Metro, Volume 3, Issue 1 by QSaltLake Magazine

Utah’s Gay and Lesbian Biweekly Newspaper Volume 3 ■ Issue 1 January 5–11

Legislative Session Primer

How to become a citizen lobbyist

Guilty Plea in Home Robbery Teen pleads guilty to three felony counts

Park City Hosts Gay Ski Week

Thirteenth annual event this weekend

Sundance Hires Out Designer

Oldham to design opening night and awards night celebrations

UK Begins Gay Marriage Ceremonies Sir Elton John and David Furnish among ﬁrst to wed

Vote for Salt Lake’s Most Fabulous Ballot on Page 20

Aaron Gets In Your Face Gay Agenda

WORLD AND NATIONAL

UK Gays Tie the Knot

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SALT LAKE METRO ■ JANUARY 5, 2006

Belfast, Ireland — Same-sex couples started tying the knot under the United Kingdom’s new Civil Partnership Act Dec. 19. The act grants registered couples all the rights and obligations of marriage. “This landmark measure ends the situation where same-sex relationships were invisible in the eyes of the law, denied any recognition of their commitment,” said Prime Minister Tony Blair. “It gives gay and lesbian couples who register their relationship the same safeguards over inheritance, insurance and employment and pension beneﬁts as married

couples. No longer will same-sex couples who have decided to share their lives fear they will be denied a say over the partner’s medical treatment or ﬁnd themselves denied a home if their partner dies.” Grainne Close and Shannon Sickels were the ﬁrst to do the deed as regular registrations kicked off (a couple where one partner was gravely ill were allowed to “wed” before the act’s start date). Close and Sickels, who is American, got “married” at City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as fundamentalist Christians and gay-rights supporters yelled at each other outside. “This is about making a choice to have our civil rights acknowledged and respected

and protected, and we could not be here without the hard work of many queer activists and many individuals from the queer community,” Sickels told reporters. The ceremonies began in Scotland the next day and in England and Wales the day after that. Sir Elton John, 58, and longtime partner David Furnish, 43, were among the ﬁrst to tie the knot, in the royal town of Windsor, at the town hall where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles got married. Furnish’s father Jack called it “one of the happiest days of my life.” His mother, Gladys, said, “I’m very proud.” A star-studded reception costing more than $1.7 million followed the ceremony. John and Furnish made no remarks as they exited the hall. Nearly 700 other same-sex couples registered Dec. 21 as well. Same-sex couples have access to full marriage in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and Massachusetts. South Africa’s highest court recently legalized same-sex marriage but gave legislators one year to make the necessary legal adjustments. Partnership or civil-union laws that grant

registered same-sex couples some, most or all rights and obligations of marriage are in force in Andorra, the Australian state of Tasmania, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Vermont.

Czech Lower House Passes Partnership Bill Prague — The Czech Republic’s lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, voted 86 to 54 in favor of a same-sex registered-partnership law Dec. 16. Seven deputies abstained and 53 were not present for the vote. The measure now moves to the possibly less-friendly Senate. If it passes there, it would advance to President Vaclav Klaus for his signature. If the Senate rejects the bill, the deputies could override the Senate with an absolute majority of 101 votes in the 200-member chamber.

The legislation was favored by Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek’s Social Democrats and many Communists but opposed by the Christian Democrats, who are part of the three-party governing coalition.

Latvia Bans Same-sex Marriage Riga, Latvia — Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed legislation amending the nation’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage Dec. 21. The measure passed Parliament 65 to 6 with 9 abstentions on Dec. 15. Latvia already had a law prohibiting gays from marrying but conservative politicians feared it might not stand up to challenges from the European Union. The European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association denounced the amendment. “As an EU member state, Latvia is acting contradictory to and disrespectfully to the principles of equality and non-discrimination agreed and conﬁrmed by various EU treaties,” said Executive Director Patricia Prendiville. “Not only has Latvia now a discriminatory constitutional provision motivated solely by homophobia, but Latvia is still the only EU member state which did not ban sexual orientation discrimination in employment as required by the EU employment equality directive.”

Polish Parade Ban Declared Illegal Poznan, Poland — An administrative court in Poznan, Poland, ruled Dec. 14 that Poznan Mayor Ryszard Grobelny’s banning of November’s gay pride parade violated both Polish and European law. Grobelny had cited “security concerns” in blocking the march. Local media reports did not say what penalty Grobelny might face for the infraction. Despite the ban, a few hundred people marched anyhow. They were harassed by members of the group All Polish Youth, who shouted “Let’s gas the fags” and “We’ll do to you what Hitler did with Jews.” Police intervened near the end of the march, roughed up several marchers, and arrested and interrogated more than 65, who were later released.

failed to secure permission to hold the events. The festival initially was scheduled for the Factory 798 arts complex in the Dashanzi area of Beijing. But on Dec. 14, the Public Security Bureau banned the organizers from that site. The organizing committee, some of whose members reported police surveillance, then moved the festival to the private On/Off bar, which police raided as the festival kicked off. The ofﬁcers reportedly ripped down signs and decorations, videotaped attendees and closed the bar for a week. The festival was to feature three days of exhibitions, seminars, plays and movies.

Names of Petition Signers Posted Brockton, Mass. — A grassroots marriage equality group has posted the 123,356 names and addresses of those who signed a petition to reverse legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts on their well-known website. Knowthyneighbor.org offers visitors the chance to search for their neighbors and friends, or even their own name as allegations of fraudulent collection techniques have been reported on area news stations. A “fraud afﬁdavit” is also available to use “if your name is listed and you believe you were a victim of petition fraud,” according to the site.

“Having direct access to the names of those who signed the anti-gay marriage petition provides you with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with people who may not fully understand the implications of the proposed amendment on the lives of same-sex couples and their families,” said Tom Lang and Aaron Toleos, directors of KnowThyNeighbor.org. They encouraged supporters of gay marriage to “take this opportunity to reach out in thoughtful and respectful ways to those around you. A face-to-face conversation with someone you know can be a powerful way to break through the superﬁcial barriers that separate us.” Supporters of a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage say they collected more than 120,000 signatures to put the issue on the ballot in 2008. Only 65,000 signatures were required. The proposed amendment seeks to overrule a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in May, 2004. An estimated 6,500 gay and lesbian couples have since been married in the state. If approved by voters, the amendment would require the state to deﬁne marriage “only as the union of one man and one woman,” prohibiting gay marriages after 2008. The amendment would not affect established gay or lesbian marriages.

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Tel Aviv To Build Gay Community Center

Chinese Police Shut Down Gay Festival Beijing — Police shut down the ﬁrst Beijing Gay and Lesbian Culture Festival as it opened Dec. 16, saying organizers had

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Tel Aviv — The city of Tel Aviv has approved spending $900,000 to establish an ofﬁcial gay and lesbian community center. The initial outlay will be used to renovate a building to house the center. The city also committed to spending $67,000 a year to fund the facility. The funding is structured so that future city administrations cannot cancel it. The project was spearheaded by City Councilor Itai Pinkas, who told Ynetnews: “By building this center, Tel Aviv joins an honorable club of advanced cities like New York, Los Angeles and Paris. I thank the mayor, who was a full partner in the initiative and understood the community’s needs. ... This municipal building is designated to serve as the place where the community members will ﬁnd the core of their lives.” The center will offer, among other things, exhibitions, cultural events, concerts, workshops, classes, health services, HIV support groups, youth groups, legal aid, social services, a library and a kindergarten.

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NATIONAL AND REGIONAL

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Park City Hosts Gay Ski Week

Jan 30 – Feb 5 Confirmed Films to Date:

Eighteen Hellbent Straight Pumping Velvet Fluff Lesbian and Gay Shorts Loggerheads

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SALT LAKE METRO ■ JANUARY 5, 2006

All films take place at

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677 South 200 West • Salt Lake City • Must be 21

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More information at

saltfest.org

Utah Gay Ski Week returns to Park City for its 13th run Jan. 4–8. The week is organized by John Herriot of West Hollywood-based Community Visions, a loose-knit nonproﬁt group which also organizes ski weeks in Vail, Telluride and Tahoe. Herriot expects between 100 and 150 participants from all across the United States and welcomes Utah skiers to join in the activities. “We would like to encourage people from Utah who want to ski or have lunch with us to join us,” he said. “Wear rainbow colors so we can ﬁnd you and come on up.” Herriott says that Utah remains a good choice for gays and lesbians to ski because it boasts the “greatest snow on earth” and is within a half hour of the Salt Lake International Airport. Also, Park City has many local transportation options and the price to ski, including air fare and hotel rates, is a fraction of resort towns in other states. The event begins Jan. 4 with a lunch, hospitality suite and welcome party. Skiers will be skiing and eating at Park City Resort, The Canyons and Deer Valley.—MA

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4 Mountain du Jour – PARK CITY RESORT 11:45am Lunch, Mid-Mountain Lodge 5:30pm Welcome party at the Ski Week Hospitality Suite 7:30 pm Friendship dinner at Watsatch Brewery Pub THURSDAY, JAN. 5 Mountain du Jour – THE CANYONS 11:40am Lunch, Canyons Sun Lodge 5:30pm Social Hour at the Hospitality Suite 7:30pm Friendship dinner at the Claim Jumper Restaurant 9:30pm Party – TBA FRIDAY, JAN. 6 Mountain du Jour – PARK CITY RESORTS 10:30am Meet at the top of Silverlodge Express Chair 11:45am Lunch at the Snow Hut 6pm Meet for cocktails. 7:30pm Friendship dinner. 9pm Nightclub TBA SATURDAY, JAN. 7 Mountain du Jour – DEER VALLEY (Boarders @ Canyons) 10:30am Meet at the bottom of the Wasatch Express Lift 11:45am Lunch at Silver Lake Lodge 6pm Ofﬁcial Ski Week Dinner and Party (By reservation) SUNDAY, JAN. 8 Mountain du Jour - PARK CITY RESORTS 10:30am Meet at the top of Silverlodge Express Chair 11:45am Lunch at Mid-Mountain Lodge For exact locations call hot line at 877-429-6368, or 801-243-2322 on day of event. Look for rainbows.

Sundance Hires Out Designer Todd Oldham The Sundance Film Festival announced that award-winning, openly-gay designer Todd Oldham will lend his experience and creativity to the 2006 Sundance Film Festival as designer of the Opening Night, Music on Main, and Awards Night parties. Applying his experience as a graphic designer, photographer, and filmmaker, Oldham plans to create an environment that personifies this year’s festival, while bringing to life the festival’s history. The Sundance Film Festival takes place in and around Park City, Utah from Jan. 19–29. “The Film Festival’s official parties have a celebrated status,” said Jill Miller, managing director for the Sundance Institute. “The designer of these events needs to have a flair for reflecting the diverse, creative and innovative spirit of the Sundance Institute and of the Sundance Film Festival. We are thrilled to have Todd Oldham and the Todd Oldham Studio working with us to create unique experiences for our patrons.” Oldham is no stranger to the festival, having designed the “Main Street Lounge” for Sundance presenting sponsor Volkswagen in 2005. Past projects include the Veruka nightclub in Manhattan, “Gateway Lounges” for art rock at Rockefeller Center, the guest house at the Esquire House in Los Angeles, MTV’s Choose or Lose bus and a 1997 GM Bravada used to raise money for cancer

Salt Lake Men’s Choir Welcomes New Singers The Salt Lake Men’s Choir accepts new members just twice a year — at the beginning of the season in August and mid-season, the ﬁrst two rehearsals of January. On Jan. 12 and 19, the choir is welcoming prospective singers to join them at their Thursday rehearsals at All-Saints Episcopal Church at 1700 S. Foothill Blvd. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. The choir is in its 23rd season under the direction of artistic director Lane Cheney. Last year they sang at the Washington National

Designer Todd Oldham

research. Oldham has also made numerous television appearances and boasts a long list of photography and writing credits. He currently designs a home furnishings collection that is produced by La-Z-Boy. “I am delighted to celebrate with Sundance Institute the magic of independent ﬁlm,” said Oldham. “It has been a lot of fun working on the opening and closing party designs.” Cathedral to represent the state in the quadrennial “Utah Day” celebration in Washington, D.C. The choir has also traveled to many of the western states and Sydney, Australia. The choir performs four major concerts and at charity events through the year. Those interested in singing with the choir will be asked to sing scales for Cheney at the end of the rehearsal to help determine what voice part they should be placed in. The choir is open to all male voices, regardless of ability, who agree with its mission statement. More information can be found at their site, saltlakemenschior.org

Timothy Ray Dorrell pleaded guilty to three felony counts of Aggravated Robbery, including the robbery at gunpoint at the home of Salt Lake Metro editor Michael Aaron. Dorrell had faced up to six felony counts, including aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary, for an October crime spree that he claims was in response to testing positive for HIV, according to Salt Lake City Timothy Ray Dorrell police detectives. In late September and early October, prosecutors say, Dorrell and at least two others procured a gun and began finding homes where they believed they could find money or drugs, holding the occupants at gunpoint while they made a maximum five-minute sweep — the time they believed would be the response time should anyone in the homes call police. The two accomplices wore masks in at least one of the robberies. Dorrell did not. According to his testimony to police after the incident, Darrell “Boo” Taylor said he had been abducted by Dorrell and two masked assailants downtown Oct. 5 and forced to walk at gunpoint to “a place we can find money.” Dorrell and Taylor walked from the area of 100 South and 200 East to Aaron’s West Capitol house while two others rode in a car following them. At one point, Taylor says Dorrell instructed him to remove his shoes. According to police and victims, Taylor knocked on the door of Aaron’s home at 3:00 a.m., rousing two or Aaron’s housemates who answered the door. Dorrell and the two assailants pushed Taylor through the door and to the floor, demanding that everyone

get to the ﬂoor and place their hands over their heads. One of Aaron’s housemates recognized Dorrell as he entered the house. The two masked assailants ransacked the two upper-level bedrooms while Dorrell stood guard at the back of the house. Aaron, awoken by the noise, went upstairs to see what was going on, only to be met by Dorrell and his gun. Dorrell forced Aaron back to his room and told him and his partner to lie face down in the bed with their hands over their head. A second assailant entered the room and the two searched Aaron’s room, asking where the jewels and money were. At one point the second assailant said, “I’m getting real pissed that we’re not ﬁnding anything here.” After a few minutes of silence, Aaron risked taking a look that the two had left and called 911 from his cell phone. Salt Lake Police found a break in the case when Aaron called detectives saying Dorrell had been arrested several days later on similar charges. Dorrell, who has remained in the Salt Lake County Jail since his arrest, will be sentenced in February.

qVinum Wine Club Announces May Retreat The small town of Baker, Nev., outside Great Basin National Park will be the setting for a special retreat for food and wine enthusiasts. Silver Jack Inn and Lectrolux Café will play host to the group and other interested people May 13–14. The food and wine package will cost $50 per person plus tips. The inn will also be offering special rates for those who wish to stay overnight. Also planned are a guided hike to the glacier atop Mt. Wheeler and tour of Lehman Cave. More information can be found at the group’s site, qVinum.com.

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Vote Today on Page 20 and enter to win a trip to Fabulous Las Vegas

From the creation of Salt Lake’s own Gay Athletic Association to an eleventh-hour move to rescue the Utah GLBT Community Center from certain closure, 2005 was a banner year for Utah’s GLBT community. And in a year marked by so many gains and strides, naming just one individual as Person of the Year seemed about as impossible as … well, getting Senator Chris Buttars on an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Ranging from a big-city senator to a pair of small-town activist, and in age from eighteen to “better not say,” our ﬁve People of the Year have one thing in common: their commitment to community and personal integrity goes beyond a mere job and becomes a passion.

Valerie Larabee As the Executive Director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Utah, Valerie Larabee’s day is often hectic and complex. But it’s the little things in life that keep her going. “It’s joy that you get in the small victories every day,” she said. “It’s the joy that you get in being able to help somebody that calls in from Utah County and needs your support or by watching the youth that are walking through the doors of the Youth Activity Center.” But it’s also her love for non-proﬁt work, and for Utah’s GLBT community, that helps Larabee through her day. “I feel like there’s no more important job to do than to work on the issues for the people of our community in this state where there’s so much to do to educate people about who we are,” she said. “When you wake up in the morning you know you have a lot of good work to do. Sometimes it gets frustrating but every day we make new friends and have people develop more understanding that we are just like everyone else and we have the same needs as any human being walking around the planet.” It’s this concern for the people she serves that makes Larabee stand out in the eyes of her colleagues. “She recognizes the diversity of the community and she’s always trying to educate herself to make sure she understands what those needs are,” said Jennifer Nuttall, the Center’s Program Director. “She’s very inclusive, so if

there’s something that comes up that she isn’t informed on or doesn’t know about she said, ‘tell me more about that’. She is always educating herself because we do have such a diverse community there’s no way of knowing all the things that are going to come up. She takes a very broad view, a very inclusive view, and wants to make sure that as the community center we are including everyone.” Larabee’s all-inclusive outlook on life also extends to her co-workers, who share an open office on the Center’s top floor. “I think she’s an awesome leader,” agrees Stan Burnett, Youth Director. “She has her background in the military, which explains why her organizational skills and her ability to lead are excellent. I definitely always feel supported by her in my job, and she seems consistently available when I need her.” Larabee hopes to bring the GLBT community together even more in 2006, especially to think about the future. “In addition I hope that we put more focus on our long range plan and begin to dream about what we would like our community to look like in five or ten years and what that means for individual GLBT organizations here and specifically what it means for the GLBT community center,” she said. And when it comes to explaining what Larabee means to the Center, Nuttall doesn’t mince words. “She was just exactly what we needed and I’m so grateful that she came in when she did. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here,” she said. “She came in with enthusiasm, with an amazing ability to start rallying the community and get things done that had to be done to make this Center stay open.”

And rather than do it hidden behind the closet door, Marie and Selfridge took the streets of Utah’s Dixie flying rainbow flags and marching with their own unique brand of ‘Pride.’” “Well, someone has to do it,” Selfridge said in a phone interview from St. George. “When we got together it was a very natural fit.” She was talking about her “in your face” style of activism, compared to Marie’s slightly more “hate the sin, love the sinner” approach. “They grew up in this hell, so cut them a little slack, Amie always says,” explained Selfridge. “So she’s helped me tone it down a lot.” The couple met several years ago at a women’s party. They’ve been together, acting like a modern-day pair of pioneers ever since. They blazed the trail for a Southern Utah Community Center and now have taken their fight to the soaring canyons of Zion National Park where they established the region’s first Pride celebration years ago. “The town of Springdale has been absolutely fabulous,” Selfridge explained. “They really and truly do want us there and they welcome us with open arms.” The rest of rural Utah may be a bit less welcoming. That’s why the Aimees are happy to hand out their personal phone numbers and welcome struggling “family”

members in there home night and day. Has their battle of intolerance made any difference? Southern Utah Pride now has it’s own “board” with Selfridge and Marie acting more like advisors than leaders. And meetings at their homegrown community center have grown so much they now have to hold them at local “family-owned” businesses instead of their living room. “There’s a huge community here, far larger than we ever realized,” Selfridge said. “And a lot of people were out there alone, without anywhere to turn. They didn’t know anyone was there.” So the happy couple ﬁgured they would shed a little light on GLBT community south of Provo. And they believe that light is revealing a much more tolerant and accepting side of Southern Utah than anyone could have hoped for. As for themselves, Selfridge said both her and Marie are attending college trying to “better ourselves, too.” Amie Marie is growing her singing and songwriting career and together they are focusing on ﬁnding a more permanent solution for a community center in stunning Southern Utah. And what better place for it than Utah’s Dixie’s rainbowhued paradise of sun and sandstone?

by JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

The Amies By Darren Tucker

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SALT LAKE METRO ■ JANUARY 5, 2006

darren@slmetro.com

St. George — Imagine dozens of wig-wearing Drag Queens and Speedo-filling Quac members and barely-brief-covered-booty-shakin’ go-go boys and determined Dykes on Bikes marching out your front door and into a town so conservative it makes Salt Lake City look like San Francisco. Kind of hard to wrap your mind around it, isn’t it? But for several years, that almost exactly what — figuratively if not literally — Amie Marie and “Little” Aimee Selfridge have done, wrapping their minds and hearts like a blanket around a tiny but tough gay population struggling against discrimination in Utah’s Dixie. Gay, lesbian, bi and transgendered residents of Southern Utah have come to know “The Amies” very well. The couple set up St. George’s first community center, literally in their own home. They opened their door ad their hearts to anyone living in Southern Utah faced with the daunting task of living an alternative lifestyle in the state’s very conservative, very LDS southern half.

Mark Barr By JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

In starting the Salt Lake Gay Athletic Association in 2005, Mark Barr fulﬁlled a life-long dream. “Once I thought I would play professional sports,” he said. “But I took myself out of sports because I was having this issue being honest about who I was as a gay man and competing in this competitive male environment. Now, later in life, I’m still interested in competitive athletics, and I think [the Athletic Association] has created a place for GLBT people to compete and to enjoy the company of others like us.” For Barr, creating the Gay Athletic Association and its various sub groups, including the Gay Flag Football League not only gave Utah’s gay community an outlet to meet new friends and to play competitive sports, regard-

less of previous experience. It also created a unique opportunity to give Salt Lake City some needed international attention. When Barr realized that no US city had secured the rights for the 2006 Gay Super Bowl, he jumped at the chance to apply. He’s currently assembling a proposal for Salt Lake City to join New York City (2007) and Chicago (2008) as a host city this coming year. “It would be an amazing thing for this city to have,” he said. “Just that amount of exposure and the opportunity for people from all over the world to see how we live and to see that things aren’t so bad here for LGBT people.” In 2006, Barr also hopes that the Athletic Association will help improve the quality of life for Utah’s GLBT community by encouraging more people to permanently settle in the state. “It seems as if every few years you go through all your friends, because so many people have moved on,” said Barr. “But the Gay Athletic Association is something for people to invest in. For people like myself, this is a huge draw. I wouldn’t want to leave a city where I’m involved in a football or softball league.” For the coming year, Barr said he will continue working with the Utah Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center to let people know about the Athletic Association. He also hopes to broaden the Association’s scope by creating more teams. He’s currently raising funds for an indoor/outdoor volley ball league, and a ski club and ultimate Frisbee team are also possibilities. “Sports can boost self-esteem,” said Barr. “This is just another outlet for people to meet new people, spend time with friends and engage in friendly athletic competition for LGBT people and our allies.”

Scott McCoy By JoSelle Vanderhooft joselle@slmetro.com

is to play defense with [Representative] Jackie Biskupski to keep those things from becoming law or from being introduced,” he said. Ultimately, McCoy sees educating his colleagues on Capitol Hill as one of his most important tasks. “I hope to continue the process of educating opponents about who we are as a community, as people and families and to help dispel some clear misunderstandings and stereotypes,” he said. McCoy’s turn in public ofﬁce this year has been the opportunity of a lifetime. “Seeking elected ofﬁce was always a goal I had,” he said. “To me it is the ultimate public service. It’s seeking the trust of your friends and your community to make important decisions. “I really care about the community around me and think there’s a lot of people out there who don’t have a voice and need one. I’m happy that I represent them.”

Kim Burgess kim@lmetro.com

When most people think of Provo, Utah, tolerance for queer people probably does not come to mind. This past October, Kaisha Medford set out to change that by founding the city’s ﬁrst Gay/Straight Alliance at Provo High School, where she is a senior. Medford’s decision to start the group came from a desire to combat harassment of queer people and “have a place where we could all come together.” “A friend of mine did an informal survey around the school and there was a lot of sexual harassment,” she said. “It was surprising. I had seen some of the sexual harassment, but didn’t realize it existed on such a large scale. The group held its ﬁrst meeting Oct. 13, and Medford reports that reaction has mainly been positive. “I’ve gotten some negative reaction, but not too much. Mostly the negative reaction has been a few jokes that were directed not toward me, but toward the community in general—people saying homo and fag. People have made comments near me. These jokes were unnecessary and mean but didn’t cross the line from free speech into defamation.” A decidedly negative reaction has come from Utah State Sen. Chris Buttars, a West Jordan Republican who is drafting a bill to ban GSAs across Utah. In responding to Buttars’ proposal, Medford said, “I think everyone has a right to their opinion, but when you use your religion to create morals, it’s not a separation of church and state. Sen. Buttars is imposing his religion on everyone. I’m Catholic myself. I have nothing against religion. But I do think Sen. Buttars should really come and sit in on a meeting sometime. He should have some background on what he is banning before he decides that it’s wrong.” Medford was aware of the similar battle fought by Kelli Petersen in 1996 after the founding of East High School’s GSA. Blocked from getting rid of the GSA by an equal-access law co-authored by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, the Salt Lake City Board of Education banned all non-curriculum clubs. The ban stood for four years before the school district reversed the decision while facing two lawsuits. Hopefully it won’t come to that in Provo, Medford said. “I think I understand why the legislature thinks it’s necessary to ban GSAs. I understand why they think that, but I say the same thing to anyone who doesn’t understand GSAs. If you sit in on a meeting, you’ll see what we’re about. You have to understand what you’re damning before you damn it. If you’re just taking the morals you’re raised with and accepting them blindly, they’re not really your morals.” Despite the threat, Meford is determined to keep the Provo High School GSA going, and listed that effort among her major plans for 2006. Her other plans include graduating from high school and attending the University of Utah, where she will major in technical theater and triple minor in Middle Eastern languages, Middle Eastern history and European history. After college, she would like to work as a set designer, “dabbling in lighting design and costume design.” Asked about her hopes for the queer community, Medford is succinct: “I would like to see the GLBT community treated just like everybody else. Good will toward man and all that jazz.”

JANUARY 5, 2006 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 7

When asked about his hopes for 2006, State Senator Scott McCoy minced no words. “Four more years!” laughed McCoy, D., Salt Lake City. “Seriously, it’s been great over the last year finishing out [Paula] Juliander’s term, but it would be nice to win a full four year term of my own, so I can move forward with some legislation I think this state needs.” What legislation would McCoy like to see passed? “It’s my sincere hope that we get something done with hate crimes legislation this session,” he said. Legislation seeking to enhance by one step the penalty for crimes based on prejudice due to perceived or actual attributes, including sexual orientation, has been defeated for nine consecutive years. McCoy said he sees such legislation as instrumental in giving Utah’s GLBT community basic protections. He also hopes to see Senate Bill 89, the Mutual Dependence Benefits Contract, discussed by the 2007 session. The bill would allow two adults not eligible for marriage such things as hospital visitation and inheritance rights. He would also like to see the legislature pass a bill prohibiting discrimination against GLBT people in housing and employment – legislation polls have shown a majority of Utahns favor. “The state needs to start doing things that are helpful to the GLBT community,” McCoy said. In the meantime, McCoy plans on opposing anti-gay legislation up for debate in this year’s session, including Senator Chris’ Buttars’ bill to ban gay-straight alliances, and potential legislation to keep cities and counties from offering domestic partner benefits. “This year we’ll be facing some anti-gay initiatives and my number one goal

Kaisha Medford

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Get Involved and Stop the Real Anti-Family Legislation Attempts by the Utah State Legislature to codify any gay- or lesbian-related issue has been at the expense of family and children. Whatever the cause of their prejudice, they have done nothing but attack families and children — the very groups they purport to help. The strength and quality of any relationship, whether gay or straight, or between siblings, friends or family is determined by how those in the relationships treat one another. Slapping a label on a relationship doesn’t change its true nature in the slightest. A legally-recognized relationship between a man and a woman may be plagued by violence, oppression or abuse yet applying the word “marriage” to the relationship does nothing to change how harmful it is. The same standard can be applied to same-sex relationships, where a couple can live for decades with respect, trust and a deep commitment to caring for the other, yet the lack of a legal deﬁnition doesn’t change the relationship’s true nature. Trust, respect, dignity, patience, kindness, compassion, caring, love, friendship and affection are elements in a healthy relationship and are not negated by it involving sexual expression between two people of the same gender. For our legislature to label all gay and lesbian relationships as unworthy of recognition is as absurd as pretending that all straight “marriages” are healthy, edifying and appropriate. Any adult’s relationship with a child — whether their own, adopted, a guardianship, or the neighborhood kids — is

based entirely upon the same standards of what makes a strong healthy relationship with an adult. A couple’s ability to raise a healthy, happy child in a caring home has everything to do with loving and caring for the child and nothing to do with the gender of either person. There are many gay and lesbian people among us who have done and are doing just that. Would our legislature’s declaration that an honest man is now dishonest because he is openly gay make him a dishonest man? No. No more than our current legislature’s declaration that no gay or lesbian relationship is of enough value to be afforded legal protection and recognition … and that no gay or lesbian couple can provide a good home to needy children. How much does our legislature value the families and children of our society when their actions are clearly aimed at impugning gays and lesbians instead of protecting valuable relationships and preventing home-less children from being cared for in otherwise qualiﬁed loving homes? How long are we willing to let the Utah State Legislature misrepresent our community? How long are we willing to be defamed by our lawmakers? How long will we allow our homes, our relationships and our children to be attacked by our legislature’s war on family? Does our legislature not recognize what they have done and what they are doing? Are they completely blind to what makes our society strong and what harms it? Speak up for your rights, your relationships and your life.

Thank the ticking of the clock that the holidays are past and we can now go on with our lives and look forward to … the tyrannical winds that will blow from Capitol Hill during the upcoming legislative session. Joy to the world, indeed. And this I get to face after someone spiked my drinks with alcohol on New Years’ Eve. The bastard. I’ve been plop-plop-fizz-fizzing since. Christmas Eve brought an interesting conversation with my dad. I’ve heard the argument before, but it was interesting that I got to chat about it with him. My family has been absolutely great dealing with the fact they have a gay son. They’re not PFLAG-wavers or anything, but better than I could have ever hoped. But we rarely talk about gay issues. My dad told me he believes that a vast majority of people, Utahns included, have nothing against gay people — could care less what people do in their homes — but balk only when “it” is thrown in their face. I told him I agreed with him to a point. I told him I believe people tend to think “it” is being thrown in their face by the mere mention of the fact I am gay or that I have a male partner. He asked why I would find it necessary to tell anyone about that. I said that he would be surprised how often I get asked if I am married or have kids. What am I supposed to do? Lie? Turn around and walk away? I also said that if he is right, and most people “could care less,” then it is because we threw “it” in the faces of friends and family and the masses for the past 25 or more years. People don’t just change for the sake of changing. They have to be made aware. A week after our conversation, I was in a theater full of people watching Brokeback Mountain, which was set between 1963 and 1982. I grew up during these years. (Don’t tell Christian I was born in 1963, he thinks I’m 28.) There is a good side and a bad side to watching that beautiful movie: you realize how much has changed, but how much things are the same. People want to believe they are compassionate, that they “could care less” what gay people do … until we want the rights and benefits they enjoy. Not that they have to give anything up to give them to us. I guess rights are like love — the more you give the more you get. (Yeah, sappy. Give me a break, I just watched Brokeback! I’ve fallen victim to the gay propagandists.) Some people I thought were the loudest non-gay supporters of gay and lesbian rights shrugged their shoulders when it came to gay marriage and said, “I can’t follow you down this road.” Supportive lawmakers suddenly disappear during votes on the hill when the issue turns to sexual orientation. The answer is and always has been to throw “it” in the faces of those around you in a constructive, meaningful way. Only because people know they have gay siblings, a transsexual coworker, a lesbian aunt, do they truly believe in extending rights and benefits to our community. And if I made any headway in my conversation with my dad, maybe he will tell other people what I told him: We’re throwing nothing in their face. We’re sharing an important part of lives.

Guest Editorial A Year at the Center

by Evelyn Garlington To The Board, Staff, Donors and Volunteers of the GLBT Center: Happy New Year! It’s almost 2006, and a year has past since many of us joined the Center’s staff and board. I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your service to the Center. Whether as a board or staff member, or as a volunteer, your contribution has had a profound effect on our community. Valerie Larabee was hired a year ago to direct the Center. Most of you know that the Center was in need of a great deal of attention and care if it was to survive. Neglect of donors, policies and procedures, the Center’s infrastructure and the GLBT community itself had taken a heavy toll on the Center. Over the past year, Valerie has used her considerable talents and wisdom to improve the programs and services of the Center. Because of Valerie, and a cracker-jack staff: Jennifer Nuttall, Stan Burnett, Nathan Measom and interns BJ Olsen and Samantha Harman, the Center has survived and it now flourishes. Our capacity to serve the community has grown dramatically over the past year. We are making a difference! To our donors, thank you for your support. Whether your gift is large or small, everyone who makes a financial contribution to the Center works for social justice and creates change. Without you, none of this work would be possible. We are extremely grateful for your financial partnership as we work to be a catalyst for personal growth, acceptance and equality for GLBT people in Utah. In one year our Board of Directors has almost completely turned over to new members. There is only one “old-timer” left on the board — John Johnson — and he has worked tirelessly both as the board treasurer and now as the coordinator of Winterfest to ensure the success of the Center and its mission. We owe John our sincere thanks for many jobs well done. How could I reflect on the past year without thinking of Beano Solomon? Beano’s announcement at the board orientation last year of her gift to the Center charged the very air in the room with the electric current of hope. Her enthusiasm for the Center, for our youth program and GLBT people everywhere have been an inspiration to us all. Beano, thank you for your generosity and for the gift of your time. Your talent, energy and leadership are greatly appreciated. The work of the Center has been carried on many shoulders. The following are just a few programs, services and events that have been proudly, energetically, and wisely managed by a host of dedicated volunteers. The Utah Pride Festival — A very special thanks to Jere Keys, Jim Rengstorf, Sherry Booth, Kathryn Warner, Don Stewart, Carol Gnade, Marc Simmons, Jesse Nix, Fran Pruyn, Arthur Haynes, Valerie Larabee and anyone who staffed a booth, charged a walkie-talkie, sold a ticket, facilitated the finances, managed a stage, helped with setup or tear-down. Thank you for all you did to make Utah Pride 2005 the best ever. The Youth Activity Center — Beano Solomon, Stan Burnett, Nate Currey and all the other volunteers who understand

the importance of providing a safe haven, outreach and education to the youth of our community, thank you! The Center Golf Classic — Michelle Turpin, Alison Beddard, Stephanie Pappas, Denise Draper, Kelly Kightly, Lynndee Mueller, Margaret Evans, Marie Needham, Rita Harrington, Sue Gagnier, Trudy Sanderson, Victor Saldavar and Jennifer Nuttall, you have inspired all of us with your energy, enthusiasm, and uncommon sense in creating this annual classic. We are deeply grateful for the years of time and energy that you have given to this event. Friday Night Bingo — The Cyber Sluts, Karla McGuigan, Kelly Kightly and anyone who has ever donated a prize to Gay Bingo. Thank you for giving this community an important and exciting monthly social event. Swerve Monthly’s — Brandie Balken, Laurie Mecham, Fran Pruyn and all the members of Swerve, thank you for providing programs and services for Lesbians, their families and friends. Your generosity, your time, your skills and knowledge benefit all of us. Thank you. Salt Lake City Winterfest — To John Johnson and all the volunteers of Winterfest — it is not just one trip but a whole journey to the Center’s inaugural Winterfest event coming Feb. 3–12, 2006 (www.slcwinterfest. com). Thank you all for what you have done to make this important event a success for our entire community. The Center’s Coming Out Day Breakfast — Fran Pruyn, Valerie Larabee, Linda Asa and Kate Kendall joined with a wonderful cast of inspired performers. Thank you for a most successful, entertaining and touching special event. Wow! To the members of the Transgender Community Forum — Thank you for the work you do in being advocates for the members of this important group in our community. Your courage moves me to work harder to understand all the groups of our beautiful and diverse community. Center Town Hall Meetings — Many thanks to Robert Austin, Jere Keys, Jim Rengstorf, Polly Stewart and Kip Swan. Our Town Hall Meetings have worked to give voice to our community. The GLBT Leadership Task Force (now the GLBT Community Coalition) — To all of you who have cared enough to get involved and stay involved, thank you for working to build trust and a true coalition of community activists. The work that we do here is more important than most of us realize. · The GLBT Mental Health Task Force — Missy Larsen, Lawrence McClung and all the people involved in the task force, thank you for fighting the destructive forces oppression and for lifting our community with your hard work. Lastly, I would like to thank our detractors, for they are our teachers. From them we learn how to reach deeper inside ourselves to ask questions and find the answers to the pain and confusion that at times plagues our community and keeps us from steady forward progress. They are the bellwethers of our own internalized homophobia. Every attack is just a reminder to all of us that oppression has a tap-root deep in our own community and that we need to double our efforts to fight it in all its forms. A sincere Happy New Year!

Our capacity to serve the community has grown dramatically over the past year. We are making a difference!

JANUARY 5, 2006 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 9

Evelyn Garlington is the board president of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah. More infomation at glbtccu.org.

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AberRant TwentyOught-Six by Laurie Mecham laurie@slmetro.com

TWO THOUSAND and SIX? Who’d a-thunk that George Orwell and the year 1984 would become so old school? Of course, with the beginning of a new calendar, I plan to turn over a new leaf. That way, I can see January instead of still looking at December. Like many of you, I have achieved all of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of last year. Were they modest goals? Perhaps, but not everyone can state that their homicide / suicide record stands at 0/0. Twenty-ought-six is the year that I plan to ﬁnally become too rich AND too thin, both at the same time. I have several thoughts to share with you at this juncture, “several” meaning ﬁve or more. PLANS Isn’t it cute that I am pretending to have plans? Actually, I plan to drink a lot of water. At least, more water. OK, some water. I also plan to get my oil changed. HOPES I hope to be awake, but not afraid. This may sound like a Buddhist goal, but really, it’s just about the regulation of my caffeine intake. I’m going to try to think about starting a yoga program more frequently than I thought about starting one last year. I hope that my marriage will be recognized in my Homeland. On second thought, who am I kidding? We’ll check this in a decade and see how The Land of the Free is doing on Civil Rights.

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SALT LAKE METRO ■ JANUARY 5, 2006

FEARS Sometimes I’m afraid when I realize that there are probably a lot of people who wish that our President were dead, because that would make him a religious martyr, which would totally offset his falling popularity. I am afraid of the unnatural way that Cousin Dubya loves us. I know he loves our troops. Yeah, he loves our troops like OJ

loves me in spite of both of my faults.

loves his women. I am fearful over the continued erosion of civil liberties, environmental protections, and government support for children, the elderly, disabled folks, single parents… I am afraid of the dozen or so inﬂuential Utahns who actually believe that shit coming out of the Sutherland Institute. Then again, great comedy material! I am afraid that I will forget a good deal more of the English language, with nothing to, um, you know…replace it. REGRETS That last haircut. The wildly inappropriate joke I made when meeting my wife’s col-

I am afraid of the dozen or so influential Utahns who actually believe that shit coming out of the Sutherland Institute. Then again, great comedy material! leagues. Being too buried to meet deadline for a couple of Metro issues. Whatever I probably did wrong as a mother. Gaining some extra weight back. SURPRISES Gaining some weight back. Ha, kidding! Scott McCoy landing that Senate seat. Can I get a, “Hell, YEAH!” GRATITUDEFULNESS I am so-oh thankful to be living in a house again, one that I own, or at least that I will own when I turn seventy-five. And I am indeed gratuitous to have landed a job in Oregon, land of High Unemployment! And finally, I’m greatfeel to have someone who

THINGS THAT MADE ME LAUGH, THAT I CAN ALSO REMEMBER That article that touted Salt Lake as a “gay-friendly destination.” I mean, there are plenty of great gay people and organizations in SLC. There is the GLBT Community Center, which is kicking more ass by the day, don’t you think? There’s the Metro, and you, our cherished readers. But a gay-friendly destination? The BEST quote from the original article, “…It’s not one of the worst places in America for gays and lesbians.” That is so true! There’s Lynch, Alabama for example. And Hogtie, Mississippi, and Burnham-at-the-Stake, Georgia. I guess Islamabad doesn’t count, as we haven’t colonized it yet. I was talking with my friend Chris about the rumor that Mel Gibson is doing a remake of Passion of the Christ. Another friend of mine, a guy who has spent a notinconsiderable amount of time in prison, described the original as ”two hours of Jesus getting the living shit kicked out of him.” Apparently the new version will be less violent. What’s Mel going to do, make it into a short? A little five-minute afterschool special? I suggested that it might be called, Jesus’ Very Bad Day. Chris thought a more apt title would be, Jesus Christ: A Series of Unfortunate Events. PREDICTIONS I’m only going to make one, because it is ridiculously simple. Here goes: FLAG LEGISLATION A Play in one act, every 2 years The place: Utah State Capitol Building DeVere: Hey, LaVirl, did you realize it’s a even-numbered year? LaVirl: Heck, I hadn’t a-thought of it. DeVere: Well, you know what that means… Both, (in unison): Flag burning amendment! LaVirl: Nice flag necktie, by the way. DeVere: Thanks. So you wanna draft the amendment this year? LaVirl: Oh shoot, let’s just use the last one. We’ll run it up the old flagpole… DeVere: …and see if anyone sets it on FIRE! (They exit, laughing heartily.) Laurie Mecham has been doing her part to support our economy by spending, spending, spending.

Lesbian Notions Today’s McCarthys by Libby Post libby@slmetro.com

Past Out

Germany’s Paragraph 175 by Liz Highleyman liz@slmetro.com

In effect for more than a century, Germany’s Paragraph 175, which criminalized homosexual activity between men, sent thousands to their deaths and ruined the lives of countless others. In 1871, King Wilhelm I instituted a new penal code after unifying several kingdoms to create the country of Germany. Taken from the old 1794 Prussian code, Paragraph 175 made “unnatural fornication between persons of the male sex or by humans with animals” punishable by imprisonment; the law never applied to women. Paragraph 175 was repeatedly debated by legislators and opposed by early gay rights pioneers such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld. Arguing that homosexuals should not be punished for their innate nature, Hirschfeld gathered 6,000 petition signatures against the law. In early 1898, Social Democratic Party leader August Bebel introduced a repeal measure before the Reichstag, but it failed by a large margin. During the Weimar Republic era, a burgeoning queer subculture developed in Berlin and other German cities. Yet even during the “roaring ‘20s,” some 1,000 men were arrested under Paragraph 175 each year. In 1929, a Reichstag judiciary committee recommended liberalizaton of the law, but the changes were still pending when Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor in January 1933. Espousing traditional values and exploiting the public’s existing prejudices and fear of social change, Hitler soon consolidated his political control. According to the Nazi ideology of nationalism and racial superiority, homosexuality was a symptom of decadence and a danger to the state because it did not lead to procreation. But the Nazis’ homosocial cult of masculinity attracted considerable suspicion. Accusations of homosexuality were employed in turf battles between various Nazi factions, and were used by political opponents to discredit the regime. Hitler banned homosexual organizations, ordered the closure of nightclubs that catered to gay men, lesbians, and transvestites, and halted the sale of publications with homophile or sexual content. The regime encouraged citizens to denounce suspected homosexuals, cultivated a network of informants, and forced arrested men to name others. An untold number of queer men and women went into hiding, entered sham marriages, emigrated to safer countries, or committed suicide. In June 1935, the Nazis imposed a stricter version of Paragraph 175, subjecting any man who “commits lewd and lascivious acts with another male,” or “permits himself to be abused” for such acts, to 10 years of penal servitude. In section 175a, the revised law deﬁned forced sex, sex with a dependent or

Libby Post is the founding chair of the Empire State Pride Agenda and a political commentator on public radio, on the Web, and in print media.

subordinate, sex with a youth under age 21, and prostitution as “severe lewdness,” while section 175b prohibited bestiality. Previously, “unnatural acts” had usually been interpreted as anal or oral intercourse, but the revision prohibited any type of homoerotic interaction. In the ensuing years, convictions for homosexuality increased ten-fold, reaching a peak of more than 8,500 in 1938, and an estimated 100,000 during the entire Nazi era. While most men convicted of homosexuality were held in regular prisons, others — especially repeat offenders — were remanded to “preventive custody.” Some received reduced sentences if they agreed to undergo castration. By one estimate, between 5,000 and 15,000 men accused of homosexuality were sent to concentration camps, where about two-thirds died. In the camps, these men were marked with the letter “A,” a black dot, the number “175,” or a pink triangle. They were subjected to harsh conditions, including forced labor in quarries and munitions factories. Former inmate Heinz Heger later told how he was made to watch a young gay prisoner being tortured by drunken SS guards, who sodomized him with a broomstick. Pierre Seel saw his lover Jo ripped to shreds by dogs. Some “175ers” were used in medical experiments, including infection with typhus fever and implantation of testosterone capsules to “reverse hormonal polarity.” In April 1945, Allied forces defeated the Nazi regime, but the ordeal was not over for men charged with homosexuality. The Allied Military Government sent some to regular prisons, while others were freed and later re-arrested. In 1950, East Germany reverted back to the pre-1935 version of Paragraph 175, and the law was eliminated in 1988. West Germany retained the Nazi version until 1969; the law was revised in 1973 to criminalize only sex with minors under age 18. Paragraph 175 was voided entirely on March 10, 1994, when East and West German laws were reconciled following reuniﬁcation. For many years following World War II, homosexual survivors of the Nazi regime remained invisible, largely because homosexuality was still illegal. Not only were they denied reparations, but many found it difﬁcult to obtain jobs with Paragraph 175 convictions on their record. With the success of the gay rights movement in the 1980s and 1990s, however, some survivors began to speak out and demand justice. On May 17, 2002, the German parliament pardoned all men convicted under Paragraph 175 during the Nazi era — of whom only a handful were still alive — but left intact an equal number of convictions imposed between 1946 and 1969. “I suspect that some people prefer to remain silent forever, afraid to stir up the hideous memories,” Pierre Seel said a few years before his death in November 2005 at age 82. “As for myself, after decades of silence, I have made up my mind to speak, to accuse, to bear witness.” Liz Highleyman is a freelance writer and editor who has written widely on health, sexuality, and politics.

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JANUARY 5, 2006 ■ SALT LAKE METRO ■ 11

A few weeks back I went to see Good Night and Good Luck, George Clooney’s excellent film about how Edward R. Murrow, who set the standard for what journalism could be, brought down U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his anticommunist witch hunts. It all happened in 1953 and 1954. After years of McCarthy accusing everyone — including President Eisenhower — of being a communist or a sympathizer, Murrow and his boys at CBS said enough was enough. They exposed McCarthy by showing him in action. McCarthy’s rants and raves in his Senate subcommittee hearings were broadcast on television, and within months his reign of terror on freedom of thought was over. So much has changed in the 50 or so years since those witch hunts, yet so much has also stayed the same. The need to scapegoat one group for the problems in our country and our society has not gone away. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is today’s Communist Party. We’re not necessarily accused of a wholesale takeover of the U.S. government. Instead, we’re blamed and scapegoated for everything today’s McCarthys see wrong with our culture. Did you know that our community is responsible for ruining heterosexual marriage, or that we’ve destroyed the family because we have kids, or that we are to blame for every youth that comes out as 14, 15, or 16, if not younger? Today’s McCarthys are Donald Wildmon and James Dobson and their organizations, the American Family Association and Focus on the Family. They are Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, members of the clergy who use their positions to demonize us. They are Baylor University and Seton Hall University, religiously affiliated schools, which purge gay alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Today’s McCarthys are Karl Rove and George Bush, who used our desire to marry to hoodwink the nation and re-elect a politically and morally bankrupt administration. They are the Pope and his cardinals with their new directive against gay priests. They are the high school principals who confiscate the student newspaper simply because there was an ad for a LGBT support group or an article about LGBT students. Today’s McCarthys are all around us, and some of their witch hunts are like McCarthy’s — threatening to expose and purge — and some have taken on new and unusual forms. For a good old-fashioned witch hunt against the LGBT community, you don’t have to look any further than the military. Its tactics are straight out of the McCarthy playbook — exploit someone you know to be gay, and get them to name names. The military has “don’t ask, don’t tell” to hide behind, but now that we’re at war, the amount of LGBT purging has dropped precipitously. But don’t for a minute think they actually want us. If it were feasible, they would continue their LGBT witch hunts with fervor. Then there’s the witch hunt of harassment that has gone on unchecked at Penn State University for years. It seems the school’s women’s basketball coach, Rene Portland, really hates lesbians. This might be an “I think she doth protest too much” situation, but nonetheless Portland’s rants and raves over the years have effectively either kept the lesbians on her squad deep in the closet or purged them. But she went too far and kept accusing

a straight player, Jennifer Harris, of being a dyke. Harris in turn has gone public and ﬁled a suit with Pennsylvania’s Human Rights Commission. Her actions gave other former players the courage to speak about their experiences as well. But Portland is still the coach, and her reign of terror against lesbians continues. And then there’s the witch hunt that doesn’t look like a witch hunt. Instead of purging us from this year’s White House Conference on Aging, the administration simply refused to let us participate. Once every 10 years, aging experts gather for this conference to meet, present papers, and make recommendations to the president

and Congress on national aging policies. The last conference took place during the Clinton administration, and while our concerns never made it into any resolutions, at least there was discussion. But Bush and his people even refuse to entertain that we exist and that there are issues speciﬁc to us as an aging population. A half century ago, Murrow had the guts to stand up to McCarthy’s demagoguery. Fifty years later, there may not be one person in the mainstream media willing to follow in Murrow’s footsteps and expose the sham and shame of today’s McCarthies, but, thankfully, there are plenty of us in the LGBT community who are.

Ruby Ridge Living SpongeBob FancyPants by Ruby Ridge ruby@slmetro.com

Dear Readers, Ruby was a victim in the recent AquaNet storm that mysteriously appeared over her trailer park last week. We understand that she is recuperating well and will hopefully be back on her 9” pumps soon. In the meantime, here is a favorite. —Editor Pumpkins, I think I’m having a gaydar crisis! Usually I can spot a homos a mile away – even in their hard-to-spot Conference Weekend camouﬂage, but this SpongeBob SquarePants thing caught me completely by surprise. According to ultra-conservative Dr. James Dobson of the equally ultra-conservative Focus on the Family, SpongeBob is apparently light in the loofah. Who knew? I just thought he was asexual, hyper, and eccentric in an under-medicated Dell Schanze kind of way. But no! According to the good Doctor, by appearing in a pro-diversity and tolerance video with other notable cartoon characters, SpongeBob is actu-

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7:30

Folk, Acoustic, Rock & More

Native American

5:30

8:00 8:30 9:00

Public Affairs

1:00 1:30

Roots n’ Blues

2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30

6:00

Polynesian

Chinese

Vietnamese

Electronica

Folk

Women

9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30

Soul