Empty Closet, Dec 2010 Jan 2011 Sec A by Out Alliance

The Empty Closet number 441

Section A

New York State’s Oldest LGBT Publication

a publication of the gay alliance of the genesee valley

Dec-jan 2011

NewsBrief LOCAL & STATE NEWS

Equal=Grounds displays AIDS Quilt panels Equal=Grounds Coffee House, 750 South Ave. will be hosting its fifth annual display of AIDS Quilt panels from The Names Project, Dec. 1-8. The opening reception is Dec. 3. Since opening in May 2006, Equal=Grounds Coffee House has hosted panels from the AIDS Quilt (The Names Project) during the first week of December in recognition of World AIDS Day. Each year there have been four panels honoring local individuals (Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse areas) lost to the AIDS epidemic. This year the tradition continues with the fifth annual display of four 12 X 12 panels from the AIDS Quilt to go on display. The panels this year will include #3329, #4277, #4303, #5513. The individuals accounted for on these panels can be viewed by going to www.aidsquilt.org and typing in the panel numbers. This weeklong event is free to the public and available for viewing during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-midnight, Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-midnight). Donations towards the expense of bringing the panels to Rochester are gratefully accepted. For information on how to make a donation, contact John White at john@equalgrounds. com with the subject line “The Names Project 2010”. Event information and pictures can be found on Facebook, “Equal Grounds”. ■

Save the date: Register for Pride & Joy Families Conference

Three Marriage events are set for December, January Marriage Equality activists and those who are concerned about the impact of legal same sex marriage on their lives have three events to consider in December and January. Marriage Equality/Equality Rochester (EROC) Meet-Up is set for Dec. 13 at 6:30–8 p.m. at Equal Grounds Coffee Shop, 750 South Ave. The Meet-Up

Monroe County Democratic Minority Leader turned New York State Assemblyman-Elect Harry Bronson addresses 300 marriage equality supporters in front of the Monroe County Office Building at the Marriage Equality New York rally and march on Sept. 26. Photo: Ove Overmyer

Election 2010: National outlook mixed; NYS Senate majority unsure at press time By Ove Overmyer The political and legislative march to equality is often three steps forward and two steps back. The outcome of the 2010 midterm elections was no exception. Locally, Harry Bronson became the first openly gay man from upstate to be elected to the NYS Assembly. The fight for equality at the federal level, however, resulted in a serious setback for the political progressive community – but there are paths forward for pro-equality bills and amendments and there are new opportunities for progress in states across the country.

In some good news, Chuck Wolfe of the Victory Fund reports that voters elected a record-breaking number of LGBT candidates for public office across the United States in 2010. According to a statement released by the Victory Fund, at least 106 of the group’s record-breaking 164 endorsed candidates were winners as of Nov. 3. They include newly elected David Cicilline (D) of Rhode Island and incumbents Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA). Conversely, a wave of antiLGBT rightwing radicals seized control of the House of Rep-

includes discussion and strategy planning and is open to all. The event is sponsored by Equality Rochester/Marriage Equality New York (MENY). For information, call (585) 426-0862 or e-mail atischer@frontiernet.net. On Jan. 5, Tying the Knot, a Community Forum on Marriage Equality, will discuss the impact of extending full marriage rights to same-sex couples. 7–8:30 p.m., Irondequoit Public Library, 2180 East Ridge Rd., sponsored by Equality (Marriage continues page 7)

Inside

Section A Newsfronts..................................4 Interview: Rev. Heath-Toby..........6 Miss Gay Rochester...................9 2010 Revisited.................... 10-11 Health: Transplants................... 16 Opinion: Marriage..................... 17 Making The Scene................... 19

2010 Revisited: see pages A 10-11

Partnerships The Gay Alliance appreciates the continuing partnership of businesses within our community who support our mission and vision. Platinum: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Gold: Eastman Kodak; Financial Architects; MetLife; Nixon Peabody LLP; Merrill Lynch Silver: Bachelor Forum; Bausch & Lomb: Corning Incorporated: Excellus; Harter Secrest & Emery LLP; Heveron & Heveron; ITT Corporation; Monroe Plan for Medical Care; Out & Equal; Professional Tutoring Services; Sage Advisers of Sage Rutty; St. John Fisher College; St. Lukes and St. Simon Cyrene; Tim Tompkins Enterprises Bronze: 140 Alex Bar and Grill; Bread and Water Theatre; Canandaigua National Bank; Center for Disability Rights; Empire State College; Equal = Grounds; GALAXe; Image Out; Kittleberger Florist & Gifts; MUCCC; Open Arms Metropolitian Community Church; Outlandish; Park Avenue Association; Third Presbyterian Church; Wegmans Food Markets; The Woolbright Group Pride: RIT GLBT Center; Rochester Victory Alliance; Upstate Tattoo

resentatives. Their leaders – Reps. Boehner (R-OH), Cantor (R-VA), and Pence (R-IN) – all received scores of zero on Human Rights Campaign’s congressional scorecard, meaning they have never supported a single pro-equality bill. Conservative voters also ousted Pennsylvania Democrat Patrick Murphy, who led the effort in the House of Representatives to overturn the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Key Senate seats were lost as well. The anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM), who spent millions to gin up (Election continues page 3)

photo: Bess Watts

The 2011 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference will be held at the RIT Inn and Conference Center in Rochester on Friday, April 8 through Sunday, April 10. The early bird registration deadline is March 8. The event will build on the success of three previous statewide LGBTQ families conferences, held in Ithaca, Binghamton, and Utica, which attracted more than 250 people from Upstate New York and beyond. The 2011 Conference promises to be both celebratory and educational for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) individuals, their children and other family members. Adult workshop sessions will address family building, parenting, aging, gender, and many other aspects of living in an LGBTQ family. The weekend-long event will also include a keynote address by Dr. Ilan Meyer (expert witness at California’s Proposition 8 trial), childcare, COLAGE programs for older children and youth, intergenerational activities and entertainment, a resource/vendor fair, and offsite excursions to Rochester-area attractions. (Families continues page 3)

Section B Entertainment: Blackfriars..........1 Dining...........................................2 Travel............................................2 Columnists..................................5 GA News: Speakers Bureau...... 12 Groups ..................................... 15 Calendar................................... 18 Classifieds................................ 18 Ongoing Calendar................... 19

2 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

Perspectives From the Empty Closet Editor Susan Jordan

Jon Stewart and his writers don’t have an easy job. That’s because it’s not easy being a satirist when the follies (antics, lies, delusions, threats, biases, egomania, ignorance) of Beck, Palin, the Tea Partiers, etc. are so extreme and irrational that no satirist could do justice to them – except maybe “Rally for Sanity” Stewart with his expression of stunned amazement. What can satirists do when reality itself becomes an outrageous satire? What do you say when an ultra-conservative presidential hopeful’s daughter has a child out of wedlock and she and her estranged baby daddy are reality TV stars and “values voters” don’t appear to care – and a conservative commentator blames this situation on “the gays”? (“What, Bristol had a gay nanny?”) What do you say when the Republican nominee for Arizona’s Senate seat announces that if the Tea Party doesn’t like voters’ choices they will “exercise their Second Amendment rights” and pick up their guns? She lost. But the Partiers still want to “take back” their country. (“All together now -- This land is their land, this land is their land…”) And what can you say when President Obama is more conservative on marriage equality than Dick Cheney? (“Wait till

The Empty Closet NUMBER 441

Section A

NEW YORK STATE’S OLDEST LGBT PUBLICATION

A PUBLICATION OF THE GAY ALLIANCE OF THE GENESEE VALLEY

DEC-JAN 2011

NewsBrief LOCAL & STATE NEWS

Save the date: Register for Pride & Joy Families conference

Inside

Section A Newsfronts .................................4 Interview: Rev. Heath-Toby .........6 Miss Gay Rochester ..................9 2010 Revisited ................... 10-11 Health: Transplants................... 16 Opinion: Marriage .................... 17 Making The Scene .................. 19

2010 Revisited: see pages A 10-11

PHOTO: BESS WATTS

Section B Entertainment: Blackfriars .........1 Dining ..........................................2 Travel ...........................................2 Columnists .................................5 GA News: Speakers Bureau..... 12 Groups .................................... 15 Calendar .................................. 18 Classifieds ............................... 18 Ongoing Calendar .................. 19

From the Executive Director Sue Cowell

Malia starts dating girls.”) Maybe it’s better for one’s “sanity” to concentrate on the work being done by unsung progressives and community organizers who fight racism, sexism, homophobia and all forms of hatred and injustice – and the cynical exploitation of hatred to win votes. Thanks to the Southern Poverty Law Center and others who risk their lives to expose the violence of fascist militias, gay and trans-bashers, “pro-life” killers and racist murderers of people of color. Congratulations to Christians who have kept their spiritual values intact, rejecting the political agenda that would turn Christianity into “Christianism” -- just a p.c. cult for rightwing extremists. Congratulations to everyone who believes that the unemployed deserve human dignity, a job and a future, as opposed to labeling them “lazy”. Cheers to all who reject the corrupt, decadent mega-corporate culture that says it’s cheaper to ignore problems, fire whistleblowers, let disasters happen, and then “clean up” (more or less), than to fix the problems before lives and environments are destroyed. That attitude isn’t even in the best interests of the corporations. Would it really have cost BP more to fix the problems at the oilrig than to ignore them and spend $40 billion-plus, not to mention seeing their reputation and stock value plunge? But all those self-serving ads should cleanse their image – if not the Gulf waters. It’s New Year 2011 and human folly is out of control. The election results indicate that the Tea Party Taliban will continue to give Jon Stewart plenty of material. This New Year, let’s concentrate on the positive and resolve to support the activists and everyday heroes who protect our freedom and our very survival on this planet. Let’s join them! ■

Folly is out of control

Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley

Never Miss an Issue

The Future of Aging is in our Hands In November I attended the SAGE National Conference on Aging with Scott Fearing, Gay Alliance Program Director and Brian Hurlbut, President of Rainbow SAGE Board of Directors. It was a great conference and very informative. The Gay Alliance is really excited about the pending merger with Rainbow SAGE so this conference was so informative about issues that affect LGBT seniors. One workshop I went to explored issues of community support for seniors that do not have their own safety net when experiencing surgery, declining health, poor nutrition, social isolation and transportation needs. I attended a workshop called Innovative Models in LGBT Care Giving. One model was based on a book called “Share the Care”. The Share The Care™ model has been distilled into a concise and thorough handbook that

W I N T E R

Editor-in-Chief: Susan Jordan Staff Reporters: Ove Overmyer, Laur McSpadden Graphic Design: Jim Anderson

can walk you through each step of the care: from when the diagnosis is made, to the first difficult weeks, to realizing that help will be needed. It contains valuable guidelines, compassionate suggestions and a simple-to-use workbook section that together offer support to protect patients from worry and caregivers from burnout. Share The Care™ offers friends and family the best solution to the frequently asked question, “What can I do?” One of the panelists was Nancy Bereano, founder of Firebrand Books. She shared her thoughts on aging and getting old. She said getting old is something you get if you are lucky. This is not to say it is always easy but The Share to Care book and website are great resources she and other panelists have used to develop a community safety net. The website is www. sharethecare.org. An important mission for SAGE is to decrease social isolation and have new models to support our LGBT senior members. As we continue on the road to comprehensive senior programming we will continue to keep you informed. We encourage you to visit rainbowsage. org for current information on programs and events. Sometime in the new year their web information will be found at the Gay Alliance website at www. gayalliance.org Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. The Gay Alliance has launched our annual holiday appeal. Please consider financial support so we can continue the work we do across many different programs. ■

L I G H T

A Celebration of the Gay Alliance Library & Archives

Open House Saturday, January 23, 2011, 11am–1pm Join us for books to borrow, books to buy, authors to meet and food to eat!

Advertising policy: The Empty Closet does not print advertisements that contain nude drawings or photographs, nor does it print advertising that states that the person pictured in the ad is for sale, or that you will “get” that particular person if you patronize the establishment advertised. Advertisements that are explicitly racist, sexist, ageist, ableist or homophobic will be refused; advertisements from organizations that are sexist, racist, ageist, ableist or anti-gay will also be refused. All political advertisements must contain information about who placed them and a method of contact. Additionally, The Empty Closet does not print negative or “attack” advertisements, whether they relate to a product or politics and no matter in whose interest the ad is being produced. A negative advertisement is defined as one that focuses upon a rival product, or in the political area, a rival election candidate or party, in order to point out supposed flaws and to persuade the public not to buy it (or vote for him or her). The Empty Closet maintains, within legal boundaries, neutrality regarding products, political candidates and parties. However, “attack” ads that fail to provide undisputable evidence that the information in the ad is true do not further in any way the objectives and policies of the Gay Alliance or The Empty Closet, including the primary tenet that The Empty Closet’s purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community and to provide an impartial forum for ideas. Submissions: For publication, submit news items, ads, photos, letters, stories, poetry, ads, photographs or art by mail or in person to The Empty Closet office by the 15th of the month. Design services for non-camera ready ads are available for a fee. (www.emptycloset@ gagv.us) Publication Information: The Empty Closet is published 11 times a year (December and January combined) by The Empty Closet Press for the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc. Approximately 5000 copies of each issue are distributed during the first week of the month, some by mail in a plain sealed envelope. The publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization in articles is not an indication of the sexual or affectional orientation of that person or the members of that organization. For further information, please write to The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main St., Rochester NY. 14605, call (585) 244-9030 or e-mail emptycloset@gagv.us. The Empty Closet is the official publication of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Inc., as stated in the bylaws of that organization. Its purpose is to inform the Rochester gay community about local and national gay-related news and events; to provide a forum for ideas and creative work from the local gay community; to help promote leadership within the community, and to be a part of a national network of lesbian and gay publications that exchange ideas and seek to educate. Part of our purpose is to maintain a middle position with respect to the entire community. We must be careful to present all viewpoints in a way that takes into consideration the views of all – women, men, people of color, young and old, and those from various walks of life. The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. The Empty Closet shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the publication (whether correctly or incorrectly) or omission of an ad. In the event of non-payment, your account may be assigned to a collection agency or an attorney, and will be liable for the charges paid by us to such collection agency or attorney. Letters to the editor: The opinions of columnists, editorial writers and other contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the collective attitude of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley or The Empty Closet. We will print letters at the editor’s discretion and on a space available basis. Only one letter by the same writer in a six-month period is allowed. We will not print personal attacks on individuals, nor will we be a forum for ongoing disputes between individuals. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will print anonymous letters if the name and phone number are provided to the Editor; confidentiality will be respected. Submissions are due by the 15th of the month at: The Empty Closet, 875 E. Main Street, Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14605; e-mail: emptycloset@gagv. us. Online edition of EC available at www. gayalliance.org.

Name Address City/State/Zip Phone E:mail Membership levels: ❏ $30-99 Advocate ❏ $100-999 Champion ❏ $1,000-4,999 Triangle Club ❏ $5,000+ Stonewall Benefits include a subscription to The Empty Closet mailed to home or work, plus privileges at each level. Phone: 585 244-8640 or mail to the Gay Alliance, 875 E. Main St., Suite 500, Rochester, New York 14605 Home Delivery of The Empty Closet is Free with your annual membership in the Gay Alliance. 1/11

A 3

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet

Page One (Election from page 1) hatred and fear, ousted three Iowa judges who ruled for marriage equality. However, many of their favored candidates lost – like Tea Party darlings Christine O’Donnell in Delaware, Sharron Angle in Nevada, Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman in California, as well as Carl Paladino in New York. Colorado’s Tea Party candidate Ken Buck also went down in defeat. These elections proved again that proLGBT candidates don’t necessarily lose because of their belief in equality. New Hampshire voters rejected the bigotry and hate of NOM and other anti-equality forces and re-elected Governor John Lynch, who signed marriage equality legislation last year. New York voters keep most Democrats in charge In New York State, Republicans appeared on their way to adding at least five and as many as seven new faces to the state’s congressional delegation, based on early election returns. New York’s two Democratic United States Senators, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both won their elections. Nationwide, Republicans gained six seats, bringing the U.S. Senate to 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans and two Independents. You would have to be living under a rock not to know that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo was elected as the state’s 56th governor. On Jan. 1, he and Lt. Governor-Elect Bob Duffy will take over the reins of a state government that is suffering from deep fiscal troubles and corruption scandals. Cuomo, the current attorney general, maintained his front-runner status throughout the nasty campaign, raising more cash than his rival Carl Paladino and staying clear of the type of controversies that hurt the Buffalo businessman. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli declared victory around 1:43 a.m. on Nov. 3 over challenger Harry Wilson and credited his victory to unions and the working families vote. He said, “I could not have done this without my brothers and sisters in the labor movement.” Democrat Eric Schneiderman won the race to become the state’s next attorney general, defeating Dan Donovan by 12 percentage points. Control of the State Senate unclear As of press time, three races that will determine which party will control the New York State Senate in January are currently too close to call. The races in Long Island, Buffalo and Westchester County will likely come down to absentee ballots, which may take weeks to finalize. Pro-gay Democrat Dan Maffei conceded n Nov. 25 to anti-gay Republican Ann Marie Buerkle in the 25th Congressional District race. All four of the Senate Republicans from the Rochester area won re-election. All four voted against the Marriage Equality Bill in December of 2009. While the Assembly Republicans picked up at least seven seats and could win a few more depending on absentee ballots, Assembly Democrats remain solidly in control of the Assembly. Locally, Rochester’s Harry Bronson made history by becoming the first openly gay elected official from upstate New York to serve in the state legislature. Bronson beat newcomer Republican Ken Kraus in a contentious race for the 131st District, previously occupied by outgoing 20 year veteran Susan John. Bronson was elected to the Monroe County Legislature in 2005 and has served as its Minority Leader since 2007. Bronson told The Empty Closet, “I’m just very pleased that the voters of the 131st were receptive to my message.” Bronson is a lawyer and small business owner who also ran on the Working Families Party line. In and around Monroe County, incumbents won most of their races. One

area seat changed party hands. Republican Mark Johns beat incumbent David Koon, a supporter of LGBT rights, for the 135th Assembly District. The district includes East Rochester, Penfield, Perinton and Webster. The courts Three Republican court judges won seats on Election Day to Monroe County Court, defeating three Democrats — including an incumbent. Vincent M. Dinolfo of Irondequoit, James J. Piampiano of Henrietta and Vicki Argento of East Rochester defeated County Court Judge Kelly C. Wolford, Brighton Town Justice Karen L. Morris and former Assistant District Attorney Vincent J. Rizzo. For Monroe County Family Court, Republican John Gallagher defeated Democrat La Marr Jeanette Jackson to fill a vacancy left by a retiring judge. Gallagher, 42, of Brighton, is the law clerk to Family Court Judge Gail A. Donofrio. For State Supreme Court, Incumbent Henry J. Scudder won his second term on state Supreme Court, defeating Stephen J. Lynch. The election was for a seat in the 7th Judicial District, composed of Monroe, Cayuga, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties. Scudder, 61, a Republican from Bath, Steuben County, was elected to the court in 1996 and three years later was named to the court’s Appellate Division. He became presiding judge in 2006. Judge Teresa D. Johnson was unopposed as she was elected to her third 10-year term for Rochester City Court. Johnson, 56, a Democrat, was appointed to a newly created seat on City Court in 1990, becoming the first female black judge in Monroe County. She was elected to her first term that year and was unopposed for her second term in 2000. All politics are local Turnout on Election Day was about 40 percent in the City of Rochester, and about 55 percent in the suburbs, not including absentee and military ballots yet to be counted, according to the Monroe County Board of Elections. Unofficial results showed turnout statewide was about 39 percent, with 97 percent of election districts reporting. Total voter turnout in Monroe County on Tuesday was about 52 percent, less than in past years when governors were elected, according to unofficial results. “We had hoped that we would be in the high 50s,” said Democratic Elections Commissioner Tom Ferrarese. “It definitely was low turnout.” ■ (Families from page 1) Conference sponsors are the Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project, AIDS Care, the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Rainbow SAGE of the Genesee Valley, Visit Rochester, COLAGE and Gay Parent Magazine. Organizers are working to keep registration and meal costs reasonable for participants and have secured a Conference hotel room rate of $89/night. According to Claudia E. Stallman, Project Director for the Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project, “Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conferences are a wonderful opportunity for adults and children in LGBTQ families to experience a sense of community, relax and celebrate together, and find the support and resources they need to lead full, healthy lives. This time around, we are thrilled to be in Western NY and, with our Rochesterbased cosponsors, to expand our reach to a more diverse group of LGBTQ families. In addition to LGBTQ-parented families and prospective parents, we warmly welcome LGBTQ couples and single adults of all ages and stages of life (no children required!), parents of LGBTQ children, and other allied adults.” A pre-conference provider training day will also be held for professionals and students in the fields of medicine/ healthcare, foster/adoption services, aging services, education/children and youth services, mental health, and other human (Families continues page 7)

NewsFronts LOCAL AND STATE Airport security scans may affect transgender passengers

Marissa Joy-Kurtz

MetLife rep announces LGBT services Marissa Joy-Kurtz, a Financial Services Representative with MetLife in Rochester, is a financial professional who has announced that she is now working with the LGBT community. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the relationship that develops between a financial professional and a client,” says Marissa. “My goals are to focus on the unique issues that present financial challenges in our community, such as ‘Is your partner (and/or children) covered financially in case something were to happen to you? ‘Are you and your partner making informed decisions with your money so you can retire with a comfortable lifestyle? ‘Do you maximize the options available to you in order to reduce your taxable income? ‘Are you aware of the value of your estate and the issues that surround transferring it to whom you want? ‘Have you evaluated your current investments as they relate to your accumulation goals? ‘If you own a business, are you and your employees financially protected?’” Marissa can be reached at 585-2148665/mjoy-kurtz@metlife.com. “The gay and lesbian community has unique issues that should be addressed by someone who is familiar with solving their needs,” says Marissa.

Sen. Duane arrested in protest of HIV bill veto Openly gay and openly HIV positive New York State Senator Tom Duane was arrested on Nov. 9 in an act of civil disobedience at New York City Hall in protest of the veto of an HIV/AIDS funding bill, vetoed by Governor David Paterson earlier this year. WNYC reported: “The bill would insure that poor people living with HIV/ AIDS wouldn’t have to spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent. Advocates argue the bill saves money in the long run, by lowering the rate of evictions and homelessness. Governor David Paterson vetoed the bill at Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s urging. Both men call it an unfunded mandate that neither the city nor state can afford. Advocates say the bill would affect about 10,000 low income New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.” Duane and the heads of several AIDS organizations held up traffic for about 10 minutes before their arrest, and are hoping to get Paterson to reverse his veto. The act of civil disobedience was meant to draw attention to a housing bill that was reluctantly vetoed by the governor earlier this year.

By Kelly Clark In June 2009, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) released a travel information bulletin on the use of Whole Body Imaging technology at U.S. airports. Given that the Greater Rochester International Airport has now installed a so called “full body scanner” and the holiday travel season is in full swing, we thought we would share some of the concerns raised by NCTE to help you determine your own comfort level with this new security measure. Excerpts from the NCTE Travel Information Bulletin: “Whole Body Imaging scanners produce a three-dimensional image of the passenger’s nude body, including breasts, genitals, buttocks, prosthetics, binding materials, and any objects on the person’s body, in an attempt to identify contraband. TSA has the capability of zooming in on any area on the person’s body and viewing details with more clarity. “The primary concern NCTE has with Whole Body Imaging is the potential for transgender people to be outed to TSA personnel. Although TSA claims that privacy is provided by blurring an individual’s face and sequestering those who view the images from passengers, the agents reviewing the images are still required to communicate via two-way radio with the agents interacting with the passengers. If a transgender person’s body looks different from what the TSA agent considers “normal,” the passenger may be subjected to further searches and/or humiliation under the auspices of security measures. “Even if TSA creates protocols around the treatment of transgender people and provides that they are not to be singled out for further screening solely on the basis of genitalia or gender nonconformity, the person may still be outed to the TSA personnel through two-way radio communication. Outing transgender people at airports can have profound impact on employment and physical safety. In larger cities, this may seem relatively harmless because, even if the agent finds out that the person in front of them is transgender, they are unlikely to ever see this passenger again. In smaller cities, passengers often interact with the agents they encounter at the airport in other places in society, such as the grocery store or movie theater. “Unless Whole Body Imaging becomes mandatory, opting for a full pat down may be a preferred course of action for some transgender people. Pat downs will inevitably take longer than the Whole Body Imaging process would normally take, and pat downs are not without danger to transgender people; however, getting a full pat down may reduce the likelihood that a person is outed as transgender at the airport. Passengers may request that the pat down be conducted by someone of the same gender and in a private screening area. Other passengers may feel more comfortable with the Whole Body Imaging, since it may cause less physical discomfort for some people than a pat down. “NCTE encourages travelers to make their own decisions, based on what feels most comfortable and safe to them. If you encounter difficulties at the airport because of your perceived gender expression or transgender status, please contact NCTE at 202-903-0112 so that we can work with TSA to prevent the problem for occurring in the future.” ■

4 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

NewsFronts national and international Election brings mixed results nationwide Although the national election resulted in the Republican Party taking the House of Representatives, which may spell doom for DADT repeal, ENDA, and other national LGBT-related legislation, the news on the whole was favorable for New York State and for marriage equality nationwide. The results from New York were noted in the national media. The Empire State Pride Agenda stated, “The LGBT community worked hard to have our voices heard in this election. Said Executive Director Ross Levi, “We’re thrilled to report victories for our statewide endorsements: Andrew Cuomo for Governor, Bob Duffy for Lt. Governor and Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General. At our Fall Dinner, Andrew Cuomo said that he wanted to be ‘the governor who makes marriage equality a reality in New York State.’ As Attorney General, Cuomo worked closely with the Pride Agenda to fight transgender discrimination in employment and to defend New York’s policy of fully respecting the legal marriages of same-sex couples performed out of state. In Rochester, Mayor Duffy has consistently supported measures to ensure that LGBT residents have the same rights and privileges as all other city residents. As a State Senator, Eric Schneiderman has also been a tireless advocate for the rights of LGBT New Yorkers and our families, and he is committed to continuing that support and advocacy as Attorney General and has just acknowledged our longtime partnership by thanking the Empire State Pride Agenda by name in his victory speech. “In addition to contributing to these statewide victories, the LGBT community played a significant role in electing proequality State Senators. In particular, the elections of Democrat Tony Avella in New York’s 11th Senate District, Democrat David Carlucci in the 38th Senate District and Democrat Tim Kennedy in the 58th Senate District are significant steps forward for LGBT equality and justice. Initial election returns from New York indicate momentum for moving the ball forward on marriage equality, said the Human Rights Campaign on Nov. 3. While control of the state senate is still in question, leaders of the Republican caucus have stated a desire to have marriage equality voted on in the coming legislative session. “Voters clearly responded to candidates who ran on a pro-equality platform with at least three seats switching from marriage equality opponents to supporters,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The victories of Governor-Elect Cuomo and these new fair-minded State Senators are great news for New Yorkers who value equality.” Pro-marriage candidates win across country Pro-marriage candidates won big across the nation, said Freedom to Marry. With the election of new governors in New York and Rhode Island, the re-election of Martin O’Malley in Maryland, and Mark Dayton’s win in Minnesota, the leadership needed should be in place to pursue marriage legislation in all four states in 2011. In Washington state, Sen. Patty Murphy, a Democrat who has a nearly 100 percent pro-gay voting record, was declared winner over Republican challenger Dino Rossi in a close race. “Across the country, from New York to California, Americans cast their ballots for candidates who support marriage. A majority of the electorate supports the freedom to marry, and those fair-minded

voters showed up at the polls and elected pro-marriage equality candidates, even in this otherwise tough political environment for progressive politicians. It is time for our elected officials to do the right thing and end government discrimination in marriage,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and executive director of Freedom to Marry. “Freedom to Marry’s top priority in 2011 will be working to secure marriage legislation in Maryland, Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island. “In New York, Democrat Andrew Cuomo won an overwhelming victory against Republican Carl Paladino, who came under fire in October for making anti-gay comments. Cuomo repeatedly pledged to pass a marriage bill, stating, ‘I don’t want to be the governor who just proposes marriage equality. I don’t want to be the governor who lobbies for marriage equality. I don’t want to be the governor who fights for marriage equality. I want to be the governor who signs the law that makes equality a reality in the state of New York.’” Additionally, Eric Schneiderman, a long-time supporter of the freedom to marry, was elected as New York’s next Attorney General. New York came close to passing a marriage bill in 2009, and with strong leadership in place and majority support for the freedom to marry across the state, should finish the job in 2011, according to Wolfson. In Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, the independent candidate for Governor who pledged to lead the charge in bringing the freedom to marry to Rhode Island, won his race. Also in Rhode Island, the openly gay mayor of Providence, David Cicilline, won his Congressional bid. Cicilline, who will be the fourth openly gay member of Congress and is an ardent marriage equality supporter, vowed to back the effort to bring the freedom to marry to Rhode Island in 2011 and to fight federal marriage discrimination imposed by the antigay “Defense of Marriage Act.” In Maryland, Martin O’Malley, who pledged to sign a bill bringing the freedom to marry to the state, won his bid for reelection. Voters also reelected Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, who penned the important Attorney General’s opinion concluding that Maryland should honor out-of-state marriages celebrated by samesex couples, including those from next door in the District of Columbia. In Minnesota, Democrat Mark Dayton, who campaigned in support of the freedom to marry, won a close race against Republican Tom Emmer. Dayton’s victory comes after a flood of funding for Emmer from anti-gay groups across the country, including the so-called National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which ran a series of ads in the state, and corporate funding from companies like Target. But the people of Minnesota have rejected Emmer’s anti-gay positions. Despite spending a record sum of nearly two hundred million dollars on her campaign, anti-marriage equality candidate Meg Whitman lost her gubernatorial bid in California to Jerry Brown, who supports the freedom to marry. In New Hampshire, Governor John Lynch, who signed a freedom to marry bill last year, won his bid for reelection. And in D.C., all of the city council members who voted for marriage equality last year were reelected. “The results of this election are a green light for continued advance on Freedom to Marry’s Roadmap to Victory,” Wolfson said. “With our growing dream team in place, Freedom to Marry is ready to lead the national effort to win more states in 2011, grow majority support for the freedom to marry, and fight federal marriage

discrimination.” America’s first transgender judge wins in California The first transgender-identified judge in the nation was elected to office on Nov. 2. Her name is Victoria Kolakowski. From the Oakland Tribune: “Kolakowski wins race for Alameda County Superior Court judge:” “Alameda County has become home to the first transgender trial judge in the country as Victoria Kolakowski won the race to fill an empty seat on the county’s Superior Court bench. “With 100 percent of precincts reporting results, Kolakowski held 50.2 percent of the vote against Deputy District Attorney John Creighton, who had 48.7 percent. “The race gave voters a distinct choice between a candidate with unquestionable experience and one who would have brought a new level of diversity to a bench populated by prosecutors and men. “...Kolakowski was the candidate hoping to bring diversity to the bench through her experience being transgender and her background as an attorney focusing on civil matters through her job as an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission. “Kolakowski won a primary in June and campaigned on a platform of being the first transgender judge in the state and bringing change to a bench that, she argued, was too overloaded with white males.” NOM defeats Iowa judges After the defeat of the three Iowa state Supreme Court justices who ruled in favor of marriage equality last year, the Human Rights Campaign and Courage Campaign condemned the National Organization for Marriage’s efforts to intimidate judges across the country. NOM’s president Brian Brown has admitted that his group’s effort in Iowa’s judicial election was actually about intimidating judges around the country into ruling against equality for millions of

American families. In Iowa, NOM spent an unprecedented $600,000 on TV ads and a 45-county bus tour. Despite NOM’s mean-spirited and fear-driven campaign, same-sex marriage remains legal in Iowa. In all NOM has spent $5 million across the country in the 2009-2010 election cycle. “By their own admission, NOM’s Iowa strategy was about sending a warning shot to judges nationwide,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “NOM and its secret donors will continue to target judges around the country if they rule in favor of marriage equality and will foster an antigay, hostile environment in the process.” “Having seen its extremist agenda increasingly rejected by the courts and the American people, it is telling that NOM has now settled on a strategy of evading tax and election laws and trying to intimidate judges,” said Courage Campaign Founder and Chairman Rick Jacobs. “These are the tactics one might expect from Al Capone, not a credible political organization.” Prior to its involvement in this election, NOM received a strong warning from Iowa’s ethics agency for evading campaign laws. During a 2009 special election in the state, NOM told supporters they could contribute to its Iowa campaign efforts secretly — without disclosing their names. Iowa law requires disclosure of contributors to political campaigns. NOM is also fighting campaign finance laws in New York, Washington, Rhode Island, California and Maine, where it remains under investigation by the Maine Ethics Commission for failing to register with the state as a ballot question committee and refusing to disclose the donors to its campaign to overturn Maine’s marriage equality law in 2009. The Washington Independent has reported that NOM is funneling charitable donations into political campaigns. NOM’s charitable arm, The Ruth Institute, was also the subject of a recent IRS complaint filed by HRC and the Courage Campaign for repeated violations of feder-

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet al law prohibiting charitable organizations from advocating on behalf of political campaigns. HRC and the Courage Campaign have documented NOM’s deep ties to antiLGBT extremists, as well as its refusal to comply with election and tax laws through NOMexposed.org and the NOM Tour Tracker. Gay bloggers around the country are asking why NOM’s Brian Brown is not in jail yet. Iowa Senate Majority Leader will defend marriage law Iowa state Sen. Mike Gronstal says he will stand against NOM’s campaign to repeal the Iowa marriage equality law. The Des Moines Register reported, “Republicans will occupy the governor’s office and will control the Iowa House next year, and there’s a chance that final results could give Republicans a 25-25 deadlock in the Iowa Senate. “But Senate Democrats will maintain at least equal power -- which will give Majority Leader Mike Gronstal authority to prevent a vote on a marriage amendment to the state constitution. “’There’s no mechanism whereby senators, even a majority of senators, can override the majority leader,’ according to Secretary of the Senate Mike Marshall, a staffer who ensures rules are followed. “Senate Republicans intend to try various maneuvers to force a vote, even though they don’t believe such efforts will succeed. Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, hopes public pressure might eventually compel Gronstal to allow a vote, but Gronstal said on Nov. 3 that that will never happen….” Gronstal reaffirmed that he won’t bow to pressure, no matter how nasty it gets. “The easy political thing for me to do years ago would have been to say, ‘Oh, let’s let this thing go. It’s just too political and too messy,’” Gronstal said. “What’s ugly is giving up what you believe in, that everybody has the same rights. Giving up on that? That’s ugly.”

ACLU challenges DoD on gay separation pay The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a class action lawsuit Nov. 10 challenging the Defense Department’s discriminatory policy of cutting in half the separation pay of service members who have been honorably discharged for being gay. The separation pay policy is not part of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute, and can be changed without congressional approval. “By denying servicemen and women full separation pay, the military is needlessly compounding the discrimination perpetuated by ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Joshua Block, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. “The Obama administration has repeatedly said the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ statute is wrong, but that it needs to work with Congress to repeal the law. But the separation pay issue is entirely within the administration’s control. The administration can at least take a preliminary step toward backing up its rhetoric with action by addressing this issue promptly and protecting gay and lesbian service members from needless additional discrimination.” Federal law entitles service members to separation pay if they have been involuntarily discharged from the military after completing at least six years of service. But in 1991, the Defense Department adopted an internal policy that automatically cuts a former service member’s separation pay in half if the service member is discharged because of “homosexuality.” The separation pay policy was adopted two years before Congress enacted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute. The ACLU and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network contacted the Defense Department in November 2009 to request that the separation pay policy be revised to eliminate the discrimination against gay and lesbian

service members, but the department has refused to do so. The class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of all service members involuntarily discharged in the past six years who received honorable discharges and were otherwise eligible for full separation pay, but had that pay cut in half because of “homosexuality.” The ACLU estimates that over 100 former service members will qualify as part of the class of plaintiffs. The lead plaintiff in the case is Richard Collins, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force who served for nine years until he was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Collins was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico when two civilian co-workers observed him exchange a kiss with his civilian boyfriend and reported it to his superiors. The kiss occurred while Collins and his boyfriend were in a car stopped at an intersection 10 miles off base and while Collins was off duty and out of uniform. Collins received an honorable discharge from the Air Force but discovered after the discharge had been completed that his separation pay had been cut in half on the grounds of “homosexuality.” “After nine years of honorable service, it’s not fair that I should be deprived of the same benefits given to other dedicated service members who are adjusting to civilian life,” said Collins. “I hope that the Defense Department will adjust its policy and show some justice to anyone who has been discharged from the military under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” “Mr. Collins’s case is a perfect example of how discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is unfair and unconstitutional,” said Laura Ives, a staff attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico. “Mr. Collins’s sexual orientation did not prevent him from serving his country ably and honorably. The least the government can do is provide him with the same separation pay it provides other honorably discharged service members.” Attorneys on the case, Collins v. United States, include Ives and Matt Garcia of the ACLU of New Mexico; Block and Leslie Cooper of the ACLU LGBT Project; George Bach, cooperating attorney with the ACLU of New Mexico and Sara Berger of Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Ives and Duncan, PA. For more on this case, please visit: www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/collins-v-unitedstates-class-action-military-separation-pay

Christian students beat girl with “male” name Who says that rightwing “Christian” militancy doesn’t lead to physical violence? In November, a 12 year-old Mississippi middle school student was surrounded and beaten by a group of students who had been bullying her because her name is Randi, which is a boy’s name. Joe. My.God.com asks, “Guess where the little creeps had been just before the attack?” After a Fellowship of Christian Students meeting, four girls and a boy surrounded her. “They started talking about me like I was a man, and like, stuff like that. That I shouldn’t be in this world. And my name was a boy name,” she said. Foster described how these people attacked her. “I was kicked in the rib. I was kicked in the leg. I was hit in the face. I was sat on top of and my face was jammed into the floor. I was thrown onto the cafeteria table. I was thrown in between the seats.” Her mother, Meggan Foster, is appalled at the whole ordeal. “She was sitting in a chair. Her glasses were broken. She had been crying. She had a bloody tissue in her hand from her nose bleeding,” Foster said. She said that a surveillance camera caught the whole thing, but that the principal could not give her a copy because it involves other students. The message of the Christian students that their victim “shouldn’t be in this world” is the kind of bullying that leads to youth suicide. However, no charges have been filed against Randi’s attackers.

A 5

Frank sees “zero chance” of moving proor anti-gay bills in 2011 In an interview Nov. 9 with the Washington Blade, Barney Frank said he was confident that the Senate, of which Democrats retained control, would join President Obama in blocking any anti-gay bills that conservative Republicans might introduce over the next two years. “Next year there’s no chance of anything happening,” he said of pro-LGBT legislation. “There’s zero chance.” He added, “It will be a status quo. They don’t have the votes to hurt us but we don’t have the votes to advance anything in the cause.” Frank also said he was certain that Republicans would fail in an attempt to overturn D.C.’s same-sex marriage law. “Do you think Barack Obama is going to sign a bill to repeal the D.C. marriage law?” he asked. “It won’t go through the Senate. There is no chance that could happen. None -- zero.” Barney Frank also had curious things to say about some meager-to-non-existent pro-equality crumbs hinted by the Log Cabin Republicans. From the transcript: Blade: Have you heard of anything about a Log Cabin supported gay-related tax reform bill? They won’t give us any details but the head of Log Cabin says that’s the first thing they’re going to work on next year and he thinks they might get Republican support. Frank: If they’re suggesting that there will be Republican support for recognition of same-sex marriage that’s a lie and they know it. There’s no chance of that. Blade: I asked them about that and he wouldn’t give me details but… Frank: Yes, the Log Cabin club would like to make it easier for taxing -- they would like to reduce taxes for rich people. I understand that. But there will be no help for gay people. Now for some of them, I think their income is skewed pretty high anyway. So they’ll feel good about it. But, no, there is zero chance that the Republicans will do anything that would recognize same-sex couples. Blade: What about ENDA? He did say they would try to move ENDA. Frank: There is zero chance of them doing anything on ENDA -- zero. Frank went on to dismiss GOProud, the ultra-conservative gay group which serves Republican/Tea Party interests, as “people who have no interest in advancing gay causes,” adding that they have “no influence whatsoever.” GOProud paid for anti-Frank ads in support of his anti-gay opponent, Sean Bielat. They also staged a “Homocon” recently, with keynote speaker Ann Coulter, who told them that marriage equality is not a civil rights issue, because “You’re not black.” This came as a surprise to the millions of committed black LGBT couples in the country – but then they weren’t invited to Homocon.

Pa. boy, 14, throws himself under truck after anti-gay bullying Anti-gay bullying is being blamed for the suicide of 14-year-old Brandon Bitner of Middleburg, Pa. on Nov. 5. Bitner walked 13 miles before throwing himself in front of a truck, the Daily Item reported: “Freshman Brandon Bitner, 14, of Mount Pleasant Mills, ran in front of the truck at 3 a.m. near Liverpool, according to state police at Newport. The boy’s family discovered him missing at 3:45 a.m., and contacted police. “The road was closed for about three hours after the crash.” There seems to be little doubt in the students’ minds why Bitner did what he did. “It was because of bullying,” friend Takara Jo Folk wrote in a letter to The Daily Item. “It was not about race, or gender, but they bullied him for his sexual preferences and the way he dressed. (Newsfronts continue page 8)

6 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

Interview Rev. Alicia Heath-Toby becomes pastor at UFC

ter Church. Rev. Heath-Toby is out and proud, and clear that God called her to ministry, not in spite of her sexuality and By Susan Jordan gender identity, but because of it. On Oct. 11, Reverend Alicia Heath“When God created me, God knew Toby said yes to the next step in her minjust what S/He was doing, and when I isterial calling and was elevated to the said ‘yes’ to the calling, I knew there was position of Pastor of the Unity Fellowship no turning back… here I am in Rochester, Church of Rochester. and I am eager to see what’s next.” The ceremony took place at the annuA celebration welcomed Reverend al Convocation of the Unity Fellowship Heath-Toby to the Rochester community Church Movement in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 13. She will officially begin her where each year Archbishop Carl Bean ministry here in March. ordains and elevates clergy in this 27-yearBorn in Spanish Harlem, Alicia old ministry. Heath-Toby grew up in a family that was Unity Fellowship Church of Rochespart of a faith community. She says, “I ter is one of 17 churches in the movement grew up in the church – the Pentecostal extending from Los Angeles to Charlotte faith. A single mom, my mother was very to Detroit. While many of its members powerful in the church at a time when identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transwomen couldn’t become ministers... At gender, including its new pastor, UFC age 13 my mother let my sister and me Rochester is a welcoming and affirming stop going to church, but I always loved church for all people. fellowship and worship and was always “As a social justice ministry, Unity involved in a church and tithing. My Fellowship Church Movement adheres mother prophesied that I would be called to Liberation Theology, or a belief that when I was nine years old. We were at a those who are oppressed by society can revival and my mother said, ‘This child find the roots of their liberation in the will have a calling.’” Bible and teachings of Jesus the Christ,” While this didn’t mean much to a ninesays Rev. Heath-Toby. “Not only do we year-old, Rev. Heath-Toby said, “When I welcome those who have been abused and was around 20 years old I realized that oppressed by traditional church teachings, I was called. I didn’t respond right away we support their healing and transformabecause I was busy being a young adult. tion in a very unapologetic way,” she adds. Then I came to the Unity Fellowship Rev. Heath-Toby has been an agent Church movement in 1995 in Newark. of social change for as long as she I walked in and heard the message that can remember. God is inclusive As a Black lesbiand loves everyan, she has been I am excited abut being here... and body, and I saw committed to the women like me eradication of working with faith communities who wear men’s homophobia and clothes and heard who know LGBT people are sexism, gender a bishop proclaim discrimination that she was a children of God. and religious lesbian and that marginalization. God had called In 2006, she and her wife of 21 years, her – at that moment I knew.” Saundra Toby-Heath, accepted the inviRev. Heath-Toby had come out when tation to join Lambda Legal and six she was 16. “My mother loved me, but she other New Jersey couples in the lawsuit had her position in terms of doctrine that seeking the right to marry for same-sex homosexuality wasn’t pleasing to God. couples in the state. The case resulted in She had parameters that I couldn’t have legal civil unions for same-sex couples in girlfriends staying over at her house. So New Jersey, but not marriage. “In those that was fine, because I was going off to four years,” says Rev. Heath-Toby, “I was college. Later, though, when I did come often reminded of God’s divine will for home with a girlfriend, she was cordial.” humanity, which is that we all have a Once she had found UFC, Rev. right to peace, joy and love!” Heath-Toby began to take her calling Rev. Heath-Toby has been employed seriously. “In 1996, I began my journey at the Women’s Institute of the Gay Men’s as a deacon,” she said. “I was ordained Health Crisis in New York City since as a deacon in 1999. I traveled my jour2004, where she serves as Coordinator of ney and was ordained as a minister in the Lesbian AIDS Project. She is Assistant 2001 and ordained as a Reverend in Pastor of Liberation In Truth Unity Fel2004. Five year ago I became assistant lowship Church in Newark, N.J., where pastor of my church in Newark. I was she established the Church’s HIV Prevenvery clear that my destination was to tion Program. pastor. As God would have it, I’ve come She will be leaving both posts to to a place where we clothe the naked become the new shepherd of the Rochesand feed the hungry and can be the

Saundra Toby-Heath and the Rev. Alicia Heath-Toby. Photo: Susan Jordan

voice of those who suffer injustice.” Saundra Toby-Heath, an artist, talked about the couple’s experiences during the five years in which they were part of Lambda Legal’s marriage equality case in New Jersey, which resulted in the passage of civil unions. She said, “We always wanted marriage, but we recognize that unfortunately the N.J. Supreme Court didn’t have the courage to say ‘Give them marriage.’ Sometimes you have to take what you can. We had to go with civil unions but we know that it isn’t enough. I work for Fed Express and when I asked for equal health benefits, they said they don’t recognize civil unions. DOMA (the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act) was written into the Fed Express contract (in the small print). It was very painful to hear. “Lambda Legal interviewed 100 couples and chose seven from all over New Jersey and we were invited to join the lawsuit. It was five years of public education, town hall meetings, etc. My partner and I traveled for them and shot a segment on marriage equality in California.” Rev. Heath-Toby said, “We knew we were chosen because we are African American; we were clear about that… That journey was very rich. We did our time on that and moved on, but it was an experience that we’d do again. UFC Rochester supports marriage equality. We hope to be legally married here in New York.” Saundra added, “I would say at town meetings that I was speaking for the people who can’t. Not everybody can get in front of a camera and speak the truth. So I’m speaking for them. If I can make it possible I will – that’s my inspiration.” Rev. Heath-Toby says that she feels blessed to have been partnered by the deacons and congregation at Rochester UFC. “I was just appointed in October and this is all new for me. I never thought I’d be landed in this place called Rochester. I always thought I’d end up in Chicago. I will permanently move here at the end of February and will start

officially in March. The first Sunday in March will be a celebration of our new dreams. The other thing that’s incredible about this team is that the deacons have held it together.” The dreams, visions and goals include working with the homeless population, offering shelter from the street, feeding people once a month, and obtaining a van to bring food and clothing around the city to those in need; working with young people, gay and straight, to give them the support they need (for instance, offering counseling and having a presence on college campuses) and working with survivors of breast cancer. Having watched so many women in the community struggling with this disease, Rev. Heath-Toby wants to create a place where women can get support and find someone to go with them to the doctor. A ministry requires resources, and Rev. Heath-Toby says that the first year or two will see a major effort to build relationships, seek grants and develop possibilities for resources. “It will be hard,” she said, “but I have an amazing group of people on the board, and on the liturgical team. That’s what ministry is about – how we affect people’s lives and help with transformation.” When asked how she deals with the rightwing extremist claim to “own” religion, and their opposition to the Christian tradition of compassion – such as Glenn Beck saying “If your pastor mentions ‘social justice,’ run” – Rev. HeathToby responds, “The very Book they use to condemn us is the very book in which Jesus tells us what to do. Go to the Book. Jesus’ ministry was about freeing the oppressed. About transformation. He was able to stand in the gap with folks who can’t until they can. So I say to the religious right folks who have such a conviction around who they think we are – it’s a new day. This movement around the country is not a new thing: ‘the last will be first and the first last.’ The rightwing Christian folks have done us a

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet favor: they’ve made it possible for us to say, ‘Enough is enough!’ People need to know we have a responsibility to ‘the least of these’. And in return we are blessed by the relationship.” Rev. Heath-Toby ends by saying, “I’m excited about being here and the possibilities of new relationships, and working with faith communities who know LGBT people are children of God.” Unity Fellowship Church invites you to worship every Sunday at 10 a.m. in The Auditorium Theater Center, 875 E. Main St., Rochester, first floor, Prince St. entrance. All are welcome. ■ (Families from page 1) services. “Straight Talk about LGBTQ Lives: Working with LGBTQ Individuals and Families in Professional Settings” will take place on Friday, April 8. Attendees will leave with greater knowledge and understanding of their LGBTQ students/clients/patients/colleagues and a concrete set of best practices to implement in their offices and educational institutions. The Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project (www.PrideAndJoyFamilies. org) was established in 2000 with a grant from the New York State Health Department. It is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people in upstate NY attain their goals of building and sustaining healthy families by providing support, advocacy, information, and access to community and sensitive healthcare and services. To learn more about the Conference and Provider Training Day, including opportunities to lend your financial support, host an exhibit, suggest a Conference workshop, or volunteer, please visit www.PrideAndJoyFamilies.org, or contact Claudia Stallman at lesgayfambldg@ aol.com or 607-724-4308. In Rochester, connect with P&JF’s Rochester Outreach Educator Mir Buchanan at 585-2448640, ext. 37, or at mir@prideandjoy-

families.org. *LGBTQ families are defined as those with one or more lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgender/queer members. ■ (Marriage from page 1) Rochester/Marriage Equality New York. (MENY). Information: (585) 426-0862; atischer@frontiernet.net On Jan. 15, Marriage Equality Advocate Training will take place from 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at the Metro Justice Conference Room, 167 Flanders St. 14619, sponsored by Metro Justice and Equality Rochester/Marriage Equality New York. Lunch and snacks are included. Donations are welcome. The training is open to the public. Snowdate Jan. 22. Call or e-mail by Dec. 15 if you require an interpreter or special accommodations: (585) 426-0862; atischer@ frontiernet.net; todd.plank@gmail.com; (585) 278-4190. ■

A 7

8 A national and international

(Pa. boy continued from page 5) Which,” she said, “they wrongly accused him of.” His death came just days after an anti-bullying assembly at the high school, which, according to district Superintendent Wesley Knapp, was not held in response to any specific problems at the school, but because it is an issue Principal Cynthia Hutchinson has always felt strongly about. After the assembly, according to student Briana Boyer in another letter to The Daily Item, “No one took it seriously, and (everyone) joked around about it.” Former Mid-West student Erin Barnett sent a letter as well, blaming the school, saying that when students report bullying, “Nothing is done.” Bitner was reportedly a talented musician.

DADT repeal: will it pass or be stripped from bill? Servicemembers United, the nation’s largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, on Nov. 8 called on the Obama administration to publicly and consistently declare that the defense authorization bill, complete with the DADT repeal provision, is an administration priority for the post-election legislative session of Congress. Meanwhile, rumors abound of a deal that would strip DADT from the defense bill entirely, “President Obama and his spokesman have had several opportunities to publicly declare the administration’s set of priorities for the lame duck session of Congress. Unfortunately, completing the defense authorization bill has not been included among those priorities,” said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United. “These omissions stand in stark contrast to what the President and his staff are saying elsewhere. Mr. President, either your administration is with us or it’s against us, and a mediocre level of public advocacy from your White House is not standing with us.” Congress reconvened for the postelection legislative session the week of Nov. 15, and Servicemembers United has led a public education campaign around the nuanced requirements for getting the National Defense Authorization Act passed during this session. They said that the key to accomplishing this goal were 1) getting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the bill back up under reasonable procedural conditions before the Senate’s Thanksgiving recess, and 2) getting the White House to be publicly and heavily involved in efforts to see this happen during that period. However, Senator Joe Leiberman said in late November, “I am confident that we have more than 60 votes prepared to take up the Defense authorization with the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ if only

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011 there will be a guarantee of a fair and open amendment process, in other words, whether we’ll take enough time to do it. Time is an inexcusable reason not to get this done.” He said Republican Senators Susan Collins and Richard Lugar would vote for repeal. Pentagon study leaked; released Nov. 30 According to the Washington Post, a Pentagon study group has found that there would be minimal effect on the military should DADT be repealed. The Washington Post story confirmed a similar leaked report from the first week in November. The Pentagon decided to release the Comprehensive Working Group report a day earlier than planned, on Nov. 30. More than 70 percent of respondents to the survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops over the summer said the effect of repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent. The survey results led the report’s authors to conclude that objections to openly gay colleagues would drop once troops were able to live and serve alongside them. John McCain and others on the right denounced the leaked report by Nov. 10, calling for a new report that would support their own views, although they had previously insisted that service members be allowed to freely express their opinions. On Nov. 22, the Palm Center responded to Secretary Gates’ announcement. Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin stated: “After Senators are presented with the Pentagon report on Nov. 30, it is the overall content of the report that must drive and inform the next steps in this process, not political maneuvering based on data cherry-picked by anti-gay politicians and groups and employed as smokescreens to obscure the report’s broader conclusions. The military’s rationale to continue firing good troops who happen to be gay or lesbian is finally coming to an historic end, thanks to this report. Upon reading it, Senators should ask: ‘What does the weight of the evidence show about openly gay service in the military?’ It would be an insult to the efforts of the Working Group, the commitment of the gay and lesbian troops already serving, and the promise offered to those who wish to serve to not demonstrate the proper respect for the report’s complete findings and recommendations.” Levin, McCain said in talks to strip DADT Senators Carl Levin of Michigan and John McCain of Arizona, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, are in talks on stripping the proposed repeal and other controversial provisions from a broader defense bill, leaving the repeal with no legislative vehicle to carry it. With a repeal attached, and amid Republican complaints over the terms of the debate, the defense bill had failed to win the 60 votes needed to overcome a procedural hurdle in the Senate in September. A spokeswoman for McCain,

who opposes the repeal, confirmed he is in talks with Levin on how to proceed on the defense bill, but didn’t provide details. Moving the defense bill is also complex, especially if it includes controversial measures, because it could take two weeks or longer on the Senate floor, and the coming session is expected to last only three or four weeks. Kerry Eleveld at The Advocate on Nov. 7 posted the story, “DADT: Signs of Hope, Doom,” describing the backroom negotiations already underway to ditch the effort to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the lame duck legislative session: “Over the weekend, observers of the don’t ask, don’t tell debate began cautiously acknowledging that an effort is in the works to potentially move a stripped down version of the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act that would exclude repeal. “A person close to the process said Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is looking into a deal with Secretary Gates that would cut don’t ask, don’t tell out of the Defense bill in order to smooth its way to passage. “‘Levin is making calls under the premise we can’t afford to waste time on a controversial provision, so we’ll strip out the controversial provision and be able to get the bill on and off the floor in the available amount of time,’ said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.” Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network responded, “We welcome Secretary Gates’ call for the senate to act on repeal in the lame duck session. Indeed, the senate should call up the defense bill reported out of committee and pass it before it goes home for the year,” Sarvis said. “Any talk about a watered down defense bill, whereby the ‘Don’t Ask’ revisions would be stripped out, is unacceptable and offensive to the gay and lesbian service members who risk their lives every day.” Marines scared of gays? The new commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, unloaded this on Nov. 6: “With U.S. troops -- including 20,000 Marines -- locked in a ‘tough fight’ in Afghanistan, now is not the time to lift the don’t ask, don’t tell ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military.” Gen. James Amos told reporters in San Diego that he was concerned about a possible loss of unit cohesion and combat readiness if the ban is overturned. “There’s risk involved,” Amos said. “I’m trying to determine how to measure that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness. We’re talking about our young men -- laying out, sleeping alongside of one another and sharing death, fear and loss of brothers,” he said. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Palm Center scholars both expressed concern about the comments made by General Amos. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of

the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that he was “surprised by what (General Amos) said and surprised that he said it publicly,” noting that the heads of the military services had committed to make recommendations in private upon viewing data from the Pentagon Working Group’s report on “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal, due Dec. 1. Palm Center scholars said that General Amos’s remarks do not merely violate the Pentagon’s internal procedure; they defy the research that has been done on the impact of openly gay service. A March 2010 research memo from Palm identified 22 empirical research studies that have shown that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly has no negative impact on military readiness. Said Aaron Belkin, Director of the Palm Center, “General Amos’s comments reflect a lack of familiarity with the facts. He could have read any of the research that has been done on the impact of openly gay service, or merely waited until the completion of the Pentagon Working Group study on Dec. 1. Instead, he rushed to judgment and repeated the long-discredited mantra about ‘unit cohesion,’ making comments that he knew full well would become political ammunition.”

Robinson to retire; cites years of death threats Saying he is tired of the incessant death threats rained down from “God’s Gentle People,” New Hampshire’s openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson will retire by 2013. “The fact is, the last seven years have taken their toll on me, my family and you,” Robinson wrote in a message posted on the diocese website. “Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years.” Robinson was openly gay when he was elected bishop in 2003, but it aroused such hatred that he wore a bulletproof vest to his consecration. His ordination as bishop -- the first of an openly gay priest in any Christian denomination -- so divided the church that its General Convention in 2006 called a moratorium on “any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church.”

Widow’s lawsuit against government challenges DOMA injustice Edith “Edie” Windsor, who shared her life with her late spouse, Thea Spyer, for 44 years, is filing a lawsuit against the federal government for refusing to recognize their marriage. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), a federal statute that defines (NewsFronts continues on page 14)

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet

A 9

Vita Valentino wins Miss Gay Rochester title on Nov. 14 at Harro East

M.C. Aggy Dune celebrates her 20th anniversary, with pageant organizer Wayne Esposito (Liza). The fabulous Maya Douglas celebrated 30 years. Photos: Tony Correa

Vita Valentino, Miss Gay Rochester 2011.

Vita Valentino in the dance competition.

Aneal Pleasures, first runner-up.

Chanelle Jacobs, Miss Gay New York State 2011.

10 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

2010 revisited A look back at the year that was

APRIL: DAY OF SILENCE: Over 200 youth marked the Day of Silence, honoring LGBT youth lost to hate violence and suicide, with a rally at the Auditorium Center on April 16. Photo: Allegra Anka

FEBRUARY: PANDORA’S RACE: Pandora Boxx’s appearance on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” may have been one of the most under-covered stories of the year in local str8 media, according to City newspaper. (The September Wedding March was another example.) Above: Pandora hosted a series of evenings at Tilt, which included viewing that night’s episode of “Drag Race”. Photo: Laur McSpadden

JULY: PRIDE PARADE: The Pride Parade for 2010 included this award-winning float from Tilt. Photo: Ove Overmyer

MAY: PRIDE AGENDA SPRING DINNER: M.C. Ambrosia Salad heads for a tabletop at the dinner held at the Riverside Convention Center on May 22. Photo: Garnetta Ely

Spring Dinner guests. Photo: Garnetta Ely

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet

JULY: THE PRIDE FESTIVAL took place on July 17 after the Parade. Thousands enjoyed the music and fun. Photo: Garnetta Ely

Friends at the Pride Festival. Photo: Garnetta Ely

A 11

AUGUST: PROP 8 FALLS: Rochestarians celebrated a victory on Aug. 4 when California’s Prop 8 was overturned. Photo: Ove Overmyer

SEPTEMBER: WEDDING MARCH: Rochester saw its first Wedding March on Sept. 26, organized by Marriage Equality New York (MENY) and Equality Rochester. Above: Harry Bronson and Anne Tischer at the Genesee Crossroads Park festival after the March. Photo: Ove Overmyer

You Deserve To Have Your Marriage Blessed & Celebrated Rev. Denise Donato • revdenise@rochester.rr.com • 585-329-0895 14 years experience preparing and celebrating gay & straight marriages

A group of Wedding Marchers at the festival. 300 people took part in an event largely ignored by local media. Photo: Bess Watts

12 A

Two Spirit Society gathers on Long Island By Kelly Baumgartner, Two Spirit organizer In October, the Northeast Two Spirit Society, which is made up of Native American LGBT folks from all over the Northeast, had its first Two Spirit Gathering on Long Island. The Gathering was attended by 51 individuals from 15 different states. Forty-nine percent of those in attendance came from the Northeast, a full third from NY State. We were also joined by someone from Quebec, Canada. We had members come from over 13 different Native Nations, including Navajo, Jicarillo Apache, Eastern Band of Cherokee as well as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. We had folks who are Cree, Lanape, Mohawk, Chickasaw, Yaqui, Mayan, Aztec, Lakota, and a person from the Tsimshian Nation of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, just to list a few. We gather to share our cultures, eat, dance, sing, pray, and laugh. We gather to do strategic planning around issues such as mental health and health care in our Native communities, supporting our younger generations and teaching them about our roles in our communities, and our two spirit traditions. We honor our elders and make plans for taking care of them, as well as providing a venue for the wisdom of our elders to be passed on before it is lost forever upon their deaths. We also gather to save lives. That may sound dramatic, but these gatherings over the years have saved lives, of young and old. There are many of our national Two Spirit family that would not be alive today were it not for the support they found at our gatherings over the years. “What is a Two Spirit?” some of you may be asking. The simple yet not quite accurate answer would be “an American Indian/Native American/First Nations individual who is also LGBTQ.” The

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011 more complex and more accurate answer would be one of the previously described individuals who is also called to a role of supporting and taking care of their community, to serve their people in a special way. In the past these individuals were seen as a bridge between the male and female members of the tribe as they were seen to have a balance of the masculine and the feminine energies. As ambassadors between those two genders, they also served as ambassadors between their people and those of other Nations and from other parts of the world. Two Spirit people were also called upon to raise the tribes’ orphans, play important roles in sacred ceremonies that no one else in the tribe could fulfill, and to act as marriage and family counselors. The two spirit individual was seen as a gift, as are all members of the community. Each member has a place and a role, no one is wasted. The diverse Native cultures in North America had their own tribal names in their own languages for those seen as not fitting into the gender roles of male and female. Those names are so diverse it was decided in 1990 at an international gathering of two spirit people that one chosen name best fitting us as a group was necessary. The term “Two Spirit” was born. It was felt by the members of this gathering that this term best described the meanings behind the terms used in the many Native languages. The first evening in Long Island (Friday) we had our “No Talent Show” hosted by Land-o-Lakes (of Ru Paul’s Drag Race fame, season 7) and Ryan from Buffalo. They were joined by members of the San Francisco drag group the Brush Arbor Girlz, as well as other attendees, and graced us with many funny performances as well as a moving tribute to the many young lgbtq folks who have lost their lives for being themselves. We crowned our First Miss Northeast Two Spirit, Miss Alda Jaden Chyna, who is Cherokee from Oklahoma, and a col-

The first Miss NE2SS is center of front row, seated: Alda Jaden Chyna. Kelly Baumgartner is standing directly behind her.

lege student who is fluent in Cherokee and dedicated to keeping the language alive by becoming a Cherokee language educator. As our first Miss NE2SS, Miss Chyna will be marching along with the NE2SS in the 2011 New York City Pride Parade. The Oklahoma group and the Denver group will also be in attendance to show support for Ms. Chyna. This means we can look forward to a large contingent of Two Spirit folks marching with us down the streets of NYC in traditional regalia! It will certainly be a sight to see. Wade Belvin, his mother and family drove from Oklahoma to provide the drum for us and grace us with their amazing voices. Wade also shared details of his Cherokee culture and traditions with us. Wade is currently an educator at Cherokee Nation schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma at the special request of the Cherokee Principle Chief. We were honored to have Joey Criddle (from Colorado) and Terra Hartwell (from New Mexico) as our two Lead Dancers. These are positions of great honor and these individuals were chosen because of the vital roles they play in their communities at home, as well as in our national two spirit community. Saturday morning broke cold, windy and overcast, but many of us rose early to greet the day with the Sunrise Ceremony. The morning ceremony was led by our honored elders and medicine people, Mary-Lou Van Voorhis from Colorado and Michael St. Clair from Kansas. The ceremony included prayers for our lgbtq family around the world who are suffering, as well as prayers for the health of the people of the world and the health of Our Mother the Earth. We asked Creator for the strength and means to fulfill our roles in our communities and to reach out to the young ones and old ones who need us. It was a beautiful ceremony and we all left feeling restored and strengthened. On Saturday we were graced with the words of the famous Elder Mohawk poet Maurice Kenny. Maurice still teaches at SUNY Potsdam, at the age of 81!

Some of his many awards include a 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers’ Circle of the Americas, and in 2000 the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers awarded Maurice the Elder Recognition Award. His 1982 book of poems, “Blackrobe: Isaac Jogues, B. March 11, 1607, D. October 18, 1646” was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, as was “Between Two Rivers.” He is also the recipient of a National Public Radio Award for Broadcasting. Needless to say, we were quite honored that he was willing to share his beautiful words and deep wisdom with us. We were lucky to have other talented artists and activists in our midst as well. Ben Geboe of NYC gave a beading workshop, showing two different styles of beading, that many of us attended. There was also a Sexual Wellness workshop given by the sexual wellness educator and activist Mija from the Montana Two Spirit Society. Last but certainly not least, Soni Caballero of Ulali fame gave a musical workshop and also sang for us. Ulali, founded in 1987, was the first Native American women’s a cappella group to create their own sound combining strong traditional roots and personal contemporary styles. It is said they created a new genre of Native American music and inspired the creation of other Native women’s groups. Soni also works at the American Indian Community House in NYC. We look forward to our second annual gathering, which will be held on Columbus Day weekend 2011. Any Two Spirits out there interested in the gathering, the NE2SS, or the Rochester 2 Spirit Society, please call me at 585-328-1861. We intend to increase our attendance next year, and would like to double the number of attendees from NYS. Kelly Baumgartner is a Co-founder of the Rochester 2 Spirit Society, member of the Northeast 2 Spirit Society (NE2SS) and core committee member of the NE2SS Annual Gathering Planning Committee. ■

A 13

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet

Shoulders to Stand On

Celebrate Our LGBT 2010 Pride Heroes By Evelyn Bailey During the past year many members of the Rochester LGBT community who have made contributions to our ongoing struggle to be free and equal under the law that have moved us closer to that reality. By no means are the “shoulders” that follow all of the heroes of 2010. You have only to look in the mirror. By definition a hero is a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal, or a person noted for special achievement in a particular field. What makes the members of the LGBTI community of Rochester heroes? Quite simply it is as basic as getting up in the morning, living our lives as members of the LGBT community and sharing who we are with our world as honestly and openly as we can! As I said, your name heads the list of the following LGBT 2010 Pride Heroes. YOU Rebecca Newberry and Deb Oppenheimer On Jan. 12, the Empire State Pride Agenda hosted its first Rochester STAR Awards volunteer recognition event, honoring Rebecca Newberry, former CampusOut Coordinator for the Gay Alliance, and transgender activist Deborah Oppenheimer. “My goals for my life,” Rebecca states, “are rooted in the values that my mother instilled in me: dedication, passion and justice.” Rebecca is currently serving as the Development Director at Buffalo First, a grassroots non-profit dedicated to economic justice, localization, and green and responsible communities. Honored for her exemplary role as a community activist, Deb Oppenheimer has persisted in her efforts for more than seven years, to help pass important legislation, including the Gender Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and a marriage equality bill. Deb has also been a strong advocate in the workplace. Erik Libey Eric and Jason, Erik’s training partner, were the Top Fundraisers for AIDS Walk 2010. For the past four years, Erik has organized a week-long health observance for LGBT Health Month. Erik said. “We wanted to do it bigger and better and this year we decided to do a full month.” Erik Libey of AIDS Care hoped the events and information presented during LGBT Health Month would make LGBT people in the Rochester area healthier, and even happier, by April. Anne Tischer and Bess Watts Anne and Bess have been involved as Marriage Ambassadors with the Pride

Agenda, and their energy and enthusiasm have inspired those around them. Both are indefatigable activists who have elevated public consciousness of the injustices faced by people of color, the impoverished, and local laborers without fair representation, as well as LGBT people. Anne and Bess were publicly married in Rochester’s Washington Square Park on April 29, 2004, by the Rev. Jim Mulcahy of Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church, after being the first same-sex couple to apply for (and be denied) a marriage license at Rochester City Hall. Anne is the District Coordinator with Marriage Equality New York. Bess is president of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Chapter of Pride at Work, a constituency group of the AFL-CIO, and a member of the MCC Diversity Council. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson New Hampshire Bishop The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson — the first “honestly gay” non-celibate bishop in the Episcopal Church — spoke in Rochester on April 29, 2010. Bishop Robinson, who will retire in 2013, said that we need to reframe how we think about the problem that exists. “When you combine power and prejudice, you get an ‘ism. It is time to talk about heterosexism instead of homophobia, to acknowledge in how we speak about the problem that power is a component of what is happening. Right now, heterosexuals have the power and the system is set up to favor heterosexuals. Legal change is just a start.” Emily Jones Emily, recipient of the 2010 Empire States Pride Agenda’s Community Service Award, was a member of the founding steering committee that launched the GLBT Network at Kodak in 1992. In 1995, with Kathryn Rivers she co-chaired the First Educational Event for Senior Management on GLBT issues. Emily is Past- President of the Board of the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, is a member of the Finger Lakes LGBT Workplace Alliance Steering Committee and a board member of the Rochester Chapter of GLSEN. On March 4, 2010 she was part of a 300-member delegation of HRC lobbyists from around the country who went to Capitol Hill to advocate for major bills relating to LGBT rights. “I found the whole experience exhilarating,” she said, “even all the walking around Capitol Hill. I was so impressed with the competence of the people in the NYS delegation, and all 300 lobbyists, and also with how well prepared each legislator’s office was for our people. It was amazing. I don’t usually come back and talk a lot about these things, but I’ve been telling everyone about this!” Lt. Dan Choi Dan became an LGBT rights activist following his coming out on The Rachel Maddow Show in March 2009 and has been publicly challenging America’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which forbids lesbian, bisexual and gay (LBG) service members from serving openly. On July 15, 2010, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was ruled unconstitutional, although due to stays on the court ruling and obstacles in Congress, it may be some time before the oppressive policy is actually overturned. In response to the ruling, Dan Choi said, “I commend Judge Phillips, Alex Nicholson and the Log Cabin Republicans for their firm stance in defense of the First Amendment and their unwavering support of our national security. I demand President Obama and Senator Reid do the same, as our moral obligations compel us to strike down injustice and discrimination wherever it exists.” Constance McMillan Constance was one of the grand marshals for the 41st annual Manhattan LGBT Pride March, this past June. Con-

Empty Closet 40th Anniversary

Celebrate with the Gay Alliance the extraordinary 40-year history of the Empty Closet Newspaper. Begun in January, 1971 on the University of Rochester’s Campus, the Empty Closet is the oldest continuously published gay newspaper in New York, and second to the Washington Blade in the nation! Where it began is where we will celebrate the Empty Closet’s 40th Anniversary, at the University of Rochester. The fourth week in February will mark the date. Look for the details in the February issue of the Empty Closet. Don’t miss this historic celebration in honor of past editors and staff! stance, an 18-year-old Mississippi high school senior honors student, fought back when her school told her she couldn’t take her girlfriend to the prom. A film on her story is now in the works. Sean Johnson and Pam Barres On June 30, 2010 Sean Johnson was awarded the Vinnie Cup for his extraordinary service to the community as Assistant Volunteer Coordinator for the 2009 and 2010 Pride Week celebrations. Sean spends countless hours volunteering throughout the year for the Gay Alliance Speakers Bureau, and as a gay rights advocate in the workplace. The Vicki Cup was awarded to Pam Barres, an active member of the Rochester

LGBTI community since 1994. Pam has served on the Boards of Lambda Kodak and the GAGV, and was Gay Alliance Interim ED in 2003. A former leader of the Rochester Transgender Group, she is currently on the boards of Rainbow SAGE and the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation. Jerry Mason and Tim Stallman Gerry and Tim, the organizers for Rochester Prides from 1995 – 2008, were Grand Marshals for Pride 2010. Tim founded Basically Treblemakers band, now Flower City Pride Band. Gerry and Tim, who moved to Texas in 2009, stated that they were honored and proud that the (Celebrate continues page 14)

History Corner Highlights of 2010 LGBTIQ Community successes February - The United States Tax Court ruled in O’Donnabhain v. Commissioner that taxpayers may deduct the medical costs associated with treating gender identity disorder from their federal income taxes. March - Marriage licenses become available to same-sex couples in the District of Columbia and marriages begin on March 9. June - United States President Barack Obama issues a memorandum ordering federal departments and agencies to extend spousal benefits to same-sex couples to the extent permitted by the Defense of Marriage Act. - Same-sex marriage in Iceland is legalized and Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir and her partner, Jónína Leósdóttir, are among the first to make use of the law. July - United States district court judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled in two cases that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. In Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. United States Department of Health and Human Services Tauro said that the definition of marriage enacted by Congress for federal purposes violates the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and “encroaches upon the firmly entrenched province of the state” by treating some couples with Massachusetts marriage licenses differently than others. In Gill v. Office of Personnel Management brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, he said the law violates the equal pro-

tection of the laws guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. - Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America opens in California. The suit, brought by an LGBT Republican organization, challenges the constitutionality of the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that excludes openly homosexual people from serving in the military. August - In Perry v. Schwarzenegger, District Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage, violates the “Equal Protection Clause” and the “Due Process Clause” of the United States Constitution. He ruled that there is no rational basis for singling out homosexual couples for denial of marriage licenses. The case was appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, who were set to hear expedited arguments in the week of Dec. 6. September - Judge Virginia A. Phillips of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ruled in Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America that the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy violates the Fifth and First Amendments to the United States Constitution. An appeals court issued a temporary stay pending further appeal. - New York Governor David Paterson signs a bill into law allowing unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to adopt children. The new law also replaces the term “husband and wife” with the gender-neutral “married couple.” - A Washington judges ruled on remand, in Witt v. Department of the Air Force, that Major Margaret Witt, discharged under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, must be reinstated in the Air Force. ■

14 A Alliance asked them to be Grand Marshals for the 2010 Living History Pride Celebration. Shoulders to Stand On recognizes with deep appreciation the contribution to the LGBT community that these men and women have made to advance the cause of Gay Rights in 2010. Each and every one of us has a part to play in our ongoing struggle for Gay Rights. No part is more or less important than any other. Collectively our shoulders are the foundation for our future successes. We are all heroes! Be PROUD!

Wanted: Documentation Project Archival Consultant Position: Independent Contractor position to oversee the planning, implementation, and completion of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community of Rochester Documentation Project. Qualifications: Candidates must demonstrate knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the tasks listed below through a combination of education, experience and self starters, must have the skills to provide leadership and direct supervision to the interns. Responsible for Preparation of the Final Report to be submitted by the GAGV to the State Archives. Supervision and direction to the consultant will be given by Project Co-Directors. Preference given to candidates who hold a Certified Archivist or Certified Records Manager designation or who have demonstrated training and experience in archival practices. Candidates with a Masters in Public History, Political Science, Social Sciences, and Library/Information Science with Specialization in Archival Studies are encouraged to apply. Retired archivists, librarians, and records managers are welcome to apply. Job Description: Continuation of Phase I tasks: Obtain basic contact information for groups and individuals if none

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011 exists or is previously identified; follow guidelines and procedures for participation in the Project, for future collecting activities, for record keeping for this project, for internal and external utilization of records of the identified organizations, groups and individuals; present information on the project at introductory and follow up meetings; supervise, evaluate, and oversee the work of the interns for their respective schools. Phase II tasks: Survey the records using archival, standards and best practices according to the principal of provenance and the principle of original order, respect des fonds; describe a minimum of three – five identified collections using the standard archival MARC format. Identify several possible repositories for collections of records with clear guidelines for care, custody, control, and access of the collections. Develop a Finding Aid and Access Guide to the Rochester GLBT historical records using archival standards and best practices. Draft the final report on the project work plan and accomplishments, and a Summary of the Evaluations by stakeholders. Other duties as assigned in the furtherance of the project. Send cover letter, resume and references to: Dr. John Noble, Ph. D., Certified Archivist , c/o Sue Cowell, ED, Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, 875 East Ave., Suite 500, Rochester, N.Y. 14607. Email: suec@gagv.us. Deadline: Dec.15, 2010.

Documentation Project Intern Position is open Position: Volunteer position to assist and provide administrative/secretarial support to Archival consultant and Project Co-Directors. Qualifications: Graduate/undergraduate students in History, Political Science, Social Sciences and/or Information Management with library and/or archival training and experience, with knowledge of non-governmental organizations, orga-

nizational and/or institutional structure, local history, data warehousing and data management skills. Candidates should be familiar with the GLBT community, be able to work independently, and will need to be responsible for their own transportation. Parking will be provided. Retirees are welcome to apply. Job Description: Under the direction of the Archival Consultant assist identified organization, agencies, groups and individuals with filling out the Survey Instrument, in the survey of the records, and in writing the descriptions of the records. Assist Archival Consultant in creating the archival descriptive records in MARC format, in developing a Finding Aid for records not included in GLBT related repositories, in developing a Finding Aid and Access Guide for the surveyed records, and in preparing the final report on the project. Prepare materials for meetings. Create forms for each organization, agency, group and individual under the direction of the archival consultant to keep track of record and contact information. Assist identified organization, agencies, groups and individuals with preliminary identification and description of the records. Send cover letter, resume and references to: Dr. John Noble, Ph. D., Certified Archivist c/o Sue Cowell, ED, Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, 875 East Ave., Suite 500, Rochester, NY 14607. Email: suec@gagv.us. Deadline Dec. 15, 2010. ■ national and international

( Widow continued from page 5) marriage for all federal purposes as a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. Windsor and Spyer were married in Canada in 2007, and were considered married by their home state of New York. Spyer died in 2009. Due to DOMA’s discriminatory policies, Windsor was not able to claim the estate tax marital deduc-

tion that is available when the surviving spouse is of the opposite sex. In her lawsuit, Windsor is seeking to have DOMA declared unconstitutional and to obtain a refund of the federal estate tax that she was forced to pay following Spyer’s death. The lawsuit will be filed with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union, the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and the New York Civil Liberties Union. “After Thea died, the fact that the federal government refused to recognize our marriage was devastating,” said Windsor. “In the midst of my grief at the loss of the love of my life, I had to deal with my own government saying that we weren’t a family.” Windsor, a senior computer systems programmer, and Spyer, a clinical psychologist, met in the early 1960s, and lived together for decades in an apartment in Greenwich Village. Despite not being able to get legally married, they got engaged in 1967. Over 30 years ago, Spyer was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Windsor helped her through her long battle with the disease. After building a life together for more than 40 years, they were finally married in Toronto in May 2007. Their relationship is the subject of a documentary entitled, “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement.” “We treasured every moment of our 44 years together and were thrilled to be able to finally have the chance to spend our last years together as a legally married couple,” said Windsor. “It meant so much to us that our commitment to each other had finally been recognized.” Windsor was the sole beneficiary of Spyer’s estate. Because they were married, Spyer’s estate normally would have passed to her spouse without any tax. But because DOMA refuses to recognize otherwise valid marriages of same-sex couples, Spyer’s estate had to pay more than $350,000 in federal estate taxes. Earlier this year, Windsor requested a full refund from the government. The IRS rejected that claim,

Highland Contractors is a local business located off of Meigs Street that is big on quality, always returns phones calls, offers fair and competitive pricing, is fully insured and is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Please call us for your free estimate on the following:

New Roofs-Roof Repairs • Siding Painting (Interior and Exterior) Windows Check out our website www.highlandcontractors.net 585.507.3658 phil@highlandcontractors.net

A 15

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet citing DOMA. “Edie and Thea were together for 44 years, the last two of which they were lucky enough to spend as a married couple,” said James Esseks, Director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. “All Edie is seeking is the same treatment for her marriage that the federal government appropriately gives to married straight couples. It is completely unfair for the federal government to pretend that Edie and Thea were strangers, and to tax them that way.” In the lawsuit, Windsor alleges that DOMA violates the equal protection guarantee of the U.S. Constitution because it recognizes marriages of heterosexual couples, but not of same-sex couples, despite the fact that New York State treats all marriages the same “If Thea were ‘Theo’ instead of ‘Thea,’ then Edie, as Thea’s spouse, would have inherited Thea’s estate tax-free,” said Roberta Kaplan of Paul, Weiss. “Edie and Thea were denied equal treatment, and it is obviously unjust that there should be a tax simply for being gay.” Second lawsuit hits DOMA Another lawsuit raising the same legal challenge to DOMA was filed Nov. 10 in federal court in Hartford, Ct. Brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), that case includes five married couples and one widower from three states who are harmed by DOMA in a variety of significant ways, including denial of health care coverage and social security benefits. Earlier this year, GLAD won a similar suit in Massachusetts in a ruling that the Obama administration is appealing. The New York Times reports: “Joanne Pedersen tried to add her spouse to her federal health insurance on Monday. She was rejected. Again. The problem is that while Ms. Pedersen is legally married to Ann Meitzen under Connecticut law, federal law does not recognize same-sex unions. So a health insurance matter that is all but automatic for most married peo-

furnace clean & check

With this coupon, one per customer. Feldman Heating & Cooling • 288-2050

ple is not allowed for them under federal law. Ms. Pedersen and Ms. Meitzen plan to file a lawsuit against the government in an effort to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that prohibits recognition of same sex marriages. “Both of these cases follow similar litigation in Massachusetts, where a federal district judge ruled last summer that DOMA violates the federal Constitution. That case, Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, challenged the federal government’s refusal to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples legally married in Massachusetts and is now on appeal. The case was also brought by GLAD. Windsor’s case pursues the same legal theory in the context of federal estate taxes.” For more information on GLAD’s case, please visit: www.glad.org/doma

Anti-gay nations delete gays from U.N. report A coalition of Arab and African nations succeeded in deleting a reference to sexual orientation in a United Nations resolution condemning “extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions.” An amendment calling for the deletion was introduced by Morocco and Mali and passed by a vote of 79-70. The U.S. delegation voted against the deletion but abstained from the vote on the final resolution and also voiced disappointment at the decision. The resolution, which will soon be formally adopted by the General Assembly, specifies many other types of violence, including racial, religious and ethnic-based hatred. “It’s a step backwards and it’s extremely disappointing that some countries felt the need to remove the reference to sexual orientation, when sexual orientation is the very reason why so many people around the world have been subjected to violence,” said Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch.

Study: Zero abuse found in lesbian families The Williams Institute, a research center on sexual orientation law and public policy at UCLA School of Law, announces new findings from the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS), the longest-running study ever conducted on American lesbian families (now in its 24th year). In an article published Nov. 9 in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the 17-yearold daughters and sons of lesbian mothers were asked about sexual abuse, sexual orientation, and sexual behavior. The paper finds that none of the 78 NLLFS adolescents report having ever been physically or sexually abused by a parent or other caregiver. This contrasts with 26 percent of American adolescents who report parent or caregiver physical abuse and 8.3 percent who report sexual abuse. According to the authors, “The

absence of child abuse in lesbian mother families is particularly noteworthy, because victimization of children is pervasive and its consequences can be devastating. To the extent that our findings are replicated by other researchers, these reports from adolescents with lesbian mothers have implications for healthcare professionals, policymakers, social service agencies, and child protection experts who seek family models in which violence does not occur.” On sexual orientation, 2.8 percent of the NLLFS adolescents identified as predominantly to exclusively homosexual. The study was conducted by Nanette Gartrell, MD, Henny Bos, PhD (University of Amsterdam), and Naomi Goldberg, MPP (Williams Institute). Principal investigator Nanette Gartrell, MD, is a 2010 Williams Distinguished Scholar, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF, and affiliated with the University of Amsterdam. ■

Elaine Elkins, M.S. Psychotherapist 244-4837

Individual & Relationship Counseling Anxiety & Depression Loneliness & Separation Conflict Resolution Communication Skills Sexual Abuse Recovery Drug & Alcohol Abuse Grief & Loss

16 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

Health Kidney and Liver Transplantation in People with HIV By Christopher Taylor Barry, MD, PhD, FACS; Associate Professor, University of Rochester Department of Surgery, Division of Solid Organ Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Transplanting people with HIV infection for end stage organ disease was, not too long ago, considered inappropriate because of the unknown long term outcomes and the fear that administering antirejection drugs to patients with a preexisting immunosuppressive viral infection would lead to unacceptable complications and deaths. Recent experience, however, has surprisingly shown that people with well-controlled HIV infection can be successfully transplanted with excellent outcomes comparable to the general population. The reasons for this success are threefold. First, combinations of medicines to manage HIV infection, termed HAART (Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy), are so effective that most people with HIV can live relatively normal lives with undetectable viral replication in their blood, robust immune systems (as measured by normal CD4 T cell counts), and freedom from progression to AIDS. As a result, people with HIV are living long lives and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as end stage renal and liver disease is increasing in this population. Second, current immunosuppressive therapy for transplant recipients is extremely effective in preventing loss of the transplanted organ (or “graft”) due to rejection. Rejection episodes still do

Dr. Chris Barry

occur, but their frequency and severity is significantly reduced with current therapy. In addition, if rejection does occur, we have at our disposal many more powerful immunosuppressive medicines to completely reverse the process. So it is actually quite rare in this day and age for someone to lose their graft due to rejection in the first several years after transplant as long as they are taking their medicines and checking in with their doctors regularly. Third, our medicines to prevent and treat opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients have come a long way. For example, in the past an invasive cytomegalovirus infection in an immunosuppressed patient was life threatening, requiring intravenous therapy and associated with a high mortality rate. Nowadays, this type of infection can often be managed as an outpatient with oral

medications. This vast improvement in confirm similar overall results with the opportunistic infection prevention and pilot study. So it appears that kidney and treatment has greatly benefitted both the liver transplantation in people with HIV transplant and HIV populations. is not any more problematic than transEnd stage organ failure, including liver plantation in the general population. disease and kidney disease, is increasing There are some challenges with this in incidence in people with HIV. Chronic endeavor, however. First, acute rejection liver disease as a result of coinfection with episodes are higher in kidney transplant Hepatitis B and C viruses is particularly recipients with HIV. Rates were reportprevalent in the HIV infected population. ed as high as 70 percent in the UCSF Common causes of end stage renal disstudy and 40 percent in the larger mulease, such as diabetes and hypertension, ticenter trial, compared to expected rates affect those with HIV. In addition, HIV of 15-20 percent in the general populaitself can lead to kidney failure (an entity tion. Fortunately, these rejection episodes termed “HIV Associated Nephropathy” were most often reversible with stronger or HIVAN). HIVAN is the most comimmunosuppressive therapies. The reamon cause of renal failure among people son for these observed increased rejecwith HIV as well as the third most comtion rates is unclear, but may be a result mon cause of end stage renal disease in of lower overall antirejection drug levels African Americans between the ages of due to interaction with certain HAART 20-60 years. drugs. It is quite surprising that patients Back before HAART was available, the with a supposedly immunosuppressive experience with transplanting people with viral infection are able to mount such HIV was dismal. In the post HAART era, strong immune responses to the transhowever, results have proven to be complanted organ. parable to transplanting those without A second problem, alluded to above, HIV. A pilot study performed at the Uniis that of drug-drug interactions. Specifiversity of California cally, the “calcineurin San Francisco begininhibitor” antirejecning in 2002 showed tion drugs tacrolimus “... people with that one year patient and cyclosporine are well-controlled and graft survival significantly affectin liver and kidney ed by the “protease HIV infection can transplant recipients inhibitor” HAART be successfully with well controlled drugs such as Kaletransplanted with HIV was not statistra. When these two tically different than excellent outcomes...” classes of medicines results in patients are used together, without HIV. “Well the dose of calcineucontrolled HIV” sperin inhibitor needs to cifically means that the virus is not activebe drastically reduced and the dosage ly replicating, the T cell component of the frequency greatly curtailed in order to immune system is intact and robust, and achieve proper blood levels. Such interthere are no active opportunistic infecactions may result in overall lower antitions while on a stable HAART regimen. rejection blood levels and contribute to The promising results of the UCSF the higher rejection rates observed in study led to a larger multicenter study and HIVpositive kidney transplant recipients. the results of this study will soon be pubFortunately, newer HAART medicines lished in the medical literature. Prelimiare now available, specifically the “intenary communications by the investigators grase inhibitor” class of drugs, that do not

If you have a legal matter... ...Call the lawyer for you, your family and our community. Harry B. Bronson, Esq. 585.233.8789 harry@bronsonatlaw.com Wills Health Care Proxy Power of Attorney LGBT Partnership & Estate Planning Buying/Selling a House Name Changes Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Small Business Law Non-Profit Representation

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet have such profound interactions with the immunosuppressive drugs. Finally, coinfection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV results in poorer outcomes, particularly in the liver transplant population. This is largely due to the fact that we currently do not have very good treatment for HCV infection. Current therapies, namely interferon and ribavirin, are only about 40 percent effective in controlling or eradicating HCV. Furthermore, these medicines are poorly tolerated in patients with impaired liver function, limiting their use in the postoperative setting. Furthermore, and quite unfortunately, interferon treatment can predispose to rejection episodes, further limiting its effective use in the transplant population. Two new anti-HCV medicines, both of the protease inhibitor class, will be commercially available very soon (i.e., less than six months) and preliminary data show promise for efficacy in the general transplant and HIV transplant populations. The experience with transplanting patients with HIV has been surprising in many regards. Perhaps most interesting is that administering antirejection drugs aimed at T cells does not result in reactivation of HIV. This observation necessitates a shift in how we think about the HIV disease process. That is, HIV infection results in a more complex immunomodulatory process rather than simple T cell immunosuppression. Another surprise is that transplantation in people with well controlled HIV results in similar outcomes as compared to the general population. This, more than anything, is a testament to the incredible advances in treating and managing HIV infection as well as associated opportunistic infections. Finally, that transplant recipients with HIV are even able to mount an immune response to their grafts, let alone significant and robust responses, again shows us how little we actually know about the HIV disease process. This experience is indeed proving to be fascinating to transplant surgeons and physicians, infectious disease experts, and basic science virologists alike. Future directions for transplantation in people with HIV include increasing our experience with integrase inhibitors to minimize drug-drug interactions, beginning to study anti-HCV protease inhibitors in the HCV/HIV coinfected population, continuing long term follow up of HIVpositive transplant recipients, and using the HIV positive transplant experience to increase our knowledge of the basic molecular virology and pathophysiology of HIV infection. Here at URMC, we are actively assembling a team of surgeons, transplant nephrologists and hepatologists, HIV infectious disease experts, and pharmacists to begin offering kidney transplantation to people with HIV and possibly liver transplantation to HCVnegative people with HIV. Dr. Barry can be contacted at chris_ barry@urmc.rochester.edu. ■

Opinion Marriage Equality Day and the bigots in our backyard By Todd Plank Although it remains uncertain as to which political party will be in the majority in the New York State Senate next year, Equality Rochester (EROC), in cooperation with Marriage Equality New York (MENY), is already making arrangements for local participation in a statewide marriage equality lobby day in Albany on Tuesday, Feb. 8. Feb. 8 is Marriage Equality Day! This is an annual educational event organized by MENY and designed to provide community leaders and constituents from all over NYS with the opportunity to speak face-to-face with their elected representatives about why they support and demand marriage equality now and help build early momentum for future action in the NYS Legislature. For more information about Marriage Equality Day and to register, you are invited to visit http://www.meny.us/ med. Bus transportation will be provided based on the number of registrants per district (so register early). Scholarships are being offered on a first come first served basis. Join the MENY Rochester group on Facebook at http://facebook.com/#!/ group.php?gid=125280724190380. Equality Rochewter also has a blog: http:// www.equalityroc.blogdspot.com. With the frenzied election season behind us, and the holidays approaching, there is a temptation to take a welldeserved vacation from political advocacy. Many of us are “war weary” from years of fighting for our equality; however, it’s important to realize that the opposition remains busy at work in our own backyard. Not only did national anti-gay groups like NOM and the Alliance Defense Fund send pre-election postcards to conservative N.Y. churches, there are several state-wide organizations working against marriage equality. One of these, New Yorker’sFamily Research Foundation’s (NYFRF), was founded by Spencerport native the Rev. Duane Motley, director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Fairness (NYCF). Motley was one of the founding members of First Bible Baptist Church (FBBC) in Spencerport and served as a pastor at the church for over five years. (Current pastor George Grace carries on the “family tradition” of exclusion and opposition to LGBT equality at FBCC.) Motley then turned his attention to politics and became a theocracy-endorsing lobbyist to make certain that there was a “Christian voice in Albany.” In 1982 he formed New Yorkers for Constitutional Fairness (NYCF) and in 1990 he founded New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation (NYFRF) “to educate Christians on legislation before state and federal government pertaining to religious freedoms, moral values and family issues.” (source: www.nyfrf.org) Motley has become a national figure in the “family values” movement; however, he remains active in promoting his anti-gay agenda in his home state. He joined the lawsuit with the Alliance Defense Fund to fight the landmark Martinez decision (settled in the NYS Supreme Court-Appellate 4th Division in Rochester) which upholds the legal recognition of same-sex couples who have entered into a civil marriage in any state in the U.S. or any other region or country where such contracts have legal standing. Motley is also part of the Coalition to Save Marriage in New York which has some notable players, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council as an advisor. Visit the Coalition to Save Mar-

riage in New York website for a full list of names: http://www.savemarriageny.org/ Who%20We%20Are.htm In 2009 Motley and New Yorkers for Constitutional Fairness (NYCF) sponsored an anti-gay rally in NYC that featured Ruben Diaz, Tony Perkins, Bishop Harry Jackson and Maggie Gallagher of NOM as speakers. Motley’s New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation (NYFRF) has created a political action committee (PAC). Their PAC website, www.newyorkfamilies.org, received over 350,000 hits from individuals who responded to a flyer widely distributed prior to the November elections. The flyer was spotted at the popular Gitsis restaurant on Monroe Ave. The link on the flyer directed people to NYCFPAC’s voter guide and touts its mission “to elect pro-life, pro-family, and pro-freedom candidates in the Empire State.” This misleading mission statement, when correctly translated, means that NYCFPAC endorses candidates who are opposed to same-sex marriage and reproductive rights for women. Their so-called “pro-freedom” agenda involves curtailing the freedoms of people who do not share their christian ideology with the intention of creating a society that reflects only the values of Reverends Duane Motley, Jason McGuire and Tom Stiles, the three pastors who are leaders of the NYCFPAC. You can be sure that LGBT people are not part of their vision of a better world! In his on line 2010 Thanksgiving Day message Motley writes: “I am thankful for the legislative victories, such as blocking same-sex marriage and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (also known as the “Bathroom Bill”). If Jason and I had not been representing you in the New York State Legislature, these two bills would have become law.” (http:// www.nyfrf.org/content/view/292/) If you briefly peruse the websites mentioned in the previous paragraphs, you can’t help but feel somewhat intimidated by the vast infrastructure that Motley’s crew has developed. Their agenda is to strip away the few rights that LGBT citizens have fought for and won (SONDA, DASA). Given the opportunity, these self-proclaimed “pro-freedom, pro-life, pro-family” values organizations would put gays and lesbians back in the closet (or coffin) and nail the door shut. People who support a women’s right to choose if and when to start a family would be (in fact already are) persecuted, imprisoned or executed. In view of all of this, how can we justify being complacent in the face of such enemies who are working diligently to deny us our freedom to live openly as authentic human beings? Equality Rochester, Marriage Equality New York and the Empire State Pride Agenda remain committed to safeguarding our hard won rights and pressing on to pass a marriage equality bill and to ending discrimination against gender non-conforming individuals (GENDA). A handful of paid staff and a core group of volunteers can do a lot, but everyone must get engaged with the defining civil rights movement of the late 20th and early 21st century. You must talk with people in your sphere of influence (family members, friends, co-workers, etc.) and recruit them to get involved in the cause. We need everyone to face the reality that it is not inevitable that we will win marriage and pass GENDA in NYS or on a national level in our lifetime. It all comes down to this: What are you willing to do to secure your rights as a full-citizen of this state and nation? It’s time to get angry and rekindle our determination to achieve equality and justice for all. So what can you do? For starters, you can register for MENY’S Marriage Equality Day (02.08.11). Next you can sign up for EROC’s Marriage Equality Advocacy Training on Facebook, via email at atischer@frontiernet.net or todd.plank@ gmail.com or by calling Anne (426-0862) or Todd (278-4190). The workshop will be held on Satur-

A 17 day, Jan. 15 at Metro Justice, 167 Flanders St., from 9:30-2:30. RSVPs are requested in order to provide lunch and snacks for everyone. Donations of $10 will be gratefully accepted to help defray costs; however, this event is free and open to the public. Snowdate is Jan. 22. The lunch and advocacy training is intended to bring folks up to speed with what was/is happening in in the NYS legislature, reflect on the increasingly favorable climate among the general public toward gays and lesbian New Yorkers, and to revitalize and strengthen our activist muscles for the heavy lifts ahead of us. This is also an opportunity for us to expand our definition of community and reach out to individuals and groups who are often rendered invisible within the LGBT community because of issues of class and/or race. Now is the time to break down barriers by developing creative ways of connecting and fostering a movement that is inclusive of everyone and representative of the diversity that exists in our cities, counties and state. In many respects securing our rights is a numbers game. As is the case in many elections, whoever has the most active supporters and war chest ($$$) wins. You are being invited to stand up and be counted. (Remember: 350,000 people were counted by Motley’s PAC leading up to the November elections!) If you can make a financial donation to support pro-lgbt causes and organizations that would be great! However, what we really need is something even more precious; your time and energy. The truth is that we can’t do it without you! Please make and act on a commitment to working for social and economic justice for LGBT New Yorkers. Register for Marriage Equality Day by no later than Jan. 15 and sign up for Equality Rochester’s Marriage Equality Advocacy Training by Jan. 8. Get Busy and Get Equal! ■

18 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011

Making the Scene Left to right: LiDestri dinner guests Trent Marshall, David Gardiner and Tom Privitere make their way over to Mamooche Bistro for live and silent auctions, coffee, pastries, cash bar and a performance by the Big Wigs (Kasha Davis and Aggy Dune).

RAINBOW SAGE DANCE: Suzanne Barres and Tony Perri at the Fall Dance on Nov. 6.

Marilyn Mitchell and Paul Mykins at the dance. Photos: Susan Jordan

PARTY NIGHT: On Nov. 6, dinner guests donned their best attire to attend Night of 1,000 Parties, a major fundraiser for AIDS Care, the region’s premiere healthcare agency treating people living with or affected by HIV or AIDS. Diners experienced the best offerings from the finest caterers and chefs in town. Pictured are Tim Tompkins, owner of ONE Restaurant (center), who is flanked by famed violinist Svet Radoslavof (left) and AIDS Care President Jay Rudman. ONE Restaurant hosted over 50 special dinner guests for Night of 1,000 Parties. Photos: Ove Overmyer

Left to right: Jim Wolk, Dr. Cynthia ReddeckLiDestri and Dr. Bill Valenti at the LiDestri home.

WROC-TV Channel 8 news reporter Matt Molloy shines as Master of Ceremonies at the Night of 1,000 Parties after-dinner gathering at Mamooche Bistro, on the corner of East Ave. and Alexander St.

Gay Alliance staff members with Ken Moran at Jeremiahs on Oct. 26.

Peter Gines at Jine’s.

GAGV DINES OUT: Twenty Rochester restaurants and bars participated in the Gay Alliance’s Dine Out fundraiser on Oct. 26. Above: Kelly Clark and Patrick Giuiano at GUSTO. Photos: Brian Doran

Diane Chevron and Lisa Bunce at the Park Ave. Pub, one of the Dine Out participants.

Jeanne Gainsburg, Andrea Shaughnessy, Sue Cowell and Scott Fearing at Winfield Grill. The funds raised at Dine Out will benefit Gay Alliance programs such as the Youth Center. The Alliance thanks all the businesses that took part and everyone who enjoyed a delicious meal that day!

David and Chris Carpenter at Edibles on Oct. 26.

Gus Hall and Lew Gizzie at the Bachelor Forum. Many thanks to them and owner Peter Mohr.

dec-jan 2011 • number 441 • gay alliance of the genesee valley • the empty closet

A 19

Halloween and the City Photos by Eric Bellmann

Happy International Birthday, Michael Gamilla!

MICHAEL’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES: Left: Walter Bukowski and Michael Gamilla in full vintage regalia at one of Michael’s Rochester birthday parties over Halloween weekend. Right: Michael again. Photos: Brent Loomis

Above and below: A Toronto Halloween Party on Church Street served as Michael’s third party. Photos : J Deschamps

20 A

the empty closet • the gay alliance of the genesee valley • number 441 • dec-jan 2011