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Texas Church Stops All Marriage
Publisher/Executive Editor: David Vandygriff dvandygriff@cityxtramagazine.com
California Modernizing HIV Laws By David Vandygriff
Editor In Chief: Harvey Carr editor@cityxtramagazine.com
How To Have A Totally Gay Halloween
Creative Designer: Jason Smith designer@cityxtramagazine.com
By William Johnson
By Javier Garza
‘Religious Liberty’ Trumps LGBT Rights By James Perkins
PEG & EPRT Merge Drag Talent By Jacob Miller
Silver Airways Launches New Low Far By By David Vandygriff
Key West Re-Opens For Visitors
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Contributing Writers
By Kelly Trent
Trump’s Approval Rate Hits New Low By Jesse Childers
Debra Messing Gets A Hollywood Star By Christopher Rudolph
Laura Riggs, Dr. Harvey Carr, Meredith O’Malley Johnson, Tina Vaughn, Jake Moore, Joey Amato Tyler Curry Editor HIV Equal Online, Sebastian Fortino, David Vandygriff, Jesse Childers, Rachel Davis, Samantha Allen, Dr. Dan Bowers, Debi Perry
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ceremonies nor allow same -sex couples to be wed on its church property.
Texas Church Stops All Marriage
According to the United Methodist Texas and the church aren’t Church stated social principles: often known for their progressive “We affirm the sanctity of the nature, but one church in Austin marriage covenant that is has decided to take a significant expressed in love, mutual stand on LGBT rights. support, personal commitment, The First United Methodist and shared fidelity between a Church on 1201 Lavaca has this man and a woman. We support month announced that it will no laws in civil society that define longer hold any weddings until it marriage as the union of one is permitted to hold same-sex man and one woman.” ceremonies, MyStatesman This is despite a groundbreaking reports. Additionally, the resolution at the Baltimorechurch’s clergy will not hold any Washington Conference of the wedding ceremonies off-site, United Methodist Church held though blessings, counselling back in 2011 that appeared to and other ceremonies for either open the door to the possibility of same-sex or straight couples are same-sex marriages in the permitted. church. By William Johnson
Any weddings already booked before the announcement was made will still take place, but no new bookings will be taken.
The church held a vote among its congregation last month, and a massive 93 per cent agreed with the resolution. Given the support among the congregation, the question is why the church cannot simply hold the ceremonies. The reason is that the national denomination for the church, the United Methodist Church, does not allow its clergy to perform same-sex wedding
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Two years after that resolution, dozens of retired clergy members across Northern California and Nevada signed a pact to perform same-sex marriages or holy unions in their churches across the two states. An opportunity for the current policy to be changed was missed last year at the church’s 2016 quadrennial meeting, prompting the bold decision by the Austin church. Rev. Taylor Fuerst said: “I had plenty of conversations with people who were struggling with
this conversation, everyone from folks who are still in disagreement with our church’s stance on full inclusion to folks who agree with that but were uncomfortable changing our practice. “It’s one thing to say, ‘This is what we believe’, but it’s another to – if you’re a straight person – give something up.” In response to the decision, the United Methodist Church’s regional body, the Rio Texas Annual Conference, said it would not be taking a position on the resolution. There are known to be at least three gay couples who are members of the community who wished to get married at the church, but were forced to wed elsewhere. One member of the congregation David Covin, who ended up marrying his partner Trevor Harper away from the church, said: “It’s hurtful, because you know the congregation and all the members support you and would like to see you get married in the church, but it’s the politics of the denomination that it’s not allowed.”
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statement. “HIV should be treated like all California Modernizing HIV Laws other Dr. David Vandygirff serious infectious diseases, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill and that’s what SB 239 does.” Friday that lowers from a felony Supporters of the change said to a misdemeanor the crime of the current law requires an knowingly exposing a sexual intent to transmit HIV to justify a partner to HIV without felony, but others noted cases disclosing the infection. have been prosecuted where The measure also applies to those who give blood without telling the blood bank that they are HIV-positive.
Modern medicine allows those with HIV to live longer lives and nearly eliminates the possibility of transmission, according to state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), authors of the bill. “Today California took a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals,” Wiener said in a
there was no physical contact, so there was an argument intent was lacking.
Brown declined to comment on his action. HIV has been the only communicable disease for which exposure is a felony under California law. The current law, Wiener argued, may convince people not to be tested for HIV, because without a test they cannot be charged with a felony if they expose a partner to the infection. “We are going to end new HIV
infections, and we will do so not by threatening people with state prison time, but rather by getting people to test and providing them access to care,” Wiener said. Supporters of the bill said women engaging in prostitution are disproportionately targeted with criminal charges, even in cases where the infection is not transmitted. Republican lawmakers including Sen. Joel Anderson of Alpine voted against the bill, arguing it puts the public at risk. “I’m of the mind that if you purposefully inflict another with a disease that alters their lifestyle the rest of their life, puts them on a regimen of medications to maintain any kind of normalcy, it should be a felony,” Anderson said during the floor debate. “It’s absolutely crazy to me that we should go light on this.” Anderson said the answer could be to extend tougher penalties to those who expose others to other infectious diseases.
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a few standbys. You can always go as the “sexy” version of anything by wearing some underwear (preferably How to Have a Totally Gay Halloween new) and By Javier Garza adding something to it. HALLOWEEN IS THE BEST These include glasses (sexy liholiday of the year. You don’t get brarian), plunger (sexy plumber), presents, nor do you get to stuff t-square (sexy architect), shovel your face with turkey (unless (sexy grave digger), etc. Or if you’re costume is “Thanksgiving” you’re a little shy, there’s always in which case well-played), but the portmanteau/combo game. it’s the one day of the year when Go as combination of two you get to be someone you’re unlikely things: Babe-raham not. Introverts become extroverts Lincoln, Buffalo Bill Nye the and extroverts become even Science Guy, Sir Edmund Hillary bigger extroverts. You can adopt Clinton, Garth Vader. an entirely different persona and Couples: If you’re in a get in the spirit of the season. relationship and want to flaunt it, Plus it’s the one day you get to try to coordinate an outfit with scare children and not get a call your partner. Depending on your from CPS. status, you can always do a
trio, I have a few suggestions. Harry, Ron and Hermione; TLC; the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus; or Destiny’s Child. Good luck fighting over who gets to be the Left Eye, Bette, or Beyoncé of your group. Couples with Babies: Thanks to One Million Mom’s outrage, the Campbell’s soup ad with the gay dads has gone viral, proving that not all homosexuals have good taste. There’s no way two men with that kitchen (and a few Ina Garten cookbooks) would feed their child something with preservatives. That inaccuracy aside, it does show that we love Star Wars. And with The Force Awakens hitting theaters soon, the best costume for a couple with a baby is to go as two Jedi masters and a Yoda baby. The fleek will be strong with that one.
Memes: This one is very timesensitive, but it’s pretty easy to go as a currently popular meme. It’s always easy to go the Party cheesy pitcher and catcher But because we are a fickle City route and just buy a costume. But if that’s too easy people, you’re probably going to costume, but where’s the fun in and trite, try going as a famous have to act fast and dress up as that? With a few simple tips and duo. Thanks to the insipid “teens Netflix and Chill, or Ariana trips to Value Village or two, you react to...” series, anything from Grande eating a donut, or Miley can have a costume that rivals the 80s/90s is considered retro, wearing strategically placed orbs that of noted Halloween so try to impress the twinks with to still be timely. If you need aficionado Heidi Klum. exposure to classic couples such some guidance, please look to as: Maverick and Goose, that One of the best things about Miley Cyrus’s SNL monologue Halloween is eschewing gender time Brenda and Kelly wore the for ideas. same dress to the spring dance, roles. It’s the one day where Daria and Jane, Buffy and Spike Procrastinators: For the lazy I where we can dress how we (or Willow if you’ve read that fan have the perfect outfit for you: a want and offend those against onesie. They’re cheap, they’re Prop 1. Before I dispense some fic) or contestants on Double ubiquitous, and they’re pretty Dare. helpful advice on how to plan a comfortable. Almost any pop costume, there are two Thruples: The latest scourge on culture property, animal, or costumes that are definitely the English language is the word sports team has one associated verboten: 1) Caitlyn Jenner, “thruple.” It’s basically three with it. And unlike bridesmaids because it’s insensitive, and 2) people who are dating each dresses, you can totally wear it Minions, because they’re other. If you’re able to coordinate again. So for you, fellow overexposed and lame. a costume with not one, but two procrastinators, I say order that Singles: If you’re flying solo for people, then you’re already Batman onesie and tell Siri to All Hallow’s Eve, you can go with winning Halloween. If you’re remind you to start planning a bit wondering how to dress up as a earlier next year. 10 www.cityxtramagazine.com
women and others," the AP explains. "The guidelines are so sweeping that experts on ‘Religious Liberty’ Trumps LGBT Rights religious liberty By James Perkins are calling them a legal powderkeg that could Attorney General Jeff Sessions prompt wide-ranging lawsuits issued a 25-page memo that against the government." establishes the Trump "This is putting the world on administration's interpretation of notice: You better take these federal law and regulations in an claims seriously," said Robin attempt to deliver to religious Fretwell Wilson, a law professor conservatives the widest at the University of Illinois at possible license to discriminate, Urbana-Champaign. "This is a especially against the LGBT signal to the rest of these community. The AP calls it "an agencies to rethink the order that undercuts protections protections they have put in for LGBT people." place on sexual orientation and Sessions quoted President Trump saying his administration "will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced anymore." The new DOJ memo is "an attempt to deliver on President Donald Trump's pledge to his evangelical and other religious supporters," the AP reports, saying it "effectively lifts a burden from religious objectors to prove that their beliefs about marriage or other topics are sincerely held." It makes clear the Trump administration across all executive branch agencies and departments will ensure the rights of people of faith supersede the rights of LGBT people. "Under the new policy, a claim of a violation of religious freedom would be enough to override concerns for the civil rights of LGBT people and antidiscrimination protections for
national LGBT-rights group, called the guidelines an 'all-out assault' on civil rights and a 'sweeping license to discriminate.'" Politico adds that this new legal guidance "could affect health care, gay rights, political action by churches," and says it takes a "muscular view of religious freedom rights." Naturally, a top Trump support, Tony Perkins of the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council, praised the administration's new interpretations of law.
Based on the Session memo earlier the Trump administration issued a sweeping rollback of the ObamaCare contraception mandate, that requires nearly all gender identity." employers to ensure health The Attorney General's insurance plans provide memorandum includes 20 contraception at no out-of-pocket "Principles of Religious Liberty." cost to employees or those on The anti-gay hate group Alliance their plans. Now, any employer Defending Freedom "called it 'a can claim a religious or moral great day for religious freedom.' objection and opt out of covering The Human Rights Campaign, a contraception.
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In addition to the Drag Race queens, EPRT PEG & EPRT Merge Drag Talent reps some big By Jacob Miller names in music, including Two LGBT-focused talent Joan Jett, Betty Who, Chaka agencies have announced they Khan and Kelis, and manages are merging to create one celebrity public speakers like colossal firm that will represent Laverne Cox, Lance Bass and the best in the world of queer Ross Mathews. entertainment, including a “Michael Benedetti, founder of powerhouse roster of famous EPRT, has created the drag queens. strongest LGBT talent agency
EPRT: Alexis Michelle, Bebe Benet, BibleGirl, Charlie Hides, Coco Montrese, Courtney Act, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Delta Work, Derrick Barry, Farrah Moan, Gia Gunn, Jade Jolie, Judas Joe Manson, Jujubee, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Kimora Blac, Morgan McMichaels, Nebraska Thunderf*ck, Ongina, Pandora Boxx, Rhea Litre, Robbie Turner, Roxxxy Andrews, Tatianna, Tempest DuJour, Trixie Mattel, Yara Sofia, Vivacious, Wednesday Westwood
PEG: AAA Girls (The), Adore Delano, Alaska 5000, Ana Matronic, BenDeLaCreme, Bob the Drag Queen, Carmen Producer Entertainment Group outside our own,” PEG’s Carrera, Darienne Lake, Ginger (PEG) may already be familiar founder, David Charpentier, Minj, Ivy Winters, Jackie Beat, to fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race, said in a statement. “Our Jaremi Carey, Jiggly Caliente, as its roster contains some of merger will create the most Jinkx Monsoon, Katya, Lady the show’s biggest stars, includ- diverse talent management, Bunny, Major Scales, Manila ing Alaska, Katya, Adore Dela- branding, recording and touring Luzon, Michelle Visage, Miss no and Michelle Visage. But the roster in LGBT entertainment.” Fame, Pandora Boxx, Pearl, agency is now combining its The Hollywood Reporter shared Peppermint, Phi Phi O’Hara, staff and talent with Executive a list of all the drag queens Sharon Needles, Sherry Vine, PR and Talent (EPRT), which currently represented by each Thorgy Thor, Todrick Hall, houses drag stars like Courtney agency that you can check out Vaudevillians (The), Violet Act, Trixie Mattel and Tatianna. below. Chachki, Willam
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Our new Freedom Fares now offer even more free benefits, including free reservation changes, free Silver Airways Launches New Low Fares same-day flight By David Vandygriff changes, and free airport Silver Airways is offering check-in,” said Silver Airways travelers $50 per roundtrip to try President and CFO Jason "Freedom Fares," reservations Bewley. that can be changed for free. The airline is offering additional The promotion is the largest in company history and can be used during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Participating customers will receive $50 per roundtrip or $25 per one-way on any trip until January 10, 2018. To participate, customers must make online reservations by midnight on Monday, Oct. 16, and enter promo code FREE2CHANGE. “We’ve heard from our passengers and are reintroducing Freedom Fares to all of our destinations, including Key West, which reopened for tourist travel this past weekend.
discounts on optional services including pets, sporting equipment and oversized baggage.
As the airline of choice for Florida and the Bahamas, Silver Airways operates more routes within Florida and between Florida and The Bahamas than any other airline. The airline averages 125 daily flights to 18 destinations in Florida (including hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa) and The Bahamas. Silver is a codeshare partner with JetBlue and United Airlines, and has interline agreements with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US
Airways, Alaska Airlines, Bahamasair, Hahn Air, and All Nippon Airways. Silver’s fleet is comprised of 22 highly reliable and fuel-efficient 34-seat Saab 340B Plus turbo-prop aircraft. With the lowest accident rate of any other commercial aircraft, Saab is the safest in the world. Silver is privately owned by Versa Capital Management, LLC, a Philadelphia-based private equity investment firm. The Silver Airways brand, officially launched December 15, 2011, is denoted by the colors silver and charcoal gray, both emphasizing the airline’s core values of professionalism, quality, vibrancy and trust, while also espousing confidence in the company’s future growth. Fuchsia softens the brand palette, adding vibrancy and helping Silver Airways aircraft stand out in the many varied weather environments in which they operate. The company’s logotype is derived from the spinning propeller blades of a turboprop engine like those found on the aircraft that comprise the Silver Airways fleet.
by the Category 4 storm. ‘Not all lodging is operating on a normal basis currently and Key West Re-Opens For Visitors this includes By Kelly Trent RV resorts and other tourism facilities throughThe Florida Keys, including the out the Keys. The districts of Key LGBTI hotspot Key West, Largo and Key West were the reopened for tourist this Sunday least impacted, however visitors 1 October. planning to travel to the Keys in The announcement by local the coming months are advised government officials comes just to call ahead to ensure their over two weeks after the region chosen hotels and favorite was hit by Hurricane Irma. attractions are open. International airports in Marathon ‘Motorists should use extreme and Key West have already caution when navigating reopened to aviation traffic. Marathon and the Lower Keys Furthermore, The Port of Key regions and stay off side roads West is welcoming cruise ships. to avoid hindering restoration Visitors can access the area via activities. Bridges on the Florida gateway airports in Miami and Keys Overseas Highway have Fort Lauderdale. passed inspections and any
‘Recovery efforts are ongoing’ necessary repairs have been made. A spokesperson for the region said: ‘Potential visitors are advised that while it is safe to travel to the Keys, recovery efforts are ongoing, especially in the Lower Keys and parts of Marathon which were hardest hit
‘Officials confirmed that the decision to open the Keys to visitors is based on some of the most immediate infrastructure repairs having been completed.
‘Almost all power and water services have now been restored and mobile phone service is working well, however the full restoration of television and internet connections is taking longer to re-establish. Throughout the Keys there are significant debris piles that are being removed by clean-up contractors.’ The spokesperson furthermore added: ‘Some Keys hotels are accommodating displaced residents under a Federal Emergency Management Agency program and are therefore not available to visitors.’ ‘Tourism is our top economic engine’ Commenting, Monroe County Mayor George Neugent said, ‘We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover, but because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents’ livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.’ For more information on recovery efforts, visit www.keysrecovery.org
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Trump's job approval rating in the poll is lower than many released recently, as he is Trump’s Approval Hits New Low hovering By David Vandygriff around 40 percent in the President Trump's approval RealClearPolitics average of rating has sunk to a new low in a such surveys. new Associated Press/NORC The AP/NORC survey was Center for Public Affairs conducted in late September and Research survey. early October, at a time when Thirty-two percent of Americans the president was taking heat for polled said they approved of Trump's handling of his job in office nine months into his presidency, while 67 percent of those polled said they disapproved. The president's approval rating in the poll is down from 42 percent in March and 35 percent in June. Trump also did not fare well among Americans who were asked if he understands their needs and problems. Sixty-four percent of Americans said the president did not understand their needs "not very well" or "not very well at all."
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his response to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico.
The president stirred controversy when he attacked San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz on Twitter. Cruz had criticized the federal government's response to Hurricane Irma, which left virtually all of Puerto Rico without power. The Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs research survey was conducted on Sept. 28-Oct. 2 among 1,150 adults. The margin of error was 4.1 percentage points.
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so, so beautiful.”
Debra Messing Gets A Hollywood Star By Christopher Rudolph
At the unveiling of Messing’s star, Hargitay spoke about how the Will & Grace star is such a good friend, just by being there:
“To me, pretty much 95 percent of friendship, possibly more, is just showing up, just being On Friday, October 6, Debra there—and Debra Messing could Messing was honored with a star hold a seminar on showing up. I on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. cannot tell you how deeply I Hers is the 2,620th since the admire your fierceness.” Walk was completed in 1961. “What a bright, precious, Messing’s Will & Grace co-stars important, beautiful, loyal, Eric McCormack and Megan multifaceted, enduring light that Mullally joined her at the you have been, and you are, in ceremony, along with the series’ co-creator Max Mutchnick and fellow famous friends of hers like Mariska Hargitay and Connie Britton. Grace Adler, welcome to Hollywood.
“[I] never [dreamed this could happen],” Messing told Entertainment Tonight. “I grew up next to a farm in Rhode Island. My big dream was to be a working actress and ultimately to do Broadway in New York City.” “I’ve fulfilled all of my dreams,” she added. “It’s going to take me a long time to process this. It’s
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my life and lives of so many people,” she continued. “I think that’s why we like stars so much. They’re always there. They’re faithful, they’re true. They’re forever.” Mutchnick also spoke at the event, praising Messing for her comedic chops, and how proud he is of her—and how her new star will never get dirty as long as there are Will & Grace fans around. “Don’t worry, with all these devoted fans here today, you know there will be some old queen on the corner scrubbing this star for the rest of time with his toothbrush,” said Mutchnick. “And if he doesn’t show up, I will.” Remember Will & Grace is back every Thursday on NBC.