'N Touch News Magazine Issue #84, July 2011

FROM THE EDITOR

1n10, QSpeak, & YEP should be safe words I scrapped the editorial I was going to do when a few recent incidents came to our attention which made the staff feel that as a community perhaps we need to figure out a few things. I had a teacher that said you can judge a nation/community on how it treats its children/ youth, old people and pets.

As a community we have the latter down pat. Most of us treat our furry family members better than some people treat their kids. BUT, when it comes to our youth we seem to be taking a giant step backwards.

Before youth groups like 1n10, most LGBT youth lived in complete silence and isolation.

For many of us the gay and lesbian bars were the first and usually the only place to go to find out about “queers”. Some gay youth went to parks because they heard gay men hung out.

And trans? Forget about it. There were even less resources for them.

We have to agree that none of these places were the ideal way for a young person to discover themselves. Some adults in these places took advantage when they should have mentored in a positive way. Perhaps this is the reason so many of us (of a certain age) ended up abusing alcohol and other substances. Sometimes you needed a drink when you are growing up too fast. But that is the past.

Today there are LGBT youth groups such as 1n10, QSpeak Theatre and the YEP House where kids can find support and discover themselves at their own pace. Not everyone builds self esteem and confidence at the same time.

These programs support youth that range in age from 14 to 24. Twenty-four? Yes, most grant programs now include youth up to the age of 24, because science has recognized that young people do not have a fully developed brain until around age 26.

Most of us know without a doubt that underage (17 years of age or younger in AZ) youth should be off limits sexually and off limits in some other ways too, but what about those over 18? There are some youth who at 19 are self confident and can advocate for themselves. But, there are 24 year-olds who do not have that same confidence or ability. So if you meet a young person between the ages of 1824 in a bar or at an event should he or she be fair game?

In the larger community when young women (and sometimes women in general) are accosted, someone will usually step in and tell the

4 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

person doing the accosting to get lost. But what about in our community?

One case in point, a 22 year old was hit on and groped by a “leader” of the community at a bar. The young man said he told the man that he was in the 1n10 group and kept trying to move away from him, but the man started groping him. When asked why he didn’t say “no” and walk away he replied, “I didn’t know what to do, he’s important he is on the cover of ___. This youth lacked the confidence to stop the unwanted advances himself. He eventually pulled himself away from the groper. Should someone else, yes there were others with the “leader”, have stepped in?

Do you know the difference between a youth who is sexually interested in you and one who is homeless and merely trying to have a safe place to spend the night? Does it matter? Should it matter?

Since 1991, across the nation QuikTrip has been a designated SafePlace, where runaways and at-risk youth can come in off the street, receive food and drink, and wait for a volunteer from a SafePlace agency partner to connect them with professional help or a place to stay until their situation is resolved.

I think we need a community-wide program where bartenders, Drag Queens, organizations, sports leagues and particularly “leaders” should all learn how to be cognizant of youth under duress and what to do. We also need for youth to know beyond a doubt that the majority of us are here to help them and all they need to do is ask. You should never feel embarrassed to say that you can’t handle a situation no matter how old you are.

Should 1n10, QSpeak and YEP be safe words? Do we need more of a discussion? Do we need to have a town hall meeting? I am sure 1n10, QSpeak, and Yep would be happy to facilitate a it. I know ‘N Touch would.

Until then, if a youth feels the NEED to tell you that they are with one of those three organizations or some other youth group, don’t pressure him/her. It may be their way of saying keep it respectful.

Next time maybe we can tackle how we treat our elders.

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Issue At A Glance ‘N Touch News Magazine Issue #84, July 2011

LOCAL NEWS 6

Equality Arizona rises from the ashes

7

Native American-focused PFLAG starts

8

Tucson Pride Week kicks off

9

Lake Havasu City mom wins Vanguard award

11

Queen Mother bestows award on Tucson resident

p 7 - Native PFLAG starts

YOUTH 15

The cost of bullying

p 11 - The Queen declares

BUSINESS 22

Q Ranch B&B offers archeological site, wildlife, gourmet meals

FITNESS 24

Abdominal, pelvic and back pain?

p 15 - Bullying costs us all

FEATURE ARTICLE 28

Is Pride losing its soul?

HEALTH 35

Disease prevention begins with nutrition

HERE TO SERVE OUR p 28 - Why we march

COMMUNITY!

FEATURE ARTICLE II 40

Support the AZ Right to Marry walkers

NIGHTLIFE 46

725 West Indian School Road, Suite 125 p 40 - 99 miles of AZ

For more information visit www.1vcc.org

See what’s going on around AZ

or call (602)712-0111

FOCUS TUCSON 48

Phoenix, AZ 85013

Meet SAGA’s new coordinator p 48 - Meet Erin Russ

LOCAL NEWS

Equality Arizona rises from the ashes

By Luis Garcia Equality Arizona should be renamed “The Phoenix.” Just like the mythical sacred firebird that rose from the ashes, the statewide political advocacy organization which was on the brink of extinction is back in a huge way.

Shortly after hosting a successful mayoral candidates forum, EQAZ filled a room with dignitaries and community leaders to announce the creation of the Capitol Club. A club for individuals committed to furthering efforts in securing equality within our state and in our backyards.

Among those in attendance were Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-Arizona), Arizona House of Representative Chad Campbell (D14), Ruben Gallego (D-16), Katie Hobbs (D-15), Phoenix Councilman Bryan Jeffries, and EQAZ’s newly endorsed candidate for Phoenix mayor Greg Stanton.

In addition, EQAZ has added three new volunteer members to its team.

According to EQAZ Public Relations Director Sam Holdren, the new interns; Robbie Lopez, Bruce Cabanayan and Peter Lauer have been working diligently to help Equality Arizona achieve its mission of securing equality in Arizona.

“The success of our movement for equality depends on our ability to engage and mobilize younger people,” says Holdren. We have so many heroes who have led the movement over the years, and as we move forward, we have an opportunity to build an even stronger base of supporters with diverse view-

New EQAZ Interns pictured from left to right: Robbie Lopez, Bruce Cabanayan, and Peter Lauer

points and perspectives by involving young leaders like Robbie, Bruce and Peter. I am proud to be able to work with such accomplished young leaders, and look forward to working with Robbie, Bruce and Peter to begin building a true statewide movement.”

Cabanayan told ‘N Touch News that he joined Equality Arizona to help secure and defend equal rights for LGBT people in the state.

“I’ve always identified with the cause, but I didn’t get to be a part of it while I was in college, so I was very excited when I learned that I would get a chance to do so with Equality Arizona,” said Cabanayan “I hope I can use my background in that field to contribute to a positive and collaborative atmosphere that is conducive to our effectiveness in advocating for LGBT rights, as well as some perspective on the intersections of LGBT, ethnic, and youth cultures. I’ve witnessed the power of community organization and education and I understand the importance of taking creative ap-

6 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

proaches to leadership in order to further equality for LGBT people in Arizona, and I hope that I can demonstrate my passion for this cause with this organization.”

Cabanayan is a recent graduate from the University of Southern California (USC) and currently lives in Chandler. He held a leadership role in USC’s Filipino cultural club while active in the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s youth program. He is serving as a 40 hour/week Development Intern for the summer.

Lauer is just as thrilled to join EQAZ. The new political intern sought out an internship after a reading of EQAZ’s work for antibullying legislation.

“I’m feeling so privileged to get to work with such dedicated, inspiring people,” said Lauer. “Interning here has already proved to be a great education in the legislative challenges of the LGBTQ community, as well as the tools we can utilize to successfully surmount those challenges. I hope that my efforts as an intern here can help contribute towards

that goal, and look forward to learning as much as possible from the experience.”

Lauer will begin his senior year at Arizona State University this year.

He is pursuing a degree in Political Science, and has a strong interest in electoral politics.

Rounding up the trio is ASU student and Tucson resident Robbie Lopez. He is pursuing a degree in Non-profit Leadership & Management. He also previously worked with the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona. Robbie helped organize Equality Arizona?s volunteers at Phoenix Pride this year and has since then has joined EQAZ team as our Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator. In that role he is helping to manage EQAZ’s volunteer program and organizing outreach activities at community events.

“The volunteer service that Robbie, Bruce and Peter have already provided has proven to be invaluable,” said Holdren. “Our movement for equality in this state will be wellserved with their help this summer.”

The mission of Equality Arizona to secure, protect and defend the rights and welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Arizona. For more information visit equalityarizona.org Upcoming EQAZ Events Meet Suns President & CEO Rick Welts July 26, 6 p.m., US Airways Center, 201 E Jefferson Street in Phoenix. For more information visit equalityarizona.org or call 602650-0900.

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LOCAL NEWS

PFLAG adds Native American group

By J. Ursone

PHOENIX - PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Phoenix is adding another group to its growing list of support programs for the Phoenix metropolitan area. A Native American-focused PFLAG will meet on the second Tuesday of every month at 7p.m. at the Native American Connections’ Catherine Arms Apartment Community located at 315 West Fillmore Street in Phoenix.

The newest support group will have a Native American focus that will address additional cultural issues for LGBTQ individuals who are also Native American and for

their family members and friends.

PFLAG Phoenix currently offers seven support meeting sites across the Valley focussing on their mission to support, educate, and advocate for and on behalf of LGBTQ individuals, their families, and friends. The non-profit fulfills this mission primarily through local support meetings, but also through other community activities as well.

PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity. Anyone who has a LGBTQ family member or friend is welcome to attend, as are any LGBTQ individuals who are interested in participating. Also welcome are straight allies who support LGBTQ individuals and the advancement of LGBTQ civil rights.

Besides the Native American group, other groups include general support meetings in central Phoenix, Fountain Hills, north Scottsdale, Sun City West, and Tempe.

In addition, PFLAG Phoenix also offers a bilingual Hispanic-focused support meeting in central Phoenix.

Support meeting schedule: * Phoenix support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at First Congregational United Church of Christ. * Tempe support group meets at 7 p.m. the first Friday of every month at Dayspring United Methodist Church. * Sun City West support group meets at 1:30 p.m. the fourth Sunday of the month at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. * North Scottsdale support group meets the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at Via de Cristo United Methodist Church. * Bilingual Hispanic-focused support group meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ. * Fountain Hills support group meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the month at The Fountains

United Methodist Church. * Native American-focused support group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Native American Connections’ Catherine Arms Apartment Community.

PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford started what later became an international movement when she marched with her son, Mortie, in New York’s Gay Pride Parade. Enraged that her son had been beaten at a gay rights protest two months before while police stood by and did nothing, she carried a sign at the Pride parade that read, “Parents of Gays: Unite in Support of Our Children.” Almost 40 years later, PFLAG has grown to include more than 500 chapters nationwide, with over 200,000 members, supporters, and affiliates representing the largest chapter network in the struggle for GLBT rights.

For more information call 602843-1404, email info@pflagphoenix.org or go to pflagphoenix.org

New beginnings for One Voice Community Center

By Paul Sanchez & J. Ursone PHOENIX - On June 8 the Board of Directors of the One Voice Community Center announced that the Center will be moving the last week of July to a suite of offices at 4442 N. Seventh Ave. in Phoenix.

After voting on three new board members, James Heppler, Lisa Aragon, and Tate Elridege, the board led by Jason Posey voted to move the center a few blocks north from its current location at 725 W. Indian School Rd. According to co-chair Jimmy Gruender, the move could increase cash flow for the struggling nonprofit.

“The space is larger, but the great thing is that it is designed in a way that we can host multiple meetings in separate rooms without noise interference. The two largest rooms can work as spaces for group meetings or a lounge with a library.

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There is space for a conference room, reception area and several small offices, which would allow One Voice to sublet the offices to other groups for a donation.”

The three-year agreement, with an option to renew for two years, comes with a monthly rent of $1,800, which is less than the original asking price. Gruender says the landlord was so eager to have the center that he lowered the price.

“You know us gays, we redecorate and keep the place up.”

The center will be open during most of this time, but new hours will be from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. All groups who currently use the facility will still meet at their regular times.

In other news, the board said they will hire an accountant to do an audit to determine what the organization owes Magellan Health

Services, which is seeking $45,000 it provided as part of an adult alcohol abuse prevention program that was cut earlier this year after a dispute with the grant’s advisory group the Maricopa LGBT Consortium.

According to Marisa Zelaya, One Voice treasurer, the organization has a bank balance of $32,393.

Thirty-thousand dollars is being set aside for the possible Magellan refund.

One Voice also set the date of its largest fundraiser, the One Voice Gala, for Nov. 19 at the Embassy

Suites Phoenix - North.

“Our goal this year is to raise $15,000. Rather than a fashion show, this year the dinner will recognize the center’s achievements and supporters with a holiday kickoff theme” said Michael Saragosa, who is coordinating the event and is a member of the fundraising committee.

Tickets will be priced lower than previous years at $75 and $50.

For updates about One Voice go to 1vcc.org

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 7

LOCAL NEWS

Tucson Pride History Week 2011 “Remembering Our Past, Celebrating Our Future”

TUCSON - Each year, communities across America and the World gather to celebrate LGBT Pride. Tucson Pride has a great line up this year for the annual “Pride History Week.”

Friday, June 17 at 4p.m.Tucson Pride hosts a Road Trip to the WNBA Phoenix Mercury home opener (tickets online at tucsonpride.org).

Friday, June 17-19 Bisbee Pride takes place in Bisbee (bisbeepride.com).

Flagstaff Pride starts their event off with Suzanne Westenhoefoer on Friday night and concludes their festival weekend with a Sunday Brunch. See their website for more details at flagstaffpride.org Saturday, June 18 from 6-9p.m. “Lipstick and Toolbelt” Dance at Colors, 5305 E Speedway Blvd (colorstucson.com). Ladies this is the place to be to dance to the music of the 70s, 80s and 90s by request. There are drawings for gift cards.

9p.m.-close enjoy Latin Dance.

Wednesday, June 22 College Night at The Biz. 18+ event with a cover for 21+. There will be 2 DJs spinning the tunes with Gogo dancers providing just some of the entertainment of the night.

Drink specials changing every 30 minutes.

Thursday, June 23 Steak Night at the VentureN. Ten ounce steak, potatoes, salad, and bread for $10 from 6-8p.m. For more information visit

venture-n.com.

Saturday, June 25 it is time for The Big Gay Scavenger Hunt. Are you willing to stuff yourself into the ice cooler in a grocery store? Are you willing to sing “I’m a Little Teapot” in front of strangers? That are just two of the tasks that the teams completed last year. It is sure to be another fun filled event this year!

Grand Prize winning team members will each receive a VIP Tent ticket, entrance to the Pride in the Desert event, hotel accommodations and transportation to and from hotel to the event.

Best Team Costume winning team members will receive a VIP Tent ticket and entrance to the Pride in the Desert event.

Join the Bears of the Old Pueblo for their Beer Bust benefiting local charities at The VentureN! The fine folks at the Venture-N are offering $1 drafts and $2.50 pitchers of soda or beer and $2.00 bowls of our famous homemade chili. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds go straight to the Homeless LGBT Youth Programs of Wingspan & Open Inn! Join them for a great afternoon on the Venture-N’s patio and enjoy some tasty beverages, jumpin’ tunes, and friendly bruins all while benefiting your community! For more information contact President Kevin Jackson at: 520-904-4714 or sonoranbear@gmail.com.

At 8 p.m. join Woody’s at their Luau. Plenty of drink specials, games and give-a-ways all night long.

Sunday, June 26 starting at 2.p.m “Remembering Our Past, Celebrating Our Future” at Fluxx Studios, 414 E 9th Street. Free Coming Out Panel with open Question and Answer forum to follow.

For more information go to tucsonpride.org

Local First Arizona celebrates National Independents Week

In recognition of National Independents Week, Local First Arizona will honor locally owned, independent businesses from June 27 - July 4.

Known fondly as ‘Indie Week,’ the weeklong celebration will be filled with festive events and a special “Golden Coupon” offer which is good for a 20% discount at participating businesses. The collaboration between independent businesses and consumers is just the boost the Valley needs, especially moving into the summer months.

Arizonans are encouraged to “Take the Pledge” 8 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

to shop local during Indie Week. Indie Week presents the perfect opportunity for Valley residents to visit any one of the many participating stores that they may not have otherwise known about or have wanted to try - all while spending locally and saving money.

The popular Golden Coupon is the ticket to saving 20% off purchases from over one hundred locally owned establishments including auto repairs, home furnishing stores, florists, restaurants, yoga studios and nurseries (a list of participating businesses will be available on www.localfirstaz. com sometime in early June). Shoppers and diners can simply print out the Golden Coupon from the LFA website and use it at as many participating locations as they please.

Local First will be at events and farmers markets throughout the week to hand out Golden Coupons and raffle off a staycation package. While Independents Week is a festive week long celebration, the larger message and goal is to create a ripple effect of local spending. By shifting even a small percentage of purchases to locally owned businesses, money is circulated back into the economy over

and over creating up to 75% more tax revenue to the community and state. Independents Week is a great starting point on the road to a healthier local economy and more cohesive initiative to “Keep Your Money Where Your Home Is.” Local First Arizona (LFA) is the largest duespaying alliance of independent businesses in the country, working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona. LFA educates citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies.

Founded in 2003 by Director Kimber Lanning, LFA received its 501(c)3 nonprofit status in 2009 to support the rapid growth of membership.

Named the Local First Arizona Foundation, the 501(c)3 focuses on economic development, local procurement, and the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The Foundation works in tandem with LFA, a 501(c)6, which will continue its work on the advancement of local businesses.

For more information go to localfirstaz.com news / politics / business / opinion

LOCAL NEWS

Maricopa Colleges Foundation creates scholarship for LGBTQ students

The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation believes there isn’t another scholarship program quite like it in Arizona, and they’re hoping donors and students will feel the same way.

The OUT and UP Endowed Scholarship Fund, which is halfway to raising its one-year goal of $200,000, will award no less than two scholarships in perpetuity once funds for the endowment have been raised, said Rachel Rabinovich, senior development officer for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation.

“It’s an opportunity for disenfranchised lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-

gender and queer/questioning young adults who’ve faced negative responses from their families of origin because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression,” she said. “These young people (25 years and under) are neither supported emotionally nor financially by their families. LGBTQ youth who grow up in the foster care system often experience the same lack of emotional support.”

“Once they reach 18, they find themselves on the streets without financial help as well,” said Julie Roberts, LGBTQ Liaison to Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, who noted that according to the National Mental Health Association, 28 percent of gay and lesbian students drop out of school, three times the national average. In addition, according to the National School Climate Survey of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight

Education Network, gay students are twice as likely as the general population to report they had no plans to go to college.

“The Maricopa Community Colleges and its Foundation are in a unique position to provide these young people access to higher education and assist their transition from being dependent to being independent, from needing to be supported by the community to being able to contribute to it,” Roberts added.

More than $88,000 has been raised from 125 donors since the scholarship’s launch at the Desperado Film Festival in late January, 2011.

Each OUT and UP Endowed Scholarship will cover tuition, books and fees up to 60 credit hours and $5,000. It will be renewable each semester, as long as the recipient upholds a minimum 2.0 GPA and completes at least nine credit hours

each semester.

Currently, nine of the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges have active gay-straight alliances (GSA) whose faculty advisors are all members of the LGBTQ employee constituent group, Equality Maricopa. All 10 colleges have faculty and staff who have completed two-day Safe Space Training, and are openly identified in their offices as allies to the LGBTQ community. All campuses provide a safe environment for learning, success and personal growth, Rabinovich said.

“Three of our colleges (ChandlerGilbert, Glendale and Paradise Valley) have established their own LGBTQ scholarships, but the OUT and UP Endowed Scholarship will be the first of its kind,” she added.

For more information about the Foundation, or to donate go to maricopa.edu/foundation.

Lake Havasu City mom wins Vanguard Award Trans Youth Allies’ Kim Pearson recognized

By Luis Garcia he world would be in a much better place if it had more mothers like Kim Pearson and LGBT organizations recognize that.

Earlier this month Pearson, Executive Director of TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA), was awarded the prominent Vanguard Award at the 5th annual LGBTA Youth Awards presented by the Gay and Lesbian Administrators and Allies (GALAA), LifeWorks Mentoring and the California Men’s Gathering in recognition of her work on behalf of gender-variant youth and their families.

Pearson has been the face of TYFA since it began in 2006. The organization strives to empower children and families by partnering with educators, service providers and communities, to develop supportive environments in which gender may be expressed and respected.

“We educate school staff and administration to make sure our children have the best learning environment possible,” said TYFA President news / politics / business / opinion

Shannon Garcia. “Kim has done the most advocacy and education for our organization. We are beyond excited for her award. We began this organization as three moms who met on the internet and now we help over 300 families. We had no idea the scope of how things would change.

It’s a good feeling knowing our presence in known.”

The ceremony took place at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center’s Ed Gould Plaza. Students were given academic scholarships and awards, and nonprofits and individuals in the LGBT community were recognized for the outstanding work they do to promote LGBT rights, advocacy and services.

“I am thrilled and honored to receive this award,” said Pearson.

“Since our founding in 2006, TYFA has seen significant improvements in attitudes and accommodations for gender-variant and gender-questioning youth. Recognition like the Vanguard Award inspires me and the organization I lead to keep that

momentum going.”

Pearson first directed her energy into LGBT support, advocacy and education as the founder and president of Lake Havasu City’s PFLAG Chapter when the youngest of her three children came out as lesbian in 2005. Eighteen months later she found herself facilitating that same child’s transition to living life as a young man. Since then Pearson has been an advocate for trans youth and their families.

In addition, Pearson has been the National Board President for PFLAG-Transgender Network and a board member for River Rainbow Pride. In 2009 Pearson received the 2009 Northern Arizona Activist of the Year award from Equality Arizona and in 2010 was honored with Colorado Gender Identity Center’s Melissa Chapman for her efforts seeking positive social change in the transgender community.

“The Vanguard Award is a wonderful acknowledgement of Kim’s

work for TYFA at the frontier of family support related to gender identity and expression,” said Garcia. Gender-variant minors and their families have unique needs. As more young people express a wider range of gender identities, including transition to living in their affirmed gender, TYFA is leading the way in these emerging legal, medical, and social issues.”

For more information on TYFA visit imatyfa.org or call 1-888-4628932.

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 9

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LOCAL NEWS

LGBT heroes walk among us “This has been a historic week for our nation” said President Obama, and indeed this past week has been a most historic week for America and all of its citizens. Yes, a week where justice, triumphed over evil. A week of true heroes. Personally, let me say that I’ve never been more proud to be from San Diego - the home of the training base for the U.S. Navy Seals.

These last years have been very difficult times for Americans, We all long for true heroes.

For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans this last decade has been full of victories and defeats. Indeed our fight for equality is the civil rights movement of the 21st century.

I have been blessed to witness and be apart of the change for over 40 years in both my Latino and GLBT communities. And one thing this “old queen” can tell you all is that heroes have always walked among us.

I come from a time when homosexuals were considered “divates” and a time where police harassed us and beat us. And gay men and lesbians could and were sent to mental hospitals just because they were homosexuals. Many of my friends never returned from these mental hospitals the same.

GLBT HEROES have always walked among us even in the 1950’s, 1960’s and 70’s. Heroes like Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, Frank Kameny, Sylvia Rivera, Bayard Rustin, Rev. Troy Perry, and Ginny Appuzo and Christine Jorgeson.

And, World War II Veteran and proud Hispanic, Jose Julio Sarria, who in 1961 became the first openly gay candidate to run for public office in North America and in 1965 founded the Imperial Court System which now has chapters in over 68 cities in the nations of Canada the United States and Mexico.

I have had the honor to become friends and work, with many of these heroes including Cleve Jones, Urvashi Vaid, Robin Tyler, David Mixner, Elizabeth Birch and yes, Harvey Milk.

I worked with Harvey against the homophobic campaigns of Anita Bryant and John Briggs.

Now I am blessed with the friendship and working relationship with Harvey’s nephew, Stuart Milk and the Harvey Milk Foundation and to be working with many of you in this room to get a U.S. Postage stamp issued in honor of Harvey Milk.

Yes, Gay America has its heroes and martyrs like Harvey Milk and Matthew Shephard.

As I’ve said so many times before - our fight for equality must continue to sometimes be in the streets and in the suites of political power, And in saying that yes gay America can have two true heroes like Brian Bond and Lt. Dan Choi, one working and making change inside the White House, and one outside chaining himself to the White House fence. news / politics / business / opinion

American Hero Receives ICC Civil Rights Award- Out of the tragedy of the Arizona shooting came a reluctant hero... 20-year-old Congressional Intern Daniel Hernandez who saved the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Hernandez has received praise and acknowledgement from around the world and the President of the United States.

On Saturday, May 7, 2011, at Arizona’s Coronation V, Daniel Hernandez received the International Josè Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award.

Hernandez, a proud Latino and member of our own GLBT community, has become a role model and a quiet, but true, hero for all Americans. … tonight we are not only honoring a hero that all America has embraced but a hero that both the Latino and GLBT community are most proud of…

He was on a recent cover of ‘N Touch Magazine which called him “the reluctant hero.” And it has been this reluctancy and true humanity that has touched all of us and made us so very proud.

We have always known that average gay Americans like any other of there fellow citizens can rise up and become heroes of our nation.

Be it in 1975 when ex-marine veteran Oliver Simple helped save the life of then President Gerald Ford from an assassination attempt to September 11, 2000 when two gay Americans, one being the late Father Mychael Judge the Chaplin of the New York Fire Dept., the other soccer player Mark Bingham, who helped bring down the plane in Pennsylvania. They became American heroes to a grieving nation, And now comes 2011… and the making of another true American hero who we honor tonight.

For out of the tragedy of the Arizona shooting came a true hero for us all: who helped save the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

My fellow members of the International Court System, when you look up the origin and his-

tory of the word “hero” the Greek definition is “defender, protector, to save.” This definition fits our honoree well… I present the 2011 recipient of the International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award to Mr. Daniel Hernandez of Arizona.

The speech/presentation was given by City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez (aka Queen Mother of the Americas, Empress Nicole the Great), San Diego, Chairman/CEO of International Court Council , U.S.A., Mexico, Canada and the Chairman of International Advisory Council Harvey Milk Foundation.

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 11

LOCAL NEWS

LOCAL BRIEFS

11th Annual Artie Party

By Joseph Gaxiola On July 17, the Men of Charlie’s will host the 11th annual Artie Party. A bartender at Charlie’s, Author (Artie) Michaelis was very active in the LGBT Community and an advocate for people with HIV/AIDS. Michaelis was instrumental in establishing the Malta Center, a Catholic Church outreach program for HIV infected/affected.

He also was the founder of VIDA (Volunteers in Direct Aid) to help those that were HIV+ with services and emergency financial aid.

He formed the Coalition of Meal Providers (COMP) which included all Ryan White Food Provider Agencies so that they could meet the requirements of the Ryan White Part A Program contract together, instead of each agency on its own. He was great at bringing groups and organizations together and getting them to cooperate and obtain amazing results.

In 1993, Michaelis started his involvement with Joshua Tree Feeding Program, Inc. and was the catalyst in the incorporation and non-profit conversion of the organization. This enabled Joshua Tree to grow and obtain access to federal funding.

He served on the board of directors of Joshua Tree until his death in 2000 from complications due to diabetes. That is when the Artie Party started.

Before he passed, the Men Charlie’s each year would ask Michaelis what he wanted for his birthday and he would always say “nothing.” He finally gave in and told everyone to just do a fundraiser for one of the non-profits. When he passed away a little over 10 years ago, The Men of Charlie’s started the annual Artie Party which benefits the Joshua Tree Feeding Program. Over the past 10 years the Artie Party has raised approximately $18,000.

Started in 1988, Joshua Tree provides a safe

12 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

environment where people living with HIV/ AIDS can come together to share experiences, good food and mutual support.

Since its beginnings, Joshua Tree has been dedicated to offering clients a hot nourishing lunch, food to take home and an opportunity to socialize in a compassionate atmosphere every Tuesday at noon.

On average Joshua Tree serves a 120 clients a weekly hot lunch and sends 100 clients home with supplemental groceries. Joshua Tree also serves an average of 130 clients on the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month with Ryan White funded food boxes. All of the services are at no cost to clients.

The Men of Charlie’s, Phoenix, began in January of 1987, and is a non-profit organization committed to fundraising for local LGBT organizations in the Phoenix area. The Men of Charlie’s have raised over a hundred thousand dollars for organizations such as; Joshua Tree Feeding Program, One Voice Community Center, Project Hard Hat, and PFLAG. The Men of Charlie’s hosts a “Man of the Month” contest at Charlie’s on the first Friday of every month. Any male who is over 21 years of age can compete for the title. The Men of Charlie’s also sell Jell-O shots every Friday nights the rest of the month as one way of fundraising. The group is actively involved in events such as the AGRA Rodeo, Phoenix Pride, and Rainbows Festival.

Last year for the 10th Anniversary of the Artie Party, The Men of Charlie’s started a raffle with a Grand Prize of $500 certificate good to Southwest Airlines. It was such a good addition they decided to keep it going for this year’s event. You will be able to purchase tickets for $10, up to the night of the Artie Party or until they are sold out. There are only 1000 tickets available. The drawing will be held at midnight the night of the Artie Party (you do not have to be present to win.)

Along with the raffle, the Men of Charlie’s will perform at Charlie’s for the Artie Party. The show will promptly start at 8 p.m.. If any performers would like to be in the show and help raise money please contact The Men of Charlie’s. The night will be fun, exciting, and there will probably be a few unexpected but entertaining moments.

Charlie’s is located at 727 West Camelback Road, Phoenix.

Sway Event’s Dancing with the Bars will be also benefit the Joshua Tree Feeding Program. Dancing with the Bars will be held on July 24 at the Wyndham downtown Phoenix starting 5 p.m.

PEAKS Pride needs volunteers FLAGSTAFF - PEAKS Pride needs volunteers to help out at the Colton Gardens! In the coming two weeks, the organization will stake out a portion of the Gardens to call their own.

The group will then need to be responsible for the upkeep of that area. We will also, at the same time, work closely with the staff and residents of the Peaks Senior Living Retirement Community to help the seniors with their projects.

For this ongoing effort, please send an email to info@peakspride.org to indicate your desire to help with these two projects. Upon doing so, you will then be placed on a separate email list which will contain more detailed info on dates/times!

In July, PEAKS Pride will be walking in the annual Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Parade on Monday, July 4! After the parade, PEAKS will have a hot lunch for those that walk with them!

Roosevelt Row - more than a one-night stand PHOENIX - On the First Friday of April 2011, Roosevelt Row brought back the artists and crafters to the First Friday Artwalk in the Roosevelt Row Arts District with the launch of the A.R.T.S. Market (Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space). To ensure the economic sustainability of the area, and to further promote its continued growth and popularity on multiple days throughout the month, Roosevelt Row, Community Development Corporation and the Roosevelt Row Merchants’ Association have created the Community Builders’ Agreement. Through this agreement Roosevelt Row CDC offers space at

news / politics / business / opinion

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS the A.R.T.S. Market on First Friday to vendors who show a commitment to the success of the district by agreeing to come back and participate in an A.R.T.S. market on the Third Friday of each month.

Attendance is much lighter on Third Fridays in comparison to First Fridays. The calm and colorful vibe on Third Fridays is inviting for art collectors/arts enthusiasts/families to stroll the area casually, which allows for further interaction with the artists. Most of the Roosevelt Row galleries have switched their opening exhibition receptions to Third Fridays. With a smaller crowd, Roosevelt Row, CDC wants to keep the crafters, artists and food trucks supported at the A.R.T.S. Market. On Third Friday, June 17 Roosevelt Row, CDC launches the A.R.T.S. Concert Series.

Bands will perform in the heart of the A.R.T.S. Market alongside the vendors and the Phoenix Food Trucks. The series kicks off on Third Friday, June 17 with Arizona Band – Sugar Thieves.

On July 15, two bands perform – Sun Ghost and Honey Pistol.

Location: 408 E. Roosevelt, Phoenix (lot between 4th and 5th St., north of Roosevelt).

Movie night with the Sisters!

PHOENIX - Join the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for Movie Night “30 Years - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” at the One Voice Community Center July 9 at 6p.m. $10 admission includes refreshments, and a panel discussion with the Sisters.

One Voice Community Center is located at 725 W. Indian School Rd.

Goldwater statue offers historic opportunity for sculptors PHOENIX – Today the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission (AHAC) reissued the Request for Proposals to create a statue of Barry M.

news / politics / business / opinion

content is adult in nature, so this event is 18 and older only. Pizza and popcorn will be provided and sodas will be available for purchase. General donations will be accepted for the Pride Center. If you have any questions about movie night, please contact Lauren at 928-458-6168.

Prescott Pride Center is located at 111 Josephine St, Prescott.

Goldwater destined for National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. AHAC is seeking proposals for a commemorative, sitespecific sculpture of Barry M. Goldwater. The sculpture will be one of two statues representing individuals from the State of Arizona in a hall of the U.S. Capitol.

The full RFP should be reviewed and understood before preparing a quotation as there are detailed requirements for statue placement in the U.S. Capitol. The quotation shall be in writing.

Electronic submissions will not be accepted. The project is not funded by state general fund monies and is to be funded solely by private donations.

To request the complete Vendor Notice, please visit: www.spo.az.gov/docs/Notices/ Solicitations/AHAC-Goldwater2012.pdf or contact Joan Clark via email at jclark@lib.az.us.

Please reference the Commission’s RFP number, AHAC-Goldwater2012, on the outside of the envelope.

The RFP is open through 3 p.m., Arizona Time on July 29, 2011. RFPs must be received in writing at: Arizona Historical Advisory Commission, c/o Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records – Joan Clark, 1700 W. Washington, Suite 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.

AHAC is a commission under the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Division of the Secretary of State.

For more information about AHAC visit the commission’s website at azcentennial.gov.

Movie Night: The Kids Are All Right PRESCOTT - Lauren Eynon will be hosting a special movie night at the Pride Center June 24 at 6:30 p.m. She’ll be showing the 2010 film The Kids Are All Right, starring Annette Bening, Juliannne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. The movie is about a lesbian couple with two teenage children who seek out their sperm-donor father. The

Free HIV testing in Prescott PRESCOTT - Why is it so important to get tested for HIV? Almost 40% of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they’ve already developed AIDS. That can be up to ten years after they first became infected with the virus. Finding out your HIV status gives you the chance to treat the condition as early as possible if you have it.

It also allows you to protect your sexual partners from possible infection. Knowledge is power in the fight against HIV and AIDS, so make plans to get tested and encourage your friends to get tested, too!

In observance of National HIV Testing Day, June 25, the Prescott Pride Center will be offering free HIV testing by appointment only during open hours. Give us a call at 928-445-8800 to sign up for a time slot. Tests will be administered

by Gloria Frias from Yavapai County Community Health Services. It’s quick, painless, anonymous, and totally FREE! Prescott Pride Center is located at 111 Josephine St, Prescott.

GLSEN Monthly Meeting TUCSON - The monthly meeting of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) meets the first Thursday of the month.

This group strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected, regardless of sexual orientation. We welcome as members any and all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or occupation, who share this philosophy.

Next meeting is July 7 at 4:30 p.m. at meeting

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 13

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS Room B, Martha Cooper Library, 1377 N Catalina Ave.

T-Squares Dance Club TUCSON - Local lesbian and gay square dance club, T-Squares, meets every Tuesday at Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall, 2902 N. Geronimo, near North First Avenue and Laguna.

The evening is free and open to all.

The next event is June 21. Call David at for more information 520-325-6739 or go to azgaydance.org

Oasis LGBT social group TUCSON - Oasis is a diverse social group that gives you the opportunity to meet other LGBT people in a relaxed, friendly environment.

14 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

We begin the first hour by discussing an informal topic relevant to our community that’s been chosen by members and included on the bimonthly calendar. After that, we’re off to a local restaurant to get to know each other better. It’s a great way to spend the evening with a group of friendly, interesting people.

Our group usually includes 10 to 25 members and is a great mix of people from every age group.

We’re male, female, transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual-and everything else! Plus, since we’re a drop-in gathering, you can join us however often you’d like.

Meets 1st and 3rd Fridays. Call 520-609-5077 or email oasis.wingspan@gmail.com for location.

Wingspan’s welcomes new Development Operations Coordinator TUCSON - Moureen Drury succeeds Erin Russ as the Wingspan Development Operations Coordinator. In this capacity, she works with the development team to process donations, income and expenses; serves to fund raise and organize events, manages donor relations and other development efforts.

Moureen, 22, moved to Tucson from New York to attend the University of Arizona, where

she’ll receive a bachelor’s degree in family studies and human development in December. At the university, she’s been actively involved in the LGBTQ community, and she began volunteering in development at Wingspan last year.

“I want to make things efficient and work behind the scenes to do everything Wingspan can do to serve our community,” she says.

More News Online! ntouchaz.com

news / politics / business / opinion

YOUTH

The real-life costs of bullying and discrimination in Tucson schools

By Stephen Russell and Sarah Gonzales Stephen Russell is the director of the Frances McClelland Institute at the University of Arizona and president-elect of the Society for Research on Adolescence. Sarah Gonzales is the Racial Justice Program director at the YWCA Tucson. They are members of the Crossroads Collaborative, and Russell is a co-author of the new school victimization study in the Journal of School Health.

In the last year, there have been too many stories about anti-gay bullying at school.

Several years ago, we began a collaboration between the University of Arizona and the YWCA Tucson to help local students voice their concerns and share their experiences; we wanted to better understand discrimination and prejudice and its effects on students. Data collected over the last few years from hundreds of Tucson middle school students show that 46 percent of the students say kids get bullied because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)—or someone thinks they are—and 38 percent say students get bullied due to their race or ethnicity.

We didn’t previously know that LGBT school victimization in middle and high schools had such a powerful influence on health and mental health in young adulthood. New research published in the Journal of School Health shows the pervasive effects of LGBT school victimization nearly a decade later on the health and adjustment of LGBT young adults.

The study, based on a group of LGBT young adults from California, showed that those who reported high levels of LGBT school victimization during adolescence were 5.6 times more likely to report having attempted suicide, 2.6 times more likely to report clinical levels of depression, and more than twice as likely to have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease and to report risk for HIV infection.

Alternatively, LGBT young adults who reported low levels of school victimization showed higher levels of self-esteem, life satisfaction and social integration compared to peers with high levels of school victimization during adolescence.

While it may seem that many—including the mainstream media—have finally discovered that anti-LGBT bullying is widespread, and that some LGBT youth have always been at high risk for atnews / politics / business / opinion

tempted suicide, these are longstanding problems.

In the past, some schools have minimized and denied the impact of bullying related to discrimination and prejudice by saying that such bullying is pervasive and expected, so it cannot be prevented. But it is time to get real and realistic. We know the impact of discriminatory bullying, and we also know the strategies that can make schools safe for all students.

Over the past two decades, research has shown the kinds of actions that promote safe learning environments for LGBT students—and all other students. These include clear and inclusive anti-discrimination and anti-bullying policies that include LGBT identity and gender expression; staff training and intervention when discriminatory harassment occurs; the presence of gay-straight alliances and other student-sponsored diversity clubs; and the inclusion of LGBT issues in the curriculum.

These strategies are particularly relevant in Tucson—not only for our LGBT students, but for students enrolled in (or wanting to be enrolled in) ethnic studies. Just like for LGBT students, we know that these same strategies of inclusion make schools safer and more productive learning environments for racial and ethnic minority students.

The firestorm in Tucson about ethnic studies is rooted in an understanding that when you see yourself reflected in the formal curriculum of a school, you feel more connected to school and to a place in history—and we know that this matters for achievement.

Despite this knowledge, most students in our state do not have protection related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This spring, Arizona Senate Minority Leader David Schapira introduced an anti-bullying law that would provide this protection; it never made it out of committee. The move to ban ethnic studies only makes matters worse.

Students need supportive learning environments where they see themselves reflected in the curriculum, and they need teachers to disrupt discrimination and prejudice when it happens. We have models of that in our community, and we need to support those models now more than ever.

Reprinted with permission from the Tucson Weekly. ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 15

NATIONAL NEWS

30 years after first AIDS cases, hope for a cure

By The Associated Press

June marks 30 years since the first AIDS cases were reported in the United States. And this anniversary brings fresh hope for something many had come to think was impossible: finding a cure.

The example is Timothy Ray Brown of San Francisco, the first person in the world apparently cured of AIDS. His treatment isn’t practical for wide use, but there are encouraging signs that other approaches might someday lead to a cure, or at least allow some people to control HIV without needing medication every day.

“I want to pull out all the stops to go for it,” though cure is still a very difficult goal, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

For now, the focus remains on preventing new infections. With recent progress on novel ways to do that and a partially effective vaccine, “we’re starting to get the feel that we can really get our arms around this pandemic,” Fauci said.

Nearly 30 million people have died of AIDS since the first five cases were recognized in Los Angeles in 1981.

About 34 million people have HIV now, including more than 1 million in the United States.

About 2 million people die of the disease each year, mostly in poor countries that lack treat-

16 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

ment. In the U.S. though, newly diagnosed patients have a life expectancy only a few months shorter than people without HIV. Modern drugs are much easier to take, and many patients get by on a single pill a day.

But it wasn’t that way in 1995, when Brown, an American working as a translator in Berlin, learned he had HIV. He went on and off medicines because of side effects but was holding his own until 2006, when he was diagnosed with leukemia, a problem unrelated to HIV. Chemotherapy left him so sick he had to be put into a coma to allow his body to recover.

“They didn’t know if I’d survive that,” Brown said.

Dr. Gero Huetter, a blood cancer expert at the University of Berlin, knew that a transplant of blood stem cells (doctors used to use bone marrow) was the best hope for curing Brown’s cancer.

But he aimed even higher.

“I remembered something I had read in a 1996 report from a study of people who were exposed to HIV but didn’t get infected,” Huetter said.

These people had gene mutations that provide natural resistance to the virus. About 1 percent of whites have them, and Huetter proposed searching for a person who also was a tissue match for Brown.

But transplants are grueling. Huetter would have to destroy Brown’s diseased immune system with chemo and radiation, then transplant the donor’s cells and hope they would take hold and grow. Many cancer patients die from such attempts and Brown wasn’t willing to risk it.

His mother, Sharon Brown of Seattle, agreed.

“Before I knew he had HIV I used to have nightmares about it,” and gambling on a transplant to try to cure it didn’t seem smart when the cancer seemed to be in remission, she said.

Several months later, the return of leukemia changed their minds.

Brown discussed the transplant with his boss “and she said, `wow, this is amazing. Because you have leukemia, you could be cured of HIV.’” A registry turned up more than 200 possible donors and Huetter started testing them for the HIV resistance gene. He hit pay dirt at No. 61 – a German man living in the United States, around 25 years old.

Brown had the transplant in February 2007. A year later, his leukemia returned but HIV did not.

He had a second transplant in March 2008 from the same donor.

Now 45, Brown needs no medicines, and his only health problems are from the mugging he suffered two years ago as he returned home one

night in Berlin. Brown was knocked unconscious, required brain surgery and therapy to walk and talk again, and doesn’t have full use of one arm.

He moved back to the United States in December.

“He’s now four years off his antiretroviral therapy and we have no evidence of HIV in any tissue or blood that we have tested,” even places where the virus can lie dormant for many years, Huetter said.

Brown’s success inspired scientists to try a similar but less harsh tactic: modifying some of a patient’s infection-fighting blood cells to contain the mutation and resist HIV. In theory, this would strengthen the immune system enough that people would no longer need to take HIV drugs to keep the virus suppressed.

Scientists recently tried this gene therapy in a couple dozen patients, including Matthew Sharp of suburban San Francisco. More than six months later, the number of his infection-fighting blood cells is “still significantly higher than baseline,” he said.

It will take more time to know if gene therapy works and is safe. Experiments on dozens of patients are under way, including some where patients go off their HIV medicines and doctors watch to see if the modified cells control the virus.

The results so far on the cell counts “are all wonderful findings but they could all amount to nothing” unless HIV stays suppressed, said Dr. Jacob Lalezari, director of Quest Clinical Research in San Francisco who is leading one of the studies.

The approach also is not practical for poor countries.

“I wouldn’t want people to think that gene therapy is going to be something you can do on 33 million people,” said Fauci.

Other promising approaches to a cure try new ways to attack the dormant virus problem, he said. They hinge on getting people tested and into care as soon as they become infected.

Fauci’s institute has boosted money for cure research, and the International AIDS Society, a professional organization for those who work in the field, has added finding a cure to its strategic plan.

“There are paths forward now” to a day when people with AIDS might be cured, said Dr. Michael Horberg, a member of President Obama’s HIV/AIDS council and vice chairman of the HIV Medicine Association, doctors who treat the disease. “But it’s not tomorrow, and it’s not today.” news / politics / business / opinion

NATIONAL NEWS

Officials: Half of force trained on gay ban repeal

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than a million U.S. troops – roughly half the armed forces – have been trained on the new law allowing gays to serve openly in the military, and so far there has been none of the turmoil or dire consequences predicted by opponents of what had been expected to be a wrenching change in military culture.

There’s been no widespread resistance, no mad rush for the door by enlisted members opposed to the policy and no drop in recruiting.

“So far this seems to be a non-event,” Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff for the Army, told reporters recently. But, he warned, “This is not going to happen without incident – I’d be crazy to say that. Somewhere along the line something is going to occur. But we’re doing everything we can to head that off in training.”

In the debate over the change, opponents predicted that repealing the 17-year-old ban on openly gay service members would roil the nation’s armed forces and undermine fighting ability. And, as the law passed Congress late last year and President Barack Obama signed it, Pentagon leaders said they would carefully assess the impact of the change on military readiness before they certified to the president that it could be implemented.

So far, military officials have told Pentagon leaders that they have seen no adverse impact on the force. And while there have been plenty of questions from the troops – including pointed queries to Defense Secretary Robert Gates – defense officials say they have seen nothing yet that would block the eventual implementation of the law.

The military, officials say, has gotten the message, is taking the training, saluting and moving on.

The Pentagon, in fact, has largely refused to provide details or data on the training, nervous that widespread publicity could inflame the issue, put more pressure on the force or taint the process.

“We have seen no insurmountable issues,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Our training is going very well.”

The Navy expects to finish the bulk of its training by the end of June. The Army will largely finish its training of the active duty force by mid-July, and the reserves by August 15. The Marines and Air Force have the bulk of their troops trained. All together about half of the 2.2 million members of the active and reserve military have been trained.

To be sure, there are still plenty of troops who oppose the change, reject homosexuality and have peppered training sessions with tough questions.

On Sunday, a Marine in Afghanistan complained to Gates that troops haven’t been given a chance to decide whether to stay on under the

news / politics / business / opinion

new policy, and he asked if they could leave if they don’t want to serve since it goes against their moral values.

Gates’ answer: No. Those who oppose repeal of the ban will have to complete their enlistment, Gates said, adding that troops don’t always agree on politics, religion or other matters, but they still serve together.

Done right, Gates said, nothing will change.

Some military officials have expressed surprise by the lack of pushback during the four months of training. Others said they weren’t surprised because the military’s culture is to follow orders.

Still others said this could just be the calm before any storm that comes when the new policy is actually implemented, when troops are living daily with the new order.

And they are prepared for bumps in the road.

One vignette that the Navy has included in training deals with the traditional “first kiss” – the time when sailors returning home after a long deployment leave the ship and greet their families.

Many times there is a raffle or lottery, and the winner can be the first one off the ship to embrace his or her loved one. At some point, that could well be a gay couple.

Troops have also raised question about sharing barracks with gay service members, and expressed concerns about the close living quarters on the battlefield.

“I don’t want to minimize that there may be some service members who have a problem with this … I think we should anticipate that there may well be some (resistance) down the road,” said Aubrey Sarvis, head of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group that offers legal help on the gay issue.

The Pentagon said last year that a survey among troops found that two-thirds of the overall force predicted little impact on the military’s ability to fight if gays were allowed to serve openly.

But among those who did care, most were troops performing combat arms duties. Nearly 60 percent of those in the Marine Corps and in Army combat units said they thought repealing the law would hurt their units’ ability to fight on the battlefield.

Military officials have also acknowledged that there has been some grumbling by chaplains, and they expect some will choose to leave, although no official requests have come in.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the Pentagon is still assessing when it will be ready to completely end the ban.

Obama signed the law in December that will allow gays for the first time in history to serve in America’s military without hiding their sexual

orientation – and he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist. That made good on a campaign promise that gay rights supporters said was long overdue but which Gates and some other senior Obama advisers preferred to defer. Gates worried publicly that the change would fray the close bonds of soldiers in combat.

More than 13,500 service members were discharged from service during the Clinton-era policy of don’t ask don’t tell, under which soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines were required to keep their homosexuality a secret or face dismissal.

Only one person has been discharged for being openly gay since the law was signed. The Air Force said last week that an airman declared himself to be gay, asked to leave the service and that it was approved April 29. When reminded the previous law was about to be repealed, he asked them to move quickly on his discharge, the Air Force said.

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 17

SAAF 2011/2012 Event Schedule AIDSWALK Tucson Sunday, October 16, 2011 Festival for Life Saturday, November 19, 2011 Bowling for Tommy January 2012 Möda Provocateur Sunday, March 4, 2012 Jell-O Wrestling May 2012 3 7 5

S o u t h

E u c l i d

Ave n u e

•

Tu c s o n , A r i z o n a

8 5 7 1 9

•

5 2 0 . 6 2 8 . 7 2 2 3

F o r eve n t u p d a t e s , v i s i t w w w. s a a f. o r g a n d fa c e b o o k . c o m / s a a f. t u c s o n

WORLD NEWS

Puerto Rican activists demand hate crime charges amid deaths

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Activists are demanding that a series of killings of gays, lesbians and transgenders in Puerto Rico be treated as possible hate crimes, saying there is an alarming rate of violence against these groups on the U.S. island.

In the last year and a half, at least 18 such people have been killed, three of them just this week, but authorities refuse to treat the cases as bias crimes, Pedro Julio Serrano, founder of the gay rights group Puerto Rico for Everyone, said June 11, 2011.

“It seems they have declared open hunting season against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people,” he said.

A 2002 hate crime law in Puerto Rico covers crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but it has only been invoked in one case.

If someone is found guilty of a hate crime they automatically face the maximum sentence for the underlying offense. If the offense is murder, it means life in prison.

The island’s attorney general created a special committee last year to investigate hate crimes, and the government recently appointed prosecutor Janet Parra to oversee hate crimes. Police are

expected to name a liaison with the gay and lesbian community.

Neither Parra nor Police Chief Jose Figueroa Sancha returned messages seeking comment.

“These are tentative steps,” Serrano said. “With the level of violence that we have, we have to take bigger steps.”

The most recent victim, Carlos Alfredo Gomez, a transsexual known as Karlota, was shot to death June 8 by someone driving along a street where he worked as a prostitute, police have said. No one has been arrested.

In late April, another transsexual, Francheska Gonzalez, was severely beaten by a man while leav-

ing a gas station in the suburb of Rio Piedras.

“He began yelling insults at me,” she said, adding that he hit her so hard he broke the implant in her right breast.

The suspect faces a June 29 hearing for an assault charge. Gonzalez wants him to be charged with a hate crime.

Late last year, two young men dressed in women’s clothing were shot in the head and apparently run over by a car in the southern city of Juana Diaz.

Also last year, the naked and battered body of a transgender woman, Ashley Santiago, was found in her home in the northern town of Corozal.

In a November 2009 case that sparked vigils in New York and Chicago, gay teenager Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was found decapitated and partially burned in Cayey. The suspect has been charged with first-degree murder.

The Human Rights Campaign, a Washingtonbased group, issued a statement Wednesday urging Puerto Rico’s government and police to create a plan to address crimes against gays and lesbians.

“The alarming rate of violence … cannot be tolerated,” the group said.

Britain’s Scout Association looks to recruit more gay members

LONDON - The British Scout Association says it intends to recruit more gay members and leaders in order to dispel the belief that gay people are not allowed to sign up.

The Scouts, Britain’s most recognizable youth organization, has made public effort to reach out to gay members, issuing pamphlets and statements that detail their belief “that all young people, irrespective of their sexuality, gender, race, creed or background, have an equal opportunity to develop and to be themselves.”

The UK’s Mail Online, reported that amidst support from many, the statement was met with skepticism surrounding “the Christian founding ethos of the Scout movement.”

The US counterpart to the Scout Association, The Boy Scouts of America, does not allow openly gay members in positions of leadership.

news / politics / business / opinion

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 19

PhurFest 2011 Volunteer Appreciation Party @ Friends Again Bar, Phoenix

Spring 2011 Rainbow Graduation @ University of Arizona, Tucson

New Moon Grand Opening Week @ New Moon Bar, Tucson

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June 29, 6- 9 p.m. at ASU SkySong Campus, 1475 N McDowell Rd, Scottsdale. A financial workshop designed for WOMEN. When it comes to investing, the challenges facing women are unique, but so are the opportunities. Our class and workbook will teach you how to get started on those first important steps - Identify and prioritize goals, Start with a budget then develop a strategy, Focus on investing fundamentals Registration for this 3-hour workshop is $19.95. To register or for more details visit .ZitoSchoolofFinance.com, call 480-718-5660 or email debbie@zitoschooloffinance.com

Biz Bowl

July 23, 5- 8 p.m. at Christown AMF Lanes, 1919 W. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix. Lane sponsorships are $120 and can be identified by business name. The member is responsible for filling their lanes with six people who can pay $20 a head. Single tickets can be purchased and will be randomly assigned to special lanes.

Choose a theme for your lane. Please RSVP to rsvp@phoenixgaychamber.com

Tucson Gay Chamber

Net Breakfast

Breakfast Meetings will be held the third Thursday of the month at the The Manning House, Lavender Ballroom, 450 W Paseo Redondo # 212 in Tucson.

Go to tucsonglbtchamber.org for more info and to rsvp.

22 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

Nestled under the Mogollon Rim in Arizona’s infamous Pleasant Valley lies the Q Ranch. It was founded as a cattle ranch in 1893 by one-time Texas Ranger and Confederate Colonel Jesse Ellison. The Q brand belonged to Ellison’s wife, Susan.

The Ellisons were hardly the first people to live at that spot. A millennium earlier it was the site of a thriving Mogollon culture, a pueblo-style village of which at least 250 rooms, some of them two or three stories high, still exist.

It is the third-largest archaeological site of its kind and has been undergoing continuous study and excavation since 1988. In 2010, archaeologists discovered evidence of a pit house village near the pueblo, which would push back the dates of occupancy another 300 years.

Ellison had eight children, but his daughter Helen, known as Duett, was his favorite. Despite having two sons, Ellison called Duett his “righthand man.” She could act the part of lady when need be, but she could also ride, rope and shoot.

Duett planted a fruit orchard at the ranch, of which there remain apple, persimmon and almond trees today, along with half a dozen towering elderberry shrubs whose fruit provides food for birds and wine, pies and jelly for humans. In 1904, Duett married George W.P. Hunt, who became Arizona’s first governor when the territory was granted statehood. Hunt, Duett and Col. and Susan Ellison are entombed in the white pyramid in Papago Park adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo. Arizona’s Pleasant Valley War was the longest and bloodiest range war in American history. Between 1885 and the end of the century, rival cattle families, the Tewksburys and the Grahams, committed upwards of 30 killings, some of them so horrific and bloody that it delayed the granting of statehood to Arizona. Col. Ellison’s name was connected with a group of vigilantes who, hoping to extinguish certain factions that kept the war alive, hanged a number of individuals.

In 1956, Jefferson Z. ( Jack) Rogers purchased the Q, building it into the one of the largest cattle operations in the state. At its peak, Q Ranch consisted of over 2,500 deeded acres and an additional 120 sections (square miles) of grazing permits. In

1988, Jack retired, turning the running of the ranch over to his son Jonathan. The cattle permits and some of the land were sold, as Jonathan had no wish to stay in the cattle business.

At that time, Jonathan negotiated with the Arizona Archaeological Society to begin studying and excavating the ruins and he turned the main ranch house into a bed-and-breakfast operation, the Q Ranch Lodge.

The lodge has seven guest rooms, each of which sleeps two, and four shared baths.

It also has a separate, selfcontained bunkhouse with bath and furnished kitchen that also sleeps two. All lodging includes three gourmet meals per day. There’s a separate refrigerator in which guests may store personal snacks and beverages, including alcohol.

The ranch is off the grid. The nearest paved road is 20 miles away. Electricity is generated on site and water comes from one of several wells. Your cell phone will not work (though you can drive a few miles and find a hot spot), although there is wholehouse wi-fi for those who cannot be too separated from the outside world.

The “season” at Q Ranch runs from April through November. The lodge is a popular destination for birders, amateur and professional archaeologists, families looking to escape the Valley’s heat for a weekend, groups needing a restful place for a retreat and more. The remote location guarantees dark skies at night (you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye) and abundant wildlife.

The elk arrive daily at cocktail hour and more than 130 species of birds can be found.

Events scheduled in 2011 include a pottery restoration class taught by the Arizona Archaeological Society, in which each participant will get a 1,000-year-old piece of prehistoric pottery, in pieces, from the Q Ranch pueblo and learn how to clean and reassemble it; several birding weekends sponsored by local chapters of the Audubon Society or the Desert Botanical Garden; and a photography weekend. Q Ranch also participates in the annual “Pleasant Valley Days” in nearby Young, celebrated the third weekend of July, which continued on page 53 >

news / politics / business / opinion

BUSINESS NEWS

Phoenix Public Transit awards grants of more than $3.4 million

PHOENIX— Several Valley agencies and municipalities will receive funding through two Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant programs created to expand transportation services for persons with disabilities or low-income individuals. As the designated recipient for FTA funding in the large urban areas of MaricopaCounty, the City of Phoenix Public Transit Department coordinates a regional competitive panel to select projects for funding. In all, the regional selection panel recommended $3.4 million in projects to transit agencies and nonprofit organizations. The funds awarded support operation of current bus routes and expansion of service in established programs, among other projects. A list of awardees and projects follows.

The New Freedom grant program supports new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The Job Access and Reverse Commute ( JARC) Program assists in developing new or expanded transportation services that connect welfare recipients and other low income persons to jobs and

• $120,000 to Regional Public Transportation Authority for Route 184/Power Road.

• $528,556 to the City of Scottsdalefor Routes 76 – Miller Roadand 81 – Hayden/McClintock.

• $770,000 to the City of Glendalefor Routes 5959th Avenueand 70 – Glendale Avenue.

• $1,153,250 to City of Phoenix for Routes 3, 17, and 29 – Van Buren, McDowell, and Thomas Road respectively; and upgrades to the Vehicle Management System.

other employment-related services.

Eligible applicants include private non-profit organizations, state or local governmental authorities, and operators of public transportation services including private operators. The program funding awarded is for fiscal year 2011. The Federal Transit Administration is expected to award the funds by late 2011.

JARC Awards:

• $50,000 in operating assistance to the City of Tolleson for circulator service.

• $53,358 in operating assistance and a vehicle to the Central Arizona Shelter Services temporary employment assistance program.

New Freedom Awards:

• $10,250 to the City of Glendalefor a supplemental taxi voucher program.

• $27,746 to the NorthernArizonaUniversity’s Civil Service Institute for volunteer driver mileage reimbursement for the Senior Companion program.

• $41,533 to the ArizonaCenterfor Disability Law for the Boarding School one-on-one travel training program.

• $200,000 to the City of Phoenix for taxi voucher programs for seniors and people with disabilities.

• $539,500 to the Regional Public Transportation Authority and an electronic fare payment system for Valley Metro alternative transportation program.

The Pride of Flagstaff • 183 Well Appointed Guest Rooms • 37” Flat Screen TVs in all rooms • 15 Suites with Microwave & Refrigerator • Complimentary Wireless High Speed Internet • Two Restaurants On-Site • Room Service • Lounge • Fitness Center, Indoor Whirlpool, Sauna, Seasonal Outdoor Pool & Jacuzzi • Complimentary Business Center • Sleep Number Beds Exclusively at Radisson

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Stay with us during Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pines and ask about our special PRIDE offers

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1175 W Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ | 928-773-8888

news / politics / business / opinion

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 23

FITNESS

Mystery Pains

By Kirk Matthews Hi Kirk. I have been having some abdominal, pelvic and back pain (predominantly lower back, but have felt some upper back pains too).

The weird thing is that they are all on the left side of my body. An easy description of these pains is sometimes they are dull... but other times like right now, its like if I’m having period cramps although my period ended five days ago. I also have some pains in my left leg and buttocks, they are sharp pains when I walk at times. The other weird thing is that when I press into my abdomen, I won’t feel pain (when my doctor did my physical, he doubted that I was even in pain because he could press so hard and I wouldn’t wince). However, when I sneeze I feel pain. The pain is similar to someone poking their index finger about an inch and a half going diagonal from my belly button to the left... but from the inside out. My doc said that my reproductive system looks good, and I had pelvic and abdominal ultrasound tests. Had some blood work already, which he said was okay, and I had some fecal tests done to see if I had an intestinal problem. I keep asking him about intestinal blockage but he tells me that I don’t have that... don’t know what to do... the pains are so bad that sometimes I can’t get out of bed. I’m worried that it might be really serious like cancer or something but when I mention it to my doc he laughs it off and tells me that I’m a healthy kid… I’m 20 and my family has no prior cancer history… so I guess he thinks that I’m being paranoid. But I know what I am feeling isn’t normal, and I am so worried. Thanks for any help Kirk, and know that you have readers out here in California. Corinne Corinne, thanks for the detailed question, and from so far away!

I’ll relate something that happened to me around eight years ago to give you some idea of where mystery pains can come from. I was in a charming little mountain bike accident where my front brakes locked on a hill, throwing me from the bike at around 35 miles per hour. Rough and bloody. So I immediately made a visit to my chiropractor (after 15 stitches), and everything 24 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

looked fine. A few weeks later I started having what felt like heart pains, maybe even attacks. I couldn’t breathe deeply without feeling stabbing pains in my chest and it was worse after eating.

It was scary. I didn’t know what it meant -- I’m fit and healthy, so it was a mystery. I ended up calling 911 for paramedics late at night twice in two weeks. They said my EKG and pupils and everything were standard athlete values, so they had no explanation for the pains, and they confirmed that they were not heart attacks. So I was relieved, until the pains continued. I didn’t even think about going to my chiropractor since everything had looked fine following the accident. I did finally go to my massage therapist and had him check my chest to see if anything was wrong, and he found several raised ribs. So I called my chiropractor. Many of his clients are athletes, and he explained that ribs are often pushed out of place by weightlifting, work activities, or – surprise – collisions on the field (or from being thrown). So it looked like mine had taken some time to move out of alignment. I made an appointment, and the same day he adjusted me the pain was gone: I could breathe again! We kept an eye on that area for the better part of a year and it healed well.

Ever since then I’ve made it important and clear to my clients that if you’re really wanting your fitness program to be a complete success, you must make regular use of two other professionals in addition to your personal trainer: a licensed massage therapist and a chiropractor; in addition to your normal medical supervision and care.

Here’s why: whenever your regular doctor -especially after several visits -- cannot explain mystery pain, it’s a high possibility that it’s a musculoskeletal issue that’s at the heart of the problem. Naturally, you have the option of seeking multiple medical opinions, but I can tell you this: in my case, I probably could have visited five doctors and not gotten the immediate assessment that hands-on work revealed.

It’s essentially this simple: a good chiropractor can often see a major physical concern three to five years before it manifests, and a good massage therapist can see it around a year or two beforehand. An experienced trainer can detect imbalances, do corrective work and focus on flexibility to keep you “ahead of the wave” so to speak. So, put all three to work for you and you just might sail through into your middle and later years without most of the “normal” physical concerns you hear and read about.

Good self-care is its own reward, and the reason I’m pointing to this directly for you, Corinne, is because you’ve had some good exams to tell you what isn’t wrong – so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try the less stressful and less expensive route of checking the musculoskeletal issues, if they exist – even while you seek out a second opinion.

Your chiropractor will likely discuss your work or study environment – inspecting the way you move and sit, to see how it all fits together.

Your massage therapist might suggest additional stretches you can do on your own. Your trainer can keep your program challenging yet safe and make sure you remain centered, balanced and flexible. And all three can share and discuss ways to enhance your recovery and your plan. It’s like your own personal athletic department for hundreds of dollars, where professional athletes pay thousands.

And even if you don’t have a trainer, you can seek out a good chiropractor. Ask for good referrals and look toward athletic or holistic chiropractic, avoiding the “ambulance chasers” that have given the profession a bad name. And a good massage therapist is often as simple as a referral from friends and family.

So, I hope it’s easier and much cheaper in the long run if it’s just some adjustments, massage, regular stretches and exercises that you need in order to heal and remove the pain – hopefully as part of your total physical fitness program. Please look into all of that before they end up suggesting surgery or all sorts of drugs – you’re so young!

I hope that helped. Please let me know how it goes – I look forward to your follow-up!

That’s all for now. Best of health to you all and as always, keep those questions coming!

Kirk Matthews is a multiple Certified Personal Trainer and Professional Nutrition Consultant; answers may contain advice from either or both disciplines. Call: 602-616-9195. Questions: e-mail kirk. matthews@hotmail.com (put “‘n touch” in subject line). Visit www.thetrumpnetwork.com/kirkmatthews -- hover over “Why Our Products Work” and click on PrivaTest, Custom Essentials and Silhouette Solution to learn about Lab-formulated supplements made just for you! And visit: www.sportsclubatcitysquare.com to try before you buy. news / politics / business / opinion

SPORTS

LGBT Sports Leagues Spotlight

Sports leagues of the Valley provide a safe, friendly, and fun social setting for the LGBT community. Whether a new comer, veteran, or a fan, everyone is welcome.

Basketball

Hellraisers Hoops Open Play Sundays from 2 – 4 p.m.

Sports Club of City Square www. phoenix.ngba.us hellraiserhoops@yahoo.com

Flag Football

PHX Hellraisers Flag Football League

Saturdays 9 a.m. January – April Colter Park www.phoenixflagfootball.com info@phoenixflagfootball.com 602.284.9207

Rugby – Men Phoenix Storm

Tuesdays & Thursdays 7 p.m.

Longview Elementary School www.phoenixstorm.org info@rugbystorm.com

Softball

Cactus Cities Softball League

Sundays starting at 8 a.m.

Spring: Feb. – May; Fall: Oct. - Dec Ceasar Chavez Park www.cactuscities.com

Swimming

The Phoenix Sunfish

Year around schedule Mon, Tues, & Thurs - 6:30 - 8 pm Saturdays - 4:30-6 pm Three Locations throughout the valley www.phxsunfish.org

Volleyball – Indoor

Desert Volleyball Alliance

GLAD Dart League @ Bunkhouse Saloon, Phoenix Congratulations to the GLAD Dart League Spring Season for raising over $3600 each for Lost Our Homes, Arizona Cancer Charities and Joshua Tree Feeding Program, Inc.!

February - May Saturdays 12 – 3 p.m.

Kingdom Courts www.desertvalleyalliance.org aaryck@hotmail.com

Volleyball – Sand

Arizona Gay Volleyball Association

Three seasons to choose from Feb – May, June – Aug, Sept – Dec Indian Steele Park & Radisson City Center Mondays & Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. www.azgv.org commissioner@azgv.org

news / politics / business / opinion

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 25

I

t was 42 years ago this month that a small group of people sparked with their actions the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. It was early Saturday morning, June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, a gar bar owned and operated by the Mafia that had opened just three years earlier.

At the time it was the only gay bar in the city that allowed dancing. At around 1:28a.m. that morning, members of the New York City Police “Public Morals Squad” entered the bar to gain “visual evidence” and to shake down those that were present.

That night, for the first time in history, gays and lesbians led by transgender individuals, fought back. They had had enough of being persecuted and oppressed by their own government entities.

By M. Shelby Blanton For the next five days, members of the community still seething with anger and resentment met and marched through various avenues of the city demanding that the cops and the mafia get out of the gay bars. Their numbers swelled into the thousands by the second night. And thus, the gay pride march was born.

They marched again and again asserting their rights as human beings. They marched out of the darkness of secrecy and into the streets. They marched for their lives.

Now it is 2011. Phoenix Pride just celebrated its 30th year this past April complete with a parade and a two day festival at Steele Indian School Park. Flagstaff Pride will be holding its 15th Celebration without a parade the same day that Bisbee

will be having their 3rd Pride Festival also without a pride march. Then Tucson finishes up the Arizona pride season in October with its 34th year of festivities, complete with Arizona’s only nighttime pride parade.

There have been many battles won and lost in the LGBT rights movement in the past 42 years.

Ask anyone who came out in the late 80’s or early 90’s if they ever thought that our country would be discussing gay marriage or forcing our military to allow our brothers and sisters to serve openly and they would have thought you were crazy. A LOT has happened in a short period of time.

But it seems that the major battles are over.

We are now winning the hearts and minds of our family, friends and coworkers as we continue to

“They marched again and again asserting their rights as human beings. They marched out of the darkness of secrecy and into the streets.

They marched for their lives.” ^ This is the only published photo from the first night of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, 1969 live our lives open and honestly. True, we have not reached that panacea of equal and respected rights for all persons regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, or gender. And many are still not comfortable living their lives out in the open. But, today, being gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender is not the death sentence it once was. And it seems that we are starting to forget why we first began marching so many years ago.

Our pride festivals of today have primarily turned into entertainment festivals shaded with alcohol and cruising. For many of us that remember the 80’s and 90’s, our memories and emotions of being afraid to even have a pride march or festival are all still too real to our psyches. We have garnered so much success with our gay rights movement that we are now in a place that we can afford to celebrate in such a distant and detached way.

But the reality is that there are still many places in this world that are struggling to hold their own pride festivals and are facing the same opposition that our bretheren faced in 1969. In these places, the soul of the pride march is still quite alive and is struggling to find its flame.

There are currently 80 countries on the globe where homosexuality is criminalized. In six of these 80 countries, homosexuality is punishable by DEATH. Yet surprisingly, in many of the countries where homosexuality is NOT criminalized, organizers are facing stiff and violent opposition to their attempts to stage gay pride marches.

In Warsaw, Poland: Gay rights organizers continue to face strong opposition from the Catholic Church and from issues stemming with Poland’s integration into the European Union. Many of

Poland’s citizens are using gay rights as an example of how the EU is ‘forcing’ them to change.

In 2005, organizers staged a gay pride march which was deemed illegal by the authorities, who then brought seven court cases against Tamsz Baczkowski, head of the Warsaw Equality Parade. Luckily, as a result of entry in the EU, the European Court of Human Rights overturned the cases and deemed the march to be legal and all its participants to be protected. Yet, in 2008, the Warsaw Equality March took place with over 2000 policemen on hand to manage the protestors. That equates to one policeman for every two marchers in the parade. Could you imagine this scene in Phoenix today?

In Budapest, Hungary: In 2007, 500 people protested the Budapest Gay Dignity Parade complete with smoke bombs and eggs. Each year the parade is held with hockey-rink style barricades lining the route of the parade to protect the marchers, while police are decked out in full riot gear.

In Moscow, Russia: In 2007, 32 people were arrested by police after attempting to stage a gay rights march through red square. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov openly bans pride marches every year, despite organizers applying over 155 times for authorization. Here, pride march organizers meet in total secrecy for fear of being arrested for simply attempting to organize. In 2009, organizers planned two pride events – one a rouse to draw attention so that the protestors, the press and various government officials were not aware of the actual event that took place in another secret location across town. This ‘secret’ pride march lasted only 10 minutes and traveled 120 feet down a sidewalk and then as quickly as continued on next page >

“Our pride festivals of today have primarily turned into entertainment festivals shaded with alcohol and cruising. For many of us that remember the 80’s and 90’s, our memories and emotions of being afraid to even have a pride march or festival are all still too real to our psyches. We have garnered so much success with our gay rights movement that we are now in a place that we can afford to celebrate in such a distant and detached way.”

“How many beers would you sacrifice to help an entire community live its life out in the open?”

HOW HOMOSEXUALITY FARES: it started, it disappeared with no evidence. Yet, it did take place and the soul of the pride march was alive and well.

Perhaps the most inspiring fight for Pride today is taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka, homosexual acts carry with it a 10 year maximum prison sentence. Here, British Colonial laws are still in place despite the Crown having relinquished control in 1948. Gay pride organizers cannot register any official event due to the fears of being thrown in prison so instead, they have found a more creative way to skirt the laws yet still participate in gay pride: once a year they join together and fly kites on the beach. Big, colorful, gay kites complete with the 1969 soul of Gay Pride.

Has Pride lost its soul in Arizona? Has it simply become a weekend festival that you pay $20 to attend? How much money do we shell out on drinks and festival food? Is pride still a visual exercise and demand of our power and rights? It seems to me that we have lost our way in remembering just why we march and why we celebrate. I am not advocating that we should feel sorry for our success. Not at all. But, if we could now focus our energies and our resources to help just one of these cities around the world I think it would go a long way to reignite the soul of pride. How many beers would you sacrifice to hwelp an entire community live its life out in the open?

This article was inspired by the documentary “Beyond Gay... The Politics of Pride” airing all this month on your local PBS station. Check local listings for details.

IRAN Status: ILLEGAL Penalty: Death for men, 100 lashes for women, death on fourth conviction.

NIGERIA Status: MALE ILLEGAL; BOTH ILLEGAL UNDER SHARIA LAW Penalty: Sharia areas: Up to death for men, up to 50 lashes and six months in prison for women; for men elsewhere, up to 14 years in prison.

AFGHANISTAN Status: ILLEGAL Penalty: Maximum of death , no known cases of death since the end of Taliban rule.

UGANDA Status: ILLEGAL Penalty: Up to life in prison. Bill proposed in October of 2009 to introduce the death penalty.

JAMAICA Status: MALE ILLEGAL Penalty: Prison and hard labor for up to ten years

MOROCCO Status: ILLEGAL Penalty: Fine, six months to three years in prison

SOUTH AFRICA Status: LEGAL SINCE 1994 Penalty: Beatings, rape, murder

In August 2011 while most people in Arizona are spending the summer relaxing in the pool or paying high AC bills trying to keep cool-the equality walkers will be spending the hottest month of the year traversing Southern Arizona on foot. They will walk through 18 cities and 9 counties as they bring their message of love and acceptance to police, city mangers, faith communities, elected officials and individuals in diverse districts.

Special PRIDE Offer

visit www.radisson.com/arizonapride

Stay with us during Flagstaff’s Pride in the Pines and ask about our special PRIDE offers 1175 W Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ | 928-773-8888

RADISSON WOODLANDS HOTEL FLAGSTAFF

24th Annual Reno Gannon Memorial Jello Wrestling @ Kennedy Fiesta Park, Tucson

HEALTH

Disease prevention begins with nutrition

By Dr. Damien Brandeis

Dear Doc: Are organic vegetables really that much better for us than the conventionally grown vegetables?

Organic veggies are so much more expensive, but I am willing to try growing some of my own if it will make that much of a difference to our health!

There is a huge advantage to organic food consumption. The most important personal benefit is the nutritional value of the produce. Studies have shown a greater concentration of quality vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients in organics versus conventionally raised food.

Organics are also free of toxic elements like pesticides, antibiotics, and toxic heavy metals. Organics are sustainable and good for the planet.

You make a statement to agribusiness when you spend your food dollars on organic food. The cost of organic production coupled with a diminished shelf life make organic food more expensive. Vote with your food dollars. Your purchases send a message to your grocery store that you are willing to spend more money to receive quality food that will improve the quality and longevity of your life.

I have vastly increased the amount news / politics / business / opinion

of organic food consumption in the past few years. Organics are available in almost every grocery store in the valley these days. I can “feel” the difference. If you are a foody, the taste of quality organics is impossible to beat. If you do not believe it, try a taste comparison at home.

Disease prevention begins with nutrition. Quality food, water and air are essential to sustain a life free of the complications from a toxic environment. Each small step creates a huge impact over the course of a lifetime. Nutrients from good quality vegetables, fruits, and meats are always a superior source to taking manufactured supplements.

Put the dollars spent on nutritional supplements into quality organic food. There is no better anti-aging regimen than quality organic food.

The change will have a lasting impact on your appearance and the vigor of all your activities. Think of money spent on organic food as an investment in the quality and quantity of life. It sends a message to US commerce that we care about our health and the health of the planet.

Dear Doc: What can I do to naturally decrease my cholesterol? My doctor says I am not over the healthy limit, but I am very close. I have seen things like “cholest-off ” vitamins and other things you can take, but want to try something completely natural first.

and meds, you can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Overtime, more precise cardiovascular disease predictors were derived from the blood lipid panel. By lipid panel, I mean values for total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins (good cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. This more complex approach promotes therapies and drugs to treat and reduce the risk of disease. The US has a huge consumption of statin drugs.

Almost a quarter of all prescriptions sold in the US are for treatment of lipid metabolism issues.

Diet is the most important factor in this discussion. The fats that you consume impact your liver which is the source of cholesterol production and fat metabolism. Keeping your liver functioning optimally is a huge important step to regulation of cholesterol and lipid levels.

I have many recommendations to patients for a regimen that impacts the health of the liver and cleanses it.

The regimen includes supplements in addition to diet suggestions. By treating the underlying causes of disease, we support healthy lipid metabolism to restore health and reduce the probability of cardiovascular disease.

I begin every treatment plan with diet. The fats you consume should be liquid at room temperature. If they are not, the saturation level is sufficiently high to cause liver congestion

and therefore high lipid levels in the blood. I suggest you remove animal shortening, trans fatty acids, and lard from your diet. Replace those fats with olive oil and other liquid vegetable oils such as grape seed oil.

These oils are tasty, healthy and promote liver health.

High temperature frying tends to transform good fats into molecules for which we lack enzymes to metabolize. When we cannot metabolize a food substance, it creates problems.

Stop consuming deep fried foods and add your oil after the food is cooked.

Perform a liver cleanse with some olive oil, lemon juice and garlic once a month. This is the same as cleaning the oil filter on your car. This activity promotes good liver health and function. Eating a clove of raw garlic a day will promote liver health and lower bad cholesterol values as well.

These simple steps are the natural way to restore good lipid values and hopefully reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. If these steps fail to provide you with satisfying lipid levels, please consult a physician. We have additional natural options that will make your goals a reality.

Thanks for the questions! Keep them coming to us.

Dr. Damien Brandeis, NMD has a private practice located in west Chandler. For more information about Dr. Brandeis and his practice, visit drbrandeis.net.

If one pays close attention to television commercials for the “statin” cholesterol lowering drugs, you will always note that they compare the benefit drug consumption plus diet to diet alone. If you take this information seriously, diet impacts cholesterol levels and is a necessary part of the solution.

Cholesterol has been used as a marker for cardiovascular disease in the US for decades. The theory postulates that if you lower your cholesterol lab values via diet, exercise, ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 35

Reveille Men’s Chorus Out of the West We Come @ Temple of Music & Art, Tucson

ETHICS

The ethics of love

By Dr. Dina Evan

Words can be confusing. Most people think words like love, caring, compassion are adjectives, descriptive words. Actually, they are all verbs, they are action words and without the action, they have no meaning. Remember the last time a person said “I love you,” and you thought yeah, right! That’s probably because they weren’t acting like it.

Love is the thing we desperately seek most in life. We will give up the most for love, and drive ourselves crazy trying to hold to it. Isn’t odd though, how little thought we give to how well we, ourselves, are doing at giving it?

We seldom ask our partner, ”How am doing loving you?” We don’t set up a time with our friends to ask, “How am I doing as your loving friend?” Moreover, we are too busy telling mother or mother-in-law jokes to stop by and ask our families where we might improve. Perhaps it’s because intuitively we already know and feel bad about how disconnected we are.

Our world is suffering from terminal disconnect. The choice to live and be born, and the choice to die are inviolate. We make those alone.

However, the work of our soul, between the instant of our birth and the instant of our death is only about our connection and our ability to love each other. We are suffering, even dying, from our loss of connection. Our hearts and souls are bereft it. We are in the constant longing for it. We tell ourselves, who cares, because we have lost our sense of reverence for it.

We have been living with the false idea that the more connected we become through our social networks, the more connected we are with progress and life. That has not been the case. In fact, the more connected we have become to these social networks, the more energetically, physically and consciously disconnected we have become to our lives and the people in them. It’s not that they are not wonderful for keeping up with family across the continent, but today, we connect faceto-face less than ever before.

So, how do we get an ”A” in loving? The first step is not to say it unless you mean it. Don’t toss the expression of love around like a used candy news / politics / business / opinion

wrapper. No limp wristed. Love you’s… on the way out the door unless you plan to come back through that same door with some action soon.

Telling someone I love you when here is no body, mind or spirit showing up behind the words, is damaging. It trivializes the most important energy in the universe and it trivializes the person.

Don’t start a relationship with someone unless you genuinely care. I know we are peddling as fast as we can and spare time is dubious, so be fair. If you like someone tell them that, and give them some realistic idea of your time constraints so you don’t set up false expectations.

True intimacy is rare – that’s what makes it so precious. If you are saying I love you, follow it up with the time and energy it deserves to create true intimacy. Don’t say I love you and skip out when the going gets rough. Loving anyone means that you are willing to hear how they are really doing.

If you can’t do that without having to jump in and fix that person, then you have a master teacher in front of you with a master lesson and it’s not about your friend!

If you love someone, show it the minute they hit the door. Let the joy and love you feel for

them be all over your face like rich, velvet chocolate pudding. We slip into taking each other for granted so easily, and all it takes is that “I’m so glad to see you” look that reminds our family and partner that we do care. They can see it on our face. As Jean-Paul Sartre said, “In love, one and one are one.”

You can love more than once. You can love many people of all ages, sizes and descriptions.

You can love no matter how old you are or how long you have known the person. Love doesn’t cost you anything to give or receive. All love asks of you to fill your life, is that you and love are genuine. What you can’t do is live a purposeful, deep life without love. Gosh, love may be the only thing on the planet that gives so much for so little.

Thanks for listening. Send questions to DrDBE@attglobal.net or to editor@ntouchaz.com.

Dr. Dina Evan is a licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist in the State of California. She has offices in Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Evan has won national acclaim as a human rights advocate. She is a columnist for several newspapers and has written five best selling books. For more information you may go to DrDinaEvan.com.

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 37

YOUR PETS

Pets in search

Protecting your pets from the summer heat

By Dr. Alicia Ruiz

of a Loving Home Located in Phoenix, Arizona Rescue is the last voice for dogs and wcats who, through no fault of their own, find themselves awaiting death at our county pounds.

Velvet Velvet was returned to us after her former family moved out of state. Her first two weeks with us, she barely ate and found such a good hiding spot that she had volunteers panicking, thinking she had escaped. Velvet was so upset that she isolated herself and would not interact with the volunteers. Well, with time, love, and patience came healing and hope. Velvet now enjoys interacting with volunteers and happily eats her food. In fact, Velvet likes it if you can keep her company while she eats!

It’s that time of year again when temperatures in the Phoenix metro area and Tucson soar. With the higher temperatures comes an increased risk for illness or injury for our furry friends.

From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out the ASPCA’s top six tips for keeping your animal secure all summer long.

• Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat.

• Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.

• Keep your pet away from matches, citronel-

la candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

• Be cool near the pool. Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or high waters—not all dogs are expert swimmers!

• Never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car! The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with a window open, especially in Phoenix and Tucson!

• Be prepared! From tornadoes to floods, to wildfires, we’ve seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families these past few weeks. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you’re forced from your home in an emergency.

Have a pet-safe summer!

Dr. Ruiz is a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine at Central Phoenix Animal Hospital, 602- 277-5155. Questions for Dr. Ruiz can be emailed to editor@ntouchaz.com news / politics / business / opinion

Cruz Cruz is always on the move - playing with other dogs, people, running, romping and playing with toys! There is always so much for our active boy to do and he is eager to see it all and do it all!

While Cruz is a mere 15 pounds he has a BIG personality - full of love and playfulness. He is happy to meet anyone and everyone. As you can see, it’s hard to resist that face. Once you give in, he rewards you with a wagging tail, kisses and if your lap is close by he’ll jump right in it!

To learn more or about Velvet or Cruz, go to azrescue.org. ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 39

Equality begins with a step Right to Marry: Arizona Campaign prepares for 99 mile journey

By Luis Garcia

Mohandas Gandhi once said that, “a small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”

In 2008, eight walkers from across the country joined together and began a journey through western Maricopa County for the right to marry the ones they loved by raising awareness about Proposition 102, an amendment to the constitution of the state of Arizona which says “only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

This year in the spirit of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 17 Equality Walkers will take it to the streets once again, this time in southern Arizona, in hopes to open hearts and minds and bring the message of love and acceptance to police, city managers, faith communities, elected officials and individuals in diverse districts.

“For the past three summers I have joined an amazing group of individuals and embarked on a pilgrimage walk throughout Arizona, that walk being the Right to Marry: Arizona Campaign,” says 2011 H.E.R.O Right to Marry co-director and Equality Walker Meg Sneed.

“Each summer I have laced up my shoes, covered myself in sunscreen, battled blisters and 120 degree heat sharing stories with strangers and friends, changing hearts and minds, and having my own changed. This summer as I get ready to once again brave the heat to walk 99 miles in Southern Arizona I begin to feel myself get emotional,” said Sneed.

Sneed admits that this summer will be different because she will be walking with her partner Mandee Rowley and sister (and future bridesmaid) Abby Sneed.

This is the first year Abby Sneed has joined her sister in the walk.

“In the past, I stood on the sidelines as I watched my sister fight for her rights, but this year I vowed to do something different,” said Abby Sneed. “I vowed to get involved in the fight for equality and to continue to fight until Meg has all the same rights that I do, as growing up, my sister always stood by me, and this is my chance

to stand by her, until I am able to stand with her, as a bridesmaid, on her wedding day.”

The Right to Marry: Arizona uses the framework of pilgrimage for its outreach. Each summer a group of core Equality Walkers walk a mile for every year Arizona has been a state without full legal recognition of its LGBT citizens. This summer walkers will travel through Parker, Yuma, Casa Grande, Arizona City, Eloy, Tucson, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Tombstone, Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Clifton, Duncan, Florence, Queen Creek and Phoenix. The exact 2011 Route will be announced on or before July 1, 2011.

There have been several small fundraisers to help cover the cost of the RTM walk but with 17 walkers this year the groups is still well below its goal.

According to H.E.R.O., anyone can help sponsor a walker or donate to the RTM AZ walk on the RTM AZ Web page, righttomarryaz.org 2009 RTM AZ co-director and H.E.R.O, co-founder Melissa Halverson plans to return this year and join in on the fight. The California native says that walking and talking is the soul of direct action.

“Bringing the conversation about equal marriage rights to the people of Arizona is necessary in order to move forwards from the passage of proposition 102 in 2008,” said Halverson.“From every racist and homophobic proposition or Senate bill that is passed this community has stood up, organized peacefully, and sought to sow the seeds of change. Activism is thriving here in Arizona and I am ecstatic that Right to Marry is picking up in August for another year of hot days, sweaty walks, sore bodies, and full hearts.”

A recent Gallup poll shows that fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal compared to 30 percent in 2008.

The Obama administration recently decided to stop defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which bans the federal recognition of same-sex marriage. President Obama does not support gay marriage but has said his own views on the subject are “evolving.”

Same-sex marriage is legal in five states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa -- and the District of Columbia but same-sex couples have faced setbacks in other states, including California and Arizona.

“Despite the efforts of activists, LGBTQ couples and families are still being treated as second class deemed unworthy by the government of equal protection under the law,” says Equality Walker Delfin Bautista. “My hope for this journey is to demonstrate to same-sex couples in Arizona that they are not alone in the struggle for equality and that I walk with them in solidarity so that all relationships and families are not only affirmed but celebrated.”

Joining Bautista, Meg and Abby Sneed, Rowley, and Halverson are RTM AZ co-director Jimmie Gruender, GradOUT co-directors Alex Gannon and Emily McLinden, activist Billy Bradford, Central Arizona Rainbow Education founder Christopher Jay Hall, Valley entertainer John Taylor Sterling aka Miss Sassy, Tucson Pride Board President Karon Bohlender, 1n10/ YEP volunteer Liliana Montoya, Phoenix Pride Board Director Paul Roark, and Arizona residents Marlee Tyler, Monica (Casillas) Baumbach, and Seth Fraizer.

For more information on the 2011 RTM AZ Equality Walkers or to donate visit righttomarryaz.org

Key Fact: Same-sex marriage is legal in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden. In Mexico, same-sex marriages are only performed in Mexico City, but these marriages must be recognized by all Mexican states. Israel does not recognize same-sex marriages performed on its territory, but recognizes samesex marriages performed in foreign jurisdictions.

Donate to Right to Marry: Arizona $25 will provide blister aids and sunscreen for one day. $50 will fill up the gas tank for the support van. $75 will provide four walkers with housing for one night $100 will provide water, Gatorade, and snacks for one day $250 will fuel the Equality Walkers with three healthy meals for one day.

With a financial contribution to the Right to Marry: Arizona Campaign you will empower activists to jump start a dialogue with police, city managers, faith communities, elected officials and individuals in diverse districts.

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ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 45

NIGHTLIFE Phoenix Rainbow Cactus Beat the heat and go north to Rainbow Cactus! To entice you RC is offering all day and night Happy Hour on Sundays and Mondays, and FREE darts!

Hang with G on Tuesdays and Just Jess on Wednesday nights.

Join some of the best and worst singers, but always the most fun, on Karaoke Fridays!

RC now offers Wii Sports, and always FREE WiFi. The Sassy Sister come out again June 18, at 9 p.m. Join these hilarious ladies - who you calling lady? They rock the house.

Kirstin and Rick are back June 26 at 5p.m.

Rainbow Cactus is located just a hop, skip and a jump away at 15615 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix.

Phone 602-971-1086.

The Rock The Rock will be celebrating Barbra Seville’s Birthday Bash on Saturday June 18, featuring Venus D’Lite from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season. Lots of special guests and an After Show Dance Party with DJ Stiletto Shank! AND To Thank Barbra for all that she does for her community, the show is free!

So, come and Celebrate Babs Birthday with her and show her some love!

Mondays are Kick Ass Karaoke 9p.m. with your hostesses Lady Christian on June 19 , and Pandora DeStrange June 26.

Every Saturday night, experience the many talents of local Drag legend, Barbra Seville in The Barbra Seville Show. This Vegas Style Show is a real crowd pleaser and continues to pack the house every week. So, make your reservations. Show starts at 10 p.m.

Arizona’s premiere alternative entertainment venue in Downtown Phoenix will be bringing something, fresh, new and exciting to their show room to help you beat the summer heat! Pandora Productions in association with The AZ Gender Outlaws will be making their triumphant return to the stage with original productions all summer long!

The Golden Girls (Episode: Yes We Have No Havana’s) *June 2011 Blanche begins dating an elderly hispanic gentleman by the name of Fidel Santiago, whose father owned the largest tobacco plantation in Cuba.

But when he meets Sophia, they fall madly in love and the sparks begin to fly! Will Fidel choose Sophia over Blanche? Will Rose finally receive her High School Diploma after taking night classes taught by Dorothy? All of these questions will be answered an more!

46 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

Featuring: Winnie Goezinya as Dorothy, Pandora DeStrange as Blanche, Olivia Gardens as Sophia, Anya Hart as Rose, Mark Murillo as Fidel Santiago, Jae Chat as Jim Shu/The Priest, Victoria Bacon as Disgruntles Guest at funeral.

Friday, June 17 Summer Stock at The Rock 10pm/Genderfuct Post Show 11pm $10 Sunday, June 19 Summer Stock at The Rock Special Matinee Performance 2pm $8 Thursday, June 23 Summer Stock at The Rock 8pm $5 Sunday, June 26 Summer Stock at The Rock Brunch and a Show $20 includes Brunch (Brunch at 12:30pm/Show at 2pm) Thursday, June 30 Summer Stock at The Rock 8pm $5 *Post Show @ 9pm- A Benefit for Felicia Minor and Kendra St. James Mama’s Family (Episode: Rashomama) *July 2011 Mama winds up in the hospital after an unfortunate accident while making gooseberry jam with Ellen, Eunice and Naomi. All hell breaks loose in the hospital as Ellen and Eunice retell the story about who’s to blame for the incident! Is Mama gonna be okay? Will they ever get to the bottom of who’s to blame for the incident? All will be revealed in this episode!

Featuring: Lady Christian as Mama Harper, Savannah Stevens as Eunice, Sara Myers as Ellen, Lady Roulette as Naomi, Frank Gaxiola as Vint Diva Down - An Original Work by local legend David Salcido *August 2011 All is not well on the cruise ship Fantasia, where headliner Helena Titsling has been found dead. It looks like foul play. Upon inspection of the corpse, it appears that she was strangled, bludgeoned, shot and stabbed, but which of these inflictions did her in?

The chief of security is trying to keep a lid on things until the ship reaches its next port of call.

Lucky for him that onboard the ship, traveling as a passenger, is the imminent psychic Inspector Hugh Dunnit, who has been called upon to use his unusual mental abilities to unravel the mystery of the diva’s death, one suspect at a time.

Featuring: Special Guest as Inspector Hugh Dunnit, Pandora DeStrange as Helena Titsling, Olivia Gardens as Zelda D’Rex, Joe Kramer as Trey Manly, Rhianna Matthews as Violet Humble, Doug Loynd as Colonel Graham Cracker To reserve a table to any of the Rock’s upcoming shows or to book a party go to therockdmphoenix. com. The Rock is located at 4129 N. 7th Ave. in Phoenix. For more information go to the website or call 602-248-8559.

TUCSON

IBT’s Every Monday night join IBT’s for “Filthy/ Gorgeous”...Something for the ladies from 9 p.m. till close. Drink specials, and music with DJ Hurricane.

Wednesdays great happy hour specials start at noon! Then stay for ‘Viva La Diva’ with Janee’ Starr and her Starrlets at 9p.m.

IBT’s is open Mon - Sun from noon until 2 a.m.

IBT’s is located at 616 N 4th Ave., Tucson.

Phone: 520-882-3053 Website: ibtstucson.com

Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness (aka The Biz) Is a hot gay & lesbian nightclub.

Nightly specials including erotic dancers, Karaoke, Hip Hop, go-go dancing, and open mic night.

Relax and light up a cigarette out in the back patio area, or enjoy the wii lounge.

The Biz welcomes back Meow Mixx May 21 at 9 p.m. $5 cover. GOGO girls drink specials all night long.

The Biz is located at 2900 E. Broadway Blvd. #118, Tucson.

New Moon Pub Tucked into a nondescript strip mall, you may just drive right on past if you don’t have a good navigator on hand. Once there, the baying coyotes in rainbow colors on the sign clue you in, but the New Moon Pub is a friendly hangout no matter what your orientation. Heck, they even accept folks who are oriented toward questionable karaoke selections.

The Moon gives you plenty of reasons to howl, from poker—play for prizes, not cash—to country dance lessons (7:30 p.m. Fridays), drag shows, karaoke and more.

You can howl all you want during karaoke night with Kristen and K2 Tunes, who are featured every Thursday!

New Moon Pub, 915 West Prince Road. Phone: 520-293-7339.

Woody’s expands patio Although the weather is hot, the newly expanded patio at Woody’s is cool! Stay cool and entertained with daily specials and events.

Sunday’s offer Happy Hour from 11a.m. 8p.m., Brunch and Bloody Mary Bar 11a.m. 1:30p.m., Drag Bingo (every other sunday) 8p.m.

- 9p.m. and Karaoke 9p.m. - 2 a.m.

Woody’s has reintroduced Amateur Dancer Night. The Hotbodz perform Monday nights.

Come by and see the news guys!

For more information go to mywoodysaz.com.

Woody’s is located at 3710 North Oracle Road, Tucson. news / politics / business / opinion

FOCUS TUCSON

Meet Erin Russ, SAGA Coordinator

By Shirley Snow, Wingspan

TUCSON - Chatting with Erin Russ is always a pleasure. And delving into her life story is to marvel at the many and varied experiences she has had, even before arriving in Tucson 11 years ago.

Erin was born in Detroit and raised in Syracuse, N.Y. She earned an Associate in Science degree with a major in forestry, and later a bachelor’s degree in history, with a minor in business and accounting.

For 10 years she served as an officer in the U.S.

Army, taking basic and advanced training centering on management, motivation and training seminars. She served overseas in Germany and Japan.

One fateful day in 1990 an officer became aware that she had transgender tendencies, and promptly the next day she resigned with an honorable discharge. Quickly, the Army lost a highly trained and valuable asset.

Arriving in Tucson in 2000, Erin was at a low point in her life. When she found SAGA at Wingspan, it became her anchor, offering her safety, selfesteem, fellowship and a fresh lease on life. SAGA helped her rediscover the talents and motivations that she thought had died.

Erin renewed her interest in hiking, orienteering, biking and, of course, shopping at the mall.

She became active in a small local church. Most recently, she has become a pastor herself, working in a small church that ministers to the marginalized and homeless of Tucson.

Erin brings a wealth of experience to her new job as the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) coordinator. She has extensive training in computer skills and grant writing and more than 15 years’ experience in administration, development and financial management.

She has worked tirelessly for SAGA and Wingspan to develop a speaker-training curriculum and to coordinate speaking engagements addressing transgender issues. Most recently at Wingspan,

she has been Development Operations coordinator and is developing a comprehensive manual to guide the Development Operations team. She also has served as a board member for the local GLBT Chamber of Commerce and on the board of directors for PFLAG, Tucson.

What are Erin’s goals for SAGA? First and foremost, the maintenance and expansion of SAGA’s social, informational and support network. This is the core of SAGA, the reason for its existence, to support trans persons on their journey. Additionally, she hopes to encourage the transgender community to volunteer in support of SAGA and all of Wingspan’s programs.

Erin also plans to strengthen ties with the LGBT Mental Health Coalition, the UA GLBT Affairs Department and other community organizations. She hopes to re-establish the SAGA speakers’ group. Especially important is the ATWork project, which offers support for transgender persons in opening doors with employers and employment agencies and assisting them to find employment. She also plans to work to create resources for those who are unable to access food, shelter and other basic needs.

These are complex, broad, even lofty goals. But if anyone can deal with complex issues and effect change, it’s Erin Russ. Add to this her smile and her sense of humor, and it’s clear Wingspan has chosen well.

New advocate joins Wingspan AVP Program

TUCSON - Michael Lopez is new to Wingspan as an Advocate for the Anti-Violence Programs. Lopez was born and raised in Tucson.

After working in Chicago as a massage therapist, he returned to Tucson to complete his degree in gender and women’s studies from the University of Arizona.

Lopez has focused his academic studies on gender, sexuality, race, class, marginalization and issues related to GLBTQ history and feminist and queer theory. He’s also done extensive research focusing on gender and embodiment as both a form of expression and a means by which certain individuals and groups become marginalized.

Lopez l feels fortunate to work with Wingspan and the LGBTQ community “because it is here I will be able to be an educator and, most important, an advocate for LGBTQ survivors and victims of violence.”

Outside of Wingspan, he is an active board member of New ARTiculations Dance Theater, a modern-dance company in Tucson. He likes to

48 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

paint, play soccer, run and work out. And he loves to watch cartoons, especially “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “Futurama.”

news / politics / business / opinion

FOCUS TUCSON

Summer Saturday Evenings at the zoo with and what it’s like to work with venomous reptiles.

From June through August between 6- 9:45 p.m. you can discover Museum Docents and Jr. Docents interpreting live animals, celestial wonders, fluorescent minerals, night pollinators, animal eye shine, Sonoran Desert insects, night sounds, and bat, kissing bug, scorpion, or rattlesnake kits at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum.

Look for the docents at the following locations: The Entrance Patio, Vista Ramada, Riparian Corridor, Desert Garden, Pollination Garden, Fish and Amphibian Room, Grasslands, Orientation Ramada, Cat Canyon and at the Amphitheater.

Mountain lions, small cats and beavers tend to be especially active after dark. Often wild bats can be seen flying over the Riparian Corridor.

Some exhibits close at sunset so the animals can sleep. The Walk-in Aviary, Hummingbird Aviary, Parrot Exhibit, Life on the Rocks, Field Station/ Tree House, Life Underground, and the Desert Loop Trail (coyote, javelina), Cactus Garden, Agave Garden, Bee Exhibit, People & Pollinators, and the Labyrinth.

Special night time events: June 25 - Lightning and Other Wonders of the Night Sky, Lightning Photography, Warden Oasis Theater: 7-7:30 p.m. and 8-8:30 p.m.

Dr. Ralph Wetmore has chased and photographed lightning throughout southern Arizona.

Hear first-hand about the challenges, dangers and unpredictability of lightning photography, delve into the science of lightning, and enjoy the beauty and power of Ralph’s images of lightning coursing across the sky. Ralph’s recent book, “Thirty Years of Lightning Photography” will be available for sale and signature.

June 25 - Family Astronomy Night. Sponsored by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.

Baldwin Education Building: rooms 102 A-B & 103 and Museum grounds: 6-9p.m.

Join the museum for a fun evening of exploring the stars, asteroids, planets, and gravity. There will be hands-on astronomy experts available to answer your questions.

June 25 - Great Backyard Campout. Outdoor gear demonstrations by REI. Taylor Plaza: 6-9p.m.

June 25 - Electricity Demonstrations by Flandrau Science Center. Warden Oasis Theater Lobby: 6-9p.m.

July 2 - Bats vs. Bugs. Warden Oasis Theater.

Bat talks: 6:30-7p.m. and 8-8:30p.m. Bug talks: 7:15-7:45 p.m. and 8:45-9:15 p.m.

Two special presenters will be discussing topnews / politics / business / opinion

July 9 - Bugs about Bugs! Close-up (Macro) Photography Workshop with Jay Pierstorff and Rhonda Spencer. Baldwin Education Building: Rooms 101 A-B: 7p.m.

This class is free with your Museum membership or paid admission: Limit 50 students.

If you want to learn more about macro-photography, then this program has your name on it! The Desert Museum is a virtual oasis in the desert for bugs!

Learn Macro photography techniques from Professional Photographer Jay Peirstorff and ASDM Photographer Rhonda Spencer as they show the tools and techniques for capturing wonderful photos of these tiny creatures. We will start in the classroom to learn the basics and then head out on to the museum grounds for a fun evening of hands-on personalized instruction.

Requirements: Any camera with the ability to shoot in macro mode and a tripod. Optional: DSLR camera with extension tubes, close-up lenses or macro lens, external flash. ics they are both passionate about. Karen Krebbs, ASDM’s Conservation Biologist will be giving you great information on one of her favorite species, BATS! She will share cool facts and maybe even show you a live bat at the end of her presentations.

Also speaking tonight on one of his favorite topics will be the “Bug-man”, University of Arizona Entomologist Dr. Carl Olson. This will be the night to learn new facts about Sonoran Desert insects and to get all of your bug-related questions answered.

July 9 - Live and “sort of ” on the Loose. Warden Oasis Theater. 6:30-7:15 p.m. and 8-8:45 p.m.

These informative presentations focus on several topics including general natural history, venoms and envenomations, bite statistics, how we work

July 16 - All about Bats. Warden Oasis Theater.

7-7:30 p.m. and 8-8:30p.m.

Learn cool facts about Sonoran Desert Bat species from ASDM Conservation Biologist Karen Krebbs. After her presentation she will be available to answer your questions and introduce you to a live bat!

Check the white board at the front entrance for updated nightly information.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson. Call 520883-2702, or email: info@desertmuseum.org for nightly events. Seating for some events is limited so sign up at desertmuseum.org

June - August 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Adults $12 (no entry after 9:15 p.m.)

Admissions after 4 p.m. ONLY $7.00 ($3.00 for 6-12, FREE for 5 and under) ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 49

NIGHTLIFE - TUCSON

Fairview

Fort Lowell Rd

Broadway Blvd

Congress

Kino Parkway

520-746-1161 TUCSON AIRPORT NORTH Fa

5305 E Speedway, TUC | 520-323-1840

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6th Ave

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St

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Venture–N

1239 N 6th Ave, TUC

6.

LOFT CINEMA, THE

9.

Woody’s

616 N 4th Ave, TUC | 520-882-3053

3233 E Speedway, TUC | 520-795-7777

915 W Prince Rd, TUC | 520-293-7339

3710 N Oracle Rd, TUC | 520-292-6702

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 51

CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS

ible schedule to join the chapter’s leadership team.

To 1996, We received your letter. We encourage you to come forward.

Downtown Phoenix Public Market is now open on Wednesdays from 4-8pm. Not just on Saturdays anymore!

Support local farmers and artists while also supporting the local economy... and by the way, a little organic food won’t hurt you!

BUSINESS / SERVICE Having a bad hair day? John Krebs of Panache Salon can help you with all of your hair needs. 5533 N. 7th St, Suite 401, Phoenix. Call (602)678-5517.

Blake Housecleaning. Taking care of all your housecleaning needs. Serving all parts of the Valley. Ron Blake 480-241-5651 rblake5551@hotmail.com

COMMUNITY INFO Free Social Group and Nonprofit listings. List your social group or non-profit organization for free at ntouchaz.com! Click on the community directory page and add your listing today!

COUNSELING

Professional tax preparation for individuals and small businesses.

Call Rainbow Tax Service today for your appointment. (602) 265-1631.

Writing your biography? Let a professional edit and proof your manuscript for a reasonable price.

Call for rates. 602-957-1638.

Mobile bookkeeper for small business. I’ll crunch your numbers so that you can focus on what you do best. Contact Dave Connell at 602-400-5383.

HEALTH

Now, Voyager Hypnotherapy/ Coaching- Let me help you improve many areas of your life.

Visit NowVoyagerHypnosis.com for some ideas or call 602-3016551. The Mind Is The Greatest Vessel!

Licensed Professional Counselor - Call Rene Broussard, LPC for a Caring Counselor who knows our community, from the inside out: 480-751-1020. Sliding Scale Fee and Free Initial Consultation Available.

FOR RENT/LEASE

Personal Fitness Training.

Blake Fitness is the name to know for all your fitness training needs.

15 years of experience and still having fun! Ron Blake 480-2415651 myblakefitness.com The GLBT Guide, Inc. The national gay business listings, personals and classifieds. Bringing America’s GLBT Community together. Listings for less than $3/mo. glbtguide.com.

FOR SALE: Uptown Gem of a Home 1024 West Georgia Avenue, Pasadena Neighborhood, Walkability Score 67, Energy efficient 3 bedrms, 1.75 baths. 1900 sq. ft has home office entry. Spacious corner lot, walled privacy, paddle fans, skylights, A/C and evap.

Security doors thruout & alarm system. Detached 2+ car port with secure storage, Offered at $235,000. MLS # 4186597, 10 2 4 w g e o r g i a a v e . e p r o p e rtysites.com. Owner/agent John E. Hughes, Jr. (520) 907-6792.

Roommate wanted to share nice house in quiet neighborhood near 36th St. and Indian School.

Available Feb. 1st. 2 bed/2bath, covered parking, washer dryer, wireless internet, cable tv, private backyard, no smoking in house, dog allowed (no cats). $600 plus 1/2 utilities. Call John at 602-5023313. Available July 1st, 2011.

FOR SALE LUXURY PENTHOUSE 207 W. Clarendon #22E 1566 sq.ft. 2 split Master BRs/2 full baths. Eat-in kitchen. LR/ DR. Pool,spa,tennis,light-rail. 24/7 front desk. $395,000.00. Linda Pool - Keller Williams - (480)600-7504 lindapool@cox.net

52 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

Are you experiencing any of the following? Hot flashes, mood swings, low sex drive, weight gain, depression, headaches, anxiety, foggy thinking, vaginal dryness, prolonged fatigue? Call 1-888-314-3413

Communications Coordinator, Independent Contractor/Part-time Position: The Communications Coordinator will work with the Chapter Co-Chairs and its Board of Directors to effectively and consistently craft, deliver and oversee the circulation of GLSEN’s brand and message in order to advance our mission and vision. We seek an innovative thinker with a flexible schedule to complement the organization’s leadership team.

The chapter is open to prioritizing the components of the job around the most fitting candidate’s skill set and interests.

Bartenders/Cocktail Servers Wanted Looking for at least 2 years experience or customer service equivalent. Stop into the Rock for an application, 4129 N 7th Ave, Phoenix AZ 85013. 602-248-8559 Experienced Licensed Massage Therpist and Experienced Cosmetologist for upscale central Phoenix salon. Call George or David at 602277-8849 for more information.

HELP WANTED LANDSCAPING GLSEN Phoenix currently has openings for two part-time, stipend positions: a volunteer coordinator and a communications coordinator. Applications for both positions will be accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to info@glsenphoenix.org, or mail to GLSEN Phoenix, PO Box 2386, Phoenix, AZ 85002.

Volunteer Program Coordinator, Independent Contractor/Part-time Position: The Volunteer Program Coordinator is the primary contact for people interested in joining GLSEN Phoenix’s efforts to create safe and respectful schools for all students and staff, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. The coordinator is responsible for working with Chapter Co-chairs and the Board of Directors in the effective implementation of the organization’s mission and goals through the recruitment and retention of a diverse volunteer core. We seek an innovative thinker with a flex-

VOX | Landscaping & Construction Complete landscaping design including walls, stucco, pavers, fireplaces, barbeques and metal work. Call Beth Rohlfs, Owner at 480538-8081 | ROC# 262709

MASSAGE

Rainbow Massage Therapy.

Bring this ad in for $10.00 off your massage. Located near 7th Ave & Indian School. Swedish & Hot Stone. Call (602) 2651631 to make your appointment or e-mail rainbowmassagephx. com (MT-09329)

news / politics / business / opinion

CLASSIFIEDS Q Ranch... < continued from page 22 offers many activities remembering the Pleasant Valley War. Would-be visitors can also reserve the ranch for an event of their own choosing; a minimum of six persons is required.

Over the years, the ranch has hosted retreats for several of the Valley’s

LGBT social organizations.

It’s a uniquely historic Arizona site, not only for its archaeological significance but for the role it played in the Pleasant Valley War and in the development of Arizona’s cattle industry, one of the state’s 5 C’s. For more information, email qranchlodge@earthlink.net.

Purchase Classified Advertising Online! ntouchaz.com

news / politics / business / opinion

ntouchaz.com | July 2011 | Issue #84 | 53

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Building a great community starts with you!

Support these businesses that advertise in ‘N Touch News!

Adult

Landscaping

Chute

602-234-1654

Chute Store

chutestore.com

Off Chute Too

602-274-1429

Accomodations

VOX

480-538-8081

J. Ross Firm

602-685-1177

Lee Horner (TUC)

520-979-5176

928-774-5800

Ronda Kelso

602-954-9313

Holiday Inn Tucson Airport N

520-746-1161

Tyler Allen Law Firm, PLLC

602-456-0545

928-773-8888

Automotive

Marc Anthony Massage

480-777-8366

Rainbow Massage

602-265-1631

602-992-2830

Community Tire Glendale

602-978-0251

Community Tire Airport

602-231-9090

Night Life

Community Tire 40th St/Univ

602-470-0677

Ain’t Nobody’s Biz (TUC)

520-318-4838

Community Tire Cottonwood

928-634-0705

Chute

602-234-1654

Colors Restaurant (TUC)

520-323-1840

IBT’s (TUC)

Salon Georvid

602-277-8849

Bookkeeping & Taxes Dave Connell

602-400-5383

Glenchrist Tax Preparation

602-644-1045

Chiropractic In Touch Chiropractic

602-548-1998

Loft Cinema, The (TUC)

520-882-3053 loftcinema.com

New Moon (TUC)

520-293-7339

Rainbow Cactus

602-971-1086

Rock, The

602-248-8559

Woody’s (TUC)

520-292-6702

Counseling / Addiction

Pawzapalooza

Man 2 Man

602-307-5330

Stonewall Institue

602-535-6468

Photography

Tony Ray Baker/Tierra Ant.

GayTucson.com

Ron Houston/AZ Lifestyle

602-402-2459

Dorian Kreiling/ReMax

623-694-4737

Melinda Murphy/ReMax

602-695-2900

Community Church of Hope

602-234-2180

Gentle Shepherd

602-864-6404

TIHAN

520-299-6647

Restaurants Bitz-ee Mamas

623-931-0562

Caffé Italia

602-749-9228

Linda’s on Osborn

602-956-4420

Slice of Sicily Pizza

602-667-3331

Retail Shopping Chute Store

chutestore.com

Off Chute Too

602-274-1429

STD Testing / Services

Pets Central Phx Animal

928-864-7680

Religious

Massage

Community Tire North Phx

Beauty

480-287-3780

Marric Studios (FLAG)

Real Estate Services

Law Firms

Courtyard Marriott Flagstaff Radisson Hotel Flagstaff

Danton Photography

602-277-5155 480-659-9933

AZMAN2MAN

602-307-5330

Taxi/Transportation: Discount Cab

602-266-8747

Design & Web Services Lionwood Visual Design

602-413-0954

Event Services Celebrate Your Life

623-463-3470

Financial Services Glenchrist Tax Preparation

602-644-1045

US Bank, Jonathon Humig (TUC) 520-664-1624 Wells Fargo

wellsfargo.com

Health Care Dr. Damien Brandeis, NMD

480-855-6560

Dr. Lindsay Pearson (TUC)

520-302-4033

The Medicine Shoppe (TUC)

520-461-1125

Southern AZ AIDS Foundation

520-628-7223

Home Services Floor Source

602-2-SOURCE

PartyLite

602-410-9825

Information / Support One Voice Community Cntr PFLAG of Payson PRISM @ NAU

602-712-0111 928-476-2358

facebook.com/prism.nau

Insurance Ken Leombruno

602-971-5799

54 | Issue #84 | July 2011 | ntouchaz.com

news / politics / business / opinion

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