New York legalizes AIDS Project of same-sex marriage Central Iowa Red Hot Party, July 29
I Am An American a poem by Mary M. Thome I am an American soldier so see me stand real tall, bloodshed, pain and battle, yes, I’ve seen it all.
by Rex Wockner
New York state legalized same-sex marriage June 24. The Senate passed the bill 33-29 at 10:29 p.m. and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it into law less than 90 minutes later. Same-sex couples can begin marrying July 24. “This state, when it is at its finest, is a beacon of justice,” Cuomo said. Twenty-nine of the Senate’s 30 Democrats voted for the bill, along with four of the body’s 32 Republicans. Some activists said New York’s legalization of same-sex marriage marks the end of the road for the anti-same-sexmarriage movement, which took away gay people’s right to marry in California in 2008 and in Maine in 2009, removed from the bench Iowa Supreme Court justices who legalized same-sex marriage there, and persuaded a majority of U.S. states to ban same-sex marriage by law or in their constitutions. “Game over,” said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Now that we’ve made it here, we’ll make it everywhere,” said Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson, calling it an “epic win.” “There’s no doubt that today will be revered as a major turning point in civil rights history,” said American Foundation for Equal Rights Board President Chad Griffin. “A bipartisan group of legislators have affirmed that equal rights for every citizen is not a partisan issue, but an American value.” AFER is behind the federal lawsuit against California’s Proposition 8, via which voters re-banned same-sex marriage in 2008. The state constitutional amendment was struck down as a violation of the U.S. Constitution in 2010, but the ruling is now stalled in the federal appeal process. “This victory sends a message that marriage equality across the country will be a reality very soon,” said Human
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The AIDS Project of Central Iowa (The Project) will kick off its stars2011 season of fundraising events with the annual Red Party. This year’s version is called “RED HOT PARTY”, and it will take place on Friday, July 29 at the Iowa State Bar Association located at 625 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines’ historic East Village.
I’ve fought so hard for a country that makes me feel deep shame, the country that had always preached that we were all the same. And when I was in uniform people would proudly say “Thank you for your service!” and “Have a real nice day!” …
TTComplete poem on page 3
What’s Inside: Section 1: News & Politics
TTStory on page 4
Ewan McGregor
Advertising rates I am an American, by Mary M. Thome AIDS Project Red Hot Party July 29th Troy Price named executive director of One Iowa July forum to examine ouster of judges US News World News Remarkables by Jonathan Wilson Managing Your Identity/Cyber Security by Tony E. Hansen Creeps of the Week Minor Details: “...it ain’t necessarily so.”
Section 2: Fun Guide
BEGINNERS actor on new film and the gay history lesson he got TTStory page 21
Save the dates for PRIDE July 16-18 Waterloo Pride
Other Area Pride Events August 20-21 (no, really!) Wisconsin Capitol Pride: “Brick by Brick”
Page 15
Entertainment Picks for May Deep Inside Hollywood Partying Hard: Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs The Outfield Cocktail Chatter Recurring Events, Statewide Hear Me Out (Music Reviews) k.d. lang: ‘Loud’ and Proud Hatewatch Headlines from SPLCenter.org The Gay Wedding Planner Ewan McGregor: ‘I learned a lot’ Mike Mills: My Gay Dad - Interview by Chris Azzopardi Farmer’s market season (recipes) Book Worm Sez: Sheepish Comics and Crossword Puzzle
Section 3: Community
First Friday Breakfast Club 2011 Scholars First Friday Breakfast Club: Raynard Kington Queeries: LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow Wired That Way: “Facebook knows you’re gay…” Inside Out: “Calling it quits” by Ellen Krug Twenty Questions, a 10-part transgender series Business Directory
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ACCESSline Page 2
Section 1: News & Politics
JULY 2011
Section 1: News & Politics
JULY 2011
Ia Am An American poem by Mary M. Thome, Iowa
PUBLICATION INFORMATION Copyright © 2011 ACCESSline P.O. Box 2666 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-2666 (319) 550-0957 www.ACCESSlineIOWA.com editor@ACCESSlineIOWA.com
I am an American soldier so see me stand real tall, bloodshed, pain and battle, yes, I’ve seen it all.
I do not hate you as you do me, that battle’s not worth the fight, so please don’t look down at me with hatred’s evil light.
Once I fought for all your rights and yet I still have none. This fight I will continue ‘til all our rights are won.
I’ve fought so hard for a country that makes me feel deep shame, the country that had always preached that we were all the same.
So if you please just shake my hand and again please smile at me I am really still the person before that you could see.
We are gay Americans, your daughters and your sons. Many more will soon come forth to see this battle won.
And when I was in uniform people would proudly say “Thank you for your service!” and “Have a real nice day!”
I will only be me now, with no uniforms in sight, the soldier that had fought for you will now fight for her rights.
But when I was not in it, it was never just the same; they’d look at me with hatred and then they’d sneer bad names.
I am a gay American who will no longer hide. My rights are what I’ll fight for, and I will do it with great pride.
They did not see the soldier that they had thanked that day, now I’m just the person they hate because I’m gay.
I will fight with all my courage as when a uniform was worn and I know this painful battle will leave me tortured and torn.
Why does this have to happen and cause hurt in my heart? Why cant they just look and see the soldier from the start?
I will never stop or waiver or run from this great fight. We are all just people and all should have these rights
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 Rachel Eliason; Beau Fodor; Tony E. Hansen; Ellen Krug; Jennifer Merriman, One Iowa: Bob Minor; Jonathan Wilson
ACCESSline Page 3
All rights reserved. Original material printed in ACCESSline (with the exception of information from other sources) may be “lifted” for use in other publications so long as proper credit is given. Publication of the name, photograph or likeness of any person, business or organization in ACCESSline is not to be construed as any indication of sexual orientation. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ACCESSline, ACCESS or the gay and lesbian community. Letters to the editor may be published. We cannot be responsible for errors in advertising copy. We welcome the submission of original materials, including line drawings and cartoons, news stories, poems, essays. They should be clearly labeled with author/artist name, address, and phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters and other material for reasons of profanity, space, or clarity. Materials will not be returned. A writer’s guide is available for those wishing to submit original work. Advertising rates and deadlines are available at ACCESSlineIOWA.com. All ads must be approved by ACCESSline’s editorial board.
We all fight for your country and preservation of your rights. Now we all must fight to hold the one we think is right. This battle will be long and fierce and the most important one of all, because the ending of this battle is the hope that hatred falls. We all wear a uniform in some weird sort of way; my only hope is that I will see that they’re all the same some day. We are all Americans and together we’ll stand tall, hoping for that someday soon when no battles are left at all.
I am a gay American so you’ll see me standing tall. Not you, her, or them can change that fact at all
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ACCESSline Page 4
Section 1: News & Politics
AIDS PROJECT OF Troy Price named July forum to executive director of examine ouster CENTRAL IOWA: th July 29 Red Hot Party One Iowa and kicks off “stars2011” the One Iowa
Education Fund
Des Moines, Iowa – The AIDS Project of Central Iowa (The Project) will kick off its stars2011 season of fundraising events with the annual Red Party. This year’s version is called “RED HOT PARTY”, and it will take place on Friday, July 29 at the Iowa State Bar Association located at 625 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines’ historic East Village. Suggested general admission is $25, and includes a sampling of food and desserts from local restaurants and food vendors, 2 drink tickets and door prizes. A Patron-level admission is also available for $100 per person. Patrons will be treated to a Patron Pre-Party featuring hors d’oeuvres and champagne, gift bags and complimentary tickets to the larger event. The general admission portion of the RED HOT PARTY will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The Patron Party is one hour prior from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Considered by many as one of The Project’s must-go social events of the year, the Red Party is a celebration of awareness as well as an important means to raise revenue. Proceeds from the event help provide HIV care and prevention services to Iowans living with HIV and those most at-risk for acquiring HIV. “This year’s RED HOT PARTY will pay special tribute to Des Moines individuals who personally supported Iowa’s firstever HIV Anti-Stigma Campaign”, says Frank Vaia, The Project’s Development Coordinator. “Their courage and willingness to publically state “HIV won’t stop me” has empowered many and has set an example for communities throughout Iowa and beyond. Special guests at the Patron Party include Bankers Trust CEO Suku Radia and his spouse Dr. Mary Radia, fellow community spokespersons for the HIV Anti-Stigma Campaign, and Red Party Patron Party major donor Dr. Chris Griffin”, continues Vaia. General admission tickets are available on line at www.aidsprojectci.org/redparty, by phone at 515-284-0245 or at the door. To become a Patron, please contact Frank Vaia at frankv@aidsprojectci.org or by phone at 515-284-0245.
On June 16, the One Iowa Board unanimously voted to name Troy Price as executive director of One Iowa and the One Iowa Education Fund. A native of Durant, Iowa, Troy Price spent his career working to improve the lives of Iowans. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Political Science. In 2001, at the age of 20, he joined the staff of Governor Tom Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, helping their successful re-election effort. After holding positions in the Departments of Public Health and Economic Development, Price rejoined the Vilsack/Pederson Administration in 2006 as a communications assistant. In 2007, he started his career in the Office of Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge as a Senior Communications Specialist. In 2008, Price was the interim communications director, where he helped lead the state’s communications efforts in response to the worst natural disaster in Iowa’s history. Price joined the staff of One Iowa in June 2010, as the organizations political director. In that role, he helped lead One Iowa’s efforts to preserve marriage in the state, including blocking the Anti-Marriage Equality Amendment in this year’s legislative session. Troy assumed the role of interim executive director following the departure of Carolyn Jenison, and held the role until the board’s vote last week.
of judges
University of Iowa law professor Todd Pettys will speak on the topic, “Defending Varnum—the Case that Legalized Same Sex Marriage in Iowa,” on July 7 in the first of a four-part forum on “Justice and the Common Good.” The series, organized by Faith in Iowa, will explore the political, legal and religious ramifications of the 2010 ouster of three Iowa Supreme Court justices. The lectures will take place at 7pm each Thursday in July at Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th Street NE in Cedar Rapids. All are free and open to the public. The forum sponsor, Faith in Iowa, is an interfaith coalition whose purpose is to promote judicial independence and religious freedom in Iowa. July 7: Pettys has been a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law since 1999 and is Associate Dean for Faculty. He teaches classes in constitutional law, federal courts, evidence, and the Supreme Court. On July 14, three-term former Republican State Senator and Senate President Pro Tem Jeff Angelo will speak on “The Comfort of Certainty.” Angelo is the founder of Iowa Republicans for Freedom, a group that favors marriage equality. He is currently employed in television and radio in Des Moines. The July 21 speaker will be Connie Ryan Terrell, representing both Justice Not Politics and the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Her presentation is titled, “Judicial Applecart Upset: So What?” Ryan Terrell has served as the Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa since 2002 and is the board chair for Justice Not Politics. The forum’s final presenter on July 28 will be Jonathan Wilson, speaking on “The Mantra of the Radical, the Terrorist, and the Lynch Mob: the Ends Justify the Means.” Wilson has practiced law with Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines since 1974. He served on the Des Moines school board and since 1996 has been president of the First Friday Breakfast Club, an association of gay men and the largest breakfast club in Iowa.
JULY 2011 SScontinued from page 1
NEW YORK Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey said the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York “honors New York’s unique history as being the place where the modern gay rights movement sprang to life 42 years ago this month at the Stonewall Inn in New York City—a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people stood up and fought back for their dignity and rightful place in society.” Longtime New York City activist Corey Johnson called it “a watershed moment.” “It’s a turning point,” he said. “This is a significant and tremendous loss for NOM (the anti-gay activist group National Organization for Marriage). In many ways, it takes the wind out of their sails.” The White House issued a tepid statement saying: “The states should determine for themselves how best to uphold the rights of their own citizens. The process in New York worked just as it should. … The president has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples.” President Barack Obama has refused to come out in support of same-sex couples’ right to marry, saying he prefers “civil unions.” He has said, however, that his views on same-sex marriage are “evolving.” In recent days, the media has again highlighted the fact that in 1996, when he was running for the Illinois Senate, Obama told the Chicago gay newspaper Outlines, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” See tinyurl.com/obama1996.
Christopher Street. Photo: Scott Wooledge In New York City, at least 1,000 people took to the streets in celebration outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. When police made an early attempt to clear the unauthorized street party, those gathered reportedly chanted, “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re fabulous, don’t f--k with us.” New York has no way for voters to undo laws or amend the state constitution. The only ways to re-ban same-sex marriage in New York would be to pass a repeal measure through the Legislature or call a constitutional convention. Both possibilities are extremely unlikely. Same-sex marriage also is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. Same-sex marriages from elsewhere are recognized as marriages in Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and California (if the marriage took place before Proposition 8 passed). Eleven other nations allow same-sex couples to marry—Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Mexico (where same-sex marriages are allowed only in the capital city but are recognized nationwide).
Section 1: News & Politics
JULY 2011
ACCESSline Page 5
US NEWS news analysis by Rex Wockner Move to undo Prop 8 strikedown fails, Judge also rejects request that trial tapes be returned
A legal attempt to “vacate” the federal court ruling that struck down California’s Proposition 8, which amended the state constitution in 2008 to re-ban same-sex marriage, failed June 14. U.S. District Judge James Ware rejected arguments by Prop 8’s supporters that nowretired trial Judge Vaughn Walker, who is gay, should have recused himself from the case, or have been disqualified, because he is in a relationship. Ware wrote: “The sole fact that a federal judge shares the same circumstances or personal characteristics with other members of the general public, and that the judge could be affected by the outcome of a proceeding in the same way that other members of the general public would be affected, is not a basis for either recusal or disqualification. … Further … it is not reasonable to presume that a judge is incapable of making an impartial decision about the constitutionality of a law, solely because, as a citizen, the judge could be affected by the proceedings. Accordingly, the Motion to Vacate Judgment on the sole ground of Judge Walker’s samesex relationship is DENIED.” Prop 8’s supporters contended that Walker had a personal stake in the case because if Prop 8 dies, Walker could then marry his partner. But Ware didn’t buy that. “Requiring recusal because a court issued an injunction that could provide some speculative future benefit to the presiding judge solely on the basis of the fact that the judge belongs to the class against whom the unconstitutional law was directed would lead to a … standard that required recusal of minority judges in
most, if not all, civil rights cases,” he wrote. “Congress could not have intended such an unworkable recusal statute.” Neither should Walker have been disqualified from hearing the case, Ware said. “The single characteristic that Judge Walker shares with the Plaintiffs, albeit one that might not have been shared with the majority of Californians, gave him no greater interest in a proper decision on the merits than would exist for any other judge or citizen,” Ware said, in reference to Walker’s same-sex relationship. Beyond that, even if Walker wants to get married (which is not something he’s ever talked about publicly), that could be an urge that waxes and wanes over time, Ware said. “Under such a standard, disqualification would be based on assumptions about the amorphous personal feelings of judges in regards to such intimate and shifting matters as future desire to undergo an abortion, to send a child to a particular university or to engage in family planning. So too here, a test inquiring into the presiding judge’s desire to enter into the institution of marriage with a member of the same sex, now or in the future, would require reliance upon similarly elusive factors.” “(R)ecusal could turn on whether a judge ‘fervently’ intended to marry a samesex partner versus merely ‘lukewarmly’ intended to marry, determination that could only be reached through undependable and invasive self-reports,” Ware said. “The Court declines to adopt the principle that absence of disclosure (by Walker of any marriage desire) should warrant the mandatory inference that the presiding judge ‘fervently’ intends to marry and, thus, holds an interest in this case that is substantially affected by the outcome.” In wrapping up his 21-page decision, Ware opined: “The presumption that Judge Walker, by virtue of being in a same-sex relationship, had a desire to be married
“The presumption that Judge Walker, by virtue of being in a same-sex relationship, had a desire to be married that rendered him incapable of making an impartial decision, is as warrantless as the presumption that a female judge is incapable of being impartial in a case in which women seek legal relief.”
that rendered him incapable of making an impartial decision, is as warrantless as the presumption that a female judge is incapable of being impartial in a case in which women seek legal relief.” Gay groups cheered Ware’s ruling. “We applaud the court for rejecting the pathetic attempts by Prop 8 backers to viciously malign Judge Walker,” said Equality California Interim Executive Director Jim Carroll. “Because proponents of the marriage ban have repeatedly failed to present even a shred of evidence to support the insidious discrimination that Prop 8 fosters, they tried and failed to hide behind groundless, shameful arguments to discredit Judge Walker—arguments that fail to hold up under even the slightest scrutiny.” Lambda Legal staff attorney Peter Renn said: “The court decisively rejected an outrageous attack on the integrity of Judge Walker, not to mention judges in general. The motion was a sideshow designed to deflect attention from the fact that the proponents had every chance to prove that Prop 8 was constitutional, but could not do so. Prop 8 was declared unconstitutional because it is unconstitutional—not because the judge is gay.” National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell opined, “This ruling will protect all judges from similarly desperate and unwarranted attacks from parties who lose their initial case and unfairly seek a second bite at the apple.”
After Prop 8 supporters objected to the showings, Walker gave his copy of the seemingly legally “sealed” recording back to the court. In his ruling, Ware declined to address whether Walker had done anything wrong in using the tapes, and he said he plans to give the recordings back to Walker if no objections are filed. The gay side’s lawyers and several media outlets want the whole trial recording released to the public. Ware said he will hold a hearing on that request Aug. 29. Walker’s ruling that struck down Prop 8 as unconstitutional is on appeal to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal has been delayed because the 9th Circuit is unsure whether the people who filed the appeal—the folks who had put Prop 8 on the ballot in 2008—have a legal right to step into the shoes of the state government and defend a piece of the state constitution that has been found in violation of the U.S. Constitution. All of the actual defendants in the case—the governor, the attorney general, the county clerks of Alameda and Los Angeles counties, and the state Health Department—have refused to defend Prop 8. Because of its uncertainty, the 9th Circuit has asked the California Supreme Court for its thoughts on whether the Prop 8 proponents have legal standing to appeal. The California Supreme Court has agreed to answer that question, but has not yet done so. Should the Prop 8 proponents be found not to have any legal standing to have appealed Walker’s ruling, the ruling will take effect and same-sex couples will again be able to marry in California. The standing issue should be resolved late this year or early next year.
Tennessee sued over anti-gay law National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendell. Photo: Rex Wockner The lead lawyer defending Prop 8, Charles Cooper, said he will appeal Ware’s decision. “The ProtectMarriage.com legal team obviously disagrees with today’s ruling,” Cooper said. “Our legal team will appeal this decision and continue our tireless efforts to defend the will of the people of California to preserve marriage as the union of a man and a woman.” Meanwhile, in a separate ruling June 14, Ware rejected a request from Prop 8 supporters that all parties to the case return to the court their copies of the video recording of the Prop 8 trial. That request stemmed from Walker’s having shown snippets of the recording in public speeches about cameras in the courtroom.
Gays, LGBT groups and elected officials sued Tennessee in state court June 13 over a new law that prohibits cities, counties and school districts from having laws or policies that protect LGBT people from discrimination. The law says, “No local government shall by ordinance, resolution, or any other means impose on or make applicable to any person an anti-discrimination practice, standard, definition, or provision that shall deviate from, modify, supplement, add to, change, or vary in any manner from” state law. The statute targeted a Nashville law that prohibited metropolitan government contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity through their employment practices. The lawsuit says, “HB600 embodies an animus toward gay and transgender people
“No local government shall by ordinance, resolution, or any other means impose on or make applicable to any person an antidiscrimination practice, standard, definition, or provision that shall deviate from, modify, supplement, add to, change, or vary in any manner from” state law.
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ACCESSline Page 6
Section 1: News & Politics
JULY 2011
World News news analysis by Rex Wockner French Parliament rejects same-sex marriage
France’s National Assembly voted 293-222 against legalizing same-sex marriage June 14. President Nicolas Sarkozy’s ruling Union for a People’s Movement party opposed the measure. In January, France’s Constitutional Court upheld the ban on same-sex marriage but said Parliament could change the law if it wanted to. The court ruled that gay and straight couples find themselves in a “different situation” that justifies differing treatment under family law. Polls suggest that some 60 percent of French people support letting same-sex couples marry. The nation has offered civil unions for gay couples for more than a decade, but the unions lack some of the benefits of marriage.
tomatoes, glass, bricks, shoes, paint, cigarette lighters and flowerpots at the 200 marchers. And they shouted, “Kill the gays.” Up to a dozen people were injured, including some reporters. “It was a scary and horrifying experience,” said Freimane. “When the shower of petards and stones began, the police did not push back the aggressive crowd and made us walk along the violent protesters and hooligans. There was definitely a feeling of uncertainty and disbelief that the police is allowing this to happen.” ILGA-Europe said it condemned “the indecisive and passive behavior of the Croatian police” and called for an official investigation. “The European Union just concluded its accession talks with Croatia, which is expected to join the union in 2013,” Freimane added. “However, the events at Split Pride raise many questions over this country’s ability to ensure the very basic right of free and peaceful assembly of minority groups. … (R)elevant EU institutions need to carefully examine this particular event and continue scrutinizing Croatia in how it ensures fundamental freedoms and human rights to all.”
“It was a scary and horrifying experience,” said Freimane. “When the shower of petards and stones began, the police did not push back the aggressive crowd and made us walk along the violent protesters and hooligans. There was definitely a feeling of uncertainty and disbelief that the police is allowing this to happen.”
ILGA-Europe condemns Croatian pride violence
Police in Split, Croatia, were both unwilling and unable to protect the June 11 gay pride parade, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association charged June 14. “ILGA-Europe is appalled by the inadequate actions of the Croatian police, which caused a situation when the participants of the Pride march were forced to march next to the violent crowd,” the group said. “Due to such an inadequate police arrangement, the violent hooligans were free to shower the participants of the Pride march with petards, stones, ashtrays and other objects. A number of people were hit, including Linda Freimane, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board.” The thousands of anti-gay protesters also hurled bottles, flares, tear gas, eggs,
Argentine gays sue over blood-donation ban
Buenos Aires’ Comunidad Homosexual Argentina filed suit June 14 to overturn a national ban on blood donation by gays, calling it discriminatory. The group lodged its claim in the Buenos Aires Administrative Litigation Court, alleging that the ban violates the federal constitution, city law and international human-rights treaties. CHA’s Télam Cesar Cigliutti said the ban stigmatizes homosexuality by excluding those who acknowledge their homosexuality,
or LGBTI identity, in a questionnaire donors must fill out. He said what officials really need to know is whether a potential donor has HIV, hepatitis or syphilis, not whether he or she is gay. The questionnaire should not ask about sexual orientation or sexual practices, Cigliutti said, though an inquiry about unprotected sex within the past six months might be permissible, he conceded.
Brazilian activists meet defense minister
(ABGLT photo) The Brazilian LGBT Association (ABGLT) met with Defense Minister Nelson Jobim on June 14 to lobby him on gay and HIV issues. ABGLT President Toni Reis said Jobim committed to drafting amendments to remove the words “pederasty” and “homosexual” from the Military Penal Code, and to working to get the amendments through the National Congress. He also agreed to implement in the Armed Forces the recent federal Supreme Court ruling requiring that same-sex couples be permitted to register their unions and receive the rights of marriage. Jobim also plans to set up a working group to review the military’s policy of testing recruits for HIV.
da’s gay bars didn’t support the march. Parents of gays marched with their kids, and one local club, Poker Face Baja Sport Bar, joined the procession with a float, Herrera said.
Gay people to picket Russian Embassy in London
LGBT people plan to protest at the Russian Embassy in London on July 1. They will demand that Russia’s voting rights at the Council of Europe be revoked. Despite a European Court of Human Rights ruling this year that Moscow’s yearly bans of gay pride violate the European Convention on Human Rights, the city prohibited the march again in May. When a small group of people attempted to defy the ban, 18 of them were aggressively arrested, much the same as in previous years, when the activists also were beaten by antigay hooligans and assaulted by religious counterprotesters. “Russia has shown itself to be unsuitable to have a say in the Council of Europe,” said the organizers of the London demonstration. “Russia must issue a full apology to the protesters and take steps to prosecute those who are known to have taken part in violence against peaceful protesters. It must also commit to implementing full police protection for future Moscow Pride events. Until it has taken these steps, Russia should have its vote on the Council of Europe suspended.” Meanwhile, new Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said June 16 that gays can forget about marching in Moscow. According to Moscow Pride, Sobyanin told reporters, “These are issues of morality.” Moscow Pride founder Nikolai Alekseev commented: “Gays are the last discriminated social group in Moscow when it turns to freedom of expression. We cannot go in the streets legally, we cannot register an organization, we are basically deprived of our civil and political rights and, after such declaration, there is nothing to even hope for.”
“Russia must issue a full apology to the protesters and take steps to prosecute those who are known to have taken part in violence against peaceful protesters. It must also commit to implementing full police protection for future Moscow Pride events. Until it has taken these steps, Russia should have its vote on the Council of Europe suspended.”
Gays march in Ensenada, Mexico
1,000 march in Tijuana Pride LGBT people staged their fifth gay pride march June 11 in Ensenada, Mexico, a port city located 90 miles south of San Diego, California. “There was a big contingent of participants, who were surprised and thrilled by what was happening,” said Lorenzo Herrera, organizer of Tijuana’s annual pride parade, who expressed dismay that some of Ensena-
About 1,000 people joined in the 16th GLBTIPrideparadeinTijuana,Mexico,June18. Many rode on the beds of semis blasting Mexican and American dance tunes. The colorful, rowdy procession was well-received by onlookers who swelled to a throng at Second Street and Constitution Avenue. Afterward, drag queens performed on an open-air stage in Plaza Santa Cecilia, the city’s gayest block, which slants from First Street to Second Street between Revolution and Constitution avenues.
JULY 2011
Section 1: News & Politics
ACCESSline Page 7
Remarkables by Jonathan Wilson Things That Matter
Erections matter. Thanks to modern medicine they are a recurring reality for most male members of the population. They are a cause of much mischief and a darling of the media. If you want viewership or readership, head “south.” Sometimes they seem to have a mind of their own and can be extremely hard headed at that. Too often they’re used as pointers and merely followed, blindly, like a crotch compass. Especially, as it seems, in Congress. In the case of Congressman Gingrich it pointed away from a cancer-stricken spouse and toward a mistress, and was followed there because he loved his country too much. For Congressman Mark Foley, it was used to turn another [congressional] page, and turn Foley out of office. With a wide-stance Senator like Larry Craig, it was used to point “out” an alternate sexual orientation. In the case of Louisiana Senator Vitter, it pointed affordably to a prostitute, a profound apology, and a political comeback. The comeback was in Louisiana, however, so it doesn’t really count. Erections can easily get out of hand, as Congressman Weiner has amply demonstrated. Thank you for sharing. As he heads into therapy, the place to start will be the merciless teasing his name has doubtless caused him to endure while trying, unsuccessfully, to grow up. At least consistent with the Congressman’s politics, his was
pictured pointing left. When deemed de minimis, they can cause swagger and the waging of improvident war, as we saw in Iraq, and innocent people died. They can also cause the construction of tall buildings, as evidenced by Trump Tower and the Ruan Center. I wonder whose rose to the occasion to build 801 Grand. As can be seen by these paragraphs, they can be the source of almost endless double entendres and limitless hypocrisy. Elections matter. Three Iowa Supreme Court Justices, so far, have been martyred for our cause and the sanctity of our Constitution. They fell victim to a lynch mob that joined forces with the perpetually disgruntled 30-35% who routinely vote against retention of judges—all judges. The radically wrong, motivated by religion and organized through churches, turned out in sufficient numbers to unseat three members of a unanimous court that held to the simple principle that equal means equal. They showed us that an activated, organized, and motivated minority can carry the day when those indifferent or just “too
busy” don’t get educated and go to the polls. Such a theocratic minority group can do, generally, what has undeniably been done to the Republican Party. They, like terrorists, belong to the “ends justify the means” crowd. Commit acts of torture historically classified as war crimes—for the sake of national security— and it’s okay. Engage in political “dirty tricks”— for the sake of winning an election—and it’s okay. The non-retention campaign was the flip side of the same mentality. Not even the organizers would claim that their followers actually read the Iowa Supreme Court decision; they simply disliked the result and wanted vengeance. Their success in extracting that vengeance demonstrates how mysteriously the Lord works—the decision remains unaffected and the actual author of the opinion was thus elevated to the position of Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice. Erections matter. Elections matter. Little things can get bigger politically or otherwise and be made to matter. My reflections are intended to make this simple point: if those of us to whom important,
enlightened things matter don’t get off our butts and to the polls, we’re metaphorically going to get screwed by an unholy theocracy. That’s just the way representative democracy works. Important things matter.
As an IT professional, I have witnessed an explosion in Internet use since its inception. As people become more and more connected with computers and mobile devices, the responsibility of managing passwords and one’s identity becomes more complicated. Attacks on corporate systems have steadily increased over the years, and these help to realize the pitfalls of heavy reliance upon computer systems. The attacks are becoming less common from rogue hackers as much as they are coordinated state-sponsored or criminal efforts. The government can only do so much to encourage standards of cyber security because the ultimate responsibility lies with the companies, IT departments and people to implement proper strategies. Everyone has to realize what types of threats there are and how to manage systems in order to mitigate these threats. For cyber security strategy, there are three aspects that we must consider 1) password management and online presentations, 2) hardware and software infrastructure, and 3) secure application development. Of the first two, everyone can do a part while the third is primarily the responsibility of developers. Let us review some threats to cyber systems and Internet communications. Viruses, worms and spyware have played important parts to disabling networks and doing mischievous activity with various computer systems. Phishing and spam emails have been used to decoy potential threats as legitimate requests. Today, threats are more than just the annoying viruses and spyware issues. Attackers simply “sniff’ unsecured communications, such as unencrypted or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, for information.
Anyone using a mobile device (e.g. iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone) or laptop that connects to an unsecured Wi-Fi network risks having information stolen. Today, attacks are more coordinated efforts toward systems like utilities, banks, and government resources. IT departments are on the defensive to keep attacks from gaining access to critical information or from disabling systems. The recent issues with Sony PlayStation systems, as well as the infamous Stuxnet attacks on Iran, provide a glimpse of how well these attacks are evolving and how damaging the results can be. Most utilities and banks know that those probing for security holes and attacks are often rooted in foreign countries. The first part of a good cyber security strategy is proper password management. The make-up of the password is important as well as how you manage passwords. Passwords should be strong (e.g. a mix of characters, numbers in different cases and symbols if allowed). A computer program can match a simple character-only password by brute force within minutes whereas a strong password can take much longer such that attackers may desire to look for easier victims. People should get in the habit of having different passwords (instead of using one over and over) as well as routinely changing those passwords. There is software that can help 1) generate strong passwords and 2) keep a record of those passwords so that you do not have to necessarily remember them. Password management is important, but this is not the only part of cyber security to manage when protecting your identity. Criminals are interested in aspects of your
identity so that they might attempt to open accounts, to access corporate networks, and to use victim’s finances without the person’s knowledge. Consider the information that people share on Facebook, Twitter, or other social systems, and consider that many firms now ask for personal data in the event someone forgets their password (e.g. “what was your first pet’s name”). Everything that one posts online, regardless of privacy settings, can be used to create accounts or to gain access to online accounts and financial records. Consider what happens if one loses a thumb drive with saved documents and records. Postal mail, if not disposed properly, can also be used to open new accounts (with or without your knowledge). Be mindfully wary of random requests for “friending” or for other information and avoid clicking on links included in emails. Protect your communications through software and hardware. Many people can remember the “I Love you” virus that spread wild and caused people to get ridiculous and destructive email messages. Most of this can be mitigated by having updated anti-virus and pop-up blocker software today, but one should always be wary of messages with attachments or messages from unknown sources. Be careful of what websites you visit when using unsecured connections because plugins and tools are available for people to easily scan those communications. You might consider purchasing SSH or encryption services to protect Internet connections or using virtual private networks that limit ability to sniff communications. Computers should have an active and updated firewall installed running always, and any routers in your home should
be password protected. Change default passwords for these devices. Our computer systems have grown much simpler to use over the years, and we have been able to access information in increasingly different ways. This has also raised number of different ways that people can attack or steal information. Everyone must be diligent in following proper procedures to protect against attacks and to be disciplined with what and when information is shared. Even when a product is released with the latest protection, there is someone somewhere learning how to circumvent the security. Awareness by everyone will help make better decisions about sharing information online and will help to prevent people from needlessly taking advantage of you.
Erections can easily get out of hand, as Congressman Weiner has amply demonstrated. Thank you for sharing. As he heads into therapy, the place to start will be the merciless teasing his name has doubtless caused him to endure while trying, unsuccessfully, to grow up.
Managing Your Identity & Cyber Security by Tony E. Hansen
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.
ACCESSline Page 8
Section 1: News & Politics
JULY 2011
Creep of the Week by D’Anne Witkowski Kim Haynes
media requests for comment and the many shocking. Stand up has a long and rather to give him hell for it. No joke. phone calls and messages from persons sordid history of homophobia. I did stand Remember back in the day when who supported or opposed the actions up for years and I can’t even tell you how black people couldn’t swim in public pools taken (on June 10), she became frustrated many jokes and bits and asides I heard at because white people didn’t want to catch and used inappropriate language in the the expense of LGBT folks. Some of it was all being black? course of a telephone conversation with a in good fun. But most of it was not. Luckily that doesn’t happen anymore. staff member of the CNN show Anderson The thing that makes the kind of rabidly Well, save a minor incident where 60 black Cooper 360 while declining to comment on homophobic comments coming from a kids were kicked out en masse from the the pending story.” stand up comic shocking is that the comic Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia after being Um, no comment? I think the fact in question isn’t some amateur driving his told that there were no minorities allowed that she used “insulting” and “obscene” mom’s Mercury Sable to do a 20 minute set in the club. There was language kind of speaks in Dayton, Ohio for $25 in pizza coupons. a fear, as expressed by This was Tracy “30 Rock” Morgan. Which “Thou shall not swim for itself. the club president that To the City of leaves me asking, “What in the hell was he whilst gay in a public pool in Hazard’s credit, Hayes thinking?” the “kids would change the complexion … and Kentucky” is a little known has been suspended Did he really mean it? Does he really the atmosphere of the commandment. (though only for 5 days), feel so hateful toward gay people? Only club.” they plan to post signs Morgan knows for sure. But even if he was But hey, that was a long time ago, way at The Pavilion that include “sexual orien- just speaking his true feelings from his heart, back in 1959. Oops, I mean 2009. But hey, tation” as part of their non-discrimination what for? I mean, he’s a national comedian you know how society is. Two steps forward policy, and they plan to get their employees doing stand up comedy which means that one step back, am I right? some diversity/sensitivity training. Appar- not only are his words very, very public but Which brings us to 2011 at The Pavilion ently the Pavilion does have an unofficial they’re also supposed to be funny. Saying in Hazard, Kentucky, where Kim Haynes, a no grab-assing policy for gays and straights you’re going to stab your son to death if he’s By now you’re probably familiar with Pavilion employee, was brave enough to alike, which they now plan to officially post gay is certainly not funny. But it certainly is the It Gets Better Project, but in case you’re finally speak the truth about gay people and enforce regardless of whether the grab- something that’s going to get repeated. not, here’s a little refresher. It Gets Better swimming in public pools: it’s against God. assers are gay or straight. And, yeah, he pissed off gay people. And was started by Dan Savage after a spate of Of course, everybody knows that. Well, some people who aren’t gay, too. suicides following anti-gay bullying. Savage good Christians who apparently liberally “Stand up comics may have the right and his partner Terry made a video and interpret Bible do at least. to ‘work out’ their put it up on YouTube, If someone of the same basically telling gay kids On June 10 two gay men, described material in its ugliest by the Lexington Herald-Leader as having and rawest form in sex has got your pants on that even if things suck “intellectual and developmental disabilifront of an audience, right now, things won’t ties,” were visiting the pool along with a but the violent imagery fire, Cass says it’s your duty always suck. caregiver from Mending Hearts, Inc., a social of Tracy’s rant was to point a fire extinguisher at They encouraged service group. disturbing to me at a your crotch. others to make videos Reports vary about what the two men time when homophobic and show gay kids who were doing. A Pavilion lifeguard says they hate crimes continue to be a life-threatening might be feeling isolated and alone that were kissing and hugging. Their caregiver issue for the GLBT community,” said Tina they aren’t. There are more than 10,000 says they were only sitting on each other’s Fey, “30 Rock” executive producer and videos on the site now, including messages laps. Haynes says they were “fondling” each co-star. from Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman, Janet other, though not each other’s private parts. Even Chris Rock, who initially tweeted Jackson, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, And so he told them to get lost. support for Morgan’s right to free speech, Vice President Biden, and President Obama. According to Mending Hearts Execuwas disgusted when he learned what was All of them have the same basic message: tive Director Shirlyn Perkins, “They were said. “Wow I get it that shit wasn’t called for you’re okay the way you are and don’t kill informed that ‘gay people’ weren’t allowed and I don’t support it at all,” Rock said. yourself. to swim there.” Jordan has issued an apology. Several, Most folks would see this as a positive “This is completely outrageous, The in fact. thing. But not Gary Cass of the Christian Pavilion is owned by the City of Hazard and “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean Anti-Defamation Commission who saw an paid for by our tax dollars,” said Kentucky it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt It Gets Better ad on TV. He’s created his own Equality Federation President Jordan anyone,” he said in part. “Parents should video to counter attack It Gets Better. His Palmer. Imagine you paid money to see some support and love their kids no matter what. message to gay kids? It gets worse, you’re a “My clients, whom already feel ridi- stand up comedy and the comedian was Gay people deserve the same right to be sinner, you’re disease ridden, and you make culed and different, left the city-owned totally hilarious. He had this amazing bit happy in this country as everyone else. Our Jesus puke. But if you pray to Jesus really, facility crying and embarrassed for trying to about homosexuality laws should support really hard you might find the strength to participate in ‘normal’ activities that every- where he said that gays Saying you’re going to that. I hope that my fans “change.” day ‘normal’ people do,” Perkins said. are pussies for whining stab your son to death if he’s gay, straight, whatever, Cass claims that the thousands of When their caregiver said that they about bullying and forgive and I hope my people who have contributed to the It Gets gay is certainly not funny. family forgives me for Better Project are all a bunch of liars who were being discriminated against, Hayes that “Born This Way” said, “You need to read the Bible more often, was bullshit because But it certainly is something this.” refuse to acknowledge the truth about we don’t tolerate that down here.” kids learn to be gay that’s going to get repeated. “I hope for his sake homosexuality. “What people trapped in It is, of course, true. “Thou shall from the media. What that Tracy’s apology will homosexuality really need is hope that they not swim whilst gay in a public pool in a crack up! be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian can find peace and escape the lifestyle,” he Kentucky” is a little known commandment, But it gets better. He went on to say that coworkers at ‘30 Rock,’ without whom Tracy writes. “It’s up to us, who love those who probably because the only place it exists is if his son was gay and came home talking would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, live as homosexuals, to tell them the truth.” scribbled in red ink in the margins of Hayes’s all high-pitched and funny he’d stab him to sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, See? If you’re gay Cass loves you, just not very own Bible. death with a knife! Stop, my sides, am I right? or a printed-out paycheck from accounting the way you are. Hayes isn’t the only class act working I mean, imagine it: stabbing your son with to put in his pocket,” said Fey. He then trots out all of the usual antifor the city of Hazard. In a press release the a knife because he’s a fag. LOL! Not everyone is buying his apology. gay arguments and, in text accompanying City Manager apologized “to CNN and to The comedian then said he didn’t Unicorn Booty, the blog that broke the story, the video, provides documentation by citing the staff of Anderson Cooper 360” because f--king care if he pissed gay people off criticized Morgan for his “not-good-enough other anti-gay organizations like Exodus Charlotte Pearlman, the Pavilion manager, because if they can take a f--king d--k up apology that he was shamed into making.” International and NARTH (the National used “language which was disrespectful their a--es they can take a f--king joke. Is the apology good enough? I don’t Association for Research and Therapy of toward the public, including insulting and ROTFLMAO!!!!! know. I mean, it all sounds nice. It’s the Homosexuality) as “proof.” obscene language” when an Anderson Awesome, huh? Man, I wish this guy exact right thing to say, I suppose. But it’s Not surprisingly, the C-word comes up. Cooper 360 staff member contacted her. were my dad. kind of hard to buy it considering what he’s “It is a lie that people are born homosexual According to the press release, “In the Honestly, hearing anti-gay bulls--t from apologizing for saying. Yes, he has a right to and that the incidence of homosexuality course of handling the large volume of a stand up comedy stage is really not that say what he wants, but others have the right TTCREEPS continued page 10
Gary Cass
Tracy Morgan
JULY 2011
Section 1: News & Politics
ACCESSline Page 9
Minor Details: More Believers Are Saying “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
by Bob Minor
The Millennial generation better hurry up and take over. Someone, please convince them that they need to do so soon for their own good as well as the good of the rest of us. Members of older generations have worked hard against seemingly overwhelming odds to end the bigotry that has long gripped this nation. They have brought us to this place. But the older generations clinging to positions of power are still the ones holding back change. It’s still true that babyboomers and their elders control the political and religious institutions that dominate American culture. Yet, no matter how we slice the data, the younger the respondent to polls, the less likely they are to oppose issues such as marriage equality. While 26% of those 65 and over and 32% of those 50-64 favor marriage equality, 57% aged 18-29 do, according to a May 2011 survey of—of all people—church-goers by the Public Religion Research Institute. This new study is revealing. Among church-goers, 69% of those 65 and over respond that sex between adults of the same gender is morally wrong, while only 41% of millennials do. In addition the study tells us, when it comes to millennial as well as 30-64 year old church-goers, there is no significant difference on their views of abortion from the general public – around 60% agree it should be legal in all or most cases. However, for those 65 and over, only 43% respond positively to the same question. In fact, the majorities of all but one major group agree that at least some health care professionals in their own community should provide legal abortions. The lone exception is among white evangelical Protestants. Again, when it comes to teaching comprehensive sex education in the public schools, Americans are in disagreement with their more conservative religious leaders. Nearly eight in ten favor it including among millennials: 62% of white evangelicals, 74% of black Protestants, 78% of Catholics, and 85% of white mainline
Protestants. Even those 65 and older support comprehensive sex education in public schools by a solid 62%. And over eight in ten Americans also favor expanding birth control for women who can’t afford it, with strong support across all political and religious demographics. There is little question that the number one answer usually given when asked what is holding us back on these social issues is religion. That’s why the news here is especially encouraging. There is a refreshing and important independence growing in the ranks of believers. The fact that they are people who identify with a religious institution and yet believe they can disagree with their leaders indicates that their views on marriage equality and abortion cannot be taken for granted because of their religious identity. And even the standard labels used in the political/religious debate are inadequate for those surveyed. Seven out of ten Americans say the term “prochoice” describes them somewhat or very well while nearly two-thirds simultaneously say they could also identify with the term “pro-life” and not see these as contradictory. 72% report that it is possible to disagree with their religion on abortion and 63% on homosexuality while considering themselves in good standing in their faith. And about six out of ten Catholics and almost half of white evangelical Protestants say it’s wrong for religious leaders to publicly pressure politicians on abortion. Interestingly, more than two-thirds of white evangelicals believe it’s possible to disagree with their religion’s teachings on
abortion and still be a good Christian, but they are the only group in which less than a majority (47%) says they can disagree faithfully with their religion’s teachings on homosexuality. Also surprising is that Catholics are just as likely as any religious group (68%) to respond that being a good Catholic does not require you to agree with the Church’s teaching on abortion, and a larger number (74%) say the same about not needing to agree with the Church on homosexuality. Little has changed in terms of American’s views on abortion with 57% saying it should be legal in all or most cases in 1999 and 56% today. Yet the percentage of Americans supporting marriage equality has jumped 18 points in that same period to 53%. All of this reinforces the tactics we have been using for the last half-century when working with religious people, except that it indicates that the work that has been done has moved some in that moveable middle even though their religious leaders and institutions hate that whole idea. The millennial generation’s difference from older folks is a tribute to the persistent work of activists of all ages. It continues to remind us that there is a moveable middle even in those religious institutions that refuse to budge in their official pronouncements. And conversations with those believers who are open to facts and personal stories must continue to be the focus of our energies. We cannot judge the possible outcome of our work by church membership. Many right-wing religious leaders push on while their congregations are changing, as the poll tells us.
…no matter how we slice the data, the younger the respondent to polls, the less likely they are to oppose issues such as marriage equality. While 26% of those 65 and over and 32% of those 50-64 favor marriage equality, 57% aged 18-29 do, according to a May 2011 survey of—of all people— church-goers by the Public Religion Research Institute.
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. Among Americans who attend church at least twice a month, majorities still report hearing their clergy talk about abortion and homosexuality in church. There are still those believers who are stuck. They’re just unable to face a change in thought or to stand up and admit that their religious leaders could ever be wrong. It’s not surprising that this last group would be larger in older generations not just because of the broader education of the young. Those who’ve been members the longest are the ones who feel they have the most to lose. They have relied on their religious institutions for security for more years. They may have become religiouslyaddicted. And there will be a percentage in every generation that uses religion as an addiction as long as addictions are needed to cope with our society. They will be hard nuts to crack. Fighting with those immovable ones though will sap the energy for changing the majority and prevent us from appreciating the progress that is taking place.
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CREEPS is unaffected by influences from culture, family, peer socialization, and incremental choices,” he writes. “It is a lie that homosexual conduct is not a choice. Although same-sex attraction may be involuntary, one’s response to it is completely voluntary. All sex is voluntary except rape.” Um, okay. Thank you for that clarification. I think it’s interesting that he acknowledges “same-sex attraction may be involuntary.” It almost feels like a bit of a concession. But, of course, even if someone of the same sex has got your pants on fire, Cass says it’s your duty to point a fire extinguisher at your crotch. “All people have the obligation to resist temptations, no matter how strong, that lead to personal and social harms,” he continues. And what are those personal and social harms? Well, starting with the personal harms Cass claims will befall gay kids as they get older: you’ll get AIDS, you’ll get cancer, you’ll become an alcoholic, you’ll kill yourself. As for social harms, gays are basically out to subvert and destroy civilized heterosexual society and turn the whole country into a gay sex-crazed cesspool like Europe. The answer? God. And going to an ex-gay therapist even though ex-gay therapy has been proven bunk by respectable psychological groups. Homos are, according to Cass, “fighting with God.” He writes, “All you have to do is turn from your sin and place your trust in him.”
Section 1: News & Politics too pleased with June being pride month, and they’re especially pissed about Obama’s official declaration (though he’s not the first president to have done so). Because to the AFA, LGBT Americans are nothing more than orgy-seeking sex addicts and are therefore not deserving of any civil rights, let alone Obama’s Pride Proclamation. And no wonder they’re pissed. Just look at how the President’s Proclamation began: “The story of America’s (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union.” Well, it was June, which means it was My gosh, the way Obama talks about it, officially Gay Pride Month. And I do mean it’s as if he’d been talking about real people official. President Obama declared it himself, who actually contribute something to the which I think is a pretty important endorse- country. Imagine that. ment. Obama continued, Not only is June “It is a story about the To the AFA, LGBT Americans time to come out of the struggle to realize the closet, it’s time to haul are nothing more than orgy- great American promise out all of your rainbow seeking sex addicts and are that all people can live paraphernalia. Hang that therefore not deserving of any with dignity and fairflag from your porch. ness under the law. Each Slap that colorful cowboy civil rights, let alone Obama’s June, we commemorate decal on your window. Pride Proclamation. the courageous individuBust out the “I’m not gay als who have fought to but my boyfriend is” t-shirt or the one that achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and says, “Chapstick lesbian.” Put that rainbow we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal dog collar on your beagle and walk him on his rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation rainbow leash. If you’re really serious, pin a or gender identity.” pink triangle to your lapel. This, of course, is not something the AFA The goal is to make yourself as conspicu- will let stand. ous as possible so that you can lure children Enter the AFA’s Ed Vitagliano and Buster and young adults over to the gay dark side. All Wilson to set the record straight. under the guise of showing your pride. Instead of “normalizing” homosexuality, Needless to say, anti-gay groups like something they claim Obama is doing, they the American Family Association are none believe it’s important to keep marginalizing He then asks his readers to raise a fuss whenever an It Gets Better Project ad comes on TV. “Next time you see one of those deceitful TV ads call your local television station and ask them why they hate our children so much that they persist in promoting such a pernicious lie.” Hmm... Looks like Cass should really sort that one out himself first before pointing fingers.
American Family Association
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US NEWS so strong that the Tennessee legislature was willing to repeal policies protecting students against bullying and harassment and to make other groups suffer as well, merely to prevent gay and transgender citizens from obtaining needed protections.” Lead attorney Abby Rubenfeld said: “They passed a law based on disapproval of gay and transgender people, which the Tennessee and U.S. constitutions do not permit. Fifteen years ago, in fact—in a case quite similar to this one—the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that ‘if the constitutional conception of “equal protection of the laws” means anything, it must at the very least mean that a bare … desire to harm a politically unpopular group cannot constitute a legitimate governmental interest.’” In that ruling, the Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s Amendment 2, which barred any laws anywhere in the state that protected gay people from discrimination. Plaintiffs in the Tennessee lawsuit include Nashville Metro Councilmembers Erik Cole, Erica Gilmore and Mike Jameson; high-school student Shirit Pankowsky (founder of Martin Luther King, Jr. High School’s Gay/Straight Alliance); Marisa Richmond, president of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition; Wesley Roberts, a teacher and GSA co-sponsor at Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School; the Tennessee Equality Project; and the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. “The state legislation was disguised as an effort to ensure consistent business
JULY 2011 it as much as possible. Keeps gay people selfhating and meek. Vitagliano explained what’s at stake in a world where gay people are treated like fellow citizens deserving of rights: “We’re talking about a return to pagan sexuality, a pagan view of sexuality that says that it doesn’t matter with whom you have sex and that God’s laws do not apply to us and there are no absolutes when it comes to sex.” Wow. Does this guy know every gay person here or what? With how sex-crazed they are, it was only a matter of time before someone figured out the Big Gay Pagans plan. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Wilson then mentions the 30th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic, which Obama also mentions in his proclamation, and says he doesn’t want to be criticized for saying that AIDS is a gay disease right before saying essentially that. Vitagliano concurs and says that AIDS is a result of “the abuse of the body and the flouting of God’s laws about human sexuality.” They also complain about marriage equality and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and say that America’s decreasing discrimination against and oppression of homosexuals is evidence that the country is turning its back on God. But don’t get them wrong. “We don’t support discrimination against anyone. We don’t want anyone harmed or bullied,” Wilson says. “God loves everyone.” That’s right. The AFA, which calls itself “The Culture War Machine,” means gays no harm. They just think gays are AIDSinfected sex addicts out to destroy the military, marriage, and God. And it’s not discrimination if God is telling them to do it. regulations across Tennessee counties,” said Jameson. “But that was a Trojan-horse pretext for getting this passed. Every county has unique zoning regulations, unique employment regulations, and so forth. Why is it only now, and only on the issue of discrimination, that we suddenly need uniformity?” The National Center for Lesbian Rights and Morrison & Foerster also are representing plaintiffs in the case.
NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter “Under the very thin guise of protecting businesses and commerce, Tennessee passed a law specifically intended to encourage discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the community,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter. “This law is part of a larger, national strategy to attack cities and counties that attempt to protect their citizens from discrimination based on characteristics that bear no relationship to job performance, talent or one’s ability to contribute to society.” The lawsuit says the law violates equal-protection guarantees of the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions.
ACCESSline’s fun guide
Our Picks for July
Deep Inside Hollywood by Romeo San Vicente
7/1-8/13 Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, Rock Island, IL: Hugh Jackman can’t help loving musical theater HAIRSPRAY 6/23-7/9 StageWest, Des Moines: REASONS TO BE PRETTY 7/1, 7/5, 7/9, 7/17 Blank Performing Arts Center, Des Moines: Des Moines Metro Opera performs LA BOHÈME 7/5-7/10 Okoboji Summer Theatre, Spirit Lake: NUNSET BLVD (MUSICAL COMEDY) 7/6-7/17 StageWest, Des Moines: THE SHAPE OF THINGS 7/8-7/14 The Bijou Cinema, Iowa City: POTICHE 7/8-7/16 StageWest, Des Moines: FAT PIG Hugh Jackman (20th Century Fox) 7/8-7/30 Theatre Cedar Rapids: If you want to get technical about it, Hugh Jackman has already made one movie GUYS & DOLLS musical: Happy Feet. Granted, you didn’t see him in the film, but that was his singing voice 7/11 Slosburg Hall, Orpheum Theater, Omaha, NE: coming out of one of those dancing penguins. DAVID GRAY WITH SPECIAL GUEST LISA O’NEILL So it kinda-sorta counts. And yes, the Aussie action star has been all over Broadway and 7/15-7/24 Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, the Tony Awards and done his song-anddance thing at the Oscars. But now he might Fairfield IA: HAIRSPRAY get his first movie musical role in the longawaited film version of Les Miserables. He’s 7/15-7-31 The Grand Opera House, Dubuque: in talks right now to come aboard and play… SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN well, who exactly, nobody knows. But safe bet it’s a big role like Jean Valjean and that the 7/16 Holland Center, Omaha, NE: musical’s rabid, devoted, huge following will make it a hit when it finally lands in theaters TRUE COLORS 2011 BROADWAY DREAMS TOUR sometime before…well, when exactly, nobody knows, either. Paul Bettany is also rumored 7/16-8/7 Des Moines Community Playhouse: to be among the actors in talks but, again, HAIRSPRAY for what role is anyone’s guess. And they’re 7/17 City of Clinton Showboat: MARK TWAIN AND THE LAUGHING RIVER
7/22-7/23 Des Moines Civic Center Stoner Studio Theater: DMACC BLAND MARY & DAISY 7/22-7/31 The Temple Theater, Des Moines: MAX & ROXI, LIVE 7/26-7/31 Okoboji Summer Theatre, Spirit Lake: THE LADIES MAN 7/28-7/31 The Englert, Iowa City: GILBERT & SULLIVAN’S THE MIKADO
... and for August
8/2-8/7 Okoboji Summer Theatre, Spirit Lake: THE GLASS MENAGERIE 8/9-8/14 Okoboji Summer Theatre, Spirit Lake: EVITA
going to find a spot for Susan Boyle, right? Because they should.
Days of Our Lives finally gets its first gay
No, it’s not exactly groundbreaking at this point for a daytime drama to begin a gay storyline. It’s not even groundbreaking when the show allows the gay character to be involved in a torrid same-sex kidnappingand-blindness-and-paranormal-activitiescentered relationship. But it’s still news, and as each show (of the few left standing in this time of waning ratings and soap opera audience attrition) brings a gay or lesbian character on board, it’s nice to pay attention to how it all turns out. And so, on Days of Our Lives, the first gay person is going to visit Salem and it’s happening this very week. Actor Freddie Smith (90210) plays the twentysomething Sonny, a gay man returning to the fictional town to find his family. But which family? Still a secret. Boyfriend soon? Also a secret. Can this storyline top the Noah/Luke saga on the now-cancelled As The World Turns? Be sure
to tune in tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after…
Lance Bass plans to keep it real
Maybe it was dating Reichen and hanging out with Kathy Griffin that did it to him, but Lance Bass is now looking to get his own reality series. Granted, it won’t be a “this is my life on a list, be it A or D” kind of show, but still, Lance Bass is climbing aboard that wagon with VH1. And it has to be acknowledged that his best idea of the several he’s recently sold—an as-yetuntitled music competition series—is sort of genius. In Bass’s own words: “I got a member from Backstreet Boys, A.J. McLean. A member from *NSYNC, Joey Fatone. A member from New Kids on the Block, Joe McIntyre. And a member from New Edition, Bobby Brown. They’re all going to form a boy band, each, from the most talented guys in America that I’ve scouted, and then they’ll go head-to-head in a competition to see who the best band is, so it’s bragging rights for the guy in the group, for sure.” Of course, technically, Bobby Brown hasn’t signed on yet. But there’s little chance he won’t. The Whitney Houston bus dropped him off a while back. The man has a living to make. Now, next question: Why is no former member of O-Town involved?
Elijah Wood will turn ‘Saucy Gay’
Elijah Wood (Magnolia Pictures) Elijah Wood’s suddenly very busy again. Now that the two Lord of the Rings prequels have titles (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again), release dates (December 2012 and 2013, respectively) and a cast that includes co-stars like Ian McKellen, Stephen Fry and Lee Pace, Frodo’s keeping at least one foot in real world. Wood will appear as the “saucy gay friend” in a new comedy called Celeste and Jesse Forever. Starring Parks and Recreation’s Rashida Jones and Saturday Night Live’s Andy Samberg as a divorcing couple trying to stay friends in the process, Wood will be on hand to do all that stuff that saucy gay friends in movies do for their favorite gals: hand-holding, cocktailprepping and shoe-shopping. We promise not to be offended by the stereotypes as long as his character is genuinely funny and gets to be more than a punchline himself. Got it, filmmakers?
TTHOLLYWOOD continued page 16
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Partying Hard: Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs by Joshua Dagon Fashion industry professionals all agree that the look for men this summer is totally ripped, washboard abs. Oh, and some kind of bathing suit or shorts. Avoid those bikinilike things, though. Gorgeous men all over the world have a single, unifying feature: totally ripped, washboard abs. Look at every successful male model working today, be they white or black, tan or pale, blonde or brunette, freckled or clear, heavily muscled or swimmer’s built, teen-aged or slightly older, they all have totally ripped, washboard abs. Some guys worry that, if they don’t have totally ripped, washboard abs, it means they’re somehow not attractive, which is, of course, very perceptive. Today, I’ll respond to some of your letters regarding totally ripped, washboard abs. Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs, I’ve developed a slight craving for ravioli, granola bars, and an occasional donut. What kind of workout would I have to do in order to get totally ripped, washboard abs but still be able to eat those foods every now and then? Craving Yummy Things
Dear Craving Yummy Things, Stop craving stuff. Unless you’re a seventeen year old meth junkie, there’s no way to eat certain things, such as food, and still get totally ripped, washboard abs. I suggest taking a picture of those items and licking it. Not too often, though; paper has calories.
Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs, When I was out with my friends on Saturday I was wearing a t-shirt that wasn’t skin tight. So, no one could tell that I had totally ripped, washboard abs. Worse, a couple of other guys were in similar shirts and no one could tell that they didn’t have totally ripped, washboard abs and I did. Any advice? Where’s the Justice? Dear Where’s the Justice?, First, if you must wear a shirt—or, indeed, any garment that covers the torso area—always wear something that’s skin tight. If you don’t have anything clean on hand that’s skin tight, I suggest applying the same body make-up that some guys use when attending a football game or, better still, colored latex paint. In the event that such products are also not available and you’re only choice is the less-than-skin-tight torso garment, simply yawn periodically, raising your arms high above your head, thereby at least exposing the Adonis lines at your waist. As for your fat friends, perhaps you should try loud conversations regarding
their eating habits. “Hey, tubs,” you could say with some exaggerated volume. “Do you ever use anything but original flavor Ranch dressing when you’re dunking your triple-cheese pizza into it?”
Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs, During an illness—I got sick of doing crunches—my jeans went up about three and a half sizes. Now, even though I’m a bit over forty, I want to get back my totally ripped, washboard abs. What kind of routine would you recommend? Getting Back In Shape
Stop craving stuff. Unless you’re a seventeen year old meth junkie, there’s no way to eat certain things, such as food, and still get totally ripped, washboard abs. I suggest taking a picture of those items and licking it. Not too often, though; paper has calories.
Dear Getting Back In Shape, Over forty? Don’t bother. It’s too late. Barring the approval of full-body transplant technology, your best bet, “routine” wise, is the DVD box set of Queer As Folk along with some barbiturates and a case of tequila to help you forget. Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs, I saw a magazine cover that advertised an article titled, “Six Weeks To Having Six-Pack Abs!” Do you use similar methods? Just Wondering Dear Just Wondering, Any literature promising someone that they’ll acquire a set of six-pack abs in only six weeks is either complete nonsense or instructions on how to kidnap Ryan Reynolds.
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.
Dear Mr. Totally Ripped, Washboard Abs, My existence is not all about my looks. I primarily eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, but I still treat myself to ice cream every so often. I’m in great shape and happy. Even though I might not have a fitness model’s body, I still have a lot of fun when I’m out at the bars. I love to go to the beach and I’m not self-conscious in a bathing suit. I think it’s irresponsible of you to perpetuate the idea that being obsessive-compulsive about staying hyper-fit and aesthetically flawless is the only path to contentment. There’s More To Life Dear There’s More To Life, No one will ever love you.
Nothing so soothes our vanity as a display of greater vanity in others; it make us vain, in fact, of our modesty. ~Louis Kronenberger
JULY 2011
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The Outfield by Dan Woog Brian Burke and the Bowdoin ‘bubble’
Bowdoin College is a warm, welcoming place. Nestled in a small Maine town, it’s the kind of place where Ben Chadwick could be out—and enjoy full, even joyful, acceptance from his lacrosse teammates and coaches. Yet—as Chadwick himself notes— Bowdoin is “a bit of a bubble.” So as warm and welcoming as the school is, it was still important for Brian Burke to appear there this spring. The Toronto Maple Leafs general manager—whose openly gay son Brendan was killed in an automobile accident last spring—spoke to a packed auditorium as part of Bowdoin’s “Anything But Straight in Athletics” series. “It’s good for students here to understand that being gay is still an issue” beyond Bowdoin’s idyllic campus, Chadwick says. The event featured a representative of one of sport’s most macho cultures—ice hockey—thanks in part to the efforts of someone who plays another notoriously anti-gay game: lacrosse. Yet Chadwick epitomizes the changes sweeping through even the most masculine sports today. Growing up in Needham, Massachussets, he always knew he was different. But he was a jock—an All-State football receiver, in fact—and did not come out until senior year. His friends and family were very supportive, but word spread quickly—“High school drama,” Chadwick laughs—and as captain of the lacrosse team, he worried he’d lost control of the process. So in college it took a while for him to come out again. “The lacrosse culture is generally conservative—pretty closeminded,” Chadwick notes. His brother had played lacrosse at Bowdoin, though, so Chadwick was already friendly with older players and the coaches. His college coming-out experience, he says, has been “awesome.” His teammates pledged to support him in any way they could—and they have. Still, Chadwick says, there was “not much of a bridge” between Bowdoin athletes and LGBT students. So as a sophomore he worked with Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity director Kate Stern and openly gay men’s tennis coach Colin Joyner to create Anything But Straight in Athletics. They met every couple of months, talking about common issues and offering support to LGBT athletes. Last year they developed a special program for the entire Bowdoin community. ESPN writer LZ Granderson discussed “Men, Manhood and Mayhem: The Real Reasons Behind Homphobia in Sports.” Out himself, he addressed perceived threats to men who have gay teammates. At the same time, openly gay photographer Jeff Sheng exhibited “Fearless,” his stunning portraits of LGBT high school and college athletes. This year, Chadwick’s connection to the ABSA day was even more personal. Brian Burke’s daughter Molly was a sophomore at Bowdoin. She and Chadwick are friends. Through her and mutual friends, he met Brendan Burke last year. “He was an unbelievable guy,” Chadwick
says of the beloved Miami University of Ohio hockey manager. “I looked forward to getting to know him more.” Two weeks later, Brendan Burke was killed in an automobile accident. His death stunned the hockey world, from the college players who had accepted him as a full, important member of their team, to his father’s colleagues and the entire National Hockey League. Brian Burke is a long-time sports executive, including a stint as general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic hockey team. At Bowdoin, Burke did not talk much about his son. “It’s still too raw,” Chadwick says. But Burke did describe the NHL environment, in terms of sexuality. And he did say that his Maple Leafs team would be very accepting of an openly gay player. “It was good to get the outside perspective,” Chadwick says. “We’re inside the Bowdoin bubble. We need to hear the macro level.” Seeing a lecture hall full of athletes listen raptly to a big, gruff guy talk about accepting gay men in hockey was “very exciting,” Chadwick says. And Burke’s “very positive” words resonated with everyone, Chadwick adds. “Your sexuality doesn’t matter, so long as you produce on the ice” was the main message, and it was delivered loudly and clearly, Chadwick says. Burke described the hundreds of emails he received after the death of his son. One boy said he’d be kicked out of his house if his parents knew he was gay. “That broke my heart,” Burke said. Chadwick graduated last month. He’s heading to New Orleans, where he’ll spend two years with Teach for America (and, hopefully, do some coaching). Looking back at his Bowdoin career, he is proud and happy. “Four years ago,” he says, “people might have thought the lacrosse team would be the last one to accept a gay guy. But everyone has been great.” Thanks, in part, to the great attitude and hard work of athletes like Ben Chadwick and Brian Burke.
“balanced” news coverage, including quotes from an anti-gay player or official, was absent. According to Outsports.com, Welts’ announcement capped “the gayest sports month ever.” Since the beginning of the year, the LGBT sports website has logged over two dozen coming-out stories. They range from Boston Herald sportswriter Steve Buckley and Olympic skater Johnny Weir (duh), to an English cricketer, a Scottish cyclist, a Swedish professional soccer player, a Dutch racecar driver, and several high school and college athletes and coaches. This is not a drip-drip-drip of gay athletes. It’s an avalanche, covering nearly every sport, level and circumstance. No gay male athlete currently competing in a major team sport has yet come out. But the cumulative effect of this way-gay year is paving the way for that inevitability. And paving always creates a smoother path. That path has been smoothed too by straight allies like Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. They filmed a public service announcement in support of the “Think Before You Speak” ad campaign, targeting the use of anti-gay language by teenagers. Simply, directly yet quite forcefully, the NBA stars send a message: “That’s so gay” is passé. Hill and Dudley play for the Phoenix Suns. Welts is their boss. It’s unclear whether their PSA had anything to do with his sexuality, or if they even knew. (It was taped long before his public announcement.) But that’s immaterial. What matters is that the ad aired during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals—the mostwatched NBA game in cable history. Over 11 million viewers saw a no-nonsense condemnation of homophobia—in a venue that meant something to them. The tipping point came closer—and the path to acceptance, even celebration, grew smoother—when New York Rangers star Sean Avery recorded his own video. He offered rousing support for the latest New York state campaign to legalize same-sex marriage. The New York Times called Avery a
This is not a drip-dripdrip of gay athletes. It’s an avalanche, covering nearly every sport, level and circumstance.
The President comes out
The president has come out. No, not the president of the United States. (Though Barack Obama does have a better bod than, say, Newt Gingrich.) It’s the president of the Phoenix Suns. And though this is only an NBA franchise, not the leader of the free world, a tipping point may have been reached. When Rick Welts revealed last month that he’s gay—in an in-depth, insightful story in The New York Times, among other media—reaction was almost gleeful. League commissioner David Stern— who knew for years, but never said anything directly to Welts, his former assistant—was strongly supportive. The legendary Bill Russell—a mentor of sorts—told Welts he would do anything to help. There was nary a peep from the NBA; the usual pseudo-
“fashion-conscious, on-ice agitator.” He has lived in West Hollywood and New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. He interned at Vogue, and because of his aggressive playing style has been voted the “most hated player” in the National Hockey League. Yet those contradictions pale in comparison to his video’s unequivocal message: “I’m a New Yorker for marital equality. I treat everyone the way I expect to be treated, and that applies to marriage.” Baseball is hopping on the LGBT media bandwagon too. The San Francisco Giants became the first professional sports team to film an “It Gets Better” video, bringing hope to You Tube-watching gay youth while building awareness that anti-gay bullying is not cool. The Giants had been thinking of making a video—joining thousands of individuals, and companies like Apple and Google in nearby Silicon Valley. When lifelong fan Sean Chapin got 6,000 signatures on an online petition drive in favor of the idea, the reigning World Series champs quickly agreed. The Giants had been stung a few days earlier when Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell taunted three men in the Giants’ stands with homophobic comments and suggestive gestures. And Welts’ announcement came just a few days after Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant called a referee “faggot.” NBA commissioner whacked Bryant with a $100,000 fine. So—despite all the positive signs— bumps still litter the gay-acceptance road. Though high school and college athletes are coming out in record numbers, many remain closeted. All the Grant Hill, Jared Dudley and Sean Avery videos in the world may not overpower the words young players hear from Kobe Bryant and Roger McDowell. On the other hand, they may. Rick Welts is not a household name, but his position— president of a successful NBA team—is powerful. When he joins professional athletes in support of LGBT issues—uniting many sports and many levels of achievement in a common cause—the message is clear. And it’s not “It Gets Better.” It’s “It Already Has.” 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 at OutField@qsyndicate.
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JULY 2011
Cocktail Chatter by Ed Sikov The Pimm’s Cup
“I put down $250 on Billy Joe oh everybody’s up I’ll call you back is there coffee I smell it yeah! Bye! Great!” Phil Levine bounded down the stairs dressed only in a black leather jockstrap to which he had affixed a matching cellphone holster. Dan, Paolo, Chipper and I stared in shocked silence as the hypermasculine spitfire strode toward us. Seconds later, we were all introduced to his phenomenally hairy ass when he turned around to pour a mug of coffee. What with the phone strapped to the strap and all that fur, the vision was too much to bear (so to speak), and in a failed effort to stifle a laugh, I involuntarily snorted. Dan glared at me but with an unmistakable smirk. Paolo and Chipper practically ran toward the deck. “What?” Phil Levine barked when he turned and caught me gaping at his astounding leather-covered bulge, which
was as bull-like as his ego. “Your cell phone,” I lied. “Never without it,” Phil declared. “Might be business on the other end funny business know what I mean?” Damn! Phil Levine has “it”—that indescribable erotic allure that transcends body type, body hair, facial features, everything. “It men” like Phil are pheromonereeking catnip to other guys. Especially when wearing nothing but a leather jock. “The Preakness is this afternoon I’m making Pimm’s Cups if the liquor store carries it they’d better it’s standard stuff and I assume you can get decent cucumbers at the Pantry…” “Of course you can,” I broke in. “But aren’t Pimm’s Cups a summer drink?” “Eat me,” replied Phil Levine with a grin as he grabbed his enormous package. Then his cell phone rang—the ringtone was “Theme from T he Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” He yammered away about the $250 he had riding on Billy Joe and told whoever
Phil Levine has “it”—that indescribable erotic allure that transcends body type, body hair, facial features, everything. “It men” like Phil are pheromone-reeking catnip to other guys. Especially when wearing nothing but a leather jock.
it was to come over in 20 minutes; he had to take a shower. Then again maybe he wouldn’t… He snickered lewdly and hung up, seized his coffee and sped upstairs, presumably to generate more body odor. Dan’s mouth was slightly open as he stared in the direction Phil’s hairy rear had just taken. He had a distinctly guilty look about him. “Well, it is nicely proportioned,” he tried, but I cut him off. “He runs around the house in licensed Verizon-accessory fetishwear. That damn horse should jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge.” “What?” Dan asked in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about half the time.” “‘Papa said to Mama as he passed around the black-eyed pea-ee-ee-eas…’” I explained. “I give up,” Dan muttered sadly and headed for the deck. The liquor store came through with the Pimm’s, of course, and the Pines Pantry had cukes galore—waxed ones, the wrapped European kind, Kirbies… Phil’s Pimm’s Cups were perfect. I couldn’t stand it. So as we crowded around the television to watch the Preakness—“we” included the stunningly beautiful Malaysian boy who’d spent the day and who now sat on Phil’s lap—I had to be just a little snide. “The Pimm’s Cups are terrific, Phil,” I said. “Too bad it’s such a chilly afternoon.” There was cosmic justice to back me up: Billy Joe came in fifth.
also a clean shot to the front gate, which opened, to my horror, just as I was washing my most rarely-seen-in-public region. Jack Fogg waved a cheery hello, raised his eyebrows, and disappeared into the house. “Where’s Sammy?” I asked when we met again upstairs, I having scooted into some gym trunks, Jack into his standard Madras shorts. “Don’t mention that name,” he snarled. “Yesterday I caught him in my own bed with the Indian delivery boy!” I tried to look sympathetic, but the mental image was like Spanish Fly. “He had the balls to tell me he had a craving for chicken vindaloo! It’s happened before. Sammy’s insatiable. But the delivery boy?!” Classic! Harvard ’89 was offended not by Sammy’s cheating but by the trick’s caste! I said nothing but “You want a drink?” “Sure—what are you mixing?” “I dunno. Let’s see what we have.” I found some bourbon while Jack leaned into the open refrigerator. “Voila!” A hand emerged clutching a plastic lemon. “If there’s sugar I’ll make bourbon sours.” “Snap to!” I barked. My command pulled Jack out of the fridge with a faint blush. “Syrup! Not sugar!” “Yes, sir,” he replied, his cheeks reddening, and swiftly made us the most enormous bourbon sours I’ve ever seen. Sours go in 5-ounce glasses. Jack Fogg’s required 12-ounce tumblers. I plunked down on the couch. Jack Fogg plunked down right next to me. We clinked. “Cheers!” I still harbor a robust jealousy toward Jack Fogg. He’s well built and handsome and an Ivy League A-lister, whereas I’m Shrimp Boy from a two-bit town north of Pittsburgh who went to a college nobody’s heard of. But there I was in gym trunks getting blotto next to an equally shirtless Jack Fogg, who, noticing that I kept glancing at his blond chest hair, actually flexed. “These things are mighty fine!” I declared after emptying my glass. “Which?” he said with a leer. “The drinks or my pecs?” Time began to careen after Jack returned with two more flagons of bourbon sours. Reader, miracles occurred!
I still harbor a robust jealousy toward Jack Fogg. He’s well built and handsome and an Ivy League A-lister, whereas I’m Shrimp Boy from a two-bit town north of Pittsburgh who went to a college nobody’s heard of.
The Pimm’s Cup
• 2 ounce Pimm’s #1 • Ginger Ale to taste (Canada Dry is fine, but be a snob and use one with a stronger ginger flavor) • Thin slices of cucumber 1. Pour the Pimm’s into a tall glass filled with ice. 2. Top off with ginger ale. 3. Garnish with a cucumber slice.
Jack Fogg Rolls In: The Bourbon Sour
An afternoon in June. Under a bright blue dome of a sky, boys paraded around like Speedo models and dressed accordingly. Cher’s “Believe” wafted through the air from two different houses, off sync. Since it was only Thursday, our witless but ever-giggling, wretchedly visible neighbors weren’t in residence yet. In a blazing stroke of architectural stupidity, our outdoor shower directly overlooks their deck. I’d done some heavy yardwork, and without the annoying onlookers—they either cheered or booed depending on the drugs they were on—I washed off in solitude under our outdoor shower. There’s
Jack Fogg’s Humongous… Bourbon Sour • 2/3 cup bourbon • 3 squirts lemon juice • 1/2 teaspoon simple syrup 1. Mix the three together, add ice, 2. Be sure to have condoms in a nearby drawer,. 3. Serve. (Avoid the conventional cherry unless you plan to do something very unconventional with it.)
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JULY 2011
ACCESSline’s STATEWIDE Recurring Events List
Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi Lady Gaga, Born This Way
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 +: HIV-related D: Drag W: General Women’s Interest
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 319-338-9111 or visit the AA-IC website: http:// aa-ic.org/. [ L G B T M W A ] 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, 319-3215895. [ 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! [ L G B T + A ] Second Sunday, LGBT MOVIE NIGHT, 2 p.m., Johnson County Senior Center, 28 S. Linn St., room 202 , Iowa City, IA 52240. A series of narrative and documentary movies focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues with informal discussions afterward. An encore screening and discussion of each movie will be offered on the following evenings to accommodate more participants. The selections will share with the audience some of the traumas and successes experienced by the LGBT community throughout history, as well as center around gay love stories and the universal search for meaningful relationships. For more information, or to request a favorite title, contact the series organizer, Elsie Gauley Vega, at 319-337-4487 or jgvega@hotmail.com. [ L G B T ]
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 641-583-2848. [ 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 BTMWAK] 4th Monday of the Month, IOWA PFLAG WAUKON/NORTHEAST CHAPTER MEETING, 7
B: Bisexual T: Transgender A: General Interest K: Kids and Family M: General Men’s Interest
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 W A ] 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 ] Monday, DIVERSITY CHORUS REHEARSALS, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310. Des Moines Diversity Chorus welcomes new singers, begins 02/07/2011. No audition required. Singing with meaning since 1997! Call Julie Murphy at 515-2553576 for more information. No cost to members. Rehearsals continue on Monday evenings through 5/2/11. [ L G B T M W A D ]
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 GBTMWA] 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, 319-621-8530 or Nora Garda at 319-400-4695, or visit http://iowadancefest.blogspot.com/. [ L G B T M W A ] 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 ]
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The third album from pop’s poker-faced ingénue isn’t quite album-of-the-decade deserving, as the star herself claimed it would be, but dear Gaga, it’s gotta be the gayest. Gaga’s message of self-love in the face of adversity isn’t just part of the Born This Way emancipation proclamation, on which she celebrates all kinds of queers with kitschy ridiculousness that only Mother Monster could pull off. She does it again on the surging “Hair,” her mane weirdly a metaphor for freedom from oppression. Those songs, and almost every other club anthem on this very gay gospel of Gaga, come at you like a wrecking ball: big beats, bigger vocals and concert-made credos of liberation, religious or otherwise, that never let up. The vagueness of “The Edge of Glory” does it a favor, reflecting some of the cheesy best of ‘80s pop with its totally ambiguous narrative and second coming of the sax. “Scheiße,” with mockGerman jargon and techno sheen, could be the theme song for a Brüno sequel (couldn’t you just see him doing the catwalk to it?); the aggressive “Bad Kids” is dirtied up in a hardedged melody that’s also sweetly endearing for all you naughty rebels. But all’s not tip-top: “Americano” is a second-rate “Alejandro,” and “Marry the Night” probably works better live. More moments like “Bloody Mary,” an easy-going song about a bad romance, would be a welcome reprieve from the exhausting anthems. Ultimately, Born This Way is strong enough for the everyman but made for the monsters. Two paws up. Grade: B
Matraca Berg, The Dreaming Fields
Blessed with a sterling voice, it’s a wonder we haven’t heard more from Matraca Berg in the last 14 years. That’s how long it’s been since the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, who typically works behindthe-scenes and has written hits for such country heavyweights as Martina McBride and Reba McEntire, released any new mate-
rial of her own. Thankfully, the wait is over. One of the best albums of the year, Berg’s Dreaming Fields is mellow singer-songwriter music for the soul, mirroring legends like Emmylou Harris and Carole King with stellar writing and Berg’s voice—a mellifluous sound that knows how to get lost in a song. When she poignantly recalls pre-suburban pastures on “The Dreaming Fields,” you wanna go back in time; when she mourns the death of a loved one on “Racing the Angels,” you wish you could bring that person back. Given her songwriting credits, none of it’s that country—even with a song title as Southerncooked as “Your Husband’s Cheating on Us,” a saucy number about a two-timer, the breather in the set. The rest of Dreaming Fields is built on intense emotions of nostalgia and heartbreak, mourning a relationship’s imminent end on “Clouds” and escaping an abusive one on “If I Had Wings.” “A Cold, Rainy Morning in London in June” closes this marvelously moving album on just piano and strings—and if there were any doubts that Berg should be a bigger deal, this is the song to change that. Grade: A-
Also Out
Brad Paisley, This Is Country Music For as big of a country superstar as Brad Paisley is, he sure doesn’t act like it. More than ever his latest LP casts him as the dude next door, where his sign-of-the-times songs—about unemployment (“A Man Don’t Have to Die”) and sweating the small stuff (“One of Those Lives”)—are right in line with his image. The title track is awkwardly selfcongratulatory, but one of the better songs on the album. All in all, though, this one’s no American Saturday Night, his last LP. But it’s not a bad way to spend the rest of the week.
Ford & Lopatin, Channel Pressure
It’s back to the future for this Brooklyn electro duo, formerly of Games. Glitchy synths and spastic drum machines—both which fold into greatness on “Too Much Midi (Please Forgive Me)”—take center stage during the production team’s space-rock opera, a conceptual story about their teenage years. It’s a long one, dragging out the musical ADD just a few songs too much, but some of the ‘80s-drenched throwbacks—especially “World of Regret,” a stuttery whomp rhythm with electro squiggles and fluttery vocals— are as fantastically old-fashioned as cut-off shorts. Chris Azzopardi can be reached online at chris@pridesource.com.
… Whether life’s disabilities Left you outcast, bullied or teased Rejoice and love yourself today ‘Cause baby, you were born this way No matter gay, straight or bi Lesbian, transgendered life I’m on the right track, baby I was born to survive No matter black, white or beige Chola or orient made I’m on the right track, baby I was born to be brave … — Lyrics from “Born This Way” by Paul Blair, Fernando Garibay, Stefani Germanotta, and Jeppe Breum Laursen
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JULY 2011
k.d. lang: ‘Loud’ and Proud Singer talks being butch, out and the first gay country star (before Chely Wright)
k.d. lang is manning up, and here’s why: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and all the other sexpots of pop who shoot whipped cream from their chests and ride disco sticks. In our recent interview with lang, a longtime gay activist and singer of the purest form who turns 50 later this year, she told us how her decision to boost her longtime butchness was a rebellious choice. The look is evident in “I Confess,” the lead single from the recently released Sing it Loud. k.d.’s first record made entirely with a band in over 20 years ago, the new album features her sublime voice in all its glory. The singer chatted about the album’s evolution, how being the first out country star doesn’t matter (she doesn’t even know who Chely Wright is), and why she’s proud to be part of Glee. Why did you approach Sing it Loud with a fuller sound and, for the first time in a while, a band? It just seemed to be the right thing to do. It was just what I was feeling. I was working with Joe (Pisapia), writing songs, and it came time to record them and I just felt like the band was the right way to approach it—very live and spontaneous and kind of rock. We put the band together and it was
beyond my wildest dreams what transpired. We recorded eight songs in three days and the love in the room was palpable, and the communication and the magic was just extraordinarily creative. There’s lots of love on the album. What inspired all of it? We wanted to write something that was unpretentious and uplifting and made the listener feel good and felt good while we were playing it. It’s not really an autobiographical record because it’s highly collaborative. How will the new songs translate to a live venue? I really believe that the energy that we feel for each other and for the music will translate to the audience—at least I’m hoping, but I’m pretty sure it will. Explain the line “I’ll be your daddy” on “I Confess.” Well, it’s pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? (Laughs) Definitely, but how did it come about? Was it your line? We were just sitting around and I said to Josh (Grange) and Daniel (Clarke), who I wrote the song with, “I want to write a Roy Orbison song.” It just started coming out of us, and I was just kind of riffing on lyrics and fooling around—“I love you madly,” and I just went, “I’ll be your daddy”— and Josh is like, “Oh my god, that’s so cool. You have to keep it.” How do you think that line would’ve been received had you recorded this song 20 years ago when you first came out of
I don’t know who Chely Wright is. But I don’t care. I mean, to a whole generation of people who know Chely Wright, they probably don’t know who I am, so to them it is the first country star to come out. (Laughs) I don’t really care who’s the first, who’s the last, because before me there were a lot of people that helped get me to a place to feel confident and comfortable with coming out.
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HOLLYWOOD
will unfold. Naturally, this will all take place tastefully and will be served with some very expensive teas and cakes.
Waiting patiently for Jane Lynch’s Emmy plans more Downton Abbey? It’s are all set shooting now. With the Emmy Award telecast moving If good things really do come to those who wait, then American fans of the U.K. period drama series Downton Abbey are in for a serious treat early in 2012. The thinking person’s luxury soap, set at the start of World War I, starring Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville, has been renewed for a second season and a Christmas special that’s in production right now in England and is due to air there this autumn (the Christmas special in December). Now, for reasons unknown, audiences on this side of the Atlantic who aren’t up on how to locate illegal streams of their favorite TV shows online will have to be patient a little longer for PBS Masterpiece to get its broadcast rights. But sometime early next year all the class warfare drama—including the storyline with handsome Rob James-Collier as that evil, treacherous and gay “first footman”—
to Fox this September, it only makes sense that the network would want to build the brand by selecting one their own as host. No, not Ryan Seacrest. He’s already juggling two dozen gigs. The powers that be have selected Glee’s Jane Lynch. And, really, who could be better? The Emmy-winning actor is a natural pick: effortlessly funny, appealing to a variety of demographic slices of the audience pie and in bad need of a venue to break out of the Sue Sylvester rut her show’s been digging all season long (so don’t expect any formal track suit/tux combo). She can also sing, so when that goofy “here are the nominees in song” bit that every award telecast thinks is so great comes along, they won’t have to bring in the Glee kids to help her out. Come to think of it, though, it is Fox; they just might do that anyway. Find out Sept. 18.
Photos: The Fun Star the closet? Probably the same as now. I think there’s going to always be people who feel uncomfortable with it and there’s always going to be people who are titillated by it. You just have to know that’s going to be the case for a long time. Would you say you’re embracing your butchness more than you used to? Yeah—this music really asks for it. I also think that the aesthetic nature of today’s music, with people like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry— not that it’s new, it certainly isn’t; I know better than that—being very exaggerated, I thought, I can exaggerate too. (Laughs) You mention the aesthetic of performers today, which seems to be more important than vocal talent these days. But you’ve always been about the voice. What do you make of the way the music business has shifted in the
way it sells music? It’s kind of the direction it’s been going. If you’re really a historian you can probably go back to television, to video, to multimedia and see how it sort of extracted it from its purist form, which is making music. Now you’re on camera every single time you open your mouth. I’m surprised someone isn’t video taping this interview for the web. (Laughs) I actually think it’s boring because everything is so overexposed. But it’s fine; it is what it is. I’m not going to be one of those people going, “Oh, it’s gotta be like it used to be.” I think it’s relative and it’s the evolution of the way things are. In terms of music, there is always going to be a place for someone who can sing and someone who can communicate with an audience. I don’t think that will ever be in danger, because
Intermsofmusic,there is always going to be a place for someone who can sing and someone who can communicate with an audience. I don’t think that will ever be in danger, because that’s what separates the cream from the crop. If you can walk on stage and really deliver, yeah— you can’t fake that.
Miley Cyrus has the last LOL Just a few days ago Miley Cyrus had some Twitter fun at the expense of anti-gay politician Rick Santorum by publicly scolding him online (she also went after conservativeowned/progressively-marketed chain Urban Outfitters) and made it clear that pop star support for LGBT rights doesn’t begin and end with Madonna, Kylie and Gaga. So if anyone out there wants to support Miley where it counts, at the box office—her film career outside of projects with the name Hannah Montana attached hasn’t exactly set the world on fire—it would help to be aware of her two upcoming projects. She’s just finished shooting two comedies, one called So Undercover, where she plays an FBI agent (OK, stop snickering) who goes undercover in a college sorority, and it co-stars Glee’s Mike O’Malley, Kelly Osbourne and Jeremy Piven. She’s also wrapped LOL, a high school saga of peer pressure, cell phones and parents who just don’t understand. That one features Demi Moore, Hung’s Thomas Jane and Gina Showgirls Gershon. The kid has shown that she’s all right, now let’s hope her movies are, too.
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Lisa ‘Queen of Mean’ Lampanelli heads to Broadway
We already loved comic Lisa Lampanelli for causing a one-woman ruckus in opposition to the Phelps family and their tax-exempt Westboro Baptist operation (a group she calls “a $#*!!y sign-making company” instead of a church) by donating $1,000 to Gay Men’s Health Crisis for every protestor who came to her recent show in Topeka, Kansas, a move that earned the group $50K. But now the self-described “Lovable Queen of Mean” plans to keep on giving as she heads to Broadway. There she’ll co-create, along with writers from Billy Crystal’s show 700 Sundays, a one-woman show based on her book Chocolate, Please. No word on a date yet, but it’s a lock that it won’t feature any dangerous aerial stunts or annoying Bono songs. Save your ticket money for this one. Romeo San Vicente’s blindingly handsome face turns off the dark everywhere he goes. He can be reached care of this publication or at DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com.
JULY 2011
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Recent Southern Poverty Law Center headlines (splcenter.org) It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World: Klan Takes on Westboro Gay-Bashers Posted in Anti-Gay, Klan by Ryan Lenz on May 31, 2011 It’s a new and twisted world when the Ku Klux Klan takes on the Westboro Baptist Church, the famously rabid anti-gay group founded by Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kan. Needless to say, most Klan groups despise gays and lesbians only slightly less than black and Jewish people. But over Memorial Day weekend, about 10 members of a tiny Powhatan Va.-based Klan group called the Knights of the Southern Cross Soldiers of the Ku Klux Klan joined a counterprotest against Phelps’ church held by about 70 people waving pro-U.S. signs. Like the other counter-protesters who came to denounce the Westboro hate group, the Klan tried to screen funeral services being held at Arlington National Cemetery from the “God Hates Fags” signs that have come to define the Phelps family and its church. Phelps claims that U.S. soldiers are being killed by a God angered at America’s “fag-enabling” ways. Dennis LaBonte, the self-described imperial wizard or national leader of the Klan group, said the Phelps family should understand that it is the military that protects free speech rights — the very rights preserved by the U.S. Supreme Court in ruling in March that found the Westboro protests were protected speech. “It’s the soldier that fought and died and gave them that right,” LaBonte said. Since 2005, the Phelps family has maintained that picketing military funerals is justified because God is punishing the nation for tolerating homosexuality. The Phelpses also have claimed that God chose to use improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, to kill soldiers because the church’s Topeka compound was once bombed with a similar device. “God is visiting the sins upon America by killing their kids with IEDs … and the more the merrier,” church founder Fred Phelps once said. Abigail Phelps, one of Phelps’ daughters who was at the protest, told CNN that the nation it should not “idolize” the dead, especially those who died for an “unrighteous cause.” As for Klan members joining the protest against Westboro and its message, Phelps said, in one of the few statements from her congregation that most Americans would agree with, “They have no moral authority on anything.”
Nation in Crisis,” on Sunday told Reuters that Perry contacted the AFA a month ago “to call Americans together for a time of prayer.” The rally will be held Aug. 6 at Reliant Stadium, which holds nearly 72,000 people. Neither Bearse nor Perry’s press office answered email requests for comment. But in a written statement, the governor “urged fellow governors to issue similar proclamations encouraging their constituents to pray that day for unity and righteousness.” The AFA is one of the most strident voices spreading malicious anti-LGBT propaganda. The group’s director of policy analysis, Bryan Fischer, claimed last year, “Homosexuality gave us Adolph [sic] Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and six million dead Jews.” He has proposed criminalizing homosexual behavior and advocated forcing gay men and lesbians into “reparative” therapy programs. More recently, Fischer wrote that gays were the leading perpetrators of hate crimes. With a long history of close ties to the anti-gay movement, it’s no surprise Perry would associate himself so closely with the AFA. In his 10 years as governor, he has waged a fight to keep “homosexual conduct” listed as a criminal offense in the state penal code – a law he has said is “appropriate.” In 2005, while signing a bill to amend the state constitution to specifically prohibit gays and lesbians from marrying, Perry was joined on stage by Rob Parsley, a celebrity Pentecostal faith healer, who lauded the governor for “protecting the children of Texas from the gay agenda.” (The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately struck down the law.) Parsley offered a series of shocking statistics – for example, that only 1% of the LGBT population in American will die of old age. The numbers, in fact, were gross distortions pulled straight from pseudo-scientific studies by Dr. Paul Cameron, a crackpot psychologist and champion of the anti-gay crusade. “The Response” is being promoted as an event to bring America together at a time of widespread natural disaster and economic turmoil. But, more likely, it’s a response to the hard-fought advances in the gay community, most notably the pending repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Materials promoting the event have said as much. “Our nation is at a crossroads. … The youth of America are in grave peril economically, socially, and, most of all, morally,” a description on the event’s website reads. “As a nation, we must come together, call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles. … There is hope for America. It lies in heaven, and we will find it on our knees.”
Anti-Gay Group to Sponsor Texas Gov. Perry’s National Family Research Council Prayer Rally Reposts Discredited AntiGay ‘Science’ Posted in Anti-Gay by Ryan Lenz on June 7, 2011
The American Family Association (AFA), a virulent anti-gay hate group based in Tupelo, Miss., has agreed to pay for a national day of prayer being organized later this summer in Houston by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a longstanding ally to prominent figures in the anti-gay movement. Eric Bearse, a spokesman for the event billed as “The Response: a Call to Prayer for a
Posted in Anti-Gay, Extremist Propaganda by Heidi Beirich on June 14, 2011 For a while there, it seemed like the religious right group Family Research Council (FRC) was making some attempt to clean its website of bogus “research” that defamed gays. Material that peddled a series of falsehoods — in particular, the articles
“Homosexuality and Child Sexual Abuse,” “The Negative Health Effects of Homosexuality,” and “Homosexual Parenting: Placing Children at Risk” — went missing from the website. These studies contained several lies, the most important being that gays molest children at far higher rates than heterosexuals; that same-sex parents harm children; and that gays don’t live nearly as long as heterosexuals. In 2009, FRC claimed the material had been taken down because the sources used for the articles were, in FRC’s words, “outdated.” But thanks to the dogged efforts of blogger Alvin McEwen, we now know that that defamatory material has found its way back onto FRC’s website. Not only that: Where the reports used to have a disclaimer that marked them as outdated, they no longer do. This year, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) began listing FRC as a hate group, based precisely on the kinds of material that McEwen points out. Rather than defend the material, the FRC launched a propaganda offensive, saying the SPLC was “maligning” individuals rather than discussing the issues. But, in fact, FRC chief Tony Perkins went on MSNBC in a debate with the SPLC’s Mark Potok and promptly insisted that gays were dangerous to children — a real maligning of individuals, and one that had been proven false years before. Perkins even cited a tiny group of anti-gay pediatricians as his source, making it sound as if their group were actually the nation’s pediatric professional organization. It was not. The FRC’s reposted material is completely baseless and taken straight from some of the country’s most notorious gaybashers. Take, for example, “Homosexual Parenting: Placing Children at Risk.” McEwen points out that the piece cites the work of “researcher” Paul Cameron “to make the case that same-sex household are not simply bad places to raise children, but actually places them in danger (by making them susceptible to incest) — an assertion refuted by more credible researchers and medical bodies.” The piece is back up on the FRC site with no disclaimer. Cameron is an infamous anti-gay propagandist whose one-man statistical chop shop, the Family Research Institute, churns out hate literature masquerading as legitimate science. His work has been rejected by both the American Psychological Association and the American Sociological Association. With these repostings, it seems clear that the FRC’s anti-gay propaganda offensive against the LGBT community won’t be letting up any time soon — and that the FRC would in fact rather malign individuals than have an honest debate on the issues.
A Parade of Anti-Gay Figures Joins Texas Governor’s Prayer Rally
Posted in Anti-Gay, Extremist Propaganda by Ryan Lenz on June 17, 2011 For more than a week now, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been under fire for his plans to lead a prayer rally in Houston later this summer that is sponsored by the American
Family Association (AFA), a particularly virulent gay-bashing group. A petition is circulating demanding that Perry abandon the event. But its organizers are moving defiantly forward with a new and expanded cast of some of the most charismatic figures in the anti-gay circuit endorsing the governor’s prayer rally. The event, which has been billed as “The Response,” boasts endorsements from a veritable Who’s Who of the anti-gay movement. Among them is Cindy Jacobs, the Generals International pastor who claims that catastrophic natural events are the product of God’s anger over the acceptance of homosexuality, most famously when she attributed the mass death of blackbirds in Arkansas to divine wrath. “What happens when a nation makes a decision that is against God’s principles? … Nature itself will begin to talk to us,” Jacobs said. Mike Bickle, Luis and Jill Cataldo, Randy and Kelsey Bohlender – all part of the International House of Prayer Missions (IHOP) based in Kansas City, Mo. – have signed on to the leadership committee, too. The church lists Lou Engle as a senior leader. Engle has predicted that “wrath will come upon the whole nation” if judges permit same-sex marriage and abortion. He also has said same-sex marriage is a blatant “legalizing of evil” and called marriage equality laws “antiChrist legislation.” Other figures endorsing the rally are Kelly Shackelford, a lawyer with the aggressively anti-gay Liberty Counsel, and David Barton, a self-taught historian who has used the platform provided by his WallBuilders group to expound on the moral dangers of allowing gay men and lesbians into the military. “The Founders instituted this ban with a clear understanding of the damaging effects of this behavior,” he wrote in a recent article. Since announcing the event last week, Perry has come under continued scrutiny. Most of the criticism has centered on event sponsor AFA’s long history of anti-gay rhetoric, mostly through the writings and speeches of Bryan Fischer, the group’s director of issues analysis. Fischer has claimed, for instance, that “[h]omosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and six million dead Jews.” He has proposed criminalizing homosexual behavior and advocated forcing gay men and lesbians into “reparative therapy programs. Event spokesman Eric Bearse did not immediately return several E-mail requests for comment. To other media, he has said the event is about bringing people together and finding common ground. “A lot of people want to criticize what we’re doing, as if we’re somehow being exclusive of other faiths,” Bearse said. “But anyone who comes to this solemn assembly regardless of their faith tradition or background, will feel the love, grace and warmth of Jesus Christ.” One person who isn’t feeling the love is Bryan Fischer. Pilloried in liberal venues repeatedly over the last week, the man who once suggested that the cure for promiscuity is to kill the promiscuous has uncharacteristically taken up the defense of a hate crime victim — himself. It is he, laments Fischer, not the gays and lesbians he equates with Nazi mass murders, who is the real victim.
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the fun guide
JULY 2011
The Gay Wedding Planner by Beau Fodor As a child, growing up in a military family, and then at 18 years old, becoming a Seaman-recruit, then Hospital Corpsman, in the US Navy, who proudly served openly & honestly, and was also honorably discharged, this months’ column holds very special & personal meaning... In his first State of the Union address, President Obama declared that he would work to “finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are.” Though a June 2009 Gallup poll showed that 69% of Americans support allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military, repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” will take more than a declaration—it will take an act of Congress. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are presenting a proposal to repeal the ban in the first congressional hearing on the issue in 17 years. According to a Jan. 26 study by the Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law, there are an estimated 66,000 lesbians, gays and bisexuals currently serving in the U.S. armed forces; for these soldiers, progress on a repeal is only the latest glimmer of hope in a long history of secrets. For the ancient Greeks, gays serving in the military were no big deal. Indeed, Plato wrote in his Symposium that a small army composed of lovers and those they loved would be more than a match for much larger armies: “For love will convert the veriest coward into an inspired hero.” But for the most part, that’s where support of gays in the military ended. Following the Crusades, the Knights Templar were persecuted and many members burned at the stake for their same-sex affairs in the early 14th century. In the Napoleonic wars, four men aboard the British ship H.M.S. Africaine were hanged in 1816 for “buggery”; two other crewmen were whipped for “uncleanness” (a term used to describe deviant sexual behavior). Even General George Washington discharged an American soldier in 1778 for participating in homosexual acts. Though the U.S. military explicitly prohibited homosexuality in the Articles of War of 1916, a ban wasn’t enforced until World War II. Amid the largest mobilization in U.S. history, the Army, Navy and Selective Service System developed procedures for spotting and excluding homosexual draft-
ees from service: recruits were screened for feminine body characteristics, effeminacy in dress and manner and a patulous (expanded) rectum. By war’s end, more than 4,000 of the 12 million men conscripted for the war effort were rejected for being gay. (Thousands of lesbians were allowed to serve the war effort, however; asking women about their sexuality violated the standards of behavior at the time.) During Vietnam, homosexuality or the appearance of it was seen by some as a way to avoid service in a bloody and unpalatable conflict, although it didn’t always work: in 1968 Perry Watkins, a 19-year-old from Washington, was drafted despite checking the “yes” box in the category “homosexual tendencies” during his preinduction physical examination. After 16 years of service, the military discharged Watkins for his sexual orientation in 1984; he promptly filed a lawsuit and went on to win his case in 1990. Enter “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” During his 1992 presidential campaign, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays in the military—a move opposed by senior military officials and a majority of the American public. It became one of the first issues Clinton tackled as President, but when the White House attempt to unilaterally repeal the ban stumbled, Congress passed a law to keep openly gay men and women from serving. Gays were allowed to serve so long as they kept quiet about their sexual orientation. The phrase “Don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t completely describe the law, formally known as the Military Personnel Eligibility Act of 1993. While the Pentagon agreed to stop asking about sexuality in recruitment forms and interviews, it never agreed to stop investigating whether those serving in the military were gay. As a result, since 1994, more than 12,000 service members have been dismissed because of their sexual orientation. Today, 25 countries allow gays to openly serve in their armed forces, including the U.S.’s closest neighbor, Canada. The British military began allowing gays to serve in 2000; members of the Ministry of Defense told The New York Times in 2007 that there had been no reported incidents of harassment, discord, blackmail or bullying, nor any erosion of unit cohesion or military effectiveness. In Israel, which has had no restrictions on gays serving in the military since 1993,
the army magazine, Bamahane, showcased two men hugging each other on a 2009 cover. In Russia, people “who have problems with their identity and sexual preferences,” as the military guidelines put it, are allowed to serve only during times of war. Many other countries ban homosexuality in society in general, making gays’ military service there a non issue. In the U.S., however, many think it’s time for the military to catch up with the times. “As a nation built on the principle of equality,” wrote General John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a letter to Pentagon leadership, “we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger, more cohesive military. As far as Iowa’s Gay Wedding Planner and in working closely with OneIowa.org, military weddings are still up to debate here in our great state. I have wed outof-state military couples (see my blog at panachepoints.blogspot.com) but, the Iowa National Guard has no plans to have its chaplains perform same-sex unions if the Pentagon decides to recognize openly gay military service later this year, the Guard’s public affairs officer at Camp Dodge said. “Per federal law and Department of Defense policy, our chaplains are prohibited from performing same-sex unions or marriages as conducting these types of ceremonies in a duty status would violate the Defense of Marriage Act. At this point we have not received any guidance from the Department of Defense regarding a change in that regulation,” said Col. Gregory Hapgood Jr.
Beau Fodor (pictured here at 18 years old in the US Navy) 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 on cable television. Beau can be reached through iowasgayweddingplanner.com or gayweddingswithpanache.com. The U.S. Navy reversed a decision that would have allowed chaplains to perform same-sex unions if the Pentagon decides to recognize openly gay military service. Our journey with gay military personel getting married is in its infancy. Stay tuned...
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Ewan McGregor: ‘I Learned a Lot’ Beginners actor on new film, the gay history lesson he got and getting naked again
Ewan McGregor didn’t mean to offend you. As the debonair actor sits down in Los Angeles to talk up his latest film Beginners, he’s genuinely upset if his last “gay” movie, I Love You Phillip Morris, was insultingly stereotypical to the queer kind. “Yeah,” he says, pondering with a curious puppy-dog look (similar to the one that his adorable pet terrier, Arthur, offers in Beginners), “that’s disappointing. I never felt they were making cheap stabs. That was his life.” And when you say that with as much innocent charm as McGregor, his dreamy blue eyes leave you no choice but to let that one slide (the Scottish accent helps, too). The 40-year-old’s latest feature, the offbeat comedy-drama Beginners, is a sophisticated look at gay life, as the film’s father figure, Hal (Christopher Plummer), lives openly after almost a half-century in the closet. Now 75, and widowed after losing his wife, he’s free as can be, and his son, Oliver (McGregor) has to make sense of it all—who’s his dad now? Who was he then? And he only has so much time. Hal is dying. “I thought the two opposing things were really interesting—where somebody is really living for the first time, and dying,” says McGregor, whose grief-stricken character also falls for an equally-as-love-challenged woman, played by Mélanie Laurent. “There’s of course a lot about love and acceptance,” he says. “It’s a very moving film. It was a blessing for me to do as an actor, and I could only imagine that it has a very deep affect on you; it seems so real.” Because it actually did happen. Director/writer Mike Mills based Beginners, the follow-up to his 2005 debut Thumbsucker, on his real-life father, who died shortly after coming out. “What’s maybe interesting for gay people about it is that it’s an older gay man coming out and really embracing his sexuality and indulging in the gay world,” McGregor says. “He really goes for it with this great
Ewan McGregor stars in writer/director Mike Mills’ BEGINNERS, a Focus Features release. Photo: Focus Features gusto that he uses to approach his new gay life, which is really inspiring and lovely.” In the film, Mills links Hal’s life to pivotal moments in American gay history, like Harvey Milk’s assassination, to better explain why coming out then was so taboo. “I think it must be very difficult for young gay men to imagine what life was like for a young gay man in the ’50s,” McGregor says. “I learned a lot about it. I don’t think I was as aware of how difficult it was to be gay in that time, and how dangerous it was. “That image of the older man being thrown in the back of that van because he’s in a gay bar—it’s difficult maybe for a young gay man to comprehend that, so it gives you a deeper understanding of what it might have been like to be gay in
those days.” That even McGregor got a gay history lesson might surprise some—he’s been playing gay (or some variation of it) for much of his life, since 1996’s The Pillow Book, in which his character was bisexual—and very naked. Two years later, McGregor was made up as an Iggy Pop-ish glam rocker in Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine, making out with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in what’s become a beloved moment in queer cinema. And just last year there was I Love You Phillip Morris, about two cellmates—one played by McGregor, the other Jim Carrey—who fall madly in love. When Beginners reached the actor, it didn’t take him long to sign on for the role as the son of a late-blooming homosexual.
I think it must be very difficult for young gay men to imagine what life was like for a young gay man in the ’50s. I learned a lot about it. I don’t think I was as aware of how difficult it was to be gay in that time, and how dangerous it was.
McGregor met Mills at a Santa Monica cafe, where they didn’t even discuss the film. Only his life. “I just wanted to know more about his story,” McGregor says. “That really shows that it’s landed in you if you’re hungry for all those details. Then, that was it. I was onboard.” McGregor noticed something almost immediately—how Mills refers to his father as if there were two of them. “When he talks about his father, he talks about his straight father and gay father and how wonderful his gay father was and how much more accessible he was,” McGregor says. “It’s very interesting to hear him talk about that.” During filming, McGregor didn’t try to mimic Mills, and he never felt any pressure to do so. But to get a feel for him, he had Mills record all the dialogue so he could play it back and really get into character. “It was funny,” he says, “because he was quite nervous about doing it. It was rather lovely to hear. He’s a very, very open man and a very sensitive man. He’s a fucking brilliant director, and I was just able to watch him and soak him up a bit.”
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BEGINNERS He began to understand Mills’ complicated situation, and how a once-married parent coming out could cause so much second-guessing. “It isn’t a straight-forward scenario,” McGregor says, “and it was nice that we showed that, and that coming to terms of not his father’s sexuality, but with what your childhood meant when you find out that your parents have been hiding this from you.” And if McGregor’s been hiding anything, it’s his notorious frontal bits, which haven’t, uh, come out either in quite some time. Will we ever get another Pillow Book? “I certainly haven’t made any conscious decision not to (do nude scenes), but it’s only ever if it’s relevant to the film,” he says. “I made a film called Perfect Sense with David Mackenzie, who directed Young Adam, and it’s possible it might be in there.” What a relief.
Ewan McGregor (left) and Cosmo (right) star in writer/director Mike Mill’s BEGINNERS, a Focus Feature release. Photo: Focus Features
I’m really happy to have the gay history in the movie and to have a gay-positive film, but as a straight guy, I wouldn’t feel like I’d have the right to make a gay movie unless I had some access or something to report that was specific. So I love that it’s really cool that I have an older gay guy in my movie—it just happens to be my dad, and that’s how I got there. That it’s even more unseen makes me all the more proud. — Writer/Director Mike Mills, about his film BEGINNERS, a Focus Features release.
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Mike Mills: My Gay Dad The personal story behind Beginners
Mike Mills didn’t really know his father until he came out. When the director’s dad came swooshing out of the closet at the ripe age of 75, after decades of being married to a woman, not a moment was wasted. He lived freely, wildly and, most of all, gayly. And then he died. Mills’ father lives on, though, through the director’s very personal, deeply emotional Beginners, which casts Christopher Plummer as out-and-proud Hal and Ewan McGregor as his son, Oliver. When we met up with Mills in Los Angeles, sitting in a Four Seasons suite, the filmmaker spoke candidly about his dadinspired dramedy—from dressing him in gay apparel to the gay porn they watched together. How did you manage to portray the gay character, Hal, in such a non-stereotypical way? Did it have something to do with the fact that the character was very real to you? Yeah—and Christopher didn’t think of him as a gay character; he just thought of him as a man in love with another man. Ewan said the other night, because people were asking him about that since he plays so many gay people, “I don’t think of it as a gay character, because how do you play that? What would that be?” How much of your father is actually in the movie? A lot, and then also not very much. Christopher and my dad are pretty different. Hal is my semi-autobiographical father who’s really a part of my personal life and connection to larger American history like Ginsberg and Milk. The film came to me because my gay dad and I would have these wonderful arguments, just more intense conversations about love. We were talking a lot about why I wasn’t married, and I would ask, “You want me to get married and you were just married for 44 years to the wrong person?” Do you always refer to your dad as two people—the gay one and the straight one? Yeah, I have a gay dad and a straight dad, and they were pretty different people. When your dad finally came out, how much did you have to school him in gay culture? (Laughs) He jumped in real fast. And I think he wanted to have sex with a lot more guys than he had sex with, but he had a wonderful community of friends who really took care of him. I’m a straight guy, but I have a lot of gay friends and I lived in New York for 15 years during the ’80s, so there were some things I knew. That gay pride flag scene, that happened to my sister and him. He had a bumper sticker on his car and he goes, “You know, that means gay pride.” My sister’s like, “Yes, Dad.” He was pretty surprised, because he’s so used to living in such a codified gay world. It was totally underground, and I remember he had this leather bracelet ring, like an S&M thing, and I was like, “Pop, you do know what that’s for, right?” I’m still not sure if he knew. (Laughs) What did you learn from him about
Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer (left) and Ewan McGregor (right) star as father and sone in writer/director Mike Mill’s BEGINNERS, a Focus Features release. Photo: Focus Features the gay scene? I think I knew this but it wasn’t a part of my life: him being 75 and having crushes on all these younger guys and they were almost never reciprocated. It was really heartbreaking to watch. He was trying to relive a part of life he was never able to live. Or, like so many gay and straight men, we like the younger ones—especially in the gay scene, which is pretty ageist. Elderly gay people are rarely portrayed in film. By having one in your movie, are you making some kind of statement? I wasn’t. I was just talking about my dad. I’m really happy to have the gay history in the movie and to have a gay-positive film, but as a straight guy, I wouldn’t feel like I’d have the right to make a gay movie unless I had some access or something to report that was specific. So I love that it’s really cool that I have an older gay guy in my movie—it just happens to be my dad, and that’s how I got there. That it’s even more unseen makes me all the more proud. But you’re gay adjacent. I feel very gay adjacent. I moved to New York when I was 18. I had so many friends who were gay. So many teachers I admired were gay. All my classes were about heterosexism, so I felt very gay adjacent for a long time. You mention how the movie makes historical references to gay culture. And to complement the film, there’s your book, Drawings from the Film Beginners, that documents many queer moments in history—including a favorite: the Anita Bryant pieing. Why did you include all these historically gay moments? I wanted to have some queer history in there. To me, the history of love has to include the history of the gay struggle to be part of our understanding of love. And I love everything about the Anita Bryant pieing. It’s such an amazing American moment. What do you remember most about your dad being gay? Is that in the movie? My parents were very frugal, Depression-era kids, so I would upgrade him to, like, the Gap. Then when he came out he’s all Club Monaco and French Connection. I remember all his friends a lot. All of a sudden the house was full of all these guys
and there was a party every night—movie night, dinner club night, book night. Did you hang around for those? To be honest, I loved all my dad’s gay friends and they were inclusive, but as the straight son I was a little out of the loop. My dad had such a hunger to talk to and be mirrored by other gay men, and it was amazing to see—and it was slightly noninclusive, so it didn’t always feel like it totally made sense for me to just be hanging out during movie night. (Laughs) But I saw some movies—I wish I knew what this movie was. It had this crazy sex scene with this guy in a full latex S&M suit with a plug and all that. It was a pretty intense sex scene with this guy in a suit, you know, getting sodomized. And me and my dad and all his friends were watching it and having, like, lemonade. (Laughs) When Hal came out, Oliver seemed genuinely happy for his dad, and he processed it so well. Was that how you dealt with it, too? Yeah. It’s not easy to have the person who was married to your mom for 44 years change his identity—and not because he’s gay, but just because you’re like, “Whoa, what happened? Who were you?” My dad got so much more interesting and engaging and involved. What were the most important reallife characteristics or moments for Christopher and Ewan to get into the film? It’s the energy, and Christopher had it from the get-go. I never had to tell Christopher anything about being gay. I would tell him lots of stories because he liked them. Everybody likes stories about my dad. But it was never with a goal of imitating or being like him. Christopher had said, “Tell me one of your stories. Let me steep myself in your father.” And that was a really good word, because that’s what it’s like—you get infused with the energy, but he was still his own entity. The thing that I most wanted them to get was just how much this guy went for it and how brave he was in lots of ways—not just with coming out, but being 75 and having a huge crush on this guy. So just being a 75-year-old guy in love, that’s a lot right there. Then overcoming all the fear and self-loathing that he internalized from our culture about his gayness, those are things that were super key.
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In New Policy Position, American Medical Association Makes the Case for Ending Marriage Discrimination Largest health group joins leading public health authorities in condemning marriage discrimination
(New York, NY, June 27, 2011) —With the New York State now the sixth—and largest—state to end the exclusion of samesex couples from marriage, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a policy position declaring that excluding same-sex couples from marriage is “discriminatory” and reaffirming existing AMA policy to support relationship recognition of gay and lesbian couples as a means of addressing health disparities faced by those couples and their families. “With this deliberate policy statement by the American Medical Association, the nation’s doctors diagnose the pain and injury that exclusion from marriage inflicts on lesbian and gay couples, their children, and loved ones—and make clear that ending marriage discrimination is the cure,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and President of Freedom to Marry. “The AMA now joins every other mainstream public health organization in America in making the case for providing the freedom to marry—and the critical safety-net that comes with marriage—to loving, committed same-sex couples.” The policy, H-65.973 Health Care Disparities in Same-Sex Partner Households, was adopted the AMA on Monday, June 20th, and states: Our American Medical Association: (1) recognizes that denying civil marriage based on sexual orientation is discriminatory and imposes harmful stigma on gay and lesbian individuals and couples and their families; (2) recognizes that exclusion from civil marriage contributes to health care disparities affecting same-sex households; (3) will work to reduce health care disparities among members of samesex households including minor children; and (4) will support measures providing same-sex households with the same rights and privileges to health care, health insurance, and survivor benefits, as afforded opposite-sex households. (Modify Current HOD Policy). (Emphasis added.) “GLMA applauds the AMA for recognizing the discrimination, bias and stigma gay and lesbian couples and their families face because they are unable to marry in almost all parts of the country,” said Hector Vargas, Executive Director of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. “Through GLMA’s work to address health disparities, we know that bias and stigma contribute significantly to the health disparities LGBT people encounter, which is why it’s so important that the AMA adopted this policy and reaffirmed its commitment to work to reduce health disparities affecting lesbian and gay couples and their families.” The policy the AMA adopted on Monday is the latest in a series of policies the AMA has approved to address not only the needs of LGBT physicians and medical students but also the needs of LGBT patients. The
policy reaffirms the consensus among leading professional medical, scientific, and social science communities that ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage would provide additional support and stability to couples in committed relationships. To read the full list of AMA policies regarding sexual orientation, visit: http:// bit.ly/jg5ODa “Marriage inequality is not only unfair, it literally places families in harm’s way. Right now, all across this country, same-sex couples and their children are needlessly being put at risk because they are denied the freedom to marry. They are vulnerable to greater health disparities because they are blocked from important protections and benefits afforded through civil marriage, including access to health insurance and federal survivor benefits. No family should have to suffer because of discrimination. We thank the AMA for recognizing and responding to this critical issue,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Other professional health organizations that support the freedom to marry include the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of samesex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings. The Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, the oldest and largest association of LGBT health professionals, works to ensure equality in health care for LGBT individuals and health care professionals. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with skills needed to organize campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Learn more at www.theTaskForce.org. Equal Rights Washington (ERW) works to ensure and promote dignity, safety, and equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Washingtonians. Since our creation in 2003 equal rights Washington has successfully worked for, among other things, the passage of statewide antidiscrimination, domestic partnership, hate crimes, and antibullying laws all of which are transgender inclusive. ERW is leading the fight for marriage equality in Washington State.
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Farmer’s market season provides the perfect formula for a Mediterranean feast Lebanese Chef Joumana Accad creates delicious spring recipes using locally grown seasonal foods.
Dallas, TX—One of the best tastes of spring happens when farmer’s markets across the nation open and fresh, natural foods are plentiful . “My kitchen bursts with fresh herbs, roasted spring vegetables, and grilled meats this time of year,” says TasteofBeirut.com blogger and Chef Joumana Accad. Mild temperatures across the Mediterranean have always meant an abundance of fresh, local produce, the basis for that region’s delicious cornucopia of culinary delights. Joumana Accad specializes in bringing Mediterranean food to American tables. “Shopping at local farmers’ markets supports your local growers and allows you to pick the freshest food right from the farm,” says Joumana. “Fresh food tastes amazing and retains all of its vitamin and minerals. And even better, fresh vegetables need the lightest preparation to bring out their natural sweetness.” Joumana has created a delightful spring menu using all things found at your local farmer’s market or backyard
garden. These light and healthy recipes make an impressive afternoon lunch or light dinner. Grab a glass of wine, set a table outside, and enjoy a Mediterranean holiday right from your kitchen.
Fish Shawarma Sandwich
(Makes 4 servings) ”With this recipe I took a different take on the ubiquitous Lebanese dish that is usually a sandwich-like wrap traditionally made with shaved lamb, chicken, or beef cooked on a spit. A Mediterranean staple, nearly every neighborhood in Lebanon has at least one shawarma stand that churns out thousands of juicy sandwiches to hungry passers-by. I decided to use fresh fish that is grilled quickly (or pan-fried) after marinating in olive oil and spices. It is served in a warm pita slathered with a special tarator (or tahini) sauce, tomato
and avocado slices and some pickles and fresh herbs. The flavor in this recipe is reminiscent of a famous spiced fish dish, samkeh harra that originated in Tripoli, the second largest coastal town in Lebanon. Samkeh harra is a glorious buffetstyle dish served at banquets and large celebrations. It is composed of a large five-pound sea bass encased in a tahini sauce and an herb stuffing with garlic and chili peppers. • 4 fish fillets of your choice • 1/2 cup of tahini (4 ounces, 125 ml) • 1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice (4 ounces, 125 ml) • 3 (or more, to taste) cloves of garlic • 1/2 cup of walnuts, crushed • 1 bunch of cilantro or dill or flat-parsley • 4 medium tomatoes • 1 large avocado • Olive oil, as needed • Spices: 2 teaspoons of sumac, 1 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of ground coriander, pinch of cinnamon and salt, a dash of chili flakes 1. Mix all the spices and sprinkle on the fish fillets, both front and back. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil and set the fillets aside. Crush the garlic with a dash of salt in a mortar until pasty. Transfer to a bowl, add the tahini and stir to combine. Add the lemon juice and stir, add up to 1/2 cup of water and stir constantly until the tarator is smooth. Keep in mind you want it fairly thick and not too watery, so always add the water gradually, checking the texture and taste and adjust if needed. 2. Grill the fish or pan-fry in some olive oil until the fish is done. While the fish is cooking, slice the tomatoes, avocados and onions, if using. Open each pita, slather with tarator, sprinkle some crushed walnuts, extra herbs, place the fish in the bread, add the tomato slices and avocado slices and serve. NOTE: The tarator is a sauce that you can adjust according to your taste; more garlic or lemon juice? Sure! Anything goes!
The Monk’s Salad (Al-Raheb)
(Makes 4 generous servings or 6 small servings “This salad is named for a Lebanese monk after the bounty of foods he found available in the mountains in which he lived and in the garden he created for his ascetic lifestyle. Bursting with crispy vegetables and mellowed by the smooth and smoky flavor of the eggplant, this salad is sure to convert anyone into an eggplant lover. Because it keeps well and is served at room temperature, Al-Raheb is often offered at
mezzes as part of the array of dozens of dishes that constitute a mezze. It is also served at buffets, wedding parties or any big celebration.” • 1 1/2 pounds of eggplant (one or two large or the little ones) • 1 bunch of parsley or other herb • 1 bunch of green onions or one small white or red onion • 4 tomatoes • 1 green pepper • 3 cloves of garlic • Olive oil, as needed (at least 1/2 cup for the dressing, plus more to grill the eggplants) • Juice of 2 lemons • 1 Tablespoon of pomegranate molasses (optional, but recommended) • Salt, to taste 1. Peel and cut the eggplant into slices and sprinkle with salt. Set aside on a colander until they spit out a lot of brownish liquid. 2. In the meantime, cut all the vegetables into small dices, mince the parsley and transfer to a salad bowl. Chop the garlic and mash in a mortar with a dash of salt. Transfer the garlic to a bowl and prepare the dressing: pour the lemon juice and olive oil and pomegranate molasses (if desired) and mix with a small whisk or fork. 3. Wipe the eggplant slices dry and brush with olive oil. Grill on a preheated grill at medium hot setting until soft and charred a bit on both sides. Chop the eggplant into dices and transfer to the salad bowl. (Alternatively, you can bake them in a 350F oven until soft, about 20 minutes). 4. Add the dressing to the salad bowl and combine all the ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning, if needed, and serve.
About Joumana Accad
Joumana Accad was born in Beirut, Lebanon. She left the Middle East in 1975 and began an international journey. She moved to Paris in the mid-‘70s where she finished her formal education. She returned briefly to Beirut before moving to the United States in 1979. Widowed at a young age, Joumana moved to Dallas, Texas in 1987, remarried and raised two children. She couldn’t resist the call of cooking as she entered the Pastry Arts program at El Centro College in Dallas. Upon graduation, Joumana became a pastry chef for a German restaurant, worked as a caterer, and sold her decorated cookies and cakes. Whole Foods Markets asked her to teach classes on Lebanese cuisine at several of their local markets. Today she runs the popular food blog www.tasteofbeirut.com where she explores the cuisine of the Levant as well as the Middle East. Copyright Joumana Accad To create other traditional Lebanese dishes using fresh, locally grown foods visit www.TasteofBeirut.com.
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Book Worm Sez by Terri Schlichenmeyer “Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep & Enough Wool to Save the Planet” by Catherine Friend ©2011, Da Capo Lifelong Books $16.00 / $18.50 Canada - 263 pages You tried everything. When you had trouble with insomnia the other night, it seemed like nothing would lull you back to sleep. Warm milk tasted bad. That previously-boring book on your bedside table suddenly turned intriguing. Even infomercials held your interest, so you started counting sheep.
Across
1 Two foursomes, to Lorca 5 Exclusion of gays from the military, and more 9 Denmark coastal feature 14 One may be proper 15 Morales in movies 16 Milk, when it plays in Mexico? 17 Top 18 Teutonic turndown 19 Anesthesia of old 20 Gang member of interest? 22 City in the Ruhr valley 23 Martin of Ed Wood 24 Religious splinter group 26 Mardi ___ 29 For skin 33 Instrument strummed in Mame 37 Comfy and cozy 39 Jane of fiction 40 Place for Proust 41 West Side ___ (Laurents musical about gangs) 42 Field of expertise 43 Cukor’s rib donor 44 Crew tools 45 Overhand stroke, for Mauresmo 46 Menotti’s man 48 “Forbidden” perfume brand 50 Alternative to butter 52 Arousing sounds 57 Cinema canine 60 Sexy underage gang member? 63 Covered with climbers 64 Fruit center 65 La Douce role of Shirley 66 Davis of The Virgin Queen 67 Like a thermometer that tastes funny 68 Bucks, for example
Then you got to wondering… why sheep? Why not count cows or dogs? Is it because sheep are, well, like sheep? Author Catherine Friend wondered that herself because she has a flock of them on her Minnesota farm, and in her new book “Sheepish”, she writes of the good and the ba-a-a-ad, the wild and the wooly. Though her grandmother raised them on a Montana ranch, Catherine Friend had little experience with sheep—that is, until her partner, Melissa, wistfully admitted her dream of owning a farm and raising the critters. And thus it came to pass that Catherine had a little lamb. Fifteen years later, Friend has morphed from City Girl to Backup Farmer. It hasn’t been
a gentle-as-a-lamb transformation, but Friend now appreciates her flock. Ovines have a long history in North America, she says. Sheep were shipped to the New World in 1609 and within sixty years, there were over 100,000 sheep on our shores. English lawmakers tried to outlaw the sale of wool but colonists managed to outwit the Brits and woolgathering became patriotic. Sheep “show up everywhere in our language,” Friend says, and they’re good for
Q-PUZZLE: “Remembering Arthur Laurents”
69 Billie Holiday’s “God ___ the Child” 70 Trust (with “on”) 71 Tongue of Wilde’s land
Down
1 ___ fours (doggy-style) 2 Brown beverage
supper, of course, but it’s their wool that she fell in love with. Because of the price of fleece, she says, many farmers shear their sheep and throw the wool away. Most small operations won’t get rich on their wool, but Friend discovered the rich colors of wool dyes. Although she first makes fun of “fiber freaks” (knitters who bleat rhapsodically about wool fibers), she couldn’t wait to see what “her sheep” produced. But life on the farm isn’t always laid back. Where there’s livestock, “there’s dead stock,” says Friend. Animals, like humans, don’t always do what you want them to do; they’re never born at convenient times; and sometimes, they get sick. When these things happen, even Backup Farmers do their best for their animals—even if it means giving those animals up. Imagine a serene pasture filled with contented (nameless) sheep. Then imagine a reluctant shepherdess at the helm, add in llamas, cats and dogs, chickens and a peacock, frisky calves, knitters, and Elvis, and you’ve got a good yarn called “Sheepish.” Author Catherine Friend gives her readers a sense of the bucolic. She lulls us into total serenity with her poetic descriptions of her flock… and then she knocks us upside the funnybone with asides that are dyed-in-the-wool hilarious. In between, Friend has a way of bringing tears to our eyes before she pulls us back to the funny farm. If a taste of the country is what you crave this summer, if you’re a farmer or a wanna-be, a knitter, or just love a wooly tale, here’s a book you’ll enjoy. “Sheepish” is perfect for ewe.
3 Homo sapiens 4 Erect 5 Charlton Heston classic 6 “... against ___ of troubles” (Shakespeare) 7 “Neet” rival 8 Goes to the bottom 9 Rip off 10 Sign of a gang member doing golden showers? 11 Singer Phil 12 South Korea’s Syngman 13 Laura of Recount 21 Food thickener 25 Like Cho’s comedy 27 Nick and Nora’s dog 28 Stallion’s sound 30 Vidal’s Breckinridge 31 Xena deity 32 Remini of The King of Queens 33 Let out a secret 34 Elton John Broadway musical 35 At hand 36 Huge gang members? 38 Bear up there 41 In need of a massage 45 Mope around 47 Passes over in pronouncing 49 How a male stripper makes a living? 51 Kidman’s award for The Hours 53 Bear 54 Like pinker meat 55 They don’t use their mouths for talking 56 Gawk like a chicken hawk 57 Type of leaf found on a head 58 Big name in stunt riding 59 Dark time, in ads 61 Cutting edge creator 62 Asian inland sea • SOLUTION ON PAGE 28
JULY 2011
the fun guide
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IOWA NATIVE WILDFLOWERS
INSURANCE
PHOTOGRAPHERS
HARPIST
CUSTOM GIFT BASKETS
the fun guide
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k.d. lang
EVENTS
that’s what separates the cream from the crop. If you can walk on stage and really deliver, yeah—you can’t fake that. Did you ever feel pressure to conform in your career? That would depend on what I wanted to reap from my music. I’ve always been quite sure that I wanted to have a more artistic career and a career of longevity, so in that respect, no. I’ve made decisions that have nurtured my art rather than my public awareness or my celebrity. That’s been self-determined, so no, I never felt the pressure. So do you think people who nurture their celebrity status are less likely to endure than people who don’t? I don’t know. I wouldn’t say less likely. You get what you get; it’s fate. You either have a huge amount of success at the beginning and then your career kind of dwindles, or you have something kind of consistent like me and it goes for years and years, or you work really hard and nothing happens and then you explode later on in life. I don’t really think that one is better than the other. If you hadn’t come out publicly at 30 and you were still closeted, how do you imagine your life and career now? I can’t imagine, because I was always out and coming out wasn’t really a big deal for me just because I was living out to my family, and in the world, for a long time. But it certainly made things easier. I can’t imagine what it would be like, but at the same time it’s definitely made my life easier just because it kind of stripped away the question marks in the audience’s minds or the business mind—the sort of public understanding of who I was. It took away any pretense or any question. So even though in some circumstances it’s more difficult, it’s definitely open and honest, so in that respect it makes it so much easier. There was this big hoopla when Chely Wright came out last year as the first gay country star, because there was the argument that you beat her to it. How did you feel about all that? I don’t know who Chely Wright is. But I don’t care. I mean, to a whole generation of people who know Chely Wright, they probably don’t know who I am, so to them it is the first country star to come out. (Laughs) I don’t really care who’s the first, who’s the last, because before me there were a lot of people that helped get me to a place to feel confident and comfortable with coming out. When you look back at the films that you’ve done in the past, like “Eye of the Beholder” or “Salmonberries,” what do you think? Do you watch them? No, I don’t watch them. (Laughs) I don’t watch a lot of movies, and if I were to watch a movie, I certainly wouldn’t pick one of mine. Last year you lent your voice to a song on a Glee soundtrack. Would you ever do the show? I don’t know. I don’t really watch Glee, but I know it’s very popular and very gay friendly, which is great. And Jane Lynch is hilarious. So I guess if they asked me I would consider it, but I’m really happy that I could be a part of something that’s supportive and promotes alternative and varying lifestyles.
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 319-8538223. [ 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. [ L G BTMWA] 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 info, visit charter-chapter.tripod.com. [ L W ] 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 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 B T A ] 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 ]
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 563-582-9388. [ 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 ] 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. [ L G BTMWA] 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 FairfieldArtWalk.com. [LGBTMWA] 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 groups. google.com/group/iowa-city-guerrilla-queer-bar. [ LGBTMWA] 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 ]
JULY 2011 1st Friday of the Month, DAWN’S COFFEE HOUSE, 5-8 PM, Iowa City, IA . Dawn’s Hide and 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. [ L G B T MWAD] 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, CHA-CHA, 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 319-365-9611 or visit www.crsalsa.org. [ L G B T MWAKD]
JULY 2011
Section 3: Community
2011 FFBC Scholars
2011 FFBC Scholarship recipients with Dr. Raynard Kington and Allen Vander Linden. For the fifteenth year, the First Friday Breakfast has awarded scholarships to Iowa high school seniors for their commitment and outstanding efforts to counter homophobia and provide education understanding about GLBT students and related issues, in their school or community. Academics, extracurricular activities, and community service are other considerations for award. They are the individuals who make a difference for the many others who struggle each day with rejection, harassment and more or just simply accepting themselves for who they are. They inspire those younger to carry on with the needed support of others and education to the larger community. As youth come from schools more aware and accepting, all of society is better. This year 24 Scholarship Applications were received. The scholarship committee was pleased that funds were available to award the most outstanding six individuals through the application process. These students were Nolan Reisen (Ryeson) of Dubuque, Sara Puffer of Marion, Nicholas Muntz of LaGrand, Sara Mowitz of Des Moines, Sean Hernandez of Columbus Junction, and Benjamin Ally of Marshalltown.
Nolan Reisen It was in his Junior year, Nolan was feeling confident in his race for Secretary of the Student Government in his Hampstead High School in Dubuque. Suddenly in the second week of the campaign he felt a bit anxious. As he walked down the hall, he sensed that heads were turning from him. At the end of the day a friend rushed to him with a pained expression on her face and ask if he had heard what they were saying. “Don’t be gay, vote for Hannah K.” He lost the election. Nolan came out the year before, as a sophomore, but this was the first time that he truly felt the sting of discrimination. It was also near the end of that previous year, as a sophomore, that he was a part of a group of students that re-instated the school’s GSA. Programming really began at the beginning of his Junior year with the group marching in their school’s homecoming parade. This attracted attention and provided more members than the group of friends that initiated the re-instatement of the group. They held monthly meetings where students could come and feel safe to talk about themselves or others that they knew who were struggling. The membership this year has risen to 60. Their most successful activities have been their Day of Silence activity. Based on the number of students participating and curiosity generated Nolan feels that the day was a great success. What Nolan strives to do is simply promote
awareness to let the student body know there are LGBT kids present and that it hurts when they have to walk down the hall and hear derogatory words that relate to them. Nolan has a most successful academic record with a 4.12 weighted GPA on a 4.00 scale. He was a member of the school’s Advanced Placement World History course, a college level class designed to be highly rigorous. He earned an ‘A’ both semesters which earning him an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction recognition. Nolan’s school involvements have included cross country and track earning recognition as most valuable runner; speech contests earning State Division I rating in competition and choir earning Division I and II rating in competition. He has been an officer in the Leadership Club, National Honor Society, Student Ambassadors, French Club and Literary Society. He has received particular recognition with his writing ability attending Denyon College’s prestigious Young Writers Workshop in Ohio on creative writing. Involvement in community theater has been an additional endeavor for Nolan performing in seven productions including a soloist and two lead roles. More recently he has volunteered with children’s theater. One of his teachers said “Nolan is an intelligent and hardworking young man, but he does not loose sight of the importance of how we treat people, and that is what makes Nolan stand out.” Nolan will be attending De Paul University. His dream is to be a published novelist but in the meantime is looking at being a university professor or lawyer.
Sara Puffer Sara was aware that she was bisexual in her 7th grade. That was difficult but when she entered Lin-Mar High School in her home town of Marion, she joined the GSA in January of her freshman year. At that time she didn’t particularly want to be out but she did not like hearing her peers use derogatory language towards LGBT people. That began her advocacy. The next year, her Sophomore year, she became the GSA president and has maintained that role since. Each year she has lead the GSA in such activities as: Ally Week, Day of Silence, Iowa GSA Day and Diversity Week. Groups from the GSA have attended Iowa Pride Network and Iowa Safe Schools Conferences and determined how they can apply what they have learned to their social interactions and future advocacy efforts and programs. Their activities are made public through advertising throughout the school. Sara is very pleased with the success in her efforts through the GSA. The group is the largest that it has ever been, she doesn’t
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First Friday Breakfast Club
Raynard Kington by Bruce Carr Our guest speaker on the first Friday of June was Raynard Kington who is completing his first year as President of Grinnell College. Dr. Kington has received extraordinary national attention in his new post, as much for his impressive professional résumé as for some details of his personal life: not only is he black, he is gay—with a white (GreekAmerican) spouse and two young sons, both bi-racial. (It is possible that the family’s presence here may have raised Grinnell’s—even Iowa’s—demographic diversity level by a statistically significant factor…) Kington’s presentation was fascinating and thoughtful, centered in his passionate conviction of the power of higher education to transform lives. His passion comes, he said, from having seen that transformative power work in and through the lives of his parents and grandparents, and continue in his own career. Kington attended the University of Michigan where he received his B.S. with distinction and his M.D. degree. He completed his M.B.A. with distinction and Ph.D. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; he was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in 2006. Dr. Kington has been an assistant professor of medicine at UCLA and a senior scientist at the RAND Corporation, and came to Iowa from his posts as deputy director and acting director of the National Institutes of Health.
Raynard Kington He directed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the largest studies of the health of the population of the United States. A highly amusing moment in his talk came when Kington recounted his interview process with Grinnell: a massive snowstorm forced him to arrive at the Des Moines airport at midnight, with no luggage and with Florida vacation clothes on his back. Walmart—
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Section 3: Community
JULY 2011
Queeries LGBT Etiquette by Steven Petrow Wired That Way by Rachel Eliason Talking about HIV and other STDs with a new partner
Q: I’ve gotten pretty confused about when to talk with new partners or boyfriends about STDs and HIV status. Some of my friends say that as long as you’re having safer sex, there’s no need to have “the talk.” Others say—vehemently, I might add—that I must have that conversation. What do you think? By the way I’m HIV-positive. A: All of us who are sexually active need to be responsible for considering the risks of spreading STDs and for taking steps to protect our partners and ourselves. Whether positive or negative (or, unknowing), we owe it to everyone involved to talk about our sexual health before having sex. I’ve long said that if you’re intimate enough to have sex with someone, you’re intimate enough to talk about HIV status. It’s usually easier to do this before you find yourself in the heat of the moment, where folks sometimes get carried away by the throes of passion and take risks they might not otherwise. “The talk” needn’t be involved or lengthy— although, admittedly, it can be hard to make this particular topic romantic. Be truthful and direct, saying, for instance: “I just want you to know that as far as I know, I’m [fill in the blank]. What about you?” Sometimes it’s easier if you volunteer your health status first, as a way to open the door. If humor comes to you naturally, by all means try that; but remember, you’re not giving a public health lecture. Since you mentioned that you’re HIVpositive, let me give you some more advice to chew on. Even if you’ve hinted at your seropositive status, don’t assume your partner knows. The subtle signals of human interaction—especially sex-charged interaction—are easily misinterpreted. By the way, even if you discover that both of you are poz, you’ll still want to talk about other potential bugs on board (Hepatitis B/C, gonorrhea, etc.) to avoid any co-infections. Similarly, it’s smart for HIV-negative people to tell their partners that information, too. This may well help a poz partner disclose his status or help both of you gauge where you’ll play on the safer-sex spectrum. Or, the HIV-positive fellow may decide to pass on having sex, having previously decided not to date or have sex with HIV-negative guys (and vice versa).
her breasts last week. I guess I should have written my friend’s “son.” Anyway, “he” seems thrilled with his results, but he is still a girl where it counts, so it is very confusing. A: With all the news about Chaz Bono being transgender, your question provides a timely reminder of how complex the topic of gender identity can be. As for your friend’s offspring, yes, he is indeed her son; no need for quotation marks around the word. One of the basic concepts of gender identity is that you are the gender you think and say you are. The external genitalia that make a doctor proclaim, “It’s a girl!” in the delivery room are not the sum total of that individual’s gender identity. Chaz summed it up perfectly by saying recently that gender identity is “between your ears, not between your legs.” Someone who makes the decision to transition from one gender to another is choosing to live as the gender that feels right to that person. For some that may simply mean changing their name and the way they dress; for others, it means taking hormones that produce physical characteristics that feel right. Others have sex-reassignment surgery, and, as you note, there are “upper” and “lower” elements to that. Most transgender people go through years of therapy and counseling as they try to determine which options are best for them, and they may take different transitional steps as time goes by. But when it comes to figuring out what to call your friend’s son, the truth is that all this matters little. Wherever your friend’s son falls along the continuum of transition, since he now calls himself a man, he is a man. The important thing to remember is that individuals who are transitioning can experience tremendous pain and confusion. By some estimates, 20 to 30 percent of transgender people have attempted or committed suicide. The support of those who love them can mean the world to them; it can, in fact, literally be the difference between life and death.
I’ve long said that if you’re intimate enough to have sex with someone, you’re intimate enough to talk about HIV status.
Chaz [Bono] summed it up perfectly by saying recently that gender identity is “between your ears, not between your legs.”
When a daughter changes her gender, does she become a son?
Q: A friend’s daughter now says she’s transgender and had surgery to remove
All about my new book
Thanks to so many of you for sending in your “Queeries” over the past couple of years. Now you’ll find them, plus hundreds of other questions in my new book, Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners. The book, really a guide to your best LGBT life, covers it all—from coming out to making friends, dating and sex etiquette, long term relationships and same-sex ceremonies, not to mention, raising our kids, entertaining, dealing with homophobia, and much more. Please check it out. Steven Petrow is the author of Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay & Lesbian Manners: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Life and can be found online at gaymanners.com.
Facebook knows you’re gay, by the way
Some readers are no doubt thinking, “well, duh. I mean it’s right there in your profile, you mark your gender and whether you are interested in boys or girls. If you don’t want people to know just change your privacy settings, right?” That’s not what I am talking about. I am talking about a recent research project by two MIT students that discovered a mathematical formula for determining a Facebook users sexual orientation by looking at their friends list. If you are like me, this comes as no surprise. I have enough out and proud LGBT friends on my Facebook that you wouldn’t need to do the math. What is even less surprising but perhaps more worrisome is that Facebook was so ready to hand over the raw data to the researchers. Facebook privacy is something of an oxymoron at best. After all it’s the number one social networking site on the web today, and the whole point of social networking is to share information with our friends. Facebook in turn shares that information with it’s friends, aka “third party sources”. Who are these third party sources and what do they do with our information? Typically they are marketing companies who use that information to create targeted ads. In case you haven’t noticed, those banner ads on the side of your Facebook page are anything but random. Do you ever see banner ads for a lesbian spa and resort on your Aunt Millie’s Facebook? Probably not. One of the problems that privacy advocates, and writers like me, face is a ho-hum response from the general public about Internet privacy. In a recent debate about Facebook profiles showing up on Google (they do) one person commented, “so the world knows I am on Facebook? I’m in the phone book too.” The real world consequences of Internet privacy are often too far removed and too murky for the average person to understand. You have probably read more than a few stories about people getting fired for making comments about their boss on Facebook, or posting pictures of themselves drunk and scantily clad. And of course you can’t forget the guy who changed his relationship status to single before telling his wife he wanted a divorce. For the average Internet user, this is what the on-line privacy issue seems to be about. The real issues are too far removed. Third party sources and targeted ads are a perfect example. What’s the danger in targeted ads? According to two researchers from Microsoft and the Max Planck Institute targeted ads can out gay men. Studying six fake profile pages of varying orientations they found that while the ads targeting women didn’t vary much by orientation, the ones for men did. Some things were obvious, like ads for gay bars, others less so; more gender neutral
ads and ads for nursing school. (Isn’t it just a stereotype that male nurses are gay? Apparently not according to market researchers. They never target nursing schools ads at straight men.) The problem is that you have no control over how much information Facebook shares with it’s “third party sources” so even if you hide your sexual preference with Facebook’s privacy settings, the advertisers still know. They can also track your Internet use through a wide variety of cookies, so even if you don’t put this information on Facebook, you might still see targeted ads, ads that are distinct enough to out you. I probably don’t need to remind my readers that not everyone is out about their sexuality. I also don’t need to remind anyone of the frightening statistics on hate crimes. I might need to remind the readers about ENDA though. Iowa is one of twelve states that protects LGBT workers from discrimination at the work place. In the other 38 states your boss could potentially look over your shoulder one day, see a targeted ad for a gay bar and tell you to hit the road. The point is that accidental outing can have serious consequences, which is why Internet privacy should be an issue for everyone. There is another potentially deeper concern about Facebook sharing information. It’s that little word “typically”, as in third party sources are “typically” marketing research firms. Typically does not mean always. Facebook doesn’t release information about all the companies they do business with, so there is no way of knowing who is looking at that information. The government, on the other hand, does have to release that kind of information, so we know that they have been looking. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services routinely looks into social media on applicants. Not surprisingly Homeland Security has it’s own department dealing specifically with social media and “items of interest”. ENDA may prevent a potential employer from asking you about your sexual orientation and practices in an interview or job performance review. But nothing prevents them from googling your name, reading your
In case you haven’t noticed, those banner ads on the side of your Facebook page are anything but random. Do you ever see banner ads for a lesbian spa and resort on your Aunt Millie’s Facebook? Probably not.
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Inside Out: Calling it Quits by Ellen Krug I came out as a transgender in May 2009. At the time, I was a lawyer. I sent letters to my clients, the opposing attorneys on my cases, and various judges. For the most part, the process went better than I expected. In late November, 2009. I got a call from an attorney who represented a party on the other side of a case. His name was Channing and he was someone I respected. Apparently, he felt the same way about me. We talked about the case on-going between us. But once we got our business out of the way, Channing lingered. “Ellen, did you hear about the transgender sports columnist in LA, Christine Daniels?” he asked. No, I hadn’t. I didn’t know who this person was. “Well, she had been a man named Mike Penner and then she changed to Christine,” Channing explained. “I’m surprised you don’t know about her,” he said. I understood. It was like some people think every African American knows every other African American across the country. “What about her?” I asked. “She committed suicide the other day, “ Channing said dryly. Oh. And then it happened: humanity. “So, Ellen, how are you doing?” Channing inquired. He wasn’t asking about my Honda’s gas mileage, either. I let the question settle for a second. “I’m good Channing. But thank you for asking. Really, I appreciate it.” That was it and it was a hell of a lot. Suicide. Checking out. Calling it quits. Pulling the plug. Whatever the phrase, it’s all pretty final. Unfortunately, I know a thing or two about suicide. My father killed himself in a darkened bathroom of his Dallas condo in January, 1990, when I was 33 years old. I don’t offer this for sympathy, but instead for perspective. I’ll never fully understand why Dad did it, but I’ve got some ideas. Part of it was about sex, but much of it was about growing up, and scars from a youth filled with sadness and horror. In the LGBT alphabet, it’s the Ts who have the highest suicide rate. In the case of Christine Daniels, aka Mike Penner, it had a lot to do with guilt and remorse over what she gave up. When she left her marriage, her spouse was less than supportive. On the day
that Christine legally changed her name, her spouse filed for divorce. Christine’s suicide occurred on the one year anniversary of when the divorce became final. I’m sure some of you are like me: that you’ve thought about IT. Personally, I have an actual “suicide scale:” 1-5. “1” is doing great, the world is my oyster. “5” is driving from Home Depot with the rope; the chair is already set up in the garage. I’ve gotten to “4.5” once or twice, but I was able to pull out of it with the help of competent therapists and loving people who accepted me. Since I’ve changed my life and become Ellen, well, I don’t know if I’m even a “1.” It’s that good. And I’m damn lucky. I’ll be the first to admit it. Most transgenders don’t get here for a variety of reasons. Suicide again came up during a forum on school bullying that I recently attended, put on by Minnesota Public Radio. I took along my 19 year old daughter, Lilly. The forum was spurred by a half dozen student suicides in the largest public school district in the state. Investigators trace some of those suicides to bullying about the student’s sexual or gender identity. The mother of one of those students spoke at the forum letting everyone know that bullying is rampant, and calling for a state law against bullying. Afterwards, I talked with the mother and expressed my sympathy. The mom was eloquent and passionate; she had made her son’s death a reason to get involved and she had dedicated her life to a suicide prevention non-profit. After the forum was over, I talked to the MPR reporter who covered the school bullying story. I asked why liberal Minnesota—of all states—doesn’t have an anti-bullying law on the books. I wondered whether, as in Iowa, the right wing extremists are equating “antibullying” with “gay agenda.” He piped right up. “Very true. They’ll never admit it, but it all has to do with people
being afraid of gays.” Fear. Bullying. Fear. Suicide. It’s all a vicious circle. That’s why we need humanity. As in, when’s the last time you asked your friend if he or she was thinking about killing him or herself? Wow Ellen, what a question to ask. I’m sorry, but it’s a question that we need to be brave enough to ask. I wish someone would have been that brave with my father. You see, once someone close to you pulls the plug—especially when they suffer in silence—it’s a bit hard to accept the idea that they could actually do IT. It’s not like someone dying of cancer or another noble disease. People may not talk about what’s on their mind, but it’s also true that often, the people close to the sufferers know something’s up. You may not be able to put your finger on it, but hell, you know enough to ask. If you care about that person, you’ve got to ask. It’s that simple. And complicated. In a moment of pure grace, my friend Channing understood this and was brave
People may not talk about what’s on their mind, but it’s also true that often, the people close to the sufferers know something’s up. You may not be able to put your finger on it, but hell, you know enough to ask. If you care about that person, you’ve got to ask.
Ellen Krug is a writer, speaker, and highly dysfunctional cynic because try as she might, she always sees the good in life. She is presently completing her first book, “Getting to Ellen, a Memoir.” She welcomes your comments, good or bad, and can be reached at ellenkrug75@gmail.com. enough to say the words. He was willing to risk embarrassment and rejection for my sake. Thank you for caring about me, Channing. At the end of the MPR seminar, my daughter raised her hand. She didn’t get called on, but I was smart enough to inquire about what she would have said. “Dad,” Lilly answered, smiling, “I would have told everyone that it gets better. Things change and life becomes livable just when you think it isn’t.” I thought for a second, and then said to myself: You’re so right.
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Section 3: Community
Participation Request:
Perceptions of Advanced Capitalism and Corporation Influence upon American Middle Class and Individual Political Efficacy in Post-Modern America To Whom It May Concern: I humbly request your participation and invite you to be a respondent in my Dissertation research, studying perceptions of corporate power and power elites influence upon public policy and upon personal capability to make social change. It is hoped that this research will contribute to the understanding of corporate power impact upon personal willingness to participate in politics (e.g. voting or activism). With your permission, the survey will be conducted as an anonymous online survey. All information from the survey collection will be confidential, considered anonymous and your identity will be protected at all times. Participation is strictly on voluntary basis, and you may withdraw participation at any time. For this study, I am seeking the respondents who fit the following criteria: • A self-identifying middle class, English-speaking, white male from Generation X. • Voted in 2008 Presidential election and identifies as independent. • Has bachelors degree, non-union, employed by a for-profit corporation. • Does not generally vote based upon a specific cause or issue. • Has observed company culture where they are employed.
If you meet the above criteria and would like to participate in this study, simply go to the site listed and follow the link to begin the survey. If you need to contact me or have questions, please contact me by phone (319.621.6807), log on to the web page the iowapolicyresearch.org/dissertation/ or email (tony.hansen@waldenu.edu or wpony76@yahoo.com). If you don’t wish to participate, no one will contact you, and your anonymity will remain protected.
SScontinued from page 29
SCHOLARS hear the derogatory remarks as in the past and people have felt safe enough to come out. She says: “if that is not change, I don’t know what is.” Sara’s work for education and understanding of LGBT issues had extended beyond her school. She is also on the Youth Council for the Iowa Pride Network and a youth member on the organization’s state-wide Board of Directors. Representing IPN, she has taught a monthly curriculum that discusses LGBT issues and helps the attendees bring the lessons back to their schools so they too can fight homophobia and become more informed activists. Sara’s activities in school do not end with LGBT activism. She is a member of the choir and participated in Speech Contest each of the four years in high school. She has also been in theater productions, played in the band and participated in show choir. She has been a member of the National Honor Society, a student ambassador, and on the student advisory board. Activities outside of school have included work with the Linn County Young Democrats through which she has done phone bank work for national and local campaigns and is a member of the National Council on Youth Leadership. Most recently Sara applied for and was chosen to attend GLSEN’s Safe Schools Advocacy Summit in Washington DC this past March. She was one of 40 high school students from across the country chosen to attend. She lobbied for support of bills currently in the senate: the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act as well
JULY 2011 as being educated on the legislative process. Her GSA Advisor points out that our future depends on young people like Sara who care about more than just their own personal life and whose concern and actions extend to the communities in which they live. Sara will be attending UI and hopes to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country while earning her undergraduate degree. Beyond that she plans to attend law school to become a human rights lawyer.
Nicholas Muntz Although growing up in the small town of LaGrand, Nicholas came to terms with himself being gay in 8th grade and came out to family and friends in his freshman year. Because there was no one to tell him about GLBT issues he did some research and was surprised to find the discrimination that has existed, and in some ways, continues to exist towards GLBT people. Nicholas sees homophobia as a product of fear. One way that he has worked to address this fear was when he, along with another openly gay classmate, worked to start a GSA in their school. He has assisted the GSA with a number of projects including selling T-shirts, and the amount of support and participation of students involved in the GSA was surprising to him. Being openly gay in a small town has not stopped him from being in speech contests, in musicals, a class officer, on student council, a choir member, a cross-country track participant, and a member of National Honor Society and participating in the Students Against Destructive Decisions organization. Academically, he has moved ahead and taken classes
TTSCHOLARS continued page 38
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Twenty Questions interview by Amber Dunham In 2010, high school student Amber Dunham participated in a class assignment to ask someone 20 questions for an LGBT essay. The person Amber chose to ask was Alexis, a transgendered woman from the Iowa City area. Amber’s questions covered Alexis’s definition of transgender, details of Alexis’s life and emotions prior to accepting her desire to be a girl, reactions from family and friends, psychological and medical requirements prior to sexual reassignment surgery, details of sexual reassignment surgery, federal and state document changes after Alexis’s surgery, advice Alexis would give to others, effects of Alexis’s change, and her religious views. Any questions or comments for Alexis can be sent care of this publication to Editor@ACCESSlineIOWA.com.
(Continued from June Issue)
9) When did you decide to remove the phallus? (penis, but I have to keep this clean)
with, and I simply knew I had to do something. Did I know that the SRS was the right thing? No! I certainly felt it was, but I also realized that until I actually did it, and reached the point of no return, I would never truly know whether I would like the new role or not. I then contacted that physician and scheduled the surgery. In my case, the time between my decision to go ahead with the surgery and actually getting it done, was quite short. Since there are not many surgeons who actually do the SRS, they are relatively busy, the wait can often be close to a year here in the USA. I think part of this may be self imposed, and I believe that they just want the person to be sure they feel the right decision has been made. In my case, this physician was going to retire soon and wasn’t really taking my new patients, but I was accepted. Once in the operating room, time goes quite fast, in a little over two and one-quarter hours I had new genitalia.
The mental anguish I was feeling was getting to be more and more difficult to deal with, and I simply knew I had to do something. Did I know that the SRS was the right thing? No! I certainly felt it was, but I also realized that until I actually did it, and reached the point of no return, I would never truly know whether I would like the new role or not.
Cute phraseology… again, after I had the breast implants I said I was not going to have any more surgery… yet as the years had gone forward I gradually developed an increasing dislike for my phallus (penis), and the associated anatomy. I began checking into the possibility of surgical castration to help lower the male sex hormones and make the female hormones I was taking to have more effect. As I contacted different doctors within a few hundred mile radius of here, I ran into some interesting facts. The primary one being that it was not something most wanted to do… for whatever reason. And even when I found a physician, it seemed that the local hospital would insist on what seemed to be unnecessary costs and conditions. For example, the local hospital itself wanted to charge almost as much to have it done in their facility as the complete sex change surgery (SRS) would cost. I passed on that. One physician that I contacted via email, however, explained to me why he would not do that surgery, and the reason was that the skin that would be removed during a surgical castration was needed for any possible future sex reassignment surgery. That made an impression, and I sat down and looked at my financial picture, discovered I had enough saved in my mutual funds for the complete basic surgery, and decided that it was ‘now or never’. The mental anguish I was feeling was getting to be more and more difficult to deal
10) Can you explain that procedure?
Contrary to popular belief, the penis is not amputated during SRS. Rather, the internal penile tissue is mostly removed, but the outer skin is left attached, inverted and inserted into the body inside out as the new vagina. The testicles are removed, but the scrotal tissue is also left attached and used to fashion the vaginal lips or labia through standard plastic surgery procedures. Here is how it happens. Once the patient has been prepped, sedated, wheeled into the
operating room and anesthetized, the doctor slits the skin of the penis lengthwise from the head of the glands down to the base on the underside. The skin is then peeled away from around the penis, but since the slit only opened the penis, the base of the skin is still attached. The penile skin is then turned inside out, much like one might turn a sock inside out. When this is done, the slit is stitched back together, creating an inverted penis, which will ultimately form the new vagina. Before this occurs, a rather miraculous, yet simple procedure is performed. Earlier, when the internal penile tissue was removed, a small stub of tissue was left behind, still attached. This is erectile tissue, which becomes stiff when stimulated, and also carries sexual sensation. A tiny slit, perhaps a half-inch in length, is made in the new, inverted penis near the base where it is still attached. The stub of erectile tissue is pushed through the slit, forming the equivalent of a clitoris, and providing the opportunity for complete orgasm and sexual satisfaction after surgery. In addition, a second tiny slit is made below the one for the clitoris. The urinary tube is rerouted to this second slit to create a typical female urinary opening. Once this procedure has been accomplished, the skin and muscles of the lower abdomen are lifted up with surgical instruments, providing a gap near the pelvic bone. The inverted penis is pushed into the gap, still attached at the base, so that it hinges down and into the proper location for a vagina. To allow for proper vaginal contrac-
tions later, some of the abdominal muscles are repositioned around the new vagina so that they can squeeze in on it, both by conscious control and also automatically during orgasm. The new vagina is filled with surgical gauze to maintain shape, and then anchored in place with a thin surgical wire which enters the abdomen from the outside, runs under the pelvic bone, through the new vagina, back up around the pelvic bone and out the abdomen again. Once the vagina has healed in place, which takes approximately seven days, the wire is removed by the surgeon, who simply slips it out. To minimize the possibly of damaging the sutures, the new girl is then kept sedated for about five to six days after the surgery. (Above description taken from the Transgender Support website.) Then after the SRS surgery, the new girl still will need to perform a certain level of maintenance on the new vagina. In the immediate months after the surgery, it is critical to keep “dilating” the neo-vagina on a regular basis. The need to do this will diminish as the years go on, but may never be totally unnecessary. The primary reason for this is that SRS recipients do not have a natural vagina as a natural girl would have, and it can, and will, have a tendency to slowly close. That is something that has to be avoided or someone will have a really serious problem requiring additional surgical procedures. The “dilating” can be done with different items—my doctor provided a set of four items, but similar items can be purchased at adult stores. Those fortunate enough to have an active sex life may not need any additional dilating. The important thing, however, is to keep the new vagina from closing by following some method of dilation.
Contrary to popular belief, the penis is not amputated during SRS. Rather, the internal penile tissue is mostly removed, but the outer skin is left attached, inverted and inserted into the body inside out as the new vagina.
Once in the operating room, time goes quite fast, in a little over two and one-quarter hours I had new genitalia.
“…If you want to open up the Pandora’s box of judging whether people should be permitted to marry based on their qualifications to be parents, I’m afraid there are only going to be about forty-three weddings per year in this country. The list of risks to children created by their parents is nightmarishly long, and standing there being all “gay” around them is probably no higher than number two-hundred-and-six. If the opponents of same-sex marriage want to take this perilous route they are likely only to hasten same-sex marriage in all fifty states and to merely bloody themselves in the process, because sooner rather than later the euphemisms and the facades—especially this one about raising children—will fall away and the opponents will be revealed for carrying water for a larger kind of orthodoxy: Their church is opposed to same-sex marriage because same-sex marriage means diversity; and diversity means peaceful interactions between members of different groups and religions; and peaceful interaction means fears and prejudices are diminished; and the diminishing means those churches’ cartel in the religion business is jeopardized…” — Keith Olbermann, Countdown, Current TV, June 23, 2011
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JULY 2011 SScontinued from page 29
FFBC the only store open—provided interview his wardrobe as best it could (the shirt, he discovered upon opening the package, was short-sleeved), but the purchase turned out to be his Lucky Outfit. He still keeps it in the closet of his presidential office. More seriously, Dr. Kington spoke of his struggle to come to terms with being a “symbol.” As Grinnell’s chief spokesman, how much should he expose his own personal views on, say, the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision for marriage equality (which was indeed, he said, a positive factor in attracting him here)? Register columnist Rekha Basu (who attended our breakfast meeting) quoted his eventual answer: “I am where I am because a lot of other people decided to change the world.” Kington’s remarks in Q&A after his talk were similarly frank and engaging. Asked about how his family accepted the news of his sexual orientation, he admitted that he was not in charge there: he was rather maliciously outed to them by a former romantic rival of his mother—a type of story that every man present could certainly recognize, even to its eventual happy and supportive ending.
Dr. Kington proved himself a truly inspiring role model both for FFBC members and for our scholarship awardees. The Grinnell College Web site has, of course, a wealth of information on its new president. The college notes that “Dr. Kington values an inclusive management style and clear, thoughtful, and fair decisionmaking processes. His personal and professional lives are rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility, and a priority for his tenure as President is strengthening the connection between academic excellence in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Social Studies and our graduates’ ability to go into the world and transform it. “Dr. Kington’s research has focused on the role of social factors, especially socioeconomic status, as determinants of health. His research has included studies of the health and socioeconomic status of black immigrants, demographic correlates of the willingness to participate in genetic research, the relationship between wealth and health status, the health status of U.S. Hispanic populations, and the determinants of health care services utilization.” A Curriculum Vitae for Dr. Kington is available at www.grinnell.edu/files/ downloads/CV_Short_Kington_2010.pdf
“I am where I am because a lot of other people decided to change the world.” — Dr. Raynard Kington, President of Grinnell College, to Rekha Basu of the Des Moines Register, June 9, 2011
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WIRED THAT WAY Facebook profile or even running it through MIT’s software. That kind of discrimination is almost impossible to prove in a court of law. Besides if MIT found a way to predict your sexuality, what’s to stop some insurance company from creating similar programs that can predict your risk of getting HIV? What if the Credit Bureau figures out a way to use your on-line shopping to predict your credit risk? The danger of all this information sharing might not be in the targeted ads that are coming your way, but in the opportunities that are not. So what’s the solution? Unfortunately there’s no cut and dried answers. Changing your privacy settings on Facebook will limit how much of your profile that individuals can see, but won’t affect how much data Facebook itself gives to third party sources. Facebook’s own privacy policy is a constantly shifting landscape of loopholes and contradictions as they struggle over the same issues (while preserving the cash flow from this lucrative market). You could get off Facebook all together, but let’s face it you don’t want to. I am on Facebook. I am writing this, and I have no intention of getting off the site. Facebook answers some truly primal human need to share ourselves. Besides, do you really think Myspace, LinkedIn or any of the other social sites are any better? Not likely. Let’s face it, this might be a case where we have to rely on the government (at least the part of the government that’s not using social media to spy on us). Individual
ACCESSline Page 35 consumers simply can only begin to guess where there information is going and what is being done with it. There’s no real way to make an informed decision. The changes may be simple. In most of the European Union anti-discrimination laws make it illegal for employers to do web searches on prospective employees, forcing them to ask or not ask sensitive questions in person. Requiring Internet companies to publicly disclose all “third party sources” would allow watchdog groups to guard our rights. If the government wants to go poking around in your social life, they should have to go through the same sort of hurdles they would with any other intrusion into your private domain, they should have to go to a judge and get a warrant. Technology is constantly changing how we live our lives. The implications of all these changes are often far reaching and surprising. Now more than ever it’s important for our LGBT organizations to be pro-active and aware of how new technology impacts our rights.
Sources
telegraph.co.uk/technology/ facebook/6213590/Gay-men-can-beidentified-by-their-Facebook-friends.html articles.cnn.com/2010-10-21/tech/ facebook.gay.ads1ads-facebook-sexualpreference?_s=PM:TECH newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/ 2009/12/14/government-monitoringfacebook-twitter gawker.com/5364264/facebookgaydar-emerges-from-breakthrough-mitproject
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 GLBT National Help Center GLBT National Helpline 1-888-843-4564 & GLBT National Youth Talkline 1-800-246-7743 Online database & Peer-Support Chat www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org 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 MortgageLoan.com Housing & Mortgages for Gay & Lesbian Couples, http://www.mortgageloan.com/lgbt/ 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 Iowapridenetwork.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
Section 3: Community Stonewall Democrats of Iowa 5 Creekside Ct Mason City, IA 50401 Contact: Harvey Ross HRoss007@aol.com 319-362-3099
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: 9:30 am and 11:30 am, 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
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.”
The Royal Wedding Chapel 504 Church Street, Royal, IA 51357 712-933-2223 www.TheRoyalWeddingChapel.com
Together For Youth 233 Vold Dr, Waterloo, IA 50703 www.TogetherForYouth.net 319-274-6768
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
UNI-LGBTA Alliance-Student Organization 244A Bartlet Hall, University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls 50613 lgbta@uni.edu 319-222-0003
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
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
Steve’s Place 852 Washington St, Burlington 319-754-5868
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
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Services start at 10:30 am 625 N 6th St, Burlington, IA 52601-5032 (319) 753-1895 - www.uuburlington.org
Christ Episcopal Church “We have a place for you.” 220 40th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 319-363-2029 www.ChristEpiscopal.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
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 Eden United Church of Christ 351 8th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 (319) 362-7805 Sunday School 9am - Worship 10:15am Faith UMC 1000 30th Street NE, Cedar Rapids, 52402 Sunday services at 11:00am. www.crfaithumc.org 319-363-8454 Foundation 2 Crisis Counseling 24-hour telephone crisis counseling. f2crisis@aol.com or www.f2online.org 1540 2nd Ave. SE Cedar Rapids, IA 319-362-2174 or 800-332-4224 Kirkwood Community College LGBTA Group Unity provides a positive environment and shares concerns for LGBT and allies. Advisor: Eliot Blake 319-398-5899 ext. 5762 3017 Cedar Hall 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 March 9 we will be at the Kirkwood Hotel Lobby Cafe.After that we may go back to Blue Strawberry downtown, but we need time to check our options. 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 Coffee Talk Cafe 37 Kirkwood Court SW Cedar Rapids, IowaContact 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
JULY 2011 Council Bluffs NOW Write PO Box 3325, Omaha, NE 68103-0325 DC’s Saloon 610 S. 14th St., Omaha, NE Open everyday 2pm-1am, western/levi/leather. 402-344-3103 Front Runners/Front Walkers Walking/jogging club. P.O. Box 4583, Omaha, NE 68104 402-496-3658. GLBT Rainbow Outreach Omaha Serving GLBT community in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Excellent message and info. Also office for Imperial court of Nebraska. 1719 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE www.rocc.org - 402-341-0330 Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (HGRA) (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 Imperial Court of Nebraska P.O. Box 3772, Omaha, NE 68103 402-556-9907 Inclusive Life “Religious and Non religious care, services and ceremonies for all!”, 105 S. 49 Street, Suite E, Omaha, NE 68132, (402) 575-7006, http://inclusifelife.org 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
Unity Center of Cedar Rapids “A center of positive, practical Christianity.” 3791 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids www.unitycr.org - (319) 393-5422
Luther College Student Congregation Contact Office for College Ministry 700 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101 563-387-1040.
Waypoint Services for women, children & families. Shelter & support due to homelessness, poverty, domestic violence or sexual assault. Office 319-365-1458. Cris & Info 319-363-2093 or 800-208-0388. www.waypointservices.org
PFLAG Northeast IA (Waukon/Decorah) Beginning May 23rd: meeting at Northeast Iowa Peace and Justice Center, 119 Winnebago Street, Decorah, IA (lower level), corner of Winnebago and Main Street Meetings: 4th Mondays, 7pm-9pm Call Jean @ 563-535-7680
CLINTON
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 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
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Meets alternating Sundays at 10:30am, Decorah Senior Center 806 River St Call Bill at 563-382-3458.
Des Moines AIDS Project of Central Iowa Free HIV testing, prevention supplies, care services, food pantry, information. 711 E. 2nd, Des Moines, IA 50309 515-284-0245 Blazing Saddle 416 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-246-1299 www.theblazingsaddle.com Buddies Corral 418 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA - 515-244-7140
JULY 2011 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 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 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
Section 3: Community 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 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 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 Women’s Culture Collective (WCC) A lesbian social group. Des Moines, IA - www.iowawcc.org Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure Open daily. Gay-friendly 2723 Ingersoll, Des Moines, IA 515-244-7694
Dubuque Adult Warehouse 975 Jackson St., Dubuque, IA 563-588-9184. Dubuque Friends Worship Group (Quakers) Join us at an unprogrammed worship service on Sunday at 10am. Welcoming and Affirming St. Mark’s Community Center 1201 White Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001 563-582-9388 Dubuque Regional A.I.D.S. Coalition David Pasker, President/Executive Director 398 Main St. 2nd Floor P.O. Box 1346, Dubuque IA 52004 Ph: 563-580-2850 Email: DRAC52004@aol.com
Liberty Gifts 333 E. Grand Ave., Loft 105, Des Moines, IA Gay owned specialty clothing, jewelry, home decor. 515-508-0825
PFLAG Dubuque St. John’s Lutheran Church 1276 White St. 3rd Thursday, 7pm 563-581-4606 or 563-503-5850
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
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque 1699 Iowa St., Dubuque, IA “The uncommon denomination.” general services at 10am. www.uuf-dbq.org 563-583-9910
North Star Gay Rodeo Association of IGRA, Iowa Division of North Star NSGRA@NSGRA.org or 612-82-RODEO
ELKADER
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
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
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 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 Counseling and Health Center 319-337-1679 Client-centered therapy. Les-Bi-Gay-Trans always welcome. 616 Bloomington St, Iowa City, IA 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 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 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 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 Kirkwood Community College GLBT Promotes welfare of GLBT students on Kirkwood Iowa City campus. Open to all students. Advisor: Bridget Malone 319-887-3618 ext. 3618. 344 Main Bldg. 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
ACCESSline Page 37 MCC Quad Cities - Svcs 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 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 Episcpal 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
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SCHOLARS at a community College. Nicholas believes that gaining respect of others and maintaining high moral standards which allows others to look up to him, as a role model has been an important way of addressing the fear that causes homophobia. Through reference letters, staff from his school spoke passionately of Nick. Here are some comments: “He is a great public speaker because he speaks from the heart, He is the kindest, most real person that I have ever met...” and “I find him to be trustworthy and reliable. Nick will take care of any duty given him without the need for reminders and supervision. He displays maturity that is rare in a person his age.” Nick Muntz is an outstanding leader. His responsible actions, respectful conduct, fairness, caring, honesty, and good citizenship has earned respect from others and helped provide needed education about GLBT students. Many anti-gay activists think lgbt people have no good character traits. Nick is proof they are wrong. They need to see his responsible actions, respectful conduct, fairness, caring, honesty, and good citizenship. Then they would know a real gay person. Nicholas will be going to the UI with an interest in it’s medical program, pursuing a career as an anesthesiology. He would like to participate in a program like Doctors Without Boarders. Sara Mowitz Sara lives just a few blocks from where we are today, in the Sherman Hill. She is a Roosevelt HS student and has been attending Central Academy for 5 years. Central Academy is an academic resource center for talented students which offers an accelerated, compacted, and enriched curriculum where high school classes begin in the 8th grade and Advanced Placement classes in the 10th grade. Much changed for Sara in January 2010 when she attended the Iowa Pride Network’s Queer Youth Summit. She is from a GLBT supportive family and considered herself a GLBTQ rights ally since youth before she knew what a GSA was or the difference between transgender and drag. As she became educated, she educated her friends. That inspired her to start the first GSA at Central Academy. Sara recognized that to keep a new organization running strong, it takes strong leadership. As president of the organization she spends 2 to 3 hours a week programming for the GSA and working on future school-wide events like National Coming out Day, National Day of Silence, Gay Straight Alliance Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and World AIDS Day. She also arranges for guest speakers to educate the GSA members and student guests interested in the subject. She even makes, herself, snacks to assure the success of the meetings. From the GSA Sara soon expanded out to attend every Iowa Pride Network event from Student day at the Capital to monthly coalition meetings. She was chosen to be a part of the IPN’s Youth Council, A high school group within IPN that helps educate youth to be leaders. From there she was accepted to be on the Iowa Pride Network organization board of directors which allowed her to work with adults in planning statewide activities. Outside of the IPN and her GSA Sarah has volunteered for One Iowa and attended AIDS Project and Iowa Safe Schools events.
Section 3: Community In addition to all of Sarah’s work for LGBT causes, she is an accomplished musician. She is principal harpist of the Des Moines Youth Symphony and has performed a number of solos; a member of the Des Moines Harp Ensemble, violinist in the Des Moines Youth Symphony Chamber Ensemble Summer program and was selected to play with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. Volunteer activities include being co-director and manager of Sounds of Sympathy Charity Concert showcasing high school musical acts with the goal of raising funds for assorted charities. Not surprising Sarah sees her future in music with the hopes of becoming an orchestral conductor. She would like to teach music history and plans to study at the University of Illinois.
Sean Hernandez It is usually more difficult to be different in small communities than larger cities; and even more difficult when one is a part of an ethnic group that constitutes a high percentage of the population. In Columbus Junction, nearly 70 percent of the high school enrollment is Hispanic. With his parents having immigrated from Mexico, Sean Hernandez is Hispanic and from Columbus Junction Community High School. Sean acknowledges that with the Latino mindset often comes that of homophobia and male superiority. Yet, as a Hispanic, Sean not only developed the courage to identify himself in his school as bisexual, he had the willpower to co found a GSA in his school. After years of working to accept himself, Sean along with his (as he likes to call her) “lovely lesbian” friend had enough and decided that it was time to stop shutting up and no matter the reaction, to be themselves. Their efforts were not met without resistance. Sean said: “After jumping hurdles and various obstacles to start the GSA, they found changes from the “norm” were very hard fought. Students and even adult staff members tried everything within their power to squash their efforts. Tempers, as well as patience were tested but in the end Sean says, we, the “queers” were victorious. With Sean as co-president of the GSA, they developed colorful, attention-grabbing flyers to post around the school. Almost immediately, after eye-rubbing, double-takes, and initial shock, the great majority were torn down. The ones surviving were usually scribbled with “fag-dyke or homo”. They persevered with replacements and taping those damaged. The flyers evolved into posters, stickers, magnets and human billboards. To his surprise the club grew to 20 or so. With the groups volunteering in various community events, fundraising at local events and having their story appear in the town newspaper they gained recognition not only in the school but throughout the community. They stuck together and continue to counter homophobia. Sean said: “I never realized the importance of equality and never did I realize how much impact such a group could make on a tiny, Latino-oriented town”. Sean is much more than a leader of GLBT rights in his community. A teacher termed him the most outstanding writer she has ever taught. He is an officer in the National Honor Society, plays flute and saxophone in various bands and has won awards in solo flute competition. He participates in speech and cross country. Interestingly, this highly Hispanic community has an open bi-sexual, GSA president as their president of the senior class.
Sean has participated in the University of Iowa Upward Bound Project which has a purpose of preparing low income or first generation college students for college. The Upward Bound Project director said: “Students devote a great deal of their time as an investment toward their future, and Sean has done so with a drive and academic gift that is unparalleled to the 113-students that I currently work with; I do not say this lightly. In this program Sean has thrived in, get this, Arabic. He was recognized as the “Best Arabic Language Student”. Sean has worked on improving the communication process between the school and the Spanish speaking parents in the community as a member of the School Improvement Advisory Committee. He actively volunteers in the community including an elementary after-school program, vacation Bible School, translator for Justice for Our Neighbor program and more. Sean finds the human mind most fascinating and hopes to go into Psychology. His ideal job would be working in the research field of psychology and medicine. He will be attending the UI.
Benjamin Ally This is designated as the David Hurd award. Although living in Marshalltown, Ben is graduating from the East Marshall High School in LaGrand. Ben has faced some major challenges growing up. He comes from a family which totally rejected him. Let me read a paragraph from one of Ben’s reference letters which was included with his application. It is from the school district’s student service & homeless liaison. She is speaking of his emotional growth: “I was one of the adults sitting at the table in the counselor’s office the last week of Ben’s sophomore year when it became apparent that Ben would not be welcome in his home anymore because he was gay. He had just “come out” I will never forget the look of disgust on Ben’s father’s face. He would not even look at Ben. At the age of 16 Ben had to decide whether to be true to himself or to live a lie. From that day forward Ben was homeless. His parents have had nothing to do with him since. He went into independent living with the YSS program and then into his own apartment until he was invited into the home of parents of a friend. That to me is true insightful and emotional growth. This is not the type of conviction I see in the typical young teen”. I admire Ben’s ability to be true to himself even if the consequences are harsh. He is truly a remarkable young man”. Not only did he feel the rejection from his parents, his father being a fundamentalist church pastor, he felt the pain of comments directed to him at school. All of that did not shut Ben down however. Besides academic successes Ben was active throughout high school in the vocal music program as well as band, individual and group speech contests, drama and cross country. He has also been involved in Boy Scouts for a number of years. Ben’s involvement in the school’s production of The Laramie Project, before his Jr. year, sparked his activism. Using Speech competition events, he took the opportunity to provide education of GLBT issues where others had to listen and think about what he had to say. For those speeches, he researched and addressed issues including “The Horrors of the Ex-gay Ministries” and “How Homophobia is Poisoning Our Society Today”. Then, as a
JULY 2011 senior Ben co-founded the GSA. Based on his energy and leadership ability, he was elected president. Through his leadership and hard work this group has become an active force in the school. Ben extended himself outside of the school to IPN activities. He attended their Day At the Capital, attended Central Iowa Coalition meetings and attended the recent annual GSA conference. Inspired by words of Harvey Milk in the movie Milk, Ben feels that it is most important for him to be out and open; and as that out and open person to act morally and ethically. In such a small community he is seen as what being gay is. Ben will be going to the University of Iowa with a goal of obtaining a degree in Music Therapy. He hopes to work in a teen mental health ward as a music therapist. Special Scholarship Award One additional scholarship award was made earlier this year outside the regular process. A $2,500 scholarship was presented to Zach Wahls, the astute and articulate son of two lesbian mothers, UI student who addressed the Iowa Legislature on the subject of marriage equality last winter. I am certain that most of you know of him from the U Tub of this presentation went across the country and beyond. Since then Zach, has appeared on television and has had numerous speaking engagements debunking the idea that people of the same gender cannot raise happy, healthy, well adjusted children. Including the award presented to ZachWahls, 7 scholarships totaling $17,500 was awarded this year, the most awarded in any one year. Since the first award in 1997-77 individuals, from 42 different communities have received $117,500 in FFBC scholarship awards. Individual scholarships are in the amount of $2,500. Funds are to be used for education related costs at any post secondary educational institution. FFBC wants to express their gratitude to those who made the scholarship possible this year. One gift they want to particularly recognize. David Hurd has, for the second year, under written a full $2,500 scholarship. Also thanks to all committee members working for the scholarship program. All fundraising activities for the scholarships were generated in connection with the annual Red Party which was planned and initiated by the Scholarship Fundraising Committee: Byron Huff, Gary Moore and Rick Miller. The Scholarship Award Committee read, re-read, scored the applications and identified the six outstanding winners. Also some traveled to the high schools to present indication of the award before an auditorium full of fellow students, families, school staff and other community citizens. This is considered an important part of the program as it brings education to these individuals. Also recognized are the family members or other significant individuals of the award winners, who have been there to offer their love, support and encouragement through their many challenges, especially as they addressed these often difficult issues. A member from the Scholarship Award Committee introduced the scholars: Jim Swanstrom (Nolan Reisen)— Randy Swartz (Ben Ally) —Scott Klienfelter (Sara Puffer)—John Tompkins (Sarah Mowitz) Mike Smith (Sean Herendez); Rick Miller (Nocholas Muntz). Also, recognized are last year’s former scholars: Dane Bucholtz, Waverley-ISU Architecture; David Pope, Clear Lake-UNIPolitical Communications; and Molly Richards, Norwalk-UNI-Political Science.
JULY 2011
Section 3: Community
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