1535 June 25, 2014

June 25, 2014

Issue 1535

Better than porn? Northern Arizona celebrates this Our new website promises to be the hottest thing online

TUCSON – The Arizona LGBT communities have a new hub of information, news, community events, and saucy dish. Since the soft launch of observerweekly.com, web surfers have been discovering the updated user-friendly format of the website which features indexed tabs and photo galleries.

Inside Stonewall 45th aniversay on air

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The media say America is divided; the facts say otherwise Guest column page 13

Texas judge refuses to put gay dads’ names on sons’ birth certificates Page 4 In a historic first, Boy Scouts will lead NYC Pride March

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weekend with Pride in the Pines

The current website was designed by Tucson artist and web developer Alec Laughlin.

Features, blogs, and galleries can now be read and shared in a more computer-friendly format.

The website has been a long time coming. After technical difficulties with it in the past, the Observer team needed to invest in a more sophisticated programing system which would allow for the archiving of nearly 40 years of LGBT history. The archives of the paper going back to 1976 will soon be available on the new site in an easily readable format.

Archiving every print issue of the paper has always been an important task to the editors. In the ‘90s a grant was written to have every paper digitally scanned and saved.

The Observer archives have been instrumental in historical research including the research which was used to build the current case against Arizona’s gay marriage ban.

The mission of the Observer, an independent local publication, has always been to spread information and unite communities. Since its inception as a one-page flyer in September of 1976, the Observer has grown to be a trusted and valued lifeline for the LGBTQ community and an expansive historical record of news, events, and stories that are often overlooked by mainstream media.

This modern Observer website is the logical and welloverdue next step in the effort to bring people together by giving queer voices and stories a place in one of the oldest LGBTQ newspapers in the country.

OBSERVER STAFF The Northern Arizona Pride Association is beckoning. Well, the cooler temps and awesome sites of Flagstaff and the surrounding area certainly are.

This weekend the 18 th Annual Pride in the Pines Festival promises to be cool on the bod and hot on entertainment.

Returning this year is

Queen of the Dark Skies, Afeelya Bunz! And tagging along with Afeelya this year is her new side kick — the bowling ball wanna-be-a-lumberjackking, Natalie Cianciola! These two super-dynamic entertainers are ready to give you a show to remember.

On Saturday at Thorpe Park (560 N. Thorpe Rd.) DEV performs her rap music. You might remember the No. 1 hit “Like a G6” which sampled her

“Booty Bounce” song. Yeah, that DEV. On Sunday, the new wave synthpop band Berlin with its lead vocalist Teri Nunn is scheduled to burn the place down – don’t tell the forest service.

You don’t want to miss the awesome entertainment or the cool temps of Flag this weekend, guys and gals; so gas up them cars and trucks and git!

Brewer: Maybe it’s time for an LGBT antibias bill discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, religion, and national origin. Brewer said that the issue of expanding the law should be addressed by the legislature if there is a need.

Gov. Jan Brewer

By Michelle Garcia THE ADVOCATE

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says it might be time to extend the state’s antidiscrimination law to cover LGBT citizens.

Brewer told Capitol Media Services this week that she “does not believe in discrimination” and added, “We are in the United States of America, and we have great privilege that is afforded to everyone.”

Currently the law prohibits

“Testimony needs to be presented,” she said. “Let the representatives of the people who have been elected by the populace of the state of Arizona determine and get it up to the governor.”

She said she does think that changing opinion on LGBT people may reduce the need for such legislation.

“That’s something we don’t see a lot of anymore, because of people’s changing patterns of discrimination,” she said.

But as The Huffington Post

points out, at least one in five LGBT people polled by the Pew Research Center last year reported experiencing unfair treatment by an employer.

After national debate and turmoil earlier this year, Brewer vetoed SB1062, a bill approved by the legislature that would have allowed any business owner to refuse goods or services to anyone by citing religious principles, for instance in refusing to serve LGBT people or members of different faiths.

It has been speculated that Brewer vetoed the bill due to backlash by multiple companies with operations in Arizona that rallied against the bill. Dozens of companies with hundreds or even thousands of employees across the state, including AT&T and Apple, voiced their opposition to the legislation.

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Polish official: We gave U.S. a blow job and we’ll get nothing WARSAW, Poland -- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who recently has been critical of Russia and its antics in Ukraine, apparently doesn’t have the highest regard for U.S. honesty, either.

A Polish news magazine reported Sunday that it obtained a secret recording of Sikorski telling a member of parliament: “You know that the Polish-U.S. alliance isn’t worth anything. It is downright harmful, because it creates a false sense of security. . . .Complete bullshit. We’ll get in a conflict with the Germans, Russians, and we’ll think that everything is super because we gave the Amreicans a blow job. Losers.

Complete losers.”

Sikorski is under close scrutiny because he’s being considered for a senior European Union job.

State chamber dumps honor for Huppenthal over scumbag posts PHOENIX -- The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry has canceled plans to honor Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal at its annual awards lunch this week.

As reported in The Arizona Republic, Huppenthal has been mired in controversy since Wednesday when he acknowledged to the Republic and azcentral.com that he wrote fiery, anonymous blog posts on political websites Blog for Arizona and Seeing Red AZ in which he called people who receive public assistance “lazy pigs” and compared the work of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger to the actions of the Nazis.

He also wrote that it was Charles Darwin, not Adolf Hitler, who called Germans “the master race.” Of course, Huppenthal’s name never appeared with any of the posts.

The activities were originally reported by the Arizona Capitol Times.

Sex-mad guinea pig impregnates 100 before party ends WARWICK, England -- You keep the girls and the boys separated, then you discover that most of the girls -100 of them -- are (shudder) pregnant.

What’s the next step?

Before workers at Hatton Country World in Warwickshire, England, began passing out cigars by the thousand, they did a quick visual search and found an exhausted male guinea pig snoozing in a pile of straw in the females’ enclosure.

He was resting up to prepare for the impending births of about 400.

“We believe that the newly named Randy could have impregnated up to 100 female guinea pigs, which have litters of about four, so if you do the math we could be expecting quite a baby boom,” said Richard Craddock, the facility’s manager.

OBSERVER The animal park already has about 300 guinea pigs, so the population could more than double over the next few weeks. An addition is being planned.

The sex explosion could have come about simply because of the facility’s function as a ... um ... “petting” zoo.

“We suspect a child may have placed him back in the wrong pen by accident after stroking him, or Randy may have somehow broken out of his enclosure to get to the females,” Craddock said.

So far, the expectant father hasn’t had the strength to squeak up about his adventure.

Local Urban League helps 135 youth get summer employment TUCSON -- This summer, the Tucson Urban League helped 135 youth ages 14 to 21 find jobs and learn skills that will help them succeed in the workplace, classroom and life.

The Great Recession reduced opportunities for youth to gain jobs in our community. According to a July 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, it was even more destructive for minorities, with unemployment rates for African-American youth at 28 percent and Hispanic youth at 18 percent.

These rates are nearly 16 percent higher than the national average for white youth.

The benefits of summer employment are numerous, among them reduced dropout rates and better classroom performance; helping people move out of poverty; increased confidence and resilience; and better odds of opening savings accounts, learning to budget and developing financial planning skills.

Flying suspect’s crotchless panties make ID a snap BRISBANE, Australia -- The police department is probably deluged with volunteers for this lineup: Word is out that the suspect is a male wearing crotchless panties.

According to the UK’s Daily News, a 34-year-old man wearing a dress over crotchless panties came crashing through the ceiling of a sex shop, only to be confronted by the store manager who had ... er ... apparently seen it all.

The suspect is alleged to have hurled sex toys at the manager before making a break for the ceiling he had just demolished.

Police managed to (sorry) “snatch” him on the roof of the sex shop and arrest him on the spot. He has been charged with breaking and entering as well as possession of dangerous drugs.

Twitter was briefly atwitter: Goats milk Australia from Fairy Meadow, Australia: “I do that all the time.

It feels really good to express myself.”

Doris McMorris from Denpaser, Indonesia: “Would crotchless panties qualify as a dangerous weapon? This

WEEKLY

June 25, 2014

bloke could get hard time, after the magistrate stops laughing.”

Perhaps even weirder than the attempted burglary itself: This wasn’t the only time in the same week that Australian police bagged a burglar in a sex-shop heist.

A 22-year-old man was charged with multiple theft and burglary offenses after he grabbed a Fantasy Fetish pack from a store in Cairns before attempting a getaway.

20-year-old man ‘delivered’ from 6-foot-tall vagina TUEBINGEN, Germany -- A 20-year-old American exchange student set off an “extraordinary rescue mission” on Friday when he got himself stuck in a 6-foot-tall vagina sculpture.

“It was a dare,” fire department squad leader Markus Mozer told NBC News. “The young man had tried to pose for an unusual photo and climbed into the artwork.”

Local newspaper Schwaebisches Tagblatt reported that 22 rescue workers with special equipment were deployed in this southern German city, but a “forceps delivery was not necessary.”

Our number has changed.

Please call 520-812-0909 to reach the Observer’s voice mail.

Thank you.

“We were able to pull the victim out with our bare hands after about 30 minutes,” Mozer added.

The replica of female genitalia was installed 13 years ago outside the microbiology and virology department of the city’s university clinic.

No report was available on how the student expects the incident to be entered on his college transcript.

SAAF is participating in the 20th Annual HIV Testing Day TUCSON — The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation is participating in the 20th Annual HIV Testing Day, a nationwide campaign urging people to get tested to learn if they are infected with the HIV virus.

Testing will be available at the SAAF main office at 375 S. Euclid from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday as well as at other locations throughout Tucson.

HIV testing is free and confidential.

The testing procedure is a HIV rapid test that produces results in 15 minutes.

SAAF is partnering with Walgreens, the Tucson Indian Center, and Wingspan in this community-wide call for HIV testing.

Visit SAAF or these other locations for a free HIV test: Pima County Health Department; Theresa Lee Clinic, 332 S. Freeway, 8-5 p.m.; IBT’s 616 N. Fourth Ave, 4-9 p.m.; Tucson Indian Center 97 E. Congress St., 11:30-2:30 p.m.; Walgreens at Grant and Swan Rds., 3-7 p.m.; Wingspan 430 E. Seventh St., 3-8 p.m.; Walgreens 605 W. Ajo Way, 3-7 p.m.

1830 E Broadway Blvd #124-215 Tucson, AZ 85719 www.observerweekly.com info@observerweekly.com Voice Mail 520-812-0909 Editor-In-Chief Bob Ellis Executive Editor Nicholas K. M. Pafford Senior Editor Greg Miller Assistant Editor Christine Beall Assistant Editor Christopher L. Pankratz Phoenix Area Distribution T-Media Promotion Send Classifieds, Inquiry Letters, etc to: info@observerweekly.com Publication of names or photos of any person or organization in the Observer Weekly is not to be construed as indication of the sexual orientation of such person, organization or advertisers or any employees thereof.

Opinions expressed by contributors, advertisers or in PSA’s are not necessarily those of the Observer, its staff or advertisers. The Observer assumes responsibility for its own editorial policy only. © 2013 by Observer Publications Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted or archived in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Observer Publications Inc.

June 25, 2014

OP-ED

OBSERVER

That’s what I’m talking about

WEEKLY

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Wedding Announcement

Laverne Cox schooling Katie Couric on transgender identity is an example of the progress in media representations of trans people.

By Rebecca Juro THE ADVOCATE In 1997, I took my first baby steps into both the online and offline worlds as a woman, or at least as a femaleidentified person. The former brought me great joy as I connected and interacted with fellow trans people and learned more about myself and the community I now understood myself to be a part of, but the latter cost me my job and a few friends.

Part of the problem, of course, was the media. Credible and positive portrayals of trans women in any medium were a rarity then, and the existence of trans men had not yet penetrated straight American culture to any discernible degree.

It wasn’t just the mainstream, though. Most often, the very worst coverage on trans women came from gay and lesbian media. Trans voices were not present or even welcome in these media, and it showed in the coverage. We weren’t real people in the media then; we were “Tootsie” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Bosom Buddies” and Bugs Bunny. In spaces other than our own both on and offline, trans women and our lives were all too rarely considered as anything more than comic relief.

Every inch of progress we’ve made since, we earned. When trans perspectives were shut out of the big gay and lesbian media outlets of the time, we started making our own media, and when blogs, podcasting, and Internet radio became popular, trans people began making ourselves heard in numbers never seen before.

Some in lesbian and gay media saw what was happening in the grass roots and were in the forefront of trans inclusion, but others had to be dragged kicking and screaming toward fully inclusive community coverage. It made for some rather bizarre situations. Such as in 2004 when Transexual Menace activists protested in front of the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign. New York’s Gay City News and Pacifica Radio both sent reporters to cover those protests, but the Washington Blade, under then – editor-in-chief Chris Crain, with its editorial offices just blocks away from where the protests took place, chose not to bother sending a reporter to either event.

transgender inclusion, not just politically but also in terms of how the media cover the trans community. Here was a community that was being routinely ignored by the media, yet when House Democrats went with a non-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act there was a huge community shakeup, with over 400 civil rights organizations coming together under a single banner to oppose the exclusion of gender identity protections from ENDA. Suddenly, it was a new era. Love us or hate us, you weren’t going to ignore us, not anymore. That which was once considered “lesbian and gay” became “GLBT” and later “LGBT” (ladies first).

There was plenty of discussion and debate about what it all meant, but one thing that became abundantly clear was that there were four distinct communities involved in these conversations now, not two, even if that “B” still wasn’t getting the attention it deserved.

Blogs and other online media that defined themselves as LGBT-inclusive started including the work of trans mediamakers like myself, Autumn Sandeen, and Marti Abernathey. Others rose in community notoriety through their own blogs, such as Jillian Weiss, Monica Roberts, and Katrina Rose. While the trans presence among professionals in commercial media was still almost nonexistent, no one could deny we were now a part of the cultural and political conversation going on within the LGBT community.

But now trans voices are not only mainstream, we’re as mainstream as any LGBT media ever gets. In 2014 you can’t even avoid us on television.

Laverne Cox and Carmen Carrera call out Katie Couric on-air for asking about their genitalia. Janet Mock schools Piers Morgan and trans women unite behind her. The fight for basic human respect and proper representation of trans women is now joined in earnest, and we are winning. We don’t fight our own community media (much) anymore; now we are the media.

Laverne Cox is a TV star; Janet Mock is a best-selling author, and even grunts like me who were once calling out media like The Advocate for misrepresenting trans people can find themselves looking with pride at their own byline under that very same banner almost a generation later.

We’ve come a long way, baby.

2007 changed everything in terms of

Brad Harwood and Kimo Fredrikson tied the knot in Windsor, Ontario April 7 after a three-and-a-half year romance.

It was Kimo who popped the question at the Reveille Men’s Chorus Christmas concert. According to Kimo, Brad hates surprises but thankfully said yes.

The two each bring their own adorable Chihuahuas to the marriage. Brad studied kinesiology and now works at the University of Arizona, and Kimo is a personal trainer at True Body Fitness of Detroit.

The two love bugs can often be seen in Tucson where Brad even occasionally performs as backup dancer for Tempest Du Jour.

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OBSERVER

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June 25, 2014

Texas judge refuses to put NOM’s anti-gay march for gay dads’ names on sons’ marriage was pathetic birth certificates

Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs with thier twins.

By Rich Juzwiak GAWKER

By Faith Gardner THE DAILY KOS In north Texas, a family court judge ruled that two fathers cannot add their names to their own biological children’s birth certificates. The legally married couple, Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, each fathered one twin boy via surrogate — and they’ve even proved this with DNA tests.

Despite the tests, the Texas judge has not only refused to allow both Jason and Joe’s names on the birth certificates — neither of them are listed as parents at all.

“On one hand, it’s a little scary because as of right now, we don’t have full parental rights of our own biological children,” said Hanna.

“Actually, I think that’s what surprised me the most was a family court,” said Riggs. “I guess I expected them to be looking out for the best interest of our kids, and I felt we walked out that day and it wasn’t in the best interest of our kids.” Although DOMA was overruled in the U.S. Supreme Court, samesex marriages aren’t recognized in Texas. Judges can interpret family law differently. With neither of their names listed as parents, the couple fears their newborn sons could be taken away from them.

The birth certificate currently lists the surrogate as the children’s parent.

Jason and Joe are awaiting the next step in the legal process.

“Without [co-adoption], if something happened to either me or Joe we don’t have any legal recourse to keep the other’s biological child,” Hanna said.

“The state could come in and separate these two brothers.”

He added: “We want to reiterate how important it is for a state to recognize each family, whether it’s same-sex or opposite-sex, and really to ensure everyone has equal protection from the state.”

The judge wouldn’t give specific reasons for denying the adoption, but assured KDFW News she “strictly follows the law.”

Arizona law prohibits both traditional surrogacy agreements (in which the surrogate mother is the biological contributor of the egg) and gestational surrogacy agreements (in which the surrogate mother is not the biological contributor of the egg), but part of that statute has been ruled unconstitutional by an appellate court. The issue of surrogacy agreements involving lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals has not yet been considered by the courts.

Last week, a handful of people favoring the preservation of an abstract institution over the quality of actual human lives took to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the March for Marriage, which was organized by the hate group the National Organization for Marriage.

Usual suspects like Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee showed up to spout the usual rhetoric: ensuring that gay people can’t get married is about love not hate, kids need a mother and a father, people need the religious freedom to discriminate against whomever they arbitrarily choose, and gay people are bullies for fighting back at the bullies who go out of their way to interfere with and cast judgment on their lives.

There was also the repeated claim that gay marriage has never been enacted by popular vote, which is just bullsh!t. Shocking that the “traditional marriage” crowd would resort to lies to keep people persuaded.

people each, but the Washington Blade estimates that about 2,000 people showed up. That makes sense — only an idiot would board a sinking ship, right?

The people who did show up were hard to rouse, as the video above shows repeatedly. Even when implored to participate, these people who presumably took off work to prove how invested they are in maintaining gays’ second-class citizenship, were quiet and otherwise unenthusiastic.

Other highlights include Huckabee pronouncing the “t” in “coup d’état,” Diaz’s words being translated as, “The Bible says that the kingdom of heaven makes violence but the violent take it by force — you are the violent ones, you are!” and Rev. Bill Owens saying that marriage equality is not a civil rights movement but “a bully movement” (you’re telling me) and encouraging people to break the law via discrimination, and the sentence, “Hi, I’m Doug Mainwaring, I’m gay, and I support marriage between a man and a woman, period!”

New York Sen. Ruben Diaz promised to bring 100 buses of 55

Your face here

June 25, 2014

OBSERVER

Violent Texas: LGBT Texans abducted, beaten and murdered

By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS Two un-related events showcase how bigoted beliefs give rise to violence.

First, a man has finally been arrested for the alleged shooting of a teenage lesbian couple, after a two-year manhunt.

David Malcom Strickland, 27, was captured on June 20, in Helotes, Texas.

He is wanted in connection with the shooting of lesbian couple Mollie Olgin and Mary Chapa, 19 and 18, who he attacked in a park and left for dead in June 2012.

Olgin died following the attack, but Chapa, who was seriously injured, managed to survive, and was eventually able to recover.

According to KSAT, Strickland was taken into custody without incident, after collaboration from several different police bodies.

Robert Almonte, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Texas, said, “I am thrilled that the collaborative efforts of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Texas Rangers, and Portland Police Department resulted in Strickland’s arrest.

“He’s a stone cold killer who thought he got away with murder, but will finally pay for his crime. My sympathies and condolences go to the victims and their families who had to endure this wicked act of violence.”

Strickland faces charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault.

In a separate case court documents state that Brice Johnson, 19, found 24-year-old Arron Keahey on app MeetMe in September last year, before beating him in the head, tying him up, and putting him in the trunk of his car.

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Bisexual men ‘at most risk’ from HIV, STDs

Prosecutors have dropped a hate crime charge against a man who brutally assaulted a victim after he plead guilty to kidnapping.

Johnson, from North Texas, this week pleaded guilty to a kidnapping charge, admitting to abducting and beating the man.

According to reports, prosecutors agreed to drop the hate crime charge that Johnson faced for the assault against the victim, in exchange for the guilty plea.

Keahey suffered from multiple broken bones, lost teeth and some nerve damage in the attack, and was hospitalized for ten days.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels said: “This was a senseless act of brutal violence that has no place in a civilized society.

“We are hopeful that today’s guilty plea brings some sense of justice for the victim and makes clear that the Department of Justice is committed to using every tool available to vindicate the rights of victims of violent crimes.

“The department will continue to work with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate hate crime allegations throughout the country.”

U.S. District Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña said, “Violent crimes of this nature will not be tolerated, and I commend the victim for his continued cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this reprehensible conduct.”

Johnson, who will be sentenced on Nov. 17, could face up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Hate crime laws were introduced in Texas in 2001, but conviction rates are incredibly low.

By Joe Morgan GAY STAR NEWS

face “several sociocultural obstacles” including biphobia.

Bisexual men are at the “most risk” from HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, according to a new study.

“Biphobia can manifest in erroneous beliefs that MSMW are gay men who have not disclosed their sexual orientation and, particularly for black men, responsible for HIV transmission to women,” he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the research in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

According to study author William Jeffries, bisexual men are often on the “down low” – in relationships with women but having sex with men on the side.

Other factors that may affect the sexual health include sex without condoms, forced sexual encounters, an increased number of sexual partners and attitudes toward pregnancy.

While the study notes HIV is less common in bisexual men than gay men, bisexuals are far less likely to get tested for HIV so it is a greater risk.

In the U.S. last year, 21 percent of bisexual men reported STD treatment compared to 12 percent for gay men and 2.3 percent of straight men.

In the social climate, Jeffries says men who have sex with men and women

“Experiencing these sentiments can contribute to MSMW’s social isolation and psychological distress, which in turn may promote HIV/STI risk through substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and the avoidance of prevention services.”

Jeffries said even though the percentage of bisexual men is small in his estimate, around 2 percent of the population, he says more research and outreach is needed to understand their sexual health.

“Recognition of MSMW’s unique sexual and social experiences can lay the foundation necessary for ensuring that these men have healthy and fulfilling sexual experiences,” he said.

“Purposefully designed and tailored efforts for MSMW are indispensable for improving the sexual health of this vulnerable population.”

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OBSERVER

Trans woman burned to death in Florida

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June 25, 2014

Mongolian government plans to protect LGBTIs from hate crimes

Yazmin Shancez was found murdered June 19.

By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS A trans woman has been found burned to death behind a Dumpster in Fort Myers, Fla. The woman has been identified as Yazmin Shancez, 31, though the initial police report mis-gendered her and referred to her by her birth name.

Her burnt remains were discovered behind a bin at a rental facility on June 19.

“If you really think about it, a hate crime is killing someone for a specific reason, being black, Hispanic, gay.

We’re investigating as we would any other homicide.”

GLAAD spokesman Ross Murray said: “No one deserves to be violently murdered and set on fire and put behind a dumpster.”

“I think that transgender people are still marginalized and stigmatized in our society.

Fort Myers Police spokesperson Jay Rodriguez said the homicide is not being investigated as a hate crime.

“We tend to talk about transgender people in a way that discounts their experience and makes them a butt of a joke or deviant or suspicious and doesn’t take [their] whole life into account.”

Rodriguez said: “This is a very active investigation and our investigators are aggressively working all leads and tips in order to solve this crime.

A vigil was to be held for Shancez Sunday.

“We have no indication at this time to say this was specifically done because it was a male living as a female or anything like that.

Earlier this month, trans woman Kandy Hall was found murdered in Baltimore.

Mongolia could very well be one of the first countries in the world to criminalize the very concept of discrimination almost entirely.

By Andrew Potts GAY STAR NEWS

their human rights over their identity in the last three years.

LGBTI people and ethnic minorities will be protected from being subjected to hate crimes in Mongolia if a government proposal goes forward.

Under the new proposal by Mongolia’s Justice Minister Kh Temuujin law enforcement agencies would be trained to recognize and report crimes motivated by discrimination and prejudice.

Homosexuality has been legal in Mongolia since 1961 but homophobic views are pervasive throughout society and LGBTI rights were only discussed in parliament for the first time in April of last year.

LGBTI people have been subjected to a number of severe violent attacks in recent years, as have ethnic minorities, as there has been an up-swell in neoNazi inspired nationalist groups in the country.

In February this year a gay man was sexually tortured by homophobic nationalists but police initially did not accept the case, as male-on-male rape is not covered in the criminal code.

The man later died but it is not known whether he was murdered or committed suicide following his ordeal — while in 2009 three transgender women were kidnapped and taken to a cemetery where they were beaten and sexually humiliated.

In 2012 Mongolia’s National Human Rights Commission found that 80 percent of LGBTI Mongolians had been subjected to some kind of violation of

The proposal would also see greater penalties for crimes that were motivated by discrimination and also greater compensation for victims of such crimes.

An initial draft produced in January by human rights groups and justice ministry officials contained language describing “hate bias,” but the latest version replaces this with more general language covering “discrimination.”

Some human rights advocates are concerned about how such general language would be enforced.

“They had intended to draft hate crimes into law,” the executive director of Ulaanbaatar’s LGBT Center Anaraa Nyamdorj told Al Jazeera.

“Instead they’ve codified discrimination, drafting it in such a way -- so broad -- that it will be very difficult to bring down to an implementation level. It means that Mongolia could very well be one of the first countries in the world to criminalize the very concept of discrimination almost entirely.”

June 25, 2014

Community Voices

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

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More good news of partners that support our community support a stronger Tucson, and Treasures for TIHAN appreciates the sponsorship of Kennedy and his firm, which offers tax services, accounting, bookkeeping, and consulting. Please support the businesses that support us!

By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN In last week’s column, I began highlighting some of the amazing gayfriendly and HIV-friendly businesses and groups in our community who not only welcome and invite our business, they seek it out. The list continues this week of supporters who support TIHAN and our community. Please support them!

For two decades, this paper, the Observer Weekly (aka Tucson Observer) has been supporting TIHAN, and helping inform, educate, and activate Tucsonans about TIHAN and our compassionate response to HIV. We’re grateful that the Observer was once again a sponsor of our Treasures for TIHAN benefit, helping promote our event and ensuring its success. The Observer is the oldest weekly LGBTQ newspaper in the southwest, and continues to be a treasured community resource providing trusted news and content since 1976. The Observer is a great place to advertise, and a great place to stay informed about what’s happening in our community. Thank you Observer Weekly for your support!

A part of the fun at Treasures for TIHAN live and silent auction was brought to you by G3 Tucson: a photo booth where you can capture the moment and get your wacky photos taken by Desert Photo Booth and then have the images right there to see and share. Thank you to Desert Photo Booth and G3 Tucson, a social mixer and happy hour for gay men and their friends that takes place each month on the second Friday.

In addition to offering quality entertainment options for the entire region, Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment works to create a better quality of life for members of the Tohono O’odham Nation and all people of Southern Arizona. Thank you

Desert Diamond for your commitment to Southern Arizona and for your support of HIV awareness and support in our community.

Treasures for TIHAN appreciates the support of Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias. Representing Pima County District 5, since February 2002, Supervisor Elias works for and is a vocal advocate for the Sonoran Desert, for affordable housing, for eliminating health-care disparities, for nurturing the development of our youth, for quality education. And he is a strong advocate for HIV awareness and LGBTQ equality. Thank you Supervisor Elias and staff member Andrés Cano for your sponsorship of Treasures for TIHAN and for all you do to create a more caring and compassionate community where we can work and live and thrive.

Another one of our local businesses that supports our community is Richard A. Kennedy, CPA, PC. Tucson is blessed with caring businesses that are involved in supporting important community causes and helping to

Treasures for TIHAN is grateful for the support of Dr. Kayla Boyer, D.V.M. and Speedway Veterinary Hospital, one of our sponsors for Treasures for TIHAN this year. Pet owners generally look upon their pets as members of their respective families and at Speedway Veterinary Hospital, they feel the same way. Headed by Boyer, the staff of Speedway Veterinary Hospital provides a variety of special services, including complete medical and surgical care; dental care; preventative health examinations; dietary planning; stem cell therapy; care for dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets; and senior pet care. In addition to being a great vet (I can vouch for that, as she cares for my three schnauzers), Boyer supports TIHAN and many other organizations in the LGBTQ community, where her community involvement and philanthropy have garnered many awards.

And these last three businesses are offering specials that will continue to support TIHAN and people living with HIV! Remember that gorgeous red Swarovski crystal bracelet that was in the live auction at Treasures for TIHAN, and the beautiful jewelry that Lupita Murillo was wearing at the event? It was created and donated by w cubed designs, and they’re making this special offer for friends of TIHAN. For the month of June, mention TIHAN when you make a purchase of any of their jewelry designs, either in-studio or online (https:// www.etsy.com/shop/wcubeddesigns ), and owner Derek Shaw will donate 30 percent of your total purchase price to TIHAN! When you purchase online, just mention TIHAN in the comments

sections when you pay. And if you would prefer to shop in person, you can visit the w cubed designs studio right here in Tucson. For more information, contact Derek at 520-981-6314.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at The Westin La Paloma Resort is a great supporter of TIHAN, sponsoring a fundraising event for us in April, and also being an event sponsor at Treasures for TIHAN as well as donating a beautiful gift package for us to auction. Now, their generosity continues! When you purchase items or book services at the spa during the month of June, mention TIHAN (or use the code TIHAN14), and they’ll donate 10 percent of your purchases to TIHAN. Thank you Red Door Spa for your support of the people and programs of TIHAN! Contact the spa at 520-742-7866 or visit www. reddoorspas.com Those beautiful lights that you saw at Treasures for TIHAN that were the talk of the evening as people walked in to the event? They were loaned to us by a great local company called Imagine Lights, and they also donated lights for us to auction off to raise funds. And now they are offering us a special deal to further support TIHAN! If you would like to purchase one of their lights (and they have tons of sizes, shapes, and colors, at a wide variety of price points), you can purchase them online at www.imaginelights.com and please mention TIHAN, Treasures for TIHAN, Hearts that Care, or Scott Blades, and 15 percent of your purchase price will be donated to TIHAN! You can also arrange to rent a light display for your party or event, and TIHAN will benefit from that too! For more information, contact Adam at 520308-2182.

And there are many more businesses, groups, and individuals who support us! Thank you to a generous community!

QUALITY THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Relaxing~Invigorating true tantric experience Creating a safe space for men and women Call Marc at 881-4582 By appointment 7 AM-7 PM, Tue - Sat

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OBSERVER

WEEKLY

June 25, 2014

June 25, 2014

OBSERVER WEEKLY

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Fireside Chat

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

June 25, 2014

Tune in for tunes that celebrate Stonewall’s 45th anniversary: KXCI Community Radio at 91.3 FM for LGBT Affairs at the University of Arizona.

By Wendell Hicks Executive Director SAAF

Michael Woodward will talk about “why marriage matters” and a member of the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance advisory council will talk about transgender issues.

Stonewall is celebrating its 45th anniversary. It wasn’t a planned action or event, but it was a long time in coming.

June 28, 1969 could have been a day like any other day. The police routinely raided the Stonewall Inn, a mafiaowned gay bar located in Greenwich Village, New York City. Patrons who represented some of the most disenfranchised members of the gay community, including effeminate men, transgender women, and homeless gay youth, got fed up with the blatant discrimination. LGBT people found their voice. Instead of passively submitting, their anger exploded, spanning six days and spawning a very vocal and militant gay rights movement.

Folks from Wingspan include Chad Mosher speaking about the Eon Youth Program and the Anti-Violence Project; Diana Wilson speaking about Camp Born This Way for transgender youth; Monica Narda with Puertas Abiertas will speak about Latino Pride and; Dea Brasdalla will share about Senior Pride Staff from SAAF will feature Dominique Calza speaking about LGBT youth suicide prevention efforts through Project ALLY (Arizona’s Life Links for Youth), Michael Lopez speaking about MSHAPE (the Men’s Sexual Health and Personal Empowerment Program) and Ethan Smith Cox will give an overview of SAAF.

KXCI is truly a community-oriented radio station. Most community radio stations are affiliated with colleges and universities and cater to college-age audiences. Randy Petersen, KXCI’s Executive Director, told me that the radio station “plays great music that represents our entire community. KXCI wants to reach minorities and other marginalized populations.” What better way to do that than through music, the universal language.

Author Dr. Judith Shepard Gomez will talk about the book she has written for children ages 2–10 titled “Mia’s Two Grammas – a child’s coming out story” which will give voice to children of LGBT families.

What does Stonewall mean to you?

I first met the folks at KXCI when they did an interview with me as the new executive director for the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation back in 2007.

I was truly excited that a community radio station could be so all inclusive.

KXCI features an eclectic mix of music, talk and call-in radio shows. The station regularly records and airs Public Services Announcements for nonprofit organizations including SAAF. It was my love of music that got me more involved.

You name it: country, disco, pop, rock and almost everything in between.

Certain songs represent the sound track of my life.

Last year, Cathy Rivers, who hosts The Home Stretch on KXCI, taught me everything I needed to know about how to be a guest DJ in the studio. I was pleasantly surprised to find artists you’ll never hear on mainstream radio stations and that I was allowed to play songs by groups such as the Scissor Sisters!

So it is no surprise that the Stonewall Celebration Day has been hosted on KXCI, 91.3 FM, on the Friday closest to June 28th since 2003. Randy

Wendell Hicks in the studio of the community radio station KXCI 91.3 FM

told me, “It’s a way to honor the modern gay rights movement through the mission of KXCI.” The mission of this alternative radio station is to connect the communities of Tucson and Southern Arizona to each other and to the world with informative, engaging and creative community-based radio programming.

The Stonewall Celebration Day is going to air this Friday, (the same day as National HIV Testing Day) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is an important event to me, so I won’t just be interviewed, I’ll be on the air playing music.

• Elva de La Torre, who will include LGBT music during her Wire Services Music segment starting at 6 p.m.

Throughout the day folks representing the diversity of the LGBT community and resources will share their messages including: Sandy Davenport with Project Visibility; Kristen Birner with The Alliance Fund; Loren Bianca of HOPE, Inc.; Scott Blades with the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network and Chris Sogge, a graduate assistant

The line-up for Stonewall Celebration Day includes: • Randy Petersen who hosts the Morning Brew from 7-10 a.m.

• My segment goes from 10 a.m. to Noon • Jaime J 1-3 p.m.

• Mark Rosenbaum, 3 – 6 p.m.

I believe that the seeds for everything that LGBT community has achieved from visibility in the media to marriage equality has its roots in the Civil Rights Movement; the Stonewall Riots were the tipping point. It is incredible that our community radio station has devoted an entire day’s worth of programming to this historic event.

So what will you hear during my segment? My play list will start back in 1969 and carry us forward through today. I’ll be highlighting gay artists and groups, allies who have been a supportive influence and playing gay anthems, some that wouldn’t get airplay on commercial stations.

I’ll be playing the sound tracks of our lives. Tune in . . .

To learn more about the Stonewall Celebration Day visit kxci.org.

Tune in this Friday, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. to 91.3 FM

This beautiful two year old kitty came to us with her kittens from PACC. Kiwi is a sweet, affectionate and playful girl, who needs a good home with someone to play with! Now, whether her play-partner is a kitty, or a person, doesn’t matter to Kiwi much, as long as there’s treats and cuddles afterward! She loves a good chin scratch, and will purr for you all hours of the day and night. Come down and meet this gorgeous lady!

Kiwi

June 25, 2014

Page 11 OBSERVER WEEKLY David Mamet to gender-bending Rick Santorum: People who theater company: Shut it down! oppose gay rights are being sent to re-education camps

Photo: Sydonia Luccesi

John (David Sapiro, left) and Carol (Ben Parman) share a tense moment in the Alchemist Theater production of David Mamet’s drama ‘Oleanna.’

By Austin Ruse BREITBART NEWS MILWAUKEE, Wis. --- Influential playwright David Mamet told a theater company in Milwaukee it must cease and desist production of his play “Oleanna” because the company cast a man to play the female lead.

“Oleanna” tells the story of a female undergraduate student who seeks the help of her professor, then accuses him of sexual harassment. He loses his tenure and his family.

The play was performed for one show only at the Alchemist Theater before the production was shut down.

The letter to the theater company from Mamet’s representatives has not been made public.

The producers issued a statement on June 20: “We excitedly brought this story to the stage because even though it was written years ago, the unfortunate story that it tells is still relevant today. We auditioned for this show looking for the best talent, not looking for a gender.

When Ben Parman auditioned we saw the reality that this relationship, which is more about power, is not genderspecific but gender-neutral.

“We stayed true to each of David Mamet’s powerful words and did not change the character of Carol but allowed the reality of gender and relationship fluidity to add to the impact of the story. We are so very proud of the result, of both Ben and David Sapiro’s talent, and Erin Eggers’ direction.”

Dramatists Play Service, which represents Mamet and which gave Alchemist the rights to produce the play, didn’t see it that way. The firm sent the cease-and-desist letter the day that

reviews of the show appeared online and revealed the company’s casting decision — a decision that the company went to unusual lengths to keep hidden before opening curtain.

In their statement on the cancellation, Case and Kopec said Alchemist will issue full refunds and complimentary tickets to another Alchemist show to each ticketholder.

Mamet wrote “Oleanna” in response to the Clarence Thomas hearings, and it was initially presented a year after Thomas was elevated to the Supreme Court. The play caused quite a stir when it first appeared off Broadway in New York. New York Times reviewer Frank Rich wrote that the play would likely “provoke more arguments than any play this year.”

David Mamet is one of America’s most celebrated playwrights. He wrote “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “Speed the Plow.” He also wrote the movies “The Verdict,” “House of Cards,” “Ronin,” “Wag the Dog,” and many others. He won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for both Tony and Academy awards.

A lifelong New York and Hollywood liberal, Mamet famously announced in 2008 that he was no longer a “braindead liberal.”

Two years ago, Mamet published “The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture,” a book-length treatise on his political awakening.

This is not the first time Mamet has stopped production of his plays over gender issues. In 1999, he sent a cease and desist letter to a New York theater company that wanted to stage an allwoman production of “Goldberg Street.”

By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS Republican Rick Santorum has claimed that people who oppose gay rights are now being sent to “reeducation” camps.

The failed Republican presidential candidate was appearing on the American Family Association’s radio show, and was interviewed by host Bryan Fischer.

He said: “You actually hear some members of the Obama administration, particularly in the state department, who no longer use the term freedom of religion.

“You now see situations with bakers and florists and photographers who are being forced to provide services for same-sex weddings or get fined, lose their business.

“There was a case in Colorado where someone had to go to a reeducation camp.

“They are fighting, they are fighting, they are not backing away, and they are coming at us.

“How many people do we have

saying we’ve already lost the marriage issue? We haven’t even lost yet! We have to understand that if we don’t engage with this war, we will lose this war.”

Last week, he claimed that samesex marriage would hurt the economy by destroying families.

Also last week, Santorum finally admitted that he made a “mistake” by endorsing Judge John Jones, who last month struck down Pennsylvania’s same-sex marriage ban.

In 2002, Santorum warmly endorsed the judge at his Senate confirmation hearing, saying: “John Jones is another outstanding lawyer and has served not just as an outstanding lawyer, but served the community beyond the practice of law.

“He also went to the same law school I went to. So he also has an outstanding legal education.”

Finally commenting on the judge, he said: “We’re all entitled to a mistake.”

On the same show earlier this month, Bryan Fischer claimed that “homosexual storm troopers” had brought back slavery.

Remember to send in your wedding announcements and photos to info@observerweekly.com so we can print them here for all the world to see.

Donations accepted.

June 25, 2014 OBSERVER WEEKLY In a historic first, Boy Scouts Moravian Church allows will lead NYC Pride March gay clergy and blessing of

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same-sex unions in 13 US states and Canada

By Greg Hernandez GAY STAR NEWS Openly gay members of the Boy Scouts of America will make history on Sunday when they participate in the 44th Annual New York City Pride March.

Until last January, a member of the Scouts could be booted from the organization for being gay. Openly gay adults are still banned from being leaders.

Active and former Boy Scouts and leaders will present the American flag during the opening ceremony then serve as color guard during the march of more than 14,000 people down Fifth Avenue.

“That local Scouts will now be leading one of the world’s most iconic LGBT Pride events is a testament to both how far we’ve come and how far we have left to go in the pursuit of full equality,” observed Seth Adam, director of communications at GLAAD. Also marching will be 87-year-old David Knapp who was forced out of the BSA in 1993 after 55 years of service when it was discovered that he is gay.

He will be joined by former BSA Salt Lake City Scoutmaster Peter Brownstein

The Moravian Church in North America’s Northern Province voted Sunday to allow gays and lesbians to become clergy and also to create a religious ceremony by which to bless same-sex unions.

who was kicked out of scouting after he and his Eagle Scout son delivered pizzas to same-sex couples waiting to marry in Utah.

The current Scouts — along with Knapp and the Brownstein -- will be joined by members of the Brooklyn Chapter of Scouts for Equality, an organization composed largely of BSA alumni who are dedicated to ending the organization’s ban on gay members and leaders.

Even though the national chapter still prohibits gay adults, the Greater New York Council serves nearly 150,000 Scouts in New York City and is dedicated to full inclusion.

Stacey Sarnicola, Brooklyn chapter leader of Scouts for Equality, said there is still work to be done.

“While the BSA voted last year to end the policy barring gay youth from participation, it has made no change in its membership policy regarding adults,” she stated. “The Greater New York Council’s inclusive policy is what gave me permission to allow my son to join the Boy Scouts. It’s what gives us permission to march, and it gives us hope for a BSA for all in the near future.”

By Andrew Potts GAY STAR NEWS

Moravian Church who do not agree with this resolution.

The 2014 Synod of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church in North America has approved same-sex clergy and a new religious rite to bless same-sex unions in a vote of 181-62.

“It is my prayer that as Moravians, in relationship with one another, we can continue to walk together in love, even as we acknowledge our differences.”

The province’s Book of Order will also be revised to reflect the new policy.

The Northern Province is the Moravian Church’s largest province in North America and covers churches in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, California, Ontario and Alberta.

“Moravians understand that God’s call to us is to welcome all people, because God’s embrace is far larger than our capacity to imagine,” Rev. Elizabeth D. Miller, president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference of the Moravian Church Northern Province, told the Religious News Service.

“We know that there are Moravians who deeply love God, who honor the authority of Scripture and love the

The Moravian Church accepted gays and lesbians as full members of the Christian community in 1974 – becoming one of the first LGBTI affirming churches.

The Moravian Church is the world’s oldest Protestant church and was founded in 1457 based on the teachings of the Czech religious reformer and martyr Jan Hus who was put to death by the Catholic Church in 1415.

There are more than one million Moravian Christians worldwide, with around half of those living in Africa.

June 25, 2014

OBSERVER WEEKLY

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The media say America is divided;

By R.D. SMITH Guest Columnist

the facts say otherwise the opposite -- they’re the ones most virulently against same-sex marriage, and they’re against it overwhelmingly, 66 percent to 28 percent.

Every few days I see something about America being a sharply divided nation. Then I look at the latest poll, and it indicates we’re anything but sharply divided.

A related point here: Those white evangelicals will swear up and down that their opposition isn’t simply a matter of trying to impose their religion on other people. Then, with every legal challenge they lose -- “Flowers that pass through my shop can’t attend a samesex wedding because I’m a Christian,” for instance -- they suddenly claim to be victims of religious discrimination.

In fact, the polls indicate we’re more united on most issues than we’ve been in decades.

Are we all lying to the pollsters?

Anything’s possible, I guess, but after 40 years in newspapers, I would suggest another angle: The media are the ones lying -- because their Tea Bagging, racist, homophobic owners and management aren’t ready to admit they lost the culture war decades before they even woke up and realized we were fighting one.

That’s about the most positive assessment you can give our corporate media these days.

Most reporters need to keep their jobs. Nowadays, that translates into not writing about what happens out there in reality land, and I’m sure the reporters are at least smart enough to realize that much.

Oh, much of the media have grudgingly trailed along with the crowd on gay and lesbian rights. But you may have noticed something there: Most gays and lesbians are white like me.

Fright-wing Republicans may not like sexual minorities -- the Southern Baptist Convention just voted that transsexuals do not exist, no matter what the transsexuals might say about it -- but at least the repressed CroMagnons among us don’t have to view that issue as mainly about skin pigment.

Once you get past the Tea Party Hatriots, the facts show that the best of America is still out there.

OK, at what point in the legal process did it change from “not about religion at all” to being all about religious discrimination?

The Public Religion Research Institute released a poll last week that included questions about immigration reform.

I hope you’re sitting down, because the new poll revealed that 79 percent of us now support some path to legalization of the undocumented immigrants among us, while only 19 percent still want everybody deported.

Basically two-thirds -- 62 percent -- want to offer citizenship, while 17 percent support only some equivalent to green-card status.

the immigration poll, 56 percent of Republicans not aligned with the Tea Party are still Americans -- they stand with the majority in supporting possible citizenship for immigrants. (Among Tea Baggers, only 34 percent support it.)

For 40 years, U.S. politics has been mainly about this glorification of ignorance. Almost every election lowers us beyond what we had previously thought possible. And from all indications, the 2014 congressional elections may continue that trend.

The split among Republicans on same-sex marriage is even more tightly focused: An ABC News/Washington Post poll showed white Catholic Republicans support it 70 percent to 26 percent; white non-evangelical Republicans support it 62-27; but white evangelical Republicans are exactly

But there’s a limit: Beyond 2016, both major political parties will face some hard decisions.

They’ll either leap into the 21st century or they’ll perish. And good riddance to two occupying armies of corrupt, lying leeches!

Note: 79 to 19 is not a nation divided, folks; in fact, it’s about as close to unanimous as you’re likely to see on political issues.

The problem is that the 19 percent opposition includes most of the U.S. House Republicans, who have so far refused to let the subject of immigration even be debated. Bringing up same-sex marriage in that environment could be fatal.

You can truthfully say the Republican Party is divided, yes: In

We are constantly looking for caring and fun volunteers!

Please call TIHAN office for information of next Volunteer orientation 520-299-6647 ext. 204 or volunteercoordinator@tihan.org Contact Alicia Talerico, Office and Volunteer Coordinator

Page 14

OBSERVER WEEKLY As Clark Saw It

Monday 12-3 p.m.

4-5:30 p.m.

4:30-6:30 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

7-10 p.m.

7-8:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

6 p.m.

Tuesday 3-8 p.m.

4 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

Wednesday 3-8 p.m.

12-1 p.m.

3-4:30 p.m.

4:30-6 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

7:30p.m.

Thursday 3-8 p.m.

4-5:30 p.m.

5:30-6:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

7-10 p.m.

Friday 4 p.m.

SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources LGBTQA Support Group. LGBTQ Affairs Office, UA Student Union level four.

SAGA Desert Boyz for trans masculine folks 3rd Tuesdays SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources Pink Triangle AA Meeting, 439 N. Sixth Ave. Everyday.

Gender Spectrum support Group. UA Campus Health Service Building Room C312. $5 TMC Hospice LGBTQ Grief Support Group. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Peppi’s House Chapel, 2715 N. Wyatt Drive. RSVP at: 520-324-2438.

Wednesday Night Christian Bible Study, Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall, 2902 N. Geronimo Ave. Weekly Bears Coffee at Crave, 4530 E. Broadway Blvd.

Yoga at Fluxx $5 suggested donation.

Saturday 2:30-4:30p.m.

2nd Saturdays

Bears of the Old Pueblo Potluch 2nd Saturdays 520.444.2275 Transparents For parents of trans kids. RSVP SAGA to attend.

11a.m 2-5 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

3-5p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Zoe’s World

By Zoe

SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources Support Group for Transgender Survivors of Sexual Trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club Queer People of Color & Two Spirit support group. African American Student Affairs MLK Center, 1322 E. 1st Street.

Write Now! a writer’s group open to all at Revolutionary Grounds 606 N. 4th Regardless of… NA LGBT Meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd.

Weekly Meditation Classes in Central Tucson, cost: $10, Kadam Meditation Center Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. SAGA Desert Partnerz for cis-gendered 4th Thursday Triangle Tribe, Men’s Support Group. Call 520-398-6826

5:30-6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

10-12 p.m.

By Gary Clark

Mah Jongg Mondays Himmel Park Library. Ages 50+, 1035 N. Treat.

In Our Own Voices, Women’s therapy group for survivors of sexual trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club, 520.327.1171 Cancer Support Group for LGBT People, Arizona Cancer Center at UMCNorth, Rm 1127, 3838 N. Campbell Ave. 520.694.0347 Regardless of… NA LGBT Meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd.

SAGA General for trans forlks and allies 1st Monday SAGA Desert Girlz for trans Femanine folks 2nd Monday Reveille Men’s Chorus Open Rehearsal, Rincon Congregational Church, 122 N. Craycroft Tucson Women’s Chorus rehearsal.Call for details: 520.743.0991 Desert Girlz meeting at Wingspan PFLAG en Español Meets the 1st Monday of each month at Fortin de las Flores: 243 W. 33rd St.

Wingspan’s Eon Youth Program New Youth Orientation Fridays at 4p.m.

Youth Center Open M-F Oasis LGBT Social Group. Email oasis.wingspan@gmail.com Bingo at MCC Every Friday call 207-9354 for info.

Sunday 9-11 a.m.

10-11.30 a.m.

June 25, 2014

Co-ed Softball, all abilities welcome. Oury Park, 600 W.St. Mary’s Advice For Life & Prayers for World Peace. Buddha’s teachings, Kadampa Meditation Center Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. LGBT Buddhist Meditation Group meets every Sunday at The Three Jewels, 314 E. 6th St. in Tucson. Meditation sessions with readings, recordings, and discussion. Welcoming to all.For information call Jim at 520-884-4218.

Zumba at Fluxx. $5 suggested donation.

Mamasitas! Men’s Sports club at Menlo Park The New Men’s Massage Group. June 15 @ 4p.m. Call Marc at 881-4582 to sign up. Or email bleu55@gmail.com in advance. It’s a great place to meet men. Safe, non-sexual but very sensual and a little erotic. Donation.

Men’s Social Network “H” Club open to entire LGBTQ community. This is a fun discussion, learning and participation group meeting for discussions on major words beginning with the letter “H.” Doesn’t meet the 1st Sunday of the month.

Puertas Abiertas Latin/Hispanic LBGTQ/Ally support group meeting at Wingspan 430 E 7th St – every 3rd Sunday of the month at 5:30pm.

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

-- Philip K. Dick

Employmnet HELP WANTED: Responsible man or woman to do house cleaning and yard work once a week, a few hours at a time in midtown. Must have own transportation.

Call Marc: 520-881-4582 Classifieds rate: $30 for up to 30 words for 30 days.

Contact Observer Weekly at 1830 E. Broadway Blvd, #124-215 Tucson, AZ 85719 or 520-818-0909

June 25, 2014

Monday BRODIES TAVERN - Service Industry Night 7 p.m.- 2 a.m. $2.50 House Well, Long Islands, Margaritas on Tap, $3 16 oz. BudBud Light-Mic Ultra Cans, Fireball Shots.

IBT’s - Happy Hour 12 - 9p.m. Taking Back Mondays hosted by Diva featuring *3-4-1 Well Vodkas (Regular, Grape & Cherry) 9 - Close. Karaoke Inside or Lounge on the Patio 9 p.m.

VENTURE-N - Open noon. Free pool noon-4 p.m. Free music, WiFi Noon-2 p.m.

Tuesday BRODIES TAVERN - Two Buck Tuesday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $ 2 House Well, Fire Eater Shots, $2 Margaritas on Tap, $2 Long Islands IBT’s - Happy Hour 12 - 9 p.m.; Taco Tuesdays. $1 Tacos. Drink Specials 9-Close: Mix-n-Match Mexican Beer Special, Tequila Specials (Patron $6, Milagro $4.50, Hornitos $4, Cuervo $3.50), Million$DJ Inside 9 p.m.

VENTURE-N - Open noon. Free pool noon- 4 p.m. Free music, WiFi noon- 2 p.m.

Wednesday BRODIES TAVERN - Whiskey Wednesday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3.25 Jack-Jim BeamJameson-Fireball-Makers Mark-Johnny Walker Red, $5 Redds Balls IBT’s - Happy Hour 12 - 9 p.m., “Viva La Diva” Drag Show Hosted by Diva at 9.

“Whiskey Breath” Drink Special Every Wednesday 9-Close. $2 Well, $3 Call, $4 Select Top Shelf Whiskey and Scotch Blend Whiskies. Million$DJ Inside after the drag show. Party on the Patio with DJ Import 9 p.m.

VENTURE-N - Open noon. Free pool noon-4 p.m. Free music, WiFi noon-2 a.m.

Thursday BRODIES TAVERN - Customer Appreciation 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. Two-for-One Well-Domestic Bottles, Margaritas on Tap House Kasiz Shots IBT’s - Therapy every Thursday. All Day *2-4-1 Drink Specials (excludes top shelf, wine & draft). Million$DJ Inside at 9 p.m., DJ Sid the Kid on the Patio 9 p.m. GoGo Boys @11 p.m.

LOOKS - 6 p.m. to Close VENTURE-N - Open 10am. Free pool 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free music, WiFi 10 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Friday BRODIES TAVERN - Get the Party Started Friday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Malibu Rum Black-House Long Islands-Pucker Vodka, Margaritas on tap-XX Pints IBT’s - Happy Hour 12 - 9 p.m., Flawless Fridays featuring “Absolutely Flawless” Drag Show hosted by China Collins @ 9 p.m. DJ Import Inside after the show, Million$DJ on the Patio 9pm. GoGo Boys @11p.m.

LOOKS - 6 p.m. to Close. Karaoke 8 - 12 a.

VENTURE-N - Open 10 a.m. Free pool 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free music, WiFi 10 a.m.- 2 a.m.

Saturday BRODIES TAVERN - Back Pocket Sabado Latino 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Magaritas on tap-Corona Bottles, $3.25 Latin Beers-XX Micheladas, $1 Tequila Shots-Corona Ritas IBT’s - Happy Hour 12 - 9 p.m., Karaoke on the Patio 5 - 8 p.m., “Saturday Night Starlettes” drag show Hosted by Janee Starr 9pm, Million$DJ on the Patio 9 p.m., DJ Import Inside after the drag show.

LOOKS - 6 p.m. to Close VENTURE-N - Open 10 a.m. Free pool 10.a.m. - 4 p.m. Free music

Sunday BRODIES TAVERN - Funday 7 p.m. - 2 p.m. $2.50 House Well, $3 House Long Islands, Tap Magaritas, $1 House Kasiz Shots, $1.75 Domestic Pints IBT’s - Happy Hour 12-9 p.m., Karaoke 4-8:30 p.m. “Cheap Ass Sunday’s” 9-Close feat. 2-4-1 Drinks and Bottle Beer (exclude top shelf, wine & draft), Karaoke Inside 9pm; DJ Sid the Kid on the patio 9 p.m.

VENTURE-N - Open noon. BBQ Burgers or Hot Dogs, Fries. Free Pool Noon-4 p.m.

Free Music, WiFi noon-2 a.m.

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

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UK government bans teaching creationism as science in all state schools

By Joseph Patrick McCormick PINK NEWS The British government has banned the teaching of creationism as science in all academies and free schools.

Arriving last week, the clauses banning the teaching of creationism as scientific fact, state that the “requirement for every academy and free school to provide a broad and balanced curriculum in any case prevents the teaching of creationism as evidence-based theory in any academy or free school.”

This comes just days after Shadow Education Secretary Tristram Hunt attacked the use of “dangerous” textbooks in British schools that teach homosexuality is a choice.

The textbooks, which also compare homosexuality to murder and stealing, are part of the U.S.-based Accelerated Christian Education curriculum, which lists over 30 participant UK schools on its website.

The UK government in 2012 banned teaching creationism as science in all future free schools, however it did not apply the policy to existing free schools, and academies.

Creationism as science is now banned in all UK publicly funded schools.

IN THE BEGINNING Under the new rules, all state-funded educational institutions can now no longer teach the theory as evidence-based.

The new church academies clauses require that “pupils are taught about the theory of evolution, and prevent academy trusts from teaching ‘creationism’ as scientific fact.”

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OBSERVER WEEKLY

June 25, 2014