Happy Hanukkah! Glad Yule! Merry Christmas! Joyous Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!
CHALLENGE The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County – Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Since 1972
Volume 37, Issue 10, Winter 2011/2012
A Fresh Start Every Year by Mickey Suiter Every January, GAAMC does its own version of New Year’s resolutions. Years ago we called it "From Here to Community". More recently it has been "Fresh Perspectives". It is an evening where members tell the Officers and Board Trustees what they want GAAMC to do in the coming year. Not that you’re only allowed to give us your opinions one evening a year - we want to hear from you whenever you have an idea or suggestion. But since a new Board takes office at the beginning of each year and has an off-site retreat later that month to plan the coming year, this meeting is a good opportunity for members to tell us what you want. This year that night is January 2. If we’re doing something right, let us know. If we’re doing something wrong, definitely let us know. If there’s something you think we should be doing that we’re not, please tell us. Be prepared to follow through on your suggestions, though. Remember, we are an all-volunteer organization and there is only so much ten Board members can do. We constantly
need help, and who better than you to make sure your ideas turn into what you have in mind? No idea is too farfetched to bring up. To paraphrase an old axiom, the only bad idea is the one not mentioned. Obviously, a lot of things are impractical or impossible for an organization like ours to do, but often in discussing an idea a more practical version of it comes to someone else’s mind. Think of it as a brain-storming session. We want to hear from you, not only on January 2 but all through the year. GAAMC is your organization as much as it is ours. It should be, and can be, what you want it to be. If you can’t make it that night, email me at President @ GAAMC.org with your suggestions or ideas. I’ll bring them with me to the meeting. This is your GAAMC. want.
Think about it and tell us what you
Happy New Year!
Online Auctions Start at GAAMC December 5th! GAAMC is excited to offer a new feature for members! GAAMC has received donations from several charitable members, past members, organizations, and other supporters. We will begin offering these items for sale in what we are calling "Quiet Auctions". 100% of the funds raised will go directly to GAAMC, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit tax exempt organization. We've amassed quite a large inventory of great items and we're eager to see them find new homes. Some items are new, but most are gently used. The list includes items large and small, such as end tables, area rugs, lamps, laundry care items, dinnerware sets, a microwave oven, a vase and candleholders, a tool box with hand tools, Judy and Liza memorabilia, a kitchen table and chairs, space heaters, electric fans, A/V equipment, lots of books, and so much more. Here's how it will work: A customized bidding form is posted on GAAMC.org. Items available to bid on from the week's lot will be available for live preview at GAAMC's Monday meeting. You may complete a bidding form and submit your bid during Monday's meeting or online during the week; a valid email account is required to bid. Bidding remains open until midnight on Friday. From the online bidding form you may preview photos, descriptions, and the current high bid, and bid on the items
you like. Fill in your contact info at the bottom and hit "submit". The current high bid will be updated online as new bids come in. Emails will be sent to all active bidders with the current high bid amounts for all active lots, so they may decide whether to increase their bids. PayPal invoices will be sent to all winning bidders, who can either pay and pick up their items the following Monday night or ask for items to be held for one week. Items not picked up by the second Monday will be offered to the second highest bidder. If that person is no longer interested in the item, it may be offered in a future auction.
Inside Challenge Challenge Information.... ................................ page 2 GAAMC Events.............................................. page 2 The Bulletin Board......................................... page 3 This Month's Contributors................................ page 3 Gleanings: Queer news from around the world .... page 4 Calendar ..................................................... page 5 GAAMC Board of Trustees & Executive Committee Nominations for 2012................................... page 8 Poetry: Gay Conversion ................................. page 8 Editor's Note................................................ page 9 10 Anti-Gay Myths Debunked, part 6................. page 11 Poetry: Feeding Feral Cats............................ page 11 GAAMC Information...................................... page 12
Page 2 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Volume 37, Number 10 Winter 2011/2012 ISSN 0277-1675 Staff Editor .....................Allen Neuner Assistant Editor ............. Bill Stella Advertising Manager ............. open Circulation Manager ............. open List Manager ................ Sue Harris Submissions The deadline for all articles, inserts, and advertisements is the fifteenth of the previous month. All submissions must be provided as electronic files. E-mail submissions to Challenge @ GAAMC.org. Ad Rates Single issue: Full page, $125.00; Half page, $85.00; Quarter page, $45.00; Business card, $25.00. For multi-issue rates, contact the Editor at Challenge @ GAAMC.org. GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length. Change of Address Please let us know your new address! All address changes should be sent to the List Manager at ChangeAddress @ GAAMC.org. Challenge is © 2011-2012 by the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit corporation. All rights reserved. All articles reflect the views of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of GAAMC, its officers, or executive board. All copyrights revert to the original contributors upon publication. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the contributor. All articles, contributions, and advertisements are printed at the discretion of the Editor and/or GAAMC Executive Board.
GAAMC Events for December 2011 / January 2012 Discussion Groups OpenTalk: A regular weekly discussion group, open to all. Moderators: Gordon (Dec. 5, 19; Jan. 16); Kerry (Dec. 12; Jan. 23, 30); Sherri (Dec. 26; Jan. 2); Elias (Jan. 9). 7:00, Library; on Film Festival nights, discussion follows the film.
Main Events December 5: Members Market Complete all your Chrisma-Hanu-Kwanzaakah shopping at the only mall comprised entirely of members of GAAMC! The GAAMC Members Market is the purveyor of fine goods for your holiday giftgiving pleasure. Plus you know the vendors and their wares are rare and beautiful, and many are one of a kind. This bazaar is open one night only, so give the very best — give Members Market. December 12: Elections/Holiday Show GAAMC is full of wonderful holiday happenings. Tonight is one of the most popular events of the entire year — the Holiday Show! Hosted by Mr. Scarlett O'Hara, among the talent featured will be this year's $1.98 Beauty Pageant winner, Walker von Folds III. Mr. Scarlett has a magnificent show planned and there are still slots available for the right people, darlings! Don that gay apparel and get thee to GAAMC! Send an email to Programs @ GAAMC.org no later than December 5th and let us know the Holiday Delight you have planned. Members, remember that tonight is also GAAMC Elections! December 19: Holiday Social GAAMC presents the annual winter holiday social, the time when we celebrate our GAAMC family! Whichever winter holiday you celebrate, come out, dress in your holiday finest, and let's share the traditions we cherish! December 26: GAAMC Film Festival The final Film Festival offering of the year is Make the Yuletide Gay! A not-quite-out college student crawls back into the closet to survive the holiday with his quirky Midwestern parents, who try to set him up with his old high school sweetheart. But then his college boyfriend shows up unexpectedly... Show off those dazzling Glee Cheerio sweatpants you got for the holidays and join us in the Library for popcorn and good fellowship! January 2: Fresh Perspectives Preview How is this night unlike any other? It's the night that YOU as GAAMC members help chart the course of where GAAMC will go this year! Put on those thinking caps and bring those bright ideas! It's been a year since we saw you and we're looking forward to seeing you here! January 9: Theatre Night All the details were not available at press time, but tonight will feature an evening of theatre featuring the talents of gay playwright/producer Sean Pollock, whose work has been presented at GAAMC before! January 16: GAAMC Film Festival GAAMC's first Film Festival offering of the year is Songcatcher. "It's a man's world" was never more true than in 1907 when gifted musicologist Lily Penleric finds her groundbreaking efforts thwarted by male colleagues. She joins her sister Eleanor in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains where Lily is in for several surprises, including the discovery of her sister's secret life. Join us for a rare look inside a lost horizon, based on a true story. January 23: Tech Talk Wired or mired? You got some great technology as holiday gifts — but do you really need a device for everything? And when you do have multiple devices (MP3 player, video camera, cellphone), how can you encourage them all to play nicely together? You've got questions, and your GAAMC techies can help. January 30: Resolution Revolution Come share this extended discussion group where we share our resolutions for 2012!
Coming in February! February 6: We don't have information about tonight's event at press time. Be sure to check at GAAMC.org to see what's on for tonight! February 13: Valentines Social The poet says a young person's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love in the spring. But Valentine's Day, the holiday of love, occurs now! Join GAAMC for some sweethearts and sweet treats tonight!
[Note: All programs and discussion groups are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, go to GAAMC.org]
Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Page 3
The Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County wish you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons. The Bulletin Board Jersey Shore Q-Spot has started "New Song", a new women's chorus which will be rehearsing in Asbury Park! If you're interested in singing, or for more information, contact pennyg144 @ verizon.net. Activities, tours, hikes, picnics, trips, dinners, socials… It’s all on GayOutdoors.org (GO), an online national web-based organization for guys to plan events and participate in those scheduled gatherings. Online membership is free, but there is an annual fee to have access to post or host events. In the NJ/PA/NY area, GAAMC board member Ed Schell has posted plans for the following: December, a holiday tour and lunch at Peddler’s Village; January, a membership dinner; February, snow tubing; March, a tour of historical Moravian pottery and tile furnaces, with lunch in Doylestown, PA; and April, a tour of the battleship Intrepid and lunch. Any questions regarding the locally hosted events? Contact Ed at sche357 @ aol.com. Our Youth, the Jersey City-based organization which helps GLBT and straight youths from the ages of 15 to 21 in the New York/New Jersey area, is presenting its annual AIDS is a DRAG! WRAP it UP! gala on Saturday, December 3rd. Doors open for dinner at 6 p.m., and the star-studded show starts at 7 p.m.! Advance tickets are $10 ($15 at the door) For more information, contact ouryouth2006 @ yahoo.com.
9797, ext. 2214, or at beardna@umdnj.edu. Broadway House, located in Newark, is an affiliate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Do you like to bowl? A new LGBT bowling league may be forming in Morris County, depending on the amount of interest. It would be at Hanover Lanes on Route 10 East in East Hanover. The evenings available are Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Since most winter leagues run from September to May and we’re already well into that period, this would probably be a half-season, starting sometime early in the new year. If you are interested, contact Mickey at President @ GAAMC.org. The Pride Center's annual Valentine’s Day Gala is being held on Saturday Feb. 11, 2012 at The Radisson Hotel in Piscataway, from 7 p.m. to midnight. This year they will have DJ Adam, an open bar for the cocktail hour and dinner, a silent auction, 50/50, and more. Take advantage of their early bird prices and order your tickets today! When purchased before January 15, tickets cost $65 for members and $75 for non-members; after that, members' tickets are $70 and non-members' tickets are $80, and all tickets purchased at the door are $85. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.pridecenter.org/vdance.
This Month's Contributors
NJ Buddies invites all of you to its annual Tom Hayes Holiday Brunch, December 11th at 10:30 a.m. at Peter Kramer Hall in St. John's Church in Leonia. The cost is $10 per person, or $25 for a family of four! RSVP to Ray Welsh at ray @ njbuddies.org.
Daniel Herzog is an off-again, on-again member of GAAMC (currently on). A graduate of Juniata College, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and Rutgers, Daniel is a published author, poet, and reviewer; has served on the boards of many professional organizations; has worked in the counseling field; and has presented papers and lectured at conferences and universities. (pg. 11)
Broadway House for Continuing Care, New Jersey's only special care facility for people living with AIDS, is asking for your help for its residents this holiday season. They are looking for donations of unused men's and women's sweat suits, u n d e r g a rments, slippers, and socks, in all sizes. Donations of perfume/cologne, jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, watches, wallets, pocketbooks, radios, and walkmen are also welcome. If you wish to donate cash, it will be used to purchase the items listed above. For information on how to donate, contact Nestor Beard at 973-268-
Tony Puma: A career in sales/marketing/advertising and public relations influences his poetry style: less abstract and more to-the-point. Degrees from New York University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. A member of various poetry groups including Italian-American Writers Association, Red Wheel Barrow Poets, Paulinskill Poetry Project, Poets House (NYC), South Mountain Poets, and Hudson Valley Poets-onthe-Loose. A view of life through the prism of poetry; seeing, hearing, and feeling, trying to capture emotions and relate them via words. (pg. 8) Evelyn Schlatter and Robert Steinback are researchers and authors in the field of sexuality and civil rights whose articles have frequently appeared in Intelligence Report, the newsletter of the Southern Poverty Law Center. (pg. 11)
Once again, Bill Realman Stella's Dancing to Architecture column is too awesome for the print version of Challenge. Be sure to look for the Best of 2011 year-end wrap-up in Challenge online at issuu.com/GAAMC. With all the fine albums that couldn't fit in print all year, his unique expanded Top 10, plus a gallery of album covers, it's your music gift guide this season!
Page 4 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012
Gleanings
Queer news from around the world New Jersey state Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg ruled that Lambda Legal's case contending the state's civil unions law is not sufficient to address the inequality faced by gay and lesbian couples may proceed. However, Judge Feinberg dismissed three counts of the complaint, saying there is no fundamental right to same-sex marriage under the state constitution. A claim the civil union law does not give gay and lesbian couples equal protection is the sole remaining count in the suit. (NJ.com) Bruce Harris, who was elected mayor of Chatham Borough, NJ, last week, is likely the nation's first openly gay black mayor who is also a Republican, but he says the distinction isn't important to him or his constituents. "[W]ho cares about that?" he said. (Patch.com/Chatham, NJ) Servicemembers Legal Defense Network filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking spousal benefits for gay and lesbian troops who are legally married under state laws. The suit takes aim at the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevents the Pentagon and other federal agencies from offering the same benefits that are available to married heterosexual service members to families of openly gay troops. (Washington Post) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) led a group of over 130 Democrats in signing a legal brief arguing that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. The brief was submitted in regard to a case pending in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief also criticizes House Republicans for organizing the use of public funds to pay for the law's legal defense after the Justice Department decided it would no longer defend the law. (San Francisco Chronicle) Freedom to Work, a new organization whose sole aim is passage of a federal law protecting U.S. workers from antiLGBT discrimination, said it plans to disband as soon as it accomplishes its goal. Though some states have enacted their own version of the federal Employment NonDiscrimination Act, 29 still allow employees to be fired based on sexual orientation, and 35 permit terminating workers because of their gender identity. (Washington Blade) Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan has become the first sitting Cabinet official in the Obama administration to declare support for marriage rights for same-sex couples. Speaking at an event benefiting the National Center for Transgender Equality, Donovan said he “absolutely” supports the right of gays and lesbians to marry. (Metro Weekly, DC) Edward DuMont, an openly gay lawyer who was nominated twice by President Barack Obama for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, has withdrawn his bid after a stalled confirmation process. Senate Democrats blamed Republicans for blocking a hearing on DuMont's confirmation, but Republican staffers said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), had the power to schedule a hearing. DuMont would have become the na-
tion's first openly LGBT federal appellate court judge. (Metro Weekly, DC) A measure to provide domestic partner benefits to the same-sex partners of federal workers has been introduced in the House and Senate. A similar bill was voted out of committee in both chambers in the previous session of Congress, but never got a floor vote. Among the current legislation's 53 House co-sponsors are out Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Jared Polis (D-CO), and David Cicilline (D-RI). Senate co-sponsors are Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME). (Washington Blade) The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to pass legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which forbids federal recognition of the legal marriages of same-sex couples. The move was praised by LGBT advocates as a sign of progress, even though the bill is not expected to be enacted in the current Congress. (USA Today) The Internal Revenue Service announced its intent to formally agree with an 2010 decision of the U.S. Tax Court allowing tax deductions for medical care related to gender transition. The case, O'Donnabhain v. Commissioner, was brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders on behalf of a transgender woman who was denied the ability to use a deduction for medical care costs because the IRS considered her transition-related care to be not medically necessary. (HRC.org) Transgender individuals in Massachusetts won legal protections under the state’s nondiscrimination and hate crimes laws when the Legislature finally passed a bill first filed in 2007. “Transgender individuals in Massachusetts face unacceptably high levels of violence and discrimination in their daily lives,” said state Representative Carl Sciortino Jr. (D), a co-sponsor of the legislation. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is expected to sign the measure. (ABC News) Bobby Montoya, a seven-year-old trans girl, attempted to join the Girl Scouts in Colorado, but a Girl Scouts worker said he could not because he had "boy parts". The Girl Scouts Of Colorado admitted a mistake was made by the worker and have offered membership to the girl. (Huffington Post) Brandon McInerney, who shot and killed gay student Larry King in an Oxnard, CA, middle school, will serve 21 years of prison time under a plea agreement reached on Monday. Under the deal, McInerney, 17, entered a guilty plea to second-degree and voluntary manslaughter, in exchange for the state not pursuing a second trial. The jury in the first trial, which wrapped in September, couldn't agree on a whether McInerney was guilty of murder or manslaughter. (Los Angeles Times) Alabama state Representative Patricia Todd (D), the state's only openly LGBT state legislator, is set to ask her col(continued on page 10)
Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Page 5
December 2011/January 2012 Calendar Recurring Contact Information
* Hackensack Peer Support Groups: 800-508-7577; www.njbuddies.org † Pride Center, Highland Park: 732-846-2232; www.pridecenter.org ‡ Hudson Pride Connections Center: 201-963-4779; HudsonPride.org λ LGBT Center Rainbow Lounge, Princeton: www.princeton.edu/lgbt ♦ Jersey Shore Q-Spot, Asbury Park: www.jsqspot.org Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - HIV testing, Asbury Park; 800-947-0020 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - HiTOPS Health Center, Princeton; www.hitops.org; 609-683-5155 x 211 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm - The Daily Grind, Princetonλ Every Monday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 7:00 pm - GAAMC, Morristown (see page 2) 7:00 pm - Bowling, Union; merenl @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - S.E.L.F. HIV Men’s support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus choir practice, Princeton; 609-396-7774; www.njgmc.org 7:30 pm - Overeaters Anonymous, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Stitch n B*tch, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Bowling, Green Brook; qcrollers @ aol.com Every Tuesday 12:30 pm - The Wellness Community, Newark; 973-565-0300; info @ hyacinth.org 4:00 pm - Treatment Adherence Support Group, Jersey City; 201-432-1134; info @ hyacinth.org 6:00 pm - Transview, Jersey City‡ 7:30 pm - Tuesday Night Lesbian Connection, Bound Brook; 908-791-3764 7:30 pm - Men’s HIV support group, Asbury Park; 732-775-5084; apstillpoz @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Positive Yoga, Hackensack* 8:45 pm - Bowling, Belleville; 973-256-5936; NJGLB @ aol.com 9:00 pm - Bowling, Jersey City; 201-933-6028; JoeyNJ @ aol.com 9:15 pm - Bowling, Edison; 732-548-4550; cnjgbl @ yahoo.com Every Wednesday 10:30 am - The Wellness Community, Jersey City; December 01 Thu 6:30 pm - World AIDS Day, Jersey City‡ 7:30 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm - Gay Educators Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Woodworking, Highland Park† 02 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 03 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 6:00 pm - AIDS is a DRAG! WRAP it UP!, Jersey City (See Bulletin Board, pg. 3) 6:00 pm - Anakbayan New Jersey mixer, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Women's Night, Highland Park† 04 Sun 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 6:30 pm - Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol @ msn.com 05 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu
201-432-1134; info @ hyacinth.org 1:00 pm - "Generation Q", WRSU 88.7 FM; wrsu.org 6:00 pm - Positive People peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - Men’s Living Out group, Highland Park; njwarrior @ aol.com† 7:30 pm - Gay Men’s Coming Out group, Highland Park; pdumpert @ gmail.com† Every Thursday 11:30 am - Living Beyond, Jersey City‡ 6:00 pm - Our Youth weekly support group, Jersey City; www.myspacenj.org 6:30 pm - Double Jeopardy peer support group, Hackensack* 7:00 pm - Sexual Assault Survivor Support, Princeton; www.hitops.org 7:00 pm - Weigh-Lez, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - Rainbows on Cleveland Street, Orange; 973-256-5936; rbowsoncleveland @ aol.com 7:30 pm - Writers group, Highland Park† Every Friday 3:00 pm - Youth Connect, Jersey City‡ 3:00 pm - C.R.A.V.E., Jersey City‡ 3:30 pm - After School HangOUT, Highland Park† Every Sunday 10:45 am - MCC of Christ the Liberator, Highland Park; mccliberator @ excite.com† Noon - St. Francis of Assisi Church, Glen Ridge; 973-731-7765; stfrancisnj.org 2:30 pm - Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church, Newark; 973-621-2100 5:30 pm - Central Jersey Rainbows Bowling League, Bradley Beach; CJRBowling @ gmail.com 9:00 pm - Knowing Is Key variety show & trivia, River Edge; 201-342-6410; www.clubfeathers.com* 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Asbury Park♦ 8:00 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park† 06 Tue 4:30 pm - Discussion, "After the Arab Spring: The Emerging Revolution for LGBT Rights in the Middle East", Princetonλ 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, New Brunswick; www.gpbn.net 7:00 pm - GLBT of Hunterdon County of NJ, Clinton; www.glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com 7:00 pm - Knitting workshop, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 07 Wed 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park† 08 Thu Noon - Booked for Lunch, Highland Park† 6:30 pm - Volunteer orientation, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Qspot Book Club, Point Pleasant♦ 7:30 pm - PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-789-7489; pflagwaver @ aol.com 7:30 pm - Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; kjdinkin @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - AVER-Veterans and Friends Group, Highland Park†
Page 6 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012 09 Fri Noon - Discussion, "Hey Mom, I'm Gay", Princetonλ 7:30 pm - United People Positive, Highland Park† 10 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 1:00 pm - Youth Connect World Awareness Fashion Show, Jersey City‡ 5:00 pm - Pizza party, Hazlet; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - Movie Social, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 8:00 pm - NJ Gay Men's Chorus concert, Asbury Park; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 11 Sun 10:30 am - Holiday brunch, Leonia; ray @ njbuddies.org (See Bulletin Board, pg. 3) 1:00 pm - Holiday party, Asbury Park♦ 1:00 pm - Mitzvah Day, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net 12 Mon 6:30 pm - HIV Testing, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-727-5288; pflag.morris @ verizon.net 7:30 pm - PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org 13 Tue 7:00 pm - Knitting workshop, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - Bisexual Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PCNJ Board of Trustees meeting, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social Night, Highland Park† 14 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 6:00 pm - Queering the Color Line family dinner, Princetonλ 6:00 pm - M-Power, Jersey City‡ 6:30 pm - North Jersey Prime Timers' monthly meetup, Little Falls; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - Living Out Women, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Havurah board meeting, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 15 Thu 7:00 pm - GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; All GAAMC members are invited to attend. 7:00 pm - GLSEN Training, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 16 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - Support Group for Parents of LGBTIQ Youth/Young Adults, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick social; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 8:00 pm - Out of the Box open mic night, Highland Park (sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com 17 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm - Rainbow Bowling, Bradley Beach; 732-774-4540 7:00 pm - NJ Gay Film Society & Potluck Dinner Club, location TBA; gayfilms @ bigfoot.com 7:00 pm - Games Night + Dessert, Highland Park†
18 Sun Noon - Chanukah Party, Highland Park; njlgh.onefireplace.com 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 4:00 pm - TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 4:30 pm - Torah Queeries, Highland Park† 19 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - LGBT Activist Forum, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park† 20 Tue 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Pride Center Players, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 7:30 pm - Stonewall Democrats, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org 8:00 pm - NJ Women, Secaucus; info @ njwomen.org 21 Wed 6:30 pm - Dinner, Caffe India, Morristown; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net 23 Fri 1:00 pm - Women With Voices, Jersey City‡ 8:00 pm - Shabbat service, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 24 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 2:00 pm - Youth Support Group, Highland Park† 4:30 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 7:30 pm - Men's Potluck Dinner, Highland Park† 26 Mon 8:00 pm - Meditation Group, Highland Park† 27 Tue 3:00 pm - Health Drop-In Hours, Princetonλ 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Stonewall Democrats, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park† 28 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 8:00 pm - Living Out Women, Highland Park† 29 Thu 8:00 pm - A Christmas Carol, Madison; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 30 Fri 1:00 pm - Women With Voices, Jersey City‡ 31 Sat 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160
Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Page 7 January 01 Sun Noon - New Year's Day brunch, Millstone; njlgh.onefireplace.com 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 6:30 pm - Gay Men’s Opera Club; 732-249-9034; hagol @ msn.com
7:30 pm - Alternate Thursdays, Montclair; kjdinkin @ comcast.net 7:30 pm - AVER-Veterans and Friends Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Straight Spouse Discussion Group, Highland Park†
02 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Asbury Park♦ 8:00 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park†
14 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Movie Social, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick gay Catholic liturgy; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net
03 Tue 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, New Brunswick; www.gpbn.net 7:00 pm - GLBT of Hunterdon County of NJ, Clinton; www.glbtofhunterdoncountyofnj.com 7:30 pm - LGBT Fellowship, Belleville; 973-751-0616 7:30 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park†
15 Sun 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com 4:00 pm - TrueSelves trans support group, Highland Park† 4:30 pm - Torah Queeries, Highland Park†
04 Wed 7:30 pm - Gay Dad’s discussion group, Highland Park† 05 Thu 7:30 pm - Coffee Night, Edison; njlgh.onefireplace.com 7:30 pm - Gay Educators Group, Highland Park†
13 Fri 7:30 pm - United People Positive, Highland Park†
16 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 7:00 pm - Lesbian Hot Topics, Asbury Park♦ 7:30 pm - LGBT Activist Forum, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Young Men's Social Network, Highland Park†
07 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm - Women's Night, Highland Park†
17 Tue 7:00 pm - ComeOUT & Play, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Pride Center Players, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Lesbian Alliance of Princeton; 609-924-8174; Loisj @ msn.com 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Hunterdon County, Flemington; 908-752-1370; pflaghc @ yahoo.com 8:00 pm - PFLAG of Bergen County, Paramus; 201-287-0318; www.bergenpflag.org 8:00 pm - NJ Women, Secaucus; info @ njwomen.org
08 Sun 6:00 pm - Gay Men’s Classical Song Club, Kingston; pbrown02 @ worldnet.att.net
18 Wed 7:30 pm - United in Grace discussion/support group, Jersey City; 201-946-0650; greg.perez @ comcast.net
09 Mon 6:30 pm - HIV Testing, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Morris County, Mendham; 973-727-5288; pflag.morris @ verizon.net 7:30 pm - PFLAG, Princeton; 609-663-5155; www.pflagprinceton.org
19 Thu 6:30 pm - Pride planning meeting, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - GAAMC board meeting, Morristown; All GAAMC members are invited to attend. 7:00 pm - GLSEN Training, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - NJ Women Coming Out Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PFLAG of Northwest NJ, Sparta; 973-729-9909 7:30 pm - Boeing, Boeing, Millburn; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers
06 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - Karaoke, Highland Park†
10 Tue 7:30 pm - Bisexual Social Support Group, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - PCNJ Board of Trustees meeting, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social Night, Highland Park† 11 Wed Noon - Queer Women's Lunch, Princetonλ 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 6:00 pm - Queering the Color Line family dinner, Princetonλ 6:00 pm - M-Power, Jersey City‡ 6:30 pm - North Jersey Prime Timers' monthly meetup, Little Falls; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 7:30 pm - Living Out Women, Highland Park† 12 Thu Noon - Booked for Lunch, Highland Park† Noon - Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics lunch, Princetonλ 6:30 pm - Volunteer orientation, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Qspot Book Club, Point Pleasant♦ 7:30 pm - PFLAG of North Jersey, South Orange; 908-789-7489; pflagwaver @ aol.com
20 Fri 7:00 pm - Positive Women peer support group, Hackensack* 7:30 pm - Support Group for Parents of LGBTIQ Youth/Young Adults, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Dignity New Brunswick social; 732-968-9263; dignitynb @ earthlink.net 8:00 pm - Out of the Box open mic night, Highland Park (sign-up begins 7:30); outoftheboxinfo @ mac.com 21 Sat 2:30 pm - First and Third for GLBTI youth, Princeton; 609-683-5155; www.HiTOPS.org 7:00 pm - Rainbow Bowling, Bradley Beach; 732-774-4540 7:00 pm - NJ Gay Film Society & Potluck Dinner Club, location TBA; gayfilms @ bigfoot.com 7:00 pm - Games Night + Dessert, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Board Game Night, Little Falls; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers 24 Tue 3:00 pm - Health Drop-In Hours, Princetonλ
Page 8 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012 24 Tue 7:30 pm - Yoga for Men, Highland Park† 7:30 pm - Stonewall Democrats, Highland Park† 8:00 pm - Men's Social, Highland Park†
4:30 pm - Under the Rainbow, Highland Park† 7:00 pm - Gay Bowling, Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park; 732-776-6160 7:30 pm - Men's Potluck Dinner, Highland Park†
25 Wed 6:00 pm - Gay Pride Business Network, Asbury Park; www.gpbn.net 8:00 pm - Living Out Women, Highland Park†
29 Sun 4:00 pm - Dignity Metro NJ Mass, Maplewood; 973-509-0118; Dignitymetronj @ msn.com
27 Fri 1:00 pm - Women With Voices, Jersey City‡ 7:00 pm - Rock Hero, Highland Park†
30 Mon 7:00 pm - Support Group for Lesbians with Cancer, New Brunswick; 732-235-6781; slirzero @ umdnj.edu 8:30 pm - Meditation Group, Highland Park†
28 Sat 1:00 pm - Youth Drop-In, Highland Park† 2:00 pm - Youth Support Group, Highland Park†
31 Tue 6:30 pm - Minerals Resort at Crystal Spring, Vernon; www.meetup.com/North-Jersey-Primetimers
GAAMC Board of Trustees & Executive Committee Nominations for 2012 President: Mickey Suiter is starting the second year of a 2-year term as a Community Trustee, and running for a new (and final) 1-year term as President.
Vice President for Community Services: Kerry Dinkin is running for a new 2-year term as a Community Trustee, and a first 1-year term as Vice President for Community Services.
Vice President for Operations: Bill Stella is starting the second year of a 2-year term as a Community Trustee, and running for a new 1-year term as Vice President for Operations.
Secretary: Gordon Sauer is running for a new 2-year term as a Community Trustee, and running for a new (and final) 1-year term as Secretary.
Treasurer: Andy Skurna
is running for a new (and final) 2-year term as a Community Trustee and a new
1-year term as Treasurer.
Community Trustee: John DeLeeuw is running for a new 2-year term as a Community Trustee Community Trustee: Ron Kennedy is running for a new 2-year term as a Community Trustee
Community Trustee: Pratik M. is running for a new 1-year term as a Community Trustee
Community Trustee: Mitch Rubin is running
GAAMC holds elections the second Monday of December each year. The members whose names are listed here have volunteered to run for open positions on the Board of Trustees and for open offices on the Executive Committee. If you are a GAAMC member who is interested in running for the Board, contact any of the officers or trustees whose names are listed on the back page of Challenge.
for a new 2-year term as a Community Trustee
Gay Conversion by Tony Puma
In my lilting voice i do proclaim, there is no shame in loving same. We are born of this condition, not made to some affliction.
But, Made was i a Christian. So, to Vespers i stray, and receive my Sacrament Gay. So, please,
no conversion today. Leave me tomorrow to Heaven above, leave me today, to my own true love. Puma/MMXI
Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Page 9
Editor's Note We've reached the end of another year of Challenge. It's time to reflect on the past year's issues, give credit once again where credit is due, and leave you with a few end-of-the-year thoughts.
lators who let courage and compassion guide their votes, and take hope that the continuing struggle in our home state will result in a similar victory soon.
This past year has been an amazing one for the GLBT communities. We've seen the final nail put in the coffin of the monstrosity known as "don't ask, don't tell", and even with all the doomsaying of so-called conservatives in Congress, all three branches of government have agreed that DADT was discriminatory without good reason and unconstitutional, and therefore had to go.
Turning our attention to Challenge: The publication you're reading is, to an extent, my baby, who I send out into the world ten times a year. I'm proud that it often succeeds at living up to the motto I gave it: The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey®! In large part that's because of you. It's the readers of Challenge, and the members of GAAMC and their friends, who have supplied a grateful editor with interesting content — articles, opinion pieces, poetry, even advertising. And that most necessary submission, your feedback, letting me know where I've succeeded and where I need to do better. Without that feedback from you, my readers, I'd be much worse off.
We've seen progress made on getting rid of the equally discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, a bi-partisan blot on this country's conscience. Those states which have allowed marriage equality are suing the federal government for forcing them to discriminate between their own citizens. It is encouraging to see the growing list of state and local governments and private corporations which have stepped up this year to ameliorate, to some degree, the inequalities of this shameful law. Slowly but surely, state by state and city by city, discrimination against the transgender community is being chipped away. Efforts of many trans leaders, including New Jersey's own Babs Casbar Siperstein, are making the long-denied dream of trans equality become reality. New Jerseyans watched as our neighbors in New York finally achieved marriage equality this past year. We salute both the tireless workers for equality in our sister state and the legis-
Male couple (50's / 60's) have small but special apartment in the woods, atop Bernardsville mountain, in exchange for part rent and part help. Must love chocolate Lab. (631) 741-4361.
I want to thank all the contributors for this past year: Dustin Lance Black; Jes Brosnan; Mel Dahl; Michael J. Dodgens; Paul Greenberg; Sue Harris; Daniel Herzog; Tim Horn; Charlie Murphy; Claire Pompei; Tammy Probst-Smith; Tony Puma; Len Resto; Dina Romano; Evelyn Schlatter & Robert Steinback; Mark Segal; Andy Skurna; Mickey Suiter; Kevin Suszko; and Joel Wechsler. Most especially, I want to thank my partner, Bill Realman Stella. Not only does he write the Dancing to Architecture column, but he has been my strong right arm, my chaos-bringer, my constant supporter, and my sternest critic. Without him, Challenge would not be as good as it is. I look forward to another great year of Challenge. Allen Neuner, Editor
KEVIN P. SUSZKO, PC Certified Public Accountant
-TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION -FINANCIAL PLANNING -ACCOUNTING SERVICES -DAY & EVENING APPOINTMENTS -OFFICES IN NEW JERSEY & NYC Phone: 973–376–4121 P. O. Box 701 Short Hills, NJ 07078 E-Mail: KPSCPA@GMAIL.COM
Page 10 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012
Gleanings
(continued from page 4) leagues to pass a state law specifically addressing bullying of students based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "If we don't specify that, they won't discuss it when they're doing their training. They'll talk about race or national origin, but they may be uncomfortable discussing sexual orientation," Todd said. (Birmingham News)
end of the year. (BBC) Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who once called gays "worse than pigs and dogs," now says he believes gay rights are human rights. "It's a very controversial subject in my part of the world. My attitude is that I hope the constitution will come out with freedom of sexual orientation, for as long as it does not interfere with anybody," Tsvangirai said. (BBC)
Paul Tagliabue, former commissioner of the National Football League, and his wife Chandler have donated $1 million to establish the Tagliabue Initiative for LGBT Life, to be overseen by Georgetown University's LGBTQ Resource Cen- At least one person is dead and over a score were injured ter, the first such center at a Catholic university. The Tagli- after two grenade explosions in Nairobi, Kenya. The terrorist abues, whose son Drew is gay, said in a statement the gift attacks, at a bar frequented by gay and bisexual men and at was intended to "provide a a bus stop, followed warnsafe, inclusive and respectful ings by Somalia's al-Qaedaenvironment for LGBTQ stubacked militant group alProposition 8 Roundup dents and promote their acShabaab. Al-Shabaab had ceptance in the entire cambeen targeted in attacks by The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay pending pus community." (Washingthe Kenyan military prior to appeal of U.S. District Court Judge James Ware's order unton Blade) the explosions. (CNN) sealing the tapes of the Proposition 8 trial. The appeals Fire swept through the court, however, set a rapid schedule for considering the California Assemblywoman building housing the Pavilmatter, ordering oral arguments on the question of releasCathleen Galgiani (D) told ion nightclub and the adjaing the tapes for the week of December 5. reporters she is gay, saying cent LaFountaine building recent news about bullying on Fire Island, NY, the nightIn June, a federal district court rejected an attempt by and teen suicide prompted life center of the heavily marriage rights opponents to vacate Judge Vaughn Walker's her to go public. Her angay Pines section of the isdecision to throw out Proposition 8. The Ninth Circuit nouncement means Califorland. The fire, deemed not Court of Appeals had asked the California Supreme Court nia has eight openly LGBT suspicious by authorities, to answer the question of whether proponents of Proposistate lawmakers, the largest destroyed the unoccupied tion 8 can appeal a lower court decision that held the balnumber in the nation. building, which has been lot measure unconstitutional, when state officials includ(LGBTPOV.com) closed and sealed for the ing Governor Jerry Brown (D) and former Governor Arnold off-season. It remains unSchwarzenegger (R) had declined to appeal. The California Oklahoma City employees clear whether the owners, Supreme Court has now ruled that the proponents are alwill be protected from diswho in 2010 purchased the lowed to file an appeal under California law. crimination based on sexual building which had been orientation under an ordirebuilt in 2006, will rebuild The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide the issues of nance passed by the City it again. (New York Times) whether a federal judge was correct in overturning CaliCouncil this week. Members fornia's Proposition 8 marriage ban and whether he was fit of the council voted 7-2 to The Nigerian legislature is to decide the case despite being gay. Combining the decipass the measure despite considering an anti-gay bill sions could streamline the case for a potential hearing by testimony from one local that imposes jail terms of the U.S. Supreme Court on the question of the constitupastor who claimed gay peoup to three years to sametionality of Proposition 8. ple are responsible for half sex couples who wed and of all murders in large cities. five years for those who (Information from the Los Angeles Times and Metro (The Oklahoman, Oklahoma assist in the weddings. In Weekly (DC)) City) some areas of the country, homosexuality is punishable United Food and Commerby death by stoning. "If this cial Workers Local 21, the largest private-sector union in bill passes into law, the Nigerian government will be sancWashington state, is throwing its weight behind an effort to tioning even greater discrimination and violence against an pass a marriage equality bill in the state Legislature next already-vulnerable group," said Graeme Reid, LGBT rights year. "[O]nly marriage can provide gay and lesbian couples director at Human Rights Watch. (Boston Globe) and their children legal rights that provide essential protections such as Social Security, spousal and survivor benefits," Axel Axgil, who helped found one of Europe's first LGBT UFCW 21 said in a statement. (SeattlePI.com) rights organizations in 1948, died at age 96 in Copenhagen after complications from a fall. Axgil and his partner were Same-sex couples are to be allowed to hold civil partner- among the 11 couples that first entered into same-sex civil ship ceremonies in churches and other places of worship in unions when Denmark provided legal recognition in 1989. England and Wales. Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone (Washington Post) (Liberal Democrat) said no religious group would be forced to host them, but those who wished to could apply by the
Winter 2011/2012 CHALLENGE Page 11
10 Anti-Gay Myths Debunked
By Evelyn Schlatter and Robert Steinback Myth #6: Hate Crime Laws (sixth in a series of ten)
Ever since born-again singer and orange juice pitchwoman Anita Bryant helped kick off the contemporary anti-gay movement more than 30 years ago, hard-line elements of the religious right have been searching for ways to demonize homosexuals — or, at a minimum, to find arguments that will prevent their normalization in society. For the former Florida beauty queen and her Save Our Children group, it was the alleged plans of gays and lesbians to “recruit” in schools that provided the fodder for their crusade. But in addition to hawking that myth, the legions of anti-gay activists who followed have added a panoply of others, ranging from the extremely doubtful claim that homosexuality is a choice, to unalloyed lies like the claims that gays molest children far more than heterosexuals or that hate crime laws will lead to the legalization of bestiality and necrophilia. These fairy tales are important to the anti-gay right because they form the basis of its claim that homosexuality is a social evil that must be suppressed — an opinion rejected by virtually all relevant medical and scientific authorities. They also almost certainly contribute to hate crime violence directed at homosexuals, who are more targeted for such attacks than any other minority in America. What follows [is one of] 10 key myths propagated by the anti-gay movement, along with the truth behind the propaganda.
MYTH #6: Hate crime laws will lead to the jailing of pastors who criticize homosexuality and the legalization of practices like bestiality and necrophilia. THE ARGUMENT: Anti-gay activists, who have long opposed adding LGBT people to those protected by hate crime legislation, have repeatedly claimed that such laws would lead to the jailing of religious figures who preach against homosexuality — part of a bid to gain the backing of the broader religious community for their position. Janet Porter of Faith2Action was one of many who asserted that the federal Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act — signed into law by President Obama in October 2009 — would “jail pastors” because it “criminalizes speech against the homosexual agenda.” In a related assertion, anti-gay activists claimed the law would lead to the legalization of psychosexual disorders (paraphilias) like bestiality and pedophilia. Bob Unruh, a conservative Christian journalist who left The Associated Press in 2006 for the right-wing, conspiracist news site WorldNetDaily, said shortly before the federal law was passed that it would legalize “all 547 forms of sexual deviancy or ‘paraphilias’ listed by the American Psychiatric Association.” This claim was repeated by many antigay organizations, including the Illinois Family Institute. THE FACTS: The claim that hate crime laws could result in the imprisonment of those who “oppose the homosexual lifestyle” is false. The Constitution provides robust protections of free speech, and case law makes it clear that even a preacher who
suggested that homosexuals should be killed would be protected. Neither do hate crime laws — which provide for enhanced penalties when persons are victimized because of their “sexual orientation” (among other factors) — “protect pedophiles,” as Janet Porter and many others have claimed. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation refers to heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality — not paraphilias such as pedophilia. Paraphilias, as defined by the American Psychiatric Assocation, are disorders characterized by sexual urges or behaviors directed at nonhuman objects or nonconsenting persons like children, or that involve the suffering or humiliation of one’s partner. Even if pedophiles, for example, were protected under a hate crime law — and such a law has not been suggested or contemplated anywhere — that would not legalize or “protect” pedophilia. Pedophilia is illegal sexual activity, and a law that more severely punished people who attacked pedophiles would not change that. (Reprinted, with permission, from Intelligence Report, Winter 2010, produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center. www.splcenter.org)
Feeding Feral Cats by Daniel Herzog
Feral cats are always having kittens, And I know this because I feed them, And watch them from my back window. When the clean-up cat showed up 1 day without her kitten, I knew the kitten had passed,
That kitten had been orange and its brother or sister the black one with white and orange spots,
When she stood in the backyard,
It had passed weeks ago.
All I could think was Cat Madonna with Child,
She was called the clean-up cat, Because she always ate after the others had eaten, Having been chased away and slapped once by 2 of the cats so they could eat first.
With the orange kitten at her side,
Because she seemed so demure, and polite and so good with her kitten, As a wise older cat doctor once told me 'Cats were angels with fur.' © 2011
Page 12 CHALLENGE Winter 2011/2012
GAY ACTIVIST ALLIANCE IN MORRIS COUNTY
Officers President (President @ GAAMC.org) — Mickey Suiter VP Community Services (Info @ GAAMC.org) — Open VP Operations — Open Secretary (Secretary @ GAAMC.org) — Gordon Sauer Treasurer (Treasurer @ GAAMC.org) — Andy Skurna
GAAMC, the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County, has served New Jersey’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and intersexed communities since 1972. GAAMC is a notfor-profit volunteer-run organization that provides social, educational, and outreach programs. GAAMC also offers opportunities for individuals to become politically active on issues related to the GLBTI communities. Our intent is to maintain a positive, healthy, respectful, and supportive environment in a safe space.
Trustees Kerry Dinkin, Claire Pompei, Mitch Rubin, Ed Schell, Bill Realman Stella, Alexa Vasios Trustees Emeriti Sue Harris, Sherri Rase, Robin Schneider, Mark Wydner Committee Chairs Activism — Gordon Sauer (Activism @ GAAMC.org) Archives — Mickey Suiter (Archives @ GAAMC.org) Discussion Group Resources — Gordon Sauer (Discussions @ GAAMC.org) Fundraising — Andy Skurna (Fundraising @ GAAMC.org) Information — Mitch Rubin (FreeLibrary @ GAAMC.org) Member Services/Front Desk — Allen Neuner Membership — Andy Skurna (Memberships @ GAAMC.org) Pride Guide — Andy Skurna (PrideGuide @ GAAMC.org) Programs — Sherri Rase (Programs @ GAAMC.org) Public Relations — Sherri Rase (Info @ GAAMC.org) Socials — Charlie Murphy (Socials @ GAAMC.org) Speakers Bureau — Chris Selitto (SpeakersBureau @ GAAMC.org) Volunteerism — Sherri Rase (Volunteer @ GAAMC.org) Webmaster (inc. Facebook, Issuu, Yahoo!) — Andy Skurna (Webmaster @ GAAMC.org)
Meetings are held every Monday evening at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ (near the Morris Museum). Discussion groups usually meet from 7:00 to 8:00. The evening's program usually starts shortly after 8:00. Refreshments are available. For program information, call our information line or check our homepage (see below). Members and nonmembers are always welcome. Annual membership dues are: Regular, $40/single, $70/ couple; Students/Seniors, $30/single, $60/couple. Those looking to help out at GAAMC can contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Sherri Rase, at Volunteer @ GAAMC.org. How to reach GAAMC Mail: PO Box 137, Convent Station, NJ 07961 Telephone: 973-285-1595 E-Mail: info @ gaamc.org Home page: http://www.gaamc.org Mail List: http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/gaamc Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gaamc Challenge online edition: issuu.com/gaamc
PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS! December 12th
December 19th
December 26th
GAAMC Elections/ Holiday Show
Holiday Social
Film Festival
See "GAAMC Events", page 2, for more details!