1 20 2 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/f73e1cc882517fbc73f44a188871dc1c.jpg 736facac34483a1d66bfce1aa2d830f2 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/c9fcdc36b199a9431a34e8478899214d.pdf 963bb2daa16770222e9954db5fb1cdd2 PDF Text Text THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA ~Idahoma boasts 2 Gay Rodeo’s this year. Sooner State Rodeo (SSRA) Tulsa wil! make a comeback this fall with the Autumn Stampede. More on page-3 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5 Twitt÷rocom/MetroStarNews President directs HHS to crack down on hospitals barring lgbt partners House ethics committee draft s.ays Congressional staffers with same-se~ spouses must include them in annual financial ~isclosure statements; Family Research Council says that violates DOMA By Lisa Keen Keen News Service WASHINGTON, DC President Obama issued a surprise memorandum Thursday- night, April 15, calling for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians by hospital visitation policies that limit visitom to immediate family members. The timing for release of the memo was a litde odd- at 7:29 p.m. while the president was onboard Air Force One enroute back to Washington from a day of events in Florida. After signing the memorandum onboard Air Force One, the president then called Washington State resident Janice ~gbehn tO express his sympathy for the lossi0fhet parmer of !8 y~s~Lis~Pond:;: ......... Vo.d and Langbehn~ st0~ ~ subject ~ ~ p~6f\~\as~ rues; illUsiradng one ~£~h~ Urgent ~blemST~ c ui les face becatise Can fid because some entities still refuse to respect their relationships, During a family vacation to Miami, Florida in February 2007, Pond collapsed with an aneurysm and was taken by ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s trauma center. When Langbehn and their e MetroStarNews.com May 1,2010 Gay Rodeo an Oklahoma tradition 25th Great Plains Rodeo Rides Again In OKC By Victor Gorin Contributing writer arrived at the hospital, a hospital social worker said they would not be able to visit Pond, even though Langbehn and Pond had executed a heal~ prox~ and Langbehn had a friend fax the document to the hospital. According to a press release from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is representing Langbehn in a lawsuit against the hospital, the president apologized to Langbehn for what happened to her family. "It was very rewarding to hear ’I’m sorry,’ from the President because that’s what I have wanted to hear fro,m,,Jackson Memorial since the night Lisa died, Said ~gbehn m be statement;" " I hopethat taking ~ ...... .... "" these ~tepS make~ siireth~ no ~ily eve;:-h~ t6 ily4~as ~peri~nce’the pi@tm~re :thatlm gone ith~o!agh." : i: .... Pres~denrObamas memorandum directs " ........ !he,,secr~ 0f Health and:Human Se~ices to ensure’ ~at hospitals which participate in Medicare and Medicaid "respeCt the rights of patients to designate visitors" and ~llow those visitors the same privileges as immediate family members. ........ Continued See HOSPITALS Page-6 O ahoma Exempdor £rom Federal Ha e Crh es Law- stopped "There are a couple of pastors who wear the veil of Christianity who were pttshing this legislation. As a Christian this offends me because the Jesus I know doesn’t stand for that." State Representative Mike Shelton. By Victor Gorin Contributing vcriter OKLAHOMA CITY, OK When Barak Obama signed the Mat~ew ShepardJames Byrd Jr. Federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law last October 22, it was celebrated by the GLBT community and their allies as a major civil rights victory that was the result of almost a decade of loiJbying efforts and activism. Although some states already had hate crimes laws protecting the GLBT community (Oklahoma not among them) for the first time Arnericans in the State Representative Mike Shelton. Press photo GLBT community nationwide were protected by hate crimes laws at the Federal level. Also added by the same action were Federal protection against hate crimes based on gender and disability. Both of Oklahoma’s Senators, Dr.Tom Coburn and James Inhofe voted against the bill, along with the entire Oklahoma ........ Continued See HATE CRIMES Page-6 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK It’s a proud Memorial Day weekend tradition in Oklahoma City when cowboys, cowgirls and their fans celebrate the Great Plains Rodeo, which now has the distinction of lasting a quarter century. In keeping with long time tradition, it will be held at the Oldahoma State FairgroUnds. From humbler beginnings, the first rodeo came together when OGRA (Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) joined up with the Kansas and Missouri Ga~ Rodeo Associations to form what was then the Great Plains Regional Rodeo in August of 1986. Joined by Arkansas in 1992 the event was moved to the Memorial Day weekend. In 1999 the 4 associations split up to form their own respective rodeos, thus the word "Regional" was dropped to make the event simply the Great Plains Rodeo it is today. This rodeo ranks among the top 4 rodeos of the entire International Gay Rodeo Association circuit, which comprises over 20 rodeos. The International Gay Rodeo Association is made up of 28 state/provincial rodeo associations in the United States and Canada, and OGRA has been part of that organization since their first convention was held in 1985. O.G.R.A. was formed to provide a welcoming environment for those interested in the Western lifestyle without regard to sex or sexual orientation, national origin, race or any other form of prejudice. In other words, a way to bring people together to enjoy country and western life! This year the fun kicks offThursday May 27 with a Poolside Reception Party at the Finishline from 6-8 p.m. for the Rodeo sponsors and officials, followed by a stick horse rodeo that’s sure to be hilarious. This year will also feature a Stick Home Contest in which organizations can enter a decorated stick home, with votes for a winner that cost $1 apiece. The winning organization will receive a cash prize, and the stick horses will be auctioned off for charity. For more ........ Continued See RODEO Page-8 ��ere’s More Fun this Fall at SS ’S 2010 Sooner State Stampede By Victor Gorin Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus elects new o cers By Victor Gorin Contributing writer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK As O.G.L.EC. re-organizes, at their April meeting newofficers were elected: The cochairs are Steven Dubois & Jeanne Flanigan, Secretary Victor Gorin and Treasurer Richard Vreeland. As a revitalized organization they are meeting at the Neighborhood Alliance Building, 1236 N. 36th Street { N.W. 36thand Classen Boulevard) of Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. the 2nd Monday of each month, the next meeting on May 10. For~ more infBrmation e-mail Jeanne Flanigan at Ok.glpc@Tahoo.com or call her at (405) 255 3658. ~m Dic~,,nan, SSRA President. Sta~Cphat:o TULSA. OK As the OGI~’s Great Plains Rodeo welcomes summertime fun, this year more festivities jumpstart autumn as SSRA ( Sooner State Rodeo Ass6ciation) hosts another rodeo event, their 2010 Sooner State Stampede. It will not only feature traditiona! rodeo events, but also the fnn trappi,~gs of gay rodeo such as wild drag and goav dressing. It will mark SSI~k’s first rodeo with fifll equestrian amenities. t wvw¢.bridlecreekok.com). Sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo Association I IGRA) this event promises to attract westerners from all over Oklahoma and nationwide. SSRA was formed in 2002 to give men ~d women of rodeo and the western lifestyle of Tutsa and eastern Oklahoma an association by which to come together and celebrate country culture. Like OGRA. SSRA is a 501c3 organization, and likewise is united ~br this cause without regard to race, sexua! orientation, religion, national origin, or any other prejudice one might encounten SSP~ celebrates not only rodeos and horse relaed activities, but also dogging, western and square dancing. The}, are also active in fundraisers that benefit various Oklahoma charities. Each October they select their royalty competitions for Mr. SSRA, Ms. SSRA, plus Miss and MisTER SSRA, who represent the organization at rodeos and fundraising events. ~aeir current president is Tulsan Tim Dickman. ~e winners from this event may go on to compete at IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo Finals held this year in Laughlin, Nevada October 2!- 24. For more information about the event check out ,a~vw.soonerstaterodeo.com tThe host hotel will be the Ramada Tulsa Airport East located at 1010 North Garnett Road, telephone 918 437 7660 (ww~:ramadaairport.com). Be sure to mention the Sooner State Stampede when booking your room for a special rare. Openly Gay Teacher Joe igley to be trans£erred £rom U.S. Grant High School By Victor Gorin Contributing writer Teacher Joe Quigley. Gorin ?hoto OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Joe Quigley is a high school English teacher who made history in Oklahoma City not only in the school system but for the GLBT community. He became well known when he was teaching English at Northwest Ctassen High S&ool. fighting for years to have the ~vords "sexual orientation/gender identit3:’ included in the Student Handbook to be among categories to be protected from harassment and bullying, His tenacious efforts almost cost him his iob last August when the OKC School Board voted to fire him. He not only won reinstatement in District Court, but soon after~vards th’e Oklahoma City School Board finally voted in the inclusive language for the Student Handbook. Although he was reinstated, instead of being returned to his original position at Northwest Classen he was instead transferred to U.S. Grant High School. U.S: Grant had been on the Federal list of schools in need of improvement and ~vas thus required to restructure under the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind Act. ~is would require that 50% of the teachers be removed. Joe Quigley was among the teachers to be transferred, who will receive full pay and benefits as substitute teachers for a 2 ........ Continued See O~IGLEY Pag_e-4 www.metrostarnows.corn ��Keith Kimmel found Dead in Norman March 31 following his arrest by Tulsa Police By Victor Gorin TULSA, OK Keith Kimmel, an activist with the GLBT com.munity was found de~d Wednesday morning March 31 around 7:45 a.m. by Kerri Logsdon. He had been staying at her home temporarily, and he was found seated in front of her computer. In a posting Monday on his Internet blog he had written, "I am done trying to love a world that has no love for me. I am done trying to believe redeeming things about people who have nothing redeemable about them." In accordance with his wishes, after an autopsy is performed his body would be cremated and his ashes sent to his family in Indiana. Tile preceding Friday night he had been drinking at the End Up Club, and according to statements he made was upset about a relationship he had with a dancer there. According to the dub owner Blake Mterman Keith had been there earlier that evening, left and then returned around 11:00 p.m. At that point Mr. Kimme! was very intoxicated, became very, combative and angry when the bartenders refused to serve him at which point the Tulsa police were called. During his arrest he claimed to have been physically and verbally abused at the club, and that officers had hit his head several times on the door frame of a patro! car. He was taken to St. John’s Hospital where he was given treatment ~br his injuries and bus tokens to get him back to his car. He returned to Norma~ the following da); and mailed a complaint of police brutality to the Internal Affairs Departmefii~ of the Tulsa police. Keith ~mmel had been im,olved with activist causes with the GLBT community but ,was probably best known for filing a lawsfiit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission ~vhen they refused to issue him a specialized license plate that stated IMGAY. He had dismissed that lawsuit February 26, stating that he would re-file it in Federal court at a later time. Mthough there was speculation as to what really happened during his arrest, including the possibility that his death might have been caused by the injuries from that night, the facts of his death are unknown at press time pending the results of a future autopsy. Mr. Mterman has urged caution stating," While I do want to see justice served. I would urge that as a community we wait until the final verdicl comes in. giving the police and the coroner’s office the proper time to do their invesngation before we make any conjectures or statements. After that comes out we as a communitT can move forward and get through this togethed" Blake further related that business had dropped since the incident, and stated that he’d like to remind the community that his establishment is still a peaceful party place. On Monday afternoons beginning around 4:30 p.m. there is still a free dinner courtesy of Midtown Meats located at 7924 E. 21st Street in Tulsa, and has morphed into a potluck supper. Tuesday nights still feature draft beer specials from open til 7 p.m. 4 ~:~,T~:()STA dose (understandably a busy day). The pool tournament happens on \gednesday nights at Bingo Thursday nights continues to be a rocking event, and the weekend features partying with the hot dancers. ~nis is follmved by Sunday beer busts. Blake further stated that business was picking up, and invited the community to see for themselves that the Endup is still a happening place to come together. documentation both anecdotal and in writing that the taxpayers have been continually ripped off in order to make administrators look good at the expense of the education df their students. " Senator Rice: "GOP Leadership Must Rebuke Incendiary R etoric" Oklahomans for Equality Award Recipients 2010 TULSA, OK Each year OkEq recognizes outstanding individuals who have both helped change and shape our ever evolving community. This year we are pleased to announce the following winners. The awards were presented at the 30th Anniversary Equality Gala on April 24, 2010. Life Time Achievement A,vard 20 years of service to the lgbt community Kelly Kirby Russell Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award Advocacy for interfaith and lgbt dialogue Rabbi Charles E Sherman Temple Israel Community Hero Advocacy work for lgbtq youth Karen L. Davis Senior Program Officer Tulsa Community Foundation and Tulsa Reaches Out Community Hero 2004 Oklahoma Marriage Discrimination Lawsuit Gay Phillips & Sue Barton Sharon Baldwin & Mary Bishop Volunteers of the Year I.T. Team Eric Vogelpohl Don Satterthwaite Andrew Hicks Grand Marshal 2010 Pride Parade and Festival Rev Marlin Lavanhar Advocacy work for the global lgbt community year period if they cannot be placed in a permanent position, after which a teacher could be dismissed without the procedures of due process afforded tenured educators. As Joe puts it, "I was deliberately placed in a sChool where the District knew the teachers would have to be reduced and I look at this as yet another attempt to skirt the wilt and judgment of the District Court." The Oklahoma City Schoo! District has appealed his reinstatement, a process that could take as long as 2 years, so far incurring over $200,000 in legal expenses as the district faces a severe budget crisis. But so far Joe Quigley can say this much. "In the future the parents and taxpayers of the Oklahoma City Public School District need to start paying more attention to the teachers and less to the highly paid administrators, because there is Oklahoma State Senator Andrew Rice. File photo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) April 15, 2010 Senator Andrew Rice (D-Oldahoma City) said today that the anti-government rhetoric among some Republican state legislators" has reached disturbing levels. Rice pointed to comments by a Republican legislator running for statewide office who said on Wednesday that the federal government is "tyrannical" and said he is willing to take his challenge of the federal government "to the max." Rice said these comments are particularly disturbing given the fact the remarks came just days after the Republican state legislator and others said tile state of Oklahoma should create a citizen’s militia to protect Oklahoma’s sovereignty from an "overreaching" United State’s government. "All elected officials have a tremendous responsibility to be careful with the words xve choose to use in public," Senator Andrew Rice said. ’~t a time when more and more people are using words that carry violent connotations to express what may be legitimate frustrations with government policies, you would hope that elected officials would refrain from feeding into that frenzy." Rice said that non-partisan experts of anti-government violence and terrorism have recently expressed concerns about the rhetoric. Rice pointed to comments by David Cid, executive director of Oldahoma City-based Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, who was quoted in the Oklahoma Gazette saying: "People are angry and frustrated, and among those who are angry mad frustrated, there is a small number, but them are a number who will pick up a gun." Rice said examples of evidence of antigovernment violence occurred both in Austin, Texas and Michigan as one group threatened violence against the government, and another person acted out on his anger in an act of domestic terrorism against the IRS, killing one innocent citizen and himself. ’°I call on the Republican leaders of the Legislature to rebuke this inflammatory language of some of their members coming just days before the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing," Rice said. ’~All Oklahomans should be offended to hear any elected official use language that is reminiscent to the anti-government language used by Timothy McVeigh, especially leading up to this painful time of year for our state." Rice explained while McVeigh was on death row awaiting his execution for the murder of 168 innocent Oklahomans, he sent a letter to a London newspaper titled: "Why I bombed the Murrah building." In it McVeigh explains: "I reached the decision to go on the offensive - to put a check on government abuse of power, where others had failed in stopping the federal juggernaut running amok," he said. Oklahoma Tobacco Free help No matter who yot are on life’s -Reverend 3131 N. Pennsylvania,0kloh0~ 405.525.9555 May 1, 2010 �Wockner News Service for that project is expected to begin in the summer of 2011. A California Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in May 2008 and weddings began June ! 6, 2008. Tiae court said preventing gay couples from marrying violated the state constitution. Even more groundbreakAng, the court also ruled that sexual orientation is a "suspect classification" -- which made aW type of discrimination based on sexual orientation constitutionally subject to the strictest level of scrutiny by California Out magazine lists ’most inEuential’ gays, lesbians 7he #’ial in the.f}dem! tawsu# to overturn 8 as a violation ofthe U.S. Constitution.{ms been paused in San Francisco since Jan. 2Z Famous attorneys DavM Boles, r{~ht, and Ted Olson are among the l.mwers argui,g the case for the gay side, Photo @ Rex Wochner Ellen DeGeneres. GL_~L4D photo Ellen DeGeneres is America’s "most influential" gay man or woman, according to Out magazine’s fourth annual "Power 50" list. "Since DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul as a judge on Banerican Idol in February, millions upon millions of viewers are getting a double dose of the hugely popular talk show host and 12-time Emmy winner," Out said. "The American FLxpre~s and Covergirl pitchwoman’S rcacb~ is nearly unparalteled~ ... A passionate advocat( ~br marriage equalit)5 anavid opponent of’don’t ask, don’t tell,’ and staunch defender of animal rights, DeGeneres’s enormous platform is many an American’s gain." Others near the top of the list include MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, singer Adam Lambert, actor Nell Patrick Harris, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese and U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polls and Barney Frank. For the full list, see out.corn/power50. Effort to repeal Prop 8 fails to collect enough signat es. Federal Prop 8 trial remains paused. A grassroots effort to force a November 2010 ballot-box vote on repealing Proposition 8 failed to collect enough voter signatures by the April 12~deadline to get the measure on the ballot. Groups pushing the 2010 repeal effort faced an uphill battle from the get-go because California’s gay-rights leadership refused to support the project, believing that 2012 will be a better year to return to the ballot. The lead 2010 organization, Love Honor Cherish, did not say" hmv many signatures it did manage to collect. Just under 700,000 valid signatures would have been needed. "Tnis is a heartbrealdng moment," said LHC Executive Director John Henning. "Despite the dogged efforts of hun&eds of volunteers across California, we did not get www.metrostamews.corn the signatures we needed within the 150-day window set by the state. Regrettably, Prop 8 will remain as a stain on our constitution until at least 2012, and perhaps latel:" Love Honor Cherish was one of 40 mosdy grassroots groups working for a 2010 vote within a coalition called Restore Equality 2010. "Our signature-collection effort may have fallen short, but we stand tall as being the only statewide campaign that fought for repealing Proposition 8 in 2010," said Sean Bohac, chair of the Restore Equality 2010 Statewide Advisory Panel. "Our campaigners carried the torch of Harvey Milk, who showed that change only happens when we get out of the bars and into the streets. Band our efforts are reflected in the new polls that show increased support for extending marriage to all Californians." Bohac told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the number of signatures collected "was not particularly close" to the 694,354 needed. "We won’t be making, it public," he said. Recent polls by d~e Public Policy Institute of California and by the Los Angeles Times/ University of Southern California have shown that, for the first time, a majority of Californians now support same-sex marriage -- suggesting that top gay rights groups Equality California and Courage Campaign may have made a misstep in refusing to support the 2010 effort. EQCA and Courage expressed fears that voters would not be ready to reverse themselves just two years after rebanning same-sex marriage. But EQCA Executive Director GeoffKors said the poll results haven’t caused the group to second-guess its decision. "Equality California still believes 20!2 is the fight time to go to the ballot;’ Kors said. "Those polls were not of likely voters for the 2010 election. When you dig deeper into those polls -- and our internal polls during the same time period -- what’s clear is young voters are the ones who move the most. And young voters make tip a much larger percentage of the electorate in a presidential race (2012) than a gubernatorial race (2010), which is why the L.A. Times said, after looking at their poll numbers in the article, it’s clear why gay rights groups wanted to wait until 2012, because 2010 doesn’t provide us the best opportunity to win due to voter turnout." Restore Equality 2010 said it now will join up with the 2012 effort. Signature collecting courts. California governmental entities now have to prove they have a specific "compelling interest" -- rather than a mere "rational basis" - when they treat GLB people differently in any way. The change made it dramatically harder for any level of government to defend itself in any arena where gays, lesbians and bisexuals are not treated the same as heterosexuals. Some 18,000 same-sex couples married in California before voters amended the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage in November 2008. N~e California Supreme Court later ruled that Prop 8 was a valid amendment to the constitution. A federal lawsuit led by famous attorneys David Boles and Ted Olson to overturn Prop 8 as a violation of the U.S. Constitution is ongoing in San Francisco. The trial paused on Jan. 27 after all testimony had been heard but before closing arguments because Judge Vaughn ~Walker said he wanted to review the testimoW prior to hearing the attorneys’ final statements. The conclusion of the trial apparently has been further delayed while gay’ groups that ran the ballot campaign against Prop 8, who are not parties to the federal lawsuit, fight an order to turn over some of their e-mails from the campaign period. Protestors chained to W/site House jSnce: PtSoto b_y john Aravosis @ A_MERICAblog N~e LGBT community’s new activist pit bulls, GetEQUAL, dramatically upped the pressure on President Barack Obama on April 19 and 20 over his failure to succeed in keeping major campaign promises to LGBT Americans. Although Obama has taken several small steps seen as favorable or helpful to LGBT Americans, he has yet to engineer the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. GetEQUAIJs latest broadside started April :....Continued see Get_EQUAL - page 9 ~)~ETROSTAR 5 �More specifically, the memo instructs HHS to ensure that hospitals receiving federal funds nor deW visitation based on sexual orientation or gender identity, along.with the usual categories of non-discrimination. Human Rights Fund spokesman Michael Cole said his organization had been ~vorking with the Xg~hite House on the memo language [’or some rime. He said he was unaware of any particular reason for the timing. "It was a long process for them to get the memo language set and al! of their ducks in a row," said Cole- so my impression is that this was the point at which it was done." The April 15 memorandum is the second memorandum issued by the president to specifically help LGBT people. In June 2009, President Obama signed a memorandum to the ONce of Personnel Management Director requesting that the heads of all executive departments and agencies "conduct a review" of current benefits available to federal employees within 90 days "to determine what authority they have to extend such benefits to same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees" and submit a report on rMs to OPM. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal, called the president’s hospital visitation memorandum a "great leap forward in addressing discrimination affecting LGBT patients and their families." "These measures are intended to ensure that no family will have to experience what the Langbehn-Pond family did that night at Jackson Memorial Hospital," said Cathcart, in a statement isstled Thursday night. k federal district court judge dismissed Lambda’s ta~vsuit on behalf of Langbehn, saying there was no law requiring the hospital to allow Lisa Pond’s partner to see her at the hospital. On Monday, April 12, Lambda issued a press release saying it had reached an agreement with Jackson Memorial for "qmproved policies that are more responsive ro the needs of the LGBT community." But Lambda said the agreement does "not provide as much protection as may be needed in critical sitnations." Lambda noted that the president’s memorandum calls on HHS to take steps to ensure that hospitals respect legal documents that some patients have to designate who can make decisions for them if they become incapacitated. It also requires HHS to report back to the president in !80 days with additional recommendations for actions HHS can take "to address hospital visitation, medical decision-maHng, or other health care ~ssues that ~?cr LGBT patients and their Ironically, the pool reporter on board the ~ighr back to Washington reported there was No news on the way back" from Florida. Meanwhile. Roll Call a newspaper specializing in covering Capitol Hill, reported Thursday that the House Committee on Standards of ONcia! Conduct has "drafted rules that for the first time would define gay married couples as ’spouses" for the purposes of filling out their annual Congressional financial disclosure forms." The forms are used by members of Congress and their staffs to make annual discIosures of any additional sources of income and investments by them and their 6 ~KTROSTAR spouses and dependent children. The draft rules propose requiring that any members or staffwho have married same-sex spouses in Washington, D.C. or aW of the states which provide for equal marriage rights to include information about their spouse’s finances, the same as straight members and staff Inust do about their legal spouses. Roll Call quoted a spokesman for the Family Research Council as saying the draft rules violate the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DO1VL&), which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages. The paper noted that the draft rule had been removed from the committee’s website. The Committee’s webs!re currently lists instructions for filling out the form for calendar year 2008 disclosures even though the forms due next month are for calendar year 2009. MissoOa bans antiLGBT discrimination The City Council in Missoula, Mont., voted 10-2 on April 12 to prohibit discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, the Missoulian reporte& The vote came at 1:45 in the morning at the end of a seven-hour meeting. "Most of us can’t remember civil rights in action," said Councilwoman Sficy Rye. "This is it for us." Congresswoman Tammy BaldWin On President Obama’s signing ofa. memorand reNardmg the visitation rights of hospital patients Congresswoman Baldwin. Woclowr photo WASHINGTON, DC (PR) "President Obama’s decision to direct the Secretaryof Healrah and Human Services to take steps to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights of patients to receive visitors and designate others to make decisions about medical care in the case of an emergency is the right one. It follows the lead of many states and makes a strong statement about who we are as a nation and what we valne. Gay man elected mayor of small Colorado town An openly gay man, Ron Holland, was elected mayor of Dillon, Colo., April 6. He received 90 votes to an opponent’s 72 in the mountain town of about 800 people. Holland, who is serving his first term on the City Council, told the Summit Daily News he was "ecstatic" over his victory. No one should face the distress of lying ill or injured in a hospital bed with the loved one you designate barred from your bedside for any other than a compelling medical reason. For too long, such access has been arbitrarily denied many individuals, most especially to gay mad lesbian Americans. President Obama’s action tonight puts us another step doser toward our goal of equal rights for all Americans and I appland his decision: Martina has breast cancer Congressional Delegation, Passage of the bill intensified conservative religious groups who had campaigned against the Act and this was particularly felt in Oklahoma, although the legislation was hailed by the GLBT community and civil rights activists as a progressive measure long overdue. What followed was an attempt to "opt Oklahoma out" of this new protection, spearheaded by State Senator Steven Russell ( RepublicanDistrict 45) with State Senate Bil! 1965. The bill actually began as an ordinary measure to start a task force to research public and private high school athletics, authored by State Senator Harry Coates (Republicam) and State Representative "Wes Hilliard (Democrat). After the bill passed out of committee, S.B. 1965 was altered by Senator Russell who removed the original language. He then added language that would have prevented Oldahoma law enforcement from cooperating ,vith Federal authorities when a hate crime ~vas committed in Oklahoma. ~e bill then passed the State Senate 39-6. The ensuing publicity, including a GLBT lobbying day at the State Capitol focused mainly on this legislation, resulted in a re-xvrite of the bill by Senator Russell in an attempt to make it less offensive and passable. The rewritten version permitted Federal authorities to petition State District Courts for evidence relating to an Oldahoma hate crime if local law enforcement objected to cooperating with the Federal authorities. Among the groups opposed to this legislation was the Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union. One of their lobbyists, Tamya Cox, spoke to State Representative Mike Shelton (Democrat District 97) who "hated this bill, understood the implications and issues of this from the onset, stated that we had to do something." Mr. Shelton persuaded the House author of the bill, Representative Danny Hilliard to let him have the bill. Once Mr. Shdton had control of the bill he withdrew it, thus ldlling this legislation. Although an unusual strategy, it was an effective action he stated that he felt he had to take because as he put it, ’~Mnything that breaks down the opportunity ro protect Oklahomans from harm is wrong. Legislation and resolutions that hurt people only give a black eye to our state." Although he has received positive feedback for his action, predictably he has received negative responses as well, including some from the conservative religious community. It hasn’t swayed his resolve as he relates, "There are a couple of pastors that wear the veil of Christianity who were pushing this legislation. As a Christian this offends me because the Jesus I know doesn’t stand for that." GLBT and civil rights activists are continuing to monitor the situation in case attempts are made to re-introduce this or similar measures with another bill. Mart!ha NavradIova. Ougames ~hoto Lesbian tennis legend Martina Navratilova told People magazine April 7 that she has breast cancer. The ductai carcinoma was discovered early and is expected to be fully curable. "I cried," Navratilova said. "It knocked me on my ass, really. I feet so in control of my life and my body, and then this comes, and it’s completely out of my hands." "I went four years between mammograms," she added. "I let it slide. Everyone gets busy, but don’t make excuses. I stay in shape and eat right, and it happened to me. Another year and I could have been in big trouble." Navratilova will undergo six weeks of radiation treatment starting in May. ’uptcv - CivJJ Rights oCriminal ’ment o Family Law o Litigation 625 N. o l th street Cit% OK 7 105 May 1, 2010 �contim es "First ursday" Art Opening and E ibit of Original Wbrks by Matt Johnson. Bebe gives her ’Best O£’ for Race! The reigning D*ag Race queen goes though her list of season two superlatives By Bebe Zahara Benet TULSA, OK (PR) The May Oklahomans for Equality (Oldgq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Nei!l Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in Downtown Tulsa), will feature the Artistic Nude Photography of Matt Johnson. The show begins with a reception on Thursday, May 6th from 6-9pm and continues throughout the month of May. Oklahoman Matt Johnson, owner of Johnson Studios, specializes in Artistic Nude Photography and is based in Tulsa. Matt has always had a deep appreciation for the human form. He began his art expression in the color pencil medinm sketching in the pln-up type format in his teen years. Mfitt is a neon bender by trade for a commercial sign company. He has been married to his wife Denise since 1987 and they have three wonderful children. In 2006 his artistic will drew him to the camera. Since then he has been creating nude art using the lens of a camera and his imagination through the editing process. After developing a diverse portfolio Matt’s xvork was accepted into galleries in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He was the featured artist in two different Eureka Springs gallery shows in 2009. Matt is beginning to show his work in his home town of Tulsa and is scheduled for two separate gallery shows in the upcoming months. Matt’s friendly easy- going manner makes his photo sessions comfortable, relaxed and fun experiences for his models. They are always thrilled with their images and often come back for additional sessions. allows Matt to continue to create new and exciting images from his eyeto the computer and then the paper. The show begins with a reception at the Dennis IL Nei!l Equality Center on Thursday, May 6th fi’om 6-9pm; Matt’s art will be on displa~v through May 2010. Founded by a dedicated group of volunteers in 1980, Oklahomans far Equali~r/OkEq is Oklahoma’s oMest gay rights o~nization. From testingfor HIV/AIDS and hosting t/~e annual 7~dsa PHele and Diversi~ Celebration m operati~ the Equadity Center and documenting the ~tha LGBTcommunity’s rich histor~ OkEq works for socialjustice amtfidl inclusion for Oklahoma’s lesbian, ga)~ bisccuai, and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their allies. Wasn’t it great to see me on the special episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race this week? Well, it was wonderful to sit down with RuPaul and my season one sisters Ongina and Nina Flowers to critique season two, but there was still so much more to be said that I tlmught I’d dedicate this week’s colttrnn to some of my favorite moments that we didfft get a chance to talk about during the show. Funniest Moment: There’s plenty to choose from, but for me it has got to be Jujube during the reading challenge. I just loved everything she said about everybody - calling Raven legendary- as in "leg" and "dairy," snapping at Jessica in Chinese and even ta~ng smack about Tyra’s grill - that reading was hilarious! A second runner-up moment was Pandora Boxx playing CarolChanning in the "Snatch Game" challenge. Ms. Boxx knows how to mine a laugh. Biggest Diva Moments: We had more , than a few moments to judge this season. 111 skip ranking catfights a~d assess in terms of performance. I’d say the other Tyra coming out as sophisticatedlady on a mad shopping spree was a great diva moment, as was Jujube’s peach dress in the Old Hollywood fashion challenge. It was mentioned in the live show, but it bears mentioning again - Raven’s gold Cleopatra dress and blonde afro was really, really fierc!! ~ Best Makeup: Oh honey! Give it to Raven! I think Raven really s~vitched up her makeup to go with different looks. Even , , ~vhen she did the country girl or the rock n roll look or the whole glamour thing she was able to create a different persona through makeup. She is really mastering the craft and art of drag. Best Runway: I will go with Jujube. I really will! She walks with confidence, walks with so much fierceness, so much attitude and so much personality. I really love how she does all levels of her presentation. Best Lip-sync: It seems like I’m a fan of Jujube! I love how she lip-syncs. Sometimes she gives a little too much, but she is more often right on the money. She is able to catch the little things the artist does. She’s right on point with it. ~aat’s someone who has studied the music and knows what the whole song is about. I also liked Raven’s lip-syncing. ~aere is something about it that is a little sassy. I’d give it to both of them. Biggest \Vish: To see Jessica \~ild last longer. She had so much potential! If she had been given another chance I am convinced there ~vould have been other things about her ~erfor,mance that would have made us all go WOW. Catdh the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race at 9pro (ET/PT) this Monday night on Logo and visit LOGOonline.com to find out about vievdng parties in your area. Until next week, kisses and good luck! For more i*{~ormation, see wwt~;okeq.org www.metrostarnews.com ~et~oSTAR 7 �H e tension By Ronald Blake Contributing ~X~riter Photo: RonaM Blake, Certified Fitness Ins~’uctor through ISSA International Sports Sciences Association The heart beats faster! Tixe blood vessels constrict even more! Tixe h<art, lungs, and brain ache for more help but it isn’t coming fast enough! There is a shudder and then complete blackness! This Edgar Allan Poe moment of chimerical horror describes a massive stroke for someone that suffered one day too many from hypertension. Gather round the campfire and H1 explain this medical condition, its causes, and preventative measures to avoid it. Hypertension is high blood pressure and one out of five people in our country are experiencing it. Tile blood vessels constrict and the heart has to pump harder to get that blood delivered around the bod?,: The heart begins to ,yemen from overload and the constricted vessels become compromised over time. Blood pressure changes all the time. It won’t kill you to have high blood pressure once in awhile though. Swerving to avoid the reckless driver on the freeway, climbing five flights of stairs quickly, or being startled by the ghastliness of that first and last time drag queen can all contribute to a spike in blood pressure. Consistently visiting this elevated zone is very much a problem. Many people wofft feel any symptoms from this disease for 10 to 20 years and then it can strike like a thief in the night. There isn’t a specific cause of hypertension but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lack of culprits calling in and claiming responsibility for this physiological terrorism. Heredity is a card we are dealt at birth and is a frequent contributor to this ugliness~ Hypertensive parents bequeath their kids a two times greater likelihood of having this disease than for those kids of parents without hypertension. That really sucks and all you did was be born to the world! Don’t grab the bottle and give up just yet if you inherited these lousy hand-me-downs from morn and pop. There are plenty of other ways to cotlnteract the ill effects of high blood pressure. Other causes of this nasty medical condition are obesity, stress, smoking, and improper diet and they are al! something you can control. Obese individuals are about twice as likely tO be hypertensive as those men and women ,vho are aren’t in that overweight category. I’m no Pd~odes Scholar but I think that means if you exercise and stay lean then you decrease your risk. That sounds like something you can control! 8 ~Y~:OSTAR S[ress can walk you down the aisle and give you away to high blood pressure too. Stop getting angry at all the little problems in the world! A late bill, rush hour traffic, the moth~r-in-law visit, and the ripped underwear at 6AM aren’t worth your emotional intensity. Relax and take a deep breath when these moments occur. That sounds like something you can control! Smoking always constricts your blood vessels and raises your blood pressure every time. Cigarettes aren’t cheap and there are smoking cessation programs al! over the place. That sounds like something you can control! Foods with excessive sodium, saturated fat, or cholesterol are al! significant donors to th~ election campaign for hypertension. This candidate for office can’t win without your donations. That sounds like something you can control! There are also drugs that can Be prescribed to aid in your efforts against this evil force. Don’t be scared by this villain of your vessels! With adherence to these suggestions you may live a healthy life and worry about hypertension (Quoth the raven) nevermore! This purloined letter was brought to you by that guy who tore up the planks in the house of Usher. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be found descending into the maelstrom at www.myblakefitness.com. information about the contest contact the rodeo’s co-directors, Klint Weiden ( 405 408 6140) or Paul Boyd (405 630-4388). Following on Friday it gets wild with a Poolside Cookout also at the Finishline from 3-6 p.m., then it’s registration time at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds from 6-9 p.m ( Barn #9)., with a cash bar and snacks provided to make it go better, along with entertainment from 6-8 p.m. Keeping the night kicking along is the HomoRodeo Mixer happening at the Finishline beginning at 9 p.m., also a All Rodeo Royalty Show at Phoenix Rising at 9 p.m. as well. The Rodeo begins the following Saturday at 8:00 P.m., and after a funfilled day of events one can unwind or windup at the Copa’s Texas Tea Party beginning at 6 p.m. a grand tradition hosted by the Texas Gay Rodeo Association. At 9 p.m. that same night there will be a country concert at ~Amgles featuring recording artist James Allen Clark among other local muscians. That night the stick horse contest winner will be announced, and the stick horses auctioned off. Then it’s Sunday morning coming down as the rodeo begins the final day o£ competition, resuming at 8:00 a.m. at the Fairgrounds. The Finishline that day will feature a Head Country Barbeque at 6:00 p.m. with a hearty dinner for the price of $12. followed by the Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. a,varding bucldes, saddles and cash to the winners of the rodeo. To wind up the event Monday a Wind Down Party will be held at Phoenix Rising with a hamburger/~bt d6g c86koUt froln Noon until 2 p.m., with drink specials and funfilled recollections of the wild weekend. ~ If you or an organization is interested in being a vendor, contact Larry Foley at auditor@ogra.net ~ne host hotel this year is the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 801 S. Meridian. Telephone (405 942 1400) with special rates available until May 14 if you mention the rodeo. Come join the fun! For more information check out their website at vcww.ogra.net. May 1, 2010 �CMS now- pays for treatment of HIV related facial Lipodystrophy Disorder must cause depression for individuals to receive coverage By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last month that it will pay for facial injections for beneficiaries who have facial lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS) if, in fact, the person suffers from depression secondary to the disorder. Reportedly, individuals who take these medications and experience facial LDS side effects may suffer psychological effects related to a negative selfimage. "Of course I am depressed about the way I look from the way my face looks now;’ said Allen Leon, an OHahoma City man who has the disorder. "Looks are very important to everyone, not just gay people. People stare; they can’t help it. I feel that I am judged by people and I am uncomfortable when meeting new people." The disorder is very stigmatizing. LDS is a localized loss of fat from the face, causing an excessively thin, hollowed appearance in the cheeks. In some cases, facial LDS may be a side effect of certain kinds of Director, Coverage and Analysis Group for CMS. "These effects may lead people living with HIV to discontinue their antiretroviral therapies." Grade four (of four grades) leaves a person the most emaciated-looking. The injections are "fillers" that have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to be injected under the skin in the face to help fill out its appearance specifically for treatment of facial LDS. Data show that these injections can improve patient self-image, relieve symptoms of depression, and may lead to improved compliance with anti-HIV treatment. The average cost of the injections is $500 for a two-vial treatment. Most people require a total of three treatments. Medicare coverage for the injections has already begun. This is an important milestone in Medicare coverage for HIV-infection therapies by helping people living with HIV improve their self-image and treating side effects of Lipotrophy by grade: Lipoatrophy with fat loss covering a wide area ofthe face and the skin is living directly on thefacial muscles. medications (antiretroviral therapies) that individuals receive as part of an HIV infection treatment regimen. "Facial LDS can leave people living with HIV looking gaunt and seriously ill, which may stigmatize them as part of their HIV-infecrion status," said Dr. Louis B. Jacques, MD medications. Compliance with anti-HIV treatment can lead to better quality of life and, ultimately, improve the quality of care that beneficiaries receive. For more information, visit http ://,arww.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/ viewdecisionmemo.asp ?id=234. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aging issues take center stage at Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON, (PR) April 21 The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE) are convening a National LGBT Aging Roundtable this week in Washingxon, D.C. In addition, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has organized a congressional briefing on issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as they age. The briefing was held April 22, 9:30-11 a.m. in Room 121 of the CannonHouse Office Building on Capitol Hill. The injustice facing many LGBT elders was brought home just this week by the painfut stoW of Clay Greene and Harold Scull~ an elderly gay couple separated by o~ci~s in Sonoma County, Calif., who also sold their possessions despite the measures the couple took to protect their relationship. More details here. "The needs of the oldest members of our community have long been invisible to many of us and ignored by most institutions in our society," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which recently released Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Elders. "LGBT elders remain a highly vulnerable and largely invisible aging population. We know that invisibility leads to greater social isolation~ which can lead to increased vulnerability in many areas. We also know that discrimination across the tifespan leaves LGBT people economically and socially vulnerable as tlaey age. There are many challenges but we also have concrete recommendations on how aging advocates, policy mak,e,rs and social service agencies can meet them. Scheduled speakers at Thursday’s congressional briefing were Laurie Young, aging analyst and interim director of Public Policy and Government Affairs of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, who discussed findings and recommendations in Outing Age 2010; Hope Barrett, director of Elder Affairs of the Howard Brown Health Clinic; Harper Jean Tobin, policy counse! of the National Center for Transgender Equality; Joyce Pierson, elder rights advocate and former staffofthe Elder Rights Project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; and John Johnson, SAGE’S federal director of governmental affairs. "Most Americans already face challenges as the~ age, but LGBT older adults have the added burden of a lifetime of stigma; relationships that generally lack legal recognition; and unequal treatment under laws, programs and services designed to support and protect older Americans," said Johnson. We must educate our elected officials and the public about the facts: that LGBT elders are more likely to live in poverty, face social and community isolation, and lack appropriate health care and longterm care. SAGE recently released a groundbrealdng report representing one of the first major collaborations between LGBT advocacy organizations and mainstream aging organizations to comprehensively examine the issues facing LGBT older adults. Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults was co-authored by SAGE and the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), in partnership with the American Society on Aging, the National Senior Citizens Law ~er~ter, and the Center for American Progress, with a foreword from the AARE The report was formally rele,ased at the ~eri~n Society on ~ing’s national conference, held last mont~ in Chicago, Ill. "SAGE’S report outlines the issues and offers solutions, providing a much-needed roadmap for creating a society where all older dults are treated with &gmty and respect, said Johnson. The LGBT elder population is growing, with a large wave of openly LGBTbaby boomers poised to seek aging-related services over the next 25 years. Despite that, there is virtually no government-sponsored research on aFing that includes sexual orientation or gender identity variables. This lack of data results in policy and practices that ignore the unique realities a~d needs of older LGBT people, q-his is beginning to shift, as the corigressional briefing and ISIealth and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ announcement last fall of plans to establish the first national LGBT elder resource center indicates. 19 at a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles. Activists David John Fleck, Dan Fotou, Laura Kanter, Zoe Nicholson and Michelle Wright paid their way into the event and then repeatedly shouted at Obama about repealing DADT as he tried to address the gathering. We are going to do that. Hey. Hold on a second! Hold on a second! We are going to do that!" Obama responded. ’7~1 right. Guys. Guys. All right. I agree. I agree. I agree .... What the young man was talking about was we need to -- we need to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which I agree with and which we have begun to do. But let me say this: When you’ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you’ve got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don’t know exacdy why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you, all right? I mean, it would make more sense to holler that at the people who. oppose it." A few moments later, more shouting ensued. "I’m sorr~ do you want to come up here?" Obama said direcdy to a protester. "Can I just say once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, so I don’t know why you’re hollerin’." Obama then stepped away from the microphone and spoke with Boxer. He returned to the mic and stated: "I just checked with Barbara, so if anybody else is thinking about starting a chant, B,arbara r ’ even vote for Dont Ask, Dont Tell in d i dnt ’ going " the first p 1 ace, so you know shes to be in favor of repealiiag Don’t ASk, Don’t Tell." The protesters were eventually removed from the room. "President Obama has been AWOL on DADT," said Fotou. "We had to remind him of the promises he made to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community during his campaign and several times during his ~residency--t, hat DAD.T, will be repealed oecause, as he s stated, it s the right thing to do.’" Added Wright, "We made it clear our community will hold accountable our president for unkept promises." In response to Obama’s questioning why gays are shouting at him over DADT, blogger Andrew Sullivan explained: "Because, Mr. President, it is not enough to be ’supportive’ o en&ng DontAsk, DontTell. When you have the presidency and your party controls both houses of Congress, it’s a matter of having the political will to end it. Not all gay people are HRC fundraisers. Some are even risking their lives every day for this country; in uniform, only to be treated like second class human beings and citizens by their own government. Their own government? That means you, Mr. President and Senator Boxer." The following da~ April 20, GetEQUAL protesters returned to the White House for a second round of handctffl:ing themselves to the fence and getting arrested, a month after the group’s initial action there. This rime six people chained themselves to the gates -- Lt. Dan Choi, Capt. Jim Pietrangelo II, Petty Officer Larry Whitt, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cadet Mara Boyd and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas. "We are handcuffing ourselves to the White House gates once again to demand that President,Obama sho,w lea,d,ership on ,r,epealing Dont Ask, Dont Tall, said Choi. If the president were serious about keeping his promise to repeal this year, he would put the repeal la%,uage in his defense authorization budget. The president gave us an order at the Human Rights Campaign dinner (in October) to keep pressure on him and we will continue to return to the W’hite House, in larger numbers, until the president keeps his promise to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year." Thomas commented: "A few weeEs ago I saw Lt. Dan Choi take dramatic action at the White House and it made me realize that I needed to do something to stand up for all the black female soldiers who have been discharged under DADT. Many people don’t mow that we black women are discharged disproportionately more than others under DADT2 At press rime, acco~&n~ to GetEQUB32s Twitter feed: "All six servicemembers have been taken into custody. They have served their country again today, and they deserve better than #DADT." �May1, 2010 �~.metrostarnews.com �12 S~!T~OSTAR May 1, 2010 �JOIN L YO~ A SHOT! ONLY ¥~11) www.metrostarnews.com RIITIOSTAR 13 �We p t ..... ,Church ,~vww,mcctu~sa,org ’uptc~ o CI~il Rights °Criminal ’ment ® Family Law ~ Litigation 625 N.~’. 13.~:h Street City, OK 73"103 14 ;~ET~©STAR May 1, 2010 ��Photo~ by Victor G. By Chris ~zopardi Glee: be Music, ~e Power o£Madmma Gle~ We wet{ alrea& episode! With Sue Sylvester doing :! :I11ms out we can love you more, ~[he chee~ d0ach,adds to one of muSic’s most delicious uN- if not more the Vete~fi seven ~ career classics him @ Ledo, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa s~veet as weird ~s it sh0uld be, Out theater doll Jonathan GroN- one of the Fox show’s fresh faces - joins the res~ of the ~ast. on ?Like.a Virgin," and Mercedes injects some pf run~. $6: i~ is, in ~act~ intro and the choir} moving endlike a dream.. ...... Grade: B+ & Sweet To~,r @ The End Up, Tulsa @ Angtes, Oklahoma City supported on this 2008;09 tom; Madonngs mojo sdl! m~es fBr one h4cl~ of a show. Over several hours :a couple on DVD; one on CD @ Finishline, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City Grade: A- Rufus 7Wainwright, M1 Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu Troubadours like Ruft~ Wainwright get off on being grandiose, but what happens when you lose something you cant get back. You scale it down. as he has ~er the recent dead{ of his mother. On his @ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa 16 NetroSTAR May 1, 2010 �by Jack Fertig May 2010 SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Domestic drama "Your brain wants a chaRenge, Virgo!" threatens to disrupt your plans at work. If you can keep an even keel, handling those unpredictable upsets could help Saturn opposing Uranus is a longyou gain confidence in your managerial running on-and-off aspect that’s skills: Remember, a team leader is still scattering minefields, challenging a team member! us to change structures and goals through the year. The Sun and Mars CAPRICORN (December 21 are triggering those with sometimes January 19): Maintain respect for violent results. Ideological, "values"people even when their questions seem based attacks are likely at personal and abysmally stupid. It is tempting to mess political levels. with their heads, or to mock them, but mellow out that playful streak and ARIES (March 20- AprR 19): engage them. That could lead to fun for Your competitive drive can become all! obsessive, even self-destructive. Looking good is not about conquest, but moving on gracefully. Let go, meditate, open your creative soul. You can’t do that while guarding your turf as queen of the mountain. TAURUS (Apri~ 20- May 20): Celebrate your birthday with your family and your most creative friends, not necessarily at the same party. Bringing. them together may get a bit dramatic, even catalytic. This could be a good thing, or not. Think it through. GEMIN~ (May 21- June 20): Meditation will cool your heated brain and help you to keep your mouth out of trouble. In that calm solitude, think of ways your home life can support your ambitions. They don’t have to be at war with each other. CANCER (June 21- July 22): Showing off to your friends can get expensive and become a source of fights. If your love and admiration aren’t enough, home-baked cookies should do it. If they want more, they’re not really your friends, and their arguments aren’t worth the trouble. LEO (Ju~y 23 -August 22): Whatever you do is sure to get noticed. You do realize that can be a mixed blessing! Some humility would be in order, but that doesn’t mean denying your actual gifts and accomplishments. It’s just a matter of keeping perspective. AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Everybody needs to be concerned about money these days. You may be more worried than is necessary or helpful. Don’t take it out on your family or housemates. The first purpose of discussion is to get problems into perspective. 1 2; 3 4 ’11 12 13 17 !9 44 64 68 47 46 66 69 ! 6~667295 PISCES (February 19- March 19): Flaws and frustrations in your relationship, however minor, are now feeling worse than they really are. You could both make a list now to discuss later. If you must trash someone, that is what POliticians and celebrities are for. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC of view 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, M0 64804 417-52943480 V~RGO (August 23 - September 22): Your brain wants a challenge. Find it in a book; don’t go picking arguments. If you want a good debate, hold yourself back a bit and make an effort to really hear what the other person has to say! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Trying to keep up with peer pressure, you could worry yourself sick. Balance? It means they have to meet you half way, too. Your real friends will do that. Standing your ground is sexy. Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM www.socmcc.org Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! Solution page 19 SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Immediate concerns- work and partnersh p - feel like distractions from your creative engagement with the world, building the future. In fact, those quotidian details are exactly how we do that. Try to channel that aggravation into creative energy. www.metrostarnews.com ~#~<~t~’oSTAR 17 �Chuck Breckenddge \Vhcther buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. RAN INTO YOU. WIT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, _Arkansas www.magneticvalteyresor t. corn infoOmagneticvalleyresor t .corn 800-2t0-8401 479-244-6821 www.kylecomics.com ~y, net 18 May !, 2010 �Suppo~ those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. ~ ....................................... HABANA INN 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\rAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-2i0-8401 wwv.magneticvalleyresort.com Y~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.W. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 PRIMERICA Dana Tulsa, Oklahoma 877.700.9503 THELEDO 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSXg/AY Oklahoma City, OK EXPRESSIONS Fellowship 4010 N Youngs Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 ~wrw.habanainn.com 405-761-1878 www.expressionsOKC.com TULSA EAGLE 1338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 ......... Open 7days week 2prom 2am SOONERSTATE RODEO PO Box471463 Tulsa, OK74147 www.soone~mmrodeo.com CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3131 N. PENN, OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Service Sunday 10:45 AM DIVERSITY CHI~STIAN FELLOWSHIP 637 S. 131st East Ave Tulsa, OK wv~v.realacceptance.com GREAT PLAINS RODEO P. O. BOX 12485 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 w~#c.ogra.net 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 6pro JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NW EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Ci~ OK 73112 405-840-2106 wv#¢¢.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 .... www.mcctulsa.org ANGLES 2117 I’FOF 39th St. Oldahoma City, OK wwv.anglesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 ~wvw.bambooloungetulsa.com THE END UP 5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE Tulsa, OK 918-836-0915 Open 7 days a week 2pro to 2am OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oklahoma City, OK vpccw.okstonewall.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E. 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 w~vw.okeq.org FINISHLINE 2200 I~FW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City; OK 405-525-2900 ww~v.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH ~RESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com LI ~,~w.metrostarnews.com ~{ETROSTAR 19 �"We are at a moment now when liberalism is poised to have its biggest impact since Roosevelt, because the conservative movement has been thoroughly repudiated through reaf~." "What matters, as always, is not what w,e can’t do, it’s what we can and must do.’ Stonewall lemocrats is a recognized group of the Oklahoma and national Democratic PaR. Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the We mee~ the I s~ Tuesday of every mon~h at ~he STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS 4100 N. Li~¢ol~ Av÷~, Okl~hom~ Cill ..... /~05~ 427-3366 � 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 THE PREMIER SOURCE FOR GLBT OKLAHOMA ~Idahoma boasts 2 Gay Rodeo’s this year. Sooner State Rodeo (SSRA) Tulsa wil! make a comeback this fall with the Autumn Stampede. More on page-3 VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5 Twitt÷rocom/MetroStarNews President directs HHS to crack down on hospitals barring lgbt partners House ethics committee draft s.ays Congressional staffers with same-se~ spouses must include them in annual financial ~isclosure statements; Family Research Council says that violates DOMA By Lisa Keen Keen News Service WASHINGTON, DC President Obama issued a surprise memorandum Thursday- night, April 15, calling for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians by hospital visitation policies that limit visitom to immediate family members. The timing for release of the memo was a litde odd- at 7:29 p.m. while the president was onboard Air Force One enroute back to Washington from a day of events in Florida. arrived at the hospital, a hospital social worker said they would not be able to visit Pond, even though Langbehn and Pond had executed a heal~ prox~ and Langbehn had a friend fax the document to the hospital. According to a press release from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, which is representing Langbehn in a lawsuit against the hospital, the president apologized to Langbehn for what happened to her family. After signing the memorandum onboard "It was very rewarding to hear ’I’m sorry,’ Air Force One, the president then called from the President because that’s what I Washington State resident Janice ~gbehn have wanted to hear fro,m,,Jackson Memorial tO express his sympathy for the lossi0fhet since the night Lisa died, Said ~gbehn parmer of !8 y~s~Lis~Pond:;: m~ ..b..e..statement;" "I hopetha.t.t.a.ki"n"g these .........Vo.d and Langbehn~ st0~~subject ~tepS make~ siireth~ no ~ily eve;:-h~ t6 ~€ ~ p~6f\~\as~ rues; ~peri~nce’the pi@tm~re :thatlm ily4~as illUsiradng one ~£~h~ Urgent ~blemST~ gone ith~o!agh." : i: .... c ui les face becatise Can fid "Pres~denrObama.s.m...e.m..orandum directs because some entities still refuse to respect !he,,secr~ 0fHealth and:Human Se~ices their relationships, to ensure’ ~at hospitals which participate in During a family vacation to Miami, Medicare and Medicaid "respeCt the rights of Florida in February 2007, Pond collapsed patients to designate visitors" and ~llow those with an aneurysm and was taken by visitors the same privileges as immediate ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s family members. trauma center. When Langbehn and their ........Continued See HOSPITALS Page-6 O ahoma Exempdor £rom Federal Ha e Crh es Law- stopped "There are a couple of pastors who wear the veil of Christianity who were pttshing this legislation. As a Christian this offends me because the Jesus I know doesn’t stand for that." State Representative Mike Shelton. By Victor Gorin Contributing vcriter OKLAHOMA CITY, OK When Barak Obama signed the Mat~ew Shepard- James Byrd Jr. Federal Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law last October 22, it was celebrated by the GLBT community and their allies as a major civil rights victory that was the result of almost a decade of loiJbying efforts and activism. Although some states already had hate crimes laws protecting the GLBT community (Oklahoma not among them) for the first time Arnericans in the State RepresentativeMike Shelton. Pressphoto GLBT community nationwide were protected by hate crimes laws at the Federal level. Also added by the same action were Federal protection against hate crimes based on gender and disability. Both of Oklahoma’s Senators, Dr.Tom Coburn and James Inhofe voted against the bill, along with the entire Oklahoma ........Continued See HATE CRIMES Page-6 e MetroStarNews.com May 1,2010 Gay Rodeo an Oklahoma tradition 25th Great Plains Rodeo Rides Again In OKC By Victor Gorin Contributing writer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK It’s a proud Memorial Day weekend tradition in Oklahoma City when cowboys, cowgirls and their fans celebrate the Great Plains Rodeo, which now has the distinction of lasting a quarter century. In keeping with long time tradition, it will be held at the Oldahoma State FairgroUnds. From humbler beginnings, the first rodeo came together when OGRA (Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association) joined up with the Kansas and Missouri Ga~ Rodeo Associations to form what was then the Great Plains Regional Rodeo in August of 1986. Joined by Arkansas in 1992 the event was moved to the Memorial Day weekend. In 1999 the 4 associations split up to form their own respective rodeos, thus the word "Regional" was dropped to make the event simply the Great Plains Rodeo it is today. This rodeo ranks among the top 4 rodeos of the entire International Gay Rodeo Association circuit, which comprises over 20 rodeos. The International Gay Rodeo Association is made up of 28 state/provincial rodeo associations in the United States and Canada, and OGRA has been part of that organization since their first convention was held in 1985. O.G.R.A. was formed to provide a welcoming environment for those interested in the Western lifestyle without regard to sex or sexual orientation, national origin, race or any other form of prejudice. In other words, a way to bring people together to enjoy country and western life! This year the fun kicks offThursday May 27 with a Poolside Reception Party at the Finishline from 6-8 p.m. for the Rodeo sponsors and officials, followed by a stick horse rodeo that’s sure to be hilarious. This year will also feature a Stick Home Contest in which organizations can enter a decorated stick home, with votes for a winner that cost $1 apiece. The winning organization will receive a cash prize, and the stick horses will be auctioned off for charity. For more ........Continued See RODEO Page-8 ere’s More Fun this Fall at SS ’S 2010 Sooner State Stampede By Victor Gorin ~m Dic~,,nan, SSRA President. Sta~Cphat:o TULSA. OK As the OGI~’s Great Plains Rodeo welcomes summertime fun, this year more festivities jumpstart autumn as SSRA ( Sooner State Rodeo Ass6ciation) hosts another rodeo event, their 2010 Sooner State Stampede. It will not only feature traditiona! rodeo events, but also the fnn trappi,~gs of gay rodeo such as wild drag and goav dressing. It will mark SSI~k’s first rodeo with fifll equestrian amenities. t wvw¢.bridlecreekok.com). Sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo Association I IGRA) this event promises to attract westerners from all over Oklahoma and nationwide. SSRA was formed in 2002 to give men ~d women of rodeo and the western lifestyle ofTutsa and eastern Oklahoma an association by which to come together and celebrate country culture. Like OGRA. SSRA is a 501c3 organization, and likewise is united ~br this cause without regard to race, sexua! orientation, religion, national origin, or any other prejudice one might encounten SSP~ celebrates not only rodeos and horse relaed activities, but also dogging, western and square dancing. The}, are also active in fundraisers that benefit various Oklahoma charities. Each October they select their royalty competitions for Mr. SSRA, Ms. SSRA, plus Miss and MisTER SSRA, who represent the organization at rodeos and fundraising events. ~aeir current president is Tulsan Tim Dickman. ~e winners from this event may go on to compete at IGRA’s World Gay Rodeo Finals held this year in Laughlin, Nevada October 2!- 24. For more information about the event check out ,a~vw.soonerstaterodeo.com tThe host hotel will be the Ramada Tulsa Airport East located at 1010 North Garnett Road, telephone 918 437 7660 (ww~:ramadaairport.com). Be sure to mention the Sooner State Stampede when booking your room for a special rare. www.metrostarnows.corn Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus elects new o cers By Victor Gorin Contributing writer OKLAHOMA CITY, OK As O.G.L.EC. re-organizes, at their April meeting newofficers were elected: The cochairs are Steven Dubois & Jeanne Flanigan, Secretary Victor Gorin and Treasurer Richard Vreeland. As a revitalized organization they are meeting at the Neighborhood Alliance Building, 1236 N. 36th Street { N.W. 36thand Classen Boulevard) of Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. the 2nd Monday of each month, the next meeting on May 10. For~ more infBrmation e-mail Jeanne Flanigan at Ok.glpc@Tahoo.com or call her at (405) 255 3658. Openly Gay TeacherJoe igley to be trans£erred £rom U.S. Grant High School By Victor Gorin Contributing writer TeacherJoe Quigley. Gorin ?hoto OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Joe Quigley is a high school English teacher who made history in Oklahoma City not only in the school system but for the GLBT community. He became well known when he was teaching English at Northwest Ctassen High S&ool. fighting for years to have the ~vords "sexual orientation/gender identit3:’ included in the Student Handbook to be among categories to be protected from harassment and bullying, His tenacious efforts almost cost him his iob last August when the OKC School Board voted to fire him. He not only won reinstatement in District Court, but soon after~vards th’e Oklahoma City School Board finally voted in the inclusive language for the Student Handbook. Although he was reinstated, instead of being returned to his original position at Northwest Classen he was instead transferred to U.S. Grant High School. U.S: Grant had been on the Federal list of schools in need of improvement and ~vas thus required to restructure under the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind Act. ~is would require that 50% of the teachers be removed. Joe Quigley was among the teachers to be transferred, who will receive full pay and benefits as substitute teachers for a 2 ........Continued See O~IGLEY Pag_e-4 Keith Kimmel found Dead in Norman March 31 following his arrest by Tulsa Police By Victor Gorin TULSA, OK Keith Kimmel, an activist with the GLBT com.munity was found de~d Wednesday morning March 31 around 7:45 a.m. by Kerri Logsdon. He had been staying at her home temporarily, and he was found seated in front of her computer. In a posting Monday on his Internet blog he had written, "I am done trying to love a world that has no love for me. I am done trying to believe redeeming things about people who have nothing redeemable about them." In accordance with his wishes, after an autopsy is performed his body would be cremated and his ashes sent to his family in Indiana. Tile preceding Friday night he had been drinking at the End Up Club, and according to statements he made was upset about a relationship he had with a dancer there. According to the dub owner Blake Mterman Keith had been there earlier that evening, left and then returned around 11:00 p.m. At that point Mr. Kimme! was very intoxicated, became very, combative and angry when the bartenders refused to serve him at which point the Tulsa police were called. During his arrest he claimed to have been physically and verbally abused at the club, and that officers had hit his head several times on the door frame of a patro! car. He was taken to St. John’s Hospital where he was given treatment ~br his injuries and bus tokens to get him back to his car. He returned to Norma~ the following da); and mailed a complaint of police brutality to the Internal Affairs Departmefii~ of the Tulsa police. Keith ~mmel had been im,olved with activist causes with the GLBT community but ,was probably best known for filing a lawsfiit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission ~vhen they refused to issue him a specialized license plate that stated IMGAY. He had dismissed that lawsuit February 26, stating that he would re-file it in Federal court at a later time. Mthough there was speculation as to what really happened during his arrest, including the possibility that his death might have been caused by the injuries from that night, the facts of his death are unknown at press time pending the results of a future autopsy. Mr. Mterman has urged caution stating," While I do want to see justice served. I would urge that as a community we wait until the final verdicl comes in. giving the police and the coroner’s office the proper time to do their invesngation before we make any conjectures or statements. After that comes out we as a communitT can move forward and get through this togethed" Blake further related that business had dropped since the incident, and stated that he’d like to remind the community that his establishment is still a peaceful party place. On Monday afternoons beginning around 4:30 p.m. there is still a free dinner courtesy of Midtown Meats located at 7924 E. 21st Street in Tulsa, and has morphed into a potluck supper. Tuesday nights still feature draft beer specials from open til 7 p.m. dose (understandably a busy day). The pool tournament happens on \gednesday nights at Bingo Thursday nights continues to be a rocking event, and the weekend features partying with the hot dancers. ~nis is follmved by Sunday beer busts. Blake further stated that business was picking up, and invited the community to see for themselves that the Endup is still a happening place to come together. Oklahomans for Equality Award Recipients 2010 TULSA, OK Each year OkEq recognizes outstanding individuals who have both helped change and shape our ever evolving community. This year we are pleased to announce the following winners. The awards were presented at the 30th Anniversary Equality Gala on April 24, 2010. Life Time Achievement A,vard 20 years of service to the lgbt community Kelly Kirby Russell Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award Advocacy for interfaith and lgbt dialogue Rabbi Charles E Sherman Temple Israel Community Hero Advocacy work for lgbtq youth Karen L. Davis Senior Program Officer Tulsa Community Foundation and Tulsa Reaches Out Community Hero 2004 Oklahoma Marriage Discrimination Lawsuit Gay Phillips & Sue Barton Sharon Baldwin & Mary Bishop Volunteers of the Year I.T. Team Eric Vogelpohl Don Satterthwaite Andrew Hicks Grand Marshal 2010 Pride Parade and Festival Rev Marlin Lavanhar Advocacy work for the global lgbt community year period if they cannot be placed in a permanent position, after which a teacher could be dismissed without the procedures of due process afforded tenured educators. As Joe puts it, "I was deliberately placed in a sChool where the District knew the teachers would have to be reduced and I look at this as yet another attempt to skirt the wilt and judgment of the District Court." The Oklahoma City Schoo! District has appealed his reinstatement, a process that could take as long as 2 years, so far incurring over $200,000 in legal expenses as the district faces a severe budget crisis. But so far Joe Quigley can say this much. "In the future the parents and taxpayers of the Oklahoma City Public School District need to start paying more attention to the teachers and less to the highly paid administrators, because there is documentation both anecdotal and in writing that the taxpayers have been continually ripped off in order to make administrators look good at the expense of the education df their students. " Senator Rice: "GOP Leadership Must Rebuke Incendiary R etoric" Oklahoma State SenatorAndrew Rice. File photo OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) April 15, 2010 Senator Andrew Rice (D-Oldahoma City) said today that the anti-government rhetoric among some Republican state legislators" has reached disturbing levels. Rice pointed to comments by a Republican legislator running for statewide office who said on Wednesday that the federal government is "tyrannical" and said he is willing to take his challenge of the federal government "to the max." Rice said these comments are particularly disturbing given the fact the remarks came just days after the Republican state legislator and others said tile state of Oklahoma should create a citizen’s militia to protect Oklahoma’s sovereignty from an "overreaching" United State’s government. "All elected officials have a tremendous responsibility to be careful with the words xve choose to use in public," Senator Andrew Rice said. ’~t a time when more and more people are using words that carry violent connotations to express what may be legitimate frustrations with government policies, you would hope that elected officials would refrain from feeding into that frenzy." Rice said that non-partisan experts of anti-government violence and terrorism have recently expressed concerns about the rhetoric. Rice pointed to comments by David Cid, executive director of Oldahoma City-based Memorial Institute for the Prevention ofTerrorism, who was quoted in the Oklahoma Gazette saying: "People are angry and frustrated, and among those who are angry mad frustrated, there is a small number, but them are a number who will pick up a gun." Rice said examples of evidence of antigovernment violence occurred both in Austin, Texas and Michigan as one group threatened violence against the government, and another person acted out on his anger in an act of domestic terrorism against the IRS, killing one innocent citizen and himself. ’°I call on the Republican leaders of the Legislature to rebuke this inflammatory language ofsome of their members coming just days before the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing," Rice said. ’~All Oklahomans should be offended to hear any elected official use language that is reminiscent to the anti-government language used by Timothy McVeigh, especially leading up to this painful time of year for our state." Rice explained while McVeigh was on death row awaiting his execution for the murder of 168 innocent Oklahomans, he sent a letter to a London newspaper titled: "Why I bombed the Murrah building." In it McVeigh explains: "I reached the decision to go on the offensive - to put a check on government abuse of power, where others had failed in stopping the federal juggernaut running amok," he said. Oklahoma Tobacco Free help No matter who yot are on life’s -Reverend 3131 N. Pennsylvania,0kloh0~ 405.525.9555 4 ~:~,T~:()STA May 1, 2010 Out magazine lists ’most inEuential’ gays, lesbians Ellen DeGeneres. GL_~L4D photo Ellen DeGeneres is America’s "most influential" gay man or woman, according to Out magazine’s fourth annual "Power 50" list. "Since DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul as a judge on Banerican Idol in February, millions upon millions of viewers are getting a double dose of the hugely popular talk show host and 12-time Emmy winner," Out said. "The American FLxpre~s and Covergirl pitchwoman’S rcacb~ is nearly unparalteled~ ... A passionate advocat( ~br marriage equalit)5 anavid opponent of’don’t ask, don’t tell,’ and staunch defender of animal rights, DeGeneres’s enormous platform is many an American’s gain." Others near the top of the list include MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, singer Adam Lambert, actor Nell Patrick Harris, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese and U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polls and Barney Frank. For the full list, see out.corn/power50. Effort to repeal Prop 8 fails to collect enough signat es. Federal Prop 8 trial remains paused. A grassroots effort to force a November 2010 ballot-box vote on repealing Proposition 8 failed to collect enough voter signatures by the April 12~deadline to get the measure on the ballot. Groups pushing the 2010 repeal effort faced an uphill battle from the get-go because California’s gay-rights leadership refused to support the project, believing that 2012 will be a better year to return to the ballot. The lead 2010 organization, Love Honor Cherish, did not say" hmv many signatures it did manage to collect. Just under 700,000 valid signatures would have been needed. "Tnis is a heartbrealdng moment," said LHC Executive Director John Henning. "Despite the dogged efforts of hun&eds of volunteers across California, we did not get Wockner News Service 7he #’ial in the.f}dem! tawsu# to overturn 8 as a violation ofthe U.S. Constitution.{ms been paused in San Francisco sinceJan. 2Z Famous attorneys DavM Boles, r{~ht, and Ted Olson are among the l.mwers argui,g the case for the gay side, Photo @ Rex Wochner the signatures we needed within the 150-day window set by the state. Regrettably, Prop 8 will remain as a stain on our constitution until at least 2012, and perhaps latel:" Love Honor Cherish was one of 40 mosdy grassroots groups working for a 2010 vote within a coalition called Restore Equality 2010. "Our signature-collection effort may have fallen short, but we stand tall as being the only statewide campaign that fought for repealing Proposition 8 in 2010," said Sean Bohac, chair of the Restore Equality 2010 Statewide Advisory Panel. "Our campaigners carried the torch of Harvey Milk, who showed that change only happens when we get out of the bars and into the streets. Band our efforts are reflected in the new polls that show increased support for extending marriage to all Californians." Bohac told The San Diego Union-Tribune that the number of signatures collected "was not particularly close" to the 694,354 needed. "We won’t be making, it public," he said. Recent polls by d~e Public Policy Institute of California and by the Los Angeles Times/ University of Southern California have shown that, for the first time, a majority of Californians now support same-sex marriage -- suggesting that top gay rights groups Equality California and Courage Campaign may have made a misstep in refusing to support the 2010 effort. EQCA and Courage expressed fears that voters would not be ready to reverse themselves just two years after rebanning same-sex marriage. But EQCA Executive Director GeoffKors said the poll results haven’t caused the group to second-guess its decision. "Equality California still believes 20!2 is the fight time to go to the ballot;’ Kors said. "Those polls were not oflikely voters for the 2010 election. When you dig deeper into those polls -- and our internal polls during the same time period -- what’s clear is young voters are the ones who move the most. And young voters make tip a much larger percentage of the electorate in a presidential race (2012) than a gubernatorial race (2010), which is why the L.A. Times said, after looking at their poll numbers in the article, it’s clear why gay rights groups wanted to wait until 2012, because 2010 doesn’t provide us the best opportunity to win due to voter turnout." Restore Equality 2010 said it now will join up with the 2012 effort. Signature collecting for that project is expected to begin in the summer of 2011. A California Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage in May 2008 and weddings began June ! 6, 2008. Tiae court said preventing gay couples from marrying violated the state constitution. Even more groundbreakAng, the court also ruled that sexual orientation is a "suspect classification" -- which made aW type ofdiscrimination based on sexual orientation constitutionally subject to the strictest level ofscrutiny by California courts. California governmental entities now have to prove they have a specific "compelling interest" -- rather than a mere "rational basis" - - when they treat GLB people differently in any way. The change made it dramatically harder for any level ofgovernment to defend itself in any arena where gays, lesbians and bisexuals are not treated the same as heterosexuals. Some 18,000 same-sex couples married in California before voters amended the state constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage in November 2008. N~e California Supreme Court later ruled that Prop 8 was a valid amendment to the constitution. A federal lawsuit led by famous attorneys David Boles and Ted Olson to overturn Prop 8 as a violation of the U.S. Constitution is ongoing in San Francisco. The trial paused on Jan. 27 after all testimony had been heard but before closing arguments because Judge Vaughn ~Walker said he wanted to review the testimoW prior to hearing the attorneys’ final statements. The conclusion ofthe trial apparently has been further delayed while gay’ groups that ran the ballot campaign against Prop 8, who are not parties to the federal lawsuit, fight an order to turn over some of their e-mails from the campaign period. Protestors chained to W/site HousejSnce: PtSoto b_yjohn Aravosis @A_MERICAblog N~e LGBT community’s new activist pit bulls, GetEQUAL, dramatically upped the pressure on President Barack Obama on April 19 and 20 over his failure to succeed in keeping major campaign promises to LGBT Americans. Although Obama has taken several small steps seen as favorable or helpful to LGBT Americans, he has yet to engineer the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, or the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. GetEQUAIJs latest broadside started April :....Continued see Get_EQUAL - page 9 www.metrostamews.corn ~)~ETROSTAR 5 More specifically, the memo instructs HHS to ensure that hospitals receiving federal funds nor deW visitation based on sexual orientation or gender identity, along.with the usual categories of non-discrimination. Human Rights Fund spokesman Michael Cole said his organization had been ~vorking with the Xg~hite House on the memo language [’or some rime. He said he was unaware of any particular reason for the timing. "It was a long process for them to get the memo language set and al! of their ducks in a row," said Cole- so my impression is that this was the point at which it was done." The April 15 memorandum is the second memorandum issued by the president to specifically help LGBT people. In June 2009, President Obama signed a memorandum to the ONce of Personnel Management Director requesting that the heads of all executive departments and agencies "conduct a review" of current benefits available to federal employees within 90 days "to determine what authority they have to extend such benefits to same-sex domestic partners of Federal employees" and submit a report on rMs to OPM. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal, called the president’s hospital visitation memorandum a "great leap forward in addressing discrimination affecting LGBT patients and their families." "These measures are intended to ensure that no family will have to experience what the Langbehn-Pond family did that night at Jackson Memorial Hospital," said Cathcart, in a statement isstled Thursday night. k federal district court judge dismissed Lambda’s ta~vsuit on behalf of Langbehn, saying there was no law requiring the hospital to allow Lisa Pond’s partner to see her at the hospital. On Monday, April 12, Lambda issued a press release saying it had reached an agreement with Jackson Memorial for "qmproved policies that are more responsive ro the needs of the LGBT community." But Lambda said the agreement does "not provide as much protection as may be needed in critical sitnations." Lambda noted that the president’s memorandum calls on HHS to take steps to ensure that hospitals respect legal documents that some patients have to designate who can make decisions for them if they become incapacitated. It also requires HHS to report back to the president in !80 days with additional recommendations for actions HHS can take "to address hospital visitation, medical decision-maHng, or other health care ~ssues that ~?cr LGBT patients and their Ironically, the pool reporter on board the ~ighr back to Washington reported there was No news on the way back" from Florida. Meanwhile. Roll Call a newspaper specializing in covering Capitol Hill, reported Thursday that the House Committee on Standards of ONcia! Conduct has "drafted rules that for the first time would define gay married couples as ’spouses" for the purposes of filling out their annual Congressional financial disclosure forms." The forms are used by members of Congress and their staffs to make annual discIosures of any additional sources of income and investments by them and their spouses and dependent children. The draft rules propose requiring that any members or staffwho have married same-sex spouses in Washington, D.C. or aW of the states which provide for equal marriage rights to include information about their spouse’s finances, the same as straight members and staff Inust do about their legal spouses. Roll Call quoted a spokesman for the Family Research Council as saying the draft rules violate the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DO1VL&), which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages. The paper noted that the draft rule had been removed from the committee’s website. The Committee’s webs!re currently lists instructions for filling out the form for calendar year 2008 disclosures even though the forms due next month are for calendar year 2009. MissoOa bans anti- LGBT discrimination The City Council in Missoula, Mont., voted 10-2 on April 12 to prohibit discrimination in employment and housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, the Missoulian reporte& The vote came at 1:45 in the morning at the end of a seven-hour meeting. "Most of us can’t remember civil rights in action," said Councilwoman Sficy Rye. "This is it for us." Gay man elected mayor ofsmall Colorado town An openly gay man, Ron Holland, was elected mayor of Dillon, Colo., April 6. He received 90 votes to an opponent’s 72 in the mountain town of about 800 people. Holland, who is serving his first term on the City Council, told the Summit Daily News he was "ecstatic" over his victory. Martina has breast cancer Mart!ha NavradIova. Ougames~hoto Lesbian tennis legend Martina Navratilova told People magazine April 7 that she has breast cancer. The ductai carcinoma was discovered early and is expected to be fully curable. "I cried," Navratilova said. "It knocked me on my ass, really. I feet so in control ofmy life and my body, and then this comes, and it’s completely out ofmy hands." "I went four years between mammograms," she added. "I let it slide. Everyone gets busy, but don’t make excuses. I stay in shape and eat right, and it happened to me. Another year and I could have been in big trouble." Navratilova will undergo six weeks of radiation treatment starting in May. Congresswoman Tammy BaldWin On President - Obama’s signing ofa. memorand reNardmg the visitation rights of hospital patients Congresswoman Baldwin. Woclowrphoto WASHINGTON, DC (PR) "President Obama’s decision to direct the Secretaryof Healrah and Human Services to take steps to ensure that hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid respect the rights ofpatients to receive visitors and designate others to make decisions about medical care in the case ofan emergency is the right one. It follows the lead ofmany states and makes a strong statement about who we are as a nation and what we valne. No one should face the distress oflying ill or injured in a hospital bed with the loved one you designate barred from your bedside for any other than a compelling medical reason. For too long, such access has been arbitrarily denied many individuals, most especially to gay mad lesbian Americans. President Obama’s action tonight puts us another step doser toward our goal ofequal rights for all Americans and I appland his decision: Congressional Delegation, Passage of the bill intensified conservative religious groups who had campaigned against the Act and this was particularly felt in Oklahoma, although the legislation was hailed by the GLBT community and civil rights activists as a progressive measure long overdue. What followed was an attempt to "opt Oklahoma out" of this new protection, spearheaded by State Senator Steven Russell ( Republican- District 45) with State Senate Bil! 1965. The bill actually began as an ordinary measure to start a task force to research public and private high school athletics, authored by State Senator Harry Coates (Republicam) and State Representative "Wes Hilliard (Democrat). After the bill passed out of committee, S.B. 1965 was altered by Senator Russell who removed the original language. He then added language that would have prevented Oldahoma law enforcement from cooperating ,vith Federal authorities when a hate crime ~vas committed in Oklahoma. ~e bill then passed the State Senate 39-6. The ensuing publicity, including a GLBT lobbying day at the State Capitol focused mainly on this legislation, resulted in a re-xvrite of the bill by Senator Russell in an attempt to make it less offensive and passable. The rewritten version permitted Federal authorities to petition State District Courts for evidence relating to an Oldahoma hate crime if local law enforcement objected to cooperating with the Federal authorities. Among the groups opposed to this legislation was the Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union. One of their lobbyists, Tamya Cox, spoke to State Representative Mike Shelton (Democrat District 97) who "hated this bill, understood the implications and issues of this from the onset, stated that we had to do something." Mr. Shelton persuaded the House author of the bill, Representative Danny Hilliard to let him have the bill. Once Mr. Shdton had control of the bill he withdrew it, thus ldlling this legislation. Although an unusual strategy, it was an effective action he stated that he felt he had to take because as he put it, ’~Mnything that breaks down the opportunity ro protect Oklahomans from harm is wrong. Legislation and resolutions that hurt people only give a black eye to our state." Although he has received positive feedback for his action, predictably he has received negative responses as well, including some from the conservative religious community. It hasn’t swayed his resolve as he relates, "There are a couple of pastors that wear the veil of Christianity who were pushing this legislation. As a Christian this offends me because the Jesus I know doesn’t stand for that." GLBT and civil rights activists are continuing to monitor the situation in case attempts are made to re-introduce this or similar measures with another bill. ’uptcv - CivJJ Rights oCriminal ’ment o Family Law o Litigation 625 N. o l th street Cit% OK 7 105 6 ~KTROSTAR May 1, 2010 contim es "First ursday" Art Opening and E ibit ofOriginal Wbrks by MattJohnson. Bebe gives her ’Best O£’ for Race! The reigningD*agRace queen goes though her list ofseason two superlatives TULSA, OK (PR) The May Oklahomans for Equality (Oldgq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Nei!l Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in Downtown Tulsa), will feature the Artistic Nude Photography ofMatt Johnson. The show begins with a reception on Thursday, May 6th from 6-9pm and continues throughout the month of May. Oklahoman Matt Johnson, owner of Johnson Studios, specializes in Artistic Nude Photography and is based in Tulsa. Matt has always had a deep appreciation for the human form. He began his art expression in the color pencil medinm sketching in the pln-up type format in his teen years. Mfitt is a neon bender by trade for a commercial sign company. He has been married to his wife Denise since 1987 and they have three wonderful children. In 2006 his artistic will drew him to the camera. Since then he has been creating nude art using the lens of a camera and his imagination through the editing process. After developing a diverse portfolio Matt’s xvork was accepted into galleries in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He was the featured artist in two different Eureka Springs gallery shows in 2009. Matt is beginning to show his work in his home town ofTulsa and is scheduled for two separate gallery shows in the upcoming months. Matt’s friendly easy- going manner makes his photo sessions comfortable, relaxed and fun experiences for his models. They are always thrilled with their images and often come back for additional sessions. allows Matt to continue to create new and exciting images from his eyeto the computer and then the paper. The show begins with a reception at the Dennis IL Nei!l Equality Center on Thursday, May 6th fi’om 6-9pm; Matt’s art will be on displa~v through May 2010. Founded by a dedicatedgroup ofvolunteers in 1980, Oklahomansfar Equali~r/OkEq is Oklahoma’s oMestgay rights o~nization. From testingfor HIV/AIDS and hosting t/~e annual 7~dsa PHele and Diversi~ Celebration m operati~ the Equadity Center and documenting the ~tha LGBTcommunity’s rich histor~ OkEq worksfor socialjustice amtfidl inclusionfor Oklahoma’s lesbian, ga)~ bisccuai, and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their allies. For more i*{~ormation, see wwt~;okeq.org By Bebe Zahara Benet Wasn’t it great to see me on the special episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race this week? Well, it was wonderful to sit down with RuPaul and my season one sisters Ongina and Nina Flowers to critique season two, but there was still so much more to be said that I tlmught I’d dedicate this week’s colttrnn to some ofmy favorite moments that we didfft get a chance to talk about during the show. Funniest Moment: There’s plenty to choose from, but for me it has got to be Jujube during the reading challenge. I just loved everything she said about everybody - calling Raven legendary- as in "leg" and "dairy," snapping at Jessica in Chinese and even ta~ng smack about Tyra’s grill - that reading was hilarious! A second runner-up moment was Pandora Boxx playing CarolChanning in the "Snatch Game" challenge. Ms. Boxx knows how to mine a laugh. Biggest Diva Moments: We had more , than a few moments to judge this season. 111 skip ranking catfights a~d assess in terms of performance. I’d say the other Tyra coming out as sophisticatedlady on a mad shopping spree was a great diva moment, as was Jujube’s peach dress in the Old Hollywood fashion challenge. It was mentioned in the live show, but it bears mentioning again - Raven’s gold Cleopatra dress and blonde afro was really, really fierc!! ~ Best Makeup: Oh honey! Give it to Raven! I think Raven really s~vitched up her makeup to go with different looks. Even , , ~vhen she did the country girl or the rock n roll look or the whole glamour thing she was able to create a different persona through makeup. She is really mastering the craft and art of drag. Best Runway: I will go with Jujube. I really will! She walks with confidence, walks with so much fierceness, so much attitude and so much personality. I really love how she does all levels of her presentation. Best Lip-sync: It seems like I’m a fan of Jujube! I love how she lip-syncs. Sometimes she gives a little too much, but she is more often right on the money. She is able to catch the little things the artist does. She’s right on point with it. ~aat’s someone who has studied the music and knows what the whole song is about. I also liked Raven’s lip-syncing. ~aere is something about it that is a little sassy. I’d give it to both of them. Biggest \Vish: To see Jessica \~ild last longer. She had so much potential! If she had been given another chance I am convinced there ~vould have been other things about her ~erfor,mance that would have made us all go WOW. Catdh the finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race at 9pro (ET/PT) this Monday night on Logo and visit LOGOonline.com to find out about vievdng parties in your area. Until next week, kisses and good luck! www.metrostarnews.com ~et~oSTAR 7 H e tension By Ronald Blake Contributing ~X~riter Photo: RonaM Blake, Certified Fitness Ins~’uctor through ISSA International Sports Sciences Association The heart beats faster! Tixe blood vessels constrict even more! Tixe h<art, lungs, and brain ache for more help but it isn’t coming fast enough! There is a shudder and then complete blackness! This Edgar Allan Poe moment of chimerical horror describes a massive stroke for someone that suffered one day too many from hypertension. Gather round the campfire and H1 explain this medical condition, its causes, and preventative measures to avoid it. Hypertension is high blood pressure and one out of five people in our country are experiencing it. Tile blood vessels constrict and the heart has to pump harder to get that blood delivered around the bod?,: The heart begins to ,yemen from overload and the constricted vessels become compromised over time. Blood pressure changes all the time. It won’t kill you to have high blood pressure once in awhile though. Swerving to avoid the reckless driver on the freeway, climbing five flights of stairs quickly, or being startled by the ghastliness of that first and last time drag queen can all contribute to a spike in blood pressure. Consistently visiting this elevated zone is very much a problem. Many people wofft feel any symptoms from this disease for 10 to 20 years and then it can strike like a thief in the night. There isn’t a specific cause of hypertension but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lack of culprits calling in and claiming responsibility for this physiological terrorism. Heredity is a card we are dealt at birth and is a frequent contributor to this ugliness~ Hypertensive parents bequeath their kids a two times greater likelihood of having this disease than for those kids of parents without hypertension. That really sucks and all you did was be born to the world! Don’t grab the bottle and give up just yet if you inherited these lousy hand-me-downs from morn and pop. There are plenty of other ways to cotlnteract the ill effects of high blood pressure. Other causes of this nasty medical condition are obesity, stress, smoking, and improper diet and they are al! something you can control. Obese individuals are about twice as likely tO be hypertensive as those men and women ,vho are aren’t in that overweight category. I’m no Pd~odes Scholar but I think that means if you exercise and stay lean then you decrease your risk. That sounds like something you can control! S[ress can walk you down the aisle and give you away to high blood pressure too. Stop getting angry at all the little problems in the world! A late bill, rush hour traffic, the moth~r-in-law visit, and the ripped underwear at 6AM aren’t worth your emotional intensity. Relax and take a deep breath when these moments occur. That sounds like something you can control! Smoking always constricts your blood vessels and raises your blood pressure every time. Cigarettes aren’t cheap and there are smoking cessation programs al! over the place. That sounds like something you can control! Foods with excessive sodium, saturated fat, or cholesterol are al! significant donors to th~ election campaign for hypertension. This candidate for office can’t win without your donations. That sounds like something you can control! There are also drugs that can Be prescribed to aid in your efforts against this evil force. Don’t be scared by this villain of your vessels! With adherence to these suggestions you may live a healthy life and worry about hypertension (Quoth the raven) nevermore! This purloined letter was brought to you by that guy who tore up the planks in the house of Usher. That guy is Ron Blake and he can be found descending into the maelstrom at www.myblakefitness.com. information about the contest contact the rodeo’s co-directors, Klint Weiden ( 405 408 6140) or Paul Boyd (405 630-4388). Following on Friday it gets wild with a Poolside Cookout also at the Finishline from 3-6 p.m., then it’s registration time at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds from 6-9 p.m ( Barn #9)., with a cash bar and snacks provided to make it go better, along with entertainment from 6-8 p.m. Keeping the night kicking along is the HomoRodeo Mixer happening at the Finishline beginning at 9 p.m., also a All Rodeo Royalty Show at Phoenix Rising at 9 p.m. as well. The Rodeo begins the following Saturday at 8:00 P.m., and after a funfilled day of events one can unwind or windup at the Copa’s Texas Tea Party beginning at 6 p.m. a grand tradition hosted by the Texas Gay Rodeo Association. At 9 p.m. that same night there will be a country concert at ~Amgles featuring recording artist James Allen Clark among other local muscians. That night the stick horse contest winner will be announced, and the stick horses auctioned off. Then it’s Sunday morning coming down as the rodeo begins the final day o£ competition, resuming at 8:00 a.m. at the Fairgrounds. The Finishline that day will feature a Head Country Barbeque at 6:00 p.m. with a hearty dinner for the price of $12. followed by the Awards Ceremony at 7 p.m. a,varding bucldes, saddles and cash to the winners of the rodeo. To wind up the event Monday a Wind Down Party will be held at Phoenix Rising with a hamburger/~bt d6g c86koUt froln Noon until 2 p.m., with drink specials and funfilled recollections of the wild weekend. ~ Ifyou or an organization is interested in being a vendor, contact Larry Foley at auditor@ogra.net ~ne host hotel this year is the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 801 S. Meridian. Telephone (405 942 1400) with special rates available until May 14 ifyou mention the rodeo. Come join the fun! For more information check out their website at vcww.ogra.net. 8 ~Y~:OSTAR May 1, 2010 CMS now- pays for treatment ofHIV related facial Lipodystrophy Disorder must cause depression for individuals to receive coverage By Robin D-Townsend Contributing Writer The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last month that it will pay for facial injections for beneficiaries who have facial lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS) if, in fact, the person suffers from depression secondary to the disorder. Reportedly, individuals who take these medications and experience facial LDS side effects may suffer psychological effects related to a negative selfimage. "Ofcourse I am depressed about the way I look from the way my face looks now;’ said Allen Leon, an OHahoma City man who has the disorder. "Looks are very important to everyone, not just gay people. People stare; they can’t help it. I feel that I am judged by people and I am uncomfortable when meeting new people." The disorder is very stigmatizing. LDS is a localized loss offat from the face, causing an excessively thin, hollowed appearance in the cheeks. In some cases, facial LDS may be a side effect ofcertain kinds of Director, Coverage and Analysis Group for CMS. "These effects may lead people living with HIV to discontinue their antiretroviral therapies." Grade four (offour grades) leaves a person the most emaciated-looking. The injections are "fillers" that have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to be injected under the skin in the face to help fill out its appearance specifically for treatment offacial LDS. Data show that these injections can improve patient self-image, relieve symptoms ofdepression, and may lead to improved compliance with anti-HIV treatment. The average cost of the injections is $500 for a two-vial treatment. Most people require a total of three treatments. Medicare coverage for the injections has already begun. This is an important milestone in Medicare coverage for HIV-infection therapies by helping people living with HIV improve their self-image and treating side effects of Lipotrophy by grade: Lipoatrophy withfat loss covering a wide area oftheface and the skin is living directly on thefacial muscles. medications (antiretroviral therapies) that individuals receive as part ofan HIV infection treatment regimen. "Facial LDS can leave people living with HIVlooking gaunt and seriously ill, which may stigmatize them as part oftheir HIV-infecrion status," said Dr. Louis B. Jacques, MD medications. Compliance with anti-HIV treatment can lead to better quality oflife and, ultimately, improve the quality ofcare that beneficiaries receive. For more information, visit http ://,arww.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/ viewdecisionmemo.asp ?id=234. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender aging issues take center stage at Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON, (PR) April 21 The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Services and Advocacy for LGBT Elders (SAGE) are convening a National LGBT Aging Roundtable this week in Washingxon, D.C. In addition, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has organized a congressional briefing on issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as they age. The briefing was held April 22, 9:30-11 a.m. in Room 121 of the CannonHouse Office Building on Capitol Hill. The injustice facing many LGBT elders was brought home just this week by the painfut stoW of Clay Greene and Harold Scull~ an elderly gay couple separated by o~ci~s in Sonoma County, Calif., who also sold their possessions despite the measures the couple took to protect their relationship. More details here. "The needs of the oldest members of our community have long been invisible to many of us and ignored by most institutions in our society," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which recently released Outing Age 2010: Public Policy Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Elders. "LGBT elders remain a highly vulnerable and largely invisible aging population. We know that invisibility leads to greater social isolation~ which can lead to increased vulnerability in many areas. We also know that discrimination across the tifespan leaves LGBT people economically and socially vulnerable as tlaey age. There are many challenges but we also have concrete recommendations on how aging advocates, policy mak,e,rs and social service agencies can meet them. Scheduled speakers at Thursday’s congressional briefing were Laurie Young, aging analyst and interim director of Public Policy and Government Affairs of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, who discussed findings and recommendations in Outing Age 2010; Hope Barrett, director of Elder Affairs of the Howard Brown Health Clinic; Harper Jean Tobin, policy counse! of the National Center for Transgender Equality; Joyce Pierson, elder rights advocate and former staffofthe Elder Rights Project of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; and John Johnson, SAGE’S federal director of governmental affairs. "Most Americans already face challenges as the~ age, but LGBT older adults have the added burden of a lifetime of stigma; relationships that generally lack legal recognition; and unequal treatment under laws, programs and services designed to support and protect older Americans," said Johnson. We must educate our elected officials and the public about the facts: that LGBT elders are more likely to live in poverty, face social and community isolation, and lack appropriate health care and longterm care. SAGE recently released a groundbrealdng report representing one of the first major collaborations between LGBT advocacy organizations and mainstream aging organizations to comprehensively examine the issues facing LGBT older adults. Improving the Lives ofLGBT Older Adults was co-authored by SAGE and the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), in partnership with the American Society on Aging, the National Senior Citizens Law ~er~ter, and the Center for American Progress, with a foreword from the AARE The report was formally rele,ased at the ~eri~n Society on ~ing’s national conference, held last mont~ in Chicago, Ill. "SAGE’S report outlines the issues and offers solutions, providing a much-needed roadmap for creating a society where all older dults are treated with &gmty and respect, said Johnson. The LGBT elder population is growing, with a large wave of openly LGBTbaby boomers poised to seek aging-related services over the next 25 years. Despite that, there is virtually no government-sponsored research on aFing that includes sexual orientation or gender identity variables. This lack of data results in policy and practices that ignore the unique realities a~d needs of older LGBT people, q-his is beginning to shift, as the corigressional briefing and ISIealth and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ announcement last fall of plans to establish the first national LGBT elder resource center indicates. 19 at a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in Los Angeles. Activists David John Fleck, Dan Fotou, Laura Kanter, Zoe Nicholson and Michelle Wright paid their way into the event and then repeatedly shouted at Obama about repealing DADT as he tried to address the gathering. We are going to do that. Hey. Hold on a second! Hold on a second! We are going to do that!" Obama responded. ’7~1 right. Guys. Guys. All right. I agree. I agree. I agree.... What the young man was talking about was we need to -- we need to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which I agree with and which we have begun to do. But let me say this: When you’ve got an ally like Barbara Boxer and you’ve got an ally like me who are standing for the same thing, then you don’t know exacdy why you’ve got to holler, because we already hear you, all right? I mean, it would make more sense to holler that at the people who. oppose it." A few moments later, more shouting ensued. "I’m sorr~ do you want to come up here?" Obama said direcdy to a protester. "Can I just say once again, Barbara and I are supportive of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, so I don’t know why you’re hollerin’." Obama then stepped away from the microphone and spoke with Boxer. He returned to the mic and stated: "I just checked with Barbara, so if anybody else is thinking about starting a chant, B,arbara i ’ r d dnt even vote for Dont Ask, Dont Tell in the first p1ace, so you know she’s goi"ng to be in favor of repealiiag Don’t ASk, Don’t Tell." The protesters were eventually removed from the room. "President Obama has been AWOL on DADT," said Fotou. "We had to remind him of the promises he made to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community during his campaign and several times during his ~residency--t,hat DAD.T, will be repealed oecause, as he s stated, it s the right thing to do.’" Added Wright, "We made it clear our community will hold accountable our president for unkept promises." In response to Obama’s questioning why gays are shouting at him over DADT, blogger Andrew Sullivan explained: "Because, Mr. President, it is not enough to be ’supportive’ o en&ng DontAsk, DontTell. When you have the presidency and your party controls both houses of Congress, it’s a matter of having the political will to end it. Not all gay people are HRC fundraisers. Some are even risking their lives every day for this country; in uniform, only to be treated like second class human beings and citizens by their own government. Their own government? That means you, Mr. President and Senator Boxer." The following da~ April 20, GetEQUAL protesters returned to the White House for a second round of handctffl:ing themselves to the fence and getting arrested, a month after the group’s initial action there. This rime six people chained themselves to the gates -- Lt. Dan Choi, Capt. Jim Pietrangelo II, Petty Officer Larry Whitt, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cadet Mara Boyd and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas. "We are handcuffing ourselves to the White House gates once again to demand that President,Obama sho,w lea,d,ership on ,r,epealing Dont Ask, Dont Tall, said Choi. Ifthe president were serious about keeping his promise to repeal this year, he would put the repeal la%,uage in his defense authorization budget. The president gave us an order at the Human Rights Campaign dinner (in October) to keep pressure on him and we will continue to return to the W’hite House, in larger numbers, until the president keeps his promise to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year." Thomas commented: "A few weeEs ago I saw Lt. Dan Choi take dramatic action at the White House and it made me realize that I needed to do something to stand up for all the black female soldiers who have been discharged under DADT. Many people don’t mow that we black women are discharged disproportionately more than others under DADT2 At press rime, acco~&n~ to GetEQUB32s Twitter feed: "All six servicemembers have been taken into custody. They have served their country again today, and they deserve better than #DADT." May1, 2010 ~.metrostarnews.com 12 S~!T~OSTAR May 1, 2010 JOIN L YO~ A SHOT! ONLY ¥~11) www.metrostarnews.com RIITIOSTAR 13 We p t ..... ,Church ,~vww,mcctu~sa,org ’uptc~ o CI~il Rights °Criminal ’ment ® Family Law ~ Litigation 625 N.~’. 13.~:h Street City, OK 73"103 14 ;~ET~©STAR May 1, 2010 Photo~ by Victor G. @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ Angtes, Oklahoma City @ The Copa, Oklahoma City @ Ledo, Oklahoma City By Chris ~zopardi Glee: be Music, ~e Power o£Madmma Gle~ We wet{ alrea& episode! With Sue Sylvester doing :! :I11ms out we can love you more, ~[he chee~ d0ach,adds to one of muSic’s most delicious uN- if not more seven the Vete~fi ~ career classics him s~veet as weird ~s it sh0uld be, Out theater doll Jonathan GroN- one of the Fox show’s fresh faces - joins the res~ of the ~ast. on ?Like.a Virgin," and Mercedes injects some pf intro and the choir} moving endrun~. $6: i~ is, in ~act~ like a dream.. ...... Grade: B+ & Sweet To~,r @ The End Up, Tulsa supported on this 2008;09 tom; Madonngs mojo sdl! m~es fBr one h4cl~ of a show. Over several hours :a couple on DVD; one on CD @ Finishline, Oklahoma City Grade: ARufus 7Wainwright, M1 Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu Troubadours like Ruft~ Wainwright get off on being grandiose, but what happens when you lose something you cant get back. You scale it down. as he has ~er the recent dead{ of his mother. On his @ Tulsa Eagle, Tulsa 16 NetroSTAR May 1, 2010 by Jack Fertig May 2010 "Your brain wants a chaRenge, Virgo!" Saturn opposing Uranus is a longrunning on-and-off aspect that’s scattering minefields, challenging us to change structures and goals through the year. The Sun and Mars are triggering those with sometimes violent results. Ideological, "values"- based attacks are likely at personal and political levels. ARIES (March 20- AprR 19): Your competitive drive can become obsessive, even self-destructive. Looking good is not about conquest, but moving on gracefully. Let go, meditate, open your creative soul. You can’t do that while guarding your turf as queen of the mountain. TAURUS (Apri~ 20- May 20): Celebrate your birthday with your family and your most creative friends, not necessarily at the same party. Bringing. them together may get a bit dramatic, even catalytic. This could be a good thing, or not. Think it through. GEMIN~ (May 21- June 20): Meditation will cool your heated brain and help you to keep your mouth out of trouble. In that calm solitude, think of ways your home life can support your ambitions. They don’t have to be at war with each other. CANCER (June 21- July 22): Showing off to your friends can get expensive and become a source of fights. If your love and admiration aren’t enough, home-baked cookies should do it. If they want more, they’re not really your friends, and their arguments aren’t worth the trouble. LEO (Ju~y 23 -August 22): Whatever you do is sure to get noticed. You do realize that can be a mixed blessing! Some humility would be in order, but that doesn’t mean denying your actual gifts and accomplishments. It’s just a matter of keeping perspective. V~RGO (August 23 - September 22): Your brain wants a challenge. Find it in a book; don’t go picking arguments. If you want a good debate, hold yourself back a bit and make an effort to really hear what the other person has to say! LIBRA (September 23 - October 22): Trying to keep up with peer pressure, you could worry yourself sick. Balance? It means they have to meet you half way, too. Your real friends will do that. Standing your ground is sexy. SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): Immediate concerns- work and partnersh p - feel like distractions from your creative engagement with the world, building the future. In fact, those quotidian details are exactly how we do that. Try to channel that aggravation into creative energy. SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 20): Domestic drama threatens to disrupt your plans at work. If you can keep an even keel, handling those unpredictable upsets could help you gain confidence in your managerial skills: Remember, a team leader is still a team member! CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Maintain respect for people even when their questions seem abysmally stupid. It is tempting to mess with their heads, or to mock them, but mellow out that playful streak and engage them. That could lead to fun for all! AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Everybody needs to be concerned about money these days. You may be more worried than is necessary or helpful. Don’t take it out on your family or housemates. The first purpose of discussion is to get problems into perspective. PISCES (February 19- March 19): Flaws and frustrations in your relationship, however minor, are now feeling worse than they really are. You could both make a list now to discuss later. If you must trash someone, that is what POliticians and celebrities are for. METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve T. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, M0 64804 417-52943480 Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM www.socmcc.org Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 1 2; 3 4 ’11 12 13 17 !9 44 46 47 64 6~667295 66 68 69 ! ofview Solution page 19 www.metrostarnews.com ~#~<~t~’oSTAR 17 WIT www.kylecomics.com RAN INTO YOU. Chuck Breckenddge \Vhcther buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, _Arkansas www.magneticvalteyresort. corn infoOmagneticvalleyresort.corn 800-2t0-8401 479-244-6821 ~y,net 18 May !, 2010 Suppo~ those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. ~ THELEDO EXPRESSIONS Fellowship ....................................... 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESSXg/AY 4010 N Youngs HABANA INN Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City, OK 2200 NW 39TH EXPRESS\rAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-528-2221 www.habanainn.com MAGNETIC VALLEY RESORT 597 Magnetic Road Eureka Springs, AR 800-2i0-8401 wwv.magneticvalleyresort.com Y~LLY KIRBY, CPA 4815 S. HARVARD, SUITE 424 Tulsa, OK * 918-747-5466 Certified Public Accountant VALERIE WILLIFORD 625 N.W. 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 405-226-8585 PRIMERICA Dana Tulsa, Oklahoma 877.700.9503 405-525-0730 ~wrw.habanainn.com TULSA EAGLE 1338 E. 3RD Tulsa, OK 918-592-1188 ......... Open 7days week 2prom 2am 405-761-1878 www.expressionsOKC.com SOONERSTATE RODEO PO Box471463 Tulsa, OK74147 www.soone~mmrodeo.com CHURCH of the OPEN ARMS 3131 N. PENN, OKC, OK 405-525-9555 Service Sunday 10:45 AM DIVERSITY CHI~STIAN FELLOWSHIP 637 S. 131st East Ave Tulsa, OK wv~v.realacceptance.com GREAT PLAINS RODEO P. O. BOX 12485 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 w~#c.ogra.net 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 6pro JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa, OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 CENTURY 21 GOLD CASTLE 3627 NWEXPRESSWAY Oklahoma Ci~ OK 73112 405-840-2106 wv#¢¢.c2 lgoldcastle.com CHUCK BRECKENRIDGE Keller Williams Realty Tulsa, OK 918-706-1887 GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 NW39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 Located inside Habana Inn ANGLES 2117 I’FOF 39th St. Oldahoma City, OK wwv.anglesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa, OK 918-836-8700 ~wvw.bambooloungetulsa.com THE END UP 5336 E. ADMIRAL PLACE Tulsa, OK 918-836-0915 Open 7 days a week 2pro to 2am FINISHLINE 2200 I~FW 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oklahoma City; OK 405-525-2900 ww~v.habanainn.com THE COPA 2200 NW 39TH ~RESSWAY Oklahoma City, OK 405-525-0730 www.habanainn.com MCC UNITED 1623 N. Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 .... www.mcctulsa.org OUR HOUSE, TOO 203 N. Nogales Ave Tulsa, OK 74127 918-585-9552 OKLAHOMA STONEWALL DEMOCRATES Oklahoma City, OK vpccw.okstonewall.org OKLAHOMANS for EQUALITY 621 E. 4th Street Tulsa, OK 74120 918-743-4297 w~vw.okeq.org LI ~,~w.metrostarnews.com ~{ETROSTAR 19 "We are at a moment now when liberalism is poised to have its biggest impact since Roosevelt, because the conservative movement has been thoroughly repudiated through reaf~." "What matters, as always, is not what w,e can’t do, it’s what we can and must do.’ Stonewall lemocrats is a recognized group of the Oklahoma and national Democratic PaR. Working to educate voters and politicians about issues of the We mee~ the I s~ Tuesday ofevery mon~h at ~he STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HEADQUARTERS 4100 N. Li~¢ol~ Av÷~, Okl~hom~ Cill ..... /~05~ 427-3366 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource [2010] Metro Star Magazine, May 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 5 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 01, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Politics, education, and social conversation over LGBTQ+ topics Description An account of the resource The Metro Star’s first issue began in August of 2008. Before this issue was Ozarks Pride (2004), The Ozark’s Star (2004), and The Star (2005). This magazine discusses topics of AIDs, education, politics, local and national civil rights of the LGBT community, and advice for relationships and places to visit. This collection is PDF searchable. Physical copies are also available to be seen at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center with permission. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Star Media, Ltd Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Star Media, Ltd Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource James Nimmo Victor Gorin Rex Wockner Michael W. Sasser Robin Dorner-Townsend Judy Gabbard Romeo San Vicente, Andrew Collins Jack Fertig Lisa Keen Steven Petrow Keith Orr Chris Azzopardi Victor Gorin Judy G. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Image PDF Online text Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource magazine Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Southwest Missouri West Arkansas Southeast Kansas 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 Magazine, April 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 4 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/186 The Metro Star Magazine, June 1, 2010; Volume 7, Issue 6 https://history.okeq.org/items/show/192 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context https://history.okeq.org/items/show/194 Advice Andrew Rice-anti government anti-LGBT discrimination Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services-facial lipodystrophy discrimination-hospitals Don't shop-Adopt entertainment federal hate crimes law First Thursday Art Exhibit fitness-Hypertension gay rodeo GetEQUAL HHS Joe Quigley Keith Kimmel Martina Navratilova Metro scene music Oklahoma Gay and Lesbian Caucus Oklahomans for Equality Award Recipients Out magazine-most influential Prop 8 QPuzzle Qscopes Rainbow Pages Ron Holland-Mayor election RuPaul's Drag Race-Bebe SAGE-aging issues Sooner State Stampede Tammy Baldwin-visitation rights travel https://history.okeq.org/files/original/2e2a9a8c933dbbbc21c3c4cdc0a83571.jpg c0285f15bddb2569e69f41fde420d855 https://history.okeq.org/files/original/b96238e6cb780c76b436d590e485edff.pdf f3af744a4fdff9fad5baa5b8f88f0d77 PDF Text Text 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 TSUNAMI SLAMS OBAMA JULY 1,2009 T lsa Pride Se s New 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 brief June 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 National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director spousal benefits ~ ~d~ employees’ Same’sex partners -Kate Kendell on her Facebook page: "The filing by the sick leave and long-term care insur~ce; for example, but ............ 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 of yet, 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 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 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. Impressive Youth Leads Tulsa’s Gay Pride Parade By Judy Gabbard Diversity Business Assodates; proud to do in OKC By Robin Dorner-Townsend OGRA [)~ddent RTint Wied}n, Robin Dorner photo 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 of OGRA (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. www.rnetrostarnews.com 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 of DBA. "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. Noah Blatt Grand Marshall ~dsa Pride Parade. Judy G. photo TULSA, OK The Grand Marshal! of Tulsds 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 of what 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 of Tulsa’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. ~®troSTAR 3 �UDGE RULES IN KEITH KIMMEL’S FAVOR ON HIS I’M GAY LICENSE P LATE 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. Giving back: MAC Cosmetics ’Viva Glam’ line supports HIV! AIDS organizations By Robin Dorner-Townsend By Victor Gotin 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’ HIV Non-profit agent/. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (PR) __ August 7 2009 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. Billy Jackson and Michael[ Friday ioined their lives together By Victor Gorin 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 In f!’ont of the Iguana Lounge in Automobile Alley in downtown Oklahoma Ci~, the 3¢IAC cosmetics staffin Oklahoma City show their support in the form of"a big check"for Other Options and Friends Food Pantry. The fundraising 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 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 Bil{r Jackson &Michael Friday at their Holy[ Union wid~ t/.,eir .iF[ends Luq and Midn@t. Godn photo Kai R. Dameron Rain Oldahoma, CTR Coordinator 405/232/2437 xt 123 KaiDameron@hotmail.com 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 July 2009 4 �Robin Dorner Joins 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 has just joined the Metro Star team. She will be repo~ting local news and ~ents and wil! handle OK~’~C ad sales al6nFwithRikGOdbev and Victor Gorin. She is also an accomplished ~h0togr~pher. She n0{ 0hly brings 1{~} taleh{ ~nd enthusiasm, but alSO ~ert~e gained f om oCe llife ep0mng Metro Star Staff 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 the Cimarron Alliance Foundation. She is a former board member and current member of Diversity Bttsiness Association of Oklahoma City, and is her husband Ken. She does vohmteer work for Other OptiOns, and looks forward to working with the Metro Star. We welcome her a oard . the City Sentinel ( fbrmeriy the Mid City Advocate). Leather Camp V will 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~ www:metrostarnews.com 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 of Wichita. 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. &~et~’oSTAR 5 �By Michael ~{~. Sasser "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." 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. For more information on Nipper and Femme Noir, visit www.claranipper.com. Dont Shop - Adop "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." Meet Woodstock. He’s a 9 yr old yellow labbie who was Surrendered to Lab Rescue so ~ve could find him a new home. His owners love ~ctive for him, but h~ is a them. D0n:t le~ iS young at hem o1~1 labl;ie. H6 loved on: ~’g0odi I stcd No matter who you are o are on life’s iourney, -Reverend ~r. K~hy Sapulpa Norman Collinsville )18 299 6311 918-272-4965 918 227 2722 405 321 6,"~2 5 918 371 1000 Courtesy of v:xvw.labrescue.net L 3131 & Pennsylvanio, Oklah0m= Q>~, 405.525.9555 July 2009 6 �So, ust What is the True Politics M es for Definition-of Marriage ? Strange Bedfellows by James Nimmo 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. 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 ~.metrostamews.com 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 NW Arkansa~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 looking guys and gab at joplin 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 of human 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 of partnership 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 of my 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 of you know, one of my 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." v#,,w.metrostarnews.com 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, if you 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 HIV advocates rallied at *~e state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on time i 0 against draconian cuts in HIVfi~nding proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwar~enegger and under consideration by the Legislature. Wockner News photo 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. Lesbian couple marries 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. 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 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. Direct Cremation From $595 AI McAffrey Owner / Funeral Director Ban "uptcy o Civil Rights oCriminalEmpl ~ment o Family Law - Litigation MORTUARY SERVICE.,,~ Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405} 230- 13~0 or ~o800-913q310 625 N.W. 13th Street klahoma City, OK 73103 Pre-Need Plan CReDiT CARDS ACC~PT~E 2415-C North Walnut Avenue. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma STAR 9 �N Wockner News Service 50,000 at EuroPride Some 50,000people ~rned outfor the EuroPride parade, 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 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. 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. 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." Northern Irish LGBs report high level of hate 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. 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." 1-800-535-AIDS (2437) O lahoma’s NV/S ’# l otlin PROTECT YOURSELF PROTECT YOUR PARTNER(S) @O,P,E, Testing Clinic ~ens O@reach In Tulsa at (9’~8) July 2009 �i t÷matie Ruling: English adoption agencies .Gay marriage campaign launched cannot discriminate m Portugal 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 anti- discrimination 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." w,,~w.rnetrostarnews.com 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." 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. METRO P O L!TAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve ~. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM WWg~¢. S 0 cmcc. Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 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. ~,tr®STAR 11 �Looking some good summerwtt te wines. monm, we are art a ou- 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 of Viognier 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. 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) 12 most widet l~ted white , ..... ?~ P ~ , [, wine grape, veraemo is cl~slHeo as a noble or classic grape. On the PortuDtese mainland, it is recommended in the DAO region and 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 of Australia, 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 > ~ Marcheregiono~:~yand~ < fthe}lord to wpicNly Sauvignon blanc ~ Macab~o. Xg ,~. Mar&etti~07 it~~ ~" *~ >::~ Fazi,B; t~gli~ ~007 Italy desiunated "Rueda V?rdejo must contaifi o .. * .......... 85% Verdejo, and are oAen 100% Verde’o ....... ~d[as ~wws, Isay go to your favorite wing/~ Verdejo winm are aromatic, often ~oA . ~k questions ~d purchase a bottle or and Rdl-bodied. %ey can be somewhat : Share some food& wine with friendd reminiscent of Sauvignon blanc a~d ehe~k this out for yourself. warm climate. Gar~i Grande 2007 Spain Marquis de Riscal 2007 Spain ,Vouv~ay[vooh-~ay] ’,Wines fi’om the French to the east of Tours 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 of the 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 of Tulsa. indude: / www. la~neSpecta- Verdicchio Preparation: Mix first 5 ingredients together by hand. Drain Crab meat cans of water. 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 of Japanese 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; the ba~ DRIZZLE INGREDIENTS (BAY MAYO) 1 Cup Mayonnaise 2 T Old Bay Dash of Granulated Garlic % Cup Heavy Cream 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. ~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 ) How to make a monster musicaJ Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway Focus Features photo More and more movies are being made from poptflar Brokeback spouses reunite childhood toys, from dolls (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl) to action figures (Transformers) tO even board games Granted, the romance between Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway in (Clue). But now we’re getting a movie musical based on a toy Brokeback Mountain was a tragic one involving the closet and deception and that doesn’t even exist yet and will presumably be marketed death, but these actors are determined to give it another go in a movie where he alongside the film itself. Gay super-producers Craig Zadan won’t be playing a gay cowboy. Love and Other Drugs will feature Gyllenhaal and Nell Meron are reuniting with Hairspray composeras a pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer during the time when a revolutionary lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott gc’ittman to make litde blue pill was hitting the market (the film is based on the book Hard Sell: an original screen musical around an as-yet-unnamed Mattel Tne Evolution ofa Viagra Salesman) while Hathaway will play a woman with monster toy. Every~daing’s being kept very much on the Parldnson’s with whom he begins a relationship after they meet on a sales hush-hush, but the one thing that’s been revealed is that the call. Ed Zwick (Glor~ Defiance) is set to direct, with Shooting set to happen property will "add a fresh twist to monster lore." No word possibly as early as this fall. A movie about Viagra may make audiences stand at yet on when this new musical will go into production, but attention, but if the film lasts more than four hours, please, call your doctor. Romeo bets five bucks that if the movie and the toy do well, an eventual Broadway adaptation is inevitable. And TV Romeo San PTcente hopes the monster-toy musical will be like the Dra~da puppet rock operaj~om _Forgetting Sarah Marshall_, complete withfull-fl’ontal male nudity. He can be reached care of show. And more toys. And sequels. And ... will feature Tulsa Artist Michael Cooper with an opening show and reception on Thursday, July 2nd from 6-gpm and continuing throughout the month of July. 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". this publication or at DeeplnsideHollywOod@qsyndicate.com. 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" Wayne Fuller reported on gossipboy.com, an by Donald Pile and Ray Williams Oklahoma internet news service focused on 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. 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. COLT1 [)how: Gables Bed and Breakfizst 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 www.metrostamews.com 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. Of course 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. 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! Robert Chiles, Director & Founder ofPrject Pride Foundation of Oklahoma. 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." ~÷{~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. 2O ~:mSTAR (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. 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. Vodka, Now Available in Juniper Flavor Miss Gay Oklahoma 2009 Crowned in O KC 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. If you’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!~ Camper English is a cocktails and spirits writer andpublisher ofAlcademics.com. By Victor Gorin 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. Left: 2008 Miss Gay Oklahoma Adrienne Fischer, 1st altetmam Samantha West, Shantd l~£andalay &Miss Gay America Victoria DePaula. Gorin Photo 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 July 2009 �~’#~W. metrostam ews.com �Photo’s by Victor G. & Judy G. @ Angles, Oklahoma City @ Bamboo Lounge, Tulsa @ OGRA Pool Party, OKC @ The Copa Oklahoma City @Club 209, Tulsa @ The Ledo, Oklahoma City @Club Majestic, Tulsa @ 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 AfricanB~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 of Justice’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 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 writer Dan / Savage: "If ’\ dais shit is ’fierce advocacy; Mr. President, we’ll take benign \... neglect." / 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 of Amerieans 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 of LGBT 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 of MAC 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) 9468577. �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. 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. 112 14 3 4 ~5 6 7 ~ 9 ~10111213 19 18 17 8 15 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! 66 67 68 69 70 7I 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. ~wcw.metrostarnews.com 43 Ausmas capital( to Aust ~ans ~ ’Watch a~ Liberg~ game h~re 18 Irritating : , 50 of Seventeefi : 52 :l~i~---~"s home Stat~ (abgr:}; ~3 cone Out ~nthe b~a~h Community for Monkey Zetterland 5~ ~Evbr~tt S 58 E~d of the a~eadline ~ 52 Adult filly People iving with H R/!A D S 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 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" ~ 69 %v0some 70 Second name in cross-dressing 7! Doest" own 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. InClYde 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) ;~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 of America’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 Webs#e- www.kylecomics.com E-Mail- KylesBnB@aol,com bi~er gir! 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. 2{3 @~:{:~oSTAR July 2009 �Support those who support us. Their ads allow us to distribute your community news FREE to you. 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 ANGLES 2 ! 17 N~V 39th St. Oklahoma City, OK wvw:angtesdub.com BAMBOO LOUNGE 7204 E. PINE Tulsa. OK 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. 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Maplewood, Tulsa, OK 918-838-1715 www.nlcctulsa.org 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 RFAL:ESTA TE: 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 GUSHER’S RESTAURANT 2200 N~V 39TH EXPRESSWAY Oldahoma City, OK Castle Finders, LLC Real Estate & Property Management Owasso, OK 74055 918-697-7406 BUY GI Joe Action Figures (12" size Only) Armando Amor Phone: 405-473-6870 Fax: 405-691-2708 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 ~NG OF MASSAGE In or Out Calls Oklahoma City, OK 405-882-6127 Cindy Lolli~ EURE~ SPRINGS CVB Eureka Springs, AR www.eurekasprings.org THE KITCHEN 2218 NW 39th Oklahoma City, OKC 73112 Therapeutic By licensed professional for Physical Rehabilitation. (405) 801-7200 Open Tues.-Sun 12 Noon ~o 11PM. Featuring Chef Susie Lopez. NW OKO near Penn Square In-Calls only (405) 822#378 Located inside the "BOOM" nwokcmassageguy@aol.corn THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE In Calls Only, N\V OKC 405-822-7378 nwokcmassageguy@aol.cim Call JUDY G. PHOTO’S Tulsa. OK judygphotos@sbcglobal.net 918-743-8636 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 www.metrostarnews.com Chuck Breckenridge 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 Whether buying or selling I’ll work hard for you. ~÷troSTAR 27 �28 July 2009 � 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 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 are on life’s iourney, -Reverend ~r. K~hy Meet Woodstock. He’s a 9 yr old yellow labbie who was Surrendered to Lab Rescue so ~ve could find him a new home. His owners love him, but h~ is a ~ctive for them. D0n:t le~ iS young at hem o1~1 labl;ie. H6 loved on: ~’g0odi I stcd )18 299 6311 918-272-4965 Sapulpa 918 227 2722 Norman 405 321 6,"~25 Collinsville 918 371 1000 Courtesy ofv:xvw.labrescue.net L 3131 & Pennsylvanio,Oklah0m= Q>~, 405.525.9555 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. Direct Cremation From $595 AI McAffrey Owner / Funeral Director MORTUARY SERVICE.,,~ Traditional Funeral Services at Affordable Prices (405} 230- 13~0 or ~o800-913q310 Pre-Need Plan CReDiT CARDS ACC~PT~E 2415-C North Walnut Avenue. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Ban Empl "uptcy o Civil Rights oCriminal- ~ment o Family Law - Litigation 625 N.W. 13th Street klahoma City, OK 73103 v#,,w.metrostarnews.com STAR 9 N 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. 1-800-535-AIDS (2437) O lahoma’s NV/S ’# l otlin PROTECT YOURSELF PROTECT YOUR PARTNER(S) @O,P,E, Testing Clinic ~ens O@reach In Tulsa at (9’~8) 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. METROPOL!TAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES Rev Steve ~. Urie Spirit of Christ MCC 2902 E 20th Street Joplin, MO 64804 417-529-8480 Worship Sunday 6:00 PM Community Meal Wednesdays at 6:00 PM WWg~¢.S0cmcc. Have a God filled and BleSSed Day! 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