ACCESSline, Iowa's LGBT Newspaper, December 2009 Issue, Volume 23 No 9

A Free Publication

www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com

Iowa’s first Transgender Day of Remembrance a success

by Sandy Vopalka

OneIowa Forums in a town near you!

by Jennifer Merriman, One Iowa It’s been seven months since the Iowa Supreme Court issued their unanimous decision to allow same-sex couples the freedom to marry in the state of Iowa. But the struggle to protect marriage equality has only just begun. As we’ve seen in California and Maine, these freedoms are never as secure as we hope.

The Iowa legislative session is set to begin in January, and a roster of anti-gay gubernatorial candidates is pledging to take away the freedoms we’ve worked so hard to achieve. One candidate even flaunts the idea

of defying the Iowa Supreme Court ruling with an executive order, barring the door to committed couples who want to marry.

At this critical juncture, One Iowa will host a series of public forums to continue our statewide conversation about marriage equality. These panel discussions around the state will represent various local perspectives: same-sex couples, parents of gays and lesbians, faith and community leaders, the legal community and local businesses.

For more information on the OneIowa Forums, go to page 9.

$49,000 raised for Iowa AIDS charities

On November 20, 2009, Iowa observed its first Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Day of Remembrance gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those of us who have died.

Pauline Park was in Iowa November 16-23 to help Iowans commemorate the day.

She is a nationally recognized Transgender activist from New York and the chair of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy (NYAGRA), which she co-founded in 1998.

There were TDOR events at Iowa State University, Grandview University, Iowa State Capitol, The CENTER, and First Unitarian Church in Des Moines. Pauline was able to share her story and show the documentary on her life “Envisioning Justice: The Journey of a Transgendered Woman” to many people during her visit.

“Envisioning Justice” is now available at The CENTER 1300 Locust St, Des Moines, 515-243-0313.

Holiday Meal at The CENTER

by Sandy Vopalka

The CENTER in Des Moines will be serving a Holiday meal on Friday December 25th, 2009 at noon; please don’t spend the day home alone if you don’t want too. The meal will be provided, if you have favorite

US News Page 5

side dish or dessert bring it to share if you can, otherwise come be with friends and make some new ones. The CENTER 1300 Locust St, Des Moines, 515-243-0313, our door is on 13 St.

World News Page 6

Two coinciding benefits in November raised a combined $49,000 for AIDS charities in Iowa.

On Sunday November 8th, the 23rd Annual All Iowa AIDS Benefit in Des Moines raised over $33,000 from V.I.P. Table and program ad sales, corporate and private donations, a live auction, merchandise sales, and various fundraisers sponsored by the local Gay bars.

Held once again at the Embassy Suites on the River, this year’s event was emceed by impersonator extraordinaire Dena Cass, WHO-TV anchor Sonya Heitshusen, and local event planner Anthony Marinaro. Congressman Leonard Boswell served as auctioneer.

“We want to thank all the performers, volunteers, auction item donors, sponsors and guests who helped make The Benefit successful”, said Frank Vaia, who co-chaired the event along with David Vitiritto. “Our special thanks go out to Saley Nong, owner of Divine Flowers by Saley, and her staff for creating a beautiful venue, the staff at Embassy Suites for their cooperation, and our hard-working committee members and volunteers,” continued Vaia.

The 2010 AIAB is scheduled for Sunday, November 7th.

Earlier that same weekend in Waterloo, the Community AIDS Assistance Project (CAAP) raised $15,500 over the two days of its “A Night on the Red Carpet” benefit.

Friday night “pre-benefit” events at the King and Queens Tap preceded Saturday night’s main talent show event at the Five Sullivan

Dixie Longate in Des Moines Page 11

WHO-TV anchor Sonya Heitshusen, and Congressman Leonard Boswell, on stage at the 2009 All Iowa AIDS Benefit.

Photo: Justin Edgington Brothers Convention Center.

“CAAP wants to wish all a prosperous new year and hope that you will continue to help support those in our community.

Special thanks is given to all the participants of this year’s benefit, including those who organized the event, and especially those who performed in it.”

Read about the CAAP benefit in an article by John Wilson with photos by Paul Danielsen and Renee Evans, page 27.

CAAP Benefit Page 27

Hot Wine Recipes Page 31

ACCESSline Page 2

Section 1: News & Politics

December 2009

December 2009

PUBLICATION INFORMATION Copyright © 2009 ACCESS in Northeast Iowa P.O. Box 2666 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666 (319) 550-0957 www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com

Section 1: News & Politics Happiness & Heartache of 2009...........3 US News.................................................4 World News ..........................................5 Creep of the Week, with bonus creeps.. 6 Action Reaction.....................................7

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 Q Syndicate Rex Wockner News Service Contributors: Joshua Dagon; Beau Fodor; Jennifer Merriman; Lisa Schreihart (a.k.a IowaLisa); Brett Edward Stout; Caitlyn Troendle; Sandy Vopalka; Jonathan Wilson

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.

THANK YOU

What’s Inside: Section 1: News & Politics

Jonathan Wilson.....................................8 OneIowa Public Forums.......................9 Extreme Right Watch...........................9

Section 2: Community

ACCESSline Page 3

In the spirit of Thanksgiving and in anticipation of a new year, I want to thank you all for your support: readers, advertisers, contributors, and volunteers. This year could never have happened without you. As the new editor-in-chief of ACCESSline, starting with the April issue, I have had my hands full this year—but my heart is full as well.

Special thanks to John Wilson and Paul Danielsen, who ran the paper for the previous 13 years and grew it from just “newsletter” to “newspaper”. Their unflagging support and ongoing education have made this year not only possible, but survivable (and fun).

Walk Through Finances......................29

The happiness and heartache that was 2009

Transcendental Meditation.................30

by Arthur Breur

CAAP Benefit......................................27 Finance, Shaken not Stirred..................28

Morals and Values................................30 Report: Retirement Disadvantages....31 Chef deJon Warms His Cockles.........31 Business Directory........................ 33-34

ACCESSline’s

“Fun Guide” Theater Ads Civic Center of Greater Des Moines: DIXIE Waterloo Community Playhouse Dixie Longate in Des Moines..............11 IowaLisa’s List......................................13 Outfield.................................................12 Joshua Dagon.......................................14 Cocktail Chatter..................................14 Deep Inside Hollywood.......................15 The Gay Wedding Planner..................16 Out of Town: Guadalajara, Mexico......21 Hear Me Out........................................24 Comics and Crossword Puzzle...........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.

Starting April 3rd it seemed like the LGBT community was finally seeing its day—and Iowa was the star. After California’s bitter disappointment of the previous November, Iowa became only state west of, well, the East Coast to recognize that samesex couples deserve the same protections as opposite-sex couples under our State’s constitution.

We were quickly followed by successful legislation in Vermont (April 7), Maine (May 6) and New Hampshire (June 3). In three short months, the number of states that recognized same-sex marriages had tripled.

New York’s governor was pushing for legislation as well, and Washington DC was debating the recognition of legal same-sex marriages performed outside the city.

In October, the National Equality March was a huge success, with estimates saying as many as 200,000 were in attendance.

Later that month, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was passed and signed into law by President Obama.

The year seemed to be a steady upward climb, building an unstoppable momentum.

Then came Question 1 in Maine. A mean-spirited campaign headed by the National Organization for Marriage got the legislation first put on the ballot and then passed.

The hurt of having our civil rights put to

a vote and losing yet again has overshadowed the fact that in a single year the number of states that recognize same-sex marriage has more than doubled. Yes, the number is still exactly a handful: five. Ten percent of the country’s fifty states.

And yes, every time the issue has been put to a vote, we have had equal rights denied us, even in California and Maine—two of the country’s most progressive states.

However, despite the ridiculous argument that the states should each be deciding whether or not to recognize our relationships as legal entities by themselves—and therefore creating the patchwork quilt of legal protection as we drive across this great land—the states themselves did not decide on the issue. The decisions in the states of California and Maine were both instantiated and influenced by out-of-state organizations: the National Organization for Marriage out of New Jersey and the Mormon Church out of Utah.

True, the effort for same-sex marriage equality is also influenced by large out-ofstate organizations such as Lambda Legal, GLAAD, and HRC, even here in Iowa. But that only furthers the point that a federal law must be put into place to protect our rights and securities as couples.

It is an ongoing fight and we have a long way to go. Just remember that sandwiched between our two most recent and painful losses were the very encouraging victories of 2009, which started right here in Iowa.

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ACCESSline Page 4

Section 1: News & Politics

December 2009

US NEWS by Rex Wockner Washington Blade and other gay papers shuttered The Washington Blade and other gay publications owned by Window Media or Unite Media, including Atlanta’s Southern Voice and the South Florida Blade, abruptly shut down Nov. 16.

Window and Unite were majorityowned by Avalon Equity Fund, an investment corporation that was forced into receivership last year by the Small Business Administration.

At press time, it was not clear which entity was responsible for the shutdowns.

Other gay publications with ownership that involved Avalon and Window, Unite or HX Media closed previously, including the New York Blade, Boston’s In Newsweekly, New Orleans’ Impact and the Houston Voice.

Avalon also shut down Genre magazine.

The Washington Blade, which dated to 1969 and was considered one of the nation’s top gay newspapers journalistically, had seemingly flourished for much of its history prior to Window’s ownership.

On Nov. 20, some 17 former Blade staffers launched a new gay newspaper in D.C., the “DC Agenda”. See dcagenda.com.

AMERICAblog launches DNC boycott

John Aravosis (pictured) and Joe Sudbay of AMERICAblog have launched a donor boycott of the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America and the Obama campaign.

Photo by Rex Wockner John Aravosis and Joe Sudbay of AMERICAblog have launched a donor boycott of the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America and the Obama campaign.

“President Obama promised to be a ‘fierce advocate’ for LGBT Americans,” they said. “But while making modest progress on a scant few issues, on the major campaign promises made to our community, the president and the Democratic Party have failed to keep their commitments.

“There has been little, if any, pressure from the White House for votes on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The administration continues to send mixed signals on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And we’ve been told not to expect the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act to even be considered until President Obama’s second term.”

Co-sponsors of the boycott include Daily Kos, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake blog, writers and bloggers Dan Savage and Michelangelo Signorile, activists David

Mixner and Robin Tyler, TowleRoad blog’s Andy Towle and Michael Goff, and bloggers Pam Spaulding (Pam’s House Blend) and Bil Browning (Bilerico), among others.

Aravosis and Sudbay said the boycott is “temporary” and is “meant to help some friends -- President Obama and the Democratic Party -- who have lost their way.”

In an official statement to FireDogLake, the Human Rights Campaign said: “Individual donors should always make their own careful assessments of how to spend limited political contributions. We all need to focus on the legislative priorities identified

by AMERICAblog and with whatever tactic individuals decide to employ, the ultimate objective needs to be securing the votes we need to move our legislative agenda forward.”

Organizing for America is a DNC community-organizing project founded after Obama’s inauguration that mobilizes supporters of his legislative agenda.

For more boycott details or to get involved, see tinyurl.com/ycgu997.

Prop 8 repeal campaign uses social networking

Grassroots activists collecting 1 million voter signatures to place an initiative on the 2010 ballot to repeal California’s Proposition

8 say they are using a “state-of-the-art ... unique social-networking tool” to accomplish the task.

“SignForEquality.com will make history by using custom social-networking tools, as well as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, to support an all-volunteer signature drive to repeal Prop 8,” said Love Honor Cherish Executive Director John Henning. “People throughout California can now help us win marriage back by the simple act of signing and collecting signatures.”

The Web site features a downloadable petition form and training videos for signature gatherers, and uses social-networking technology to help gatherers set goals, build teams and find signature-gathering events, Henning said.

California ballot-measure campaigns typically spend millions of dollars to employ paid signature-gatherers. “SignForEquality. com brings the campaign back to the people,” Henning said.

The signatures must be turned in to state officials by April 12.

The grassroots 2010 effort does not have support from large GLBT groups, many of which have said or suggested they want to wait until 2012 to attempt to undo Prop 8.

The Courage Campaign had earlier supported a 2010 campaign but later complained of deficiencies in governing structure, expertise, research and funding.

Same-sex marriage was legal in California for 4 1/2 months in 2008 until voters passed Prop 8 amending the state constitution to overturn the state Supreme Court ruling that authorized gay nuptials.

The proposed amendment being circulated states: “To protect religious freedom, no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution. To provide for fairness in the government’s issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read ... Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.”

Love Honor Cherish is a Los Angelesbased grassroots organization committed to repealing Prop 8 in 2010 and developing a new generation of leadership on same-sexmarriage issues.

Grassroots activists collecting 1 million voter signatures to place an initiative on the 2010 ballot to repeal California’s Proposition 8 say they are using a “state-of-the-art ... unique social-networking tool” to accomplish the task.

“We are fools to have spent all this money and time (on same-sex marriage in California and Maine) and not have defined the opponents. It’s not enough to answer their charges. We need to hit them back and not let up on it until voters don’t buy their lies anymore.

Malpractice in my opinion.”

— Steve Hildebrand, who was Barack Obama’s deputy national campaign director and still advises Obama on gay stuff, to this column, Nov. 6.

December 2009

Section 1: News & Politics

World News by Rex Wockner Same-sex marriage legalized in Buenos Aires

A judge legalized same-sex marriage in Buenos Aires on Nov. 13. Mayor Mauricio Macri quickly said he would not appeal the ruling, a gay couple was given a marriage license on Nov. 16, and they will marry on Dec. 1.

In the case filed by gay couple Alex Freyre and José María Di Bello, Judge Gabriela Seijas ruled that it is unconstitutional not to treat everyone equally under the law.

Other local same-sex couples now can use the ruling to demand their own marriage licenses.

Freyre is head of the Buenos Aires AIDS Foundation and Di Bello works for the Red Cross.

Buenos Aires, some other Argentine cities and the province of Río Negro already have civil-union laws for same-sex couples.

Elsewhere in Latin America, similar laws are in force in Uruguay, Mexico City, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, and the Mexican state of Coahuila, which borders Texas.

The Buenos Aires archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church criticized Seijas’ ruling, saying banning gays from marrying is not “discrimination.”

In a statement, the archdiocese said society is in “moral crisis” and that matrimony is about legal recognition of women’s children.

Indian election officials recognize third gender Indian transgender and intersex people will no longer have to choose “male” or “female” when they vote, the Election Commission said Nov. 12.

They can instead choose “O” for “other.”

India has a class of transgender people known as “hijras.” Most have penises or are intersex; some are female and some have undergone genital modifications. They usually use female pronouns and dress as women.

Iranian HIV stats released

Iran’s Health Ministry says that as of mid-October, a total of 20,130 Iranians have tested HIV-positive, 2,097 people have been diagnosed with AIDS and 3,409 HIV-positive people have died.

The ministry said 93 percent of those who tested HIV-positive are male and only 13 percent of infections resulted from sex, with 77.5 percent resulting from sharing needles to inject drugs.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has claimed that Iran does not have gay people “like you have in (the U.S.)” “In Iran ... absolutely such a thing does not exist as a phenomenon,” he said in 2007.

There have been persistent, though unconfirmed, reports for years that Iran hangs men for the crime of engaging in sodomy, but the only sodomy-related executions that have been publicized involved

individuals who were accused of additional crimes as well, such as rape.

In a 2008 interview, Ahmadinejad denied that people are executed solely for engaging in homosexual acts.

“Homosexuals are not even known who they are to be hanged,” he told the Democracy Now! radio program.

“So, we don’t have executions of homosexuals. Of course, we consider it an abhorrent act, but it is not punished through capital punishment.”

Protesters march on Uganda’s N.Y. mission

Around 50 gays and their supporters protested outside Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Nov. 19 against a draconian anti-gay bill pending in Uganda’s Parliament.

IGLHRC photo Around 50 gays and their supporters protested at Uganda’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Nov. 19 against a draconian anti-gay bill pending in Uganda’s Parliament.

The legislation bans anything and everything gay, including: touching someone in a gay way; funding or sponsoring gay groups; broadcasting, publishing or marketing anything gay; advocating for homosexuality; renting to or harboring a homosexual; engaging in “aggravated homosexuality”; and failing to report to authorities one’s awareness of the existence of a gay person within 24 hours of learning the person exists.

“Aggravated homosexuality” applies to repeat offenders and people who are HIVpositive. It is punished with death, while the other crimes carry penalties as high as life in prison.

The bill has been strongly denounced by the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs’ chair, vice chair and ranking minority member, along with openly lesbian U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who called the legislation “egregious.”

The New York demo was organized by the African Services Committee, Health Gap, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, the Council for Global Equality, ACT UP/Philadelphia, Advocates for Youth, and Proyecto Sol Philadelphia. A similar protest took place at the Ugandan Embassy in Washington, D.C. For the full text of the bill, see tinyurl.com/hatebill. For information on how to help fight the bill, see tinyurl.com/iglhrc-ug.

Activists target Turkish law The Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association in Ankara, Turkey, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have teamed up to demand that Turkey’s “Law of Misdemeanors” be rewritten to protect transgender people’s rights to free expression, association and movement.

“In recent months,” the groups said, “the harassment of transgender and transsexual persons in Turkey has intensified as police abuse the country’s Law of Misdemeanors to legitimize daily fines, extortion, eviction, detention and police brutality.

The law gives security forces tremendous leeway to punish any noise, disobedience and disturbance, with virtually no oversight in how the law is applied or recourse to those who are penalized.”

The groups said trans people are routinely fined $67 under the law’s Article 32, which applies to anyone who disobeys an order issued “to protect public security, public order or commonweal,” and are fined $34 under Articles 36 and 37, which target anyone who “makes noise with a purpose of discomforting or breaking the peace of others” or “disturbs others to sell goods and services.”

“In Ankara, transgender people report being regularly ... taken into custody and

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being kicked, slapped, punched and physically brutalized,” the groups said.

“Persecution of transgender people in Istanbul has ... become especially vicious with the introduction of a bonus system (that) gives officers ‘points’ for the number of fines they issue and lawbreakers they apprehend.”

The groups said trans people in Istanbul are being apprehended in broad daylight while shopping or running errands and subjected to fines, detention, extortion, police brutality and eviction from their homes.

For more information or to join the campaign against the law, see tinyurl.com/ transturkey.

Australian Capital Territory legalizes same-sex unions

Australia’s Capital Territory has again legalized same-sex unions.

Two previous attempts were overturned by the national government, which has cited a national law that bans legal statuses that mimic marriage.

Local legislators this time banned straight couples from entering into civil unions so as not to “mimic” marriage. It is unknown if the attorney-general will allow the new law to stand.

Assistance: Bill Kelley

ACCESSline Page 6

Section 1: News & Politics

December 2009

Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski Ken Cuccinelli

Looking for a good Halloween costume?

Why not go as Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia’s new Attorney General. As Joe Sudbay of America Blog puts it, “He’s very scary.”

Why is he so scary? Well, he wants to put gay sex-havers in jail, for one.

A Virginia Pilot editorial endorsing Cuccinelli’s Democratic opponent revealed some pretty far-out shit. “My view is that homosexual acts, not homosexuality, but homosexual acts are wrong. They’re intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural lawbased country it’s appropriate to have policies that reflect that,” Cuccinelli replied when asked about an anti-discrimination policy that included gays and lesbians. “They don’t comport with natural law. I happen to think that it represents (to put it politely; I need my Thesaurus to be polite) behavior that is not healthy to an individual and in aggregate is not healthy to society.”

And this from a guy who, as a Senator, opposed stricter laws against cockfighting.

But at least he’s not against homos, just homo sex.

It’s no surprise that The Family Foundation, an anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-stem cell research, anti-no fault divorce group, is totally gay for Cuccinelli. In a column in the Washington Post, Marc Fisher describes the warm welcome the Foundation gave Cuccinelli at a 2008 rally when he was a state senator.

“Cuccinelli told the friendly audience that he was here to stand tall on ‘abortion bills

and the fight over the homosexual agenda,’ a phrase he used five times over the course of a 10-minute talk,” Fisher writes.

Five times in 10-minutes? Somebody’s got homos on the brain.

“When you look at the homosexual agenda, I cannot support something that I believe brings nothing but self-destruction, not only physically but of their soul,” Cuccinelli told the group.

According to Fisher, “(Senate Majority Leader Dick) Saslaw sees Cuccinelli as a prime example of the kind of social conservative who is too willing to use popular discomfort with an outsider group in society as a way to appeal to voters.”

“It’s been pretty fashionable around here for the past four or five years to pound gays into the ground,” Saslaw said. “Now it’s immigrants. When they get done with them, it’ll be someone else. They make their living on that.”

Hey now, Cuccinelli needs to put antigay food on his anti-gay family table. Plus, his record on all things homo goes back a while.

In 2005 Cuccinelli got all hot and bothered about a sexual health fair at George Mason University. “They’re pushing a pro-sex agenda and an anything-goes agenda,” he said of the fair, which included “five booths with information on abstinence, condoms and self-help exams, as well as sexual orientation” according to WGAL.com.

Not surprisingly, he had a big objection to the gay stuff. “You can’t have safe homosexual sex. There is no such thing and yet one

of the sponsoring groups is the homosexual group on campus,” he said.

And as we know, he doesn’t mind homosexuals as long as there’s no sex involved.

“This office, for someone who focuses on it day to day for a long period of time, can affect the direction of Virginia government,” Cuccinelli told the Washington Post. “It isn’t one dramatic step on any given day, or getting one bill passed. It’s the gradual, slow, dripdrip-drip impact that you can have.”

Hey, Virginia, this guy is now your top law enforcement honcho. Prepare to get pissed on.

Tony Perkins

Unicorns. Yeti. The Loch Ness Monster.

Bigfoot. UFOs. What do these things have in common?

They’re all shrouded in mystery and folklore.

Few have seen them, many have searched.

Some exist only in grainy photographs emerging from the woods or lake or sky. Well, now we can add another creature of fantasy to the list thanks to Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council: gay senior citizens.

You see, on Oct. 21, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced plans to create a resource center for LGBT seniors. According to HHS, “The LGBT Resource Center will help communitybased organizations understand the unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other challenges.”

HHS cites a statistic that “as many as 1.5 to 4 million LGBT individuals are age 60 and older.”

On FRC’s Web site, under the heading “For HHS, a Senior Moment” (get it? Because seniors are senile and often do stupid things so HHS is just as dumb as an old person), Perkins lambasted the Obama administration for wasting money on such a thing.

“In reality, HHS has no idea how many LGBT seniors exist. No one does! The movement is only a few decades old, and people who are 80- or 90-years-old didn’t grow up in a culture where it was acceptable to identify with this lifestyle,” he said.

And we all know that the only way you can be gay is to grow up in a culture that accepts being gay, which is why so many kids are gay now because they learn it in school, since America is all about homos and gay marriage is legal in all states and no one hates gay people any more. Hooray!

In other words, Perkins is celebrating the good old days where the closet door was firmly shut and gay people had to live with a shroud of shame and secrecy.

“Of course, the real tragedy here – apart from the unnecessary spending – is that, given the risks of homosexual conduct, these people are less likely to live long enough to become senior citizens! Yet once again, the Obama administration is rushing to reward a lifestyle that poses one of the greatest public health risks in America. If this is how HHS prioritizes, imagine what it could do with a trillion dollar health care overhaul!”

The connection to universal health care is a nice touch. We get it, Tony. Gays are bad, health care is bad. In fact, gays are so bad

they all die before they get old.

Well, tell that to Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, a lesbian couple together nearly 56 years. That makes them really old! Sadly, Martin passed away last year. No doubt Perkins would use this fact as proof that old gay people don’t exist. If you were to ask him how she died, I suspect his answer would be, “AIDS, probably.” Granted, Lyon is still alive, but since she’s single now Perkins probably considers her an ex-gay.

Frank Kameny is another gay elder.

Granted, The Advocate mistakenly reported that he died a couple of years ago, but as far as I know he’s an alive and kicking octogenarian.

But then, maybe Perkins doesn’t consider 80+ old. I think a visit from a group of silver daddies might do him some good.

And hey, don’t seniors love to go places on busses? I smell a road trip!

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri

Since gays and lesbians aren’t allowed to legally vow “‘til death do us part” in Rhode Island, it’s only fitting that they not be allowed to take care of each other after death.

So says Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, who vetoed a bill that allowed domestic partners to make funeral arrangements for each other. A domestic partner, as defined by the bill, is a couple who have at least a one-year relationship and proof of financial “interdependence,” such as joint mortgages, checking accounts, or credit cards.

This reminds me of a bit by lesbian stand-up comic Leslie Thompson. Upon being told by a telephone solicitor hawking burial plots that the offer is for married couples, Thompson responds, “First we can’t get married, and now we can’t get buried?”

Of course, it’s not that gay Rhode Islanders can’t get buried, it’s just that their partners can’t make that decision for them since they’re not, you know, real family.

“A one-year time period for any relationship is not a sufficient length of duration to establish a serious, lasting bond between two individuals to supplant the surviving individual over traditional family members relative to the sensitive personal traditions and issues regarding funeral arrangement, burial rights, and disposal of human remains,” Carcieri, a long time opponent of marriage equality, wrote in his veto letter. “Many casual relationships last longer than a year.”

True. And many one-man-one-woman marriages last less than a year. Yet they’re allowed to make decisions based on “sensitive personal traditions” and are entrusted with the “disposal of human remains,” which you apparently have to do yourself in Rhode Island.

No, it’s better to let blood relatives take care of everything since all families are accepting of their gay or lesbian offspring and no one would dare go against his or her wishes while at the same time forbidding his or her partner from even coming to the funeral. That’d never happen in this day and age. Except when it does. So you’ll have to excuse homos for being a little sensitive

TTCREEPS continued page 10

December 2009

Section 1: News & Politics

ACCESSline Page 7

Action Reaction: From 8 to 1 by Brett Edward Stout

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; this rule is something by which we are all bound regardless of our knowledge or perception of it. The purpose of this column is to explore the actions and reactions we have to the decisions and questions raised in our ever-adapting world. The reactions here are intended to stimulate debate in the hope that through it, we can better see what unites us in the face of our differences.

On November 3rd, 2009 Maine voters went to the poles to vote on Proposition 1, which repealed legal gay-marriage in the state of Maine in a similar way to that of Proposition 8 in California. The vote had the potential to be a massive victory for LGBT rights, or another in a long line of failures.

It was unfortunately the latter. What reaction should we have to the actions of the voters in Maine? At this time, most people start asking; “What went wrong?”, “What’s wrong with people?”, and “How can people still feel this way?” I think that these are questions that we already know the answer to. Everyone gets mired by thoughts of religious implications, social acceptance, and public tolerance, but is this fundamentally the problem? The reality is, while they are good topics to discuss, they are not in fact the questions we should be asking. However, in order to get to the better questions we need to move past this initial reaction.

A popular vote does little more than tell us that straight people outnumber gay people. Therein is the definition of a minority and there is no question that minorities need certain protections. There is a reason why juries are selected, government officials elected, and judges appointed. Because, left to their devices, the people are incapable of looking out for their long-term interests.

People choose on conscience, feeling, and prejudice without consideration of consequence. This is the fundamental principle

for our system of representative democracy.

So, to answer the initial question of who and what went wrong? We did. We all did. Not as groups or demographics but as a nation, a crowd, a mob. As a collective, despite the good intentions of individuals, we are unable to make decisions with care of repercussion. We are an instinctual mass that reacts according to fear, desire, joy, and impulse.

The real questions we need to ask ourselves are these; how has it been allowed that the civil liberties of a minority have been put up for the approval of the majority? Why should we be raising funds and soliciting for basic equal protection? And, in a day and age where we’ve come so far, why is this even an issue?

While it may make us sad to know that x% of the population disapproves of us, legally speaking, their approval is irrelevant.

Nowhere in the constitution is there a list of excepted populations. The very idea that we know what’s best for us is ridiculous.

You may laugh at this, but if left to popular vote, would Arabs be allowed to fly on planes? Would HIV-infected individuals be quarantined? Would illegal immigrants be packed into trains and shipped away? I don’t think it’s my cynicism that answers these questions. I think it is history and the ugly underbelly of man’s selfishness.

So, what has kept us from traveling this dark path in the past? We owe our progress specifically to our independent judiciary,

which safeguard the people from making decisions bigger than they can understand.

For this, some see the court as an enemy and have begun rebel against even the court’s authority by slinging volleys of vocabulary.

It is here the absurd term “judicial activists” rears its ugly head.

Judges are not activists for ruling on the case Writer, filmmaker, and photographer Brett Edward Stout brought before them. is a Cedar Rapids native and recent graduate of the University of Iowa.

They are judges. We He spent five years in the US Marine Corps as a Russian linguist. His offer arguments for first novel Sugar-baby Bridge was published in 2008. He is currently their judgment and task working on his second novel, entitled The Lives Between. them with the burden of objectivity: we task them to safeguard This is the only way to move past this issue. and interpret our constitution with this Regardless of what has changed on the road objectivity because, on our own, we cannot. from 8 to 1, civil liberties are not up for public Objectivity is a standard we, as citizens, are debate. The time to debate for religious not accountable to. forgiveness is over, the questions of social

What leads to all the chaos with acceptance are immaterial, and the call for marriage is the injection of religious tradi- tolerance, for now, can go on ringing. What tion, and therein lies the rub: marriage is called for now is federal intervention: cannot simultaneously be a religious intervention from blind hate, intervention sacrament and a legal institution. We have from misguided misunderstanding, and a clear decision to make. Either marriage intervention from our own shortcomings. as a religious tradition must forfeit its legal Only under the light of impartiality, free affiliations or marriage as a legal union must from passion, will we continue to grow as be regulated without religious limitations. a free nation.

ACCESSline Page 8

Section 1: News & Politics

December 2009

The Power of Prayer by Jonathan Wilson “More is wrought by prayer than this world dreams of, let us pray.” Such was the standard invitation to prayer issued by my pastor father throughout his very successful ministerial career. Allen Whitfield, founder of the Des Moines law firm that still bears his name, had a plaque on his desk similarly engraved. I grew up believing it was true, a “given,” so to speak. As I grew with that as a given, I became more critical of and dissatisfied with the quality of my prayers; they seemed remarkably one-sided and consistently unanswered whether I couched them as personal wishes or sought unselfishly some benefit for others.

While on a recent trip to the Machu Picchu ruins of Peru, I was made to appreciate the Mayan knowledge of and worshipful respect for the sun, which they devoutly believed revolved around the earth. They understood its crucial importance in food production and the role it plays in sustaining life. They were intently aware that it moved to the north or south, depending on the season. The ruins to this day can be seen in alignment with the movements of the sun “god.” They knew that if ever that “god” failed to reverse direction it would vanish to the north or south and all life would vanish with it.

Most important was its maximum reach during winter; when it reversed course annually on June 21. Then the Maya knew their winter would be ending and in a few months a new planting season would begin. They kept careful track of the sun’s maximum reaches, north and south, and built their magnificent

structures, their streets, and their homes in line with the shadows cast at those points.

They had no reason to know why the sun “god” changed direction but, knowing how important the event was, they prayed fervently as those shadows approached the maximums around which they had built their homes and their lives. And, sure enough, their prayers were reliably answered affirmatively twice every year.

By contrast, “Christians”—who decimated the Mayan culture, language, and religion in the name of an unholy alliance between religion and exploitation—pray to an unseen “God,” professing It to be the singular all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, just and merciful creator of all things. Somehow that “God” managed, despite those remarkable traits of power, foresight, and love, to create some mighty flawed “children.” Then, in order to fix His mistake (but, apparently, ashamed of the means by which He had made them for procreation) He impregnated with a son an unsuspecting virgin among them (rape by today’s standards), who was coincidently born of a virgin also. He then had folks crucify the son in order to pay for everyone’s sins before and since. With such super traits unconstrained by the natural order of things, a well placed supplication to such a “God” through prayer ought to be expected to do the trick every time. The reality, of course, is otherwise; and even “Christians” deep down know it.

The Bible correctly says that it rains on the just and on the unjust. We know that’s true. So much for a just “God.” Everyone also

knows that bad things happen to good people, including devout, professing “Christians.” So much for an all-powerful, just, and merciful “God.” Go figure. I’ve on occasion gotten worse and better than I’ve deserved. My prayers have not appeared to correlate to avoiding the former or causing the latter. But I’ve stopped both blaming myself for faulty prayers, and blaming “God” for failing to respond positively to them.

It is said that history is written by the victors, and it’s true. The Maya were not the victors, and the “Christians” have written the history. But if we look past that historical bias, and search our souls, which makes more logical sense to you: praying to the sun “god” for what you want and need for it to do, with reliable assurance it will consistently do so, or praying to a silent “God” that capriciously provides you with your needs, perhaps with plenty or not, and occasionally with miracles -- all absent any apparent relationship to virtue or prayer. In the end, the prayers in either case do nothing demonstrable one way or the other, but the former, at least, has a reliable outcome.

A blind belief in the power of prayer to motivate a merciful “God” who supposedly already knows without reminder or being asked was a religious view that served me as an uncritical child. When I became a man, however, I have put away such childish things, as the Bible admonishes that I should do. I have come to the conclusion that bad things will continue to happen to good people -- my betters -- and if I want anything good to happen

for myself or others, its for me to take affirmative steps that might help make it happen.

The bottom line is that if we want a better world for ourselves, others, and our progeny, we need to get off our knees and get busy. As has been aptly said, “God has no hands but our hands.” St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582).

Jonathan Wilson is an attorney at the Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines, and chairs the First Friday Breakfast Club (www.ffbciowa.org), an educational, nonprofit corporation for gay men in Iowa who gather on the first Friday of 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. It is the largest breakfast club in the state of Iowa. He can be contacted at JonathanWilson@DavisBrownLaw.com or 515-288-2500.

“DNC/HRC fusion robs the (gay) community of any actual representation of us, and should remind us that any civil rights movement that puts its trust in any political party loses both its integrity and its success. We have to do this ourselves, from the ground up, in our living rooms and churches, synagogues and mosques, workplaces and family get-togethers. We need to change the leadership of HRC (Human Rights Campaign) to end their role as the Democratic party’s chief enablers of substantive inaction. And we need to remain focused not on the nastiness of our opponents, but on our own positive arguments for change. We must not take the Christianist bait. We’re winning because we have the better argument. So keep making the argument, and stop looking to others to save us.”

— Gay writer Andrew Sullivan on his blog, Nov. 6.

Section 1: News & Politics

December 2009

One Iowa Public Forums

by Caitlyn Troendle, One Iowa Although it’s been more than six months since the Iowa Supreme Court issued their unanimous decision to allow same-sex couples the freedom to marry, the struggle to protect marriage equality is really just beginning. As we’ve seen in California and Maine, these freedoms are never as secure as we hope. One Iowa, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, will host a series of 17 public forums in communities across Iowa to keep the conversations about civil marriage informative and positive. One Iowa’s Deputy Field Director, Matthew Skuya, answers questions about what the forums are and who should go.

Where did you get the idea to hold forums across the state?

The first time we decided to hold the forums was because we felt there was a need to correct the endless misinformation out there. We wanted to clear the record about what marriage equality means, with help from community members and leaders. Because of the recent court decision allowing civil marriage in Iowa, we believe there will be more public interest in the forums. This is also expected to be an important issue in the upcoming elections.

If someone asked you why they should attend a forum, what would you tell them?

It is important to continue education and discuss the fight to keep civil marriage equality in Iowa. It is also important for communities across Iowa to hear a positive, civil conversation about marriage equality. So many people only hear negative or abstract arguments against the freedom to marry, and they need to know how this affects their friends and neighbors. Our forum panel of speakers include local business owners, clergy and couples. Attend the forum, hear about the issue from people who live in your area, and then make your decisions.

Do you encourage opponents of marriage equality to attend?

In a word, yes. All of our panelists represent different perspectives towards a positive vision for LGBT rights. The Q&A at the end is set up solely so community members attending the forums have a chance to express their concerns.

What can a person who’s never been to a forum expect to see there?

The forum will last approximately two hours. The first part is an opportunity for the panel members to share their perspectives and personal experiences, as well as visions and ideas for the future. The last thirty minutes is comprised of a question and answer session, allowing the panel and audience to interact directly. This also gives the opportunity for topics to be discussed that might not have been brought up by the members of the panel.

Anywhere from 50-150 community members attend each forum, so it can also be a good networking opportunity.

How are the panel participants chosen?

For each forum we try to get five panelists from the community, so attendents can

get better insight into how issues affect them where they live. At every forum we seek to have the perspectives of a same-sex couple, faith leader, legal representative, ally such as a parent or community leader, and business leader. The community will hear how marriage equality will (or won’t) affect them in all areas of their life – from personal, religious, legal, and economic standpoints.

If someone misses the forum in their city, are there plans in the future for more events?

We only have 17 planned at this point, but we will continue to hold them for as long as the public has questions about marriage equality. If someone can’t make it to the forum in their area, I suggest looking at OneIowa.org to find dates of other forums near their area. You can always contact One Iowa at 515-288-4019 for more information on the forums or any other One Iowa event.

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Thursday, December 3rd 6:30PM - 8:30PM Waterloo Public Library 415 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA Monday, December 7th 7:00PM - 9:00PM Grinnell Campus, Grinnell, IA

Tuesday, December 8th 7:00PM - 9:00PM Campus of Northern Iowa Community College, Calmar, Iowa

Wednesday, December 9th 6:30PM - 8:30PM Central Middle School, 901 Cedar St, Muscatine, IA Thursday, December 10th 6:30PM - 8:30PM All Cultures Equal Center 1440 E 2nd St, Webster City, IA Thursday, December 10th 5:30PM - 7:30PM Newton Public Library 100 N 3rd Ave W, Newton, IA

Thursday, December 10th 6:30PM - 8:30PM West Burlington Community High School Auditorium 408 W Van Weiss Blvd, West Burlington, IA Monday, December 14th 6:00PM - 8:00PM Central Library 1000 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA

Thursday, December 17th 7:00PM - 9:00PM Scott Community College Student Life Center Auditorium, Bettendorf, IA Tuesday, January 5th 6:30PM - 8:30PM Mindframe Theater 555 JFK Rd, Dubuque, IA

ACCESSline Page 9

Extreme Right Watch

by Jennifer Merriman, One Iowa

Norris fundraiser for Vander Plaats Much lampooned Texas actor Chuck Norris is stumping for anti-gay Iowa gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.

According to The Iowa Republican website, private jets fueled up Friday to deliver 40 guests to a $5,000-per-couple fundraiser at the Norris ranch in Texas.

Jetsetting, Focus on the Family cover boy Vander Platts was endorsed by Norris in June, along with Roy “Ten Commandments” Moore and former Ohio Rep. John Kasich, author of the book Stand for Something: The

Battle for America’s Soul.

Even Republicans on their own site can’t get behind this flagrant waste of money and resources by interests outside the state: “Some months back on TIR I got the impression that we didn’t like the idea of out-of-State interests investing interests in our politics?”

“This is very likely something that could come back to haunt BVP…especially if he tries to take on Culver for being funded by ‘Hollywood, out of state interests’.”

“It must be nice to fly in private planes down to Texas for a 5K dinner. BVP, I need a JOB. I don’t care about gay marriage. I need to feed my family and keep my kids in the state, not fly them to Texas for dinner. I thought BVP was a man of the people not a jetsetter.

I didnt think he was this kind of candidate.

Wish I could go but I don’t have 5k or my own plane. What’s the carbon footprint of 40 people taking private planes to texas?”

“I’m a pilot in my spare time and in order to fly 40 people privately to texas, you would need 4-5 jets and 8-10 pilots. The fuel cost alone would be $30,000. That does not include charter fees, pilots or anything. If Chuck is a Netjets member then it would cost him 100,000 in air hours to fly 40 people to Texas. That kind of jetsetting is the problem with corporate America and why the bailouts are happening and why we’re all paying the bill. BVP – Bailout Vander Plaats”

ACCESSline Page 10 SScontinued from page 6

CREEPS about this issue.

A big part of Carcieri’s problem with the bill was the whole domestic partner thing.

Rhode Island has no DP law. So Carcieri found the DP provision to be “vague and ill-defined.”

Hey, you know what isn’t “vague and ill-defined?” Marriage. If gays could legally marry each other there’d be no reason to assemble rights they should rightfully be afforded patchwork quilt style. But that doesn’t look likely to happen in Carcieri’s Rhode Island.

“This bill represents a disturbing trend over the past few years of the incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage, which is not the preferred way to approach this issue,” Carcieri wrote.

I think what he meant was, “This bill represents a disturbing trend of treating gays like actual people with feelings.”

“If the General Assembly believes it would like to address the issue of domestic partnerships,” he continued, “it should place the issue on the ballot and let the people of the state of Rhode Island decide.”

Because if there’s one thing the majority should be allowed to vote on, it’s the funeral arrangements of the minority. Hey, if you don’t like it, don’t die! Or at least don’t die gay.

Maggie Gallagher

What happened in Maine was sad. What makes it even worse is Maggie Gallagher’s gloating.

Section 1: News & Politics Gallagher is the president of the National Organization for Marriage. NOM is pretty proud of itself for Maine, considering they contributed nearly $2 million to repeal the law that made marriage equality a reality there.

In a Nov. 5 column, Gallagher sang the praises of the anti-gay right and denigrated the pro-equality No on 1 campaign.

“Here’s the first thing this victory means: The $4 million spent to pass gay marriage in Maine was wasted,” she wrote.

That’s easy for her to say. In reality, the issue is far more complex. Andrew Sullivan said it best in a Nov. 4 Daily Dish post.

“The (No on 1) campaign organization, by all accounts, was superb. The money was there. The enthusiasm was there. The turnout was spectacular in an off-year,” he wrote.

So why didn’t we win? Fear.

The anti-gay folks, Sullivan writes, “play straight to heterosexuals whose personal comfort with gay people is fine but who sure don’t want their kids to turn out that way. One way to prevent kids turning out that way, the equality opponents argue, is to ensure that they never hear of gay people, except in a marginalized, scary, alien fashion. And this referendum was clearly a vote in which the desire to keep gay people invisible trumped the urge to treat them equally.”

So should we give up hope? No, Sullivan says. “In my view, the desperate nature of the current tactics against us, the blatant use of fear around children (which both worries parents and also stigmatizes gay people in one, deft swoop) are signs that what we are demanding truly, truly matters.”

But that’s not how Gallagher sees it.

“Even Americans in liberal states do not

believe that two guys pledged to a gay union are a marriage,” she writes. “Politicians can pass a bill saying a chicken is a duck and that doesn’t make it true. Truth matters.”

First of all, I don’t see what turducken has to do with marriage, gay or straight.

Secondly, truth matters, does it? Funny, because truth wasn’t a big concern for the Yes on 1 folks. “Vote yes on 1 to prevent homosexual marriage from being pushed on Maine children,” their TV ads warned, as if marriage equality meant inevitable gay arranged marriages for Maine children. In fact, every single one of their TV ads focused on kids and schools as though the real issue being voted on was whether to turn every public school in the state into a Homosexual Learning Academy.

“We do not believe gay marriage is a civil right; we think it is a civil wrong,” Gallagher writes. “And we do not appreciate the increasingly intense efforts to punish people who disagree with gay marriage as if we were racists, bigots, discriminators or haters.”

Oh, quit your whining. If you don’t want to be seen as a bigot, then don’t be a bigot. If you “don’t appreciate” people calling you a “discriminator” after you strip them of their rights, then don’t fuck with their rights. To deny gay and lesbian people the right to marry is discrimination. You won the right to discriminate, plain and simple. At least have the nerve to own it.

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.

December 2009

“Straight people, they’re not so interested in us. They really aren’t. And part of it is that to them gay equals a sexual act. The other part of the problem is gay equals not them, therefore not interested. I find this with my extremely enlightened straight friends, they still don’t quite have a handle on the best reason for legalizing gay marriage, which is those thousand civil rights that just automatically transfer with a heterosexual marriage license from state to state. It takes some explaining to them to show how ludicrous it is to set up a crazy quilt America where some states have gay marriage and some states don’t, because if I get married and then by some misfortune move back home to Oklahoma, my rights don’t come with me.”

— Openly gay Washington Post TV critic Hank Stuever to the D.C. gay magazine Metro Weekly, Nov. 5.

ACCESSline’s fun guide Dixie Longate in Des Moines, January 2010 IowaLisa’s List Interview by Arthur Breur Dixie Longate is a character! No, really!

(If you don’t believe me, try saying her name out loud a few times until you get it—best done in a room full of church ladies.)

Just before Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to interview Dixie about her upcoming show at the Des Moines Civic Center’s Temple Theatre (January 13-24, 2010).

More than just a show, Dixie’s Tupperwear Party is a legitimate food storage container sales event— although unlike any home product party you’ve ever attended. Talking at racetrack speed, but with charm and wit and sass enough for ten Tupperwear ladies, Dixie started the interview with enthusiasm (and occasional shout-outs), clearly a natural hostess. And I do mean Dixie started the interview: Dixie Longate: So how’s everything goin’?

Arthur Breur: Everything’s going great! Although it’s starting to get a little cold here in Iowa.

Oh, dammit! I’m gonna have to wear a sweater. And panties… There’s a whole lot that goes into that. That’s alright we’ll make it okay. [When] we did the show last year in Des Moines at the Temple [Theater], it was earlier in the season, though. We did it in, like, September. We did real, real well.

We were there for two weeks last year and we had so much fun they invited us back.

We didn’t bust nothin’ I guess, so they said, “COME ON BACK!” So your show really is a Tupperwear party?

It’s a real live Tupperwear party. But you know it’s not like a regular Tupperwear party where you’re bored and sit on your hands and pick your nose. It’s FUN! We do games and prizes and raffles and we get people up all outta their seats to do fun stuff. It’s a party, but it’s got a little bit of a message and a whole lotta heart and it’s real fun. It’s fun… it’s unlike a regular Tupperwear party you’ve been to, too, ‘cause it’s a little bit “adult”, because I wanna make sure everybody’s havin’ fun, so we make sure we leave the kids at home and just have fun as adults.

So there’s audience participation?

Oh hell yes. Why d’you wanna go to a party and not be able to participate? That’s just borin’. So we get people up outta their seats and we all do fun things. We get people up on stage to help me demonstrate some of the products, and it’s fun, it’s crazy.

Where did you get the idea to do your Tupperwear parties as a show?

Well, I was doin’ a party for a long time, and then a friend of mine said, “You know, you should turn this into a… a show,” and I said, “You’re retarded,” and he said, “No, my rent is up,” and so, he was a director from New York and he help me put it all together and turn it into a show and so we took it to New York to test it out and it did so well, and then we ended up runnin’ off Broadway and

then we ended up goin’ on tour, so now we’ve been on tour for like fourteen months and it’s just so much fun, we have a great time.

I’d never would have thought I’d be doin’ it like this, but all of a sudden out like a

whip here I am sellin’ food storage solutions to people all over this pretty planet.

And how long have you been selling Tupperwear altogether?

A little bit over eight years. My parole officer got me turned on to the idea a little over eight years ago and I’ve been having so much fun I don’t even see a reason to stop.

Tell us some other interesting places you’ve had Tupperwear parties.

Oh, Lord, I’ve done… you know what?

I’ve done parties on three different continents now. I’ve done Tupperwear parties in Europe, and I did the show for a little bit in Scotland to just like test it out, we’re-all gonna end up goin’ to London next year, an’ everything. I’ve been all over. I’ve been to South America, where they don’t even speak English! It’s so fun though. It’s so hot! And everything’s sticky. Includin’ the kids. But it was so much fun, I really had a great time.

So have you ever had folks who came to your show and maybe felt they’d gotten in over their heads?

Oh, yeah, y’ know, every once in a while.

But, ya’ know, we just tell ‘em to shut up and heave off. You know, because, this is the thing: sometimes people get all crazy and cramped up and all grim faced and everything, cause’ they’re thinking, ooh, you know, they bit off more than they can chew.

But then there’s everybody around them laughin’ an’ havin’ a good time, so a lotta the times that just rubs off on them and in that case they start perkin’ up. But every once in a while, they keep the grim face, and I just think, “Why the hell you workin’ so hard to be… just a’ ass. You know, life would be so much better if you stick a smile on your face.” And sometimes I hit ‘em. You know, just for fun…

I understand in some cases you’ve even donated proceeds from your shows to charities?

Oh yeah… I’ve done fund raisers all

by Lisa Schreihart

over the place, I love doin’ fund raisers, ‘cause I’ been so lucky with everything that’s happened for me so that I always like to turn around and give back. We try to do one every city, we try to do at least one performance where we donate all the proceeds from the sale of the Tupperware to a local charity organization, and everything, just because, you know, it’s fun to give back. It makes you feel all happy and tingly down in your no-no patch. So I’m happy to do it.

Will that be happening in Iowa?

We’re workin’ all the details out now. We’re doin’ actually two things. We’re doin’ a fundraiser for, I believe, it’s a’ AIDS organization [in that] area. We’re doin’ a fund raiser opening night. But then also, before we open, actually, we’re doin’ a big special party [at Prairie Meadows Casino] where all the money that’s raised from the ticket sales and all the proceeds from the Tupperwear are gonna go to the charity. Forgive me, I don’t know the name off hand, it’s not even comin’ to my mind (pro’ly ‘cause I been drinkin’). [The casino party will benefit Children & Families of Iowa.] So we’re doin’ two fundraisers there in Iowa. I’ll email you and let you know what they are. I will, I’ll do that. Because otherwise you won’t know, and that would be sad, and I don’t want you to be sad, ‘cause that’s just gonna make everybody mad at you, and I don’t want that because you sound like you’re a nice person.

Well, thank you.

Oh, and I mean that!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell people who might be thinking about coming to see your show?

Listen, tell ‘em to leave the kids at home, come on out, grab a cocktail and you’re gonna have the time of your life. You’re gonna laugh ‘til you pee a little. So bring some protection. Because I don’t want you peein’ on the seats—I don’t think they’re paid for. But, you know, you’ll have a good ol’ time.

You know what I was going to say also, is, you know, sometimes people think it’s just for the ladies. I’m tellin’ you, the men have just as much fun as the ladies do , so tell all the ladies: bring out your boyfriend, bring out your significant others, bring those two people that you’re havin’ sex with that don’t know about the other one. Oh, it’s gonna be great!

Thank you very much, Dixie. You have a great night.

Oh, Arthur, my pleasure! Happy Thanksgiving!

Dixie’s Tupperware Party will be running Wednesday, January 13 through Sunday, January 24, 2010 in the Civic Center’s Temple Theater.

Because of the show’s mature content, this production is recommended for ages 16 and above.

Howdy folks!

This is a list of Iowa’s live music, arts, social events and culture for, by, featuring, and of interest to women, GLBT folks, and friends for December.

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:

CALLING ALL ARTISTS: Harvester is a new artist-centric website “for artists on the outside.”

Go to www.HarvesterCR.com for complete submission details.

THE SHOP NEXT DOOR: Coming Soon! The Shop Next Door is a new venture by Cedar Rapid’s own Brewed Awakening’s Coffeehouse. The new store will be located on 13th Street in Cedar Rapids, directly behind Brewed’s flagship store.

The Shop Next Door specializes in handmade art in all forms – essentially an Artisan Collective.

They are looking for artisans to fill the shop. They hope to cater to the young adult crowd. Contact Heater Younker for more info: 319-363-4333 or heather@brewedawakeningscr.com.

IWMF ON TWITTER: Iowa Women’s Music Festival is on Twitter. Follow us @iwmfest.

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

LGBT SOCIAL CIRCLE ONGOING 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. Activities are determined based on the interests of participants.

For more information call Thomas at 319-3541784.

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/.

ART FEED: A new website that promotes local Corridor artists is on-line at www.TheArtFeed.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://cedarrapids.org/civilrights/, http://cedar-rapids.org/ civilrights/newsletter/Civil%20Rights%20Newsletter%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 holds casual family potlucks. People interested in joining the group should e-mail

TTLISA’S LIST continued page 13

ACCESSline Page 12

the fun guide

December 2009

The Outfield by Dan Woog Crafting a Career Bren Ahearn is very crafty.

Growing up in New Jersey, Ahearn – now 45 – spent hours pursuing sand art, decoupage and the like with his craft-loving mother. Yet as he grew older he believed that to fit in with peers, he had to be in the closet about crafting (and other things). Eventually, his creative activities ceased.

From age 8 to 17, Ahearn swam competitively. He played soccer until early adolescence, then ran high school crosscountry for two years. His blue-collar, middle class, early 1980s environment and Catholic upbringing made it difficult to come out as gay. So, he says, “I felt disconnected from both my teammates and the gay community that was presented to me through the lens of mass media. And that image wasn’t very flattering.”

Ahearn learned early that rigid adherence to gender roles is “a violent tool employed by society to keep girls and boys in line.” In first grade, he realized he was not supposed to bring his flowered lunchbox to school. In gym class, he was bullied for his less-than-masculine athleticism.

In 1996, Ahearn signed up for a textiles class, reawakening his dormant artistic side.

He flourished – and felt free to reach beyond gender lines. When he entered grad school, he decided to focus on traditionally feminine textile crafts as “a way to make a commentary about gender.” In his first semester he created a floral pattern. The flowers’ centers were baseballs; the petals, footballs.

That year, flipping through channels on TV, he discovered cage fighting (mixed martial arts). Ahearn was intrigued to find some of the fighters – “nearly nude men with hot bodies” – caught in compromising sexual positions. He took screen shots of the images, and machine-stitched outlines of them on Bristol board.

A friend told a mixed martial practitioner about Ahearn’s work. The fighter responded: “Sometimes it just feels good to punch someone in the face.” That was a telling remark. “He responded to a comment about the homoeroticism of fighting with a violent comment,” Ahearn says.

He recently began work on his thesis.

It explores the art of men like Paul Cadmus (who painted “YMCA Locker Room” in 1933) and Eugene Frederik Jansson, who painted numerous bathhouse and pool scenes in the early 20th century. In a self-portrait bathhouse scene, Jansson depicted himself as a dandy in a suit – the only fully clothed person in front of nude bathers.

That convinced Ahearn that “sometimes gender roles are performed with ambivalence.” For instance, he says, “one of my straight friends said that he felt pressured to go into sports. He didn’t even really like them.”

Ahearn has been humbled to learn that his own biases needed reworking. Four years ago, he followed his husband Doug from the San Francisco Bay Area to Sacramento when he was promoted.

“The political environment is quite different here. The socioeconomic demographics are similar to the area in which I grew up,” Ahearn notes. He was surprised that people in Sacramento were “nice – not like the demons I remember from my youth in a similar area.” He asked himself how many of his youthful terrors “were in my own head.”

A decade after he first found cage fighters, Ahearn began revisiting his work.

“There’s something fun, so subversive, about seeing them immortalized in sexual positions,” he says. “I did a series of 16 of these two years ago. The response has been so supportive, from both the LGBTQ and nonLGBTQ communities.”

He continues to seek out gender-nonconforming areas for inspiration. Last year, he began a series of cross-stitch samplers.

“They were created centuries ago as a way to teach little girls the ABCs, and show that they were proper marriage material,” Ahearn explains. “I’ve tried to incorporate lessons I’ve learned about performing my gender into my own samplers.”

For instance, he stitched: “When I refuse to fight, I am called a pussy.” He also stitched a wedding sampler, with an image of Doug and himself at the Sacramento Pride Parade with a “Sodomy is Sin” sign behind them.

While looking ahead to a show in April, Ahearn is continuing with large-scale cage fighters. At a recent flea market he found

Steph Hoyer a gun-parts catalog. He is integrating that into a quilt.

“Stitching and crafts are my life,” Ahearn says. “There’s something so wonderful about making something in this increasingly digital world. The trick is to have fun and be lighthearted as I deliver my message. People seem more willing to reflect on serious topics like homophobia and gender roles if the message is delivered in a non-threatening way. I hope that when they see my work, viewers will engage in a dialogue about the confining nature of behavioral norms.”

That’s a crafty way to deliver a very important message.

Bren Ahearn’s Web site is www.brenahearn.com. His e-mail address is brenahearn@ sbcglobal.net.

MAP-ping a fight against homophobia The University of Michigan is a sportsobsessed campus. Big Ten football and basketball games fill the stands; Wolverine paraphernalia can be found everywhere.

Academically, one of the most popular courses is “History of College Athletics.” With 150 students every semester, and at least as many on the waiting list, the American culture department offering explores important intersections of sports and society, like race and gender.

And now, gay and lesbian athletes.

GLBT issues were not always a part of the syllabus. It took the work of Paul Farber, a Ph.D. candidate, to add that often overlooked segment of sport to the curriculum.

Earlier this decade, Farber was recruited by the University of Pennsylvania track program. A gay man, he left the team after finding little support for gay athletes. “It was hard to choose between my sport and myself,” he admits.

Farber turned his energy to founding Penn Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia – one of the nation’s first GLBT college sports groups.

As a Michigan teaching assistant, he approached John Bacon – the “History of College Athletics” instructor, sportswriter, NPR commentator and expert on Michigan sports – to propose a unit on GLBT athletes.

Bacon readily agreed.

Farber sought an out Wolverine athlete

to speak. It was not easy.

As soon as the lecture was over, however, a dozen or so athletes told Farber about gay teammates they knew. More of them than he realized were out in small circles, Farber realized. But none had a way of connecting with other gay athletes.

One of Farber’s students, Allison Horky, had written a paper on GLBT athletes. She and Farber talked about creating a mechanism to bring Michigan’s gay athletes together.

A small working group – composed of student-athletes and others – met. The athletes came from intercollegiate teams like field hockey, men’s gymnastics, women’s crew and club sports. “It was definitely the minor sports,” Farber notes.

A Facebook page helped draw over 100 athletes – gay and straight – to the first meeting. The football team was represented by a few players, both current and past.

Attendees wanted to know the best way to stand up for GLBT athletes. The involvement of straight allies, participants agreed, was crucial.

The group – Michigan Athletes and Allies Partnership (MAP) – began working with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees board.

“At Penn, we were originally shut down by the athletes’ advisory board,” Farber says.

“They’re working together there now. But at Michigan, that early support was key.”

MAP has three main goals: to create awareness around GLBT issues in athletics at the University of Michigan; to establish permanent resources and a support system among student-athletes, coaches, the athletic department and the greater university community; to foster a safe environment for all student-athletes, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

MAP hopes to provide information on GLBT issues and resources to all studentathletes. It’s already included in the freshman athlete orientation packet.

A climate survey is also planned.

Silence is still an obstacle, Farber says.

The atmosphere on most teams is still not welcoming to most gay athletes. So unless gay issues are discussed, it’s hard for athletes to come out. MAP’s visibility will help that process.

“We want to hear everyone’s story,” Farber says. “And that includes allies.”

TTMAP continued page 13

December 2009 SScontinued from page 11

LISA’S LIST mfender@lambdalegal.org or call Matt Fender at 515-288-4019 ext 202.

FEMINIST, POLITICAL, SMART, ESSENTIALLY ESTROGEN! Check out www.essentialesstrogen. com for blogs by and concerning women. The link www.essentialestrogen.com/blogroll.html has a list of Iowa blogs of all different sorts by women of all different sorts. For feminist blogs, go to www.esssentialestrogen.com/essential-feminists. html. Check it out!

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.

QUAD CITIES GROUPS: The Lesbian Book Club is reading books by or about lesbians. Nonlesbians are welcome to attend. All meetings are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport, and meet the 4th Saturday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. OUT (Our United Truth): A GLBT Support Group meets every Tuesday evening from 7-8:30 p.m., also at the Unitarian Universalist Church (address above).

For more info, call 563-359-0816.

the fun guide CEDAR RAPIDS GLBT READING GROUP: The GLBT Reading Group meets in the conference room at Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. The group is open to new members; please contact crglbtreadinggroup@ yahoo.com for further info.

CEDAR RAPIDS GLBT SPIRITUAL GROUP: The GLBT Spiritual Group meets to socialize, discuss topics, share stories, hang out and have fun! The current plan is to meet alternating months for dinner and get together to do a fun activity other months. To be included on future e-mails and invitations, contact Susan at liddelles@aol.com.

Or sign up for the new Google Group cedar-rapidsglbta-interfaith-group@googlegroups.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’s roller derby team is up and rolling! For more info or if you want to join, 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.

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 517-3715257, 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 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,

SScontinued from page 12

MAP Michigan’s sports culture helps. “The teams have a large GLBT following,” says Farber. “Everyone understands the importance of sports, and wants our teams to be the best. And the athletic department is in the forefront of caring for student-athletes.”

One student-athlete that has been helped by MAP is Steph Hoyer. As a field hockey player, she felt she was in a safe environment. However, she was in a lesbian relationship that was not going well. She didn’t feel she could be open with teammates about it. “They just couldn’t relate to my struggle,” she says.

“My eyes have been opened to this part of athletics – how it’s not talked about,” says Hoyer. “It shouldn’t be hush-hush.”

“She thought she was the only one,” Farber says. “Now she’s getting her story out, and people are coming to her to talk. She’s on the SAAC board. The respect people have for her really helps.

“This was a conversation waiting to happen for a long time. With a great group of students and very supportive administrators, we can accomplish a lot.

“I’d love to see MAP get more integrated into the athletic department,” Hoyer says.

“Every student-athlete should know we’re available for them, and that the athletic department can help. And they should know it without having to search far.”

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.

ACCESSline Page 13 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.

QUAD CITIES HOLIDAY SHOWS: QC Arts presents a series of holiday shows in December.

For a full listing, visit www.visitquadcities.com.

U. OF IOWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Iowa women’s basketball games are great fun to watch and the team is very exciting this year. Come on out to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the following December dates: 2, 6, 10, 20, 22, and 31. For more info and game times, visit www.hawkeyesports. com.

SAGE SURVEY: The National Senior Citizens Law Center, Lambda Legal, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality are working together to raise awareness of the issues facing older adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) and live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other long-term care facilities. We hope to identify areas where policy changes will improve care, and to find other older adults, advocates and providers interested in these issues. Respond to the survey

by December 15 to: http://www.surveymonkey. com/s.aspx?sm=UPQXC5Gub99IvdRNz83Hwg _3d_3d.

ONE-TIME EVENTS:

Through December 12, ANNIE presented

by Theatre Cedar Rapids. It’s been said that all shows are “sold out,” but you never know. Visit www.theatrecr.org.

Tuesday, December 1, 7:30 p.m., WIZARD OF OZ, Stephens Auditorium on the campus of Iowa State University, Ames. For tix, call 515-2943347.

Tuesday, December 1, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., WORLD AIDS DAY - FREE RAPID HIV TESTING at

TTLISA’S LIST continued page 26

“I’m not going to give up on Obama in all respects. I can’t imagine how it is to be a politician, I don’t care how freshly you come to it. We don’t know what his situation is. It’s like people wanting everybody to come out. You can’t expect it of every person because you don’t know what they’re going through. You don’t know what their situation is, you don’t know what their level of courage is in that department. You try to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when they’re coming from what appears to be a good place.

I have every hope but change is really, really hard.”

— Lily Tomlin to Las Vegas’ The Strip Podcast, Nov. 8.

ACCESSline Page 14

the fun guide

December 2009

Star Trek: Rise of Cobra’s Revenge of the Fallen

by Joshua Dagon

As I suffer from pronounced anthropophobia—fear of people—I am unable to go to a cinema. On an individual basis, humans don’t frighten me so much anymore, thanks to some wonderful psychotropic pharmacology, but in crowds they tend to push me into Serial Killer Mode, which, in most cultures, is often viewed as negative.

Being unable to go to a cinema, I rely on rented DVDs to keep me in the popcultural loop, so to speak. As a result, my professional review of the new Star Trek film, as well as G.I. Joe: Look at the Dandy Costumes!, and Transformers: Why the Hell Are We Doing This @%#$ Again? are a tad late. But, I’m allowed to do that—as well as begin sentences with conjunctions— because I’m just that good.

Therefore, without further ado, seeing as that could easily turn out to be too much ado—can’t have a heck of a lot of ado, you know; ado must be used sparingly—here are my reviews: G.I. Joe: Men Somehow Wearing Metal: visually stunning, with a plot that’s total crap. (End of review.)

Transformers: Who the %$@# Wrote This?: visually stunning, with a plot that’s total crap. (End of review.)

Star Trek: visually stunning, with a plot that could perhaps be possibly brilliant, maybe. (Just the beginning of the review.)

This film might not really be commercial fiction. It may be more like literary fiction. Well, perhaps not in the sphere of David Copperfield, or Jane Eyre, or Harry Potter, but nonetheless very close.

My god, though, what a script! “You know, your father was captain of a starship for twelve minutes. He saved eight-hundred

lives, including your mother’s... and yours. I dare you to do better.” Being a writer myself, I was nearly compelled to go find a towel.

Just fifteen minutes into the movie and I had already cried and laughed my head off.

Few experiences are ever able to do that to me without being sexual in nature. All the same, the spine of the new Star Trek story is plainly enlightened. It’s like Dune, only with considerably less sand. All right, so it took forty-three years for the Star Trek franchise to get to this point, but golly, wasn’t it worth the wait? Maybe not for some, but those people are also just as likely to read Dan Brown without vomiting, and so they don’t count.

Consider the simulation scene in Star Trek in which Jim Kirk’s captain-hood-ness is tested: what a daring and accurate allegory for contemporary American corruption. Genius! This movie could very well have everything: ridiculously frightening monsters cleverly conceived by LSD-addicted computer designers; beautiful actors wearing nothing but boxer briefs; angelic chorale sopranos in the soundtrack; the environmentally-conserving recycling of The Empire Strikes Back’s ice planet Hoth set, all of the pointy ears from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and Leonard Nimoy.

Zachary Quinto, the dude who plays the yet-unwrinkled Spock, as well as the Serial Killer Mode character on Heroes, is a convincing and impressive actor. While the fellow—the thesaurus made me use that word—who plays Jim Kirk, Chris Pine, is comparatively unknown and yet rather yummy. Karl Urban’s performance as Dr. McCoy is eerily precise and likely achieved supernaturally. Okay, a number of the char-

acters are regurgitated, but oh-so-skillfully so. Eric Bana, however, as the not-at-all regurgitated Romulan Captain Nero—sure, that name is total crap—is amazing. I mean, I liked him as Bruce Banner, but in Star Trek, as Captain Yul Brynner—I think that name works just as well as “Captain Nero”—he’s mesmerizing.

Certainly, the Star Trek franchise has a long and beloved history on which this most recent film frequently capitalizes— just like all of the other films did, too. After forty-three years, though, you’ve got to give that bit some credit for continuing to work. Seriously, even the Superman franchise didn’t have half as many films before they needed to recast all of the roles with younger actors and pepper Metropolis with cell phone towers.

Still, even with the very nicely crafted script, there are some glaringly spectacular improbabilities. For example, when young Spock randomly chooses to shoot young Jim Kirk into outer space in a telephone booth—because that makes total sense.

Then, of course, young Jim Kirk flies into the vast expanse of space but manages to land just a mile or two from old Spock.

Not only that, but old Spock just happens to live right down the road from young Montgomery “Scotty” Scott and a character who appears to be Yoda with leprosy.

Aside from that business I must admit the overall incorporation of places and characters was clever, stirring, and very cool. Also, the new Star Trek has evident advantages over the television shows and other movies. For one, J. J. Abrams wasn’t afraid to demonstrate that there’s no air in space, therefore no medium for sound

lation process produces something fairly close to pure alcohol, and water is added back in. Most high-end vodkas also filter the spirit as well. All of this distilling and filtering is the source of the clean taste that makes vodka so mixable and popular.

Rye and wheat are the most common sources in well-known brands, with a smattering of potato vodkas. Molasses is largely used for mass-producing vodka for mass market brands. Though all vodka is highly distilled, each vodka has a unique flavor profile as a result of the residual components of the original distillation, as well as the various methods and materials used for filtering.

The super premium brands such as Grey Goose, Belvedere, or Chopin each have subtle flavors best appreciated in the cocktail which features vodka in a starring role, the martini. (Martini preparation is another column!) My personal favorite is Absolut’s entry in the super premium line, Level by Absolut. Not only do I like the flavor, I choose it for political reasons. I support the vodka that supports me. Absolut has been a leading supporter of many gay organizations and events for 30 years.

While martinis feature vodka in a starring role, the overwhelming popularity of the beverage is its ability to act in a supporting role. No other spirit plays so well with others. Vodka and tonic, vodka and cranberry, vodka and coke, vodka and diet coke (dubbed the “skinny bitch” by the drag queens of Key West), and the cocktail that helped popularize vodka in the U.S., the Moscow Mule (vodka and ginger ale).

Flavored vodkas are nothing new.

Polish distillers were commercially producing lemon and pepper vodkas at least 200 years ago. Russian and Scandinavian vodkas used herbs and nuts for flavoring even earlier. Today vodkas are infused with dozens of flavors: lemon, lime, cranberry, pomegranate, acai berry, chocolate, grapefruit, peach, and even bacon. I like sipping infused or flavored vodkas on the rocks.

They also can create new variations to martinis, cosmos, and a variety of shots.

The beauty of vodka lies in versatility. Whether you are enjoying the refined and subtle flavors in a classic martini, or partying hard with an alcohol that plays well with your favorite mixer, vodka is the spirit of choice.

Cocktail Chatter by Keith Orr

Vodka 101: The Spirit of Choice

What better way to start out my assignment as the host of “Cocktail Chatter” than to write about my favorite liquor, Vodka.

And I am not alone. Vodka is the best-selling liquor in America, accounting for over 26% of all spirit sales. A glance around any gay bar tells you that in the U.S. gay market that number is probably higher.

It was not always so. Until the late 1950’s vodka was considered an exotic Russian import. As always, marketing drove the expansion. Vodka was advertised as “White Whiskey - no taste, no smell.”

Its popularity skyrocketed as imbibers believed that there would be no alcohol on their breath and they would avoid hangovers. It quickly replaced other spirits in highballs and cocktails. Most famously it usurped gin as the spirit of choice in a martini.

Vodka can be made from many base ingredients: rye, wheat, potatoes, beets, grapes or grapeseed, molasses, and more.

The ingredients are first fermented, then distilled. In most western vodkas the distil-

Novelist Joshua Dagon is the author of Into the Mouth of the Wolf, The Fallen, and Demon Tears. For more information, please go to www.joshuadagon.com.

To contact Mr. Dagon, please e-mail him at jd@joshuadagon.com.

vibration, and consequently no booming explosions or sizzling phaser fire. The problem was that this very 2001: A Space Odyssey-esk detail was only applied to a strategically small number of scenes. It was prominently overlooked for effect during just about all of the photon torpedo-laden shots and the gunfire-crack of warp drive engagements.

All right, perhaps after only viewing fifteen minutes of a film it was premature of me to decide it was better than Chariots of Fire and that I must compose a review immediately. Despite having composed my review while actively watching the film, however, I still believe I captured a very accurate impression of the movie’s quality.

I could almost imagine being so engaged by the new Star Trek film to actually see it in a cinema—even one full of screaming, laughing, Klingon-forehead-wearing trekkers— without entering Serial Killer Mode… If only I could make it through the previews for G.I. Joe: Boy These Metal Undies Pinch and Transformers: Revenge of the $%@#ed!

Absolut is the maker of the premium vodka, “Level” — and their ads are premium quality as well. The company has supported LGBT causes for 30 years.

December 2009

the fun guide

ACCESSline Page 15

Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente Queens of Drag work it out

scheduled to begin any second now, with cable network bidding to follow. Romeo thinks Fine Living Network should air it alongside episodes of Whatever, Martha!

Santa visits Neil Patrick Harris

Photo Courtesy of Logo.

What RuPaul’s Drag Race set in motion is now picking up steam: another dragbased reality show is tottering on giant platform shoes toward TV glory. Queens of Drag: NYC, conceived by producer Larry Kennar (The L Word), former Project Runway contestant Jack Mackenroth and longtime gay porn director John Rutherford, will explore the lives and fashion insanity of New York’s fiercest drag performers. Names like Lady Bunny, Hedda Lettuce, Acid Betty, Mimi Imfurst and Kevin Aviance are already famous to NYC nightlife fans, but now they’ll have their shot at mainstream stardom in this sure-to-be-loud series. Shooting is

As long as Neil Patrick Harris is already running Hollywood – at least that’s how it seems these days – he might as well participate in some Christmas specials, right? So the How I Met Your Mother star has lent his voice to a new animated holiday special, Yes, Virginia, based on the famous 19th century newspaper editorial column, “Is There A Santa Claus?” The special, about a little girl who wonders about the existence of the jolly old elf, will also feature the voices of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Alfred Molina and, unless drastic modernist rewrites have taken place, will most likely confirm that Santa is, in fact, real. The show airs Dec. 11, a safe, non-competitive three days after A Charlie Brown Christmas. Make sure you have plenty of cocoa on hand.

Charlize out, Gywneth in

Last year around this time Romeo reported that The Danish Girl, a feature film about the lives of the world’s first-ever post-operative transgender woman and her devoted wife, would star Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron. Kidman was cast as Einar Wegener, the man who transitions, and Theron as the wife who sticks around for the journey. Not anymore. Theron’s

schedule couldn’t be made to fit and now Gwyneth Paltrow has stepped into the role.

To be directed by Thomas Alfredson (Let The Right One In), the film will probably see screens in 2011, provided there are no more delays. Both actors have played it queer on screen before, but can Paltrow fill the shoes of the voluptuous, same-sex-kiss-auctioning Theron? Will the lesbians rebel against it all? Stay tuned.

Kathy Griffin: Special lesbian

When comedian Kathy Griffin recently took lesbian finance whiz Suze Orman as her date to the Gracie Awards (American Women in Radio in Television’s annual gala), the trash-talking redhead might have had research—not just photo-ops for once—on her mind. Turns out Griffin will be playing a lesbian activist on an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The Emmy-winner is no stranger to episodic TV, but her appearance on SVU will mark the first time in quite a while where she’s appeared on a network series playing a character other than herself. So yeah, the queen of all gayadjacent media plays a gay lady herself, and it’s another excuse to watch Chris Meloni

for an hour. This win-win situation airs on Feb. 10.

Goran Visnjic in love, just not with Ewan

Former ER crush—and the world’s most famous Croatian actor—Goran Visnjic has joined the cast of Beginners, the indie drama currently in production from writer-director Mike Mills (Thumbsucker).

It stars Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer and early reports are that Plummer plays a man who comes out of a lifelong closet after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The role of Plummer’s new, younger admirer falls to Visnjic, with McGregor playing Plummer’s shocked son. So while this may annoy McGregor’s gay following—his career to date as been marked by a well-documented, enthusiastic willingness to have an on-screen love scene with either gender— there will be no make-out moments between him and Visnjic. Fans of intergenerational romance, however, may now have a date movie to call their own.

Romeo San Vicente did drag for Halloween once and spent November itching while the hair grew back. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@ qsyndicate.com.

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The Gay Wedding Planner: Wrapping up a Season by Beau Fodor Wow... the loss in Maine sure was a wake-up call for me... I’d started to forget.

About hate, fear, loss, homophobia, and not-so-happily-ever-after.

And I forgot what it felt like—for one brief, shiny moment—to feel, again, like a second-class citizen. And be told that a basic human right was being denied to people of the human race.

I’m still feeling sick to my stomach. And fearful about the future of gay marriage in Iowa. I wonder how this freedom could be taken back... And why would a state say it was OK to discriminate?

Thank God we live in a state in which at least the Supreme Court feels we are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples.

Fortunately, I did get to see some once-in-a-lifetime, fairy-tale-come-true weddings take place this last wedding

season, so I know it can and most certainly did happen. Pretty fabulously, too, I might add... like witnessing Daniel and Matthew, the young gentlemen from the touring Broadway show “WICKED”, exchange vows.

And the red carpet reception following, that took place at Azalea Restaurant in the Kirkwood Hotel.

During the toasts, Daniel Torres broke down sobbing about what it felt like to have his previous wedding canceled the day before the wedding in Massachusetts, because he and Matthew Tweardy were New York state residents.

But, he said he believed in their love, and that faith kept them together. He knew that someday they would be able to marry.

We just need to believe. We need to love each other for our differences and dysfunctions.

We need and have to share our

Daniel Torres and Matthew Tweardy, both members of the touring cast of “Wicked”, were married in November in Des Moines. Their reception was held at the Azalea Restaurant in the Kirkwood Hotel. (Photos courtesy of Gay Weddings with Panache)

“Despite having a very well-funded and well-organized campaign (in Maine), the main lesson in what we need to do differently is we need to figure out how we best counter the right wing’s lies. Because they will lie about what will happen in schools, they will lie about how this will impact children and lie about what domestic partnership does and doesn’t do.”

— Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors to The Atlantic, Nov. 6

struggles and triumphs with each other and our communities, and keep being the pioneers we truly are. Whether planning weddings, writing checks, or by just coming out of the closet in our small towns and communities.

And, once again, we need to put our cocktails down, get off the bar stools, wake up and smell the unfairness, and go to our state Representatives and lift our voices in protest.

Gay marriage , for me, anyway, has become so much more important, than gay weddings. At first in April, it was magical.

For me, personally, it was a dream come true. Because I could actually be a gay gay wedding planner and talk about gay weddings on CNN! And then the weddings actually began, and I started to hear the stories of people being denied their rights, or being told they couldn’t be married in a neighboring state because of new “residency” laws being imposed. And I witnessed their heartbrokenness. Along with having their self-worth stolen, and the ramifications it took on friends, families and relationships.

And now a state has told its people, “You and your family are not equal.....” How is that possible? Or legal? Or even acceptable in 2009?

I’m not a political person. Except in this case. I am shocked we are still in the dark ages on this issue—especially after this “summer of love” in Iowa. The sky didn’t fall; no straights were “made” gay, no

Beau Fodor damage to any heterosexual marriages.

I’m not sure what to do next, except to say we have to do something. And quick.

Before we’re all living back in those dark ages… Again.

Beau Fodor is an Iowa wedding planner who focuses specifically on weddings for the LGBT community. He can be reached through iowasgayweddingplanner.com or gayweddingswithpanache.com.

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Out of Town: Guadalajara, Mexico by Andrew Collins Mexico’s second-largest city, Guadalajara delivers much of what visitors genuinely seek when visiting this country: mariachi and folk-music culture, fine tequila, authentic arts and crafts, superb regional cuisine, restored Spanish Colonial architecture, and overwhelming friendly and engaging people.

What you may not know is that Guadalajara it’s home to a well-established, energetic, and welcoming gay and lesbian scene. From quaint, gay-friendly B&Bs to wildly popular dance clubs, this festive city has much to offer LGBT visitors, hence it’s having lately earned the nickname, “San Francisco of Mexico.”

Guadalajara lies at the heart of the state of Jalisco, the state in which most of Mexico’s tequila is produced. It’s situated at an altitude of about 5,000 feet and is just a short flight or half-day bus ride from the country’s most popular gay beach destination, Puerto Vallarta, as well as the Spanish Colonial cities of Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, and the national capital of Mexico City.

Although 1.5 million people live within the city limits and nearly 5 million people reside in the metro region, Guadalajara feels more laid-back and manageable than most cities its size. The metro area rolls out west from the city center to the upscale and quite modern business district, where you’ll find large international hotels and a smattering of office towers, and also to the east, which is home to the quaint arts villages of Tonala and—most famously—Tlaquepaque. To the immediate northwest, historic Zapopan is another community rife with galleries and restaurants.

It’s a relatively easy city to drive in (assuming you’re generally comfortable renting cars in other countries), and a car does allow a deeper exploration of the surrounding Jalisco. But Guadalajara is also served by an extremely affordable and generally quite safe fleet of taxis (it’s nevertheless best to have your hotel or restaurant phone for a cab, and also to agree upon the fare before you get in). Most gay nightlife and B&Bs are located in the Centro (downtown area) and adjacent Zona Rosa, which easy to navigate on foot—just exercise the usual common-sense precautions (avoid walking alone at night and along quiet side streets).

The major sights of interest here can be divided roughly into two categories: those located within the historic city center, and those that require longer forays by taxi or tour group. Within the city center, head for the centrally located, rectangular Plaza Tapatio (residents of Guadalajara, by the way, are known as Tapatios). Facing or very near this plaza you’ll find such landmarks as the enormous 16th-century cathedral, the excellent Museo Regional de Guadalajara, and the famed neoclassical opera house, Teatro Degollado. At the plaza’s east end, be absolutely sure to stop by Instituto Cultural Cabanas, a former orphanage comprising numerous grand courtyards and housing astoundingly beautiful (and enormous) ceiling and wall murals by Jose Clemente Orozco.

Outside downtown, the nearby town of Tlaquepaque is a must - it’s about 20 minutes away by taxi. Stroll along the city center, and especially on Independencia, which is lined with galleries selling fine crafts, artwork, antiques, and home furnishings—styles

one of the most popular gay discos in the city, Circus Club, which especially packs them in on Friday nights. Also considering stopping by casual but hip Club YeYe, a friendly lounge drawing a mixed crowd of women and men, and the campy Ruta Caudillos disco.

A short cab ride west, in the more fashionable Zona Rosa, there’s Angel’s, a long-running popular disco (especially afterhours on Saturday nights and well into Sunday mornings). And still a bit farther west (take a taxi), the most stylish gay club in the city (and one of the nicest in Mexico) is Black Cherry, a capacious warehouse club with two big dance floors, a small patio, and a highly sophisticated sound system. The owners Enormous ceiling and wall murals by painter Jose Clemente of Circus and Black Cherry Orozco hang inside Guadalajara’s Instituto Cultural Cabanas. also run a more laid-back, Photo: Andrew Collins mixed gay/straight bar range from traditional to contemporary, and lounge in Zona Rosa called Link that but quality is consistently good. There are cultivates a mellower vibe, its DJs spinning several noted restaurants here, too. Also trance and chill-out music. Also, although it’s consider a visit to nearby Tonala, which has a 10-minute cab ride east of Plaza Tapatia, long been renowned as a center of traditional Monica’s Disco has for years been a favorite Mexican pottery. place to dance and watch drag shows.

Additionally, few visitors to this part of Guadalajara has great many gay-friendly the world pass up the chance to explore the accommodations. Of particular note are the town of Tequila, where the liquor of the same several smaller, historic inns around the city, name is distilled at dozens of distilleries, the cushiest being Villa Ganz, which occupies including famous ones like Jose Cuervo and a handsome historic home along a smart Sauza. You can take a taxi out here, or book a residential block in Zona Rosa and contains trip through a tour company—hotel staff and a handful of stunningly appointed suites. innkeepers can easily help you plan a visit. In back you’ll find a glorious courtyard and Tapatios approach dining with style and garden, where Continental breakfast and gusto. Some notable spots for higher-end, evening snacks and wine are served. creative cuisine include Cocina 88, renowned Other inviting but more reasonably for its fresh seafood and on-site wine store, priced small inns around the City Center and La Matera, a bustling Argentinean and include a gay-owned, Moorish-inspired Italian restaurant with an attractive patio— mansion called La Perla that has artfully steaks are an obvious specialty here. You decorated rooms; and the beautifully can also savor some wonderfully prepared restored Old Guadalajara B&B, which has meals at Escuela Culinaria Internacional, a four large suites decorated with old-world renowned cooking school with a restaurant antiques. The building occupies part of what as well as cooking classes open to the public. was a convent during the 16th century.

A 10-minute walk north of the main gay One interesting, highly affordable choice nightlife strip in Centro Historico, Vida is a friendly and cheery LGBT cafe that’s ideal for coffee, light snacks, and conversation.

In Tlaquepaque, the dining scene is focused mostly along Independencia. Here you might try Hacienda Real San Pedro or Casa Fuerte, which both serve exceptionally tasty and creative modern Mexican fare. Around the plaza that Independencia leads into, you’ll also find dozens of street vendors selling cakes, tacos al pastor (tasty shepherd’s-style tacos filled with shaved lamb, pork, or goat meat), tortas (traditional Mexican sandwiches served on delicious crusty bread), churros (fried dough), and frozen ices (ice cream sold out of long metal tubes and flavored with vanilla, walnut, and fruit).

The majority of Guadalajara’s gay and lesbian bars are in Centro, many along busy Avenida Prisciliano Sanchez. Here you’ll find

The Little Black Book -------------------

Angels Club myspace.com/angelsclub Black Cherry www.blackcherry.com.mx Casa Fuerte www.casafuerte.com Circus Club www.bit.ly/5668H1 Club YeYe www.bit.ly/6W0999 Cocina 88 www.cocina88.com Hotel Lit www.hostellitgdl.com Hotel Morales hotelmorales.com.mx La Matera www.lamatera.tripod.com La Perla www.laperlagdl.com Link www.bit.ly/7EEc1g Monica’s Disco www.monicasdisco.com Old Guadalajara B&B

www.oldguadalajara.com Presidente Guadalajara

www.bit.ly/58wa2E Ruta Caudillos www.rutacaudillos.com Tourism Guadalajara

vive.guadalajara.gob.mx/indexi.asp Tourism Tequila www.tequilajalisco.gob.mx/menui.html Villa Ganz www.villaganz.com

aimed squarely at the gay-male market is Hotel Lit, which is close to Centro gay nightlife and offering a mix of private and shared rooms, the cheapest of which cost around $15 per night. This new and nicely run property is basically a hostel with something of the vibe you might find at a gay sauna (massage service is available, and free passes are available to a nearby gym). There’s Wi-Fi and a computer terminal, and guests have use of a fully equipped kitchen.

Larger mainstream properties of note include the posh Presidente InterContinental Guadalajara, which is right across the street from a large outdoor shopping mall and within walking distance of the famed gay club, Black Cherry. Right in the city center, the historic Hotel Morales captures the rich charm of the city center. It’s an easy walk to gay bars, and it’s home to a beautiful lobby bar—if nothing else, stop in for a drink in the early evening and soak up the charm of this grand old building and the surrounding historic area.

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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Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi Glee: The Music, Volume 1

Chenoweth on “Maybe This Time.” The corny rap songs, especially “Bust a Move,” could bust on outta here, but they don’t damper the power of Glee: The Music in making you feel dually gay. Both homo and happy.

Grade: B

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Across 1 Many go down on them 6 Moby Dick chaser 10 Gallery of London 14 Palmer of “The Boys From Brazil” 15 Oliver! request 16 China setting?

17 “___ River” 18 Words after International 20 Song that says “I’m a good gal/But my love is all wrong” 22 Suffix with profit 23 Baudelaire’s bag 24 Dreaded ink color 27 Where pool players put their balls 30 Jim, who did a Pyle of acting?

35 Take it like ___ 37 Not a whit 39 ___ New Guinea 40 Song that says “It’s not true that love is blind” 43 Place to celebrate P’s on earth?

44 He went down under the sea 45 Initial stake 46 Gaydar and such 48 Mary had a little one 50 Canon camera 51 Texas sch.

53 Fit start 55 Song that says “Love will make you do things/That you know is wrong” 62 Disney character with a woody head 63 Appealingly shocking 65 Scripture holders for congregation Beth Simchat Torah 66 Pokes fun at 67 Cara of Fame 68 Sexy clothing material

Skittles encourage you to taste the rainbow, but have you heard it? You can with songs from the gay-tastic Fox musical romp Glee—a safe, legal and cheaper alternative to ecstasy. Television’s Velveeta charmer has run the gamut of genres—pop and crunk, oldies and newbies, musical faves, tasteless rap numbers—and almost consistently delivers them in big choir-blasted gaiety. The winning ensemble cast was onto something with the show’s breakout hit “Don’t Stop Believin’,” but that only teased our musicalloving sweet tooth; when “Somebody to Love” premiered—giving show-stopping solos to many of Glee’s ace singers—it was a jaw-dropping, fist-pumping feast. Both are included on the 17-song soundtrack, and they’re as brilliantly big-hearted as they were in the context of the show’s flimsy plot points.

Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” abridged but still powerfully poignant, maintains its earnest, larger-than-life aplomb with a spot from the dramedy’s queer girly-voiced kid. Other goodies for “Gleeks”: the cut-a-bitch “Bust Your Windows” and musical-queen Kristin

Q-PUZZLE: “God Bless the Child That Sings”

69 Forgo swallowing 70 Ruhr industrial center Down 1 Road warning 2 Where the money is

3 Muppet pal of Rosie 4 Woodworker’s tool 5 Rufus Wainwright, for one 6 What guns shoot off 7 Saddle part 8 City on the Rhone

The first film sucked harder than a vampire. So if you want a good reason to give the sequel a go—besides the mmm-mmmgood man bods—then it’s this: The music. In all its dramatic sentimentality, the New Moon soundtrack bleeds maudlin angst, but does so with an eerie, mature wistfulness that befits the series’ lovesick melodramatic tone. And it’s also smart, rallying up kick-ass indie acts like queer-led Grizzly Bear, a flamboyant-less The Killers and Death Cab For Cutie, whose exclusive soundtrack song—the emo “Meet Me on the Equinox”—edges-out most cuts on their last LP. Sad thing is, the movie will likely be lackluster to the songs; even the theme, an ethereal piano lullaby, feels too good for Twilight. And it gets even better. Swedish singer Lykke Li’s “Possibility,” a hushed

9 Director Kidron of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit 10 Russian singing duo 11 Queens stadium name 12 Butch lesbian accessories 13 Toreador’s trophy 19 Dogpatch creator 21 Randolph Scott’s companion Cary 24 Sounds like Fierstein 25 Be a ham in “Hamlet”?

26 Ripley portrayer Matt 28 Attorney Roy 29 Get on your knees 31 Theda of the silents 32 Give a piece of one’s mind 33 Reach the sum of 34 Wise guys 36 Part of CNN 38 Witty Bombeck 41 “Keep your pants on!”

42 French river to the English Channel 47 Big wet ones 49 Holiday, who sang the three songs of this puzzle 52 Not at all cool 54 Homophobic comments 55 Give the axe to 56 Makes tattoos 57 Enjoy some ladyfingers, e.g.

58 Conn of Grease 59 The largest part 60 Crude material 61 Fruity drink 62 Cager Parsons 64 Bear necessity

• SOLUTION ON PAGE 27

December 2009 haunter, and the optimistic, sound-swelled “No Sound but the Wind”—an unreleased track from the Editors—are indie-riffic. Both jell perfectly into New Moon’s moody soundscapes, which stand strong on their own—and don’t bite.

Grade: A-

Also Out: Seasonal Sounds Tori Amos, Midwinter Graces

Leave it to the revered redhead—a Minister’s daughter—to twist ancient carols into the way she thinks they should sound. And they sound lovely. Keeping with a New Age-y aura, Amos records originals like “Winter’s Carol” and “Our New Year,” both better than almost anything on her last studio album.

Her daughter hauntingly sings on “Holly, Ivy and Rose,” but it’s “Star of Wonder” that’s the album’s most magical moment. The cover, on the other hand…

Kathy Griffin, Suckin’ It for the Holidays

The queer-loved comedian likes to put it all out there. Just look at that spread-eagle pose with a little wrapped gift between the legs (no, not her condom-covered genitals).

Besides those pics, her very-homo holiday album isn’t all that festive, but listening to Griffin rip on her mom, Oprah and Katie Couric might just be the next best thing to dicking the halls with balls of—oh crap, how does it go?

Sugarland, Gold and Green

You gotta love a group who can goof off—and the Jennifer Nettles-led twosome does with a cover of the underperformed ’50s novelty song “Nuttin’ for Christmas,” re-configured into a bluegrass toe-tapper. The rest are predictably performed classics like “Winter Wonderland” and “Silent Night.” But the most delightful ditties are originals: “City of Silver Dreams,” a NYC ode, and “Little Wood Guitar,” an emblematic Sugarland story-song.

But gold? Not quite.

David Archuleta, Christmas from the Heart

The Idol cutie-patootie knows how to make gay men happy: Look pretty. Luckily, he has a voice that’s just as pleasing, and on his cash-cow second album—a gimmicky holiday collection with the new Archie-written “Melodies of Christmas”—he, with his honeyed voice, is darn adorable. He’s best at the ballads, like “Ave Maria.” But even those lack much originality. Christmas from the Heart is music from the recycling bin.

Chris Azzopardi can be reached at chris@pridesource.com.

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INSURANCE - IOWA CITY

MASSAGE THERAPIST - QC

TAXI CAB - CEDAR RAPIDS

WINE - CEDAR RAPIDS

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LISA’S LIST the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City. ICARE (Iowa Center for AIDS Resources and Education) and Johnson County Public Health will be providing free HIV testing to the community on Tuesday, Dec. 1- World AIDS Day. Registration is not required.

The test consists of a quick, finger prick. Counselors will be available to talk about HIV/AIDS prevention, concerns you may have, and where to get treatment or attend support groups.

Tuesday, December 1, 7-9 p.m., WORLD AIDS DAY PANEL DISCUSSION entitled: “HIV in Iowa Today,” at hotelVetro in the Plaza Towers, second floor, 201 South Linn Street, Iowa City. Presented by the Connections monthly forum.

Tuesday-Sunday, December 1-6, CIRQUE DREAMS ILLUMINATION at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, www.civiccenter. org.

Wednesday, December 2, 7:30 p.m., MOUNT MERCY COLLEGE CHOIR in a free holiday concert, in Stello Performance Hall, Warde Hall, on the campus of Mt. Mercy College, Cedar Rapids. For more info, call 319-368-6475 or visit www.mtmercy.edu.

Wednesday-Sunday, December 2-13, SISTER’S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM at Prairie Meadows Temple Theater, Des Moines. For more info or tix, visit www.civiccenter.org.

Thursday, December 3, 5:30-8 p.m., CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK, Marion Square Park, 7th Ave. and 10th St., Marion. Enjoy visiting with Santa, live music, horse-drawn carriage rides, storytelling, the annual lighting of the Community Peace Tree, sipping hot cocoa, and munching popcorn.

Thursday, December 3, 9 p.m., WORLD AIDS DAY BENEFIT SHOW, at Club Basix, 3916 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, presented by Planned Parenthood of Eastern Central Iowa. Featuring Pretty Belle, Dena Cass, Jazmine Love, Brittney Cass, Vanessa Taylor, Dominque Cass, and Akasha Nyphanoix. All money raised will be donated to ICARE. For more info or to reserve a table, call 319-363-3194.

Thursday, December 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EVENING FOR SPIRIT, a gathering of women in Iowa City who come together to discover, cultivate, and express our spiritual selves. Sometimes we talk, and sometimes we sit quietly. No specific spiritual practice is followed, and no prior experience with a spiritual practice, path or religion is necessary to comfortably participate. This group has been meeting together for many years, and newcomers are always most welcome.

For more info about Spirit Hill and Evenings for Spirit, call Sharon at 319-643-2613.

Thursday-Friday, December 3-4, CROSSROADS FESTIVAL, downtown Des Moines. Featuring 5 stages of music, a visual art showcase, film, theatre, comedy, food & drink tastings, and seminars.

Visit www.crossroadsiowa.com.

December 3-20, THE NUN BEFORE CHRISTMAS, a theatrical musical comedy, at the Bell Tower Theatre, Dubuque. For more info or tix, visit www.belltowertheater.net.

Friday, December 4, 7 p.m., SUSAN WERNER with Tom Kimmel and Christopher Williams at West Des Moines Christian Church, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-223-1639, www. wdmcc.org. For tix, visit www.iowatix.com.

Friday-Sunday, December 4-6, THE NUTCRACKER, featuring Nolte Academy of Dance, at The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., downtown Iowa City. For tix, call 319-688-2653 or visit www. englert.org.

Friday-Sunday, December 4-6, NUNCRACKERS: The Nunsense Christmas Musical, at the Oster Regent Theatre, Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.osterregent.org.

Saturday, December 5, 7:30 p.m., NATALIE MACMASTER, Christmas in Cape Breton, at Riverside Casino Event Center, Riverside. This is a Hancher Auditorium production. Visit www.hancher. uiowa.edu/order for more info.

Saturday, December 5, 7:30 p.m., DIANA UPTON-HILL Christmas Concert 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.

Saturday, December 5, 7-9 p.m., ImpactCR’s UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER CONTEST and PARTY at Volume, downtown Cedar Rapids. Free admission into Volume until 9 p.m. Contest participants pay a $5 registration fee. Enjoy drink specials from Fleck Sales and hang out with your media hosts Z102.9 and Hoopla.

Pre-register at hooplanow.com or just show up the night of.

Bring on the Ugly!

Sunday, December 6, Noon – 4 p.m., ARTS IOWA CITY FUNDRAISER at Devotay, 117 N. Linn St., Iowa City. Featured are eight local artists with beautiful hand-made gift items including photography, painting, pottery, sculpture, knitted and woven items, children’s gifts and more. There will also be a wine tasting with tapas for a requested donation to benefit Arts Iowa City. The benefit for Arts Iowa City continues at Devotay for the evening dinner service from 5-9. For all guests who make a reservation for that evening mentioning Arts Iowa City, a percentage of food and beverage sales will go to AIC. The higher the sales, the higher the percentage of sales donated.

Sunday, December 6, 1-5 p.m., HOLIDAY SHOPPING DAY featuring many well-known vendors at 1309 Andrew Ct. NW, Cedar Rapids. Enjoy refreshments, drawings, and a chance to network with many area women. Features the following vendors: Premier Designs, Mary Kay, Creative Memories, Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple, Usborne Books, SendOut Cards, Sentsy Wickless Candles, reliv, and more! For more info, call Amy Moore at 319-202-8888 or

December 2009 SeizeTheMoment@mchsi.com.

Sunday, December 6, 4-8 p.m., WINTER GAYLA 2009, a fundraiser for the Cedar Rapids Gay and Lesbian Resource Center (GLRC) and Cedar Rapids Pride 2010, at the Cedar Rapids Piano Lounge, 208 2nd Ave. SE, downtown Cedar Rapids. Enjoy treats from Zin’s and Amai Sweets, musical entertainment, drink specials, a 50/50 raffle and more! $20 donation goes to the GLRC and CR Pride.

Sunday, December 6, 6-10 p.m., NATALIE BROWN is sitting in with the Craig Erickson Band at Parlor City in Cedar Rapids.

Wednesday, December 9, THE MAIA QUARTET at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Visit www.englert.org or call 319-688-2653 for more info or tix.

Wednesday, December 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., ANTIMICROBIAL ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HEALTH Workshop at Prairiewoods, 120 Boyson Rd., Hiawatha. Prairiewoods staffer Mary Ellen Dunford is teaching this class on how to use essential oils to enhance your health by protecting you from germs and other microorganisms.

Participants will become familiar with 8 highly ranked antimicrobial essential oils. No prior knowledge is required. Cost: $25. Call Prairiewoods to register: 319-395-6700.

Wednesday-Saturday, December 9-12, 8 p.m., TRIBUTE (holiday show), featuring Carol Montag, Nina Swanson and Kathy Donnelly 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, December 11, 9 p.m., KRIS DELMHORST with Jeffrey Foucault at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. $10 at the door. Kris is an amazing singer-songwriter, and we’ve missed her! Do not miss this! Visit www.icmill.com and www. krisdelmhorst.com.

Friday-Sunday, December 11-13, COOL YULE, an evening of cool music and Christmas cheer featuring Lynne Rothrock and friends, at 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12, and 7 p.m. Dec. 13, at ARA Gallery and Interiors, 4850 Armar Drive SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $25 per person. Call for reservations: 319-366-2520.

Friday-Sunday, December 11-13, NUNCRACKERS: The Nunsense Christmas Musical, at the Oster Regent Theatre, Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, visit www.osterregent.org.

Friday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m., December 11-13, A DON’T HUG ME CHRISTMAS CAROL, a hilarious spoof of the Charles Dickens’ classic, at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center Pavilion, Fairfield. All tix $18, available by calling 641-472-2787.

Saturday, December 12, 5:30 p.m., KOL SHIRA at The Mill Restaurant, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City. Iowa City’s all-women music group that sings international music in various languages and with a ton of different instruments and sounds. This is a special all-ages early show. $6 admission. Visit www.icmill.com and www. valeriedavine.com/kolshira.html.

Saturday, December 12, 7 p.m., THE QUIRE, Eastern Iowa’s GLBT Chorus, Winter Concert, at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St. in Iowa City. Donations accepted. Visit www.thequire. org. This is the Quire’s 15th season, and they are not to miss!

Saturday, December 12, 8 p.m., TYPHANIE MONIQUE, holiday jazz group, at The Washington, 306 Washington St., Burlington. For more info, call 319-758-9553.

Saturday-Sunday, December 12-13, IOWA DANCE THEATRE’S THE NUTCRACKER, at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. For more info or tix, visit www.civiccenter.org.

Sunday, December 13, 6-9 p.m., IOWA CITY PRIDE WINETASTING FUNDRAISER, at Iowa City Piano Lounge, 217 Iowa Ave., Iowa City. Raise your glasses for Pride at our first fundraiser for the 2010 Iowa City Pride Festival. Your $20 donation entitles you to unlimited samples of wines from around the world and delicious appetizers. Wine gift baskets will be available via silent auction.

Must be 21 to participate.

Thursday, December 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EVENING FOR SPIRIT, a gathering of women in Iowa City who come together to discover, cultivate, and express our spiritual selves. Sometimes we talk, and sometimes we sit quietly. No specific spiritual practice is followed, and no prior experience with a spiritual practice, path or religion is necessary to comfortably participate. This group has been meeting together for many years, and newcomers are always most welcome.

For more info about Spirit Hill and Evenings for Spirit, call Sharon at 319-643-2613.

Friday, December 18, 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (sold out), MANHEIM STEAMROLLER at Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. For more info or tix, call 319-273-4849 or visit www.uni.edu/gbpac.

Friday, December 18, 8 p.m., BETSY STORLIE at CoffeeCat, Mason City. For more info, visit www.coffeecatonline.com. $3 suggested donation.

Saturday, December 19, 7:30 p.m., An Evening of Opera with DEBORAH RAYMOND 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.

Thursday, December 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m., EVENING FOR SPIRIT, a gathering of women in Iowa City who come together to discover, cultivate, and express our spiritual selves. Sometimes we talk, and sometimes we sit quietly. No specific spiritual practice is followed, and no prior experience with a spiritual practice, path or religion is necessary to comfortably participate. This group has been meeting together for many years, and newcomers are always most welcome.

For more info about Spirit Hill and Evenings for Spirit, call Sharon at 319-643-2613.

December 2009

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 27

CAAP Benefit Raises $15,500

by John Wilson — photos by Paul Danielsen & Renee Evans the Queens at Kings and Queens Tap can do.

Tips also went to CAAP fund.

The Party Continues

Raising money for charities has been a challenge in 2009 with an economy that has taken its toll on pocket change. But gay communities and friends have dug deep and made the annual CAAP 2009 fund raiser another record year.

CAAP, known also as the Communty AIDS Assistance Project, governed by a board of volunteers, is a non-profit corporation in Waterloo/Cedar Falls. The funds raised by CAAP are used to pay for items not covered by other HIV/AIDS sources, such as Cedar Aids Assistance Service (CASS), another Blackhawk organization . Since it 1997, the CAAP board has dispersed over $50,000, including some grants to CASS, Cedar Valley Hospice, ICARE, and also to individuals to cover rent, car repairs, utilities, phone, dental, air conditioner, wheel chairs, beds, insurance, school supplies, and even a burial urn.

This year the CAAP organization held its benefit, “A Night on the Red Carpet” on November 6 and 7.

It all started with a Cake Walk!

The CAAP fundraiser began with the annual “Cake Walk” on Friday, November 6, at the Kings and Queens Tap in Waterloo.

On Saturday, November 7, the CAAP party & fund raiser continued at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo. The event was well attended by a generous public including many drag queens from around the state. The evening’s events included a fabulous drag show, tasty treats, and awesome awards.

The fabulous drag shows

The drag show was guided by the talents of Ms. Prunella deVille, Ms. Summer Knight, and Mr. Michael Ferry.

One of the first to perform was Ms Huffy Rosenberg, also known as the 1st Miss Iowa USA at Large, performing “I Will Survive.” And then there was the strong performance of Miss Cedar Valley, Baily Seas.

From Cedar Rapids were the group of drag queens known as the Cass Sisters.

The first to perform was Katrina Cass, also a former Miss Iowa Continental, who gave a high energy rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Also from Cedar Rapids was the show director at Hamburger Mary’s, Dominique Cass. From Club Basix in Cedar Rapids was the popular Dena Cass performing a song made popular by Dolly Parton, “9 to 5.” And, of course, what show would be complete without Natasha Cass performing “Last Dance.”

With Michael Ferri as MC, other performers included Annie T. from Oelwein, Ebony Marie Powers, Summer Knight, and Chenelle Cavalier (performing “I Am What I Am”). A special welcome was given to Wanda June who performed “Memories” from Cats.

Summer Knight served as MC of the third set performers who included CoCo Cabinet, Courtney Michaels, Brady Marie Powers (who was also the Grand Emperial Duchess from the Iowa Imperial Court.)

The Show-Cast and CAAP staff that made the evening an enjoyable success!

Tasty Treats A pleasant addition to the festivities this year was the serving of finger foods: cheeses with crackers, vegetables, small squares of cakes and cream puffs, and some special breads and spreads. Free coffee was available all evening. Beer and other drinks were available at a nominal cost.

$$-Big Donors-$$

Cornhaulers Michael and Randy

Every year at these events, special organizations attend and make a major donation. This year an impressive donation was made by the levi-leather group, The Cornhaulers. The funds were presented by members Michael and Randy (above.)

Awesome Awards!

Ethel has served as a Board Member of CAAP. Winners in the past included John Wilson and Paul Danielsen for their work publishing and editing ACCESSline.

CAAP also gave 4 appreciation awards: 1) Karen’s Print Rite, 2) United Beverage, 3) Wanda June, and 4) Delon Gobeli. Delon holds the record for being the longest running member: 15 years!

Time is Money!

As the evening progressed, the relationship between time and money became an interesting challenge to the fund raisers!

During this benefit, the first total was announced at 9:00pm: $10,116. Some of that was raised at the bar, Kings & Queens Tap, the night before. And then, in 30 minutes at 9:30pm, the total was over to $11,100! By 10:00pm, over $11,733 had been raised. Time moved quickly as raffles and sales of items for bid moved ahead.

So, by 10:30pm over $12,100 had been raised. It was then reported that in the final accounting the next day, a grand total of $15,500 had been raised for charitable work by CAAP. As to the items for auction, the big hit of the evening were the baskets of “special items” donated by the adult bookstores in the area. Bags and baskets of items raised as much as $200 each. Several works of art and special photographs were also auctioned off.

Post Benefit Party!

After the benefit, Kings & Queens Tap hosted a party and had a very large crowd there enjoying the impromptu show put on by some of the entertainers. A chance to unwind was provided by wonderful dance music.

Delon with a cake for CAAP

The master of the “Cake Walk” ceremonies was Delon Gobeli, the traditional host of the event. As pictured, Delon raffled cakes to bar patrons with the proceeds going to CAAP. Patrons bought raffle tickets; the winner drew a number from a “cake container” which matched a cake on display. Lucky winner then took the matching cake (or pie or cookies or other pastry) home. Some winners shared their winning pastry with the bar patrons. All in all, over $300 was raised for CAAP from the annual “Calk Walk.”

Following the “Cake Walk” patrons were entertained with a drag show as only

Thanks!

Ms Baumgartner, winner of the 2009 “Keeper of the Wings” Ruby James Knight in a beautiful, lavender floor-length evening gown.

Of course, one of the all-time favorites was Ruby James Knight, beautifully dressed, performing “Way Up There” by Patti LeBelle. Ruby was one of the founders of CAAP along with DeLon Gobeli, Neal, Courtney Michaels, and Ken.

Every year, CAAP honors various persons in the community for their service and dedication to the gay community and also to those with HIV/AIDS. This year, the prestigious “Keeper of the Wings” award was given to Ethel Baumgartner for her tireless effort helping many in need in the gay community.

CAAP wants to wish all a prosperous new year and hope that you will continue to help support those in our community.

Special thanks is given to all the participants of this year’s benefit, including those who organized the event, and especially those who performed in it.

Any suggestions, ideas for fund raisers, ideas for next years’ thene, please send your comments to: CAAP PO Box 36 Waterloo, IA 50704-0036

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Section 3: Community

December 2009

Finance, Shaken not Stirred: Money & Love by Tracy Freese Tracy, Do you have any tips for talking to your financially-challenged other half about money?

— Strapped in Davenport First and foremost, a majority of divorce and break-ups occur because of money issues so I applaud you for trying to better yourself in the “monetary communication” region of your relationship.

Society encourages us to sweep money issues under the rug and never discuss them until it’s too late. We hear “You can’t take it with you” and “Money doesn’t buy happiness” from our friends and family. So if those fun little phrases actually do hold true, why do we feel so crappy about our financial futures? And, if broke people are so happy, why are they getting divorces and dying bankrupt? Because try as we might to say otherwise, money is real and our society is based on it—no longer are we trading balls of yarn for goats! Human needs are met by those green pieces of fabric with the dead white guys on them, time to admit they are important.

Being debt free and saving feels pretty darn good and has only been accentuated by recent economical downturns. The term “emergency fund” is now fashionable and able to be discussed whereas five years ago we didn’t even understand the concept. Start small, empower yourself, clarify your goals and you will be amazed at the control you feel. Not all relationships

aware that you do not like this behavior and would like an explanation. Do not make a big production or scene; make the conversation natural with no judgment.

Many times you will find a root cause such as they feel stifled by rules and want some money that is just theirs…or they are buying you a super nice gift and don’t want you to know about it!!! Maybe the solution to this behavior is simply setting up an account for their sole usage.

Walk the Talk are doomed based on money differences but people view spending and saving in different ways. Strapped, I would assume you and your significant other take more time planning your next vacation than you do discussing the levels, or lack there of, in your savings account. Society says that’s okay, but Tracy Freese does not. So, I have put together a few tips to help stimulate conversation:

Infidelity can occur financially

Is your other half cheating on you?

Are they hiding credit cards, are there ATM withdrawals that are unaccounted for, or do they have income sources you are not aware of? In a very neutral manner, push back on them and make them

If you are all about saving then your actions best show that. Be prepared that if you start a saving/spending conversation, a spotlight will be placed on your actions as well. Don’t make the mistake of demanding thrift from your spouse and then hitting the mall with your American Express. A mantra I do believe in: actions speak louder than words so set the example.

Put it on paper

Every partnership wants to dream about where they are going to travel, what home improvements they are going to make, and which new gadget they are going to buy. The biggest mistake couples make is thinking they can do all of these things at once – you need to prioritize.

Collaborate and write down a list of you and your partner’s top spending priorities and then rank them from most important to least. Will a Blackberry keep your

energy bills down this winter or should you instead spend that money on more insulation in your attic? Once your list is written down and ranked, post it on the refrigerator and STICK TO IT! If you both agree and both work towards common spending goals, conversation should come easily.

Become cash money millionaires

Since the big trend these days is to give up plastic grocery bags why not go even greener and give up plastic in your spending routine as well. Level the playing field and strictly use cash for purchases.

I know, I know, it is such a HARDSHIP to drive to the ATM, roll down your automatic car window, type in your pin number, and reach for the cash, but in the long run you will see how much less you spend and maybe even burn a few extra calories. That little plastic devil disguised as a debit card will lead you down the path of no return if you let it. I will say this for debit cards, they are better than credit cards due to their limited money supply, but you still lose sight of expenditures when those transactions go up in thin air with a punch of a button or swoosh of a signature. Keeping you and your other half on a cash basis will decrease transactions in your account and allow you to better budget.

TTMONEY continued page 30

December 2009

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 29

Walk Through Finances Before Strolling Down the Aisle

by Ryan Weidner It’s not too soon to be preparing for those June weddings. If you are planning to exchange vows then, you’ve obviously got a lot to think about beforehand. But in the midst of going over wedding plans, don’t neglect a topic that will be important during your entire married life - your finances.

Open and honest communication is the key to a successful marriage - and communicating about money is essential.

That’s why you will want to get off on the right foot by learning now how you and your partner’s finances and financial attitudes fit together.

Of course, you may be thinking that talking about money during the pre-wedding rush can add to the stress of what may already be a hectic time. But if you just block off a few hours on a day when you have no other plans, you should be able to make a lot of progress. In any case, you’ll certainly need to revisit your financial situation and attitudes on a regular basis throughout your marriage.

For starters, though, here are a few questions to ask of each other: •

•

•

•

What are your financial assets?

You’ll want to find out the scope of each other’s assets: savings, investments, retirement plans, etc. This information will serve as a foundation from which you can base your short- and long-term financial goals - such as buying a house and saving for retirement.

What are your debts? Here’s the flip side of the asset question. You might find it hard to ask about each other’s financial obligations, but it’s vitally important that you share this information - because, whether you realize it or not, you may end up sharing some of these debts.

Find out about student loans, car loans, mortgages, credit card bills everything. While going over these debts, you may even get some ideas about how you can consolidate them.

What expenses shall we share?

Sooner or later, most married couples face the “two checkbook or one’’ question - but there’s no one “right’’ answer. How you handle the payment of your living expenses is really a personal matter. Many couples have found a workable solution by paying major expenses - mortgage, car payment, utilities, etc. - out of a joint checking account, while still maintaining separate accounts to handle incidentals, gifts and other costs incurred by just one partner.

What type of investor are you?

At first glance, you might think that having a different investment personality than your partner would not be such a big deal. And yet, a

substantial number of couples do experience tension when one partner wants to invest much more aggressively than the other. While there’s nothing stopping you and your spouse from maintaining separate investment accounts, you may find that, in many cases, you may actually do better by pooling your resources into joint investments. And so, you each may have to compromise to accommodate each other’s preferences; the aggressive partner must be willing to play it a bit safer to reduce volatility, and the conservative partner needs to accept a bit more risk in exchange for potential higher returns. As you shape your investment portfolio, you may want to work with a financial professional - someone who knows your collective needs and goals, and who can recommend a course of action that’s suitable for your common interests.

Going over your finances this way may not be as much fun as planning a honeymoon - but it can definitely help you build a harmonious life together.

Ryan Weidner is a registered financial advisor with Edward Jones in Des Moines, Iowa. He can be reached at (515) 432-6713 or ryan.weidner@edwardjones.com.

“We (Jane Wagner and I) don’t want to get married. ... It just doesn’t appeal to us. I’ve had friends who’ve gotten married and who have had incredibly beautiful ceremonies and done really spiritual things that were totally inspiring and uplifting. (But) I see marriage as more of a religious endeavor or connection and it just doesn’t appeal to me. If we had children, we’d want to be married so the children would have that identity. We’ve been together 38 years, I don’t think there’s any point in getting married except for the PR of it.”

— Lily Tomlin to Las Vegas’ The Strip Podcast, Nov. 8.

Congratulations to Ryan Weidner & Drew Smith of Des Moines.

On November 12th 2009, Ryan proposed to Drew in the Sculpture Garden in downtown Des Moines inside of the heart of the Nomade Sculpture with lights from the base of the sculpture shining up from below into the night sky. Ryan chose the site of the Nomade by Plensa, made of steel white letters, as to say that letters themselves and the words they construct cannot alone express the feeling of true love and devotion but rather, love and devotion comes from the heart.

The two plan to be married in Des Moines mid-may of this upcoming year.

Section 3: Community What is theTranscendental MONEY Meditation technique?

Stop playing the

ACCESSline Page 30

SScontinued from page 28

submitted by Nancy Freund

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. David Lynch.

Russell Simons. Paul McCartney. Donovan.

Moby. Sheryl Crow.

The common thread? The Transcendental Meditation technique.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural technique for achieving deep rest and expanded awareness that is practiced by millions of individuals. Introduced to “the west” in the late 1950’s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the Transcendental Meditation technique is the most widely practiced, extensively researched and broadly prescribed health-promoting program in the world.

Fifty years of research offer scientific evidence that regular practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique improves intellectual performance, health, and personal relationships. These improvements are the result of less stress and fatigue in the body and more coherent

“Blame Game”

functioning of the brain.

What is the Transcendental Meditation technique “not”?

It is not a religion. It does not involve a change in lifestyle or diet or belief system.

It is not like any other form of meditation, involving neither contemplation nor concentration.

How is the Transcendental Meditation technique practiced?

The Transcendental Meditation technique is practiced for 15-20 minutes twice a day while sitting easily and comfortably with the eyes closed.

How does one learn?

The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught by certified teachers through a systematic program of instruction created by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

For more information about the Transcendental Meditation technique, contact Nancy Freund: nfreund@tm.org or 360-969-1800.

“(I knew Ellen was the one) when I first laid eyes on her. But it took me three years to actually tell her how I felt about her because I was on Ally McBeal at the time and wasn’t living as an openly gay person. I was closeted and very, very afraid that if I talked about being gay it would be the end of my career. So I wasn’t about to date the most famous lesbian in the world.”

— Portia de Rossi in a Nov. 9 appearance with wife Ellen DeGeneres on Oprah.

Believe it or not you both are in this together, no one person got you into these money frustrations – you both did it gradually by either ignoring the problem or refusing to educate yourself on the consequences of your actions. Tossing blame on each other only aids and abets the conflict so resolve never to start sentences with the word “you” ever again when speaking about finances. Think about it, sentences like “You need to do this” or “You aren’t concerned with that” do not set a very nonjudgmental tone, now do they?

December 2009

On a final note...

Maybe joint accounts were just not meant to be in your relationship. Ignore what your friends and family say about joint accounts symbolizing unity – blah!

Split the bills with pride and tell anyone who questions you that while they are heading for divorce court, you and your loved one will be heading to Jamaica discussing your financial future all the way.

Tracy Freese is a registered financial advisor and can be reached at 319-464-7894 or by email at tfreese@libertybank.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.

Section 3: Community How Chef deJon warms his cockles

December 2009

make sure the brown sugar has dissolved completely.

4. Taste the Bisschopswijn occasionally.

Remove the spice bag when the desired amount of “spice” is reached.

5. Ladle the hot Bisschopswijn into mugs and serve with a Cinnamon Stir Stick.

Cranberry Stuffed Apples Baked in Mulled Wine

Bisschopswijn is made in Pella, Iowa.

The company is proudly “family” owned.

Bisschopswijn – “Market Recipe” If you ever sample our product at a farmer’s market or craft show you will be sampling this recipe. This is the family friendly recipe or for those who don’t want to indulge in the wine recipe. We often make this for parties and set up what we call a “cider bar”. We put out bottles of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, peach schnapps, cinnamon schnapps, apple schnapps and fruit flavored brandies and let guests embellish their spiced cider to their own personal taste. Always put out a few cinnamon sticks for stirring.

• • • •

32oz. cranberry juice 32oz. apple cider ¼ cup light brown sugar 1 oz. (generous 1/4 cup) Bisschopswijn – Mulled Wine and Cider Spices Stove Top or Crock Pot Method 1. Combine the cranberry juice and apple cider in a large crock pot or large sauce pan. Add the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved.

2. Place Bisschopswijn spices in the muslin bag provided. Close the bag by pulling the strings and tying them into a bow. Place the bag of spices into the juice mixture. Cover the crock pot or sauce pan and heat the mixture until hot over a medium setting on your crock pot or medium heat on your stove top. Do not boil.

3. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Stir occasionally to

Ingredients • 4 large golden delicious apples, peeled and cored to within 1/4 inch of the bottom • 4 tablespoons whole cranberry sauce • 1 cup dry red wine • 2 tablespoons of Bisschopswijn – Mulled Wine & Cider Spices • 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces • 4 tablespoons sugar Optional topping • 1 cup heavy cream, stiffly whipped with 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter a 3-qt casserole and set aside.

2. Fill the center of each apple with cranberry sauce, mounding it ever so slightly on top.

3. Stand the apples in the prepared casserole, arranging them so they don’t touch the casserole sides or one another.

4. Pour the red wine evenly over the apples, then sprinkle in the Bisschopswijn – Mulled Wine & Cider Spices and butter into the casserole, distributing them evenly around the apples.

5. Finally, sprinkle 1 T sugar over each apple.

6. Bake the apples, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes, till tender, basting with the casserole liquid (not the spices) every 10 minutes.

7. Serve hot or warm, spooning a bit of the liquid (without the spices) over the top of each apple and adding, if desired, a dollop of the whipped cream.

Bisschopswijn - Traditional Netherlands Recipe

Bisschopswijn is also known by many other names including the German “Gluhwein” or the “Hot Wine” served in the Christmas Markets of the Czech Rebublic. It has many “cousins” such as the Scandinavian “Glogg” and other versions from Italy, Romania, and Chile which all

ACCESSline Page 31

use the same basic ingredients with a few variations.

Bisschopswijn recipe served in The Netherlands.

• Two 750ml bottles of dry red wine • 2/3 cup of granulated white sugar • 1oz (generous 1/4 cup) Bisschopswijn Mulled Wine and Cider Spices Stove Top or Crock Pot Method 1. Pour the red wine in a crock pot or sauce pan. Add the sugar and stir until it is dissolved.

2. Place 1oz. of Bisschopswijn spices in the muslin bag* provided. Close the bag by pulling the strings. Place the bag of spices into the wine mixture. Cover the crock pot or sauce pan and heat the mixture until hot over a medium setting on your crock pot or medium heat on your stove top. Do not boil.

3. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure the sugar has dissolved completely.

4. Taste the Bisschopswijn occasionally.

Remove the spice bag when the desired amount of “spice” is reached.

5. Ladle the hot Bisschopswijn into mugs and serve with a Cinnamon Stir Stick.

Makes six 8 ounce cups.

• • • • • •

Bisschopswijn – Mulled Wine & Cider Spice Recipe This is our signature recipe. We have been serving this recipe in Pella since the 70’s. It is a variation of the classic

32oz. cranberry juice 12oz. apple cider 12oz. dry red wine ¼ cup light brown sugar ¼ cup apricot flavored brandy 1 oz. (generous 1/4 cup) Bisschopswijn Mulled Wine and Cider Spices Stove Top or Crock Pot Method 1. Combine the cranberry juice, apple cider and red wine in a large crock pot or large sauce pan. Add the brown sugar and stir until it is dissolved.

2. Place Bisschopswijn spices in the muslin bag* provided. Close the bag by pulling the strings. Place the bag of spices into the juice and wine mixture. Cover the crock pot or sauce pan and heat the mixture until hot over a medium setting on your crock pot or medium heat on your stove top.

Do not boil.

3. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure the brown sugar has dissolved completely.

4. Taste the Bisschopswijn occasionally.

Remove the spice bag when the desired amount of “spice” is reached.

5. Just before serving add the apricot flavored brandy and stir until combined. Ladle the hot Bisschopswijn into mugs and serve with a Cinnamon Stir Stick.

Makes seven 8 ounce cups.

ACCESSline Page 32

Section 3: Community

December 2009

December 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 Equality Iowa P.O. Box 18 Indianola, IA 50125 www.equalityiowa.org 515-537-3126 Faithful Voices Interfaith Alliance of Iowa’s marriage equality project. www.faithfulvoices.org 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 First United Methodist Church 6th & Kellogg Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30; Sun at 8:30 and 11:00am. www.fumcames.org.

515-232-2750 Living with HIV Program 126 S. Kellogg, Suite 1 Ask for Janelle (Coordinator) 515-956-3312 ext 106 or I -800-890-8230

Section 3: Community ISU LGBTA Alliance GLBT Support, Activism, Social Events, Newsletter East Student Office L, Memorial Union, ISU Ames, IA. 50014 alliance@iastate.edu http://www.alliance.stuorg.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, Spencer, Spirit Lake The Royal Wedding Chapel 504 Church Street Royal, IA 51357 712-933-2223 www.TheRoyalWeddingChapel.com 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 Arrowhead Motel 2520 Mount Pleasant St Burlington, IA 52601-2118 319-752-6353 - www.arrowheadia.com 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 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.

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!

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

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)

Together For Youth 233 Vold Dr, Waterloo, IA 50703 www.TogetherForYouth.net 319-274-6768

AIDS Interfaith Network 100 N. 62nd Omaha, NE Call Br. Wm. Woeger 402-558-3100

UNI-LGBTA Alliance-Student Organization 244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls 50613 lgbta@uni.edu 319-222-0003

Citizens For Equal Protection 1105 Howard St, Suite #2 Omaha, NE 68102 www.cfep-ne.org info@cfep-ne.org 402-398-3027

United Church of Christ Cedar Falls 9204 University Avenue, Cedar Falls 319-266-9686

Council Bluffs NOW Write PO Box 3325 Omaha, NE 68103-0325

Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County 3912 Cedar Heights Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5640

DC’s Saloon 610 S. 14th St. Omaha, NE Open everyday 2pm to 1am, western/levi/ leather.

402-344-3103

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 GLBTQ and straight students, staff and people from the community.

Coe College 1220 First Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 For information contact: coealliance@coe.edu or Erica Geers, faculty advisor at 319-861-6025 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

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.

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 Omaha 819 South 22nd P.O. Box 3173, Omaha, NE 68103 Sun 9 & 11 am Wednesday “ReCharge” Worship, Wed 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

ACCESSline Page 33 River City Mixed Chorus Gay/lesbian chorus PO Box 3267 Omaha, NE 68103 Call Stan Brown, marketing 402-341-7464.

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 Human Rights Commission Contact: City Clerk 400 Clairborne Dr, Decorah 563-382-3651 Meetings: First Tuesdays, 5:30pm Luther College Student Congregation Contact Office for College Ministry 700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101 563-387-1040.

PFLAG Northeast IA (Waukon/Decorah) First Lutheran Church 604 W Broadway, Decorah, IA Meetings: 4th Mondays, 7pm-9pm Call Jean @ 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 The CENTER 1300 Locust; The new LGBT and progressive place to be. thecenterdm@gmail.com 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

ACCESSline Page 34

Section 3: Community

Heartland Gay Rodeo Midwest Division of the International Gay Rodeo Association.

402-203-4680

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

515-288-4056

Iowa Affirmation Lesbian/Gay United Methodist Thoreau Center, 35th & Kingman Blvd. Write Affirmation PO Box 1726, Des Moines, IA 50309

Urbandale UCC An open & affirming congregation.

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

Java Joe’s Gay friendly 214 4th St. 515-288-5282

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.

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. 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 SOFFA Iowa (Significant Others Family Friends and Allies of people who fall under the Gender Variant umbrella) Monthly meetings held at The CENTER, 1300 Locust contact Jaye at: (515)779-5185 thecentersoffaiowa@gmail.com 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 TransformationsIOWA 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

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 Worship Group (Quakers) Tired of being rejected by your church?

Tired of following church pronouncements that smack of homophobia? Join us at an unprogrammed meeting on Sunday at 10am.

Open and Affirming St. Mark’s Community Center 1201 Locust Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 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 AA (GLBT) Meetings Sundays 5 - 6pm at First Baptist Church, 500 North Clinton Street. For more info, call IC Intergroup Answering Service, 319-338-9111 Congregational Church UCC 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 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.

U of I Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Staff & Faculty Association c/o WRAC 130 N. Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242 319-335-1486

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

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

Mary’s On 2nd 832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA 563-884-8014.

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.

Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm.

QCAD.OutForGood@GMail.com 309-786-2580

The Ursine Group Bear Events in the Midwest.

P.O. Box 1143, Iowa City, IA 52244-1143 319-338-5810

Crisis Center 1121 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, 52240 319-351-0140.

Vortex Gifts 211 E. Washington, downtown Iowa City 319-337-3434

Emma Goldman Clinic 227 N. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52245 319-337-2111or 1-800-848-7684.

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

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

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

New Song Episcopal Church 912 20th Ave Coralville, IA Sunday services at 1Oam. Rev. Elizabeth Coulter, Pastor Rev. John Harper, Associate.

319-351-3577

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

Studio 13 13 S. Linn St. (in the Alley) Iowa City, IA Open 7pm ‘til 2am, daily 319-338-7145 Thich Nhat Hanh based “Mindfulness” meditation and study group Iowa City Public Library, Sundays 1 to 2:30pm Usually Room E 319-354-4065

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.

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

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.

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

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

Romantix Iowa City (Pleasure Palace I) 315 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240-4722 http://www.romantixonline.com 319-351-9444

MCC Quad Cities - Svcs Sat 5pm, Sun 11am Bible study Wed. 7 pm 3019 N. Harrison, Davenport, IA 52803 Call 563-324-8281.

Rainbow Gifts www.rainbowgifts.net 309-764-0559

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

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

December 2009

Quad Cities

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.

Connections Nightclub 822 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802 Phone: (563) 322-1121 DeLaCerda House Provides housing and supportive services, advocacy and referrals for people living with HIV/AIDS. P.O. Box 4551, Rock Island, Il. 61201 309-786-7386.

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

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 Romantix Sioux City (Adult Emporium) 511 Pearl St, Sioux City, IA 51101-1217 St. Thomas Episcopal Church Service Sun 10:30am 406 12th St, Waverly, IA Rev Mary Christopher 712-258-0141 Western Iowa Tech. GSA widemal@juno.com for info.

Waverly Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry.

717 W. Bremer, (St. Andrew’s Episcopal) Waverly, IA 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

December 2009

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 35

Section 3: Community

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