September 10, 2014
Issue 1546
A great night of fine music for a lifesaving cause
Bob Ellis celebrates 90th birthday among friends and notables
Folk singer and double lung transplant recipient Eric Hansen along with the chorale group “I Hear Voices!” is teaming up to help Brannon out with a benefit concert. The concert is Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Water of Life, 3269 N. Mountain Ave. A suggested $20 donation is asked. Susan Brannon
OBSERVER STAFF Susan Brannon, a member of the MCC Water of Life church, is in need of a kidney transplant and requires some financial help to make this lifesaving surgery possible.
Inside Let gay and bi youth lead in HIV activism OP-ED on page 3
Lily Tomlin first out lesbian recipient of Kennedy Center Honors Page 10
Detroit is America; the greed is just more graphic in Detroit
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What’s next for SAAF and Wingspan? Invite on page 11
Poppy Champlin and her Queer Queens of Qomedy rage through Tempe Page 4
All funds received will be used to assist Brannon and her kidney donor to pay expenses for the transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Contact the church at 520-292-9151 for further information.
Freedom Day Parade gets city approval
Front row: Demion Clinco, Bob Ellis, Chris Beal. Back row: Christopher L. Pankratz, Greg Miller, Nicholas K.M. Pafford.
OBSERVER STAFF Sunday, on the greenhued patio of IBT’s, Bob Ellis, founder and editor-in-chief of the Observer celebrated his 90th birthday among friends and notables.
By April Moss TUCSON PRIDE
By Richard Gonzalez
Tucson Pride is very proud to announce the grand marshal for Tucson’s official Pride Parade “Pride on Parade” and Pride event “Pride in the Desert” this year is none other than Tucson’s own Daniel Hernandez Jr.
Board members of the Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade met with Tucson officials on Aug. 27 to discuss their parade route and finalized plans to bring their second annual parade down the same route as last year. Daniel Hernandez Jr.
It will commence at the parking lot in front of St. Augustin Cathedral at 192 S. Stone Ave. and will move north and cross the first set of trolley tracks at Broadway and Stone, then continue past the second set of trolley tracks at Congress and Stone, then passing the festivities taking place at Tucson Meet Yourself, which takes up the area from the historic city hall to Jacome Plaza near the Tucson Downtown Library. The parade will then take a left turn at Alameda, drop off the grand marshals, who will make their way to the TMY stage to join the entertainment.
In 1976 he co-founded what would become the Observer Weekly in response to the
community’s outrage over the killing of Richard Heakin. A plethora of community allies turned out to wish him well. Among them were Terry Goddard, Demion Clinco, Olivia Cajero Bedford, Adelita Grijalva and Dr. Randy Friese.
Az’s oldest LGBT Pride event selects American hero as its grand marshal
LGBT FREEDOM DAY PARADE
The parade which coincides with National Coming Out Day will take place on Oct. 10 in downtown.
Ellis has been active in the LGBT community since 1957 when he opened the first gay bar in Austin, Texas.
Hernandez
was
a
congressional intern in the office of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and on Jan. 8, 2011, he took decisive action which is widely believed to have helped save the life of Giffords after a gunman shot her and 18 other people. His brave actions have led Hernandez being celebrated as an American hero -- though he Continued on page 4
At this point, Gov. DuVal sounds better than Gov. Dicey -- er, Ducey By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST My usual view of lobbyists is about the same as the big, steaming dog dump one of my neighbors likes to leave in our driveway. (The neighbor in question is pretty obviously gay, but I don’t worry about him reading this because of that key word ... “r-e-a-d.”)
This route was decided to be the most cost effective and least expensive for the Tucson
Anyway, what I’m saying is that when I see Democratic gubernatorial candidate Fred DuVal referred to as a “lifetime lobbyist,” it would usually be enough to give me second
Continued on page 10
Continued on page 7
Doug Ducey
Fred DuVal
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32 states asking Supremes for final same-sex decision WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorneys general from 32 states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide once and for all if same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, according to The Associated Press. The top legal officials from 15 states that have marriage equality, and 17 that do not, filed friend-of-the-court briefs last week asking the court to accept three pending cases, those regarding same-sex marriage in Virginia, Utah and Oklahoma. One document, supported by all 32 states, seeks a writ of certiorari in the Virginia case, meaning the court would agree to decide a question only it can decide. Officials from 15 states signed on to an amicus brief in the Utah case. This one argues “States do not need more time to ‘experiment’ with marriage equality or study its side effects.” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said recently in a TV interview with Katie Couric that the Supreme Court won’t duck its responsibility on samesex marriage, and that she expects a decision from the court by 2016 at the latest.
Arpaio aide eyes lawsuit over book by ex-colleague PHOENIX -- The chief deputy in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office reportedly may sue a former colleague for defamation. Jerry Sheridan, chief deputy to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, has “contacted an attorney,” according to Arpaio spokesperson Lisa Allen. The kerfuffle is about Arpaio De Facto Lawman, a recently released book by Brian Sands, Arpaio’s former chief of enforcement and the person who oversaw Arpaio’s famous immigration sweeps. The book allegedly gives the impression that Sheridan might be a bigot. He was the department’s chief of detention until his 2011 promotion after Arpaio fired his former chief deputy for misconduct. Sands, the new author, retired in August 2013 after 30 years with the sheriff’s office. That was months after a federal judge ruled that the department had discriminated against Latinos and appointed a monitor to keep an eye on the Arpaio fiefdom.
Court orders penis measurement for evidence at trial Leer, LOWER SAXONY (Germany) -- Not all flashers are created equal, and that’s exactly what one man relied on to prove he wasn’t the culprit: He testified that his penis was too small for anyone to notice it. The alleged flasher was identified only as Herbert O, 54, of Leer. He
OBSERVER is accused of revealing himself to a teenage girl while delivering a package in August. He even got his wife to testify that she didn’t see how he could have flashed his bean without disrobing.
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were never diagnosed but survived the disease. It can be assumed that many of them are out there having sex, not even knowing they might still be contagious. Have a nice day.
Judge Ulrike Andrees was then asked by defense attorney Lutz Winkler to measure the hot topic and enter the measurement into the court record. The judge declined to personally ... um ... handle any such evidence, but she asked that someone from the coroner’s office in nearby Oldenburg perform the service and present the results to the court. “We’ve never seen anything like this before,” court manager Norbert Burns said with a straight face. Winkler refused to settle for a fine in order to settle the case, insisting that he wants his client’s name cleared. As for whether the defense position will stand up in court, no one knows when the judge will make her decision.
Even in Mississippi! College town OKs LGBT benefits STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Starkville became the first city in Mississippi to grant domestic-partner benefits for LGBT city employees when the board of aldermen passed the measure 7-0 last week. According to Mississippi News Now, the Human Rights Campaign’s state director commended city officials after the vote. “This measure successfully provides the necessary benefits that the partners of hardworking LGBT city workers deserve, and the city of Starkville demonstrated its commitment to upholding the Golden Rule by treating them with dignity and respect,” said Rob Hill of the HRC. Starkville is the home of Mississippi State University, so it isn’t exactly Corn Pone Junction. But still, it’s Mississippi -- it counts big-time!
Experts warning: Ebola may turn out to be another STD ATLANTA -- The hideous stories of Ebola victims so far may be just the tip of an especially ugly iceberg. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control warns that Ebola may turn out to be transmissible through sex. Nobody knows for sure yet, but it’s known that Ebola survivors can have the virus’s DNA in semen or vaginal secretions for several weeks after the patient appears to be recovered. The secretions may not turn out to harbor living, transmissible virus, but with Ebola being such a rapidly dividing virus, some experts are warning against sex without precautions before more evidence is in. About 1,500 survivors of the current outbreak have been identified, and probably there are many more who
Federal judge fed up with bullshit over marriage equality Last week, federal judge Richard Posner was remarkably plain-spoken in his decision that overturned antimarriage equality laws in both Indiana and Wisconsin.
And when I say “overturned,” I mean “tore into tiny pieces, lit on fire, and fed through a wood chipper and into an acid bath.” “Heterosexuals get drunk and pregnant, producing unwanted children; their reward is to be allowed to marry. Homosexual couples do not produce unwanted children; their reward is to be denied the right to marry. Go figure.” “Go figure”?
September 10, 2014 David Ducey survived the six-way Republican primary for governor, but with only a 37 percent plurality of the vote -- meaning there may be a lot of Republicans already holding their noses. He starts the general election campaign tied in the polls with Democrat Fred DuVal, who had no opponent in the primary. Horne lost to former Gaming Director Mark Brnovich, who now faces Democrat Felecia Rotellini in what could be a super contest. Huppenthal was beaten by Tea Party moon-howler Diane Douglas, who actually could lose to Democrat David Garcia, regarded as an articulate Ph.D. holder and Army veteran. A Democratic state superintendent of schools for Arizona, and someone who might actually put education ahead of politics? But what about our reputation as the slagheap of public instruction? DuVal is already being advised to tar-and-feather Ducey, who is perceived as vulnerable. For example, this gem from Stephen Lemons of Phoenix New Times: “Tie the Center for Arizona Policy’s bigoted, anti-gay Dr. Evil, better known as Cathi Herrod, around Ducey’s neck, since she is part of his kitchen cabinet. “In other words, paint Ducey as a disaster-in-the-making for Arizona. “Shouldn’t be too hard.”
Oh, just tell them to fk off, Your Honor. Go for the gold. -- Charles Pierce at Esquire
Oregon man caught with excess gadgets hanging under kilt PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland man couldn’t skirt the issue of being arrested last week because what he wore under his kilt was more than nature provided. Daniel Ducret, 37, faces a charge of second-degree theft for allegedly stealing a computer mouse and a car charger from the Fry’s Electronics store in Wilsonville, then stashing the extra goodies under a specially modified kilt. Wilsonville Police Sgt. Dan Kraus said it wasn’t the first time for Ducret’s hand action under the kilt. Back in April, store security says, he was observed stuffing items under the kilt but he managed to get away. Then he showed up the next day and was arrested. Kraus told KOIN 6 TV that Ducret’s repeated use of the kilt may have been his downfall. “I don’t think there’s a graceful way to stick stuff inside a kilt,” Kraus said. Ducret’s action was received in Portland’s kilt-wearing community like an icy updraft in July. “It gives kilts a bad name,” said Jonny McLain, owner of Stumptown Kilts.
Polls: Gubernatorial candidates begin campaigns even PHOENIX -- Perhaps the best news from Arizona’s Aug. 26 primaries involved GOP voters dumping wackadoodle Attorney General Tom Horne and creepy State School Superintendent John Huppenthal, but when the dust settled, polls also showed the “R” and “D” candidates for governor in a dead heat.
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. © 2014 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.
September 10, 2014
Skinny-dip feature makes high school yearbook notorious PORTALES, N.M. — Skinnydipping teenagers may be nothing new, but even a hint of it is enough to send today’s wingnuts into apoplexy. The Portales High School yearbooks were distributed last week, and eyebrows were raised over a “racy” photo of students under a “Most Likely to Skinny Dip” category. KRQE-TV reported that two students chosen for the award “appear to be” naked in the photo, posing behind a tree. Portales High School Assistant Principal Garrick Matthews told The Associated Press that students were trying to be humorous but it didn’t go over well with some who saw the yearbook. He said the district received numerous complaints. The district says from now on a responsible adult will check the yearbook before it’s published. And there goes another source of high school mayhem.
This month G3 goes underground TUCSON – G3, Tucson’s gay happy hour, will inhabit the cellar below Zen Rock nightclub this month. The space has been restored, exposing the original 19th-century masonry walls. New leather couches in a deep whorehouse red now accentuate the space. A new sound system and a cozy bar complete the lounge. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 at 111 E. Congress St.
Jo Holt invites you to a party TUCSON – The Jo Holt for the Arizona State Senate invites you to a party and fund-raiser at Monterey Court, 505 W. Miracle Mile. On Sept. 13 enjoy an appetizer buffet and the Cochise County All Stars Band. The doors open at 5:30 p.m.
OBSERVER Co-hosts of the event are: Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Sen. Steve Farley, Rep. Bruce Wheeler, Pam Grisson, Linda Hatfield, Robert Rowley, Deya Nevarez, Stephanie Coronado, Nick Johnson and John Fife. A suggested donation of $20 will go to the Holt for AZ Senate campaign. RSVP to info@holt4senate.com or 520.395.0204.
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OP-ED
Let gay and bi youth lead in HIV activism
Three Tucsonans among nominees for Equality awards PHOENIX -- Three Tucson residents are among 29 people nominated for awards to be given out Saturday honoring service to Arizona’s LGBTQ community. This week’s event, scheduled for the Downtown Sheraton, will be the 23rd annual awards ceremony for Equality Arizona, a statewide group working toward LGBTQ equality. Tucson nominees include: Patrick Ingram is a health counselor and a founder of the popular blog ThePozLife.com.
State Sen. Demion Clinco, openly gay former president of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation who was appointed to the House of Representatives earlier this year to replace Rep. Andrea Dalessandro when she moved on to the state Senate; Scott Blades, co-founder and executive director of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS network. Blades told the Arizona Daily Star earlier this year that TIHAN now has 450 volunteers providing support services to more than 500 Pima County residents living with HIV; and Andres Cano, political aide and community liaison in the office of District 5 Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias. Cano also serves as a board member for Planned Parenthood Arizona Inc.
By Patrick Ingram THE ADVOCATE I was at a training event recently discussing tactics for reducing HIV transmission when someone made a statement that frustrated but didn’t surprise me. This person declared that young people need to use protection, because if they do not, they will contract HIV and then die of AIDS. Ignorant comments like these drive fear. And the age of fear needs to end. Young gay and bisexual men are hit the hardest by HIV (those of color are even more burdened), yet we continue to deal with negative messages, a youth-less leadership within state, local, and federal health departments, and agencies that support programs that
promote misinformation about the virus. Inciting fear in a person, especially one who is young, by making him believe that he will get HIV and be excluded from society or even face death, is definitely not the way to convince someone to change their behavior. Instead it becomes an obstacle to HIV education, testing, and linkage into care. You would not believe how many people who have no high risk or no exposure to the virus are afraid to get a rapid HIV test because of the fear of knowing. Guilt has convinced them that they must be positive because they did not use a condom, did not stay abstinent, stepped out of a relationship, or hooked up with someone they met through a mobile application. They Continued on page 13
September 10, 2014 OBSERVER WEEKLY Poppy Champlin and her Fred McQuire fights for veteran’s Queer Queens of Qomedy benefits in death of husband
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rage through Tempe
should help McQuire in the short term, she said, since it’s not legally acceptable to have someone kicked out of a house simply because that person might get a cash settlement years later. She is asking U.S. District Judge John Sedwick to move quickly so Martinez’s death certificate will reflect his marriage.
TEMPE -- There is a unique comedy revue that is touring the country with some of the funniest, edgiest, talented and most outrageous comics, united by the single theme -- “The Queer Queens of Qomedy.” Producer and internationally known comedian Poppy Champlin, as seen on HBO, “Oprah” and Showtime, selected the best of the best lesbian comics from across the country to join her at each comedy venue. Now, in its eighth year, Champlin and the Q3 are thrilled that Curve Magazine is on board as the official sponsor of the Queens Comedy tours in 2014.
For this year’s tour of duty Champlin has enlisted the talents of the popular Latina diva of comedy Sandra Valls as well as the cute ukulele playing Scout Durwood. And as a bonus local funny man Anthony Desaminto has added to the lineup. Desaminto is a finalist in the Arizona Funniest Comedian Contest. Don’t miss the comedy tour when it rages through Arizona stopping at the Tempe Improv, 930 E. University Dr. on Sept. 18. Call 480-921-9877 or visit www.tempeimprov.com for more details.
OBSERVER STAFF GREEN VALLEY -- A Green Valley man whose husband died recently is asking a judge for an emergency order requiring Arizona to list him as the spouse on the death certificate. Fred McQuire is in danger of losing the couple’s home if he is not recognized as the widower of George Martinez so
Martinez’s veterans’ benefits can help with expenses, according to Jennifer Pizer of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. McQuire will continue to work toward getting Arizona to recognize his marriage to Martinez, but that could take years, Pizer added. The “legal presumption that says one’s home is unique”
“The death certificate records whether George was or wasn’t married and whether Fred is or is not the surviving spouse,” Pizer told Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services. “It’s a very powerful statement to Fred whether he is somebody or isn’t somebody with respect to his deceased husband. I mean, it’s the official statement of the government.” A hearing in the case was scheduled for Sept. 12. A celebration of life memorial will be held for Martinez at Venture-N, 1239 N. Sixth Ave., Sept. 14 at 4 p.m.
Az’s oldest LGBT Pride event selects American hero as its grand marshal Continued from page 1 humbly rejects the title. He was an honored guest of President Obama during the 2011 State of the Union address. Hernandez began his activism in 2007 working on the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. He is dedicated to public service and advocacy and served as a member on the City of Tucson Commission on LGBT Issues. Since 2011 he has been serving on the Sunnyside Unified School District’s governing board after his
election to that office where he is fighting for quality education and striving to solve inequities in a district where many student households are at or below the federal poverty level. Hernandez has received numerous local and national awards including: the United States Office of Personnel Management Teddy Roosevelt Award for Public Service, the Presidential Citation by the League of United Latin American Citizens, special recognition by Gov. Jan Brewer, and special recognition on behalf of the country of Mexico presented by a Mexican ambassador to the U.S.
We are so happy to have Hernandez as our grand marshal for “Pride on Parade” as we return to Fourth Ave. Oct. 11 after a four year hiatus during construction of the street car. Arizona’s oldest LGBT Pride event returns this year with the 37th annual “Pride in the Desert” which will be held at the Kino Sports Complex on Oct. 18 -- one week after the Pride Parade. For details on both the Parade and Pride please visit http://tucsonpride.org.
September 10, 2014
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Page 5 WEEKLY Detroit is America; the greed Money and marriages: is just more graphic in Detroit Impact of same-sex marriage legalization in key states By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST
Most people who hear about Detroit’s possible bankruptcy assume that gross mismanagement is the main cause.
Actually two of the major causes are a quirk of geography combined with insidious greed on the part of people who to this day are getting rich off of Detroit but not helping pay the bills for it. First, a geography lesson. Detroit just happens to be wedged tightly into the northeast corner of Wayne County. Wealthy northern suburbs begin just across the street, but they’re not just separate cities as in most metropolitan areas. In Detroit’s case, another county begins just across the street -- not that far north of downtown Detroit. Voila! Nobody north of that street has any responsibility for the south side of the street. In fact, this is the street (8 Mile Road) that Eminem described so eloquently a few years ago -- the dividing line between two worlds. In Tucson terminology, think about both Tucson and Pima County ending at, say, Prince Road on the north and Swan Road on the east. That would leave a lot of glitzy development outside the city AND the county, even though they’re draining wealth from the city. Granted, to the east of Detroit a gaggle of wealthy suburbs are in the same county -- “the Grosse Pointes,” consisting of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods and Harper Woods. They’re mostly very welloff, yes, but a tiny part of the metro area. Mainly, to the east of Detroit it’s Lake St. Clair. So far, no one has developed suburbs in the lake. To the southeast is the Detroit River and Ontario; any development there is in another nation. To the southwest and west of Detroit are some suburbs, but generally not the home of the area’s extremely rich. And to the north, Detroit’s city limits is the Oakland County line (8 Mile Road). Walk across the street and you’re in the fourth-wealthiest county in the U.S. among counties with more than a million in population.
In Detroit, 8 Mile Avenue makes the contrast between wealth and poverty too stark to miss.
Now, mind you, with all you hear about Detroit collapsing around its own ears, the fact is it’s still one of America’s top financial centers, a top center for high-tech employment, and our No. 2 source of engineering and architectural megatalent, the latter no doubt largely a heritage of the auto industry. But those investment bankers and wealthy executives live across the street in Oakland County, so if they live in palatial homes, the property taxes on those homes aren’t much help to Detroit. Those same suburbs have their own exclusive shops as well, so the sales tax on luxury purchases doesn’t necessarily help Detroit, either. Detroit collects taxes off a huge number of vacant lots and derelict buildings -- if it collects at all. From what I read, a good many properties are simply abandoned and nobody pays even the minimal tax. How many billions in taxes is Detroit NOT collecting because of sweetheart deals offered to multimillionaires from Oakland County and elsewhere? A quick search didn’t give me a figure on that, but I’m sure it’s comparable to the messes our elected officials have signed for all across the country. But look around you. This is how America operates today. The idea that the people getting wealthy off the system should help maintain the system has become a big joke among the people sucking up the wealth. Get this, taken from Robert Reich’s Blog about Detroit: “Any hint they should take some responsibility has invited righteous indignation. “ ‘Now, all of a sudden, they’re having problems and they want to give part of the responsibility to the suburbs?’
scoffs L. Brooks Paterson, the Oakland County executive. ‘They’re not gonna talk me into being the good guy. “Pick up your share?” Ha ha.’ “ Then Reich asks the key question: “Buried within the bankruptcy of Detroit is a fundamental political and moral question: Who are ‘we,’ and what are our obligations to one another?” That question is answered in the news every week: If wealthy investors make bad investments, the taxpayers are supposed to pony up another bailout. Never mind that the taxpayers may already have ponied up millions to prop up the investment in the first place. (Nevada residents reportedly will subsidize the new Tesla battery factory to the tune of more than $1 billion -- over 20 years. Let’s hope they break even.) Also never mind that in many cases, taxpayers continually subsidized the deal with more millions to allow lowpaid employees to exist and pay for child care. But, of course, if those investors hit the jackpot and make a killing, then no -- the profits are theirs and the public shouldn’t even expect them to pay taxes to maintain the system until the next killing comes along. It’s a sweet deal for the already-rich, of course, and if they lived in Honduras or India, nobody would probably register surprise that their greed knows no bounds. And obviously, even in America, there are plenty of voters who don’t care, either. In Detroit, 8 Mile Avenue makes the contrast too stark to miss. For most of us, the distinction is less graphic and we just end up wondering where that stench of corruption could be coming from.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in United States v. Windsor last year, marriage equality advocates have been successfully overturning marriage bans in states across the nation. Same-sex marriage is now legal in 19 states and the District of Columbia. According to a recent Associated Press report, bans in all other 31 states currently face legal challenges — many of these bans have been overturned and are now in the appeal process. Using data from the Williams Institute, a national think tank at the UCLA School of Law, NerdWallet analyzed the economic and human impact of legalizing gay marriage in some of the key states pointed out by the AP report. We looked at the total number of predicted marriages. Data is from the Williams Institute. This accounted for 50 percent of the overall score. We also looked at the total wedding-associated spending in each state, including both direct spending on weddings and spending by out-of-state guests. We also looked at estimated sales tax revenue and job creation resulting from spending. Data is from the Williams Institute. This accounted for 50 percent of the overall score. --NerdWallet
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September 10, 2014
Community Voices
With a community on fire, “#TURNABOUT FOR TIHAN” 2014 burns a place in our hearts By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN It was a spectacle of glamour, humor, passion, and talent, as almost 400 Tucsonans celebrated the Labor Day weekend in style watching a spectacular show to benefit AIDS education and support services during the 18th annual “#Turnabout for TIHAN” benefit.
Pankratz, and Greg Miller), and Tucson Pride (President April Moss). We appreciate your partnership! I would also like to express my appreciation to our Table Captains who purchased a table of 10: Tony Ray Baker/Tierra Antigua Realty/ GayTucson.Com; Alvaro DeAsis and Michael Kramkowski/IBT’s Bar+Food; Katherine Foss; Dr. Randy and Susan Friese; Mark Goldsmith-Holt; Craig and Cathy Houck; Duane Hough/The Lost Boys Southern Arizona; Allen Kinzey; Mavy Moreno; Dr. Heather Moroso; Pima County Health Department; David Saavedra; Mark Sawyers and Scott McCaw; George Vissichelli; and Jim Yancey and Jack Durham/Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church.
This year’s event, with its “Tucson is Burning” theme, had brought in $12,500 for TIHAN at press time, with more funds trickling in. Thank you Tucson! It was a stellar show, one of the best in years, as our LGBTQ community stepped forward again to carry on the #Turnabout tradition, but also add some fresh new twists to keep the excitement going. As many have commented, the talent in this year’s benefit show was amazing. The evening’s emcees, Tempest DuJour and Janee’ Starr (Miss Gay Queen of the Desert America 2014), kept us entertained, kept the show moving, and kept us dazzled with their ongoing costume changes. The attendees, arriving early to enjoy the pre-show cocktail hour and the featured Fireball shots, roared their approval all night, and generously tipped the performers, knowing that they were not only showing their appreciation to the groups, but also supporting vital TIHAN programs and services. As usual, it was my honor to welcome the crowd and thank them for coming, as well as to remind them of our proud tradition of drag performers standing up for LGBTQ rights as well as raising awareness and funds for HIV. The evening’s performances featured a star-studded lineup, with some great talent and some “turnabouts” from male to female and female to male, along with the talents of the award-winning performers, including reigning queens Miss Gay Arizona America 2014 Grecia Montes D’Occa (“This Girl Is On Fire” by Alicia Keyes) and Miss Gay Tucson America 2014 Regine Ray (“Quiero Bailar” by Becky G), and our emcees Tempest DuJour and her gladiators (“Chandelier” by Sia) and Janee’ Starr as Wonder Woman (“Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonny Tyler). Teams from local groups and
businesses did their turn-abouts to perform, including an interactive comedy routine with some serious sex ed from the Pima County Health Department’s Sister Stella Virgin, and great numbers from Tucson Pride (“I Like It” by Enrique Iglesias) and IBT’s Bar+Food (“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea). More fabulous performances included Marquez Johnson dancing and voguing (“Super Model / You Better Work” by RuPaul); a dance performance number by talented dancers from Fluxx Productions; some Broadway showtune realness from Musical-Mayhem Cabaret (“Wig in a Box” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and “Seasons of Love” from Rent); some wildness from Don’t Blink Burlesque (“Proud Mary” by Tina Turner), and the traditional closing allcast number “We Are Family.” But perhaps the most touching moment of the evening was our presentation of the 2014 Stonewall Award to the legendary Larry Moore / Lucinda Holliday for a lifetime of achievements and community leadership. A grateful Larry took the stage, thanked the community for our support, and challenged us to do more, and the audience responded as Larry sang LIVE vocals!
QUALITY THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Relaxing~Invigorating true tantric experience of sensuality Creating an inspiring safe space for men Call Marc at 881-4582 By appointment 7 AM-7 PM, Tue - Sat
A fabulous event like #Turnabout can only happen because of the contributions of so many. We are especially appreciative of David Zinke and his crew creating the stage and set and managing the show, Cathy Ernst and friends, Dean R. Taylor and company, Michael “Big Nut” Lopez from Master Mixx Club and Mobile DJs, and additional support from Mark Rosenbaum; Katie Meismer; University of Arizona Theatre Department; Pete King; IBT’s and Alvaro De Asis; Luis Carlos Greer; David S. Livingston Printing & Promos; Danny Snow and Ion AZ, Mari Herreras and Tucson Weekly; Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade; TIHAN front desk receptionists; Patrick Holt; Kenneth Valentin Axxel Lixandro Leon; Alan Taylor and Mike Steinberg; DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tucson– Reid Park; and all of TIHAN’s amazing volunteers, board, and staff. Our community has been so generous in their support of TIHAN’s work, and we’re grateful! In addition to a packed house who tipped the performers so well, I want to thank our event sponsors Beyond Video (Glenn and Annyce Meiners), Jacoby & Meyers Law Firm (attorney Bonnie Dombrowski), T Media Promotion (Bill Travis), Observer Weekly (Nicholas Pafford, Christopher
The evening also featured a charity challenge from generous donors Alan Taylor and Michael Steinberg, who offered to match contributions of $50 and more, up to $1,000 total! Additional fundraising challenges came from Larry Moore and the Tucson LGBT Memories Project. I am thrilled to say that the audience responded well, and we raised the matching funds! Special thanks to those who helped us meet the challenges, including Dr. Randall and Susan Friese, Scott Schoen, Marisa Bragoni and Dan Schnoll, Matthew Dixon, Sierra Anne Mahar, Mark Moellenhoff, Jim Nation, Randall Pease, Reveille Men’s Chorus, Kenneth Arnold, Scott Benjamin, Tom Brady, Cheryl Cage, Andrew Campbell, Linda Girard, Mo Goldman Esq, Jim Rodgers, and several anonymous donors. #Turnabout is the second-largest fundraising event of the year for TIHAN, which provides HIV/AIDS education and awareness to thousands of people annually, and provides support services annual to 300 people living with HIV/ AIDS. Since we receive no government funding, when the community helps raise thousands of dollars to support our programs, it’s an incredible blessing to our organization and those we serve. Tucson is burning with so many bright lights who help make us stronger through their creativity and generosity, and #Turnabout for TIHAN, now having raised over $220,000, is a testament to your love and support. Thank you!
September 10, 2014
OBSERVER
WEEKLY
Page 7
At this point, Gov. DuVal Couple ties the knot sounds better than Gov. after an awe-inspiring Dicey -- er, Ducey
72 years together
Doug Ducey
Continued from page 1 thoughts about allowing him near the governor’s mansion. When I read that he’s a longtime advocate for the natural gas industry, my heart doesn’t do flip-flops. “Statements” -- if they really state anything -- that describe him as an education expert linked to “advocacy of performance-based and outcomebased funding models tied to higher accountability” ... well, I won’t even attempt translating it to plain English, but I can see that it’s code-worded and dogwhistled to mean something to a select group while keeping the average person from having a clue what the hell it might mean.
Fred DuVal
Let’s let Laurie Roberts’ column from the Arizona Republic speak to that issue, since she summed it up pretty well: “DuVal was indeed on the Arizona Board of Regents when that body nearly doubled tuition. Left unsaid – in the ad or the press release – is why DuVal and the rest of the regents raised tuition. “It might have had something to do with the fact that the Arizona Legislature slashed funding to universities by $428 million. That is 50 percent of its perstudent funding. “The Republican-dominated Arizona Legislature, that is.”
But then, DuVal didn’t write that about himself so I can’t blame him for it. Or at least I assume he doesn’t have time to churn out crap that might as easily hurt his cause as help it.
Let’s see ... The regents doubled tuition because Republicans cut the funding in half, and now a Republican is blaming a Democrat for the big steaming dump that resulted.
The fact that he served as campaign manager for Bruce Babbitt multiple times might be a positive flicker. (Babbitt would be on the short list of modern-day male Arizona governors who were never in serious danger of wearing the words “convicted felon” in front of their names, right?)
I am shocked -- shocked -- because things like that simply don’t happen.
But the biggest recommendation for DuVal so far comes from the first big campaign push of his Republican opponent, former Cold Stone Dairy pitchman Doug Ducey, who just survived a GOP primary with 37 percent of the vote.
My crystal ball is a bit hazy, but I think I’m getting a hint of the reason so many of Ducey’s former business associates are suing him, badmouthing him, generally portraying him as a scumbag not to be trusted.
Ducey thinks he’s making points by emphasizing that DuVal was a member of the Arizona Board of Regents when the regents basically doubled tuition at the state universities. Say what?
So right out of the chute, Ducey’s approach is dishonest to the max -trying to blame DuVal for an unpopular action that Ducey’s own party moonhowlers made necessary.
You can forget the doggie Pooper Scooper if we have to clean up after this guy. Instead, find out where the front-end loaders are parked, because if Ducey’s the Guv, somebody’s likely to face some massive cleanup.
By Dan Tracer QUEERTY World War II was still three years away from ending. Casablanca premiered in theaters across the nation. Radar was a newfangled military technology, and Bing Crosby released the song “White Christmas.” Oh, and Vivian Boyack and Alice “Nonie” Dubes shared their first kiss in Yale, Iowa. The year was 1942. 72 years later — last Saturday to be precise — the couple exchanged wedding vows at First Christian Church, Davenport. Now both in their 90s, they feel they’re taking a brand new step in a relationship that has spanned nearly three quarters of a century. Boyack, a longtime elementary school teacher, and Dubes, a former payroll clerk for the Times and Democrat newspaper, have lived to see gay rights go from nonexistent to mainstream, and this photo of the two at the altar should be more than enough proof that love can endure in any form. The two have traveled to all fifty states over the years, all the provinces of Canada and have gone to England twice. “We’ve had a good time,” Dubes understated at the ceremony. Jerry Yeast was 18 when he first did yard work for the couple in 1959. He is now 73, and said, “I’ve known these two women all my life, and I can tell you, they are special. This is a very special day for all of us.”
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OBSERVER
WEEKLY
September 10, 2014
Bob Ellis celebrates 90th birthday among friends and notables
September 10, 2014
OBSERVER WEEKLY
Page 9
Testing is quick and easy. Get tested for syphilis and other STD’s today.
Shed light on you status! www.pima.gov/health twitter: @pchdsexhealth facebook: pimacountyhealthdepartment
Page 10
OBSERVER
WEEKLY
September 10, 2014
Benedict Cumberbatch: America needs a female president, then a gay one
Lily Tomlin first out lesbian recipient of Kennedy Center Honors
By Nick Duffy PINK NEWS
By Trudy Ring SHEWIRED Lily Tomlin will be one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors this year, the first out lesbian to be chosen.
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch was speaking to The Daily Beast ahead of the launch of his film about the life of gay code breaker Alan Turing, “The Imitation Game.” Cumberbatch said: “You need to have a female president next, and then after that, a gay president. That’s the full journey from Obama’s legacy onwards.
The Kennedy Center Honors recognize living artists for lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts. They have been given annually by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., since 1978.
Benedict Cumberbatch has claimed that the U.S. should “There’s a great have a gay president after it elects a female one. Morrissey lyric that goes, ‘In America, the land of the free, they said / And of Cumberbatch also claimed that the opportunity, in a just and truthful way / Liberal Democrat leader of the House But where the president is never black, of Lords in the UK, Baron McNally, was female or gay, and until that day / “probably gay” because he shot down a You’ve got nothing to say to me, to help petition to pardon Alan Turing in 2012. me believe.’ “It’s disgusting. It gets me very, very “It’s quite an old song from before angry. Who’s Lord McNally? Well, he’s Obama took office, but you’ve done probably gay. They’re always the biggest black, then you need to do female, then homophobes,” said Cumberbatch. the next, gay.”
While several Tomlin will be honored for her lifetime contribution to women previously the performing arts. honored have been rumored to be lesbian or bisexual, both received a different Kennedy such as Lynn Fontanne and Katharine Center award, the Mark Twain Prize Hepburn, Tomlin is the first out female for American Humor, Tomlin in 2003, honoree. Numerous gay or bisexual DeGeneres in 2012. men have received the Kennedy Center “From the days of her early Honors, including Tennessee Williams, Stephen Sondheim, Aaron Copland, television and theatrical appearances, Edward Albee, Elton John, and Merce Lily Tomlin has made us laugh and continues to amaze us with her acting Cunningham. talent and quick wit,” Kennedy Center Tomlin and another out lesbian chairman David M. Rubenstein said in a performer, Ellen DeGeneres, have press release announcing the honorees.
Freedom Day Parade gets city approval
Continued from page 1 LGBT Freedom Day Parade. Founder and chair, Bianca Lucrecia lobbied hard to have the parade route change so that it would begin either behind the Playground on Congress or behind Chicago Music Store also on Congress, but had to bow to the suggestion that doing so would lead to heavy traffic congestion and back up, which would affect the trolley service, and lead to the city being fined by the federal government. Unlike Tucson Pride whose parade was also approved by the city for the following day, Saturday October 11 down the Fourth Avenue Business Corridor, they will have to pay well over $3,000.00 dollars it was revealed by the city in order to barricade one set of trolley tracks and detour trolley service onto only one set of tracks. This was money the Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade did not have. Both groups have been involved in an ongoing internet publicity battle, The community has been left scratching its head as to why two parades and with the dilemma of which parade to go to.
Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Secretary Vera DelMar put it simply “Why not just go to both? Why limit yourself to only going to one parade?” Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade will be marching in Tucson Pride’s parade, and at the meeting with city officials on Aug. 27, Tucson Pride’s April Moss and Rob Rowley were extended an invitation to march in the Freedom Parade. Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade is finalizing plans to present to the Tucson community a better and bigger parade than they had last year. Coming off the high from hosting a very successful Diversity Breakfast held at the Tucson City Center Inn Suites Hotel on Granada Avenue, which was attended by many people representing Tucson’s diversity, to celebrate the unveiling of the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp, the group wants to say that they have a group of high profile personalities as grand marshals in their parade. Watson Chevrolet has agreed to provide the convertible vehicles for the
grand marshals to ride in. Sitting as Parade Grand Marshal is Pima County District 5 Supervisor Richard Elias, Democrat and fifth-generation Tucsonan who has been representing District 5 since 2002. The Visiting Community Grand Marshal is Theresa Sparks, one of San Francisco’s best-known transgender women who is the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, the former president of the San Francisco Police Commission and former CEO of Good Vibrations. Holding down the spot of Community Grand Marshal is Tucson’s very own and world renowned Reveille Men’s Chorus. Led by extraordinary talent Shawn Cullen, Reveille is launching its 20th year of “changing lives through music.” Last but certainly not least is our Visiting Celebrity Grand Marshal who is the son of Tucson musical icon Lalo Guerrero, Daniel Guerrero. Guerrero is bringing his critically acclaimed one-man show !Gaytino! to the Rialto Theater Thursday night before the parade.
Besides our grand marshals the Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade has recruited numerous organizations to march in the parade. SAAF, Wingspan, Sisters of Mission San Xavier, The Lost Boys Motorcycle Club, SAGA Trans March, Sierra Vista PFLAG, Bisbee Pride, The Tucson Front Runners have all pledged to send contingents or representatives to march in the parade. The parade will also celebrate marriage equality and the parade is inviting all same-sex married couples who had to leave Arizona to get legally married to come out and march in the parade. There is still time to get in on the parade. If you wish to march in the parade singly or as a group, or enter a float or a motorized contingent, you still have time but time is running out quickly. Please contact the Tucson LGBT Freedom Day Parade Face book page to post a question or comment. Or email the group at tucsongayfreedomdayparade@ yahoo.com.
September 10, 2014
Fireside Chat
OBSERVER WEEKLY
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Together we are stronger: What’s next for SAAF and Wingspan?
By Wendell Hicks Executive Director SAAF One of the amazing things that I love about living in Tucson is that we make the most of our resources through our agencies working together. Wingspan and SAAF are “so Tucson” in that way. Last week, you may have read my article about Wingspan’s Youth Lounge (Eon) and Anti-Violence Program (AVP), thriving. Maybe you even thought, “Well that’s good news. My job is done.” The hard truth about that article is that this can only be temporary without planning and funding.
I request that you please attend the Wingspan Update Cocktail Party.
I have heard a lot of community members suggest that we, at SAAF, should just let Wingspan fall or come to an end. I feel my response could only be “Why? A LGBT presence is an important part of what makes Tucson great . . . and I love our city.” And this response was unanimously shared by SAAF’s board of directors. So what’s your first step in keeping Tucson great? Attending the Wingspan Update Cocktail Party, on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marriott University Park (880 E. Second St.) And hear about where we have been and where we are going, as a community. Together . . . we can be stronger than ever before.
Wingspan Update
Coming from a small town in rural east Texas meant that the closet was a well-known place for me for a good part of my life, as it was for most of my friends. Southern Arizona’s LGBT Community Center, what is now Wingspan, began as a few community members needing support around their identities and more than 25 years later, Wingspan is still supporting people in need today.
Hear from myself and members of Wingspan and SAAF’s Board of Directors about what our future can look like. Learn about upcoming Wingspan events that bring people together and help to raise money for this important organization, like the annual dinner. Be a voice for OUR community.
Date: Thursday Sept. 25th, 2014 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Moving to Tucson and seeing a vibrant community helped me to be my most authentic self. I heard once that a caged bird doesn’t know it’s caged until it is free. There is truth in that. Tucson helped me to be free and Wingspan played a big part in creating a city that is inclusive and friendly to LGBT people. And while some just yearn to be out of the closet, others need help with a situation of intimate partner violence or access to food or clothing, and Wingspan does all of that and more. It is difficult to hear some categorize Wingspan as unnecessary when I know
it still serves people today as it did 25 plus years ago. Places like Wingspan change the world, one person at a time. And for that matter, so do places like SAAF. Is living with or being at risk for HIV an identity much different from other identities like Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender? In some ways, they are very different experiences. But, unfortunately, stigma and shame around HIV status and risk is still something we are combating today, a lot like the stigma and shame around sexual orientation and gender identity. So . . . are you asking “what’s next for Wingspan and SAAF as we look into the future?” Then,
Location: Marriott University 880 E. Second St. Please RSVP to Fred Rodriguez, SAAF at 520-547-6099 or frodriguez@saaf.org no later than Friday, September 19th.
Anti-gay founder of Chick-Fil-A dies dies at age 93 for its anti-gay views after it became public knowledge that their privately held company, Chick-Fil-A, donated millions to groups opposing same-sex marriage.
ATLANTA -- S. Truett Cathy, the homophobic billionaire who turned a Hapeville, Ga., diner into the nation’s largest chicken-restaurant chain, died Monday at 93. His family became nationally known
The company became controversial for a time and Republican presidential also-ran Rick Santorum threw his support behind Chick-Fil-A’s anti-gay stance. Cathy’s son, Dan, the current CEO, eventually did apologize for homophobic statements he made, but reports
indicated the company didn’t slow its donations to anti-gay groups. Gay-rights advocates staged kissins at Chick-Fil-A restaurants in protest, but the company’s sales were never seriously affected. Cathy made sure his restaurants always closed on Sundays even in an industry where Sunday is a very profitable day. He taught Sunday school for 50 years at a Baptist church in Jonesboro, Ga.
Aslan is a gorgeous flame-point gentleman who loves chin scratches and getting attention. He can be pretty demanding, as anyone with a flame-point Siamese knows, grabbing your hands to pull them closer to his ears! He’s two years old, and has a lot of love and affection to give the right family. He does get a little jealous of other kitties, so we’re hoping to find him a home as an only fur-kid. If you need a talkative, loving, and adorably stereotypical.
Aslan
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As Clark Saw It
OBSERVER By Gary Clark
WEEKLY
September 10, 2014
Famous LGBT people born in the ‘80s By Robert Grummons
Zoe’s World
By Zoe
Across 4 an American singer/entertainer most notable for being one of the top 10 finalists in the first season of American Idol 7 stage name of an American adult model and pornographic actress 8 is an American actress and model. She began her acting career in 2001 9 the first American male professional ath-
lete to be openly gay during his playing career, as a lacrosse goaltender . 11 a contestant on the 11th season of Survivor, which took place in Guatemala. He is now a working TV writer. 13 Elected in 2005. She is the only openly lesbian politician in the Norwegian Parliament. 14 best known for the male lead in the LGBT horror series Dante's Cove 15 fashion designer and a finalist in season 2 of the reality show, Project Runway 16 an American actress and comedian, best known for her sketch comedy work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live 17 an American actor and singer. He originated the lead role of Melchior Gabor in the award winning Broadway rock musical Spring Awakening Down 1 a 15-year old African American lesbian who was murdered in a hate crime in Newark, New Jersey. Richard McCullough, an African American man, was charged with her death 2 Olympic medal winning Dutch swimmer 3 an American alternative country and folk rock singer-songwriter. 5 a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, 6 an American author of fantasy and young adult literature 10 an American singer-songwriter, plays lead guitar and piano. 12 is an American actress, author, and rapper
Last week’s puzzle solved
September 10, 2014
OBSERVER WEEKLY
Page 13
Youth who was videotaped being disowned donates online outpouring to fund youth shelter By Adrian Garcia THE DAILY GRIND After the world was shocked by a video of Daniel Pierce being disowned by his family for being gay, he has directed the outpouring of online donations to fund a shelter for homeless youth. Reports indicate donations of up to $120,000 via various venues. Atlantabased Lost N’ Found Youth already introduced the public to a dilapidated Victorian building rented for $1 a year for renovation into an 18-bed shelter. A shocking video captured the moment a God-fearing Georgia family confronted their gay son and verbally and physically attacked him for being a “disgrace” and a “queer.” The video which made the front page of Reddit, was shot during the altercation between 20-year-old Daniel, his step-mother Susan, father, and his grandmother.
“You can deny it all you want to, but I believe in the word of god and god creates nobody that way. It’s a path that you have chosen to choose,” said Daniel’s mom during the confrontation. His mother then tells Daniel that his family will no longer support his “habit” and he will need to leave immediately: Since you have chosen that path, we will not support you any longer. You will need to move out and find wherever you can to live and do what you want to because I will not let people believe that I condone what you do. Near the end of the video, Daniel’s father joins the confrontation and calls his son a “disgrace” before beating him and yelling, “You’re a damn queer!” Daniel’s boyfriend David, who posted the video to reddit, shared the following message:
Let gay and bi youth lead in HIV activism Continued trom page 2 believe that HIV is the product of the mantra “For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.”
We need a serious conversation about how one can reduce risky behaviors. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that young gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV — between 2001 and 2011, the annual rate of seroconversion among this demographic increased by 132.5 percent. Therefore, it is essential that youth be present when strategic plans are made and implemented. Who better to read the pulse of a community? Too many times, though, young people are told they don’t have enough tenure, experience, knowledge, understanding, connections, or education to have a voice. Those allowed to be a part of strategies are often not listened to or go underutilized. Moreover, we as young people are social media masterminds, which make us ideal for conducting outreach to our peers. Within our community, many youth lack knowledge, awareness, empowerment, preventive options, and comfort communicating concerns about risks. The facts do not lie, but there seems to be a serious lack of focus on truly implementing plans to combat HIV. By contrast, the state of New York is taking the necessary steps by enacting a plan to fight the virus. The National HIV & AIDS Strategy issued by the White House gives comprehensive guidelines on what needs to be done for this to happen. However, there is still complacency among individuals and organizations in the United States to follow through in applying these tactics. Communities that feel the brunt of the HIV epidemic need to strategically plan a counter-offensive against HIV. And youth need to have a seat at the table. In many places of power, there is
still a dearth of young gay and bisexual men. Decisions that affect us are made without our voice. It is time to give young people who are affected by HIV the necessary mentorship, guidance, and opportunities to lead and have a voice in addressing HIV on local, state, and federal levels. A few organizations are leading the way in engaging young people on HIV in the LGBT community, including Advocates for Youth, the National Minority AIDS Council, and the Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative. These groups give a variety of opportunities to gay and bisexual men, such as educational opportunities, scholarships, conferences, promotions on prevention tools like PrEP, and access to mentorship.
David and Daniel Pierce
Bros, my boyfriend got kicked out of his home and disowned yesterday. It’s been a really traumatic experience for him, and I feel so terrible and angry that this happened. Daniel shared the following message later on his personal Facebook page: “What a day . . . i thought that waking up at 9:48 and being 15 mins late to work was going to be the biggest problem today. but i didn’t know that my biggest problem was going to be getting disowned and kicked out of my home of almost twenty years. to add insult to injury my step mother punched me in the face repeatedly with my grandmother cheering her along. “i am still in complete shock and disbelief. the video i posted a few hours ago will give you a small bit of what i went through. i am sure y’all can guess
who is who. Thanks to Teri, Regina and my boyfriend david for coming to rescue me. and thanks to everyone else who is sending their support!” Daniel adds: Thanks for all the kind words everyone! Its much needed. I managed to get an hour or two of sleep. I am staying with my Aunt Teri for now. This will probably be where I stay for a while…Physically i am okay my step mother did a number on my face and lip but its not worth me worrying about. The video may be extremely disturbing to some viewers. Daniel writes: “This is what my family did to me tonight. listen to what my step mother Susan P—– said to me”: The same reddit account which posted the video also had a photo album appearing to show Daniel and his boyfriend on a camping trip to Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia.
Like myself, there are many young people out there who continue to put in the time, effort, dedication, and resiliency to be on the ground doing prevention work, advocating to community partners, and lobbying local and state officials to continue to keep HIV a topic on the table. I have been blessed enough to continue to have opportunities and access to many of the options these agencies and programs deliver; however, many gay and bisexual young men do not. Therefore, it is important that we draw attention to the many agencies that do not provide opportunities to us to lead or be in the hierarchy of leadership, specifically when it comes to issues pertaining to our community. More of these opportunities need to be readily available for youth. If you have experience and connections, then share the wealth with a young person by providing direction. If you run a government agency or AIDS service/community-based organization, then actively recruit, utilize, engage, and place youth in leadership positions, alongside much-needed mentoring. Young people are the future. Now is the perfect time to help groom us to lead and allow us to seriously have some stage time and show the world that we can shine.
Don’t miss our next Volunteer Orientation Sept. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more info call Mark @ 520-299-6647
OBSERVER WEEKLY
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September 10, 2014
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
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-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night
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-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night
Friday
Saturday
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. VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night Dave’s $3.50 Margaritas and Long Island Iced Teas
BRODIES TAVERN - Customer Appreciation 7-2 a.m. Two-for-One Well-Domestic Bottles, Margaritas on Tap House Kasiz Shots IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m. Therapy every Thursday. All Day *2-4-1 Drink Specials (excludes top shelf, wine & draft). Million$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 Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night 4.00 Titos/Absolut, Cosmos/Martis from Dan G
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 Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night
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 Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night
Monday
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.
sources
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 UMC-North, 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.
4 p.m.
LGBTQA Support Group. LGBTQ Affairs Office, UA Student Union level four. SAGA Desert Boyz for trans masculine folks 3rd Tuesdays
7-9 p.m.
Wednesday 3-8 p.m.
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources
12-1 p.m.
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.
3-4:30 p.m.
4:30-6 p.m.
6:30-7:30 p.m.
7-9 p.m.
Two Spirit support group. African American Student Affairs MLK Center, 1322 E. 1st Street. 6 p.m. Write Now! a writer’s group open to all at Revolutionary Grounds 606 N. 4th 6:30-7:30 p.m. Regardless of… NA LGBT Meeting, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 400 E. University Blvd. 7 p.m. Weekly Meditation Classes in Central Tucson, cost: $10, Kadam Meditation Center Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. 7-9 p.m. SAGA Desert Partnerz for cis-gendered 4th Thursday 7-10 p.m. Triangle Tribe, Men’s Support Group. Call 520-398-6826
3-8 p.m.
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources
4-5:30 p.m.
Support Group for Transgender Survivors of Sexual Trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club Queer People of Color &
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Ajia Simone, Owner 426 E. Ninth St. 520.624.8400
10-11.30 a.m.
10-12 p.m.
2-5 p.m. 2:45 p.m.
Friday 4 p.m.
5:30-6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
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.
2nd Saturdays
Bears of the Old Pueblo Potluch 2nd Saturdays 520.444.2275 Transparents For parents of trans kids. RSVP SAGA to attend.
Sunday 9-11 a.m.
Co-ed Softball, all abilities welcome. Oury Park, 600 W.St. Mary’s
Advice For Life & Prayers for World Peace. Bud dha’s teachings, Kadampa Meditation Cen ter Arizona 1701 E. Miles St. LGBT Buddhist Medita tion 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 info 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.
Saturday
Thursday
SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health re-
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-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2.50 Well Day/Night
2:30-4:30p.m.
Tuesday 3-8 p.m.
Sunday
September 10, 2014
OBSERVER
WEEKLY
Page 15
Classifieds
Employment
For Sale
Romance
Hair Stylist
VINTAGE VANITY/DESK
SEEKING ANIME BUDDY
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.
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
The rains have been wonderful, but they would be better with one or more friends to watch Howl’s Moving Castle with. Looking for a friend or group to share weekly movie nights. Meet me at Venture-N Fridays at 3:30 to discuss.
Call 520.624.8400 for more information and ask for Ajia. Ahead Of Style, 426 E. Ninth St.
1557
Medical equipment and household goods
Popular blog Not getting enough biting, satirical political analysis? Check out my popular blog at dailykos.com/ wolfbane in az! 1549
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For Rent
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FYI
Wanted
Like new Epson printer $25 Two new 1”vinyl blinds, 46x64, 51x48 $25 each Brand new Lumex commode $40 Used Helping hand bed rail $25 $100 takes all Call 520-623-7406 1557
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STORAGE SHED WANTED Instantly increase your back yard size by offloading that storage shed to the Observer. Call 520-812-0909. 1XXX
Old Bricks Do you have a pile of old bricks you want removed? Call me I’ll come and get them. 520-623-7406.
Roommate wanted Looking for one mature person working or retired to share a two bedroom one bath house -- 800 sqft. $350/month plus 1/2 utilities. Call JR @ 520-461-6698 1550
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September 10, 2014 OBSERVER WEEKLY The world's largest artist colony is about to be bulldozed Page 16
By Mallika Rao HUFFINGTON POST In the heart of New Delhi lives what is said to be the world’s largest collective of performers -- puppeteers, drummers, monkey tamers, snake charmers, singers, acrobats, and more. Their family units can include more than a dozen members. Dads and moms pass their art down to the kids. In Kathputli Colony that’s simply how things are done. Whether tradition will continue this way is another story. The 3,000 families of Kathputli are facing a major threat to their way of life, a standoff that’s mesmerized local papers and documentarians abroad who have trekked to the so-called magician’s ghetto to capture what could be its final days. The colony began in the 1950s, when Delhi was not so dense as it is today. Now the land it sits on is cen-
tral and valuable. Accordingly, powerful entities are vying for it. The civic body who owns the land, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), plans to evict all the current residents to make room for luxury flats and a shopping mall. Kathputli means “puppeteers,” but the word has come to stand for every type of magic that happens in the 6.5acre colony. Recently, photographer Mark Leaver visited to record the scene before it disappears. Leaver took portrait style shots of the performers in their homes, which he plans to compile into a book. The accommodations are hardly luxurious. The houses are basic and crowded onto narrow streets that smell of sewage. Families often sleep on the floor to store their equipment. Because of the colony’s slum-like spirit, DDA officials and others behind the conversion justify the imminent bulldozing as a lifestyle improvement.