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Title
A name given to the resource
[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
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Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
Date
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2004-2011
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English
Type
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magazine
Description
An account of the resource
Ozarks Pride's first issue began in January of 2004. Then follows Ozarks Pride (2004), The Star (2005), and The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Creator
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Ozarks Pride/Star Media
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Chaz Storm
Marion Wilson
Greg Steele
Randy Vineyard
Steve T. Urie
Chaz
Lady Bunny
Romeo San Vincente
Steve T. Urie
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Michael Hinzman
Jack Fertig
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
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magazine
Text
Any textual data included in the document
~nty one years ago was a world that many
young people never k~ew or could comprehend.
No openly gay person had been elected
to public office in Oklahoma. Organizations
advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans
were few and far less influential. Only 3 years
earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had passed
legislation (later ruled unconstitutional by the
Federal court system) that would prohibit a
public school teacher from even making a positive
statement about the GLBT community
in a classroom. Equality for GLBT people was
hardly discussed, and gay marriage even more
remote. Politicians could (and did) make hateful
statements about our community without
any fear that someone would challenge their
remarks. (sorry Sally, you came along too late)
ride
~ganizers of this year’s Tulsa Pride Celebration
are promising the public that this
year’s events will be anything but boring. Nate
Black, one of the co-chairs says the changes
are intended to breathe a new sense of excitement
into the Pride observance and to help
promote the revitalization of downtown. It
may not look the same, but organizers promise
that Tulsa Pride 2008 will be just as incredible
of a celebration as ever. Spanning over two
weeks, with an event almost every evening,
Tulsa Pride 2008 has something for everyone.
"There will be some differences, but the spirit
of the celebration is the same. It is still going
to be a joyful, invigorating experience that xvill
spark the same sense of pride and freedom in
our community,"
Tutso PI IDE ?008
2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
walk or drag yourselfto Tulsa
Pride 2008
By Joey De
It may not look the same, but organizers promise that Tulsa Pride
2008 is a series of events you won’t want to miss. "We have our
three anchor events: the gala, the parade and block party, and the
picnic," explains Pride co-chair Nate Black. "There ~vill be some
differences from the past, but the spirit ofTulsa Pride is as vibrant as
ever."
Here is a brief look at the events ofTulsa Pride 2008. For a complete
listing, maps and details, visit www.tulsapride.org
May 30 - "Sisters in Song" concert at All Souls Unitarian Church.
May 31- Wear your rainbow attire and enjoy a day at America’s favorite
zoo with your friends and family. Tnat night, join the Equality
Gala and celebrate the GLBT community at Cain’s Ballroom.
Jun. 1 - Rev. Barney McLaughlin and members ofTulsa’s faith community
will be hosting "Spiritual Equality," an interfaith service at
Bethany Christian Church.
Jun. 2 - Join PFLAG at the Circle Cinema for a free screening of
"Anyone and Everyone," a film about families struggling to accept
their GLBT youth.
Jun. 4 - Cheer the Drillers to victory and enjoy an old-fashioned
ballpark picnic. Tickets must be bought in advance. That evening,
Lochran Theatre’s "He&vig and the Angry Inch," opens. The show
will play at various locations through the 15th.
Jun. 5 - Enjoy the works of 60 artists at "More Color," a one-night
ex~hibition at the Equality Center.
Jun. 6 - Open Arms Youth Project Fashion Show.
Jun. 7 - Dine at the OkEq Family Taco Dinner benefiting PFLAG,
then join the Pride Parade and Block Party, with two stages of entertainment.
Youth Services ofTulsa will be hosting a concert in their
Coffee House for those under 21 and child care will be available for
those under 12 at the Equality Center.
Jun. 8 - Texas Hold’era at the Equality Center.
Jun. 10 - Leather and Fetish fashion show at the Equality Center.
Jun. 11 - Join the "Gender Avengers" for an evening of monologues
and plays addressing transgender issues.
Jun. 12 - Learn about raising kids in a diverse world at the Downtown
Library. Speakers will be available and books attacked for their
"inappropriate" messages will be displayed.
Jun. 13 - Screen "The ~A’ Word," a film with no audio or subtitles,
about 10 deaf lesbians.
Jun. 14 - Walce up early for the YST fun run before the Equality
Festival at Centennial Park on 6th and Peoria!
www.ozarksstar.corn the STAR 3
OKC P DE EEKEND
AN EVENT TRULY
’COMING OF AGE"
By Victor Gorin
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ It can be hard
to fathom, but OKC Pride is now 21. Had
the event been a child born 21 years ago,
that person would now be ready to legally
enjoy the bars. Instead a spirit of human
determination was born in rocky Oklahoma
soil, with the joyful trappings that come
with living in the Bible Belt’s buckle, q-his
beginning came to Oklahoma through the
brave organization of about a dozen people.
As Paul Thompson recAls, "We didfft know
if there wotdd be 10 people marching or a
hundred." The Ku Klux Klan had promised
to meet the marchers when they came
over the N.W. 39th Street hill with hostile
confrontation. When around 400 marchers
came over the hill, the Klansmen waiting
in Safeway’s (now Homeland) parking lot
promptly left the scene, and a proud tradition
began.
It was a world that many young people
never knew or could comprehend. No
openly gay person had been elected to
public office in Oklahoma. Organizations
advocating equality for GLBT Oklahomans
were few and far less influential. Only 3
years earlier our Oklahoma Legislature had
passed legislation (later ruled unconstitutional
by the Federal court system) that
would prohibit a public school teacher from
even making a positive statement about the
GLBT community in a classroom. Equality
for GLBT people was hardly discussed, and
gay marriage even more remote. Politicians
could (and did) make hateful statements
about our community without any fear that
someone would challenge their remarks.
(sorry Sally, you came along too late)
Today the Pride Festival and Parade truly
showcases the theme by showing how far
we’ve come. Festival booths not only feature
openly gay public office holders (now even
on the State level with the appointment of
Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth), but
also gay political organizations of Democrats
and Republicans, as well as straight politicians
& parties who are proud to speak out
for us and seek our vote. Social organizations
(from rodeo to softball), and religious
groups bring us all together in glamorous
diversity. There are countless more business
organizations proud to seek out the gay
community to make a buck. Last but not
least, nothing compares to the mosaic of the
GLBT community and their friends, people
from all walks of life together in Pride.
EVENTS:
June 14 Saturday OKC Pride at the Zoo
10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
For the first time there will be a gay day at
the Oklahoma City Zoo. It will be a great
way to begin the week’s festivities with
family and/or friends. There is information
about a special reduced rate inside every
OKC Pride Participation Packet, so come
out, enjoy the day and wish the animals a
good week too!
June 15 Sunday OKC Pride Day ofWorship
Cathedral of Hope & Church of the Open
Arms ( both UCC) will be planning special
worship celebrations to commemorate Pride
Week. Ifyou have felt left out or excluded
from worship, these churches are ready to
welcome you just as you are.
June 20- OKC Pride Parade
Now moved to Friday evening stepping off
at 7 p.m. the route is unchanged. Beginning
at Memorial Park ( N.W. 36th & Classen) it
proceeds north on Classen two blocks north
ofN.W. 39th Street, turns around on Classen
and then proceeds west on N.W. 39th.
Our Grand Marshall will be Joe Salmonese,
the chair of the national Human Rights
Campaign.
Preceding the Parade will be a Strip Show (
signifying the N.W. 39th Street Strip)
featuring some of our wildest and finest
entertainers. Then the crowd cheers on as
the parade’s first arrivals enjoy the finest
climax ever enjoyed at any event. As the
Parade concludes those in the mood will
be ready to party, giving new meaning to a
wild weekend while remembering how Pride
brings us together.
June 21- 22 OKC Pride Festival
Still at Oklahoma Cit)?s Memorial Park at
N.W. "36th & Classen, the Festival will run
from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday June 21,
and from noon until 5 p.m. June 22 Sunday.
There will be many booths featuring
organizations you can learn from or even
consider joining, as well as endless types of
merchandise. There will be entertainment
as well
Following the Festival conclusion at 5 p.m.
Sunday, Church of the Open Arms has their
Annual Pride Ice Cream Social, which will
featuring the Therapy Sisters in concert.
There’s no better way to cool off, enjoy the
fun & music and recap the xveekend.
This is an event you don’t want to miss, it’s
there for all of us. For more infornaation
pick up a Pride Guide at your favorite clubs, "
or check out the website at wwv.okcpride.
com
DBAT Celebrates Pride
by Hosting a Diversity
Job Fair
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Diversity
Business Association ofTulsa (DBAT), a
program of Oklahomans for Equality, is
hosting a Diversity Job Fair on June 13th
from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The event, being
held at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
in Downtown Tulsa, will bring together lgbt
job seekers and lgbt-friendly employers in a
safe and comfortable environment, allowing
for open dialogue and alleviating fears of
discrimination.
The Diversity Job Fair offers a unique opportunity
for diversity-conscious employers
to access the wealth of skilled and talented
members of the lgbt community. Additionally,
job seekers are given an unprecedented
connection to companies that are lgbtfriendly.
F~r more information or if your company
is interested in participating in the job fair,
contact Susan Hartman at dbat@okeq.org
or call 918-698-2977.
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5
By David Benkof
Should gay-rights advances be put on hold
until all LGBT people can be included? On
this question, the position held by the most
prominent voices in the gay community is
so inconsistent it borders on incoherent.
Last year, most leading gay-rights organizations
rejected the advice of congressional
experts including Rep. Barney Frank (DMass.)
and pushed for an unlikely-to-pass
version of the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA) that included gender
identity. \Vc~hen the broader bill was replaced
with an ENDA that covered only sexual
orientation, hundreds of gay and lesbian
groups lobbied Congress to vote "no" on
what was the most important piece of gayrights
legislation in a decade. Indeed, seven
Democrats who had previously been reliable
votes for pro-gay bills opposed ENDA
because it did not include protections for
transgender people.
LGBT activists defended this stance in a
variety of ways, but the basic argument xvas
that no part of the community should gain
civil rights at the expense of other parts.
Of course, had that been the approach of
voting-rights activists after the Civil War,
African-Americans would have forfeited the
vote until women gained suffrage a halfcentury
later - and they, in turn, may have
been asked to wait for the passage of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 before gaining
the right to vote. In any event, supporters
ofwhat became known as "United ENDA"
characterized their position as a principled
one, believing that LGB rights without T
rights were worse than no rights at all, and
that (Evita show tune be damned) politics is
not "the art of the possible."
This pose is simply unsustainable, as an
examination of transgender military inclusion
shows.
The Web sites of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force; the Human Rights
Campaign; Parents, Friends, and Families of
Lesbians and Gays; and many other groups
advocate for an ENDA that includes gender
identity, but the T is glaringly missing when
it comes to military issues. ~nese organizations
push for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals
to serve openly in the armed forces, but
don’t lobby on behalf of transgender people
who want to serve their country. They certainly
don’t insist that any repeal of "Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell" (DADT) be linked to
equality for transgender servicemembers.
There are only three ways LGBT organizations
can react to this imbalance with any
sort of integrity:
One, they could refuse to support the repeal
ofDADT unless it is accompanied by a new
policy that prohibits the military from discriminating
on the basis of gender identity.
Two, they could admit that their ENDA
strategy was wrong and agree to accept an
LGB-only workplace bill until such time as
the votes are there to pass a more inclusive
ENDA.
Three, they could articulate pub!icly and
precisely why discrimination against
transgender people in the military is more
legitimate than private-sector discrimination
against them - and why it is more legitimate
than discrimination against lesbians, gay
men, and bisexuals in the military.
I would certainly prefer the second solution,
but I could respect the other two
approaches. My hunch, though, is that none
of these stances will be adopted. The status
quo is strong evidence that the "United
ENDA" stance is not primarily about political
principles. It’s about the internal power
dynamics in the LGBT community, which
have caused gay leaders to draw the line at
an inclusive ENDA. No such mobilization
has taken place over transgender people in
the military, so there has been no perceived
need for an ultimatum on that issue. Yet.
David Benkofwas a longtime gay columnist, historian,
and entrepreneur (as David Bianco). He is openly bisexual,
but as an OrthodoxJew he is guided byJewish law
in the areas ofsexvtality andfamily life. He can be reached
at DavidBenkof@aol.com.
6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
F~E BEER & HOT DO~
For a Family’s Dinner brought by the neighbors after the Death of Bettsie.
Be sure to look on the bottom ofthe dish to see what neighbor brought it!
Original Mo~,ie will be shown @ 7 pm dUl-h’~g dim-let.
Ist Eplsede of Series will be shown immediately fo!!o~d.ug
$10 D~nat~n to OG~,A inc]ludes ~nner
~$1GNING Meet and Greet
Leslie Jordan - From Sordid Lives, Will & Grace
My Trip Down The :PINK CARPET
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7
@
Coming of e
~ulsa PRIDE ar~ 2008
ONE NIGHT ONLY
ThuP~day, June 5, 2008, 5:G0prn to 9:0~m
atthe Dennis R. Nell Equali~ C~nt~r,
Corner of 4th and Keno~, dov~ov,~ Tuls~
the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
Directed by David Gatigan
Oklahoma City June 8, 2008 at 8pro
wv~v.ozarksstar.com the 8TAP, 9
interview
Interview by Victor Gorin
eslie Jordan arrived in this world during 1955
in the Heartland of the Bible Belt, born and
grown up in Chattanooga,Tennessee.. AI-
[ho@ ~rowing up was ~ostly nor easy, he
made le~nonade o[it of lemons and marie his
experiences work for him, taking a bus to HoIly~
vood and never looking back. His credits are
coundess, with app~ces on TV shows too numerous m mention
them but in~ih&ag Reba and Will and Grace(which garnered
him an E . Re is an accomplished playwright with
his first success Like a Dog on Linoleum" followed by Hysterical
B redness and other Southern Tragedies. Among his film successes
i~’thd camp} dassic ’Sordid I[ives" (where he portrayed the
drag que~ Brother Boy), which will be a n~w~series
o£ LOGO ~ningJuly 23. His new book, "My, Trip down
the P~~t:’ is 7h~ Slory of his life with his @s dd downs,
tragedies, ~ es and tri~phs, and the story o~a flamboyant
~who has ~yfound hirrisel£ He is portr~iying his life ~lSo in
a one man play of the same title in Olda~oma ~it~ June 8, for this
is a must re~d and a must see. He shares his thoug~is with~E
LESHE: Well I v,~as the Pips Printing guy, and t also was the elevator
operator that took people to Ha~bu}ger Hell in a Taco Bel!
co~ercial, i was the ~h~ck Full of Nuts coit~e boy, a]l kinds of
commercials. ~ ~ ~
10 the,STAR www.ozarksstar.com
ma$~e that possible.
~CTOR~ g,q~.en does your new book COme
*utJune 3~ and Iamso
which is Ga~
~cOholigm and RddiC’
: are some gay" activists wh6
feei that fl~bSya~t gay characters in the
ueenS hinder the s{~u~le
answer to
Ilow iS
tr~sggn:
: and see me, I promise
the STAR tl
Dracula ofFree
Speech, Kirk
Humphreys, Pdses From
the Po litica Grave
by James Nimmo
OKLAHOMA CITY) Just as the mythic
Dracula ofTransylvania came back from the
dead to spread horror among the peasants,
so has the flesh-and-blood Kirk Humphreys
come back from the politically dead to fling
his homophobic horror in the hall~ of Oklahoma
City’s public schools.
Reborn in the blood of his religion and bred
in the desiccated dessert of intolerance, Kirk
Humphreys was recently appointed by the
Oklahoma City School Board to fill the
position of chair until an election is held in
February, 2009.
Coming above ground with his first public
election to the Putnam City school Board
in 1987, he rose to bigger things as mayor
ofOKC in 1998. He resigned during his
second term to run for U. S. Senate which
he lost to Dr. Tom Coburn, 25% to 61%.
Settling back into his businessman’s grave of
multiple real estate dealings, one would have
thought that we had heard the last of Mr.
Humphreys.
So why the concern regarding his reappearance?
During his time as Mayor of OKC, he was
the driving force behind the 2001 attempt
to prevent Cimarron Alliance, a GLBT
advocacy group, from exercising their First
Amendment right to free speech with the
display of banners promoting gay/lesbian
equality.
However, the shining light of Federal
District Court Judge Robin Cauthron,
exorcised the demon of Humphreys and as
she ruled in favor of Cimarron Alliance and
enjoined the City Council from interfering
with Cimarron’s banner display on the
utility poles. Hitherto the sacred utility
poles had been the exclusive marketplace for
hetero organizations such as the Chamber of
Commerce, rodeos, and other civic clubs.
Did I mention the earlier "Tin Drum" video
law suit?
12 the STAR
In 1997, a fundamentalist censorship group
ponied up with an Oklahoma County judge
willing to make an informal ruling that the
"Tin Drum" was child pornography and
that copies of it could be seized in Oklahoma
County wherever it could be found
whether in private homes or public libraries.
Despite the facts that the film had been released
in 1979, received major film awards,
and not anyone prior to Humphreys had
made a legal claim of obscenity against the
film, Humphreys again smelled blood and
was hot on the trail ofwhat he thought
would surely be a victory for fundamentalist
decency. ~hinking that the cross of his
religion would trump all blasphemers and
dissolve the First and Fourth Amendments
he encouraged the court case to proceed.
Federal District Court Judge Ralph ~hompson,
however, found that the film is not
child pornography, and went on to criticize
that the County Judge, Richard Freeman,
had made a serious error in judgment
pertaining to what constitutes pornography
and allowing the OKC police, carte blanche,
to search homes and businesses without a
warrant.
Both of the lost lawsuits backed by Kirk
Humphreys cost hundreds of thousands of
taxpayer dollars in expenses and attorney
fees which resulted in higher property taxes.
¯hough the "Tin Drum" adventure was
publicly lead by former District Attorney
Bob Macy, as mayor and the boss of the
OKC police chief, I feel that Humphreys
was certainly in the loop and should have
had more sense and better advise in calling
off the figurative police dogs.
If the past is prologue, I think we can expect
some more Humphreys hauntings at the
expense of the Oklahoma City taxpayers. It’s
been shown that the Constitution, its Bill of
Rights, and especially the First Amendment,
if applied in time, can counter the poisonous
vapors that waft from Humphreys.
Wockner News Service
Congress’ highest-ranking
vet calls f.or DADT
repeal
WASHINGTON, DC __ U.S. Rep. Joe
Sestak, D-Pa., whose military rank was the
highest of any veteran now in Congress,
has urged fellow lawmakers to join him in
repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy
that bars open gays from the military.
Sestak, a three-star admiral who spent 31
years in the Navy, is one of 17 congressional
veterans co-sponsoring the repeal bill.
"It is easy for me to see why Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell should be repealed," Sestak said
May 3. "Once you have served in war and
faced danger with a gay service member,
how can you come home and say gay people
should not enjoy equal rights?"
Sestak’s comments came at the Equality
Forum, an annual GLBT conference and
festival in Philadelphia.
The Military Readiness Enhancement Act
(H.R. 1246), which would repeal Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell and allow GLB personnel to serve
openly, has 142 co-sponsors in total.
"Veterans like Adm. Sestak, who have dedicated
their lives to serving this country, are
leading the movement in Congress to repeal
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," said Aubrey Sarvis of
the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
"These lawmakers agree with senior
military officers, including former chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:John Shalikashvili
and retired Army Maj. Gen. Vance
Coleman, that when it comes to defusing
IEDs, tending to injured troops, deciphering
enemy codes and flying reconnaissance
missions -- sexual orientation is irrelevant.
Seventy-nine percent of the American
people agree with them and it is time that
Congress finally repeal this law."
Carly Simon: ’I don’t
consider myself"to be
not gay
In an interview published May 1 in the San
Francisco gay weeldy Bay Area Reporter,
’70s pop-music legend Carly Simon said, "I
don’t consider myself to be not gay."
The double-negative quasi-coming-out
occurred when interviewer Gregg Shapiro
inquired: "After speaking with you this
morning, I’m going to be interviewing
Cyndi Lauper regarding her True Colors
tour, which features gay and straight artists
performing to raise money for the Human
Rights Campaign and other LGBT organizations.
I’m wondering if Cyndi called
you and asked you to be a part of the True
Colors tour, might you get involved?"
Simon replied: "Well, the part that I could
be involved in is the gay and lesbian part.
The part that would be hard for me is to
commit to a tour because I’m not very
comfortable being onstage. But the part that
would be easiest for me would be singing on
behalf of all of us. I don’t consider myself to
be not gay."
Shapiro responded: "Wow! Well, it’s great to
have you as part of the family."
"Thank you!" Simon said. "I mean, I’ve
enlarged all of my possibilities. There are a
lot of extremely personal stories to tell about
that, but we won’t go into that right now.
Let’s just say that it just depends upon who
I’m with."
Attempts to contact Simon through her
publicist, record label and MySpace page
were unsuccessful as of press time.
Frank: Transgender
people were terrible lobbyists
Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, DMass.,
says transgender people did a terrible
job of lobbying for inclusion in the federal
Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
A version of the measure, known as ENDA,
that protects sexual orientation but not gender
identity has passed the U.S. House of
Representatives and is pending in the Senate.
"I’ve never seen a worse job of lobbying
done by the transgender community," Frank
told the Oregon gay newspaper Just Out in
its May 2 issue. "They seem to think that
all they had to do was to get the gay and
lesbian community to say ’OK.’ I think they
thought that this was a train, and that they
were a car on the train."
"I said to them, ’You’ve got to work this,
you’ve got to lobby people.’ They did a terrible
job of lobbying, and so we didn’t have
the votes," Frank said.
First ot3enlv Illinois
legislator dle
Larry McKeon, Illinois’ first openly gay and
first openly HIV-positive state legislator,
died May 13 of a severe stroke. He was 63.
McKeon represented a district of Chicago’s
North Side in the state House of Representatives
from 1997 to 2007.
An Army veteran and former cop, McKeon
also served as Mayor Richard M. Daley’s
liaison to the GLBT community prior to his
election to public office.
McKeon retired last year, citing health issues
related to HIV and cancer.
........More U. S. News page 27
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 13
recently confessed to the fact that she attracts gays like a moth
to a light, hall the men that like me are gay, k’~ ~e. I have a
really strong gaydar. I do love gay men though,~
Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres are
planning to marD: Ellen has said she is
"thrilled" at the r~ing by the California
supreme court to overturn the state’s ban on
gay marri~e.
Alexander Payne
"Hung" Up at HBO
Oscar-winning screenwriter Alexander
Payne (for Sideways, not his litde-usedbut-
stilbcredit-getting screer~ptay for I Now
Pronounce You Chuck & Larry) has a new
pro’ect9 up his ste~we. And it~ about what’s
in one man’s pants. Hung, a comedy pilot
on track at HBO, will be Payne’s [IW-directing
debut, from a script by Dmitry Lip~n.
creator of%e Riches. ~md the subiect
matter? What happens when a~l average,
middle-aged basketbal! coach learns how to
put his exceptionally large’~- penis to better
~e. NO actor has signed on yet to play the
gifted guy, but casting is scheduled m begi n
soon. If picked up for series, it will be, a; the
very least, the first show" of its k5nd. But wi!I
there be a Boogie Nights-style revea! shot?
Or will it remain a mysteiT? Either way,
expect a big deal to made about this one.
Holb~voodactress
edl3
ship only
the closet.
of
True Co .ors
pP g
Cyndi LaUper~ colors are brighter than ever.
F~li~Wing [tie Success of last year’s landmark
tofir, Latimer is back to help the Human
Ri~ts Campaign, theS~ue Colors Fund of
StOnewall C~r~i-nuni~? Foundation, PFLa~G
and the Centertink Network ofBLGT community
cemers.
Famous for just wanting to have fun, Lau per
will be bringing her tour to the Zoo Amphitheater
in Oklahoma City on Jun. 23.
Joining Cyndi wilt be The B-52s,
joan J~tr ~d The Blackhearts, ~mdy Belt of
STAR www.ozarksstar.com
Foster, 45, is believed to have called offher Erasure. Margaret Cho and Girl tn A Coma.
relationship with movie producer Cydney with host Carson r*v~ ressl.ev,.f.or.tic.ket." t.mor-
Bernard after a series of arguments. The marion or a full list ofto[,r dates, visit ~~",.~,,,
couple were together for 14 years and have truecolorstour corn
two children ~x;~om Fosrer g~ve birth to and " "
Bernard adopted, according to the British
Daily Mail tabloid.
Pt~oto by: Bill Gaddis
getting hot out. Tulsa’s
wonderful sprir~g ,h,as played out. Here
are a coupl~ tips I d like {o pass along
that may add to your summer enjoyment
of vino..F,irstly, for white win~S,
you know/get ern ~ld! And as the~e
Wines warm up in your glass, the fruit
flavors open Up to~. I really like this
gradual experience. Many times, we
finish a bottle so fast when sharing
with friends that we don’t even notice.
For red wines, put a chill on ’era
as well. NOT too c.o,ld but just cool
enough so that you’re not drinking
warm glug. Remember, room temperatu~’
e can mean a whole different
thing during the summer. Proper stem
ware can also make a big difference
this time of year. Riedel glasses are
among the best althougt~ not recommended
poolside. Here are some
wines for both red & white lovers.
www.ozarksstar.com
The fo owing is
Calistoga Cellars Chardonnay 2006
This vintage was just released in
ket. If you liked the ’05, this
will really hit the mark. It’s li
beautifully balanced
mix of ripe pear and
the wine is medium bodied
soft finish. A favodte of l
visit McGilrs on 21rst St.
Vincent Pouilly-Fuisse
This Pouilly-Fuisse in several
areas belonging to th~
The wine is created
by Jean-Jac(
celebrated Chateau
nette Vincent
He blends the
well balanced
ers are on t
finish. I first discovered s wine over at
1740/wine bar on Boston n~ear 18th. This
Chardonnay from France i~ quite good.
Michel Picard Vouvray
This is Chenin Blanc from the Loi
of France. Fresh aromas of apricot &
on the nose and the finish is fruity and~~
slightly off dry. Enjoy this from with me,is
that include shellfish to desserts like
apple pies with vanilla ice cream.
oak barrels
owner of the
Made-Antoi-
").
make a
White flow-
Ochoa Garnacha Rose 2006
This Rose wine is made entirely from
Grenache grapes. The color of is a result
of the short maceration period that helps
to maintain the fragrant aromas and
fresh flavors. A well structured Spanish
wine with plenty of well-rounded fruit and
balanced acidity. Food pairings include
pasta, salads and vegetables.
ut the tannins, these producers
make their wines more
their youth. This bottle
is also affordable and has received high
acclaim from wine critics. Serious meat
oriented pastas would go well with this
wine.
Toad Cacophony Zinfandel
2006
This ;I, Hollow Zinfandel
comes ~ ppellation
where Zinf~ les thdve upon the
long h nights. This new
offering i~ ~ 20% Petit
Sirah. It~!a
really great
& jammy wine that’s a
:e~.for barbecued meats.
:i~va/Sparkling wine
NV. Th~ rfclude; 50% Macabeo, ~ 15% Xarelolo. This
iJwhat you may be used
ne or U S sparkling
:he Spanish create a
: old world version from
wine is quite affordable
pleasantly surprise you.
~s ~s a good wine to fall back on as you
;lebrate the summer months.
And as always, I say go to your favorite
wine shop, ask questions and purchase
a bottle or two. Share some food & wine
with friends and check this out for yourself.
Produtorri del Barbaresco 2004
I had a chance to visit this winery when I
was northern Italy. The grape is Nebbiolo
and it’s one of the most important wine
grape varieties of Italy’s Piedmont region.
Flavors of violets, tar, cherries, truffles,
tobacco & prunes come to mind. Although ~is.~grape can take years to age and
Mr. D also hosts wine & food events
known in town as the Wine
Tulsa.
References include: the ABC’s of wine by James
Laube/wv,rw.WineSpec~ator.com
www.FoodandWine.com
www.Wikipedia.org
the STAR 15
9t8.585,5898 ® 800.585,5101
West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) ® Tulsa, Ok 74t 19 e www.q plazatulsa.com
16 theSTAR June 2008
TW’s-AFAB Catering
by Donald Pile and Ray Williams
LUNA VISTA B & B
"Morltezuma’s Castle"
aJmost knocked us over. At night we saw
more stars in the sky than we ever see
here in the Midwest.
There are fabulous places to visit and there are "beyond Fabulous"
places to visit. Luna Vista in Rimrock, Arizona is such a place.
Driving out to California on a recent trip we were guests of Kala
(pronounced Calla is in Calla Lily) and her husband Frank at their
"beyond Fabulous" Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast. Located just
about 20 miles southeast of Sedona and just about 3 miles offthe
Interstate, this has to be one of the finest and most unusual places
that we have been. However to get there you get off the pavement
and drive about three miles around curvy hilly, rocky and treacherous
gravel and dirt roads to make your arrival. But after arriving,
it is ~vorth the trip. After making the last turn you are aghast when
you see this place. It is like you have arrived at the Ponderosa! Kala
and Frank were residents of the East Coast and after 9111 they decided
that it was time for a major move. They purchased the property
in Rimrock, remodeled, repaired, built on, put in a swimming
pool, Jacuzzi and many more additions and finally opened their new
B and B in February, 2004 and it has been an instant success ever
since.
We stayed in the Don Diego (Zorro)
suite. Our bathroom was 18 feet by 20
feet and included our own Jacuzzi. Our
shower was 6 feet by 8 feet and included
a steam room and a double vanity, bidet
and every kind of amenity that you
would possibly want. Our linens were
400-threat count Egyptian cotton and of
course they were ironed before putting
them on the beds! Oh! Did we mention
that they have heated towel racks in
the bathroom? Each room came with a
DVDITFIVHS, CD player, etc. A bottle
of wine is in every room for the guests.
The grounds are fabulous. They are very pet-friendly and even have
a dog run and a horse run should you care to bring your horse. Not
into driving? Then use their helicopter pad and fly right in!
They serve a full-course breakfast every day and on Sundays’ a
full brunch. And we are not talking a muffin and coffee, but a full
sit-down breakfast with wanes, breakfast steak, eggs, potatoes, etc.
Nothing is left out. Guests have the full run of the house and property
including an office where you can check your e-mails and work
online if need be.
But the most important thing about Luna Vista are the owners,
KALA AND FRANK. Nxey genuinely care about their guests and
cater to their every need. Tney love life and it shows. In all of our
travels, they are the most sincere, heartwarming and friendly people
that we have ever met. On our last night there, Kala and Frank
hosted a party in our honor and invited severn of their neighbors
and area antiques dealers. They fixed enough food for an entire
army. Everyone was so interesting in their own way. The woman
The moment that Kala opened the door to welcome us in,
we I~IEW that we were going in for a big treat and we were! She
is dive, animated, professional, entertaining and a great hostess.
Frank ALWAYS has a smile on his face and is very excited about
everything. Together they make a great team and we know that they
will be in the bed and breakfast business for many years. They can’t
help it if they were born straight! It happens in the best of families.
Everyone is welcome at Luna Vista and we do mean everybody!
We stayed there for three days and didn’t even want to go
anywhere else. However one day we did drive over to Montezuma’s
Castle and on to Montezumgs Lake which was extremely interesting.
But the red enjoyment was taking advantage of the Luna Vista
B and B and the many amenities it has to offer. It is located on 16
acres and you can take a long hike through the woods and river area.
The flowers were blooming everywhere. The sights and aromas Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast
18 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com
Luna Vista Bed and Breakfast
next door to them bakes fantastic desserts and another neighbor is
a spiritual advisor and yet another creams beautiful "cactus" lamps
and objects. She presented us xvith one of her creations. The next
time you really xvant to get away from everything and truly have a
memorable experience, book yoursdf a xveek at the "beyond fabulous"
Luna Vista. Their website is: wxvxv.lunavistabandb.com or call
800-611-4788.
They have been featured in many travel publications from coast to
coast. To get to Rimrock either fly into Flags{aff or Phoenix, rent
an auto and drive. That is unless you’re already driving, then just
drive on Interstate 17 and take the 293 Exit.
We stayed xvith them on a return trip from California and our
"beyond fabnlous" experiences continued while staying there. We
don’t make many promises, but trust us on this one, we promise
that you will have one of the finest and most enjoyable weeks of
your life xvith Kala and Frank.
Alxvays remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and
talk to everyone!
Get the STAR delivered
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Send Check or Money
Order to:
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5103 S. Sheridan Rd.,
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Les residents want
Wockner News Wire
Nxree residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have filed suit in an attempt
to reclaim the word "lesbian" and stop the group Homosexual
and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using it.
Gay women are believed to have adopted the word in memory of
Sappho, a poet who lived on the island in the sixth century B.C.
and wrote about love between women.
The plaintiffs claim the alleged theft of "lesbian" from the island’s
residents amounts to "psychological and moral rape."
An OLKE spokeswoman called the case "ridiculous" but an Athens
court will hear the matter on June 10.
Quotable Quotes
Cuba’s parliament is studying proposals to legalize same-sex unions
and give gay couples the benefits that people in traditional marriages
enjoy. "The freedom of sexual choice and gender identity are exercises
in equality and social justice," said Mariela Castro, daughter of
President Raul Castro,.
www.ozarksstar.corn ~}~eSTAR t9
of Town
B~ A~&’~w Colli~
W-eekend Getaways from
Portland, Oregon
Oregon’s Gannon Beach o~rs some ofthe best sunset-viewing on the
West Coast. (Photo by Andrew Collins)
with a marionberry vinaigreue. For more sophisticated fare, book
a table at the Gower Street Bistro, which presents creative regional
dishes, such as pan-seared sea scallops with roaste&cre~ corn,
eNgplant, and tJancetta.
You might spend the mornings in Cannon Beach strolling along the sand,
admiring the many geological formations just Offshore, such as the famous,
237-~bot-tall Haystack Rocla Do as locals do and grab a cup ofdelicious
java at Sleepy Mgnk C~ff?e Roasters (alofig with £ ~hick sli~e ofch0~latechip
pumpkin bread)before you Set Out[ %nture south of Cannori Beach
and youll pass throt~ Oswald West S~te Park, which is laced with hiking
trails that weave through 01d-gro~f0rest; leading down tO the ~ch.
End your day in fianky itS, with its quirlg, cafes and galleri~i perhaps
enjoying a glass of Oregon wine at Vino, a snaz~ little Wine bar that
also ser~e~ plate~ of delici0u] chkrcuterie and cheeSe. Between Manzanita
and CannOn Beach in tiny Arch Cape, the gay-owned Ocean Point Inn
comprises three oceanfront suites with chic, contempo~ furnishings, fiatscreen
TVs, and gas fireplaces. Guests can enjoy a ~de range oftreatments
at the inn’s spa. It’s one of the most romantic accommodations along the
coast.
I-5}
Within 30 miles of Portland, in Oregon’s verdant Willamette Valley; you’ll
find some ofthe leading wineries in ~e United States - the area ha~ become
especially renowned for iris pinot noirs. Ifyou have only a day to tour the
region, focus your efforts a~ound the rural, hilly Yamhill area, home to such
esteemed vineyards as Willakenzie, Penner,Ash, and Adelsheim. Just a short
drive south, in the Dundee Hills. standouts include Archery Summit, Sokot
Blosser, and Domaine Serene. ~ese are among dozens ofwineries with tasting
rooms open m the public.
Hip and cosmopolitan Portland continues to emerge as a popular urban
vacation destination for gay" and lesbian travelers, thanks in part to its stellar
restaurant scene, liberal social climate, and artsy personalit~: But another
major draw of this charmed city is its proxmaity to so many breathtakingly
beautiful places that make perfect two- to three-day getaways. In an afternoon’s
drive, you can explore the rugged Oregon Coast, tile lush Willamette
Valley wine country, or the high desert outdoor recreation mecca of Bend.
Here’s a look at three ideal weekend getaways from the Portland area, all of
them centered on communities with an increasing number of gay-owned or
gay-friendly accommodations and restaurants.
Camaon Beach and Manzanita (a 90-minute drive via U.S. 26)
~Ihis part of the valley abounds with excellent restaurants, too. An intimate
spot serving relatively affordable French fare, Cuvee sits along the quiet
main drag oftiny Carlton and is a fine place to end a day ofwine-t~asting.
Among the several stellar restauvamts in Dundee, check out Tina’s, a bustling
bistro that features creative American fare emphasizing ingredients from
local r delicious dish is the seared halibut
cheeks with diced
"Ihere
tic and
rooms, each with a
As vou
From downtown Pordand, U.S. 26 leads west over the dramatic Coast
Mountains to northern Oregon’s spectacular and relatively macrowded
coast, a highlight ofwhich is dapper Cannon Beach, a low-keyed
munity set along a striking stretch of beach. Quite a few gays and lesbians
(including Pordand-based filmmaker Gus Van Zant) own or rent summer
homes here or in nearby beach towns, such as funk)" Manzauita and upscale
Gearhart.
The quieter south end of Cannon Beach. known as Tolovana Park. has a
slightly more artsy feel. Here you might spend the night at the delightful
Inn at Cannon Beach, a tasteful complex of contemporar5 two-srory
cottages that open around a central courtyard with fragrant flower gardens
and Adirondack chairs. Itk steps from the beach, and next door to’the
Warren House Pub. a casual, gay-friendly spot that brews its own
excellent beer and serves tast7 comfort food, such as grilled pankocrusted
oysters, and house-smoked-salmon salad
gene. Here
scene of any Oregon city
with parks ~nd ri~:e vci~ opportunities for recreation. A
attraction is the Owen Ros~ Garden, where more than d
Nearb); a former chicken-processing plant houses the Fifth Street
Market, now a complex of fascinati~ shops and enticing restaurants,
mclu&ng one of the regions best dining choices, Marche. Here you can ry
such memorable fare as 0yen-roasted local mussels with a saffron-cream,
and smoked pork chops with rhubarb chum~ From April through De~emher,
check out the neaiby Saturday Market, Where ente~iners pei~form and
close to 200 artisans, farmers, and cooks sell their wares.
20 f~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com
OAXACA RESTAURANT Sed0na, Arizona
Pronounced (Wa-ha&a) this Mexican restaurant in Sedona
offers exciting food. With breath-taking scenery and beautiful
views from their rooftop cantina, Oaxaca has earned it’s title "Local
Secret/Big Find" by Travelocity.com. Tnis old world stTle Mexican
restaurant is located in Uptown Sedona and offers casual dining
with an extensive menu with a taste of every palate.
Carl Butler, the owner and a registered dietitian has created a
delicious menu with a healthy approach. Oaxaca serves up heart
healthy, reduced fat
and low cholesterol
recipes which are
full of flavo!! Oaxaca
serves a wide
range of Mexican,
Southwest, American
and Vegetarian
dishes with authentic
favorites Such
as fajitas and chile
rellenos.
It is no wonder why
people have been dining there for years and years and many people
drive out of their way when traveling, just to dine there! You certainly
will have a wonderful dining experience, enjoying the exciting
flavors of their food and looking at the fabulous mountain scenery.
q-hey are open daily: 10:30 AM to 9 PM. Happy hour: 3 PM
to 6 PM. Breakfast buffet: Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AiM to 10:30
AM. q-hey are located at 321 North Highway 89A in Sedona,
Arizona.
.............................. CHILE RELLENOS Next Page
theSTAR 21
di i g°
New art exhibit feat ring
artist Dennis Olson
at the Dennis Ro Neill
Equality Center
TULSA, OK (PR) __ The Dennis R.
Neill Equality Center art gallery will host
its monthly First Thursday meet-the-artist
reception from 5-9pm, Thursday,
June 5, 2008, for the opening of their
June exhibit, paintings by Oklahoma
City resident Dennis Olson.
This event will correlate with the onenight-
only Tulsa Pride "More Color" art
show featuring works by sixty artists.
Dennis Olson’s exhibit will remain up
through the month ofJune, and can be
viewed Monday thru Saturday from
3-gpm. The Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center is located at 621 E. 4th St.,
in downtown Tulsa. More info can be
found on the web at okeq.org.
This monthly event is hosted by Oklahoman’s
for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks
equal rights for Imsbian, Gay, Bisexual &
Transgender (LGBT) individuals and
families through advocacy, education,
programs, alliances, and the operation of
the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
Quotable Quotes
"I respect the Court’s decision and as
Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also,
as I have said in the past, I will not support
an amendment to the constitution
that would overturn this state Supreme
Court ruling."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:
OkEq Cdebrates
Ca i£ornia Ru ing £or
Marriage Equa ity
TULSA, OK (PR) - May 15, 2008 __
Today, in a 4-3 decision, the California
State Supreme Court ruled in favor of full
marriage equality for same-sex couples. The
decision follows lawsuits by fifteen couples
who challenged the constitutionality of the
state’s marriage ban.
"This historic decision is a victory for
fairness and opportunity for hundreds of
thousands of loving, committed couples
and their families in California," said Justice
Waidner, Oklahomans for Equality Executive
Director. "We continue to work and
hope for the day when families in every state
have the basic protections that come with
marriage."
A growing number of states provide recognition
of same-sex relationships. Including
California, eight states plus the District of
Columbia allow couples to marry or confer
rights and benefits similar to marriage.
However, the Defense of Marriage Act still
prohibits the Federal government from
recognizing same-sex marriages approved in
individual states.
In November, Californians vote on a ballot
initiative to amend the state constitution by
defining marriage as between one man and
one woman. If passed, this constitutional
amendment would overturn the California
Supreme Court’s ruling.
"Many Americans believe that marriage
equality will be a reality in their lifetimes,"
noted Waidner. "Organizations in every
corner of this country are working hard to
achieve the kanerican dream of equality
and justice for all. We are all inspired by
the California marriage decision and look
forward to the day when every American in
every state and territory will have the opportunity
to realize their hopes and dreams
by marrying the person they love."
22 theSTAR w~v.ozarksstar.com
Sound ofMusic
Headlines Lyric’s 2008
Stammer Season
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ Tickets
for Lyric Theatre’s 2008 summer season of
musicals are now on sale. Lyric "Iheatre,
Oklahoma’s premiere professional theatre
company, proudly continues its 46-year tradition
of producing stellar Broadway-style
shows for the people of Oklahoma.
Lyric’s four summer season productions
will be held at the Civic Center Music Hall
in downtown Oklahoma City. From June
24th through 28th, Lyric will open the
season with The Sound of Music, presented
for the first time on the Civic Center stage.
This timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein family
classic tells the story of Maria, a young,
spirited, would-be nun who is appointed as
governess for the seven children of a widowed
sea captain.
Lyric’s next production, Swing!, will run
from July 8th through 12th. Swing! is a celebration
of the music and dance phenomenon
that swept the nation in the ’30s and
’40s. This all-singing, all-dancing evening
of music features over thirty incredible
numbers guaranteed to put audiences "in
the mood!" Lyric will bring a beloved movie
musical to the stage from July 22nd through
26th. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven Brides
For Seven Brothers is the fresh, wholesome
tale ofAdam Pontipee and his unkempt,
burly brothers who kidnap six townswomen
for the winter in hopes of finding love
and companionship. Their well-meaning,
but hilarious shenanigans of courtship are
played out in boisterous song and dance.
Seven Brides For Seven Brothers will feature
Broadway performers Elisa Van Duyne as
Milly and Jim Sorensen as Adam. (rated G)
Concluding Lyric’s 2008 summer season
is a modern musical hit, Urinetown, the
Musical, fresh off the Broadway stage. The
title might give off the impression that the
play is about nothing more than a town that
indulges itself in bathroom related humor.
In reality, Urinetown, the Musical, written
by Greg Kotis, a New York playwright who
specializes in socially relevant comedies, is a
hilarious melodrama about a town plagued
by drought. In a mad attempt to regulate
,#cater consumption, the government forces
its citizens to use pay-per-use amenities,
monopolized by the Urine Good Company.
Urinetown satirizes corporate and political
greed, the idealism of rebellion, and also
spoofs on the art of musical theatre itself, all
set to a score bursting with a big Broadway
sound.
"Urinetown ~von the 2002 Tony Award
for Best Original Score and is lauded on
Broadway as one of the smartest, most
comical musicals of this century;" explains
Nick Demos, Lyric’s Artistic Director. There
is nothing offensive about it, other than an
unattractive title!" Urinetown plays from
August 5th through 9th, and guarantees a
unique night of unprecedented laughter.
(rated PG)
Single tickets to all Civic Center productions
start at $27. Four-Show Season Ticket
packages are also still available and start
at just $80, as are the Three-Show Family
Packages which include The Sound of
Music, Swing!, and Seven Brides For Seven
Brothers. For more info visit www.lyrictheatreokc.
com or call (405) 524-9312.
TOM KOVACH
MAKES HISTORY
WINNING A SEAT ON NOR_MAN’S
CITY COUNCIL
By Victor Gorin
NORMAN, OK__ Tom Kovach, an out
gay Democrat was elected to the Norman
City Council representing Ward 2 in a
runoff against political consultant Chebon
Marshall. The race began running against 2
opponents, Mr. Marshall and Michael McKee.
Although Chebon Marshall got the most
votes, he did not get a majority of the total
votes. Mr. Kovach was in second place, so as
per Oklahoma election law, this resulted in a
runoff election.
Although vastly outspent, Mr. Kovach made
up for this with hard work and determination,
and making known his stands on issues
to make the city better. As he puts it, "
Throughout the campaign we stuck mainly
to the issues, which were mainly public
safety and storm water." His efforts won the
endorsement of both the Sierra Club and
the Norman Homeowner’s Alliance.
There was rumor mongering about his
sexual orientation, and a literature drop
Photo: Tom Kovach by Victor Gorin
designed to turn conservative voters against
him close to the election named him as
endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats
( explaining for those who didn’t know that
it was a gay rights organization within the
Democratic Party), and a member of the
American Civil Liberties Union (both true).
Despite this distraction from the issues, his
sincerity and practical message carried him
to victory.
He has lived in Norman over 40 years,
much of that in Ward 2. His partner of
over 10 years, Will Weir, is also an activist
volunteer with the Oklahoma Department
of Corrections, P-Flag, GLSEN, and helping
people with disabilities. Mr. Weir won
Norman’s Human Pdghts Award in 2007.
Tom made history being Oklahoma’s 3rd
openly gay elected public official The last
2 were Oklahoma State Representative A1
McAffrey (Democrat District 88, elected
2006) and Oklahoma County Commissioner
Jim Roth (Democrat District 1, first
elected 2002). The first was Dr. David
also elected to the Norman City Council in
2001, who Tom remembers as "Someone
who stood up for many issues which are
now being considered by a more progressive
city council, and we owe a lot to him"
As for his future he is optimistic, stating
that" I have been active in the city, spe~ng
before the city council many times. N~ey
know me well, and I think we have a good
working relationship. I look forward to
working with the seasoned members of the
council, and look forward to working with
Mayor (Cindy) Rosenthal."
www.ozarksstar.com {:h®$TAR 23
Photo’s by Victor G. & Jud / G.
@ The Ledo, Oklahoma City
@Club Majestic, Tulsa
@ Steve’s Hideawa t, Tulsa @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ The Copa, Oklahoma City
24 @Angles, Oklahoma City @ Finishline, Oklahoma City
By Greg Steele
Club
Rachael
n downtown Jade Esteban portraying his one man play Inns
III, The Gay and Lesbian History of the Wodd at
OKC’s Indiv dual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery
Laura Belmonte, President Oklahomans for Equality and
OKC Pride Publicity Coordinator Michael Cich at the 2008
LGBT Leadership Summit hosted by Cimarron Alliance
Oklahoma ( Reverend Lo rce
his friend
Alex with their friends at May P-Flag Meeting. Gay ’Star Trek’ actor George Takei is to
marry his partner Brad Altman in California
Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Male Co-Chair Paul Thompson
congratulates Reverend Loyce Newton-Edwards on her ordination
as a UCC minister at Church of the Open Arms.
www.ozarksstar.com ~
Swimsuit C01tect 0n Men From Mensuas
_Mensuas announces their 2008 Swimsuit Collectionfor Menfiaturing swimwear by Bask#,
Mensuas, IV2N Bodywear and Timoteo. Jvat in timefor sumrne~ these new swimsuits are great
for t,6e beach or laying by the i)ool.
TAMPA, FL 0)RWEB) __ Mensuas announces
their 2008 Swimsuit Collection for
Men featuring swimsuits by Baskit, Mensuas,
N2N Bodyxvear and Timoteo. Just in
time for summer, these nexv sxvimsuits are
great for the beach or laying by the pool
Timeoteo Swim Bikini
Mensuas has carried N2N Bod),wear swimsuits
for several years. The N2N Bodywear
2008 Sxvimsuits include the Catalina
Competitor, Corona Competitor, Cosmo
Competitor and the X-Poser. The new and
daring designs xvill sure to get you noticed at
the beach.
Mensuas has team up xvith Tulio to create
the exciting nexv Mensua~ Swim Bikini in
four new styles for 2008. Modeled by Levi
Poulter, these unique swimsuit designs
represent a bold and exciting trend in mens
sxvimxvear.
Mensuas new operations center is located in
the suburbs of Tampa, F1. The new operations
center allows customers orders to be
processed faster and alloxv the
California Muscle Capri Blue Swim
Teaser q-hong
availability of more future products at their
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Mensuas always offer free shipping on all
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shipping rates. All orders received by
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charges. Website: www.mensuas.com
Mensuas Swim Bikini
Timeoteo Swim Bikini California Muscle Dolce Swim Brief
26 t~~eSTAR www.ozarksstar.com
WEST HOLL,,~Y~VO,OD, CA (,P,R) __ On
June 4, 2008i !G)~atomy star T.R.
K ight will i;i M tthew hepard
Foundation ~ h~i~ kick off National Gay-
Pride month with a symbolic dusk commitment
ceremony at the faamed West Hollywood
hotspot, The Abbey.
At 8pm, couples from aroufid the nation
will "tie the knot" in an event officiated by
the Mayor ofWest Holly~vood and witnessed
by Judy Shepard. Couples will be
wearing the Matthew Shepard Erase Hate
pendant courtesy of Love and Pride jewehy
designer, Udi Behr. Love and Pride is the
first online jewelry destination for people
who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance
for all. www.!oveandpride.com
Behr created the Erase Hate pendant for
Judy Shepard, in memory of her son, Matthew
Shepard, who was the victim of a
brutal anti-gay hate crime in rural Wyoming
ten years ago. His murder brought national
attention to the issue of hate crime legislation
and was a watershed moment in the
fight for gay civil rights.
Behr remarks, "A public commitment
ceremony is a great way to join together and
strengthen our two messages; ’Celebrating
Love’ and ’Erasing Hate.’" 100% of net
proceeds from sales of the pendant assist the
Matthew Shepard Foundation.
v~’~v.ozarksstar.com
Judy Shepard, executive director of the
Foundation, said, "Wearing the Erase Hate
pendant is a great way for people to express
how they feel and promote the values of
understanding, compassion and acceptance
that were so important to Matthew," Adding,
"It has been ten years since the death of
my son. Although we can not replace Matthew,
we can join together to help spread
the message of erasing hate."
Mayor Jeffrey Prang comments, "The City
of West Hollywood supports marriage
equality and continues to work hard for
changes in California law." Adding, "We
will not stop fighting for our rights as no
government can prevent us from loving
whom we choose."
World renowned recording artist Steve
Oliver will perform the classic ceremonial
march Pachelbel Canon in D major.
CEREMONY REGISTRATION FORM:
www.MatthewShepard.org/GetMarried
PRIDE PARADE OF
NW"ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE AR (PR) __ NWA
PRIDE announces the 2nd Annual NWA
PRIDE PARADE, A Celebration of Diversity
and Community, will be held on
Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Parade organizers invite GLBTs aald
Straight allies to come together in solidarity
in support of equal rights for all.
It is NWA Pride’s great pleasure to honor
Chris Harmon as this year’s Grand Marshal.
Chris has been an unsung hero as founder
of the NWA POSITIVE LINKS BUDDY
PROGRAM and is currently a board
member of the NWA GLBT Community
Center.
The Buddy Program provides information
and much needed peer-to-peer support for
people living with HIV and AIDS. Chris
and Program volunteers maintain a food
bank, make personal visits, help with chores,
transportation and provide many other
resources for 1Mng a positive life.
Parade participants and spectators are
encouraged to be artistic, have fun and show
your pride. (Kid friendly and appropriate
for public locations) Paint your face, wear
costumes, dress up your pets, horses,
bicycles, vehicles and especially this election
year, proudly wave rainbow and American
flags.
The parade lineup will start at 10 AM on
Meadow Street, next to the Arvest Bank.
Parade will start promptly at 12 Noon. A
brief Pride rally will be held at the end of
the parade in the V/alton Arts Center Parking
Lot.
For more details, float and or speaker applications,
please go to NWA Pride’s web
site at www.nwapride.org. Volunteers still
needed!
"A Star Studded Night"
Gala in Fayettevillle
FAYETTEVILLE, AR (PR) __ The NXX/A
GLBT Community Center will host their
2nd Annual Fund Raising Gala "A Star
Studded Night" on Friday, June 27 at the
Clarion Inn located at 1255 S. Shiloh
Drive in Fayetteville. The Ball Room ~vill
be delightfully decorated resembling the
glitz and glamor of a Hollywood party. Gala
Guests’ will enjoy the fun and excitement of
a "night among the stars" as guests become
our Celebrities in an evening filled with
great food, dancing and music provided by
Dance Enhance Entertainment.
The evening will begin with a lavish Prime
Rib, Chicken or Vegetarian Buffet entree as
well as silent auctions and special speakers
which include the Rev. Lowell Grisham
of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Shawn
Coker the Chairperson ofThe NWA Diversity
Council and Vice President of Diversity
Business Practices ofTyson Foods. Throughout
the evening guests’ will be casting their
vote for the "Star of the Night" Award
which will be given to the person who raises
the most money through a $1 ballot.
Advance tickets for the event are $50 each
or $400 per table of 8 and may be purchased
on-line at http:/Avww.nwaglbtcc.org
or by calling 1-888-361-9222 or in person
at Tymythy’s Hair Salon located at 130 E.
Poplar St. Suite B in Fayetteville. Tickets
will not be available at the door. Doors open
at 6 p.m. and a Cash Cocktail bar will be
open throughout the night. Formal Attire or
Celebrity Costumes are recommended.
th÷STAR 27
by Jack Fertig June 2008
"Take bo~d risks, Aquarius!"
Everyone is being just a bit too fabulous for words!
Mercury is retrograde, so his alignment with Venus
and the Sun is a bit more like a collision of verbosity
and overaffected efforts at charm. Mars in Leo is feeding
the frenzy. Remember Lucy and Ethel at charm
school? It’s that kind of week!
ARIES (Narch 20 -April 19): Baby wants to play, but you
are atypically given more to talk than action now. Chatty
word games and rambling are not usually your style, but go
with it for now. Don’t be afraid to look silly.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Buying or tossing out household
items could easily be a mistake. Instead try rearranging
things and seeing them in a new light. This is a great
time to locate problems in domestic finances, but solving
them should wait a few weeks.
GEMINI (May 2t - Jun.e 20): You’re going to trip over your
tongue no matter what you’re talking about. Best to keep it
light, nonconfrontational, and all in good humor so you can
laugh with your friends over your own malapropisms and
faux pas.
CANCER (June 21- Ju~y 22): Hide the plastic, and keep
the cash out of reach. Any urge to display your good taste
is best done as tasteful restraint - and no, that doesn’t
mean buying handcuffs that match the bedposts! Take time
out with someone you value most.
LEO (July 23 - August 22): Everyone says you look
fabulous - and you do! You’re all cranked up, looking and
thinking three steps ahead, but are you really three steps
ahead going in the right direction? Check with friends who
care about more than looking fabulous.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Someone behind the
scenes offers to help you up the ladder. Some secrets may
be revealed in the process, but that can also work in your
favor. Everyone’s screwing up some these days, but your
mistakes - and the way you handle them - look good!
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): You could charm
anyone into believing your stories and arguments, even
if they contain mistakes. Leave room for later revisions!
Better just to radiate charm and energy; save the important
facts for later.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Seems everybody
wants a taste of what you’ve got! If you do play
around, none of it will be secret. You could get a reputation
as a great lover, but what would your boss and your partner
say?
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 o December 21}): Misunderstandings
with your partner actually open new doors that
could improve your relationship. Explore new pleasures
and possibilities together. If anything seems disappointing,
you might want to try again a few weeks later.
CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Anyone playing
around should make regular visits to the clinic. When
was your last time? If you have a clean bill of health, you
can have a great time practicing any erotic techniques
you’d like to develop.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Be creative! Be
daring! Take bold risks and be willing to fall down and look
utterly ridiculous. A good pratfall can be endearing, helping
to improve your partnership orto find a good candidate for
one.
PISCES (February 19 - March 19): You have the housecleaning
energy and lack of focus typical of a speed freak.
Try to concentrate on one specific task or goal at a time.
You’ll soon be dissatisfied with the results, but that’s OK.
Housework always needs redoing!
METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES
Rev Steve T. Urie
Spirit of Christ MCC
2902 E 20th Street
Joplin, MO 64804
417-529-8480
Worship Saturdays at 10:00 AM
Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
MCC of the Living Spring
17 Elk Street
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
479-253-9337
Worship Sundays at 6:00 PM
Have a God filled and BleSSed Day!
28 theSTAR www.ozarksstar.com
DOWNTOWN PLAZA ofTULSA
17 West 7th Street
Tulsa, OK
918-585-5898
www.downtownplazatulsa.com
HABANA INN
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-528-2221
www.habanainn.com
KELLY KIRBY, CPA
4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424
Tulsa, OK * 918-747~5466
Certified Public Accountant
ANGLES
2117 NW 39th St.
Oklahoma City, OK
www.anglesclub.com
BAMBOO LOUNGE
7204 E. PINE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-8700
www.bambooloungetulsa.com
CLUB MAJESTIC
124 N. BOSTON
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9494
www.ctubmajestictulsa.com
FINISHLINE
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
STEVES HIDEAWAY LOUNGE
11730 E. 11TH
Tulsa, OK
918-437-0449
Open Sun- Sat 2pm to 2am
THE COPA
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
THE LEDO
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
Support those who support us.
DIVERSITY PRIDE EVENTS
P. O. BOX 3158
Eure"ka Springs, AR 72631
479-253-2555
www.diversitypride.com
EXPRESSIONS Comm Fellowshi
311 S Klein Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
405-761-1878
www.myspace.com/expressionsokc
HOPE TESTING CLINIC
3540 E. 31st
Tulsa, OK
800-535-2437
Oklahoma’s HIV/STD Hotline
SPIRIT OF CHRIST MCC
2902 E. 20TH STREET,
Joplin, MO * 479-529-8480
Service Saturday 9:30 AM
MCC of the LIVING SPRING
17 Hk Street
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
479-253-9337
Worship Sundays 6pm
CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 NW EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-840-2106
~’xw,wv.c21 goldcastle.com
CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE
Keller Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-1887
GAY BRADY HEIGHTS-Tulsa
New and Historic Homes for Sale
and Rent For Info:
www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com
OKJAZZ HALL OF FAME
111E. lstSt
Tulsa, OK
918-596-1001
www.okjazz.org
TOLBERT THEATER
400 W. Sheridan
Oklahoma City, OK
405-297-2264
www.tickets.com
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
DALLAS CVB
Dallas, TX
www.winatrip.glbtdallas.com
9 8-835-?887
OKC PRIDE, INC
PO BOX 60296
Oklahoma City, OK 73146
www.okcpride.org
OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY
621 E 4th Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-743-4297
www.okeq.org
OPENARMS YOUTH PROJECT
2015 -B S. Lakewood
Tulsa, OK 74112
918-838-7104
www. openarmsproject.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
KING OF MASSAGE
In or Out Calls
Oklahoma City, OK
405-314-3898
JUDY G. PHOTO’S
Tulsa, OK
judygphotos@sbcglobal.net
918-743-8636
Want the STAR delivered to your home or business?
12 issues for $33.95 will be mailed in a sealed
envelope the 1st of each month. Complete the form
below and send with a check or rnoneyorder to:
NAME:
Address:
City:.
Phone:
The STAR
PO Box 581718
Tulsa, OK 74158-1718
(Single Copies $3.00 per issue)
St: Zip:.
Check enclosed
Money Order
Start Date:
www.ozarksstar.com theSTAR
Chuck Breckenridge
~ether buying or selling
I’)). work hard for your[ ...................
30 tB÷STAR www.ozarksstar.com
We oppose the portrayal of homosexual or
promiscuous behavior in a positive light in
our public schools.
We oppose the erosion of our military
readiness through openly practicing
hornosexuals serving in the military
We oppose the promotion of homosexuality,
the elimination of laws against sodomy,
and the granting of minority protection or
special status to any person based upon
sexua~ preference or llfestyb choice.
We are committed to equal treatment
of all service members and believe all
patriotic Americans should be allowed
to serve our country without
discrimination, persecution or violence.
We support legislation barring workplace
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
We support the full inclusion of gay and
lesbian families in the life of our nation
and seek equal responsibilities, benefits
and protections for these families.
Taken from current platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties of Oklahoma.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[2008] The Star Magazine, June 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 6
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 01, 2008
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Online text
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwestern Missouri
Western Arkansas
Southeastern Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Star Magazine’s first issue began February of 2005. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004) and The Ozark Star (2004). Follows is The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Star Media, Ltd
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Charles (Chaz) Ward
Victor Gorin
Greg Steele
James Nimmo
Joey D.
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Donald Pile
Ronald Blake
Ray Williams
Jack Fertig
Liz Highleyman
Devre Jackson
Judy G.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Star Magazine, May 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 5
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/250
The Star Magazine, July 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 7
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/247
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/248
After Dark
Barney Frank
Bars
Carly Simon
DADT Repeal
Dennis Olson
dining
Don't Ask Don't Tell
ENDA
horoscope
Joe Sestak
Larry McKeon
Lesbos
Leslie Jordan
Lyric Theatre
marriage equality
MCC church
military inclusion
Night club
Paparazzi on the Prowl
pride Parade
Qscopes
Quotable Quotes
Star Advertisers
Star Scene
starclassifieds
swimsuits
Tom Kovach
TR Knight
travel
wine
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/f80e9be73cf574f0d3b023bf677be5c2.jpg
b245e197e6ba4ad41902fdf29ba2a624
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/463403ddfb9dfdee3122589cd21bc856.pdf
90512d7e1a86dce7a74088da7b1c55ae
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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[Series] Newsletters & Publications > Ozarks Pride, Ozarks Star, Star, Metro Star Newspapers, 2004-2011
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
2004-2011
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Images
Online texts
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Description
An account of the resource
Ozarks Pride's first issue began in January of 2004. Then follows Ozarks Pride (2004), The Star (2005), and The Metro Star (2008).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ozarks Pride/Star Media
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Chaz Storm
Marion Wilson
Greg Steele
Randy Vineyard
Steve T. Urie
Chaz
Lady Bunny
Romeo San Vincente
Steve T. Urie
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Michael Hinzman
Jack Fertig
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
Text
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Original Format
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magazine
Text
Any textual data included in the document
THE PREMIER SO,URCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 6 Twi~er,com/MetroStarNews ® MetroStarNews,com JUNE 1, 2010
Coast to Coast, Border to Borde,; fi’om Enid, Oklahoma Cil)
"Simply Proud" the eme ofOklahoma City
Pride Parade t val° this year
By Victor Gorin
Contributing wrker
OKLAHObvL& CITY. OK Oldahoma
Ci@ Pride Festival and Parade is coming
together again this year a’; always, uniting the
GLBT communi~" of the OKC metroplex
and their friends for a }Sbulons weekend of
tim, fellowship, and fi_~r some fond reflection.
Going with it all this year are the Pride
Banners of Cimarron ~Nliance, which will fly
fi’om Oldahoma City lampposts of Classen
Boulevard fi’om June 8 to July 8 to highlight
the festivities.
It all begins with a Block Party
Friday June 25 on the N.W. 39th Street
Strip (beginning at NT~ 39th Street &
Pennsylvania Avenue), this time beginning at
8 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m.
The Festival itself will take place again this
year in Memorial Park, located at N.W. 36th
& Classen Boulevard, opening on Saturday
June 26 at 10 a.m. and dosing at 10 p.m.
It will reopen the next day on Sunday June
27 at 10 a.m., closing down at 3 p.m. as the
Parade lineup begins. N~e festival will
feature a varietT of live entertainment, events,
vendors, and informational booths.
The Pride Parade will step off that Sunday
at 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, concluding
with the Grand Finale over the Hill past
Peunsylvania through the N.W. 39th Street
Strip. For 2010 this event was renamed the
Paul Thompson Memorial OKC Pride Parade
to honor his memory as one of Oklalaoma’s
most renowned activists for GLBT equality
and human rights in general. Mr.~-hompson
had also served for many years as the Male
Co-Chair ofOKC Pride, and had passed
away March 4 of this year.
The Festival and Parade commemorates
Gay Pride Week, which marks the Stonewall
Riots of 1969. Itwas June 28 of that year
when patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar
in New York City, fought baek against the
police after enduring endless harassment. This
was an event unprecedented in American
history where the police were forced to
barricade themselves in the very bar they
came to raid, and the rioting that followed
changed America forever. Straight people
were forced to deal with a gay community
that would no longer accept discrimination,
and the GLBT community was awakened to
........Continued See OKC PRIDE Page-8
Rev Lavanhar took long path to Tulsa Pride Grand
Marshal
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing gZriter
Reverend Marlin Lavanba~ Pressphoto
TULSA, OK__ Although Reverend
Marlin Lavanhar was surprised and honored
to be named Grand Marshal ofJune’s Tulsa
Pride Parade and Festival, he has his sights set
beyond on a larger objective.
"For me it will be especially worthwhile if
the role allows me the platform to speak on
for the inclusion of all people, regardless of
orientation," said Lavanhar, senior pastor at
All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa.
Lavanhar has been a high-profile advocate
for the GLBT community in a state notably
light on supporters from the clergy for many
years. He has been a tireless supporter of
the local community during his 10 years at
All Souls and has made the inclusion of the
GLBT world key to his ministry.
"I realized early on that this wotdd be the
major civil rights issue over tl~e era of my
ministry," Lavanhar said.
Stil!, l,avanhar’s most recent high profile
effort was a rislo! one even for a clergyman
with a long history of championing human
rights. Just months ago, Lavanhar accepted
an invitation to speak at a conference in
Uganda that was a rallying point against
efforts by that African nation to approve
capital punishment as the sentence for
homosexuality.
"We have a sister church in Uganda
and my colleague there was the conference
organizer," Lavanhar said. "The purpose is to
build grassroots resistance to the anti-GLBT
bil!. They asked me to speak. Honestly I had
to think about it."
There was real danger for the conference
organizers and those who attended.
........Continued See LAVANHAR Page-8
:
A LBT Comm ity Center
opens in Enid; Oklahoma!
773e Cenmr Enid, Oklahoma. Gorin photo
On Saturday April 24 the Center held their first
Stand Awards Ceremony ~br various Oldahoma groups
and individuals who have advanced the cause ofGLBT
equality. Among them was Pastor J,E Wickey’(pa~tor of
Crosswalk United Church of Christ), the M~t~ ~{~r ( m~dia
represent~ti0n ~fthe year)Victor Gorin (journalist oi~ the
year) and ,p,oetess Lisa Herald for her verses entitled "Sally
Sally Ket~ which was a bittersweet lament to that Oklahoma
legislator (to see her read it ~on youtube, type in Lisa Herald
Sally KemP. As an endorsement from beyond, the sky featured
a double rainbow as the ceremonies began.
rl~e Center is almost totally funded by loCal gay and gay
friendly indiViduals and organizations,, arid is appropriately
decorated with gay[icons tl~roughout history. Exi~ansion plans
are already being discussed, including possibly a homeless
shelter. Everyone and their talents are welcomed, so for more
information contact 800-878 5298.
Hate Crime victim leaves State
By Michael x~ Sasser
Contributing writer
TULSA, OK A young gay man who was beaten and
ENID. OK The town of Enid, Oklahoma lies 70 robbed in Claremore and then claimed to have been further
miles north of Oklahoma City, is the county seat of Ga~eld victimized in the subsequent weeks, has left Oklahoma for
County and thehome ofVance Air Force Base. Founded in another state.
1893. Enid has been nicknamed Queen Wheat City because
it has the third largest grain storage capacity in the world.
~I~aeir high school football team. the Enid Plainsmen, has a
longstanding powerful reputation, and the city at present
hasn’t a single gay bar.
Yet amid this setting of Conservatism, a gay scene has
"I just didn’t feel safe anymore," said Phillip Nelson; 24. "I
didn’t feel safe leaving my home. Things are better noxv."
Nelsons story captured local hgadlmes m M~rch when
he was assaulted outside his’Clm~em0re apartment by several
unknown assailants, and when his apartment was broken into
and vandalized. Prior to the more violent incidents, Nelson
Representative - Dis ric 88
Oklahoma Ci,y
Paid for by Committee to. Re’-Elect AI McAffrey 2010,
P.O. Box 60668, OKC 73148.
Recognizing ~he need fbr a welcoming place for the various
At 77~e Center: TJ Re),nolds, Nate Bowen, Bill), Igalke~ Brandon
Bidtve~!, Brandon Ratclifl;" Brandon Lopez, Lisa Heral~ Gorin
ohoao
~5cets ofEnid’s GLBT community, members of the local
P-Flag chapter discovered a vacant site at ! 319 S. Van Buren.
v~qth the group’s determination and a willing landlord, it xvas
leased Mar& !0 and plans went full speed ahead to make it
alt happen.
~,lready several support groups meet at the Center
including no~ only Enid’s P-Flag but alsoa youth group, a
~ransgender support group, a group for bisexuals, and one
~or GLBT parents and &ildren. CoUnseling services are also
cond ucred tixere, with plans for a legal clinic, employmen~
assistance, and health services including HIV testing.
It’s aires@ a place where GLBT and friendly groups can
distribute their literature, and it i)atures a lot more than just
serious activity. Friday nights are dedicated to social activities
such as dances, open mic nights, & karaoke. Social clubs
meet there that are too numerous to mention that include a
chess club, a book club, a gardening club, etc to give some
perspecrive.
"There is something not right there," Nelson said. "They’re
not there to protect people from hate crimes. They are iust
there to hide it under the carpet and to wait fbr it to go awa3~"
Nelson said he finds it most curious that there has been
no progress on the Claremore case because he was able to
provide an obvious, distinct clue as to the identity of one of
his attackers.
N~ings did not improve for Nelson after the story broke.
N~e former Rogers State University student found himself the
target of verbal abuse and hostility in school and around his
apartment complex.
Less than a month after the attack in Ctaremore, Nelson
said that he and a female friend were assaulted in a Tulsa
karaoke bar.
"A bunch of bikers got very- aggressive and hostile ~vith us,"
Nelson said. He said that he believed that the ,alleged harassers
recognized him from television news reports and that they
hurled antiagay epithets at he and his friend.
"\Ve’d been in there before and it wasn’t a problem,"
Nelson said.
This time, Nelson said, it was a problem. He claims that
he and his friend "barely escaped" when the bar management
sided with the aggressors and Nelson and his friend were
instructed to leave.
Nelson said Tulsa Police would not respond to his calls. He
said they did initially respond to his friend’s calls, but he was
not sure if anything ever came of it. His friend Could not be
reached for comment.
rrhe final straw for Nelson was when management asked
him to vacate his apartment iust weeks ago. Nelson believes
he was asked to leave because of his orientation and said that
management representatives had previously made anti-gay
comments to him.
slide."
Toby Jenkins, President of Oklahomans for Equality, said
that everyone xvho comes forward after an assault is a hero
and that he understands Nelson’s frustration with Claremore
Police.
"We admire his tenacity in staying after police to be
vigilant," Jenkins said; "All crime victims have to stay after
police."
Nelson said he does not lmo,v if his move is permanent.
Interfaith Pride Memorial Service
Planned
By Victor Gorin
Contributing Writer
OIC&&HOMA CITY, OK __ Plans are underway for a
community wide service ofremembrance on tl~e evening of
Wednesday, June 16 at 7 p.m., right in the middle of GLBT
Pride Month. This service will be held at Epworth United
Methodist Church, located ar 1901 N. Douglas Avenue in
Oklahoma City.
The purpose of the service is to provide comfort ro those
experiencing grief, and to celebrate those who have touched
our lives, promising to be an uplifting occasion for everyone
who attends.
If you have lost a loved one--partner, relative, or friend
in the past year and want them remembered in this memorial
service, please e-mail their name to scott@cimarronalliance.
org.
www.metrostarnews.com
Bigger and better as
cdebrates 25
years
Grand Marshalls; fonnding members
ofOGRA
By By Robin D-Townsend
Contributing Writer
OKLAHOMA CIT~; OK __ As OGRA
(Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) codirectors,
Klint Wieden and Paul Boyd have
had a busy year. Taking the responsibility on
to produce this annual event means planning
and implementing the entire event; taking
care setting the dates, securing the venue,
contracts, scheduling, securing sponsors,
appointing committees and so much more.
After all this work, the culmination of their
efforts are enjoyed when they direct the rodeo
itself during the entire weekend of the event,
which is each Memorial Day weekend at the
State Fairgrounds (Barn 8).
"Our goals for this year, our 25th
Anniversary Great Plains Rodeo is to make
it a memorable event ~vhile commemorating
our founding members and board," said
Wieden. "We want to increase both contest
participation as well as spectator attendance.
We have planned more entertainment during
rodeo weekend, more parties, and more
things leading up to the rodeo."
Mmualty OGRA is held in Oklahoma
City over the Memorial Day holiday, May 28-
30 for 20!0. Here is the lineup of events;
Thursday, May 27th, 6-8pro VIP
Reception pool side at ~e Habana Inn for all
of our rodeo sponsors and officials. After that,
The Finishline will be hosting a stick horse
rodeo with plenty of events using stick horses.
A stick horse decorating contest ~vill be on
display during rodeo registration and then
all day Saturday at the OGRA booth at the
rodeo-$1 per vote for the best decorated stick
horse with the proceeds going to charity.
Friday, May 28, 10am Board of
Directors Meeting; from 6pm - 9pm is
Rodeo Registration for contestants at
the fairgrounds, Barn #9 in the vendor
area. 7pm - OGP,~k Royalty Team will
be hosting "A Night of Royalty Nikki &
Mark" entertainment during registration, at
the Fairgrounds, Barn #8.10pm - OGRA
Royalty Team will be hosting "A Night of
Royalty Nikki & Mark" at PhoenLx Rising.
Saturday, May 29th, 8am Rodeo begins
with Calf Roping on Foot, Steer Deco, Break
Away Roping, Team Roping, Steer Riding,
Pole Bending. At high-noon is the Grand
EntD" witb~Bronc Riding, Chute Dogging,
Goat Dressing, Barrel Racing, Flag Race,
Wild Drag Race, Bull Riding and the Rodeo
will finish up around 5pm.
Texas Gay Rodeo Association will be
hosting the Texas Tea Party at the Copa
with entertainment and drink specials that
evening. OGP,ak and Angles will be hosting
a LIVE concert performance at Angles
from 9pro til! who knows when! Live vocal
performers are lined up featuring James
Allen Clark, a new Nashville recording artist,
along vdth several popular 16cal performers.
Winners of the Stick Horse Decorating
Contest and then auction offthe stick horses
to the highest bidder to help raise more
money for charity. ~
Sunday, May 30th; OGRA day 2 begins
with, Calf Roping on Foot, Steer Deco, Break
Away Roping, Team Roping, Steer Riding,
Pole Bending, and high-noon again brings the
Grand Entry with more Bronc Riding, Chute
Dogging, Goat Dressing, Barrel Racing, Flag
Race, Wild Drag Race & Bull Riding. At
5pm the Rodeo wraps up and we move to
the Finish line for a BBQ Dinner put on by
Head Country BB% and at 7pro, the Rodeo
Awards CeremoW at the Copa where they
~vill be awardingbucldes, saddles and cash
prizes to all of the winners of the Rodeo.
Monday, May 31st at noon will be a
Rodeo Wind-Down Party at Phoenix Rising
where the), will be serving hamburgers and
hotdogs along with drink specials, relaxing
and recounting all of the fun times of the
weekend.
This year’ charity partners are Other
Options/Friends Food Pantry, Be The
Change, and Expressions Community
Service. "Several months prior to our rodeo, ’
usually in November we request letters from
qualifi/ing 501 (c)3 non-profit charities
stating vchy they want to be considered as one
of our charity partners," adds Wieden. "Then,
as a group, we discuss each organization and
look at their merits and what they do for the
community. We consider their financials and
the services they offer to our community, and
then vote on the ones we want to support."
The amount donated to these charities varies
each year based on participation, events and
overall donations.
"I just want to stress what a vital service
we provide for people in our community to
participate in a sport that they enjoy (rodeo)
while at the same time giving back to our
community in volunteer services as well as
financially," concludes Wieden. "Our local
charities that we support rely heavily on
donations from our local community and we
provide that link through a fun event such
as rodeo. We also help provide a positive
outlook to our city, and state as well by
our conduct and actions, hdping the gay
community at large to be more accepted by
everyday citizens."
The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association,
Inc. (OGRA) is a nonprofit organization
and member of the International Gay Rodeo
Association, Inc. (IGRA) which is comprised
of 28 state/provincial associations throughout
the United States and Canada. OGRA is
proud to be the first association seated at
the first ever IGRA Convention in 1985
For more information check out the OGRA
website at www.ogra.net
Feast to Gain Funds for
HIV/AIDS
TULSA, OK__Tulsa CARgS, a 50!(c)3
nonprofit organization is planning its first
"Feast with Friends®" fundraiser for Saturday,
July 24.
"Feast with Friends°" is an at-home
fundraiser where individuals and groups host
dinner parties in their homes, workplaces and
faith communities on Saturday evening, July
24. In exchange, their guests make a donation
to Tulsa CARES whose mission is "Delivering
social services to people affected by HIV/
MDS" in northeastern Oklahoma. After
dinner, all hosts and their guests are invited to
the fabulous "Dessert Extravaganza" from
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Central Community
Center, 1028 E. Sixth St. Non-alcoholic
beverages and dessert are provided to guests.
~ose not attending a dinner may participate
in the dessert event for a $10 donation at the
door.
Tulsa CARES’ Executive Director, Sharon
Thoele hopes Feast with Friends ’\vill hdp us
bring to light the fact that the AIDS epidemic
is far from over, and ~ve need everyone’s help
to meet the enormous need that exists in our
community."
"Old friends, ne~v friends, everyone and
anyone who wishes to support Tulsa CARES
is invited to participate in this event - it’s fun
and it’s a great excuse to gather with your
favorite people and help out a worthwhile
cause all at the same time," Thoelesaid.
"Tulsa CARES will use the proceeds to
support our programs as we assist people who
are living with this disease."
In-kind sponsors for the event are: Hla’s
Dell, QuikTrip, Tulsa Parks and Starbucks
Coffee Compan3a
For more information about hosting a
party or about the dessert event, contact
Ally McGinnis, Tulsa CARES resource
development coordinator by calling 834-4194
or by e-mail, allym@tulsacares.org.
Founded in !991, Tulsa CARES, a United
Way Member Agency, delivers services
to low-income people living with HIV/
AIDS. Services include case management
by professional social workers, access to
physicians and prescription assistance,
counseling services, housing assistance, a food
pantry with access to our registered dietician,
and many other forms of support. Tulsa
CARES’ mission is "Delivering social services
to people affected by HIV/AIDS." For more
information about Tulsa CARES, visit ww~v.
tulsacares.org.
Tulsa couple
marry in
By Staff Editors
TULSA, OK__ Erin Taylor McClanahan
and Scott Andre Harper were married
on Friday, May 7th at the Polk County
Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa at 10:30
AM. The Honorable Judge Robert Hanson
performed the ceremony. Witnesses were
Linda and Jamie Harper, brother and sister-
Erin McClanahan and Scott Harper at their
wed~ing reception May 8, 2010 at the Bamboo
Lounge ~dsa. Stajfphoto
in-law to Scott. The happy couple left Tulsa
on May 6 and made a rest stop in Osceola at
a casino called Terribles.
Following the nuptials on Friday, they
were offto Kansas City were they spent their
wedding night at Harrah’s Hotel Casino.
Then they went back to Tulsa for a rousing
reception at the Bamboo Lounge. The
beautifully planned reception including the
wedding cake, champagne, flowers and all the
trimmings was organized by Philip Simmons
and Tammy Randell.
It was a family affair with Scott’s mother
Evelyn, his brother and sister-in-law, Erin’s
sister Kristen and over 100 friends there to
congratulate and wish the couple a long and
happy marriage.
Although Erin and Scott’s Iowa marriage is
not legal in the State of Oldahoma, same sex
marriages are legal in five states, Connecticut,
Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Three states
recognize same sex marriage, New York,
Rhode Island, and Maryland.
Couples must first apply for a license
to marry in Iowa. You can download
an application at www.polkrecorde,:com/
marriages.htm or call 515-286-3160 in Des
Moines to request the documen~ be mailed
to you. Instructional handouts are available
from county officials, who also serve as
County Recorders in county courthouses.
No matter who
are on life’s jourm
Reeerend Ur. Kathy
3131 N. Pennsylvania,Oklah0 405.525.9555
4 June 1, 2010
Obama selects Supreme
Court nominee
The Human Rights Campaign "hailed"
President Barack Obama’s May 10 selection
of U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan as his
nominee to replace retiring Justice John Paul
Ste,,v.ens on the U.S. Supreme Court.
We are confident that Elena Kagan
has a demonstrated understanding and
cormnitment to protecting the liberty
and equality of all kanericans, including
LGBT Americans," said HRC President Joe
Solmonese.
Gay cases that could come before the court
in the near future include the Proposition 8
federal case by famed lawyers David Boles
and Ted Olson and other same-sex marriage
cases, challenges to the anti-gay federal
Defense of Marriage Act andto the military’s
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban on gays who do not
stay in the closet, and cases targeting the new
federal hate-crimes law that is inclusive of
sexual orientation.
.As dean of Harvard Law School, ~C~gan
opposed the Solomon Amendment, a 1996
federal law that allows the secretary of defense
to deny federal grants -- including rmearch
grants -- to universities and colleges that
prohibit military recruiting on campfis.
Some schools banned military recruiters
because Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell amounts to
employment discrimination based on sexual
orientation, which violates the schools’
policies.
At Harvard, Kagan partially blocked
the recruiters in 2004 a~er a federal court
struck dmvn the Solomon Amendment, then
unblocked them after the U.S. Supreme
Court upheld tt~e amendment in 2005.
"~Ihis action (the arrival of military
r~cruiters on campus) causes me deep
distress," Kagan wrote in October 2003.
"I abhor the military’s discriminatory
recruitment policy. (It is) a profound wrong
-- a moral injustice Of the first order."
HRC’s Solmonese said, ’Sg[e applaud Elena
Kagan’s vocal opposition to the Solomon
Amendment andthe discriminatory Don’t
Ask, Dofft Tell law."
In April, CBSNews.com mistakenly called
Kagan "openlygay" and, in,,an addendum
to that post, also called her apparently
still closeted." ~e network later deleted
the column because of its "irresponsible
speculation."
The ~gashington Post reported April 16
that an unnamed Obama administration
oi~cial said "ICxgan is not a lesbian." On May
13, Politico.corn reported that it had talked to
some of Kagan’s friends and they confirmed
that she is "not gay."
Richard Socarides, former President Bill
Clinton’s gay White House special assistant,
told CNN on May 10 that Kagan is "a
brilliant, pragmatic progressive xvho is intent
on hearing all sides to fashion a solution that
works for the most amount of people."
California Assembly calls
£or DADT repeal
The California Assernbly passed a
resolution 51-17 on May 13 urging repeal of
the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban on open gays in
the military.
The measure asps Congress to pass, and
President Barack Obama to sign, the Military
Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, which
Wockner News Service
would dear the way for LGB service members
to come out of the closet.
"\Ve are proud of our state’s leadership
for championing fairness and equality in the
military," said Equality California Executive
Director Geoff Kors.
EQCA said Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has
led to the discharge ofsome t3,500 service
members, including some 800 specialists
serving in critical operations. More
than 300 language specialists have been
discharged under the policy, "resulting in a
critical shortage of qualified translators in
intelligence-gathering posts," the group said.
The California resolution now goes to the
state Senate, which had passed it last year, for
a concurrence vote.
Christian right leader
went to Europe with
’rentboy’
Prop 8 £ederal trial likely
to conclude in June
~giiami New 7~mes’photo ofanti-gay activist
George Rekers and a rentboycom escort
returning together to _Miami International
Ai,portfi’om a European vacation.
Proposition8 is likely tofinal~ wr~p up in U.S.
Dist~ct Court in San ]~)ancisco on June i~ ~d
Olson, left; and David Boles are lead counsel~r
the gay side. Phow @ z~’x ~ckner
The trial in the federal lawsuit against
Proposition 8is likely to finally xvrap up
in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on
June 16, when Judge Vaughn \Valker has
tentatively scheduled closing arguments.
~ae trial has been paused since testimony
concluded on Jan. 27 because Walker said he
wanted to study the record before hearing the
attorneys’ final statements.
~lhe hiatus dragged on longer than expected
because of sldrmishes between the anti-samesex-
marriage side and the gay groups that ran
the campaign against Prop 8, who are not
parties to the case.
The same-sex-marriage opponents
demanded that Equality California and the
American Civil Liberties Union produce
various documents and e-mails from the
campaign period. EQ~A and the ACLU
fought the demand at length before relenting
on April 27.
Lawyers for the two groups said they
turned over 4,500 documents and "thousands
of e-mails" that seemed to fal! within the
purvie~v of an order Walker had issued.
The opponents also are attempting to strike
from the trial record some of the testimony
of one of their defendant-intervenors, Hak-
Shing William Tam. Walker told the antisame-
sex-marriage side to submit its motion
by May 6 and told the gay" side to respond to
it by May 10.
Appearing on the wimess stand Jan. 21,
Tam said: "I believe that if the term ’rnarriage’
.....Continued see PROP 8 - page 6
www.metrostarnews.com ~IET~OSTAR 5
George Alan Rekers, who co-founded
the anti-gay Fatally Research Council, was
photographed at Miami International Airport
On April 13 returning from a European
vacation xvith a male escort who says the two
met via rentboy.com, Miami New Times
reported May 4.
The escort, who has been called "Lucien,"
"Geo" and "Jo-vanni" in news reports, also
told various media outlets that he gave Rekers
daily massages in the nude during the trip,.
which included genital tonching. Lucien
showed CNN a travel contract between
the two men that mandated daily hourlong
massages, and told the network that Rekers
"basically got excited" during the massage
sessions.
Rekers, 61, has used his professorgeorge.
com website and other online resources to
fight back against the "slanderous" reports,
saying he’s not gay and that nothing "illegal
or sexual" took place during his trip with
Lucien, 20. Rekers told multiple media .
outlets that he will acquire or has acquired a
lawyer and may or will sue for "defamation."
"I have been advised to retain the services
of a defamation attorney in this matter,
because the fact is that I am.not gay and
never have been," he told the Washington
Post on May 6.
On his website, Rekers wrote: "A recent
article in an alternative newspaper cleverly
gave false impressions of inappropriate
behavior because of its misleading innuendo,
incorrectly implying that Professor George
Rekers used the Rentboy website to hire a
prostitute to accompany him on a recent trip.
Contrary to Internet stories based on this
slanderous article, fo!lowing medical advice
Professor George Rekers requires an assistant
to lift his luggage in his travels becanse of an
ongoing condition following surger): ... Dr.
Rekers found his recent travel assistant by
interviewing different people who might be
able to’help, and did not even find out about
his travd assistants Internet advertisements
offering prostitution activity until after the
trip was in progress. ~ere was nothing
inappropriate with this relationship. Professor
.....Continued see RENT BOY - page 6
Pelosi promises votes on
both DADT and ENDA
this year
By Lisa Keen
Keen News Service
House ’Speaker Nancy Pelosi reassured
representatives of several LGBT organizations
this week that the Employment Non-
Discrimination Act (ENDA) and a measure
to repeal Dofft Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) will
get votes this year.
Pelosi made her comments in an
hour-long telephone conference call with
representatives of six LGBT groups on
Monday.
One of those representatives, Kate
Kendell, executive director of the National
Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), said
Pelosi, "in no uncertain terms, without any
equivocation or evasion, stated several times
that ENDA was her priority and that it
would move in this Congress --and there was
no question."
Concern that ENDA might not get a
vote this Congress has been intensifying
for the past several weeks, as the number of
voting days in the House dwindles during
the last months of the 111 th Congress. Some
activists said the 2 I8 votes to pass the bill
are there but that the House !eadership had
not scheduled the bill for a vote. And many
were alarmed that the momentum to pass
a measure to repeal DADT rnay have been
seriously hobbled by missives from Defiense
Secretary Robert Gates and the Vc~nite House
year, on how repeal could be implemented.
But Kendell and others said Pelosi
committed to passing ENDA and repealing
DADT this year.
"St~e seems absolutely committed to
getting that done," said Mara Keisling,
executive director of the National Center
for Transgender Equali*T. Keisling, who
has been a key organizer of support for this
term’s ENDA, which includes a prohibition
of"gender identitT" discrimination, was
another one of the participants in Monday’s
conference call.
Keisling, who said the phone call took
place at about 1:30 p.m. eastern time, noted
that Pelosi talked about there being a "limited
amount of time" and many other things that
have to happen on the House floor before the
end of this session.
"While Pelosi "did not commit to a specific
datg’ for a vote on ENDA, said Keisling,
she lea the impression it could move in
committee as early as this week.
And Kendell said Pelosi reassured the
group leaders that, while a measure to repeal
DADT may move first, "she stated in no
uncertain terms that ENDA is moving and it
will move under her watch and it will move
in this Congress."
DADT could coine up as early as
next ~nursday, when the House begins
consideration of an annual bill on Defense
spending.
Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill
confirmed the call took place and said that,
in addition to Kendell and Keisling, the
participants included several Pelosi staff
members, Joe Solmonese, president of the
Human Rights Campaign; Geoff Kors of
Equality California; Toni Broaddus, executive
director of the national Equality Federation;
and Masen Davis, executive director of the
Transgender Law Center, a California legal
group.
HRC spokesman Fred Sainz said
Solmonese was traveling Tuesday and could
not return a reporter’s call, but Sainz, too,
confirmed that Pelosi made a commitment
to vote on both ENDA and DADT repeal.
He noted this was the first time the Speaker
had had a conference call specifically xvith
representatives of LGBT organizations on this
issue.
Broaddus of the Equality Federation said
Pelosi "didn’t give us any dates" but "assured
us both bills are moving and that she’s very
committed to getting them through."
Several participants in the phone call said
Pelosi expressed concern about the likelihood
that Republicans will exercise their option,
as the minority party, to ask for a vote on a
"motion to recommit" "the bill to committee.
Such motions, which Republicans
have used recently ~to thwart Democratic
legislation, can force votes on whether to send
a bill back to committee with instructions
to either kill or amend it. The amendments
proposed on recent legislation have been
designed to both delete essential language
from the underlying bill and propose
language that could cause embarrassment for
any legislator to oppose. Such was the case
last on a bill to create more jobs. The raotion
to recommit sought to insert language
to prohibit paying any federal employee
"officially disciplined for violations regarding
the viewing, downloading, or exchanging of
pornography, including child pornograph>
6n ~ federai~mpute~ or whil~ ~erf0rmin~
official government duties." Democratic
leaders pulled the jobs bill when they saw that
a sufficient number of Democrats were voting
for the motion to recommit.
"I’m sure they’ll tiT that with ENDA,"
said Keisling, "but they’re going to try that
with every bill that comes along frorn now
on."
So, supporters ofENDA and the DADT
repeal must ensure they have 2 ! 8 votes in
the House, not only to pass each measure
but also to defeat any such hostile motion
to recolnmit. A spokesman for Rep. Barney
Frank (DvMass.), who introduced ENDA,
said last week that Frank was urging LGBT
activists to continue and step up the lobby
effort to secure those votes. Frank was not
available for comment Tuesday, and Rep.
Tammy Baldwin’s office did not respond to a
request for comment.
But several participants in Monday’s
phone call said Pe!osi assured them she has
"no intention of losing either" ENDA or
DADT repeal.
Keisling and others said Pelosi was "very
clear" that one of the bills -but not both--
would see action before Memorial Day.
The House is slated to take up its annual
bill on Defense funding on Thursday and
Friday, May 27 and 28. Frank and others
have said that DADT repeal, like the hate
crimes measure that passed last yea,; would
come up during consideration of the DOD -
authorization bill.
Activists held a rally outside the Speaker’s
office in San Francisco and a press conference
in Washin~on, D.C., on Tuesday to keep the
pressure on for a vote. At the National Press
Club press conference, National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea
Carey said LGBT activists are "at the end of
our patience."
"We have done our work," saidCarey.
"We have provided the numbers and the
stories; and we have endured as we\’e watched
thousands of LGBT workers lose their
foothold in a struggling economy-- not
because of downsizing, or poor performance
or closed businesses but -- because of
prejudice ....
"So today, Congress must step up to its
responsibility, to fully accept its charge to
serve its constituents," said Carey. "To step
up to its moral obligation to preserve the
integrity of the very fabric of our nation
by providing an accessible workplace to all
Americans- regardless of sexual orientation
or gender identity."
Noting that activists have been trying
for 36 years to pass some form of federal
protection against discrimination against gay
workers, Carey demanded Congress pass the
bill "without delay."
Rekers was not involved in any illegal or
sexual behavior with his travel assistant."
As the story unfolded, Lucien learned of
Rekers’ history of anti-gay activism and then
decided to tell media outlets about the trip’s
alleged sexual component.
"It’s a situation where he’s going against
homosexuality when he is a homosexual,"
Lucien told New Times.
Gay activist XX~ayne Besen, whose Truth
\Vins Out group battles the anti-gay
movement, told New Times that Rekers’
"fingerprints are on almost every anti-gay
effort to demean and dehumanize LGBT
people."
"His work is ubiquitously cited by lobby
groups that work to deny equality to LGBT
Americans," Besen said. "Rekers has caused
a great deal of harm to gay and lesbian
individuals."
Reports said Rekers also is a member of the
board of the anti-gay National Association for
Research and Therapy of Homosexuality. He
also recently was paid tens of thousands of
dollars by the state of Florida to be an expert
witness against gay adoption. Florida is the
only state that bans gay people from adopting
across the board.
After Rekers testified in that case, Miami-
Dade County Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman
wrote: "Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated
by his strong ideological and theological
convictions that are not consistent with
the science. Based on his testimony and
demeanor at trial, the court cannot consider
his testimony to be credible a0r worthy of
forming the basis of public policy."
Lucien told The Miami Herald he became
an escort to pay for college, but that he might
have to drop out now. He said Rekers paid
him $75 per day during the trip, which is less
than the $300-$500 he would have charged
for sex. He told CNN there Was no sexual
contact other than the massages.
In a message to the Joe.My.God. blog,
Rekers said no one should be surprised he was
found in the company of a male escort.
"Like Jesus Christ, I deliberately spend
time with sinners with the loving goal to try
to help them," Rekers wrote. "Like John the
Baptist and Jesus, I have a loving Christian
ministry to homosexuals and prostitutes in
which I share the Good News of Jesus Christ
with them.... If you talk with my trave!
assistant that the story called ’Lucien,’ you
will find I spent a great deal of time sharing
scientific information on the desirability of
abandoning homosexual intercourse, and I
shared the Gospel ofJesus Christ with him in
great detail."
Not everyone in the media bought that
explanation.
"Here’s the basic idea about cases like this,"
MSNBC’s IL-tchel Maddow said May 7. "N~e
miserable denial and lying in your own sex
lives is your mvn miserable, in-denial, lying
business -- unless you make it the whole
country’s business by crusading against the
thing that is true about yourself that you hate
so much. Being gay cannot be cured. Being
a contemptible, pathetic hypocrite can be
cured.... Congratulations, you?ve made the
ne~,vs."
can be used beyond one man and one
woman, then any two person of any age or of
any relationships can use the same argument
and colne and ask for the term ’marriage.’
That would lead to incest. That would lead to
polygamy."
Tam said he had learned "in the Internet"
that af,er the Netherlands legalized same-sex
marriage in 2001, it went on to legalize incest
and polygamy. ~
"Another person in the organization found
it and he showed me that," Tam said. "I look
at the document and I think that was true."
~e gay side is represented by famous
lawyers Ted Olson and David Bole), who
attempted to prove that Prop 8 violates the
U.S. Constitutiol~’s guarantees of due process
and equal protection under the law.
Mindfu! of severa! precise legal
considerations or constructs, they tried to
show" that there’s no coherent reason for
the government to ban same-sex marriage,
that Prop 8 passed primarily because
California voters are prejudiced, that gays and
lesbians need government help to fight the
discrimination and persecution that continue
to harm them, that being gay is usually not
a choice and sexual orientation is usually
immutable, that gay couples’ children fare
as well as straight couples’ children, and that
so-called traditional marriage has undergone
transformations throughout history.
Passed by voters in November 2008, Prop
8 amended the California Constitution to
re-ban same-sex marriage just 4 1/2 months
after the state Suprelne Court legalized it.
Olson and Boies’ lawsuit is ultimately
aimeO at the U.S. Supreme Court, where it
could end up as soon as next year, af,er a stop
at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court ofAppeals. If
successful, the lawsuit could bring about the
legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide.
If unsuccessful, it could have the effect of
stopping the movement for same-sex marriage
-- which now is legal in five states and~
Washington, D.C. -- dead in its tracks for
possibly a generation.
The suit is without doubt a high-stakes
gamble, so much so that the gay rights legal
establishment initially opposed it and was,
as a result, blocked by Olson and Boles from
intervening once it became clear the case was
going to happen and was going to be a big
deal.
June 1,2010
Sooner State SoAball Association Games promise an
exciting S~mer
Contributing "~;qiter
Oklahoma Chaos Team ofOklahoma City. Godn photo
pu fhe °’
Sunday Services @ 11:00 AN
CC United 918-8~8-171~
A Metropolitan CommuNb/Church WWWom~et~saoorg
Ot~J_~!OMA CITY, OK __ Sunday
May 9 proved to be a beautiful spring day for
the Sooner State Softball Association ~raes as
they competed at Edmond’s Bickham Field.
Currently comprised of 16 teams, the alliance
provide~ a great opportunity to play ball for
serious or recreational softball players of the
GLBT community in the Oldahoma City
are~. The.Association has joined the North
Lm=bda Leag~e &~mmer
TULSA, OK (PR) __ Lambda League
Summer Bowling Started May t7th and
goes tlwoug}~ August %h. Games are each
Monday 7pro at Andy B~ Riverlm~es, 871 !
South Lewis ~Asa. No gaflae on Memorial
Day. %e Summer league is open to anyone.
~t’s a great way to make ftiends and have fun.
Cost is $14.00 each Monday and a one time
summer league membership fee of $20.00
For more information call 918-637-0889; or
emaiI: bubuinok@yahoo.com or beads4me@
cox.net.
Openarms Youth Center
Hosts Prom, Las Vegas
By Judy Gabbard
Contributing xg~’riter
TULSA, OK__ April 24, 20!0, Openarms
~k>uth Project hosted another successful
Prom Night. ~e theme was Las V%as S@e.
Tim GilIean and Ken Drape1; once again
achieved a successful night of food, dance and
entertainment riot area GLBT youth.
Approximately 80 yom-h were in
a~tendance, dressed in their own unique
finer> Parents and volunteers attended as
chaperones.
~ae highlight of every prom is to cast
American Gay Amateur Athletic Association.
Tulsais in the process of forming a league
as well, although a competition planned
between the two cities, the Turnpike
Challenge scheduled for May 15, was
rained out. For more information or game
schedules check out soonerstatesoftball.
com. or contact Recruitment Director Chad
Previ& at soonerstatesoftbalt@hotmail,Com.
Brenda "Grandma" Bolen and Kim
Whisenhunt. Judy G. Photo
votes and to crown the annual Prom King
and Queen. Openarms selected Royaltywas
beyond special. The 2010 Prom King is
Kim Whisenhunt and Prom Queen Brenda
Bolen. Brenda Bolen is the oldest volunteer
at Openarms Youth Centre: Brenda is a
youthful and loving individual who reaches
out to evewone who comes to the center and
is repectfully called "Grandma". King Kim
~/hisenhunt brings class to the King Crown,
and is highly respected by her peers.
Openarms Youth Center operates on
private donations, and is located at 2015-
B S. Lakewood in ~alsa, OK. For more
information or for donations contact Tim or
Ken, 918-838-7104
;uptcv o ~iVil Rights °Criminal
’ment o Family Law o Litigation
625 N.W. lSth Street
Citg, OK 73103
www.metrostarnews.corn ~ETROSTAR 7:
Month:
By D’~mne Witkowstd
Say you’ve had surgery that renders you
unable to carry luggage and you’re about to
go on a European vacation. What’s a person
to do? Wall, if you’re Family Research Council
co4Ounder and ex-gay therapy champion
George R~ekers, you look no fnrther than
RentBoy.com for a "travel assistant."
And then you get caught at the airport
with this hot young stud while pushing your
own luggage cart. Whoops.
~at’s right, yet another anti-gay so-called
Christian has been caught gay-handed.
Rekers doesfft seem to think so, however.
He’S stiddng very hard to his "travel assistant"
story. According to a statement on his
website, "Following medical advice (Rekers)
requires an assistant to lift his luggage in
his tra:zels because of an ongoing condition
follovdng surgery. His family, local friends,
and even another university professor
colleague have offered to accompany him on
trips to assist him in his travel."
Wow. It looks like he had a lot of people
he could have asked to accompany him on his
trip, and yet he still went with the prostitute
from RentBoy. Maybe his family, friends and
that mysterious other university" professor
don’t give good enough hand jobs.
"Rekers found his recent travel assistant by
intep4ewing different people who might be
able to help, and did not even find out about
his travel assistant’s tntemet advertisements
offering prostitution activiV until after the
trip was in progress," his website’s message
continues.
i reckon "interviewing different people"
means "I looked at lots of hot naked dudes
on RentBoy befi~re deciding on the one I now
refer to as my "travel assistant." It~ kind of
hard to believe that Rekers found out about
the RentBoy profile while the two were in
Europe together, unless of
George
course his so-called assistant said, "Oh, by the
way, want to see pictures of my penis online?"
Rekers claims that there "was nothing
inappropriate with this relationship" and
that he "was not involved in any illegal or
sexual behavior with his travel assistant." He
even went as far as comparing himself to
Jesus and John the Baptist saying he ,vas just
ministering to his sinner of a travel assistant
and trying to save his soul.
Needless to say, it’s all ldnd of hard to
swallow. Rekers can claim all he wants that
he isn’t gay has never been gay and just
wants to save the real gays from their evil gay
selves, but he is definitely one confused and
hypocritical little man.
Rekers has made a career out of
demonizing LGBT folks and doing
everything he can to mal(e this country less
safe for anyone who isn’t heterosexual. For
example, Rekers was paid real taxpayer dollars
to testify for the state in favor of Florida’s
anti-gay adoption ban.
It’s really not a surprise that so many folks
who are rabidly anti-gay have turned out to
be closeted and suffering even as they fight
to keep discrimination against LGBT people
written in this countr)?s laws. It’s as if they’re
thinking, "Gosh, this had better stay illegal
otherwise I’m going to do it al! day long."
You know what, Rekers? You don’t end
up at RentBoy.com by accident and you sure
as hell don’t hire a guy whose credentials
include a "large" and "uncut" cock as a "travel
assistant." I’m not a doctol; but I don’t think
foreskin is usually involved in carrying a
suitcase.
D’Anne Witkowski has been gayforpay dnce
2003. She’s a~eelance writer andpoet (believe
it:9. When she’s not l:aking on the creeps ofthe
worm she reviwws rock and roll shows in Detroit
with her twin sister.
MOREcolor 2010
E ibi ion to Benefit
OkIahomans for
Equality
Contours H by Laine Godsq
TULSA, OK (PR) __ 33he annual
MOREcolor fine art eydfibition organized by
Oklahomans for Equality (Ok~q) was one
of the first art shows in the state featuring
contemporary, and often edgy, art work.
Begun nearly 30 years ago, the show is still
one of the largest of its Idnd in Oklahoma, _
offering work by more than sixty artists.
MO~olor 2010 begins Thursday, May
27 with a free public opening reception
from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Dennis R.
Neill Equality Centre; 621 East 4th Street
in downtown Tulsa, The show runs through
June 5 during the Equality Center’s hours,
3:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday through
Saturday.
A unique feature of the MOREcolor event
is the way in which it works with artists.
Zhere are two categories; an Invitational
categoEr; in which established artists are
explicitly invited to exhibit, and a Juried
category, designed as a way for new artists to
join the exhibition. An uncommon aspect
of the show is that the organization gives
the artist 70% of the price of sold work,
compared with much lower percentages - or
nothing - in other area charitable art sales
and auctions. Audiences find works under
some of Oldahoma’s best-loved signatures, as
well as a number of exciting new works ftom
names they don’t yet kmmv.
"I-his year’s event features dance and
musical performances at various moments
during the opening on May 27~ featuring the
contemporary dance team Ari&:Nina:TuMM.
The exhibition is held in the Equality Center’s
3,000 square toot event center. For event
information, visit vaa~w.OkEq.org.
a sense of pride that could never be turned
back. In June of 1999 the site became a
National Historical Landmark, and reopened
as a bar in 2007.
That consciousness eventually reached
Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City held their
first Pride Parade in 1987. It was a humble
beginning when about a dozen brave souls
put it together not knowing if anyone would
show up, and around 400 marchers actually
did. Now a raajor event marking 23 years of
celebration and an OkJal~oma City tradition,
the celebrating is pulling together. For more
information contact their ,vebsite www.
okcpride.com.
Homosexuality is already punishable by
imprisonment and the Ugandan government
shows little interest in human rights.
Lavanhar, tho@, said he felt like it was a
call he had to accept.
"I’m 4! years old and I’ve never been
called upon to go overseas to risk my life for
freedom," he said. "In some ways this was
that kind of call."
After discussing it with his family,
Lavanhar made the trip to Uganda, spoke at
the conference and avoided any trouble.
"It was about being an ally - using my
power and privilege as an American and as
a minister to try to help," I.avanhar said. "It
was an amazing experience."
Lavanhar said that he has never seen
people living with such persecution and feat:
"it was a profound experience and the
people were so wonderful, so beautiful, so
kind," Lavanhar said. ~
Uganda, facing international attention,
has yet to pass the proposed law: Lavanhar
said there has been some evidence that the
government might instead pass a slightly
watered down version of the legislation.
The capital punishment component, for
example, might be dropped to acquiesce to
external pressure. But the core goal of the bill
- to assail a tiny portion of the population
- remains in play.
Lavanhar said that the Ugandan
government has scapegoated homosexuals
in a t~ical effort to draw attention from its
own failures elsewhere. The government has
characterized in{ernal homosexuality as some
sort of colonialist import from the west, and
ironically lined up behind Christianity which
is also a colonial import from the west to use
scripture as it s battering rmn against gays.
"It seems like they are waiting for
international attention to die down before
they vote," Lavanhm" said.
Lavanhar was lauded by Oklahomans
for Equality for his effort in Uganda, and
subsequently named Grand Marshal for Pride
2010.
"We wanted to honor this wonderfxil
man, and to let people know that they had
this straight minister from Oldahoma as
one of only two ministers who attended the
conference in Uganda," said Oklahomans for
Equality President Toby Jenkins.
For more information on Tulsa Pride or
Oklahomans for Equality, visit mvw.okeq.
org.
OMahomans £or Equality celebrates 30th
By Michael W. Sasser
Contributing writer
TULSA, OK __ Oklahomans for Equality
(OkEq) continues its celebration of 30 years
in existence with several events throughout
the summer.
Future Anniversary Celebration events
include a tribute concert with Eric Himan
at Tulsa Pride 2010 honoring the founders
of Oldahomans for Equality. On July
31st Oldahomans for Equality will host
a regional summit bringing together the
heartland LGBT groups for an afternoon of
networking and a rdationship building party.
On September 15, they will have a daylong
celebration for the
National LGBT
Center Awareness
Day and its 30th
anniversary,
O~q
President Toby
Jenkins said
that the latter
event should
be particularly
improved over
previous years.
"We’re in
a lot better
position this year,"
Jenkins said. "We
spent the entire
year building,,
rdati6n~hips.
Jenkins said
that the goal is to
have every- elected
officiat in the area
to at least visit the
EqualitT Center
for the occasion.
Ot’~q has
expanded and
thrived despite numerous challenges in a state
~;ar behind many others when it comes to
recognition of equal human rights.
Otdahomans for Equality was originally a
chapter of Oklahomans for Human Riglv;s,
based in OKC. Founder Dennis Neill learned
of OHR through his work with the ACLU.
He developed a friendship with Bill Rogers,
one of the [bunders ofOHR. Additional early
organizers were Bob Inglish, Mike Green and
Gary Durst. OHR amended their by-laws
in !979 to allow for chapters and beginning
in 1980 Nalsans began meeting in homes for
recruitment.The first newsletter was published
and the first public general meeting Was in
the basement of Harwelden M~sion on Jan
19, I981 which featured a lecture by a noted
psychiatrist from OU.
In 1985 the Tulsa chapter of Oklahomans
for Human Rights became independent
mad autonomous. They reorganized under
the name Tulsa Oldahomans for Human
Rights (TOHR). ~l-he organizatioffs monthly
membership meetings routinely attracted
100s of participants as the community saw
TOHR as the principal source of information
and support. TOHR hosted man}, nationally
known GLBT spokespersons. The Chicago
Resource Center gave TOHR two grants
which was the first time an Oklahoma GLBT
organization received out-of-state funding
and recognition.
TobyJenkins, President, OhZahomansfor Equali~ and
Ohlahoma State Rel~resenmtive AIMcA~ey at the 30th
Equality Gala, ~dsa. Photo by Lia Ingersoll, Mia Bella
In October 1996 TOHR opened
Tulsa’s first Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgendered Community Center at
1338 East 38th Street in the Brookside
neighboFhood ofTulsa. Vandalism was
common and landlords began to be
increasingly apprehensive about renting to
the gay community, In June 1997 TOHR
organized Tulsa’s first Gay Pride march with
60 participants. Year after year the Tulsa
City Council refused to grant the Tulsa Gay
community a parade permit. Finally in 1999
Tulsa’s first Diversity Parade was held on
Peoria Avenue in the Brookside neighborlmod
ofTulsa and
featured
Rep. Barney
Frank, DMassachusetts,
as its first
Grand Marshal[
The parade
cuhninated
with the
Diversity
Festival at
Tulsa’s Veteran’s
Park.
On
October 31 st
2005 TOHR
purchased the
Property at 621
E~t 4th Street
in downtown
Tulsa
,joining the
revitalization
of the urban
core ofTulsa
County. In
September
2006 the
membership ofTulsa Oklahomans for
Equality approved the most recent name
change and became Oklahomans for Equality.
With the help ofTulsgs top architects and
designers 275 volunteers donated 7000 hours
to renovate an 18,000 square foot facility
now known as the Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center.
In June 2007 Oldahomans for Equality
(OlcEq) moved the Tulsa Pride Festival and
Parade to the premiere dmvntown venue
Centennial Park just 2 blocks south of the
Equality Center, solidifying the organization’s
commitment to the arts and entertainment
district ofTulsa.
In 2009 Oklahomans for Equality had
over 40,000 visitors utilizing the services and
programs at the Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center.
Through batdes with institutions, public
and private, through vandalism and threats
of violence, OkEq persevered to reach this
landmark anniversary. Several events this year
have already commemorated the occasion.
"When I realize hmv heroic and faithful
our founders and members have been for
three decades I am humbled to be at the helm
serving such a great organization," Jenkins
said.
For more info~ation on OKEq, the Equality
Center or 30th anniversary events, visit www.okeq.
Nle David Bohnett Foundation _Awards ’Refresh’
Grants Totalling $500,000 To David Bohnett
CyberCenters Nationwide
Paul Moore, Program Manager at the DavM
Bohnett Foundation. Pressphoto
TULSA, OK (PR) __ In February
2010 Tne David Bohnett Foundation
announced they had selected the Dennis
R. Neill Equality Center in Tulsa to be
among the 24 LGBT Centers across the
United States to be recipients of the "Refresh
Grant"~ In establishing the CyberCenters,
technology entreprdneur and ~hilanthropist
David Bohnett’s vision was to provide
LGBT communities with a %Ared" hub
through which its members could network,
communicate, and explore educational,
professional and recreational opportunities.
To keep the CyberCenters up-to-date, in
2004, the "refi’esh" program was started,
where each CyberCenter is supplied with
brand new state-of-the-art equipment on a
consistent basis (approximately every three to
four years).
David Bohnett serves as Chair of the
David Bohnett Foundation, the head of the
private equity firm Baroda Ventures and was
the founder of GeoCities2com, an Internet
based media and e-commerce company in
1994. GeoCities was acquired by Yahoo!
in 1999. His goals are improving lives,
empowering indMduals and building viable
communities by connecting like-minded
people in meaningful ways. Also central
to Bohnett’s vision is his call to action to
aspiring philanthropists to begin their giving
by getting personally involved with causes
with which they identify so that they can
experience service first-hand.
"The Centers provide a safe environment
for members of the LGBT community 2_
from youth who may find themselves without
a support system--to seniors, who may have
little or no familiarity with computers," said
Michael Fleming, Excecutive Director for the
Bohnett Foundation. "In today’s increasingly
Internet-driven world, the David Bohnett
Cyber Centers have proven to be a lifeline for
people of all ages. We are happy to provide
regular ’refresh’ grants enabling groups
to keep pace with the many advances in
computer hardware and software."
Paul Moore, Program Manager at the
Foundation, who oversees the CyberCenter
program will be in Tulsa for the Grand
Opening of the newly refreshed David
Bohnett CyberCenter. The reception and
ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled
for Thursday May 27th at 6:30 pro. The
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center is located
at 621 East 4th Street in downtown Tul~a
Oklahoma.
The Dennis R Neill Equality Center’s
Technology Team Eric Vogelpohl and Don
Satterthwaite have installed the equipment
upgrades which include Lenovo al!-inone
A70z PCs customized bundle with
Microsoft Office software, Windows Pro
7 - 19" XWidescreen Monitors in addition
to Documate 5!0 Flatbed Scanners and
IBM Infoptint color laser printers. The
Equality Center serves as the headquarters
for Oklahomans for Equality and received a
David Bohnett CyberCenter Grant in 2003.
Dennis R. Neill with Sampson donated 10
new chairs for the computer stations. Over
39,000 visits were made to the Equality
Center in 2009 and more than 53% of
those individuals utilized the CyberCenter.
The CyberCenter is free and open to public
Monday through Friday 3pm to 9pm.
Tulsa 2010 Pride Events
Tulsa More Color Pride Art Show
May 27th - June 5th
Dennis R. Neill Equality Center
More info at www.morecolorart.com
Equality Day at the Zoo
Saturday, May 29th :10am - 2pro
PFLAG Night at Circle Cinema
Tuesday, June 1st : 7pm
Pride Night at The LibraIT
Thursday, June 3rd: 7pm
Council Oak Men’s Chorale
Tulsa Downtown City-County Library
PFLAG Spaghetti Dim,er
Friday, June 4th: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Centennial Park- Community Building
Tulsa Pride OYP Youth Night
Friday, June 4th: 5pm -1 lpm
Centennial Park (6th &: Peoria)
Tulsa Pride Festival & Parade
Saturday June 5th:lOam- lOpm
Centennial Park (6th & Peoria)
Equality Night at Light Opera Oklahoma
Friday, June 1 lth: 8pm
Tulsa PAC
Pride Night At theWNBA
Saturday, June 19th: 7pm
Tulsa Shock At the BOK Center
Equality Night At the Philbrook
Tuesday, June 22nd
Philbrook Museum ofArt
w~gv.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 9
be Best Time
To Start
By Ronald Blake
Co~ributing ~rker
When should you start an exercise
program? ~xere are many choices: Saturday
the 22nd, Sunday the 30th, or Tuesday the
18th. Maybe you could aim for next year
in February or April. Time for a powwow
to decide the best time to begin the blood,
sweat, and tears program. We’ll write down
the possibilities and then pick a winner.
The first up for consideration is now. The
good part about starting now is that you will
actually start. The bad part about starting
now is that the holidays are here. You have
the Christmas shopping to do for five aunts,
four brothers, three best friends, two parents,
and that boyfriend in a pear tree. Then there’s
the office party, the hanging of the holiday
lights, and the ~xanksgiving vacation at
,grandma’s house in Indianapolis.
The secondoption is January. The good
part about starting in January is that you will
actually start. The bad part about January is
that you have those two classes you will be
taking at the community college. You need
those classes to finish the Masters Degree
program so you are eligible for a promotion.
Between a 40 hour work week and six credit
hours of business courses there Ittst ~snt t~me.
~ne third option is April. The good part
~bout starting in April is that you will actually
start. The bad part about April is that you are
taking that two week cruise in the Caribbean,
your morn is visiting from Michigan, and
your best friend from Indiana University’s
class of 1991 is making his way west to see
you.
~ae fourth option is June. The good
part about starting in June is that you will
actually start. The bad part about June is that
you are attending your nephew’s graduation
in Evansville and your niece’s graduation in
South Bend. There are also the life insurance
. sales conventions in Schenectady, New York;
Eugene, Oregon; and Joplin, Missouri during
his upcoming summer.
The fiiih Option moves us to September.
7he good part about starting in September
s that you will actually start. The bad
~art about starting in September is that
~ou will travel to Texas for your college
roommate’s wedding, to Chicago for your
iister’s wedding, and to Savannah for the
commitment ceremony for the first guy you
~ad sexual relations with and become such
est friends With after the breakup.
Vghat’s a person to do? N~ere are five
options and none of them work. We are right
back to this time next year and I would bet
that your options ~hen will look just as bleak.
The answer is quite simply to just start now;
There is never a good dine to s~ar~ any fitness
Fb~d a way m ic~corporare fitness into your
daity rourbae. Make some changes, rearra~g¢
difl)rence between ~tarboaM and port. ~lhat
gw is Ron Blake and you can u~uallv find
hira &iAing aimlessly about On somebody
of water. Feel fi’ee to guide him back to
shore by e-mailing him on his sloop at www.
myblakefimess.com.
Controversial OKC
School Board Member
Gail Vines will run for
State House District 85
OKIAHOMA CITY, OK __ Gall
Vines, who currently represents District 2
on the Oklahoma City School Board has
announced that she is running to be a State
Representative for District 85, which is in
north~vest Oklahoma City and extends into
the suburban municipality of Nichols Hills.
The seat is currently held by Republican
David Dank, who was first elected in 2006.
Ms. Vines was first elected to her school
board position in 2005, re-elected without
opposition in 2009, and her actions later that
year stirred controversy when the Oklahoma
City School Board voted to fire openly gay
teacher Joe Quigley. She is well known not
only for her school board position, but also as
the co-owner of Flips’s Wine Bar & Trattoria,
a longtime Oklahoma City eatery and
nightspot.
Gall Vines abstained from voting on the
Quigley firing, stating that she didn’t have
enough information about the situation. After
Joe Quigley was ordered reinstated August
26 by the District Court, the Oldahoma
City School Board appealed that decision,
then voted September 14 not to reinstate
Mr.Quigley pending the appeal despite
the court order, and to stop his salary and
benefits. That vote was 6-2, this time with
Gall Vines voting for his termination.
In Memoriam
Chuck Nugent 1970-2010
TULSA, OK Chuck Nugent, a former
Yale and Cushing resident, passed away on
Monda); April 12, 2010, at his home in
Broken Arrow, OK at the age of 39 years.
The son of Charles L. Nugent and Leora
J. Johnson Barrows. Chuck was born on
May 20, 1970 in Upland, C_&. He came ro
Cusliing as a small child, later moving to Yale,
where he was raised and educated, graduating
from Yale High School.
Chuck was currently a volunteer for the
Dennis R. Neill Equali.ty Center in Tulsa,
where he enjoyed counseling individuals in
a crisis situation. Chuck was th£ Committee
Chair 0fthe Center Cinema program on
Friday evening. His hobbies included cars,
Survivors include his mother, Leora
Barrows of CUshi~; two sisters, Deanna
Couch and her husband Janaes ofYale and
Kristal Kuelll and her husband ToWof
Stillwater; four nephews; three nieces; a half
brother Steve Nugent; a half sister Pamela
Rogers, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father,
Charles Nugent and a half sister, Deborah
Nugent.
A memorial services was held Saturday
May 1 st at the Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Memorial contributions may be made to
Oklal~omans for Equality; EO.’ Box 2687,
Tulsa, OK 74101
10 ~OSTAR June 1, 2010
For
.... lress,com
:
Larry Bourne & David Stevens
Come see us a~d check out
that gets 31 mpg!
www.metrostarnews.com ~TROSTAR 11
Major Sponsom:
12 P~ETROSTAR June 1, 2010
heart-time
flaytime
discovery
breath
.sa~E
"~ have~i ~ever
www.metmstarnews.com ~ETROSTAR 13
UNEocom Celebrating a month of Pride in No~hwest Arkansas
facebook.com/ailoutjune
twitter.com/alloutjune
bON T DUCK AESPONSIBIL 7/
14 ~ETROSTAR June 1, 2010
a~ks of~he So~
By Andrew Collins
{:umacecrcekresort.com) [br tru
Steakhouse ~
w~.metrostarnews.com #~TROSTAR 15
16 ~ET~©STAR June 1, 2010
www.metrostamews.com #~ETROSTAR 17
Photo~ by,Victor G.
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ The Copa, Oklahoma City
Kelly Kirby receives Lifetime Achievement Award presented by
Nancy McDonald @ the 30 Anniversary Equality Gala,Tulsa.
Photo Metro Star Staff
@ Ledo, Oklahoma City
@ Alibis, Oklahoma City
@ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa
John Southard (Equality Gala Co Chair), Ann Hampton Callawa);
Dennis Neill (Equality Gala Co-Chair) I~_ri Strand @ the Equality
Gala Tulsa, Photo by Liz Ingersoll, Mia Bella Images
Toby Jenkins President O!~q, Tulsa County Toby Jenkins President OkEq, Tulsa City
Commissioner Karen Keith District 2 @ the Councilor Maria Barnes District 4. @ the
Equality Gala ~ialsa. Photo by Liz Ingersoll, Equality Gala Tulsa. Photo by Liz Ingersoll, Mia
Images Belta Images
@ The End Up, Tulsa
@ Finishline, Oklahoma City
18 %~÷troSTAR June 1, 2010
By EI Sikov
The "I Dodt Care~at .~uyone
Says" Classic Martini
"It’s early AJzheimer’s," I whined. I’d left
the duck breasts I’d planned to grill at home.
I’d have to rush to the grocery and buy some
more. And th~,’d have no time to marinat!!
"A]zheimer’s jokes arefft funny," Dan
scolded.
"Chipotle-Grapefruit Duck is no .joke
either."
"You k_now what I mean. And it’s not
funny. I know 2dzheimer’s. You don’t have
Alzheimer’s. So stop it." As Director of
Research at CogniTech, a pharmaceutical
company that developed new ~zheimer’s
treatments, Dau didn’t find fake whimpering
about forgotten duck amusing. "I’ll go get
more duck. You start the rest of the stuff."
Just as Dan was leaving, Chipper burst in.
Fie dropped his backpack on the floor and
spouted off. "That train was late - again! So,
I missed the 6:30 ferry and had to wait at
that bar in Sayville, with their watered-down
drinks, and.... Martini! Now!"
’TII make you one," I offered.
"Hell no!" Chipper snapped.. "Yours are
lousy."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Your proportions suck." He stripped off
his sweaV T-shirt and sprinted to the liquor
cabinet. I admired his moist, wide, delightful
lats while resenting his stupid opinion as he
reached t:or the Beefeater.
"They da no~U I make the classic ma~tinL’:
I was
"If~u like a little gin With your
vermouth."
I watched Chipper in speechless rage as
he grabbed the cocktail shakm; filled it with
ice, poured in a full martini glass full of
Beefieater, then added precisely five drops of
d® vermouth and stirred wildly.
"If you want straight gin," I said coldl>
%vhy bother with that silly nod to tradition
and just go the W. C. Fields route? I’m sure
some perv in the Pines gets off on guys with
gin blossoms."
?Jag-off," Chipper muttered as he leR the
room clutching his martini. Chipper had
lived in New York for 20 years but reverted to
Pittsburgh slang when he got mad.
I was still stewing when Dm~ returned
vdth the duck and a botde of Sancerre. He
was accompanied by Paolo, who had stopped
at BarHarbor, right off the dock, for - yes - a
martini, the dregs of which he carried in a
red plastic cup. I offered to make him a real
martini in a real martini glass.
"Thanks, no," Paola said. ’Tll make my
OWD
"W/~? Aren’t mine good enough for you?"
"Good that you brought that up," he
said with business school tact. "I prefer my
proportions."
"Here we go again," I snarled, then told
him about Chipper, who had shut himself
inside the room he shared with Paolo.
"It’s actually quite the reverse," Paolo
explained. "You should taste the vermouth
clearly. Otherwise there’s no point in adding
it." I watched in piqued fascination as Paolo
made a distinctly wet martini.
"Well," I huffed, ,if you want to drink
straight vermouth..." vchereupon Dan
swatted my behind, then shoved the paper
bag full of duck breasts into my ribs. "ShUt
up and grill."
This is a Cla~ssic Martini; Paolo aa~d
Chipper cm~ write their o,w damn columns:
4 parts Beet~ater gin (If you want to
use Absolut, fine; just don’t call it a Classic
Martini.)
1 part dry vermout!~
Fill shaker with ice. Pour liquors in. Just
let it sit on the counter to chill - no need
to shake. Stir just once, put the lid on, and
strain your Classic Martini into the proper
glass. Add an olive or a lemon twist; a cocktail
onion turns it into a Gibson.
w~¢.metrostarnews.com ~4{E°HgOSTAR 19
Chuck Breckenridge
Whcthcr buyin~ or scllin~
I’H work hard for you.
~nsas~ Bxc1~sive
........ 597 Magnetic Road
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
www.magneticvalleyresort.com
info@magneticvalleyresort.com
800-210-8401 479-244-6821
email: bitterglrl@qsyndicate.com www.joanhilty.net ’ .~14
20 I~?~ETROSTAR June 1, 2010
By Jack Fertig
JUne 2010
"Be careful with your money, Pisces!"
Mars in Leo is triggering crises,
mostly in the form of fights and misunderstandings
that show where we
need to wrap things up and move on.
Clear away worries and doubts. Analyze
problems realistically to find novel
solutions.
ARIES (March 28 - Apri~ 19): Asserting
yourself too forcefully can show people
not what you want them to see, but
things you’d rather they didn’t. Working
to be more truly yourself can be very
humbling. That humility will win you
great respect.
TAURUS (April 20 - Nay 20): Can a
person have too many friends? You
may find too much quantity and not
enough quality in your social circles.
Take some time alone to sort out in your
mind who are the ones you really want
in your tribe.
GEMINI (May 21- June 20): Examining
the provocations to arguments and
staying silent (one can dream!) can
prove more educational than actually
arguing. Review goals that have
recently been accomplished and think
carefully about your next steps.
CANCER (June 21- July 22): Are
your priorities and ideals proving
dysfunctional? Be willing to grow and
adapt. The time for planning career
moves is endiing. Make big, bold
choices or events will force difficult
changes. Even in those there may be
great opportunities. Maybe.
LEO (July 23 -August 22): Pressuring
your partner to make a decision will
backfire. Physical play - maybe, but
not necessarily sexual - will help work
off frustration. Be careful with the
rough stuff and keep your head clear.
Accidents. are looking to happen.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22):
You can meet somebody very hot and
sexy while doing charity work. Not a
mercy date, but another volunteer.
That milieu will also get you out of
your own head, which is a dangerous
place. Worry only undermines your own
health.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22):
What do you want tonight? What do
you want in 14 years? Answer the latter
question; then think hard about the first.
Somewhere in there is a clue about
your next big relationship, or necessary
changes in your current one.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November
21): Demands at work are keeping you
from home and family. If that sounds
like a good thing, you need to make
changes around the house. Whatever
work offers that home doesn’t suggests
the changes you need to make.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22
- December 20): The best way to avoid
arguments is to think twice about what
you’re hearing and about how others
might hear what you’re saying. Or
maybe you’d rather not avoid them. The
interchange can open you up to new
perspectives.
CAPRICORN (December 21
- January 19): Sex and money are the
biggest sources of domestic disputes.
Work on money issues first and be
willing to bend on sex. Take the initiative
on flexibility. Clearing the air can be
rough, but is necessary for a happy
home.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): With a little help from your partner
or a counselor, your money troubles
should alleviate soon. (Given the times,
that’s relative!). Acting spacey and lost
and trying to deny it could upset your
partner. Admitting to being vulnerable
and a bit confused will help.
PISCES (February 19 - March 19):
Worrying about your health only makes
it worse. Take positive steps. Moderate
exercise is good; overdoing it is not.
Your ~nances should be going up, but
like that first rise on a roller coaster. Be
careful with mone
Creating
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ww~v.metrostarnews.com
~ET~OSTAR 21
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June 1, 2010
www.metrostarnews.com ~4ETI~©STAR 23
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
[2010] Metro Star Magazine, June 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 6
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
June 01, 2010
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
An account of the resource
The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005).
This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit.
This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Star Media, Ltd; Tulsa, OK
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
James Nimmo
Victor Gorin
Rex Wockner
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Judy Garland
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Jack Fertig
Lisa Keen
Ed Sikov
Keith Orr
Chris Azzopardi
Victor Gorin
Judy G.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
PDF
Online text
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Southwest Missouri
West Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
East Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
A related resource
The Metro Star Magazine, May 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 5
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/194
The Metro Star Magazine, July 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 7
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/191
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/192
anti gay activist
Barack
Bitter Girl
cocktail chatter
DADT Repeal
David Bohnett Foundation
Don't Ask Don't Tell
Don't shop-Adopt
employment non-discrimination act (ENDA)
Enid-GLBT community center
Fitness-Exercise: The Best time to start
Gail Vines
George Rekers
Hate Crime-victim
HIV/AIDs fundraisers
HOPE
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
Lambda League Summer Bowling
legal marriage-Iowa
Marlin Lavanhar
Metro scene
MOREcolor exhibition
National news
Nightclub and Bars
Obama
Obituaries
Oklahoma City Pride
Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA)
Oklahoma News
Oklahomans for Equality-30th anniversary
Openarms Youth Center
Pride Parade and festival
Prop 8
QPuzzle
Qscopes
religion
Sooner State Softball Association
Supreme Court
travel
Tulsa Pride Events
Tulsa Pride-30 year celebration