1570 February 25, 2015

February 25, 2015

Issue 1570

Flakes suing Arpaio for $8 million in dog fiasco The dogs mostly died from heatstroke after an airconditioning unit failed at the Gilbert kennel during the summer heat.

Austin and Logan Flake had been minding Logan (left) and Austin Flake, before Sheriff the kennel when Joe Arpaio turned their lives into hell. the incident occurred. The owners, MaLeisa OBSERVER STAFF and Todd Hughes (Logan PHOENIX -- The son and Flake’s parents), were out of daughter-in-law of U.S. Sen. town at the time.

Jeff Flake have served notice of A deputy at the scene at intent to file an $8 million lawsuit against Maricopa County and the time described the event as Sheriff Joe Arpaio, alleging a “horrible, tragic accident,” but malicious prosecution in last Arpaio -- who has often made year’s Green Acre boarding- a big production of supporting kennel tragedy in which 21 animal rights -- eventually led Continued on page 15 dogs died horrible deaths.

Japan: 500-year-old festival and a brand new ninja day OBSERVER STAFF Whether your thing is honoring ancient rituals or partaking in the fun of the reimagined ninja, Japan was the place to be this weekend.

Courtesy of the Flake family

Inside Undocumented Pulitzer winner teams with LA Times Page 4

Wanda Sykes: I was treated like a unicorn for a bit Page 15

Michael Sam on his fiance: ‘I owe him everything.’

Trolls are pissed Page 5

Lincoln freed slaves by executive order but Obama can’t touch immigration?

Twaddle!

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Tennessee mother charged in beating of too ‘feminine’ son Page 4 Babies from same sex couples now possible following stem cell breakthrough

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Where fashion meets the dance floor TUCSON -- Make it over to Playground this Sunday evening for “Strut,” the official after party of Moda Provocateur, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation’s 12th Annual Fashion Show.

There will be four areas to enjoy: a relaxed outdoor garden lounge, a chatty indoor main bar with fashion video backgrounds and DJ, a rooftop deck with a tented dance floor and a food truck patio for grabbing something to nosh.

It’s just $5 at the door with proceeds going to SAAF. Show your ticket stub from Moda and get in for free! The evening begins at 9 p.m.

Purchase your tickets for Moda online at www.saafmoda. org or by calling 520-628-SAAF (7223). Doors open 4:30 p.m. and at 5 p.m. the VIP dinner and pre-show begins. General admission starts at 5:45 p.m. with the extravaganza that is Moda Provocateur beginning at 6 p.m.

Moda takes place downtown in the Tucson Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom, 260 S. Church Ave. Moda is definitely not your grandmother’s fashion show.

Tucson area salons team up with designers to produce some of the most awe-inspiring couture you’ll see in the Old Pueblo.

In Shiga prefecture in western Japan Koka City officials (and others) dressed as Ninja to promote National Ninja Day.

Saidaiji Temple in Okayama prefecture held its annual Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival, on Saturday, in which more than 9,000 men wearing only loincloths rushed to grab a pair of lucky talismans thrown by the temple’s priests.

Bureaucrats may not be skilled at the arts of espionage, sabotage, infiltration or assassination, but officials at Koka city’s Continued on page 13

‘Birdman’ swoops in to take best picture; ‘Budapest’ is best dressed OBSERVER STAFF HOLLYWOOD – Over the weekend zillions of popcornloving cinemaphiles gathered in dens, pubs, and television stores to glue their eyeballs to the 2015 Oscar Awards. In case you were away from the televised action, here’s a quick rundown to compare with your predictions.

Eddie Redmayne was chosen as best actor for his work in “The Theory of Continued on page 16

“Imitation Game” took home an Oscar Sunday night for best adapted screenplay .

How much longer will LGBTs beg the GOP to let them in?

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST When the Conservative Political Action Conference refused to allow Log Cabin Republicans -- again -- to participate in what will probably be the biggest right-wing shindig of the year, the gay Republicans went into a tailspin of outrage.

Ninety percent of the LGBT community must have wondered, “Why bother -- again?”

When it comes to Republicans, you can find U.S. Sen. Rob Portman supporting samesex marriage -- because he has a gay son.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is an outspoken advocate for transgender issues -- because she has a transgendered son.

Continued on page 11

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Alzheimer’s event set for early March at Jewish center

county of residence, as required by law) to outright misrepresentation of the ordinance (the new law doesn’t address bathroom use, as the petitions state that it does).

TUCSON -- An educational conference on Alzheimer’s is scheduled for March 4 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road.

Essentially, as the Plano Star Courier pointed out, the petitions asked citizens to repeal an ordinance that does not exist.

Hours will be 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Well, hell, you can’t expect people of that caliber to actually READ the ordinance they wanted repealed!

The Alzheimer’s Association’s Desert Southwest Chapter has partnered with Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild to sponsor the event, “Aspects of Dementia: Annual Mayor’s Education Conference.”

The conference will include updates on care, treatment and research. There will be a special session on people in early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Scheduled speakers include Dr. Steven Sabat from Georgetown University, Dr. Eric Reiman from Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and Dr. Matt Huentelman from the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

Cost is $35 for individuals or $75 for professionals requesting continuing education units. Registration includes materials and lunch.

Registration or more information is available at kraach@alz.org or by calling Kelly Raach at 520-322-6601.

Convicted killers plan same-sex prison wedding YORK, England -- Two convicted murderers are scheduled for the United Kingdom’s first same-sex prison wedding in the top-security Full Sutton prison near York.

Marc Goodwin, 31, is serving a life sentence for the gay-bashing murder of 57-year-old Malcolm Benfold in Blackpool. Goodwin, who was jailed in 2007, will have to serve at least 18 years before being eligible for parole.

Mikhail Gallatinov, 40, also is serving a life sentence for beating to death a lover, 28-year-old Adrian Kaminsky of Manchester, in 1997. Gallatinov must serve at least 20 years before he can be paroled.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the wedding “would take place at no cost to the taxpayer and there is no possibility that they would share a cell.”

Anti-gay petitions declared invalid

by Texas suburb PLANO, Texas -- Petitions seeking a voter referendum on the gay-rights ordinance passed in Plano last fall were declared invalid on several counts last week.

At this point, it’s unknown whether the wingnuts will sue the city over rejection of the petitions. That’s exactly what’s in court in Houston now over a similar move there.

Plano, a city of 275,000, is largely affluent and skews Republican.

Gay Republican attack dog expected to join Bush team Tim Miller, the gay co-founder of America Rising -- described as “one of the most aggressive opposition attack groups in conservative politics” -- is expected to join the Jeb Bush presidential campaign, according to Politico.

Miller reportedly would serve as head of communications for the former Florida governor. He worked for John McCain in 2008 and for Jon Huntsman and then Mitt Romney in 2012.

“Miller is an aggressive, younger operative who can be expected to inject a pugilistic style into Bush’s high command,” said Mike Allen of Politico.

America Rising is known for tracking Democrats on the campaign trail to pick up tidbits that can be used to GOP advantage.

Baton Rouge chief: We’ll stop enforcing unconstitutional law BATON ROUGE, La. -- More than 10 years after anti-sodomy laws were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Baton Rouge police chief finally issued a memo last week telling officers to stop arresting people under the law.

The move was prompted by a hail of negative publicity over the Feb. 12 arrests of two men for having sex in a car.

The East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s office had already earned international headlines last year for arrests made under the defunct law, which Louisiana legislators have refused to remove from the books.

A spokesman for the police department said the two men arrested this year may still be charged with trespassing even though the car was parked in a public park.

While several major cities and small towns in Texas have such protections, Plano is the first major suburb to do so, according to Daily Kos blogger Texas Tom.

Brother attacks legislator’s vote for anti-gay bill

City Manager Bruce Glasscock said reasons for rejecting the petitions range from the technical (failure to include a column for citizens to specify their

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- State Rep. Charlie Collins voted earlier this month for Arkansas’ bill to prohibit cities and counties from banning anti-gay

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discrimination, a bill now awaiting the signature of Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Collins’ brother, Donald, has written an open letter to the state’s LGBT residents urging them to ask Hutchinson to veto the bill, SB 202.

February 25, 2015 OK, Gregory, here’s the obvious question: These people have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to make sure you have as few civil rights as possible, so why would you even want to go to their bigot fandango?

“What’s incredible to me is that my brother supported this bill even though he has a gay brother and a lesbian sister,” Donald wrote.

Ireland schedules May 22 vote on same-sex marriage

Not only that, he wrote, but Charlie Collins cast this vote at the same time he’s trying to secure a job for his daughter through the business connections of his lesbian sister.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Ireland has set a provisional date of May 22 for a national referendum on proposals to legalize same-sex marriage, according to Pink News.

Charlie also worked to get a Fayetteville LGBT-rights ordinance repealed last December.

“It’s a question that will be put very clearly to the people. I support this very strongly. It sets out our image of a very tolerant and inclusive Ireland,” said Enda Kenny, the country’s taoiseach (prime minister).

Donald called his brother’s actions “inconsiderate, hypocritical and rude.”

Gay candidate grabs Pentagon chief of staff post WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A gay man has been named Pentagon chief of staff amid a change of leadership in the U.S. Department of Defense, according to DefenseNews.

Eric Fanning, a former undersecretary of the Air Force and deputy undersecretary of the Navy, assumed the new job with last week’s swearing-in of Ashton Carter as secretary of defense.

Fanning has worked in Washington in varying capacities since the Clinton Administration, mostly in defenserelated fields.

Denis Dison, interim executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, praised the appointment: “Eric’s long record of service to our country and the military is something he can be proud of. The fact that he has accomplished all of this as an openly gay man is a point of pride for all LGBT Americans.”

Gays again booted from right wing’s major conclave The Conservative Political Action Committee has once again hung out the “no gays allowed” sign for one of the largest, most televised events of its kind.

Celebrities such as Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity, organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the Media Research Center, and all the other little wingnuts will have a big party as long as the LGBT community stays away.

The now-defunct GOProud was allowed to participate in 2010 and 2011 but banned starting in 2012 after the Heritage Foundation threatened to boycott if GOProud came back.

Log Cabin Republicans continues to beg for admittance to the event.

“CPAC has a problem allowing formal recognition for any organizations affiliated with gay people,” said Gregory T. Angelo, Log Cabin president. “That is the only logical conclusion to come to.”

Polls have shown about 70 percent support for marriage equality in Ireland, with one in five voters still undecided.

Actor Colin Farrell recently expressed his support “with every fiber of my being.”

Ireland is also considering same-sex adoption and new gender-identification laws.

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February 25, 2015

Pediatrician refuses to treat baby since parents are lesbians ROSEVILLE, Mich. -- When Jami and Krista Contreras returned for an appointment with the pediatrician who had provided their prenatal care, they got a surprise.

Dr. Vesna Roi refused to treat the couple’s 6-day-old daughter, Bay, instead asking a colleague to tell the family that after “much prayer” Roi didn’t want them as patients.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Roi later wrote them an apology for not telling them she was refusing them.

“Please know that I believe God gives us free choice and I would never judge anyone based on what they do with that free choice,” Roi reportedly wrote.

Apparently there was no explanation as to how Roi’s action was not judgmental -- she wrote that she “would not be able to develop the personal patient-doctor relationship that I normally do with my patients.”

The American Medical Association specifically prohibits such discrimination by doctors, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is “opposed” to it.

Michigan’s public-accommodations law doesn’t prohibit businesses from discriminating against the LGBT community.

Rep. Honda praised for tweet supporting trans granddaughter U.S. Rep. Mike Honda of California has been praised widely over last week’s tweet affirming his transgender granddaughter.

“As the proud grandpa of a transgender grandchild, I hope she can feel safe at school without fear of being bullied,” the Silicon Valley Democrat said, and attached a photo of himself with his arm around a smiling young girl.

The congressman’s statement made local headlines and has been retweeted thousands of times.

“It’s surprising just to hear a congressperson tweet something like

OBSERVER that,” said Adriana Covarrubias, a volunteer with the LGBT Community Center of San Jose.

Honda is only the second member of Congress to speak out for the trans community.

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Commentary

Backbiting Oscar voter protests the ‘Selma’ cast’s protest

Florida Republican Ileana RosLehtinen has been an outspoken advocate and has a trans son.

Single-sex shelters ordered to accept based on gender ID WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last week notified singlesex shelters receiving federal funds that they must provide access to applicants based on gender identity.

The new guideline clarifies the agency’s position on an issue left in limbo since the 2012 LGBT Equal Access Rule.

“Discrimination against transgender shelter-seekers is one of the most significant and dangerous types of housing discrimination that the LGBT community faces,” said Maya Rupert, policy director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

This new guideline also discourages shelters from requiring any documentation as proof of a shelterseeker’s asserted gender identity.

Wyoming panel OKs bill to secure LGBT protections CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- A critical committee in the Wyoming House of Representatives approved a bill last week that would provide basic civil-rights protections for the LGBT community.

The bill already passed in the state Senate and now goes to a vote in the full House.

With Wyoming being one of the most Republican states, the bill is being pushed by the Wyoming Mining Association and the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, both of which say the bill is critical to allow them to attract topnotch employees.

Several church organizations including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne are working against the bill.

The cast members from “Selma” showed up at the film’s premiere wearing “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts to protest the NYPD choke-hold killing of Eric Garner.

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST

not to buy a ticket to whatever he or she had worked on.

If anybody needed further proof that many Oscar voters are exactly the people we DO NOT want influencing popular culture, the protest over the “Selma” cast’s T-shirts should stand up in a court of law.

Let’s see now, which opinion deserves respect? We can choose the protest that was done in front of the media, with the faces and names of the protesters flashed all over the world in minutes. Or we can choose an anonymous chupacabra who said of the protesters’ movie:

What? You didn’t see any such protest?

Well, that’s because the numbnuts quasi-racist didn’t have the courage to stand up and say what he or she had to say.

It seems that the cast members from “Selma” showed up at the film’s premiere wearing “I Can’t Breathe” T-shirts to protest the NYPD choke-hold killing of Eric Garner.

Like it or not, they were expressing a constitutional right -- and they were doing it in the open. If anyone under a white sheet is sorely offended, they don’t have to go see “Selma,” right?

Losing a ticket sale ought to teach the cast members to exercise those pesky constitutional rights!

But unlike the stand-up members of the “Selma” cast, some spineless troll who got to vote on other people’s artistry revealed his or her ballot comment to The Hollywood Reporter -- anonymously, of course, in case anyone might choose

“Am I supposed to vote for it just because it has black people in it? I’ve got to tell you, having the cast show up in T-shirts saying ‘I can’t breathe’ -- I thought that stuff was offensive. Did they want to be known for making the best movie of the year or for stirring up shit?”

Well, Mr. or Ms. anonymous shitflinger, “I’ve got to tell you” that I find YOUR stuff offensive, and if you hadn’t been too big a coward to reveal your name with your crap, I’d make sure as many people as possible stayed away from your movie or whatever it was you screwed around with.

And furthermore: Next time your sphincter starts snapping because somebody made fun of how uncool the Oscar show has become, remember that there are millions of us who hope you never work on another film.

We’re saying that anonymously, of course -- not upfront the way the “Selma” cast did.

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Undocumented Pulitzer winner teams with LA Times OBSERVER STAFF LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Times recently announced that it will team with Pulitzer Prize-winning undocumented journalist and gay activist Jose Antonio Vargas on a new multimedia web project covering race, immigration and multiculturalism.

Trans blogger and TV personality B. Scott said last week on his official website that he and BET had settled a lawsuit he filed in the summer of 2013.

Scott said his outfit was preapproved by BET, but then he was “literally pulled off the red carpet” and ordered to change outfits and mute his makeup.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Yvette Palzuelos ruled last April that BET’s action did not constitute discriminate, but Scott appealed.

The Advocate quickly removed the comment.

Vargas, 34, is a Filipino-American who ranked 41st on last year’s Advocate list of The 50 Most Influential LGBT People in Media. He was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child and for years didn’t realize he was undocumented.

Scott’s original lawsuit was for $2.5 million, but no details of any settlement have been revealed.

The new project, to be called #EmergingUS, “uses a hashtag to encourage comments on social media,” according to the Times announcement, and can be read as “Emerging United States” or “Emerging Us.” Issues to be addressed include “how white Americans in the region are faring, as a new minority, amid the rise of Latino and Asian American populations.”

Vargas came out as a non-citizen via a widely publicized 2011 essay in The New York Times. He was in the news again last summer when he was

Trans entertainer settles two-year lawsuit with BET

The media personality (who prefers male pronouns) alleged that he was discriminated against for wearing clothing that BET officials considered not “masculine” enough while hosting the Style Stage pre-show on the BET Awards telecast.

In a possible foretaste of public reaction, when The Advocate posted the story on its website, a troll commented that if the Times hires this “criminal” (for being undocumented), the Times becomes a criminal and everyone involved should be prosecuted.

“Too often, when we talk about race in political and cultural terms, it’s framed as a white-and-black issue,” Vargas said in the Times.” But it’s white and black and Latino and Asian and Middle Eastern. It’s Native Americans, who are too often forgotten. It’s interracial Americans.”

February 25, 2015

Pulitzer Prize-winning undocumented journalist and gay activist Jose Antonio Vargas on the cover of the June 25, 2012 cover of Time Magazine.

briefly detained at McAllen International Airport in Texas because he didn’t have a U.S. visa.

After that incident, he told The New York Times he was let go “because I am a low priority and not considered a threat. I would argue that the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country are not a threat, either.”

Tennessee mother charged in beating of too ‘feminine’ son MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A Memphis woman was charged last week with domestic assault, with police saying she allegedly beat her son because she thought he was too “feminine” or gay, according to WREG-TV.

Will Batts, executive director of the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center, said that regardless of the boy’s sexual orientation, the assault demonstrates the need to get rid of some stereotypes.

Police said Jacqueline Alexander punched her son in the face, and he had visible bruises when they arrived. She is being held on $1,000 bond.

“We live with these really strict rules about how people should act or dress or talk or behave, and life is so much more complicated than that,” Batts told WREG.

He also was briefly arrested in Minneapolis in 2012 for driving on a canceled license while he was en route to speak at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.

At present, Vargas is a producer for MTV’s “Look Different” campaign, scheduled to air later this year exploring what it means to be young and white in the U.S.

February 25, 2015

Texas AG declares lesbians’ marriage ‘void’ despite judge

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Michael Sam on his fiance: ‘I owe him everything.’ Trolls are pissed

AUSTIN, Texas -- You almost need a program to follow last week’s marriage-equality developments in Travis County, Texas.

Contrast the normalcy and positive vibe in that statement with the hideous attack posted last month on RedState. com, owned by Fox News pundit Erick Erickson.

A state judge in Travis County (which includes Austin) declared the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional; then a different judge, District Judge David Wahlberg, granted two lesbians’ request for an emergency marriage (and waiving the 72-hour waiting period) because one of them is battling cancer; the two married immediately outside the county courthouse; and state Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the Texas Supreme Court to un-marry the couple.

Writing about Sam, “who as far as we can tell is famous for buggery and not making an NFL squad,” the column sprayed vitriol all over Sam and Cammisano.

“He and his [whatever you want to call it] went to the Vatican where Michael Sam proposed that the two of them pretend like they are married. . . .

In all seriousness, this is what many of us have pointed out about the ludicrous idea that homosexual marriage is anything but a publicity stunt.”

Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend hurried the process because of Goodfriend’s ovarian cancer.

“The rogue actions of Travis County judges do not withstand the scrutiny of law,” Paxton said in a statement.

Then the columnist suggested that Sam take his “pencil neck boy toy” to Iraq and confront ISIS, “people who really do care about homosexuality.”

The state Supreme Court did place a hold on Wahlberg’s order, so it’s unclear whether the marriage will be recognized without legal action should Goodfriend die before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals rules on Texas’ appeal on behalf of its same-sex marriage ban.

To normal people, the real “publicity stunt” in all this is being so desperate to sell ad space that you’d attack someone who overcame negative beginnings and learned to deal with the world spotlight gracefully.

Michael Sam proposes atop St. Peter’s Basilica.

OBSERVER STAFF That ruling could come any day, since arguments were heard last month.

Trans artist’s film set in Navajo land generating buzz “Drunktown’s Finest,” a film that was a hit at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and continues to garner media interest, is set “near” the Navajo Reservation.

Trans director Sydney Freeland grew up in that area and the film stars Native American actors to help on the authenticity scale.

The plot follows three representative young Native Americans.

Sick Boy (played by Jeremiah Bitsui) is an expectant father who is just days away from the start of military basic training. Nizhoni (played by Morningstar Angeline Wilson) is the college-bound daughter of Christian missionaries. And Felixia (played by trans Navajo actress Carmen Moore) is a trans woman forced into the sex trade in order to survive.

The film opened Feb. 20 in New York City and opens Feb. 27 in Los Angeles.

In case you may have wondered whether Michael Sam is nothing but a big empty-headed jock, wonder no more.

Speaking at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to THRIVE

Conference, Sam talked about growing up “poor, alone and afraid” with family abuse.

Then his words turned to his fiance, Vito Cammisano.

“He is the only one who made me comfortable to be who I am in my own skin. I owe him everything,” Sam said.

Three more states considering bans on 'ex-gay' therapy

By LGBTQ Nation Three more states could soon join California, New Jersey and the District of Columbia in outlawing therapy that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT youth.

Lawmakers in Colorado, Iowa and Oregon are considering legislation to ban conversion therapy on patients under the age of 18.

In Colorado, a House committee scheduled a hearing this week on a bill sponsored by Rep. Paul Rosenthal, DDenver, according to KUSA-TV.

Rosenthal said that because the mental health profession is a sciencebased practice, the methods used by these professionals should be based on best practices and backed by science.

An Oregon House panel also heard testimony Monday on a measure promoted by Basic Rights Oregon, a nonprofit LGBT advocacy group.

Last week, an Iowa Senate subcommittee advanced a bill that goes a step further by authorizing disciplinary action by the licensing and professional entities overseeing the service providers.

Sam made history last year by being the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team, although he was dropped from the permanent roster.

RedState.com made history by . . . well, you just read a few lines of what it’s famous for.

OW

OBSERVER WEEKLY Lincoln freed slaves by executive order but Obama can’t touch immigration? Twaddle!

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February 25, 2015

Federal judge: U.S. can’t just lock up women with children fleeing violence OBSERVER STAFF Major media reported last week that a federal judge has temporarily halted the Obama administration’s “no-release” policy on locking up women and children fleeing to the U.S. to escape violence in their homeland.

The ruling came in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union challenging “the new practice by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, of detaining women and children who had shown a credible fear of persecution,” The Wall Street Journal stated.

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and assorted other wingnuts have been frothing about Obama’s “lawless” executive action on immigration.

Well, since “laws” are things passed by legislative bodies, I don’t guess anybody is mistaking executive orders for “law” -- they’re just part of the way this country is governed.

With federal courts nowadays willing to toss legal precedent out the window (Hobby Lobby, anyone?), it’s anybody’s guess how the current fight over executive orders will fare in those courts, but watch this: Abraham Lincoln freed slaves by executive order (though it didn’t immediately free slaves in the South because the South wasn’t under U.S. control at the time).

Theodore Roosevelt established Grand Canyon National Monument

by executive order (before there was even a formal national park “system” to include it in).

Harry Truman integrated the U.S. military by executive order.

John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order.

Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency by executive order.

Whether you agree with any of the above-listed executive orders or not, it’s pretty hard to argue that they didn’t happen.

It’s just how things get done -- in some cases, when Congress refused to go where the citizenry already went.

And seriously, if you want to talk about “lawless,” how about the courts?

In last year’s Hobby Lobby decision, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out its own previous rulings that a person’s religious belief didn’t generally exempt him or her from following laws.

Note that Judge Andrew Hanen’s stay against Obama’s immigration order didn’t claim there was anything illegal about the order -- he only said it might be inconvenient for the states to comply.

That’s pretty rich in itself, considering that states have always been told to go fly a kite when they tried to interfere with immigration laws. (Does nobody remember Arizona’s SB 1070 attempt to change illegal presence from a civil matter to a criminal matter?)

And people who got excited about Hanen’s temporary stay on Obama’s order might stop to consider: This is the judge who in 2013 accused the Department of Homeland Security of conspiring with human smugglers to deliver children to their undocumented parents in the U.S. -- at the same time when Homeland Security was deporting record numbers of people every month.

“What it means is that the government can no longer lock them up simply to send a deterrent message to others,” Judy Rabinovitz, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, told NPR. “The policy that the government had engaged in constitutes, really, an egregious misuse of its detention authority.”

About 66,000 such family units reportedly crossed into the U.S. during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, mainly entering Texas. About as many unaccompanied children also crossed during that time, mostly turning themselves in once they found Border Patrol agents.

John Burnett of NPR said the federal government claims the mothers and children are national security risks.

As far as I know, Hanen never produced evidence to back up his claim, whereas Homeland Security’s numbers spoke for themselves. I think their respective credibility on immigration enforcement is pretty clear.

On the other hand, the idea of states dictating immigration policy goes against 200 years of U.S. jurisprudence.

So who’s being “lawless” here?

Where God's love for all is the good news!

In March -- messages focus on healthy communication

February 25, 2015

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Page 7 WEEKLY Cathedral City’s gay days Kirk Cameron’s Xmas movie ‘wins’ 4 of 10 Razzies still scheduled -- it just

isn’t Gay Days

For Cameron’s gay fans (if there were any left), he provided a special treat that surfaced last year: A video clip in which he said, “God hates gay people, god hates fags and you’re going to hell.

If we fail to be blunt and straightforward about that sin, we’re doing a disservice to our gay friends.”

Other major Razzie “winners” for 2014 included: Worst actress -- Cameron Diaz for “The Other Woman” and “Sex Tape.”

Worst supporting actress -- Megan Fox for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

OBSERVER STAFF Anti-gay actor Kirk Cameron was the big “winner” at last week’s 35th annual Golden Raspberry Awards honoring the worst of 2014.

Photo: Crystal Chatham / The Desert Sun

OBSERVER STAFF CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- I-10 may still see a caravan of Arizona license plates headed west for the Easter weekend, but don’t say you’re going to Gay Days.

Cathedral City’s gay bash will now have to be known as Cathedral City LGBT Days because a Florida outfit has a trademark on the words “gay days” and California organizers would have had to pay ransom money -- oops, royalties -- in order to use those words.

Organizers of Cathedral City’s citysponsored event received notice that Gay Days Inc. would take whatever steps necessary to protect its trademark “including, but not limited to, the institution of formal legal proceedings.”

Oopsie!

“To me, the name (‘gay days’) is so generic, I don’t see how on Earth anyone could have that be a trademarked phrase,” said Chris Parman, events manager for Cathedral City -- which of course had not budgeted money for paying royalties because, who knew?

“It’s no different than ‘pride parade,’ or ‘pride’ or ‘gay pride.’ I think if you look, all of them have tried to be trademarked at some point,” Parman added.

At least the name change happened before major marketing for the April 3-5

event got under way, so there was little harm done.

Gay Days President Chris Alexander-Manley said the stern tone of its message to Cathedral City indicates the company’s seriousness.

“This happens several times a year,” he told The Desert Sun of Palm Springs. “It’s just an education process.

We travel the country and the world, and really work promoting our events, and we’re very proud of the work that we do.”

He said his group plans an Arizona event this summer in Scottsdale.

Gay Days Anaheim predates the trademark so is allowed to use the name without a license, he added.

Alexander-Manley said the price of a licensing deal could range from a minimum of $1,000 to the $50,000 paid by Gay Days Capetown in South Africa.

Presumably, if Gay Days owns the words “gay days” in South Africa, it has a worldwide lock -- so scratch that event name you were considering unless you can afford to pony up.

The Cathedral City event is set to include a bar hop, film screenings downtown, a Saturday night disco party and Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning. It’s scheduled concurrently with the wellknown Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs.

“Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas” won Razzies for worst movie, worst screenplay, worst actor (Cameron) and worst combo (Cameron and His Ego).

The film had racked up an almost unprecedented number of critical pans -to the point where the former “Growing Pains” star issued a Facebook plea to fans asking them to post positive reviews.

Worst supporting actor -- Kelsey Grammar for “The Expendables,” “Legend of Oz,” “Think Like a Man Too” and “Transformers 4: Age of Extinction.”

Worst director -- Michael Bay for “Transformers 4: Age of Extinction.”

Worst remake, ripoff or sequel -“Annie.”

Redeemer Award -- Ben Affleck, “From Razzie ‘winner’ for ‘Gigli’ to Oscar darling for ‘Argo’ and ‘Gone Girl.’ “ The Razzies have become a tradition on the night before the Oscar presentation. Cameron has yet to publicly acknowledge his big “win.”

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OBSERVER

WEEKLY

February 25, 2015

February 25, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 9

Page 10

Fireside Chat

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

The Annual Wingspan Dinner 2015

February 25, 2015

Gay slur allegedly led to hit-and-run captured on video PHOENIX -- A man involved in a struggle that led to a hit-and-run captured on video outside Zia Record Exchange earlier this month says the incident began with a gay slur directed at him.

Justin Finch, 24, is shown in the video being hit by a car in reverse and being pinned between that car and another vehicle. (Fox 10 News spelled his last name Finch; other media reported it as French and Fitch.)

According to KSAZ-TV, Finch says that among the individuals who got into the car was one who had called him a gay slur as he exited the store, at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road, and then there was a fight in which he slammed one member of the group to the ground.

Wendell Hicks: “Words can’t express the feeling of community I felt . . .” [at this year’s Annual Wingspan Dinner].

By Wendell Hicks Executive Director SAAF We were so happy to host this year’s Annual Wingspan Dinner at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort on Feb. 14!

It was a wonderful showing of support and love by our LGBT community and allies. I was so proud to see so many friends and supporters celebrating legalized love and honoring pillars in our community.

Words can’t express the feeling of community I felt as we heard speeches, took pictures, and celebrated the progress we have made. Our keynote speakers, Kelli Olson and Jen HoefleOlson did an incredible job discussing adoption rights and their experience as a part of legal battles to receive equal rights. They also highlighted the cases that others participated in, which worked together to pave the road for what is now known marriage equality. And while we

celebrated together, Kelli and Jen made some honest statements about gay marriage being a “drop in the bucket” in the fight for equality. This was echoed by other speakers and guests of the event, which makes me feel like we are still experiencing forward momentum in the area of rights.

are not exclusive. He spoke about what it means to be an ally to each individual facet of the community and how important it is that we support each other in moving forward. It was evident that this year’s honorees continued the long standing tradition of support of our LGBT community.

Kent Burbank, winner of The Godat Award, recognized people who helped us get to where we are today as a community, including former Wingspan volunteers, board members, and staff. It felt great to see so many people stand in recognition of their time and commitment to Wingspan. Rick Jorgenson, winner of the Steve Hall Award, talked about the start of Senior Pride and how important it is to have a completely volunteer run program. Supervisor Richard Elias, winner of the Community Ally Award, spoke on the intersectionality of identity, how being a person of color and being a member of the LGBT community

Tempest DuJour’s “Not So Newlywed Game” was a fun and exciting end to our evening. I learned so much about some of our friends who participated in the game (maybe more than I even thought I would ever learn)! People left the dinner feeling the energy of progress and the excitement of moving forward. This event was a great way to welcome more members of the Wingspan family into our SAAF family and I look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate with my LGBT and allied brothers and sisters as we walk down this path together.

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But the people in the car say Finch wasn’t the victim and nobody used a gay slur toward him.

“I turned around to walk outside and he assaulted me, he picked me up, and I started defending myself,” said Orlando Munoz, 16, one of the passengers.

Munoz’s mother, Yvette, who said she herself is lesbian, said her son never used a gay slur and the incident was no hate crime.

“I think it’s foolishness . . . both parties should have walked away,” Yvette Munoz said.

At the time, police released everyone because no one wanted to press charges. But the case reportedly was forwarded to the Phoenix police unit that investigates hate crimes.

Fox 10 posted some spectacular footage of Finch clinging to the trunk of the car as it sped away.

February 25, 2015

Page 11 OBSERVER WEEKLY How much longer will LGBTs Alabama keeps one foot beg the GOP to let them in? outside the 21st century

Continued from page 1 Out of all the thousands of Republican elected officials, who else comes to mind? Even the ones who have LGBT family members are more likely than not to be outspokenly homophobic.

A more typical case is Arkansas state Sen. Charlie Collins, who has a gay brother and a lesbian sister and last week got a lot of publicity for introducing antigay bills in his state’s legislature -- while at the same time trying to finagle a job for his daughter based on his lesbian sister’s corporate contacts!

League of the South (which even advocates that Southern states secede again, for God’s sake!), and -- in Arizona -- the fanatically, hideously, almost comically anti-gay Center for Arizona Policy.

Talk about an un-American rogues’ wrong people, gallery.

“With there has to be a choice, to stay with them and go down with them or reject them and suffer alone.”

― Auliq Ice, author and songwriter

Yeah, it really makes sense to beg for admittance to a group that not only condemns everything about you but is hypocritical enough to use you when it’s to their advantage.

And even if you’re self-hating enough to want to join the Republican festivities, knowing they detest you, what about the company they keep?

Many GOP elected officials openly associate with the Koch brothers, American Legislative Exchange Committee, the white-supremacist

Log Cabin’s executive director, Gregory T. Angelo, said once again that CPAC refuses to state openly that it’s rejecting his group simply because it’s full of fairies.

“The American Conservative Union has the right to invite or not invite whoever they want to the Conservative Political Action Conference, but they should be honest about the reasons why,” he carped.

Angelo is completely wrong on that, of course.

Wingnuts across the board have been making it clear for years: Gays will not find a home there.

With the rest of America is becoming more welcoming across the board, what kind of mentality doesn’t just move on?

Sabrina is a beautiful, talkative eightyear-old girl who lives in our weight management/diabetic ward. She’s a little “fluffy” and so needs some help to lose some weight, so that she can be healthy as well as happy. She loves to chat, and cuddle, and will follow you around, to tell you about her day. She likes ear and chin scratches, and cat nip. If you’re looking for a workout buddy who loves to chat and cuddle, come by The Hermitage.

Sabrina

OBSERVER STAFF With 82 percent of Alabama’s population now living in counties that issue same-sex marriage licenses, the die seems cast.

For now.

Countless right-wing groups are spending a lot of cash looking for loopholes to turn back marriage equality across the U.S., and with the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court supporting them even in defiance of federal courts, Alabama could be fertile ground for the anti-change chupacabras.

Forty-seven of the Alabama’s 67 counties are in compliance with a federal court order that they issue licenses to all qualified couples.

The rally was organized by Sanctity of Marriage Alabama in support of the Alabama Supreme Court’s anti-LGBT Chief Justice Roy Moore.

Some in the crowd held signs provided by the white-supremacist group League of the South, which would indicate that the Cro-Magnon forces are becoming more openly allied.

The Southern Poverty Law Center identifies League of the South as a “neo-Confederate group that advocates for a second Southern secession and a society dominated by ‘European Americans.’ “ Moore has emerged as the chief cheerleader for all this.

Eleven Alabama counties (with only 10 percent of the state’s population) issue licenses only to opposite-sex couples, while nine counties (with 8 percent of the residents) have temporarily stopped issuing licenses altogether.

While it’s easy for progressives to dismiss his recent legal arguments as demented (which they are, in light of judicial precedents), he could be positioning himself for election as governor -- which would give him years in which to pick apart any rights the LGBT community manages to secure.

Last weekend saw another antiequality rally drawing 300 people to the steps of the Alabama capitol building in Montgomery.

And on every point in which he’s successful, there will be a couple of dozen GOP-controlled states waiting to copy him.

Page 12

As Clark Saw It

Zoe’s World

WEEKLY

February 25, 2015

By Hannah Osborne INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES

Publishing their findings in the journal Cell, researchers used the skin from five adults to create stem cells that make sperm and eggs in the body. In total, they have created new cell lines from ten different donor sources - five embryros and five adults.

OBSERVER

By Gary Clark

Babies from same sex couples now possible following stem cell breakthrough

By Zoe

Same sex couples are a step closer to having babies following a stem cell breakthrough by scientists at Cambridge University and the Weizmann Institute in Israel.

Researchers have shown it is possible to make human egg and sperm cells using the skin from two adults of the same sex – meaning lesbian and gay couples could have their own children.

The findings could also help men and women who are infertile, scientists noted.

The team compared the engineered stem cells with natural human stem cells from aborted human fetuses to check they have identical characteristics, the Sunday Times reports.

They believe the technique could mean same sex couples could have babies in just two years.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the scientists had previously used the technique to create live baby mice from engineered eggs and sperm.

Findings showed the gene SOX17 – previously thought to be unimportant in mice – is critical in the reprogramming of stem cells in humans.

Azim Surani, leader of the project, said: "We have succeeded in the first and most important step of this process, which is to show we can make these very early human stem cells in a dish. We have also discovered that one of the things that happens in these germ cells is that epigenetic mutations, the cell mistakes that occur with age, are wiped out.

"That means the cell is regenerated and reset, so while the rest of the cells in the body have aged and contain genetic mistakes, these ones don't. We can't say no mutations are passed on, but mostly it doesn't happen."

Jacob Hanna, from the Weizmann Institute, added: "It has already caused interest from gay groups because of the possibility of making egg and sperm cells from parents of the same sex."

However, he said they are aware of the vast ethical concerns their findings raise in terms of the potential for designer babies: "I am not in favour of creating engineered humans and the social and ethical implications need to be thought through."

February 25, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Japan: 500-year-old festival and a brand new ninja day We’d love to see the U.S. get on board and celebrate a National Ninja Day. And we wouldn’t mind observing a Naked Festival, either -- with all due cultural sensitivity of course.

Page 13

Walmart trashes new Arkansas antigay law -- when it’s too late OBSERVER STAFF

The city of Koka is a member of a group that is working to promote Feb. 22 as Japan’s National Ninja Day.

Continued from page 1 tourism bureau continue to don ninja uniforms during work hours this week to help generate awareness for national ninja day, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The city of Koka is a member of a group that is working to promote Feb. 22 as Japan’s national ninja day. The day was chosen because the number “2” is pronounced as “ni” in Japanese, according to the group’s website.

City officials claim Koka is the home

of the Koga ninja clan, which gained wide recognition by the late 15th century and was active during the feudal era.

Multiple ninja-related events took place across the country Sunday, including a ninja performance tournament and shuriken (ninja knife) throwing contests.

A spokesman for Koka city said that the officials change into their uniforms after arriving at work in the morning.

Shuriken made of origami are being handed out for free at the city office this week.

Saidaiji Temple in Okayama prefecture on Saturday held its annual Hadaka Matsuri, or Naked Festival, in which more than 9,000 men wearing only loincloths rushed to grab a pair of lucky talismans thrown by the temple’s priests.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart Stores Inc. announced late Monday it opposes a new anti-LGBT law in its home state of Arkansas -- after remaining silent while the governor allowed the law to take effect when the veto deadline passed.

This ritual began in 1510, according to the temple’s website. The recipients of the talismans are believed to enjoy luck the following year.

Cher, whose mother came from Arkansas, tweeted that GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson “hung the LGBT community out to dry” in his state.

We’d count ourselves lucky just to be spectators.

The controversial measure, which bans cities and counties from protecting LGBT people’s civil rights, takes effect later this year. It passed the legislature just a week after the tourist center of Eureka Springs passed a local LGBTrights ordinance.

But the free-for-all does involve some risk, says the WSJ. There are a handful of minor injuries every year, and one man died eight years ago, organizers say.

Hutchinson allowed it to become law without his signature.

Those participating are warned to take their necklaces and glasses off and keep a piece of paper tucked inside their loincloth that has their name, address, emergency contact and blood type written on it.

Opponents of the bill had urged Walmart, which is headquartered in Bentonville, to speak out against it.

Presumably, they meant while speaking out would still so some good.

Sharpen your shuriken and let’s meet at Reid Park next Feb. 22. See if you spot us before we ambush you from the trees.

Walmart finally said the law runs counter to its corporate beliefs and “sends the wrong message about Arkansas.”

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.

To volunteer, call Mark Rosenbaum For support services, call a Link Specialist For more information, events, or to donate, visit www.tihan.org

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 14

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

IBT’s 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 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.

Friday BRODIES TAVERN - Get the Party Started Friday 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. $3 Malibu Rum Black-House Long Islands-Pucker Vodka, Margaritas on tap-XX Pints IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m., Flawless Fridays featuring “Absolutely Flawless” Drag Show hosted by China Collins @ 9 p.m. DJ Import Inside after the show, Million$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 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

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 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.

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 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.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 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm. 4.00 Titos/Absolut, Cosmos/Martis from Dan G

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

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.

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

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 John 975-3166.

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-

Sunday

2:30-4:30p.m.

Tuesday 3-8 p.m.

February 25, 2015

February 25, 2015

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Tickets on sale for AFCM’s 22nd Annual Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival The Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, now in its 22nd year, will be held March 15 through March 22.

the way to 112 grand-jury indictments against the two couples.

In announcing the indictments last October, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery (generally an Arpaio political ally) said: “Today’s indictment is the result of a thorough review of the extensive investigation into this incident and a decision to seek charges based on the objective facts. We now look forward to the next step in seeing that justice is served.”

All concerts and open rehearsals, except the gala dinner concert, will be held at the Tucson Convention Center's Leo Rich Theater.

Photo: Guy Vivien

Quatuor Prazak is one of the world-class chamber groups performing at the 22nd Annual Tucson Winter Chamber Mucic Festival which begins March 15.

The traditional gala dinner concert will be held on March 21 at the Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm.

concerts and events, excluding the dinner, is $130. Cost for the dinner concert only is $160.

Tickets for all festival concerts and the dinner concert are $280. Cost for all

Individual festival general admission concert tickets are $30 and student

tickets are $10. Visit ARIZONACHAMBERMUSIC.ORG to purchase tickets and learn more about commissioning, underwriting, and other exciting AFCM programs, or call 520-577-3769.

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Wanda Sykes: I was treated like a unicorn for a bit

By PINK NEWS Comedian Wanda Sykes said recently that she was treated like a unicorn when she first came out because she was black and openly lesbian.

Sykes has revealed she never meant to come out at that Prop 8 rally in 2008.

The comedian told "The Meredith Show" that she was called on stage by organizers as she had been vocal about her support for the anti Prop 8 campaign.

Flakes sue Arpaio for $8 million in dog fiasco Continued from page 1

Two world premieres will be performed, the first by Czech composer Jiri Gemrot with his fifth Arizona Friends of Chamber Music-commissioned premiere and the other by Lowell Liebermann with his second, a trio for clarinet, viola, and piano.

Sunday concerts, March 15 and March 22, will begin at 3 p.m. Evening concerts, March 17, 18, and 20, begin at 7:30 p.m. Dress rehearsals and master classes are open to the community at no charge.

Page 15

She said people treated her like a "unicorn" because, at the time, there were few out African-Americans.

She said: "It just came out. I had just gotten married. So instead of speaking as a supporter, I was speaking as one of the victims. It just happened. I didn't even think about it. … We continued with the rally and by the time I got to the hotel, I'm looking at the CNN scroll and it says, 'Comedienne Wanda Sykes: I'm proud to be black and gay' and whatever, I was like, 'Oh Lord. What the hell just happened?' It was crazy."

Sykes married her wife Alex Sykes in 2008 just before Proposition 8, the law that banned same-sex marriage in California, was passed.

She added: "It was funny, though, because especially being an AfricanAmerican celebrity who's out, it was like they started treating me like a unicorn.

We've never seen one of you before!

It's like me and RuPaul -- I guess that's it."

By December, Montgomery was wiping egg off his face and announcing that all but two of the charges (both against the Hughses) were being dropped after it was revealed that the lead detective from the sheriff’s office may have lied to the grand jury in order to secure the charges.

Oopsie.

Montgomery later stated that if charges hadn’t been dropped, the judge would have sent the case back to the grand jury, which would have no-billed the charges based on the new evidence.

One irony in the case is that the attorney for the Flakes, Dennis Wilenchik, is a former longtime political crony of Arpaio who has faced his own problems because of that association.

Page 16

OBSERVER WEEKLY

February 25, 2015

‘Birdman’ swoops in to take best picture; ‘Budapest’ is best dressed design, and music; “CitizenFour” was best documentary feature; “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” was best documentary short. “Whiplash” was ironically the best edited. “Ida” won best foreign film after it was verified that Poland is not in the United States. The best original song went to “Glory” from “Selma.” The best animated short film was of course “Feast” while the best live action short went to “The Phone Call.”

Above: “Birdman” took home Oscars for the best original writing and best cinematography. Right: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” won for best costumes, hair and makeup, production design and music.

Continued from page 1 Everything” while Julianne Moore was honored for hers in “Still Alice.” J.K. Simpson was best supporting actor in “Whiplash” and Patricia Arquette in “Boyhood.”

“Big Hero 6” won best animated feature; no surprise there. “Birdman” had the best cinematography and directing; “Grand Budapest” had the best costumes, hair and makeup, production

“American Sniper” went without a silencer to take out best sound editing but best sound mixing went to the award-winningly edited “Whiplash.”

“Interstellar” was recognized for having the most stellar visual effects.

Best adapted screenplay went to the linguistically centered “Imitation Game.”

Best original writing went to “Birdman.”

And finally the Oscar for best bean dip went to Carl (last name unknown) who crashed the Observer Oscar-viewing party but was allowed to stay after we tasted his award-winning dip.