September 03, 2014
Issue 1545
Tempe voters approve Turnabout for TIHAN 2014 raises LGBT protection in funds in a most entertaining way city jobs OBSERVER STAFF TEMPE -- Among the issues decided by Arizona voters last week, Tempe approved by almost 70 percent a measure prohibiting discrimination against LGBT city employees -- reportedly the first city in Arizona where the voters added such protections. The measure also covers U.S. military veterans. The Center for Arizona Policy, the anti-gay tail that often wags the dog at the Legislature, warned Tempe voters in a mailing not to grant “new supposed ‘rights’ for some, while at the same time trampling on the constitutionally
Inside What do you have to say about Wingspan’s move to SAAF now?
protected religious freedom rights for all.” Tempe voters stampeded to ignore the center’s advice. E.J. Montini, a columnist for the Arizona Republic, the state’s largest daily newspaper, sided with the voters.
Invite on page 7
Mr. Gay UK is crowned Mr. Gay World Page 13
Are you lonely? There are seven ways to change that on page 10
Helping TIHAN raise funds for people living with HIV/AIDS, Marquez Johnson, DiVa, Tucson Pride, Fluxx, Grecia Montes D’Occa, Sister Stella Virgin, IBT’s bar staff, Larry Moore, Musical Mahem Cabaret, Regine Ray DuMay, and Don’t Blink Burlesque took the stage.
“The fear-mongering and prejudices touted by groups like the Center for Arizona Policy will disappear within a generation,” Montini wrote. “Those who spew anti-equality ideas will become public-policy dinosaurs. Just like those who are trying so hard to prevent same-sex marriage.
A list of corporate and community sponsors of Turnabout for TIHAN 2014 can be found at: www.TIHAN.org.
“They’re on the wrong side Continue on page 13
And the Stonewall Award Tobin’s vision of Ebola goes to . . . Larry Moore! wading the Rio Grande Longtime female impersonator Larry Moore AKA Lucinda Holliday received TIHAN’S 2014 Stonewall Award for Lifetime Contributions Sunday night.
propels him to victory Wingnut
Read full story on page 6
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Help Editor-InChief Bob Ellis to celebrate his 90th birthday on Sunday
Janee’ Starr pours her heart into a performance Sunday night as she and co-host, Tempest DuJour, (see back page), guided the audience through a spectacular night of humor, risque performances (see center fold) and charitable giving.
A conversation with gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal By Robert Rowley GUEST COLUMNIST R e c e n t l y , Stonewall Democrats of Arizona’s Richard Adams, Jeff Rogers and myself had a chance to speak with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal on a wide range of topics. Here’s what was said:
No Ebola OBSERVER STAFF PHOENIX -- Andy Tobin, former speaker of the state House of Representatives, generated a lot of last-minute publicity with his statement that Central American kids crossing the border brought Ebola into the U.S., and it was enough
Ebola for District 1 GOP voters to endorse Tobin by a narrow margin in last week’s primary. Yes, yes, it’s true that Ebola has only been found in Africa, on the other side of the planet from Central America, Continued on page 7
How much econom-idiocy is enough? Victoria Steele, LD-9 Democratic incumbent, with gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal at the opening of DuVal’s Tucson campaign headquarters.
Q: Do you support marriage equality? A: I support marriage equality because love is love.
All of us know friends and family members who have been in decades-long committed relationships, but right now, Continued on page 5
By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST With the recent focus on Ferguson, Mo., and U.S. domestic issues, it would be easy to miss something else that became obvious this week: French President Francois
Hollande may have been elected as a Socialist, but he seems determined to rule like a Tea Party Republican. Specifically, he ran against the austerity polices that have been cheer-led by Continued from page 10