1543 august 20, 2014

August 20, 2014

Issue 1543

Injunction sought to sanction marriage of Green Valley pair George Martinez, 62, and Fred McQuire, 69, are both military veterans who met in 1969 and married in California in July.

OBSERVER STAFF PHOENIX -- Lambda Legal filed a motion Monday asking the U.S. District Court for Arizona to compel the state to recognize the marriage of a Green Valley couple in which one partner has only months to live.

George Martinez, 62, and Fred McQuire, 69, are both

Court considers delaying samesex marriage in Virginia As expected, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring has asked the Supreme Court to stay a lower court ruling that would end Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage this week.

The Attorney General's office filed a response to the motion filed by Prince William County, asking for the stay.

Arizona State University football offensive lineman Chip Sarafin comes out as gay

military veterans who met in 1969 and married in California in July. They had hoped to marry in Arizona, but Martinez was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer that has metastisized to his liver.

The motion asks for a preliminary injunction to compel Arizona to recognize the California marriage. At the same time, Lambda Legal filed a motion for summary judgment in Majors v. Jeanes, the lawsuit Continued on page 3

Cutting an imposing figure on the field, the Arizona Sun Devils’ outside linebacker #79 weighs over three hundred pounds and holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field while preparing for his MCAT exam, and participates in many off-field community outreach activities. Oh, and he’s gay. Story on page 4.

What if 50,000 LGBT Arizonans voted in the general election?

By Rob Rowley GUEST COLUMNIST Arizona’s primary election is fast approaching. Aug. 26 is the date Arizona voters will decide who the candidates will be going in to the 2014 general election.

In a statement, the Attorney General's office says that a stay is warranted "because of unintended negative consequences if the Court later rules against marriage equality, and asks the Court to expedite its review of the case."

"Throughout this process we have fought for equality while also recognizing the need for an orderly process," said Attorney General Herring. "I've worked to move the case along quickly and asked the Supreme Court to take this extraordinary step because I don't want this discriminatory ban to stay in place one day longer than necessary. However, a stay is warranted in light of the negative impact on Virginia families if the Court eventually rules against marriage equality.”

The AGl's office is working with clerks offices around the state to prepare for the possibility that same-sex marriages do go into effect on Thursday morning.

Early ballots are out and, if you have one, please remember to fill it out and mail it in.

Not yet registered to vote or not sure of your voting status?

You have until Oct. 6 to register to vote in this year’s general election and both registering and correcting your registration is easy. Just go to http:// Continued on page 5

Pride Guide Arizona to hold second annual Wedding and Honeymoon Expo PHOENIX -- Pride Guide Arizona, a travel, wedding and business resource publication, announces its second annual Wedding and Honeymoon Expo to be held Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Drive.

“With the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on DOMA and half the country allowing samesex marriage, there is a major increase of engagements in the Arizona LGBT community just Continued on page 3

Russian gang leader who tortured gays on camera jailed for five years

By Andrew Potts GAY STAR NEWS Maxim Martsinkevich, leader of the notorious antigay group Occupy Pedophilia, was sentenced to five years in prison on Aug. 15 but the charges were for racist videos

that he posted to Russian social media website VK -- not his entrapment and torture of gay men on camera.

Martsinkevich, who is also known as “Machete” or “Cleaver,” and his group entrapped very young gay

men online by pretending to be gay teens and then put them through homophobic ordeals while being filmed -- then humiliating them by posting them on the internet.

It’s not the first time Martsinkevich has seen the

inside of a Russian prison cell as he has past convictions for extremist activity.

Another nine members of the gang have been arrested in Russia and are awaiting trial over their persecution of gay men.

OBSERVER

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Bad-ass kitty adds notch to his gun by terrorizing owners CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- Cuppy the cat trapped his owners in one room of their house last week, and didn’t even give way when police showed up to break the siege.

Was he playing some kind of cat game that only looked threatening to humans? Was he dead furious over a dish of Brand X kibble? Maybe some delectable little feline dissed him at the bar earlier?

Details are hazy, but apparently the incident began when one of his owners made a potty call in the middle of the night, and Cuppy refused to let her leave the bathroom.

The owners, identified only as a mother and daughter, either ended up together in the bathroom or trapped together in a bedroom, but anyway they called police for help.

to modern science until 1957, so little is known of its natural range.

Only 97 vaquitas, one of seven species of true porpoises, are still known to exist, with probably less than two dozen of them females of reproductive age. Even that number is severely endangered by commercial gillnet fishing in the Gulf of California.

It is a unique species, with a body shape and color pattern unlike that of any other. It has a tall dorsal fin (for a porpoise) and a beautiful color pattern on the face, with dark eye rings and lip patches that look like an application of “goth” make-up.

Vaquitas -- whose name means “little cow” -- are found nowhere else on earth outside a tiny area at the extreme northern end of the Gulf of California.

Change.org is circulating a petition asking Mexican officials to stop gillnet fishing in the area because it is a leading cause of death among vaquitas.

Eventually, the cat just lost interest and stalked out of the house.

Neighbors described Cuppy, who has been with the same owners for 14 years, as an unpredictable kitty and a “ball of fury.”

The Observer is betting on the badnight-at-the-bar theory. Not that we ever got dissed by some hot little twink who thought the sun rose in his own ass, but we’ve heard other people talk about it.

Man in tablecloth discovered hiding in restaurant cupboard MALVERN, England -- Police said a “confused” man was discovered wearing only a tablecloth and smeared with his own feces, hiding in a cupboard at an Indian restaurant just after midday on Aug. 2.

According to a report in the Malvern Gazette, police believe the man spent the previous night in the restaurant cupboard on Church Street in Malvern.

Officers said the man was “in a confused state” and had verbally abused the restaurant staff. He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and threatening verbal behavior. Police also said the man was forced to clean up the mess he’d made.

Other people reported seeing the woman at a similar time, according to London 24, but police had no reports about it, so apparently West Ealing residents took it in stride.

One witness did get a little excited on Twitter: “So this woman was jogging down the street today in Ealing. ...

Normal? I forgot to mention she was completely NAKED. Wtf!? Ealing is weird.”

Observer staffers now wonder how many of our neighbors are secretly hoarding video of those entirely innocent neighborhood jaunts. We do it strictly for the exercise, folks.

Brittney Griner proposes to fellow WNBA girlfriend Former Phoenix Mercury powerhouse Brittney Griner proposed to her girlfriend, fellow WNBA player Glory Johnson, last week, documenting the engagement in an exuberant Instagram post.

The petition is for signing available at:

When officers arrived, Cuppy wasn’t impressed, and refused to yield ground to the police, either.

WEEKLY

http://www.change.org/petitions/ prevent-the-extinction-of-the-vaquitaporpoise-the-world-s-most-endangeredmarine-mammal

Johnson, who plays for the Tulsa Shock, later shared her own intimate picture of the ring with the caption “What I get to wake up to @brittneygriner #LoveMakesYouDoTheCraziestThings.”

Burger joint adds fat fee to offset minimum-wage hike

Griner, an openly lesbian athlete, was the center of a firestorm in 2012 when the 6-foot-8-inch NCAA champion stepped down from the U.S. Women’s Olympics team amid vicious speculation that she wanted to avoid the IOC’s controversial gender verification testing.

STILLWATER, Minn. -- One restaurant decided to celebrate being in the home state of Rep. Michele Bachmann by adding half an hour’s worth of Minnesota’s minimum-wage hike to the cost of each hamburger.

At the time, Griner’s coach and teammates rallied around the player and she went on to be drafted by the Phoenix Mercury for its 2013 season as the top overall pick.

And listing “minimum-wage fee” as a separate item on each customer’s bill.

Minnesota raised its minimum wage from $7.25 to $8, and Stillwater’s Oasis Cafe promptly tacked on a 35-cent fee -- roughly half an hour’s worth of the minimum-wage hike added to the cost of each burger.

If the restaurant had quietly added the 35 cents and not ballyhooed it, there might have been a few complaints but the whole thing would have blown over quickly.

As it is, Oasis set off a massive backlash on social media over its “political grandstanding.” Not learning from being burned once, the restaurant posted a response on its Facebook page that only increased the fury.

The Observer has only two words for Oasis management: pretty cheesy.

Victim of anti-gay hate crime sentenced to 10 years for selfdefense ATLANTA — Luke O’Donovan, survivor of a homophobic attack in Atlanta was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges that he assaulted those who attacked him.

On Dec. 31, 2012, O’Donovan was attacked, beaten and stabbed by at least five men shouting homophobic slurs at a New Year’s Eve party. O’Donovan defended himself with a pocketknife and left the scene, receiving treatment for stab wounds and injuries to his head and body at the Atlanta Medical Center.

On Aug. 12, 2014, O’Donavan was sentenced to prison for 10 years through a negotiated plea deal.

Nude woman calmly jogs through London Rarest sea mammal, shopping district LONDON -- Video footage of a with only 97 left, woman jogging nude through a West Ealing shopping district has gone viral. has link to Arizona

In response, The Luke O’Donovan Support Committee issued the following statement:

YUMA -- The vaquita, a small porpoise identified by the Cousteau Society as the rarest aquatic mammal on the planet, actually has a tie to Arizona.

In the video, a naked woman can be clearly seen jogging past other pedestrians in front of a row of welllighted storefronts.

Before the Colorado River was dammed up, it’s believed the vaquita would have been found as far north as Yuma. It is so rare that it was unknown

Elijah Bailey, a house-music producer, shot the footage back in March while he was a passenger on a bus, but it only recently caught fire on the Internet.

“O’Donovan’s defense team was only able to negotiate the 10-year sentence after video footage surfaced of one of O’Donovan’s assailants participating in an attack of a transgender woman on July 3.

Both of the Indian restaurants on Church Street -- Anupam and Cafe Zam Zam -- have denied any knowledge of the incident. Smart business move.

“This is the epitome of a hate crime.

Witnesses report seeing between five and 12 men attacking O’Donovan, stomping on his head and body, and stabbing him in the back while calling him a ‘faggot.’

“These arduous court proceedings have illustrated that the court and the presiding judge are homophobic.”

August 20, 2014

Seniors group endorses Grijalva for Congress TUCSON — Alliance for Retired Americans members endorsed Raúl Grijalva for re-election to the U.S. Congress from Arizona’s 3rd District at a celebration of Social Security’s 79th anniversary in Tucson.

“Rep. Grijalva is really a champion for seniors. He can be trusted to lead with our interests. His views on keeping health care affordable and retirement secure are among the reasons that we stand behind Grijalva and his candidacy for U.S. Congress,” said Doug Hart, president of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans.

“Grijalva holds a lifetime score of 100 percent for his pro-retiree votes according to the Alliance for Retired Americans 2013 Voting Record. His strong positions on fighting Social Security and Medicare privatization and strengthening Social Security and Medicare confirm his commitment to improving the quality of life for older Americans,” added Hart.

The Alliance for Retired Americans represents over 4.3 million retirees and community activists, including more than 43,000 members in Arizona.

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.

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August 20, 2014

OBSERVER

Injunction sought to sanction marriage of Green Valley pair Continued from page 1 filed in March seeking to have Arizona’s ban on same-size marriage declared unconstitutional.

death and to access survivor’s benefits generally available to a surviving spouse.

“Fred and George, as they near the end of their journey together, deserve the freedom to focus on each other secure in the knowledge that their love and commitment is recognized and respected,” said Jennifer C. Pizer, senior counsel and director of Lambda Legal’s Law and Policy Project.

The state ban also prevents access to increased military veterans’ disability compensation.

With the marriage unrecognized when Martinez dies, Arizona will refuse to issue a death certificate to McQuire as the surviving spouse, which would interfere with McQuire’s ability to take care of Martinez’s affairs after his

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OP-ED

Five annoying questions same-sex parents are tired of hearing

The lead plaintiffs in Majors v.

Jeanes are Nelda Majors, 75, and Karen Bailey, 74, of Scottsdale, who have been together for more than 55 years, and together have raised two children.

The other plaintiffs include three couples and one surviving spouse from Phoenix, two couples and one surviving spouse from Tucson, and one couple from Tempe.

Pride Guide Arizona to hold second annual Wedding and Honeymoon Expo Continued from page 1 in the last year,” said The Pride Guide Publisher Michael McFall.

“A recent survey in same-sex couples in Arizona reported 38 percent have just married, or are planning to in the next year. No matter if the couple travels out of state to get married they are having their reception back in Arizona, so they are in need of services, locations etc.”

In order to help its readers who are planning their special day, Pride Guide Arizona has found an amazing amount of LGBT-friendly wedding service

providers who really want to serve our community.

In addition to a fashion show, there will be giveaways. A $5 entrance fee gives the attendees an opportunity to win: a round trip for two to Maui, Hawaii, a round trip for two to Sydney, Australia, a $3,000 jewelry certificate, and one of two wedding gowns valued at $2,000 each.

For more information on the Pride Guide Arizona Magazine or the Wedding Expo contact The Pride Guides office at 602-466-2501 or Arizona@ ThePrideGuides.com.

LGBT parents are no different from opposite-sex parents — except when they’re repeatedly asked these same frustrating questions.

By Brian Andersen THE ADVOCATE My husband and I welcomed our wonderful, gorgeous daughter this past January via surrogacy. She’s been a precious, magical addition to our lives from day one. While we assumed our roles as parents to a newborn would be an adjustment, we never considered the challenge the social aspect of being same-sex parents would bring.

Socially, it’s the amount of questions we’re asked on a daily basis that have become the most tiring and irksome part of being a parent. Everywhere we go — and we live in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, one of the gayest neighborhoods in the world — we find ourselves having to explain and clarify our place as parents.

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I’ve long since embraced the fact that being an out homosexual is filled with teaching moments, opportunities to educate people on “gay stuff.” And those questions often range from our sex lives, to our gender roles, to why gay men love The Golden Girls so much.

Now my usual “gay stuff” questions have morphed to babies, daddies and, well, still gender roles.

I realize and accept that modern LGBT families require parents to be mindful of the ways we navigate parenthood in society. My husband and I strive to be patient and understanding in regard to all the questions we’re asked over and over and over, again and again. But to be honest, we’re human and sometimes we just get tired of repeating ourselves. Even teachable moments can get super annoying.

That’s why I came up with this cheeky list. Mostly to be fun, but also to illustrate the social differences LGBT parents face. Also, my dear 6-monthold daughter, Pence, assists with rating our annoyance level with her oh, so adorable grumpy face; one grumpy baby face equals mild annoyance and five grumpy baby faces means off-the-charts frustration. Thanks for participating, baby girl!

5. “You guys got a baby?”

Before my daughter arrived I’d never, ever, ever heard anyone ever ask anyone this question. “You guys had a baby?” is the traditional way to confirm that a couple recently became parents.

Continued on page 12

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OBSERVER

August 20, 2014

WEEKLY

Arizona State University Trans girl, 13, banned football offensive lineman from school unless she Chip Sarafin comes out as gay

dresses as boy

By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS A 13-year-old transgender girl has been banned from attending her own school, unless she dresses as a boy to do so.

Rachel Pepe of New Jersey previously attended Thorne Middle School, but has been told that she won’t be allowed back after transitioning to female.

Her mother, Angela Peters, told Asbury Park Press that the school demanded her daughter dress as male, refused to call her any name other than that on her birth certificate, and claimed they couldn’t provide toilets for her.

Edward “Chip” Sarafin, a backup senior offensive lineman for Arizona State University, has come out publicly as gay. He is the only known publicly out player in major college football.

By Jim Buzinski OUTSPORTS Chip Sarafin told his story to Phoenix-based Compete magazine, a publication for gay sports. The article

by Joshua Wyrick focused on Sarafin’s educational studies in biomedical engineering with his goal of becoming a neurologist and on his volunteer work. One of his areas of research is making helmets safer to help prevent concussions.The part of Sarafin being gay is addressed in an oh-by-the-way manner near the end.

He came out to his Sun Devils teammates last spring, saying, “it was really personal for me and it benefited my peace of mind greatly.”

Sarafin, 6-6, 320 pounds, is a walk-on player (meaning he did not get a scholarship) and has never appeared in a game. He is not even listed on the team’s depth chart.

There have been other major college football players who have been openly gay on their teams -- Michael Sam was one at Missouri last year -but if Sarafin ever plays, he would be the first gay player to tell his story to the media while in school. Regardless, Sarafin is a brilliant student and his teammates can say they practiced with a gay athlete.

Sam tweeted this: “Congratulations Chip Sarafin for

having the courage to be yourself.

Wishing you and your teammates much success this season. #courage2014” Arizona State University coach Todd Graham issued this statement: “We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual’s commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master’s student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every studentathlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff.”

Athletic Director Ray Anderson offered the following in a prepared statement: “The entire athletics department is extremely proud of Chip and is unequivocally supportive of him. His undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, his pursuit of a master’s in the same field, his research involving football-related concussions, and his heavy involvement in the community with both youth sports in Arizona and the Tillman Scholars embodies all the characteristics that set our student-athletes apart and allows our university to maintain an environment of inclusiveness and progression.”

Rachel Pepe

“I said what about letting her go to the bathroom in the nurse’s office? They definitely can’t call her Rachel because on her birth certificate, it is Brian,” said Peters,

private school that would be more accepting of the teenager, but says the district refuses to provide money to accommodate her.

Peters also revealed that Rachel developed stress-related seizures, depression and panic attacks before she was allowed to transition.

Middletown Schools Superintendent William O. George said he plans to meet with the family, adding: “We as a district want to do everything we can as a district.

“Rachel was going to school last year as Brian . . . I am not sending her back as Brian because the depression will start again,” explained Peters.

“Every child is different and their education and social and emotional wellbeing is my priority. We will work with them to find the appropriate placement.”

“She would get off the bus and just cry, and then she would go to sleep for 17 or 20 hours and refuse to go back there.”

However, Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund said: “Certainly the family has legal avenues if they wish to pursue them. The family would have a strong case against discrimination.”

Peters has attempted to find a

NAU makes best-ranked 50 colleges for LGBT students

By Michelle Garcia THE ADVOCATE Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff is among the best-ranked 50 colleges in the United States for LGBT students named by Campus Pride, doubling the size of previous years’ list to highlight, as the organization says, the “best of the best.”

While the colleges in this year’s listing of top campuses are slightly concentrated in progressive regions in the country, the organization touts that there are more southern schools in the overall list, as well as more religiously affiliated campuses and campuses minority-serving institutions.

Shane Windmeyer, the executive director of Campus Pride, said more colleges than ever have been expanding and improving efforts to recruit and keep LGBTQ students, which was why the organization increased the size of this year’s list.

“More than ever, colleges today want to be viewed as LGBT-friendly and a welcoming place for all students,” Windmeyer said in a statement released Friday. “Upper-level administrators are now understanding how LGBTfriendliness is key to future institutional success. This top 50 list is proof.”

The list is a result of a nation wide survey of colleges conducted by experts in the field of higher education.

August 20, 2014

OBSERVER

What if 50,000 LGBT Arizonans voted in the general election?

WEEKLY

New skin-like condom could actually increase your pleasure

By Mark S. King HIV PLUS MAGAZINE One of the biggest obstacles to consistent condom usage has been a decrease in sensitivity and pleasure for the user. Thanks to a grant challenge from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, those complaints might soon be a thing of the past.

Continued from page 1 servicearizona.com/ and click on the “Voter Registration” button. If you are registered to vote but have moved since you registered, you’ll need to update your registration for your vote to count.

One of the things most commonly heard about voting these days seems to be “why bother voting? My vote doesn’t matter anyway.” This statement couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Because more people don’t vote in Arizona we have SB 1062, SB 1070, attacks on ethnic studies, attacks on women’s health rights, attacks on the poor, attacks on our educational system and attacks on migrants.

Those who don’t vote are the reason Arizona remains a “red” state that continues to pop up on “The Family Guy” and “Jon Stewart” in negative ways.

Why should you vote? If Arizona elects just two more Democrats to the state Senate we’ll have a tie, 15 Democrats, 15 Republicans. Imagine for a moment an Arizona with a Democratic governor, secretary of state and an attorney general PLUS Democrats holding 50 percent of the Senate.

Arizona may not turn into a “blue” state — not yet anyway, but it will be a far more level playing field in regards to equality and basic human rights.

One more thing to consider: If Alfred Kinsey, developer of the “Kinsey Scale,” was correct, there are over 100,000 LGBT people in Arizona. What would happen if even half of us were not only registered to vote but actually voted?

That’s 50,000 LGBT votes – votes for equality -- added into the mix!

Below is a list of candidates that the Stonewall Democrats of Arizona enthusiastically endorse: U.S. House of Representatives: CD-3: Raul Grijalva CD-5: James Woods CD-7: Ruben Gallego CD-9: Kyrsten Sinema

Governor: Fred DuVal Secretary of State: Terry Goddard Attorney General: Felecia Rotellini Superintendent of Public Education: David Garcia Corporation Commission: Jim Holway, Sandra Kennedy State Senate: LD-3: Olivia Cajero-Bedford LD-8: Barbara McGuire LD-10: David Bradley LD-11: Jo Holt LD-13: Terri Woodmansee LD-16: Scott Prior LD-17: Kristie O’Brien LD-18: Janie Hydrick LD-19: Lupe Chavira Contreras LD-20: Patty Kennedy LD-21: Carolyn Vasko LD-22: Arky Muscato LD-24: Katie Hobbs LD:27: Aaron Marquez LD-29: Martin Quezada Arizona House of Representatives: LD-2: Demion Clinko Rosanna Gabaldon LD-4: Charlene Fernandez LD-6: Lannie Morrison LD-9: Randy Friese Victoria Steele LD-10: Stefanie Mach Bruce Wheeler LD-11: Holly Lyon LD-16: Cara Prior LD-19: Mark Cardenas Diego Espinoza LD-20: Amy Schwabenlender LD-21: Esther Duran Lumm LD-22: Larry Woods LD-24: Lela Alston Ken Clark LD-26: Juan Jose Mendez LD-27: Norma Munoz Rebecca Rios LD-29: Richard Andrade Ceci Velasquez LD-30: Debbie McCune-Davis For more information on not only those candidates we endorse but all candidates, and to learn more about Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, please visit our website at http:// stonewalldemsaz.org.

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Researchers at the University of Wollongong in Australia recently announced they have won a challenge to continue their creation of a condom that protects against infections such as HIV and feels natural doing it. The key to their enthusiasm is hydrogels, a material typically used in contact lenses and which has the pliable, soft feel of human tissue. For those who object to the constrictions of latex, hydrogel can comfortably expand to more than 100 times its initial size.

So much of the HIV prevention debate rests on the discomfort,

impracticality, and loss of sensation of condoms, and many people have decided they simply aren’t worth the loss of intimacy or sensual enjoyment.

University researchers hope that breakthroughs like hydrogels will make them reconsider.

“It’s really about us challenging our own perceptions, particularly when developing new technologies to be deployed in places like sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia,” a university spokesperson said as part of their grant announcement. “We are looking to have dialog with people in those areas to look at social and cultural aspects for design that could be incorporated into eventual prototypes and products.

The Gates foundation is one the most recognized philanthropic organizations operating in the world today. The award was funded under the Round 12 Grand Challenges Explorations grants, which foster innovation in global health research.

Report finds most young Iranians are sexually active and many are gay An Iranian government report has found that sex before marriage is widespread among young Iranians despite the country’s hardline approach to public displays of affection and Islamic code.

The Iranian Parliament surveyed 142,000 young adults and found that 80 percent of the women reported having had boyfriends.

They also found 17 percent of the young adults had had a same-sex relationship despite the country imposing the death penalty for homosexual acts.

The report, released earlier this month, recommended allowing couples to register temporary marriages -- a tradition among Shiite Muslims called “sigheh” -- with the state to deal with the problem of heterosexual promiscuity.

However the researchers proposed no solutions for young Iranians in same-sex relationships.

Iran’s former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad famously declared that there were no homosexuals in his country in 2007 when confronted on his country’s record on LGBTI rights.

-- GAY STAR NEWS

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WEEKLY

August 20, 2014

Fast-growing Christian organization goes after preacher for canceling gay man’s funeral the story -- how many Christians are appalled by how he’s misrepresenting our faith and hurting Julion Evans’s grieving family.”

By Leslie Salzillo THE DAILY KOS The Christian organization Faithful America is once again taking action and speaking out against prominent figures who manipulate Christianity “in the name of God” to advance political and personal agendas of hate.

Last spring, this very large and fastgrowing online community of Christians went after Sarah Palin, and created a petition (currently over 67,000) slamming Palin for her remarks at an NRA convention where she said, “. . . Water-boarding is how we baptize terrorists.”

Faith America’s response, in part, to Palin’s hateful hyperbole was, “This is what we’ve come to in America: A former candidate for vice president can equate torture and Holy Baptism, and one of the nation’s most powerful political lobbies erupts into cheers and applause?”

Today, Faith America is petitioning the Rev. T.W. Jenkins for canceling a funeral after learning a deceased man, Julion Evans, was gay.

Well, that’s the preacher’s story, and he’s sticking to it. The unthinkable part of Jenkins’s decision was that he called off the funeral the night before,

Faithful America’s petition to tell the Florida pastor to apologize for canceling gay man’s funeral can be found here: http://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/ florida_funeral/?t=1&akid=422.348846.

544JRb.

Faithful America stepped up to demand an apology from the Rev. T.W. Jenkins, as well as state that Jenkins’s actions do not reflect the beliefs of all Christians, nor the message of Jesus.

and notified the family at the wake.

Faithful America stepped up to demand an apology from Jenkins, as well as state that Jenkins’s actions do not reflect the beliefs of all Christians, nor the message of Jesus.

Here is a message Faithful America sent out: “Julie Atwood was at her son’s wake, standing next to his casket, when she got the news: The church was canceling the funeral because her son was gay.

“Rev. T.W. Jenkins of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, told Julie that he’d read in the newspaper obituary that her son was married to another man and decided that holding the funeral would be ‘blasphemous.’

“This story is generating national headlines, but so far Jenkins is only doubling down, saying his church plans to ‘continue to stand on the word of God.’ “We need to show Pastor Jenkins -- and the media who are covering

Julion Evans’s husband, Kendall Capers, said he might have understood the church’s position -- but to wait, as Jenkins did, until the eve of the funeral was wrong. Evans and Capers had been together for 17 years. The couple married last year.

“This is 2014, this is not the ‘60s or the ‘70s,” Capers said, “So at the end of the day I just want his wrong-doing to be exposed.”

Many religious and non-religious folks are grateful to Faithful America for speaking out on behalf of Julion Evans, as well as for standing up to “reclaim Christianity from the religious right.”

Faithful America’s motto is “Love thy neighbor. No exceptions.” How refreshing.

There it is -- simple and beautiful, yet so hard for so many to understand.

Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, their anniversary and sky writing

By Tracy E. Gilchrist SHEWIRED It’s not every day your wife sends you a love note via skywriting, but when you’re Portia de Rossi, and you’re married to Ellen DeGeneres, well, just about anything is possible. As a gift to her wife on their sixth wedding anniversary Portia hired a skywriter to pen “six” in the air somewhere in Southern California we imagine.

Portia went all out for her sixth anniversary with Ellen

More pictures of the happy couple: (left) Daytime Emmy Awards in June of 2008.

They weren’t married yet, but they could not have been cuter. (Right) Daytime Emmy Awards in 2009

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August 20, 2014

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Page 7

Let James Franco be James Franco, and let the rest of us mind our own business

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST It can’t be news to anyone in America that right now we have a lot of people determined to decide how other people are going to live.

The Tea Party types have been pushing that angle for so long that we no longer even notice when “I know what’s best for you, so be quiet” is at the bottom of their demands.

But just in the past week or so, I’ve noticed several progressive writers wagging their finger the same way, and that does send my eyebrows skyward.

The first case was a writer insisting that James Franco either stop making so many gay-related movies or else he has to come right out and tell us he’s gay.

Say what? As long as Franco keeps making creative movies that try to avoid the usual formula, why should anybody demand to know where he sleeps?

If he isn’t enjoying the hell out of his life just the way he’s living it, he’s giving one of the best imitations I’ve ever seen.

And if someone appointed you his nanny, either flash some credentials or shut your noise hole.

Granted, there was a time when it seemed critical for gay people to come out, and involuntary outing even had its 15 minutes of fame. There’s still value in coming out, in order for kids in Hot Coffee, Miss., know there are people who understand.

But with Ellen DeGeneres at the top of the TV game and Neil Patrick Harris at the top of the theater game and pro athletes coming out and your Uncle Pete finally explaining that collection of feather boas, we can at least allow people to come out at their own pace, I think.

Then there was the piece demanding that a lesbian who’s marrying a man stop calling herself a lesbian because she’s

obviously bisexual and bisexuals need every bisexual to be openly bisexual and ...

No. How do I (or you) presume to speak for someone’s most subjective feelings?

Just butt out. I’m sorry if you’re bisexual and your friends don’t really accept that there are such things or whatever, but you don’t get to demand that somebody else fulfill your expectations about their personal decisions.

You may even be right -- that still doesn’t give you butt-in privileges.

That brings me to Ferguson, Mo., and people who are so dismayed by a handful of looters that they lose sight of the real problem.

There are laws to deal with the looting, and apparently they’re already being applied.

Sure, I wish there hadn’t been any looters. That is to say, I wish all people were perfect all the time. I learned a long time ago that that bus ain’t running.

None of us outside of Ferguson have any right to criticize. We don’t know how many years of humiliation those people suffered at the hands of their “public servants.”

Do you think anything would have changed if they had quietly gone to city government and asked politely for it to please change? Don’t act insultingly stupid! When the powerless want to gain some power, they have to find a means of getting the attention of those holding the power.

Unless I find out that Ferguson property owners had gone to city council meetings and demanded more normal policing for their community, I can’t even feel much sorrow for the people

whose properties were damaged.

They let things fester, and there were consequences.

My point is that James Franco has a right to make his personal decisions, even if some of us think we know better what he should do.

People do not have to describe themselves as lesbian or bisexual or straight or anything else just because somebody else decided they’re supposed to.

And the citizens of Ferguson have every right to express their anger in ways meaningful to them; they do not have to seek anyone else’s approval of that expression.

If you’ll just back off from other people’s private business, I think I can promise that James Franco won’t comment about that last fiasco in your life, either.

Page 8

OBSERVER

Paid for by Cajero Bedford Campaign

WEEKLY

August 20, 2014

August 20, 2014

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 9

BEST JUNGLE GEAR CONTEST

VENTURE N 1239 N. 6th Ave.

520-882-8224

Page 10

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

August 20, 2014

Community Voices

A community on fire!

By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN At the beginnings of the modern gay rights movement, drag queens and kings were there helping lead the way and fighting for justice. And one of the catalysts was the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in NYC.

contest freeze and “pose” in glamorous positions (as if being photographed for the cover of Vogue magazine), before it went mainstream via Madonna.

Tickets are on sale now for $15 (in advance), or $150 for a table of 10 seats. The show is reserved seating, so act now to get the best seats available.

Tickets at the door on Aug. 31 will be $20.

At the beginnings of the HIV epidemic, when gay men were being stricken in the prime of their lives by a mysterious disease, drag queens and kings were there caring, loving and advocating, entertaining and raising funds. And doing so at gay and lesbian clubs around the world.

Event sponsorships are also available starting $250, and including a table of 10.

And at the beginnings of TIHAN, 20 years ago, guess who was there supporting our efforts to provide compassion, care, and funds to support TIHANs programs and services for people living with HIV? You guessed it: drag queens and kings. And our LGBT bars in Tucson.

Since Turnabout’s beginning in 1997, Tucson’s LGBT bars participating in Turnabout have helped raise over $200,000 for TIHAN right here in our community. Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness, Brodie’s Tavern, Colors Food and Spirits, Howl at the Moon, IBT’s, New Moon, Woody’s, Yard Dog Saloon, and yes the Venture-N too have supported Turnabout in the past as well.

To all the bars who have contributed to Turnabout, TIHAN, and our programs and services, we are very grateful.

To all the queens and kings (both the amateurs who gave Turnabout its name, and the “professionals” who added even more glitz and glamour and talent), thank you for your support for HIV awareness and for programs and services to support people living with HIV. The 2014 Turnabout for TIHAN show promises to carry on and build on a great tradition, but also expand on it.

On Aug. 31, the traditional date of the show — the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Reid Park (445 S. Alvernon Way) will once again be transformed from a normal everyday hotel ballroom to a happening nightspot club filled with members of the gay community and our allies.

The doors will open at 5 p.m. for a pre-show no-host cocktail party with

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact TIHAN at 520-2996647. Tickets can also be ordered online at https://tihan.ejoinme.org/ turnabout2014.

Just as they were often among the first visible leaders in the fight against discrimination against LGBT people and the “first responders” in the response to the disease that would eventually become known as AIDS, drag performers continue that honored tradition, so please come and enjoy a great show, support great programs, and have a great time. drink specials including our featured drink -- Fireball Whiskey, the wildlypopular cinnamon-flavored whiskybased liqueur that will set the night on fire!

At 6 p.m. the show will commence, and we’ve got a great list of performers this year. We’ve got the legendary Queen of Comedy, owner of Made for A Queen jewelry, and one of the most popular and biggest fundraising queens in Tucson history: Lucinda Holliday.

We’re also thrilled to showcase two of our current titleholders: Grecia Montes D’Occa, the reigning Miss Gay Arizona America 2014, and Regine Ray, our own Miss Gay Tucson America 2014.

always entertaining Tempest DuJour and Janee’ Starr (Miss Gay Queen of the Desert America 2014).

AND a few special surprise guests too that you’ll just have to come to find out and see!

The theme for this year’s show is “Tucson is Burning,” a take-off on “Paris is Burning,” an award-winning 1991 film about the competitive “ball” culture in New York City’s gay night life.

And we’re super-excited to have teams of performers this year from IBTs Bar + Food, Tucson Weekly, Fluxx Studios & Gallery, Tucson Pride, Pima County Health Department, The Human Project, Musical-Mayhem Cabaret, and Don’t Blink Burlesque!

As the film’s promoter conveys, “Jennie Livingston’s iconic documentary offers an intimate portrait of the Harlem drag balls, where rival fashion ‘houses’ compete for trophies and cash prizes in categories like ‘face,’ ‘femme queen realness’ and ‘voguing.’ Winner of a Sundance Grand Jury Prize, ‘Paris is Burning’ celebrates how one group of New Yorkers, for whom racism, poverty, and homophobia are all too real, create a world of sustenance and joy.”

And there’s more! You get to experience the magic of Diva, along with our evening’s hostesses: the

The film was one of the first references to “voguing,” a dance style in which competing performers in the ball

“The drag queen, in essence, is the poster child of the gay community, of empowerment, of pride, and of having the balls to be open and proud of who you are, no matter what you are. It takes a real man to do drag.

Almost every gay establishment today features drag culture. There are pageants, drag wars, amateur drag nights, employee turn abouts, and so on.

The art of drag has since evolved into a main facet of gay culture periodically making its way into the mainstream entertainment media. Each time winning over the hearts of the mainstream audience, with increasing visibility and identification.”

--Alex Ferbeyre, “The History of Drag, Diamond Crowned Queens, and Drag Hags: Part I” Hope to see you Turnabout for TIHAN benefit show, as we honor the rich history of drag as it relates to our community, and raise funds for people living with HIV right here in our community. Tucson is burning with talent, with excitement, with love! Come and be part of it!

August 20, 2014

Page 11 OBSERVER WEEKLY Protests against police brutality: ‘Hands Up, Don’t Shoot’

By Charina Nadura NATION OF CHANGE People in more than 90 cities around the country took to the streets on Aug. 14 to protest the police shooting of unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Here’s a collection of pictures from some of the rallies that took place in Washington, D.C., New York City, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Omaha, Nebraska.

On the morning of Aug. 14 twitter user named @The_Blackness48 posted this photo of hundreds of black students at Howard University in solidarity with Michael Brown.

The “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” meme attracted a lot of attention in social media. This photo alone has been retweeted more than 14,000 times.

In St. Louis, Missouri, hundreds of people took to the streets to show their solidarity.

In Nebraska, more than 30 students gathered in front of Nebraska State Capitol Building according to AP.

Above: In New York City, this young man posed in front of an NYPD car. Hundreds of protesters marched to Times Square with their hands up in the air and chanting, “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police.”

In Washington, D.C., protests were organized in different areas. According to NBC 4 Washington, thousands participated in solidarity protests, where everyone chanted, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.”

Tinkerbelle is a gorgeous girl, with the biggest eyes you’ve ever seen! She’s cuddly, affectionate and loves to give kisses. Her purring can be heard a mile away, and she’ll chirp softly to you, if you listen to her. This lovely six year old girl is just waiting for her family, so she can bring a little magic and faerie dust into their lives, along with lots of kisses. Come by the Shelter and meet this amazing lady!

Tinkerbelle

Page 12

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

August 20, 2014

Five annoying questions same-sex parents are tired of hearing

Teen’s organ donation rejected because he was gay

Continued from page 3 Asking a straight couple if they had a baby validates their joint parenthood.

Asking my husband and me if we got a baby suggests we stopped by the corner store and picked up an infant on discount.

the mother of our daughter. But in the everyday feeding, changing, cleaning up projectile spit-up, the mother of our baby is both my husband and me. We are both mother and father.

A portion of a deceased teen’s organ donation has been rejected because he was gay. A.J. Betts, an Iowa youth who had committed suicide at the age of 16, had volunteered to become an organ donor a few months before his death.

I realize being two men means we can’t physically carry and deliver a baby, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have her. We had her the moment we held her tiny 5-pound, 10-ounce body in our arms. She was ours and we were hers.

Forever.

Uh, no, actually, I’m not babysitting my own baby, Miss Starbucks Barista.

I’m taking care of my child like any parent would and should do. The underlying implication of this question is that as a man I would be babysitting my child in the middle of the day because I’m not at work. The question suggests that as a male I should be earning the money for my family, not carting my child around in a Baby Bjorn.

4. “The surrogate is the mother, right?”

The frequency of this question I attribute to just general lack of knowledge in the world of surrogacy, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. I understand it’s a fairly foreign, unknown concept to most straight baby-making couples.

But, yeah, the surrogate is not the mother. Our wonderful surrogate was the incubator. She carried our baby girl.

But she isn’t the mother. Gestational carriers have no genetic relation to the baby. We paid our surrogate “womb rent” for our baby girl — which, I might add, was twice the amount of our apartment rent and for a fraction of the space.

Surrogacy requires three parties to make it work; the sperm donors, the surrogate, and a third party for the eggs. So technically the egg donor is

3. “So you’re babysitting today?”

I’m not one for gender roles. I feel people are people and should be allowed to live and do as they see fit.

It’s 2014 — men actually spend time with their children today and are actively involved in the child-rearing.

2. “Why not adopt instead of doing surrogacy?”

This is a loaded question, which is why I dislike it so much. Not only does it imply a judgment on how we decided to become parents, but there is never a good enough answer. There isn’t a succinct answer that clearly expresses why two adults would decide to become parents in whatever manner they chose.

My answer to why we chose surrogacy is a private and personal one.

And it’s not an arrangement we entered into lightly. But basically it boils down to “it’s none of your business.” The fact that we are parents is really all that matters.

Not how we achieved parenthood.

1. “Which one of you is the father?”

This is the question my hubby and I are most asked daily. Family members, friends, our barista, my coworkers, random people at the grocery store — everyone we meet and talk to wants to know which of us is the DNA father.

Anyone and everyone seems obsessed with figuring out which one of us is the genetic father to our daughter.

The answer is, we are both the father. We both care for her and love her. Except when she poops, then she’s my husband’s child. So whose sperm fertilized the embryo that made it in the womb? The reality is we don’t know. We each fertilized an egg and inserted them into our lovely surrogate. One became our daughter. She’s 6 months old now, and frankly, we have no idea who she looks more like. And frankly we could not care less.

She’s both of ours, equally. Just as much as we love her equally she’s equally ours, regardless of the genetic relation. And we couldn’t be happier being in the dark about her genetic lineage because each day she brings so much light and love into our lives that we’re thrilled to call ourselves her parents.

But a Food and Drug Administration policy, which prohibits men who have sex with men from donating tissue, has barred Betts from fulfilling one of his final wishes in life, reports Des Moines TV station KCCI. Betts’s mother, Sheryl Moore, learned the news after receiving a letter detailing what became of her son’s tissue. While his liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart had been accepted, his eyes had been rejected since Moore could not confirm whether her son, who identified as gay, had been sexually active within the past five years.

“My initial feeling was just very angry because I couldn’t understand why my 16-year-old son’s eyes couldn’t be donated just because he was gay,” Moore said.

Regulations established during the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. restrict gay men from donating certain types of tissue. A ban on blood donation, established in the ‘80s, is also still in place for this demographic, despite a critical need for both organ transplants and blood transfusions.

“This is archaic, and it is just silly that people wouldn’t get the lifesaving assistance they need because of regulations that are 30 years old,” continued Moore, who hopes her son’s story will help inspire a policy change.

For Moore, a silver lining in this experience was learning that at least one other boy’s life had been saved as a result of her son’s donation.

“I was very happy to hear that a 14-year-old boy got his heart. He would have really liked that,” she said.

-- HIV PLUS MAGAZINE

Ajia Simone, Owner 426 E. Ninth St. 520.624.8400

August 20, 2014

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Vine sensation ‘Not With That Fufu Lame Sh!t’ is actually a gay porn model

By Matthew Tharrett QUEERTY

Page 13

A new film and a gay-centric Netflix series on the way, Jane Fonda has a storied career

Bryan Silva became somewhat of a Vine sensation last week after uploading a series of entertaining six-second clips in which he records himself reciting rap lyrics from his bathroom.

In Jane Fonda’s long movie history, one thing stands out above all others: She has a knack for picking movies that have come to epitomize their respective decades.

His first clip, which made it to the front of Vine’s “featured” page in less than a day, cemented his viral fame in the same way “Leave Britney Alone” did for Chris Crocker.

Whether it was her 1968 sci-fi odyssey “Barbarella,” her pair of paranoid ’70s thrillers — “Klute,” for which she won an Academy Award, and “The China Syndrome” (another Oscar nom) — or her working-gals revenge comedy, “Nine to Five,” which heralded the ’80s.

“That FuFu Lame Shit I Aint With It. I’ll Send Some Shots At Your Fitted,” he says, in what will undeniably become his legacy mantra: The clip has been “liked” more than 33,000 times and re-Vined more than 40,000 times.

Realizing his fame potential, the “Cuban Swag Papi” quickly established a Facebook fan page and launched a fitness website. Judging by his Facebook page, he sounds like a pretty likable and down-to-Earth guy: “When I Walk Into A Room, Introduce Myself To Someone I Love Lookin Dominant, In Charge, & In Control. I Love Walkin Past & Havin People Point & Talk About Me. I Love The Fact That When I Go Somewhere With Thousands Of People, Almost All Of Them Will Remember Who Iam

When It Is Over. & I Didnt Even Have To Say A Word. (This Was The Case Before People Knew Who I Was.)” Oh yeah, his Facebook page is also pushing his adult work (he’s into “Muscle Worship, Strength Feats, J\O XXX Shows, Along With Slave Talk Downs.

The Master Is Here. Bow, Kneel And Start Serving.”

And some new fans may already know him as “Max Payne” or “Monster 4 A Cock,” a gay porn model who has worked with Helix Studios, Next Door Studios and Corbin Fisher.

And there you have it. When a friend inevitably leans over and says “have you seen this guy” you’ll have reason to visit

a gay porn site with your friend.

You can also tell them that Bryan Silva may not be “with that fufu lame shit,” but he’s all for the Dom Play.

Silva’s momentary fame is not without haters, though. One social media commentator tried framing his critique in a positive way. Since his took his time and thought before he posted he earned a reprint.

The legendary actress stars in a new, very now, ensemble movie, “This Is Where I Leave You” (in theaters Sept.

12), in which she plays the matriarch to a dysfunctional family brought together for a funeral.

She also has an upcoming Netflix TV series, “Grace and Frankie,” with Lily Tomlin, about two women whose husbands leave them for each other.

-- OUT

SoThenWhatHappened writes, “Ok I’ll try to be positive -- It’s great that hillbilly crack-whore babies can grow up to overcome the combination of inbreeding and fetal drug exposure to support themselves. *applause*”

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.

We have Turnabout tickets on sale, and we are seeking volunteers to help with the event.

For more information or to sign up, contact Scott at 520-299-6447 ext 202 or scott@tihan.org

Page 14 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.

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.

OBSERVER WEEKLY As Clark Saw It

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.

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.

2-5 p.m.

2:45 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.

August 20, 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.

Mamasitas! Men’s Sports club at Menlo Park The New Men’s Massage Group. Sept 21 at 4 pm. 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.

3-5p.m.

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.

5:30 p.m.

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

Classifieds

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Ahead of Style has two of nine stations available for any experienced stylist/ barbers in the heart of downtown. We are one block east of Fourth Ave., near the street car. More than 230 students are housed less than a block from our location. STUDENTS WILL BE BACK SOON! Chairs are available now.

Call 520.624.8400 for more information and ask for Ajia.

Ahead Of Style, 426 E. Ninth St.

STORAGE SHED WANTED

Instantly increase your back yard size by offloading that storage shed to the Observer.

Call 520-812-0909.

VINTAGE/CHIC VANITY/ DESK

Fun upcycled antique vanity with five drawers and sassy eclectic knobs.

In shabby-chic but sturdy condition, recently repainted in periwinkle gray.

Ideal for TV stand or statement piece. $40 O.B.O. madpropsdesigns@yahoo.com

August 20, 2014

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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 11a.m.-2a.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.

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

LOOKS - 6 p.m. to Close, Karaoke 8-12, $3.50 Absolute Lemon Drops, $5 Jamesons VENTURE-N - Open 10 a.m. Free pool 10-4, Free music, WiFi 10 a.m.- 2 a.m.

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 - 11a.m.-2a.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.

BRODIES TAVERN - Back Pocket Sabado Latino 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Magaritas on tap-Corona Bottles, $3.25 Latin Beers-XX Micheladas, $1 Tequila Shots-Corona Ritas IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., Karaoke on the Patio 5 - 8 p.m., “Saturday Night Starlettes” drag show Hosted by Janee Starr 9pm, Million$DJ on the Patio 9 p.m., DJ Import Inside after the drag show.

LOOKS - 6 p.m. to Close, $3 Flaming Shots From Hell, $5 Bombay Saphires VENTURE-N - Open 10 a.m. Free pool 10.a.m. - 4 p.m. Free music

BRODIES TAVERN - Whiskey Wednesday 7-2 a.m. $3.25 Jack-Jim Beam-JamesonFireball-Makers Mark-Johnny Walker Red IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.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 with DJ Import VENTURE-N - Open noon. Free pool noon-4 p.m. Free music, WiFi noon-2 a.m.

Page 15 Thursday

BRODIES TAVERN - Customer Appreciation 7-2 a.m. Two-for-One Well-Domestic Bottles, Margaritas on Tap House Kasiz Shots IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m. 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, Happy Hour 6-8, $3 Southern Comforts, $5 Long Islands VENTURE-N - Open 10am. Free pool 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Free music, WiFi from 10 a.m.

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 - 11a.m.-2a.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.

Lesbians ‘more likely’ to have orgasms than straight women

By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS Lesbians are more likely to have orgasms than straight women, according to new research.

The study, published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found that lesbians report experiencing orgasm during sex 75 percent of the time with a familiar partner -- up from 62 percent for straight women.

Bisexual women are the least likely to experience orgasm, with just 58 percent experiencing regular orgasm.

Despite the variations among women, a similar percentage of gay, bisexual and straight men experienced orgasm during sex, with 85.1 percent doing so.

The study’s authors wrote: “One possible explanation is that lesbian women are more comfortable and familiar with the female body and thus, on average, are better able to induce orgasm in their female partner.

“Findings from this large dataset

of U.S. singles suggest that women, regardless of sexual orientation, have less predictable, more varied orgasm experiences than do men and that for women, but not men, the likelihood of orgasm varies with sexual orientation.

“These findings demonstrate the

need for further investigations into the comparative sexual experiences and sexual health outcomes of sexual minorities.”

More than 6,500 people between the ages of 21 and 65 took part in the study, conducted by Indiana University.

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OBSERVER WEEKLY

August 20, 2014