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CHALLENGE September 2013
Dancing To Architecture™ Music Reviews & News With a Queer Ear
by Bill Realman Stella
POWER.
Q ◂ Steve Grand ~
"All-American Boy" Want some? ~ single & video Got some? Controversy in the Ne w J e r s e y a n s United States is manufactured — as invented and produced for are on the verge of not one but two elections with candidates the mass market as we used to manufacture watches, wrenches which, to my mind, offer an unprecedentedly clear choice between and widgets. And WTF now but "All American Boy" a music video candidates with pro-Gay versus anti-Gay stands on issues. Both that has garnered 2 million hits. And nearly as many opinionated Democrats are nearly undebatably pro-Gay; both Republicans have remarks, as if Gay desire remains something unusual or shocking only rare, token pro-Gay moments. Yet many folks still act conor abnormal. The singer plays a man who makes a yearning pass fused. Many still hold on to unworkable, unreasonable reasons at his to all appearances hetero buddy, and then the buddy . . . about how they decide who to vote for. Clearly the bottom line has but that would be telling. Go ahead and watch. (Video stills beto be about power. Focus on power: Does the candidate get what gin above and continue on the next page.) my community needs done for us? Will this elected official work on A side controversy erupted over the bull pucky that idjit our behalf? Will they share that power with us? know-nothings who can't believe that a real live Gay country artist exists has spewed into the mainstream, only 40 years Or will you, as a person within the BGILT-Q spectrum, GIVE UP after the first one. (See — or, rather, listen to — the radio proYOUR POWER? Just go along to get along? Just agree to whatever gram archived here to discover the wide range of Gay Country the majority feels like it wants? Our opposition loves to take all talent for yourself.) the power you give it, and in return you'll settle for their likabilOne Facebook friend posted: "So I guess all you have to do is ity and your their comfort with their familiarity. Maybe they'll declare you are the "first openly gay country artist", and that buy you a balloon — or a kickback (or a rebate), and you'll be makes it so? A few months ago it was Drake Jensen...and Chely entertained and forget about your problems for awhile. Wright before that." His complaint that Grand claimed to be But why allow politics to be entertaining? And why let entertainment first was a false premise. When I caught up to the discussion, a fall into the impotent state of escapism? dozen other posts had weighed in, Last month I wrote: "You might have your mentioning obvious precedents like opinions, but the power of the social k.d. lang, and Patrick Haggerty, the sphere, the fear of rejection by your kind, not-so-obvious first Out Gay Counthe awesome and awful internalized tertry artist from 1973. Most people ror of stepping out of bounds, even among ignored the initial misstatement. those of us Queer folk who have long been The one man who didn't, wrote: "I seen as transgressive by definition, all am pretty sure that Steve Grand cause us to cower in the face of having an did not declare himself that. I have independent thought. We run for the read a couple of his interviews and safety (illusory) of agreeing with what he states clearly he is *not* a "country" artist. He is being pieveryone else thinks. (Or so we think.)" geonholed by the media. Big surEvery thing that the New Jersey Qprise." Precisely. munity has gained and suffered poI added this: "Actually, I think I litically this century occurred beread that Steve Grand said he cause of the application or misappli"wants" to be the first Gay Country cation of our power. When we didn't "Pop Star". "Wants" means he's not know we had it, when we gave it saying that he IS—yet. Maybe it's away, entrusting it to silent partners splitting hairs, but I'd guess he's with closeted promises, it caused [also] distinguishing himself as a every negative consequence. Gay Man from Lesbians k.d. lang We now have allies loudly, proudly and Chely Wright. And k.d. was not a star nor publicly Out when she and frequently speaking up for us, was a full-fledged Country artist, COMING SOON! running for Senator and Governor. How do you give up - ignore — that The great SHARON JONES and the DAP-KINGS' new album while Chely became a star without GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT features the single being Out, even to members of her power, and live with yourself? These "Retreat!" family. Much as I've long been an acts of inaction define ignorance. Hear it NOW at https://soundcloud.com/daptone-records/ early admirer of Gay Country and It's ubiquitous. How our Q-munity Country influenced artists...none of acts about power in politics, in social media, in music and culthem have released anything that has the intensity of Pop ture is very similar. Believe as I do that our Q music is an essenchops that Steve Grand displays on All American Boy. It doesn't tial part of our culture—that this is how we live, celebrate, sound to me that he's Country except as the pop-rock type of contemporary Country of the last decade or so. "...This thread save our lives—then to give our power away to whatever spechad deteriorated into "Who was first?" and trying to get Grand tacle a whoring populist pushed at you is just reactionary and to fit or conform to the ghetto's view of history —and totally victimy. If everyone acts all upset about how controversial it is, beside the point that Grand has a great song with a great video c'mon already, get a clue: you're being scammed. and that that does NOTHING to invalidate [anyone else's] caDon't discount our own voices. Sing out! reers or history. This is why I'm perceived as disloyal (or Power is all around for us. If we'd just stop always being so something) to Out Gay Music (despite toiling away at promoting scared, we might hear it. it in my way for over 15 years): I don't jump on the Gay Ghetto
Page 11 CHALLENGE September 2013 bandwagon to automatically hear just what I want to hear, when what's ...really going on is so much bigger, more nourishing of the soul, and beautiful." "All American Boy" is an amazing, dramatic, powerful slice of life song. It's a rare and wonderful thing: A piece of pop art that employs every worthy trick to tug at your emotions, provide fodder for fantasy, and tell a compelling story. It carefully walks the line between what's real and what's fantasy, pulling back from a too easy resolution. The title "All-American Boy" invites cliche, but this boy doesn't insult one's intelligence: All in all, it's Pop music made to do good. Quality seeps through its every aspect, from effective lighting and classic hues in its palette, to sensational editing which makes the most of the features of the song. And what a wellrecorded song it is! One can hear it as just a Plain Darned Good Song: a song you can sing, one with a talented, expressive singer, well played, with its own tricks of the trade generously applied. But "Boy" does not Stills from the music video "All-American Boy" just hook the un(starting on p. 10), performed by Steve Grand, suspecting music consumer — it shown in the order the scenes appear uses two underutilized, often abused means of adding aural zing and real power. The zing comes from the stingy use of dissonance—a few short turns landing on unexpected notes escape like sudden shivers, leaving the listener barely aware they're wondering what that was. The power comes from silence: The awesome use of sound removed to emphasize the sounds that surround it. Every bit works. "All-American Boy" is a great record. Steve Grand is online at http://facebook.com/SteveGrandArtist
Last issue, I wrote this: "It goes to show that, but for a minority within a small crowd, within a subculture of a subculture within Gay culture: People refuse to notice the power of music by Out Gay Artists to literally MOVE the culture forward. To break down barriers. To join people, often heart to heart and hand in hand." A powerful culture makes for social political power. For the life of me, I don't understand why gay people ourselves REFUSE to see the power we have. Stand with stand-up artists. Q ◂ Freddy Freeman, Martin Swinger, Sean Kagalis, Nhojj,
Roger "Rev. Yolanda" Mapes, Justin Vivian Bond, Jay Saturn with Nikkita, Jorge Aviles ~ Highlights from the Out In The Woods Queer Music Festival
It's a warm sunny day in eastern upstate New York, a sidestep from the Catskills and the Adirondacks. Musicians are humming with anticipation. A small army of lovers have arrived to provide an audience for some of the finest, most heart-centered, most dedicated Out Queer artists in the U. S. Some of what you could have heard: Nhojj is an OUTmusic Award winning singer who I knew as a shy young man giving shy young performances years ago. Today he was fully confident, with a bright, fresh vocal delivery that defined confidence. He has grown as a musician and a performer, one to watch for when he comes to town. Martin Swinger is well-known to those who came to his performance at GAAMC awhile back. Today he was in his brightest, most powerful voice, introducing new audiences to many of his new classic songs from M O O N. Swinger's set was sheer pleasure. Freddy Freeman put together a band consisting of his husbear Jay Freeman, Martin Swinger, Sean Kagalis, Roger Mapes a.k.a. Rev. Yolanda and other guests. They appeared to play a song or two at four points during the day, including his new hits "Just Bear With Me" and "BearWorld". Rev. Yolanda, one of the co-hosts of the Festival, filtered her energetic down-home Country Gospel sound through her drag persona, arriving totally real, authentically connecting the day to Spirit. More next month: my cosmic connection with Justin Vivian Bond, the explosive set by Jay Saturn with Nikitta, and Jersey native Sean Kagalis, including a review of his new CD Working Parts. Q ◂ John Raymond Pollard w/ Michael Gilboe, featuring
Francine Saltares ~ "Depth of Love" ~ single
Pollard has tapped into some spirited Brazillian magic with this single track. The relative-unknown, Francine Saltares, contributes a bee-yoo-tee-ful vocal, and the crossover rhythms are smooth and innately danceable. I urge you to hear it, and groove along! In an email exchange with Pollard, he revealed: "The song has a curious beginning. I had collaborated with Steve Sandberg, [who] asked me for a positive lyric for which he could create a melody. After I wrote the lyric...I decided to go with the melody I was hearing when I wrote [it]. . . . I played "Depth of Love" for Michael Gilboe, changed the lyric slightly, and then asked him to develop the track. He found Francine via Craig's List. Jay Anderson was recording some of his songs at Michael's studio at the time, so we recruited him to help with the backing vocals." I remarked, with interest, that this lyric — We are all sons of one mother. / We are all children of Cain./And we begin with a stain on our skin./Tumbled through a tunnel of pain — was "a bit odd." And John replied: "Well, yes, that line is a bit strange….There was a little shock value intended, but beyond that the notion is….We are born into an imperfect world, so, as the lyric continues, we need to love one another. Brotherly love." John's referring to this lyric: We've got to love one another./We're going to sing through the rain./Light from above rains down brotherly love./Join in the joyous refrain. To visit Brazil without the stress of travel, you too should tap in to the "Depth of Love". It's on Amazon, and you can hear it first at JohnPollard.com. (continued on page 12)
September 2013
CHALLENGE
Q ◂ Candye Kane feat. Laura
Chavez ~ Coming Out Swingin'
Page 12
on the latest addition: Q◂Kendall Kelly ~ "What If" ~ single, video I just a little while ago watched the brand new "What If" video for the first time. See it here. Written by Kelly, and you might say danced by him as well (Watch the video!), Kendall asks the musical question: What if the world was upside down / and a frown was a smile / and a smile was a miracle? Watch all my video playlists at the Bill Realman Stella YouTube channel, and leave a comment! Q ◂The Kinsey Sicks ~ America's Next Top Bachelor House-
New music by Candye Kane is always cause for celebration! Kane's tremendous big heart infuses every thing she does. Every bluesy note she sings recalls the Big Band belters of another era. She and her incredible little big band, especially co-songwriter and fiery lead guitarist Laura Chavez, move from Texas Swing to teasing novelties to tough balladry with aplomb. wife Celebrity Hoarder Makeover Star Gone WILD! Kane has also had brushes with her mortality more than once in The amazing, visual pun packed video for "Why The Fuck Aren't recent years. In response, her loyal fanbase has rallied around We Famous" is online now! One killer segment, among many: her. She is inspired to post notes like this one: In a world full of sameness / Everyone wants to tame us / "Thanks to all who supported our super fun CD release bash Why. Can't. You. All. / Be. Like. Ru Paul?? at the Belly Up! We had a blast. I laughed, I cried, I danced and Dancing To Architecture ©2013 Bill Stella. All ©, ® & ™ items included for then I cried again. Tears of joy and gratitude — to be alive and review purposes are ©, ® & ™ their respective owners. The stylized Q indicates albums by (or significantly contributed to by) Out Bisexuals, Gay Men, Lesbians in this moment, I am surrounded by love and cradled in white and Transgendered persons. GAAMC is pronounced "GAY-mick". light and healing. I am kept alive by my sheer will and by the love and warmth of my beautiful friends, band mates and family and by loving demonstrative audiences around the world. Thank you for making my life amazing. I <3 YOU!" If ever you wished you could drop into a loving musical community with a little more to offer than just a good time, Candye Kane has built a place where you'll feel welcome. Heed the call of this special Siren. Don't wait until it's too late. Top Tracks: "Darling Baby", "Coming Out Swingin'", "Au Revoir Y'all", "Rock Me To Sleep", "I'm The Reason Why You Drink", "Rise Up!" Q ◂ The Best Music of 2013 YouTube playlist My playlist keeps growing! The best I've found of 2013 music visuals, it has grown to a 77 video sized list to engage and entertain you for 6 hours plus. It includes a full Reuben Butchart concert at Rockwood Music Hall and dozens of other selections representing dozens of other great artists from all genres. Great Out artists are among them, such as other DTA faves Elle Macho, Leonard Friend, Melissa Ferrick,Sacha Sacket and Freddy Freeman. Freeman plays beautiful, top notch guitars T H E L I T T L E B O X O F C O NC ERT S ™
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE! Dance Improv, Live! with Catherine Judd September 6 | First Fridays, 8-10 PM, Year-Round Drag in Friday Evening . . .Bounce Out Friday Night! Princeton Yoga, 88 Orchard Road, Skillman, NJ, $18 /$10 first-timers A lightly structured evening of self-expression through movement and live music. It is a bare-feet, comfy-clothes, free-movement workshop, a place to dance, play, build community, and form new and lasting friendships. It's a safe place to focus inwardly, make genuine contact with yourself, and bring yourself to life! PopGun Presents indie electronica from
Delicate Steve, Celestial Shore, Conveyor
Fri, Sept 6 | 8 PM | Glasslands Gallery Delicate Steve is a moniker for songwriter/producer Steve Marion. Like a hydro-electric Mothra rising from the ashes of an African village burned to the ground by post-rock minotaurs, the music of Delicate Steve will make you the happiest person who has never lived. Discovered firsthand by label Luaka Bop's A & R man in the parking lot of a Newton, NJ strip mall, Delicate Steve was signed before anyone at Luaka Bop heard even a moment of their music – All they needed was a conversation about what they hoped to achieve as a musical five-piece.
Free Outdoor Show in New Brunswick Screaming Females, California X, Black Wine Sat, Sept 7 | 1 PM | Boyd Park
Spiritualized
Tue, Sept 10 | 7 PM | Webster Hall 125 East 11th St, NYC
Deerhunter
Thu, Sept 19 | Doors: 6, Show: 7 PM | Webster Hall, NYC
Q ◂ Kendall Kelly On tour nowhere near NJ right now! But until then, watch his website, ClothesGetInTheWay.com, or travel (!) to events he'll perform at, such as:
Sept 6 - Sacramento, CA www.papabearpresentskendall.brownpapertickets.com
Sept 7 & 8 - San Francisco @ Center for Sex & Culture http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/455424 Sept 20-22 - Tucson AZ @ Fluxxfest Fluxxfest.com Oct 5 - Simi Valley CA @ stoneandstang.com
Michael Franti
Sat, Sep 21 | Electric Factory, 421 N 7th St, Philadelphia Q ◂ Outfest, a National Coming Out Day (NCOD) Festival Sun, Oct 13 | Noon- 6 | "Like an old fashioned block party, only better and gayer" | Traditionally the largest U.S. NCOD, >20,000 people Main Stage: 13th & Locust, Philadelphia | 215 875-9288 Jade Starling, Chad Lewine, etc. perform | www.phillypride.org
Blondie
Wed, Oct 9 | 8 PM | Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth Street | Red Bank, NJ | 732-842-9000
Challenge Online is in color with clickable links! At issuu.com/gaamc/docs
CHALLENGE Dancing To Architecture appears in every issue of GAAMC CHALLENGE. These are selections from the current issue. CHALLENGE Volume 39, Number 7 September 2013 ISSN 0277-1675 Staff Editor .....................Allen Neuner Assistant Editor ............. Bill Stella Advertising Manager ............. open Circulation Manager ............. open List Manager ................ Sue Harris Submissions The deadline for all articles, inserts, and advertisements is the fifteenth of the previous month. All submissions must be provided as electronic files. E-mail submissions to Challenge @ GAAMC.org. Ad Rates Single issue: Full page, $125.00; Half page, $85.00; Quarter page, $45.00; Business card, $25.00. For multi-issue rates, contact the Editor at Challenge @ GAAMC.org. GAAMC members may place one free classified ad per month, of no more than 200 characters in length.
The Newsletter of the Gay Activist Alliance in Morris County Serving New Jersey’s GLBTI Communities Continuously Since 1972
Volume 39, Issue 6, Summer 2013 GAAMC Events for September 2013 Discussion Groups
OpenTalk: A regular weekly discussion group, open to all. 7:00, in the Library. Moderators: Elias (Sep 16); Gordon (Sep 2, 16); Kerry (Sep 16, 23); Sherri (Sep 9, 16, 23).
Main Events
All start at 8:00 unless otherwise noted. September 2: Labor Day! GAAMC continues it's tradition of the family cookout! We provide burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, and buns, with all the condiments you could want, and YOU provide your specialty! Is it your soon-to-be famous macaroni salad? Baked beans? Broccoli slaw? Or perhaps you're a dessert chef and will bring cream puffs, home-made cookies, or ambrosia! See us on Monday nights in August to tell us what you'll bring, or leave us a message on Facebook or at Socials@GAAMC.org so we can plan. September 9: GAAMC's 41st Anniversary! In September 1972, four young friends formed a group that is still making strides in LGBT equality today! Join Mickey Suiter and GAAMC to learn how it all began! There will be a special archives presentation as well.
Change of Address Please let us know your new address! All address changes should September 16: Women be sent to the List Manager at Only / Men Only Space — ChangeAddress@GAAMC.org. the Autumn edition! Welcome to an evening Challenge is © 2013-2014 by the Gay where extended Open Talk Activist Alliance in Morris County, a f e a t u r e s e x c l u s i v e 501(c)3 tax-exempt not-for-profit cor- gender-only space. There poration. All rights reserved. All arti- are some topics that are cles reflect the views of the original unique to women and some contributors and do not necessarily re- that are unique to men, flect the opinions or policies of GAAMC, and this is our evening to its officers, or executive board. All celebrate and discuss those copyrights revert to the original con- topics. As always, Open tributors upon publication. No portion Talk discussion groups start of this publication may be reproduced promptly at 7:00! without the express written permission of the contributor. All articles, contri- September 23: It's time butions, and advertisements are again It's time again for printed at the discretion of the Editor and/or GAAMC Executive Board.
the fabulous $1.98 Beauty Pageant! Join Mr. Scarlett O'Hara, our esteemed Mistress of Ceremonies, and our panel of judges as they determine who will reign as King or Queen for 2014! Men often dress like women, and women like men in this fantastic gender bending evening. Need more information? Ask Charlie Murphy or Sherri Rase any Monday night. They'll get you registered — all you have to do is supply the GORGEOUS! September 30: Sochi 2014 and LGBTI Rights Russia's most recent escalation of Human Rights violence and intolerance is not new, but it's getting more poisonous. Come discuss your opinions and share some facts with GAAMC's members and guests. If you have no idea what we're talking about, come listen and become a part of what's happening.
Coming in October!
October 7: A presentation on meningitis awareness and prevention, presented by Dr. Joel Mazlow, Chief of Infectious Disease, Morristown Memorial Hospital October 14: GAAMC's First International Food Festival! If you enjoyed having the Board cook and serve Italian food to you at Pastabilities, you'll love expanding your palate with the best of foods from around the world! NOTE: This will be a special fundraiser for GAAMC, with an admission charge of $10 for all attendees.
Inside Challenge Challenge Information.... ................................ page 2 GAAMC Events.............................................. page 2 Bulletin Board.............................................. page 3 2013 New Jersey Elections............................... page 3 Getting Personal: classified ads........................ page 3 Gleanings: Queer news from around the world .... page 4 Gleanings Extra: Winter Olympics roundup......... page 6 Community Calendar ...................................... page 7 Tech Treats: App-solutely ............................... page 9 Good Eats! recipes......................................... page 9 This Month's Contributors................................ page 9 Dancing to Architecture: music reviews............ page 10 The Little Box of Concerts............................. page 12 Board Minutes for June and July...................... page 13 GAAMC Information...................................... page 14
September 2013
CHALLENGE
Page 5
Easton Mountain (a gay spirit camp) by Tony Puma,
© 2013
I.
II.
III.
IV.
The Fairies blew in from the east. Aquarius and Rose Bud and Tiger Lilly.
Bill and I blew in from the south. Confident and comfortable in our Gay masculinity.
Those who questioned, came. Those who sought, came. Those who hurt, came.
The spirit yields to the flesh in the form of a New York State Department of Health van.
Androgynous in appearance and fluid in movement, at peace with the flora and fauna around them.
Donning sarongs and multi-colored volunteer hats, magic marked, ‘Emily Dickinson’ for me and ‘Macklemore’, for Bill.
Passively challenging those who did not understand nor do not meld with the spirit of the Earth.
Assuming faux identities to beg the question of music and poetry.
The Wizard was waiting for us all H.I.V. testing for the community. on this magic mountain. The lab technician, The questions, answered. who was about to draw my The seekers, found. blood, The hurt, healed. had one final question: “Are you Male or Female?” An ecstatic self-awareness via community. ©TPuma/MMXIII
Becoming outside ourselves to view the scene via a poets eye.
Why "Activist" Is Part of Our Name by Andy Skurna
Most recently, world news has provided a flood of LGBTI and civil rights related news. From the soaring heights of the Supreme Court’s gutting of DOMA, to the crushing lows of a 70% increase in gay-bashing crimes in New York City, to the stupefying tragedies throughout Russia, Ecuador, and the continent of Africa, there is so much happening around us that it can be challenging to keep informed, and it feels like it is damned-near impossible to take action when necessary. All too often, our society responds in the least thoughtful, but most sensational and superfluous ways. The most recent example is the call to dump vodka with Russian sounding names. It seemed the entire LGBTI universe was out to dump the libation they had already bought and paid for, and agreed to not buy more. That’s a dramatic and appealing call to action, until you examine its pathetic reach. The USA imports less than $60 million worth of Russian vodkas per year. However, we import more than $29 billion in crude oil products. But no one called for a boycott of Russian oil or gasoline; no one called for a boycott of Russian watches or Russian-mined or -manufactured gemstones, even though those stones cost more than $858 million. Nope, instead the LGBT community has one focus…booze. The other major push against the Russian Orthodox Church’s puppet, Vladimir Putin, is a call to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics. Has anyone calculated the cost to the LGBT community that such a move would trigger? Hundreds of athletes from the US alone, with family, friends, trainers, clothing, equipment and travel sponsors and all their employees would all be asked to give up on their dreams, and waste billions of dollars to stand up for 5% to 6% minority of the population, which would make up perhaps 1% or 2% of the field of competitors. Upon Trayvon Martin’s assassination on the streets of Sanford, Florida, before any evidence or facts were presented, everyone ran to their closets or local Wal-Mart to don a hoodie. How this helped anyone is far beyond my comprehension. When I protested against the rush to judgment or the lack of purpose, some called me a racist. Some said I couldn’t possibly understand, blinded by my own white privilege. Eighteen months after the event and our mindless reaction, I ask the same question: How did putting on a hoodie help anyone? George Zimmerman walked away, and is driving the highways and byways of the USA toting a gun; Trayvon Martin is still dead; and so far not one “Stand Your Ground” law has been overturned (though some are being reevaluated). Millions of people put on hoodies and prayed at vigils, but who was holding lawmakers’ feet to the coals? Apparently, no one. After the umpteenth domestic mass shooting, the one in Newtown, Connecticut, that resulted in the loss of 20 children and 6 adults, people took to social media outlets and raged against the NRA and the mindless and spineless legislators the NRA bought and paid for. It seemed for a few months that some change might actually happen. But that was not the case. Despite an overwhelming majority of the US population, which some surveys put near 80%, in favor of action being taken, NOTHING happened. Oh, wait, that’s not correct. Connecticut’s legislative bodies passed laws to increase
censorship on the media so that they couldn’t display photos of the slain children; and the town has decided to tear down the elementary school and spend $58 million to build a new one. That’s something, right? We recently held a ridiculous and wasteful special primary election here in New Jersey. The winners were both the first names that come to mind from each party. My understanding is that Newark Mayor Cory Booker received nearly 60% of the Democratic vote. The field of Democratic candidates was stellar, with two active and experienced Congressmen and the Speaker of the State Assembly, yet virtually no one did the research to evaluate their campaigns. Why would I say this? When you look at the experience and credentials of all six candidates, the least worthy, but most moneyed, took the overwhelming majority of votes in both parties. This, to me, does NOT signify they are the best. To me it only signifies that we have once again donned our hoodies, dumped our vodka, and were herded like mindless sheeple to the polls. There are similar activism and awareness battles playing out across our nation. Topics such as the war on women’s reproductive rights; the battle of the 99% to survive the greed of the 1%; the exportation of religion-driven hatred and abuse against LGBTI’s; the push to keep as many ethnic minorities, young, and poor people away from the polls as possible; the effort to keep the minimum wage decades behind where it should be; the proliferation of genetically manufactured organisms into our food stream; and the greed-driven efforts to allow fracking everywhere and to build an international pipeline to haul toxic sludge across our country to benefit Canada’s 1% (and our legislators who use insider trading to buy and trade shares in such companies), are all getting to be too much. It has to stop. Something, even just one of these manufactured battles, has to stop. I read an article today saying Politifact found Michelle Bachmann to have the worst record for truth, The holy-roller, Tea Party darling, married to a man obsessed with gay sex, scored between “mostly false” and “pants on fire” approximately 75% of the time. Yet she remains popular. She is still raking in millions. This, my friends, is a sign the world is upside down. The Bachmann’s can travel the nation, with all their rights, all their wealth, lying to the world and ruining lives, but nothing stops them or even slows them down. But let two men walk past Madison Square Garden holding hands and they risk their lives. Maybe we need to find a new Curtis Sliwa, someone who could rally a gang of vigilantes to take to the streets and subways, the LGBT hangouts, the gun shows, the health clinics, and the halls of state legislative bodies throughout our land. Maybe it’s time for a redesigned ACT-UP! Maybe if we wore “Gay + NRA” t-shirts on dates it would intimidate (or at least confuse) would be attackers. I don’t know what it will take. But something is needed, something with greater planning and impact than dumping vodka and wearing hoodies. Don’t get me wrong, there is surely an impact in these mass appeals. I have made acquaintances throughout Europe and Africa, and of course all over the USA. We have a great network for sharing information (and usually anger, with the occasional victory), but for the most part we still lack the power to effect positive and permanent change.
Page 6 CHALLENGE September 2013
2013 New Jersey Elections Guide to Dates and Facts compiled by Bill Stella
New Jersey voters have a Special Election upcoming this October, as well as the General Election this November which includes the race for Governor. Voters must keep track of the following key dates: • September 24 is the voter registration deadline for the special election for US Senate. • October 15, the day before the Special Senate Election, is the deadline to register for the General Election. • October 16 is the day of the Special Election for US Senate. •October 29 by mail and November 4 in person are the deadlines to apply for General Election mail-in ballots. •At last comes November 5, Election Day, when the voters will choose a governor, all 120 members of the Legislature, and assorted local officials and school board members. Source: http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/06/ amick_special_election_special.html
Getting Personal
ESCALATOR MUSIC by SWELO
A BIG HOWDY to erstwhile GAAMC member Bob Thayer, now living near Albany, who I met at the Queer Music Festival. Bob WON a weekend at EASTON MOUNTAIN RESORT by entering a raffle benefitting Easton's free-to-LGBT-youth arts programs. Hey, you never know. Learn more about their programs at EastonMountain.org —Bill Stella
LOVE OF PIC! Why are these pictures here? No reason. I just love 'em.