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https://history.okeq.org/files/original/be0ae56e7062acd8c024758acee9e450.jpg
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https://history.okeq.org/files/original/106bd8d97ee140cad2981c547d629591.pdf
8f8be49a6dcbded09162ea9d9b5d96d5
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
[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
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.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
magazine
Text
Any textual data included in the document
Royal GreCnCountrg
Barony o~: dll Oklahoma
pr~ent~s
2 the STAR www.ozarksstar.cor~
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 3
¯he Colors of Living", featuring giclee
prints of the digital art ofTulsa artist
Dennis R. Scott.
~O ONL~HOMA HATE CRII~flE
Gay community outraged over Steven
Domer slaying.
NEW: Deep Inside Hollywood, reports
on new projects for Sarah Jessica Parker
and Dan Butler.
November 21,1999 fine last grand Queen) Flamboyant
author Quentin Crisp dies in Manchester, England.
Tulsa’s Downtown Plaza Hotel openly
welcomes GLBT.
Gay Travelers: 6,000 Mile Trip
Out of Town: Key West
Dining In or OUT
FIITHESS
Introspection can lead you to better
understand yourself and ultimately to
achieve greater happiness.
ON THE COVER:
4 the STAR
Downtown Tulsa
www.ozarksstar.com
"Ifyou are elected President,
what concrete steps would you
take to overturn ’Don’t As~,
Don’t Tell ?’"
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY):
I strongly believe that anyone who has the courage,
strength, and valor to serve our country should be able to
do so. We are at war and our top generals are warning that
America’s military is stretched to the breaking point, yet we
have a policy that dismisses good people from our ranks.
Even service members with critical skills such as Arabic
language skills are being discharged because they are gay.
Senior retired military officials who can speak freely say this
law does not serve our national security interests. These
same military leaders are confident that repealing Don’t
Ask, Don’t Tell won’t lessen standards of behavior or lower
morale.
As President, I will work with high-profile military leaders,
such as former Joint Chiefs chairman John M. Shalikashviii
and Retired Lieutenant General Claffdia Kennedy, the
first woman to achieve the rank of three-star general in the
Army, who have called for repeal of the law. I will stand
with soldiers like retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the
first American soldier to be seriously wounded in Iraq, and
retired Army Sgt. Jose Zuniga, former Army Soldier of the
Year, who are shining examples of why this law no longer
makes sense.
Over the last seven years in the Senate, and as a member
of the Armed Services Committee, I have built relationships
with members of Congress and senior military officials
through my work on the Armed Services Committee. When
I am President, I will bring this strength and experience to
bear to end this outdated and outmoded policy.
w~,-w.ozarksstar.com the STAR 5
Denounces
TULSA, OK (P/R) __ Oklahomans for
Equality expresses its outrage at the recent
murder of Steven Domer. "gge extend
condolences to his family and friends. This
senseless tragedy highlights the urgent need
for federal and state hate crimes legislation
protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LBGT) people.
On October 26th, Steven Domer, a 62-yearold
gay man, was abducted from NW 39th
Street near Pennsylvania Avenue in Oklahoma
City. On November 4th, his body was
found in rura! McClain County. His hands
were tied with duct tape and a wire hanger
was wrapped around his neck. The Oklahoma
State Medical Examiner concluded
that Domer died of asphyxiation and ruled
his death a homicide. On November 28,
Darrell Madden, a self-prodaimed white
supremacist, was charged with first-degree
murder and kidnapping in relation to
Domer’s death.
Prosecutors believe that Madden targeted
Domer as part of an initiation rite of the
Aryan Brotherhood. Inorder to secure a
"patch," the white supremacist group demands
that its members commit an act of
violence against an African American, Jew,
homosexual, or any other person declared
"an enemy."
Although Oklahoma County District Attorney
David Prater and other law enforcement
officials believe that anti-gay bias was
a motivating factor in Domer’s murder, they
cannot prosecute Madden under Oklahoma’s
hate crimes law because the statute does
not cover sexual orientation. Oklahoma is
one of only 17 states whose hate crimes laws
do not protect LGBT citizens. Most state
hate crime laws enhance the penalties for
bias-motivated crimes.
On December 4, Representative Al McAf’-
frey (D-Oklahoma City) announced his
intention to introduce a bill expanding
the state’s hate crime law to include sexual
orientation and gender. In May, the U.S.
House of Representatives passed The Local
Law Enforcement Hate
Crimes Prevention Act/Matthew Shepard
Act giving the Justice Department the power
to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated
violence by providing the department with
jurisdiction over crimes of violence where
the perpetrator has selected the victim
because of the person’s actual or perceived
race, color, religion, national origin, gender,
sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
This bill will soon be voted upon in
the U.S. Senate.
As legislators consider passage of these
historic state and national laws, Oklahomans
for Equality will be working with its
allies in the LGBT and allied community in
educational and advocaW efforts.
Hate Crimes Amendment
Removed rom
Dept o£De£ense
Con erence Report
WASHINGTON, DC (P/R DEC 6TH) __
~Ibday, House-Senate conferees confirmed
that the Matthew Shepard Act, which had
passed the Senate as an amendment to the
Department of Defense Authorization bill,
would be removed from the final version of
the bill. This announcement was made after
House Leadership’s whipping the vote count
on the conference report concluded there
were not enough votes for passage of the bill
if it included the hate crimes provision.
"Today’s decision is deeply disappointing,
especially given the historic passage of hate
crimes legislation through both Houses
of Congress this year. After more than
ten years and several successful bipartisan
votes, it is heartbreaking to fall short this
dose to the finish line," said Joe Solmonese,
President of the Human Rights Campaign.
"However, we are not giving up on efforts
to find another legislative vehicle, in the
second half of this Congress, to move the
Matthew Shepard Act."
The Human Rights Campaign has been a
chief advocate of hate crimes legislation for
over a decade. On November 14th, HRC
sent an e-mail to all Capitol Hill offices urging
the retention of hate crimes legislation
in the Department of Defense Authorization
conference report. Additionally, HRC
organized and signed onto a coalition letter
6 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 7
Gny men and le~btansfac~ many special ta~
situations, whether single or a~
Let us help with yourTAX Prep!
(918) 747-5466
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"At Century 21 Gold Cas#e our BEST
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405.840.2t06
www.c21 goldcastie.com
Let us promote your business in a
UNIQUE & DIVERSE market. Call
STAR ADVERTISING today.
(918)835-7887
8 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
"’l-he Colors ofLiving’
a digital art exhibit at
Dennis R. Neill Equality
Center
Tulsa artist Dennis IL Scotx
eyes ofm~ artist driven to create impressions
of the beauty which sttcrounds him.
The exhibit w’dl remain up through the
month ofJanuary and can be viewed
Monday thru Saturday from 3-gpm. The
Dermis R. Nedl Equality Center is
located at 621 E. dth St., in downtown
Tulsa. More info c~a be found on the web
at okeq.org.
’Ihis monthly event is hosted by Okiahoman’s
for Equality (OkEq). OkEq seeks
equal rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexmal &
Tra~sgender (LGBT) individuals and
f~mihes through advoca~, education,
programs, alliances, and the operation of the
Dennis IL Neig Equality Center.
TULSA, OK~The Dennis IL Neili Equality
Center ar~ gallery wi[[ host its monthly
First Thursday meet-the-artist reception
from 6-gpm, ~aursday, January 3, 2008, for
the opening oflts January exhibit "The Colors
of Living", featu~mg giclee prints of the
digital ~trt ofTulsa ~tist Dermis IL Scott.
Scott has been creating his digital art for
the list three years. His work is unlike most
digital or computer art. His style is unique.
His arc is totally his own..., his ovca~ way
of seelng life, his own way of depicOng
that which he sees. Whether one might
call Scott’s art abstract, impressionistic, or
surreal is of little concern to Scott. Through
his art he invites the viewer, the art lover or
even the mere observer, to take a chance, as
he has in creating his art. Taking a chance
is what ~rtists do. Vie~,Cmg Scott’s art is seeing
his subjects as he sees them, through the
Art byTulsa artist Dennis IL Scott
the STAR 9
ES SLAY
By Victor Gorin
recently released convicts, Madden
having served time at Jess
Dunn Correctional Center for
impersonating a police officer
and obtaining money by false
pretense. Quails had been released
from the Dick Conner Correctional
facility in Hominy for
a 2001 burglary conviction. It
was speculated that Mr. Domer’s
murder may have been a gang rite
of passage.
The murder has garnered national
attention, somewhat reminiscent
of the murder of Matthew
Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming
in !998.A press conference was
held at Church of the Open
Arms December 4, followed by
a candlelight vigil in the parking
lot ofAngles that evening. The
press conference and vigil were
Photo: Steven Domer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ The Oklahoma
gay community and their allies have
been outraged and saddened by the murder
of Steven Domer, a 62 },ear old Oklahoma
City man believed to have been targeted primarily
because he was gay. On October 26,
he had driven a friend home from the N.W.
39th street gay bar district, then returned to
the area, and was last seen at the car wash
there, an area well known for male prostitution.
He was seen by a witness to be talking
to two young men. His body and burned
out car were found near 1-35 and Ladd road
north of Purcell November 4.
Oklahoma County prosecutors have charged
Darrell Madden with Domer’s murder.
Madden, a white supremacist who was arrested
in McLain County for an attempted
carjacking, is also charged in McLain County
with the murder of the Brad Qualls, the
other man believed to be seen talking with
Steven Domer the night he disappeared.
Quails was found shot to death November 8
at an Ardmore apartment complex. Madden
& Qua.lls have been identified as members
of the United Aryan Brotherhood, a xvhite
supremacist group which recruits many of
their members in prisons. Both were
10 the STAR
attended by the Reverend Harry Knox, the
Faith Community Director of the Human
Rights Campaign, a national GLBT rights
political group. As he puts it," Oklahoma
is one of only 17 states that do not protect
GLBT citizens through hate crimes legislation."
Objections to hate crimes legislation have
come from religious fundamentalist groups
who claim they would not be able to preach
against homosexual behavior should this
legislation become law. Harry Knox clarified
that this type of speech is protected the 1st
Amendment of the US. Constitution, and
to say otherwise is " to tell a lie unworthy of
ministers of the gospe! ofJesus Christ." He
THE
ALUES
pointed out that "people are dying in Oklahoma,
and GLBT people are wondering
when their pastors will speak out for justice.
Steven Domer’s voice cries out for justice,
asking pastors for whom do they work, the
people or for God?"
Richard Ogden, an attorney who chairs the
Cimarron Alliance Foundation also spoke,
stating that" In Oklahoma and across our
nation there is a climate of intolerance, and
a tolerance of intolerance. This has to stop.
When we in Oklahoma have passed laws
that basically say that gays and lesbians are
second class citizens, we create an environment
that licenses this type of behavior. "
Although this was a brutal murder that was
obviously motivated because the victim was
gay, Darrell Madden could not be charged
with a hate crime because Federal and Oklahoma
hate crimes laws do not cover sexual
orientation. Legislation was introduced this
year in Congress to amend Federal Hate
Crimes laws to include sexual orientation by
Senator Edward Kennedy D-Massachusetts,
but was dropped when it became dear that
it would not pass the House.
On the state level State Representative
Al McA_ffrey, Oklahoma’s first and only
openly gay legislator, has stated that he will
introduce legislation to amend Oklahoma
Hate Crimes laws to include sexual orientation
and gender. This is supported by both
Oklahoma County District Attorney David
Prater, and Oklahoma Attorney General
Drew Edmondson. Mr. McAffrey did state
that he realized he will probably be facing
an uphill battle in the legislature. Clarifying
the point that some conservatives make,
that Hate Crimes laws elevate gay people to
a special status, he affirmed that ifa group
of gay men attacked a straight man ,vith
baseball bats, targeting him for his sexual
orientation, they would also be guilty of a
hate crime under this legislation.
Reverend Dr. Kathy McCallie, pastor of Church
of the Open Arms-United Church of Christ,
pointed out that this crime was not an isolated
incident, stating that "there xvill be a day when
GLBT persons can freely be themselves and
enjoy the safety equality and respect that’s due to
every member of the human family, but today is
not that day. On October 26 when Steve Domer
was brutally murdered, we were each violated. "
~w.ozarksstar.com
By Greg Steele
on the loose
Wiads House ProvidingA
Sa£e P lace For 20
By Victor Gorin
Miranda Ray will be performing in the
Kris Kohl Show New Years Eve At the
Jones’n Club Downtown Plasza Hotel.
Doxvntoxvn Plaza Hotel Tulsa General
Managers Jay Wilks and Debbie Mc-
Craw.
Miss Gay Tulsa America, Melody
Michaels at the BOO.
Miss Gay Oklahoma US ofA 2008, Samantha
West at the Copa....
Photo Left to Right:Jennifer Bates, Asley
Ozan, Linda Duke
OKLAHO!VIA CITY, OK __ Thanks to a
caring community, Winds House of Oklahoma
City was able to raise over $2500 at a
gala fundraiser December 7th. For over 20
years the Winds have provided a safe place
to stay for those living with HIV and their
families, serving as transitional housing
until they are able to re-enter the general
community. The home provides referrals
and assistance for disability income, food
stamps, Section 8 housing etc. Donatons
are always needed and can be sent to \Vinds
House OKC, P.O. Box 12185 Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma 73157.
Acid-tongued talk-show host and out lesbian
Rosie O’Donnell, who famously dashed
with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on "The View,"
and the big clash with Donald Trump
announced on her bloc that talks to give
her a prime-time show on MSNBC had
fallen apart.
New York Songstress Rachael Sage and
an adoring fan in Tulsa.
www.ozarksstar.com
Attorney Richard Ogden, Chair of Cimarron
Alliance Foundation, the Reverend Harry Knox-
Faith Community Director of the Human Rights
Campaign, and the Reverend Loyce Newton-Ed-
,#cards at Hate Crimes press conference in OKC.
the STAR 11
DEEP INSIDE HOLLYVc’OOD
Shades of Rex Lee
As Lloyd, Jeremy Piven’s assistant on Entourage,
gay actor Rex Lee has carved out a hilarious
niche for himself. His character stuck
around and gained a higher profile thanks
to Lee’s wicked comic timing and popularity
with fans. Soon, though, he’ll jump
from the small to the big screen, appearing
in the independent feature Shades of Ray.
A seriocomic romance, Shades stars Chuck
main man ZachatT Levi as Ray, a mixedrace,
American-born son of a Pakistani
father and Caucasian mother. As his parents
separate and his father moves in with him,
Ray must deal with his own romantic and
racial issues. Sounds heartfelt and sincere,
but Romeo’s guessing that Lee’s job will be
to pop up from time to time with just the
right punchline for an awkward moment. As
HBO audiences know, he’s an expert at that.
Romeo San Vicente is still waitingpatientlyfor the
all-musical edition of "The McLaughlin Group. "He can
be reached care ofthispublication or at DeepInsideHollywood
@qsyndicate.com.
www.ozarksstar.com
SAMANTHA
CAPTU ,S MISS
GAY OKLAHOMA US
OF A TITLE
By Victor Gorin
Loaves and Fishes
Bar uet a Huge
By Victor Gorin
Photo Left to Right: Former Miss Gay
Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, Matthew
Heath Fitzgerald, Sonja Martinez, John
Beebe & Debbie Davie
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ It was a
festive evening at the Habana Inn December
9th xvhen the title for the nexv Miss
Gay Oklahoma US of A was passed on to
Samantha West, a 26 ),ear old Tulsan among
the performers at Nexv Age Renegades, The
1st alternate xvas Londenn Raine, xvith 2nd
alternate Jozlyn Welch.
The xvinner and I st alternate are eligible to
compete in the national competition which
will be held in Dallas May 20-23 of next
year.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK__ On December
3-4 the 17th annual Loaves and Fishes
Banquet came together at the Copa for a
fabulous evening of fundraising for a good
cause. Featuring entertainers John Beebe,
Sonja Martinez,Debbie Davie, Matthew
Heath-Fitzgerald and former Miss Gay
Oklahoma Kitty Bob Aimes, the event
raised over $7200.
Loaves and Fishes, a program of Catholic
Charities, provides meals to homebound
people living with HIV. Directed by Ms
Judy Reilly, once again the community came
together for a proud tradition of caring.
Passing on the fide was Alexis Nicole Whitney,
who made history with the pageant
not just with her doe, but living proof that
nothing can stand in the xvay of talent and
determination. As
she puts it, "People
should see my blindness
the same I do.
I don’t see it as a
handicap, but as an
obstacle I have overcome."
That she did,
not only capturing
the Oklahoma title
but also was one of
the top 12 finalists at
the national competition.
Our girls do us
proud!
Please Join Us
Feb. 10, 2008, 10:00 p.m. @
39th and Penn OKC, OK.
For information call Nikki Start @ 580 216 2715 or 1 866 906 1133
the STAR 13
by Liz I-Iighleyman
November 21, 1999 (%e last grand Queen):
Flamboyant author Quentin Crisp dies in
Manchester, England.
The death of author and
raconteur Quentin Crisp at
the end of the 20th century
represented the passing of
one of the last grand queens
of a bygone era.
Crisp, originally named Denis Charles Pratt,
xvas born on Christmas Day in 1908 in the
London suburb of Sutton, the youngest
child of a "middle-class, middle-brow" family.
Always considered a sissy, he later said he
could never remember not being tormented
by his father, siblings, and schoolmates.
Crisp studied journalism and art in London,
and in his early 20s began hanging out with
hip young gay men in Soho, supporting
himself with various jobs,
induding graphic artist,
xvindow dresser, tap-dance
instructor, and hustler. He
adopted a new moniker and
a flamboyant, effeminate
style that included flowing
scarves, platform shoes,
dyed hair, and makeup. He
was "not merely a self-confessed
homosexual, but a
self-evident one," he would
later say, describing himself
as "a blithe spirit reveling in
androgynous anarchy."
Openly gay and gender-variant
at a time when homosexuality
was highly stigmatized
and sex between men was
illegal, Crisp was frequently
attacked by strangers in
the streets and harassed by
police. During World War
II, he was exempted from
military service due to his
homosexuality, and instead
embarked upon a career as a nude model at
a government-funded art school.
Crisp did not gain widespread notoriety
until his 60s, with the publication of his
autobiography, The Naked Civil Servant
(1968), one of the first unapologetic contemporary
accounts of gay life. Although
the book was well-received, it was the 1975
television movie version starring John Hurt
that brought Crisp instant fame.
Crisp began appearing on talk shows and
created a successful one-man theatrical performance.
He took his show to Ne~v York
City in 1978, fell in love with America, and
decided to immigrate a few years later,
settling into a notoriously sloppy one-room
apartment in a seedy neighborhood on
Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Crisp became a fixture of the city’s celebrity
scene, growing increasingly famous just
for being himself. "If I have a talent for
anything," he said, "it is not for doing but
for being." He wrote a column for the New
York Native newspaper and film criticism
for Christopher Street magazine, and published
several more books, including How to
Become a Virgin (1981) and Manners from
Heaven: A Divine Guide to Good Behavior
(1984). He also appeared in a number of
movies and documentaries, most notably as
Queen Elizabeth I in Orlando (1993).
Though he socialized in queer social circles,
Crisp was unsympathetic to the gay rights
movement and held attitudes many younger
activists regarded as homophobic. "I don’t
think you can really be proud of being gay
because it isn’t something you’ve done," he
once said. "You can only be proud of not
being ashamed." He eschewed identity politics
and queer separatism, and thought loud
demands only led to backlash.
Crisp persisted in referring to homosexuality
as an illness, and he caused a furor when
he told the London Times in 1997 that he
thought it would be acceptable for a woman
to abort a fetus carrying a hypothetical gay
gene. "You could have children who are naturally
suited to society," he later explained.
"They would be happy." He also once
opined that the gay community’s obsession
with AIDS was a fad, and advised, "Ifyou
want to be sure you won’t have AIDS, don’t
have sex with anyone."
....................Continued page 27
14 the STAR vwvw.ozarksstar.com
The nose can intrigue you or turn
off about a wine. Smell is
the wine taster. Much
is taste comes through
you don’t believe it, t
or a meal - the next
head cold.
Aging the wine in oak
es of vanilla,
almonds. Extended
lend a toasty
scents as variable as
leather to roses
Many grapes
aromas: Zinfandel often
Pinot Noir, the fine
may recall ~
may
Chenin
and,
smell
The aroma of ~
! and the closely related Mergrape~
for e×ampie, often reminds
of cedar wood and pine needles
led with a ood fruit smell reminiscall
to
miner
France: www.wunsch-mann.fr
2005
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 15
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS WORLD
By Donald Pile and Ray Williams
gaytravelers@aol.com
Now everything IS okay in Oklahoma!
The gay community and gay travelers to
Tulsa now have a place where they are made
to feel VERY WELCOME! We stayed there
a couple of weeks ago and it was wonderfull.
"l-he rooms are spacious and the staff
is extremely friendly and professional. ~-he
renovations are not finished yet,
however we know that when it
is completed that it will be the
finest hotel in Tulsa. We stayed
in the Premier Suite which was
on a scale of one to ten, a 15 ! It
featured a living room with pull
out queen sleeper sofa, a 36 inch
TV and DVD Player. Ceiling to
floor (and wall to wall windows)
for a spectacular view of the city.
A large King bedroom with extra
pillows, a 25 inch TV in the
bedroom and dub chair and ottoman.
Two full bathrooms and
a kitchenette/dining area with
coffee maker, fridge/microwave
and a snack basket, microwave
popcorn and cookies with bottled water.
~he Downtown Plaza Hotel ofTulsa was
built in 1966 as the first downtown hotel in
Tulsa to offer modern conveniences. Shortly
afterwards it was a Holiday Inn, then a Ramada
Inn, then as the Great Western Hotel.
In July, 2007 it was sold to the Chisholm
Properties, Ltd. and they renamed it back to
it’s original name, "Downtown Plaza Hotel
ofTulsa". The Chisholm Properties Ltd.
the STAR
owns other fine hotels in Oklahoma, Missouri
and Texas. It is located at 17 West 7th
Street in the heart of the beautiful historica]
financial and entertainment district ofTulsa.
They are directly adjacent to the world
famous Petroleum Club. It rises 14 stories
above the City and is currendy undergoing
a multi-million dollar renovation. A VERY
extensive renovation is now underway
however they do have at this time, over 70
rooms for their guests. Their plan is for the
renovations to be completed by May, 2008
and have over 200 rooms when completed.
The new look for the hotel is based on modern
boutique style hotels that are now found
across the country and Europe.
The hotel has a variety of rooms and
suites to choose, from a Deluxe Double
Queen, Deluxe King, Executive King,
Executive King Junior Suite or the Premier
King Suite. Each suite has a Fridge/Micro in
the kitchenette. Their prices are extremely
down to earth and much less than the other
dmvntown hotels. The hotel is within a
short walking distance to Tulsa’s
Convention Center, the New
The PAC (Performing
Center, Tulsa Tech and many
buildings and landmarks.
; the many amenities are:
floors, business
weddings & receptions, air-
~ort shuttle free Cherokee Casino
[ wireless Internet,
covered parking, guest laundry
~n site), fax & copy service. Their
service includes 43 channels, 3
4 ESPN channels,
i Nick, Food Network and
r more. The Downtown Plaza
equipped with a Fitness Center
their guests, including strength
and cardio equipment.
Lounge around their outdoor pool and
catch some rays, secluded by the urban environment
ofTulsa’s rooftops. Just inside the
poolside seating area is The Jones’N Club,
a full bar with a pool table and live music.
Conference, meeting and banquet rooms are
available to accommodate groups of 10 to
250 guests.
..............Continued page 27
w~w~,.ozarksstar.com
More on Camp La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New
Mexico see page 22.
From the upper sundeck at the Oasis men’s resort, guests enjoypanoramic
views ofKey West’s Historic District. (Photo by Andrew Collins)
Key West:
Where To Play, Eat, and Stay
famous gay resort towns, Key West has always stood
out for its sheer embrace of total relaxation. This laid-back tropical
island in the Caribbean, closer to Cuba than to mainland Florida, is
without pretensions. People rarely worry about what time it is, dress
is casual and colorful, and the party scene is friendly and easygoing.
Key West is neither fancy nor especially urbane - it’s just a great
place to laze in a deck chair on a bougainvillea-choked lanai, browse
for beachwear and souvenirs along the main drag, Duval Street,
or relax on a restaurant patio noshing on raw oysters and sipping
mango iced tea or mojitos.
For a seasonal tourist town, Key West has plenty to offer when it
comes to dining and nightlife. Few places draw more raves for outstanding
food than Alice’s Key West, where chefAlice Weingarten
serves some of the most inventive food in town, including delicious
smoked-salmon Benedict at breakfast. A departure from Key West’s
predominant laid-back tropical look, Square One is a sophisticated
restaurant with white table linen and fine china. The regionally
inspired Continental cuisine includes escargot baked in a crepe
with fresh spinach, garlic, feta, and a tomato beurre blanc. It’s a top
choice for a romar~.tic evening.
One of the better Italian restaurants in town, and also one of the
gayest, La Trattoria has two dining rooms - the smaller one romantic
and intimate, the larger better for groups of friends. The straightforward
cooking draws high praise for such tasty creations as local
shrimp sauteed with garlic, fresh tomatoes, and herbes de Provence
in a white wine, lemon, and butter sauce. One of Dural Street’s true
places to be seen, Mangoes brims with colorful sorts. The composed
salads, pastas, and grills - all with nouvelle Florida touches - are
commendable. Consider rib eye steak Caribe (pan-charred with
tamarind steak sauce and yucca).
Seven Fish, which occupies an old luncheonette and has a sleek,
sophisticated interior, serves seafood-oriented bistro fare, such as
crab and shiitake mushroom ravioli. The slogan at Mangia Mangia
is "pasta to the people," a philosophy reflected by the many varieties
of heavenly homemade pasta, all fairly priced. The painstakingly
preserved building has a lovely, quiet garden and redbrick patio in
back. You’ll need luck and persistence most nights to get a seat at
Camille’s, a small storefront bistro, but the friendly vibe and downhome
comfort food are worth the trouble. Expect good salads and
sandwiches, such as Philly cheese steak, and delicious pancakes for
breakfast.
For arguably the best sandwiches and wraps on the island, try Lobo’s
- the oyster roll with cheddar, bacon, and basil tartar sauce is a
stand-out. H Siboney is a zero-atmosphere eatery - _the_ place in
town for humble, stick-to-your-ribs Cuban fare. Rickety tables are
set with plastic tablecloths and paper napkins. Try such Havana specialties
as conch chowder, garlic chicken, stuffed shrimp and crabs,
platanos (plantains), and a sweet flan to top it off. As for traditional
Cuban sandwiches, tiny 5 Brothers Grocery - on a side street in the
historic district - serves the best around.
Much of the gay social activity in Key West takes place at resorts,
some ofwhich provide refreshments and snacks to guests during the
afternoon and early evening. A handful of properties have bars open
to the public, among them Pearl’s Rainbow, the town’s only guest
house exclusively for women, and the ultra-cruisy, all-male Island
House, which also has an excellent restaurant.
Most the town’s gay bars are along Duval Street. Here, the La-Te-Da
guest house has a poolside bar, an intimate piano bar, and the Treetop
Cabaret Lounge upstairs. Down a few blocks, the New Orleansinspired
Bourbon Street Pub is a cheery place with a small bar up
front with cocktail tables, a larger outdoor bar in back (along with a
lively pool area and hot tub), and video screens galore. Many nights
you can catch awful (but still entertaining) drag shows on the stage
in back. The same owners run the lovably raffish 801 Bar, Key
20 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
West’s definitive neighborhood hangout since the 1970s. There’s
almost always a crowd of gossipy locals around the bar. The adjacent
One Saloon caters mostly to leather-and-Levi’s types and is reached
through 801’s back door. Aqua Nightclub is best lmown for its raucous
drag shows, which are headlined by the in-house drag troupe,
the Aquanettes. This lively place also has strippers some nights, an
impressive dance floor with high-tech laser-and-sound shows,’ and a
cozy video bar.
Key West has a number of inns that cater either exclusively or
predominandy to the gay market. One of the best is Alexander’s, a
long-popular gay resort with the relatively unusual policy of being
both clothing-optional and welcoming to both women and men.
This makes Alexander’s ideal for gay guys traveling with lesbian
friends, or for any queer vacationers who enjoy a mixed-gender
atmosphere. The effect is that the mood around the pool and hot
mb tends to be less cruisy than at single-gender resorts. Aromatic
tropical flowers, sundecks, rattan and wicker furnishings, and sparkling
tiled bathrooms impart Alexander’s with a classy but casual
look. Also welcoming of both women and men but drawing a predominantly
male crowd, Big Ruby’s is less than a block from Dural
Street, hidden behind high walls from noise and street traffic. The
grounds feature towering palm trees and fragrant flowers, and an
abundance of sundecks. Rooms are warm, contemporary, spotless,
and full of light - all have TVIVCRs, mini-refrigerators, A/C, and
ceiling fans. A complimentary full breakfast is included. As for the
staff, you won’t find a more professional bunch of guys in Key West.
Most of the town’s men’s resorts are along Fleming Street, the Historic
District’s main drag. Here you’ll find Equator, which has plush
rooms with contemporary Caribbean-influenced furniture. Designer
fabrics, feather pillows with comforters, Mediterranean-tile floors,
large closets, and excellent sound insulation add to the comfort
of each unit. The tradeoff is that the Equator’s grounds, although
nicely landscaped, are smaller than at some of its competitors;
there’s a compact pool and an oversize Jacuzzi tub.
For years the sprawling Island House - a former cigar factory on the
eastern edge of the Historic District - was synonymous with sex,
sleaze, and shabbiness. It’s still synonymous with sex. But, happily,
new owners have completely rebuilt the place, hired friendly and
competent staff, and created lovely rooms with high-quality furnishings
(all have VCR/TVs, refrigerators, safes, and plttsh linens). If
you’re seeking a steamy ambience but also first-rate accommodations
and a safe, friendly environment, the Island House is your dream
come true. Amenities, all of them available 24 hours, include heated
pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, gym, sauna, steam room, and
erotic-male-video lounge.
The largest gay resort in town comprises three distinct properties
- the Oasis, Coral Tree Inn, and Coconut Grove - operated
by the same management. This highly social, all-male compound
has rooms available in a variety of configurations and prices. The
Coconut Grove is the fanciest of the three, having been completely
gutted and redone following a fire in 2006 - it now has some of the
cushiest accommodations in town. Next door, the Oasis has less
pricey but still attractive rooms and beautiful grounds. Across the
street, the Coral Tree has simpler but more affordable rooms. Guests
are free to enjoy the grounds of all three properties. Another
all-male property with a somewhat cruisy vibe is the New Orleans
Guest House, an attractive compound that’s above the Bourbon
Street Pub, right in the center of the Dural Street action. Rooms
are well-outfitted and attractively decorated, and rates moderately
priced.
Known as the Rainbow House until new owners took over a several
years ago, the 38-room Pearl’s Rainbow is Key \Vest’s only resort
that’s exclusive to women. Rooms are nicely done, with rattan and
wicker furniture, pastel-hued walls, large TVs, and refrigerators.
Many different configurations are available, from simple budget-oriented
units set away from the noise of the pools and decks, to more
spacious rooms doser to the action, some with kitchenettes or separate
sitting areas. The resort encompasses several buildings, including
some cute cottages that once provided housing for the workers
of a cigar factory that formerly occupied the main building. There
are two heated pools, spacious sundecks, and lots of opportunity to
chat with other guests. This is a wonderful hideaway, whether you’re
looking to make new friends or enjoy a litde peace and quiet with
your honey.
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 21
by Donald Pile & Ray Williams
Featuring Cuisine From Coast to Coast
La Casa Sena - Santa Fe, New Mexico
W’e have been dining at La Casa Sena in
Santa Fe for over 25 years and it just keeps
getting better. Located right downtown,
it is one of the most popular and critically
acclaimed restaurants in the Southwest.
Not only is the food some of the most
delicious you’ll ever taste, the wine list is
among the finest in the country. Whether
dining inside or out on the patio, you are
in for a real treat! "l-he ambiance, the food,
the setting...... everything is fabulous! La
Casa Sena occupies a fine old haciendastyle
adobe complex and means "the Sena
House." q-he Sena family was one of the
oldest and most notable in Santa Fe. q-he
founder of the family, Bernadino de Sena,
was an orphan from Mexico City who
traveled to Santa Fe in 1693. In the early
1980% the ravages of rime finally began to
take a toll on the hacienda. Art dealer, Gerald
Peters purchased the historic building
and extensively renovated it without making
any architectural changes. The restoration
succeeded in keeping the historic ambiance
and integrity of the Sena Plaza intact.
Th-he Southwestern cuisine served at La
Casa Sena draws on the rich history of the
region. Th-heir distinctive red chile is grown
for the restaurant near Dixon, on the Rio
Grande in northern New Mexico. The harsh
weather there means that this local product
is not plentifi~ and, because the restaurant
purchases virtually the entire crop, it is unlikely
that this chile will be tasted anywhere
else in the world.
They are located right off the Plaza
in downtown Santa Fe at 125 East Palace.
q-heir dinner hours are Sunday thru
Thursday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM and Friday &
Saturday: 5:30 - 10:00 PM. Lunch: 11:30
_A!vl - 3:00 PM Monday thru Saturday and
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM on Sundays
22 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
People Wi h A D$
LITTLE ROCK, ARK __ Republican Presidential candidate and
former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating
AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal
funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose
a dangerous public health risk."
As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered
229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a
quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund
AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health
agencies.
"If the federal government is truly serious about doing something
with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the
carriers of this plague," Huckabee wrote.
City Resident Ray Prewitt
aooept
New I ovie
SANTA FE, NM (P/R) __ Oklahoma City resident, Ray Prewitt,
will take on the role of"Owen" in the Jim Sheridan helmed "Brothers"
for Relativity
Media. The film stars
Natalie Portman,
Jake Gyllenhaal, and
Tobey Macguire.
Shooting began last
week on this remake
of Susanne Bier’s
Danish-language war
drama which centers
on a man, (Maguire)
who is sent to fight in
Afghanistan while his
black-sheep brother
(Gyllenhaal) cares for
his wife (Portman)
and child.
Prewitt, who recently
appeared in Carpenter
Square’s "Sordid
Lives", is best known
as the producer of
"Call Us Crazy:
The Anne Heche
Monologues" which
achieved theatrical
cult status in Los
Angeles featuring stars like Edie McClurg, Alex Borstein, Megyn
Price, and Scott Thompson.
This is Prewitt’s second time to share the screen with Portman since
"Where the Heart Is" .i"n 2000.
"I think the government’s role should not be involved in personal
habits. When you defend freedom, you defend freedom of choice,
and you can’t be picking and choosing how people use those
freedoms...whether it’s personal behavior or economic behavior, I
want people to have freedom of choice," Paul asserted.
He believes the constitution says such issues should be left to the
states to decide, and ira state chooses to legalize marijuana, cocaine,
heroin and/or prostitution, so be it.
Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex
www.ozarksstar.com The STAR 23
Chaz & Victor
By Ronald Blake
Twenty-eight retired generals and admirals
released a letter Friday urging Congress to
overturn the ban on gays serving openly in
the military, according to "l-he New York
Times. The letter cites information showing
that 65,000 gay men and lesbians are
currently serving in the military and that
there are more than 1 million gay and lesbian
veterans who have "served our nation
honorably."
~have been indulging myself lately with
the finer aspects of food and beverage. I
have acquiesced with my body’s cravings
for rectangular chocolate delights that are
known to the masses as Snickers, Three
Musketeers, and Whatchamacallits. I have
given in to the luscious temptations of the
all-powerful supreme pizza with its smothering
array of toppings and guilt. I have even
fallen prey to the hypnotic sexual commercial
suggestions of the beer and booze
barons of this fair land. Yes, I have been
greedily imbibing the works of the great
fermentation experts such as Adolph Coors
and August Busch. How can I possibly
engage in such extreme epicurean behavior
and still manage to put on my jeans without
a forced smile? Ofcourse I will disclose the
many and varied means by which I make
this feasible.
Each day I lace up my sneakers and head
out on a seven mile romp through my
neighborhood streets and enjoy the festively
adorned homes. This provides me the opportunity
to dear my mind and breathe in
all those particulates from city living. It also
affords me the chance to count the expanse
of calories I burn off: in the process. I usually
get credit for 800 calories each day from this
physical activity mode.
I am that guy who finds the parking space
on the periphery of the mall parking lot.
~llais is not a forced choice in response to
all the holiday shoppers. I actively seek out
the spot that is closer to the frontage road
than the stores’ entrances. This gives me the
excellent opportunity to partake in the lost
art ofwalking somewhere. Chalk up another
couple hundred calories burned in a week’s
time.
Every other day I don my favorite ripped
Guns N Roses T-shirt and my faded periwinkle
Russell Athletic shorts and ease into
26 the STAR
my workout roudne. I set my bicep, quadriceps,
and triceps muscles into a sweet synergistic
syncopation. I dedicate thirty minutes
for every session and I am proudly able to
record several hundred singed calories for
that day’s effort.
Some ofmy other calorie consuming moments
has involved the firm scolding of
my car and leaving him alone in the garage
while I set out down the block to get the
mail. I have often abandoned the comforts
ofmy plush settee and even ignored the
puppy dog eyes from my cuddly ottoman
so that I could walk around the living room
while discoursing with the likes ofmy Aunt
Chilada on the telephone. Friends have even
chided me for spending disproportionate
time with the steps and hand railings of
building stairwells than with the numbered
buttons and "The Girl from Ipanema" music
from elevators. Thankfully for me, these
mundane activities afford me a cornucopia
of numerous extra burned calories.
I am able to consume more of the Food
Network creations than the average Punch
and Judy because of my lifestyle. My gourmand
way of life would soon dissipate if I
would slink into the slothful practices of
most ofmy fellow brethren. Free will gives
you that chance to change it all starting
today. I could certainly use some company
on those lonely stairwells!
This health and fitness column is brought
to you by that guy who likes to count the
times people say the phrase "you know" in
their conversations. That gny is Ron Blake
and he can be unwrapped at www.goblakefitness.
com
Creating
Community for
People living
with
H V/A1DS
A 501 c (3) Non Profit Organization
Our House, Too offers a variety of
activities for people who are HIV+ and
or living with AIDS to help combat the
social isolation that many of our
people live through each and everyday.
We provide a Toiletry and Household
Pantry for those who are HtV+
and or living with AIDS who cannot
afford to purchase these items for
themselves. We invite anyone who
would like to volunteer or provide financial
assistance to please contact
us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail
hardsmmjr@yahoo.com.
~wtw.ozarksstar.com
Q~UENTIN CRISP DOWn,TOWN PLAZA DERAILED HATE CRIMES
Indeed, Crisp was celibate for the latter half
of his life. When sex therapist Dr. Ruth
Westheimer asked him what he thought
about sex, he said he thought it was a mistake.
He was also cynical about love, saying
he didfft really understand it, and he never
had an enduring romantic relationship.
Had he lived in a different era, Crisp might
have identified as transgender rather than
gay. "I believe I was born unfit for the world
not because of anything to do with sex, but
because of gender," he told one interviewer.
"I have always felt like a woman born into a
man’s body. Had I the money or the opportunity
early in life, I would certainly have
had a sex change."
Though his work brought in a fair amount
of money, Crisp lived a spartan existence,
subsisting on hors d’oeuvres and champagne
at parties. With a "lust for small talk," he
held court at a local diner and devoted time
to answering phone calls, letters, and e-mails
from friends and strangers alike. He loved
being the center of attention, and rarely
turned down an opportunity to be interviewed
or photographed. In his final years,
though beset by health problems, he nevertheless
continued to travel and perform.
Crisp died of a heart attack in Manchester,
England, in November 1999, just a month
shy of his 91st birthday.
While some may find his flamboyant style
and effeminate mannerisms embarrassingly
stereotypical today, Crisp is remembered
for being himself- and paying the price
- at a time when few others dared to do so.
Though he avoided organized LGBT activism,
his entire life was a demonstration of
gay and transgender empowerment.
For further reading:
Bailey, Paul, ed. 2000. The Stately Homo:
A Celebration of the Life of Quentin Crisp
(Bantam).
Crisp, Quentin. 1996. Resident Alien: The
New York Diaries (HarperCollins).
~e hotel is the ONLY Tulsa hotel that
is openly caters to everybody! The Lounge
at the Downtown Plaza will start in January
hosting Ms. Kris Kohl and will present a
drag show every other Friday. They will also
be hosting a Broadway touring company
during the summer of 2008. Chisholm
Properties, Ltd. has a complete non-discrimination
policy to cover, Age, Religion,
Nationality, Race, SF~VUAL ORIENTATION,
Disability, Veteran Status and other
individuals as protected by Federal, State
and Locals Laws.
The General Manager, Jay Wilks is a former
flight attendant instructor and former
owner of a small specialized aircraft charter
tour company, award winning fit and art
shop and an upscale gay magazine that was
distributed in 7 States in the Southeast. The
Assistant General Manager, Debbie McCraw
is a former schoolteacher, Texas ranch foreman,
homemaker and mother. With all of
their combined hidden talents we KNOW
that they will make a success in this new
venture. Both Jay and Debbie are two of the
nicest, friendliest and professional people
that you would ever want to meet. They
truly care about their guests and want them
to have a very pleasant time while staying
at the hotel. The front desk staff as well as
the housekeeping staff are very friendly and
professional.
Next time you are going to be in Tulsa
be sure to check out their website at www.
downtownplazatulsa.com or give them a
call at 800.585.5101 for reservations. Their
local number is 918.585.5898. Or for those
people living in Tulsa who are wanting to
rent a conference or party site, give them a
call.
Always remember to have fun when traveling,
meet new people and talk to everyone!
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS
WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray
Williams, Award-winning Celebrity travel
columnists who write for gay publications
from Coast to Coast. Proud members of
the IGLTA. You can email them at: gaytravelers@
aol.com or visit their webpage at:
http://www.hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers
sent to the Chairman and Ranking Members
of the Armed Services Committees
urging them to retain the Hate Crimes
amendment as part of the conference report.
Timed to correspond with Members returning
from the Thanksgiving recess, on November
28th, HRC launched a nationwide
action alert to all of its members urging
immediate grassroots action to Members of
Congress.
The House of Representatives passed the
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes
Prevention Act (H.R. 1592) in May with a
strong bipartisan vote of 237-180. The Senate
approved the nearly identical Matthew
Shepard Act (S. 1105) as an amendment to
the Department of Defense Authorization
bill on a voice vote after a 60-39 cloture
vote.
Inclusion of the hate crimes provision in
the final version of the bill fell victim in the
House to challenges from opponents of hate
crimes as well as unrelated concerns regarding
Iraq-related provisions of the bill. The
hate crimes veto threat issued by the White
House and organized opposition by House
Republican Leadership cost significant
numbers of votes on the right. Iraq-related
provisions that many progressive Democrats
opposed cost votes on the left. Moderate
Democrats, many ofwhom voted for the
hate crimes bill in May, did not want to test
the President’s veto threat and risk a delay
in increased pay for military personnel. ’All
of these factors resulted in insufficient votes
to secure passage of the bill with the hate
crimes provision.
2~he Matthew Shepard Act gives the Justice Department
the power to investigate and prosecute
bias motivated violence by providing the Department
with jurisdiction over crimes of violence
where the perpetrator has selected the victim
because of the person’s actual or perceived race,
color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity or disability.
The legislation also provides the Justice Department
,vith the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions
either by lending assistance or, where
local authorities are unwilling or unable, by
taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions
of violent crime resulting in death or serious
bodily injury that were motivated by bias. The
Act also makes grants available to state and local
communities to combat violent crimes committed
by juveniles, train law enforcement officers,
or to assist in state and !ocal investigations and
prosecutions of bias motivated crimes.
www,ozarksstar.corn the STAR 27
Just as the sun spends a month of every year in each
sign, Jupiter, in his 12-year cycle, spends about a full
year in each sign. Fresh into Capricorn, he will help to
build up organizations and bureaucracy. The coming
year will be a big one for the mature look, leather, and
bondage. This week’s horoscope will be valid through
the year!
ARIES (March 20 -April 19): Socialize with important
folks. Those doors are wide open to you. Looking respectable
and conservative will help you get ahead. Even in the
most buttoned-up crowd, people know the power of appearance.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): If you have unfinished
school business or want to go for a degree, sign up for
those classes! Otherwise, delve into ancient philosophies
or go traveling to historical, even archaeological places on
your own initiative.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Not that you need the help,
but your sexual magnetism is charging up. Trying to look
young will not help. Maturity, experience, and authority all
work in your favor. If you’ve been wanting to explore leather
and kink, this is the time for it!
CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Look toward formalizing an
existing relationship or refining your criteria for one. Not
only can you afford to be picky, but holding out for what you
really want in your partnership will help you get it.
LEO (July 23 - August 22): Any skin growths or bone
or joint inflammations should be checked quickly, but in
general your health should be good. Luck at work should
improve. Look forward to promotions and be willing to take
a risk to get them.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22): Some people think
creativity is about mad inspiration. You know it’s about
hard work. Your hard work can pay off big - probably more
in terms of personal growth, but there could be money,
toot
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Researching your
roots, taking time with older relatives, or spending time with
community elders will give you a better sense not only of
your background and foundations, but also of where you’re
going.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Your mind needs
stimulation and novelty, and you’re a bit more loquacious
than usual. Be careful with that! Developing new skills,
perhaps learning a new language, will open doors and help
keep you focused and out of trouble.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): This
should be a very lucky year for you for money - investments,
lottery tickets, new businesses - but, it’s also "easy
come, easy go." A conservative attitude and long-range
perspective will prove most profitable. Consult an astrologer
with your full birth chart before taking any big chances!
CAPRICORN (December 21 o January 19): You’re in for a
spell of good luck. Just be yourself and you’re sure to get
ahead. There’s no point in being shy. Go for any opportunity
that feels right. Further education and travel can serve
you especially well.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Blessings will
come to you in disguise. If life gets hard, the troubles can
easily be made into a springboard to tremendous luck.
Volunteer work with venerable charities will prove advantageous
in the meantime.
PISCES (February 19 - March 19): Social opportunities
will open up for you more easily if you "work the system"
and follow conservative, conventional methods. Hobnob
with "important people," but what’s "important" is subjective.
Of course, those who don’t look or think like you can be
important, too!
C®
METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITY CHURCHES
Spirit of Chdst 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 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
DOWNTOWN PLAZ,~_ ofTULSA
17 West 7th Street
Tulsa, OK
918-585-5898
www.downtownplazatulsa.com
HABANA INN
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\VAY
Oldahoma City, OK
405-528-2221
www.habanainn.corn
KELLY KIRBY, CPA
4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424
Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466
Certified Public Accountant
DREXEL ONTHE PARKAPTS.
3041NW41ST
Oklahoma City, OK
405-946-0588
SUSAN HARTMAN
Independent Broker
Oklahoma and Arkansas
918-698-2977
CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 NWEXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-840-2106
www.c2 lgoldcastle.com
CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE
Keller Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-1887
GAY BRADY HHGHTS-Tulsa
New and Historic Homes for Sale
and Rent For Info:
www.gaybradyheightstulsa.com
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
ANGLES
2117NW39thSt.
Oklahoma City, OK
www.anglesdub.com
BAMBOO LOUNGE
7204 E. PINE
Tulsa, OK
918-836-8700
www.bambooloungetulsa.com
www.ozarksstar.com
CLUB MAJESTIC
124 N. BOSTON
Tulsa, OK
918-584-9494
www.dubmajestictulsa.com
FINISHLINE
2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
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
DIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CNTR
211 S. Garnett
Tulsa, OK 74128
www.realacceptance.com
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N. Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
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
NWARKANSAS GLBT CENTER
Bentonville/Rogers
888-391-9222
WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG
GLENPOOL FLOWERS
437 E. 141st Street
Glenpool, OK
www.glenpoolflowers.com
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 moneyorder to:
STAR
5103 S. Sheridan Rd., #153
Tulsa, OK 74145
(Single Copies $3.00 per issue)
NA!vlE:
Address:
City: St:__Zip:
Phone:
Check enclosed
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Start Date:
29
Keller Williams Realty
Chuck Breckenridge
Whether buying or selling
I’ll work hard for you.
N~X/Arkansas GLBT
Communiv! Center
"Linking Together as One"
For more information:
888-391-9222
WWW.NWAGLBTCC.ORG
e-mail: EditorialCartoon@c
30 the STAR www.ozarksstar.com
YOU
[]
F,g. 1 Pollen
hke Tcha&o~sky’s compo~mon
Romeo and Juhet
~f one were to make a list of
the world’s favorite composers,
despite his relatively recent vintage
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky would
be on it. After all, he composed
Swan Lake, which is perhaps the
most famous ballet
of all time. And
there can’t be more
than a handful of
ballet companies that don’t perform
The Nutcracker every Christmas.
Indeed, this great Romantic composer should be so
immortalized. As a young man, he pursued a career in
music at enormous personal risk and against h~s
father’s advice. His mild temperament combined with
his tendency to work too hard left him with inmmnia,
debilitating headaches and hallucinations. On top of that,
Tchaikovsky’s composition teacher never liked his work,
Peter llyich Tchaikot,sky endured many setbacks,
not the l~st of which was a blind barber
even after he became ~vorld-famous.
Setbacks like these could have
finished a lesser man. Instead, they
inibrmed his work, which remains
some of the best loved in history.
Yet some kids still confuse
Tchaikovsky with a nasal spasm.
Why? Because the arts are slowly
but surely being eliminated from
today’s schools, even though a
majority of parents believe
music and drama and dance and
art make their kids better
students and better people.
To help reverse this disturbing
’Rrm~nc
trend, or for more information recomrarwd~d daily allouur~ce of art,
about the benefits of arts education, visit us at
AmericansForTheArts.org. Or else Tchaikovsky could
seem like just another casualty of allergy season.
www.ozarksstar.com the STAR 31
Reservations: 918.585.5898 ÷ 800.585.5101
Where you can be YOU"
pee" ~oo~l ~oo~ ~ow=n
f
17 West 7th Street (corner 7th & Boulder Ave) e Tulsa, Ok 74119
¢ www.downtownplazatulsa.com
Dublin Core
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[2008] The Star Magazine, January 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 1
Date
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January 01, 2008
Format
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PDF
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English
Subject
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Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
Description
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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.
Type
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magaine
Coverage
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Southwestern Missouri
Western Arkansas
Southeastern Kansas
Eastern Oklahoma
The United States of America (50 states)
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Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
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Star Media, Ltd
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Greg Steele
Paul Wortman
James Ninmo
Joey D.
Victor Gorin
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Donald Pile
Ronald Blak
Ray Williams
Jack Fertig
Liz Highleyman
Devre Jackson
Chaz Ward
Victor Gorin
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
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The Star Magazine, December 1, 2007; Volume 4, Issue 12
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/204
The Star Magazine, February 1, 2008; Volume 5, Issue 2
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/245
Identifier
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https://history.okeq.org/items/show/246
AIDS
anti-gay violence
art
cartoons
classifieds
crime denouncement
Deep Inside Hollywood
Dennis R. Scott
Don't Ask
Don't Tell
Downtown Plaza Hotel-Tulsa
fitness
hate crime
health
Hillary Clinton
HIV/AIDs
horoscopes
Loeves and Fishes
Melody Michaels
Mike Huckabee
Miranda Ray
Miss Gay Oklahoma
New Year
Our House
Past Out
Q Scopes
Quentin Crisp
Quotable Quotes
Ray Prewitt
Samantha West
Star Advertisers
Star Scene
Steven Domer
Syphilis testing
Tchaiovsky
The Colors of Living
Too
travel
Winds House
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b502d509c4e27de8829448d87f6a808a.jpg
3774705845c6574a0c46f28c3d279ac4
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/8a340a886a39d4ed9f8eef3bc795780c.pdf
ece766c52bb594e46230b55c631ce287
Dublin Core
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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
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Ozarks Pride
Ozarks Star
Star
Metro Star
Date
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2004-2011
Format
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Images
Online texts
PDF
Language
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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
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
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https://history.okeq.org/items/browse?collection=19&page=1
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magazine
Text
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PROUD • V N OM UN
"From the day of ourfofi:n,4ifl:g,
we have proclaimed that every
man and woman on this Earth
:h45 rights,, and dignity and
11ttitcbless value because they bear
~rnagc of the maker of
ven.and ta;rth .. »
• Ge~rge W. Bu~h, .
• Toaugb./al. ~J>eech;
January 20, 2005
State~entl?y:M:att Forc=m.a11'✓ •
· μecut~e Djrector, Natio11af~a;r
. andI:.esbian'Fask Force • " ., C ,:•\ ,'" •• " ,,
Page 5
Tulsa
Oklahoma City
Little Rock ·
F ayettevitle·~·"'i
Fort .
Spri
Club nv opens in
Kansas Ci
by Greg Steele
January 18, 2005
■
KANSAS CITY, MO- The long awaited
opening of KC's newest club opened their
doors to the public on January 6th.
Studio@NV Video Bar officially opened
at 4:30pm. A year under construction the
dub also has a dance side that will be
open on Jan 21st. The grand opening
private party is planned for the 20th.
"You'll be blown away at the light show
and we have some of the cutest bartenders in
town." said General Manager, Chad
Mantooth.
Located in the site of a former Buick
deaiership, the club will have three bars,
a state of the art dance bar, a video bar
and two patio's. The rooftop bar and
patio is the place for a grand view of
downtown Kansas City. NV plans to
be KC's first GLBT totally nonsmoking
bar. Smoking will be allowed on
the patio. In addition to the club area's,
the building \vill feature 23 lofts to be
named "The Buick Lofts" and will
range in size from a studio to 2500
square feet.
Studio@nv video bar is open at 4:30 to
!:30 Monday through Saturday with 1/
2 price martini's from 4:30-8:30
Monday through Friday.
The Dance Club starting January 21st
will be open Thursday, Friday and
Saturday 1 0pm to 1 :30am.
Located at 220 Admiral Blvd. on the
corner of 7th and McGee in downtown
KCMO. If you need further directions
or have any questions, you may call
816.421.NVKC or check out the
website at http:/ /www.nv-kc.com.
Page 6
Arkansas Anti-Gay
Foster care Ban
Overturned
LITTLE ROCK - Finding that children
are not harmed by living with gay or
lesbian parents, an Arkansas court today
struck down a stllte regulation that
banned gay people and anyone living in a
household with a gay adult from being
foster parents in the st:2.te. The American
Civil Liberties Union brought the
lawsuit ag:ainst the state in 1999 on behalf
of three prospective foster parents.
''Throughout this case, the state has
relied on ugly stereotypes to deny
children in the Arkansas foster care
system the chance of having the widest
possible pool of foster wnilies available
to them,'' said Rim Sklar, Executive
Director of the ACLU of Arkansas.
"We're very pleased that the court sa~
through these arguments and has
recognized that gay and lesbian people
can provide homes just as loving and
smble as anyone else's."
In his findings, Circuit Court Judge
Timothy Fox flatly rejected many of the
claims the state had made about gay and
lesbian people's suitability as parents. In
his decision, Fox wrote: "(Psychology
pioneer) Jerome Bruner has suggested
that one of the reasons people believe in
om system of justice may be as simple as
'ow: faith that confrontation is a good
way to get to the bottom of things.' The
'confrontation' in this case has presented
us all with an excellent opportunity to
replace ignorance with knowledge and to
make an informed decisionbased on
information as opposed to assumption."
Among Judge Fox's findings of fact
• Being raised by gay parents doesn't
increase the risk of psychological,
behavioral, or academic problems for
children.
• Children of lesbian and gay parents are
just as well adjusted as children of
straight parents.
• There is no factual basis for saying that
heterosexual parents might be better able
to guide children through adolescence
than gay parents.
• There are no reasons that health,
safety, or welfare of a foster child might
be negatively impacted by living in a
foster home where there is a gay person
present.
• The blanket exclusion can hurt
children by excluding a pool of effective
foster parents.
"Throughout the trial we presented a
variety of experts who proved that the
state's justifications for this ban were
nothing but baseless myths about gay
people," said Leslie Cooper, a staff
attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and
Gay Rights Project. "This is a victory
not only for gay families, but for the
many children in the Arkansas foster
care system who now have a better shot
at finding a good home."
After Arkansas's Child Welfare
Agency Review Board established a
policy in 1999 that "no person may serve
as a foster parent if any adult member of
that person's household is a .
homosexual," the ACLU filed a lawswt
in state court challenging the policy on
behalf of three Arlwisans who are
challenging the ban:
William Wagner of Waldron, who
works in an optical laboratory. Wagner
has been married for 31 yClltS and has
two adult children. Although he is a
married heterosexual, be is disqualified
from serving as a foster parent because
his gay son sometimes lives at home.
Wagner .and pis wife hope to serve as
foster parents because they alrea~y
provide em~rgency shelter to teens who
have been physically abused and kicked
out of their homes for being lesbian or
gay and would like to be available to take
care of teens in the foster care system.
Matthew Lee Howard, a teacher, who
lives with his partner Craig Stoopes, a
librarian, in Little Rock. The couple has
been in a committed relationship for 19
years, is currently raising two children,
and hopes to serve as foster parents.
Anne Shelley of Fayetteville is a
community organizer for various nonprofit
organizations and woul9. like to
serve as a foster parent. She is prevented
from doing so under Arkansas law
because she is a lesbian.
Leslie Cooper and James Esseks of the
ACLU's Lesbian & Gay Rights Project,
Grif Stockley of the ACLU of Arkansas,
and cooperating attorneys David Ivers
and Emily Sneddon represent the
prospective foster parents.
1 !
February 2005
by Andrew Collins
"Cooking-School
Vacations"
Photorigbt: You can take cooking classes taught by some
of the leading chefs in the Southwest at the acclaimed
Santa Fe School of Cooking.
Given that many travelers put as much
thought into picking the right restaurants as they
do choosing appealing hotels and sightseeing
attractions, it's little wonder that cooking-school
vacations have become extremely popular in
recent years. After all, if you're already a fan of
eating outstanding food, it makes perfect sense to
explore your culinary passions a bit further and
learn how to prepare the great meals you enjoy.
Whether you're a die-hard chef with professional ambitions or simply a fan of
good cooking who's keen on picking up a few culinary tips, you're likely to find a
cooking-school adventure that suits yow: interests (and budget). Opportunities to
learn bow to cook while traveling range from taking a class or two at a local
cooking school or country in~ to booking a complete educational getaway that
includes several days of intensive cooking instruction as well as accommodations,
meals, and day trips to farmers' markets and restaurants. The cost can range from
$50 for a single demonstration class at a cooking school to several thousand dollars
per person for a wecklong, all-inclusive package. In most cases, you're responsible
for getting to and from the destination.
Although there arc no cooking-school vacations geared exclusively to the lesbian
and gay market, plenty of gay-popular destinations - from San Francisco to
Vermont to Barcelona - offer these food-based educational excursions. Taking one of
these trips can be great fun whether you're traveling with yow: honey or with a
group of pals, but it's also an excellent way to make new friends; indeed, cooking
schools draw plenty of single travelers.
If you're looking for an informal, unstructured experience, where you plan your own
trip but take some cooking courses on your own, consider booking a class or two at the
esteemed Santa Fe School of Cooking, whose instructors include some of the top chefs in this
gay-friendly arts mecca in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Topics cover a wide
range of food styles, from the cuisine of Mexico to Southwest tapas. Classes arc offered
several times per week and typically cost from $50 to $65 apiece; each one concludes with a
full meal featuring the delicious food prepared.
A number of inns around the country offer occasional cooking-class weekends, which
typically run from two to four days and are especially popular with couples seeking a
romantic retreat. In Kennebunkport, Maine - which is dose to such gay-friendly destinations
as Portland and Ogunquit - the lavish White Barn Inn offers weekend cooking-school
packages throughout the year. These three-day, two-night events begin with a Friday
afternoon tea reception, followed by a tour of the inn's impressive wine cellar, where you're
also treated to a tasting of several fine vintages. On Saturday you participate in a cooking
class in the state-of-the-an demonstration kitchen, followed by a mixoiogy course in the bar.
You then get to sample some of the dishes you saw demonstrated in class earlier in the day
during the six-course dinner on Saturday evening, in the \Vnire Barn's highly acclaimed
restaurant. Guests also receive _The White Barn Inn Cookbook_. Prices start at about $400
per person, double-occupancy.
Vermont, which has become a favorite gay destination in recent years, ... continued page-32
Page 8
' The Queen City of
the Southwest ?
From the Editor
January 20, 2005
TULSA, OKLAHOMA Located in the
center of a potentially gay business boom.
Sound like a fantasy? Well, look what is
within 175 miles, just a three hour drive.
Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Muskogee,
McAlester, Miami, Witchita, Joplin,
Springfield, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, a
huge GLBT population estimated at near
150,000.
Yes, Tulsa, OK
has an opportunity
to become a
major gay /lesbian
city. Shake the
Bible Belt syndrome.
Gay is not
unique in this
year of 2005. Gay
does not have to
be in the closet.
Gay is not a lifestyle,
it is a life! Gay /Lesbian is not a
nasty word with a connotation of deviate.
Homosexuality has been accepted around
the globe and has become common place.
Teen's think of sex as just sex, it doesn't
matter if it is with the opposite sex or
same sex. If you prefer same sex or
opposite sex, no big deal. It's just sex.
What does the Tulsa business community
have to offer the GLBT tourist or those
wanting to relocate? Is there a hotel that
seeks gay business? NO. Is there a
restaurant that caters to gay people? NO.
Is there a predominateiy gay area for
housing? NO. Are there shops that as;;.
for your business? A FEW. Are ,here
gay /lesbian bars? \'ES. Bars, clubs, disco's
country western, cruise, neighborhood,
and just bars. ls that it? NO.
Tulsa has a percentile of GLBT professional
people equal to any major city.
Attorney's, Accountants, Doctors,
Realtors, Nurses, Artists, Writers,
Insurance Agents, Engineers, Business
Managers, Teachers, Pastors and of
course Cosmetologist. A fabulous group
of entertainers, Shopping Centers,
Theater, beautiful scenery, parks, museums,
recreational area's. Tulsa has
everything a city needs to attract gay/
lesbian business. To attract gay business
development and tourism. Except, two
major factors, gay pride and organization!
Tulsa has the foundation for growth with
the GLBT Center, a GLBT Business
organization, we
have a Human
Rights Organization,
we have
GLBT religious
leaders and
community out
reach organizations.
Yes and
how much
support do they
receive £rpm the
over all gay
population. Most
of these nonprofit
organizations say they are struggling
to keep afloat. I asked one business
owner if he belonged to the Gay Business
Association, and he replied, "I didn't
know we had one." Another said he
belonged to the "Tulsa Rainbow Business
Organization" ar one time, but the group
decided to cease because there were only
ten active members.
In the last two months there have been
three gay owned business closing in Tulsa
ti1a~ I know of, maybe more. Could be
the bar market was overly saturated.
Niche clubs seem :o be doing well. That
is a good sign Tulsa has a diverse group of
people who have found a club they enjoy.
Persona]y .............. continued next page
Page 9
Photo: Night Club in the Brady District.
I prefer a nice plush piano bar with
entertainment, hunky bartenders and
good selection of exotic martini's. Fine
wine and food would make my day! I
might rent a booth by the month. If
anyone out there would consider opening
such a place, let me know and I
promise to be your best customer.
As an Oklahoma native, I've watched
the State grow in positive attitude
toward her GLBT citizens. Tolerance
for some, but for the most part the
attitude has changed from gay
bashing and hatred to live and let
live. Just because we can't legally
ma.tty in Oklahoma is no excuse to
sit back and grow stagnant, or move
to Massachusetts.
Star Media, Ltd., the publisher of this
magazine is so confident in the
future of Tulsa's GLBT community,
we are now publishing the STAR
here in Tulsa and will continue to
cover and distribute to the Four
State Region of Arkansas, Missouri,
Kansas and Oklahoma. People
we've talked with, all agree that a
home based news publication is an
essential part of every growing
community. We are excited and
look foiward to becoming a part of
Tulsa's future. Our growth has been
gradual, but strong. This issue is our
largest ever, with 40 pages. Our distribution
has grown from 1000 to 5000 in just
over a year. We distribute free of charge
and depend on advertising from the
GLBT and allied business community for
our existence. Without it we could
Clothing & Gift Shop in the Cherry Street
Image, convenience, quality products and not survive. The response has been
service are key to any successful business. tremendous with the February issue
Offer the GLBT community something having a record number of advertisers.
they want and don't have, let them know We may not be the largest paper in the
you have it and treat them with respect state, but we are gaining ground thanks to
and they will support you. a very supportive Oklahoma community
and the 4 states region.
TIJLSA, "The Queen City of the
Southwest". Possibilities abound, the
potential is here. The Brady District,
Cherry Street, East Village, Mid Town
area's are prime locations to consider for
offices, shops, clubs or restaurants. We
just have to make it happen by becoming
more united in the efforts to serve the
community and develope a strong, well
organized entity dedicated to the success
of all.
"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
Editor in Chief
r n • · t t v • , n I g; h t '.o
716 w. syc~re Fay~tttville, AR
479-571-1300 . www.atud•oZ16,ncl
OPEN wed-sun 9pm - 2am
WEDNJ!SDAYS: Cruisn' for the Hook-up on HUMP-DAY! Happy
Hour $5, Beer Bu.t .
~PAYS:. Kataoke till' 12 then it's the Plastic Thureday Dan1re
· . get WU,D with DJ jUX" & 1he Best Mu of
Hipl,Jop. Tech & YOUR .requests all night long!
SA'(UJU)A;YS: it's th~ 716 EXT.REME DANCE PAR'I'Y with OJ
. "BRANDON J"'
SUNDAYS: The Queens of NW.A @ 11:30 Evety Sunday & DJ "IRJSH"
Spinning all night Jong!!
Club •,Rex to· Host· Turna . . 1i1·,, ·,,a,
Fund raiser:
Press Release
January 21, 2005
OKLAHOMA CITY. A fundraiaer to
benefit the. Winds Houa~ will he held
' Saturday, February 26, 2005, at 10:30
p.m., •t Club Rox inside the Hollywood
Hotel & Suites in Oklahoma City.
This will be our second annual fuodra,iscr
for the Winds· House. The featured event
will be a Turnabout Show. in which our
club aiid test:aurant employees will be
perfotmi,ng and contributing their tip11 to
the Winds H~1,1se.
A great tum.out is expected again this
yeat'md we hope to surpass the amount
collecttd at last years event.
MARDI GRAS DAY, . ' . . AKA
FAT TUESDAY
/
Every year, N~ .Q.dlan; shuts down
and throws the· p~ of parties.
Everywhere else · • it's just
another Tuesday Orleana
it's Mardi Gras! Mardi Gas is more than
a single day of ceie\,rition. It's a stiu:c of
mind.
Mardi Gas teflects and defines . the
cultural traditions of Nevi Odcan11. Most
"outsiders" assume ~ Gras takes
place on a single day; this .is true. Matdi
Gms is French fui Fat Tuesday. Some
time ago, the tradition a
fatted ctlf on
beginning of . . . . fast.
Thu,, the c~g of the pb.raae,,::11at
Tuesday.'' ·,·
Page 11
2902 E. 20th Street, Joplin Missouri·
Sydney New .Mardi Gras * and Gay Games® Chicago ~
Announce International
Partnership
21 January 2005
U~ I Sydney, .A.u,tralia -- The
Games and the New Sydney
Gay and Lesbian Matdi ~ras t~ay
announced a multi-yeat mtemauonal
partnership designed to s~ngthen two
of the world's largen and most beloved
in~miriooal gay and lesbian events.
In a joint announcoment &om Chicago,
h<>St of Gav Gables VIJ,. and Sydney •. site
of the world's largett LGBT Mardi Gras
festival, the new pattnecship bro~dcn,
the worldwide visibility of both ~eots.
1Utching two of the world's tnost
vibrant and gay and lesbian-friendly
cities, the new .rdationship will also '
enhance tourism and batin,~?Y between
the LGBT communities in the USA and
Australia. , , , , . continued pagc-29
P,age12
,, ', , ,:,
'48l5 S<>uth. Harvard Ave., Suite 424
,'I)tlsa, OK 74135-:3068
Phone: 8) 747,.5466
Email: .; byCP A@sbcglobai.net
j
1
Office Licensed in Missouri,
Arkansas, Illinois &
Colorado
www.shelterinsurance.com
This Is Shelter Country.
Here in our community you will
find Shelter Agent Greg Tainter.
We're proud to serve this community
and our customers. Call today
and ask about our services.
Life-Worker's Comp.-Home-Auto-Farm-Business
Greg W. Tainter, LUTCF
Post Office Box 339
Eureka, Missouri 63025
Tel: (636) 938-5500
Fax:(636)938-3539
gtainter@shelterinsurance.com
11JISA ROUGB.RIDERS'
Valeatme's Club~ ·
••*Mllle.lJtlllCD'Slll . ._.
EndUp .. Club, Sat.., F~ -~
4th&. Memorlal,..~
~Opm-?!~
Drawings For Pri7.es!!
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Page 15
"Alternatives
to the bar scene"
Some of us really are not all that into
the gay bar scene. Just because your gay
does not necessarily mean you HA VE to
go to gay bars. First of all I really have
never particularly liked the idea of going
to a dark bar to find someone. It is rather
a creepy feeling. First you have to put up
with all the smoke. And then after you
get home you have to wash or have
everything dry-cleaned. It just isn't
worth it. Oh yea, smokers have their
rights? Well, what about us nonsmokers?
We should be able to go
somewhere and not HA VE to have that
ciguette smell and smoke everywhere.
But aside from smoking the bar scene
still does very little for me. I prefer to do
my drinking with friends in my own
apartment or at parties.
friendlyand has lots of straight
customers.
The MCC Church in town is another
place where I have found a lot of friends.
Seems like a lot of gay men attend the
MCC Church with the hopes of finding
someone to share their life "W-ith. I even
attended a meeting of PFLAG (Parents
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) even
thou I am not a parent of a gay person
and I met some wonderful guys there.
I looked in the last issue of the
Ozarks Star and saw a listing for different
otgllnizations in the area and have
already checked some of them out. You
just have to be forward and talk to
people I guess. I have met guys at the
supermarket, at the malls while shopping
and even when I walk my dog in the
park. I am really not against bars but I
am just saying that the bar scene does not
rule my life. I have plenty of interests
being gay without the bar scene.
I love the Ozarks Star in that it tells
us what is going on in the community
besides the bar scene. Thanks Ozarks
Sou: for being here.
Quotable Quotes
"I know that many of you wanted to see
my husband and some of you had
questions out there. Is he hot? Yeah. Is
he hung? Yeah. Is he [she waved her
hand to suggest bisexual]? Not unless
you can give a better (she mimicked
eating a banana) than me."
Lucky for me I live in a large city and
they have lots of activities going on all
the time. The gay/lesbian community
center is always having entertaining
events going on. I have met a lot of other
gays at dinner parties. My mature friends - Kimberly Guilfoyle Newsom, filling
have their Prime Timers organization in for her husband, San Francisco
and they are always having events. Mayor Gavin Newsom, addressing a
In Oklahoma City I usually stay at fundraiser for New York's gay Empire
State Pride Agenda, Oct. 21.
the Habana Inn and you r----------------------can
always meet a lot of
people out at the pool
area. I have driven to
Kansas City and they
have two gay owned Bed
and Breakfast Inns there.
I have driven down
to Eureka Springs,
Arkansas where they say
almost everyone in town
is gay. But the gay
owned bar is only gay
<Boutique
Page 16
Cable TV Gives Birth
to Slew of New Gay
Programming
Written By Ross von Metzke
On the forthcoming Logo channel.
conceived by figureheads at MTV ~nd
VH-1, programs will range from a series
on coming out experiences produced by
Cher and Chastity Bono to realitv
series on gay cops and gav dream ,
weddings. ,
On cable TV's here!, a gav parenting
series, a holiday drama about, a
teenager's two gay dads and numerous
gay themed films acquisitioned from
film studios across the world round out
the roster of programming.
~~ on the Palm Springs based Q
Televmon, a daily gay talk show and
the gay soap opera Paradise Falls play
mostly to audiences in Southern
California and Manhattan.
For years, mainstream cable
networks like HBO and Showtime have
enticed gay viewers with shows like Six
Feet Under, Oz, The L Word and Queer
as Folk - p~ograms featuring gay
characters without succumbing to the
standards and occasional censorship of
network TV.
No~, chan~els geared toward gay
and _lesbian audiences specifically are
making a play for financial success. Gav
TV has officiallv arrived ,
Cablevision, Systems ·Corp.
a1:1~ounced yesterday that it is offering
dtgi.tal customers monthly subscriptions
Dish _Network offers three-hour payper-
view blocks of the channel for
S3.99.
Regent Entertainment co-founders Paul
Colichman :md Stephen Jarchow founded
here! in August of 2003 and the service
is now available in one form or another
in more than 30 million cable and
satellite TV homes nationwide. It got a
nearly two year head start on Logo
which Viacom Inc. plans to launch '
s~metime this year as a digital channel
with wider distribution.
_"They all want to serve the gay and
lesbian community and they want to
do it in a way that makes money "
:olichman col~ !'lewsday on Tu~sday.
And because it ts a premium service.
anyone who doesn't want gay and -
lesbian programming doesn't have to
get it."
Colichman said here! claimed $15
million in revenue for the first vear and
has pl_a~s to spend $50 million this year
on o_r1gtnal f'.rogramming and acquiring
syndicatton nghts to series and films.
Cablevision's nationwide satellite
se:vice called _v oom carries its own gayoriented
movie channel - DivineHD. A
company spokeswoman declined to say
whether Cablevision will carry Logo
which Viacom had planned to launch
next month but has not said whether
that is still the plan.
Links:
www.heretv.com
www.logo-tv.com
www.qtelevision.com
to 30 hours of on-demand programming
from here! for $6.95. r:;:::::--------------------
Time Warner
Cable in New York
City, Los Angeles,
Boston, Milwaukee
and San Antonio
began carrying here!
late last year as nonsubscription
video-on~
emand for $3.95 per
three-hour viewing.
DirecTV recently
began offering here! as
a monthiy add-on for
$9.99. And EchoStar's
Rodney Burgamy
405.840.2106
Joe Brennan
www.c21-goldcastle.com
Page 17 Ozarks Star
New Shakespeare Adaption
'The Merchant of Venice'
Rings with Gay Undertones
By Ross von Metzke
Provided by Gay Link Content .
Just weeks after American audiences
historians and church groups gave OHv'er
Stone's Alexander adaptation a big thumbs
down over the bi-sexual references,
another of history's beloved treasures is
getting the gay treatment.
Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is
getting a lot of heat for a scene in which
two male characters, Bassanio (Joseph
Fiennes) and Antonio Geremy Irons), head
up to Antonio's bedroom to discuss an
issue involving a deb~. Just as Bassanio is
leaving, he piancs one on Antonio - and
from the look of things, it's more
than just a friendly peck.
Director Mlchael Radford's
version of the classic story pushes a
lot of buttons and asks a number of
questions, which is whv scar Fiennes
said, he thrives while ~~rking with
the Bard's words.
''The great thing about
Sμakespeare and why he's so difficult
to pin down is his ambiguity," actor
Joseph Fiennes told Reuters. "He's
not saying they're gay or thev're
straight, he's leaving it up to his
actors ... I feel there has to be a great
love between the two characters ...
there's great .attraction. I don't think
they have slept together, but that's
for the audience to decide."
Co-star Jeremy Irons said tl1e kiss
doesn't say so much about the
character's sexualitv as it does about
the time period. ,
"In Shakespeare's time male
platonic iove was the highest form of
love," he said. "Male platonic
affection was regarded as a higher
form of love to male-female, even
husband and wife."
While promoting the film in New
York recently, Radford said he fe~t it
was important to emphasize
Antonio's love for Bassanio because
of the play's final act. in which
Bassanio's feelings for Portia and
Antonio are tested.
Page 18
Illinois Bans Anti-Gay
and Anti Transgender
Discrimination
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Praises Equality lllinois for Its Tireless
Work
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 12. Capping an
eleven year effort led by Equality Illinois,
the, ;Illinois House of Representatives
today passed a bill banning
discrimination against lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender persons. The
bill was first .introduced over thirty years
ago in 1974. When signed into law by
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, a
supporter of the measure, Illinois will
become the 15th state to protect gay
people from discrimination, and the 5th
state to protect transgender persons. The
bill cleared the State Senate yesterday by
a vote of 30-27 and the State House today
by a vote 65-51.
"We salute Equality Illinois and its
tireless leader, Rick Garcia, for today's
extraordinary achievement," said Matt
Foreman, Executive Director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"This win again shows that dogged work
by state and local leaders and activists can
surmount enormous odds- and is real
salve to a community still hurting from
the results of November 2."
A non-discrimination bill first passed
the House in 1993, also because of the
work of Equality Illinois.
The law will add "sexual orientation"
to the state's existing nondiscriminati·on
statute which already bans discrimination
in employment, housing, public
accommodations or credit on the basis of
race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age,
disability, marital status and milit~ry
status. The definition of "sexual
orientation" includes provisions to
specifically cover transgender persons. A
non-discrimination biil first passed the
state House in 1993,
"The passage of this bill is a major
advancement for transgender people,
both in Illinois and countrywide,"
continued Foreman. "Once again, a state
has proven that when we dare to dream
to protect our entire LGBT community
with one bill- to cover everyone, legislators
respond. The activists in Illinois have done
a tremendous job." ·
Illinois becorp.es the fifth state to pass
explicit transgender-inclusive language in
its discrimination law, joining California,
Minnesota, New Mexico, and Rhode
Island. In addition, 72 cities and counties
have transgendet-inclusive nondiscrimination
laws on the books. With
the addition of Illinois, 27% of the U.S.
population now lives in a jurisdiction
with transgender discrimination
prnte~tion. Eight states have enacted
transgender-inclusive hate crime laws.
In addition ten states ban anti-gay
discrimination - Wisconsin, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and Hawaii, New Jersey,
Vermont, New Hampshire, Nevada,
Maryland and New York.
FREE HIV
TESTING,NO
NEEDLFS!
SPIRIT OF CHRIST
MCC SPONSORS
2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4711
Joplin; Mo 64803
In conjunction with AIDS Project of the ·
Ozarks, MCC Joplin offers free HIV
testing the last Sunday of each month
between 5PM and 6PM. For your
convenience you can also call 206-6179 for
an appointment. We 1,1se the Ora-sure
method which does nor require the use of
needles and we offer complete
confidentiality. You may also request
Booklets on AIDS for People of Faith
through the PO Box listed above.
Spirit of Christ MCC Joplin
"Serving A Healthier Comm,mity"'
Page 19
NSD Statement on
Claude Allen White
House Appointment
January 06, 2005
Washington, DC - Today, the National
Stonewall Democrats (NSD) issued a
statement on President Bush's
appointment of Claude Allen as White
House Domestic Policy Advisor.
"The architect of domestic policy for
the White House should be an advocate
for every American family," said Dave
Noble, NSD Executive Director.
"Claude Allen has advanced ideological
extremes in family policy that have
endangered the health of gay youth. His
record indicates that he would prompt
the White House to promote anti-gay
policy and attitude within the
administration. As an organization, we
are troubled by this appointment."
Allen was previously nominated by
President Bush for a seat on the 4th
Circuit U.S. Appeals court, but had
failed to receive Senate confirmation.
Allen is a staunch conservative and
abstinence activist. He has served the
Bush Administration as Deputy
Secretary of Health and Human
Services, where he has been described as
the administration's key advocate for
abstinence-only programs.
Claude A. Allen worked as an aide to
former Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC). In
1984, while serving
as press secretary
chapters across the nation. NSD is
committed to working through the
Democratic Party co advance the rights
of all people regardless of sexual
orientation or gender identity.
www.stonewalldemocrats.org
for the Helms'
senate campaign,
Allen accused
Helms' Democratic
opponent as having
ties "with the
Diversity 19
VA LENTINE' S
,.Jf41','?,,.
queers."
National Stonewall
Democrats is the
only national
organization of gay,
lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender
nts
We Do It Different!
Aprl_l 1 ® 2
SPRING!
Diversity Weekend
BOTH DA#Cn ON FRI & SATI
for GLBTis/PPLAGs 1COUNTRY WESTERN'
in Eureka Sprlafs. Arltaua, :caoo'!oTEGMP, oo RAc , Rt rt,
FAU. & SPRING Di'lerslty Weekends, ,. .,. ay I on "
VALENTINE'S, Conawts and other Events DlveNJlty BEARS I
CONTEST & BBQ LUNCH
www.DiversityPride.com
Democrats, with more than 90 local
The Point Foundation
A Scholarship Lifeline For GLBT Students
Scholarship opportunities for.
exceptional students, ..-gardless of
their ~exual orientation or gender
identity; ·
The Point Foundation is the first and only
nationwide LGBT scholarship·.
organization that focuses exclusively on
granting assistance to. undergraduate,
graduate and post7graduate students of
distinction. Point Scholars are chosen for
their demonstrated leadership, scholastic
achievement, extracurricular activities,
involvement in the LGBT community and
financial or emotional need.
The most recent scholarship awarde.d was
announced on January 12, 20Q5. An
academic honorarium was .awarded to
James· Barnett, the. 18-year:-old: n9n9t'. .
student who was expelled in December
from Trinity Christian Academy 'in
Addison, Texas, in the greatcf·Dallas
mcttopo tan are . . . '. discovered Barnett W!1S · gay and
hosting My-Boi.com, a supportive Web site tor GLBT youths, school .oftidals
reportedly outed him to .his parents, who agteed to withdraw him fro'!Jf:thc academy
at the school's request, Barnett said. His parents then threatened to witliliold
financial support for colle~ in the fall, Barnett added, if he did not agree to go to a
college in Texas. Barnett hopes to attend school out of state. ·
The amount of the Point Foundation award will be determined after a financial
review in the spring, the foundation said fa a press release. 'We ~e·plea.sed to.present
this honor.aiium to James, an outstanding student turned away s~ply because of· his
sexual orientation," Vance Lancaster, executive director of the Poihl: Foundation,
said in the written statement. "This is a sadly common and vei:y real example of why
Point Foundation scholarships are necessary." .
The honorarium is ·separate from the Point Foundation's._an'nu,aI grams to GI.BT
scholars, which will be determined in April or May for the 2005.:2006 school year.
Applications are due March 1. · ·
"The Point Foundation is honored to. be in the position to bring this support to
James," Lancaster said. "As the Point Foundation grows, we hope to create a world
where students are not marginalized or turned away because of their sexual ·
orientation or gender identity--ever."
The application process is open to ill LGBT students nationwide regardless of levci
of education.
Application Period S01.rtS January 1, 2005
All applications must be received by March 1, 2005.
All additional materials must be received by March 15, 2005.
A decision will be made by May 1, 2005.
You can apply on-line at ( www.thcpointfoundation.org/apply.html)
Page 23
I Dee
A New Year and a New
Beginning
Well, first of all I want to say that I
am a PROUD gay man. It is just that
simple! I love my life and I am in it for
the long haul. I love living in the
Midwest and enjoy the changing of the
seasons. But, I am getting to the point
where things are going to have to change
in my gay world. I am tired of being the
scapegoat for all the stupid religious right
wing nuts, the Republican politicians and
the do-gooders of America. I own a
home, pay property taxes on it and have
a good job. Most of the people that I
work with know that I am gay and
understand that I was born that way. My
neighbors are very nice and seem to like
me as a neighbor. I keep my house in
good order and of course my lawn and
patio is the best kept on the block. But
this is 2005 and things has just GOT TO
CHANGE in my gay world. I am not
going .to tolerate being a second class
citizen anymore. I just won't do it! NO,
no and NOi
So, what am I going to do about it? First
off I am NEVER again going to hide in
the closet. I am NEVER again going to
tell someone that I have a girlfriend. I am
NEVER again going to be ashamed when
I walk into a store with my partner as we
are buying furniture or anything else. I
am NEVER again going to be
intimidated by any sales clerk or anyone
when I am shopping. When we check
into a motel or hotel I will ask for one
bed for both of us and think nothing
about it. I am a PROUD gay man and
the rest of America will just have to get
used to it.
I have met a few gay men who live in
Europe and they all are amazed when
coming to the United States how
intolerant so many Americans are to gays
and lesbians here. They think of America
as a land of guns and of right wing
religious nuts. They think that small
towns means small minds and I am
beginning to think that they are right. I
would love to live in a small town here
in the Midwest however I have just
learned that it is much easier foi: gay
people to live in larger cities.
What kind of America do we live in
when the State legislatures pay more
attention to gay civil unions than they
do to educating the children of America.
What right in America does some right
wing religious nut have to try to force
their religion down the throats of other
people. One's religious beliefs should be
kept to them.
Another thing I am going to do this is
year is NOT put up with bad or inferior
service ANYWHERE. You go into a
store to purchase something and the
clerk is on their cell phone talking to a
friend and trying to ring you up at the
same time or your waitperson is having a
bad day and wants you to feel sorry for
them or you walk into a bar and the
bartender is busy talking to his regular
customers and doesn't have time to get
you a drink. Nope, I am not going to
cake it any more. I am sick and tired of
having to deal with this, not only in the
straight community but in the gay
community as well. I love to hear of a
gay business that has gone out of
business and say that the gay community
.doesn't support them. Ha! If they gave
good service and appreciated their
customers they would have lots of
business. Just because a business is gay
owned that is not a sufficient reason to
give them your business unless they do
give good service.
So things are changing for me this year. I
am going to be much happier and I have
to bitch a little more to get good service
and what I deserve then I will. It is just
that simple!
Page24
Paula Martirlac has
b_ec;ri. writing for the gay and
lesbian press for more than 20
years. She served for three years as
the co-chair of the board of
directors of New York City's
Lesbian, ·Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Community Center,
where she founded a
Lesbian Notions
by Paula Martinac
FEBRUARY 2005
On The
Move
The week before George W. Bush's second
inauguration, 22 national gay-rights
organizations issued a unity statement, putting
forth in clear and almost stirring prose their
continuing commitment to working for a wide
range of issues to achieve full equality for
LGBT people. One of the things that struck me
about the joint statement was its dual definition
of "movement'' - first, as ''ao organized effort to
promote or attain an end," but also as simply
"the act of' moving." (YOU can read the full text
at www.lambdalegal.org and the websites of
other national groups.)
That second definition is profound, but it's
one we often forget. Indeed, it can be hard for
groundbreaking reading series individual gay people - esp_ecially those living in
called "In Our Own Write." ' hostile states - to see that we're in "the act of
______________ __,, moving" toward the attainment of'civil rights.
Many o( us are? in fact, &cirig brutal attacks from some. of the same people who
helped Bush. Wlll four more years in office. The joint st:u:ement from· otir national
l~ders, then, caμ help us stop and remember that even though the progress of civil
rights is maddeningly erratic, it is still progress.
. WJ;iat'~ con~sing, I thln,k, is that the word "movement" implies going. forward in a
linear fashion, like when you get in your car to go from point A to point B. But.
when rou think about it, driving is often not that direct. You may start off,malcing
great nme, but the~ th_ere might be traffic, an: accid~nt, or bad weat:her; yoμ: might get
a flat; or maybe you hit a detour for roadwork, which sends you off in another
direction or even in a circle. Ultimately, you get to poiot'B", but it took a lot longer'
than you hoped. · · ·
Recent even~ in g:iy politics look a lot like that driving metaphor. In the space of
11 short months tn 2003 and 2004, we saw two amazing triumphs: the U.S. Supreme
Court struck. do~n the remaining state sodomy laws, and same-sex couples began
le~y n:iarrymg 10_ Massachus<:tts. B_ut not long after, 4,000 lesbian and gay couples in
Califorrua had their legal marrtages annulled by the state. And in a political slam
dunk, 11 state anti-p,y-marriage amendments passed in a single day. As 2005 dawned,
however, we saw victory again: Illinois joined the list of states .with
antidiscrimination laws.
This is "movement''? Bumpy times like these could really throw our community
off-balance if we didn't keep the bigger picture in view - that vie are in the business of
fighting for nothing les~ than equality, like so many other groups (blacks, women)
before us have been dotng for decades, even centuries. And unfair as it may seem, the
road to _equality is:°'~ sI?~oth; neither blacks nor women: are anywhere nearing the
completion of their mdividual struggles for full rights.
Consider a little gay history. The fight against sodomy laws, for example, was a
long struggle. We all know about Michael Hardwick's challenge to Georgia's law in
~e eatly 1?80s, and the resulting antigay Supreme Court decision in 1986. But by the
um5 th~ high court heard _Bowers v. Hardwick_, legal analysts had alreadr, been
tuiilg attn at state sodomy laws for decades, witnessing the first victory over this
heinous legi~lation in Illino~s in 1961. And it had taken another agonizing eight years
for a seconct state, Connecticut, to follow suit. ..... continued nex page.
Page 25
lo addition, most of us are familiar
with the marriage-equality movement
that burst into public consciousness in
Hawaii in the early '90s and brought us
civil unions in Vermont and ultimately
the marriage victory in Massachusetts.
But the first same-sex couple to apply for
a state marriage license did so in
Minnesota back in 1970, when a lot of
people in our community weren't even
born and no anti-gay-marriage laws
existed. That couple is still in the news,
too: earlier this month, Jack Baker and
Michael McConnell sued to have their
marriage, which was performed by a
Methodist minister in the Twin Cities
recognized by the Internal Revenue '
Service. (Ibeir case, by the way, was
thrown out.)
History also teaches us that
"movement'' doesn't mean that evervone
walks together in lockstep. Both the·
black and feminist movements witnessed
considerable infighting over issues and
tactics. And the gay movement is no
different - within a day of the release of
the "unity" statement; some LGBT
activists rushed to criticize the major gay
organizations for putting marriage
equality so far down on its lists of goals,
which they said could be viewed as
retreating from the issue under pressure
from the far right. One Illinois activist
dismissed the national gay groups as
basically inconsequential and "out of
touch."
But while we're squabbling among
ourselves, let's remember that
"movement" may involve taking a step
forward, a couple back, and another off
to the side before we are able to go
forward again.
Quotable Quotes
"We need to educate the younger
generation of gay men because many
think that living with HIV is a real
doddle. They don't realize that there's
no cure; it's treatment for life and the
meds can have horrible side effects."
- Gay actor Rupert Everett to the
British AIDS magazine Positive Nation,
November issue.
HRC RENEWS CALL FOR
REPEAL OF 'DON'T ASK,
DON'T TELL,' AS PENTAGON
PONDERS TROOP SHORTAGE
'Any policy that keeps patriotic
Americans from serving during
wartime is bad for the nation,' said
HRC Political Director \"\'innie
Stachelberg.
Press Release:
Friday,Jan. 7, 2005
WASHINGTON-The Human Rights
Campaign today :renewed its call to repeal
the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
policy, in light of a report in today's
Washington Post stating that Army
officials are considering changing
Pentagon policy to allow for longer and
more frequent call-ups of some reservists
to meet the demands of conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
"Any policy that keeps patriotic
Americans from serving during wartime is
bad for the nation," said HRC Political
Director Winnie Stachelberg. "'Don't Ask,
Don't Tell' is deeply hurtful to gay and
lesbian service members and their families
and is costing the nation valuable service '
members."
According to the Servicemembers Legal
Defense Network, more than 9,000 service
members have been discharged since 1993
under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy at a
cost of more than a quarter billion dollars to
U.S. taxpayers.
According to the Washington Post story, a
temporary increase of 30,000 troops in activeduty
ranks that was authorized last vear will
probably need to be made permane~t.
"In addition ro the men and women who
have already been discharged, this policy is a
deterrent to countless other gay and lesbian
Americans who cannot join the military for
fear of discrimination," said Stachelberg.
"Allowing aii Americans to serve openly and
honestly is good for the country. It's common
sense."
The Human Rights Campaign is the i.t.rgest national
ksbian, gay, bisex11at and rransgtnder politicai
organization with members throughout the country. It
effectively lobbies Congress, pr<roi<k5 campaign
support ,md educates tbe public to ensure that LGBT
Amtricans can bt open, honest and safl! at home, at
u;ork and in the community.
Page26 Ask Uncle Mikey
Advice Column!
February 2005
Hello Kittens, Uncle here bringing another
week of advice on life and love, and all matters
between. Uncle smells love in the air this
Februarv Kittens. Valentine's Day will soon be
here. It 'is the first time in youth, which we feel
the excitement of being admired by another.
Getting those little cards and candy ~e~s, be~ns
our young journey for love. W ouldn t 1t be ~ce
kittens to be able to have a heart box as we did
when we were kids? Watch it fill up with those
cute little cards. Uncle gets so sentimental during
the holiday celebrating his favorite past time, the L---------------' pursuit of love. So, grab your valentine and
sn e while we see what the mailbag has brought us this week.
Mikey, . ,
I have this problem. I am attracted to guys in their 20's up to their l~te 30 s. I a short,
slim guy who is 60 and dresses casually young. The only guys that hit on me are older
than 50 or are married. I'm looking far a LTR. I'm not a bottom and guys tend to
think I am due to my small stature. Can you offer any advice ?n how_ to attra~t the
younger guys to me? I want them to want me for who I am. I m not Into paymg a
guy to pretend to love me.
Help
Dearest Help, . ,
Kitten, if it is a LTR you seek, first and foremost, you must realize that you cant tag
fate or the goddess of love with such conditions. You ~ust ?pen yo~ heart t<;> ~; so
that you do not miss the love, fate might offer. Guys 10 the~ twenttes and thirties,
well, who is not attracted. It is wild and untamed youth, which may be
overshadowing your sight here. The male form ca°: do that. As_ for your stature, well
great things come in small packages. There is nothing wrong with ?1at, show ?1em
when it is time just what you are made of. Thirdly paying a guy will never brmg you
love so don't even allow vourself to entertain such notions. If they do not see the
hidden treasure that you ~re, than allow them to move on. Confidence in_ yourself
sounds like a much need tool here. Do not allow age to bring fear and sel!. doubt. Age
is nothing more than a state of mind. Here is wishing you many successes 10 loves
endeavors during this the season of the hunt.
Reme~ber Kittens, with age comes benefits, and I don't m~ax_i blue_ cross. I mean
experience, and method. Youth as I said is wild and untamed, 1t 1s durmg these years
that we find ourselves, and become the treasure we are now._ Give me a. man rl:at has
perfected his craft any day to someone who will surely ~e all over me like a wild
tornado, well ok, maybe a twister now and than, but still remember the worth of
experience.
Dear Uncle, . .al
I met a woman a week ago and can think of nothing else. ~ o1:1y met he~ t~ a so~
situation and do not know if she is seeing anyone or even tf sne woul~ oe 10tcr~s,cd. I
have a hard rime telling people how I feel, and making. the first move ts something
that I rarely do. So, how can I let her know that I am mtercstcd before someone else
comes along, if she is free in the first place?
Wanting in the West
Page27
MAIN STREET, JOPLIN, MISSOURI
(41 7) 627-9035
Dear wanting,
Kitten, you arc just a stalker in the
making darling. Shy is so out, in this
world of fast love. You must grab what
you want, before someone else does.
Work it, attitude women. What kind of
lesbian arc you? I have never seen a shy
lesbian before. I think that is an
oxymoron to say the least. You will
never get what you want like that, you
will be left to sit in the back of the bus
alone. There are many predators of love
out there, it is time for you to present.
Tell this female you are smitten with,
that vou would like to take her to the
truck rally or whatever it is you lesbians
do. Allow things to flow from there. If
there is interest, you will get your
moment to make vour move. The smell
of gas and oil in the air, the roar of the
trucks, love can't be far behind. You will
live life full of, what if, unless you get
strong and show some self-confidence.
Remember Kittens, it will be the one
with the confidence, which will be the
winner of the spoils. You must not allow
society to dictate rules of love and self
worth. Everybody has his or her merit; it
is just a matter of showing that to the
world at large. Set new rules, and play
the game the best you can. You will be
glad you did.
Well, that is about all the rime I have this
week Kittens. Herc is wishing you all
well in your game of love, this valentine
season. Uncle has a special Valentine this
year. His name is D, and he has no idea
of the love fest awaiting him. Until we
meet, again remember,
It is the queer with the positive mind,
which will get their valentine Smooches
Uncle Mikey and Tiddles too.
Unck Miuv is II ch,i,racru from FrttLmce writer
Michiud Hi;zrrum. Mich,id btlS beci writing/or tm
ye,m. Utilizing his stNd.m, ,i,nd life experience to help
others in his community, thro11gh h11mor ,i,nd sound
II.Wice. Michul ,i,pp/ied bis su«Jy of psychology ,i,nd
cruti'C>e fllriting, dS f!Jeil his extensiw background in
menu/ be,iltb Direct c.ire to bring ,i, neTD style ,i,nd
,q,pro.teb to helping others. Mich,i,d's othn- 'll!orks can
be fliev>ed ,i,t -.g,rylinkcontent.com.
Page 28
Deep Inside
Hollywood
by:Romeo San
Vicente
FEBRUARY 2005
Jonathan llliys Meyers Goes
fromVelvet __ to ~Elvis_
He was a bisexual David Bowi.e-csque
creature in Todd Haynes' _Velvet
Goldmine_, and now Jonathan Rhys Meyers
will get his chance to be an Elvis
impersonator. The Irish actor, who's also costarred
in crowd-pleasers such as _Bend It
Like Beckham_ and flops like _Alexander_,
has started shooting the 1V miniseries
_Elvis_ in New Orleans with a cast that
includes Camryn Manheim as Presley's
beloved mother Gladys, Randy Quaid as Col.
Tom Parker, and Rose McGowan as AnnMargret.
Gay production duo Robert
Greenblatt and David Janollari (_Six Feet
Under_) are on board to run the project, one
that saw nearly 500 would-be Kings audition
before the pouty-lipped U.K. import was
chosen. And given Rhys Meyers' lithe frame,
Romeo assumes the series will cover more of
Presley's hip-swiveling years and less of his
pantsuit-and-giant-gold-belt era. But then
again, they can do a lot with prosthetic
makeup these days.
Hannigan's Back _In the Game Devoted
lesbian _Buffy_-heads - among whom Romeo
counts himself an honorary member - have
been waiting for Alyson Hannigan's return to
1V for some time now. And for a while
reports were surfacing that the former
Willow would have her own sitcom,
a la Mary Tyler Moore. Now she does. Sort
of. The actor has joined the cast of ABC's
midseason sitcom _In the Game_, which stars
Jennifer Love Hewitt as the CEO of an
ESPN-like cable sports network. Hannigan
will play Hewitt's childhood best friend, who
quits law school to become her pal's assistant.
_Married with Children_ star Ed O'Neill
takes on the role of Hewitt's father, a
_Monday Night Football_ .producer who
goes to work with his daughter. Meanwhile,
Hannigan won't merely be playing Rhoda to
Hewitt's Mary - producers are stressing the
fact that she'll have storylines of her own.
_Now_ Romeo's game.
Cunningham Sells His _Specimen_
Ghosts? Terrorists? Aliens? Has _The Hours_
novelist· Michael Cunningham been tiling
lessons from Stephen King? Readers will find
out in May when the Pulitzer Prize winner's
new book, _Specimen Days_, bits bookstore
shelves. A trilogy of stories, _Specimen_ will
feature an Industrial Revolution-era ghost
story, a modern thriller about a suicide
bomber, and a futuristic tale of
extraterrestrial refugees flooding into
Manhattlln. And the copnccting ,presiince . .in
these three titl~s? wilt Whitinari, o( course -
call him. this novel's Virginia Woolf.
Mean.while, i:Lonreaders will have a slightly
longer wait for the film version, the rights to
which have just been purchased,
prepublication, by gay producer Scott Rudin.
This collaboration is Rudin and '
Cunningham's second, following _The
Hours_; and if the movie ends up half as
strange and intriguing as the book, Romeo
will be first in line.
Tyra Banking on Talk Show She created
and hosts the gayest show on television
what else but UPN's _America's Next Top
Model_? But that was only the beginning for
Victoria's Secret model-turned-media-mogul
Tyra Banks. Now she wants to be inside your
home every weekday. Warner Bros.
Domestic 1V is excited about this prospect,
too, and has just started selling Banks' new
five-a-week syndicated talk show, the
eponymous _Tyra Banks Show_, to regional
outlets. So far Denver, San Diego, Spokane,
and Portland, Ore., are committed, and deals
are being negotiated with Disney, Viacom,
and Tribune Broadcasting. If all goes as
planned, Banks will soon go bead-to-head
with Oprah and Ellen. Hope she bas better
luck wiili ratings than Tony Danza. Or Jane
Pauiey. Or Tempest Bledsoe. Or Dr. Laura.
Or [fill in the blank].
Page 2.9
Gay Games from pg-11
"Syaney and Chicago are forever
destined to be entwined in the minds of
the LGBT community worldwide," said
Kevin Boyer, Gay Games VII Co ViceChair.
"Sydney hosted a glorious Gay
Games VI in 2002 and Chicago will host
Gay Games VII in 2006. We've watched
as Australians and Sydneysiders preregistered
for Gay Games VII in
extraordinary numbers - the highest
registration numbers per capita of any
nation on earth. The legacy of the Gay
Games is strong in Sydney and we
welcome the opportunity to partner
with New Mardi Gras to strengthen the
LGBT community there while we
prepare to welcome Aussies to Chicago
in 2006." ·
"Mardi Gras is bigger than Sydney," said
Mark Ort, New Mardi Gras Co-Chair.
"People from Beijing to Barcelona look
to it as a beacon for the fight for equal
rights, acceptance of the GLTBQ
community and a celebration of its rich
culture. The Gay Games and our friends
in C:hicago share these same values and
goals and is an ideal match for our
organization. Our new relationship with
the Gay Games in Chicago will further
enhance our reputation as an allinclusive,
international event ·while we
both work. toward equality for all."
Fellow Co~Chair Steph Sands added,
"Sydney and the <rty Games• movement
already enjoy close ties. We hope the
new alliance will help to bring more
. people to Sydney for a wte qf a queer
Aussie summer."
"Cliicago continues to be. a true partoer
to the international Federation of Gay
Games and. our pari:iciRani:s worldw;idc"
said Kathleen Webster, Federation· of
<rty Games co-president. "The spirit and
success of the 2002 <rty Games are a
testament to the Sydney community's
commitment to sport and to the
international LGBT community.
Chicago has shown itself to be a worthy
successor. Just as the lesbian and gay
sports and culture community will
forever remember the Sydney skyline
and harbour and their legacy to the Gay
Games movement, athletes and artists
now tum their attention to Chicago with
its outstanding sport traditions, unique
architecture and miles of lakefront parks.
We're thrilled with this new parmership
between Sydney and Chicago."
About New Mardi Gras
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is
an iconic event of international renown and
is Australia's largest a;;nual outdoor event
enjoyed by over one million national and
international visitors. In February 2005, New
Mardi Gras launches a four. week festival with
over 100. events, Launch, Fair Day, the world
famous Parade, and culminating wit.¾ a world
famous Party. Partners of New Mardi Gras
include the City of Sydney, the Sydney Star
Observer, plus a dozen other media and
business partners. For more information, visit
http:/ /www.mardigras.org.au.
About Gay Games VII
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival
will tiike place in Chicago 15-22 July 2006.
Over 12,000 athletes from more than 100
countries will compete in 30 sports ranging
from softball to dancesport, swimming to
tennis. The weeklong event will iriclude
band, cbeerleading and color guarq
performances, chorus, an ancillary arts
festival, arid a series of community-organized
socW events and parties. The opening
ceremony is scbednled for 15 July at Soldier
Field, the lakefront home stadium the
Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be 22
Juiy at Wrigley Fi'eld, the home of the
Chicago Cubs, lo~ated in the heart of
Chicago's largest LGBT neighborhood.
Games vfl is now
, or:g.
In ~ddition.to New Sydney Gay and
Le~biao Marcti ·Gras, other, earty global
. . . Games VII iriciude
. Media Group (Chicago,
USA) ~ plus more than 30 business
sponsors.
About The Gay Games
The Gay Games was conceived by Dr.
Tom Waddell, an Olympic decathlete,
and was first held in San Francisco in ·
continued on page-33
Page 32 .0ut of Torm from pa~ 7
offers a pair ,of rcptitible culinary ,
vacation optle>ns. In .the 9hapnpg ;village
of'. Ptj1;ncy, you· can ~e one; of De.?orah
Krasner!! V:emiont Cμlina,rv. Vacations,
whcr,c y6u' cnjo,y ,stx dayf! pf_ g
cduca . inside a bcaμtifiil .1 cptury
ham.· .. ,barn. contains fiye> cieg-antly
appointeil;gucst room;s plu{ a library
stocked with scads of cookbooks. A
typical w~ek includc11 myria.d classes, a
. . town of
· i~cal.fumcrs'
-~liyi;~il tastings.
as.:~·t:11 as 'ground
. &om Bradley .
, Ct.); the cost is
· but still •~ V ~onont
option ' s~y at :tlie·Inn . :which
hills itself as, ''V crfuont's Culinary
Rcsort.''fThc inn qffcrs a ~ry popular
Chef "lpn" Training pacbgc, whic4,
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with a tfucelcotjrse
br'cill'as~ ;ah~ a!Out;qf the Essex. campus
of the New England Ctillnary Institute.
~tes begin at .$245 per p~on, doubleoc:;
c:upancy. : .
· J~t ouqiide the hip collegiate city of
Charlottesv:iijc,. Va.;:'.tlic • ?4-i;pom Bpar' s
Head Inn ranks among the cushiest small
resorts itt th~ Mid-Atlantic region; '.
' '~,~tits spa, anq; golf course, the
'.s I Read
1
also . 9ffct~ cook!og. c;wses
arid vintner:~eekends 'that tii.ke.advantage ;f .. -,·::;•-: .· .· {~~; :,.:ng
1· nP deu s;;-..;..,...f p, · ·' · · tio.. n ·i t
the Boar,'s . . .. . ypu
arrive with !l; smill J?OSIJC qf fri~nds 'or
colleagu~s, as there's a s~~persbn ·
minimum for cooking, cla~scs;
A great chok~ in; San Ii'90-cisco is ,
T~te-Marie~s c;ook;ing Scl,tbo4 which
his been goipg s,tto~gJor:morc than 25
ytats. Witl,: Tante Marie's five;:day ..
pac~; -~ed. ,owatd va_,catiOt1(lrS, you
· · · classes from 10 a.ni. to 4
through _Fi;iday, but you
ahange yow; own accominodatioris and
tianst,ortation, abd you're on your own
s9me- evenings .and on the weekend. The
exceptions ue Monday, when you and
vour classmates are treated to dinner at
the trendy n:stauran.t.~izqu; Wednesday,
during which you embark on il picnic
outing to the'Napa and. ~onoma Wine
Country; and Friday, when the cours.e
concludes with a lively cocktail party.
Teacher Mary S. Risley emphasizes
classic Frerich. cooking utilizing regional
California ingredients and wines. The
series of .five courses costs $950. .
If you're keen ~n a more pastoral setting
for your cooking classes; book a culinary
vacation with · · a top-notch
cooking school. in . . Sonoma, the
heart of California's Wine Couri.try (it's
just an hour nqrth. of San Francisco and
45 minutes -easf of the g,ay Russian River
resort. town of 'Guernevill.e). • Ramekins is
not only a full cooking school with two
teaching kitchens, it's a six-room luxury
bed-and-breakfast just steps from the
town's chaoning p~a. Ramekins offers
an astounding rium;oer-o'f cooking classes,
and y9u can cU:ston:iμ:e your own agenda,
whether yoμ simply :Want to' take one
course over a weekcq.d visit. or you'd
like t6 J:ty ~evei::al c9tu:s~ pver 'a full
week. The cwses ~c taughtiby some of .
the oipst ac:ciaiQied chefs in the country,
inclu~ several c~oks who appear ·
regularly on the Food Network. Clas.ses
are offered a la carte, and generally cost
from about $40 to $80, althqugh
Rameldtis docs· offer midweek culinary
packages! that include accommodations.
Anorller option·is to c<Jnsider
traveling abroa~ with·fouy being one of
the most popular EuroP,ean •destiqati9ns
for cooktng-school vacation~. In Italy's
Tuscany, C_asa OJ'.?qilto;offers wecklong
courses in Italian and Mediterranean
. . The Italian courses focus
y_ on T~scatj c~ine, while the
·Mediterranean. coμrses offer an oyerview
or'Spani~h, F~ench, Motocc~, and
Italian coqkery~ (:~a Oi:nbuto, .a
charming rc9--#}e-roof villa -y;ith_ a: large
pool and a hot (tμb- &shioneq out .?f a
wine c~st a~cqmmodates gqestli .tp. three
· · · · incluqe
, and classes, ate
. ble-~ccupancr..
Vacations,. a;tour
Ot>eratorisFi:ciap2:fug in 1Pori=usa1 and
· Europe's most
ticultQ:ral tours.
One of the. most popular packages,
"Catalan; Cuisine, A Mediterranean
Morsel." 1begins in one of the wndd's
bo1;iest gay destinations, .BarcelotlA, and
continues on for a full week tht:oughout
stunning Catalonia. The ,tour ~olqdes
b~akfut daily , ..... con'i"lued n~t page
Page 33
plus four lunches and dinners, along with
three Catllliln cooking lessons, a visit to a wine
cellar in Girona, and tours of several key
historic sites and attractions, Rates run from
about $3,000per person,double-occupancy. It's
a truly memorable chance for an up-close look
at the dining and winemaking traditions
celebrated in a land famous for incredible food
and breathtaking scenery,
_Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor's
Gay Guide to the USA and nine
additional travel guides. He can be
reached care of this publication.
The Little Black Book
Boar's Head Inn (200 Ednam Dr.,
Charlottesville, VA, 434-296-2181 or
800-476-1988).
Casa Ombuto (Larniano 21, 52014
Poppi, Italy, 31-35-531-0030,
www .italiancookerycourse.com),
Deborah Krasner's Vermont Culinary
Vacations (192 Taylor Rd., Putney, VT,
802-387-6610,
www.deborahkrasnersvermont.com).
EuroAdventures Vacations (Velazquez
Moreno 9, 4th floor, office 409, Vigo,
Ponteverda, Galicia, 36201 Spain, 34-986-
22-1399, www.euroadventures.net).
Inn at &sex (JO Essex.Way, Essex, VT,
802-878~ 1100 or 800-727-4295,
www: vtculinaryresort.com).
Ram~kins ( 450 W. Spain St., Sonoma,
CA, 707~9~3-0450, wwy,r.r~melrin~.com).
Santa Fe ~~hool of Cooking (116 W.
San Francisco St:, Santa Fe, NM, 505-
983--4511, . .
www.santafeschoolofcooking.com).
Tante Marie's Cooking School (271
Francisco St., San Francisco, CA, 415-
788-6699, www.tantemarie.com).
White Bar;n Inn.(37 Bell-ch Ave.,
Kennebunk.pqrt, ME, 207-967:-i321,
www,w-hltcharninn:com). ' .
5103 a. ah..._n, -..lte 153
tul-, ok 74145-7827
417--B7-2%75
.net * www.
Gay Games from page-29
1982 with 1,350 participants. Subsequent
Gay Games have been held in San
Francisco (1986; 3,500 participants),
Vancouver (1990; 7,300 participants), New
York (1994; 12,500 participants), Amsterdam
(1998; 13,000 participants), and Sydney (2002;
11,000 participants).
The Federation of Gay Games is the
international governing body that
perpetuates the quadrennial Gay Games
and promotes the event's founding
principles of Participation, Inclusion, and
Personal BestTM. For more information,
visit GayGamcs.org.
Chicago Games, Inc, is the host of Gay
Games VII and is led by experienced civic
leaders from Chicago's business, sports
and non-profit sectors. For information
about how to sponsor or participate in
Gay Games VII in Chicago, visit
www.GayGamcsChicago.org, e-mail
info@GayGamesChicago.org, or phone
(173) 907-2006,
Spring Events
in Eureka Springs,
Ark:i.nsas Based in the hcan of the
Ozarks, Diversity Pride Events invites
you to visit our little town of Eureka
Springs, Arkansas, for Fall & Spring
Diversirv Weekends, romantic
V alenfues Getaways, special
Concerts & other Pride Events. Diversity
Pride Events is committed to producing
quality events for Gays, Lesbians,
Bisexuals, and Transgendcr (GLBTs) and
Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians
and Gays (PFLAGs), of ALL ages! Our
events are for GLBTs an.d their Straight
friends & family to enjoy together!
COMMUN.ITV MEAL
$4.00 DONATION
MCC JOPLIN
2902 E. 20TH ST.
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
EVERY WED. 6PM
Seo
by Jack Fertig
February 2005
"Entertllin, Llbra!"
es
Mercury and Venus enter .Aquarius, then aspect
Uranus, introducing wild new ideas and aesthetics.
Meanwhile Sun conjoins Neptune, also in
.Aquarius, making it a wacky, mystical, very queer
week! Be ready for anything.
ARIES (March 21 to April 20): You have
some wild ideas for getting ahead in your
work, but check with colleagues and
superiors, whom you're likely to upset if
you go off half-cocked. Listen to friends
for new spiritual insights.
TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): New ideas
that seem totally crazy at first are worth
discussing with experts. Your assessment
of your own abilities is way off - but are
they better or worse than you think?,
That's what you need to check with the
experts!
GEMINI (May 21 to June 21): Everybody's
full of wild ideas right now, and you
have a grand head start in that
department! What you have to say
should be saved for appropriate and/ or
receptive audiences. listening can also be
a fascinating experience.
CANCER 0une 22 to July 22): Your
eagerness for sexual experimentation is
cranked up a few notches, and your
partner is more than ready to cooperate.
It could be a wonderfully transcendent
experience. Drugs are tempting, but they
are really more distraction than help.
LEO Ouly 23 to August 22): Relationships
are work, and new issues are erupting-to
work on. It's all quite manageable,
although likely to be confusing at first.
Some of the most importll.llt messages
aren't rational or verbal, so get
confirmation!
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22):
You're getting playful in ways that may look
like perverse workaholism - or simply
perverse. If you have a sense of humor, it
doesn't matter what others think. Guard
your health, especially against infections and
working (or working out) too hard.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 21):
The stars say to entertain at home,
whether a big bash, a cozy little tea,
or an intimate rendezvous with one
special person. Most importantly,
however you do it, give it an
eccentric, festive twist.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21):
This is an, um, _interesting_ time to
open communications with family
members and find out about old secrets
and scandals. It may not be pretty, but
you don't scare easily. Go ahead and
rouse those sleeping dogs!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to
December 20): Disagreements lead to
very interesting discussions now.
Keep an open mind, be ready for a
challenge, and remember that your
logic is off this week. Argue from the
heart if you like, but your brain just
isn't there for it.
CAPRICORN (December 21 to January
19): Go on a shopping spree and dress
up in some new styles. Give yourself
wiggle room to go over budget.
Spending some extra on yourself is
importmt for your self-esteem. Trying
a new look is even more important!
AQUARIUS Oaouary 20 to February 18):
You're usually so certain of yQurself,
but not this week. That's good for you,
although uncomfortable. Letting go of
old ideas will free you up for ne:w ones.
Spend time meditli.ting; make note of
your dreams. Take time for a small
retreat.
PISCES (February 19 to March 19): Friends
will help you discover things about
yourself you never knew - but what will
they learn in the process? Keep your ears
and mind open and your mouth shut.
You need to confide in someone, but be
very careful who it is!
Jt«fe Fertig has been u,or/eing as a
professw,u/. astrologer since 1977 and is a
founding member of the .Associ4tion for
Astrological Networking. He can be reached
for consultations at 415-864-8302, through his
webnU!at
http:/ /u,ww.starjack.com
Page 35
North Korean leader claims
his eountey has no AIDS
because there are no gays
in North Korea.
.MUST FIGHT UR.GE
TO OIVE SOMEONE
AMAICBOVER!
UST FIGHT URGE
TO GIVE SOMEONE
A MAKEOVER!
MUST FIGHT URGE.
5103 s. sherldan, suite 1
tulsa, ek 74145-7627
417-437-2275
tml ·Ktm,
Page 36 Four States Community Directory
-Bars- Nightclubs- -Lodging-
Arkansas, Fayetteville (479)
Studio 716- -716 W. Sycamore- - - - 479-571-B0
Ron's Place- - - 523 W. Poplar- - - 479-442-3052
Wild-On - - -3570 W. 6th- - - 479-521-9453
Arkansas, Fort Smith (479)
Kinkeads- 1004 1/2 Garrison Ave- - -479-783-9988
Club 1022--1022DodsonAve. --479-782-1845
Arkansas, Hot Sprin&s (501)
Club One FJeven- - - 111 G.uden St- -620-4111
Our House Lounge - 660 E. Grand Ave- -624-6868
Arkansas, Little Rock (501)
Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- --501-664-27 44
Discovery- - - - 1021 Jessie Rd- -- - • - - 501-666-6900
The Factory - -412 Louisiana St.- - - - -501-372-3070
Missouri, Joplin (417)
Ree's• - - - 716 S. Main - - • • - - -417-627-9035
MiHOUri, Kansas City (816)
Buddies•• - - - - - 3715 Main St··· 816-561-2600
Belle Star's- - 1321 Grand Ave- - -816-421-1288
Club NV - - 220 Admiral Blvd- - 816-421-l'<VKC
DB Warehouse- 1915 Main St- - -816-471-1575
Missie B's- - - -805 W. 39th St- - -- - 816-561-0625
Sidestreet Bar. - - -413 E. 3rd- 816-531-1775
Sidekicks Saloon 3707 Main St- - 816- 931-1430
Missouri, Springfield (417)
The Edge- -424 Boonville Ave- - - - --417-831-4700
Martha's Vineyard- 219 W Olive -417-864-4572
Oz Bar- 504 E. Commercial•• - - • -417-831-9001
Ronisuz Place- - --821 College- - - - -417-864-0036
Rumors - --1109 E. Commercial- 417-873-2225
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
Boom Room- 2807 NW 36th St- - -405-601-7200
Club Rox- - - -3535 NW 39th Expwy 405-947-2351
Copa- . - - - - - -2200 NW 39th Expwy- -405-525-0730
Finish Line - -2200 NW 39th Expwy- • 405-525-0730
Hi-Lo Club - - 1221 NW SOth- - -405-843-1722
Udo- -- - - - - - -2200 NW 39th Expwy- 405-525-0730
Partners- - - - -2805 NW 36th St 405-942-2199
Sisters- 2120 NW 39th St• - - - • -405-521-9533
The Rockies- - -3201 N. May Ave• - - - 405-947-9361
Topanga Grill & Bar- 3535 NW 39th--405-947-2351
Oklahoma, Tulsa (918)
Bamboo Lounge- no• E. Pine• - •- 918-836-8700
Club Maverick· • 822 S. Sheridan · 918-835-3301
End Up Club- - 424 S. Memoriai- 918-836-2480
Heads & Tails- - 7944 E. 21st - - - 918-660-7878
Club Maiescic- 124 N. Boston - - -918-584-9494
Renegades- - 1649 S. Main - - - -918-585-3405
p;ay-Mo,-Cbb- - 1'.'37 S. Memorial - -918-838-9792
TNT's 2: :.i S. Memonal- - - 9:8-660-0856
Missouri, Joplin ( 417)
Fairfield Inn by Marriott- - - 417-624-7800
Missouri, Ava
Catu5 Canyon Campground- - -417-683-9199
Missouri, Lampe
KOKOMO Campground· - - - · - - 417-779-5084
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
HollywoodHotel- 3535 NW 39th Ex-405-947-2351
Habana Inn - 2200 NW 39th Exp- - -405-528-2221
-OrganizationsArkan,
as, Eureka Springs
MCC Living Spring- - - - - - - - - -870-253-9337
Arkansas, Avoca
Natural State Natwists- - - - - •· - - - -479-451-8066
Kansas, Pittsburg (620)
River of Life Church - 1709 N Walnut -11AM
PSU-QSA.- - 1701 S. Broadway- - - - 620-231-0938
Missouri,Joplin (417)
MCC Spirit of Christ-2902 E 20th, • - · • 6PM
UCCFF--204 N. Jackson Ave, - - -10:30AM
Aids Project Ozarb- 513 Kentucky- 41'.'-624-5788
Missouri, Springfield ( 417)
Rainbow Christian Ch-837 W. Madison- 866-6206
Unitarian Universalist Church - - - - 417-833-2723
APO- - - 1901 E. Bennett, suite D- 417-881-1900
ShowMe MO Pride - - - - • - - - --417-864-4459
GLO Comm. Ctr- -518 E. Commerical- -869-3978
PFLAG-Springfield- - - - - - - - - -417-889-1059
PROMO SW MO- promoswmo@hotmail.com
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
Cathedral of Hope- 600 NW 13th St- - 232-HOPE
The Center- - 2135 NW 39th St. - - - - 405-524-6000
Oklahoma, McAlester
McPride- - - -POBox 1515, McAlester, OK 74502
Oklahoma, Tulsa (918)
MCC United- -1623 N. Mapiewood• -918-838-1715
TOHR- - - - - PO Box 2687, Tulsa, OK 74101
Tulsa Rough Riders- -www.tuharoughriders.com
GLBT Comm. Ctr- -5545 E. 41st-. - - 918-743-4297
Page 37
-Business ServicesArkan5as,
Eureka Springs
Diversity Pride Events - - www.diversitypride.com
Missouri, Eureka
Shelter ln5urance- -Greg Tainter- - 636-938-5500
Missouri, Joplin (417)
Body Swim Masiage Therapy- - - -417-825-5800
Charles Burt Realton-Vicki Bronson-- -434-0077
RE/MAX - -Cathe Letts- - . 417-483-5313
Office Max- -440 Rangcline Rd- - - 417-623-1007
Joan Szymanski- Beauty Consult,- 417-673-1181
Missouri, Springfield (417)
Priscilla's···· 1918 S. Glenstonc - -417-881-8444
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
Quotable Quotes
Century21 • ·4301 NW 63rd #100 405- 840-2106 "Ohio is the new Florida in the 2004
Gushers Restaurant-2200 NW 39Exp405-525-0730
Ingrids Kitchen- -3701 N. Youngs- - -405-946-8444
Jungle Reds - 2200 NW Expwy- - - 405-524-5733
Piece To Remember-2131 NW 39th- -405-528-2223
Priscilla's- 615 E. Memorial - - - 405-755-8600
Oklahoma, Tulsa
Kelly Kirby,CPA-4815 S Harvard - 918-74f5466
Underguy.com - - -825 E. 3rd - - 918-829-0824
Priscilla's - - 7925 E. 41st - - - -918-627-4884
Priscilla's · · · · 5634 W. Skelly - - - •-918-446-6336
Priscilla's••• -11344 E. 11th•••• - 918-438-4224
Priscilla's• - - - 2333 E. 71st • • - - - .,. 918-499-1661
election and we are looking at a recount
headed by Secretary of State Kenneth
Blackwell. The same man that permitted
the use of electronic machines that
provided no paper record. The same man
who presided over a voting system that
resulted in quick, short lines in the
dominantly Republican suburbs, while
the inner cities experienced four and sixhour-
long waiting lines."
- Gay icon Barbra Streisand writing on
her Web site, Dec. 6.
WR1TER SUSAN SONTAG
HAS DIED AT THE A.OE
OF 11.
SHE IS SURVIVED
8Y SOME WOMAN. WHO
100K HER PICTURE
FOR A VODKA AJ>.
Page38
NEW CARTOONS A COUPLE OF" GUYS
A Couple
ofguyse
~~~
Cura~ao
courts gay
travelers
Seven years after the Cayman Islands
refqsed to let a gay-themed cruise dock,
another Caribbean island has put out the
welcome mat. The Dutch island of
Cutas:ao is encouraging gay and lesbian
trav;clers to visit with the help of a new
Web site, www.gaycuracao.com. To
receive a free DVD about the island, call (800)
328-7222 or visit www.curacao-tourism.com.
If yoive ever been to Holland, you
knqw .that the Dutch don't raise a blonde
eyebrow over the gay lifestyle. Same is
tru6 in their tropical paradise, Curas:ao.
The motto here: "Live & Let Live."
.An:d oh how you can live.
Curas:ao is surrounded by over thirty
uncrowded beaches, some intimate and
tucked away without another sole in
sight. And these beaches are oh-soinviting
all year round, with an average
air temperature of 85° in the summer
and 81 ° in the winter. And an average
water temperature of between 78° and
gzo.
A short drive in from the beaches, you'll
find Willemstad, one of six UNESCO
world heritage city sites in the
Caribbean. Willemstad is historically
significant, because it is still filled with
Dutch-colonial architecture dating back
to the 17th and 18th centuries. The city
is also home to important. art, maritime
and Jewish· museums, as well as one of
the best anthropological museums in the
world.
A short swim out from the beaches,
you'll find some of the best shore diving
in the world. And further out, top
underwater attractions such as the
famous Mushroom Forest. In either case,
the visibility around Curas:ao is
remarkable, averaging about 100 feet. Or,
to put it another way, it's easy to see
why Curai;:ao should be at the top of
your vacation shortlist.
Night Life and Casino's.
In Curai;:ao, the nights are most
definitely full of life. Pull up a chair on
the beach and relax to a nice breeze and a
soothing jazz 'band. Or tear up the dance
floor at midnight to a hot Latin beat in
one of our many nightclubs. Either way,
you'll find enough here to keep you
entertained till the wee-hours of the
morning. And if you're feeling lucky,
then tty your hand in one of ten hotel
casinos that are on the island. They're
open daily and feature a variety of games
including blackjack, roulette, craps and
poker mach.ines.
The Beaches:
About 40 public and private beaches are
tucked in and around the island ranging from
private, secluded, intimate coves to larger
beaches that are bustling with activities such
as live bands, beach sports, parasailing and jet
skiing. Since the northern coast of the island
is made up of rocky shores and rough seas,
it's the southwestern coast with irs calm and
crystal clear warers which harbors the most
inviting beaches.
Go to: http:/ /www.gaycuracao.com for
more information and travel arrangemems.
ip Off
Thursday•s
SlJ! <.ASII·& Pllm
Beer Bust
q-CLOSf.
•oss.e >e> oe>sNLO·s .<><> IIALXFi!!'T'XNrs;
•t2.so weu.. "DRXNIC9o
$1.75 00ME?STIC LONGNSC~ ,.'
~ 'DajJ. ~ Doy~.
Dally lunch and Dinner
Specials
Open J J om Dolly
Happy Hour 3-6 & 9-dose
Hlghlly 29. '9
3rd Nlg.ht Free
Holkloys and Special Events
. Excluded
Monthly Mov• In Spedals
P RO U D LY S E R VI N G T H I! O·L B T & ALLIED CO M M U N I TY
FREE
Page 2
HIST BITD.
IIED'IINTIW
1--fflt-m-11111
109111 I.
' i
1
' !
j
Page 3
Springfield's ·
Catering to e GL Communi
Hear eRumors.com
5pm-1:30am
Now in the Back Room, Check out our New
Open Friday and Saturday 8 pm to 1 :30 am
. of
pee ..•
called for a co
t;,forBici mar
ouples: A t~tal:
sraali d· s. pe·e cl:i •. 9· ft r·..
.. •~e Allard (R-CO)
duc~l.the Mat;4~e Protection A.
(MPA) on the US Senate floor
::_ m_aking if .... •. :;tije i~St *
business in• full week
B'ush's seconil!'t6ri:n ..
j
Page 5
Dear Editor
I just picked up my first copy of the
STAR; how nice to have a feature article on
the potential for Tulsa to become a Gay
Mecca (February issue). Your observations
were close to target with a few pellets of
shot flying slightly off course.
Tulsa's location is one of it's greatest
assets. From Dallas to Kansas City and from
Nashville to Denver, there is no city more
liberal and accepting. Often compared to
Boston for it's art, architecture and civic life,
Tulsa has: nine welcoming and affirming
churches, a thriving Jewish Community,
several predominantly gay neighborhoods
(Brady Heights Historic District has easily
the highest percentage of gays and lesbians
than any other), a smattering of bars, the
most extensive Gay Pride event in a 3 state
area, the oldest active gay rights
organization in the state (fulsa Oklahomans
for Human Rights • TOHR), and a police
department that meets with gay leaders as
part of their diversity training. In spite of
Oral Roberts University being located here
(or maybe because of it) Tulsa also has one
of the largest PFLAG organization in the
countrv. Additionally, there are many varied
social ~lubs (the leather community is one of
the most vast) and a capital campaign with
alreadv over $300K in funds working
towards building a new and visible Gay
Pride Center (www.pyramidproject.org).
The gay business organization TuRBO is
going strong with almost 100 members
under the stewardship of TOHR; and
several gay restaurants have opened and
closed in the past years • hopefully there will
be more soon.
It is my hope and that of my colleagues
that the new Gay Pride Center will become
an anchor for what will be a Gay District for
Tulsa. Whether that is in The Brady Arts
District (close to the already predominantly
gay neighborhoods and shops) or in a part of
the city that has the right stuff, you are more
likely .:o see a gathering of forces within a
Gay District just like in other major cities.
Not a Gay District to ghettoize our
community, but to give us the strength of
combined spirit.
Best Regards,
T'mo•hv A. Wiiliams. Tu'.sa. OK ~ - ,/ , ,
·Let's Rodeo 2005
by Greg Steele
TULSA, OK. With the Fort Worth
rodeo kicking off the 2005 gay rodeo
season in March, Tulsa's T-Town Rodeo
will begin the four states region's buckin
for buckles show of events on April 8th-
10th at the Tulsa Expo Square Arena. For
more information and tickets go to
www.soonerstaterodeo.com. Sponsorships
are still available.
Diamond State Rodeo, in Little Rock
Arkansas presents it's 10th season with
the "Rodeo In The Rock 2005" April
22nd-24th at the Arkansas Equestrian
Center Barton Coliseum. For more info
go to: www.dsra.org.
Rodeo Wichita presented bv the
Kansas Gay Rodeo Assoc. will be held in
Wichita, Kansas May13-1 Sth. Location tO
be announced. www.kgra.us
OGRA, Oklahoma Gay Rodeo
Assoc. holds their 20th annual "Great
Plains Rodeo" May 27th-29th at the
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds arena.
OGRA is the 3rd largest gay rodeo event
under the IGRA umbrella. For schedule
of events visit www.okgayrodeo.com
MGRA's "Show-Me-State Rodeo"
will take off later this fall September 2nd-
4th. The Missouri Gay Rodeo Assoc. is
in there 13th year and has chapters in
Kansas City, Springfield and Joplin. For
updates go to: www.mgra.us
The International Gay Rodeo f\ssociation
(IGRA) is an umbrelia organization comprised
of 20 regional Gay Rodeo Associatiom
from across the United States and Canada.
IGRA serves to foster the sport of Rocke :ind
Country & Western actiYities. IGRf\, !D
fellowship with its member associai:io,i,<
donates ;housands of doi!ars to char:n- each
year. The Gay and Lesbian Co:nmumt1es ui
the United States and Canada have be::-n
en:dched by the eciucational efforcs of lGR:\
through its sanc:ioning and sprrnsorship ,,f
tne various events and activities which are a
part of what we cali Gay Rodeo.
Your locai Rodeo Associaticn n:::ed,
your support, have fun for a good crns<::.
They Do!
Page 6
MARCH 2005
by Andrew Collins
"Palm Beach, Florida"
With the emergence of South F1orida as one of
the hottest queer destinations in North America,
the pink presence has gradually migrated to
metro Palm Beach, a region not traditionally
known for its lesbian and gay scene. The area's
largest city, West Palm Beach, and its high-rent,
ocean-front neighbor, Palm Beach, are but an
hour north of the gay-popular Ft. Lauderdale,
. . . . and they offer plenty of cultural, dining, and
rughtlife diversions as well as some of the nation's ritziest hotels.
West Palm Beach originated largely as a place to accommodate the countless
cooks, maids, chauffeurs, butlers, and gardeners employed in the great mansions and
resorts of Palm Beach. Although it'1 much larger than Palm Beach ind contains the
region's major airport and train station, for many years it was considered little more
than a pass-through for travelers headed to Palm Beach, and as recentlv as die mid'
90s ':'as ~addled ~th ~gh crime and urban blight. Over the past dec~de, however, a
combmatton of C1V1C prtde, progressive planning, and private investment have
helped turn downtown into a vibrant residential, commercial, and arts district. The
crown jewel of downtown's renaissance, the $600 million CityPlace entertainment
and shopping center has been built to resemble a Mediterranean village - it contains
more than 75 mostly upscale chain shops, a dozen fine restaurants a 20~screeh
cinema, and a massive concert hall. '
Another major draw is the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts -
a ven1;1-e for ~rst-rate ballet, classical music, and Broadway-style musicals. The city's
most 1mpress1ve cultural attraction, the Norton Museum of Art contains a fine
collection of 1_9th- and 20th-century American and European paintings; following
the 2003 operuog of a 45,000-square-foot wing, it became the Tuigcst art museum in
the state.
. Fr~m downtown West Palm Beach, Route A1A leads over the"Flagler Memorial
Bndge mto P:tlm Beach, long one of the wealthiest - and unabashedly snobbiest -
enclaves on the Eastern Seaboard. The gay and lesbian scene is virtuallv invisible
her~, b~t it can be fun ch~g along the town's gilded avenues, trying to guess
which tortress wall or towenng hedge conceals the estll.te of which celebritv.
The s~azzf shopping begins along Royal Poinciana Way, which you'll bit just
after crossir~g th: Flagler Memorial Bridge. The best places for window browsing
and gallery noppmg are the toy-poodle-infested sidewalks of Worth Avenue, several
bl~cks ~outh, where you'll find stores with such ptedous, if gag-inducing, natnes as
Ansto~ds and Au Cas~ere. For a chance to marvel at the island's I~ of·
con~pt~uous c_o~sumpuon, spend an hour or two touring Flagler Museum, :which is
set tnstde Whitenall, a 73-room, turn-of-the-century castle. · ·
As for nos~ing, West Palm Beach's most homo-popular restaut20t, JU,,~
~a~e, ?ffers an inventive, changing menu of contemporary American · ·
10c1ud10g black bean and tomato cakes and goat cheese-and
crepes. It occupies a retro-cool former drugstore (circa 19 , of
the city's antiques row. Cabana, a hip sidewalk cafe with a sexv dinmg·,
West Paim's funky Clematis Street, serves wonderful ... ndt~ :'-}:' ·
.·,;:':}-,-:
<✓;: ,,_,
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Page 7
Nuevo Latino fare, including a tender
marinated skirt steak and heavenly
Cuban sandwiches. Wash everything
down with a mojito cocktail.
Across the bridge in Palm Beach,
Chuck and Harold's is where visiting
celebs congregate for a casual meal and
where everybody else comes to peoplewatch
- tty to grab a table outside
overlooking the sidewalk. Bice
Ristorante, tucked in a cloistered
courtyard off of Worth Avenue, serves
excellent Northern Italian food and is
one of the best see-and-be-seen eateries in
Palm Beach consider seared tare tuna
with sauteed butternut squash, crispy
spinach, and a sweet-tangy apricot sauce.
Hamburger Heaven is a jazzed-up
version of the classic all-American burger
joint; this small luncheonette with a Ushape
counter is something of a local
institution in downtown Palm Beach,
drawing equally among the hoi polloi
and the local elite. It's also a favorite spot
for hearty breakfasts.
You'll find a handful of gay nightspots
in West Palm Beach, including Kashmir,
a festive and elaborate warehouse disco.
The area's definitive cruising-andmingling
video bar, H.G. Roosters has
been going strong for years. The crowd is
eclectic, and the staff cute and friendly. A
branch of the famed nightclub in the
Hamptons ( on eastern Long Island, in
New York), the Resort Lounge occupies
a glam space inside CityPlace and pulls in
its share of A-listers, along with plenty of
poseurs and wanna-bes simply hoping to
see some A-listers. Paris and Nicky are
said to be regulars at this riotously
colorful, sexually ambiguous hangout.
The gay-friendly Respectable Street Cafe,
at the west end of Clematis Street, tanks
among the best music clubs in the city,
presenting an eclectic range of bands.
5101 is a low-keyed gay neighborhood
bar, and Cupids Cabaret is a favorite
place to ogle male strippers, with lap
dances being a house specialty. It's the
onlv bar in South Florida where the
dan'cers take _everything_ off.
If you want to be close to gay
nightlife, stay in West Palm, which is
home to the super-sleek Hotel Biba, a big
hit with trendy types, thanks to its
Aveda bath products, glass-tile mosaic
floors in the bathrooms, angular
mahogany furniture, and lavenderscented
closets. The intimate property
has just 43 rooms and brings a splash of
Miami Beach's outrageousness to the
city's downtown.
The Hibiscus House - a 1922 mansion
in one of West Palm Beach's most
historic neighborhoods - is now a B&B
run by gracious hosts Raleigh Hill and
Colin Rayner. Each room has a name
that bears out a particular look. The
Green Room has French doors opening
onto a balcony with verdant garden
views; the Burgundy Suite is bathed in
sumptuous reds. In the morning you're
treated to a delicious two-course
breakfast. The lavish, gay-owned
Grandview Gardens B&B lies within
walking distance of downtown West
Palm Beach's many fine shops and
restaurants. This dashing 1920s Spanish
Mediterranean-style home contains five
posh yet reasonably priced rooms, all
with French doors opening onto
secluded terraces that oYerlook the pool.
Palm Beach is the domain of posh
resort compounds, and no place captures
the regal essence of this wealthy, blueblooded
enclave more persuasively than
the majestic, twin-turreted Breakers
resort, which opened in 1896 and
anchors 140 beautifully manicured acres
of lawns, gardens, and palm trees. The
Italian Renaissance building contains 560
ultraposh rooms, several excellent .
restaurants (Sunday brunch in The Circle
dining room is de rigueut), two
outstanding 18-hole golf courses, a huge
full-service spa and fitness center
overlooking the ocean, and scads of other
impressive amenities. Another popular
choice, if money's not an issue, is the
Four Seasons Ocean Grand, a
contemporary 6-acre oceanfront
compound a few miles south of the
hubbub of Worth Avenue. Although
supremely sumptuous, the sleek design
and decor contribute to a fairly relaxed
mood you'll feel right at hor~e walking
through the lobby in casual threads.
A refined and historic boutique hotel with
a discreet gay :.md lesbian following, the 43-
room Chesterfield Palm Beach feels a bit like
a private European dub, with its museumquality
furnishings, courtly restaurant,
garden courtyard, and afternoon high-tea
service. Rooms are cozy but comfy, with
marble baths, downy bathrobes, and 1~\7,
y,rith VCRs. It's steps frnn~ Worth An::nue
shopping. '"'•····continued page-JJ
Page 8
WAL-MART
CHANGES
FAMILY POLICY
'We hope that with equal
responsibility come equal
benefits,' said HRC's Daryl
Herrschaft.
WASHINGTON - The Human Rights
Campaign appiauded Wal-Mart Stores,
the nation's largest private employer, for
a new definition of family that includes
same-sex partners recognized under state
law.
"We hope that with equal responsibilir-y
come equal benefits," said HRC's Darvl
Herrschaft, deputy director for HRC'~
workplace project. "We are encouraged
by this sign showing America's heartland
employer understands same-sex couples
share the responsibilities that come with
being a family. It's only appropriate for
these families to also receive the same
benefits as others."
Wal-Mart's definition of "immediate
family" was included in a conflict-ofinterest
poiicv the companv filed
yesterday with the Sec~riti~s and
Exchange Commission. A portion of the
policy follows:
"You are responsible for advancing WalMart's
business interests when the
opportunity to do so arises. You ,,;ay not
take any opportunities or use any
con.fidet:tial information for your benefit,
or for the benefit of your immediate family
members, that you discoi:er or obtain
through your employment with Wal-Mart.
Immediate family members include
!whether by birth, adoption, marriage or
domestic partnership or civii union, if
recognized lry your state or other local law)
your spouse, children, parents, si · ,
mothers and fathers-in-law, sons
daughters-in-law and brothers and sistersin-
1.aw. ''
"\X' e will continue our work to
encourage Wal-Mart and other
companies to expand fair-minded poiicies
to areas where same-sex couples are not
recognized by law," added Herrschaft.
"Without legal recognition of same-sex
couples, employers' domestic partner
programs are a critical way to ensure that
every employee's family h~s equal access
to healthcare, medical leave and other
workplace-offered benefits. Companies
that offer these benefits understand that
the strength and stability of every
employee's family life correlates with the
quality of their work and the success of
the business."
Currently 228 - or 45 percent - of
Fortune 500 companies offer health care
benefits to employees' same-sex domestic
partners or spouses. The number has
increased tenfold since 1995, when onlv
21 Fortune 500 companies offered the ,
benefits. Wal-Mart competitors Costco
Wholesale, Best Buy and Horne Depot all
offer domestic partner health benefits.
In July 2003, Wal-Mart expanded its nondiscrimination
policy to include sexual
orientation. Currently, nine of che 10
top companies in the Forrune 500
include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination
policies, and three of
these companies also include pro_tection
against discrimination based on gender
identity in their policies.
"Every gay, lesbian, bisexual and
rransgender employee deserves to be
judged by the job they do, not who they
are," said Herrschaft. "We urge Wal-Mart
and other companies to add protections
for ttansgender employees so that no
employees are at risk for losing their
livelihood for reasons that have nothing
to do with their work."
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest
nationai lesbian, gay, bisexual and irarngender
political organization with members
throughout the country. It effectively lobbies
Congress, provides campaign support and
educates the public to ensure that LGBT
Americans can be open, honest and safe at
home, at work and in the community.
Page 9 Photo's by Chaz
Up Close
with
Male
Entertainer
Joseph.
Male entertainment, it's hot
or it's not! This 24 year old is
hot! Joseph loves the spot light
and said " I enjoy the enthusiasm
of the crowd and I have a great time doing it. The money is very good also". His
athletic build and handsome face quickly gets your attention when he jolts onto the
stage. The fans in Springfield are all to eager to voice there approval as he flexes every
muscle in his 5' 11" frame and gives a very masculine performance.
Joseph grew up on a farm, a foster home south of Atlanta, GA until he was 18 when
he left and went to work in a logging camp. He moved to Springfield, MO four years
ago where he works for a construction company pouring concrete. With a goal of
attending college to study creative · · writing and
music, he plays the acoustical tar and has
performed as lead singer in a Springfield
straight clubs. Joseph's main is to be successful
in music. In his spare time ri
exercise are his favorite hob
voted him our 2005 Mister OZ",·
Greg Hill.
Currently
performing on
week ends at the
OZ bar in
Springfield,
Joseph has
become a popular
main attraction
and draws a huge
crowd at the
newly reorganized
club. "Joe has
.become such a hit
we have
Talented live entertainment here in i:he four states region has become the signature
of many night dubs and bars. Exceptional performers are highly courted in an
extremely competitive business. Singers, Comedians, Female Impersonators, Musicians,
Musical Groups and Male Dancers WANTED! Club pat.tons love to dance to
the music of a great DJ, but are also looking for an alternative in good live gay
entertainment.
Page 12
• • • y
4815 South Harvard Ave., Suite 424
Tulsa, OK 74135-3068
Phone: (918) 747-5466
Email: KellyKirbyCPA@sbcglobal.net
accoun
GLBTC
1982
Office Licensed in Missouri,
Arkansas, Illinois &
Colorado
www.shelterinsurance.co~,
This Is Shelter Country.
Here in our community you will
find Shelter Agent Greg Tainter.
We're proud to serve this community
and our customers. Call today
and ask about our services.
Life-Worker's Comp. -Home-Auto-Farm-Business
Greg W. Tainter, LUTCF
Post Office Box 339
Eureka; Missouri 63025
Tel: (636),~38-5500
Fax:' (636) 938-3539
Page 15
"Chat Rooms,
Bar Scenes, Ect."
Well, here I am a single gay man and
where oh where do I look for someone?
The chat rooms are really getting more
weird all the time. There are getting to
be way to many "crazies" out there. One
has to be VERY cautious when meeting
anyone for the first time from a chat
room conversation. It is always best to
meet in a bar or in a public place like a
shopping center or somewhere that is
really safe. And of course it seems like
three-fourths of the guys you meet in the
chat rooms turns out to be married
heteros who are just looking for a little
extra action on the side. And that is
NOT something that I am looking for in
my life right now. Then there are the
different descriptions of one's own
assessment of themselves. Nothing
wrong with being 40 or 50 or even 60 or
70 but be honest when giving your age.
A 60 year old cannot possibly pass for a
25 year old. And we won't even go into
the "aol size" difference between 6 inches
and 9 inches. It seems that there is always
somebody for everyone so why lie about
who vou are? Just go with the flow and
enjoy life. Just be very specific in the
chat rooms on who you are and what
vou are looking for.
, The good old gay bars are st ill a s tap .l e
for hoping to hook up with someone.
· someone from out of town comes
through and of course everyone hits on
them quickly. I do like to get out on
weekends and travel to cities usually
within 100 miles of here and that can
sometimes be fun. A new face in town
always draws interest. I have even been
known to hit a few straight bars in a
Holiday Inn, Ramada Inn or some of
the other major hotel chains.
Amazingly I have found several other
gay guys going there also. My older
friends tells me that a few years ago that
almost evervone went out for happy
hour from 5 to 7 and that the bars were
ii.ways packed at that time with people
getting off of work. That sounds great!
Just wish that it was like that today. .
Now it seems that nobody goes out till
at Je1ist 10 PM and sometimes even later.
Since I have to be at work at 8 every
morning that just doesn't work for me.
I.have ii.ways had an aversion to Parks.
They just really never did anything for
me. It was just to public for me.
I ha~e lots of friends who cruise the
parks all the time but it just doesn't
;.ork for me. But with the proper "eye
contact" I have found people at the car
wash, supermarket, shopping mall and
even at Walmart! It just takes a little
more time to search sometimes. But I
won't give up trying to find that
"special" person in my life. I know that
someday, somehow, somewhere he will
come into my life and it will be perfect.
But until then I will just continue to
keep on the lookout for Mr. Right
whether at a bar, on line, just looking in
the BIG world or at gay meetings,
groups or seminars or gatherings. I
won't give up.
But the only problem ----------------------7
the bars that I go to all
the time have the same
people in them night
after night after night. I
have either been with all
of them or have by my
own choice not wanted
to be with them. Once
in a great while
fWlyff•I .. w.,,r s,-, Y.•lll§
s~--.r ... ,, .. ..,
COag COaooMS S. t..Aftght ffilllgs CBouHque
417 -6.59-991$
M••• I. W...'• - el....,_ & lheet
719 N• M.t'• & .._.,, U.,.rie
Jeplilt, MO t,.tMI Nn Sins
O,.. T---,- ffWi1J 1a-,pm 'S,:at 10-Spm
Page 16
124 N. Boston - TulsaT OK - 918.584.9494
Thursday Nights - Rachael Erikks - MGA 2004
Sunday Nights - Catia Lee Love - MGA 2000
Thursday and Sunday - 18 to enter; 21 to drink
Friday and Saturday Dance Party -21 to enter
9 p till 2 a - Thu-sday - Sunday nights
"Night of
Press Release
Feb 19, 2005
R 2005"
JOPLIN, MO A "Night of Stars 2005"
for AIDS Project of the Ozarks. The
e·.enr ·.viii be held on Sunday, April 3rd,
2nos. The annual fund-raiser will begin at
2 PI\f at Ree's Lounge iocated at 716 S.
Mam. Parking and entrance is at the rear
of the building off of Joplin Street. All
monies raised during The Nignt of Stars
2005 wiil be donated to APO to assist
HIV clients living in the southwest
1\fissouri 1\rea.
The event activities will include an
auction of donated items and services and
a talent show featuring local performers.
AIDS Project of rhe Ozarks provides
care and services to 500+ clients in the
Ozarks and the southwest Missouri
area. Those living with the HIV virus.
APO also provides prevention awareness
and educational information to the
community free of charge.
i\11 contributions and donations are
tax deductible. If vou should need a
letter documenting our non-profit, taxexempt
status please contact Lynn
Meyerkord at 417-881-1900 and the
information will be sent to you.
We are asking for community
support for this event. If you would
like to make a donation or need more
information, please contact Tim Baker
at 417-206-4691 or email
Tim_Baker39@yahoo.com. You may
also contact Richard or Terry at Ree's
Lounge at 4!7-627-9035.
Page 17
Do you ever wonder what happened to
that cute kid that lived in your
neighborhood?
ti~ gme up. &&f did he gro"
He and his friends are appearing nightly
at
"Tulsa's best kept secref'
nd p ub
424 South Memorial, Tulsa OK
918-836-2480
inimum - but NEVER a cover charge!
. . w~~·~e~ppnt ai_i[!oeflatikpnces
· ~oiJt1i~~4009 • 672~ N. Mi~marBlvd, Okla Ci.ty, OK 73111
Rodney
Burgamy
www.c21goldcastle.oom
5.840.2106
Joe
. ~y relationshie with, pastors locally and
in Eurdca :sp~ h!ij::b~en;_~eJfipk of
meetibgs archiiia illlfderiominatfon I
belong to. What Latn saying here is that
I never dreamed i:bai: iii<rnv lifetii:ne
opp6rtunitics w~tili ~if~£~ my . life that
would make a difference for anyon~. Or
that those OJ?P:Oftuaj~es w<;nil.1li1~t,;:.
manifest themselves info the supp9rt, ·
encouragement, and care I have .,,: .. ·
experienced in the last 'fow;/ ni9,.pJhs _now.
Here I am the pastor of a sm,alF Cfuistian
church tb,at mini~ters pred · · antly to
the gay, lcs_bian,, bisexual . . ,
Transgendered community arid yet
YOU TOO'G:AN:. .· i .; > · almost every denotnination in town had
· · · · · · · · · · · · ·· · •. · · , • · " me on their pray~r list. Everyone at
, DIFEERENC~ .. · work would say; ."E .iJ>. going to
1n my'.lifcfu¥!;)I;hs,vc-1oyacl, supported; · be' 61(,,.:by thc"way,, }>i.i on:pur
cnc6ufaged ati,d ;even ii.:ritated my sliare ~hurch~s prayer, list:'; ... , .. c:ibout the
of peoples but: always. mowing. that the overwhelming conccB_t' id~o!ved in that.
day w.o.uld,;'c:oine ~henJ :wo'l]ld "londc~ Openly out bt1;f calmiy BJtli;in,bqw I '
what if? In ;..the past fourteen months I stand on: issues' and ~1Ldiis support. .· In
' have hl!d four \gj~es;:,. My ' ' : :odwnciili,,ofriff.etno.d,;ns:Y an_··f·. 9dn1i)Y:' "Jii~.•afr.dosunhd1·th. c
ncutostttgcoμjB.is:tpli!l:isJ;w,i~cthit I w'il.S/ ' .. . . . . ' '
his, 5;Wltb:¥l df:Jl¥~, 1: ' · f;~r-s'tate atca we Fr6miny
have I cfili, make a difference. . dli;i;li~,~til tri.y rctu;n io\vqik;I was
I hav~ found thit l can atid if fcan; so ritver' left alone wit:h some pcdplc even
can YOU! · You sec this past year I was cciniing to .our honic · because. μi,cy. knew
diagnosed with cancer of the lymph my pa;mcr was sleeping dwjpg the· day
nodes in my neck. For two months after (he works graveyard shift). Eipills, cards
i:he biopsy I had a dressing on my neck. and phone c.alls were ·so ov . .. . .. ng at
It's a little difficult to hide a dressing that times that I lit~rally sat and . s
is just' under your jaw bone. Even with a running down my fac<:. 'Th;en came the
short fat neck a turtle neck shirt . good news that there wouid not have to
wouldn't cover it. There were the usual, be any chemotherapy _or radiation
"did you cut yourself shaving" or "is the treatments. Simply cvei:y six-~onth
hickey that big" comments .but then chcck:-ups for the patfcv y~ars to make
there were t:hf words of c~couragcmcnt, s11te the 'ca~cer·hasri'f'r~nirifc.4-
the "I'll remember you in prayer" ar1d Yes, I havci truly b~en bl~;;cd and.
even the, "I have you on our churches God has seen: nic · flirough blessing me
prayer list.'' I suddenly realized that I with family, friends and people in my life
have made a difference in my life with that care. I have to, publicly say Thank
family, friends; at work and church,, you! I do that b,· c~ii:g you to act and
There have b·een difficult decisions made tb do it now. ·. · if I can make a
that have 'not always.been populQ,.r, a- . differeni:_e SQ.
public stand in out 'Iocal ncwseapcr It is'.,fo that we do not let
outing not just myself but our church, a the last ~iettipn/oteak our spitjt or
very public .stand supporting p'ublic dampen our'ieso&e. We ml).§t act always
debate on any issue but to do so without to do what is right even when it may not
hate and personal attacks. and articles in be popular: Io doing so· you will find
this "community magazine'; have been that you ·can make a difference and
used in England, Scotland and Germany. people will respect that. ; .. cont. next page l
1
Page 19
Steve Urie from pg 18
Our country is on a slippery downhill
slide to put us back in the closet and I for
one shall not be going back in there. We
must keep track of what our federal, state
and local government is doing. We must
let them know how we feel about it. I
attended a county commission meeting
in Escambia County, Florida where one
county commissioner stated, "I am
voting for this because the only phone
call I received was for it." Just think one
phone call! I attended a Missouri Senate
session where a senator recited a letter
from just one constituent and introduced
a bill on the Senate floor. Just think one
letter!
You could be that one phone call,
that one letter or that one e-mail that
makes a difference for all of us. If I can
do it ... so can YOU!
W c need to oppose an amendment to
the constitution simple because it is
being used to generate hate and fear. The
sample letter below may be copied and
used in snail mail or email. I encourage
you to make the difference. Be that one
call, that one letter, that one e-mail
because it is the right thing to do.
"This amendment is unnecessary,
discriminatory and would amend the
Constitution for the first time to
restrict the rights of a group of
Americans.
Despite being soundly defeated last
year, I understand that this
amendment may be introduced in the
House again soon. I wanted to make
sure you ~_ew that
and freedoms, not to take them away .
Further, this amendment would do
real harm to same-sex couples and
their children, who already do not
enjoy the vast majority of benefits and
protections that married couples enjoy.
Please do not co-sponsor the
amendment. Please urge your
colleagues in the House of
Representatives to focus on other
issues that are priorities. I look
forward to receiving your response."
Until next month, stay out of the closet!
FREE HIVTESTING, NO
NEEDLES! SPIRIT
OF CHRIST
MCC SPONSORS
2902 E. 20th St., PO
Box 4711
Joplin, Mo 64803
In conjunction with AIDS Project of the
Ozarks, MCC Joplin ,offers free HIV
testing the last Sunday of each month
between SPM,and 6PM .. For your
convenience y~u can also call 206-6179 fi
an appointment. We use the Ora-sure
method which does not require the use of
needles and we offer complete
confidentiality: You may also request
Booklets on AIDS for People of Faith
through the PO Box listed above.
Spirit of Christ MCC Joplin
"SerfJing A Healthier Community"
iversi
Events
F•b 18;. 19
V AL~NTINE' S
this amendfuent
do~s nothiiig to
"protect" marriage.
Instead, it singles
out a group of
people for
discrimination in
the United States
Constitution. The
Constitution has
alwavs been used to
guar;ntee rights
Aprll 1~ 2
SPRINGI
r ,,. _.,, Diversity Weekend
We Do It Different! som aANca 01t FRI uAn
for GLBT!st PFLAGs 'COUNTRY WESTERN'
S rt
I In Eureka P n~s. A""""' auas "AC aOo.aNoT EGuMy ,P OGaRl cAonRt,Yat'l
FALL & SPRING Diversiiy Weekends,
VALENTINE'S Cooa.ts and olher Evenls Dlv•n,lty BEARS I
• CONTEST & BBQ LUNCH
www.DiversityPride.com
Page 22
Quotable Quotes
"Being open about our lives is the
most important and powerful form
of activism at our disposal. Lecturing
our friends and family about gay
marriage isn't nearly so important as
letting them see that our
relationships are as important and
integral to us as theirs are to them. If
we do not treat our relationships as
equal, how can we ever expect others
ro do the same? 'Coming out' isn't a
one-step conversation; it's a lifelong
commitment. And it isn't just about
activism and civil rights. It's about
living your life with integrity and
honesty and, to use an overused
word, it's about pride."
- Washington Blade Executive
Editor Chris Crain in a Jan. 7
editorial. -
The Pink
The Pink Triangle was used by the Nazis
to signify homosexuals. Although,
homosexuals were only one of the groups
targeted for extermination, it is
unfortunately, the group that history
often excludes. The Pink Triangle defies
anyone to deny history.
In 1935 Hitler revised the German Law,
Paragraph 175, prohibiting
homosexuality, by including kissing,
embracing, and gay fantasies as well as
sexual acts. Convicted .offenders- an
estimated 25,000 from 1937 to 1939, were
sent to priso!l and later transferred to
concentration camps. They were to be
sterilized, most often by castration.
Hitler changed his policy on
homosexuality to include death in 1942.
A yellow Star of David under a
superimposed Pink Triangle represented
Gay Jewish prisoners- by the social
hierarchy, the lowest of all prisoners.
Page 23
I Dee
"Ph eIp s" .......I.ll .
Just last month I wrote about a New Year
and a New Beginning. Little did I realize
what a new year and new beginning' I was
getting myself into. My favorite aunt and
uncle recently moved to Topeka, Kansas and I
thought that I would visit them for the
weekend. They have known that I was born
gay and totally accept who I am as does the
rest of my family. We had a great visit and
then decided to go out for lunch at one of the
local restaurants which was located in the·
Gage Shopping Center on the comer of Gage
Street and Huntoon Street. To our
amazement and shock we found a group of
children not over 14 years of age right on the
sidewalk with huge signs saying" GOD
HATES FAGS" and other derogatory
comments. We couldn't believe it! What kind
of a world is this? Upon entering the
restaurant my aunt asked the manager what
was going on. He very nice explained that it
was the "Phelps" group who protests regularly
on that corner as their church is just a couple
of blocks away. I had heard about Fred Phelps
for several years and how he pickets funerals
of gay men who die from AIDS and that he
pickers the University of Kansas whenever
they have a gay-themed concert or theatrical
production. I even read where he goes to
different cities to prorest against gays. There
was a web site on one of the signs that I
quickly wrote down. www.godhatesfags.com.
If you have never logged onto that website I
suggest that you do. It is an intelligent person
who knows who their enecnies are and trust
me, FRED PHELPS is our enemy. He has a
church in Topeka with a very small
congregation mainiy consisting of his own
family. Several of his own children won't
have anything to do with him. He used to be
an at:orney but was disbarred in the Smte of
Kansas. On his website it tells where he is
going to be picketing in the weeks to come.
He even hates the country of Sweden and has
signs saying "God Hates Sweden" just because
the peopk of Sweden are intelligent enough to
extend all of the marital status to homosexuals
as well as neterosexuals.
Can you just imagine if he had these little
children carrying signs and posters that
read, "God Hates Blacks" or "God Hates
Jews" or God Hates whatever"? But
hating gays seems to be alright. The
people of Topeka and Kansas has had to
endure this man long enough everyday
and everyday. But when he and his
group embarrasses me and my family
then enough is enough. He is performing
hate crimes in tbe name of his church
and it is just not right. Even thou I don't
live in Kansas I am writing letters to the
Mayor of Topeka, the Gm-ernor of
Kansas and to several State Senators in
Kansas. What right does this madman
have to spew hate towards us? Again, if
he hated blacks or Jews there would be a
massive public uproar about the whole
· thing. And where are the religious
people in Topeka who tolerate this kind
of behavior? Do they not care what is
going on in their city? Topeka, Kansas
has become the laughing stock all over
the United States. Why aren't there
more gay publications writing about this
man and informing everyone about him?
Apparently he has taken his crusade to
different parts of the C nited States
however he feels more comfortable ·
within the confines of Kansas.
Everyone has a right not to like
someone else but this is a plain and
simple HATE CRIME! There should be
laws against this type of activity. No
American should have to put up with
this kind of discrimination. NO ONE!
What right does this man have to
promote Hatred in America and to bring
small children into his church? All of
this of course is done in the name of
religion so it is alright in their eyes.
Hopefully the rest of my year wii! be
a little calmer and tamer than this last
month. So, things are still changing for
ine this year. I am going to be much
happier and if I have to bitch a little
more to get good service and what I
cieserve then I will. It is just that simple.
Page24
heeii.wnttog. .. e gaJC~nd
lesbi~ pr'esffor ni,ore than 20
years. Sh_e seryed for _tliree, y;ears as
1;11~ co-chai(of ftie)<;>#;d of_ . .
-~{Ji11Is·.~:I-J;xb~;:f, fits '·> .,.,,._.J,. '"" ... ·, ..
Transge1:1<ier CcimmunitJT Center,
where shC f ouri.ded a
gro~dbr~3;'$ng_ .read1~g .~cries
ci'l l,.e. ~a-· "In' ,,.,_O-,!,;u< r. .'" O,~ w" n'' W' ' ri't e.".
Lesbian Notions .
by Paula Martinac
MARCH 2005
Crying
Shame
In a recent development in the J;:{IV / AIDS
, epidemic, two independent research teams
recommended that all Americans - not just
those .who've been deemed "high risk,'.' -~e gay
'm·en and iv drug users - be tested.for the virus.
Clearly, this is good news. The · :
· ·,recommendations are meant to finally make
RN t~sfi#g ~s .routirie and devoid ofstigma as a
Pap tesc, mammogram, or bldod-pressure
screening. · .· . .
. . But could a change implemented, in the third
decade of th~. pandemic really be effe<;t±'{e,
given the sname still attached to HIV/ AIDS
and to homosexuality? Unless a public-health
. policy shift goes hand in.hand with realitybased
sex education, I think it would stand
! little chance of making a ·difference oveitime.
Part of the problem stems from the. fact .that
HIV is still being tied to identity rather·: than
behavior," ~though tl:fe connection is more subtle than in the past. For .example, all
the new.ii repp.i;ts. abolit .th.e 11,~ ~eqical studies. cite=~ people in "mpn . ·
he · · · · • · pf' _as · .the lowest-risk groups for HIV, who t opt
outof; the. . . .. er o ... . just have it once. . . ·
' . At about. the same tip:ie, . anotl:ier. reporc also hit the· news - that a. new ~-:_
resistannhain 'bf HN has appeareo in New· York City in a gay man wh~ ttsed· crystal
meth i!.tid,;acc<>r,d!rjg 't9 -ti;r~' _:New Y'cfrk Times...:, hs,.d f'unpro:eF:ecI sex
of partners:" Tfils lrearkeos •lSaclHo the early· 1980s, re-establishing the .
between.,HJV· and;homosexuality,atid conjuring. up. memories .of that original %ad"
gay map; P!ltient Zeiq,. who was.blamed_ for_bringingi11IV_to the United §tates.
.· IT'he,dang~r in contimμngro,talk,i1bqutns~ categon;,s.1~•.thatmanypeq~le:who
don't use drugs or have sex. with "hunq.i;eds or partners will erroneously :vtew HIV as
of no concern to them .. Consider thai:' heterosexual women 'of color actually ,
acco~ted for 85 percent of new AIDS infections in 2003. Sex with HIV-pos!tive men
is the primary means by which straight women bec~nie ~fected, and many.of· these
women firinly oelieve. they're in monogamous rej.attonships. .
. As one AIDS researcher told JIN Plus_ magazine, "There is a_whole set.of
women who .dori't have a clue that their male· partners .have outside rell!:ti9n.sl;rips."
And there are other wome_n who may indeed be in monogamous hetemsepial
relationships - but with men who. previously had unsafe. sex with other ~co:"
The contiouiqg stigma -;\ttacheg. .• to homosexuality and bisexuality isJ~ely to
blame for thi.s explqsion of HIV ampng those who mistakenly thoughqlj.9' -were safe
fro~ the disease. Many men "on the down iow" put their unknowing female partners
at risk b~cause admitting they like to have sex with men would be viewed.as
disgraceful, unmanly~ Br even sinful. . .
Comvounding tlie problem is our public education system, which, like much
public-health policy; evades the complexities of human sexuality and_ psychology. .
While it reduces money for AIDS programs, the federal government increases funding
for "abstinence-only" sex education, despite a lac_k of .evidence that these programs
work. Indeed, a. report from U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) showed s?me
abstinence-only programs providing false infonnatioo that put kids at risk tor
pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.. . . . . . continued next page ·
Page 25
Lesbian Notions . ...
And a recent study in the president's
home state found that abstinence-only
education had not prevented students
there from becoming progressively more
sexually active.
The result is a classic catch-22. The
best way to erode the stigma of HIV
would be to start in the schools with
accurate sex education aimed at helping
all kids acquire knowledge about
behavior that would keep them safe. But
schools have their hands tied by a federal
government committed to the idea that
promoting one kind of identity - being
heterosexual and married - is the panacea
for all of society's problems.
Sadly, that approach is based on the
reality of only a small number of people.
In fact, kids are human, and most
humans - even the deeply religious -
want to have sex, especially when their
hormones are raging. And as Shelby
Knox, a young Christian sex-education
activist whose story will be told on an
episode on PBS's POV series this June,
puts it, ''.ff [ki<l:s] are going to have sex,
they need t6 lrnow the consequences.
And they need to know how to protect
themselves.''
One step we can all take is to lobby
our representatives in Washington to
pass the Responsible Education About
Life Act (REAL), which would create a
grant program for states to offer broader
sex education programs that include
information about contraceptives and
safer sex. Such a bill faces an uphill
struggle in the current climate of fear
and repression. But without an attempt
to address this serious education
shortfall, HIV, one of our greatest
public-health challenges, will continue to
spread as "someone else's disease.''
Gay Buying
rP
at $610 Billion
in 2005
Latest Apalysis by WiteckCombs
Communications
and Packaged Facts
Washington, D.C. February 1, 2005 -
The total buying power of the U.S. gay,
lesbian and bisexual (GIB) adult
population in 2005 is projected to be $610
billion, according to the latest analysis by
Witeck-Combs Communications and
Packaged Facts (a division of
MarketResearch.com). The estimate was
originally derived in a joint study by both
organizations entitled, "The U.S. Gay and
Lesbian Market." In 2004, the gay buying
power projection was estimated at $580
billion.
In releasing the latest projection, Bob
Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs
Communications said, "Validating buying
power is a reliable business tool for
companies and policy decision-makers. It
provides the most compelling snapshot of
the economic activity of America's diverse
gay, lesbian and bisexual population.''
Since 1993, Witeck-Combs
Communications, Inc. has provided
expert counsel to Fortune 500 companies
in designing marketing communications
strategies for the gay consumer market.
Quotable Quotes
"Actress Portia De Rossi is having the
tattoo of her ex-girlfriend's initials
· removed from her ring finger now that
she's seeing comedienne Ellen
DeGeneres."
- United Press International, Dec. 28.
Ask Uncle Mikey
Advice Column!
MARCH 2005
Uncle Mikey bringing you the latest in all things
queer. Oh kittens, allow uncle a moment to share
about an experience that Uncle had this week. I
,was sitting by the fire minding my very own biz,
.when I felt my scope go to full alert. I did a quick
ninety degree when our eyes met, uncle felt a
serge. It seemed the delivery guy was there
bringing Uncle a package. He even brought me
some stuff I had bought. It was like a full service
happy train. After I accepted delivery, Uncle
attempted to be gracious. Kittens-word of advice,
do not feed the trick-please. They will never leave
,_ ___________ _, if you do. Well, as they say, it was an easy kill.
Dear Uncle,
My roommate and I have been Jiving together now for a year and a half. Things have
really been nice, as we have built a friendship, and become really close. I now find
myself looking for more than just a roommate, as he drives me crazy, in a good way.
I am afraid though if we play arouna it could ruin the current situation, which is
worktng out so nicely. I watch him walking around the apartment naked, and I have
to take cold showers to control my urges. He is beautiful, funny, rod kind. Should I
tell him about tny feelings for him? I am seriously nervous, as I do not wrot to lose
such a wonderful roommate. It is not easy finding a good one. What should I do?
Confused in the other room
Dear Confused:
Kitten first; uncle would have you define feelings here. As it were, I heard .attraction
and not really feelings. If sex is what we are talking about, I would think twice before
jumping those bones on the way for the midnight snack. Sex could make things
weird. Imagine living with a trick you hne had. Waking up and seeing that face
which, you no longer find remotely attractive. This is potentially harmful . for your
relationship with a roommate. On the other hand, if you have truly built this
mutually rewarding friendship, and there are mutual feelings of admiration, you
could be on the threshold of a love affair. It is the best place to start a relationship
and that is as friends. However, know the risk you take. As if it does not work out,
there is going to be carnage here. So, weigh out your feelings and or attraction
carefully while making the best decision for you both.
Smooches uncle
These is nothing sweeter than forbidden fruit kittens, however there is always the
price in the end. Know this price, and think with your head not your member. We all
know that will save a lot of troublesome aftershock.
Dear Uncle:
There is a man that has been following me around. That is what it.feeis like as I am
constantly seeing him around. He has not spoken to me, or anything, but every time
I turn around there he is. I am thinking he is shy, and wondering if I should make the
first move? Mv best friend told me he is a stalker, and that I should not let him near
me. I work in' a public place in retail, and he always seems to be near watching me.
Stalker guy
Well, kitten there is a iine that comes to mind here. It puts the lotion on its skin, or it gets the
hose again. Have you read the papers recently? One must be careful in this day and :age. While,
Page27
your stalker might have some bragging
quality for afterwards, there might not
be an afterwards. I would heed your
friends advice and keep your distance. To
avoid ending up on the milk carton
kitten. If this mro is worthy of your
interest he will find a way to make an
introduction. If not he is most likely not
someone you want to have a random
hook up with. Kittens-Uncle cannot
express this point enough. With all of the
weirdoes out there, you must be careful.
Forgive uncle here, for a trailer moment;
however, there is ho booty call worth
risking your life. There are too many
outlets for safe encounters and hooking
up.
Smooches uncle
Kittens, sometimes in life, we encounter
problems, which stem from soc.ial
surroundings in our life. Children raised
to believe sexuality is a bad thing, will
eventually face these troublesome affairs,
when faced with their own adult
sexuality. There is no shame in seeking
help for yourself. Anyone that tells you
otherwise, most likely has some social
disorder them selves, like a ass-a-si-diss. It
is important to utilize the help available
to us ill through good mental health
providers. Search out one before going.
There are numerous providers, which are
gay friendly, advertised in most gay
publications. Going to the wrong mental
health provider could only add to the
issues you already face. Here is wishing
you and your willy good health.
Kittens, I guess that about wraps it up
for this month. Uncle enjoys his time
with his kittens. Remember this as you
go at another week of that wonderful
roller coaster we call queer life. Behind
every good man, is another good man!
Smooches Uncle Mikey and Tiddles too.
Unck J6leey is a ch.rllCIC' from Frttl4na writer
Micfud Hinnrun. MuJ,,,d h,,.s 1-i vmtingfor ten
ye,irs. Utilizing his st#dies, and life expmt:nce to hdp
others in his comm,mity, tbroMgh h,mior and s<n1nd
adflia. Mkh,,d 4J1P&iJ his stwdy of pryd,o/,,gy and
autiflt! writing, AS wdl his extensive b.tc/egroMnd in
menu[ he4/th Dim:: c,ir,: to bring" m!fll style and
approach to hdping others. Michad's other works om
be~ at -.KJtJlinlwmtent.com.
"REMEMBER TO LOVE"
fundraiser hosted by
. Bamboo Lounge.
ry
WI.SA, OK"' Guest host Kris Kohl
(top photo) ~th scrumptious Ebony
Hall and delicious Mike Busby gave a
roaring performance at the Bamboo
Lounge
on Sat.
February
19th to a
standing
room
only
crowd.
All
proceeds
from the show went to Tulsa
CARES, a
ated to
fit raised
$240 for Tulsa Cares medical assistance
program. Congratulations to
the show cast and Bamboo owners
Terry and Stan for a worthy job well
done.
Page 28
Deep Inside
Hollywood
by:Romeo San
Vicente
MARCH 2.0.05
1 . .
the Prairie
Romeo thinks th:~ oest tiioment to make
the film version of sorr1'gili(ng is when
the adapted intellectual pioperty in
question is long past its initial'burst of
popularity. It's just less foi:ce& and
marketing-team-driven that way. Robert
Altman must agree, '.qecause finally, years
after its 1980s moment in the pop-culture
sun, Garrison Keillor's still-running
public radio program, _A Prairie Home
Companion_, is making its way to the
big screen. And rather than visit the
townspeople of Keillor's Lake Wo~~gon,
the film is a fictionalized behind~tlie.::
scenes look at the production of Fiil
show. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep.
(word is, they play a · of singing
sisters) will star alon singer/actors
Tom Waits and Lyle Lovett, and
_SNL_'s Maya Rudolph, not to mention
crooning host Keillor Himself. The .
show's gentle humor sh6uld hit screens
sometime in 2006, which is no wait at all
for patient Midwesterners.
Wham! It's a George Michael Movie
The pop star that no one bothered to notice
was gay even after that "Wake Mc Up
Before You Go-Go" video - is now the subject
of a no-holds-barred documentary. The film
is called _George Michael: A Different
Story_, and it stars the iconic '80s heartthrob
as tour guide to bis own career. Already seen
on British television, the movie recently hit
the big screen at the Berlin Film Festival and
should be making the festival rounds in the
States soon enough. In the film, !'l,fichael visits
childhood haunts, talks for the first time
about his &mily, and touch.es on painful
recent memories as well (his partner was
gravely ill with AIDS while Jl..fichael
performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute
Concert). The testimonial line-up includes Sir
Elton John, Boy George, Mariah Carey, and
Simon Cowell. And Wbam!-obsessives will be
thrilled .to know that Michael is reunited oncamera
with former singing p~tner Andrew
Ridgely fur the first time in nearly 20 years.
Izzard Tries on New Outfits
It's getting so you barely see the man in drag
anymore. Not that cross-dressing comedian
Eddie Izzard's complaining. It's just that bis
mainstream acting career, t.J.ie one that more
often than not puts bim in guy clothes, is
taldng off like never before. The hilarious
Brit has just been tapped to star in an as-yetuntitled
pilot for cable channel FX, in which
he'll play an Irish con man who relocates to
the American South. If it goes to series, he'll
have to find a way to fit in his other planned
roles, like in _Macbeth_ on Broadway.
Meanwhile, £ms can see him soon.in John
Turturro's upcoming musical, ...,Romance &
Cigarettes_, which co-stars James Gandolfini,
Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslct, Mandy
Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Elaine Stritch,
Bobby Cannavale, and Amy Sedaris. Looks
like those Manolos will just have to cool their
heels for a while.
Latifah's Career Is _Stranger Than
Fiction_Is Queen Latifah on the same path
to Oscar as Halle Berry? The former rapper
and lesbian &vc has Marc Forster, the
director of critically acclaimed films like
_Finding Nevcrland_ and _Monster's Ball_,
in her comer these days, so anything's
possible. Latifah has signed on to co-star in
Forster's latest film, _Stranger Than Fiction_,
alongside Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman,
Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Emma Thompson.
It's the story of an IRS auditor who begins
hearing the narration of his life - a running
commentary audible only to him, and one
that begins to affect everythjng he does. No
word on Latifah's role in the film, but if
_Finding Ncverbnd_ takes home its share of
Academy Awards, then expect the buzz
around her and the film to grow iouder as the
year goes on.
Page 29
· Heart to Heart
Born for Love
By Josh Aterovis
once wrote, "All men and ·women are born '
live suffer and die; what distinguishes us on~·
from another is our dreams, whether they be
dreams about. worldly or unworldly thlngs,
and what we do to make them come about ..
We do not choose to be born. We do not
choose our parents. We do not choose ~ur
historical epoch, the country of our birth, or
the immediate circumstanc.es of our
upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to
die; nor do we choose the time and
conditions of our death. But within this
realm of choice!essncss, we do choose how
we live."
He's right, of course. Life is all about
choices. Every day we make myriad choices,
from the mundane (What will I cat for
breakfast?), to the ~omentous (Should I
come out?).
In 1970, Epstein caused a firestorm of
controversy when he wrote a cover story for
Harper's magazine titled: "Homo/Hetero:
The Struggle For Sexual Identity." In the
article, Epstein wrote: "If I had the oower to
do so, I wouid wish homoscruality ~ff the
&cc of this earth.'' He went on to sav, "I do
think homosexuality an anathema, a~d hence
homosexuals cursed, and thus the
importance, for me if for no one else, of my
defining a homosexual as someone who has
physical relations, for it leaves room for my
admiration for the man who is pulled toward
homosexuality and resists, at what psychic
price I cannot hope even to begin to
imagine.'.' In other words, if you "give in" to
the pull of homosexuality, you are cursed,
but if you resist that choice then vou're okay.
Despite the fact that Epstein is a proud ,
Jewish man, this is a common belief held by
many in the Religious Right. They believe
that honiosi;xuality is a choice.
This bdief is at the core of the debate over
gay rights. Should gays be allowed to marry?
Should gays be protected from
discrimination? Is being gay a sin? It all boils
do · · · · ··· que~tion: is being gay a choice?
. . .. . . rive answer to this, but a
growing body of scientific evidence may be
pointing to a genetic or, at the very least,
biological basis for sexual orientation.
According j:o)he American Psychological
Associarion3s wc:bsit~,' "There arc numerous
theories about the· origins of a person's sexual
orientation; most s9,entists today agree that
sexual orientation kll).ost-likely the result of
a complex interaction of environmental
cognitive and biologfral ~ctors. In mos:
people, !exual orico.tatioq;j~ ~haped at an
early age. There is also · · · able recent
evide?ce t~ suggest tha . . including
g.en:ttc or mborn horm :, ... factors, play a
sigruficant role in a person's sexuality. In
summary, it is important'.'to recognize that
there are probably many reasons for a
person's sexual orientation;and the reasons
may be different for different people."
As reported in New_~cicntist, a srudy
from Oregon Health and Sdence Univcrsitv
in 2002 found that the. br~s of gay sheep ·
(and apparently as mmy. as dne in ten sheep
express exclusively gay sicfμal preferences)
showed small but distinct _differences in a part
of the brain called the J:ij,p'qthalamus when
compared with rams that[tiieferred to mate
with ewes. The diffcrenc"~(~ii.s in a particular
region of the hypothalamus . the preoptic
nucleus. The region is generally almost twice
as laigc in Illms as in ewes, but in gay rams
its size was almost identical to that in '
"straight" females. · ·
These fin4!nga matched those of the
neuroscientist Simori li.eV:ay .in his studies of
the brains of gay men: His work has alwavs
been considered controversial, partly bec;use
the brains he studied were mostly from men
who had died of AIDS. So it was, not clear
whether the differences were reh.ted to the
disease or to sexual orientation. The results of
the sheep srudy would indicate that the
differences in fact were reiated to orientation.
In a separate study released in 2004, a
group of Itltlian geneticists led bv Ancirea
Camperio-Ciani of tne Universig· of Padua
........................... continued pg-32
Page 30
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Page 32 Editors Rant cont. from pg 4 ..
A Missouri Discrimination Bill
House Bill 328, introduced by Rep.
Baker proposes to eliminate state funds
to any entity-public or private-that
has a nondiscrimination policy that
exceeds federal protections against
discrimination. While this bill was
introduced in direct response to the
University of Missouri, which last year
added "sexual orientation" to the list of
groups protected under their nondiscrimination
policy, it will have
drastic effects on businesses,
organizations, and charities all over the
state. There are hundreds of public and
private entities in Missouri which rely
on state funds for financial suppon.
Last month, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Circuit Judge Tim Fox struck down a 1999
regulation by the state's Child Welfare
Agency Review Board that said homosexuals
could not be foster parents. Fox said the
board had exceeded its mandate to protect
the health, safety or welfare of foster
children, and he issued an order barring·
enforcement of the rule. Meanwhile, state
legislators are considering a bill. that would
prohibit homosexuals from. ~ecomirig
adoptive or foster parents. Rep~ Bob Adams,
D-Sheridan, and Sen. Jim Holt, RSpringdale,
filed House Bill 1119. The bill
would order the Human Services
Department or any agency involved in
adoption and foster <1Ce not to place a child
with homosexual parents or in a home that
has a homosexual adult. The bill also says
that Arkansas public polity should preserve
public morality with respect to childreh in
the foster care system: ·
"'Lesbianism is so ra t in some of the
schools in southeast ma that they'll
only let one girl go the bathroom ..... How
is it that- that's happened to us?"
Sen. Tom Coburn, (R-OK}
Assoc. Press, October 11, 2004
This is only a sampling of what we
are up against here in America. Yes, it's
time write to your Senators, get out the
protest signs and go back to work.
Holiday party time is over a we must
dig out the combat boots (or Joan
Crawford pumps if your prefer),
prepare to fight a difficult battle to
defeat discriminatory laws that do and
will govern us.
C.D. Ward/Editor in Chief
Heart to Heart from pg-29
may have provided the answer to one of the
greatest paradoxes of homosexuality: the
Darwinian dead-end. How can homosexuality
be genetic when gay men don't have
children? The researchers' findings suggest
that the same genetic fuctors-as yet
unidentified-linked to homosexuality in
men may also be linked to increased fertility
in women. "This is a novel finding," Dr.
Le Vay said. "We think of it as genes for 'male
homosexuality', but it might really be genes
for sexual attraction to men. These could
predispose men towards homosexuality and
women towards 'hyper-heterosexuality',
causing women to have more sex with men
and thus have more offspring."
Twin studies have also revealed some
strong evidence for a biological basis.].
Michael Bailey and Richard Pillard studied
the gayness between monozygotic (or
identical) twins, dizygotic ( or fraternal)
twins, and non-related adopted brothers.
They found that 52% of identical twins were
both self-identified homosexuals, 22% of
fraternal twins were gay, and only 5% of nonrelated
adopted brothers were so. Bailey and
Pillard repeated the study with the samf
results· and later cxp~ririients found· similar
evidence in Jcm,ales .. These studies seem to
conclusively demonstrate that there is at least
some genetic component that leads to the
development of homosexuality.
However, it is important to note that
none of these studies suggests that there is a
single "gay gene." In fact, they all seem to
indicate a more. likely scenario of numerous
genetic and environmental influences. It's
also important to realize that none of these
studies can be considered conclusive. Much
more research needs to be done, but science
seems to be pointing towards biological
factors in detcrmuiing our sexuality.
Is being gay a choice? Only in the sense
that, while we inay not make the choice to be
atttllctcd to the same sex, we do make choices
about whether we act on those attractions or
not. We choose whc.ther we wili live our lives
honestly or in the closet. We choose whether
to iove as our.hearts desire or to deny an
integral part of who we are.
Arc we born gay? Maybe a better question
would be arc WC born to love? Benjamin
Disraeli once said, "We arc all born for love.
It is the principle of existence, and its only
end." If we don't have a choice in who we
love, is it really a choice at all?
Page 33
If you're looking for a real treat,
however, consider staying 20 miles south
in the up-and-coming oceanfront village
of Delray Beach, at the spectacular and
very gay-friendly Sundy House Inn. This
historic compound is worth a visit just
for dinner at the stellar De la Tierra
Restaurant, where you might sample
such globally inspired treats as baked
stuffed baby conch with plantain salad,
and ancho-cinnamon pork tenderloin
with sweet corn, Manchego cheese,
onion chutney, and baby com. This 1902
inn, surrounded by magnificent botanical
gardens, offers plenty of leg room,
including several one- and two-bedroom
apartments with laundry facilities and
fully stocked kitchens. For the ultimate
in pampering, opt for the fabulous
Honeymoon Cottage, which is outfitted
with a Jacuzzi tub, fireplace, flat-screen
plasma TV, DVD player, and VCR. Far
removed from Palm Beach's stuffy
confines, the Sundy House Inn
nevertheless ranks among the area's most
sumptuous hideaways.
_Andrew Collins is the author of Fodor's
Gay Guide to the USA and nine additional
travel guides.
The Little Black Book
Bice Ristorante (313 1/2 Worth Ave., Palm
Beach, 561-835-1600). The Breakers (1 South
County Rd., Palm Beach, 561-655-6611 or
888-273-2537, www.thebrcakers.com).
Chesterfield Palm Beach (363 Cocoanut Row,
Palm Beach, 561-659-5800 or 800-243-7871,
www.chestcrficldpb.com). Chuck and
Harold's (207 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm
Beach, 561-659-1440). CityPlace (700 S.
Rosemary Ave., 561-366-1000,
www.cityplacc.com). Cabana (118 Clematis
St., West Palm Beach, 561-833-4773). Cupids
Cabaret (4430 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm
Beach, 561-642-5299). 5101 (5101 S. Dixie
Hwy., West Palm Beach, 561-585-2379).
Flagler Museum Gust ofi Cocoanut Row,
Palm Beach, 561-655-2833). Four Seasons
Ocean Grand (2800 S. Ocean Blvd., 561-582-
2800 or 800-819-5053,
w-ww.fourseasons.com). Grandview Gardens
B&B (1608 W. Lake Ave., West Palm Beach,
561-833-9023, www.gcandview-gardens.net).
Hamburger Heaven (314 S. County Rd.,
Pa!m Beach, 561-655-5277). H.G. Roosters
(823 Belvedere Rd., \YI est Palm Beach,
561-832-9119). Hibiscus House (501 30th
St., West Palm Beach, 561-863-5633 or
800-203-4927, www.hibiscushouse.com).
Hotel Biba (320 Belvedere Rd., West
Palm Beach, 561-832-0094,
www.hotelbiba.com). Kashmir (1651 S.
Congress Ave., West Palm Beach, 561-
649-5557). Norton Museum of Art (1451
S. Olive Way, Palm Beach, 561-832-
5196). Palm Beach County Convention
and Visitors Bureau (561-233-3000,
www.palmbeachfl.com). Raymond F.
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
(701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm
Beach, 561-832-7469). Respectable Street
Cafe (518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach,
561-832-9999). Reson Lounge (CityPlace,
700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach,
561-805-9600). Rhythm (3800 S. Dixie
Hwy., West Palm Beach, 561-833-3406).
Sundy House Inn (106 S. Swinton Ave.,
Delray Beach, FL, 561-272-5678,
www.sundyhouse.com).
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Page 34 Seo es
by Jack Fertig
:MARCH 2005
"Enjoy magic, Sagittarius!"
Sun conjunct Uranus brings wild
surprises and inspirations to light. This
line-up in Pisces will make those
surprises especially mystical, artistic,
and otherworldly.
ARIES (March 21 to April 20): Let one of
your more spiritual friends take you to
church, synagogue, mosque, Wiccan
circle, seance, or whatever. It won't lead
you to any conversion, but vou will
gain new perspectives so that you can
reconsider your ideals.
TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): What does
"success" really mean to you? Think
about it long and hard, and the answer
may surprise you. A shock from your
boss is likely to be a blessing in disguise.
Be ready for new opportunities in
unexpected directions.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 21): Your
mouth is likely to get you into trouble,
but you're used to that. Try keeping
your ears and mind open, instead of
your mouth, and what you stand to
learn can start you thinking in radically
new ways.
CANCER Qune 22 to July 22): This is a
great time to explore new erotic
adventures, and all kinds of barriers can
falL Doubie-check your safety
precautions - from standard prophylaxis
to safe words. Don't be shy; just be
careful!
LEO (july 23 to August 22): Recent
weirdness in your relationship - or
about nor having one - is coming to a
head. It's time to get clear about what's
going on. Even if things get briefly ugly,
they'wili improve in the long run.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22): See a
doctor, acupuncturist, or other health
practitioner right now. There's
probably nothing seriousiy wrong, but
any lingering - or normally invisible
problems are now easiest to identify and
soive.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 21):
Take in the strangest show you can
find. Open your mind to consider
the most preposterous artistic
notions you can expose yourself to,
and find your own creative abilities
stimulated in directions that will
amaze you.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21):
If your home life was ever normal, it
won't be now. Plumbing, foundations,
and parents can offer very rude
surprises, but they're easier to deal with
now than later. Community
involvement offers unusual rewards.
SAGITIARIUS (November 22 to
December 20): Your mouth is further
ahead of your brain than usual, and
your brain seems to be meandering
along some very odd paths. Enjoy
whimsy, magic, music, and art; leave
any mathematical or logical efforts
for later.
CAPRICORN (December 21 to January
19): You like your accounts in perfect
order, but they rarely work out so well.
Any glitches and surprises become
clearer now, probably with happy
outcome. Rethinking your priorities
can also turn up some interesting twists.
AQUARIUS Qanuary 20 to Feb~a.ty 18):
Your favorite hobby, re-inventing
yourself, suddenly presents a crisis
with startling possibilities, as it collides
against your highest ideal, selfawareness.
Letting go of control and
admitting what you don't know - your
two least favorite things to do - open
you up to greater knowledge.
PISCES (Febrwuy 19 to March 19): Deep,
deep in the murkiest depths of your
soul - like some subaquatic creature -
there is a profound revelation offering
both illumination and shock. Take
time out for quiet medit:2.tio~ to get
more enlightenment - and to get
burned less.
Jiuk Fertig !Ms been 'fllorleing as a
-professional astrologer sina 1977 and is a
fo,mding mnnber of the Association for
Astrological Networking.
Page 35
BUSH BUDGET CUTS
HURT THOSE LIVING
WITH HIV/ AIDS, PUTS
OTHERS AT RISK
Gaywire Release:
February 7, 2005
"This budget does not reflect the
concern President Bush showed
during his State of the Union for
H!V and Alps care and prevention,"
said HRC Vice President of Policy
David Smith
WASHINGTON - As President Bush
introduced his 2006 budget today, the
Human Rights Campaign expressed grave
con~em about the requested funding of
crucial HIV/ AIDS programs. With the
exception of modest increases for the
AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the
National Institutes for Health, most
other programs that affect people living
with HIV/ AIDS were flat-funded or saw
budget cuts.
"This budget does not reflect the
c~>0cern President Bush showed during
his State of the Union for HIV and AIDS
care and prevention," said HRC Vice
President of Policy David M. Smith.
"Unfortunately, the President's actions
do not match his words."
The Ryan White CARE Act, which
addresses the unmet health needs of
persons living with HIV/ AIDS, was
highlighted in the President's State of the
Union Address last week. Yet the budget
request for the program included only a
~odest $10 million increase, all of which
1s earmarked for the AIDS Drug
Assistance Program (ADAP). All other
programs covered by the Ryan White
CARE Act were flat funded.
In addition, the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) saw a $4 million cut to
its budget for HIV/ AIDS prevention and
survei~ance. At the same time, unproven ·
non-science-based abstineoce-oniy
programs, which do not include
education about how HIV/ AIDS is
transmitted, received $38 ~llion in
additional funding. A recent studv at
Texas A&M University showed that
teenagers taking abstinence-onlv sex
education programs endorsed. by the
President became increasingly ;exuallv
active, which is the exact opposite eff~ct
that the program is designed to have.
"Programs which focus on abstinence
as the sole means of preventing HIV/
AIDS put oq.r young people at
tremendous risk," said Smith. "The
President has repeatedly stated his
commitment to combating the spread of
HIV. We have to question that
com1:°itment when his ideology
consistently outweighs sound scientific
facts."
"The young people of this country
?eed leadership that recognizes the ·
1mpor~ance of comprehensive prevention
educanon, and we hope to work with
leaders on both sides of the aisle in
Congress to make sure thev get it "added
Smith. , '
Despite the President's recognition
that HIV/ AIDS is a growing problem in
communities of color, the Minoritv
AIDS initiative was flat-funded. Al~o,
$14 million was cut from the Housing
for_ Persons Living With AIDS program,
which helps people living with HIV/
AIDS afford housing.· Having stable
living conditions increases the chances of
~trict adherence to drug regimens, which
1s necessary for fighting HIV/ AIDS and
also prevents the development of
medication-resistant strains of the virus.
Unfortunately, President Bush's
budget also includes Medicaid cuts of at
lea.st $45 billion over the next 1 0 years.
These cuts would greatly affect a ·
program that is responsible for providing
health care to 55 percent of all adults
living with AIDS and 90 percent of all
children.
The Human Rights Campaign is the
largest national lesbian, gay, bisexuai and
transgender political organization with
members throughout the country. It
effectively lobbies Congress, provides
campaign support and educates the
public to ensure that LGBT Americans
can be open, honest and safe at home, at
work and in the community.
Page 36 Four States Community Directory
-Bars- Nightclubs- -Restaurants-
Arkansas, Fayetteville (479)
Studio 716- -716 W. Sycamore- - - - 479-571-130
Ron's Place- - - 523 W. Poplar- 479-442-3052
Wild-On . -3570 W. 6th- - - - - 479-521-9453
Arkansas, Fort Smith (479)
Kinkeads- 1004 1/2 Garrison Ave- - -479-783-9988
Club 1022 - -1022 Dodson Ave. - - • -479-782-1845
Arkansas, Hot Sprin&s (501)
Club One Eleven- - 111 Gilden St- -620-4111
Our House Lounge - 660 E. Grand Ave- -624-6868
Arkansas, Little Rock (501)
Back Street - - - -1021 Jessie Rd- --501-664-2744
Discovery- - 1021 Jessie Rd- -- - - · 501-666-6900
The Factory -412 Louisiana St.- -501-372-3070
Missouri, Joplin (417)
Ree's- .. • 716 S. Main•••••• -417-627-9035
Missouri, Kansas City (816)
Buddies - - - - - 3715 Main St- - 816-561-2600
Belle Star's- - 1321 Gnnd Ave- - - -816-421-1288
Club NV - - 220 Admiral Blvd- - 816-421-NVKC
DB Warehouse- -- 1915 Main St- - - -816-471-1575
Missie B's- - - -805 W. 39th St- - -- - 816-561-0625
Sidemeet Bar -413 E. 3rd- - - - - - 816-531-1775
Sidekicks Saloon 370? Main St- 816- 931-1430
Missouri, Springfield (417)
The Edge- -424 Boonville Ave- - - - - --417-831-4700
Liquors & Kickers- -1109 E. Commercial-873-2225
Martha's Vineyard- 219 W Olive - -417-864-4572
Oz Bar - 504 E. Commercial••••• -417-831-9001
Ronisuz Place- - --821 College- - - - - - -417-864-0036
Rumors - -1109 E. Commercial- - - 417-873-2225
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
Boom Room- 2807 NW 36th St- -405-601-7200
Club Rox- - - -3535 NW 39th E:tpwy 405-9-47-2351
Copa- - - - -2200 NW 39th Expwy- -405-525-0730
Finish Llne -2200 NW 39th Expwy- - 405-525-0730
Hi-Lo Club - 1221 NW SOth- - - -405-843-1722
Lido- - -2200 NW 39th Expwy- 405-525-0730
Partners- -2805 NW 36th St - - • - • 405-942-2199
Sisters- - 2120 NW 39th St - - - • - -405-521-9533
The Rockies- - -3201 N. May Ave - • - - 405-947-9361
Topanga Grill & Bar- 3535 NW 39th--405-947-2351
Oklahoma, Tulsa (918)
Bamboo Lounge- 7204 E. Pine - • •- 918-836-8700
Club Maverick· • 822 S. Sheridan · 918-835-3301
End Up Club- - 424 S. Memorial- - 918-836-2480
Heads & Tails- 7944 E. 2bt - - • - 918-660-7878
Club Majestic- 124 N. Boston 918-584-949-4
Renegades- - 1649 S. Main -918-585-3405
Play-Mor-Club- - 1737 S. Memorial - -918-838-9792
TNT's - .. - 2! 14 S. Memorial- 918-660-0856
Yellow-Bricic-Rci- -2630 E. 15th- 918-293-0304
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
Gushers Restaurant-2200 NW 39Exp405-525-0730
Ingrids Kitchen- -3701 N. Youngs- - -405-946-8444
Topanga Grill&: Bar- 3535 NW 39th--405-947-2351
-LodgingMI111ouri,
Joplin (417)
Fairfield Inn by Marriott- - - - - 417-624-7800
Missouri, Ava
Catus Canyon Campground- - - - - 417-683-9199
Mlasouri, Lampe
KOKOMO Campground - - - - - - - - 417-779-5084
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City (405)
Hollywood.Hotel- 3535 NW 39th Ex-405-947-2351
Habana Inn 2200 NW 39th Exp- -405-528-2221
-OrganizationsArkansas,
Avoca
Natural State Naturists- - · · · - -479-451-8066
Arkansas, Eureka Springs
MCC Uving Spring- - - - - - - - - • - -870-253-9337
Arkansas, Little Rock (501)
Diamond State Rodeo Assoc.- - - www.dsra.org
Kansas, Pittsburg (620)
River of Life Church - 1709 N Walnut - -11AM
PSU-QSA.- - 1701 S. Broadway- - - - 620-231-0938
Missouri,Joplin (417)
MCC Spirit of Christ-2902 E 20th, · · · · 6PM
UCCFF--204 N. Jackson Ave, - - - • c -10:30.AM
Aids Project Ozarks- 513 Kentucky- 417-624-5788
Ml111011ri, Springfield (417)
Rainbow Christian Ch-837 W. Madison- 866-6206
Unitarian Universalat Church - - - -417-833-2723
APO- - - 1901 E. Bennett, suite D- 417-881-1900
ShowMe MO Pride • - - - - - . - --417-864-4459
GLO Comm. Ctr- -518 E. Commerical- -869-3978
PFLAG-Springfield- - - - - - - -417-889-1059
PROMO SW MO- promoswmo@hotmail.com
Oklahoma, Oklalloma City (405)
Cathedral of Hone- - 600 NW 13th St- 232-HOPE
The Cente.r• ~ 21;5 NW 39th St. - • - - 405-524-6000
Tribal Fire - - - - • - - - - - -www.tribalfireokc.com
Oklahoma, McAlester
McPride- - •• -POBox 1515, McAlester, OK 74502
Page 37
Oklahoma, Tulsa (918)
GLBT Comm. Ctr- -5545 E. 41st- 918-743-4297
MCC United- -1623 N. Maplewood- -918-838-1715
SSRA - - • • • • • • • •·· www.soonerstatetodeo.com
TOHR- - - - - - - - PO Box 2687, Tulsa, OK 74101
Tulsa CARES- -3507 E. Admiral Pl- - 918-834-4194
Tulsa Rough Riders- -www.tulsaroughriden.com
. -Business ServicesArkansas,
Eureka Spring~
Diversity Pride Events - - www.diversitypride.com
. Missouri, Eureka . .
Shelter Insurimcc- -Greg Tainter- - 636-938-5500
Missouri, Joplin (417) .
Body Swim Massage Therapy- - - -417~825-5800
Charles Burt Realtors-Vicki Bronson-- -434-.0077
RE/MAX~ - -CatheLetts----- 417-483-5313
Office Max- -440 Rangcline Rd- - 417-623-1007
Joan Szymanski- Beauty Consult,- 4170673-1181
Missouri, Springfield (417)
Priscilla's - • - - 1918 s: Glenstone - -417-881-8444
Oklahoma, Broken Arrow
Spas N Such- - : - 808 N. 15th - • - --918-258-7727
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City
Century21 • -4301 NW 63rd #100 - 405- 840-2106
Jungl«;Reds - • - 2200 NW ~wy- - - 405-524-5733.
Piece T~·R~ein~ef-2131 NW 39th~ -405-528-2223
Oklahoma, Tulsa (918)
Elite Bookstore -,.814 S. Sheridan- -918-838-8503
Kelly Kirliy, CPA.~ 4815 S Harvard- 918-747-5466
Underguy.com .. -825 E. 3rd. - - - 918-829-0824
Priscilla's- __ :7925 E: 41st . -918-627-4884
Pnscill;'.s : · - -. 5634 w. Skelly • • - --918-446-6336
Priscilla:!".; -: i 1344 E. 11th •• - •.. 918-438-4224
Piiscillai- -~ :.·2333 E. 71st, •• - • -- 918-499-1661
co~ntiy jn which one
- the one th.at happens to
co ches of the federal
govemme¢t - . 'activat~s' ,'its 'Ba~e by
demoniiiIIg, scapegoatibg, :i11d_actively
perseci:f~ng homos, a tiny a11'd: relatively
defenseles!, minority Jt~put,licans
tell the ' . th that the
and lesbians. is a thr~at
to the American family, Western
civilizllri<>n,. aQd, as one bigwig R recently
put it, 'tlie. survival of the earth.' At
some point the Rs are either g()ing to
have to .rp.hlce good on their rhetoric and
actually cl.b so,giething about all the
homos 'out,theie imperiling the surviva.l
ir (hey, maybe we're
.for global warming?), or
they're going to have to knoc;k it off."
_;.:. SJPdic~t~d • columnist Dan. Savage,
Dec. 29; ·
Pag~ 38
NEW cART□□ Ns "A Couple _of Guy~"·
A Couple
of guys•
~~~
Page39
Achella, Bear Nak
Corsets, Kenneth C
Rope, lby's Toys.
-May 1
$100 througli · Marc'1 15, 2005
$115 J\tarclf 1~;;;; ~pril 15
$150 after April 15
Rev Pat·
Sebastian
Sheryl Dee
Spo
Stephanie
r Teny Brown
VictorTella
X
ska, Kansas.
kansas
e run package .
. ar!nformation,
usltr04@aol.com
ntest, Cigar
ring, Fetish
nee ai;id
ies Included
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
[2005] The Star Magazine, February 1, 2005; Volume 2, Issue 2
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
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Star Media, Ltd
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Star Media, Ltd
Date
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February 1, 2005
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
Greg Steele
Lady Bunny
Michael Dee
Douglas Glen
Steve T. Urie
Paula Martinec
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Michael Hinzman
Jack Ferlig
Chaz
Format
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Image
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PDF
Language
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English
Type
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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
Western Arkansas
Eastern Oklahoma
Southwest Missouri
Southeast Kansas
The United States of America (50 states)
Source
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https://history.okeq.org/collections/show/19
Relation
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The Ozark Star Magazine, January 1, 2005; Volume 2, Issue 1
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/143
The Star, May 1, 2005; Volume 2, Issue 5
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/219
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/178
Alternatives to the bar scene
anti-gay foster care ban
Bars
Deep Inside Hollywood
discrimination
Don't Ask
Don't Tell
gay tv
Gay/lesbian city
Lesbian Notions
National Stonewall Democrats
nightclubs
Planet Dee
Qscopes
scholarships
Studio@NV
The Merchant of Venice
The Star Scene
travel
Tulsa
Uncle Mikey
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/86009e2a89c5ab0809299cc7aa9a18d8.png
5390642c3dd2f61de444d75275868734
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b2b71b122503385819a83c85679b2487.pdf
e39dccbb24c0542ce7d6436d28e23dd5
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
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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
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.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
magazine
Text
Any textual data included in the document
Volume 1 Issue 4
A LGBT COMMUNITY VOICE
M
A
G
A
z
I
N
E
"It's A Life, Not A Lifestyle" April 1, 2004
71-1300 ·www.studio716.net
Daily Craziness
NightPlus .. $1.75 Longnecks& $2
Well Drinks
Night
Plus-$1.75 Longneck$2 .. 00 Well
Fri: High N'RGY Dance All Night
Plus- $5.00 Beer Bust Till Midnight
& Drink Specials. No Cover
Members Packed Crowd.
Bust Till Midnight. No Cover
Members Packed Crowd
Member Appreciation. No Cover,
$2 off Bar.
Show Every Other Sunday
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page 2 April 1, 2004
Publisher:
Ozarks Pride
2401 E. 32nd St., Suite 10-243
Joplin, Missouri 64804-3128
www.ozarkspride.com
Editor: C.D. Ward (editor@ozarkspride.com)
Member: National Lesbian Gay Journalist Association
Contributing Writers:
T.J. Kelly
Greg Steele
Columnist:
Steve T. Urie
Correspondents:
Ryan T. Raymond
Contents:
Steve T. Urie - page 2
Editor's Page -page 3
Know Your Rights- Page 4
Gay Travelers- Page 7
Gay Military Discharges Plummet- page9
Ozarks Pride Out Cruzin- page 10
Destination New Orleans- page 13
Classifieds-page 18
Community Directory- page 19
Advertising Rates:
Card Size Ad- $12.00 per issue (3 Month Minimum)
Subscription- $10.00 (3 months)
Classifieds- $6.00 first 15 words- 25cents each
additional.
Email: advertising@ozarkspride.com
Phone (417) 437-2275 for larger and full page ad
rates.
Deadline for a!! advertising, articles and
payment is tile 20th of each month for the
next months issue.
Ozarks Pride Magazine ia publiahed & diatributed monthly as a
community service by Ozarh Pride Group of Joplin, Missouri.
Publicalion of the name, phologniph or likeoeas oi any person,
business or organization in this publication is not to be con1truod as
any indicaUon of sexual orientation or preference• of auch ptrson.
business or organization.
Opinions expressed by columnists. advertisers or Leflory to th& Editor
ore oot nece5larily tho opinion of Ozarli• Pridt IJ!genno, ,1, 1/0/f, tho
publlsher or it'l sdvorlisors.
Content of ldve1ti,ements and arUcies are the to.lo re1ponaibl:lty of
the advertiser ar.d /or aathor. The Publisher oi Ozaits Prid• l.lagozine
mservei the right to refu6e advertising malerial for any re.1son what so
ever. Ozs~3 Pride and all likenesses thera of are sole propertioa o:
DON'T LET
THE LIGHT
GO OUT ...
DON'T LET THE
LIGHT GO OUT!
I was reminded recently that many
people throughout history have had to
fight for their freedoms and we MUST
TAKE A STAND just as they did. Taking
a stand to protect our rights as people that
God has blessed. I would like to think that
our Creator has not put us on the back
burner but has indeed saved the best for
last. A group of people that within it's
very core is made up of all the tribes on
earth. A group of people that is made up
from every minority group around the
world but living right next door to you!
Yes fromBiblical times to today,
humankind has been the cause of putting
people down, taking advantage of those
they felt didn't fit in and allowing
themselves to allude that it is God's will.
They have taken up the God battle flag to
take slaves, to put down women, to put
down people of color and now to put
down our community.
Peter, Paul and Mary sing a song
about a Jewish group that suffered greatly
for their freedoms but set God's light into
action for all people. In that song they ask
that we not let the "light go out" and this
song was part ofthemusic during the
Civil Rights Movement during the 60's. I
believe that we must take up that banner
today, that our response to the world
should be that we are not, will not let the
light go out until all people everywhere
are allowed to exercise their rights.
Cominued Steve T. Urie page-16
Ozarks Pride
"Gay By God"
The following is a true story that
depicts the struggle so many of us have,
or have had with the subject of being
openly Gay and our spiritual beliefs.
Many believe God made us Gay
purposely, as he made every living
creature. As my pastor said, " Who in
this community would ever choose to be
Gay? Who would ever choose the
prejudice, the discrimination and abuse
we've all experienced?"
C. D. Ward
Editor
"Just As I Am"
By Gabe Norman
These words may be familiar to many
of you. But if you are like me and were
raised in a traditional fundamentalist
small town church, they can have a ring
ofHypocreaceae. Every Sunday at the
end of the service my Grandmother's
pastor would ask anyone who wanted to
have a closer walk with God to come
forward while the choir sang " Just As I
Am". One Sunday morning when I was
about thirteen, I decided to accept the
pastor's invitation and started my walk
up to the alter to begin my closer walk
with God. I was nervous, scared, and
very emotional. I knelt down and asked
God to come into my heart and life, and
to take me just as I was, and I did feel a
peace and joy come over me at the time,
however my joy was short lived because
my Grandmother's pastor who I thought
was my pastor too, would soon inform
me that ifl wanted to be a Christian I
would have to do some changing. So
what happened too "Just As I Am".
Continued editors page -5
"Sense of Family"
I was shocked and saddened
today when I read the article on gay
marriage ("Proposal on gay marriage
advances," Globe, Jan. 28). Rep.
Kevin Wilson, who is a Republican
from the city I live in, who worked
with my father before he was
elected, said, "Families are breaking
down."
My interpretation of this is not a
good one. Gays and lesbians are not
the reason families are breaking
down. We have a strong sense of
family, love and commitment. I
wonder if any of these
representatives have any gay people
in their families, or know of any gay
people. They seem to be afraid of
what they don't know and
understand. Once we let fear run our
lives and our country, we are no
better than those who lived in Iraq
under Saddam Hussein.
It seems like everything that goes
wrong in the world, there has to be
something or someone to blame. It
seems to me that Mr. Wilson would
like to blame us for the breaking
down of family values. Family is just a
word, but the feeling the word means is
what is important. Love is just a word,
but the connection it makes is powerful.
Marriage is just a union between two
people; it is just a word. The connection
that those two people have with the
words "marriage," "love," and "family" is
what really matters.
Austin Letts
Neosho, MO
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page4 April 1, 2004
Want a VOICE in your community?
We welcome your opinion , commentary, and
your input. This publication is about building
Community unity, and you are a part of
making this happen.
We want you to speak out!
Mailing address:
2401 E. 32nd St., Suite 10-243,
Joplin, MO 64804-3128
Email: editor@ozarkspride.com
NOTE: All letter's to the editor and articles
submitted must include your name and phone
number for verification purposes only.
Mission Statement: To provide a GLBT
community voice to SW 1:fissouri, SE Kansas,
NE Oklahoma, NW Arkansas. Our mission is
to unite a fragmented community reluctant to
speak out for their rights and to voice
concerns. This region has a huge GLBT
population without representation.
Fairfield Inn
By Marriott
Joplin
3301 South Rangeline Road
Joplin, MO 64840
Reservation (417) 624-7800
Email: ffijpln@aol.com
Ad11,rti.rmm1t
Woody's Manhattan
Hair & Nail Salon
Smart
509 Main* Joplin, MO 64801
:\.ppointments (417) 623-3500
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
IF YOU ARE STOPPED BY
THE POLICE OR ARRESTED
From ACLU Ozarks Chapter:
Continue from OP March issue:
Do not resist arrest or try to run away.
Keep your hands where the police can
see them. Never touch a police officer.
Stay calm and speak politely.
Ask for a lawyer immediately. Do not
talk to the police without your lawyer.
Never lie to the police. Exercise your right
to remain silent Do not make any
statements or answer any questions
except to give your name and address
and to ask why you have been arrested.
Also, do not sign anything and do not
agree to talk to the police.
You have the right to contact a lawyer,
or to contact someone in your family who
can ask for a lawyer for you. Tell the
police that you do not wish to speak to
anyone until you have a lawyer.
In Missouri, the police cannot hold a
person for more than 20 hours without a
judge setting bail. A judge will set bail at
your first court appearance. The judge will
also appoint an attorney to represent you
if you cannot afford to hire an attorney.
The police may keep you in a jail cell. Do
not talk with anyone about your case. This
includes people who are in the cell with
you. Talk about your·case only with your
lawyer.
If the police knock and ask to enter
your home, you don't have to admit them
unless they have a warrant signed by a
judge. However, in some emergency
situations (like when a person is
screaming for help inside, or when the
police are chasing someone) officers are
allowed to enter and search your home
without a warrant. If you are arrested, the
police can search you and the area close
by. If you are in a building, "close by"
usually means just the room you are in.
More on ACLU Ozarks Chapter website:
www.acluozarks.org
Ozarks Pride Page 5 April 1, 2004
Editors page ji-om page-3
Well, I gave it a try I poured myself into
church, going at least four times a week,
praying, reading my bible and trying my
best not to fantasize about my next door
neighbor Eddie or Michel J. Fox on TV, but
try as I might I gave into temptation more
often than not. Each time I fell into
temptation I felt guilt and would pray for
God to take away the evil desires that I had.
At about seventeen I decided to confide in
my pastor's wife about my feeling's for
other boy's. The next Sunday I was in for a
shock the pastors sermon was on Sodom
and Gomorrah and at the end of the service
their was no singing of "Just As I Am".
This time it was the pastor asking anyone
who might be struggling with homosexual
tendencies to come forward, I was so hurt . I
knew that this sermon had been preached
for me. I left church that day and never went
back. When my Grandmother asked what
had happened I told her I didn't want to talk
about It. I was so hurt and confused, and I
felt like God had abandoned me because I
couldn't change. So church was out and
sinning was in.
I started partying. My parents were both
alcoholics so they didn't care. As long as I made
it to school every day and kept my grades up, I
was given full reign of my own life. I started
drinking, smoking pot and running with my wild
cousin's. I had gone from a Jesus freak to just
plain freak. I left Christianity and all it's false
promises behind. Over the years I tried many
different spiritual paths from Buddhist, Hindu,
and even Wica, which by the way is a real
positive spiritual path. I eventually ended up at
Unity which is a church but not a hell fire and
damnation church. They teach that Jesus is a role
model for all of us and that we should try to be
more like him and love one another. They also
teach that God loves all his created people and
that he loves them just the way they are and so
should we.
After many years at Unity, with three years on
the board of director's, serving as church treasure
and leading the song service, the head of
prejudice raised it's ugly head in the bastion of
what I thought was the most tolerant of all
Christian
churches, yes Unity. The board received a letter
of concern at one of our monthly meeting's. Not
knowing what it was about, I opened and read it
to the other's. It was a letter of concern about the
growing number of homosexual's in our church. I
was once again shocked and hurt and found it
hard to continue participating in the services.
Although I have put this one negative experience
behind me and I do believe in the positive
teaching's of Unity principles, but also feel that
not all of there member's practice what they
preach ..
So where to now? About si..'l: years ago a group
started meeting on Sunday night's at the Unity
building. It was a Christian group that mainly
ministered to the gay and lesbian community.
While still at Unity I visited their services and it
was always nice. I did feel a little uncomfortable,
because even though I had found a place where I
could worship my creator and take time to give
thanks for all the good in my life, I felt there were
area's I would have to change in order to become
a active member of this group. For you see over
the years since I left my grandmother's church I
have come to believe that God does love me just
as I am. It doesn't matter if I'm Gay, Straight or
any other way. If I want to go out to the bar and
have drink's and da,,ce then that shouldn't be a
problem either, and you know what, it isn't!
My grandmother's church may have called
some areas of my life heathenish, and
grandmother felt going to a bar on Saturday night
and then going to church on Sunday was just plain
wrong . Well I'm not living in my grandmother's
narrow world anymore. It took me several years
to let go of all my excess baggage and I wouldn't
allow myself to participate in any Sunday night
church services, I do try and live my life by the
Golden Rule. I enjoy going to the bar and having
fun with my friend's and I also enjoy going to
church on Sunday. I have finally found a place
where I rnn do this , although I do have my fault's.
I have been assured by Pastor Steve Urie that I am
welcome at any time and that he understands what
a large role in the community the bar play's for
many of us and that if I want to go have drink's
and fun with my friend's on Saturday night I
would still be welcome to particip:i.te in the
Sunday service. As God accepted people, Spirit of
Christ MCC welcomed ME JUST AS I AM.
Miss Universe Transsexual
Entry Update.
As reported in OP March issue Chen
Lili received the OK to enter the Miss
Universe Pageant to be held in Ecuador
June 1, 2004. First she must win the
contest in her southeast Chinese Province
ofSichuan.
Miss Universe pageant official now
have reversed their decision and refused
Transsexual Chen Lili's entry. Although
Miss Lili's was allowed by the Chinese
Government to change gender registration,
Chen Lili will not be allowed to compete
for the Miss Universe crown.
Aunt Bea's Infamous Recipes!
Sock it Too l\l[e, Pea1111t B11tter Cheesecake!
16 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon real vanilla
1 /2 cup peanut butter
2 tablespoons chopped peanuts
1 I 4 cup honey
1 graham cracker crust
In a missing bowl, combine all ingredients
e:xccpt crust and chopped peanuts. Blend until
very smooth. Pour into crust and top with
chopped peanuts. Chill three hours before serving.
S ottrre: IP1Jllll. dofo. com · Your allowed to drink 1 / 2
bottle of wine while preparing.
Ozarks Pride 7
OUT ON VACATION
"Traveling in the gay friendly world"
By Donald Pile and Ray Williams
gaytravelers@aol.com
2004
"A REAL HOLLYWOOD ADVENTURE"
Of course we ALL love the movies and the older they are the
more we seem to like them. On our trips to California we get to
bask in the glory of old time Hollywood when we stayed at the
SECRET GARDEN Bed and Breakfast
(www.secretgardenbnb.com) nestled at the base of the famous
Hollywood Hills just steps off Laurel Canyon up from Sunset
Boulevard. Raymond Bilbool, the owner was the maitre d' at the famous Chassen's
Restaurant for many years before it closed. The Secret Garden is an absolutely wonderful
Bed and Breakfast located in a 1923 opulent Spanish-Moorish style, pink mansionette.
What more could you ask for? Push the code numbers and the iron gates open for you to
drive your auto onto the grounds.
As you climb the steps to the front door you are first taken aback by the huge front foyer
of the house. The common rooms comprise of a lovely restful music/reading room complete
with a Grand piano with a magnificent Sevres urn sitting on it. There is a stately and
charming living room , bright and airy dining room and a sunny intimate breakfast room.
Lined down the hallway is black and white autographed photos of the stars of yesteryear.
The back yard/patio is filled with tropical plants and cacti and a perfect place for some
solitude or to read a book. The backyard also has a huge aviary filled with beautiful birds.
When all the rest of the world is in a mad frenzy, here you are in this "secret garden" and it is
FABULOUS! The Secret Garden has 5 individual guest rooms, each with their own private
bath and there is a bungalow guest house in the back yard complete with an old fashioned
sleigh bed, slated tile floors and a Jacuzzi inside. A full sit-down gourmet breakfast is
served each morning. A leisurely walk around the neighborhood gives you a sense that you
really are living in the golden age of Hollywood with the many splendid houses with their
private gardens.
And then there is the owner, RAYMOND! who is one of the most FABULOUS people
that we have ever met! Raymond being at Chassen 's Restaurant for so many years is full of
''Hollywood stories" and is really a perfect host. He is fun, funny, witty, interesting and
really knows how to make his guests feel right at home. His four footed companions,
Veronica, Lucy and Ethel "purrs" around the house checking on the guests. His guests
return year after year after year.
On our first visit, there was a very eclectic group of guests including some from
Manchester, England, Ohio, Florida and New York City. Raymond, the owner Jet us have
our dear friend, the Countess Alexis for wine and cheese one evening while we were there
and then insisted that we have her back Sunday morning for breakfast with the other guests.
And what a grand breakfast it was, complete with jumbo Beluga Caviar! The Countess
Alexis "held court'' at the breakfast table in only the way that a true lady can. She was
naturally dressed proper for the occasion in a huge hat and large rimmed sun glasses and
wearing lots of jewelry. All the guests, both straight and gay loved her. We first met the
Countess two years ago when we were in Hollywood and enjoyed her company immediately.
She owns an antique shop at 8246 Santa Monica Boulevard called THE SCARLET
EMPRESS, named after the 1934 Marlene Dietrich movie. TV and movie stars are among
her many clients. We purchased a fabulous set of 8 Cut glass stems, signed Hawkes at her
shop . ....
Continued page- /4 gay travelers
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page 8 April l, 2004
504 E. Commercial, S , MO (417) 831-9001
Open Mon t to 1 :30 AM
What's Hot @ The OZ in April !
April 10- Blackout Party w/DJ Rob
April 17 -The OZ Turnabout Show
Men On Drag- Comedy Drag
Show Beards and .Moustaches,
Pumps & Wigs ...
April 24- White Party w/DJ Rob ·
Daily Happy Hours 4 to 8PM.
.25 Well & Longnecks
Happy Hour All Night.
You Can Drink Wells.
Every FRI and SAT HOT MALE DANCERS! Only $3.00 Cover.
Drink Specials on Sat.
"Disappointed
Expectations"
The advertisement of
Paul Jo David's New
CD release in the
March issue of OP
stated the CD could
be purchased at Great
flm.Ja,~ f/Ja,titf Expectations on 15th
Street, Joplin, MO.
Due to personal reasons, Mr. Mike Curry, owner
decided not to carry the release. According to
Paula-Jo, Mr. Curry objected to the record label
"Pride Christian Music". Pride Christian Music is
a Homosexual based record label.
The CD "Jesus My Faith Addiction Through It
All" can be purchased by calling (417) 781-4912
or email paulajo.evans@sbcglobar.net. On-line at
www.woodstocked.com and will be available
soon from MCC Joplin at www.mccjoplin.com.
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER
JOHN LEWIS
WASHlNGTON - Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.,
delivered "powerful" testimony today against
a discriminatory change to the Constitution,
according to the Human Rights Campaign. In
testifying before the full Senate Judiciary
Committee, Rep. Le"'is joined Rep. Barney
Frank, D-Mass., constitutional scholar Cass
R. Sunsteu1 and Phyllis Bossin, chair of the
Family Law Section of the American Bar
,,\ssociation in opposition to changing the
Constitution to be a tool for discrimination.
"I am opposed to any amendment that
seeks to write discrimination into the
Constitution," Lewis testified. "I believe
amending the Constitution 011 this issue is an
irrational and radical step that seeks to
undermine the civil rights of our citizens."
"No matter how it's worded, it's wrong to
change the Constitution to discriminate
against millions of Americans," said HRC
President Cheryl Jacques.
Joh11 Le1tis co11ti11Md page-15
As War Continues, Gay
Discharges Plummet To
Lowest Level Since 1995
Gaywire Release March 24, 2004
New Report Details Experiences of
Gay Soldiers in Middle East &
Analyzes Decade-Long Movement to
Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Washington, DC -As the United States
military continues to wage war in Iraq and
Afghanistan, discharges of lesbian and
gay military personnel plummeted 17% in
FY2003, according to a new report from
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
(SLDN). Conduct Unbecoming, an annual
review of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" law, finds that gay-related discharges
fell to 787 last year, down from 906 in
2002. The 2003 figures mark a 39%
decrease in discharges since 2001, the
year before current conflicts in the
Middle East began. The number also
represents the fewest gay discharges
since 1995.
"Gay discharge numbers have
dropped every time America has
entered a war," the report says, "from
Korea to Vietnam to the Persian Gulf to
present conflicts." It goes on to note
that "more of our allies have dropped
their bans, and our American troops are
fighting alongside openly lesbian, gay
and bisexual allied personnel in the war
on terrorism."
In the end, however, the report finds
that "there is ... no fair way to .
implement 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' or any
policy of discrimination. The truth is
evident and overwhelming: there is no
evidence to support the gay ban.•
"Repealing this law is in the best
interest of our military, our service
members and all Americans•, said SNDL
Exec. Osburn.
Volume l Issue 4 Page 12 April l, 2004 Ozarks Pride Page 13 April l, 2004
Destination New Orleans
" Gay Mecca , Big Easy"
By OP contributing writer T. J. Kelly
Conclusion frotJJ March OP:
To pick up where I left off in last
month's issue, I will begin telling you
about the Garden District in New
Orleans proper. Running from Magazine
Street to St. Charles Avenue and Jackson
Avenue to Louisiana Avenue, the Garden
District is brimming of new and old
world shopping, dining and architecture.
It began as a large plantation owned by
the Livaudais family, which was flooded
in the early 1800's by a break in the
Mississippi river levy. The flood laid
several feet of alluvial silt from the river
across the entire plantation enriching the
soil causing lush foliage and flora to
grow. In the mid 1820's the plantation
was sold to New Orleans entrepreneurs
and divided into modest land lots. Most
homes in the district date from the
1840's to the 1870's. It became a haven
for new world, pre-Civil War aristocracy.
Most homes are of the Greek revival or
Italianate styles of architecture incorporating
Corinthian style columns and rod
iron balconies, with beautiful flower
gardens and foliage surrounding the
property. The entire area flourished as a
well-to-do neighborhood until early
1900. Through restoration most of the
Garden District looks as it did in 1900.
Many celebrities, including author Anne
Rice and musician Trent Reznor, own
homes in the Garden District neighboring
everyday people who purchase the
homes as restoration projects. Walking
tours of the garden district are abundant,
but picking up a free guide to the streets
and homes at and tourist kiosk and
touring yourself is less restrictive and
puts you on your own schedule. Magazine
Street is also full of shopping, cafes,
restaurants, galleries and bars.
Continued next column:
At 6 miles long and consisting of
(literally) l 00's of establishments, there is a
little something for everyone. For great
New Orleans-style seafood and a cozy
atmosphere Casamentos is a great place to
eat or for a Mediterranean meal (including
Italian wood fire pizza) Mystic Cafe is a
great stop for food or a coffee and dessert.
If you are looking for a bar, and are a beer
drinker, The Bulldog (reminiscent of the
great Bulldog cafe in Amsterdam) is a great
stop. Boasting 200 beers on tap and 250 in
a bottle, the Bulldog is probably New
Orleans premiere Beer Pub. If you need to
do some everyday shopping, you can hit an
A&P for groceries, get your dry cleaning
done, pickup some personalized stationary
and grab a latte all in the same couple of
blocks.
Another interesting facet of New
Orleans is the close proximity of intact
plantations. Tours for these magnificent
homes can be relatively inexpensive and
very convenient. You can choose to be
picked up in the city or drive yourself. An
abundance of information can be found in
the larger hotel lobbies and at tourist kiosks
across the city. Times and dates of tours
can vary greatly from plantation to
plantation, but can be very accommodating
to a busy schedule.
The Gay scene in New Orleans is
nothing to be missed either. New Orleans is
probably best known to the gay community for
its "Southern Decadence" celebration, described
by Rust LaRoux as "Gay Mardi Gras with a
little Rio Latin flare". Southern Decadence is a
week long party with the climax event, the
Southern Decadence Parade, the Sunday before
Labor Day. The most gay fun to be had is
probably in an area known as the "Fruit Loop"
from the 700-800 block of Bourbon Street to St
Anne Street. Here you can find many clubs,
bars, cafes, grocers, delis. pride stores and
much more all catering to the GLBT
community.
Continued page 15
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page 14 April 1, 2004
Gay Travelers-from page 7
The Countess Alexis has a most colorful
history in several foreign countries including
South America, France and Germany and has
certainly made a name for herself in the United
States. HE was one of the original stars of La
Cage in Paris. She lives in the penthouse suite
in one of the stately apartments just off Sunset
Boulevard where a former movie star lived
many years ago. It is just a delight to listen to
her relate the old days of Hollywood when
things were marvelous and grand. One
NEVER knows who one will meet as guests
come from all over the world to stay at the
Secret Garden.
On our next visit there Raymond had yet
another dinner party for us and invited the
Countess. A GRAND time was had by all with
LOTS of"bitchiness" all evening around the
dining room table. It was FABULOUS! You
simply HAD to be there to take in all the
"bitchiness"!
On our last visit there, the Princess Sophia and
her gentleman friend, Nathan from Germany
were guests and they both were just
FABULOUS! Again, Raymond the owner had
a lovely sit down dinner party for us in his
tropical garden. The guests were a very
eclectic group of Hollywood "fun" people.
One of our favorites was Marcia, or was it
Madge?. Anyway, she was delightful. We can't
wait to see her again. Also in attendance was
one of the most charming young ladies that we
have EVER met.... Kelly, who was a real treat!
The Countess Alexis also had a special party
for us at her antique shop one evening. The
elite of Hollywood turned out for that party. It
is FABULOUS! We always enjoy visiting
West Hollywood.
Of course while in Hollywood, you do
need to visit some of the sights and sounds
including the famous cemeteries of the stars,
the Hollywood Sign up in the hills, Paramount
Picture Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame,
Hollywood Wax Museum, Hollywood History
Museum. Mann's Chinese Theatre, Hollywood
Entertai~rnent Museum. Also be sure to take a
tour of the Hollywood Bowl and take a walk
down Sunset Boulevard. You may just see
Norma Desmond lurking around some comer.
Nex; column .
Another major museum to visit is the
MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE at 9786 W. Pico
Blvd. This is a must sec visit for any gay
traveler to the Los Angeles area. It is located
next door to the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Behind the museum is the Memorial Plaza
which is dedicated to the many victims of
prejudice over the years. There is a special
walkway remembering gays and lesbians.
If you are really into old movies as we are,
then plan a trip to West Hollywood and see for
yourself this glorious and grand mecca of
yesteryear. West Hollywood is SO gay. Their
zip code is 90069! We have returned to the
Secret Garden many times. The owner,
Raymond is so wonderfully fabulous. Too bad
more people cannot be as generous and caring
as he. He is truly a REAL GEM!
For more information on the SECRET
GARDEN go to: www.secretgardenBnB.com
or email them at sgbnb@aol.com or email
Donald and Ray at: gaytravelers@aol.com or
visit their web page at:
www.hometown.aol.com/gaytravelers
Joe Brennan a~d Rodney Burgamy
4301 NW 63rd, Suite JOO-Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405-840-2106--www.c21-goldcast1e.com
Advertising with
Ozarks Pride
Magazine shows
you support our
community and we
support those who
support us.
Advertising as low as
$12.00 per issue.
Sec advertising rates
on page 2.
Ozarks Pride Page 15
New Orleans continued from page 13:
A local hang out is the Quartermaster
grocer and Nelly Deli just 2 blocks from
the beg-inning of the "Fruit Loop" 011
Bourbon Street. On Bourbon Street at
the comer of the 800 block is the
Bourbon Street Bar and Parade Disco
for a bar atmosphere or clubbing
through the doors to the disco side of
the establishment. A fair warning ... most
of the gay establishments enforce a strict
dress code (depending on the place) and
many have a 2-drink minimum. With
this in mind you know that the vagrants
and drink-beggars are not welcome and
can make for a more pleasing time. If
you are looking for a little off-Bourbon
Street fun, North Rampart and Elysian
fields are the best places to bar hop and
have a wide variety of clubs. With such
wide variety of things to see and do in
the New Orleans Gay Scene, I would
recommend the following website for
more detailed infonnation;
www. a '11 worleans >uide.corn. This
website includes everything from airfare
and hotel accommodations to bar
information and phone numbers.
As with any major city, traveling can
be a great learning experience and tons
of fun, but can also be dangerous.
People in touristy cities prey on tourists
and can usually spot one a mile away. If
you decide to travel to New Orleans try
to keep your wits about you, never carry
a lot of cash, keep emergency credit
card and bank card phone numbers in
your hotel room, keep an emergency
stash of travelers cheques and spare ID,
always travel with a companion and
"play" safe. But most of all have fun.
April 1, 2004
John Lewis from page-8
"\Vith years of experience fighting for the
values ~f equality, Congressman Lewis is
an extraordinarily powerful voice against
writing discrimination into the
Constitution."
Lewis went on to say that "restricting
rights of certain individuals would set a
dangerous and historical precedent."
Frank also spoke eloquently about how
the amendment would limit the ability of
a state and its citizens from making their
own marriage policy.
There is broad opposition to this effort,
including Republicans Bob Barr and Alan
Simpson, the NAACP, the Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational
Fund, the National Women's Law Center
and the American Bar Association.
"We thank Senators [Dianne] Feinstein,
[Richard] Durbin, [Edward M.] Kennedy
and [Russ] Feingold -who also spoke at
today's hearing for their unwavering
opposition to changing the Constitution on
this issue," added Jacques.
The Human Rights Campaign is the
largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgcnder political organization with
members throughout the country. It
effectively lobbies Congress, provides
campaign support and educates the public to
ensure that LGBT Americans can be open,
honest and safe at home, at work and in the
community.
Quotable Quotes
"I have only this advice to offer those of
you who oppose gay marriage:
Don't marry a homosexual! If your
a man and don't want to marry another
man, then for crying out loud, stick to
your guns. That would be a terrible idea.
You would be miserable. Same for
women. Marry someone of the opposite
sex if that's your preference''.
Beth Quinn
Times Hearld-Record NY
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page 16 April 1, 2004
Steve Urie from page-2 .
A recent editorial in the Joplin Globe h1t
the nail on the head. A Webb City citizen
told the world who she was, who her
partner was, how long they had been in a
committed relationship and the example
she sets in the community at large. She
did not out anyone, she did not accuse
anyone, and she did not attack anyone.
She simply said here we are. We are the
people who take care of you, who clean
for you, who provide services for you,
·who work, live and play right next door to
you and we have rights also. . What an
excellent article.
I want to encourage all of you to
accept and follow this example. We can
stand up for ourselves by letting them
know who we are. We don't have to
attack back just because someone with less
intellect or under some misguided
teaching attacks us. That puts us in a no
win situation. By setting the positive
example it is a win, win situation. But you
and I have to be willing to do it. It's just
like voting ... it is just the right thing to do.
To be at peace with yourself and set a
positive example. We talk about the
straight community and they talk about us.
We need to talk to the straight community.
When I acknowledged that I was the
pastor of a church serving the GLBT
community, I put myself up for ridicule and
possible harm. What happened instead was an
open awareness with my family, friends and
co-workers that I am still just one of them.
Even my physician said he was proud of me. I
have been teased a lot at work but it has been a
good tease and it has increased the awareness
of what happens to us when we do just stand
up to be counted. Do it! It is the right thing to
do! Truth is difficult to fight as long as you use
it Don't let the light go out. .. we didn't in the
60's and we can't in the new millennium.
Have a great month ...
Steve
Trial Begins in ACLU
Lawsuit Challenging
Arkansas Policy
Preventing Gay People
from Foster Parenting
March 23, 2004
LITTLE ROCK Trial opens today in the
American Civil Liberties Union's challenge
to an Arkansas policy that prevents gay
people and anyone living in a household
with a gay adult from being foster parents in
the state. The trial will be held in the Circuit
Court of Pulaski County.
"By enacting a policy that bars gay
people from being foster parents, the Child
Welfare Agency Review Board has
sacrificed the interests of foster children in
order to make a misguided political
statement against gay people," said Rita
Sklar, Executive Director of the ACLU of
Arkansas. "This trial will expose that
hypocrisy for exactly what it is."
"Policy affecting the lives of Arkansas'
foster children should be based on what's
best for the children, not baseless myths,"
said Leslie Cooper, a staff attorney with the
ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project.
"This ban flies in the face of years of sound
research on the children of gay parents and
the positions of every national child welfare
organization."
The trial is expected to last two days.
Cooper and James Esseks of the ACLU's
LGBT Rights Project, Grif Stockley of the
ACLU of Arkansas, and cooperating
attorneys David Ivers and Emily Sneddon
represent the plaintiffs.
For the entire story and updates, go to:
www.aclu.org
Volumn 1 Issue 4
Pozitive
Force
Page 17
Springfield, MO
There's a new group
in town - Pozitive
Force and they
want to make a dent
in the number of gay and bisexual men
getting infected with HIV in this area.The
group started aboutyearat the suggestion
of some clientsAIDS Project of the Ozarks
(APO).They wanted to know what they
could do to help with prevention.
Prevention efforts include putting up
HIVposters at gay bars in Springfield and
Joplin to create awareness for bar
patrons& condom distribution at those
same bars.Pozitive Force also sets up
information tables at community events.
Public speakingliving with HIVis presented
at area schools, meetings and churches.
Pozitive Forceonly encourages but also
helpsto get tested at.In Joplin free,
confidential HIVis available not only at
theHealth Department but
alsoappointment at the Spirit of Christ
M.C.C. church.
Pozitive Force is leading the nation in
prevention outreach by tapping into
cyberspace.Internet interventions through
various chat rooms used by men who
have sex with men has been a successful
venue.Pozitive Force's success is being
closely monitored by other groups
aroundcountry who are modeling there
prevention efforts after those of Positive
Force.
Positive Force is comprised of
personswith the HIV virus, health care
professionals and concerned individuals
from all walks of life who want to make a
difference.A Joplin chapter is forming.In
Joplin contact Gary at (417)623-4687. If
you'd lik~ to be a part of this group, in
Springfield call Jim House at APO
(417)881-1900 or Caryn Burk at the
Springfield/Greene County Health Dept.
(417)864-2044 for information on the next
meeting.
April 1, 2004
An 01' Co1m111111ilv Sm-ice
.,FREE HIV
TESTING,NO
NEEDLES I
SPIRIT OF
CHRIST
MCC SPONSORS
2902 E. 20th St., PO Box 4711
Joplin, Mo 64803
In conjunction with AIDS Project of the
Ozarks, MCC Joplin offers free HIV testing
the last Sunday of each month between 5PM
and 6PM. For vour convenience you can also
call 206-6179 for an appointment. We use the
Ora-sure method which does not require the
use of needles and we offer complete
confidentialitv. You may also request
Booklets on ;\IDS for People of Faith
through the PO Box listed above.
Spirit of Christ MCC Joplin
"Serving A Healthier Community"
Quotable, Quotes
"Ifwe are to prevent the meaning of
marriage from being changed forever,
our nation must enact a constitutional
amendment to protect marriage in
America. Decisive and democratic
action is needed, because attempts to
redefme marriage in a single state or
city could have serious consequences
throughout the country. The
Constitution says that full faith and
credit shall be given in each state to the
public acts and records and judicial
proceedings o every other state. Those
who want to change the meaning of
marriage will claim that this provision
requires all states and cities to
recognize same-sex marriages
performed anywhere in America."
President George W. Bush, Feb. 24.
Volumn 1 Issue 4
River Of Life Church
PO Box 1578,
.v .. Pittsburg, KS. 66762
' · astor: George David
Phone: (316) 461-2668
Services: Sunday's 11am
Email: geo592k@sbcglobal.net
Timmo11s Chapel PSU
Full GO :PEL all affinnin .
Advertising In Gay Media
By Greg Steele
Gay's and Lesbian's tend to buy from those
who advertise in the gay media. Major
companies from around the world are
jumping on the advertising bandwagon of
GLBT directed print and internet. All of a
sudden our buying power has been
discovered and here are a few reasons why.
How large is the U.S. gay market?
Kinsey says about 18. 7 5 million
Simmons says about 21 million
NORC says about 15 million.
These three sources averaged out equal 18. 25
million.
Greenfield Online's research of the gay
market reports that: 78 percent of gay
online users prefer to buy from companies
that advertise to the gay market. 71 percent
of gay online users have made credit card
purchases online 43 percent of gay online
users identify Gay.com as their favorite
website. Average household income for
gays & lesbians $57,000.
Simmons' research reports: 71 percent
male/29 percent female 77 percent "believe
in indulging in themselves. 59 percent buy
themselves whatever they want. 65 percent
identify themselves as having to have the
"latest". The US Gay community has a
buying power of over 800 billion.
Place your classified ad here for only
$6.00 for the first 15 words, and only 25 cents
for each additional word .................... .
Ozarks Pride Magazine On-Line.
Check out our website for Daily breaking
GLBT news. WW\V.ozarkspride.com
Need A House Mate: Advertise here for
only $6.00 first 15 words, 25 cents for each
additional word.
Weekend Get-A-Way: Want to escape
for the weekend? Meet some new people?
Try Faces Guesthouse, Joplin, MO. Private
bath w/queen bed start at $75.00 night,
breakfast included. Resv. required. (417)
621-9915
Congratulate that special
person with a
" Eed Wlshes4.d"
in Ozarks Pride Magazine.
Only $10.00 for 1/Sth Page unit.
Birthdays, I Love You,
Anniversaries, Thank You's
Mail to:: Ozarks Pride Magazine,
2401 E. 32nd St, Suite 10-243,
Joplin, MO 64804
Ozarks Pride Page 19 April 1, 2004
Volunteers Needed: What's
going on in the communities of
Springfield, Eureka Springs,
Fayetteville, Rogers, Fort Smith, Tulsa,
Miami, Pittsburg? Send us your scoop.
Solicit your business owners to
advertise in Ozarks Pride Magazine.
Mail address: 2401 E. 32nd St.,
Suite 10-243,Joplin, MO 64804.
Deadline for all inclusion is the
20th of each month for next
months issue.
House For Sale: List your
property for sale in Ozarks Pride
Classifieds.
1010 E. 20th
Joplin MO64804
1-800-782-7822
Vicki Bonnson 417-434-0077
www.vickibronson.com
Four States Community Directory
-Bars-NightclubsRo~'
s----Fayetteville, AR--(479)442-3052
Studio 716--Fayecteville, AR--(479)571-1300
Ree's:----:Joplin, MO---(417)627-9035
Edge-----Springfield, MO--(417)831-4700
Martha's Vinerard--Springficld, MO--(417)831-6144
Oz------Springfield, MO-(417)83\.9001
Ronisuz Place--Springfield, MO-.(417)864-0036
Bamboo Lounge--Tulsa, OK--(918)836-8700
The End lJP----Tulsa, OK--(918)282-6503
Heads & Tails--Tulsa, OK--(918)6607878
Club Majcstic---Tulsa, OK--(918)584•9494
Renegades;---- Tulsa, OK--(918)585,3405
Play-Mor•Club--Tulsa, OK--(918)838•9792
Silver Star Saloon--Tulsa, OK--(918)838-4234
TNT's-----Tulsa, OK--(918)660-0856
Tool Box----Tulsa, OK--(918)584-1308
-Lodging-
Faces Guesthouse B&B Joplin, i\1O(417)621-9915
Fairfield Inn by Marriott-Joplin, MO(417)624-7800
-Restaurants-
-Organizations-
MCC Spirit of Christ-2902 E 20th, Joplin, MO-7PM
UCCFF--204 N. Jackson Ave, Joplin, MO-10:30AM
River of Life Church-Timmons Chapel PSU-Pittsburg,
KS
MCC United Tulsa• 1623 N. i\faplewood-918-838-1715
MCC Living Spring•Eureka Springs, AR-870-253-9337
Rainbow Christian Church-Springfield, MO-417-866-6206
-Aids Project of the Ozarks-
513 Kenrnckr,Joplin, 1110 'l 7-624-5788
1901 E. Bennett, suite D, Springfield, MO 417-881-1900
-Business Services-
Penny Smart, Hair Salon-Joplin, MO--(417)623-3500
Mas5agc By Rachael-Joplin, MO---(417)438-3664
Charles Burt Realtors-Vicki Bronson-(417)434-0077
Mystic Creatiom--Pittsburg, KA-- (620)231•6790
Kelly Kirby, CPA, PC-Tulsa, OK--(918)747-5466
Century21-Oklahoma City, OK--(405) 840-2106
Volume 1 Issue 4 Page 20
71 6 S. MAIN ST. JOPLIN, M □
{41 7) 627-9035
April I, 2004
AN ALTERNATIVE NIGHTCLUB
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
[2004] Ozarks Pride Magazine, April 1, 2004; Volume 1, Issue 4
Subject
The topic of the resource
Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics
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.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Ozarks Pride
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Ozarks Pride
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
April 1, 2004
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
C.D. Ward
T.J. Kelly
Greg Steele
Steve T. Urie
Format
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Image
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PDF
Language
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English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
magazine
Coverage
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Southwest Missouri
Western Arkansas
Southeast Kansas
Eastern 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
Ozarks Pride Magazine, March 1, 2004; Volume 1, Issue 3
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/139
Ozarks Pride Magazine, May 1, 2004; Volume 1, Issue 5
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/140
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/134
acceptance
advertising
civil rights
Don't Ask
Don't Tell
family
Foster Parenting
Free HIV Testing
Garden District
human rights
John Lewis
Miss Universe
music
New Orleans
Out Cruzin'
police
Quotable Quotes
recipes
religion
vacation
-
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/2e2a9a8c933dbbbc21c3c4cdc0a83571.jpg
c0285f15bddb2569e69f41fde420d855
https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b96238e6cb780c76b436d590e485edff.pdf
f3af744a4fdff9fad5baa5b8f88f0d77
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
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2004-2011
Format
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Images
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PDF
Language
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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
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magazine
Text
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Oldahoma City’s Robin
Dorner oins Metro
Star team. She not only
brings her talent and
enthusiasm, but also
expertise gained from
overall life experience and
reporting. Seepage 5
3.corn THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA JULY 1,2009
TSUNAMI SLAMS OBAMA
by Rex Wockmer
not health coverage, which he said june 17 is not within his
power. That’s the good news -- all of it.
What hasn’t he done? Anything about Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell, anything about the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),
anything about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
He’s done nothing about any of the stuff he promised the
gays before they rushed to the polls en masse last November
to make sure he won that election.
And, then, Mr. Obama’s Justice Deparmxent filed a
briefJune 1 ! in a federal same-sex marriage case that used
nearly eveW nasty homophobic argument in the book to
argue against letting gays get married. That was the straw
that broke the camel’s back and unleashed a flood of harsh
criticism from gay VIPs.
"I hold this administration to a higher standard than this
brief," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese
wrote to Obama. "In the course of your campaign, I became
convinced -- and I still want to believe -- that you do, too....
This brief should not be good enough for you, The question
is;Mr. President-- do you bdieve that it’s
)bama. dec~des 22 which~not necessary ~ i
, ~ . to file a brief. It’s a horrific and hideous attack on LGBT
:. .......
[one thats good. He ~ssued
Americans."
and he extended a few
spousal benefits ~ ~d~ employees’ Same’sex partners -- National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director
sick leave and long-term care insur~ce; for example, but
Kate Kendell on her Facebook page: "The filing by the
............ Continued See GAY TSUNAMI Page-24
Pro ect Pride Foundation
Director Under Investigation For
Fraud
By Victor Gorin
OKLAMOMA CIT~; OK__ On May 16, Robert
Jordan Chiles was dected to a position on the Oklahoma
State Democratic Party’s Central Committee as part of the
Affirmative Action Committee. Ivan Holmes, previous chair
of the Oklahoma State Democratic Party stated to the Metro
Star, "Robert ovces the party for tickets he purchased for the
luncheon at the State Convention along with advertising in
the program. He said he would pay that immediately
and he hasn’t as ofyet, so vce will pursue this issue." If he
doesn’t resign his position, party officials are ready to begin
impeachment proceedings.
In May Mr. Chiles placed an advertisement in the Metro
Star which ran in the June 2009 isme; soliciting funds for
his Project Pride Foundation, presented as an organization
working to advance GLBT rights and hdp people living with
HIV. This advertisement was paid for with a check that was
returned unpaid by his bank. Mr. Chiles was given numerous
opportunities by phone and email to cover the check with no
results. It has since been turned over to the Oldahoma County
District Attorney for collection and possible prosecution.
........... Continued See PROJECT PRIDE Page-17
T lsa Pride Se s New
By Michael \~ Sasser
TULSA, OK__Tt~a Pride’s Diversity Festival and Pride
Parade engaged a record number of participants on June 6th,
both in terms of spectators and participants.
"I think it exceeded expectations," said Oldahomans for
Equality President Toby Jenkins. "We were worried whether
the format and schedule might scare people or would be
comfortable for people to participate in. Our Pioneer
Breakfast far, far exceeded expectations. N~e police tell us
there were 23,000 people at the festival which is the largest
single-day attendance for an event we have ever had."
Jenkins said the festival also included over 70 vendors and
booths, twice the number as last year; and there vcere three
times the number of parade entries as last year.
"The parade yeas larger, there were more floats and more
groups," If there was a down side, it ~vas that in the nev¢ event
format debuting this year, there were fewer spectators along
the parade route.
........... Continued See TULSA PRIDE Page-6
LOCAL>> 9 YO GRAND MARSHALL I NATIONAL >> NO SUPPONF FOR DADT I WORLD >> 50,000 2gF EURO PRIDE I PLUS >> LIFESTYLE TRAVEL I ~’FS I WINE I DINING
July 2009
2
A good time
By Robin Domer-Townsend
OGRA [)~ddent RTint Wied}n, Robin Dornerphoto
OKLk(HOMA CI~/, OK Every ),ear as Memorial
Day weekend rolls around, the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo is held
in Oklahoma City. Their goal as a social organizarion is to
host an annual-gay rodeo in Oklahoma City, assist in western
related events and contribute to charitable organizations. This
year~ motto is. ’~A Bucking Good Time."
The mission ofOGRA (Oklahoma Gay Rodeo
Association) is to act as a non-profit organization, to perform
charitable duties for the surrounding area through fundraisers,
rodeo performances, etc., for any particular charitable
organization the general membership of the association shall
choose.
"Xhat is the main goal of]OGRA; to raise money for
charity," said Klint Wieden, OGRA President. "Each year we
give primarily to two different charities ~vhich provide services
to those living with HIV or AIDS." This year’s beneficiaries
of the event are Other Options/Friends Food Pantry and
RAIN Oklahoma. Each of these organizations will receive a
charitable contribution from OGRA once the dollar amount
for donation has been calculated. "Usually it is around $3,500
for each organization," adds Wieden.
"Wieden grew up on a big ranch in north~vest Oklahoma
on thousands of acres. His family raised cattle, ran horses
and performed all general ranching duties and his family
was always involved in the rodeo. "I also love doing charity
work. It is a necessary thing," he adds. "I enjoy the causes xve
stand for at OGRA and bringing the two together; rodeo and
chariw, well, it’s a great thing for me."
OGP,A 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. The purpose for organizing OGRA
was to prov;ide a harmonious enviromnent for those interested
in the western lifestyle to express themselves through rodeo,
dance and other £~mity social activities barring al! prejudices
related to sex, nation~ origin, sexual orientation, religion, race
or any other prejudices. Overall, the IGRA has raised millions
ofdoltars ~br charities across the country.
Next year is a very big year for the OGRA as they will
celebrate their 25th anniversary. "Even more is in store for
next year’s event," furthers Wieden. "We will have a special
limited edition designer ’trophy buckle’ made. Each of the 25
buckles will be numbered and sold to raise even more money
for the charities ,are help."
Wieden and the board of the OGRA wish to thank all of
their sponsors and volunteers, but offer a special thanks to
Premium Beers of Oklahoma and the Copa/Finish Line which
each contributed more than $10,000 this ),ear. For more
information about OGRA please visit www.ogra.net.
Diversity Business
Assodates; proud to do
in OKC
By Robin Dorner-Townsend
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Since 2004, the Diversity
Business Association (DBA) has been a "proud’ organization
representing many businesses and prot)ssions in the
Oklahoma City metro area. As an organization primarily for
gay and gay-friendly businesses, DBA is a diverse group; thus
the name "Diversity Business Association."
DBA is not an organization iust for the gay, lesbian.
bisexual or transgender (GLBT} community. It is an open
minded, diverse group of individuals from all walks of life.
"Why not do business with people who want to do business
with you?", is their organizational motto. With nearly 150
members, the Diversity Business Association does mean
business.
"DBA has become Oklahoma City’s fastest growing GLBT
organization and with good reason," says Monty Milburm
President ofDBA. "We offer a casual yet business oriented
environment for our members to connect with and do
business with people that want to do business with them. It is
these connections that help all of us succeed in good and bad
times."
Each month, usually two business connection meetings are
held where members meet to network and exchange business
cards, ideas, and get together for fun events also. There are
luncheons, educational meetings and after hour mixers which
bring the group together for people ~vho want t6 do business
with like-minded people.
Membership fees for DBA are some of the best in this
area for an organization of its ~nd. An individual business
membership is $49 per year and corporate memberships (for
up to 10 people) are $450. Unlike most organizations, DBA
has a student or ’social’ membership f)e for $25 per year. N~is
allows the businesses in the area who are gay or gay-friendly to
benefit from like-minded people seeking to do business with
this diverse group.
The goal of DBA is to be a positive organization in the
GLBT community and the Oklahoma City community as
a whole. DBA will have a booth at the upcoming Gay Pride
events to be held at Memorial Park in Oklahoma City on June
27th & 28th and invites everyone to come and visit to see
what they are all about.
"I would like to encourage you to visit often, check out
our calendar and consider joining. We encourage positive
competition and celebrate each member’s success," adds
Milburn. "t am proud to serve as President of such a fine
organization. We really do mean business."
For more information about DBA, please email them at
contact@dbametro.org or visit vvw~.dbametro.org. It is best to
use Internet Explorer when visiting this site.
Impressive Youth Leads Tulsa’s
Gay Pride Parade
By Judy Gabbard
Noah Blatt GrandMarshall ~dsa Pride Parade. Judy G. photo
TULSA, OK The Grand Marshal! ofTulsds Annual
Pride Parade xvas not a celebrity or an individual with a crown
of jewels: this Grand Marshall was a nine year old young man
named Noah Blatt. Noah Blatt is a perfect example ofwhat
the words "Diversity" and "Acceptance" represent in the
contin~l struggle of gay rights.
Told to me by a representative of Oldahomans [br
Equality, Noah Blatt first came m the attention of the
committee members at Tulsa’s Equality Center, when
he hand delivered a letter and a donation. In the letter,
Noah explained that as an assignment he was to chose an
organization that he rahought was making a difference, His
mission was to acknowledge that organization and donate
to its support. Noah has continued to contribute part of his
weekly allowance in support ofTulsa’s Equality Center.
Toby Jenkins, Tulsa’s Equality committee President, said,
that when it came time to select the Grand Marshall for the
Pride Parade, no other individual was as deserving as Noah
Blatt.
Noah’s revelation, revealed in his letter, that xvhen same
sex couples love each other and want to marry, there shotdd
be no one allowed to stand in their way. Simple truth uttered
from one so young shows that the continuing struggle for gay
rights is making an impact on public opinion.
In a short interview with Noah Blatt, I met a gentle young
man with a view of the world that maW lose when they grow
up. Noah is determined to hang on to his beliefs and make
his opinions known. Noah’s room and dad are hard working,
well educated parents who have a!lo~ved their child to develop
his own views of human behavior.
Mr and Mrs Blatt support their young son’s ideas and
know that it takes only one person to start a movement
towards human rights.
Noah was introduced to the public at the Pride Festival
held at Centennial Park, located at 6th and Peoria, and
severalo awards were bestowed upon him. The greatest prize
was a view into the future possibilities of our youth. The
importance of bestowing understanding, love, guidance and
attention to our younger population was made evident in such
a small package, Noah Blatt.
www.rnetrostarnews.com ~®troSTAR 3
UDGE RULES IN KEITH
KIMMEL’S FAVOR
ON HIS I’M GAY LICENSE
PLATE
By Victor Gotin
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK On April 6 Keith KimmeL
like maW other Ol-dahomans since 1967, applied for a
personalized license plate for his !992 Dodge pickup truck.
However. he ran into an obstacle because his message
was ’TM GAY". His request was denied. Kathy Green, a
supervisor in the Motor Vehicle Division, stated that his
request was denied due to a Oklahoma Tax Commission Rule
710:60-3-150 (d) which states "No license plate will be issued
-which may be offensive to the general public." However, she
did not state why she deemed that his message fit into that
category.
Mr. Kimmel appealed this decision, and his case was heard
by Administrative Law Judge Jay Harrington in Oklahoma
City on May 7. A favorable ruling, in which Judge Harrington
recommended that Keith be allowed his I’M GAY plate, was
released on June 18, jttst a week before Gay" Pride celebrations
ldcked off in Oklahoma City.
Attorney Brittany M. Novomy, who represented him on
this case had this statement, "This decision is an indication
that we do still live in a society that respects the rule of law,
and when we feel our civil rights have been violated we know
we can turn to our legal system to remedy the situation. I
believe it is also a signal that despite its national reputation,
Oldahoma has outstanding women and men in the legal
profession who put the law ahead of old prejudices."
The Oklahoma Tax Commission may accept or reject
this recommendation. Talking with Mr.Kimmel he stated,
"I think the judge reviewed the case carefully,, made a good
decision and I hope the commission will do the right thing
and let me have nay plate." If the Oklahoma Tax Commission
doesfft fol!ow- through and allow his plate he plans to pursue
additional legal action.
BillyJackson and Michael[ Friday
ioined their lives together
By Victor Gorin
Bil{rJackson &Michael Friday at their Holy[ Union wid~ t/.,eir
.iF[ends Luq andMidn@t. Godn photo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK __ Billy Jackson and Michael
Friday joined their lives together Sunday, June 14 in Norman
at Thunderbird Chapel. Lovers of the country lifestyle, both
are active in OGRA, Michael as the mernbership chair and
Billy who is running for Mr. O.G.R~k. next year. Tney are
setding down together on the outskirts of Noble where
Michael, as a member of the Orchid Society, will be able to
pursue his hobby. The Holy Union was offidated by Pastor
Neill Spurgin of Exp~:essions Community Fellowship, where
both Billy and Michael are members. Let’s wish them a
wonderful life together.
Annual Hot Young Hollywood
Party to benefit R.A.I.N.
Oklahoma August 7
Angles to host annual Hot Young Hollywood PaW to benefit
RAIN Oklahoma. Oklahoma CiF’ HIVNon-profit agent/.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ August 7 2009
N~e Hot Young Holly~vood Party is an annual fundraiser for
RAIN Oklahoma, acting as a spotlight for local GLBT owned
& friendly businesses. RAIN Oklahoma will be honoring four
Oklahomans for their outstanding leadership and activism.
The event will be a fun filled evening with fashion
shmvs from well-known designers such as Cadillac Cowboy;
Nicole Moan, GLAMNERD, Riot Rockett and Debauchery
Clothing, plus live performances from Oklahoma City;s own
Eric Bramble and others. Definitely an event not to be missed!
Rafiqe ticket sales provided much of the $2500 raised at
last year’s party. I~mt year sponsor donated items included a
necklace donated by Mitchener & Farrand Jewelers, a "makeover"
prize package .from Velvet Monkey Inc., dinner for two
at 1492, and a Marc-by-Marc Jacobs bag among many other
items.
For the RAIN Leadership Award, campus GLBT groups
made nominations from OCU, UCO, OU, OSU OKC AND
UT as well as the GLBT group of DELL and the Cimarron
Alliance Foundation. The goal of our nominees is to increase
the quality of life for all Oklahomans.
RAIN Oklahoma is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency,
depending on private donations and the support of the
community to continue providing high quality of services.
RAIN Oklahoma offers a wide array of services from free HIV
testing and counseling, community outreach projects, Ryan
White Case Management, ADVANTAGE Medicaid waiver
services & Transitional Housing. RAIN Oklahoma’s
mission is to compassionately serve indMduals and
communities impacted by HIV/AIDS through
education, volunteerism and coordinated access to
healthcare & support services.
We accept all donations; Gift Certificates, Checlcs,
Merchandise and/or services. Donors will be recognized
in the program.
For additional information on The Hot Young
Holbavood Party, please contact the Hot Young
Holl)wcood Committee:
Contact:
Kendet R. Powers, CTR Agent
RAIN Oklahoma
405/204/7767
kpowers@rainoklahom.org
Vicld Banta
Vicki Banta the Partyoligist
405/850/6817
Xfbanta@aol.com
Kai R. Dameron
Rain Oldahoma, CTR Coordinator
405/232/2437 xt 123
KaiDameron@hotmail.com
Giving back: MAC Cosmetics
’Viva Glam’ line supports HIV!
AIDS organizations
By Robin Dorner-Townsend
Inf!’ont ofthe Iguana Lounge in Automobile Alley in downtown
Oklahoma Ci~, the 3¢IAC cosmetics staffin Oklahoma City show
their support in theform of"a big check"for Other Options and
Friends Food Pantry. Thefundraising event "51 Toast to Life"
was heldfor the non-profit organization at The Iguana Lounge
in April The Iguana showed its support ofthe Other Options
organization by undenvHting the charitable event.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Since 1989, Other
Options has been on the forefront of prevention, education,
and assistance of those in need who are living ~vith HIV
(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Autoimmune
Deficiency Syndrome). The organization was Formed as anonprofit
whose missi6n" included al! services which hdp persons
living with the disease but currently their primary focus is that
of food services, nutrition and education.
Mary Arbuckle, Director of Other Options works to
assist the clients they serve, organizes donations and among
many other taslcs, she also writes grant applications for the
organization. "It’s a .....Continued see MAC page 24
July 2009
4
Leather Camp Vwill
be running in Wichita
gg~IICHITA, KS (PR) __ August 14
- 16, 2009. Early bird registration is active
until July" 21st at a rate of $75.00. After July
21st, the package cost xvill be $85.00. The
Clarion Hotel will hots the event with a room
rate of $79.00 per night. Rooms need to be
booked directly through the hotel. Ask for
the WOOLF rate to get the discount.
~qere are lots of great classes for this years
event. Presenters include ~qaipmaster Bob
and Bootpig, Graydancer, Sir Olivier and pup
sparlg~, Mason and Michelle. In addition, we
will be having our Central Hains Regional
contests for Central Plains LeatherSirlboy and
CommunivA Bootblack as well as our loc~
WOOLF contests for Mr. and Ms. WOOLF
and Kansas boy/girl. All of the contests
will be judged by International LeatherSir
2009, Sir Raul, International Leatherboy
2009, boy bill, Central Plains LeatherSir
2009, Master Sam Sampson, Central Plains
Leatherboy 2009, pup sparkle, Central
Plains Community Bootblack 2009, boy
blu, Great Plains Leatherboy 2008, boy mike
and Rev. Jackie Carter of the Metropolitan
Community Church ofWichita. The
weekend ~vill be emceed by Tom Stice.
For more information and to register for the
weekend and book your hotel room, please
visit www.wichitaleatherpride.com.
Robin DornerJoins Metro Star Staff
Robin Dorner-Tmvnsend. Staff photo
OKLAI-IOMA CITY. OK Already
well kmown in Oklahoma City and beyond as
a fun loving reporter and activist. Ms. Dorner
Born in Wichita, she graduated from
Kansas Newman College in that same
city to become a Registered Nurse. She
moved to Oklahoma City in 1983 when
jobs for RNs were plentiful. She worked
in various positions as a dialysis nurse,
in home health and hospice settings,
and case management. She is a happily
married heterosexual, celebrating 15
years together with Ken Townsend,
her soulmate who is in the oil & gas
business.
In 2004 she earned a Bachelor’s
Degree in Health administration,
followed by a Master’s Degree in
Business Administration in 2006.
After this milestone, seeking a different
direction, she branched out into
journalism with the City" Sentinel.
broadening their horizons when she
covered many events of the GLBT
community. She first became involved
with our community during the !990s
when she volunteered as a nurse for
the Triangle Association vdth D~:Larry
Prater. who operated a free AIDS
clinic. Relating ~o that experience she
stated that "I loved it, not only as a nurse
but also from the love, camaraderie and
acceptance I found in the gay community."
Her involvement in the community grew,
and she later became a boai~d member of
has just joined the Metro Star team. She will the Cimarron Alliance Foundation. She is a
be repo~ting local news and ~ents and wil! former board member and current member of
handle OK~’~C ad sales al6nFwithRikGOdbev Diversity Bttsiness Association of Oklahoma
and Victor Gorin. She is also an accomplished City, and is her husband Ken. She does
~h0togr~pher. She n0{ 0hly brings 1{~} taleh{ vohmteer work for Other OptiOns, and looks
~nd enthusiasm, but alSO ~ert~e gained forward to working with the Metro Star. We
f om oCe llife ep0mng welcome her a oard .
the City Sentinel ( fbrmeriy the Mid City
Advocate).
www:metrostarnews.com &~et~’oSTAR 5
Dont Shop - Adop
By Michael ~{~. Sasser
Tulsa author Clara Nipper. Press photo
TULSA, OK __ Tulsa author Clara
Nipper never read mysteries, thrillers or true
crime books, so when - on a dare from her
partner - she set out to write in the genre,
they set the mood and picked up the stylized
approach by camping out in their home.
lowering the air conditioning and watching
classic noir films such as Double Indemnity,
Laura and the more-modern Body Heat.
"They were terrific," said Nipper. "I took
some inspiration from them."
Nine months in the writing, Nipper
completed her first novel, the stylish Femme
Noi~; a tide that aptly describes both the book
and the innovative genre of lesbian literature.
"I was writing "chick stories’ and my
partner told me that since that wasn’t ,going
an?~vhere I should try something new,
Nipper said.
So, Nipper crafted a character that was
the "total opposite" of her. "She is tall and
lean, black and bald, and a total womanizer
- a slut. I wondered if I could wrire an entire
book about her. And, I thought, yes I could."
The rest is now history. Femme Noir is
being published by Bold Stroke Books.
In the book, Nora Delaney is Nipper’s
protagonist. The hard-boiled, hypersexualized
womanizing college basketball
coach chases the case of her murdered exlover
from LA to Tulsa only to be waylayed
by a gorgeous, gin-swilling skirt who has
information as well as an appetite for women
like Nora.
The book contains classic noir elements
and Nora is cut from the same cloth as many
classic, troubled genre protagonists - except
that she is a woman. Hailed by maw for its
unique and interesting voice, the book is also
sexually graphic and unapologetic.
"’gq~en my father got a copy of the book.
I wrote in it ’please don’t read this’." Nipper
said. "I hope he hasn’t.
Tulsa native Nipper is veU much unlike
her lead character.
"I was straight most of my life," said the
Tulsa CountT Courthouse clerk. "I was always
open with sexuality and thought that if it felt
good, do it. I’ve only had t-wo girlfriends in
nay life. My first girlfriend was the one who
said "you should try this’ and I said ’sure, let’s
give ir a try.’ It was tumultuous except for the
sex tbr the next two years. I have been with
nay current partner for 13 years."
Nipper had been "spiritually" a writer her
entire life, from the time she xvrote a short
story in grade school that a teacher insisted
on turning into a slide show.
"The best advice I ever got was to write
one page a day and after a year, you ~voutd
have 365 pages," Nipper said. "qhe road
to publishing has been rocky, but my
publisher now is terrific. They do so much to
support authors and offer opportunities and
guidance."
Femme Noir’s sequel, I4dss of Noir,
is already under contract. It’s set in New
Orleans and will continue to stretch the
parameters ofsexuat representation.
"I’ve already shocke,~,! and appalled some
lesbmns, N~pper stud. I th~nk that means
am on the right track."
For more information on Nipper and
Femme Noir, visit www.claranipper.com.
"Most people waited for the parade at
[Centennial Park], and it was packed there".
A shuttle system taking parade-path
spectators to the park might be one thing
added for future Pride festivals. For the most
part, though, the new event structure was
very much a success.
"The fireworks, the ferris wheel and the
concert were all huge successes." Jenkins said.
Jenkins noticed a few things in particular
this year. Employees of Spaghetti Warehouse
on Brady Street came out to cheer ~or the
parade. At Centennial Park. the crowd
included a notable number of straight couples
and individuals, including maW attending
their first-ever Pride event with or without a
GBLT relative or friend.
"I thought, ’Wo~v. ~vhen did it become
cool to go to Pride?" "-We also had a tot
of seniors there. One mother said she
was impressed at how family-friendly the
environment was. I wish I could say that was
something we tried to do. but it’s just a sign
of the evolution of the community."
Police commented on how busy the Kid
Zone was with approximately 700 children of
GLBT families and straight participants.
This year’s n~w policy against ice chests
and bringing in outside food and beverages
also worked out. Jenkins said no one had to
go to the hospital and police told him that
for the first time there was no one who they
considered acting publicly drunk to the point
of being a nuisance.
Vendors also told Jenkins they had done
well at the event. Jenkins hopes that means it
will be possible to continue expansion of the
event in the future with more participants.
Although the parade route saw the typical
number of protestors, there was only one
notable at the festival itself.
Annie Bryce drove an hour to attend her
first Tulsa Pride event.
"I was very impressed at how nice it was
and, really, how nice the people were - men,
women, gay and straight even," she said.
Cashen" Stewart attended the Pride
Festival, largely for the parade, He thinks the
eve,n,t could still be improved.
I think there should be a bit more things
to do at Pnde that are more mteracuve, he
said.
lenkins said that other smaller cities
aro{md Oldahoma also having Pride events,
such as Enid for the first time ever in July, is
evidence of empowerment.
"People are feeling safe enough to have
festivals - that’s a good sign."
No matter who you are o
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July 2009
6
So, ust What is the True
Definition-ofMarriage ?
by James Nimmo
OY._LM-IOMA CITY. OK As a semiprofessional
musician I provided music at the
same-gender marriage recently of two friends
of mine, the latest ceremony of uncountable
services I’ve played, t’rn also a committed
atheist and rather hard-boiled when it comes
to asking [or divine intervention, as well
as the invention of skT-oriented deities for
whatever reason. I support everyone’s private
pursuit of their interests in accordance with
the First Amendment as long as infringement
of my own legally supported rights isn’t
involved.
There was no doubt of the sincerity of the
participants in this religious ceremony. There
were prayers, vestments, and liturgy common
to any other Christian denomination
marriage ceremony. Had you been
blindfolded and dropped into this touchingly
simple outdoor service, uncoached and
uninformed, you would not have been able to
distinguish this wedding from the thousands
being conducted in the rest of the country on
any Saturday afternoon.
Jaded as I am about religion, I did get a
little misty-eyed when the minister spoke-of
the hands being held by the two grooms. As
these ceremonies of commitment go the hope
is always for a devoted and determined future
of mutual and exclusive support through a
lifetime of as many years o?iife as our genetic
desdny wil1 give us. He described these hands
as they are now. young and strong brushing
away ~ears of joy and sorrow, touching in
moments of intimacy, and when old and
wrinkled they’ will sti!l be the hands we want
touching us in times of need.
~ view myself as a married man wittl a
partner of 32 years, and 1 can identi~! with
the sentiments and intentions the minister
outlined in his .;ermon. By what fiat of
bigoted ignorance can anyone deny me and
millions of other gay and Lesbian Americans
this legaI right of marriage just because
the gender of the two people is the same,
choosing to share their bounty and their
concerns for as long as they’re able, be it one
year or hopefully- a long lifetime? How is that
any different from what opposite-gendered
people choose to do?
To answer my own title, I think marriage
is the ability of two responsible people
committed to each othm; with a seriousness
of purpose, for as long as they are able to
hones@ maintain the relationship, with or
without the imprimatur of religion.
At one time I was a proponent of
going nicker the recognition of our gay/
Iesbian equality one right at a time. But
at approximately 1,400 indMdual rights
bestowed with a completed marriage
license, there arefft enough years for
even Methuselah to see the success of the
movement. I now see that only a dedicated
Federal lawsuit, such as the one being
brought by Ted Olson and David Boles (
http://tiwurl.com/q6hvip ), will give us
the trne definition of marriage we gay and
Lesbian citizens need to live our lives with the
choice so casually enjoyed by straights.
~.metrostamews.com
Politics M es for
Strange Bedfellows
by James Nimmo
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK It’s pretty
exciting to be a gay/lesbian activist these days.
Our civil rights movement has been focused
on California which has been performing
a line dance with basically the lovers of
romance and civil rights in one line and the
haters of diversity and inclusion in another.
With the survival of Prop-Hate in
California in late May there are now thirty
states that prohibit same-gender marriage
by constitutional amendment; thirty-seven
prohibit it by statute. Some states even went
double-dipping in their vehemence against
gays and lesbians with both.
But on the sunny side, as of this writing,
there are five states that allow same-sex
marriage with three states promoting samegender
unions. ( http:lhinyurt.comlmq8fev )
I’m not too hot with arithmetic but even
I can tell there is some overlapping of statutes
and amendments with a minority of states
still sitting on the sidelines, waiting and
waiting.
Waiting for what? Maybe the same thing
I’ve been waiting for. A team of lawyers,
financial supporters, and plaintiffs willing
to put this momentous issue into it’s proper
frame: Shall the United States continue
with this jurisprudence crazy, quilt of rich
progressive action and tawdry, shortsighted
discrimination or blanket the country with
one legal rtding that allows all adults to make
their own decisions for their future regardless
of gender, religion, or geographic location?
That’s where the odd bedfellows Ted
Olson and David Boles come in. These two
lawyers, fmnous for being on opposing sides
of the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court case that
by a one-vote margin put the Bush/Cheney
ticket in the White House have filed a
Federal lawsuit to place an injunction on the
California Supreme Court decision upholding
the anti-marriage equality amendment lmown
as Proposition 8.7heir plan is to carry this
lawsuit up the chain of Federal courts to
the US Supreme Court if necessary in order
to have a definitive ruling as to whether
or not same-gendered people are covered
under the 14th Amendment of the Federal
Constitution, specifically the clause that all
citizens are entided to the full protection of
the laws. ( http://tinyurt.com/dypxfp )
Many of the main stream civil rights and
gay/lesbian advocacy organizations ( The
American Civi! Liberties Union, Lambda
Legal, the National Center for Lesbian
Rights, Freedom to Marry, Gay & Lesbian
Advocates & Defenders, the Human Rights
Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force, the Equality Federation, and the
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
are aghast at the audacity of this plan
sponsored by the American Foundation for
Equal Rights. ( http:/Itinyurl.comlld6a2w )
I’m no legal eagle but I’m literate, folio~w
the news, and can reason, tn addition, my
partner and I were among 12 other plaintiffs
in the attempt by Oklahoma’s chapter of the
ACLU to derail the 2004 Okie version of
Prop. 8, known as State Question 71 ! that
passed with a 70+% majority vote.
The legal strategy being used by the
As t see it, ~here are two important
precedents (an important aspect of
jurisprudence? from the Supremes that
recognize our gay/lesbian citizenship. They
are: Lawrence v. Texas ( http://tinyurl.
com/br2tj t that eliminated sodomy laws
by overturning Bowers v. Hardwick (http://
tinyurl.com/jus3e ), and the Romer v. Evans
decision overturning Colorado’s infamous
Amendment 2 dewing gay/lesbian citizens
protection of state laws( http://tinyurl.
com/49m9er ) wherein Justice Kennedy
famously wrote that "[Amendment 2] is at
once too narrow and too broad. It identifies
persons by a single trait and then denies them
protection across the board. The resulting
disqualification of a class of persons from die
right to seek specific protection from the law
is unprecedented in our iurisprudence."
Let me add that Justice Kennedy is
the famous "swing vote" on many Court
decisions that are decided by a single vote.
Though there have been changes in the names
of the j ustices over the years, the legal balance
of the Court is still the same: four living in
the 18th century, four in the 21st century,
with one bridge between them.
If politics makes for strange bedfellows
and change is die buzz word for this political
season, then I think it’s time to change
the sheets. As these two well experienced
attorneys have wedded dlemselves to marriage
equality, I wish them a happy honeymoon.
Live long and prosper, Olson and Boles!
Joplin First Pride in
over ten years
JOPHN. MO (PR) In January of this
year Rev. Steve Urie of Spirit of Christ MCC
asked for volunteers to h~ad up a committee
commissioned with the task of planning and
bringing together Joplin’s first Pride Event in
over ten years. Out of that was born Joplin:
Out & About, a collaborative committee
made up of people from Spirit of Christ
MCC, AT&T and other GLBT groups and
members from the community. A target date
was set and the planning began.
¯homas, Joanna, Darrell, Jeff, Heath,
Shauna and Shea with the intermittent help
of others handled the tough iob of keeping it
all together.
Tne final result was several events through
the week including a Karaoke Night, Movie
Night and finally Joplin’s Out & About Event
in the park.
Just ten years ago you would find law
enforcement setting traps to catch men in the
park cruising. This year with la~v enforcement
patrols protecting the event; the community
celebrated with groups from Springfield,
Galena, Tulsa, the greater Joplin area and as
far away as NWArkansa~s, Weir and Topetca,
Kansas taking pride and respect to a new
high level for the community. Private and
non-profit vendors started signing on as did
other local groups including UCC Family
Fellowship, Joplin Gays Yahoo Group, Joplin’s
GLBT Corporate Center, the support group
fi-om AT&T, Planned Parenthood, PROMO,
the Pla-Mor Lounge and APO’s local and
Springfield’s offices. The Metro Star played
an important part in providing sponsorship
and coverage of the event. The Topet~
Transgendered Alliance was represented by
Steve/Lila & spouse Joy also members of
MCC Topeka. Entertainment was provided
by a band as well drag queens from Joplin
and Springfield. The Gto Center from
Springfield, MO showed up in support of
the Event, helped with Sponsorship and
provided information about their services. We
thank everyone who sponsored, supported,
participated and just plain attended this
event.
Rev. Steve Urie &long time partner Heath with
festival voluntee~ Staffphoto
Held in Joplin’s McClellan Park June 13th
and with over 250 people from the GLBTQ
community this was a success for our
community. Friends, family supporters and
the straight community including children
and some well behaved canines came together
to show that we can be one community that
we can work together, play together and
respect each other. From Gay Bingo to the
sale of Pride Jewelry, entertainment ro fbod.
free HIV testing to information, and with
MC Brandon everyone had a great time. In
addition several boxes of food were donated
t~br APO clients through the Angel Food
Ministries program.
Lots ofentertainment, & good lookingguys and
gab atjoplin Pide Yestiva~ Staffphoto
We would like to thank Naomas for
his dedication and tenacity in keeping it
together; Joanna for gathering equipment,
supplies, support mad being one foot soldier
you couldn’t top, Darrell for writing the
first GLBT Joplin History Booklet, Jeff
for putting the boolde.t togethm; Heath
for cooking his heart out and all the
volunteers that brought it together. With the
encouragement of the community at large
already pouring in this may have been Joplin’s
first Pride event in recent history but clearly
won’t be its last.
Wockner News Service
New Hampshire legalizes
same-sex marriage
New Hampshire legalized same-sex
marriage June 3 when Gov. John Lynch
signed three bills, including one that had
cleared the Legislature just an hour eadier.
3-he bills open marriage to same-sex
couples starting Jan. 1 and protect certain
rights of religious organizations, associations
and societies that oppose gay marriage.
"Today is a historic day for all Granite
Staters," said Mo B~ley, executive director
of the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry
Coalition. "We applaud Gov. Lynch, (House)
Speaker (Terie) Norelli, (Senate) President
(Sylvia) Larsen and the leadership of the
General Court (legislature) for making sure
that all loving, committed couples have the
freedom to marry. Today, our shared values of
individual liberty, freedom and fairness have
been upheld:"
The final bill, tsveaking religious
protections, passed the Senate 14-10 and
th.e House 198-I76. Lynch had required
tile additional language as a condition of his
agreeing to let gays marry.
In announcing his support for same-sex
marriage on May 14, Lynch said: "At its
core, (this bill) simply changes the term ’civil
union’ to ’civil marriage.’ Given the cultural,
historical and religious significance of the
word marriage, this is a rneaningfu! change.
I have heard, and I understand, the very real
feelings of same-sex couples that a separate
system is not an equal system. That a civiI law
that differentiates between their committed
relationships and those of heterosexual
couples undermines both their dignity and
the legitimacy of their families."
Tl~e measures signed into law will repea!
the state’s civil-union law effective Jan. 1,
2011, and prohibit any new civil unions after
Jan. 1, 2010.
Same-sex marriage is legal in five other
U.S. states: Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Iowa, Vermont (starting in September)
and Maine (starting in Septembe0. Nlere
also are 18,000 same-sex couples legally
married nnder California law, though no
more will be allowed to marry until voters
repeal Proposition 8, the state constitutional
amendment passed last November, or until
the U.S. Supreme Court strikes it down Or it
is blocked by comx injunction. Gay groups
are planning a ballot initiative to delete
Prop 8, and a federal lawsuit has been filed
charging that Prop 8 violates the due-process
and equal-protection clauses of the U.S.
Constitution. The lawsuit also says Prop 8
relegates gays and lesbians to second-class
citizenship and discriminates based on gender
and sexual orientation. It further seeks an
injunction allowing same-sex marriage to
resttme in California pending resolution of
the case.
Hi ary Clinton issues
pride month statement
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a
Gay Pride month statement June 1.
She wrote: "Forty years ago this month,
the gay rights movement began with the
Stonewall riots in New York City; as gays and
lesbians demanded an end to the persecution
they had long endured. Now, after decades
of hard work, the fight has grown into a
global movement to achieve a world in which
al! people live free from violence and fear,
regardless of their sexual orientation or gender
identity.
"In honor of Gay and Lesbian
Pride Month and on behalf of the State
Department, I extend our appreciation to the
global LGBT community for its coui’age and
determination during the past 40 years, and I
offer our support for the significant work that
still lies ahead.
"At the State Department and throughout
the Administration, we are grateflal for
our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
employees in Washington and around
the world. They and their families make
many sacrifices to serve our nation. Wneir
contributions are vital to our efforts to
establish stability, prosperity and peace
worldwide.
"Human rights arc_- at the heart of those
efforts. Gays and lesbians in many parts of
the world live under constant threat of arrest,
violence, even torture. The persecution of
gays and lesbians is a violation ofhuman
rights and an affront to human decency,
and it must end. As Secretary of State, I
will advance a comprehensive human rights
agenda that includes the elimination of
violence and discrimination against people
based on sexual orientation or gender
identity.
"N~ough the road to full equality ibr
LGBT Aalaericans is long, the example set by
those fighting for equal rights in the United
States gives hope to men and women around
the world who yearn for a better future for
themselves and their loved ones[
"This June, let us recommit ourselves to
achieving a world in ~vhich all people can live
in safety and freedom, no matter who they
are or ~vhom they love."
Clinton also is preparing to grant spousal
benefits and protections to diplomats’ gay
partners, she said in a recent letter to the
group Gays and Lesbians in Foreign ~aqZairs
Agencies.
The pack,age will include medical and
emergency evacuation, travel reimbursement,
shipment of household effects, use of U.S.
government medical facilities abroad, isstlance
of diplomatic passports, visa assistance, and
security and language training.
Not included are health insurance,
retirement benefits and certain other perks.
Nevada Legislat e
overrides governor’s veto
ofpartnership bill
Nevada’s Senate and Assembly on May 30
and 31 overrode Gov. Jim Gibbons’ May 25
veto of a domestic-partnership bill.
Tne new la~¢ extends to same- and
opposite-sex registered domestic parmers
nearly all state-level rights and obligations of
marriage.
The override came without a vote to spare
in both the Senate (14-7) and the Assembly
(28-!4). In the Senate, 10 Democrats and
four Republicans voted for tile override, and
five Republicans and two Democrats voted
against it.
Gibbons had claimed the bill ran afoul
of a 2002 state constitutional amendment
that defines marriage as between a man and
a woman. He also argued that gay couples
could go sign private contracts if they
desired the protections of marriage for their
relationship.
"The significance here is it literally equates
’domestic partner’ with ’spouse’ under
Nevada state la**;" Michael Ginsburg of the
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
told Las Vegas correspondent Steve Friess.
"You have the flail force of the law behind you
nox~: When you’re in the hospital, forced to
ma~e decisions for your partner, all you have
to say is, ’This is nay spouse,’ and that carries
tremendous weight."
.am Lambert
Photo: American Idol runner up Adam Lambert
Who kalew? American Idol sensation and first
runner-up Adam Lambert is a homosexual.
"I don’t think it should be a surprise for
anyone to hear that I’m gay," Lambert told
Rolling Stone June 9. "I’ve been living in Los
Angeles for eight years as a gay man. I’ve been
at clubs drunk malting out with somebody in
the corner."
"Right after the finale, I almost started talldng
about it to the reporters, but I thought, ’I’m
going to wait for Rolling Stone, that wil!
be cooler,’" he said. "I didfft want tile Clay ’
Aiken thing and the celebrity-magazine
bullshit. I need to be able to explain myself in
context.
’Tin proud ofmy sexuality. I embrace it. It’s
just another part of me."
Lambert noted, however: "I’m trying to be a
singer, not a civil rights leader."
July 2009
State Dept. to give gay
couples spousal benefits
U.S. Secreta,y of&am HillaO, Clinton
is prepari,g to grant spousal ben~ts and
protections m diglomau’gay gartne,s. Photo by
Rex l)~ckner
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
is preparing to grant spousal benefits and
protections to diplomats’ gay partners, she
said in a recent letter to the group Gays and
Lesbians in Foreign M~airs Agencies.
"Like all families, our Foreign Service
t~milies come in different configurations; all
are part of the common fiabric of our post
communities abroad," Clinton wrote. "The
department will provide these benefits for
both opposite-sex and same-sex partners
because it is the righ~ thing to do’
~Ihe benefits will indude medical and
emergency evacuation, travel reimbursement,
shipment ofhousehoid effects, use of U.S.
government medical facilities abroad, issuance
of diplomatic passports, visa assistance, and
security and ,language training.
NOt induded in the package are health
insurance, retirement benefits and certain
other perks.
"This is a remedy that is long overdue,"
said Human Rights Campaign President
Joe Solmonese, "For too many years, LGBT
Foreign Service officers have been forced to
choose between serving their country and
protecting their families."
Dick Cheney endorses
same-sex marriage
Former Vice President Dick Cheney came
out in support of same-sex marriage June 1
more clearly than he has in the past.
Asked about the issue at the National
Press Club, Cheney responded: "I think
freedom means freedom for everyone. And,
as many ofyou know, one ofmy daughters is
gay, and it’s something that we’ve lived with
for a long time in our family. I think people
ought to be free to enter into any kind of
union they wish, any kind of arrangement
they wish. The question of~vhether or not
there ought to be a federal statute that
governs this, I don’t support. I do believe
that historically the way marriage has been
regulated is at the state level -- ~his has always
been a state issue -- and ~ think that’s the
way ff ough~ to be handled ~oday, that is.
on a state-by-aa~c basis. D~ffbrem ;tares
make d~ff~t’ren~ decision But [ don’t haw
prob{cm with that ~ think people ought to
get a shot at d~at. And they do a~ present."
Cheney has made very similar comments
before, but they did not go quite as far.
In 2004, for example, he said: "I believe
today that freedom does mean freedom for
everybody. People ought to be free to choose
any arrangement they want. It’s really no
one else’s business. ~nat’s a separate question
from the issue of whether or not government
should sanction or approve or give some
sort of authorization, if you will, to these
relationships. Traditionally, that’s been an
issue for the states. States have regulated
marriage, ifyou will. That would be my
preference. In effect, what’s happened is that
in recent months, especially in Massachusetts,
but also in California, but in Massachusetts
we had the Massachusetts Supreme Court
direct the state of-- the legislature of
Massachusetts to modify their constitution to
allow gay marriage. And the fact is that the
president felt that it was important to make
it clear that that’s the wrong ~vay to go, as
far as he’s concerned. Now, he sets the policy
for this administration, and I support the
president."
Americans do not
support ’Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell’
Americans overwhelmingly want to see
the military’s "Don’t Ask, Do~t Tell" ban on
open gays repealed, a new Gallup poll has
found.
Sixty-nine percent told pollsters it’s time
for the ban to go -- including 58 percent of
Republicans, 58 percent of self-described
co~iservatives and 60 percent 0fwee~y
churchgoers.
Eighty-sLx percent of liberals oppose the
DADT policy, along with 82 percent of
Democrats and 78 percent of people between
age 18 and 29.
Even people over age 65 (60 percent),
Southerners (57 percent) and people who
didn’t finish high school (57 percent) said it’s
time to dump the ban.
Said Gallup: "President Barack Obama
will be well-positioned to forge ahead with his
campaign promise to end the military ban on
openly gay service members."
Gallup polled 1,105 adults nationwide
between May 7 and 10. The organization
said it was 95 percent confident that the
maximum margin of sampling error was plus
or minus 3 percentage points.
CALIFORNIA HIV EMERGENCY
Schwarzenegger, Legislature may slash HIV funding
Gay and HIVadvocates rallied at *~e state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on time i 0 against
draconian cuts in HIVfi~ndingproposed by Gov. Arnold Schwar~enegger and under consideration
by the Legislature. Wockner Newsphoto by Charlie Peer/Ou~vord Magazine
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
has proposed, and the California Legislature
is considering, draconian cuts to all types of
HIV-related funding in the nea>bankrupt
state.
In the worst-case scenario, which is still
not off the table, slashes to the AIDS Drug
Assistance Program could result in thousands
of Californians who make less than $41,600
per year losing access to the statelprovided
drugs that suppress HIV and keep them dive.
In the apparent best,case scenario, not all
HIV drugs would be available via ADAP and
patients would have to pay part of the cost 0f
the ones they could geta That is problematic
because some HIVvposirive people have
developed resistance to some HIV drugs, and
need access to the full arsenal of therapies to
stay alive.
Further, the current plan apparendy
completely eliminates state funding for the
tests that determine if a patient is responding
to treatment -- such tests as CD4 counts,
viral-load measurement and drug-resistance
monitoring.
These tests are essentially mandatory in -
HIV treatmm~t. Doctors use them so they
can change a nonresponsive patient’s drug
combination to another combo that works in
that patient -- before the patient’s immune
system breaks down further and the patient
develops a life-threatening opportunistic
infection............
The current plan apparently also
dramatically ~lashes handing for education,
prevention, counseling and testing programs.
Some 35,000 working- and middleclass
Californians who don’t make enough
money to pay for their own treatment could
be adversely or dangerously affected by the
possible cuts to ADAP and elimination of
monitoring testing.
Gay and HIV advocates have strongly
denounced the budget proposals, and a
large rally was held at the state Capitol in
Sacramento on June 10.
Lesbian couple marries
on Indian reservation
A lesbian couple married on the Coquille
Indian reservation in Coos Bay, Ore., May
24. It was believed to be the first such
marriage in the U.S.
~ae Coqui!te tribe passed a la~v legalizing
same-sex marriage more than a year ago, but
it just now took effect.
Kitzen Branting, 26, and Jeni Branting,
28, tied the knot in the tribe’s meeting hall.
Their marriage will not be recognized by
the state of Oregon, but will be legal on the
property of the tribe, which is a sovereign ~
nation.
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Wockner News Service
50,000 at EuroPride
Some 50,000people ~rned outfor the EuroPrideparade, hem in Zurich this year on June
~ Photo by Nikolai Alekseev, GayRussta.ru
Some 50,000 people turned out for the
EuroPrkle parade, hdd in Zurich this year
on June 6.
Openly lesbian Zurich Mayor Corine
Mauch joined in.
Next year, the parade ventures behind
the former Iron Curtain to Warsaw -- a city
that as recently- as 2005 tried to ban pride,
only to be later rebuffed by the European
Court of Human Pdghts.
Meanwhile, Rom& gay pride parade
dr~ more than 100,000 participants June
13~ with a demand fbr legalization of
same-sex marriage and equa! rights for gay
couples.
Some 1,500 people marched in Warsaw
on June 13, also demanding legalization
of same-sex partnerships. "l-he parade, on
central Marszalkowska Street, attracted fewer
than !00 counterprotesters, who shouted
anti-gay vitriol.
Five hundred people marched in Zagreb,
Croatia, on June t3. Police kept about
50 snarling anti-gays from disrupting the
parade.
20,000 march
Tel Av v
Around 20,000 people joined Tel Aviv’s
! lth gay pride parade June 12.
The march ended with a beach ’~edding"
of five gay" couples. Same-sex marriage is not
legal in Israel.
Some top rabbis had urged Prime
Minister Beniamin Netanydau m try to ban
the parade. They called it an abomination.
A few religious right-wingers picketed
the march, which was paid for by the city
government.
’Tel Aviv is more secular than Jerusalem,
where the pride parade routinely leads large
numbers of religious folks ~o wail and gnash.
Last year’s parade in Jerusalem featured
3,000 naarchers and 2,000 cops to protect
them. They walked al! of @ur blocks.
~n 2007, the Jerusalem parade traveled
about 500 meters before ultra-Orthodox
protesters shut it down, despite the presence
orS,000 police o@cers. Prior to the parade,
police arrested a man with a bomb. The postparade
rally was canceled because striking
firefighters refused to provide a required
firetruck.
In 2005, a counterdemontrator stabbed
three marchers at Jerusalem’s marcia and later
was convicted of attempted murder. ~ae
victims’ iniuries were not serious.
Moscow gays want to
picket Obama
Moscow Pride founder Nikolai Mekseev
says members of his group will attempt to
stage a picket in favor of same-sex marriage at
the U.S. Embassy on July 7 during President
Bara& Obama’s visit.
It is unlikely the activists will receive city
permission to do so. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has
banned pride parades for the past four years
and sent riot police to aggressively arrest those
who ignored the bans.
Luzl~ov has called gay parades
"demonic," "satanic" and "weapons of mass
destruction." He also has said the bans are for
gays own good so that "radical Christians"
don’t have a chance to "kill them."
Mekseev is hopet~fl that he’ll be able to
pull off the picket regardless because "the
presidential media pack wilt be in town."
Mayor Luz ov lashes
out at gays
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has again
lashed out at gays, calling them "homos" and
calling gay pride parades "demonic."
Appearing on a TV program June 2,
Luzhkov reportedly said: "Niere are two
reasons gay pride parades are unacceptable in
Moscow: First and foremost, public morality
.does not accept such parades, public morality
does nor accept those homos."
Secondly, he said: "If they gather together,
assuming they are allowed to hold a parade,
other people will simply kill them. ~here
are radical Christians in Moscow who stand
strongly against such demonic manifestations,
as they say.
"There were attempts made (in May’) to
hold the gay parade during the Eurovision
Song Contest in Moscova We had to isolate
about 19 radical Christians who intended to
attack those homos.’
On May, 16, riot police broke up an
attempt to stage the fourth annual gay
pride parade in Moscov~; arresting up to 80
participants, including gay leader N@olai
Ale~eev, British gay leader Peter %tchell and
Chicago gay activist Andy Thayen
Luzhkov previously has called gay pride
parades "satanic" and "weapons of mass
destruction," and has o@cially banned them
each ),ear.
Lithuanian Parliament
votes ’no promo
homo’ law
Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas,
approved a measure on first reading June
4 that bans references to homosexuality in
schools and in public information that can be
visible to children. Tne bill still has to dear a
final vote.
The tally was 57-2 with 8 abstentions.
Many MPs missed the vote.
Amnesty International said the "Law
on the Protection of Minors Against the
Detrimental Effect of Public Information’~
would classify "homosexuality alongside
issues such as ... the display of a dead or
cruelly mutilated body of a person, and
information that arouses fear or horror, or
encourages self-mutilatisn or suicide."
Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty’s Europe
and Central Asia program director, said the
proposed law "denies the right to freedom of
expression and deprives students’ access to the
support and protection they may need."
China sees its first gay
pride week
China saw" its first-ever gay pride week
June 7-14 in Shanghai.
Events included movies, plays, art
exhibits, panel discussions, swimming and
badminton competitions, and a big party,
thouglx at least one play" and one film were
ordered canceled by authorities.
Some 500 people attended a barbecue/
drag shiny/fashion show/hot-body contest on
June 13.
Organizers decided against holding a
parade, saying it iust didn’t seem to be legally
possible, according to China Daily:
"Shanghai Pride is a community-building
exercise," co-organizer Tiffany Lemay told
the English-lang~aage paper. "We hope
to raise awareness of issues surrounding
homosexuality, raise the visibility of the
gay community, help people within our
community to come out, and build bridges
between the gay and straight communities."
Northern Irish LGBs
report high level ofhate
Twenty-one percent of gay and bisexual
men and I8 percent of lesbian and bisexual
women iri Northern Ireland say they\,e been
the victim of a homophobic hate crime or
incident in the past three years.
The figure comes fi’om a survey of I,t43
LGB people catrried out by the Rainbow
Project with funding from the Police Service
of Northern Ireland.
Tne study found that 64 percent of such
incidents were not reported to police and 30
percent resulted in physical injui3:
ebec to 1attach
strategy against
homophobia
Quebec Justice Minister Kathleen Well
has announced the Canadian province will
implement a comprehensive strategy against
homophobia before the end of the year.
She broke the news at a May I7 rally
marking the International Day Against
Homophobia (IDAHO).
"We see it as a major step forward here
since doing so, Quebec will ackmowledge
officially that homophobia -- and not
homosexuality -- is a social problem and
take action, instead of passively banning
discrimination, said Magazine ]~tre Editor
Andrd Gagnon.
"As far as I know, it will be the first
government in the world to adopt such
a strategy that will cover all its spheres of
intervention," he said.
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July 2009
i t÷matie
Ruling: English adoption agencies
cannot discriminate
The Charities Commission of England and Wales ruled
June 2 that adoption agencies cannot discriminate against gay
couples.
The commission cited the Equality Act (Sexual
Orientationl Regulations 2007, which ban discrimination
based on sexual orientation.
Violation of the law would lead to a loss of charity status
and public funding.
The ruling came in a case involving the Catholic Care
charity in Leeds, which wanted to amend its official statement
of objectives with the commission to exclude consideration of
gay couples.
Denmark is not gay nirvana
Denmarlq the first nation in the world to legalize gay
partnerships, in 1989, still has a problem with homophobia.
Eighteen percent of GLBT people in Copenhagen and
8 percent in other parts of the country say they’ve been
discriminated against based on their sexual orientation in
the past year, according to a report from the Center for
Alternative Social Analysis.
GLBT people between ages 16 and 29 reported more
problems than older people.
A total of 3,400 homophobic incidents were reported to
police in 2008, the study said.
A report in the Politiken newspaper said gay businesses
also have been targeted.
Copenhageds oldest gay ba~; Centralhiornet. had rocks
thrown through its windows six times in 2008. Patrons also
have been bombed with eggs through the bar’s open door.
Australian prison OKs gay
con}ugal visits
Xhe Alexander Maconochie prison in Australia’s Capital
Territory has decided to let gay inmates receive conjugal visits
six times a year.
The policy applies to prisoners who are ~vell-behaved and
whose partner is not also incarcerated at the facility.
Reports said that the state of Victoria. where Melbourne is
located, is the only other place in Australia where gay inmates
can have sex dates with their partners.
Bosnian churches oppose antidiscrimination
bill
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Interreligious Council is
opposing a.bill to ban discrimination based on sexual
orientation, claiming it will lead to legalization of same-sex
marriage.
The measure has passed first reading in the House of
Representatives.
A national law banning discrimination based on sexual
orientation is a requirement for any nation that wants its
citizens to be able to travel within the European Union
without obtaining a visa.
Nae Interreligious Council is composed of representatives
of the nation’s Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews and
Orthodox Christians.
Balkanlnsight.com said it is unttsual for the council "to
agree on any concrete actions and (it) often has been blocked
by internal boycotts."
.Gay marriage campaign launched
m Portugal
The Movement for Equality in Access to Civil Marriage
launched on May 31 in Lisbon, Portugal.
More than 1,000 people signed onto the campaign,
including politicians, well-known actors, pop singers and
businesspeople, and Nobel Prize winner Josd Saramago, who
was honored for literature in 1998.
The campaign’s manifesto, which nmv can be signed by
anyone in Portugal, states, in part: "Equal access to civil
marriage is a matter of justice that deserves the support of all
people who oppose homophobia and discrimination.... We
citizens who believe in equal rights, dignity and recognition
for all of us -- for our families, friends and colleagues -- join
our voices to express our support for equality.
"We call this change necessary, fair and urgent because we
know that the current situation of inequality divides society
between those who are included and those who are excluded,
between persons who are inside and marginalized persons....
We now have an opportunity to end one of the last unjustified
(instances of) discrimination written in our law."
Peru gay police ban less stringent
than reported
Peruvian Interior Minister Mercedes Cabanillas says recent
news reports that gays have been banned from being police
officers were not quite right.
Mid-May reports said cops who have sex with people of
the same sex would be banned because they cause scandal and
denigrate the police’s image.
But Cabanillas says the new law, which took effect May
12, will only ban gay cops if their gay-related public behavior
is scandalous or damages the image of the institution.
She said the ministry has no desire to "get in anyone’s bed"
and that officials only wish to target unseemly, embarrassing
or scandalous occurrences or attitudes related to sexual
orientation that happen in the public sphere.
Gay groups said the taw is problematic and discriminatory
either way because ir seems to suggest that certain public
expressions of homosexuality are more likely ro run afoul of
the law than similar public expressions of heterosexuality.
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission and Movimiento Homosexual de Lima have
launched a letter-~vriting campaign to Peru’s public defender,
=’asldng her to file an Action of Unconstitutionality with the
Constitutional Court to cl!allenge the so-called ’offense’ of
same-sex relations and its associated penalty."
"We write to express our concern over Law 29356, vchich
establishes a new disciplinary code for the Peruvian police,
and stipulates in Article 34 that it is a serious offense to ’have
sex with people of the same gender that causes scandal or
undermines corporate image,’" a sample letter says in part.
"This law is a clear violation of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and the Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights -- both of which have been signed by Peru. This
regressive law also violates the Andean Charter, a regional
treaty ratified by Peru in 2002.... Finally, Law 29356
is inconsistent with human rights principles that are
already, codified in Peruvian law. On December 1, 2004,
a new Constitutional Procedures Code, approved by
Parliament, modified constitutional procedures to recognize
discrimination based on sexual orientation."
Australian benefits agency
recognizes gay de facto couples
Centrelink, the Australian government’s social-benefits
agency, will treat gay de facto couples as married for benefits
purposes starting July 1.
While the move increases equality, it also will result in
a loss of benefits for some coupled gays, who previously
qualified based on their individual income.
Centrelink assistance encompasses such things as health
care, prescription drugs., unemployment payments, disaster
aid,,rent subsidies, aid to single parents and a wide range of
other benefits and welfare programs.
"From 1 July 2009 changes to legislation wilt mean that
customers who are in a same-sex de facto relationship will be
recognised as partnered for Centrelink and Family Assistance
Office purposes," says the agenc)?s Web site. "All customers
who are assessed as being a member of a couple will have their
rate of payment calculated iri the same way."
Colombian policeman added to
partner’s health insurance
The Board of Health of Colombia’s National Police
granted health-insurance benefits to the partner of a gay
officer May 14.
The extension of coverage to Fabifin Mauricio
Chibcha Romero followed a January ruling by the nation’s
Constitutional Court that granted marital rights to commonlaw
same-sex couples in areas that indude civil service,
contracts ~vith the government, housing protection and
assistance, immigration, social security, death indemnification,
and criminal noninctimination.
~Pne activist group Colombia Diversa said the ruling
encompassed all the "civil, political, social, economic, criminal
and immigration rights ... of a common-law union, minus
adoption."
Chibcha also gained access to police housing subsidies and
vacation dubs.
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Spirit of Christ MCC
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w,,~w.rnetrostarnews.com ~,tr®STAR 11
Viognier [vee-oh-nay]
For those who haven’t experienced
Viognier, the first glass is quite a revelation.
This wine will embody al! Or some of the
following: honeysuckle, citrus blossoms,
t~,chee, ripe melon, freshly picked.peaches
6r apricots and ripe pear. Winemaker Craig
Williams, from Josep~ ~nhe~s Vin~;a,~s, s~s
Viognier contains floral compounds called
~Terpens. Tl~ey are also found in Muscat and
Pdesling. So, think of the most aromatic
Muscat or Riesling you’ve ever encountered,
then concentrate it and you have Viognier.
The majoriV of French Viogniers are
sold as Vin de Pays in the Languedoc. In the
Rl~one wine region, the grape is o~en blended
with Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache
blanc. In the Northern part of Rhone, the
grape is sometimes blended with Chardonnay.
Since the late 1980s, plantings ofViognier
in the United States and Cagada have
increased dramat,ically. The Rhone R~angers
of the mid 1980 s help spark the increased
interest in Viognier in California and now
Californigs Central Coast is the leading
producer.
Looking some good summerwtt te wines. > ~ Marcheregiono~:~yand~ to
monm, we are art a ou- < fthe}lord
most widet l~ted white
wpicNly Sauvignon blanc ~ Macab~o. Xg Mar&etti~07 it~~ ~" *~ ,~.
,..... ?~ P ~ , [, desiunated "Rueda V?rdejo must contaifi Fazi,B; t~gli~ ~007 Italy >::~
wine grape, veraemo is cl~slHeo as a noble o - ....
or classic grape. On the PortuDtese mainland,
85% Verdejo, and are oAen 100% Verde’o....... *..........
it is recommended in the DAO region and
Verdejo winm are aromatic, often ~oA . ~d[as ~wws, Isay go to your favorite wing/~
and Rdl-bodied. %ey can be somewhat ~k questions ~d purchase a bottle or
with the production of white port. Some
Portuguese locales call this Gouveio. The
Godello grape grown in northwest Spain is
believed to be the same variety as Verdelho.
%e grape has been successful in the vineyards
ofAustralia, particularly the Hunter \~lley
region, Langhorne Creek and the Swan
Xga!le?: Australian versions of Verdelho are
noted for their intense flavors vdth hints of
lime and honeysuclde. California is producing
more of this varietal as ,sell.
St. Amant 2006 California
Marquis Philips 2007 Australia
Verdejo [ver-day-ho]
This is a variety of wine grape that has long
been grown in the Rueda winegrowing region
of Spain. The grape originated in North
Africa, and was spread to Rueda in about
the 1 lth Century. For most of this time
Verdejo was generally used to make a strongly
oxidized, Sherry-like wine, In the 1970s the
reminiscent of Sauvignon blanc
warm climate.
Gar~i Grande 2007 Spain
Marquis de Riscal 2007 Spain
: Share some food& wine with friendd
a~d ehe~k this out for yourself.
,Vouv~ay[vooh-~ay]
’,Wines fi’om the French
to the east ofTours are made in
range of styles fi-om the Chenin
Vintages in the Loire are variable,
best years Vouvray can produce
very long-lived white wines.
It turns out that most chenin blanc
1970s what most
generic, alcoholic" "
by corporations
consumed in
rather than wine
chenin blanc is
exhibiting a nutty,
Pichot 2007
Nais writer is one ofthe managers at the Grand
Vin wine shop at Utica Square. He also bar tends
and hosts wine & food events around town known
as the Wine Enthusiasts ofTulsa.
indude:
/ www. la~neSpecta-
Verdicchio
months recipe courtesy of:
Crab
Ingredients
1 Cup Mayonnaise
4 Eggs
1 V2 Cup Japanese Breadcrumbs
2 T Granulated Garlic
2 T Onion Powder
2 - I lb Cans Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
(Indonesian or Philippine)
2 - 1 lb Cans Bacldin Crab Meat
(indonesian or Philippine)
Preparation:
Mix first 5 ingredients together by hand.
Drain Crab meat cans ofwater. Fold in
Baclcfin crab meat first and then gently fold
in jumbo lump crab meat being careful
not to break up the lumps. If mixrure
is too wet. add 1A cup more ofJapanese
Breadcrumbs. Mixture should barely
hold together. DO NOT PU/T .~NY
ADDITIONAL SEASONINGS OR TOO
MUCH BRREADCRUMBS IN! The
drizzle on top of the crab cakes will give ir
all of the seasoning it will need.
Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat
with half an 20 inch of corn oil. Once the
mixture is made, take a 4 ounce scoop and
pack in the crab cake mixture. Carefully
place the flat side of the crab cake down
in the oil for approximately ! - 2 minutes
until golden brmvn. Place the crab cake on
a pre-greased baking sheet, fried side up.
These can now be held for up to 5 days in
the refrigerator or finished offin the oven
immediately;
DRIZZLE INGREDIENTS (BAY MAYO)
1 Cup Mayonnaise
2 T Old Bay
Dash ofGranulated Garlic
% Cup Heavy Cream
the ba~
12 July 2009
Big-screen beckons Nell Patrick Harris
xYvq~ite hosting this year’s Tony Axvards, Nell Patrick Harris
joked about his second-class status as a "TV guy." But he’s
atready proven he’s hilarious on the big screen in the Harold
& Kumar movies, so now that second-tier status is about to
change with two new film projects on the horizon. Harris
has joined the cast of Beastly, the new film from gay director
Daniel Barnz (Phoebe in Wonderland) that Romeo’s already
reported on here, but the How I Met Your Mother star wilt
also be playing a lead role in The Best and the Brightest.
Harris plays a husband - way to break that gay-actor-curse
NPH - from Ddaware whose wife goes bananas about social
status when they move to New York City and try to get their
kid into an elite kindergarten. Amy Sedaris, John ~
and Kate Mulgrew al~0 star in ~he latter;
hit theaters before the end of 20!0.
How to make a monster musicaJ
More and more movies are being made from poptflar
childhood toys, from dolls (Kit Kittredge: An American
Girl) to action figures (Transformers) tO even board games
(Clue). But now we’re getting a movie musical based on a toy
that doesn’t even exist yet and will presumably be marketed
alongside the film itself. Gay super-producers Craig Zadan
and Nell Meron are reuniting with Hairspray composerlyricist
Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott gc’ittman to make
an original screen musical around an as-yet-unnamed Mattel
monster toy. Every~daing’s being kept very much on the
hush-hush, but the one thing that’s been revealed is that the
property will "add a fresh twist to monster lore." No word
yet on when this new musical will go into production, but
Romeo bets five bucks that if the movie and the toy do well,
an eventual Broadway adaptation is inevitable. And TV
show. And more toys. And sequels. And ...
Jake Gyllenhaal andAnne Hathaway Focus Features photo
Brokeback spouses reunite
Granted, the romance between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway in
Brokeback Mountain was a tragic one involving the closet and deception and
death, but these actors are determined to give it another go in a movie where he
won’t be playing a gay cowboy. Love and Other Drugs will feature Gyllenhaal
as a pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer during the time when a revolutionary
litde blue pill was hitting the market (the film is based on the book Hard Sell:
Tne Evolution ofa Viagra Salesman) while Hathaway will play a woman with
Parldnson’s with whom he begins a relationship after they meet on a sales
call. Ed Zwick (Glor~ Defiance) is set to direct, with Shooting set to happen
possibly as early as this fall. A movie about Viagra may make audiences stand at
attention, but if the film lasts more than four hours, please, call your doctor.
Romeo San PTcente hopes the monster-toy musical will be like the Dra~dapuppet rock operaj~om
_ForgettingSarah Marshall_, complete withfull-fl’ontal male nudity. He can be reached care of
thispublication or at DeeplnsideHollywOod@qsyndicate.com.
~LSA, 0g (PR). Continuing
the m0fithl9 ShOwcase of local artists a
the Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in
Downtown Tulsa ~ right next to Living Arts
(Ok )
will feature Tulsa Artist Michael Cooper with
an opening show and reception on Thursday,
July 2nd from 6-gpm and continuing
throughout the month ofJuly.
Michael Cooper is an emerging artist
in the Oldahoma scene, specializing
in journalistic art, music, and portrait
photography. In 2008 he joined Urban Tulsa
Weekly as a staff photographer and has seen
his work published in notable other Okie
publications, induding Oklahoma Gazzette
and Oklahoma Today Magazine. In his own
words, "I have two eyes and one lens, and
they battle each other for experiences daily.
The way I see it - few people get to live their
passion, and being an artist is mine. I’m just
trying this road of exploration out, and I
hope you’re there along for the ride".
www.metrostarnews.corn gg{<~{:a~oSTA,R 13
MCC United ~°~"-~~o’~°" 918-838-171~
Metropolitan Community Chu~h
put tb
Chr°
y Church
14 ;~÷troSTAR July 2009
www.metrostamews.com ~÷troSTAR 15
PHILADELPHIA, PA
"As in one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the country"
by Donald Pile and Ray Williams
[)how: Gables Bed andBreakfizst
Visiting Philadelphia for the first time
-was certainly, a very exciting and interesting
time for us. We knew ahead of time al!
about the historical things to see and do but
had no idea what else to expect. We first
checked into The Gables Bed and Break~st
which has been owned for the past 16 years
by ~rren Cederholm and Don Caskey.
Located in the University part of the city, it is
a grand old Victoria home full of wonderful
antiques from top to bottom. ~e house has
a "wrap around" porch for guests to sit and
have drinlcs and snacks or just to view the
sights and sounds of the area. Each room is
beautifully decorated in antiques. A full, and
we do mean FULL sit down breakfast in the
~orma! dining room is served each morning.
XYge are not talking doughnuts and coflree but
a fail sit down brealNast. This was a perfect
way to talk with the other guests to find out
what others did the day" be~bre or were going
to do that day. "While there we met guests
from California, Alabama and all over. Many
of the guests alwws stay there when visiting
Philadelphia. Warren and Don are graciotts
hosts and. al%r 16 years of taking guests into
their lovely home, they seem to have been
able to do it the right way< Another great
thing about staying at The Gables is that the
trolley system runs right in front of their
house and you can take it downtown in just
minutes, and it runs about every 20 minutes
a!l day 10ng. The), have ample off-street
parking behind their house which is a big
plus.
To begin your day, take the trolley
downtown. From that point you can take
another bus or ,valk south to the famous
historical district of Philadelphia and visit
all the places there. No trip to Philadelphia
would be complete without visiting the
Liberty Bell and the other historical places
that are located within a few blocks of there.
Philadelphia is proud of their art museums as
well they, should be. ~-he Philadelphia
Museum of Art is a first class museum and
is a MUST for anyon& visit to the cits: A
few blocks away is the Rodin Museum which
houses more Rodin sculptors any~vhere except
for Paris. There are maW other museums to
visit also.
Ofcourse every visitor to Philadelphia
must try one of their famous Philly
Cheesesteak sandwiches for lunch. There
are a lot of gay bars in the ’~gayborhood"
area of the city which is iust a few blocks
west of downtmvn and easily ~vithin ~valking
distance from the public transportation.
Knock was our very favorite bar there. It is
what a gay bar should be all about....... A
clean bar where the owner/management/staff
is super friendly; wl~ere the customers are
super friendl> where you can walk in and
really enioy yourself, located righ~ on the
corner of Locust St. and I2th Street. They
also have an excellent res~urant located in
the bar. ~Pnis is one of the finest restaurants
in the city ~vith fine white linen tablecloths
and napkins on every table. Jim the Maitre
’d is extremely professional. The servers are
very professional. They have a huge menu
offering the very finest of cuisine. Owned by
Bill Wood, this bar/restaurant is extremely
popular with both people ~vho live in the city
as ~vell as travelers.
We were fortunate during our stay to
see the Broadway pla}~ Grey Gardens which
is about the life of the aunt and cousin of
Jackie Kennedy- Onassis. They lived in a 24
room house in the Hamptons on Long Island
but were extremely poor and let their house
run down something horrible. Mother and
daughter loved (and hated) each other but
were bound to live with each other until the
mother finally died. There was a movie made
about their lives and HBO came out with
another movie a couple of months ago. Both
live theatre as well as the visua! arts are a huge
makeup in Philadelphia.
You could easily spend a whole ~veek
in this beautiful city and still not see
everything. The architecture is unbelievably
tremendous. On weekends, the Penn Landing
downtown is full of vendors and local
artists. Philadelphia is certainly a city that is
welcoming gay travelers with open arms.
There are just a handful of cities that you
must visit in the country and Philadelphia is
certainly" on our short list. Most cities you
still need a car to travel around however not
in this city. They have such a great public
transportation system and is extremely safe
and clean. Why can’t all cities do this?
For more information on Philadelphia,
visit: www.gablesbb.com and they are
located at 4520 Chester Avenue. Phone:
215.662. ! 918. ?dso visit w~v<ka~ockphilly.
COLT1
Another great website to visit
is: http://www.gophita.com/c/your_
philadelphia/14/diverse_philadelphia/287/
gay~friendly_philadelphia/4.html and wwcw.
gayphiladelphia.com
On a personal note, we want to thank
Bruce Yelk, Director of Human Resources
& Gay Marketing, Greater Philadelphia
Tourism marketing Corportation and to our
friend Buster Stevens who hosted a wonderful
dinner for us xvhile we were visiting.
Photo: Famous Liber~_y Bell Philadelphia, PA
Always remember to have fun when traveling,
meet new people and talk to everyone!
Wayne Fuller reported on gossipboy.com, an
Oklahoma internet news service focused on
the GLBT community, that Mr. Chiles had
been convicted of Obtaining Money by False
Pretenses in McClain County in 2006, for
which he received a 2 year deferred sentence
now completed. Since then a warrant for
his arrest was issued for the same offense
in Pontotoc County, which was in effect
when he was elected to his Democratic Party
position.
Robert Chiles, Director &Founder ofPrject
Pride Foundation ofOklahoma. Gorin photo
On June 8, represented by attorney Gordon
Melson, he appeared in court in Pontotoc
Count-5: An agreement was reached ~vith
the warrant withdrawn, and Robert ~vould
have until August 27 to make restitution to
the parties involved.
On June 3, when cast members from the
national tour of "The Drowsy Chaperone"
did a benefit at Tulsa’s Renegades Club for
Until There’s a Cure, an organization helping
those with HIV. Mr. Chiles presented them
with a large check payable to that organization.
It likewise would not clear his bank.
Mr. Chiles had been contacted by that
organization and he promised them a cashier~
check which was not received as of press time.
Following this, Mr. Chiles had asked the
Red Ribbon Revue, a monthly benefit show
performed at Renegades, to do a benefit for
his Foundation. In a statement to gossipboy.
corn Renegades entertainer Tabitha Taylor
stated, "I’m glad this was caught before we
did a fundraiser with the name attached."
www.metrostamews.com ~÷{~oSTAR 17
18 July 2009
,~.metrostarnews.com ~®~°~STAR t9
By Camper English
Crafting the Cosmopolitan
~he Cosmopolitan is one tasty
cocktail and probably most popular drink
created in the last 30 years, but it is not
magically original. The recipe calls for lemon
vodka, lime iuice, orange liqueur, and a splash
of cranberry for color. Minus the cranberry,
the drink follows the formula of spirit plus
lime plus orange liqueur. If that spirit is
tequila, that’s a Margarita. If it’s unflavored
vodka, that’s a Kamikaze.
In fact. the prevailing theory on the
creation of the Cosmopolitan is that it ,vas a
spin-offofthe Kamikaze created by a Miami
bartender
named Cheryl
Cook in 1985
or !986.
She said the
Cosmo is. ~
"Merely a ~
Kamikaze
with Absolut
Citron and
a splash of
cranberry
juice."
But her
version called
for Rose’s lime
juice, a bottled
lime juice
that’s a poor
substimte
for freshsqueezed,
and triple
sec, which
usually refers to the low-end orange liqueurs
that are poor substitutes for Cointreau. These
items are often served at high-volume bars
that want to save money on (admittedly
pricey) orange liqueur and don’t want their
bartenders taldng the time to squeeze limes
for each drink.
But I find the Cosmo-to be intolerable
~vithout them. So too did Toby Cecchini, a
New York bartender credited with finessing
the drink into its best form. Someone told
Cecchini about the drink, but in their version
it was made with unflavored vodka, Rose’s
lime, and the red-colored syrup grenadine.
He liked the look of the drink - soft pink and
served in a Martini glass - and experinaented
~vith ingredients to make the flavor match the
fashion. In the end, his version came out just
like Cheryl Cook’s version, but with better
ingredients.
This version caught on like wildfire
in New York. causing Cecchini and other
bartenders to make them by the thousands.
In the era of bottled sour mix and vermouthflee
Martinis. this drink seerned highmaintenance
enough for Cecchini to call
them "labor-intensive pink monstrosities."
~e trick to making a good pink
monstrosity; even if you have the proper
ingredients, is getting the ratio of them. right.
Apparently this is a problem for bartenders
~oo - i’ve had Cosmopolitans i~ every shade
from c!¢ar to deep red. When I make them at
borne, I’m ~o~- laz/to Ioot up ~[~e recipe so I
}ust ake ir ,,~ ingredient ar a vitae: ~ couo~e
ounces of Charon a smat~ splash of Cointreau.
and a large quantity of’lime.
(I like them tart.) I make mine in keeping
,vith Cheryl Cook’s original instructions
of ~jttst enough cranberry to make it oh so
pretty in pink."
That’s my starting point, anyway. One
thing I’ve learned making this drink is that
cranberry juice, like slimming black clothing,
hides many sins. Even if you get the initial
ratios of liquor and juice all wrong, or have to
resort to bottled lime )uice and bottom-shelf
triple sec, you can always make a drinkable
version of this drink. Just keep adding
cranberry until it’s good.
Vodka, Now Available in Juniper Flavor
I like to think of"bathtub gift" as
"Martinis by the poo!." but that’s not where
the expression originated. It came about
during Prohibition xvhen people would
"make" their own gin by adding mail-order
juniper flavoring to lowquality
alcohol to help mask its
awfulness. 2the weird tiring is, gin
cocktails were awfully popular
back then.
Today it is still legal to make
gin this way- not in the bathtub.
but by adding juniper oil and
other flavors to a neutral spirit
like vodka. Thankftdly, most of
the gins with which we’re familiar
don’t do it like that. Gin usually
starts with high-proof neutral
spirit made from grains like corn,
wheat, and rye. The gin distiller
then selects a range of botanicals
or botanical oils to infuse into the
spirit, then redistills everything
together.
There are many different
distilling methods gin makers
employ, but this is probably only
interesting to folks like me ~vho
spend our spare time hanging out
in distilleries on vacation. More interesting
are the types of botanicals that go in to gin.
Traditional brands like Beefeater, Plymouth,
and Tanqueray contain many ingredients like
citrus peels, coriander, cinnamon, and cassia
bark. Newer gins on the market like Bombay
Sapphire, Hendrick’s, and Martin Miller’s also
include things like lavender, ginseng, rose,
and green tea. All gins, by definition, must
contain jtmiper (berries that smell like pine
trees) as a dominant flavor, but the newer
ones tend to put less of it in.
While vodka lovers and gin lovers are
usually different sorts of people (though
I find versatility provides more options in
the bedroom and the liquor cabinet)~ when
it comes right down to it gin is really just
juniper-flavored vodka. Ifyou’ve got vodka
drinkers over for cocktails and you only
have gin left, just tell them their drinks are
made with "botanical vodka." If you’re in
the opposite situation, tell them the vodka is
"diet gin." Lying to your guests is the most
entertaining part of entertaining them.
The combination and concentration
of the juniper, spices, citrus, and other
botanicals is what gives each gin its unique
flavor and makes it a better or worse fit for
different cocktails. Some modern gins are
so very citrusy and floral that they can be
too perfumey for a Martini. (Hey, this drink
smells like grandma!} On the other hand.
when you add an intensely juniper-heaW
gin ro a Gimlet or other mild cockt ills.
s~metimes all you ~aste b rhe juniper. (Hey,
this drink smells like where ~ ~andma is
buried!~
2O
The trick is finding the right fit for each
gin fqr your mouth. I prefer the old-style
gins in a Martini, Aviation, Pink Gin, and
Negroni. With the more-floral, less-juniper
gins I like the Salty Dog, Gimlet, White Lady,
and Vesper.
But I find that no matter what kind of gin
you have in the house you can always add it
to tonic water and it will taste just fine. Tonic
is the mixer that swings both ways.
Camper English is a cocktails andspirits
writer andpublisher ofAlcademics.com.
Miss Gay Oklahoma
2009 Crowned in OKC
By Victor Gorin
Left: 2008 Miss Gay Oklahoma Adrienne
Fischer, 1st altetmam Samantha West, Shantd
l~£andalay &Miss Gay America Victoria
DePaula. Gorin Photo
worked their hearts out, hoping to be the next
Miss Gay Oklahoma. Emceed by former Miss
Gay America 2006 Nicole Dubois & former
Miss Gay Oklahoma 2005 Pure Chocolate
(as Steven), it got wild Saturday night as it
wound down to 5 finalists with their friends
cheering on their favorites.
That fun fabulous contest came to a
conclusion on Saturday night June 13 when
Shantel Mandalay finally won the title of Miss
Gay Oklahoma America after many years
of pursuing that dream. A proud 3rd grade
teacher who also coaches Special Olympics,
Miss Mandalay and her entourage wowed the
audience with a fast stepping dance routine
to the C&W classic "The Devi! went down to
Georgia" that brought the house down.
It was also an emotional time for the
current reigning Miss Gay Oklahoma
Adrienne Fischer when she passed on her
tide, joining many other former Miss Gay
Oklahomas who were there for the occasion.
Together with 1st alternate Samantha \Vest.
Shantel will be eligible to compete in the
national Miss Gay America competition to
be held this year in St.Louis October 28.-
November 1.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK It was a
festive weekend June 11-13 at Angles in
Oklahoma City when once again the girls
lIGHT
BILENT AUCTION- AND RAFFLES
Dd. IKEY TURNS UP THE WITH OlSDg ALL NIGHT
~:mSTAR July 2009
~’#~W.metrostamews.com
@ Angles, Oklahoma City
@ OGRA Pool Party, OKC
@Club Majestic, Tulsa
@Club 209, Tulsa
Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G.
@ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa
@ The Copa Oklahoma City
@ The Ledo, Oklahoma City
@ Finishlinel Oklahoma City
@ OGRA Rodeo, OKC
Tulsa Pride 09 Parade
@ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa
@ Tulsa Pride 09 Parade
www.metrostarnews.com , <,STAR 23
Oban~a administration defending DOMA
is shocking and unsetding. Clearly, our selfdescribed
’fierce advocate’ needs significant
additional pushing and pressure from all of
US."
Popular blogger John Aravosis: "A
Democratic president of the United States of
i~erica, in the year 2009. and an African-
B~nerican child of inter-racial parents no less,
gave his la~wers the go ahead ro compare
our marriages to incest on the same day that
42 years ago the Supreme Court ruled in
[ais parents’ favor in Loving v. Virginia....
We demand our rights, and we expect this
president, who promised them in exchange
[or millions of our votes and millions of
our donations, to deliver. And so help me
God, we will continue to hold this president
accountable for his broken promises and his
betrayals]"
Lambda Lega!’s Legal Director Jon
Davidson: "X~at they need to be asked
is why they gratuitously went out of their
-way ~o make the outrageous arguments
they unnecessarily included such as that
DOM2~ does not discriminate based on
sexual orientation or that the right ar issue
is not marriage but an unestablished rigi~t
~o ’same-sex marriage or
that DOMA is somehow
iustified in order to protect
taxpayers ~;ho don’t want
their tax do!lars used
ro suppor~ lesbian and
gay couples iwhile it~
apparently fine to make
lesbians and gay men pay
the same rm,:es but be
&nied the benefits provided
heterosexual couples) .... I
am seething mad."
Top Clinton aide
R5chard Socarides: "It had
such a buckshot approach
ro it, a veritable kitchen
sink of anti-gay legal theories, that it seemed
expressly designed to inflict maximal damage
ro our rights. Instead of malting nuanced
arguments which took into account the
president’s oi?-stated support for repealing
DO1VLA -- a law he has called ’abhorrent’ --
the brief seemed to embrace DOMA and all
its horrific consequences,"
Equality California Executive Director
Geoff Kors: "We ... call on President Obama
m order the Justice Department ro file a
supplemental brief reversing its position and
instead urging the repeal of DOMA."
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Executive Director Rea Carey: "The malicious
and outrageous arguments and language
used in the Department ofJustice’s marriage
brief is only serving to inflame and malign
the humanity of same-sex couples and our
families."
Gay writer Dan Savage: "If this shit is
’fierce advocacy,’ Mr. President, we’ll take
benign neglect.7
CBS News: "The anger from gay rights
advocates toward President Obama is starting
to boil over."
~!~e Wall Street Journal called Sotmonese’s
letter to Obama "scathing."
The New York Times editorialized: "The
Obama administration, which came to office
promising to protect gay rights but so far has
nor done much, actually struck a blow" for the
other side last week.... If the administration
does feel compelled to defend (DOMA), it
should do so in a less hurtful wa~: ... There
writer Dan
/ Savage: "If ’\
dais shit is ’fierce
advocacy; Mr.
President, we’ll
take benign /
\... neglect."
was no need to resort to specious arguments
and inflammatory language to impugn samesex
marriage as an institution."
Plans apparently are shaping up for a
gay March on Washington in October,
spearheaded, it appears, by veteran activist
Cleve Jones, the man who created the
NAMES Proiect AIDS Memorial O~ilt."The
President is in serious danger of motivating
a huge mass of gay people to stream into
\Ygashington for the simple ioy of standing in
front of the White House and giving him a
piece of their minds," wrote syndicated gay
columnist \gayne Besen.
"For what seemed Iike forever, Democrats
told us that when the big bad Republicans
went away, our lives would improve," Besen
said. "XN~ell, the Republican nightmare is over,
so why do I still feel like I’m in the middle of
a political Friday the 13th movie? ... As far
as I’m concerned, if the donkeys can’t detiv(r
now, they can Idss my ass."
On June 17, when Obama "delivered"
to federal employees a smattering of spousal
benefits, via issuance of a "memorandum," he
did again denounce DOblA.
"I think we all have to acknowledge this
is only one step," the president said.
the steps we have not yet t~en is to repeal the
Defense of Marriage Act. I
believe it’s discriminatory,
I think it interferes ,vith
states’ rights, and we will
work with Congress ro
overturn it. \rUe’re gor more
work to do to ensure that
government treats all its
citizens equally, to figh~
iniustice and intolerance in
all its forms, and to bring
about that more perfect
union. I’m committed
to these efforts, and I
pledge to work tirelessly
on behalf of these issues in
the months and years to
come.-
Obama also expressed support for the
Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations
Act.
"Under current law, we cannot provide
same-sex couples with the full range of
benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married
couples," he said. "That’s why I’m proud
to announce rny support for the Domestic
Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, crucial
legislation that will guarantee these rights
for all federal employees. I want to thank
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is behind me
somewhere -- there she is, right there -- for
her tireless leadership on this bill and in the
broader struggle for equality. I want to thank
Sen. Joe Lieberman -- Joe is here -- as well
as Susan Collins for championing this bill
in the Senate, and Rep. Barney Frank for his
leadership on this and so many other issues."
Sounds good, but gay activists ~veren’t
impressed. They want action.
"We commend President Obama ana his
administration for taking this beginning step
to level the playing field but we look forward
to working with him to repeal the Defense of
Marriage Act, overturn ’Dofft Ask, Don’t Tell’
and guarantee the entire American worl6brce
is free from discrimination," said HRC’s
Solmonese.
The Associated Press said, "His (Obama’s)
critics -- and there were many -- saw
Wednesday’s incremental move to expand gay
rights as litde more than pandering to a
reliably Democratic voting bloc."
Lamb& Legal Executive Director
Kevin Cathcart: "While ending any of
the discrimination against gay and lesbian
federal employees is a welcome step, today’s
... announcement falls far short of our hopes
and expectations. President Obama dearly
understands how important it is for people
to have health insurance coverage ro protect
their loved ones and this plan does not
provide that. Lambda Legal is representing
Karen Golinsldi, a federal employee who
works for the judicial branch and who is
seeking health insurance coverage for her
same-sex spouse. A federal judge has already
issued an administrative decision in that
matter, concluding that, within the existing
roles, the federal government can choose
to provide health insurance for same-sex
partners. Vie think they should.... The day is
long past for incomplete, piecemeal fixes that
leave hard-worldng families uninsured and
struggling."
People For the American W’ay President
Michael B. Keegan: "Today’s presidential
memorandum is a very small step in the right
direction, but it’s a token, and tokens are no
longer enough. DOMA stands in the way of
real progress for same-sex couples nmv denied
federal recognition and protection, and its
repeal is tong overdue. President Obama has a
unique ability to provide the moral leadership
to ensure that all Americans are treated
equally under the law. but so far he has failed
to exercise it. We urge the president to live
up to his own rhetoric about being a ’fierce
advocate’ fbr gay and lesbian Americans.
Taking action on his pledge to repeal DOMA
would be ~vorthy of the vision that he held
out to Americans during his campaign
NGLTF’s Carey: "This presidential
memorandum today will extend some
selected protections to the same-sex partners
and families of federal employees.... This
memo is one building block toward full
equality, and much more remains to be done
in order for the administration to live up to
the promises of equality the president made
as a candidate on the campaign trail.... We
also call on the president to take additional
steps that will have a positive impact on our
health, our livelihoods and our families’ safety
that do not require legislative action. These
include reversing the standing policy of the
U.S. Census Bureau to manually un-marry
any same-sex couple who lawfully states they
are married on the 2010 census, extending
employment protections to federal employees
based on gender identity, and reversing the
regulations that continue to throw roadblocks
in the way of HIV-positive individuals who
want to travel to this country."
NCLR’s Kendell: "The policy announced
today by the president committing to a
federal ~vorkplace free from discrimination is
a step in the right direction but inadequate
and long overdue. It leaves out millions
ofAmerieans who do not work for the
federal government and fails to include key
benefits including health insurance. When
running for office, then candidate Obama
called equality for LGBT people a ’moral
imperative.’ We will continue to demand
this administration live up to the president’s
promise of achieving ’full equality for the
millions ofLGBT people in this country.’"
The language is strong and the front is
unified. Nae White House clearly is listening,
but when will our "fierce advocate" act?
Writing on his house.gov Web site June
16, gay U.S. Rep. Jared Polls, D-Colo., said:
"I am a proud Democrat, as are many in the
LGBT community, and I believe we must
hold our leaders accountable. The Obama
Administration made a HUGE mistalte in the
DOMA brief. If they keep malting mistakes
like this. they risktosing the support of the
GLBT community forever, although I do
not believe we are at that point yet. President
Obama needs to honor his promise ro repeal
this ... hateful and divisive law. As the New
York Times editorialized yesterday, ’busy
calendars and political expediency are no
excuse for malting one group of Americans
wait any longer for equal rights.’"
labor of love really," said Arbuckle. "We ate
like a family here." The organization serves
men, women and children. "XWe have about
30-40 children who may be infected or have
parents who are," adds Arbuclde.
Recently, Arbuckle submitted a grant
application to the }v’La,C-AIDS Fund which
is an organization established in 1994 that
globally supports all persons lMng with
HIV/AIDS. "It is a passion for our company
and our staff," said Armando Ortiz, MAC
Retail Manager at Penn Square Mall. "We
refer to this as the heart and soul ofMAC
Cosmetics. MAC stands for Make-up, Art
and Cosmetics.
"Our Viva-Glam program is where the
monies come from," adds Ortiz. "We give
back 100% of the selling price back to the
community. This program is really something
we embrace in our company." MAC
Cosmetics has been in business since I984
and has donated over $t35 million dollars to
date through the MAC-AIDS Fund.
Other Options has changed some over
the years and now focuses primarily on their
Friends Food Pantry. "The other services are
provided so well by other organizations in the
city that we focus on the nutritional program
now," said Mary Arbuckle, Director of the
Other Options organization. "\ge work well
together with RAIN Oklahoma, the OU
Infectious Disease Clinic, and other local
organizations so our clients can ger all the
hdp they need and so there is less duplication
of services."
Friends Food Pantry is exclusive to the
HIV and MDS community. Clients come to
the srore to shop each week. "We give them
a shopping cart and let them select their own
items, which is different than most food
banks," adds Arbuckle. "We want to empower
their mind; we don’t want them to feel like
it’s a charity." Arbuckle says they plan ro
spend the majority of the MAC-AIDS grant
on their Boost program, which provides the
high-prorein Boost drink to those in most
need of the nutritional supplement.
Donations to Other Options are always
~velcomed and appreciated. For more
information about Other Options or the
Friends Food Pantry, please call (405) 946-
8577.
by Jack Fertig July 2009
"Pay attention, Cancer!"
Saturn square Mercury would normally
bring out everyone’s inner critic, but
with Saturn in Virgo and Mercury in
Gemini, bitchy outbursts are to be
expected. If you’re feeling brilliant, write
it down and think twice before saying
it aloud. Take a long view and look for
opportunities for self-improvement,
ARIES (March 20 - Apri~ 19): Stay
focused on work. Any personal remarks,
especially about colleagues, are sure
to get you into trouble. Your critical
analyses and recommendations for
improvement are probably a bit off the
mark, but at least they show you’re
paying attention.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Avoid
gambling and investments in any
game play strictly for funsies. Focus on
developing skill at your sport or hobby.
That’s an uphill slog, too, but something
that’s just fun now can have practical
value down the road.
GEMiNi {May 21- June 20): If you get
any criticism from family or roommates,
thank them for sharing and think about
what they say. There may be something
to it. Responding in kind will only start
an a~ui argument.
CANCER (June 21~- July 22): Pay
attention where you’re walking or
driving. Distractions inside your own
head can cause awful accidents. Be
aware of your surroundings, and you
can find better ways to bang up against
someone.
LEO (Ju~y 23 - August 22): You’re
inclined to be very critical of someone’s
political values, so why not focus on
your own? In this era of diminishing
resources, we all need to step back
and re-think things. Brainstorming
with friends will help you update your
perspective.
VlRGO (August 23 - September 22)
The sharp edge of your wit is very
much in evidence. Keep it focused
on practical matters and attention to
your own health and well-being. When
tempted to speak of others, make extra
effort to keep it kind and constructive.
L~B~ (September 23 - October
22): There’s always room for selfimprovement,
but don’t beat yourself up
with your faults, which you’re now likely
to exaggerate anyway. A creative focus
for your inner critic could help you to be
more realistic.
SCORPIO (October 23 - November
21): As your brain races around sex,
you may want to look beyond simple
gratification. That has its time and
place, but think seriously about your
relationships and what you’d want to be
doing - and with whom - in 20 years.
SAG!TTARIUS (November 22
- December 20): You will get into
arguments. Stay focused, principled
and respectful. The way you press
your point can earn you a great deal
of respect. Stay clear on details and
graciously accept correction when it’s
appropriate.
CAPRICORN (December 21
- January 19): Take it slow and easy.
Pay attention to details and you’ll have
fewer accidents and arguments at
work. Sex seems a great release for
stress, but is it really? Focus on what’s
important at work and at play.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February
18): You may be losing yourself helping
others, and fun may feel more like work.
An analytic approach to techniques of
craft, sport and/or pleasure reconciles
the latter. Being ruthless and selfish for
a bit is now good for you.
PISCES (February 19 - March
19): Domestic criticisms are nearly
inevitable. Being self-critical will help
keep you out of arguments, but give
yourself credit as well as blame. Your
partner’s shortcomings on that score
are highlighted because of your focus.
If you must say something, be kind and
gentle!
Community for
People iving
with
H R/!A DS
A 50’f c (3) Non t rofit Or~nizadon
Our House, Too offers a variety of
activities for people who are HIV+ and
or living with AIDS to help combat the
social isolation that many of our
people live through each and everyda~:
We provide a Toiletry and Household
Pantry for those "who are HIV+
and or living with AIDS who cannot
afford to purchase these items for
themselves. We invite anyone who
would like to volunteer or provide financial
assistance to please contact
us by phone 918-585-9552 or e-mail
ourhousetoo9865@sbcglobat.net
112 3 4
~5 6 7 8 9 ~10111213
14
~ 15
17 18 19
66 67 68
69 70 7I
43 Ausmas capital( to Aust ~ans
~ ’Watcha~Liberg~ game h~re
18 Irritating : ,
50 of Seventeefi :
52 :l~i~---~"s home Stat~ (abgr:};
~3 cone Out ~nthe b~a~h
5~ ~Evbr~tt S Monkey Zetterland
58 E~d of the a~eadline ~
52 Adult filly
69 %v0some
70 Second name in cross-dressing
7! Doest" own
31
33 Prefix with
35 In the sack
38 "Lead into temptation"
39 Casey J0n~s, e.g.
40 GOt excited ,
41 Hollinghurst s 7~e Swimming~Pool
42 Edmontons province
45 Many a place near Aspen
46 Ball {vh£ckers, in Ping-Pong
47 U-turn from SSW ~9 Gate design,
1 C. Marlowes tongue
55 Golfer Sam
57 Overhand stroke, for Mauresmo
59 It gets spilled at wild parties
60 Beat it
61 Peruvian native
65 Quit, with "out"
Solution page 26
We :welcome ~[etters fro ers. Shorter letters are more likely to be printed, as are those
that addreks ohly a Singte topiC, Letters are subject to editing for lefigt|i and clarity. In-
ClYde your hO~ addr~s} an~ ~,~time phone fiumber fo~-~;efifidatiDm Send l{~rs to the
4ditor~ pFe ly:~ ii (~iam£ws@sl;cglobal.ndt)~ Le{ters als~ may be mailed (Metro
Stem P~ Box 5~i 7’18, TulSa, IOK 7~ 158)
~wcw.metrostarnews.com ;~8÷troSTAR 25
Stage Performance To
Benefit C arron Alliance
OK~AI-IOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ lheatre
lovers are invited to attend an upcoming
performance of a Carpenter Square Theatre
production with proceeds benefiting the Cimarron
Alliance Foundation.
Carpenter Square’s Thursday, July 2, production
of"The Little Dog Laughed" will benefit Cimarron
and cimarronAP,TS! The show begins at 7:30
p.m. Tickets, at a discount, are $15 and can be
purchased £nline at: CAF
Carpenter Square provides the following
synopsis of tl~e show: Mitchell Green is a handsome
young movie actor who is on the verge of major
stardom. His agent can’t seem to keep him in
the closet due to his "slight recurring case of
homosexuality." And as if that’s not enough, he falls
in love with his most recent "rent boy" and wants
to announce it to the world. Helping him navigate
Holl.~;~vood’s choppy waters, his shark of an agent
Diane does everything she can to keep him away
~?om the rent boy and the rent boy’s girlfriend
(wait, the rent boy has a girlfriend?), but it’s not
smooth sailing.
Ticket sales are limited to 200, so buy )!our
rickets early!
Jamie Fo~
Jul 9, 2009 at BOK Center
Ticket Prices: $69.75 and $59.75
"l~is summer heats tip with a tour from one of the
Imrtest artists to move fi:om the big screen to the
stage. Jamie Foxx begins a summer tour in July and
makes Tulsa one of the first stops.
eridm Idols Live
Jul 24, 2009 at BOK Center Tulsa
Tickets Prices: $69.50, $55.50, $40.50
Fans ofAmerica’s #1 show will once again have the
chance to catch their favorite "Idols" performing
live in concert, as the top 10 contestants from
American Idol season 8 hit the road in the highly
anticipated summer tour.
Aerosmith
Ju130, 2009 at BOK Center
AEROSMITH
with ZZ TOP
July 30 @ 7:30pro
Ticket Prices: $129.50, $89.50, $49.50
~EROSMITH--STEVEN TYLER (vocals), JOE
PERRY (guitar), BP4\D ~WHITFORD (guitar),
TOM HAMILTON (bass) and JOEY KP,a~_MER
(drums)--made history last year when Activision
released Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, marldng the
first music-based game built around the legendary
music of Aerosraith.
Kdth Urban
Aug 7, 2009 at BOK Center @ 8:00pm
Keith Urban with Sugarland
Ticket Prices: $77, $47 and $20
Grammy Award winner Keith Urban, one of the
industry’s raost explosive and critic~dly hailed live
acts, will be stopping at the BOK Center on Friday,
August 7th fi~r his "Escape Together ~otld Tour"
together with KC Masterpiece° and Kings~rd°
featuring multi-platinum superstars Sugarland.
Webs#e- www.kylecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol,com
bi~er gir!
2{3 @~:{:~oSTAR July 2009
Support those who support us. Their
A
HABANA INN
2200 NW 39TH ~KESSWAY
Oldakoma City, OK
405-528-2221
wsvw.habanainn.com
KELLY KIRBY, CPA
48 I5 S. I-DYRVARD, SUITE 424
Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466
Certified Public Accountant
ROUTE 66 ANTIQUE MALL
4624 E. ! lth Street
Tulsa OK
918-836-3838
VALERIE WILLIFORD
625 N.W. 13th Street
Oklahoma City, OK
405-226-8585
CONFIDENTIAL CAP~ &
CONSULTATION-OKC
405-326-9652
NATIa~q BLACK
PRIMEP£CA 10820 E. 45th #305
Tulsa. OK
918-615-8177
nblack.rn#39@primerica.com
OKC MORTUARY
2415-C N. "WALNUT AVE.
Olda~oma City, OK
80B-9!3-t310
GARY CORNETT
FUTUPJTY FIRST IN S.
Tulsa. OK
918-688-!360
ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you.
THE LEDO
2200 NW 39TH E~RESSWAY
Oklalloma City, OK
405-525-0730
www.habanainn.com
TULSA EAGLE
1338 E. 3RD
Tulsa, OK
918-592-1188
Open 7days week 2pm to 2am
CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS
3131 N. PENN,
OKC, OK 405-525-9555
Service Sunday 10:45 AM
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 Sunday 6pm
MCC UNITED
1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK
918-838-1715
www.nlcctulsa.org
RFAL:ESTATE:
ARMANDO AMOR
Keller Williams Realty
1624 SW !22nd
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
405-473-6870
CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE
3627 IxYgg EXPRESSWAY
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-840-2106
www.c21 goldcasde.com
CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE
Keller Williams Realty
Tulsa, OK
918-706-1887
CINDY LOLLIS
Castle Finders Realty
Owasso, OK 74055
918-697-7406
OKZAHOMANS for EQUALITY
621 E. 4th Street
Tulsa, OK 74120
918-743-4297
www.okeq.org
OUR HOUSE, TOO
203 N: Nogales Ave
Tulsa, OK 74127
918-585-9552
~NG OF MASSAGE
In or Out Calls
Oklahoma City, OK
405-882-6127
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
In Calls Only, N\V OKC
405-822-7378
nwokcmassageguy@aol.cim
ANGLES
2 ! 17 N~V 39th St.
Oklahoma City, OK JUDY G. PHOTO’S
wvw:angtesdub.com Tulsa. OK
judygphotos@sbcglobal.net
BAMBOO LOUNGE 918-743-8636
7204 E. PINE
GUSHER’S RESTAURANT
2200 N~V 39TH EXPRESSWAY
Oldahoma City, OK
405-525-0730
Located inside Habana Inn
THE KITCHEN
2218 NW 39th
Oklahoma City; OK 73112
Located inside the BOOM
THE MARKET PLACE ON 39th
2235 N.W. 39th
Oklah0maCity. OK
405-528-5555
TRA
EURE~ SPRINGS CVB
Eureka Springs, AR
www.eurekasprings.org
Cindy Lolli~
Castle Finders, LLC
Real Estate & Property Management
Owasso, OK 74055
918-697-7406
Armando Amor
Phone: 405-473-6870
Fax: 405-691-2708
BUY GI Joe Action Figures
(12" size Only)
THE
KITCHEN
2218 NW 39th
Oklahoma City, OKC 73112
(405) 801-7200
Open Tues.-Sun 12
Noon ~o 11PM. Featuring
Chef Susie Lopez.
Located inside the "BOOM"
Call
Therapeutic
By licensed professional for Physical
Rehabilitation.
NW OKO near Penn Square
In-Calls only
(405) 822#378
nwokcmassageguy@aol.corn
Tulsa. OK
918-836-8700
~a~vw.bambooloungetulsa.com
CLUB 209
209 N. BOULDER
%lsa, OK
918-584-9944
CLUB MAJESTIC
!24 N. BOSTON
Tulsa, OK
9!8-584-9494
FINISHLINE
~oo NW 59TH EXPreSSWaY
Oklahoma Civ, OK
405-525-2900
~l=,v.habanainn.cona
THE COPA
2200 NW 39TH E~SSWAY
O~om~ Cit~ OK
405-525-0730
x~m,w.habanainn.com
Start building a business
today to supplement your"
income in case of layoff.
High potential commissions.
Excellent instruction.
Set your own hours.
Call NATHAN BLACK
Chuck Breckenridge
Whether buying or selling
I’ll work hard for you.
www.metrostarnews.com ~÷troSTAR 27
28 July 2009
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
[2009] Metro Star Magazine, July 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 7
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
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
July 1, 2009
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
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Chaz Ward
Victor Gorin
Greg Steele
James Nimmo
Jeanne Flanigan
Rex Wockner
Gerald Libonati
Michael W. Sasser
Robin Dorner-Townsend
Romeo San Vicente
Andrew Collins
Donald Pile
Ray Williams
Jack Fertig
Devre Jackson
Judy G.
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
Eastern 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, April 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 4
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/128
The Metro Star Magazine, August 1, 2009; Volume 6, Issue 8
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/129
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
https://history.okeq.org/items/show/133
Adam Lambert
adoption
California HIV
church
Clara Nipper
cocktail chatter
Comics
commentary
crossword puzzle
Dick Cheney
dining
discrimination
Diversity Business Association
domestic-partnership bill
Don't Ask
Don't Tell
First Thursday
gay police ban
Hillary Clinton
homophobia
international news
Joplin pride
June 2009
Keith Kimmel
Kyle's Bed and Breakfast
legalization of same sex marriage
lesbian Noir
License Plate
MAC cosmetics
Michael Cooper
Miss Gay
National news
Obama
Oklahoma City Rodeo
Oklahoma News
Other Options
Pride Month
pride Parade
Qscopes
R.A.I.N.
Robin Dorner
snap shots
spousal benefits and protection
stage
Star Scene
The Metro Star
travel
Tulsa
Tulsa Pride's Diversity Festival