Vol. 30, No. 16, August 8 - August 21, 2008

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AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 21 VOLUME XXX, NUMBER 16 W W W. B A L T I M O R E G A Y L I F E . C O M

IN THIS ISSUE

PAGE 4: AUGUST 11-15 OFFICIAL BALTIMORE FASHION WEEK

PAGE 30: THE PRICE OF MILK

PAGE 34: GLENN STEPS OUT: BROOKE HOGAN’S BEST FRIEND IS A 10 GAY

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WHAT’S INSIDE FEATURES

PAGE 32 – DINING OUT Mughal Garden. By John Cullen and Marty Shayt

PAGE 12 No More Girlfriends for Persia White. Interview by Shayna Robinson

PAGE 33 - THEATRE

PAGE 34

PAGE 36 - MUSIC

Glenn Steps Out: Brooke Hogan’s Best Friend is a 10 Gay. Interview by Spencer Young

Pop Music - Past, Present, Future. By DJ Alex Funk

HOME

NEWS

PAGE 38 – INTERIOR DESIGN

PAGE 5 – LOCAL NEWS

241 W. Chase Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 Phone: 410.837.7748 Fax: 410.837.8889 Email: editor@baltimoregaylife.com Brian Flottemesch President of GLCCB Editor

editor@baltimoregaylife.com

Michael Nguyen Art Director

Maddy Dwertman Sales

sales@baltimoregaylife.com

National Advertising Rep. Rivendell Media 212-242-6863 CONTRIBUTORS Nicole Bettis Christopher Cappiello John Cullen Maddy Dwertman Marry Elaine Mario Fernandez Alex Funk Bill Kelley Marvelous Marva Rev. Irene Monroe

Craving Romantic Energy in the Bedroom? Courtesy of ARAContent

August 11-15 Official Baltimore Fashion Week; Donna’s Cafe Takes the Eat in Season Challenge; Dining Out for Life on September 18 to Benefit Moveable Feast; Montgomery County Court Allows Referendum Petition to Overturn Transgender Protections. Compiled by Maddy Dwertman

COMMUNITY & COLUMNS

PAGE 6 – NATIONAL NEWS

PAGE 10 - OBITUARY

Californians Still Oppose Marriage Discrimination; Americans Support Open Gays in the Military; H&R Block to Reimburse Gay Couples Who Couldn’t File; GLAAD Unhappy about Dobson’s Hall of Fame Recognition; Massachusetts Opens Marriage to Out-ofStaters; USOC Makes Northwest Bears Change Name of Camping Trip; Knoxville Shooter Hated Gays; PG&E Donates to Same-Sex Marriage Campaign; Ballot Wording Changed in California Marriage Battle; U.S. Repeals Law Banning HIV+ Foreign Visitors, Immigrants; L.A. Mayor Pulls Out of HRC Event. Rex Wockner with Bill Kelley.

Thomas E. Bonsall, Automotive Historian and Journalist, Dies

PAGE 8 – INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The City of Brotherly Love, part II. By SirK

Lesbos Residents Lose ‘Lesbian’ Lawsuit; Religious Cop Sues Employer Over Pink Ribbon; Moscow Gays to Try Pride a 4th Time, with a Twist; Iran Nabs HIV Doctors; Northern Ireland Pol in Trouble with Gays; 35,000 at EuroGamres; Finnish Pastor Breaks Rules, Blesses Lesbian Couple; Court: Germans Who Change Their Sex can Remain Married. By Rex Wockner with Bill Kelley.

PAGE 41 - COMMUNITY CALENDAR

David Placher Shayna Robinson Shayna Rockswell Marty Shayt SirK Gwendolyn Ann Smith Rex Wockner Prudence Worthington Spencer Young

Gay Life is a publication of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore. Gay Life is published every other Friday in Baltimore, Maryland, with distribution throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Copyrighted 2008. All Rights Reserved. Gay Life is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Gay Life or its publisher.

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PAGE 27 – FICTION Cereal: The Adventures of Pico Darling Part 12: Retrospect. By Shayna Rockswell

PAGE 29 – DO AS I SAY Evil Lurks in the Festive Community. By Miss Prudence Worthington

PAGE 40 - FROM THE TOP

PAGE 44 - POSTAGE

FOR FUN PAGE 28 – Q PUZZLE

OPINIONS

art@baltimoregaylife.com

On the Stage

Greek Team

PAGE 18

PAGE 42 – HOMOSTROLOGY

Left Out. By Gwendolyn Ann Smith

By Marry Elaine

The Campaign of Mayor Dixon 2007. By David Placher

PAGE 43 – QUOTE UNQUOTE

Speaking Out!: Can Gun-Totting Solve Gay-Bashing? By Rev. Irene Monroe

By Rex Wockner with Bill Kelley

Coming From Where I’m From. By Nicole Bettis

A Place for Missed Opportunities

IMHO: Queers and Sports. By Mario Fernandez

PAGE 46– BSCENE

Let’s Have a Conversation. By Marvelous Marva

ArtScape Photos by Lilah Crews-Pless

PAGE 45 – PICKUPS

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 30 – PENCIL ME IN Calendar. By Maddy Dwertman

PAGE 30 – FILM The Price of Milk. By John Cullen and Marty Shayt

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.BALTIMOREGAYLIFE.COM.

August 8 - August 21, 2008

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

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www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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August 8 - August 21, 2008

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LOCAL NEWS August 11-15 Official Baltimore Fashion Week

Donna’s Café Takes the Eat in Season Challenge Donna’s Café in Charles Village will take Slow Food Baltimore’s Eat in Season Challenge from August 9 through 16. Chefs Andy Thomas and Brian Price will showcase fresh seasonal ingredients from local farms and farmers’ markets. Their special Eat in Season Challenge menu includes: 4Tomato consommé with local goat cheese

4Homemade fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with basil and olive oil 4White corn flan

4Maryland crab salad with cantaloupe and fresh mint

4Soft-shell crabs with farmers market succotash 4Sweet and sour fairy tale eggplants

4Springfield Farms pork tenderloin with peach chutney

4Roasted capon with lemon verbena and fingerling potatoes

The Challenge is an initiative of Slow Food Baltimore. It invites area establishments to serve— during one week of the month—a special three-course menu each night with the primary ingredients in each course locally sourced, and either currently in season or traditionally preserved. The metro-wide campaign encourages chefs to be innovative and to create food that otherwise may not be featured or showcased. The Challenge also teaches people about the powerful benefits of eating seasonally.

Donna’s Café in Charles Village is located at 3101 St. Paul St. It features an open kitchen and outdoor seating and is the fourth restaurant to meet the popular Eat in Season Challenge.

Their regular menu will be available during the Challenge week.

For more information visit, www.SlowFoodBaltimore.com and click on “Eat In Season.”

From Monday, August 11 to Friday, August 15, 2008, the War Memorial Building (101 North Gay St., Baltimore, MD) directly across the street from City Hall, will be transformed into a haven for the fashion conscious.

Industry leaders and savvy consumers will gather together to celebrate Baltimore’s unique style and remarkable flavor.

“With this location we are expecting a guest attendance of 100 plus attendees for the workshops and 800 plus Baltimore City residents for each of the scheduled runway events,” stated Sharan Nixon, President/CEO of Baltimore’s Fashion Week.

Events planned for Baltimore’s Fashion Week include: a celebration reception; workshops with Roy Cox Photography; hair, make-up and modeling workshops facilitated by Tim Coburn Photography; and scheduled runway events— “The Perfect Beginning”, “Public Display of Af-FASHION”, “Dare to be Different” and “The Love for Haute Couture Runway Event”. The Honorable Sheila Dixon, Mayor of Baltimore City, will be the featured model on the evening of Monday, August 11, while gracing the Think Pink runway event.

A portion of the week’s proceeds will be donated to Sylvan Beach Foundation and the Health Education Resource Organization (HERO). Both organizations offer services that uplift the city's residents and improve the city.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, visit www.baltimoresfashionweek.com.

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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LOCAL NEWS Dining Out for Life on September 18 to Benefit Moveable Feast On Thursday, September 18, Dining Out for Life will take place at over 70 participating restaurants in the Baltimore region. This fundraiser will benefit Moveable Feast, provider of medically nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS or breast cancer.

Participating restaurants will donate at least 20 percent of their day’s proceeds to Moveable Feast.

Moveable Feast is proud to announce John Shields as its Honorary Chairman of Dining Out for Life. John Shields is the owner of Gertrude’s at the Baltimore Museum of Art, host of the television show, “Coastal Cooking with John Shields,” and author of several award winning cookbooks. Mr. Shields is a long time supporter of Moveable Feast and Gertrude’s is always one of the most popular restaurants for Dining Out for Life.

Now in its 15th year in Baltimore, Dining Out for Life is an easy and festive way for participants to help their neighbors in need—by simply eating at a participating restaurant on September 18.

Moveable Feast has been providing services to the Baltimore area for 19 years. In 2007, Moveable Feast provided over 200,000 meals and 29,000 bags of groceries to their clients. In addition, Moveable Feast also provides nutritional counseling to their clients, medical transportation, a transportation service for people who are homeless in Baltimore and a culinary job training program. Recently, Moveable Feast moved to a new and permanent home in East Baltimore where they will be able to increase their services in a city where the need is great.

Participating restaurants can be found online by visiting www.mfeast.org.

Montgomery County Court Allows Referendum Petition to Overturn Transgender Protections

The Circuit Court for Montgomery County ruled on July 24 that a referendum petition seeking to overturn a county law adding transgender individuals to the list of people protected from discrimination should be allowed on the ballot in November.

On November 13, 2007, the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed a measure adding gender identity as a protected characteristic under the County's civil rights law. The county joined 13 states and the District of Columbia and over 100 localities, including the City of Baltimore, in outlawing discrimination on the basis of gender identity. A group calling itself Citizens for Responsible Government (CRG) sought to collect enough signatures to block the law from going into effect.

Equality Maryland, together with Lambda Legal, represented Montgomery County registered voters who oppose CRG's flawed referendum effort to set back the clock on civil rights in Montgomery County. In yesterday's ruling Judge Greenberg dismissed most of the arguments put forth by lawyers for Lambda Legal and Equality Maryland.

"Strict compliance with the laws and policies governing the collection and submission of referendum petitions is supposed to provide safeguards for the vulnerable minority that the law is intended to protect. Equality Maryland still believes that CRG did not comply with the law and we are working with our attorneys to assess where we go from here," said Carrie Evans, Policy Director for Equality Maryland. "In the meantime, Basic Rights Montgomery, a broadbased coalition working to ensure this law remains in place, is in full swing."

www.glccb.org Services. Groups. Events.

Our calendar is now online.

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

July 25 - August 7, 2008

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NATIONAL NEWS

by Rex Wockner with Bill Kelly

Californians Still Oppose Marriage Discrimination cent chance the proposition will fail on election day.

"Starting out behind is usually an ominous sign for a proposition," he told The San Diego Union-Tribune.

"Over 90 percent of propositions that start out behind get taken down."

Sixty-eight percent of Republicans said they plan to vote for the measure, while 63 percent of Democrats said they will vote against it.

Veteran activist Robin Tyler, left, and wife Diane Olson were the first legally married same-sex couple in Southern California. They tied the knot June 16 at 5:01 p.m. in Beverly Hills. Olson is the granddaughter of former California Gov. Culbert Levy Olson, who served from 1939 to 1943. Photo by Rex Wockner

A second Field Poll has found that Californians do not plan to amend the state constitution Nov. 4 to reban same-sex marriage.

Poll results released July 18 showed that 51 percent of likely voters will oppose Proposition 8 and only 42 percent plan to vote for it.

The numbers are similar to those of an earlier Field Poll on the proposition.

Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said the numbers mean there is a 90 per-

In an unusual twist, the poll found the strongest opposition to the initiative among voters between ages 50 and 64—the Americans whose social attitudes might have been most directly affected by the sexual revolution of the 1960s. In that group, 57 percent will vote against the referendum and only 38 percent plan to vote for it.

The huge, pivotal Southern California counties of Orange and San Diego also plan to reject the referendum, with 50 percent of respondents opposing it and 45 percent favoring it.

Anti-gay activists denounced the poll findings as inaccurate, even though the Field Poll is considered highly reputable. Pollsters said the results' margin of possible error was 3.9 percentage points.

The California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in May, and weddings began on June 16. The court said banning same-sex couples from marrying violated the state constitution.

Americans Support Open Gays in the Military

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released July 21 found that 75 percent of Americans oppose the military's ban on openly gay service members, the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy signed into law by President Bill Clinton 15 years ago.

Even Republicans—64 percent— and white evangelical Christians—57 percent—support scrapping the ban.

Pollsters questioned 1,119 people in a random national sampling and reported an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

H&R Block to Reimburse Gay Couples Who Couldn't File

H&R Block will give a $100 coupon or free TaxCut software to married and civil-union gay couples who were blocked from using TaxCut Online to prepare their 2007 income taxes.

In some states, such couples are required to file their state taxes as a married couple, while all such individuals are required to file their federal income taxes as if they were single.

TaxCut Online wasn't configured to deal with that disconnect.

"We're pleased that H&R Block has decided to do right by gay couples throughout the country," said Rebecca Shore of the American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project, which had pressured the company. "Saying you've been civilly united will never be the same as saying you're married, but at least gay couples will no longer face the prospect of paying more to prepare their taxes."

The ACLU represented Jason

Smith and Settimio Pisu, a Connecticut couple who attempted to use the company's online service only to be informed by the software, "We Don't Support Connecticut Civil Union Returns."

Connecticut law bans discrimination based on civil-union status.

GLAAD Unhappy About Dobson's Hall of Fame Recognition

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation expressed displeasure July 18 over the induction of the Focus on the Family ministry into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

"For 20 years James Dobson has used his expansive, well-funded media platform to perpetuate false and misleading information which contribute to putting gay and lesbian families in harm's way," said GLAAD President Neil Giuliano.

"GLAAD urges the media to scrutinize and shed light on Dobson's record of inaccurate claims about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and include an in-depth analysis of his distorted and defamatory statements."

The Hall of Fame is part of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

Inductees are nominated by the National Radio Hall of Fame & Museum Steering Committee, which includes radio executives, academics, trade journalists and others interested in radio's history.

Dobson and Focus on the Family won in the category of "a broadcaster who has made at least a 20-year contribution to the radio industry and has distinguished him/herself at the local and/or regional level."

Massachusetts Opens Marriage to Out-of-Staters Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill July 31 repealing a 1913 law that prohibited people from other states from getting married in Massachusetts if the marriage wouldn't have been allowed where they live.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the bill in a 118-35 vote July 29 and the Senate passed it with no objections on a voice vote July 15.

The 95-year-old law—which stopped interracial couples who couldn't marry in their own states from marrying in Massachusetts—was resurrected after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.

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"The 1913 law, a shameful vestige from another wrong-headed time of denying marriage to interracial couples, became (former) Gov. Mitt Romney's archaic tool in his unsuccessful bid to deny the freedom to marry to same-sex couples," said National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey. "Not only does today's House vote repudiate Romney's efforts to block our marriages in Massachusetts, it also invites couples from around the United States to experience the joy and happiness of celebrating their lives by becoming married in the Bay State."

MassEquality Executive Director Marc Solomon commented, "We've ridded our state laws of the

July 25 - August 7, 2008

last vestige of discrimination against same-sex couples, and we once again lead the way for equality for all people."

"Massachusetts is taking down the 'Do Not Enter' sign that applied only to same-sex couples," said Lambda Legal. "This is thrilling news to the same-sex couples we hear from in other states, especially New York, who are seeking a place where they can marry under the law without leaving the country or traveling to the other side of the continent."

New York recognizes same-sex marriages entered into in other jurisdictions.

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

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NATIONAL NEWS USOC Makes Northwest Bears Change Name of Camping Trip

Lawyers for the U.S. Olympic Committee forced the Northwest Bears group to change the name of its annual summer campout, the Seattle newspaper The Stranger reported July 23.

The name "Kamp Kodiak 2008 'Olympic Village'" violated the USOC's "exclusive right to control all commercial use of Olympic imagery and terminology in the United States," said lawyer Carol Gross.

Among other things, Gross demanded that the bears "ensure that all steps have been taken to remove the Olympic imagery and terminology from any internet site, advertisement enrollment form or signage that is in place to promote this event" and "refrain from using Olympic terminology in reference to the specific competitions by renaming such festivities as: Big Ass Bear Olympics with Dr. Bob and the Olympic Board Game Competitions."

In a letter back to Gross, Brendan McDonald, a member of the bear group, wrote: "It is with bewilderment and amusement that we received your letter asking our friendly local club to refrain from using the term 'Olympic' for our annual camping trip at the Miller River Campground Aug. 7-11.

"I was born in a small logging town on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State at Olympic Memorial Hospital. My family and I enjoyed spending vacations at Olympic National Park, where our favorite spot was the Olympic Hot Springs. I was able to finish high school one year early due to credits earned through Olympic Community College in Bremerton. I then attended college in Olympia, the capital of Washington State since 1889, where I belonged to a club that spent weekends hiking in the Olympic Mountains. I earned my way through college by working at the Olympic Boat Center, knowing more about boats than cars due to my upbringing in this Olympic environment. Upon graduation, I moved to the community of Bellingham, where I lived on Olympic Drive, until I moved near Seattle, where I enjoy having guests stay at its premier hotel, the Olympic Four Seasons."

"We consider anything 'Olympic' to be our birthright, our heritage, and part of our local culture, and ... we balk at anyone who suggests that we have no inherent right to this

term," McDonald said. "We also understand that you have the law on your side. Remove the name 'Olympic' from our website? Done.

The Olympic Torch? The rings? Even Dr. Bob's Big Ass Bear Olympics?

Done, done, and done. We are 100% clean, and now you can check us off of your hit list."

Knoxville Shooter Hated Gays

A man who killed two people and injured seven in a shooting at a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tenn., on July 27 did so because he hated "the liberal movement" and "gays," Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said, quoting a letter found in Jim David Adkisson's car.

Adkisson, 58, has been charged with first-degree murder.

According to a report written by police officer Steve Still, and obtained by local media, Adkisson targeted the church "because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets." "(Since) he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement," Still said, Adkisson decided to "target those that had voted them into office."

Inside Adkisson's house, police found the books "Liberalism Is a Mental Health Disorder" by talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor" by talk show host Bill O'Reilly.

The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church had a sign outside welcoming gays, and ran announcements in local media advertising meetings of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

PG&E Donates to Same-Sex Marriage Campaign

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has donated $250,000 to the campaign to defeat the effort to amend the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage.

The measure will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

"We are proud to join NO on 8 and Equality California to protect the

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freedom to marry for all Californians," said Nancy McFadden, senior vice president of public affairs.

"PG&E is honored to be a founding member of the Equality Business Advisory Council and urge our business colleagues to join us as we work to guarantee the same rights and freedoms for every Californian."

On July 26, the founder of the WordPerfect software company, Bruce Bastian, wrote a $1 million check to the campaign against Proposition 8.

"If people are shown the truth and have fear taken out of the equation, I believe they will stand up for what's good and fair," Bastian said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Among other donors, the Human Rights Campaign has given $570,000, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has given $200,000, and Cleveland businessman David Maltz has donated $500,000.

Ballot Wording Changed in California Marriage Battle

California Attorney General Jerry Brown has changed the title and summary of the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage.

Petitions circulated to qualify the initiative for the ballot said only that it would amend the constitution "to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

But afterward, the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, and weddings began on June 16.

The new title is: "Proposition 8.

Eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry. Initiative constitutional amendment."

And the summary states: "Changes California Constitution to eliminate right of same-sex couples to marry.

Provides that only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Fiscal Impact: Over the next few years, potential revenue loss, mainly sales taxes, totaling in the several tens of millions of dollars, to state and local governments. In the long run, likely little fiscal impact to state and local governments."

Opponents of the proposed amendment cheered the change, while proponents denounced it and filed suit. Both agreed the new language would make the measure more likely to fail on Election Day.

August 8 - August 21, 2008

U.S. Repeals Law Banning HIV+ Foreign Visitors, Immigrants

The U.S. law banning HIV-positive foreign visitors and immigrants was repealed by Congress in July and President George W. Bush signed the measure July 30.

The repeal, inserted in legislation to reauthorize PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, passed the Senate 80-16 on July 16 and the House of Representatives 303-115 on July 24.

But Bush's signature does not do away with the ban just yet. Instead, it returned authority for determining whether HIV is a "communicable disease of public health significance" to the administrative level, at the Department of Health and Human Services.

"The HIV travel and immigration ban performs no public health service, is unnecessary and ineffective," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We ... ask Secretary of Health and Human Services (Mike) Leavitt to remove the remaining regulatory barriers to HIVpositive visitors and immigrants."

The administrative ban has been in place since 1987, and the statutory ban came into existence in 1993.

PEPFAR will send $48 billion to Africa over the next five years to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., called the bill "the single most significant thing the president has done."

L.A. Mayor Pulls Out of HRC Event

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pulled out as keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign's July 26 San Francisco Bay Area Gala in protest against the group's support last year for a version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act that will protect gay and bisexual people but not transgender people.

The measure has passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate. It is opposed by some 400 local, state and national GLBT organizations because of the transgender exclusion.

Villaraigosa's spokesman, Matt Szabo, said the mayor was swayed by a call from the San Francisco Labor Council for a boycott of the event.

The gala also was boycotted by San Francisco Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Bevan Dufty, state Assemblyman Mark Leno and state Sen. Carole Migden, among others.

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

by Rex Wockner with Bill Kelly

In addition to serving in the British Parliament, she also is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Lesbos Residents Lose 'Lesbian' Lawsuit

Three residents of the Greek island of Lesbos who filed suit to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it lost their case July 22.

The plaintiffs claimed the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island's residents amounted to "psychological and moral rape."

An Athens court found the claim baseless and ordered the trio to pay $363 in costs.

Plaintiff Dimitris Lambrou vowed to appeal the ruling.

Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C. and wrote about love between women.

Religious Cop Sues Employer Over Pink Ribbon

A policeman in the English county of Norfolk who resisted an official recommendation that he wear a pink ribbon on his uniform for Gay History Month has taken the Norfolk Police before an employment court, The Sunday Telegraph reported July 20.

Graham Cogman, 49, said homosexuality violates his Christian beliefs.

When Cogman responded to the recommendation by sending an email to fellow officers quoting the Bible, he was disciplined and fined 13 days' pay.

The Norfolk Police force is standing by its policy. A spokesman told the Telegraph that Cogman's behavior "fell well below the standard which we expect."

"The force will not tolerate any form of homophobic behavior," the spokesman said.

Cogman's case follows that of marriage registrar Lillian Ladele in the London borough of Islington. After Ladele, a Christian, refused to perform same-sex civil partnerships, she claimed she was harassed and discriminated against by the borough government.

The Central London Employment Tribunal agreed with her July 10, saying Islington Council violated "Miss Ladele's dignity and created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliat-

35,000 at EuroGames

Some 5,000 athletes and 30,000 spectators attended the EuroGames, the European Gay & Lesbian Championships, July 24-27 in Barcelona.

The games were expected to inject $47 million into the local economy.

Twenty-eight sporting events were offered, including aerobics, badminton, ballroom dancing, basketball, bowling, cycling, golf, handball, hockey, in-line skating, pingpong, running, sailing, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

A rally at the Tchaikovsky statue at the Moscow Conservatory

Moscow Gays to Try Pride a 4th Time, with a Twist

After being banned for three years running, Moscow activists will try a fourth time to stage a gay pride parade next May 16.

But with a twist: They will do so on the same day that the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Moscow.

The campy contest, which is staged in the country of the previous year's winner, is hugely popular among European gays, who travel from far and wide to attend it.

There also were conferences, workshops, debates and parties.

"We hope that the many gays and lesbians who usually attend Eurovision finals from different countries will join our Pride," said organizer Nikolai Alekseev.

The games were first held in 1992.

He said an international gay-rights conference also is being planned.

Finnish Pastor Breaks Rules, Blesses Lesbian Couple

Alekseev suggested it would be impossible for virulently anti-gay Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov to again ban the parade amid the glare of the Eurovision spotlight.

Luzhkov has said gay pride parades "can be described in no other way than as satanic."

ing or offensive environment."

An award of damages is pending.

The United Kingdom's civil-partnership law grants all the rights and obligations of marriage, but under a different name.

Iran Nabs HIV Doctors

Iranian authorities should immediately release or charge two physicians who are internationally recognized for their work on HIV and AIDS, Human Rights Watch said July 21.

Arash and Kamyar Alaei, who are brothers, were detained without charge by Iranian security forces in late June, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

"The authorities have not yet announced why the brothers were detained or whether or not they intend to bring any charges against them," HRW said. "Moreover, they have refused to disclose information about where the Alaei brothers are being held and have not provided them access to counsel."

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

For more than 20 years, the brothers have addressed problems related to drug use, with a focus on the spread of HIV, and have played a key role in putting the issues on the national health care agenda.

Northern Ireland Pol in Trouble with Gays

British MP Iris Robinson, who is married to Peter Robinson, leader of the regional government in Northern Ireland, has come under fire for saying homosexuality is worse than child molestation.

During a Grand Committee debate in Parliament, Mrs. Robinson said, "There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children."

She later reversed course, saying, "I clearly intended to say that child abuse was worse even than homosexuality and sodomy."

Gays protested outside Belfast City Hall on July 21 and called on Mrs. Robinson to resign.

August 8 - August 21, 2008

In violation of church rules, a pastor of Finland's state-supported Evangelical Lutheran Church has blessed the partnership of a lesbian couple, the Finnish Broadcasting Company reported July 23.

The bishop of Espoo, Mikko Heikka, said no action will be taken against the Rev. Liisa Tuovinen unless someone files a formal complaint over the matter.

Finland has had a registered-partnership law since 2002 and Lutheran bishops are expected to revisit the issue of same-sex blessings next year.

Court: Germans Who Change their Sex can Remain Married

Germany's Federal Constitutional Court struck down a law July 24 that required married postoperative transsexuals to get divorced before their new gender could be legally recognized.

The court said the law is unconstitutional, cannot be enforced, and must be changed by August 2009.

The ruling came in the case of a 79year-old individual who had a sexchange operation to become female in 2002.

The woman's wife also did not want to get divorced.

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O BITUARY Thomas E. Bonsall, Automotive Historian and Journalist, Dies.

Press (SUP) published his complete story of Edsel Ford and the ill-fated automobile in Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel (2002). It landed him an unexpected interview on NPR's MarketPlace. It and his book Avanti! (1979) are the definitive books on their subjects.

Thomas E. Bonsall

n July 15th at 1:30p.m., Thomas E. Bonsall—writer and publisher of automotive histories—passed away at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Towson, Maryland of complications due to two strokes. He was 61.

O

Mr. Bonsall was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Western Reserve Academy (1965) in nearby Hudson, Ohio. He graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with degrees in broadcast journalism and speech arts (1969) and briefly pursued his Masters in journalism.

After his experience as an editor and publisher of small town weekly newspapers in the early 1970s and as a copy boy for the Washington Post, he founded Baltimore-based Bookman Publishing, a company that specialized in paperback books for old-car enthusiasts. Stony Run Press, founded by Mr. Bonsall in the early 1990s and, briefly, in 1996, Turning Point Press emphasized hardbound automotive histories. During this time, he launched his most prolific contribution to the field of automotive history. Indeed, Automobile! magazine called him "America's Best Automobile Historian". He garnered several awards for his work, most notably the Antique Automobile Club of America's (AACA) Thomas McKean Cup and the Society of Automotive Historians' (SAH) Joseph Cugnot award for his book The Lincoln MotorCar (1981) currently in its third edition. With the publication of Pontiac! They Built Excitement (1992), he repeated his win of the Joseph Cugnot award.

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That year, Mr. Bonsall was presented SAH's Benz Award of Distinction for the article Edsel, the Forgotten Ford. Later, Stanford University

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Others were published through Stanford University Press including More Than They Promised: The Studebaker Story, The Lincoln Story: The Post-War Years and The Cadillac Story: The Post-War Years.

Mr. Bonsall founded Ride&Drive Features (1980-present), a new-car road-test syndication. Reviews can be found on RideDrive.com. (www.ridedrive.com). His numerous articles about automobiles and the auto industry have appeared in Automotive News, Automobile Quarterly, BusinessWeek, Old Cars Weekly and Special Interest Autos amongst others. Notably, he was the former automotive editor for Palm Beach Illustrated and Palm Springs Life.

During his 18 years living in Washington, D.C., Tom helped found the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA).

Fascinated with other modes of transportation, he wrote the wildly successful Titanic, The Story of the Great White Star Line Trio: Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic (1987). Under the pen name Paul North, Mr. Bonsall also wrote American Steam Locomotives (1988) and a book on trains and railways.

A prize he held dearly was the Malice Domestic Grant for Unpublished [fiction] Writers (2003) for his unpublished suspense novel, Lilac Time. He has created four series and two coming-of-age novels. It was his hope and dream to become a published fiction author.

Mr. Bonsall amassed a large collection of books on Cold War Russia and the Holocaust. He had one of the largest collections of automobile dealer sales literature and car photographs in the world, which he converted into a digital archive.

Mr. Bonsall was a resident of Baltimore City for more than 23 years. He is survived by his partner and loving companion of 16 years, Kevin Lowery.

Memorial services will be held at Saint John's in the Village, 3009 Greenmount Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, www.saintjohnsinthevillage.org

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No More Girlfriends for

Persia White Interview by Shayna Robinson

T

hrough her portrayal of Lynn Searcy on the CW’s long-running, but now defunct, hit show, Girlfriends, Persia White, whether she knows it or not, has become a sort of icon for the vastly disillusioned queer community and a point of reference for apprehensive straight folks worldwide. She talks to Gay Life’s Shayna Robinson about race, sex, the NAACP, whales, music and more in any way she wants.

Can I start by asking you…what happened to Girlfriends?!

(Laughs) I love it! That’s the first question? I thought you were going to start out easy!

It just went away!

Well, the strike affected the industry in a bad way. The strike had everything to do with it. I think the show would still be on if it wasn’t for the strike. The network lost a lot of money. Actually, there were a lot of people in this town that I know that were hit pretty hard by it. A lot of businesses closed. A lot of jobs were lost. It was too hard on the industry to keep all the shows when they came back.

How are you feeling about it personally?

I just miss my Girlfriends family. I wish we got to go out with a finale— the way you normally get to end something, with grace. So that’s where it felt bad. It was a great eight and half years, though. I had so much fun. I can’t complain. It was really good.

Baltimore City Paper columnist Vincent Williams wrote about the cancellation of the show, but more specifically your character, saying, “[…]Lynn was originally framed as a sort of biracial, hippy, sexually liberated nymph, but over the years she too has evolved into a three-dimensional character who has challenged conventional notions of race, realistically addressed the repercussions of her sexual attitudes and, I believe, was ultimately one of the most well-constructed

fictional examples of a member of the overly educated, underemployed, nihilistically attitudinal Generation X.” Wow.

Can you speak back to that and to the arch of Lynn as a character?

That is really, really nice that someone thought that. You don’t know how closely people are watching.

When you’re working on developing a character as an actor, you’re hoping people get to see all the levels in between all of the fun and the comedy. Initially, when she was written onto the show, she was written as this sort of bohemian, sex freak with one dimension. I was really fighting to try to give her different levels. It’s hard because networks, a lot of times, want you to be the drive-by funny person who comes in with the joke. But having different layers was important and the fact that the show was so long made it possible to develop those different layers and to stay true.

There were a lot of talks that went down. I was begging them to address the sexual issues because I was like, “We’re living in the 2000’s.” I think maybe some of the writers who were a little older, they wrote the show from the perspective of the 60’s and 70’s. And I’m like, “This isn’t the 1970’s,” because, now, if you’re promiscuous, you’re just straight up stupid. So they were like, “Okay, let’s talk about safe sex!”

There was a lot of talking and it was really cool because they were listening. Writers would listen to what this generation is really about.

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It was a great opportunity to play someone who is biracial. Actually Lynn wasn’t written as biracial. I begged them to make her biracial.

Why can’t we talk about that? Why can’t we talk about the fact that somebody’s mixed? It gets treated like it’s a dirty little secret that will just slide under the radar. Why can’t we talk about it? Why can’t we joke about it? So then they said, “Okay!”

And sometimes it was hard because they didn’t get it 100% right, but I was still sitting there fighting for this weird generation that’s totally confused and upside down half the time. But then it also has to be funny. It can’t be a joy kill drama; it has to be funny at the same time. So, that’s really awesome that he noticed that and acknowledged that because it’s a hard line to play in the middle—that Generation X kid, the “what the hell is going on?” kid.

And especially being black and a lot of people not wanting to accept the diversity of black women. We don’t always dress how one might think, as mainstream television might want to box us up as. We don’t always think as expected and we like all kinds of music and fashion. It’s the most diverse group on the planet, I think. And I’ve traveled a lot and been a lot of places, but black Americans, especially women and women of color in this country, we are collecting, all over, little bits of different things we like and it’s a really eclectic and interesting rainbow.

What has been the response of the queer community about the character of Lynn?

It’s funny. I just got back from Atlanta for a Gay Pride party for women (Laughs).

Oh really?

It was a party and it was celebrating Gay Pride. I didn’t know, initially, that that was what it was for. I just knew that is was a party! But I went and I just thought that was really cool and such a compliment. Even though Lynn wasn’t actually “gay”, obviously she’d done everything and she was out there. There were no taboos or restrictions on that character. I love the episode where she explains that some woman experimenting is not gay and giving respect to the gay community in saying that having a real relationship requires more than you jumping around being experimental, so to speak. So, I love that about her.

That was one of things that didn’t get me in the heart of the more strict Christian community. I got lots of feedback, which is hilarious, because I was like, “It’s my character. It’s not even me!” But I’ve gotten some real negative feedback from women and

men that were from the extreme conservative crowd that enjoy Joan, but don’t enjoy Lynn because it goes against some of their Christian morals. I learned a lot about being a part of that community, in the sense of feeling a bias toward me simply because of my character’s openmindedness.

Does that bother you?

No! I don’t mind at all. Like I would want someone narrow-minded to like me? That’s the beautiful part about having a freedom of spirit. If somebody’s close minded and they’re going to discriminate against any group and they were going to accept me into their fold because they think I’m worthy, I don’t want to be. If they’re going to be biased or homophobic or racist, I don’t want them to embrace me anyway. I don’t want to go to their event.

It was a little hard for me in the beginning because the whole Christian religion, NAACP crowd wouldn’t even acknowledge me.

They were so pissed off about my character’s sexuality.

Didn’t the entire leading cast get nominated for NAACP Image Awards…

More than once…

...except you?

…Yeah. Even the script, even the lighting got nominated. They were so not on my team. That whole crowd was like “We’re not even going to acknowledge you exist.” I was like, “Ouch, what have I done to you?”

Do you think that’s going to have an impact on the rest of your career?

No, I think it’s only from that limited small-minded crowd that is biased. They’re not the majority.

And I don’t think that’s going to have that much of an effect and maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m living in my own oblivion, but I think that they’re the minority. You do good work and you move on. It’s difficult with mainstream TV. Being under that close radar from that kind of crowd was not something I thought about at the time. But no, I don’t necessarily think its going to affect it in a bad way. I love being somebody who is depicted as openminded and free thinking with an edgy personality because I, personally, am that way.... I can do anything as an actor but if someone were to flag me as a particular type that’s free-spirited and open minded, that’s not a bad thing.

As long as you get paid right?

As long as you get that paycheck!

(Laughs) As long as you’re doing continued on page 14

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PERSIA - continued from page 13

good work, you know.

What’s going on with you now?

What projects are you working on?

The Girlfriends soundtrack just came out, which I’m on. That was really cool. I was trying to get a soundtrack for the show for years.

It was fun because they let my character do music, of course, which was great.

And I’m putting another CD out under my name that will have the Season 6 Season Finale song that I wrote. I have another one that I did with Tricky for another season, so all of those are going to be on that CD. And then the XE03 project…that CD is coming out soon.

Part of the beauty of working on Girlfriends was that I was able to learn how to mix and engineer and produce things. So I got to do music the way I wanted to, instead of doing it under the control of a strict label. It would’ve been a very different sounding project; I would’ve been boxed up the way you normally get when labels are controlling you.

I’m also a board member of the Humane Society for the United States, as well as a board member of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. They defend whales and the ecosystems of the world’s oceans, and I might be going up to Antarctica on a mission with the Sea Shepherds on one of their ships.

How important is your activism to you?

Right now, with the scary train that we’re on towards climate change and global collapse, I think it’s really more important than people realize.

The reason I put so much time and energy into this is because I want the kids of this generation and of the world and all the kids I love and care about to have air to breathe and an ocean to step into. We’re actually headed to a point where they might not.

(Laughs) I think probably the most important quality in my self is to always keep growing and reaching to be a more kind, compassionate and balanced person. To continue to grow because sometimes we get stagnant, we stop trying, we get stubborn in our ways, we stifle ourselves. As I get older, I realize how important it is to keep your mind growing and trying, reaching toward your next level to be a better person.

What about others?

Umm… I would say the thing I really look for in someone else is intelligence and compassion. I think they are kind of intertwined.

Compassion is key. I have a soft spot for that and intelligence is woven into that because a sentient, caring person is a beautiful person.

Who are some of the people you most admire?

You mean in history?

Anyway you want to answer it.

It’s up to you.

I’m like, Gandhi, Martin Luther King. (Laughs) There have been a lot of wonderful people doing a lot of wonderful things. I was talking about this just yesterday. You look at the heroes, you know, the people who have opened doors and pushed past all obstacles and I have a love for those people, the Mother Theresa’s of the world.

does that, there’s this wonderful repercussion and then you have a domino effect, a chain reaction of good that can uplift the energy of the world around us.

What do you do when you’re not working? Or are you working all the time?

It does feel like I’m working all the time. (Laughs) I was like, “What do you mean when I’m not working? I take a bath! And I go to sleep!”

I like to paint. It’s a little bit of a form of work because I am putting together a potential show. I used to be a painter. But working and doing music, I got a lot going on. There’s not a lot of time to work hours and hours painting. It takes a lot of energy and time. It has not by any means been a career at all for me. I have artists in my family and it’s a really hard career. I think, other than being a dancer, it’s one of the hardest.

If you could play any role what would it be?

Any role? You mean something that’s already been filmed?

Anyway you want to answer.

Anyway I want to answer it?

Yeah. This is Gay Life newspaper

so we’re very open around here.

Any kind of way you want to answer it.

Yeah, I know. I love that! There aren’t the cages, the bars.

It’s funny because we’ve been watching some really good films recently. I like to do characters, kind of like Tracey Ullman, and when I say characters, I mean kind of like extreme, where you can’t tell it’s me.

That’s really fun, but in Hollywood, they don’t let women do that very often, if you haven’t noticed. Only the Eddie Murphy’s and the limited few get to morph into characters, but women don’t get to morph even though we can. That’s the kind of thing I would like to do. I would like to do a multitude of extreme characters of people I’ve met in my life paths, different people I’ve come up with and do a comedy that involves not just being Persia White, but being a bunch of different characters.

Girlfriends, The Soundtrack featuring songs by Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Estelle, Persia White and more is available in stores now. For more information on Persia’s other projects, check out www.persiawhite.com.

But nowadays with this really complex world, I’ve gained a lot of respect for simple people who are really trying. I’ve realized how hard it is for single mothers; my mother is a single mother of four kids. I just think about the way the world is turning and changing right now. I just love anyone that’s really simply trying a little harder than they did yesterday, trying to be a better person, trying to care about not just themselves. With each person that

Can we get into some personal questions?

How personal?

Not too personal.

Okay, I’m waiting.

What are the qualities that you most desire in your self and someone else?

Oh, that’s a nice question!

I’m good!

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We don't debate, or simply tolerate; we celebrate your sexuality and spirituality!

Sundays 9 AM

Traditional Celebration

10 AM Hospitality Time - Community 11 AM Praise Celebration & Family Service

Metropolitan Community Church of Baltimore - (410)NOW-MCCb Cb 401 W. Monument Street (at Eutaw) www.mccbaltimore.org

What are

you

thinking?

editor@baltimoregaylife.com

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August 8 - August 21, 2008

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OPINIONS TRANSMISSIONS Left Out

by Gwendolyn Ann Smith n advance of a recent San Francisco Human Rights Campaign fundraiser—and a sizable boycott by the local transgender community and their supporters, including many prominent California politicians—HRC Business Council member Meghan Stabler wrote a letter to the editor of the Bay Area Reporter. HRC reprinted the full, unedited text of her letter to its own weblog at www.hrcbackstory.org.

I

In her letter, she said a great many good things. I applaud much of what she had to say, and I think she brings some important words to the table. She preaches the need for all

of us to "not take sides." I too would love to see us not have to be a divided community, and all work together for common goals. We are, quite frankly, much stronger as a whole.

Unfortunately, Ms. Stabler makes a crucial error.

When she sees transgender people protesting, it is not us who have divided the community. When she sees people talking about being left out, it is not these people who are the problem. On the contrary, it is the very organization that she is tacitly endorsing that has caused the division.

Stabler begins her note simply

Take a deep breath…

It’s a busy world, to say the least.

Whenever we find ourselves multi-tasking - whether out of choice, necessity, or habit - our bodies, minds and emotions race in many directions at once.

For many of us, this high-speed, chronically stressful engagement begins the moment we awaken until we collapse back into bed at night.

We can’t sustain this level of constant busy-ness without experiencing negative consequences, and often we find ourselves feeling scattered, depleted, and breathless.

It’s important to create time to slow down and re-center ourselves regularly in order to return to a place of physical, mental, emotional, and subtle balance.

Hatha Yoga practice links deep, regular, soothing breathing with gentle, fluid, mindful movement to return body, mind, emotions, and spirit back to a place of balance and wellness.

Join Certified Yoga Instructors Tim Hurley and Kelly O’Neal each week at the Center for Gentle Beginner Yoga and enjoy the priceless benefits of feeling balanced, centered, and deeply relaxed.

Classes are held on Sundays at 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:15 p.m. (please arrive a few minutes early) in Room 201 at the Center.

Classes cost $9.00 each, and a portion of that cost is donated back to the Center.

For more information, check the Programs link at www.glccb.org or call 410-837-5445.

Breathe easy.

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enough, by noting that she is, "a woman, a transgender woman". She lets us know she is also a new American citizen, having completed her five-year-long citizenship just a month ago. I applaud her passion, but I also think she may not know all of what she's walking into. Perhaps she simply is not all that aware of the history she is supporting.

The fight for transgender inclusion in the Employment NonDiscrimination Act goes back roughly fifteen years, with activists from the Transexual Menace, It's Time, America!, and the International Conference on Transgender Law and Education Policy struggling with HRC to get them to include the need for transgender protections. It was made clear then that HRC was not willing to do that. In essence, its stance has not changed since then.

If would have been a lot clearer if HRC had simply said that it would never support transgender rights then, and if it had stuck with that policy until now. Unfortunately, the organization seems to prefer having its cake and eating it too.

Over the years HRC has, on many occasions, pushed how much it really does support transgender people—and their inclusion into ENDA—only to pull the rug out from under when it is politically expedient.

A handful of years ago, Ethan St. Pierre and I, leading a small contingent of Transexual Menace members in a spirited protest in front of HRC's posh Washington, D.C. headquarters, were led inside to meet with a trio of HRC staff members. In a conference room complete with suede-covered chairs, we were told how HRC was really sorry about its most recent selling out of the transgender community, but gosh, the organization is going to do better next time. HRC even held a "fact finding" meeting a couple months later, just to show how "on board" it was.

On September 14, 2007 at the Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, HRC president Joe Solmonese went on record that HRC would not support an ENDA that was not transgender inclusive.

Two weeks later, his tune had changed dramatically. HRC backed the very bill they claimed they would not support. There were a lot of things done around that time that

August 8 - August 21, 2008

led many to question exactly what the Human Rights Campaign was really doing, including a survey that purported to show that a majority of LGBT people supported this inclusive bill. This survey was largely discredited, in part to its very unusual methodology.

In the wake of HRC's shenanigans, they had lost Jamison Green and Donna Rose—two prominent transgender activists—from their business council. Stabler evokes their names in her letter, and sits on the very board these two left.

All of this over a bill that would have failed regardless of it being inclusive, and from an organization that seems more than willing to raise funds on behalf of all LGBT peoples, but isn't willing to truly fight for all. As an aside, exactly what rights has HRC ever actually won for anyone? Do they just take credit for other peoples' actions?

In these fifteen years, I personally have seen a number of transgender activists get seduced by HRC, and firmly believe that this time the organization really was going to bat for us. They soon realize that they have been cast as Charlie Brown to HRC's Lucy, and they aren't going to get a chance to kick that particular football.

After all these years, do we really see change in HRC's actions? Can HRC really say—with any inkling of a straight face, no pun intended—that it really will support transgender inclusive ENDA the next time it hits the floor? Will anyone outside of HRCs own reality distortion field buy it? I know I would find it hard to accept that water was wet if I read it in an HRC press release It is my hope that Ms Stabler will not find herself regretting her words the next time HRC decides to work against the rights of transgender women such as she.

I would also hope that she will see that we really do have a unified community—but one that is unified against the seemingly out-of-touch leadership of the Human Rights Campaign. They're the ones "left out" of HRC's gala fundraisers.

Gwen Smith has always wanted to use the word shenanigans in a column, and found this to be the right opportunity.

You can find her on the web at www.gwensmith.com

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VOICE OF ONE

The Campaign of Mayor Dixon 2007 Martha’s extensive political background, intertwined with her remarkable positive personality, brought something to the campaign that helped unify the campaign staff and volunteers. Her dedication to the campaign is clearly evident by her relentless drive, which included working long hours and encouraging people to get involved. I do not believe Dixon could have selected a better campaign manager.

by David Placher

ayor Sheila Dixon’s 2007 mayoral campaign was dominating, with a massive number of volunteers, dedicated followers and talented campaign staff. In order to appreciate the magnitude of the situation, one had to participate in the campaign. I was a regular part-time volunteer, allocating 2 or more hours a week.

In general, volunteering on political campaigns can be rewarding because you have the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and network. People that volunteer also quickly learn that it is a unique type of social setting, limited to those people that generally have the same type of political beliefs. Volunteers often call selected voters, knock on voters’ doors, hold campaign signs and attend political rallies and other political events. Last year, when I volunteered on Mayor Dixon’s campaign, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with some very special and talented people.

M

It was March 2007 when I decided to volunteer on Dixon’s campaign.

At that point, I was unsure as to whom to support. I had recently moved to Baltimore in June 2006 and I was unfamiliar with the city’s political issues. One night, Scott Sokol, a close friend, and I decided to visit the mayoral campaign headquarters of both Dixon and Keiffer Mitchell. Our first and only visit would be to Dixon’s campaign.

When we arrived that night, Martha McKenna, Dixon’s campaign manager, was setting up the office. After a brief conversation, Scott and I learned that both we and Martha had resided in central Florida and knew some of the same people.

That connection alone sold me on Dixon’s campaign. From there on, I volunteered on the campaign and started to meet the staff.

Martha encouraged me to get further involved in the campaign by working with Hope Williams to help coordinate the August 2007 Rally Baltimore, an event that would ultimately result in multiple public events scheduled throughout one day. Hope’s talent is effectively communicating with others. Her ability to passionately persuade people to look at Dixon’s campaign and everything Dixon has to offer can only be described as extraordinary. “Strong leadership” and “dedication to Baltimore” are the phrases that Hope constantly used to describe Dixon.

While helping develop Rally Baltimore, I met Wanda Watts, a very caring and understanding person that brought a motherly feel to the campaign. Her ability to listen to people’s problems and help develop solutions was outstanding. I remember a rambunctious young boy, probably about 12-years-old, who would volunteer on the campaign in the mornings. Wanda would always try to keep him busy and involved.

Although I do not know his background, my assumption is that he probably resides in a broken home.

This boy is unrelated to Wanda, no relationship; he was just a simple volunteer. Looking back, I think it is great that Wanda provided a place for him in the campaign because the alternative place may have been the streets.

Rally Baltimore was a huge success. It was also the day that I became a more staunch supporter of Dixon. I remember returning to the campaign headquarters after the event and watching Dixon, with sweat pouring down her face from an extremely hot August day, on the side of Eutaw Street, waving her hands and yelling, “Thank you!

Thank you everyone! This means so much to me!” I appreciate everything you have done.” Indeed, after the event, Dixon could have chosen to go home and retreat to a more

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

Wanda Watts & David Placher

Sheila Dixon, David Placher, Martha McKenna and Rachel Rice

comfortable environment. Instead, she voluntarily decided to praise everyone and continue to endure the uncomfortable weather.

Throughout the campaign, I had numerous interactions with Rachel Rice, owner of Rice Consulting.

Rachel was the person who raised money for the Dixon campaign. She demonstrated an ability to coordinate several successful fundraisers.

She also provided me with the opportunity to be on the inaugural ball committee. That was fun because I was able to meet new people and try food from new restaurants at the inaugural ball committee meetings. Without the money, there would have been no campaign; without the campaign, there would have been no opportunity for me to volunteer; without volunteering,I would have not met the people mentioned hereinabove.

On the night of the inaugural ball,

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I invited Justin and Telly, a partnered couple. Obnoxiously intoxicated, but enthusiastically celebrating the victory of Dixon, we attended a special event after the inaugural ball.

Dixon can be pleasantly playful at times, so Telly inquired as to whether she finds bald men sexy.

Dixon answered, “No, no I don’t, unless they have some facial hair.” It was her quick answer and Telly’s facial expression that were priceless.

Justin and Telly related a message to me the following day saying it was probably one of their most adventurous nights.

Before the campaign memories fade to history, I wanted to write an article expressing my thankfulness, recognizing the uniqueness of the campaign and hopefully encouraging others to volunteer.

David Placher is an attorney.

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OPINIONS SPEAKING OUT! Can Gun-Totting Solve Gay-Bashing?

transwoman, in a Memphis booking room that was captured on a surveillance video. “I’d be stupid not to go packing now.”

by Rev. Irene Monroe

ast month, in a 5-4 ruling the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own a gun for personal use. While the debate will continue to go on about whether the Second Amendment really means that American citizens only have the right to bear arms in connection with service in a wellregulated militia as referenced in the amendment or we have the right to keep a loaded handgun for selfdefense, right now, this is the law of the land.

L

For those American citizens who reside in congested crime-ridden urban areas riddled with drug and gang warfare, as I do, this recent ruling brings a heightened concern about personal safety. But this ruling also brings a heightened concern about personal safety for those of us who rely on hate crimes laws to protect us from the bigoted actions by our fellow citizens.

“I can see some crazed fool come into a bar where gays hang out or my homeys and shoot the hell out of us,” Adam Williams told me.

Williams is an African American trans male who has been the victim of both gay-bashing and racial violence. Feeling more vulnerable than ever in his life with this recent Supreme Court ruling, Williams tell me he’s going to start carrying a gun with him.

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“Ain’t nothing out here to protect you now. I don’t trust the cops ‘cause they beat the shit out of you with other officers watching,” said Williams referring to the news about the cop beat down of Duanna Johnson, an African American

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Williams lives in Oakland, just outside of San Francisco, and he’s going to check out the San Francisco chapter of Pink Pistols. As a national organization that encourages lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to arm themselves to prevent hate crimes, the Pink Pistols is also a social gun club. On the San Francisco Pink Pistols website, it invites the community to learn how to shoot.

“We are a group of primarily gay shooters, who are welcoming to all.

One need not be an experienced shooter, nor own a firearm. So if you are interested in learning to shoot in a non-threatening, gay-friendly environment (one member is a certified firearm instructor), then click on for the date of our next shoot. “ Pink Pistols brandishes the mottos “Armed gays don’t get bashed” and “Pick on someone your own caliber.”

Their message is a hot-button issue swirling in the LGBTQ community, which is: Can gun-totting solve gay-bashing?

“They’re trying to get urban gays and lesbians to not be afraid of the one instrument that, when used properly and legally, can save their lives,” Jeff Soyer, a Pistols member of the Vermont chapter told Alternate 101.

Libertarian activist Douglas Krick founded Pink Pistols in the anti-gun town of Boston. Although Pink Pistols have 48 chapters in 32 states and 2 countries, it was not well received here in Boston, one of the most gay-friendly but top crimeridden cities in the country.

“I don’t believe arming ourselves is a sustainable response to a subculture of hate towards homosexuality.

We are not going to settle our scores as a community by having a shootout at the OK Corral,” stated Sue Hyde of the Boston office of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to the Southern Voices in 2002.

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COMING FROM WHERE I’M FROM “How can I make my girlfriend believe I only have eyes for her?”

—Kay, 25, female, Towson. Maryland

by Nicole Bettis

"You can never truly love another unless you first, truly love yourself."

A lot of us have questions about coming out, relationships and family issues, but we just don’t feel comfortable talking to the people in our circle. The fear of being judged and mistreated is alone enough to stop any of us from seeking the advice we need. I know. I’ve been there. I didn’t have a space where I was free to ask whatever I wanted and receive great feedback, but you do. This column is dedicated to you. You can ask absolutely anything you want from, “How do I tell her that I like her?” to “Where do we tie the knot?”

You can even write in anonymously. It’s totally up to you. There are no limits. In each issue you will receive advice from yours truly and maybe even realize that there is someone out there in your exact situation. If I haven’t been there, I know someone who has, and, coming from where I’m from, that means a lot.

“How do you keep the passion in a relationship?”

—Shannon, 21, female, Baltimore, Maryland

I like to look at a relationship like a child—something that needs to be nurtured daily. All too often, after about a year or so, couples begin to go through the motions—you know hugging and showing affection just because they are together and not because they truly feel it. Remind each other of the things you love about one another each day and use those little reminders as tools to open the doors that could lead to more intimate things.

In situations like this, reassurance is the key. Communicate. Tell her without getting frustrated, whenever the situation arises. But you should also gently remind her that relationships are built on trust and if you two are going to be together, trust needs to be established. “ My girlfriend recently cheated on me with a man should I forgive her?”

—Terrelle, 26, female, Wilmington, Delaware

Forgiveness, to me is a way to cleanse the soul, so sure, in time, I think forgiveness is definitely an option. What people don’t realize is that cheating destroys trust and it takes time, effort and patience from both parties to rebuild it. The fact that she cheated with a man only further complicates things, especially if she is not openly Bi. As I said, forgiveness is a good idea but before any discussion of continuing a relationship, the two of you should have open, HONEST conversation that includes the aspects of her sexual orientation and the expectations you have for her in the future. Also, just as a precaution, if you’ve had any sexual contact with her after the incident, you both may want to get tested.

“I’m a regular guy, but I’ve been noticing other guys. I can’t ruin my reputation. What do I do?”

–Anonymous, 19, male, Randallstown, Maryland

Be true to YOU. I’ve held in a lot over the years, especially about my sexuality, and it did more damage than good. I’ve got the emotional scars to prove it. At the end of the day, you are all you have left. The people that you are trying not to disappoint probably don’t hold as much power as you think. Remember that if people judge you or try to make you feel bad about your situation, they are more than likely trying to take the heat off of their own issues.

Questions or comments? Email nikki@baltimoregaylife.com

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

www.glccb.org Services. Groups. Events.

Our calendar is now online.

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But Jonathan Rauch, the gay journalist whose headline article in the March 13, 2000 Salon Magazine Pink Pistols borrowed its name from, thinks differently. And he illustrates his point by reminding us of the 1998 killing of Mathew Shepard.

"Shepard was small, helpless and childlike. He never had a chance.

This made him a sympathetic figure of a sort that is comfortingly familiar to straight Americans: the weak homosexual," Rauch told Orange County’ Weekly in 2003

The Pink Pistols are considered the lunatic fringe of the LGBTQ community and are often compared to the Black Panthers and Jewish Defense

League, all movements in response to hate crimes and discrimination against their groups. And their advocacy for guns is understandable.

Self-defense is a human right. And great spiritual leaders have spoken out on the subject. For example, the Dali Lama said, “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.” And Jesus stated in Luke 22:36 “Let him who hath no sword, let him sell his tunic and buy one.”

We feel most vulnerable when we have no means to defend ourselves from attacks both systematically

IMHO Queers and Sports

know all you queers will be at home watching the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Beijing tonight. And that’s because there’s nothing that queers love more than over-the-top sheer spectacle. That’s why we watch the Super Bowl. We watch it for the halftime show. Well, truth be told, we watch it for other reasons. I know that I’m intrigued by any sport in which there are hot men in tight spandex uniforms. Especially if there are “tight ends” and “wide

by Mario Fernández receivers”. And realistically, queers look for any excuse to get together and sip chi-chi poo-poo cocktails and eat gourmet appetizers. But as we will soon be inundated with two weeks of non-stop Olympic programming, it got me to thinking about the strange relationship queers have with sports.

I

I played a variety of sports growing up: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, swimming, tennis. I even took badminton in college. Badminton is about the gayest game going. You know I’m all over a game in which the object is to swat your shuttlecock at the opposing player.

I still enjoy watching football. There’s something very exciting about watching rough trade mix it up on the gridiron. Of course, I always wanted to be the sportscaster allowed in the locker room after the game, going from cubicle to cubicle, searching for in-depth interview subjects all the while casting surreptitious glances at nether regions as sweaty players got out of their dirty uniforms and prepared to get into the steamy showers.

Baseball doesn’t interest me as much anymore. It takes too long. There is the whole swinging lumber at curving balls thing going on, but the bottom line is that the players are totally covered up. And I have zero interest in a sport in which the most exciting moment is when a player adjusts his cup.

I spent a lot of time in Spain growing up and caught the soccer bug early.

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and individually coming toward us.

Organizations like the Pink Pistols offer a seemingly viable tool to stem gay violence.

However, guns will never be the great equalizer for an embattled group. They may for a fleeting moment deter our enemies, but they will never permanently protect us from them. Guns do, however, signal to us that we might need to take another course of action.

A native of Brooklyn, Rev. Irene Monroe served as a pastor at an African-American church before a Ford Fellowship took her to Harvard Divinity School for a doctorate.

ATTENTION! Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the GLCCB or Gay Life.

We welcome your letters and opinions. Submissions should include a name, address and phone number for verification and may be edited for content and length. Send submissions by e-mail to editor@baltimoregaylife.com or fax to 410.837.8889 or by mail to Editor, 241 W. Chase Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Soccer players are not overly bulked up and wear cute uniforms and even cuter shorts. Soccer players usually have tremendous calves and thighs and there’s been many a night I have dreamed of being crushed to death between David Beckham’s muscular thighs. What a way to go! He shoots, he scores!

Soccer is an elegant game with lots of long, arcing passes, deft footwork, and just the right amount of pushing, shoving and tangling for the ball.

Pretty much like being “under the boardwalk” at a Full Moon party at The Eagle. And don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean!

I still love to watch tennis. It’s still a very elegant game, played on expertly manicured lawns or sexy clay courts. Everyone’s very civilized, for the most part, and the men wear a variety of sexy tops and shorts. Headbands went out with Olivia Newton John and the “Physical” video, but they still look cool on tennis players. And unlike football where the matches are played in unglamorous places like Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, tennis matches are held in romantic places like Down Under in Australia, Roland Garros in Paris, or the hallowed greens of Wimbledon. Nothing against Pittsburgh or Cincinnati; they’re fine cities. But they just can’t hold a candle to Paris and London. I know tennis is big business and very corporate. But, tennis, for me, still elicits an air days gone by gentility. It still fills me with a sense of a Merchant-Ivory period piece with the men in smartly tailored linen and women in beautiful, diaphanous, flowered frocks.

Swimming is an obviously attractive sport to queers. Where else can you ogle young men with broad shoulders, tiny trim waists, and even tinier and tighter swimsuits and get away with it without being arrested for stalking?

I swear that I almost faint every time that I see a peek of Michael Phelps’ Olympic rings tattoo as his tight swimming suit rides low over his sexy and bony hips.

And while gymnasts are more covered up than swimmers, they have the same broad-shouldered build and rippling muscles. And to engage the queers further, they tumble on mats, do splits, mount the pommel horse, jump from bar to bar, ride the beam, and get all powdered up to hang on the rings. I swear; it’s a veritable cornucopia of gay fantasies all rolled into one. I may have to give up porn while the men’s gymnastics are on!

The other obvious Olympic sports that are huge turn-ons for the queers are: weight-lifting, wrestling (or as I prefer to call it, foreplay), the equestrian sports (riding a beautiful beast while wearing a cute, tailored uniform…what’s not to love?), volleyball (again, cute shorts and slamming balls at each other…or as I prefer to call it, foreplay), synchronized swimming (so gay, it makes Elton John look butch), water polo (men in tiny swimsuits, pawing and grabbing each other in the water…or as I prefer to call it, water sports or kinky foreplay).

I don’t want to leave out my lesbian sisters so the obvious sports turn-ons for them will be: boxing (or as I prefer to call it, lesbian foreplay), road cycling, field hockey, and softball. I know, I know…the last two are stereotypical clichés. But when was the last time you saw a nelly gay boy playing field hockey and softball? Didn’t think so!

E-mail Mario at mfernandez@baltimoregaylife.com with your favorite Olympic moment.

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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ATTENTION

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OPINIONS LHAC

(Let’s Have A Conversation) mass destruction in the last 8 years that we can confirm is his ass being in office.

The war hos cost over 4100 lives of our men & women who are in the military to serve this country for liberty & justice for all... sadly those who have sacrificed their lives and others who are still risking their lives... for the love of this country.

by Marvelous Marva Politics have never been a favorite subject of mine... I completely feel as though we are given limited, twisted, deceitful, half ass information... to say the least, then are asked to vote for mostly selfish, greedy, tricky ass people who live and breathe only for the power... that will give them all the control they want and need to run this country slowly in the gutter... Yeah, I gotta say all their drama has really had me interested in politics.

Most Politicians have more drama than the Hippo on a Friday night...

Sheeezzz!

Nevertheless, we must participate to at least keep them from completely ripping us off... and actually believing we are a bunch of idiots.

Honestly, I feel like most of them are white collar criminals... and I have definitely come to understand and accept that George Bush is a straight Gangster... Make no mistake about it. At this point he literally does not... does not give a damn about what any of us think about him or his administration. He has done everything to confirm that... with the exception of bending over and actually telling the citizens of the USA to “kiss his ass... “I got what I wanted.”

He mugged us in the last presidential election and took the position of chief and commander… while most of America was gagging. He then proceeded to further put his foot up and in anybody’s ass he wanted and/or needed to...with further insult to Americans about his so called intelligence about weapons of mass destruction... that they’re still looking for. The only weapon of

Not for the love of George Bush and his twisted thinking and deranged obsession of power...

We have all been deceived... even some of his own team players are slowly finding out that the reason for this war is about everything but what we were all initially told and believed. This war never should have been fought... not this way... not under the false circumstances given.

Because of George Bush... his super ego... his lies... greed... stubborness... need for power... and insistence on being right about everything…we are now in what has turned in to a daily blood bath on both sides.

It is shameful the human lives lost in this sick ass war...

We can expect all levels of his blatant gangster behavior in his last months of office. As he did with Scooter Libby, he will pardon all of his crooked friends... like Carl Rove... and all of his loyal soldiers.

He will ignore any law of the land he does not wish to abide by. How the hell did he manage to become... chief and commander of our United States...???

And Vice President Dick Cheney... is just as bad. He’s arrogant as hell and literally doesn’t care what anybody thinks about him either... In a word: He is “disgusting”.

Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan has written a book titled What Happened... and it’s full of drama.

Bush supporters are... “Puzzled”... about him telling what I believe is the truth in this book. They are ripping him a new ass... But what’s most interesting is that no one is disputing what is in the book. continued on page 28

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Obviously it’s the truth.... They just cannot believe he came clean.

Anyway, I hope Barack Obama wins... I think the political world needs a major adjustment... just like the Wall Street stock market adjusts.

They can both adjust at the same time.

Think about him.... In comparison to who is in office now, Obama has got a good spirit about him. He reminds me of a Bobby Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln & JFK in his own way. He's certainly smart, seems to be honest, has a set of balls, and can go toe to toe with the best of them.

Let’s be clear. He does not have the experience that the past and present politicians have... And I for one am very happy he does not have their type of tricky ass experience in screwing up this country any more than it is already...

When you look at it... it’s actually an asset—not being tainted with old politics, old thinking, old behavior, old attitudes about how to handle politics in this country and abroad…just the out dated way of being a chief and commander.

And it’s great that he’s not taking Centrum Silver... I'm so sick of these ancient people with one foot in the grave wanting to run this country that I could just scream. I wish they would all go to Florida and sit their old asses down.

Help me to understand why a 72year-old man would want to be chief and commander of this country anyway. I just don’t get it. I think it’s rather selfish... with some things I do believe age is relevant. I think that 60 should be the cut off for running for president... because if you stay in office two terms, which is 8 years...

68-years-old and running this country... I just think it’s just, ahhh...to damn old to be chief and commander of a whole country.

United States Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleeza Rice somehow has gotten away with being almost totally unaffected by the behavior of George Bush. I can’t understand why... but she has managed to dodge most of the negative publicity.

However; I think that John McCain just may benefit by choosing her as a running mate for the Vice Presidency. One thing for sure... whoever runs on the republican ticket better be radical...cause I’m thinking the republicans don’t have a shot at winning another term in office.

When Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama... all hell broke loose... lol. Bill Clinton almost had a stroke...still under the illusion that he and Hillary had the democratic nomination in their pocket. He’s

half ass speaking to Obama...still mad that she lost the nomination. He made a comment that he’s never seen a candidate (Hillary) be so disrespected. Has he completely forgotten the level of disrespect he showed her while he was in office? Can he say Monica Lewinsky... out his mouth ever again in front of his wife? He should never accuse anybody of disrespecting her.

QPUZZLE "Greek Team"

And, Jesse Jackson’s comment about Obama... wanting to cut off his balls & calling him half breed... in response to Obama’s Father’s Day speech about missing fathers in the household was a clear sign of envy & jealousy... frankly another discount to his already tarnished reputation. He disgusted me too. He’s another one who needs to go sit his ass down. I’m sick of all the rotten ass politicians...all of them.

We need a house cleaning in this country and I think that starting with putting this young, vibrant man in office is a great start.

One thing for sure...this is a very exciting race...and I for one am sitting on the edge of my seat... waiting to see what’s gonna happen.

I know one thing.... The night Obama wins the election for President of the United States of America, the emergency rooms better be on stand-by! Cause it’s gonna be a record breaking night for heart attacks... lol. And the ditch diggers better get ready for the early shift... because people in their graves are gonna be turning over. Kunta Kinte will smile and say: “Don’t call me Toby no more.” George Wallace will be confused, asking “What the hell is happening?” The guy who started the KKK... his bowels are gonna break. Malcolm X will turn over with a smile... with one eye still open keeping a watch. Miss Jane Pittman will be so happy that she gets thirsty... and wants to drink from the White House water fountain.

President Lincoln’s chest will poke out... and he’ll think to himself, “I knew it was a good idea to free them.” Bush, Cheney, Hillary & Bill are gonna ask for a recount.

Elvis will leave the building for real this time. James Brown will scream, “Oh... I feel good” and wake everybody up. And last, but not least...Dr. Martin Luther King will shed tears of joy... feeling that his dream is now a reality... & finally we all may be getting to the Promise Land!

And this country will begin to unite... as it should be!

Marva!

Email me with any questions or comments at Marvelousmarva@baltimore gaylife.com.

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Across

Down

1 'N Sync member Lance 5 Joe.My.God, for one 9 Bear 14 Opening for the crack of dawn 15 Time that drags 16 Michael of Miss Congeniality 17 Peter Pan pooch 18 Spread it on your muffin 19 "Let's hit the sheets!"

20 Athlete of 1976, 1984, 1988 23 One that stays in a bed 24 Benjamin Hoff's The ___ of Pooh 25 Flower for Foucault 28 Signs of The Lion King?

31 Dildo, e.g.

33 Athlete of 1968 38 Architecture, to Julia Morgan 39 They make points by touching the body 40 Bill written by Alice Paul 41 Bosom buddy 42 They're performing, in Fame 43 Athlete of 1984 45 Sauce for two sailors?

47 Vidal's Breckinridge 48 The L Word network 49 Charlotte of Facts of Life 51 "More! More!" on Broadway 56 What the athletes in this puzzle competed in, for the U.S. 59 Dinah of a golf classic 62 One way to San Francisco 63 Satisfy fully 64 The Wizard of Oz scorer Harold 65 Sailor's patron 66 "___ she blows!"

67 Alfred Kinsey's tool 68 Word before admiral, in the navy 69 Student org. for "family" and friends

1 They slide into openings at keggers 2 Like unhappy lovers, maybe 3 Gays, technically, after a 1973 APA vote 4 Place where men wear makeup 5 Opened up, like a pansy 6 Pandora's Box heroine 7 Jackie's designer 8 Rub it in 9 What a cruiser is looking for 10 Country north of Thailand 11 Women's rights, for short 12 A Chorus Line song 13 Become husband and husband, e.g.

21 Syllable pairs before "Don we now our gay apparel" 22 Get in the sack 25 The Wizard of Oz producer Mervyn 26 Cara of Fame 27 Has more than a one-night stand 29 River of Ulrichs' country 30 Vital fluid 32 Love Songs poet Teasdale 33 Where to find nipples 34 Winfrey of The Color Purple 35 Prefix with sexual 36 TV portrayer of Robin's partner 37 Like sexy undies 41 Common name in the land of Wan Yan Hai 43 Noise of an ass 44 ___ set (package) 46 Art historian Raven 50 An old flame?

52 Playbill lists 53 Montgomery Clift's hometown 54 Raise the price of, at Barneys 55 Gay former NFL player Tuaolo 56 Cartoon Network's Moral ___ 57 In need of some rays at Laguna Beach 58 La Douce role of Shirley 59 Carrier to Copenhagen 60 National gay org.

61 Plug attachment

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DO AS I SAY Evil Lurks in the

Festive Community

by Prudence Worthington

Good Day My Darlings,

his afternoon, I found myself perusing the pages of Italian Vogue whilst waiting for my stylist to finish renovations on Traxie. That genius of the fashion world, Stephen Meisel, and editor, Franca Sozzani, chose models of color for all editorial content, which I found simply glorious. I’d tell you to acquire a copy immediately, but in spite of a second printing, they are no where to be found, so good luck my fashion mavens.

T

When it was my turn to take the chair, I commenced discussing this topic with my cosmetological guru, Latoine Dupree, and more than an earful I acquired today. Latoine explained that Mr. Meisel was disgusted with the fashion industry for excluding models with dark skin, of late. My lambs, you must forgive me, but I assumed racism had been laid to bed years ago. Imagine my dismay to discover it was alive and well and, according to Latoine, thriving in the festive community!

Before I press on, I should probably introduce you to Latoine, as I consider him part of my little “family”. Latoine Javier Dupree, of the Mobile Duprees, could very well be the love child of Taye Diggs and Halle Barry, dipped in dark chocolate.

His exotic beauty is so striking he has actually stopped traffic. Latoine frequently accompanies me to various galas and openings throughout the season and his company is enchanting. We do make a striking couple and the paparazzi adore us for our contrasting appearance.

Make no mistake, however, it is not his physical attributes that make him so special to me, for I have no need of them and he is thoroughly festive, I assure you. I am drawn to his intelligence, kindness and strength of character. You must understand, darlings, that this is a man who speaks 4 languages, was finished by Jack and Jill*, and can dance a fox trot like no other. In short, his excellent breeding and dignified carriage out shine most European royalty. The very thought of someone dismissing him for his skin color is entirely abhorrent to me. Yet it occurs, as I discovered.

You may have gleaned that I am vociferously protective of those I love and Latoine’s stories did more to curl my hair than any iron could. I must therefore take pen to paper and expose this evil that lurks within the Festive Community in hopes of eradicating it once and for all.

Let me make matters clear to you people; you may not be attracted to men of other races, but dozens of us are. Limiting ourselves to one gene pool strikes me as a little incestuous, n’est pas? I site the Olsen twins as a primary example of this inbreeding. I for one, particularly revel in the differences between cultures. How do you think I found myself, a dyed in the wool wasp, married to a fine Jewish man? Variety is the spice of life and if you care not for those different from yourselves, do have the good manners to keep your mouth shut.

Case in point: How many black men have heard the phrase “you’re very attractive, for black man”?

I can’t imagine many social gaffs larger than this; pure ignorance indeed. I would imagine any Asian, Latin or even handicapped man has heard this backward “compliment” in a predominantly white Festive bar. Put the Pradas on your own feet and consider your feelings if you heard “your very attractive for an Abercrombie wearing, over the hill white man” or “you have a great body in spite of your face”. Stings a little, doesn’t it girls?

One would assume a black tie fundraiser would be populated with civilized and cultured people.

Whilst on the dashing arm of Latoine I have witnessed festive men ask him for a gin and tonic or a cosmopolitan, clearly mistaking him for the cater waiter. Now really girls, how many waiters own Armani tuxedos?

And aren’t you Festivesgenetically disposed to recognize quality couture? I have sent more than one of you running with your tail between your legs as a result of this faux pas.

One reader from Connecticut relayed a truly tragic story to me. It seems he and 4 friends were out on the town in Manhattan when a white man began showing interest in one of the group. As conversation wore on, the white man asked his new crush what occupation he held. The handsome black man replied “I am a correctional officer for the New Jerseyprison system”. To this the white man responded “oh, so you live where you work”.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do believe this is sufficient provocation for homicide, is it not?

When Traxie got wind of today’s topic she provided another ear full as well. You must realize by

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now, that Traxie has been in more laps than a napkin and her taste in men epitomizes equal opportunity. I shall put her knowledge to good use for your edification. Apparently some stereotypes hold truth: for example, Traxie, in her candid way, informed me that yes, black men are especially gifted in the trousers, so to speak. Additionally, she has been entirely smitten with her African lovers, for she claims they are both sensual and attentive. Hmmm….does this provoke jealousy amongst white men?

Of late, while strolling through Central Park on any given afternoon, one encounters leagues of nannies pushing strollers. Manhattan is over run with babies thanks to fertility drugs. As a woman, it is my duty to comment on the beauty of each and every infant—an entirely tedious and antiquated practice, but none the less, I do it. I have noticed that the children of color or mixed parentage spring from the womb as beautiful mocha cherubs, while the white children all resemble Winston Churchill. No offense to dear Winston, but oy, what a mug! So how, in this beauty obsessed culture, can we ignore the fact that people different from ourselves are positively stunning? This seems a bit contradictory, so perhaps you people will write to me and explain your dislike of other races.

Now Darlings, I am not suggesting each and every one of you go out seeking amour with men of races other than your own. I merely suggest you open your blood shot eyes a little farther and realize that not all stereotypes apply. You are, after all, a downtrodden group who continues to fight for your civil rights. Does that ring a bell of familiarity? Please treat your fellow man as an equal even though you don’t intend to sleep with them.

People come in all colors, shapes and sizes, but they are all people nonetheless. If you are incapable of doing what I say, at least keep your cracker mouth shut!

Kiss Kiss,

Prudence

*Jack and Jill is a lovely organization that finishes children of color much in the same manner as Miss Porters. Fortunately, children of all colors are admitted to Miss Porters.

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PENCIL ME IN FILM Saturday, August 9 My Favorite Midlife Crisis (Yet)

Join author Toby Devens at 2 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Avenue Branch of Enoch Pratt Library (1531 W. North Ave., Baltimore, MD) as she reads selections from her new novel, My Favorite Midlife Crisis (Yet). Devens’ novel, set in Baltimore, tells the story of Dr. Gwyneth Berke’s midlife crisis. Dr. Berke has a perfect life, until she discovers her husband is in love with Brad, the interior decorator.

Sunday, August 10

available to the public and the first 100 cars will receive free dash plaques. All proceeds from the event will benefit St. Agnes and be used to provide charity care, support community outreach programs, enhance medical education, purchase patient-care equipment and modernize facilities.

Registration begins and 9 a.m. Showtime is from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. For additional information or to register, contact Sue Miller at 410-368-3121 or smiller@stagnes.org.

The Price of Milk

by Christopher Cappiello

Drive 2 Thrive

Wait til the Sun Shines Nellie

Dundalk’s award-winning Chorus of the Chesapeake brings its 4-part harmonies to the third of four FREE summer concerts. Sponsored by Monumental Life located at North Charles and Biddle Sts., the concert will celebrate Monumental Life’s 150 years of service to Maryland residents from 2 until 4 p.m. The group’s barber shop repertoire includes Broadway show tunes as well as patriotic, religious, country, western and contemporary classics. For additional information, visit www.monlife.com.

Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15

Echelon Life & Maserati of Baltimore present THE social event of the season. This private event for Baltimore children’s literacy, hosted by Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, will feature a music reception, silent auction, award ceremony, poker & blackjack, private runway event, secret indulgence areas and a raffle drawing to win a Maserati! Come out to Maserati of Baltimore (1628 York Rd., Timonium, MD) from 7:30 p.m. until midnight and bid on Christian Siriano original design while strengthening community organizations that stand in the gap between our citizenry and opportunity in the areas of health, literacy and mentorship. For tickets and additional information, visit www.drive2thrive.org.

Firefly Entertainment Presents Elle

Baltimore Fashion Week

The First Annual Baltimore Fashion Week dresses up the War Memorial Building (101 N. Gay St., Baltimore). This inaugural showcase features Baltimore’s talented designers, models, and stylists...plus a chance to view the latest fashion trends. The schedule includes a week of fashion workshops during the day and runway events every night. See why Baltimore is turning heads in the fashion world. For additional information, visit www.baltimoresfashionweek.com.

Thursday, August 14 Curtis Blues

If you’re a fan of rock or country, you owe everything to the blues. Talented acoustic Delta Blues musician, Curtis Blues will resurrect the spirit and soulful expression of this time-honored genre at the Southeast Anchor Library (3601 Eastern Ave., Baltimore) at 5:30 p.m.

Harford Rainbow Society Dinner Out Join Harford Rainbow Society, Harford County’s newest LGBT social group, & Gay Life newspaper at 6 p.m. at Carried Away Gourmet (101 S. Main St., Bel Air, MD) for happy hour! Catch up with old friends and meet new ones while enjoying dinner and a cocktail. And don’t forget to get your raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize! For additional information, visit www.harfordrainbow.com or email harfordrainbow@gmail.com.

Saturday, August 16 Classic Car Show

Mustangs and Cameros, hardtops and rag tops, classic cruisers and custom-built hot rods. The 2nd annual St. Agnes Classic Car Show at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Wilkens Ave. & Hilltop Rd., Baltimore, MD) will have a bit of everything for even the most seasoned automobile aficionados. This family-friendly event is free and will feature a wide variety of vendors, food and music, not to mention a kids’ area featuring balloons and children’s theatre. Car registration is

Fierce. Flashy. Classy. Cool. Firefly Entertainment introduces Elle, its exclusively feminine Saturday night from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. at the Genie Room @ Hookas (2324 Boston St., Baltimore, MD). With drink specials until midnight, a late night menu and house, hip hop and reggae all night, ladies, this is the launch party you don’t want to miss. For additional information, visit www.myspace.com/fireflyent. For VIP reservations, email fireflyent@yahoo.com.

St. Agnes Running Clinics Designed for both the beginner runner and the seasoned athlete, these FREE running clinics offer everything from injury prevention tips and diet to stretching techniques and shoe selection.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak oneon-one with physicians, trainers, therapists and the pros, including guest speaker Keion Carpenter, a community activist and former safety for the Atlanta Falcons. To register for one of the three sessions to be held at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Hospital Alagia Auditorium (900 Caton Ave., Baltimore), visit www.stagnes.org or call 866-6903955.

Stone Soul Picnic Join 100,000 of your closest friends at Druid Hill Park to celebrate African-American culture, music and families. The event kicks off at noon and will feature over seven hours of national and local entertainment, food, speakers and more! This event is FREE and open to the public. For additional information, call 410-396-7900.

Sunday, August 17 Rock Star Blast

Come rock off with HerShe at the first ever Rock Star Blast at Gossip’s (21 S. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD). Come dressed in your hottest rock attire.

Cash prizes for best dressed. With 2 levels, 2 dance floors, pool tables and a light buffet, HerShe hosts the hottest ladies night every Sunday. For tickets ($12 in advance) or VIP ($20 includes free buffet and champagne), call 443-925-4550.

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Sean Penn in Milk

n this heated and groundbreaking election year, director Gus Van Sant’s forthcoming biopic about the slain gay political pioneer Harvey Milk reflects another time of monumental political change.

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When Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 he was “the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet,” as Time would later describe him. Although Milk was assassinated by Dan White, a distressed former colleague, less than a year after taking office, Milk’s legacy of activism and hope, of ambition and authenticity, has inspired countless LGBT leaders in the intervening generation. Time named him one of its 100 “Heroes and Icons” of the 20th century in 1999, and on the 30th anniversary of his death this November, Milk’s story hits the big screen in Gus Van Sant’s Milk, with Sean Penn taking on the role of the colorful and charismatic LGBT icon.

“He came into power at a really important time in the history of gay rights in America,” say Dan Jinks, one of the producers of Milk, referring to the wave of anti-gay legislation sweeping the country at the time.

Milk became an outspoken opponent of California’s Proposition 6, conservative state Sen. John Briggs’ ballot initiative that would have allowed school districts to fire teachers simply for being homosexual. “It was so essential to the LGBT movement to have a leader in place who was effective at stopping something that really needed to be stopped.”

Ironically, the Briggs Initiative was soundly defeated a few weeks before Milk’s assassination.

When “Big Love” writer Dustin Lance Black asked Jinks and his pro-

August 8 - August 21, 2008

ducing partner, Bruce Cohen, to take a look at his script about Milk’s unlikely rise from Castro Street camera shop owner to political pioneer, the Oscarwinning producers of American Beauty were quickly hooked.

The question about who should play Milk was answered quickly when Cohen, Jinks, Van Sant and Black put their heads together—they unanimously agreed that Sean Penn would be their first choice. "We felt that we should be able to get somebody sensational to play the part because it's such a great story, it was such a strong script and it's a brilliant part," Cohen says.

Like Penn, Milk was a bit of a rebel.

The native New Yorker found his way to San Francisco in the early 1970s, finding the city’s hippie climate more to his liking than the selfconsciously bohemian Greenwich Village. His Castro Street camera shop became a fixture in gay San Francisco, and served as headquarters for his unlikely attempts to get elected to public office. Milk lost three elections in the mid-1970s before finally winning a seat on the Board of Supervisors. A fellow freshman on that 1978 Board was San Francisco firefighter Dan White.

In addition to his political accomplishments, the filmmakers wanted to show Milk’s personal journey, “which is absolutely every bit as interesting,” Jinks says, “and what got this guy to do what he ended up doing.” James Franco (the Spider Man films) plays Milk’s lover. Scott Smith, and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), Diego Luna (Y tú mama también) and Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical) are among the actors who signed on to play close friends and associates. Victor Garber (“Alias”) plays Mayor Moscone, while Josh

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Brolin (No Country for Old Men) takes on the role of the tortured, tragic assassin, White.

The cast includes straight actors playing gay characters, gay actors playing straight characters, and every other combination. “We wanted to have sexual preference-blind casting,” Cohen says. “For this movie to have not included all those different permutations, we felt would have been a mistake.”

It was important to the filmmakers that the film be shot entirely on location in San Francisco (and largely in the Castro District). “San Francisco, to us, is a character in the movie,” Jinks says warmly, and the filmmakers refused to try to substitute more costeffective or efficient locations.

Jinks and Cohen emphasize that city officials and, in particular, residents and merchants in the Castro, welcomed them with open arms— even as the film’s crew transformed contemporary storefronts into 1970s streetscapes.

The pre-AIDS period was also one of uninhibited sexuality, something Penn was characteristically fearless about depicting. “He wanted to push the envelope in terms of the physical expression of his character’s homosexuality,” Jinks says, explaining that Penn wanted audiences to get over their preconceived

notions of him as quickly as possible. When describing how circuit party performer Flava portrays 1970s disco king Sylvester in the film, Jinks adds, “He’s quite brilliant and, like many others, got a big, fat, wet onscreen kiss from Sean Penn.”

Despite Milk’s historical significance, his story is not widely known today, even within the LGBT community. “In a weird way, we’re actually excited,” Cohen says about the lack of widespread familiarity with Milk’s story. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, him again!’ It’s quite the opposite.” And if he, Jinks and Van Sant as gay men felt a personal importance in telling this story, it “only helped to serve the film,” Cohen says, emphasizing that their goal was “to make a film that is entertaining and emotional.

Not just to the people that know the Harvey Milk story going in, but more importantly to the people— gay and straight alike—who don’t know Harvey Milk, and who are going to come to this movie with a fresh slate. Hopefully we’re going to take them on a really beautiful journey.”

In May, a bust of Harvey Milk was unveiled outside San Francisco City Hall. The same month, the California Assembly voted to declare May 22 “Harvey Milk Day” in the state.

Focus Features will release the film on November 26th.

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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DININGOUT Mughal Garden

by John Cullen and Marty Shayt

alking up Charles St in Mt. Vernon, it would be easy to miss that significant changes are underway at the “Mughal Garden” Indian restaurant as a result of a recent change in ownership and head chef. The new managing partner, Tarun Chhabra, was previously the manager for five years of the “Sapphire” Indian restaurant in Laurel.

When we discovered Sapphire three years ago, we liked it a lot and became “regulars” despite the long trek to Laurel. We liked that the manager kept a close eye on the dining room, making sure customers were happy, that the food was consistently excellent, and that special buffets in the evening allowed us to sample a number of dishes rather than have to pick just one. We also like that the young waiters would greet us by name: “Welcome back, Mr. John!

Hello, Mr. Marty!” While we felt that the “old” Mughal Garden was disappointing at times, Tarun’s excellent track record (plus hearing that he had brought the head chef from Sapphire with him!) motivated us to give the “new” Mughal Garden a try.

W

Even with the challenge of having to keep the restaurant operational during the management and kitchen transitions, it was quickly apparent that this is not the same old Mughal Garden. The lighting in the main dining room, which used to be as uncomfortably bright as an office, is now pleasantly soft. New candle votives on top of white table cloths add a new pleasant glow to the mix of wood paneling and white walls.

The bar area has been cleaned up and a couple of tables have been added below the large window that opens up onto Charles St. Tarun has a passion for quality.

Worried that the taste, texture and flavors of food in his 7 day a week lunch time buffet changes from the hours of heating, he decides that the food must be cooked fresh each morning and “leftovers” don’t show up in the next day’s buffet. (We understand that he’s adding new “cooked to order” items to the lunchtime buffet menu.) At his former restaurant, Tarun worked with the kitchen to add Thai items to his special buffets.

Here at Mughal Garden he plans to add Indo-Chinese fare to his menu to complement Indian cuisine (and plans to later add a special “lite fare” PA G E 3 2 •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

menu in the bar). He feels that the texture and flavor of the food is best when cooked and served quickly. An appetizer that we tried, “Assorted Kabob Platter” ($9 for two), is now cooked when ordered and arrives on a sizzling hot platter with the cooking process completed in front of us.

Pieces of chicken tikka, tandoor shrimp and seekh (ground lamb) were fragrant, flavorful and delicious. Not having this food sit precooked waiting back in the kitchen for hours really does make a big difference! We enjoyed this appetizer a lot—there was more than enough for two and we recommend it!

For our main course, Marty decided on Chicken Tikka Massala ($13) while John opted for Eggplant Bharta ($11).

The chicken is first cooked in the tandoor over and then added to a tomato and pepper sauce with the classic Indian “garam masala” spice blend adding great flavor and aroma. This dish is an excellent example of how spices can add incredible flavor and fragrance to a dish without making it “hot”. The eggplant is first roasted in the tandoor oven, then sautéed with onions and a mix of spices. Marty was particularly fond of the eggplant while John felt both were equally delicious. We decided to share an order of Paneer Kulcha bread ($2.50) which has Naan bread stuffed with cheese and roasted in the tandoor oven. We ate too much of the bread (we’ve had Naan-better! <Smile>) and ended up taking home what we couldn’t finish!

While the name remains the same, Mughal Garden is clearly going through some very interesting changes. It will be interesting to see how it evolves under the watchful eye of the new leadership. If, like us, you had shied away from the old Mughal Garden, you might want to give this new incarnation a try!

BASICS: Mughal Garden (Mt Vernon), 920 N. Charles St, 410-547-0001, http://mughalgardent.com. Open: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m. daily; until 11 p.m. on Fri & Sat. Luncheon buffet available every day. Conveniently close to Center Stage and the Spotlighters theaters as well within sight range of the Hippo and Grand Central bars.

Feedback?

Know a place we should try? Email us at diningout@baltimoregaylife.com

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FICTION

THEATER

shamed me so that I wouldn't even look in the direction of an attractive person rendering me unquestionably single. And then, all of a sudden, I wasn't," I thought.

(Left to Right) Getting ready for The Rave, Kristen Zwobot, Chris Rudy, Robin Samek, Madonna Refugia and Erin Donovan star in bare the musical on stage at Baltimore Theatre Project through August 31.

All Shook Up

Kosher with Salsa

Runaways

Through August 24 Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia 410-995-1969 www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

August 14 – August 30 Fells Point Corner Theatre 410-276-7837 www.fpct.org

August 14 – August 23 Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Frederick 301-694-4744 www.marylandensemble.org

Maria/Stuart Through August 31 Theatre Project, Baltimore 410-752-8558 www.barethemusicalinbaltimore.com

Doubt: A Parable August 27 – October 5 Everyman Theatre, Baltimore 410-752-2208 www.everymantheatre.org

August 18 – September 14 Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, D.C. 202-393-3939 www.woollymammoth.net

The Skin of Our Teeth

Rabbit Hole

West Side Story

Through August 31 Olney Theatre Center 301-924-3400 www.olneytheatre.org

Through August 24 Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore 410-995-1969 www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

Through August 10 Rorschach Theatre, DC 1-800-494-TIXS www.rorschachtheatre.com

Resurrection Jerry Springer: The Opera Through August 31 Studio Theatre, D.C. 202-332-3300 www.studiotheatre.org

Part 12: Retrospect

by Shayna Rockswell had asked Evvi to leave. I had sent Heather to a hotel. I was alone. I didn't want to be responsible for someone, anyone getting their ass kicked, so I stood between them and refereed each to their corner of the city. Eating some Life, I thought about the ways my life had changed since Ce Ce's phone call. How had I gotten here? With Evvi, the love of my life who unceremoniously dumped me, pregnant and begging to move back in and Heather Heels, the sexiest television star in Hollywood, confessing her undying love for me. I thought about my conversation with Charlie at the newspaper and began writing the story of how this all came to be in my head, but with the names of people and places and events changed of course, to avoid putting people's business out in the street. I began:

I

ON THE STAGE

bare the musical

I remembered the evening at the Kennedy Center when I first met Asha in all of her majesty. I remembered the dress she was wearing, how its fabric felt against my backside. And then the ride home in the long limo. I remembered the Mayor chasing me down the street on horseback and the later-on conversation in the alley when Asha couldn't get through to tell me herself she wanted to see me again.

August 29 – October 5 Arena Players, Crystal City, VA 410-728-6500 www.arenastage.org

"I was broke, miserable and single, and then I wasn't."

I fought myself to be more specific.

Certainly, the monotony of my previous life could be described in more eloquent ways.

"I was tragically broke, disgustingly miserable and unquestionably single, and then I wasn't."

Better, but still not quite right.

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

"I was tragically broke, so broke in fact that cereal was the only thing I could afford to eat. So broke that my dirty laundry was in a pile to the top of my 12 foot tall ceiling. So broke that I smoked cigarettes only halfway to conserve, to get two buzzes out of one. So broke that I was disgustingly miserable.

Miserable to the point of masturbating 7 times a day but only getting off once. My sexual incompetency

August 8 - August 21, 2008

I recalled the plane ride to LA for a second interview and Heather's puzzles. Her initial hysteria stood out in my mind. I remembered her bed and the escapade with April Hayword in it. And then La Maison! How could I forget La Maison?

Dusty Davis and his insults still hurt a bit. I touched the scab just into my hairline and cringed at the thought of how his punch felt on my face. I remembered Ce Ce and Asha and me that same night and the serious role plays that we would go onto play for weeks to come.

I smiled about my faggety Jag and the amazingly wonderful drive back home to Baltimore. And then how my heart plummeted out of my chest upon seeing Evvi's face again and how an examination of my genitals from the inside out made the miracle of her carrying my child all the more special.

"A lot had happened; adventure all over the place. And although unsolicited or sought out, I was glad to have been there and done that," I finished writing the story in my head and just as I did, my front door was kicked in. I jumped up off of the couch and ran for the kitchen to find a utensil that would be helpful, I thought, in defense of an attack, whatever it was.

At least 15 cops in SWAT gear with the masks and all stormed in. They found me quick, pushed me to the ground, cuffed me and placed a bag over my head. The carried me out of the place as quickly as they had come in.

"The saga continues," I thought before I passed out.

Need to catch up? Read the full story at theadventuresofpicodarling.blogspot.com.

Send your thoughts to picodarling@baltimoregaylife.com.

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It was a big secret. No one knew. Well, except for the one guy in the group I was sleeping with.

You were sleeping with one of the other boy members?

We were boyfriends, which was even more of a scandal. I'm telling you the book is going to be juicy!

So how did you go from boy band to choreographer? You've worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment.

I was a choreographer first. I had completed Michael Jackson’s special and Lou Pearlman was at the show. He approached me about being a part of the new boy-group he was putting together.

Before we get to MJ, please tell us about working with Liza.

Glenn Steps Out: Brooke Hogan’s Best Friend is a 10 Gay Interview by Spencer Young ubbed “a dancing entrepreneur” by The New York Times, choreographer Glenn Douglas Packard has worked behind-the-scenes with some of the biggest acts in entertainment including Pink, Missy Elliot, Nelly Furtado, Whitney Houston, Usher and Liza Minelli. He even nabbed an Emmy nomination for his fancy footwork on Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at Madison Square Garden.

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In his latest role—as Brooke Hogan’s best friend and roommate on VH1’s hit reality show, Brooke Knows Best—Glenn finally steps out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight--exactly where he ought to be.

On the first episode of Brooke Knows Best, Brooke's Dad (wrestler Hulk Hogan) asks you to rate your gayness on a scale of 1 to 10.

You say you're a 10. Are you really that gay?

When you have all those cameras around you and it’s your first day on the set and you get asked a question like that, you have a million things running through your head. My original reply to Hulk was “On a scale of 1 to 10, how straight are you?”

But my question was edited out. I know who I am and I’m comfortable with my gayness so yes, 10 seems right to me. I’m no gay preacher dancing with jazz hands or anything….

Did you just say you're that gay so that the Hulk would allow you to live with his daughter?

I can take him. Or, at least, he wouldn't be able to catch me. Plus we gays love to wrestle.

Tell us about living with Brooke. I know she's your best friend, but Glenn, the girl is kind of a handful, no?

I’m not living with Britney or Paris. Brooke really is a normal girl, just trying to go for a dream and PA G E 3 4 •

having to be involved with all the Hollywood drama bullshit. She is smart, hot, an amazing talent and a really great friend.

How did you first meet her?

She was 13 years old. I was working on a project with Lou Pearlman, and Hulk was looking for a manager for his daughter. So Lou encouraged the Hogans to meet me. In walked this awkward, tall teen with her matching little dance outfit. She was so nervous and couldn't move to save her life. But her determination and dedication to want to get the movement and style right was evident from the start. So her Dad and Mom came up to me after and asked if she had what it takes and I said, “She’s got it.”

For those who don't know, Lou Pearlman was the man behind the super boy bands of the late 90s. Groups like The Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC. You must have some great stories from those times. Did you ever get it on with Lance Bass?

I have stories that will be in my tell-all book due in a book store near you soon. Lance had already left the Pearlman clan when I arrived so we’ve never met. I wish he had been there to warn me!

When we do meet, we are going to have to go bowling and share our stories.

Was Lou aware you were gay or did you hide it from him and the rest of the group?

August 8 - August 21, 2008

I met Liza in the most unusual way. I was at the Manhattan Center in NYC with singer Crystal Waters, goofing off to a song I loved. Liza happened to be in the building and saw me dancing like a fool. She said she loved the way I moved and gave me her number and asked me to call her to arrange private lessons. We would meet at Radio City Music Hall and dance together.

Can Liza really move at this point? Or does she just rock back and forth?

She has such a kid like spirit so she would do her best. She loves dancing.

You were nominated for an Emmy for your choreography of Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary special. Please describe choreographing for the king of pop.

Well, when I was told I got the job, I was like ‘holy shit! Where do I go from here?’ I had to make it the best show ever. And it happened and it was amazing! Of course, Michael is different from you and me, but I worked with him on a professional level and he was always 100%. To see him do his thing is quite a sight to see.

What have been some of your other career highlights?

Dancing for the King of Morocco was major. I loved doing Saturday Night Live. I also recreated the image of Chippendales in 2000 and that was a lot of fun doing the shows in NYC, Las Vegas and throughout Europe. I got some great stories from that time too.

How did all your success lead you to moving to Miami and starring on Brooke Knows Best with Brooke Hogan?

After the boy band was going nowhere, I contemplated moving to NYC. But then the Hogan divorce was happening and Brooke asked me to move to Miami. That’s when we became roomies.

Was it a fun experience? Did you enjoy the cameras following your crazy antics?

Having a pimped out penthouse in Miami with Brooke and our other roommate, Ashley, is pretty fun.

That Ashley is a hottie too. But she's Janet hot. You know, like in Three's Company?

She's cute but gets outshined by Chrissy.

I know what you mean. I call her the Jessica Alba of the show. Ashley is girl next door hot. She’s got a JLo bootie.

How does it feel to be Jack Tripper in our scenario?

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Find luxury, comfort, convenience and style in both of our beautifully appointed all-suite hotels. We're just footsteps off historic Charles Street in downtown Baltimore.

Our suites are filled with world-class amenities and our personal attention to detail will make any stay a memorable experience. In addition to our comfortable features, we offer complimentary high-speed internet in every suite and your choice of two restaurants, a lounge, a gourmet deli and a dessert shop.

410.727.2222 www.TREMONTS.com www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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MUSIC Pop Music – Past, Present, and Future Present

by DJ Alex Funk t's hot. This time of year just seems to melt our energy right away. If the thumpa-thumpa of gay bar music isn't giving you the right feeling, I've got some suggestions for you. I've got a cooling album from the past to soothe your sun-drenched selves, a surf rock gem to keep your backyard barbecue sizzling, and what August issue would be complete without a vacation? But this vacation goes way further than the Eastern Shore.

I

Past

Paul Simon – Hearts and Bones (1983) Warner Records Anyone over age 25 can remember the iconic video of “You can call me Al”, featuring Paul Simon and Chevy Chase jamming in a white room, but Graceland (1986) is not the focus of this section. Instead I am setting my sights on the album that directly preceded it. Hearts and Bones contains iconic hits like “Hearts and Bones” and “Train in the Distance”, which can be found on any of the greatest hits collections of Paul Simon's solo career. So why should you bother with the whole album, when you can just get the hits? Because a greatest hits album is produced retrospectively based on what tracks got the most radio play and a real album is an artist's statement made from a single point in time. This album is Paul Simon writing about what he knows best: getting involved romantically, questioning his own qualifications for said romance and wistfully remembering past romances. This album was a commercial flop compared to previous releases and a drop in the bucket compared to the wild future success of Graceland. It's an album full of understated, musical, well-crafted ballads. This is music perfect for a quiet summer night.

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August 8 - August 21, 2008

The B-52s – Funplex (2008) Astralwerks Records It's the dog days of summer and I'm hungry for some saucy pop-rock. If only the B-52s were still making music, we could fill this terrible void.... Lucky for all of us wanting to have music appropriate for a beach blanket bingo party, the boys and girls who brought us “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack” years ago are back and just as much fun as you remembered. Cindy Wilson, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider's vocals are just as full of life as they were 15 years ago, and the sound of the album is just as true to their New Wave party rock sound. If you're looking for an album that will blow your mind, give you shivers, help you consider the existence of God, look elsewhere. If you want fun party songs about sex, dating and dancing, this your ticket.

Future

Fake Blood - “Mars” (2008) Cheap Thrills Records I have only one word about the future—MARS! I could go off onto a tangent about future possibilities of living on Mars, but anyone who has seen “Total Recall” knows that it's really not that appealing. This “Mars” is a new track from the British producer Fake Blood. Strap yourself in before pressing play because this track starts strange and only gets stranger. Chirping synths, sounds like “cow in a can”, a pretty plinkplonk synth breakdown all lead to a voice announcing “Mars!” and then we are suddenly not in Kansas. The song is equally pretty and gritty, groovy and jackin’, fun and scary.

This is the future evolution (or devolution) of modern electronic dance.

Think Baltimore Club meets Armand Van Helden meets Bjork. This is wild, wet and wonderful. Engines are go.

The new

baltimoregaylife.com

coming soon!

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www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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Interior

DESIGN Craving Romantic Energy in the Bedroom? Come to Your Senses

"Colors play an important role in the bedroom," says Donna Schroeder, color marketing and design manager for paint manufacturer Pratt & Lambert. "If you want to add romance and sizzle to the space, stick to fiery colors which can arouse desire and excitement. Avoid lackluster shades like white and beige."

Replacing dull sheets and bedroom accessories with ones that pack a powerful punch is another way to turn up the volume. Throw pillows and drapes can also spark some visual heat in a cool room. Lighting plays an important role as well. Keep the room dim, but not dark. o rekindle the flame in a relationship, many couples think they need a special occasion or a private escape to a tropical land. But this just isn't the case.

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When imagining a romantic getaway, look no further than your very own bedroom. A less expensive and longer lasting way to spice up your love life and fuel the romantic fire is to focus on the five senses. Creating a passionate retreat at home will ignite your love life in more ways than one.

Sight

Some psychologists have found that visual stimulants may be the single most important factor when setting the mood. So, when preparing your bedroom for a romantic rendezvous, liven it up with a splash of color.

Variations of red, purple and orange work best to stimulate passion.

Touch

The texture of bed linens is also an important factor to consider. Avoid anything too rough or coarse on the skin, and stick to sheets with a higher thread count. Anything over 350 is optimal. Stay away from heavy fabrics like flannel that can generate unnecessary heat. Consider soft accent pillows or blankets in a material like chenille. The supple texture will make your room more inviting and romantic, without being too over-the-top.

Although wood flooring is popular, nothing is worse thenbeing greeted by a cold, hard floor when you wake up in the morning.

Choosing plush, thick carpet for your bedroom will make the entire room cozier, not to mention softer and gentler on your feet. Keep the color neutral so focus stays on the romantic colors and elements throughout the rest of the room.

STEPHEN D. JOHNSON Columbia Sales Office 10805 Hickory Ridge Road Columbia, MD 21044

REALTOR®

Voice Mail: 410-715-7891 Fax: 410-730-7186 stephen.johnson@longandfoster.com stephen@longandfoster.com

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Scent

When it comes to invigorating the senses, scent should not be ignored.

In fact, research shows that a person's memories are most strongly related to his or her sense of smell.

So, give your partner an experience he or she will never forget by incorporating some spicy aromas like vanilla or cinnamon into the room.

Scented candles or fragrant oils are great for creating a memorable atmosphere, perfect for unwinding and letting loose. Sprinkle the bed with rose petals for a softer, floral scent or dress up the room with hints of lavender, citrus or jasmine all known to arouse the senses. But don't go overboard. A little bit goes a long way.

Taste

For years, people have considered a person's taste buds to be a very sensual part of the body. Many foods and drinks contain an aphrodisiac quality that can be useful for adding a little flavor to the bedroom.

Chocolate, strawberries and champagne are extremely luxurious in taste and texture. The silkiness of the chocolate and the bright body of the champagne are sure to make an explosive, and sparkling, combination. Strawberries offer a much sweeter and juicier sensation, per-

fect for puckering up those lips.

Plus, taking turns feeding each other is a great way to connect. Other aphrodisiacs include avocados, bananas and honey.

Sound

Music is another way to create atmosphere in the bedroom. But choose wisely. The songs or genres you pick can affect the type of mood you want to create.

If you're looking to liven up the night, more powerful tunes may be in order. But if a more intimate vibe is what you seek, stick with classical or a smooth jazz. Avoid music with words, which can distract from the moment.

By using these tips to set the mood in your bedroom, you will surely stimulate all of your senses.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

you thinking?

What are editor@baltimoregaylife.com

www.baltimoregaylife.com â&#x20AC;˘ G A Y L I F E â&#x20AC;˘

August 8 - August 21, 2008

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GLEN- continued from page 34

FROM THE TOP The City of Brotherly Love, part II

Deaf Leather 2007 and Head Judge Jerry Garmany; Ms. Baltimore Deaf Leather, Karen Taylor; International Mr. Deaf Leather 1994, Jose Granda; and Mike Canfield, Mr. Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf 2003.

by SirK ll I can say is that deaf people know how to party. Every bar night that our local group, BLADEAF, has at the Baltimore Eagle I have a blast. For those of us who are hearing, being at a deaf competition is a topsy-turvy experience. A sea of people talking with hardly a sound to be heard makes you feel like you’re living in a silent movie. The first time, I found it jarring when I realized that the interpreter was there to interpret sign for ME! (Well, for all the hearing people.) I’m used to clapping, cheering or laughing, but the deaf person’s response is visual—a sea of hands waving in the air. But it is so worth it to try to get involved if you’re hearing. You’re missing out.

A

That said, shortly after I got back home and jumped back into life after the 2008 Mid-Atlantic Leather SIR/leatherboy competition in Philadelphia, the 18th International Deaf Leather (IDL) competition was held on July 17-19. In Philly again— or so I had planned—that was, until there was a death in my family.

But the show must go on. Yes, there were two winners. Marc "Sir Y" Burton and Alan "boy taz" who were awarded the titles International Mr. Deaf Leather and International Deaf leatherboy 2008, respectively. But that was only the culmination of a contest produced by International Mr. Deaf Leather 2004 "Teddy" O'Rourke.

It was the first International leather event held in that city since 2006 and the first time a current International Mr. Leather has served as an IDL judge. Gary Iriza, after having attended the Mid-Atlantic Leather SIR /leatherboy contest on the 4th of July weekend, returned to Philly but two weeks later. Joining Gary on the judging panel were International Mr.

The weekend activities were hosted at the William Way Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center. There, for the first time in its history, International Deaf Leather 2008 offered weekend workshops in basic bondage and bootblacking. These were presented

by Veronica Bound of Philadelphia's Passional and by International Deaf Leatherboy 2005 boy alex. Eric B. Siglin, U.S. Daddy 2007, honored IDL2008 with workshops on the subjects of Daddy/boy relationships and the personal journey faced by each leather person. Patrick Richardson, International Mr. Deaf Leather 1997, was the MC for Saturday evening's contest. Jose Granda was the recipient of this year’s Michael Felts Lifetime Achievement Award.

The weird thing is I bring up the Three’s Company similarity in the show when Ashley moves in. We are the reality version of Three’s Company, except I really am gay! I don’t think Brooke has ever seen the show.

What are some fun things we can look forward to in the season?

Tune in to see. It’s about a girl coming of age and enjoying life.

Does the show get into any of the Hogan family drama?

How can we not? We had cameras around during that time in her life. It was hard. Imagine your family’s divorce being seen on national TV and

in the press. It’s a hard time for anyone going through that stuff. You never want to see the two people you look up to the most and love to be hurting.

In the future, when you look back at this time in your life, what will you remember most fondly?

Thanks for this question. I think the life I've lived has been Forrest Gumplike. The adventures and things I've seen along with the people, friends and family I've made along the way is what I'll remember the most.

Brooke Knows Best airs Sundays at 10pm on VH1. For more info, visit www.glenndouglaspackard.com.

Calcutta House and Philadelphia Aids Thrift (PAT), two Philadelphiabased charities, were chosen as beneficiaries. Calcutta House assists those who are homeless and diagnosed with full-blown AIDS in living their lives to the fullest. They provide housing and highly supportive care to adult men and women—the only organization of its kind in America. Philadelphia Aids Thrift's mission is to sell the stuff that generous people donate to their thrift store and then distribute the proceeds to local organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Proceeds will be split between them.

I was so sorry to miss out. I know that a few of the participants had an extra drink (or several) for me. If you missed out, too, you can visit www.idl2008.org for a photographic slideshow. Get ready for IDL2009. It will be in Chicago from June 30thJuly 4th—just enough time to take that basic ASL class or at least learn how to sign “WOOF!” Have a question about anything leather or fetish but too afraid to ask? Contact SirK at MDLeatherSIR2008@thebaltimoreeagle.info.

PA G E 4 0 •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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Friday August 8 Genevieve

Live @ Read St. Books 229 W. Read St. Baltimore, MD http://www.myspace.com/readstreetbooks 8 p.m.

Saturday August 9 Arts & Crafts

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 4:30-6 p.m.

Courtney Fairchild Live @ Read St. Books 229 W. Read St. Baltimore, MD http://www.myspace.com/readstreetbooks 8 p.m.

Gender Identity Group GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.myspace.com/gender_iden tity_group 8 p.m.

Movie & Game Night Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-8:30 p.m.

New Image (Narcotics Anonymous) LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6-7:30 p.m.

Sufficient As I aM (SAIM) Youth & Young Adults 24 & Under GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 12:30 p.m.

Volleyball Out for Fun War Memorial Park Martinsburg, WV Email HOTTT@nationwide.com for details 3 or 4 p.m.

Sunday August 10

Alcoholics Anonymous GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 6:30 p.m.

Beginners Yoga with Tim Hurley, RYT GLCCB, Room 201

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241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 $9/person 3:30 p.m.

Living Sober (AA) Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church 100 W. Washington St. Shepherdstown, WV 25443 3 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous Sunday Men’s Rap GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.na.org 11:30 a.m.

Sailaway Pride Night Weather Rail Bar Loews Hotel 126 West St. Annapolis, MD 5-9 p.m.

Social Activity (Varies) Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 1-6 p.m.

Monday August 11

Alcoholics Anonymous GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 8:30 p.m.

Men Like Me GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 menlikeme@glccb.org 6 p.m.

Tuesday August 12

Alcoholics Anonymous LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Boyds Al-Anon Open Door Metropolitan Community Church 15817 Barnesville Rd. Boyds, MD 20841 www.al-anon.orgwww.opendoormcc.com 7:30 p.m.

Dual Recovery Anonymous Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Chesapeake Squares Club Square Dance Waxter Center 1000 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201

www.chesapeakesquares.org 810 p.m.

Consumer Planned Activity Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 4-6:30 p.m. & 7:30-8:30 p.m.

PFLAG Columbia/Howard County Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 7:30-9 p.m.

Positive Influence LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Pre-natal Yoga Lifeline Power Yoga 111 Allegheny Ave. Towson, MD 21204 www.lifelinepoweryoga.com Suggested Donation 1:30 p.m.

41 N. Potomac St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 4:30-10:00 p.m.

Thursday August 14

Alcoholics Anonymous GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 8:30 p.m.

JUMP (Just Us Making Progress) Confidential HIV Support Group The Portal 2419 Greenmount Ave., Suite 1 Baltimore, MD 21218 410-235-5241 www.theportalbmore.org 7-8:30 p.m.

Harford Rainbow Society Dinner Out & Gay Life Happy Hour

Rainbow Youth Alliance

Carried Away Gourmet 101 S. Main St. Bel Air, MD 21014 6:30 p.m.

Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 7:30 p.m.

Support Group for Individuals with Mental Health Issues

Ameriprise Free Financial

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday August 13 Seminar GLCCB 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 6:30 p.m.

410-837-5445

Beginners’ Yoga with Kelly D. McClain, RYT GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 $9/person 7:15 p.m.

Gay Bingo (to benefit GLCCB & Aids Action) Club Hippo 1 W. Eager St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-547-0069 8:30 p.m.

Power Inside Women’s Rap Power Inside Office 325 E. 25th St., 1st floor Baltimore, MD 21218 3-4:30 p.m.

Rapscallion Radical Art Collective 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 www.rapscallionart.org 7 p.m.

‘Tini Lounge Happy Hour GG’s Restaurant & Martini Bar

Women of Color Group GLCCB 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 7:30 p.m.

Friday August 15 Teporah

Live @ Read St. Books 229 W. Read St. Baltimore, MD http://www.myspace.com/ readstreetbooks 8 p.m.

Saturday August 16 Arts & Crafts

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 4:30-6 p.m.

Kristin Ford Live @ Read St. Books 229 W. Read St. Baltimore, MD http://www.myspace.com/readstreetbooks 8 p.m.

Movie & Game Night Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St.

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-8:30 p.m.

New Image (Narcotics Anonymous) LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6-7:30 p.m.

Sufficient As I aM (SAIM) Youth & Young Adults 24 & Under GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 12:30 p.m.

Volleyball Out for Fun War Memorial Park Martinsburg, WV Email HOTTT@nationwide.com for details 3 or 4 p.m.

Sunday August 17

Alcoholics Anonymous GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 6:30 p.m.

Living Sober (AA) Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church 100 W. Washington St. Shepherdstown, WV 25443 3 p.m.

Narcotics Anonymous Sunday Men’s Rap

Wednesday August 20

Alcoholics Anonymous LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Beginners’ Yoga with Kelly D. McClain, CYT

Open Door Metropolitan Community Church 15817 Barnesville Rd. Boyds, MD 20841 www.al-anon.orgwww.opendoormcc.com 7:30 p.m.

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Club Square Dance Waxter Center 1000 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.chesapeakesquares.org 8-10 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 4-6:30 p.m. & 7:30-8:30 p.m.

PFLAG Columbia/Howard County Parent Forum Owen Brown Interfaith Center 7246 Cradlerock Way Columbia, MD 7:30-9 p.m.

Positive Influence

GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 8:30 p.m.

JUMP (Just Us Making Progress) Confidential HIV Support Group The Portal 2419 Greenmount Ave., Suite 1 Baltimore, MD 21218 410-235-5241 www.theportalbmore.org 7-8:30 p.m.

Support Group for Individuals with Mental Health Issues

Pre-natal Yoga

Social Activity (Varies)

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle Street Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Women of Color Group GLCCB 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 7:30 p.m.

Confidential HIV/STI Testing & Counseling

Monday August 18

GLCCB Tuesday, Wednesday 5-8 p.m.

241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201

Alcoholics Anonymous

August 8 - August 21, 2008

Thursday August 21

Consumer Planned Activity

Lifeline Power Yoga 111 Allegheny Ave. Towson, MD 21204 www.lifelinepoweryoga.com Suggested Donation 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday August 19

GG’s Restaurant & Martini Bar 41 N. Potomac St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 4:30-10:00 p.m.

Chesapeake Squares

Sailaway Pride Night Weather Rail Bar

GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.aa.org 8:30 p.m.

Club Hippo 1 W. Eager St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-547-0069 8:30 p.m.

‘Tini Lounge Happy Hour

LGBT Community Hall 40 W. Church St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Hearts & Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 www.heartsandears.org 1-6 p.m.

Gay Bingo (to benefit GLCCB & Aids Action)

Dual Recovery Anonymous

GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.na.org 11:30 a.m.

Loews Hotel 126 West St. Annapolis, MD 5-9 p.m.

GLCCB, Room 201 241 W. Chase St. Baltimore, MD 21201 $9/person 7:15 p.m.

Boyds Al-Anon

410-837-5445

HERO Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 2-4 p.m.

Thursday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

1734 Maryland Avenue Baltimore, MD 21201 410-685-1180

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HOMOSTROLOGY

by Marry Elaine

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Roughly, firmly, gently: You bring a lot to the table lately. Do you mean it? Are you capable of meaning it?

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)

Highwaisted shorts. High. Waisted.

Shorts. Highwaistedshorts. You have a deep knack for perceiving and reckoning with simultaneous, distinct, sometimes conflicting, often multilingual realities. Focus on feeling peace in your coexistences. Your subtle knowledge of so many goings on at once can be conflict. Let awarenesses, all the ways you say I, and all the ways you say Why wash over you. Let your files get a little messy.

You’re so f*cking pretty.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)

By any means necessary, get your hands on some shimmery, firming lotion. Your spirit has a certain sheen to it lately. Your skin shall follow. Take in a lot of creamy treats.

SCORPIO

(October 23 - November 21) Big clasps and a lot of fasteners.

Use them as daily reminders to edge your garden and know your boundaries. In one fell swoop you can value yourself, respect others, feel more, hear more.

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22 - December 20) Stride. Breathe. Maintain tenderness in this time of becoming. Let the ache of vulnerability run over you.

Exhale moist, tender love. Surround yourself in rhythms louder than your own. It’s off lately. Important p.s: your luck is turning. Listen seriously to your moments of hysteria.

CAPRICORN

(December 21 - January 19) Consuming almost exclusively orange [mango, carrots, sherbet, glorious beverages with a bit of fizz] will propel you in your new endeavors. Good for you taking the bull by the horns the way you are. Lest you forget: Sex is liquid and only defined by the people involved. Lift some rocks in your life; perhaps you see pleasure everywhere.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)

PA G E 4 2 •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

It’s time to get a little bit of alone time in the house and choreograph a dance to your favorite En Vogue song. An entire album even.

PISCES (February 19 - March 19)

Your memory is vastly acute, borne of and living in all your senses and pores. Ignore the stares: Do not hold back how good you are.

Don’t hold back tears at a scent; don’t deny a drive towards touch that comes at you from a sound.

Get your hands on an electric red change purse; don’t let go. Long lost true love is trying hard to reemerge. She’s going to French kiss you when she sees you.

ARIES (March 20 - April 19)

Do you sense your shit coming together? It is. Remember: Strife is not realer than joy. Identify one pattern you have and take a step towards undoing it. Go against your instincts. Let in good smells around you.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)

Take lots of risks; let your heart ooze; drink some vegetable juice and go back for more. Visit.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)

This week, celebrate the phenom you are. Your level/ing gaze renders penetrated swooning all over the place. Mind your surroundings—immerse yourself in the right people, with the right layers betwixt you. Sometimes, shed and allow no layers at all. Please oh please don’t give up on love.

Against adversity, maintain your priorities: Things That End In -Sure.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22)

Visitors are swarming and bringing lots of oxygen. Prepare for lucidity.

Also get ready to reap and bask in fruits of long-term labors. In all ways, things are looking up. When one bond feels weak, don’t worry.

Look to another.

Marry Elaine is very psychic and a huge fag. You can email her at letspretendweremarried@baltimoregaylife.com.

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

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QUOTE UNQUOTE "My position is, it's not the reason why I'm running for president of the United States. And I think that two-parent families are best for America. Because I think -- well, I think that it's -- it is important for us to emphasize family values. But I think it's very important that we understand that we have other challenges, too. I'm running for president of the United States because I want to help with family values.

And I think that family values are important, when we have two-parent -- families that are of parents that are the traditional family."

—Presidential candidate John McCain when asked, "What is your position on gay adoption?" on ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos, July 27. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have no restrictions on gay adoption.

"I am for the values that two-parent families, the traditional family, represents. ... And I also do point out that many of these decisions are made by the states, as we all know.

And I will do everything I can to encourage adoption, to encourage all of the things that keeps families together, including educational opportunities, including a better economy, job creation. And I'm running for president because I want to help families in America. And one of my positions is that I believe that family values and family traditions are preserved."

—Presidential candidate John McCain when asked, "There are several hundred thousand children in the country who don't have a home, and if a gay couple wants to adopt them, what's wrong with that?" on ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopoulos, July 27. Fortyfive states and the District of Columbia have no restrictions on gay adoption.

"(It was) really exciting but it was a fuck-up too. You can think you have the capacity to deal with it (fame) but nothing prepares you for it. I really thought I didn't care, that I could be famous and not be altered by it -- but you are. You get caught up in it and some of it is real but for the most part, it's superficial and very fragile or temporary."

—Out singer k.d. lang to Britain's Guardian newspaper, July 16.

"I think Pride is less politicized sometimes than it used to be, and that's probably a good sign because I think it's truly a celebration. It was

BY REX WOCKNER WITH BILL KELLEY

—Openly gay and noncelibate New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to The Times of London, July 27.

"My own death threats have declined considerably. I think I've become rather boring now to the public at large on this particular issue (gay) so I'm thought to be unremarkable."

—Openly gay actor Sir Ian McKellen to the BBC, July 13.

"You [in the Church of England] have so many gay clergy, gay partnered clergy, gay couples who are both clergy. The bishops know it.

Their congregations know it. But can you get anyone to talk about it?

Oh, no. I think it's a holdover from Victorian times."

—Openly gay and noncelibate New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to The Times of London, July 27.

before as well, but in older Prides there was a little more of a political slant. There was a lot of activism to be done, and there still is, but I think because we made a lot of headway we're able to relax a bit."

—Singer Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls to Seattle Gay News, June 27.

"My girlfriend gave me a Tiffany diamond ring and proposed. I cried. We want to make sure to get married before the ballots in November, but we both have hectic traveling schedules. It's more whirlwind than romance, but we're hoping for the first weekend in September."

—Comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer to Seattle Gay News, July 4.

"It was a huge relief and it took me about a year to admit to myself that I'd done it deliberately. The truth is, cruising has gone on for as long as there have been men trying to hide their sexuality."

—Singer George Michael on his 1998 arrest in a Beverly Hills park toilet, to TV's Good Morning America, July 23.

"I just think John Edwards is an incredibly creepy individual and the very definition of faggy."

—Pundit Ann Coulter in a July 23 appearance on KOA radio in Denver.

"Once again, Ann Coulter has made a cynical and desperate bid for attention by using a vulgar, dehumanizing anti-gay slur. More and more, fair-minded Americans believe that there's no place for this kind of big-

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

otry, and Coulter's shrinking media platform only confirms how out of step she is with the rest of the country. GLAAD urges the media to shine a spotlight on Ann Coulter's history of using anti-gay slurs, and the media outlets that support this language by continuing to provide her with a platform."

—Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation President Neil Giuliano, July 25.

"We made a commitment and we understood the controversy, but we are now aware the Labor Council had voted for an official boycott."

—Matt Szabo, spokesman for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who pulled out as keynote speaker at the July 26 Human Rights Campaign 2008 San Francisco Bay Area Gala in protest against the group's support last year for a version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act that would protect gay and bisexual people but not transgender people, to the Associated Press, July 27. The measure has passed the House of Representatives and is pending in the Senate.

"I grew up at a time when there were no role models: To be gay or lesbian was to be a failure. Oh, I shared the fact that I was attracted to men within two weeks of meeting (my ex-wife) Isabella. All of my real romantic relations previous to her had been with men. I felt ready for a relationship with her, but I was still unsure about marriage. Isabella assured me we'd deal with it together. And we did, 13 years later."

August 8 - August 21, 2008

"The Scriptures were written in patriarchal times, times of slavery, times of polygamy. And when you go for a literalist reading you run into trouble. Women wear hats in church, for example, because St. Paul said you should keep your head covered. And your mouth shut, by the way."

—Openly gay and noncelibate New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to The Times of London, July 27.

"The pull of precedent is powerful but scarcely all-powerful when a shift of personnel or perspective breaks the spell, allowing the forces of change to exert their counterpull.

The road from Bowers v. Hardwick, the 1986 decision that dismissed a claim of gay rights as 'at best, facetious,' to Lawrence v. Texas, which 17 years later located the privacy rights of gay men and lesbians at the heart of constitutional due process, was paved, I have no doubt, by the justices' experience of knowing gay men and women in their personal and professional lives."

—Retiring New York Times Supreme Court reporter Linda Greenhouse writing in the July 13 edition of the paper.

"Everyone is so post-gay now, it's probably not the done thing to shed a tear over the last night of G-A-Y at the Astoria in Central London this Saturday. With its simple delight in fluffy disco and boozy, cruisey merriment, G-A-Y seems a dinosaur in the modern landscape of gay indie clubs, mixed clubs and the pansexual, drag-tastic dives of Shoreditch, where the beestung-lipped boy in eyeshadow probably has a girlfriend who's cool with it all."

—Tim Teeman writing in The Times of London, July 23.

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POSTAGE Anti-Discrimination is a Good Thing, right?

What the hell is going on in Montgomery County? Why are people putting in so much time and energy into revoking an anti-discrimination law? Anti-discrimination is a good thing, right? And you know those hateful people, the Citizens for a Responsible Government, are spreading lies, untruth and fear about women being raped in public bathrooms. Their website clearly states their bigotry, “No longer will women and girls be able to feel completely safe in the most private and personal bathroom and locker facilities of schools, public pools, malls, stores, health clubs, restaurants and other such public places throughout the county…The outrageous legislation that may result in forcing even religious schools to hire transgender teachers; and then also allow cross-dressing but biological males in your daughter’s school locker room.”

Their website is www.notmyshower.net, for Christ’s sake. How about a lot of women and girls don’t feel safe in their own homes because the same jerk who wrote that statement lives with them and abuses them on a regular basis?

Where are our legislators when we need them? Why are the big Equality Maryland execs twiddling their thumbs and doing nothing? Probably because they are too busy planning their weddings. They couldn’t even file the paperwork on time that would have challenged the initial referendum proposal in the first place. Obviously, the work isn’t over once you get a law passed because hateful, but organized people can undo it all in one fell swoop as evidenced by the Judge’s July 24th ruling that the law will now be put to a vote even though it was unanimously passed by the County Council. What a shame!

Cecil, Charles Village

to attend as he is a gay leader at his school in New York. So my only critique is that, in the future, you should announce when the organization is accepting applications so the young people can be sure to get their applications in on time. Other than that, thanks for the good news, Gay Life.

Sharon Patterson

Mr. & Miss Phoenix Dear Editor,

On Saturday, July 26th, Club Phoenix held its annual Mr. and Miss Phoenix competition. The event was a huge success, and at the end of the night, Michelle Rose and Robbie took the high honors. There was a large crowd despite the heat. There were also many great performances.

One thing from the contest that really stood out was that Miss Gay Maryland America, Tatiyanna Voche, came out in support of the show. Not only did she come out, but she went backstage, offered assistance, and purchased water for all the contestants. While she has not yet performed at Phoenix, she arrived with a sense of grace and elegance that really showed how much she deserved to win her title.

In closing, I would like to thank all the people who came out to support the show, and all the performers and contestants that made the night great. Also, thanks to Chi Chi Ray Colby, Victoria Blair, Shawnna Alexander, and Adrian Leigh for planning and executing a wonderful show!

Dimitria

Campus Pride Leadership Camp

I was so glad to see the story on the Campus Pride Leadership Camp. I showed it to my son who is in college and he wished dearly he had been able

SERVICE

DIRECTORY

ACCOMMODATIONS Baltimore Tremonts 222 St. Paul St. Baltimore, MD 21202 410-561-8886

ACCOUNTING Heiffner & Associates 6706 German Hill Rd. Dundalk, MD 21222 410-285-3920

AUTOMOTIVE Meineke Car Care Center 7604 Harford Rd. Parkville, MD 21234 410-665-0710 Tate Mini of Annapolis 25 Old Mill Bottom Rd. N. Annapolis, MD 21409 410-349-2131 BARS / NIGHTCLUBS Baltimore Eagle 2022 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-685-3219 Club Hippo 1 W. Eager St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-576-0018 Club Phoenix 1 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-837-3906

CHORUSES

New Wave Singers PO Box 2012 Baltimore, MD 21203 410-558-4692

CHURCHES Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore 320 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 20201 410-547-5486 First & St. Stephen’s United Church 6915 York Rd. Baltimore, MD 21212 410-377-5224

St. John’s of Baltimore 2640 St. Paul St. Baltimore, MD 21218 410-366-7733

COMPUTER / TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING Computer Handyman of Maryland 443-827-0433 CONSTRUCTION Laurence Construction David Meltzer 6999 Reiserstown Rd., Suite 1 Baltimore, MD 21215 410-764-7100 NLT Construction 9216 Liberty Rd. Randallstown, MD 21133 410-922-6475

First Unitarian Church 1 W. Hamilton St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-685-2330

COUNSELING / THERAPY Patti Desert, LCSW-C Singular Pathways 208 E. Melrose Ave. Baltimore, MD 21212 410-435-3755

Metropolitan Community Church of Baltimore 401 W. Monument St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-669-6222

Laura June, Ph.D. Belvedere Towers, Suite 105A 1190 W. Northern Pkwy.

Baltimore, MD 21210 410-235-7899

Memorial Episcopal Church 1407 Bolton St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-669-0220

Jeff Klug, LCSW The Rotunda, Suite 108 711 W. 40th St. Baltimore, MD 21211 410-241-4215

St. Bernadette Parish 801 Stevenson Rd. Severn, MD 21144 410-969-2785

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Samuel J. Kelly, LCSW-C Ellen Schwartz Patterson, LCSW-C The Shell Building, Suite 108 200 E. Joppa Rd.

What are you thinking? editor@baltimoregaylife.com

Towson, MD 21286 410-583-8846 Robin Richardson, LCSW-C The Rotunda, Suite 412 711 W. 40th St. Baltimore, MD 21211 410-261-3323 Women’s Growth Center 5209 York Rd. Baltimore, MD 21212 410-532-2476

FINANCIAL SERVICES Yoshiko Hayakawa First Financial Group 401 Washington Ave., 6th floor Baltimore, MD 21204 410-828-5400 x4178 FITNESS Mt. Vernon Fitness 1016 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 www.mvfit.com

FRAMING Fast Frame of Bel Air 1431 Rock Spring Rd. Bel Air, MD 21014 410-836-0017

HEALTH / DENTAL Chase Brexton Health Services 1001 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-837-2050 Dr. Samuel Westrick 3100 St. Paul St., Suite 5 Baltimore, MD 21218 410-243-5544

August 8 - August 21, 2008

HEALTH INSURANCE Trey Ellison III Alliance for Affordable Services Baltimore, MD 443-468-6171 JEWELERS Craig Coyne Jewelers 8113 Main St. Ellicott City, MD 21043 410-243-5544

LEGAL SERVICES Law offices of Constandin Alivizatos 111 S. Calvert St. Baltimore, MD 21202 410-385-5397 Lynda Dee, Attorney at Law 201 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-332-1170 National Adoption and Surrogacy Center Hilary Neiman, Esq. 30 Courthouse Square, Suite 106 Rockville, MD 20850 301-340-7228 Mark Scurti Hodes, Pessin & Katz, PA 410-938-8718 www.hpklegal.com Zavos Law Group Washington, DC Baltimore, MD 443-570-6205

LOCKSMITHS Robert’s Key Service 217 W. Read St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-728-7484

MORTGAGE SERVICES Marva J. Laws American Financial Resources Bel Air, MD 410-734-6688 1-888-553-5513 marva@afronline.com Richard Pazornik SunTrust Mortgage 410-561-4139 www.suntrustmortgage.com/rp azornik NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Hearts and Ears 10 W. Biddle St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-528-0444 PHARMACIES Mount Vernon Pharmacy 900 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-539-8030 Park Avenue Pharmacy 1535 Park Ave. Baltimore, MD 21217 410-225-0800

Real Estate Nancy Corporon RE/MAX Advantage Realty 8815 Centre Park Dr. Columbia, MD 21045 410-740-1200 Stephen Johnson Long & Foster Real Estate 10805 Hickory Ridge Rd. Columbia, MD 21044 410-715-7891

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

David Ostrowski & Pat Stokeley Long & Foster Real Estate 410-931-6300 www.DaveMovesMd.com RESTAURANTS / CATERING Café Boheme 401 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202 410-347-9898 Sascha’s 527 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-539-8880 Spice Company 4 W. University Pkwy.

Baltimore, MD 21218 410-235-8200

Synagogues Beth El Congregation of Baltimore 8101 Park Heights Ave. Baltimore, MD 21208 410-484-0411

THEATRES Hippodrome Theatre France-Merrick Performing Arts Center 12 N. Eutaw St. Baltimore, MD 21202 410-547-SEAT Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore 5625 O’Donnell St. Baltimore, MD 21224 410-995-1969 Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia 5900 Symphony Woods Rd. Columbia, MD 21044 410-995-1969

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MARKETPLACE PICK-UPS Beautiful barista with black hair and blue eyes: I thought you were stunning as I tried to keep my eyes focused on the Sunday paper instead of on you. And as I left, we exchanged glances and smiles. If there was anything more to it, will you let me know? Maybe there's another story to tell.

It’s easy to place your Market Place ad.

Call us at

410.837.7748

—Crossword Nerd

We’ll do the rest!

25 words for $20!

25¢ per word after that.

Box it or add a graphic for $5 more.

Employment.

Love Candles? I'm looking for Fun People to join my team- Be in Business FOR Yourself, NOT By Yourself. Call laurie 571-723-3053.

For Sale ANTIQUE FURNITURE FOR SALE Various pieces of furniture in good condition, including corner cabinet, farm table, chest of drawers, small desks. Pieces available for pick-up in Baltimore. Call 954-6557498.

House or Apartment for Rent

Massage

BRAD'S SPECIAL TOUCH A hot full body/full satisfaction massage in your home, hotel, or my NEW waterfront studio. Guys or couples. Visa/MC. 443-6950141, or www.specialtouchmassage.com

—Lookin’ for a Workout

Guy in Maroon (Red) Ford Fusion.

We’ve made eye contact a couple of times on the road near Columbia Mall. First time we met I commented on your car’s rims, you said they ruin your fuel economy. Your car has a Sunroof and really nice rims. You are Latino and in your 20’s. You’re hot man. I really don’t care about

—Not Into Rims

You deliver every day to the cafe next to my gym. I see you when I'm on the treadmill. Wow, you're hot! If you would like to meet up, let me know. What's your truck number, so I know it's you.

GREAT MASSAGE Swedish or sensual, by attractive guy with awesome hands.

Incall/Outcall, reasonable rates, 15 years experience.

Craig 410-336-8956 or

reach

the local

gay market. advertise in gay life! sales@baltimoregaylife.com

www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

—Peeping Runner

Lately I have grown increasing smitten by you. The first time we met I asked “what do you do”, in which you simply replied, “I draw food”. I laughed and asked again.

Then it became quite clear you were serious. You are currently working on a series named “Horns and Hooves.” We enjoyed each other’s company from time to time; however, I have yet to conjure enough confidence to flirt overtly. I hope you know I am talking to you, GP.

ANSWERS TO Q PUZZLE

BELAIR/EDISON AREA Must See. 1st Floor apartment, 2 bedrooms and den. Appliances, large kitchen. Only $500/mo. + utilities. Steven: 410-325-9057.

HOUSE FOR RENT Beverly Hills/Lauraville, 3 bedroom restored porchfront cottage, hardwood floors, fenced back yard, lovely older neighbor. Would prefer a 2-3 year commitment. $1200/mo. Susan @ 443-600-1158, suekssl@aol.com.

You were the cute gym teacher. I bought you a Bud Light and we shared brief smiles. You left in a hurry with your friends and shouted out your phone number to me as you closed the cab door and sped away and I missed it. I would welcome friendship.

rims or cars but I just wanted to talk to you…. About me, in my early 20’s, Latino also. I drive the Maroon (Red) Honda Accord. Hit me up if you’re interested. I would love to spend some time with you.

• PA G E 4 5

—GP Admirer

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PA G E 4 6 •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

• G A Y L I F E • www.baltimoregaylife.com

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www.baltimoregaylife.com • G A Y L I F E •

August 8 - August 21, 2008

• PA G E 4 7

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