1578, April 22, 2015

April 22, 2015

Issue 1578

Governor bitch-slaps county attorney on refusal to aid same-sex adoptions

Poll: Marriage equality too widespread for court to screw up now

Photo: YouTube

OBSERVER STAFF PHOENIX -- Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed a bill last week that would have ended a legal mandate for county attorneys to provide help with adoptions -- a bill widely seen as legalizing Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery's recent declaration that he won't help same-sex couples adopt.

Ducey said he wants more

Inside An interview about Reveille Men’s Chorus and ‘When I Knew’

children adopted regardless of who the parents are.

We'll give you a moment to catch your breath over that one.

Montgomery remained defiant. Jerry Cobb, a Montgomery spokesman, said the day after Ducey's veto that Montgomery still has no intention of helping same-sex couples beContinued on page 6

Hillary Clinton finally endorses marriage for every state

Story on page 10

Guatemalan trans woman faces bond hearing in Arizona today OBSERVER STAFF FLORENCE, Ariz. -- A bond hearing was scheduled for today in the case of a Guatemalan trans woman held for months in all-male detention centers in Arizona.

A spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign says the candidate "hopes" the Supreme Court will embrace marriage equality nationally when it rules on cases now under consideration from four states.

Nicoll Hernandez-Polanco crossed the U.S. border last October and immediately asked for asylum to escape anti-trans violence in her homeland.

Page 11 Louisiana lesbian gets her prom tuxedo plus surprises Pages 5 No U.S. senator willing to go on record against benefits for same-sex couples

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Clinton’s not tone-deaf to Democratic voters this time Page 7 Marco Rubio -- a 100 percent, jawdropping, mediacreated @!*&# fraud of a campaign Page 3

LGBT advocates had long pressed Clinton for such support.

In a 2013 video for the Human Rights Campaign, Clinton did say she supported marriage equality for "all" gay and lesbian couples, but in June 2014 she endorsed "efforts of activists who work state-bystate" and said she had always felt marriage had been left up to the states.

Of course, in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was not up to the states to discriminate against interracial marriage and in 1878 that it was not up to states to allow polygamous marriages.

Yeah . . . up to the states.

Clinton's husband signed into law the egregious Defense of Marriage Act prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court dumped parts of that law in 2013.

As a federal agency, ICE theoretically respects the gender identity of immigrants in regard to housing, but in practice often does not.

Many LGBT and immigraContinued on page 4

Family Research Council funds new campaign with same old excuses OBSERVER STAFF Giving gays and lesbians any freedom will end freedom.

That seems to be the underlying theme of a new advertising campaign from the antigay Family Research Council.

"Wedding photographers, florists, bakers and caterers are increasingly being punished by the government," states Tony Perkins, head of the council. "Crushing fines threaten to run them out of Continued on page 7

Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Tony Perkins

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Egyptian court OKs deporting, barring gay foreigners

The video was removed from the Internet about 24 hours after posting, once the promoters saw the effect it was having, but it already had racked up more than a million views.

CAIRO -- An Egyptian court ruled last week that the country can deport gay foreigners and bar them from reentering in order to "prevent the spreading of social ills."

Actor Cranston: 'End this silliness' of anti-LGBT bias

A Libyan student at the Arab Academy for Maritime Transport in Cairo had appealed his deportation and re-entry ban in order to finish his studies.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Egypt, but LGBT activists say that arrests of gay people have increased since the military coup against President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

Several surveys have shown that 95 percent of Egyptians believe homosexuality is unacceptable.

Priest candidate comes out with supervisor support CHICAGO -- A member of the Jesuit religious order studying for the Roman Catholic priesthood has publicly come out as gay, reportedly with the support of his supervisors.

Damien Torres-Botello, in an online essay, used the occasion to call on the church to become a more welcoming place.

He wrote that when he entered the Jesuit order in 2011, some members of his support group "feared I would be forced into the closet after 17 years of accepting myself as gay," while others worried that as a Latino from a disadvantaged background he would not find acceptance on that basis.

Neither has been the case, he said.

He also added that since he took a vow of celibacy, public discussion of his orientation is "not necessarily a direct violation of Catholic teaching."

Torres-Botello is a Jesuit scholastic -- "a student preparing for the priesthood" -- at Loyola University in Chicago.

Anti-gay Christians real threat to LGBT equality in Brazil BRASILIA, Brazil -- Brazil's Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is the head of a hydra of anti-LGBT groups that gained control of the National Congress in October's elections, with the stated goal of overturning a 2013 court ruling that brought marriage equality to the country.

The victory by the 8-million-member denomination reportedly caught the nation's still-powerful progressives off guard, according to a BuzzFeed analysis.

"When will we wake up to the true nature of the monster emerging from the lake?" said Jean Wyllys, a progressive member of the House of Deputies who has said that Christian extremism is as dangerous as the Islamic kind.

However, a video of the uniformed, church-affiliated Gladiators of the Altar marching and appearing more like a "straight-arm saluting" paramilitary force than a church group apparently shocked many Brazilians who didn't realize what they had voted into office.

Longtime TV favorite Bryan Cranston, star of "Breaking Bad" and "Malcolm in the Middle," said at a Broadway premiere last week that the fight against LGBT equality is "absurd."

At the premiere of "Finding Neverland," of which he is a producer, he said, "I don't understand why every person shouldn't have the rights of any other person all the way down the line.

"I've been a big supporter of gay rights forever and I think it's absurd that there's still an issue about marriage. I mean, I think it's insulting also to the gay community to have to constantly bring this thing up again and again. . . .

"Let's end this silliness, accept everyone for who they are and what they are, and embrace that and move on," he added.

Of course, the same people who still oppose LGBT equality also oppose black equality, female equality . . .

There's quite a list of silliness out there.

Pittsburgh-area high school marks 'Anti-Gay Days' CLAYSVILLE, Pa. -- A group of students at McGuffey High School in this rural Pittsburgh exurb organized an "Anti-Gay Day" in response to the recent national Day of Silence that spotlighted anti-gay bullying and harassment in schools.

And they liked it so much, they did it twice.

"It hurts me to see how rude and cruel, and some of these people were my friends before this started," McGuffey student Zoe Johnson said.

"Yesterday there was pushing, posters hung on homosexual students' lockers.

Teachers were having to run out and take them down."

Teachers "having to run out and take them down"??? Where were school administrators and security officers while this was taking place?

"This is why so many students hate going to school," Johnson wrote on Facebook.

There were rumors that more "AntiGay Days" are planned at McGuffey. As of last weekend, still no reports on what -- if anything -- administrators plan to do about it.

Clint Eastwood son backs 'gay marriage and the whole bit' Up-and-coming actor Scott Eastwood, son of Clint, said in an interview last week that he's a huge supporter of LGBT rights, including marriage.

"I support gay marriage and the whole bit," Eastwood told Chris Azzopardi of Dallas Voice. "I think everybody should be able to be with who they want to be with."

Eastwood said his attitude comes from both parents, and even though his

WEEKLY

father is a Republican, the elder Eastwood has a live-and-let-live Libertarian outlook.

Eastwood currently stars with Britt Robertson in "The Longest Ride," about a champion bull-rider who falls in love with an artist whose ambitions don't easily jibe with his.

Asked if he would play a gay character in a remake of "Brokeback Mountain," he responded: "Oh my gosh, that's funny! To me, it's all about the script and the director. I'm very directororiented and material-oriented, so if it's a great script and a great director, then yeah.”

Louisiana governor touts most extreme discrimnation bill yet BATON ROUGE, La. -- This is Louisiana's last legislative session with wingnut Gov. Bobby Jindal in office and his last chance to raise his national profile for another presidential race.

Jindal said criticism of the bill as promoting discrimination is "offensive," since all it does is give business owners the right to refuse service to a certain group of people. Oh wait ... er ...

Jindal's biggest critic is IBM, which is opening a technology-services center in downtown Baton Rouge and says the bill "is antithetical to our company's values. IBM will find it much harder to attract talent to Louisiana if this bill is passed and enacted into law."

Scott Eric Kaufman at Salon wrote that the Louisiana bill "would grant people of faith blanket protection against any government action," and "will likely put Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act to shame."

Any idea Jindal has that this legislative nightmare will propel him into the White House in 2015 is one of countless indications just how far out of touch Republican leaders are.

Indiana governor's poll numbers fall after dump on gays INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mike Pence -- who reportedly once thought the anti-LGBT bill he recently signed into law could catapult him into a presidential run -- has seen his job approval rating fall from 62 percent to 45 percent, according to a recent Howey Politics Indiana.

"In the 20 years that HPI has been publishing, and in the polling HPI has conducted since 2008, an Indiana governor has never experienced this kind of survey decline in this short time frame," Howey noted on its website.

The law caused a furor because it authorized religious discrimination against gays and lesbians on the part of business owners statewide. After the feces flew, the Legislature quickly passed and Pence quickly signed a "fix" restoring the handful of city and county gay-rights ordinances that had been essentially nullified by the new law.

Outside of those few areas, businesses already could discriminate with impunity because Indiana has no law to prevent it.

A Pence spokesperson declined to comment on the poll results. What can you say when you're still shellshocked?

April 22, 2015

Mormon 'Idol' alum apologizes for tweet that seems anti-gay David Archuleta, the "American Idol" runner-up from season seven who is widely presumed to be closeted even though he's a strict Mormon, apologized recently for a set of tweets that became controversial on the Internet.

Archuleta posted a two-part tweet (because it exceeded 140 characters) on the subject of marriage and based on recent remarks by the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "Romantic love is incomplete. It is a prelude. Love is nourished by the coming of children, who spring from the fountain of love ... " ... expressed between a man and a woman in marriage. #PresPacker."

Since the post came during Indiana's meltdown over a law allowing religious discrimination, some commenters speculated that Archuleta meant to support the controversial law.

"I guess I didn't think about the line 'expressed between a man and a woman in marriage' being stressed when the whole quote didn't fit in just 1 tweet," Archuleta wrote on his website.

Continued on next page

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April 22, 2015 Continued from previous page "I do hope however, that whoever may have been offended may know that I respect everyone's freedom to believe and live as they choose," he added.

But, of course, there's still that matter of him supporting a religious group that doesn't respect everyone's freedom to live as they choose ...

Committee approves Nevada bathroom bill along party lines CARSON CITY, Nev. -- A bill to restrict transgender students' access to restrooms and locker rooms was approved by a state Assembly committee last week, with every Democrat on the Republican-dominated committee opposing.

The bill now moves to the full Assembly.

The bill would require students to use the facility conforming to their sex "at the chromosomal level," or would provide for a separate stall or unisex bathroom for trans students.

The bill is similar to one that recently failed in Kentucky and others being considered in Texas and Minnesota.

Texas, Florida and Missouri also are considering a separate type of law that would apply to all citizens in all public spaces.

OBSERVER votes cast in Houston's last mayoral election.

Those determined to stop civil rights for LGBT citizens already said they'll appeal the judge's decision.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker is the city's first openly lesbian mayor.

Of course, this would only appear to be true if the students' "deeply held beliefs" were based on forcing other people to conform to the students' own moral code, but what the hey -- you rock, Candi . . .

Judge supports Houston's tossing of anti-gay petitions

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. -Last weekend, hundreds of players in roller-derby games across the U.S. wore "#DoItFor57" on T-shirts or written on arms and legs.

Opponents of the non-discrimination ordinance were required to submit signatures equal to 10 percent of the

Young voters are simply not as stupid as the GOP insists they are.

The young have made icons of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Betty White, not Marco Rubio, because young people see kindred spirits in those women beyond 80 years old -- not in some younger Stepin Fetchit kowtowing to old white guys.

The "Day of Dialogue" was held in opposition to the national Day of Silence.

15-year-old suicide honored by peers across roller derby

After separate rulings by a jury and Judge Robert Schaffer, attorneys for both sides added and subtracted signatures as Schaffer ruled on motions, leaving the count closer than ever -fewer than 1,000 short of the required number.

Marco Rubio -- a 100 percent, jaw-dropping, media-created @!*&# fraud of a campaign

A noted anti-LGBT Christian group organized an event last week to deflect attention from anti-gay bullying to the alleged bullying of Christians.

"Whether it's the Day of Silence or another of the many, and increasing, efforts to endorse a form of sexual activism in classrooms, too often these issues are promoted in a one-sided manner that leaves Christian students feeling like their deeply held beliefs are being marginalized," said Candi Cushman, a representative of Focus on the Family.

The phrase honored 15-year-old trans skater Sam Taub from this upscale Detroit suburb known for its rolling hills and large homes. Known as Casper in the derby community, Taub skated with the Darlings of Destruction in the junior derby league and committed suicide April 9.

"By its very nature, roller derby is a sport that fosters inclusion and support," read a statement on the Derby Central news site. "The community is rallying to bring awareness to this complex, preventable cause of death, to put in everyday work to prevent any repetition, and celebrate the life of one of its own."

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Commentary

Anti-gay group sets event against bullying

by LGBT community

"Separate is not equal. I thought we'd covered that in the civil rights [movement] in the 1960s," said Brock Maylath, president and co-founder of Reno's Transgender Allies Group.

HOUSTON -- A district judge last week validated the city of Houston's decision that opponents of the city's 2014 LGBT-rights ordinance failed to collect enough valid signatures to put the issue before the voters.

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The first time I read that Rubio "likes" Tupac and N.W.A., my first thought was, "How can he claim to like those guys when he adamantly opposes everything they stand for?"

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST Some Republicans seem to honestly believe that Marco Rubio is the candidate who can sweep into the White House by appealing to non-Republican Latinos and young voters.

Let's see ... To sum up, he opposes everything the Latino community supports; he opposes everything young voters support.

Does that about do it?

So explain to me how he's going to capture those two voting blocs, because I can't see it.

To begin with, explain to me how most Cuban-Americans are even part of "the Latino community" except by a genetic fluke.

The Cubans who came to the U.S. during the period when Rubio's parents came were mostly Cuba's Tea Party types and Batista supporters who jumped ship to avoid forced socialism.

To this day, most of their descendants haven't mellowed much -- they still look down their noses at other Latino-Americans just a bit, and most of the other Latino-Americans know it.

A groundswell of Rubio support in that? It would literally require the worm changing into a butterfly.

But that problem might pale in comparison to Rubio's problem with young voters.

That's still my reaction every time I see such a ludicrous claim, and I haven't seen Rubio or anyone else try to explain how it isn't just idiocy for public consumption -- an attempt to make him seem in touch with humans.

Ana Marie Cox at The Daily Beast wrote a real gem last week: "Pundits and consultants are giddy with the prospect of a 'generational choice' between Rubio and the rest of the [GOP] field — not to mention Hillary Clinton.

"Analysts aren't wrong to suppose that a race against Rubio, in either the primary or the general, will expose a generational fault line. But it's far from certain that Rubio will be the one with Continued on pge 10

April 22, 2015 OBSERVER WEEKLY Western Conservative Summit No U.S. senator willing to go won't even allow gay Repubs on record against benefits at back of the bus for same-sex couples

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Sarah Palin starred at last year's Western Conservative Summit. Since then, her star seems to have entered a black hole, sending the LGBT community into mourning.

Getty Images

OBSERVER STAFF DENVER -- How many times do you suppose gay Republicans will have to be told they're not wanted in "the movement" before they realize they aren't wanted in the movement?

The answer is apparently "unlimited times."

Last week it was the Western Conservative Summit taking a dump on Log Cabin Republicans. Organizers of the June 26-28 summit returned a $250 deposit paid by the gays, according to the Denver Post.

Members of Log Cabin "advocate contrary to our agenda and our core beliefs," the Post quoted summit chairman John Andrews as saying. "Log Cabin Republicans think gay marriage should be the law of the land, and Colorado Christian University [the outfit behind the summit] doesn't believe it should be."

with me on one point, it makes no difference if you agree on everything else -- no seat at the table for you.

The event's website boasts that attendees will include presidential candidates such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, retired surgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

WELL. We certainly don't want to miss that gaggle of honkers.

"Young people especially want to see a robust political debate, and this dis-invitation is the exact opposite of that," said Michael Carr, the Colorado Log Cabin chapter secretary and a former state Senate candidate. "Being perceived as anti-gay turns young people off even more than it does the general public."

OBSERVER STAFF WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate made a half-assed gesture toward supporting same-sex marriages last week.

Senators approved by voice vote a resolution stating that no legally married spouse should be cheated out of Social Security or other federal benefits of marriage even if they live in a state that doesn't recognize their same-sex marriage.

It was a basically meaningless exercise, since a resolution isn't binding on anybody.

Still, the most noteworthy thing about the maneuver is that even the rankest wingnut senator didn't ask for a roll-call vote -- meaning that nobody wanted to be on record as voting

Yes. Exactly. That's the point. How many times does this have to be repeated before you GET? IT?

AGAINST it, even if it was a non-binding resolution.

Hahahaha ... Pardon us, but the vision of Republican senators with their tails between their legs over same-sex marriage is a new experience for us!

Most federal agencies began recognizing same-sex marriages after the U.S. Supreme Court's Windsor v. United States decision in 2013, but the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs continue to follow the wording in old laws.

House Republicans are, of course, expected to pee all over the resolution when it gets to them, so the basically meaningless gesture is basically likely to have no effect whatsoever.

But still ... hahahaha.

OW

Pro-gay ex-senator Feingold Guatemalan trans woman faces favored to regain old seat So, of course, if you don't agree

bond hearing in Arizona today Continued from page 1 tion-rights groups have worked for her release, but ICE reportedly considers her deportation a priority because of two previous deportations when she was a minor.

As a federal agency, ICE theoretically respects the gender identity of immigrants in regard to housing, but in practice often does not.

Phoenix attorneys Heather Hamel and Vidula Patki are handling Hernandez-Polanco's case pro bono.

"We have approached ICE, every way you can imagine, to see if there is

licly support same-sex marriage -- is a huge favorite to regain his Senate seat against the Tea Party Republican who defeated him in 2010, according to the latest Marquette University poll.

anything that can be done, if she can't be released for now, then at least to improve her conditions," Patki said. "We have been stonewalled the entire way."

The poll shows Feingold with 54 percent support while Sen. Ron Johnson lags at 38 percent.

Hernandez-Polanco began school in Guatemala, but was bullied by students as well as faculty and staff.

In the third grade, she ran away and has been running ever since. Though she can barely read or write, she hopes to see a book written about her life.

"I know I will get out of here," she said. "And when I do, I'm going to help a lot of people."

Feingold has supported marriage equality since a speech on April 4, 2006. He hasn't announced plans to fun for the Senate again, but is widely expected to do so.

Russ Feingold

JANESVILLE, Wis. -- Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold -- one of the early politicians of national stature to pub-

Feingold's return to the Senate would restore one of the most consistently pro-LGBT voices in Congress, whereas Johnson has been a consistent mouthpiece for pre-1940s humbuggery.

April 22, 2015

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Page 5 WEEKLY Angie's List CEO resigns Louisiana lesbian gets her over Indiana mess, plans prom tuxedo plus surprises

to tackle politics

OBSERVER STAFF MONROE, La. -Lately this northeast Louisiana city has been generating headlines over something besides anti-gay comments from "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson.

Not only did the school administration back down and agree that Claudetteia Love can wear a tuxedo to prom if she wants it, but several companies stepped forward to make Love's prom experience that much sweeter.

Love gets a custom-made tuxedo provided by Sharpe Suiting and shoes

by Nik Kacy.

Bill Oesterle speaks against Indiana's recent religious discrimination bill on March 30. As CEO of Angie's List, he cancelled a planned Indiana expansion and now is resigning to work on politics.

OBSERVER STAFF INDIANAPOLIS -- Bill Oesterle, the CEO of consumer-review website Angie's List and one of Indiana's most prominent businessmen, led the recent uproar against the GOP's religious discrimination bill and hasn't stopped even with the "fix" that allowed local LGBTrights ordinances to survive.

Oesterle announced last week that he'll be leaving Angie's List to work on politics, The Indianapolis Star reported.

He said the state's public image "took a shellacking" and its "reputation has been badly damaged."

"I have two passions I've worked on throughout my career: Angie's List and the state of Indiana. I can't do both," he told The Statehouse File.

He told the same publication that his primary goal is to "begin the long process of repairing" the state's image.

"I haven't figured out how I’m going to do that," he said. "That could involve helping somebody else run. That could involve working on legislative races.

That could involve becoming a candidate myself."

The outfitting project was spearheaded by Kayce Brown, a co-founder of Greyscale Goods, who was featured in The Advocate last year for pioneering the field of gender-neutral clothing.

Brown and Sharpe Suiting's CEO, Leon Wu, will hand-deliver the tux to Love before the prom at the end of this week.

Claudetteia Love

tuxedo to the prom would have served no purpose other than to reinforce the worst sorts of harmful stereotypes and censor a core part of Claudetteia's identity," said Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, in a statement earlier this month.

ACLU of Louisiana executive director Marjorie Esman stated in a letter to Louisiana school superintendents: "For several years, this office has sent letters reminding school officials that students may not be denied the right to attend school dances simply because they choose to dress in a manner that officials deem appropriate only for students of another sex, or because they choose to bring a date of the same sex as themselves."

Love's situation exploded on the Internet when she announced that she would not attend her Carroll High School prom because school administrators had forbidden her from attending in a tuxedo.

"Forbidding girls from wearing a

Gov. Mike Pence, whose poll numbers took a major tumble since he signed the bill, has pronounced the debacle behind him.

Sounds as if he'd better check with Oesterle -- previously a supporter and campaign donor -- before he gets too confident that the stench really has blown away.

OW

Member of the Month: Tierra Antigua Realty Downtown 36 years as Real Estate Broker in Tucson MaryLou Thompson 216 E. Congress Tucson, AZ 85701 Phone: 520-668-8222 Email: MaryLouDowntown@gmail.com Website: MaryLouDowntown.com

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Anti-gay auto repairman not exactly cashing in on publicity

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April 22, 2015

'Ex-gay': Anal sex leads to butt births of Beelzebub This time, Joseph Sciambra recorded a "ministry" video explaining all about the butt births of Beelzebub.

He says that when he gave up porn after finding God, he sought hospitalization to have his "sphincters almost stitched shut."

Well, we're sympathetic toward anyone who has multiple "sphincters," but that's about as far as we can travel with Sciambra.

In the video, he says: "Anal sex releases into the world rare demonic entities and that even even in the body could be conceived as the devil and that would be given birth to anally."

Just for good measure, he adds: "I do believe that it creates a doorway literally into the demonic, the supernatural."

Brian Klawiter (fourth from right) and his Dieseltec crew.

OBSERVER STAFF GRANDVILLE, Mich. -- Brian Klawiter, the Grandville auto-repair shop owner who announced that he wouldn't serve gay customers, is quickly being revealed as one of the fringiest of the fringe wingnuts.

As an example, according to LGBT blog The New Civil Rights Movement, Klawiter's business operates without a license because allowing an inspector on the premises violates the Constitution ... well, somebody's constitution ... somewhere.

First question, of course, is whether an LGBT-owned business would be allowed to operate illegally in Grandville.

donations through a website), he fell a little short.

His GoFundMe page was pulled after collecting one $5 donation, and that one was accompanied by a note from a donor named Holli Biggs: "I'm legally married to another woman, and a proud parent to 3 beautiful little girls that I have taken in as my own. ... I want to be the first one to donate to this because you are going to need it in time to provide for yours. Will you accept my money? Or is it too gay for you?"

Once again, a member of the LGBT community steps up with a PERFECT response that can make us all feel proud.

Beyond that is how closely other companies want to be associated with Klawiter now that he's an out-of-thecloset bigot.

Klawiter said in a Facebook post that not everyone has responded with civility.

Cummins, a major manufacturer of engines and engine parts used in Klawiter's business, has already told him to stop displaying its logo in his shop.

He wrote that there have been "threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down."

A bankruptcy lawyer publicly offered his services, on the assumption that Klawiter will need help in bankruptcy court.

Well, bad on any people who may have threatened those things.

If Klawiter's outburst was a stunt to follow Indiana's Memories Pizza in becoming wealthy via homophobia (the pizzeria quickly racked up $842,000 in

However, there was no reason Klawiter needed to flash his bigotry worldwide in the first place, and when someone chooses to do that, there's always a chance that the consequences will involve things less desirable than $842,000.

Sister Mary Joseph Sciambra explains the devil in your butt.

OBSERVER STAFF Listen up, kids: If you have anal sex, you'll give birth to the devil through your butt.

That's the word from a guy who claims to be an "ex-gay" porn star turned Christian fundamentalist and expert on quasi-human conception.

We completely agree in theory that the media should stop giving these nut cases the attention they crave. But when each one is more spectacularly asshat than the previous one, what are we supposed to do?

He probably believes it does. We believe ... well, we'd like some evidence that Sciambra didn't skip his therapy appointment.

Does anyone even know whether he actually did gay porn or is that another of his fantasies?

He is a real thing, though.

You can visit his blog, "How Our Lord Jesus Christ Saved Me From Homosexuality, Pornography and the Occult," at www.josephsciambra.com.

We recommend instead that you find a constructive way to spend your time on this planet, but that's up to you.

Governor bitch-slaps county attorney on refusal to aid same-sex adoptions Continued from page 1 cause the old law still on the books refers to "husband and wife."

So once again, taxpayers apparently will have to fork over legal fees because a public official refuses to allow rights already awarded by the courts.

"Married is married for all purposes under Arizona law," said Jennifer Pizer, senior counsel with Lambda Legal. "If Mr. Montgomery and his office insist on having this litigated afresh, it will be a waste of taxpayer resources and an insult to the good people of Maricopa County who deserve senior-level legal analysis that takes seriously the constitutional analysis of our federal courts."

Ducey said 17,000 Arizona children are wards of the state and need good homes.

"So the North Star for me," he told the Arizona Republic, "is I want to see more adoptions, I want to see more kids in loving homes under the legal structure. And that's something that I'm going to continue to be an advocate for."

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

April 22, 2015

Page 7 OBSERVER WEEKLY Florida bakery would make antiClinton's not tone-deaf to Democratic voters this time gay cake, but donate profits

ZAPPRO Digital Media

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST The media chorus is saying Hillary is listening to you and will run as a Democrat this time.

If any of it's true, that's huge news.

Remember 2008, when her Republican-like views allowed Obama to swoop in and holler "checkmate"?

She opposed gay marriage, and now that the voters favor it, she sortof supports it for everybody instead of leaving it up to the states. (She hasn't actually said so, but one of her top aides did, last week.)

In 2008, she wouldn't support driver's licenses for undocumented people, and now there's a national movement in favor of it because -- duh! -- states want some way of keeping track of people. She feels safe following our lead.

In 2008, Obama slaughtered her over her refusal to badmouth the Supreme Court ruling that wealthy people can now buy elections, but now there's national momentum for a constitutional amendment to stop that. She's endorsed it, once again following the public's lead.

Admittedly, in 2008 she did mention some of the things that were causing problems for the country: rogue hedgefund investors, oil company profits, pharmaceutical subsidies and trade agreements. But how could she even put a "D" after her name and not mention the obvious?

Of course, what she says on the campaign trail may or may not mean a thing.

Most candidates nowadays believe that what was said in last month's campaign stays in last month's campaign.

(Look at Rand Paul's recent on-air explosion because a reporter insisted on asking him about controversial things he'd said in the past.)

We won't know whether Hillary got the message until she gets to the White House. In 2008, people thought they voted for a real Democrat in Barack Obama, and instead got someone who wasted his congressional majority kowtowing to the GOP and has had trouble getting approval for so much as a trash collector ever since.

If we get eight more years of this pro-Wall Street, pro-corporate hucksterism, who knows whether there will be enough left of this country to rebuild it into any kind of livable place.

Even Robert Reich, who has known Hillary since college and was Bill Clinton's secretary of labor, says her personal beliefs are impeccable but her public actions in support of those beliefs may be a little tepid: "Equal opportunity and upward mobility have been very central to her political ideals from the start. I just don't know how courageous she will be in fighting for them."

She has made one move that might indicate substantive change: Last week word "leaked out" (wink, wink) that she Continued on page 13

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Owners of a small bakery in Miami Shores, a suburb just north of Miami, say they've been harassed for two years by homophobes calling about anti-gay messages on cakes.

should ever be refused service – opposing discrimination by practicing it is not the answer. ... However, should the day come when an actual order is placed and paid for, we will not profit from discrimination.

The owners of Enchanting Creations said last week that they've never actually had such an order placed, it's just been harassment, but if they get an order, they'll bake the cake and donate the profits to the Human Rights Campaign.

"Today we pledge that any profits we generate from the sale of a cake intended to discriminate against samesex couples will be donated to the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that continues to fight for LGBT equality."

A statement posted on the bakery's website states: "We believe that no one

What do you want to bet that statement puts an end to the harassment?

Family Research Council funds new campaign with same old excuses

Continued from page 1 business. In some cases, they face the possibility of losing their homes, all for simply following their biblical convictions on the definition of marriage."

Bullshit. Unless we missed a case somewhere, not one of these dust-ups has been about the business owner's "definition of marriage" -- it's usually about their definition of selling a cake or flowers.

the same faction that says the Constitution never intended a "wall of separation" between church and state. They have, of course, been known to say whatever the hell missed a case suited their purpose in the moment . . .

Unless we somewhere, not one of these dust-ups has been about the business owner's "definition of marriage" -- it's usually about their definition of selling a cake or flowers.

And, in many cases, it's about them breaking the law, if they happen to be in a state that has a law against anti-gay discrimination in business.

Anti-LGBT Republican presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum are featured in the campaign video calling for "a wall of separation, so the state could not tell people of faith how to live their lives."

Funny how those guys are part of

There's always a pretense that these weren't exactly the same excuses used 50 years ago for refusing to serve blacks. The Jews and the Roman Catholics and the Mexicans and even the Irish took their turns at discrimination in America, and no doubt the reasoning was the same every time: God demands that I treat certain people like shit, and the government has no right to stop me from demeaning them when God says do it.

Well, homies, welcome to the 21st century . . .

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OBSERVER

WEEKLY

April 22, 2015

April 22, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 9

April 22, 2015 OBSERVER WEEKLY Poll: Marriage equality too Fireside Chat Jell-O wrestling is back! widespread for court to screw up now

Page 10

OBSERVER STAFF In a new USA Today/Suffolk University poll, 51 percent of Americans agreed that "it's no longer practical for the Supreme Court to ban same-sex marriages because so many states have legalized them," USA Today reported this week.

On the other side, 35 percent still want the court to oppose marriage equality.

One reason given for such widespread support is that 46 percent of those polled said they have a family member or close friend who is in a same-sex marriage.

One respondent selected for a follow-up interview by USA Today was 58-year-old Kraig Ziegler of Flagstaff.

Ziegler told the newspaper that he

was a little uncomfortable attending a wedding reception for two men who are friends of his wife, but "I got to know the guys, and they're all right. They don't make passes at me or anything."

The poll also revealed that an even higher percentage of Americans -- 58 percent -- don't think businesses should be allowed to discriminate against LGBT people, as opposed to 31 percent who think they should.

There was some confusion about that, though. While 58 percent said they don't think discrimination should be allowed, 63 percent also said they're concerned about forcing businesses to sell goods and services for same-sex weddings. Maybe somebody needs to think that out a bit . . .

The court is scheduled to hear a consolidation of cases from four states beginning April 28.

Marco Rubio -- a 100 percent, jaw-dropping, media-created @!*&# fraud of a campaign Continued from page 3 the youth vote on his side."

Assuming that the mentally ancient Rubio will attract the youth vote comes from the same mindset as assuming that electing Republican women will help women -- when just months ago we saw all four GOP women in the Senate vote against equal pay for women.

Such stereotyping is idiocy. It flies in the face of reality.

It's people "deciding" something over which they have no control, and then proceeding like a freight train on the assumption that reality will bend to what they say.

Once again borrowing from Cox, I'd say it's obvious that Rubio isn't trying to appeal to young voters at all -- he's trying to appeal to rich old white guys who finance campaigns.

Now, I'm not claiming that U.S. voters in recent years haven't voted against their own interests -- it happens by the millions.

But Rubio is fanatically (as Cox pointed out in her blog) anti-marriage equality, anti-immigration reform (after briefly being for it), anti-pot legalization, pro-government surveillance, pro-international intervention, and against doing anything to address climate change.

I'm just saying that if Rubio changes his positions to appeal to Latino and young voters, he won't win a single GOP primary and it won't make any difference that he tried to expand beyond appealing to over-50 white guys.

Doesn't matter that the media keep presenting him as a serious presidential candidate. At this point, he is nothing of the kind.

By Wendell Hicks Executive Director SAAF This year marks the 28th annual Reno Gannon Memorial Jell-O Wrestling Extravaganza! We are so excited to see new community members and returning champs sign up to wrestle in our Jell-O pit, all to raise money for the programs and services of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation! All of our events are fun but this one takes it to the next level with costumes, drag performances, half naked participants, auction and raffle prizes, and much more.

When Jell-O Wrestling first started, it was a small scale event, raising about $5000 for HIV/AIDS work in Tucson.

Last year we raised over $56,000 for the programs and services at SAAF. We couldn’t do that without the fundraising efforts of our wrestlers and our phenomenal sponsors, like this year’s Title Sponsor, Freedom Smoke USA. Freedom Smoke USA has sponsored every major fundraising event for SAAF

this season and we are so grateful to have them on board for Jell-O Wrestling.

Last year found me in the pit wrestling the wonderful Jeannette Maré from Ben’s Bells. We had the most fun competing for top fundraiser and wrestling at the event. She brought true meaning to the phrase “killing em’ with kindness,” as she brought out quite the fan club to support SAAF (Thank you, Jeannette)! This year, finds me a in a less sticky role, as a proud supporter and spectator as I get to enjoy all of the days events.

If you have never been, this is a great time to come check it out. Jell-O Wrestling is a 21 and older event so bring your friends! It is on May 9 at the Slaughterhouse on Grant Road and I-10.

Check out our website at http://jellowrestling.saaf.org/ for more information and I hope to see everyone there!

April 22, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Community Voices

Page 11

An interview about Reveille Men’s Chorus and ‘When I Knew’

By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN

from the military, and more transgender singers. The quality the new members bring is electric.

One of the treasures of our community is Reveille Men’s Chorus.

What are some of the highlights of Reveille’s first 20 years, and what changes will we be seeing in Reveille over the next 20 years?

This season, Reveille Men’s Chorus is celebrating their 20th year. Their next concerts, under the leadership of artistic director Shawn Cullen, are scheduled for May 2 at 8 p.m., and May 3 at 3 p.m., both at the historic Temple of Music and Art. The theme of the show is “When I Knew.”

I talked to board president Stephen Michael about the upcoming concerts, and what’s happening with the chorus.

The theme of this concert is “When I knew.” Is that related when you knew about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans? Or when you knew you something else?

Stephen: The theme of this show is about the personal road of discovery.

It is not just coming out stories. While many of the stories will have a gay theme because they involve gay men, the stories range from “When I Knew . . .

I was different, I was in love, I was jilted, I was going to be a dad, and more.”

What can your adoring audience look forward to in this Reveille concert, as well as this 20th anniversary season?

Stephen: Reveille is debuting its small group, Reverb. Reverb is an eight man choral group that will serve as the primary vehicle for outreach performances. Reverb will be included in every show moving forward. You can expect some new stuff from Reverb in both acts.

It sounds like this concert will be quite different than previous Reveille concerts. Tell me more about this concert and what motivated it.

a 20 year celebration plaque. And we will be ending the show with a celebration of all members and welcoming all alumni to sing with the chorus.

Stephen: With this being our 20th season, we wanted to do something to celebrate the great diversity of the men who have made up Reveille over the years. This led to an idea about telling quick little stories directly from chorus members. We share tidbits all the time as a group, and those moments are funny, precious, heart-wrenching, and sometimes sad. What a better way to celebrate than with the voices of those who make Reveille so unique.

Where and when can people purchase tickets?

Will the show be focused on the 20th anniversary of Reveille that you are commemorating this year? How so?

Stephen: We will be incorporating two pieces related to the 20th anniversary. We will be visited by a board member Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses who will present Reveille with

Baron is an absolute sweetheart of a kitty and a staff favorite. He just turned 7 years old, and always looks dressed for a night on the town (or a night in with cuddles). He was very shy and retiring, but he has come around and now flirts with everyone. His teensy purr makes him rumble, so you’ll feel it if you give him chin scratches, but you probably won’t feel it. He loves treats, and loves it when you talk to him.

Baron

Stephen: The easiest way to get tickets is to purchase them online at www.reveillemenschorus.org. People can always buy them at the door, but why risk it? Get ‘em now.

The chorus is growing — what changes are you noticing in the chorus members and their motivations and involvement?

Stephen: Reveille is very excited about the new faces you’re going to see again this year. The chorus continues to be a more diverse group each year.

We are singing with younger men, men

Stephen: Reveille has always been known as the “little chorus with the big sound.” Now we have grown to a size where musical quality is even higher and we don’t have to always sing loud to be heard. This is allowing for some incredible new performances by a midsized men’s chorus. We are excited to be exploring a youth education program to bring the power of music as a means of expression to high school students around Southern Arizona.

With all of the entertainment options available in Tucson, what are some of the reasons people will be happy when they choose to attend a Reveille concert?

Stephen: Musical excellence with a broad array of styles is hard to find in one two-hour show. Reveille will take people on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with music from classical to contemporary to “Broadway wow.” The price of the ticket is very reasonable considering the quality of the show people get. And people leave our shows singing!

Thank you, Stephen, and thank you to all the Reveille singers, volunteers, and supporters for being part of what makes Tucson’s community thrive! See you at the concert on May 2 and 3!

Florida repeals anti-gay/ lesbian law nixed by court TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- It only took five years, but the Florida Legislature voted last week to repeal the state's ban on adoptions by gays and lesbians -- which a court ordered the state to stop enforcing five years ago.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens retorted: "That's me. I'm a long-term implication." (Clemens was born to a single mother and placed for adoption, according to the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper.)

The appeal now goes to Republican Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.

"I think your God would want you to give an opportunity to those hundreds of children across the state of Florida who need a second chance," Clemens told Hays.

Eleven Republicans remained adamant about not repealing the law no matter what the courts said.

One of them was Sen. Alan Hays, who said: "Think of the long-term implications for all of these children. That's what it's all about -- put the politics aside and think about the children."

The adoption ban has been on the books since 1977 -- a relic of entertainer and orange-juice queen Anita Bryant's anti-gay campaign.

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As Clark Saw It

OBSERVER

By Gary Clark

WEEKLY

April 22, 2015

Fad for Tibetan mastiffs dies, leaving noble giants used for food

Gilles Sabrie / The New York Times

Zoe’s World

By Zoe

OBSERVER STAFF BEIJING -- Even worse than Holland's tulip mania of the 1630s, China's fad for Tibetan mastiffs ("No reasonable buyer ... would pay more than $250,000 for a premium specimen," The New York Times reported last week) has left the huge canines abandoned in the aftermath of the boom.

As recently as a year and a half ago, the adorably droopy-looking giant canines were a must-have accessory for any faux chateau of China's nouveau-riche.

Four years ago, one Tibetan mastiff actually sold for $1.6 million. Now, puppies that once might have sold for $200,000 might bring $2,000, and some desperate breeders reportedly will go much lower.

Several have lost everything.

According to The New York Times, earlier this year about 20 of the mastiffs were among a truckload of 150 dogs headed for a slaughterhouse at $5 a head, to become "hot pot ingredients, imitation leather and the lining for winter gloves."

The dogs were saved by "a band of Beijing animal-rights activists who literally threw themselves in front of the truck," the Times reported.

"Fads are a huge driving force in China's luxury market," said Liz Flora, editor in chief of Jing Daily, a marketing research company in Beijing. "Han Chinese consumers have been willing to pay a premium for anything associated with the romanticism of Tibet.�

Tibetan mastiffs are not really mastiffs, just as Tibetan terriers are not terriers and Tibetan spaniels are not spaniels.

There are two body types of Tibetan mastiffs, often born in the same litter, and it's easy to see why the term "mastiff" was applied to the larger, heavier-built form -- which can weigh 160 pounds.

They are not considered vicious, though their extreme loyalty can lead to problems with strangers coming too close and the dogs being overly protective.

April 22, 2015

Page 13 OBSERVER WEEKLY Detachable penis may sound Clinton's not tone-deaf to handy, but there's a problem Democratic voters this time Continued from page 7 recruited Gary Gensler as her campaign's chief financial officer.

It's true that Gensler once worked for Goldman Sachs, but according to recent blogs, he evolved from being part of the problem to being an absolute bulldog of a federal regulator during his subsequent tour of duty at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

If this little guy looks a bit sheepish, it's because his penis swam off to mate with a female and left him out of the picture. Not only that, but his may not be the only penis making whoopee with that hussy!

Those same blogs say that nobody who knows anything about Gensler would hire him as a figurehead expecting him to keep his mouth shut.

So maybe ...

OBSERVER STAFF Guys who can't keep it in their pants might want to consider the lesson of the Argonaut octopus.

This eight-armed marine critter has a long penis (check) that's detachable (er ... ) and can swim away to mate with females that may be five times bigger than the male.

OK, we all know that sometimes penises have a mind of their own and don't wait for a rational decision. What if your penis gets excited and detaches before you've even made up your mind where you want it to go?

Not only that, but the female Argonaut octopus can store several penises at a time, to enjoy whenever she's in the mood. Where is slut-shaming when you need it?

We're getting the idea that a detachable penis may not work to its owner's advantage. But that's loyalty for you -- how's this one different from any other penis that doesn't work to its owner's advantage?

But still, officially Clinton still sup-

ports the Trans Pacific Partnership, which appears to be by far the worst "NAFTA on steroids" the mega-corporations could dream up.

And she announced that she'll accept campaign donations from lobbyists, something even Obama wouldn't do in his two campaigns.

"There's probably been some modicum of reassurance, but I wouldn't push it too far because it's just too early," said Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

No kidding. Be prepared to welcome Hillary Clinton back into progressive ranks, but don't bend over to pick up the soap just yet.

The little Argonaut octopus lives deep in the ocean and not a lot is actually known about the details of its sex life. Some scientists believe the male just grows another penis after the present model detaches.

But if you think human penises are important to their owners, get this: Other scientists think that once his dick swims away with some horny female, the male Argonaut octopus soon withers away and dies.

Bum. Mer.

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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

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.

April 22, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 14

April 22, 2015

Suspect arrested in Pittsburgh killing after six-month probe PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Almost six months after a bisexual black man was reported missing, investigators have uncovered a suspect's elaborate plan to cover his tracks, according to LGBT news site Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents.

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Page 15

Wingnut governor attended reception for same-sex wedding

Andre Gray, 34, had been missing since Oct. 23. On April 8, police arrested a man they believe killed Gray and dumped his body in the Ohio River. Gray's body finally was recovered March 10, 60 miles downriver in West Virginia.

Originally, police knew only that Gray had disappeared, along with his dog, laptop, Playstation, wallet and car.

Bloodstained sheets were left behind in his apartment.

Police have arrested Hubert Wingate, 30, in connection with the death after finding Gray's Playstation at the home of Wingate's mother. A witness reported seeing the two men together around 11 p.m. on the day before Gray was reported missing.

Police were led to Wingate when he plugged Gray's Playstation into the Internet.

At the time of Wingate's arrest in this case, he was already in the Allegheny County Jail on an arrest warrant in connection with an assault in Colorado.

Gray worked as a hairstylist out of his home.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

OBSERVER STAFF NASHUA, N.H. -- Campaigning in New Hampshire prior to announcing his run for the presidency, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker mentioned that he has attended a wedding reception for a same-sex couple, though he reportedly was out of town when the actual wedding took place.

Walker had been asked by a reporter during a brief news conference if he would attend a same-sex wedding.

"That's certainly a personal issue," Walker responded. "I haven't been to a wedding. ... But for someone I love, I have been at a reception."

Two years ago, he told BuzzFeed that his two sons had tried to convince him that government should stop dictating who could marry whom.

Walker referred to events last June, when his wife's cousin Shelli Marquardt married her partner at the Waukesha County Courthouse west of Milwaukee.

The Walkers' son, Alex, then 19, served as a witness and signed the marriage certificate.

"That's a solid argument," Walker said at the time. "I personally may not embrace that yet, but that, to me, is a bigger question. I get their concerns."

Walker still believes only in heterosexual marriage.

Page 16

OBSERVER WEEKLY

April 22, 2015

Eight LGBT women who deserve to grace the $20 bill Adapted from SHEWIRED There's finally momentum to put a woman's face on the $20 bill, but why not honor LGBT people and women by putting a queer lady on some cash?

This class act was the plaintiff in the case that dismantled the Defense of Marriage Act. After she helped bring down DOMA, Edie Windsor proudly embraced her role as civil rights hero.

This feminist writer from Kentucky continues to influence the national discussion on race, sexuality, and violence.

This New York-born out feminist was an inspiration for so many; women, African-Americans, gays. Putting her face on money would not only honor her achievements, it would teach younger generations about them.

More than a performer, Ani DiFranco started her own record label and regularly contributes to women's and LGBT causes.

DiFranco has long been a role model for young bisexuals and would make a great face for the $20 bill.

Quite possibly the most famous transgender person in the world, actress Laverne Cox uses her high-profile position to regularly advocate for LGBT and women's equality.

This scholar doesn't yet have the accolades she deserves, but putting her on money would right that wrong. Anyone who's written works like How to Bring Your Kids Up Gay and Jane Austen and the Masturbating Girl deserves their own $20 bill.

The author of “The Color Purple” has spent her life advocating for human rights.

She's won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Lennon-Ono Grant for Peace.

Ellen would make great currency; she busted the closet door open before anyone else of her stature had the guts.