa City’s Studio 13, Remodeled

Buren county and most of Wapello and Jefferson counties in southeast Iowa. The special election was required to replace Democratic Iowa State Representative John Whitaker, who on July 17th was named by President Barack Obama as the Iowa State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency at the USDA. In HD90, NOM is backing three-term Jefferson County Supervisor Stephen Burgmeier, who previously proposed a successful local resolution in support of a marriage amendment, and who pledged to pursue an amendment if elected to the house. Burgmeier is also supported by the Iowa Family Policy Center, which sent letters to local voters with the

spurious claim that “out-of-state pro-homosexual groups” support Burgmeier’s opponent, Democrat Curt Hanson.

OneIowa has criticized NOM’s advertising expenditures as an attempt to buy the election, and launched an online petition to have the organization forced to disclose its donors.

Charlie Smithson, the Director and Counsel for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, sent a letter to NOM’s executive director, Brian Brown, warning that the organization would have to follow Iowa’s campaign laws and that there were limits to donor confidentiality.

“Iowa is not going to become a dumping ground for undisclosed campaign contributions.”

The REAL thing. Start to finish. That’s the line-up for the 16th Annual Iowa Women’s Music Festival (IWMF), to be held September 11-12 in Iowa City and headlined by the legendary Michelle Shocked and fast-rising blues star Carolyn Wonderland.

The eclectic line-up includes a Grammy nominee (Shocked), an Internet mega celebrity, a master mystical storyteller, and the 2008 Official Texas State Musician (the first woman to be honored). There is music for everyone at the IWMF: jazz, folk, pop, rock, country, Americana, roots, comedy, hip-hop, the blues, honky-tonk, soul, and gospel, as well as provocative performance art.

Full story on page 11

Michelle Shocked’s Americana and Wonderland’s Blues Headline the 16th Annual Iowa Women’s Music Festival in Iowa City

Iowa Women’s Music Festival September 11-12, 2009

The CENTER

See the new look on page 20

Iowa News Page 3

The CENTER is the LGBTQ and Progressive place to be! Come join us anytime Monday through Saturday from noon to 6pm.

The CENTER will provide a voice and visibility to the un-served and under-served LGBT community, their supporters and families in Central Iowa. Everyone is welcome at the CENTER. We always appreciate any help too. For more information please email thecenterdm@gmail. com, call at 515-243-0313 or visit www.equalityiowa.org/ thecenter.

The CENTER is a project of Equality Iowa and is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization, as defined by the IRS. All contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Donations can be sent to: The CENTER, 1300 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309.

US News Page 5

World News Page 6

“The statement was made that your organization does not have to disclose donors.

However, if you are going to engage in express advocacy activities in Iowa that is only partially correct. If people are going to donate to your organization for express advocacy activities in Iowa and those donations exceed $750 in the aggregate in a calendar year, your organization will be required to form a PAC and disclose those contributors. …”

— Excerpt from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board’s letter to the National Organization for Marriage

Entertainment Page 11

Community Page 27

ACCESSline Page 2

Section 1: News & Politics

September 2009

September 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 monthly 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 Q Syndicate Rex Wockner News Service Contributors: Joshua Dagon; Rachel Eliason; Beau Fodor; Tracy Freese; Jaye Brett Edward Stout; Lisa Schreihart (a.k.a IowaLisa) 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 Iowa News..............................................3 US News.................................................4 World News ..........................................5 Political IQ..............................................6 Health & HIV/AIDS News....................7 A Message from One Iowa....................7 Creep of the Week, with bonus creep.8 Joshua Dagon ........................................9

Section 2: Community From The CENTER.............................27 Finance, Shaken Not Stirred..............28 Ask Auntie Emm..................................29 Transformations Iowa.........................29 GLRC Picnic.........................................29 Morals & Values....................................30 Business Directory........................ 33-34

ACCESSline’s

“Fun Guide” Theater Ads Waterloo Community Playhouse Iowa Women’s Music Festival.............11 The Outfield.........................................12 IowaLisa’s List......................................13 Cocktail Chatter..................................14 Deep Inside Hollywood.......................15 Wedding Vows Anew............................16 Studio13’s Remodel.............................20 Out of Town: Berlin, Germany............21 Comics and Crossword Puzzle...........24 OneIowa Canvassing Experience.......24

A Pull-Out Section to Keep!

ACCESSline Wants To Hear From You! Send in photos and reports of your events... especially benefits and conferences.

Please send us information on any of the following: • Corrections to articles • Stories of LGBT interest, both in and outside of Iowa • Letters to the editor • Editorials or opinion pieces • Engagement and wedding ceremony announcements or photos • Questions on any topic we print • Photos and writeups about shows, events, pageants, and fundraisers Please email us at Editor@ACCESSlineIOWA.com. You may also contact us at our regular address: ACCESSline PO Box 2666 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666 ACCESSline reserves the right to print letters to the editor and other feedback at the editor’s discretion.

ACCESSline Page 3

IOWA NEWS

Rep. Steve King Will Not Pursue Office of Governor On August 27, Rep. Steve King, who has been vocal in his opposition of the Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality, announced that he will not run for Governor in the 2010 election.

In addition to saying that all judges on the Iowa Supreme Court should resign after the marriage-equality ruling, King also raised the specter of Iowa becoming a “Gay Mecca” if residency requirements were not added to Iowa’s marriage laws.

45% of Iowa Same-Sex Marriages Are Out of State Couples Maybe Rep. Steve King was right.

On Saturday, August 29, nine samesex Minnesota couples traveled together to Iowa to get married.

In an August 30 article about the “love bus”, The Des Moines Register also reported that 46% of the same-gender marriages performed in Iowa during the first month after such marriages became legal were for out-of-state couples.

Of the marriages of in-state couples, approximately 6% were for same-gender couples and about the same amount of marriage licenses opted to conceal the participants’ genders.

The financial benefit that these marriages will have on Iowa’s economy has yet to be determined, but according to a study by the UCLA Williams Institute, same-sex marriages are a boon to a state’s economy, both with direct purchases related to the event of the wedding, but also by attracting young “creative class” professionals.

There is no solid data available yet as to how many same-gender couples will

permanently move to Iowa in order for their marriages to be recognized as legal in their home state.

In the August 2009 issue of ACCESSline, the paper included a story about tattoo artist Aiden Kaine and Jesicca Andrade, who moved to Cedar Rapids from Falls City, Nebraska, specifically because of the Iowa Supreme Court marriage equality ruling.

The breakdown of out-of-state couples coming to Iowa to be married is as follows: • Illinois: 57 • Minnesota: 36 • Missouri: 37 • Nebraska: 38 Issue of Iowa’s HIV Transmission Law May Again Drop Off the Radar After Plainfield resident Nick Rhoades was sentenced to 25 years in prison for having “intimate contact” with another man without disclosing his HIV+ status, The Iowa Independent published articles questioning the severeness of Iowa’s penalty under this statute and suggesting the state legislature revisit the law.

The law was enacted as a direct result of President Ronald Reagan’s “Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus”, which in its early form included recommendations for states to add criminal statutes intended to reduce activities that transmit the virus. (Criminalization has since been removed from the Federal HIV recommendations.)

As for Nick Rhoades, his sentence may be adjusted by Judge Bradley Harris any time within the twelve months after the sentencing.

“It seems to me that since it is now 11, almost 12, years later, it wouldn’t be [a] bad time to take a look at it again… surely [there] are some tweaks or changes that the legislature could consider relevant to this law, especially with all the new knowledge we have of the disease.”

— Former state Rep. Ed Fallon (D) on Iowa’s HIV transmission law. Fallon supported the law when it was passed in 1998

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ACCESSline Page 4

Section 1: News & Politics

September 2009

US NEWS by Rex Wockner GLBT march on Washington, DC, planned for Oct. 11 A grassroots GLBT network called Equality Across America will stage “a massive national day of action” Oct. 11 in Washington, D.C. According to organizers, the National Equality March has been endorsed by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and Join The Impact, among other groups.

Oct. 11 also is National Coming Out Day, and 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the first gay march on Washington.

“We’re marching this October to demand action from the federal government to protect our rights in all 50 states,” said co-organizer Kip Williams. “Real equality can only come from the president, the Congress and the Supreme Court.”

Organizers said the march also is supported by veteran national GLBT activists David Mixner, Torie Osborn, Cleve Jones, Ann Northrop, Nicole Murray-Ramirez and Nadine Smith, along with newer activists such as Dustin Lance Black, Lt. Dan Choi, Corey Johnson and “Meet in the Middle” organizer Robin McGehee.

“We’ve got people from the Stonewall generation to the Facebook generation working together to win real equality,” said McGehee. “We’re tired of compromises and delays.”

Black said the march will refocus attention on the federal government following decades of gay activists’ working more on state and local issues.

“The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law, but LGBT Americans are still denied that protection — now is the time to push for real equality, in all matters governed by civil law,” Black said.

Organizers say they are “recruiting volunteers in all 435 U.S. congressional districts to pressure members of the House of Representatives.”

“We want every member of Congress to know that there are LGBT people and our allies in every single district,” said Johnson.

On Aug. 12, the Human Rights Campaign issued a “statement” on the march, calling it “a starting point—not a destination.”

“I’ve heard criticism about this gather-

ing diverting resources from existing goals such as marriage equality in Maine and New Jersey,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

“It’s our intention and our obligation to ensure that in October, we amplify our energy not divert it. ... With thousands of LGBT people and allies coming to Washington to make a difference, it’s our mission to help them become the citizen lobbyists that they want and need to be.”

A list of large, mainstream GLBT organizations that do not appear to have endorsed the march would be lengthy. However, the post-Prop-8, “Stonewall 2.0” era also is one in which grassroots activists have achieved a prominence and visibility not seen since the days of ACT UP. The weekend also will feature workshops, trainings, seminars and teach-ins, but no officially sanctioned parties, concerts or other entertainment.

Nonpolitical events “are being actively discouraged,” the 60-member steering committee said.

“It’s not about another party, it’s about getting to work,” said Williams.

The march route remains to be finalized. For more information, go to nationalequalitymarch.com.

Anchorage mayor vetoes gay rights law Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan on Aug. 17 vetoed a gay rights bill that had passed the Anchorage Assembly (city council) 7-4.

“My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance,” Sullivan said. “My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.”

The measure banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations and finance, with certain exemptions for religious groups and churches.

The city council would need to find one additional vote to override the veto, and would have to do so by Sept. 7.

Anchorage is home to 40 percent of Alaska residents.

Gay legal groups locked out of federal case against Prop 8 U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker on Aug. 19 blocked Lambda Legal, the Ameri-

can Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights from joining the federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 8.

The case is being argued by famed attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who say Prop 8 (perhaps along with other same-sex marriage bans) violates the due-process and equal-protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution by singling out gays for disfavored legal status and discriminating on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.

The American Foundation for Equal Rights, which hired Olson and Boies, opposed the gay legal groups’ becoming parties to the suit, saying the groups refused to join the suit earlier when invited to participate, have denounced the suit publicly, and would slow down the court process if allowed to take part.

In a scathing letter to the groups on July 8, AFER Board Chair Chad Griffin wrote: “Given our (previous) willingness to collaborate with you, and your efforts to undercut this case, we were surprised and disappointed when we became aware of your desire to intervene. You have unrelentingly and unequivocally acted to undermine this case even before it was filed. ... Your strident criticism of our suit has been constant.”

More recently, the gay groups have said that while they still believe it’s the wrong time to take a same-sex marriage case to the U.S. Supreme Court, if one is heading there anyway — which is the goal of the Olson and Boies suit — then they want to be a part of it to make

sure all the legal bases are covered.

Judge Walker, however, rejected the notion that Olson and Boies wouldn’t or couldn’t cover all the bases, and set a Jan. 11 trial date.

Assistance: Bill Kelley The Oct. 11 GLBT march on Washington, D.C., has been endorsed by, among others, veteran activists David Mixner, Cleve Jones, Ann Northrop and Nicole Murray-Ramirez.

Photo by Rex Wockner Groups split on Prop 8 repeal timing Equality California said Aug. 12 that it does not support returning to the ballot to try to repeal Proposition 8 until 2012.

Other groups are preparing for a 2010 ballot fight. They include the Courage Campaign, Love Honor Cherish, Los Angeles’ Stonewall Democratic Club and at least 40 other organizations.

“Donors want to make sure their investments to win back marriage are wisely invested,” EQCA Marriage Director Marc Solomon said in an Aug. 12 conference call with reporters. “Monolithically, they are not supportive of returning to the ballot (in 2010).”

“There’s no question that the community is, you know, not unified behind one position and we really feel that we ... owe the LGBT community and our allies our best analysis,” Solomon said. “We’d be leading people down a path that I don’t feel comfortable leading them down (if we supported 2010). It’s our job to say, ‘We think this 38-month path is TTUS NEWS continued page 7

Gender requirement may cause trouble for transgender passengers from The CENTER Transgender individuals may run into problems flying because Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new program Secure Flight requires passengers to give their full legal name, date of birth and gender as it appears on the government-issue photo identification they intend to use.

These new regulations attempt to reduce false positives of individuals who are not a threat to national security and prevent individuals from flying who are on federal watch lists.

Problems arise for people transitioning because their name and gender presentation may not match their government-issue identification. The potential inconsistency may lead to additional security screening before individuals are allowed to board the plane.

TSA began implementing the program in May requiring the full legal name and date of birth for domestic flight passengers.

In August, gender became required for domestic flights as well, and on October 31, 2009 passengers’ full legal name, date of birth and gender will be required for international flights.

The National Center for Transgender Equality is working in coalition with privacy organizations to ensure that TSA’s policies do not cause additional delay or difficulty for transgender travelers. If you encounter difficulties at the airport because of your gender expression or transgender status, please contact NCTE at 202-903-0112 so they can work with TSA to prevent the problem for occurring in the future.

September 2009

Section 1: News & Politics

ACCESSline Page 5

World News by Rex Wockner HRW reports hundreds of anti-gay murders in Iraq Iraqi militias are torturing and murdering men suspected of engaging in gay sex or of not being manly enough, and the authorities have done nothing to stop the killings, Human Rights Watch confirmed Aug. 17.

The organization documented a campaign of extrajudicial executions, kidnappings and torture that began early this year in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadr City, a stronghold of Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia, then spread to other locations.

MahdiArmy spokesmen have denounced what they call the “third sex” and the alleged feminization of some Iraqi men, and have proposed militia action as a remedy. HRW said some of its sources reported that state security forces have joined in the killings.

The killers invade homes and grab people on the street, HRW reported. Victims are interrogated for names of others before being murdered. Torture practices include supergluing victim’s anuses shut, then feeding them laxatives.

Iraqi gays also told HRW they face “honor killings” by homophobic parents and brothers who believe “unmanly” behavior shames the family or tribe.

“Hundreds of men may have died,” HRW said, though the precise figure is “almost impossible” to determine.

One man told HRW that militiamen kidnapped and killed his partner in April: “Four armed men barged into (my partner’s parents’) house, masked and wearing black.

They asked for him by name; they insulted him and took him in front of his parents. ... He was found in the neighborhood the day after.

They had thrown his corpse in the garbage.

His genitals were cut off and a piece of his throat was ripped out. Since then, I’ve been unable to speak properly. I feel as if my life is pointless now. ... (F)or years it has just been my boyfriend and myself in that little bubble, by ourselves. I have no family now—I cannot go back to them. I have a death warrant on me. I feel the best thing to do is just to kill myself.”

Consensual adult gay sex is not illegal under Iraqi law but the militias have claimed to be enforcing Islamic Sharia law. HRW’s report said, however, that the killings also violate Sharia law standards for legality, proof and privacy.

Some Iraqi gays have escaped to nearby countries that are only marginally safer for gay people and where, in most cases, gay sex is illegal. HRW urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as governments that accept Iraqi refugees, to offer rapid resettlement to Iraqi GLBT people.

Here are some additional personal stories from HRW’s report: Hamid: “[The killers’] measuring rod to judge people is who they have sex with. It is not by their conscience, it is not by their conduct or their values, it is who they have sex with. The cheapest thing in Iraq is a human being, a human life. It is cheaper than an animal, than a pair of used-up batteries you buy on the street.

Especially people like us. ... I can’t believe I’m here talking to you because it’s all just been repressed, repressed, repressed. For years it’s been like that—if I walk down the street, I would feel everyone pointing at me.

I feel as if I’m dying all the time. And now this, in the last month—I don’t understand what we did to deserve this. They want us exterminated. All the violence and all this hatred: the people who are suffering from it don’t deserve it.”

Idris: “We’ve been hearing about this, about gay men being killed, for more than a month. It’s like background noise now, every day. The stories started spreading in February about this campaign against gay people by the Mahdi Army: everyone was talking about it, I was hearing about it from my straight friends.

In a coffee shop in Karada, on the streets in Harithiya (Baghdad neighborhoods), they were talking about it. I didn’t worry at first.

My friends and I, we look extremely masculine, there is nothing visibly ‘feminine’ about us. None of us ever, ever believed this would happen to us. But then at the end of March we heard on the street that 30 men had been killed already.”

Mohammad: “They did many things to us, the Mahdi Army. ... They kidnapped (my partner) for six days. He will not talk about what they did to him. There were bruises on his side as if he was dragged on the street.

They did things to him he can’t describe, even to me. They wrote in the dust on the windshield of his car: ‘Death to the people of Lot and to collaborators.’ They sent us veiled threats in text messages: ‘You are on the list.’ They sent him a piece of paper in an envelope, to his home: there were three bullets wrapped in plastic, of different size.

The note said, ‘Which one do you want in your heart?’ ... I want to be a regular person, lead a normal life, walk around the city, drink coffee on the street. But because of who I am, I can’t. There is no way out.”

Nuri: “At 10 a.m., (Ministry of Interior officers) cuffed my hands behind my back.

Then they tied a rope around my legs, and they hung me upside down from a hook in the ceiling, from morning till sunset. I passed out. I was stripped down to my underwear while I hung upside down. They cut me down that night, but they gave me no water or food.

Next day, they told me to put my clothes back on and they took me to the investigating officer. He said: ‘You like that? We’re going to do that to you more and more, until you confess.’ Confess to what? I asked. ‘To the work you do, to the organization you belong to, and that you are a queen.’ For days, there were severe beatings. ... They beat me all over my body; when they had me hanging upside down, they used me like a punching bag. ... They used electric prods all over my body. Then they raped me. Over three days.

The first day, 15 of them raped me; the second day, six; the third day, four. There was a bag on my head every time.”

Following the release of the HRW report, Sweden’s national gay group, RFSL, “demand(ed) that the Swedish government explore the possibility of evacuating gays from Iraq,” said Executive Director Maria Sjödin.

“It is not enough to condemn the ongoing cleansing,” added RFSL President Sören Juvas. “We encourage Sweden to explore the possibilities of evacuating homosexuals, bisexuals and transgenders who face the risk of sexual cleansing.”

For a PDF of HRW’s full 67-page report, visit bit.ly/1cWi7D. (From HRW and RFSL press material)

New arrests for same-sex relations in Senegal There have been new arrests and convictions for same-sex relations in Senegal, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reported Aug. 20.

Two men from the town of Darou Mousty were convicted in mid-August of illegal sexual acts “against nature” and jailed for two and five years respectively, IGLHRC said.

A third man, age 17, arrested at the same time faced trial Aug. 24. The situation of a fourth man arrested at the same time is unknown.

IGLHRC said “denunciations from neighbors were the only evidence against the men.”

There has been a series of anti-gay arrests in Senegal since early 2008 for such “crimes” as “homosexuality,” “incitement to debauchery,” “corruption of good behavior,” “acts against the order of nature,” “indecent conduct” and “homosexual marriage,” IGLHRC said.

The group also reported recent incidents of desecration of gay men’s graves and exhumation of their bodies.

“In May 2009, the body of 30-year old Madièye Diallo was dug up from his grave in the town of Thiès,” IGLHRC said. “After his family re-buried him, his body was exhumed again and dumped outside the family’s home.

Finally, family members buried the body in the grounds of their own house.”

Prime Minister Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye said in May that “homosexuality ... is a sign of a crisis of values,” ILGHRC said.

Senegal’s penal code punishes gay sex with up to five years in prison and a $3,000 fine.

Argentine govt. agency rules against ‘gay cure’ event The Argentine Justice Ministry’s National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) has ruled that a “gay cure” conference in Córdoba engaged in prohibited discrimination by implying that gays are sick.

Acting on a complaint filed by gay activist Víctor Bracuto against the Integra Group Foundation, INADI determined that “holding a conference on sexual health, which has among its objectives ‘curing the homosexual,’ is discriminatory in terms of article 1 of Law 23,592.”

INADI interpreted that law’s ban on discrimination based on sex as including sexual orientation and explained: “Homophobia is defined as intolerance or scorn toward gays and lesbians. That is to say, discrimination, hate, fear, prejudice or aversion against homosexual persons.”

The law states in part, “Anyone who arbitrarily impedes, obstructs, restricts or otherwise impairs the full exercise on an equal basis of the fundamental rights and guarantees recognized in the National Constitution will be compelled, at the request of the victim, to nullify the discriminatory act or cease its execution and to repair the moral injury and material damage.”

INADI’s determination in the case is nonbinding and Bracuto said he plans no further legal moves.

The ruling by itself, he said, was “a historical development not only in Argentina but perhaps also in Latin America and the world.”

Assistance: Bill Kelley

ACCESSline Page 6

Section 1: News & Politics

September 2009

Political IQ: by Diane Sliver Children Suffer When the Religious Right Wins—A Personal Story

For any mother, the day her child turns 18 is a milestone, but for a lesbian mom that particular birthday can be overwhelming.

The day my son turned 18 was routine, as birthdays go. I went to work. I made jokes about how I couldn’t possibly be old enough for him to be 18. A high school senior, Tony played trumpet in the marching band, and his friends surprised him that night with an impromptu concert on our front lawn. They stayed for cake and ice cream and then jammed in my living room.

It was a good day, but it was also odd.

As much as I enjoyed it, I felt strange. It wasn’t that I felt bad; I felt relieved, but I couldn’t figure out why. Tony had always been healthy. He got good grades. He was a normal, rowdy teen. I couldn’t figure out why I was so incredibly relieved that he had turned 18.

Nothing made sense until I had a “eureka” moment in the shower the next morning. Tony had reached the age of adulthood. No one had the legal right to rip him away from his family anymore.

Tony is the biological child of my late life partner, who died of breast cancer more than a decade ago. As co-parent—particularly as co-parent in the very red state of Kansas—I was a legal nonentity.

I was there when he was born. I held out my hands for his first step. I heard his first words. I sat up all night with him when he had his first cold. I went to every single parentteacher conference. I paid for his doctor checkups and school fees, and I kept him in shoes. I held him when his birth mother died when he was just 7. I love him more than I ever knew you could love any soul. Despite all that, without the intervention of a court, I wouldn’t have had the legal right to be in the same room with him, let alone to be his parent.

We were lucky, though. I was able to legally adopt him, largely because my partner’s family supported me. I might not have succeeded if they hadn’t.

I didn’t know how close Tony came to being torn away until my late partner’s brother told me he considered taking my son after his sister died. He consulted a psychologist friend. That psychologist—bless him— told the man I still consider to be my brotherin-law that taking me away from Tony would mean that he would lose both parents and not just one, with the death of his birth mother.

Even though this good man had seen me with Tony for years and knew how close we were, it never occurred to him to think of me as Tony’s parent. To his credit, my brother-in-law saw the truth in his friend’s statement and supported the adoption.

Think about how close that was. What if my partner’s brother couldn’t see the wisdom of his friend’s words? What if he had talked to a different friend?

My son and I are blessed. Despite one tragedy, our family avoided another. We stayed together when so many other families have been forced apart. In the 1990s, 12-year-old Cassie was taken from her mother, Mary Ward, in Florida and given to

her father—a convicted murderer. In 2006 and 2007, the children of Keri Jones of Utah and B.F. in Kentucky lost the right to even visit their co-parents. Today, Kathryn Kutil and Cheryl Hess of West Virginia are fighting to keep custody of the baby they fostered when no one else wanted a child born to a drug addict.

Despite our family’s good fortune, it wasn’t until my son became a legal adult that I realized how frightened I had been. I never knew whether the people who believe I’m an abomination would find a way to legally remove my son from the only family he had ever known.

This is just a taste of what it is like to be a lesbian or gay parent in the United States today. With the 2008 passage of the adoption ban in Arkansas and the Religious right’s continuing agitation for other bans, our families face repeated attacks.

If an adoption ban had been in effect when my partner died, it would have been impossible for me to adopt Tony. What a tragedy that would have been.

Hate Crimes and Congressional Farce: How the Twisted Path of One Bill Shows Us the Future Get ready to laugh. I’m going to lead you through the twists and turns of one of the most ridiculous places known to humankind: the U.S. Congress. The purpose of this exercise is to explain what has happened to the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. But I have a deeper goal. The hate crimes bill is the first in a series of pro-LGBT proposals expected to come before Congress. These include the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, changes in immigration laws and repeals of the Defense of Marriage Act and the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbians and gays in the military.

Given that President Obama has said he favors these proposals, the trick for LGBT America is to get them through Congress and onto his desk. This is no easy task. To succeed, our community and allies must understand how Congress really works.

We need to know when to relax and let the process rumble forward, when to flood

Congress with phone calls and letters and, yes, even when to panic.

The civics class explanation of Congressional procedure is simple. First, a bill is considered by a committee, and then it comes up for a vote by either the House or Senate. The bill next heads to the other side of the Capitol where it goes before yet another committee and passes a vote by the other chamber.

Any differences between House and Senate versions are worked out in a conference committee. The revised bill goes back to the House and Senate for final votes. If that version passes both chambers, it goes to the President for either a veto or a signature.

Oh, that Congressional action really were that easy.

The civics class outline is accurate, but it leaves out the differences between the House and Senate. Civics classes also ignore the cajoling, hand holding, threats and deals necessary to herd 219 contrary cats in the House and 60 grumpily independent cats in the Senate in the same direction.

The twisted path of Matthew Shepherd Act shows the real process. In the House, the proposal came up for a vote as a stand alone bill and won approval without being larded with amendments. That’s because House rules give pro-LGBT Speaker Nancy Pelosi tight control over the chamber and the ability to block unsavory amendments.

The Senate, though, is the home of 100 powerful individuals. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can’t make any other senator do a darn thing.

Senators can offer amendments during floor debate. Senators can also filibuster, which freezes debate and takes 60 votes to break. Despite the Constitution’s insistence that only 51 votes are required to pass a bill in the Senate, these days it only takes the threat of a filibuster to kill a proposal. One can safely assume that threats will be made against any pro-LGBT legislation.

Because of the Senate’s gnarly nature, controversial measures seldom arrive for floor debate as stand alone bills. Thus, hate crimes became part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Senators also like to insert “poison pill” amendments. These cute little things are so noxious that they make lawmakers vote against bills they actually like. In July antigay Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama inserted several poison pills into hate crimes.

All of this is why the fate of hate crimes protection has been tied, at various times, to the future of the F-22 fighter, a concealed carry gun proposal and the death penalty.

The good news is that versions of hate crime protection have passed both the House and Senate. Human Rights Campaign Senior Policy Advocate David Stacy predicts the Matthew Shepherd Act should be ready for the President’s signature by the end of September.

I love Stacy’s optimism, but I’m a tad more jaded. As Stacy notes at HRC Back Story, much remains to be done. The defense bill is now the vehicle for passing hate crimes protection. Congressional staff will meet during the August recess to work out differences. Key decisions will be made by the House and Senate when they return to work in September.

Watch the progress of the defense bill.

Pay attention to action alerts from the Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Visit with your representative and senators when they’re back at home in August. Also, cross your fingers or say a prayer if you’re so inclined.

One more thing: The Matthew Shepherd Act is supposed to be the easy part of the pro-equality agenda. I can’t wait to see what happens to the rest of our legislation.

Diane Silver is a former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, whose freelance writing has appeared in The Progressive, Salon.com, Ms., and other national publications. She can be reached care of this publication or at PoliticalIQ@qsyndicate.com.

September 2009

Section 1: News & Politics

HEALTH & HIV/AIDS BRIEFS Lambda Legal Urges Swift Adoption of Proposed Rules Eliminating HIV Travel and Immigration Ban

‘After over twenty years of barring people living with HIV from traveling or immigrating to the United States...

Lambda Legal strongly urges the CDC to move swiftly to finalize and implement the proposed regulations’ (New York, August 18, 2009) — After over twenty years of barring people living with HIV from traveling or immigrating to the United States, the federal government is one step closer to getting this baseless, discriminatory law off the books, according to comments submitted yesterday by Lambda Legal to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Lambda Legal’s letter supports the CDC’s proposed rules that would lift the HIV travel and immigration ban by removing HIV from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance for immigrants to the United States because the restrictions are discriminatory, violate basic human rights, and cannot be justified on public health grounds. The letter also asserts that lifting the ban will reduce the stigma faced by people living with HIV. Said Scott Schoettes, HIV Project Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal: “Lambda Legal SScontinued from page 4

US News the right path.’”

Solomon said the next ballot fight will cost “$40 million to $60 million.”

“Californians have been static on the issue of marriage equality over the last four years,” he added. “We’ve been stuck and we need to figure out how to get unstuck. ...

There are a small number of undecided voters on this issue.”

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors said that “if (other) people want to move forward with 2010, they’re welcome to it.”

“It’s a democracy and a free country,” Kors said. “If something qualifies, we will support it (but) we think we have one shot over these next elections. ... We’ve come to a different conclusion than other organizations. ... We’re going to do this right and smart and strategically.”

Meanwhile, the Courage Campaign announced Aug. 12, an hour before EQCA’s announcement, that it is moving forward with plans for a 2010 ballot battle.

In recent months, the Courage Campaign arguably has become as important a player in statewide GLBT politics as EQCA, though EQCA is a traditional lobby group while Courage Campaign is more of a netroots and grassroots operation.

In an Aug. 12 mailing to its 700,000 supporters, the Courage Campaign sent a “special message” from Steve Hildebrand, who was Barack Obama’s deputy campaign manager.

In the message, Hildebrand, who is openly gay, said: “I feel strongly that 2010 is the right time to courageously win back

strongly urges the CDC to move swiftly to finalize and implement the proposed regulations, thereby ending the discriminatory and disgraceful HIV travel and immigration ban and allowing the United States to more fully assume its role as a leader in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Adoption of these rules will ensure that people living with HIV will no longer face this type of stigma and discrimination from our government.”

“Once these rules are finalized, U.S. policy will reflect the broad consensus among the scientific, medical and public health communities that admission of individuals living with HIV into the U.S. does not present a threat to the public health of this country nor pose any danger to its citizens.

The United States will join the vast majority of countries across the world that do not restrict the travel and immigration rights of people living with HIV. “Lambda Legal looks forward to the day, in the very near future, when people living with HIV have equal rights to enter this country to visit or immigrate, and we welcome the change that will end the discriminatory policy that has been in place for over twenty years.”

Jonathan Adams: jadams@lambdalegal.org Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

New Evidence in Debate Over Treatment as Prevention

marriage rights in California—as strongly as I felt when I decided to devote two years of my life to help Barack Obama run for President despite warnings from the pundits and pollsters that he would never occupy the Oval Office.”

In an Aug. 10 interview with Los Angeles journalist Karen Ocamb, Hildebrand elaborated: “I believe it’s winnable in 2010 and that the community should not be afraid to take this to the ballot in 2010. ... In a perfect world, you want everybody on the same page but we don’t live in a perfect world and different people have different ideas. I do believe that if groups move forward and start a petition drive, that most all groups will feel compelled to join because they don’t want to see a loss. But they might come kicking and

screaming.”

Hildebrand said the California “gay community ... needs to have confidence that it can win this” and should not “let political prognosticators who suggest they can’t win it in 2010 scare them away.”

Some California gay groups expressed dismay with EQCA’s announcement and vowed to carry on without the organization.

“We are extremely disappointed, but not surprised, by Equality California’s decision today to wait until 2012 ... especially since every poll we conducted shows majority support within the LGBT community (including 70 percent of EQCA’s own membership) to put a marriage-equality initiative on the ballot next year,” said Yes! on Equality.

Newly prominent California blogger

August 19, 2009 - People with viral loads less than 50 copies tend to keep their virus suppressed consistently, which lends weight to the argument that such folks are unlikely to pass their infection on to their HIV-negative sex partners, according to a study published in HIV Medicine and reported by aidsmap.

A declaration by Swiss researchers sent a shockwave through the HIV community in January 2008, when they claimed that certain heterosexual people with HIV simply couldn’t pass the virus on to their HIVnegative partners, even in the absence of condom use or other barrier methods. There were some qualifiers: Both partners needed to be sexually monogamous, and neither could have a sexually transmitted infection.

Also, the HIV-positive partner needed to be adherent to his or her medication and have had an undetectable viral load for at least six months before engaging in unprotected sexual activity.

A number of studies have, in fact, demonstrated that people with HIV are far less likely to transmit the virus if they have an undetectable viral load, but the Swiss declaration was the first to claim that the risk is essentially nil. One counter-argument raised by critics: People with HIV adhering to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy may experience viral blips, where their virus goes up temporarily. This could, theoretically,

ACCESSline Page 7

increase the risk of transmission if condoms are not being used.

To examine the likelihood of blips, Christophe Combescure, PhD, from the University Hospital Geneva, in Switzerland, and his colleagues from the Swiss HIV Cohort examined data on 6,168 patients who were on ARV therapy and had successive viral load tests between 2003 and 2007.

Though the frequency of visits varied, most people had viral load tested once every three months.

Combescure’s team found that when people claimed to have missed no doses of their ARVs in the previous four weeks, they had an 85 percent chance of having their HIV levels remain under 50 copies consistently. Most viral load blips were transient. In people whose virus jumped to between 200 and 1,000 copies—detectable but still associated with a very low risk of HIV transmission—66 percent went back to undetectable at the next test.

This was less true for people whose virus had jumped to more than 1,000 copies—when transmission may be more likely to occur, the authors explain. Just 30 percent of them went back to undetectable. This occurred rarely however. The overall chance that a person would go from undetectable to more than 1,000 copies was just 2 percent, and if a person was on a potent three-drug regimen this dropped to 1 percent.

In the final analysis, poor adherence TTHEALTH & HIV continued page 10 Phillip Minton (unitethefight.org) said the Aug. 12 developments kicked off a battle between Equality California and Courage Campaign over “who’s going to win the right to win rights.”

“The California LGBT population is experiencing whiplash and fears that these announcements will drive the wedge of division that already exists deeper into the heart of the community,” Minton said.

Proposition 8, passed last Nov. 4 by 52 percent of California voters, amended the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage, which had been legal since June 16, 2008, following a state Supreme Court ruling that banning gay couples from marrying was unconstitutional. In May of this year, the state Supreme Court ruled that Prop 8 was a valid exercise of the voters’ power to amend the constitution.

Bill Clinton regrets DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Former President Bill Clinton said Aug. 13 that he regrets the way his Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military gay ban was implemented, and that he doesn’t “like” the Defense of Marriage Act he signed into law.

Speaking at the Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh, Clinton said: “When Gen. Colin Powell came up with this Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, it was defined while he was chairman much differently than it was implemented. (Powell) said: ‘If you will accept this, here’s what we’ll do. We will not pursue anyone. Any military members out of uniform will be free to march in gay rights parades, go to gay bars, go to political meetings. Whatever mailings they get, whatever they do in TTCLINTON continued page 10

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Section 1: News & Politics

September 2009

Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski Peter LaBarbera

The topic of health care is on everyone’s lips, and Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, “a group dedicated to exposing the homosexual activist agenda,” is no exception.

Granted, most folks are focused on things like America’s large number of uninsured or the rising cost of caring for the sick and injured. LaBarbera has a much more limited scope: the gays. Specifically, gay men and sex and how it’s bad and the government must stop it.

Speaking July 24 at the 2009 Reclaiming Oklahoma For Christ Conference, LaBarbera called for a government study of the dangerous of homosexual sex. Because, you know, priorities.

“When it comes to combating cigarettes, the government not only restricts, taxes and bans smoking, it also funds and encourages anti-smoking messages and advertisements,” reads Americans for Truth’s Web site. “Given the immense health risks of male homosexual sex, shouldn’t the federal government do a comprehensive study on the matter, tax sodomitic establishments and educate the public and especially young people about the dangers of ‘gay’ sex?”

One wonders just how LaBarbera thinks the government should restrict, tax and ban gay sex. Given his obsession with the subject, my guess is he’d be happy to take on the volunteer title of gay sex enforcer, much like those old guys who stand on the Texas border with shotguns looking out for illegal immigrants.

It is also worth noting the fact that Americans for Truth about Homosexuality advocates educating “young people” about the horrors of gay sex. Keep in mind, this is a group that believes that LGBT activists are infiltrating schools and corrupting children.

So it’s OK to talk to kids about homosexuality if the topic is gay sex=bad, but not OK if the topic is, say, anti-gay bullying.

Also, the cigarette analogy is not new one. Anti-gay groups have long been batting around the claim that men having sex with other men is more dangerous than smoking. That there has been no valid data indicating as much doesn’t seem to matter.

Science is, after all, the providence of secular heathens.

So what is fueling LaBarbera’s clarion call for such a study is information from the FDA’s Web site about gay men donating blood in the United States. While LaBarbera acts as if this information is new and revelational, the policy has been in place since 1983.

In fact, the policy, which lumps gay and bisexual men in with hookers and junkies and bans them from donating blood for life, has been widely criticized. The Red Cross has called it “medically and scientifically unwarranted.” The executive vice president of America’s Blood Centers has publicly expressed his disappointment over the policy.

Martin Algaze, spokesman for Gay Men’s Health Crisis, has called the policy “archaic and discriminatory because it falsely assumes that all gay men are HIVpositive regardless of their sexual behavior.

At the same time, it allows heterosexuals to

donate blood even if they have participated in risky sexual or drug-use behavior.”

But hey, never mind that. Let’s do a government study of hot man-on-man action, because LaBarbera needs something to replace his dog-eared and tattered copy of the Starr Report.

Sen. Paul Stanley

I’ve come to a conclusion: Sanctimonious anti-gay politicians are more likely to be hypocritical adulterous pricks than other segments of the population. Granted, I have no scientific evidence to back me up. It’s just a hunch. A hunch that is made stronger every time I read the news.

My theory is that it takes the same lack of conscience to, say, argue that kids are better off in state care than with gay adoptive parents that it does to cheat on your wife with a young intern.

But hey, that’s Tennessee Sen. Paul Stanley’s life. Over the past couple of weeks Stanley’s “honorable” conservative reputation has gotten a little bit, well, destroyed.

It turns out that back in April Stanley was involved in a sex scandal complete with blackmail. How it was kept under wraps for so long I do not know. But Stanley’s balls are out of the bag, or whatever that expression is.

If only Stanley hadn’t snapped nudie shots of McKensie Morrison, the 22-yearold intern he was screwing. And if only Joel Watts, Morrison’s boyfriend, hadn’t found them.

Now, you might think Watts would be all, “Thanks, Gramps, for keeping my girlfriend entertained at work and for giving her an experience I would never be able to since I am not a hot shot Senator.” But no. Watts was pretty pissed. And so he blackmailed Stanley asking for $10,000 in exchange for the pictures.

So Stanley sicced the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on Watts’s ass and Watts went to jail for extortion. But now Stanley has to deal with the fact that his dirty laundry is waving all over the godforsaken place.

Stanley, good Christian father (of two) and husband (of zero, soon) issued a public statement about the matter on his Web site. “For my errors I am very sorry, and I will continue to make amends,” he wrote.

“Admitting failure is difficult but necessary if one expects to ever better themselves by allowing God to work His will in their life.

Giving myself to Him and rebuilding my family relationships are now the focus of my life.”

Aww, isn’t that sweet. Nothing puts the focus on the family quite like a public adultery scandal. Keep in mind that this is coming from a guy who was totally hot for abstinence-only education and a complete ban on gays and lesbians adopting children in his state. Because, you know, family values.

“The best home environment is one where mom and dad are there,” Stanley has been quoted as saying. “When you’re married, there’s a commitment there.”

Not that this experience has changed or humbled him. His statement continues, “Finally, many have critisized [sic] me for violating pro-family stances I have taken on a number of issues. I firmly believe God’s standards are where they have always

been. Just because I fell far short of those standards, does not negate the standard set

by God.” In other words, “God still hates you, fags. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to a prayer meeting.”

Nassau County School Board In many places across the country, GayStraight Alliances are old news. I don’t mean “old news” as in “not needed,” I mean “old news” in that they hardly raise an eyebrow anymore.

Sometimes being a creep can also make you a loser. Or so Florida’s Nassau County School Board learned after their attempt to keep a Gay-Straight Alliance out of their Yulee High School failed.

When students at the school first tried to start a GSA they were told no. One of the reasons they were given was that it was not OK to use the word “gay” in the organization’s title. Why? Because having a group called the Gay-Straight Alliance violated the school’s sacred abstinence-only education curriculum. Because, you know, a GSA is a group of students who get together to have sex with each other on school property.

Actually, that’s not what a GSA is.

According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, “Gay-Straight Alliances are student clubs that work to improve school climate for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/ expression.”

Basically, it’s a bunch of kids who want to stamp out homophobia, anti-gay harassment and discrimination in their schools.

Some of the kids are gay, others aren’t, but all of them have been witness to or touched by anti-gay bias and want to do something to combat it.

Sounds pretty devious, eh? Well, to the Nassau County School Board it did. They rejected requests to form a GSA repeatedly at both the high school and middle schools.

In February, the students sued and the American Civil Liberties Union stepped in and was all, “Uh, you have to let the students form a GSA because of the federal Equal Access Act, which protects all extracurricular clubs not just gay ones.” And the school board was all, “Well, then no extracurricular groups get to meet. I hope the gays are happy.”

Of course, no one was happy with this. In March a U.S. District Judge issued a preliminary injunction saying that the school had to let the GSA meet. On Aug. 14 U.S. district judge Henry Lee Adams issued a permanent injunction saying that the school couldn’t discriminate against the club and couldn’t put the smack down on people involved in the lawsuit.

“We started a Gay-Straight Alliance because we wanted a safe space where all students can talk about harassment and discrimination that LGBT students face,” said plaintiff Hannah Page. “We’re grateful that the court recognized that the GSA should be allowed to meet and be treated like any other club.”

“This is a victory for our clients, for the Yulee High GSA and indeed for gay and straight kids all across America,” said Robert Rosenwald, ACLU of Florida LGBT Advo-

cacy Project Director and lead counsel for the students. “Time and time again, we’ve seen discrimination and intolerance struck down by the courts in these cases, and for every school that wishes to cross the line, we’ll be here to defend the students.”

And what did the school board have to show for its hissy fit? A lot of bad press and about $40 grand in legal fees to dish out. Discrimination is expensive, in more ways than one.

Maggie Gallagher

When beauty queen Miss California Carrie Prejean stood up at the Miss USA pageant and declared her support for “opposite marriage” I personally thought, “Who cares?” I mean, the fact that people got so angry with her afterwards was nothing short of ridiculous.

Especially Perez Hilton.

I mean, come on. Miss USA contestants are allowed to disagree with the opinions held by the people asking them the questions. And anyway, if you don’t want Miss USA contestants off the cuff musing about controversial subjects then don’t ask them questions about gay marriage, ask them questions like, “Do you feel pretty when you get your hair did?”

Granted, when Prejean didn’t become Miss USA she claimed it was all because of her courageous stance against the queers.

In reality it had more to do with her bare hooter photos and the fact that her answer to Hilton’s question was borderline retarded (see: “opposite marriage”).

But that was, like, years ago. And in a country with its priorities straight we’d all have forgotten about Prejean and moved on to things like who Jennifer Aniston may or may not be marrying. But thanks to the anti-gay right, Prejean has become a quasicelebrity “one penis, one vagina” marriage advocate.

Looking past the fact that she’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, you really can’t blame the so-called “defenders” of marriage for glomming onto her. After all, Prejean is young and pretty (which, I realize, is a relative term, especially when you consider her eye makeup. In fact, the other night I heard animals rummaging through my trash cans and am fairly certain I saw Prejean’s head peek out with an apple core in her mouth). Young and pretty isn’t typically the demographic of the anti-gay right. In fact, polls show that younger Americans are far more likely to support marriage equality.

Take Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage.

Gallagher, neither young nor pretty, is super hot to hold Prejean (but not in a gay way) out in front while Gallagher does the talking.

In an article in the Aug. 10 issue of The National Review, Gallagher credits Prejean, who she calls “a stunning, young Christian beauty-pageant contestant,” with, basically, the undoing of support for marriage equality in America. Her answer to Hilton’s question was, writes Gallagher, “powerfully moving” because we “see her choose between truth and the tiara.”

“Culture consists of ideas. Ideas, like civilizations, can die out. They die when no one is willing to defend them out loud,” TTCREEPS continued page 10

September 2009

Section 1: News & Politics

ACCESSline Page 9

Let’s Chat by Joshua Dagon (Originally published in Circuit Noize Magazine, Winter 2001, Issue Number 30)

“I met a great guy on-line,” my friend told me.

“Cool,” I said. “What’s his name?”

“HotSchlong9.”

This is a very popular thing, I guess, meeting people on-line via the Internet. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work so well for me.

One reason, I think, is because it takes far, far too long to make crucial discoveries regarding the criteria by which I decide if I’d like to spend time with a person, such as whether or not they are skanky. Normally, under the standard, practical way of meeting a guy, like at a party, or a coffee house, or in a truck stop men’s room, I am easily able to establish an enormous amount of vital romantic information based upon his vocal timbre, mannerisms, the size of his package, and by taking note of the fact that he is not currently in prison.

It’s often difficult to obtain these important dating facts, with the necessary accuracy, while cruising on-line. During my time on the Internet, I had to learn that, “I’m in pretty good shape” actually means, “I still have most of my own teeth and am currently not using portable oxygen.” I also learned that someone who tells me he’s in his “early thirties” actually means that he looks like he’s in his early thirties—to himself, in the dark, after consuming enough magic mushrooms to blind a water buffalo, when with the lights on, he in fact looks like a very, very old water buffalo—not that there’s anything fundamentally wrong with resembling an enormous, geriatric, East Indian bovine; my personal romantic tastes are simply

not geared that way.

Sure, I could always ask for a picture.

Sometimes, I’m told, the photographs that are sent even contain an actual image of the actual person with whom one is corresponding.

Although, in my experience, that has rarely been the case.

CUTEGUY: I don’t think this pic is really you.

BUTPLWR: Why not?

CUTEGUY: It’s a publicity photograph of Ashton Kutcher.

Even when the picture is of the authentic person, and was not taken during the Civil War, photography can still be a bit, let’s say, “misleading.” I’ve seen what good lighting and a complimentary angle are capable of achieving. Guys have taken digital photographs of themselves, sent them to me immediately, and then shown up at my door looking as though, on the way over, they were abducted at random and given an autopsy.

No, the Internet will simply never be able to replace the efficiency of personally walking through a crowded bar or party and making an instant visual assessment as you pass each person: No. No. Nope. Not if I were dead. Maybe after a couple of beers.

No. No. Eeew!

“I just give them my neighbor’s address,” my friend explained. “Then, I watch out the side window. When they pull up in their car, if they’re cute, I run out and tell them I accidentally messed up the address.”

“What if they’ve lied about themselves

and they’re not really cute at all?” I asked.

“Then they deserve what they get.”

“Who lives next to you?”

“Some grumpy old chick who looks like Antonin Scalia with leprosy.”

“Don’t you think it’s mean to her?”

“Not at all. She’s gotten lucky a couple of times.”

Another problem I have with Internet cruising is that, suppose I actually want to meet the person with whom I’ve been chatting, even given all of the above? I’d be encumbered with the overwhelming task of accurately representing my physical appearance. In a bar, standing right in front of someone, I’m still allowed a degree of humility. “I’m in pretty good shape,” any guy could humbly say to you in person, even if passersby are ducking around his bulging pectorals. But on-line, we know what that phrase really means! No, on-line, we have to exaggerate just to sound average! “I look exactly like James Marsden’s much more attractive younger brother. And my body is perfect. Male models pay to worship me.”

So, essentially, I could spend the better part of an evening frantically singing my own overstated praises to an individual who last left the house to vote for Herbert Hoover. That, or I could spend an hour or more enduring the intimate inquiries, typed with one hand mind you—you know what he’s doing with the other hand—of some lying net junkie living vicariously behind a photograph of Justin Hartley, but who in fact resembles a walrus with excessive back-hair.

Then, of course, there is the added issue of the ‘intimate inquiries’ themselves. When I’m meeting someone for the first time, my second question to them is never “Do you like hanging from the ceiling in a sling, or do you prefer being bent over stuff?” Yet, on-line, right after “Hi. How r u?” I often get, “Do you like it when guys piss on you while you lick their feet?”

Really, I wouldn’t know, although, I imagine not.

Also, trust me guys, you shouldn’t even think of beginning an on-line flirtation unless you know the exact circumference of your penis. Apparently, this is vital information that must be shared straight away, preferably along with length, circumcision status, and enough additional statistics to create an accurate computer model. Most guys will request this information from you prior to even wondering

Joshua Dagon in what country you reside. Therefore, have it handy, so to speak.

Given all this, you guys have fun with your on-line cruising as you clumsily attempt to confirm that HotSchlong9 isn’t measuring himself using the metric system. I’ll stick to the normal, respectable, and accepted manner of meeting nice guys… which is in the steam room at the gym, thank you very much.

Novelist Joshua Dagon is the author of Into the Mouth of the Wolf, The Fallen, and Demon Tears. For more please go to www.joshuadagon.com. To contact Mr. Dagon, please e-mail him at jd@joshuadagon.com.

“Look, I think it’s (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) ridiculous. Can you believe they spent -whatever they spent -- $150,000 to get rid of a valued Arabic speaker recently? And, you know, the thing that changed me forever on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was when I learned that 130 gay service people were allowed to serve and risk their lives in the first Gulf War, and all their commanders knew they were gay; they let them go out there and risk their lives because they needed them, and then as soon as the first Gulf War was over, they kicked them out. That’s all I needed to know, that’s all anybody needs to know, to know that this policy should be changed.”

— Bill Clinton speaking at the Netroots Nation conference Aug. 13 in Pittsburgh.

ACCESSline Page 10 SScontinued from page 7

US News their private lives, none of this will be a basis for dismissal.’ It all turned out to be a fraud because of the enormous reaction against it among the middle-level officers and down after it was promulgated and Colin was gone.

So nobody regrets how this was implemented any more than I do.”

“Look, I think it’s ridiculous,” Clinton continued. “Can you believe they spent— whatever they spent—$150,000 to get rid of a valued Arabic speaker recently? And, you know, the thing that changed me forever on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was when I learned that 130 gay service people were allowed to serve and risk their lives in the first Gulf War, and all their commanders knew they were gay; they let them go out there and risk their lives because they needed them, and then as soon as the first Gulf War was over, they kicked them out. That’s all I needed to know, that’s all anybody needs to know, to know that this policy should be changed.”

As for DOMA, Clinton said he doesn’t like it but that it was the lesser of two evils.

“The reason I signed DOMA was—and I said when I signed it—that I thought the question of whether gays should marry should be left up to states and to religious organizations, and if any church or other religious body wanted to recognize gay marriage, they ought to,” he said. “We were attempting at the time, in a very reactionary Congress, to head off an attempt to send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to the states. And if you look at the 11 referenda much later—in 2004, in the election—which the Republicans put on the ballot to try to get the base vote for President

Section 1: News & Politics Bush up, I think it’s obvious that something had to be done to try to keep the Republican Congress from presenting that. The president doesn’t even get to veto that. The Congress can refer constitutional amendments to the states. I didn’t like signing DOMA and I certainly didn’t like the constraints that were put on benefits, and I’ve done everything I could—and I am proud to say that the State Department was the first federal department to restore benefits to gay partners in the Obama administration, and I think we are going forward in the right direction now for federal employees.”

Clinton addressed the two issues after being interrupted by a heckler yelling from the audience.

Blogger Lane Hudson shouted: “Mr. President, will you call for a repeal of DOMA and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell right now? Please.”

DOMA prevents the federal government from recognizing married gay couples as married and allows states to refuse to recognize other states’ same-sex marriages.

President Barack Obama repeatedly has vowed to see that DOMA is repealed, but has taken no steps to launch the process.

Six states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine—have legalized same-sex marriage, while 30 states have amended their constitutions to ban it. In addition, New York and Washington, D.C., recognize the marriages of gay couples who have married elsewhere.

The new same-sex marriage laws in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine have not yet come into force.

Same-sex marriage also is legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

Assistance: Bill Kelley

SScontinued from page 7

HEALTH & HIV or an inferior regimen explained most of the viral load increases to more than 1,000 copies. The authors concede, however, that the “data leave open the possibility that unexplained rises in viral load above 1,000 copies/ml, although rare, may occur.”

These data also do not explore the possibility that viral load in the genital compartment may be much higher than in blood, and the impact that may have on infectiousness.

From AIDSmeds.com

Study: No Evidence That HIV Worsens H1N1 Flu Mortality Risk, Complications August 21, 2009 - Obesity and diabetes are the two main underlying conditions associated with death in people with H1N1 SScontinued from page 8

CREEPS Gallagher writes.

Yes, Prejean, that brave soul, dared to defend aloud the idea that gays should not be allowed to get married. No doubt thousands of little girls watching the Miss USA pageant were inspired by her answer to also defend “opposite marriage” and to starve themselves and hate their bodies.

“Despair is gay-marriage advocates’ most powerful weapon,” Gallagher writes, “especially when it is fed by social conservatives’ failure to create solid strategies of

September 2009 virus (swine flu), according to a new study published in the August 20 edition of Eurosurveillance as reported by aidsmap.com.

The authors, from the French Institute of Public Health, do not cite HIV as a mortality risk factor.

Furthermore, HIV-positive people are not thought to be at increased risk for contracting H1N1, nor are they thought to be at greater risk for developing H1N1 flu complications unless their CD4 count drops below 200.

The study—which examined H1N1associated deaths before July 16—also found respiratory disease and heart disease to be underlying risk factors. Immunosuppression was reported in 16 patients, including five cancer cases, two transplantation patients and three people with autoimmune disease.

Of the 564 H1N1-related deaths identified, detailed information was available for only 213.

From AIDSmeds.com hope.”

Funny how that works. Who knew that a campaign against couples in love who want to marry would lack hope?

The folks who want to keep gays away from marriage are banking on Prejean.

Because she’s their best hope. Which isn’t saying much.

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.

ACCESSline’s fun guide Shocked’s Americana & Wonderland’s Blues Headline the 16th Annual

Iowa Women’s Music Festival Sept. 12 In Iowa City The 2009 IWMF kicks off with a comedy and music show on Friday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Old Brick, 26 E. Market St. in Iowa City, featuring popular Iowa singer-songwriter Lojo Russo and comedian Poppy Champlin from West Hollywood, CA (as seen on cruise lines, on TV, and at top comedy clubs around the nation). This event will also feature a live auction and refreshments, and the show will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted for the deaf and hearing impaired.

The festival’s traditional main event, the “day stage” in Iowa City’s Upper City Park, comes to life on Saturday, September 12 at noon and continues until approximately 5:30 p.m. The non-stop stage lineup includes (in reverse order) headliner Michelle Shocked, Carolyn Wonderland with Shelley King, Cosy Sheridan, Tracy Walker, and Lynne Rothrock and Friends, with high-energy emcee Kim-Char Meredith hosting the show.

All performers will be ASL interpreted.

The festival fun continues indoors at the Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St. in Iowa City at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. The night show is dubbed the “Pop, Hip-Hop & 80’s Dance Party!” The lineup features Kim-Char Meredith, festival emcee, in her own set of high-energy pop and feel-good folk-rock. Ames, Iowa’s own Leslie & the Ly’s take the stage next with some of the most provocative and artistic hip-hop around.

Around 10 p.m., the Mill blasts into the 80’s with the retro rock’n’roll, pop, and new wave of the Jodie Foster Connection.

A dance floor will be open for attendees to grove to the music. At midnight, the festival closes out with an all-women’s jam, to which festival attendees are able to add their instrument or voice for impromptu fun. The performers for the Mill show will also be ASL interpreted.

Carolyn Wonderland, who will be performing Saturday afternoon, September 12, in Iowa City’s Upper City Park.

The tickets for the Friday night comedy and music show at Old Brick can be purchased at the door for a suggested donation of $8-20 (sliding scale), or $25 in advance for VIP table seating. Proceeds benefit Prairie Voices Productions and will help pay for the operations and performances of this and next year’s festival. Advanced tickets are available by calling Laurie at 319-335-1486. Please note: The comedy show may contain adult topics, so parents

should use discretion in bringing children.

For directions or more information about Old Brick, visit www.oldbrick.org.

The day stage in Upper City Park on Saturday afternoon is free (no tickets required), everyone is welcome, and families are encouraged to attend. Food and merchandise vendors will line the festival, and Iowa Shares will host a silent auction.

Attendees should bring blankets or chairs for grass seating. The park is wheelchair

accessible. Pets on leashes are welcome. In case of inclement weather during the outdoor portion of the festival, the rain location will be The Mill Restaurant in Iowa City.

Admission to the night show at The Mill Restaurant is a sliding scale of $5-15 at the door. Attendees are asked to pay what they can to support the IWMF. For directions or more information about the Mill, visit www.icmill.com or call 319-3519529.

For more information about the events of the 2009 Iowa Women’s Music Festival, or to apply to be a vendor, go to www.prairievoices.net, call 319-3351486, or e-mail festival@prairievoices.net.

The festival is also seeking volunteers, who may call Laurie at 319-335-1486 to sign up.

The mission of Prairie Voices Productions (PVP), the 501(c)3 non-profit organization that produces the IWMF, is to support and promote the work of women artists and musicians through accessible events for the community. PVP also strives to provide women diverse volunteer skill-building experiences in planning, organizing, producing, and implementing major public events such as the music festival.

The festival is supported by Toyota/ Scion of Iowa City, Rockwell Collins, a grant from the Iowa Arts Council, Iowa Shares, the Women’s Resource and Action Center of the University of Iowa, and many other generous community businesses and individuals. To become a sponsor, please call Laurie at 319-335-1486.

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT: Laurie Haag, 319-335-1486 Lisa Schreihart, 319-431-0982 festival@prairievoices.net Prairie Voices Productions

OUT in the SILENCE wins Audience Favorite Award at festival

On August 8, in the small central Iowa town of Tipton, OUT IN THE SILENCE, an entertaining and inspiring documentary film about the struggle for fairness and equality for GLBT people in rural and small town America, won the Audience Favorite Award

and Runner-up for Best Documentary at the Hardacre Film & Cinema Festival.

Filmmaker Joe Wilson told the Cedar Rapids Gazette, “Coming to Tipton is thrilling to us. For an Eastern Iowa town to have TTEVENTS continued page 11

the courage to air this in their film festival is an credible display.”

The film captures the firestorm of controversy and remarkable chain of events that unfold after filmmaker’s same-sex wedding announcement is published in his rural Pennsylvania hometown newspaper. Wilson returned after the mother of a tormented gay teen asked him for help.

Wilson’s journey dramatically illustrates the challenges of being an outsider in a conservative environment and the transformation that is possible when those who have long been constrained by a traditional code of silence summon the courage to break it.

After the film screening, an enthusiastic audience engaged in conversation with the

film’s director. Equality Iowa and One Iowa invited the audience to become involved in important grassroots organizing and advocacy efforts across the state. Equality Iowa is working on bringing a showing to Des Moines.

As Iowans grapple with the meaning of the recent Supreme Court decision on marriage equality and other important concerns of the state’s GLBT residents, OUT IN THE SILENCE is a great tool for community educational events aimed at building bridges and uniting people in the search for common ground on issues that have divided our communities for far too long. To learn more, check out the film’s Web site: OutInTheSilence.com From The CENTER.

ACCESSline Page 12

the fun guide

September 2009

The Outfield by Dan Woog Gay Soccer: The World’s Sport

Though soccer is the world’s most popular sport – and the International Gay and Lesbian Football (Soccer) Association boasts more than 80 teams in over 20 countries – this year’s annual international tournament almost did not happen.

But thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of gay men and women – and straight allies – in Washington, D.C., the 2009 Gay Soccer World Championship was a rousing success.

When the Philadelphia organizers bowed out of their commitment just nine months before the event, the Washington soccer world kicked into high gear. The Federal Triangles Soccer Club has long been one of the strongest members of the IGLFA, participating in every world championship since the club’s founding in 1990. Led by president Jim Ensor, they put on a show that attracted 26 teams, from as far away as Australia and Argentina.

London Stonewall repeated as men’s Division I champion. The Seattle Jet City Strikers took the men’s Division II title, while the Philadelphia Falcons won the women’s exhibition category.

Gay soccer provides clubs and teams a place where “people can feel free to play, and be who they are. Too often gay men and women are stereotyped, and made to think they can’t do certain things. It’s telling that, still today, there is not one out athlete actively playing in a major U.S. team sport,” says Michael Pranikoff, 2009 tournament marketing chair, Pranikoff notes that many youngsters still find it difficult to be both athletes and out of the closet. In Turkey, a gay soccer referee was recently banned. Rumors about top soccer players around the world continue to make harsh headlines.

Gay soccer offers a sanctuary. “There is a freedom on the pitch,” Pranikoff says.

“People can relive a childhood desire that they couldn’t, or were too afraid to try. They can even relive a high school or college moment when they played, but now they can celebrate a goal with their partner, boyfriend or girlfriend who is sitting on the sideline, openly and loudly cheering for them. That is not something you see on most soccer fields in the world.”

At the same time, Pranikoff says, straight and questioning players are welcome. And this year’s tournament received a big boost from Washington’s two professional teams.

DC United of Major League Soccer and the Washington Freedom (Women’s Professional Soccer) both offered key support. They joined organizers at D.C.’s Pride this year, supplying players to sign autographs. (The Freedom sent superstar Abby Wambach.)

But staging the tournament was ultimately a grassroots effort. Ensor – who first played in the tournament in 1997, coached high school soccer for 12 years and worked extensively with the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association – helped beat the bushes to get the D.C. soccer community, gay and straight, involved.

People rolled up their sleeves, he says,

“because the event was unique, the visibility of GLBT sports has improved in recent years, the stigma attached to gay sports has softened, and the need for outreach and acceptance is creeping in at all levels of sport.”

The Greater Washington Sports Alliance, Destination DC (local tourist bureau) and mayor’s office were all early supporters. Their assistance enabled organizers to reach out to

area businesses. Adidas, Eyre, ASG Sports, Experient and Front Point Security all came through strongly.

Social events, as well as all-week Metro passes and shuttle buses to fields, extended the feeling of camaraderie – and partying – beyond the matches themselves.

“All of the teams hung out together,” Pranikoff reports. “Old friendships were renewed, and new connections made.”

Pranikoff spent countless hours updating the website, and posting Feedback and Twitter news. “People told me they’d call home to tell their boyfriend, partner or family they’d won, and the person on the other end would say they already knew because they were watching online,” Pranikoff says with pride.

At the closing party, JC Cummings – a Washington-area gay soccer pioneer – was honored for his contributions to the IGLFA. He expressed gratitude and love for what gay soccer has given him.

“The people who were supposed to care for me when I was young tried their best, but they didn’t do a very good job,” Cummings said. “They told me that gay people could not participate in sports. That confused me.

Groups like the Federal Triangles Soccer Club and ILGFA have liberated me from their prejudices.”

Cummings called the players and officials at the 2009 championships “part of a movement. In 1995, when the tournament was in Berlin, the leader of the German women’s national team told his players that anyone who played would lose her place on the national team.

“In Germany today, gay couples can legally marry. We move the beach one grain of sand at a time. It’s a slow movement, but you are doing the work.”

‘The OutField’ opens eyes Last winter, “The OutField” profiled a closeted All-America college soccer player.

“Mason” (a pseudonym) described his love for the game – and the repressive environment that kept him from coming out to teammates and coaches.

What a difference six months makes.

When the column appeared in February, Cory – that’s his real name – was ready to come out to his best friend. He showed him

the story. The friend thought it was great, and shared it with his friends. Soon, everyone knew that “Mason” was Cory. All reacted positively.

A month after graduation, the piece reached Chris Kranjc, Cory’s coach at Hastings College. He texted Cory, saying, “We need to talk. I’m here for you.”

“I knew what it was about,” Cory recalled.

“We chatted for a little while about soccer and my new job. Finally we started talking about the article.

He said he wished I came to him earlier. He said he would’ve been very supportive.

“It was so nice to hear him say that. He also said he wants me to come back for the alumni game, and nothing will change. We talked for an hour, and he ended by saying the article was a slap in the face for him. But he said he needed to read it. He wants to do more research, and learn from this.

“After the conversation, I felt amazing. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the program.”

Cory suggested I call Kranjc. The coach was eager to talk.

“Cory’s such a great kid. He’s responsible, intelligent, he works hard every day,” Kranjc began. “He’s a heck of a player – and young man.”

In his 10 years as head coach, Kranjc said he never knew any gay players. Because Cory had many female friends at Hastings – an NAIA school in Nebraska – Kranjc never suspected he was gay. But after reading the “OutField” article, he knew he had to call his former player.

“It was Cory,” Kranjc explained. “He was a human being. For four years he gave his heart and soul to the program. I love him and his family. My kids love him too.”

Kranjc told Cory: “I wished you’d talked to me when you were here, so we could have dealt with things. But I understand why you didn’t.”

Kranjc calls himself “as conservative as can be. And I’m stubborn. But this was Cory. He needed my support, and he needed to know I accepted him. That was the most important thing. I slipped a couple of times when we talked – and I told him to tell me when I did. But I felt we reconnected. It was an awesome conversation.”

Kranjc said the talk opened his eyes. He decided to educate himself about gay issues.

He began by calling other coaches.

“I asked if they coached someone they knew was gay, and how they handled it,” Kranjc said. “I feel badly Cory didn’t feel he could have been who he was. I don’t think it affected his play, but I want to hear as many stories as I can.

“I need to understand how people look at the world,” he added. “Cory’s story has taught me so much. It’s been a great learning experience. It will help all of us move forward.”

As the college soccer season begins, Kranjc will try to make sure his athletes know “they can talk to me at any time. Whatever they say will be confidential, if they want.

I’ve always said that, but maybe I need to emphasize it more.”

He apologized to Cory for once saying to a player who pretended to act feminine, “There are no fags on this team.” But, as Cory also knows, team environments are often rife with jokes and putdowns.

“Guys say things,” Kranjc noted.

“Trying to stop that is like trying to stop drinking in college. You’re better off trying to educate people about it.” If he hears anti-gay comments now, Kranjc said, he will respond: “Hey, don’t say that. You have no idea who you might offend.”

Kranjc will also encourage athletes to attend lectures about GLBT subjects. “We’re a liberal arts school,” he said. “It’s important to expose everyone here to everything. They may not always agree, but they have to start thinking about different things. I know I’ve been opened up to a different landscape, and it’s great.”

He also hopes to start a discussion on gay issues – perhaps with Cory by his side – at the national coaches’ convention in January.

Kranjc is eager for the season to start, so he can influence a new team. But his effect on Cory is already apparent – including one way he never intended.

Recently, Kranjc read a story about another gay soccer college player. He forwarded it to Cory.

The two men are now dating.

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.

TTAUGUST continued page 13

September 2009

the fun guide

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 September. To submit events and announcements, or to sign up a friend to receive this list by e-mail, e-mail iowalisa@juno. com. Visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ iowalisa or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/ iowalisa. I’m on Twitter too (@iowalisa)!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

IWMF ON TWITTER: Iowa Women’s Music Festival is now on Twitter. To get last-minute updates, follow us @iwmfest.

IMPACTCR FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: ImpactCR is here! Found out more at www. impactcr.org. This organization was formerly Access Iowa.

DES MOINES CIVIC CENTER 2009-2010 SEASON FEATURES: Rent, Cirque Dreams Illumination, South Pacific, Judy Garland in Concert, Sister’s Christmas Catechism, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Girls Night The Musical, and MORE! Visit www.civiccenter.org.

NEW GAYLA DRAKE PAUL CD: Gayla’s new CD - Eating From the Tree - is up on CDBaby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/GaylaDrakePaul.

There is apparently a problem with the previews, so if you want to hear it, please visit myspace.com/ gayladrakepaul to check out some songs.

PAVE YOUR LANE: As you read this, KATIE VISCO is running east to west across America (the youngest woman to do so) to inspire people to follow their passion. She’s also raising funds for Girls on the Run. Check out Katie’s story and follow her on the road at www.paveyourlane.com.

HISTORY DISPLAY: Ongoing, now through September 19, WOMEN BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES: 75 Years of the Junior League of Cedar Rapids, at the Carl and Mary Koehler History Center, 615 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Open 10a-4p Tu, Th, Sat. More info: 319-3621501, mike@historycenter.org.

CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN FARMER’S MARKET: Remaining dates are September 5 and October 3, 7:30a.m.-Noon along 3rd and 4th Avenues including 2nd and 3rd Streets SE, and Greene Square Park.

NEW LGBT SOCIAL CIRCLE AT THE SENIOR CENTER: Gather at the Senior Center in Iowa City on Wednesday afternoons with other gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender seniors. This is your opportunity to meet new people in a welcoming environment. Starting September 2, the group will meet at 2 p.m. in the Mezzanine Conference Room. Activities will be determined based on the interests of participants. For more information call Thomas at 319-354-1784.

LESBIAN GROUPS AT THE WRAC: There are a couple of support groups starting up this Fall at the Women’s Resource and Action Center, 130 N. Madison St, Iowa City. The Lesbian Reading Group will meet on Thursdays starting September 17 and The Lesbian Writing Group will be starting Wednesday, September 16. Space is limited and you must pre-register through the WRAC http://www. uiowa.edu/~wrac/groups/lesbianreading.htm.

LGBTRC ARTIST SHOWCASE: Are you a LGBTQ-identified artist? Do you know a LGBTQidentified artist? If yes, please submit photographs of your work to be featured in the 2009 QueerIowa Artist Showcase that will be opening September 2 at 125 Grand Avenue Court, Iowa City. Send all submissions to elizabeth-krause@uiowa.edu, 916-712-9256.

DOCUMENTARYFILMAKERS IN TOWN: Some fantastic filmmakers from the Netherlands are here in Iowa working on a film about queer life in

small town USA and seek people who want to tell their story. If you’re interested in doing an interview, please contact Sam de Jong at 563-607-3914.

CONNECTIONS WELCOME WAGON: Ever been the new kid in school? It can be lonely and scary. Connections is looking for volunteers to meet and greet GLBT people who move to Iowa City and are looking for information about the community. We are looking for friendly people who have lived in the area for a few years who could have a cup of coffee with a new Iowa Citian and answer their questions. Not a huge time commitment. We are hoping to have a big enough pool that we could match up like-minded people. Contact Bridget if you are interested in helping at malone.bridget@ gmail.com or 319-338-0512.

JANE AND JANE MAGAZINE: You can read the entire issue of Jane and Jane Magazine on-line absolutely free by going to http://www. janeandjane.net/.

NATIONAL EQUALITY MARCH FOR LGBT RIGHTS: An Iowa City contingency is organizing a trip to the March for LGBT Rights in Washington DC, October 10-11, 2009. Anyone interested in helping with this effort or interested in attending as a group, please attend an organizational meeting at 6 p.m., Wednesday, August 19 at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room B. For more info, or if you miss the meeting, call 319-5948389 or e-mail iowaiso@yahoo.com.

HELP THE 2009 IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL: This year’s IWMF will be a big one and we need your support to pull this off and keep it free for years to come. Mail donations (and make payable) to: Prairie Voices Productions, P.O. Box 3411, Iowa City, Iowa, 52244-3411. If you want to charge donations, you can do so securely on-line at www.networkforgood.org (search for Prairie Voices). PVP/IWMF is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization, so your donations are tax deductible (we will send you a receipt), and your place of business may match too. Check it out please! If volunteering is your thing, we need you! Contact me at iowalisa@juno.com if you want to help plan the festival or volunteer the day of the festival.

FRESH ORGANIC PRODUCE: With the MVC Organic Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and Café Dodici’s Shop in Washington, you can pick up a box of organic, locally grown, nutrient-rich, fresh picked fruits and vegetables direct from the farm every week. You pay the farm directly. Learn more and enroll in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) at www.mvccsa. com. For more info on Café Dodici, visit www. cafedodici.com.

IOWA CRUSH: Did you know there is a women’s professional football team in Des Moines, Iowa? Visit www.theiowacrush.com. Tryouts are currently being held for the 2010 season.

THEATRE CEDAR RAPIDS ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 SEASON: All shows are subject to change, so get updates at www.theatrecr.org. On tap for the new season: Altar Boyz, Sept. 11-27; Rock ‘N’ Roll, Oct. 16-25; Annie, Nov. 20-Dec. 6; The Laramie Project, Jan. 15-24; The Producers, Feb. 26-March 14; Proof, April 9-18; Still Life with Iris, May 14-23; and Rent, July 9-25.

MOTO POSSE: Revving their engines! Moto Posse is a group of LGBT motorcycle enthusiasts who go on bi-weekly organized rides to explore the scenic back roads around Iowa City. For details on scheduled rides, visit: http://www.queerconnections.org/index.php?option=com_content&ta sk=view&id=149&Itemid=129 or contact Jewell at: crazelefty@hotmail.com.

ART FEED: A new website that promotes local Corridor artists is on-line at www.TheArtFeed.

TTEVENTS continued page 14

ACCESSline Page 13

ACCESSline Page 14

the fun guide

September 2009

Cocktail Chatter by Camper English A Sopping Wet Martini, Please You think you don’t like vermouth, and you are probably wrong. If you only ever ate moldy cheeseburgers found in the dumpster you would think cheeseburgers are disgusting, and likewise that nearly-full, dusty bottle of vermouth in your cupboard probably went bad a couple of years ago.

Try a fresh bottle and you may change your tune.

Vermouth is a fortified and aromatized wine. The wine part is why it spoils once it’s opened. The fortified part indicates that has some higher-proof spirit added to give it a longer shelf life than table wine. (Other fortified wines include port and sherry.) That vermouth is aromatized means that it has extra flavorings added, in this case herbs, flowers, spices, and bark, according secret recipes unique to each brand.

We generally speak of two types of vermouth: sweet/Italian/red, and dry/French/ white. I sometimes forget which is Italian and which is French, so I remember that the sweet/Italian/red has the acronym SIR, and the other has the same initials as the Dallas/ Ft. Worth international airport.

The red one (Thank you, SIR) usually pairs well with dark spirits like whisky and goes into drinks like the Manhattan, Negroni, and Americano. The white works well with clear spirits and goes into the vodka or gin Martini, of course, as well as newly popular old drinks like the Chrysanthemum and the Obituary Cocktail. When you request an Extra Dry Martini you are requesting one with less dry vermouth, not more, so

perhaps it should be called the “Extra Vodka Martini” instead.

But long before anyone put vodka in a Martini, the drink (and its predecessor, the Martinez) was made with genever (a malty gin from Holland) and sweet vermouth.

Over the years leading up to Prohibition, the London dry style of gin became increasingly popular, and dry vermouth is a better match to that. So the term “Dry Martini” may have first referred to dry gin and dry vermouth over the sweet versions of each. Nowadays it refers to using as little vermouth as possible, and that’s a shame because the wet version can be delicious.

To improve your Martini and Manhattan mixology at home, buy the smallest bottles of the most expensive vermouth you can find. Look for boutique brands Dolin or Vya, but Noilly-Prat is a good and inexpensive dry vermouth and Martini & Rossi is a good sweet one. Before you throw out your current bottle, buy a new one and compare the two. The old vermouth will smell like vinegar and rancid vegetation (kind of like that dumpster cheeseburger) while the new will have a crisp fresh aroma.

After opening, keep your vermouth in the refrigerator to help it last longer. (This is especially important with dry vermouth.)

The better and fresher the vermouth, the more of it you’ll want mix into your cocktails. Soon instead of crying for a dry Martini you’ll be begging the bartender to make it wet.

Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer and publisher of Alcademics.com.

SScontinued from page 13

or have you celebrated your bond with a commitment ceremony? One Iowa is 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, One Iowa 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.

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 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.

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.

CEDAR RAPIDS GLBT SPIRITUAL GROUP: The GLBT Spiritual Group meets to socialize, discuss topics, share stories, hang out

Events com. The Art Feed is part online gallery and part promotional tool for artists. Artists can upload images of their art for a low annual membership.

The public can come and browse as well as find out about art-related businesses and events.

CEDAR RAPIDS CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION IS RETOOLING: The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission has two articles concerning important GLBT news. Also, they are at the climax of a long process of a total retooling of our civil rights code which will serve as an example of how-to for communities nationally. Visit http:// cedar-rapids.org/civilrights/, http://cedar-rapids. org/civilrights/newsletter/Civil%20Rights%20 Newsletter%20-%20May%20200 9.pdf, and http:// cedar-rapids.org/civilrights/documents/20072008%20Annual%20Report.pdf.

FAMILY POTLUCK IN DES MOINES: A group in Des Moines is planning casual family potlucks with a short time dedicated to brainstorming and getting organized. People interested in joining the group should e-mail mfender@lambdalegal.org or call Matt Fender at 515-288-4019 ext 202. Matt is also requesting feedback from people regarding events that families would be interested in attending in the future.

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/essentialfeminists.html. Check it out!

WEDDING PICTURES NEEDED: Are you and your same-sex partner married, civil unionized,

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-interfaith-group@googlegroups.com.

OUTLOOK MAGAZINE, Iowa City’s own LGBT magazine, is looking for volunteer photographers, copy writers and advertising salespeople.

Contact Scott Hoffman for more info at 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/.

OLD CAPITOL CITY ROLLER GIRLS: Iowa City has started 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 515-201-4743 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).

NEW WOMEN IN MUSIC CDs! Visit www. ladyslipper.org for the best of women in music!

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.

IOWA PRIDE NETWORK: If you are interested in getting more involved and active in Iowa’s

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Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente keep your hopes in check when Black Swan grand jetés its way into theaters in 2010.

A “Savage Love” sex column you don’t have to read Gay sex advice columnist Dan Savage has been educating, titillating and infuriating readers for years with his syndicated column “Savage Love,” Natalie Portman. Photo courtesy of Focus Features. which gives frank answers Portman & Kunis get busy in Black to questions about everything from coming out to S&M to non-monogamy to getting Swan There’s a certain formula to famous those tricky stains out of your bedsheets. actresses shooting lesbian scenes in Holly- He’s politically frank as well, calling out wood movie – some tee-hee coy kisses, the enemies to the gay community like former curtains billow, one lady moans and rolls Pennsylvania Republican senator Rick her eyes to the ceiling, and then the camera Santorum, who once compared gay sex discreetly pulls away. Writer-director Darren to “man-on-dog” action—Savage coined Aronofsky (The Wrestler) is promising the the phrase “santorum,” which refers to … exact opposite for his upcoming feature well, Google it and find out for yourself. film Black Swan, which will feature Natalie Anyway, the columnist may take his bluntly Portman and Mila Kunis having what several funny advice-dispensing to the airwaves, sources have described as hungry, aggres- if the Savage Love pilot he shot for HBO sive, Ecstasy-induced sex. (That’s how in August scores points with the network. it’s described in the script—co-written by And if the cable channel that gave us Real Aronofsky and Mark Heyman, based on an Sex and Taxicab Confessions can’t handle original screenplay by John McLaughlin.) Dan Savage talking about dildos and crossThe film tells the story of a literal gaggle dressing, who can? OK, yes, Showtime of ballerinas in a New York City dance maybe. company, duking it out for the lead role in Swan Lake. Will it be about lesbians or Bryan Singer pulls Excalibur from the about hetero women performing sexually Stone Not a month passes without openly gay for straight men? Who knows. But this is Hollywood we’re talking about here. So X-Men and Valkyrie director Bryan Singer SScontinued from page 14

Events 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 LGBT and Allied network of students and supporters.

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.

IOWA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: Visit www.women.iowa.gov to find resources and tools for women, ICSW initiatives, and information for girls.

PRAIRIEWOODS: Check out all the events for women and friends at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha. If you’ve never been there, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Visit www.prairiewoods.org for more info and a long list of events. An Environmental Book Club starts September 16. Many other workshops and groups are listed on the website.

ONE-TIME EVENTS:

Wednesday, September 2, 7 p.m., CONNECTIONS RAINBOW READING GROUP, Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St. Reading “Before Night Falls” by Reinaldo Arenas. This celebrated Cuban writer, a victim of AIDS, committed suicide in New York in 1990. His autobiographical memoir is a fascinating and frightening tale of growing up extremely poor in rural Cuba,

of varied personal and political relationships, of rebelliousness, homosexuality, suppression, and persecution. Everyone is welcome. The group has a “no guilt” policy; if you have not finished a book, you can still take part! For more info, contact Todd at faunides@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, September 2, 2 p.m., LGBT SOCIAL CIRCLE AT THE SENIOR CENTER, Johnson County Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St., Mezzanine Conference Room. Gather at the Senior Center on Wednesday afternoons with other gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender seniors. This is your opportunity to meet new people in a welcoming environment. Activities will be determined based on the interests of participants. For more info, call Thomas at 319-354-1784.

Wednesday-Monday, September 2-7, MIDWEST THRESHERS REUNION, featuring lots of great music including the Awful Purdies on Sept. 2, Heidi Newfield on Sept. 4, in Mount Pleasant. For more info, call 319-385-8937.

Saturday-Sunday, September 5-6, NEW BOHEMIA VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL, at New Bohemia Park in front of Bottleworks, 10th Ave. and 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. This festival features 50 plus Midwestern artists showing and selling their work, street performers, interactive arts demonstrations, family arts activities, food and great music provided by local musicians. If you are interested in showing or performing, or if you are interested in serving on one of our planning committees, e-mail new. bohemia@gmail.com.

Monday, September 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., TIME FOR LUNCH IOWA CITY, Labor Day Potluck in Lower City Park, Iowa City. Bring a dish to share and a beverage. Held in/near Shelter #12, this

getting talked up as maybe/maybe-not attached to a hot new project. One Singer assignment that looks like it might actually happen is a remake of 1981’s Excalibur, John Boorman’s gritty and mystical take on the King Arthur tale. That film featured a notable cast that included Helen Mirren and Nigel Terry alongside such then-newcomers as Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and Gabriel Byrne. Singer’s approach to the material is said to be more epic, along the lines of 2004’s King Arthur, which starred Clive Owen. No word yet as to when Excalibur might start shooting—Singer’s known to tie himself to projects like Logan’s Run or The Mayor of Castro Street that never quite make their way out of development hell—but keep watching the interwebs for updates.

The Jay Leno Show taps Feldman Filling five hours of primetime TV a week is too much for one man to handle, so potluck kicks off the “Time for Lunch” campaign to call on Congress to make real food the standard in public schools. For more info, call 319-321-7935 or e-mail k.friese@mchsi.com.

Tuesday, September 8, 9 p.m., THE PRETTY THINGS PEEP SHOW - BURLESQUE SHOW, at Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th St., Des Moines. $10.

Ages 21+. The Pretty Things Peepshow is a traveling road show started by go-go Amy and Bettina May. The tour includes the world’s sexiest sideshow siren the tattooed temptress INSECTAVORA. For more info, visit www.vaudevillemews.com.

Wednesday, September 9, LGBT SPEED DATING. For more info, visit www.oneiowa. org.

Thursday, September 10, 7:30 p.m., THE SECOND CITY 50th Anniversary Tour, America’s Greatest Comedy Theatre, at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, Fairfield. Get tickets on-line at www. fairfieldacc.com, or call 641-472-2787. Visit www. secondcity.com to learn about the comedians.

Friday, September 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., THE EMERALD HORIZON: The History of Nature in Iowa at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. Local author and ecologist Cornelia Mutel will discuss her latest book, The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa. Begin the evening with a walk through the prairies followed by the book discussion. The book will be available for purchase and the author will sign. Fee: $15. Preregister by Sept. 9 by calling 319-395-6700 or visiting www. prairiewoods.org.

Friday, September 11, 8 p.m., THE JOFFREY BALLET with the UI Symphony Orchestra, at the

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it’s no surprise that Jay Leno is calling out for backup when The Jay Leno Show debuts Sept. 14 on NBC. The one-time Tonight Show host has lined up several comedians who will contribute taped bits to the show, and one of them is lesbian stand-up comic Liz Feldman, who’s already hit the bricks to shoot a segment in an old-folks home, where she taught a roomful of seniors how to use Twitter. Feldman, along with Mikey Day and D.L. Hughley, will appear regularly on the nightly show, finding the funny out in the world while Jay does his thing in the studio.

Will NBC’s gamble pay off? Will the show rocket Feldman into a new fame bracket?

Check it out weeknights at 10 p.m. Eastern/ Pacific and decide for yourself.

Romeo San Vicente has resorted to watching Gimme Sugar for his recommended weekly allowance of lesbians on TV. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

An Evening with Dolores Huerta -- A Latina Perspective on Civil-Marriage Equality -Monday, September 14 -- 7:00 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church 1548 8th Street, Des Moines Dolores Huerta is President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Her mission includes developing community leaders who advocate for the working poor, women and children. She travels daily, speaking at universities and organizational forums on issues of social justice and public policy.

In 1962, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chavez, which would later become the Unit’s Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.

The event is free and open to the public.

Dolores will present her speech in Spanish and English. It is sponsored by Iowa Civil Liberties Union; Interfaith Alliance of Iowa; One Iowa; Equality Iowa; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (State Council of Iowa-PFLAG); Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa (PCCI); Des Moines Human Rights Commission; The Roundtable; and, the Des Moines Catholic Worker.

The event is organized by I’MI AM for Iowa and Marriage Equality USA (Iowa Chapter).

For more information about this event, contact imforiowa@gmail.com or call (515) 201-9405.

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Wedding Vows Anew by Beau Fodor Our Picks for September What’s the most important detail in a wedding?

Ceremony? Music? Floral?

Cake? Seating charts? Attire?

Open bar? My head spins when asked this question.

They’re all equally important to different people.

So, when asked that same question now by an engaged couple, I’ve asked them to think about what they want to say to their fiancé, and contemplate the honesty and sincerity in exchanging of their vows.

Suddenly the other details seem minor...

There are many options for YOUR vows. You have been given the right to create your own vows, and maybe even given carte blanche to say every word that is chosen and ordered by you.

Here are some thoughts… Along with a little note on etiquette.

Before you begin, please remember these vows will be spoken publicly. This is not just a private moment between you and your partner, and will evoke many emotions for everyone present (unless you ramble...)

Last week in my blog I started “Wedding Vows 101” and repeatedly stated there is no right or wrong. They are yours... the TWO of yours...

Try to begin by analyzing your own feelings and then broach a conversation with your future spouse and come up with your plan.

Who will say the vows first? Will you be reading them yourselves (note cards?), or led by your officiant? Will they be religious or secular?

Are you “starting a new adventure together,” or “continuing the shared life you have established over these many years”? How about adding a conclusion that pulls them both together? Is less more???

OMG, stressed out yet?!

Just do some homework... (For some ideas, check out the following links: http://bit. ly/OB2Xo - http://bit.ly/1M1sUp ) Straight up, just speak from the heart... No rambling. Think integrity... And breathe. Just look in their eyes and breathe… it’s all good.

Stand tall. Suck in that gut, and tighten those glutials. (Makes for better pictures!) Oh, and smile. Someone is probably taking a picture.

Mention lessons learned, favorite memories, goals and dreams shared. Say your promises of forever in front of all your witnesses. This is

why you’re both here in front of all of us...

You can even have your wedding vows printed in your program, or displayed with the guest book.

Just know this… it is the foundation of your marriage we’re talking about here.

And people will be paying close attention. And want to hear your vows. And believe, again, in faith, hope, love and marriage.

I recently cried like a drunk maid of honor at a wedding reception, where a glowing groom of sixty-seven told me his story of a college romance of a lifetime.

From Stonewall to Studio 54, to ACT-UP in the eighties and how an HIV-positive gay couple survived the 90s with anti-virals and meals-on-wheels.

And then, thank God, the new and improved super drugs and back to work in publishing…

And now, finally he’s married his lifetime partner.

I asked him what the most significant thing about his wedding day was, almost assured it was the cake he had micro-managed for three days with the bakery, but he looked me in the eye and said “I made a commitment to my higher power and myself, that if and when I got married, I would be committing myself for the rest of my life to love my man in good times and bad, in sickness and health, and as we started our vows, in that small moment in time, those series of words that I said while looking into the eyes of the most beautiful man I have ever seen was by far one of the most important and amazing moments in my life. I had forgotten about the stressful times of desperation—from last-minute life and death decisions, to this damned wedding, to the feeling I was never gonna live to say those words. There is nothing more validating than to have heard him say ‘I do’. We will live happily-ever-after.”

And that’s where I started blubbering like a fool… ‘Til the photographer walked in, anyway.

Compose yourself, darlings, there’re people taking pictures everywhere!!!

Beau Fodor is a gay wedding planner based in Des Moines, Iowa. He can be emailed at beaufodor@yahoo.com, his website is IowasGayWeddingPlanner.com, and his blog is located at panachepoints.blogspot.com.

• September 11, Civic Center of Greater Des Moines: Joffrey Ballet • September 11-12, Iowa City: Iowa Women’s Music Festival • September 11-19, Hope Martin Theatre, Waterloo: Leaving Iowa • September 17, Hilton Coliseum, Ames: Sugarland • September 17, Englert, Iowa City: Dave Mason • September 18-19, The Grand Opera House, Dubuque: American English – Beatles Tribute • September 20, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids: Gary L Anderson in “Clarence Darrow’s Search for Justice” • September 23-October 18, Civic Center of Greater Des Moines: WICKED • September 26, Orpheum, Sioux City: Sioux City Symphony – Opening Night

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Wake Up With

Pride!

Come to the First Friday Breakfast Club at 7 AM on the first Friday of every month at Hoyt Sherman Place.

We are an educational, non-profit corporation for gay men and the largest breakfast club in Iowa. We gather every month to provide mutual support, to be educated on community affairs, and to further educate community opinion leaders with more positive images of gay men.

Visit us on the Web at ffbciowa.org.

For a reservation contact Jonathan Wilson at 515-288-2500 or jonathanwilson@davisbrownlaw.com.

September 2009

Studio 13’s Long-Planned Renovation When Brett Thomas took over the bar at 13 S Linn Street in Iowa City back in 2002, he had a limited budget for decorating and cleaning up the bar that had previously been known as “The Alley Cat”.

He had been a successful restaurateur in Beverly Hills, California when 9-11 his restaurant’s cash cow: lunch deliveries to the high rises in nearby Century City. He considered going back to school, but when he learned that The Alley Cat was going out of business, he arranged with the bar’s creditors and landlord to take over the existing debt and even get a bit of additional cash. But it didn’t leave much headroom.

After a few years successfully running the bar, Thomas started planning a more complete renovation of Studio 13, and scheduled it for 2008. This plan was derailed entirely with the flooding that came that June. The Cedar Rapids Piano Lounge— which is one level down from street level just two blocks from the Cedar River—was completely devastated by the flood. The

entire location was underwater for several days. The next several months were spent almost entirely focused on restoring the Cedar Rapids bar.

Now, just a little behind schedule, Studio 13 has had what Thomas refers to lightly as “a tummy tuck and a face lift”.

The main room was gutted down to the studs and rebuilt. The back bar was taken back to similar to what it was in the beginning and a dance cage was added where the DJ booth had been. Windows and window frames were replaced, and new carpeting and tile were added throughout. Both bathroom doors were changed from the hard steel doors that never closed correctly to wooden doors with hand sculpted mannequins to indicate which is men’s and which is women’s.

And there’s more to come. “Stage two is to renovate the bathrooms,” says Thomas, “and stage three is the front bar. We also have some work to do on the main bar but it’s 85% of the way there. We just hope our clientele likes the changes we’ve made.”

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Out of Town: Berlin, Germany by Andrew Collins It wouldn’t be a stretch to declare that Berlin has evolved into first major gay city of the 21st century - it rivals London, Paris, and New York in sheer enormity, cultural importance, and it factor, and more than any of other prominent world capital. Its gay scene is defined less by clusters of discos and drag bars and more by the remarkable degree to which GLBT residents and visitors permeate the fabric of numerous neighborhoods.

To be fair, plenty of other big cities - including those mentioned above - have seen a trend away from gay ghetto-ization, and Berlin has a Gay Village (around Nollendorfplatz, in Schoneberg) that bears a striking resemblance to Sydney’s Oxford Street, West Hollywood’s Santa Monica Boulevard, and countless others.

But outside of this still highly charming district of campy bars and cafes festooned with rainbow flags, your “gaydar” is likely to detect critical mass all over the city, in areas that fall both west of the former Berlin Wall, and east of it.

Particularly among the younger generation of queer Berliners, there’s a sense that every intersection blessed with a few sidewalk cafes and diverting boutiques qualifies as miniature anchor of gay society.

And yet in the most buzz-worthy of these areas - such as Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg, Schonhauser Allee in Prenzlauer Berg, and Boxhagener Platz in Friedrichshain people care not a lick about one’s sexual orientation.

Berlin is an expansive city with excellent, though sometimes a bit complicated, public transportation (a legacy from the city’s Cold War-era division). One highly enjoyable way to acquaint yourself is to choose a different neighborhood each day, and explore it. Here’s a look at a few of the city’s most alluring districts, and the exact streets and squares where you’re likely to find the great concentrations of noteworthy shops, galleries, restaurants, nightspots, and attractions.

The Little Black Book -- Ackselhaus & Bluehome

www.ackselhaus.de

-- Arcotel Velvet

cc.arcotel.at

-- Axel Hotel Berlin

www.axelhotels.com/berlin

-- Berlin Tourist Office Gay Travel Site

www.bit.ly/Vt6wN

-- Frauenhotel Artemisia

www.frauenhotel-berlin.de

-- Germany Office of Tourism Gay Travel Site

www.bit.ly/3d1e5Q

-- Hotel Art Nouveau

www.hotelartnouveau.de

-- Mini Loft Mitte

www.miniloft.com

-- Pension Elefant

www.pension-elefant-berlin.de

-- Westin Grand

www.westin.de/berlin

Friedrichshain Like Kreuzberg, which it was administratively joined with in 2001, Friedrichshain is a somewhat hardscrabble neighborhood that’s lately become fashionable, at least in certain sections. It’s the area around Boxhagener Platz that has the greatest concentration of indie shopping and dining.

It’s also worth walking along Karl-MarxAllee, which leads into the district from Mitte, and is lined with imposing Stalinist architecture. One of these buildings contains Klub International, a retro-fabulous cinema that morphs into a gay disco the first Saturday of each month.

Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, in the Mitte neighborhood, is one of the city’s most popular—and poignant—attractions. Photo by Andrew Collins Mitte This is Berlin’s city center, home to many smaller sections, a considerable number of international hotels and restaurants, and dozens of prominent attractions.

Plan to focus a good bit of your time here, exploring Museum Island (home to the Old Museum, New Museum, Old National Gallery, and Pergamon Museum), as well as Brandenburg Gate and the nearby Holocaust Memorial, a moving and incredibly striking site. Across the street, on the edge of Tiergarten park, you can also view the small but poignant Holocaust Memorial that specifically honors the plight of gays and lesbians. Many other prominent museums are located here.

Tiergarten Just west of Mitte, you’ll find Tiergarten, which is the name of both a neighborhood and the huge park for which it is named.

First, let’s point out the exciting part: the area of grassy lawns and light woodland just southwest of Siegessaule (Victory Column), just off of Hofjageralle, is a notorious haunt of gay sunbathers.

And in Berlin, you’re perfectly welcome to laze about in public parks completely nude. Tiergarten also abounds with noteworthy attractions, such as Germany’s key institutions of government, which include the Bundestag, occupying the infamous Reichstag building. The park is beautiful to walk through and is also home to a mix of classic and postmodern monumental buildings, from Berliner Philharmonie concert hall to Neue Nationalgalerie (modern art museum).

Schoneberg Southwest of Tiergarten and adjoining the swanky Charlottenburg neighborhood, Schoneberg is itself a rather upscale district with wide, tree-lined streets and handsome homes and apartments.

Shoppers flock to KaDeWe, a massive department store comparable to Herrods and Bon Marche. Within Schoneberg,

chiefly along the streets just west of Nollendorfplatz (the former home of W.H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood), you’ll find Berlin’s lively and cruise-y Gay Village.

You’ll find the majority of the gay bars and sex shops along Motzstrasse, but be sure to venture along Fuggerstrasse and Eisenacher Strasse, too. If you can’t get into trouble (in the fun sense of the word) in this part of Berlin, you may as well pack it in and go home.

Prenzlauer Berg Creative spirits and a slightly at-odds mix of self-conscious hipsters and antiestablishment artists favor this enormous swath of handsome 19th-century apartment blocks northeast of Mitte, in the former East Berlin.

Although teeming with gay hangouts, Prenzlauer Berg is the least gay-ghettoized of any Berlin neighborhoods - along such fashionable streets as Schonhouser Allee, Kastanienallee, and Greifenhagener Strasse, you’ll find cosmopolitan cafes, notable art galleries, fashion-forward boutiques, and elegant boutique hotels.

There are few genuine attractions in this neighborhood, but much to see for fans of dining, shopping, and neighborhood exploring.

Kreuzberg Just south of Mitte, Kreuzberg was a lower-income immigrant district of West Berlin during the pre-reunification days, but it’s steadily developed cachet in recent years as a haunt of radical activists (queer and otherwise). This is especially the case near the Kottbusser Tor metro station, where you’ll find arty bars, authentic Turkish restaurants, and bohemian bookstores and cafes along Oranienstrasse. The more gentrified SW61 section, around Mehringdamm metro station, is home to the Schwules (Gay and Lesbian) Museum as well as several gay-popular eateries and bars, and an exceptionally good food market, called Marheineckplatz (considered by some to be the finest in the city).

Where to Stay in Berlin Here’s a sampling of GLBT-popular hotels in Berlin, from affordable B&Bs to luxury palaces: Ackselhaus & Bluehome. Comprising two stunning Victorian boutique hotels and the trendy Club del Mar restaurant, this fab hostelry is steps from the bohemian cafes and funky bars of Prenzlauer Berg. Rooms mix vintage, even rustic sensibilities with modern luxury - like staying with friends with impeccable taste.

Axel Hotel Berlin. New and earning plenty of buzz, the “hetero-friendly” Axel (there are others in Barcelona and Buenos Aires) sits smack in the middle of the Schoneberg gay scene. Rooms are compact but smartly done with fabulous showers, and amenities include a hip restaurant, sexy lounge, and full-service spa.

Arcotel Velvet. The dramatic design of this smart, contemporary, gay-friendly hotel along a trendy street in the Mitte delights style-conscious travelers. Each of the 85 rooms and suites has a wall of windows, and the on-site Velvet Lounge is a snazzy spot to enjoy cocktails.

Hotel Art Nouveau. Mod rooms with either international or color-driven themes are the draw of this antiques-filled boutique hotel about a 10-minute walk from the Schoneberg gay scene. A great choice if you’re seeking upscale digs at fair prices.

Frauenhotel Artemisia. Catering exclusively to women, this lesbian-friendly property is well-maintained with simple but airy rooms. Breakfast is included, and there’s even an art gallery on premises. A very safe, economical option.

Mini Loft Mitte. The slick design of this modern apartment-loft hotel contains 14 chicly furnished units with high ceilings and full kitchens. Given the reasonable rates and central locale near Tiergarten, it’s no wonder this place books up fast.

Pension Elefant. With seven highceilinged, charming rooms, this affordable, gay-owned B&B occupies a grand 19th-century building in the heart of the Nollendorfplatz Gay Village.

Westin Grand. A sophisticated, elegant hotel with a wonderfully central location along fabled Unter den Linden near Brandenburg Gate, this posh property has a beautiful gym and pool, excellent restaurants, and tastefully contemporary rooms.

Andrew Collins covers gay travel for the New York Times-owned website About.com and is the author of Fodor’s Gay Guide to the USA. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutofTown@qsyndicate.com.

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Door-to-Door for Marriage Equality: My One Iowa Canvassing Experience

by Aaron Stroschein

This summer I had the chance to talk to many Iowa residents about same-sex marriage. I worked for One Iowa, Iowa’s largest LGBT non-profit organization as a canvasser. At first I was not sure I could go around door to door asking residents of different towns about a subject many people are very sensitive about. I have a bit of social anxiety and it gets in the way sometimes in my everyday life.

It was amazing though the transformation I went through after a few weeks. I found myself falling into a routine where once I started knocking on doors I did not care so much about who was standing at the door. It became like clockwork to ask people questions and get signatures on petitions for marriage equality.

The way the canvassing worked was as follows: Three teams were created to survey major towns in Iowa depending on region. One team was delegated to around the Council Bluffs area of the state, one to the Des Moines area, and lastly a group was made to cover the areas near Iowa City.

Our goal was to go to each house and ask people if they had an opinion on the April 3rd Iowa Supreme Court Decision striking down Iowa’s state version of the Defense of Marriage Act. We then asked people if they had an opinion on whether or not they would support a constitutional amendment to try and ban civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples. The last question in the set we asked

Across 1 Place for a stud 5 Shakespeare, for one 9 The Pet Shop Boys “___ to Heaven” 15 Opening for the crack of dawn 16 Protected from the wind 17 Make fizzy 18 Educator/writer ___ Lee Bates 20 Film in which Tom Wilkinson played a transsexual 21 Southwest California city 22 Suffix with switch 24 Org. for Vijay Singh 25 Relates 26 Type of marriage named for the college of 18-Across 29 P-town’s Crowne Pointe, e.g.

30 Roof animal of Tennessee?

32 Diner sign 33 Camelot’s “___ Moi” 35 The Oscars, e.g.

38 Took the center out of a fruit 39 With 68-Across, song lyrics written by 18-Across 43 My Own Private ___ 46 Hot L Baltimore producer 47 Blow to the buttocks 51 Stud of the early days of horse racing 54 Chop down 56 Congressman Hutchinson 57 Colorado mountain that inspired 18Across to write the song in this puzzle 60 Seafood sauce type 62 Net destination 63 Garb for Troy Perry 64 Natural talents 65 Misleads with the tongue 68 See 39-Across

Q-PUZZLE: “Above the Fruited Plain”

70 Incites to attack 71 “You want the light ___ off?”

72 Maupin story of the city 73 David Sedaris’ works 74 Distant prefix 75 She and she or he and he

Down 1 Legally Blonde director Robert 2 Like a rainbow of colors 3 Fastens (down) 4 Gay cultural values, e.g.

5 Lord Byron was part of this

was if they were willing to sign a petition to show house district legislators on the fence on the issue of marriage equality.

The overall response I got was positive.

There were many different types of people I came across in the process. There were some libertarians who believed government should not have an involvement in marriage, period. I met people reserved to the “one man, one woman” arguments. I even found a few people who changed their minds after I helped them understand the issue better.

Not everyone was civil about the matter, either. Some of my team members had odd experiences happen while they were out on the job. I for the most part had only a few random occurrences.

Before long, I was explaining my job to friends and acquaintances when I was off the proverbial clock and doing so the same way each time. One must understand as a canvasser I went by a script on the job so as not to get lost when trying to convince people of the case for same-sex marriage. I would go through how “I work for One Iowa, the statewide organization advocating for the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Iowa,” almost verbatim each time. People did not mind though since it was a noble effort. There was only one way to explain my job, but it needed to be done.

After a while, though, burnout is to be expected, by the end of the summer everyone had wound down and was ready to call it a wrap. It was a different kind of job for me than I was used to doing. In college I had an

6 MacGraw of Love Story 7 Continue to get On Our Backs 8 Handle on a tractor?

9 Kind of cooking oil 10 Matthew in The Producers 11 Hockey legend Bobby 12 Box of Whitman’s chocolates 13 Place for trinkets 14 Passed along 19 Mabius of The L Word 23 Picador’s cheer 27 Engrave with acid 28 Madonna wore 45 pairs of these in Evita 31 Billy Budd, for one 34 California border lake 36 Like a one-incher, in Dogpatch 37 Aviation hero 40 Does some yard work 41 Mouth-open-wide sound 42 She recorded Radio Quiet with Cris Williamson 43 Sudden urge 44 Where milk comes out 45 Low socks 48 Queen of Chicago 49 In general 50 Green garnish 52 Nick Malgieri’s protection 53 Old Olds 55 Peter Doyle’s partner Whitman 58 Monastery head 59 Carolyn who wrote about a Nancy 61 Singer Bonnie 66 FICA funds it 67 Plaything 69 Embarqmail competitor • SOLUTION ON PAGE 27

September 2009 internship where I worked between classes on web development at Clarke College.

My first real-world internship was at the Corridor-based Gazette Newspaper in Iowa City. That job was mainly first shift. My work for One Iowa, however, was second shift.

On weekdays we would meet about 2:00 or 2:30 in the afternoon depending on where we were going to canvass. On weekends we would meet at noon and go from there.

We would work until about 8 once again depending on location and then we would head home to recharge. This was of course with driving time factored in the equation, but we usually started out from Iowa City to our destinations.

One goal I hoped the door-to-door campaign would bring about was great awareness of not only same-sex marriage, but also One Iowa itself. Out of the hundreds of homes I went to and surveyed it seemed very few people had heard of the organization. Hopefully awareness through promotion of marriage will now help the voice of One Iowa be heard more. All in all, it gave me a view on people I never had before and it gave me courage to speak out about a cause I believe in. Hopefully I can find causes in the future to help with that courageousness.

“I think that (the campaign against) Prop 8 ignored the basics. They did not let the voters know who would be hurt by passage of the bill and how they would be hurt. The campaign against Prop 8 talked about human rights (but didn’t) put a face on the campaign. ... Harvey (Milk) understood that you had to show who exactly would be hurt if Proposition 6 (or in this case Prop 8) passed. Everybody knows somebody who is gay. It might be your neighbor, someone you work with, a relative or even a friend of a friend. These relationships make the difference. The voters can understand if you are talking about taking rights away from someone they personally know but if they can’t see the impact, if it is too abstract, then it is easy to vote for or against a measure.

Ultimately, I think this is why Prop 8 passed. ... The campaign was not made personal and didn’t put a face on the men and women whose rights were revoked. A lot of money was raised, lots of money was spent and we lost Prop 8. I think we were missing a focus. ... Personally, I believe if Harvey had been alive we could have won.”

— Anne Kronenberg, who was Harvey Milk’s campaign manager, in an interview with GayRussia.ru, Aug. 13.

the fun guide

ACCESSline Page 25

ACCESSline Page 26 SScontinued from page 15

Events Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. This is a benefit performance for Hancher Auditorium and the UI School of Music. For tix or more info, visit www.civiccenter.org or call 800-745-3000.

Friday, September 11, 7:30 p.m., COSY SHERIDAN at 1st Unitarian Church of Des Moines. Visit www.ucdsm.org. Contact Louise Alcorn for more info at 515-277-2248 or lalcorn@yahoo. com.

Friday, September 11, 7 p.m., PROFESSIONAL BOXING (featuring women boxers), at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd. SE, Iowa City. For tix or more info, call 319-3381633. Tix are $20 pre-sale, $25 day of event. All ages.

Friday, September 11, RIFF RAFF THEATRE spoofs the movie ELEKTRA, at The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., downtown Iowa City. For more info, visit www.englert.org.

Friday, September 11, 7:30 p.m., IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL COMEDY NIGHT, featuring POPPY CHAMPLIN,

MASSAGE THERAPIST - QC

TAXI CAB - CEDAR RAPIDS

WINE - CEDAR RAPIDS

the fun guide nationally-popular comedian who’s appeared on cruise lines, at Dinah Shore Weekend, in Provincetown, at Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, and on many TV comedy specials. Her stand-up pedigree is flawless; from VH-1, to A&E, Oprah Winfrey and Joan Rivers to her newest gig on Atlantis cruises she has earned a reputation of being one of the fastest witted female comediennes on either coast. Lojo Russo opens the show with her kick-a** brand of folk and roll. At Old Brick, 26 E. Market St., Iowa City. Tickets available at the door for a sliding scale of $8-20. This is a fundraiser for the Iowa Women’s Music Festival, so please pay what you can. VIP table seating also available by calling 319-335-1486 (Laurie). Refreshments available.

We’ll also have a live auction of some really cool stuff, so bring your checkbook! More info: www.prairievoices.net or festival@prairievoices.net. Attention: This show will have adult content.

Friday, September 11, 10 p.m., IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL COMEDY NIGHT AFTER PARTY at Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St., Iowa City, 319-338-7145. Come and meet comedian Poppy Champlin and be ready for a special surprise! Studio 13 will be spinning some women in music mixes all night, and there will be drink specials ($2 domestic bottles and $2.50 UV Vodka drinks)!

The drag show starts at 10:30 p.m., hosted by Sasha Belle. Visit www.sthirteen.com.

Saturday, September 12, Noon-5:30 p.m., 16th Annual IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL, Upper City Park, at the intersection of Templin and Park Roads, off of Dubuque St., Iowa City. Featuring a crazy awesome line-up, surely a coup! Emcee KIM-CHAR MEREDITH from Chicago; Iowa’s own jazz diva LYNNE ROTHROCK; soulful Cincinnati singer-songwriter - TRACY WALKER; mystical, magical storyteller COSY SHERIDAN from UT; blues master from Austin - CAROLYN WONDERLAND with the 2008 Official State Musician of Texas - SHELLEY KING; and the oneand-only Americana pioneer MICHELLE SHOCKED! FREE!!

Everyone welcome, pets too! Family-friendly! Merchandise and food vendors available. Iowa Shares will again have a silent auction, so be prepared to browse! Bring chairs or blankets for grass seating, and plan to stay all afternoon! Visit www.prairievoices.net. Rain location: The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City.

Saturday, September 12, 8 p.m., IOWA WOMEN’S MUSIC FESTIVAL’S “POP, HIP-HOP and 80’s DANCE PARTY!” at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. Featuring a wild night without bounds, with KIM-CHAR MEREDITH (festival emcee) in her own high-energy set, Ames, Iowa’s hip-hop performance art phenomenon and YouTube craze – LESLIE AND THE LY’S, and Cedar Rapids’ own retro rockstars - THE JODIE FOSTER CONNECTION. Dress in 80’s fashions for even more fun! An allwomen jam closes out the night at Midnight, when all women are welcome to add their voices or instruments to the stage. Visit www. prairievoices.net, www.icmill.com, e-mail festival@prairievoices. net, or call 319-351-9529. Cost is $5-15 sliding scale at the door (more if you can, less if you can’t….it all goes to the festival!).

Saturday, September 12, 10:30 a.m.-Noon, CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: Artists in Action with Photographer KATHRYN HAGY, at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids. FREE. 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. Kathryn Hagy will be discussing photography. Kathryn is a professor of Art at Mount Mercy College.

She has long been fascinated by pattern and rhythm in nature, and that fascination is manifested in her work via movement through air, space and fluid, most especially through water. Visit www. crma.org.

Sunday, September 13, 3-5 p.m., COSY SHERIDAN at KUNI’s Studio One on Iowa Public Radio’s Folk Tree, on the campus of UNI, Cedar Falls. Visit www.iowapublicradio.org. Tune in on 90.9 FM in most of Eastern Iowa.

Sunday, September 13, 7 p.m., LUCY KAPLANSKY at CSPS/Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, call 319-364-1580, visit www.legionarts.org or e-mail info@ legionarts.org.

Tuesday, September 15, 9 p.m., TUESDAY NIGHT SOCIAL CLUB with Olivia Rose Muzzy, at the Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. FREE! Visit www.icmill.com or call 319-351-9529.

Wednesday, September 16, 9 p.m., NERISSA CAMPBELL with SARAH CRAM at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. Check out www.crookedmouthmusic.com, www.icmill. com, or call 319-351-9529 for more info. $6 at the door.

Thursday, September 17, 7:30 p.m., SUGARLAND at Hilton Coliseum, Ames. For more info and tix, visit www.ticketmaster. com.

September 2009 Friday, September 18, 7-9 p.m., MARY MCADAMS, CD Release Show, at the Temple for Performing Arts, Temple Theatre, Des Moines. $5 cover, thru Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com) or at the door. For more info, e-mail mary@marymcadams.com.

Friday, September 18, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 2009 YPIOWAANNUAL CONFERENCE at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel. This conference is sponsored by Young Professionals Connection, Des Moines and is for all young professionals in the state to come together and discuss living, working, and playing in Iowa. The conference includes inspiring speakers, workshops, networking opportunities, and a luncheon session. The conference will kick-off with a party on Thursday evening at West Glen in West Des Moines hosted by a variety of entertainment establishments. The conference will wrap up Friday night at the races at Prairie Meadows. Registration is $89 per person. Go to www.ypiowa.com to register.

Sunday, September 20, 1:30-3 p.m., CATHERINE MCAULEY CENTER TEA PARTY, at Mercy Medical Center, Hallagan Education Center, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, fundraiser plus raffle, $20 per person. For more info, call 319-363-4993, e-mail info@ cmc-cr.org, or visit www.cmc-cr.org.

Wednesday-Thursday, September 23-24, Part of LANDFALL FESTIVAL, presented by CSPS/Legion Arts in Greene Square Park, downtown Cedar Rapids. Sept. 23 features Minyeshu and Sept. 24 features Rosie Burgess. Always great entertainment from CSPS! Visit www.legionarts.org for more info.

September 23-October 18, WICKED (Broadway production) at the Des Moines Civic Center. Tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Friday, September 25, 7:30 p.m., IMANI WINDS with Stefon Harris, at Iowa City High School, Opstad Auditorium. Visit www. hancher.uiowa.edu for more info.

Friday, September 25, 8 p.m., JOE and VICKIE PRICE at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. $7 at the door.

Check out www.icmill.com for more info or call 319-351-9529.

Friday-Saturday, September 25-26, 8 p.m., LYNNE ROTHROCK with Ron DeWitt at ARA Gallery, 4850 Armar Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids. Lynne is a performer at the 2009 Iowa Women’s Music Festival. If you like what you hear at IWMF, come and see her in the more intimate setting of the ARA Gallery. Check out the wonderful art while you’re at it. Visit www.lynnerothrock.com.

Friday-Sunday, September 25-27, CAMELOT, presented

by Iowa City Community Theatre, at The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., downtown Iowa City. For tix, call 319-688-2653 or visit www.englert.org.

Saturday, September 26, LINCOLN HIGHWAYARTS FESTIVAL, on 1st St. in Mount Vernon. Enjoy strolling musicians, the Eastern Iowa Brass Band, walking history tours, and food vendors.

For more info or to get involved, contact Galen Lacey at 319-8950636 or galen@laceyantiqueprints.com.

Saturday, September 26, ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION MEMORY WALK, registration begins 8 a.m., kickoff 9 a.m., route is 1-3 miles. Four locations: Harding Middle School/Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids, Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Wickham Elementary School in Coralville, West Union Recreation Center in West Union. For more info: www.alz.org/memorywalk, www.alz.org/eci or 800-272-3900.

Saturday, September 26, 10 p.m., JOE AND VICKIE PRICE at Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th St., Des Moines. For more info, visit www.vaudevillemews.com. Tix: $10. Ages 21+.

Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m., CEDAR RAPIDS ROLLERGIRLS at US Cellular Center, downtown Cedar Rapids, vs. the Paper Valley Flyin’ Squirrels. Visit www.myspace.com/crrollergirls.

Tix at the door or www.ticketmaster.com.

Tuesday, September 29, 9 p.m., TUESDAY NIGHT SOCIAL CLUB with COYOTE GRACE and STEPHANIE NILLES at The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. FREE! For more info, visit www.icmill.com or call 319-351-9529.

Wednesday, September 30, COYOTE GRACE at Ritual Café, on 13th St. between Locust and Grand, downtown Des Moines. Visit www.ritualcafe.com.

Thursday, October 1, 8 p.m., CHERYL WHEELER at CSPS/ Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, call 319-364-1580, e-mail info@legionarts.org or visit www. legionarts.org.

Friday, October 2, 8 p.m., THE BOP ENSEMBLE at CSPS/ Legion Arts, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. For more info or tix, call 319-364-1580, e-mail info@legionarts.org or visit www. legionarts.org.

Friday, October 2, 9 p.m., THE DIPLOMATS OF SOLID SOUND with THE DIPLOMETTES at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. $7 cover. For more info, visit www. icmil.com or call 319-351-9529.

September 2009

ACCESSline Page 27 Section 3: Community From The CENTER, Des Moines

SOFFA Iowa: Significant Others, Friends, Families and Allies

by Jaye

When I was 14, in high school, I met an intriguing, tormented, young woman. I was fascinated by her. I had a need to be near her.

I wanted to impress her. I wanted to know her better, but at the same time, I feared getting closer to her. I did not understand why I was so taken with her. It was not because I knew she was self-destructive. A lot of it was because she was a girl.

I had no doubt I was straight. I only had attractions to boys. I never doubted my sexuality. I just did not understand why I was so interested in knowing and being around this girl. She graduated, and I did not see her again until a chance meeting 10 years later.

Seeing her again felt the same. Strange. I still did not understand those feelings.

Four years ago, I began an online conversation with an interesting guy. I liked him right away, and we bonded immediately. I suspected I already knew this person. After several phone conversations and the initial face-to-face meeting, it was confirmed that this guy was the same person I was intrigued with in high school.

I began to understand what was different about this person. This girl I knew in high school was actually a boy and because of a birth defect had been born to appear female.

With the help of therapy, hormones, surgery and some legal changes, the girl I knew in high school became the man he was always supposed to be. My new love was a female to male (FTM) transgender person.

At first, I was a shocked. Until meeting this man, I did not know there were transgendered people in Des Moines. In fact, I did not know what transgender meant. It was all new to me. I was not sure I would ever understand.

Because I fell in love with this man, it was important for me to figure it out.

Unfortunately, I did not know anyone I could talk with who was also in my situation.

I learned a lot from my significant other, and he introduced me to Transformations Des Moines (now known as Transformations IOWA). A support group for transgender, gender queer, cross dressers, intersexed and gender questioning people and their significant others and supporters. I met other transgendered people and began to understand their struggle.

I rarely met anyone in my position: a straight, genetic female in a relationship with a transgendered male. While it was beneficial to hear stories of transgender people dealing with their transitions, they could not help me with what I was feeling. I had a transition of my own to make.

Four years later, I have a better understanding of my role and the life of my Trans Man. We understand each other and know how to support one another. We are happily married, and I do not regret making the decision to begin and continue our relationship.

It is my passion, to give other people in my position a place to go when they need support. A place where we can talk about what it means to be the significant other, family member, friend and ally of a transgender, gender queer, cross dresser, intersexed or gender questioning person. A place to understand what this means to the ones we love and what it means to us.

The CENTER, 1300 Locust Street, Des Moines, has provided such a place. Those of us who need to grow in understanding the relationships we have with the people we love can finally come together and support each other.

If you are the significant other, family member, friend or ally of a transgender (FTM or MTF), gender queer, cross dresser, intersexed or gender questioning person in need of support, resources and fellowship with others like you, and you would like to take part in a private and confidential monthly support meeting, please contact me at thecentersoffaiowa@gmail.com or (515) 779-5185.

Announcement: Central Iowa Bisexual/ Fluid Discussion Group

We are excited to announce the formation of a new bisexual/fluid discussion group meeting at The CENTER @ 1300 Locust Street, Des Moines on the second Thursday of the each month at 7pm. Central Iowa Bisexuals sponsors the group and is for anyone bisexual, fluid, pansexual, pomosexual, hetro-flexible, homo-flexible, queer and their allies. For more information contact Mark at scorpiored48@yahoo.com or go to the Central Iowa Bisexual Facebook page.

Announcement: Clothing Share Need Clothes? Come to The CENTER. Those needing clothes or interested in donating clothes in good condition may do so in person at The CENTER, 1300 Locust Street, Des Moines. The CENTER is open Monday through Saturday Noon – 6pm. For more information contact Jayden at thecenterdmtrans@gmail.com or (515) 779-5187.

“His name was Harvey Milk and he was here to recruit us — all of us — to join a movement and change a nation. For much of his early life, he had silenced himself. In the prime of his life, he was silenced by the act of another. But in the brief time in which he spoke — and ran and led — his voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people. He would become, after several attempts, one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office. And his message of hope — hope unashamed, hope unafraid — could not ever be silenced. It was Harvey who said it best: ‘You gotta give ‘em hope.’”

— President Barack Obama awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late gay activist Harvey Milk, Aug. 12.

ACCESSline Page 28

Section 3: Community

September 2009

Finance: Shaken not Stirred by Tracy Freese Dear Tracy, My partner and I are contemplating marriage but are concerned about the details of combining our daily expenses, assets, and any other area of finances we haven’t even thought of yet.

Any advice for folks in our position?

— Blushing Bride, West Des Moines Dear Blushing, For years the LGBT community steadfastly pushed towards marriage equality in Iowa, but now that the clever picket signs have been recycled into garage sale signs, reality of this groundbreaking decision is setting in – and it’s boring! Checking accounts, wills, and insurance – Oh My! Well let’s start at the most common piece of the puzzle: joint banking accounts.

From a bank’s point of view you could open a joint account with your neighbor’s cat and they wouldn’t mind so long as the cat had proper identification. Whether legally married or not, banks will open joint accounts for you and your significant other and only request a marriage certificate if there is a legal name change.

Now, an important factor for any person that holds assets at a bank is to list someone as “payable on death.” Listing beneficiaries is an important piece to any estate plan.

Once upon a time, FDIC stipulated that only a familial relationship could qualify as a beneficiary but last fall the definition was opened up to include any individual, qualified association, or charity. So head on in and feel confident that you can make basic financial changes freely!

On to estate planning we go.

Without a legal marriage, a couple needs to sign several agreements to create even a partial framework of protection in the event of a death. Certain tax benefits are forever denied to unmarried couples. Generally, the surviving spouse inherits everything if the partner dies without a will; however federal law does not yet recognize a samesex couple which means you must protect yourself legally even if you are lawfully married at the state level. Laws involving inheritance and gift tax do not yet apply to same sex relationships either, at a federal level. With regards to jointly-owned property, getting married normally means you both own everything regardless of who paid for it, whether alive or dead. If splitting half of your assets sounds as much fun as a root canal, Kanye wasn’t kidding - holler “We want pre-nup!” Pre-nuptial agreements are the only way to keep your assets separate in a legal marriage.

And don’t forget insurance!

Since I want you to protect yourself in the event of death, it makes sense I also want you to protect yourself in life. Life and heath insurance companies resemble lumbering buffalo when responding to this new marriage law change; they know something happened, but it takes them a long time to turn their policies around. I recently spoke to Pacific Life about their guidelines on covering same sex marriages and was very pleased that they have made immediate changes to accommodate these scenarios, whereas other life and health insurance companies I have spoken to have not been so responsive.

Imagine living on a daily basis with half of your income; that is what will happen if your spouse dies or becomes disabled. Disability, health, and life insurance are not just for nuclear families with white picket fences,

everyone needs to be protected. It’s cheap and worth the piece of mind.

Good luck to you, my blushing bride, because marriage brings all sorts of fun things like budgeting, credit scores, debt and saving habits to light. Keeping an open and honest line of communication is the key to successful planning.

And always keep in mind that if you are willing to marry someone, then you should be able to disclose even your most hidden financial demons.

Tracy Freese is an Iowa financial advisor that seeks to empower women and the LGBT community. She can be contacted at tfreese@libertybankiowa.com.

Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative, Securian Financial Services, Inc. Securities Dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC. A Registered Investment Advisor. Securian Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with Liberty Bank.

September 2009

Section 3: Community

Auntie Emm Answers Your Questions & Gives Advice As Only Your Auntie Can!

Dear Auntie Emm: I think I might be addicted to porn, but I’m not sure. Weeks can go by that I don’t look at ANY, but then there are times that I will spend hours surfing adult sites, sometimes way into the wee hours of the morning. I don’t think it has hurt my sex life at all (in fact, I think it has definitely HELPED at times by giving me ideas for things to do with my boyfriend—AND we have watched porn TOGETHER, which was pretty hot, too). However, on those days that I DO look at porn by myself, I lose all track of how long I’m doing it, and I end up feeling like I’ve just wasted a bunch of time that I should have been doing something else. I don’t think I need to join a twelve-step program (at least I hope not) but I would like your advice.

Thanks!

Distracted in Dubuque

GLCR Picnic

More than 75 people (and several family dogs) attended the Cedar Rapids Gay and Lesbian Resource Center's Annual Pride Picnic at the Lodge Pavilion at the PalisadesKepler State Park on Sunday, August 30.

It was a beautiful afternoon with badminton, horseshoes, and a beanbag toss, not to mention lots of friendly conversation.

Burgers courtesy of Hamburger Mary’s were the headliners for a table full of all sorts of picnic fare. People ate both in the lodge dining area and outside.

Lisa Schreihart provided music as well as the sound equipment for speakers and announcements.

More than two dozen silent auction items earned nearly $1000 for the GLRC's operating budget. The GLRC Board is working to develop a variety of activities to engage members of the community during the coming months. The proceeds from the picnic will be important to making that happen.

Dear Distracted, Auntie Emm is no addiction specialist, so she can’t really say whether you are addicted to porn or not. What you say in your letter, though, suggests that you have a periodic fascination with porn that leads to your wasting a lot of time watching it.

But, you don’t watch it all the time, and it’s not affecting your sex life. So, Auntie Emm doesn’t think there’s much to worry about here, in her very amateur opinion. If you’re worried about how much time you’re spending watching porn why not set an alarm to give yourself a time limit so that you don’t waste so much time watching it?

If an alarm doesn’t work to get you away from the computer, you might want to think about seeing a professional. Good luck with cutting down your porn-watchin time!

Auntie Emm

“Though this page will back same-sex marriage no matter what the year, we hope the Courage Campaign will rethink its timing.

Gay-rights activists must recognize that their lackluster campaign did little to sway the public, especially considering the misleading ads by gay-marriage opponents. So far, the Courage Campaign has not articulated a sophisticated strategy for changing this. Without other gay-rights groups by its side, its low chances are further weakened.”

— The Los Angeles Times editorial page weighs in Aug. 17 on the battle between gay rights groups over when to attempt to repeal Prop. 8—in 2010 (the Courage Campaign’s plan) or 2012 (Equality California’s plan).

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Transformations Iowa goes to Ohio by Rachel Eliason Three members of the Des Moines based transgender group, Transformations Iowa, recently went to the second annual TransOhio conference in Columbus, Ohio.

The conference was held at Capital University Law School in downtown Columbus.

The conference drew over 160 guests from all over the region, from Iowa to New York.

Among the presenters were some nationally recognized names.

The keynote speaker for the weekend was Helen Boyd, author of “My Husband Betty.” Helen writes, speaks and teaches courses aimed at the significant others and family of transgendered people. Watching her husband go through the process of transition, Helen has become a remarkably insightful and strongly out spoken ally for the entire LGBT community.

Mara Keisling, director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, gave a wonderfully informative speech at the conference, and a witty stand up routine at the Wall Street club later that night. She is truly a woman of many talents.

Also presenting were Dr. Christine McGinn, a noted surgeon, Tara McKenzie Allison, a prominent Columbus lawyer and Barbie Rogers, noted intersex activist.

The presentations were high quality and informative.

The community of TransOhio was friendly and welcoming, taking conference participants to two different clubs and a nice brunch on Sunday before things wound down. We were treated to a wonderful stand up comedy show by Mara and Karen Patrick,

as well as a powerfully moving show by drag king Adam Apple. It was an amazing time for all.

As one of the Iowa contingent, this weekend also brought home to me just how lucky I am to live in Iowa. We live in a great state with clean air, marriage equality and many civil rights that others do not have, even in progressive cities like Columbus.

We came home with new ideas, but also a deeper appreciation for the state and community we had left behind.

“Any closeted gay person who votes against the interests of gay people and is outed because of it is getting what they deserve. My only concern is that sometimes the sensational aspect of outing somebody gets us to lose sight of just what it is that was so bad about them. And they get drummed out of office and are replaced by somebody who is just as bad.”

— Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese to U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 7.

ACCESSline Page 30

Morals & Values Some Iowans proved themselves not to be all that open minded this past month. On August 1st, advertisements purchased by the Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers started appearing on Des Moines buses. Some people who saw the ads complained to Des Moines Area Rapid Transit (“DART”) to say that they found the advertisements offensive, and as a result the ads were removed a few days later.

What could be so offensive? This phrase: “Don’t Believe in God? You Are Not Alone.”

The ads were eventually put back, with DART clarifying that only obscene or profane ads would be banned in the future.

The story didn’t end there. Bus driver Angela Shiel refused to drive the bus assigned to her when she saw the advertisement on its side, and for refusing to do her job, she was suspended.

Now of course this has led to claims that she is not being allowed to practice her religious beliefs, but doesn’t this all seem a little bit ridiculous?

Many religious folk are clamoring about losing the right to say what they believe, but why can we not respect the rights of someone to NOT believe, and why can we not respect their right to speak about their non-belief?

Atheism has been a “bogey man” to unyielding dogma throughout history, and atheists are often referred to as if they are out to destroy all that is good and cherished in the world. Atheists, find themselves “outside the mainstream” — something that this column’s readers can probably relate to in a very personal way.

So, since real knowledge on the subject seems to be lacking, in the spirit of inclusiveness, open-mindedness, and fearless learning, following is an excerpt from www.Atheists.org.

What is Atheism?

“What is atheism?” is usually the one question never asked of most atheists. Most people do not ask this question because they already have their own ideas about what atheism is and what atheists are. Where these ideas originate vary.

Older dictionaries define atheism as “a belief that there is no God” and/or “denial of God.” Some dictionaries go further and say that atheism is “wickedness,” “sinfulness,” “heathenism,” “paganism,” and “immorality.” Some dictionaries even say that atheism is the “doctrine that there is no God.” At least The American Heritage ® Dictionary says “God and gods” after the word “doctrine,” but that does not detract from the fact that use of the word doctrine is incorrect.

The fact that the dictionary’s definition uses the phrase “there is no God” betrays the theistic influence in defining the word atheism.

If dictionaries did not contain such influence,

Section 3: Community

then the definition would read, “A belief that there are no gods.” The use of god in singular form, with a capital G, is indicative of Christian influence.

In addition, using words like “doctrine” and “denial” betray the negativity seen of atheists by theistic writers. Atheism does not have a doctrine at all and atheists certainly do not “deny” that gods exist. Denial is the “refusal to believe.”

Atheism does not “know there is a god but refuse to believe in him” (or her). That would be like saying that you know Big Foot exists but you refuse to believe in him. If the evidence of gods was insurmountable and provable, and atheists still refused to believe, then that would be an act of denial.

Speaking of the original meaning, the word atheism comes from the Greek atheos, which means “without god.” The original meaning of the word, based on its Greek origins, mentions nothing about “disbelief” or “denial.” A short and single-word definition would be “godless.”

Is Atheism a belief system or religion?

Theists usually define atheism incorrectly as a belief system. Atheism is not a belief system.

Atheism is not a religion.

Atheism is a lack of belief in gods, from the original Greek meaning of “without gods.”

That is it. There is nothing more to it. If someone wrote a book titled “Atheism Defined,” it would only be one sentence long.

Let us look at the different definitions of religion and see if atheism belongs in any of them.

1. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

No atheism resides in that definition. Atheists do not believe in a supernatural power or powers.

2. Beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

Atheism does not have a spiritual leader and atheism does not have any rites or rituals (practices) around such a spiritual leader. Atheism requires no initiation, no baptism, there is no Atheist Bible (Koran, Vedas, etc) to read, no rituals that atheists must go through to join an Atheist Church (temple, mosque, synagogue, sect, etc), and no central beliefs that all atheists must adhere to in order to be “true atheists.”

The common thread that ties all atheists together is a lack of belief in gods and supernatural beings. Every atheist is as unique as a fingerprint when it comes to his or her individual philosophy, convictions, and ideals.

September 2009

September 2009

Section 3: Community

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RECURRING EVENTS:

Every Sunday, 5-6 p.m., GLBT AA, First Baptist Church at 500 N. Clinton St., Iowa City. For more info about Intergroup and Alcoholics Anonymous call the 24-Hour Answering Service at 319-338-9111 or visit the AA-IC website: http://aa-ic.org/.

Every Sunday, 7 p.m., L WORD LIVES: L NIGHT at the Firewater Saloon, 347 South Gilbert St., Iowa City, 319-321-5895. The night will start with Season 1, Episode 1 of the L Word... because a good thing should never die.

FoLLowing the L Word wiLL be a Drag King show at 9:30 p.m. No cover.

Every Sunday, 6-8:30 p.m., THE QUIRE: Eastern Iowa’s GLBT Chorus Rehearsals, at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St, Iowa City. Membership is open to all GLBT folks, as well as allies who support the community. There are no auditions; you only need to be willing to attend rehearsals regularly and learn your music. The Quire prepares two full concerts each year in the winter and spring, and occasionally performs shorter programs at events in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area.

The Quire is a member of Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), and has developed a reputation for excellence and variety in its concert programs. For more info, visit http://www.thequire.org/.

Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, 3-6 p.m., TANGO LESSONS at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $5. Everyone welcome; no partner or experience necessary. For more info, call Elie at 319363-1818 or e-mail epsa@aol.com.

Second and every other Sunday of the month, 3-4 p.m., IOWA CITY PRIDE PLANNING COMMITTEE, Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room D. Come help plan the 2009 Iowa City Pride Festival (to be held Saturday, June 20). For more info, contact Bridget at malone. bridget@gmail.com.

Third Monday of every month, 6 p.m., PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of Cedar Rapids Metro Area, 6 p.m. (social time), 6:30 p.m. (meeting time), in the Middle Room of Faith United Methodist Church, 1000 30th St, NE, Cedar Rapids.

Call 515-537-3126 for more details. Coffee and refreshments will be served before the meeting, beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome; confidentiality is required.

PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

First Monday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Iowa PFLAG Quad Cities Chapter Meeting, at Eldridge United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd St., Eldridge. For more info, call 563-285-4173.

First/Second Monday (alternating) of the month, 7 p.m., Iowa PFLAG North Iowa Chapter Meeting, at First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce St., Mason City. For more info, call 641-583-2848.

Fourth Monday of the month, 7 p.m., Iowa PFLAG Waukon/Northeast Chapter Meeting, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, 309 W. Main St., in the Parish Center, Decorah. For more info, call 563-535-7680.

Fifth Monday in August and November, 7-9 p.m., WOMEN’S SINGING CIRCLE: Meet at Lori’s home for a short ritual followed by singing and chanting. Lori will supply lyrics and melodies for many circle songs and chants, but please feel free to bring your own songs to share (preferably with printed lyrics to pass around).

However, singing is not required - you can still be involved and contribute by simply being present in the circle.

Musicians, feel free to bring drums or other percussion instruments. To RSVP and get directions, e-mail lorieiserman@uiowa.edu.

Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 6 p.m., and every Saturday at 5:30 p.m., GLBT ONLY AA MEETINGS IN DES MOINES, at 945 19th St. (east side of building, south door).

Second Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m., SPIRITUAL SEEKERS, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 320 E. College St, Iowa City. Spiritual Seekers is a group for people of all faiths, or of little faith, who wish to make deeper connections between their sexual identities and the spiritual dimension in their lives. Meetings include

Section 3: Community discussion of specialized topics, telling of pieces of our faith journeys, and occasional prayer and meditation.

(On the 4th Tuesday of each month, the group gathers at a local restaurant for food and fellowship.) For more info, contact Tom Stevenson: tbstevenson@mchsi.com or 319.354.1784.

Second Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8 p.m., GLRC OF CEDAR RAPIDS BOARD MEETING at 6300 Rockwell Dr, Cedar Rapids. Meetings are open to the general public. For more info, call 319-366-2055 or visit: http://www.crglrc.org/.

Second Tuesday of every month, WOMEN FOR PEACE KNITTERS meet for knitting, crocheting, and discussion, 9:30-11 a.m. at Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. For more info, call 319-377-3252 or go to www.womenforpeace-iowa.org. All ages and levels of needlework skills welcome. Come knit for charities.

Second Tuesday of every month, Iowa PFLAG Ames Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m., at the Youth and Shelter Services Offices, 420 Kellogg Ave., 1st Floor, Ames. For more info, call 515-291-3607.

Every Tuesday, 7-8:30 p.m., CONNECTIONS INCLUSIVE BALLROOM at Old Brick 26 E. Market St, Iowa City. An equal opportunity social dance workshop/ rehearsal for LGBT people. All skill levels are welcome.

American social dance, Latin, a mix of dance from the last 100 years. For more info, contact Mark McCusker at iowadancefest@gmail.com, 319-621-8530 or Nora Garda at 319-400-4695, or visit http://iowadancefest. blogspot.com/.

Every Tuesday evening, 7:30-9:30 p.m., ARGENTINE TANGO practice and open dance, at the Iowa City Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St, Iowa City. A donation of $1-2 per person is requested for use of the Senior Center.

For more info, contact Karen Jackson at 319-447-1445 or e-mail kljedgewood@msn.com.

Every Tuesday evening, 7 p.m., OUT (Our United Truth): A GLBT Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport. For more info, call 563-359-0816.

Every Tuesday at 9 p.m., KARAOKE IDOL at Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St., Iowa City. Drink specials and great competition! Visit www.sthirteen.com.

First Wednesday of every month, CEDAR RAPIDS CHARTER CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION meets. For more info, visit charter-chapter.tripod.com.

First Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m., CONNECTIONS’ RAINBOW READING GROUP, Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room B, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City. For more info, contact Todd at: faunides@ yahoo.com.

First Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8 p.m., WOMEN’S SACRED CIRCLE at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha.

This group is for women who are interested in gathering for spiritual growth. The direction and activities of the group are determined by participants. $5 per session.

For more info, visit www.prairiewoods.org.

Second Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m., STONEWALL DEMOCRATS, the GLBT Caucus of the Democratic Party, meets at Hamburger Mary’s, 222 Glenbrook Dr. SE, behind 2nd Wind off of 1st Ave SE in Cedar Rapids. For more info, contact Harvey Ross at linnstonewall@gmail.com or call 319-389-0093.

Every Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., U OF I GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER AND ALLIES UNION MEETINGS in the Penn State Room #337 of the Iowa Memorial Union, U. of Iowa campus, Iowa City. For more info, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/~glbtau/ or e-mail glbtau@uiowa.edu. These meetings are open to the public.

First, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month, 6:308:30 p.m., EVENINGS FOR SPIRIT at SpiritHill Retreat, 604 Cedar Valley Road, West Branch. Women gather at SpiritHill to share our spiritual experiences, visions and longings. The evenings include time for sharing and time for silence. Laughter, tears and singing are often shared as well. No specific spiritual practice is followed. This event is always open to newcomers. For more info, call 319-643-2613, or e-mail spirit-hill@earthlink.net.

Second Thursday of the month, 7-9 p.m., OPEN MIC WITH MARY MCADAMS at Ritual Café, on 13th

St. between Locust and Grand, downtown Des Moines.

Visit www.ritualcafe.com. For more info, e-mail mary@ marymcadams.com.

Second Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. social time), Iowa PFLAG Omaha/Council Bluffs Chapter Meeting, at Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha. For more info, call 402-291-6781.

Third Thursday of every month, 7-10 p.m., OPEN MIC HOSTED BY KIMBERLI, at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company (now open after the flood), 118 2nd St. SE, Downtown Cedar Rapids. Signup at 6:30 p.m. or by e-mailing flyingmonkeyscr@aol.com the week prior to the open mic.

Third Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m., CONNECTIONS GAME NIGHT, at Donnelly’s Pub, 110 E. College St., in downtown Iowa City.

Third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m., Iowa PFLAG Dubuque/Tri-State Chapter Meeting, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1276 White St., Dubuque. For more info, call 563-582-9388.

Every 4th Thursday of the month, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK (PWN) meetings. For more info, visit www.pwn.org, e-mail pwn@pwn.org, or call Shelley Woods at 319-981-9887.

Every 4th Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m., THE GLBT READING GROUP meets in the conference room at Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids. The group is open to new members; contact crglbtreadinggroup@yahoo.com for further info.

Every Thursday and Friday, 6-10 p.m., SHANNON JANSSEN at The Cedar Grille at the Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Shannon performs a variety of music including original songs on the Grand Piano in the hotel’s beautiful atrium. No reservations required.

First Friday of the month, FAIRFIELD ART WALK. For more info, visit www.FairfieldArtWalk. com.

First Friday of every month between February 6 and December 4, 5-8 p.m., DAWN’S COFFEE HOUSE, at Dawn’s Hide and Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Music and light snacks are provided. Proceeds from the door are split between the non-profit of the month and the store (to cover the cost of snacks). Any other donations received go 100% to the non-profit. $3 cover. For more info, phone 319-338-1566.

First Friday of the month, GUERRILLA QUEER BAR MEETUP! Tired of the same old bars? Crave the idea of bringing your queer and straight friends together in a fun, new environment? We’re descending upon an unsuspecting straight bar and turning it into a gay bar for the night. To join in: join our Facebook group, Google group or Twitter feed. You’ll receive an email the morning of each event with the name of a classically hetero bar and the meeting time. Call your friends, have them call their friends, show up at the bar and watch as it becomes the new “it” gay bar for one night only. Visit http://groups. google.com/group/iowa-city-guerrilla-queer-bar.

Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the each month at 7 p.m., a DRUMMING CIRCLE meets at the Unity Center of Cedar Rapids, 3791 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.

September 2009 For more info, call 319-431-7550.

Third Friday of every month, 8 p.m., OLD-TIME DANCE FOR ALL, a Barn Dance 12 miles east of Iowa City at Scattergood Friends School. Admission is $5.00 per person. Singles and couples, beginners and veterans welcome. The music is live, and all dances are taught and called (that is, prompted while the music is playing). Note: (1) same-sex couples are common at these dances, (2) they’re no-alcohol, no-smoking events, (3) every dance is taught, so beginners are welcome, and (4) people can attend alone or with a partner. People of a variety of ages show up, and the atmosphere is friendly and inclusive. For more info, phone 319-643-7600 or e-mail treadway@netins.net.

Every Saturday, noon to 1 p.m., WOMEN FOR PEACE IOWA host Weekly Street Corner Vigils for peace, rain or shine. Meet at the corner of 1st Ave. and Collins Rd. SE (in front of Granite City Brewery), Cedar Rapids. Show your support for our troops by calling for their return from Iraq. For more info, e-mail khall479@ aol.com.

Third Saturday of every month, 2-4 p.m., QUEER SCRIBBLE FEST at Old Brick on the corner of Market St. and Dubuque St., Iowa City. Different subjects or motifs highlight each month. All are welcome. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Straight Allies are gathering to scribble, draw, write, talk, or what you will. Bring some music and a snack. It’s FREE but taxdeductible donations are welcome. Donations of papers, pencils, books, and other art materials are also appreciated.

For more info, call Mark McCusker at 319-621-8530 or e-mail a.c.experiment@gmail.com.

Fourth Saturday of every month, 7:30 p.m., TANGOVIA, join area tango dancers at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Enjoy a candlelit evening of dance, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Cost is $5. Partner not necessary. Beginners welcome to come at 7 p.m. for an introductory lesson. For more info, call Gail at 319-325-9630, e-mail irelandg@ gmail.com, or visit www.tangovia.com.

Fourth Saturday of every month, 7 p.m., 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. For more info, call 563-359-0816.

Every Saturday, 3:30-5:30 p.m., BAILE LATINO: SALSA, CHA-CHA, MERENGUE AND BACHATA LESSONS taught by Gloria Zmolek, at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. No experience or partner necessary.

All ages welcome. No sign-up required. $5 per person requested. For more info, contact Gloria at 319-365-9611 or visit www.crsalsa.org.

Hamburger Mary’s Weekly Happenings, at 222 Glenbrook Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, off of 1st Ave. Tuesdays – Kid’s Night; Wednesdays – Thift Store Bingo at 10 p.m. with Katrina Cass; Thursdays – Mary-oke with Nic from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Fridays – Drag Show at 9 p.m. (all ages) and 11 p.m. (21 and over); Saturdays – Open Mic Night followed by Drag Show at 9 p.m. (all ages) and 11 p.m.

(21 and over). For more info, e-mail hamburgermaryscr@ mchsi.com or visit www.hamburgermaryscr.com.

September 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 De Sales St NW, Ste 500 Washington, DC, 20036 www.victoryfund.org.

202-VICTORY [842-8679] Human Rights Campaign National political organization, lobbies congress for lesbian & gay issues, political training state and local www.hrc.org 1-800-777-HRCF[4723] Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund I I E. Adams, Suite 1008 Chicago, IL 60603-6303 www.lambdalegal.org 312-663-4413 Fax: 312-663-4307 National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) 1325 Massachusetts Ave NW, Ste 600, Washington, DC, 20005 www.ngltf.org / taskforce.org National Organization for Women (NOW) 733 15th ST NW, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20005 www.now.org 202-628-8669 PFLAG National Offices 1726 M St. NW Suite 400 Washington, DC 20036 info@pflag.org www.pflag.org 202-467-8180

STATE ORGANIZATIONS

Section 3: Community ISU LGBTA Alliance GLBT Support, Activism, Social Events, Newsletter G-46 Memorial Union, ISU Ames, IA. 50014 alliance@iastate.edu http://www.alliance.stu.org.iastate.edu 515-294-2104 Lord of Life Lutheran 2126 Gable Lane, Ames 50014 Services Sundays at 9:00a.m.; Wed. 7:00pm.

515-233-2350 PFLAG Ames Youth and Shelter Services Offices 420 Kellogg Ave 1st Floor.

2nd Tuesday, 7pm www.pflagames.org 515-291-3607 Romantics Pleasure Palace 117 Kellogg Street Ames, IA 50010-3315 http://www.romantixonline.com 515-232-7717 Stonewall Democrats of Ames tlloman@aol.com goodwinm@istate.edu, or Terry Lowman, 515-292-3279, or Mary Goodwin 515-292-0352 United Church of Christ-Congregational 6th & Kellogg Ames, 50010 Sunday Continental Breakfast, 9:00am; Sunday School, 9:30am; Worship, 10:45am. uccames@midiowa.net.

515-232-9323 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames 1015 Hyland Ave. Services: 9am and 11am, Sunday uufa@aol.com 515-292-5960 Unity Church of Ames 226 9th St. Sunday service and Sunday school 10:30am.

Wednesday mediation 6:30pm, class 7:15pm. www.websyt/unity/ames Daily dial-a-blessing 515-233-1613

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 F.JosephWilson@aol.com.

712-332-5043

BURLINGTON

Equality Iowa P.O. Box 18 Indianola, IA 50125 www.equalityiowa.org 515-537-3126

Arrowhead Motel 2520 Mount Pleasant St Burlington, IA 52601-2118 (319) 752-6353 - www.arrowheadia.com

Faithful Voices Interfaith Alliance of Iowa’s marriage equality project. www.faithfulvoices.org

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

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 www.imperialcourtofiowa.org Iowa Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) David Steward, President, IA NOW 1010 Charlotte Ave. Davenport, IA 52803 Iowa PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gay) State Council PO Box 18, Indianola, IA 50125 www.equalityiowa.org/PFLAG 515-537-3126 or 641-583-2024 Iowa pridenetwork 3839 Merle Hay Rd, Ste. 285 Des Moines, IA 50310 www.iowapridenetwork.org 515-243-1110 LGBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force PO Box 1997, Des Moines, 50306 515-243-1221 One Iowa PO Box 3, Des Moines, IA 50309 Stonewall Democrats of Iowa 5 Creekside Ct Mason City, IA 50401 Contact: Dean Genth figfinesse@yahho.com 641-583-2024

Ames

RISQUES IV (adult store) 421 Dry Creek Avenue West Burlington, IA 52601 (319) 753-5455 Sun - Wed 8am-Midnight Thurs - Sat Open 24 Hours www.LoversPlayground.com Steve’s Place 852 Washington St, Burlington 319-752-9109 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Services start at 10:30 am 625 N 6th St, Burlington, IA 52601-5032 (319) 753-1895 - www.uuburlington.org

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 fl) Waterloo 50703 319-291 -2413 Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS) Service, support groups & trained volunteers for persons with HIV/AIDS in Waterloo/CF 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.

First United Methodist Church 6th & Kellogg Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30; Sun at 8:30 and 11:00am. www.fumcames.org.

515-232-2750

Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry. In Lutheran Center 2616 College St, Cedar Falls, IA 319-415-5747 mcdinoiwa@aol.com www.episcopalcampus.org All welcome!

Living with HIV Program 126 S. Kellogg, Suite 1 Ask for Janelle (Coordinator) 515-956-3312 ext 106 or I -800-890-8230

Community AIDS Assistance Project (CAAP) Funding for special personal needs, community projects, and small grants that are AIDS related.

PO Box 36, Waterloo, IA 50704

LGBTA Support Group at Hawkeye Community College Call Carol at 319-296-4014 for time & 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 www.//myspace.com/kingsandqueensspace 319-232-3001 Romantix Waterloo (Adult Emporium) 1507 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA 50702 319-234-9340 http://www.romantixonline.com/ Stellas Guesthouse 324 Summit Ave, Waterloo, IA Private B&B, Overnight accommodations for adults only.

319-232-2122 St. Lukes Episcopal Church 2410 Melrose Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 www.st-lukes-episcopal.org Services: Sunday 8:00 & 10:15, Thurs 11:30 319-277-8520 Together For Youth 233 Vold Dr, Waterloo, IA 50703 www.TogetherForYouth.net 319-274-6768 UNI-LGBTA Alliance-Student Organization 244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls 50613 lgbta@uni.edu 319-222-0003 United Church of Christ Cedar Falls 9204 University Avenue, Cedar Falls 319-266-9686 Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County 3912 Cedar Heights Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5640

Cedar Rapids/marion Adult Shop 630 66th Ave SW, 319-362-4939 Adult Shop North 5539 Grain Lane, 319-294-5360 Club Basix Open 5pm to 2am M-F, Sat & Sun 3pm to 2am 3916 1st Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids www.clubbasix.com 319-363-3194 Coe Alliance Education, activism, & fun for GLBT and straight students, staff, faculty and people from the community. Regular meetings.

Coe College 1220 First Ave. NE jchaimov@coe.edu www.public.coe.edu/organizations/Alliance.

Call John Chaimov (contact) at 319-399-8594 for details.

CSPS Legion Arts Contemporary Arts Center 1103 3rd St. SE info@legionarts.org 319-364-1580 Faith UMC 1000 30th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, 52402 Pastor Kathy Moore Sunday services at 11:00am. www.crfaithumc.org 319-363-8454 Foundation 2 Crisis Counseling 24-hour telephone crisis counseling. f2crisis@aol.com or www.f2online.org 1540 2nd Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 319-362-2174 or 800-332-4224 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 and leave a message -- all calls will be returned.

319-366-2055 Hamburger Mary’s 222 Glenbrook Dr. Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 319-378-4627 www.hamburgermaryscr.com www.myspace.com/hamburgermaryscr Krug Law Firm 6 Hawkeye Drive, Suite 103 North Liberty, IA 52317 319-626-2076 Linn County Public Health 501 13th NW Free confidential HIV testing, 319-892-6000

Linn County Stonewall Democrats 2nd Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m.

The LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party, meets at Hamburger Mary’s, 222 Glenbrook Dr. SE, behind 2nd Wind off of 1st Ave SE in Cedar Rapids. For more info, contact linnstonewall@ gmail.com Rapid AIDS Grant Wood Area Red Cross 3600 Rockwell Dr NE Cedar Rapids, 52410 319-393-9579.

PFLAG Cedar Rapids 3rd Monday, 6:30pm, 6 social Faith United Methodist Church 1000 30th St, NE 515-537-3126 People’s Church Unitarian Universalist A welcoming congregation.

600 Third Avenue SE 11AM Sunday.

319-362-9827 Stonewall Democrats of Linn County Contact Roy Porterfield royboycr@mchsi.com 319-362-5281

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 www.cfep-ne.org info@cfep-ne.org 402-398-3027 Council Bluffs NOW Write PO Box 3325 Omaha, NE 68103-0325 DC’s Saloon 610 S. 14th St. Omaha, NE Open everyday 2pm to 1am, western/levi/ leather.

402-344-3103 Diamond Bar 712 S. 16th St. Omaha, NE 10am - 1am, M-Sa, closed Sun 402-342-9595 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 Everyday 4pm-1am. Friday and Sat. After hours 12-4am 402-449-9147 GLBT Rainbow Outreach Omaha Serving GLBT community in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Excellent message and info. Also office for Imperial court of Nebraska.

1719 Leavenworth St Omaha, NE www.rocc.org 402-341-0330 Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA) PO Box 3354, Omaha, NE 68103 www.hgra.net 402-203-4680 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 in 1 402-346-4110.

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 Omaha Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church 7020 Cass St. (Omaha) 2nd Thursday, 7, 6:30 Social time 402-291-6781 River City Mixed Chorus Gay/lesbian chorus PO Box 3267 Omaha, NE 68103 Call Stan Brown, marketing 402-341-7464.

ACCESSline Page 33 Romantix Council Bluffs (North) (Adult Emporium) 3216 1st Ave. Council Bluffs, IA 51501-3353 http://www.romantixonline.com 515-955-9756 Romantix Council Bluffs (South) (Romantix After Dark) 50662 189th St, Council Bluffs, Ia 51503 http://www.romantixonline.com 712-366-1764 Youth Support Group for GLBT Youth 13-21, meets twice monthly.

Omaha, NE 402-291- 6781.

Decorah Decorah Diversity Appreciation Team Martin Klammer, Luther College 700 College Dr., 52101 563-387-2112.

Luther College Student Congregation Contact Office for College Ministry 700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101 563-387-1040.

PFLAG Northeast IA (Currently seeking a place to meet.)

563-535-7680 PRIDE Luther College Diversity Center, 700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101 Contact Chris at 563-387-2145 or Melanie at 563-387-1273 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meets alternating Sundays at 10:30am, Decorah Senior Center 806 River St Call Bill at 563-382-3458.

Des Moines AIDS Project of Central Iowa Free HIV testing, prevention supplies, care services, food pantry, information.

711 E. 2nd, Des Moines, IA 50309 515-284-0245 Blazing Saddle 416 E 5th St www.theblazingsaddle.com 515-246-1299 Buddies Corral 418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 515-244-7140 Church of the Holy Spirit-MCC Pastor Pat Esperanza Sunday service 10:30am at the 1st Christian Church 2500 University, Des Moines chsmccdmia@aol.com 515-287-9787.

Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus 515-953-1540 PO Box 12269, Des Moines, IA 50312 dmgmc@mchsi.com www.dmgmc.org.

Family Practice Center Safe, supportive LGBT health care.

200 Army Post Road, Ste 26 www.ppgi.org 515-953-7560 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.

Jonathanwilson@davisbrownlaw.com 515288-2500 First Unitarian Church 1800 Bell Avenue Services Sundays at 9:30 & 11am 515-244-8603 The Gallery (adult store) 1000 Cherry St Des Moines, IA 50309-4227 (515) 244-2916 Open 24 Hours www.LoversPlayground.com 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 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. 515-288-5282

ACCESSline Page 34 Lavender Victory Fund Financial assistance for women in need for medical emergencies.

700 Rose Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315 Contact Bonnie at 515-244-7946 Liberty Gifts 333 E. Grand Ave., Loft 105 Des Moines, IA Gay owned specialty clothing, jewelry, home decor.

Libertygiftsonline.com 515-508-0825 MINX Show Palace 1510 N.E. Broadway Des Moines, IA 50313 Open 9am - 2am, M-Th; 9am - 4am, F-Sat. 10am -9pm Sun. 515-266-2744 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 Rainbow Union, Drake University Contact Sara Graham ru@drake.edu PFLAG Des Moines 515-537-3126 or write 3520 Grand Ave #51, Des Moines, IA 50312 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 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.

Raccoon River Resort Accommodations for men, women, or mixed in campgrounds, lodge, Teepees or Treehouses. Reservations: 515-996-2829 or 515-279-7312 Ramada Des Moines West/Clive 1600 NW 114th St, Des Moines, IA 50325 US ( I80/I35 & Exit 124 ) 515-226-1600 Fax: 515-226-9022 Ritual Café On 13th between Grand and Locust. ritualcafe@aol.com Gay owned great music, awesome food and coffee.

515-288-4872 Romantix North Des Moines Iowa (Bachelor’s Library) 2020 E. Euclid Ave. http://www.romantixonline.com/ Des Moines, IA 50317-3668 515-266-7992 Romantix 1401 E. Army Post Rd. Des Moines IA 50320-1809 http://www.romantixonline.com/ 515-256-1102 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 & 11am.

See web page for other services.

515-243-7691 www.stjohnsdsm.org The CENTER 1300 Locust; The new LGBT and progressive place to be. thecenterdm@gmail.com Transformations Monthly meetings for the female to male, male to female, transgender community, cross dressers, gender queer, questioning, and their significant others. For location and info, email Jayden at thecenterdmtrans@gmail.com or call 515-779-5187

Section 3: Community Westminster Presbyterian Church 4114 Allison Ave. www.westpres.org Sunday services 8:45 and 11am. Of note is their Gay Lesbian Straight Affirmation small group ministry.

515-274-1534 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 (WCC) A lesbian social group.

Des Moines, IA www.iowawcc.org Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure Open daily. Gay-friendly 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 Pride Monthly social group, meeting for meal and conversation. www.dubuquepride.org 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. 3rd Thursday, 7pm 563-582-9388 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. www.uuf-dbq.org.

563-583-9910

Fort Dodge Romantix Fort Dodge (Mini Cinema) 15 N. 5th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-3801 http://www.romantixonline.com

Grinnell Saints Ephrem & Macrina Orthodox Mission. Welcoming worship in the Eastern Christian liturgical tradition.

Sunday services at 10am. (Affiliated with the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America.)

1226 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 641-236-0936 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 srcenter@grinnell.edu 641-269-3327

INDIANOLA Crossroads United Church of Christ (UCC) An Open & affirming congregation. Services: Sunday 10:30am, Summer worship: June, July, Aug, @ 9:30 am, worshiping in the Lounge at Smith Chapel, Simpson College, corner of Buxton and Clinton. Mailing address: P.O. Box 811, Indianola, IA 50125 515-961-9370.

Iowa City

Trinity United Methodist Church 1548 Eighth Street Services Sundays at 10a.m.

515-288-4056

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

Urbandale UCC An open & affirming congregation.

3530 70th St. Urbandale, IA 50322 515-276-0625.

Congregational Church UCC An Open and Affirming Congregation Sunday Worship 9:15am (July & August) 30 N. Clinton St. (across from Ul Pentacrest) 319-337-4301 - www.uiccic.org

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.

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 319-337-2111or 1-800-848-7684.

Faith United Church of Christ 1609 De Forest Street, Iowa City, IA Services Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

319-338-5238 GLBTAU-U of l Student support system and resource center, info, activism, events, and other community involvements.

203 IMU, University of IA Iowa City, IA 52242-1317 glbtau@uiowa.edu 319-335-3251 (voice mail) Hope United Methodist Church Worship Service at 9:30am.

2929 E. Court St., Iowa City, IA Contact Rev. Sherry Lohman.

319-338-9865 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 Free Medical Clinic Free & strictly confidential HIV Testing.

2440 Towncrest Dr Iowa City, 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 Krug Law Firm 6 Hawkeye Drive, Suite 103 North Liberty, IA 52317 319-626-2076 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 New Song Episcopal Church 912 20th Ave Coralville, IA Sunday services at 1Oam. Rev. Elizabeth Coulter, Pastor Rev. John Harper, Associate.

319-351-3577 Pride Committee WRAC 130 N. Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242 Bridget Malone 319-338-0512 Charles Howes 319-335-1486.

Romantix Iowa City (Pleasure Palace I) 315 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240-4722 http://www.romantixonline.com 319-351-9444 Studio 13 13 S. Linn St. (in the Alley) Iowa City, IA Open 7pm ‘til 2am, daily 319-338-7145 U of I Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Staff & Faculty Association c/o WRAC 130 N. Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242 319-335-1486 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. www.uusic.org 319-337-3443 United Action for Youth (UAY) 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.

The Ursine Group Bear Events in the Midwest.

P.O. Box 1143, Iowa City, IA 52244-1143 319-338-5810 Vortex Gifts 211 E. Washington, downtown Iowa City 319-337-3434

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 Assault Center, Inc. 24 hour Crisis Line: 641-753-3513 or (instate only) 800-779-3512

MASON CITY Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health 22 N. Georgia Ave, Ste 300 Mason City –Iowa 50401.

Free confidential AIDS testing.

641-421-9306 PFLAG North Iowa Chapter 1st Presbyterian Church 100 S. Pierce.

1st/ 2nd Monday (alternating), 7pm 641-583-2848

Mount Vernon Alliance Cornell College 810 Commons Cir # 2035 alliance@cornellcollege.edu www.cornellcollege.edu/alliance contact person: Glynnis 319-895-5874

NEWTON PFLAG Newton UCC Church 308 E 2nd St N 3rd Thursday, 7pm 641-521-7436

Pella Common Ground (Central College) Support group for GLBT students and allies.

Contact: Brandyn Woodard, Director of Intercultural Life woodard@central.edu 641-628-5134

Quad Cities AIDS Project Quad Cities Info, education & support. Ste 360 1351 Central Park West Davenport, IA 52804 563-421-4266.

Augie’s Tap 313 20th St, Rock Island (IL) Noon - 3am daily.

309-788-7389 Black Hawk College Unity Alliance Serving GLBT community at Black Hawk College.

6600 34th Ave, Rock Island, IL 309-716-0542.

September 2009 Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD) Social & support groups for lesbian, bi, and gay teens, adults, friends & families; newsletter.

309-786-2580 Community Center located at 1608 2nd Ave, Rock Island.

Quad Cities Pride Chorus.

At the MCC Church in D’port, 7pm Wed. qcswede64@aol.com Call Don at 563-324-0215 Rainbow Gifts www.rainbowgifts.net 309-764-0559 T.R. Video Adult books & video 3727 Hickory Grove Rd, Davenport, IA 563-386-7914.

Venus News (Adult) 902 w. 3rd St, Davenport, IA 563-322-7576

SHENANDOAH PFLAG Shenandoah 712-246-2824

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. Nightly 6:00pm to 2:00am.

712-258-6922 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 712-274-5208 PFLAG Siouxland PO Box 1311, Sioux City, IA 51102 siouxlandPFLAG@aol.com

Connections Nightclub 822 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802 Phone: (563) 322-1121

Romantix Sioux City (Adult Emporium) 511 Pearl St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1217

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.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church Service Sun 10:30am 406 12th St, Waverly, IA Rev Mary Christopher 712-258-0141

The Hole-In-The-Wall A Private Membership Men’s Club Located 3 miles east of Galesburg, IL just north of I-74 at Exit 51 309-289-2375 www.HoleInTheWallMensClub.org

Western Iowa Tech. GSA widemal@juno.com for info.

Holy Spirit Catholic Faith Community Meets one Sunday per month for Mass at 5:30pm at MCC-QC 3019 N. Harrison St., Davenport For more info, call 563-340-7488

The Royal Wedding Chapel 504 Church Street Royal, IA 51357 712-933-2223 www.TheRoyalWeddingChapel.com

Mary’s On 2nd 832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA 563-884-8014.

MCC Quad Cities - Svcs Sat 5pm, Sun 11am Bible study Wed. 7 pm 3019 N. Harrison, Davenport, IA 52803 Call 563-324-8281.

Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm.

QCAD.OutForGood@GMail.com 309-786-2580 PFLAG Quad Cities Eldridge United Methodist Church 604 S.2nd St., (Eldridge) 1st Monday, 6:30 pm 563-285-4173 Prism (Augustana College) Augustana Gay-Straight Alliance Augustana Library 639 38th St. Rock Island, IL Contact Tom Bengston 309-794-7406.

SPENCER (NEAR SIOUX FALLS)

Waverly Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry.

717 W. Bremer, (St. Andrew’s Episcopal) Waverly, IA www.episcoplcampus.org 319-415-5747 Gay, Lesbian Bisexual Student Alliance Wartburg College, Waverly, IA 50677 Contact Susan Vallem 319-352-8250 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 717 W. Bremer We welcome all to worship with us on Sunday at 10:30 am. Bible discussion Wed. 6:45pm Rev. Maureen Doherty, Pastor 319-352-1489

September 2009

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 35

ACCESSline Page 36

Section 3: Community

September 2009