ACCESSline, Iowa's LGBT+ Newspaper, February 2011 Issue, Volume 25 No 2

An open letter to Rep. Kim Pearson

by Stephanie Bell

Shear Sexy

Photo: John Wright

Scissor Sisters’ frontman on his second puberty, performing naked and the band’s Lady Gaga love affair

By Chris Azzopardi They’ve always been gorgeous, but it took a decade before the Scissor Sisters, with their third album Night Work, became full-on filthy. The romp-pop album, released last year, is done up in cheeky softcore innuendo about “funking” someone, the late-shift grind (literally) and “big” surprises.

Our chat with frontman Jake Shears had many of them— from the conversation that united the band with Lady Gaga for the megastar’s 2011 Monster Ball Tour to the favorite gay icon he wants to meet (Tom Petty?). Shears also talked about the, well, sheer amount of clothing he wears, his wardrobe faux pas and how he defines himself—according to the Urban Dictionary.

TTInterview page 20

Bleeding Heartland: Ten dishonest talking points on the marriage amendment in Iowa by desmoinesdem of BleedingHeartland.com Tue Jan 25, 2011 at 09:46:47 AM CST A constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to couples of the opposite sex advanced on January 24 in both a subcommittee of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee and the full committee.

House Joint Resolution 6 states, “Marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union valid or recognized in this state.” Iowa Republicans have promised for months to approve a constitutional amendment

TTDISHONEST continued page 33

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When I was in middle school, I earned spare money by babysitting for a lot of the neighborhood kids.

One of the parents I was employed by was Kim Pearson, one of the sponsors of the bill in the Iowa House to amend the Constitution to ban not only gay marriage, but also civil unions and domestic partnerships.

This is an edited version of my letter to her.

Dear Kim,

Reichen Lehmkuhl candidly talks reality TV regrets, DADT, and ex Lance Bass’ career copycats TTInterview page 12

What’s Inside: Section 1: News & Politics Iowa State Representative Kim Pearson, (R-Pleasant Hill)

This is your former neighbor, Stephanie Bell, writing you from a long ways away—Oxford, England, to be specific.

I hope this letter finds you, and your husband and the girls well. …

You may be wondering why, over a decade down the road, I decided to contact you with what I’ve been up to and my meditations on and pride in my home state of Iowa. Part of it is to congratulate you on your election to the House, and to thank you for serving our state. And the other part of it is to make a plea, from one neighbor to another.

Kim, I’m gay. I figured it out in my senior year of high

TTKIM PEARSON continued page 38

“Amending the Iowa Constitution to exclude gay couples will harm thousands of Iowa families.

Marriage says ‘we’re a family’ like nothing else and is an important way we care for those we love. Writing discrimination into the Constitution will only divide us at a time when we need to work together to tackle common concerns. Iowans expect their elected officials to focus on issues that matter to everyone, like creating jobs, providing educational opportunities, and improving healthcare. Going backward on equal rights sends the wrong message.”

— Carolyn Jenison, Executive Director of One Iowa, January 19, 2011, House Resolution 6

Page 15

From the Editor Pain’s Peek-a-boo (original poetry by Mary M. Thome) 6th Annual Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth US News World News Inside Out: “The Republic of Iowa” by Ellen Krug Action Reaction: “The Gay Blue Period” Creeps of the Week Minor Details

Section 2: Fun Guide

Entertainment Picks for February Deep Inside Hollywood Reichen Lehmkuhl interview by Chris Azzopardi Partying Hard: “Spartacus: Full-Frontal Television” The Outfield Recurring Events, Statewide Hear Me Out (Music Reviews) The Gay Wedding Planner: “Romancing the Chase” Love Begins in the Kitchen this Valentine’s Day Jake Shears interview by Chris Azzopardi Cocktail Chatter Out of Town: San Antonio, Texas Book Worm Sez: Gay Bar Comics and Crossword Puzzle

Section 3: Community

3 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 11 11 12 13 14 15 15 18 19 20 23 25 26 26

PFLAG Linn County & Beyond 29 First Friday Breakfast Club: Rev. Elizabeth Dilley 29 Free Des Moines Tax Clinic 29 Queeries: LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow 30 Jonathan Wilson 31 Council Bluffs Community Alliance February events 32 CHAIN Day on the Hill (February 24, 2011) 32 Positive Iowans Taking Charge 35 Business Directory 36-37

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ACCESSline Page 2

Section 1: News & Politics

FEBRUARY 2011

FEBRUARY 2011

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ACCESSline is a monthly publication by Breur Media Corporation. The paper was founded in 1986 by the non-profit organization ACCESS (A Concerned Community for Education, Safer-sex and Support) in Northeast Iowa.

Arthur Breur, Editor in Chief Q Syndicate Rex Wockner News Service Contributors: Bruce Carr; Joshua Dagon; Beau Fodor; Ellen Krug; Bob Minor; Brett Edward Stout Jonathan Wilson

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Section 1: News & Politics

From the Editor Chuck Hurley encourages giving “tokens of Christian love” to “homosexual activists”— but NOT equal rights.

Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center (now part of “The FAMiLY Leader”), rallied anti-equality folks to show up for the Iowa House sub-committee meeting on the “straights only” marriage amendment—he also encouraged bringing “tokens of Christian love” to share with the “homosexual activists”: The first sub-committee meeting on the Iowa Marriage Amendment (IMA) will be held next Monday afternoon at 1 PM in Room 305 at the State Capitol. We expect the room to be very crowded with supporters, opponents, press, lobbyists and lawmakers.

IMPORTANT REMINDER – Please try to be at the Capitol on Monday to show support for marriage at this subcommittee meeting. Concerned Women for America will be holding a lunch and prayer event that day, and you can show support for them at the same time.

We will hold a prayer meeting in Room 305 from 12 to 1 PM; I urge you to join us. This will also allow you a better chance to get a seat for the 1 PM meeting. Several of us plan to bring a token of Christian love (like a small bag of cookies or other treats) to share with homosexual activists who we’ll be encountering Monday. It’s time we dispel lies about Christians, by tangibly showing love to people who struggle with homosexuality.

Frankly, Chuck, please encourage your posse to keep the cookies for a bake sale, say, to raise funds for a local AIDS charity?

That sounds more like Christian love to me, rather than acting to take away equal legal protection from same-sex couples.

And the LIES being told are being told by… drum-roll please… Chuck Hurley and the Iowa Family Policy Center—lies that can be found debunked at the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website, or using this easy link: StopHatingStartDebating.com

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 or HIV+ interest, both in and outside of Iowa • Letters to the editor • Editorials or opinion pieces • Engagement and wedding ceremony announcements or photos • Questions on any topic we print • Photos and writeups about shows, events, pageants, and fundraisers Please email us at Editor@ACCESSlineIOWA.com. You may also contact us at our regular address: ACCESSline PO Box 2666 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666

ACCESSline reserves the right to print letters to the editor and other feedback at the editor’s discretion.

ACCESSline Page 3

Pain’s Peek-a-boo a poem by Mary M. Thome

With a smile on my face and a laugh and a joke, I pick up my beer and light up a smoke.

The people around me only will see, the part of myself they think of as me.

The eyes that are dead and showing no tears, will hide all this pain for many a years.

Few will notice and no one will care, because they’re afraid of what I might share.

So the smiles and laughs are what I will show, those who look too hard will surely know the perception of life as I look out at you, isn’t the real me, it’s pain’s peek-a-boo.

But those who do see it will say nothing at all, afraid they will see all my barriers fall.

Once exposed, it would crumble and fall, and they would see nothing, nothing at all.

Pain and hurt will seep from my soul, turning my life as black as burnt coal.

Held in and growing for all of this time, yes it is painful, yes it’s all mine.

The fear it would cause others to see,

is pain’s peek-a-boo, hidden deep within me.

How do you do that to people who care?

This is my pain and my cross to bear.

So I will not show it nor allow its escape, the emotion inside me as it claws and it scrapes

to get in the open, and into the air, I would not let this happen, it wouldn’t be fair.

So I laugh and I joke with a smile left to hide the pain in my soul hidden deeply inside.

All that I hope and all that I pray, is that it won’t kill my soul a little each day.

I had to have what I knew it would take to tell all these lies with a smile so fake.

Destroying what was left of the real me inside, it was all I could do to let it continue to hide.

So again:

I laugh and I joke and light up a smoke, I pick up my beer and try not to choke

on the smile on my face and the tears in my eyes: it’s pain’s peek-a-boo for my smile to disguise.

January 22, 2011

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ACCESSline Page 4

Section 1: News & Politics

Bill seeks to end same-sex marriage in Iowa

by Rex Wockner A bill to authorize a public vote on amending the state constitution to ban samesex marriage, domestic partnerships, civil unions and all other recognition of same-sex couples was introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives Jan. 19.

A House committee approved the measure 13-8 on Jan. 24, and it is expected to pass the full House, where Republicans hold 60 percent of the seats.

The measure would have to pass the Legislature in two consecutive General Assemblies, then could appear on the ballot in 2014.

However, Senate Majority Leader

Michael Gronstal has vowed to block the measure in the Senate.

“This bill intends to forever strip basic protections from loving and committed gay couples,” said One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison. “Now is the time for Iowans to come together and send a clear message to their legislators that discrimination has no place in Iowa’s Constitution.” (See tinyurl. com/4sam5cf for more from One Iowa.)

Iowa is one of five states, plus the District of Columbia, where same-sex marriage is legal. Internationally, it is legal in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Mexico City.

Obama mentions gays in State of the Union address

by Rex Wockner President Barack Obama made one reference to gay people during his Jan. 25 State of the Union address.

“Our troops come from every corner of this country,” he said. “They’re black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love. And with that change, I call on all our college campuses to open their doors to our military recruiters and ROTC. It is time to leave behind the divisive battles of the past.

It is time to move forward as one nation.”

Gay groups were quick to react to Obama’s words.

Human R i gh t s Campaign President Joe Solmonese said: “(T) onight’s announcement is welcome news for all Americans ready to close the book on discrimination in the ranks. …

Tonight is the culmination of a promise kept by this president.”

Solmonese added, however, that Obama also needs to commit to “ending the unfair taxation of partner health benefits, prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and ensuring that all married couples have access to the same federal benefits and protections for their families.”

GetEQUAL Director Robin McGehee expressed disappointment over the address.

“Tonight, President Obama missed an opportunity to lay out an agenda and strategy that continues progress made toward LGBT equality—removing the burden of being second-class citizens and acknowledging our families,” she said. “Sadly, while national hero Daniel Hernandez sat with the First Lady to witness this historic speech, he did not have the luxury of sitting there as an equal—for

that, our elected officials should be ashamed.

It is time for the president to put the power of the White House behind the passage of legislation that would give the right of full federal equality to LGBT Americans.”

“We refuse to accept the political excuses that ‘now is not the time’ for ‘difficult’ issues like equality or that these issues are too ‘complicated’ or ‘controversial’ to take on right now,” McGehee said. “Equality is never convenient. Justice is never easy. Each day that we wait until discrimination is ‘easier’ to combat, another LGBT person dies unequal.

Each day that we wait, another couple is pulled apart at the border by American immigration policies.

Each day that we wait, another of our transgender neighbors are left without a paycheck under discriminatory employment policies.”

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey said that “if the president is truly serious about job creation and boosting America’s economic well-being, he must provide leadership and action in helping to pass employment protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and ending the costly and unjust federal marriage ban.”

“Fact is, the state of the union for (LGBT) people remains largely one of inequality, as we can still be fired from or denied employment in many parts of the country for nothing other than bias, and marriage inequality relegates our families to second-class status,” she said.

The National Center for Transgender Equality issued a statement pointing out that the pending repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban on open gays in the military “still does not allow transgender people to serve openly or to join the military.”

For video of Obama’s gay reference, see tinyurl.com/653pz4j.

Our troops come from every corner of this country.

They’re black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. They are Christian and Hindu, Jewish and Muslim. And, yes, we know that some of them are gay. Starting this year, no American will be forbidden from serving the country they love because of who they love.

FEBRUARY 2011

6th Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth BUILDING A HEALTHY IOWA February 24th, 2011 Drake University Olmsted Center Registration 8am-9am Conference 9am-4pm

Sponsored By Iowa State Education Association, Iowa Department of Education, GLSEN, JEL-Iowa, Iowa Association of School Boards, First Friday Breakfast Club.

Keynote by: Dr. Sarah Schulman Dr. Schulman is an award winning playwright and novelist. Her published works include The Mere Future, Ties that Bind: Familial Homophobia and Its Consequences, Enemies: A Love Story, Manic Flight Reaction, People in Trouble, Rat Bohemia, and Stagestruck: Theater, AIDS, and the Marketing of Gay America.

Dr. Schulman appeared in the 2009 OUT 100, a list of the 100 most influential LGBT leaders in the country. She was featured on this list with major celebrities including Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Wanda Sykes (Comedian), and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family).

Dr. Schulman has won several awards including the Guggenheim in Playwrighting, Fullbright in Judaic Studies, Revson Fellowship for the Future of New York City at Columbia University, Stonewall Award for Contributions Improving the Lives of Lesbians and Gays in the United States, three NY Foundation for the Arts Fellowships (Fiction and Playwrighting), finalist for the Prix de Rome in Fiction, Berilla Kerr Prize in Playwrighting, two American Library Association Book Awards (Fiction and Non-fiction), Ferro-Grumley Award in Lesbian Fiction, Kessler Prize for Sustained Contribution to LGBT Studies.

She recently co-coordinated The ACT UP Oral History Project, which is a collection of video interviews with surviving members that premiered in the fall exhibition: ACT UP New York: Activism, Art, and the AIDS Crisis. This exhibit featured interviews with men and women of all

races and classes who have transformed entrenched cultural ideas about homosexuality, sexuality, illness, health care, civil rights, art, media, and the rights of patients.

They have achieved concrete changes in medical and scientific research, insurance, law, health care delivery, graphic design, and introduced new and effective methods for political organizing. These interviews reveal what has motivated them to action and how they have organized complex endeavors.

The interviews can be viewed here: actuporalhistory.org/interviews/index.html

Workshop Topics Include:

Sexual Assault Awareness · HIV 101 · Reproductive Health Advocacy · Ask the Doctor: For Youth Only · Ending Bullying in Schools Counseling Transgender Youth · Big Tobacco & LGBT Community · Equality Through the Courts · Ending Racism in LGBT Community · Sexism/Gender · Immigration & LGBT Community · Substance Abuse Prevention · LGBT Youth Suicide Risk Prevention · HIV Advocacy

Registration (includes breakfast, lunch, & access to all sessions)

$25 for Adults Before February 1st $35 for Adults After February 1st $10 for Students Exhibitor Booths Available for Organizations, Colleges, Universities, and Corporations.

Conference Mission Statement

The mission of the Annual Iowa Governors Conference on LGBTQ Youth is to (a) engage and educate students, educators, parents, community leaders, youth-serving professionals, policy-makers, and others concerned about issues relevant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community, and (b) encourage networking and activism to inspire our communities to promote diversity, equality, and social justice.

For more information go to www.iowasafeschools.org and look under the EVENTS tab.

FEBRUARY 2011

Section 1: News & Politics

ACCESSline Page 5

US NEWS news analysis by Rex Wockner Supremes squash last-ditch effort to undo D.C. marriage law

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 18 refused to hear an appeal by anti-gays hoping to force a voter referendum on the law that legalized same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia.

“For almost two years, the National Organization for Marriage and the Alliance Defense Fund, along with Bishop Harry Jackson, have fought a losing battle to shamelessly harm gay and lesbian couples in D.C. who seek nothing more than to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The D.C. Council and mayor courageously made marriage equality a reality last year, and the courts have since upheld the rights of D.C. residents to govern ourselves and take the necessary steps to eliminate discrimination in our community.”

Elections, Superior Court, Court of Appeals and now the U.S. Supreme Court have rejected their meritless and tired arguments that they should be permitted to impose a discriminatory ballot measure on D.C. voters.”

Same-sex marriage became legal in D.C. last March. It also is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont—and, internationally, in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Mexico City.

Hospitals now must recognize gay couples

Federal regulations that protect samesex couples in hospital settings nationwide took effect Jan. 18.

The rules, which apply to all hospitals receiving Medicaid or Medicare funds— nearly every hospital—require hospitals to recognize same-sex couples under visitation policies. They also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

“Of all the discrimination and pressures we face, not being able to see our partner or spouse shouldn’t be one of them,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “We thank the administration for taking this step, but continue to urge for the removal of barriers to full protections for our families, which includes repealing DOMA.” The rules cover about 6,200 hospitals with more than 35 million admissions yearly.

Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign President The appeal challenged a ruling by the D.C. Court of Appeals in which it upheld a D.C. law that bans ballot measures proposing any kind of discrimination already prohibited by the D.C. Human Rights Act. The Court of Appeals said putting the district’s same-sex marriage law to a vote would discriminate against D.C. gays and lesbians.

“With today’s decision from the Supreme Court, marriage equality opponents have reached the end of their legal wrangling,” said HRC. “The D.C. Board of

Carey noted that HUD “plays a major role in low-income housing programs and the private mortgage market.”

Connecticut men win birth-certificate case Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Americans and their families. The President saw an injustice and felt very strongly about correcting this. … This significant policy change is due in no small part to the journeys of two incredibly courageous and passionate women, Janice Langbehn and Charlene Strong. Both lived through unimaginable experiences with the loss of their wives and life partners. … I want to thank them for bringing us all into their lives and for sharing themselves and their families with us, and for using their voices to make lives better for LGBT families.”

HUD to ban LGBT discrimination Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Writing on the White House blog Jan. 18, Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, said: “This policy impacts millions of LGBT

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed regulations Jan. 20 to ensure that its programs do not discriminate against LGBT people.

“This is a fundamental issue of fairness,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “With this proposed rule, we will make clear that a person’s eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The proposals now move to a “public comment” phase.

HUD also is conducting a first-ofits-kind national study of discrimination against LGBT people in the rental and sale of housing.

“These are critically important reforms given that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people remain particularly vulnerable in seeking or retaining housing due to widespread bias, discrimination and a lack of housing protections,” said National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey. “These reforms will go a long way toward ending an injustice that has had such a profound and far-reaching negative impact on people’s lives.”

The Connecticut Supreme Court on Jan. 5 forced the state Department of Public Health to list a gay male couple as parents on the birth certificates of their twin boys who were delivered by a gestational surrogate.

Shawn and Anthony Raftopol will receive corrected birth certificates for their kids.

“As a couple, we chose to create a family,” said Anthony Raftopol. “We assumed the responsibility for bringing them into the world, with the understanding that we would love, support and nurture them in every way. In other words, to be what parents are supposed to be.”

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders Senior Staff Attorney Karen Loewy said the state Supreme Court’s “historic decision honors the intentions of everyone involved in bringing these children into the world, and provides those children with the protection of having two legal parents from the moment of their birth.”

“This ruling has special significance for same-sex couples using assisted reproductive technologies like gestational surrogacy, because there will always be one intended parent who is not a genetic parent. It is now clear that Connecticut law honors and protects those intended families,” she said.

Elton raises $3 million for AFER

Elton John raised $3 million for the American Foundation for Equal Rights on Jan. 19 at a 90-minute private concert in Beverly Hills.

About 500 people attended the soirée in a tent at the estate of entrepreneur Ron Burkle.

AFER will use the money to continue its federal lawsuit against California’s Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment that re-banned same-sex marriage in 2008.

AFER won the case at the District Court level and it now is on appeal at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Assistance: Bill Kelley

ACCESSline Page 6

Section 1: News & Politics

FEBRUARY 2011

World News news analysis by Rex Wockner Prominent Ugandan activist killed

Newspaper and U.S. evangelicals blamed Prominent Ugandan gay activist David Kato was killed in his home Jan. 26, just 23 days after winning a lawsuit against a tabloid newspaper that published his picture and pictures of other gays along with the headline “Hang Them.”

Police said a robber entered Kato’s home near Kampala early in the afternoon, struck him in the head with a hammer, and left in a vehicle. They later arrested Kato’s driver and are looking for his handyman, who they said is an ex-con. Kato died en route to a hospital, according to Human Rights Watch.

“David Kato’s death is a tragic loss to the human rights community,” said HRW’s senior Africa researcher, Maria Burnett. “David had faced the increased threats to Ugandan LGBT people bravely and will be sorely missed.”

Kato was the advocacy officer for the organization Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). He had been a leading voice in the fight against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which has been before Uganda’s parliament since October 2009.

The legislation would imprison for life anyone convicted of “the offense of homosexuality,” punish “aggravated homosexuality” (repeat offenses, or having gay sex while being HIV-positive) with the death penalty, forbid “promotion of homosexuality” and incarcerate gay-rights defenders, and jail individuals in positions of authority for up to three years if they fail to report within 24 hours the existence of all LGBT people or sympathizers known to them.

Kato was one of three plaintiffs in the recent successful lawsuit against Uganda’s Rolling Stone newspaper, which published photos, names and addresses of numerous gay people, including Kato, along with a headline that said, “Hang Them.” Kato’s photo was on the cover.

The Kampala High Court ruled that the plaintiffs suffered violations of their constitutional rights to life and to privacy of the person and the home, and ordered the newspaper, which has no relation to the U.S. Rolling Stone, to pay each plaintiff $643 plus court costs. “(P)ublishing the identities of the applicants and exposing their homes coupled with the explicit call to hang them because ‘they are after our kids,’ the respondents extracted the applicants from the other members of the community who are regarded as worthy, in equal measure, of human dignity and who ought to be treated as worthy of dignity and respect,” the court said. “Clearly the call to hang gays in dozens tends to tremendously threaten their right to human dignity. … (T)he exposure, of the identities of the persons and homes of the applicants for the purposes of fighting gayism and the activities of gays, as can easily be seen from the general outlook of the impugned publication, threaten the rights of the applicants to privacy of the person and their homes.”

The newspaper article said, in part: “The mighty Rolling Stone is glad to reveal some of the most horrible secrets in gay community, which is bent on recruiting at least one million members by 2012. Dishearteningly,

gays are after young kids, who are easily brainwashed towards bisexual orientation. … The leaked pictures of Uganda’s top homosexuals and lesbians have renewed calls for the strengthening of the war against the rampage that threatens the future of our generation by hanging gays. ‘Unless government takes a bold step by hanging dozens of homosexuals, the vice will continue eating up the moral fibre and culture of our great nation,’ … said a radical church leader who preferred anonymity.”

In a statement, SMUG said that Kato “has been receiving death threats since his face was put on the front page of Rolling Stone magazine, which called for his death and the death of all homosexuals.”

Val Kalenda, board chair of Freedom and Roam Uganda, blamed Kato’s killing on “the hatred planted in Uganda by (visiting) U.S. evangelicals in 2009.”

“The Ugandan government and the so-called U.S. evangelicals must take responsibility for David’s blood!” she said.

Some U.S. news reports and gay activists have blamed the U.S. visitors for inspiring the Anti-Homosexuality Bill during their visits to the country.

“David was a true hero, a man who gave his energy and finally his life for others’ freedoms,” said Scott Long, who headed HRW’s LGBT Rights Division for several years. “The foreign Christian leaders who have supported the spread of murderous homophobia in Uganda … should search their consciences today and beg forgiveness.”

According to Political Research Associates: “The targeting of Kato and other LGBT Ugandans follows an intense demonization campaign fostered by right-wing Christian activists from the United States. A March 2009 conference in Kampala … featured notorious American anti-gay campaigners, who promoted the idea of a sinister global homosexual conspiracy to corrupt Uganda.

Conference speakers advocated parliamentary action to thwart this ‘international gay agenda’ (and) met with Ugandan lawmakers and government officials, some of whom drafted Parliament’s infamous Anti-Homosexuality Bill.”

In a statement, SMUG Executive Director Frank Mugisha vowed to carry on Kato’s activism.

“No form of intimidation will stop our cause,” he said. “The death of David will only be honored when the struggle for justice and equality is won. David is gone and many of us will follow, but the struggle will be won.

David wanted to see a Uganda where all people will be treated equally despite their sexual orientation.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement that said, in part: “David Kato tirelessly devoted himself to improving the lives of others. As an advocate for the group Sexual Minorities Uganda, he worked to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. His efforts resulted in groundbreaking recognition for Uganda’s LGBT community, including the Uganda Human Rights Commission’s October 2010 statement on the unconstitutionality of Uganda’s draft ‘anti-homosexuality bill’ and the Ugandan High Court’s January 3 ruling safeguarding all Ugandans’ right to privacy and the preservation of human dignity. His tragic death underscores how critical it is

that both the government and the people of Uganda, along with the international community, speak out against the discrimination, harassment and intimidation of Uganda’s LGBT community, and work together to ensure that all individuals are accorded the same rights and dignity to which each and every person is entitled.”

President Barack Obama said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the murder of David Kato. In Uganda, David showed tremendous courage in speaking out against hate. He was a powerful advocate for fairness and freedom. The United States mourns his murder, and we recommit ourselves to David’s work. At home and around the world, LGBT persons continue to be subjected to unconscionable bullying, discrimination and hate. In the weeks preceding David Kato’s murder in Uganda, five members of the LGBT community in Honduras were also murdered.

It is essential that the governments of Uganda and Honduras investigate these killings and hold the perpetrators accountable. LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights. My administration will continue to strongly support human rights and assistance work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad. We do this because we recognize the threat faced by leaders like David Kato, and we share their commitment to advancing freedom, fairness and equality for all.”

Russia appeals Euro Court’s Pride ban ruling

On the last possible day, the Russian government on Jan. 22 appealed a European Court of Human Rights ruling from last October that struck down Moscow’s yearly bans of public gay pride events.

The government asked the court’s Grand Chamber to reconsider the ruling that had been made by a smaller group of the court’s judges.

Plaintiff Nikolai Alekseev, founder of Moscow Pride, predicted the Grand Chamber would deny the request for a rehearing within two to three months, “which means the verdict will come into force before the sixth Moscow Pride on May 28,” he said.

In its decision, the court said that former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s routine bans of gay pride violated guarantees of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in the areas of freedom of assembly and association, right to an effective remedy and prohibition of discrimination.

The court ordered payment to Alekseev of 12,000 euros ($16,313) in damages and 17,510 euros in costs and expenses.

The judges rejected Moscow’s excuses for the bans, which included the alleged need to protect public order, health, morals and the rights and freedoms of others -- as well as the desire to prevent riots.

In reality, Luzhkov had vowed to never allow a gay pride parade in Moscow no matter what. He called gay parades “satanic” and “weapons of mass destruction,” and called gay people “faggots” (“gomiki”). “(T)he main reason for the bans on the gay marches had been the authorities’ disapproval of demonstrations which, they considered, promoted homosexuality,” the court’s registrar said in a summary of the

Nikolai Alekseev, courtesy GayRussia.ru ruling. “In particular, the court could not disregard the strong personal opinions publicly expressed by the Moscow mayor and the undeniable link between those statements and the bans. Consequently, the court found that, as the government had not justified their bans in a way compatible with the convention requirements, Mr. Alekseyev had suffered discrimination because of his sexual orientation.”

At the time, Alekseev said: “This decision is a major victory for us because no judge, no lawyer and no politician will any longer be able to tell us that the bans of our events were lawful. This decision is the first to recognize that the Russian law on freedom of assembly contradicts with the European Convention.

It is a gift to all democrats and human rights activists in Russia.”

Small groups of LGBT activists defied Luzhkov’s bans each of the past five years, provoking him to send riot police to arrest and sometimes beat them. The gatherings also were routinely attacked by anti-gay hooligans.

Philippines activists request international lobbying

ProGay Philippines leader Oscar Atadero.

Photo by Rex Wockner Activists in the Philippines are seeking international pressure to encourage a committee vote in the House of Representatives on a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

House Bill 1483, “An Act Defining Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Providing Penalties Therefor,” would protect gay and trans people in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, health care, transportation, social services, civil service, the military and other areas.

“Discriminationary acts against LGBT citizens in the Philippines are rampant yet are largely unreported and not provided corrective measures,” said the activist group ProGay Philippines. “Gay men are constantly harassed by police officers, transgen-

TTWORLD NEWS continued page 16

FEBRUARY 2011

Section 1: News & Politics

ACCESSline Page 7

Inside Out: The Republic of Iowa by Ellen Krug Recently while driving back to Iowa, I lost Minnesota Public Radio almost exactly at the Iowa-Minnesota border. I turned the dial to Iowa Public Radio, and I could have sworn that I had just passed into a foreign country. Although there were no border guard shacks to mark the state line (at least not yet), the airwaves told me that my old home state had changed dramatically since I moved north last year.

The radio reports first referenced familiar news about the three Iowa Supreme Court justices being voted off the Court because of the Varnum case, the decision that legalized gay marriage. (If you’re LGBT and reading about either the Varnum decision or booting of the Supreme Court justices for the first time, um, you need to turn in your pink triangle membership card.) IPR then reported that the Republican controlled Iowa Legislature planned to impeach the remaining four Supreme Court justices.

And just to really make me crazy, I heard Bob Vander Plaats—that warm and fuzzy civil libertarian—call upon the four justices to resign so that impeachment would not be necessary. According to Sideshow Bob, resigning was the “right thing to do.”

I also heard your governor (and trust me, I’m so happy to say “your” instead of “my”; the smart people to the north voted in a Democrat governor), Terry Brandstad, say he would not get involved in the decision on

whether to impeach the justices. Apparently, his plate was too full and impeachment is handled by some other department.

What the hell is happening in my good old state of Iowa? I leave and the place seems to have gone to LGBT hell.

The radio report continued. I heard that there is a movement to get rid of the current procedure by which judges are appointed based on merit and replace it with a system where judges are elected by popular vote. Huh? Merit appointment is a pretty good idea since it ensures a degree of quality in Iowa’s judges.

You may not care whether those judges are any good now, but wait until you are hurt in a car accident and need to sue, or god forbid, one of your loved ones is harmed by another person. It sure helps the progress of justice if the judge hearing the case actually knows what they are doing.

If the merit system for appointing judges is replaced by an election process, quality goes out the door. Any yahoo with a law degree can get elected. And let me assure you, there are a number of yahoos practicing law.

If an election based system becomes reality, legal smarts and hard work will no longer

be qualifying credentials. Instead, religious ferocity and who you know with money will be the litmus tests for becoming a judge.

I really wish I was making all of this up.

But it is actually far worse. In the last couple of weeks I have learned that the Extreme Right (read The People Who Hate Us) is now canvassing Iowa courthouses to determine which Iowa judges have been performing same sex marriages. Apparently, after eliminating the Supreme Court, those judges are next. After that, I assume the ax will fall on judges who perform marriages of atheists, or Buddhists, or anarchists. I mean, really, where will it end?

One of my good friends received a mailing entitled The FAMiLY LEADER from the Iowa Family Center where Sideshow Bob writes, “November 2, 2010 (when the three Supreme Court Justices were voted out) was just one moment in the grand scheme of a vast political timeline… In order to have a long term impact on the culture for the sake of the Family and for the sake of Truth, we need to turn moments into a movement.”

This mailing goes on to say that God “will

On November 2, 2010 31% of gay voters showed up to the polls and voted Republican; 12% more than the previous year. While the initial reaction is “Why?” the better question is “How do we turn this into an advantage?”

What the GOP needs from the gay community more than votes are candidates. Gay Republicans need to come out of the closet and run for office. It is time to put to rest the idea that the platform of the Republican Party has to be anti-gay; has to be socially conservative; has to be based in religious zealotry. In fact, it may actually be the case that gays can save the Republican Party.

Sarah Palin warned in her book Going Rogue of a gay takeover of the GOP. Turning that paranoid conspiracy into reality may be exactly what the party and the country needs—a GOP worth belonging to; one that does not define itself by ignorance or bigotry but by sound arguments of long-term stability and of limited government. With the recent ultra-conservative pullout from CPAC caused by the participation of the gay Republican organization GOPRoud, it is clear how possible this takeover is. There is power in visibility.

Presence and personal knowledge change perception faster and more fundamentally than policy. For that reason, gays need to subvert the current paradigm of us versus them that has pervaded the two-party system and take back the GOP for the sake of itself and for the sake of our national security.

The voting data is telling. The map shows that where education prevails, so does the Democratic Party. But, this doesn’t have to be the case. Recently, the Republican base has redefined itself as a political circle in which education and articulation are not valued traits. What kind of party, what kind of nation, would we have if gay candidates

helped rebuild a GOP that rooted itself in fiscal efficiency and reasonable principles of governing, instead of social regulation and religious piety?

Attacks on Republican strategy are becoming more and more pointed and, sad to say, more accurate. Example: opposing the president for the sake of opposing him is not a long-term winning strategy for the party or for our country. In fact, such an endeavor is perhaps the most dangerous effort in the history of our national security. It is time for gays to inject a little more yes into “the party of no.”

Regardless of how it seems, the true fundamental core of the Republican Party is a limited federal government that is more in balance with the powers of the states.

Wanting to control the size of government is not somehow impossible for gay brains to comprehend. Gays are not genetically required to affiliate with the Democratic Party, but have instead been driven there by the pervading GOP regime that has marginalized, suppressed, and disenfranchised them. So, if you see a problem, be prepared to fix it or don’t bother complaining. If the problem is the regime, then the time has come for a regime change.

As DADT dies, it’s time for the gays to take up arms as part of the solution by assuming an increased involvement in our national defense, by bringing the fresh ideas that voters

have been waiting for. Gays need to step up to the podium and restore balance, intelligence, and pragmatism to the GOP. It has been said that you should be the change you want to see in the world. It’s time more conservative gay thinkers to take this adage to heart instead of running to anything blue simply because it isn’t red. Rather, why not give today’s homely GOP the makeover it needs?

As the need for intervention becomes more dire, the cracks in the existing system become more apparent.

We exalt our leaders believing that they are smarter, better connected, and better informed than us. As those who do not fit this educated and informed archetype continue to infiltrate our governing system, we will find this faith to be further undermined.

Cultivating a base that is increasingly ignorant and misinformed is a long-term losing strategy for the reason that you will inevitably inspire and facilitate those same ignorant and misinformed patriots to successfully pursue public office. Again gays could be the perfect antidote to the languishing intellectual average of new Republican candidates. Some might decry this idea as elitist but we ultimately don’t really want ordinary folks operating the machinery of our government.

Due to the closed media circuit that has encased Republican voters, reason has more and more often been abandoned in exchange for so-called “values.” The problem of policy

Where are the marches in the streets? Where is the uproar among the LGBT community? Are you just going to sit back and take this craziness? Did you enjoy the closet?

Ellen Krug is a writer, lawyer, human.

She was a trial attorney for 28 years before realizing there is more to life. She is now on sabbatical to write a book, and if that does not work out, to wait tables. She is parent to two adult children and hoping for the best, despite the odds. She can be reached at EllenKrug75@gmail.com. use us to do his work.”

If you don’t already know, the implicit “Truth” Sideshow Bob talks about is that LGBT people are less human, less equal, and less worthy of his God. Sideshow Bob’s “grand scheme” is to have a religious-based judiciary in Iowa. This is the kind of thing that happens in some tin horn country in another hemisphere, not the America that has

TTINSIDE OUT continued page 28

Action Reaction: The Gay Blue Period by Brett Edward Stout

Gays need to step up to the podium and restore balance, intelligence, and pragmatism to the GOP. It’s time more conservative gay thinkers to take this adage to heart instead of running to anything blue simply because it isn’t red. Rather, why not give today’s homely GOP the makeover it needs?

Writer, filmmaker, and photographer Brett Edward Stout is a Cedar Rapids native and recent graduate of the University of Iowa. He spent five years in the US Marine Corps as a Russian linguist. His first novel Sugar-baby Bridge was published in 2008. He is currently working on his second novel, entitled The Lives Between. Photo: Adam Bouska

based on “values” is twofold: one, they are exclusionary; and two, they are contrary to the principles of small government. The GOP needs a return to ideals over ideology, something that gays have an acute understanding of. Gay Republicans need to assertively help their party reject the distracting social issues that expatriate the pool of forward thinking leaders who would otherwise pursue a place in its ranks.

The studious and open-minded perspective of the gay community is the exact remedy the ailing Republican Party needs right now. It’s time for articulate gay republicans who have stayed hidden in the GOP’s closet to come out and onto the ballots. Let’s face it; our chances of winning only improve by playing both sides. Only by participating, can we prevail.

ACCESSline Page 8

Section 1: News & Politics

FEBRUARY 2011

Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski Gordon Klingenschmitt

Needless to say, Klingenschmitt doesn’t like the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” one You know what gay people need? Exor- bit. It’s going to destroy us, he says. cisms. It’s the only way to get rid of the gay“It’s going to lead to a national draft. The making demon lurking in the homosexual number of homosexuals coming in will never soul. eclipse the mass exodus of Christians leaving And who better to do that exorcism than the military,” he told Pakman.

Gordon Klingenschmitt, an ex-Navy chaplain, I wonder when Christians are planning booted out of the military for insubordina- this mass exodus and where they plan on tion? After all, he has a great track record, going. Because so far there’s no evidence of according to himself.

Christian soldiers fleeing the demon-infested “As a chaplain I prayed with a young homos that the DADT repeal will foist upon lesbian sailor who came to me and said, the general public. If they are indeed leaving, ‘Chaplain I don’t like the way I’m feeling, can they seem to be going pretty quietly. you help me with this?’

“Not only that, it’s I’m sorry, what? You had going to cost the blessWe prayed with her,” Klingenschmitt said on a wedding ceremony? So this ing of God upon our the David Pakman show Klingenschmitt lesbian Navy lady married troops,” Jan. 20. “She renounced continues. Everybody her sin. She invited Jesus? So does that mean Jesus knows that God loves Jesus Christ to be the is officially off the market America best and helps first man in her life that soldiers kill now? Or do a lot of ladies American she trusted. We had a kill kill. But the tables wedding ceremony. She marry Jesus and, if so, isn’t that are turned, he argues. wept as Jesus moved polygamy?

“I’m concerned as into her heart and got a chaplain that America the devil out of her.” will no longer be able to fight and win wars I’m sorry, what? You had a wedding because now we’re fighting against almighty ceremony? So this lesbian Navy lady married God, the government has declared war on Jesus? So does that mean Jesus is officially off God and god will ultimately prevail in that the market now? Or do a lot of ladies marry battle.”

Jesus and, if so, isn’t that polygamy? How, Klingenschmitt claims that DADT was a then, is this all-the-ladies-marry-one-dude good policy “in that it prevented people from scenario not the culmination of so many lying about who they really are.” Because slippery slope arguments against marriage homosexuals are, by Klingenschmitt’s defiequality? nition, a bunch of dirty crooks who think “When I looked into her eyes I said, ‘You nothing of waking up and declaring that foul demon of lesbian homosexuality come they’re going to be someone else today. out of this woman in Jesus’ name.’ She began Someone gay. Klingenschmitt said gay men to weep and said she loved Jesus,” Klingen- need to “man up” and start being straight and schmitt continued. “She started reading her stop acting like women.

Bible, she was the best evangelist in our And then, of course, for our complimenchurch. She got baptized and she started tary exorcism: “It’s the only spiritual solution dating boys.” to a spiritual disease,” says Klingenschmitt.

Okay, wait. After he exorcised the “foul Anti-gay exorcism: It’s the gift that keeps demon of lesbian homosexuality” out of her on giving. Order yours today. she got baptized and started dating boys?

Presumably this woman was over 18 since she was in the military and all. So I’d think that boys are a little out of her league. And again, For many years people have been trying isn’t the anti-gay right always going on and to figure out what makes a person gay. Scienon about how gay people go after children? tists, psychologists, and theologists alike have But it’s somehow okay with God when the been stumped. adults going after children are ex-gay and Of course, all they have to do is ask married to Jesus?

Schenectady City Council member Joseph I might be over-thinking this.

Allen. He knows what makes kids gay:

Joseph Allen

That’s where councilmember Joseph Allen comes in. He agreed with both of the people who spoke out against the billboards and offered his own searing insight.

“Now, I don’t care if you’re gay, straight or whatever, but I don’t think it’s necessary to advertise for them,” Allen said according to the Gazette. “This is not kosher, as far as I’m concerned.” advertising.

It is not clear from the news story You see, in Schenectady, New York, an whether a rabbi was consulted, but Allen LGBT advocacy group called In Our Own did worry about the impact of the billboards Voices (“IOOV”), along with the state Depart- on kids. ment of Health, began a billboard campaign “An adult, fine, you can do what you that’s part advocacy and part HIV prevention. want,” Allen continued. “But who’s going And let me tell you, the to read these? Young What gay person doesn’t people, vulnerable kids. billboards are scandalous. remember seeing his or her first They don’t say, ‘Adult (You might want to only.’” shield your eyes before billboard and deciding right But they should. reading this next part then and there to be gay?

Because Allen apparbecause just a mere ently thinks that there’s description of one of these billboards could something pornographic about the word make you gay or, if you’re already gay, even “gay” paired with a photo of a gay man and gayer.) his family. And by claiming that “vulnerable” One billboard has a photo of a young young people would read the billboards, he’s African-American man surrounded by his perpetuating the completely false idea that family. It looks like his mom and his dad gays somehow recruit kids. and maybe his brother. Or his boyfriend.

The truly vulnerable young people That part is not clear. Next to the photo it who read those billboards are, indeed, the reads, “I AM GAY” and underneath says, “And LGBT kids who “have always been a part of this is where I stay,” followed by, “We have this community.” And maybe the billboard always been a part of this community.” The messages will have an impact on them. Not billboard also contains IOOV’s website and to “make” them gay, but to make them think, phone number.

“Hey, maybe I do have a future here. Maybe I According to the Schenectady Daily don’t need to kill myself. Maybe I am okay.”

Gazette, the other two billboards in the But in Allen’s Schenectady that’s apparseries include photos of gay black men in ently a negative message. Seeing as he “called church and playing basketball. Each billboard for legislation that would require billboard includes “I AM GAY” and the message about owners to get their messages approved by the community. council” (which was quickly smacked down In any case, some folks in Schenectady per the whole freedom of speech thing), it’s are super pissed about these billboards and frightening to think what he would deem so they took their concerns before the City appropriate.

Council at their January 10 meeting.

According to the Gazette, Rev. Alfred Thompkins, who likened gay people to “thieves and liars,” told the council he was “really bothered by the message these send” to young people. “A 13-year-old looks at these billboards and says, ‘That must be it, I must be gay,’” Thompkins said. “That goes directly against God’s purpose.”

Exactly. What gay person doesn’t remember seeing his or her first billboard and deciding right then and there to be gay?

Thompkins clearly understands how this whole gay thing works.

Thanks to Fred Phelps and his Westboro The Gazette also reported that a woman Baptist thugs, everybody knows that God who provides daycare to a 2, 4, and 8-year-old hates fags. But you know what else God hates? accused the billboards of Birds and fish. Because Jacobs says God killed the of the fags. promoting “inappropriate sexual expression” birds and fish because God was At least that’s what and argued that they Cindy Jacobs says in a pissed off about gays, specifi- video she posted online should be limited to “adult business zones,” cally the repeal of “Don’t Ask, January 5. which the Gazette Don’t Tell.”

Jacobs, along with described as “industrial her husband Mike, runs areas at the outskirts of the city.” She said Generals International, a ministry “devoted she didn’t want her daycare kids exposed to training in prayer and spiritual warfare.” “to such content.”

She calls herself a prophet and claims that And who can blame her? Gay men with people are always turning to her for insight their families? Gay men in church? Sick. It’s when crazy s--t happens. enough to make a child’s eyes explode into Take, for instance, that whole alarming pools of flamin’ hot blood. incident with the thousands of blackbirds You have to hope that the people on the falling dead out of the sky in Arkansas on Schenectady City Council have some sense New Year’s Eve. Spooky. No one knows why it even if some of their constituents don’t.

TTCREEPS continued page 10

Cindy Jacobs

Section 1: News & Politics

FEBRUARY 2011

ACCESSline Page 9

When the Right-Wing Claims Their Words Don’t Matter by Bob Minor When gay-bashers around the country torture, torment, and kill lesbians, gay men, transgender people, and those perceived to be, they often are repeating words spoken from pulpits.

While sitting on a panel of religious types, that was the response I gave when asked if I blamed anti-LGBT ministers for persecutions and deaths that take place around the country—after I said: “Yes, I do.”

I added: “If you want to prove otherwise, tell me how often you’ve joined a march or rally, or spoken from the pulpit telling people it’s a sin to treat LGBT as less than human.”

The response: silence, and acting as if they were the victims of my words.

Anyone who’s studied these things knows that words matter. The right-wing talkers, including FOX News and Republican Party operatives like Frank Luntz, know they do because they craft their talking-points to move people to action, to make their words matter.

Religious leaders know that, too. Otherwise why even give a sermon, spend hours crafting it, or even sanctify the words by claiming the Holy Spirit is behind them and their impact?

We’re a culture historically replete with violent words. The recent political shootings in Tucson momentarily raised the level of the discussion of the mainstreaming of rhetoric of guns, killing, targeting, and “Second Amendment solutions” by the political right-wing against anyone who doesn’t toe their line.

The response from the culprits was the usual—using strategies that have worked well to stifle critique and move an issue to a back burner where it goes cold. They knew mainstream media would move on quickly, so they had merely to play a loud defense until other issues distracted the so-called “journalists” in our midst.

You know the drill. Even as someone on the left, I could effectively use it.

First, act outraged that anyone would draw the conclusion that their words had any relationship to the Tucson massacre. Even in the light of gun-sites on a map indicating the exact victim, much less the violent words, act as if you’re the ones being victimized—and by “the radical left” again.

It always works. Liberal guilt will cause them to retreat, apologize, turn on any liberal who promotes the connection, and fight among themselves, thereby confirming to on-lookers that right-wingers are the true victims of all this.

Second, get liberals to join the talk that this is not a right-wing problem but that there’s actually a right/left equality in all this violent rhetoric. Act as if this is a fair reading of the facts even when the evidence is against you.

Talk as if liberals are openly carrying guns to rallies too, liberal media is calling for the deaths of conservative politicians, and Democratic leaders are calling people to “reload” and blast away at their opponents.

Don’t worry; liberals will even do your research in this matter to resurrect examples where this could be true.

Don’t let evidence to the contrary interfere. Remember, if you repeat your position often enough, it will be treated as an equal opinion with those that are actually supported by facts.

You don’t need facts to attain status in our media market. And facts alone don’t move as many people anyway; being on top of framing an issue does.

Third, make sure every right-winger is on the same talking points, and continue to repeat them. Don’t worry; liberals won’t do that because they’ll be caught up in discussion and debate.

They’ll try to be nice. Liberal guilt won’t

let them speak ill of anyone, even those who do them ill.

Fourth, paint the shooter as a liberal— even if he isn’t—before anyone else portrays him otherwise. Liberals will be reluctant to commit to saying that he was an antigovernment convert more in line with the Tea Party folks even if he is.

Make liberals respond to your story, all the time remembering that just saying he is a liberal will ingrain that idea into popular understanding. Liberals will be caught up in the actual nuances of mental illness and instability. Cable and network news will act otherwise, but they really have no patience for subtlety.

Fifth, take advantage of the moral principles of liberals. Know that they will decry we/them politics, playing on emotions as opposed to intellect, the volume of an argument, stereotyping of others, the use of their power (liberals think power corrupts), the using of people to achieve your ends, and the fact that your claims do not fit with the teachings of religious leaders you claim to follow such as Jesus of Nazareth.

Their principles might be true, but your goal is to win and protect political and economic power. Your goal is to be the arbitrator of a morality that arises out of and confirms consumerism.

Sixth, don’t reach out to liberals in any way that acts that what they say is worthwhile. Talk bipartisanship and fairness but let them be the ones who compromise their ideas to move closer to you.

Don’t worry; they’ll do it. One result will be that those looking on will believe you were right all along because liberals are willing to move in your direction.

Seventh, when caught in a lie, never apologize. Just ignore the accusation and repeat the lie.

Let liberals do all the apologizing.

Robert N. Minor, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas, is author of When Religion Is an Addiction; Scared Straight: Why It’s So Hard to Accept Gay People and Why It’s So Hard to Be Human and Gay & Healthy in a Sick Society. Contact him at www.FairnessProject.org.

People will remember their apology and for what it apologizes more than they will remember that it was a lie or mistake you are repeating.

This is standard operating procedure.

If we were awake, we saw it play out again this past month.

We cannot overlook it nor act as if this isn’t going on. Over and over again we must point it out, practice intervention when it comes to this pattern.

We must firmly, kindly, and persistently be willing, however, to be the alternative voice in these matters that speaks clearly and truthfully. Most importantly, speak of how we personally see things as if we believe it—assuming we really do.

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ACCESSline Page 10 SScontinued from page 8

CREEPS happened, or why three days later hundreds more blackbirds fell out of the sky in Louisiana. Or why a few days after that thousands of dead fish washed up on an Arkansas shore.

But Jacobs has a good theory: the gays.

Not that the gays themselves killed the birds and fish, but that God killed the birds and fish because God was pissed off about gays, specifically the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“According to biblical principles, marriage is between a man and a woman, so we have to say, ‘What happens when a nation makes a decision that’s against God’s principles?’” she asks while wearing a purple leopard-print jacket. “Well, often what happens is that nature itself will begin to talk to us. And you know there are actually some patterns that you can see where a nation will make a decision that is contrary to the principles of God and after that there is some kind of answer that God gives—being the God of creation, the God who created nature.”

The problem, however, is that “we don’t always understand what he’s saying.”

Which is where Jacobs comes in: to sort it all out for us and come to the sanest possible conclusion. Did I mention she calls herself a prophet?

“Let’s talk about this Arkansas pattern and say, could it be a pattern? We’re going to watch and see,” she continues. “But the blackbirds fell to the ground in Beebe, Arkansas. Well the Governor of Arkansas’ name is Beebe. And also, there was something put out of Arkansas called ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by a former Governor … Bill Clinton.”

She then asks if there could be a connec-

Section 1: News & Politics tion between the Hosea 4 in the Bible, where God gets pissed at folks in Israel who are killing and stealing and sleeping around and declares that everyone there is going to waste away and die along with all of the animals, including “the birds of the air” and “the fish of the sea.”

“And so,” Jacobs asks, “could there be a connection between (Hosea 4) and now that we’ve had the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ where people now legally in the United States have broken restraints with the Scripture because the Scripture says in Romans 1 that homosexuality is not allowed?”

Huh, could there be? Hey, I don’t know, lady. You’re the prophet.

“It could be because we have said it’s okay for people who commit these kinds of acts to be recognized in our military for the first time in our history there is a potential that there is something that actually happened in the land where a hundred thousand drum fish died and also where these birds just fell out of the air,” she says.

Sure. Because it totally makes sense that God would be all, “I don’t want homos in the United States military! I am so pissed off I could kill a few thousand birds and some more thousand fish to teach those gays a lesson.” And then school children could look on in horror and vow to never become gay soldiers. Amen.

Michael Medved

Happy New Year, everybody! And just in case you wondered if 2011 would find the anti-gay right as fixated on the complicated genital equation of penis + penis/ vagina + vagina <> penis + vagina, worry not. It will always, deep in their hearts (or hearts and

FEBRUARY 2011

web browsing histories), come down to crotch shots for these folks.

Case in point: Michael Medved, conservative radio talk show host and self-proclaimed expert on the ins and outs of gay sex.

At the tail end of 2010, inspired by the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Medved declared on his website, “The New Year brings a new policy to America’s military that mandates acceptance, and even endorsement, of open homosexual behavior.”

I think Medved might have the specifics of the DADT policy confused with the XXX “military training videos” he rents. He seems to think DADT was the only thing keeping the military from devolving into an orgy of public of these things just doesn’t belong.” man-on-man and/or woman-on-woman sex.

He continues, “This distinction helps Unless, of course, he means something more explain the oft-noted quirk in public attitudes innocent by “open homosexual behavior,” like that sees stronger opposition and denunciahandholding and slow dancing. But I kind of tion, in the Old Testament and elsewhere, to doubt that. a physical relationship between two males He goes on to claim that the DADT than intimacy between two females.” repeal “denies the vast and crucial distincIn other words, this explains why two tion between males and chicks kissing in a bar females—insisting that So the United States are greeted with cheers men and women are military is essentially blind and two guys kissing are interchangeable when it greeted with fists. comes to forming a valid, to sex and gender now just “A physical connecconstructive intimate because it’s no longer legal to tion between a female relationship.” kick gay and lesbian service couple, like a physical Oh? So the United connection between States military is essen- members out? Sure, Medved. man and woman, is tially blind to sex and That makes total sense. based primarily on acts gender now just because of affection. The most it’s no longer legal to kick gay and lesbian common sexual practice between two men service members out? Sure, Medved. That involves an act of aggression—inflicting makes total sense. more pain than pleasure for at least one of And despite Medved’s opinion to the the parties,” he writes. contrary, it certainly takes more than slapUm, okay. So when it comes to homosex, ping two people of the opposite sex together Medved prefers donut bumping to sword to form a “constructive intimate relationship.” fighting because the first is sweet and soft Goodness knows the military is no stranger and the other is hard and violent. Duh. to damaged straight folks hooking up while As far as anal sex “inflicting more pain on duty (Lynndie England and Charles Graner than pleasure for at least one of the parties,” Jr., anyone?). that doesn’t explain anal sex’s popularity with But, of course, for Medved it all comes folks from all over the orientation spectrum. down to penises and vaginas.

In other words, a lot of heterosexual folks are “If men and women are profoundly into butt sex. A commenter on his site said it different—and both science and common best: “Michael: Read a book, buy some lube, sense tell us they are—then an all-female and try some foreplay first.” couple is even more different from an allAs Dan Savage points out on The male couple than either homosexual bond Stranger blog, “So lesbian sex is okay—with differs from a heterosexual union,” Medved Michael and with God—because lesbians writes. don’t have anuses.”

In other words, to quote Sesame Street, The Lord, as they say, works in anatomi“One of these things is not like the other, one cally mysterious ways.

ACCESSline’s fun guide

Our Picks for February

1/28-2/13 Des Moines Community Playhouse: STILL LIFE 2/8 Holland Center, Kiewit Hall, Omaha, NE: “MAVERICK VIOLIN VIRTUOSO” DAVID GARRETT “David Garrett is already the stuff of legend.”

— BBC Music Magazine 2/10-2/20 Mason City Community Theatre: A TRIBUTE TO THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW 2/11-2/20 Grand Opera House, Dubuque: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY 2/12 Coralville Marriott: BEAUSOLEIL AVEC MICHAEL DOUCET “The Best Cajun Band in the World” OrchestraIowa.org BeauSoleil Holiday, Orchestra Iowa Fundraiser 2/12 Holzworth Performing Arts Center, North High School, Davenport: BALLET QUAD CITIES “LOVE STORIES” 2/12 Sioux City Orpheum: SIOUX CITY SYMPHONYLOVE AND ALL THINGS GOOD 2/13 Gallagher Bluedorn, Cedar Falls: CUARTETO CASALS WITH ANDREAS KLEIN 2/18-2/27 StageWest, Des Moines, Iowa: THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES (see ad pg 20) “The Beebo Brinker Chronicles pries open the closet door and reveals the characters trapped behind it.”

— BackStage 2/18 Holland Center, Omaha, NE: STEP AFRIKA! 2/19 North Iowa Area Community College: GUYS ON ICE: AN ICE FISHING MUSICAL COMEDY 2/20 LeClair Park, Davenport, 11a-2p: QC PRIDE SPORTS WINTER FLAG FOOTBALL 2/26 7:30pm Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts , Fairfield, Iowa: GRAND PIANO GALA, AN EVENING OF MUSIC ON THE STEINWAY PIANO 2/27 Iowa State Center, Ames, Iowa: CAPE TOWN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 2/28 Sioux City Orpheum: THE WIZARD OF OZ

...and coming in March

3/3 Iowa State Center, Ames, Iowa: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF 3/4-3/26 Theatre Cedar Rapids: SWEENEY TODD 3/5 Civic Center of Greater Des Moines: MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY

Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente Dominic Cooper is The Devil’s Double

Dominic Cooper. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics.

Acclaimed New Zealand director Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors, Die Another Day) has been laying low for a while. Understandable given his prostitution arrest in 2006, which happened after he solicited an undercover officer for sex while dressed as a woman. And while, in a perfect world, that incident would have merely cemented his status as coolest filmmaker of the decade, it probably didn’t help his career on a day-today basis. So it’s nice to report that Tamahori is back, this time with a new movie called The Devil’s Double, starring Dominic Cooper (History Boys, Mamma Mia! ) and French actress Ludivine Sagnier. Cooper plays an Iraqi army lieutenant who was forced to act as the body double for Uday Hussein – the reprobate son of Saddam – or face the execution of his entire family. Due to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this month (no red carpet ball gown jokes here, sorry), look for it in theaters later this year.

Pee-Wee’s return to HBO

Did you make it to New York’s Stephen Sondheim Theatre to see The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway during its brief yet successful run? Well, you’re too late for the live version now; it just closed. But don’t despair. The master of witty comebacks like “I know you are, but what am I?” is taking his stage show back to television when HBO airs a performance later this year. What that means for Pee-Wee himself, of course, is that he’s now come full circle. After all, before the hit film Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Saturday morning’s Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, the man-child’s very first exposure to a mass audience was on HBO’s special The Pee-Wee Herman Show back in the early ’80s. So think of it as a homecoming, one where there’s always plenty of Mr. T Cereal waiting in the kitchen.

Natalie Portman’s ever-changing movie

It can be hard to keep up with the status of a forthcoming movie when you’re never sure what the title is. In its earliest stages, the new film from director Don Roos (The Opposite of Sex) was titled Love and Other Impossible Pursuits (it’s based on the 2006 Ayelet Waldman novel of the same name) and it was to star Jennifer Lopez. And then the name changed to 17 Photos of Isabel for a little

while, Natalie Portman replaced Lopez and the cast grew to include Lisa Kudrow, Lauren Ambrose and Rent’s Anthony Rapp. Now, with its February release coming very soon, the comedy-drama about a newlywed woman dealing with a precocious stepson, the death of her infant daughter and the meddling of her husband’s ex-wife is now called, simply, The Other Woman. And don’t confuse it with Portman’s other new movie opening in the next couple weeks, No Strings Attached. Or the 1988 Woody Allen film Another Woman.

Is everybody clear on that now? Good.

Hammer does Hoover

Armie Hammer. Photo: Columbia Pictures.

Now that everyone has seen The Social Network, the talk has swung back and forth between Oscars and the cool way director David Fincher turned super-tall, superhandsome, baking soda heir Armie Hammer (yes, he’s from that family) into twins. It involved digitally grafting Hammer’s face onto the body of an equally height-blessed actor named Josh Pence, for the record. But the face matters, and so Hammer is the man just cast by Clint Eastwood in his biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, J. Edgar, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Charlize Theron. Hammer will play Clyde Tolson, Hoover’s right-hand man and, if some historical records are to be believed, also his secret lover. Will the Dustin Lance Black-penned movie deal explore that speculative aspect of their relationship?

Or will all gayness be downplayed? And if so, then what’s the point? Find out late in 2012 when it’ll no doubt be presented as Oscar bait.

Cynthia Nixon signs on to Fail

Too Big to Fail sounds like what the makers of Sex and the City 2 were thinking before they saw the finished product, but it’s actually the new HBO movie co-starring Sex alum Cynthia Nixon. It’s from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) and it’s about Wall Street’s 2008 financial crisis. Of course, that’s a subject that was already dealt with in a rage-inducing 2010 documentary Inside Job, but this version gives it that sugary movie star face that helps the medicine go down.

Rounding out the large ensemble indictment of big finance will be William Hurt, Ed Asner, Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, Topher Grace, Matthew Modine, Michael O’Keefe, Bill Pullman, Tony Shalhoub, James Woods and Nixon’s fellow Sex comrade Evan Handler.

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Life After A-List by Chris Azzopardi Reichen Lehmkuhl candidly talks reality TV regrets, DADT and ex Lance Bass’ career copycats

Some people had a hard time sitting through The A-List: New York, Logo’s tawdry teledoc about a gay gaggle that got eyeroll reactions from viewers who couldn’t completely look away. Imagine starring in it.

Reichen Lehmkuhl, who became the show’s punching bag for nasty names, looks back with regret that you didn’t see him like you should have. But he’s learned to get on with his life and focus his attention on the future—one that includes a film based on his first book (a follow-up to 2006’s Here’s What We’ll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force is in the works) and exploring other avenues of his bottomless ambition as a political activist, model, musician, and jeweler (seriously: he has his own line).

In a recent chat with Lehmkuhl, the 37-year-old got personal about his hurt feelings, how the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” affected him, his book-turned-movie, and his take on ex-boyfriend Lance Bass seemingly copying his career.

You were called lots of nasty names for your behavior on The A-List: New York.

How do you feel about the way Logo cast you?

It hurts. If it didn’t hurt, I think there’d be something wrong with me. I see myself differently. Clearly when I look at my life I

see myself being raised in a trailer park and breaking into a successful military career, serving my country and graduating from the Air Force Academy.

After getting out and writing a book that sticks up for our entire community and cries out for help from everyone to get rid of a policy that’s going to help a lot of other anti-gay policies fall, to see anyone in the community turn around and call me a douche bag, it just makes me say, “Wow.” I watch A-List with different eyes, I’m sure. I guess if I were watching the show from those people’s eyes, maybe I would think I was a douche bag, too.

How is it balancing serious stances on issues like DADT and then doing a reality show like A-List?

(Laughs) It’s really hard, because with a show like A-List the cameras are on us for five months—3,600 hours over the summer just of me—and you probably saw, over 10 episodes, maybe three hours. Imagine what they can do.

I tell people, “Don’t talk to me about editing until you’ve done a reality TV show, because you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Out of 3,600 hours, you take three hours of that and you make a person whatever you want them to be. A show like A-List doesn’t want to show anything that’s boring and not what people are tuning in for. They want the things that are sensationalized, and we understand. We signed up for this and we understand what they’re going to do. I wish I could just tell people, “That’s not the way it is.” But you look even more stupid sticking up for yourself, so I’ve learned to

just let it go.

You said you’re surprised by some of the reactions, but you also said you knew what you were getting into. Do you have regrets about doing the show? Would you do a second season?

Umm… I don’t know. They haven’t even said yet if there will be a second season, so we haven’t really thought about it yet. I think that there are definitely some regrets. There are moments when I think, “Wow, we shouldn’t have even given them that.” A show can make you look like you’re hitting on someone in a club, but the editing doesn’t let you see that it’s your friend of 13 years. (Laughs) Suddenly, you’re hitting on someone in the club because you’re having a conversation and saying it’s too bad someone’s leaving the next day. That’s terrible, and it’s hard.

Even doing my song (“Up to the Sky,” a DADT protest tune), A-List showed the one moment where I really screwed up, and anyone who’s a singer screws up. They took that and ran it over and over and over, and it ruined any credibility that I had to sing or to have a song or to try to do something good.

You see the tragic part, and that’s it.

Had I known it was going to be so negative, I wouldn’t have done any of that on camera. I would’ve kept it as a very private part of my life and just released a song on my own, because now a lot of people won’t even download the song. They’re judging it based on what they saw on the TV show.

Would you like to continue to pursue music?

Um, yeah. I think I’d love to record more songs. I play the guitar all the time. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was seven, but the show makes it look like I am seven. (Laughs) If I did record more songs, I would never ever do it on the show. It was a humiliating experience for me when I set out for it to be really great project from the heart and to make a difference.

Do you look online for buzz about you?

I used to. I used to care, and after a few years you realize it doesn’t matter and that it’s just a handful of people who are negative that are actually drawn to those kinds of blogs and websites. The majority of people are normal.

As someone personally affected by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” how did you feel when you heard it was repealed?

There are no words to describe how I felt. It was 3:30 on the East Coast on December 18, and I’ll never forget it: I had a few friends over here, we were watching C-SPAN like it was the Super Bowl.

The verdict really lit a new fire under me for the integration of LGBTQ people in the military, because now we have ground to stand on to get this done, and I feel like it’s just the beginning of integration. Now it’s really up to our community to really watch like hawks these people who are integrating the military and to make sure they do it correctly; if they do it too slowly, if they do it right and if they don’t enforce

it the way it should be enforced, we need to watch for that. We really need to be careful not to say, “Oh, that’s all done,” and wash our hands of it.

If this repeal had taken place while you were serving in the military, how do you think it would’ve affected you?

Oh man—at this point, if I were still in, I would be so anxious about when I could come out, and I think I would probably be leading the barrage to get every servicemember who is gay to come out now. The more people who come out, the bigger problem they have with keeping us in.

There’s an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 LGBT troops serving right now, and that’s just people who’ve admitted it on survey forms. If all those people came out, it would send really big waves through the squadrons and it would just normalize everything. It would say, “Hey, we’re here, everything’s cool. I’m the same guy you’ve known, but if you ask what I did this past weekend you’re going to hear the truth rather than a lie.”

I really wish I could go back in right now.

I don’t know if it was a moment of insanity or a moment of nostalgia, but I thought, “I wonder if I could investigate what it would be like for me to go back into the military and serve again.” But then I thought I would be a captain still, because I got out as a captain, and I would be ten years older than all the other captains. That might be a little weird, but the thought’s crossed my mind.

Regarding Obama, you’ve said he’s failed you. Does the repeal of DADT restore your faith in him?

No, because he didn’t do anything to make it happen. And the thing is, when President Obama had his justice department appeal the decision of the court ruling to end the ban, which he was under no obligation to do, he risked having this policy maybe another two years, maybe another six years if we didn’t get it passed just now.

If there wasn’t so much hype from everybody who was screaming—from me to all my friends on Twitter to all these huge organizations that we’ve spent entirely too much money to support because of this crap and this horrible ban—and if that hadn’t happened in the lame-duck session, we

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Partying Hard: “Spartacus: Full-Frontal Television” by Joshua Dagon I don’t remember exactly—I was merely a wee babe—but wasn’t the first physically intimate, male-to-male relationship ever to be broadcast on U.S. television featured in the ABC series, Dynasty? Of course, that relationship was only implied; on-screen, the guys didn’t so much as kiss.

The first male-to-male television kiss in the U.S. was, I believe, on the Today Show in 1999, followed a year later by its parody on Will & Grace. And, finally, at the beginning of the new millennium, on the stunning season finale of Dawson’s Creek, actors Kerr Smith and Adam Kauffman shared a smooch—one that was a sincerely romantic, part-of-theactual-story, lip lock. Ah, they paved the road, didn’t they?

As a result, television audiences today are being treated to a show that fully realizes the liberating courage of the Dawson’s Creek cast just over a decade ago. On the Starz Original Series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, respectively, intense sexual relationships between two—and sometimes more—nude and gorgeous guys, all of whom apparently wax every part of their body below their necks, are being depicted on-screen. It’s like Queer As Folk, but with swords.

Oh, and there’s some lesbian stuff on the show, too. Most of it involves Lucy Lawless, of Xena: Warrior Princess fame, so it’s really not all that shocking. Lucy Lawless plays a very loyal and supportive Roman wife who offers wise advice to her husband while he’s raping the slaves.

Who but the brave producers of this most groundbreaking project, Spartacus: Bare Balls and Boobies, could so tastefully present full-frontal, muscle-dude nakedness, not to mention the occasional boinking of a boy in the butt? I’m sure that, in the spirit of this revolutionary television show, ten years from now, no one will even bat an eye when Bert and Ernie finally throw down and passionately pound the pillows.

The coolest thing about this new series, besides its brazenly prurient content, is the fact that it’s based on actual events, which took place in 1960 and starred Kirk Douglas.

Observably, this new show, Spartacus: Who Needs Viagra?, takes some liberties with history. It’s set in the ancient Roman city of Capua, where there were, evidently, abundant and skilled orthodontists. The gladiator slaves, however, are real men’s men. Every week they punch each other in the face, over and over, without ever breaking any noses or even a fingernail. It would seem that, in Capua, during the first century before the common era, the gladiators never missed an ab class and took remarkably good care of their skin. The ordinary citizens, too, appear to be fairly well-fed and groomed. All of the women have perfectly plucked eyebrows and the men have neat Caesar haircuts, which, one would assume, was the inspiration for Julius Caesar himself.

The gladiators are soldiers captured by the Romans in battle, then sent to a ludas, where they are repeatedly injected with steroids. There is the character of Varro, however, who sold himself to the gladiator school to raise money when his career in porn didn’t work out.

After several episodes at the ludas, where they’re all trained by ninjas, the gladiators are forced to fight in the arena, sometimes to the death. The battles portrayed on the show are truly graphic, obviously expressing a fierce condemnation of the barbarism in the ancient world, the sadistic voyeurism of the mindless, depraved citizens who cheer at the sight of extreme human suffering, a behavior of which I strongly disapprove each week while I’m watching it. Golly, it’s good to be evolved, isn’t it?

I always thought that the folks of the Roman Empire were smart. Yet, they seemed to believe that enslaving gigantic, muscular killers, and training them to more effectively sever human limbs, was a good idea. Amazingly, the owner of the gladiators, the lanista, even looked surprised when Spartacus cut his throat. What incredible naiveté, considering the guy supplied his slaves with so many sharp metal objects. Personally, I would have just provided the leather jock straps and sexy neckwear and called it a day.

Nevertheless, one must admit that the show’s script is somewhat creative and entertaining, which effectively cuts down on boredom between the steam room scenes.

There could be more orgies, though. I heard that the Romans had a lot of orgies. Sure, at least a few of the episodes have orgies in them, which is more than can be said for Grey’s Anatomy.

Despite the obvious inspiration from other works, such as the HBO series Rome and the film 300, this Starz Original Series, Spartacus: Everything Except Erections, manages to offer its own creative innovations. Interesting facets of civilized Roman living, such as pooping in public, are illustrated. Social interaction is meticulously rendered, weaving the dynamics of daily life in ancient Capua, following the ups and downs of the characters as they plot to have each other killed.

The coolest thing about this new series, besides its brazenly prurient content, is the fact that it’s based on actual events, which took place in 1960 and starred Kirk Douglas.

“Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral and the eating of snails to be immoral?”

— Marcus Licinius Crassus (played by Laurence Olivier) to Antoninus (played by Tony Curtis) in Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 film, Spartacus

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.

Certainly, more television programs will follow this innovative path. The ancient world, especially in Greece, offers a number of amorous, same-sex-oriented story possibilities, the presentation of which having been made possible by the pioneering cast and producers of Dallas. In fact, rumors are beginning to circulate about a new production of The Fall of Troy starring Adam Lambert as Helen. Who knows? Maybe he’ll even kiss another woman.

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The Outfield by Dan Woog Kye Allums is trans; world does not end

Kye Allums. Photo:GW Sports Information.

The most newsworthy part of college basketball player Kye Allums’ coming out story as the first openly transgender man to play on an NCCA Division I women’s basketball team may be how little attention the news story drew.

Beyond brief, matter-of-fact articles in the New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today, and on websites like The Huffington Post, reaction seemed muted— if non-existent. Granted, Kye Allums is no Tiger Woods, Reggie Bush or Michael Vick.

Still, you’d think the potent combination of sex and college hoops would send the sports world into a twitter.

Instead, Kye simply announced he was no longer Kay-Kay. He said that after 20 years—as a junior playing for George Washington University—he’d be the man he’d always felt he was. He had not begun hormone treatments or had reassignment surgery, however, so he could continue to play on the Colonials’ women’s team.

And he had the full support of his coach and teammates.

It had been a long journey for the Minnesota native. While growing up, his mother forced him to wear “girl clothes”—not the sweats and basketball shorts he felt much more comfortable in. So he changed into them at school.

For a long time he thought he was a lesbian. But, as Outsports.com reported, he realized he didn’t share the feelings they felt.

Not until freshman year in college—when his mother texted him, “Who do you think you are, young lady?”—did he realize he was not a young lady at all.

He began sharing his secret with teammates the next year. As he described the enormous disconnect between his body and his heart, they began to understand.

“Everybody’s pretty much accepting of everyone on the team,” he told Outsports.

“Everybody is different. We’re teammates, we’re like family. It’s a bunch of brothers and sisters. Everybody brings their life and issues to the family.”

Allums was gratified by the players’ response. But he feared telling head coach Mike Bozeman, a religious man. Last June,

during a conversation that began on a different topic, Allums broached the subject.

Bozeman asked Allums if God had made a mistake.

It was a difficult moment, but Bozeman soon offered support. He reminded Allums he’d always “had your back.” He said he’d continue to love Allums, the same way he loved all his players.

Allums’ next concern was for his scholarship. Researching his options, he realized he was protected by a Washington, D.C. law that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity. The NCAA seemed to clear the way for his continued participation on the women’s team as well, noting that gender classification should be based on “state identification documents, such as driver’s licenses and voter registration.”

Still, when the news broke in early November that Kye—not Kay-Kay—Allums would begin playing as a man on the women’s team two weeks later (ironically in Minneapolis, half an hour south of where Allums grew up)—he was not sure what would happen.

He needn’t have worried.

He told the Washington Post the next day, “I’ve had numerous Facebook messages, text messages, people calling me, people I don’t even know, telling me how they’re proud of me and how I’m a really brave person, and it’s been really positive.”

From as far away as Germany, men and women said “they wish more people were like me, or more people would be able to say something.”

But that was that. There was no feeding frenzy in the media. The blogosphere did not erupt. Radio sports call-in shows scarcely mentioned the news.

Part of the reason may be Allums’ personality, and his forthright discussion of what it means to be a transgender male.

According to USA Today, he spoke “openly and with disarming nonchalance to an array of local and national news media outlets.”

Part of the reason may be that the NCAA did not turn this into a pitched battle.

George Washington University administrators consulted with the governing body about Allums’ competitive status. The NCAA affirmed that it follows conduct outlined in an October report by the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “On the Team: Equal Opportunity for Transgender Student Athletes” emphasizes the importance of playing sports free from discrimination. The report notes that an environment unfriendly to trans students can harm all members of a team.

And part of the reason may be that—as Allums’ teammates and coach demonstrate— coming out as a trans man is not as big a deal as it once might have seemed.

When USA Today asked whether winning games or inspiring others is most important, Allums sounded like any athlete, male or female: “Winning games.”

Of course, he added, “by winning games I hope I do inspire people.”

The beautiful game heads to anti-gay Qatar

When the World Cup kicks off in Qatar in 2022 there will be no alcohol.

There will also be few gay people in the stands, watching the most popular sports

event on the planet.

FIFA—soccer’s world governing body— stunned the world late last year with the announcement that the quadrennial tournament heads for the first time to the Middle East. It was a coup for Sepp Blatter. FIFA’s president already helped steer the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, a first for the continent.

The same day he announced Qatar for 2022, he said that Russia would host the 2018 event. That too was a first. Some observers thought Blatter, who wields great influence over the politicized voting for host nations, was angling for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But Blatter’s statement a few days later torpedoed any hope for such an award.

Instead, it set off a human rights firestorm that reached from Qatar to FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, to England and the U.S.—anywhere on the globe where soccer is played.

In other words, everywhere.

Immediately following Blatter’s announcement about Qatar, questions arose.

How can games be played in heat that reaches 125 degrees? What will happen when harddrinking fans arrive in a country where public consumption of alcohol is forbidden?

And how can LGBT fans travel to a nation where homosexuality is strictly forbidden?

Asked at a news conference if he foresaw any cultural problems, the 74-year-old Blatter replied, “I’d say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities.”

His tone was jocular. He then turned serious, saying simply he was sure there would be no problems.

A FIFA spokesman said there would be no further comment.

Howls of indignation arose from gay and straight organizations—sports-minded, and not.

Former NBA basketball star John Amaechi—raised in England, the birthplace of soccer—was among the first to respond.

He said, “It’s absurd. It’s not about people having sex in public and being sanctioned for it; it’s the fact that Qatar was one of 79 countries to sanction executing gays at the United Nations.

“FIFA has endorsed the marginalization of LGBT people around the world. Anything less than a full reversal of his position is unacceptable… If sport cannot serve to change society, even temporarily during the duration of an event like the World Cup that

invites the world to participate, then it is little more than grown men chasing a ball and we should treat it as such.”

Amaechi did not limit his criticism to Blatter. Referring to giggling by reporters when the gay question was asked, the basketball player said, “It is the most childish response I could imagine. This does make it harder for footballers that are gay, but let’s not limit this. This story is big enough, his influence is big enough, to impact young people in school, people in workplaces, anybody who is perceived to be gay or is gay.”

Blatter’s comments, Amaechi said, underscore that “the seat of power, straight white men” are “very, very clearly uncomfortable with this issue and certainly not interested in taking it seriously.”

Kick It Out, an organization combating racism in soccer, spoke out against Blatter’s remarks too. Chairman Herman Ouseley said, “It was all frivolity and laughter, but it’s a serious business. People’s existence he has ridiculed.

“We can’t have that from the top of the world governing body. You’ve got to show leadership because you’ve got to influence the standards of behavior required and then you’ve got to enforce it when there’s a failure.”

Juriv Lavrikovs, communications director at the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, said simply, “This is not a joke. This is a matter of life and death to people.”

Qatar enforces its anti-sodomy laws strictly. An American serving a six-month sentence for homosexuality also received 90 lashes.

Gay Football Supporters Network chair Chris Basiurski noted, “Many LGBT people live in countries where they would face execution or imprisonment if discovered.

These people deserve our help, our respect and our support.”

“They, like the rest of us, do not deserve to be laughed at… Mr. Blatter is naive to think that by taking the beautiful game to Qatar, it will bring an end to discrimination in the Middle East.

“He says that football is ‘everything for everyone,’ but he has not yet explained just how FIFA is going to ensure that LGBT football players and supporters will be welcome in Qatar.”

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the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

ACCESSline’s STATEWIDE Recurring Events List The following list is provided by—and corrected by—ACCESSline readers like you. If you would like to add an event, or if you notice a mistake in this list, please email editor@ ACCESSlineIOWA.com.

Interest Group Abbreviations:

L: Lesbian G: Gay B: Bisexual T: Transgender D: Drag +: HIV-related M: General Men’s Interest W: General Women’s Interest A: General Interest K: Kids and Family

Sunday

Every Sunday, GLBT AA, 5-6 PM, at First Baptist Church at 500 N. Clinton St., Iowa City.

For more info about Intergroup and Alcoholics Anonymous call the 24-Hour Answering Service at or visit the AA-IC website: http://aa-ic.org/. [ L GBTMWA] Every Sunday, L WORD LIVES: L NIGHT, 7PM, at the Firewater Saloon, 347 South Gilbert St., Iowa City, 319-321-5895. The night will start with Season 1, Episode 1 of the L Word... because a good thing should never die. FoLLowing the L Word wiLL be a Drag King show at 9:30 p.m. No cover. Tel, 319-321-5895. [ L B T W D ] Every Sunday, THE QUIRE: EASTERN IOWA’S GLBT CHORUS REHEARSALS, 6-8:30 PM, at Zion Lutheran Church, 310 N. Johnson St., Iowa City.

Membership is open to all GLBT folks, as well as allies who support the community. There are no auditions; you only need to be willing to attend rehearsals regularly and learn your music. The Quire prepares two full concerts each year in the winter and spring, and occasionally performs shorter programs at events in the Iowa City/ Cedar Rapids area. The Quire is a member of Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA), and has developed a reputation for excellence and variety in its concert programs. For more info, visit http://www.thequire.org/. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Sunday, QUEER GUERRILLA BRUNCH, Locations around Iowa City to be announced each week. LGBTQIs & Allies gather for Sunday brunch to celebrate community and create visibility. Sign up for future brunches on Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/group.php?gid=120517046371 [ L GBTMWA] Every Sunday, RAINBOW AND ALLIED YOUTH, 8:00pm-11:00pm, The Center, 1300 Locust, Des Moines, IA 50309. Social group for Queer youth 25 years and under [ L G B T ] Every Wednesday, LEZ TALK (LIVE TALK SHOW), 9pm, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St, Des Moines, IA . New talk show in the Capital City, Des Moines, IA. This show is hosted

by Lezzies and made for ALL people. We have successfully secured a slot (we said slot) at the DMSC Wednesdays 9pm! Talk about must see TV! [LGBT+A]

Monday 1st 2nd Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG NORTH IOWA CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, at First Presbyterian Church, 100 S. Pierce St., Mason City.

Meetings are held the First and Second Monday (alternating) of the month. For more info, call 641583-2848. [ L G B T M W A K ] 1st Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG QUAD CITIES CHAPTER MEETING, 6:30 PM, at Eldridge United Methodist Church, 604 S. 2nd St., Eldridge.

For more info, call 563-285-4173. [ L G B T M W AK] 4th Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG WAUKON/NORTHEAST CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, First Lutheran Church, 604 West Broadway Street , Decorah, IA 52101. in the Fellowship Hall at First Lutheran Church, Decorah. 604 West Broadway Street. (563) 382-2638‎ [ L G B T M WA] Every Monday, DES MOINES GAY MEN’S CHORUS REHEARSALS, 7pm-9:30pm, Plymouth Congregational Church, 4126 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA . For more information about singing with the Chorus, contact Rebecca Gruber

at 515-865-9557. The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. [ G M A ] Every Monday Wednesday Thursday Saturday, GLBT ONLY AA MEETINGS IN DES MOINES, 6 PM - SAT 5 PM, at 945 19th St. (east side of building, south door). [ L G B T M W A ]

Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi George Michael, Faith (Special Edition)

Tuesday

2nd Tuesday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG AMES CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, Youth and Shelter Services Offices, 420 Kellogg Ave., 1st Floor, Ames, IA 50010. Meets in the Paul Room of Youth and Shelter Services at 420 Kellogg Avenue, Ames. For more info, call 515-291-3607. [ L G B T MWAK] 2nd Tuesday of the Month, CEDAR RAPIDS UNITY BOARD MEETING, 6:30-8 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . at 6300 Rockwell Dr, Cedar Rapids.

Meetings are open to the general public. For more info, call 319-366-2055 or visit: http://www. crglrc.org [ L G B T M W A ] 2nd Tuesday of the Month, SPIRITUAL SEEKERS, 7-8:30 PM, Iowa City, IA. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 320 E. College St, Iowa City.

Spiritual Seekers is a group for people of all faiths, or of little faith, who wish to make deeper connections between their sexual identities and the spiritual dimension in their lives. Meetings include discussion of specialized topics, telling of pieces of our faith journeys, and occasional prayer and meditation. (On the 4th Tuesday of each month, the group gathers at a local restaurant for food and fellowship.) For more info, contact Tom Stevenson: tbstevenson@mchsi.com or 319.354.1784. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Tuesday, OUT (OUR UNITED TRUTH): A GLBT SUPPORT GROUP, 7-8:30 PM, Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 3rd Avenue Southeast, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. For more info, call 563-359-0816. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Tuesday, ACE INCLUSIVE BALLROOM, 7-8:30 PM, Old Brick, 26 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245. All skill levels are welcome.

American social dance, Latin, a mix of dance from the last 100 years. For more info, contact Mark McCusker at iowadancefest@gmail.com, 319621-8530 or Nora Garda at 319-400-4695, or visit http://iowadancefest.blogspot.com/. [ L G B T M WA] Every Tuesday, ARGENTINE TANGO, 7:309:30 PM, Iowacity/Johnson Co Senior Center, 28 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. Practice and open dance. A donation of $1-2 per person is requested for use of the Senior Center. For more info, contact Karen Jackson at 319-447-1445 or e-mail kljedgewood@msn.com. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Tuesday, KARAOKE IDOL, 9 PM, Studio 13, 13 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240.

Drink specials and great competition! Visit www. sthirteen.com. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Tuesday, ACE HAS FACE THE MUSIC & DANCE, 7-9pm, 26 E Market St, Iowa City, IA 52245. All skill levels are welcome. Tango, Waltz, Disco, Country, American social dance, Latin, a mix from the last 100 years. Join on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=372454708295. For more info, contact ACE experiment at 319-853-8223. [ L G B T M W A] First and Third Tuesday, YOUTH FOR EQUALITY, 4-6pm, The CENTER, 1300 W Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309. A service and action group for youth who identify as LGBTQI and their allies. Open to all students in grades 5 through 12.

[LGBTMWA] Second Tuesday of the Month, PITCH HIV+ PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUP, 6-8pm, The CENTER, 1300 Locust St, Des Moines, IA . Contact John at 515.284.3358 with questions. [ + ]

Wednesday

1st Wednesday of the Month, CEDAR RAPIDS CHARTER CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION, For more

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When he wasn’t setting his own monkey free, George Michael was singing about it.

The single “Monkey” was, and remains, one of the weakest tracks on this classic—but on a 10-song album full of diamonds, it’s like getting a pearl. With the fantastic remaster of Faith, the British pop star’s genesis from boy band to sexually liberated solo act, the rerelease of the 1987 watermark shows an artist in bloom, boldly pushing buttons (“I Want Your Sex” would still turn heads today for its unapologetic straight talk) and setting the stage for a legendary career. The timeless hits—“Father Figure,” the title track and one of the best ballads of all time, “One More Try”—are all intact on one disc; the other two, a DVD and another CD, include corresponding music videos and rarities packaged with a hard-bound book of interviews and photos. A very candid, in-depth chat from the late ’80s is the highlight on the DVD; another, “Music, Money, Love, Faith,” is an interesting behind-the-music making of. Both features add perspective to a masterwork that remains not only an era marker, but—even now, 24 years later—one of immaculate pop prowess.

Grade: A

Crystal Bowersox, Farmer’s Daughter

nations in roots music. She’s in her element when she’s thrashing her bluesy wail across charged wallops of drums and guitars on “Holy Toledo,” a blasted ballad that casts her as Melissa Etheridge in the making. Bowersox is on her way with songs like the feisty “Kiss Ya” and the particularly memorable title track, where she breaks from her abusive mother. But as invested as she is—her name’s on 10 of 12 songwriting credits, helping to accentuate her as an artist rather than simply a reality TV spawn—there’s a sense that she’s being stretched beyond her comfort zone: “Lonely Won’t Come Around,” easily the most radio-ready of the bunch with its ill-fitting KT Tunstall chirp, is a prime example. Let Mama Sox do her own thing, people.

Grade: B-

Also Out

Keri Hilson, No Boys Allowed You know something’s up when a song features an “anus/famous” rhyme. The sad part is that said line, courtesy of a Nelly cameo on “Lose Control,” will go down as the most memorable moment of the siren’s second album, a drab follow-up to 2009’s In a Perfect World. So much of Hilson’s popsoul sophomore CD slips through the cracks (sorry, couldn’t help it) that we’re left with a middling album of hookless sonic slop whose only triumphs are the ones with the most attitude.

Regina Spektor, Live in London

No offense to Regina Spektor, who impresses during her first live release, but the DVD is a mess. Shot in 2009 with what appears to be webcams, it does no justice to this folk-bending talent who is completely absorbing during her set, also available on an accompanying CD. “Samson,” one of her best, is sadder and sweeter live—and you can’t help but love the buoyant bounce of “Folding Chair”—but the real surprise is the unreleased “Love, You’re a Whore,” a cheeky country closer.

Corinne Bailey Rae, The Love EP Let’s not kid ourselves: Image is everything on American Idol, the sing-off show Crystal Bowersox graduated from last year in second place with a degree in Showing You What’s Up. Her talent overruled her constantly ridiculed hippie mom look (no wonder the nickname Mama Sox), something she embraces on her debut, Farmer’s Daughter, which sounds more like the title of an Emmylou Harris record than something Idol birthed. But, though she’s from Ohio, Bowersox is a Red Dirt Girl through and through, cloaking all these rock ‘n’ roll rumi-

Didn’t see this one coming: the “Put Your Records On” soulstress doing Prince? Yep, Rae gets funky on the sexy “I Wanna be Your Lover” as part of this digital-only release of covers for Valentine’s Day. Her silky-smooth voice works magically, and it’s cool to hear her cut loose just after her very serious The Sea. Other tracks on the EP include the haunting rocker “Low Red Moon” and the sweet Paul McCartney & Wings song “My Love.” Put this record on, for sure.

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

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WORLD NEWS dered women are not allowed to use their preferred gender on identity papers, and lesbians are paid lower wages. These are the result of the lack of protective laws that can punish discrimination and allow the courts and government agencies to receive complaints. … We need your help in getting our honorable representatives in the House of Representatives to pass this bill through the Committee on Justice quickly so that the entire House can vote this bill and send it to the president for signing.”

To e-mail the Justice Committee, visit tinyurl.com/philcoj. Address comments to the committee chair, the Hon. Niel Tupas Jr., and the committee secretary, Narcisa Guevarra. For a sample letter, see tinyurl.com/progayfil. For more information on the bill, see tinyurl.com/filbill.

UN secretary-general speaks up for gays

At a special session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council on Jan. 25 in Geneva, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

It was believed to be the first time that a secretary-general directly addressed an official U.N. body specifically on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We must reject persecution of people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity -- who may be arrested, detained or executed for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” Ban said. “They may not have popular or political support, but they deserve our support in safeguarding their fundamental human rights.”

“I understand that sexual orientation and gender identity raise sensitive cultural issues,” he added. “But cultural practice cannot justify any violation of human rights.

Women’s treatment as second-class citizens has been justified, at times, as a ‘cultural practice.’ So has institutional racism and other forms of inhuman punishment. But that is merely an excuse. When our fellow humans are persecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, we must speak out. That is what I am doing here, that is my consistent position. Human rights are human rights everywhere, for everyone.”

The council’s representative from Nigeria, Ositadinma Anaedu, was surprised

by Ban’s statement.

“I must point out, Mr. Chair, that the (Africa) Group did not expect that the secretary-general would address these issues concerning lesbians, gays, bigender or indeed the issue of gender identity, as these issues have not been universally accepted,” Anaedu said. “While we strongly support that no individual or group should be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, (this) should not be used to impose on us or on the cultural ethos of everyone that have it, especially for us in Africa. It is also important to mention that we all equally accept the relationship inherent in that orientation and that it is unique and special, but it is not and will never be accepted as marriage, which is between a man and a woman.”

the fun guide Brit gay couple win hotel case, Christians must pay damages A British gay couple, Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy, who are in a civil partnership, will receive $2,872 each in damages from Cornwall hotel owners Peter and Hazelmary Bull, Christians who refused to rent them a room with a double bed.

The ruling was handed down Jan. 18 by the Bristol County Court, which found that the Christians violated the nation’s ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In court, the couple claimed they hadn’t discriminated based on sexual orientation because they also refuse to rent such rooms to unmarried heterosexual couples.

Gay leader Peter Tatchell commented: “People of faith should not be permitted to use religion as an excuse to discriminate against other people. … If the court had ruled that the Bulls were allowed to ban gay couples from sleeping together in the same room, it would have opened the floodgates to a deluge of similar religious-motivated claims for exemption from the equality laws.”

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement’s chief executive, the Rev. Sharon Ferguson, added: “Peter and Hazel Bull may well have sincere convictions about the nature of marriage—this ruling does not deny them these convictions. But if you are running a business you must make your services available to all without discrimination … and excluding people, especially when our scriptures are full of exhortations to welcome the stranger … is no way to defend and uphold Christian values.”

Buenos Aires Bears clubhouse attacked

Homophobes attacked the Buenos Aires Bears clubhouse Jan. 15, shouting anti-gay abuse, throwing rocks and bottles at members, and burning a mattress and garbage up against the entrance, local media reported.

Several bears reportedly were injured by projectiles when they ventured back outside to put out the fire.

Police arrived and ended the attack but made no arrests.

Representatives of the club filed a complaint with the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, which vowed to help them pursue criminal charges for property damage, personal injury and attempted murder.

Euro MPs blast Lithuanian bill

The European Parliament on Jan. 19 called on Lithuania’s Parliament to reject a proposed law that would punish “public promotion of homosexual relations” with a fine of up to $3,900.

The Euro Parliament also called on Lithuania to review existing laws that ban gay information from any place where a minor could possibly see it, censor mentions of sexual orientation in advertising, and exclude gay protections from the nation’s

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OUTFIELD Blatter later condemned discrimination “against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever.” He did not mention anti-gay discrimination specifically.

The powerful chairman still has his job.

And the World Cup is still headed to Qatar.

Keelin Godsey has a hammer

As a high school student in Palmer, Colo., Keelin Godsey dabbled in track’s throwing events. Shot put and discus were OK; soccer, basketball and softball were much more interesting.

Heading east to college, Keelin planned to play basketball. But Maine’s Bates College offered a strong track and field program, and Keelin suddenly found enjoyment in throwing.

Bates helped Keelin discover something else: “My sexuality had always been undefined. I’d just felt wrong. I’d read about lesbian history, but that was all I knew.” A freshman seminar introduced Keelin to the concept of “transgender.” Books by Leslie Feinberg and Kate Bornstein helped Keelin figure out that a binary definition of sexuality does not work for everyone.

“I’d always been classified as a butch lesbian,” says Keelin. “I hated that. I never thought of myself that way.” It was harder for Keelin to identify as lesbian than as transgender.

“I am who I am,” Keelin says.

It was, surprisingly, very easy to identify as an athlete. Erica Rand, who teaches courses on contemporary culture—with particular attention to sexuality, race and gender—helped Keelin talk to coaches and athletic administrators. Keelin calls Rand’s help “crucial to how smoothly everything went.”

Track and field coach Jennifer “Jay” Hartshorn was brand new to Bates, Keelin notes, and had “every right to worry” about a transgender athlete.

But, Keelin says, “she was awesome. She asked all kinds of questions about how she could support me. She made sure I didn’t have to deal with any intrusions. She helped me talk to the team, and always stood up for me.”

And, Keelin adds, “she never messed up my pronouns.”

Keelin began referring to himself as “he” in the summer of 2005, prior to his senior year at Bates. However, without going through hormone treatment or gender reassignment surgery, Keelin is still biologically female—and thus competes as a woman, not a man.

Keelin attributes Hartshorn’s instinctive, from-the-get-go support to the simple fact that “that’s who she is: an open, understand-

FEBRUARY 2011 ing person.” And, Keelin laughs, “she got her coaching degree at Smith.”

Opponents were not always so kind.

Keelin was occasionally called “she-male” and “tranny girl.” Keelin shrugged them off, saying, “People are afraid of what they don’t know.” Generally, though, Bates made sure “I didn’t hear about any drama.”

A track and field website posted something about the trans athlete. “They said I was cheating and wanted to have everything.

People are entitled to their opinions. I just tried to prove I’m a good competitor. Just had to keep doing what I was doing.”

Keelin found it harder to come out in the trans community than in the athletic world.

“This is my experience—I can’t speak for anyone else—but because I didn’t plan on transitioning, trans people didn’t understand my choices. I just wanted to concentrate on my sport. I focused my attention on athletics, and I still do.”

It was a difficult decision. “I can’t look the way I want to look,” Keelin says. “I can’t do what I want to do.”

The focus on training paid off. Keelin is a two-time NCAA national hammer champion, and placed seventh at the 2008 Olympic trials.

Last year, at the USA Track & Field championship, Keelin took fifth.

Throwing the hammer takes tremendous patience (“like being trans,” Keelin points out). It’s an extremely technical event.

Strength is important—and Keelin spends hours in the weight room, working on speed and explosiveness—but so is technique.

In the post-college track and field world, Keelin’s sexuality is “rarely mentioned. I assume a lot of people know. People think I’m cheating and taking hormones, but I’m not.”

Keelin wants one more shot at the Olympics. The next Games are set for 2012. Before that, the world championships loom. Keelin says, “I want to go as far as I can competitively.

It’s a hard choice not to transition. Once I stop competing, we’ll see what happens.”

Training and competing is only part of Keelin’s day. The rest is spent as a physical therapist in the Berkshire Mountains of New England. Keelin also helps coach hammer and discus throwers.

Yet thoughts of sexuality—even of physical therapy—are secondary. For now, Keelin concentrates on track and field. The structure of each day, the physical exertion and the mental preparation provide an important outlet.

But, sexuality aside, Keelin is no different from any elite-level athlete. Competition is key.

“When I have a bad day at practice, I do question why I’m doing this,” Keelin says. “But after a good day, I know why.”

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, gay activist, and author of the “Jocks” series of books on gay male athletes.

Visit his website at www.danwoog.com. He can be reached care of this publication or at OutField@qsyndicate.com.

“Never once have we heard anything homophobic or negative from Coach Fennelly.

He and his wife, Deb, have always been welcoming to us, as have the rest of the coaching staff. Had a former player not had her wedding on the same night as ours (July 17 of last year), we would have seen many people from the team and the coaching staff at our ceremony. As it was, the Fennellys came back early to Ames from over an hour away to spend time at our reception.”

— Matt Schuler and Robert Alden of Ames, Iowa, January 27, defending Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly against accusations of homophobic recruiting practices.

FEBRUARY 2011 SScontinued from page 11

HOLLYWOOD Now, will it make your retirement fund magically reappear when it debuts in May? No, but it will remind you why you should continue to never trust your bank.

Glee’s Groff gets indie

Who wouldn’t want Jonathan Groff’s career right now? Broadway’s Spring Awakening star became one of Glee’s battalion of young male heartthrobs and is now moving back into film (previously he had a hilarious turn as a mystical hippie concert promoter in the little-seen Taking Woodstock) with the indie drama Twelve Thirty. And in spite of a silly Newsweek opinion columns to the contrary which stated that openly gay actors cannot convincingly play it straight, the young actor is already earning praise in a heterosexual role as a man who wreaks havoc on an already troubled family. Also featuring Karen Young and Mamie Gummer (the one who looks just like her mom, Meryl Streep), the movie’s making festival rounds and will fill arthouses with that strange, dark, uncomfortable indie film glee later this year.

Jodie Foster, Matt Damon join Blomkamp’s Elysium

The sleeper hit alien invasion allegory District 9 was South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp’s calling card and Hollywood has been eager to return his calls ever since. For his next film, Elysium, he’s nabbed both Matt Damon and Jodie Foster to star alongside District 9 star Sharlto Copley. What’s it about?

the fun guide That’s a mystery. Blomkamp’s not telling, but it’s reportedly another journey into science fiction. And what studio is handling it? Well, that’s another mystery, but one of them will pick it up soon enough. And maybe it will erase the weirdness of her upcoming Mel Gibson-and-a-puppet movie, The Beaver. For her sake, at least, that would be nice. Now, let’s talk outer space fashion options for Jodie…

Far From Heaven inches closer to Broadway

The acclaimed, Oscar-nominated, Julianne Moore-starring Todd Haynes film Far From Heaven dealt with issues surrounding a housewife and her closeted gay husband in the 1950s and it did so in the guise of that era’s lush, weepy “women’s picture.” Now add music to that period of both graceful comfort and harsh repression and what do you have?

That’s right, a Broadway musical waiting to happen. Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie are collaborating on a musical stage version of the movie that is expected to open late in 2011. That’s good news for Broadway, which has seen a large number of shows close already this month; even better, subtly gay-themed shows are, in general, easier to sell to theater audiences than to moviegoers. For now there’s nothing else in the way of information, no cast or theater or dates, but stay tuned here for that. It’s coming.

Meanwhile, hummable songs about divorce and “perversion” are on their way down the pipeline too.

Romeo San Vicente’s idea of heaven involves waffles. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.

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the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

The Gay Wedding Planner: Romancing the Chase by Beau Fodor Recently, thanks to Sales and Marketing Director, Tim Heim, I was afforded the luxury of spending a romantic weekend at the new Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa. The hotel will become my personal favorite and recommended as the premiere all-inclusive gay wedding destination in our great state.

It made me think a lot about “romance” and where, as a jaded and cynical gay man, I needed to revisit my thoughts on the subject…

My first love, as a senior in high school, Matthew taught me all about romance.

We met at a varsity football game, spent a year chasing each other, and by graduation decided to move to New York City together. It was a very magical time for both of us. We became models, traveled the “gay Mecca” circuit; (P-town, Greenwich Village, Fort Lauderdale, Key West) each season, and thought we’d get to live happily-ever-after.

Then in the summer of 1982… well, everything changed.

Matthew was one of the first men to be diagnosed that June with “the Gay Cancer” (what we first called it, and what would become “AIDS”), that summer on Fire Island. In 66 days from the point of his infection, Matthew died.

And, by Labor Day weekend of 1982, sixteen of my other friends had died

Tim Heim, Sales and Marketing Director, Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, Iowa.

or were on their deathbeds. By 1990, I had attended over a hundred funerals and memorial services. It was like something out of a horror movie.

I think something died inside of me that summer of ‘82, as well. I gave up ona “happily-ever-after”, and dating, and any romantic notions of gay relationships.

AIDS had forever damaged my thoughts on sex and intimacy—and my sense of commitment, because of the losses and grief-related issues had become overwhelming. Two decades of self-loathing, chemical dependency, and living in fear were to follow.

Then I moved to Iowa and got a farmhouse… and surprise… everything changed, again. Whether it was the bean fields, or no gay community in Fort Dodge, I had time to learn about myself and what I wanted as gay man—and to focus on what was ahead for me here in the Midwest.

And then, like a true miracle—and a second chance for that “happily-everafter”—came the unanimous ruling by the state’s Supreme Court, which brought us Marriage Equality in Iowa!!! These past two years of fairytale weddings have renewed my faith in True Love, Monogamy, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Which will bring me back to the romantic Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa… OMG, one of the most fabulous, allinclusive, gay-friendly properties I’ve ever stayed at! The Hotel Blackhawk is the ideal setting for any type of event. The hotel specializes in weddings, due to the specialized historic “Gold Room.” The hotel is the

ideal location for same-sex marriages.

The ambiance of the hotel is second to none, and rates as one to the historic top-ten properties in the country. Hotel Blackhawk is one of the only “TAG Approved” hotels in Iowa. As a “TAG Approved” hotel, they are gay-welcoming, and proud members of IGLTA. The hotel is truly the “Grande Dame” of Eastern Iowa. Since it first opened in 1915, the hotel has served a diverse demographic: from movie stars to presidents; legendary athletes to gays and lesbians alike! Now, after a multi-million dollar restoration, this majestic landmark reopens with grandeur and a fresh focus on modern hospitality— especially for your very romantic engage-

Beau Fodor (photo c. 1982) is an Iowa wedding planner who focuses specifically on weddings for the LGBT community. He is also the host of the new docu-reality show “BRIDES & GROOMS”, which is co-produced by Pilgrim Films and Coolfire Media, and will be premiering this winter on cable television. Beau can be reached through iowasgayweddingplanner.com or gayweddingswithpanache.com. ment or wedding!

With all-new elegant decor and every imaginable amenity—focusing on a “something old, something new” mentality—this property is truly the crown jewel of the Quad Cities and Iowa.

NEED SPACE? Consider THE CENTER for your next EVENT! The CENTER has versatile multi-purpose spaces, a petite kitchen, and an excellent downtown location for virtually any type of small, intimate event. Our new Executive Director at the CENTER and newly formed Board of Directors want to make the best use of this multi-faceted space!

With breathtaking views of the Papa John Sculpture Park and 801 Grand Tower, the cosmopolitan and modern ambiance is amazing. From Candle-lit seated dinners for fund-raising to your individual group or organizations potlucks, we have already played host to corporate trainings, weddings, and business meetings.

And with the rental costs as affordable as they are, this is definitely a place to consider the next time you are in need of a fabulous LGBTQI-friendly space.

DOWNTOWN MEETINGS/EVENTS/CELEBRATIONS/GROUPS

THE CENTER 1300 Locust Street Des Moines IA 515-243-0313

the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

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Love Begins in the Kitchen This Valentine’s Day Chef Jacques Haeringer provides romantic recipes and tips for your special Valentine.

Great Falls, VA - - “Valentine’s Day comes at the best time of year,” says Chef Jacques Haeringer, owner and chef at the legendary L’Auberge Chez François, outside of Washington, D.C. “The darker, shorter days, and colder temperatures cause us to seek warmth, comfort, and light, many of the same elements of love.” Chef Jacques feels we should embrace this mid-winter holiday with small treats to show the special people in our lives how much they mean to us.

“Winter is also a great time to be in kitchen.” Say Jacques. “No matter how cold it gets outside it’s always warm by the stove.”

But, you don’t have to labor over a hot stove, or spend a lot of money to create special treats this Valentine’s Day. Chef Jacques has some fun suggestions that are sure to create romantic sparks: • Say “I Love You” with breakfast: If you and your significant other are always rushing out in the morning for work, set the breakfast table before you go to sleep with your best linens, flowers in a vase, and best dishes for a surprise breakfast treat. If your breakfast is only a quick cup of coffee, add a few fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a quick “I love you” treat.

• There is power in chocolate: This confection’s melting temperature is just below body temperature of 98.6 degrees, which is why it melts in your mouth. There is that brief moment where chocolate transforms itself from a solid to a luscious liquid. To many people this sensation and taste is irresistible. Choose one or two single pieces from a high quality candy vendor and share them with your special someone.

If you want to treat the entire family, purchase a high-quality cocoa mix. Mix up a warm and aromatic batch and add some fresh whipped cream. For an adult twist a dash of your favorite liqueur and it won’t matter how early the sun sets outside.

• A Bit of the Bubbly: This year treat yourself and a special someone with the surprise of sparkling wine or champagne to celebrate your love. Drop a single fresh raspberry or strawberry into a stem of sparkling wine to heighten the flavor and appearance. The tiny bubbles that melt in your mouth can

also melt a few hearts.

Make a Date: The perfect Valentine’s meal may be one that you enjoy at a future date. Slip an IOU into a Valentine Card for a future meal and spend the night at home.

To add a bit of spice to your Valentine’s Day celebration, Chef Jacques recommends these quick and easy recipes:

• 10-12 Bluepoint oysters • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 1 teaspoon grated horseradish • sea salt • freshly ground pepper 1. Open the oysters and place the oysters on the half shell in a plate to collect any oyster liquor.

2. Combine the heavy cream and oyster liquor in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high flame and continue to boil for 3-4 minutes to reduce volume by half.

Whisk in the grated horseradish and bring up to a boil again. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper, and more horseradish, if desired. Keep warm.

3. Preheat the broiler.

4. Place each oyster on the half shell on a special oyster baking dish or on a bed of rock salt to hold them level. Place the oysters under the broiler for about 1 minute or until just warm, being careful not to overcook. Coat each oyster with approximately 1 teaspoon of the warm sauce and serve immediately.

Variation: Use any fresh local oysters such as Belon, Moonstone, Winter Point, etc.

Oysters have a reputation for being an aphrodisiac. Casanova, referring to oysters in his memoirs, confessed that to eat “so delicate a morsel must be a sin in itself.” This recipe adds a dash of heat to spice up your night.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

•

OYSTERS WITH HORSERADISH SAUCE

For 6 – 8 servings, double the recipe The combination of chocolate and love is a double whammy. Chocolate contains caffeine-like substances which ex-

cite the system as well as the taste buds.

There is nothing like whipped chocolate for dessert!

• 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 tablespoon rum 1. Whip the heavy cream in a chilled medium mixing bowl and then refrigerate.

2. Place the chocolate in a small mixing bowl and set over a pot of boiling water.

Heat for 1-2 minutes until the chocolate melts. Whisk thoroughly. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract and rum, blending well.

3. Fold the chocolate mixture into the heavy whipping cream with the aid of a rubber spatula.

4. Pipe or spoon the mousse into ½ cup size or larger stemware or dishes. Top the mousse with a pinch of cocoa powder, if desired. © Chef Jacques Haeringer from Two for Tonight, Bartleby Press; $26.95; ISBN: 0-910155-43-7

ABOUT CHEF JACQUES HAERINGER Chef Jacques is one of America’s most respected and innovative culinary personalities. Continuing in his father’s footsteps, Jacques loves to create and serve contemporary French fare at his restaurant, L’Auberge Chez François, in Great Falls, Virginia. His menus feature reinterpreted Alsatian and French cuisine for American palates. When he isn’t in the kitchen, he can be found teaching his popular gourmet cooking classes. Jacques is often asked to author magazine articles, cook up recipes at culinary events, and to be a guest on television and radio shows across the country.

Jacques is the author of Two for Tonight,a collection of recipes that inspire romance through food and togetherness, and the Chez François Cookbook, the bible of classic Alsatian cuisine featuring some of the restaurant’s most popular recipes. He lives in Northern Virginia and is currently working on a new cookbook and television show.

For more information on L’Auberge Chez François, Chef Jacques, and his books and cooking classes, visit him online at www.ChefJacques.com, on Facebook @JacquesHaeringer, and Twitter @ChefJacquesH.

ACCESSline Page 20

Shear Sexy Scissor Sisters’ frontman on his second puberty, performing naked and the band’s Lady Gaga love affair

By Chris Azzopardi

They’ve always been gorgeous, but it took a decade before the Scissor Sisters, with their third album Night Work, became full-on filthy. The romp-pop album, released last year, is done up in cheeky softcore innuendo about “funking” someone, the late-shift grind (literally) and “big” surprises.

Our chat with frontman Jake Shears had many of them—from the conversation that united the band with Lady Gaga for the megastar’s 2011 Monster Ball Tour to the favorite gay icon he wants to meet (Tom Petty?). Shears also talked about the, well, sheer amount of clothing he wears, his wardrobe faux pas and how he defines himself— according to the Urban Dictionary.

Your Twitter page says you’ve been in the studio recently. Are the Scissor Sisters recording some new music?

Yeah, I’m in the studio as we speak.

We’re writing new music. We’re back in New York for a moment, so we just thought we’d come in and play around and have fun. So yeah, we’re writing, definitely.

The wait won’t be four years like it was for Night Work then?

the fun guide Well, it was just three and a half.

(Laughs) But it definitely won’t be that long.

So, also in my Twitter finds, I came across a photo of you in a jockstrap.

Oh, great!

Why are you always the naked one in the group?

I… um… just get hot on stage. That’s the main reason. (Laughs) I usually don’t get naked onstage, but I get excitable and usually it just feels better. The less I have on, the more I can move around. It’s the reason why Iggy Pop is always ripping his shirt off, so he can move and do his thing.

You’re looking beefier than ever, too.

Lots of Muscle Milk, huh?

I’ve been drinking a lot of Muscle Milk.

I’m preparing for my future as an exercise guru.

The music on Night Work is some of the band’s most sexual. Is it true: Does art imitate life?

The album is very much about our lives that we lead and then our fantasy lives that we lead—so a lot of it does imitate life. A lot of it is just imitating the dreams going on in my brain. But it’s a very sexy record, and I think we were feeling sexy when we were making it.

Your work, as far back as “Filthy/ Gorgeous,” has always had a sexy feel to it. How do you explain those constant themes of sexual exploration and liberation in your music?

I think that this is the first record where we’ve really explicitly explored that. So there’s a lot of celebratory stuff, but then there’s a real dark side to it; we love seeing

two sides of the same coin. But it was just time for us to take the fringe and the feathers away a bit.

The other thing is I felt like I sort of crossed over the line from being a kid and a boy, which I felt like I was going to be forever, into being a grown man, which has definitely changed the way that I think about things, the way that I perform and the things that I wear. It’s been like hitting a second puberty.

When you look back at your career— going from Brooklyn clubs, kind of struggling to find an audience, and now opening for the biggest superstar in the world—how do you feel about how far

FEBRUARY 2011

you’ve come?

I really look back fondly at the last 10 years. This year, it’s going to be 10 years since our first performance, so I feel very proud—but, at the same time, I also feel unfit. I feel like as a band we have a lot more to say, and I just think this band is going to constantly turn itself on its head.

Touring with Lady Gaga as her opening act should offer you the exposure that you haven’t necessarily had in the U.S. You’ve always connected better outside of the States. In fact, some people still think you’re a European band.

Totally—a lot of people do.

Why do you think you’ve been able to

FEBRUARY 2011

connect better outside of America?

It’s funny: This last tour we had through America was probably the best American tour we’ve ever done. There’s something so exciting about touring America at this moment for us. I don’t know what it was about this record, but it seemed to make a connection with a real core audience—even more so than the last couple of records. With our American audience, we really found kind of a center and the shows, because of it, were super exciting. They really were some of the most exhilarating shows we’ve had in a long time. I still get really excited about playing in America. We’re so well received in Europe and in all these other places, but

the fun guide

playing in America still feels uncharted and super exciting.

Did Lady Gaga handpick you for this tour or was it a record-label matchmaking?

Oh god, no, it wasn’t a label thing. It came about in a conversation. We were hanging out at Elton’s White Tie & Tiara Ball (in 2010), and he sat us next to each other ‘cause he knew we’d get along and it was high time for us to meet. We were talking about music and she was telling me that she used to come see us play when she was younger and was just really inspired and loved our band a lot. I think she holds us very close to her heart in a lot of ways.

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And she said, “This might sound really weird, but I think that we’d do really well on tour together.” I just said we’d do it in a heartbeat.

And it was a done deal in a week.

It’s going to be the gayest show of the year, without question.

(Laughs) It’s also just really nice to do something that comes from something real rather than something set up by record labels. This comes from a real love of one another, and it’s going to be super exciting because we’re going to be playing for tons of people who have no idea who we are. It’s a great platform for us.

Both you and Gaga wear some pretty flamboyant clothes. Would you be open to wearing a meat anything?

It depends on where it’s placed.

(Long pause) I don’t know what that meant.

(Laughs) God knows I’ve walked out on stage in some wonderful and horrendous and hideous things.

My husband was going through pictures recently and we came across, god, this one picture. You just look back on some shit that you wear and it doesn’t seem that long ago, but then you look at the picture and you’re like, “Oh my god, I can’t believe that I wore that horrible patchwork shirt with big bellbottom trousers.” But I’m not a vain person, and I’m not afraid to look like a fool.

Aside from Lady Gaga, you’ve been

able to hang with some cool gay icons, like Dolly Parton, Kylie Minogue and even Jane Fonda. Who are some others that you’d like to chill with?

I mean, since I was a kid Jane Fonda was really somebody I fantasized about meeting in person someday. But that’s a tough question, because I really just like so many—let me ask (band member) Baby Daddy. (Turns away from the phone and says, “Who’s left that I haven’t met that I’m obsessed with?” Baby Daddy: “That you haven’t met?” Shears: “Or that I haven’t stalked?”) He just called it: Tom Petty.

Tom Petty is one of my fucking heroes. He’s not as glamorous as Jane Fonda, but – Nor is he a gay icon.

He’s not really a gay icon, I guess. But he is for me. I just grew up listening to his music and I’ve just always been a massive fan. My tastes really run the gamut; I’ve got real obsessions and influences and inspirations that I think people couldn’t really predict.

You never liked when people would refer to the Scissor Sisters as a “gay band.”

Do you feel like you’ve been able to shake that label over the years?

With this last record we sort of shook it in a way, and then figured out how to wear it. I think it was always really frustrating for

I grew up always feeling very puckish, like A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

I always felt like kind of a very energetic mischievous elf, but I don’t know if that’s really applicable anymore.

But that’s how I’d describe myself.

TTSHEAR SEXY continued page 35

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the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

Cocktail Chatter by Ed Sikov Drink, Pay, Love: Rum and Coke

News of my breakdown spread like an aging star’s belly; soon unflattering photos of me in Star would be on the horizon. I knew I’d become a public whack-job when some naked guy I didn’t know approached me in the gym locker room: “Hey, man—I’ve been through it.

The guy who stole my dreamboy wasn’t obese—he just stank like a train station tearoom. But it turned Jeremy on. I didn’t.

Solidarnosc, bud!” Then he strolled off to the steam room.

Who was this guy? Had somebody put my crackup on Reuters? I leapt back into therapy. Gary was always sympathetic—I’d seen him when my mother was dying—but he was no cheerleader. When he thought I was nutty he told me so, once even using that exact word.

“So tell me,” Gary said as he leaned back in his chair. And I did. Gary’s face remained placid. “Does this remind you of anything?”

“Yup,” I replied. “My dick, my mother and my bank account.”

“What does the money represent to you?” Gary asked earnestly.

“It ‘represents’ another transfer of wealth from me to you,” I snarled. “Help me get over this now or I walk.”

Gary looked stunned for a moment, regained his composure and softly said, “That’s such a cruddy thing to say that I think you’re genuinely terrified.”

I burst into tears.

“Look,” Gary said. “We’ve all made fools of ourselves at one time or another. This is your time. Wallow in it. When you’re really sick of yourself, we’ll talk about why you’re acting this way.”

“Gary, please! I’m already sick of myself.”

“If you were, you’d stop being so nutty.”

“That word again!” I shouted. “Even you hate me.”

Silence ensued for seven minutes.

Only when he said, “Time’s up,” did either of us move.

I thought constantly about my—what?—hysteria? One thing was certain: I was, in Dan’s immortal phrase, “an old-fashioned a--hole.” OK, I indulged in a hell-as-comedy routine—the Three Dog Night variation, “I’m just an old-fashioned a--hole/one I’m sure that frightens you and me”—but twice a week, with great effort, I told Gary some of the secret shames I’d withheld from him earlier.

Five weeks later, with Gary’s help, I worked up the nerve to call Craig. I heard Kyle in the background cleaning up after dinner—probably rigatoni stuffed with lard and covered in a cream-based triplefat-cheese sauce for Craig, a hard-boiled egg for Kyle—and once again Craig was forgiving.

“Sweetness,” he said, “We all know you’re a mess. You’ve been a mess for years.

It’s not news. I’m Tubby the Whale, and you’re Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit. It’s who we are. Embrace it! You and Dan come over to my place in an hour. I’ll make some cocktails.”

“What?” I asked skeptically.

“Control freak,” Craig announced. Then he hung up on me.

Rum and Coke

• Rum to taste—I like dark rum to go with the dark cola. Craig used some store brand; use what you like.

• Coca-Cola (in a nod to Kyle, Craig used Coke Zero; I suppressed an instinctive “yeccchhhh” and downed it with humility.

1. Pour rum into a tall, ice-filled glass.

2. Add Coke slowly and stir gently; don’t kill the fizz.

3. Stay up all night from the caffeine, get fat from the sugar, stop worrying and live for the moment.

The Pomegranate Cocktail

“I will! I will! I-I wi-ill!” I sang wildly off-key in the shower, where only the Korean family next door and the lesbian phlebotomist with the Phyllis Diller wig below us could hear me. Also Bruce, who was making honking noises outside the bathroom door. Didn’t bother me. In crisis therapy, I accepted Craig and Kyle’s affair.

Therapist Gary and I aired the musty roots of my breakdown, and eventually the stink of emotional rot receded. I’d been half right: My puke-green jealousy came from my mother, my dick and my creationist-like denial of aging. Having unearthed them, I achieved enlightenment. “Om shanti namaste”!

This Nirvana was admittedly eccentric.

I stopped swiping sleeping pills from Dan’s supposedly secret stash. (Even cretins start with the boyfriend’s jockstrap drawer for the drugs, or the money, or that strumpet’s phone number.) As for stewing over Craig and jerking off to filthy thrilling images of Kyle every day? I wiped my hands of them (in Kyle’s case, literally).

Facts: I’m 53 and have a loving partner and a fine life. No reason to ruin it over some perfect-assed boy with the shoulders of Apollo. My constant put-downs of Craig had to stop. I ceased fishwife-screeching at Dan. But how could I prove my shiny new peace with my buddy Gargantua screwing my tight-as-a-2(x)ist-sport-brief dreamboy?

Solution: cocktails and dinner. Those wretched margaritas Craig adores were considered and rejected; shanti namaste had its limits. Still, a fruity cocktail for Craig would show off my fabulous new generosity of spirit, which was entirely absent during mein psychoticschen episode.

Cosmically, the very next day a cooking blog featured a pomegranate cocktail. The recipe was vile—more suitable for pomegranate Jujubes. Craig would love it. The insane but inspiring recipe called not only for making your own fresh pomegranate juice (oh, squeeze my ass!) but for adding pomegranate molasses. What? Waltz into Costco and inquire as to the whereabouts of the pomegranate molasses? I’d sooner slap on an Elizabeth I wig and ask for the mead department. I adapted the recipe for those of us who are not deranged.

Lo: it worked! We all enjoyed a marvelous evening. The drinks were luscious—a little tart, a little sweet and quite refreshing.

Craig had three. I had one. Dan was relieved.

Craig did a brief impersonation of Dolores Del Rio, which even I found a bit rarified, but Kyle beamed with pride, though Señorita Del Rio’s identity escaped him.

We adjourned to a steak joint, where Craig polished off a 24-oz. porterhouse, and I made no jokes. This boy was back!

At which point Kyle piped up: “Um, hey guys? Robbie can’t find a place for next summer. Nobody else will put up with him.

Can he stay with us?”

Craig responded in the voice of Helen Lawson: “So Satan’s come crawling back to Broadway! Well, Broadway doesn’t take to rudeness and fire-red treasure trails!” But we needed the rent money, so I supposed we’d have to.

Pomegranate Cocktail

• 2 parts Absolut • 1/2 part Cointreau • 3 parts bottled pomegranate juice* • “Really” Simple Syrup (optional) 1. Pour Absolut and Cointreau into a pitcher.

2. Add pomegranate juice. Stir. Taste.

3. Add 1/4 tsp. simple syrup if you like.

4. Pour over ice. *Put equal parts sugar and water into a jar, seal it tight and shake until the sugar dissolves.

Ed Sikov is the author of Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis and other books about films and filmmakers.

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"...marriage, as currently practiced by heterosexuals, is not about making babies. A modern marriage is whatever two straight people want it to be. It can last a lifetime, it can last an afternoon.

It can be sexually exclusive, it can be open. It can be sacred (church, family, priest), or it can be profane (Vegas, strangers, Elvis).

The wife can "joyfully submit" to the husband, as Southern Baptist women are encouraged to do, or the husband and wife can be equals. (Or as in the case of my friends Zac and Megan, the husband can joyfully submit to the wife.) And they can make little smooshes of themselves, or they can be childless. What makes them married—in their own eyes, and in the eyes of the state—is their love and commitment to each other, not their commitment to growing the population."

— Dan Savage, Savage Love question of the day, January 26, 2011

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the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

FEBRUARY 2011

the fun guide

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Out of Town: San Antonio, Texas by Andrew Collins Although it draws more visitors than any other city in Texas, San Antonio has always been a little less pronounced as a gay destination than Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

This is changing, however, as the city’s reputation for innovative arts, distinctive dining, hip boutique hotels, gay-friendly B&Bs, and friendly but lively LGBT nightlife has grown tremendously over the past decade. The tried-and-true, family-friendly classic attractions are still here: raucous theme parks, the glittery River Walk, and—of course—the Alamo. But now you’ll also find emerging arts districts and chef-owned restaurants specializing in everything from Belgian bistro fare to haute Nuevo Latino cuisine.

The city has made a concerted effort in recent years to reach out to gay visitors—note that the San Antonio tourism office has an LGBT section on its website (http://bit.ly/fogN3a).

Downtown San Antonio has been carefully protected by a zealous spirit of historic preservation. At the turn of the century, concerned local citizens fought developers bent on converting the Alamo into a hotel.

Similar efforts led to the restoration of the city’s other iconic landmark, the San Antonio River, with its enchanting River Walk.

Only a fraction of the original Spanish Colonial mission known popularly as the Alamo stands today: the small chapel whose facade has come to symbolize the pride and independence of Texas, and one of the living quarters. The buildings are set within a tranquil walled plaza of lawns and gardens.

It’s one of five missions built along the San Antonio River during the 18th century. The other four, which are south of downtown within six miles of one another, have been preserved and are open to the public. Stop by the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park for details.

Steps from the Alamo you’ll find the fabled River Walk, a network of cobbled and flagstone paths hugging the San Antonio River some 15 feet below street level. The branches of cypress and willow trees droop over the walk. During the day it makes for a peaceful stroll, and river taxis offer tours that provide an excellent sense of the architecture and greenery. Recently, the River Walk has been extended to the historic Pearl Brewing Complex, which has been converted to a dashing mixed-use complex of condos, studios, restaurants, shops, and branches of Aveda Institute and the Culinary Institute of America—there’s also a farmers market here on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Between downtown and the Pearl, you’ll find the San Antonio Museum of Art, which inhabits the former Lone Star brewery and is famous for its Asian works and arguably the nation’s premier collection of Latin American art. If you have a car, it’s worth continuing north to such notable attractions as the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, the Japanese Tea Gardens, the San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium, and the McNay Art Museum (which doubled in size following a sleek and eye-catching expansion $50 million expansion in 2009). And on the city’s true outskirts, there’s fun to be had at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Seaworld of Texas, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

A few blocks south of downtown, HemisFair Park contains the remnants of the 1968 World’s Fair attractions, including

the 750-foot Tower of the Americas and several museums. Be sure to check out La Villita, a nearby complex of more than two dozen arts and crafts shops, as well as downtown’s impressive new Briscoe Western Art Museum. Continue south to reach the King William Historic District, where many of San Antonio’s early German immigrants settled and built elaborate Victorian mansions (one particular ornate one, the Edward Steves Homestead, is open for tours). It’s adjacent to the more modest but increasingly hip Southtown area, which buzzes with funky shops, galleries, and restaurants.

San Antonio emergence into a firstrate culinary destination has been rapid of late. It’s still worth considering classics like Paesanos (paesanosriverwalk.com), a festive Northern Italian trattoria on the River Walk, and elegant Biga on the Banks (biga.com), one of the first restaurants in town to earn praise for truly daring contemporary regional cuisine.

In Southtown, Azuca (azuca.net) is an airy space decorated with the colorful glass art (blown next door at Garcia Glass studio) and serving terrific Nuevo Latino fare, from ceviche to plantain-crusted salmon with olive-garlic butter. There’s live Latin music and dancing many evenings. A few steps away, La Frite (lafritesa.com) is known for hearty but sophisticated Belgian bistro fare, such as frisee salad with bacon lardons, and mussels prepared in several different ways. It’s a sophisticated storefront spot with closely spaced tables and a fun vibe.

San Antonio’s famed (and gay-popular) Liberty Bar (liberty-bar.com) moved to Southtown in 2010 and remains a fine option for crab cakes, salads, and excellent cheese plates. Nearby in King William, Madhatters (madhatterstea.com) draws a “who’s who” of local characters for coffee, beer, wine, conversation, and great food.

Southtown is also home to one of the better Tex-Mex option in San Antonio, Rosario’s (rosariossa.com), a loud and spacious joint with live music on weekends, and such tasty dishes as chorizo quesadillas and steak ranchera topped with poblano peppers. Other reliably good bets for traditional Mexican food include La Fonda on Main (lafondaonmain.com), which is close to the gay nightlife district; El Milagrito (elmilagritocafe.com), a colorful and affordable spot on the hip St. Mary’s Strip, and Mi Tierra Cafe, in the touristy but fun Mercado, where you can find vendors selling roasted corn and shops carrying Mexican arts and crafts. If nothing else, come to Mi Tierra (mitierracafe.com) to admire the long case of delicious colorful cookies and sweets—it’s open 24/7.

Other restaurants of note around the city include downtown’s romantic Fig Tree (figtreerestaurant.com), which has outdoor seating on a stepped terrace that descends toward the River Walk, and the trendy and lively Zinc Wine Bar (zincwine.com), a downtown hot spot with great food and vino. Il Sogno (pearlbrewery.com) is one of the culinary draws at the Pearl Brewery Complex, serving superb modern Italian fare.

Right around the corner, Josephine Street Cafe (josephinestcafe.com) serves steaks and fresh seafood in a historic storefront.

Other casual, affordable spots include Luther’s (lutherscafe.com), which is right

Restaurants and bars line the festive River Walk in downtown San Antonio.

Photo by Andrew Collins across from several gay bars and has ample outdoor seating and tasty sandwiches, burgers, and salads; and Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe (luluscafeinsa.com), just south of the gay bar district, in a retro space and serving filling comfort food (hearty chicken-fried steaks) and pies. A longtime staple of the gay community, W. D. Deli (wddeli.com) is a cheerful spot with the best chicken tortilla soup around, and healthy sandwiches (try the turkey-avocado wrap) and salads. Finally, just north of downtown, Candlelight Coffeehouse (candlelightsa.com) is the perfect blend of a wine bar, cafe, and rainy-day hangout. In good weather enjoy the lushly landscaped patio.

San Antonio has about a dozen gay bars of note, one of which is downtown’s longrunning (and enormous) Bonham Exchange (bonhamexchange.net), lovingly nicknamed the “Bottom Exchange.” It’s a high-energy club drawing a mostly gay bunch along with quite a few straights for hot dancing.

Most of city’s other well-frequented bars are clustered along North Main Avenue, less than a 10-minute drive from downtown.

Here you’ll find the pulsing dance club Heat (heatsa.com), which is jammed nightly with buff-bodied revelers, and The Saint, known for arguably the best drag shows in Texas.

Other North Main options include Pegasus, a convivial video bar with a volleyball court and patio out back, and Sparky’s

Pub (sparkyspub.com), an English-style tavern in the space formerly occupied by Silver Dollar Saloon, a gay tejano and country club that’s moved just a few blocks north to an expansive new locale. Nearby, the Electric Company is a friendly neighborhood spot with a lesbian following, and the Annex is a rugged, cruisy bar with a leather-and-Levi’s following.

San Antonio has a wonderful mix of accommodations, from quaint gay-friendly B&Bs to chic “designer” hotels to historic grande dames. Among gay-owned options, the lovely Ayres Inn (1908ayresinn.com) occupies a historic home with five smartly furnished rooms with a mix of contemporary and classic pieces, plus flat-screen TVs and L’Occitane bath products. This gay-owned property is one of the most romantic in town.

A marvelous boutique hotel set inside a 1914 Mediterranean Revival former boarding school, the 28-room Havana Riverwalk Inn (havanasanantonio.com) captures the sophisticated sensibility of 1920s Paris along with the romance of vintage Cuba. It’s on one of the less noisy stretches of the River Walk. The sleek and contemporary Westin Riverwalk (starwoodhotels.com) is centrally located, has spacious rooms (request one with a River Walk view), and an excellent

TTSAN ANTONIO continued page 28

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the fun guide

FEBRUARY 2011

Book Worm Sez by Terri Schlichenmeyer Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s

By Will Fellows & Helen P. Branson ©1957, 2010, University of Wisconsin Press

$26.95 / $27.25 Canada

166 pages

TGIF. Four little letters that, alone, have different meanings. One is a drink. One, a gentle expletive. One is a pronoun, and the last is… well, it’s a letter.

Add them together, though, and they bring smiles to the faces of weary workers who’ve done their time for the week. Thank God It’s Friday.

Across 1 Ellen and Vance, e.g.

5 Cut, as wool 10 On ___ with 14 Cross inscription 15 Utensil for giving Oliver “more” 16 Tubbies’ prefix 17 Plod through the mire 18 Phantom of the Opera’s instrument 19 Chi paper 20 She played Nic in The Kids Are All Right 23 “___ do anything better than you” 24 Country of Ft. Sumter 25 Middle name of “Viva Las Vegas” singer 26 Susan B. Anthony coin 28 Reduces to confetti 30 Looked for 32 She played Jules in The Kids Are All Right 38 Cape Cod catch 39 Sentence units 40 Path on top of a dike 42 Where Dick Button performs 44 Of Thee ___ 45 Box again 48 Water under the bridge 50 Why Nic and Jules’ son said they should stay together 52 Parts of a min.

54 Wry twist 55 Phallic fishes 58 Start of a Shakespearean title 59 Reproduction without sex 60 Dark greenish blue 61 Where to see Chris Colfer as Kurt 62 Open positions?

63 And so

But what if your options for Friday Night Revelry were limited? What if you couldn’t go out because you couldn’t come out? In the new book “Gay Bar” by Will Fellows and Helen P. Branson, you’ll read about a woman who solved that problem back when it was bold to do so.

For most of her adult life, Helen Pyle Branson was interested in the occult and what we would now call New Age subjects.

Straight, married, and a mother, Helen was also a “woman ahead of her time”: she was extremely interested in friendships, specifically with gay men.

Back in the 1950s, homosexuality was considered an illness that could be “cured” with intensive therapy and classes. Gays and

lesbians were “degenerates” then, and “normal” people shunned them with horror.

To be gay was to be an outcast, often unemployed, sometimes homeless. Some even considered gayness to be a threat similar to Communism.

Helen didn’t care.

Her “boys” were welcome in her establishment, as long as they behaved—and she wasn’t afraid to oust anyone who didn’t. She protected her boys from the police, roughnecks, haters, scammers, and themselves.

She fed them, gave them a safe place to

Q-PUZZLE: “The Kids Are All Right”

Down 1 Liza, to Lorna 2 Like mosaic stone

3 One well-hung and making big bucks 4 Traffic light 5 One-armed bandit’s opening

congregate, and became a surrogate mother to them.

She studied them, and encouraged their families to love them, too.

Author Will Fellows had seen the book that Helen Branson wrote in the mid-50s, and he thought the memoir/social commentary might make a good play.

Fascinated, he began to dig into the life and thoughts of this progressive straight woman who embraced gay men…

And if Fellows had just left well-enough alone, if he had just let that book stand on its own merits, this book might have been better.

“Gay Bar”—the original version—had its charms. It offered a unique and honest vintage-1950s look at gay men’s lives from the perspective of a woman who genuinely loved them for who they were and who hated their persecution. Author Helen P. Branson had her (very un-PC) theories on gayness, and she was obviously willing to discuss things with anyone who would listen, as evidenced by her friendship and correspondence with a sympathetic psychiatrist who also studied homosexuality.

But then Fellows steps in and puts Branson’s words into today’s perspective.

I thought his ideas were intelligent and well-considered (a definite good thing), but—against Branson’s bygone-era charm – they muddy the appeal of the original (a not-so-good thing).

Can I recommend this book? Only barely, and only if you remember that this is more a gay history book than it is pleasure reading. Truly, if you’re looking for something fun and nowhere near academic, find another book and leave “Gay Bar” for another day.

6 “The Bridge” poet 7 Rims 8 Like some white people’s skin?

9 Director Norman of Longtime Companion 10 Stuff in the closet 11 Licorice liqueur 12 Sets straight 13 Soldier under Stonewall Jackson 21 Big name in the land of Wan Yan Hai 22 Elaine ___ (“Taxi” role) 27 Out 29 They rise to show thighs 31 One-million link 32 Month of the Stonewall riots 33 One that isn’t bi 34 Game in which Canadians wave their sticks 35 Dated, without a partner 36 Santa’s horny team 37 Seabird 38 Mountain top 41 British sports cars 43 Bonheur bathed in it 44 Parting words, old style 46 Quick cuts 47 Causing goosebumps 48 Had sex with 49 Things with strings 51 Weighty volume 52 Org. for Jodie Foster 53 Flightless wing 56 Get behind 57 ___-mo sexual (decelerated porn)?

• SOLUTION ON PAGE 28

FEBRUARY 2011

the fun guide

ACCESSline Page 27

HARPIST

INSURANCE

PHOTOGRAPHER

QUAD CITIES: MASSAGE

CEDAR RAPIDS: WINE & GIFTS

the fun guide

ACCESSline Page 28 SScontinued from page 25

SScontinued from page 15

SAN ANTONIO

EVENTS

restaurant, Zocca.

Hotel Contessa (thehotelcontessa.com) draws raves for its palatial rooms with floor-to-ceiling river views, 12-story atrium lobby, and friendly staff. The Mokara Hotel (mokarahotels.com), formerly known as the Watermark, occupies a former saddlery and has 99 of the snazziest rooms in the state, as well as a state-of-the-art spa and superb dining in its Ostra restaurant.

Finally, looking more West Hollywood than Central Texas, the uber-hip Hotel Valencia (valenciagroup.com) provides a strikingly contemporary contrast to the historic downtown blocks that surround it. There may not be a sexier room in the city than the Valencia’s V Bar—definitely plan to toast your visit with a cocktail in this vibrant lounge.

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

info, visit charter-chapter.tripod.com. [ L W ] Every Wednesday of the Month, Transformations_IOWA, 7 p.m., with meetins also the 2nd Saturday of each month, Transformations is a group for Female to Male, Male to Female, Gender Queer, Cross Dressing, Questioning, Intersexed, Allies, and Significant Other in Iowa.

Contact r.eliason@hotmail.com, 1st Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN’S SACRED CIRCLE, 6:30-8 PM, Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd, Hiawatha, IA 52233. This group is for women who are interested in gathering for spiritual growth. The direction and activities of the group are determined by participants. $5 per session.

For more info, visit www.prairiewoods.org. [ L W ] 1st Wednesday of the Month, CONNECTIONS’ RAINBOW READING GROUP, 7 PM, Iowa City Public Library Meeting Room B, 123 South Linn Street, Iowa City, IA 52240. For more info, contact Todd at: faunides@yahoo.com. [ L G B T M W A ] 2nd Wednesday of the Month, STONEWALL DEMOCRATS, THE GLBT CAUCUS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, 6:30-8 PM, For the February 9 meeting we will be at Coffee Talk Cafe on 37 Kirkwood Court Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. That’s next to Kirkwood Blvd just south of Hwy 30 on the left. For more info, contact Harvey Ross at linnstonewall@gmail.com or call 319-389-0093. [ L G B T M W A ] 2nd Wednesday of the Month, WOMEN FOR PEACE KNITTERS, 7-9 PM, Hiawatha, IA. at Prairiewoods, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha.

Knitting, crocheting, and discussion. For more info, call 319-377-3252 or go to www.womenforpeaceiowa.org. All ages and levels of needlework skills welcome. Come knit for charities. [ L W ] Every Wednesday, HOT MESS EXPRESS, 8:00pm, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St., Des Moines, IA . The hottest most messiest citizens of Des Moines providing a comedic look at the hottest most messiest current events around the world. Featuring: Paul Selberg, Rachel C. Johnson, Kelley Robinson & Tyler Reedy [ L G BTA] Every Wednesday, U OF I GAY LESBIAN BISEXUAL TRANSGENDER AND ALLIES UNION MEETINGS, 7-9 PM, Iowa City, IA. at the Penn State Room #337 of the Iowa Memorial Union, U. of Iowa campus, Iowa City. For more info, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/~glbtau/ or e-mail glbtau@uiowa.edu. These meetings are open to the public. [ L G B T M W A ] First and Third Wednesday of the Month, PITCH HIV+ PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT GROUP, Friends and Children’s Council, 500 E 4th St, Ste 414, Waterloo, IA . RSVP to tamih@pitchiowa. org (requested but not required). (First meeting will be January 19, 2011 from 5:30-7:30pm at the CASS office, 2101 Kimball Ave, Ste 401, Waterloo.) [+] Second Wednesday, OUT NETWORKING, 5:30, Des Moines Social Club, 1408 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309. A social, business, and philanthropic networking organization for anyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning or supportive. The group presents year-round events focused on business, culture, community, and philanthropic subjects. [ L G B T A ]

SScontinued from page 7

INSIDE OUT a Constitution guaranteeing everyone equal protection under the law. I can’t even believe I’m having to write about this.

Aren’t you Iowans angry about this?

Where are the marches in the streets? Where is the uproar among the LGBT community?

Are you just going to sit back and take this craziness? Did you enjoy the closet?

Don’t look to the existing Iowa judges to do anything about this. All of them are scared to death about losing their jobs. I’m being presumptuous, but they’re only human and after a while the fear has to wear on them.

What LGBT person (or attorney for that matter) wants to be in front of a judge with a bull’s-eye on his or her back? Blind justice?

I don’t know.

I don’t think the Iowa lawyers can do much either. Some of the attorneys in the state actually support The People Who Hate Us. Other lawyers are worried that if they do anything, they will simply be shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. No one wants to make enemies in case the system changes.

In the end, it is really much easier to get motivated to organize and win if you have a common point of view. Here, for the extremists, the commonality is hatred. People don’t go to the trouble of firing Supreme Court justices simply because they think it’s a good idea. They do it because they hate what the Varnum decision represents and they hate us for wanting what they have—legally recognized marriages and families. How dare we? Really?

Someone needs to step forward and say “enough!” If he or she doesn’t, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Why does WHO Radio almost never have any other state representative as a guest other than Steve King?

— 52245 (from “Your 2 Cents' Worth: Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011” at dmregister.com)

Thursday 1st 3rd Thursday, EVENINGS FOR SPIRIT, 6:30-8:30 PM, West Branch, IA . at SpiritHill Retreat, 604 Cedar Valley Road, West Branch.

First, third, and fifth Thursdays of each month.

Women gather at SpiritHill (or other locations) to share our spiritual experiences, visions and longings. The evenings include time for sharing and time for silence. Laughter, tears and singing are often shared as well. No specific spiritual practice is followed. This event is always open to newcomers. For more info, call 319-643-2613, or e-mail spirit-hill@earthlink.net. Calling in advance is highly recommended to confirm the location for the specific month of interest. [ L W ] 2nd Thursday of the Month, OPEN MIC WITH MARY MCADAMS, 7-9 PM, Des Moines, IA . at Ritual Café, on 13th St. between Locust and Grand,

downtown Des Moines. Visit www.ritualcafe.com.

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

[LGBTMWA] 2nd Thursday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM (6:30 PM social time), Omaha, IA . at Mead Hall, First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St., Omaha. For more info, call 402-291-6781. [ L G B TMWAK] 3rd Thursday of the Month, OPEN MIC HOSTED BY KIMBERLI, 7-10 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company (now open after the flood), 118 2nd St. SE, Downtown Cedar Rapids. Signup at 6:30 p.m. or by e-mailing flyingmonkeyscr@aol.com the week prior to the open mic. [ L G B T M W A ] 3rd Thursday of the Month, LGBTQI YOUTH MOVIE NIGHT AT THE CENTER, 6:30-10pm, The CENTER, 1300 Locust, Des Moines, IA . This is part of the LGBTQI youth program, anyone 24 years old and younger is welcome. Come down spend the evening with your friends and make some new ones. 515-243-0313 [ L G B T + ] 3rd Thursday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG DUBUQUE/TRI-STATE CHAPTER MEETING, 7 PM, Dubuque, IA . at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1276 White St., Dubuque. For more info, call 563582-9388. [ L G B T M W A K ] 3rd Thursday of the Month, CONNECTIONS GAME NIGHT, 7-9 PM, Iowa City, IA . at Donnelly’s Pub, 110 E. College St., in downtown Iowa City. [ L GBTMWA] 4th Thursday of the Month, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S NETWORK (PWN), For more info, visit www.pwn.org, e-mail pwn@pwn.org, or call Shelley Woods at 319-981-9887. [ L W ] 4th Thursday of the Month, THE GLBT READING GROUP, 7:30 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . Red Cross Building at 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids. The group is open to new members; contact crglbtreadinggroup@yahoo. com for further info. [ L G B T M W A ] Every Thursday and Friday, SHANNON JANSSEN, 6-10 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . Dawn’s Hide and Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City. Shannon performs a variety of music including original songs on the Grand Piano in the hotel’s beautiful atrium. No reservations required.

[LGBTMWA] Last Thursday of the Month, DRAG KING SHOW, 9:00pm-2pm, Studio 13, 13 S. Linn St, Iowa City, IA 52240. The show starts EARLY at 9pm, so all you fans under 21 (meaning 19 & 20) can come for a jam packed hour of show! Your kings will also have another photo signing with awesome king swag! Plus, a SECOND mini show after the signing!!! $3 Bomb shots, $2 Calls and Domestics, and $1 Wells and shots! Cover is only $3! [ L G B T D ]

Friday

1st Friday of the Month, FAIRFIELD ART WALK, For more info, visit www.FairfieldArtWalk. com. [ L G B T M W A ] 1st Friday of the Month, GUERRILLA QUEER BAR MEETUP!, Tired of the same old bars? Crave the idea of bringing your queer and straight friends together in a fun, new environment? We’re descending upon an unsuspecting straight bar and turning it into a gay bar for the night. To join in: join our Facebook group, Google group or Twitter feed. You’ll receive an email the morning of each event with the name of a classically hetero bar and the meeting time. Call your friends, have them call their friends, show up at the bar and watch as it becomes the new “it” gay bar for one night only.

Visit http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-cityguerrilla-queer-bar. [ L G B T M W A ] 1st Friday of the Month, FIRST FRIDAY BREAKFAST CLUB, Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 95030.

The First Friday Breakfast Club (FFBC) is an educational, non-profit corporation for gay men 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. Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 95030.

Contact Jonathan Wilson at (515) 288-2500 or email: info@ffbciowa.org [ G B ] 1st Friday of the Month, DAWN’S COFFEE HOUSE, 5-8 PM, Iowa City, IA . Dawn’s Hide and

FEBRUARY 2011 Bead Away, 220 E. Washington St., Iowa City. First Friday of every month between February 6 and December 4. Music and light snacks are provided.

Proceeds from the door are split between the nonprofit of the month and the store (to cover the cost of snacks). Any other donations received go 100% to the non-profit. $3 cover. For more info, phone 319-338-1566. [ L G B T M W A ] 2nd and 4th Friday, DRUMMING CIRCLE, 7 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . Unity Center of Cedar Rapids, 3791 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Every 2nd and 4th Friday of the each month. For more info, call 319-431-7550. [ G M ] 3rd Friday of the Month, OLD-TIME DANCE FOR ALL, 8 PM, Iowa City, IA . A Barn Dance 12 miles east of Iowa City at Scattergood Friends School. A Barn Dance 12 miles east of Iowa City at Scattergood Friends School. Admission is $5.00 per person. Singles and couples, beginners and veterans welcome. The music is live, and all dances are taught and called (that is, prompted while the music is playing). Note: (1) same-sex couples are common at these dances, (2) they’re no-alcohol, no-smoking events, (3) every dance is taught, so beginners are welcome, and (4) people can attend alone or with a partner. People of a variety of ages show up, and the atmosphere is friendly and inclusive. For more info, phone 319-643-7600 or e-mail treadway@netins.net. [ L G B T M W A ]

Saturday

4th Saturday of the Month, LESBIAN BOOK CLUB, 7 PM, Davenport, IA . is reading books by or about lesbians. Non-lesbians are welcome to attend. All meetings are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport.

For more info, call 563-359-0816. [ L ] 4th Saturday of the Month, TANGOVIA, 7:30 PM, Iowa City, IA . join area tango dancers at the Wesley Center, 120 N. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

Enjoy a candlelit evening of dance, hors d’oeuvres, and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Cost is $5. Partner not necessary. Beginners welcome to come at 7 p.m. for an introductory lesson.

For more info, call Gail at 319-325-9630, e-mail irelandg@gmail.com, or visit www.tangovia.com.

[LGBTMWAD] Every Saturday, WOMEN FOR PEACE IOWA, Noon to 1PM, Collins Rd NE & 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. hosting Weekly Street Corner Vigils for peace, rain or shine. Meet at the corner of 1st Ave. and Collins Rd. SE (in front of Granite City Brewery), Cedar Rapids. Show your support for our troops by calling for their return from Iraq.

For more info, e-mail khall479@aol.com. [ L G B TMWAKD] Every Saturday, BAILE LATINO: SALSA, CHACHA, MERENGUE AND BACHATA LESSONS, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, Cedar Rapids, IA . taught

by Gloria Zmolek, at CSPS, 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids. No experience or partner necessary. All ages welcome. No sign-up required. $5 per person requested. For more info, contact Gloria at 319365-9611 or visit www.crsalsa.org. [ L G B T M W AKD]

FEBRUARY 2011

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 29

PFLAG Linn County & Beyond First Friday Breakfast Club: Rev. Elizabeth Dilley by Bruce Carr Join us! PFLAG Linn County & Beyond (“PFLAG LC&B”). Spend an evening with other supportive parents, family, and friends to discuss, to think, and to learn about your role and relationship with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender family members and friends.

PFLAG LC&B meets the fourth Thursday night of every month (except November). The February 2011 meeting will be February 24th at Peoples Church UU (600 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids) at 6:30pm. (Meeting locations may change; please email or call at the contact information below to confirm each month’s location.)

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (“PFLAG”) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG National Office, in Washington D.C. The locally organized PFLAG LC&B chapter invites everyone to participate in its monthly meeting and various activities.

Local PFLAG chapters serve as points of human connection, and as sources of information about resources and upcoming activities in their communities.

“Our Vision. We, the parents, families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender persons, celebrate diversity and envision a society that embraces everyone, including those of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Only with respect, dignity and equality for all will we reach our full potential as human beings, individually and collectively. PFLAG welcomes the participation and support of all who share in, and hope to realize this vision.”

“Our Mission. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.”

For more information about PFLAG LC&B, please contact: • Chair: Diane Peterson PFLAGLCB@gmail.com - 319-431-0673 • Vice-Chair: Dave Langston Langston.dave@gmail.com

More information about PFLAG is available at PFLAG.org.

Free Des Moines Tax Clinic

Saturday, March 12, 2011, 10am Married in Iowa, but unsure how that affects your and your spouse’s federal taxes?

Have questions about how to claim your children? Just have tax questions in general?

One Iowa blog contributor and tax pro Jason Dinesen is holding a clinic for same-sex couples and allies at the One Iowa offices, 500 East Locust Street, Suite 300, Des Moines, IA 50309.

Jason will give a presentation covering filing status, state versus federal filing, and dependent status, and then he’ll open the floor for any questions participants have.

Since the decision, Jason’s been finding out everything he can about the special considerations same-sex couples have when

preparing taxes. The presentation is free, and all individuals, couples and families are welcome!

One-on-one tax preparation consultations are available after the presentation; to find out more about prices or to make an appointment, email Jason at dinesentax@gmail.com. Mention One Iowa when Jason does your taxes, and he’ll donate a portion of his proceeds to us!

You don’t have to attend the clinic to take advantage of this special donation, and with Jason’s secure web portal, you don’t have to be in the area to work with him. Check out dinesentax.com for more information!

Our speaker on January 7 was the Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Red Oak, Iowa, who shared with us her progressive and extremely welcome ideas on sexuality and spirituality. A long-time student of smaller congregations, Dilley came to First Congregational (already then an Open and Affirming church!) seven years ago from Berkeley, California. In addition to her church work, she is a part-time health educator with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, where she works with people of all ages to promote healthy life and sexual choices.

Dilley spoke with passion and humility—and humor: “I work both for Jesus and for Planned Parenthood,” she noted.

She recounted her pleasure at encountering “Iowa nice” when she first came to the Midwest: the local fundamentalist preacher never fails to greet her peaceably at the grocery store, to work with her effectively on professional committees and projects—no matter that he may think (and preach) that she and her flock are blasphemers.

“The basic problem,” she said, “is that we all grow up learning the message that sex is dirty and wrong—so you should save it for the one you love.” Her own message is embodied in this prayer: “In Christ, our bodies have been renewed in love and you, O God, bless all that we do in love and compassion and mutuality. Sexuality is a good gift that you call us to share—from the tender

Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Red Oak, Iowa, caress of a loving partner to the ecstasy of orgasm which opens up new vistas of passionate life. Help us to love extravagantly, to live fully, and to embrace the bodies of all your people upon the earth, that their needs—arising from hunger to pleasure, leading to loneliness and overstimulation, the result of resistance and exploitation— may be met in Christ and in the community to which Christ calls us, the embodiment of your love on earth. Amen.”

TTFFBC continued page 33

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Section 3: Community

FEBRUARY 2011

Queeries LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow Outed on Facebook

your privacy settings, you can’t protect your privacy 100 percent. Lastly, a special note for your friend: Please don’t ask others to be complicit in your secrets. It’s certainly your right to stay closeted, but as you can see, it gets mucked up when you’re asking friends to be accomplices. (And a technical pointer: Remember that you can always de-tag yourself from a photo.)

Q: Even though my good friend Letisha lives with her girlfriend, she is not out to her family. At least she wasn’t until last week. Right after the holidays I posted a lovey-dovey photo of the two of them on my Facebook page, tagging both.

Then of course bam! The photo was automatically uploaded to Letisha’s Facebook page and suddenly her whole family knew she was gay. Now Letisha won’t speak to me because she says I outed her. I say it’s Q: I really need some advice. I think her fault that she kept such a big secret my boyfriend is cheating on me and from her family. Who’s right? sleeping with other guys behind my back.

A: Every day I get more and more When we first got together we decided questions about Facebook gone awry. It’s that we weren’t going to have an open so easy to stumble on relationship. Recently some social faux pas There’s a special respon- he said he would that didn’t even exist no problem if I sibility in being someone’s have before. However, from wanted to sleep with what you write, there’s “first.” I don’t know about you, other guys—as long enough blame to go but I still remember my very as I told him first. That around in this situame suspicious first time—and let me just say made tion. First off, here’s my so I did something I advice to you: No matter I was a nervous wreck. probably shouldn’t what, don’t tag people have: I logged into his without asking their permission. Maybe Facebook account and found an incrimiyou’re at the beach and unaware that your nating message. I know we need to talk Facebook friend has called in sick from work. but I am really bad with confrontation.

Maybe you’re photographing someone who What should I do? is underage and the photo has caught him A: Very few of us like the idea of confrondrinking. Or maybe your friend isn’t out. On tation, but when it comes to questions about the other hand, Letisha does need to wake monogamy and sexual health, you really have up and face the fact that everything about no choice. This doesn’t mean you need to Facebook is viral. No matter how you set come at him like a bat out of hell, but you do

CEDAR AIDS SUPPORT SYSTEM

Confronting a cheater

need to express your point of view and ask the important questions. The ability to do so is really important for your own self-respect.

Perhaps there’s a middle ground that you’d be comfortable with? Many couples create rules in situations like this: No tricking in your own bed, for instance; it’s okay if one of you is out of town; or the number of liaisons is limited to prevent a romantic attachment.

On the other hand, you may have no interest at all in anything but monogamy—as per your original agreement. Either way, you need to talk together and make some mutually comfortable decisions. If you do agree to have some new openness in your relationship, by the way, remember that you’ll need to come to some clear understanding of what each of you considers safer sex; there are about as many different definitions of that as there are couples. As for your logging into your boyfriend’s Facebook account: That’s a form of cheating, too. Leveling with him about your actions may help him to do the same.

He’s never had sex before

Q: I’ve been going out with a guy who’s never had sex before with a man and is more than a little apprehensive. We’re really into each other, but to tell you the truth I’m a little nervous myself at the thought of initiating a virgin. I just want to make sure to handle things right. Do you have any advice for me?

A: There’s a special responsibility in being someone’s “first.” I don’t know about

you, but I still remember my very first time— and let me just say I was a nervous wreck.

Since you already know that your fella is anxious, see if you can tease out what’s on his mind. Often a first timer’s main concern is that he’ll do something “wrong.” If you can help your new lover realize that it’s not about technical performance but rather emotional connection, you’ll both benefit. Also, let him know that he can determine the pace. Still, there will likely be some teachable moments as he tries new things on for size. I wouldn’t make corrections or suggestions in the heat of the moment, but instead maybe chat a bit later on if you feel the need. One last thing: Be sure to lead by example when it comes to the topic of safer sex.

Steven Petrow is a regular contributor to 365gay.com, GayWeddings.com and the author of the forthcoming, “Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners” (www. gaymanners.com). Send him your questions: ask@gaymanners.com

“The basic problem is that we all grow up learning the message [from our churches] that sex is dirty and wrong—so you should save it for the one you love.”

— Reverend Elizabeth Dilley, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Red Oak, Iowa.

Serving Northeast Iowa by: - Offering confidential support services with compassion and respect for the diversity of those impacted by HIV or AIDS - Increasing awareness and understanding in communities - Offering CASS services free of charge

319.272.2437 | 800.617.1972 www.cvhospice.org

CASS A program of Cedar Valley Hospice

FEBRUARY 2011

Section 3: Community

ACCESSline Page 31

Remarkable by Jonathan Wilson Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that was put in place during Bill Clinton’s time as Commander-in-Chief was inherently flawed and was paraded out as a supposed compromise.

It was no compromise in the sense intended.

Instead, it adopted as official Pentagon policy what had been going on in the United States military since its inception: so long as gay soldiers stayed in the closet and didn’t get caught, they were welcome to serve their country, sacrificing and even dying for the freedoms of others.

By making that the official policy, it implicitly denigrated gay service members, but worse, told the world that any suspected gay soldier was unusually vulnerable to blackmail. Whatever secret is necessary to preserve a career—any career—makes the keeper of the secret an easy target for anyone who learns the secret. The policy, therefore, and undeniably, was a compromise all right—a compromise of our national security.

There have always been gay members of our military, serving—showering—side-byside with other soldiers. Coming out of the closet doesn’t change that nor does it make more likely that a gay soldier will hit on a straight comrade.

The effort to repeal the policy, when attached to the Pentagon’s proposed budget, appeared to have died an agonizing death.

But, like Jesus, it rose from the dead on its own and passed easily in both houses of the lame-duck Congress and was signed by the President.

Just like that. Remarkable.

It demonstrates that there will inevitably be daily ups and downs in the civil rights struggle, but the trend line and progress are unmistakable and accelerating. In my lifetime it will be a non-issue. In my lifetime same gender marriage will be the law of the land.

In many respects it’s all over but the shouting. And the command structure of the military will insure its success.

I can still hear my drill sergeant shouting orders in army Basic Training, requiring trainees to do all sorts of things that ran against the grain.

The philosophy underlying the military command structure presupposes that soldiers can be trained to do whatever they’re told—even to the point of dying on a foreign battlefield for some illdefined mission with a tenuous connection to our national defense.

That, in my mind, makes the prospect of getting gay and straight soldiers to share a warm shower almost like child’s play.

There have always been gay members of our military, serving—showering—sideby-side with other soldiers.

Coming out of the closet doesn’t change that nor does it make more likely that a gay soldier will hit on a straight comrade.

Reflections on Christmas

The Biblical story is told that God impregnated an unmarried girl, Mary, who subsequently gave birth to Jesus. Jesus grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. He went into ministry for about three years; traipsing around the countryside and occasionally on water with eleven good friends and one especially good friend; preaching (with precious little hard evidence) that God is loving and merciful, and not vengeful as depicted in the Old Testament. He managed to get cross-wise with the religious and governmental establishment of the time, was crucified (to pay for sins not yet committed by people not yet born), died, and was buried, only to rise again from the dead and ascend physically into Heaven.

There you have it in a nutshell. If one buys into the beginning of the story, it’s as easy to believe in all the rest.

With a belief in those particulars, selfless compassion has been shown around the world, wonderful music has been written and sung, and innocents have been slaughtered in countless numbers. To say that the account of his birth, life, and death requires a suspension of our life experience would be an understatement. To say that the account and human history since are filled with paradoxes would likewise be an understatement. Today, self-styled Christians who worship the Prince of Peace are among the most ardent supporters of a strong military, perpetuation of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and forgiveness of

torture admittedly committed at Gitmo and elsewhere in our name.

There are some elements of the story’s beginning that are seldom discussed. For example, the impregnation of Mary was by all accounts non-consensual. Oh sure, after the fact she was informed and graciously accepted her fate, but she was not consulted in advance. By today’s standards, that is an assault if not rape. It gives full voice to the line from an old hymn, “Time makes ancient good uncouth.” That we can today celebrate the event is, at least, paradoxical and at worst the acceptance of an un-prosecutable felony.

It also stands for the perennial proposition that there is something lesser about the way the rest of us came into the world. It gives implicit expression to the admonition that sex is dirty so save it for someone you love and marry.

On the brighter side, especially for folks in the gay/lesbian community, the impregnation of Mary and the birth of Jesus, represent one of the first recorded examples of a surrogate arrangement. Use that on critics when we pursue alternatives to marrying unsuspecting straight people as a means to become loving parents.

Jonathan Wilson is an attorney at the Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines, and chairs the First Friday Breakfast Club (ffbciowa.org), an educational, non-profit 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.

What a silly question. Anyone going to a small-town church knows that Adam and Eve were white. And Jesus was a white guy, too, with light brown hair, despite being Middle Eastern and Jewish. They must have spoken English, too, as that’s the language of my Bible, the Word of God. — posted by “Gimme that ol’ time religion” (from Your 2 Cents’ Worth: Friday, January 21, 2011 at dmregister.com)

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Section 3: Community

FEBRUARY 2011

Council Bluffs CHAIN Day on the Hill Community Alliance events: February 24, 2011 BJ’s Get Togther Broadway Joe’s, 3400 W Broadway, Council Bluffs - Friday, February 18 · 5:00pm - 7:30pm Please join old friends and new for a few drinks after work for some fun and relaxation.

CBCA Monthly Membership Meeting St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 Dillman, Council Bluffs - Sunday, February 20 · 5:00pm - 6:30pm Please join us for the next monthly meeting. Our guest speakers will be from the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce. A pot luck will follow the meeting. Please bring your favorite dish to serve at a pot luck dinner. And please invite your friends to join as well. Thanks.

Council Bluff’s Legislative Coffees Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue - Saturday, February 12 · 9:00am - 10:30am - Saturday, February 26 · 9:00am - 10:30am It is important that we show an LGBT presence in our Council Bluffs Legislative Coffees. Our legislators (all republicans except Mike Gronstal) need to see the LGBT community and its allies in action. These coffees will happen every other weekend between now and sometime in April or May. At the coffees we can ask legislators questions—I’m sure there will be many questions involving marriage equality. Oh, and… there are free donuts and coffee! Hope to see you there.

by Virginia Tonelli

CHAIN Advocacy Coordinator Community HIV/Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network (CHAIN) is a non partisan organization that provides strategic leadership in the fight against HIV/Hepatitis and strives to provide policymakers with evidence based facts. CHAIN has approximately 150 active members throughout the state of Iowa from a variety of different groups including individuals living with HIV and Hepatitis, health care professionals, industry representatives, and academics.

In addition to a strong statewide membership base, CHAIN has also established a good working relationship with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the AIDS Project of Central Iowa. Partnering with these organizations provides CHAIN with a greater opportunity to expand their network and be more effective in their

advocacy efforts.

On February 24, 2011, CHAIN will hold our annual Day on the Hill at the Iowa State Capital. Advocacy training begins at 9am at the Calvary Baptist Church located at 606 East 9th Street. The training is immediately followed by a legislative luncheon at the Capital. Advocates will have the opportunity to discuss important HIV and Hepatitis related issues with their legislators.

In past years, priorities have covered a wide range of areas including ADAP Funding and the Criminal Transmission of HIV. Advocates will be briefed on the 2011 legislative agenda during the morning training session.

For more information on CHAIN’s Day on the Hill, contact Virginia Tonelli at virginia.tonelli@gmail.com. Log onto CHAIN’s website for more information on the organization: www.chain-iowa.org

“It’s clearer than ever that Republicans will stop at nothing to take away the constitutional rights of Iowans.

I hope that Republicans will join our efforts and focus their energy on helping Iowans recover from the worst national recession since World War II.” — Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, January 27, 2011

FEBRUARY 2011 SScontinued from page 29

Section 3: Community SScontinued from page 1

FFBC

DISHONEST

Dilley earned a B.S. in Educational Theatre from New York University and her Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley in 2003. She clearly thrives on teaching: last summer she returned to her alma mater to give a course she titled “Size Always Matters: Spirituality, Leadership, and Administration in the Smaller Membership Church.” Ya gotta love her. Her husband, Paul Richardson, obviously does, and they are about to become parents later this year.

Like all good preachers, Dilley is also a poet. Here’s another prayer, from her sermon “Preaching and Praying about Sexuality” published in the Clergy for Choice Newsletter last April:

overturning the Iowa Supreme Court’s 2009 decision striking down the state’s Defense of Marriage Act. This amendment goes further, barring any kind of legal union apart from marriage and therefore any legal recognition for same-sex relationships.

After an emotionally charged subcommittee hearing with more than 200 observers present, Republicans Dwayne Alons and Chris Hagenow voted to advance the amendment, while Democrat Beth WesselKroeschell voted no. Later in the day, the full House Judiciary Committee approved the bill on a 13 to 8 vote. Democrat Kurt Swaim joined all 12 Republicans in voting yes, while the other Democrats on the committee voted no. of House Judiciary Committee members.

Reading the news coverage of yesterday’s debate, I was struck by how many misleading talking points were used to justify denying rights and privileges to thousands of Iowans.

A Prayer For Our Bodies

(feel free to use this in your own congregations and communities of faith) We thank you, God, for the gift of our bodies and all that they can do.

Our hands reach out in love, caressing the other with compassion releasing our tight hold on possessions touching the earth you have made nurturing new life into being Our lips press against the things of this world, kissing our beloved gently tasting the food before us offering up words of affirmation and love Our hearts beat a rhythm of life into the universe, swelling in love and joy propelling us to action

1. From State Representative Dwayne Alons, the lead sponsor of House Joint Resolution 6: “This is the direction of the people, by the people, for the people and we should not lose sight of that.”

The Iowa Constitution has never been amended to restrict people’s rights. Making minority rights contingent to a majority vote goes against what this country stands for.

2. Alons also suggested that the public needs to vote on an amendment because the Iowa Code still contains language struck down by the Supreme Court in Varnum v Brien:

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sexuals don’t deserve the legal rights and benefits that go along with marriage.

Chapman explained that the Iowa Catholic Conference’s support for the constitutional amendment “is based on our answer to the question: what is Despite the court’s decision, [Alons] marriage?” But the tenets of Chapman’s said, the definition of marriage - between church shouldn’t give anyone veto power one man and one woman - remains a part over civil marriage rights in Iowa. We all of the Iowa Code, Alons said. The Legisla- have ethical or religious beliefs informing ture had a chance to remove that last year our views on marriage. I may not approve when Democrats controlled the House and of someone marrying for money, others Senate as well as the may not approve of governor’s office.

By the way, Mr. Hurley, it’s my marrying someone “Your side failed. a different relipeople like you who “struggle from You didn’t want to touch gion, but we don’t get with homosexuality.” You’ve to deny heterosexual it,” Alons said.

Ever since the made it part of your life’s couples a marriage Varnum v Brien decilicense because we sion came down, some work to write your views on disapprove of their Iowa conservatives homosexuality into the state relationships. have been making a In any event, constitution. People who want hundreds big deal about how the of Iowa Defense of Marriage to keep discrimination out of c l e r g y support Act remains part of the constitution aren’t strug- marriage equality and the Iowa Code. Iowa officiated at gay gling with their orientation, have Supreme Court Chief and lesbian weddings Justice Mark Cady whether it be heterosexual since April 2009. addressed a version or LGBT. Matt Mardis-LeCroy, of this argument in minister at Plymouth his condition of the judiciary speech on Congregational Church in Des Moines, January 13. Judicial review has been part told legislators yesterday, “Rabbis, imams, of our country’s legal system for more than pastors, and priests have debated the 200 years. When courts strike down a law, meaning of marriage for thousands of legislators are not required to take further years. With all due respect, this one is above action to remove or correct the language your pay grade.” at issue.

The Varnum v Brien ruling made clear that churches would not be required to 3. Iowa House Judiciary Committee recognize same-sex marriages, nor would Chairman Rich Anderson, explain- clergy be required to officiate at the cereing why he will schedule a public monies. Just as Iowa statutes relating to hearing before the full House divorce have not forced the Catholic Church votes on the constitutional amend- to change its doctrine on divorce, granting ment: civil marriage rights to all doesn’t restrict “This is one of those really important anyone’s religious views on marriage. issues that divide our country,” he said. “I know that our tone and demeanor will be 5. Former legislator Danny Carroll exemplary in helping the people of Iowa of the FAMiLY LEADER, the umbreland America see how Iowans and Ameri- la organization including the Iowa cans can disagree in a context of respect Family Policy Center: “we reject and honor.” evangelical Christians being the I love when Republicans congratulate brunt of name calling, being called themselves for the very gracious way they bigots because they simply want seek to revoke other people’s rights. Ander- the chance to vote on what the son’s remarks reminded me of how onetime definition of marriage is and has gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong been for the last 2,000 years.” used to urge Republicans to talk about the It’s clever for a self-appointed marriage issue in a “respectful and honor- “marriage defender” to put in that qualiing way.” If you really respect and honor fier about 2,000 years. That way, Carroll diversity of views and experiences, you avoids talking about the marriage rules should understand that the state shouldn’t outlined in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old be picking and choosing which Iowans get Testament): men taking several wives, to marry their partners. men being expected to sire a child by a dead brother’s widow, men and women 4. Tom Chapman of Iowa Catholic instructed to marry only within their own Conference, the first member of tribal clan. the public to speak at yesterday’s The fact remains that Carroll and his subcommittee hearing: allies want to impose their religious views “We think that that it takes a man and on the whole state of Iowa. And this isn’t just a woman to have a marriage. Marriage is about the definition of marriage, because definitely about the emotional desires and House Joint Resolution 6 would also forbid needs of adults, it’s about the love people civil unions, domestic partnerships or any have for one another but we also believe legal recognition for same-sex couples. on a very important element it’s about the possibility of bringing children into 6. The fuller context of Carroll’s the world.” statement to the subcommittee Come on. Thousands of heterosexual hearing deserves to be cited: couples who get married have no chance or “The people that we represent at the intention to bring children into the world. Family Leader and the many hundreds and The Iowa Catholic Conference would never thousands of Iowans who want a chance suggest that childless married heteroTTDISHONEST continued page 34

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DISHONEST to vote on this do so with no malice in [their] hearts. In fact, many of those people would be quick to offer an apology to the homosexual community for the way they have been treated over the decades. For the ridicule and at least verbal if not physical abuse that they have been subject to. We reject that, Mr. Chair. Let me repeat: we reject that just as much as we reject evangelical Christians being the brunt of name calling, being called bigots because they simply want the chance to vote on what the definition of marriage is and has been for the last 2,000 years.”

Carroll gets bonus points for acknowledging that gays and lesbians are a historically disfavored group, but I’m sure the “homosexual community” would happily forgo any apology if FAMiLY LEADER supporters would just stop trying to take people’s rights away.

On a related note, I can’t help including this passage from an e-mail Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley sent to supporters yesterday. Technically, it wasn’t a talking point for public consumption, but it reflects sentiments like those Carroll shared at the hearing: Several of us plan to bring a token of Christian love (like a small bag of cookies or other treats) to share with homosexual activists who we’ll be encountering Monday. It’s time we dispel lies about Christians, by tangibly showing love to people who struggle with homosexuality.

How generous of them. Here, have

Section 3: Community a cookie on your way to the back of the bus!

By the way, Mr. Hurley, it’s people like you who “struggle with homosexuality.”

You’ve made it part of your life’s work to write your views on homosexuality into the state constitution. People who want to keep discrimination out of the constitution aren’t struggling with their orientation, whether it be heterosexual or LGBT.

7. Carroll makes this list one more time by telling lawmakers yesterday: “We are not necessarily asking you to take a position one way or the other on the issue. We are simply asking you to give the people the right to vote.”

The wording of House Joint Resolution is clear: “Marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union valid or recognized in this state.”

Voting to advance that bill is not a neutral statement about popular sovereignty. It’s a deliberate step to deny marriage rights or any form of legal recognition to thousands of Iowans.

8. Democratic State Representative Swaim, explaining his vote for the amendment:

“In my opinion we can trust the citizens of Iowa to study and understand the issues,” Swaim said in voting with Republicans.

“Iowans are fair, honest and smart. They are up to it. And the bottom line is simply this: The Iowa people are ultimately arbitrators of their own constitution.”

I get that Swaim is in a tough spot politically. He won re-election in House district 94 by only 74 votes (less than 1 percent).

In his district’s three counties, the vote against retaining the Iowa Supreme Court justices was over 60 percent in Wayne and Appanoose, and over 70 percent in Davis.

But whether or not Iowans are fair or smart, we don’t put minority rights up to a majority vote in this country. That’s why we have a constitution with an equal protection clause.

FEBRUARY 2011

9. Look at how Representative Hagenow answered a question from Representative Wessel-Kroeschell during the subcommittee hearing:

statewide debate.

“I don’t think that should stand in the way of having the people of Iowa decide this,” said Hagenow.

Liz George had testified to the committee about legal problems she encountered following the death of her partner in 2007.

They had been a couple for 21 years, but her partner’s family challenged the will. I cannot imagine facing a legal nightmare while coping with a devastating bereavement.

Hagenow’s an attorney, but he doesn’t seem to grasp the concept of Iowans being equal under the law. In his view, legal problems for a few people like Liz George shouldn’t stop a popular vote from deciding her fate.

Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell: Representative Alons and Hagenow, why do you want to deny loving, committed couples like Larry and David the right to visit one another in a nursing home or hospital?

Hagenow: “I certainly don’t know of any law in the state of Iowa that precludes someone from visiting in the hospital.”

You have to be willfully ignorant not to know that depriving couples of legal recognition wouldn’t jeopardize their future ability to visit each other in a hospital or nursing home. Many couples across the country have experienced this pain. Research on hospital procedures has shown this to be a widespread problem.

Later in the hearing, Hagenow offered this amazing statement: Rep. Chris Hagenow, R-Windsor Heights, conceded the possibility of legal snarls, and said that could be part of a

Although I didn’t hear anyone make this argument yesterday, it pops up from time to time. Governor Terry Branstad and Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, among others, have suggested that allowing Iowans to vote on the definition of marriage will restore the public’s trust in the judicial system.

According to this line of analysis, the campaign against retaining three Supreme Court justices grew out of frustration that statehouse Democrats were blocking a vote on a marriage amendment. There’s no basis for that revisionist history. Within days of the Varnum v Brien decision, some conservative groups vowed to target the Supreme Court justices who would be on the ballot in 2010.

10. By approving a constitutional amendment on marriage, legislators will reduce the political pressure on the judiciary.

FEBRUARY 2011

Section 3: Community

Positive Iowans Taking Charge (PITCH) HIV positive people in Iowa can unite and assist other HIV positive people for better Health and Wellness issues

Peer-to-Peer led support groups PITCH has entered the next phase of support. We hope to provide to the HIV/ AIDS community, peer-to-peer led support groups. We are starting in four areas around the state: Waterloo, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines. These cities were chosen because Core Committee members live in or near them and have made the commitment to attend, lead, and organize the meetings.

We hope to expand to other areas around the state.

Iowa City was the first place to host a peer led support group on Tuesday, January 11th. Three people turned out for the event despite the bad weather and road conditions that evening. The next meeting has yet to be decided by participants. Anyone in the Iowa City area wanting to attend, please call Cody Shafer at Johnson County Department of Public Health at 319-688-5890 to find out when the next support group will take place or to let him know when you would be able to attend a meeting.

PITCH hosted the first Waterloo peer-topeer support group January 19th at the Cedar AIDS Support System offices; we had a very successful event. Twelve people showed up along with Karla and Elizabeth, two CASS case managers. After introductions and eating a delicious meal that Nick talked Hy-Vee into

donating for the evening, we had free flowing discussion ranging from stigma and how to handle situations and side effects for different medications.

Participants shared things they would like to see the support group provide the community including: networking opportunities, meeting people and being able to talk with people with similar struggles and who they can relate too, provide more education to the African American community. Others stated that a support group would provide closeness, help the community, and provide a sense that we are not alone.

We hope to continue to build on this group session with our next meeting. The second Waterloo support group will be held February 3rd at Family and Children Council, 500 E 4th Street, Suite 414, Waterloo, IA (4th floor in the KWWL building). We will be meeting the first and third Thursday of the month from 6pm-8pm.

Cedar Rapids held their meeting on January 25th at Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids from 7pm to 9pm. Refreshments were provided at this first meeting. Jeff Moore led the meeting and can be contacted at jealmoore@gmail.com.

John, Paul, Michael, and Larry will host the support group in Des Moines on February 8th at The CENTER, 1300 Locust St, Des Moines from 6pm to 8pm. Refreshments will be provided. Please join them for the

group meeting. PITCH’s goal is to have the participants help run the meetings, discussions, and activities. For more information call John Chamberlain at 515-284-3358.

PITCH would like to thank Hy-Vee for donating the meal in Waterloo, Cody Shafer, CASS, Kris Davis, Tricia Kroll, Linn County Aging and Disability Resource Center, The CENTER, and The AIDS Project of Central Iowa for your continued support, leadership, and guidance.

Please check with PITCH’s web page to find updates for the support groups at www. pitchiowa.org.

“It’s really important for people who are HIV positive to reach out to let other people know that they can be tested, they can find out they can still live a life—a positive life, a happy life, That’s the message we need to get out around the world.”

— Former first lady Laura Bush, Monday January 16, 2006, in Abuja, Nigeria.

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SHEAR SEXY me in a lot of ways just because I always felt like being called a “gay band” was a categorization that put us in a second tier, like we were a second-rate creation. But our songwriting and our performances can stand up to anybody else’s, and can stand up next to the best—and labeling it with our sexual preference above all else is demeaning.

However, on the other hand, we are a gay band and there are three gay men and a woman, who might as well be a gay man, and that’s shaped our aesthetic, it’s shaped who we are, it’s part of what we sing about, it’s part of the sexuality we express. There are two sides to it, and I think that we are less insecure about it.

In the Urban Dictionary, Jake Shears is defined as the “hot lead singer of the band Scissor Sisters… gay and fabulous… known for taking his clothes off or having them taken off… pretty and funny… his abs are very lickable.”

Oh, that’s good. I like that definition.

If you wrote your own entry, what would you write?

God. That’s a tough question. Rock music fanatic. Horror lover—not “whore” lover. Video gamer. Exuberant and sexual.

Former elf.

I grew up always feeling very puckish, like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I always felt like kind of a very energetic mischievous elf, but I don’t know if that’s really applicable anymore. But that’s how I’d describe myself.

I love that I’m in the Urban Dictionary; that’s exciting!

ACCESSline Page 36 DIRECTORY NOTICE The ACCESSline community directory is updated each issue. LISTINGS ARE FREE but are limited by space.

Free online listings are available at www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com.

Information about new listings 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 1133 15th Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005 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 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 1133 15th Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20005 info@pflag.org - www.pflag.org 202-467-8180 The Trevor Lifeline The Trevor Project operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Each year, our lifeline fields more than 30,000 calls from LGBTQ youth as well as their families, friends and educators.

(866) 4-U-TREVOR - (866) 488-7386 Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year All calls are toll-free and confidential

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) Janis Bowden, President, IA NOW janleebow@aol.com PO Box 41114, Des Moines, IA 503111 Iowa Gay Rodeo Association (IAGRA) 921 Diagonal Rd, Malcom, IA 50157 polebender60@yahoo.com 641-990-1411 Iowa PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gay) State Council PO Box 18, Indianola, IA 50125 http://community.pflag.org/Page. aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2 515-537-3126 or 641-583-2024 Iowa Pride Network 777 Third Street, Suite 312, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Pridenetwork.org Executive Director: 515-471-8062 Outreach Coordinator: 515-471-8063 LGBT Youth in Iowa Schools Task Force PO Box 1997, Des Moines, 50306 515-243-1221 One Iowa 500 East Locust St, Ste 300 Des Moines, IA 50309 515-288-4019 Fax: 515-244-5846 www.OneIowa.org Stonewall Democrats of Iowa 5 Creekside Ct Mason City, IA 50401 Contact: Harvey Ross HRoss007@aol.com 319-362-3099

Section 3: Community Ames First United Methodist Church 516 Kellogg Ave, Ames, IA 50010 Contemporary worship Sat. 5:30; Sun at 8:30 and 11:00am. www.acswebnetworks.com/firstunitedmcames/ 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 ISU LGBTA Alliance GLBT Support, Activism, Social Events, Newsletter L East Student Office Space 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014-7163 alliance@iastate.edu http://www.alliance.stuorg.iastate.edu 515-344-4478 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 2328 Bristol Drive, Ames, IA 5001 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 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 www.uufames.org uufa@aol.com 515-292-5960 Unity Church of Ames 226 9th St. Sunday service and Sunday school 10:30am.

Wednesday mediation 6:30pm, . 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, 597 W. Okoboji Rd., Arnolds Park IA 51331-0486 F.JosephWilson@aol.com. www.wilsonresource.org 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 Ave, 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 319-754-5868 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 Adult Cinema 315 E 4th St Waterloo, IA 50703-4703 (319) 234-7459 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 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, #206, 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 St. Timothys United Methodist Church 3220 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls, 50613 sttims-umc.org, 319-266-0464, info@sttimsumc-org, Contact Rev. Linda Butler “... welcome of all persons, including those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.”

Together For Youth 233 Vold Dr, Waterloo, IA 50703 www.TogetherForYouth.net 319-274-6768 UNI-LGBTA Alliance-Student Organization 244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls 50613 lgbta@uni.edu 319-222-0003 United Church of Christ Cedar Falls 9204 University Avenue, Cedar Falls 319-366-9686 Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County 3912 Cedar Heights Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5640

Cedar Rapids/marion Adult Shop 630 66th Ave SW, 319-362-4939 Adult Shop North 5539 Crane Lane, 319-294-5360 Cedar Rapids Unity (Formerly GLRC of Cedar Rapids) Support, social activities. lnfo@crglrc.org, cedarrapidsunity.org or write to PO Box 1643 Cedar Rapids 52406-1643 Call and leave a message—all calls will be returned. 319-366-2055 Christ Episcopal Church “We have a place for you.”

220 40th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 319-363-2029 www.ChristEpiscopal.org Club Basix Open 5pm to 2am M-F, Sat & Sun 3pm-2am 3916 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids 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 Community Health Free Clinic 947 14th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 319-363-0416 www.communityhfc.org Free Medical Services provided for the uninsured and underserved patients of Cedar Rapids, Marion and the surrounding areas in Eastern Iowa.

CSPS Legion Arts Contemporary Arts Center 1103 3rd St. SE info@legionarts.org 319-364-1580

FEBRUARY 2011

Faith UMC 1000 30th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, 52402 Pastor Kathy Moore Sunday services at 11:00am. www.crfaithumc.org 319-363-8454

Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA) (Midwest Division of the International Gay Rodeo Association) PO Box 3354, Omaha, NE 68103 www.hgra.net - 402-203-4680 HGRA serves both Iowa and Nebraska

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

Imperial Court of Nebraska P.O. Box 3772, Omaha, NE 68103 402-556-9907

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.

People’s Church Unitarian Universalist A welcoming congregation.

600 Third Avenue SE 11am Sunday. 319-362-9827 PFLAG CR, Linn Co and Beyond Meets at People’s Church (in Cherry Room) 600 3rd ST, Cedar Rapids Iowa 52401 Contact Person: Diane Peterson Phone: 319-362-9827 6:30pm on the 4th Thursdays except months like November. (Email ddpeters57@gmail.com for alternate dates.)

Stonewall Democrats of Linn County Contact Roy Porterfield, meet 2nd Wednesday of the Month, 6:30-8pm, For the February 9 meeting we will be at Coffee Talk Cafe on 37 Kirkwood Court Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. That’s next to Kirkwood Blvd just south of Hwy 30 on the left. royboycr@mchsi.com, 319-362-5281 Toxic Nightclub 616 Second Ave SE, Cedar Rapids Tri-ess, Iota Kappa Phi Chapter P.O. Box 8605, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52408 We are a transgendered organization supporting crossdressers, their families, and friends. www.yahoo.com/group/Tri-essIotaKappaPhi www.tri-ess.org, 319-390-6376 E-mail: Georgia georgia523@yahoo.com E-mail: Judy marlenemarschel@yahoo.com Unity Center of Cedar Rapids “A center of positive, practical Christianity.”

3791 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids www.unitycr.org - (319) 393-5422

CLINTON Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clinton 309 30th Avenue North, Clinton, IA 52732 (563) 242-4972 - uuclinton.org Sunday services at 10:30 (year-round) Where YOUR spiritual and ethical journey is welcome! Rev. Ruby Nancy, minister

Council Bluffs, Omaha (Ne) AIDS Interfaith Network 100 N. 62nd, Omaha, NE Call Br. Wm. Woeger 402-558-3100 Broadway Joe’s 3400 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 712-256-2243 Citizens For Equal Protection 1105 Howard St, Suite #2, Omaha, NE 68102 www.cfep-ne.org - info@cfep-ne.org 402-398-3027

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, 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 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 Tri-ess Chapter, Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter Omaha, NE 68107 We are a transgendered organization supporting crossdressers, their families, and friends. www.tri-ess.org, 402-960-9696 E-mail: Judy marlenemarschel@yahoo.com 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 St, Decorah, IA Meetings: 4th Mondays, 7pm-9pm in the Fellowship Hall 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

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

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

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

402-344-3103

Blazing Saddle 416 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-246-1299 www.theblazingsaddle.com Buddies Corral 418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-244-7140

Diamond Bar 712 S. 16th St., Omaha, NE 10am - 1am, M-Sa, closed Sun 402-342-9595

The CENTER 1300 Locust The new LGBT and progressive place to be. thecenterdm@gmail.com Facebook: The CENTER & Equality Iowa www.equalityiowa.org 515-243-0313

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

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 Diversity Chorus [A gay-friendly mixed chorus] Rehearsals on Mondays at 7 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Beaver Ave. at Franklin St., Des Moines.

All are welcome, no auditions.

PO Box 65312, West Des moines, IA 50265 Julie Murphy, Artistic Director jahmurphy@hotmail.com, 515-255-3576, desmoinesdiversitychorus.org

FEBRUARY 2011 Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus 515-953-1540 4126 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines administrator@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. 515-288-2500 info@ffbciowa.org www.ffbciowa.org First Unitarian Church 1800 Bell Avenue Services Sundays at 9:30 & 11am 515-244-8603, www.ucdsm.org 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 Java Joe’s Gay friendly 214 4th St. , 515-288-5282, www.javajoescoffeehouse.com Lavender Victory Fund Financial assistance for women in need for medical emergencies. lavendervf@aol.com Le Boi Bar 508 Indianola Rd, Des Moines, IA Liberty Gifts 333 E. Grand Ave., Loft 105, Des Moines, IA Gay owned specialty clothing, jewelry, home decor. 515-508-0825 MINX Show Palace 1510 NE Broadway, Des Moines, IA 50313 Open m-th noon-2 a.m., f noon-3 am., sat 3 p.m.-e a.m.

515-266-2744 North Star Gay Rodeo Association of IGRA, Iowa Division of North Star NSGRA@NSGRA.org or 612-82-RODEO Rainbow Union, Drake University ru@drake.edu Ray Perry Law Firm 515-279-2244 Free Initial Consultation PFLAG Des Moines 515-243-0313, 1300 Locust , Des Moines, IA 50312 Plymouth Congregational UCC Church and the Plymouth GLBT Community 4126 Ingersoll Ave. 515-255-3149 Services at 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.

Pride Alliance, AIB College of Business Gay and straight students celebrating diversity Contact: Mike Smith, Advisor PrideAlliance@aib.edu www.aib.edu/pride Raccoon River Resort Accommodations for men, women, or mixed in campgrounds, lodge, Teepees or Treehouses. Reservations: 515-996-2829 or 515-279-7312 Ritual Café On 13th between Grand and Locust.

Gay owned great music, awesome food and coffee. 515-288-4872 ritualcafe@aol.com - ritualcafe.com Romantix North Des Moines Iowa (Bachelor’s Library) 2020 E Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317 www.romantixonline.com 515-266-7992 Spouses of Lesbians & Gays Support group for spouses of gays and lesbians. 515-277-7754 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

Section 3: Community 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 at r.eliason@hotmail.com or call 515-979-6959 Trinity United Methodist Church 1548 Eighth Street - 515-288-4056 Services Sundays at 10am, www.trinityumcdm.org Urbandale UCC An open & affirming congregation.

3530 70th St., Urbandale, IA 50322 515-276-0625, www.urbucc.org Walnut Hills UMC Join us at 8:30 or 10:45am for Sunday worship. Sunday classes and group studies are at 9:30am. 515-270-9226 12321 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50323 www.whumc.org

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. www.crossroadsucc.org

Iowa City AA (GLBT) 319-338-9111 Meetings Sundays 5 - 6pm at First Baptist Church, 500 North Clinton Street. For more info, call IC Intergroup Answering Service, Congregational Church UCC An Open and Affirming Congregation Sunday Worship 10:15 a.m.

30 N. Clinton St. (across from Ul Pentacrest) 319-337-4301 - www.uiccic.org

Westminster Presbyterian Church 4114 Allison Ave - www.WestPres.org Sunday services 8:45 and 11am. Of note is their GAY-LESBIAN-STRAIGHT AFFIRMATION GROUP, GLSA 515-274-1534

Counseling Clinic 319-354-6238 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

Women’s Culture Collective (WCC) A lesbian social group.

Des Moines, IA - www.iowawcc.org

Counseling and Health Center 319-337-1679 Client-centered therapy.

Les-Bi-Gay-Trans always welcome.

616 Bloomington St, Iowa City, IA

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.

Dubuque Friends Worship Group (Quakers) Join us at an unprogrammed meeting on Sunday at 10am. Open and Affirming St. Mark’s Community Center 1201 Locust Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-582-0220, www.smcdbq.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.1300 Main St, Dubuque, IA 52001, 319-589-4181

Crisis Center 319-351-0140 1121 Gilbert Court, Iowa City, 52240 Emma Goldman Clinic 227 N. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52245 319-337-2111or 1-800-848-7684.

Faith United Church of Christ 1609 De Forest Street, Iowa City, IA Services Sundays at 9:30am 319-338-5238 GLBTAU-U of lA 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

PFLAG Dubuque St. John’s Lutheran Church 1276 White St. 3rd Thursday, 7pm 563-581-4606 or 563-503-5850

Human Rights Commission (City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission) 319-356-5022; 391-356-5015; 319-356-5014 Fax 319-887-6213 humanrights@iowa-city.org

Q Bar East 90 Sinsinawa Ave, The Strip, East Dubuque, IL 61025 qbar.east@gmail.com

ICARE (Iowa Center for AIDS Resources & Education) Practical & emotional support, youth programs, information, referrals and support groups.

3211 E 1st Iowa City, IA 52240-4703 319-338-2135

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque 1699 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA “The uncommon denomination.” general services at 10am. www.uuf-dbq.org 563-583-9910

ELKADER Bethany Church (ELCA) 307 3rd St NE, Elkader IA 52043 Pastor Jim Klosterboer 563-245-1856 www.alpinecom.net/~bethanychurch bethanychurch@alpinecom.net Inclusive. Welcoming. Discover the Difference. Bethany is a Reconciling in Christ congregation of LC/NA Schera’s Restaurant and Bar 107 S Main St, Elkader, IA 52043 563-245-1992 Scheras.com E-mail: info@scheras.com Fine dining featuring Algerian & American Cuisine. Voted Best Mediterranean Restaurant in Eastern Iowa on KCRG TV-9’s A*List.

Fort Dodge Romantix Fort Dodge (Mini Cinema) Sun-Thu 10am-12am, Fri & Sat 10am-2am 515-955-9756 15 N. 5th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501-3801 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.)

Divine Liturgy is served Sundays during the College academic year 1:30 p.m., Herrick Chapel, Grinnell College Campus 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

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 Men Supporting Men 319-356-6038, Ext 2 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 New Song Episcopal Church 912 20th Ave, Coralville, IA Sunday services at 10am.

Rev. Elizabeth Coulter, Pastor Rev. John Harper, Associate.

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

Romantix Iowa City (Pleasure Palace I) 315 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240-4722 www.romantixonline.com 319-351-9444 Studio 13 13 S. Linn St. (in the Alley) Iowa City, IA Open 7pm ‘til 2am, daily 319-338-7145 Thich Nhat Hanh based “Mindfulness” meditation and study group Iowa City Public Library, Sundays 1 to 2:30pm Usually Room E 319-354-4065 U of I Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Staff & Faculty Association c/o WRAC, 130 N Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242, 19-335-1486

Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City Inclusive and free religious community nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth and fostering ethical and social responsibility.

10 S. Gilbert, Iowa City, IA Sunday services: 9:30am & 11:15am. www.uusic.org 319-337-3443 United Action for Youth (UAY) A GLBTQA youth group providing support and counseling for teenagers and young adults processing sexual identity issues. Meets Mondays 7-9pm at UAY 410 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, IA 319-338-7518 or Teen Line, 319-338-0559.

The Ursine Group Bear Events in the Midwest.

PO Box 1143, Iowa City, IA 52244-1143 319-338-5810 Vortex Gifts 211 E. Washington, downtown Iowa City 319-337-3434 Women’s Resource Action Center (WRAC) Leads & collaborates on projects that serve U of l and the greater community, offers social & support services, including LGBT Coming Out Group.

University of Iowa 130 N Madison, Iowa City, IA 52242 319-335-1486

Marshalltown Adult Odyssey (Adult Video Store) 907 Iowa Ave E - 641-752-6550 Domestic Violence Alternatives/ Sexual Assault Center, Inc., 132 W Main St. 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, IA 50401. Free confidential AIDS testing.

641-421-9321 PFLAG North Iowa Chapter 641-583-2848, pflagmcni@yahoo.com, Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe @ 7 p.m. Wed.

Mount Vernon Alliance Cornell College 810 Commons Cir # 2035 alliance@cornellcollege.edu orgs.cornellcollege.edu/alliance/

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

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

Quad Cities AIDS Project Quad Cities Info, education & support. Davenport, IA 52804, www.apqc4life.org 319-762-LIFE 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 563-322-1121 822 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802 DeLaCerda House 309-786-7386 Provides housing & supportive services, advocacy and referrals for people living with HIV/ AIDS. P.O. Box 4551, Rock Island, Il. 61201 Good Samaritan Free Clinic 602 35th Avenue Moline, IL 309-797-4688 gsfc@mchsi.com - Provides free primary medical care to patients age 16-64 who are working but have no medical insurance. Patients are seen by volunteer physicians, nurss practicioners, and physician assistants. www.GoodSamaritanFreeClinic.org The Hole-In-The-Wall 309-289-2375 A Private Membership Men’s Club Located 3 miles east of Galesburg, IL just north of I-74 at Exit 51 www.HoleInTheWallMensClub.org Holy Spirit Catholic Faith Community Meets one Sunday per month for Mass at 6:30pm at MCC-QC 3019 N. Harrison St, Davenport, IA Mailing: PO Box 192 East Moline, IL 61244 For more info, call 309-278-3359 Mary’s On 2nd 563-884-8014 832 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA MCC Quad Cities - Svcs Sat 5pm, Sun 11am Bible study Wed 7pm 563-324-8281 3019 N Harrison, Davenport, IA 52803 Men’s Coming Out/Being Out Group Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7pm.

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

ACCESSline Page 37 PFLAG Quad Cities 563-285-4173 Eldridge United Methodist Church 604 S.2nd St., Eldridge 1st Monday, 6:30 pm Prism (Augustana College) 309-794-7406 Augustana Gay-Straight Alliance Augustana Library 639 38th St, Rock Island, IL Contact Tom Bengston Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD) Social & support groups for lesbian, bi, and gay teens, adults, friends & families; newsletter.

309-786-2580 - Community Center located at 1608 2nd Ave, Rock Island.

Quad Cities Pride Chorus At the MCC Church in D’port, 7pm Wed. qcswede64@aol.com Call Don at 563-324-0215 Rainbow Gifts www.rainbowgifts.net 309-764-0559 T.R. Video Adult books & video 3727 Hickory Grove Rd, Davenport, IA 563-386-7914 Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities Sunday Service 11am 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807 563-359-0816 Venus News (Adult) 902 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA 563-322-7576

Red Oak First Congregational United Church of Christ 608 E Reed St, Red Oak, IA 51566 (712) 623-2794 Rev. Elizabeth Dilley, Pastor uccwebsites.net/firstcongredoakia.html firstconguccredoak@yahoo.com Open and affirming.

SHENANDOAH PFLAG Shenandoah 712-899-2743

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) 712-258-6922 412 Jones St. Nightly 6:00pm to 2:00am.

Mayflower Congregational Church.

1407 West 18th Street Call 712-258-8278.

Morningside College Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Alliance 712-274-5208 Contact Professor Gail Dooley, Advisor Morningside College GSA 1501 Morningside Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106-1717 dooley@morningside.edu PFLAG Siouxland PO Box 1311, Sioux City, IA 51102 siouxlandPFLAG@aol.com Romantix Sioux City 712-277-8566 (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.

Zaner’s Bar 712-277-9575 3103 N Hwy 75, Sioux City, IA 51105 Monthly drag shows & events; hometown bar for Imperial Court of Iowa’s Western Chapter zaners-sioux-city@hotmail.com

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 10:30am. Bible discussion Wed. 6:45pm Rev. Maureen Doherty, Pastor 319-352-1489

ACCESSline Page 38 SScontinued from page 1

KIM PEARSON school, and I stayed in the closet until I graduated. I adored Valley, but I also knew it wasn’t the most tolerant of places. My life was running too smoothly to rock the boat, and I was on friendly terms with nearly everyone in my class. I was afraid all of that would end if I came out. I told my mother before I left for college, and I waited two years before telling my dad because I was so worried about how he would react. I don’t think you know my parents well, but my dad is fiscally conservative and we rarely talked about social issues.

I’m pretty sure he’s voted Republican in every election since the age of 18. I’d seen friends of mine come out (or be forcibly outed by others), and have their parents reject them—refuse to pay for college, kick them out of the house, tell them they were worthless. While I knew my father would not react as badly as that, I spent two years of my life too scared to tell him. I stayed silent to ensure that I didn’t destroy a relationship with someone I deeply love and respect. I shouldn’t have been so scared; both of my parents have been incredibly supportive. I was lucky, unlike so many gay youth across our state and country.

Coming out to my parents was hardly easy, but thankfully, they know what I know: that I’m the same person I was before I realized I was gay. I have the same sense of humor, the same love for my family and sense of responsibility toward them. My relationships with my parents and sister are stronger than they’ve ever been. The fact that the one time in my short life I was in love, I was in love with a woman has done nothing to change my personality, or my belief in the value of service that I know you and I share.

I remain the same good neighbor—to you, and to the world—that I’ve always been. I thought Iowa understood this too. April 3, 2009, when the Supreme Court unanimously legalized gay marriage, was the day on which I was proudest to be an Iowan. I recognize that the way I lead my life makes some people uncomfortable—just as the ways others lead their lives sometimes make me uncomfortable. But on that day, Iowa moved past that discomfort, or so I thought. The justices voted independently of their political opinions, because that’s what the law demanded of them. That’s also what a true sense of justice and equality demands: equal civil rights for all.

When I was working after college, I lived with my girlfriend, Cheryl. Cheryl is easily one of the most compassionate and bravest people I’ve ever met—someone I was proud to introduce to my family. She works as a special education teacher in one of the worst performing and most violent districts in the country. Her school draws from multiple gang territories. Kids bring weapons to

Section 3: Community school routinely, sometimes for aggression, and sometimes for self-defense. One night she came home and told me that a massive riot had broken out that day in an assembly.

She was one of only three teachers present.

As you might imagine, Kim, it was chaos, and a number of kids were injured. In addition to being so, so thankful that Cheryl and her fellow teachers were all right, and that nothing worse had happened to the students, I was forced to think about the fact that if anything had happened, I wouldn’t have been able to visit her in the hospital—the State of California didn’t recognize our relationship.

Lesbians and gays across the country are literally putting themselves in the line of fire for the rest of society, as schoolteachers in gang territories, as police officers, as fire fighters. Yet their partners lack the security of knowing that if anything goes wrong, they’ll be able to see them in the hospital, to reassure them that they’ll be all right, or, heaven forbid, to see them alive one last time.

But what deeply worries and outrages me is that I (and others like me) shouldn’t have to justify having the same rights as the rest of society on our attempts to be good citizens. Like you, I serve because I think it’s the right thing to do, not because I think that’s how I’ll get equal rights. It shouldn’t be relevant that the people we’re depriving of their rights are police officers, fire fighters, and teachers. No other group has to justify their rights by pointing to all that they’ve contributed to the world, something gays are repeatedly challenged on. The rest of society has the right to marry because they’re part of society, period. The openly gay San Francisco City Councilman, Harvey Milk, gave the most moving speech on equal rights I’ve ever heard, which opened with the idea that a young person in Des Moines who recognizes that he or she is gay has two options: to move to San Francisco, or to stay and fight for a better tomorrow. I’ve done both. I was living in San Francisco when Proposition 8 was passed to ban gay marriage in California, and when Iowa surprised the nation by making a courageous move to defend the civil rights of all its citizens. Over thirty years after Milk was assassinated, I thought Iowa had moved beyond pushing its LGBT youth to live elsewhere when it recognized that depriving gays of their right to marry was fundamentally discriminatory and wrong.

It’s an offense to our understanding of democracy and freedom to remove the rights of some because they make others uncomfortable, or because others disagree with the ways they lead their lives. It goes against the Iowan values I was raised on, which were founded on sensibility and respect. There’s nothing sensible about legislating bigotry.

And nothing about it is neighborly.

Respectfully yours, Stephanie Bell

“The big hot button is ‘We the People’ against the liberal collectivism agenda espoused by Obama, Culver, Iowa House Leader Pat Murphy and his followers like incumbent Geri Huser. House District 42 voters want: economic growth; enforcement of our immigration laws; stopping government run health care; and, the right to vote on the definition of marriage. What we don’t want is: job killing government debt and high taxes; welfare benefits for illegal aliens; government run health care; and, liberal judges who ignore the constitution and think that they are better than the people they serve.”

— Kim Pearson, in a pre-election interview with the conservative blog, Iowa Defense Alliance, October 12, 2010

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WORLD NEWS educational equal-opportunity policy.

Ulrike Lunacek, co-president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights, said: “We need to educate people— including children and youth—about the different forms of sexuality that have always existed in every culture, everywhere in the world, including in Lithuania. Hiding facts from young people generates fearful attitudes, prejudice and hate, something Europeans stand united against.”

U.S. Embassy seeks investigation of Honduran killings

The U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa has urged the Honduran government to “vigorously investigate” five murders of LGBT people that took place since Dec. 18.

The embassy expressed “great concern” about the killings and said “the protection of Honduran law extends to all citizens regardless of sexual orientation.”

The government must “take all necessary steps to protect LGBT persons, who are among the most vulnerable to violence and abuse in Honduras,” the U.S. officials said.

According to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, there have been at least 31 murders of Honduran LGBT people since the nation’s coup d’état in 2009.

IGLHRC worried for Cameroon activists

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission says it is deeply concerned over recent threats to LGBT rights defenders in Cameroon.

The organization said that Alice Nkom, chairperson of the Association for the

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REICHEN would be screwed.

So yeah, I still have no faith in him, because he brought us to that point. I hear all these excuses being made for him, but I’m not going to apologize for him because I’m a Democrat.

Your book’s being turned into a film, and names like Chace Crawford and Taylor Lautner are allegedly being considered for the lead. Who would you want to play you?

You know what, it’s not my call. I want whomever the casting director says should play me. Those are names that were on the shortlist and that are on a list, and there are a lot of other great names— Like who?

Well, that’s the thing. That’s not something I’m going to talk about yet, because it’s pointless. I’m not going to give names of people who aren’t even going to be involved in the project.

My vote’s for Taylor Lautner. He has your abs.

(Laughs) It would be interesting. All the people that casting has lined up are great actors or up-and-coming actors who I would love to see play a gay role.

Whoever plays you, it must just be

FEBRUARY 2011 Defense of Homosexuality, has been threatened with arrest by state officials and with violence from segments of civil society.

Harassment of Nkom and the organization has mounted since Jan. 4 when local media reported that the group will receive a grant from the European Union for “support and training for sexual minorities.”

The harassment has included a fatwa from the Coalition of Cameroonian Youth, televised denunciations of Nkom and the group by representatives of the Communications Ministry and the Bar Association of Cameroon, police cars parked outside the group’s offices for hours on end, and Minister of External Relations Henri Eyebe Ayissi’s reportedly urging the EU to cancel the grant.

Spain’s same-sex marriage law could face repeal effort

The head of Spain’s opposition Popular Party has said he may work to repeal the 2005 law that legalized same-sex marriage if the party wins the elections at the beginning of 2012, which is a possibility.

“I don’t like (same-sex) marriage and I believe it’s not constitutional,” Mariano Rajoy said in a recent interview.

He said any legislative action would come after a decision is issued in a long-delayed Constitutional Court case challenging the law, and if the people of Spain support repealing the law.

In an interview, veteran gay activist Jordi Petit said he isn’t overly concerned about Rajoy’s threat.

“It’s not a given that Rajoy will head the PP in 2012,” Petit said. “And they said the same thing years ago about the laws on divorce and abortion, then when they won the election, they didn’t do anything.

Beyond that, many important PP mayors have married homosexual couples.”

Assistance: Bill Kelley cool to have a movie made about your life.

I don’t even think about it being made about my life. The main character is not named Reichen, it’s not like that. It’s a story based on my life, and the lead of the movie is going to represent what happened to every gay cadet that was in the Air Force Academy.

I’m wondering how you feel about certain people also making movies about their lives. And, you know, taking over a role that was once yours in a play called My Big Gay Italian Wedding.

(Coyly laughing) Um. You know, I don’t even care. I just don’t care. I hear chatter, and I wish Lance very well.

Will you see his movie when it comes out?

(Laughs) Maybe if I’m invited I’ll go see it. I mean, I’m not against it. I have no ill will toward him.

But didn’t you at one point?

I think when people break up they break up for a reason. Usually those reasons are confined to personal space, and we were in a more public situation—so things got out and made it look like more than it was. Our relationship was a couple of months, and it was so long ago. A-List made it look like we just dated; it’s ridiculous. That’s ancient history.

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Section 3: Community

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