The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey! ®
CHALLENGE The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County – Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Continuously Since 1972
Volume 39, Issue 2, March 2013
Divided We Fall? by Andy Skurna
One of the qualities that has long set GAAMC apart from other LGBTI social/support organizations has been our diversity. I have been very proud of our welcoming, open door policy. We have united to help battered women. We have been audience to presentations about civil rights beyond LGBT rights. We have learned about the broadest of health topics. We have discussed and debated many differing religious views. For many years our discussion groups and programs have been designed to bring the different subgroups of the sexual minority population together. For a few hours each week, we share the rare opportunity to unite into the majority. At GAAMC it doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation or sexual identity, you may count yourself among the majority. Over the past few months I have witnessed a disturbing trend that I hope we can correct. People seem to be withdrawing into polarizing subgroups. When we host a movie night showing a film that focuses on lesbian life, few men attend. When we scheduled a visit by someone from Morristown Memorial Hospital to talk about the status of HIV/AIDS, testing opportunities, and possible treatment resources there was only one female in the building. What has happened? Has your brain become so full that you cannot hold any more information about an epidemic that affects us all? Have you successfully carved out your little space in the world where you no longer have to interact with anyone other than lesbians? Gay men, has your life become so fabulous that you no longer have fight to protect your rights? Or perhaps you think you know enough gay men that you can rally enough votes from gay men that you can sway an election. Gay men, lesbians, and transgender people are still being attacked on our streets. Our kids are still killing themselves. Our houses of worship are still supporting and exporting hate. Bisexuals are still complaining about feeling invisible. The transgender community is still complaining about a lack of support from the rest of our community. Just this week a 23-year old gay man and his partner were photographed, then attacked on a NYC subway train…and none of the other passengers helped. New Jersey still has the densest concentration of hate groups in the nation. The legislative districts along our northern and southern borders are still controlled by right wing fanatics who do not hesi-
tate to deny opportunities and rights to our youth, or our adults… To us! In case you haven’t noticed, New Jersey’s fight for marriage equality is back, and gaining in strength, in volume and public attention. Support is pouring in from national organizations. And, as this gubernatorial election year progresses, I can guarantee this issue will play an increasing role for the battle for our state’s highest office. What will the army for equality look like this round? Will we once again leave it up to middle-aged, gay, white men and college kids? The time to enlarge and diversify our forces is right now. Hopefully, you have broken out of the closet. Now, let’s make sure we don’t lock our minds, hearts, and souls in new closets! We can only make progress when we unite, and GAAMC provides ample opportunity for unity. But, you have to show up, you have to speak up, you have to put up, and then show up again. Show up to tell us about your life. Show up to learn what your neighbors are doing. Find out what kind of help you can offer. Build a larger circle of friends and support so that when you (and your community) need help...there is someone you can call on.
Inside Challenge Challenge Information.... ................................ page 2 GAAMC Events.............................................. page 2 The Bulletin Board......................................... page 3 Committee Spotlight: Program Committee........... page 3 Gleanings: Queer news from around the world .... page 4 Committee Spotlight: Information Committee....... page 6 My Stonewall Story......................................... page 6 This Month's Contributors................................ page 6 Calendar ..................................................... page 7 Dancing to Architecture: music reviews............. page 9 The Little Box of Concerts.............................. page 11 Poetry....................................................... page 11 Film Review: Mea Maxima Culpa..................... page 12 GAAMC Board Minutes, January 2013................ page 13 Good Eats! recipes....................................... page 13 GAAMC Information...................................... page 14