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FROM THE EDITOR
And the winners are... Each year ‘N Touch News tries to recognize some of the individuals and groups that go above and beyond in their efforts for the community. Without further adieu…
Woman of the Year: Linda Thomas It was a fortunate day, indeed, when Linda Thomas and her partner, Holly Lyons, stopped by the Wingspan office and offered to host a golf tournament. It began a relationship that continues today. The Wingspan Golf Classic has become a signature event for Wingspan, Tucson’s LGBT community center. The Wingspan Golf Classic is in its fourth year and is a major fundraiser for the non-profit. Founding and hosting the Golf Classic was just a start for Linda. She was asked to serve on the board of directors and became a member of the board in 2009. When the position of Program Director became vacant in 2010, Linda applied and was hired to fill the position. Linda states that “she was not looking for a second career, but she saw a need and filled that need.” Linda and Holly, both military commanders, retired to the Tucson area to soak up the sun and play more golf, not to run a non-profit. When notified of her nomination, Linda’s first inclination was to decline. According to Linda, “Wingspan’s success had little to do with me. It took a team effort.” She went on to list every person on her staff and the all of the volunteers at Wingspan as people who deserved the award more. All those who know Linda will agree that would be her response. Linda was nominated because of her dedication and commitment to help Wingspan go through a rough period of shrinking grants and donations. Because of her work, Wingspan is able to offer many services to the southern Arizona area, including, but not limited to, the Anti-Violence program, the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, the Eon Youth Lounge, the Homeless Teen program and many other programs.
Man of the Year: Richie Black (aka Celia Putty) Celia Putty (aka Richie Black) is the reigning Miss Gay Arizona America and most recently placed top ten for the second time at Miss Gay America. Richie has made the art of female impersonation his personal pipeline for 4 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
smuggling his particular brand of comedy, but he is no stranger to jumping the shark. This year he played the role of “Maddie Van Buren” in Nearly Naked Theatre’s “Devil Boys From Beyond,” a production that was nominated for and received several AriZoni awards. He hosts a weekly show, “Celia Putty’s Freaky Friday” at Friends in Phoenix; he also hosts (out of drag) a weekly event he calls “Meatgrinder” which is a hodgepodge of “love” games including Post Office, the Dating Game, and the “Cruellywed Game.” Richie is co-promoter of the Miss Gay Metropolis Pageant, which will be held Sunday Feb. 12 at BS West, and has been involved in a slew of fundraisers from AIDS Walk Arizona to Phoenix Pride. He is enjoying a terrific run back in the spotlight after ending his long sabbatical two years ago. Lastly, Richie has embraced sobriety for more than seven years and will be celebrating 12 years with his partner Bill. “I am tickled to have been nominated for ‘N Touch News Magazine’s ‘Man of the Year.’ Does this mean I haven’t convinced you that I am a lady? Was it my five o’clock shadow that gave me away? Thank you, nonetheless, I am a bit embarrassed but very truly flattered.”
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The Men of Charlie’s The Men of Charlie’s, Phoenix, was started 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 group 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 on the Friday nights the rest of the month to raise funds for non-profits. The Men of Charlie’s has a bowling fundraiser on the second Saturday of the month, and is actively involved in events such as AGRA Rodeo, Phoenix Pride and Rainbows Festival. Please follow ‘N Touch News as we highlight and partner with Linda Thomas, Richie Black (aka Celia Putty), and The Men of Charlie’s to raise funds for non-profits in Arizona.
All original artwork for ‘N TOUCH NEWS remains property of LIONWOOD VISUAL DESIGN and cannot be reproduced, altered, or sold without authorization and compensation. Limited usage rights can be purchased for a small fee. NOTE: The opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the views of ‘N TOUCH NEWS, its staff, or that of its parent company. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or organization within ‘N TOUCH NEWS is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organization. Some photos were submitted by our readers. To our knowledge, they own the copyrights, and they have given us permission to reproduce them. If you see a picture that you own, please call us immediately and we will remove if from future publications. All copy, text, display, photos and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures, and testimonials of any living person, and that ‘N Touch News is not responsible for unlawful use of such content.
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Spectate.
Donate.
Look for our float in the 16th Annual Phoenix Pride Parade on Saturday April 21st starting at 11am!
Visit our beverage booth near the Pride Metro stage where a portion of all sales go to benefit One Voice Community Center!
One Voice Community Center serves as a cultural focal point, uniting LGBT individuals and organizations, and reinvests in the community by providing vital educational, social, and wellness programs in the Metro Phoenix area.
Educate. Stop by our booth at the Pride Festival and learn all about the great programs and services One Voice offers the community.
4442 N. 7th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85013 602.712.0111 | www.1vcc.org | info@1vcc.org Living without fear, shame or isolation.
Graphic design services donated by Dave McQueen | 602.653.7760
LOCAL NEWS
GLSEN Phx to co-sponsor "Bullied to Silence" By Luis Garcia The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Phoenix, an organization that works with educators, policy makers, community leaders and students on the urgent need to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in schools, has announced they are working closely with “Bullied to Silence” director Tami Pivnick and producer Susan Broude to co-sponsor an Arizona premier of the picture. GLSEN Phoenix Co-Chair Madelaine Adelman told ‘N Touch News she is excited that Arizona could be one of the first cities to view the film. “I have seen the film, been moved by the film, and am glad that our community will have such early and easy access to the film,” said Adelman. “The filmmakers approached us because their documentary fits perfectly with the national scope of
our mission to create safe, respectful and healthy K-12 schools for all. We address all forms of bias and bullying but pay particular attention to bias-based school climate issues related to actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity/ expression because no other organization does this work at all levels in public schools. This film, which reveals the painful consequences of being targeted by peer harassment, complements GLSEN’s efforts to help raise public awareness about the critical need to address antiLGBT bias. “Bullied to Silence includes a significant number of Arizona participants, further emphasizing both our local need and our local resources. I encourage ‘N Touch readers to take advantage of this exclusive engagement.” According to Broude, the cast
members traveled from around the world, as far away as Hong Kong, to be at the World Premiere of “Bullied to Silence” at the Boston Int’l Film Festival in April. Both Pivnick and Broude were joined on the Red Carpet of the BIFF opening on April 16 with American Idol Semi-Finalist Brett Loewenstern and Tyler’s Clementi’s cousin, Jennifer Ehrentraut. Clementi was the eighteen-yearold student at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, who ended his life on September 22, 2010 by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, after learning his roommate had secretly spied on his sexual encounters with another man through a webcam. “We had just released the ‘Bullied to Silence’ posters and banners, which were hung proudly at the AMC/Loew’s Theater. The general manager of the AMC/Loew’s Boston was so excited about the premiere of B2S that he personally hung the banner next to the banner for The Hunger Games for maximum visibility,” said Broude. A new report released earlier this year by GLSEN based on national surveys of 1,065 elementary school students in 3rd to 6th grade and 1,099 elementary school teachers of K-6th grade shows the need for elementary schools to do more to address issues of homophobia, gender expression and family diversity, said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza
L I C E N S E D
Byard. Discussions, tool kits, advocacy opportunities, and other assets will be provided with the film, through the Bullied to Silence website and in cooperation with other partners. “There is a larger need to provide educational tools and resources that enhance their understanding of gender nonconforming students and families with LGBT parents,” said Byard. “Providing this kind of support to teachers and school staff serving our nation’s youngest students will build a lasting foundation of learning and development for all elementary school students.” According to Adelman, the Phoenix premier should occur in early May. For more information on GLSEN visit glsenphoenix.org To find out about the Bullied to Silence film and its premiers visit bulliedtosilence.com
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LOCAL NEWS
Reigning monarchs bid adieu One-on-one with Empress Lady Christian & Emperor Jerry Heitman By Joseph A. Gaxiola ‘N Touch – “One of the things that a reigning monarch is supposed to do is to travel to other Imperial Court events around the country. Where did you travel during your reign?” Empress VI Lady Christian – “I went to Omaha, Des Moines, Dallas, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Tulsa, and Denver.” Emperor VI Jerry Heitman – “I went to 2 coronations in San Francisco (Ducal and Imperial), Omaha, NE Dallas, TX. and Las Vegas, NV.”
The Imperial Court of Arizona will host their annual Coronation the weekend of May 4-6, 2012 at the Phoenix Hilton Airport. This is the time when the Imperial Court of Arizona’s Reigning Monarchs; Emperor VI Jerry Heitman and Empress VI Lady Christian step down and the new Monarchs are elected. People from all over the country are expected to join in the fun. The festivities start on Friday May 4, 2012 with a hospitality room at the host hotel from 12 – 4 p.m. Later that evening festivities include the Out of Town Show and Bar Tour. The Out of Town show is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenix Hilton Airport. The performers at this show will be the out of town guest from across the country. The Bar Tour buses will leave the hotel at 9 p.m. and will come back to the hotel between 2:15 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. Ticket prices for both events are $25 per person. On Saturday May 5th, 2012 the hospitality room will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Then that evening is the big event – Coronation VII at the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenix Hilton Airport. Doors open at 6 p.m. and Coronation begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for this event are $40 per person. Immediately following
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Coronation the hospitality will reopen until 2 a.m. to welcome the new Monarchs. On Sunday May 6, 2012 the Victory Brunch will be at the Grand Ballroom at the Phoenix Hilton Airport starting at 11 a.m. with a price of $25. The Victory party will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at Pat O’s Bunkhouse and this event is free. The Victory Show will be held at The Rock beginning at 7 p.m. ‘N Touch sat down with the Reign VI emperor and empress who will be stepping down. ‘N Touch – “How much money did you raise during your reign and which groups did you raise money for?” Emperor VI Jerry Heitman – “I spoke with Bill Mitchell, our treasure; we still have 4 events left to do so an exact total is impossible but our reign total should be between $25,000 and $30,000 by the time we step down. We have raised money for the following organizations this year; Aunt Rita’s, Trevor Project, One Voice Community Center, Gentle Shepherd Community Church, Youth Empowerment, AASK, H.O.P.E. House, Paws for Patriots, and 1 in 10.”
‘N Touch – “What are you the most proud of for your reign?” Emperor VI Jerry Heitman – “There are a couple of things I would like to mention that I am proud of this year. Lady Christian and I chose to have no board members on our lines this year. This decision was made not to exclude the board but to engage more members of the court. We also paired our line members and asked each line couple to be fully responsible for a fundraiser. We thought this would be a good experience for the line and help prepare them for future Monarchs. The fundraiser I am most proud of is Paws for Patriots. We sponsored a disabled Veteran with a combination of therapy/service dog. He is 24 years old, has 3 children and just returned home after being discharged for medical reasons due to injuries received in battle. The event raised
nearly $5000.” Empress VI Lady Christian – “I am certianly most proud of the rebuilding of our community support for our organization that Jerry and I have done together this year.” ‘N Touch – “What will you miss being a reigning monarch?” Empress VI Lady Christian – “I will just miss being Empress. Its an amazing experience and I certainly would tell any queen, If you wanna run for a title that truly makes a difference in your community and across the country with over 45 years of history, join the court and run for Empress.” Emperor VI Jerry Heitman – “As far as what I will miss as a reigning Monarch I plan on remaining active in the community and being here to support our new Monarchs. I still plan on traveling to coronations and being involved in fund raising. I feel I have always been a leader in the community and have every intention of remaining involved and supporting our LGBT organizations and community. I don’t have to give any of that up just because I am stepping down.” Coronation VII will be held at Phoenix Hilton Airport – 2435 S 47th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034. For more information check out ntouchaz.com and imperialcourtaz. org.
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 7
LOCAL NEWS
Who will reign supreme? By Luis Garcia The Imperial Sovereign Empire of Arizona will be hosting their annual coronation celebration the weekend of May 4-6 at various locations around the Valley. The official coronation, entitled “Angels & Demons”, will take place at the Hilton Phoenix Airport on May 5. According to Empress VI of the Imperial Court of Arizona Lady Christian, the coronation is the organization’s annual gala. Lady Christian was crowned at last year’s coronation along with Emperor VI Jerry Heitman. During their reign over $30,000 was raised for various non-profit organizations in Arizona. This year there will be three candidates who will attempt to succeed them.
in December 2010, raising money for AGAPE feeding program and Joshua Tree. In November, Angelique worked with Kenneth Anthony on the Fall Frenzy event where together they raised $1000 for Youth Empowerment Project. Angelique is also the Court’s elected representative to Her Majesty’s Parliament. Angelique’s goal in Rein 7 is to see community organizations grow as they continue to pull together, so events dove-tail to reach common goals. She desires to foster the image of the Imperial Court in the larger community as well, hoping to reach out with fundraising events for several non-GLBT charities in addition to building on the foundation the court has established in our community.
For Empress VII:
Paula Sha Robert Tencate aka Paula Sha has been involved in female illusion for over 20 years. She has the distinct honor of being the only Female illusionist to have won Miss Phoenix Gay Pride twice. She was born in Chicago and Robert moved to Arizona in 1985 and has worked in the gay community since then. Some of Paulas accomplishments include Miss Gay West Coast, Grand Dutchess of The Imperial Court of Arizona Reign V, Princess Royale of reign VI. One of Paulas favorite things to do is raise money for her favorite charities. Some of her favorites include LADS, Heart Foundation, Ari-
Angelique Chantez Dubois Angelique is the drag daughter of Empress 5, Zsa Zsa Dubois. She has been a member of the Arizona Imperial Court for almost three years; and has held a line title for two; serving with Zsa Zsa and now as Princess to Rein 6 under Lady Christian. Angelique is the alter-ego of Phoenix resident, Jim Ward. As a member of the court, Angelique quickly found her niche, performing in shows and events. In her first year with the court she organized and co-hosted the STUFF-A- STOCKING show
zona Cancer Charities and many others. She has been a friend of the court since the beginning of Reign I and joined the court during Reign III. She is honored to be the Princess Royale to Reign VI.
For Emperor VII: Kenneth Anthony Kenneth Anthony has been involved in the Imperial Court of Arizona since the middle of reign III, and has served as Ball Coordinator for Coronations IV, V, and VI. He has also served on the board of directors or leadership team for several community organizations including the Arizona Power Exchange, the Arizona Men of Leather, Mr. Phoenix Leather, Masters And slaves Together Phoenix, and Arizona Pups and Handlers. As a volunteer resident stage manager for Nearly Naked Theatre he learned organizational and theatrical skills, which he has transferred to his work in the community producing events and fundraisers for various charities. Kenneth is proud to be Prince Royale to Reign VI, and is honored to be a candidate for the position of Emperor VII. Elections will be held Saturday, April 28 from 10a.m.-6p.m. at the One Voice Community Center. Absentee Ballots can be cast online between April 25-27.
QTalk launches national "Pride in Living Pictures Photowalk" QTalk America is excited to announce a joint project with Lytro, the company that has re-invented point-and-shoot photography as we know it, to capture the diverse rainbow of imagery that makes up gay pride celebrations in the United States through “living pictures” technology. The Lytro camera is the world’s first consumer light field camera, which allows you to shoot first and focus later. QTalk America is the first locally focused, nationally connected network of online talk shows and programming for the LGBT community. The local affiliate of QTalk America, QTalk Arizona, is giving away a Lytro camera to one lucky winner who enters the giveaway at our exhibitor space at Phoenix Pride, April 21-22, 2012. Registering an email address with them during that weekend is all that is required to be eligible to win. Additional chances to win are available by recording a short video at the QTalk Arizona booth (why you really want the camera) and also receiving the most “likes” on your video once uploaded to the QTalk Arizona YouTube channel. The winner will be announced Saturday, May 5 on-air during 8 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
the “Joe and Babe” on QTalk Arizona. “QTalk America chose Lytro initially to help make our big splash at Phoenix Pride this year, but also because we believed it’s such an amazing new camera and would be a total hit with festival attendees. Introducing the concept of imagery into QTalk America is a deliberate foreshadowing of our eventual move to a video platform for our shows within the next year,” says QTalk founder Joe Dugandzic. During initial discussions, Lytro introduced the idea of a photowalk, which eventually blossomed into a 20-city tour. QTalk America worked to create the list of Pride festivals for where the cameras would travel, while Lytro would supply the camer-
as along with physical and marketing logistics. The local Pride organizers are selecting photographers to use the Lytro cameras to capture the festivities, and the pictures will be uploaded to pictures.lytro. com/pride. With the Lytro technology, the pictures can be re-focused on any point in the image right on the camera, but also through the Lytro website and through software. The “living pictures” can also be shared across the usual services, including Facebook and Twitter, from the Lytro website. The 2012 Pride in Living Pictures Photowalk, sponsored by QTalk America and powered by Lytro, kicks off in the West at Phoenix Pride, April 21-22. For the full list of cities and dates, please visit qtalkamerica.com/photowalk. The Pride “living pictures” will be available at pictures.lytro.com/ pride QTalk America is the first locally-focused, nationally-connected network of online talk shows and programming for the LGBT community in the United States and beyond. news / politics / business / opinion
LOCAL NEWS
Phoenix Pride's gem - Melissa Ferrick By Staff Phoenix Pride has lined up a number of entertainers for this year’s event, country singer Chely Wright, 70s pop group The Village People and songstress Vanessa Carlton. But, if your musical tastes tend toward gritty vocals and gut wrenching lyrics catch Melissa Ferrick who performs on Sunday, April 22. This singer/songwriter has a great deal to show for two decades in the music industry. There is the expansive body of work, mapped out over the sixteen albums that comprise her career to date, nearly all of which she distributed herself. There are the stories of the crisscrossed world and the things she has both gained and lost in her wake. There is the fervent fan-base that has grown with Ferrick, Above all there is the sound, a voice burnished by breakdowns and breakthroughs, refined over the twenty years she has been doing this. Ferrick has been putting out impressive albums since 1993. Her last, Still Right Here, features guest spots from Ani DiFranco and Kaki King. Ferrick’s 17th album, showcases the signature guitar sound that Ferrick is revered for, blending seamlessly with her flawless gritty vocals. Many feel that this is her best work to date. “This is the record I’ve wanted to make for a long time,” Ferrick says. “The sound of it — the songwriting is definitely a step above where I was a few years ago.” The growth reflected on Still Right Here is a direct result of the emotional topography of Ferrick’s
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hard you try to run away from your stuff, it doesn’t matter. It’s always going to knock on the door for you to deal with.” “Weightless And Slow” showcases two of Ferrick’s strengths; the incredible guitar work that she’s known for which perfectly complements her soulful vocals as she spins a tale of love and hope. Another of Ferrick’s strengths lies in her ability to mine the contents of her life and set them to music – “You Let Me Be” is lo-fi balladry at its best, going
deep into the romantic territory of Ferrick’s life with guest vocals from friend and tour mate Ani DiFranco. Ferrick brings the energy of a twenty-something to her live performances. With her youthful good looks it is hard to believe that she has been performing for two decades. The Pride Festival runs April 21-22 at Steele Indian School Park. Single day tickets are $20. A twoday pass is $30. Purchase at phoenixpride.org
When Rock & Politics Mix! life, shaped by the events of the past few years. In addition to falling in and out of love with her partner, she made the difficult decision to end the business relationship she’d built with her best friend over the course of her career. At the same time, Ferrick decided to sign to MPress Records after years of self-distributing her albums, which at first proved a difficult to decision to make. Given the self-scrutiny it was of chief importance that the record sound alive. “I really tried to sing my ass off,” Ferrick says. “I wanted it to sound like it was all happening in the room at the same time.” And Ferrick succeeds, there’s a living, breathing quality to the songs comprising Still Right Here. Album namesake “Still Right Here” serves as the record’s mission statement, inspired by a friend who walked away from a terrible car accident. “That song is really important to me, because no matter how
Meet singer, song-writer Melissa Ferrick in a more intimate setting! Join her and Congressional Candidate Kyrsten Sinema for a ‘mix and mingle’ to raise funds & awareness about Sinema’s campaign for Congress.
Saturday, April 21st, 7 - 9 p.m. at O.H.S.O. Eatery +nanoBrewery, 4900 E. Indian School Rd. RSVPs required. Call 602-770-3077 or email devin@rankinconsultingllc.com
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 9
LOCAL NEWS
Do you know your community center? By Joseph A. Gaxiola
One Voice Community Center is for everyone in the LGBTQ and Allied communities to use and be a part of. The center was founded in 2005, and incorporated as a 501(c) (3) in the state of Arizona. The name “One Voice” was chosen for its direct simplicity in encapsulating a specific purpose. It was launched with a dedicated social commitment to unify and empower the LGBT Community in Phoenix. In 2007, One Voice established its first physical space – a small office inside the Melrose Center on 7th Avenue. In August 2009, One Voice expended into a 2700 square foot space at 725 West Indian School Road. In 2011, One Voice
moved to 4442 North 7th avenue. The One Voice Community Center has a variety of different programs, services and events that happen on a daily, weekly, and monthly base. On Mondays One Voice offers free HIV rapid testing provided by Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS. This takes place from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Board Office. Also on Mondays the Men’s Discussion Group meets at 7– 9 p.m. in the purple room. This group is a male-oriented discussion and social group. The discussion group has a wide range of topics from health to politics and much more. On Tuesdays the Coming Out Discussion Group meets from 7– 8 p.m. in the yellow room. This group helps individuals come out and gives them a better understanding of themselves. Even people who have come out are welcome to join in the discussion to help give support.
Hospice of the Valley a Culture of Caring Bringing comfort and dignity as life nears its end.
602.530.6900 | hov.org
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On Thursdays the Older Gay Men’s Support Group meets from 9 – 10:30 a.m. in the purple room. This group helps gay and bisexual men over the age of 50 with issues of loneliness, libido, relationships, as well as other topics. Thursdays One Voice also offers free HIV rapid testing provided by Southwest Center for HIV/ AIDS. This takes place from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Board Office. Then the Bipolar, Depression and Anxiety Group meets from 7 pm – 9 pm in the yellow room. This group helps people in our community who are bipolar, suffer from depression or anxiety. Members can discuss what is going on in their lives with other members who are going through the same thing. The Lesbian Social Network holds their events at One Voice every Friday from 7:30-10 p.m. On Saturdays One Voice hosts A2Z Social Network from 7– 10 p.m. in the Rainbow Room. This is a social event for everyone. A2Z Social Network is a safe alternative to the bar scene. You can watch a movie, play board games, as well other special events. Refreshments are avail and there is an asking price of $5 donation to help pay for the refreshments. The Writer’s Collective Group meets on the first and third Tuesdays every month from 7– 9 p.m. in the orange room. This group offers an ongoing workshop for local writers. If you have an idea, an outline, or a rough draft members of this group can help you achieve a better work for you script, poem, short story, and novels. Yoga classes will be coming back to One Voice. These classes will be held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 2 p.m. Yoga classes are available for anyone and will be held in the purple room. One Voice contains also hosts the BJ Bud Memorial Library. The library has books about the gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer. The books in the library can be check out like a public library or read at the Center. BJ Bud was a pioneer in the GLBT and women’s communities. Bud was also the founder of the first Pride event in Phoenix in 1981. She was one of the founders of the Arizona Lesbian Gay Task Force. She passed away in 1996. The Cyber Center is available for anyone to use for looking a place to live, looking for a job or check your email. The Cyber Center is free of charge. Michele De Lafreniere Community Resource Center is the first room that everyone sees when they enter One Voice Community Center. The Michele De Lafreniere Resource Center provides the community with the only single location to pick up all the community magazines, information on community events, brochures about health and wellness, social events and everything in between. Michele was a very prominent and visible member of the Phoenix area transgender community. Originally from New York, she owned a Scottsdale bicycle shop when she started transition, but negative community reaction forced her to sell her business in 2005. Michele became involved in a very public fight with a Scottsdale night club over claims of anti-transgender discrimination. Michele was appointed to a seat on the Scottsdale Human Relations Commission in 2002. She passed away October 30, 2009. Aside from these programs, events, and resources available at One Voice Community Center they also host other groups to meet within the center. Arizona Men of Leather, This is H.O.W., Imperial Court of Arizona, Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, H.E.R.O., and many others. For more information, check out One Voice’s website at 1vcc.org.
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LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Save the date – Flagstaff Pride FLAGSTAFF - Pride in the Pines scheduled for June 16, 2012, in downtown Wheeler Park. This past June Northern Arizona Pride Association Celebrated its 15th year in Flagstaff. For additional information as it becomes available to Flagstaffpride.org
The Gleek’ed Out concert features original music and arrangements from Fox’s hit TV series Glee. With musical selections including Journey, Fleetwood Mac, Adele, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, and Madonna, the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus will continue their tradition of entertainment and quality music for the community. Individual tickets may be purchased online at grandcanyonperformingarts.org, with senior and child discounts. The Gleek’ed Out concert will be hosted May 4, 5, and 6 at the John Paul Theatre at Phoenix College. For more information about the Chorus and the Grand Canyon Performing Arts, visit phoenixmetropolitanmenschorus.org
Mother’s Day Remembrance Hospice of the Valley is holding a free Mother’s Day remembrance 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. May 12 at Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St. in Phoenix. Participants are invited to bring photos and personal mementos to display on a remembrance table, and also reflect on what mothers have taught us about the art of living. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are requested by April 30. Call 602-636-5390.
Champagne & Gloryholes Glass Blowing Class PHOENIX - Create a fabulous work of glass art for your mom or anyone, with expert direction from Circle 6 Studios. Enjoy champagne and sweets during the affair and learn all about blowing and shaping glass April 28 at 2p.m. or on May 6 at 2 p.m. The Price is $60 per person, or $100 per couple and all proceeds benefit One Voice Community Center. A glory hole is an equipment of glass blowers for re-heating glass to soften it so it can be worked further or to keep it hot enough to avoid cracking during other work like adding handles, feet, etc. Register at 1vcc.org
Gleek’ed out PHOENIX - The Grand Canyon Performing Arts and its flagship group, the Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus, are proud to present their annual spring concert, Gleek’ed Out, May 4-6. This concert benefits The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth.
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e-mailing kado@onenten.org
ADL to honor trio PHOENIX - The Arizona Region of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced that it will bestow its highest honor, the Torch of Liberty Award, to two recipients this year, Gene D’Adamo, Vice President of Community Relations for The Arizona Republic/azcentral. com/12 News, and Sue Glawe, Vice President of Community Relations for BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona. Additionally, the civil rights organization will recognize Nicole Stanton, of Quarles & Brady, and the “First Lady of Phoenix,” with the “Al” Brooks Community Leadership Award for her leadership in fighting the nationwide epidemic of bullying in the schools. The awards will be presented at the Jerry J. Wisotsky Torch of Liberty dinner on Thursday, November 1, 2012. Bill Straus, Arizona Regional Director of ADL and Miriam Weisman, Regional Board Chair, stated, “Gene and Sue are two of the ADL’s most valued friends and have been unwavering in their support for ADL’s work. We are truly honored to be able to give this year’s Torch of Liberty Award to two such outstanding community partners. With Nicole, ADL has found a tremendous ally in the ongoing fight against bullying. She has used her ‘anti-bully pulpit’ in exemplary fashion. Together, these three honorees embody what is best about Phoenix and all of Arizona.” The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
“Heart Luck” Variety Show raises 4K
OUTdoors! Camp PHOENIX - Save the date for the 5th annual OUTdoors! Camp hosted by one n ten. Over labor day weekend, Friday August 31 to Monday September 3. OUTdoors! Camp will bring together 250 LGBTQ youth, volunteers and community leaders to attend “Gay Camp” in Prescott, Arizona. OUTdoors! Camp is dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth, ages 12-24, develop leadership skills, work in collaborative ways, and develop a strong sense of self and community! Applications for both in state and out of state youth will be released on May 1, 2012. Applications for community members interested in leading workshops or becoming a volunteer will be released on May 15, 2012. To learn more about OUTdoors! Camp please visit outdoorsgaycamp. com or contact Camp Director, Kado Stewart, by
PHOENIX - The GLAD Dart League’s Have A Heart Project’s 4th Annual “Heart Luck” Variety Show and Underwear Auction March 10 raised $4062 with all proceeds to benefit G.L.A.D. members’ three chosen charities – Bryon Wiley Memorial Scholarship Fund, GreenHouse Project of Tumbleweed and Joshua Tree. Organizers wish to thank the Bunkhouse, Miss Gay Phoenix America - Olivia Gardens, Imperial Court Princess Royal 2012/Miss Kobalt 2011 – Paula Sha, Miss Rainbow Cactus 2012 - Nikki Starr, Lady Godiva, our volunteers, the seventeen underwear models, and all those that attended. Special thanks to Off Chute Too for donating the underwear.
Mamasitas! TUCSON - Mamasitas is a group of cool and down to earth women that get together to play sports such as soccer, softball, and basketball gather the 2nd Sunday of the month at 2 p.m.
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and the 3rd Saturday at 10 a.m. at Menlo Park 427 N. Grande. The group can be found on Myspace and Facebook or email mamasitas2009@live.com. If you are down to hang out with respectful and interesting women to play some sports come out and join in!
Rainbow Build II continues TUCSON - Rainbow Build II, a new home being built by Habitat for Humanity and the Tucson LGBTQ community, is currently underway. To build such a home, LGBTQ groups and individuals (of any persuasion) contribute money for materials and then work together to construct it. The 2005 Tucson Rainbow Build was the first LGBT build in the nation and was featured in the July 19, 2005, issue of The Advocate. Some 35 Tucson organizations joined together in that effort. The second house will be targeted for an eligible LGBT family. As of mid-March, Habitat of Humanity had reached $67,000 of its $85,000 goal for the project and still needs additional funds. Please contact Joseph Howell to donate and for more information, josephh@habitattucson.org, 520326-1217 x223, or visit habitattucson.org/about_habitat_homes/ rainbowbuild Community work days are scheduled for the first Saturday of each month, and people can sign up at the above website.
MSHAPE lounge TUCSON - Come hang out in our community lounge for gay, bisexual, queer, questioning and trans men of Tucson! The Men’s Sexual
Health and Personal Empowerment Lounge (MSHAPE) is a program of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) that aims to promote a greater awareness of men’s health issues and build a stronger more supportive community. The Lounge comes complete with Computer access, FREE Wifii, and a DVD/Book lending library. Mondays: PATH Meeting, Postive Attitude Toward Health and HIV, 4 p.m. Tuesdays: Q TV (Gay-themed TV series), 6 p.m. Wednesdays: Movie nights - every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. Phone 520-628-7223 or email mshape@saaf.org for additional information. SAAF is located at 375 S Euclid Ave, Tucson.
DragVision at La Cocina TUCSON - Powhaus Productions is proud to present their TV show, DragVision, at La Cocina (201 N. Court Avenue, Downtown Tucson) on April 27 with the first screening at 10:30p.m sharp until closing (2a.m.). Powhaus will play DragVision on a loop. Come by anytime and enjoy twhat has been called “like the daytime television show The View, only with drag queens and kings.” There is no cover for the evening. Expect performances, and of course, dancing. The friendly staff at La Cocina will be there to provide libations. DragVision will appear online at Powhaus.com after the live debut and will play on Access Tucson. This is the debut, and Powhaus Productions, with a budget of zero dollars, some tortillas and a few bottles of vodka, have pulled it all together. There will be new episodes appearing at least once a month. For more information about the show contact Kitty Katt McKinley 520-870-8020.
Meet the sisters
All love, all joy - no guilt By Luis Garcia and Abbess Odora Flatulotta D'Pew
Over the next few months you will get to meet the individual members of the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and take a look into the motivation and dedication that drives the make-up-n-habit-wearing nuns. The GCSPI is a missionary house of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a worldwide non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for causes within their individual communities. It all started in San Francisco in 1979 with five men. Upset with the way gays were being treated they decided shake things up. They wore nun’s habits and marched from the Castro down to the beach trying to raise money and awareness for different causes and organization. According to GCSPI member Sister Odora, during the fall of 2006, she along with Sisters 3M, Mischief, Atopa, Bend, Frankly, B’neatha, May, Levia, Isis, Fistus and Novice Guard Lyx began forming what was known as the Missionary Order of the Grand Canyon Sisters. In 2007 the order of the Grand Canyon Sis-
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ters of Perpetual Indulgence came into being. It was an exciting year for the “first class” earning missionary work of nuns, fundraising, and how to attend to the community with the promise of getting rid of stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy. “Being a Sister is a calling a person must feel,” says Sister Marie Elle E’Phant. “Much like it is for any person who helps the community. It is the person’s own path and they are the one who determines what they want to do and who they want to help. It is so much more than just putting on a dress and painting a pretty face.” Those are an important part of being a Sister but I think the most important part is the empowerment of the LGBTQIA community. Our mantra is “All Love, All Joy, No Guilt.’” According to GCSPI President/Abbess Sister Odora Flatulotta D’Pew, the Sisters had a great connection to other SPI. “Sisters from LASPI had been visiting and blessing Arizona Central Pride, now known as Phoenix Pride for years,” said Sister Odora. “In April 2005, the Manager of Prevention (soon to be Sister Odora) while working at Body Positive, Inc. hosted Father Diesel Dogma in that year’s pride parade float. Throughout this year Father hosted several bucket runs raising money for HIV/AIDS in the Phoenix community.” Sister Marie told ‘N Touch that even though the Sisters started in San Francisco the organization has let every house develop on their own. “This is because the issues that are happening in San Francisco are not necessarily the same issues we are having here in Phoenix. That being said, I believe that we continue the work that the Sisters in San Francisco started by working closely with the HIV organizations. We promote
smart sexual practices by handing out condoms. The Sisters were one of the first organizations to publish a brochure on safer sex and it is important not to forget that history,” said Sister Marie. Today, the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence House has grown to be a powerful and connected force throughout Arizona. There is a fully professed member who lives in Tucson as well as another member who calls Casa Grande their home. Events take place throughout Arizona from Bisbee, a glitters blow from the Mexico border to Sedona and the Navajo Nation. Currently, there are twenty-nine active fully professed members with six Emeritus members who are scattered around the United States. In Arizona the GCSPI recognizes Sister personas, Father personas and Guard personas. They currently have nine Saints connected with their house and five Angles. Sister Wisteria Wisenhymer is their Nun of the Above and is honored as their team lead for AIDS Walk each year. Sister Wisteria was a dedicated volunteer for AIDS Services in Phoenix for many years and was an avid advocate for Agape and Joshua Tree Feeding Programs. “The GCSPI have had their challenges working with more conservative organizations in the community,” says Sister Marie. “The strength of GCSPI is that we are very diverse and have connections that cross many divides in our community. The biggest changes within GCSPI are reflective of the changes that GCSPI has influenced in the community. As the Sisters work though challenges faced both as individuals and as a group, there have been change in GCSPI that allows for members to process and be a community leaders promoting diversity. As for myself I continue to grow to embrace these challenges and each day I feel that my calling as a Sister is strengthened with each and every experience.” Sister Marie also told ‘N Touch that there is an important need for the Sister in Phoenix. “Who do you know that can walk into a room and the room brightens up instantly. Part of our mission statement is to ‘expiate stigmatic guilt and promulgate universal joy’. The sisters have become a fixture in the LGBT community because of the work the San Francisco Sisters have done and continue to do. “We are gender benders. Dresses, makeup, and beards are a common part of the Sisters. We challenge the norms. We are there to comfort those who are hurting and wounded, and be a voice for those who have none. We are also there to challenge those who ignore the rights of the minority.” For more information about the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence please visit azsisters.org news / politics / business / opinion
UNSUNG HEROES
Unsung Hero: Bill Soroka By Luis Garcia This month’s ‘N Touch News Magazine’s unsung hero is Bill Soroka. He is a serial entrepreneur working hard to create a dream life of love, contribution, travel, and legacy. He’s currently a managing partner in two major Arizona ventures, Alternative Poker Tour and Scottsdale Rental By Owner (scottsdalerbo.com), and has begun the re-launch of his true passion, The Billion Acts of Kindness Project. He’s also a recent addition to the board of One Voice Community Center and serves as their Fundraising Chair. How did you first get involved with the community? How did I get involved with the community? Well, when I first came out, like a lot of young gay guys (and girls too, I am sure), I threw my whole support to making sure the bars could stay in business. They got a donation from me every night. And then, as I grew older, the community grew, and ridiculous things like prop 8 happened and it kindled a fire inside me. I was so blessed to be in the middle of some of the most passionate leaders of the community at the time (and many still are). I was so inspired, so pissed off, and it felt amazing. That’s when H.E.R.O. was born. Having a voice in the start of a grassroots movement like that, being part of that Equal Rights Rally downtown, is one of the most cherished memories of my life. More important than anything though, is that being a part of it caused a paradigm shift for me. I realized that the people that made stuff happen weren’t the ones “somewhere else”. They’re right here within us. I try not over use cheesy quotes, but this period of my life was defined by Margaret Mead, “Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. In fact, it is the only way it ever has.” I look back and see a tiny role that I played. And, itchanged my life forever. What made you want to be part of the One Voice Community Center? Unity has always been a goal for me. I am often told it’s a Utopic one. Regardless, I got involved with One Voice Community Center because it’s well positioned to be an incredible hub for the Arizona Community and could therefore serve to unify and bridge the gaps. Many times, our greatest gifts are our greatest foe, so as Fundraising Chair, I aim to bring unique and rewarding events that create long term sustainability to the Center, and also bring together the different sublayers within our community. The current Board is absolutely incredible and on board with creating beneficial programming, educational opportunities and win/win relationships to the whole news / politics / business / opinion
cheesy! And, it’s also the truth. I work hard on my brain. To have the thoughts that serve me. To do the actions that serve the vision. I have more flaws and “failures” then attributes and “successes”, and the key for me is not making that mean anything. It is what it is.
community and beyond. Tell me about the Alternative Poker Tour league you helped start. Alternative Poker Tour is another venture I have with four other amazing partners. Poker’s popularity within the gay community in Phoenix is the strongest we’ve been able to find in the whole world. We play at six different venues, seven days a week! Not only do I love to play the game, I love the partners, I love the players. I have more friends that I have met around these tables then anywhere else in my life. They’re fun, diverse, smart, talented,and filled with personality. What I really love though, is that it’s easy to integrate a poker company like this into my life and plan. Our slogan is, “Open Tables, open Minds”. All are welcome. Everyone is equal at the poker table- I’ll take your chips just as surely as I will take anyone’s chips!
So what are you up to know? Speaking of unique opportunities, I am excited about our Champagne & Gloryholes event coming up at the end of April and beginning of May. Champagne speaks for itself, and the Gloryhole is an actual term used by glass artists as they create. We’ve partnered up with the guys over at Circle 6 Studios, a local glass blowing group, and we’ve created an event to teach beginners some of the basics of glass blowing while they create a gift for their mom, or anyone, really. We’ve designed it so there is plenty of time to ship your masterpiece! Guests can also indulge in sweets baked right here in Phoenix, and enjoy some champagne on the afternoon of Saturday, April 28 or Sunday, May 6. Contact One Voice, myself, or find our event on Facebook.
You seem like the Energizer Bunny. What keeps you going? This is the question of questions, Luis. It may look like I am the Energizer Bunny, and in a lot of ways I am (except I can’t pull off pink). The reality is, there are lots of times when I “don’t wanna”, and sometimes I don’t. But most of the time, I hold the vision of what I want my life to be and the legacy I want to leave behind, and that gets me fired up and going. Man, this stuff sounds so
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NATIONAL NEWS
Gay rights activits decry Obama's discrimination inaction By Leigh Ann Caldwell
Gay rights activists say they feel betrayed by President Obama’s decision not to sign an executive order banning workplace discrimination of gay, lesbian and transgender federal contractors. “I believe this is a political calculation,” said Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, who learned about the decision during a meeting with White House officials, including senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Wednesday.“It’s not about the substance.” White House spokesperson Jay Carney said the decision was “absolutely not” steeped in election-year politics. “We’re deeply committed to working hand-inhand with partners in the LGBT community on a number of fronts to build the case for employment non-discrimination policies,” Carney said. However, a prominent gay-rights proponent involved in pressing the White House to move forward with an Executive Order said he thinks the president is “risk adverse” as the general election nears. “I assume the contraception issue got him a little nervous in the social issues,” he told Hotsheet. The proposed Executive Order to be issued by the president would have prohibited federal contractors to discriminate against its employees based on sexual orientation. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed an Executive Order banning federal contractors from discrimination based on race, religion and gender. This would have been an expansion of Executive Order 11246. LGBT activists say ending workplace discrimination has popular support. They point to several polls, including one by the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress, that shows three-fourths of voters support workplace nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people. This is “the low hanging fruit,” Almeida told Hotsheet. As a candidate, Mr. Obama promised to ban employee discrimination. And in an interview with The Advocate in 2010, the president said he could circumvent Congress. “There still a lot of things we can do administratively even if we don’t pass things legislatively. So my 16 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
ability to make sure that the federal government is an employer that treats gays and lesbians fairly, that’s something I can do, and sets a model for folks across the board,” Mr. Obama said. The Executive Order represented one possible way to bypass Congress. A bill in Congress that would have had the same impact called the the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been stalled in the Republican-led House of Representatives. During the daily press briefing, Carney told reporters that the White House will “build support for passage of this legislation, a comprehensive approach to legislate on the issue of non-discrimination.” Told of the administration’s decision on Wednesday, Joe Solmonese, president of the LGBT rights group the Human Rights Campaign, said he is “extremely disappointed.” “The unfortunate truth is that hard-working Americans can be fired simply for being gay or trans-
gender,” Solmonese wrote. “No similar executive order has ever had this kind of extensive research or factual basis established.” Both the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice signed off on the measure, clearing the way for the White House to act. In a heated exchange with reporters Thursday, Carney pointed to LGBT achievements championed by the president, including the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy as proof of the president’s “commitment” to the LGBT community. “I think the president’s record on LGBT issues speaks volumes about his commitment to securing equal rights for LGBT Americans,” Carney said. Sympathetic donors are not being asked not to contribute to the president’s reelection campaign, but instead to donate at least as much to the nondiscrimination effort.
Report shows Hispanics more likely to support LGBT community Washington, D.C. - Countering popular assumptions that Hispanics are more anti-gay than other segments of society, a new report coreleased by NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) finds that Latinos are, in fact, as open and tolerant, if not more tolerant, than the general population in the U.S. toward gays and lesbians. The report, LGBT Acceptance and Support: The Hispanic Perspective, offers an in-depth look at how Latinos view gays and lesbians within their own community and their level of support for LGBT issues. The report, funded by the Arcus Foundation, notes that Hispanics are actually slightly more inclined to support legal same-sex marriage and to be more accepting of gays and lesbians in society than most Americans. Also, Latinos are just as likely as any other group in the U.S. today to identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. “There is a clear misperception among the general population about where Latinos stand on LGBT issues, partly because the media pushes this narrative that the culture and values of Latinos and LGBT progress are simply incompatible,” said David Dutwin, Vice President of SSRS and author of the report. “Such misperceptions manifest in story after story about a particular Hispanic group opposing a gay rights bill, even though this anti-gay sentiment is not reflective of all Latinos. In reality, as society is evolving on LGBT issues and becoming more accepting of this community, so too are Hispanics.”
However, Dutwin points out that Latinos also mirror the general population in that there are groups within the Hispanic community that are more intolerant than others. The highly religious and those less familiar with American cultural values in particular tend to hold less accepting views of LGBTs. Dutwin notes that religious communities that insulate themselves are particularly rigid in their attitudes concerning gays and lesbians. “Still, across the board, we’re seeing that exposure to the LGBT community is really the key to acceptance and tolerance for Latinos,” added Dutwin. “Many Hispanics come from countries where gays and lesbians are less upfront about their sexuality, so that enables this discomfort toward LGBTs to persist. But the longer these Hispanics live in the U.S. and the more they come into contact with gays and lesbians, the more likely they are to accept them and support pro-LGBT policies such as same-sex marriage.” news / politics / business / opinion
NATIONAL NEWS
1000s demand cancellation of "blasphemous" play SAN FRANCISCO - A new production of Corpus Christi, Terrence McNally’s controversial play which depicts Jesus as a gay man in 1950s Texas, has drawn an angry response from some Catholics, as has a documentary following the company on tour. An online petition, based on a series of previous anti-Corpus Christi petitions by the right-wing Catholic site America Needs Fatima, has drawn over 7,000 signatures to date. The petition denounces 108 Productions’ version of the play - along with the documentary Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption - as “unspeakable blasphemy” and “prejudicial outrage.” It also calls on the Castro Theatre, where the film is set to premiere on April 29, to “immediately cancel the showing of this movie and play, and to offer a public apology to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to all God fearing Americans.” In addition, 108 Productions’ crew has received similar comments, in the form of personal emails, YouTube comments, and even harassment of director Nic Arnzen’s mother in Iowa. Accordingly, a protest outside the April 29 event is now expected, as protests have followed similar petitions for previous 108 Productions performances. Corpus Christi has a long history of controversy. When newspapers drew attention to the play’s 1998 debut at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the theater, playwright, and cast became the target of heated rhetoric, protests, and even worse. William Donohue of the Catholic League called the play “a piece of filth,” and McNally “the David Duke and the Khalil [sic] Muhammad of Broadway.” Anonymous telephone callers reportedly threatened to destroy the theater and “exterminate” McNally. Citing security risks including bomb threats, the theater claimed it had been forced to remove from its fall schedule, before reinstating the play due to pressure from much of New York’s artistic community. On
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opening night, around 2,000 protesters waved signs outside the theater. Nonetheless, 108 is standing by Corpus Christi and its message of religious tolerance, Said James Brandon, actor and co-founder of 108 Productions: “Controversy and protest has followed this play from the beginning, but it has never stopped it from being performed, reaching thousands of audiences with its beautiful and positive message of inclusive love for all people. Their words of protest have only made us more empowered to love ourselves and have actually deepened our own conviction that the LGBT community absolutely has a right to a seat at the table of their chosen faith. In fact, we welcome any protester to please see the play or film as our guest so they can experience firsthand the Love He really stood for.” Beginning in 2006, 108 Productions launched a resoundingly successful revival production, di-
rected by Nic Arnzen which was lauded by critics, continued to sell out for months at Los Angeles’ Zephyr Theatre, and went on to tour across America. In Europe, the play was an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression nominee at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and was awarded the Intercultural Dialogue Award at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2008. After, the company celebrated the show’s 10th anniversary Off-Broadway at the Rattlestick Theatre, benefiting the Matthew Shepard Foundation and New York’s Gay Community Center. The show continued to tour through 2011 nationally and internationally, while a documentary crew followed their travels to less tolerant communities. Now, six years later, Corpus Christi: Playing With Redemption will host its first sneak preview screening, launching the I AM Love Campaign. The Religious Right meets the ‘gay Jesus play’ in this documentary film inspired by the play, which continues to face censorship, protests, bomb threats and religious condemnation. Mirroring the reflections of change in society today in regards to freedom of speech, civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this production has become a vehicle for a community struggling to find its voice. Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives. The I AM Love Campaign’s mission is to change the story on religious bullying and homophobia, in all ages and walks of life, by first learning to love the self. Beyond screenings of Playing With Redemption, which will be combined with performances of the play in select cities, the 108 Productions company will also conduct educational and arts-based workshops alongside gay and religious leaders in conservative communities around the country.
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APRIL 21 - 22, 2012
phoenixpride.org | facebook.com/phoenixprideaz
Saturday, April 21st
Vanessa Carlton
Chely Wright
Sunday, April 22nd ER
GE HEADLIN
BISTRO STA
k c i r r e F a s s i l e M
Cazwell & Amanda Lepore METRO STAGE HEADLINER Born Loser and the Hangers
Village People
WORLD NEWS
Mayoral candidates campaign on gay issues LONDON - London’s mayoral candidates have canvassed for the gay vote a day after the incumbent, Boris Johnson, intervened to block the capital’s buses from carrying adverts from a Christian group that claimed therapy can ‘cure’ homosexuality. Johnson was joined by his four main challengers – Jenny Jones (Green), Ken Livingstone (Labor) and Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrat) – at the event, hosted by Stonewall. All wore T-shirts featuring the gay rights group’s campaign slogan ‘Some people are gay. Get over it’. The advert blocked by Johnson after a storm of protest on Twitter was due to say: “Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud. Get over it!” Johnson was criticized at the hustings for refusing to co-operate with Stonewall in its survey of London employers and their treatment of gay staff. But the mayor said he would be happy to allow the Greater London Authority to be considered for Stonewall’s list of London’s top 100 employers as long as there was no fee. Johnson responded to further criticism by promising to address remarks in his manifesto specifically at the needs of the gay community. Livingstone said the Tory mayor could borrow the section in his own manifesto that is directed at the gay community. Livingstone has pledged to appoint a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advisor if he is elected mayor. The Labor candidate and former mayor was asked to explain his remarks about wanting London to be a “beacon” for the philosophy of the Prophet Muhammad. Livingstone explained that there was nothing in the sermons of Muhammad that could be construed as a justification for discrimination. Livingstone told the crowd at the South Bank Centre that Muslims were now the target of prejudice,
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which had previously been reserved for the gay community. “In 1906 the front page of the Daily Mail’s headline was ‘Jews bring crime and disease to Britain’. “Then it was the blacks, then it was the Irish, then it was the lesbians and gays – there has always got to be an enemy. Rightwing politicians pander to bigotry.” Paddick, the Lib Dem candidate and former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said there needed to be a “culture of change” at Scotland Yard to eradicate prejudice. He said: “A poll the other week showed that 20% of Londoners do not believe that the police are on their side and I think that proportion may even be higher because of the history that the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community has had, particularly with laws which specifically discriminated against men and the enthusiasm with which the police enforced those laws. “What I promise you is if I become the mayor and the crime commissioner on 3 May, I will put that pressure on to deal with racism and homophobia within the police.” Johnson ordered his transport chiefs to pull the adverts booked by two conservative Anglican groups following outrage among gay campaigners and politicians saying that they were homophobic. The adverts, pulled just days before the posters were due to appear on buses in the capital, were booked on behalf of the Core Issues Trust whose leader, Mike Davidson, believes “homoerotic behavior is sinful”.
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Gay Chambers
Information
BUSINESS PROFILE
ReAwaken, Inc. Reclaim, overcome, thrive By J. Ursone
Phoenix Gay Chamber
Board of Directors Meeting The GPGLCC Board of Directors meets every month on the second Wednesday at 8 a.m. Members are welcome to attend the meeting. If you wish to address the board, you must do so in writing by emailing Tony Felice at development@gpglcc.org and by calling in advance 602-237-5572.
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.
ReAwaken, a tax-exempt organization, believes that every woman deserves to have the ability, resources, supportive network and emotional care necessary to overcome the challenges of life’s obstacles and episodes. “All women, regardless of age, have the tools and right to become the vibrant and empowered woman inside of themselves that may have once been disrupted during a crisis,” says founder Jarrett Ransom. Establishing a network of women who can empathize with life’s challenges of being divorced, becoming a single parent, sexual harassment or any form of abuse. ReAwaken was born in 2011 with the help of women in Phoenix who had a desire to connect and become a part of their community. “Our vision is to provide an annual retreat in a natural setting that allows women to reconnect with their own inner woman. This is the woman that lives inside of you but often gets little time for herself ”, says Ransom. This newly formed organization is designed to empower women of all ages, sexual orientations, to provide a spiritual retreat annually to slough off the dead skin of their life and begin refreshed and new upon returning to the Valley. Additionally, ReAwaken will provide monthly workshops. Ransom, a nonprofit professional with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for empowering women, was inspired
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22 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
to from her own life’s obstacles and successes. As a single mom of a toddler, Ransom has experienced her own personal challenges and professional struggles and wants to provide a spiritual environment to enable other women, just like her, to reclaim their inner self and reignite their inner strength. With an understanding of pain, emotional instability and financial struggles, she has dedicated her own path to providing a resource to other women who also find themselves in challenges and being met with obstacles throughout their life. “Starting this women’s retreat just felt right. It was the right place and right time.” ReAwaken For Women is designed to be a three-day “Festival of the spirit” for women who are interested in personal growth. At this weekend retreat, held in the Northern Arizona Mountains August 24-26, women are exposed to an array of activities allowing them to explore their inner talents while forming bonds with other caring females. Each activity is created with the unique needs of the participating population. The number of women invited to this three-day event ranges from 20 to over 100 depending on the location, financial backing and structure. Organizers are in the process of securing facilitators and speakers. To register for the retreat in Whispering Pines, Prescott, or to learn more about ReAwaken go to reawakenforwomen.org, or call 480-251-4108.
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BUSINESS NEWS
Help for homeowners
PHOENIX - Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is hosting a free Home Preservation Workshop in Phoenix for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Financial, and Wells Fargo Home Equity customers facing financial hardships. Wells Fargo has invited more than 4,500 mortgage customers in the Phoenix area to the free
State conference for counselors to include LGBTQ competency workshop Stonewall Institute has been invited by the Arizona Counselor’s Association to present on LGBTQ Cultural Competency at the association’s annual state conference to be held on Friday May 4, 2012. This year’s conference is dedicated to increasing clinical knowledge in the area of cultural competency for counselors practicing in the state of Arizona. The LGBTQ competency workshop will be facilitated by Kyle Penniman and Julian Melson of Stonewall Institute from 1 to 3p.m. on the date of the conference. In addition to Stonewall Institute, Debra Rinaudo of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and Dr. Courtland Lee former President of the American Counselor’s Association will also be presenting. The Arizona Counselor’s Association represents professional counselors in the state of Arizona. This year’s conference will be held at Ottawa University in Phoenix from news / politics / business / opinion
workshop, which will be held on Wednesday, April 25 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., at the Phoenix Convention Center, West Hall 1, 100 North 3rd St., in Phoenix. Parking and attendance are free. “Although less than 2 percent of homeowner-occupied loans in our servicing portfolio have resulted in foreclosure sale over the past year, we understand that some of our customers are going through difficult times during this economic recovery,” said Pam Conboy, Wells Fargo Arizona Regional President. “During this free workshop Wells Fargo home mortgage customers, who are faced with payment challenges, will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with our home preservation specialists to explore the
options available to them. Our goal with this event is to help as many people as possible preserve their homes.” This is the fourth Home Preservation Workshop Wells Fargo has hosted in Arizona, and the third in Phoenix over the last three years. More than 100 Wells Fargo home retention team members – including bilingual specialists – will be on hand at the upcoming workshop to assist customers. Where possible, borrowers will receive a decision on a workout, loan modification, or other options, on site or shortly following the workshop. Options include Wells Fargo’s own loan modification program and the federal government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). This will be the eleventh
scheduled workshop Wells Fargo will host in 2012. Wells Fargo has met with more than 33,500 customers at 59 Home Preservation Workshops since Sept. 2009 nationwide. To register for Wells Fargo’s Phoenix Home Preservation Workshop walk-ins are welcome, but registration is strongly recommended in order to guarantee the ability to meet one-on-one with a representative. Sign up by Monday, April 23, at wfhmevents.com/leadingthewayhome. For more information call 1-800-405-8067. Customers across the country facing mortgage payment difficulties can also call 1-800-678-7986 for more information about potential options to avoid foreclosure.
8am to 5:30pm on Friday May 4, 2012. For more information about the conference including registration information visit: azca.org/ conference
Valley. “All of us feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with multiple partners in pursuit of our mission.” Established in 1977, Hospice of the Valley serves more than 4,000 patients a day throughout central Arizona, including metro Phoenix. It is one of the oldest and largest not-for-profit hospices in the nation. The “Community Champion” award honors those that “meaningfully give back to the local community; foster employee growth and development; promote a positive work environment or high performance among employees; and (maintain) community investment and employee engagement in charitable activities.” Hospice of the Valley won “Community Champion” in the large business category of more than 250 employees. The small business winner is Goodmans Interior Structures. Other winners, in large and small categories respectively, are: Economic Driver (Mayo Clinic, DMB Associates); Entrepreneurial Excellence (Trident Security Services and Maddy’s Pool Supply and Service; Response to Adversity (Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, Phoenix
Collegiate Academy). The 25th annual IMPACT Awards luncheon will take place May 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. An overall IMPACT Business of the Year will be announced then.
Hospice of the Valley wins IMPACT award PHOENIX - Hospice of the Valley has been awarded the IMPACT award for “Community Champion” by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. “We feel grateful and very honored for the Chamber’s recognition of our commitment to the community,” said Susan Levine, executive director/CEO of Hospice of the
Congrats to Community Tire PHOENIX - Congratulations to Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair the Arizona Small Business Development Center Network recently announced the company as one of the winners of its Success Awards. The Success Award winners were among more than 3,000 businesses that worked with the network in 2011 to achieve their goals. They were chosen based on their accomplishments in the past year. For more information about Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair go to communitytireaz.com
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ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 23
FITNESS
Core training By Robert Scimeca, NSCA CPT should be at a 90-degree angle. Also, be sure the stability ball is properly inflated.
When we talk about our core, we need to understand what our core does. In virtually every movement performed, the core muscles stabilize the rest of the body. The core or trunk muscles are the center of power in the body and the origin of our movements. The core performs several functions including stabilizing the spine and assisting in transferring power from the lower to the upper extremities. You can think of the core muscles as the muscles connecting the lower body muscles to the upper body muscles. Core stability is the ability to stay balanced when moving the body from its center of gravity and shifting weight from one extremity to another. De-conditioned people or those with lower back pain have trouble stabilizing the core muscles. In many cases back pain is caused by an imbalance in the individual muscles of the core. Core muscles consist of the erector spinae group, the internal & external obliques and the rectus abdominus. The most superficial muscle is the rectus abdominals, commonly referred to as the six-pack. This muscle shows its segments handsomely on some and is the pride of those who have such definition. The rectus abdominals acts to flex the spine and aids in rotation of the torso. The inner most muscle is the transverse abdominals. This muscle compresses the abdominal cavity. We use this muscle for sucking in our gut. The internal and external obliques rotate the torso and aid in flexion of the spine. The obliques differ from the rectus abdominals and transverse abdominals because the muscle fibers run diagonally across the torso and perpendicular to one another. The erector spinae group consists of three muscles that run the length of the spine. They are the principal movers of the back and perform back extension, and lateral flexion. When training the core it is important all of these muscles groups are worked accordingly. Doing crunches primarily only works the rectus abdominus. You need to perform several different movements in order to completely train the core. Many abdominal exercises use a stability ball. When using one, it is important to select the right size. When seated on the ball your hips and knees 24 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
Core Exercises Crunches are the most common core exercise. They can be done several ways. The most beneficial crunches are performed on a stability ball. This is because your range of motion is larger. As you curl your torso off of the ball and return back to the starting position, you actually go from spinal extension to spinal flexion. The same exercise can also be performed on a mat or bench but with a smaller range of motion. It is important to remember not everyone should start out using a stability ball. It may take time to gradually advance to this level. In order to train the oblique’s we need to incorporate torso rotation. This can be done in more ways than possible to list. The most common oblique exercise incorporates a twisting action as you crunch up or perform a full sit up. This requires twisting your torso in alternating directions as you flex your spine. Other common oblique exercises would use a lateral side bend. These side bends, whether performed with a weight or not, target the muscles of the oblique’s as well as the erector spinae group. Of equal importance to core strength are the muscles of the erector spinae. These muscles are difficult to exercise. The movement is the opposite of the sit up. To work these we need to perform spinal extension. In order to perform spinal extension, back extension equipment is the most utilized. This equipment is easy to use and does the job. This equipment can also be used for sit ups. In addition, there is the back extension machine requiring the user to forcefully extend their spine against a padded resistance. We must not forget about Leg Lifts. They gently exercise you lower back as well as the abs. Leg lifting exercises can be performed at several levels of difficultly. Some people may suffer from back pain which can be aggravated when performing leg lifts. One modification would be to simply bend your knees up to your chest while lifting. Many people support the lower back by putting the hands under the small of their back while performing the exercise. In conclusion, we can see the core encompasses many muscle groups. To maintain core strength and stability we need to train all of these groups. This involves flexion and extension of the spine, as well as torso rotation and flexion of the hips through various leg lifting exercises. To help you further, there are many smart phone app’s available strictly for strengthening and stabilizing the core. And most of them are free! You may contact Robert at robertscimeca@cox.net news / politics / business / opinion
SPORTS
LGBT Sports
Bombshells vs. Brutal Beauties and Schoolyard Scrappers vs. Coffin Draggers PHOENIX - Feeling fresh and spunky from their second place victory and $2,000 prize at the Pro Roller Derby national banked track invitational tournament, the Arizona Derby Dames are ready to roll into their next regular season bout. The Bombshells take on the Brutal Beauties in their last chance to rank high for best position in the playoffs. Top-ranked Coffin Draggers face the Schoolyard Scrappers in an attempt to grab the first place ranking. Banked track roller derby girls skate around the track at speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour, while shoving one another around. Each team tries to gain the best formation to allow their jammer, or point-scorer to pass the opposing team easily and to prevent the opposing jammer from passing. Playing offense and defense at the same time creates a challenge unseen in other sports. These traits increase the importance of following a regimen for safety. “I like the challenge of maintaining my body well enough to continue competing,” said Kiki UrHaz, team trainer and skater for the Brutal Beauties, “my team is going to win, because we win at life!” The sport of roller derby is shifting away from the WWF feel the sport had back in the 1980s to truly competitive and athletic event. Now the only thing fake that you can find at the game is the costume blood that the Coffin Draggers wear as part of their uniform. The falls, the hits, and the competition are one-of-a-kind real action! Fans now travel across the valley to see skaters throw a backwards blocking hit to the chest, or the pointscoring jammer glide around the track on one foot to score the winning point. “That means harder hits, harder spills, and more strategic plays,” said Kat Von Double D’s of the Schoolyard Scrappers.
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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
Members of the Bombshells, Brutal Beauties, Coffin Draggers, and the Schoolyard Scrappers as well as the non-bouting team, the Runaway Brides, are also preparing for Relay for Life in May. The The event supports research to find a cure for cancer. Arizona Derby Dames participate annually and earn thousands of dollars each year. The April 21st bout will include options on how to donate to Relay for Life as part of team AZDD! Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum is located at 1826 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix. Phone: 602-252-6771). Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the bouts starting at 7 p.m. General admission tickets for the stadium seats in the Coliseum will be $12, children under 12 are free. Two hundred general admission tickets are available for standing room on the floor around the track for $12. General admission for children 12 and under is free. VIP tiered seating right off the floor (with access to a nearby VIP only bar and restrooms) will be $20 for adults and children. Parking will be $7. Tickets will be on sale the day of the event at the Coliseum box office starting at 4 p.m. Advance tickets may be purchased until 2 p.m. on April 21 through www.arizonaderbydames.com. Group discounts are also available by contacting the coliseum phone number. Follow the Derby Dames to Chopper John’s at 2547 E Indian School Road for their 21 and older after party immediately following the bouts.
Rainbow Riders Cycling Group
TUCSON - Rainbow Riders is a group of LGTBA cyclists dedicated to the enjoyment of all types of bicycling. We seek to promote the health benefits, environmental benefits, and so-
Leagues Spotlight
cial aspects of cycling within the LGTBA community. The next ride will take place May 13 from 8-11 a.m. All levels of riders are welcome and the rides are non-drop. Rainbow Riders has group mountain, road, and cross terrain rides every couple of weeks. Even if you cannot make the rides, members often ride or do other outdoor activities at other times, you are welcome to contact us for other opportunities. They post rides on the Wingspan Health & Wellness Yahoo group: yahoogroups.com/ group/wingspan_fun2bhealthy Or, you can email kikapukaren@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 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
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 25
rshal Community Grand Ma Bunz lya ee Rich Zavala AKA Af
(c) Burns Photography
als Pride Gala Grand Marsh VI Jerry Heitman ian & Emperor
Empress VI Lady Christ
rshal
LGBTQ Youth Grand Ma Max Janssen
rshal Community Grand Ma s ay -M on Jamie Henders
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Celebrity Grand Marsh Beth McDonald
Like us ! www.facebook.com/PhoenixPrideAZ
al
Celebrity Grand Marsh Chely Wright
APRIL 21 , 2012 | Step Off: 11am www. phoenixpride.org
Proud Families Wanted! Single? Partnered? Arizona children are waiting for you...
When you choose Devereux Foster Care Program, you will be working with professionals who have completed extensive training and are experienced Foster Care and Adoption Specialists. Recognized by the HRC, Devereux is the only organization in Arizona to receive the “all children-all families ™ ” seal, assuring you that the staff is caring, supportive, and culturally competent from the moment you inquire about foster care until you become a licensed foster care parent. Once you’re licensed, Devereux continues to provide one-on-one & group support, training, and we are always there when you need us.
Phoenix 602.283.7104 Tucson 520.296.5551, x132
Doing good was never this much fun! The 25th Anniversary of the Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza By Luis Garcia TUCSON - On May 12 a group of individuals will lace up their boots and pull on their singlet (or put on their tights) to become champions of charity. The 25th Anniversary of the Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza and Benefit Auction is one of Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) signature fundraising events. It started 25 years ago by the late Reno Gannon, who was a bartender at the former Rumor Has It bar. The Jell-O was green, and was made by a 70-year-old woman on a single hot plate. It took her a week to make the gelatin. Less then a dozen good-natured individuals wrestled that first year, raising a couple hundred dollars. These days, teams of wrestlers raise funds, often with extraordinary costumes and out of this world characters. This year’s program will also include a pre-event party with activities, food, music, and silent auction. Last year’s event raised over $50,000. In cooperation with Firstgiving.com, wrestlers can set up their own Jell-O Wrestling fundraising web page to get sponsors. Your sponsors can donate securely online (firstgiving.com/SAAF), so there’s
less money for you to collect. According to Ethan Smith Cox, Development Director of SAAF, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever. “With this being the 25th year, we wanted to truly celebrate how far we have come since those early days when there were little to no services for those infected/affected with HIV/AIDS. But also as a community, it is amazing to see that one man’s idea can be embraced and built upon year after year. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that one person can’t make a difference, Reno truly did!” Although wrestling is a huge part of the event, it’s not all about Jell-O. Between wrestling matches the event hostesses run a live auction with a variety of unique items selected to please the crowd. This year’s hostesses include Tempest DuJour, Jasmine White, Diva, Janee Starr, and Lucinda Holliday. There is also a silent auction open during the course of the event. The live and silent auctions feature more than 60 one-of-a-kind works of art, gift certificates, gift baskets, and much more. Don’t miss your chance to win big in this year’s Jell-O Wrestling Raffle! This year’s prize is two tickets to the Madonna concert in Phoenix on October 16, at US Airways Center. Tickets are in section #110, Row #15, Seats # 9 & 10. The prize also incudes a two-night hotel stay (October 15 &
16) at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and a $100 Visa gift card. Tickets are $1 each and can be purchased online, by calling 520-628-SAAF (7223) or at one of the following locations SAAF, 375 S Euclid Ave or Speedway Veterinary Hospital, 3736 E Speedway Blvd in Tucson. Winner will be announced at this year’s event. You do not need to be present to win. All proceeds go to benefit the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. Each year SAAF provides services to nearly 1,200 people and delivers targeted prevention outreach and education programs to over 20,000 people who are at risk for infection. This number includes men, women and children of all ethnic and social backgrounds. For more information about the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation or to schedule a tour of SAAF, please visit saaf. org or call 520- 628-7223. The Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza and Benefit Auction will take place at Kennedy Fiesta Park, located at 3700 South La Cholla in Tucson, AZ. Doors for the event open at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. To purchase tickets, sign up as a wrestler or for more information, call 520-628-7223 or visit jellowrestling.org.
What does SAAF do? The mission of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is to create and sustain a healthier community through a compassionate, comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS. The non-profit does this through Care Services which include case management, housing services, nutritional needs, clinical services, support groups, and through its Prevention Programs. SAAF’s Care Services ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS have access to the services they need to maintain optimal health and live as independently and safely as possible. Client Services are grouped into three areas: Clinical Services, Support Services, and Housing Services but all are located under one roof. SAAF’s Care Services staff and volunteers maintain a dual focus on the strengths of the individual and the coordination of systems of care available to that individual, and strive to support people with appropriate resources. Prevention Programs target populations at increased risk of HIV infection or transmission by offering specially-designed interventions that provide a supportive, educational environment in which harm reduction can be effective. Some of SAAF’s targeted populations include: youth, men who have sex with men (MSM), lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, people living with HIV/AIDS, women, jail/prison re-entry men, and communities of color. HIV, sexually transmitted infections, substance abuse, and hepatitis prevention strategies include individual risk-reduction counseling, health education and empowerment workshops, risk-reduction support groups, peer education training, social activities, drop-in lounge, referrals, and distribution of free condoms and safer-sex materials.
Jell-O History One man can make a difference
In 1987 Reno Gannon, a bartender at Tucson bar Rumor Hazzit, returned from a vacation in Mexico with an exciting new idea for a fundraising event. The concept? Jell-O Wrestling! Reno spoke with Rumor Hazzitt owner Bruce Peg and his management staff of Peter Sitig and Michael Bennett about putting on the event as a fundraiser to help people living with HIV/AIDS. Bruce, Peter, and Michael liked the idea and organized the first JellO Wrestling Extravaganza in 1987. Shanti, one of the three local AIDS Service Organizations that would later merge to form the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), was the recipient of event proceeds. Reno was an energetic, fun-loving, intelligent man in his early 20s when he brought this idea to the community. Committed to doing something to help, he and the owners and management of Rumor Hazzit made the event a reality. At age 23, Reno died from AIDS. The year following his death, the event became a memorial to him. Reno’s legacy of hope and dedication to raising public awareness about HIV/AIDS continues through this wonderful event. In the past nine years alone, Jell-O Wrestling has raised more than $260,000 for the programs and services of SAAF.
MORE GEEK THAN GAY
Award Season By Edward Pulley
W
elcome to my inaugural award column. For a long time I was wondering what to call this award and then it hit me - I’ll call it the “Pretend You Won Something Award”! We can nickname them the “Pretendies”. This seems most appropriate I’m not going to hand anyone an award. Maybe if I get around to it, I might send something in the mail. Holding our breath not advised. How does someone win a Pretendie, other than I just declare it so? First the winner has to fall arguably within the realm of geekery. Next, entertainment value is taken into consideration. Finally, there should be a sense of helping present a world where everyone is different but equal. Here are the categories: Sci-fi/Fantasy - This was a difficult one, since there were no obvious winners. I know many might be thinking Torchwood, since the main character is openly bi-sexual (actual, I think he is just any darn type of sexual that appeals to him at the moment), but when sexuality comes up, the show seems to become more sexual than worrying about plot or character. Warehouse 13 came up with a great character who happened to be gay (a compared to a “gay character”) with Steve Jinks, only to (spoiler alert) kill him off after tossing him around for a few episodes. Until they decide to bring him back from the dead, he is just a wasted opportunity. Of course there are some other stuff out there, but for effect the award goes to Doctor Who. Characters of all types are being treated as any other, and to large audiences around the world. My personal favorite would be the lesbian interspecies couple. How “normal” were they? So normal that the story wasn’t even about them, but instead about the battle they are brought in to fight. And they live! Bravo. Horror - I want to give a quick honorary mention…no, that isn’t right…dis-honorary mention…no, still not right…I would like to mention the campy tasteless fun of Chillerama. This movie is a quartet of horror/comedy tales bookended with the story of a Zombie STD infection. The second tale in this movie is called “I Was a Teenage WereBear,” and is about a closeted teenager in the 50’s who is brought out by a gay rebel gang of werebears. Directed and written by openly gay Tim Sullivan with a lead played by a gay porn star. This movie is definitely not for all audiences or ages, but it was perversely fun and available at some very mainstream stores. The actual award will be somewhat unconventional as it is not going to a movie, book or anything like that. Instead, the winner this year is Sharon Needles, currently seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race. That queen is scary! Her first catwalk in-
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volved bursting a blood capsule in her mouth! She also shows that fabulous comes in many different forms, not just beauty queen shades. Comics - This is an easy one. Yes, there are some gay kids running around the Marvel Universe, over at DC Batwoman is a lesbian and has her own comic book (as well as there being at least four female characters in continuing series, one Hispanic and one African, marking quite a bit of lovely diversity), and there are LGBT characters wandering around the other companies of course. This is all nice, but there really can be only one winner this year and that is – Kevin Keller from Archie Comics. He ran for four issues in Veronica Comics before they decided to launch him into his own series in which he is the class president. Then in issue 17 of the magazine series Life With Archie which features grown up cast centered around a married Archie Andrews, Army Lt. Keller marries his African-American boyfriend Clay. The All-American town of Riverdale became the most integrated place in the world, not because of the acceptance of Kevin Keller (and his future interracial marriage), but on how they treated it like it was no different than anything else that happens there. Gaming - This may not seem like the obvious category for this type of award. Very few play Angry Birds wondering about the social implications. Usually the only note that is taken is for negative portrayals. And the hubbub over the disappointing ending to Mass Effect 3 somewhat over-rides the ability to choose gay and lesbian interactions for the characters. This year’s award is different; it isn’t quite about equality or something like that, but instead about advancing knowledge that can help us all. It goes to the University of Washington’s Center for Game Science and their Department of Biochemistry who developed a game called Foldit, which is a puzzle game about untangling virus proteins; as you play the game, you actually solve science problems that can help develop better treatments and possibly even cures to many diseases, including HIV. Already a group of players have solved a problem that had stumped scientists for 15 years. (If you’re curious, fold.it/portal is where you can start puzzling for humanity.) Interwebs - The Internet is massive, so for this first award I am going to focus on podcasts. This is not necessarily making anything any easier because of the multitude of podcasts out there. Heck, if I can figure it out, you will hear my lovely voice on a podcast someday. And I can list dozens of good ones without effort – QTalk, Girl On Guy, Nerdist, Star Talk Radio, Afterbuzz. Really, the list is almost endless. But for me, this year’s winner is ScreamQueenz with Patrick, the Angri-
est Red-head in New York City. Not entirely safe for work because of language, the show covers his personal exploits before digging into his thoughts on whichever horror subject he tackles that day. While there is no doubt about his sexuality, his analysis is pure geeky goodness. Special Awards - Three individuals deserve special attention – Gail Simone – a writer for DC comics with a very entertaining Twitter account (as does Phil Jimenez.) It is amazing how outspoken she is. She has not only wittily and intelligently integrated race, sexuality and gender into her comics, stood with crowds rallying against the Westboro Baptist Church protesters, but she also has had the guts to very publicly speak out about the lack of female creators currently working at DC – directing her words straight to the very people who are writing her checks every week. Not only does she believe in a more equal world, she is more than willing to speak up whenever needed. George Takei – If you aren’t following him on Facebook or his blog, start doing so now. His updates are mostly tongue-in-cheek, but add to this that he has developed a musical about the Japanese Internment, his whole pro-pride “It’s Okay to be Takei”, and his attempt at unifying the Star Trekkers and the Jedis against the true foe – Twilight – he is meaningful and witty without becoming preachy and boring. Todd Glass – This is a comedian with a podcast on the aforementioned Nerdist family of podcasts. In general his humor is offbeat and unfortunately not safe for work because of language. But it is one specific podcast that wins him an award – episode 37 with Paul F. Thompkins (a fellow comedian) – in which the offbeat takes a backseat to answering mail about recently coming out and speaking out about the derogatory use of the word gay. Touching without leading to tears, he doesn’t ask you to agree with everything he says, but at least to listen and be open to discussion. So, here are the inaugural winners – Doctor Who, Kevin Keller at Archie Comics, Drag Queen Sharon Needles, University of Washington’s Foldit, Scream Queenz, Gail Simone, George Takei, and Todd Glass. Enjoy your Pretendies! ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 31
REAL ESTATE Improvements and resale By Dorian Kreiling
When you purchase a new home, you want to personalize or imprint it with your own style. This usually takes the form of decorating, such as painting, wallpapering, and installing new window treatments. You may want to remodel your new home as well as decorate it. Many home improvements may enhance your lifestyle, but they may not necessarily add resale value. Although this may not seem important right now, it will certainly make a difference when the time comes to sell. You won’t get your money back with some improvements, yet others can help make you money. The return on investment differs from region to region, but here are some general rules: * Enhancing a home’s “curb appeal” will help sell it for top dollar. Painting the exterior is a relatively inexpensive way to add curb appeal. * Remodeling the kitchen and/or baths is one of the best ways to add value. * Adding a room or garage is an expensive improvement, but it can pay off if it is carefully designed. * Decks and patios can add value in some parts of the country. * Landscaping often adds appeal, but not necessarily value. So ask a realtor what improvements will make a return on investment, and which will add curb appeal so that your house doesn’t sit on the market for too long. Dorian R. Kreiling is a Realtor with her partner, Melinda Murphy, GRI with Keller Williams Lifestyle Realty. She can be reached at 623-6944737 or NTouch@MelindaMurphy.com
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HEALTH
Depression & orthotics By Dr. Damien Brandeis be in excess. Herbs and supplements work, they just need to be used in the correct dose for the appropriate reason. Get a second opinion and try an approach that may help you heal.
Hi Doc! I have suffered from clinical depression for years. I have tried herbal remedies, but they haven’t been strong enough. Antidepressants make me very tired. Is there any other alternative you can suggest, or is there something I can take that will not make me feel so exhausted when I am on the anti-depressant. Ann My first recommendation is to get another opinion regarding your diagnosis. There are anti-depressant medications that work and do not create fatigue in patients. There are patients who are fatigued and are treated for depression and are fatigued. An appropriate diagnosis is as essential as treatment. I have seen many patients with your identical complaint. After a comprehensive workup, in many cases, there were other factors that caused the fatigue and contributed to the depression as well. One of the diagnostic tests I order is an assessment of the brain’s neurotransmitters. This looks for the exact chemical imbalance(s), and the testing leads to supplement recommendations for treatment. The treatment consists of amino acid supplements and herbs that balance the transmitters and help to produce deficient hormones and balance those hormones that may
I am a waiter and have stood on my feet for 30 years. They hurt so badly when I get off my shift that I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up. I wear good shoes. What do you suggest? You need an assessment for orthotics. An impression of your feet is made after an assessment of spinal, hip and foot health. Foam impressions of your feet are sent away and a few weeks later, shoe inserts are returned to you. These inserts or Orthotics are placed in your shoes to provide support to your feet so that you can withstand rigorous activity on your feet. Orthotics are superior to mass produced shoe inserts because they support the exact structure of the bones in your feet. This therapy also helps to prevent future low back pain that will ultimately result. In the meantime, try some alternating hydrotherapy for your feet. This is a simple low-tech solution to sore aching feet. Get two buckets or pans large enough to hold both feet flat and side-by-side. Place very warm water in one and chilled if not icy water in the other. Dissolve one cup of Epsom salts per gallon of water in the hot pan. Soak your feet for 10 minutes in the hot pan and then plunge into the cold water for two to three minutes. Return your feet to the hot tub for another 10 minutes. Perform several cycles of this therapy and your feet will feel great and you body will be totally relaxed as well.
Dr. Damien Brandeis, NMD has a private practice located in northwest Chandler. For more information about Dr. Brandeis and his practice, visit drbrandeis.net.
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ETHICS
The numbers that matter By Dr. Dina Evan
On March 12th, I turned seventy. Turned seventy is such an odd phrase because there were no yellow caution lights, hand signals or blinking arrows. There was simply an easing into a number for which I have no affinity, and with which I am not engaged. Numbers, however, are funny things and I am irrefutably
engaged with life and the other numbers in mine. For Instance, I feel forty-five inside and people tell me I look fiftyfive outside. I can’t sign up on Match. com which promises to help me meet hundreds of potential life-mates, because if I tell my true age, which seems pretty basic to the process, the Matches I am sent are in their eighties. They are people who live in retirement communities, many no longer vibrating at warp speed like me. I left home at thirteen, and have worked every day since and no doubt will until I drop simply because I love it. That is fifty-seven years, or seventeen thousand, seven hundred and eighty-four days. In that time, I have had zero real vacations, mostly because I never felt I had anything from which I needed to escape. I have had one true love who, gratefully, broke my heart open and although gone, still hangs out in it
now and then. I have five precious true friends who stayed throughout my life and continue to be inextricably woven into my soul. I have four amazing children I am passionately in love with, six grandchildren who keep me in awe and two miniature poodles who keep me in line. I put myself through college and have married more than one thousand and two hundred people, ten thousand of whom I married on the steps of the IRS in 1987, during the March on Washington. In 1982, I fasted longer than Gandhi…thirty-seven days on water on behalf of Equal Rights. I have taught thousands of people about an energy they can’t see called love, and hundreds more about character issues they cant see either…things like ethics, honesty, impeccability, integrity and personal character. I have written five books, created one meditation CD, composed twenty-seven songs, created one perpetual calendar and one website and a partridge in a pear tree…no wait that one wasn’t me. I have, however, written over five hundred and sixty thousand words, or eight hundred columns for several magazines, and taught more than three hundred classes or more than 10,000 students. I have no doubt pissed off countless numbers of people in my life just by telling the truth and being who I am. I have pushed at a million edges and invited hundreds of people to step into their true purpose and greatness, some kicking and screaming and gratefully flipping me off. I have also made a million mistakes, some that took my breath away, and brought me to my knees in humiliation and pain, and others that gave me gifts too profound to be contained by words. Every mistake and every person who hated me, loved me, hurt me or cared for me became a master teacher. I cannot imagine having traded any of them
or any challenging circumstance, for anything. The numbers of our years are so less meaningful than the numbers of our lessons learned. So, here I am looking back over the years from 1942 to 2012, wondering what the next few years will bring and feeling as if I have that Board in the movie, Mission Impossible in front of me and I get to pick the numbers that matter. Okay, let’s do it. The numbers that matter are the million moments that made me cry and caught my breath during this life. They are the two handfuls of people who have journeyed through life with me, each one knowing we had a contract with each other that was more important than any circumstance or words that might have broken it. They are the seven principles that were often painstakingly earned and frequently took too long to own. (1) Stay present to everything. (2) Take personal responsibility. (3) Judge nothing. (4) Love to the point of letting your heart break open. (5) Tell impeccable truth, and (6) remember that nothing real is ever lost and (7) there is no end to this journey. Life just simply is evolving beautifully. And maybe there is one more… to learn to stand back with a huge grin on your face as life happens and you ease into seventy, with a big ”Ahhh so.”
Dr. Dina Evan is an author and licensed MFT in California and a Spiritual and Executive coach in Arizona. She has won national acclaim as a human rights advocate and motivational speaker. You can reach her at DrDBE@attglobal.net, DrDinaEvan.com, 602-997-1200 or here at ‘N Touch (editor@ntouchaz.com) and on her weekly podcast The Doctor Dina Hour at QTalkAZ.com
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ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 37
YOUR PETS
Pets in search
What pet dangers lurk in and around your home? 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.
Bobby Bobby is an excellent walking companion which is perfect since daily walks and/or runs are in order for our cute little guy. Playtime with toys, other dogs, dog parks and hiking are all favorites for Bobby too. And boy can this boy go! So if you’re looking for an active, small dog that can join you on your adventures, please fill out an application for his handsome boy today! He’s looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Both known and unknown toxins can be found hiding in our houses and yards. According to the ASPCA In 2011, prescription human medication is the biggest culprit. Pets, especially dogs, are notorious for ingesting any dropped pill. Cardiac and ADHD medications make up a large percentage of these calls. Always make sure to take these medications in a safe place away from your pets. Insecticides were the subject of 11% of calls to the ASPCA in 2011. These include products used on the lawn, in the house and on the pet. The most important thing to do is read the label before you use any insecticide, and never use a product labeled for dogs on cats. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can kill your pet. Never give any medication to your pet without consult-
ing with your veterinarian first. Too much chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, high heart rate and seizures. The second most common food is xylitol (the sugar substitute). Xylitol can cause seizures and liver failure in dogs. It is amazing what animals can find to chew up around the house from fire logs to paint. Some household items may just cause stomach upset, while others can be deadly. Fertilizers, which can be made of dried blood, poultry manure and bone meal, are very attractive to pets, so it is not surprising that many calls are from lawn and garden items. If you have any reason to suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center’s 24-hour hotline at 888-426-4435.
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
Twinkle Twinkle is a gem of a kitty. First, let’s face it - she’s adorable; unbelievably cute and very photogenic to boot! Twinkle loves a good play session! She enjoys chasing balls and loves being taunted by wand toys! She’ll duck in and out of her condo cubbyholes, jump high into the air, and roll around on the floor - anything that will help her capture that wand! And when she is successful, and trust us - she is always successful - she will carry that wand away in her mouth to explain to it who is boss!
To learn more or about Bobby or Twinkle, go to azrescue.org. news / politics / business / opinion
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 39
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Gammage presents... By Joseph A. Gaxiola ASU Gammage just announced their 20122013 Broadway season. This upcoming season is proving to be one of the biggest seasons coming to Gammage. The 2012-2013 Broadway season will have seven productions coming to the ASU Gammage plus three special engagement productions that will be coming to town. The 2012-2013 Broadway season will include: “Anything Goes” - The passengers on this luxury cruise include an evangelist turned nightclub singer, a gangster disguised as a minister, hopeless romantics and stowaways. The sparkling Cole Porter songs include “I Get a Kick” “You’re the Top,” “Friendship” and “Easy to Love.” “Anything Goes” will be at ASU Gammage from November 13-18, 2012. “The Addams Family” – Concerns teenage daughter Wednesday falling in love with the normal boy next door, Lucas Beineke. In this original story, the famously macabre Addams Family is put to the test when outsiders come to dinner that will change the family forever. “The Addams Family” will be ASU Gammage from December 11-16, 2012. “Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan” - Cathy Rigby takes flight in an all new production of PETER PAN. The New York Times says “Rigby still carries off the flights, fights and acrobatics that make PETER PAN audiences mesmerized. “PETER PAN is filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook. The legend you thought you know, is now the adventure you never dreamed
possible. “Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan” will be at ASU Gammage from January 8-13, 2013. “War Horse” - The drama recounts the adventures of a horse as he moves from life on a farm into the battles of World War 1. It’s also the story of a friendship put through the toughest tests. Through the eyes of the war horse, Joey, Michael Morpurgo tells this moving and powerful story of survival on the Western Front. Utilizing puppetry, scenic elements, music and movement, the epic comes to life in a breathtakingly original production. “War Horse” will be at ASU Gammage from February 5-10, 2013. “Memphis” - What happens when a 1950’s Memphis DJ with white listeners decides to play African-American music? Is Memphis ready for it? Is America? The story was inspired by the legendary DJ Dewey Phillips and the music that became known as “rock ’n’ roll.” A music-loving mixed-race
couple struggles to survive during the early Civil Rights era in Memphis. “Memphis” will be at ASU Gammage from March 5-10, 2013. “Flashdance – The Musical” - Set in Pittsburgh, USA, Flashdance The Musical tells the story of 18-year old Alex, a welder by day and “flashdancer” by night, whose dream is to obtain a place at the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy. According to press materials, this musical about holding on to your dreams and love against all the odds features a score that includes “Maniac,” “Manhunt,”“Gloria,” “I Love Rock and Roll” and the Academy Awardwinning title track “Flashdance -What a Feeling.” “Flashback – The Musical” will be at ASU Gammage from April 30, 2013 – May 5, 2013. “Sister Act” - When disco singer Deloris Van Cartier is placed in protective custody in a dying convent, her unique brand of funk comes face-toface with the traditions of the church. Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture Sister Act, written by Joseph Howard and features a disco-inspired score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Glenn Slater. “Sister Act” will be ASU Gammage from June 25-30, 2013. The three special engagements coming to ASU Gammage will be; “Les Miserables” - September 11-16, 2012 , “Donnie and Marie Christmas in Arizona” – November 27 2012 – December 2, 2012, and “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” – April 9-14, 2013. Tickets for all seven ASU Gammage Broadway Season start at $118.
AZ Opera & MIM team up By J. Ursone PHOENIX - Arizona Opera and the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) will present a brand-new music series, “Arizona Opera Presents,” which will kick off with a performance on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the MIM Music Theater. “Arizona Opera Presents” will feature breathtaking performances by featured artists from Arizona Opera productions as well as the company’s Marion Roose Pullin Resident Artists. “Arizona Opera is thrilled to be collaborating with MIM on this series,” said Scott Altman, General Director of Arizona Opera. “Through this partnership, Arizona Opera and MIM will bring dynamic live performances to the Phoenix area, celebrating opera and phenomenal vocal talent in one of the most acoustically stunning buildings in the Southwest.” Founded in 1971, Arizona Opera is a professional opera company that produces fully-staged opera performances, concerts, in-school touring productions, and educational and outreach pro-
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grams that reach over 55,000 schoolchildren and adults annually. It is one of the few companies in the United States to serve multiple cities (Phoenix & Tucson). “MIM is committed to developing productive partnerships with organizations that bring many different genres of music to life in our intimate, acoustically superb Music Theater,” said Bill DeWalt, MIM President and Director. “Partnering with Arizona Opera is a natural step for MIM because of the organization’s long, rich history in bringing great opera to our state.” MIM enriches the world community by collecting, preserving, and making accessible high-quality musical instruments, images, and music from every country in the world. MIM celebrates our world’s diverse musical cultures and fosters global understanding by offering guests an incomparable interactive experience, a welcome and fun environment, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances.
The first performance on May 6 will feature Arizona Opera’s Marion Roose Pullin Resident Artists performing Act III from Werther, a oneact Menotti opera, and arias and ensembles by Donizetti, Contact: Matt Erikson Public Relations Manager Arizona Opera, (602) 218-7321 merikson@ azopera.org Rossini and Verdi. Tickets for this performance range from $15-$35, and are available by phone at 602-266-7464 or online at azopera.org. Performances for the 2012/13 season will take place on the following dates (programs to be determined): September 30, 2012; October 17, 2012; December 2, 2012; January 10, 2013; March 14, 2013; and April 11, 2013. Tickets will be available through both Arizona Opera and MIM. Arizona Opera’s box office can be reached at 602-266-7464 or online at azopera. org. MIM’s box office can be reached at 480-4786000 or online at theMIM.org. news / politics / business / opinion
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My name is Sister Navi Ho. My sources of strength are family, friends, and community. These groups of people and inspire me because they allow me to be who I am as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence and they encourage me to do the best I can for my community and be that beacon of support.
The Q Line is a 24-hour crisis hotline & information referral for LGBTQ youth and allies. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis please call the Q Line at:
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ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 45
NIGHTLIFE Phoenix
May marks the celebration of The Rock’s 3 year anniversary and they are going do it up in style. The festivities start Friday May 18 at 8p.m. with two of our favorite bands Rockin’ the House! The Pubes and Whiskey Rodeo will be taking over the Show Room to start our celebration on a high note. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see these enigmatic bands do their thing, then do yourself a favor and stop on by. You won’t be disappointed! If Rock & Roll is not your thing, then stop on by The Barbra Seville Show on Saturday Night for one of the best drag shows in town featuring a wide array of local and national talent. They wrap up their anniversary celebration with a dance and barbeque featuring DJ Stiletto Shank. Start the month off right May 3 with Edward Castro’s Birthday Bash! The King of Queens is gonna be celebrating in style this year and is bringing lots of Special Guests along for the ride including Delta Work from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3, Catia Lee Love, Barbra Seville, Saellah Vi, Khloe V Monroe and others. Show starts at 9p.m. Tickets available through www.arizonadrag.com On Friday May 11, Pandora Productions will be premiering their new show Juke Joint, an All Live Singing New York Style Cabaret. Pandora DeStrange, Lady Chris-
Font: Eras
tian and Tatum Michelle will weave a web of fond memories through the songs they sing and the banter they sling! Looking for something fresh, new and truly entertaining, then this is the show for you! Saturday May 12 the hottest Bearcentric Dance Party in the world returns to Phoenix to Celebrate Phurfest with The Bears of the West. In response to the tough financial times, The Rock has decided to make every hour “Happy Hour”! Drink Specials: $3 Wells & Domestics; $3.50 Long Islands, Margaritas & Bloody Marys; $4.50 Stoli Drinks; and $5 Pinnacle Martinis For more information, or to make a reservation, go to therockdmphoenix.com The Rock is located at 4129 N 7th Ave., in Phoenix. Phone: 602614-4154
their own hilarious version of the classic game show the 2nd Saturday of the month from 7-10 p.m. All admission proceeds to Retro Game Show Night benefit local nonprofit organizations. Admission: $3 per person. Ages 21 and over only. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays it’s the vocal stylings of Melody Louise from 6-9p.m. Fridays at 9p.m. it’s Honeybaked Glam with Janeé Starr and Jasmine White. Colors is located at 5305 East Speedway Blvd., Tucson. Call 520323-1840 or go to colorstucson. com for more information.
TUCSON
Colors restaurant and nightclub hosts Retro Game Show Night, the hit monthly show that engages the audience in hilarious versions of vintage television games shows. It’s also hosted by a gigantic drag queen, so what’s not to love? Mistress of ceremonies Tempest Du Jour and her extra-special guests will hold
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Come party in the entertainment district of Tucson, N. 4th Ave., and enjoy all of the offerings of IBT’s. IBT’s has been the center of LGBTQA fun for 25 years. Every night is something different. On Mondays, celebrate reverse happy hour. If you haven’t had the tacos on Taco Tuesday, you must make a point of trying them. James Espino and Joe Villegas are the chefs for this night. They make fantastic tacos for only $1 each. On Wednesdays, the ever-popular Janee Starr and special guests put on Viva La Diva. It is always a large and fun crowd. Therapy Thursdays follow with go go dancers and 2 for 1 drinks and all the fun begins at 10p.m.
On Friday’s, China Collins hosts Flawless Fridays. Friday also starts the three day-long karaoke sessions. Yes, karaoke is on Friday’s, Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend continues with the award winning Saturday Night Starlets with Janee Starr and finish off the weekend with Cheap Ass Sundays. IBT’s is open Mon - Sun, noon until 2 a.m. To see what’s happening go to ibtstucson.com IBT’s is located at 616 N 4th Ave., Tucson. Phone: 520-8823053.
Exciting things are happening at Woody’s in Tucson - Mike Kramkowski of IBT’s is proud to announce that he has purchased Woody’s from Dave Huff and Frank Shepis and is looking forward to injecting new energy into one of Tucson’s long-time night spots. Mike intends to keep some of the popular events and improve both the property and the offerings. Look here for more information as it evolves. Enjoy 2 for 1Tuesdays and Karaoke on Sunday Nights. Woody’s is the neighborhood bar where you can relax with your friends and enjoy the new dart boards, video games, and indoor pool table. For more information go to mywoodysaz.com. Woody’s is located at 3710 North Oracle Road, Tucson. Phone: 520292-6702.
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NIGHTLIFE
Drag is ART! By Pandora DeStrange
W
hen I first moved to The Valley of the Sun and started going to the gay clubs, I was a little disturbed when I overheard people saying stuff like, ”Not another drag show!” My initial reaction was to stand up for my sisters! After all, without drag queens we would not be where we are today in our fight for equal rights. It was the Drag Queens that got fed up at Stonewall and pulled parking meters out of the ground and fought for the right to be who we are. Remember this occurred during a time when you could not wear more than three articles of clothing that were of another gender without possibly getting brutalized and sent to jail. The police would post people’s pictures on the front page of the local paper and ruin their lives for such an act of civil disobedience. So, I was not going to sit back and listen to people disrespect our elders! These people fought for us to have a better life. Deeper still, many of those people have passed on and this generation will be the last generation to hear their stories from their lips. I have friends who are Stonewall Survivors and it breaks my heart to think that there are so many people in our community who don’t know their stories and have no desire to learn about them. My way of dealing with this was to open a theater/performance art space where their stories could be told in a way that made their stories accessible to all who had ears to hear. Initially, it was a struggle to get my community to come and
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support us in our quest. When we did shows that were fun, frivolous and hip or involved full frontal nudity then people flocked to see them and helped us to make a name for ourselves in this town. However, when I invited our elders to come and tell their stories often times you could hear crickets in the audience. Why is that? I have racked my brain about this for years! Will Drag Queens always be pigeon holed to simply being the Divine Clowns of our Community? I personally think that would be a Huge Mistake on our part for several different reasons. Number one- DRAG is an art form that I happen to love. It embodies everything I love about art! Our bodies become the canvases that we use to bring our visions to life. We use paint, clothing, hair, jewels, duct tape and a whole array of tools to transform ourselves into these otherworldly creatures who go out into the world and bring a smile to people’s faces. That is a selfless act that has an enormous impact on people’s lives whether you realize it or not. Number two- Once the “war paint” is applied, we then take to the stages all over the Valley to raise money for countless causes that help hundreds of thousands of people in our communities all over the world.
Also, something that I think is remarkable about the amazing individuals that have committed themselves to living this life. It’s not all glitz and glamour. It is much more than that! Number Three- Drag is EXPENSIVE! My friend Olivia Gardens likes to say that Drag is the first step towards FINANCIAL RUIN. Although it was said in jest, there is some truth to that statement. Many of us are barely getting by while we are living our dream, but we get up everyday and put ourselves out there and do everything we can to spread love with a fierce outfit, an outrageous personality and a catchy tune. Number Four- Many of us have had hard lives and often times don’t have a whole lot to smile about, but you would never know that because we are good at what we do! We create an illusion! If you took the time to get to know our stories, you may have a different outlook. So, for those of you out there who have caught yourselves being a Negative Nancy when it comes to the thriving drag scene here in the Valley of the Sun…Check Yourself before you Wreck Yourself! If you open your heart and mind, you might find that there are angels among you who are doing the work that needs to be done to make the world a better place.
ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 47
FOCUS TUCSON
Celebrate Cinco de May with a "Treasure" 12th Annual Treasures for TIHAN By Gina Read TUCSON - Currently, it is estimated that there are 2,500 persons in Pima County who are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Since 1994 the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) has offered unconditional love and non-medical support to those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as to their loved ones. The “Treasures for TIHAN” (Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network) benefit auction, the nonprofit’s signature event, is scheduled for May 5 at the Doubletree Hotel Reid Park. The event promises to be a fun-filled evening with entertainment, festive food, cocktails and a live and silent auction. According to co-chairs Lisa Fogle and Beth Daum, the “Treasures for TIHAN” event promises to be a sparkling evening of festive entertainment, fantastic food, a no-host
cantina, and wonderful auction items to raise funds to support the non-profit’s programs and services. The event will be emceed by Chuck George First Alert Chief Meteorologist for KOLD News 13, and Marcela Gomez de Ell actress, journalist, producer, and former news anchor for Telemundo. Mariachi Azteca Del Sol, one the nation’s premier mariachi groups, will be performing at the event. The group, based in Tucson, Arizona, has performed with many renowned artists, including Pedro Fernandez, Vicky Carr, Celia Cruz, Aida Cuevas, Charlie Zaa, Beatriz Adriana, Emilio, Lucero, Rosenda Bernal, Maria de Lourdes, and Linda Ronstadt. Mariachi Azteca Del Sol is very proud of its tradition in keeping the art of mariachi music alive, performing and filling people’s hearts with
the festive sounds of mariachi music. The Director and Musical Arranger for the group is Rueben M. Loya, who is responsible for the versatile and authentic sound of Mariachi Azteca Del Sol. Rueben studied music at the University of Arizona and at Dick Groves School of Music in Hollywood, California. Mariachi Azteca Del Sol is made up of 10 musicians: Rueben M. Loya (vihuela), Orlando Quiroga (trumpet), Monica Trevino (violin), Carlos Torrejon (guitarron), Jose Orosco (guitar), Rebecca Leon (violin), Joaquin Tellez, (violin), Rigo Pedrosa (trumpet) Esteban Gonzales (violin) and Charlie Martinez (trumpet). TIHAN is the largest privatelyfunded provider of support services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the state of Arizona, but receives no public monies. TIHAN Care Teams provide a wide range of needed services depending upon the health status of the person living with HIV/AIDS. Over the years, their Care Team volunteers have provided over 15,000 hours of extensive Care Team support services including transportation, meals, opportunities to socialize, emotional support. This support ranges from end-of-life care to assisting people to regain their independence. The TIHAN Poz Café lunch program is the largest regular gathering place for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Arizona. Poz Café has served over 9,900 meals to more than 500 people living with HIV/AIDS. “Poz Café is alive. It literally brought me back to life. It got me out of seclusion and I was able to feel like a worthwhile person again, just from seeing and feeling the love and compassion at Poz Café that first time. No one was afraid of me. All
those smiles and hugs. Do they really want to hug me? They did. I felt emotions that I hadn’t felt for a long time because of the shame, sadness, and rejection I was carrying within me. Spiritu- ally, my heart felt very welcomed. I was able to experience inner peace. I had attempted suicide before, and was considering it again. I didn’t see a future for myself, until Poz Café,” stated Georgeannie, a woman living with HIV/AIDS. All TIHAN services are offered free of prejudice and proselytism. “Please come out and support the event, have a great time, and be the winning bidder on some great items!” exclaimed Blades. This benefit has continued to be a huge success in large part because of the many businesses and groups who invest in TIHAN through sponsorships and donations of auction items. There is still time if you want to donate items for the auction, or to join other compassionate businesses and groups to become an event sponsor. Tickets for the event are $65 in advance, $75 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by phone or online at the number and website below. More information regarding TIHAN you may call Blades at 520299-6647, email him at scott@tihan. org or visit the tihan.org.
Find more news & information online!
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48 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
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The Return of JaGi
REDWING BAR, SAN DIEGO, CA
View these galleries and more at
ntouchaz.com
Prince Rd
Fairview
Fort Lowell Rd
Alvernon Way
Broadway Blvd
Congress
520-746-1161 TUCSON AIRPORT NORTH irla
36th Street
3.
HOLIDAY INN TUCSON AIRPORT
5305 E Speedway, TUC | 520-323-1840 4950 S Palo Verde, TUC | 520-746-1161
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6th Ave
IBT’s
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LOFT CINEMA, THE
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Woody’s
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on
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ntouchaz.com | April 2012 | Issue #93 | 51
CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS If you have ever been abused by anyone in our support community, please come forward. Your disclosure will remain anonymous. editor@ntouchaz.com
BUSINESS / SERVICE
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 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 SALE
HELP WANTED
MOBILE HOMES & PARK MODELS FOR SALE in Mobile Home Community. Starting at $7,000 - Financing any credit. Walk to Light Rail, stores & Restaurants. 19th & Camelback. 602-2428812.
Experienced Licensed Massage Therpist and Experienced Cosmetologist for upscale central Phoenix salon. Call George or David at 602277-8849 for more information.
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
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.
HAVE GIN − WILL TRAVEL Professional Bartending Services. Weddings • Holiday Celebrations • Private Parties • Corporate & Special Events • Arizona Title 4 Certified. Michael Woodward @ 520.977.4714 or haveginwilltravel@ gmail.com. 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.
COMMUNITY INFO
Gay & Lesbian Swing Dancing and lessons in Old town Scottsdale at Dancing! Arizona 7077 East Main Street Ste. 11-12. Swing dance 1st Friday of the month 8 PM Swings lessons. Open dancing 9 - 11 PM All are welcome! http://www.meetup. com / Swingin - Out- G ay - and Lesbian-Swing-Dancingin/
‘N Touch News is growing, and would like to add you to our Advertising Sales Team. E-mail sales@ ntouchaz.com if you are interested in a contract/commission position.
HOUSEHOLD
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!
FOR RENT/LEASE Studio, 1 & 2 br apts $500 & up. Swimming pool, Sauna, Covered Parking, Granite countertops, Hardwood floors, Pets allowed. Specials plus $300.00 move-in bonus with this ad. Gay owned and managed. Woodside apts: 2930 N.52nd St. Phoenix.602-840-3053 Studio Apartment for Rent. Completely Remodeled. Walk to Light Rail, stores & Restaurants. $450 monthly. 19th & Camelback. 602-242-8812.
FOR SALE: 1024 W Georgia Ave, Pasadena Neighborhood, Energy efficient 3 bedrms, 1.75 baths. 1900 sq. ft, home office entry. Corner lot, walled privacy, paddle fans, skylights, A/C & evap. Security doors & alarm system. Detached 2+ car port with secure storage, Offered at $235,000. MLS # 4186597, 1024wgeorgia ave.epro p er t ysites.c om. Owner/agent John E. Hughes, Jr. (520) 907-6792.
ALL THINGS ELECTRICAL Residential & Commercial licenses. More than 20 years experience. Insured & bonded. ROL 214308 K-11 Phoenix: 602-778-9191, Flagstaff: 928-600-1303 Email: TwoSparksElectricInc @ yahoo. com
HEALTH
PETS
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
2 akc registered English bulldogs (male and female), for a giveaway to a good and loving home, vet checked and very friendly, if interested contact James Miller millerj135@ gmail. com
Purchase Classified Ads Online!
ntouchaz.com
RENT TO OWN a Home!!! Mobile Homes & Park Models in Mobile Home Community. Rates start at $460 monthly. Walk to Light Rail, stores & Restaurants. 19th & Camelback. 602-2428812. RV Site with adjacent newly remodeled Studio Apartment. $450 monthly. Long Term Lease preferred. Walk to Light Rail, stores & Restaurants. 19th & Camelback. 602-242-8812.
52 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
news / politics / business / opinion
ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Building a great community starts with you! Support these businesses that advertise in ‘N Touch News!
Adult Chute Chute Store Off Chute Too
chutestore.com 602-274-1429
Accomodations Courtyard Marriott (FLAG)
928-774-5800
Holiday Inn Tucson Airport (TUC) 520-746-1161 Hotel Aspen (FLAG)
928-774-7358
Quality Inn Flamingo (TUC)
520-770-1910
Radisson Hotel (FLAG) Sedona Rouge (SED)
Financial Services Debt Erasers, LLC (TUC)
Health Care Dr. Damien Brandeis, NMD
480-855-6560
Dr. Lindsay Pearson (TUC)
520-302-4033
928-773-8888 928-340-5354
Home Services PartyLite
Community Tire North Phx
602-992-2830
602-410-9825
Community Tire Glendale
602-978-0251
Community Tire Airport
602-231-9090
Community Tire 40th St/Univ
602-470-0677
Community Tire Cottonwood
928-634-0705
One Voice Community Cntr
602-712-0111
NAU Office of LGBTQ Affairs
928-523-8511
PFLAG of Payson
928-476-2358
PRISM @ NAU
facebook.com/prism.nau
UA Office of LGBTQ Affairs
520-626-1996
Insurance
Beauty 602-277-8849
Bookkeeping & Taxes 602-400-5383
Ken Leombruno
602-971-5799
480-538-8081
Law Firms
Chiropractic 602-548-1998
Counseling / Addiction
J. Ross Firm
602-685-1177
Lee Horner (TUC)
520-979-5176
Ronda Kelso
602-954-9313 602-456-0545
Man 2 Man
602-307-5330
Tyler Allen Law Firm, PLLC
Richard Muszynski
520-906-7048
Massage
Design & Web Services 602-413-0954
54 | Issue #93 | April 2012 | ntouchaz.com
602-234-1654
Colors Restaurant (TUC)
520-323-1840
IBT’s (TUC)
520-882-3053
Marc Anthony Massage
New Moon (TUC)
loftcinema.com 520-293-7339
Rainbow Cactus
602-971-1086
Rock, The
602-248-8559
Woody’s (TUC)
520-292-6702
Central Phx Animal
602-277-5155
Photography Danton Photography
480-287-3780
Marric Studios (FLAG)
928-864-7680
Real Estate Services 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
Religious
Landscaping VOX
520-318-4838
Chute
Pets
Information / Support
Automotive
Ain’t Nobody’s Biz (TUC)
Loft Cinema, The (TUC)
520-461-1125
877-249-2456
Lionwood Visual Design
520-884-7400
520-628-7223
Zazu Pannee (PHX)
In Touch Chiropractic
623-463-3470
Southern AZ AIDS Foundation
800-752-1912
Dave Connell
Celebrate Your Life
The Medicine Shoppe (TUC)
Starlight Pines B&B (FLAG)
Salon Georvid
Night Life
Event Services 602-234-1654
480-777-8366
Community Church of Hope
602-234-2180
Gentle Shepherd
602-864-6404
TIHAN
520-299-6647
Restaurants Bitz-ee Mamas
623-931-0562
Linda’s on Osborn
602-956-4420
Slice of Sicily Pizza
602-667-3331
Retail Shopping Chute Store Off Chute Too
chutestore.com 602-274-1429
news / politics / business / opinion