Observer Weeily Sept. 16, 2015

September 16, 2015

Issue 1599

Phoenix man shoots self in head to prove gun couldn't be fired son Road, just east of these popular twin mountain resorts.

OBSERVER STAFF HEBER-OVERGAARD, Ariz. -- The Navajo County Sheriff's Office is still investigating a self-inflicted gunshot wound that occurred when a group of acquaintances were target-shooting during the second day of a drinking party.

Chief Deputy James Molesa told the White Mountain Independent that Christen Reece, 23, of Phoenix apparently put a handgun to his head and pulled the trigger to show his friends that his gun had a double safety and couldn't be fired.

The shooting took place south of Arizona 277 on Gib-

Inside Checking your knowledge about HIV Page 8

Kim Davis toys with hell-fire by letting deputies process licenses Page 4 Democrats’ top strategist needs to pick some oranges before she ruins 2016 Page 8 Blacks, latinos needn’t expect education or wealth to shield them from racism

Page 3 Aw, crap -- does the Iran deal mean we don’t get to invade for bogus reasons again?

Page 5 Dutch government admits Russian LGBTs are in danger, offer asylum Page 10

Miss America 2016 was among the most pro-LGBT beauty pageants ever OBSERVER STAFF Up until this week's Miss America, it was the pageant most noted for vapid responses from contestants during the question-andanswer segments.

Some members of the group took Reece to a local fire station, where paramedics began working on him. He was airlifted to Scottsdale Osborn Hospital and underwent surgery.

The pageant, a direct competitor to Donald Trump's Miss USA, also has been known for its right-wing queens -- remember Anita Bryant, whose career went down in flames after she turned to full-time gay-bashing?

Molesa said all members of the group were from Phoenix. Four people fled the scene, of whom two were identified but not immediately located. Alcohol-impaired judgment appeared to be a factor in the behavior of all of them, Molesa said.

Reece originally was listed in critical condition; no recent report was available.

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Miss Alabama, Meg McGuffin, Miss Louisiana, April Nelson, Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell, Miss Mississippi, Hannah Roberts, Miss Colorado, Kelley Johnson attend The 2016 Official Miss America After-Party at on Sunday in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Judge hearing Planned Parenthood case tells state officials they're lying -and they were!

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration gave U.S. District Judge John deGravelles a list of 2,000 health-care providers that would still provide family planning services if the state ends Planned Parenthood contracts.

The plussed.

judge

was

non-

"It strikes me as extremely odd that you have a dermatologist, an audiologist, a dentist who are billing for family planning services," deGravelles told attorneys. "But that is what you're representing to the court? You're telling me that they can provide family planning and related services?"

Weeeelll, state officials double-checked and found that 2,000 actually equals . . . 29.

Continued on page 3

Continued on page 12

Driver who freaked out over rainbow bus now says he got fired over it

OBSERVER STAFF BATON ROUGE, La. -Louisiana Republicans are so zealous about choking off Planned Parenthood in their state that they got just the teensiest bit overzealous, and a judge called them on it.

Or more recently, 2009's Miss California

Page 4

Two police officers wed in Spain OBSERVER STAFF JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain -- Two police officers recently wed at Spain's Andalucia Royal Equestrian School in Jerez de la Frontera after a five-year relationship.

Identified only as Chema and Jonathan, the couple reportedly is honeymooning on the U.S. West Coast, from Seattle to San Diego.

Some media identified them as members of the national police and some as Catalan state police.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005. The couple said they'd consider repeating their vows in church if the Roman Catholic Church ever gets with the program; Chema continues to be a practicing Catholic and takes part in Holy Week ceremonies, although Jonathan is a confirmed agnostic.

They also say they'll consider adopting a child.

"Gay parents are often more stigmatized, but if you think deeply about it, gay parents often adopt the children whose parents have abandoned them," Chema said in an interview with Canal Sur Radio.

They kept the wedding gala itself private, but said they're aware that publicity over their marriage is likely to help with

several causes, including antibullying campaigns in schools.

Jerez, the city of 200,000 where they married, is in the southwest corner of Spain and also happens to be Chema's home town.

Jonathan is from Algeciras, a few miles to the southeast and the main crossing point on the Strait of Gilbraltar, between Spain and Africa.

Page 2

Thai university intros mandatory sexuality, trans issues classes BANGKOK -- A Thai university is making classes on trans issues mandatory for all incoming freshmen.

Starting this term, all new students at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, the country’s second-oldest institute of higher education and the national university, will have to take a social life skills class.

The course is supposed to prepare students for leading a successful life and, according to the Asian Correspondent, will cover subjects including music, art and sports, but also a three-hour session on sex and sexuality.

Part of this mandatory session will focus on gender identity, with Kritipat Chotidhanitsakul, better known as Jimmy, one of Thailand’s best-known trans men, as the guest speaker.

“I am very happy to be teaching so many students,” he told Asian Correspondent.

“I hope they will mature into adults who understand transgender issues and set a new trend for society.”

S. Ariz. Senior Pride sponsors poetry event at UA Poetry Center TUCSON – “Words of Wisdom” poetry reading will be held at the UA Poetry Center Oct. 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 1508 E. Helen St. This is a free event held in the center’s wheelchair-accessible outdoor amphitheater. Light refreshments will be served after the reading. It’s requested that you don’t wear perfumes or scented products.

The reading features: Meikil Berry, Edwin Holliday, Lisa Cole, Tom Kerrigan, Liz Shellenberg, Randolph, Maria Camouh, Sandy Szelag and Curt Stubbs.

Senior Pride is still seeking volunteers for this event and its community forum event scheduled for Feb. 7 2016. To volunteer for these events contact Senior Pride at soazseniorpride@gmail.com or (520)704-5830.

Sen. Bernie Sanders backed gay soldiers 20 years ago This presidential campaign already stands out for the number of odd points being made, and maybe none is more unexpected than a report that Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders defended gay soldiers on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives 20 years ago.

This was a time when Gallup polling showed nearly half of Americans still believed even consensual homosexual activity should be illegal.

According to a report from VOX, back in 1995 Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., had just finished criticizing the idea of allowing "homos in the military" when Sanders blasted back:

OBSERVER "Was the gentleman referring to the many thousands and thousands of gay people who have put their lives on the line in countless wars defending this country? You have insulted thousands of men and women who have put their lives on the line."

As a reminder, gay and lesbian soldiers weren't allowed to serve openly until 2011 -- 16 years later.

R.E.M. front man goes profane over Repub use of song GOP presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz all had one other thing in common last week: They were in hot water over unauthorized use of rock songs in attempting to make themselves look cool.

WEEKLY

WWSB-TV in Sarasota reported that surveillance video shows the man lighting a gasoline can on fire with a cigarette and then escaping.

The club remained operable.

Host to Kim Davis: You're Sharia law in Christian guise Wingnuts across America are suffering sphincter palpitations because they claim we're in danger of imposing Sharia law, and they're correct -- but in a Christian version rather than Muslim.

Bill Maher said last week during a panel discussion on his "Real Time With Bill Maher" that Kim Davis is trying exactly that.

Members of the band Survivor also berated Huckabee over use of their song "Eye of the Tiger" at a rally for anti-gay Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis.

"If you say, as Kim Davis and her ilk and Ted Cruz and these people say, that actually, 'I can ignore the rule of man because the rulebook of God said,' then you are Iran. Then you are Saudi Arabia. Then you are Sharia law," Maher said.

Author Salman Rushdie, who noted that he has "a small area of expertise with religious bigotry" after facing death threats from Muslim extremists who consider his writings blasphemous, observed that religious bigots tend to cast themselves as victims of persecution.

Usually, bands don't really do anything about unauthorized use of their material, although in 2012 R.E.M. got a court cease-and-desist order against Fox News over the use of "Losing My Religion" in coverage of the Democratic national convention.

"While they are denying people their rights, they claim their rights are being denied," he said. "While they are persecuting people, they claim to be persecuted. While they're behaving colossally offensively, they claim to be the offended party."

All four magistrates in N.C. county refuse to perform weddings

Not news to anyone with a working brain, but nice to see it noted.

Michael Stipe, the band's out lead singer, cut loose on Facebook and in an e-mail to The Daily Beast: "Go fuck yourselves, the lot of you -- you sad, attention-grabbing, powerhungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign."

MARION, N.C. -- The state of North Carolina is having to pay magistrates from other counties to drive here to perform weddings because all four of McDowell County's magistrates are refusing to do so.

North Carolina law requires that each county offer marriage ceremonies for at least 10 hours every week, but Republicans in the Legislature recently made it also legal for magistrates to opt out because of religious bias against same-sex marriages.

Once magistrates claim the exemption, it stands for six months and can be renewed.

In all, 32 magistrates throughout North Carolina are refusing marriage ceremonies under the guise of religious belief, but McDowell County is the only publicized case where every magistrate in the county refuses.

Arsonist at gay club caught on security camera -- oopsie!

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The arsonist who set fire to a gay club in Sarasota last weekend starred on a security tape while committing the crime.

The Associated Press reported that the Throb nightclub sustained $10,000 in damage -- luckily, sprinklers stopped the fire from spreading.

Gay Catholic blogger to welcome pope on visit to America A 23-year-old gay Roman Catholic blogger is among those invited by the White House to welcome Pope Francis on his visit to the U.S. this month.

Aaron Jay Ledesma frequently blogs about his connection to his faith, God and the Roman Catholic Church.

He claims he is on a quest to find signs that God is with him despite his sexuality -- and that he got one last month, via a phone call from the White House inviting him to welcome the pope.

"I thought to myself, 'I hope no one is messing with me and I'm not getting punked.' There's just no words to describe what I felt," Ledesma said.

He doesn't yet know if he'll actually get to meet the pope.

FBI: ISIS online freako is ID'd as Florida Jew, 20 A 20-year-old Jewish-American man from Florida has been charged with pretending to be an Australiabased Islamic State jihadist.

Joshua Ryne Goldberg, who lives at his parents' home in Orange Park, Fla., was arrested after a joint investi-

September 16, 2015 gation involving the FBI and the Australian Federal Police.

Goldberg is accused of posing online as "Australi Witness," supposedly an ISIS supporter and a fomenter of attacks against people and events in various countries.

"Australi Witness" was the one who publicly posted the address of the antiMuslim "Draw Mohammed" contest in Garland, Texas, where two men died in a shootout earlier this year after driving from Phoenix to disrupt the event.

He also posted (as himself) that he intended to smear Amnesty International and Australian Muslim advocate Mariam Veiszadeh, whom he described as "a Muslim whore."

Goldberg also had various other fake online personae. At one point, he even blogged for the Times of Israel posing as an Australian attorney.

That gig went tits up when he tried to run an "exterminate all Palestinians" piece.

1830 E Broadway Blvd #124-215 Tucson, AZ 85719 www.observerweekly.com info@observerweekly.com Voice Mail 520-812-0909 Editor-In-Chief Bob Ellis Executive Editor Nicholas K. M. Pafford Senior Editor Greg Miller Assistant Editor Christine Beall Assistant Editor Christopher L. Pankratz Phoenix Area Distribution T-Media Promotion Send Classifieds, Inquiry Letters, etc to: info@observerweekly.com Publication of names or photos of any person or organization in the Observer Weekly is not to be construed as indication of the sexual orientation of such person, organization or advertisers or any employees thereof.

Opinions expressed by contributors, advertisers or in PSA’s are not necessarily those of the Observer, its staff or advertisers. The Observer assumes responsibility for its own editorial policy only. © 2014 by Observer Publications Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted or archived in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Observer Publications Inc.

September 16, 2015

1 charged in arson that burned church's new rainbow bench OGDENSBURG, N.Y. -- A 47-yearold man charged with a hate crime for burning the First Presbyterian Church's newly installed rainbow-colored bench told police he burned the bench to "send it back to hell."

The bench had been installed to welcome the LGBT community to the church.

The perpetrator told police his homophobia stems from being molested as a child: "The reaction I had to it practically knocked me off my bike," his statement says. "It brought back every single memory from the time I had been molested from the time I was 8 years old, on into the time I was 14 years old."

Francis "Dominic" Solis was charged with felony third-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime and fifthdegree arson.

His lawyer says he is receiving mental-health treatment.

Judge hearing Planned Parenthood case tells state officials they're lying -- and they were!

Continued from page 1 And even then, the list is bogus.

The state claims five alternate providers in Baton Rouge, but only three of the five offer contraception, and two of those three have waiting times of two to seven weeks.

Oopsie -- one alternate provider!

One of the five Baton Rouge clinics also is not accepting new patients for STI, breast cancer or cervical cancer screenings.

This tacky episode was planned to boost Jindal's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, and it went just about as well as the rest of that fiasco has gone.

OW

OBSERVER

GUEST COLUMN

WEEKLY

Page 3

Blacks, latinos needn't expect education or wealth to shield them from racism

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST If you carry a little skin pigment around with you, don't expect education, money or fame to protect you from the wave of racism engulfing the U.S. right now.

Just ask the Harvard-educated former No. 4 male tennis player in the world.

James Blake was standing outside New York City's Grand Hyatt Hotel waiting for his limo to a Time Warner Cable corporate appearance at the city's preeminent summer event, the U.S. Open, when he was thrown to the sidewalk and cuffed by cops who thought he looked like a suspect.

Did I mention that even the guy they were actually looking for turned out to be unconnected to the crime as well?

But that only came to light after the New York Police Department spread the non-suspect's photo all over the Internet as being suspected of "identity theft" -- which is exactly what the police committed in spreading the guy's photo when it was somebody else they wanted.

Oh -- and did I mention that James Blake overcame scoliosis and a broken neck in order to become one of the world's top tennis players?

Did I mention that he's now a cancer-research philanthropist?

You can't get more respectable without being born white! Or, as Traci D. Ellis wrote at Daily Kos, Blake became "The New Face of the Exceptional Nigger."

None of that mattered until later, of course, because an overzealous cop didn't bother to find out any facts before he attacked.

Officer James Frascatore already had a history of excessive force accusations and of racial profiling. His badge and gun were quickly confiscated, but Blake says he ought to be fired.

I'm with Blake. Recent events make it obvious that police officers prone to this kind of behavior are only doubling down in the face of public pressure, not trying to re-train themselves into lawful conduct.

Charles Krupa/AP

Retired tennis pro James Blake, once No. 4 in the world.

Time to set some examples.

In the Blake attack, the cops didn't say a word to him before he was tackled and pinned against the sidewalk in an incident that involved four officers -- simply because Blake resembled someone else.

It took about 15 minutes of mayhem before a former police officer exclaimed, "That's James Blake, the tennis player."

Contrast this to Dylann Roof, a white man who recently murdered nine black people after they welcomed him into their Bible study, and then he was arrested peaceably.

but WTF? Police Commissioner Bill Bratton had declared the incident had nothing to do with race, before he even spoke with the officer involved.

Is Bratton clairvoyant or what?

As Blake later told the New York Daily News, "I have resources to get to the bottom of this. I have a voice. But what about someone who doesn't have those resources and doesn’t have a voice?"

"I'm deďŹ nitely for anything that . . . gets us closer to actually dismantling the system that has never, ever, ever, ever done anything for black people and never will."

Blake said he saw his assailant running up to him, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, but he didn't think anything of it:

-- Marissa Janae Johnson, an organizer of the controversial disruption of a Seattle speech by presidential candidate Bernie Sanders

Contrast it also with Jared Fogel, a white man who -- as Ellis wrote for Daily Kos -- "convinced millions of people that Subway could aid us in our weight-loss efforts, all the while allegedly molesting children, [but still] could merit a knock on his door in order to be arrested."

Both the mayor and the police department quickly apologized to Blake,

"I just assumed it was someone I went to high school with or someone who was running at me to give me a big hug, so I smiled at the guy."

According to the Daily News, he was adamant that the officer never said a word: "No, just rushed me."

Continued on page 5

Page 4

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Kim Davis toys with hell-fire by letting deputies process licenses

September 16, 2015

Driver who freaked out over rainbow bus now says he got fired over it OBSERVER STAFF CALGARY, Alberta -- A bus driver who wanted to dictate how Calgary's city buses are painted now claims he was fired for practicing Christianity.

Jesse Rau recently kicked up a major fuss because the city painted one of its buses in a rainbow to mark the Calgary Pride celebration.

Mind you, Rau hadn't been assigned to drive the bus at the time, but he held a press conference -- yes, a bus driver held a press conference -- to bray loud and clear that he damn sure wouldn't drive it if he got assigned to it.

"I'm concerned that if I say that this bus is against my beliefs that I might not have a job," Rau whined. "I'm a Christian so, as a Christian, there are things like homosexuality that I just can't condone."

A new billboard in her home town welcomed Kim Davis back to work -- and reminded her that all her drama is a few centuries after the fact.

OBSERVER STAFF Kim Davis returned to work this week, and all we can say is "Where's the damn drama?"

After months of swearing God told her not to allow her deputies to process tainted paperwork (otherwise known as same-sex marriage licenses), the county clerk in Kentucky's Rowan County decided to accept the inevitable -- at least for a minute.

Collecting $80,000 a year for processing paperwork apparently also has its appeal.

For now, the licenses are going out without her signature, which some legal experts say is OK and others say may be legally questionable.

One thing seems certain: Her latest legal filing will go nowhere. She claims that the judges' ruling that sent her to jail applied only to the four couples who sued her for refusing to issue marriage licenses. Applying the law equally to everybody else is illegal, she claims.

You have to wonder what her attorney (from the Liberty Counsel, allied with Jerry Fallwell's Liberty University) could be thinking to even put his name on such silliness. But then, he's probably collecting much more than $80,000 a year to look silly.

"I don't want to have this conflict, I don't want to be in the spotlight," Davis said -- apparently without saying

out loud "if everybody would just do as I say."

Kimmie, child, thy name is ego!

The color of this mess was indicated by two well-known white supremacists -- Michael Peroutka and Matt Heimbach -- speaking at rallies for Davis outside the Rowan County courthouse.

Within the span of a few days, Davis went to jail after repeatedly violating court orders, got out of jail after acknowledging that she might be subject to a judge's order, rebuffed an offer from the armed vigilante group Oath Keepers to "prevent" U.S. marshals from arresting her again (that might have led to fun!) and generally did everything possible to continue collecting votes in the asshat-of-the-year competition.

Just to be clear: She wasn't in jail for practicing her religion; she was in jail for refusing to process some paperwork that her job description requires her to process.

She asked U.S. District Judge David Bunning to order the Kentucky governor to change the paperwork to suit her, but Kentucky law says that's the legislature's job. Besides, Bunning pointed out, it's a state form so even if a court could order it changed, a state court would have jurisdiction.

Once again, where does Davis' attorney have his head and why does he enjoy keeping it there?

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Oath Keeper Danny

Peyman, a former sheriff of Jackson County, Ky., even appeared to threaten Judge Bunning during a phone call with other vigilantes: "I think the judge still needs to know that he's not out of the woods just because they let her out. He's still going to be held accountable.

WTF? Accountable how? With the submachine guns the Oath Keepers played with in Ferguson, Mo., and the Cliven Bundy dingbat "standoff"?

Everybody involved in this is smelling like week-old flounder, including the U.S. Department of Justice that ought to be charging Davis with multiple counts of "deprivation of civil rights under cover of law" -- in other words, felonies.

Then she wouldn't have to worry about the oath she took as county clerk.

And certain buses he obviously can't condone, either.

We think that somewhere in Revelation, Christians are admonished about driving a rainbow bus.

At the time of Rau's complaint, a spokesman for Calgary Transit merely reminded Rau that he worked under a contract, and the contract didn't include consultation on bus design.

But now, Rau says he actually did get fired -- "something that I 100 percent expected."

Calgary Transit isn't commenting now, since it's a personnel matter that appears certain for litigation.

By Rau's side at his press conference was his pastor, radical anti-gay chupacabra Artur Pawlowski, who has claimed -- among many homophobic things -- that tolerance of homosexuality caused God to flood the Calgary region in 2013.

September 16, 2015

OBSERVER WEEKLY Aw, crap -- does the Iran deal mean we don't get to invade for bogus reasons again?

By R.D. Smith GUEST COLUMNIST

Sarah Palin gallops onstage to explain Obama's Iran deal -- in another mashup of history, geography, politics and genuine Alaska moose feces.

I'm no expert on why Republicans are so butt-hurt about President Obama's deal with Iran, but I read a lot about politics and I think it can be boiled down to this: Since we're in the End Times, Christians are commanded to preserve Israel so it can be destroyed shortly.

But never mind facts. GOP politicians are crapping their diapers over this one.

And the public also is apoplectic, right? The No. 1 trending hashtag on Twitter for Sept. 11 was (or so I understand) #NoIranDealBecause.

opposed to fellators of Benjamin Netanyahu) say it will be good for Israel.

talk about invading Yet. Another. Mideast. Country?

You were supposed to go there to express your heartfelt reason why another Mideast war should trump (oops, sorry -- different story) boring old diplomacy.

Iran is simply this month's Obama apocalypse. It's this month's Ebola -remember when that threat to our existence fell off the radar after Election Day? It was magic.

Well, for heaven's sake, homie, there's all that Obama Mexican Rapist, Lesbian Domination Rapture, Persecuting Christian Police.

Oh wait -- the reason #NoIranDealBecause was the No. 1 hashtag wasn't because the public gave a shit -- some political action committee opposing the Iran deal PAID to have it promoted as No. 1.

And, of course, the Iran deal is for 15 years, during which time we'll more than likely be able to detect it if Iran starts acquiring massive military hardware.

So that's about as logical as it gets.

Yes, it's possible the Iranians may not keep up their end of the deal. Oh wait -- the U.S. is the greatest violator of agreements on earth, so we KNOW that if there's anything we don't like about this one, we'll be the ones flushing it down the crapper, anyway.

Let's see . . . People who are supposed to know about these things (including Israeli security experts, as

Blacks, latinos needn't expect education or wealth to shield them from racism Continued from page 3 Nor has the officer who attacked him apologized.

So here we are talking about that white privilege thing again. Even fame and money didn't help Blake a damn bit.

In fact, it's safe to say that if he had resisted -- as most guys would -- he'd be dead and we'd be reading quite a different story.

Of course, that's a shaky argument in regard to Iran: Experts say Iran has no weapons capable of reaching Israel -- let alone the U.S.

There's also the minor point that Republicans already accepted the basic framework of the deal -- and Sen. Ted Cruz reportedly OK'd it, too, no matter how many times he jumps up and down and denies it. Now it's just down to show biz.

Page 5

Somodevilla/Getty Images

Last week's kerfuffle included a GOP rally that apparently failed to sway a single vote in Congress, in that eminent body's furor to take over the deal and make it a formal treaty.

It was a crisis threatening the very existence of America!

But never mind -- since this one didn't stir the revolution, they'll serve up another one next month.

That's what it's mainly about, as if you didn't know.

"It was definitely scary and definitely crazy,” Blake told the Daily News. “In my mind there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what, there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody."

But yeah -- millions of people will tell you that I, with my Scottish complexion and hair, would be treated the same way by police officers.

Those people know it's horse shit as well as I do.

Racism is back in style, but I'm betting it's a momentary fad. I'm actually betting on the American people on this one.

The rally did bring Sarah Palin out of mothballs, though -- just long enough to call Black Lives Matter protesters "dogs," which seems a tiny tad off-topic.

Blogger Stereo Williams took care of that with one sentence: "Black Lives Matter can't be 'dogs,' Palin; white America loves and protects dogs."

It was naughty of him to pretend Sarah Palin isn't an intellectual giant of our time, but still, the news value of his observation went unnoticed in the media.

So what's the justification for all this

Deidre

Deidre is a seven-year-old girl came to us from PACC and has been stealing hearts and enjoying the affection ever since! She’s quite the social butterfly, and loves to be right in the middle of everything. We often find her snoozing on our kitchen counter, watching the goings on, and begging for ear scratchies from every person that walks by.

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

Page 6

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

September 16, 2015

September 16, 2015

OBSERVER

WEEKLY

Page 7

Page 8

OBSERVER

Democrats' top strategist needs to pick some oranges before she ruins 2016 OBSERVER STAFF

WEEKLY

Community Voices

Checking your knowledge about HIV

By Scott Blades Executive Director TIHAN

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schnitzel -- er, Schweinehund -- dammit, SCHULTZ -- is becoming a bigger celebrity by the week, and they ain't none of it purty.

The Democratic National Committee chair is still being blamed for Democrats' poor showing in the 2014 congressional debacle, and now her critics say she's limited the Dem debates to six in order to curtail her friend Hillary Clinton's exposure to Bernie Sanders.

A couple weeks ago, I posed 21 basic questions about HIV to test your knowledge. Here are the questions again, and some responses. If you have other thoughts and want to discuss and debate your answers, please email me at scott@tihan.org. Check your knowledge!

Not just limited the debates, mind you, but proclaimed that any Dem candidate who participates in a non-party debate is disqualified.

1. Name two famous people who are living with HIV or who died from AIDS.

Deb Kozikowski, vice chairwoman of the Massachusetts state party and an activist for more open debates, posted on Facebook last week that Wasserman Schultz had been "too busy establishing a full-fledged dictatorship at the DNC to recognize she'd gone over the top."

Magic Johnson, Arthure Ashe, Greg Louganis, Ryan White, Rock Hudson, Pedro Zamora, Freddie Mercury, Eazy-E, Liberace, Sylvester, Roy Cohn, Alvin Ailey, Ongina, Rudolf Nureyev, Perry Ellis, Halston, Keith Haring, Larry Kramer, Isaac Asimov, and many more.

Oopsie.

New Hampshire state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark simply noted wryly that she "had a rather intense discussion" with Wasserman Schultz and was told, essentially, to go jump in the Atlantic.

The critics say she's aiming for a Cabinet position in the Clinton administration, but if she kills the administration before it's born, is it worth destroying the party for 2016 just for her personal ambition?

Last week, after it was pretty clear that Obama's Iran deal was safe, Wasserman Schultz finally announced tearfully that she would give in and support her party, her president and her country.

She talked as if the opposite would be preserving Israel, but what she really meant was the opposite would be preserving her ties to the Netanyahu contingent within Israel. Some Americans are beginning to question whether that should be the basis of U.S. foreign policy.

You're lucky there's not just one damn debate -- and don't sass me about it.

It hasn't been much of a secret that the Obama administration had it with her years ago, and reportedly she threatened to allege sexism and antiSemitism if the administration pushed to replace her.

At this point, it doesn't even make a shit whether the allegations against her are true -- overcoming allegations is one trait of a leader, and Wasserman Schultz is AWOL there.

In fact, two of the national committee's vice chairs, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, also have openly broken with Wasserman Schultz over the debate format.

Some have begun pushing Rybak as a replacement.

September 16, 2015

4. Name two of the four body fluids that transmit HIV. Blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk.

2. True or False: 20 million people around the world are living with HIV? False – the number is actually much higher: 33 million.

3. Name two things you can do to stay healthy if you test positive for HIV. Reach out for support, get into medical care, start taking medications, reduce your use of drugs alcohol and tobacco, contact TIHAN or SAAF or other support organizations, etc.

When she isn't working to defeat the party in 2016, her job is supposed to be U.S. representative from Florida.

5. True or False: The longest that anyone has lived with HIV is approximately 20 years?

She needs to go pick some oranges at Homosassa Springs, or wherever Florida has any orange groves that haven't been paved over.

False – some people have been living with HIV for more than 30 years and are still going strong.

6. What are the two primary means of transmission of HIV in the U.S.?

Unprotected sexual contact and sharing drug injection equipment (needles).

7. True or False: breast milk can transmit HIV? True.

8. What does HIV stand for?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

9. True or False: saliva can transmit HIV? False.

10. True or False: 10,000 people in the U.S. will become newly infected with HIV this year?

False – the number is much higher.

The U.S. has 50,000 new HIV infections every year.

11. How often should people get tested for HIV, according to a recommendation from the CDC? Once a year, or more often if you are more sexually active or engage in riskier behaviors.

12. True or False: 10 percent of the people who will become infected with HIV this year are young people (under the age of 35)?

False – the number is much higher – more than 50 percent of those newly testing positive for HIV this year will be under the age of 35 13. Name a way that you can tell if someone has HIV? Continued on page 12

September 16, 2015

Prime minister gets booted in Australia, partly over marriage CANBERRA, Australia -- Embattled Prime Minister Tony Abbott got voted out as leader of the center-right Liberal Party this week.

Abbott had most recently been embroiled in opposing the Australian public over same-sex marriage, which enjoys very high support in polls.

But with his party's members in Parliament, the main battle may have been over unpopular economic policies (in Australia, the Liberal Party is not liberal).

The man who defeated Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, campaigned on the idea that the Liberal-National coalition would lose next year's general election if it didn't change course.

The vote, among the party's members of Parliament, was 54 for Turnbull, 44 for Abbott.

Turnbull served as Abbott's minister of communications before resigning to mount the leadership challenge.

Abbott's supporters in the party continue to despise Turnbull for his support of marriage equality and climate-change legislation -- both popular with the public -- and call his challenge to Abbott a "frontal stabbing."

OBSERVER WEEKLY

Page 9

Voters in Arkansas city revive LGBT protections voted out in December OBSERVER STAFF FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Voters in this Ozark city last week brought back an LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance voted out in a campaign promoted by reality TV's "19 Kids and Counting" Duggar family just nine months ago.

Voter turnout was similar to the December election and the margin of victory was the same, but the winning and losing sides were reversed in a dramatic turnaround.

"I am really impressed to see our community come together after the divisive 119 fight and pass ordinance 5781," said Kyle Smith, For Fayetteville campaign chairman, in a statement to the Arkansas Times.

"Today the people of Fayetteville voted for acceptance over fear and showed that cities can ensure religious freedom while protecting the rights of each and every citizen," the Northwest Arkansas Center for Equality said in a statement.

The vote appears to be a slap in the face for the Republican-led Arkansas Legislature, which passed a law in February outlawing the passage of gayrights ordinances by the state's cities and counties.

The anti-gay group, Protect Fayetteville, announced that it will continue its lawsuit to kill the ordinance because it conflicts with the new state law.

A commenter called "jayden" described Protect Fayetteville as "a bunch of hateful knuckle-dragging troglodytes."

Little Rock, North Little Rock and Maumelle as well as Pulaski County (Little Rock) and Garfield County (Hot Springs).

Fayetteville becomes the seventh local entity to defy the legislative ban, along with the cities of Eureka Springs,

Walmart, headquartered in nearby Bentonville, was notably silent about the Fayetteville special election.

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

Page 10

As Clark Saw It

Zoe’s World

OBSERVER

By Gary Clark

WEEKLY

September 16, 2015

Dutch government admits Russian LGBTs are in danger, offer asylum

By Zoe Until recently, Moscow and St. Petersburg were considered “safe spaces” for LGBTIs -- now asylum applications will be made easier thanks in part to Dutch State Secretary for Security and Justice Klaas Dijkhoff.

By Stefanie Gerdes GAY STAR NEWS The Dutch government has declared Russian LGBTI asylum seekers a risk group following a letter by the State Secretary for Security and Justice.

In a letter Klaas Dijkhoff wrote to the Tweede Kamer der Staten-General -- the Dutch House of Representatives -- he states that the Russian anti-gay laws “further fueled anti-gay sentiments among the population.”

“The law also gives radical groups carte blanche to attack, intimidate or discriminate against LGBTIs, because authorities hardly take action against acts of violence against them,” Dijkhoff wrote.

He also highlighted the growing number of attacks and the steep rise in violence against LGBTI people since the law came into force, according to Hanz de Volkskrant.

By appointing them as a risk group, Russian LGBTI asylum seekers will be eligible for asylum if they show minor indications of persecution in their home country, although they must still demonstrate this through personal circumstances and facts.

Before the change, cases were treated on an individual basis, with asylum seekers having to explain their situation and lay out the dangers they would face upon their return to Russia.

Until now, the Dutch government still labeled Moscow and St. Petersburg as safe places for LGBTIs, despite an official report by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating same-sex couples had to fear violence everywhere in Russia.

“This is very good news for Russian LGBTI asylum seekers,” said Tanja Ineke, chair of COC Nederlands, the oldest LGBTI organization in the world.

“We are counting on the Russian LGBTI asylum seekers who are fearing deportation to also be allowed to remain in the Netherlands.”

In the past, the Dutch government had told LGBTI asylum seekers to move to other places, according to COC Nederlands.

September 16, 2015

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.

VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi 2 for 1 Original Everything Happy Hour 5-6 pm.

Monday

12-3 p.m.

4-5:30 p.m.

4:30-6:30 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

7-10 p.m.

7-8:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

6 p.m.

Tuesday 3-8 p.m.

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.

SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge

offers mens health re-

OBSERVER WEEKLY Tuesday

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.

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.

VENTURE-N - Open Noon-2am. Free Music. Free WiFi

sources

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.

12-1 p.m.

3-4:30 p.m.

4:30-6 p.m.

6:30-7:30 p.m.

7-9 p.m.

Thursday 3-8 p.m.

4-5:30 p.m.

5:30-6:30 p.m.

SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources Pink Triangle AA Meeting, 439 N. Sixth Ave. Everyday.

Gender Spectrum support Group. UA Campus Health Service Building Room C312. $5 TMC Hospice LGBTQ Grief Support Group. 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Peppi’s House Chapel, 2715 N. Wyatt Drive.

RSVP at: 520-324-2438.

Wednesday Night Christian Bible Study, Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall, 2902 N. Geronimo Ave. Weekly Bears Coffee at Crave, 4530 E. Broadway Blvd.

SAAF’s MSHAPE Lounge offers mens health resources Support Group for Transgender Survivors of Sexual Trauma, SACSA, 1600 N. Country Club Queer People of Color &

Ajia Simone, Owner 426 E. Ninth St. 520.624.8400

Wednesday

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

Page 11

Thursday

BRODIES TAVERN - Customer Appreciation 7-2 a.m. Two-for-One Well-Domestic Bottles, Margaritas on Tap House Kasiz Shots IBT’s - 11a.m.-2a.m. Therapy every Thursday. All Day *2-4-1 Drink Specials (excludes top shelf, wine & draft). Million$DJ Inside at 9 p.m., DJ Sid the Kid on the Patio 9 p.m. GoGo Boys @11 p.m.

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

Sunday

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

Friday 4 p.m.

5:30-6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Saturday

2:30-4:30p.m.

2nd Saturdays

Sunday

9-11 a.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.

Bears of the Old Pueblo Potluch 2nd Saturdays 520.444.2275 Transparents For parents of trans kids. RSVP SAGA to attend.

Co-ed Softball, all abilities welcome. Oury Park, 600 W.St. Mary’s

10-11.30 a.m.

10-12 p.m.

2-5 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

3-5p.m.

5:30 p.m.

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.

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.

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

Page 12

WEEKLY

September 16, 2015

Continued from page 1 Carrie Prejean, who opposed marriage equality during the pageant and whose career went down in flames before it launched?

cancer. It goes for mammograms. And if we don't get that funding to Planned Parenthood, those women will be out of health care for reproductive costs."

OBSERVER

Miss America 2016 was Checking your among the most pro-LGBT knowledge about HIV beauty pageants ever Continued from page 8 You can NOT tell by looking at someone whether or not they have HIV. 14. True or False: One in eight people with HIV in the U.S. are unaware of their infection?

True.

15. Is there a cure for HIV?

19. Name two of the three primary HIV clinics in Southern Arizona.

There are three main HIV clinics in Southern Arizona: El Rio Special Immunology Associates, The Petersen Clinics at the University of Arizona, and the HIV Clinic at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

No, not yet. We’re making progress, but still no cure.

20. Is HIV stigma less prominent or more prominent than it used to be?

16. Name two reasons that HIV rates are increasing among seniors.

While there is now much more known about HIV, there is still stigma surrounding HIV. Is it less than it used to be? Hopefully so. But it is still very real. Ask yourself these questions: 1) If you are negative, how would you feel if you tested positive? Who would you tell, and who would you not tell? Ask a friend who is positive if they still experience HIV stigma.

2) If you are positive, have you ever experienced discrimination or judgment because of your HIV status? Have you ever not shared your status with someone because of the fear of being judged?

Increased life expectancy, higher divorce rate, Viagra/Cialis; people with HIV living longer and getting older, perhaps recently single and not familiar with sexually-transmitted infections, only think of condoms as needed to prevent pregnancy, lack of understanding of risk, etc.

17. What does “undetectable” mean as it relates to HIV status?

Someone with an “undetectable” viral load refers to someone who has tested positive for HIV and who has achieved viral suppression through taking anti-retroviral medication.

Although the virus is still present in their system, it is at such a low level that its impact on immune functioning is minimal, and the possibility of transmitting the virus to a partner is very low.

18. True or False: TIHAN is the second largest volunteer-based HIV service provider in the state of Arizona?

False. With more than 400 volunteers helping TIHAN every year, it is the largest volunteer-based, privately funded provider of support services in Arizona.

21. True or False: Living well with HIV is possible today?

YES! Advances in treatment and lifesaving medications are keeping people with HIV alive and well -- if you know your status, so HIV testing is so important. Unlike the early years, today there is HOPE if you have HIV. Medical professionals now say that if HIV is detected early and you get support and medical care, take these amazing medications, achieve viral suppression, take good care of yourself, you can live well with HIV and possibly have a life expectancy comparable to that of someone without HIV.

This time, four political answers stole the show -- and three of them were from southern contestants.

Kim Davis got chastised, congressional Republicans got blasted for trying to defund Planned Parenthood, and Miss Alabama said the GOP should be "absolutely terrified" about Donald Trump riding high in its poll results.

Miss Mississippi, Hannah Roberts, was asked about the renegade Kentucky county clerk. "[Issuing marriage licenses] absolutely does not violate her religious freedom," Roberts said without hesitation. "That is her job she was voted into doing. That law is a federal law throughout the rest of the country. So, yes, she did violate the law there."

Roberts finished the competition as first runner-up to Miss Georgia, Betty Cantrell.

Hannah Robison, Miss Tennessee, followed up with a question about Republican threats to shut down the government if they can't choke off Planned Parenthood.

"I don't think Planned Parenthood funding should be cut off," she said.

"The $500 million dollars that gets given to Planned Parenthood every single year goes to female care," Robison continued. "It goes for scanning for

Then came Miss Alabama, Meg McGuffin, who was asked her opinion about Trump's rise to the top among GOP presidential candidates.

"I think Donald Trump is an entertainer, and I think he says what's on a lot of peoples' minds," she told judge Taya Kyle, the widow of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.

"But I think the Republican Party should be absolutely terrified of all the attention that he is taking from incredible candidates like Jeb Bush and Chris Christie who could absolutely do the job of president of the United States," she added.

OK, so most people would disagree with her about which candidates are incredible, but after all she's from Alabama where that kind of thing flies -- she still nailed The Donald.

Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson completed the night's queer news when she was asked her choice to be the first woman featured on the $10 bill.

Johnson picked Ellen DeGeneres because her "entire platform is speaking tolerance and equality for all."

Golly whillikers, Miss America -- we hardly knew ye!

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.

OW